Charlotte, North Carolina is a fast growing city where open spaces seem to be disappearing by the minute.  Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, however, is fighting hard to make sure that the opportunity to get back to nature stays available to Charlotte residents.  There are three nature preserves in Mecklenburg County: McDowell, Latta, and Reedy Creek.  Reedy Creek and Latta are in the Northern parts of the county, while McDowell finds its home in the Southern most tip of the county.

While Reedy Creek and Latta are great preserves, my experience is with McDowell Nature Preserve, so I will leave the detailed descriptions of Reedy Creek and Latta to others who know them better.  McDowell Nature Preserve has 1,008 acres of preserved land and outdoor adventure opportunities.  There is a campground with everything from primitive sites to RV spots.  There are also permanent tents that can be rented by those first time campers who just want to try out the whole outdoor experience.  Recently McDowell started renting canoes for use on Lake Wylie, the lake that serves as the dividing line between North and South Carolina .  There are many hiking trails throughout McDowell, as well as a playground and shelters available for rent for events such as family reunions and weddings.

Overall, McDowell Nature Preserve offers locals and visitors alike a way to escape from the pressures of the ever-growing city of Charlotte .

The U.S. National Whitewater Center is located about 15 minutes north of Uptown Charlotte. They have rafting (guided or unguided), hiking trails (which are free to the public), kayaking (white water as well as flat water) and mountain climbing. They also have a restaurant on premise which offers the great views of the water.