I have some exciting news to share with you guys today!
Ryan, Sadie and I are packing up our things and leaving Florida. Yep, we’re moving!
Where are we going?
If you can think back to a place we visited a couple of weeks ago, you might have an idea.
We’re moving to…
Charlotte, North Carolina!
I am absolutely thrilled!!!
A few weeks ago, I briefly blogged about a last-minute weekend trip Ryan and I took to Charlotte. I blamed the trip on a “surprise party” for one of Ryan’s friends which was basically a big fat lie. (I feel really bad about that so please forgive me! I just needed everything to be a secret for a little while.)
We actually drove to Charlotte because Ryan had an interview on Monday morning with a new company. We spent Saturday evening and all day Sunday exploring Charlotte, hoping to get a feel for the city just in case Ryan’s interview turned into a job offer.
We already knew we loved North Carolina. If you’ve been a PBF reader for a while now, you may remember me saying North Carolina is a place Ryan and I have always wanted to live. When Ryan’s interview turned into a job offer that very same day, we spent nearly all of the drive back to Florida weighing the pros and cons of a move.
The major con in our eyes was living far away from family. Ryan and I have both never lived more than 2.5 hours from our families, and though it will be a bit of a hike, we’ll still be within driving distance of family (6 hours from mine, 9.5 hours from Ryan’s).
The pros of moving were plentiful and Ryan accepted the offer from his new company the day after his final interview. From the research we’ve done and what we saw during our visit, I think we’re going to love calling Charlotte our new home.
What I’m looking forward to most:
- Seasons: Though I know I’ll probably miss Florida winters soon enough, I’m beyond ready to experience seasons again. I miss actually having a fall and a spring! And Sadie has never seen snow!
- Access to lots of different fitness classes: I’ve really missed living in an active community with a bunch of different fitness options. I can’t wait explore local barre, yoga, Jazzercise and boot camp classes! And they have BODYPUMP in Charlotte. Hallelujah!
- Living in a walkable community: I know that the walkability of Charlotte will depend a lot on where we decide to live, but the areas of Charlotte that really appeal to us at the moment seem very walkable. And oh my gosh, I’ve never seen so many trees along the streets! I know this is a goofy thing to get excited about, but it was so green and gorgeous in the neighborhoods we explored.
- Dining at local restaurants: Ocala has a few local restaurants we adore, but chain restaurants are definitely in the majority. I see lots of fun date nights in our future as Ryan and I check out the local dining scene. (I’ve heard great things about Luna’s Living Kitchen.)
- Living (somewhat) close to the mountains: Yes, we’ll still need to drive a few hours to get to the mountains, but a 2.5 hour car ride to gorgeous Maggie Valley is nothing! I see a handful of fall weekend hiking trips in our future!
- Outdoor activities: I can’t wait to explore parks, local hiking trails, Lake Norman and more!
- Living close to an airport: Living two hours from an airport for nearly three years will make you appreciate having an airport close by, that’s for sure!
- Shopping: 99.9 percent of the shopping I do in Ocala is online. Everyone here seems to make the 90+ minute drive to the malls and outlets in Orlando to do their shopping because the stores in Ocala are rather limited. It will be so nice to have access to stores other than TJMaxx (which I love, don’t get me wrong) to shop and look for gifts for loved ones.
- Museums, Concerts and Theatre: I’ve been peeking around CharlotteCultureGuide.com and getting awfully excited.
- Festivals: Okay, this is a ridiculous one, I know, but I LOVE outdoor festivals and have missed them like crazy ever since we moved away from Orlando. From what I’ve heard from friends who live in Charlotte, there is no shortage of fun little festivals around town. While we were there we actually stumbled upon a little food truck festival and I was in heaven!
So when will we be moving?
Ryan’s start date at his new company is June 16. We’re planning to use these next two weeks to get organized and pack and then we’ll have temporary housing set up for 30 days as we look for a place to live. (Our lease in Ocala runs through the end of August.)
I actually have quite a few blog-related trips planned during the month of June that fly in and out of the Jacksonville airport, so it will be a hectic month as we try to figure everything out! I plan on making some back-and-forth trips to Charlotte in June but will likely permanently be joining Ryan there in early July.
As for my job at the gym, my last day was last week! The timing of all of this was actually pretty great because a new group exercise schedule debuted at our gym on Monday, so I could say goodbye to my previous classes before a new routine was established. I’m definitely sad to leave, but know there’s lots of fun things waiting for us in North Carolina. I can’t wait to bring you guys along for the ride!
If you live or have ever lived in the Charlotte area, I would LOVE to hear any and all recommendations you may have for us as we make this big transition. I know you’ll know best!
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Yayy I’m so excited for you!!! I’m a long-time reader, and I remember you saying that you would love to live in NC, so I’m super happy for you!
My family lives in Charlotte (and absolutely loves it), and my grandparents have owned a house on Lake Norman for years. Lake Norman is amazing and holds so many wonderful memories for my family. It’s so weird to hear someone else reference it because we’ve been going there forever, and no one I know has ever heard of it (which I guess isn’t that weird since I live in IN)! We also go to Holden Beach every year for vacation, which is a small town a few hours from Charlotte close to Myrtle Beach – you and Ryan should definitely check it out.
North Carolina is hands down my favorite state. I wish you all the best! I’m excited to hear about your new adventure!
Thanks for reading for so long, Susie! We had a brief chance to check out Lake Norman during our short visit and it is gorgeous!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I am seriously so happy for you, Ryan, and Sadie! Although I’ve never lived in Charlotte, I have several friends that do and absolutely adore that city. I have a feeling that you will love it as much as they do 🙂
So exciting! I love NC! I moved from GA to NC almost seven years ago, and I now live in the mountains (about two hours from CLT), and there are definitely some great places to ski up here. And great hiking trails!
Charlotte always has some great races too…it’s a great city!
Oh my gosh! I’m sooo happy for you! Charlotte is my “dream city” also! That’s so exciting! As for moving away from family. My mom and dad had to make that very same decision moving from Ohio to Pennsylvania (9 hours from family) just after I was born. My parents always say that while it was a bummer to be further away from their families, it allowed them to focus on their (my) little family more and really learn to rely and trust each other as their primary family.
Also, I have sooo many good memories of long car rides to Ohio around holidays to see my grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins. I’m so excited for you!
Thank you for sharing a little bit about your parents’ story with me. I am definitely bummed to be moving away from family, but I’m hopeful for what lies ahead.
Make sure you visit Clemson, South Carolina for a few football games. They are ridiculous! You are only a 2 hour drive from there!
Go tigers 😀 😀 😀
I lived in Charlotte for the first 22 years of my life (aside from when I was away for college) and actually might be moving back shortly, so if you need some recommendations on good areas to live, restaurants, bars, music venues, shopping, etc… please don’t hesitate to ask!! I absolutely love Charlotte and am sure you will love it too! Good luck!
Thank you, Cory!
Hi Julie! I live in North Carolina approx 1.5 to 2 hours north of Charlotte. I have followed your blog for 3 years and got really excited to see you guys are moving to Charlotte. I have tried several of your workouts and recipes also I learned about Tina’s Best Body Bootcamp on your site with I tried and loved it :)We go to Lake Norman in Charlotte in the summertime. I have also heard the Epicentre is alot of fun so check it out. Best of luck to you Ryan and sweet Sadie on your move 🙂
Thanks for reading for so long, Jodi! It means a lot to me. 🙂 I also really appreciate your recommendations!
Congratulations! I am originally from Gainesville and rode horses in Ocala growing up so I’ve loved reading about your life and adventures in Ocala, Gainesville, & Jacksonville BUT I have lived in North Carolina since 2010 and it is AWESOME! I started out in Chapel Hill and now live in Asheville and I have many friends in Charlotte. Like you, for many years prior to moving here, I thought it seemed like such a great, well-rounded state. You will LOVE it! I don’t want to hate on North Central Florida because I am very nostalgic about it but in general, NC has a much better quality of life in almost every area. Everything you said you are looking forward to is so true. You will appreciate all of those things and more! Based on your interests and personality that comes through in the blog, I really think you are going to just adore it
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND RYAN!
We are definitely ready for a change and I’m so glad to hear you’re loving North Carolina! 🙂
Ahhh! That’s so exciting, Julie! And it’s a small world because I will be moving to North Carolina as well! I’m finishing up my undergraduate degree at home (in Georgia), but am headed to UNC to pursue my master’s degree in public health and nutrition! I can’t wait to hear about your Charlotte adventures and maybe learn a thing or two from you before I head up there too! (:
How exciting! I’m excited for you all and looking forward to following along the journey 🙂 We are moving to FL as soon as our house sells- it’s scary moving away from family, friends and a job of 8 years but we just love the beach so much! I think it will be a fun journey to explore somewhere new with your best friend, in your case and ours! Best of luck!
That is really exciting for you and your family!
I literally screamed out loud for you… As a long time reader and Charlotte resident, I’m excited for you! Definitely check out Howl at the Moon and other bars at the Epi Center. Lake Norman is amazing and we have great dog parks (William Davies dog park is my favorite). The Dog Bar is also fun! I hope you love Charlotte as much as I do!
HA! I love this!! 🙂
I second the Dog Bar- it’s pretty great! 🙂
Congrats on the move, Julie! I’ve lived in Charlotte my whole life and highly recommend it here! I know you love to volunteer so once you get settled you might enjoy exploring Hands on Charlotte to find opportunities. If you have any questions or need any help, don’t hesitate to reach out! 🙂
Perfect! Thank you!
That’s so exciting!!! I’ve lived in Charlotte for the past year and a half and I absolutely love it! It is such a fun city and there are a ton of great restaurants!!
That is so awesome!! I travel to Charlotte every year for work and I’ve told my husband how awesome it would be to live there. I’ve eaten at Luna’s Living Kitchen, too, and it’s a really cool little place. Congrats on the exciting move!
Congratulations! What a exciting new chapter!
I’ve lived in Uptown and the South End, and definitely like South End better. It is still walking distance to Uptwon, but also right on the light rail so it’s very easy to get around! Dilworth is adorable too and has so many cute shops and restaurants!
Congrats to you and Ryan on the exciting move! I work at one of the banks uptown and I would definitely recommend Dandelion Market uptown (right next to Basil) – they serve tapas-style dishes and it is a favorite of my fiance and I! The menu changes seasonally. I would also check out the Broadway lights series at the Blumenthal performing arts center! We have enjoyed having season tickets the past few years, it’s so fun to go out to dinner and then go see a Broadway musical! Finally, my favorite sweet treat is to go to Bar Cocoa at the Ritz for macarons…my favorites are the Red Velvet and the pistachio!!
Oh, and I have to recommend Udderly Delicious for amazing homemade ice cream if you are ever passing through Hickory – my fiance’s dad owns it so I might be biased, but I am also an ice cream snob 🙂
Your comment is just adding to my excitement!!!!! Thanks for the recommendations. And ice cream is my favorite food EVER, so you know I’ll be all over that place.
Congratulations! What an exciting time for your family. There’s nothing like the feeling of starting “fresh” in a new city!
Hi Julie! As a longtime reader of your blog, I am so thrilled for you! My aunt, uncle, and cousins lived in Charlotte for 13 years and made a ton of friends whom they still keep in touch with today. We hiked Grandfather’s Mountain one summer (near Charlotte), and it was one of the most fun camping trips!
Ooooh! I’ll check it out!
I was just in Charlotte visiting a friend and thought it was such a neat city! The downtown area called EpiCenter is really neat, lots of restaurants, bars, etc. Good luck, I hope you all enjoy it!
SO exciting! We just experienced a big move as well, so I totally understand your excitement and mixed feelings. I’m looking forward to following along with your adventures as you go through this move. I hear NC is absolutely gorgeous!
I’ve been following your move, Ashely! It looks like you’re adjusting so well! I’d LOVE to teach BodyPump one day, so I’ve enjoyed reading about your journey.
You’ll love Charlotte. They have such great food and sights. It has the Southern hospitality I love so much too – most of my good friends were born and raised there. And you have to visit Asheville, NC where I lived for 6 years!
Hey! I have lived in Charlotte for 4 years now, I moved from Boston. It is an amazing little city 🙂 Plaza Midwood is my favorite area, that is where I live now. Check out Soul – one of the best restaurants in town! I saw you loved Freedom Park – Dilworth and Southend are close to that. You can also enjoy the greenway from all three of those areas. If you have any questions feel free to email me. Would totally love to show you around town when you get here 🙂
Best,
Shannon
Thank you so much, Shannon!! I appreciate it! <3
PS. SUPER dog friendly city. You will be able to take your pup almost anywhere 🙂
That is SO exciting!! 😀 I hear only good things about North Carolina!! My husband and I might be moving there next year (he’s in the military so we don’t get to know until it’s right around the corner), so I’ll definately be living vicariously trough your blog for a while! 🙂
And congratulations to Ryan for being offered a job the day of his interview – he must have really impressed them! 🙂
So excited you will be in my town!! Been here for 15+ years, you will never want to leave!!! Dilworth, Elizabeth and Southpark are all really great walkable areas. The fitness scene is AWESOME the Y here is AMAZING and I would love to go for a run with you one day!
not the big news i thought but CONGRATS!!!!!! 😉
I’m so jealous…….errrr……happy for you! 🙂 I lived in Charlotte for 12 years. I initially moved there for college and loved it so much that I stayed. It’s an awesome ‘Little Big City’ and I’m 100% sure that you will love it. Here’s my two cents on the different areas:
-Running in Myers Park is awesome. (Near and around Queens University.) I love running through the HUGE tree lined streets, seeing the equally huge houses and then running through Freedom Park.
-Dilworth area is awesome to live in. East Blvd has a lot of fun restaurants, shops, pubs, etc. You can also live in Dilworth and EASILY walk to all of these places. A ton of stuff to do and close to everything: close to downtown, SouthPark, Myers Park, etc.
-Trader Joes/Whole Foods/Earthfare: what more is there to say?
-You MUST try the Flying Biscuit Cafe.
-Lake Norman is nice, but I find it a tad bit ‘uppity’ and too far removed from the life of the city. A lot of people LOVE that area and it IS really nice, it’s just not my speed. And I feel like once you get up there, you never go back into Charlotte…which I guess works for some people!
-I remember the Marshalls at Blakeney (in the Ballantyne area) being awesome.
Ok, well, I could go on and on an on about how great Charlotte is but I won’t…unless you want me to? 🙂 Congrats again!
Congratulations! This is exciting! We just moved from Dallas, TX to Austin, TX (not a huge difference except for culture), but moving is always exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time (all in a good way)! I’m excited for you and Ryan to take this next adventure in your lives.
Thats great! Every time I drive through Ocala i think about you. Now when I head through Charlotte, i’ll think of you there. I’m sure you will love it!
Congratulations! Such exciting news! I have always been in love with North Carolina for as long as I can remember. My dad has family in the Ashville area and I’m in love with all the outdoor activities and the gorgeous mountains! Charlotte is the cutest city and I’ve no doubt you’ll love living there. Although, being further from family is a downside.
I have a feeling Sadie will love it! 😉 Congrats to Ryan and such and exciting time in your lives!! Looking forward to following along on your journey!
OH MY! How exciting! I was born and raised in North Carolina and I may be a little biased but I think its the best! I read your blog daily and I am so pumped to have you in my home state! Also, Charlotte is amazing and you will love it!
OMG! Yay! I’ve been reading your blog for almost a year and a half now and now you are moving to a city 30 minutes away! I love reading your experiences in Florida and now I will actually be familiar with the places you blog about now! So happy for you! Welcome to NC, you’ll love it here!
I figured I’d just blow you up on twitter, facebook AND your blog post. 😉
I can’t wait to hear where you end up! David and I lived in Plaza Midwood (Chantilly to be exact) before we moved to the lake in 2010. I was (and am) OBSESSED with that area! Lake Norman is a fun place to live, too, though and Sadie and her parents are welcome to come explore it with Koda and the rest of us. I know Sadie is a boat-loving dog, so that should work out well (in a completely chaotic, two-crazy-vizslas kind of way).
Lake Norman State Park is pretty amazing for outdoor hikes (and we always take Koda off leash) and the National White Water Center is freaking amazing.
I’m really excited for you and do send me any questions you come up with. I love this city 🙂
Thanks so much, Brittany!!! I thought of you when we made our big decision! 🙂
That is great! I’m happy for all the new experiences you will get to have. North Carolina is a gorgeous place!
Congrats on Ryan’s new job and your exciting move! I have heard so many great things about North Carolina! My husband and I have actually been talking about moving there for a while now so I can’t wait to hear all about it. So happy for you and your lovely little family!
Congratulations, Julie! I live in Charlotte and absolutely love it! You and Ryan will be so happy here. I ditto a few other comments – I live in Plaza Midwood and really enjoy the area. Best of luck with the move!
I love Charlotte and have a few friends that live there too. I highly recommend Good Food on Montford. I’m still thinking about the meal I had there three years ago!
Charlotte is a beautiful city, I live about 3.5-4 hrs from there and have no doubt you will love it. There are so many trails, parks, etc. to explore. I love the charm and small town feel of Fort Mill, SC if you’re looking for a little slower pace. It is very close to interstate and a very short drive to Charlotte 🙂
I live about an hour south of Charlotte, and I really enjoy visiting the city whenever I have a chance. You and Ryan will probably dig the US Whitewater Center. I didn’t see any other comments about it, so I had to recommend. You can whitewater raft and kayak, stand up paddleboard, canoe, ropes course, etc. They also have a live music series.
How exciting Julie!!! I was in NC this past weekend. I had wedding appointments as well as attending a wedding in Charlotte on Saturday. My fiance’ attended Davidson in Charlotte, however he grew up In Asheville just a couple hours away. I Love NC. I would most definitely recommend you guys take a road trip to Asheville. You can tour the Biltmore estate and their is awesome micro brew their. I for see that there will be move for myself at some point in the future. Congrats on Ryan’s new job, and thanks for sharing!!!
My mom grew up there and my aunts, cousins, and grandparents are still in Charlotte so I was there at least 1-2 times a year growing up and its an amazing city. Youre going to love it!
That is so exciting! Congrats Julie! Hope you and Ryan love it there!
Ahhhh! i’m a long time reader and we found out last week that we’ll be moving to Charlotte at the end of the Summer!! We love it there. There are quite a few little towns bordering Charlotte so it’ll be interesting to see where we end up. We’re hoping to find something walkable too — although the city itself is really beautiful, it kind of dies down after 7pm so I’d definitely want to live a little outside of it.
Best of luck!!!
What an exciting journey that lays ahead for the two of you! You can always move back home at some point if you guys get too homesick. Look up Page 6 boutique for great shopping. They are outside of Charlotte, but if you can check them out if you are ever in the area. Good luck!
Aw congrats to Ryan! Y’all will love Charlotte! It’s beautiful.
Congrats on an exciting move! Every time I’ve made a big move with my husband, I was filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation and fear but it always seemed to work out for the best. I can’t wait to hear more about the move and your new town!
congrats!!!
Hi Julie!
I have been reading your blog for a long time now. I have loved getting to know you and your family. Every time I read I think how one day we need to meet. ha! We both enjoy and do the same things and are practically the same age. My husband and I are very much like you and Ryan in a lot of ways 🙂 I also love trying your recipes and workouts you post! Thank you!
Ok now that I have probably totally creeped you out, I was born and raised in Charlotte. Absolutely love it. You are going to just FALL IN LOVE! I live in Greenville, SC now with my husband but my family still lives there and we visit often. There are lots of outdoor festivals especially in the spring and fall and they are SO MUCH FUN!
-The Dowd YMCA is one of my favorite ones to go to.
-Dilworth/East Blvd. area is a great place to live and if not live the restaurants are great!
-Southend is growing and a fun place for young people to live especially near light rail and being somewhat close to downtown.
-You have already found Freedom Park and it is the best!
-I grew up going to Covenant Presbyterian Church and their young adults program is rapidly growing
-Lots of great shopping and little stores
-Lots of great eating and grocery stores as well
I could fill you in on so much more! Email me if you have any questions! So excited for you and Ryan and can’t wait to follow your new adventure! Thank you for sharing your life!
Morgan
This is so helpful! Thank you so much!!!!
This is super exciting! I have been reading your blog since 2010 and I am thrilled for you guys. I adore Charlotte NC. My husband and I went there a couple years ago for the ACC championship game and fell in love with it. We were living in Nashville so it was an easy drive over. It is by far one of the cleanest cities I have ever been to! The food scene was phenomenal and the parks….so lush! Have so much fun!!!