

Local coffee shops are great for meeting up with friends, getting some work done, or just enjoying a cup of coffee. The Milk Road is one of Jacksonville’s most loved coffee shops, being voted best of the best multiple years in a row. They offer a variety of high quality single-origin coffee, teas, and small baked goods, along with their infamous Liege waffles. They are also dog-friendly and have an open field in the back, so they are a great place to take your furry friends!
An escape room is a fun way to work together with friends to solve puzzles and overcome challenges! Cracked It! Escape Games in Jacksonville has a selection of themed escape rooms to try and crack with your friends. The escape rooms vary in difficulty and allow for up to six people.
Swingin’ Things is a family-oriented sports facility in Half Moon. They provide fun for all ages and are a great place to spend the day with your family. Their facility provides batting cages, mini-golf, and golf driving ranges.
Lynwood Park Zoo is a 10 acre zoo that houses over 100 animals. They have all types of mammals, birds, and reptiles, including monkeys, emus, and alligators. The zoo has been in operation for over 30 years, and many of their animals are rescued, re-homed, or rehabilitated.
Mike’s Farm is a well-known local gem in the Jacksonville area. On their farm you’ll find an all you can eat family style restaurant, bakery, a barn full of local North Carolina products, event venues, and more. They are also well-known for their Christmas and Halloween hayrides and pumpkin patch where you pick your own pumpkins!
Oakhurst Nature Park encompasses 250 acres of land around the New River with two nature trails and a kayak launch area. The 1,500ft and 3,400ft trails will take you through Eastern NC’s beautiful pine forests and give you a chance to see its wildlife first hand. The park is perfect for a relaxing day out of the house to explore the wilderness.