Outdoor Recreation & Fitness

Carolina Raptor Center Carowinds Amusement Park Charlotte Disc Golf Club Clubs and Organizations Database Crowders Mountain State Park Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens King's Mountain State Park Latta Plantation Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation North Carolina State Parks UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens U.S. National Whitewater Center Visitor Info Center YMCA of Greater Charlotte Wing Haven Gardens and Bird Sanctuary

Thanks to our mild climate, golf, disc or “frisbee” golf, boating, tennis, running, horseback riding and other outdoor recreational activities are popular year-round activities in the Charlotte area. The area’s many gardens, parks and greenways also remain well-used throughout the year.

North and South Carolina are two of the nation’s most revered golf destinations. Golf in the Carolinas includes the rolling parkland courses of the piedmont, spectacular mountain tracks and soothing beach courses. Pinehurst, with more than 30 golf courses, is just a two-hour drive and is one of the nation’s top golf destinations. For more information on golf right here in Charlotte, check out the Visitor Info Center's online database of area attractions.

The Catawba River and its system of manmade lakes provide many activities for water lovers. The river is home to the U.S. National Whitewater Center, which serves as training grounds for Olympic athletes as well as a busy recreation center for the public. Located just 30 minutes north of the city, Lake Norman has 520 miles of shoreline and is the state’s largest man-made lake. Mountain Island Lake and Lake Wylie lie south of Lake Norman on the Catawba. Sailing, wind surfing, power boating and fishing are just a few of the activities to be enjoyed on this water system.

Athletic associations for children and adults organize team sports including football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, tennis and rugby. To find athletic organizations, check Mecklenburg Neighbors in the Sunday edition of The Charlotte Observer. You can also find a searchable database of clubs and organizations in the “Services” section of the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County’s Web site at www.plcmc.org/services.

If you like physical activity but would rather not do it outdoors, you still have many options. The YMCA of Greater Charlotte is one of the largest YMCA facilities in the country with 19 facilities and more than 150,000 members. It offers a wide array of activities for members of all ages. The Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation department also operates several indoor facilities, including Ray’s Splash Planet (a family-oriented water park), the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center (MAC) in uptown Charlotte, several fitness centers, and several recreation centers with indoor gymnasiums. And finally, Charlotte is home to a wide variety of private gyms, indoor rock walls, inline and ice hockey rinks, and more.

Finally, Crowders Mountain State Park is a short, 40-minute drive away in Kings Mountain, N.C. Hike to the top for a magnificent view of the Charlotte skyline. Fishing and boating around the nearby lake is also available.

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