Wake Forest is a little town in North Carolina in the United States of America. Little-known to many travelers, Wake Forest has a lot to offer for such a small town! Wake Forest is a proud university city and as such there are bars and cafes full of cool students for you to meet and get the best local information from.
Wake Forest can be found tucked away north of North Carolina’s state capital Raleigh. Home to just 30,000 people, the town has a homely and welcoming atmosphere about the place. Wake Forest sprawls across Wake County and Franklin County; although, unsurprisingly, the majority of the town can be found in Wake County.
Although small, Wake Forest is a destination worthy of your visit. With plenty of walks and hiking trails to explore, there are a great many places to see both in the town itself and a little further afield.
1. Smith Creek Park
Smith Creek Park is a popular spot for families and sporty youngsters from Wake Forest. The park is 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from Chick-fil-A on Forestville Road, approximately 2 minutes by car. Smith Creek Park sees local soccer teams come together at the weekends to train and practice their skills. Smith Creek Park is at the very heart of Wake Forest, both in terms of location and within the community.
Smith Creek Park is not only a soccer field but also offers a children’s playground too, with slides and swings. The parklands are very well kept, and you seldom see litter lying around. For those planning a social occasion, Smith Creek Park offers picnic tables and benches that are free to use and a charcoal barbecue grill area too. Going for a quiet picnic with your loved ones is one of the best things to do around Wake Forest.
Smith Creek Park
Address: Smith Creek Park, Wake Forest, NC
Website: Smith Creek Park
2. Stand-up paddle boarding
Editor’s note: establishment is permanently closed
Paddle Creek offers great waterborne activities for a very reasonable price and with the utmost professionalism. Paddleboarding on Paddle Creek is one of the best things to do close to Wake Forest. Never heard of it before? Allow us to explain - you stand up on a surf-board-like board and use a long paddle to navigate through the water.
On placid water, paddling is very easy but when the wind picks up, you’ll have to test your balancing skills! Paddle Creek also offers kayaking and canoeing trips and experiences too. If you’re not feeling active, sign up for one of their wonderful boating trips and enjoy the water at full ease! From here, The Factory is 5.9 mi (9.5 km) and a 9-minute drive away.
Paddle Creek
Address: 9601 Capital Blvd, Wake Forest, NC 27587, United States
Website: Paddle Creek
3. Hill Ridge Farms
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Among the fun things to do near Wake Forest is visiting Hill Ridge Farms, which can be found on Tarboro Road. Hill Ridge Farms is a novelty day out that mostly has the little ones in mind, however, if you unleash your inner child we’re sure you’ll have a great day here too! The mini-train rides are possibly the highlight of any trip to Hill Ridge Farms or perhaps the hayrides that they offer.
Hill Ridge Farms offers you fun on the farm! Meet their resident goats and kids can even pet them too! The jumping pillow is great fun, a giant trampoline that sees you fly high into the sky with every bounce! If you’re interested in agricultural history, check out their old-fashioned machinery and farming equipment. From Wake Forest Museum, this attraction is just a 10-minute drive away.
Hill Ridge Farms
Address: 703 Tarboro Rd, Youngsville, NC 27596
Website: Hill Ridge Farms
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4. The Factory
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by The Factory on Thursday, May 30, 2019
The Factory falls on the Franklin side of Wake Forest town and is in fact often referred to as The Factory at Franklin to avoid confusion. The Factory at Franklin is an indoor activity centre that this time, we promise, genuinely has something for the adults too, unlike Hill Ridge Farms! The Factory at Franklin offers fun, shopping, and food - what more could you want?
The Factory at Franklin has a really cool trampoline court where you can test out your gymnastics skills with no fear of falling! The Factory also has an arcade hall filled with all your favorite arcade games and vintage machines. After a long day of playing and messing around, head to the on-site restaurants: you have Saffire, Funk Seoul Brother, and Five Daughters Bakery to choose from, plus much more! The arcade is 0.4 miles (0.64 km) from the nearest Wendy’s, which is an 8-minute walk in the same street.
The Factory
Address: 1839 S Main St, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Website: The Factory
5. Wake Forest Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Repairs are underway at the Calvin Jones House. We can't wait to see the new porch and roof!
Posted by Wake Forest Museum on Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Wake Forest Museum is a great little museum to check out if you’re interested in finding out more about this small town’s big history. The Wake Forest Museum can be found in the centre of town, on North Main Street. It hosts a range of events throughout the year, so be sure to check out their website so you don’t miss anything exciting while you’re in town!
Wake Forest Museum runs on donations, and to help keep the museum alive, you can buy a brick that they will have engraved with a message of your choice, which will be laid down in the entrance courtyard to the museum itself. A nice ‘I was here’ memento, and it supports this great local organization too! Wake Forest Museum is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 9 am until 4:30 pm. The gallery is a 15-minute walk (0.7 mi/1.12 km) from Domino’s Pizza on South Main Street.
Wake Forest Museum
Address: 414 N Main St, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Website: Wake Forest Museum
6. Falls Lake State Recreation Area
The Falls Lake State Recreation Area is a great place to visit once you have covered everything there is to see within the Wake Forest town limits. The Falls Lake State Recreation Area as you may have guessed by its name is an area designed for the community of Wake Forest to relax and partake in leisurely activities such as walking, cycling and camping.
The Falls Lake State Recreation Area is open the year round but is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Many people choose to camp here and there are over 300 plots available, so there’s always plenty of space. You can also park your RV at Falls Lake State Recreation Area and there are all the amenities you may need provided for you.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area
Address: 13304 Creedmoor Rd, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Website: Falls Lake State Recreation Area
7. White Street Brewing Co.
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
White Street Brewing Co. claim to make ‘big town beer with a small town soul’. An incredibly popular tipple with locals, you may find yourself stocking up on White Street Brewing Co’s best beers before you leave little Wake Forest! White Street Brewing Co. make both larger and beers and aim to make the most authentic, great tasting booze in town! The establishment is a minute’s walk from Domino’s Pizza on the same street.
White Street Brewing Co.
Address: 218 S White St, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Website: White Street Brewing Co.
Wander in to Wake Forest
It may seem like Wake Forest is a sleepy little town hidden away in North Carolina, but scratch beneath the surface and you will see there is a lot on offer here!
History
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