Safe, Educational, and Fun Field Trip Ideas for Kids at Home

Four Fun and Educational "Field Trips" for Virtual Learners this Fall

Art & Literature | History | Nature & Outdoors
 

ART & LITERATURE 

Art Gallery of Wilkes

The Wilkes Art Gallery features twelve exhibitions annually, offers a variety of workshops and classes to children and adults, and has a gift shop in which local and state known artists and crafters present their finest art and hand-crafted items. The Wilkes Art Gallery exhibit hall is also available for meetings, parties and receptions.

Wilkes Art Gallery
913 C Street
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
336-667-2841

James Larkin Pearson Collection

The James Larkin Pearson Collection is located on the lower campus of Wilkes Community College. This collection houses the writings, correspondence, books, and memorabilia of Wilkes County native James Larkin Pearson, who was the North Carolina Poet Laureate from 1953 to 1981. Exhibits of Pearson's printing presses, newspapers, and other artifacts are on permanent display in Lowes Hall and may be viewed during the college's regular operating hours. Pearson's writings, correspondence, and other documents are housed in Pardue Library on the second floor of Alumni Hall and are available by appointment only.

Wilkes Community College Library
1328 Collegiate Drive
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336-838-6114

Old Wilkes Heritage Walking Tour

FREE Self-guided walking tour visiting 13 buildings that reveal the character of the town of Wilkesboro as it developed. All are examples of the distinctive styling and culture of their times and are included in the National Register of Historic Places. Each represents an aspect of community life that makes them historically noteworthy. The buildings are within walking range of each other. Included on the tour are The Old Wilkes Jail, The Robert Cleveland House, The Federal Building, The Carl Lowe House, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Wilkes County Courthouse, Old Law Office, The Smithey Hotel, J.T. Ferguson Store, The Johnson-Hubbard House, The Presbyterian Church, Cowles Law Office, and The Brown-Cowles House.

Heritage Square
100 E. Main Street
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336-667-3171

Ben Long Frescoes at St. Paul's Episcopal Church

In 2002, a beautiful partnership was formed between the Cultural Arts Council of Wilkes, St. Paul's Episcopal Church and the world renowned artist Benjamin F. Long, IV to paint two fresco scenes of the Apostle Paul’s time of conversion and while writing the Epistles in prison. The frescoes reside in the historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in the commons area joining the chapel and the sanctuary. These classically beautiful frescoes are open for free viewing by the public.

St. Paul's Episcopal
200 West Cowles Street
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336-667-4231

HISTORY

Explore Life on the Frontier at Whippoorwill Academy & Village

Whippoorwill is located on the Ferguson family farm (1700's) and has a group of 12 buildings (mostly log cabins) on the premises. There is a museum dedicated to Tom Dooley (of “Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley” fame), who lived in the area before his hanging back in the 1800's. There are also two cabins dedicated to Daniel Boone, who lived in the community back in the 1700's. Two large festivals are held every year: Tom Dooley Day and the Daniel Boone Festival. Whippoorwill Academy and Village includes a one-room schoolhouse, known as Whippoorwill Academy, built in 1880. North Carolina's Poet Laureate, Larkin Pearson, attended this one-room school. In the loft of the Academy is the Tom Dula (Dooley) Museum, which includes paintings, drawings, and other Dula memorabilia, including a lock of Laura Foster's hair. Revisit Daniel Boone's home (replica cabin) from when he and his family lived on the Yadkin River region in 1760. The village also has the Smokehouse Art Museum, with regular shows by local artists, a blacksmith shop, weaver's shop, country store, and the breathtaking log cabin Chapel of Peace. We welcome schools, senior groups and organizations for tours at the village. Please call in advance for our hours of operation.

Whippoorwill Academy & Village
11929 Hwy 268 W.
Ferguson, NC 28624
336-973-3237

Fort Defiance

Fort Defiance was the home of General William Lenoir. He was a major general in the North Carolina Militia, and fought at the Battle of King's Mountain during the American Revolution. General Lenoir built the original fort, which was known as Fort Defiance, on the banks of the Yadkin River to protect against warring Cherokees. In 1788, he built his new home and named it Fort Defiance in remembrance of the original fort. Several generations of the Lenoir family have lived in this house. Fort Defiance was purchased for restoration in 1965 and is furnished with original pieces of furniture from the earliest periods of the house. Over 300 pieces of original clothing and furnishings on display.
 

Fort Defiance
4555 Fort Defiance Drive
Lenoir, NC 28645
828-758-1671

Hutchinson Homestead at Stone Mountain Park

The Hutchinson Homestead is complete with log cabin, barn, blacksmith shop, corncrib, meat house, and original furnishings. Visitors can play recordings that explain how different aspects of the farm were run. The farm was built in the mid-19th century and restored in 1998, representing lives of early settlers. The homestead is closed during the week and winter; however visitors may walk the homestead grounds.


Hutchinson Homestead at Stone Mountain State Park
3042 Frank Parkway
Roaring Gap, NC 28668
336-957-8185

Wilkes Heritage Museum

The Wilkes Heritage Museum experience includes visits to the Old Wilkes Jail (c. 1859-, Robert Cleveland Log House (c.1779-, and the Wilkes Heritage Museum housed inside the old Courthouse Building c. 1902. The Wilkes Heritage Museum consists of a self-guided tour featuring exhibits including early settlement, medicine, military history, moonshine, and early stock-car racing.

Museum exhibits include: 

The new Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame educates, defines and interprets the history of music in the Blue Ridge area and musicians in all genres from the region with exhibits and an annual celebration of inductees.

The Old Wilkes Jail, constructed in 1859 and opened as jail in 1860, when it was used to house confederate provisions as well as union prisoners. and Robert Cleveland Log Home are given. The history of its usage goes back to the war between the states After the war, Tom Dula (of the famous ballad "Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley") was incarcerated here until the change of venue was obtained by his defense attorney, former Governor Zebulon Vance. Another famous inmate was that of North Carolina's famous escape artist, "Otto Wood." The building was restored to its original state using as much of the original materials as possible. Access to the cells is through the original iron and wood doors. The old Wilkes County jail is one of the best preserved examples of nineteenth century penal architecture in North Carolina. Of particular note is the survival of its primitive security, including the front door which contains nails an inch apart so that even if a prisoner got hold of an object he could not saw his way out of the building.

The Robert Cleveland House, home of Robert Cleveland, Revolutionary War Veteran, gentleman farmer, and his family of 17 children, is currently located behind the Old Wilkes Jail in full restoration and furnished in its period furniture. It was built in the 1770’s and originally located in Purlear, western portion of Wilkes County. Col. Benjamin Cleveland, Robert’s brother, led forces from Wilkes County to the Battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War.

The Museum hosts special events and programs offered throughout the year including seasonal Candlelight Ghost Tours of Historic Downtown Wilkesboro. The museum gift shop has great books, local pottery, music CDs, toys and more.

Wilkes Heritage Museum
100 East Main Street, Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336.667.3171

NATURE & OUTDOORS

Ride the Horseback Trail At Leatherwood Mountains

Eighty miles of deeded horseback and hiking trails, equestrian facilities, zip line, hiking, and an on site restaurant. Once Leatherwood Mountains gets in your soul, you may never want to leave. Leatherwood Mountains Resort is making memories that will last a lifetime! Call us today to start your adventure!

512 Meadow Road, Ferguson
800-4NC-MTNS (462-6867)

Visit a Working Alpaca Farm at To His Glory Alpaca Farm

Learn the history of the alpaca from the origin to the differences in colors and breeds. Our farm, located on W. Kerr Scott Lake, has more than 15 Huacaya Alpacas in a variety of colors. Observe demonstrations of weaving raw fibers into yarn and how it is used to create warm and cozy socks, scarfs, hats and other items. Please call for an appointment to visit the farm.

347 Water Front Drive
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336-262-5001

Get Up Close with Nature at W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoi

Housed in the lower level of the Visitor Assistance Center, the Environmental Education Center offers exhibits on energy conservation, habitat conservation, wildlife, aquatic, and forestry resources, environmental education classroom, and native tree trail. The center is open to the general public and to school field trips.

499 Reservoir Rd.
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
336-921-3390

Bird Watching at Doughton Park

Doughton Park is a spectacular park located right on the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. For a good sampling of the upper edge of the escarpment, the Fodder Stack Trail provides a quick way to see Wild Turkey, Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided, Hooded, Black-throated Green and Black-and-white Warblers, Scarlet Tanager and many other woodland and shrubby field species. For a longer look at many of these species and others, hike the entire Bluff Mountain Trail. Grasshopper Sparrow and Horned Lark are often seen in the agricultural lands near the Parkway and close to the Bluffs Lodge. For the more adventurous, a hike to the bottom on the Grassy Gap Fire Road or Cedar Ridge Trail provide possible looks at mid- to low-elevation species like Acadian Flycatcher, Swainson’s Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler. These lower sections may also be reached via Longbottom Road, off NC 18. The diversity of habitats, size of the park, and its amenities can provide many days of exploration and birding. Species of Interest: Blue-headed Vireo, Black-white Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler Habitats: northern hardwood/cove forest, oak forest & mixed hardwoods/pine, early successional, river/stream/wetland.

336-372-8568

Garden of the Senses

The garden has been designed and planted so that everyone, regardless of their visual ability, may enjoy it. The garden is part of a large complex of multivariate botanical gardens located on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This particular garden is named in memory of Eddy Merle Watson, the gifted musician son of legendary blind acoustic musician Arthel "Doc" Watson. The garden contains many ornate raised planters, a diversity of plants which were chosen for their strong fragrances and unusual textures, and braille identification plaques which identify each plant for the visually impaired. The most prominent element of the garden however, is a serpentine brick wall of approximately 150 feet which contains a series of elaborate brick sculptures called "Nature's Alphabet" and "The Tree of Memories." This inspiring work of art was designed and sculpted by noted Goldsboro, NC brick sculptor and artist, Patricia Turlington. "Nature's Alphabet" spans two panels, each 16 inches high and 27 feet long. Images on the panels represent letters in the English alphabet, from an armadillo for "A" to a zebra for "Z". A "pocket" outline of each image enables the visually impaired to insert their hand and follow the outline of whatever is pictured there. Open sunrise to sunset.

Garden of the Senses
Wilkes Community College
1328 Collegiate Drive
Wilkesboro, NC 28697

Also, check out the Wilkes Heritage Museum's Tar Heel Junior Historian Association.