35 Fun Things to Do in North Carolina

In honor of Greenscape’s 35th anniversary, we have compiled this list of great activities to enjoy right here in

North Carolina. Go outside and play!

Ride a ferry to the Outer Banks

The NC Ferry System is run by the Department of Transportation and offers a unique way to travel to out-of-the-way destinations. http://www.ncdot.gov/ferry/

Go boating

Choose from motorized boats, large or small, or rent a canoe or kayak. There are rivers and lakes all over the state, or head to the ocean.

Go skiing

Head to the mountains with your own skis or rent a pair!

Picnic in the park

There are state and local parks all over North Carolina. Pack a picnic lunch and a blanket (or camp chairs) and head on out!

Beaches, galore!

North Carolina boasts miles of beautiful beaches. Visit a different one each month.

Ride a horse

Trail rides are offered at numerous locations around the state and for all experience levels. What a great way to see more of our state.

Visit the North Carolina Museum of Art

The art doesn’t just live indoors at the NC Museum of Art. Check out the gardens outside, as well!

Visit the USS NORTH CAROLINA

Commissioned in 1941 and now moored in Wilmington, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is open to the public for tours. http://www.battleshipnc.com/

Catch a baseball game

Snag tickets for a Durham Bulls, Greensboro Grasshoppers, or Carolina Mudcats game, or watch your favorite kid’s team play.

Find a waterfall to enjoy

This is Hidden Falls at Hanging Rock State Park. North Carolina has many gorgeous waterfalls to enjoy.

Go play at the NC State Fair

Spend a day (or more) in October at the NC State Fair. The fair offers amusement rides and games, livestock competitions, educational exhibits and the ever popular “fair food”!

Try the best barbecue around…

At least according to many folks! The Lexington Barbecue Festival is one of the most famous BBQ festivals in the country. It takes place every October in Lexington, NC. www.barbecuefestival.com

Get your thrill on

Visit Carowinds in Charlotte and try out the many thrill rides (and some that are a little less exciting!) at the park.

www.carowinds.com

Whooo wants to go to the Carolina Raptor Center?

The Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville, NC (north of Charlotte) treats and rehabilitates raptors, including owls, hawks, and eagles. Visit the Center and learn more about these magnificent birds.

Go ziplining over Carver’s Falls in Fayetteville…

Or in a number or other towns in North Carolina. It’s a another fun way to see the scenery…if you keep your eyes open! Photo Steve Piering.

Have you been to MerleFest®? Wilkes Community College hosts an annual music festival and fund raiser each April in honor of Eddy Merle Watson. The festival spotlights the traditional music of the Appalachian region. Photo Merlefest Photographers.

Tour a winery

Wine has become big business in North Carolina, and most wineries offer tours and tastings. www.visitnc.com/wine

Take a cooking class at Southern Season

Southern Season offers cooking classes in Chapel Hill for all experience levels. (Photo courtesy of Southern Season.)

Tour the Blue Ridge Parkway

Fall is the most popular time to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it is beautiful (and less crowded) year-round!

(Photo courtesy NPS.gov)

Go fish

The streams in the North Carolina mountains offer great opportunities for fly fishing; or drop your hook in any number of beautiful lakes. Don’t forget your fishing license! (Photo courtesy NPS.gov.)

Cross the Bridge at Grandfather Mountain

The Mile High Swinging Bridge is a huge draw, offering fantastic views of the North Carolina scenery.

See a NASCAR race

In case you hadn’t noticed, NASCAR is a big deal in North Carolina! Take in a race and see how much you’re missing by watching on TV.

Go skydiving

Former President George Bush went skydiving for his 80th birthday. You can do it, too!

Cheer on the ‘Canes

If you’ve never seen an ice hockey game, get tickets to see the Carolina Hurricanes play. It’s fast and exciting!

Play golf

The weather here in North Carolina is great for golf much of the year, and there are courses throughout the state. Not much of a golfer? There are also putt-putt courses to be found!

Lemurs in Durham?

Yes! Visit the Duke Lemur Center and see these adorable creatures! Photo courtesy David Haring, Duke Lemur Center (lemur.duke.edu)

Visit a lighthouse

The Cape Lookout lighthouse is shown here, but there are many old lighthouses in North Carolina to see.

Find a local brewery

Craft beer is quite popular, with small breweries all over the state. Sign up for a brewery tour in Asheville (www.ashevillebrewerytours.com - they drive!) or find your new favorite local haunt.

Visit the U.S. National Whitewater Center

Just outside Charlotte is a huge whitewater complex where you can go whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking or enjoy a variety of events hosted by the Center. http://usnwc.org/

Take the little ones to Marbles Kids Museum

Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh offers an interactive indoor and outdoor learning environment. It’s a great hands-on experience for kids. www.marbleskidsmuseum.org

It’s boardwalk time!

Many beach towns still have boardwalks where visitors can shop and dine. This photo is of the boardwalk at Carolina Beach.

Visit the North Carolina Zoo

The NC Zoo in Asheboro makes for a great day trip for the whole family. www.nczoo.org Photo by John [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Go marlin fishing

The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is hosted each June in Morehead City, NC. Have you got what it takes to reel in a winner? www.thebigrock.com

Hang glide from Jockey’s Ridge

Jockey’s Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the eastern United States. Explore the park or try hang gliding! Photo: JORI Aerial, Richard Verdier, Professional Project Photography.

UNC or Duke?

Grab tickets to the hottest rivalry in North Carolina—Duke vs. UNC Chapel Hill. Bring your ear plugs!

Have Fun in North Carolina!

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We hope you have enjoyed this article from the Green Team!