Biketoberfest 2022!

Biketoberfest 2022 is coming up and now's the time to get your tickets to this family-friendly urban adventure! The event, hosted by one of our favorite local nonprofits, Sustain Charlotte, offers participants the chance to see how easy it is to get around the Queen City by bike and foot -- and earn prizes along the way!

Biketoberfest is a scavenger-hunt-style ride or walk that begins and ends at Triple C Brewing Co. and explores neighborhoods in and around uptown. The route features protected bike lanes, greenways and quiet neighborhood streets, making it perfect for riders of all ages and skill levels.

Over the course of a 12-mile bike ride or 3-mile walk, participants stop at local businesses, organizations and restaurants to get their passport stamped. The more stamps you get, the more chances you have to win in the raffle at the after-party.

 

The fun starts with a packet-pickup party at Triple C from 5-7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, where there will be live music and you can try a new beer (named "Oh Shift!" . . . clever, huh?) brewed specially for Biketoberfest. Then Biketoberfest runs from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, and the celebration continues at Triple C Brewing Co. until 6:00 p.m., where prizes will be awarded.

 
You can register online now or in-person on event day (but the price, which starts at $25 per person, escalates the longer you wait).

 

In addition to being lots of fun, Biketoberfest is a fundraiser that helps Sustain Charlotte continue its advocacy work to make Charlotte a healthier and more equitable city with better transportation options, more accessible green spaces, and more affordable housing. It's also a way to support the local businesses that sponsor the event and have stops along the route.

 
Bonus: The event's proximity to Halloween means a perfect excuse for a costume dress rehearsal if you're feeling festive.

 
Our family is looking forward to exploring Charlotte on two wheels at the end of October. Join us! Hope to see you there.

Mountain Creek Park

This past weekend, the Charlotte area's coolest new park opened to well-deserved fanfare. Mountain Creek Park, located at the northern tip of Lake Norman in Sherrills Ford, about 45 minutes from uptown, is 606 acres of recreation bliss. It checks all the boxes for family-friendly outdoor adventure fun. 

Parents with young children will appreciate the large, shiny, new playground and paved walking paths for strollers, scooters, skates and beginner bike riders. 

Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the pickleball courts, canoe and kayak launch and hiking trails. 

Pet lovers will be thrilled with the spacious dog park and shady walking paths. 

Fisher-people will like the fishing pier and waterfront observation platform. 

And mountain bikers rejoice: Mountain Creek Park features an extensive 19.52-mile network of trails, dedicated bike-only trails with countless route options, a pump track, a skills course and tool stations. (Here's a trail map.) 

There are also restrooms, plenty of parking, picnic shelters, an outdoor classroom, and a paved ADA-accessible trail that meanders through a quiet cove. 

Best of all, this Catawba County park is free and open to the public from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 

Miss the grand-opening celebration? No worries. The party's just getting started. Mountain Creek Park will remain a worthy destination for years to come. Next time you're looking for a new place to play and explore, keep this recreation retreat in mind. 

How to get there: 

Mountain Creek Park is located at 6554 Little Mountain Rd., Sherrills Ford, NC 28673. 

Skip the Car Trip Challenge and More

Looking for ways to do your part to combat climate change and make Charlotte the best possible place for all of us to live? Where to start? It can feel overwhelming, if not impossible. BUT, every little bit helps! Which is why I'm thrilled with the Mecklenburg County and Charlotte Area Transportation System (CATS) Skip the Car Trip challenge taking place this week. 

The event encourages and rewards people to minimize time on the road in a single-occupancy vehicle. Since the two biggest air quality pollutants in North Carolina are ground-level ozone and particle pollution, both of which are caused mainly by emissions from cars and trucks, choosing public transit or people-powered modes of transport can make a significant difference for our local environment. 

Skip the Car Trip emphasizes options like getting a transit pass, carpooling, walking and biking, and organizing "trip chains," which means bundling necessary errands into one outing instead of many. Other ideas include shopping local, working from home, and packing or preparing meals instead of commuting to pick up lunch or dinner. 

As if saving the planet isn't reward enough, this challenge comes with prizes. Between June 6 and June 12, whenever you engaged in a trip reduction activity, log it in this form. Then, you're eligible for daily prizes, like an electric lawn mower and passes to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Win, win, win! 

While you're at it . . . 

You might also consider a couple other ways to participate in the decision-making process for a healthy, equitable, sustainable Charlotte for all. 

Vote in Participatory Budgeting, or PB Meck, a process that allows community members to determine how to best address the needs of their communities by turning ideas into actual project proposals. Check out the proposed projects for your district and vote here. 

Also, every five years, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation evaluates projects for funding in the Capital Improvement Plan Cycle. This is the process through which decisions are made about the addition, renovation or replacement of County-owned facilities, infrastructure, equipment, and land acquisition. Now's your chance to weigh in on what projects you'd like to see take priority! Weigh in on the public input form here. 

We'll definitely be participating in this opportunity. I hope you will, too. Lots of little steps can amount to big things!

Spring Into April: 5 Local Outings For Your Calendar This Month

Friends! There are so many fun, family-friendly things to do in Charlotte this month. From art to recreation, adventure to celebration, tiny houses to giant bunnies, and some novel activities in between. Get out your calendar and make plans now to take part in some of these local excursions. Hope to see you there! 

South Fork Sampler

On Saturday, April 2, try a scavenger-hunt-style adventure race along the South Fork River, about 20 minutes from Uptown in Gaston County. Participants in the South Fork Sampler will paddle, bike and run to various checkpoints, getting to know this beautiful, historic natural area. The event benefits the South Fork River Health Project and the Catawba Riverkeeper's mission of ensuring clean and plentiful drinking water for nearly 4 million people throughout the river basin. Get more information and register here. 

Charlotte SHOUT!

After several pandemic-related postponements, Charlotte SHOUT! is back. This community festival, which runs from April 1-16, includes music, food and art, and features many talented local and international artists, dancers, musicians, poets, chefs and thought leaders. Charlotte SHOUT! is all about celebrating our city's creativity and innovation. Here's a list of events. And here are tips for planning your visits. 

Earth Day Celebrations

Kick off Earth Day weekend with the 10th Annual Charlotte Sustainability Awards, honoring organizations and leaders in our community working toward sustainability and smart growth, and by their actions, inspiring others to do the same. This event will be on Friday, April 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Depot on N. Tryon St. You can register here. 

Then, on Saturday, April 23, head to First Ward Park (301 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC, 28202) for Charlotte Earth Day: All Together NOW!, a community Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event will celebrate the beauty and diversity of our ecosystems and raise environmental awareness. There will be parades, speakers, performances, music, information stations, and a family treasure hunt. This event is free and open to the public.  

Sensory-Friendly Tiny House 

Visit Marion Diehl Park (2219 Tyvola Rd., Charlotte, NC, 28210, from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 30 and Saturday, May 21 to play in Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation's Therapeutics Program Sensory Friendly Tiny House. Built with a grant through the Walt Disney Company and National Recreation and Parks Association's "Meet Me at the Park" initiative, this fun temporary exhibit is full of musical instruments, sensory bins, a rock wall and activities designed for kids ages 10 and under. 

Bike Charlotte 

Bike Charlotte returns for its 20th year April 26 - May 8. This citywide celebration of all things cycling overlaps National Bike Month and encourages the everyday use of bikes for transportation, recreation and discovery. There are a number of programs and events planned over the two week period to educate the community about cycling and safety, celebrate the diversity of Charlotte cyclists, and recognize those who've made significant contributions to local cycling. 

Worth noting: Your bike can ride for FREE from whenever you rack and ride on any CATS service, including the LYNX Blue Line.

See you out and about! 

Five Points Plaza in the Historic West End

This past weekend, our family took a fun outing to the grand opening of Five Points Plaza, a beautiful new community space located across from Johnson C. Smith University. Situated at the spaghetti-junction intersection of Rozzelles Ferry Rd., Trade St. and Beatties Ford Rd., Five Points Plaza offers formality to what's long been considered the gateway to the Historic West End.  

In this thoughtfully designed area, which spans two corners on opposite sides of Rozzelles Ferry Rd., you'll find swings, an amphitheater, a splash pad, public Wi-Fi, tables and chairs, solar lighting, brick pavers, and a decorative wall. 

Another remarkable feature is the artwork, which includes two public pieces, called the Excelsior Collection (after the landmark Excelsior Club), commissioned by the City of Charlotte and created by J Stacy Utley + EVOKE Studio Architecture. One of the installations is called "Ever Upward" and the other is titled "Even Higher." Both names are a nod to Latin definitions of the word "excelsior." 

A trip to visit Five Points Plaza can be an adventure in and of itself (let me recommend a ride on the CityLYNX Gold Line -- currently free! -- to get there; there are two train stops -- Bruns Ave. and Johnson C. Smith -- straddling the Plaza). But community-led teams are already planning events and festivals to take place regularly in the newly designed space. Check out upcoming events here. 

Next time we go back, we'll include a stop at neighboring Rita's Italian Ice and, in the heat of summer, will opt for a dip in the splash pad. 

Another great option while you're in the area is to take a Neighborhood Walking Tour, created by renowned Charlotte historian Tom Hanchett. 

While Five Points, in such close proximity to uptown, has long been a local hub for activity, it's seen a remarkable renaissance in recent years. If it's been a while -- or never -- since you've visited the beautiful, sprawling campus of Johnson C. Smith University, or enjoyed a walk along the neighborhood streets of the Historic West End, consider the opening of Five Points Plaza an excuse and an invitation to check out this beautiful, burgeoning part of Charlotte. 

Note: Five Points plaza is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Public Wi-Fi can be accessed by searching for network name Five Points Plaza.

How to get there: 

Five Points Plaza is located at 1803 W Trade St, Charlotte, N.C., 28216. To get there, I highly recommend you take the train! CityLYNX Gold Line is currently free and offers two stops (Bruns Ave. and Johnson C. Smith) a short walk from on either side of Five Points Plaza. 

Alternately, there are some on-street parking spaces and a few parking decks (Mosaic Village Parking Deck/1601 W. Trade St., Charlotte NC 28216; SP+ Parking/116 S. Cedar St., Charlotte, NC 28202; 

Gateway Village Parking/700 W. Trade St., Charlotte, NC 28202). 

Of course, walking or riding your bike are other fantastic options. 

March Gladness: 3 Charlotte Adventures to Kick Off Spring

The daffodils are blooming, excited birdsong punctuates the predawn quiet, and longer afternoons are draped in a warm, golden blanket of sun. Indeed, spring is descending upon Charlotte and beckoning us to come out and play. 

This month, there are a number of opportunities to get out, get moving, and get involved in the community. If you've been stuck inside due to weather, COVID, work or school, now is the time to seek activities and events to connect with nature and each other. Below, find three such outings our family is planning to attend in the coming weeks. I hope you'll consider joining, too. 

I Heart Rail Trail: Lights

Beginning March 4 and running through March 20, lighted art installations will be featured along the Charlotte Rail Trail. This exhibit, made possible by a partnership between Charlotte Rail Trail, Charlotte Center City Partners, and U.S. Bank, offers a family-friendly, 100% outdoor experience with lots of opportunities for conversation, recreation and fun pictures. 

Read more about I Heart Rail Trail: Lights, including directions, nearby places to eat, and events taking place around the installations here. My favorite is the oversized nightlights at The RailYard/1414 S. Tryon St.

Growing Our Greenways

On Saturday, March 19, at 2:00 p.m., join Sustain Charlotte, Partners for Parks and Carolina Thread Trail for a walk or bike ride along one of Mecklenburg County's newest stretches of greenway. This event, which will start and finish at the Polk Historic Site in Pineville, is part of an initiative to highlight the many benefits of greenways and to amplify the voices of Mecklenburg County residents and organizations advocating for equitable and expedited construction of our county greenway network.

Learn more and register here. Whether you walk or ride, you'll be in good, fun company. 

Creek Week

During the week of March 19-26, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services will host its 4th annual Creek Week, featuring volunteer and educational opportunities across the city for all ages. From stream cleans to tree maintenance, planting to story time, storm drain marking to rain barrel making, there's something for everyone to get involved, love our planet, and give back to the community we all call home. 

Find Creek Week events and sign up to volunteer here. Equipment and materials are provided. 

Don't forget! 

Friendly reminder that Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 13. Don't forget to spring forward -- and be sure to take advantage of that extra hour of playtime. Hope to see you out and about in the coming weeks! 

Nevin Community Park

Sometime over the course of the pandemic, the playground at Nevin Community Park got a major renovation. The previous wooden set was replaced by a sprawling new jungle gym of brightly colored equipment, anchored on one of those springy rubber foundations that make even the oldest kids (at heart) among us want to bounce from one area to the next. 

We went to check it out the other day and I'm pleased to share that the kids give the revamped playground two enthusiastic thumbs up -- AND it's just one of many very cool features that make Nevin Community Park a worthwhile destination. 

Nevin Community Park, located about 10 minutes north of uptown, adjacent to RibbonWalk Nature Preserve, covers a generous 197 acres of green space and offers just about every recreation amenity one could hope for. 

There are three playgrounds all together, as well as lighted soccer and softball/baseball fields. There are paved and natural-surface walking trails. There's an 18-hole disc golf course. And, of course, restrooms and picnic shelters. 

But what puts Nevin Community Park over the top are the shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts AND a sprayground (open seasonally). Everything is spread out, but walkable. (Here's a park map.) Parks and Rec definitely went all-in when they were planning this space and it's a wonderful amenity for the community. 

When we went, I wanted to scope out everything, but the kids would have gladly played at the playground for hours, and have already asked to go back. If you've never been to Nevin Community Park, or the last time you visited was pre-pandemic, definitely consider a trip. The playground alone is an excellent draw, but I think you'll find the rest of it pretty compelling, too! 

Note: If you're up for a hike, consider this wooded tour of the disc golf course.  

How to get there:
Nevin Community Park is located at 6000 Statesville Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28269. There is plenty of parking, but follow directional signs to get to what you're interested in doing. The sprayground is offset from the playground area, which is on the other side of the park from the ball fields. It's all walkable. 

Uptown CycleLink

When my husband returns to the office uptown, he plans to commute by bike. Partly for exercise, partly to save on parking costs, partly because it's way better for the environment, and partly because, these days, it's so much easier to do than ever. 

If you haven't been uptown much or at all over the past couple of years, you might be surprised by the extensive network of new, fully protected bike lanes, called CycleLink, that now traverse the city. Offset from traffic by concrete and plastic physical barriers, delineated with distinct road paint, and marked with directional signs, these bike lanes offer a welcoming invitation to ditch the gas in favor of pedals and all the mental, physical and environmental benefits that riding provides. 

The CycleLink runs east/west on 5th St. and 6th St., connecting Irwin Creek and Little Sugar Creek Greenways. At the Little Sugar Creek end of the CycleLink, you can head south (someday soon, this will take you all the way to Pineville; right now you can get to Park Road Shopping Center) or head north for a protected ride to NoDa. 

Also accessible from the CycleLink: Charlotte Rail Trail, which you can follow (with some maneuvering across I-277) all the way through SouthEnd. 

Here's a CycleLink map. 

The plan is for the CycleLink to connect more than 40 miles of "AAA" (All Ages and Abilities) bikeways across Center City. While pieces of this plan are complete, others are still in the feasibility study phase. Still, this is an exciting endeavor for our community. More bikes and fewer cars would benefit Charlotte and our citizens in many important ways. 

Last weekend, when the sun came out and temperatures warmed, our oldest and I decided to clip on our helmets and head uptown for a ride. While intersections and driveways still require active attention, we found the protected bike lanes to be very accessible, safe and pleasant. Of course, the hills will remind you why it's called "uptown," but the return is a breeze! 

Whether you're about to resume commuting to an uptown office or just want to take a fun urban bike ride, CycleLink is worth checking out. If you're feeling hesitant, check out this "how to" video. Then give it a spin. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.