Activities For Dogs In North Carolina On Cold Days

The first stop on your Wilmington adventure should be the Museum of the Bizarre. It's loaded with tons of weird and creepy stuff to check out from shrunken heads to horror movie memorabilia and just about the entire place is dog-friendly. Make sure to call ahead to let them know you plan on coming, then pack some dog bags and a sturdy leash for the tour. There are some moving exhibits and strange noises so make sure your dog can handle some of the strangeness and surprises that will inevitably arise.

After you get some thrills inside, it's time to get some chills outside. Wilmington has several different haunted tour companies, so you'll want to do some preliminary research to figure out which ones sound the most entertaining and are dog-friendly. We recommend the Ghost Walk as it's dog-friendly and definitely has some creepy stuff -- just remember, some people might jump, so make sure your dog can handle sudden spooks. You'll get to see and hear about several haunted locations in Old Wilmington and get a good walk in the process. And don't forget to bundle up beforehand!

The last stop on your mini tour should be The Black Cat Shoppe, which is dog-friendly and completely loaded with all sorts of oddball stuff that will help you unwind from the creepiness of the tour without getting you out of the Halloween spirit. It's generally open late, which means you can warm up and check out some cool and weird stuff before you head home. If nothing else, you can always stop for a night cap on one of the local dog-friendly patios if you're bundled well enough!

There are drive-ins scattered all over North Carolina but you'll need to make sure to find one that's still operating in the colder months. Do an initial search online, then make sure to call and confirm the details and the dog-friendliness of the location (you can always find other things to do nearby before the movie so you can make a more exciting trip out of it). Figure out if you plan to eat beforehand, gorge on the snacks and drinks offered if there are any, or if you should bring your own. Then, pick a film you want to see if you plan to stay in the car, or a classic if you intend to do some exploring. Once you've got it all worked out, you can either buy your tickets in advance (if offered) or bring cash to pay in person.

Once you've got the details worked out, head on over to the drive-in. Make sure to give your dog a bathroom break before the movie begins if you plan on staying in the car so you're not interrupted mid-movie. If you need to get drinks or food, make sure to check to see if they're welcome in the concessions area (rarely, but sometimes) or if it's close enough, leave them in your vehicle a few minutes max (with a cracked window at least) while you secure your munchies. When you've got everything you need, hunker down and enjoy! You'll have the heat at your disposal and a great partner in the passenger seat.

If you want to witness the coolest aspects of what the falls offer in winter, you'll likely want to keep an eye on the weather in its zip code to make sure there are cold enough temperatures to see what you'd like to see. Many travel websites have their reviews and photos updated regularly, so make sure to bookmark a few and keep them handy for when you have a stretch of free time so you can easily keep track of the ice formation process. Once you've seen that there has been a significant freeze, just double check the hours, grab a map online, throw on some warm clothes, grab your dog, leash, and dog bags, and hit the road!

Once you arrive, it does take a small hike to get to the falls, but it will be well worth it. Fewer people visit the area in winter, so you shouldn't be fighting too many crowds compared to the warmer months. There is plenty to see on the nearby trails as well, so don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and other areas of natural beauty, as they're there whether you pay attention or not. Because it's such a rare phenomenon reserved to certain parts of the year, when the falls freeze or begin to freeze over, it makes for some pretty spectacular photos, so if you have a decent camera (even a phone camera), don't forget to take it with you. Make sure to watch your dog's comfort in the cold and let them do as much sightseeing as you are so they can enjoy the trip even if they're not as enamored with the falls themselves.