Top Things to do in North Carolina
Top Hotels in North Carolina
- 1. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Asheville Downtown, an IHG Hotel
- 2. Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Area
- 3. Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Asheville Biltmore Village
- 5. Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Uptown
- 6. Hampton Inn & Suites Outer Banks / Corolla
- 7. Tru by Hilton Fayetteville I 95
- 8. Drury Inn & Suites Charlotte Arrowood
- 9. Bridgepointe Hotel and Marina
- 10. The Dunhill Hotel
10 Geologic Formations in North Carolina That You Shouldn't Miss
North Carolina has something for everyone, with the highest mountains in the eastern U.S., 300 miles of pristine coastline, quaint towns and vibrant cities. From the mountains to the sea, explore the natural, scenic beauty, discover outdoor adventure or try one of 500 golf courses, including the legendary Pinehurst No. 2. Discover a favorite among 100 wineries and 60 craft breweries, tour historic and cultural treasures, sample farm to table delicacies and get the thrill of motorsports in the "home" of NASCAR.
Restaurants in North Carolina
1. Nantahala Gorge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Famous gorge that is one of the most popular world-class white-water rafting spots in the United States.
2. Colt Creek
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
Stream running along the nature trail at Pearson's Falls Glen.
3. Francis Lightener Ledge
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Site at Pearson's Falls Glen, named for a member of the club that runs this wilderness area.
4. Linville Gorge Wilderness Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 220 reviews
This area, which offers hiking, camping, birdwatching and wildlife, was named for William Linville who was killed here by Indians in the 1700s.
Reviewed By Bowmanator22 - Charlotte, United States
Hiked from Wolf Pit Rd trailhead to Table Rock summit (8 miles/3,000+ foot climb) and then back down. The whole trip took over 8 hours, was very grueling, but provided magnificent views! Definitely has to be one of the most scenic hikes in NC!
5. Nantahala National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 37 reviews
The mountainous southwestern tip of North Carolina is overspread by the 527,486-acre Nantahala National Forest, which features a magnificent river gorge for kayaking or rafting, plus other popular sites for hiking, fishing, camping and boating.
Reviewed By smkymtnrev - Englewood, United States
The Nantahala National Forest is too large and diverse to adequately review as a singular place to visit. The area of my liking is that remote section of upper Santeelah Creek which is reached by driving down an old logging road from the Cherohala Skyway. This area is both remote and beautiful....and offers a pretty quick escape from the busyness of life to folks in both TN and NC.
6. Whiteside Mountain
7. Looking Glass Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
A geological formation that is made of pure quartz and has been a sacred site of the native Cherokee Nation.
Reviewed By bradleyland - Vero Beach, United States
Looking Glass Rock is an iconic location that many only see from the Blue Ridge Parkway overlook. Do yourself a favor and make the hike from the other side, look back at the Blue Ridge Parkway, and give the onlookers a wave :) This hike gains roughly 1,700 ft of (cumulative) elevation along its 3 mile route, but the incline is mostly steady, spread out over the entire distance. It's a great hike for anyone looking to step up from easier hikes that lack elevation gain. The mixed commentary here on TA is likely owed to varying fitness levels. I would not consider any part of this trail technical, but there are some sections that require you to make considerable "steps" up or down, so you'll need to be able bodied. There is only one rocky section, but it can be circumnavigated fairly easily. The hike up is somewhat varied, including wooded valleys and dense tree tunnels. Trail surface varies between light gravel, clay, stone, and even some sand. The mid section includes a series of switchbacks that show obvious signs of scrambling :( Please resist the temptation. We visited in August, with a temperature of around 75°F and clear skies. It hadn't rained for a couple of days, so the trail was reasonably dry, with some wet spots here and there. There are obvious signs of water erosion on the trail though, so if you're headed here after considerable rain, don't wear anything you'd hate to get muddy. Personally, I'd recommend hiking boots, as there are a ton of roots on the trail, but we saw plenty of people in tennis shoes and even sandals. Inadequate footwear will require extra diligence, but shouldn't slow you down. As far as wildlife, BEWARE of yellow jackets in summer months. One landed on my sock, got pinched by my boot, and stung me good. My AllTrails recording shows that we took 3hrs 10min to make the hike, with a moving time of 3hrs 6min, so basically a 30 minute per mile pace, which felt like a moderate workout, but not heart-pounding. Our fitness level is average, and we live in Florida, so elevation really kicks our butts.
8. Jockey's Ridge State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,240 reviews
Two of the highest sand dunes on the East Coast are located here, providing excellent take-off points for hang gliders.
Reviewed By donnajsatterlee - Princess Anne, United States
An absolutely magical place where there are really tall sand dunes There are trail markings for an easy round trip of 1 1/2 miles to the Roanoke Sound so that it is easy to find the route with shifting sands. The windswept sands make amazing patterns. There is a place that is wheelchair compatible, but only as far as a vista. The rest would be hard to negotiate without wide, sand friendly wheels. There are also some asphalt trails through some native to the area live oaks.
9. Sliding Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 897 reviews
Waterfall slide, sending 11,000 gallons of water down a huge rock each minute.
Reviewed By TheRobinsons57 - Pembroke Pines, United States
This place always delivers fun, and you must slide down the rocks aleast once in your life.. Was here three years ago. And nothing change except now there charge to use the restroom thsts a bummer.. .
10. Linville Gorge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 404 reviews
Reviewed By 607jayb - Fairhope, United States
This free public attraction offers several great hiking options. The easiest is a short (less than one mile) and fairly flat hike through the beautiful mountain woods to the Linville Falls viewing area. It's well worth the walk, but do be sure and wear comfortable, hard soled shoes. After a rain, there will be a few muddy spots and the rocks at the falls can be a bit slippery. There are two other trails for the more adventurous and aggressive hikers. NOTE: If you enjoy a more quiet experience, go very early. This is a popular attraction and gets crowded and noisy on weekends and during the summer vacation period. Parking can also be a real pain when crowded.
