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. 

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.

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. 

Park Road Park

In Charlotte, some parks have been around so long and have been such fixtures in my growing-up years that it doesn't occur to me to spotlight them for the recreation jewels they are. But then I'll discover a new angle to an oldie-but-goody, and it reminds me that these places are too cool not to share. 

A good example: Park Road Park. This 72-acre greenspace, chock full of amenities, is situated in South Charlotte between Park Road, Tyvola Rd. and Archdale Dr., a little more than a stone's throw from South Park Mall.

In contrast to the mini retail metropolis that surrounds the mall, Park Road Park is an urban oasis, complete with a pond, quiet footpaths and an impressive playground. 

What drew me to the park most recently was a visit to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway to check out progress on the stretch between Brandywine and Tyvola (getting tantalizingly close!). I decided to take a southbound stroll while I was there and detoured toward the park along the path just beyond the water treatment plant. Isn't it a treat when greenways lead so magically to destinations like this? 

At Park Road Park, you'll find a small pond, surrounded by a smooth, paved walking path about (approximately 0.75 miles around), brand new picnic shelters with restroom facilities, a sprawling and engaging playground area, six ball fields, full-court basketball courts, beach volleyball, lighted tennis courts and two horseshoe pits. 

The park also makes for a great starting point for a nice long greenway ride all the way to Pineville (take the Tyvola to I-485 and I-485 to President James K. Polk State Historic Site segments). Someday soon, you'll be able to start here and head north toward uptown and beyond. 

There's plenty of parking throughout the sprawling park. It is worth noting that getting out of the parking lot entrances, which face Park Road, can be challenging during rush hour traffic, so plan accordingly. 

South Charlotteans already know what a treasure Park Road Park is for the area. I'm glad to have rediscovered it myself and invite you to check it out, too.

How to get there:
Park Road Park is located at 6220 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC, 28210. You can also access the park via the Little Sugar Creek Greenway.