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.
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.
This rugged area of rivers, canyons, and waterfalls still holds mysteries.
This one-time summer retreat in Haywood County now welcomes visitors year-round. Yet it remains an enchanting place apart — especially on the Fourth of July.
From our East Coast beaches to the lakes and rivers of the Piedmont and mountains, North Carolinians love the water. These breweries are perfectly located on or near the water’s edge.
The river knows best: It nourishes and guides, warns and welcomes. In Cherokee culture, river rituals and lore protect the mind, body, and spirit.
When trail meets river, don’t be afraid to take a walk on the wet side.
