NC Zoo Adds Asia to Its Continental Lineup
The North Carolina Zoo, the world's largest natural habitat zoo, adds a third continent to its realm with an 8-acre Asia exhibit, opening in spring 2027. Tigers, red pandas, Komodo dragons and Chinese alligators are among the species expected to occupy the space, which will also include a glass-walled restaurant overlooking the tiger habitat and an overhead tiger walk. With 500 developed acres, the Asheboro zoo currently features Africa and North America displays plus desert habitat and an aviary with exotic birds and tropical plants. Visitors can opt to stroll 5 miles of trails through the main property or take a free tram to explore the wonders.
Pinehurst Resort's No. 11 Course to Open in March
With more courses than any other US resort, Pinehurst Resort boosts its score with No. 11 from Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opening March 29. Routing the 18 holes through the old Pinehurst Sandmines, the architects promise a course that will differ from the adjacent No. 10, designed by Tom Doak for a 2024 opening. By summer, the resort will add nearby accommodations with The Cabin, an eight-bedroom option, followed in the fall by The Lodge with 26 rooms. Coore and Crenshaw restored Donald Ross’s course No. 2 masterpiece in advance of the 2014 US Open. Pinehurst is currently home to 10 18-hole courses, a short course called The Cradle and the Thistle Dhu putting course. Architects of record include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Ellis Maples and Gil Hanse. Pinehurst, home of the USGA Golf Experience and the World Golf Hall of Fame, has hosted the US Open four times with future dates in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.
Penguin Point to Debut at Sylvan Heights Bird Park
Critically endangered African penguins will become part of the Sylvan Heights Bird Park experience this fall with the opening of Penguin Point. As part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, Penguin Point will be home to 16 members of the charismatic species with the first phase opening Oct. 17. The new exhibit area will feature habitat and viewing area, a dive pool, and a behind-the-scenes area for penguin care. Sylvan Heights, which opened in 2006, is home to the world's largest collection of exotic and rare waterfowl as well as parrots, toucans, flamingos and other exotic birds from around the world. The 28-acre campus includes gardens and natural areas with a mile of mostly paved paths. Located in Scotland Neck, Sylvan Heights is about half an hour's drive from I-95 near Roanoke Rapids.
New GeoTour Leads to Real & Rare Treasures
Visit North Carolina zooms in on its map of Real & Rare places with the NC Hidden Gems GeoTour, a quest that leads to 15 sites where hidden caches await discovery. With the use of the free app from Geoacaching.com and their own savvy, seekers can earn points toward a custom geocoin and the rewards of connecting with one-of-a-kind sites that shape the NC travel experience from the mountains to the coast. Real & Rare is a curated collection of more than 50 places with uncommon appeal for natural grandeur, human achievement or pure whimsy. Beyond the geocoin for cachers who log code words for 10 or more sites into their passport, the Real & Rare quest rewards travelers with lasting memories.
New Carowinds Log Flume to Reach New Heights
Rip Roarin' Falls, coming to the Carowinds amusement park in mid-March, is on course to set records with the world's highest water-ride drop at 100 feet, reverse drop at 42 feet and reverse camelback at 32 feet. The super flume's storyline transports riders through an abandoned lumber mill that might be haunted by the fictional brothers who owned it. The 6½-minute ride from WhiteWater sends passengers through 2,240 feet of surging waters at speeds reaching 50 mph before an unforgettable splashdown. The 400-acre Charlotte park is known for its elite collection of roller coasters (including the NASCAR-invoking Fury 325 and Copperhead Strike), the Carolina Harbor waterpark, an expansive children's area, and the seasonal SCarowinds and WinterFest events.
Hickory Museum Reopens After Transformative Restoration
The Hickory Museum of Art, a cultural masterpiece in a city of 46,000, reopens after a renovation that adds galleries and learning space, enhances accessibility, and upgrades storage for its distinctive collection of American art. With a grand reopening Sept. 5-6, the museum marked its return by partnering with fashion designer Charles Harbison, a North Carolina native, for a showcase titled "The Women." At the heart of the exhibition are custom silhouettes inspired by paintings from the museum's collection. These works will sit alongside defining pieces from the Harbison Studio Archives and some of the designer’s famous red-carpet moments, among them Met Gala looks for Simone Biles, Mindy Kaling, Audra McDonald and John Imah. These designs will be paired with works from the museum’s collection, which includes pieces by Roy Lichtenstein, Juan Logan, Robert Motherwell, Selma Burke and Alexander Calder. The Hickory Museum of Art, NC's second oldest art museum (after the Mint Museum in Charlotte), anchors Hickory's SALT Block, a science and culture campus. The Harbison exhibit runs through Jan. 31.
Waterfall Makes Public Debut; Popular Cascade Returns
For decades, Cover Falls remained hidden on private property near Andrews in the Great Smoky Mountains foothills. Thanks to the efforts of the Mainspring Conservation Trust, the newly developed Cover Falls Preserve offers access to the spray-cliff cascade via the Lillian Brittain Cover Trail. Unlike waterfalls that plunge straight down a cliff, Cover Falls spreads across dark rock ledges in graceful ribbons of whitewater. Tumbling through a creek surrounded by native rhododendron and hardwood forest, the cascade enjoys a peaceful setting while offering photographers a chance to capture dramatic long-exposure images. More good news for waterfall lovers: Pearson Falls & Glen (pictured), preserved by the Tryon Garden Club for nearly a century, has reopened after a heroic restoration post- Hurricane Helene. The 90-foot cascade streams down a staircase of rocks at an NC Birding Trail site. Reservations are required.
Biltmore to Host 'Titanic: The Human Story'
More than a century after the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic, the story continues to captivate audiences around the world. Beginning Dec. 26, Biltmore will present "Titanic: The Human Story" at Amherst at Biltmore, inviting guests to explore the tragedy through personal stories of those who experienced it. The exhibition features more than 200 artifacts, three-dimensional re-creations and costumes from the Oscar-winning "Titanic." As a special feature, the exhibit reveals the turn of events that kept Biltmore owners George and Edith Vanderbilt from boarding the ocean liner. The exhibition, which runs through early January 2028, is presented in partnership with Musealia, the Spanish exhibition producer, which supports preservation of the Titanic wreckage as an underwater UNESCO-protected site.
Fresh Edition of the NC Trail Town Guide Arrives
Visit NC has released the latest edition of the Official North Carolina Trail Town Guide, a collection of pathways for adventure-loving travelers and culture seekers exploring the Great Trails State. This year, the guide has transitioned from a digital flipbook or downloadable .pdf to an interactive landing page, making it easier to explore the 30 Trail Town destinations, which extend from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. Created through the Outdoor NC initiative in partnership with allied destinations, the guide serves as a resource for planning outdoor adventures. Each destination includes links to featured trails, accessibility information, responsible recreation practices and trip tips from local experts. Visitors can also explore an interactive map, learn the seven Outdoor NC Leave No Trace principles and “Join the Movement” toward responsible travel.
Trolls Take Up Residence in NC Cities
Raleigh, High Point and Charlotte have become the forever home of the largest North American collection of Danish recycle artist Thomas Dambo’s celebrated troll sculptures with the creation of seven outsize figures. At Raleigh’s Dix Park, the awakening began with five trolls crafted from natural and reclaimed materials that are connected via storyline to one each in High Point and Charlotte, which come with a quest to find The Grandmother Tree. The NC seven join more than 150 other Thomas Dambo sculptures that have transformed public spaces, forests and greenways across five continents and attracted a devoted following that pursues the artist’s global Trollmap.