Things to Do in Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville Things To Do

Fayetteville blends historical small-town charm with a creative streak that embraces the performing and visual arts. It’s also home to Ft. Bragg, one of the largest army installations in the country. Here’s some advice from other travelers about things to do in Fayetteville.

Downtown Fayetteville Architecture

Downtown may be only one of Fayetteville’s nine carefully preserved architectural districts, but it’s the perfect place to take an informal architecture walk and marvel at the beautiful old homes and churches (and the gorgeous stained glass windows).  A must-see is the old Market House, one of only 50 National Landmarks in the state.

Airborne & Special Operations Museum

Fayetteville is home to Ft. Bragg and the 82^nd Airborne Division. The Airborne & Special Operations Museum near Ft. Bragg brings alive the heroic exploits of soldiers. The museum tells the history of the 82nd Airborne Division from 1917 to present. An exclusive motion simulator shows modern Airborne Troops in action, and is an educational and moving experience for visitors of all ages and interests. You can spend several hours looking at the displays.

The Great Outdoors

The Cape Fear River Trail is a paved greenway trail running along the Cape Fear River from Clark Park to Jordan Soccer Complex. The trail is part of the East Coast Greenway that stretches from Florida to Maine, with a four-mile stretch in Fayetteville. Despite being an urban trail, it passes through marshy areas and mixed hardwood/pine forests and supports a large diversity of plant and wildlife. There are also several bridges, including a covered bridge that passes under a railroad trestle.

Cape Fear Botanical Gardens is a private garden founded by gardening enthusiasts in the Fayetteville area. The gardens are separated into two parts – cultivated and not. The cultivated section has several different gardens, such as the Shade Garden, featuring shade-friendly plants such as hostas, and the Butterfly Stroll, featuring plants that attract butterflies. The non-cultivated section has a few trails leading through a flood plain forest along the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek.

The Fayetteville Museum of Art has a nice pond where you can feed the ducks and enjoy the short walking path. Admission is free but donations are accepted.

Adventure

If you’re in the mood to go horseback riding, head to the Ft. Bragg Riding Stables. You have to call ahead to schedule a time for the 45-minute guided ride. There are several sessions during the day; plan to arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled tour. The stables also offer open riding and hayrides.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in Fayetteville.