Outdoors

Traveling By Trail

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail might not have the cachet of the Appalachian Trail, and is even partly theoretical, but for hikers looking for a more varied path, it’s right up their alley.
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The Muscle of the Cape Fear River

The Cape Fear River runs inland like the main artery of history from the sea to the mountains. It’s one of only four rivers contained entirely within the borders of the state and the only one that empties directly into the ocean. It flows for some 200 miles, cutting right through the heart of the state, containing in its drainage basin 116 towns and cities in 26 of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
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Fresh from the River

Learn three simple, well-balanced ways to cook local trout.
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Roadside Flowers

The Department of Transportation’s wildflower program brings back-road scenery to North Carolina’s busiest highways.
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The Appalachian Trail: Peak of Perfection

You have to work to savor the majesty of the Appalachian Trail, but there’s much to appreciate — and preserve.
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Pinehurst No. 2: Pure Pinehurst

The home of American golf, Pinehurst No. 2 nearly lost itself trying to be great. But after a yearlong restoration, it looks just like it always should have, right at home in the North Carolina Sandhills.
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Into the Forest

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest is 3,800 acres of unchecked wilderness. Here, centuries-old trees scrape the sky and shelter a natural world that reminds us of our place on this planet.
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Batman of Swain County

Lifelong adventurer Keith Bruce, a retired dentist, flies into his later years on a zip line and the belief that life should be a ride.
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