Destinations

Sunset Memorial Funeral Home

1912 Sunset Ave. • 252-316-8145

A Peace of Mind at Sunset If you already made “Pre-Arrangements” or have a “Pre-Need” Contract in place with another funeral home: The Laws of North Carolina state that REGARDLESS of the Burial Association you now belong to OR with what funeral home you have an existing Pre-Need Contract, you can have that contract used at the funeral home of YOUR CHOICE and NOT LOSE YOUR BENEFITS. If Sunset Memorial Funeral Home is your choice, we honor ALL Burial Associations AND Pre-Need Contracts from ANY other funeral home.

Prices Subject to Change Without Notice We Buy & Pawn Gold, Silver, Guns and Coins

2522 Sunset Ave Rocky Mount, NC 27804 252-443-1668

Open Mon - Fri 9-6; Sat 10-1

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DESTINATIONS

By Jenny White

Birds flock to Kevin Brown during ‘Birds Brews and BBQ’ at Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck.

The Twin Counties has no shortage of fun, entertaining and educational places to spend an afternoon or a day.

Whether you’re into having fun outdoors or are looking for some museum-quality exhibits, there is something for everyone.

Local residents know these beloved locales well and are more than happy to share our small-town jewels with visitors. Check online websites for information on hours and special events, as they may change throughout the seasons.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park is located in Scotland Neck, about 30 minutes outside Rocky Mount. The park has been open since 2006 and seeks to advance conservation of waterfowl and wetlands, to act as a local educational resource for avian biology and wetlands ecology and to serve as an international center for avicultural training and research.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park offers visitors an up-close experience with over 2,000 waterfowl, parrots, toucans, flamingos and other exotic birds from around the world. It’s open to the public, and the 18-acre facility features spacious, walk-through aviaries displaying birds from South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. The aviaries are surrounded by tranquil gardens and lush natural areas, which enhance the beauty of the birds on exhibit and immerse visitors in native North Carolina wildlife habitat.

Sylvan Heights Bird Park is fully ADAaccessible, with wide paved or hard-packed trails throughout the park.

The park is open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October. Prices vary depending on age, but the highest price ticket is $11.

Check them out at http://shwpark.com/ or call 252-826-3186

Located about 25 minutes from Rocky Mount, Medoc Mountain State Park is open for visitors from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

The park has seven trails that meander through a variety of terrain and provide more than 10 miles of hiking. Most of the trails are easy or moderate in difficulty, and trail scenery includes an artesian well, granite outcroppings and miniature rapids. There are also bridle and mountain bike trails.

The picnic area offers a shady area to enjoy a meal outside. Thirty tables and eight grills offer a choice of picnic locations.

Want to spend the night? A hardwood forest bordering open fields is home to the family campground. The campground’s sites are for tent or trailer camping and accommodate up to six persons each. Out

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of the campground’s 34 sites, 12 have electric hookups and two are handicapped accessible. Campsites offer tent pads, tables and grills. The camping area is served by a washhouse with hot showers and toilets. Drinking water is nearby.

Bring your canoe to Little Fishing Creek and enjoy a pleasant float. The creek flows through the park for about 2.5 miles and offers an opportunity to view the area from a different perspective. Perfect for beginning canoeists, the waters of Little Fishing Creek flow slowly, and there are few obstacles along the way. Shallow water near rock outcrops may make portaging necessary at certain spots. The creek is accessible from the bridge on SR 1322, and a 1.5- to two-hour trip leads to a takeout point at the bridge on SR 1002.

To reserve a campsite or check on water levels and educational programs scheduled, call the local park office at 252-586-6588.

With a population of under 500 people, Macclesfield in Edgecombe County may one day have almost as many animals at It’s a Zoo Life facility, as people in the county. The Abrams family runs this sanctuary for animals, with over 85 animals taking up residence on their farm. Open to the public, visitors get to see animals up close and personal. Have you ever wanted to get to know a zebra, camel, sloth, wolf, Patagonian cavy, porcupine, lemur, kangaroo, wallaby, tortoise, alpaca, coatimundi, cockatoo, hedgehog, ferret, rabbit, pig, goat, cow, sheep, peacocks, ducks, sugar glider, chickens or mini horse? It’s a Zoo Life offers an opportunity to visit with the animals in their habitats and seeks to offer an educational and fun experience.

All visitors to the Zoo are required to participate in a guided tour, which are by appointment ONLY. Tours last approximately 1 1/2 hours, during which time you will go within the selected animals habitats for encounters, along with a knowledgeable staff member in small groups. Tours are offered at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Visitors are asked to make a reservation to book a tour at http://www.itsazoolife. com/visit-the-zoo.php

Young and old will enjoy a taste of small-town southern culture at the County Line Raceway. It’s loud, there are crashes and lots of cheering and suspenseful moments — and it’s all live! This 3/8 mile clay oval racetrack is located at 6953 Stagecoach Road in Elm City has been in operation since 1988. County Line Raceway is a familyrun track that offers six divisions of racing action. The racing season starts in March and runs through October, with a variety of special events scheduled in between official races.

Tickets to sit in the grandstands are usually about $15 for adults and $10 kids. You can get a ticket to go see the action super up close in the pits for $30. This is truly a unique destination that appeals to people of all ages. To see a schedule of upcoming races, visit countylineracewaync.com or call 252-985-1949.

The Rocky Mount Mills is a micro-brewery mecca in a quaint village on the banks of the Tar River. The redeveloped neighborhood was once a bustling neighborhood with the Rocky Mount Mills (factory) as the centerpiece providing jobs and textiles to the surrounding area. The jobs and textile companies left, but the new Rocky Mount Mills has sparked an entrepreneurial spirit in the area. Locally owned restaurants and breweries are located in the refurbished mill houses and a local community college has even taken over a part of the village for its newly formed craft brewing program.

Several restaurants and breweries surround the Rocky Mount Mills beer garden which is often the site of live music during the warmer months. All facilities have outside gathering places and it is a pet-friendly complex. Food choices range from tacos to pizza to fine cuisine. If beer isn’t your thing, don’t worry, there’s plenty of wine choices and sweet tea if your preferred beverages are non-alcoholic. You can keep track of upcoming concerts and happenings at the Rocky Mount Mills at https:// www.rockymountmills.com/

Cars in the Virginia Sprint Series race at County Line Raceway.

Michael Batten, left, hold his daughter Madison Batten, 2, during the FUEL Late Model Series Special at County Line Raceway in Elm City.

Bobbie Jo Abrams pets her two-toed sloth named Belt at It's A Zoo Life in Pinetops, North Carolina.

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