The Top 20 Places to Visit in North Carolina

Are you thinking about visiting or vacationing in North Carolina? Are you a resident looking for some new, exciting, and breath-taking sights? As a North Carolina native, It is my pleasure to share with you what I believe are the top twenty places to visit in the state. In the remainder of my article I have listed these twenty spots in order with #1 being the best location in the State of North Carolina. While I don't have time to go in depth on any one location, I have given a brief description for many of the sights and a website link that will help you find more information.

This list of twenty places is complete with natural views, museums, sporting attractions, shopping areas, and local communities. These sights are great for the entire family and no matter what your interests are, there is sure to be something you will love! In addition, most of these places cost little to nothing to visit. I have purposely chosen sights that are low cost and available to nearly everyone.

Enjoy your visit of North Carolina!

Top 20 Places to Visit in 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 The Lego Shop.

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

Old Salem is a quiet community that was settled by the Moravian community and is rich with North Carolina history. A mand 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

#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 article on Montreat, NC for more 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/

#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 IMAX dome theatre.

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

...Beautiful coastal town; home to birthplace of flight.

#10 North Carolina State Capital Building - 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

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

#6 The USS North Carolina, Wilmington, NC - http://www.battleshipnc.com/page1.php

...I don't care if you're into military history or not, you will not regret a visit to this massive vessel of war.

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

#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

...When it comes to natural beauty, few places can best the picturesque panorama offered at Craggy Gardens.This is a great place bring a spread and enjoy the views while utilizing the picnic area.

#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 distancing up to 100 miles on a good day.

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

...The most amazing place in North Carolina.

Fall is one of the best seasons to visit North Carolina. The temperatures are mild and views of the foliage are incredible. To learn more about seeing fall leaves in North Carolina visit my article on that topic by clicking here.