20 Fun Things To Do In Hickory, North Carolina

The Hickory Museum of Art is a center of the arts that has been alive for nearly 75 years. It has built up a permanent collection of art that still reflects Visual Arts of various kinds including painting sculpture, and to an even lesser degree decorative arts.

Here you will find rotating exhibitions in a plurality of styles and thematic cultures. This hub of creativity has numerous classes and workshops, each at a different level of sophistication for all age levels. Both art enthusiasts and families can benefit from enriching experiences in the museum.

Hickory Aviation Museum is located in Hickory Regional Airport. It offers gallery space in a former airport terminal and shows compelling artifacts that document the history of flight.

When you visit, you'll get to explore a hangar full of carefully kept airplanes and see outdoor displays on the old airport ramp. You can also admire the classic planes and learn about the pioneers of aviation while experiencing progress in air technology.

Overall, it is a fun place for the entire family, a place where history is embodied by innovation in a great place.

The Glenn C. Hilton, Jr. Memorial Park is an escape in the middle of a city where many activities are possible for all ages. It has a good picnic shelter, modern restrooms, and playgrounds, making it a perfect park for family outings.

You can enjoy peaceful trails that are great for a relaxing nature walk or a more active hike. If you like being on the water, the park also has horseshoe pits and a canoe launch.

Moreover, there are open areas where you can relax. With all these amenities, this park is a popular spot for recreation and relaxation.

In Hickory North Carolina there is an L.P. Frans Stadium that hosts a minor league baseball team the Hickory Crawdads which is also under the Texas Rangers team. It is ideally located in a woody environment and boasts a 4000 sitting capacity which makes this place perfect for family baseball encounters.

At this place, visitors can enjoy exciting events and eat traditional ballpark food while taking part in themed activities like fireworks nights or community celebrations. It also features a kids' play area as well as picnic shelters, and it tends to be more intimate between spectators and action.

Are you ready to challenge yourself? Test your brain and work together as you dive into the exciting adventures at Trapped! Escape Games. They have several private escape rooms filled with tough puzzles, smart clues, and interesting riddles to solve.

Do you think your team can beat the clock and escape in 60 minutes? It's great for friends, family, or workmates because there are no strangers to your bunch and this makes it an individual event. Regardless you are an escape room veteran or just curious, this can be a great place for you.

Catawba Science Center is a 35,000 sq. ft. non-profit science and technology museum facility located in Hickory. It is appropriate for all ages since it is determined to educate and amaze people through science.

Therefore, it opens up great avenues for exciting investigations into everything from astronomy to physics, weather to technology, and then also plants and animals.

Plus, the fundamental programs of Pre-K can also supplement the duration of interactive school lifestyle field trips to ninth-grade summer camps, preschool science programs, homeschool classes, adult science programming, and birthday parties.

Do you like watching movies? Then, this could be the best place to be. Carolina Movie Theater was formerly built in the year 1934 and has now been renovated, beautifully preserved in all its vintage charm in Hickory, North Carolina.

The theater focuses on showing second-run films and sells them at a discount, making it an inexpensive entertainment facility. Carolina Movie Theater is cozy and modern, thus one of the Hickory North Carolina things to do for enjoying the magic of movies.

Olde Hickory Station is a charming bar and grill located in an old depot. It features creative American breakfast, lunch, and dinner food, seven days a week.

Customers can also order freshly baked goodies, pastries, and even some sweets and treats from their in-house bakery. Fifty beers and ciders are on tap in the bar, as well as Olde Hickory Brewery selections and guest pours, besides handcrafted cocktails made from fresh ingredients.

In addition, enhance your experience with a large wine selection available from the market, which also sells cheeses, meats, and special items.

Valley Hills Mall is famous for Hickory because it is the classic indoor shopping mall. It is a shopping center for a six-county area and serves as the only enclosed mall within 40 miles. It has a collection of department stores and specialty boutiques for casual dining.

Family-oriented, the unique features include a 28-foot antique carousel and an area dedicated to the kids. With more than 70 stores, including national and local brands, Valley Hills Mall is a true shopping destination and has a fabulous food court too.

Located conveniently right off I-40 for shopping and family-friendly enjoyment it is the must-visit place in North Carolina.

Hickory, North Carolina, is home to the Nail It DIY Studio, a lovely artsy studio that brings out the full creative spirit in you.

This is a fun and hands-on amateur environment where ART-Tenders help you through DIY workshops, leading you from start to finish in transforming all the materials of your project into custom wood signs and home decor using only techniques unique to Nailed It.

You can choose your style, and the studio provides the materials and expert guidance for you to create something unique. Also, check out the Splatter Room as well, where a creative visit can be splashed with paint.

This is a famous place for video arcading in Hickory, North Carolina. The Victory SIM Experience is rated at 5 out of 5 by Google. With 10 advanced racing simulators, including motion-based models, the vivid race experience here is simply incomparable.

Here, you can feel the thrill of virtual race cars in short-timed 30-minute chunks or long-time up to 8-hour races. Victory SIM Center is one of North Carolina's most advanced racing destinations when it comes to impressions for all age groups.

Check them out on Victory SIM Experience to find out more, and go ahead and book that adrenaline-filled experience!

The Hickory Greenway Trailhead is a beautiful gateway into the city's connected trail system as it provides an escape outside for walking, jogging, or biking. The trailhead opens into greenways bursting through natural areas, parks, and creeks providing opportunities for wildlife spotting or photography.

Popular among everyone who lives in and around, it is one of the best places to go for a stroll or take an energetic run. Dotted with shaded areas and benches, plus connecting access to recreational sites nearby, this hiking area captures Hickory's essence of being a nature-preserving city while encouraging outdoor recreation for its visitors.

The Hickory Farmers Market is a year-round lively and vibrant destination that can be found at Union Square. It offers everything ranging from local crops and fruits, meat, milk products, breads and baked foods, and craftsmanship among others.

The operation time of this market is on Saturday between 8 am and 1 pm, on Wednesday between 10 am and 2 pm between mid-April and October, and on Saturday only between 10 am and 1 pm between November and mid-April. It is closed during Octoberfest.

Overall, it also contributes through SNAP Double Bucks with the offer of fresh local products to all people.

Cliff Teague Park, situated in Hickory, is a vibrant neighborhood park that caters to any age group. Well-maintained, this park has children's swings, tennis courts for healthy competition, and basketball courts for a quick game.

There are also horseshoe pits for those who enjoy classic games. There are restrooms onsite to enhance your trip. Moreover, there are beautiful open areas and a warm feeling, making it one of the perfect Hickory NC things to do for family afternoons, recreation, or just relaxing outdoors.

The Shuford House & Gardens is a community treasure located within Hickory's historic Oakwood district, which is among the finest neighborhoods. This beautifully restored home stands in harmony with its historic companions and is as lush with gardens, gentle walking paths, a calming fountain, and a little white pergola.

It is situated right next to a small public park that essentially allows the visitors a quiet retreat from downtown Hickory. This place is ideal for many different occasions such as weddings, birthdays, showers, meetings, tours, and special events, all wrapped up in elegant yet modern spaces.

Do you like old antique artifacts that were left behind from the past? If yes, Hickory Antiques Mall is the place to visit. This antique store is large, has a clean environment, and is organized well, and it should offer a trove.

It has a good variety of different products, from vintage furniture pieces to home decor items that range through collectibles and memorabilia. Regardless of whether you like browsing or buying, it remains exciting.

Therefore, it is a must-see place and the best Hickory NC activities for antique enthusiasts and history phosphate lovers.

Hickory is home to a wonderful dog park called Fairbrook Optimist Dog Park, which makes a perfect weekend getaway destination for pet owners with furry companions. This one is built within a baseball field which has now been converted into fenced-off sections that are specifically designed for large and small dogs.

It is already well-equipped with obstacle courses, pet stations, water fountains for dogs, separate covered shelters, park benches, toilets, and whatnot, making it ideal for pets and their owners. This clean, open, and well-kept park is the best place to take your pup to run off energy while meeting other loving owners.

Dive Bar Hickory is primarily directed towards routines involving entertainment and relaxation. Perfect place to have a night out with friends and indulge in its amazing cocktails. Reservations are not taken, however, with live performances, it creates a fun and free-flowing vibe.

A full bar complete with delicious bites, including pizza and taquitos, billiard tables, and flat-screened televisions for the sport-watching crowd. Retro arcade game fans can play TMNT, Golden Tee Golf, and Guitar Hero or test their luck on claw machines.

Additionally, for some added nostalgia there is even a photo booth for remembering the night.

Hickory Community Theatre is the pearl of the performing arts, and it is found within the historic Old City Hall of Hickory. It is the most creative performing arts organization in the area, presenting more than 15 productions and special events annually with volunteer actors from all over the town and beyond.

This cherished performance venue unites people to create and enjoy art and also shows a variety to meet one's tastes. From all-time family-favorite musicals and hilarious comedies to daring and thinking plays, it has something for everyone.

This theatre holds promises for all local and transient culture lovers to have an interesting and enriching cultural experience throughout the seasons.

Kiwanis Park in Hickory is a lively park with recreational facilities that are enjoyed by people of all ages. The park includes a playground for the children, the Zahra Baker All Children's Playground, and Tree House, which are designed for inclusion through ramps, sensory items, and activities located on the ground for children with disabilities.

Families will enjoy the Charles D. Dixon Memorial Splash Pad, two picnic shelters with grills, and an associated walking trail. For the interest of the athletes, Kiwanis has provided four baseball fields with lighting, batting cages, tennis, and basketball courts.

With restrooms, a concession stand, and ample amenities, Kiwanis Park is one of the Hickory NC attractions.