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Best Things to Do in Rocky Mount NC

Best Things to Do in Rocky Mount NC

An award-winning city, Rocky Mount, has a river that runs through it and a history that goes back farther than can be verified. Located about 45 minutes outside of Raleigh, Rocky Mount has been undergoing renovations. The goal is to make it more modern like the nearby capital while highlighting the history that made it what it is today.

If you're a fan of the outdoors, craft breweries, or have little ones who are bored, you can find something that will keep you coming back to this city for years to come.

History of Rocky Mount

For 12,000 years, this area was populated by the Tuscarora tribe. They started to disperse in the early 1700s after a four-year-long war against the Europeans that were trying to settle in the area. The Tuscarora and Europeans lived in peace for fifty years before the bloodiest colonial war took place starting in 1711.

Rocky Mount officially became a city in 1867 and is now ranked as number six for the cost of doing business by Forbes.

Rocky Mount City Lake

The project started during President Roosevelt's administration in 1937. Throughout the years, there have been efforts to keep the lake pristine, including a beautification in the early 90s. There's a half-mile track around the lake that you can walk on or observe the avian creatures from. This tranquil spot attracts visitors and locals alike all year long.

Rocky Mount Imperial Centre

With the tagline, "The center of it all," you will surely be entertained. Part of the Centre is the Children's Museum & Science Center, Centre for The Arts, and Community Theatre. The Maria V. Howard Art Center is free, admission to the museum is $6. If you're a Rocky Mount resident, you can see everything for free on Sundays.

Looking to get the family into a new hobby? There is a planetarium with regular stargazing. Laser shows and themed visits to the moon are fun for all ages.

Battle Park

In 1863, a Civil War battle was fought here. However, there is more to Battle Park than it seems. Rocky Mount's first post office opened here in 1817 and the first theatre showed up later here, too. Today, this is the meeting spot for the Tar River Trail and Paddle Trail. Whether you're on foot or wheel, the park feels more like a forest with heavy overhead and views as far as you can see. What else can you do here?

  • Fishing
  • Hiking
  • Bicycling
  • Picnicking

Did we mention, Battle Park not only has the rocky mounds that inspired the city name but contains one of the largest wooden suspension bridges in the US?

Rocky Mount Mills

Originally built in 1816 as the second cotton mill in North Carolina, Rocky Mount Mills is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The mill is now a 150-acre estate with multiple uses. The working mill itself was shut down in 1996 but started a renovation process in 2014. New to the site are tiny house boutique hotels, restaurants, office and event space, and lofts.

Perhaps the most popular addition, though, are the craft breweries on site, such as Koi Pond Brewing. At The Pond, they keep a lively space with trivia nights, open mic nights, and snacks.

The Rocky Mount Mills is a place you will want to come back to. They plan on adding water activities, beaches for leisure, and trails.

Top Local Eats

After all day of walking around and being entertained, you will want to soak up snacks of your own. Here are some of the hottest spots in town to get some grub:

  • Westridge Grill. This pub has fried chicken and seafood in baskets with toast and fries. They also have themed nights weekly, from trivia to live music, so there is never a dull evening.
  • Chew-N-Chat Cafe. A rare gem that serves breakfast and dinner, this cafe offers seafood, chicken, pasta, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and all the breakfast combinations you could imagine. Want extra to take home? There is a menu of dishes you can purchase from their market.
  • The Prime Smokehouse Barbecue & Beyond. Taking a date to the only slow-smoked BBQ in the city is sure to win some points. In addition to the meaty favorite, there is also pasta, seafood, a wide variety of vegetables, as well as a top-rated mac and cheese side dish.

Rocky Mount is working hard to not only offer exciting amenities for locals but also to attract tourists. There have been several outdoor adventures but now more restaurants and even office space is finding their way in town. You would be able to fill up days of back-to-back things to do and even the kids could not find anything to complain about.

ENC Explorer
Author: ENC Explorer

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.

This place is for Publicity

This place is for Publicity

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