Take your time browsing the two-story Island Bookstore. Photography courtesy of The Northern Outer Banks
Spring on the coast: The crowds are sparse and the sunsets splendid. Beach mornings are crisp, and the breeze is brisk. Seagulls caw and waves break gently on the shore. Beat the heat of the summer and swell of visitors by planning an early escape to The Northern Outer Banks.
Past the iconic Currituck Beach Lighthouse, down Corolla Village Road, and tucked away among a stand of live oak trees lies the Corolla Village Inn. Their slightly off-the-beaten-path location is part of what makes the inn worth discovering, says owner Hadley Twiddy.
“In listening to our guests, one of the things they enjoy the most is feeling as though they’ve found a well-kept secret,” she says. “I know in my travels I’ve come across those little hidden gems that always stay in my mind as places I always want to visit again!”
Browse the work of local artists at The Kind Cup. Photography courtesy of The Northern Outer Banks
Whether you stay at the inn or at one of The Northern Outer Banks rental homes, it’s easy to explore the walkable village’s nooks and crannies, whether you tuck yourself away between the shelves at Island Bookstore or shop for locally made pieces while sipping coffee at The Kind Cup.
Two-lane N.C. Highway 12 separates the beach from Currituck Sound, and a multiuse path runs the length of Corolla. Pop into OBX Toy Rentals to choose your golf cart, scooter, or bike and hit the paths!
Sample the array of locally crafted spirits at Buffalo City Distillery on the Northern Outer Banks’ Mainland. Photography courtesy of The Northern Outer Banks
Currituck County native John Wright owns Sanctuary Vineyards, a seventh-generation Jarvisburg family farm that comes alive in spring, with 10 acres of vineyards producing hand-picked grapes. The fruit results in bottles ranging from dry viniferas, like the wildly popular Albariño, to sweet Muscadines. Reserve your tasting and look forward to a sampling of coastal wines and a visit at their source.
At Buffalo City Distillery in Point Harbor, the surrounding fertile farmland lends a distinct flavor to the grains in their handcrafted varieties of whiskey and vodka. Be sure to visit the distillery’s Dare Forest Lounge on Friday nights to taste the spirits and listen to local artists perform live.
“Spring is our friendliest season on the Outer Banks — everyone’s had the winter to recharge their batteries and welcome visitors back with fresh energy,” Twiddy says.
Experts at local outfitters, like the instructors at OBX Surf School, can show you how to tame the waves or try your hand at surf fishing for bluefish.
See if you can spot the wild Spanish mustangs that roam the beaches. Better yet, absorb all the beauty of this wild landscape by booking an ecotour through Coastal Explorations.
“I look forward to the first calls of the southern leopard frogs that call in chorus on the first warm days of spring,” Twiddy says. “Old-time crabbers around here always say that ‘When the frogs are calling, the crabs start crawling,’” in reference to the iconic blue crabs that swim in the sound waters.
Try elevated takes on diner classics at Native Fine Diner. photograph by Fontana Lane for Native Fine Diner
The Tar River winds through Pitt County, defining a place made up of stunning countryside and peaceful forests, all of which come together in Greenville, the county’s hub.
Luke Owens, executive chef and owner of Greenville’s Native Fine Diner and Julep Contemporary Kitchen, loves the change of seasons in his eastern North Carolina town. “Spring brings some regularity around here and also happy people.”
Welcome warmer evenings on the patio at Amante Tacos and Spirits. Photography courtesy of Amante Tacos and Spirits
Greenville’s Dickinson Avenue celebrates spring with abundant patios to enjoy delicious fare and the perfect beverages. Chef Owens can’t help but celebrate the season — Native Fine Diner has a front-row seat to the spring air.
“Our building is 70-percent windows, so the sun shines a little differently, the air is crisp but bearable, and folks are just happy to be out and about,” he says. “We opened the diner in the spring of 2023, so there’s a special place in my heart for this time of year.”
If you’re in the mood for Latin-American flavors, go to Amante Tacos and Spirits. Sidebar also has excellent tacos and an ever-changing menu of crafted drinks and Tex-Mex fare.
For an afternoon of bar fare, MPOURIUM has you covered, with wings, pints, and daily specials (including one for Satur-yay!). Slide into a varnished outdoor picnic table and let them bring you a basket of fried pickles, deluxe tots, and a pint of your favorite pour.
Meet Jersey cows and take a wagon ride around the farm at Simply Natural Creamery. Photography courtesy of Simply Natural Creamery
One of Pitt County’s dreamiest afternoons can be found among the purple-tongued cows at Simply Natural Creamery. There, you can take a tour of the farm, pet sweet-eyed calves, and enjoy the fresh-made ice cream cone of your dreams from the rocking chairs on the creamery’s front porch, while you watch little ones play on the playground.
“During the week, we offer 90-minute tours by reservation, and on the weekend, we offer half-hour wagon ride tours every hour on the hour,” says Reanne Knight, Simply Natural’s event coordinator. “I just like hanging out with the baby cows!”
Play on the sandy beach or launch non-motorized watercraft, like kayaks or paddleboards, into the water at Wildwood Park. photograph by Aaron Hines/City of Greenville, NC
Greenville’s Greenway System offers plenty of space for walking, with more than nine miles of paved trails that wind through the city, past parks, and right through East Carolina University’s campus. If you decide to go the whole way, keep your eyes peeled for local secrets, like the FROGGS shade garden.
If you like kayaking, Greenville has a central park like no other: The Town Common. The 21-acre park connects to the Tar River Greenway and the 1,500-foot walk along the Tar River. About a 10-minute drive from Town Common is Wildwood Park, where the Tar River snakes around two lakes that are popular for fishing and kayaking. No kayak? No problem. Stop in at Knee Deep Adventures or Riverside Recreation and rent one!
For a fully immersive outdoor experience, visit the city’s 324-acre River Park North. There, you can grill out at the picnic shelter, camp, pedal boat, rent a fishing boat, or drop a line off one of their two piers. The park is listed as a North Carolina Birding Trail, so keep an eye out for feathered creatures, from ospreys to indigo buntings.
Choose between the Waterfall Expedition or Treetop Excursion at ZipQuest’s premier ziplining course. photograph by Raul Rubiera
Veined with the Cape Fear River and creeks and spotted with ponds and lakes, Fayetteville is filled with parks, forests, and gardens ideal for recreation. When spring arrives, nature rolls out a welcome mat of wildflowers, sunshine, and adventures.
Get a bird’s-eye view of some of the area’s most stunning natural areas at ZipQuest. Rope bridges strung high pass by waterfalls and through dense forest canopies, and you can soar through the canopy harnessed to the ziplines. “We believe in getting to know the people who come here,” says Darian Simmons, a zipline tour guide. “To us, it’s as important to know our guests as it is for them to have some fun out here!”
Sample craft beers and snacks from the next-door restaurant, Napkins, at Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom. photograph by Raul Rubiera
Unwind after your sky-high adventure at one of Fayetteville’s renowned taprooms, like Heckler Brewing Company and Dirtbag Ales Brewery and Taproom. Heckler offers a range of ciders and beers on tap, including five of their flagship beers, wine, and nonalcoholic beverages. Come hungry: They start serving lunch at 11 a.m. with a tremendous selection of sharing snacks from fried ravioli to pretzels and beer cheese.
At Dirtbag Ales, take a seat in the breezy outdoor area and order from the Napkins eatery’s seasonal menu. On Sundays, Dirtbag even boasts a farmers market, where you can stock up on local goodness while you’re sipping a local pint.
One of Fayetteville’s best-kept secrets is its U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum. The imposing 15-foot Iron Mike statue both welcomes visitors and guards the museum’s impressive glass entryway.
Inside, strike up a conversation with one of the museum’s knowledgeable staff, or wander the exhibits that will lead you through war-torn Normandy, let you hear the sounds of troopers leaping from helicopters in Vietnam, and learn about many other acts of heroism in our country’s military history.
Explore native blooms throughout 80 acres at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Photography courtesy of Distinctly Fayetteville
Find exquisite native plants during a stroll around the 80-acre Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Located two miles from downtown Fayetteville, the garden boasts adventure-worthy ravines, pine forests, hardwood hills, and riverbanks. On the Butterfly Stroll, encounter dozens of native butterfly species or explore the elevated walkway in the Children’s Garden.
If you like your plants a little more on the wild side, pack a picnic, lace up your hiking shoes, and head over to Carver’s Creek State Park, where hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails weave past small ponds and through wildflower meadows and longleaf pine stands. One of the benefits to walking in Sandhills state parks like Carver’s Creek is that the terrain runs flat and easy. You can fish at the millpond, try to spot one of the park’s endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers (among many other stunners, like blue grosbeaks!), or enjoy that picnic surrounded by some of North Carolina’s most stunning wildlife.
If your dream day is one on the water, make the less than 20-minute drive to Hope Mills to spend a day on a lake. Fish, lap up the sun, look for nature, and, when it warms up, take a dip in the swimming area.
Where will you travel first this spring? Whether you want a weekend of outdoor play in the Sandhills, a relaxing getaway on a barrier island’s sunny shore, or an evening of patio hopping with friends, pack a bag and choose your favorite way to play outside in our state.
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