US National Whitewater Center Review

The US National Whitewater Center is a new recreational and whitewater training facility on the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina. Built right onto the Catawba river, the USNWC has a whitewater course that is billed as the world's largest recirculating man-made river that can be adjusted for difficulty, which makes it perfect for every skill level, from elite athletes training for competition, to newbies learning to kayak for the first time.

Available Activities
Though "Whitewater" is in the USNWC's name, there is much more to the facilities than just water. Water-based activities include whitewater rafting for groups, whitewater kayaking on the course, and flat water kayaking on the Catawba river right next to the course. The facility is peppered with nature trails throughout, which visitors can hike for free. The facility also includes a climbing wall and a high-ropes course that's useful for team development.

I've visited the USNWC to walk around the trails, and to participate in a team building activity for my company, which had us climbing 32 feet in the air and walking along ropes while tethered. The USNWC provides facilitators for team building events, which meant that our group had a leader who challenged us first on some fun low elements, before guiding us through the climbing required to complete the high ropes elements. Our time on the course was spent out in the woods, with a view of the whitewater course over to the side, and it took about four hours for our team to complete the activities. When we weren't actively climbing things, or trying to figure out puzzles, we were able to hang out in a relaxed atmosphere, talk and get to know each other.

The USNWC also sponsors occasional "concert series". For their August concert series, visitors can show up for the music, or to raft, climb, kayak, or check out the ropes course at the team development center, while enjoying the sounds of local bands playing at the center.

USNWC Facilities
The USNWC backs up their fun, interactive activities with some great facilities for individuals and for companies looking to host an event at the center. There's "the "Eddy's Restaurant and Bar" which has indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the whitewater course. Companies can rent out the conference center that's also in the main building on the site, which makes it an incredibly convenient location for offsite meetings.

While we didn't use the conference center during our company visit to the USNWC, the facilitator on our course challenge worked with our organization's leaders to arrange it so that we could head over to the bar and have a couple of drinks, and also so that our organization could purchase a large number of t-shirts to hand out after the event.

Rates
Rates for all of the activities are fairly reasonable. Individuals can participate in a whitewater rafting excursion for anywhere from $33 - $39 (depending on the day and time). Whitewater kayaking (with your own boat and gear) ranges from $15 for a single session to $25 for a day pass and $125 for a monthly pass. Climbing starts at $13 and you can even get on the ropes for as low as $15 a visit. The trails and general park area are free, and annual passes for unlimited kayaking, climbing and rafting can be purchased as well.

Cat's Bottom Line
I feel very fortunate to live so close to the US National Whitewater Center. There's something for just about everyone, and it's a great place to take out of town visitors looking for a nice afternoon of fun. I highly recommend the USNWC to anyone in the area looking for something to do, or for a fun group activity.

Website: http://www.usnwc.org/