The U.S. National Whitewater Center's wave pool runs on a man-made channel in Charlotte, North Carolina, built primarily to train kayakers and rafters rather than surfers. It's open to the public, and in recent years the center has started allowing river surfing too — mostly on SUPs, though a few surfers have gotten the green light to bring purpose-built high-volume river surfboards. The flow is pumped and controlled, so it's about as consistent a beginner-friendly wave as you'll find anywhere. Beyond the water, the center doubles as an outdoor hub with mountain biking, climbing, and whitewater rafting on site, making it an easy full-day trip.