Fun & Affordable North Carolina Activities with Kids

• What was Catawba Science Center originally known as?
  • Originally known as the Creative Museum in 1975 when it first opened, Catawba Science Center (CSC) in Hickory, helped the city be awarded the All-American City award, presented by the National Chamber of Commerce.
• What activities does the Catawba Science Center offer for kids?
  • This 35,000-square-foot facility provides an array of activities for kids of all ages. Kids who love marine life can spend time in the saltwater gallery. Once there, kids can pet live stingrays and sharks, along with other saltwater creatures.
• What other attractions does the Catawba Science Center offer?
  • Kids that love the earth and space will enjoy the Millholland Planetarium. This space provides daytime laser shows on a giant screen and is free with paid entrance to Catawba Science Center.

243 3rd Avenue Northeast, Hickory, NC, Phone: 828-322-8169

• What age group is the Children's Museum of Alamance County designed for?
  • The ideal place for children under the age of 10, Children's Museum of Alamance County in Graham, offers an enthusiastically fun, learning space for young children.
• What kind of exhibits does the Children's Museum of Alamance County offer?
  • The Museum provides interactive exhibits that make learning fun, while developing problem-solving skills.
• What kind of educational activities can children engage in?
  • It’s never too early to learn about physics, and with the High School built Race-Track, kids experiment with gravity and speed to help understand the dynamics of physics.
• What role-playing opportunities are available for kids?
  • Role playing a doctor in the Health Center, kids don lab coats and stethoscopes. Children learn anatomy, DNA, and more, while exploring models of the human body and its organs.

217 South Main Street, Graham, NC, Phone: 336-228-7997

• What is the Children's Museum of Wilmington?
  • The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of Wilmington (CMoW) in downtown, provides a fun-filled learning experience for children under the age of 10 years old.
• What is the Toddler Treehouse?
  • Children younger than four will love the Toddler Treehouse – a space where toddlers can develop their motor skills. The room features a slide and squishy material to climb on.
• What activities can kids enjoy at the Lawson Learning Center?
  • The Lawson Learning Center provides the Art Room, a space ideal for the budding artist. Here, kids learn to experiment with different materials to help create unique, imaginative masterpieces.
• What is the Teddy Bear Hospital?
  • Teddy Bear Hospital allows children to get the feel of a doctor’s office by pretending to care for their Teddy Bear.

116 Orange Street, Wilmington, NC, Phone: 910-254-3534

• Where is Chimney Rock State Park located?
  • Located in majestic Western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Chimney Rock State Park offers an outdoor playground and an educational experience for children of all ages.
• What are the main features of Chimney Rock State Park?
  • Outdoor enthusiasts rush to this scenic Park to take in its splendor. The Park features 75-miles of panoramic views atop its overlook, with views of Lake Lure and the surrounding natural habitat.
• How can visitors reach the top of Chimney Rock?
  • Reaching the top of Chimney Rock is done two ways, either by hiking the 2,280-foot trail, or riding the elevator.
• What activities are available for adventurous visitors?
  • For the adventurous group, Cedar Creek Stables provides a guided horseback tour that allows guests to see the Park in a different light.

742 Chimney Rock Park Road, Chimney Rock, NC, Phone: 828-625-9611

• What is Fascinate-U Children's Museum?
  • Providing a space that is educational and safe for more than 20 years, Fascinate-U Children's Museum in Fayetteville provides a role-playing setting to teach young kids a hands-on approach to how the world is run.
• What type of exhibits can children explore at the museum?
  • The museum is set up as a mini city with children playing the role as adults. It features a grocery store with a cash register, clerk, and foods to buy.
• What activities are available for older children at the museum?
  • The museum offers a second floor science room for older children, as well as a model train exhibit of the Cape Fear Railroaders Association on the third floor.

116 Green Street, Fayetteville, NC, Phone: 910-829-9171

For Tweens and Teens

• What is the Frisco Native American Museum known for?
  • With a collection of Native American artifacts that are nationally recognized, the Frisco Native American Museum on Hatteras Island, is an ideal location for kids who love exploring the great outdoors and love learning about Native American history.
• When did the Frisco Native American Museum open?
  • Opening its doors in 1987, in a building nearing 100 years old, the Museum offers a rich history of early inhabitants of this area.
• What types of artifacts can children see at the museum?
  • Here, kids will see thousands of local artifacts from area tribes.
• What outdoor activities are available at the museum?
  • The Museum also offers nature trails that run through a maritime forest, featuring a large pond, a small stream, and two wooden bridges.

53536 NC Highway 12, Frisco, Hatteras Island, NC, Phone: 252-995-4440

• Where is Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine located?
  • In the Blue Ridge Mountains between Boone and Asheville, Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine offers kids a chance to take a step back in time to when mining was a major way of life in the 1800s.
• What can children and families mine for at Gem Mountain?
  • Children and families are able to mine for some of the world’s purest quartz, mica, and beautiful gemstones known to man.
• Is there an entrance fee to Gem Mountain?
  • Entrance to this mine is free, however in order to mine, guests have to purchase buckets, ranging from $30 to $170.
• What do kids get to keep when they mine at Gem Mountain?
  • Kids actually get to keep the treasures they find by placing the items on a screen and wetting them down to see the different gems.

13780 Highway 226 South, Spruce Pine, NC, Phone: 828-765-6130