North Carolina Travel Guide: Explore the Best Parks, Historic Sites, and Hidden Gems
Explore North Carolina with this Roam Your Home travel guide. Discover Blue Ridge Mountain parks, coastal islands, historic sites, museums, and charming southern towns across the Tar Heel State
Discover Places to Explore
Looking for more places to explore? Browse all of our Roam Your Home articles about North Carolina, including mountain parks, historic towns, beaches, and cultural sites. From the Blue Ridge Parkway to Outer Banks adventures, discover some of the best things to do in North Carolina.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
From Blue Ridge mountain waterfalls and forest trails to coastal islands and marshes, North Carolina’s parks showcase the state’s incredible geographic diversity. Our featured North Carolina park highlights one of the state’s best outdoor adventures.
James K. Polk State Historic Site
North Carolina’s historic sites trace stories from early colonial settlements to Civil War battlefields and cultural landmarks. Our featured North Carolina historic site highlights one destination that helped shape the state’s history.
Best National Parks in North Carolina
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- Wright Brothers National Memorial
- Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore
- Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Top 5 North Carolina State Parks
- Hanging Rock State Park
- Mount Mitchell State Park
- Jockey’s Ridge State Park
- Stone Mountain State Park
- Fort Dobbs State Historic Site
Top 5 North Carolina Museums
- North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh
- Mint Museum in Charlotte
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh
- NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte
- Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem
Know Before You Roam: North Carolina Quick Facts
- Largest City: Charlotte
- High Point (Rank): Mount Mitchell 6,684 ft (16)
- Lowest Elevation: Sea Level
- State Nickname: “Tar Heel State”
- State Flower: Flowering Dogwood
- State Tree: Longleaf Pine
- State Animal: Eastern Gray Squirrel
- State Bird: Northern Cardinal
- State Fish: Channel Bass
Explore North Carolina on the Roam Your Home Travel Map
Discover North Carolina using the Roam Your Home map.
Each marker highlights one of our stories about mountain parks, coastal landmarks, museums, and historic destinations. Click a pin to uncover the story and start planning your North Carolina travels.