No matter which area of North Carolina you are in, you will find an exciting place for your kids to enjoy. In the western part of the state, you'll discover a Wild West park nestled in the mountains. You can visit lions, polar bears and baboons in the central Piedmont area of North Carolina. On the eastern coast, your kids can shoot oranges from cannons on a pirate ship or sing karaoke in a glow-in-the-dark room.
Visit the Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock for a Western style day of family fun in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Be part of the cowboy show known as the Wild West Train Adventure while riding on a historic locomotive. The park offers several other live shows, rides, attractions such as the Tweetsie Jail and activities such as panning for gold. In the Deer Park, you will find a variety of animals, such as emus, pot-bellied pigs and llamas. Tweetsie Railroad is open seasonally from May 1 through November 1. During the 2009 season, the park is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through mid-May and again in late August, through the beginning of November. From mid-May through late August, the park operates 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. As of 2009, admission for adults is $30; kids, 3 to 12 is $22; kids 2 and younger are free.
Tweetsie Railroad
300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane
Blowing Rock, N.C. 28605
(800) 526-5740
The N.C. Zoo in Asheboro offers a chance to see more than 200 species of African and North American animals in their "natural habitat." The enclosures recreate the natural environments of animals, such as rhinos, alligators and grizzly bears, as much as possible instead of having the animals in cages. Other attractions include an Endangered Species Carousel, the Acacia Station Giraffe Feeding Deck and Wild Earth Africa 4-D Experience, a show about life on the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The zoo operates all year round except Christmas Day. During 2009, the hours from April 1 to October 31 are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours from November 1 through March 31 are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As of 2009, admission for adults is $10; $8 for seniors 62 and older; $6 for kids ages 2 through 12; and free for kids under 2. Combo tickets, which cover admission and provide two entertainment passes for the Carousel and Wild Earth Africa 4-D Experience show, can also be purchased from April 1 through November 30. As of 2009, adult combo tickets cost $13; $11 for seniors; and $9 for kids ages 2 through 12.
North Carolina Zoo
4401 Zoo Parkway
Asheboro, N.C. 27205
(800) 488-0444 or (336) 879-7000
Your kids can play pirate, ride a unicycle and be a TV star at the Children's Museum of Wilmington. The museum features several interactive exhibits, including the Imagination Circus, Ahoy Wilmington and Star Maker Sound Stage. Art, cooking and science programs are also available for your kids' participation. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. From Labor Day to Memorial Day, the museum's hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The museum is open to members only on Mondays during this period. As of 2009, general admission is $8 per person; $7 for those with a valid military identification; and $7 for seniors. Kids under 12 months old can go in free.
Children's Museum of Wilmington
116 Orange Street
Wilmington, N.C. 28401
(910) 254-3534
