Hop aboard the Miss Hazel — a venerable 33-year-old pontoon boat — for a scenic tour of Fontana Lake, deep in the Great Smoky Mountains.
lake
A Local’s Guide to Lake Norman
Spend the day on the water, then dock and dine, explore lively downtowns, and see amazing birds soar in the quaint small towns surrounding the state’s largest man-made lake.
7 Ways to Embrace Summer Sun in Rowan County
In this rural region, whether you’re in a sweet strawberry patch in the rolling countryside, on a grassy lawn in a downtown park, or boating on High Rock Lake, you can celebrate the season — and its bounty — in the great outdoors.
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.
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.
16 Stops for a Family Fun Day in High Point
Discover cultural, culinary, and adventurous destinations perfect for kids and adults alike during an outing to this Piedmont city.
A Love Letter to Lake Waccamaw State Park
This state park — home to the crown jewel of the Coastal Plain’s Carolina bays — is worthy of wonder.
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.
Luck of the Tar Heel
In a month when everyone’s looking for four-leaf clovers and leprechauns, we’re paying tribute to North Carolinians who have made historic discoveries and found good fortune — including gold — all on their own.
