We stopped by here for a road trip pit stop since it participates in the ASTC reciprocity program…read more The kids' area was much smaller than I had anticipated (though my kids still had fun!), and unfortunately the planetarium was closed for renovations. The special exhibit was about bikes and the natural history portion was a weird mix of taxidermy and fake animals. We also checked out the art area which had a good collection by local artists and school children. Very laid back place to visit and stretch your legs, but I'm glad we didn't go out of our way to check it out.

It was such a joy to stop here to break up our trip back home. This is the perfect place to spend…read morehours with kiddos young and old. They have lots of natural discovery zones for little ones to go to and immerse themselves in learning and play. They hd numerous lego stations with guided learning or just independent play. A huge sized connect 4 game offers a delightful opportunity to play with hand sized discs and drop them into the slots with your partner or kid. My husband and I played several rounds of this together! Then there's the planetarium with several shows planned throughout the day. While the show was a bit pixelated for modern-day technology, it was completely fascinating and enjoyable. The program walked us through the spring sky and the constellations we could find. The program was designed with specific memory clues that were repeated a few times so that even an adult with challenged short-term memory would come away with new knowledge and tricks to recover the information again and again. Read the blip about Pathagaras and how math and music work together... then follow the sheet music and tap the colored pipes with flip-flops to play familiar songs! Y'all I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. The museum area had so much entertainment that we never had the chance to make it to the art gallery side of the building so I can't speak to that. But let me say, this was so worth it! We spent 2 & a half hours there and could have stayed for another two in the museum alone. Each one of us was sad to leave. It is apparent that the museum staff is incredibly dedicated to what they are doing there. Each person was glad to be there and was joyful that they were giving kids the opportunity to expand their imaginations. I do hope to come back again soon!

An interesting local museum that is worth a visit if you are in the area. The small museum honors…read moreEdgecombe County Vets from all wars with numerous photographs, a small reading library, static displays of uniforms, weapons, equipment, and ephemera. The collection was primarily compiled from donations from the personal holdings of local vets. Well organized displays and the docents are knowledgeable and friendly. The museum is working to record oral histories of the county's service members and their families. They accept worn American flags for proper disposal and each month the museum highlights a veteran with a flag ceremony.

The Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum located in Tarboro, NC is an awesome place to visit…read more The museum is small but is packed with so much military history and memorabilia. It has great displays from all wars and as you stand in front of them let your mind take you to the sacrifices that the men and women made for our country. Some of those men and women's photos are mounted on the walls of the museum for display. You can view some of the uniforms, equipment and guns that were worn and used in the different branches of service. In the museum is a small library packed with books with history and information about the wars that our veterans have fought with courage and patriotic pride for their country, the United States of America. The Museum is well maintained and new stuff is added as it comes available. It would be worth you time to visit this small museum and in doing so you will be showing your support for those who proudly served and for those who died doing so.

The Roanoke Canal Museum is in Roanoke Rapids, NC. The museum has its own parking lot. The museum…read moreis on two levels, and an elevator is available to get to the lower level. Restrooms are available on both levels of the museum. Admission was $6 when I visited. The remnants of the canal are on the National Register of Historic Places. The canal is over 200 years old. It was a way to use the water to allow for trade and as transportation. The museum has storyboards and interactive exhibits. You can learn about the birds and other wildlife. The striped bass were spawned each spring in the fresh water of the Roanoke Canal. One exhibit highlights the local paper mill. You can learn how paper is made and learn. The mill was an important employer in the community. When the railroads were built, the canal was no longer needed, and the canal was used for a way to generate power using hydroelectric energy for the mills and other industries. The Underground Railroad used the waterways as escape routes. The difficult terrain made it easier to hide and escape to freedom. Outside the museum is a bateaux, which is a flat-bottomed boat used to transport goods. Where the canal was, is now roacks, I'm not sure if I was to walk in that area but I did. This museum was well done and next time I will check out the trail.

The guide was very knowledgeable. He was able to provide all the information needed and answered…read moreall of our questions. It is a really nice place to stop and take a look into the history of the Roanoke Rapids. It was worth the time to stop and look around. The bathrooms were spotless.

Unfortunately, I was here on a Sunday afternoon and they were closed. Still, there's a good bit of…read moreexploring on the grounds and a bunch of Dukes of Hazzard stuff to see. I'm sure the restaurant is great and all but you still have to chase the Duke boys! Cooter's Garage, a covered Boss Hogg Cadillac, a "Vote Rosco P. Coltrane for Sherriff" and a General Lee "01" mailbox. All they need is Daisy Duke walking around and I'd be all set. Do check their hours before making the trip. [Review 14019 overall, 1341 of 2020, number 2659 in North Carolina.]

Loved visiting this place, got to relive my childhood. Kids and I had a blast trying to beat…read moreeachother on the racetrack. Owner was incredibly knowledgeable and pleasant.

I love trains and wanted to check out this one hour train ride near Apex. It's an open car and…read morethere was a breeze. The seats are like school bus seats so it's comfy. You can bring drinks and snacks on board. The process is easy. Order tickets online and check in at will call when you arrive. They have a big outdoor train set up at the will call area and this was wonderful. We loved the short ride and makes me want to take another train trip.

New Hope Valley Railway is a relaxing and fun place to visit. The open air seating tickets are…read morereasonable to ride the historic train cars. Parking is free and there is a large lot. It is all run by volunteers who enjoy trains and share their love with the visitors. Be sure to check out the mini railroad and the museum. They have displayed the cars and parts being restored. The train cars board about 15 minutes before departure. The ride is about 20 minutes one direction then the engine is moved from one end to the other for the return trip. It is a nice little getaway to enjoy nature and trains.

Yelp 100 2026 #8…read more Marbles Kids Museum is a wonderful children's indoor and outdoor play area. There is an upstairs and downstairs with different themes throughout to help keep any child engaged. The giant piggy bank upstairs, mini scooters downstairs, to the ABC new high in the sky cam. Visited when my flight was delayed to help my little get her wiggles out and she did not want to leave. It was chilly during my visit but there are outdoor play areas available as well.

We visited Marbles Kids Museum today (Sunday). Street parking was free and plentiful this morning…read more En route to the museum we grabbed coffee and got there at open. 2 adults and a kid is $40 (you can get military discount and also purchase tickets in advance online) It's a busy place but also large and we never felt it was too crowded. There are so many spaces for little ones to explore and try! Definitely enough for a couple hours with a 3 yr old. Would recommend for anyone with 2-7 years old kid, probably a highlight for our daughter.

The NC Museum of Natural Sciences was the perfect way to spend a very cold, wet, afternoon in…read moreRaleigh. It was a few miles from our AirBNB, so while we had to drive, there's a large parking lot right across the street. I'm not sure if parking is normally free, but it was on this particular Saturday. No one was monitoring the gate or could figure out how to pay, so we didn't. I *think* the sign said it was normally $5 on days they do charge or monitor. VERY reasonable. The museum itself is FREE unless you want to see an IMAX movie, which is reasonably priced. If you're into dinosaurs, plants, geology, or natural science in general, you'll enjoy yourself here, but the museum definitely adds a local flare and incorporates NC history and geography. While the museum is kid-friendly, it is not kid-focused. It is family focused and for all ages. My husband and I are child-free and had a great time. Of course, we are nerds and had science classes together in college. I do think this is a great museum for kids who are school aged and able to read well and ask questions. It is probably not the best option for toddlers or preschoolers when it comes to museums. The museum hosts birthday parties, and a group was there for that- what a fun idea! If you visit, plan to spend a morning or afternoon here- it definitely takes a few hours to see everything but not the full day.

I've never been here, so wanted to check it out. It was phenomenal! The admission price was great…read more(free!) and the exhibits were breathtaking. It's a wonderful place to take the whole family or to just a great place to explore for those interested in science, especially dinosaurs. The staff and scientists were super helpful and knowledgeable. With two buildings and multiple exhibits, pro tip: give yourself enough time to explore. You won't regret it.

Very interesting for all ages. Great use of the natural landscape for animal enclosures and…read morehabitats. My personal favorite was the butterfly house. Especially loved the pollinator garden outside the insect building. Climbing feature was well loved by the little in our group. The digging for artifacts and fossils was appreciated by the teen in our group. Red wolf exhibit was awesome once we spotted the mom dad and baby on video. Also appreciated the sensory room.

First time coming here, and I would give 5 stars if not for the exorbitant pricing. Adults costing…read moremore than kids at that, for a kids museum has always rubbed me wrong. But this place is quite expansive with several areas including wildlife, butterfly and insect garden, a train tour that takes 2 laps around (might as well get it for the $6 a ticket), and several outdoor play areas including a tree house and mist/water areas. Place was crowded, but there were still plenty of spaces available at 10:30 in the garage. If I lived closer, I might consider a membership to save costs, but I live too far currently to justify that. The cafe food was mid, and again too expensive. The pricing for me knocks a star off, but if you've never been and are prepared to spend a couple hundred bucks for the day on a family of 4, you'll probably enjoy!

What great place to tour and staff was so nice.. once we paid and started tour the gentleman put a…read moreball up a tube that went into this cool artistic display of how a rain drop forms and the lifecycle.. it went into a cloud around room which simulated atmosphere and into rivers and big bodies of water it was cool. Then we sat in on 12 min film on estuaries.. then self guided tour .. for $5 it's worth price of admission . Lots of rooms to go thru.. live animals like snake , crab, alligator to see.. and you can walk outside on the deck see beauty of the waterfront area. Enjoyed my visit and highly recommend to anyone in area.

The North Carolina Estuarium is located in Downtown Washington, NC. It is the first estuarium in…read morethe world and focuses on the environment. The NC Estuarium offers ferry rides on the Tar and Pamlico Rivers at various times during the year. I really enjoy the rides as you might see some wildlife besides the plant life. The captain provide fun facts along the way too. The museum is 12,500 square foot and serves as an education center. It provides a great overview of the estuaries and coastal rivers which are an important part of the ecosystem where fresh water and salt water mix. 90% of NC seafood comes from estuaries. We need to keep these waterways clean. In the lobby the display is large and shows the different parts of North Carolina. The NC Esturium is part museum and part aquarium. The aquarium focuses just on estuary species. It has over 200 exhibits and a lot are hands on. The part about the hurricanes was informative and showed the damage done from the rising sea levels. I highly recommend visiting this unique museum.