Pinehurst, NC Outdoor Activities

Owned by a veterinarian and staffed by a team of experienced equestrians, Providence Equestrian Center provides quality care for horses while teaching riders how to walk, trot, and canter. They do this during group and private lessons scheduled year-round in an 80”x140” covered arena or a 125”x275” outdoor arena. Providence Equestrian Center also hosts birthday parties, corporate events, and family reunions.

For a few centuries, Carver’s Falls was closed to the public, and it's easy to see how much the area benefited from that solitude. The natural beauty of its forests and the waterfall at its heart have flourished. But today, the tree canopy has been transformed into an aerial playground. Wires cross the sky, connecting tree to tree. Every day, ZipQuest's guides lead birds-eye tours of the pristine landscape on their expansive zipline network or via the Swing Shot that pendulums vertiginously above Carver's Creek.

Whether the lighting comes from the sun or helmet-mounted lamps, no fewer than two experienced guides lead guests through Carver's Falls' 2.5-hour course. Adventurers fly down eight ziplines—each designed for a long, leisurely glide or an adrenaline-pumping plunge—while pointing out local flora and fauna. Groups pause only to disembark on high platforms anchored to centuries-old trees. Floating spiral staircases and sky bridges, the longest of which stretches 210 feet, interconnect the platforms. A suspension bridge carries explorers over the falls to a penultimate zipline that runs parallel to its creek. At the end of the run, guests catch their breath while looking through the pictures their camera-wielding guide took.

White-sand beaches flank a 6-acre manmade, sand-bottom lake at Fantasy Lake Water Park, a family-friendly destination offering attractions both in and out of the water. There are numerous water slides, including enclosed-tube slides, open slides with foam mats, and drop slides that unleash adrenaline by sending bodies freefalling to a splash landing. Visitors can also glide into the lake on swings or play games of volleyball or basketball waist deep in water. Pedal-boat rentals are included with admission, giving legs a chance to do some of the work after walking around on your hands all day. Kid-friendly ziplines and other attractions populate a children’s zone, and the savory scents of barbecue drift from charcoal grills in a picnic area.

The expert referees and staff at Black River Paintball have hosted games of speedball, woods play, and simulated urban warfare for more than 22 years. Outdoor fields at two locations—each spanning at least 85 acres of wooded terrain—comprise bunkers, particleboard barriers, and thick patches of undergrowth that serve as ideal spots for players to hunker down after assaults or botched Braveheart monologues. Onsite rental shops arm participants with all necessary equipment including markers, goggles, and paintballs. In addition to walk-on rounds, the facility accommodates players during annual tournaments and scenario games, including themed survival quests based on properties such as G.I. Joe, World of Warcraft, and Harold and the Purple Crayon.

American saddlebred horses trot across more than 55 acres of verdant countryside at Jansal Saddlebreds LLC’s training facility, where experienced equestrians devote themselves to riding, breeding, and caring for their trusty mares and stallions. Budding riders bond with carefully selected mounts as instructors teach them to trot, canter, and conduct clopping symphonies in private or group lessons held in an outdoor arena or a lighted, climate-controlled indoor arena. Pastures, turnout paddocks, and scenic trails await beyond the arenas’ fences, where professional trainers Janelle D’Amato and Bobby Jones occasionally lead rides. The facility’s professional roster includes a litany of show-ring champions and a barn manager who curates shows in which horses can display their finest salt-lick sculptures.