North Carolina is one of the many US states that have lots of travel destinations for newbie travelers and backpackers.
The state rises high into the sky from Mt. Mitchell which is the highest peak in the eastern US, and descends into the Atlantic.
There are three regions in North Carolina which include the Mountain, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
These regions give the state its many natural wonders based on the regions such as the mountain towns like Boone, cultural top spots like Asheville down to Corolla beach gateways, and many more.
The Tar Heel State as it is also called, is a popular destination for tourists due to its mild temperate seasons including the love of Basketball and barbecues.
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Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
Source: Flickr/Domenico Convertini | CC BY-SA 2.0 GenericThe Chimney Rock is located at the Chimney Rock State Park in North Carolina and it is an amazing place for travellers, teams, couples etc to get the best experiences.
It is located 25 miles southeast of Asheville in Rutherford County.
Chimney Rock State Park is one place travelers will not want to miss visiting as it offers some of the best scenic views with the Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure in sight.
Other activities include hiking, biking, elevator views, visits to the freestanding rock, Eagle Rock and Rumbling Bald, and so much more.
Address: 431 Main St, Chimney Rock, NC 28720, United States
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Source: Flickr/James Willamor | CC BY-SA 2.0 GenericLocated in central Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science is the largest in the southeastern US.
The museum gets above a million visits annually to its six facilities situated on five campuses.
It is the most visited museum in the state with a 300,000 square-foot campus downtown and magnificent views of the Prairie Ridge Ecostation and satellite facilities in Greenville, Contentnea, and Whiteville.
There are lots of onsite and offsite, outdoor and online classes for environmental education through distance learning, and by broadcasting lessons including virtual field trips to classrooms around the state.
It is a must-visit for science enthusiasts.
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Address: 11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, United States
North Carolina Zoo
Source: Wikimedia/Asheboro Creative | CC BY 2.0 GenericThe North Carolina Zoo is the largest natural habitat zoo in the world over. Animals in the zoo have more than enough space to move around.
They offer virtual educational programs for travellers and students to learn a lot about the over 1,700 animals in the zoo.
There are many attractions and tours for tourists such as day trips, safaris, zoofari, air hike ropes, walking tours and other guided tours packed with information from a highly experienced tour guide.
Every tour is supported towards protecting endangered habitats and species.
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Address: 4401 Zoo Pkwy, Asheboro, NC 27205, United States
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Source: Wikimedia/Yuming Huang | CC BY-SA 4.0 InternationalThe Wright Brothers National Memorial is the one place that reminds us of the turning point in the history of air travel.
It is the place where the Wright brothers (Wilbur and Orville) spent many years working on the mechanics of flying and it is the same place they flew a plane successfully.
The whole country celebrates and commemorates this historic feat every year on the 17th day of December.
There are lots of activities for travelers and visitors to explore the first flight Boulder & Flight line, the Wright brother’s reconstructed 1903 Camp Buildings, monuments, virtual learning, ranger program and so much more.
Address: 1000 N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, United States
Battleship North Carolina
Source: Flickr/Mark Doliner | CC BY-SA 2.0 GenericBattleship North Carolina is a must-see for tourists and anyone visiting North Carolina.
The World War II gem is regarded as the most honorably decorated American battleship that sailed the waters during the war.
The battleship played a major role in the naval offensive during the second world war in the Pacific with 15 battle stars to its name.
The ship has been restored as a memorial to the over 11,000 North Carolinians who fought and sacrificed their lives for the country.
There are self-guided tours, guided tours with professional tour guides, and so much more.
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Address: 1 Battleship Rd NE, Wilmington, NC 28401, United States
Biltmore
Source: Wikipedia/RLTerry | CC BY-SA 3.0 UnportedBiltmore is an estate in Asheville, North Carolina, it is America’s largest home and a National Historic Landmark which was designed by the 19th-century architect Richard Morris Hunt.
The house is surrounded by amazing landscapes created by Frederick Law Olmsted.
It was a simple home for the Vanderbilt family until it became a historic site and a popular tourist destination.
It has 250 rooms, over 92,000 amazing collections from numerous Vanderbilt trips around the world, and 8,000 acres of gardens, farmlands, forests, wildlife habitats and so much more.
Travelers enjoy a swell time with family and friends.
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Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, United States
Carowinds
Source: Flickr/Martin Lewison | CC BY 2.0 GenericCarowinds is the Dubai of family fun in Charlotte, North Carolina.
It is over 400 acres of amusement park which is run by Cedar Fair.
The park started operations in March 1973 and has been the favourite place for families & their kids in the Tar Heel State.
It features thrilling rides, Aeronautica landing games, waterparks, camp snoopy, live entertainment, cuisine, family-friendly events, a hotel and so much more.
It is the perfect place for a family getaway.
Address: Carowinds, North Carolina, USA
Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Source: Wikimedia/Bohemian Baltimore | CC BY-SA 4.0 InternationalFor tourists looking to enjoy the Outer Banks of Dare County, Jockey’s Ridge State Park is the perfect place to visit.
It is an ideal location to experience the outdoors flying kites and watching the sunsets with the tallest dune on the Atlantic coast.
Some of the popular activities at the part include the famous hang gliding, paddling, swimming, kiteboarding, Roanoke Sound Windsurfing, and private tours with experienced tour guides.
The park only operates during the day and does not include camping facilities. In all, it is a whole experience for travelers.
Address: 300 W Carolista Dr, Nags Head, NC 27959, United States
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Source: Flickr/Dave Crosby | CC BY-SA 2.0 GenericSarah P. Duke Gardens has been part of the Duke and Durham communities for almost a century and was planned by Dr Fredric M. Hanes, an early faculty of Duke Medical School member in the early 1930s.
The over 55 acres of well landscaped is a memorial of Sarah Pearson Angier Duke, the wife to Benjamin Duke, who was one of the benefactors of Duke University.
There are guided walking and trolley tours to explore alleys, pathways, and walkways around the H.L Blomquist Garden of Native Plants, Historic Core and Terraces, William Louis Culberson Asiatic Arboretum and Doris Duke Center Gardens.
Address: 420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708, United States
The North Carolina Arboretum
Source: Wikimedia/Daderot | Public Domain Mark 1.0The North Carolina Arboretum lies in the Southern Appalachian Mountains south of Asheville.
It is a botanical garden that offers tourists and students the opportunity to explore acres of cultivated gardens and beautifully groomed trails with diverse plants.
The arboretum opens daily to visitors and students with numerous activities such as garden exhibits, hiking and biking trails, a gift shop, indoor and outdoor dining, a self-guided nature tour, EcoLab with live reptiles and amphibians, and so much more.
Address: 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806, United States
North Carolina Museum of Art
Source: Wikimedia/Justin Doub | CC BY 2.0 GenericThe North Carolina Museum of Art first opened to the public in 1956 and has since then been a marvel and recognised as one of the top museums in the country.
It is an amazing place to visit and a must-see for tourists.
The museum is made up of two buildings; the West and East buildings which hold permanent collections and rotating exhibitions and educational programs respectively.
It houses European, African, American, Egyptian and Jewish arts both from old and present times. It is a great place for art lovers.
Address: 2110 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607, United States
NASCAR Hall of Fame
Source: Wikipedia/Jeffrey Hayes | CC BY 2.0 GenericOfficially launched in May 2010, the NASCAR Hall of Fame building is home to historic moments.
It is the place where drivers, crew chiefs, owners, broadcasters and many others in the NASCAR space who have shown exceptional skills are honored.
There are interactive exhibits, artifacts, simulator rides and a High-Octane Theater for viewing special events.
Travelers can relax at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Café or Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and soak in the history of legends.
It is an awesome shrine for NASCAR enthusiasts who would like to learn more about the sport.
Address: 400 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Pisgah National Forest
Source: Wikimedia/Jeff Gunn | CC BY 2.0 GenericWith over 500,000 acres of mile-high mountain peaks, hardwood forests, roaring waterfalls, whitewater rivers, and hundreds of miles of top-level hiking trails.
Pisgah National Forest is one of the best outdoor recreation locations in America.
Located in the Western part of North Carolina, it covers both north and south Asheville and is accessible just below 10 minutes from the city centre.
The Pisgah National Forest houses the first forestry school in the country and offers a lot of activities such as cycling, camping & cabins, climbing, fishing, hiking, horse riding, nature viewing, outdoor learning, picnicking, and other water activities.
It is an absolute marvel to behold.
Address: Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina, United States
Pullen Park
Source: Flickr/-ted | CC BY 2.0 GenericPullen Park was founded by Richard Stanhope Pullen on March 22, 1887.
The park was once farmland donated to the City of Raleigh as a gift from Mr Pullen to be used as a park.
His vision was for the old cow pasture, red and rocky land as he described to be used for recreation and delight of the natural inhabitants and travellers into the city.
Indeed, it pioneered public parks in North Carolina and has been recognised as the fifth oldest amusement park still operational in the U.S. and the sixteenth oldest worldwide.
It offers shelters and rentals, playgrounds, theatres, cafes, an arts Centre, an aquatic Centre, courts & fields, a community Centre and so much more for visitors all over the world.
Address: 520 Ashe Ave, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
Discovery Place Science
Source: Wikimedia/Ken Thomas | Public Domain Mark 1.0Discovery Place Science is a hands-on museum located in uptown Charlotte.
This museum features amazing interactive exhibitions, it houses the largest IMAX screen in North Carolina with a unique Accenture IMAX dome theatre and numerous educational programs.
Travelers can enjoy summer camps, birthday parties, and fascinating experiments in the labs, exhibitions, live shows and events that bring science back to life.
Address: 301 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States
Conclusion
As travellers who love to learn more about the rich history of different cultural heritages, exploring North Carolina and its different territories and terrains is one of the best things to do in the U.S.
There are lots of activities such as backpacking to the top of the mountains and trailing down to the piedmont and swimming around the coastal plains.
No matter the purpose of your visit either to relax, learn, taste food, support wildlife or just have fun, North Carolina’s many parks, museums, and wonders have so much to offer.
Meet friendly people and feel safe with wildlife through experienced tour guides and rangers that guide you through your every step.
If you wish to immerse yourself in the marvels of the city, plan a vacation to one of the towns in North Carolina and explore without any worries.
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