Go west, cool mom! Go west! Just west of Sandhills lies the Piedmont region, rich in culture, heritage and history. Head out with the family to one of these sites for a great day trip or combine several for a weekend get-away.

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has put together road trip ideas to help you plan the perfect day, weekend or vacation. Mix and match itineraries, print one out, pack a bag and hit the road! Visit them at visitnc.com/what_to_do_itineraries.asp.

Check out these hot spots for your next family outing:

Historic Sites

Looking to lure your family off the couch? Well, grab your keys and coax them into the car. Good, clean family fun is easily found—and they just might learn a little something along the way too! Many of our local historical sites are free to the public or offer admission by donation. Some of our areas best keep secrets are located right in our own backyards.

Check out the following historical sites located in your own backyard:

Museums

Make your next outing a learning experience and fun by visiting on of the regions many museums. Remember, many museums are members of networks of institutions similar to their own. Members of these networks offer reciprocal admission (which means FREE!) to members of other museums in the network. Cha-CHING! Make sure to ask when you arrive about these programs.

Get out of the house for some good family fun and visit of the following museums: