9 Fun Things to Do in Nash County, North Carolina

Nash County, North Carolina, should be your destination whether you’re zipping along Interstate 95, cruising U.S. 64 or looking for a weekend getaway that has something for everyone. Bustling Rocky Mount and the county’s welcoming towns offer a wealth of activities and entertainment to entice the entire family. Shop for trinkets and treasures, take a leisurely float down the Tar River, camp out in a tiny house, try out a long list of local brews at the state’s largest craft beer incubator, indulge in hometown cooking or just enjoy a taste of small-town life. There’s an endless list of fun things to do in Nash County.

“In Nash County, there’s something for everyone,” says Barbara Green, executive director of Nash County Travel & Tourism. “We have a children’s museum and planetarium, historic sites, unique shopping experiences and an array of recreational activities. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, cultural experiences or family-friendly fun, Nash County offers a rich variety of attractions and activities for all ages.”

1. A Craft Beer Incubator

Originally established in 1818, Rocky Mount Mills has been reinvented as home to the state’s largest craft beer incubator with five breweries creating something new every day, plus restaurants, a bottle shop and a coffee shop/bookstore. There’s plenty of outdoor space to gather with friends, listen to live music and, of course, sample the latest brews being cooked up on campus.

See more: Why North Carolina Farmers Are Partnering With Local Breweries

2. Explore the BBQ & Ale Trail

Rocky Mount Mills is also a centerpiece of Nash County’s BBQ & Ale Trail, which guides you to local barbecue joints where you can savor classic smoked meats and brewed beverages. Enjoy a culinary tradition with slow-smoked pork, chopped or sliced, and dressed with all the trimmings. One of the trail’s showplaces is The Prime Smokehouse, which was featured recently in America’s Best Restaurants for its Texas-style dry-rubbed brisket and made-from-scratch sides. Of course, the hosts of local breweries are ready and waiting with craft beers to complement the tasty treats.

3. Dig Into Arts and Sciences

Take your imagination to the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences in downtown Rocky Mount, which houses an arts center, children’s museum, science center and community performing arts theater. Everyone will appreciate the focus on art and education offered by exhibitions and performances, while the children’s museum delivers interactive learning through exhibits that are both educational and fun for the entire family. The Cummins Planetarium is the state’s first planetarium that features full dome video projection with daily shows. The center’s community theater mounts a wide variety of productions throughout the year for adults and children.

4. Stroll and Shop

Rocky Mount and Nash County’s small towns are ideal spots for a leisurely stroll. You’ll find a wealth of interesting items in small shops and galleries. Learn more about the area’s history inside Rocky Mount’s historic train station and the Douglas Block where rehabilitated buildings bring to life the historic African American business district. Nash Arts showcases local, regional and national artists in a former church, built in 1918. For treasure hunters, Spring Hope’s Antique & Arts Market specializes in historic North Carolina antiques, pottery and country collectibles.

5. The Country Doctor Museum

If you’re curious about how medicine was practiced 100 years ago, head to The Country Doctor Museum in Bailey. Learn how doctors made the medicines of the day using local ingredients, often right from the garden. If you’ve heard about the use of leeches in treating patients, this is the place to get the full story. And you’ll see the horse-drawn carriages in which country doctors traveled to care for local citizens.

6. Bunk in a Tiny House

Ready for a truly unique lodging experience? Make a reservation at River & Twine, a collection of 21 boutique tiny houses that’s reportedly the largest tiny house hotel in the world. Tucked on the banks of the Tar River, these cleverly designed homes each can host four guests with accommodations that include a sleeping loft, seating area and full baths. Also available are three guest suites located in a renovated 1900s mill house.

7. Old-Time Grocery Goods

Three generations have made family-run Smith’s Red & White grocery store famous for its fresh-made sausages, country ham, pimento cheese, chicken salad and more. Another claim to fame is the store’s huge selection of old-fashioned candy where you can mix and match over 60 flavors. The family has also branched out with its own restaurant that specializes in down-home country cooking.

8. Take a Spin on the Carousel

Nash County has an abundance of parks, but only Sunset Park has a century-old county fair carousel on which each horse has been meticulously restored and provides kids an old-fashioned whirl. The 25-acre park also features a miniature train, splash park, playground, picnic shelters, skateboard area and 18-hole disc golf course.

9. The Great Outdoors

When you’re craving some outdoor adventure, head out to hike or bike on 7 miles of trails running along the Tar River, linking five parks and taking you across one of the longest wooden pedestrian bridges in America. In warmer seasons, the Tar River Paddle Trail has 10 canoe and kayak access points that connect over 55 miles of waterway along the Tar River and Stony Creek.

To learn more about Nash County, visit explorenashcounty.com.