Gastonia, which gets its name from the jurist William J. Gaston, is North Carolina’s 13th largest city. It is a fast-growing city and offers plenty of entertainment and activities for residents and visitors. Here are some of the fun activities you can enjoy in Gastonia.
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Visit the Schiele Museum of Natural History
If you enjoy science, this museum should be high on your list. The Schiele Museum is at 1500 E. Garrison Blvd. in Gastonia and is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday between 1 and 5 p.m. Admission is free for children under three and Schiele Members, $7 for adults, and $6 for children between four and 17 years old.
The museum’s permanent indoor exhibits include the Hall of North Carolina Natural History, the Hall of North American Habitats, and the Hall of North American Wildlife. The outdoor exhibits are the Nature Trail, the Memorial Wildlife Garden, the Stone Age Heritage Site, the Catawba Indian Village, and the 18th-century Backcountry Farm. The last two are open seasonally, so inquire before visiting.
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Visit Rankin Lake Park
Rankin Lake is a serene, peaceful park located at 1750 Rankin Lake Rd. in Gastonia. It has a beautiful, 82-acre lake with plenty of waterfowl and piers for fishing. You can rent paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks to enjoy the water, or walk, run, or bike along the park trail if you prefer to stay on land. There are also several picnic areas with covered picnic tables. Don’t leave without catching a spectacular sunset.
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Shop at the Sleepy Poet Antique Mall of Gastonia
Visit these shops at 111 W. Main Ave. in Gastonia, at the historic S.H. Kress Five & Dime store in the Art & Antique District. They are open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. The vendor booths, spread across three floors, offer antiques, collectibles, and more in a range of prices. You will find home-made soaps, candles, glassware, carpets, furniture, toys, vintage clothes, old record albums, war memorabilia, art, and much more.
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See a Play at The Little Theater of Gastonia
This nonprofit community theater is located at 238 S. Clay St. in Gastonia. They have been producing plays and musicals since 1950, and they offer a variety of shows for the whole family. Visit their website to learn about their current and upcoming productions.
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Play a Live Escape Game at Xtreme Xcapes
In the game, a team of two to 10 people must figure out how to escape from a locked room in 60 minutes or less. The game is kid-friendly, so you can participate with your whole family. Xtreme Xcapes is located at 246 N. New Hope Rd., in the Eastridge Mall in Gastonia, and is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 12 to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Gastonia has so much to offer in terms of fun activities for the whole family. Whether you’re visiting for a day or live here year-round, you’ll never lack for exciting things to do!
Image via Flickr by erh7777/Under use by CC BY 2.0
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