11 Beautiful Places To Visit In North Carolina

Looking for the best things to do in NC? Here you will see why the Old North State is one of the jewels of America and see some of the beautiful North Carolina tourist attractions.

 

North Carolina is a state that has it all: cities with a great cultural scene and excellent food; a coastline with beautiful beaches and parks with incredible scenery. In this post you will find the best places to visit in North Carolina, highlighting the state’s beautiful spots, cultural hubs and the best things to do in NC.

Best Things To Do In North Carolina

1- Explore Charlotte

Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina and, for most, the starting point for any trip around the state.

This vibrant city is home to important historical sites, museums and great restaurants, making it one of the best places to visit in North Carolina.

Some of the must-see places include the Levine Museum of the New South, dedicated to the changes that happened in NC after the American Civil War.

For a “lighter” experience, there is also the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where you can learn about the sport and the biggest NASCAR stars.

Foodies can’t miss the popular 7th Street Public Market, with its food hall that is a real hub for many of Charlotte’s good eateries.

When visiting Charlotte, you can follow this Charlotte itinerary, which will show you why the city is among the top places to visit in North Carolina.

If you’re a golf person, you’ll be glad to know there are many public golf courses in Charlotte, as well as some good semi-private ones you could try a swing or two.

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2- See The Beauty of Atlantic Beach

Tucked along the beautiful Crystal Coast, the town of Atlantic Beach, NC may not have quite the name recognition of beach towns further north in the Outer Banks, but it’s still one of the best places to visit in NC.

Located on a narrow barrier island, Atlantic Beach is – fittingly – all about enjoying the sun, sand, and ocean waves.

Away from the beach itself (which will undoubtedly take up much of your time in town), some of the other best things to do in Atlantic Beach include visiting historic Fort Macon State Park (one of the most-visited state parks in North Carolina), fishing on the pier, birdwatching, and eating several slices of the famous Atlantic Beach pie.

Other popular options include renting a boat for the day, dining overlooking the water, and parasailing.

Day trips to nearby destinations like Beaufort, Pine Knoll Shores (home to the North Carolina Aquarium), Morehead City, and Emerald Isle are also a must when visiting Atlantic Beach.

For an unforgettable experience, head over to Cape Lookout National Seashore to climb the historic lighthouse or Shackleford Banks to spot the wild horses that live on the island.

For scuba divers, the Crystal Coast is also known for its incredible wreck diving destinations.

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3- Visit The Biltmore Estate

If you are looking for one of the best places to visit in North Carolina, look no further than the famous Biltmore Estate in Asheville. It was built by the famous Vanderbilt family and there are 250 rooms are designed to look like a classic French Chateau. This is what makes visiting the Biltmore unique!

You don’t get to see things like this too often in the USA which is why a visit here is truly one of the best things to do in NC. When you are planning your trip, make sure to carve out enough time.

The Biltmore Estate is a full-day experience! You can go on a tour of the home, walk the gardens, and more.

There is also the Biltmore Estate Winery which is on the grounds. Your ticket to the Biltmore includes a free wine tasting so make sure to take advantage of this opportunity while in Asheville.

Make sure to take an audio tour of the house which costs between $12-$15 so that you can really get a feel for the history behind this incredible estate which, without a doubt, is one of the top North Carolina tourist attractions.

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4- Drive Along The Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the best places to visit in North Carolina and an essential destination.

This classic American road trip runs from the Virginia border into Great Smoky Mountains National Park, across the ridgelines of the Black, Craggy, Great Balsam, Plott Balsam and Smoky Mountain Ranges.

Frequent overlooks make it easy to take in the views. You can choose from hundreds of hikes along the way.

Popular stops include Linn Cove Viaduct, Mount Mitchell and Grandfather Mountain State Parks, Linville Falls, Craggy Gardens and Waterrock Knob. These areas contain some of the best hikes on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Read Also: The Perfect  Itinerary For a Road Trip in Florida

Expect closures when the road is icy – usually between December and March. This is a fabulous time to cycle the Parkway, if you don’t mind temperatures in the teens and high winds.

There are virtually no facilities on the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. You can find gas down intersecting roads every 25 miles or so.

Pit toilets or full restrooms are located roughly every 50 miles. Pack a picnic and stop at one of the overlooks for lunch – there are very few places to buy food.

If you’re flying into North Carolina, the easiest access to the Parkway is from Asheville. You can drive from anywhere in the Southeast in less than a day.

Finally, please maintain a safe speed of 45 mph when driving the Parkway – if you go slower you’ll frustrate the locals, but speeding is dangerous with cyclists and bears everywhere.

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5- Raleigh, One of the Best Places To Visit in North Carolina

Often left out of tourists’ list of places to visit in North Carolina, the state capital is a great place to visit. In fact, a trip to Raleigh is one of the best things to do in NC, starting from the fact the city usually appears on lists of the best places to live in.

Raleigh is another foodie paradise in the state, with several restaurants by award-winning chefs and dozens of breweries spread around town.

Visit Moore Square, one of the original parks in the city, the historic Oakwood District to see some historic homes or visit the many markets.

Whether you have a few days or only a weekend in Raleigh, you’re to have plenty to enjoy in NC’s capital city.

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6- Mount Mitchell (Burnsville)

Located at Milepost 355 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, about halfway between the tiny Blue Ridge Mountain towns of Burnsville and Black Mountain, Mount Mitchell State Park is one of the most popular parks in Western North Carolina.

See Also: Transportation From Raleigh Airport To Downtown

The park is named for its iconic peak, which at 6,684 feet above sea level is the tallest mountain on this side of the Mississippi River.

This state park is a popular North Carolina tourist attraction all year round, especially in the summertime, when avid campers and hikers flock to its seven hiking trails spanning around 15 miles.

Serious trekkers start the arduous climb to the summit from the Black Mountain Campground at the mountain’s base. But there’s a parking lot and a short, accessible trail near the top for those who don’t want to tackle a strenuous all-day hike. The park also features a concession stand, souvenir shop, and restaurant that are open during peak summer.

Mount Mitchell is a particularly picturesque place to visit when the fall colors of North Carolina begin to turn at the higher elevations, which can be seen from the lookout at the dramatic mountain’s summit.

There are also exceptional views of the lower elevations from the picnic area near the summit parking lot, which includes two picnic shelters with fireplaces, around 40 tables, stone grills, and access to fresh drinking water.

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7- Mount Airy

Mt. Airy is known as Mayberry USA and is one of the most charming small towns in North Carolina. For 8 years and nearly 250 episodes, the wildly popular Andy Griffith Show aired on TV. Griffith’s boyhood hometown was Mt. Airy and served as an inspiration for the show, which they called Mayberry and featured Griffith and a young Ron Howard. After the show ended, the spinoff Mayberry RFD continued the town’s prominence on the small screen.

While Mt. Airy has embraced its Hollywood roots, there are lots of great things to do in Mount Airy, NC.

The town is actually much more than Mayberry. There are lots of breweries, distilleries, and the Yadkin Valley wine region to sip your way through.

Pilot Mountain State Park is a great spot for hiking and photography.

Main Street is extremely charming and stopping into the local shops is a lot of fun. While many shops have embraced Mayberry, others sell art and women’s fashion.

Be sure to stop into one of the local restaurants and try a sonker – the local dessert specialty.

Whatever your passion, Mt. Airy makes a great small-town getaway and a visit here is definitely one of the best things to do in NC.

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8- Winston-Salem

While most people think of Winston-Salem as being the heart of tobacco country, there’s actually a lot more to this growing city than meets the eye. From history to dining, there’s a lot of fun Winston Salem activities to occupy your time.

Any trip to Winston-Salem needs to start with a visit to Old Salem. This living history museum is one of the top tourist attractions in North Carolina and shares the history of the Moravian settlers who came to the United States from present-day Czechia.

They crossed the ocean looking for religious freedoms and a better life, but they also created vibrant communities that still exist today.

Check out some of the interpretive exhibits, and have a drink in the tavern, just like George Washington did in 1791.

In the afternoon, head to the wineries to the west of the city. Childress Vineyards and Shelton Vineyards are two of the best.

Or you can visit some of the breweries and distilleries right in town, including Broad Branch Distillery and Foothills Brewing. After a long day, settle in for some of that amazing North Carolina barbeque.

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9- Outer Banks

by Lori Sorrentino

The Outer Banks, or OBX as it’s affectionately known, is one of the best places to visit in North Carolina and a favorite East Coast weekend getaway.

If you love sand, sun, and surf with a sprinkling of maritime pirate history, you’ll find plenty for the whole family to do over a weekend or longer.

Whether you choose to drive or fly, you’ll start your journey in Norfolk, Virginia. Norfolk International Airport is the closest airport where you can rent a car and head south for the 90-mile drive to the Outer Banks via VA-168 S/US-158 S. Driving from the south is a bit more complicated and involves two ferry boat rides.

The Outer Banks are a string of narrow barrier islands off the North Carolina mainland, some of which are simply large sand bars. It’s the site of America’s first beach in the New World — the First National Seashore at Cape Hatteras — and the first flight by the Wright Brothers near Kitty Hawk.

A visit to the Wright Brothers Memorial and Museum is a must as is visiting and climbing the historic lighthouses at Currituck, Bodie Island, and Cape Hatteras Light.

The main attraction of the OBX are its wild and beautiful beaches which are great for surfing and offshore fishing.

Adventurous types can also go sandboarding or hang gliding over the dunes, and foodies should try a rum tasting and tour at Outer Banks Distilling.

If you’re looking for a memorable family vacation, plan a summer getaway to the Outer Banks.

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10- Fayetteville

While the city of Fayetteville may not be among the most obvious North Carolina tourist attractions, there are plenty of reasons to justify adding this to a Tar Heel itinerary.

Whether you are a craft beer aficionado or perhaps love to learn more about military history, there are plenty of things to do in Fayetteville that will attract visitors from all corners of the globe.

Fayetteville is a short drive from the larger metropolis of Raleigh/Durham which is frequently the best location to fly into.

Let’s start with the craft beer scene which has become one of Fayetteville’s iconic local gems.

With six local breweries offering an eclectic range of craft brews, Fayetteville has a great trail starting in the heart of historic downtown with four breweries all in short walking distance and a couple of others just a short drive away.

The iconic Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom are popular among locals and visitors alike, not only because of the craft beers on tap but also because it is home of the amazing farmer’s market on select Sundays throughout the year.

Enjoy a day at the farmer’s market, indulging in local fresh food from a selection of food trucks while enjoying your favorite craft brew and listening to live music.

If craft beer alone isn’t intriguing enough, visit attractions such as Cape Fear Botanical Garden, U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum, or Carvers Creek State Park.

For those looking for a rather unique experience, head downtown to enjoy a hands-on candle-making experience at Hummingbird Candle Co.

See Also: How To Get From Charlotte Airport To Downtown

Fayetteville is home to a diverse range of cuisine options, ranging from Mediterranean dishes at Pharaohs Village to delicious, authentic Vietnamese food at Grilled Ginger.

Enjoy your favorite latte at one of many local coffee shops if you are enticed by the local coffee scene.

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11- Chimney Rock

Just a 25-mile drive southeast of Asheville will bring you to Chimney Rock State Park, another of the best places to visit in North Carolina.

Here you will find the 315-foot tall Chimney Rock, from where you will have some amazing views of the surrounding area.

But don’t worry if you think it will be hard getting up there by climbing the 500 steps. The ingenious idea is that there is a 26-story elevator built inside the rock to take you to the top.

There are also six hiking trails in the park, ranging from kids’ friendly to the more strenuous Four Seasons trail, which is 1.9 miles long (out and back) and gains a 400-foot elevation.

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Whether you prefer to explore the coast, hike or trek in one of the many nature parks, or enjoy the vibrant cities, there are things to do in NC to please every traveler’s style. What is your favorite?

 

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