The 2024 Gaston County Bucket List

Set your traveling sites for exploration in and around Gaston County, where classic experiences and local gems await. This bucket list invites you to discover the essence of the region. How many will you do?

1. Start the year off with a frigid plunge at Whitewater Center.

2. Experience outdoor cinema at the revived Belmont Drive-In. Enjoy movies under the stars with classic buttered popcorn.

3. Take a bike ride at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.

4. Try mouth-watering barbecue and brews at Firehawk Brewpub, along the Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail and the Gaston County Cue Trail.

5. Rent bikes, kayaks, and games from Confluence in Cramerton for a day of outdoor activities on Goat Island.

6. Witness the Quetzalcoatlus feeding its young at the Schiele Museum of Natural History for a captivating prehistoric experience.

7. Test your golf skills year-round with the simulator at Simulate Golf in Gastonia.

8. Check out Cherryville's beautifully reinvented main street. Grab a glass of wine inside the Wild Cholla boutique, grab a bite to eat at Pete's Fish Box, and enjoy gift shopping and ice cream from the Fuzzy Cow.

9. Learn about local history through the exhibits at Gaston County Museum.

10. Delight your taste buds with Cuban cuisine at "My Cuban Corner" or "Miami Fusion Cafe," Turkish dishes at "Mustafa's Place," and diverse Asian-inspired delights at "One 19 North Main."

11. Savor the flavor from our local breweries, wineries, and a rum distillery along the Ridgeline Craft Beverage Trail .

12. This one will always make the list! Challenge yourself with a hike to the summit of Crowders Mountain State Park for panoramic views.

13. Discover the vibrant tapestry of creativity along Gaston County's captivating art trail, where local artists weave their masterpieces into a visual symphony that enchants and inspires.

14. Traverse spans of wooded canyon via suspension bridges, ziplines, and accompanying rope bridges at Whitewater Center for an adrenaline-pumping nature experience.

15. Make the most of the holidays and be daring at The Chutes! taking place every year during Christmas.

• BONUS: Attempt to catch a glimpse of bald eagles and connect with nature as you walk the paved perimeter of the lake at Rankin Lake Park.

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Gaston welcomes you to come for a stay to experience our blend of adventure, culture, and natural beauty. Let this bucket list be your guide to an unforgettable journey through the heart of North Carolina's hidden gem.

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HOW MANY WILL YOU DO THIS YEAR?