A day trip to Asheboro, beyond the zoo

Whether you’re already planning a trip to hit the North Carolina Zoo to watch monkeys dangle from trees, giraffes roam or spot exotic animals ... or just looking for an easy day trip, Asheboro — only 75 miles west of Raleigh in the Uwharrie Mountains — offers an easy jaunt and plenty of play to entertain. (And we already told you to try the Chicago-style hot dogs you can find in Asheboro.)

So there’s more to Asheboro than the zoo. (But the NC Zoo was scheduled to welcome Dembe, a 5-year-old lowland gorilla who was coming from a zoo in Colorado. Maybe you can squeeze in a stop at the zoo.)

Here are 10 places you’ll want to make the trip to Asheboro for.

Richland Creek Canopy Tours

Want more wilderness with a side of thrill? Just three miles from the zoo, soar through the foothills via this 14-station zipline (1.5-plus miles of cable).

NC Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame

Take your day trip to new heights (get it?) at this home to historic “Flitfire” (that Orville Wright flew) — a treasure trove of all things aviation (think artifacts, war memorabilia and more).

American Classic Motorcycle Museum

Hog heaven? Maybe. Hog fans will want to save time for a stop in the American Classic Motorcycle Museum (a small spot above a local diner), with a display old Harleys and plenty of moto memorabilia to boot.

Four Saints Brewing Company

Belly up at this local brewhouse that’s “making great beer for great people since 2015,” with up to 15 beers on tap and recent winner of four NC Brewers’ Cup medals.

Pottery

If glaze ’n’ kiln is your thing, Seagrove (about 9 miles south of the zoo) is a potter’s paradise, home to the nation’s largest community of potters. Literally sitting at the end of the “Pottery Highway” (NC 705) that runs from Pinehurst to Seagrove, the Seagrove section is a must visit when nearby, whether its Seagove Creations Pottery Gallery, North Carolina Pottery Center, Jugtown Potteryand more. @ncpotterycenter

Antiques

If you dig antiques or X, hit up “favorite antique store” Collector’s Antique Mall in the heart of downtown Asheboro, 35,000 square feet of 100 dealers’ vast collections of antiques and collectibles; or if hidden flea-market gems are more your speed, stop in Flea Marketeers.

Pisgah Covered Bridge

Both a local and federal historic landmark, this wooden covered bridge that spans the west fork of the Little River is one of two remaining North Carolina covered bridges.

This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 12:00 AM.