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Halifax County is full of doers, not watchers. From its earliest days, when quill was put to parchment and tool to stone, its residents have helped steer the region and nation. It’s no different today. Interesting museums, well-crafted food and drink, and natural wonders – each offered with plenty of Southern hospitality – create numerous hands-on adventures. Here are eight you must try.
1 Count Sylvan Heights Bird Park’s 2,500+ birds
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1 Count Sylvan Heights Bird Park’s 2,500+ birds
Scotland NeckSee on map
The resident flamingos and friendly parakeets – the latter eagerly perching on outstretched arms – always seem hungry, so pick up several bags of food and seed sticks before entering the Landing Zone at Sylvan Heights Bird Park. They are some of the 2,000+ birds, including the world’s largest collection of rare and endangered waterfowl, that you’ll see or interact with here. Take in the colorful sights and exotic sounds as you follow the self-guided tour of the park, making sure to stop by the newest and largest aviary that opened in 2021 as a 15-year anniversary celebration. It houses flocks of birds from tropical regions of Asia, Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
2 Savor local tastes at longtime favorite Ralph’s Barbecue
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2 Savor local tastes at longtime favorite Ralph’s Barbecue
WeldonSee on mapHave a craving for the tangy vinegar-based sauce of Eastern North Carolina barbecue? Satisfy it at Ralph’s in Weldon, an almost 70-year favorite of locals and travelers. Hanging in the lobby is a painting of Ralph. He watches over the third generation of Woodruffs, who continue his dedication to friendly service and homemade dishes. Start with a bowl of rich Brunswick stew – made from the family recipe that patriarch Ralph used – and hushpuppies still warm from the fryer. If you can’t choose among the smoked daily pork barbecue, crispy fried chicken or fresh seafood dishes, try a combination plate. Or visit the buffet that’s well-stocked with Southern staples. Whatever you order, save room for the legendary banana pudding.
3 Let Weldon Mills Theatre entertain you
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3 Let Weldon Mills Theatre entertain you
Roanoke RapidsSee on mapStanding tall within sight of I-95, Weldon Mills Theatre attracts top regional and national acts. One evening you can listen to country, rock or beach music, and the next you can watch a play or comedy show. And there’s more beyond its main stage. Stop by on Wednesdays to toss a game or two of cornhole in the atrium, or enjoy music and karaoke during Live After Five on Thursday and Friday evenings. It even hosts drive-in movies. For an encore, grab a small plate, salad or sandwich at its Balcony Bistro & Bar, which is open for Thursday through Sunday dinners and weekend lunches.
4 Relive the Halifax Resolves, America’s first Declaration of Independence
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4 Relive the Halifax Resolves, America’s first Declaration of Independence
HalifaxSee on mapOn April 12, 1776, almost three months before the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, North Carolina’s Fourth Provincial Congress approved the Halifax Resolves. It was a colony’s first move toward independence, putting Halifax on par with Philadelphia, Lexington and Concord, or Yorktown. Experience these patriots’ lives at the state historic site. Watch the visitor center’s short film, which describes Halifax’s early years and the region’s rise to prosperity, and review its many exhibits. Follow the self-guided tour to several 18th- and 19th-century structures including the Owens House and Eagle Tavern. Visit the Montfort House, whose foundations were uncovered by archaeologists, telling the story of an early wealthy resident and the only Provincial Grand Master Mason of North America. The grounds also include a Roanoke River overlook.
5 Explore the Roanoke Canal, our state’s longest museum
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5 Explore the Roanoke Canal, our state’s longest museum
Roanoke RapidsSee on mapHalifax County is home to some of the country’s best preserved early 18th-century engineering, including a 35-foot single-arch aqueduct. See it by using the Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail's free bike lending program, pedaling the level 7.5-mile trail that makes this museum our state’s longest. Along the way, keep an eye open for bald eagles, warblers and a host of migrating birds, whose presence led to the former towpath becoming part of the North Carolina Birding Trail. Back at the museum, explore two floors of interactive exhibits, displays and artifacts that explain each chapter in the canal’s story.
6 Experience Fine Dining at Blue Jay Bistro
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6 Experience Fine Dining at Blue Jay Bistro
LittletonSee on mapTucked away on Main Street, Blue Jay Bistro invites you to “escape the ordinary” with approachable, contemporary fine dining. Executive chef Ashleigh Fleming and her team celebrate local ingredients and bold Southern flavors on a menu that features shareables, small plates, entrees and desserts. The menu changes constantly, but expect to find items such as crispy fried mozzarella sandwiches, mushroom toast, pork cheeks with cherry barbecue sauce, and Mexican hot chocolate tres leches cake. With an extensive drink menu and stunning interior on top of it all, a reservation at Blue Jay Bistro is a must during your visit.
7 Stay at Bellamy Manor and Gardens
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7 Stay at Bellamy Manor and Gardens
EnfieldSee on mapWind your way through the county’s extensive farm fields and up the plant-lined driveway at Bellamy Manor and Gardens, where a glass of wine and conversation with other guests and the owners, Suzann and Wayne Anderson, await on the bed and breakfast’s porch. Much of the nearly 150-year-old estate’s gardens are visible from the four recently renovated rooms, which feature Wi-Fi, walk-in showers and pieces of North Carolina-made furniture. And while the shaded hammocks also are inviting, save the relaxing for later. Tour the 4-acre property, read a book from its library or head out for dinner on a recommendation from the owners. But definitely join them at the large dining table for the daily Southern breakfast that includes locally made country sausage and ham, warm baked goods and seasonal produce that Wayne’s brother grows nearby.
8 Wet your whistle at Weldon Mills Distillery
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8 Wet your whistle at Weldon Mills Distillery
WeldonSee on mapExtensive renovations to a factory and historic grist mill became Weldon Mills Distillery, which opened in 2019. It remains connected to the past through local farms, which continue to ship corn there, though for a new purpose. Learn more about local history and distillation on a tour. Each includes a tasting, where you can sample its bourbons, including one that raises money for Wounded Warriors and families of fallen soldiers – causes close to the Army veteran co-owner – and a second that supports rockfish preservation. Every spring, an uncountable number of rockfish swim up the Roanoke River and past the distillery, stopping at the rapids in Weldon, the self-proclaimed “Rockfish Capital of the World.” The run offers catching at its best: Expect to land 20 or more each day, regardless of your fishing experience.
This article was produced in partnership with Halifax County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
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