MAKE SURE TO BRING CASH! They don't accept card or other payments which is a bit annoying. They…read moresend you to a nearby ATM with a service fee. Other than that, the staff was nice and friendly and only $15 for 30 mins was a great deal. The pedalboats are in good condition and even have room for your child if you have one, and an opening behind your seat for a bag. The pond is a bit small but the ducks come right up to you which was so fun! We were able to see some turtles including tiny baby ones which was adorable. I had such a great time! Would recommend

We were in town visiting and stopped here to feed the ducks and enjoy a nice boat ride! $15 for 30…read moreminutes isn't bad at all! The water is pretty and filled with fish, turtles and ducks. The boats are clean and safe! The staff is friendly and helpful. The wait can be long depending on how many people are there but the line goes fast

5 star PADI Dive Shop. Couldn't have asked for a better shop and instructors to get me through a…read morecertification I was nervous to acquired. Mike and Jonathan are so kind and patient. Patience of a saint! From the beginning to the end, 12ft pool to 60ft quarry for my open water diver certification, they gave me the time and space to really be comfortable and learn in the best environment. Thank you so much for helping me find my footing (or neutral buoyancy) to truly enjoy scuba diving and my journey to "think like a diver".

I got certified here for PADI Open Water. I am not the most comfortable in the water, but the…read moreinstructors here are amazing. Mike was so patient at times when I would get really nervous. He would take his time and not rush me, yet would make sure I could perform the skills needed. Sarah is very experienced and has a very calm way of teaching. She made my last dive extremely smooth. They also have the best pricing in the Charlotte area. I HIGHLY recommend!

This place was fun! During the summer they have concerts…read moreand you can bring your blanket and chairs and enjoy the music. They have several places where you can buy beer and other drinks as well as food. You can whitewater raft, go on hiking trails and zip line too. Ample parking but beware, it can get packed during certain times and events.

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.

Wave Kings hosted a group of friends this weekend and we had a blast! Despite one of our friends…read morebeing slightly late with getting on the boat, they were still very kind and patient with us. Everyone signed waivers for liability purposes. When it started to rain, their boat was equipped with overhead covers to help shield us from the rain. The rain didn't last long thankfully! Captain Rick and Co-Captain Julia were extremely professional and informative of safety precautions. They also come equipped with snacks and drinks too - but you're encouraged to bring your own. This company also has jet skis you can rent. I had my first ride on a jet ski with Jamal and it was exhilarating! We made a couple stops at sand bars and played in the water! The 4 hours definitely flew by from all the fun we were having. If you're looking for a great turn up or a chill relaxing boat ride, Wave Kings is where it's at!

Wine Down Wednesday with Wave Kings is so much fun! It's the perfect mid-week activity to get you…read moreto Friday! The staff and captains are always friendly and helpful. They make sure to ensure safety while also having a good time. Highly recommended!

Beautiful place with nice walking trails. We enjoyed the kayak rental. Nice playground for children.read more

Fantastic experience. Plenty of shade and clear paths. Clean bathrooms as well. That is always a…read moreplus. Overall a great experience. Get out and get some nature.

I didn't know what to expect from the folks at Open Water Adventures, to be honest. When you go…read moreinto a dive shop, you can get anywhere from seasoned expert to hobbyist trying to make a quick buck. Open Water Adventures in Charlotte is definitely the former. Joe, who I'm learning now is the owner, gave me his cell number so we could stay in contact about my upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands--a destination he's visited six times, if memory serves. He wants to put me in touch with his contacts there for tours, lodging, the works. That's the kind of out-of-the-ordinary service I wouldn't have expected but received anyway. Honestly, everyone in the place was outstanding. I made my appointment and paid with Marcela, did paperwork with Meghan, and trained with Anthony (Li'l Momoa) for my diving refresher course. Things were a little harried at first, but I didn't think I'd be able to finish this course in a couple of hours, so I cleared my schedule. As usual, it's a question of expectation vs. delivery. I think the quality of equipment, expertise, and instruction are well worth the time spent making sure ducks were in a row and all was prepared exactly right. Safety comes first--diving is a fun time, but it carries its share of dangers. Learning how to avoid them isn't something I'd prefer rushed. I want to know it all very well before I go giant striding into open water. Diving isn't a cheap pastime. But it's one that will be incredibly rewarding if preparation and equipment are in order. And I feel as though Open Water Adventures knows that and puts it into practice.

Did a refresher course with Dillon and this Dive Shop is FANTASTIC! They really do make the effort…read moreto go the extra mile - and Dillon gave a GREAT refresher for me (out of water 16 years) and was incredibly patient, never rushed and focused immensely on safety. I'd return here for any dive needs in a heartbeat. Clean shop, heated pool, all staff was professional & friendly!

I was visiting the area and looking for a place to get in a run. There was ample parking,…read morewell-marked trail signage, and scenic, peaceful views. There were other people out on the trails too, but they weren't crowded. I would go back if in the area again.

One of my FAVORITE running spots in North Carolina. Hidden gem. Particularly nice on a summer…read moremorning. Extensive trails that go for miles and pretty water too!

Boat launches onto Lake Wylie and lots of parking for trailers, this campground is quite "back to…read morenature". There is a building with a restroom but I didn't spot a playground or any other "active" features. There are good spots for fishing too. Yes, there is actually an island and they have several docks. Plenty of trails to walk and you can bring your leashed dog. Great park, free entry. Lots of nature. [Review 16875 overall - 3204 in North Carolina - 388 of 2022.]

This island is adjacent to the McDowell Nature Preserve on Lake Wylie, and is very wooded. There…read moreare paved and dirt walking trails throughout with platforms and overlooks along the way. There are six large campsites with fire rings and grills, but there were other camping areas as well. We had enough people for this weekend of camping (about 200) that we rented the entire island. OMG! It was such a nice venue. There is a pavilion with an enclosed area for preparing food with kitchen, sinks, etc., along with many (I didn't count!) picnic tables on the cement slab under the covered area for serving dinner and for gatherings. There are also four actual large bathrooms which I wasn't expecting. We rented addtnl port-o-potties but we really didn't need them. Better safe than sorry! We had a DJ setup under the shelter and it became a stage with spectator area at night for entertainment. There is a nice sand volleyball court next to the pavilion if the island and lake don't offer enough entertainment and exercise. Don't miss out on the floating dock that goes out into the lake. We brought floats and hung out there during the day. There are two large parking areas at the head of the island, but plan to walk alot and carry your stuff a good distance. Beautiful spot for a picnic or family gathering. If it's like SC parks, you can probably get a yearly pass. It would be worth it if you live in the area. Only 10 minutes away from Fort Mill/Rock Hill too.