Things to Do in North Carolina

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh was the first museum to ever be established in North Carolina, and it is the largest natural science museum on the Southeast.

The museum is made up of four components: the Nature Exploration Center (also known as NEC), the Nature Research Center, the Prairie Ridge Ecostation, and the North Carolina Museum of Forestry.

The Exploration Center and the Research Center are the most popular with visitors; together, they offer seven floors of interactive exhibits that the whole family can enjoy.

General admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.

11 W Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601, Phone: 919-707-9800

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Located on the grounds of Duke University in Durham, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens are made up of roughly 55 acres of landscaped gardens divided into four distinct areas.

There are more than 5 miles of pathways throughout the gardens, and guided tours are offered both by foot and by trolley.

Tours take between 60 and 90 minutes. There is no admission charge for those wishing to enjoy a self-guided tour.

Groups consisting of more than 15 people are asked to register with the garden in advance for scheduling purposes.

420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708, Phone: 919-684-3698

Sliding Rock

Located in the Pisgah National Forest, Sliding Rock is a 60-foot-tall natural rock water slide.

Depending on the time of year, the pool at the bottom of the slide is 6-7 feet deep and between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pay parking is available, and there is a small admission fee. There are two observation decks.

The slide is open from the end of May until Labor Day, and lifeguards are on duty during certain hours.

This attraction can be very crowded and sometimes fills up. Parking along the roadside is prohibited.

US-276, Pisgah Forest, NC 28768, Phone: 828-877-3265

Discovery Place

Established in 1981, Discovery Place in Charlotte is a non-profit organization that is an integral part of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) education in the Carolinas.

Discovery Place actually consists of four components: Discovery Place Science and Discovery Place Nature in Charlotte, and two Discovery Place Kids locations in Huntersville and Rockingham.

The science center offers a number of hands-in exhibits, science experiments, and an IMAX Dome Theater, while the nature museum has interactive exhibits, live animal displays, and a beautiful butterfly pavilion.

The children’s museums are designed to foster learning through play.

301 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202, Phone: 704-372-6261

Battleship North Carolina

Moored just across the river from downtown Wilmington, the Battleship North Carolina dates back to the beginning of World War II.

With 15 battle stars, the ship is the most decorated American battleship from World War II.

Today, the boat has been transformed into a sort of museum, and it has the honor of being a National Historic Landmark. Many parts of the ship are open to visitors, including the main deck, two gun turrets, and a number of interior compartments.

Visitors must pay an admission fee, and self-guided tours of the ship typically take around two hours.

1 Battleship Rd NE, Wilmington, NC 28401, Phone: 910-251-5797

Elijah Mountain Gem Mine

At Elijah Mountain Gem Mine in Hendersonville, visitors have the opportunity to mine gemstones and gold that they can then bring home.

The mine offers both indoor and outdoor flumes, so it is a great destination no matter what the weather.

General admission is free, and visitors can choose from a variety of mining packages.

Other attractions at the mine include a baby goat petting zoo, the world's largest gem mine bucket, a rock shop, and a number of picnic tables. Special rates and packages are offered for groups, families, and birthday parties. The mine is open 7 days a week all throughout the year.

2120 Brevard Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28739, Phone: 828-692-6560

Wright Brothers National Memorial, North Carolina

The Wright Brothers were the first people to successfully fly an airplane, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial pays homage to this feat.

The memorial showcases the exact places where the brothers' first airplanes took off and landed, and there are also several reconstructed buildings designed to show what their working conditions were like.

There is also a Visitors Center, which features several educational displays about the Wright brothers as well as exact replicas of two flying machines that date back to 1902 and 1903.

Visitors must purchase an to view the memorial; children under the age of 15 enter for free.

N Croatan Hwy, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, Phone: 252-473-2111

Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Gardens

Dating back to the 1890s, the Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville is an 8,000-acre property that includes a winery, a small village, and a historic 250-room chateau filled with an incredible array of priceless objects.

Admission to the estate includes a free wine tasting at the winery as well as access to all the sites of interest on the property.

Guests are invited to enjoy self-guided tours of the chateau as well as the beautifully maintained gardens and grounds, and special guided tours can be arranged for an additional fee.

The estate is open every day of the year, but hours vary according to the season.

1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803, Phone: 800-411-3812

Lexington Glassworks

Lexington Glassworks is a renowned glassblowing gallery and working studio. The owners encourage an open door atmosphere, and visitors are invited to watch the glassblowing process from start to finish.

Demonstrations typically take around 30 minutes, and groups of more than 10 people are required to pay a small fee and to arrange a demonstration time in advance.

There are many pieces of art for sale in the gallery, and the studio's two owners Bill and Geoff designed and handcrafted each piece. The gallery is open 7 days a week, but there are no glassblowing demonstrations on Tuesdays.

81 S Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, Phone: 828-348-8427

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail

The Iron Mountain Hot Springs, Mountains to Sea Trail is the official state hiking trail of North Carolina, spanning more than 1,100 miles between the Outer Banks and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Approximately 680 miles of hiking and biking trails are offered, along with 500 miles of connecting roads linking segments together, though when completed, the trail will be completely accessible on foot or on bike.

Along the way, visitors can trek past majestic mountain vistas, historic colonial towns and tobacco barns, hardwood and pine forest areas, and miles and miles of expansive seashore and coastal terrain. 18 individual trail segments span the state's mountain, piedmont, and coastal plains areas, including an optional paddling trail along the Neuse River.