1. Get to know the city by walking around Union Square. The city’s doorstep is home to a collection of shops, restaurants, and pubs. A farmers market runs two days a week, April through November, and the brick-paved square hosts events throughout the year.
2. Join an estimated 500,000 visitors from the United States and other countries who flock annually to the Hickory Furniture Mart, a sprawling complex of factory outlets, custom showrooms, and private galleries. Find furniture of any style for any room in the house. Just make sure to bring your walking shoes.
3. Looking to stay indoors for a bit? Housed in the city’s cultural arts complex near downtown, the Catawba Science Center and the Hickory Museum of Art offer a wealth of exhibitions, educational programs for adults and children, and a planetarium and aquarium.
4. When it’s time to eat, check out the local favorite Windy City Grill. For a sweet treat, don’t miss the red velvet cake ice cream at Udderly Delicious Homemade Ice Cream.
5. Finish the day cheering on the Hickory Crawdads. Baseball’s roots are deep in Catawba County, dating back to the competition between mill teams around the turn of the century. Since 1993, the Class A Crawdads have been a mainstay each April through September. If you’re looking for a thrill, you can also check out the schedule at Hickory Motor Speedway.
’Tis the season for sweets! If you’re too busy to bake your festive favorites this year, these local bakeries across the state have pastry cases brimming with delectable holiday treats.
Make it a Carolina Christmas: From the mountains to the coast, we found our state’s icons — official and honorary — in their best holiday dress.
Each year, the post office in the tiny town of Star holds a contest to determine the design of its holiday postmark, which brings visitors from near and far to Montgomery County to add a bit of Christmas cheer to their mail.
Give thanks for pie! Creamy chocolate walnut; sweet potato covered in a buttery, crunchy topping; classic, custardy pumpkin — these favorites are fit for a feast.
