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We at Axios Raleigh and Axios Charlotte are obviously a bit biased, but we believe that North Carolina is the best place to live in the country. If you can't live here, you can plan a visit based on some of our favorite spots.

Drive a few hours west, and you're surrounded by the dramatic Blue Ridge Mountains. Head east, and you'll find some of the best beaches around. In between, you've got college towns, big cities, rural charm and rich history.

What's happening: Whether you're looking for something adventurous and outdoorsy or crave the hustle and bustle of posh city restaurants, North Carolina's got something for everyone. 

Here's a short North Carolina bucket list, based on perspectives from locals. 

Explore the Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Elk in Cherokee, North Carolina. Photo: Jen Ashley/Axios

The most-visited U.S. national park, straddling North Carolina and Tennessee, drew 11.5 million visitors in 2025.  You can journey out west to see elk, which were reintroduced to the park in the early 2000s and have been steadily growing in population. 

Get outside at the U.S. National Whitewater Center 

The Whitewater Center, just west of Charlotte's center city, is a must-visit if you love outdoor adventures. It includes more than 1,300 acres of protected land, more than 40 miles of trails and access to the Catawba River and Long Creek. 

Start your day with a dry activity like rock climbing, zip-lining, or a ropes course before a water activity like whitewater rafting or deep water solo.

Go deeper: 15+ ways to spend a day at the Whitewater Center

Large wooden sculpture of a humanoid figure with a textured robe, standing at the edge of a forest clearing with dense green trees and underbrush around it.

One of artist Thomas Dambo's troll sculptures in Dix Park. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios

The 300-acre park on the edge of downtown Raleigh has cemented itself as one of the city's favorite gathering spots. Two of the major draws to the park these days are the Gipson Play Plaza, one of the largest adventure playgrounds in the South, and the addition last year of five troll statues by the Danish artist Thomas Dambo.

Dambo said the five trolls — the park has two large trolls, the mother and father, and three smaller ones, the children — tell the story of a family of trolls meant to protect nature.

Go deeper: Find another one of Dambo's trolls in Charlotte

Experience some of the state's best restaurants 

Top-down view of a teal table featuring assorted dishes: two mini burgers with greens, a plate of saucy fried chicken bites with scallions, a bowl of colorful chaat with yogurt and onions, and a cheesy, topped dish.

Chai Pani in Asheville. Photo: Jesse Soloff/Axios

North Carolina is home to several James Beard-winning chefs — such as Ashley Christensen, whose 2007 debut of Poole's Diner helped put Raleigh on the national culinary map — and restaurants, such as Chai Pani and Cúrate, which have helped solidify Asheville as a foodie destination. 

Last year, Counter- nabbed Charlotte's first Michelin Star, and the tasting menu restaurant has been buzzing ever since. 

Check out our annual rankings of the best restaurants in the Triangle and Charlotte.

If you're driving up Interstate 95, Smith's Red & White is a fun place to stop for made-in-North Carolina snacks. 

Our thought bubble: "I always buy Aunt Ruby's peanuts and a container of cheese straws. The family owns a restaurant next door where you can try the famous sausage," says Axios Raleigh's Mary Helen Moore.

Shaded park path flanked by trees on both sides, lush green foliage overhead and potted plants along the edges, leading to a distant gate.

Duke Gardens rebuilt its entrance and added new amenities like a cafe. Photo: Zachery Eanes/Axios

The popular Sarah P. Duke Gardens on Duke University's campus recently reopened after a major renovation that added amenities such as a welcome center with a cafe, new restrooms, more event and classroom space, and improved access. 

The botanical gardens are one of the most visited (and free) attractions in Durham, offering 55 acres of gardens, woods and trails.

Put your game face on for a big sports weekend

People hold their phones up with the flashlights on at Bank of America Stadium during a Savannah Bananas game.

The Savannah Bananas are returning to Charlotte, this time to Truist Field June 4-6, 2026. Pictured above is when they played at Bank of America Stadium last year.

2026 is full of huge sporting events in North Carolina — from the Truist Championship (a PGA Tour event) and the MLS All-Star Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte to Carolina Hurricanes NHL playoff games in Raleigh. 

If college sports are more your thing, consider a Chapel Hill visit to see what legendary head football coach Bill Belichick has in store for the Tar Heels next fall — or if you prefer a darker shade of blue, grab tickets to see the men's or women's Duke basketball teams.

Two photos: left a sunny street with palm trees, parked cars, and white buildings; right a busy bar scene with bottled shelves, hanging glassware, patrons, and a blue TV.

Lumina Avenue and Tower 7 in Wrightsville. Photos: McKenzie Rankin/Axios

Spend a full day in the waves and sun at Wrightsville Beach, then revive yourself with tacos, margs and an embarrassing amount of chips and queso from Tower 7 on Lumina Avenue, just a short walk from the water, writes Axios Charlotte's McKenzie Rankin.

Head out east for history and local cuisine

To see the best of the Outer Banks, drive out to Manteo. Before crossing the final bridge connecting you to the islands, stop at Blue Water Grill for their unforgettable shrimp and grits.

Turning left will take you past Kill Devil Hills, where the Wright brothers flew the first airplane to Corolla, the land of wild horses. Grab a T-shirt at Biscuits N' Porn in Nags Head and a donut at Duck Donuts in Duck.

Turn right, and you'll find yourself in Rodanthe, the setting of the Nicholas Sparks novel-turned-movie "Nights in Rodanthe." Find Cape Hatteras Lighthouse near where the road ends, Axios' Mary Helen Moore recommends. 

Don't forget about eastern North Carolina 'cue

My favorite for eastern North Carolina-style barbecue is Parker's in Wilson, which has been making things the same way for 80 years. 

The fried chicken and 'cue are worth the drive, and if you're in Wilson, stop by the whirligig park downtown, says Mary Helen. 

Chopped sandwich at Lexington Barbecue. Photo: Katie Peralta Soloff/Axios


While eastern BBQ is known for using the whole hog and a vinegar-based sauce, western, or Lexington-style, uses the pork shoulder and a seasoned red sauce. Enter Lexington Barbecue, which has been famously smoking pork about an hour northeast of Charlotte for more than six decades.  

15+ ways to spend a day at the Whitewater Center

Find another one of Dambo's trolls in Charlotte

Checking off your North Carolina bucket list

North Carolina is the best place to live in the country. If you can't live here, you can plan a visit based on some of our favorite spots.

Sunrise in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Sunrise at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios

<p>We at Axios Raleigh and Axios Charlotte are obviously a bit biased, but we believe that North Carolina is the best place to live in the country. If you can&#x27;t live here, you can plan a visit based on some of our favorite spots.</p><ul><li>Drive a few hours west, and you&#x27;re surrounded by the dramatic Blue Ridge Mountains. Head east, and you&#x27;ll find some of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="best beaches" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/05/24/best-beaches-north-carolina-guide-travel-tourism" data-vars-content-id="3ed9bd94-e719-46c3-b5cc-d824441c8f76" data-vars-headline="Checking off your North Carolina bucket list" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2024/05/24/best-beaches-north-carolina-guide-travel-tourism" target="_self">best beaches</a> around. In between, you&#x27;ve got college towns, big cities, rural charm and rich history.</li></ul>

McKenzie Rankin

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