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Photo Gallery You might not think of Rocky Mount as a destination for your travels, but in terms of a day trip — particularly if you’re with children — or a perfect place to entertain your kids on a drive up north, the town has just what you’re looking for.
Rocky Mount is about four miles off of I-95, making it an excellent place to stop and give your restless kids something to do with their energy. From Camp Lejeune, it’s located about half-way to Washington, D.C. and a third of the way to New York City.
The first place you need to visit is the Imperial Centre on 270 Gay St. The name hardly implies all that is there; inside is an interactive children’s museum and science center, arts center, performing arts theater, live animal gallery, planetarium, and an education center where a number of free and low-cost community arts classes take place regularly.
The building is a kind of cultural complex that used to be a combination of smaller structures, such as the old tobacco factory and the old library — a merging that attempts to preserve Rocky Mount’s past.
“You not only get to come and see the arts and sciences, you get a bit of history too,” said Arts and Education Coordinator Katherine Coulter.
The Children’s Museum and Science Center comprises two levels of interactive activities — specifically of interest is the drama theatre on the second floor, where children can try on a number of theatrical costumes and put on their own show on a mini-stage.
The planetarium is also notable. “It’s the only digital planetarium in North Carolina,” said Coulter. This means that the planetarium can link with satellites and Hubble telescopes to give an extremely accurate picture of the night sky.
And although other living animal galleries might be bigger, Rocky Mount’s has embedded cameras in the exhibits. Visitors can move the cameras with joysticks in order to get a bigger picture of the featured creature.
“It provides a great way to learn,” said Coulter.
For more information on ongoing events and hours, call 252-972-1266. Admission to the arts center is free; the children’s museum and science center costs $4 for adults and $3 for children age 3-15 and senior citizens age 60 and up. Both museums are free on Wednesdays from 2 - 5 p.m.
While Rocky Mount has little in the way of high-profile restaurants, there are a few quality finds here nestled among the bigger chains. One is Cuvee, located in a non-descript strip mall on 2921 Zebulon Rd. behind the Sunset Avenue McDonalds.
Cuvee is an adorable combination café and bakery with a sizeable wine selection. Sandwiches and salads are homemade; the restaurant also offers pastries, Italian-style gelato and sorbet and freshly-ground fair-trade coffee for dining in or prepackaged whole beans to go.
You could also head to Chico’s Mexican Restaurant located in the Power Plant building on 1701 Sunset Ave. They’ve got what you’d expect — traditional Mexican fare such as enchiladas, chimichangas, burritos and fajitas — and it’s all surprisingly well-prepared. The décor is bright and vivid but not garish, and the outside terrace overlooking the Tar River is rather pretty. If you’re there on the third Thursday of every month, you might catch the Laff Trax Comedy Network, which showcases top comics from across the country. Shows are free and begin at 9 p.m.
If the weather is right, head to Battle Park before you leave; it’s conveniently located right next to the I-95 ramp. The park is comprised of 57 acres and located at the Tar River falls, where aboriginal hunters once roamed, and the Tuscarora Indian Tribe hunted and fished.
The Park includes scenic overlooks of the Tar River, three picnic shelters, a gazebo, fishing piers and a boat ramp. It also contains a cemetery with markers dating before the Civil War. The Confederate Monument on the edge of the park was built in 1917 in memory of Nash County soldiers known as “The Bethel Heroes.”
Although Rocky Mount might not be your ultimate destination, when you’re back in the car, you’ll appreciate it as a low-key town with hidden treasures — especially when your children are sleepily worn out from their antics at the children’s museum.
Amy Segreti is the Carolina Living Editor and welcomes feedback at amy.segreti@militarynews.com.
