There are many wonderful places in the greater Holly Springs NC area to take your family or enjoy yourself during a weekend getaway. One popular family outing that has consistently sold out is the Bass Lake Park, a great place for families to have a day of fishing, boating, water skiing, picnicking, or just relaxing and taking it easy. The Nantahala Outdoor Center and Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park offer lodging and amenities close to the activity. The lake offers fishing charters, live-in cabins, cabin rentals, and rental homes for rental during the summer months. One can easily spend a full day on the lake or more if one wanted to.
The North Carolina Spring Classic Bass Lake Park features all the famous courses and greens that are found in this fast developing, family friendly city. The 16K course is more challenging, not just with the distance but with the addition of the breathtaking scenic trip around Bass Lake Park with the waters so clear and inviting. A portion of this course is on the grounds of the old Carlsbad Gold Club. Locals and tourists alike will be delighted by the beautiful setting and the impressive course.
Running along the shores of Lake Lanier and into downtown Holly Springs’ historic downtown area, one can witness the history of this great gold rush town and its dedication to preserving its heritage. Several areas are zoned for recreation and business use and several roads are closed off for pedestrian traffic. The races are scheduled during the morning, which gives all the runners a head start on the day’s running plans.
Besides the races, the city of Holly Springs has developed an extensive network of walking and jogging paths and bicycle trails. Many of these have routes through the park, so that visitors can simply follow the path to the finish line and then return to their cars or other modes of transportation to continue their excursions. The Wheeling and Mountain River Trail system was designed to provide both horseback riders and runners with easy access to the many lakes in the area as well as easy off road biking and walking tracks. One section of this route takes runners on a short spur of the trail that passes through an abandoned mining camp. This respite from the crowds provides an excellent opportunity for a historic exploration of this early gold rush town.
A majority of the course is on a flat section of terrain between the carl Dean and the footbridge. The second half of the loop will take runners onto the paved section of Waverly Park’s Main Street. It’s here that you will see the first of many spectacular views of Lake Lanier and the Appalachian Mountains. There are also signs pointing to restaurants, shops and Bed & Breakfasts throughout the immediate area. In addition, there are two marinas with restrooms and water and boat slips, as well as several established bike and walking paths throughout the area.
Most of these loops are open year round and the northern portion of Wheeling is open all the time. The southern portion is typically closed during the winter and only open in the spring and summer. For those who enjoy playing in nature, each of these cities offers numerous opportunities for hiking and camping in the open spaces surrounding various lakes. As Wheeling and the adjacent communities surrounding have experienced rapid growth over the past few years, the availability of jobs, services and amenities in these areas is excellent.
