Paddle then Chill
on the Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail
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Gaston County creates an affordable getaway
for newbie outdoor adventurists
Flatwater Kayak Rentals
Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park
– Belmont, NC
The Catawba Riverkeeper makes it easy for first time paddlers to get on the water by offering 90 minute rentals available on a first come, first served basis, on weekends, from 10 am – 6 pm.
$25 will get you into a kayak rental with paddle and a personal floatation device, After a brief safety talk and introduction to the area, visitors are free to explore the shoreline of the Catawba River, the upper part of Lake Wylie, and quiet coves of a half mile area up and downstream from the launch.
Gaston County is quickly becoming known as an affordable and easily approachable getaway for people looking to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors Let us show you how to turn one of our outdoor activities into a weekend getaway.
After your time on the water head into Belmont to enjoy
4 locations along the Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail. This is
where you can bond by sharing stories about your adventures,
and create memories to last a lifetime.
The Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail is a collection of local breweries, a distillery and wineries that offer unique ambiances in relaxed settings, and fantastic hand crafted beverages. Here are four of ten venues along the trail that can be found a short drive from your paddling adventure.
Chill on the Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail
Jekyll & Hyde Taphouse and Grill is an English pub, beer garden and brewery. The space is designed to reflect the personalities of the characters made famous in the Robert Louis Stevenson horror classic. But Frank La Frogola put a family-fun twist on things. “We have a piano that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and is sometimes frequented by a local ragtime piano player. We throw a huge St. Paddy’s Day party with Irish Dancers and live music.” La Frogola’s favorite time of year is October. “We host a huge Halloween party complete with full size zombies as well as a night with live action villains throughout the restaurant.”
La Frogola wanted an experience that would engage all members of the family. “We are a family-friendly and pet-friendly restaurant. We offer a children’s menu as well as a pet-friendly beer garden. We always have treats available for our four-legged friends.”
For the menu, La Frogola puts a twist on English, Irish and American pub fare. “We offer guests hand-crafted food, 52 taps and craft cocktails. And our guests experience many different food items such as Fish & Chips- beer battered with our own brews, hand cut steaks, hand pattied burgers stamped/ our logo on the bun as well as hand tossed flatbreads.”
Primal Brewery
Hit the greens! Gaston County is home to some of the best golf facilities in the state. Catawba Creek Golf Club, Green Meadows Golf Club, Crowders Mountain Golf Course, and Cherryville Golf and Country Club are all challenging and beautiful courses where your crew can spend a few hours. Get a full day in and pick two courses! After all, the only thing better than a round of golf while on vacation is two rounds of golf. Or, work on your swing at O’Darcy’s Golf Center, a driving range filled with over 40 Bermuda ground tee boxes, a high-quality pro shop and skilled professionals who offer lessons to golf players of all levels. The Apple Creek Golf Course is another great place to hit the greens in Gaston County. Located in Dallas, North Carolina, Apple Creek, is an executive course, offering 18 holes of par-3's on a beautiful patch of expansive land. So if you have the urge to putt around, there are plenty of options for anyone to do just that. No matter which course you choose, we recommend calling ahead for available tee times!
Belmont Brewing Co.
The latest addition to the neighborhood this nano offers an inventive selection of ales, pilsners, IPAs and stouts. HInts of strawberry, peach and pineapple make their “Hot Southern Blonde Ale” a favorite. “Not Sorry” is a peanut butter porter. Belmont’s brewers throw actual chocolate cake into the mash to make their “Chocolate Cake” stout. You could call it the world’s first “dessert beer”.
Muddy River Distillery
Touted as the oldest rum distillery in the Carolinas, Muddy River Distillery does one thing: rum. Founder Robbie Delaney started distilling as a side business in 2011 and said he became obsessed with perfecting a superior Carolina rum. A rum that would rival any Caribbean quaff. “We started off with three stills that I designed and built for the most part. By building the machines, I really know what goes on in there and what needs to work properly to make the best, smoothest product.” Tastings and tours are held every Saturday at 1PM, 2PM and 3PM.
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After a day of play on the water, chill, and share tales of your adventures on the Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail. This is the perfect adventure for anyone new to paddling and looking for a relaxing and affordable weekend getaway.