North Carolina Tourist Attractions
Vacation Ideas

The closes beach was maybe 3/4 of a mile away, close enough to walk, but the beach we spent the most time on was just a short 5 or 10 minute drive away.

We also visited a museum about pirates and a small aquarium. One place that I wanted to go to but didn't get the chance was this huge sand dune that you could sled down. Maybe I will get to do that the next time I go.

It is the site of the first English Colony in the New World. It has the oldest running play called "The Lost Colony" which is absolutely the best outdoor play performance we have ever seen.

We were able to tour recreated ships and campgrounds with live re-enactments, as well as some museums that were interesting even for me, who isn't into history as much as my husband is.

We were able to also enjoy the beach, between swimming and walking on the shores looking for seashells and just enjoying the gorgeous scenery. We stayed at two different motels, since we made our vacation plans last minute and wasn't able to find one that had the availability we needed.

Since it is such a popular vacation destination, that would be my first piece of advice to anyone planning a trip there, to make sure you book your hotels well in advance.

There are nice restaurants, fast food eateries, Laundromats, shopping, and parks, in addition to the historical events that go on each day. We are looking forward to our next trip there this summer!

They are amazing! We also participated in the free wine tasting. There is also a wine tasting that you pay for which allows you to taste the premium wines. We ate lunch at the Biltmore Smokehouse and the BBQ was delicious! They also serve locally brewed beer there. It’s from Asheville Brewery and is pretty tasty. We loved our trip to the Biltmore and plan to go back when we have a few more days to take our time to explore.

The Intracoastal Waterway runs between the beach and the mainland and provides a great playland for water sports like kayaking, waterskiing, canoeing and the always popular tubing. If you are planning a spring vacation, the azaleas will be blooming. The beginning of April is when Wilmington hosts the annual North Azalea Festival which includes a downtown parade. Make sure to visit the Wilmington Children’s Museum. The kids will love the reptiles and snakes at the Cape Fear Serpentarium. Take a tour of the World War II era battleship U.S.S. North Carolina.

Vacationers who treasure the outdoors come to Highlands to enjoy the incredible natural beauty. Fly-fishing is big here as well as hiking nature trails, relaxing mountain drives and picnics. Stop by The Highlands Nature Center and explore the botanical gardens.

The town of Highlands is small but it has a nice array of antique shops, art galleries and craft shops. Nearby is Cliffside Lake you enjoy interpretive lakeside trail hikes. Take a drive south of town to Overflow Creek and three scenic waterfalls that make up Glen Falls. A popular spot for spectacular views the 2-mile long Whiteside Mountain hike just 6 miles east of Highlands. There are a number of old, rustic and comfortable places to stay in Highlands like the Chandler Inn, Highlands Inn, Millstone Inn, Old Edwards Inn and Toad Hall.

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