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ATTRACTIONS

Paramount Carowinds – Charlotte, NC – 2 hrs.
There’s no way you can get bored at the 112 acre Paramount’s Carowinds, whatever age group you belong to. This amusement park has it all, from 60 rides like Nickelodeon Central and Vortex, to events and live shows. Also part of Carowinds is the Boomerang Bay Waterpark Resort and the famous “Scarowinds” event. Spend a day of absolute fun, frolic, thrills and maybe even some chills!

Biltmore Estate – Asheville, NC – 3 ½ hrs.
Discover the wonders of Biltmore - Plan your getaway to America’s Largest Home, Biltmore House, surrounded by inspiring gardens, America’s most-visited winery, and the interpretive River Bend Farm. Play in the 8,000-acre backyard with an array of outdoor activities, indulge in one-of-a-kind shopping, and savor the restaurants’ exceptional fare. Visit Biltmore in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC and let their gracious hospitality inspire you.

Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe – Greensboro, NC – ½ hr.
When you think summer, think Wet‘n Wild. The largest water park in both the Carolinas is the place to cool off, get sun and have fun. With over 36 rides and attractions, there’s something for everyone…from mild to wild. It’s family friendly and the young kids (and mom and dad, too) will have a great time in Splash Island and Happy Harbor -  two large children’s areas. When you’re ready to kick back and relax, Wet‘n Wild Emerald Pointe offers an abundance of lounge chairs and shaded areas.

THE MOUNTAINS

Absolutely Gorge-ous: Exploring Linville Gorge – 3 ½ hrs.
Linville Gorge is one of four major gorges in western North Carolina. Exploring it isn’t easy, but man-oh-man are the rewards worth it. A visit here should top your to-do list. While at the gorge, expect to see a variety of flora and fauna. Among the critters you may spy are deer, bears, squirrels, raccoons, grouse, turkey, vultures, hawks, owls, and pileated woodpeckers. The Linville Gorge Area offers some of the most strenuous mountain biking anywhere in the east, with a variety of routes ranging from 8.2 miles to 49 miles and some mighty incredible scenery along the way. 

River Rafting Near Bryson City, NC -  4 ½ hrs.
Thrill to the challenge and excitement of whitewater rafting on the most popular River in the Southeast. Enjoy the scenic splendor of the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains as you paddle the clean cold waters of the Nantahala River. You may choose to go with a guide-in-boat, guide-assisted or non-guided. Total trip time is about 3 ½ to 4 hours, with 2 hours being on the river itself. Paddlers of all experience levels enjoy the Nantahala River, the most popular river in the Southeast!

Exploring Mount Mitchell - Burnsville NC – 3 ½ hrs.
Does it get any better than this? Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 feet, is the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River. It’s more than a billion years old. Part of the Black Mountain range, Mount Mitchell has a climate that’s more like Canada than North Carolina, and snow has been recorded during every month of the year, though it’s rarely on the ground past May. Because the weather is milder in North Carolina than in Canada and because glaciers didn’t scrape all of the dirt away, the peaks of the Black Mountain range are prettier and greener than their counterparts to the north.

Chimney Rock Park – 3 ½ hours
Chimney Rock is a scenic area covering over 1000 acres, with 75-mile views, hiking trails, and Hickory Nut Falls, a breathtaking 404-foot waterfall and one of the highest falls east of the Mississippi. Visitors can also enjoy observing the large number of wildflowers, birds and plants that are indigenous to the park.

 

THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST

Outer Banks Beaches – 4 hrs.
Renew your spirit and unwind along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, a collection of wind-swept barrier islands stretching 130 miles along the coast. For over 400 years, the Outer Banks have drawn explorers and adventurers, from the mysterious disappearance of colonists on Roanoke Island, depicted in the outdoor drama The Lost Colony to the first manned flight at Kitty Hawk, remembered at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Crystal Coast Beaches – 4 hrs.
Also referred to as North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast is a study in variety. From the 25.4-mile long barrier island of Bogue Banks to the Cape Lookout National Seashore, you’ll find a beach for every taste. With Fort Macon State Park on the east, and Bogue Sound on the north, these south facing beaches are a rare find along America’s east coast.

Topsail Area Beaches – 3 ½ hrs.
If you like your beaches quiet, the Topsail area is just what you’re looking for. This 26-mile long barrier island is perfect for a kicked-back vacation. Accessible by two bridges, one an old-fashioned swing bridge and the other a modern high-rise bridge, the Island consists of three towns; mostly residential North Topsail Beach, active Surf City and quiet Topsail Beach. Along with the mainland towns of Sneads Ferry and Holly Ridge they make up the Greater Topsail Area.

Wilmington and Cape Fear Area Beaches – 3 hrs.
North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast and historic Wilmington offer something for everyone. There are, of course, beautiful beaches that attract surfers, but there’s also great shopping, dining, attractions, galleries, historical sites, museums, and the Screen Gems Studios where you can take a tour and go “star” gazing. You’ll find a rich history and many antebellum homes in downtown Wilmington on the Cape Fear River. You’ll also find shopping, dining and nightlife at Chandler’s Wharf, along Front Street and at the Cotton Exchange.

Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center  – 3 hrs.
A trip through time and space, into the heart of North Carolina’s true Down East. This is a place fashioned by the sea and sand and wind, and the people who call it home. Here, history is a patchwork quilt of ancient whaling stories and round-stern workboats, crabpots and clam rakes, and waters where fishermen and hunters navigate their boats by the church steeples rising over the mainland. And waterfowl, always waterfowl. Core Sound’s waterfowl heritage is the thread that binds it all together.

Shopping

Southpark Mall – Charlotte, NC – 2 hrs.
As the Carolinas’ premier shopping destination, SouthPark offers an experience like no other including a wide range of hard to find stores, such as Burberry, Cole Haan, Crate & Barrel, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, MontBlanc, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Bahama, and Michael Kors.

Concord Mills Outlet – Concord, NC – 1 ½ hrs.
Concord Mills is the second largest shopping center in Charlotte with 1.4 million square feet of national retail and speciality stores. Anchor tenants include Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, T.J. Maxx and More, AMC 24 Theatres and NASCAR SpeedPark.

Crabtree Valley Mall – Raleigh, NC – 1 ½ hrs.
Located just off the beltline in the heart of Raleigh, Crabtree Valley Mall boasts over 220 stores including Coach, Eddie Bauer, MAC, Sephora, Hollister, Abercrombie and anchor stores of Hudson Belk, Sears and Macy's.

Seagrove Pottery Shops - Seagrove, NC - 1 ½ hrs.
This small “Seagrove area” of central NC has been home to locals inspired by NC pottery traditions who learned their trade at Seagrove area community colleges, and potters from elsewhere attracted by the Seagrove pottery community. Several shops are located in the town of Seagrove, which is also the home of the NC Pottery Center, but many more potteries are located in the surrounding rural area.