Activities for the Outdoorsy Type in Sanford, North Carolina
November 19, 2021
Are you the type of buyer who loves to spend time in the open air? Choosing a home is not just about your own backyard, but the backyard of your entire town and surroundings as well. Check out these ideas for activities to get outside, enjoy your new neighborhood, and stretch your legs.
Cape Fear, a prominent headland that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean from Bald Head Island, is a destination within itself. Formed mostly of beaches, the Cape Fear River drains into the Southeast coast of North Carolina through an estuary. There are miles of water in every direction, and paddling trails for every skill level. A variety of launch sites offer the chance to bring your own canoes, paddleboards, or kayaks, as well as offering guided tours and rentals. So strap on your lifejacket and enjoy the scenic landscapes and stunning perspectives while getting a uniquely beautiful look at your new hometown surroundings.
If you want to pack a few more escapades into your aquatic exploration, consider choosing one (or a few!) of the activities available to you through Cape Fear River Adventures. Have you ever been intrigued to try standing up on a floating surfboard? Try SUP (stand up paddleboard) yoga! If risking it on the water isn’t your thing, Riverside Yoga may be the right fit for you. Looking for a more relaxing extravaganza? Lazy River Tubing may be just what the doctor ordered. Once you’ve tuckered yourself out, wander up to the bar at the Lost Paddle Tavern and enjoy a craft beer or a savory sandwich while you reset.
This unique destination sits on six acres of flowering fun. Big Bloomers has been in town for the past 43 years, with a retail location adjacent to their growing facility that’s been open to the public since 1994. They both grow and sell a huge variety of flowers, herbs, and shrubs, as well as unique seasonal offerings. Plant experts at Big Bloomers are constantly experimenting with creating new hybrid plants, so there’s a good chance you may find a species that exists nowhere else in North Carolina! They also feature an impressive selection of every medicinal and food grade herb you can think of, from lamb’s ear and Russian sage to lemon balm and chamomile. Whether you’re on the hunt for perennials, annuals, vegetables, herbs, tropicals, shrubs, trees, or just enjoy walking around and sniffing your way through the farm, you’re sure to enjoy a peaceful afternoon at this charming flower farm.
Golf Courses Galore
Who says that golf is just for vacations and “business meetings”? Grab a buddy or take some much needed alone time, and head to the links. Sanford offers so many potential tee times it’ll be hard for you to choose, but if you move here you won’t ever have to! Start with Tobacco Road Golf, named #50 of the top 100 Golf Courses in the World by Golf Course Architecture, and choose one of several packages to enjoy. Having just been established in 1998, Tobacco Road is younger than many of the courses it has surpassed in its accumulation of accolades. Move onto Quail Ridge, who touts themselves as “The Standard for North Carolina Golf.” Opened in 1967 in the Sandhills region of North Carolina, the course is a short drive from Pinehurst, as well as the Raleigh-Durham/Chapel Hill/Triangle area. After major renovations, it reopened in October 2017. Another option is the Chicora Golf Club, located in Dunn, NC. Chicora was voted one of the best golf courses in the greater Raleigh/Fayetteville area, and is an excellent choice for beginner and professional golfers alike. Chicora’s unique climate allows the course to be playable almost year-round! Lastly, swing by Keith Hills Golf Club, where they boast affordable memberships, a golf academy, and a coveted Four Star Award from Golf Digest. Keith Hills is located on the banks of Cape Fear, so you can trade in golf balls stuck in sand traps for a wonderful view of picturesque sand.
Deep River Sporting Clays and Shooting School
Located on a whopping 65 acres of scenic woodlands, Deep River celebrates 30 years in business serving central North Carolina. Enjoy a variety of unique family-friendly activities including three main options: The Sporting Clays course, which offers many target presentations to offer challenges of special interest to shooters simulating a real-life hunting experience, The Wobble Deck, which is a raised shooting platform over an international wobble trap where clays are thrown out from the platform, or The Shooting Pavilion, which is an outdoor, eight-lane, covered facility allowing shooting up to 40 yards from the firing line.
The City of Sanford and Downtown Sanford, Inc. joined forces in 1997 to create a park in the historic downtown district. Their goal was to highlight the city’s roots while giving locals a clean and relaxing place to spend time together. This park hosts concerts, celebrations, and special events, and offers plenty of picnic tables and benches. Also in the park is the Railroad House, the Railroad Depot, and a beautiful fountain that runs daily.