Leave the beach gear at home and put on your walking (or water!) shoes. From accessible greenways to trails through preserves and guided wildlife tours, here’s where to experience and celebrate the Outer Banks’s precious maritime ecosystem.
TRAVEL
Only in the Mountains: 9 Can’t-Miss Fall Adventures
From live music grooves to breathtaking cascades and fantastic eats and drinks along the way, don’t miss these ways to dive into fall in western North Carolina.
Wilson Center for Nature Discovery
Located about halfway up Grandfather Mountain, this recently renovated center offers interactive exhibits to connect visitors with the area’s natural heritage.
The Hidden Life of Biltmore
The most famous house in Asheville is known for its sheer size and lavish features. A closer look at the beauty built into its very walls reveals George Vanderbilt’s love of art, literature, and the exquisite views around his chosen home.
Another Kersey Valley Sunday
By day, this adventure park in the Triad is a fall festival to die for. By night, the undead come alive for Halloween tricks. Welcome to one man’s vision of year-round merrymaking.
Rocking Along
A business owner in Haywood County forwent traditional advertising methods, instead enticing customers with a giant red rocker.
6 Thrilling Ways to Leaf Peep in the Mountains
Each fall, folks flock to western North Carolina to see the changing leaves along mountain roads and at parkway vistas. But for those looking for a bit of novelty, there are more creative ways to take in the colors.
North Carolina’s Blue Ribbon
The Blue Ridge Parkway stands out among America’s national parks: Unfurling across six Appalachian mountain chains, it connects dozens of rural communities and binds together generations of families through shared memories.
Your Guide to New Bern
Situated between the Neuse and Trent rivers, New Bern’s history runs deep, from serving as our state’s first capital to a bustling port city and the birthplace of Pepsi. Today, this coastal city offers travelers a first-rate Southern destination.
