Presented in partnership with: Sick of not knowing where to go to get your hair done?  Whether you're planning a big chop or a refreshing trim, finding a salon to meet all your cut, color, and styling needs can be challenging - to say the least.  Here are the best...

Presented in partnership with: Que the “Q”! If there’s one thing North Carolina knows, it’s barbeque.  Sweet and spicy barbecue sauces, steamy and soft baked potatoes, succulent cornbread, and maybe a side of mac and cheese. Don’t forget the banana pudding! Just...

Presented in partnership with: One of the best things about sushi restaurants is that there’s usually something for everyone! You don’t have to be a huge fan of raw fish to enjoy sushi – you just have to know where to find the best sushi restaurants with amazing...

Presented in partnership with: There’s just something about authentic Italian food! Especially when paired with a cozy dining experience (complete with white table cloths) and a nice bottle of Chianti. The Lake Norman area is bursting with many amazing restaurant...

Presented in partnership with: Marriage is one of the most important events in life, and for many, it’s one of the most stressful. There are invitations to be sent, showers to be thrown, and second only to finding The Dress, reserving a venue is the most daunting task...

Presented in partnership with: Regardless of where in the Lake Norman area you find yourself, there are bound to be delicious restaurants that offer varied cuisine at great prices! Compiled below are five great options for each town surrounding Lake Norman, as well as...

Presented in partnership with: We all know that one person who lives and breathes yoga. They always have a yoga mat in the back of their car, own a wide variety of leggings, and are perpetually happy. Yoga is a practice that all people, regardless of age, physical...

Presented in partnership with: Are you searching for the best private schools in the Lake Norman area? Well, look no further. While Lake Norman is home to many great public and charter schools, the sheer affluence in this area has given rise to the demand for private...

Presented in partnership with: Getting married is one of life’s most joyful experiences, but the planning process is notorious for turning even the most placid of ladies into raging bridezillas. Wedding stress is no joke, and anyone who tells you otherwise is either...

We’re all aware by now of how hot the real estate market is. Last year, Zillow ranked the Charlotte Metro area as the 5th hottest real estate market in the U.S. This doesn’t come as a surprise to Charlotteans who have witnessed homes selling within hours of hitting...

Fast fashion is convenient...that is, until that cheap clothing you got starts to fall apart at the seams. In a world that’s flooded with mass-produced, low-quality apparel, it can be hard to find clothing that will do your wardrobe some genuine good. That’s where...

We all know that exercise is important, but let’s face it: working out just to work out isn’t healthy. Without the proper mindset, fitness can be a stressful and even damaging cherry on top of an already exhausting cake. In this day and age, we’re all busy bees....

There’s nothing quite like going out for Mexican food. The vibrant decor, the merry music, and who could forget the margaritas? Just like complimentary chips and salsa, the list of what we love about the Mexican dining experience is bottomless. However, there is one...

They’ve been interviewed for our podcast, featured in our fine dining article, and written into our calendars many a time—I’m talking, of course, about Barrel & Fork, one of the best culinary experiences since sliced bread (which, fun fact, was invented in 1928.) ...

At first glance, I’m not very southern. I don’t like sweet tea, I prefer living in the city, and “y’all” isn’t a word I use very often, if at all. In fact, I’ve lived on the other side of the world, twice; I probably resemble every place on the planet except for the...

This may be a controversial topic for some, but I’m a firm believer that Autumn is the best season for produce. Don’t get me wrong, I love my strawberries and watermelons, but nothing can beat fall flavors. Fresh apple cider, warm cinnamon buns, and the grand-daddy of...

Settling down for a beverage is a pleasure no matter the time of year, but as the leaves take on a new Autumn hue, so too do our favorite drinks. Traditions like Oktoberfest and grape-stomping festivals have become synonymous with fall to the point where many folks’...

A great dining experience isn’t just about the food. Sure, the fare has to be delicious—that’s a given. Appealing presentation is another vital component, and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t enjoy taking a deep, glorious whiff when the plates first hit the table....

By the mid-1900’s, the American South had become a bustling hub for the textile industry. The vast majority of the region was populated by company-owned mill villages, which employed thousands of proud labormen and their families. As a pioneer of synthetic fabrics,...

While craft beer breweries proliferate throughout the Charlotte and Lake Norman areas, wine lovers may wonder, “What about us?” Well, we’ve done the leg work and compiled the definitive list of the best places around the Lake Norman area to enjoy a glass (or bottle)...

Main Photo Credit: Jon Beyerle, On Camber Creative @on_camber_creative Ready to go for a bike ride? Here at The Best of LKN, we love cycling. Mountain, road, recumbent, cruising, tandem, you name it! Well, maybe not recumbent, or tandem. My wife and I always laugh...

It’s no secret that we here at The Best of LKN blog love to report on the area’s cuisine. Seriously, we could talk about food all day, every day. Something you may not know is that we also love outdoor activities—hiking, camping, biking, swimming—you name it! After...

Presented in partnership with: While we all thoroughly enjoy casual lunch dates here at Best of LKN, sometimes the situation calls for a more refined dining experience. Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, treating your in-laws, or simply looking to savor the finer...

Pizza: even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good. So what’s good pizza like? Imagine you walk into a gas station to grab a soda, and you walk out with your drink and a winning lottery ticket. It’s like that. Serendipitous, marvelous, and dare I say, life-changing....

There’s never a shortage of options when it comes to burgers. Every neighborhood has at least one good burger joint, while others have closer to fifty. When all you’re craving is a juicy good one, trying to decide where to eat can be overwhelming­. To save you from...

So, you’re going to be a guest on a podcast? That’s great! Podcast “guesting” can be a great platform for demonstrating your expertise or sharing the story of your small business with a fresh audience. No matter where you are on your epic journey, you’ve got a story...

This is going to be a really special Mother’s Day. 2020 was a tough year for so many, but perhaps no one faced more challenges day after day than Mom. Balancing kids, work, community, and self care is challenging enough - but in 2020, finding any sense of harmony was...

Several Lake Norman craft breweries and taprooms are eagerly anticipating St. Patrick’s Day 2021. The closures of 2020 forced many of us to celebrate the Irish holiday at home last year, making this one of the most anticipated events of early 2021. While several local...

Small business owners are well aware of the importance of sharing their marketing content and messages on social media. When it comes to visual media, Instagram is the platform of choice. Instagram has roughly 1-billion users worldwide, with more than 150-million in...

Small businesses are worthy of your support, and they need that support now more than ever. Here’s a list of ways that you can help lift up your favorite local small businesses, and many of these tips won’t cost you a dime. Interested in making a positive impact on...