From Havelock to Morehead City, the Mountains to Sea Trail follows the Neusiok Trail, the longest continuous trail in eastern North Carolina. photograph by nadiasphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus
From Oyster Point, on the southeastern edge of Croatan National Forest, one can look across the Newport River — over alligator snouts poking above the brackish water — and see Morehead City in the distance. Oyster Point is the southern terminus of the easy, 20.4-mile Neusiok Trail, which traverses pine forests, hardwood ridges, cypress swamps, and pocosin bogs before reaching the Neuse River. The varied ecosystems teem with life, from the hard-to-find — like tiger salamanders hiding under logs in the pine forest — to the hard-to-miss, like loons calling out their mournful wails on the Neuse River. Along the trail, hikers can see old tar kilns — mounds of dirt that seem out of place in the flat landscape — and derelict moonshine stills, vestiges of human settlement in a place that is otherwise so wild. — Rebecca Woltz
For more information, call (252) 638-5628 or click here.
Keep an eye out for wildlife on the Palmetto Boardwalk in Goose Creek State Park near Washington. photograph by zrfphoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus
This easy, 1-mile out-and-back trail in Goose Creek State Park crosses through a unique ecosystem: What once was a shady, fresh-water, hardwood swamp has become a sunny marsh thanks to the huge hurricanes of the late ’90s, which killed many of the trees when they pushed saltwater into the area. Today, swamp and marsh animals combine to create a diverse environment. As you cross through the peaceful marshland, you’ll have the opportunity to spot a wealth of wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for leopard frogs, salamanders, box turtles, beavers, and even otters, and look up to see Spanish moss dripping from weathered old trees. In the mood for a longer hike? Trek through a pine forest and head to the shore of the Pamlico River to dip your toes in the water. — Katie Schanze
Goose Creek State Park
2190 Camp Leach Road
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 923-2191
ncparks.gov/state-parks/goose-creek-state-park
You might spot a green heron on the Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail in Elizabeth City. photograph by Donyanedomam/iStock/Getty Images Plus
This elevated path — a 3,440-foot boardwalk — on the campus of the College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City extends roughly half a mile through marshland and along the Pasquotank River’s edge. Benches and gazebos are incorporated into the boardwalk trail — intimate spaces to gather with family for a picnic or a snack and point out waterfowl and wildlife that make their homes here. Among the cypress trees and marsh grasses, spot green herons, turtles, and osprey. As part of Kids in Parks, a national program of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation that promotes children’s health, the trail entrance offers kid-friendly brochures with nature-themed activities. — Lara Ivanitch
Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail
1208 North Road Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(252) 335-0821
albemarle.edu/for-the-community/fenwick-hollowell-wetlands-trail
Mark our words: Whether they nod to North Carolina or were penned by its residents, these notable, quotable passages remind us of the power of speech inspired by our state.
When one stream flows into another, the two chart a new course for the future — together.
When the weather outside is frightful, one chef serves loved ones dishes so delightful.
A historic Rose Bowl pitted Duke University against Oregon State in Durham. Then, in the dark days of World War II, those same football players — and a legendary coach — joined forces to fight for freedom.
