A complete guide to Hickory’s best restaurants, shops, parks, outdoor activities, culture, spa, and history.
Hickory is a town in North Carolina, located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the shores of the Catawba River. It sits between Charlotte and Asheville along I-40. This lovely town has the perfect balance of small town charm and big city amenities. Hickory offers something for everyone. From amazing restaurants, and eclectic downtown shops, to outdoor adventures, arts, history and culture.
I was invited by @visithickorymetro to spend a weekend in Hickory, NC, explore the town, try the restaurants, and participate in some events. I got to choose where to go and what to do as well as where to stay and all the opinions are mine. I put together this guide based on my experience and added a few places that I was recommended but didn’t have time to visit during this trip. I hope y’all enjoy it! #visithickorymetro #myhky
WHERE TO STAY?
The best place to stay in Hickory, NC is in the downtown area. Hickory is pretty safe, and you can use the City Walk, which is part of a spanning 10 miles of trails that connects the city’s most popular attractions and restaurants. If you want to stay right in downtown in a walking distance to the City Walk, I recommend you to stay at the 2nd Street Inn, which is an unique Airbnb right in the heart of Hickory. If you prefer B&Bs and you want to stay a little outside downtown, Sweet Tea Bed & Breakfast would be a great option. Other amazing places to stay near Hickory is The Holly & Ivy Inn, The Peacock Inn at Catawba Farms and the Lodge at the Rock Barn Country Club & Spa.
We stayed at the 2nd Street Inn. The place was unique and very well located in a walking distance to coffee shops and restaurants in downtown Hickory. We stayed in the ‘The Brookford Room’ on the first floor. Our room was nice and clean, small but cozy, and there was a mini fridge, a tv and a nice and clean bathroom. The inn has a second floor, common area with a shared kitchen, and free parking.
WHERE TO EAT?
BREAKFAST & BRUNCH
Looking for a great spot to enjoy a cup of coffee? Waterbean Coffee (photos above) is a NC franchise that serves delicious coffee and pastries, Taste Full Beans is a local coffee shop in downtown Hickory, that has been serving a huge variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee since 2001, and there’s also Taproot Coffee, the “Coffee Bus”, a cute renovated bus and a Hickory Icon that serves expresso drinks and more. Or maybe the best brunch spot in town? Try Notions or the Olde Hickory Station in downtown Hickory, or try Cafe Rule, Cafe Gouda, and Hart and Soul Cafe. (TIP: Click on the restaurant name to see their reviews on Yelp).
LUNCH
Looking for a quick bite? You can try some local’s favorites! Standard Oyster Company serves delicious and fresh raw, fried, steamed or broiled oysters. They also have other seafood options like Maine lobster and Alaskan snow crab. My husband was lucky to be there when they were serving raw oysters for $1 each! Other places that were recommended to me was the Olde Hickory Station in downtown, an old train station that is now a pub serving American cuisine (sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, wings) and the Hatch Sandwich Bar. I was craving fish & chips so I went to Backstreets Bar and Grill. Craving Indian food? Try Taj Hickory! Want pizza? Try Wood. Asian fusion? Try Bubbly’s! Notions also serve lunch and their menu also look amazing!
DINNER
Texudo Profiterole
Hickory’s restaurants know how to deliver a perfect a date night! Looking for a special place to take your loved one? Vintage House Restaurant it is! My husband and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary here and it was amazing! Make sure to order their homemade yeast rolls! For the entree, I got the Grilled Angus Fillet and my husband opted for the Rack of Lamb. We finished up the night with their Signature Vintage House Texudo Profiterole. Another amazing restaurant that was in our wish list was the Charolais Steakhouse. They have been serving hand-cut, char-grilled steaks at their original location since 1969. We didn’t get to eat there but their Dry Aged Ribeye (Dry-Aged in house a minimum of 28 Days) sounded so so good!
Mas Amor Cantina is a beautiful and colorful Tex-Mex restaurant with North Carolina roots that serves seriously good food! Best Steak Fajitas I’ve had in my life so far! And it comes with warm house made tortillas! Their chips and salsa are another level. I loved all three salsas, especially the green one! My husband got the Birria Enchiladas and he loved it!
Another place to try while in Hickory is Fourk, a new American cuisine that serves traditional itens like steaks, seafood and chicken with a twist by adding creative seasonings and sauces. Boca serves Mediterranean food using locally sourced ingredients. You can try tapas, paellas, and other delicious looking entrees. I recommend you getting a reservation if you choose one of these dinner spots to make sure you will have a table.
DESSERTS
Favorite part of the day! Desserts!! Udderly Delicious Ice Cream serves homemade ice creams and if you go to their Highway 70 location you can play putt-putt after! Carolina Crafted also serves delicious ice cream and it’s located right in the downtown area. They are also a local shop selling candles, soaps, bath bombs and more. If you’re looking for a unique dessert, so head on to Cafe Rule and try their Popcorn Ice Cream! Yes, it is good! I wasn’t sure at first but it was love at the first bite! Their Pumpkin Cheesecake is also yummy! One of my favorite desserts in Hickory was the Texudo Profiterole from Vintage House! Go back up to the ‘dinner’ section to see the photo. Yum!
WHAT TO DO?
1 – GO FOR A WALK ON ONE OF THE HICKORY TRAILS
Hickory Trails are 10 miles of trails across the city that provides cyclists and pedestrians safety while connecting popular destinations and amenities. It includes the City Walk, Riverwalk, Aviation Walk, Historic Ridgeview Walk, and OLLE Art Walk.
2 – PLAY PUTT-PUTT AT UDDERLY DELICIOUS ICE CREAM
Udderly delicious have homemade ice cream made the “old fashioned way” – by hand pouring each batch to make a super-premium ice cream. They have more than one location in Hickory, but the one with the Moo-Moo Mini Golf (14 hole) and pinballs is the Hwy 70 SE one. Each putt-putt game cost $3 per game per person.
Besides delicious ice cream and games, they have some authentic movie props itens displayed on the wall like a life vest from “Titanic”, Tom Hanks shorts from “Cast Away” and some other cool stuff with autographs. Also, I love the store retro design and vibes.
3 – Visit and shop at the Hickory’s Farmers Market
Hickory’s Farmers Market happens every Saturday year-round at the Union Square in downtown under the sails. There you can find fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, cheese, mushrooms, candles, flowers, and more. Winter Market (Nov – Mid-Apr) Saturdays 10am – 1pm. | Regular Season (Apr-Oct) Saturdays 8am-1pm and Wednesdays 10am-2pm
4 – Visit Henry River Mill Village (The Hunger Games – Film Location)
Are you a “The Hunger Games” fan? So since you are in Hickory, go visit the movie location where some scenes of “District 12” were filmed. It’s only 10 min drive from downtown Hickory (about 6 miles). Take the guided tour (included in the price – $18) to learn about the Henry River Mill village, see some filming locations and even go inside Katniss’s house. Address: 4255 Henry River Rd, Hickory – NC
5 – Visit Hart Square Village, the nation’s largest collection of historic log structures
Hart Square Village is the nation’s largest collection of historic log structures. The village was started by Dr. Robert W. Hart III. (Dr. Hart) and his wife, Becky, with a vision to instill a pioneering spirit in the next generation. Every year on the fourth Saturday in October is their Annual Living History Festival, where artisans and historic demonstrators dressed in period clothing share the craftsmanship and subsistence of the Carolina’s pioneers. Address: 5055 Hope Rd, Vale, NC (20 min / 13 miles from Hickory, NC).
6 – Spend a relaxing afternoon at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa
Located only about 20 minutes from Hickory, the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa offers public access to the award-winning Tom Jackson Golf Course, European-style Spa, and Fresh Chef Café. My husband and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary here with a Spa day, that included access to the hyrdotherapy circuit (salt water pool, waterfalls, cold plunge, indoor & outdoor jacuzzis, saunas, and steam rooms), couples massage, salt cave, lunch and chocolate covered strawberries.
7 – Shop souvenirs at one of Hickory’s local shops
Visit and shop for souvenirs at Hickory’s locally owned boutiques and shops. Get candles and bath products from Carolina Crafted in downtown. Besides handmade products they also sell ice cream! If you go there, smell their Blue Ridge Mountains candle, it’s my favorite! A charcuterie snack box from Simple Jam’s Boards is also a great gift option! And how about an adorable REAL succulent in a REAL pumpkin from Life Doesn’t Succ? Hickory is the capital furniture of the world so check out Hickory Furniture Mart to see furniture with a North Carolina pricing – with incredible discounts of 65-80% off most standard retail pricing.
History, Culture, Arts and Places to take the kiddos
Visit Hickory Museum of Art and check out their exhibits or participate in one of their programs, classes and workshops for adults and kids. Admission to the museum is FREE with a suggested donation of $5 per person and the museum is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Holidays. Location: 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory, NC
Visit the Hickory Aviation Museum to learn about aviation history. They are dedicated to maintaining the facts and artifacts of the Golden Age of Aviation. Admission is FREE and the museum is closed on Mondays. Clique here to take an interactive 3D tour P-3C Orion. Location: 3101 9th Avenue Drive NW Box 22A Hickory, NC
Visit the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge, one of only two original remaining covered bridges in North Carolina! Location: Highway 70, Claremont, NC
Visit the Murray’s Mill Historic Site to see the preserved 1913 mill, the 1890s Murray & Minges General Store, the 1880s Wheathouse, used as an exhibit gallery, and the 1913 John Murray House. Take a hike or have an afternoon picnic there. Admission is $7 for self-guided tour and $10 for a guided tour.
The Harper House is considered by the North Carolina Department of Archives and History to possess “the finest Queen Anne interior styling in the entire state”, Victorian life in the South, circa 1887. On the same lot is the The Lyerly House (Hickory History Center), with its Craftsman style, offers museum exhibits on Hickory’s rich history. There’s a fee to enter the Harper House (Adult $10.00 / Ages 6-17 $8.00 / Children 5 & Under Free) but the The Lyerly House is free.
Take the kids to the Catawba Science Center to check out their hands-on exhibits, fresh and saltwater aquarium galleries, digital planetarium theater, and to learn about the butterfly life cycle at the butterfly nursery. Adult $12.00 / Youth (3-17): $10.00 / Children (2 & under): FREE. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Lowes Foods City Park is an interactive playground right in downtown Hickory. Take the kids to explore, play and learn at the interactive water feature and the music instruments. Admission is FREE. Location: 306 Main Avenue NW, Hickory, NC.
The Emerald Hollow Mine is a little outside Hickory but a fun visit! It is the only Emerald Mine in the world open to the public for prospecting. Come and explore the mine and maybe find a rare gemstone. Clique here for pricing and options. Location: 484 Emerald Hollow Mine Dr., Hiddenite, NC
Outdoor Adventures in Hickory
Lake Hickory is a local hot spot for water recreation. Some popular water activities on the lake include swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and other leisure activities. You can also go on a public dinner cruise or private charter with Lake Hickory Adventures.
Bakers Mountain Park is located on the highest elevation point in Catawba County (1780 feet), featuring 189 acres of mature Chestnut Oak forest with nearly 6 miles of trails. You will experience a variety of wildlife and plants native to the North Carolina Mountains. Address: 6680 Bakers Mountain Road, Hickory, NC.
Mountain Creek Park is a 606-acre park that features an extensive 19.52-mile multi-use trail network designed to optimize mountain biking and a host of other amenities including an adventure playground, a mountain bike skills course and tool stations, pickleball courts, a dog park, fishing pier, canoe/kayak launch, an outdoor classroom, an observation platform, picnic shelters and a paved ADA-accessible trail that winds through a quiet cove. Address: 6554 Little Mountain Rd., Sherrills Ford, NC
Visit Hickory Motor Speedway (NASCAR) often referred to as “The World’s Most Famous Short Track” and the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars“. Tickets are $14 Adults, $12 Kids 13 and up and Seniors, and FREE for kids 12 and under (Ticket prices varies by event). Location: 3130 Highway 70 Southeast, Newton, NC 28658 Interstate-40 – Exit 128
If you want to know more about the town and connect with HICKORY, NC, check them out on Instagram @visithickorymetro or go to their website to keep updated on the events and news about this charming town at visithickorymetro.com. #mycatawbacounty #hickorymetrofun
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