Navitat

With Labor Day, came the itch to get out of town and go on an adventure.  So, this Stir Crazy Mom decided to head out to the mountains for a little vacation.  This destination is a little further afield, but great for an adult's getaway adventure or a new experience with your family with older children.


What it is: Navitat offers canopy tours in the mountains of North Carolina via zip lines, rappelling, and suspension bridges.  It is located about half an hour north of Asheville.  So, it's probably about 4 hours away from Durham, great for a weekend getaway.   We headed out there on Saturday morning and had a fabulous experience.  They've only been open about a year and a half and stress an environmentally friendly adventure experience.  While I went with my husband and left the kids at home, you can take anyone over 90 lbs on the trip.

We spent 3.5 hours hopping from tree to tree in the beautiful North Carolina forest.  There were 10 zip lines ranging from 100 to over 1000 feet.  The tallest tree platform is 50 ft. and the highest off the ground that we were on a zip line was 250 ft, but don't worry, there are plenty of harnesses and buckles to keep you safe.  You don't need any particular skill to enjoy the day, just a willingness to learn.  When you're soaring between the trees at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour, you realize how great of an experience your having.

What we liked: The experience was great!  It felt relatively safe while still exciting at the same time.  We liked how we were also able to learn something about the forest while we were on the tour.  We enjoyed this as a chance to get away as a couple and reconnect.  However, I can also see how this would be a great experience for the whole family to do together.


What we would change: Of course, the most difficult part of this adventure for us Durhamites is the distance.  It's a bit of a trip, but it's worth it.  Besides, there's so much to do in the Asheville area that  there will be plenty of other activities with which to fill your trip.  In addition, it's not cheap.  The 3.5 hour canopy tour is $90 a person.


Website and other important information:

Website: http://www.navitat.com/

Address: 242 Poverty Branch Rd., Barnardsville, NC 28709

Phone Number: 828-626-3700


Photos: 

 1. One of the suspension bridges

 2. One of the highest zip lines on the course (The tiny speck in the middle is my husband flying across.)

 3. One of the platforms

4. Our guide zip lining across