Looking for:
Best tourist spots in north carolina
Click here to ENTER
Start your visit by walking the grounds to admire the building. At nearly 6,feet, the summit provides incredible views of the landscape. Outdoor experiences are amazing throughout the Outer Banks and there are definitely attractions for each style of adventurer. Founded in , Pullen Park is the oldest public park in the state. In , when he passed away, the city of Wilmington, North Carolina dedicated a small garden to him, naming it the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden. We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times. Let us know in the comments!
– Best tourist spots in north carolina
Some of the exhibitions include grasslands, swamps, forests, deserts, and mountains. There is also an aviary and features an art collection. There are over species in the zoo with more than 1, animals. Most of the animals come from North America and Africa, with plans to add more regions.
Animals you'll see in the zoo include chimpanzees, lions, polar bears, cougars, giraffes, elephants, and bison. Accomodation: Where to stay in Asheboro.
The infamous Blue Ridge actually runs across multiple states, connecting with multiple national parks and the Great Smoky Mountains along the way. Most of it can be found in Virginia and North Carolina, however. North Carolina is especially breathtaking, giving visitors a great view of the mountain crests and old settlements from early American life. Trails are many and varied, great for both beginners and experienced adventurers. Go for a scenic ride with the family through Blue Ridge Parkway and have a fun picnic along their camping grounds.
You could also opt to spend a weekend at one of their campsites and arrange a hiking tour or a bicycling tour with a group. Website: www. The Wright Brothers were pioneers in early air flight. The Wright Brothers National Memorial commemorates their achievements for the first slight in a powered machine. Although the brothers were from Ohio, they relocated to the site to develop the first aircraft.
Today, the site highlight lots of details about the successful flight. Wright Brothers National Memorial includes several features on the same site used for flight testing. The visitor center has a museum exhibiting a replica aircraft used for the flight, details about various flight experiments, tools, and more. The memorial also has a replica flight hanger where the Wright Brothers lived.
One of the highlights of the attraction is the memorial tower located at the top of Kill Devil Hill. Visitors can walk the flight route with markers at significant points of take-off, landing, and more. More than a half-million visitors come to the memorial every year, making it one of the top North Carolina attractions. Accomodation: Where to stay in Kill Devil Hills. The state park is named after the famous rock, but also has lots of other interesting landmarks to explore.
It's one of the most popular Asheville attractions located just outside of the city. Take a day trip to the park to enjoy the natural wonders outdoors.
Chimney Rock State Park covers over 8, acres of the natural landscape. The most prominent feature is Chimney Rock, towering ft high. Visitors can hike to the top or take an elevator to make it accessible to everyone.
The summit provides panoramic views extending upwards of miles far on a clear day. There are several trails ranging in difficulty to reach notable areas in the park.
Accomodation: Where to stay in Chimney Rock. Walkthrough the Hall of Fame to learn about the all-time great drivers, owners, and broadcasters. North Carolina has a rich history of driving legends, so it's a suitable place for the venue. The venue includes exhibitions across multiple floors. As soon as you enter, you'll be greeted with a welcome video to learn about NASCAR before checking out the other exhibits.
You'll see a collection of former racing cars, ride in a race car simulator, and other interactive displays. The Hall of Fame includes 58 people, and each person has a designated exhibit to highlight their accomplishments in the sport. Address: E M. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC Stimulate your brain and immerse yourself in learning at Discovery Place. Kids will have an incredible time exploring the interactive exhibitions found in the museum.
It's one of the best Charlotte attractions for tourists where time seems to fly by while you're having fun. Discovery Place is a museum to explore science and technology. It creates a highly engaging setting with hands-on activities, live experiments, and more. Kids can walk through a simulated rain forest or have live animal encounters. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. More than , people visit the museum every year, making it a popular place to visit in North Carolina.
The museum is located on a campus that includes several other buildings. Because of its popularity, it has a separate building for educational programs and events. Discovery Place has branch venues for kids and a nature center. It also hosts summer camps for kids. Accomodation: Where to stay in Charlotte. Space exploration comes to life when you visit the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.
The center is one of the largest planetariums in the US and hosts lots of interactive activities for all ages. Morehead Planetarium and Science Center was built in as one of the first planetariums in the United States. It serves as a training site for NASA astronauts and has lots of fun things to do to learn about outer space. One of the highlight features is the planetarium, which has seats to see universe projection displays on the massive dome.
Carolina Skies is a popular show to see constellations from a local perspective. Visit the top-level observatory to peer through the telescope or attend one of the live educational events. Accomodation: Where to stay in Chapel Hill. It's one of the biggest waterfalls in North Carolina — it's a tiered waterfall with multiple drops as high as ft.
The falls have an upper section before ending in the Linville Gorge. The Linville Falls is a favorite tourist activity to enjoy the outdoor scenery.
There are multiple hiking trails around the waterfall and down in the gorge suitable for various hiking skills. Hike along the Upper Falls trail to see views from the top of the falls. Of take the Plunge Basin Trail to reach an overlook for an alternative perspective. The outdoor attraction includes a visitor center to learn more about the waterfall. You'll have access to maps and routes for all the trails at the falls. Keep in mind that swimming is not allowed at the waterfall.
Accomodation: Where to stay in Linville Falls. The state park features unique vegetation, including carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap that grow naturally in the park. Carolina Beach State Park covers more than acres of the island, predominantly consisting of wetlands. Tourists can explore the park by walking along trails — trails also include boardwalk areas for walking through swamp areas.
Keep your eyes out for the carnivorous plants. One of the most popular trails is the Flytrap Trail, where you'll come across several of the plants. There is also rich wildlife living within the park habitat. In addition to hiking, other activities include boating, picnics, and camping. The park has a marina and several places to have a picnic.
Camping is permitted at designated sites. Be sure to check out the visitor center to see exhibits on natural history found in the state park. Accomodation: Where to stay in Carolina Beach. Ever since opening in , the North Carolina Aquariums expanded to three locations — you'll have a chance to experience local marine life when you visit either of the facilities.
Fort Fisher exhibits marine life from the local Cape Fear Region. The region includes the Cape Fear River and wetlands, so it has a diverse ecosystem. It's ranked one of the best aquariums in the US, with exhibits tailored to specific areas. You'll see alligators, sea turtles, sharks, eels, octopuses, and jellyfish. Pine Knoll Shores highlights native marine life from all of North Carolina. Visitors can see large tanks will everything from sharks to game fish.
Roanoke Island showcases coastal marine life. It's popular for its hands-on activities to touch the animals and various events hosted onsite. Accomodation: Where to stay in Kure Beach. Outer Banks, or OBX, is one of the best places to visit in North Carolina for the beaches and other fun outdoor activities. There are multiple places to visit within Outer Banks, each filled with recreation, history, and culture. It's a favorite tourist destination to discover a unique area in North Carolina.
It was one of the first settled areas in the country by European settlers and has a rich Native American history. Tourists can take advantage of the extensive coastline for pristine beaches. Go swimming in the ocean or relax on the sandy beaches. Other activities in Outer Banks include visiting the nature parks to explore the diverse environment or exploring the region's maritime heritage. Address: Outer Banks, NC.
If you're looking for a place for outdoor recreation near Raleigh, William B. Umstead State Park is an excellent option. Umstead State Park is a scenic park perfect for enjoying outside for all ages. Umstead State Park covers nearly 5, acres. It was an area once inhabited by Native Americans. It has an abundance of wildlife and some of the oldest trees in the state, dating back years. It was designated as a state park in to preserve the environment and promote recreation for tourists. Some of the favorite things to do in Umstead State Park include hiking, biking, horseback riding, and boating.
There are dozens of miles of trails extending throughout the park. The trails are great for walking or running. The trails are also included as part of the famous East Coast Greenway stretching from Maine to Florida. Accomodation: Where to stay in Raleigh. Founded in , Pullen Park is the oldest public park in the state. It's one of the top North Carolina attractions for the entire family.
Spend the day in the park for relaxation, recreation, and more. Pullen Park is located near Downtown Raleigh. It's a vast green space with lots of venues and activities established inside of it. Sit down for a picnic on the lawn or let the kids run around the playground.
There are also hiking trails winding around the park for walking and running. The park includes several amusement rides. There is a recently updated carousel, a train ride around the park, and paddle boats in the lake.
There are also several venues — an aquatic center, an arts center, and a theater. You can always find events, classes, and other activities happening in the park.
Kids will have hours of fun playing and learning at the Marbles Kids Museum. It was established in in Downtown Raleigh to inspire learning in a fun environment. It's one of the best places to visit in North Carolina with kids up to age Marbles Kids Museum features interactive exhibitions where kids can learn while playing.
It hosts various exhibits to highlight the values of education, health, creativity, and science. Climb the 26 stories of stairs that make up the Outcroppings Trail to reach the top and enjoy views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure and the Piedmont region to the east.
The Skyline Trail brings you to Peregrine's Point, the highest peak in the park at 2, feet. The views from this route might look familiar; several scenes from The Last of the Mohicans movie were filmed here.
Fort Fisher interests history buffs, birders, beachgoers and the environmentally conscious. Five miles south of Carolina Beach in the Wilmington area, the fort was built in to defend the Confederacy. Then during World War II, the fort was used as a firing range for training military personnel. The grounds are more peaceful these days as visitors stroll along the marsh-lined boardwalks. Each season brings different natural wonders, from nesting loggerhead sea turtles to migrating warblers, hawks and peregrine falcons.
Five miles of undeveloped shoreline make for a relaxing day at the beach. One of the most appreciated features of Goose Creek State Park — located in rural eastern North Carolina outside of Washington — is the quiet.
Come to this park to unwind, have a leisurely paddle along the creek and spend quality time camping with family and friends. Eight miles of trails lead to marshes and swamps that earned the site a National Natural Landmark designation. With 2, acres of rugged backcountry, Grandfather Mountain State Park is ideal for the experienced hiker who enjoys a challenge.
For adventure-seekers, the Daniel Boone Scout Trail rated strenuous ascends about 2, feet across 3 miles, with the upper half offering incredible sights of the Linn Cove Viaduct.
Additionally, hiking Black Rock Trail accessible from the foundation attraction's parking lot will earn you views of the famous swinging bridge. With more than half of its vast acreage in North Carolina, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most-visited national park in the country.
If you prefer a rolling view, i. For hikers, a short journey through the Deep Creek area along the southern border brings you to three waterfalls: Juney Whank, Indian Creek and Tom Branch. This area is also filled with flowering plants, such as sweet shrub and rhododendron. Only 33 acres of the park are located on the mainland. The premier feature here is Bear Island, accessible by ferry, boat, canoe or kayak.