North Carolina -

Central North Carolina

Charlotte Metro Area (North Carolina)

Charlotte

Metalmorphosis – A giant mirrored kinetic sculpture head by David Černý.

Concord

Dale Earnhardt Statue – Memorial to the NASCAR legend outside the Cabarrus County courthouse.

Kannapolis

North Carolina Music Hall of Fame – Celebrates the state’s rich musical heritage.

Gastonia

The Schiele Museum of Natural History – Natural history exhibits and planetarium.

Huntersville

Historic Latta Plantation – Living history farm and historic house.

Matthews

Four Mile Creek Greenway – Scenic greenway trail through nature preserves.

Monroe

Museum of the Waxhaws – Regional history and Andrew Jackson artifacts.

Shelby

Earl Scruggs Center – Banjo legend’s life and bluegrass music heritage.

Greensboro Metro Area (North Carolina)

Greensboro

Elsewhere Museum – A former thrift store turned experimental living museum.

High Point

World’s Largest Chest of Drawers – A 32-foot-tall dresser celebrating High Point’s furniture industry.

Asheboro

North Carolina Aviation Museum – Vintage aircraft and military memorabilia.

Burlington

Dentzel Carousel – Fully restored 1910 carousel in City Park.

Reidsville

Penn House – Historic home of tobacco magnate Charles Penn.

Lexington

Bob Timberlake Gallery – Art, furniture, and museum from NC artist.

Thomasville

Big Chair – Giant replica of a Duncan Phyfe chair.

Raleigh-Durham Metro Area (North Carolina)

Raleigh

Videri Chocolate Factory – A working chocolate factory with public viewing.

Durham

Duke Lemur Center – The largest sanctuary for lemurs outside of Madagascar.

Chapel Hill

Gimghoul Castle – Mysterious stone castle with local legends.

Apex

Halle Cultural Arts Center – Gallery and performance space in a historic building.

Cary

Page-Walker Hotel – Historic railroad hotel turned arts and history center.

Wake Forest

Wake Forest Historical Museum – Exhibits on local and college history.

Clayton

The Clayton Center – Restored auditorium hosting performances.

Fuquay-Varina

Fuquay Mineral Spring Park – Historic spring with gazebo and paths.

Garner

Lake Benson Park – Popular park with trails, boating, and events.

Hillsborough

Ayr Mount – Restored 1815 plantation house.

Knightdale

Knightdale Station Park – Green space with trails and playgrounds.

Morrisville

Sri Venkateswara Temple – Prominent Hindu temple in the Triangle.

Rolesville

Mill Bridge Nature Park – Trails and amphitheater in a wooded setting.

Zebulon

Five County Stadium – Home of the Carolina Mudcats baseball team.

Eastern North Carolina

Coastal Plain (North Carolina)

New Bern

Birthplace of Pepsi – Historic site and soda fountain where Pepsi was created.

Kinston

CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center – A Confederate ironclad on display.

Morehead City

Big Rock Blue Marlin Statue – Honors one of the most prestigious fishing tournaments.

Tarboro

Tarboro Town Common – One of only two colonial town commons in the U.S.

Washington

North Carolina Estuarium – Interactive exhibits on coastal ecosystems.

Greenville

East Carolina Village – Collection of relocated 19th-century buildings.

Wilson

Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park – Outdoor art park with giant kinetic sculptures.

Goldsboro

Waynesborough Historical Village – Living history museum.

Ahoskie

No Man’s Land Museum – Displays artifacts from the region’s past.

Elizabeth City

Ghost Harbor Brewing – Local brewery with nautical theme.

Havelock

Marine Corps Aviation Museum – Military aviation exhibits on base.

Jacksonville

Beirut Memorial – Honors Marines killed in the 1983 bombing.

Roanoke Rapids

Roanoke Canal Museum – Historic towpath and hydroelectric plant.

Rocky Mount

Imperial Centre for Arts and Sciences – Arts exhibits and science museum.

Bath

Historic Bath State Historic Site – North Carolina’s oldest town with preserved buildings.

Oak City

Contentnea Creekside Park – Nature park with trails and swamp views.

Swanquarter

Mattamuskeet Lodge – Historic lodge by North Carolina’s largest natural lake.

Farmville

May Museum and Park – Local history museum in a 19th-century home.

Wilmington Metro Area (North Carolina)

Wilmington

Bellamy Mansion – Historic antebellum home and museum.

Carolina Beach

Britt’s Donuts – Iconic seasonal donut shop open since 1939.

Southport

Fort Johnston – Historic garrison with roots dating back to 1748.

Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach Museum of History – Small museum on local beach culture.

Burgaw

Pender County Courthouse – Historic courthouse used in multiple films.

Leland

North Brunswick Heritage Museum – Local history in a relocated schoolhouse.

Oak Island

Oak Island Lighthouse – Towering lighthouse with panoramic views.

Shallotte

Shallotte River Swamp Park – Eco tours and ziplines.

Western North Carolina

Asheville Metro Area (North Carolina)

Asheville

Biltmore Estate – America’s largest privately-owned home.
Moogseum – Tribute to Bob Moog and his iconic synthesizers.

Hendersonville

Appalachian Pinball Museum – Playable vintage pinball and arcade games.

Black Mountain

Swannanoa Valley Museum – Regional history in a former firehouse.

Brevard

Silvermont Mansion – Historic home and local history museum.

Weaverville

Zebulon Vance Birthplace – Historic pioneer farmstead.

Flat Rock

Carl Sandburg Home NHS – Historic site of the poet and writer.

Boone/Banner Elk Area (North Carolina)

Boone

Mystery Hill – Gravity-defying attraction and hands-on science museum.

Blowing Rock

The Blowing Rock – Legendary cliffside with winds strong enough to blow objects upward.

Linville

Linville Caverns – North Carolina’s only show caverns.

Banner Elk

Apple Hill Farm – Working alpaca farm with scenic tours.

West Jefferson

Ashe County Cheese – Factory with viewing room and tasting shop.

Valle Crucis

Mast General Store – 19th-century general store with original charm.

Smoky Mountains Region (North Carolina)

Cherokee

Museum of the Cherokee People – History and culture of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Bryson City

Road to Nowhere – Abandoned highway with scenic tunnel.

Murphy

Fields of the Wood – Massive biblical park with Ten Commandments carved into a hillside.

Robbinsville

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest – Old-growth forest named after the poet.

Franklin

Scottish Tartans Museum – One-of-a-kind museum outside Scotland.

Sylva

Jackson County Courthouse – Historic courthouse on a hilltop.

Andrews

Historic Logging Aqueduct – Early timber industry structure.

Hayesville

Cherokee Homestead Exhibit – Outdoor display of traditional Cherokee dwellings.

Western Foothills and Mountains (North Carolina)

Marion

Carson House – Historic home and museum showcasing frontier life.

Morganton

North Carolina School for the Deaf Historic District – Architectural landmark.

Spruce Pine

Museum of North Carolina Minerals – Geology-focused museum near Blue Ridge Parkway.

Lenoir

Sculpture Celebration Grounds – Outdoor art and sculpture displays.

Valdese

Waldensian Heritage Museum – Celebrates town’s Italian Protestant roots.

Rutherfordton

KidSenses Museum – Interactive children’s museum in historic downtown.

Sandhills Region (North Carolina)

Southern Pines

Weymouth Center – Literary center and historic home of novelist James Boyd.

Pinehurst

Tufts Archives – Preserves golf and town history.

Rockingham

National Railroad Museum and Hall of Fame – Small museum with model railroads and artifacts.

Laurinburg

John Blue House – Historic farmhouse and farm equipment museum.

Aberdeen

Malcolm Blue Farm – Restored 1800s farmstead.

Sanford

Railroad House Museum – Local history in an 1872 stationmaster’s home.

Albemarle Sound Area (North Carolina)

Edenton

Cupola House – Georgian-style house built in 1758.