As one of America’s most geographically diverse states, here are the same best places to visit in North Carolina right now. The “Tar Heel” state features three regions: the coastal plain, piedmont and mountains – but wait there’s more!
Starting North at the Outer Banks, you will find beautiful lighthouses and some of North Carolina’s most popular attractions. One North Carolina travel idea is to visit Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head and see what is claimed to be the world’s tallest continuous sand dunes. Don’t let these peaks dissuade you though—it is possible to drive over them! The Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills honors the brothers who changed history with their invention of powered flight.
Heading inland from North Carolina’s coast, get ready for lush greenery, deep forests, and spectacular waterfalls. Check out North Carolina’s waterfalls in DuPont State Forest or North Carolina’s Greenville. North Carolina has many sites of historical significance including the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex where you can visit a Revolutionary War era plantation, walk through an antebellum home, and tour a restored 1890s farm house. North
Carolina is perfect for North Carolina travel ideas including hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, camping, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding trails and more. North Carolina state parks are abundant with trails for North Carolina hiking. Check out Table Rock State Park which is surrounded by some of North America’s oldest mountains – ancient Precambrian rocks predating life itself!
Coastal Plain
Visitors from all over the world visit North Carolina’s Atlantic coastal plain to take in the beauty of the beaches and wildlife. The Outer Banks is famous for its favorable conditions for long windy walks on the beach or pursuits such as kite sailing, surfing and boogie boarding. Rental beach houses in North Carolina are popular with tourists to enjoy the beach and amazing sunrises.
Piedmont
The piedmont, “foot of the mountain,” is home to Raleigh, the state capital, and the Triad, the large cities of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem. In addition, the region is known for its rolling hills and farmland, research centers, and many educational institutions, including Duke University and the North Carolina State University. Charlotte is the region’s largest city, popular with young professionals and families for its business opportunities, school systems, dining, entertainment and proximity to lakes and trails for outdoor recreation.
Mountains
On leaving the piedmont and driving west towards the mountain region, travelers enjoy views of the distant mountains. With its arts and crafts, dining, lodging, and sightseeing opportunities, the Appalachian mountain town of Asheville is a popular destination for tourists. Motorists like to tour the Blue Ridge Parkway that winds through 29 North Carolina and Virginia counties. Further west, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the mountain towns of Sylva, Cherokee, Bryson City and Murphy offer unlimited lodging and hiking and outdoor recreation possibilities.
To learn more about North Carolina, check out VisitNC.com, the state’s official tourism website. The site provides resources on things to do, cities and regions, events, and visit planning. Once you have your itinerary planned, get on the road and explore the breadth of North Carolina!
