Photo: USchick [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
Top 5 Things To Do In North Carolina
5. Elijah Mountain Gem Mine
We open our top 5 Things To Do In North Carolina article with something fun to do with the family, especially with the kids. The Elijah Mountain Gem Mine is a rock shop that offers you the amazing chance to mine your very own gold and gemstones that you can bring home with you if you want.
The general admission here is free and you can choose from a variety of mining packages that they offer if you are interested in mining your own. And who doesn’t want to mine their own gold to take home with them? That would be an amazing experience for kids. It’s a place that has amazing gifts to find that you can bring home as a memory from your trip, or to give away to someone else.
The staff here at the Elijah Mountain Gem Mine are always friendly and it really is a perfect place to go with the family or with kids whenever you have some time. There is such a great selection of gems here, probably one of the best gemstone collections in North Carolina here. You can also pack your own picnic and sit down and relax at one of the picnic tables here that’s right by the creek. It is the perfect place to spend the day with the family and make some unforgettable memories.
4. Wright Brothers National Memorial
If you are an aviation enthusiast then you’ll enjoy a trip to the Wright Brothers National Memorial which celebrates the first successful airplane flight. They offer a junior aviator experience for kids at the Junior Aviator store, there is a chance to grab gifts from the gift shop, and lots of room to walk around outside or find a place to sit down and enjoy some time with family or friends.
There might not be as much to see and do here as there is in other places in North Carolina, but you are getting a great deal of history here. There is a visitors center, various educational displays, and a lot for children and families to learn by paying a visit to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
Photo: Steve Evans from Citizen of the World [CC BY 2.0 }
3. Biltmore House
The Biltmore House and Gardens space is one of the most beautiful areas that you could plan to visit in North Carolina. The house here, belonged to George Vanderbilt, and the home was created back in 1895. The Biltmore House is a venue that has over 200 rooms, and it is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s the perfect place to go for a little escape, to see something truly remarkable and to find some calm and relaxation.
Take a stroll around the gardens, visit the winery, it’s a beautiful area to take some pictures because the scenery is truly breathtaking. When you pay for admission to Biltmore you will get access to the house, gardens and conservatory, and the winery. Visiting everything might take several hours so you will want to adjust and make sure you leave enough time to really enjoy yourself and see all that there is here. This is a must on our top 5 things to do in North Carolina list.
Photo: Warren LeMay from Cincinnati, OH, United States [CC0]
2. North Carolina Museum of Art
If you want to find some fantastic art in the region, on of the most inspirings things to do in North Carolina is to visit the North Carolina Museum of Art. This museum opened many years ago back in 1956 and it hosts more than 40 different galleries. You can gain admission for free but if you are looking to participate in special events then you would need to pay a fee. As well, if you want to view temporary exhibits you will also be required to pay a fee.
The park here is open all year long, making it easy to schedule time for a visit. With the general admission to the park and to visit the permanent collection at the museum, it makes it a great choice for anyone who is traveling on a budget and wants to save a little money but still find something fun to do in North Carolina. The art that is hosted here spans 5,000 years of human history and artistic work. They hold more than a dozen major art works and dozens of galleries, making it one of the leading art museums to pay a visit to in the American South.
Photo: Justin Doub [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
1. Charlotte Comedy City Tour
We close out our top 5 things to do in North Carolina article with a few laughs. Get a taste of North Carolina with a little bit of humor on the side by taking a ride on the Charlotte Comedy City Tour bus. If it is a day with beautiful weather, then getting on an open-top bus that provides an entertaining and educational atmosphere is a great idea to spend the afternoon enjoying yourself and seeing the region. The is a tour bus that offers funny commentary while you tour the Charlotte area, have a few laughs and drinks while learning about the city history.
It’s only an hour or two ride, the ticket is less than $40, and it is also an adults only operation, so don’t plan on bringing the kids. You also have the option to bring your own drinks onto the bus as well. This would make for a truly entertaining and unique North Carolina experience. It is easy to buy tickets online so that you can schedule a bus tour while you are in town, and they have frequent rides available depending on which time of year you are looking.
