North Carolina’s iconic mountain has been a place of wild beauty for hundreds of millions of years. The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation is determined to keep it that way.
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A Local’s Guide to Cary
Take a trip to this Piedmont city with a small-town soul, where you can savor award-winning ice cream, explore a peaceful, shady nature preserve, go restaurant- and brewery-hopping downtown, and more.
Escape to the Top of the World at Grandfather Mountain
When the neighborhood pool starts to feel like a bathtub and summer break’s novelty starts to wear away, cool mountain air and kid-friendly activities are restorative for the whole family.
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.
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 North Carolina’s protected natural areas, the director of the State Parks system draws inspiration from his youth growing up in Kinston, and from his wide-ranging experience listening to children.
Talking the Walk
Two North Carolina State Parks rangers met while working a wildfire in Rutherford County. They got to chatting and realized that they didn’t want to stop. Now, the duo hosts a podcast that answers all kinds of questions about the great outdoors.
