Just off the beaten path, you’ll find mountain scenery, shops, adventures, and restaurants worthy of being the main attraction.
TRAVEL
Two State Park Adventures in Columbus County
Want to make a dent in your state park bucket list? Visit two in one trip: kayak beneath Spanish moss and pitch your tent at a paddle-in campsite along a blackwater river, then watch sailboats glide across the water from the peaceful, sandy shoreline of a Carolina bay.
Up, Up, and Away: 8 Outdoor Adventures Reaching New Heights in Hendersonville
Unwind at a vineyard with a view, go apple picking and cider sipping, paddle the French Broad, and watch the sun set behind the mountains on a trip filled with wild wonders.
An Artsy & Outdoorsy Weekend Around Mitchell County
Explore local galleries and artist studios and experience unbelievable stargazing and beautiful hikes on a quick trip to the mountains — plus, where to eat, sip, and stay along the way.
Bragging Rights: 10 Lesser-Known Reasons We’re Proud to Call North Carolina Home
Explore some of the state’s finest cultural superlatives — from founding the nation’s first state-supported symphony to building its first miniature golf course.
An Introduction to Camping in Brevard
On an unusually cold weekend in Pisgah National Forest, a writer introduces her fiancé to the wonders — and blunders — of camping.
The Safest Place: The Stewards of Jones Lake State Park
In Bladen County, before integration, a former military man and his family were stewards of the first North Carolina state park open to Black families. There, amid acres of longleaf pines and a sprawling lake, families and friends gathered to eat, play, and pray.
Ants Go Marching at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park
In Wayne County, the effects of time and nature are visible at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, where, for millions of years, the river has carved a winding path to the sea. A closer look at some of the park’s tiniest residents provides insight and answers to questions great and small.
7 Ways to Get Outdoors in New Bern
Kayak on the Neuse, go birding in the state’s only coastal national forest, and dine al fresco by the water on a trip to this historic riverfront city.
