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.

Free N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Programs and Activities

When's the last time you did something new and adventurous? Played outside and learned a useful skill from a fun and knowledgeable guide? Spent time with your friends or family appreciating the beauty of nature? Local opportunities to do all of the above are easier and more accessible than you might think. 

A couple weeks ago we went river snorkeling at DuPont State Recreation Area. Before that, we took an intro-to-fly-fishing course in Pisgah National Forest. Last summer, our daughter participated in a kid's trout fishing camp along the Davidson River. Before that, we took a Hellbender salamander class at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education (now closed due to flooding). 

Fun, right? All thanks to the free public programs provided by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), a remarkable state government agency created by the General Assembly in 1947 to conserve and sustain the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use and public input. The NCWRC is the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of North Carolina’s fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws.

As part of their mission, the NCWRC hosts many educational opportunities to encourage people of all ages to help sustain North Carolina's wildlife and habitats by learning more about them. The programs are offered at no cost and all gear and equipment is provided. Many are located in Western North Carolina, about a two-hour drive from uptown Charlotte, but the NCWRC operates statewide (here are interactive maps of descriptions and locations of many of the things the agency manages). 

So far, our family has focused on aquatic programs, but NCWRC provides a wide variety of activities and resources. Perhaps you'd like more information on birding. Maybe you'd like to go geocaching. Or how about getting involved in conservation programs? NCWRC is responsible for regulating, managing and teaching residents about hunting, trapping, fishing, boating and more. 

You can read about the courses, seminars and workshops they offer here. And here's a calendar of upcoming programs and classes. 

Now, our kids have their eye on a fly-tying camp. Meanwhile, I'm interested in checking out a virtual program on "how to take amazing fishing photos" and the "fish preparation and cookery" workshop. So many cool opportunities! 

Next time you're looking for a fun, educational, free (your hunting and fishing license dollars at work!) adventure, check out all that the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has to offer. Not only are they doing good and important work to protect and preserve wildlife resources, but they're also giving us every reason to get out, explore, play and learn to appreciate the natural beauty of our delightful state. 

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. 

Historic Brattonsville

There's lots to do and see at Historic Brattonsville, located in Rock Hill, SC, about 45 minutes from uptown. But this Juneteenth weekend, let me direct your attention to a new exhibit: "Liberty & Resistance: Reconstruction and the African-American Community at Brattonsville, 1865-1877."

This exhibition tells a powerful story of four "freedom seekers," who fled Bratton Plantation in search of freedom. If follows their journeys from escape, to military service in the Civil War, to civil rights advocacy to, in some cases, lynching. It's at once heartbreaking and inspiring, tragic and extraordinary, hard to reconcile and vitally important to acknowledge and understand. 

Brattonsville has long sought to tell the stories of the enslaved people who lived, worked and died there. But this exhibit, now part of the federal Network to Freedom program administered by the National Park Service, embraces a different perspective on the lives of some of those who courageously sought freedom and valiantly fought for civil rights. It is located in the newly restored Brick House. 

Historic Brattonsville features more than 30 historic structures and provides visitors the chance to see the evolution of Southern culture from the American Revolutionary War through the American Civil War. It offers an interesting glimpse of local history. Throughout the year, they host a number of events. 

And, if you like to mix education with outdoor recreation like we do, the site boasts a 6-mile network of hiking trails, full of historical significance and ecological diversity. We enjoyed this 3.9-mile loop. Note: The trails are only meant to be accessed with paid admission. 

Historic Brattonsville is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It's closed on Monday. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for youth ages 4-17, and free for kids 3 and under. 

Whether you head out there this weekend (there's a Juneteenth celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or add it to your list of upcoming outings, go ahead and make time to visit Historic Brattonsville. It's a suitable outing for the whole family and an important chance to understand a significant piece of our shared history. 

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!

Get to Know Catawba Riverkeeper and The Boathouse

How much do you know about the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation? 

A local, community-based group founded in 1997 that protects, preserves and restores the 226 miles of the Catawba River basin, which permeates 26 counties in our region, the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation offers education, advocacy, monitoring, reporting and engagement to protect this valuable natural resource from threats such as development and poor water management. The organization's vision: To sustain plentiful clean water for generations to come. 

As if that important work isn't cool enough, the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation also offers a ton of recreational opportunities, which you should definitely check out, if you haven't already. 

Their activity hub is The Boathouse, located in McAdenville, NC, along the banks of the South Fork River (the largest tributary of the Catawba), about 20 minutes west of uptown. Here, you can rent a kayak (single or tandem), canoe or standup paddleboard for a flatwater outing. You can sign up for several guided tour options. And, if you're not super confident on the water, you can register for private or group lessons.

When you're finished exploring, get a drink, snack and gear and apparel at The Boathouse. 

Boathouse hours are Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. All rentals are walk-up only Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. No reservations are necessary. Rental fees include the boat, paddle, safety vest, and instruction.

The Riverkeeper also hosts a number of activities and events throughout the season. Most offerings are good for most ages and abilities, but check the website for details.

If you really want to make a day of it, consider taking a paddle, then hiking along the South Fork River Trail (in the woods, out-and-back, 2 miles one-way) or the McAdenville Greenway (flat, paved, out-and-back, 0.8 miles one way). Both make for a pleasant stroll. 

There's no better way to beat the summertime heat than finding things to do on and around the water. The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation makes it easy to do so -- both by protecting our local waterways and making them accessible with lots of fun things to do!

How to get there:
The Boathouse is located at 115 Willow Dr, McAdenville, NC 28101. This is also the trial head for the South Fork River Trail. During weekend business hours, you can also launch from the 501 Lakeview Dr., McAdenville, just a couple minutes' drive from The Boathouse. This is also where you'll find the paved McAdenville Greenway. 

Quest at Latta Nature Preserve

Looking for a local morning or afternoon outing with a little bit of education, a little bit of physical activity and a lot of time in nature? Check out Mecklenburg County's newest nature center, located at Latta Nature Preserve about 20 minutes northwest of Uptown. 

Quest, a 13,000-square-foot nature experience, serves as a gateway to exploration, learning and play. Inside the impressive facility, you'll find a 3000-square-foot exhibit hall featuring an expansive interactive display on the importance of water to our survival, live animals, a 6000-gallon aquarium, classrooms, conference rooms, rentable space and the Raptor Center's Gift shop. 

There's also an information desk with programs and maps and gear rental (borrow a fishing rod and head down to the lake!). Our favorite attraction is the powerful microscopes under which we could view all sorts of fauna and flora. 

Out back, there's a patio overlooking natural space, perfect for a picnic or quiet time in the great outdoors. Later in 2022, this will also be the home of the Raptor Center at Quest (currently operating just inside the park at their longstanding location.) 

Out front, you'll find more than 16 miles of trails traversing 1,460 acres of green space and forested land protecting several endangered plants and a natural heritage site. Trails are open to hikers and horseback riders (but no bikes, please!). Here's a park map. 

There's also some cool public art, like the gigantic divining rod that graces the front lawn of Quest, along with an information board on dowsing. 

Quest at Latta Nature Preserve is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. They also regularly offer a number of programs (click here to check out what's available and sign up).​​

This makes for a very pleasant family outing. I guarantee you'll learn something new and enjoy the outdoor experience that Latta Nature Preserve has to offer. 

How to get there: 

Quest at Latta Nature Preserve is located at 6345 Sample Rd., Huntersville, NC, 28078.

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!