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In a peaceful area that's tucked in from the ocean on the Albemarle Sound is Elizabeth City. Next to hot spots such as the Outer Banks and Nags Head, there's plenty to get out and do in the sunshine in this part of the Atlantic. But what becomes of a place that's known for the beach and skate park when it's rainy? In Elizabeth City, plenty!
Get dressed and let's hit the indoors for some culture, history, and amusement! Below are some of our top attractions for a rainy day in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Voted the #1 place to go in the city, this museum has been inviting locals and visitors alike to learn. For 55 years, people have been stopping by to become more familiar with North Carolina's history, as well as the whole Albemarle region in general.
The main exhibit tells "Our Story" about the ever-changing life of those who saw this place as home. A continued walk-through brings you past items found in an excavation site nearby, the State Boat of North Carolina, hog heaven, and even an exhibit dedicated to the brave women pushing progress across the state. To encourage exploration even further, the Museum of the Albemarle is free.
The last place you want to be is stuck on vacation with kids who want to be outside but can't. If you have little people with you, Port Discover is the ticket! This hands-on science museum is a blast for kids. Even grown-ups can get in on the action. These are the types of exhibits you can expect to learn from:
Port Discover is free for everyone except kids ages 1 - 17, whose admission is $5.
In the heart of downtown, this building houses more than just an art gallery. From dramatics to photography, here's a taste of what you can experience:
There are pieces by 250 artists using various mediums to show off their creativity. The 230-seat theatre hosts musicals, plays, and even charity drives throughout the year. One great option for residents is the Rising Star program for young violin players. This is free and even avails a violin to learn on. If anyone in the family has even the slightest interest in the arts, this is a great place to drop in.
If going to see something amazing at the Arts of the Albemarle gets your creative juices flowing, this is perhaps the best next stop. Construct a new work of brilliance at this studio. All ages are invited to get their hands dirty and there's no minimum skill needed. As one participant shared, "I had a wonderful time. I sat down at a table with strangers and left with friends!"
You may not be able to hike a trail or go swimming, but that does not mean you can't burn some calories. Take the whole family and the multitude of new friends you've made while visiting Elizabeth City and go out for one of the themed nights.
Plan to be around for your special day? They also have a birthday club!
For a different kind of physical merriment, Das Danmine is a recreation facility that can get the whole family bouncing around. This is a brief summary of what shenanigans await you on East Ward Street:
If you get tired before everyone else or need to catch up on some light work, take a seat in the lounge and feel free to get on the Wi-Fi.
Looking for a more grown-up activity? This new wine bar has really started luring tourists downtown. There's no wonder why the wine bar has had sweet success in such a short time. They offer a variety of reasons to keep people walking through the door, especially on the weekends.
If you're in town and want to stop by, you might be interested in one of these events:
As you can probably tell, Elizabeth City is very welcoming to the kids in your life. They are quite accommodating and seem to be on a mission to keep them entertained. However, the overall goal is that the whole family has such a good time that they keep coming back.
Luckily, no matter what mother nature has planned, you can really get the most of Elizabeth City, whether it's wet or dry outside.
After getting accepted to ECU, I started looking for things to do in and around Greenville, NC. However, my searches kept taking me to places in South Carolina! There must be things to do around ECU, so I started asking other students. They kept telling me to graduate and move away! This inspired me to begin exploring eastern North Carolina and build this website as a showcase of the places to go, sights to see, and things to do all over eastern NC. I have fallen in love with this region and started taking up roots here. After graduating, I didn't move away - I bought a house here and continue to explore eastern North Carolina.
