The phrase "Quality of Life" is defined by life in Alexander County. A rural, peaceful setting with low crime rate, newly-constructed modern schools, numerous opportunities for recreational activities, close proximity to local business centers, modern highway system, and low tax rates make life in Alexander County hard to beat. A number of recreational and cultural activities are available in the county and the region. PARKS & OUTDOOR RECREATION Alexander County Recreation maintains five public parks in its county park system: East Alexander Park (Hiddenite), Jaycee Park (Taylorsville), Town Park (Taylorsville), Bethlehem Park (Bethlehem) and Dusty Ridge (Wittenburg). Taylorsville maintains one park: Matheson Park. Brushy Mountain Motor Sports Park Nationally recognized OHV park in Alexander County featuring more than 65 miles of trails in the Brushy Mountains. The public can also enjoy golf with two public courses inside the county; Brushy Mountain Golf Course and Rivercrest Golf Club at Oliver's Landing . Private recreation facilities are available at the Northwood Park Swim Club, East Alexander Swim Club, Cheatham Ford Family Campground, Hidden Valley Campground, and Hickory Cove Bible Camp. Recreation opportunities are also available through our Alexander County Recreation Department and the YMCA. For gemologists, precious stones and gems may be found in Hiddenite at the Hiddenite Gems Emerald Hollow Mine. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469 mile National Forest Service scenic parkway which can be accessed within a 40 minute drive of Alexander County. Outstanding scenery and recreational opportunities make the Blue Ridge Parkway one of the most popular units of the National Park System. "America's Favorite Drive" winds its way through mountain meadows and past seemingly endless vistas. The Parkway incorporates several recreation areas, some exceeding 6,000 acres. Ski North Carolina  Area ski resorts located within a short distance of Alexander County   CULTURAL The Hiddenite Center, Incorporated is a folklife and cultural arts educational and exhibition center located in Hiddenite, North Carolina. A three-story Victorian house has been restored to house galleries and offices. The Center is designed to afford experiential opportunities for Western North Carolina and serves as a prism to capture the energies contained within the area. The Alexander Central Auditorium seats 1,000 and is host to a variety of community events including "Moscow Boys Choir," "An Evening with Lewis Grizzard by Bill Oberst," "Rhonda Vincent and the Rage," and others. PROFESSIONAL SPORTS On the regional level, there are a number of pro and semi-pro teams located within an hour's drive of Alexander County.  Carolina Panthers  National Football League team located in Charlotte Charlotte Bobcats  National Basketball Association team located in Charlotte Carolina Hurricanes  National Hockey League team located in Raleigh Charlotte Checkers  ECHL Minor League Hockey team in Charlotte Hickory Crawdads  Minor League Baseball (affiliated with the Texas Rangers) located in Hickory