Idlewild Road Park

The fall scramble is catching up with me. School is in full swing, this season’s sports are well underway, and our downtime is dictated by extracurricular schedules. The other day I found myself studying the planner longingly, searching for a block of time — even just an afternoon — for the whole family to escape into the quiet playfulness of nature.

We’ve blocked out a whole weekend later this month and I’m already mentally packing our bags.


Meanwhile, though, I’m thankful for urban oases — parks and preserves, fields and trails, greenways and green spaces — where we can escape from city living without leaving town.

And the wonderful thing is, Charlotte has a bunch of them.


If you, too, are itching to get out and stretch your over-scheduled mind and body for an hour or two, you might consider Idlewild Road Park.


About 10 miles south of uptown in Matthews, this 125-acre park offers a number of amenities.


We're big fans of the 1.5-mile nature trail, which is wooded and shady. It's an easy trail, good for hikers of all skill levels.

There's also an 18-hole disc golf course, which makes for another nice walking path, even if you don't play.


Kids will enjoy the large, relatively new playground. This area is encircled by a paved path, good for walking or riding on rolling toys.

There are also several picnic areas, some of which are covered; a couple of baseball fields; and well maintained restroom facilities.


With a little bit of something for everyone, Idlewild Road Park is a nice nearby escape into nature.


How to get there:
Idlewild Road Park is located at 10152 Idlewild Rd., Matthews, NC, 28105.

Don't forget to pack:

• Comfortable shoes: For hiking or playing
• Water and snacks: Or a picnic lunch
• Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen: While it's mostly shady here, there are some open spaces
• Bug spray: Fend of mosquitoes
• Frisbees: If you want to play disc golf