The majority of furniture within the United States (some figures state as much as 60%) is produced within a 200-mile (320-kilometer) radius of Hickory. Outlet stores and retail showrooms within Hickory allow visitors to check for furniture bargains. For a wide selection in one area, visitors should visit 20 Miles of Furniture, a shopping area that has over 35 furniture stores.

The Hickory Motor Speedway has been bringing car racing to Hickory since 1950. Today, the Speedway hosts weekly NASCAR races. For baseball fans, the Hickory Crawdads of the South Atlantic League play regular home games at L.P. Frans Stadium from April through September. Other local attractions include the Hickory Museum of Art and the Catawba Science Center.