By Guest Blogger Julie Fritz
One of my best friends in NC is from Salisbury. When we were in college in Asheville we would go to her hometown to visit her family. Now that she lives outside of Boone, we sometimes meet up there since it is closer than us driving to the mountains. We always have a good time getting our families together in Salisbury. And since it is only 45 min to an hour from anywhere in the Triad, it is a great place for a day trip with your family.
Dan Nicholas Park is our favorite places to meet up. This 425 acre park has a variety of activities for the whole family. There is a lake where you can rent paddle boats and go fishing, a splash pad, a petting zoo, small aquarium, miniature train ride, gem mining, mini golf and a great playground. Not to mention tons of picnic areas and even a snack bar. Your family will love this place. We like to go during the Autumn Jubilee. It is always the first weekend in October. They have food, live music and There is also a campground on site in case you want to make a weekend out of it.
Lazy 5 Ranch, known to locals as the drive thru zoo, is a great place to visit with your family. Lazy 5 Ranch is right outside Salisbury in Mooresville. You will drive on a three and a half mile safari with over 750 animals from 6 continents to see. Use your car or you can call ahead for reservations to ride on a horse drawn carriage.
The North Carolina Transportation Museum offers lots of family friendly activities especially if your child is interested in trains. The museum has historic train cars, interesting exhibits, and is housed in buildings that remain from what was once Southern Railroad’s largest repair facility on the east coast. You can take a train ride, go on a scenic excursion, or participate in one of their special events. On occasion you will find Thomas the Train there and you can experience the Polar Express around the Holidays. The Transportation Museum is just north of Salisbury in Spencer, NC.
Downtown Salisbury has become a great place for shopping and dining. It has a classic small downtown feel with lots to do. Grab some lunch at one of the great restaurants. From pizza to burritos there are lots of great options. Haps Grill is a local favorite serving hot dogs, hand pattied burgers and, of course, Cheerwine, a Salisbury staple.
There is so much to do and see in and around Salisbury. It’s also a great halfway point between here and Charlotte if you have friends there you want to meet up without going all the way. If you find yourself looking for something to do to get away for the day, taking this day trip will not disappoint!
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