Things to Do in Hickory

Located in the gorgeous High Country outside of Boone, Scream Time lets the average individual fulfill superhero fantasies and practice extreme vertigo therapy soaring above the forest floor at speeds up to 50 mph. Led by a team of rigorously certified guides trained by a band of hyperintelligent flying squirrels, patrons will float, fly, and glide from treetop to treetop on zip lines that stretch from 450 to 800 feet. Scream Time makes for a memorable first date or dynamic game of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, and those not satisfied with the two-and-a-half-hour tour can book an extra ride on the Super Zip (an additional $29), a triple-wide line woven from fibers harvested from Odin’s beard and chest hair that stretches almost half a mile toward the horizon.

In a handful of studios scattered between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Springfield, Missouri, kids express their artistic creativity under the friendly supervision of Noah’s Art instructors. Classes cover a wide variety of topics—from painting and clay sculpture to vocals-based Song Art—and are arranged by age group, allowing children to interact with peers of a similar developmental stage while engaging in philosophical musings on the meaning of parent-enforced time-outs. Instructors also teach basic art tools and techniques, such as how to properly hold a paintbrush or sculpt clay using only your mind.

Among the largest shows of their kind in the southeast, ICA events gather vendors from across the region and beyond to display rare, original pieces, including high-end antiques and vintage jewelry, as well as collectible toys, sports memorabilia, and military paraphernalia. Handmade and gourmet food options help sustain patrons as they wander the 98,000-square-foot space, perusing the imported china, furniture, and still-wrapped President Eisenhower figurines replete with karate-chop action.