story by JANICE LEWINE
Family trips are more than just time spent away; they make up the dogeared pages of a family’s story and create a lifetime of cherished memories, many of which can be made in the Old North State.
From the mountains to the coast, North Carolina is a diverse land of natural beauty, cultural landmarks and family-friendly attractions. As every parent knows, the days are long but the years are short. Here’s our bucket list of wonders to enjoy before your kids are grown.
Marvel at eight lighthouses along the shoreline
Outer Banks, Oak Island and Bald Head Island
From Currituck to Bald Head Island, eight iconic lighthouses dating back to the 1800s that once led seafarers away from treacherous shorelines now delight thousands of visitors who come to admire their majesty. Four guiding lights—Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, Oak Island and Old Baldy—are open seasonally and beckon guests to climb their spiraling staircases for sweeping views of the surrounding coastline. Two others, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, are currently closed for climbing due to ongoing restoration efforts.
Though not ascendable, Ocracoke Lighthouse yields its own charm as the oldest continuously operating lighthouse in the state and the second oldest in the nation. Much shorter than its coastal cousins and resembling a lightkeeper’s cottage, the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse is open to visitors in the spring, summer and fall, and features exhibits that highlight Roanoke Island’s unique maritime history.
visitnc.com
Admire wild horses on the coast
Corolla, Shackleford Banks, Beaufort and Ocracoke Island
Over 400 years ago, explorers brought rugged Spanish mustangs to the New World, where they roamed freely along the entire length of the state’s coastal barrier island chain. Having long survived this harsh environment, the horses’ descendants are now protected by conservation groups. These wild equines roam 7,500 acres of safeguarded land in Corolla; along the 9-mile barrier island of Shackleford Banks; the main area of Rachel Carson Reserve in Beaufort; and in a 100-acre fenced pasture off N.C. Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island. Visitncwildhorses.com for tips on viewing these magnificent creatures and to learn about the distinct characteristics of each group.
ncwildhorses.com
Roam freely at the North Carolina Zoo
Asheboro
From critically endangered gazelles, lemurs and chimpanzees to rare native plants and amphibians, the North Carolina Zoo has been a leader in wildlife conservation for over two decades. More than 1,700 animals—including polar bears, elephants, giraffes, zebras, alligators, otters and snakes— make their home at this 2,600-acre haven that offers up-close observations of each species in their natural habitat. Watch as animals are fed and trained during Meet the Keeper encounters or connect with nature on the zoo’s hiking trails. The Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden, Endangered Species Carousel, Garden Friends Playground, Treehouse Trek and the Air Hike Ropes Course for ages 6 and older operate seasonally.
nczoo.org
See fireflies light up Grandfather Mountain
Linville
Experience the magic of bioluminescence as thousands of synchronous fireflies, blue ghost fireflies and glowworms light the northern hardwood forests of Grandfather Mountain each summer. These soft-bodied beetles only appear for a few weeks, generally from mid-June to mid-July. Grandfather Glows events take place for three nights, 7–11 p.m., during the forecasted peak times. Park naturalists lead educational programs in MacRae Meadows prior to the dazzling light show. Sign up on the park’s website at grandfather.com/ fireflies to receive Grandfather Glows information and to learn more about the lottery and ticketing process.
Home to scenic beauty and incredible biodiversity, including 73 rare and endangered species, Grandfather Mountain is a land of enchantment. Diverse wildlife habitats, hiking trails and educational programs in the Wilson Center for Nature Discovery are located along the 2-mile entrance road to the summit, where parkgoers can traverse the Mile High Swinging Bridge for breathtaking, 360-degree views of the landscape. Yonni’s Clubhouse, a hands-on science and environmental education center geared toward children ages 5 to 12, is set to open next to the Wilson Center in the second half of 2025. Interactive exhibits will focus on pollinators, climate, weather and ecosystems.
grandfather.com
Chart your own path aboard the USS North Carolina
Wilmington
Moored on a dredged slip on the Cape Fear River, the decommissioned battleship USS North Carolina took part in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II, earning 15 battle stars. This authentically restored National Historic Landmark serves as a memorial to the 11,000+ North Carolinians who made the ultimate sacrifice. Explore the ship’s nine levels at your own pace, climb inside gun turrets, marvel at early naval technology and examine the combat information center. See the tight quarters where the crew worked, ate, bathed and slept. Through oral histories and mementos, learn about the men who protected our nation aboard the celebrated warship.
Relive the Gilded Age at Biltmore Estate
Asheville
George Vanderbilt’s French Renaissance-style chateau in Asheville is as impressive today as it was more than a century ago. Biltmore House boasts 175,000 square feet, three floors, 250 rooms, an indoor pool and bowling alley. Comprising 8,000 acres, Biltmore Estate beckons guests to enjoy carriage rides, horseback riding and garden strolls, just as the Vanderbilts did. Antler Hill Village offers farmyard visits, live demonstrations by blacksmiths, woodworkers and other craftspeople, as well as turn-of-the-century games and hands-on crafts for the kids. Engaging, temporary exhibits enlighten visitors, including “Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures,” running through January 4, 2026.
This unforgettable cultural experience explores the special connection the Vanderbilt family had with Howard Carter, who discovered King Tut’s tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings in 1922, and culminates with a three-dimensional recreation of the excavation site, the legendary tomb and expertly crafted replicas of its treasures exactly as they were at the moment of discovery.
biltmore.com
Appreciate the historical significance of Fort Fisher
Kure Beach
Fort Fisher kept North Carolina’s port of Wilmington open to blockade runners supplying necessary goods to Confederate armies inland during the Civil War. When Fort Fisher fell after a massive amphibious assault by Union forces in 1865, its defeat helped seal the fate of the Confederacy. Approximately 10% of the fort still stands.
The newly renovated visitor center, which opened last fall and represents a $25.5 million investment, features the “Through Their Eyes” exhibit. This immersive journey through the region’s history, from pre-Colonial times to the fort’s role in WWII, highlights the personal stories of those who lived through these significant moments. The site’s earthworks have been partially restored, and guests can explore reconstructed mounds, trenches and fortifications, as well as a central sally port and an ammunition magazine with a working tunnel system. A new underwater archaeology lab focuses on preserving and researching the region’s maritime history, including shipwrecks like the Condor and Civil War-era artifacts.
historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/fort-fisher
Explore the Wild West at Tweetsie Railroad
Blowing Rock
This Western-themed, 200-acre amusement park has been delighting visitors in the High Country since 1957. Open seasonally from April to October, Tweetsie Railroad operates 17 classic amusement rides, including a carousel, Ferris Wheel, Tilt-A-Whirl and several just for tykes.
The pride of the park is its two historic narrow- gauge steam locomotives, No. 12 “Tweetsie” and No. 190 “Yukon Queen,” that take passengers on a 3-mile scenic ride around the park, crossing a trestle and circling a mountain—and where kids can let their imaginations run wild becoming cowboys, sheriffs and train engineers. Live entertainment, the Deer Park Zoo, gold panning and gem mining round out the fun. Don’t miss Tweetsie’s special events—Day Out With Thomas, Ghost Train and Tweetsie Christmas—that are sure to create lasting memories.
tweetsie.com
Walk through history at Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Winston-Salem
Step back in time at Old Salem Museums & Gardens, a unique community of original museum buildings, authentic craftsmen practicing their trade and fascinating collections of rare antiques. Old Salem displays the cultural history of the early South, with special emphasis on the Moravians of North Carolina, and enslaved and free people of African descent.
Tour the buildings that enabled the village to thrive, including the Doctor’s House, Single Brothers’ House and Boys’ School for ages 6–14. Talk to costumed educators as they bring the past to life through trade demonstrations, food preparation and more. Play Colonial-style games and sample Moravian baked goods in the historic Winkler Bakery, which still uses its original woodburning oven.
oldsalem.org
Soar at the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head
Wilbur and Orville Wright’s dream of building a flying machine became a reality in 1903 when they achieved the first successful airplane flights in Kitty Hawk, now known as Kill Devil Hills. View the locations where their flights took off and landed, see their living quarters and touch artistic representations of the moment of the first flight. Admire the impressive monument built in the Wright Brother’s honor and view interactive exhibits in the visitor center.
Try your hand at flight by launching a kite at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, home to the tallest active sand dune system on the East Coast. The colossal mounds of sand reach as high as 60 feet and provide the perfect setting to watch the sun set dramatically into Albemarle Sound.
nps.gov/wrbr and ncparks.gov/state-parks/ jockeys-ridge-state-park
Make a splash at the North Carolina Aquariums
Kure Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Manteo and Nags Head
The North Carolina Aquariums are dedicated to animals in their care and in the wild while recognizing the challenges animals face locally and globally. The aquariums at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, and Manteo on Roanoke Island deliver an up-close look at sharks, eels, alligators, otters, sea turtles and other aquatic wildlife through interactive exhibits, live programs and more. Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head boasts three unique exhibits in the pier house that feature eels, a variety of fish species and the ocean’s microorganisms, as well as fishing opportunities. Advance tickets are required for all the aquariums except Jennette’s Pier.
ncaquariums.com
Discover “The Lost Colony”
Manteo
What happened to the 117 English men, women and children who established a colony on Roanoke Island in 1587? When leader John White returned from England with supplies three years later, he found no trace of the settlers and only the letters “CRO” carved into a tree. The fate of these pioneers has fascinated researchers ever since, though many have proposed theories, including disease, starvation, conflict with Native Americans or even assimilation into a local tribe.
For 87 years, the Roanoke Island Historical Association has performed the intriguing story of “The Lost Colony” each summer at the outdoor Waterside Theatre along the shore of the Roanoke Sound, which offers one of the best views of the sunset on the Outer Banks. Take advantage of the backstage tour and Native American cultural presentation before the show.
thelostcolony.org
Live like a buccaneer on Ocracoke
Ocracoke
The notorious pirate Blackbeard wasn’t the only one who found the island of Ocracoke idyllic. From the late 1600s to the mid-1700s, countless sea thieves lay in wait here, poised to attack ships that ran aground in the shallow sandbars known as the Diamond Shoals.
Follow in their footsteps by taking the two-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from Swan Quarter or Cedar Island to Ocracoke, where you can view the small channel of water known as Teach’s Hole—and where Blackbeard reportedly moored his flagship Queen Anne’s Revenge and met his demise. Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree held each autumn is a two-day, family-friendly festival that celebrates his legacy on this Outer Banks destination, which tantalizes visitors with uncrowded beaches, local cuisine and stunning sunset views.
visitocracokenc.com and facebook.com/blackbeardspiratejamboree
Meander the Blue Ridge Parkway’s magnificent miles
Blue Ridge Mountains
Known as “America’s Favorite Drive,” the Blue Ridge Parkway beckons visitors to explore its rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes, which protect a large diversity of plants and animals. The National Park Service maintains 272 scenic overlooks throughout the 469-mile parkway that stretches into Virginia. The slow-paced drive is unlike any other, revealing stunning long-range vistas and close-up views of the Appalachian Highlands.
All four seasons flaunt their own beauty, making any month ideal to visit. Stretch your legs on the parkway’s 120 hiking trails that range from easy to strenuous and be rewarded with the sights and sounds of roaring waterfalls, forests brimming with wildlife and fields abloom in wildflowers.
blueridgeparkway.org
Experience tribal life in Cherokee
Cherokee
The Cherokee people have greatly enriched the culture of Western North Carolina, leaving a remarkable legacy of artifacts, art, agricultural methods and the preservation of their language. Their story reflects a people who remain strong, even in the face of great strife. “Unto These Hills” is a live, two-hour production detailing their triumphs and tragedies throughout history. Performances take place nightly, May–August, at the outdoor Cherokee Mountainside Theatre (closed Sundays).
Take a guided tour to the 1700s at the nearby Oconaluftee Indian Village to find Cherokee dwellings, work areas and sacred ritual sites. Watch Cherokee villagers hull canoes, weave baskets and even prepare for battle. The Museum of the Cherokee People exhibits art, archival material and objects of ancestral patrimony.
visitcherokeenc.com
Venture into the great outdoors in Bryson City
Bryson City
This laid-back mountain town lives up to its motto, “Uncrowded, Unhurried, Unspoiled, Uncommon,” while offering fresh mountain air and a bevy of charming shops and eateries. Adventure activities range from horseback riding and trail walking to zip lining and Jeep tours. Whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River is a popular pursuit, and local outfitters offer a variety of trips for families and paddlers of every skill level.
Climb aboard the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad departing Bryson City for a four-and-a-half-hour, roundtrip train ride that carries passengers to the breathtaking Nantahala Gorge, the charming town of Dillsboro and places you can’t get to by car. Ride this excursion via steam or diesel locomotive power and soak in the beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains.
explorebrysoncity.com and gsmr.com