During springtime in North Carolina, our editor in chief revels in small wonders.
Jockey’s Ridge
Eat, Play, Explore: The Travel Trifecta
How to spend a perfect day in each region of our state? Have an outdoor adventure, eat a delicious meal, and catch an incredible show.
23 Breathtaking Views on the Carolina Coast
At the top of the loftiest lighthouse, on sugar-sand beaches, beneath ancient live oaks twisting their knobby arms toward the sun, and from coastal cottages perched in the dunes, the North Carolina coast offers endless beauty on the edge of the earth.
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.
Natural Wonder in North Carolina’s State Parks
From a 6,684-foot peak in the west to a shape-shifting sand dune in the east, our state parks hold the best of what North Carolina has to offer. Together, they tell the story of the place we call home.
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.
The Art of Exploration
Through the eyes of Greensboro artist Katie Podracky, a challenging year was an opportunity for adventure: In 2020, she and her family visited every state park in North Carolina. Her paintings turn each park into a joyful kaleidoscope of color and memory.
Video: Painting Our State Parks
In 2020, Greensboro artist Katie Podracky and her family decided to visit every state park in North Carolina. Then she added another challenge: a painting per park.
Toad & Wee: Another World
For beachgoers big and small, a trip to Jockey’s Ridge — the largest natural sand dune system on the East Coast — is like visiting a different planet.
