Looking for a weekend getaway that will allow you to travel the world on safari, right in the heart of North Carolina? Randolph County, only about an hour and a half west of my home base in Raleigh, is your passport to a fun adventure perfect for the whole family.
Here you can “travel the world” on safari with a visit to the North Carolina Zoo. Spanning 2,600 acres in the rolling foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains, the North Carolina Zoo is the world’s largest land zoo with 500 developed acres home to 1,700 animals. The zoo invites you to travel the world from the 40-acre grasslands of Africa to the Rocky Coast of North America, to the soon-to-open Asia… The North Carolina Zoo truly takes you around the world, learning about important Carolina endangered species like the Red Wolf, to the Arctic and Polar Bear habitat, to the sweeping plains where you feel as though you have been transported to the African Savannah with elephants to rhinos and more… The NC Zoo is a place that truly takes you around the world in a weekend!
- Follow American Nomad on Facebook for Daily History and Travel: https://www.facebook.com/americannomadtraveler/
Randolph County has several small towns packed with charm: In downtown Asheboro on Sunset and the environs, you’ll discover amazing restaurants, breweries, and local culture including the Sunset Theatre. Asheboro and Randolph County are also home to amazing arts organizations like Rhino Leap and the Randolph Arts Council… While Seagrove invites you to turn your wheels of adventure in America’s Pottery Capital. Seagrove is home to over 50 potteries and the NC Pottery Center… Liberty Grounds in Liberty is a destination coffee detour… Franklinville’s history is “Revolutionary” where you can hike to Faith Rock – where Notorious Loyalist David Fanning and Patriot Andrew Hunter faced off in 1782…
Farms and Cider: Discover the region’s rich agriculture with a tour of Millstone Creek Orchards, a working farm perfect for fall pumpkins, cider slushies, and spring visits with Highland Cows…
The area’s natural scenery is designed for exploring… Randolph County is situated in the heart of the historic and scenic Uwharrie Mountains and Uwharrie National Forest, where you can hike through geologic history and Native American roots, and enjoy beautiful vistas and natural flora and fauna found in this region of the Piedmont.
Deep River Recreation Area… One of my favorite spots to hit the trail and explore the natural wonders of the North Carolina Piedmont is the Deep River State Trail, which has several access points in Randolph County…
So when planning your next weekend road trip, set your compass to Randolph County, the heart of North Carolina, where you can slow down, enjoy scenic views and hometown hospitality, and go on safari without breaking your budget…
Here is my “Safari” Guide for fun things to do in Randolph County, NC:
The Heartbeat of Randolph County is Rooted in the Land: Did you know that Randolph County is in the heart of the Uwharrie Mountains, one of the oldest mountain ranges in North America? While today the highest summits are around 1,000 feet, at one point the Uwharries averaged 20,000 feet! Erosion and time have weathered the land, but the heart of the mountains remains, and it is the geologic history of the past that helps lay the foundation for much of the heritage you’ll discover here today—from unique geology to the diverse red clays that helped this part of Carolina grow into the cradle of the state’s pottery center at Seagrove, to the beautiful rolling hills and valleys that are ideal for the location of the North Carolina Zoo’s natural habitats, subbing in as the grasslands of Africa to real-life North Carolina preserved habitats to help local wildlife and ecosystems.
Growing up in Raleigh, a visit to the NC Zoo was a pastime, as were annual visits to Seagrove to visit local potteries. But as more move into the area from Charlotte to Raleigh, I’ve discovered some are not aware that Randolph County is a hidden treasure for travelers—a perfect day or weekend trip from Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, and beyond where you can enjoy amazing food, fun activities, natural beauty, and deep history, from Native American roots to HBO mini-series-level drama during the American Revolution when Loyalist David Fanning faced off with local Patriots like Andrew Hunter, to the winding scenic backroads and rich arts and culture from pottery to theatre and beyond. There is something for everyone in Randolph County, and the best part is it is budget-friendly. You can tailor your itinerary to your needs, whether it’s a family getaway, a fun adventure with friends, or solo travel—you’ll find an off-the-beaten-path adventure that you won’t forget.
During my last Randolph County adventure in May, I had a blast diving into the region’s history (especially the Revolutionary War, which is a passion of mine), taking a tour of the zoo and learning about their important conservation work with the North Carolina Red Wolf (a heritage species worth saving), as well as an adventure through the legacy of North Carolina’s heartbeat of pottery in Seagrove… Here are a few of my favorite memories from Randolph County and travel tips to help plan your adventure.
North Carolina Zoo:
Growing up in North Carolina, one of my earliest memories was at three years old, going to “Africa” (aka the NC Zoo) to see C’sar the elephant. It is one of my earliest memories and continues to stick with me—I truly felt as though I’d been transported to Africa, where you looked down from a bluff into the savannah below where you had elephants, rhinos, and more roaming the grasslands. I saw C’sar a few months before he died at age 50 in 2025 and I felt like a kid again… full of wonder and the curiosity to learn about animals and how we can help in conservation efforts… Sadly, C’sar the elephant passed away in 2025 at 50 years old, but what a wonderful life he lived at the zoo, helping to inspire countless visitors to pause, reflect, and engage in the wonder that our world beckons us to explore and conserve.
- Plan your NC Zoo Visit here: https://www.nczoo.org/
During my May visit, I was grateful to have two members of the zoo staff give me a tour, helping to share the over 50-year legacy of the North Carolina Zoo, their commitment to education and conservation, and saving endangered species—including North Carolina’s own Red Wolf—from extinction. I also got to stand tall as a giraffe, meeting Jack, Turbo, and Amelia.
Art Safari: Did you know that in addition to the over 1700 animals, the NC Zoo has a large collection of art from sculptures to paintings. A true cultural treasure…read more here
North Carolina Zoo: Saving the World’s Most Endangered Canid
In the America 250 book Freedom’s Howls: The Song of the Red Wolves by Eileen Heyes, the story tells of a family of Patriots on the Eno River alongside a family of nearby Red Wolves and how each lives in the Eno River area near Hillsborough, NC and Durham, NC, about an hour east of the zoo. In the Revolutionary War era, Red Wolves once roamed the land and played a vital role as an apex predator along with the Eastern Cougar, helping to keep the deer and rodent populations in check while not being a threat to humans (before the loss of their habitat). Red Wolves are much smaller than Gray Wolves. Today, coyotes have become an invasive species, moving into the land that the Red Wolves used to inhabit until they were completely driven to the brink of extinction by 1980 from years of hunting and land encroachment.
In the 1980s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a captive breeding program, first at Point Defiance Zoo in Washington State, to save the last remaining American Red Wolves. Today, the North Carolina Zoo plays a central role in the captive breeding efforts for the American Red Wolf Recovery Program. From 2016 to 2023, the zoo’s American Red Wolf pack bred 11 litters with 42 puppies. Many of these pups have been transferred to contribute to breeding programs at other institutions to strengthen species recovery efforts. The NC Zoo has about 25 American Red Wolves housed at the zoo in the Red Wolf Center, which is closed to the public. Most of the wolves on-site are kept behind the scenes to allow these sensitive carnivores to retain their fear of humans and stay wild in preparation for possible future opportunities for release.
The zoo does have two ambassador Red Wolves in the guest viewing area within the North America habitat. When I visited, the wolves were having a blast running around and playing in their habitat. I had the opportunity to speak with a zookeeper with expertise in Red Wolf recovery, including their work to help reintroduce wolves into the wild:
“Historically, Red Wolves ranged from southeastern Texas to central Pennsylvania and, of course, throughout North Carolina. Today, the only place where Red Wolves live in the wild is in northeastern North Carolina’s Albemarle Peninsula in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. There are currently around 22 Red Wolves in the wild today, living in the swampy forestland and marshland there. The biggest threat to Red Wolves today is being hit by a car. There is work to construct wildlife crossings for the Red Wolves, bears, and other wildlife.”
You can learn about the crucial work that the NC Zoo is doing to help save the Red Wolf here. The NC Zoo partners with other zoos and environmental organizations throughout the country. They work hand in hand with U.S. Fish and Wildlife in monitoring Red Wolves in the wild and helping to strengthen and support the wild population.
From the Zoo Website:
“The Zoo participates in the Red Wolf SAFE Program, administered through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). SAFE (Save Animals From Extinction) focuses on the collective expertise within AZA institutions and leverages their massive audiences to save species. This program also includes a breeding and population management program designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of captive-based animal populations. The North Carolina Zoo will maintain its active role in safeguarding the wolf population at Alligator River and assisting in expanding the American Red Wolf population under human care.”
Want to help the Red Wolf, visiting the zoo and visiting the ambassador wolves and sharing their stories with others is an important way you can help. You can also ‘virtually’ adopt a wolf…this package provides you with a cuddly red wolf stuffed pup, Freedom’s Howl Book and donation goes directly to help the NC Zoo Red Wolf Center.
“The NC Zoo has been on the forefront of conservation for decades. We are stewards of the over 1,700 animals in our care and provide a stimulating and enriching habitat for them, but we also work actively both within the zoo and outside the zoo to help save endangered species. The NC Zoo has been central in efforts to save the American Red Wolf from extinction.
I also learned about how the NC Zoo, along with the world’s leading conservation organizations, is a founding member of the SMART Partnership that provides free software tools to empower rangers worldwide in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade. The zoo works hand in hand in the field—from Africa helping rhinos, lions, elephants, and gorillas, to Churchill, Manitoba in Canada (polar bear conservation), to their own backyard with North Carolina conservation. So when you visit the NC Zoo, you aren’t simply helping the amazing animals who live at the zoo, but also making a global impact in conservation,” the staff explained to me.
“We also strive to protect the ecology of our unique environment, which is home to native species as well. We use compost and are careful with water management and resource conservation. Our goal is to educate visitors too that even small changes—from composting to moving away from plastics at home—can make an impact. Sometimes we feel small and that it doesn’t make a difference, but we’re here to show how it does help species from your own backyard to the Arctic.”
The zoo also prides itself on being part of the farm-to-table movement. “Randolph County and the greater region have so many wonderful farms that we strive to source most of our food from local farms and businesses. Not only does this lead to delicious food, it helps the zoo remain environmentally sustainable. We keep the food and admission prices affordable too. We want this to be a place that is welcoming to all people and affordable for every budget.”
Pro Tip from American Nomad Traveler: The NC Zoo is the largest natural habitat zoo in the world, with over five miles of walking paths. Because it is set in the ancient Uwharrie Mountains, at times the ground is hilly and the trails have an incline. This adds character to the zoo, but at the same time can make it difficult for those with mobility issues (like my mom) or parents with kids to get around. Fear not. Throughout most of the year, there are trams that take you from North America to Africa stops. You can also rent a motorized wheelchair that works well on the paved paths.
While I grew up jamming an entire visit to the zoo into one day and then feeling tired, in my older years, I like to break up the zoo over two days. You can focus on one end one day, use the morning or afternoon to explore other parts of Randolph County, and then explore more of the zoo the next day. You can also focus on specific parts of the zoo for your trip. The zoo staff is ready to help and can help guide you to choose the adventure that makes the most sense for you.
A Few of My Favorite Highlights:
Rocky Coast: Arctic Fox, Puffins, and Polar Bear
- Arctic Fox: I loved watching the Arctic Fox play hide-and-seek as a school group looked on at this amazing animal. Arctic Foxes live in the Arctic Circle and are engineered for extreme temperatures. They have the thickest fur coat of any mammal in the Arctic, helping to keep their body temperature at 104 degrees. Their long, fluffy tails act like a blanket, helping to keep them warm and cozy when they sleep. The Arctic Fox is the only canid that changes its color in the summer. In the winter, most appear white, but some have a blue-gray color as well.
- Polar Bear: During my visit, I was able to enjoy the zoo’s polar bear, Anana, enjoying recreation in her habitat and a cozy bear-den nap. The zookeeper mentioned that Anana is nicknamed “Princess” and loves having fun and taking naps. Polar bears are losing much of their native habitat in the Arctic to climate change, which makes the conservation efforts at the NC Zoo and education about how we can help polar bears all the more important.
- Fun facts about Polar Bears: Did you know that polar bears have black skin that helps them absorb whatever heat is available in their cold environment? Polar bear fur is actually translucent, but appears white to human eyes because it reflects visible light. Sea ice is their habitat, and they rely on it for hunting platforms, resting sites, and places to give birth.
- Horned Puffin: I love watching these amazing Arctic birds “chill” out…
- Fun facts about Horned Puffins: They are highly social, nesting in large groups and feeding in large flocks. They may dive to depths of 40 meters in search of fish, squid, and other marine animals.
- Brown Pelican:
- Fun facts: Did you know Brown Pelicans have a special gland that helps get rid of excess salt, allowing them to drink saltwater? Also, they can dive from heights of nearly 60 feet (a 6-story building!) into the water to catch fish.
- North American Porcupine: I got to see this spiky cutie in action being fed by a zookeeper and receiving enrichment in their environment.
- Fun fact: Vocalizations include grunts, whines, shrieks, and tooth clicking.
North American Prairie I lived and worked in Yellowstone in college, and I always feel like I’m returning to Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley when I visit the NC Zoo… The prairie environment includes elk and bison. Interestingly enough, both species once roamed this region in early colonial times. Elk have been reintroduced in the Smoky Mountains, but bison remain a symbol of the West and Yellowstone. I also love the Grizzly Bear exhibit.
- Did you know? Bison are America’s largest land mammal, weighing over two tons! They can run over 30 miles an hour. At the zoo, you can safely experience the prairie without risk of being gored. Don’t pet the fluffy bison.
Africa: Zebra, Ostrich, and Giraffe Habitat
- Acacia Station: During part of the year, you can feed giraffes lettuce from Acacia Station. I met Jack and Turbo. As Turbo grabbed the lettuce, he licked my hand with his black tongue. The zookeeper mentioned that giraffes have black tongues to act as natural sunscreen. From Acacia Station, I was also able to see zebras roaming the plain below.
- Fun facts about Giraffes: Did you know that, just like human fingerprints, no two giraffes share the same spots? They soar to around 19 feet tall! A giraffe’s heart may be up to two feet long and weigh 25 pounds. The more you learn about giraffes, the more you have to pause and contemplate the beauty and miraculous uniqueness of God’s creation in animals!
- Red River Hogs
- Baboon Habitat: When I visited, the baboons were playful and also in deep conversation, which I joked was a “tribal convention.”
- Lemur Island Habitat: I love watching the Red Ruffed Lemurs! They were chatting away noisily as they played in their habitat.
- Kitera Forest Habitat: Home to chimpanzees.
- Watani Grasslands: You will feel as though you are traveling to the African plains here, seeing Addra gazelles, bongos, elephants, waterbuck, fringe-eared oryx, Southern white rhinos, greater kudu, and Thomson’s gazelles.
- African Lion: Did you know lions may be kings and queens of the jungle, but they sleep around 21 hours a day?
- Western Lowland Gorilla: The gorillas at the zoo get a heart-healthy diet. It consists mostly of leafy greens with a little fruit and some starchy vegetables spread throughout the habitat. This diet mimics what they eat in the wild and encourages them to spend more time foraging and eating their food. The North Carolina Zoo is helping to save gorillas in the wild—equipping rangers with the tools they need to track and reduce threats to gorillas, as well as count the gorillas themselves. In addition, they are assessing the potential risk of disease transmission between gorillas, livestock, and people.
- Rhino Conservation: One of the interesting facts I learned from the zookeepers was that rhino horns are made of keratin, similar to our fingernails! They also told me about their efforts in Africa to work with villages to promote rhino conservation and help stop the killing of rhinos for their horns. The NC Zoo not only allows you to visit Africa in NC, but truly helps protect the wild habitats of these magnificent creatures as well.
Desert This indoor exhibition takes you into desert habitats where you can encounter a number of species, from reptiles and tortoises to birds and my personal favorite, the Sand Cats.
- Sand Cats: They are the smallest species of wildcats, often smaller than domestic cats. But don’t let their small size fool you—they are deadly predators when it comes to hunting rodents and other small prey. They live in the Sahara Desert, Arabian Peninsula, and Central Asia… Did you know dense hair on the pads of the sand cat’s feet protects them against the hot sands of the desert?
Streamside (North American Habitat) Many of the species here live in NC, including the bobcat, river otter, copperhead, timber rattlesnake, and cottonmouth.
Cypress Swamp Cougar, American alligator (native to NC), alligator snapping turtle (native to NC), barking tree frog.
In the late spring and through summer months you can walk through the Kaleidoscope Buttery Garden.
You can also enjoy hiking trails at the zoo, including Purgatory Mountain (for those who are ready for elevation gain).
Coming on March 1st 2027: Asia! The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and North Carolina Zoo are thrilled to announce that the new 12.5-acre Asia continent officially has a public opening date: March 1, 2027!
The region marks the first major expansion at the Zoo in more than 30 years; the last was North America in 1994.
Asia will highlight iconic species such as tigers, Komodo dragons, Visayan warty pigs, Asian small-clawed otters, king cobras, white-cheeked gibbons, and many more exciting additions.
Fun fact: Asia will include a large indoor Café overlooking the tiger’s habitat and an overhead tiger walk.
Planning your Zoo Visit:
I recommend following the NC Zoo on Facebook for daily updates and events
Official Website: purchase tickets and get resources to help plan your trip. They also have an app you can download. https://www.nczoo.org/
They have lots of dining options in the zoo…you can also picnic just outside the park entrance…
Downtown Asheboro aka ‘Zootown’
Downtown Asheboro is a hidden gem with an amazing mix of local shops and delicious restaurants, coffee shops, breweries and entertainment. Asheboro’s artsy character is revealed through the amazing murals that tell the city’s history from farming to railroads to ‘Zootown.’ I love that you can see animal tracks of zoo animals on crosswalks and signs with facts about zoo animals.
When I visited Asheboro in May I was delighted to catch a production by local theatre company RhinoLeap that has award-winning actors that bring a mix of theater and arts entertainment and education in Randolph County. They have a diverse mix of productions. I had a laugh out loud time going back to ‘lit school,’ with “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare – Abridged.’ https://www.rhinoleap.com/about
Catch a show at the Sunset Theatre…this cozy historic theater hosts theater, live music, talks and movies…Website
Destination Coffee:
The Table: A Great Restaurant, I loved the ‘Birthday Cake’ Coffee Special and Gluten Free treats
Bold Coffee is great too!
Where to eat: Here’s a guide to Downtown Asheboro Eateries
- Black Lantern Tea Room & Bakery
- Flying Pig Food & Spirits – they had amazing queso and I loved their grilled chicken salad…
- Cantina Taco Loco
- Full Moon Oyster Bar
- Hamiltons
- Four Saints Brewing
- The Pharmacy Cocktails
- The Corner Joint: Where cocktails, community and conversation meet
- Positano Italian Restaurant
- The Rusty Rooster: Pub with full bar
- OG’s Sports Grill: Family owned and operated restaurant featuring authentic Honduran dishes and American Dishes
- Scoops by Mink: Delicious hand scooped Homeland Creamery Ice Cream
Natural Wonders
The Uwharrie National Forest spans three counties, including Randolph County, offering amazing opportunities for recreation.
Another favorite Randolph County recreation trail I love is the Deep River State Trail (DRST), which was established by the NC Legislature in 2007 as a way to unite the area’s unique natural wonders of the Deep River ecosystems along with its cultural heritage. The trail includes land and paddle trail opportunities, with the majority of the “rail-to-trail” hiking areas in Randolph County near Franklinville and Randleman. Historically, the Deep River powered the area’s textile mill villages. You can still see echoes of this heritage as you hike a portion of the trail at Franklinville. According to the DNCR website: “The waterwheel in the DRST logo is a nod to the Deep River’s history of textile mill villages, all dependent on the power provided by the moving water in the river. The rail line, once connected to all the mill village communities, is the actual base of the land trail.”
Hiking in the Footsteps of the American Revolution
When I was researching an America 250 feature on Revolutionary Randolph County, I time-traveled to 1782 when notorious Tory David Fanning and local Patriot Andrew Hunter faced off near Franklinville on the Deep River. Tradition holds that Hunter had stolen Fanning’s horse in an earlier encounter and Fanning was threatening Hunter’s life on Faith Rock…learn more here
Food Stop: Don’t miss the delicious hole-in-the-wall Franklinville Diner… They have amazing breakfasts and lunches that will satisfy any appetite. The local diner has been featured in Our State magazine and other periodicals for its delicious down-home cooking, Southern hospitality, and being a spot where the community gathers.
Pisgah Covered Bridge
Last fall, I enjoyed a scenic backroad adventure through Randolph County in search of the Pisgah Covered Bridge. I’d learned about it in a magazine and knew I needed to track it down. I don’t know what it is about covered bridges that evoke a peaceful Americana of a bygone era… For me, it reminds me of a rural painting come to life. The Pisgah Bridge didn’t disappoint. The day I visited, the sunlight bled through the canopy of trees, some beginning to turn autumnal colors.
Originally built in 1911, the Pisgah Covered Bridge is located in the Uwharrie National Forest at 6925 Pisgah Covered Bridge Road in Asheboro, NC in Union Township. This is one of only two historic covered bridges still standing in North Carolina (the other is the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge). Dr. David Jones (former NC Zoo Director) said of the bridge: “It represents a quieter time gone by when things were less rushed and the sound of tumbling water in the creek was all that could be heard apart from the birds’ songs and rustling leaves.”
In 2003, the Pisgah Covered Bridge was almost lost after flooding caused the bridge to float off its foundational stone pillars and come apart more than 100 feet downstream. Thankfully, more than 90% of the bridge’s components were recovered and reconstructed to the exact measurements and dimensions at its original location, allowing the bridge to retain its identity and appearance.
Here is your text with all typos, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure issues corrected while keeping your exact phrasing, tone, and personal narrative completely intact.
Explore Seagrove, NC: America’s Pottery Capital
“If North America has a ‘pottery state,’ it must be North Carolina… There is probably no other state with such a highly developed pottery-consciousness.” — Jack Troy
Only 15 miles south of the NC Zoo, you can turn your wheels to Seagrove and explore the NC Pottery Highway. Seagrove is home to over 100 working potters across 50 potteries in the area. North Carolina’s abundant natural clay deposits and unbroken tradition of pottery making across cultures and communities have earned North Carolina the title of “The Pottery State,” and Seagrove is the heartbeat of NC’s pottery scene.
North Carolina has a rich, unbroken tradition in pottery arts, starting with Native Americans who first used the rich and diverse North Carolina clays for both functional and ceremonial objects.
The first immigrant potters in the area were mostly English and German settlers who arrived after 1750 and into the latter half of the 18th century down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania and Virginia. You can learn about 17th- and 18th-century pottery styles in Seagrove at Westmoore Pottery (Mary Farrell)… This utilitarian earthenware was also called redware due to the color of its clay.
As the Industrial Revolution ushered in changes, North Carolina’s pottery traditions evolved from utilitarian earthenware to transitional ware:
Transitional Ware: Potters who once used wood-burning groundhog kilns to make essential, utilitarian, lead-glazed earthenware and salt- or alkaline-glazed stoneware items began creating transitional shapes like vases, candlesticks, and planters—items that were not wholly utilitarian ware, yet not quite “art pottery.”
Occasionally, a touch of decoration was added to their appeal. New customers from as far away as New York City, enthralled by these rustic but attractive items, brought new life to a declining industry.
Seagrove’s ceramic heritage experienced a renaissance and entered the mainstream starting in 1915, when Jacques and Juliana Busbee, a couple from Raleigh, first discovered the pottery of the Seagrove region and collected as much of it as they could. When they moved to New York a few years later, Juliana opened a tearoom in Greenwich Village, served tea using Seagrove pottery, and sold the wares in New York City. It became highly fashionable and helped create a boom. In 1922, they established Jugtown Pottery. The Busbees hired young potters, the first being Charlie Teague, who worked there for eight years. In 1923, the Busbees hired 18-year-old Ben Owen, who would be a driving force at Jugtown Pottery until 1959.
The Busbees took it as their mission in life to save the traditional pottery of the Sandhills region. Jacques limited the ceramic styles and glazes produced at Jugtown so that the potters could concentrate on form. Consequently, Busbee’s vision firmly established the area as a folk pottery center—helping the craft survive Prohibition and the Great Depression, and flourish into the modern era. The couple successfully marketed their wares and created a sustained demand for North Carolina folk pottery.
You can still visit Jugtown today, as well as Ben Owen Pottery (a studio operated today by the original Ben Owen’s descendants).
With over 100 individual potters across 50 studios in Seagrove alone, it can feel overwhelming to see it all in one day. What I recommend is starting your visit at the North Carolina Pottery Center, which has samples on display from all the local studios. They can help you map out an itinerary based on the pottery styles that speak to you. You can also plan your visit during a pottery festival weekend to see multiple potters working at once, or attend a demonstration tour while in town. Seagrove is a place you can return to time and again—each visit feels like coming home while exposing you to entirely new forms of clay art, from everyday items like mugs to artistic clay creations that stir your curiosity and own creativity.
Visit to the NC Pottery Center: Your Passport to North Carolina’s Pottery Heritage
This beautiful museum in the heart of Seagrove invites you to learn about North Carolina’s diverse yet connected pottery traditions from the mountains to the Piedmont to the coast.
- Website for North Carolina Pottery Center – explore interactive digital exhibits, view amazing pottery and watch demonstrations. Also they do a lot of outreach with students.
Exploring North Carolina’s unique mix of clays and regional pottery styles across different schools and traditions, the museum brings the story of NC pottery to life in an interactive, fun way that gets visitors of all ages excited about the art of clay. They also host demonstrations, classes, and special events. In addition to their permanent collection, they feature special exhibitions with items available for purchase to take home. It’s a true local treasure and a place I love to visit again and again.
n a typical year, the North Carolina Pottery Center welcomes visitors from nearly every state and over 20 foreign countries—all arriving to explore this remarkable tradition.
- Pro Tip: Peruse the sample pieces from local galleries to plan your Pottery Highway itinerary while at the NC Pottery Center
Day at the Farm: Visit to Millstone Orchards
- In Ramseur NC, you’ll discover a hidden retreat at Millstone Orchards…Plan your visit here
A must visit getaway in every season is Millstone Orchards, a eighty-four acre family orchard where you can take a hayride, search for the great pumpkin, u-pick fresh fruits, shop at the country store, enjoy cider slushies or Hard Cider and hand crafted food that the Cider House.
They have events throughout the year including meet and greets with baby highland cows from nearby Cellar Creek Farms. When I visited I got to meet Hamish and Fancy – the sweetest cuddly coos around. P.S. I love their homemade salsas.
Millstone Orchards Address:506 Parks Crossroads Church Rd, Ramseur, NC 27316
Liberty – Rooted in the Revolution
I first visited the town of Liberty when I was on a history quest, searching for Sandy Creek Baptist Church and the grave of Rev. Shubal Stearns who are tied to the Regulator War in North Carolina in the years leading up to the Revolutionary War. The Regulator War culminated in the nearby Battle of Alamance (only about thirty minutes from Liberty in nearby Alamance County)…the church is still an active parish today and has not only the graves for Rev. Stearns and early congregants, but also Revolutionary War veterans. (learn more here)
Fans of the show Outlander will remember the drama of the Regulator War when Jamie decided to fight with Governor Tryon, knowing the future in the past…
The town of Liberty actually takes its name from the tradition that the British soldiers under General Lord Cornwallis freed American soldiers he had imprisoned near Liberty after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in March 1781. Tradition holds that they yelled in excited ‘Liberty’ as they were set free.
- The Revolutionary War Battle of Guilford Courthouse in present day Greensboro was a pyrrhic victory for Cornwallis (British General) over Continental Army General Nathanael Greene (who chose a strategic retreat)…Cornwallis had 25% casualties and headed to Wilmington NC first before heading to Yorktown VA for his final surrender on October 19, 1781…effectively ending the majority of major hostilities in the Revolutionary War. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is a great day trip from Randolph County
When I visited during my Revolutionary War history research (Read my feature here for Revolutionary Randolph America 250), I was delighted to discover local coffee shop Liberty Grounds. They have great coffee, smoothies, wines and goodies. It is a #destinationcoffee detour worth taking.
Liberty’s cute downtown has local shops and the nostalgic Liberty Showcase theater where you can catch old movies, concerts and events.
Thanks for joining American Nomad on our Safari Tour of Randolph County…these are just a few of the fun adventures you’ll discover in Randolph County
Zoo Cool Lodging: Looking for a cool place to stay with Zoofari comfort – the Zoo City Den is a great little inn run by former zoo employees.
I have stayed at several local chains including the Hampton Inn…
What more tips for planning your adventure…
Follow Heart of Carolina (Randolph County) here:
- Official Website
- Follow Seagrove here (for fun activities and history about the Potteries)
- Follow NC Zoo here
About American Nomad Traveler…
Hi I’m Adele, aka ‘The American Nomad.’ I started this blog to share my passion for history, travel, national parks, good coffee (destination coffee), art, music and more…I have written features for Randolph County NC, Wilmington CVB, Wilkes County, Museum of the Waxhaws and more.
Follow my socials for daily history and travel:
Have an idea for a story or want to collaborate on a project? Email me here: americannomadtraveler@gmail.com
P.S. I avoid AI…I do use em dashes by habit (I’m from the 1900s and learned how to use them in school). I apologize for any typos or human creation errors. I do my best to spend a lot of time researching and visiting these sites and am so grateful for your support!
