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Carolina Beach State Park
Patches of carnivorous plants grow beside elevated boardwalks at Carolina Beach State Park, allowing for close encounters with the native Venus flytrap. The wheelchair-accessible, mixed-surface Flytrap Trail leads through longleaf pine forests, pocosin wetlands and wild-grass savannas.
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
Eastern hemlock trees, galax and other mountain vegetation thrive in Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, a 140-acre patch of unspoiled wilderness in Cary. Boardwalks on Swift Creek Loop keep the fragile ecosystem healthy while giving you bee-worthy access to wildflowers in spring.
Goose Creek State Park
Watery trails lead kayakers through Goose Creek State Park in Washington, while land-based explorers navigate the cypress swamp on a boardwalk suspended over serene waters. Cypress trees line the walkway, their knees jutting out of the water like Seussian sculptures.
Hickory Riverwalk
The Catawba River sets the pace along Hickory’s Riverwalk, a respite from the bustle of downtown’s shops and restaurants. Sections of this pet-, bike- and pedestrian-friendly boardwalk and trail hang over the river, offering an uninterrupted perspective of the water and woodsy shore.
Pettigrew State Park
Dugout canoes hidden for a thousand years have emerged from the silty mud of Lake Phelps — evidence of Indigenous history at what became Pettigrew State Park. Shoreside boardwalks highlight new aspects of this Creswell lake where stargazing opportunities and winter tundra swans abound.
Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery
North of Elkin, the woods around Grassy Creek Vineyard and Winery hold a surprise: one of the state’s first trails designated for forest bathing. Trailside benches and a mural at Klondike Dam offer moments of contemplation as you become a part of this landscape and ask yourself, "How do I fit in here?" It’s also the perfect question to ponder over a post-hike glass of wine from the vineyard.
Hoke Community Forest
The whisper of Rockfish Creek may pull you into a meditative waterfront moment in Hoke Community Forest near Raeford. Or, if you listen long enough, groves of hardwoods and Atlantic white cedar trees share their own story through rustling and creaking.
Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center
Sensory moments seem limitless at Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center in Four Oaks, where forests, creeks and wetlands provide a sense of calm. Occasional meteor shower campouts and interactive events enhance jaunts through the 2,800-acre park.
Island Creek Forest Walk
Stop and smell the trailside wildflowers at Pollocksville’s Island Creek Forest Walk, or let yourself trace the wind as it moves through Spanish moss, the high branches of tupelo trees and the frondlike leaves of skyscraping cypress.
Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest
Old-growth forests hold secrets suitably aged for the Great Smoky Mountains around Robbinsville, and in Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, you can tap into that timeless spirit when you make yourself quiet in this serene space.
Raven Rock State Park
Rushing waters wake the senses at Raven Rock State Park in Lillington, but you may also find the silence equally invigorating as you perch on a stony promontory and watch the sunset.
Take a breath of fresh air in these and other destinations with the help of The Official 2026 North Carolina Travel Guide.