What a charming history museum, complete with multiple air conditioned buildings, including the…read morecarriage house (with an iron lung) and a delightful medicinal garden. The educational and interesting guided tours begin on the hour and are lead by a professional guide. The museum is very well done--thank you East Carolina University. While it is called the Country Doctor Museum, a good portion of it is a tribute to the work and impact of nurses as well. Learn about the apothecary and unique stories about various artifacts in the museum. There are no opportunities for hands-on experiences and small children may not be the best guests. Seniors (over 55) get a discount. The gift shop has an variety of themed gifts for purchase. I took visitors from Illinois and they loved it. I'll bring other guests who visit Eastern NC.

The Country Doctor Museum has been updated since my prior visits. Admission is $8 and your tour…read morestarts in the gift shop building which also has a library and some medical artifacts. Guided tours run on the hour and you will get to see the building that was a country doctor's office, a medicinal herb garden is behind this building, then the last building is where the carriages, old vehicles and the iron lung are located. You will see how medicines were made with herbs and how the pills were cut. They used what was available. There is a room with surgery tools and prosthetics. The tools used changed over the years and they learned that hot water prevented some infections from developing. The newest addition is a sick room. This room shows what it was like if you were sick and isolated. The room also has a lot to read and see of how health care has evolved. Vaccines are much more recents that I realized. The last building showcases the carriages and some Ford vehicles. There are some doctors bags to see as well. The iron lung gives a visual to imagine what that would have been like to be inside. Even though I have visited this museum a few times, I learn something new every time. They also keep updating the museum and adding new artifacts. The gift shop is also a great place to find some unique gifts.

Came here for a family reunion. The facility was clean and spacious. While the guests were…read morearriving, I took my son outside to walk their garden. At first, I wasn't impressed because there was nothing planted or the plants looked dead. No flowers were in bloom and bushes looked unkept. As we kept walking we came to another area, the gem. This must be there main garden; there was a cute little slide, a swing, a sound around, a gazebo, a stream, a bridge, and a sand play pit. I wonder what the rest of the garden looks like at the start of spring. Overall a nice venue.

The Wilson Botanical Garden is wonderful and I highly recommend stopping if in the area or driving…read morethrough. Admission and parking are free and weekdays there are restrooms available. The garden is a little deceiving from the entrance as it is much bigger than it appears at 11 acres. But was also so different than I expected. I started in the STEM Garden. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) There are carnivorous plants; solar power panels; a windmill; hydroponic plants; and a math area to calculate the number of plants. There are explanations of each area and I was very impressed and excited to learn something new. The garden is divided into areas to showcase the diverse plants like hosta; daylilies; and herbs. One area is for children but you can wander and taken in the all the different plants. I read that there were over 200 different plants. There is a beehive but that is fenced and has signage.

For just $2 you can have a guided tour from a seasoned employee. Leigh Strickland did an excellent…read morejob giving us the history of this site and the buildings, which are locked unless you are on a guided tour. To visit the Site and Visitors' Center is free of charge. The Center has rest rooms, a chronological display of exhibits from Governor Aycock's boyhood and political and law careers. His greatest accomplishment was his agenda for universal (free public) education for all--African Americans and Whites, despite having run on a platform of white supremacy. A new school house was built in NC for every day he was in office! There is also a dated film available for free viewing on demand in the visitors center. Outside visitors can enjoy a picnic shelter, looking into building windows, visiting with sheep and chickens, and touring the cemetery. We will return when a special event is taking place to see volunteers reenacting life on the farm.

I saw a historical marker sign for The Governor Charles B. Aycock Birthplace on my way to be…read morevaccinated so I decided to stop on the drive home as this seemed like a museum off the beaten path. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived at a long dirt driveway. But when I arrived there was a museum inside and quite impressive. A video was offered with an introduction about Governor Aycock. I had no idea who he was or what he accomplished. The exhibits were great and more than I expected. Governor Aycock valued public education and opened over 4000 schools in the state one for everyday he was in office including Sundays. White Supremacy is sugar coated and I do hope that more is done to address the ugly history of the state. I did not get an opportunity to explore the buildings outside but will be returning to check out the one room schoolhouse, barn and stables. On my return I will be better educated on Governor Aycock.

A visit to the Johnston County Heritage Center is very interesting! With its ever-changing…read moreexhibits, the Heritage Center does a great job of celebrating the past. It is also an excellent resource for genealogical research. I enjoy looking at microfilms from 50-year-old editions of The Smithfield Herald.

I love this place so much! It is a great resource we have in Smithfield to help with historical…read moreresearch of the area. I have used their ancestry resources to trace back my family roots and I'm so grateful I could do this for free here. Also the staff members are all kind, friendly, and very knowledgeable! If you grew up or have family around here you definitely want to start your research here. Also you can donate to help them keep the building running too!

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.

A beautiful location to walk. I always forget to take photos when I am there as I normally go for…read morebusiness. However, I have stopped on my way out at the garden area and walked around. Very peaceful and pleasant. I could see coming out during good weather to just take time with nature. The location (when I am there) is fairly quiet. There is plenty of parking as well.

I went twice this past season and both experiences were fantastic! There were plenty of berries to…read morepick, staff was friendly and helpful immediately upon arrival. Pricing was fair and I love that they have a portable restroom and wash station right up front. Both times I went we had multiple children with us and they loved seeing the chickens up front and picking berries in the fields. Can't wait to return next year!

We had so much fun at the Wendell Blueberry Farm. When you walk in there are chickens and even a…read moreturkey so that caught my son's attention immediately! Then when you go blueberry picking there are literally over 1,000 bushes all ready to be picked! The blueberries are pesticide free and were all absolutely delicious. It wasn't too crowded so it was easy to get as many blueberries as we wanted. Will go back at least a few more times this season!

An immersion in eclectic southern art! Local visionaries Dr. Michael & Jessica Hicks have created a…read morenucleus of inspiration in the downtown of a quintessential Southern town, Rocky Mount! How refreshing to stroll through the cubbies at Bel Air and then meet such unique artists at work on their crafts! Bel Air is a true artist gem. There's more: May I share a secret, Jessica is regionally known as one of the most comprehensive and expressive yoga instructors in Eastern, NC. Be bold, experience one of her exceptional classes! If you have pets, and love them, then love them enough to entrust their health to Michael and his Dad, whom both come generations of veterinary care! How could anyone miss a chance at Bel Air and a chance to see these Southern "Hicks"?!! Enjoy!

I walked a few blocks from the Amtrack train station and discovered a wonderful place to spend some…read moretime, the Bel Air Artisans Center on Church Street. I love art and things created by hand and this place delivered. I was greeted by the owner who was so enthusiastic about the artists and the center. She directed me to look in the back , where there are practicing artists, many were in theur studios. Pottery, wooden boxes, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, hand made ink pens to name just some of the items. I bought Christmas gifts. So glad I stopped.A