Destinations for Photographers in North Carolina

Any photographer, whether amateur or professional, continuously searches for photographic hotspots where his or her creativity can explode in a series of shutter snaps. For those planning to visit North Carolina during the summer, the state offers many ideas for the perfect summer photographs. From the mountains to the beaches, North Carolina presents a wide variety of destinations to suit the artistic desires of each photographer.

The North Carolina Zoo
As one of the best zoological parks in the United States, the North Carolina Zoo spans more than 500 acres, with over 900 more acres set aside for future development. Taking at least five hours to enjoy the park at a relaxed pace, the North Carolina Zoo features a huge variety of wildlife, from elephants, rhinoceros, and giraffes to roadrunners, lions, and meerkats. The R.J. Reynolds Forest Aviary provides photographers the opportunity to capture flamingos, kingfishers, and even Victoria crowned pigeons surrounded by natural habitat. With over three thousand plants and exotic birds combined, the Aviary was distinguished as one of the top ten best natural habitat exhibits in American zoos by USA Today. In addition, the Zoo's prairie exhibit highlights bison, elk, grizzly bears, and even red wolves for park visitors. A Sonora Desert exhibit allows photographers to take photos of lizards, ocelots, gila monsters, and vampire bats. Upon entering the African portion of the North Carolina Zoo, visitors can find giraffes, zebras, gazelle, baboons, chimpanzees, and many other creatures of African wildlife. With over five miles of walkways - a tram service is also provided for park guests - the North Carolina Zoo is one of only two state-supported zoos in the country and remains a popular destination for families, school groups, and photographers from across the nation.

Old Salem Museums & Gardens
As a flourishing community of original buildings, authentic craftsmen, exemplary antiques, and historic value, Old Salem allows visitors to experience life in the Town of Salem, founded in 1966 by Moravian missionaries. Beautiful architecture and detailed landscape of the town make visitors feel as if they have stepped into the past while visiting the gunsmith, tavern keeper, baker, and other local personalities. The costumed staff of the town interacts with visitors and provides opportunities for hands-on learning, from pottery to cooking. For photographers, the quaint appearance of the town, along with the intricately-detailed landscapes, provides the perfect opportunity for those classic photographs of lifestyles of the past. After a day of experiencing Old Salem, photographers and families, alike, will enjoy a visit to the Winkler Bakery which continues to serve delicious baked goods daily. Other features of Old Salem include a children's museum, toy museum, and Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

Carowinds Theme Park
From classic wooden roller coasters to the landscaped layout of the park, Carowinds theme park allows plenty of action-packed photographs to be taken during the day. With new rides opening each year, the theme park offers new photo opportunities upon each visit, ensuring each new photograph is as original and memorable as the previous one. In addition, the Carolina Sky Tower allows visitors to get a bird's eye view of the park and surrounding landscape as the rotating tower rises about the trees in a comfortable ride, allowing for many photo opportunities.

Blue Ridge Parkway & the North Carolina Mountains
North Carolina is home to some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. From Grandfather Mountain to Biltmore Estate, many photographic destinations await visitors along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Filled with countless overlooks beside the parkway, these roadside stops offer photographers the best that the mountains have to offer. Linville Falls also lies along the parkway, as well as several hiking trails and numerous tunnels. Other short drives from the parkway include Tweetsie Railroad, Ghost Town in the Sky, and Cherokee, NC. Each of these attractions offer plenty of opportunities for memorable photography, from the classic green train engine at Tweetsie and the Cliffhanger rollercoaster at Ghost Town to the Native American heritage and cultural attractions of Cherokee. Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, visitors are sure to find plenty of other photographic hotspots to satisfy their artistic urges.

J.C. Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University
For the photographer who prefers nature and wildlife, the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC, is one of the largest gardens in the nation, featuring a large variety of landscape plants adapted for the region. The garden includes a Magnolia collection, winter garden, Nandina collection, Japanese garden, and Boxwood collection. In addition, the Arboretum is home of the annual Raleigh Rose Society Rose Show each summer. Whether one wants to capture blooming flowers or sleuthing squirrels, the arboretum provides a natural habitat suitable for a photographer's desires to capture the splendor of nature. Other nature parks in the area are highlighted in the Top Nature Parks in the Raleigh-Durham Area.

Coastal North Carolina
The most photographic areas of the North Carolina coast are difficult to identify, as the entire coast features something unique and striking. From the Virginia border to the South Carolina border, the entire coastal region features quaint towns, bustling docks, stately lighthouses, and beautiful beaches. From Roanoke Island's historic sites to Jockey's Ridge and the Wright Brothers Memorial, the northern Outer Banks contains hidden photographic treasures from the sounds to the beaches. As the Currituck Beach Lighthouse and wild horses roam near Corolla and towering sand dunes and the Bodie Island Lighthouse highlight the barrier island beaches between Nags Head and Buxton, emerald waters and picturesque fishing villages dot the landscape along the mainland shores. Further south, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse remains a well-known symbol of the North Carolina coast as many visitors bypass the landmark to board a ferry to Ocracoke Island, a charming island reachable only by ferry. Historic Beaufort and Cape Lookout National Seashore greet visitors south of Ocracoke Island, along with the popular beaches of Emerald Isle, waterfront Morehead City, and Fort Macon. Between Emerald Isle and Wilmington, one can find the enchanting downtowns of Swansboro, Jacksonville, and Sneads Ferry. Popular beaches in the region include Surf City and Topsail Beach, a region devastated by hurricanes in the 1990s, but has since rebuilt its sense of community.

Wilmington, itself, has one of the most beautiful and historic downtowns along the southern North Carolina coast, as the Battleship North Carolina sits across the river from historic waterfront downtown Wilmington. In addition, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Kure Beach each remain popular summer vacation spots, so photographers are sure to find ideal locations for photography along fishing piers and island waterways. Fort Fisher highlights the southern part of the Carolina-Kure Beach strip, featuring rocky shorelines and picturesque marshland. A ferry ride across the waterway delivers visitors to Southport, North Carolina, along with Oak Island's famous beaches. From historic plantations to undiscovered small-town treasures, the extreme southern coastal region offers photographers opportunities for stunning sunsets at Ocean Isle, breathtaking close-ups of seaside wildlife along marshes and undisturbed waterways, as well as timeless photos of families and friends strolling beaches or touring historic downtown streets further inland.

Other Destinations
Vollis Simpson's Whirligigs - Lucama, North Carolina - Local craftsman Vollis Simpson displays dozens of hand-made whirligigs (structures which whirl and make noises in whimsical displays as the wind blows) at his Whirligig farm in eastern North Carolina.

Carolina Mudcats & Durham Bulls - Zebulon, NC, and Durham, NC, respectively - attend a summer baseball game and photograph the spirit of the great American pastime.

For suggested trip itineraries, the North Carolina Department of Commerce Division of Tourism maintains an up-to-date, detailed VisitNC website featuring trip ideas and highlights of regions across the state.

North Carolina is filled with unique and interesting locations sure to give photographers that extra-special photographic quest. From historic watermills, flat farmlands, and beautiful lakes to city skylines, summer festivals, and military communities, North Carolina's broad variety of landscapes and communities all provide opportunities for families, especially those with an amateur photographer, to capture the spirit of southern living and recreation. Whether one looks for a day trip or a month-long roadtrip, North Carolina is sure to please the shutterbug in everybody. Not only will North Carolina repeatedly fill memory cards and rolls of film, but it will leave a lasting impression for each photographer who takes the time to discover the essence and character of North Carolina, from the mountains to the coast.