Things to Do In & Around Asheboro

Living in Asheboro means there’s always something to do. Here’s a list of recommended things to do in and around Asheboro from locals. If you’re interested in learning more about area attractions, visit www.heartofnorthcarolina or www.visitnc.com.

Area Attractions

Go to the North Carolina Zoo. Connect with wildlife from two different continents as you explore 500 acres of exhibits carefully constructed to resemble natural habitats. Walk from Africa’s grasslands to North America’s Arctic coast. Discover more than 1,100 animals and 40,000 plants along five miles of shaded pathways. www.nczoo.org
Visit the Richard Petty Museum in Randleman - www.rpmuseum.com
Visit the NC Aviation Museum, especially during their annual fly-in - www.ncairmuseum.org
Visit Goat Lady Dairy – You must call before coming out to buy their fantastic goat cheese. Watch their web site to find out when they’re hosting special dinners and events- www.goatladydairy.com
Visit the American Classic Motorcycle Museum, featuring the largest private collection of Harley Davidson motorcycles. (1170 US Hwy. 64 W)
Visit the Routh Horse Ranch - www.routhhorseranch.com
Take a ride on the Richland Creek ZipLine Canopy Tour! Zip through the forest along Richland Creek at the base of Purgatory Mountain on more than one mile of cable on 15 different lines with the longest at 1,400 feet in length. – www.richlandcreekzipline.com
Visit the Seagrove Potteries and check out the Museum of NC Traditional Pottery and the NC Pottery Center. www.visitseagrove.com
Visit the gallery at the Randolph Arts Guild, which features new works every month – www.randolphartsguild.com
Pick up a paintbrush. The arts are abundant in Asheboro, and inspiration is all around you. The Randolph Arts Guild and other local galleries offer classes, so why not try your hand at creating something special? www.randolphartsguild.com
Visit the Town Creek Indian Mound - www.nchistoricsites.org/town
Visit the “All a Flutter” Butterfly Farm in High Point - www.all-a-flutter.com
Visit Whitaker Farms - www.whitakerfarm.com
Visit the Pisgah Covered Bridge – www.pisgahcoveredbridge.com
Visit the Zimmerman Vineyards - www.zimmermanvineyards.net
Visit the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro and see the original Woolworth’s county from a 1960 sit-in. www.sitinmovement.org
Visit Concord (we say it Con-chord) to go shopping at the huge Concord Mills outlet mall, or visit the Great Wolf Lodge or Charlotte Speedway. www.visitcabarrus.com
Go for a hike at Pilot Mountain State Park. This Approach peak rises more than 1,400 feet above the rolling countryside of the upper Piedmont plateau. www.ncparks.gov
Go camping! Area campgrounds include Zooland Family Campground (www.zoolandfc.com), Deep River Campground and RV Park (www.deeprivercampground.com), Holly Bluff Family Campground (www.hollybluffcampground.com) or Trails End Family Camping (www.trailsendcampground.net)
See the “Mayberry” town – take a day trip to Mt. Airy to see where Andy Griffith grew up. A great time to go is during Mayberry days in September. www.visitmayberry.com
Like roller coasters and rides? Go to Paramount’s Carowinds Theme Park in Charlotte - www.carowinds.com
Stay at the Parkside Bed & Barn – a bed & breakfast that includes a barn and pasture for those traveling with horses - www.parksidebb.info
Strap on roller skates and visit the Roll About Skating Rink - www.rollaboutskating.com
Go to Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre to see dramatic portrayals of the region’s history - www.snowcampdrama.com
Take a wine tour in the Yadkin Valley, just west of Asheboro and home to a number of vineyards - www.yadkinvalleywineries.com
Take a long weekend and take a road trip – you can be at the beach or the mountains in 3-4 hours. www.visitnc.com
Talk a walk by the Deep River Trail in Franklinville - www.townoffranklinvillenc.org/DeepRiverTrailHome.htm
Take a hayride and picnic at Sunny Slopes Farm - http://sunnyslopesfarm.com
Pick your own fruits and veggies at Millstone Creek Orchards – www.millstonecreekorchards.com
Pet an alpaca at Caraway Alpacas - www.carawayalpaca.com
Take a farm tour at Rising Meadow Farm - www.risingmeadow.com
See a race at Zoo City Motor Sports Park – www.zoocitymx.com
Go to the Caraway Speedway for racing action - www.carawayspeedway.com
Go bowling – www.bowlfsc.com

Health, Fitness & Outdoor Activities

Go golfing! Area courses include the Asheboro Municipal Golf Course (a Donald Ross Course – www.asheboronc.gov), Tot Hill Farm (www.tothillfarm.com), Asheboro Country Club (www.asheborocc.com), Holly Ridge Golf Links (www.hollyridgegolflinks.com) or Pinewood Country Club (Private Course - www.pinewoodclub.com).
Spend some time at Lake Lucas or Lake Reese – take a john boat or canoe out just for a ride or to try to catch some bass or catfish - www.asheboronc.gov.
Go Horseback Riding at Heart to Heart Stables (www.hearttoheartstables.com) or the Summit Hill Farm Riding School (www.summithillfarmnc.com)
Go waterskiing, jetskilling, canoeing, boating, swimming or fishing at High Rock Lake or Badin Lake
Take a class at the YMCA (with an indoor pool!), Curves Fitness or a local Yoga studio
Take a golf trip to Pinehurst
Fish or boat at Randleman Lake
Take a leaf ride to enjoy our great fall foliage
Spend time hiking in the Uwharrie National Forest - www.uwharries.com
Cool off in the summer with a dip at one of the two City pools – www.asheboronc.gov
Take a picnic to one of the City’s park and playgrounds – www.asheboronc.gov
Take in some outdoor sports by going hunting or fishing
Play tennis at the tennis center in Memorial Park – www.asheboronc.gov
Participate in the Asheboro Downtown Walk Program – look for sidewalk markers in the downtown area to guide your path. www.asheboronc.gov
Go to a Copperhead’s game to enjoy wooden-bat baseball – www.teamcopperhead.com
Play disc golf at North Asheboro Park – www.asheboronc.gov

Arts

Go to Sunset Theatre for a movie, concert or play (www.sunsettheatre.org) – or call the RSVP group to learn how you can get involved in their next production (336-629-0399)
Catch a movie at Cinemark VII in Randolph Mall – www.cinemark.com
See the Downtown Sculpture – get a map from the Arts Guild and take a walk to see great outdoor sculpture. The show changes every few years, so come back to see what’s new! Be sure to check out the great murals while you’re viewing the downtown art.

Shopping & Dining

Go to Seagrove Orchids - seagroveorchids.com
Spend some time strolling the antique shops and art galleries in downtown Asheboro
Enjoy farm-fresh products – local fruits, vegetables, meats, wine and dairy products are abundant! The Asheboro Downtown Farmers’ Market is open May-October. www.asheboronc.gov
Eat some barbeque. North Carolina has two distinct types – Lexington style and Eastern-style. Lexington barbeque has a tomato based sauce, while Eastern-style is more vinegar based. Asheboro’s only 30 miles from Lexington.
Go shopping at the Sr. Adult’s Association shop – the Salt Box
Check out the shopping at the Randolph Mall - www.shoprandolphmall.com
Go to Tom’s Creek Farm & Nursery - www.tomscreeknursery.com

Special Events

Go to Christmas on Sunset, the annual holiday event in downtown Asheboro where you can enjoy carolers, free hot chocolate, a model train display, costumed characters, carriage rides and more!
Go to the Liberty Antique Festival (35 minute drive/20 miles away)
Go to the annual Thresher’s Reunion in Denton the week of July 4th to see antique farm equipment, a tractor pull, musical groups and more. Celebrate the region’s agricultural heritage.
Participate in the Randolph County Senior Games/Silver Arts – or just go to watch some great senior athlete and performers
Enjoy a night “Out & About” – go downtown on the third Friday evening of the month, when shops try to present special events and activities.
Attend the Summer Concert Series – each year there are at least half a dozen concerts in Bicentennial Park during the Summer Months
Go Crusin’. Asheboro is home to an annual cruise-in series that lasts from spring until fall. See great classic cars
Visit the Fall Festival. This annual event is held in early October and features hundreds of food and craft vendors.
Go to a play produced by the Randolph Youth Theater Company or one of the local high schools.
Go to Forsyth County’s Tanglewood Park in December for their annual Festival of Lights
Art May-Ham – It’s a mix of art and BBQ in the month of May. Be on the lookout for this event in downtown Asheboro.
Get your spice on at the annual Chili Cookoff in downtown Asheboro.
Ooo and ahh over the Independence Day fireworks at McCrary Ballpark
Listen to a great beach music band or take to the dance stage to show off your moves during one of the City of Asheboro’s Summer Concerts or one of the Ramseur Lake Summer Concerts

Local culture

Try some persimmon pudding. Apparently this dish is big in Indiana, so we’re not sure how it came to be a favorite in Randolph County. It appears in the fall, so you’re sure to find some at the Fall Festival. It’s hard to describe, but some say it tastes like pumpkin pie.
Go to Sir Pizza – this pizza chain came to NC in the 1960s, and it’s become an Asheboro favorite. You can’t be a local until you’ve at least tried a Sir Pizza pizza.
Take your picture with the elephants that stand at the entrance to the NC Zoo. Send the photo to your friends and family telling them you’ve gone wild in Asheboro!
Read Our State magazine. Tarheels are a special breed with a unique Southern history and flavor. If you’re “from off” one of the best ways to get a taste of what makes North Carolina special is to read this monthly publication.
Attend Dancing with the Randolph Stars – community leaders strap on their dancing shoes for entertaining performances to raise money for Randolph Community College.

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer at Victory Junction Camp or visit the camp to learn more about what they do to make sure that children with serious illnesses or a chronic medical condition get to enjoy a life-changing experience.
Become a volunteer or mentor – contact the Volunteer Center to learn how

Civic, Social and Special Interest Clubs

Visit one of the many houses of worship in Asheboro.
Get your library card and visit often - there is always something going on! Pick up a new book, spend time on the library computers, attend a special event or do some historical research in the Randolph Room. www.randolphlibrary.com
See a parade – Christmas Parade, Tractor Parade, Fall Festival Parade, Veterans Parade
Check out the Randolph Community College catalog and find a fun course to take. Randolph Community College is known for its photography program – why not sign up for some classes? www.randolph.edu
Take flying lessons at the Asheboro Airport. www.asheboronc.gov
Participate in a civic group – we have three Rotary Clubs, Civitans, ABWA and Kiwanis
Take a dance class. There’s always lots of dancing during our summer concert series, so take a class at a local dance studio and be ready to swing and shag the nights away.