Top Instagrammable Spots in Halifax County

Whether you call them Instagrammable, photo-worthy, or just plain beautiful, it's always nice to fill your camera roll with a region’s most scenic spots. Fortunately, Halifax County has no shortage of Instagrammable eye candy.

The lineup below includes art, architecture, nature, food, and more. It also includes a few bonus stops for similar or nearby places you can check out if you want to keep exploring.

Ready to start snapping? Here are the must-see Instagrammable sights in Halifax County.

Plumes and Blooms at Sylvan Heights Bird Park

This is a twofer. Everyone likes a little color in their Instagram feed, and you get it in spades at Sylvan Heights Bird Park.

First off, the birds themselves sport a rainbow of feathers. Some of the most colorful are the turacos, toucans, macaws, parrots, pigeons, and something called a Palawan peacock-pheasant, an iridescent blue-feathered bird from the Philippines with a tendency to strut.

And of course, the flamingos are always a crowd pleaser. But for sheer cuteness, it’s hard to beat the aviary filled with parakeets. They will be more than happy to pose for a pic with you, especially if you bought feed for them.

In spring and summer, the flowers join in the color show, including hibiscus, hydrangeas, and water lilies, to name just a few.

Keep reading. We’ve got one more bird park Instagrammable find for you below.

McDowell's Pharmacy Sign

A splash of vintage charm is always eye-catching, and the sign above McDowell's Pharmacy is a perfect example of this. It's the genuine article too. The Scotland Neck Pharmacy has been owned and operated by four generations of the McDowell family going back to 1922.

Inside, you can glimpse the original tile floors and mahogany cabinets dating to 1901, when the building first became a pharmacy. But even if you’re just in town on a weekend when the pharmacy is closed, you can snap a great photo of the sign with the nostalgic “Drink Coca-Cola” ad below it.

The red bricks and striped tan and green awning fill out the rest of the frame with old-timey vibes. For the best lighting, try to snap your shot on a cloudy day or when the sun isn't directly overhead.

Bonus: Didn’t get enough flamingos at the bird park? On the same street, just a few steps away, is a 90-foot mural of these majestic birds, painted by artist Napolean Hill in honor of Scotland Neck.

Quill Pen Monument

You can't miss the giant quill pen if you're walking down King Street. Measuring six feet tall, it was installed in April to commemorate the signing of the Halifax Resolves on April 12, 1776. At the base, it says “Birthplace of American Independence, Halifax NC 1776,” encircled around the gold HH logo.

The backdrop is perfect too: the historic Halifax Courthouse, currently hung with banners for America's 250th anniversary.

Bonus: Nearby is another monument. Though not as striking (or tall) as the quill pen, the Charters of Freedom Monument is worth a visit. You can see bronze replicas of the Halifax Resolves, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence — yes, John Hancock's signature really is that big.

Chockoyotte Aqueduct

This stone relic along the Roanoke Canal Trail isn't part of the canal itself but rather the aqueduct used to channel the canal water over Chockoyotte Creek. Built around 1823, it was an engineering marvel for its time — which you'll learn if you visit the Roanoke Canal Museum, the starting point for the trail in Roanoke Rapids.

But you don’t need to trek the full 7.5-mile trail to see this scenic landmark. You can simply type “Aqueduct Parking Area – Roanoke Canal Trail” into Google Maps and go straight to the spot in Weldon. There’s a sign pointing the way, and you can mosey down the 0.2-mile path to a wooden overlook to frame the perfect shot against the lush green trees and bubbling water below.

The ivy-covered granite ruin looks especially good in filtered morning light or after a rain when the creek is flowing fast.

Weldon Mills Distillery

This restored corn mill on the Roanoke River presents a pretty picture as you pull into Weldon Mills Distillery. Originally built in the 1890s, the all-brick building was carefully renovated in 2019. Now, it’s popular as a wedding venue.

You can stop by in the morning to snap photos crowd-free, but you’ll want to visit when they’re open to take a tour of their second renovated building, a 1950s sewing factory turned working distillery. Learn how they make bourbon, whiskey, vodka, gin, and more, an art that has earned them the distinction of being North Carolina’s most awarded distillery.

There's a complimentary tasting at the end, and a bottle of bourbon makes a perfect souvenir. Snap a photo of it with the mill in the background before you go.

Halifax Resolves Mural

There are murals galore in Halifax County, several thanks to the artistry of Napolean Hill, who’s known for capturing rural North Carolina's spirit in bold colors and soulful brushwork.

They all deserve a spot on this list, but if I had to pick one that's the most iconic, few would disagree that it’s the Halifax Resolves Mural on King Street.

Halifax, North Carolina, was the first place where an entire colony officially called for independence from Britain, and this mural pays tribute to the event with a scroll at the center flanked by two flags extended like wings behind it: the original Stars and Stripes to the left and the North Carolina state flag to the right.

Historic Halifax buildings are painted into the scene, and the mural itself is in the heart of Historic Halifax, just steps from the courthouse, meaning you can easily visit the Quill Pen Monument at the same time.

If you enjoy this stop, be sure to visit Hill’s other murals around the county, from Littleton down to Hobgood.

Check out this photo tour of all of Hill’s Halifax County murals.

Lake Gaston Coffee at Daphne's

At Lake Gaston Coffee at Daphne’s, the coffee, pastries, and the shop itself are all Instagrammable. Take your pick.

The shopfront looks like it dropped in from 19th-century Paris with its French blue painted pilasters framing transom windows and gold lettering at the top proclaiming its delights: “COFFEE TEA PASTRIES.”

Inside, elements like exposed brick, wood, and gray shag pillows make the space warm and inviting. You’ll also notice artwork hanging on the walls, created by Littleton matriarch Daphne Clark. A portrait of Daphne herself is painted on the brick wall behind the pastry case.

Let’s talk about that pastry case. Croissants. Danishes. Cookies. Muffins. Any one of them will look nice alongside a steaming mug of espresso, maybe with some latte art swirled in the foam on top.

If you find you need a second cup of joe with a second pastry — merely so you can get the best photo, of course — go for it. This is a pleasant place to linger.

Wetland boardwalk at Sylvan Heights Bird Park

You probably remember we already had the Sylvan Heights Bird Park as a stop above, but the place is stunning enough to deserve a second mention here. While the flowers and feathered friends are the more obvious photo subjects, you'll want to head over to the wetlands boardwalk for calmer, more secluded space.

The long wooden walkway stretches out over the preserved wetlands, framed by towering trees. It’s quiet out here, serene. Often, you’ll have the place to yourself.

To capture the moment, you'll want to crouch low and aim high. It shows off the height of the trees and adds a glimpse of sky. If your smartphone has a wide angle or panorama mode, now is the time to use it.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Halifax

One of the rules of Instagram — there are rules; you didn’t know? — is that if you find an adorable door, particularly a red one, you should photograph it. And that is exactly what you'll find at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Halifax.

What makes this red door particularly charming is that it sits at the end of a brick path on a diminutive white church with narrow stained glass windows and a steep roof. The entire scene is picturesque. The style is Gothic, and the building dates to the 1850s, but you don’t need to know any of that to appreciate its beauty. Of course, snapping the classic photo leaning against the door, provided you have the equipment or friend to make it happen, is highly recommended.

The church is also on King Street, less than a five-minute walk from the Halifax Resolves mural.

Bonus: Lesser known for shutterbugs and history enthusiasts, the All Saints' Episcopal Church in Roanoke Rapids is pretty Instagrammable too. It was built much later (1916), but that’s still pretty old, and its setting, surrounded by mature trees and a manicured lawn, makes it just as photogenic.

Roanoke Rapids Lake

Waterfront photos are always winners. This shot of Roanoke Rapids Lake was taken from the Roanoke Rapids Lake Day Use Area, which also includes a playground, small beach, and picnic shelters if you want to stay and relax for a while.

This pier stretching into the blue is practically begging for someone to strike a pose.

If you want to up the ante — aesthetically speaking — wait till sunset. The park faces west, and when the weather conditions are right, you’ll be treated to a glowing sky of red, orange, and pink deepening into dusk.

Bonus: Can't get enough of the lakefront views? Lake Gaston is even bigger, spanning some 20,000 acres. See it from the Lake Gaston Day Use Area in Littleton.

By Cheryl Rodewig