SPECTACULAR

Sunsets

Nature knows how to put on a show, be it over the Appalachian Mountains to the west or the Atlantic Ocean to the east. NC residents enjoy the best of both worlds, including this picturesque evening on Bald Head Island

Also visit: Wayah Bald Lookout Tower, Nantahala National Forest, near Franklin

Fahrenheit restaurant’s rooftop terrace, Charlotte

Queens Landing dinner cruise, Lake Norman

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

Jackson County is home to the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Trail, 4,600 miles of streams dotted with natural waterfalls, like Schoolhouse Falls near Cashiers, and opportunities for rafting.

Also visit:

Lake Lure, near Chimney Rock State Park Jordan Lake, near Apex

The Crystal Coast, NC’s southern Outer Banks

Mountain Hikes

Find panoramic views and engaging hikes at Chimney Rock State Park, headlined by a trek to the top of iconic Chimney Rock via the Outcroppings Trail. Climbers who summit the 494 steps will be rewarded with breathtaking views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. (An elevator also provides access to Chimney Rock, bypassing most of the stairs.)

Also try: Grandfather Mountain Swing Bridge and State Park, near Linville Craggy Pinnacle Hike, near Black Mountain

So Much Bbq

The Eastern- versus Western-style debate never ends, and thankfully, neither does the list of barbecue joints entering the competition. Classic spot B’s Barbecue in Greenville sells between five and six pit-cooked hogs a day — takeout and cash only.

Also try: Lexington Barbecue, Lexington Longleaf Swine, Raleigh Parker’s Barbecue, Wilson Skylight Inn, Ayden

WE’RE CRAZY FOR CRAFT BEER

Southern Wake knows a thing or two about craft beer, and lucky for us, plenty of other NC towns do, too. Hugger Mugger Brewing, in Sanford, offers 18 beers brewed onsite and displays gothic tapestries by local artist Craig Gillooly.

Also visit: Highland Brewing, Asheville Bond Brothers Beer Company, Cary Deep River Brewing Company, Clayton

Historic Sites

Witness a dramatic retelling of the story of The Lost Colony at the Waterside Theater in Manteo, featuring Sir Walter Raleigh’s attempts to establish an English settlement in the New World and the mysterious disappearance of the settlers on Roanoke Island.

Also

HOLE-IN-THE-WALL RESTAURANTS

Inconspicuous and unassuming, like 4 Corners Diner in Atlantic Beach, longstanding diners, grills and cafes, often family run with grandma’s recipes, attract loyal customers day in and day out.

Also try:

Flo’s Kitchen, Wilson

The Roast Grill, Raleigh

El’s Drive-In, Morehead City Cosmic Cantina, Chapel HiIl

WORLD-CLASS GOLF

Pinehurst No. 2 tops the charts of best and best-known NC golf courses, but the state’s mild winters mean golf enthusiasts can find open fairways and manicured greens nearly year-round.

Also visit:

Wade Hampton Golf Club, Cashiers

Old Town Club, Winston-Salem

Quail Hollow Club, Charlotte

Fun For Families

Enjoy Tweetsie Railroad’s amusement rides, Wild West-themed entertainment, live animals, and train rides behind a historic narrowgauge steam locomotive, located in Blowing Rock.

Also visit:

Greensboro Science Center, Greensboro Discovery Place, Charlotte Carowinds, Charlotte Marbles Kids Museum, Raleigh

Serious Sweet Tooth

Chef Robert Reynaud traded the Chicago culinary scene for a 14-table neighborhood eatery on Maynard Road in Cary, La Grassa Pastificio, with a lineup of showstopping “Dolces.”

Gorgeously plated tiramisu is classic; other dessert offerings include gelato, sorbetto, cannoli, and budino, a decadent dark chocolate mousse crowned with toasted pistachios.

Also try:

Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery, Raleigh

Mama Bird’s Ice Cream, Holly Springs

Amelie’s French Bakery, Charlotte

Britt’s Donut Shop, Carolina Beach

Creative Cuisine

North Carolina’s roots in agriculture, rural/urban dichotomy, and growing population combine to create a vibrant culinary scene that continues to impress. Last year in Cary alone, Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe opened a’Verde Cocina & Tequila Library, and the Fenton development welcomed eight new eateries, with more on the way, including a steakhouse from notable Raleigh chef Scott Crawford.

Also try: Manna, Wilmington Supperland, Charlotte The Fearrington House Restaurant, Pittsboro Print Works Bistro, Greensboro

Scenic Drives

An iconic NC attraction, the Linn Cove Viaduct is a 7-mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway that hugs the face of Grandfather Mountain without disrupting the natural habitat. The Parkway winds through the southern and central Appalachians, showcasing beautiful vegetation, wildlife, and natural attractions such as Mount Mitchell, Linville Gorge, and Whitewater Falls.

Also visit:

Delightful Downtowns

Bordering the Cape Fear riverfront, downtown New Bern boasts historic architecture, art galleries, unique boutiques, and the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. During the warm months, downtown restaurants spill outdoors for popular al fresco dining, called the Street Cafe.

Also visit: Blowing Rock Wilmington Riverwalk Pinehurst

Inspiring Entrepreneurs

Creativity and passion are welcome neighbors throughout NC, fueling business owners like Alisha Ramsey, owner of Glam Soldier boutique in Apex, which sells upcycled military clothing and one-ofa-kind boho apparel. Ramsey, a US Army veteran, earmarks a portion of sales to benefit Advocates 4 Vets, a local nonprofit that helps and houses veterans.

Others to inspire: Cary Heise, Designed for Joy Jasmine Brown, FACTS for Youth Justin Senkbeil, CompostNow

Family Farms

Many small NC farmers, like Michael Phillips of Phillips Farms in Cary, have worked hard to preserve North Carolina’s agricultural heritage by transitioning to agritourism, inviting guests to pick-yourown fruit and pumpkins, wander a corn maze, feed farm animals, and celebrate farm life with a healthy dose of family fun.

Also visit:

DJs Berry Patch, Apex; Willow Oak Farms, Fuquay-Varina Millstone Creek Orchards, Ramseur; Farmer Mac’s Berries, Hampstead