“Got there too late to take advantage of all

the site had to offer. Landscape is beautiful. House is nice to see, but only takes a small amount of time. Library experience was great and nothing like I had expected. It is much more than a library. A very entertaining 3-4 hours. Staff is super friendly. Will definitely go back.” If you are the outdoors type and enjoy a little

exercise or adventure, TheU.S. National

Whitewater Center is located northwest of downtown Charlotte. It offers 24 different land and water activities at its 500-acre center and boasts the world’s largest man-made whitewa- ter river. In addition to whitewater rafting, you can also try your hand at kayaking (both flatwa- ter or whitewater), stand-up paddle boarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, zip-lining, and more. The center is a great place for running with plenty of running and obstacle trails. If you are a thrill seeker, you might want to

check out Carowinds Amusement Park. Known as “the thrill capital of the Southeast,” Carowinds Amusement Park is home to the

Intimidator, the tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster in the region. The ride was inspired by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt. Last but not least, if you

Carowinds Amusement Park

are a NASCAR fan and the NASCAR race on Saturday night after the convention isn’t enough, you can

also try The Speedpark at Concord Mills where the whole family can race go-karts on four scaled race tracks. The premier track at The Speedpark, the Superspeedway, features a quarter-mile oval and 5/8-scale Sprint Cup style cars. There is also miniature golf, 110 ft. fun slide, and bungee jump available. This is just a taste of what Charlotte has to

offer. It is a city full of fun, entertainment, out- door activities and great museums and attrac- tions. Come and experience the flavor of Charlotte and make lasting memories this con- vention! Michelle Keadle-Taylor is a freelance writer based in Pennsylvania.

July-August 2015 | Automotive Recycling 35