North Carolina

This peaceful drive begins at the intersection of US 64 & NC 49 in Asheboro, North Carolina. Follow NC 49 along the the Carolina slate belt southwest toward Concord. Along this 50 mile drive, you'll take in amazing views of the Uwharrie National Forest, so have your camera ready!  

Just a little under 2 miles away from downtown Asheville, NC, you'll find the beautiful Botanical Gardens. If you're looking for the perfect place to walk around, explore, and go at your own pace...look no further.  The entire wooded property is roughly 10 acres, but you can wander along the sho...

The tallest active sand dune system on the Atlantic coast delivers three distinct ecosystems in a single 1.24-mile loop. Jockey's Ridge State Park combines 80-100 foot living dunes that reshape with every storm, maritime thicket thriving in sandy margins, and Roanoke Sound shoreline where kiteboa...

Fawn Lake sits on the backside of DuPont State Forest, about a 15 minute drive from the High Falls Parking/ Visitor Center as well as Hooker Falls parking lots. With easy access and easy terrain, this is a must see to add to the list. While sometimes the main parking lots and trails of DuPont can...

If you're in Asheville, NC and want a fun place to be outside, buzzing with activity-- you'll need to check out Carrier Park. Here, you can run along the trails, bike in the Velodrome (former race track), launch your kayak or inner tube from one of the free launches, hammock from a tree, do yoga ...

Spend a day exploring the old center of town and photographing the old, historic homes and churches. Explored the old cemeteries dating back to the American Revolution. This town has very good views of the inlet where you can watch the boats go by.

Eagle Rock is located in Chimney Rock State Park and is a hot spot for climbers and hikers! The hike to the overlook at Eagle Rock is 0.4 miles, and it's one of the most bang-for-your-buck trails in the area. We love to picnic out on the rock as it's in the sun most of the day. If you decide to...

Durant Nature Preserve Border Loop is a very nice short hike with little altitude change. Two lakes to explore: Camp Durant Lake 1 & Camp Durant Lake 2. With the foliage surrounding the lake, this a a great spot to take in the fall colors. 

If you're in Asheville, it'll be quite difficult to miss out on going to or at least hearing about Pack Square Park. The park is bustling with activity as it's a common, middle ground place for people to meet up, to take a lunch break, or to catch some rays of sun on a warm day. It's also a commo...

Hoop Pole Creek Nature Preserve Trail is a short and easy out-and-back hike leading to Money Island Bay near Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. Along the trail, you'll see many different bird species and fauna. The total hiking time is about 15-20 minutes roundtrip.

Currituck National Wildlife Refuge is located near Corolla Beach, NC. At this refuge, you can can visit wild horses on the beach! Please remember to be respectful of wild animals in their habitat and keep a respectful distance.  There are two main ways to get a glimpse of these horses: You can p...

Close to downtown and in between several bed and breakfasts in Montford, NC, you'll find Montford Park. Though you may not expect it, the park boasts a couple of tennis courts, a basketball court, and some green space for picnicking, relaxing with friends, or getting lost in a good book.  People...

The Martin Luther King Jr Park includes a large multi-purpose field as well as a playground that's great for kids. It's the perfect place to go solo to clear your head and chill with a book or with family and friends for an outdoor game.  Right at the entrance to the Park stands a statue of Mart...

Perched at milepost 418.3 at an elevation around 4,955 ft, East Fork Overlook offers one of the most striking panoramic views along this stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The overlook looks out over the headwaters of the East Fork of the Pigeon River and surrounding ridgelines. What to Expec...

Allen's Loop: Historic Farm Trail in Orange County Allen's Loop is one of four well-maintained hiking trails winding through Blackwood Farm Park's 152 acres of Piedmont hardwood forest and open fields. Named after the Blackwood family who farmed this land for generations, this easy trail connect...

Pounding Mill Overlook, situated at milepost 413.2 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is a top-tier viewpoint offering sweeping panoramic vistas of the Pisgah National Forest and its surrounding peaks. Perched at approximately 4,700 feet elevation, this overlook provides a rare vantage to view Looking ...