Discover Matthews
23 carefully curated photography spots with GPS coordinates, shooting tips, and local insights
35.108626
Suburban creek/greenway corridor in the Charlotte area offering intimate waterscape and woodland scenes: tree-lined banks, small pond/stream reflections, seasonal colors and migrating songbirds. Easy roadside access and informal parking; no entry fees typical for neighborhood greenways. Best at golden hour for warm side light and glassy reflections, or after rain for rich colors and flowing water. Weekday mornings are quieter; expect residential areas nearby and modestly groomed trails.
Four Mile Creek Greenway, Matthews
Lush suburban greenway with paved paths, wooden plank bridges, creeks, ponds and mature trees — excellent for intimate nature scenes, reflections, ducks, and winding leading lines. Best light: early morning or late afternoon golden hour for warm side-light; overcast works well for even forest detail. Trail is mostly paved and accessible, family-friendly, no entry fee; parking at nearby trailheads/parks and public restrooms at Squirrel Lake/Rock Fountain areas. Popular with locals—weekdays are qu
Irvins Creek Greenway
A suburban creekside greenway with winding trail, small footbridges, wooded banks and open meadow sections—great for intimate waterscape and woodland composition, seasonal color and reflections. Best at golden hour or after rain when the creek runs higher; weekday mornings offer quiet access. Mostly paved with short boardwalks and accessible trailheads with free parking at Sam Newell Rd. No entry fee; family-friendly and easy to combine with Matthews town shots.
Squirrel Lake Park
Small 36-acre park centered on a pond with a waterfall, fishing pier and turtle/duck activity; connects to Four Mile Creek Greenway with shaded tree-canopy trails and picnic shelters. No entry fee; parking available (MARA Fields lot and park lots). Best at golden hour or early weekday mornings for soft light, calm water and few people; spring/summer for wildlife and blackberries, autumn for color along the greenway.
Matthews-Sardis Park
Small, secluded neighborhood park with shaded playgrounds, a short walking loop, grassy field and a forested area with a seasonal creek. Great for intimate family, play and nature scenes; offers dappled light, creek reflections after rain and simple landscape compositions. Best at early morning or late afternoon for soft light and low crowds. Limited parking (~12), no permanent restrooms, easy on-foot access, kid-friendly — bring water and a small tripod for low-light woods shots.
Irvins Creek Greenway (Idlewild Rd Park Entrance)
A low-lying suburban greenway along Irvins Creek with wooded trails, boardwalks, small bridges and reflective creek channels — ideal for intimate landscape and waterscape shots, seasonal color and close-up nature photography. Easy, mostly flat access from the Idlewild Rd park entrance with free parking; no permits required. Best at golden hour or calm, foggy mornings for creek reflections; weekdays reduce foot traffic. Spring brings fresh greens and wildflowers, autumn yields warm foliage.
Stumptown Park
Small downtown park anchored by a Veterans Memorial and regular festivals (summer concerts, food-truck nights, cultural fairs). Good for event, portrait and civic architecture shots — capture stages, vendor streetscapes, candid family moments and memorial details. Visit golden hour for warm light; Friday summer concerts and annual festivals offer lively scenes but bring crowds. No entry fee; street and municipal parking nearby (check handicap parking availability for big events).
Idlewild Road Park
Small suburban park with a pond, wetlands, walking trails and boardwalks — great for reflective water shots, birdlife, seasonal color and intimate landscape compositions. Best at golden hour or just after rain for mirror reflections; weekdays and early mornings avoid families and dog walkers. On-site parking and paved paths make gear transport easy; no entry fee. Accessible year-round, autumn and spring offer peak color and wildlife activity.
KP Park
Small community park with ponds, boardwalks, mature trees and a gazebo — great for reflecting-water shots, intimate landscapes and environmental portraits. Visit at golden hour for warm light and calm water; spring and fall offer color. Easy free parking on E Matthews St, paved paths and wheelchair access; no entry fee. Weekday mornings are quiet; weekend events may add local character.
Matthews Heritage Museum
Small local history museum in downtown Matthews showcasing period rooms, vintage photos, tools and community artifacts — excellent for intimate detail shots, contextual interiors and environmental portraits of docents. Open Thu–Sat (confirm hours); quiet weekday mornings and the first weekend of the month (free admission) are least crowded. Street and municipal parking nearby on N Trade St. Ask staff about flash/tripod policies; many exhibits benefit from available window light and low ISO for a
Windsor Park
Small suburban park with walking trails, pond reflections, mature trees and open lawns — good for serene landscape, waterscape and seasonal foliage shots. Easy access from NE Parkway with free parking and paved, mostly accessible paths. No entry fee; weekdays and early mornings are quiet. Best in golden hour for warm light on trees and pond reflections; autumn brings peak color. Expect local families and dog walkers on weekends.
Purser-Hulsey Park
Small suburban park centered on a pond and boardwalk — good for water reflections, mature shade trees, seasonal color and local birdlife. Easy access with free parking on Phillips Rd, paved trails and a boardwalk suitable for tripods, no entry fee. Best at golden hour or during fall color; weekdays or early mornings avoid families and dog walkers.
Fair Garden Rocks
Small neighborhood rock garden and stream offering close-up textures, mossy boulders, flowing water and intimate woodland compositions. Best at golden hour or after rain for saturated greens and reflective pools. Easy roadside access off Phillips Rd; likely free parking near the entrance. Weekday mornings are quieter. No formal facilities — bring waterproof boots and respect private property.
Four Mile Creek Tributary 2 Greenway
A quiet suburban greenway following a small creek with boardwalks, footbridges, tree‑lined banks and seasonal wildflowers — good for intimate nature, water reflections and abstract close‑ups. Best in early morning or late afternoon for soft light and mist; spring and fall offer peak foliage. Easy access from parking near 307 S Trade St; flat, stroller/bike‑friendly paths. No entry fee; respect local residential areas and leash rules.
Fountain Rock Park
Small, tucked-away park centered on a shallow decorative fountain and creek-side rocks; great for intimate water reflections, close-up textures (mossy stones, benches) and quiet portraits. Best light: early morning or golden hour for soft side light and fewer walkers. Easy street parking on S Trade St; wheelchair-accessible paved paths but some rocky areas near the fountain can be wet after rain. No entry fee; combine with the 4-mile creek greenway for longer shoots.
Town Green Park
Compact town green in downtown Matthews framed by the library, shops and restaurants — ideal for photographing community life, seasonal festivals, landscaped beds, benches and candid street scenes. Free entry, street parking and small public lots nearby; fully walkable. Best at golden hour for warm light on brick facades, during local events (Fall for Matthews) for lively crowd and vendor shots, or weekday mornings for quiet compositions. Accessible paths and family-friendly setting.
Rice Park
Rice Park is a small community park ideal for intimate landscape and portrait shoots: manicured lawns, mature trees, walking paths and seasonal blooms. Best visited at golden hour or during spring blooms. Easy street parking; wheelchair-accessible paths; no entry fee. Weekday mornings avoid families and events held on weekends. Helpful for environmental portraits, close-up nature studies and local community scenes.
Baucom Park
Small, shaded neighborhood park with playgrounds, a gazebo full of birds, walking paths and picnic benches — ideal for intimate environmental portraits, candid play scenes, bird close-ups, and quiet compositional studies against residential backdrops. No entry fee or restrooms; street parking on Sadie Dr. Best light: golden hour or soft overcast. Weekday mornings are quiet; bring a small tele for birds and a wide angle for playground/park layouts.
High Five Playhouse
Colorful indoor children's play center with soft-play structures, slides, themed rooms and party setups—great for capturing candid action, joyful expressions, textures and compositional layers. Best visited on weekday mornings or during scheduled parties for lively scenes; weekends are busy. Interior fluorescent mixed light—ask permission for photographing children and parties. Easy parking at plaza; wheelchair-accessible entrance. Ideal for lifestyle/event portfolios and document-style shots.
Parking For Hike/ Walk/ Biking
Small trailhead parking serving nearby walking, hiking and biking routes — photograph the trail entrance, signage, arriving cyclists and seasonal foliage as a gateway-to-nature shot. Best at golden hour or after rain for saturated colors and reflections; weekday mornings are quiet. Easy access by car with on-site parking; no entry fees. Expect mixed shade from roadside trees and variable light under the canopy. Useful base for longer nature or greenway shoots nearby.
Purser-Hulsey Park - Dog Park Entrance
Small suburban park entrance and dog-park access with mature trees, trailhead framing, signage and neighborhood views. Good for environmental portraits of dogs and owners, textured bark/seasonal foliage, and low-key community scenes. Easily accessible by car with roadside parking; weekdays and early morning are less crowded. Best light at golden hour or overcast for even skin/fur tones. No special entry fees; observe leash/rules and other visitors.