By a longshot. Everyone loves this “only minutes from here” place, where you can forget Blackberry and relax under the trees, with Mountain Island Lake as your background. The park offers hiking and horseback riding trails (and guided rides), canoe rentals, and fishing permits. Take the kids, take a picnic.
Latta Plantation, 5226 Sample Road. 704-875-2312.
This article appears in Aug 4-10, 2004.
