Gem Mining & Quirky FunDig for gold, emeralds and gems at kid-friendly mines or visit offbeat and one-of-a-kind museums and festivals.
Lighthouses & FerriesSee our beaches by ferry or from atop Cape Hatteras and other coastal lighthouses.
History & Science MuseumsGet hands-on and interactive while touring exhibits dedicated to science, history, pirates, dinosaurs, flight, and sports such as basketball and racing.
Planes, Trains & MoreRide the Great Smoky Mountains and Tweetsie railroads, relive the Wrights' first flight and more.
Vacation RentalsRent a beach house beyond where the road ends, a quiet mountain cabin or even a houseboat.
North Carolina Zoo in AsheboroHere you can see 1,600 animals and 52,000 plants, and walk from the African grasslands to the North American Arctic Coast in a single afternoon.Read more »
Family Fun at North Carolina’s AquariumsAt four spots along the coast, you can discover the otters, fish, sea turtles and other aquatic life that make our waters so vibrant.Read more »
Animal Safari AdventuresEager to explore the wild side of North Carolina? Point your GPS toward aquariums, zoos, national wildlife refuges, a tiger rescue and more.Read more »
Family Fun at the National Folk Festival in GreensboroGreensboro is filled with family-friendly attractions and events, highlighted by the free, three-day National Folk Festival in September.Read more »
Nature’s Pool Party: North Carolina Swimming HolesTaking a splash in one of our state’s many, natural swimming holes, from the mountains to the coast, is guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again.Read more »
Imaginations Come to Life at These Children’s MuseumsKids will marvel at how much fun they’re having, while learning, during a visit to one North Carolina’s museums and science centers made just for them.Read more »
Perfect Picnic SpotsThis is one of the easiest and prettiest places to pack a picnic basket, with each region offering a variety of landscapes for any appetite.Read more »
Play, Eat, Stay, Repeat at These Fun-Filled AttractionsFrom theme parks and casinos to amenity-filled resorts and an overnight winery, you can stay where you play at these North Carolina destinations.Read more »
Fun, Food, Fandom: Minor League Baseball in North CarolinaIntimate venues, catchy promotions, loveable mascots, unique food and affordable prices mean the minors serve up major fun at 11 ballparks across the state.Read more »
Whitewater River Rafting in the MountainsWhether you’re looking for a white-knuckle rafting experience or a relaxing day with the family, our rambunctious rivers are ready to roll.Read more »
Take the FerryNorth Carolina’s 20-plus ferries have been a convenient and enjoyable way to travel the state's coastline since the mid-1920s.Read more »
Golf Is a Family Affair on North Carolina’s Golf CoastThe Brunswick Islands are the ideal place for a family vacation that includes golf, with more than 30 top-rated courses ready to welcome you.Read more »
21 Places to Take Your Kids Before They’re All Grown UpKids grow up fast, and the memories they and their parents hold dear often come from family trips. Here’s a list of things to do they’ll never forget.Read more »
Find Your Ideal Camping Spot to Get Away This SummerNorth Carolina is a camper's paradise, offering campgrounds ranging from family-friendly and scenic to primitive and secluded.Read more »
Coastal LighthousesThough long ago lighthouses protected adventurers from our treacherous coastline, today they offer some of the most incredible views you’ll see.Read more »
15 Fun Family DestinationsEven when they’re 50, your kids will remember visiting these great places, from a swinging bridge in the mountains to a former battleship on the coast.Read more »
A Beach Vacation Tailor-Made for YouThere's never a wrong time to plan summer fun on the North Carolina coast. Dreams of sunshine, sand, seafood and adventure will brighten any day.Read more »
Dog-Friendly Hotels Where Man’s Best Friend Is KingThese hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, cabins and vacation rentals across North Carolina go above and beyond to make your dogs feel welcome.Read more »
8 Fun Activities to Get Your Kids OutdoorsBreak your kids away from the TV and visit one of North Carolina’s state and national parks, where they’ll be surprised to find thrills of a lifetime.Read more »
Breakfast Is Served: 22 North Carolina Brunch SpotsOne of the great things about vacation is the opportunity to sleep in. Luckily, these restaurants serve full breakfast menus late in the day.Read more »
Visit Lake Lure, Asheville and CherokeeThis region offers 75-mile views from atop Chimney Rock, Cherokee history and great shopping for mountain crafts in Asheville and Dillsboro.Get planning »
Road to Nowhere and Waterfalls in the Great Smoky MountainsThe Road to Nowhere ends at a tunnel inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. If you want to venture farther, you have to do it by foot.Get planning »
Military History in Eastern North CarolinaFrom an early declaration of independence to modern-day Special Forces, North Carolina is overflowing with history near Interstates 95 and 40.Get planning »
Family Adventure in the Great Smoky MountainsWhat's more fun than hiking, picnicking and splashing in cold mountain streams? Grab this three-day trip, pack up the kids and head for the hills.Get planning »
Take a Farm-Fresh Tour of Western North CarolinaThis three-day trip starts in Asheville and ends outside of Boone, featuring farm visits, local wine, farm-to-table dining, alpacas and more.Get planning »
Family-Friendly Wildlife Tour on the North Carolina CoastVisit aquariums, a sea turtle center and zoo, go on boat tours and more as your family discovers Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores and Surf City.Get planning »
Follow Cues from Max Movie to Sniff Out AdventureVisit several of the locations where Max was filmed, and you’ll experience some of North Carolina’s most beautiful natural attractions.Get planning »
Wilmington and Its Island Beaches Wilmington and Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville beaches wait with gardens, shopping, great dining and plenty to do for the entire family.Get planning »
Lighthouses and Maritime Sights on the CoastThe Outer Banks and Crystal Coast attract visitors to enjoy historic lighthouses, maritime history, charming fishing villages and sunny shores.Get planning »
Racing, Wine and Wild AnimalsYou'll find many things we're famous for near Asheboro and Lexington, including the Childress and Petty racing museums, the North Carolina Zoo and barbecue.Get planning »
Horses, Adventure and Food Star in an Epic Mountain WeekendWatch world-class riders compete at Tryon International Equestrian Center during a weekend that’s filled with mountain sights, tastes and adventure.Get planning »
Spend Your Family Vacation on North Carolina BeachesPlanning a trip the whole family loves can be a challenge – except here. Enjoy the beaches and waterfront attractions in Wilmington and the Brunswick Islands.Get planning »
Walk in Blackbeard’s Footsteps on the CoastVisit pirate hideouts, skulk around the town Blackbeard called home, see where his sunken ship is submerged, and see where he met his violent end.Get planning »
Outer Banks National Scenic BywayThis daylong drive and ferry tour traces the coastline, exploring the maritime history of our sounds, barrier islands and coastal villages.Get planning »
Forest Heritage National Scenic BywayThis two-hour drive in the Great Smoky Mountains is a great way to see waterfalls, rhododendron blooms and lush, beautiful forests.Get planning »
Outdoor Adventure in the Northern PiedmontPlan a day trip or a weeklong getaway with tubing and paddling on the Dan River, hiking and camping in state parks, rock climbing, biking and more.Get planning »
Nights in Rodanthe Film TrailVisit Rodanthe and nearby Outer Banks attractions where you can experience firsthand the adventure and romance of the movie.Get planning »
Museums, Music and More in CharlotteCharlotte has much to offer in art, history and culture. Spend three days here and discover a great sampling of museums, music and more.Get planning »
Moravian Culture in Winston-SalemHistory comes to life in Winston-Salem, where you'll find some of the nation's best-preserved colonial heritage sites at Historic Bethabara Park, Historic Bethania and Old Salem Museum & Gardens.
Chimney Rock State ParkStand atop 315-foot Chimney Rock and see 75-mile views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure and central North Carolina.
A Blast from the Past at Asheville Pinball MuseumAdults relive their childhoods, while kids marvel at games that were before their time during a visit to the pinball museum in Asheville.
Blowing Rock WinterfestThis four-day High Country festival includes a Polar Plunge, chili cookoff, ice-carving competition, WinterFeast, craft beer tastings, and more.
Classic Seaside Fun at Carolina Beach BoardwalkOne of the last remaining beach boardwalks on the East Coast, Carolina Beach Boardwalk in North Carolina thrives with seaside restaurants, shops, amusement rides and nightlife.
North Carolina – Deeper JourneyFrom above the clouds to below the surface, take a journey through the many layers of North Carolina beauty.
Tryon PalaceExplore 20 acres of historical buildings and gardens and an interactive history center at Tryon Palace in New Bern.
High Gravity Adventures Is a Playground in the SkyThis aerial park, next to Tweetsie Railroad in Blowing Rock, will catch your eyes. And with a maze of cargo nets, aerial bridges, tight-rope walks and floating platforms, High Gravity Adventures will…
Rafting With My KidsWhittier TripAdvisor Traveler RatingBased on 8 reviewsRegions: Mountains, Smoky Mountains & Cherokee
Discovery Place Kids - RockinghamRockingham TripAdvisor Traveler RatingBased on 19 reviewsRegion: Pinehurst & Sandhills
Discovery Place Kids - HuntersvilleHuntersville TripAdvisor Traveler RatingBased on 188 reviewsRegion: Charlotte Region
Marbles Kids Museum and Wells Fargo IMAX TheatreRaleigh TripAdvisor Traveler RatingBased on 78 reviewsRegion: Raleigh, Durham & the Triangle
LaZoom ToursAsheville TripAdvisor Traveler RatingBased on 1928 reviewsRegion: Asheville & the Foothills
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