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Feel free to build your vacation around these no-cost museums, historical sites, parks, gardens, wildlife exhibits and festivals. The memories you’ll make are priceless.
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21C Museum Hotel
This contemporary boutique hotel and art museum grants visitors and sightseers access to rotating galleries and thought-provoking modern art, such as "Refuge: Needing, Seeking, Creating Shelter," 80 works by over 40 artists from around the world blending realism and fantasy to highlight the causes, consequences, and experinces of migration.
Greensboro History Museum
Travel back in time to early 1900s Greensboro at the interactive Gate City exhibit, which allows museum visitors of all ages to mill about town, measure ingredients at a drugstore counter, catch a silent film and field calls as an operator at the local telephone exchange.
High Point Museum
Marvel over Meredith’s Miniatures, one of which features a detailed vignette of Monet’s blue-and-white kitchen. High Point native Meredith Slane Michener crafted these meticulous displays. Or stroll through the Historical Park featuring three buildings, including a working blacksmith shop. Lastly, swing by the area showcasing jazz musician John Coltrane, another former High Point resident.
Reed Gold Mine
The first gold discovery in the United States was made right here by Conrad Reed (age 12) in 1799. Pro tip: It’s worth bringing a few dollars if you’d like to try your hand at panning for gold from April through October.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences
Exhibits at two satellite locations of the Raleigh museum include a hands-on augmented reality sandbox and Discovery Forest play center at the Greenville site. Check out a stellar planetarium and scenic hikes at the 380-acre Contentnea Creek location in Grifton.
US Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum
Immerse yourself in the history of the US Army’s Airborne & Special Operations units when you walk through lifelike displays depicting World War II France, Cold War-era Korea and 21st-century Afghan military bases.
Somerset Place State Historic Site
Walk through original 19th-century buildings at a former plantation to get the site’s entire story. Self-guided tours allow you to see a plantation hospital, a dairy and other historic structures for a taste of 1800s life.
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas
An extensive collection of military artifacts and exhibits features veteran-donated weaponry, uniforms, original newspaper clippings, personal effects and a multitude of other items. It’s all presented chronologically to create a powerfully accessible storytelling experience.
Bullington Gardens
A local resident’s not-for-profit garden has become an open-to-the-public wonderland where visitors can explore a variety of gardens and walk the Fairy Trail, a charming wooded pathway dotted with miniature displays of fairy homes and villages.
Cub Creek Park
Find serenity while watching winged beauties in the butterfly garden or hit one of four biking trails of varying intensities and lengths. There’s also a fenced-in dog park where Fido can run free, complete with a watering station and fire hydrant.
De Hart Botanical Gardens
Have your camera handy: Beauty reveals itself in myriad ways at this nature preserve, home to botanical gardens, carefully preserved forests and two easygoing hiking trails. One trail circles a peaceful lake filled with turtles and fish, and the other leads to a small waterfall.
Havens Gardens Park
Pack your tackle box for pier fishing along the brackish waters of the Pamlico River, where you can reel in speckled trout, redfish and striped bass (license required). Rent boats, paddleboards, kayaks and more across the street. Kids of all ages and abilities will enjoy the park’s wheelchair-friendly playground structures and areas.
NC Botanical Garden
Roam through rare wildflowers in the Piedmont Habitat, check out the Salamander Pool in the Coastal Plain Habitat or step into the restored cabin of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Paul Green at this blossoming paradise dedicated to conserving native North Carolina plant species.
Sandhills Horticultural Gardens
Wander through a well-maintained woodland garden dotted with azaleas and rhododendrons, an interactive children’s garden where little ones can learn about growing veggies, plus other creatively cultivated spaces.
Ramsey Creek Park
Perch at the pier, play a game of volleyball or let your pooch run leash-free at the dog area within this 46-acre waterfront park. There’s also a swimming area with lifeguards on duty during beach hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Treasure Point Park
Locals love this park for its quiet atmosphere, stunning views and peaceful bass fishing in the coastal waters of the Pasquotank River. Bring your watercraft of choice and a picnic for a full day of waterfront relaxation.
Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park
Thirty wind-powered kinetic sculptures designed by Wilson County native and farm gear repairman Vollis Simpson blow visitors away at this eye-catching park, which spans 2 acres. The site also hosts concerts and farmers markets throughout the year.
Wild Horses
This northern Outer Banks swath of sand is a designated sanctuary for Colonial Spanish Mustangs that roam freely. Visitors are welcome to walk around the beaches and dunes of Corolla to view the horses, but you must keep a distance of at least 50 feet at all times. It’s the law.
Appalachian Rivers Aquarium
Spend an afternoon surveying the aquarium’s 13 tanks, three terrariums, and an exhibit showcasing the diverse species of frogs, turtles and salamanders (including the protected Eastern hellbender species) that inhabit the Southern Appalachians.
Cataloochee Valley
Drive through this valley in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to spot wild elk from Heintooga Spur Road. To increase your chances of seeing these majestic creatures, explore in the early morning, late evening, on cloudy summer days, and before or after a storm.
Carolina Alpaca Celebrations
Please note: The 2025 celebration has been canceled.
It’s all about the alpacas at this two-day celebration with an alpaca parade and walking show with hundreds of them competing. You can also find vendors selling a variety of alpaca fiber items to take home.
Piratefest
Shake your (pirate) booty during concerts and stroll through a marauders encampment without worry of being kidnapped or walking the plank. More swashbuckling attractions: costumed characters, food vendors, sword fighting, and a beer and wine garden.
Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End
Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End brings movie night to a whole new level. In the warmer-weather months, you can catch free outdoor screenings of iconic films from the '80s, '90s and '00s — all under the stars in one of Charlotte’s most creative spaces. The series also includes free retro arcade games and easy access to Camp North End’s lineup of food and drink vendors for a full dinner-and-a-show experience.
Art on the Greene
Local and national artisans sell high-quality handcrafted goods like jewelry, pottery, furniture and one-of-a-kind art pieces at this seasonal market held at the historic Banner Elk School.
Outer Banks Watermelon Festival
Take part in cheer-worthy traditions such as watermelon bowling and watermelon-eating competitions, and you may just come home with a prize. Cool off with a scoop of festival-inspired ice cream for that perfect watermelon sugar high.
WNC Bigfoot Festival
“Come a skeptic, leave a believer” is the motto here. Enter the Bigfoot Calling Contest (and see if the beast actually shows up) or stomp over to vendors for themed grub, such as a chocolate-drizzled doughnut dubbed Bigfoot Droppings.
Bugfest
Make a beeline for this tiny-creature extravaganza, where visitors can interact with entomologists, participate in the Arthropod Olympics, enjoy a street carnival and munch on chef-prepared, bug-based dishes at Cafe Insecta.
Brushy Mountain Apple Festival
Sip cider, sample apple-based dishes, and peruse handcrafted products such as pottery and baskets. Go early if you can — it gets pretty crowded when guests, hundreds of vendors and four live music stages fill downtown streets.
Cape Fear Kite Festival
Giant seahorses, flying pigs, dragons and other fantastical creations float through the shoreline sky at this colorful aerial spectacular. Well-behaved, leashed dogs may join the fun with their humans. Live bands and food trucks keep things buzzing at ground level.
Wendell Wonderland
Take a trolley ride through historic downtown Wendell, see a synchronized light show, catch one of multiple holiday song-and-dance performances, or kick-start your holiday shopping at the handmade market. Santa sightings are possible too.
Discover more priceless experiences in The Official 2025 North Carolina Travel Guide.