Christmas Tree Farms

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Doby Christmas Tree Farm, Cameron, NC The Tree Patch, Sanford, NC Are you looking to experience the joy of cutting down your own Christmas tree like the Griswolds? Then pack up the family truckster and head out to one of these two farms. Both offer a variety of trees to choose from.

Gross Farms

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Gross Farms Sanford, NC The farm offers a wide variety of produce and pick-your-own strawberries from April through August. Then they kick off the fall with a huge corn maze and pumpkin patch. And if that’s not enough, you will also find a kids’ area, John Deere tricycle track, picnic area,

Pressley Farms Berry Patch & Corn Maze

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Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch in Eagle Springs OPEN: October 1st - 31st Fridays: 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m. Sundays: 2:00 p.m.—6:00 p.m. Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. $1.00 off ! with your SandhillsKids Discount Card! And Weekdays by Appointment for Groups Ages 13 and up: $8.00 for maze only Ages 4-12: $6.00 for maze only Ages 3 and under:

NC Farm Fresh Directory

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NC Farm Fresh Directory Website: ncfarmfresh.com Want to by farm fresh veggies but not sure which way to turn? Then check out the North Carolina Farm Fresh online directory, provided by the NCDA&CS, for a complete list of certified roadside farm stands, farmers’ markets, nurseries and garden centers. You can even find

Urban Horticulture

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Urban Horticulture Website: ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer Part of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service and housed at North Carolina State University, Urban Horticulture’s primary goal is to develop educational materials for the horticultural agents and Master Gardener volunteers in its 100-county extension centers. The center’s website offers a wealth of consumer resources for home

NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services General Stores

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NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services General Stores Website: agr.state.nc.us/NCproducts/index.htm Sponsored by the NCDA&CS, this is one of the best online resources. The site consolidates all the farms within North Carolina by both county and products produced. You can search for anything and everything, including organic products, produce, agrotourism farms, dairy,

The Moore County Cooperative Extension Center

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The Moore County Cooperative Extension Center 707 Pinehurst Ave., Agricultural Center Carthage, NC 28327 Tel: (910) 947-3188 Fax: (910) 947-1494 Website: ces.ncsu.edu (once there, look up Moore County) or sandhillsagriculture.com (online directory of regional farms) Often referred to as the “Ag Center,” the Moore County Cooperative Extension Center is considered the hub for agriculture information for

Uwharrie National Forest

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Uwharrie National Forest Troy area, NC Website: cs.unca.edu/nfsnc Though you can have fun at Uwharrie for the day, once you’re there, you’ll want to stick around. This 50,000-acre forest is named for the Uwharrie Mountains, which were created from ancient volcanoes. The 1,000-foot hills were 20,000-foot peaks a mere 500 million years ago. But

North Carolina Zoo

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North Carolina Zoo Asheboro, NC Website: nczoo.org The North Carolina Zoo is the nation’s largest walk-through, natural-habitat zoo. The zoo is divided into the North American and African regions and includes several areas where children can stop to play, eat and use the restrooms. New in 2008 is the Watani Grasslands Reserve. The

Town Creek Indian Mound

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Town Creek Indian Mound Mt. Gilead, NC Website: nchistoricsites.org In the 11th century, a new Indian culture emerged in the Pee Dee River Valley that built earthen burial mounds for their leaders. Town Creek Indian Mound includes a reconstructed ceremonial center, visitor center, nature trail and burial house. The site is handicapped accessible

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center

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Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Chapel Hill, NC Tel: (910) 962-1236 Website: moreheadplanetarium.org This attraction offers skywatching and shows at its planetarium and theater, interactive exhibits, camps and workshops. Special programs include StoryTime Science for toddlers, Sciventures for older kids and special theater adventures for families. Memberships are available and include reciprocal admission to

Museum of Life & Science

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Museum of Life & Science Durham, NC Tel: (919) 220-5429 Website: lifeandscience.org Indoor hands-on exhibits at this museum include a KidLab and many other galleries aimed at science lovers of all ages. The Outdoor Science Park includes the Ellerby Creek Railway (where you can take a ride on an old train), the Magic Wings

Natural Science Center

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Natural Science Center Greensboro, NC Tel: (336) 288-3769 Website: natsci.org This center includes a museum, zoo, planetarium, dome theater and solar observatory. Kids Alley will keep little ones under five busy and entertained. Summer camps, workshops and monthly events are offered for children of all ages. Memberships are available and include reciprocal admission to

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

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North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Raleigh, NC Tel: (919) 733-7450 Website: naturalsciences.org The Museum of Natural Sciences looks at the natural world through the distinct lens of North Carolina’s diverse geography, geology and plant and animal life. It is filled with four floors of exhibits, live animals and hands-on activities. The museum offers

North Carolina Museum of Art

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North Carolina Museum of Art Raleigh, NC Tel: (919) 839-6262 Website: ncartmuseum.org Tour-in-a-Tote bags engage children in games and activities while exploring the galleries. Park Backpacks engage families through a tree tour, getting to know North Carolina sculptors, playing Bird Bingo, reading by the pond and becoming a poet. Other activities include family fun

North Carolina Museum of History

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North Carolina Museum of History Raleigh, NC Tel: (919) 807-7900 Website: ncmuseumofhistory.org The Museum of History encourages visitors to discover the past, reflect on the present and preserve history for future generations. Exhibits range from several on North Carolina’s military heritage to a 1920s drugstore replica. The museum offers summer camps, programs and special

Union Station Museum

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Union Station Museum Aberdeen, NC Tel: (910) 944-1115 This Victorian-era railroad station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum displays artifacts from the Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad and one of two inspection cars remaining in the country. Founded by John Blue in 1892, the railroad was the region’s first

Carthage Historical Museum

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Carthage Historical Museum Carthage, NC Tel: (910) 947-2331 The Carthage Historical Museum displays artifacts covering more than 200 years of history, including its past as home of a buggy factory. Carthage commemorates its history each May with the popular Buggy Festival. Open on Sundays, 2–5 pm or by appointment.

Kidzu Children’s Museum

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Kidzu Children’s Museum Chapel Hill, NC Tel: (919) 933-1455 Website: kidzuchildrensmuseum.org Kidzu is a non-profit museum founded to inspire children to learn through play. “KidZoom” features three zones: Green Thumb, where children learn about the lifecycle of produce; Build a Dream, where kids build communities; and Kidoodle Moodle, where they design works of art.

Greensboro Children’s Museum

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Greensboro Children’s Museum Greensboro, NC Tel: (336) 574-2898 Website: gcmuseum.com This museum is a non-profit, hands-on, educational play place for children up to age 10 and their families. Visitors learn while they explore more than 20 “Our Town” exhibits (including a learning garden, transportation gallery and Big Bubble Springs). Camps and special events are

Fascinate-U Children’s Museum

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Fascinate-U Children’s Museum Fayetteville, NC Tel: (910) 829-9171 Website: fascinate-u.com This museum is about learning through doing. Children can be judges, respond to 911 calls, bag groceries and build their way to a good time. The museum also offers more advanced programs on subjects such as health matters and scientific discovery with special events

Homes of the Moore County Historical Association

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Homes of the Moore County Historical Association Southern Pines & Carthage, NC Website: moorehistory.com The Association owns five historical homes that offer visitors a glimpse into the lifestyles of early Sandhills settlers. Furnishings, books and documents all help illustrate a typical 18th century homestead.

Young Life

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Young Life Southern Pines Office Website: sandhills.younglife.org or younglife.org Young Life provides local teens with the opportunity to socialize attend events and participate in community service while being part of a Christian-based organization. YoungLife (for kids in high school) and Wyldlife (for middle schoolers) clubs currently are up and running at Pinecrest High,

4-H Moore County

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4-H Carthage Office Website: moore.ces.ncsu.edu or 4-h.org Do you remember the four H’s? Head, heart, hands and health. Today, 4-H is the largest out-of-school organization in the country. Through 4-H, more than 187,000 young people in North Carolina are learning new skills and serving their communities in ways that will help them become

US Equine Rescue League, Sandhills Chapter

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US Equine Rescue League, Sandhills Chapter Website: userl.org or geocities.com/sandhills_region/homepage The Sandhills Chapter of the US Equine Rescue League is a non-profit organization dedicated to the compassionate care of equines. This chapter actively rescues abused, neglected or endangered equines, provides rehabilitation and finds them homes in the region. Horses are available for

NC Horse Council

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NC Horse Council 4904 Walters Edge Dr., Suite 290, Raleigh, NC 27606 Website: nchorsecouncil.com The NC Horse Council exists to further the interests of the equine community in all 100 counties of North Carolina — through education, communication and representation. The non-profit organization is composed of volunteers and groups from all breeds and types

Carolina Polocrosse Club

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Carolina Polocrosse Club at Carolina Horse Park at Five Points Raeford, NC Website: carolinapolocrosse.org or carolinahorsepark.com Although polocrosse resembles the American Indian game of lacrosse, its origins date back hundreds of years to Persia and its sister sport of polo. Tournaments are a time of fellowship, learning and good old-fashioned fun. And polocrosse

NC State Equine Health Center

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NC State Equine Health Center 6405 US Hwy 1 N. Southern Pines, NC 28387 Web: http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/vhc/sfs/ehc-sp/ The Equine Health Center at Southern Pines (EHC-SP), located in Southern Pines, NC, is a satellite facility of the NC State University’s (NCSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. The Center offers educational seminars, quarantine, rehabilitation, diagnostic testing, stallion auction,

Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve

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Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve 1024 Ft. Bragg Rd. Southern Pines, NC 28387 Website: ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/wewo/main.php Located in Southern Pines, Weymouth Woods was established in 1963 as an 898-acre natural preserve. Early settlers called this area the Pine Barrens because of its extensive open forests of longleaf pines. Today, the preserve protects a remnant of

Raven Rock

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Raven Rock Located in Lillington, just north of the Sandhills, this park sits along the Fall Zone, where hard rock more than 400 million years old gives way to softer sediment of the coastal plain. Raven Rock rises 150 feet and stretches along more than a mile of the Cape Fear

Jordan Lake

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Jordan Lake About 1.5 hours north of the Sandhills, near Apex, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area encompasses almost 50,000 (yes thousand) acres of unspoiled park land and offers camping, boating, fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming, bald eagle and other wildlife observing, historic sites, and educational and special events. Every October, Jordan Lake

Morrow Mountain

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Morrow Mountain Just west of the Sandhills, Morrow Mountain was home to Native Americans 10,000 years before the first Europeans arrived. The once mighty Uwharrie Mountains still stand to 936 feet in contrast to the rolling Piedmont. Enjoy boating/canoeing, camping/cabins, fishing, picnicking, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, exhibits, a historic site and

Adventures in Robbins

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Adventures in Robbins Located at the northwestern tip of Moore County, Robbins boasts a friendly atmosphere, coupled with family values and a strong sense of community. Originally a textile mill town, Robbins is more than a rural community, it’s also a hub for outdoor activities including canoeing, kayaking, hiking—even stargazing. Paddling Trails Robbins

Reservoir Park

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Reservoir Park 300 Reservoir Park Rd., Off Hwy 22, Southern Pines, NC 28387 Website: southernpines.net/recreation If you’re in the mood to feed the ducks, hike around a beautiful and peaceful body of water, observe birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat and maybe even have a picnic, then Reservoir Park is a great

Aberdeen Parks and Recreation

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Aberdeen Parks and Recreation 301 Lake Park Crossing Aberdeen, NC 28315 Tel: (910) 944-5902 Website: townofaberdeen.net/parks_recreation_home.htm Aberdeen’s Parks and Recreation Department provides recreation programs, cultural events and public parks and facilities for county residents. Throughout the year, the recreation department offers an array of youth programs including dance, basketball, baseball, t-ball, kickball and summer camps.

Southern Pines Recreation and Parks

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Southern Pines Recreation and Parks 482 E. Connecticut Ave. Southern Pines, NC 28387 Tel: (910) 692-2463 Website: southernpines.net/recreation Southern Pines has a large Recreation and Parks Department. Many recreational and athletic services, special events and programs are available for toddlers, youth, adults and senior citizens. For children, there are numerous camps (summer, mini, year-round student intersession,

Pinehurst Parks and Recreation

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Pinehurst Parks and Recreation 395 Magnolia Rd. Pinehurst, NC 28374 Tel: (910) 295-2817 Website: villageofpinehurst.org The Pinehurst Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of programs for all ages, from organized athletic leagues to craft/art classes, exercise classes, special events and festivals. Programs are available to residents and nonresidents (for a higher fee). Twice a

Moore County Parks & Recreation

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Moore County Parks & Recreation 155 Hillcrest Park Ln. Carthage, NC Tel: (910) 947-2504 Website: www.moorecountync.gov/rec Moore County provides leisure services to its residents with a focus on youth, individuals with disabilities and senior citizens. The department offers a variety of athletic programs and special events for the young and young-at-heart, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading,

C.A.R.E. Group, Inc. (Connecting Available Resources for Education)

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  The mission of the CARE Group is to equip, empower, and encourage individuals through education, mentoring, and enrichment opportunities. Physical address: 575 SE Broad Street, Unit 10, Southern Pines, NC 28387 Mailing address:  P.O. Box 1966, Southern Pines, NC 28388 Telephone: 910-692-5954 Website: www.thecaregroupinc.org   We provide one-on-one at-risk youth