Hickory is a city in North Carolina.

Get around

Driving in Hickory is quite easy, although the remaining one-way streets and eclectic street naming conventions can be somewhat bewildering. If you get lost, just ask a local and say you're out of town. They'll refrain from an age-old Hickory tradition of giving directions based on where things "used to be".

Attractions

 • Hickory Museum of Art . Although American art was almost unrecognized outside of New York and Philadelphia in 1943, the North Carolina city of Hickory set out to establish a museum of American art. Located on Hickory, NC's SALT Block (Sciences, Art, Literature Together), Hickory took the lead in the Southeast as being the first city to establish a museum of American art. Among the artists represented in the HMA collection are names such as Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Cole, Asher B. Durand, J. Fredrick Kensett, William Merritt Chase, Worthington Whittredge, F. Ballard Williams, Eanger Irving Couse, Elliot Daingerfield, Anna Hyatt Huntington, Hobart Nichols, Albert T. Bricher, Edward Potthast, and many others. Closed Mondays. Free admission on Fridays. Adults: $2. Students: $1
 • Catawba Science Center . Explore the Physical and Natural Sciences. Interesting traveling exhibits rotate throughout the year. Located on Hickory, NC's SALT Block (Sciences, Art, Literature Together), in the Arts & Science Center of Catawba Valley, CSC also provides a variety of educational and fun programming for school groups, children, families, adults, homeschoolers, preschoolers, scouts and other community groups. The Science Emporium gift shop stocks educational toys and gifts that enhance the museum experience. Closed Mondays. Admission: Adults: $4. Ages 3-16: $2. Ages 0-3: free.
 • Hickory Motor Speedway . NASCAR short track. It is the oldest professional sporting venue in Catawba County, and the oldest continually operating motor speedway in the country with over 53 seasons. Hickory Motor Speedway has three fully equipped concession stands, a souvenir stand, six large restroom areas, and three enclosed air-conditioned hospitality suites. HMS also contains a game room, and kids' fenced-in play area with a climbing gym & swings. Hickory Motor Speedway also has RV parking available. Admission: Adults, $10.
 • Hickory Crawdads Minor League Baseball. As American as, well, baseball! Always good fun, and the Crawdads usually win, too! Try the Crawdad Red Ale at the Crawdad Cafe.
Directions: Take I-40 to exit 123 North (Hwy 321 Lenoir/Airport). Travel to fifth stoplight and turn left onto Clement Blvd.., NW. L.P. Frans Stadium is 1/2 mile up to the right in the valley surrounded by the mountains of North Carolina. Admission: $6-12.

Movies
 • Carmike 14 on Catawba Boulevard behind the mall. First-run movies. $7.50 for adults.
 • Crown VI on US-70 east of the US-70/US-321 interchange. $7.50 for adults.
 • Marquee Mimosa 7 excellent first-run theater in downtown Morganton (I-40W from Hickory to NC-18 N/W - 25 minutes). $7 for adults. Less hectic than the Crown or the Carmike with friendlier people and cheaper concessions).
 • Carolina downtown with two screens and daily $2.00 showings. A local favorite with ultra-affordable concessions and reclining seats with cupholders. Located in a seemingly ancient theatre downtown near the Wachovia building.

Dining

 • McGuire's Pub. Daily food and beer specials. Excellent array of interesting sandwiches. Booths offer excellent privacy in a relaxed atmosphere. Best onion rings in town and the home fries are to die for. The Fitzgerald sandwich is especially good. Stay away if you're truly pressed for time. Downtown across from Bank of Granite. $6-12.
 • Longhorn Streakhouse. US-70 near Home Depot. $8-15.
 • Rock-Ola Cafe. Burgers and fish specials. Lenoir-Rhyne Boulevard. Just north of the LR Blvd-I-40 interchange at exit 125. $7-12.
 • Jersey Mikes Subs. Two locations. US-70 at the intersection with McDonald Parkway (I-40 exit 126) near Barnes and Noble. Second location: NC-127N in the Belle Hollow shopping center beside Harris Teeter. $5-7.
 • Cafe Gouda. Eclectic sandwiches with a more casual and sophisticated air. Sandwiches, mostly. Try the Gouda Delite. Open for breakfast. Lattes and coffee drinks available. NC-127N in the Belle Hollow shopping center near Harris Teeter. $6-7.
 • Backstreets. On the backstreets of Hickory near Hickory High School and the Bank of Granite Building is Backstreets. A little pricey but has an excellent selection of beer and some great food options. Good lighting and a relaxed atmosphere. Daily specials. $9-15.
 • Olde Hickory Taproom. The restaurant front for Olde Hickory Brewery offers seasonal ales and beers as well as the local favorites OHB is known for. The food and service here is "just" pretty good, but everyone keeps coming back for more. Must be the beer! Try the dessert special. A limited menu is offered late into the night. $7-12.
 • Tia's Asian Cuisine. Best Thai in town and the least expensive. Looks a little run-down on the outside, but nice once you're inside. In a small shopping center on Springs Road. From town, go past St. Stephen's Lutheran, and Tia's is a little farther on your right. It's before the intersection with 29th Avenue NE (future McDonald Parkway). $9-13.
 • Thai Orchid. Good Thai. Very easy to find. Behind the mall on Catawba Valley Boulevard in the same shopping center as Best Buy. $10-15.
 • Tony's Pizza. Best pizza in town. Very easy to find. Behind the mall on Catawba Valley Boulevard in the same shopping center as Best Buy. $13 for a 19" cheese.
 • Drips Coffee House. Downtown Hickory near the Hickory Community Theater. Hickory's best coffee house. Non-Smoking and alcohol free. Bands play on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Hours are: Monday 8:00 - 3:00 / Tuesday-Thursday 8:00-10:00 / Friday 8:00 - 11:00 / Saturday 11:00 - 11:00
 • 1859 Cafe. Located at 443 2nd Avenue Southwest, Hickory, North Carolina. Turn right off Hwy. 70 West at 9th Street SW, between Mister Omelette and Furniture Outlet. Turn right at the 2nd light. (2nd Ave. SW) Travel 3/4 mile. Located right beside Wilson Florist. Enjoy the original music of Ulysses Long or request your favorite tune every Saturday night at 8:00 pm. Relax and listen at your table or gather around the bar. Either way you will welcome the soothing music of Ulysses while dining, or for after dinner relaxation. It has been described as "Casually Elegant." Entrees are $15-$24.50.

Drink

Given Hickory's German heritage and heavy Lutheran influences, it's no surprise that beer is easy to find and fun to ingest among friends in Hickory.
 • McGuire's Pub.
 • Backstreets.
 • Olde Hickory Taproom.
 • Hickory Tavern

Lodging

 • Jameson Inn.
 • Hampton Inn.
 • Courtyard.
 • Holiday Inn Select.
 • Holiday Inn Express.

Get out

 • Blowing Rock, NC. Beautiful town in the mountains. Great park downtown. Get some ice cream across the street, enjoy the breeze, and read a book. US-321N.
 • Blue Ridge Parkway. Junction is just north of Blowing Rock. US-321N.
 • Cone Manor. Crafts, information, and easy trails. The 3 mile jaunt to the lookout tower doesn't take much time and is worth the walk. Go south on the blue ridge parkway. Signed as a "Craft Center."
 • Charlotte, NC. Largest city in NC with lots of things to do. Take US-321S to I-85N.
 • Linville Gorge Wilderness. Serious hikers only. Pristine wilderness in the rugged, untamed Linville Gorge. I-40W to NC-18N/W to NC-181 to NC-183. Permits required for overnights during the peak months. Stay away from Cabin Trail and Rock Jock.

Links

Hickory City Government