A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

1. Take a dip in one of our rivers. For secret spots and swimming holes, visit Mayo River State Park in Raleigh — and for magnificent rivers, canyons, and waterfalls,

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

1. Take a dip in one of our rivers. For secret spots and swimming holes, visit Mayo River State Park in Raleigh — and for magnificent rivers, canyons, and waterfalls,

Beat the Heat: 7 Places To Cool Off In North Carolina

1. Take a dip in one of our rivers.

For secret spots and swimming holes, visit Mayo River State Park in Raleigh — and for magnificent rivers, canyons, and waterfalls, take a dip in the water at Gorges State Park in Sapphire.

 

photograph by Tommy White

2. Stand under a beautiful mountain waterfall.

If you’re not interested in getting completely soaked, this is the next best option. We compiled a list of 16 beautiful North Carolina waterfalls and how to find them.

 

photograph by Thomas Moors

3. Take a hike.

Hike to the summits of Blowing Rock and Hanging Rock. Sure, you’ll probably work up a sweat on the climb, but the view and swift breeze will be worth it.

 

photograph by Patrick Schneider

4. Visit a zoo or science center.

See polar bears at the North Carolina Zoo and meet the penguins at the Greensboro Science Center’s aquarium.

 

photograph by Meredith Ross/VisitNC.com

5. See the stars.

Visit the Cline Observatory in Jamestown or Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill. With a variety of shows each day, you can spend hours inside learning about the frontiers of scientific discovery. And if you’d like to get outside to stare at the sky, check out these 10 beautiful places to go stargazing throughout the state.

 

photograph by Matt Ray Photography

6. You can’t go wrong with ice cream.

North Carolina is home to some of the best creameries and ice cream parlors. Cool off from the inside out at one of these 13 sweet spots.

 

photograph by Karen Swain/visitRaleigh.com

7. Learn something new while staying cool.

We recommend a visit to one of these 35 unforgettable museums throughout the state — complete with air conditioning and fun facts about the place we love.

This story was published on Jun 10, 2014

Our State Staff

Since 1933, Our State has shared stories about North Carolina with readers both in state and around the world. We celebrate the people and places that make this state great. From the mountains to the coast, we feature North Carolina travel, history, food, and beautiful scenic photography.