Explore from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks
North Carolina is where the highest mountain peaks in the eastern United States meet 300 miles of coastline; both landscapes offer endless views, unlike anything you’ve seen before. It is home to hundreds of waterfalls, four national forests, and many lakes, rivers, and streams, perfect for outdoor adventures.
Plan a trip full of firsts to experience the unparalleled beauty of North Carolina during your vacation in the United States. Discover why the Blue Ridge Parkway, often referred to as ‘America’s Favorite Highway,’ is a must-visit destination. Try exhilarating activities like hang gliding just steps from the site of the first powered flight, or immerse yourself in the vibrant cities that offer a blend of rich culture, mouthwatering world-famous barbecue, and craft beer. Explore the wonders of North Carolina Summer Vacations and create lasting memories in one of the most breathtaking locations in the United States.
A World of Panoramic Discoveries
In North Carolina, naturally beautiful landscapes stretch from the coast to the Great Smoky Mountains, providing nearly 900 kilometers of beautiful scenery. Explore the breathtaking views of the mountain range while hiking, camping, rafting, or ziplining, then settle into a cozy mountain cabin.
Along the coast, immerse yourself in water sports like kiteboarding, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, or kayaking. Climb historic lighthouses, including the tallest in the country, climb aboard a landmark battleship, or enjoy the sunrise and sunset right on the beach. And get your camera ready: wild horses are roaming the sands of two different banks.
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks – or OBX, as locals know it – is a series of barrier islands that hug the coast of North Carolina. These narrow islands were once a favorite haunt of pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. Today, the Outer Banks is a popular destination for vacationers seeking a break from the summer heat.
The northern end of the Outer Banks is famous for the wild horses that still roam its dunes. The central section is home to the Bodie Island towns of Nags Head and Kitty Hawk, where travelers can find numerous miniature golf courses, gift shops, and restaurants. Roanoke Island, west of Bodie Island, is home to the town of Manteo, home to the “Lost Colony,” whose British settler inhabitants disappeared without a trace in the 1580s.
Further south is the beautiful and relatively wild coastline, Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Cape Lookout National Seashore.
There’s plenty to explore and discover in this beautiful coastal region of North Carolina!
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Wilmington
The Wilmington area is home to some of North Carolina’s most popular beaches: Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach. This historic port city is also a family destination. His North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher was named by the “Travel Channel” as one of the best in the United States.
Visitors can also enjoy strolls along Wilmington’s Riverwalk, which runs alongside the Cape Fear River. There are also several mansions and plantations in the area, including Poplar Grove Plantation, the oldest peanut plantation in the United States, and the pre-bombing Bellamy Mansion.
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The Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Because the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located within driving distance of several major East Coast cities, it is the most visited national park in the United States. But it’s not just the accessibility of this park that makes it so popular.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is famous for its abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery. More than 1,500 black bears, for example, roam the natural wonderland, as do deer, foxes, turkeys, and even moose, which have recently been reintroduced. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park also has approximately 850 miles of trails and many beautiful waterfalls.
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Asheville – A Captivating City with a Multitude of Must-See Attractions in North Carolina
Situated in the beautiful foothills of Blue Ridge, the city of Asheville enjoys a reputation as a vibrant and artistic community. In the city center, several boutiques showcase local creations, as well as bars and great places to eat. Buskers and street performers only add to the overall creative vibe of Ashville.
Over the years, this beautiful and unique city has won a host of awards, including Travel Leisure’s “America’s Quirkiest City” in September 2014, and was named by “Good Morning America” as one of his “Most Beautiful Places in America.” Ashville is also located close to the world-famous Biltmore Estate. It was built between 1889 and 1895, and this Chateauesque-style mansion is the largest private home in the United States, drawing nearly a million visitors yearly.
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Old Salem – A Timeless Oasis of Moravian Heritage and Living History
Old Salem is a living museum, a recreation of what life was like in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina during the 18th and 19th centuries. Through interaction with the re-enactors of Old Salem and strolling the streets of this National Historic Landmark, visitors can experience first-hand the culture and various trades of the Moravian settlers who lived in this area.
Guests of Old Salem, for example, can see cobblers, gunsmiths, and tailors performing their respective services or making their particular products. Additionally, some areas of Old Salem also offer visitors hands-on activities.
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Diving Deep into Asheville: North Carolina’s Vibrant Mountain Paradise
Visitors looking for a destination where the pace is slower, and there are no cars should head to Bald Head Island. Reachable only by ferry from the city of Southport or by private boat, this island boasts 14 miles of beaches and a laid-back vibe.
Traveling from one place to another on the island is on foot, by bicycle, or by golf cart. Island landscapes include swamps, maritime forests, and the Bald Head Island Golf Course. This island is also a turtle nesting area. During the summer months, its Bald Head Island Conservancy hosts Turtle Walks for visitors who want to help monitor a nest for emerging babies or to watch mothers come ashore to nest.
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Chimney Rock State Park: The Breathtaking Natural Attraction of North Carolina
Chimney Rock State Park, located approximately 25 miles from the city of Asheville, features miles of hiking trails and the beautiful 400-foot Hickory Nut Falls. But, of course, the most famous destination in this state park is the 300-plus-foot (90-meter) monolith known as Chimney Rock, which boasts stunning views of the surrounding area.
Visitors can take the 26-story elevator or climb 500 steps – or the approximate equivalent of 31 flights of stairs – to reach the top of the Chimney. This park is relatively new, having been authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2005.
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Hanging Rock State Park: A Majestic Outdoor Adventure
Located near the Winston-Salem area in the Sauratown Mountains, this charming park offers visitors more than 18 miles (29 km) of trails ranging from easy to complex and a lake perfect for boating. , fish and swim. The park is also home to several pretty waterfalls.
Hanging Rock State Park has ten cabins and a tent and trailer camp available for visitors wishing to stay in the park. Hanging Rock State Park is famous for its impressive quartzite formations and ridges, such as the Devil’s Chimney and the Hanging Rock of the same name.
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Blue Ridge Parkway: North Carolina’s Scenic Highway to Heaven
The Blue Ridge Parkway is considered by many to be one of the most scenic highways in the United States and one of the best places to visit in North Carolina. Earning National Parkway and All-American Road designations, this winding stretch of asphalt is lovely during the fall, when the surrounding hills turn shades of orange, yellow, and red.
The avenue is also beautiful in the spring when the Carolina rhododendrons and dogwoods bloom. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 755 km from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park.
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Charlotte: The Dynamic Metropolis at the Heart of North Carolina
As the largest city in North Carolina, Charlotte has a lot to offer visitors, especially motorsports enthusiasts. Known as Queen City, Charlotte is home to some exciting attractions, including the Carowinds Amusement Park, the largest man-made whitewater park, the US National Whitewater Center, and the Discovery Place.
This family-friendly spot combines a science museum with an aquarium. This city is also where visitors can find the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Additionally, nearly all of NASCAR’s racing stores, most of which are open to the public, can be found in the nearby suburb of Mooresville.
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Biltmore House: An Extravagant Glimpse into North Carolina’s Gilded Age
It was the home of art collector George Vanderbilt and his philanthropist wife, Edith. It now serves as a tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina. Explore the stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests, and staff through period clothing, accessories, art, furniture, and more exhibits.
It also contains original art by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and John Singer Sargent, as well as 16th-century tapestries, a library with 10,000 volumes, a banquet hall, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, and a bowling alley. “Almost all priceless objects.”
Don’t forget to bring your camera! The interior and exterior of Biltmore House are really lovely.
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Pisgah National Forest: North Carolina’s Verdant Sanctuary of Natural Wonders
If you want to visit a place with waterfalls, streams, suspension bridges, and forested landscapes, you must go to this destination.
On its more than 500,000 acres, there are whitewater rivers, waterfalls, and hundreds of miles of trails. “This national forest is home to the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 that led to the creation of national forests in the eastern United States,” they note on their website.
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Grandfather Mountain: Ascend to the Skies in North Carolina’s Towering Natural Marvel
It is a mountain of 1828 meters in height, the highest peak in the Blue Ridge, one of the primary ranges of the Appalachian Mountains. It is located near Linville in North Carolina.
It is a must-see point on your trip to the state because you can walk the Mile High suspension bridge with spectacular landscape views. In addition to hiking, see wildlife in its habitat, attend the nature museum, and bird watching.
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Raleigh Beer Garden: Revel in the World’s Largest Selection of Draft Beers
It is a restaurant bar with the Guinness World Record for the largest selection of draft beers available in a single establishment. Due to the enormity of their ever-changing selection, they do not print a paper menu.
If you go on a trip with friends, you must enjoy the experience of a meal in this place. You find it at 616 Glenwood Avenue in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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Chapel Hill: Experience the Dynamic Blend of Culture & Education
Chapel Hill, home to UNC-Chapel Hill, is a trendy city fast becoming a premier destination for American culinary delights. The town is full of sounds, sights, and flavors and is home to musicians, authors, and artists. Franklin Street, named after Benjamin Franklin, is the hub of downtown life. Visitors will quietly come across cafes, restaurants, bookstores, museums, bars, and music stores.
Chapel Hill was created to serve the University because when the UNC Board of Trustees selected the area in 1793 around New Hope Chapel for its first State University, they gave a committee the goal of creating a town adjacent to the site.
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Boone: North Carolina’s Mountain Oasis Offering History, Adventure, and Natural Beauty
The thriving community of Boone is surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Named for Daniel Boone, the American pioneer, Boone stays true to his roots in adventure. Search for the past on the Tweetsie Railroad, travel to Grandfather Mountain to cross the Mile High Swinging Bridge, or enjoy some 200 miles of unique mountain bike trails through the Pisgah National Forest.
Boone also offers more than adventure for outdoor lovers. From theater to shopping to sports at Appalachian State University, visitors will find unforgettable experiences no matter their preferences. Immersed in the Blue Ridge Mountains area, Boone is the ideal destination for weekend getaways and extended vacations.
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Elizabeth City: Discover Southern Hospitality and Waterside
Whether visitors are looking for a weekend getaway or a stopover on an extended tour of North Carolina, Elizabeth City is ideal. Its six historic districts remind us of Blackbeard’s time when trains were still a prominent way to travel, and the Wright brothers stopped to buy merchandise as they passed.
Situated on the Pasquotank River, the city was incorporated in 1793. Its current “Port of Hospitality” is an attractive waterfront location with everything a tourist could want. A complete list of galleries, theater performances, and museums can be found on the community website.
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Greenville, North Carolina: A Vibrant Nexus of Culture, Cuisine, and Coastal Plain Charm
This is the perfect itinerary if you only have two days in Greenville. Start your first day with a walk or run, then sit down to a sumptuous breakfast at The Scullery, Courtside Café, or another restaurant. Immerse yourself in some beautiful art at the Pitt County Arts Council at Emerge, the Greenville Museum of Art, Art Avenue, ECU’s Wellington B. Gray Gallery, the City Art Gallery, or the Ledonia Cultural Center Wright.
Browse the shops and antique stores of the Uptown Greenville district, browse the latest fashions at Lynndale Shoppes and Arlington Village, and satisfy your need for handmade goods at Artisans. On day two, let your appetite guide you along the North Carolina BBQ Trail.
