Things to Do in Cornelius
Recommended Things to Do by Groupon Customers
Gliding through the crystal waters of Lake Norman, Queen's Landing offers sightseeing and catered dinner expeditions on its two steadfast vessels—the 90-foot yacht Lady of the Lake and the Catawba Queen, an old-fashioned paddle boat. Trips during the autumn provide stunning views of changing foliage, whereas cruises at other times of the year supply a buoyant venue for holiday parties or tax audits. When in season, you can inquire about the business’ partnerships with other dining and entertainment spots such as Pirate Land Miniature Golf and Jack’s Lakeside Grill.
After owning Duffy electric boats in Newport Beach, California, where the company has its headquarters, the Textor family decided to introduce the fun-filled and stress-free world of electric boating to Lake Norman in 2010. Thanks to the electric motor and patented Power Rudder propulsion device, Duffy boats carry passengers over water with a remarkable speed and maneuverability and cost as little as $1 per day to maintain. Since 1970, Duffy shipwrights have constructed each vessel exactly to the client's specifications, outfitting crafts with Duff-Eze cabin enclosures that allow captains to pilot their ship in any climate and ensure that boats never have to be winterized, covered, or sent to Florida because of cold weather.
Customers can rent out 21-foot Avalon models that carry 10–12 passengers for brief lakefront voyages, dancing to tunes from the onboard mp3 and CD hookups, warming themselves with the heater on chilly nights, and sunbathing on the bow. Specialty cruises entertain guests with floating wine tastings, catered feasts from Lake Norman cottage, and movie nights, and a seasonal schedule of special events dazzles families with upcoming attractions such as electric-boat sleigh rides.
Since the early 1960s, Captain Gus Gustafson has wrangled scaly creatures from the depths of scenic Lake Norman. Experienced in both saltwater and freshwater fishing, Captain Gus and his experienced guides help first-timers and veterans reel in lunkers such as striped and largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, white perch, and mountain trout. Each trip departs on either a 23-foot center console or 25-foot pontoon boat, each equipped with state-of-the-art electronics such as GPS, depth finders, and a Big Mouth Billy Bass's public-domain mating calls.
Paddles churn the crystal waters as a rainbow of boards slips silently across the surface of Mountain Island Lake. The shoreline, dappled with trees that shiver with cavorting wildlife, falls away behind the board's passengers as they stand in the middle of the aquatic expanse. Though the view is much different from the rugged coastlines of California, where Ramsay Mead first encountered the sport on a surfing trip, the meditative calm and athletic challenge that immediately appealed to him are still present.
Today, Ramsay, the owner of Paddle Core Fitness, works with head instructor Pat McFeely, an experienced triathlete, to introduce others to the activity that has so enthralled them. With roots in Hawaiian culture, the unique method of riding a board takes advantage of the surfer's panoramic viewpoint and ability to avoid far-off swells and bossy tugboats. The act of constantly balancing and paddling, while simple, tones core muscles and enables participants to silently observe surrounding wildlife. Paddle Core Fitness keeps adventurers afloat on Riviera boards, which they sell and use in lessons to keep riders of all experience levels gliding more gracefully than swans looking for parking.
Marc and Oana Graveline grew up on the water—he along the coast of Virginia, and she in Romania, near the Black Sea. When they moved to North Carolina, their mutual love for the water drew them to Lake Norman's calm waters, tree-lined shores, and wildlife. They envisioned themselves teaching their two children how to drive a boat, and they bought one—a 21-foot Sea Ray. As the cost of their boat's upkeep began to mount, they searched for alternatives to ownership and started their own chapter of the Carefree Boat Club. Today, their children can regularly be seen cleaning their fleet of eight bow riders, sun-deck boats, and pontoon boats or organizing for member socials.
The independent owners and their team of captains and instructors join those of 24 other locations throughout the East Coast and the South in helping members share vessels and learn that it takes a village to wax a hull in less than 10 seconds. Instructors train new members in an extensive boating course, during which they learn water safety, steering procedures, nautical terminology, and navigation. Once each member is deemed seaworthy, they let him or her reserve boats up to six months in advance.
