20 Best Things to Do in Hickory, NC: Art, Lakes, Furniture
Hickory rarely shows up on a first-time North Carolina itinerary, and that’s a good reason to look closer. This foothills city has a free art museum, a four-level furniture showroom famous across the South, about 105 miles of lake shoreline and minor league baseball at friendly prices. It’s also a smart base, with the mountains close enough for a day trip.
The short answer: the best things to do in Hickory, NC are visiting the SALT Block museums, shopping at the Hickory Furniture Mart, catching a Crawdads game, getting out on Lake Hickory, walking the Hickory Trail, and hiking Bakers Mountain.
Hickory is a practical town, so this guide sticks to what’s worth your time. If you only do one unusual thing, make it #18, a stop that movie fans will recognize right away.
1. See American Art for Free at the Hickory Museum of Art
At 243 3rd Avenue NE in the SALT Block, the Hickory Museum of Art holds more than 2,000 works focused on American art from the 19th to 21st centuries. Admission is free, which makes it an easy decision. You don’t always expect this quality in a city this size.
2. Get Hands-On at the Catawba Science Center
Sharing the SALT Block with the art museum, the Catawba Science Center has hands-on exhibits, live animal encounters, an aquarium and a planetarium. Listed admission is $10 for adults and $8 for kids. If you belong to a science or children’s museum back home, ask about reciprocal admission.
3. Wander Union Square
Union Square is the center of downtown, with restaurants, boutiques and events. It also hosts a farmers market, listed on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in season. Bisque Boutique lets you paint your own pottery, and Tastebuds Popcorn has more than 70 flavors, so kids will have opinions.
4. Shop the Hickory Furniture Mart
Hickory’s reputation was built on furniture, and this is the place to see why. The Hickory Furniture Mart at 2220 Highway 70 SE spreads over four levels, with more than 1,000 brands from luxury lines to outlet deals. Even if you’re just browsing, it’s worth seeing. Design appointments are available if you’re seriously shopping.
5. Catch a Crawdads Game
The Hickory Crawdads, a High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, play at L.P. Frans Stadium from April to September. Minor league baseball is about cheap seats, silly promotions and a relaxed evening with the family, and this is a great place to enjoy all three.
6. Feel the Speed at Hickory Motor Speedway
Built in 1951 in nearby Newton, Hickory Motor Speedway is a short track that hosts club and touring races for much of the year. It’s a chance to see racing up close without the crowds of the big tracks. Check the schedule, and bring ear protection for the kids.
7. Walk the Hickory Trail
The city has been building an impressive network of walking paths. The Hickory Trail runs for about 10 miles on 10-foot-wide paths, including City Walk, the Riverwalk, Aviation Walk, Historic Ridgeview Walk and OLLE Art Walk. Choose a section and walk it, because each has a different feel.
8. Cross the Water on the Riverwalk
The Riverwalk is the most scenic section of the trail, running for about 2.3 miles through Geitner Park with an overwater bridge along Lake Hickory. It’s an easy, pretty walk that doesn’t take much planning. Visit Hickory also suggests Geitner Park as a good spot for a picnic.
9. Get Out on Lake Hickory
With about 105 miles of shoreline, 16 boat launches and six full-service marinas, Lake Hickory is the region’s summer playground. Rent a boat at a spot like Lakeside Marina, or bring a kayak or paddleboard. Fishing is popular here too, so check the state’s license rules before you cast.
10. Hike Bakers Mountain
At 6680 Bakers Mountain Road, Bakers Mountain Park covers 189 acres with about six miles of trails, and it’s home to the highest point in Catawba County at 1,780 feet. You get a good workout close to town, without the longer drive to the bigger mountains. Check park hours before you go.
11. Step Back in Time at Hart Square Village
Hart Square Village preserves more than 100 log structures from the 19th-century Southern Appalachians. It isn’t an everyday walk-in attraction in the usual sense, so look up current events and classes before you plan your visit. If the timing works, it’s one of the most unusual places in the region.
12. Tour the Harper House
The Hickory History Center is based at the Harper House at 310 North Center Street, where guided tours take you through a Victorian-era home. The most recent listing shows $12 for adults, $8 for ages 6 to 14, and free for children 5 and under, with tours Thursday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but listings differ, so confirm before you go. It’s a short, enjoyable look at the city’s past.
13. Explore the Hickory Aviation Museum
The Hickory Aviation Museum at 821 21st Street NW has exhibits spanning World War II to the present, and a new hangar opened in 2026. Admission is $10 for ages 13 to 64 and $5 for veterans and seniors, while children 12 and under and active-duty military get in free. It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
14. Find the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge
Just east of town at 4160 US 70 in Claremont, the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is one of only two remaining covered bridges in North Carolina. A half-mile loop on the Carolina Thread Trail connects to it, so you can make a short walk of it. It’s especially lovely in the fall.
15. Go on a Mural Hunt
Downtown has a growing collection of public art, and you can find murals at 117 Government Avenue SW, 234 Union Square and 241 1st Avenue NW. The city’s website has more. It’s a cheap and easy way to see downtown at your own pace, and a nice one to do with a camera.
16. Let the Kids Loose at City Park
At 300 to 326 Main Avenue NW, Lowes Foods City Park has a splash pad and a playground right downtown, which makes it the perfect stop on a hot afternoon. It’s also close to food and coffee, so the adults get a break too.
17. Eat and Drink Local
Barbecue fans can head to Cranford Brothers Barbecue, and Standard Oyster Company and Fourk are listed as good picks for dinner. For a casual meal or a drink, try Olde Hickory Station or City Walk Brewing and Distilling at 205 Main Avenue NE. Restaurants change, so check hours before you go.
18. Visit Henry River Mill Village
About 10 minutes from town in Hildebran, the Henry River Mill Village is a restored textile mill town that doubled as District 12 in the first Hunger Games movie. Run as a nonprofit, it offers tours and has a renovated mill house you can rent. Book a tour, because this is private, not a place to wander on your own.
19. Hike to High Shoals Falls
About 40 minutes away, South Mountains State Park has 40 miles of hiking trails and the 80-foot High Shoals Falls. It’s one of the great waterfall hikes in the Piedmont foothills. Wear good shoes, as there are stairs and rocks along the way, and check park alerts before you go.
20. Day Trip to Morganton and Table Rock
Around 30 minutes west, Morganton is a good gateway to Table Rock and Linville Gorge, and it’s also home to Fonta Flora Brewery. This is rugged country, and it was affected by Hurricane Helene, so check with the Forest Service on road and trail access first. If you like hot air balloons, look up the Carolina BalloonFest in nearby Statesville every October.
Best Free Things to Do in Hickory
Hickory is easy on the wallet. The Hickory Museum of Art is free, and so are the Hickory Trail, the Riverwalk, the murals, City Park’s splash pad, and a look at the Bunker Hill Covered Bridge. Browsing the Furniture Mart won’t cost anything either, as long as you can keep your hands off the sofas.
When to Visit Hickory and How Long to Stay
Late spring through early fall gives you baseball and the lake. Fall brings cooler walks and easy trips to see the color in the mountains, and winter is a good time for museums and furniture shopping. A weekend covers the city well. Add a third day for South Mountains or the drive toward Linville Gorge.
Where to next? For salt air instead of foothills, try our guide to Beaufort on the North Carolina coast. You can also browse our North Carolina guides or all our travel guides on Decidel.
How we checked this guide: hours, fees and rules were checked against published sources in November 2026. Some details come from travel guides and can change, so confirm with the venue before you go.
