When did Fayetteville become so cool? Your guide to the up-and-coming city

Fayetteville elevates its destination status with a charming downtown, locally-owned restaurants, and shops.

A long time ago, a college friend took me to her hometown of Fayetteville to visit a haunted farm for Halloween. I still remember the whir of the chainsaw as a zombie chased me to the very end of the trail. I’ve never run so fast.

This spring, I toured Fayetteville and experienced another (much less spooky) side of the city. The walkable downtown area, with its outdoor dining options and activities, historical sites and homes, gardens, and museums, surprised me. I didn’t know Fayetteville had become a destination for tourists and a cool place to live.

With no chain-wielding zombies chasing me, I took my time exploring the city sites.

Overnight

Treat yourself to one of six well-appointed rooms at the MacPherson House, a family and veteran-owned bed and breakfast in the Haymount Historic District. Built in 1920, this two-story home features the beauty and craftsmanship of an old house with the comfort of restored rooms and modern amenities.

The Signature Breakfast is served in the dining room at 8:30 a.m. This will fuel you for the day ahead, which can begin with a five-minute walk to downtown.

For travelers who prefer to spread out, The Aisling is a two-bedroom rental home and offers a whimsical outdoor space with a hot tub, putting green, and outdoor seating.

Dine and shop

Fayetteville has created a charming downtown area for residents and visitors to mingle, shop, and dine, calling it the Cool Spring Downtown District. Many of the restaurants offer outdoor dining with views of Hay Street’s bustling activity.

Gaston Brewing Restaurant, a veteran-owned business, offers ales, sours, stouts, and seasonal beers paired with burgers, chicken tenders, flatbread pizzas, and salads.

Dine inside Antonella’s Italian Ristorante and you might think you’ve teleported to Italy. Order the eggplant parmesan and the blue crab ravioli, then finish up with the tiramisu.

The funky art on its brick walls is anything but a Rude Awakening, but alas, that’s the name of this coffeehouse. Cold brew, espresso, muffins, pastries, and bagels make this a morning stop or an afternoon pick-me-up (it’s open late).

Brunch and lunch at the Blue Moon Café include breakfast tacos, French toast, a fried bologna sammy, nachos, and many more options.

A five-minute drive to the Haymount Historic District yields a few good finds: Haymount Truck Stop brings a variety of beverage, food, and dessert-vending food trucks to its parking lot each day. Enjoy a drink inside or outside, around the firepit, or while playing old-school arcade games.

Walk across the street to LeClair’s General Store for a curated scene complete with vintage art, books, cameras, and clothing, all for sale. Grab a bottle of wine, craft beer, tea, coffee, or a cigar while you’re there.

Betty Kelly’s Gift Shop is next door and opened in 1960. The fourth-generation family business features clothing, gifts, home decor, and jewelry in colorful displays across the store.

Festivals

Plan a getaway around one of Fayetteville’s festivals. The North Carolina Taco Festival, the first of its kind in the area, is September 20, 2025, and features 10 food trucks, 100 vendors, live music, and a kids’ zone on the Golfview Greenway in nearby Hope Mills.

The 35th Annual Greek Festival is September 20 and 21. You can expect authentic Greek food, live music, and traditional dancing at the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Fayetteville.

On September 27, enjoy a parade, plus performances by dancers, musicians, and other artists at the International Folk Festival. The event highlights more than 30 cultural groups through art, cuisine, and entertainment in Fayetteville’s downtown.

Outdoor fun

The Cape Fear Botanical Garden is a peaceful retreat with lush gardens, natural paths, and bridges. It offers classes and workshops, artist exhibits, drop-in tours, self-guided tours, and other programs for children, people with dogs, and those with accessibility needs.

The Children’s Garden includes a ramp to an elevated level so that you can view the scene from above. A slide, pond, and elements for climbing, crawling, and jumping are perfect for the most energetic members of the group. Adirondack chairs and a patio with tables provide a spot for respite–and that’s where you’ll find me.

Fayetteville has several parks, such as the J. Bayard Clark Park & Nature Center and the Cross Creek Linear Park, for historical sites, picnicking, and mountain biking and walking trails. Hikers and bikers can meander along the Harry F. Shaw Linear Trail and Cape Fear River Trail, 11 miles of a wide, tree-lined path. The CFRT includes 1000 feet of boardwalks over marshes and wetlands.

Zipquest raises the stakes with its zipline excursions across treetops and waterfalls. Ask about Nightquest (yup, ziplining at night). Guides stay with zipliners throughout the experience to answer questions and share stories about the ecology of the trees. No experience is needed: Participants just have to be at least 60 pounds and 8 years old to zipline.

Significant history

Fayetteville’s military presence in the city is celebrated in the U.S. Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Peruse the temporary exhibits and permanent collections, including life-size displays depicting scenes from World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. Enjoy free admission to this museum.

Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex showcases the region’s counties, farms, tools, and the people who lived there through a self-guided tour of permanent and rotating exhibitions.

Next door, the true gem of this museum is the 1897 Poe House. It’s only available for guided tours on specific days. Edgar Allen Poe, not the author, but a bricklayer and potter, built the 5,500-square-foot home for his family. The detailed tour reviews the history of the home and its occupants. If you love old homes, woodwork, and artistry, this stop is a must.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Related: 15 significant stops along Fayetteville’s African American Heritage Trail