Rockingham is a small city located in south-central North Carolina.
It was named after the Marquess of Rockingham and is also the county seat of Richmond County.
The city is close to major cities- just an hour away from places like Raleigh, Fayetteville, Charlotte, and Greensboro.
More than 9,558 people are living in Rockingham, and the city is filled with tourist attractions. It is considered the most urbanized place in the county.
The downtown region is the center of attraction with many businesses, cafes, museums, stores, clothing stores, boutiques, and apartment complexes.
Here are the Best Things To Do In Rockingham, NC.
Hamlet Station
Source: Wikipedia/Geradams | CC BY-SA 4.0 InternationalHamlet Station has been around for more than 100 years as an Amtrak train station located in Hamlet, North Carolina.
The station is strategically located in the heart of the National Historic District (Commercial Historic District Main Street) just a walk away from the Hall of Fame and National Railroad Museum.
It is a clean, humongous, and well-maintained train building built in 1900 , and as a traveler, it’s a great place to visit, especially if you like history or trains! .
Address: at Bridges Street, 2 Main St, Hamlet, NC 28345, United States
Rockingham Speedway
Source: Wikipedia/Samuel.krystosek | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedThe Rockingham Speedway is one of the top attractions that everyone must visit when in Rockingham, especially for car and racing enthusiasts.
It was first named the North Carolina Motor Speedway then North Carolina Speedway and today it is known by its current name.
This is a racetrack known for hosting racing events such as the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, UARA-Stars races, CARTS Tour, and ARCA Menards Series.
It was first launched in 1965 on October 31 as a one-mile flat, oval racetrack, and later remodeled into a high-banked, D-shaped oval just slightly over a mile long.
As a traveler, you can enjoy racing activities here even with little skills as you will be taught safety and driving techniques by professionals, which is a NASCAR fan’s dream!
Address: 2152 N US Hwy 1, Rockingham, NC 28379, United States
Discovery Place Kids – Rockingham
There is no letting the kids feel left out on your trip to Rockingham, with a Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham ticket, they get to enjoy some of the best activities.
It is a museum for children to help them try new things and satisfy their curiosity via the museum’s numerous exhibitions.
The museum is situated at E. Washington Avenue where kids get to play as firefighters, chefs, inventors, and many other roles..
They also get to learn about the various parts of the human body , teaching them about anatomy and biology.
Kids 36 months and below are not left out either with the play area that allows them to roll, crawl, and jump around safely.
Address: 233 E Washington St, Rockingham, NC 28379, United States
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
Source: Wikimedia/ncwetlands.org | CC0 1.0 UniversalPee Dee River National Wildlife Refuge sits on about 8,443 acres of land nestled between Richmond and Anson Counties in North Carolina.
It was established back in 1963 as a natural habitat for geese and other migrant waterfowl.
Its distinct landscape which includes pine forests, wetlands, hardwood forests, mixed pine-hardwood forests, old fields, open waters, and croplands makes it a perfect place for these animals and a great location for kayaking, fishing, hiking, boating, and so much more.
Address: 5770 US-52 North, Wadesboro, NC 28170, United States
Striker’s Bowling Center NC
Source: Unsplash/Eva Andria (Representative Image) | Unsplash LicenseThe Striker’s Bowling Center is a family-owned business by Steve and Angel Thompson who started their business back in 2018.
The bowling center has a pizza parlor known as the Godfather Pizza where visitors can relax after a long bowling game.
It is an entertainment hub in Rockingham with other features such as video games, pool, and more.
It is open Tuesdays to Sundays but you should call to confirm their hours before you head out.
You can invite friends and family and also celebrate birthdays or have parties here.
The bowling center has played host to many events such as Special Olympics Games, Real Estate Company events, church groups, Behavioural Intervention Support, and many more events for the community.
Check it out so you don’t miss the fun.
Address: 1010 E Broad Ave, Rockingham, NC 28379, United States
Downtown Rockingham
Source: Wikimedia/Katnabbi | CC BY-SA 4.0 InternationalDowntown Rockingham is the main hub for business, entertainment, and fun activities in Richmond County, and has a vibrant nightlife.
It is packed with a ton of attractions, restaurants, shops, boutiques, theaters, and other venues.
Some of the top attractions located here include Richmond Community Theatre, Richmond County Tourism Visitor Center & Richmond County Museum, Discovery Kids-Rockingham, The Leak-Wall House, Arts Richmond, Hitchcock Creek, and the Thomas H Leath Memorial Library..
Restaurants in the downtown area include Pattan’s Downtown Grille, La Cabana Mexican Restaurant, Henry’s Uptown Café, Dairy Queen of Rockingham, and shops such as Willow Tree Antiques & Gifts, Simply Chic Monogram Boutique to name a few.
Hitchcock Creek Trail
Hitchcock Creek Trail or Hitchcock Blue Trail is another amazing place to experience the outdoors in Rockingham.
The creek is 14 miles long and passes through Rockingham city where it meets the Pee Dee River on the western border of Richmond County.
It offers visitors the opportunity to discover the uniqueness of the natural resources and the history of the creek.
Located within the creek is an old steel mill dam that was in use for decades but was taken down in 2009 to restore the area and river to its old state.
You will enjoy paddling, walking, and watching different species in the creek’s floodplain forests, and its unique plants, seeing the historic mill’s remains, animals and taking part in any number of outdoor activities there.
Address: 615 Steele St, Rockingham, NC 28379, United States
Martin Park, Southern Pines NC
Source: Unsplash/Ben Pitasky (Representative Image) | Unsplash LicenseMartin Park is an open park with many walking trails for residents and visitors alike.
It is a large park with open fields and plenty of trees covering over 50 acres of land.
This is a no-leash park for dogs to roam around freely and have a blast in the shallow creek that cuts through the park.
It’s a cool place to meet new people and let the dogs play with new furry friends too.
Address: 350 Commerce Ave, Southern Pines, NC 28387, United States
National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame
The National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame was first launched in 1976 to preserve the rich local history of the railroad in Hamlet, North Carolina.
It’s a wonderful experience to learn about the transport museum and why Hamlet was referred to as the “Hub of the Seaboard”.
There are lots of things to see like the 1898 Seaboard Air Line Railroad map that displays key rail routes with lights.
The museum also showcases the evolution of rail wheels over the years, plaques, photographs, exhibits of model trains, rolling stock, and many more.
Address: 350 Commerce Ave, Southern Pines, NC 28387, United States
Town Creek Indian Mound
Source: Wikimedia/DrStew82 | CC BY-SA 4.0 InternationalTown Creek Indian Mound is a structure built by the PeeDee tribe in the area.
They built elaborate mounds of dirt for their leaders. This particular mound has been excavated and researched by archaeologists since 1937.
It is a place to learn more about the inhabitants of the region and the continent at large through century-old research.
Want to learn what the mound was used for? Schedule a trip!
Address: 509 Town Creek Mound Rd, Mt Gilead, NC 27306, United States
Los Mariachis Mexican Bar & Grill
Source: Unsplash/Joshua Kantarges (Representative Image) | Unsplash LicenseIf you’re craving some Mexican cuisine then the Los Mariachis Mexican Bar & Grill is your best bet for excellent food from south of the border.
It is a great bar and offers visitors and residents scrumptious food at the restaurant with perfectly cooked prawns, chicken, guacamole dishes and a menu packed with many more options.
With a homely environment and services, Los Mariachis Bar & Grill’s margaritas are top notch and you can relax after long adventures in the city.
The grill is known by locals for its generational recipes for the best Mexican dining experience.
Address: 1788 E Broad Ave suite i, Rockingham, NC 28379, United States
Conclusion
Rockingham may be a small city and not comparable to other big cities in North Carolina such as Raleigh and Wilmington, but it sure has a lot to offer visitors and it is worth a visit.
The city’s quaint environment and welcoming population make it a great place to go on those amazing outdoor walking and hiking trails.
You get to experience the local delicacies at wonderful restaurants, explore historic places such as the Town Creek Indian Mound and discover loads of other adventures.
Kids are not left out of the experience with a visit to the Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham, while the dogs get to play at Rockingham’s Martin Park in Southern Pines North Carolina.
Book a trip to Rockingham for a memorable time with your family and friends.
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