US National White Water Center
Welcome back to Travel Thursday here on Girl on the Move!
Our family recently took a nearly 6000 mile road trip and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about road trips (and I’ve done close to 15,000 miles in the past year so I consider myself an expert!) it’s that you need to find ways to be active when you’re traveling. Whether that’s getting your body moving when you stop at a rest area or finding tourist attractions that get your blood pumping, I’m all about finding ways to get your fitness on while you take a road trip because you spend a lot of time sitting in the car!
So when our family recently headed to the Charlotte, North Carolina area for my brother’s wedding we added the US National White Water Center to our “Must-See” list.
And boy am I glad we did! The Center offers hiking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, a ropes course, ziplining, rock wall, biking and so much more. We were only there for a few hours but you could easily spend a whole day there…just be prepared to go home ready to head to bed!
If you look closely you can see me ziplining right across the white water course…you’re so close to the water you can feel the overspray!
The challenging ropes course takes you through the trees, out across the white water course (my brother and brother-in-law look like they’re tightroping over a raging river!) and back through the trees! There are several levels of difficulty on the course and as you go down the course you can choose which level of difficulty you’d like to tackle.
If I lived in the Charlotte area, I would definitely pick up an annual pass to the Center because there is so much you can do year round!
What is your favorite outdoor activity to do?
26 Comments
Samantha Angell
Wow, what a fun stop! And quite a long road trip, thats for sure! Nick and I recently did a similar activity place like this while in the Dominican- they had climbing, zip lining, etc. Not the white water rafting though- that would definitely be fun! I’ll have to keep this in mind for when I head out to the east coast 🙂
Pam @ Hodge Podge Moments
I’ve been to Charlotte a lot over the years and never knew this existed. It looks like so much fun! I’ll have to check it out if I ever get the chance to visit Charlotte again! (It’s not nearly as close now that I’m in Cali.)
Heather Lawrence
White water rafting is so much fun!
I use only gone once but it was such a blast. Would love to check this center out.
Stacey
This place looks amazing! to far fro me in California, but that’s not to say that I might not ever be in that area!
Stacey
That place looks amazing! Unfortunately it is too far for me in California, but the doesn’t mean that I might never be in the area! Tucking this one away.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
You never know when you’ll be there! We live in CA but were on a trip so explored the White Water Center 🙂
Beth@FrugalFroggie
I love anything outdoors. Just getting out for a walk can be great.
Deb- It's me, debcb!
That looks awesome. My sister lives in Greensboro. Wonder if they know about this. I’ll have to share.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Definitely let them know about this awesome place!
Tiarra Chambliss
Although not actually an “outdoor activity” Ive found that taking one of my favorite activities, yoga and doing it outside is quite delightful.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think many things are better done outside…yoga included! I’d much prefer to sit on a chair by the pool and read then sit in my house!
Jaclyn
Oh my gosh, I have always wanted to white water raft. I’m pretty nervous, but it’s just too pretty to pass up in a lifetime!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think it’s something definitely worth trying!
Cathy @ Our Mini Family
I love the zip lining activity!! My hubby would have a blast with that, but I’d be too scared to do it.
Donna
This looks like so much fun! I love road trips, feels like we haven’t been on one in so long (with a 2.5 yo and a 1 yo they just aren’t as fun:) )
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Our family started taking road trips (we’d drive 3 days from CA to MN) when I was 1 and took them about once a year. My mom actually wrote a great post for my blog about how to take road trips with kids because she was so awesome at it!
Shelley Mc.
I did a short challenging rope obstacle course but I don’t recall it being that high up (like the one in your picture). I don’t think I would be as confident if it was over water. In terms of outdoor activities, I would like to try ziplining again.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Ziplining is amazing and I think it’s an experience everyone should have at least once!
Rebecca
What a great stop in your travels and how cool that you’ve road tripped so much this year! A cross country road trip is on my agenda for next year, so I’ll have to follow along to see what I should check out!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I have lots of suggestions for cross country road trips so definitely check back for those!
Bonnie
This looks like so much fun! I need to start planning our summer vacations. We usually do something but it’s last minute and now with 4 kids, that doesn’t really work to well.
jmdenouden@gmail.com
I think I love planning vacations almost as much as I love taking them…I’ve thought about being a travel agent for that very reason!
winifred jac
what a nice stop! i am personally not too adventurous so i dont even think i could do anything of that.
Debra
It looks amazing! Something I want to see for myself for sure!
Jennifer
We may head down to this area next Summer when we check out some colleges for our son. I will have to keep this in mind as a pit stop!
jmdenouden@gmail.com
Definitely a great place to stop…especially in the summer!