Don’t kid yourself: No matter where you live in North Carolina it’s going to be hot this week. Real hot. Again.
As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough take a second look at the thermometer and say, “To heck with this. I’m staying inside.”
Which doesn’t mean sitting on your tush and missing out on adventure. One of the best outdoor pursuits to make the transition indoors? Rock climbing. By my count, there are 15 climbing gyms open to the public around the state. (And there are probably more than twice as many when you throw in climbing walls at YMCAs, colleges and universities and other venues where admission is in some way restricted.)
Take this 90 Second Escape to get a sense of the experience, then check out the list of climbing gyms below to find one near you. And if I were you, I’d by a multiple visit pass: This heat wave is suppose to last.
Mountains
Mountains
Asheville
Asheville’s Fun Depot
7 Roberts Road
Info: 828.277.2386, Web site.
ClimbMax Inc.
43 Wall St.
Info: 828.252-9996, Web site.
Montford Climbing Wall
34 Pearson Drive
Info: 828.253.3714 Web site.
Boone
Footsloggers
139 S Depot St
Info: (828) 262-5111 Web site.
Brevard
Brevard Rock Gym
224 South Broad St.
Info: 828.884.ROCK, Web site.
Charlotte
Inner Peaks Climbing Center
9535 Monroe Road, Suite 170
Info: 704.844-6677, Web site.
U.S. National Whitewater Center
5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Info: 704.391.3900, Web site.
Triangle
Community Center (Chapel Hill Parks & Rec)
102 South Estes Drive
Info: 919.968-2790 Web site.
Vertical Edge
2422D US 70, Durham
Info: 919.596.6910, Web site.
Triangle Rock Club
102 Pheasant Wood Ct., Morrisville
Info: 919.463.7825, Web site.
Triad
Tumblebees Ultimate Climbing Gym
6904 Downwind Road, Greensboro
Info: 336.665.0662, Web site.
Elsewhere in the Piedmont
Fayetteville
RedPoint Indoor Climbing
5213 Raeford Road, Suite 103
Info: 910.868.7625 Web site
The Climbing Place
436 West Russell St.
Info: 910.486.9638 Web site
Pinehurst
Sandhills Vertical Gym
Info: 910.295.0724
Coast
Wilmington
Jungle Rapids
5320 Oleander Dr.
Info: 910.791.0666 Web site
Know of a gym that’s not on the list? Leave a comment and I’ll plug it in.