Field Trips Around NC

Homeschool Field Trips Around North Carolina

Field trips with a group or just your family are a memorable way to learn in North Carolina. Homeschoolers often can get group discounts or special rates. Be sure to ask about a teacher’s discount and take your Homeschool verification with you!

Feel free to share your favorite NC Field Trips with us here in the comments, or message me with field trips that you want me to include here and I will add a link!

Places to Visit…People to See…Things to Do

Field Trip Ideas

Places to See Around NC

• Alamance - Alamance Battleground
• Apple Store Tour-

  Field Trips are open to K-12 students and teachers. Each Field Trip can accommodate up to 25 students. Click the link to request a date and time, and an Apple Specialist will call back to confirm with you. Field Trips last 60 to 90 minutes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow for setup. To schedule more time, contact a Specialist at your local Apple Store. To cancel, please contact your Apple Store at least three days in advance.

• Burke - Me, You & Some Glue-

  Art, classes and field trips. Call 828-433-7000 or EMAIL for information. Visit their website for class schedules

• Carteret - NC Aquarium-

  Pine Knoll Shores

• Catawba - Hickory Art Museum-

  Visits - changing exhibitions, folk art, art classes

• Catawba Science Center-

  Homeschool classes for K-12, visits, tech club, butterfly habitat, etc.

• Cherokee - Deep Creek Tubing-

  Special Group Rates Available - Contact Us for Reservations by phone at (828) 488-2587. Located immediately outside the entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park Q Deep Creek camping area. Look for the gazebo on the left before entering the park.

• Cherokee - Shook’s Marina-

  Located on beautiful Lake Hiwassee just 11 miles from Murphy NC. The lake is a world class fishing destination and home to the second largest WORLD RECORD striped bass ever caught in fresh water.  Located in the Nantahala National Forest this homeschool field trip can include fishing, boating, hiking in nature or other fun activities with pontoon boat rentals & pedal boat rentals. Reservations for pontoon boat rentals are suggested but not required. For more information call (828) 837-2863 or EMAIL HERE

   

• Columbus - NC Science Museum, Whiteville-

  Teen Science Cafe is at 415 South Madison Street, Whiteville, NC 28472, for more information about programs, call 910-914-4185 or EMAIL.

• Craven - Firemen's Museum-

  Fire fighting equipment from the 1800 to 1900's - other exhibits

• Craven - Tryon Palace-

  North Carolina's First Capitol

• Dare - NC Aquarium
• Davidson - Level Up Fitness - Classes & Field Trips - Group Rate Offered-

  Visit the website to see all this facility offers.  Level up Fitness is located at 117 - F Liberty Drive in Thomasville, NC 27360 EMAIL or call 336 - 781 - 6512 for more information about homeschool group rates & scheduling a field trip visit.

• Durham - Bennett Place-

  Site of confederate surrender of the southern armies of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

• Forsyth - Bethabara Park-

  Historic Moravian settlement - restored exhibits and rein-actors.

• Forsyth - Children's Museum
• Forsyth - Delta Arts Center-

  Art Gallery - revolving exhibits

• Forsyth - Korner's Folly-

  An architectural wonder and fun trip!

• Forsyth - Museum of Anthropology-

  Excellent homeschool activities for multiple ages

• Forsyth - New Winston Museum-

  History, Art - monthly salons and other events.

• Forsyth - Old Salem-

  Great Historical site - special events in the fall, at Christmas, and spring days - homeschool days and summer activities.

• Forsyth - Peppercorn Theatre-

  Kids shows

• Forsyth - Reynolda House-

  American Art - lot of educational programs - super homeschool friendly

• Forsyth - SciWorks-

  Lots of hands-on exhibits

• Forsyth - SE Center for Contemporary Art
• Forsyth - Twin City Stage-

  Children's shows.

• Franklin - Cowee Mt. Ruby Mine-

  Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine - visit the website for group information & prices Admission is free. Closed Jan. & Feb. Open, March - November from 9am - 5 PM ,7 days a week. Closed Thanksgiving. Located at 6771 Sylva Road in Franklin, North Carolina 28734. Call 828-369-5271 or  EMAIL

• Guilford - Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum-

  Founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, Palmer Memorial Institute transformed the lives of more than 2,000 African American students. Today, the campus provides the setting where visitors can explore this unique environment where boys and girls lived and learned during the greater part of the 20th century. The museum links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African American history, women's history, social history, and education, emphasizing the contributions African Americans made in North Carolina.

• Guilford - Greensboro Science Center-

  Groups of 10 or more $11.50 +tax per person. Schedule 2 weeks in advance.

• Guilford - Group Ice Skating-

  Public skating schedule and pricing for groups of 10 or more.

• Harnett - Cape Fear Botanical Garden-

  Student field trips and tours - homeschool friendly visit!

• Haywood - Cataloochee Ski Area & Tube World-

  Open November - March, & using one of the most advanced snow-making systems in the Southeast on 16 lighted slopes, 5 lifts including 3 moving carpet lifts, and 4,000 sets of snow sports equipment. Cataloochee offers a PSIA AASI member Snowsports School for all ages and abilities and Children’s Learning Center for kids ages 4-12. Groups of 15 or more receive free beginner lessons when renting equipment. A cozy fireplace, restaurant and lounge. A day at Tube World brings memories of childhood sled rides rushing back. Tube World opens mid Dec. & Kids of all ages enjoy tubing, perfect for a family or group outing. No walking up; step on our carpet lift & let it do the work. Must be 42 inches tall. Only Tube World equipment may be used. No two-person tubing allowed. Please remember tubing is on a first come basis. Sessions are one hour and 45 minutes long & run every two hours. Homeschoolers get special discounted rates for day skiing. See "Homeschool Days" on the website for details. Located at 1080 Ski Lodge Road, Maggie Valley, North Carolina 28751 you can call  (828) 926-0285 or Toll Free 1- 800 - 768 - 0285  or EMAIL HERE. 

• Jackson - Pinnacle Park-

  A wonderful Homeschool field trip - tak e a hike on the 3.37-mile trail to The Pinnacle. The trail follows an old logging road and reaching the actual Pinnacle requires locating and following the narrow trail through the rhododendron bushes at what appears to be the end of the line - but keep going & the short, rocky trail leads to the actual Pinnacle, which offers panoramic views of Sylva and the Scotts Creek valley. Open year round on Fisher Creek Road in Sylva, North Carolina 28779. Call for more details at 800-962-1911 or EMAIL

   

   

• Macon - Scottish Tartans Museum-

  According to the Governor's Office, North Carolina has more residents of Scottish heritage than any other state in the union (Alabama is second, with Georgia being third). North Carolina even has more Scots than Scotland. The mountains of western North Carolina are home to many descendants of Scots Irish migrants. Franklin is centrally located between two of the largest and most prestigious gatherings of Scottish families in North America -- the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in Linville, NC and the Stone Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of the Clans in Stone Mountain, GA.

  Call for group information: (828) 524-7472 Located at 86 E Main St. Franklin, NC, 28734. Museum Hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM, Closed Sunday & Monday. Admission Fees: Adult $4.00 plus tax & 12 and under $2.00 plus tax Children 6 & under are free.

• Mecklenburg - Homeschool Teen Adventure Group-

  Secular Homeschool group for teens - events and activities group.

• Mecklenburg - Huntersville - Latta Nature & Outdoor Learning Center-

  Latta Nature Center always has great programs (some free & some have a small fee)  available for home educated kids to benefit from - hiking, learning about reptiles and other animals. Check out their page on "Meetups" to see what is on the homeschool schedule that is FREE.

• Mecklenburg - Latta Homeschoolers-

  Join our group to stay updated on all the current homeschool programs happening at Latta Plantation Nature Center in Huntersville, NC. We'll share free and low-cost programs for children and families ages 2 and up. We offer science classes, hiking clubs, outdoor adventure, nature exploration, summer day camp and more! Be sure to call the nature center at 704-875-1391 to sign up for any programs you want to attend.

• Mecklenburg - NASCAR Hall of Fame Homeschool Days-

  The NASCAR Hall of Fame located in Charlotte North Carolina is revving up its education programming by offering Home School Days on select Tuesdays throughout the year. On Sept. 18, join us for a day filled with NASCAR-themed workshops. Our education team will be on hand to make sure activities—and state and national learning standards—stay on track. Also special teacher days & field trips for groups.

• Museum of Life & Science-

  Homeschool groups of 10 or more get group rates of $10-14 per person (1 free chaperone per 15 students)  depending on programs you pick - field trips, programs STEM Days, train rides - it doesn't get any better than this!

• NC Museum of History Groups-

  Free group tours or self guided tours - Raleigh

• NC Museum of Natural Sciences-

  Info here for three different locations and events - Raleigh, Prairie Ridge and Whiteville, NC

• NC Transportation Museum-

  Homeschool Day in the Spring and Teacher Appreciation Day in the Summer...other special events throughout the year.

• New Hanover - Cape Fear Museum-

  1st Sunday is Free day for New Hanover residents

• New Hanover - NC Aquarium-

  NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach NC - North Carolina home-school groups, are admitted free if registered in advance. For more information regarding Home School visits, please contact the Registrar atncaff.registrar@ncaquariums.com or call 910 - 772-0542.

• New Hanover County - DefyGravity Wilmington: $5 OFF for Homeschoolers-

  $8 per jumper through the New Hanover County School Year for homeschoolers (June 7th for 2018). For Groups of 10+ they will work with homeschool groups on using their party area and bringing in your own refreshments etc. You need to call Justin Hosler at 940-232-5266 for details or to work out specials.

• North Carolina Zoo-

  FREE admission for NC Home Schools if your NC Home School is registered with the State. Admission is free for students K-12 and one educator. Additional adults and children pay the regular admission rate as posted at the gate. To register (15 days notice) call 336-879-7700 or 1-800-488-0444 x7700. Home Schools must make individual reservations, not as a group, may call beginning August 22, 2016 to complete a reservation and must comply to the same policies as any other NC School.

• Orange, Durham - Moorehead Planetarium-

  Many different science programs - several permanent exhibits and planetarium shows.

• Rowan - NC Transportation Museum-

  Special rates for homeschool day in the spring - train and turntable ride included in admission

• Rutherford - Chimney Rock-

  Homeschool Fall & Spring dates, field trips and educational programs.

• Stokes - Horne Creek Living Historical Farm-

  Free (except for special events) 308 Horne Creek Farm Road, Pinnacle, N.C. 27043. Call 336-325-2298 or email hornecreek@ncdcr.gov

• Swain - Nantahala Gorge Ruby Mine-

  A favorite activity in the area for adults and children. Professional gem stone consultation available onsite. Rain or shine, as we have a covered sluice. No entrance fee. Professional gem stone evaluation and cutting is available onsite through our gemologist, Gene Elliott. Gene has received local and national recognition for his honesty, fairness and expert craftsmanship.

  Nantahala Gorge Ruby Mine Hours & Seasons: Mid May - mid October Located at 11900 US Hwy. 19/74 West in Bryson City, NC 28713. Call for group information at (828) 488-3854

• Triad Area - TACKS - Triad Area Catholic Activity Group-

  TACKS is a casual group for Triad Area, Catholic families who want to connect with like-minded friends and do great family activities. You can post things here that are family friendly that are coming up. AND you should indicate if you're planning on going, so people can jump on the bandwagon if they'd like to join you. So, it's a place to find local opportunities and a place to create "planned" or last minute outings. Note: A lot of us are home schoolers, so some of the posts may take an educational/field trip bent, but anyone is invited. New members should PM me with a request to tell me how they are connected to this area/community so we don't get any "creepers".

• Triangle Rock Climbing-

  Special homeschool days and rates for homeschool groups!

• Tweetsie Railroad-

  Educational Programs for groups available - other special events available

• Wake - Raleigh NC Museum of Art-

  FREE Admission except for special exhibits - Located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh NC 27067, the museum has a cafe' a park/outdoor art area and wonderful exhibits. For information visit the website or call  (919) 839-6262

• Wake - Raleigh NC Museum of History-

  FREE - Located at 5 East Edenton Street in Raleigh, North Carolina 27601, open Monday–Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m. , Call 919-807-7900 with Questions.

• Wake - Raleigh NC Museum of Natural Sciences-

  FREE entry (except for special exhibits) Located at 11 West Jones Street in Raleigh, NC 27601  Call (919) 707 - 9800 , Open Monday—Saturday: 9am—5pm and Sunday, noon—5pm

• Wake County - Ken's Korny Corn Maze-

  September - November - miles of corn maze, lots of activities -  groups must include at least 20 paying participants, teacher & assistant are free. Call 919- 779-4765 with questions, or schedule your trip online at the website.

• Wake County - Marbles Kid Museum-

  Group discounts for homeschool trips: Located at 201 East Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601, Call: 919-834-4040

• Wake, Guilford - European Medieval Art of Arms-

  Schools in Holly Springs and Cary - 30 day free trial. Also (Greensboro Classes) Instruction in medieval combat, Fencing, Sword/Stage Combat. Lectures, or combat demonstration from their knights for special events, schools, or festivals in combat and duels from the crusades, hundred years war, Renaissance, or any combination thereof, suitable for all ages. Combat Seminars in North Carolina - one-day seminar around sword, rapier, pike, sword & shield, or any other weapon we teach. Group rates are available for organizations. Equipment sales - they sell authentic armor, weapons, clothing and equipment.

• Watauga County - French-Swiss Ski College-

  Skiing & Snowboarding - Reserve 1 week ahead of time. Call or  EMAIL to ask pricing for Homeschool Days t or call 828-295-9311 to make reservations & let them know amount of people in your group, level of lessons etc.

• Wilson - Imagination Station-

  Admission Costs Adults & Children: $5 plus tax, museum members and children three & under are FREE. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. 224 Nash Street E, Wilson NC. for questions call 252- 291-5113.