Rockingham is a small city located in North Carolina in the south-central end.
It was named after the Marquess of Rockingham and is also the seat of power for 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 no doubt filled with tourist attractions. It is considered the most urbanized place in Rockingham and the county as a whole.
The downtown region is the center of attraction with many businesses, cafes, museums, stores, clothing stores, boutiques, and apartment complexes.
Hamlet Station
Source: Wikipedia/Geradams | CC BY-SA 4.0 InternationalHamlet Station has been around for centuries 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 1871, and as a traveller, you have to visit this place to see for yourself.
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 most amazing top attractions that everyone must visit when in Rockingham, especially for car enthusiasts.
It was first named the North Carolina Motor Speedway then North Carolina Speedway and today is it 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 remodelled into a high-banked, D-shaped oval just slightly over a mile long.
As a traveller, you can enjoy racing activities here even with little skills as you will be taught safety and driving techniques by professionals.
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 more.
They also get to learn about the various parts of the human body in a bid to enable them to appreciate science.
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 combined business back in 2018.
The bowling center has a pizza section known as the Godfather Pizza where visitors can relax after a long bowling game.
It is an entertainment hub in Rockingham with other games such as video games, pool, and many more.
It is open Tuesdays to Sundays but you should call to confirm their opening and closing houses before you head out.
You can host friends and family and also celebrate birthdays and more here.
The bowling centre has played host to many events such as Special Olympics Games, Real Estate Company events, Church groups, Behavioural Intervention Support, and many more 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 such as the nightlife in Richmond County.
It is packed with a whole lot of attractions, restaurants, shops, boutiques, theatres, and so many more.
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, Thomas H Leath Memorial Library, and many more.
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 Steele Mill Dam that was in use for centuries but was taken down in 2009 to restore the area and river to its old state.
You will enjoy paddling, walking, and sighting different species in the creek’s floodplain forests, and its unique plants, seeing the historic mill’s remains, animals and so much more.
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 enjoy their moments 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 partners too.
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 it’s 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 natural phenomenon and an unusual occurrence in the history of America. It has been a point of research consistently by archaeologists for many years.
Town Creek sits on the Little River that flows into the Great Pee Dee River. It is a place to learn more about the inhabitants of the region and the continent at large through century-old research.
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 place to be for some good meals.
It is a great bar and offers visitors and residents a comfortable time with perfectly cooked prawns, chicken, guacamole dishes and many more. 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 age-long delicacies at wonderful restaurants, explore historic places such as the Town Creek Indian Mound and many more.
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.
