The Family Fun Trip

Check in with your pick of lodging options from national chains, where you can use those rewards points, to charming B&Bs and Inns. Get everyone in the team spirit at Sandhills Bowling Center. To enjoy the great outdoors, try a walking trail at the Village Arboretum or Aberdeen Lake, or try your hand at Disc Golf at Reservoir Park. Once everyone has had a chance to work up an appetite, try some of the best pies at Pinehurst Pizza, SoPies or Vito’s Ristorante & Pizzeria. Other great family-friendly options include The Villager Deli Restaurant in Pinehurst and the Ice Cream Parlor in Southern Pines.

Plan on spending this day at more rural pursuits, like the Aloha Safari Zoo near Cameron. Take their safari tour that drives you around to see some of the larger animals like zebras, water buffalo and even camels. Feed the giraffe! Then enjoy lunch at the Dewberry Deli in Cameron, a re-creation of a vintage drugstore. The adults can browse the Old Hardware Antiques, attached to the restaurant, while the young-at-heart enjoy a chocolate malt at the soda fountain counter. After your busy morning it’s time for a visit to the splash pad at Rassie Wicker Park, and maybe a quick nap. Recount the beautiful moments of the day over a drink at the Drum & Quill or in the Beer Garden at the Pinehurst Brewing Company.

Explore the Sandhills area and get ready for more opportunities for fun. The Taxidermy Hall of Fame in Southern Pines is a quirky downtown attraction that will fascinate the whole family. As a bonus the shop where it’s located has home-made fudge for sale. Not far away, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve is a truly unique ecosystem of soaring longleaf pines, wiregrass and wildlife. There are no strenuous hikes here, just an easy walk through the Sandhills. Keep everyone’s tummy happy with Pete’s Family Restaurant for hearty home cooking or the famed Pik-N-Pig at Gilliam-McConnell Airfield for the best BBQ around and the thrill of watching the planes take off. Save room for ice cream or C Cups’ cupcakes to satisfy your sweet tooth. Then fall asleep dreaming of what else you could do if you stayed an extra day!