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.
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A Love Letter to William B. Umstead State Park
Within this 5,000-acre respite from urban life in Raleigh, when you get off the map, you might just find yourself.
A Love Letter to Gorges State Park
This rugged area of rivers, canyons, and waterfalls still holds mysteries.
Childhood Dreams
As he looks to the future of our state’s protected natural areas, the director of the North Carolina State Parks system draws inspiration from his youth growing up in Kinston, and from his wide-ranging experience listening to children.
A Timeline of North Carolina’s State Parks
Find out how the purchase of a single plot of land on Mount Mitchell in 1915 turned into a thriving state park system that provides North Carolinians with the opportunity to explore the outdoors in all its natural beauty.
A Lesson at Morrow Mountain
A father takes his young son on the camping trip of his dreams and faces a bittersweet truth: At a certain age, sons move beyond the dreams of their dads and begin to realize dreams of their own.
Our State Knows Best: Hiking
Find out what three hiking experts have to say about hitting the trail, the gear they’d never leave behind, and North Carolina’s must-do mountain treks with stunning views.
A First Timer’s Guide to the Currituck Outer Banks
Ten can’t-miss activities and experiences — from climbing the Currituck Beach Lighthouse to seeing wild horses to “ghost crabbing” — for your first trip to the northern Outer Banks.
In Praise of the Tar Heel State: A Photo Essay
Here’s to the talented North Carolinians whose fancy footwork propels them to great heights, nimble speeds, and feats of creativity.