Hero - Interior Page Hero Module
Listicle View
Wilmington: 'Outlander's' Cape Fear Connection
The historic port city that welcomed Claire, Jamie and hundreds of real-life Highland Scots has traveled well through time. For a glimpse of the Fraser era, tour the Burgwin-Wright House & Gardens and tune into the “Outlander in the Cape Fear” podcast. Drive north to Moores Creek National Battlefield to see where Jamie fought in the last Scottish broadsword charge.
More to do:
- Stroll the Riverwalk along the Cape Fear River or take a scenic cruise.
- Connect with Wilmington’s role in hundreds of film and TV projects.
- Immerse yourself in artful, history-scented Airlie Gardens.
- Dine at Seabird, Olivero and other restaurants that score with Hollywood’s elite.
Fayetteville (Cross Creek): A Highland Scots Settlement
“Outlander” fans know it as Cross Creek, but after the US won its freedom, the settlement that included River Run plantation became the country’s first city named for the Marquis de Lafayette. The Museum of the Cape Fear traces the region’s Scottish ties.
More to do:
- Drink in the lush beauty at Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
- Stretch out on the 7-mile Cape Fear River Trail.
- Channel American valor at the US Army & Airborne Special Ops Museum.
- In this unexpected wellness destination, book time at Prima Elements, Halo Spa or another spot.
- Savor NC farm and food tradition at Bounty Farmhouse Kitchen & Tap, or roam the International Cuisine Trail.
New Bern: Colonial Capital's Tryon Palace
For all the Colonial capital’s historic charm and modern appeal, the star attraction is Tryon Palace. Gov. William Tryon’s original mansion burned in 1798, but its 1959 reincarnation embraces its “Outlander” role with regular tours that distinguish fact and fiction.
More to do:
- Explore the resplendent gardens and other sites at the Tryon Palace complex for head-turning views of history.
- Follow the romance on "A Walk to Remember" tour of places found in local resident Nicholas Sparks’ novels.
- Cruise the Neuse and Trent rivers.
- Dine at Cypress Hall, The Chelsea and Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant.
Hillsborough's Revolutionary Heritage
A storybook setting on the Eno River, Hillsborough adds culinary, literary and artistic appeal to its Colonial heritage. A center of political activity during Revolutionary times, the city of 10,000 is laced with points of interest to history lovers. Several (notably the Occaneechi Village Replica Site and Occoneechee Speedway) are found on the 2-mile Riverwalk.
More to do:
- Drive north to explore Alamance Battlefield State Historic Site, where Jamie joined Gov. Tryon’s forces in the Regulator War.
- Visit downtown galleries and shops, including Purple Crow Books, which features works by Lee Smith, Frances Mayes, Jill McCorkle and other writers who have called Hillsborough home.
- Dine at Nomad, Wooden Nickel Pub or Hillsborough Barbecue Co.
Blowing Rock: Mountain Scenery Like Fraser’s Ridge
Of all the beautiful backcountry places that might have inspired Fraser’s Ridge, consider this resort village on the Blue Ridge Parkway as a candidate. Home to a picturesque downtown, choice shops and culinary appeal, the destination provides mountains of context with its setting and attractions such as The Blowing Rock with its Cherokee-Chickasaw legend plus the “Horn in the West” outdoor drama and Hickory Ridge Living History Museum in Boone.
More to do:
- Explore Grandfather Mountain, a nonprofit nature preserve and home to The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games that attracts 30,000 to 40,000 each year.
- Book an adventure with The Speckled Trout Outfitters.
- Visit the Parkway Craft Center at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park’s Flat Top Manor.
- Dine at the Restaurant at Gideon Ridge or Blowing Rock Brewing.
Scottish Homes: Historic Sites in NC's Piedmont
For "Outlander" fans fascinated by the Jacobite era and Scottish migration to North Carolina, NC's Piedmont offers two powerful stops.
At Mill Prong House in Red Springs and House in the Horseshoe in nearby Glendon stands rare surviving examples of an 18th-century backcountry homes. Some visitors note similarities between these homes and the fictional Big House featured in "Outlander." These homes offer a vivid look at the kind of frontier life the Frasers would have encountered in North Carolina. Please note: The House in the Horseshoe is temporarily closed until further notice while construction on a new visitor center is underway.
Franklin & Highlands: Scottish Heritage in the Blue Ridge Mountains
In Franklin, The Scottish Tartans Museum celebrates the history and culture of Scotland through one of the most extensive collections of tartans, kilts and Highland dress outside of Scotland. The museum also highlights the Scottish immigrant experience in North Carolina, offering fans a deeper look at the traditions behind the clans featured in "Outlander."
Perched on a plateau in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Highlands offers cool mountain air, cascading waterfalls and sweeping vistas that feel worlds away from the modern day. Its misty peaks and rugged scenery evoke the wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands — the kind of landscape "Outlander" fans will instantly recognize and love. At Old Edwards Inn & Spa, European-style elegance, farm-to-table dining and a world-class spa immerse travelers in luxury.