Discover Smithfield: Nature, Water and History

Smithfield offers a varied mix of outdoor activities, water experiences, history and regional cuisine. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Smithfield can therefore shape their trip around their own interests: with an active day on the Greenway, historic discoveries in the town center, a museum visit or a festival celebrating local specialties.

Nature and Outdoor Activities on the Buffalo Creek Greenway

The Buffalo Creek Greenway runs for approximately three miles along Spring Branch to the Neuse River Walk at Smithfield Town Commons. In Smithfield, it is also the local section of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Its approximate length should be taken into account in any day plan if you intend to make the route a deliberate focus of your stay. The Greenway particularly appeals to travelers who want to combine their stay not only with sightseeing but also with outdoor activity.

The Historic Smithfield Walking Tour offers a different perspective on the town. It includes historic buildings, houses and monuments in downtown Smithfield. Among the sights are structures in the Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Second Empire, Colonial Revival and Gothic Revival styles. Some of them have stood since the Civil War. Those interested in architecture and local history can make this tour a dedicated cultural focus of their trip.

Water Activities and Flexible Experiences

The SRAC Splash Park in Smithfield offers water activities year-round. Trained staff supervise the activities and provide instruction and assistance. This means the splash park complements the trails and historic attractions with a different kind of experience. When planning your trip, you can decide whether an active walking tour, a visit to the water or a combination of different interests should set the right pace for your journey.

Museums and Personal Stories

The Ava Gardner Museum is dedicated to the life and career of Ava Gardner. It offers changing exhibitions, special events and expert-led tours. This makes a visit an opportunity to learn about a specific person and her career, rather than discovering Smithfield solely through its landscapes or architecture.

The Johnston County Museum broadens the historical perspective. It presents artifacts, photographs, interactive displays and interpretive exhibitions on the history of the Indigenous population, early settlements, agriculture, industry and military history in Johnston County. A two-room schoolhouse in Johnston County was built between 1868 and 1869 by the Federal Freedmen's Bureau under the guidance of the American Missionary Association. During Reconstruction, it offered formerly enslaved African Americans one of the first opportunities for formal education in Johnston County.

Regional Specialties as Part of the Trip

Local cuisine is also part of the character of Smithfield and Johnston County. The Ham & Yam Festival celebrates country ham and sweet potatoes, which are especially valued there. The festival adds a culinary highlight to the natural and cultural attractions. If you value a variety of ideas for each day when choosing your accommodation, you can consider these regional traditions alongside excursions and museum visits.

The Right Accommodation for Your Trip Planning

When choosing a holiday apartment in Smithfield, one simple question can help: should your stay have a clear focus, or should it leave room for a variety of day-trip ideas? If you plan to make the Greenway the central focus, you can arrange the other attractions around it; with a varied mix of activities, your choice of things to do remains more open.

You can then search more specifically for a holiday apartment or another type of accommodation in Smithfield that suits your preferred mix of activities.

More Places for Your Trip Planning

If you would like to compare Smithfield with other destinations, you can find the pages for Middlesex, Kenly, Four Oaks and Clayton here.

For the main travel overview: Johnston.