Latta Plantation!!

Today I went to Latta Plantation. Latta Plantation offers many things to do, they have a Nature Center, Segway Tours, Horseback and Hiking Trails, Fishing, and lots more. Today I went to their Equestrian Center and took a Horseback Trail ride. When we got there we had to get a ticket so they knew we were supposed to be there, then they showed us to our horses. I had a horse named Dillian he was super easy to ride and really calm. My sister had a horse named Molly she was a really slow walker, so we had to stop a couple of times to let her catch up. While we were on the trail the scenery was really pretty but not a big variety of color mostly green. Since the horse was really tall when we went under low branches I would always get spider webs in my face. Because of how the horse walks the saddle really hurt. Other than that the ride was really fun, the weather was nice too so it was a smart idea to go in the morning... there weren't many people either so that was nice.

Here are some pics. (there aren't many cause my mom could not follow behind us and take pictures)

Getting our helmets.

This is Dillian:).

This is Molly:) (slow poke).

About to start the trail!!

And we're off!

This coming back from the trail ride.

When we were finished Dillian went straight to his stall.

Had so much fun there, for more info here is the link to there website: http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec

(704) 875-1391

6211 Sample Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078

Whitewater Rafting Center contd.

Here is the rest about my trip to the Whitewater Center!!

After the Adventure Course and the Climb 2 Zip we went to the parking lot and ate our sandwiches that we brought with us. You can either bring your lunch (if you bring it, you can't actually bring it into the center) or you can buy it at their River's Edge Bar & Grill (a full service restaurant) or you can buy sandwiches and/or snacks and drinks at one of their "gift shops."
      When lunch was over we headed right back to where the Climb 2 Zip and the Adventure Course were went on to do the Canyon Crossing: Which is pretty much just like the Adventure Course but harder and at the end you take a zip line back over the 250 ft gorge. It wasn't that scary to me but my little sisters were a little freaked out, but they got over it. The hardest part of crossing was the last element you had to do before you got to the zip line. You had to cross a thin cable with nothing to hold onto but the rope that had you harnessed in!!

Crossing the first element!

Trying to hang on!

Finished!!

When we got done with that we headed over to the Climbing wall, the climbing wall here is one of the largest outdoor climbing centers in the country! I got in line for the hardest one, but when I was about 5 feet off the ground I couldn't get my hand to the rock that I wanted to grab on to so I got down and did the medium difficulty level one. The medium one I got to the top of in no time; it was pretty simple, and not scary at all. After I was finished, I climbed on some of the wall that wasn't being used and just played around 'till it was time to go.

Almost to the top.

Without a harness.

I had so much fun there. If you want to know more here is the link to their website: http://usnwc.org/

5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, 

Charlotte, NC

(704) 391-3900

Map of facility

Whitewater Rafting Center!!

      Charlotte is home to many park and rec attractions. Today I went to a very well known park/rec attraction, The U.S National Whitewater Rafting Center. This place is the training ground for the National Whitewater Rafting team, but they are also open to the public. They sell season and day passes, there are a variety day passes you can get and the one you chose determines the certain activities you get to do.
      There are so many activities you can do there, starting with the Mega Zip: The Mega Zip is a 1,123 ft (approximately 374 yards) zip line the flies you right over the whitewater rapids. It was so much fun (in the beginning it was a little scary). When I was almost the the ending platform I didn't have enough momentum to actually get to the platform so was stopped almost right over the water!! Then a man came and had me hold onto a rope and he pulled me to the platform :).

Just about to take off!!

We were really high!

Coming up(ish) to the ending platform.

      Next activity that I did was the Mega Jump, which is where you step off a 46 ft tall tower pretty much free-falling to the ground. You are harnessed in though. It wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be 'cause you don't actually jump off, but it was still fun. 

About to "jump" off!

"Free-falling"

When I got down from the Mega "Jump" we started heading all the way to the other side of the park where we did the Adventure Course: Where you walk from platform to platform walking pretty much on all ropes 20 feet up in the trees. In that area we also did the Climb 2 Zip: Where I climbed up to a 32 feet into the air on a cargo net to a platform where I took a 100 ft zip line down to the bottom. The Adventure Course was really fun, my foot slipped a couple of times as I was walking across the cable but thankfully I didn't ever fall. On the Climb 2 Zip, while I was climbing up the cargo net I got my foot caught in the netting like three times but it was easy to get it out so I kept climbing. When i got to the top...... actually I can show what happened when i got to the top!!

Almost there!!

Here are some pics of me on the Adventure Course!! 

Getting harnessed in. 

About to lose my balance!!

Hey!!

Almost to the next platform

Walking across a very thin cable 

More to come about my trip soon!!