Kid-friendly, spring fun for the whole family
Spring time brings gorgeous flowers, delicious berries, beautiful weather, and many requests for ice cream (not to mention the insane amounts of pollen). We’re always ready to get outside for adventure & treats when spring rolls around! Read on for 5 of our favorite spring activities around Hillsborough.
1. Broken Spoke Farm
Our #1 favorite weekend spot. Broken Spoke Farm has the most adorable farm stand with delicious veggies & produce, and gorgeous views of the pastures with cows & sheep. But the real reason we have to stop by weekly is their homemade ice cream they swirl every weekend March – December.
We’ve been going for years, and it’s been so fun to watch the word spread & business pick up. They’ve added picnic tables, swings, and a few toys scattered about for kids. They also have the cutest antique sink for washing up those sticky hands (arms? legs?) before heading home.
This year we decided to follow my step-sister’s lead from last year and we’re keeping a running list of our favorite flavors each weekend we go. Banana pudding (banana + nilla wafer swirl) is currently in the lead, but I know pineapple + coconut cream will show it up like it does every year, and I can’t wait!
CC favorite – So many great sizing options for all ice cream enthusiasts to get just what they need. We all love a regular, but our “rule” is cup only if it’s over 70 degrees or else it melts too quickly to enjoy. If cooler or a smaller size, we go waffle cone.
The teeny cone / cup is a newer option and great for young kids, as a sample, or as a bonus dessert if you didn’t get enough the first go around (not that I or anyone I know have any experience with this…)
Quick Tip – This is a GREAT stop after a hike or adventure at Ayr Mount or West Point on the Eno. Perfect spring, summer or fall combination! Plus, in the summer Broken Spoke offers u-pick blueberries and they’re delicious!
2. Downtown Treats + Books
If you’re in town, our favorite weekend stops include coffee at Cup A Joe followed by a breakfast treat from Kim’s Bake Shop. Add a little walk and then some reading, either at Purple Crow book store, or the Orange County Library nearby. All are an easy walk from the Riverwalk, Weaver Street, or the parking deck near the library.
Cup A Joe is our version of Cheers and we’re not even a little bit embarassed that they know all of our names and our orders. They have delicious coffee (try the B1000 – my favorite honey+cinnamon latte) + tasty treats (the orange cranberry muffin or country ham and cheddar biscuits never let us down), and smoothies that our kids adore.
Kim’s is small town bakery perfection. Our kids love her doughnuts, I always go for a bacon cheddar scone or apple fritter, and Cameron will try any type of fruit bar she makes. Pick up a frozen pot pie (there are so many delicious varieties) and dinner is already taken care of!
Purple Crow is the cutest little bookshop, with a room dedicated to children’s/youth books where my kids would happily stay for hours. Browse local authors, new releases, or the used book section in the back and take a new book home while helping support a local elementary school!
Our branch of the Orange County Library has a great children’s & youth book selection, play area, and plenty of comfy spots to read.
3. Riverwalk + Whits (or Eno River Brewing)
Depending on your preferences and time of day, nothing beats a bike/walk/scooter ride along the Riverwalk followed by a cold treat.
The Riverwalk is an accessible (partly paved) greenway that runs along the Eno River in downtown Hillsborough. It runs from the Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area to the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail, connecting several different neighborhoods and downtown Hillsborough. The part through downtown is actually part of the NC Mountains to Sea trail!
You can access the Riverwalk from Gold Park, the Weaver Street parking deck, behind the Orange County Courthouse, or off of S Cameron Street.
We love to jump on at the bottom of S Cameron Street and bike left until the Riverwalk becomes pedestrian only. We’ll park our bikes and walk the next section to the speedway, or turn around and head back into town. From there we’ll bike over to Gold Park and then head either to Whits or Eno River Brewing (which also serves Whits – lucky for certain people…).
There are several spots where you can get down to the river to play (you’ll sense a theme for my kids if you’ve read about our favorite hikes in Hillsborough), as well as picnic tables, benches, and gorgeous views along the way.
4. Strawberry Picking
We love strawberry picking (and eating), and as a photographer these are some of my favorite moments to capture each Spring.
Summer fruit picking can be insanely hot & buggy, apples go super quick (trust me on this – those buckets fill up FAST with four kids!), but spring time strawberries are fruit picking perfection in my opinion.
We’ve gone to Lyon Farms in Creedmor for YEARS. It is still my very favorite because it is such a beautiful farm, we always have a wonderful experience, it’s not insanely expensive, and the berries (and all other produce) are always delicious!
Lyon is a bit of a drive from Hillsborough, but we make an afternoon of it. We often meet up with friends to pick, and then either stop for dinner (at El Corral Mexican restaurant downtown where they wisely give us the whole back room), Sweet Tooth snowballs, or to play & picnic at the park.
It’s truly worth it for these views & those berries!
More Local Berries
Locally I also love McAdams farm in Efland. It’s got a similar feel to Lyon, but is smaller.
Hillsborough is also well known for Eno River Farm, which offers u-pick fruit, flowers, a garden shop, ice cream & a fun place to run around!
My kids especially love the trolls & running through the woods at Eno River Farm. The berries have always been great, just are often a bit more expensive, and the ice cream line can be crazy! To be totally honest, this farm feels more commercial and almost touristy vs some of the smaller or more rural farms that have been family owned for generations. Not a bad stop, just a completely different vibe than Lyon or McAdams.
5. Parks & Playgrounds
There are so many great options to explore in Hillsborough (and many more just out of town in every direction!) and we love each one for a different reason.
Gold Park
The most well known and crowded, but for good reason! Gold Park sits right on the Riverwalk, so is easily accessible walking or biking from town, or via the giant parking lot.
There are bathrooms, multiple picnic shelters, little & big kid play structures, swings, a soccer field, dog park, and so much room to run and play. We’ve attended so many birthday parties here, and for very good reason!
We love playing at Gold Park as often as we can, and there’s always something for kids of all ages to do & enjoy. You can also walk to Whits, Eno River Brewing, Hillsborough BBQ, or anywhere along the Riverwalk directly from the park.
Turnip Patch Park
You couldn’t find a cuter park if you tried, I promise.
We absolutely fell in love with this hidden gem before we even moved to Hillsborough. A little neighborhood park, there are no parking spaces here – you bike, walk, or pull onto the grass to park.
The wooden play structure is perfect for younger kids, and there is even a “restaurant” (at least that’s what my kids think it is) and a sandbox! You can also get down to the creek, which honestly is where my crew ends up 9/10 times.
Cates Creek Playground + Skate Park
Cates Creek Park is across from an apartment building and near a big neighborhood, but has been quiet literally every time I’ve been there. The playground itself isn’t as big as Gold Park, but there are several options for play, plus a picnic shelter, bathrooms, a soccer field, and now a new skate park!
The skate park is the first in Hillsborough, and long-awaited by many. My kids love scootering, skateboarding and rollerblading there.
Hillsborough has a lot to offer on these gorgeous spring days. We hope you enjoy exploring our sweet small town!
Looking for more to do in NC this spring? Check out:
