Cary

Cary offers a range of options to fit your travel plans, including nature trails and environmental education, as well as cultural venues, parks, and events. When choosing a hotel, consider which of these aspects you want to shape your stay. The destinations below give you specific themes and activities to explore.

Nature Trails and Environmental Education

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is home to a unique plant community of eastern hemlocks and other mountain plants. The preserve provides access to about three miles of mulched nature trails. At Hemlock Bluffs, both the distinctive vegetation and the trails through the nature preserve are central attractions.

At the Stevens Nature Center, you’ll find interactive, educational nature exhibits as well as historical exhibits from North Carolina’s Piedmont region. The center also offers year-round nature interpretation and environmental education programs for all ages. Cary thus combines outdoor nature experiences with exhibits and educational activities.

Cary’s greenways provide access to open-space corridors in floodplains and along wooded streams. They offer opportunities for recreation and connecting with nature, as well as safe and convenient options for walking and cycling. When planning, you can distinguish between the nature trails at Hemlock Bluffs and the greenway offerings, with their corridors and activities.

Downtown Cary and Its Cultural Venues

Downtown Cary Park covers seven acres in the heart of Downtown Cary and is surrounded by Academy, Walker, Park, and Walnut streets. The Nest play area features cardinal-shaped play structures, several slides, an area for toddlers, and a splash pad. The play area’s features are specified, so you don’t need to assume there is a general activities program when planning your visit.

The Page-Walker Arts & History Center brings history and art together. A complete restoration in the 1990s transformed the former Page-Walker Hotel into a lively community resource for Cary residents. Today, the center presents historical and fine arts exhibits and is also home to the Cary Heritage Museum.

The Cary Theater also has a historical connection: it opened in 1946 as Cary’s first indoor movie theater. The restored theater shows independent and classic films, as well as live music and comedy performances. If you’re interested in the area’s cultural history, it offers a distinct perspective on Cary’s movie theater history and current stage programs, alongside the exhibits at the Page-Walker Center.

Events, Sports, and Other Activities

Koka Booth Amphitheatre is an outdoor performing arts venue. Set among the pines on Symphony Lake in Cary, it provides a setting for outdoor concerts and presents the North Carolina Symphony’s Summerfest series. If you’d like to plan your trip around a particular performance, check the event dates in advance.

The Cary Arts Center offers classes and holiday programs in visual, performing, and cultural arts for all ages. Since programs change over time, it’s worth checking the current schedule before making plans. The USA Baseball National Training Complex has a different focus: the facility has four baseball fields maintained to Major League Baseball standards. Coleman Field offers seating for 1,754 spectators, as well as additional lawn seating for about 250 people.

For a spontaneous game on outdoor courts, Cary Tennis Park offers a free option. Bond Park Boathouse offers group canoeing and kayaking lessons, as well as group boat rentals outside operating hours. Cary Downtown Farmers Market also has Eat-A-Rainbow, a children’s nutrition education program. These varied offerings range from sports and on-the-water activities to a specific educational program for children.

Discover more destinations: Raleigh, Morrisville, Garner, Apex, Wendell, Knightdale, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina

For the broader travel overview: Wake.