From trendy craft breweries and darling mom-and-pop businesses to delicious local eateries and historic sites, the town of Pineville has no shortage of things to see and do. And that’s especially true when it comes to finding fun ways to get healthy and staying active. To find the very best places in the area to help you reach your fitness and health goals we consulted with the doctors and staff at ORTHOCAROLINA’S Pineville Office at 9101 Pineville-Matthews Rd., as our October experts on Locals Living the Healthy Life, the Pineville Edition.
With their help we found everything from a cardio funk fitness class to an off-leash dog park where you can enjoy being outdoors and active with your favorite pet.
Best Places to Walk/Bike/Run in Pineville
Pineville’s two main parks — Jack Hughes Park and Pineville Lake Park — both offer trails that are great options for walking or running. The 25-acre Pineville Lake Park features a .65-mile path that loops around the park’s scenic pond, while the trail at Jack Hughes Park is slightly longer, stretching to 1.5 miles.
For a longer workout take a short drive to the Four Mile Creek Greenway where you can walk, bike, or run. The asphalt trail spans 2.26 miles and includes a picturesque wooden boardwalk that passes through tranquil forests. The Lower McAlpine Creek Greenway is also nearby and is 5.8 miles.
Best Places to Walk Your Dog in Pineville
Pineville’s first dog park, Canine Commons Dog Park, is part of the 25-acre Pineville Lake Park. The dog park is open daily until sunset and offers pets a safe place to exercise and run off steam without a leash — though dogs must be on a leash until they are safely inside the fenced-in area. At the park you’ll find running water to keep you dog cool as well as pet waste supplies to clean up after your pet.
Most Underrated or Unknown Exercise Options in Pineville
Shake it out and have fun while staying fit and active during a Cardio Funk class at Pineville’s first brewery, Middle James Brewing Company. The class is an hour-long, high energy cardio workout designed to make you sweat and tone your entire body. Classes take place every Tuesday from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Cost is $5.
Best Free or Almost Free Fitness in the Area
If you live and pay taxes in Pineville you are able to use the Belle Johnston Community Center for free. The center boasts a fitness area with weightlifting and cardio equipment as well as a basketball court and racquetball court. There’s also an indoor walking track that provides the perfect place to excercise when the weather isn’t ideal. Residents are allowed up to three guests per visit during open gym hours. Admission is $5 per guest.
Best Nearby Activities for Families
Turn off the TV, computer, and phones and spend the day together as a family trying something new. The Pineville Ice House hosts daily public skating sessions that are open to all ages and they have all the necessary skating equipment available to rent, so you don’t need to worry about a thing. Admission is $8 per person, skates rentals are $2, and they also have safety helmets (for little ones… or those of us who are clumsy) available for $5. If skating seems to catch on with the family Pineville Ice House also has skating classes and ice hockey leagues to join.
Best Nearby Activities for Dates
Act like a kid again and plan a fun-filled date night at Sky Zone Trampoline Park. There, you can compete against each other on a Ninja Warrior Course or challenge your significant other to a game of SkySlam or dodge ball. For activities that are a little less competitive you can zipline over a foam pit, climb a bouldering wall, or test your balance on the Sky Ladder.
Best Neighborhood Studios in Pineville
Patton’s Performance Bootcamp offers 60-minute, high-intensity interval training classes that were designed to increase both stamina and flexibility. Classes are held Monday through Friday at the Belle Johnston Community Center in Pineville. Drop into a class for $18 or purchase a month membership for $99. Not into group classes? Personal training options are also available starting at $160 a month for one weekly session.
If you get tired of doing the same workouts over and over again, consider trying Camp Gladiator, a four-week fitness program that offers 60-minute, full-body workouts that are always different. Each class features a combo of cardio and strength training that’s suited for all fitness levels. You can try one week of workouts for free and there are monthly memberships as low as $65. Schedules are subject to change, but Camp Gladiator workouts are typically held at Pineville Lake Park on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Best Vegetarian/Vegan/Juice Restaurant in Pineville
Um’s Corner Cafe serves up a delicious selection of vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes and their menu changes consistently, giving you plenty of reasons to go back again and again. On the menu you’ll often find dishes, including scratch made soups like vegan sweet potato bisque, roasted tomato soup, and quinoa salads with flavorful housemade dressings. Along with the vegan/vegetarian options they also carry a number of gluten-free items.
Best Place to Eat After Your Workout
Whether you’re grabbing something to eat after an afternoon or nightly workout, Trio Restaurant has a range of hearty dishes to choose from that won’t wreck all the hard work you just put into staying fit and healthy. They have a wide variety of specialty salads topped with proteins like grilled or blackened salmon and chicken. Other options range from a Greek veggie wrap, seared lemon pepper salmon with asparagus, and blackened trout.
Best Neighborhood Outdoor/Athletic Store to Buy Your Gear in Pineville
For three decades locally-owned Run For Your Life has been outfitting local athletes in top-quality gear. They only carry products they consider the best of the best and brands that truly go the distance. In the store you’ll find helpful and knowledgeable staff and everything from footwear and running accessories to foam rollers and clothing.
Now that you’ve seen our list of bests, we’d love to hear about the ways you stay fit, active, and healthy in Pineville. Leave a comment with your favorite places to get active or grab a healthy meal.
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