Top 25 Reasons to Visit NC

There are literally hundreds of great places to go and things to do in beautiful North Carolina, but for this series I’m just going to highlight 25 of the best reasons to visit. Starting in the lush mountains of the west and meandering through the state toward the storied Outer Banks, this quick tour of our state offers something for everyone!

Part 1: Reasons 1 – 5

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The most visited of America’s National Parks, the Great Smoky Mountains hosts more than 9 million people a year on its Blue Ridge Parkway and in its forests, creeks, coves and hollows along 900 miles of trails. Straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina boarder, the park is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now an International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site.


2. Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad between Bryson City and Dillsboro boasts over 53 miles of track, 2 tunnels and 25 bridges. Along with the regular tours there are gourmet dinner train packages on Saturday evenings, and the Mystery Theater Dinner Train on Friday evenings May through September.


3. Cherokee Indian Reservation, Cherokee

If the excitement of Harrah’s Casino and Cherokee Bingo doesn’t get your blood going, check out the native history drama “Unto These Hills” nightly during the summer. There is also the Museum of the Cherokee, Oconaluftee Village, many shops where Cherokee artists and craftmen sell their wares, and native dancing daily both downtown and at the community center on scheduled occasions.


4. Mount Mitchell State Park

Northeast of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway visitors encounter the loftiest mountain east of the Mississippi at Mount Mitchell State Park. Boasting some spectacular views, challenging trails for hiking and biking and an alpine environment with plants and animals native to Canada, the ‘J’-shaped ridge of peaks known as the Black Brothers contain six of the ten highest peaks in the eastern U.S.

5. Asheville – America’s Royal Retreat

Home to America’s finest castle at the Biltmore Estate and Gardens while concurrently claiming the distinction of being named America’s Premier New Age Haven, the city of Asheville offers an urban respite for travelers on the Parkway. There are fine restaurants and arcade shopping plazas downtown, art galleries, street performers, brewhouses and a rich live music scene with everything from rock to chamber music, bluegrass to Irish harps and fiddles.


Posts to This Series:
Part 1: Reasons 1 – 5
Part 2: Reasons 6 – 10
Part 3: Reasons 11 – 15
Part 4: Reasons 16 – 25

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Filed under Blue Ridge Parkway, Family Activities, Hiking, Nature, North Carolina, Parkway Drives, Tourism | Comments (4)