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Rocky Mount Offers Outdoor Recreation in Abundance
Anyone who seeks fun and relaxation outdoors – from paddling a canoe to participating in basketball and baseball leagues – will find an array of recreational opportunities in the Rocky Mount area.
Tar River Trail The Tar River Trail is a paved walking/bike path that links four miles of parks from City Lake to Martin Luther King Park. Along this verdant stretch of the Tar River you'll find a miniature train and tennis courts in Sunset Park, the falls of Tar River, the historical... Read More »
Rocky Mount, NC Foodies Enjoy Festivals and Farmers Market
Home to food-focused festivals, a thriving farmers market and local businesses producing nationwide favorites, Rocky Mount tempts foodies from all over.
Food-Focused Festivals
Perhaps the city’s biggest culinary claim to fame is the Eastern Carolina BBQ Throwdown, a major barbecue cook-off every October. The contest is an official North Carolina State Barbecue Championship as well as a sanctioned competition of the renowned Kansas City Barbeque Society.
The Spring Hope National Pumpkin... Read More »
Rocky Mount Offers Plenty in the Performing and Visual Arts Realms
Whether it's music, dance, theater or good ol' fashioned visual arts one craves, there are plenty of cultural centers in the Rocky Mount area to satisfy even the most sophisticated arts appetite.
Tarboro Historic Tours Explore significant stops within Tarboro's 45-block historic district, downtown and Calvary Churchyard via Tarboro Historic Walking Tours. The tours begin at the 1808 Blount-Bridgers House, also known as “the Grove,” a national historic landmark that houses a... Read More »
Pet Lodging, Health Care, Adoption Make Rocky Mount Tails Wag
Visitors and future residents of Rocky Mount are given a warm welcome, and that's not just limited to two-legged guests. When in need of pet boarding, in-home pet sitting, training or exercise, Rocky Mount residents know to call Sisters Two Pet Crew Inc. Coats Veterinary Hospital, Riverside Veterinary Hospital and Banfield Pet Hospital treat Rocky Mount pets, including emergency, house call and adoption services. Patrons of Rocky Mount's Motel 6 may have dogs stay in their room free of charge,... Read More »
Rocky Mount's Tar River Offers Fishing, Kayaking
City Lake is the center of all kinds of activity in Rocky Mount, NC. Not only do residents take advantage of the usual fishing and lake lounging, but they come to enjoy a little Christmas celebration every winter. Canoe and kayaking trips along Class I rapids are available at the Tar River Waterways, and anyone looking for a more in-depth water experience can camp along the river banks.
Bodies of Water: Tar River, City Lake
Activities: Canoeing and kayaking, fishing, camping
Summer High:... Read More »
Agriculture Plays Key Role in Rocky Mount's Food Scene
From peanuts to sweet potatoes, roots run deep in Eastern North Carolina. County agriculture cooperatives and youth organizations like Future Farmers of America and 4-H are working to promote – and protect – the region's thriving croplands.
"It's very important for kids to realize they live in such a strong agricultural area," says Sandy Hall, Nash County extension agent for 4-H and youth programs. "You can get fresh produce right here in Nash County, and kids who don't get out in the... Read More »
Golf in Rocky Mount, NC Is Right on Course
The Rocky Mount club scene is always in full swing, with two nice 18-hole golf courses and a par-3 venue. There are also several golf destinations in surrounding communities. Here is some background on the Rocky Mount courses:
Benvenue Country Club
The legendary Donald Ross designed the golf course in 1922, and the original two-story clubhouse building from 1922 still stands today. A $5 million renovation and expansion of the clubhouse and patio took place in 2002.
The 18-hole private course... Read More »
Rocky Mount Visual Arts Facilities Provide Unique Perspectives
Art abounds in Rocky Mount, especially the visual arts variety. The area has developed into a nexus of creative inspiration, allowing art aficionados and casual day-trippers alike to behold works by artists representing every level of training and experience – from schoolchildren to folk artists to experienced regional and international fine artists and skilled craftspeople.
Even venues best known for performing arts dedicate space to visual art exhibits. For instance, the Dunn Center for the... Read More »
Rocky Mount's City Lake is Popular Gathering Spot
Whatever the season‚ there’s always something to do at City Lake. Locals can often be found there during warmer months fishing‚ walking or simply lounging with friends. During the winter‚ the community gathers at the lake to enjoy a festive display of Christmas lights.
“It really has become a symbol for the city‚” says Pete Armstrong‚ parks and recreation director for the City of Rocky Mount.
The lake was created in the 1930s as a WPA project on the outskirts of downtown. About 10 years ago‚... Read More »
Local Companies Produce Nationally Distributed Sweets
Success smells sweet in the Rocky Mount area, where tasty treats including muffins, pound cakes, cheesecakes, croissants, cream puffs and éclairs are produced for distribution across the country and beyond.
From the Sara Lee Corp. plant in Tarboro to the Poppies International and Cheesecake Factory facilities in Battleboro, and Interstate Bakeries Corp.’s Merita Bread Bakery in Rocky Mount, food manufacturing has a strong presence here – for good reason.
The location offers easy access to... Read More »
Shopping in Rocky Mount, NC
There's a good mix of both small and large businesses in Rocky Mount, N.C. The city provides a mix of large retail shopping with a mall, while delivering a down-home feel with smaller districts and shops. Sunset Avenue and South Wesleyan Boulevard house a number of retail businesses and restaurants, while The Mill is developing as a premier residential and shopping district. Here's a brief summary of the major shopping options, and for a complete listing of the retail areas, visit the Rocky... Read More »
Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park Preserves Endangered Waterfowl
About 40 miles northeast of Rocky Mount, the small town of Scotland Neck is home to a major international treasure.
The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park & Eco-Center opened to the public in 2006, an outgrowth of Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center, which is recognized as one of the world’s most successful private avian breeding programs.
Offering a unique mixture of entertainment, education and environmentalism, Sylvan Heights draws some 80,000 to 90,000 tourists annually.
The breeding preserve,... Read More »
Rocky Mount's Performance Venues Entertain Audiences Year-Round
B.B. King has performed there. So have folk guitarist Doc Watson and country music star Taylor Swift.
Keihin Auditorium at Edgecombe Community College in Tarboro is one of several quality facilities devoted to the arts in the twin counties.
“It’s a great place for concerts of all kinds,” says Eric Greene, Keihin Auditorium director.
The 1,029-seat auditorium, housed within the college’s Arts, Civic and Technology Center, has already earned a solid reputation for its... Read More »
