A Weekend Escape from Wilmington to Asheboro, NC: Apples, Animals, and Art
Get your fall outfit on and head west to Asheboro. This Fall Dress is flattering and gives all the fall vibes. Paired with these Fall Boots you can be stylish and comfortable as you walk around the orchards, the 5 mile trails at the zoo and hopping around the pottery studios in Seagrove. Bring along your Fall Scarf for the cooler morning and evening temperatures and hopefully you’ll need these Fall Sunglasses on a nice sunny day during these outdoor adventures. Don’t forget your Fall Tote Bag to collect all your goodies along the way.
We recently took a memorable weekend trip to Asheboro, NC that was totally worth it and I cannot wait to go back. Early fall is a perfect time, Millstone Creek Orchards is the closest you pick apple orchard to Wilmington and close to the North Carolina Zoo and Seagrove Pottery Trail. A trip to Asheboro offers a blend of autumn farm traditions, world-class wildlife, and deep-rooted American craft. Here is a look at three highlights from our weekend in Asheboro. We stayed at the Postcard Cabins part of the Outdoor Collection by Marriott, which were so fun. There are 32 tiny homes on the property and trails around a pond. Yes they are small, ours had double bed bunk beds for our family of four, but the setting is beautiful and we had plenty of outdoor space to relax. There is even a walking trail to the zoo.
Apple Picking at Millstone Creek Orchards
Located just outside Asheboro in Ramseur, Millstone Creek Orchards is an 84-acre family farm that delivers a classic autumn experience.
U-Pick Experience: Strolling through the orchards to pick fresh, crisp apples straight from the trees is a rewarding highlight for visitors of all ages.
Sweet Treats: Beyond fruit picking, a stop at the Apple Barn Country Store and Granny's Goodies is essential for tasting their famous fresh-pressed apple cider, refreshing cider slushies, and warm, melt-in-your-mouth apple cider donuts.
Farm Atmosphere: Complete with orchard hayrides and scenic fishing ponds, it offers a relaxed, old-fashioned farm environment.
Exploring the North Carolina Zoo
Asheboro is home to the North Carolina Zoo, recognized as the world's largest natural habitat zoo. Spanning 2,600 wooded acres (with over 500 acres developed for habitats), the zoo provides vast, open enclosures designed to mimic wild ecosystems.
North America & Africa Exhibits: The park is divided primarily into two broad continental regions. You can observe polar bears, cougars, and bobcats in the North America section, then transition to the African grasslands and forests to see elephants, gorillas, giraffes, and lions.
Immersive Trails: With roughly five miles of scenic walking paths connecting the habitats, it offers an immersive outdoor hike alongside wildlife viewing.
Wandering the Seagrove Pottery Trail
Just south of Asheboro lies Seagrove, widely celebrated as the "Handmade Pottery Capital of the United States".
300-Year Tradition: The area boasts a rich ceramics history stretching back to the 18th century, when early settlers began crafting functional earthenware from the region's rich local red clay.
Studio Hopping: Following the Pottery Highway (NC Highway 705) leads to over 100 working pottery studios and galleries scattered across the countryside. Visitors can meet multi-generational master artisans, watch live wheel-throwing and wood-firing demonstrations, and collect unique, handcrafted pieces ranging from traditional Southern face jugs to modern tableware.