Introduction
Fayetteville, North Carolina is a great place to visit. With its historic downtown, popular attractions, and many outdoor activities, it’s no wonder that Fayetteville was named the top Medium-Sized City in America by Rand McNally/USA Today’s Best of the Road® 2017 Tourist Guide. Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, there are plenty of things to do in this city!
The Airborne Special Operations Museum
The Airborne Special Operations Museum is located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The museum is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Saturday and from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Sundays. Admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (over age 62), military members, and veterans with ID cards, $10 for children ages 6-11, and free for children under 6 years old. Visitors can also purchase a family pass for $30 which allows one adult and up to four children to enter the museum at no charge.
You can get there by taking Highway 401 south towards Fayetteville before making a right turn onto Swift Ave., then left onto McMichael Dr., right onto Longcoy Rd., left onto New Hope Rd., right onto McAllister Ave., left onto Lejeune Rd., right into the entrance of Fort Bragg Military Reservation
Cape Fear Botanical Garden
This is a great place to go on a date, with friends, with kids, or for exercise. The botanical garden offers more than 5 miles of trails and paths throughout the garden. These trails can be used for walking dogs or jogging around the property. It also offers many different gardens and plantings that are free to visit during normal hours of operation.
The Cape Fear Botanical Garden is located at 1400 Edinburgh Drive in Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305
Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum
Located at the site of the old Fayetteville train depot, this museum has a collection of antique cars, fire trucks, and military vehicles. It also has a collection of antique clocks and toys from the early 1900s.
The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 6-12 years old.
Fayetteville Dogwood Festival
Fayetteville Dogwood Festival
Date: April 14th, 2019
Time: 10 am-5 pm
Location: Downtown Fayetteville, NC (map)
What to expect: The dogwood tree is the state flower of North Carolina. This annual festival celebrates its blooming season with a parade, live music, and more! You can expect beautiful landscaping at this event as well as unique food options such as hot cocoa or ice cream floats by local vendors.
There will also be fun activities for children like petting zoo animals and face painting stations throughout the day! Dress warmly if you plan on attending this event! It gets chilly during springtime in North Carolina so come prepared with layers while exploring downtown Fayetteville during this festive celebration. Parking is limited so consider carpooling if possible; however, there are public transportation options available (within walkable distance).
Cape Fear River Trail
The Cape Fear River Trail is a paved path that runs along the Cape Fear River and is popular with cyclists, runners, and walkers. The trail begins at Lock & Dam No. 1 and terminates at the Highway 421 bridge in downtown Fayetteville. It’s about 6 miles long (or 3 miles if you start at both ends as we did), with several parks in between where you can stop for breaks or just relax on a bench overlooking the river. The trail is free to use but donations are encouraged!
Crown Center
- The Crown Center is a shopping mall in Fayetteville.
- The Crown Center is the largest shopping center in North Carolina, with over 130 stores and restaurants to choose from.
- It has the only IMAX theater in Fayetteville as well as many other attractions like Laser Tag, an arcade, and Chuck E Cheese Kid’s Zone.
Cross Creek Mall
Located in Fayetteville, Cross Creek Mall is a great place to go if you’re looking for a variety of stores. The mall itself is anchored by Macy’s and Belk, with other stores including JCPenney and H&M. There is also an outdoor food court with seating options like Chick-fil-A and Subway.
If you’re visiting during the week, the mall closes at 9 pm; weekends are slightly later at 10 pm. In addition to shopping options, there’s also a movie theater inside that shows first-run movies starting at 7:30 pm on weekdays and 9:30 pm on weekends (check their website for showtimes).
Heritage Square Shopping District
If you’re in town and looking for something to do, the Heritage Square Shopping District is a must-visit. The square is home to many local businesses, including shops selling antiques and collectibles, art galleries, bookstores, clothing stores, and more. In addition to shopping options, there are also many restaurants within walking distance.
Located just blocks from Cape Fear Botanical Garden (one of our top recommendations), this area has everything you need for an entertaining afternoon or day trip!
Fascinate-U Children’s Museum
Fascinate-U Children’s Museum is the perfect place to take your kids, and it’s great for adults too. The museum features a variety of exhibits that teach children about science and technology. There are also several hands-on activities in which children can participate, including an art studio and a music room. Fascinate-U will also host special events like science nights and storytime events so you’ll never run out of things to do with your kids!
The staff here is friendly and knowledgeable, especially when it comes to answering questions about the exhibits. They’re very friendly toward parents too! I’ve never had any problems bringing my two kids here even though they’re still pretty young — they love going through all the different exhibits over again each time we visit. It’s worth checking out this place if you live nearby because there are so many educational opportunities available here!
Carolina Cinemas 10
Carolina Cinemas 10 is the best place to catch a movie. It’s a small cinema that has about 16 seats and serves delicious popcorn. The ticket prices are reasonable, and there’s an online ticket selection system so you can pick your seats in advance.
If you’re looking for movies with a big-screen feel but don’t want the hassle of going downtown, this is the place for you!
Segra Stadium
Fayetteville is home to one of the most unique minor league baseball stadiums in the country. Seagram Stadium, which opened in 1994, is a beautiful venue with excellent amenities and an intimate setting that makes it a perfect place for watching a game.
The stadium has been home to Fayetteville Woodpeckers since they were founded in 2001. Seagram Stadium has a capacity of 4,000 people and contains a grass field, press box, and lights system. It also features two decks above the concourse level where you can watch the game from an elevated perspective if you don’t want to sit directly behind home plate or on one of the side bleachers.
There are plenty of things to do in Fayetteville.
- 1. Visit the Fayetteville Museum of Art
- 2. Walk through historic downtown Fayetteville
- 3. Check out the Panola Mountain State Park
- 4. Take a tour of Dickson Street in Downtown Fayetteville (this is where you can go for some great food and shopping)
- 5. Take a Hike at Fort Bragg (the trailhead is just beyond the beach on post)
- 6. Go to the North Carolina Arboretum in nearby Raleigh, NC (this is about an hour’s drive from Fayetteville)
- 7. Visit Fort Fisher National Battlefield also located close by in Southport, NC(about an hour’s drive from Fayetteville)
Conclusion
Fayetteville offers a variety of things to do for all ages. Whether it’s visiting the Airborne Special Operations Museum or taking your kids to Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, there’s no shortage of entertainment options in this city. From shopping at Cross Creek Mall to dining out at Segra Stadium, there are plenty of ways to explore Fayetteville with friends and family members while having fun doing it!
