5 Bucket List Adventures in Cabarrus County, NC

According to the U.S. Travel Association, more than 700 million vacation days went unused last year.

Don’t leave yours on the table! Whether you’ve got a fresh bank of vacation days or a short window to use what’s left, the New Year is an exciting time to assess your travel goals and plan on putting that  paid time off to good use in 2019. Get inspired with these five once-in-a-lifetime adventures in Cabarrus County!

Skydive Indoors

Skydiving is the ultimate bucket list item. If you’ve always wanted to try it but are afraid of heights, iFLY is the place to be. Opening in Concord in early 2019, this indoor skydiving facility lets you experience the rush of skydiving without the plane or parachute. They call it “bodyflight.” Train with a certified instructor, and with practice work your way up to doing turns and tricks while hovering in the air.

 

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Celebrate an Iconic American Car

It’s been around for 55 years and this spring you can explore its history inside the only public museum dedicated to the Ford Mustang in the world. Get nostalgia and make new memories as you discover 38,000 square feet of vehicles and rotating exhibits featuring Mustang memorabilia. Register to attend the Mustang Owner’s Museum Grand Opening celebration in April, or stop by when doors open in May.

 

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Drive a Real Race Car on a Legendary Speedway

Get behind the wheel of a real stock car or dragster with NASCAR Racing Experience and Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience. Not quite ready for the driver’s seat? Ride-along experiences with professionally trained drivers are also available. Then, reserve your seat for NASCAR and NHRA races to feel the horsepower from the grandstands at Charlotte Motor Speedway and zMAX Dragway.

 

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Make Whiskey in a Prison-Turned-Distillery

The personalized “Whiskey Prison Distilling Experience” lets you learn the art of distilling and indulge in expertly crafted, award-winning bourbon. Southern Grace Distilleries is the first distillery in America located inside a former prison. Tour the grounds, take your mugshot, and take home some of their products to make a difference. Several Southern Grace products give back to the community.

Pan for Gold Where it was First Discovered

That’s right—the first discovery of gold in the United States happened right here at Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site in Midland, North Carolina. Today, you can pan for gold (from April 1 to October 31) in the same spot where a 17-pound gold nugget was found in 1799. Then, navigate through underground mine tunnels on a guided tour and see real mining equipment like the ore-crushing stamp mill.

 

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January 29 is National Plan for Vacation Day, so stop rolling over those PTO days and start planning your trip to Cabarrus County now!