With its lush forests, beautiful mountains, and stunning beaches, North Carolina is one of the most beautiful states in the country. This incredible natural beauty can be experienced in so many ways, and it can be daunting to decide how you will experience it. To help you decide, we’ve put together a list of some of the best places to experience the beauty of the North Carolina Wild.
Hikes: A great way to experience the forests and mountains is hiking. The hikes listed here will take you to some of the most beautiful sites in North Carolina.
- Grandfather Mountain: Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the western mountains, hiking on this mountain takes you through firs and spruces and offers spectacular views of other nearby tree-covered mountains. There are hikes for all levels of hikers, many of which include man-made bridges that overlook small tree-lined canyons.
- Chimney Rock State Park: This park has everything a nature-lover could want located in one place. Its six trails can take you everywhere from Chimney Rock itself, for a 360 view of the forests around, to a breathtaking 404-foot waterfall. It is also a great place to view local flora and fauna, as it is popular with wildflower lovers and bird-watchers as well.
- Roan Mountain: Known for its unique plant life as much as its vast trails and mountain scenery, this hike is perfect for anyone looking to experience the natural beauty of the state. It is popular in the early Summer because of its Rhododendron and Wildflower blooms.The trails wind through both trees and wide-open landscapes reminiscent of the Sound of Music.
Beaches: The other side of this state’s beauty is on the coast. Here is a list of beaches that are great for surfing, relaxing, or both.
- Cape Hatteras: The Outer Banks provide many of the most beautiful and well-loved beaches, and Cape Hatteras is no exception. Seventy miles long and dotted with lighthouses, this white sand beach is the perfect intersection of nature and man. You can tour lighthouses, camp along the shore, surf, and perhaps even see sea-turtles!
- Nags Head and Kitty Hawk: Just north of Cape Hatteras, these stretches of the Outer Banks are more developed and popular with surfers. Many local surfers do their surfing here at places like Duck’s Research Pier, which is a great spot when the waves are rolling in.
Overall, no matter what your preference for outdoor activities, North Carolina and its varied wilderness have you covered. Take a day trip or spend your whole vacation hiking the mountains to the west, or surfing and relaxing on the beaches to the east. You can’t go wrong!
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