Summertime can be any teenager's favorite time of the year, as they have a long break from school and can take the time to sleep in and relax. While about three months of free time may sound fun, many teenagers get bored easily or constantly do the same things. Whether your teenager may be an outdoorsy, adventurous person or someone who likes to keep it simple, we got you covered with fun things to do in Lake Norman this summer for your teen!
Cornelius
Northern Regional Recreation Center
The Northern Regional Recreation Center recently opened in June 2022. This facility features an 8-lane, 25-yard lap pool, a family-friendly leisure pool, fitness areas, a multi-purpose indoor sports court, reservable facilities, and many programs. Outdoors, you will find nature trails, a play meadow, and an expansive venue space for festivals, concerts, and community gatherings.
LKN Mini Golf
LKN Mini Golf is a family-friendly 18-hole miniature golf course featuring axe throwing, a laser maze, a rock climbing wall, food, and drinks. While involved in the site's fun activities, you can grab some ice cream and snow cones from their ice cream shop, LKN Snoballs, which has over 80 flavors to enjoy! It is important to note that LKN Mini Golf also offers discounts for teachers and college students.
Ramsey Creek Park
Ramsey Creek Park has a 46-acre waterfront beach featuring a swimming area, boat launch and docks, a playground, picnic shelters, nature trails, a fishing pier, an enclosed dog park, and a volleyball court. Shelters are available to rent and provide an instant picnic shelter along the shores of Lake Norman. Whether with friends or alone, Ramsey Creek is the perfect place to unwind after a long work day and watch the sunset.
Pedego Electric Bikes
Pedego Electric Bikes sells and rents several models of the popular, high-quality Pedego electric bikes. Biking is a great way to spend a summer day with friends by getting to know the Lake Norman area. Spend the afternoon by renting an e-bike and riding on the nearby greenways, such as the Antiquity Greenway and the Rocky River Greenway.
Davidson
Escape 109
Escape 109 is Lake Norman's premier escape room in Downtown Davidson, open from Thursday through Sunday. This is a physical and mental adventure game in which players solve puzzles and riddles using clues, hints, and strategies to master a specific mission. Escape 109 has two escape rooms; one is the Road Trip theme, and the other is What Lies Beneath. Each escape room can fit from two to eight players, lasting 60 minutes.
Fisher Farm Park
Fisher Farm Park is a 200-acre park located off Shearer Road. It is an amazing place for an easy stroll among nature. Their farm is a natural area with various wildlife, insects, and plant life. The park offers four mountain bike trails with beginner to advanced challenges. Recently an archery range was added to the park in May 2023, where people of any skill level can come and participate in archery for free during open range times.
Summit Coffee
Summit Coffee is a popular spot to grab coffee and listen to live music on the weekends. It is located in Downtown Davidson where you can walk around town to shop, explore the Davidson College campus, and see the beautiful art structures. If you are taking summer classes or need to answer emails, Summit Coffee is the perfect study/work spot to get everything you need done while sipping coffee and enjoying the warm atmosphere.
Our Town Cinemas Cafe & Taphouse
Our Town Cinemas Cafe & Taphouse is a unique 4-screen movie theatre. It is a cozy cinema designed for comfort with individual adjustable seats and bistro tables. The concession stand offers White Castle Hamburgers, Nathans Hot Dogs, Brickhouse Pizzas, fresh baked Philly Pretzel Factory Soft Pretzels, and Otis Spunkmeyer Cookies along with new, popped popcorn, soda, and candy at very reasonable prices.
Huntersville
Frankie's Fun Park
Frankie's is a fun park for entertaining teenagers with indoor and outdoor activities. It is open year-round with free entry as you pay per attraction. Some amenities the park offers include 24 bowling lanes, three mini golf courses with 54 unique holes, three go-kart tracks, and the indoor "Drop Zone" ride, which rotates you 360 degrees while dropping you 30 feet to the ground multiple times. There are also bumper cars, laser tag & many arcade games. Finally, Frankie's includes a lounge area with a full-service bar and food menu.
Birkdale Village
Birkdale is a popular, open-air shopping, dining, and residential area in Huntersville. It is perfect for those who want to spend an afternoon shopping for items such as clothes at Francesca's Boutique, books at Barnes and Noble, or jewelry at Kendra Scott. You will also find many places to grab a bite, whether a pizza at Brixx or a treat at Kilwin's. The area is perfect for walking around and includes a movie theatre that plays all the newest showings.
Meg-Art Pottery Painting Studio & Espresso Bar
Meg-Art is the perfect place for art lovers. All ages are welcome to choose from one of the various pottery options to paint. Individuals or groups can paint without the necessary appointment or experience. Meg-Art has events and workshops where people can learn cool techniques while creating a masterpiece. The place also includes an espresso bar with quality ingredients to make a great drink while painting.
Latta Nature Preserve
The Latta Nature Preserve offers many amenities. There are 16 miles of trails for hikers and other programs, such as renting kayaks and paddleboards (Friday-Sunday) from Mountain Island Lake Paddle Co. Stop by the Quest Center, a beautiful facility encompassing interactive indoor exhibits and a 6,000-gallon gar aquarium. You can also visit the Carolina Raptor Center, an education and rehabilitation facility for conserving birds and prey and home to the Southeast's largest eagle aviary.
Whether your teenager visits one of these places or all of them this summer, make sure they take photos and share them with us on social media @visitlakenorman!