With fall quickly approaching, and the cooler temperatures, we thought we would share some great outdoor attractions/activities in the Charlotte area.
If you want to be near the water:
Jetton Park – This is a 104 acre park in Cornelius which has a beach area, playground, 1.3 mile bike trail, 1.5 mile walking trails and several facilities that can be reserved for events. The paved walking trails offer a great view for much of your walk and the sandy beach area is a great place to hang out and enjoy the view.
McDowell Nature Preserve – This 1,107 acre nature preserve on Lake Wylie includes a nature center, 56 site campground, 7 miles of hiking trails and more.
Ramsey Creek Park – This is a 43.7 acres waterfront park in Cornelius that includes a beach area, dog park, 1.5 miles of trails, and more. Swaney Pointe K-9 Park is located in Ramsey Creek Park and is a four-acre, fenced-in, off-leash area for dogs with two separate fenced-in secure sections, one for dogs greater than 20lbs (large) and another for dogs less than 20lbs (small). You can learn more about other Charlotte area dog parks here.
Charlotte has tons of well-maintained parks. Check out this site for more information. Some favorites include Freedom Park and Reedy Creek Park.
Walking/Hiking:
USNWC – The US National Whitewater Center has a lot to offer. First off, be prepared to pay for parking. Otherwise you can enjoy the hiking and biking trails at no charge. For a fee you can enjoy whitewater rafting, canoeing, zip lining, and more. The USNWC sometimes has free concert and other family friendly activities.
Greenways – Charlotte has a long list of wide, paved trails in their Greenway system. These are great places to walk, ride a bike, or push a stroller while enjoying the cooler temps. You can also check out the Anne Springs Close Greenway in Rock Hill.
Other fun stuff:
Uptown Charlotte – Uptown Charlotte is a great place to explore! There is the new Romare Bearden Park, The Green, beautiful church grounds, and art sprinkled throughout (like the Firebird aka Disco Chicken).
Windy Hill Orchard – There is something truly beautiful about walking through rows and rows of fruit trees and being able to pick some to take home. Not to mention the additional draw of cider (hot or hard) and doughnuts. Although the North Carolina mountains have plenty of orchards that make a wonderful day trip, it is nice to have something closer to home , in York, SC, if getting to the mountains isn’t in the cards.
Corn maze – There are no shortage of corn mazes available in our area in the fall. This is a fun way to enjoy the weather as well as test your navigational/map reading skills. You can check out some area corn mazes here, here, and here.
Pumpkin Patch – Pick your own pumpkin and hay rides are the epitome of fall. Check out Hodges Farm any day in October to enjoy these activities and more.
What are your favorite fall activities?
