May 9, 2024
When adventurous travelers get the urge to explore, they’ll find plenty to choose from in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. The region is home to experiences for all ages that offer several ways to thrill, exhilarate and electrify, from indoor skydiving to underground mine tours. Be warned: These five wild outings in Cabarrus County aren’t for the faint of heart!
Put the Pedal to the Metal
For the ultimate high-octane thrill, nothing beats racing in Concord. Rev your engines at the iconic Charlotte Motor Speedway with the NASCAR Racing Experience. The driving school puts you behind the wheel to handle the turns of the Speedway like a real NASCAR driver. You can also sign up for the guided Feel The Thrill Tour, where you’ll feel the full-tilt force of the 24-degree banked turns during a ride around the track. You’ll also learn about the venue’s history, see the NASCAR Cup Series garage and Pit Road, plus visit zMAX Dragway and The Dirt Track. And nearby at Concord’s K1 Speed or The Speedpark at Concord Mills, challenge your friends to a friendly and fun kart race.
Plunge Down a Water Slide
Nearly a dozen water slides — of varying lengths, heights, twists and turns — comprise the indoor water park that is Great Wolf Lodge in Concord. This indoor water park resort invites the whole family to test their mettle on 11 slides at four heated pools, including the rip-roarin’ River Canyon Run, the hyper-fast Mountain Edge Raceway, the six-story funnel Howlin’ Tornado and the steep drops of the four-story Alberta Falls. Refuel post-plunge at the lodge’s restaurants and snack bars, then enjoy exciting dry land activities like the 4D experience inside the Howly Wood XD Theater.
Fly High in the Sky
The beauty of Concord’s iFLY Indoor Skydiving is it offers the rush of skydiving without requiring you to actually leap from an airplane. Certified flight instructors show you the ropes in a short training session, then you suit up, step into a state-of-the-art wind tunnel and “free fall,” a simulated and safe experience that mimics the feeling of skydiving. Flyers as young as three years old can participate. And for a fun bonus, choose from one of several virtual reality add-ons that let you fly over destinations from around the globe.
Explore the Trails on a Mountain Bike
Get a little dirt under your tires on a challenging outdoor adventure. Concord’s first mountain bike trail, Brown Mill is a great place to start. Winding through leafy woods, the 4.25-mile trail welcomes intermediate riders to navigate jumps, dips, switchbacks, berms and corners. In Harrisburg, the Harrisburg Half is a shorter, half-mile loop with a short ascent and a few switchbacks. Need gear? Check out Cabarrus Cycling Co. in Kannapolis, a one-stop shop with everything you need: bicycles, accessories, apparel, plus tune-ups, service and repair.
Tour Underground Mine Tunnels
Descend deep into the earth at Midland’s Reed Gold Mine, the site of the first documented discovery of gold in the U.S. On a guided tour, wander hundreds of feet of restored mine tunnels, most dating back to the 1830s. Aboveground, pan for flakes of gold, see the ruins of the 1854 mill house, hike trails to Little Meadow Creek and explore the Visitor Center exhibits on the geology of gold and of historic mining equipment.
Time to Relax & Unwind
Thrill seekers need rest, too. That’s why Cabarrus County offers a range of accommodations. Find a hotel that’s right for you in our Places to Stay guide.
