Things to Do

Things to Do in North Carolina

There are 51 attractions in North Carolina. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, barrier island seashore with iconic lighthouse, is the most popular.

Most Popular By Name
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Barrier island seashore with iconic lighthouse
Park
North Carolina Zoo
2
North Carolina Zoo
Large wildlife zoo with expansive natural habitats
Park
Cape Lookout National Seashore
3
Cape Lookout National Seashore
Barrier-island seashore with historic lighthouse and undeveloped beaches
Park
Discovery Place
4
Discovery Place
Charlotte science museum with interactive exhibits and educational programs
Museum
Wright Brothers National Memorial
5
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Memorial marking the Wrights' first powered flights
Park
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
6
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
Historic site commemorating England's early American colony attempts
Park
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
7
Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site
Preserved home of poet Carl Sandburg with grounds
Park
Sullenberger Aviation Museum
8
Sullenberger Aviation Museum
Aviation museum commemorating Captain Sullenberger and aircraft
Museum
Blue Ridge Mountains
9
Blue Ridge Mountains
Ancient Appalachian mountains famed for blue-hued ridges
Mountains
Mount Mitchell
10
Mount Mitchell
Highest peak in eastern North America
Mountain
Bank of America Stadium
11
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte NFL stadium, home of Carolina Panthers
Stadium
Cape Hatteras
12
Cape Hatteras
Barrier island with iconic lighthouse and treacherous shoals
Cape
Roanoke Island
13
Roanoke Island
Barrier island with the Lost Colony settlement history
Island
Outer Banks
14
Outer Banks
Barrier islands off North Carolina with famous beaches
Island
USS North Carolina (BB-55)
15
USS North Carolina (BB-55)
World War II battleship museum moored in Wilmington
Park
Cape Fear (headland)
16
Cape Fear (headland)
North Carolina headland marking the Cape Fear inlet
Cape
North Carolina Museum of Art
17
North Carolina Museum of Art
State art museum with extensive outdoor sculpture park
Museum
Battle of Bentonville
18
Battle of Bentonville
Civil War battlefield site near Bentonville, North Carolina.
Monument
North Carolina State Capitol
19
North Carolina State Capitol
Historic capitol building in Raleigh housing state offices
Palace
Blue Ridge Parkway
20
Blue Ridge Parkway
Scenic mountain parkway through Appalachian Highlands
Park
Hatteras Island
21
Hatteras Island
Barrier island of the Outer Banks, popular beaches
Island
Lake Mattamuskeet
22
Lake Mattamuskeet
North Carolina's largest natural lake on the coastal plain
Lake
Carowinds
23
Carowinds
Large amusement park straddling North Carolina–South Carolina border
Park
Upper Whitewater Falls
24
Upper Whitewater Falls
High waterfall on the Whitewater River with overlooks
Waterfall
Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
25
Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium
College football stadium at Wake Forest University
Park
Battle of Monroe's Crossroads
26
Battle of Monroe's Crossroads
Civil War battlefield site near Monroe's Crossroads, North Carolina
Monument
Nasher Museum of Art
27
Nasher Museum of Art
University art museum with contemporary and global collections
Museum
Ackland Art Museum
28
Ackland Art Museum
University art museum housing global collections
Museum
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
29
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Coastal refuge for red wolves and wild horses
Park
Carolina Beach State Park
30
Carolina Beach State Park
Coastal park with maritime forest and tidal creeks
Park
Crowders Mountain State Park
31
Crowders Mountain State Park
State park with steep hikes and granite peak
Park
Fort Macon State Park
32
Fort Macon State Park
Seaside state park featuring a Civil War-era fort
Park
Hanging Rock State Park
33
Hanging Rock State Park
State park with hiking trails and cliffs
Park
Mast Farm
34
Mast Farm
Historic mountain farmstead and inn in North Carolina
Park
Old Well
35
Old Well
Iconic collegiate well and UNC Chapel Hill symbol
Monument
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
36
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
Barrier island wildlife refuge protecting seabirds and dunes
Park
Davie Poplar
37
Davie Poplar
Historic campus tree landmark and UNC symbol
Monument
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
38
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Extensive university botanical gardens with diverse plant collections
Area
Beirut Memorial
39
Beirut Memorial
War memorial honoring Beirut bombing victims
Monument
Levine Museum of the New South
40
Levine Museum of the New South
Charlotte museum interpreting Southern post‑Civil War history
Museum
Mint Museum
41
Mint Museum
Art museum with American and global collections
Museum
Museum of Life and Science
42
Museum of Life and Science
Hands-on science center with outdoor wildlife exhibits
Museum
Silent Sam
43
Silent Sam
Former Confederate monument at UNC Chapel Hill
Monument
Aurora Fossil Museum
44
Aurora Fossil Museum
Museum displaying marine fossils from local phosphate beds
Museum
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
45
Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
Regional museum exploring Cape Fear's history and science
Museum
Crystal Coast
46
Crystal Coast
North Carolina coastal region with beaches and maritime heritage
Area
Museum of North Carolina Minerals
47
Museum of North Carolina Minerals
Museum displaying North Carolina mineral specimens and geology
Museum
North Carolina Transportation Museum
48
North Carolina Transportation Museum
Large museum featuring historic trains and transportation
Museum
Elizabethan Gardens
49
Elizabethan Gardens
Coastal formal gardens commemorating English heritage
Area
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
50
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Museum showcasing early Southern decorative arts and furnishings
Museum
51
Schiele Museum of Natural History
Natural history museum with regional science exhibits
Museum