HomeTravel GuidesNorth Carolina

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
  1. ASHEVILLE, NC, USA-27 JULY 2019: Wall Street in downtown is busy on a summer Sunday, with small crowds at cafe tables, while a man pushes a young woman in a wheel chair.
    Asheville
    April 05, 2021 04:10 PM
  2. Travel-Guides-Outer-Banks-gene-gallin-unsplash.jpg
    Outer Banks, North Carolina
    May 17, 2018 12:13 PM
     · 
    Brianna Simmons
Read Before You Go
13 Fall Foliage Train Rides for Prime Leaf Peeping
Trains
Train Rides Are the Best Way to See Fall Foliage. Try One of These 13 Trips.
This autumn, take in striking fall colors from Alaska to the Alps on these scenic train trips in the United States and abroad.
August 11, 2023 11:25 AM
 · 
Lyndsey Matthews
Left image displays the American Tobacco complex in downtown Durham. Right image displays the bull statue in downtown Durham, NC
Cities We Love
Durham, North Carolina Is Redefining What It Means to Be an Innovative City
February 20, 2023 07:02 PM
 · 
Chloe Arrojado
TKcaption
Cities We Love
Charlotte, North Carolina Is Ready for Its Crowning Moment
September 02, 2022 01:48 AM
 · 
Chloe Arrojado
The Ideal Outer Banks, North Carolina, Beach Vacation
U.S. Beaches
The Ideal Outer Banks, North Carolina, Beach Vacation
July 02, 2022 09:21 AM
 · 
Anna Katherine Clemmons
Why Getting Outdoors in This North Carolina Jewel is the Right Way to Travel Now
Outdoor Adventure
Why Getting Outdoors in This North Carolina Jewel is the Right Way to Travel Now
Sponsored by
Hotels
The Best Asheville Hotels for a Truly Local Stay
The Best Asheville Hotels for a Truly Local Stay
Hotels We Love
These Are the 12 Best Hotels in Asheville
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.
March 26, 2025 10:00 AM
 · 
Jenn Rice
The lobby of JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
Art + Architecture
Engage with Compelling Art at These Top Southern Hotels
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.
Sponsored by
An Airstream trailer with a hot tub, outdoor shower, deck, and hammock, surrounded by trees
Hotels
12 Airstream Trailers You Can Book on Airbnb
Stay in one of these stylish campers across the United States.
June 07, 2024 09:01 AM
 · 
Nicholas DeRenzo
12 Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins You Can Rent on Airbnb and Vrbo
Hotels
16 Dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain Cabins You Can Rent on Airbnb and Vrbo
Plan a getaway to the Blue Ridge Mountains with one of these isolated cabins you can rent in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, or Georgia.
November 10, 2023 02:26 PM
 · 
Lyndsey Matthews
Resources to help plan your trip
The Best Restaurants in the Great Smoky Mountains
You can guess by this lush stretch of the country that you’ll find lots of fresh produce in its restaurants and cafés. Local breweries and distilleries get star billing on bar menus, too, so expect a pure and authentic taste of Appalachian bounty most places you go.
December 16, 2020 01:21 PM
 · 
Stratton Lawrence
Family Travel
10 Tips for Camping With Kids and Babies
Taking a kid camping? Intimidating, yes—but if you equip yourself with a bit of know-how, mitigate risk, and practice overall good judgement, a night in the woods with a tot in tow is not only possible but also actually rollicking good fun.
August 21, 2020 06:33 PM
 · 
Phil Morgan
Art + Architecture
Dale Chihuly’s Glasswork Leads First-Ever Garden Exhibit at Asheville’s Historic Biltmore
The Seattle-based artist’s al fresco summer show at the North Carolina landmark runs through October 7.
May 30, 2018 04:59 PM
 · 
Matthew Phenix
Restaurants + Cafés
7 Lesser-Known U.S. Food Towns
They’re all a day trip from a bigger destination.
June 08, 2017 05:59 PM
 · 
Tamara Palmer
Bars + Nightlife
We’re Really Into This New Brewery Trend
Craft breweries around the country are letting you stay over.
March 11, 2016 05:38 PM
 · 
Will McGough
Food + Drink
Wandering Chef: Brandon Sharp in North Carolina
Wandering Chef: Brandon Sharp in North Carolina
May 10, 2013 01:29 PM
 · 
Jen Murphy
Art + Culture
Where to Play Bluegrass In Appalachia
If you’re yearning to join a jam session in Bluegrass country, head to these workshops and camps first.
June 11, 2012 06:57 PM
 · 
Adam Fischer
In the Magazine
Learning to Understand the South, One Note at a Time
An aspiring bluegrass fiddler from London discovers much more than music on a trip to North Carolina.
June 11, 2012 06:44 PM
 · 
Emma John
Load More
Sign up for our newsletter
Join more than a million of the world’s best travelers. Subscribe to the Daily Wander newsletter.