North Carolina

Whether you’re coming for barbecue, outdoor fun, or university vibes, North Carolina delivers. The majestic Blue Ridge Mountains beckon hikers while beachgoers head for small coastal towns along the Atlantic. In between are artsy Asheville, whose restaurants have several James Beard Award semi-finalists and nominees, as well as Raleigh, Charlotte, and Durham, where three big research universities mean lots of students and academics and top-notch museums—like the free North Carolina Museum of Art and Morehead Planetarium and Science Center.

The Linn Cove Viaduct, at mile marker 304.4, was one of the most ambitious and technically challenging segments of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Blue Ridge Parkway

Photo by Anthony Heflin/Shutterstock

Overview

Planning your trip

Use these articles, resources, and guides to plan and inspire your next trip to North Carolina.

Related Guides
Read Before You Go
Hotels
As Asheville rebuilds after Hurricane Helene, these 12 hotels offer a chance to support the comeback while staying in places that reflect the city’s vibrant energy and resilience.
From Savannah, Georgia, to Birmingham, Alabama, immerse yourself in inspiring art collections at these hotels and then explore the thriving creative scene of each destination.
Stay in one of these stylish campers across the United States.
Plan a getaway to the Blue Ridge Mountains with one of these isolated cabins you can rent in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or Georgia.
Resources to help plan your trip
Skip the well-known extravaganzas this year and raise your pint of Guinness at one of these rollicking events instead.
There’s a music museum for you, whether you’re in Asheville, Cleveland, or South Dakota.
Enjoy a cultural journey through Asheville’s natural beauty with these travel tips for outdoor adventures.
Consider these 51 beautiful places found across the country—including Puerto Rico—for your next trip
Local author Ashley English recommends the city’s best bookstore, year-round hiking spots, where to drink coffee among plants, and other things to do, see, eat, and drink for a mindful trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
From hiking trails to dog-friendly restaurants and hotels, travel tips for dog parents on where to go and what to do in Asheville to make tails wag
Chai Pani, named among the top restaurants in the country, is reimagining dining out through a more inclusive, community-based approach—and helping cement Asheville as what founder Meherwan Irani calls a “Very Important City.”
Discover the Asheville restaurants taking local produce and traditions to new culinary heights with tips from author, professor, and Western North Carolina native, Erica Locklear Abrams.
What drives the culinary prowess of this award-winning, Asheville-based chef? We caught up with her to learn about the natural wonders she loves in the North Carolina destination she calls home.
See theater, music, dance, comedy, and more in this artistic hub of North Carolina.
Poet laureate Glenis Redmond reveals the city’s best spots for dancing—and shares her tips on how to enjoy the city’s thriving literary and performing arts scenes.
From one of the biggest Pride parties in North Carolina to a food fest planned by James Beard winners, Asheville delivers a full year of events to plan around.
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