Welcome to our Walk of the Month—an exciting recommendation of a local park, park event, festival, or scenic location guaranteed to inspire you to reach your step goals! Stay tuned each month as we unveil new featured destinations, guiding you on a journey to discover the wonders of our local parks and unearth new and exciting places to stay active.
📅 October 19, 2024, 5:30pm
📍 Start at Town Hall to pick up a tour map
8590 Park Dr, Mt Pleasant, NC 28124
Get ready for a thrilling adventure! This spooky walking tour invites you to step into the haunted history of downtown Mount Pleasant. As you walk through eerie streets and shadowy corners, each tale and whispered legend will send chills down your spine. Do you have the courage to face what lurks in the dark? Tickets are just $10 and can be purchased at Mt. Pleasant Critter Corner, Scout & Willow, Grammy’s Attic, Down South, or at the Town Hall parking lot. All proceeds go to support Mt. Pleasant Animal Rescue.
Every step you take contributes to our community count, reflecting your commitment to active living and fostering a vibrant, health-conscious community. Join us in making every step count towards a healthier, happier Cabarrus County!
📍 W Franklin St & N Main St Intersection
Nestled in the heart of the Mount Pleasant Historic District, a visit to downtown Mount Pleasant, NC, offers the perfect blend of history and local charm. Many of the beautifully preserved mid-19th-century buildings, such as the old Mount Pleasant Hosiery Mill, have been thoughtfully repurposed to house small businesses.
Downtown Features:
Southern Grace Distilleries, housed in a former prison, crafts award-winning moonshine and whiskey in small batches. Each bottle is hand-labeled and numbered, ensuring that every spirit reflects the best of Southern craftsmanship and quality.
SGD offers behind-the-scenes tours of the whiskey-making process, from fermentation to distillation, along with insights into the history of the former prison. Explore various campus buildings, including the dorms and solitary confinement cells, for a unique experience.
Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum
Located in the Mount Pleasant Historic District, the Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum offers a glimpse into life from the 18th to mid-20th century, housed in the historic three-story main building of the former Western Carolina Male Academy.
Open on weekends from March to December with free admission, visitors can explore the rich history of Cabarrus County and participate in special events throughout the year.
📍 8111 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC
Concord Mills, North Carolina’s premier outlet and value retail shopping destination, boasts over 200 stores, distinctive family dining, and entertainment options—all under one climate-controlled roof. It’s the perfect place to visit year-round, especially for those looking to get their steps in without worrying about the weather.
Features:
Mall Hours:
The main entrances open 1 hour prior to the mall opening for early morning access for mall walkers.
Monday – Thursday doors open at 10am
Friday – Saturday doors open at 9am
Sunday doors open at 10am
Starbucks Coffee
Starbucks is open 1 hour prior to the mall opening as well and can be found in Neighborhood 3.
📍 760 Orphanage Road, Concord, NC
Vietnam Veterans Park, spanning 90 acres, opened in 2002 through a collaboration between Cabarrus County, the City of Kannapolis, and the Church of God Children’s Home. The park offers a tranquil escape and supports passive recreational activities.
Features:
Throughout the year, the park offers a diverse range of nature and wildlife classes, providing educational opportunities that cater to a wide spectrum of interests and ages.
>> Watch this video to explore Vietnam Veterans Park
Trail: Mostly natural-surface (dirt and gravel) with a small portion of paved sidewalk and boardwalk around the pond
Length: 1.7 miles
Route Type: Loop with connection to the Irish Buffalo Creek Greenway
Difficulty Level: Easy
The Park Loop is considered an easier route and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. With it’s natural surface, this trail is great for walking, running, hiking, and dog walking.
This is a dog-friendly park with various dog stations set up around the park. Dogs should remain on a leash when in the park and while using this trail.
Carolina Thread Trail Connection
The Vietnam Veterans Park Loop seamlessly connects to the Irish Buffalo Creek Greenway, a segment of the Carolina Thread Trail. This 0.4-mile natural surface path meanders through the park’s wooded area, offering a scenic route for visitors and a longer walk or run for active users.
The Carolina Thread Trail is an extensive regional network connecting 15 counties in North and South Carolina. This collaborative effort links communities through 1,610 miles of trails, greenways, and blueways, fostering connections to nature and each other.
Vietnam Veteran Memorial
In 2016, the Cabarrus Veteran Coalition dedicated a monument at Vietnam Veterans Park, honoring 29 Vietnam War soldiers from Cabarrus County who gave their lives during the war. This permanent tribute, made possible through a partnership with Cabarrus County, stands as a lasting remembrance of these local heroes.
📍 7911 Malibu Rd, Mt Pleasant, NC
Located in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, the Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail is part of the 393-acre Buffalo Creek Preserve managed by Catawba Lands Conservancy.
This Conservancy-owned preserve features a working farm, a rare Piedmont oak savanna, and forested buffers along Adams Creek and Dutch Buffalo Creek, enhancing water quality. Additionally, a two-mile section of the Carolina Thread Trail offers hikers and cyclists a beautiful connection to nature.
Features:
>> Watch this video to explore the Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail
Trail: Crushed Stone, Dirt, and Gravel
Length: 2.1 miles (one-way), 4.2 out and back
Route Type: Trail with two endpoints (Malibu Road and Oldenburg Drive)
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Motorized Vehicles: Not Permitted
The trail offers a mix of level and hilly sections. Approximately half of the trail is without shade, making it quite hot in the summer.
Be sure to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated during your walk.
Leashed dogs are welcomed to accompany you on this trail.
>> Click Here for a Larger Image of the Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail
Parking is only allowed in the designated lot at the trailhead, which has 22 spaces. Please avoid parking along Malibu Road.
Although the trail is suitable for individuals of all ages, it is not recommended for strollers.
Butterfly Highway
Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail is a vital link in the Butterfly Highway, a statewide conservation initiative in North Carolina.
This project aims to restore native pollinator habitats in areas affected by urbanization, land use changes, and agriculture. By creating a network of native flowering plants, the Butterfly Highway supports butterflies, bees, birds, and other pollinator-dependent wildlife, from backyard gardens to large roadside restorations.
Carolina Thread Trail
The Carolina Thread Trail is an extensive regional network connecting 15 counties in North and South Carolina. This collaborative effort links communities through 1,610 miles of trails, greenways, and blueways, fostering connections to nature and each other.
Led by Catawba Lands Conservancy, the Thread Trail promotes economic development, education, health, and land conservation. The Buffalo Creek Preserve Trail is a two-mile segment of this remarkable network.
📍 12900 Bethel School Road, Midland, NC
Located in Midland, North Carolina,
Park Features:
>> Watch this Video to Explore Rob Wallace Park
Trail: Gravel
Length: 2.5 miles
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty Level: Easy
The park loop trail, renowned for its gentle terrain and captivating views, is an easier route that typically takes around 45 minutes to complete at a brisk pace.
Leashed dogs are welcomed to accompany you on this well-shaded pathway, ensuring a pleasant outing for all.
>> Click Here for a Larger Image of the Park Loop
Additional trails with varying difficulty and distances include the 1 mile Flower Trail and the .8 mile Quarry Loop.
Trail: Single-track natural trail
Length: 1 mile
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty Level: Intermediate
Be prepared to encounter small hills and tight switchbacks that add an exciting elevation challenge to your adventure. Keep an eye out for daily directional changes. Information is posted at the main trailhead.
>> Click Here for a Larger Image of the Powder House Mountain Bike Trail
Additional skills areas designated for both beginner and advanced bikers that include berms, dropoffs, balance beams and more are available to inspire riders and push their limits.