When the weather gets a little better and you’re looking for some fun outdoor activities in Charlotte, look no further! This list ranges in both activity level and age. Have fun outdoors in Charlotte!
This post is all about fun outdoor activities in Charlotte, NC!
1. The Whitewater Center
The Whitewater Center is the absolute epitome of outdoor activities in Charlotte. Home to whitewater rafting, ropes courses, climbing walls, yoga and more, this spot is the ultimate outdoor playground. During the warmer months you can also catch their River Jam series of outdoor concerts, and other unique events. Check out their event calendar for a full list of upcoming events. This is a great place to spend a full day to take in all there is to offer! They even have annual passes if you love it!
2. walk the greenway
The Charlotte Greenway has so many stretches of beautiful walking paths throughout Charlotte. Down in South Charlotte, at the Lower McAlpine, McMullen Creek, and Four Mile Creek Greenway, there is a portion that stretches through a beautiful marsh area lined with cattails. The Little Sugar Creek Greenway stretches to Freedom Park in one direction and NODA in the other. Check out the greenway map for the many locations and find one near you. It’s a great way to explore some of the city and catch a glimpse of nature without having to leave town.
3. hit a few brewery patios
It seems like every day in Charlotte there is an announcement about a new brewery opening! South End, NoDa, and Plaza Midwood are great, walkable neighborhoods with brewery options. South End brewery patio highlights include Sycamore Brewing, Wooden Robot and The Charlotte Beer Garden. In Noda there is Heist Brewing, Protagonist Beer (small but ideal for people watching) and NoDa Company Store (not technically a brewery, but they carry tons of local beer and have an awesome outdoor area). And in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood don’t miss Legion Brewing or Resident Culture (they even do a Food Truck Friday in their parking lot). These are just the highlights, but Charlotte is home to tons of cool places in so many neighborhoods!
4. picnic in freedom park
If you’re looking for a simply family-friendly outdoor activity in Charlotte, nothing beats a picnic. Freedom Park is an ideal location for a beautiful picnic. Freedom Park is home to sprawling lawns, a beautiful pond, an amphitheater often filled with yogis or birthday parties, adorable puppies and excellent people watching. Pack a homemade picnic or grab some pre-made dishes and snacks from somewhere like Common Market, spread out a blanket and bask in the sun.
5. explore the rail trail
For a fun combination of exercise, shopping and eating, check out the Rail Trail. The Rail Trail runs along the Charlotte Lightrail from Uptown Charlotte through the South End Neighborhood. Along this biking/walking/scooter trail there are graffiti art installations for your viewing (and instagramming) pleasure. There are also shops and restaurants just off the main path to break up the walk. On your walk, pop into the 704 Shop for some Charlotte gear right by the East/West Station. After shopping, grab a patio seat at Futo Buta Ramen near the Bland Street Station for some amazing ramen. Get lost exploring the South End Neighborhood and then take one of the the Bird Scooters for a quick ride back to where you started!
6. play tennis at veterans park
No matter your skill level, a game of tennis is an amazing way to spend some time outdoors, and Veterans Park is one of the best spots! Home to three sets of courts (six total), Veterans is a great place to channel your inner Serena Williams or Roger Federer. Get there early because when the weather is nice, the tennis courts across town fill up quickly. Also, Veterans Park is home to a great playground and facilities for the kids. Not near Veterans Park? There are also bunches of other public courts around Charlotte. Check out Park Road Park, Freedom Park and many others!
7. catch an outdoor family movie
During the warmer months, the perfect nighttime activity in Charlotte is an outdoor movie! There are a few places around town that host these nights. One of them is Rea Farms in South Charlotte. Amid all the shops and restaurants there is a long lawn, perfect for blankets and low chairs. Check out their events calendar for dates and movies. Downtown Matthews often does a movie night as well in their park.
8. Check out a farmers market
Charlotte is home to several amazing Farmer’s Markets. On King’s Drive, just outside Uptown Charlotte is the Kings Drive Farmers Market. In South End there is the South End Farmers Market and in Matthews there is the popular Matthews Community Farmers Market. Filled to the brim with fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants and more, it is easy to accidentally kill an hour searching through it all. These are the perfect place to shop local for fresh produce and products.
9. outdoor small business markets
Charlotte is am amazing town for its outdoor small business markets. Events such as Front Porch Sunday, Small Business Saturday, Nebel’s Alley Night Market and more, offer patrons the chance to explore tons of local vendors’ wares. These markets have everything from clothing to jewelry, plants, food items and more! Usually there are also local food trucks offering a delicious bite to eat. Lastly-and some would say most importantly-are the puppies. Patrons often bring their dogs to walk through these outdoor markets. All in all any of these markets will make for a lovely outdoor activity in Charlotte.
10. take a boat out on lake norman
This one takes a bit more pre-planning but is definitely worth it. The easiest way to accomplish this is to have your own, or have a friend that has a boat. If you aren’t lucky enough to have a boating friend, renting is the perfect option. Several companies have boat, jet ski, and even kayak rentals for Lake Norman. Get more information on renting here. Pack food and drinks for the day and spend it out on the water enjoying the sun! Don’t forget sunscreen.
11. explore camp north end
Camp North End, originally home to a Ford Motor Company factory, has since been turned into a sprawling shopping, eating, hangout spot. This area is an absolutely amazing spot to spend a day outdoors. Walking through Camp North End, there are countless art installations, instagram moments and unique places to sit and hang out. Once you explore around a little, pop into Grow to indulge your green thumb or That’s Novel Books for a new book. Then grab lunch at one of the food stalls or get a delicious southern-inspired dinner at Leah & Louise. This outing will become one of your all time favorite outdoor activities in Charlotte.
12. Catch a Charlotte sports game
Charlotte is lucky to have three sports teams play Uptown: Charlotte Knights baseball, Carolina Panthers football and Charlotte FC soccer. Depending on the time of year, there is almost always one of these teams playing. Charlotte FC’s inaugural season is happening this spring/summer (2022), while the other two have been staples of Charlotte culture for years. Each game is a great way to show some Charlotte pride and spend a beautiful day in the outdoor stadiums. This is one outdoor activity in Charlotte you don’t want to miss if you’re a sports fan (or a tailgate fan)!
Have an amazing day!
This post has been all about fun outdoor activities in Charlotte.
Charlotte is an amazing town, growing every day. There are so many wonderful activities to do all around town. These are just a few of those options. I hope this inspires you to get out and explore the town and to try something new. If you’re looking for more weekend activities around Charlotte, check out my post on Day Trips from Charlotte.
