Making 2012 Memorable Published May 22, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Mariah Tolbert 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- As temperatures rise, many Airmen and their families are planning trips to locations across the United States. For those who want to stay local, there are many activities available to keep them entertained and make the summer memorable. Seymour Johnson is centrally located about an hour and a half away from the Atlantic Coast where there are plenty of beaches and places to stay for weekend getaways. The coast and sandy beaches may be a great getaway for the family, but there are many other destinations that could end with memories beyond a sunburn and sandy car. Busco Beach ATV Park and Campground Open year round with beaches and off-roading fun, Busco Beach is an ATV oriented recreation facility with water front space for primitive camping and RVs, located in Goldsboro. Carolina Premium Outlets For those who can shop until they drop, the outlets are the place to be. With more than 80 stores, ranging from Polo Ralph Lauren to Bath and Body works, there is something for everyone at this outdoor outlet mall located off I-95 in Smithfield. For a complete list of stores, visit www.premiumoutlets.com. Carowinds Carowinds is one of the southeast's largest amusement parks and is a popular attraction for those young and young at heart. It includes a 12-acre area full of rides and games tailored to smaller children and for the older kids, they recently added live entertainment and the "WindSeeker" which is 301 feet of fun. To plan a trip to Carowinds, visit www.carowinds.com. Fort Fisher Fort Fisher Air Force Recreation Area, located at Kure Beach, is on the southern end of Pleasure Island and has been operated by Seymour Johnson Air Force Base since 1991. It features a Beach House Bar and Grill, recreation centers with pool tables and wireless internet, outdoor pool, beach access and much more. There are also free summer concerts stating the second and fourth Friday of June, July and August. To book a reservation, visit www.fortfishermilrec.com. Larry Bill's Fun Time Golf Larry Bill's Fun Time Golf is Wayne County's #1 miniature golf course, located off U.S. Highway 70 next to the Rosewood Super Wal-Mart. With an 18-hole, 44 par golf course and bumper cars, surrounded by natural landscaping, streams and waterfalls, this destination will make any night of friendly competition memorable. To find out more about the golf course, visit www.funtimegolfgoldsboro.com. Marbles Kid Museum Marbles is a hands-on, minds-on museum that inspires imagination, discovery and learning through extraordinary adventures in play and larger-than-life experiences. Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, Marbles houses a vibrant museum for children 10-and-under and also the only 3D-capable giant screen IMAX Theatre in North Carolina. For directions or more information, visit www.marbleskidsmuseum.org. Museum Park at North Carolina The park, located in Raleigh, consists of 164 acres, with a trail system that leads visitors through innate areas and to more than a dozen commissioned works of art. The trails are designed for walking, cycling and jogging, and are free of charge. For more information, visit www.ncartmuseum.org North Carolina Zoo Spanning more than 2,000 acres, the North Carolina Zoo located in Asheboro is known as the nation's largest zoo. With more than 1,100 animals and 40,000 plants, the zoo can turn into a two-day trip. Military members and groups receive a discount. For more information, visit www.nczoo.org Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Getting tired of just riding the waves? With more than 36 attractions and 3 million gallons of water, Wet 'n Wild is the largest water park in both the Carolinas. It is family friendly and has an activity for everyone's desires. To buy tickets in advance or see daily events, visit www.emeraldpointe.com. ZipQuest Imagine propelling from platform to platform, through North Carolina's lush treetops and mountainous landscapes seeing what the birds see, in a secure harness on industrial cables. Visit Fayetteville's ZipQuest Waterfall and Treetop. For more information or book your tour, visit www.zipquest.com. These are only a few destinations; many more are located throughout the state to suit the various interests of each person. By researching and planning activities, the summer of 2012 can be a memorable one. For more information and military specials for several destinations, visit or contact Outdoor Recreation at 919-722-1104 or visit www.sjfss.com. (Editor's note: No endorsement of any business intended)