West and Southwest Charlotte is a great place to catch a women's professional basketball game or a ride on a roller coaster, a flight out of town or a flight by a magnificent eagle. This expansive area, which roughly covers the territory west of I-77 from Lake Wylie to the Lake Norman area, is a mixture of modern-day hot spots and relaxed, almost rural neighborhoods. 

Southwest Charlotte saw exceptional growth during the 1990s, when the number of households more than doubled. And thanks to ready access to the new I-485 and rising cost of housing in south Charlotte, the southwest area is expected to be one of the city's fastest-growing residential and business growth spots of the future. 

In earlier days, Steele Creek was a tight-knit community of modest homes in Southwest Charlotte. Today, this area has much more to offer if you're in the market for a new home. New, affordable communities line N.C. 49, the main thoroughfare of Southwest Charlotte. New neighborhoods are springing up on Shopton Road, Sandy Porter Road and Choate Circle. Some higher-end communities are under way on the Mecklenburg side of Lake Wylie. The area also has an abundance of new multifamily apartments and town homes. 

In addition to residential growth, the area has seen a spectacular rise in commercial and industrial development. Today, it's a hotbed of high-tech companies and national headquarters, with new buildings and office parks announced frequently. 

Among the projects under way is a 400,000-plus-square-foot campus for Microsoft Corp. in Arrowpoint. The Eastern Region Product Service Center will be second in size only to the company's Seattle headquarters. In addition to Microsoft, Arrowpoint's major tenants include BellSouth and the U.S. headquarters of Royal & SunAlliance Insurance. 

And since N.C. 49 is a major artery to scenic Lake Wylie, you're sure to find plenty of recreation offerings. McDowell Park on Lake Wylie features 956 picturesque acres of forest where you can hike, picnic, camp or visit the nature center. There's a sandy beach for sunning and watching boaters on the lake. Kids will find excitement at Paramount's Carowinds, a 100-acre theme and water park that straddles the N.C.-S.C. border. The seasonal park presents more than 100 rides, shows and attractions each year. 

Closer in to town is The Charlotte Coliseum and the home of the WNBA's Charlotte Sting. The arena seats 23,000 and hosts numerous concerts and other family events throughout the year. The city islooking to build a new arena uptown as negotiations continue for a new NBA team; the land where the Coliseum sits may be redeveloped for a different use in a few years. Just around the corner from the Coliseum is the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market. Central Piedmont Community College recently opened its Southwest Campus off Arrowood Road. The high-tech campus specializes in teaching graphic arts, printing, electronics and welding. 

Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, US Airways' largest hub, serves 160 cities with 500 daily departures. The airy, sunlit terminal welcomes passengers with rocking chairs and piano music, along with shops and restaurants. But you'll have to move quickly to get a rocking chair - they're hot property for folks between flights. 

For those preferring a more urban environment, west Charlotte offers some of the area's most reasonable home prices, plus easy access to uptown, interstates and other major thoroughfares. This area is home to Johnson C. Smith University, a private, historically African-American, four-year liberal arts institution that's positioning itself as a leader in technology usage and training. Heading northwest, the area takes on a spacious, rural feel. You'll find many new developments with moderate to upscale homes along Mount Holly-Huntersville Road. The older Coulwood neighborhood has long been a favorite of families who want rambling ranches on large lots. Mountain Island Lake is the source of water for numerous area municipalities, including Charlotte. The Trust for Public Land recently purchased 429 acres along the lakeside to preserve the area from development and protect drinking water. 

Historic Latta Plantation Park, on the lake's shore, shows visitors what life was like for planters, slaves and yeoman farmers on a cotton plantation in early 19th-century North Carolina. The park offers hiking and horseback riding trails, canoe rentals and fishing permits. The nearby Carolina Raptor Center is a rehabilitation facility for birds of prey that includes exhibits, programs and a gift shop.