If you are looking for a great FREE way to spend an afternoon, visit the NC Transportation Museum in Rowan County. My son is enamoured by all things transportation -- trucks, cars, boats, trains, and planes -- so it was perfect for him.
During our afternoon, he was able to climb inside a number of locomotives from the golden era of railroad transportation. He was able to pretend he was a mailman in the post office car and was able to climb to the top and look out the window of a caboose. The hands-on nature of the museum is what makes it a winner.
You're not in an art museum here. Everything is so child-friendly. And being able to tap out morse code and climb a ladder is fun for adults, too. The museum details the history of Spencer Shops (the site of the museum) and its place in railroad history. You will walk away with a new understanding of the importance of the industry to daily life decades ago. And the place railroad transportation has in today's world.
However, the museum is not limited to trains. Some exhibits display car models throughout history and have planes and boats as well. One of my son's favorites from the day included a "cockpit" he could climb into and pretend he was a pilot from the past's Piedmont Airlines.
If you would like to enhance your trip to the museum, there are great activities for nominal fees. You can take a rotation on the train turntable and a ride on the train at the museum for little money. If you are looking to save money, stay away from the gift shop! As is the case for most museums, it has loads of items that your child (or adult train collector) will want but that are overpriced, in my opinion. Hold on to those dollars and instead head across the street to the shops within the town of Spencer or just down the road to Main Street in Salisbury to find train-themed souvenirs.
There is no restaurant at the museum. However, picnic tables are plentiful. Pack a basket at home and enjoy the park-like grounds at the museum. However, this is one place you will probably want to save for a nice sunny day because there is quite a bit of walking outside to go from exhibit to exhibit.
If you have more time on your hands after visiting the museum, hit the Dan Nicholas Park outside Salisbury. You, again, will probably want to bring money to enjoy all the features of the park such as a miniature train, a carousel, a petting zoo, and a putt-putt coarse. However, there is plenty to see and do at the park without paying a dime.
