Spend A Day With Kids In Wilson, North Carolina
Saturday morning, a clear weather forecast, & the open road. What a time to be alive!
My daughters & I have a list of home-state attractions we’d like to see. It was surely time to check off another one, so we headed to Wilson, North Carolina to explore for a day. Staying true to our overachieving ways, we had lots of activities in mind. We managed to complete some of them & then added an unexpected stop.
Our drive was just shy of two hours. We left early which meant minimal traffic. Perfection.
First on the list was the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum. What a cool place! Although the sun sat high & humidity made itself known, a nice breeze filled the air. The more wind, the more whirligig action!
We explored the park for a while learning about the individual creations & other events that take place on site. We also headed across the street to the dedicated museum. Entrance is free & although small in size, there’s a lot to learn & a gift shop to browse.
I have a full article dedicated to the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum on WRAL.com. Read it here!
Next, we walked a couple of blocks to the Imagination Station Science & History Museum. The first one we ever visited is in Toledo, Ohio. That was a few years ago but you can see some of our visit here.
The Wilson museum is much smaller but we still had fun. There are three floors open to visitors. We learned about everything from recycling to vaccine history, played air instruments, rock climbed, & played games. We also raced cheetahs, gorillas, & got up close & personal with other animals.
You’ll have to watch the vlog to see us in action. If you subscribe to our channel, you’ll get a notification when the vlog goes live. Subscribing is free & we have many more adventures to come!
Lastly, we strolled through the historic downtown area. The decision to walk instead of drive was definitely the right one. The small town vibes & architecture made us feel far from home. It satisfied our adventurous yearnings. Along the way, we also came across an art studio & briefly stepped inside.
A cozy coffee shop & colorful local businesses lined the streets. To our surprise, one of the owners has ties back in our area. It’s a small world indeed! Her name is Amanda Duncan. She’s the owner of The Selkie, a shop full of eclectic pieces & handmade jewelry. Amanda is also the artist behind the State of North Carolina mural pictured in our photos.
During our next visit, we’ll check out the places we didn’t get to & add a dining experience to the itinerary. I asked a few locals for recommendations & they didn’t disappoint. My girls & I love to eat good food.
Wilson, N.C. won us over. The people we met, connections we made, & activity options have us excited to return. It’s a small city, but colorful & welcoming. We hope to attend some upcoming events in the near future.
As with most places we visit, there will be a part two. We’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Have you visited Wilson & any of the locations above? What other places would you suggest we visit there?
Watch the vlog:
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum
301 Goldsboro St S
Wilson, NC 27893
https://www.wilsonwhirligigpark.org/
Imagination Station Science & History Museum
224 Nash St SE
Wilson, NC 27893
https://scienceandhistory.org