Located in the center of North Carolina, the Heart of North Carolina offers budget-friendly experiences
including multiple hiking trails, local dining, exploring historic sites, flying
among the treetops, and visiting the world’s largest natural habitat zoo. Continue for the Ultimate Bucket List of adventures ahead!
Carolina blue skies, rolling hills among our scenic back roads, miles of hiking trails, and majestic roaring lions…yes, we said lions! We have it all in the Heart of North Carolina. We invite you to #TakeItOutside and find adventure solo or with your family and friends. Use this fun guide to find the outdoor gems that transform a getaway into a treasured memory. We want you to stay safe and travel smart.
#12 - Plan a picnic at the Pisgah Covered Bridge - the ultimate place for a family Instagram photoshoot. Insider tip: Pick up a fried chicken to-go meal or pack your basket with goodies from the Fresh Cuts Deli in nearby Seagrove.
#11
- Take
a Hike! Discover the Deep River Rail Trail, a three-quarter-mile trail created by
an old railroad bed. The route offers biking, jogging, and fishing. In search
of something more challenging? A complete guide to Randolph County Trails – a total
of 19 - can be found at bit.ly/RandolphCountyTrailsGuide .
#10 – Come play at Creekside Park and Disc Golf Course. This 107-acre park offers tennis courts, baseball/softball/t-ball fields, picnic shelters, shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, playgrounds, an 18-hole championship disc golf course with beginners’ loop, orienteering course, and three miles of scenic walking trails along Muddy Creek.
#9 – Spend a day at Kersey Valley Attractions. Fly high on the ziplines or get a workout throwing axes. Kersey Valley is also home to a cornfield maze, escape rooms, laser tag, and Spookywoods, voted scariest Haunted Attraction in NC, so visit again this fall!
#8 – Enjoy outdoor dining at The Table Farmhouse Bakery or Magnolia 23 in Downtown Asheboro. In case of rain, check out our list of local options following safety measures: bit.ly/SupportLocalDining
#7
–Pick seasonal fruits at Millstone
Creek Orchards.
Stock up on freshly made cakes and cookies at the Apple Barn Country Store. Swoon over their famous, fresh-pressed
apple cider and slushies.
#6 – Celebrate Earth Day year round with offerings directly from the dirt – pottery! Make your way to Seagrove, the Pottery Capital of the U.S., and find a new coffee mug or gift as you design your own gallery crawl along Pottery Highway.
#5 - Enjoy the scenery at Commerce Square Park in Randleman, then scoot over to the Petty Museum and Petty's Garage to see the cars and memorabilia of NASCAR legend, "The King" Richard Petty and his family.
#4
– Enjoy
a picnic lunch in Bicentennial Park in Downtown Asheboro with views of
our uniquely themed murals. When you are finished, stroll Sunset Avenue for antique
shops, “geeky” comics, collectibles, gifts, and crafts. Only a block away find
your favorite carbon-neutral brews at Four Saints Brewing Company with a
dedicated food truck, try small bites at Asheboro Popcorn Co and Asheboro Bagel
Co.
#3
– Practice
your golf swing while you play through the Asheboro Municipal Golf Course, designed by famed golf course
architect Donald Ross in 1935. Additional courses can be found at bit.ly/GolfInTheHeartofNC
#2
– Love
airplanes? Visit the NC Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame. See stunning
military artifacts and civilian memorabilia from WWI to the present, including
an impressive collection of military vehicles, weapons, equipment, uniforms,
and a flight simulator; see the Piper J-3 "Flitfire" flown by Orville
Wright.
#1 - About those roaring lions we mentioned earlier…explore the world's largest natural habitat wildlife zoo in Asheboro. Our North Carolina Zoo works daily to save species globally. It showcases more than 1,200 animals from North America and Africa. Payton the polar bear, our newest addition, is looking for love with Anana. We have our paws crossed for bear cubs soon. Stop by the chimpanzee habitat to catch a peek at playful Asha and Obi. Visit the Watani Grasslands to check out our adorable baby rhinos! *Note - A 10-acre Asia continent is in the works for the North Carolina Zoo, details HERE.
When can we expect
you? Visit HeartofNorthCarolina.com for places to stay
and special military discount offers! Order a FREE travel guide and check out the listing of
annual events on our bit.ly/HNCVBCalendar . We look
forward to following along on your visit. Tag us at #theHeartofNC.
Until then - enjoy a virtual tour of #theHeartofNC below. See you soon!