Looking for the best things to do in Rocky Mount, NC?
Rocky Mount is a beautiful city with Southern hospitality, thriving arts, regional breweries, family-friendly activities, and much more.
A visit to the Koi Pond Brewing Company is a must for craft beer lovers, and families with young children should check out the Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center.
While art lovers can peruse the various pieces on display at the Bel Air Art Center, history lovers can tour Stonewall Manor.
Everyone can find a little bit of what they’re looking for in Rocky Mount, North Carolina..
Things to Do in Rocky Mount, NC
1. Stonewall Manor
Credit: StonewallManor / Facebook
Stonewall Manor in Rocky Mount is a fantastic destination if you love history.
The Stonewall Manor is the ideal representation of southern farm life in the antebellum era.
This location, which is close to the Tar River and is well-known for its stunning architecture and surroundings, is a great destination to visit if you want to learn more about the history of the American South.
Location: 1331 Stonewall Lane, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
2. Tar River Flea Market
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Visit the Tar River Flea Market if you want to shop while visiting Rocky Mount. This flea market isn’t like others you’ve seen before.
Over 200 exhibitors in the indoor and outdoor shopping area offer various goods for buy, sell, or trade.
Visiting this unusual location in North Carolina is a terrific idea. Stop and get lost among the many vendor areas.
Location: 1820 S. Wesleyan Boulevard, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27803.
3. Larema Coffee
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Lara Coffee House is the best location to go for specialty coffee and has a unique ambiance for coffee lovers visiting the city.
The Ugandan Acholi word for “my buddy” is Larema, and the Rocky Mount coffee shop’s goal is to serve every customer like a friend.
The proprietor of the coffee shop has visited numerous nations in search of his favorite coffee beans. He refurbished a 110-year-old structure that houses the cafe.
You may find a variety of coffee at Larema, including drip, pour-over, caramel lattes, red eye, and more!
Location: 106 S Washington St, Rocky Mount, NC 27801, United States
4. The Imperial Center for the Arts and Sciences
Credit: TheImperialCenterfortheArtsandSciences / Facebook
One of the most magnificent and excellent cultural facilities on the Eastern Seaboard is the Imperial Centre for the Arts & Sciences, which is situated in Rocky Mount’s downtown.
The Imperial Tobacco Company and the former Braswell Memorial Library are two long-standing Rocky Mount buildings combined to form the complex.
The two were combined to create a fantastic children’s museum and science center, an arts center, and a theater where local artists may perform. (For more details about the Children’s Museum & Science Center, see below.)
The stunning 135,000-square-foot complex house restorations highlight historically significant facets of the building’s heritage.
Additionally, there is a refurbished, 50-year-old structure where you can currently view intriguing exhibitions in a variety of fields and businesses, from technology to modern art.
Location: 270 Gay St, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, United States
5. D Chill Spot
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D Chill Spot, a Jamaican restaurant that serves Rocky Mount’s hungry residents from both a stand-alone restaurant AND a food truck, is a great location to visit while you’re there.
Everything is available, including jerk chicken patties, brown stew chicken, curry goat, and more! On their Facebook page, you can find out more.
Location: 119 N. Washington Street in Rocky Mount
6. Rocky Mount Mills
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On the Tar River, Rocky Mount Mills is a historical structure transformed into a residential neighborhood, a cultural hub, and a popular destination for shopping and entertainment.
With an 82-acre area once a cotton mill, it is now regarded as one of Rocky Mount’s most incredible tourist destinations.
Beyond the obvious, Rocky Mount Mills has a lot to offer its guests! There are several eateries and breweries nearby, as well as kayaking opportunities and modest river cottages where you can stay.
Additionally, Rocky Mount Mills provides brewers with the tools and an incubator for new businesses to enable them to develop and brew immediately if they require assistance.
Location: 1151 Falls Rd, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, United States
7. Tar River Trail
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The Tar River Trail is the perfect place to get outside and enjoy the scenery on Rocky Mount.
The City Lake on Sunset Avenue is the starting point of this three-mile greenway, which ends at MLK, Jr. Park.
It is the ideal location for individuals who like to walk, bike, or skate inline. Additionally, it has wheelchair accessibility.
Before the arrival of the colonists, the Tuscarora Natives resided and traveled along the Tar River, where the trail follows.
The path is paved for the most part. However, one segment that crosses marshy ground is a boardwalk.
Location: Tar River, Rocky Mount, NC 27801, United States
8. The Prime Smokehouse
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The Prime Smokehouse is among Rocky Mount’s top restaurants for dinner. The original location of this steakhouse was in Garner, and a branch was soon established in Rocky Mount (only later to close the original site in Garner).
You will experience a flavor of the town inside the 3000-square-foot restaurant as the skilled chefs and cooks serve you a variety of gourmet soups, stews, signature salads, their distinctive flame burgers, southern BBQ, and much more. When in Rocky Mount, make sure to check out this location!
Location: 207 E Thomas St, Rocky Mount, NC 27802, United States
9. Nash County Farmers Market
Credit: BelmontLakePreserve / belmontlakepreserve.com
In the Rocky Mount Mills Historic District, the Nash County Farmers Market is the ideal location to support regional agriculture and products.
It’s a fantastic method to maintain ties to the neighborhood as well.
Location: 1006 Peachtree St, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, United States
10. Rocky Mountain Children’s Museum And Science Center
Credit: BelmontLakePreserve / belmontlakepreserve.com
The Children’s Museum and Science Center is a fantastic site to visit if you’re traveling to Rocky Mount with kids. The center is ideal for bringing your kids so they can learn new and exciting topics while on vacation.
It is full of exhibits about the history of North Carolina and the science behind the great state’s vast amount of nature, such as the “Secret of Bees” and “Native Knowledge: Shared Science.”
Even an astronomy facility is available where you may observe the stars! If you are traveling with children, this museum is a must-see.
Location: 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount, North Carolina 27804
11. Koi Pond Brewing Company
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The Koi Pond Brewing Company is a great place to visit in Rocky Mount if you travel without kids.
If you visit before the taproom is operational, there won’t be a problem. They are just about to open “The Pond,” their taproom room where you can sample the local beer.
Still, the brewery itself has a perfect space for tastings. Please drink responsibly, and you must be 21.
Location: 1107 Falls Road in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
12. Rocky Mount City Lake And Park
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Take a stroll and unwind at the City Lake and Park in Rocky Mount for yet another fantastic way to spend your time there.
Why not enjoy the lovely weather outside while having a picnic by the lake? You may also throw a ball around and play some soccer or football, or you can feed the birds in the lake.
Rocky Mount City Lake and Park will undoubtedly make your day memorable for a long time after your trip, no matter what you decide to do there.
Location: Sunset Avenue and Business 64, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
13. Bel Air Artisans Center
Credit: BelAirArtisansCenter / Facebook
The Bel Air Artisan Center is the ideal location to visit if you’re interested in art.
They provide workspaces for artists and an on-site gallery where customers may buy the creations of regional artists.
This is a fantastic place to explore your love of art, whether it be through paintings, sculptures, or jewelry.
Location: 115 Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
14. Debs Funnel Cakes
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Deb’s Funnel Cakes in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is well-known for its funnel cakes.
Try their ice cream and smoothies, or have all the funnel cake you want! A wonderful vacation break where you may unwind and enjoy delicious food with your loved ones.
Deb’s is a typical small-town, big-heart stop that serves delicious meals for the whole family to enjoy a sweet treat while visiting Rocky Mount.
Location: Rocky Mount, North Carolina, 27804 (300 Sedgefield Dr.)
15. Battle Park
Credit: VisitNC / visitnc.com
Visit Battle Park for a charming stroll. This excellent location is so rich in history!
This park offers pleasant walking routes, picnic tables, and stunning Tar River vistas.
You can learn more about the war between the Confederates and Unionists by visiting a Civil War cemetery nearby. A great spot to spend the afternoon!
Location: Rocky Mount, NC 27804, United States
Conclusion
The Rocky Mountain in North Carolina is a great place to visit if you’re passing through the south.
The town is just an hour’s drive from Raleigh and is a great spot to unwind and explore.
Rocky Mount is an excellent option for exploring lovely parks, sipping on regional beers, and learning about US history.