Hot Stops Beyond the Fort Bragg Gates
Have you recently PCS’d to Fort Bragg? I have a feeling that you might love it! The proximity to North Carolina’s mountain and coastal regions makes this a fantastic place to be stationed. From Fayetteville to Pinehurst, Southern Pines and just a little north to Raleigh, there’s always something fantastic to see.
In just seven short months of living here, we’ve built up a hefty list of incredible museums, coffee shops, restaurants, and more. We’ve been lucky enough to have a steady stream of guests, which helps us get out and explore. These suggestions are taken primarily from these experiences, plus a few extra suggestions from seasoned locals.
Here are some things to add to your list:
1. Nature Escape at Smith Lake Recreation Area
Start with a quick three-minute drive outside of the Honeycutt Gate. Wind down the longleaf-pine-lined road to Smith Lake Recreation Area, home to a quiet oasis where you can hike, bike, fish, and camp. The lake is undergoing repairs from the 2018 hurricane season and is currently closed (as of August 2019). Even with the lake closed, this is a great place to get outside.
2. Downtown Fayetteville is Hot and Happening!
We love strolling Fayetteville’s quaint downtown. It’s filled with vintage shops, spectacular restaurants (our personal favorite: Reyhan Turkish Kebaps), coffee shops, and more. Grab tickets to view an independent film at the Cameo Art House Theatre. Check out the tea selection at Winterbloom—I highly recommend splurging on the lavender lemonade if it is in season!
You can’t visit Fayetteville without a stop at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum. We’ve visited this museum at least seven times in seven months, and I still look forward to going back. Step outside of ASOM and stroll through Veteran’s Park, a memorial to U.S. veterans. Take a moment to pop into the Visitor’s Center to see thousands of dog tags on display—it’s a breathtaking work of art.
Want to sound like a local? Hit up a Fayetteville Woodpeckers game. This minor league baseball team is favorite pastime for locals and have great promotions and fun during the games.
Other favorite stops in Fayetteville include the Cape Fear Botanical Garden and the Cape Fear River Trail, with five miles of paved pathway great for running, biking, and strollers.
Need an indoor place to go with the kiddos? Fascinate-U Children’s Museum is reasonably priced and a great way for kids to explore through hands-on learning.
When you’re ready to stretch a beyond the greater Fort Bragg and Fayetteville area, take a day trip to the Sandhills or the greater Raleigh area.
3. Slow Down in Southern Pines and Pinehurst
These small resort villages have grown dramatically with a Fort Bragg influence. Also known as the Sandhills, there’s great golfing (more than 40 golf courses!), restaurants, shopping, small hiking, and other adorable sites to see.
Our favorite stops include a visit to the Sandhills Horticulture Gardens with an ever-changing landscape. Bring a picnic and a camera for an impromptu photo shoot!
Stroll downtown Southern Pines for great local shopping. We love the scratch-and-sniff birthday cards we find at The Little Toy Shop, shop military-connected stores including R.Riveter handbags and Mockingbird on Broad with quirky and fun gifts, and The Country Bookshop. I love a quiet morning at The Java Café (cash only!)—it’s small-town living where people greet each other by name, and I’ve even seen excess garden produce generously shared with other patrons.
Love music? Pop into Casino Guitars. It’s worth your time to gaze over their incredibly diverse guitar selection.
Pinehurst is a stunning holiday sight dressed in glittering lights. I swear I’m stepping into a Hallmark Christmas movie. We love The Roast Office for coffee and used books and the Pinehurst Brewing for a fantastic lunch or dinner. We also enjoy lunch under The Villager Deli red umbrellas where we people watch. If you have children along, break up a hot afternoon with a stop at the Rassie Wicker splash pad.
Tie in a visit to Aloha Safari Zoo on your way to or from Ft. Bragg. This funky little zoo is home to many rescue animals. Bring a few extra dollars to feed the animals along the way or get a giraffe kiss when you feed carrots to Stretch!
4. If you’re looking for a faster pace, head north to the Triangle Region.
A great picnic spot is right on the Raleigh-Durham Airport: RDU Observation Park. Watch planes land from an observation tower. We love bringing a picnic and following the planes on a flight-tracking app.
For more classic fun, spend the afternoon at Pullen Park where you can ride a carousel, kiddie boats, a small train, or rent paddle boats!
Looking for a little more adventure? Check out the Duke Lemur Center which has the world’s largest and most diverse collection of lemurs.
Maybe you need a little nightlife? Both the American Tobacco Campus and Glenwood South are trendy business districts with great restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.
We also enjoy a little more intellectual pursuits at the NC Museum of Life & Sciences, step back in time at the NC Museum of History, enjoy free admission to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, and free admission to the NC Museum of Art (and Art Park!), or bring your children to Marbles Kids Museum.
And if you haven’t gotten enough of North Carolina’s lush and stunning environment, add these gardens to your bucket list: JC Raulston Arboretum, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, and NC Botanical Garden.
We haven’t even touched weekend getaways all within a few hours of Fort Bragg! I’ll save that for another post.
Looking for more on Fort Bragg? Check out our Post with the Most featuring all the insider details!
