Editor’s Note: Day Trippin’ is an occasional feature spotlighting fun locations within an easy drive of Charlotte. Today's destination: The U.S. National Whitewater Center.

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For Fathers Day in 2008, I got a gift card to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. We had just returned from a family rafting trip on the Nantahala River, which I thoroughly enjoyed, so my wife and daughter must have assumed I’d like this as well.

I stashed the card in a bedside drawer with every intention of using it…and there it stayed for the next three years.

But with temperatures climbing past 90 degrees on Memorial Day and my daughter celebrating her 19th birthday, I decided to pull it out and head on a family outing.

Here’s how it went:

Flatwater Kayaking
We wanted to start with something relaxing, so we grabbed some paddles and life jackets and headed down a long, wooded path that led to the Catawba River. Flatwater kayaking has been a favorite vacation activity for us, so we knew what to expect. The Catawba was beautiful and serene, just as I had hoped. The sun was already making its presence felt, so we paddled downstream at a leisurely pace for perhaps half a mile, stopping frequently to rest in the shade and take in the views. Aside from a few turtles resting on logs, we saw no significant wildlife -- a disappointment. Overall, it was worth the time, but compared to some alligator-infested rivers we kayaked in Florida, this was weak tea.

Climb 2 Zip
Zip-lining was something we had never tired, and given my aversion to heights, I wasn’t

A zip-line rider comes in for a smooth landing. (click to enlarge)

sure I wanted to. But as the saying goes: When in Rome, you gotta try the zip-line. There are two zip-line options at the USNWC – a beginners platform that’s about 32 feet above the ground and a canyon crossing with heights of over 50 feet. Guess which one we chose. The beginners platform was a great introduction – high enough to get the heart pumping but not so high as to leave you petrified. (Note: If you climb up there and freeze, no, the attendant will not give you a gentle push, not even if you request one. Don’t ask me how I know that.) Like most theme-park attractions, the wait in line lasted far longer than the actual ride.

Whitewater Rafting
This, of course, is the park’s main attraction – a giant, man-made, recirculating river filled with 12 million gallons of fresh water driven by powerful pumps. We saved this for last. Visitors can choose from three levels of intensity – family rafting, adventure rafting and rodeo rafting. All three follow the same course, but they vary in roughness based on how aggressive your guide chooses to be when tackling the rapids. The adventure option we chose lasted about an hour. At a minimum, you should expect to get soaked. At most, you may be thrown from the raft, as a young Russian woman was on our trip, so pay attention during the pre-trip briefing. We saw lots of riders in the drink. One guide lost all his passengers, but it was all in fun, and the park has spotters along the course with ropes to pull you out. As it should have been, this was definitely the highlight of our trip, so don’t miss it.

Surprises
There is a lot more to do at the Whitewater Center than I anticipated. There are bike trails, hiking trails, rock climbing and more. Plan to spend a full day.

Regrets
We never did the canyon crossing. Zip-liners who take the trip are treated to five aerial views that span the canyon and return them across the gorge on a 250-foot zip-line.

Disappointments
No outside food is allowed in the park, so we had lunch in the restaurant. Our meal for three – two sandwiches, a salad, sweet tea and one vanilla ice cream -- cost more than $50 and our server left much to be desired.

Advice
Visit the website before you go; it will help you make the most of your time and money. Wear cool, loose-fitting clothing. If you are sensitive to sun, take a hat and sunscreen. Aside from the wooded trails, the terrain provides little relief from the sun. Expect to get soaked on the water attractions, so leave cameras and electronics at home or in you car. Take a towel; it makes the wet ride home a bit more tolerable.

IF YOU GO:
Location: 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, about a 30-minute drive from uptown Charlotte.
Parking: $5
Cost: Admission to the park is free if all you want to do is look around. But what fun is that? To really enjoy the park, the AllSport Daily Pass is $49 for adults (age 10 and up) and $39 for children (age 9 and under). This gets you Whitewater Rafting, Canyon Crossing, Climbing, MegaZip, Mega Jump, Mountain Biking, Adventure Course, Climb 2 Zip, Flatwater Kayaking, Whitewater Kayaking, Stand-Up Paddle Boarding and Eco Trekking. Other packages are available for more or less depending on your needs.
Website: www.usnwc.org
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Editor's Note: Are you planning a day trip this summer? Submit a Day Trippin' article to us, along with photos, and we might just pick up part of the tab. Email editor@qcitymetro.com.

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