The Top 20 Must See Places in North Carolina

Starting with #20, I have chosen, what I think are the 20 best places to visit in North Carolina. There are a variety of sights including shopping areas, local communities, museums, and lots of beautiful natural places. For the most part, these are very affordable, if not free, places to visit. They are all great for the entire family, and no matter what type of interests or activities you enjoy, there is sure to be something here that you love!

Each sight listed has a hyperlink next to it. This is will help direct you to an informative website that can give you more information on everything from directions to services and facilities.

Thanks for reading and enjoy North Carolina!

#20 Concord Mills, Charlotte, NC -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concord_Mills

…an enormous shopping mall with a large variety of retailers including Bass Pro Shops, NASCAR Speed Park, and Lego Shop.

#19 Old Salem, NC - http://www.oldsalem.org/

Old Salem is a quiet community that was settled by the Moravian community and rich with North Carolina history. A Museum and garden is also featured here. It has been declared a National Historic Landmark

#18 Stone Mountain State Park -http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/stmo/main.php

...Balded stone rises up above other features and creates a spectacular view from the top. A four mile loop hike will allow visitors to climb up the mountain and see a fascinating waterfall on the same trail.

#17 The Communities of Black Mountain, Swannanoa, and Montreat, NC -http://www.blackmountain.org/

…Small mountain communities with great local shops and restaurants. Also offer some quiet areas and terrific views. Located right along interstate 40 near Asheville. Visit my hubpages article on Montreat, NC for more great info about Montreat.

#16 NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte, NC - http://www.nascarhall.com/

…The official NASCAR Hall of Fame; honoring the best stock car racers of all time.

#15 The Pisgah Inn, Pisgah National Forest - http://www.pisgahinn.com/

…you cannot beat the views from this majestic getaway. You can stay the night, but just a day exploring Pisgah is an awesome experience.

#14 Natural Science Center of Greensboro, Greensboro, NC -http://www.natsci.org/

Explore science through a diverse zoological park and many cool exhibits.

#13 Lake James State Park - http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/laja/main.php

#12 The Discovery Place Science Museum, Charlotte, NC -http://www.discoveryplace.org/

…Great science museum with lots of hands on exhibits for children and adults of all ages. They also have an awesome IMAX dome theater.

#11 Kitty Hawk, NC - http://www.townofkittyhawk.org/

…Beautiful coastal town with lots of pleasant beaches. Also home to the Wright brother's birthplace of flight - www.nchistoricsites.org/capitol/default.htm

#10 North Carolina State Capital Building, Raleigh, NC -http://www.nchistoricsites.org/capitol/default.htm

…Can’t miss a visit to the State Capital Building; built in 1840, the 19^th century architecture is beautiful.

#9 Carowinds Theme Park, Charlotte, NC - http://www.carowinds.com/

…Ready for a little excitement? Carowinds has some of the biggest theme park rides in the southeast!

#8 Chimney Rock State Park - http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/chro/main.php

...Get miles of viewing distance from one of the most awesome rock formations on the east coast. Located in Rutherford County. http://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

#7 North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh, NC -http://ncmuseumofhistory.org/

...Experience the legacy of the Tar Heel State and learn about the great men and women who made North Carolina great. Traveling exhibits are always bringing new sights and sounds the museum. Check the website above to see what exhibits are currently on display.

#6 The USS North Carolina, Wilmington, NC - http://www.battleshipnc.com

…I don’t care if you’re into military history or not, you will not regret a visit to this massive vessel of war. Exploring the battleship on a tour or on your own is a really fascinating experience.

#5 Hanging Rock State Park - http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/haro/main.php

...This is a great place to spend the day or take the family camping. The facilities are top notch and there lots of cool trails leading to mountain vistas and a variety of waterfalls. A recreational lake, beach, museum, and theater (showing educational films) attract many visitors in summer months. The main landmark at the park is a large rock outcropping which you can climb with a 1 mile hike and see the landscape for miles. Not a far drive from Charlotte or the Greensboro area.

#4 The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC http://www.biltmore.com/

…The largest private estate in the US; surrounded by gardens and forests.

#3 Craggy Gardens lookout spot with visitor center and hiking trails (off Blue Ridge Parkway) - http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/attractions-destinations/craggy-gardens

…Offers some of the most picturesque mountain views in the country. The scenes are beautiful and majestic.

#2 Clingmans Dome Peak, Great Smokey Mountains National Park -http://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/clingmansdome.htm

…Located right along the North Carolina, Tennessee border, this peak is one of the tallest east of the Mississippi and has views of up to 100 miles on a good day.

#1 The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Outer Banks -http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/climbing-the-cape-hatteras-lighthouse.htm

…The most amazing place in North Carolina. The classic Carolina view!

North Carolina is a beautiful state to visit anytime of the year, but it is hard to beat the beauty of fall leaves on a picturesque landscape. The fall season also has the best weather with mild temperatures. Read my hubpages article on seeing fall foliage in North Carolina to learn more!

For more great travel articles visit http://jasonmatthewstravel.blogspot.com/!

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