eastern nc field trips

10 Homeschool Field Trips in Eastern North Carolina

Looking for eastern North Carolina field trip ideas to work into your homeschool plans? Here are some fun and educational spots you’ll love!

We’re still learning our way around eastern North Carolina, but we’ve found some great places for field trips in our time here.  Whether you live in eastern North Carolina or may be visiting soon, be sure to add these locations to your to-do list. They are the spots you don’t want to miss if you’re looking for homeschool field trip ideas!

10 Fantastic Eastern North Carolina Field Trips for Homeschoolers

1. tryon palace in new bern.

Tryon Palace is best known for being the location of North Carolina’s first state capital and is the perfect field trip for anyone wanting to experience a taste of colonial NC.  Not only is Tryon Palace home to the first Governor’s Palace, it also has living history demonstrations, historic homes for touring, 16 acres of gardens, and the North Carolina History Center.

2.  North Carolina Aquariums

There are a few different aquarium locations to choose from for North Carolina field trips, but the Fort Fisher location is our favorite.  Complete with touch pools and interactive experiences, the aquarium is naturally a good match for homeschoolers or any kids who love ocean creatures.  We personally enjoy the free admission they provide to homeschool families each year.  How great is that?!?

3. Cape Fear Museum of Science and History

We love the Cape Fear Museum !  Since we’ve only lived in North Carolina for a few years, this place is gem to us because it’s helped us understand more about the science, history, and culture of NC’s lower Cape Fear region.  This is a great place for homeschool field trips even for those who aren’t new to the area, though!

4. USS North Carolina Battleship

Studying World War II?  The USS North Carolina is where you need to be!  Japanese radio announcers claimed six different times that this battleship had been sunk, but she survived and has much to offer her visitors.  I can’t think of a better way to step back in time and view World War II than to experience it through the eyes of those who served so bravely.

5. North Carolina Maritime Museums 

There are three coastal locations, but each of the NC maritime museums are unique and are great choices for homeschool field trips.  From Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge to marine life and conservation to shipwrecks, these museums have more than enough to keep your kids busy and engaged.

6. The Children’s Museum of Wilmington

Wilmington’s Children’s Museum is such a fun place for a field trip, especially for younger kids!  Here you’ll find an awesome toddler room, Teddy Bear Hospital, and Port of Call, just to name a few exhibits.  These are great, but our favorite children’s museum features are the Art Room and Courtyard.  My kids can’t get enough of these!

While there are actual field trip programs available, we prefer just to visit as a family.  We still get to take part in all the museum offers that way and do it at our own pace.

7 . Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

There’s great work happening at the Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehab Center and, while educational programs aren’t available year-round, there is much to learn here.  And even if you forgo the actual Rehab Center, attending a sea turtle release also makes for a great homeschool field trip.

8. Liberty Hall

Liberty Hall is an antebellum home belonged to one of the area’s earliest settlers and gives visitors a look at life in the early 1800s.  You can get the general idea of what to expect by viewing the guided tour on the website, but it’s definitely worth seeing in person.

9. Moore’s Creek National Battlefield

The Revolutionary War comes to life during a field trip to the Moore’s Creek Battlefield !  This battlefield is homeschool-friendly and offers programs that showcase colonial clothing, musket demonstrations, and tours through the historic site. Bonus: their website includes a ton of free  teacher resources for your field trip!

10. Airlie Gardens

This spot was one of the first places we learned about when moving to the area and we’re so glad we didn’t miss out! 

Airlie Gardens is a great place for homeschool field trips because you can find gardens, walking trails, historical structures, a mosiac-style chapel made from glass bottles inspired by artist Minnie Evans, and an oak tree that’s been around for more than 400 years all in one place!  While we’ve enjoyed all of these aspects of Airlie Gardens, the Tranquility Garden and all of the butterflies there just might be our favorite.

This list of Eastern North Carolina field trip ideas is by no means exhaustive.  This area has tons to offer homeschool families and these are just ten fantastic locations to visit!  

5 thoughts on “10 Homeschool Field Trips in Eastern North Carolina”

If you’re ever looking for more field trips in North Carolina, visit http://www.classtrips.com/region-landing/2781/school-field-trips-in-north-carolina

Hi Emily – You might contact Camp Don Lee in Arapahoe or Trinity Center in Salter Path. They have fabulous environmental education programs during the school year and Don Lee does salt marsh (my favorite, actually!) and beach learning sessions at Atlantic Beach. Ft. Macon is also a favorite of mine.

Thanks for the suggestion, Mary! I’m not familiar with Salter Path and it’s been years since I’ve been in the Fort Macon area (well before I was married!), but I can’t wait to check into these!

Great ideas. We loved going to the Wright Brother’s memorial when we were on the east coast last year. Blessings, Dawn

That sounds like a great stop, Dawn! We haven’t made our way to that part of the NC coast yet, but we’ll add it to our to-do list. :)

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NORTH CAROLINA Field Trips

To help plan March curriculum focused classroom activities, field trips and school assembly programs, these March themed celebrations might be a helpful focus. MONTHLY : Music in Our Schools. Craft Month. National Nutrition. National Women’s History. National Ethics Month. DAILY : Mar. 1: Peace Corps Day. Mar. 3: National Anthem Day. World Wildlife Day. Mar. 4: National Grammar Day. Mar. 8: International (Working) Women’s Day. Mar. 10: Harriet Tubman-Birthday. Mar. 11: Genealogy Day. Johnny Appleseed Day. Mar. 12: Plant a Flower. Mar. 14: Learn about Butterflies. National Pi Day. International Day of Mathematics. Mar. 15: Ides of March. World Consumer Rights Day. Mar. 16: Freedom of Information Day. Mar. 18: National Quilting.  Mar. 20: Earth Day (Vernal Equinox). World Folklore Tales and Fables Week (March 20- 26). Mar. 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. National Common Courtesy Day. World Poetry Day. Mar. 26: Make Up Your Own Holiday Day. CLICK on the ACTIVITY FILTER below for further field trip information. For those unable to travel to these locations, have the fun come to you. Check out the Outreach Field Trips & School Assembly Programs  section.

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Ackland Art Museum

Ackland Art Museum features a collection of art that spans over 4,000 years of achievement. The museum’s collection includes art from the West, Asia, Africa, and the ancient Mediterranean.

Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill

Learn about the process of apple cidering at Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill. From Aug.-Oct., groups of all ages can take an educational tour of the orchard and cider mill, and also visit for apple picking fun.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art features a collection of modern and abstract art including paintings, sculpture, and drawings work by artists such as Giacometti, Warhol, and Le Corbusier.

Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site

Visit the site of the Civil War’s 1965 Battle of Bentonville. The historic site offers groups a chance to see Harper House, which served as a field hospital for the Union Army, as well as a Confederate cemetery and Union trenches.

Camp Carousel

The Camp Carousel Petting Zoo is home to over 100 animals—a number of which are rescued animals. See friendly sheep and goats, ponies, pigs, ducks, and more. IN-PERSON PROGRAMS: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina.

Cape Fear Botanical Garden

Cape Fear Botanical Garden is an ideal outdoor classroom for learning about flowers, planting, seeds, sprouts, soil, insects, and much more. Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s 80 acres feature nature trails, a natural amphitheater, ravines, ponds, aquatic plants, and other natural elements.

Carolina Ocean Studies

Discover the wonders of the Carolina coast through a field trip to uninhabited barrier islands! For 30 years, Carolina Ocean Studies has been taking K-12 students out on field trips to North Carolina barrier islands.

Carrigan Farms

At Carrigan Farms, groups can explore the apple orchard or the pumpkin patch via hayride, visit the animals at the petting station, enjoy picking fruits or vegetables, and see thousands of bees at work.

CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center

Visit the ironclad gunboat CSS Neuse, which was used by the Confederate Army in a failed attempt to retake the city of New Bern and restore control of the lower Neuse River.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

Currituck Beach Lighthouse was the last of four beacons positioned from Cape Henry, Virginia to Cape Hatteras, filling the “dark spot” on North Carolina’s coast. Groups can climb the 214 steps all the way to the top of the lighthouse to see breathtaking views of the surrounding area below. 

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a 380-acre site featuring picturesque scenery and natural elements consisting of rolling meadows, a lakefront, 13 gardens, and a woodland trail.

Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Tobacco Museum

Visit the historic site where George Washington Duke grew tobacco and started one of the largest American tobacco companies. The homestead offers guided house tours with a look at museum exhibits on the tobacco industry, the history of tobacco, and a 17-minute orientation film. 

FieldTripdirectory.com offers enriching experiences for North Carolina school groups, scout groups, homeschool groups, camp groups and families at North Carolina Museums.

North Carolina Museums offer field trips that offer hands-on exhibits, guided tours and guided activities for early childhood through high school grades. North Carolina Art Museums , Science Museums , History Museums , Multicultural Museums and Children’s Museums offers educational experiences that support classroom curriculum and scout badge achievement. Beside museums, you can search for other learning experiences at Botanical Gardens, Planetariums, Living History Programs, STEM & STEAM, Planetariums, Farms, Zoos and Aquariums, Theaters and Concerts, Service Learning and more.

Can’t go on a field trip to a museum, your students, scouts, and families can still experience these fun enriching experience by scheduling a  Museum Virtual Field Trip  anywhere and at anytime.

Want the fun to come to you- book a  School Assembly Programs, Outreach Field Trips or Residency  at your school, homeschool association or scout council. They support and enhance a school’s curriculum, offers opportunities for scout badge achievement and enriches a camp program. There are mobile museum exhibits, traveling planetariums and classroom and grade level workshops and residencies.

To help fund field trips, virtual programs and school assembly programs visit our section on  Grants  and  Fundraising Programs .

FieldTripDirectory.com (formerly ClassTrips.com and CampDirectorsResources.com) offers field trip ideas for class trips, scout group trips, camp group field trips, and homeschool group field trips in North Carolina—early childhood through college. Search for class trips in North Carolina by by group type, cost, activity/curriculum type, grade level, distance, and venue name or keyword. Day class trips are divided by curriculum and subject area:

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Find North Carolina art museums, theater, dance, and music concert field trips.
• EARLY CHILDHOOD Find North Carolina class trips to children’s museums, petting zoos, and kids’ shows.
• HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES View North Carolina history museums, government & civics, historic sites, living history museums, and multicultural field trip ideas.
• LIFE SKILLS Find North Carolina team building field trips, health & safety exhibits, and character education experiences.
• SCIENCE & NATURE Find North Carolina aquariums, botanical gardens, environmental studies & nature centers, farms & mazes, planetariums, science museums, STEAM & STEM field trips, dinosaur exhibits, and zoos.
• RECREATION Find North Carolina field trip ideas for adventure parks, ropes courses, ziplines, boat excursions, amusement parks, waterparks, kayaking, rafting, tubing, laser tag paintball, roller skating rinks, ice-skating rinks, mini-golf attractions, indoor amusement & recreation centers, and outdoor amusement & recreation centers.

Overnight field trips include trips to NYC, trips to Boston, trips to Philadelphia, trips to Washington, DC, trips to Chicago, trips to Atlanta, trips to Austin, and other historic cities throughout the US. Retreats are available for environmental education, team building, and recreation. We created field trip lesson plans to help teachers, scout leaders, camp counselors, and homeschool parents provide an enriching experience for their groups. We know funds for class trips are limited, so we’ve included grants for field trips that cover admission, transportation, and more. It’s important that students and youth explore new environments, learn about other cultures, and develop an understanding of inclusivity as part of the educational process. People learn in different ways—through hearing, seeing, touching, talking, or doing. Class trips can provide a multi-dimensional learning experience. FieldTripDirectory.com can help you find the right trip for your group. A world of experiences is just a click away at FieldTripDirectory.com.

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North Carolina Field Trips

Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips .

Our listing of North Carolina field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a North Carolina field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.

An asterisk * after the title indicates that a virtual field trip is also available.

It recognizes the Revolutionary War Overmountain Men, Patriots from what is now East Tennessee who crossed the Great Smoky Mountains and then fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. The website offers historical information about the park for those who cannot visit in person.

The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail website

From NC pedia

Virginia Dare and the Lost Colony: Fact and legend website

Enjoy the gifts of nature surrounded by the remnants of a once mighty range of peaks. Recreation is plentiful in and around the waters of Lake Tillery and the Yadkin / Pee Dee River. Fishing and boating are popular pastimes. Nature lovers can pick from miles of trails to travel on foot or horseback. And for those who want to stay and take it all in, cabins and camping are available. There's really only one word to describe Morrow Mountain State Park: variety.

Morrow Mountain State Park website

Imagine relaxing in a cove, listening to the sounds of water rippling. Then, you feel a firm tug on your fishing line. It's going to be a big one! Picture the surface of the lake glistening, water spraying your face, the boat motor ahead roaring. Suddenly, your skis give way -- a splash landing! Hear the laughter of children, smell burgers roasting over a charcoal fire, feel a breeze blowing through the campground.

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area website

The People's Path and America's First National Scenic Trail. The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is more than 2,175-mile long footpath stretching through 14 eastern states from Maine to Georgia. Conceived in 1921 and first completed in 1937, it traverses the wild, scenic, wooded, pastoral, and culturally significant lands of the Appalachian Mountains.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail website

The Asheville Art Museum annually presents an exciting, inviting and active schedule of exhibitions and public programs based on its permanent collection of 20th and 21st century American art. Any visit will also include experiences with works of significance to Western North Carolina's cultural heritage including Studio Craft, Black Mountain College and Cherokee artists. Special exhibitions feature renowned regional and national artists and explore issues of enduring interest. The Museum also offers a wide array of innovative, inspiring and entertaining educational programs for people of all ages.

Asheville Art Museum website

The Blue Ridge Parkway was designed as a recreational motor road, connecting Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks. It is also a cross-section of Appalachian mountain history. It encompasses some of the oldest settlements of both pre-historic and early European settlement.

Blue Ridge Parkway website

Put on your hiking boots, pack a picnic lunch, and spend a great day at the beautiful source of Asheville's water, the North Fork or the Mills River Water Treatment Plants. We give a tour of the treatment plant, describe the water treatment process, water distribution, and the causes and treatment of water pollution. There is so much to learn that your students may want to participate in the tour multiple times.

City of Asheville Water Treatment Plants website

Fort Macon offers public access to the surf, sun and sand of the Crystal Coast--as well as a historic landmark. Located at the eastern end of Bogue Banks, one of a series of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast, the park is surrounded on three sides by water--the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet and Bogue Sound. This area of undisturbed natural beauty is the perfect place to explore salt marches and estuaries vital to the coastal ecosystem

Fort Macon State Park website

Island Express Ferry Service is the ONLY ferry service out of Beaufort and Harkers Island, NC that is authorized by the National Park Service to drop passengers off at Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout. Shackleford Banks, famous for the wild banker horses that roam its shores, is a pristine island with one of the best shelling beaches in North Carolina. Enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Cape Lookout, famous for the Cape Lookout Lighthouse Station. While you are there, take time to bird watch, swim in the ocean, climb the lighthouse, or ride our famous Beach Shuttle.

Island Express Ferry Service website

The M/V Crystal Coast Lady is a 100' All Aluminum Motor Yacht that is USCG Certified and inspected for up to 265 Passengers! The Lady has full ABC permits, a galley on each deck, and 4 restrooms on board. Tours run 7 days a week and include: 1/2 Day Family Fishing, Shackleford Banks Wild Pony and Dolphin Scenic Tours, Historic Beaufort Waterfront Cruises, Brunch, Lunch and Sunset Dinner Buffets, Wednesday Wine Tasting Cruises, and Dolphin Watches! The Lady also specializes in unique wedding packages, special events and private charters.

Crystal Coast Lady Cruises website

BRAHM provides cultural enrichment to the High Country communities by promoting the Arts and Southern Appalachian heritage & history through educational programs, exhibitions, activities, and permanent collections. Our rotating exhibitions change three times a year, so there's always something new to discover. You can come to visit your favorite artworks and artifacts from the permanent collection. Free admission, open Tuesdays - Saturdays 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Blowing Rock Art & History Museum website

High Gravity Adventures is an exhilarating field trip combining outdoor adventure and hands-on learning in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Ages 7+ can experience the High Altitude Zip Line Tour, our 4-story Blue Ridge Adventure Park, and the screaming three-person Giant Swing. Young adventurers ages 4+ can explore our kid-friendly Foothills Zip Line Park for age-appropriate adventure. Build confidence and promote problem-solving, healthy risk-taking, and personal achievement with an unforgettable and enriching day of active learning at High Gravity Adventures. Group discounts for 10 or more.

High Gravity Adventures website

Come join us on the banks of the Broad River. Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry units welcome. Hosted by the Broad River Greenway and the 2nd North Carolina Mounted Infantry, we welcome all reenactors and their families to come. Check website for details of event held in April.

Battle of the Broad River website

The Transylvania Heritage Museum shall explore, promote, preserve, and nurture the historical heritage of Transylvania County and its families through exhibits, educational programs, collections of artifacts, and heritage/cultural activities.

Transylvania Heritage Museum website

Our trained tour guides will take your students on a one-hour guided tour, introducing them to over 20 species and connecting their characteristics and adaptations to your grade level-specific science concepts. Suitable for any grade level, tours are designed to meet North Carolina Standard Course of Study science goals and objectives. We'd love to work with you to design an experience to complement your classroom content! Wild Field Trips are for pre-k through 12 grade and require advanced noticed scheduling.

Animal Park at the Conservators Center website

Tiger Safari Zoological Park is located 30 minutes South of OKC. It is the only interactive zoo centrally located in Oklahoma. On a tour of our park, you'll walk the three-quarter-mile path with an experienced tour guide and gain an understanding of each species' ecological importance. You'll also get to know each animal's individual personality and story. We're all about reconnecting you to wildlife, so every tour is a conversation. Offering School and group field trips daily as well as overnight luxury African Safari Huts and Tree houses, Birthday parties, Zoo to you, Overlook deck for Parties, Tiger jeep encounter, and wedding venue and much much more.

Tiger Safari Zoological Park website

In the crest of the timeworn Black Mountains lies the summit of Mount Mitchell, the highest point east of the Mississippi. For those who ascend this mighty peak, what looms in the horizon is a feast for the eyes--breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling ridges and fertile valleys. Forested and forever misty, 1,946-acre Mount Mitchell State Park will provide you with some of the most tranquil moments you'll ever experience.

Mount Mitchell State Park website

Carolina Ocean Studies is located on the Cape Fear and Beaufort region and have been taking k-12 and homeschool students on field trips for over 28 years. Students are able go crabbing, fishing, explore the marshes, comb the beach for shells, and experience the wonder of the Carolina coast!

Carolina Ocean Studies website

With a marina providing access to some of North Carolina's best fishing spots, a secluded camping area beneath towering trees, and miles of hiking trails that traverse a variety of distinct habitats--not to mention the presence of the Venus flytrap, one of the world's most unique carnivorous plants--it's no wonder Carolina Beach State Park is a popular coastal attraction. Located in an area steeped in both history and natural diversity, the park includes a visitor's center with exhibits depicting the wonders of its environment. Visit Carolina Beach State Park to relax, enjoy nature or embark on an eye-opening adventure.

Carolina Beach State Park website

The Museum's collection consists of more than 15,000 works of art, featuring North Carolina's premier collections of Asian art and works of art on paper (drawings, prints, and photographs), plus significant collections of European masterworks, twentieth-century and contemporary art, African art, and North Carolina pottery. The Ackland organizes more than a dozen special exhibitions a year.

Acklund Art Museum website

An interactive museum housing the nation's most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War Southern history.

Levine Museum of the New South website

The Mint Museum Randolph initially served the region as the first branch of the United States Mint, coining $5 million in gold from 1836 to the outbreak of the Civil War. A grassroots community effort during the Depression saved the original Federal-style building designed by William Strickland from demolition and moved it to its present Randolph Road site. The museum formally opened to the public on October 22, 1936 as North Carolina's first art museum.

Mint Museum of Art website

Experience history and see your future in a new light at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina. During a visit to the Library, you'll relive the remarkable ways God used an ordinary farm boy to change the world. Through state-of-the-art exhibits, audio and film displays, and personal memorabilia you will discover how God used Billy Graham to shape history through relationships with world leaders, his outreach efforts during times of war and peace, and his unfailing commitment to God's love.

Billy Graham Library website

Bounce U Matthews offers 100% Private Birthday Parties, Play Dates, Field Trips, Camps, and Open Bounce sessions for kids 12 years and under. Run, bounce, and play in two HUGE arenas filled with 18-foot-tall inflatable slides, obstacle courses, bounce houses, games, and dedicated toddler areas.

Bounce U Matthews website

Darby Acres Farm & Safari offers the opportunity for children and adults of all ages to experience an educational tour of farm animals and life on a farm! Participants have the opportunity to feed and pet the animals as well as engage in some up close animal encounters. Basic biology and life cycles of certain species can be observed depending on what time of year your field trip is planned. Animals are a great way to practice/develop sensory skills, provide opportunity for discussion, learn fun facts, practice respect for all creatures, and much more!

Darby Acres Farm & Safari website

Hubb's Farm is a working family owned and operated farm. Hubb's Farm tours and programs help grow an appreciation of where our food comes from and a knowledge of safe farming practices to all participants. Hubb's Educational Field Trips provide hands-on interactive agriculture exploration. On-site classes available concerning growing crops, how the maze is cut and designed and greenhouse hydroponic strawberries. Also, a hay ride to Animal Acres. Hubb's is open for field trips year round and includes a large picnic pavilion for picnics and large parking area for buses.

Hubb's Farm website

The STEAM program at Charlotte Motor Speedway offers student groups a fun and educational experience like no other. Students will relate motorsports to core principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. Force, motion, energy and engineering are some of the topics that come alive as kids navigate through hands-on stations. A ride on the NASCAR track is included in your visit! Grades 3-12 welcomed. Program runs M-F throughout the year.

Charlotte Motor Speedway STEAM Program website

Bost Grist Mill grinds corn into meal and grits with the same stones and techniques used during the 1800's as well as providing an opportunity for visitors to be a part of the mill's historic past.

Battle of Bost Grist Mill website

Our vertical wind tunnel is a marvel of engineering and provides a one-of-a-kind laboratory for your students to get immersed in real world applications of STEM. Each iFLY STEM field trip provides an interactive presentation, live lab experiment, lab activity and flights for your participants! We offer programs with focus and objectives for Pre-K-College level physics and align with all state education standards. Minimum of 15 participants required. Please reach out for more details! Email: [email protected] or Direct: 512.674.9208

iFLY Charlotte website

Great Wolf Lodge is North America's Largest Family of Indoor Waterpark resorts, and the ultimate destination for your next family getaway. Designed to capture the atmosphere of the Northwoods, our waterparks offer an amazing guest experience in a one-of-a-kind, rustically elegant setting. The perfect place for families to re-connect, and create lifelong memories. With one of our fully-themed resort suites as your family's base camp, you can set out on your Great Wolf adventure. You'll likely first discover our gigantic indoor waterpark, where it's always 84 degrees. And that's just the beginning. Besides our waterparks, don't miss our themed restaurants, interactive arcades, full service spas (and even a version for kids!), fitness centers, and so much more. And with more than 10 locations coast to coast, Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect, weatherproof, year-round destination for your busy family. So whether your family splashes the day away in the waterpark, enjoys a delicious family meal in our restaurant, or enjoys our nightly Storytime together before calling it a night, we think you'll agree, there's no time, like a Great Wolf time. 10175 Weddington Road Exn Concord, NC 28027

Great Wolf Lodge website

Nestled deep in the woods, South Mountains State Park is the perfect place to enjoy nature. Here you can see a majestic mountain range peeking out from the gently rolling landscape of the Piedmont. The park includes elevations up to 3,000 feet, a waterfall dropping 80 feet and more than 40 miles of trails. From equestrian camping to trout fishing, mountain biking to picnicking, a number of activities are available at South Mountains State Park.

South Mountains State Park website

Pettigrew State Park is an ideal blend of nature, history and recreation. Explore Lake Phelps and examine dugout canoes as ancient as the pyramids. Or cast your line into crystal-clear waters where largemouth bass reign. Take a trip back in time at the grave of a great Confederate general. Or hug a tree as wide as an elephant. Paddle down one of North Carolina's last undeveloped rivers.

Pettigrew State Park website

The Battle: "King George and Broadswords! shouted loyalists as they charged across partially dismantled Moores Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776. Just beyond the bridge nearly a 1,000 North Carolina patriots waited quietly with cannons and muskets poised to fire. This dramatic victory ended British rule in the colony forever.

Moores Creek National Battlefield website

There's another North Carolina to be discovered - sheer cliffs and peaks of bare rock, quiet forests and cascading waterfalls, views of the Piedmont plateau that stretch for miles. Hike the trails of Hanging Rock State Park and let nature put life's hectic pace in perspective. Rent a vacation cabin and fall asleep to the lullabies of spring peepers and chorus frogs. Join an interpretive program and discover something new about nature's bounty. Nestled in the hills is a cool mountain lake that beckons to swimmers and fishermen. Picnic areas and campgrounds lend themselves to time spent with family and friends. Hanging Rock State Park awaits you.

Hanging Rock State Park website

This low-cost field trip is a fun, safe, interactive learning experience with horses, at Equine Epiphany Farm in Denton NC, where Maggie works as a Certified Equine Assisted Learning professional. Maggie recently moved to NC recently from California, and has a strong desire to meet and serve the community here. Curricula are customized per group, and can include such topics as; How Horses Do What They Do, Why Horses Do What They Do, What is That Horse Saying, and What Do We Need? Ages 6 and up.

Equine Epiphany Farm website

The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University fosters the understanding and appreciation of the visual arts by providing direct experiences with original works of art supported by a range of exhibitions, programs and publications for the university and the broader community.

Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University website

In this engaging, hands-on experience, students will meet a variety of live animals such as turtles, snakes, a dove, an opossum and more. Explore animal adaptations and learn key conservation messages. Children will have a look at fur, teeth, skulls, and other animal treasures. Touching of the animals will be based on the group size and behavior of the students, and will be at the discretion of the instructor.

Piedmont Wildlife Center website

Duke Homestead provides school programming where students can experience the daily lives of 19th century farmers. Through hands-on activities, a film, and interactive exhibits, school children will discover and learn about the social and economic history of our state. Duke Homestead offers a variety of programs for Pre-K to 5th grade students, including a tour of the Duke family home, making butter, and an annual Christmas Traditions program. (Duke Homestead requests a $1 donation per participating child.)

Duke Homestead State Historic Site website

Minutes from Durham, Hillsborough, and Chapel Hill the Eno River State Park offers secluded wilderness trails with the serenity of a clear river drifting and cascading over a rocky stream bed. The Eno River is a swift, shallow stream flowing from northwest Orange County into Durham County for 33 miles where it joins the Flat River to become the Neuse and flows into Falls Lake. Its waters roll through wilderness, passing historic mill sites, river bluffs covered with flowering shrubs, and fords used by early settlers.

Eno River State Park website

Museum of the Albemarle interprets the cultural history of Thirteen northeastern North Carolina counties: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Tyrrell, and Washington. This area, known as the Albemarle Region, surrounds one of the world's largest freshwater sounds.

Museum of the Albemarle website

Venture to Jones Lake State Park and view one of the greatest geological mysteries of the eastern United States--the phenomenon of the Carolina bays. Adjacent to the Bladen Lakes State Forest and home of two natural lakes, Jones and Salters lakes, the 2,208-acre park is a nature lover's delight. Peaceful surroundings and a variety of facilities, including a trail with several outlooks that circles Jones Lake, make this state park a favorite for hiking, picnicking, swimming, fishing and camping.

Jones Lake State Park website

Carl Sandburg's Legacy Touches Our Lives - Carl Sandburg spent a lifetime exploring what it meant to be an American and asked the eternal questions, "Who am I, where am I going and where have I been?" He did this through poetry, song, lectures, writing and lasting friendships with kindred spirits. Explore Sandburg's legacy and Experience Your America.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site website

Rock Solid Warrior is a ninja/rock climbing/obstacle gym where kids can play on obstacles that are from American Ninja Warrior the TV show. It provides coaches as well to give tips and ensure the safety of kids. Regular open gyms are $15, but daytime specials at certain times are only $10. There is also the option to do half days which are from 8am-12pm or 12pm-4pm which are $33-38 depending on how many kids/days you are participating.

Rock Solid Warrior Gym website

An "enchanted forest," primitive species of fish relatively unchanged over millions of years, towering bald cypress trees with massive trunks, luxuriant growths of Spanish moss--this is Merchants Millpond State Park. Here, coastal pond and southern swamp forest mingle, creating one of North Carolina's rarest ecological communities. Together with upland forests, these environments create a haven for wildlife and humanity alike.

Merchants Millpond State Park website

This is America's most visited national park. Famous for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and Southern Appalachian mountain culture.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park website

Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of more than 2,000 African American students. Today, the campus provides the setting where visitors can explore this unique environment where boys and girls lived and learned during the greater part of the 20th century. The museum links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African American history, women's history, social history, and education, emphasizing the contributions African Americans made in North Carolina. The museum provides Field Trips and Group Tours for all ages! Tours can be custom designed based on your needs. All tours include an orientation video, a campus tour, tour of Canary Cottage and tour of an exhibit. An add on can include a special program based on your theme. Examples are etiquette, women's history, African-American history, student life, music, and a STEAM related program. All programs are FREE.

Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum website

Showcases the nonviolent protest that occurred in Greensboro, NC, the sit in that sparked the civil rights movement. There are both audio and video elements.

International Civil Rights Musem website

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Thursday, March 15, 1781. - The largest, most hotly-contested battle of the Revolutionary War's Southern Campaign was fought at the small North Carolina backcounty hamlet of Guilford Courthouse. The battle proved to be the highwater mark of British military operations in the Revolutionary War.

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park website

Shackleford Banks, off the coast of Atlantic Beach, NC, has a population of wild horses dating back to the 16th-17th century.

Wild Horses of Shackleford website

Ready for adventure? - Take a boat trip three miles off-shore to the islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Here you can enjoy remote beaches, watch wild horses and other wildlife, or visit one of the historic districts. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch for the day. Going camping takes a little more planning.

Cape Lookout National Seashore website

Free admission. This museum teaches about the history, community, and lifestyle of those who were born and raised in the Outerbanks. Duck decoys handmade by local artisans and paintings/drawings by local artists are on display as well.

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center website

Set a course for Kerr Lake State Recreation Area to enjoy sailing, fishing, water skiing and camping.

Kerr Lake State Recreation Area website

The Center for Art & Entertainment proudly serves as the artistic hub of historic downtown Hendersonville. Our intimate venue serves as the creative home in our community for theater, art, and musical performance. The Center's mission is as simple as it is essential - to bring people together in pursuit of original expression and celebration of the arts. ?

Center for Art & Entertainment website

Historic Johnson Farm is an early 20th century farm and tourist retreat. Visitors learn about life over 100 years ago while touring the farm and visiting the animals. Group rate $5 for groups of 10 or more.

Historic Johnson Farm website

The Millis Regional Health Education Center specializes in teaching kids all aspects of health in a fun, hands-on, interactive manner. Programs include dental health, nutrition and exercise, general human body systems, and many more. The Centers target audience is preschool through 5th grade. A visit would include an approximately 45 minute program and 45 minutes of exploring in wellness discover place, a hands on interactive play room. Cost is $5 per student. Groups of 10 or more are welcome.

Millis Regional Health Education Center website

Welcome to the Happiest Place in High Point! Named North Carolina's Visitor Attraction of the Year by the NC Tourism Industry Association! Explore two floors of exciting hands-on exhibits, our Outdoor Adventure Zone, the Hall of Mysteries, the Double-Decker Carousel and more! This is a children's museum.

Nido & Mariana Qubein Children's Museum website

At Medoc Mountain, the urban refugee finds a welcome tranquility, a chance to embrace the outdoors. Trails beckon as light filters through branches overhead and falls on paths that hold the promise of new frontiers. The peacefulness gives the opportunity to refresh. The silence of the forest is broken only by bird songs and the occasional drumming of the pileated woodpecker. Grab your hiking boots. Load your camera. Spend some time at Medoc Mountain State Park and let nature renew your spirit.

Medoc Mountain State Park website

Mount Jefferson is best appreciated up close. On a clear day, you can see for miles from its peak. A great part of Ashe County spreads out below; fields, farms, forests and mountains mingle in kaleidoscopic patterns. On the horizon, the Blue Ridge Mountains form a striking backdrop. Yet what looms in the distance is no more spectacular than what is right before your eyes, for the forests of Mount Jefferson are a botanical paradise. The interesting and unusual plant life of the park rendered it worthy of designation as a national natural landmark.

Mount Jefferson State Natural Area website

Rugged hillsides, pastoral meadows and farmlands surround what is believed to be one of the oldest rivers in North America -- the New River. Its waters are slow and placid. Its banks are fertile and covered with wildflowers. Dedicated as a National Scenic River in 1976, this gentle river is the centerpiece of New River State Park.

New River State Park website

Bring your group to Singletary Lake State Park and enjoy group camping in a land of mysterious origins. A portion of the unique Carolina bay ecosystem found nowhere else in the world, The park offers ample opportunities for nature study and recreation.

Singletary Lake State Park website

This resource is a Victorian-era historic house museum dating to 1880. Originally designed as a catalog home for artist and designer Jule Korner, the resource offers both self-guided and guided tours for small groups. Scavenger hunts are available digitally or in hard copies, and can be paired with downloadable activities for field trip extension.

Korner's Folly website

Raptors soar gracefully in the wind; vegetation reaches to the sky; sheer vertical cliffs drop 150 feet. Enjoy the spectacle from a front-row seat. High atop Crowders Mountain, the highest point in Gaston County, views stretch for more than 20 miles.

Crowders Mountain State Park website

The CSS Neuse Museum, located in downtown Kinston, houses the remains of the CSS Neuse, an ironclad gunboat from the Civil War, and exhibits that tell the story of life in Kinston and eastern North Carolina during the war. Children of all ages are welcome to the Museum, and we have a children's center as well as a cognitive corner with books and activities. September through April, homeschool field trips are offered on the second Thursday of the month for $1.00 per person. All programs have a STEM component. The Museum is Certified Sensory Inclusive through KultureCity.

CSS Neuse Museum website

Enjoy a leisurely day at the ocean shore. Comb the beach for sea stars, keyhole urchins and whelk shells. Or, simply lie back on the sand and enjoy the aerial acrobatics of seagulls, terns and brown pelicans as they soar above the waves. You may want to venture into the mud flats and marshes to watch sandpipers and other shorebirds as they search for food. Learn about endangered species. Loggerhead sea turtles, piping plovers and other rare species nest along this sandy shore. Explore the North Carolina coast; visit Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. This stretch of pristine shoreline offers many enjoyable activities.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area website

At Lake Waccamaw, you can view one of the greatest geological mysteries of the eastern United States--the phenomenon of Carolina bays. Limestone bluffs along the north shore neutralize Lake Waccamaw's water, making the lake different from any other Carolina Bay. Nearby, you can catch a glimpse of a botanical wonder--the Green Swamp. From its sandy shorelines to its tree-lined natural areas, Lake Waccamaw offers peaceful surroundings, an intriguing natural history and fun in the sun.

Lake Waccamaw State Park website

Should the humdrum of the work week leave you with the urge to travel and explore, head to Raven Rock State Park. Here, the forest reigns as each year the timeless cycle of growth further heals age-old wounds inflicted by man. Nature triumphs as plants compete in the stages of forest succession and the woodlands are restored. High above the Cape Fear River stands Raven Rock, its austere beauty a testament to the forces that have shaped the land. As the river below rushes to join the sea, nature's elements continue to shape the surface of this natural monument.

Raven Rock State Park website

The barrier islands of the North Carolina coast are a gateway to the rest of the state. The Civil War battles on the Outer Banks were pivotal for control of North Carolina. A Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island became a symbol of hope for slaves seeking a new life.

The Civil War on the Outer Banks website

On these narrow barrier islands, things never stay the same. - A haven for recreation and reflection, the islands of Cape Hatteras are constantly changed by tide, storm, current and wind. The plants, wildlife and people who live here adapt continually. You see in their daily lives and hear it in the telling of their stories. And there are many story places - sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime woods - explore them all!

Cape Hatteras National Seashore website

England's First Home in the New World - Fort Raleigh National Historic Site protects and preserves known portions of England's first New World settlements from 1584 to 1590. This site also preserves the cultural heritage of the Native Americans, European Americans and African Americans who have lived on Roanoke Island.

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site website

They Taught the World to Fly! - Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights in 1903. With courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world forever.

Wright Brothers National Memorial website

Experience a new adventure in an old-world at Roanoke Island Festival Park. This 25-acre historic site allows guests of all ages to experience first hand what life was like for the first English settlers in 1585. Historic costumed interpreters are featured through Indian Town, the Settlement Site and the Elizabeth II ship to show and tell how the first settlers lived, worked and played on Roanoke Island. For a hands-on history lesson, visit the Adventure Museum that features interactive exhibits that all ages will enjoy.

Roanoke Island Festival Park website

Morehead City Ferry Service offers the Largest Ferry to Sand Dollar Island. Our Sand Dollar Island trip schedule vary with low tide times. The new Miss Morehead City is a 49-passenger Catamaran. We also offer Sea Life Encounter Cruises and Sunset Evening Cruises. Reservations are required. BOOK ONLINE! Free parking!

Morehead City Ferry Service website

Kidz at Play Family Cafe is an indoor playground with a custom nautical themed two level soft-play area that provides play for kidz up to 10 years old. There are plenty of creative areas for the kidz to exercise both body and mind from climbing obstacles, monkey rings to a spinning pole and several slides - there's fun for all! A separate corral with a step slide, rocker and soft-play turtle among other features provides safe play time for those learning to crawl and walk. Call or reach out online for group rates!

Kidz at Play Family Cafe website

Patterson Farm Market and Tours, Inc. is committed to educating children and adults about their food source, the importance of agriculture, and specifically about the crops we grow at Patterson Farm, Inc. We accomplish this by providing educational opportunities which are designed to be educational, hands-on, fun, and informative. We are also passionate about creating pick-your-own experiences, seasonal activities, and events where families can create memories.

Patterson Farm Market and Tours website

From About.com

What Happened To Virginia Dare? website

There are many reasons why millions of people visit Jockey's Ridge State Park. Some come to see the tallest sand dune on the Atlantic coast; others come for the spectacular sunsets.

Jockey's Ridge State Park website

Nature offers scenic vistas of the Appalachian Mountains and beckons to those with an appetite for recreation. Bring family and friends to one of North Carolina's newest state parks for a variety of activities. Try swimming and sunbathing or enjoy a picnic along the lakeshore. Boat, water ski or fish in cool mountain waters, or take a walk and enjoy an abundance of wildflowers and wildlife along park trails. Lake James offers a variety of ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Lake James State Park website

Our Mission is to stimulate interest and understanding of the natural science, environment, and cultural history of the Coastal Carolinas.

Museum of Coastal Carolina website

Lumber River State Park contains natural and scenic waters, 81 miles of which are also designated national wild and scenic waters. The park's recreation activities are currently centered at two access areas, Princess Ann and Chalk Banks. Princess Ann overlooks a unique reverse flow area named Griffin's Whirl. At the access, a bend in the river opens to a long, straight vista that beckons paddlers to take a ride. Chalk Banks, near the town of Wagram on the upper end of the river, has an interesting mixture of plants, fish, and animals from the sandhills and coastal plains regions.

Lumber River State Park website

The Polk Site offers an extensive tour program for student groups. The most popular tour package includes a guided tour of the site's historic structures (Main Cabin & Kitchen House), as well as a scavenger hunt of the museum. Any group may elect to have optional activities in lieu of their standard tour packages. These activities include: a Polk Family Cemetery tour, a musket firing demonstration, and a 19th century education program.

President James K. Polk State Historic Site website

Approach from any direction and see Pilot Mountain rising more than 1,400 feet above the rolling countryside of the upper Piedmont plateau. Dedicated as a National Natural Landmark in 1976, this solitary peak is the centerpiece of Pilot Mountain State Park.

Pilot Mountain State Park website

A collecting museum which focus reflects the mission of North Carolina State University and supports its academic programs by providing research opportunities for NCSU students and the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. The collection includes, but is not limited to, textiles, ceramics, outsider/folk art, photography, architectural drawings & modern furniture. The Gregg Museum of Art & Design also puts on 6-8 exhibitions per year in its two galleries.

Gregg Museum of Art & Design website

An educational field trip program at United Skates, that immerses students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education. The program relates STEM concepts to roller skating, where students will learn that STEM is in everything they do, even in fun experiences like skating! The students participate in one hour of hands on STEM activities taught by our dynamic STEM educator. After the lesson, the students will participate in one to two hours of roller skating, which promotes great health benefits!

United Skates STEM Field Trip website

Walnut Creek Wetland Park offers field trips on topics such as Discovering Wetlands, Birding, and a new field trip geared towards 3rd graders that touches or meets completely 19 standards in math, science and social studies. Individuals are welcome to borrow boots, aquatic nets and binoculars at no charge for self-exploration. Small-group drop-ins are welcome to come and explore our nature center, meet our ambassador animals, borrow an explorer backpack or do a scavenger hunt. Phone 919-996-2760.

Walnut Creek Wetland Park website

Highways fade in the distance as trees, flowers, birds and streams form a more natural community. William B. Umstead is a place to escape the pressures of everyday life, a place to picnic in the pines, to wait for a fish to bite, to take a hike or horseback ride on trails through the woods.

William B. Umstead State Park website

Designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1975, Stone Mountain is bounded on the north by the Blue Ridge Parkway and on the west by the Thurmond Chatham Game Lands. More than 14,100 acres of mountain beauty offer opportunities for outdoor activities of all kinds.

Stone Mountain State Park website

Let's combine STEM concepts and physical fitness at the roller skating rink. An introductory skating lesson is included-experience STEM with us. Our three hour field trip includes a one hour STEM lesson engaging students through hands-on activities. We offer 10 STEM-focused lesson plans to choose from. Our time concludes with two hours of roller skating, including skating games and activities.

Sky-Vue Skateland website

The Bechtler House is located in Rutherfordton NC. Known as the home to America's first one-dollar gold coin. The Bechtler house was home to Christopher Bechtler who is credited with minting the first U.S. $1.00 gold coin. The home showcases period artifacts and exhibits that transport visitors back to the 1830's and tell the Bechtler story. Tours can be scheduled for any day, Monday thru Saturday. The tours consist of a Bechtler tour guide narrating the story at the museum and a trip to the Bechtler Mint site where students bring their lunch to enjoy in view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Bechtler House Museum, Bechtler Mint Site and Historic Park website

Plunging waterfalls, rugged river gorges, sheer rock walls and one of the greatest concentrations of rare and unique species in the eastern United States are found within Gorges State Park. An elevation that rises 2,000 feet in only four miles, combined with rainfall in excess of 80 inches per year, creates a temperate rain forest and supports a collection of waterfalls.

Gorges State Park website

Sylvan Heights Bird Park is designed to give visitors an unforgettable up-close experience with over 2,000 waterfowl, parrots, toucans, flamingos, and other exotic birds from around the world. Open to the public since October 2006, the 18-acre facility features spacious, walk- through aviaries displaying birds from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. The aviaries are surrounded by tranquil gardens and lush natural areas, which enhance the beauty of the birds on exhibit and immerse visitors in native North Carolina wildlife habitat.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park website

At the turn of the century visitors flocked to the area. They drank mineral water from local springs to cure their ills and they took riverboat excursions to the cliffs. Things have changed since then, however, the cliffs remain virtually unaltered, standing as a journal of the geological and biological history of the land. See this spectacular formation, now protected within the boundaries of Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park website

Since 1967, Camp Dogwood for the Blind and Visually Impaired has been a beacon of service to citizens from all over North Carolina. This destination provides a wonderful and therapeutic vacation retreat for persons with blindness and visual impairment and others in the community. Many guests enjoy fishing from our dock and swimming on our beach. Other on-site attractions include miniature golf, horseshoes, corn-hole, nature trail, leadership challenge course, soccer, volleyball, bocce and more. Dogwood offers overnight accommodations of attractive, comfortable guestrooms feature two double beds

Camp Dogwood at Dogwood on Lake Norman website

Feel your daily stresses melt away as you cross the historic Dismal Swamp Canal and walk along the 300-foot boardwalk into this geological wonder. Experience first hand the lush swamp forest and get up-close and personal with the wide variety of wildlife. Discover the uniqueness of a million year old habitat at the Dismal Swamp State Park. Learn why George Washington called the Dismal Swamp "a glorious paradise", how the swamp was important in the Underground Railroad and the ecological importance of wetlands in the visitor's center and exhibit hall. All of this and more can be found just 3 miles south of the NC/VA border on US Hwy 17.

Dismal Swamp State Park website

The park commemorates the survival of the Cherokee people and their forced removal from their homelands in the Southeastern United States in the 1840s.

Trail of Tears National Historic Trail website

A nature preserve, Weymouth Woods is different from traditional parks. This limited-use area serves to preserve and portray the natural features unique to its region. Weymouth Woods is a place where you can look at the longleaf pine forest and see how human actions have affected the environment, where you can learn about rare and endangered species--the red-cockaded woodpecker, the pine barrens tree frog and the bog spicebush.

Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve website

Ride a train, step inside a steam locomotive, learn how the Wright Brothers controlled their Flyer, and see 150 years of North Carolina's transportation history. Visit the 1905 Back Shop where steam locomotives were overhauled, to see horse-drawn vehicles, trucks, planes, and boats. Walk through the largest remaining roundhouse in North America for railroad exhibits and the Wright Flyer replica. Take a spin on the 100-foot roundhouse turntable. See automotive exhibits that detail the evolution of vehicles in North Carolina. Then take a 25-minute train ride around our historic 60-acre site!

N.C. Transportation Museum website

STARworks provides wonderful learning opportunities for children and adults. Glass and clay studios are public access. Stop in and watch artists at work.

STARworks website

Allison Woods Outdoor Learning Center focuses on igniting curiosity, understanding, and respect for nature through education at our Classroom in the Forest!

Allison Woods Outdoor Learning Center website

We are a wild horse preserve and educational non-profit. Hosting groups for a learning experience is our foremost goal. We offer plenty of "hands on" experiences and customize individual programs based upon a group's ages, interests, and needs. Our activities promote learning in Science, Social Studies, Language arts, Reading, Health and Physical Education. We currently have 27 'ambassador' horses & ponies from the coastal herds of NC for your group to meet. Sue Immen, owner/founder, is a former certified teacher and counselor (BS in PhysEd, MAEd in Counseling). 910-515-3743 for appointment.

The Wild Horse Preserve at Grayce Wynds Farm Farm website

Venture to Bear Island and reward yourself with vivid memories of one of the most unspoiled beaches on the Atlantic coast. Accessible only by passenger ferry or private boat, there's just one thing at Hammocks Beach that's crowded--the list of things to do. Secluded and tranquil, free from intruding commercialism, Hammocks Beach may not be for everyone, but the island is a retreat for people who welcome the challenges of relentless sun, sand, sea and sky.

Hammocks Beach State Park website

At Lake Norman State Park, fun is just a matter of scale. On one hand, there's the largest manmade lake in the state, Lake Norman. On another hand, the park boasts its own 33-acre lake where fishing and boating are enjoyed. And with hiking trails, picnic areas, interpretive programs and campgrounds, there's more to Lake Norman State Park than merely water.

Lake Norman State Park website

Hours of relaxation await you at Falls Lake State Recreation Area. Just moments away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Falls Lake is a great way to escape urban life. Fishing, boating and swimming are only a few of the activities awaiting you on the water. On land, you can enjoy walking, mountain biking or camping along a portion of the state's Mountains-to-Sea Trail. From recreation to environmental education, no matter what you are looking for, you are sure to discover it at Falls Lake.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area website

Giant, old oaks draped in Spanish moss welcome you to this special world where broad, lazy Goose Creek joins the Pamlico River. A primitive camping area, picnic sites, swim beach and hiking and paddling trails offer a variety of ways to savor the tranquil surroundings at Goose Creek State Park. Goose Creek is conveniently located between historic Bath and the original Washington. Visit Goose Creek State Park. Unwind and soak up the peacefulness; a hectic pace is not permitted.

Goose Creek State Park website

Come join the annual Battle of Wilson's Store Reenactment to be held on the grounds of the Museum of the Waxhaws in Waxhaw, NC. The original battle was held March 1, 1865 as Sherman marched from Columbia, SC through NC. Hosted by the Museum of the Waxhaws and the 35th Regiment, NCT. All reenactors and their families are welcome. Check website for details of event held in May.

Battle of Wilson's Store website

The Cameron Art Museum provides a cultural gathering place which enriches the lives of museum visitors and our community through high quality exhibitions, dynamic public programs, unique events and educational opportunities in the visual and performing arts.

Cameron Art Museum website

Cape Fear Museum of History and Science is the oldest history museum in North Carolina. Since its founding in 1898, the Museum has grown and changed. It began collecting confederate relics, and now collects images and artifacts that help us understand the history, science and cultures of the region. Today, Cape Fear Museum collects, preserves, and interprets objects relating to the history, science and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear, and makes those objects and their interpretation available to the public through educational exhibits and programs.

Cape Fear Museum of History and Science website

Historic house museum filled with masterpieces of American art and surrounded by formal gardens, shops and restaurants.

Reynolda House Museum of American Art website

Old Salem Museums & Gardens, in Winston-Salem, NC, encompasses 100 acres of restored and reclaimed landscapes that include eighty buildings, nationally acclaimed gardens, and five retail stores, including Winkler Bakery. The Historic Town of Salem and The Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) - along with award-winning heirloom gardens, invite today's visitors to experience the complete story of those who lived and worked in the early South.

Old Salem Museums & Gardens website

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FIELD  TRIPS

NCMNS Greenville and Contentnea Creek provide astronomy education, environmental education, and outdoor recreation to the children, adults and families of eastern North Carolina. Our field trip programs offer students a chance to move through the trails of our park led by highly trained educators for a hands-on learning experience that reinforces and brings to life the concepts that are taught in the classrooms.

Our field trips are correlated to the NC Essential Standards and to the Next Generation Science Standards according to grade level and subject area using academically-based curriculum materials. We feature four distinct habitats – stream, forest, swamp and ponds – that are ideally suited to enhance the fundamentals of environmental science in a controlled setting. We can customize a program to meet your needs. Please call us if you have comments or questions. We look forward to working with you and your school group.

Field  Trip Programs 

For prek-12th grade classes.

Greenville 

Explore the Museum with your K-12 class during a trip to NCMNS Greenville. Classes of up to 50 students are guided through a series of activites themed after the exhibits on display. Topics include Astronomy, paleontology, water quality, and pirateology.  

Contentnea Creek

Explore nature and the wounders of the night sky with your K-12 class during a trip to NCMNS Contentnea Creek. Each trip to Contentnea Creek includes a guided trail hike, a hands-on activity, a planetarium show, and time on the Nature Playscape.

UpTown S.T.E.A.M.

NCMNS Greenville has partnered with the Greenville Museum of Art to offer guided tours of each museum for K-12th grade classes during the 2022-2023 school year. Students will enjoy hands-on lessons as they experience each museum.

Preschool Science

Explore the Museum with your preschool class during a trip to NCMNS Greenville. Choose one of three science-based lessons: Tree Talk, Animals Are You, or Fun with Fossils. Each program includes hands on activities and a visit to the Discovery Forest.

About Our Field Trips

Field Trips By Grade Level

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Museum Museum Contentnea Creek Greenville Uptown S.T.E.A.M.

Preferred Dates (Choose 3) - Date Format XX/XX/XXXX - Comma Separated

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“The findings are stunning: environment-based education produces student gains in social-studies, science, language arts, and math; improves standardized test scores and grade-point averages; and develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making.”

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Field Trips 2023

Are you looking for a unique and memorable field trip experience for your students or group members? Look no further! Here in the Carolinas you'll find some of the most interesting, educational, and fun field trips around. From exciting outdoor explorations to breathtaking view points to fascinating historical attractions, there is something here that will fit any budget and interest level. Join Carolina Traveler as we explore several several field trip adventures.

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It's electric! Encourage your students to explore their inner Ben Franklin (or Nikola Tesla!) on a field trip to the Catawba Science Center in Hickory, NC.

Catawba Science Center

• 243 3rd Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601
• 828-322-8169 Catawba
• catawbascience.org

Catawba Science Center is a non-profit science and technology museum offering rotating hands-on exhibits, saltwater and freshwater aquarium galleries, and a state-of-the-art digital planetarium. Their mission is to change lives and inspire learning through science and wonder! The staff are dedicated to providing a fun learning environment through science experiences.

Interactive and educational school field trips feature grade-specific hands-on experiences in natural, physical, and earth sciences. All programs complement the NC Common Core & Essential Standards and goals. Visitors learn about animals, plants, astronomy, physics, weather, technology, and more. We strive to provide an inclusive atmosphere for people of all ages!

Experience wildlife at the Animal Park at Conservators Center in Burlington, NC.

Animal Park at the Conservators Center

• 676 E. Hughes Mill Road, Burlington, NC  27217
• 336-421-0883
• animalparknc.org

Get a unique view of big cats, wolves, and other exotic animals—often from just 5 feet away! Most visitors experience an “oofing,” the earth-shaking, collective roar of several lion prides. You will be equally enchanted by our smaller residents, including binturongs, singing dogs, lemurs, servals, and other rare species.

You'll find fast cars and the legendary King of NASCAR at the Petty Museum in Randleman, NC.

Petty Museum

• 309 Branson Mill Rd, Randleman NC 27317
• 336-495-1143
• RPMuseum.com

Trace the amazing history of four generations of NASCAR royalty at this interactive museum! Follow the Petty family from their start on dirt tracks to modern-day racing, with memorabilia and artifacts highlighting wins, awards and more. You can even pick up a souvenir in the gift shop for yourself or your favorite fan. Get ready – buckle those seatbelts tight – it's time for an adrenaline-pumping journey through over 80 years' worth of incredible accomplishments!

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Curious minds making thrilling connections on field trips to the Eastern 4-H Center in Columbia, NC.

Eastern 4-H Center

• 100 N Clover Way, Columbia, NC
• 252-797-4800
• eastern4hcenter.org

Come explore the natural beauty and diversity of Albemarle Sound! With 250+ acres as an outdoor science classroom, experienced teachers lead hands-on learning activities for elementary to high school students aligned with North Carolina teaching standards. From the Pocosin forests to sweeping bays, estuaries and wetlands full of wildlife around sandy shores – there's something special waiting at each turn that'll bring curriculum alive in a way textbooks never could. The center's programs are open to public, private, and home-school groups.

Do you find tractors sexy? If so, your happy place will be the Neal Agricultural & Industrial Museum in Trinity, NC.

Neal Agricultural & Industrial Museum

• 5507 Snyder Country Rd, Trinity NC 27370
• 336-861-6959
• LinbrookHeritageEstate.com

Step back in time and explore the wonders of American engineering from a simpler era. See more than two dozen restored John Deere tractors, along with an array of steam engines dating as far back to 19th century. Witness history come alive when you experience the demonstration re-enacting the War of The Currents. And don't forget about shopping for souvenirs at the special gift shop.

A Tiger World field trip will be an experience that your students will never forget!

Tiger World

• 4400 Cook Road, Rockwell, NC 28138
• 704-279-6363
• tigerworld.us

Take a walk on the wild side with our educational tour and get up close to the big cats. Field trips to Tiger World include an interactive program designed around your specific curriculum with age appropriateness in mind. Students can meet the animals, ask questions of our certified Animal Care Specialists, and participate in fun activities while learning amazing things about Tiger World.

Amazing and functional works of art are displayed at the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC.

North Carolina Pottery Center

• 233 East Ave, Seagrove NC 27341
• 336-873-8430
• NCPotteryCenter.org

Explore the deep-rooted history of North Carolina's pottery and its fascinating evolution over centuries. Tour an exquisite collection of 800+ artifacts including photos, displayed thoughtfully to demonstrate the influence that social, technological and economic forces have on this unique cultural treasure. And don't forget – there is a gift shop so you can bring home your own piece of North Carolina culture.

Build a field trip that aligns to your curriculum at Marbles kids museum in Raleigh, NC.

• 201 E Hargett St, Raleigh, NC 27601
• 919-857-1049
• MarblesKidsMuseum.org/field-trips

Educationally sound and fundamentally fun! Marbles field trips are content-rich, align with NC Standards and spark curiosity in students. We make it easy to book and simple to coordinate!

• K-5 th – Museum Discovery: Embark on a learning adventure within the museum’s exhibits.
• K-5 th – Museum MasterMinds: Dive into biology, financial literacy, weather, or celebrations around the world with a 20-min. interactive presentation.
• K-8 th – IMAX Documentaries: Get the most out of your visit with a documentary on Raleigh’s biggest screen.
• 4 th -8 th – IMAX Learning Labs: Pair an IMAX documentary with a 45-min. hands-on learning lab that engages students in challenge, choice, and unique activities.

Channel your inner Red Baron (or Maverick) when you buzz the tower at the North Carolina Aviation Museum in Asheboro, NC.

North Carolina Aviation Museum

• 2222-G Pilots View Rd, Asheboro NC 27203
• 336-625-0170
• NCAMHOF.com

Embark on a journey through the skies of aviation history at the North Carolina Aviation Museum. Explore an incredible collection of WWI artifacts, memorabilia and military equipment – from uniforms to vehicles to weapons. Test your flying skills in a flight simulator, check out Orville Wright's Piper J-3 “Flitfire,” and take home some amazing souvenirs from the gift shop. Perfect for groups — call for group rates.

Even the youngest budding scientists make discoveries on field trips to Kaleideum North in Winston-Salem, NC.

• 400 W. Hanes Mill Rd., Winston-Salem, 27105
• 336-767-6730
• kaleideum.org  

Kaleideum makes learning about science a fun field trip with educational programs and interactive exhibits, such as a 20-foot tall tree that children can climb inside to learn about trees, and a fountain that features a four-foot diameter, 5,300-pound granite ball.

Your field trip to the Schiele Museum can include a rewarding mining experience.

Schiele Museum

• 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054
• 704-866-6900
• schielemuseum.org

Your class can experience dinosaur fossils, wildlife exhibits, American Indian artifacts, and a trip through space during a field trip to The Schiele Museum and James H. Lynn Planetarium. Customize your visit to include a science or nature presentation that supports the lessons from your classroom, then let your students enjoy museum exhibits, live animals at The Farm, and natural mazes on the Nature Trail. With equal parts learning and fun, your students will remember their fascinating field trip forever! Get the details and book your visit at schielemuseum.org .

Awe-inspiring greetings await your students at the North Carolina Zoo!

• 4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27205
• 336-879-7000

The North Carolina Zoo is the largest natural habitat zoo in the world! There is plenty of room to roam for both animals and guests, with large, spacious habitats and five miles of shaded walking trails. Located right in the heart of North Carolina, it is an easy and affordable field trip, or overnight or day trip for the entire family. In addition to the amazing adventures with our wildlife, the Zoo offers seasonal activities such as the Giraffe Feeding Deck, Butterfly Garden, and beautiful picnic areas for our guests. These wild experiences are guaranteed to delight kids of all ages.

The United States Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum recounts the actions of heroic Soldiers from the early days of the Parachute Test Platoon in 1940, to the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.

US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum

• 100 Bragg Blvd., Fayetteville, NC 28301
• 910-643-2778

The US Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum (ASOM) retains, preserves, and exhibits, the material, culture and heritage of the United States Army Airborne and Special Operations Forces from 1940 and into the future. Students visiting on field trips to the museum will be able to explore the history of Army Airborne and Special Operations through photos, artifacts and stunning life-size exhibits.

Laughter and squeals of delight can be heard as visitors feed the animals at Wildlife Safari Park in Salley, SC.

Eudora Wildlife Safari Park

• 219 Salem Lane, Salley, SC 29137
• 803-564-5358
• eudorafarms.net

Bring your field trip to the first drive-thru safari park in South Carolina! At Eudora Wildlife Safari Park, guests view and feed exotic animals from around the world from the comfort of their own vehicle. Bring your school, church or other group to enjoy a wagon ride through the safari with a tour guide and one bucket of feed per person. The Safari Wagon Tour takes about 1 hour and the Walk Thru Safari Tour takes about 45 minutes. Eudora Wildlife Safari will custom your tour based on educational needs. Picnic tables for lunch are available at our giraffe exhibit.

You're bound to find adventure here, so get your motor running and head out on the highway to the American Motorcycle Museum in Asheboro, NC.

American Classic Motorcycle Museum

• 1170 US Hwy 64 W, Asheboro NC 27205
• 336-629-9564

Check out this amazing collection of vintage Harley-Davidson® motorcycles, boasting an impressive 45 bikes to explore and admire – ranging from 1936 all the way up to 1978. Shop for souvenirs in their gift shop, or grab a bite at Heritage Diner before you go.

A modeler applies the finishing touches to the Firebase Ripcord diorama at the South Carolina Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia, SC.

South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum

• 301 Gervais St • Columbia, SC 29201
• 803-737-8095
• www.crr.sc.gov

The SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum brings to life the role South Carolinians played in every major American conflict from the Revolutionary War onward. Recently opened, their new exhibit ‘SC in Vietnam' impresses with a huge detailed diorama of Fire Support Base Ripcord that took two years for experts at the Wildcat Chapter of the Armor Modeling and Preservation Society to construct – truly an awe-inspiring sight!

Museum Central is a special advertising section, sponsored by the participating museums or their respective tourism development authority.

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