2014

B y R E N E E W R i g H T

What’s the best way to get fit in CLT? Do you want to bike, hike, workout in a gym, swim, dance, lift a kettlebell, or swing on a trapeze? The optionsin Charlotte are endless. With Spring on the horizon, we offer this list of favoritefacilities and the hottest fitness trends compiled by our editorial staff to get youmoving. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to vote for your nominees forbest fitness clubs and activities on ESPN 730 Radio, with WCCB TV THE CW andwith Charlotte Prowler Magazine.

Best Private Club UptownCharlotte Athletic Clubwww.charlotteathleticclub.comif you have deep pockets, thislux club strategically locatedin the Bank of America Plazabuilding has everything—andwe do mean everything—youneed to keep fit, from squash,racquetball and basketballcourts, weight training, per-sonal trainers, a spin studioand a wide variety of classesto a spa, sauna and steam-rooms, laundry service andmore.

Best Daily Fee UptownHealth Club Childress Klein YMCAwww.ymcacharlotte.orgyou don’t need to be a mem-ber to enjoy the amenities atthis branch of the y in OneWells Fargo Center. The guestfee ($10/day, $20/week)gives you access to an indoorheated swimming pool, in-door running track, state-of-the-art fitness center andmore.

Best Place to Swim LapsMeck. County Aquatic Centerwww.parkandrec.comOne of the gems of thecounty park system, this facil-ity just a few blocks from up-

town offers a wealth of wateroptions including an Olympic-size lap pool, a heated poolwith handicapped access, anda hot tub for adults only, plusa fitness center, kayak classes,swim lessons, water polo andaqua-exercise classes. Meck-

lenburg County residents canuse the facility for $5 a day,with lower prices for kids andseniors.

Best Year-Round Water ParkRay’s Splash Planetwww.rayssplashplanet.comAnother facility operated bythe county park system, thisindoor waterpark with a lazyriver, water slides, heatedpools and more, is a godsendfor parents with water-lovingkids. A favorite for birthdayparties, school holidays andsummer camp, Splash Planetoffers a day full of fun at feesranging from $3 to $8 forMecklenburg County resi-dents.

Best Indoor PlaygroundSports Connection Family Entertainment Centerwww.sportsconnectionnc.comThis huge facility in the Bal-lantyne neighborhood offersa wide range for fun things tokeep every member of thefamily active, including an in-flatable bounce zone for theyoungest set, laser tag andvideo games for teens, andbowling, indoor rock climbingand a ropes course for thewhole family. There’s a snackbar on-site as well, plus freeWiFi.

Best Health Club for FamiliesYMCAwww.ymcacharlotte.orgWith 19 different locationsthroughout MecklenburgCounty, the yMCA of greaterCharlotte can’t be beat for itsconvenience or wide varietyof classes and facilities, in-cluding pools, gyms, fitnesscenters, and more. it’s rea-sonably priced as well, withmonthly fees based on a slid-ing income scale that coverfree access to hundreds ofgroup exercise classes, allyMCA pools and gyms, per-sonal training, and participa-tion in y-sponsored sportsleagues.

Best Place to Paddle/BikeU.S. National WhitewaterCenterwww.usnwc.orgChallenge yourself in kayak,raft or paddleboard on theman-made whitewatercourse, or paddle the flatwa-ter on the Catawba River atthis unique facility just westof town. The WhitewaterCenter also has 20 miles ofchallenging mountain biketrails that are free to ride.

Best Place to Ride HorsesLatta Plantation EquestrianCenterwww.lattaequestriancenter.comEnjoy trail rides around the1300-acre Latta PlantationNature Preserve year-round.The stable also offers ponyrides, sunset dinner rides,therapeutic riding, and more.

Best Inexpensive MassagesZen Massage Centerwww.zenmassagecharlotte.comWhen you need a massagefast, this Dilworth massagecenter can fill the need sevendays a week, with no mem-berships or contracts re-quired. Best of all, theone-hour signature ZenSwedish Massage costs just$49.95 all the time.

Best Men’s Spa Services In UptownModern Salon and Spawww.modernsalonandspa.com

One of four Charlotte loca-tions, the Modern Salon &Spa in the Hearst Building up-town offer a lunch-time Exec-utive Suite package for menwith a one-hour massage,Modern Man mani/pedi, andlunch.

Best Day SpaThe Spa At Ballantynewww.theballantynehotel.comUnique nature-based treat-ments at the spa inside theBallantyne Hotel include day-long access to the property’spools, both indoor and out-door, sauna, Jacuzzi, steamrooms and fitness facility.

Best MedSpaVoci Spawww.vocispa.comCharlotte’s first medical skin-care facility continues to lead

the pack, offering only med-ically tested and FDA-ap-proved services, includingfacial fillers, laser treatments,microdermabrasion and en-dermologie, in addition tomore traditional spa treat-ments.

Best Investment in Stress Relief Massage Envywww.massageenvy.comA low-cost monthly member-ship at Massage Envy in-cludes a customized massageevery month, low rates on fa-

Serious Swim Time atMeck. Aquatic Center

THIS IS THE GOOD LIFE—The SPA at BALLANTYNE

cials and other treatments foryourself and your family, anddiscounted prices on Muradproducts at one of the fiveCharlotte area locations, orany of the 950 Massage Envycenters in North America.Best of all, unused massagesroll over, so you never loseout on your benefits.

Most Creative Hair StylesPlanet 21 Salonwww.planet21salon.comFounded in 1998, and dedi-cated solely to styling hair,Planet 21 offers the latesttrends in haircutting and col-oring. Hairdressers at thethree Charlotte locations

learn both British and Frenchhaircutting techniques andtrain at the Wella Studios inNyC to keep up with emerg-ing styles in haircolor.

Best Place for a Body Tune-UpRe Salon and Med Spawww.resalonandmedspa.comThis spa in the Old DilworthFire Station combines tradi-tional spa and salon treat-ments with medspa bodyimprovements under the su-pervision of a licensed cos-metic surgeon. get your skintightened, your wrinkles de-creased, your face resurfaced,your hair styled, your teethwhitened all under one roof.

Best Fitness “Seen”The Booty Loopwww.24hoursofbootty.orgJoin Charlotte’s most beauti-ful bods as they jog, bike androllerblade through the shadystreets of Myers Park. The2.8-mile Loop is the scene ofCharlotte’s most renownedcharity biking event, the 24Hours of Booty, held annuallyin July. See the map on theevent’s website, and remem-ber to go clockwise—it’s allright turns, no slowing downfor lights or to cross streets.

Best Greenway for a RunLittle Sugar Creek Greenwaywww.parkandrec.com

Easily the most scenic ofCharlotte’s greenways, thispaved path runs for morethan 4 miles from East 7thStreet near CPCC to Brandy-wine Road near Park RoadShopping Center, passingalong the way the Capt. Jackstatue, Freedom Park, andthe Charlotte Nature Mu-seum. Stop for refreshmentsat Metropolitan Square.

Best Gym for Triathlon TrainingPride Conditioningwww.prideconditioning.comThis Plaza-Midwood gym’sSpecial Ops Team Run groupcross-trains for triathlons,marathons, and enduranceruns of all kinds, including

Duke Energy’s Race to theTop stair climb.

Hottest Running FadMud Runswww.mudrunguide.comThe latest in obstacle and en-durance runs, mud runs aresweeping the country andNorth Carolina is leading thecharge. With events namedthings like Spartan Sprint,Rugged Maniac, Dirty girl,Warrior Dash, and ToughMudder (all scheduled in NCfor 2014), you get the feelingthat the competition is toughand—well—dirty.

Best Hiking Trails near CharlotteCrowders Mountain St.Parkwww.ncparks.govAt this state park, the closestto Charlotte, you can climb tothe top of Crowders Moun-tain for a 25-mile view, hikealong the ridgeline into SouthCarolina, or master the King’sPinnacle, highest spot in gas-ton County. The easy LakeTrail is a popular spot forwalking your dog.

Best Hiking Trails in CharlotteReedy Creek Park and Nature Preservewww.parkandrec.comThis county park located innear UNCC has over 10 miles

of trails dedicated for hikersuse only, the most in the parksystem, crossing a wide vari-ety of terrain, as well as a na-ture center and historic ruins.

Best Underground HikingReed Gold Minewww.nchistoricsites.orgTrails at this free historic sitein nearby Cabarrus Countylead through the old goldmine tunnels. you can alsopan for gold here.

Best Night HikingMcDowell Nature Preservewww.parkandrec.comMcDowell, on the shores ofLake Wylie, offers monthlyHiker’s Palate programs foradults featuring evening hikesor kayak paddles followed bya meal around a campfire, aswell as Full Moon Hikes for allages.

Best Ballroom Dance StudioMetropolitan Ballroomwww.metropolitan-ball-room.comif you’d rather get your exer-cise pounding a parquet floor,Metropolitan is a good placeto get acquainted with ball-room dance. individual andgroup lessons are offeredhere at reasonable rates withno long term commitment.

Best Special Sporting EventsRural Hillwww.ruralhill.netThis unique park just north oftown features many uniqueevents, including sportingevents for both humans anddogs. Annual events includethe Loch Norman Highlandgames with traditional Scot-tish field events, the WarriorDash, the Amazing MaizeMaze every fall, the FirstFootin’ walk and trail run on

PLANET 21 SALON DELIVERS LUX STYLE

METRO BALLROOM

2014

RE SALON + MED SPA

New year’s day, and, for ourcanine friends, Bark in thePark and the Sheepdog Trials.

Best Free Yoga ClassYoga on Tap at Old Mecklenburg Breweryoldemeckbrew.comFormerly called “Broga,”these free yoga classes takeplace every Tuesday, 6:30 to7:30 pm, followed by freshbrews and special light menuitems at the Brauhaus.

Best Tai Chi ClassesPeaceful Dragonwww.ThePeacefulDragon.comThis oasis of calm in SouthCharlotte offers comprehen-sive classes for all ages in thisChinese method of movingmeditation aimed at elevat-ing your “chi” or life-force.

Best New Way to Keep FitAerial CLTaerialclt.frontdeskhq.cominspired by the popularity ofCirque de Soleil, aerial work-outs promote flexibility andstrength as well as providinga great cardio workout. AerialCLT offers courses in the fun-damentals of aerial silk work,as well as aerial yoga and aer-ial conditioning classes.

Just compiling this list made usrealize that we’ve got somework to do around here.There’s only a few days leftuntil Spring and Summer iscoming up quick!-PM

AERIAL CLT CARDIO IN THE SILKS

If you’re still getting your run inalongside rush hour in CLT...shameon you. Mud runs are all the rage.These photos make the case...

GET MUDDY

Spartan Sprint, Rugged Maniac,Dirty girl, Warrior Dash, andTough Mudder (all scheduled inNC for 2014) all give you a chanceto get in on the fun and stay fit.