See Biltmore at its most enchanting as you stroll past glowing luminaries, flickering candles and fireplaces, and thousands of glittering Christmas lights.
1 Lodge Street
(800) 411-3812
biltmore.com/christmas
From dusk to midnight, the grounds of Chetola Resort are illuminated by 30,000 lights. Tour the joyful displays in a car or on foot for free.
185 Chetola Lake Drive
(800) 243-8652
chetola.com/events/festival-of-lights
The first two weekends in December are a magical time for downtown Dillsboro, where more than 2,500 luminaries light up the streets.
Front Street
facebook.com/dillsboroluminaries
Take a nighttime drive through this historic neighborhood and look up: Balls of light in all sizes and colors are strung up high in nearly every tree.
Every December, residents of McAdenville string up thousands of twinkling lights, transforming their village into Christmas Town USA — and cars line up for miles to catch a glimpse.
Charlotte Motor Speedway turns into the slow lane at Christmastime, when even NASCAR drivers downshift to take in the sights. The four-mile track is decked in four million lights and includes a fully synchronized light show.
5555 Concord Parkway South
(800) 455-3267
charlottemotorspeedway.com/events/speedway-christmas
Once the Thanksgiving table is cleared, Lu Mil Vineyard starts its light show with a stacked country buffet, visits with Santa, and an old-fashioned candy shop.
438 Suggs-Taylor Road
(910) 866-5819
lumilvineyard.com
Take in the gorgeous display of art and flowers on the grounds while listening to live music at Airlie Gardens, which is draped in more than a million lights.
300 Airlie Road
(910) 798-7700
airliegardens.org/enchanted-airlie
Nutcrackers stand guard in front of pathways, while giant stars and bundles of lights hang over visitors as they stroll through these enchanted gardens.
1411 National Park Drive
(252) 473-3234
elizabethangardens.org/winterlights
Why does this Haywood County town have some of the cleanest water in the state? It’s the result of the community’s efforts to keep the forests in its watershed pristine.
The spectacular views in North Carolina’s High Country aren’t just inspiration for writers, painters, and sculptors. Those landscapes — the rugged gray face of Grandfather Mountain, the vibrant fall leaves, the deep green meadows — are brushstrokes on Earth’s own canvas.
The sprawling vineyards and wide-open skies that stretch for miles across seven North Carolina counties offer relaxing getaways — not to mention some of the state’s finest wines — for Sunday drivers aching to escape the rush of city life.
Nothing lasts forever — and that’s what makes many of our cherished moments so special.
