Northern Regional Recreation Center

Let's start with the slide. After all, it's one of the first things you see as you approach the entrance of Mecklenburg County's newest Park and Recreation facility, the Northern Regional Recreation Center, in Huntersville, about 25 minutes north of uptown. And it's also easily one of the coolest features among many very cool amenities this amazing place has to offer. Here are all the reasons you should go: 

The 3-story spiral tube slide begins and ends in the recreation pool area and takes a corkscrew trip outside in between. From the parking lot, you can see the slide, encased in an artistic silo to the left of the entry doors (one of several pieces of functional art around campus). Inside, the slide accompanies other play features (a smaller slide, a lazy river, fountains and a water basketball goal) in the leisure pool area. This was where we spent our morning when we visited for the first time the other day, but not before checking out everything else on site.

In addition to the family-friendly pool, there's an eight-lane lap pool, where folks can take swim lessons, enjoy water aerobics and exercise. 

In the non-aquatics department, there are cardio and weight rooms, fitness studios, courts (basketball/pickleball/badminton), and plenty of meeting space.

Northern Regional offers athletic programs including basketball, soccer, baseball, cheerleading, futsal, disc golf, football and martial arts. In addition to sports leagues -- and beyond the fun pool -- they offer tons for kids, including child watch, afterschool programs, camps, parties and preschool activities.

And then there's everything outside. Outdoor amenities include trails, water features, plant and animal wildlife and play fields. I understand that plans are in the works for horticulture classes and demonstration gardens. (I should note that one of my other favorite parts of the rec center is the expansive picture windows that allow in tons natural light throughout the facility.)

Northern Regional Rec Center opened over the summer and I'd hoped to visit sooner, but it was well worth the wait -- and now we'll be back frequently, for the slide and much more!

Note: The Meck Pass is among the best deals in town when it comes to family recreation. Mecklenburg County residents can get a monthly membership for $65, which includes the passholder, spouse and up to five legal dependents and grants access to all Meck County Park & Rec facilities, including Ray's Splash Planet. Otherwise, it's $8 for youth and senior residents ($10 nonresidents) and $10 for adult residents ($15 nonresidents). (Here are all the fees and schedules.) If you're looking for a gym membership and/or easy entertainment for the family, you can't beat it.

How to get there: 
Northern Regional Recreation Center is located at 18121 Old Statesville Rd., Cornelius, NC, 28031.

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.

Revisiting the Pump Track at Colonel Francis Beatty Park

About a year ago, we discovered a new natural-surface pump track at Colonel Francis Beatty Park in Matthews. Imagine our delight when we went back a couple of weeks ago and found that the pump track, which was already very cool, has gotten a pretty epic makeover! 

Named "The Colonel," the new and improved pump track, designed and built by Tarheel Trailblazers, offers about a quarter mile of bike riding fun. The name of the pump track is both a nod to the name of the park and a theme. There are three routes within the track, each of varying difficulty: Original Recipe, Extra Crispy, and Gravy. (Hello, KFC.)  

A pump track is a cross between an obstacle course and a roller coaster for bikes. They are called pump tracks because very skilled riders can "pump" their way around the course using momentum without peddling. But, they are every bit as much fun for even the most tentative riders among us.

The easiest route consists of a series of rollers and berms. The more advanced routes throw in jumps and other technical features. Choose your experience carefully; it's all fun and games until you take a big spill. 

Helmets are a must. And the pump track is closed after rain. It's important to respect this rule; riding on a muddy surface can be dangerous and can damage the track.

We visited one weekday morning not long ago and had the area to ourselves. I imagine it could get more crowded on a pretty weekend day. But even still, the space is large enough to comfortably accommodate a small crowd (remember to ride in the designated direction!).

Colonel Francis Beatty Park is huge and has lots of amenities. You'll find the pump track next to the tennis court parking lot (take your first left after the entrance). Whether you're a biker or not, this park is a fun place to spend some time playing outdoors. And the pump track is an especially exciting feature for folks who like to ride.

How to get there:
Colonel Francis Beatty Park is located at 4330 Weddington Rd, Matthews, NC 28105. The pump track is located next to the tennis court parking lot.

Airline Bike Park

Mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers, listen up: Airline Bike Park is calling your name. Located near the airport, about 20 minutes from uptown, this sprawling wooded recreation area offers trails for all interests and and skill levels. 

Built and maintained by the Tarheel Trailblazers, this six-mile, natural-surface, single-track trail system offers options ranging in difficulty from beginner to black diamond. Important to note, trails switch direction daily. Odd days are to be ridden clockwise, even days counter-clockwise. 

The Kitty Hawk loop, a 1.25-mile beginner trail, marked with green circle blazes is our favorite. This trail, accessible directly from the parking lot behind the map kiosk, poses minimal technical challenges. Rocks, roots and some short dips and climbs are the toughest obstacles. (Side note: Kitty Hawk is the one trail that doesn't switch directions; it is always ridden counter-clockwise.) 

Other trails offer various degrees of challenge. You can view the map and trail descriptions at the map kiosk, or check out this interactive map. 

This relatively new park is in a soft-launch phase and is currently open primarily on weekends and some occasional weekdays. Be mindful that trails close after rain. You can check trail status here. 

The parking lot is spacious, but does fill on pretty Saturdays and Sundays. Note: There are no restroom facilities; plan accordingly. 

When you go, you'll see folks ranging from hard-core mountain bikers to kids out for a spin. I like to follow the kids on foot while they ride. The trails are lovely for hiking as long as you keep an eye out for bikes and give them the right of way. 

If you haven't been, make Airline Bike Park a next new place to explore. I think you'll find it a nice option for getting out and getting moving, particularly on these pretty fall days!

How to get there: 

Airline Bike Park is located at 8101 Dixie River Rd., Charlotte, NC 28278. NOTE: The parking lot gate is currently open primarily on weekends and some weekdays here and there. Trails also close after rain. You can check trail status here. 

Ballantyne's Backyard

You know the best thing about Ballantyne's Backyard Community Park? The preservation of green space. This golf-course-turned-recreation-area is a beautiful swath of nature that could surely have been destined for paved-over, bricked-up growth in this fast-growing, development-happy area of town. But kudos to whatever ordinance, foresight or community goodwill that persevered. 

Ballantyne's Backyard -- 100 acres of rolling green hills, miles of paved walking paths, and a catch-and-release fishing pond -- is an oasis for South Charlotteans who want to escape their corporate park cubicles, sprawling shopping centers and spaghetti junction traffic. 

Parking for this private park (owned and managed by Northwood Office) is abundant and free, as is space to walk, ride, play and picnic. (Not in abundance: Shade. But there is beauty in the open layout and there are pretty stands of trees along the perimeters of the park.) 

Open from dusk 'til dawn daily, this is a great area for a dose of nature. We especially enjoy the room to roam, birdsong, and ponds. Leashed pets are welcome and there are two restrooms, one at either end of the park. Here's a park map. 

On the second Saturday of every month, Ballantyne's Backyard hosts Markets at 11, featuring activities, local business vendors, music, food trucks and local beer from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

There's no question Ballantyne's Backyard was built to be -- and still largely resembles -- a golf course. From the sand traps (sandboxes!) to water hazards (fishing holes!), and even some leftover fairway signs and markers, you'll feel like you're on the links. But it's really a genius repurposing of land.  

I don't love the amount of manicured grass that's less than eco-friendly to maintain, but maybe planners will transition to a more natural landscape over time. Meanwhile, folks in and around Ballantyne can go ahead and count this "backyard" as a big win and a community asset. 

How to get there: 

Ballantyne's Backyard is located at 11611 North Community House Rd., Charlotte, NC, 28277. 

Rocky Branch Park Revisited

In the short time since I first wrote about Rocky Branch Park, located about 25 minutes west of Uptown in Belmont, NC., this recreational destination -- already remarkable for a number of reasons -- has been renovated and transformed, making it even cooler and all the more worth a visit, especially if you enjoy trail riding. 

Last spring, the City of Belmont, the Town of Cramerton, Carolina Thread Trail, the Tarheel Traiblazers and Gaston County Schools created a remarkable partnership to develop the first inter-municipal park in our region. The result: An evolution of the 55-acre Rocky Branch Park, which now connects the Town of Cramerton and the City of Belmont and offers a beautiful, dynamic urban trail system (good for hikers, bikers, runners and walkers) in between. (Here's a park map.) 

The centerpiece of the newly designed park is a 1.25-mile natural surface greenway (part of the Carolina Thread Trail system), which runs from one end to the other. This hiker-prioritized gravel trail is easy and accessible to folks of all skill levels. 

Off to either side of the greenway trail are a number of biker-prioritized, single-track mountain biking trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Our favorite is the Canopy Trail (green blazes), a 1.15-mile loop featuring jumps, boardwalks, berms and other relatively simple technical options. This loop is good for beginners, but fun for all ages. 

The entire park is shaded and, (bonus!) trailheads at either end are located near other fun destinations. In Belmont, you're a mile from historic downtown, full of fun shops and restaurants (including the Cotton Candy factory!). In Cramerton, it's a short hop to visit Goat Island, the River Link Greenway, Riverside Greenway and South Fork Catawba River Blueway. You could easily make a day of exploring your way from Cramerton to Belmont and back with plenty to do (and no driving!) in between. 

If it's been a while since you visited Rocky Branch Park, you'll be impressed by its transformation. And if you're visiting for the first time, I think you'll enjoy discovering a fun new place to play. 

Note: Before you go, please check the trail status on the Tarheel Trailblazers website and observe the open/closed entrance signs. Some of the trails within Rocky Branch Park are all-weather, but not all of them. Please be a good steward and don't damage the trails by riding on them when they are wet. 

How to get there:
The Belmont trailhead is located at 103 Sacco St, Belmont, NC 28012. The Cramerton trailhead is located at the Gaston County EMS Station (700 Eagle Rd, Belmont, NC 28012). Note: There are no restrooms at the trailhead; plan accordingly. 

Polly's Garden at UNCC Botanical Gardens

Been a while since you’ve visited UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens? There’s a fun new reason to make a trip to campus, just 20 minutes north of uptown.

The Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden recently opened to the public. This beautiful new space, created in honor of a UNCC student who was studying to be a Special Education teacher when she passed away in 2018, offers a beautiful space for both peaceful contemplation and playful whimsy.

The entrance to the Polly's Garden is at the southern end of the Van Landingham Glen (here's a map), a 7-acre garden featuring rhododendrons and native plants of the Carolinas. (There's also the Susie Harwood Garden, well worth a visit, too)

As soon as you enter Polly's Garden, you're greeted with stimulating things to see and do. On your right is a music area, full of brightly colored cymbals and pipes. Beside the music station is an installation of river stones full of colorful rocks to play with. Nearby is a small library of nature-related books to read during your time in the gardens. Just beyond that are fun little fairy garden diorama blocks. All around are vibrant totem poles, each decorated with a different theme.

The center of the garden features an infinity path with gorgeous stonework, including mosaics. The stone bench along the edge of the path is a perfect place to pause and listen to the adjacent bubbling stream.

The garden is designed to be accessible for all and offers lots of opportunities for people of varying ages and stages to connect with nature.

If you get a chance, visit the nearby McMillan Greenhouse (currently closed for COVID-19). Among many other cool features (like a dinosaur garden and orchid room), this is home to a rare Titan Arum (meet Rotney the Magnifiscent, II), one of the world's largest flower structures when it blooms. They can reach 10-feet tall. Interestingly, they also smell like rotten meat, which is why they are sometimes called the corpse flower (hence Rotney's clever name).

Parking information for the gardens is below, but might I suggest you make an adventure of it and ride the light rail trail to campus (here's how!).   

The gardens are free and open dusk to dawn daily. 

How to get there:
Free public parking for the Botanical Gardens and Greenhouse is available behind the greenhouse in lot 16A, located at 9090 Craver Rd., Charlotte, NC, 28262. The entrance to the Polly's Garden is at the southern end of the Van Landingham Glen portion of the Botanical Gardens. You can access it through the trails in the Glen, or at the Bonnie Cone gated entrance on Mary Alexander Rd. Here's a map that will help you navigate.

Keep in mind, this trip is doable by light-rail and foot if you're up for an adventure! Here's how.