Gastonia is a small city just west of Charlotte on Interstate 85. The Standard district surrounding Main Avenue cultivates an atmosphere of classic Americana, with historic buildings housing locally-owned storefront shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Most of the city is residential, consisting of quiet streets, attractive homes, and tree-shaded sidewalks. For weekend adventures, the beautiful forests and dramatic cliffs of Crowders Mountain State Park are perfect for hiking and camping. Numerous smaller parks and golf courses provided excellent venues for more low-key R&R, and shopping centers like Franklin Mills and the Gastonia Mall are close at hand for a little retail therapy. The relaxed environment and stunning natural surroundings have made Gastonia immensely popular with commuters; downtown Charlotte can be reached in thirty minutes by car or 45 minutes by rail via Amtrak’s Crescent line.
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