Do you love North Carolina and need help figuring out where to venture next? Well, you’ve come to the right place: here are five breathtaking places in North Carolina that show the Old North State’s beautiful history and a variety of experiences as your next travel destination.

Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway was established on June 30th, 1936, through North Carolina and Virginia, running through the Carolina’s Burnsville, Madison, and Yancey counties. The Blue Ridge Parkway was set in stone in the ‘30s as part of the New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin Roosevelt to get America back to work. The parkway took about fifty-two years to finish, with twenty-six tunnels along the parkway, twenty-five of which are in North Carolina. Its versatile geography offers easy public access to spectacular views of forested mountains and beautiful landscapes. The Blue Ridge Parkway has many places to stay: bed and breakfast inns, cabins, cottages, campgrounds and RV parks, hotels, lodges, resorts & ranches. Great examples of these are the Asheville Cabins of Willow Winds, the 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House, and Pisgah View Ranch. After you’ve taken care of where you’re staying, you need to check out some activities to keep you engaged and involved, like camping under the stars, fish in the beautiful North Carolina waters, visiting Grandfather Vineyard & Winery off Linville exit at Parkway Milepost 305.1, take a hike, or Linville Falls at Milepost 316.

Hanging Rock State Park

Hanging Rock State Park was established in 1730 by English colonists at the mouth of White Oak River. The park includes hiking trails, a shelter, a picnic area, and a parking lot. The Hanging Rock State Park is home to many plants and animals, such as white-tailed deer, gray foxes, bats, varieties of owls, more than 704 species of mountain flora, azaleas, galax, and a multitude of different ferns. The Parkway is America’s longest linear park starting on U.S route 441, the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and ending at the Shenandoah Valley National Park. Many beautiful places await you in Hanging Rock State Park, like Flippin’s Bed & Breakfast, Hampton Inn and Suites-Winston-Salem/University Area NC, or The Graylyn Estate. After finalizing where you want to bunker down for the night, you can go hiking, biking, horseback riding, paddling, swimming, fishing, picnicking, and rock climbing and indulge in the amenities like boat rentals, concession stands, theater, auditorium, classroom, picnic shelters, visitor center and exhibits, beach access, and a bathhouse.

Emerald Isle

Emerald Isle was established in 1730 by English colonists at the mouth of White Oak River. Emerald Isle is known for its beaches, its favorite location for federally protected nesting sea turtles, and great fishing. In addition, Emerald Isle has a nature park famous for kayaking and disc glof_. Emerald Isle has many local tourist attractions and hot spots, like Fort Macon State Park. Fort Macon State Park is a seventeenth-century fort built to protect the coast from pirates and foreign invaders; it was used both during the Civil and Revolutionary Wars. Another hotspot in Emerald Isle is Hammocks State Beach. Hammock’s State Beach is a second home for nature lovers. Many reasons are the vast amounts of live oak trees, saltwater marshes, and activities like camping, birdwatching, or kayaking. If you’re lucky, while kayaking, you might get the sweet chance to lay eyes on an endangered sea turtle as they come to the park to lay eggs. While in Emerald Isle, you should check out local places like Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier, Emerald Isle Beach, or The Trading Post – Southern Food and Spirits. Suppose you plan to stay a while, you should think of checking into places like Lighthouse Suites – Best Western Signature Collection, Islander Hotel & Resort, or maybe even grab an AirBnB; you never know what hidden gem you may find!

Pisgah National Forest

Pisgah National Forest was established on October 17th, 1916. Pisgah National Forest is composed of 500,000 acres, being primarily forest, waterfalls, whitewater rivers, and hundreds of miles of trails; it is home to many animals and plants like the Eastern Spotted Skunk, Peregrine Falcon, the Hellbender, which is Northern America’s only species of Giant Salamander, the Eastern Hemlock, and the American Ginseng. The national forest is the first tract of land purchased following the Weeks Act of 1911, which led to the creation of the national forests in the Eastern United States. There are loads of experiences waiting for you in the Pisgah National Forest, like Pink Beds Trail, Looking Glass Falls, Dolly’s Dairy Bar, or whitewater river rafting. Do you want to settle down for the night in one of the beautiful homes along the forest? There are many you can book for the night or nights that will give you a view to make you come back year after year, like Mountain Spring Cabins, Mount Mitchell Eco Retreat, or any of the many cabins available all along the forest.

Old Salem

Old Salem was established in 1766 by a group called the Moravians, a Protestant church that originated in what we now know as the Czech Republic. Being a historical district in Winston-Salem, Old Salem serves as an educational museum. Some fun things you can do on your adventures in Old Salem include horse-drawn carriage tours at Heritage Rides, visiting the museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, or visiting the St. Philips Heritage Center. The St. Philips Heritage Center, built in 1861, is considered the oldest African-American church still standing after all these years and remaining a symbol for the African-American community. There are many places to book for the night, like The Historic Brookstown Inn, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, or the Hawthorne Inn and Conference Center, but you should grab a bite. Also, make sure to check out some local restaurants like Muddy Creek Cafe, The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, or Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro!

Remember, when traveling, it’s ok to take pictures, but don’t live life looking through a screen and enjoy the nature and history of what’s around you. You should check out some of these places, travel some more, and let us know where you want to read about next.