I have never been to Charlotte NC before, and as I did my research on what to do, the US National…read moreWhitewater Center often came up as 1 of 2 must-visit attractions. Not being a real outdoorsy person, and only having whitewater rafted once, I felt the $89 day pass was very reasonable. I arrived at the USNWC at open time, and paid $13 for parking. Once parked, I lined up at the Outfitters center to sign up for activities. It was already busy, so I was probably in line for about 20 minutes to get my spot for whitewater rafting. They make it sound like you can only do whitewater rafting once, but after speaking to my guide, you can only have one reservation at a time. Once you finish you trip, you can immediately sign up again if there are spots. As I was there relatively early, I was schedule for a 10am rafting start, which gave me plenty of time to walk around the check out the area before getting to rafting. My general thoughts: - Whitewater rafting was terrific. It was the main focus of my visit, and completely made my day pass worth it. My guide was fun and informative. The conveyer belt bringing the raft back up was operational while I did it, but later in the day, it looked like the conveyer was out of service, so everyone had to carry the rafts back up, which is quite a bit of extra work. Between the heat and extra carrying, I decided not to go back, otherwise I would have. - The bin storage service made it easy to rent a bin to store my gear. It often had lines, so I would recommend minimize the number of times you need to access it. You can access as many times as you want. - I did the kayaking at the flatwater area. It was a much more relaxing area that you can go at your own-pace. - The ziplines were a bit disappointing, unless you pay extra for the longer lines. The lines that don't require reservations are very short, and frankly, not worth doing unless it's your first time trying it. - Most of the rock climbing areas were closed off, and the few areas open was packed with small children. So I decided not to try it. - Because by late day, it was getting uncomfortably hot, so i decided not to do the rope courses, but they looked pretty good. - Entry to the area is free, so a good number of visitors hang out just to have picnics and watch. Overall, I enjoyed my visit, only because of the whitewater rafting. It's much more affordable then what I could do back at home. The ziplines are good for first timers. Ropes courses looked good, and flatwater activities are nice to move at a more relaxed pace. I can see why it's a popular place.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a massive 1,300-acre…read morenon-profit outdoor recreation facility and an official U.S. Olympic Training Site. Located along the scenic Catawba River, it stands as the largest multi-sport outdoor adventure center in the world. The Water Features World's Largest Man-Made Whitewater River: Using a massive recirculating pump system holding 12 million gallons of water, the park features two distinct concrete channels providing Class II to IV rapids. Visitors can go whitewater rafting with a guide or tackle the rapids solo via whitewater kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). Flatwater Activities: For a calmer pace, the center provides direct access to the adjacent Catawba River for serene flatwater kayaking and paddleboarding. Deep Water Solo: A highly unique 45-foot-high artificial climbing wall with multiple difficulty paths. It features no ropes or harnesses--if you lose your grip, you plunge directly into a 20-foot-deep pool below. Land & Aerial Adventures 40+ Miles of Trails: A massive, interconnected network of single-track trails woven throughout the forested property. It is heavily utilized year-round for mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. Ropes & Ziplines: The park features over 20 different aerial ropes challenge courses, suspension bridges, and multiple ziplines stretching up to 1,500 feet long that glide high over the water canyons. Rock Climbing: A comprehensive climbing center that offers traditional bouldering and top-rope climbing walls. Community Lifestyle & Kids FeaturesWildwoods: A multi-acre, tree-canopied challenge and play area specifically engineered for younger kids and families.Festivals & Yoga: The center acts as a major local social hub, hosting massive seasonal festivals, over 400 yoga practices annually across various lawns, and the popular River Jam live music concert series.

We had a great time. The guys were awesome. Unfortunately a storm rolled in while we were out, and…read morethe guy in charge gave us a small refund to adjust for the time lost. We were happy without the adjustment, but the display of terrific customer service and honesty made the experience even better. Lake Norman is beautiful and these guys will be the service we use anytime we're in the area from now on!

Great experience for our first time on Lake Norman. We did a 2 day boat rental, was ready when we…read morearrived and the kids helping us were thorough. Boat was a little "used" but you get what you pay for, the prices were pretty reasonable. Enjoyed checking out the sights and eating lunch waterfront. Boat was key for this visit!

A couple of years ago, a couple of friends and I went down the Catawba river with little to no idea…read moreon how dangerous the waters could be. We were mindlessly floating along, when we heard a man yell out at us that we missed our exit point. He thankfully paddled over with his canoe and was able to lead us to safely. We are forever grateful that he was there and able to help. Thank you sir and thank you for guiding people in the right direction!

Extremely disorganized. They told us to drive other patrons and workers back to the dam when they…read morewere "valeting" our cars from the dam to the Pump House. Potentially used the car as a corporate taxi, as many things in the rear seats were shifted to seemingly accommodate other passengers. Worker didn't get out of the drivers seat of our car when we got in because he probably thought he was just shuttling us!! Invasive and unprofessional. Would not use again.

Excellent food. Had the filet sliders. Totally worth it ! Enjoyed it. Best place in Disneyread more

An enjoyable trip from the Wilbur Dam down the river. Our guide, Daniel, was very personable &…read moreknowledgeable. We really enjoyed his conversation & information about the river. Trip was about 2+ hrs. We stopped for snacks & water & a bathroom break. Also an opportunity to jump into an area of still water. Rope swing & slide available as well. It was a rainy afternoon, we were provided ponchos. Water guns also included! Which was fun for the teenager in our group !

We had a wonderful experience rafting on the Watauga River. Our guide, Jerry, was really great. He…read morewas very knowledgeable, fun and informative. The owner was Teresa was super friendly. She took many photos of us along with our guide that she sent us for free. They even loaned us a hat to wear on the river! I highly recommend Watauga Kayak Tours & Outfitters!

I love RiverRat's! I've been kayaking with them for three years now. They offer single and double…read morekayaks as well as canoes. Their rates are very reasonable! They also offer a variety of group rates! Have your own kayak? RiverRats offers certified guides to lead you on expeditions. They have several launch times each day through out the summer season. You can bring your own kayak or rent one of theirs. Looking to buy a kayak? The RiverRat's team is amazing at fitting you with a boat that's right for you. They will even let you try out various boats to make sure you're satisfied before you purchase one. Each year they host a Paddlethon to raise money for Tara Hall Home for Boys. It's always a great day full of fun, food, music and new friends!

I've used RiverRats to paddle Lynches River twice now - once with my son's Boy Scout troop and once…read morewith my family. The guides are very helpful and competent - and great at helping beginners learn to paddle. You can rent boats from them or pay them to transport your own boat. We have done both but honestly it's just easier to rent from them. They have several styles of boats depending on what you need (tandem, sit on top, sit inside, "big boy" boats). There's a nice shelter at the river house to rest under when you get back, bathroom, and even a camping area for groups that want to stay overnight. It's a family run business and they are all super friendly.

Who knew my first time in a kayak could be this fun?!?! Novice and experienced kayakers alike are…read morein good hands with Adventure Carolina. Even if you're like me (read: you're not a good swimmer and you've never been kayaking), you'll have a great time and get the hang of things pretty quickly. Besides, there is no better way to escape the heat of Columbia in the summer than taking a ride down the Congaree River. It was a manageable waterway that's suitable for first-timers and enjoyable for all, and Kevin was incredibly attentive, patient, and encouraging throughout the ride down. Everything is provided for you -- kayaks, paddles, life vests, and even bottled water. Just remember to dress light (shorts and a tee) and bring sandals (preferably, because sneakers will take several days to dry out) that you don't mind getting wet. If you've never been kayaking -- definitely give this a try. It's $35 well spent!

Kevin was amazing - we decided at the last minute to go canoeing at Congaree National Park, called…read moreKevin the night before and he opened early for us to make it happen. He was so helpful and the canoe we rented was great. Would definitely recommend!

Friendly and quick service! We rented a pontoon boat and it was great. The boat was nice and clean…read moreand we had a great day on the lake! It was a little pricey to rent, but we would do it again.

We had a great time with easy on and easy off the lake. We will do this again! Thanks for a great…read moreday!