A guide to the best restaurants, shops, parks, outdoor adventures, spas and historic sites in Hickory, NC.
Hickory is a charming town in North Carolina, located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the Catawba River. Conveniently located between Charlotte and Asheville along I-40, Hickory offers something for everyone whether you’re a foodie, outdoor enthusiast, history buff or just looking for a relaxing weekend away.
Let’s dive into the best places to stay, eat and play in Hickory, NC!
I was invited by @visithickorymetro to explore Hickory and put together this complete travel guide based on my personal experience. I got to choose where to stay, what to do and which restaurants to try. I’ve also included a few spots that came highly recommended by locals just in case you have more time than I did!
Where to Stay in Hickory, NC
The best place to stay is downtown, where you’ll be close to Hickory’s top restaurants, shops and trails. Hickory is walkable and safe, especially with the City Walk which is part of a spanning 10 miles of trails that connects many of the city’s main attractions.
- 2nd Street Inn: A unique Airbnb located right in the heart of downtown Hickory. We stayed here and loved the cozy feel and the walking distance convenience to restaurants and coffee shops. We stayed in the ‘The Brookford Room’ on the first floor and our room was nice and clean, small but cozy, and there was a mini fridge, a tv and a nice and clean bathroom. The inn also has a shared kitchen upstairs and free parking.
- The Holly & Ivy Inn and The Lodge at Rock Barn Country Club & Spa are also beautiful options nearby.
WHERE TO EAT IN HICKORY, NC?
☕ Breakfast & Coffee
- Waterbean Coffee – A North Carolina based franchise with delicious coffee and pastries.
- Taste Full Beans – A downtown staple since 2001 with a wide selection of hot, iced, and frozen drinks.
- Taproot Coffee (aka “The Coffee Bus”) – A must see Hickory icon in a cute and renovated bus!
🥞 Brunch Spots
- Notions – Trendy with great food and drinks.
- Olde Hickory Station – A former train station turned eatery.
- Cafe Rule, Cafe Gouda, and Hart and Soul Cafe are also excellent picks.
🍔 Lunch Favorites
Looking for a quick bite? You can try some local’s favorites!
- Standard Oyster Company serves fresh seafood including raw oysters, Maine lobster and Alaskan snow crab. My husband was lucky to be there when they were serving oysters for $1 each!
- Backstreets Bar and Grill for some great fish & chips here!
- Olde Hickory Station an old train station that is now a pub serving American cuisine (sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, wings) and the Hatch Sandwich Bar was also recommended by locals.
- Want pizza? Wood has great ones.
- Asian fusion? Try Bubbly’s.
- Craving Indian food? Taj Hickory for flavorful Indian cuisine.
- Notions is also open for lunch with an exciting menu.
🍽 Dinner Spots for a Night Out
Hickory’s restaurants know how to deliver a perfect a date night! Looking for a special place to take your loved one? I recommend getting a reservation if you choose one of these dinner spots to make sure you will have a table.
- Vintage House Restaurant – Perfect for date night! We celebrated our 5th anniversary here. Don’t skip the yeast rolls or their famous Signature Vintage House Texudo Profiterole. For entree, we enjoyed the Grilled Angus Fillet and the Rack of Lamb.
- Charolais Steakhouse – A Hickory classic since 1969 known for dry-aged, hand-cut and char-grilled steaks. We didn’t eat there but their dry Aged Ribeye, dry-aged in house a minimum of 28 Days, sounded so good!
- Mas Amor Cantina – Colorful Tex-Mex with some of the best steak fajitas I’ve ever had. Food comes with warm house made tortillas and their chips and salsa are another level. I loved all three salsas, especially the green one! My husband got the Birria Enchiladas and he loved it!
- Fourk – A new American cuisine that serves traditional itens like steaks, seafood and chicken with a twist by adding creative seasonings and sauces.
- Boca – Mediterranean food with locally sourced ingredients. You can try tapas, paellas, and other delicious looking entrees.
🍨 Desserts
- Udderly Delicious Ice Cream serves homemade ice cream made the “old fashioned way” which is by hand pouring each batch to make a super premium ice cream.
- Cafe Rule – Their popcorn ice cream is surprisingly amazing and the pumpkin cheesecake is so good.
- Carolina Crafted – Downtown local shop with candles, gifts and yummy ice cream.
- Vintage House – That Texudo Profiterole? Still dreaming about it.
WHAT TO DO IN HICKORY, NC?
1 – GO FOR A WALK ON ONE OF THE HICKORY TRAILS
Hickory Trails are 10 miles of trails across the city that provides cyclists and pedestrians safety while connecting popular destinations and amenities. It includes the City Walk, Riverwalk, Aviation Walk, Historic Ridgeview Walk, and OLLE Art Walk.
2 – PLAY PUTT-PUTT AT UDDERLY DELICIOUS ICE CREAM
Udderly delicious has a retro vibe and besides serving homemade ice cream, one of their location on Hwy 70 has pinball machines and the Moo-Moo Mini Golf, with 14 hole and costs $3 per game per person.
Besides delicious ice cream and games, they have some authentic movie props itens displayed on the wall like a life vest from “Titanic”, Tom Hanks shorts from “Cast Away” and some other cool stuff with autographs.
3 – Visit and shop at the Hickory’s Farmers Market
Hickory’s Farmers Market happens every Saturday year round at the Union Square in downtown under the sails. There you can find fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, cheese, mushrooms, candles, flowers, and more. Winter Market (Nov – Mid-Apr) Saturdays 10am – 1pm. | Regular Season (Apr-Oct) Saturdays 8am-1pm and Wednesdays 10am-2pm
4 – Visit Henry River Mill Village (The Hunger Games – Film Location)
Are you a “The Hunger Games” fan? So since you are in Hickory, go visit the movie location where some scenes of “District 12” were filmed. It’s only 10 min drive from downtown Hickory (about 6 miles). Take the guided tour (included in the price $18) to learn about the Henry River Mill village, see some filming locations and even go inside Katniss’s house. Address: 4255 Henry River Rd, Hickory – NC
5 – Visit Hart Square Village, the nation’s largest collection of historic log structures
Hart Square Village is the nation’s largest collection of historic log structures. The village was started by Dr. Robert W. Hart III. (Dr. Hart) and his wife, Becky, with a vision to instill a pioneering spirit in the next generation. Every year on the fourth Saturday in October is their Annual Living History Festival, where artisans and historic demonstrators dressed in period clothing share the craftsmanship and subsistence of the Carolina’s pioneers.Address: 5055 Hope Rd, Vale, NC (20 min / 13 miles from Hickory, NC).
6 – Spend a relaxing afternoon at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa
Located only about 20 minutes from Hickory, the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa offers public access to the award-winning Tom Jackson Golf Course, European-style Spa, and Fresh Chef Café. My husband and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary here with a Spa day, that included access to the hyrdotherapy circuit (salt water pool, waterfalls, cold plunge, indoor & outdoor jacuzzis, saunas, and steam rooms), couples massage, salt cave, lunch and chocolate covered strawberries.
7 – Shop souvenirs at one of Hickory’s local shops
Visit and shop for souvenirs at Hickory’s locally owned boutiques and shops. Get candles and bath products from Carolina Crafted in downtown. Besides handmade products they also sell ice cream! If you go there, smell their Blue Ridge Mountains candle, it’s my favorite! A charcuterie snack box from Simple Jam’s Boards is also a great gift option! And how about an adorable REAL succulent in a REAL pumpkin from Life Doesn’t Succ? Hickory is the capital furniture of the world so check out Hickory Furniture Mart to see furniture with a North Carolina pricing – with incredible discounts of 65-80% off most standard retail pricing.
More Attractions You Might Like
- Hickory Museum of Art – check out their exhibits or participate in one of their programs, classes and workshops for adults and kids. Admission is FREE with a suggested donation of $5 per person and the museum is closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Holidays. 243 Third Avenue NE, Hickory, NC
- Hickory Aviation Museum – Learn about aviation history. They are dedicated to maintaining the facts and artifacts of the Golden Age of Aviation. Admission is FREE and the museum is closed on Mondays. 3101 9th Avenue Drive NW Box 22A Hickory, NC.
- Bunker Hill Covered Bridge – one of only two original remaining covered bridges in North Carolina! Location: Highway 70, Claremont, NC
- Murray’s Mill Historic Site – See the preserved 1913 mill, the 1890s Murray & Minges General Store, the 1880s Wheathouse, used as an exhibit gallery, and the 1913 John Murray House. Take a hike or have an afternoon picnic. Admission is $7 for self-guided tour and $10 for a guided tour.
- Harper House & The Lyerly House – Harper House is considered by the North Carolina Department of Archives and History to possess “the finest Queen Anne interior styling in the entire state”, Victorian life in the South, circa 1887. The Lyerly House with its Craftsman style, offers museum exhibits on Hickory’s rich history. There’s a fee to enter the Harper House (Adult $10.00 / Ages 6-17 $8.00 / Children 5 & Under Free) but the The Lyerly House is free.
- Catawba Science Center – Hands-on exhibits, fresh and saltwater aquarium galleries, digital planetarium theater, and to learn about the butterfly life cycle at the butterfly nursery. Adult $12.00 / Youth (3-17): $10.00 / Children (2 & under): FREE. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Lowes Foods City Park – Interactive playground right in downtown Hickory. Take the kids to explore, play and learn at the interactive water feature and the music instruments. Admission is FREE. 306 Main Avenue NW, Hickory, NC.
- Emerald Hollow Mine – The only Emerald Mine in the world open to the public for prospecting. Come and explore the mine and maybe find a rare gemstone. Clique here for pricing and options. 484 Emerald Hollow Mine Dr., Hiddenite, NC
- Lake Hickory, Bakers Mountain Park, Mountain Creek Park
- Hickory Motor Speedway – For NASCAR lovers! “The World’s Most Famous Short Track” and the “Birthplace of the NASCAR Stars“. Tickets are $14 Adults, $12 Kids 13 and up and Seniors, and FREE for kids 12 and under (Ticket prices varies by event). 3130 Highway 70 Southeast, Newton, NC 28658 Interstate-40 – Exit 128
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re planning a weekend escape or road-tripping through North Carolina, Hickory is a hidden gem worth adding to your list. Be sure to follow @visithickorymetro for updates and check their official website for events and tips!
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Tag your adventures with #myhky #hickorymetrofun and let me know your favorite spot in town!
