Who said that you have to be outside to have fun? Whether it's rainy, gloomy, or an extremely hot day, there are still plenty of ways to have fun in Lake Norman. We listed our favorite activities to get you out of the house and make the best of your day!
Retail Shops & Downtown Finds
There’s nothing better than relaxing in bed reading your favorite book with the rain gently falling outside your window. Out of books to read? Main Street Books offers the best selection of books for all ages and interests. This charming and cozy shop even offers a sitting area if you can’t wait to dive into your next book. There is plenty of shopping to be done around here whether that's at Downtown Davidson at places like The Village Store or in Downtown Cornelius at establishments like Oak Street Mill and Home, Heart, & Soul or at one of the many great shops at Birkdale Village in Huntersville.
Oak Street Mill
Break out of an escape room
The best way to escape bad weather, you ask? Do an escape room. This adventure game requires you to solve puzzles and riddles using clues, hints, and strategy to unlock your way to freedom. Escape 109 features two local themes to Davidson: ‘Road Trip’ and ‘Christmas Cabin’. It's located in the heart of Davidson just steps away from Main Street Books and the famous Kindred Restaurant. Another great option is United Escapes of America in Cornelius where you can discover the secrets of Aladdin, walk the grounds of Uwharrie Forest for a Bigfoot encounter or learn the truth of the Pirate's Keep!
Beer hop around town
The craft beer scene in Lake Norman has ramped up the last few years. Lost Worlds has become a fun spot to drink a couple beers with friends while listening to live music. They have unique artifacts from around the world hanging on the walls. Just 10 minutes away, you'll find Ass Clown, Eleven Lakes and D9 Brewing within a 1-mile radius. Eleven Lakes brings in live music performers just about every weekend, so you can enjoy live music while trying out a new beverage.. Throughout the week, you might find yourself at Ass Clown playing trivia night or music bingo. If you are a sour beer aficionado, D9 is for you since they are known for their sours. Depending on when you come by, you may be able to try out one of the many seasonal beers they produce depending on the time of the year.
Primal Brewery, 760 Craftworks and Neoteric rounds out the seven local breweries in the lakeside of Charlotte. You won't miss Primal's cool wooden totem standing by the road. Primal consistently has food trucks on-site and a fun atmosphere to gather with friends. If it's your first time checking out any of the breweries, we recommend getting a flight to sample several of their brews. Have fun hopping around town with our Beer and Wine Trail Map!
Enjoy a glass (or bottle) of wine
Go to the area's first and only urban winery, Davidson Wine Company. In what used to be an organ-making workshop, this place still maintains its historical roots. Golden pipes hang on the wall behind the bar providing a very aesthetic background. It's one of only 98 black-owned wine labels across the globe offering hard-to-find wines as well as wine they produce themselves. Help yourself to a beet salad, prosciutto & truffle flatbread and more for a tasty pairing!
Family Fun - Arcade, bowling, and more
Lake Norman's largest amusement park features more than 100 different arcade games along with bowling, laser tag, virtual reality games, and an indoor drop zone. It's the largest Frankie's in the Carolinas! Adults 21+ can grab mixed drinks or beer from the bar or if you're feeling a bit hungry, you can grab a bite to eat from their full-service cafe. Bowling lanes have huge screen projectors at the end of each lane playing music videos. Their indoor bumper carts are glow in the dark and fun for all ages. You'll want to keep this spot in mind as you plan birthday parties or family reunions in the future. If you're looking for another fun place to take your younger children, Discovery Place Kids in Huntersville is the perfect spot. It is learning-based with interactive activities. There are even live shows to really grab their attention and keep them learning.
Frankie's of Charlotte
Northern Regional Recreation Center
Want to go for a swim? Head to the Northern Regional Recreation Center, a state-of-the-art facility that includes a fitness area, athletic courts, an indoor pool with a waterslide and more! So no matter the weather, you can enjoy time with the whole family. This center is open to the public and daily pool pass pricing starts at $8/person.
Spare Time Entertainment is another great spot to have some fun! In addition to bowling, they have arcade games, laser tag, and four escape rooms. If you get a little hungry, then you can enjoy their full-service restaurant and bar.
Urban Air Adventure Park is a hot spot for the kiddos to burn off some steam. This trampoline park is full of attractions like a drop zone, tumble track, bumper cars, sky rider, ropes course, climbing walls, VR games, slam dunk, and more. They provide different levels of admission from Platinum and under 5. They have an indoor cafe with pizza, snacks, ice cream and drinks. If you want the most fun workout of your life, you will want to check out Ninja Nation. Ninja Nation is the leading provider of world-class obstacle course arenas across the country and has now come to Lake Norman to see who is up for the challenge!
Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park
Ninja Nation
Find comfort food
Rainy days call for great food and even better company. Bring your close ones around and satisfy your cravings with quality food at any of the waterfront restaurants. Cornelius is home to Port City Club and Hello, Sailor both offering a distinct yet welcoming atmosphere. Even with rainy weather, you're able to sit in their covered patios enjoying a delicious meal with stunning views. The lake itself is beautiful even with an overcast.
Downtown Davidson's Main Street, aka Restaurant Row, is home to Kindred Restaurant, Soda Shop, and Mestizo's. Kindred is the popular sister restaurant to Hello, Sailor. Joe Kindred is a 5-time James Beard semifinalist and locally sources the freshest ingredients. Because it's farm-to-table, Kindred changes its menu on a weekly basis providing you an opportunity to try something new each time you visit.
Soda Shop offers a nostalgic experience with historic town images and newspaper clippings on the walls. The booths and tile flooring brings you back to the golden days and their menu is sure to please. Their Philly Cheesesteak and curly fries are hard to pass up. A few doors down, you'll find Mestizo Contemporary Mexican Restaurant. If you need a suggestion on what to get, lets say you can't go wrong with their Tacos Al Pastor.
Satisfy your sweet tooth
On a dull rainy day, rich delicious desserts are a must. Whether you love chocolate, cupcakes, pies, bundt cakes, or anything in between you'll find it here. Davidson Chocolate Company has a passion for creating high-quality fresh chocolate truffles and confections using unique flavor combinations and modern techniques. Grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate to pair at Coffee Republic in Cornelius and enjoy at one of their tables. Birkdale Village's dessert pleaser, Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop is a must-try. You won't feel too guilty eating an entire pie because they come in as little as 4 inch sizes. Nothing Bundt Cakes in Huntersville offers fun-sized cakes in many delicious flavors.
Tempo Golf Simulator
Try Out a Golf Simulator
Don't let a rainy or cold day stop you from getting a round of golf out on the course! With golf simulators, you can play a round at Pebble Beach or Augusta like you're in the Masters without ever leaving Lake Norman. Tempo Golf Club in Huntersville invites golfers of all skill levels to play at one of their 650+ courses from around the globe to choose from! Hook It Golf in Huntersville offers a relaxed atmosphere to hit the virtual driving range to see how far you hit your driver, as well as virtual courses from around the world to get a round in!
The Range at Lake Norman
The Range at Lake Norman offers safety training and coaching for handling firearm. With the knowledgeable and kind staff, you are sure to have a comfortable, yet memorable experience. This gun range welcomes people of all ages and gender, but women are encouraged to become educated and empowered in shooting sports. This activity is a hot shot for any day in Cornelius.
Just because there is bad weather, doesn't mean you have to stay inside and do nothing all day. There’s so many fun and exciting activities to do in Lake Norman even if the sun isn’t shining. Be sure to check out our Weather blog to get a better idea of what it's like year-round at the lake. Tag us in your indoor adventures on social media @VisitLakeNorman!
