People who go to North Carolina for vacation often stay in Charlotte City. There are various tourist spots that you can check out there, such as the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. But, if you want to experience the rural part of North Carolina; here are some places you should visit:
Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is a U.S. Army facility with limited access to the base, so a base pass is required. This could be done by signing in the backyard. Sorry. It’s kind of like “Area 51” – you shouldn’t even go near the place because there’s a chance you’ll be arrested without the benefit of due process (you’re on an Army base). Several Army museums display 82nd Air Force and Special Forces bases. Observe base speed limits, as they will be strictly enforced.
Roads will be closed, so stop and close your eyes. You can feel the ground shaking (really!) Also, it’s something worth experiencing. You can also see the 82nd in action squeezing between drop zones and watch the paratroopers jump. The grandstands are there for spectators. The beautiful wildlife is worth exploring through the self-guided trails. When the character is not the issue here, you can play a round of golf at the famous Pinehurst Golf Course, home of the U.S. Open.
Smoky Mountains National Park
For your hiker friends, there is simply no shortage of routes and many more for the hiking enthusiast. The Tennessee Negative has the most extensive assortment of waterfalls falling, for example, Abrams Falls, Laurel Falls, and Rainbow Falls. The fantastic Smokies contain one of the most diverse ecosystems in the United States and the entire world. The playground is home to 10,000 documented species of flora and fauna, and it is claimed that 36% of the forest is mature. The hills receive the most rainfall in the United States from the Pacific Ocean. Not surprisingly, the park is considered a stopover.
Morrow Mountain State Park
Morrow Mountain State Park is located in the center of the state and is the centerpiece of the Uwharrie Mountains. Compared to Appalachia to the west, they are nothing more than hills. However, their location among the sandy deserts beyond Piedmont is a curiosity, and their age is of greater importance. They are perhaps a million years old, much older than the Appalachians, making them one of the oldest mountain ranges on the face of the earth. Free admission.
Blue Ridge Parkway
Many people travel to the gates of the Blue Ridge Mountains to ride the most famous highway or to visit the native Biltmore Estate, the colossal mock castle built by the Vanderbilts as a summer retreat and one of the greatest experiences of the Golden Age. You make the mistake of overlooking Asheville, which has a thriving arts community and is considered one of the best small towns to live in the United States, not to mention the fantastic surroundings. There’s no shortage of things to do year-round, like biking, skiing, and fishing.
The ideal time window for the trip would be in the fall, weather permitting, although the park will already be full of spectators watching the foliage. The playground is located on the back road (N.C. 128) around the Blue Ridge Parkway at mile marker 355. The parking lot and various stores below the summit are a bit unsatisfying. The views and scenery, reminiscent of the Canadian boreal forest, are distinctive and impressive for southern Appalachia. Admission is free.
