When the backwoods are too far afield, discover adventures in these 5 Southern cities.
Exploring a lonely mountain path is top-notch enjoyable—there’s no denying that. However what in the event you’re among the many 80 % of the nation that lives in city areas? Is outside recreation accessible among the many South’s skyscrapers and sidewalks?
BRO determined to search out out. So we packed our luggage and traveled to 5 of the largest, most bustling metros throughout the area. Listed here are a few of our favourite adventures from every metropolis.
Bike the BeltLine in Atlanta, Ga.
Inhabitants: 499,127
Bikers be warned: You’ll discover extra sunbaked asphalt than loamy soil in The Massive Peach. However that doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t have a very good time on two wheels.
For a biking sesh filled with city attraction, head to Piedmont Park in Midtown. Right here, on the intersection of tenth Avenue and Monroe Drive, you’ll discover the northern finish of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Path. Get on the path and begin pedaling.
After about 1.5 miles, hop off the path and trip three blocks to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Nationwide Historic Park on Auburn Avenue. The park covers about 35 acres and contains King’s beginning house, the Baptist church the place he delivered his first sermon in 1947, and different historic landmarks.
Should you begin to really feel slightly peckish, cycle your technique to Krog Avenue Market. This stylish meals corridor is house to greater than two dozen meals and beverage choices starting from connoisseur popcorn to Indian samosas with conventional chutney. We suggest ordering the falafel and loaded road fries from Yalla!, a contemporary Center Jap meals stall. Wash all of it down with a craft beer from BrewDog.
When you’re good and full, bounce again within the saddle and pedal one other mile to Reynoldstown. From there, you’ll be able to both flip round and return to Piedmont Park or join with the Freedom Park Path for a lengthier journey.
Stroll the Woodland Path in Memphis, Tenn.
Inhabitants: 621,056
Memphis could also be often known as the Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Residence of the Blues, however there’s extra to this metropolis than music. That a lot is evidenced by Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.
Positioned a brief drive from the town heart, Meeman-Shelby is a 12,539-acre hardwood bottomland space bordering the Mississippi River. You are able to do slightly little bit of the whole lot right here: paddle, fish, bike, trip horses, camp, and even play disc golf. However the most effective methods to expertise the park is to easily go for a hike.
For a reasonably difficult trek, lace up your boots and set out on the Woodland Path, a three-mile loop that good points about 500 toes of elevation. Designated as an Vital Hen Space in 2006, this forest teems with hooded warblers, Mississippi kites, yellow-crowned evening herons, and different avian species.
After your hike, drive again downtown for a day at Dixon Gallery and Gardens, a high quality artwork museum enveloped in 17 acres of gardens. Take pleasure in a seared scallop orzo bowl from Park + Cherry, the onsite cafe, earlier than ending your day among the many hydrangeas, sunflowers, dahlias, and azaleas.
Climb the Spire in Charlotte, N.C.
Inhabitants: 897,720
Certain, Charlotte is the second-largest banking and monetary hub within the nation. However on this metropolis, there’s extra to climb than company ladders. Simply ask the parents on the U.S. Nationwide Whitewater Heart.
Positioned about 13 miles from downtown, the Whitewater Heart is a playground for outside fanatics. You possibly can zipline, mountain bike, path run, hike, raft, kayak, and even ice skate. There’s mountain climbing, too.
Boasting one of many largest outside climbing services within the area, the middle options 35 to 45 top-rope routes, practically 50 bouldering issues, and a 46-foot-tall spire. Should you don’t thoughts getting moist, there’s additionally a deep water solo advanced with 5 partitions starting from 20 to 45 toes.
After working up an urge for food, try River’s Edge. The complete-service eatery serves consolation meals plus a strong collection of alcoholic drinks. If it’s your first time, order the penne alla vino. With braised pork stomach and a creamy crimson sauce, the dish tastes like one thing you’d get from a five-star restaurant.
To bookend your day, lease a full-suspension mountain bike and discover the 40-some miles of onsite trails. Count on punchy climbs, boardwalks, gnarly roots, pucker-worthy rock gardens, and the whole lot in between.
Discover the Boneyard in Jacksonville, Fla.
Inhabitants: 971,319
If taking the youngsters to a boneyard isn’t your thought of household enjoyable, you clearly haven’t visited Boneyard Seashore in Jacksonville.
Positioned in Massive Talbot Island State Park, this protected space will get its title from the sun-bleached driftwood bushes that, at first look, appear to be elephant bones. To entry the seaside, comply with Shoreline Path from the Bluffs Picnic Space. You’ll meander for about one-third of a mile earlier than reaching the Nassau Sound. Right here you’ll lastly get eyes on the pièce de résistance: hauntingly lovely skeletons of oaks and cedars.
Due to uncovered tree roots and robust currents, swimming is strictly prohibited on Boneyard Seashore. However there’s a lot extra to do. You possibly can hike all three miles of shoreline, search for aquatic critters within the tidal swimming pools, or simply benefit from the peace and quiet. The realm can be a premier spot for black skimmers, ospreys, piping plovers, and brown pelicans, so convey your binoculars.
After exploring, drive north to Timoti’s Seafood Shak, an area joint the place you’ll be able to order the whole lot from lobster rolls to crab burgers. Should you nonetheless have some daylight after dinner, go paddleboarding within the 7 Creeks Recreation Space. Simply look ahead to gators.
Paddle the Neuse in Raleigh, N.C.
Inhabitants: 476,587
Raleigh is a mecca for tech-savvy entrepreneurs, software program builders, biotech researchers, and different science-minded specialists. However when these professionals aren’t launching a brand new app or reprogramming magnetic cilia, they’re taking part in on the banks of the Neuse River.
Fashioned by the confluence of the Flat and Eno rivers, the Neuse is a 275-mile waterway that flows from northern Wake County to the Pamlico Sound on the coast. The primary 17 miles of the river run proper by way of the guts of Raleigh, offering a uniquely city paddling expertise.
Should you’re from out of city or don’t have a watercraft, we propose connecting with Paddle Creek. The outside clothing store can hook you up with a kayak or canoe and shuttle you to the river. For a half day of enjoyable, we suggest their eight-mile paddle. The journey begins on the clothing store’s non-public put-in on the base of the Capital Boulevard bridge and ends at Buffaloe Street. This stretch is mild-mannered, supplying you with the possibility to search for nice blue herons, river otters, white-tailed deer, and different wildlife.
After floating for a number of hours, go downtown to CowBar for the final word post-paddle meal. We’re a fan of the Nuclear Burger, which is topped with sriracha ketchup, Jack cheese, pickled crimson onions, jalapeños, and a house-made scorching sauce. For dessert, order cookies from Amitie Macaron after which spend the remainder of your night stress-free at Dorothea Dix Park, one of many metropolis’s largest greenspaces.
Cowl picture: Log some miles on the Atlanta BeltLine. © 2021, Gene Phillips, Courtesy of ACVB & AtlantaPhotos.com