The City of Asheboro, named an All-America City by the National Civic League, is located in Randolph County, known as “The Heart of North Carolina.”
Asheboro is a mix of history, beauty, and charm—and, might I add, a fantastic foodie destination.
Asheboro is often called the center point or the Heart of North Carolina. It sits on the Piedmont (n.gentle slope from mountains to flatland) in the beautiful rolling foothills of the Uwharrie Mountains, 27 miles south of Greensboro. And Asheboro sits less than 75 miles from Raleigh and Charlotte, making it an exciting getaway location.
Randolph County offers a range of attractions for both indoor and outdoor lovers. Walking, hiking, biking paths, museums, pottery shopping, animals, and art are all available in and around Asheboro.
Taking Photos at Train Mural Downtown Asheboro. Photo courtesy of Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau
Discover Downtown Asheboro
With remnants of its historical past still standing, Asheboro is proactively revitalizing its downtown and repurposing centuries-old textile mills and other historic buildings. Restaurants, breweries, and an array of shops make “old” buildings their new home, creating a charming, walkable downtown.
Opened in 1930, the historic Sunset Theater is also downtown and still in use today. Fully restored and renovated with modern conveniences, the Sunset Theater is a great place to see a movie, concert, or play.
Shopping in Downtown Asheboro. Photo courtesy of Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau
Also known as “Zoo City” because of its proximity to the North Carolina Zoo (see below), downtown Asheboro invites visitors to explore the Zoo City Social District. A new trend in North Carolina cities since the state approved it in 2021, adults can stroll outdoors in a designated downtown area with alcoholic beverages purchased at participating businesses.
Note: Outdoor drinking in Zoo City Social District is limited to certain days and hours.
North Carolina Zoo
Located just south of Asheboro, the North Carolina Zoo is the world’s largest natural-habitat zoo and the largest zoo in North Carolina. The zoo’s mission is to preserve and protect animals in their natural habitats.
North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina. Photo by Loretta Berry
Visitors can watch over 1,700 animals roam 500 acres of Africa’s grasslands and America’s forests. According to Jane Parker, NC Zoo Society Director of Communications and Education, Asia is currently under construction and should be completed by 2026.
In addition to many animals in fantastic, large habitats, NC Zoo offers exciting activities, including animal feeding, hiking trails, a butterfly garden, and a Kid Zone.
North Carolina Zoofari Tour. Photo courtesy of Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau
Art in the Park at the North Carolina Zoo
What I found most interesting and enjoyed most at the NC Zoo was Art in the Park. Over 50 commissioned art pieces are strategically placed around the zoo. Visitors will notice the impressive and largest sculpture, The Elephant Group, at the zoo’s main entrance. Be on the lookout as you wander the zoo. There are birds in the trees, lizards, snakes on rocks, buffalo, bears, and cats. My favorite is the hippopotamus family.
Art In The Park at North Carolina Zoo. Photo by Loretta Berry
North Carolina Trails
North Carolina, aka The Great Trails State, has a trail for everyone. There are 19 trails totaling over 30 miles near Asheboro alone. In addition, Asheboro has got you covered (pun intended) with these other fun outings.
Pisgah Covered Bridge
Built in 1911, the Pisgah Covered Bridge is one of North Carolina’s two oldest remaining historic covered bridges (the other, in Catawba County, is Bunker Hill, c. 1895). The bridge spans the West Fork Branch of the Little River in a serene and picturesque area with a short walking trail—worth the short drive.
Pisgah Covered Bridge is 15 miles southwest of downtown Asheboro in the Uwharrie National Forest. It is designated a local and federal historic landmark.
Pisgah Covered Bridge. Photo Courtesy of Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau
Richland Creek Zip Line Canopy Tour
Richland Creek Zip Line Canopy Tour offers up-close and personal views of Randolph County’s most scenic wilderness, including Richland Creek and Mendenhall Falls.
Experience the thrill of a lifetime as you soar through the forest on a 14-station zipline. Sky bridges and rope obstacles are also part of the tour.
Randleman Lake
Enjoy the great North Carolina outdoors at Randleman Lake, just north of Asheboro. The reservoir is located on the Deep River, part of the Cape Fear River basin, with 100 miles of scenic shoreline. Fish, kayak, canoe, picnic, or sit and relax at Randleman Regional Reservoir Marina. Bring your own gear or rent at the marina.
Randleman Lake Marina. Photo by Loretta Berry
Asheboro Museums
If museums are your thing, Asheboro is your place. Not your typical big-city museums, these museums are more personal and built for speed (of sorts).
Petty Garage and Petty Museum
The Petty Garage and Petty Museum belong to legendary NASCAR driver Richard Petty and his family. Known as The King, Richard Petty won an impressive 200 races and seven championships.
What makes this museum even more special than it already is? It is located in Level Cross, just 15 miles north of Asheboro, where the Petty family lived for generations. Richard was born in the house that sits next to the museum.
Look inside Lee Petty’s (Richard’s dad) original garage, still on the property. See the working garage where Petty built and maintained his race cars. Visit the museum filled with memorabilia of four generations of Pettys.
Richard Petty Garage and Museum. Photo Courtesy of Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau
North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame
Located near the Asheboro Regional Airport, the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame displays military and civilian aircraft, wartime memorabilia, artwork, aircraft models, and more. The exhibits continually change, so there is always something new and exciting.
The Aviation Museum’s Fly-In—like a classic car Cruise-In—is held annually in September.
American Classic Motorcycle Museum
The American Classic Motorcycle Museum is a small museum housed in the same building as the Heritage Diner (excellent food, I’m told). Visit the museum and stay to eat at the diner, or do the reverse. You won’t be disappointed in either venue.
The small upstairs museum is home to one of the largest private collections of antique Harley-Davidson motorcycles anywhere in the country—knuckleheads and panheads alike. There is old Harley memorabilia, posters, parts, and a replica bike shop. It is a pleasant diversion from huge metropolitan museums—and admission is free.
Art in Seagrove
If you’ve ever been intrigued by how a potter can transform a lump of clay into a gorgeous work of art, Seagrove is a “must-visit” when in Asheboro.
Seagrove is known as the Handmade Pottery Capital of the United States. Drive from Asheboro down Pottery Highway—NC Hwy 705—to explore over 100 working potters, shops, and galleries, all within a 30-mile radius.
Seagrove is the Pottery Capital of the USA. Photo Courtesy of Heart of North Carolina Visitors Bureau
Ben Owen Pottery
On a recent visit, I was lucky enough to meet and talk with Ben Owen III at his studio, world-renowned for his ceramics. His family’s pottery-making history in the Seagrove area dates back several generations. His grandfather, Ben Owen Sr., worked at Jugtown (which helped keep handmade pottery making alive in the area). Ben Sr. began teaching his grandson the art of pottery at age 9. “The biggest thing I learned from my grandfather,” Ben said, “is patience.”
Ben Owen III Ceramics. Photo by Loretta Berry
North Carolina Pottery Center
An excellent place to start your adventure is the North Carolina Pottery Center. I also enjoyed visiting Dean and Martin Pottery and From the Ground Up. Most studios are a short drive apart. Seagrove Pottery is a gallery with several potters’ works in one place, and there are several more studios and galleries within a two- to three-minute walk from there.
Seagrove Pottery. Photo by Loretta Berry
More Art in Asheboro, NC
Discover Seagrove Potters has a comprehensive list and map of potters, studios, galleries, events, tour dates, and other information.
Note: A nice stop while in Seagrove is Seagrove Orchids, an orchid nursery that cultivates and offers thousands of orchid varieties. Owner Linda Thorne, known as “the orchid lady,” is a member of the American Orchid Society and U.S. Farmers.
If you love bronze statues, chances are you may have seen the work of Ed Walker, owner of Carolina Bronze Sculpture, a premier fine arts bronze foundry located in Seagrove, just off I-74.
From tiny mice to larger-than-life realistic figures such as presidents and the Pope, Carolina Bronze sculptures appear in parks and other public and private places throughout the country and the world. I recently enjoyed seeing the Richard Petty (and wife) bronze statue unveiled and dedicated at a park in Randleman, just north of Asheboro.
Refurbishing Bronze Statue at Carolina Bronze Sculpture Foundry. Photo by Loretta Berry.
The foundry and gallery are open for tours or a stroll through the Sculpture Garden, where you can peruse a couple dozen statues in various media by various artists.
Where to Eat in Asheboro
An emerging foodie destination, Asheboro has an eclectic array of great restaurants to choose from, including Cantina Taco Loco, Flying Pig Food and Spirits, Positano Italian, and Hamilton’s Steakhouse, to name a few.
My husband and I had breakfast at The Table Farmhouse Bakery—The Table for short—during our stay. Located downtown in the historic textile mill office building, The Table is, without a doubt, a restaurant you need to experience. My husband (who loves breakfast) exclaimed as he ate his cheddar bacon omelet that it was one of the best breakfasts he’s ever had. My avocado smash toast topped with radish and salmon was mouthwatering. Start with a fresh-baked seasonal roll or muffin with your expertly brewed coffee. You won’t regret it, I promise.
The Table Smash Avocado Toast With Salmon. Photo by Loretta Berry
For delicious Southern, down-home cookin’, it’s got to be Magnolia 23, where the food is “made from scratch and, most importantly, with love”. I once heard that if the line is long, the food has got to be good. And it was! We enjoyed their famous signature pan-fried chicken with traditional sides of greens, coleslaw, beans, and potatoes—all washed down with a mason jar of sweet tea.
We also enjoyed the newly opened Black Powder Smokehouse BBQ, coffee at Brewskies Coffee Shop (yes, they sell beer too), great craft beer at Four Saints Brewing Company, and nightcaps at Leo’s Whiskey Bar, a cozy little “speakeasy” type bar with a plethora of whiskey on the shelf.
Leo’s Whiskey Bar Downtown Asheboro. Photo by Loretta Berry
Where to Stay in Asheboro
Asheboro offers several places to stay, from chain hotels to vacation rentals. We had the unique opportunity to try out a new concept by Getaway: tiny cabins in a “campground” setting. Launched in 2015, Getaway has over two dozen locations across the U.S. Asheboro is currently the only North Carolina location.
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Visiting Asheboro, NC
Our stay in Asheboro was a pleasant surprise with all the fun and entertaining things we saw and did. More than that, we found the people friendly and excited about where they live. Everyone we spoke with —restaurant owners, zoo keepers, and bartenders alike —said they love what they do and are grateful for their community; Asheboro truly is the Heart of North Carolina.
We invite you to let Wander With Wonder guide you to more great things to do while visiting North Carolina.
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