There’s no denying that North Carolina is one of the most beautiful and diverse states in the nation. The Tar Heel state really does have something to offer for everyone. From the Appalachian Mountains in the western portion of the state to the Atlantic Ocean bordering the eastern portion there are big cities, small towns, lakes, rivers, professional sports teams, great restaurants and breweries, plenty of popular music scenes, and anything else you can think of that makes it such a great state to live in. Because of my love for the state and traveling to all the places it has to offer, I decided to put together a list of the “100 Things You Must See in North Carolina.”

First off, this list won’t be in any particular order. The #1 thing won’t be any better, or worse, than the #100 thing, because how could it be? Everybody has their different opinions on what they like better. Some people are “mountain people” while others are “beach people” or “city folks.” So, as I make this list, I’m just thinking about things that are MUST SEE attractions for all these different types of people. I will be breaking down the list into segments of five at a time. Let’s get started:

Click Below to View Other Segments of This List

100 Things You Must See (1-5)

100 Things You Must See (6-10)

100 Things You Must See (11-15)

16. Chimney Rock

If you’re looking to take in some breathtaking scenery of the North Carolina mountainside, then Chimney Rock is certainly the place to go. Standing tall in Chimney Rock State Park is the 315 ft-tall Chimney Rock, a 535 million year-old monolith that allows visitors to gaze out up to 75 miles on the horizon from its top. The views of Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure below is sure to astonish anyone who ventures to go to the top of the rock. And speaking of getting to the top, there are several trails surrounding Chimney Rock including the Outcroppings Trail that contains 494 steps to get to the top. However, if you’re not feeling that adventurous but still want to enjoy the views, you can take an elevator that takes you just 44 steps away. While the views from the top are the main attraction, you definitely don’t want to miss out on hiking the Hickory Nut Falls Trail to the bottom of Hickory Nut Falls. At 404 feet, it is among the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River and is a must visit for waterfall enthusiasts.

https://www.chimneyrockpark.com/

17. Pinehurst Resort

Are you a golf enthusiast? Do you live in North Carolina? If so, then it is probably a dream of yours to play the courses at Pinehurst Resort, located in the town of Pinehurst. Comprised of nine 18-hole courses, they are well-known around the country, particularly course #2 which is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best. Perhaps nothing more drives home this point than the resume of Pinehurst: they have played host to three U.S. Open Championships, one PGA Championship, a Ryder Cup, and one U.S. Women’s Open, with plans to host the U.S. Open in 2024, 2029, 2035, 2041, and 2047. Choose from several golf packages to stay on the resort and tee it up at the places where Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Payne Stewart all once did. During your stay you can experience fine dining, spa treatments, high-end shopping, and plenty of fitness activities including walking/running/biking trails, tennis, swimming pools, and a fitness center. There is no shortage of things to do, making Pinehurst Resort one of the most luxurious stay & play destinations in the state.

https://www.pinehurst.com/

18. Reed Gold Mine

You may think of California when you hear the term “gold rush,” but did you know the first American gold rush actually took place in North Carolina? That’s right, in 1779 a 12-year old boy discovered a 17-lb gold nugget in Cabarrus County, marking the first documented discovery of gold in the country. Soon after, people rushed from all over to seek a quick fortune, expanding the gold rush into surrounding counties, and eventually surrounding states. It wasn’t until the California Gold Rush toward the middle of the 19th century that North Carolina no longer led the country in the production of gold. Today visitors can come to the site of that first discovery and try their luck while panning for the highly sought-after element. There are also guided tours into the underground mine where visitors can envision what it would have been like to be a 19th century gold-miner. Just outside the mine, there are walking trails and a picnic area as well.

https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/reed-gold-mine

19. Wright Brothers National Memorial

In continuing with the state’s history of firsts, the Wright Brothers National Memorial presents the very site where Wilbur and Orville Wright recorded the first successful flight. On December 17th, 1903 after years of experimenting and flight testing, Orville Wright flew their glider 120 feet in 12 seconds to mark the first successful flight in history. They probably would not have been able to imagine what their achievement led to decades later, with tens of thousands of flights occurring across the globe every single day. The famed site where it all began can be visited in Kill Devil Hills and a large granite structure on a hill marks the spot where the flight took off. From the top, you can look out at the wide-open space below that was used as the landing area, as well as take in views of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, there is also a visitor center/museum on site with interactive exhibits, a model of the original airplane, and reconstructed camp buildings where the Wright brothers lived while testing flights on the Outer Banks.

https://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

20. Fort Macon

Located near Atlantic Beach in Carteret County is the state’s most visited state park, Fort Macon State Park. Within the park stands Fort Macon, built in 1834 to guard North Carolina’s major deep-water ocean port in Beaufort after the recognized need during the War of 1812. The fort has seen a lot of action over the years, especially during the Civil War where the Battle of Fort Macon was fought. It saw wartime use again nearly 80 years later during World War II when it was used to protect several important nearby facilities. Now the sole purpose of the fort is for tourism purposes. Tourists can take tours of the fort to learn more about its history or go on ghost tours of the facility to discover possible hauntings resulting from its “busy” past. You can also walk along nature trails outside the fort to catch beautiful glimpses of the ocean and surrounding marshes, enjoy the beach, and swim in the ocean.

https://www.crystalcoastnc.org/things-to-do/parks-and-nature/fort-macon-state-park/

Check back soon for the next segment of “100 Things You Must See in North Carolina: 21-25”

Garett

100 Things You Must See in North Carolina: 16-20