The climate in the area is very warm, and Lake Lure and the surrounding region is well suited for hiking, boating, fishing, and swimming. We have new spring cocktails for YOU #mondaymood #worldcocktailday #katherinebrasserie #visitwinstonsalem, They sometimes say to take the road less traveled. My two top travel destinations in NC are Charlotte and Asheville. - Travel Realizations, Must Do with One Day in Charlotte - Brown Eyed Flower Child, What you Must Do with One Day in Charlotte - Brown Eyed Flower Child. Best Places to Stay For those who love being outdoors and staying active, the U.S. National Whitewater Center is like a giant playground, considered one of the city's most popular attractions. Id love to visit Charlotte, Asheville and the Outer Banks. This post contains affiliate links which means I could earn a small commission, if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Or take a food tour, including stops at Bida Manda ranked the best restaurant in North Carolina and serving Laotian eats. Art lovers can visit the One of a Kind Art Gallery (OOAK) which is located in the Old Micaville County Store Building. For more information please check out, From the mountains to the coast, North Carolina has so many beautiful state parks. Sowithout further ado, here is my ultimate North Carolina road trip itinerary including my top 10 picks of cool cities to visit in NC: If youve always wanted to visit the Outer Banks, soak up some sun along our amazing National seashore, see epic North Carolina waterfalls, or have been planning a road trip to the Biltmore Estate or scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, then we have got you covered. All rights reserved. Lounge on the beach, rent jet skis, or take a surfing lesson. Have you enjoyed any of them before? Im definitely keeping this post handy. Roanoke lives in infamy as the first attempted settlement in America by the English, a colony that was mysteriously lost. Today, you can visit the Pepsi Store and browse through memorabilia while learning more about the history of one of the worlds favorite soft drinks. Very impressive. Please turn on for a full experience. My family is in Cary, so we spent alot of time there. Asheville is amazing!! Enjoy the cool mountain air as you cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge, a 228-foot suspension bridge spanning an 80-foot chasm at more than 1 mile in elevation. On Roanoke Island, visitors will find art galleries, a maritime museum, Elizabethan Gardens, Island Farm, and the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. How about a swinging bridge that will give you a jarring and incredible perspective of a waterfall? Exploring North Carolina often means packing up the car and hitting the road for an epic journey. Looking for somewhere to stay? I love the OBX too. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Here Are Some Of The Best Day Trips In NC You Can Take - Only In Your State The high country of North Carolina is primarily known for its winter activities, but truly offers something year-round. Send me a Printable PDF of theRoad Trip EssentialsANDTravel Planning Tips & WorksheetNow! In addition to hiking in the mountains, other memorable outdoor adventures in North Carolina include kayaking, biking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, and many more. Stay Here: Hampton Inn and Suites Jacksonville. Have not explored more to the west. Great, I thought. Researched and written by our staff writer who enjoys contributing about their state for our site. I have never thought of North Carolina as a travel destination. Pack up the car, its time to head 2.5 hours to the OBX! With abundant wildlife, verdant foliage, and its iconic mist-covered mountains, this park is perfect for camping enthusiasts, hikers, and those with an appreciation for natural beauty. Wondering what to eat and drink in Raleigh? There's also live entertainment, amusement rides and a petting zoo. North Carolina is home to a treasure trove of natural wonders that will impress just about anyone. Get more stories delivered right to your email. To learn more about, Few things inspire nostalgia like an old-fashioned train excursion. But, because Im also a realist, Ive split up this itinerary into two seven day itineraries for those of you who cant swing a two week trip. Do you wish you could travel more, but dont want to pay the expensive cost of airfare for your whole family? Asheville and Outer Banks are on my list. Corolla, North Carolina, is located in the Outer Banks and has miles and miles of beachfront land full of rental homes great for family vacations, bachelor or bachelorette weekends, or gatherings of any kind. What are the oldest attractions in North Carolina? Founded in 1710, New Bern boasts fame for the invention of Pepsi in 1898, and for being the home of famous author Nicholas Sparks the area serves as the setting for many of his novels, including The Notebook. Wilmington might look familiar, even if youve never been; its been the star of over 400 TV and movie productions. Pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented Pepsi in his drugstore in New Bern in 1898. Splash around in one of North Carolina's swimming holes Breigh Hammarlund / Flickr Seeking a natural body of water to swim in? Follow our ultimate North Carolina road trip itinerary to see the best of what NC has to offer. OBX: What does OBX mean? A visit to Chapel Hill will show visitors almost immediately why its such a popular destination for tourists. Located near the High Country, North Carolinas only show caverns allow visitors to glimpse nature at work inside the mountains. There are so many awesome water activities in North Carolina that you wont want to miss! Catch a pro football game at the Bank of America stadium, a show at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, or even a concert at the Spectrum Center. Visit the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, tour the Whalehead Mansion (paranormal enthusiasts will love it! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". What are your thoughts on these unique day trips in North Carolina? Here are some fun things to do in Charlotte depending on the time of year you are visiting: Need somewhere to stay? Check out Pullen Park, Umstead Park, or the NC Farmers Market. Nags Head is a part of the Outer Banks known for its beautiful beaches, but there is so much more to this North Carolina town than that. Definitely worth a visit!! Asheville Live music at Asheville's ChowChow Festival We were in awe with each step from the breathtaking views of Lake Lure (featured in Dirty Dancing), to the gorgeous mountain vistas. Looking for more, Hanging Rock State Park, 1790 Hanging Rock Park Rd, Danbury, NC 27016, USA, This sapphire quarry in Mooresville typically kicks off its first open swim of the season on Memorial Day Weekend. Burnsville is located about an hour from Asheville which makes it an easy day trip from the city. You can also choose to spend your day surfing, paddle boarding, kitesurfing, fishing, or kayaking. More North Carolina State Parks. Check out our guides to visiting Asheville and The Biltmore Estate. When it comes to active and unique things to do in North Carolina, the White Water Center belongs at the top of the list. Its home to some of the oldest towns and settlements of the United States, and its diverse small towns are absolutely worth a trip, whether for an afternoon or a weekend. Mount Mitchell reaches 6,684 feet in elevation at its summit, making it the highest point in America east of the Mississippi, and the park surrounding the peak is certainly one of the most beautiful in the region. Theres also a ton of room for kids to run and play to get out some of that energy. Are You Ready For Your First EV Road Trip? (Probably Not) - Forbes On land, Ocracoke offers options for hiking, biking, and some amazing food at its restaurants, many of which have docks for guests coming by boat. For those who love exploring the mountains, North Carolina offers endless wooded trails that will take you to breathtaking high-altitude vistas. Not to worry though, youll have plenty of options for small cute NC towns to stop for food, to stretch your legs and find some fun things to do! Asheville is one of the coolest cities in NC with a ton of unique things to do! Surrounded by hardwood forests, fragrant fields of lavender, and pictures-perfect barns, you'll feel worlds away from it all. To be totally honest, North Carolina is a pretty difficult state to road trip all in one fell swoop. Near the summit at exactly one mile above sea level is the Mile High Swinging Bridge, a suspension bridge that extends for over 220 feet over a chasm that drops beneath. Great ideas here for sure!! There is also a trail to the mountains waterfall. Carolina Beach, south of Wilmington, is a delightful mix of beach and vintage seaside boardwalk. You can even adventure into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park easily accessed from Cherokee, NC. With a lifetime of journeys that span multiple countries and over 30 states in the US, her passion for travel was sparked by a nomadic lifestyle. Map 15 Fun Family Destinations in North Carolina Pin this Ultimate North Carolina Road Trip Itinerary! beaches, waterfalls, state & national parks, etc. Ready to get out of town and explore, but dont want to stray too far from home? Spend the morning here before driving on a half an hour to Boone, North Carolina! Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. What are the most well-known parks in North Carolina? North Carolina Day Trip With Kids: Ocracoke, 24. Near the coast of North Carolina, along the Trent and Neuse Rivers is New Bern, one of the oldest towns in the state. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Romantic North Carolina Day Trip: Mount Mitchell State Park, 22. Hikers will wind their way up mountainsides and across rivers to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Theres truly no shortage of unique day trips in North Carolina, and weve got just the list to prove it. If youre looking to stay in downtown Asheville, we highly recommend the Renaissance Asheville Hotel. Here at More than Main Street, you're going to find practical tips, tricks, & inspo for planning your next adventure and crafting a life you love. More things to do in Fayetteville. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. NoDa This is a small hipster district right outside of Uptown Charlotte. Connect with wildlife from two different continents (and a third coming in the next few years!) Soak up the beauty of Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. I get done reading and want to golike now! It will steal your heart, I promise. If you want calmer waters, then head over to Carolina Beach State Park. Day Trips in NC - The Coolest North Carolina Day Trips North Carolina is a great travel destination with a lot to do and see, but sometimes you need to get away and explore the surrounding areas. Trails to the summits of these peaks vary in length and difficulty for hikers of all ability levels, and camping in Pisgah National Forest is permitted at both established campsites and in backcountry locations. Once youve arrived in Cedar Island, we recommend driving one more hour to Beaufort, NC for some lunch. Youll find out more about it in our Mountains section below. Seeking a natural body of water to swim in? 2 and the 9-hole short course known as The Cradle Pinehurst is the largest golf resort in America. Wrightsville Beach consists of a four mile long island off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina, as well as an interior island, and a few bits of the mainland. Day Trips in North Carolina (Western) We first focus on our favorite day trips in North Carolina's mountains and in the surrounding foothills. Nature lovers will delight in the thickly wooded slopes of Pisgah National Forest, whose 500,000 acres are home to hiking trails that extend for more than 1600 miles over rivers, past cascading waterfalls, and through the beautiful North Carolina wilderness. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. From the wealth of activities on the beach, from sunbathing to paddleboarding to miniature golf, its easy to find things to do on Emerald Isle, where the island places special emphasis on creating an atmosphere suitable for family fun. Regardless of your ideal excursion style, North Carolina has much to offer. Yes, most people know it for the Biltmore Estate, but it is so much more than that! Grab a ferry from Beaufort to explore Cape Lookout National Seashore and Lighthouse. Explore antique locomotives, rail cars, automobiles and more at a site that was once a national hub for steam engine repair at the North Carolina Transportation Museum. Love North Carolina? Gaze up at Chimney Rock as you play or lie on the beach. The trails vary in difficulty and length, from easy to difficult and from under a mile to four-and-a-half miles. You will receive your first newsletter soon. Need more details? While you can drive north to south in approximately three hours, driving across the state west to east will take you upwards of at least eight hours. So many places to visit. One day trip near me: Cherokee, North Carolina, 19. Thanks for sharing! 15 Top Day Trips from Raleigh NC (within a 2-hour drive) - This is Raleigh And choose one of the family-friendly campgrounds, such as Lake Powhatan or Davidson River. Linzey @thefamilyfuntour. Check out these awesome family friendly AirBnBs in the Outer Banks and our family favorite place to stay: The Saturday House. While each is certainly worth visiting, many folks agree that the best state parks to see are Goose Creek State Park, Hanging Rock State Park, Morrow Mountain State Park, Pilot Mountain State Park, Eno River State Park, Lake James State Park, Raven Rock State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Mount Mitchell State Park, and Carolina Beach State Park. Amelie's Bakery, a 24/7 french bakery, is located in this district. Were always discovering new and fun things to do! Whether youre looking for beautiful scenery, mountain adventures, cool swimming holes, quality time with animals, beautiful gardens, or something else entirely, the best day trips in North Carolina belong on your radar. Some of the best little-known attractions in North Carolina like a fountain of youth, swinging bridges, and much more can be found on our list of 10 places only locals know. The area is also home to a herd of wild horses, and visitors will love visiting their habitat and seeing them relax on the beach like tourists. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Custom Half-Day Photo Tour with Photography Lessons . Theyll teach you to fish, and then show you how to cook it up! This family theme park features a 3-mile steam-powered train ride, which plays host to special events throughout the year such as Day Out With Thomas and Ghost Train. Throughout the summer, the quarry will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Just be sure to, The Quarry at Carrigan Farms, 1213 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28115, USA, Divine Llama Vineyards, 4126 Divine Llama Ln, East Bend, NC 27018, USA, Aloha Safari Park, 159 Mini Ln, Cameron, NC 28326, USA, If you find yourself along the Outer Banks, you should definitely take time to visit Elizabethan Gardens in Manteo. Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, 9. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Curious to learn more? Why? North Carolina is a great vacation destination because it has it all u002du002d mountains, beaches, big cities, small towns, and plenty of southern charm. North Carolina is one of the best states in the Eastern part of the US. A total of 11 trails dot this spot, one of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so you can take on anything from a gentle walk to a rigorous trek. Ive never been to NC but this post just made me put it in my bucket list. Get up bright and early because today will consist a lot of travel time! If you are looking to explore Chimney Rock further, there are multiple trails for hiking, including kid-friendly trails near the entrance. Check out these 23 incredible day trips in North Carolina, and let us know your favorites! Live demonstrations at Oconaluftee Indian Village will show visitors what life was like in an 18th century Cherokee village, and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian will teach about the history of the Cherokee Nation in the region. 1. Were hitting all the best things to do in North Carolina in one ultimate NC road trip. Old Salem Museums & Gardens lets you experience early American history in the unique Moravian settlement of Salem. Goodness you have sooo many fun sounding ideas. From big cities to small towns, and from in-town museums and restaurants, to the more secluded beaches and mountains there is just so much to do in North Carolina! Families Fly Free is a program that teaches families how to fly for free using travel rewards including our family! Yes! Trying to decide where to eat in Wilmington? NC Is my happy place! Lake Lure is a huge lake that approximates over 700 acres in Hickory Nut Gorge in the western part of the state. Most of these parks offer wonderful recreational facilities, including camping, so you can look forward to extending your stay. This national park receives almost 12 million visitors a year, making it the most visited national park in the United States. Located in Charlotte, this fun-filled property offers rope courses, zip lining, white water rafting, forested trails, and mountain biking. The two-acre garden serves as a nod to history (Queen Elizabeth I loved elaborate, fanciful gardens) as well as an ode to Sir Walter Raleigh and the Lost Colonists. Thanks for this! Read my family friendly guide to the Outer Banks and Corolla. If you can do it all at once, rock on. Feel free to reach out by leaving a comment below or DM me on Instagram with questions. Situated on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. 2. Stay Here: Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown, Read More: 51+ AWESOME THINGS TO DO IN CHARLOTTE NC FOR AN AMAZING TIME. We love trip planning and are happy to help create an itinerary that fits your travel needs and wants. And always keep an eye on the fun ranger activities going on here. Photographed above is Catawba Falls in Old Fort, North Carolina. Visitors can go spelunking amongst the limestone stalactites and stalagmites of Linville Caverns or drive along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway to get up close and personal with some of the most beautiful mountains in the region. as you explore 500 acres of exhibits carefully constructed to resemble natural habitats. The surrounding mountains offer many hiking trails, as well as several beautiful waterfalls to photograph. If youve been planning a road trip to the Biltmore Estate or wanting to see some North Carolina waterfalls, here is your chance! Take the ferry to Bear Island and Hammocks Beach State Park where you can bask in the sun, collect shells, and explore. Stay Here: Hampton Inn and Suites Swansboro. You can witness craftsmen performing historic trades, recreate Moravian crafts, enjoy sweets from Winkler Bakery, visit the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) and enjoy the gardens, an essential part of life in Salem since 1766. The town of Boone, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is a historic area that, like many other towns on this list, offers countless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Fun Things to Do in North Carolina - NC Attractions Last on our Outer Banks tour, youre going to head south to Ocracoke. While these sites are certainly picturesque, they also hold a haunting and tragic energy that one notices immediately. This mornings scenic drive is about an hour and a half to get to Grandfather Mountain. Just east of Winston-Salem, youll find the awesome town of Greensboro. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. And Wilmington Water Tours Pirate Cruise is a MUST if you have kiddos. Visitors to Ocracoke can sunbathe, swim, or get wild with watersports from surfing to waterskiing. 25 Top Travel Destinations You Need To Visit | Get Lost Travel Blog, 31 Reasons to Love Asheville, NC The Best Things to Do in Asheville, North Carolina, 21 Most Beautiful States in the USA - All-American Atlas, Blowing Rock - A beautiful mountain village in North Carolina, USA! In town, New Berns main streets are filled with boutiques and attractions set along the banks of the scenic river. 15 Fun Family Destinations in North Carolina, 2023 Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, The Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain, More tips to help protect NC's outdoor spaces, Project 543: Visit the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola, Project 543: The Worlds Greatest Sea Weapon, Project 543: Ride the Last Locomotive of the ET&WNC Railroad, Slide, Splash, Swim at North Carolina Water Parks, private and group surfing lessons and camps, Beyond the Guidebook: Old Salem Museums & Gardens, Explore the Wonder of Grandfather Mountain. <3 Loved the beaches in Wilmington and loved pretty much everything about AshevilleI'd love to go back again someday! Theres a depth and a richness new attractions to explore,familiar activities to experience in fresh ways and stunning outdoor locations were helping preserve for generations to come. The wild horses are also famous for their habitat in Corolla, where you can take a guided Jeep tour to see them. If you're curious to explore the most well-known state parks in North Carolina, you might start with Goose Creek State Park, Morrow Mountain State Park, or Signal Mountain State Park. Tour Battleship North Carolina, one of the most highly decorated battleships of World War II, or experience a hands-on adventure at Sea Turtle Camp. Day Trips from Raleigh NC. Just pull up your SUV and park it for the day! 23+ Incredible Day Trips in NC for Every Style of Traveler We absolutely love a half-day excursion with Marsh Cruises, which is super affordable! Lesli Peterson, the driving force behind 365 Atlanta Traveler, is an authority on the best things to do in Atlanta, across the South, and around the world. The town of Corolla has plenty to do, from climbing the stairs of the beautiful and scenic Currituck Beach Lighthouse to visiting the historic Whalehead Club. The Ultimate North Carolina Road Trip Itinerary. This road trip looks awesome! During the summer, weekly firework shows and regular concerts and events add even more to the experience. In fact, North Carolina is home to the tallest mountain in the east: Mount Mitchell. Slow moving ground water created underground labyrinths forming an incredible series of rooms, passages and spectacular formations. And dont forget the Cape Fear Museumwhich preserves and interprets objects relating to the history, science, the Civil War, and cultures of Lower Cape Fear. A little further northwest is Grandfather Mountain, an amazing biodiverse range with formations thought to be over 1 billion years old. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Equipment rentals are available on location. Dont miss a ferry to the smaller island of Shackleford Banks, where you share the undeveloped shoreline with the Banker Ponies feral horses whose ancestors are believed to be shipwrecked Spanish Mustangs from the late 1500s. Cherokee, North Carolina is a town inside the Eastern Cherokee Reservation, and it offers visitors an amazing look into Native American culture and history through museums, shops, and shows. Stay Here: Best Western Mountain Lodge at Banner Elk. If youre up for a little more driving, head north an hour to Corolla to see the wild horses, an absolutely unforgettable experience! Day 2: Rocky Mount.
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