North Carolina

The Tar Heel State

(American Nomad author Adele’s home state)

From Murphy (mountains) to Manteo (Atlantic Ocean) NC can’t be beat. From college basketball to BBQ (eastern and western styles) to outdoor recreation and city sites you can never go wrong planning a North Carolina destination.

Helpful links:

Tourism Site – Visit NC

State Capital: Raleigh, NC

Visit Outer Banks

Visit Asheville

What to do:

Mountains:

  • Countless state parks like Stone Mountain or Chimney Rock – learn more here
    • Mt. Mitchell State Park is the highest peak east of The Mississippi River
  • Blue Ridge Parkway
  • Hiking and Waterfall Country
  • Artistic towns like Brevard and Blowing Rock
  • Breathtaking vistas
  • Biltmore Estate in Asheville is America’s Largest Home
  • Asheville – a mix of art, mountains and home to the largest number of breweries in the US
  • Skiing near Boone and Banner Elk

Piedmont:

  • Enjoy Raleigh’s Museums and Cultural Highlights including the North Carolina Museum of Art and NC Symphony
  • NC Zoo in Asheboro
  • Take in a game in Durham at Durham Bulls and catch a Broadway show at DPAC
  • Cheer on The Tar Heels in Chapel Hill and visit the Ackland Art Museum; Chapel Hill is Heaven on Earth – yes I’m a UNC fan 🙂
  • Greensboro – check out an ACC tournament game or visit one of the cities many museums and historic sites, including The Battle of Guilford Courthouse

Coastal Plain/Beach:

  • Explore the Outer Banks
  • See The Lost Colony Play
  • Visit The Emerald Coast – area around Atlantic Beach known for its gorgeous emerald green waters
  • Visit Bath – one of the oldest cities in NC
  • Visit Wrightsville and Wilmington area
  • The beaches and coastal plain of NC is beautiful and provides an abundance of culture and recreation.

From the NC Blog:

NC Explorer: Fun Things to Do in Chapel Hill

Today on American Nomad we’re exploring the southern part of heaven – Chapel Hill, NC. Home to The University of North Carolina and center of The Tar Heel Nation, Chapel Hill offers a plethora of culutre, good eats, sports and more. Located roughly thirty minutes west of Raleigh, Chapel Hill is a crossroads of academics,…

Read More NC Explorer: Fun Things to Do in Chapel Hill

NC Explorer: Fun things to do in Durham NC

Durham NC Today on American Nomad we’re traveling to Durham North Carolina. Twenty-five west of The Capital City of Raleigh off I-40, Durham is a city anchored in history and culture. In addition to being home to Duke University, Durham’s Research Triangle Park is one of the leading areas for science and technological research in…

Read More NC Explorer: Fun things to do in Durham NC

NC Explorer: Fun Things to do in Greensboro NC

Get to know Greensboro Halfway between Charlotte and Raleigh, a few miles from Winston-Salem, Greensboro in the heart of North Carolina’s Piedmont. This city of nearly 300,000 is a perfect getaway offering rich history, culture and prime sporting events like the ACC Tournament. Greensboro is a bustling center right off I-40 and was built on…

Read More NC Explorer: Fun Things to do in Greensboro NC

Blue Ridge Explorer: Relax at a North Carolina Mountain Resort

Relax at a North Carolina Mountain Resort… One of my favorite travel haunts is exploring the beauty of wonder of The Blue Ridge Mountains. I grew up a a few hours from The Blue Ridge Parkway and have been blessed to visit a few times a year, taking in the scenic byway and exploring the…

Read More Blue Ridge Explorer: Relax at a North Carolina Mountain Resort

Fun Things to Do in Raleigh NC

In today’s edition of American Nomad, I’m sharing a few of my favorite things to do in my hometown of Raleigh North Carolina. Quick Facts: Location: Raleigh is in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina…NC has a diverse terrain from Mountains to Piedmont (hilly region) and the Coastal Plain (and gorgeous coast). Why visit Raleigh?…

Read More Fun Things to Do in Raleigh NC

Must See in Asheville NC

Tucked in the beauty and mystery of the smoky Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville North Carolina is a hub for culture, arts and moutaineers seeking adventure. I’m blessed to live only a few hours from this mountain jewel and try to visit Asheville several times a year. No matter how often I visit I never tire…

Read More Must See in Asheville NC

Must See in NC: Mountain State Parks

As spring is emerging in my backyard of North Carolina, the season is beckoning me to hit the trails and explore North Carolina’s amazing State Parks… North Carolina is a wonderful place to visit because we go from The Mountains to the Sea from the wandering Blue Ridge to the Atlantic Ocean. I’ll continue to…

Read More Must See in NC: Mountain State Parks

Outer Banks: Sand and Light

The Saturday after Thanksgiving (2021), my mom and I enjoyed a relaxing morning enjoying views of the beach and placing our favorite board game ‘Trekking the National Parks’ The weather was frigid – not the best for walking on the beach until just before sunset. I love beach walks -just listening to the waves crashing…

Read More Outer Banks: Sand and Light

Outer banks – Corolla Dreaming

On Thanksgiving weekend (2021), my mom and I set out for what I call ‘the glorious edge of the world’ – The Outer Banks of North Carolina. We enjoyed several days enjoying the gorgeous and peaceful scenery of North Carolina’s northern Outer Banks from the seaside village of Corolla to formidable Hatteras Island. We checked…

Read More Outer banks – Corolla Dreaming

Looking Glass Falls Byway

Not ready to return to the hubbub of Raleigh quite yet, my mom and I decided to take a scenic detour before heading back to I-40. Upon leaving Sapphire, just after 10 a.m., we drove east on Highway 64 towards the quaint mountain hamlet of Brevard NC. I considered attending Brevard College for music, but…

Read More Looking Glass Falls Byway