We recently made a little detour at Hamlet's Depot and Museum on our way back to Charlotte from…read moreFayetteville, and it turned out to be the perfect stop--especially for the kids. The museum is a charming slice of local history, giving you a glimpse into Hamlet's bustling railroad days when more than 30 trains used to stop there daily. Inside, you'll find all kinds of historical artifacts--from old telephones and Morse code equipment to a metal wheelbarrow once used for maintaining the tracks. There's even a building next door with more railroad memorabilia, and across the street, you can explore a replica steam train known as the "Tornado," which is a fun nod to North Carolina's railroading past. Best part? It's free to visit, and they welcome donations. So if you're passing through, it's definitely worth a stop to stretch your legs and soak up a bit of history.

Incredible! 3 small museums, all in immaculate shape! From a model T to several different train…read moremodels, it's unforgettable for the family. You can even get inside an old caboose. It's awesome. It's an incredible space to just learn You could easily spend one hour to three hours.

The Harbour Place Mural is located in Southern Pines, NC. There is plenty of parking in the…read moreshopping area that you can park and enjoy the piece of art. The horses pay tribute to the area's equestrian past. I like that the horses appear to be moving. The artist, Nick Napoletano, did a wonderful job. I like that birds are a part of the art too. It is worth the trip if in the area. I highly recommend visiting the Harbour Place Mural.

Located in one of the more upper crust neighborhoods of a town that's already upper crust itself,…read morethis sculpture is definitely political. The statue depicts a Jesus as a homeless vagrant sleeping on a park bench. Huddled under a blanket with his face and hands obscured, only the crucifixion wounds on his uncovered feet give him away. The bronze statue was purchased for $22,000 as a memorial for a parishioner, Kate McIntyre, who loved public art. The rector of this liberal, inclusive church is the Rev. David Buck, a 65-year-old Baptist-turned-Episcopalian who seems not at all averse to the controversy, the double takes and the discussion the statue has provoked. "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me." -Matthew 25:40 [Review 13405 overall, 724 of 2020.]

This is homeless Jesus I guess they have a lot of these because we have one of these in my city…read morethat I live in. So we were downtown exploring the area we came across another homeless Jesus. I guess the meaning of this is to love everyone and just respect people no matter who or what they are.

Sooo we had nothing to do while we were in the area for a soccer tournament. I mean, if you are…read morewithin 15 minutes of this, sure check it out as it makes from some cute pictures. I wouldn't drive more than 15 minutes to do this again. And it is a one and done experience. Looks neat though for pictures.

I wanted to checkout this mural in person because it kept popping up on things to do while in…read moreColumbia. It was a quick visit and the mural is definitely run down but neat to look at. Other than that, it is what you see and that's about it.

Shiny and glittering out of the corner of my eye, this large piece of public art is placed near the…read morefront of the Valerie C Woodward Center facility that houses a number of Charlotte-Mecklenburg city/county offices. From the artist's website, "Pillars of Dreams... makes a soft landing in a field of quiet moments and curious interactions. Open columns drop down from the floating canopy into a field of seating, open paths for wandering, and unbounded spaces for self-assembly. More than an idiosyncratic space for individual discovery, Pillars of Dreams establishes a public agora for visitors and employees at this important community interface between local government and Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents." The caption points out that the artist is Marc Fornes and it is powder-coated aluminum with stainless-steel rivets making up some 3564 parts and 54,000 rivets. Step into and under the center of this public art for a moment. The artist has put openings into the aluminum skin that let some light in. It reflects off the pieces and makes for a pretty sight. Shadows, projected and reflected light in the space below are lovely. Check it out when you're in the area. [Review 13437 overall, 756 of 2020.]

This is a very unique and pretty art installation. I wasn't sure exactly where to go and Apple Maps…read morearen't that helpful what you want to do is go to the front of the building and then turn right. It is on the right side of the building easily accessible if you are coming from the front. Make sure to go close up and look from underneath to see the wide array of colors.

The Weymouth Center for the Arts & Humanities is located in Southern Pines. It is free to visit…read more The grounds are open 7 days a week but the Boyd House is just open Monday through Friday. It is a large estate at 26 acres. I read about Weymouth Center in Our State Magazine and knew I wanted to visit. When I learned Thomas Wolfe stayed here that got me here sooner as I am fascinated by his life. The Boyd House is a great building to explore. The Boyds opened their house over 100 years ago to build a community for writers and artists and those with open minds to come together. The Literary Hall of Fame was nice to explore as I was introduced to new authors while seeing some familiar names. The grounds are lovely and peaceful to explore. Weymouth has a writer's residence where authors can go and work on their writing. Weymouth Equestrians has underserved teens ride and help with horse care. While I was there, a crew was getting tents set up for a wedding the next day. Also I heard that there was going to be live music on Sunday. It seems like such a great venue and the organization greatly benefits the community.

We came here while visiting Southern Pines and so glad we did! Perfect weather for a nice hike…read moresurrounded by longleaf pine trees. Signage is very clear, and it is an easy hike. The welcome center is a good place to start as staff is very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Clean restrooms in the welcome center and a discovery room for children of all ages.

I love this park. We typically come during the day to enjoy the paths but we came today early in…read morethe morning with our run club. The trails within the park were closed (not sure why), so we went running around the park. It's especially hilly in this area and connects to the greenway. It's great for endurance training. We also love to come here for picnics, photo shoots, and bike rides.

The art museum here has somewhat limited hours, but it is notable that the surrounding Parkland is…read moreopen even when the interior of the museum is not. The park offers various objects d'art set against a woodland plain, and it links in with other trails as is common in North Carolina. There are a lot of greenways. There is ample free parking and it is close to a lot of other things but quiet and secluded. And if it is a day when the museum is open, you can get a good mix of indoor and outdoor experiences for free.

Absolutely beautiful job with custom framing and reasonable prices. The owners are incredibly sweet…read moreand accommodating. I plan on bringing all future custom framing to them in the future. Additionally, I love the artwork housed in the gallery. One day I am finally going to bite the bullet and purchase a piece there

From the owner: Our business showcases local artists in the Sandhills region of North Carolina…read more We specialize in custom picture framing, using only archival materials to preserve and protect your artwork, photos, and keepsake objects. We are also highly skilled at digital photo restoration.

Just passing through and noticed these beautiful murals. They are vibrant and colorful!read more

I've added this cool gas station with the category of "Public Art" rather than "Gas Station"…read morebecause it's not an open gas station. Instead, it is a former station that is decorated with vintage gas pumps, a vintage air pump and even a mannequin in the window dressed as a gas jock wearing appropriate period clothing and ready to "fill 'er up." 29.9 a gallon! Who remembers those days? The station is surrounded by a wrought iron fence for protection but the bars are far enough apart that you can get a camera lens between them for a good picture. [Review 13652 overall, 971 of 2020, number 608 in South Carolina.]