It’s not just about the dance performances though, you can also take part in dance lessons, build crafts with craft vendors, and finish off with the Lake Lift Competition which reenacts the iconic scene where Patrick Swayze lifts Jennifer Grey in the lake.

This was a party where people knew themselves. There was no searching or seeking, playing with their hair, or pursing their lips, it was just a place where everyone could have a feel-good time and celebrate this iconic movie.

If you’re thinking you’d like to visit the Dirty Dancing Festival, then keep reading to find out more about it and how you can attend…

About The Dirty Dancing Festival Lake Lure, North Carolina

Lake Lure’s Dirty Dancing Festival is held every year in August in Lake Lure. Dates for 2023 are yet to be announced. It takes place in the Hickory Nut Gorge, on the spot where the actual movie was filmed.

The basketball courts make way for a huge stage where dance lessons take place, and the grassy lawn becomes an outdoor cinema.

Activites you can expect on the day are watermelon-carrying races, amateur shag competitions, Kellerman’s Festival Talent Show, a lakeside film screening (of course) and finally, the annual Lake Lift competition.

Each year, only 2,500-3,000 tickets are sold so you need to book ahead if you want to secure your spot.

Check out the official website for more details.

Our Experience At The Dirty Dancing Festival

4,000 people coming together to relive the memories and the one liners.

I carried a watermelon. “Nobody puts baby in the corner.”

Tell me you haven’t said a Dirty Dancing line a hundred times with your best friends.

The only movie to rival it in my personal movie rerun history was Girls Just Want to Have Fun.

I’ve seen Dirty Dancing at least 20 times, and the last dance scene when Johnny takes baby from the corner to do the lift at least 100.

On our Dirty Dancing tour of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock State park in Western North Carolina, we were told it was a low budget film.

Many scenes of the movie were shot on location at Lake Lure, even though the movie was set in the Catskills.

They filmed all the staff quarters such as the boys’ camp and Johnny’s cabin, just behind where the festival is held and there is contention as to whether the lake lift scene was filmed in this beautiful North Carolina lake or somewhere in Virginia.

We do know Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze practiced in the waters of Firefly Cove on Lake Lure anyway. And they stayed in the Lake Lure Inn – their rooms heavy in demand for this festival.

They never expected the movie to do so well. But it became an icon. As was evident by the 4,000 people celebrating 30 years later!

It grabbed me. I longed for that life in that movie. When I think back to define what it was it gave me, I think it was less a longing for love or romance, but more a longing for discovery, for adventure, for the experience.

That’s what the Kellerman’s Resort and the Dirty Dancing gave me.

The hope that life could be different. That you could express yourself and as a result of that take yourself out of the corner and leap high into the air. That the good guy would win, that class didn’t matter, and you fought for what you believed in.

And of course, it gave us a brilliant soundtrack and sweaty, sexy dancing with gorgeous men. Who did not fall in love with Patrick Swayze in this movie?

We travel in the USA to explore more deeply and uncover the hidden secrets. This festival was one of them. Like the movie, it was just good fun.

It wasn’t anything dramatic or special, but it gave us all an opportunity to relive the show.

Check out our video of Caz participating in the watermelon races below:

The highlight of the festival was to watch the lift competition in the lake, just around the corner from where Baby and Johnny practiced in real life.

The participants were focused and determined to stay up in the air the longest and win that coveted crown. We even had a marriage proposal and everyone cheered and were so happy he did not lose the ring to the sucking mud underneath.

The pretend Johnny informed us of one myth from the show – the lift is actually harder to do in the water.

But aren’t we so glad they pretended it was. That chemistry between Baby and Johnny was amazing, even though apparently they didn’t like each other in real life.

That chemistry between Baby and Johnny was amazing, even though apparently they didn’t like each other in real life.

We didn’t arrive on time, but they also have dancing lessons at the festival as well. In this part of America, they call it shagging!

Not the horizontal folk dancing kind that we know it as in Australia.

It was a scorching hot day at the festival, so to cool us down, we paired the heat with delicious cookie dough ice cream and local ginger cider from Noble Cider based in nearby Asheville.

I love anything ginger and it’s rare to find a ginger cider. I want to order crates of it.

After the lake lift, the festival ended, and everyone moved to one of the many after parties that happens at the resorts and in the Lake Lure area.

Other Dirty Dancing Film Locations in Lake Lure

As well as attending the festival, there are some other filming locations in Lake Lure that you can visit if you’re a fan of the movie. Though it was really only the ‘boys’ camp’ scene that took place in the area…

1. Esmeralda Inn and Restaurant

Our of group of journalists attending the festival had one stop to make before we hit the party – The Esmeralda Inn and Restaurant for dinner.

It’s a 125-year-old inn and the lobby has the original floorboards from the gymnasium where Baby and Johnny had their dance.

I didn’t notice that too much as I was too busy having a photo with the both of them.

Me and cardboard cut-outs are becoming a thing on this America Unplugged road trip!

The food was delicious, the company wonderful, and the views out over the mountains of North Carolina gorgeous.

2. Rumbling Bald Mountain Golf Course

We stayed at the Rumbling Bald Resort, which was the famous gold course where Baby interrupts her dad’s swings to ask for money.

During the festival, it had an after party on the beach with beautiful views of the lake.

The girls raced to meet me at the after party and told me they had watched the movie and the dancing in the restaurant of Rambling Bald while they waited for me to return. The color drained from my face, “Was the volume down?”

“Yes”

Oh thank goodness. They were some questions I was not ready to answer yet. Dirty Dancing was brave enough to tackle some serious issues back then.

Instead of questions, they leaped into practicing the legendary lift scene themselves.

30 years later, Dirty Dancing still gets under people’s skin.

3. Lake Lure Inn & Spa

Although none of the movie was actually filmed at Lake Lure Inn and Spa, it has dirty dancing themed rooms, so if you’re looking for somewhere to stay during the festival, check this hotel out.

You can stay in Johnny’s cabin or Baby’s bungalow. It was also where Patrick and Jennifer stayed during filming.

It also overlooks the landscape of Chimney Rock Village camp, where you can see the original lodging, dining hall and gym in the film. It’s also overlooking the staff cabins and actors stayed.

Our favorite place to stay in Lake Lure

The Lodge on Lake Lure is one of the most beautiful places to stay in Lake Lure. It was built in the 30’s as a retreat for North Carolina highway patrolmen and opened to the public in 1990.

 It’s the only lakefront lodging in Lake Lure and offers a unique experience with spectacular views. The Tree Tops Dining Room has stunning views of Lake Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge mountains. It’s the best way to start your day with a buffet breakfast and dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday evenings. See prices and availability here.

Final Thoughts on the Dirty Dancing Festival

I was 12 when Dirty Dancing was released. Yes, That was 30 years ago. And yes, here I was celebrating that movie at an annual festival dedicated to it.

There was energy throughout the whole day, even at the Dirty Dancing after party, and I was stoked to be in the middle of it.

I remember following Savannah onto the dance floor after watching the Asheville Ballet dance to Be My Baby, Yes and Stay.

She was mesmerized. When the floor opened up to all of us she started tapping her foot and swinging her hips and showing off her best dance moves.

“Come dance with me Mummy.”

Not long after Craig drifted out with us, which finally convinced Kalyra to let go of her inhibitions and dance around with us.

We were making memories. Everyone was having the time of their lives dancing to live music, and so were we.

Don’t miss our post on more things to do in Lake Lure NC and Chimney Rock State Park.

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It’s no wonder we have a special bond with the Carolina Coast and have fond memories of all our North Carolina beach vacations!

The best thing about the beaches in North Carolina is they are not overdeveloped, have pristine conditions, loads of space, spectacular sunrises and sunsets, the stunning Intra-coastal waterway offering water activities, and vibrant surf culture!

We have been exploring the Atlantic Coast for years, and while we still have so much to see, we wanted to share with you what we consider the must-see experiences on the coast of North Carolina.

We road-tripped the North Carolina coast from Carolina Beach to the Brunswick Islands to see the best North Carolina beaches we could find. Here’s what we discovered!

This guide details more than just places to lie on the beach and swim. We share the experiences that tell the unique story of the beaches, as well as why our now home state will offer the moments you remember the most.

The Best Things to Do on North Carolina Beaches

If you’re ready to pack your sunglasses and flip-flops and hit the coast, then be sure to visit these incredible beaches in NC. As well as listing the best beaches, we’ve also got some tips for things to do on North Carolina beaches too!

1. Learn to Surf Wrightsville Beach

Wrightsville Beach is one of the best North Carolina beach towns and you’re just 10-minutes away from charming Wilmington.

It is where surfing started in North Carolina. It also receives accolades as one of the world’s best surfing towns (National Geographic, Coastal Living, and Surfer magazines all agree). And we also have experience in global surfing towns to say this is a legit title.

So far, it’s number one on our top beaches in North Carolina list for its all-round beach experience.

Put on your wetsuit, grab a board, and hit the waves. And don’t worry if those waves look far too small to ride.

Craig and Savannah had a blast riding what looked like un-surfable waves thanks to the great instruction by Steve from the South End Surf Shop.

Here’s a local tip: Some of the best surf in the Wrightsville Beach area is over the channel at secluded Masonboro Island. Either paddle your way over or arrive by boat.

2. Climb the Oak Island Lighthouse, Caswell Beach

Quite an unexpected thrilling adventure is to climb the 131 steps up to the Oak Island Lighthouse viewing platform. What makes it thrilling is it is the only known lighthouse that uses a ladder configuration the entire way, rather than the typical spiral staircases.

While not as beautiful on the outside as some of the other North Carolina lighthouses, it’s the most adventurous and exciting lighthouse to visit on the North Carolina coast.

The views up here are magnificent and a definite Brunswick Islands highlight. Cross the road to the beach boardwalk for the best views of the Oak Island Lighthouse.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse and Cape Hatteras lighthouse are two more favorites in North Carolina.

3. Leave a note in the Kindred Spirit Mailbox

For over 40 years, people have been coming to this secret mailbox tucked into the sand dunes on Bird Island, the most southern beach in North Carolina before reaching South Carolina.

The Kindred Spirit Mailbox was first planted on the barrier island by Frank Nesmith in the late 1970s.

People walk 1.4 miles along the beach from Sunset Beach Pier to record their wishes, thoughts, prayers, and dreams through letters in the mailbox.

Savannah and I wrote our own before leaving our hotel. She wrote her dreams for the future and I shared our manifesto for travel – which really applies to living a full life.

The mailbox is filled with notebooks and pens so you can write your stories when you arrive. Or you can just spend time reading them. There is a seat waiting for you.

4. Enjoy Sunset Beach and Bird Island (a World’s Best Beach)

What makes this North Carolina experience even more special is that you get to spend time at what I think is one of the best beaches in North Carolina for families: Sunset Beach, which extends into Bird Island.

With its lack of development, and sand dunes standing guard of white sand and pristine water, you’ll see why this was named this was named one of the world’s best beaches in 2017 by National Geographic.

With the name, Bird Island, you can only imagine the bird life surrounding you!

The protected Bird Island Reserve is the southern end of Sunset Beach with pristine sandy white beaches, high natural dunes, and more than 1,200 acres of salt marsh and tidal creeks. A nature trail leads from the beach and loops around the Bird Island Reserve.

5. Soak up the Small-Town Charm of Southport

Southport is a delightful small town on the mouth of the Cape Fear River where it converges with the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.

The picturesque harbor town has been a favorite location for Hollywood, featuring scenes from many films and TV shows, including Safe Haven, A Walk to Remember, Weekend at Bernie’s, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.

You can join an oversized golf cart tour of the town to learn more about it.

Stroll the live oak tree-lined streets as you explore ornate Victorian homes, historic buildings, and vibrant riverfront dining options serving delicious seafood.

You can also catch the ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher Recreation Area at the end of Kure Beach and Carolina Beach giving you faster beach access to Pleasure Island.

Catching a ferry over to the small Bald Head Island is a favored thing to do in Southport, and is on our list for our next visit.

6. Hang Gliding over the Sand Dunes, Kitty Hawk

One of the most unique things to do in North Carolina is to hang-glide over the sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. This was one of our favorite adventures in the USA

Kitty Hawk Kites has been operating hang gliding lessons since 1974 with beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons from qualified instructors – who are awesome by the way!

We had a blast learning how to launch, fly, and land on the soft sands of Jockey’s Ridge with our instructor holding a rope all the way giving you a sense of safety!

Read our full review of hang gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites and book hang gliding lessons here.

While here, be sure to honor the birthplace of flying at the nearby Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills one of North Carolina’s most historic landmarks?

The Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur) piloted four successful flights with their powered, heavier-than-air flying machine in Kitty Hawk. You can see the historic sand dune where they did most of their gliding, and the location they lived whilst experimenting.

Hang Gliding Video

7. Daily Sunrise on Any North Carolina Beach

We’ve seen plenty of sunrises around the world, and a North Carolina beach sunrise is one of my favorites.

Watching the giant orb light up the sky in the Outer Banks with its pastel pinks and orange over the glass-like ocean and dolphins swimming past its lighted staircase was magical, mystical, and serene.

Watching a sunrise is our Daily Habit on our North Carolina beach vacation. Of course, staying in beachfront accommodation makes that an easier thing to do.

8. See Sunset Over the Water, NC Beaches

Thanks to the Intra-Coastal Waterway, you’ll find many places along the North Carolina coast to see the sun set over the water.

The Brunswick Islands also runs from east to west, so in the Fall months (when the planets align perfectly) its becomes the perfect place to see the sun rise and set over the ocean!

The places we have experienced a beautiful sunset have been:

• South End of Wrightsville beach
• Millers Waterfront Grille in the Outer Banks
• Jinks Creek in Ocean Isle Beach
• Onboard a sunset cruise around the Intracoastal Waterway in Wrightsville

9. Happy Hour at Fish Heads Grill & Bar, Nags Head

Now for a North Carolina Pier experience to remember.

Replace the tacky rides on fishing piers with colorful umbrellas and wooden tables, and a Tiki hut serving 40 craft beers, live music, and 15-cent shrimp!

Yes. You read that correctly. 

Happy Hour on the Fish Heads Grill & Bar in Nags Head on the Outer Banks happens every day 4-6pm. Join the stream of people arriving on the jetty – it’s one of our favorite North Carolina beach experiences.

10. Drinks at the Friendliest Beach Bar in the USA

Moving to another North Carolina beach pier not to miss: the Center Pier in Carolina Beach.

Similar to our Fish Heads Bar & Grill discovery in the Outer Banks, the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar is the hidden local gem you always hope to find when you travel.

The Tiki Bar is built on the ruins of Center Pier, destroyed by Hurricane Fran in 1996. It serves a limited menu, but it’s really the outstanding views and atmosphere that you come here for.

The service was excellent and by the number of people who stopped to talk to the people with the funny accent, I could name this The Friendliest Beach Bar in the USA. You’ll find live music at sunset during the season.

11. Visit the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area

The Fort Fisher State Recreation Area wraps around the southern end of Pleasure Island, hugging the Atlantic Ocean from Kure Beach over to the Cape Fear River.

There are six miles of pristine shoreline here offering sun and surf-seekers plenty of fun. Loggerhead turtles also love laying their eggs. You can drive your 4WD along the beaches here. Permit required.

Apart from the beaches here, two of North Carolina’s most visited tourist attractions are also in this area near pine knoll shores: The North Carolina Aquarium and the Fort Fisher State Historic Site.

12. Paddle the North Carolina Coast

One thing you can be sure about when you visit the North Carolina beaches – apart from miles of beaches – you’ll have miles of calm waterways to play in as well.

The Atlantic Intra-Coastal Waterway runs the entire length of the NC coast (and beyond) offering miles of open sound water and narrow channels bordered by marshes, swamps, and small islands.

You’ll get a different ocean perspective with the hundreds of oyster beds, herons flying low over the grassy reeds with beautiful white wings outstretched, and mullets jumping out of the water while fleeing from prey.

Choose your flotation style – kayak or paddle board – we always do both and find the nearest launch pad.

We’ve done it at every North Carolina coastal region we’ve visited both on the sound and ocean. We paddle boarded on the ocean at Corolla Beach in the Outer Banks and fell off several times. It’s much harder on the ocean, even when it’s relatively calm – but it’s totally worth it as it’s loads of fun.

If you go out during sunrise you will probably have the best North Carolina beach experience ever.

We’ve also paddled in:

• Wrightsville Beach waterways
• Jinks Creek, Ocean Isle Beach
• Snow’s Cut, Carolina Beach
• Corolla Beach

13. See the Wild Horses of the NC Coast

The North Carolina coast is one of the best places in the USA to see wild horses.

I’ll never forget the fun we had searching for the wild ponies of Shackleford Banks barrier islands in the Cape Lookout National Seashore region with my parents and rising over the sand dunes to see them grazing on the grass. My Dad was spellbound. It was a memory.

You can also see the wild horses in Corolla at the northern end of the Outer Banks, as well as on Carova beach. You can see them on a wild horse tour, or if you have your own a 4WD, cruise along the beach (permit needed) until you find them,

You can also see wild horses on Ocracoke Island in a secluded 180-acre area enclosure on the sound side of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Seeing the Ocracoke wild mustangs remains high on our North Carolina bucket list.

14. Explore Cape Hatteras National Seashore

If you drive down to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse you will be immersed in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

This 70-mile stretch of the Outer Banks from Oregon Inlet to Ocracoke Inlet is the country’s first national seashore.

I wish we dedicated more time to explore its unique and beautiful beaches, communities, historic lighthouses, and endless water-based activities. It is a beautiful area. I’d love to come back here for beach driving, hikes, paddling in the quieter waterways, and a beach house rental.

If you like Nicholas Sparks, be sure to take a peek at the Inn at Rodanthe in Rodanthe which was the setting for the book and movie, Nights of the Rodanthe. You can even stay there.

15. Go Scuba Diving off the Crystal Coast

Many people don’t know this about North Carolina, but it’s actually one of the best places in the world to scuba dive shipwrecks.

There are many locations along the North Carolina coast where you can go scuba diving, but we recommend heading around the Crystal Coast as there are some top-rated dive centers here. It’s also nicknamed the “Atlantic Graveyard” for its abundance of wrecks.

The coast offers multiple places to explore reefs and shipwrecks, which bountiful species of marine life call home. You can spot huge groupers, and lobsters, and if you’re really lucky, you might see a giant stingray or tiger shark make an appearance.

Barracuda, greater amberjacks, and sand tiger sharks also love to hang out around the shipwrecks.

16. See the Sea Turtles at Topsail Island’s Surf City

For wildlife lovers, you’ll want to make sure you head over to Topsail Island, North Carolina, to visit the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City.

From mid-May to August, it’s the time when loggerhead sea turtles come up to the shore at night to lay their eggs.

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is a conservation center dedicated to preserving and protecting these rare sea turtles, and you can learn all about their efforts at the visitors center.

17. Explore the Carolina Beach State Park

Located just 12 miles south of Wilmington is the Carolina Beach State Park where you can explore around 9-miles of hiking trails.

The park is home to several unique carnivorous plants, such as the Venus flytrap, and is well known for its varying landscape. It’s where you’ll find the 50-foot high Sugarloaf Dune, as well as three limesink ponds.

The park is also just a stone’s throw away from Carolina Beach, which is famous for its boardwalk. The boardwalk has an amusement park and beach access to the soft white sands and is the best place to visit with the kids on a North Carolina beach vacation.

Before You Go

So there you have it, those are the best things to do on North Carolina beaches! As you can see, there is a lot to see and experience on this gorgeous stretch of coastline – more than just sitting in the sun and soaking up the rays!

We have plenty left on our NC bucket list so please share in the comments what you think are unmissable experiences on the North Carolina beaches.

Video: Amazing Experiences to Have on The North Carolina Coast

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What should we do on our next trip to the North Carolina beaches? Help us find those ultimate moments and let us know in the comments!

This 500-million-year-old monument is the perfect place for nature lovers and hikers to experience the fresh mountain are of Rutherford County, see rare, native plants and fauna, and gaze upon the serene landscape from the top.

Fortunately, getting to the top is easy, since the are 499 steps from the park entrace to the viewpoint at the top.

Don’t worry though, it’s completely worth it once you reach the top. Not only do you gain a sense of achievement, but the panoramic views from the observation deck are just magnificent.

We visited Chimney Rock State Park as part of our USA road trip with my parents. It was one of our favorite things to do in North Carolina with family as we all enjoyed different aspects of the hike.

For my dad, being a big movie buff, enjoyed seeing the film set of Last of the Mohicans staring Daniel Day Lewis, which made the Chimney Rock attraction so famous by the movie. My dad loved the connection that the Chimney Rock area has to that movie.

But where is Chimney Rock and how do you climb it? What do I need to know before I go? Well, if you’re asking all these questions you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, I’ll be telling you everything you need to know about Chimney Rock so you can have the best experience.

Where is Chimney Rock State Park?

Getting to Chimney Rock is easy. Because the drive time from downtown Asheville is just 40-minutes, it’s one our top suggestions for things to do near Asheville.

It is located in the Village of Chimney Rock and easily accessible from highway I-40.

From Charlotte it’s a 2-hour drive, from our home in Raleigh it’s 4 hours, and it’s only a 5-minute drive from one of our favorite places to visit in North Carolina, Lake Lure.

Click the map above for Chimney Rock directions from your starting point.

What is Chimney Rock?

Chimney Rock is a 35-million-year-old, 315-foot high large granite outcropping located on a summit above the village of Chimney Rock and inside of Chimney Rock State Park.

It was discovered by Lucius B. Morse who opened it as a private park in 1902. The entirely of Chimney Rock State Park spans for 6,800 acres and is most famous for the granite “Chimney Rock” which is so named because it looks like a rock chimney.

The park is also home to one of the highest waterfalls in North Carolina. The Hickory Nut Falls is 404 foot tall and features a balanced rock known as “Devil’s Head” at the summit of the falls. Some say the rock looks like the head of a devil, which is how it got its infamous name.

In 2006, the “World’s Edge” land was added to the park, making it a total of 1,568-acres.

The park is famous for its hiking trails, breathtaking views, and waterfalls.

Things to Do in Chimney Rock State Park

1. Climb To The Top of Chimney Rock

The number one thing to do here is to climb to the top of the rock on the Chimney Rock hike.

From the top you get amazing views of Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure and The Blue Ridge mountains – it’s truly one of our favorite views of the North Carolina mountains!

The Outcroppings Trail is a series of staircases and lookout points allowing you to climb to the top of Chimney Rock itself.

I think this is a relatively moderate hike up to the top – 499 steps to the top – which my 76 year old father and 69 year old mother managed just fine.

It’s a nice cardio and leg workout, although we did have a few stops along the way to catch our breath and admire the views.

For those that are physically challenged, an elevator was built into a hole in the rock face that conveniently allows all guests easy access to the top of the Chimney for its spectacular views.

Along the way, be sure to visit the Grotto, Opera Box, Subway and Pulpit Rock.

And there are a couple of walking trails that take you up to the mountain above Chimney Rock which offer incredible views you won’t see anywhere else in the Park.

The views are definitely the reward of this hike. The view spans for miles, across to the Blue Ridge Mountains and Carolina Piedmont in the distance.

Craig ran up one to take the below photo for you.

2. Hike the Hickory Nut Falls Trail

Probably the most popular of the Chimney Rock trails is the Hickory Nut Falls trail which takes you to the bottom of one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River.

This is a beautiful and moderate 1.4 mile round trip trail and you are rewarded with a magnificent view from the base of this 404-foot waterfall that was featured in the epic fight scene from the film, The Last of the Mohicans.

We enjoyed this hike which weaves through a mix of Oak and Hickory trees, and we recommended it for families with small children and for grandparents.

There are a few moderate uphill sections and a small set of stairs at the base of the falls, so we don’t suggest this for strollers or wheelchairs.

Along this trail are picnic tables, benches, and resting areas are conveniently located offering you a chance to rest and catch your breath.

The spectacular view of the waterfall is totally worth it.

3. Eat, Shop, and Chill in Chimney Rock Village

After your time hiking and exploring Chimney Rock State Park, head into Chimney Rock Village for shopping and perhaps a coffee or lunch break.

If you don’t have the energy to travel too far, there is a cafe at the park entrance called Old Rock Cafe, which is located near the gift shop, Cliff Dwellers Gifts.

You can also get a picnic from Old Rock Cafe to take with you on the trail if you forget.

This village is a small one street mountain town with stores and restaurants perched on the banks of the Rocky Broad River, tucked in the Hickory Nut Gorge.

The Broad River runs alongside Chimney Rock village and is a gorgeous little oasis on a hot sunny day.

Sit on the deck of Riverwatch Bar & Grill with a nice glass of champagne while your kids scramble over the rocks below.

I didn’t do it on this trip, but I did on a previous trip with other adult friends – ah the serenity of a glass of wine uninterrupted by cries of your kids of “Moooommm”.

The water was running pretty fast here so I’m not sure about swimming. I think you can find little pools of water that will help cool you down.

4. Watch an Event at Chimney Rock Village

We were lucky to catch the Symphony of Rutherford County annual dinner and symphony event. We grabbed a picnic dinner and headed down to the Gathering Place in Chimney Rock Village to watch it.

Sadly due to my bee sting incident that day, we were a little late in arriving.

We only managed to catch a few of the songs at the end, but it was spectacular.

We were starting to get into it with the beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace and Danny Boy and wished they kept playing. Those bagpipes made the mountains behind sing.

It was such an exquisite venue for an intimate music venue with the locals, and a nice way to cap off a visit to the Chimney Rock area.

There are regular events held at the park. Be sure to check the events page before visiting to see what’s on. One of the most iconic events if the Flock the Rock event.

5. Climb Rumbling Bald and Eagle Rock

Rock climbing is a popular activity at Chimney Rock State Park. The park offers lessons to both beginner and advanced climbers through Fox Mountain Guides and Climbing School, so if you don’t feel confident going alone, you have an experience instructor with you.

You can climb in the park all year round, weather permitting, and it’s a very family-friendly activity. The youngest age for this activity is 6-years-old, so the whole family can do it.

The Rumbling Bald Climbing Access is a hidden gem in the states. It’s a world-class bouldering and technical rock climbing area and has over 1,500 bouldering problems for experienced boulderers to tackle.

The Rumbling Bald is accessed by the 1.5 mile looped Rumbling Bald Trail, and a permit must be given by the state park (though permits are free to obtain).

6. Walk the other unique hiking trails

Though Chimney Rock is the crown jewel of the park, it slightly overcasts the other hidden gems that this park has to offer. There are several hiking trails and woodlands to explore, so don’t skip these other trails if you have more than half a day to explore the park.

For family-friendly trails, consider the Great Woodland Adventure Trail. It’s a 600 meter loop trail following Grady the Groundhog, the Park’s Animal Educator, who offers information about the species who live in the park. This is a fun and educational trail for kids!

For a strenuous hike, look towards the Exclamation Point Trail and Skyline Trails. The Exclamation Point Trail takes you up the steps of the rock, before traversing through the cliff-side habitat. It passes the Opera Box, Devil’s Head and Exclamation Point.

The Skyline Trail is a 2-2.5 hour hike that leads from Exclamation Point and into the backcountry. The trail follows the ridge and gives great views of the Hickory Nut Gorge and Peregrine’s Point. It passes through woodlands, wildflowers, and Falls Creek, as well as the top of the Hickory Nut Falls.

The Four Seasons Trail takes you off the beaten path from the lower parking lot and up through the forests. It’s a moderate to strenuous hike that climbs up 400 feet through forest to the Hickory Nut Falls Trail.

It gets its name because every season has something special to offer. In Spring, it blooms with wildflowers, in the summer, it’s full of lush groves and attracts Swainson and Hooded Wabler birds to the area. In the autumn it is lit up in oranges and yellows, and the winter brings a more rugged landscape.

7. Visit the Animal Discovery Den

The state park is home to some native and rare species of plants, fauna and wildlife. You can learn all about it at Animal Discover Den, located near the exit of the park.

In the Den, you’ll see animals who were rescued from the park and are being cared for in the Discovery Den. You’ll get to learn new animal facts and visit the resident possums and groundhogs.

There’s also a Lepidoptera, the butterfly & moth garden.

Admission Fees and Hours to Chimney Rock State Park:

Visitors must purchase a park ticket from the ticket plaza at the Park Entrance. Entrace fees cost:

• Adults: $17
• Youth: (ages 5-15): $8
• Family (two adults and up to three youth ages 5-15): $45

The park is open all year round. The open hours are as follows:

• January 1 – March 12: 8.30am – 4.30pm
• March 13 – November 6: 8.30am – 5.30pm
• November 7 – December 31: 8.30am – 4.30pm

The park closes on Christmas Eve at 3pm, and is Closed on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day.

Facilities at Chimney Rock State Park

Chimney Rock has all the facilities to make your visit comfortable. You’ll find restrooms at the Meadows near the Ticket Plaza, on the upper parking lot near the Outcroppings trail and in the Sky Lounge at the top of Chimney Rock.

There are several picnic tables in the park. The main ones are at the base of Hickory Nut Falls and at Exclamation Point.

Events are held every week, including guided hikes. There is no camping aloud at Chimney Rock.

More Places to Visit near Chimney Rock

FAQs About Chimney Rock NC

Here’s what people usually ask us about Chimney Rock NC:

Before You Go

So there you have it, this is your complete guide to Chimney Rock NC. I hope that this guide helped answer all your questions about the state park and helped you plan your visit.

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Many visitors come here to experience the magical Polar Express train ride, which is based on the popular book and movie of the same name. It’s certainly one of the best things to do in Bryson City in Fall and the holiday season!

We were fortunate to arrive on opening night of the Polar Express (early November), which meant we were just in time to catch the last of the Fall colors. It was past peak time, but still spectacular on the lower levels of the mountains.

We also had plenty of time to explore the town and all its amazing attractions. Fall colors, Christmas lights, and Santa, can you get a better family vacation?

If you’re planning on visiting Bryson City but are not sure what to do, don’t worry, as this guide will tell you all the best Bryson City attractions!

Since relocating back to the US in 2017, we’ve spent every Holiday season experiencing special Christmas events. It’s a wonderful way to create memories as a family, which lasts way longer than shiny, wrapped presents.

We always say make your travels an experience, especially during the Holiday Season. When you visit Bryson City, be sure to get your family photo in front of the Caboose in downtown.

Where is Bryson City?

Bryson City is tucked into the North Carolina mountains and sits on the southern doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

It’s known as the Quiet Side to the Smokies. In case you didn’t know, the Great Smoky Mountains national park is the most visited in the USA. I’ll take this quiet side any time of the year!

If you’ve ever visited this ancient, forested USA treasure, you’ll understand why. The Smokies is one of my favorite areas in the country, and I always feel a sense of calm and connectedness whenever I wander any one of the nine hundred miles of trails it offers.

Bryson City is an easy road trip destination in Western North Carolina since it’s just over an hour to Asheville; three hours from Charlotte, Atlanta, and Chattanooga; and five hours from Raleigh.

How Many Days in Bryson City?

Down below are the things to do in Bryson City. We recommend you spend at least two or three days in Bryson City, but you could easily find things to do to fill your time for a week.

These attractions in Bryson City we’ve listed could easily make a 2-3 day itinerary, with a few additional activities thrown in for good measure.

There’s no order in which you see these attractions. You can adapt it to fit your circumstances considering your accommodation location, travel style, and budgetary needs.

These are not only the top Bryson City attractions, but some hidden gems to get you off the main tourist trail. You can do these activities in pretty much any season (except the Polar Express and Fall colors).

When is the Best Time to Visit Bryson City?

We personally think the best time to visit Bryson City is in the Fall and early Winter. Not only are the colors magical at this time of year, with trees giving off hues of orange and yellow, but there are fewer tourists, as the summer crowds will have dispersed.

The shoulder season (sometimes referred to as the Secret Season) in Bryson City is January until March. This is when the prices for accommodation is cheaper, as there are fewer tourists this time of year.

You won’t be able to catch the Polar Express and the pretty Fall colors, but if you’re traveling on a budget this is a good time to visit.

Of course, all these things to do in Bryson City in the Fall and holiday season can also be done in Spring and Summer. Bryson City is a great place to visit all year round!

Where to Stay in Bryson City?

Looking for a peaceful mountain retreat for your Bryson City vacation?

We stayed in a cozy mountain cabin with spectacular views about 30-minutes south of Bryson City. We loved the open plan and loft bedroom for the girls. It was well stocked with videos, games, kitchen appliances, and cookware. Plus, there was a fireplace, huge deck and fire pit area.

It’s the perfect accommodation if you plan to stay for several days with some downtime to enjoy the cabin!

Because we were so busy exploring the Bryson City region, we didn’t get much of a chance to experience the cabin. We made sure to leave time on our departure morning for soaking up the views and playing games of checkers with the girls over coffee.

The extra 30-minute mountain drive is a little challenging if you have a busy schedule. If that is you, Bryson City vacation rentals closer to downtown might be a better option. (see available options here or here.)

Or, Savannah and I stayed at the Stonebrook Lodge in downtown Bryson City when we passed through here for a night on our Chattanooga Road trip. It’s a great accommodation option

The Top Things to Do in Bryson City

Now you know a little bit about Bryson City and when to visit, it’s time to take a look at the top Bryson City attractions!

1. Drive Through the Magical Christmas Town

We’ll begin with the most wonderful attraction at the most wonderful time of the year. Driving into Bryson City during the holiday season at night was a magical surprise.

The town is all lit up in the Christmas Spirit. They decorate all the buildings with light displays to create a magical Christmas Mountain town to match the Polar Express experience.

Simply driving through the streets and admiring the decorations and twinkling lights is an experience in itself.

People go all out here and you’ll find it hard pressed to find a building without decorations.

2. All Aboard The Polar Express

Are you ready for the most popular Bryson City attraction in November and December that 90,000 people visit for each season?

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR) historic train depot is in the heart of Bryson City and a favorite attraction all year round.

Each Holiday Season they transform the train into a magical Polar Express Journey to the North Pole to meet Santa. The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion helps you relive the magic of this classic Christmas story.

Expect high energy from your singing and dancing attendees, a cup of hot chocolate (delivered upon song), a snickerdoodle cookie, a magical light display and dancing elves outside the train windows, and a visit from Santa with his gift of ringing bells.

You just have to believe!

If you really want to enhance the Polar Express experience, come dressed in matching pajama outfits. We were wondering why we were seeing groups of people walking around town wearing them, until we arrived for boarding and saw EVERYONE doing the same.

This is a fantastic Bryson City attraction for families with younger kids. It’s a fantastic way to get them into the spirit and believe in the magic of Christmas.

There are train rides year round on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. 

If the kids aren’t too tired, spend time walking past the stores in Downtown. They decorate them in beautiful light displays to create a more magical town for the Polar Express Experience.

3. Smoky Mountains Train Museum

Train lovers will also want to stop in at the museum. Admission is included as part of your Polar Express ticket. Leave time before your departure or come back the next day as we did. (keep your tickets).

The museum houses the largest collection of Lionel trains with over 7,000 pieces of locomotives, rolling stock, trackside details and accessories. Some pieces date back to 1918 and are displayed in enclosed floor to ceiling wall length cases.

Kids will love the two large interactive set ups and intricate displays. There’s even a Christmas train with Santa waving on the back.

5. Visit Uncle Bunky’s Christmas Cottage

If youv’e opted to take the Polar Express, leave time before departure to get your photo taken by the lighted Christmas tree and shop in at the Christmas cottage for a wide variety of Christmas items including ornaments, glassware, home décor, and stuffed animals.

We picked up a Bryson City Christmas ornament for our tree. With each of the Christmas experiences we have on our travels, we collect an ornament to remind us of the stores we have made together. 

You can visit here at any time during the day as well.

6. Dine at Anthony’s Restaurant

One of the popular Bryson City restaurants is Anthony’s Restaurant. This family-friendly restaurant dishes up American and Italian favorites such as burgers, pizzas, and wings. You’ll find delicious food at an affordable price with excellent service.

We arrived right on closing, and they were gracious enough to stay open and feed our empty bellies. We are so grateful for the friendly and accommodating staff. They have a lovely terrace you can sit on to watch the trains depart the station and enjoy the festive lights.

7. Deep Creek Guided Hike with Carolina Bound Adventures

If you are looking for hiking near Bryson City, don’t miss an early morning hike in the Deep Creek area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

As we are experienced hikers, guided hikes are not something we typically consider, but we really enjoyed our 4-mile loop Deep Creek hike with Mark, owner of Carolina Bound Adventures.

It helped us connect more deeply to one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, as he shared with us so much about the flora, fauna, and history of the Great Smokies.

If we were on our own, it would have just been a beautiful hike through the forest. With Mark, he stopped to show us unique geographical features, where pioneers would have once had their homesteads and where loggers once dragged out their giant trees.

We explored the different leaves that drop from any of the 150 species of trees in the park, and learned different kinds of ferns and about the 31 species of salamander that live here (more than anywhere else in the world!)

Mark took us on a loop walk that went past three waterfalls: Juney Whank Falls, Indian Creek Falls, and Tom Branch Falls. The trail was resplendent with vibrant Autumn colors.

The best time to go on this guided hike (or any hikes) is 7:30am. Yes of course it’s worth it! The air will be fresh and crisp, the light soft, and you’ll almost have this trail to yourself.

Mark was a friendly, knowledgeable guide with a calm and centered presence. I loved his passion for the national park and outdoor adventures. He picks up and takes out any trash he finds on all his tours. This stewardship for the land gets our Triple A rating.

This tour was so great that three days later, Savannah is still asking us to quiz her on everything she learned about the park. She remembers it all – and we learned a lot of facts! This warms my heart soooo much!

Deep Creek is only five minutes from downtown Bryson City and is popular for fly fishing for native trout and, in the summer, for creek tubing!

Carolina Bound Adventures also offers guided tours for mountain biking, kayaking, paddle boarding and popular waterfalls and breweries tours!

It really downgrades a national park experience when you share it with crowds of people. So make sure you catch the worm!

Video: Deep Creek Hike

8. Have Brunch at Everett St Diner / Mountain Perks

You’ll be hungry after your walk, so head to downtown Bryson City for brunch. If you arrive back in town before 11am, head to locals’ favorite, Everett St Diner for a breakfast spread with Southern soul. 

We could never time it right and so missed brunch every day of our Bryson City trip. Be sure to leave a comment with your favorite dish if you eat there.

A very good alternative for the lighter fare is Mountain Perks Espresso Bar and Cafe, known for their New York Style bagels, croissant sandwiches, waffles for the kids, and friendly service. The BLT croissant sandwich is a crowd pleaser. Happy Days for me as they have gluten-free bagels.

9. Explore Downtown Bryson City

Downtown Bryson City is small town America with a spirit of adventure and connection to friendly locals.

Intersecting the town is Everett St and Main St and where you’ll find local bookstores, museums, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, an aquarium, galleries, restaurants, boutique stores, and breweries.

A few of our favorite attractions in downtown Bryson City were:

Bryson City Visitor Center

Housed in the historic courthouse, the visitor center is a great first stop for local information. Upstairs you’ll find the free Swain County Heritage Museum, which is worth visiting to learn more about the history of this region.

One Twenty Main

I loved this store located in a historic, renovated storefront. You’ll find gorgeous artwork from local artist, Ashley Hackshaw (I’ll have one of everything) plus a selection of home décor, journals, and art supplies.

The Chocolate Shoppe

A thing to do in Bryson City for families for sure! I was so happy to see sugar free coconut dark chocolate that had minimal nasty ingredients – and they were delicious! They also serve ice cream, which the girls returned the next day to enjoy!

Another ice cream shop where you might want to get a cone from is Soda Pop’s Ice Cream, which is just across the street. You’ll recognize it from the decorated with Coca-Cola signs and antique soda fountain shop decor.

10. Sip Craft Beer at Bryson City Outdoors

Bryson City Outdoors is the modern, rugged infusion into an ambling old pace world of Bryson City.

The multi-use space consists of a store filled with outdoor gear to prepare you for awesome adventures in the area, a gorgeous outside seating area with firepits, and a rotating selection of 12 draft beers/ciders and 250+ beers/ciders and wine in their rustic looking bottle shop area.

AND, they have gluten free beer that tastes good!!

Bryson City Outdoors was our favorite spot to plonk down after a day of exploring. We visited on both days and could have stayed longer.

They also have rotating food trucks parked out front.

11. Dine at Nantahala Brewing Company

The Bistro at the Everett Hotel is a top place to eat in Bryson City. We could not get reservations and so we went for the more casual Nantahala Brewing.

As it was away from the main street, it wasn’t as busy, and service was fast. 

This family-friendly brewery has a large outdoor beer garden with a grassed area for the kids to play, plenty of seating, and cozy brick fire pits. They even had live music when we visited. I loved the casual ambiance and our chicken wings and pulled pork meals were great!

12. Have Breakfast at La Dolce Vita Bakery

Pick up your bagel breakfast to go if you’re heading out early in the morning. The La Dolce Vita Bakery creates delicious bagels, and biscuits. (They have gluten free bagels).

My pick is the Spicy Southerner: Fried over-easy egg, pimento cheese, bacon, arugula, tomatoes, pickled red onions, and sriracha.

You may want to phone ahead and order your breakfast so you can get to the elk viewing on time.

13. Elk Viewing at Oconaluftee Visitor’s Center

You want to get to the elk viewing no later than 7:30 (try earlier if you can. Depending on what you do for breakfast). It is a 30-minute drive from Bryson City down the Blue Ridge Parkway. The drive itself is scenic and memorable, and bright with colors.

Don’t rush to get to Oconaluftee, enjoy the drive!

The elk come out to the fields near the Oconaluftee visitor center at dawn (and then at dusk) and tend to stay out for 60-90 minutes, before retreating into the shadowy forest.

Fall is the season of The Rut, when males preen their horns and start fighting each other for herd dominance, shouting their bugle calls along the way. It is meant to be a Smoky Mountain sight to remember.

Sadly, we had navigation issues and arrived later than we hoped. We only got to see a small herd of happily munching elk and cows on the side of the road and a solo elk in the fields.

14. Hike the Oconaluftee River Trail

While in the area, take the 1.5-mile riverside trail which follows the Oconaluftee River from the visitor center’s Mountain Farm Museum to the border of the National Park with Cherokee. 

You may see elk wading in the river or on the banks so walk carefully and do not go close to the elk. They have been known to charge people.

We were able to see the elk we saw grazing in the fields from behind on the trail and got a much better look at his majestic antlers.

15. Visit the Top of the Smokies Views at Clingmans Dome

A local tip from Mark was to get to Clingmans Dome before 9:30am or you’ll hit traffic jams in the park. (30-minutes from the visitor center or 60-minutes from Bryson City).

Clingmans Dome is one of the most popular attractions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

At 6,643ft it’s the highest point of the Smokies and, if the clouds have evaporated, you will get spectacular 360 views of the park. And when it’s real windy, just wait 30 seconds and the view can change quickly.

Dress warmly. As you can see from our photos, snow was dusting the tops of the pines when we visited, and the wind was blustering! We had to move fast between rapidly moving clouds to capture the views when it opened for a second or two.

The half mile trail leads to the observation tower. Enjoy the views on the walk up and down as well.

Video: Top of Clingmans Dome

16. Straddle the State Line Newfound Gap

At the bottom of the road up to Clingmans Dome, you’ll find Newfound Gap, a worthy stop on your Smoky Mountains adventures.

At 5,046 ft high, Newfound Gap also offers stunning panoramic vistas and is where the state border runs between Tennessee and North Carolina.

Enjoy the views, straddle the state line, and take a few strides along the Appalachian Trail that runs through here.

The 2,147-mile Appalachian Trail runs for 71 miles through the Smoky Mountains. Some say it’s the best section of the A.T. 

If you have not been to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park before, you may want to drive over into the Tennessee side to experience some of the short hikes in the Sugarloaf area.

As this is our third visit to the park, we pointed our car back to Bryson City, enjoying a few pull out scenic viewpoints on the way back down to our lunch spot.

17. Nantahala Outdoor Center and the River End Restaurant

The Nantahala Forest is an outdoor adventure playground.

You’ll find hiking, biking, zip lining, fishing, and white-water rafting. The Nantahala River is one of the most popular whitewater rafting rivers in the Southeast.

The Nantahala Outdoor Center is one of the USA’s largest outdoor recreation companies, and in this original location, they have 500-acres of family-friendly outdoor adventure activities; from whitewater rafting, zip-lining, and mountain biking.

Tours don’t run during the Holiday Season. Craig and I did the whitewater rafting tour years ago and had a blast.

Even though the attractions aren’t open during the holiday season, you can still visit the NOC located on the edge of the Nantahala River in the Nantahala Gorge!

Their River’s End Restaurant is outstanding and worth coming to just for lunch. Order a hot bailey’s coffee, a locally caught almond crusted trout, and enjoy the flavors and beautiful views.

After lunch, we walked around the center and watched the kayakers navigate the wild river course.

I was thrilled to see two of the kayakers, Sam Sharp and Evy Leibfarth, are both USA national slalom kayak champions. Evy participated in the Olympics! (I Googled their names on their kayak after I saw the USA sticker on their kayak).

18. Drive the Road To Nowhere

The scenic Road to Nowhere (or Lakeview Drive), has beautiful views of Fontana Lake on its six-mile journey through the Great Smoky Mountains to its finish at the mouth of a tunnel.

The Road to Nowhere is so called because of the Government’s broken promise to provide a 30-mile road along the north shore of Fontana Lake from Bryson City to Fontana Dam, which would provide access to the old family cemeteries of the displaced in order to build the dam. An environmental issue ended construction of the road six miles in.

You can walk through the graffiti-decorated tunnel or enjoy any of the three hiking trails from the Road to Nowhere: The Noland Creek Trail (miles round trip), the 3-mile Goldmine Loop Trail and the 42- mile Lakeshore Trail.

19. Visit Cherokee’s Oconaluftee Indian Village

One thing we regret not doing is making a stop in at Cherokee on the way back from Clingmans Dome to experience the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

As we had driven so much, we went back to Bryson City to relax instead of driving out to Cherokee again and then having to drive back to the cabin after dinner. 

However, if you don’t mind the long distance, the Oconaluftee Indian Village is a museum dedicated to 18th-century Cherokee communities. The village is a replica of a village that stood here all those centuries ago.

It’s also sometimes referred to as The Cherokee “living museum” because you can see people working like they did in the 18th-century. Another museum in Cherokee worth visiting is the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, which displays art and artifacts from native Cherokee residents.

Factor in your driving times, especially if traveling with kids, as it can get tiring with those winding mountain roads.

20. Eat at Mountain Layers Brewing and The Rice Wagon

Several locals recommended the Rice Wagon food truck as the best food in Bryson City. One beaming patron told me he ate here 3-4 nights a week.

The Rice Wagon is permanently located at Mountain Layers Brewing Company – a downtown Bryson City brewery on the Tuckasegee River.

We ate here on our last night as they had a live bluegrass band playing (Fridays and Saturdays). The food was delicious and the music was great! 

I recommend the Yellowfin Ahi tuna served with furikake rice and tropical Asian slaw. Craig devoured his Hula Burger topped with tropical Asian slaw and cilantro lime crema.

We recommend coming to the Mountain Layers Brewery at any time of the day. The views are wonderful from their rooftop bar, and you’ll find a variety of local brews, and gluten free options like cider and delicious wine slushies.

21. Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians

If you’ve ever wondered about the history of fly fishing, then you can learn all about it at the Fly Fishing Museum.

The museum offers a range of exhibits and videos that teach visitors about the legendary “Stream Blazers,” or famous fly fishermen, as well as how the tools have evolved. See how different rods, reels, basic knots, fly-tying, and other types of gear have changed over time.

Fly fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in the Smoky Mountains, so a stop by this museum is definitely worth it if you have extra time to spare.

Before You Go

So there you have it, those are the top things to do in Bryson City NC. As you can see, there’s a lot to see and do, and fun for all the family.

We look forward to returning visits to Bryson City NC to experience more activities and events in the different seasons. High on our list is to explore nearby Cherokee, do all the outdoor activities at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and of course explore more of the Smoky Mountains National Park!

Podcast Episode: Our Bryson City Holiday Vacation

You can hear more in-depth stories and insights about our Bryson City vacation on our This is Raleigh podcast.

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When we lived in Raleigh back in 2004 whilst I was teaching in nearby Johnston County, Durham was a city we barely set foot in. Years later, it’s a city we can’t get our feet out of.

It’s a city known for sports, think Duke University and Durham Bulls. Out of the once abandoned streets, rise funky hotels, hip lounges, craft breweries, and award-winning restaurants.

Durham is blossoming with urban funk, yet still retains much of its Southern charm, and history.

Durham, NC has a list of accolades such as:

• Most Creative City in the US (Movoto)
• Tastiest Town of the South (Southern Living)
• 3rd most Educated City in the US (forbest)
• and one of the Best Places to Travel in 2015 (Travel & Leisure)

In this list of the best things to do in Durham NC, we’ll be showing you all the top attractions in the city that best prove this. We’ll not only show you the popular attractions, but some hidden gems that we found during our visit.

Each time we visit we learn something new about this city – one of the most exciting and interesting places we’ve discovered so far on our USA travels.

Things to do in Durham, North Carolina

Need insider tips on what to do in Durham?

When we last visited, we were guests of Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau who wanted to showcase the fun things to do in Durham NC with kids in just 48 hours!

While you would be hard pressed to all the top activities in Durham for kids into just 2 days, if you’re effective and plan ahead, you might be able to squeeze it all in.

Here’s what we recommend you do.

1. Visit Black Wall Street

What I love about Durham is that its focus is on local.

You won’t find too many high rises, or big corporations here, instead innovative start-ups and restaurants, and independently owned cafes with stories to tell.

Black Wall Street in the early 1900s was the thriving hub of African American business activity, one of the country’s most prestigious universities (Duke), the Research Triangle Park (the world’s biggest), and the American Tobacco Company call or called Durham home.

And the death of the tobacco industry was not going to keep this town in the shadows of its’ Triangle neighbors Raleigh and Chapel Hill for too long.

Culture, art, and food are the new Durham blend – a much cleaner inhale-exhale for you!

• Hours: 24 hours
• Address: Black Wall Street, Durham

2. Catch a Show at Durham Performing Arts Center

In the center of all the action and fun is DPAC, the Durham Performing Arts Center, which is famous for hosting the ever-popular Broadway show, Hamilton.

Durham is not short of theaters, in fact, the Carolina Theatre of Durham is a live music venue and cinema that has been operating since 1926. It’s one of the city’s most beloved institutions and holds several film festivals throughout the year.

But the Durham Performing Arts Center is the biggest and has the most iconic shows. It opened in 2008 and has a capacity of 2,700 seats.

Though it’s large, it has a very intimate feel and uses state-of-the-art sound and video equipment.

It has up to 200 performances a year, including dance, comedy and musical theater, so no doubt there will always be something special happening during your visit.

We love attending shows at DPAC. We recently saw Frozen the Musical with the girls, and I have seen Les Miserables with a friend.

• Hours: Dependent on show
• Address: 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC 27701

3. Eat at the Guglhupf Bakery, Café & Restaurant

Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant is around the corner from our friend’s place, so was a recommendation we heard often from them. It was wonderful to finally sit down and eat there.

The cafe has a good selection of sandwiches and entrees made from local and seasonal ingredients and prepared with a contemporary southern German Twist.

Line up for your schnitzel and Reuben with sauerkraut.

Grab a seat outside for some alfresco dining on the sunny patio and admire the gorgeous building, artwork, waterfall features, and greenery. We enjoyed a fresh and tasty quinoa salad with chicken and the salmon.

You can grab some treats from the artisan bakery for your visit to the Duke Gardens. (lines can snake out to the parking lot here)

• Hours: 7.30am – 8.30pm Tuesday – Thursday, 7.30am – 9.00pm Friday & Saturday, 8.30am – 3.00pm Sunday
• Address: 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707

4. Visit Sarah P. Duke Gardens

In the West Campus of Duke University lies the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, recognized as one of the premier public gardens in the United States.

It’s a 55-acre public garden that features both wooded and landscaped areas. The garden is a memorial to Sarah Pearson Duke who was the wife of Benjamin N. Duke, a benefactor of Duke University.

There are five miles of trails and walks that wind their way through the garden, which is divided into four main areas.

Our kids loved the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden which displays, demonstrates, and teaches about native plants that provide people, animals, birds, and insects with food and shelter.

We had a lovely impromptu lesson about the importance of bees and pollination here.

Don’t miss The Big Easy sculpture on the south lawn, made entirely from red maple and sweetgum saplings collected from Duke Forest.

It’s like a Stonehenge of woven twigs and is an enchanting playground for the kids to run in and out of the maze-like structure.

 It’s free to explore Duke Gardens, but there is a fee for parking.

• Hours: Grounds are open 365 days a year, 8 a.m. to dusk.
• Address: 420 Anderson St, Durham, NC 27708

5. Explore Duke University

Although we are mad University of North Carolina Tar Heel fans (Duke’s mega arch rivals 8 miles down the road), we urge you to pop on over to have a look at Duke University.

It was one of the first places I visited when I arrived in the US in 2004 and was when I first knew that I was in a place that was my home – it has that feel and presence!

Surprisingly though, I chose to support UNC’s basketball team instead. You know, greatness and all that!

Back to Duke University, which is often referred to as the ‘Harvard of the South’ and is one of America’s most prestigious colleges.

It is definitely one of the most beautiful universities I’ve wondered through with its gothic-inspired buildings. Spend time roaming the grounds to admire its beauty.

• Hours: 10.00am – 8.00pm daily
• Address: Durham, NC 27708

6. Learn About Duke Basketball

If you can’t get tickets to a Duke game (near impossible) and are looking for things to do in Durham, North Carolina that involve Duke, pop into the Duke Basketball Museum & Sports Hall of Fame.

Located adjacent to the famous Cameron Indoor Stadium, it’s the perfect place to learn more about the history and strength of Duke Basketball – 5-time National Champs.

Whilst there take a peak inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. Walk the outer corridor and take in all the history.

In 1999, Sports Illustrated rated Cameron Indoor Stadium fourth on a list of the top 20 sporting venues in the world in the 20th Century, and USA Today referred to it as “the toughest road game in the nation.”

• Hours: 10.00am – 4.00pm daily
• Address: 306 Towerview Rd Schwartz-Butters Athletic Center, Durham, NC 27710

7. Check out The Duke University Chapel

Duke Chapel on West Campus is an example of neo-Gothic architecture and is an awe-inspiring structure that inspires a sense of wonder.

It’s constructed of volcanic stone from a quarry in Hillsborough, North Carolina (known as Hillsborough bluestone) and features huge stone piers, ribbed vaults, pointed arches, and flying buttresses.

Originally built as a house of worship for Methodist Protestants, the Chapel now has areas for Catholic prayers and for Jewish, Buddhist, and other spiritual beliefs.

The building has a striking 210 foot tower with 77 colorful glass windows, which are just stunning to look at.

• Hours: 10.00am – 8.00pm daily
• Address: Durham, NC 27708

8. Indulge in Ice Cream at The Parlour

There’s a story behind so many of Durham’s local businesses.

With The Parlour, it all began with Yoni and Vanessa Mazuz serving their handmade ice cream in a modified pink-painted mini school bus all over the triangle.

In 2013, they opened up a permanent location downtown funded by a Kickstarter campaign. The long lines out the door resulted in an expansion of the space in 2014.

You know that sounds like ice cream you want to line up for?

Their delicious flavors are made by local farmers whenever they can and are rotated to match the seasons giving you unique flavors like:

• orange spice cake
• goat cheese
• coriander and girl scout mint

The Parlour always offer vegan options, including fruit sorbets and creamy flavors made from coconut milk. AND gluten-free cones!!

Plus, they are committed to paying their workers a living wage, giving back to the community, and creating happiness through ice cream.

I was sure happy! My Vietnamese coffee and pistachio crunch was delicious. The girls loved their cookies and cream too – their ice cream standard.

• Hours: 12.00pm – 10.00pm daily (Closed Monday)
• Address: 117 Market St, Durham, NC 27701

9. Wander around the American Tobacco Campus Historic District

Take your ice cream and walk down to the American Tobacco District, one of the most historical places to visit in Durham.

This area of Durham, NC was formerly the headquarters of the American Tobacco Company and the Lucky Strike Cigarette Factory. It was abandoned in the late 80s when American Tobacco (the backbone of Durham’s economy) left.

It’s now been redeveloped into a live, work, play district known as the American Tobacco Historic Campus.

It consists of 17 historic structures that used to be tobacco factories, which now house the Tobacco Museum, Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, a radio station, a culinary school, a documentary theater, shops, restaurants, and bars, and even a man-made river.

The rustic factories and red-brick warehouses make it a lovely space to walk around.

You’ll see people playing basketball in The Cage and in the warmer months laying around on the grass under the iconic Lucky Strike smokestack listening to live music on the stage.

• Hours: 24 hours
• Address: 300 Blackwell St #104, Durham, NC 27701

10. Swing by Burt Bees Headquarters

The founder, Burt Shavitz’s rustic cabin from Maine was relocated here to honor his life.

Peer into the window to see the life Burt lived in the woods of Maine. It’s a reminder that the Bee Man taught us to never lose sight of our relationship to nature”.

The District also houses The American Underground which launched in 2010 and is becoming the counter-story to Silicon Valley.

It’s creating a diverse startup scene rich in innovative ideas and deep city engagement. Today, it supports 275+ startups across four locations and has been dubbed the “Startup Capital of the South.”

Durham is for doers and innovators and it’s bringing an exciting and vibrant air to the city.

• Hours: You can’t go in without working there butyou can see outside any time
• Address: 211 W Pettigrew St, Durham, NC 27701, United States

11. Dine at Pompieri Pizza

One of the best things to do in Durham, North Carolina is eat. And if you love pizza you’ll love it here.

Located in the historic Fire Station Number One building in the heart of Downtown Durham, Pompieri Pizza is an ode to the building’s original heroes.

Pompieri is Italian for Firefighters.

The interior has casual elegance with a large seating area inside and an outside area perfect for kids and warmer nights. Pay attention to the goldfish swimming in large tanks that supply water to hydroponically grown basil as you enter the restaurant.

You just know good pizza is on the way, dished up by fast and attentive service.

Pompieri’s is known for it’s authentic Neapolitan handmade and wood fired pizzas using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible.

There’s some innovation happening here with pizzas called The Pork Belly and Drunken Horse.

We loved the lamb special:

• Fresh Garlic + Oil Base
• House Smoked Local Lamb Loin
• Goat Cheese with Rosemary & Chili Flake
• finished with Charred Scallions and a Balsamic Lamb Reduction

And the BC Pie.

We paired it wonderfully with the fresh kale salad and finished with some gelato and panna cotta!

We loved that the pizzas came with scissors instead of pizza cutters!

And no pizza is better served then with a glass of wine noted for its “Yummy” flavours. You had me at Yummy and it was. Or, you can pair it with a beer from the Bull City Burger brewery next door.

Plus, you’ve got gluten-free and vegan pizza options here! If you want a bit of pizza porn, check out their Instagram account.

• Hours: 4.30pm – 9.30pm Tuesday – Thursday, 4.30pm – 10.00pm Friday, 11:12 am – 10.00pm Saturday, 11.12am – 9.00pm Sunday, Closed Monday
• Address: 102 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701

12. Tour the Duke Lemur Center

I am embarrassed to say I thought lemurs were just of the King Julian kind.

Within the first two minutes of visiting the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, I learned that there are actually over 90 different species, including sub-species.

I also learned that Hollywood got it completely wrong (again) as King Julian really should be Queen Julie as the lemur family is matriarchal.

All the more reason to love these delightfully cute primates.

The Duke Lemur Center has 250 lemurs (21 species), which is more lemurs in the world outside their native Madagascar.

You’ll be happy to know that this is a research center which focuses on behavioral sand social research.

The lemurs are taken care of and many programs are implemented to help endangered lemurs, with especially useful programs like teaching local villagers in Madagascar sustainable farming practices for reliable food sources.

You learn all of this and more on an engaging tour through the facilities. The girls especially loved pretending to be a lemur with their delightful sideways gait and the cute Aye-Aye in the nocturnal area.

You must have a reservation to visit the Duke Lemur Center. The center offers nine different tour types catering to a variety of ages, interests, and budgets.

Tours sometimes book out two weeks in advance so reserve your spot early.

• Hours: open all year round from 9:00 a.m. ’til 4:00 p.m
• Address: 3705 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705

13. Enjoy The Museum of Life & Science

The Museum of Life & Science in Durham is all about play and interaction – inside and out.

If you’re looking for fun and educational things to do in Durham, North Carolina as a family, then we recommend you visit here!

It’s one of the most popular Durham attractions for kids and your visit helps towards lemur conservation efforts. You know a museum must be great if you end up spending six hours in it. So unlike our family.

There are over 84 acres of amazing outdoor hands-on exhibits, which include a two-story science center, a butterfly house, and gorgeous outdoor exhibits that are safe havens for rescued black bears, lemurs, and endangered red wolves.

They also liked digging for fossils in the dinosaur section and chasing butterflies in one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast.

And the walk around the grounds on the boardwalk is gorgeous.

Once we entered inside, we learned a lot about astronauts and outer space and building machines in the forces and motion room. Perfect homeschool experience to learn and spark the imagination!

The biggest hit for our girls was the handcrafted tree houses connected by rope bridges.

• Hours: 10.00am – 5.00pm daily (closed Monday)
• Address: 433 W Murray Ave, Durham, NC 27704

13. Go to a Durham Bulls Game at Durham Bulls Athletic Park

If you are visiting during baseball season, one of the best things to do in Durham, North Carolina is going to a Durham Bulls baseball game.

The Bulls are a Triple-A minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League.

Durham Athletic Park was built in 1994 so it’s modern and fun-filled. All seats have pretty good views and you can walk around bar hopping or watch the game from different angles.

As for kids, there is plenty of entertainment and a cool kid zone section set up for the kids to shoot basketballs, run through mazes, and jump around.

The stadium even has its own craft brewery, Bull Durham Beer Company.  It’s the only brewery in the country based in a minor league baseball park.

For Durham Bull Games they have promotions such as $2 Taco Tuesday, $1 concessions on Thursday nights and Friday night Fireworks, which is what we experienced.

• Hours: dependent on game
• Address: 409 Blackwell St, Durham, NC 27701

14. Eat at Dame’s Chicken and Waffles

Dame’s Chicken and Waffles is a Durham institution.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding how this unusual food pairing came about.

The most prominent story is that to satisfy hungry partygoers in the jazz scene of Harlem, a popular venue serving southern cuisine, Wells Supper Club, created a late night/early morning dish pairing leftover chicken from dinner with their sweet breakfast waffles.

We could not try them because of our gluten-free requirements, but Savannah sure gobbled it up with BACON. And our friends vouch for its awesomeness, especially the flavored butter is known as shmears.

They do have gluten-free options and we enjoyed a meal of blackened salmon and a delicious side of collard greens – southern style!

• Hours: 11.00am – 3.00pm Sunday & Monday, 11.00am – 3.00pm & 5.00pm – 9.00pm Wednesday & Thursday, 10.00pm – 9.00pm Friday & Saturday
• Address: 530 Foster St #130, Durham, NC 27701

15. Have Breakfast at Elmo’s Diner

A Durham breakfast institution is Elmo’s Diner on Ninth Street.

It’s a casual, kid friendly restaurant with an extensive menu. Breakfast is served all day!

• Hours: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm Monday – Friday, 7:00 am – 3:30 pm Saturday & Sunday
• Address: 776 9th St, Durham, NC 27705

16. Drink Coffee and Eat Churros at Cocoa Cinnamon, Lakewood

We can’t write about things to do in Durham, North Carolina without indulging in coffee.

What began on a bike ride around the streets offering coffee to workers and farmer’s market addicts, has now turned into three popular Downtown cafes, each with its own distinctive Cocoa Cinnamon flavors.

But each cafe has one thing in common – great coffee and a wonderful story to tell. Espresso, coffee, and chocolate are available at all three shops, with churros only available at the Lakewood location!

Just like The Parlour, owners Leon and Areli Barrera de Grodksi are making a large community impact with a living wage guarantee for all staff and by using local and sustainable ingredients.

Cocoa Cinnamon operated on the idea that coffee, chocolate, and tea are age-old lubricants for ideas, so has cultivated a space in which diversity of ideas and backgrounds are celebrated and fostered.

We visited the Lakewood location of Cocoa Cinnamon Cafe, a community chosen for its ethnic diversity and the offerings in this cafe are inspired by classic churrerias and street vendors in Mexico and with subtle allusions to Andalusia, North Africa, and Sicily.

Cocoa Cinnamon’s third location is a vibrant and beautiful space.

Whimsical umbrellas hang from the ceiling and colorful patterned tables showcase the cafe’s Mexican influence.

The original coffee bike stands near the counter as an espresso bar and there is a micro-roastery where Cocoa Cinnamon will roast its own beans under the name 4th Dimension Coffee, sourcing them only from importers who buy direct from growers.

Signature drinks are created based upon stories in history and flavor characters that make them up.

Dr Durham is a drink that honors Durham’s namesake and the doctors who made the early medicinal root tonics. Dr Durham donated land for the train station which later became the area Durham.

With this latte, you’ll find slightly frothier micro-foam with homemade vanilla topped with macca root powder, ginger root powder, and black lava salt.

All syrups are made in-house and the chocolate is made in the style of Modica in Sicily (a cultural melting pot), which comes from the ancient Aztecs’ secret recipe.

I highly recommend the La Frida, a nod to the prominent Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.

This latte brings together elements of spice, and mole (homemade chocolate sauce), and is topped with rose petals.

Smooth and with a hint of rich chocolate, this latte was unlike anything I’d ever tasted. I’m ready to return for another.

And the kids enjoyed their hot chocolates.

Cocoa Cinnamon in Lakewood Durham is my favorite cafe of the year for its innovation, diversity, attention to detail, vibrancy, community feel and amazing coffee.

While we sadly could not partake in the famous churros (gluten free requirements) we did enjoy delicious affogatos with ice cream from The Parlour!

• Hours: 7.30am – 7.30pm Monday – Friday, 8.00am – 7.30pm Saturday & Sunday
• Address: 2013 Chapel Hill Rd Suite A, Durham, NC 27707

17. Visit The Scrap Exchange

You wouldn’t think a thrift store would make the list of things to do in Durham, but Durham’s creative resource center is a little different.

The Scrap Exchange is a nonprofit organization with a mission to promote creativity, environmental awareness, and community through reuse.

One of the founders, Chris Rosenthal is an Australian and The Scrap Exchange was modeled on an Australian organization Reverse Garbage Truck. Woop Woop.

The Scrap Exchange is now a model for creating effective reuse centers around the world.

The center contains a retail store, an art gallery, a design center that hosts classes, and more.

To stop gentrification in its place, The Scrap Exchange purchased the northern end of the Lakewood Shopping Center which they will turn into a Reuse Arts District (RAD).

RAD will be a multi-faceted cultural, environmental, historical, recreation, and community-based destination.

Rad alright! I told you Durham was innovative, local, and cool!

For $5 you can enjoy some self-directed creativity in the Make N Take a room, where budding artists can use recycled materials to create works of art.

Our girls had a wonderful time creating a water park. They demonstrated excellent teamwork and problem-solving skills.

• Hours: 11.00am – 6.00pm Tuesday – Saturday, 11.00am – 5.00pm Sunday, Closed Monday
• Address: 2050 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707

18. Nasher Museum of Art

The Nasher Museum of Art is located at Duke University and is the biggest center for arts in Durham. The space opened in 2005 and has been dedicated to showing contemporary art, as well as works from artists they feel have been underrepresented historically.

There is a particular focus on artists of African descent, as well as some European medieval art and ancient American art.

• Hours: 10.00am – 5.00pm Tuesday – Wednesday, 10.00pm – 9.00pm Thursday, 10.00am – 5.00pm Saturday, 12.00mp – 5.00pm Sunday, Closed Monday
• Address: 2001 Campus Drive Durham, NC 27705

19. Admire the Art Installations at The Satellite Park

The Satellite Park is another example of how Durham embraces contemporary art. The park features 8 stunning and vibrant murals on decommissioned satellite dishes.

The dishes are on the grounds of the Duke Arts Annex since April 2018, after they were painted during the Mural Durham Festival.

Each satellite has been painted by eight local artists from North Carolina, most from Durham, and a couple from nearby Raleigh, with the help of Durham students.

• Hours: 24 hours
• Address: Duke Arts Annex, 404 Gattis Street, Durham

20. Learn About Civil War History at Bennett Place State Historic Site

Bennett Place is a historic landmark located on Bennett Farm, a typical American home, and is famous for being the site of the last surrender of a major Confederate army in the American Civil War.

The house belonged to James and Nancy Bennett, who were a middle-class family and yeoman farmers.

They worked for themselves and were self-sufficient, even though it was common to own slaves at the time, the Bennetts never did.

When James died after the Civil War, the farm fell into disarray, until it was restored and turned into a museum.

• Hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm Tuesday – Saturday, Closed Sunday & Monday
• Address: 4409 Bennett Memorial Rd, Durham, NC 27705

21. Learn About Slave History at Stagville State Historic Site

The historic Stagville plantation is one of the largest plantations in North Carolina.

It was owned by the Bennehan-Cameron family, which claimed ownership of about 900 slaves.

Many of the plantation buildings have been well-preserved, including the original slave quarters, a barn, and the Bennehan family house.

Now you can learn about the lives and work of the enslaved on the plantation.

It’s an important part of American history that should not be skipped on any trip to Durham.

• Hours: 9.00am – 5pm, Closed Sunday and Monday
• Address: 5828 Old Oxford, Highway, Durham, NC 27712

22. Go Hiking in Eno River State Park

Another great thing to do in Durham with kids is to hike in the Eno River State Park.

The parks is just 10 miles north of the city and is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

There are approximately 13 miles of hiking trails, and there are also some popular camping spots.

You can also paddle or fish in the river or have a picnic in the Fews Ford and Cole Mill sites in the park.

• Hours: 7.00am – 9.00pm
• Address: 6101 Cole Mill Rd, Durham, NC 27705

23. Try Local Cocktails at The Durham Distillery

If you’re looking for things to do in Durham on a weekend then you should check out the Durham Distillery.

The micro-distillery produces high-quality spirits such as gin and vodka. In fact, the distillery has Conniption Navy Strength gin, the highest award for gin in the world.

A visit to this distillery is not just about tasting the spirits and touring behind the scenes, but you can learn about the craftsmanship, the history and develop your connoisseurship.

• Hours: Friday & Saturday, 1pm – 8pm
• Address: 711 Washington St, Durham, NC 27701, United States

Where to Stay in Durham NC

Unscripted Hotel

What do you do with a mid-century motor lodge making the downtown look a little bland?

Revamp it to be a vintage cultural hub for the vibrant community. Unscripted blew me away with its funky elegance. It’s a hotel to get excited about.

The parking garage and hotel entry (and stairwell) are covered in art from hand-picked street artists. It makes you immediately pay attention and feel good.

Graffiti and typography are on the walls of the lobby, which is tastefully decorated to honor the 1960 lodge but with a modern twist.

I love the welcome mats at the doors reminding you to have fun and the rooftop pool and retro-inspired patio have an unscripted whitewashed style and grace.

Not to mention the incredible views!

The lobby and rooftop patio are open to the public in addition to guests, making this space just as much about the local community as it is about visitors.

The rooftop patio will regularly host movie nights, live music, and pool parties.

The Durham Hotel

A mid-century modern classic boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Durham. The design is colorful and chic.

There’s also a restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrea Reusing and a rooftop bar (the first in Durham), open to the public and very popular with visitors and locals for its panoramic Durham views. It was the first rooftop bar.

Hotel guests also get free access to rooftop yoga classes! Hello, Mommy’s time out.

21 C Museum Hotel

Once the SunTrust Bank, this restored building is now a 125-room boutique hotel and doubles as a contemporary art museum.

Its eclectic and inspiring design and the museum add to the innovative and exciting spirit of Durham.

The museum portion of the hotel is open to the public with plenty of artwork on the walls. Be sure to head all the way down to the lower level and enjoy the old bank vault, which has been converted into a mini lounge.

The kids will love the secret passageway granting them access to run around the vault in the dark nark barrow hall.

Be sure to pop your head in the elevator to see a few penguin friends in there. I hope they haven’t gone!

Getting to Durham

One of my favorite things about living in the Raleigh Durham NC area is the easy access to the airport (RDU).

It’s not unusual to breeze straight through check-in and security in 10 minutes. RDU airport is an easy 20-minute drive to Durham. Unless you’re traveling during peak times you won’t experience any traffic at all.

You can rent a car from the airport here.

If you are driving, Durham is right off the I-40, or I-85.

More Eastern North Carolina Travel Tips

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The gray-haired lady, blue apron covering her flowered dress, sat in her chair in the corner of the Buccaneer Inn’s breakfast room.

A monotonous stream of word’s flowed from her mouth to all bodies that walked through the door. I wasn’t even sure if there really was a Hal, in the room, but I delighted in it nevertheless.

I looked at the laughing eyes of my parents; they couldn’t have seen a better Southern character in any of the Hollywood movies that had romanticized them for years in their living room back in Australia.

A known pirate town, Beaufort, NC was on my Dad’s list of things to see on this South East Coast road trip. He knew all the rumors of Captain Blackbeard’s jaunts – one of the most feared renegades of the seas –  in the sleepy village off the Atlantic Ocean.

Driving into town historic homes greeted us from under the shade of the overhanging oak trees, and waved us down to the waterfront to catch our ferry over to the Outer Bank islands.

We ambled along to the dock, keeping in tune with the sleepy vibe of the town. I liked the peace it radiated and felt I was in the right place for some much-needed rejuvenation.

12 years later my parents still talk about their trip to Beaufort, North Carolina nearly every time we chat over Skype.

We visited Beaufort with my parents and 2 year old Kalyra in 2010. We revisited with 14 year old Kalyra and 10 year old Savannah in 2021 on a trip exploring the Crystal Coast.

This post will share the best things to do in Beaufort, North Carolina as we experienced on both trips.

About Beaufort, NC

With its raw edge and historical charm, Beaufort quickly became one of our new favorite North Carolina towns.

The town has a long history in fishing, whaling, and more notoriously, piracy, earning it many ‘Pirate Town’ accolades, and “America’s best small town”.

Founded in 1709, Beaufort is the 3rd oldest town in NC, and the 12th oldest town in North America! 

With many of the homes still owned by original families, you know this is a neighborhood that is happy to keep Beaufort’s traditional spirit passing down through the ages. Drop your pretenses on the drive in and just come as you are.

Beaufort is a small town located on the Crystal Coast at the southern end near the Outer Banks in North Carolina. And Beaufort NC is included in our best USA road trips list.

1. Explore Front St & Beaufort Waterfront

Front Street is the main street running alongside Taylor Creek and is where you’ll find local boutique stores, beautiful old buildings and homes, and museums.

There is a nice short boardwalk along the creek with several waterfront restaurants and views across the inlet to Carrot Island.

As Beaufort has such a rich history, a guided tour is the best way to learn about its trials and tribulations, including the stories of those who have wandered in and out, swords in hand or not.

It will help you connect to the uniqueness of this North Carolina coastal tow

2. Self-Guided walking tour of Beaufort, NC

One of the best things to do in Beaufort is an historical walking tour. You can either join a tour or pick up a self-guided map from the Beaufort Historic Site welcome center.

A retiree from New York, volunteering in the visitor’s center, talked to us of her slow and peaceful life in Beaufort.

She recounted stories of Blackbeard and the recently discovered ‘truth’ that he was indeed a native North Carolinian and not English, as most people know him to be. My dad was not convinced of these findings.

She handed us a map and pointed out some historic homes to appreciate on our self-guided walking tour of the town.

On the map, you’ll find 30 listed historical houses that range in styles from cottages to elaborate Queen Anne and Greek Revival styles.

Choose an ambling pace as you wander down the tree-lined streets over six blocks to see homes that once belonged to sea captains, seafarers, generals, and merchants (maybe the odd pirate visitor.)

What will quickly become apparent to you is that every home in the downtown area is historic – 150 of these restored homes bear plaques on the exterior walls noting the names of the earliest known owners and the year it was built.

There at the end of our tour sat Hammock House, the oldest in the town, which once served as a pirate inn and the place where Blackbeard is documented to have stayed when in town.

Rumors speak of the treasure that is hidden somewhere within the house or property and I was ready to start digging under the oldest tree. But my dad, a Blackbeard scholar, remains convinced it is buried on an island on the Caribbean somewhere.

The heat of the day finally zapped us of all energy, so we found the nearest local pub to masquerade as pirates in and wash our thirst down with an ice-cold beer.

All the pirates had disappeared however, and it was just our little group to seize the moment and raise our glasses in a toast to ‘Bow-fort”

Plan for about one hour to do this self-guided walk, depending on how much photography you do.

3. Get Spooked on a Downtown Beaufort Ghost Tour

One of Beaufort’s most popular attractions (deservedly so), the Port City Co Beaufort Ghost Walk is a walking tour through the historic district at night with a pirate guide.

Our pirate guide bought the history of the town to life with entertaining (and slightly chilling) stories of murders, haunted homes, ghost ships, civil war heroes and villains, pirate shenanigans, and a young girl buried in a barrel of rum.

Stay to the end for a little spine chilling experience outside the iron gates of the Old Burying Ground.

I don’t know how our guide made it happen, but when we arrived the streetlights started flickering and the pinwheel madly began spinning at the grave of the girl buried in a barrel of rum. There wasn’t even a breath of wind and I could not see him pressing any start buttons!

The Beaufort ghost tour was one of our favorite things to do in Beaufort.

4. Visit the Old Burying Ground

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Burying Ground in downtown Beaufort is a cemetery not to miss!

Wandering around the moss-draped live oak trees, you’ll find 200 graves from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. You may even get lucky and hear (and see) an owl hooting high in the trees.

It was a perfect experience for this fascinating, spooky, and stunning graveyard.

The burial ground was established in 1724 and is bordered on four corners by churches from different denominations.

The northwest corner is the oldest part of the cemetery. While it may look empty, an archeological survey shows many graves in the area, thought to be victims of the Indian Wars.

Most graves are facing east for those departed to face the sun when they arose on Judgment Morn.

The Uniguide Tours app has a free audio tour of the Old Burying Ground. The Beaufort Historic Site also offers guided tours.

5. View Pirate Artifacts at the NC Maritime Museum

The free NC Maritime Museum on Front Street in Beaufort tells the story of this region’s connection with the sea.

It is one of three state Maritime Museums, with the others in Hatteras and Southport, all with the purpose of preserving, collecting, and interpreting coastal life and history. 

Exhibits feature the state’s rich seafood industry, life-saving stations and lighthouses, and sailboats and motorboats. Book lovers will enjoy the old feeling library room – filled with all your maritime history and stories.

Most unique about the museum is the display of artifacts excavated and preserved from the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s pirate ship that was run aground just outside Beaufort Inlet.

This is a great place to spend 30 – 60 minutes on a cold or rainy day, or any day if you love history! 

When we asked the girls what their favorite experience on the Crystal Coast was, Savannah said the NC Maritime Museum. She loved the scavenger hunt, which helped her look more closely at the exhibits and so engage better with the experience.

6. See the Wild ponies at Shackleford Island

I breathed in the fresh sea air as we sped along in the boat over to Shackleford Island to spend the morning chasing wild horses and collecting shells. 

The sun beat intensely down and I knew the first burn of the summer was on its way, wearing off the softness of winter and hardening me up in preparation for the seasonal sun-worshiping that was to come.

My love for the beach deepened as the familiar feeling of hard sand on my feet fleetingly imprinted the evidence of my being.

We were pointed in the direction of the ponies by a group of successful explorers on their way back to the mainland.

An hour was spent trekking through the sand dunes and wild shrub in order to discover a herd grazing on the beach. Although, the adventure was small, I felt the familiar rush that comes with living fully for the moment.

This time I had the added joy of watching Kalyra’s face as she walked up close to the stately mustangs.

We picnicked on the beach, and played in the gentle Sound waters, the Atlantic Ocean side being far too wild for our daughter’s two-year-old sense of courage.

The refreshingly cool water relieved us from the scorching sun, while the horses rolled around in the sand in the distance in their attempt to cool off.

Before we knew it time arrived for us to return, not without first hunting for shells on the ripping curve around to the Atlantic side, “The best place on the East Coast to find them”, as told by our skipper.

I was surprised to find they weren’t different to what we would find on our beaches at home.

The golden sand on this side of the island crunched under my feet and brought the awareness to me of why our beaches are golden and East Coast beaches are not- it all comes down to the Shells.

The magic of our morning in nature was heightened by a pod of dolphins passing by us in the channel, on their way back out to sea.

I breathed in the joy with total gratitude for the opportunities to experience the perfection of life over and over again through travel. (we swam recently near dolphins at Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort, South Carolina)

Ferry to Shackleford: Leaves approx every 45 mins. 15 min ride. $15 round trip. Must book your return time. There are no amenities there and little shade so pack well.

7. Take a day trip to Cape Lookout National Seashore

The pristine beauty doesn’t end with Shackleford Island. Right near here you’ll find more undeveloped stretches of beautiful soft sand beaches with no one on them?

Cape Lookout National Seashore is another short 20-minute ferry ride from beaufort and is perfect for a day trip excursion.

It is most known for shelling, shore fishing, and wide sandy beaches. Here is where you’ll find some of the best beaches in North Carolina.

This pristine region stretches fifty-six miles from Ocracoke to Beaufort Inlet. It comprises three barrier islands (North Core Banks, South Core Banks, and Shackleford Banks) and is only accessible by boat.

If lucky, you may see dolphins, or wild horses on Shackleford Island as you pass by (we saw horses in the distance). Your driver will slow down to see them.

Barefoot and in t-shirts, we wandered up and down the stunning beach, shelling and soaking in the views on a gorgeous 73-degree winters day. We found the largest shells we’ve ever collected washing up with the waves. (You can take them home only if nothing is living in it).

You will need to take all supplies with you as it’s an undeveloped island. You can stay as long as you like – be sure to know the last ferry return time as if you miss it you are marooned!

The 20-minute Islands Express Ferry ride to Cape Lookout departs from Harkers Island (or Beaufort).

8. Visit Cape Lookout Lighthouse

The first thing you’ll see as you arrive to the Cape Lookout National seashore is its main attraction, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

This towering black and white diamond lighthouse (nicknamed Diamond Lady) was built in 1859 to warn ships of shoaling sands.

The diamond patterns serve as directional tools, with the black diamonds pointing to north and south and the white diamonds, east and west.

The area features a restored lighthouse keeper’s quarter, which now serves as a museum with exhibits on lighthouse history and early shipwrecks and rescues.

Follow the boardwalk over to the ocean facing beach and enjoy the views of the lighthouse along the way. There is also a beach here on the sound side you can stay on, but we found the ocean side to be better.

The lighthouse is open during the summer season. You can climb the 163ft lighthouse for extraordinary 360-degree views. We climbed the Oak Island Lighthouse on our trip to the Brunswick Islands and loved it.

9. Hike the Elliott Coues Trail to Fort Macon

Truth: I kinda rolled my eyes like a belligerent teen when I saw Fort Macon State Park. Why would a fort be one of North Carolina’s most visited state parks?

But, then we decided to approach it via the sand dunes of the 3.3 mile Elliott Coues Nature Trail, and the aha lights went on.

The midway point of the loop trail will be where the fort is, and where you can stop for a while to explore and rest!

The beach side of the trail has great views of dunes, beaches, and ocean. The loop trail back follows the sound side, which has beautiful, canopied pathways, boardwalks, and views of the marshes.

This hike will show you that Fort Macon State Park is more than just the beautifully reconstructed 19th century Civil War pentagonal brick fort.

This free North Carolina state park encompasses 385 acres of beach, dunes, and maritime forest and is surrounded by three sides of water – the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet and Bogue Sound.

The fort itself is a historic landmark where a reconstructed fort stands guard over Beaufort Harbor as it once did during the Civil War.

Take a guided tour of the restored fort or conduct your own like we did to see bunks, cannons, a rations storage room, Civil War artifacts and more. It offers a great insight into Civil War history and its WWII occupation.

In the state park find hiking trails, picnic areas, and a lifeguard-protected and pristine swimming beach.

Fort Macon State Park is about 20 minutes from Beaufort at the northern end of Atlantic Beach. The Elliott Coues Natural Trail starts at the beach parking lot and encircles the state park.

Places to eat in Beaufort

Beaufort has quite a lively dining scene, especially on the waterfront. Be sure to reserve ahead of time as it can get quite busy. Check opening times, as some restaurants were closed when we wanted to visit. I think Beaufort has the best dining options along the Crystal Coast.

• Queen Anne’s Revenge, Beaufort: delicious pizzas (gluten free) on the water with water views
• 34° North Restaurant, Beaufort Hotel: is a fancy waterfront restaurant with locally inspired East Carolina cuisine. It’s in the Beaufort Inn. While we didn’t eat there, we did enjoy a cocktail in their cozy lounge.
• Mezcalito Grill, Beaufort: Our favorite restaurant on the Crystal Coast. Vibrant on the inside, the Tex Mex, Latin infused dishes danced with equal amounts of flavors and the mezcal margaritas that looked like a piece of art. Alambre ACP was delicious and Craig raved about his King Burrito for days.

Where to Stay in Beaufort, NC

There are a lot of cheap chain hotels in the areas surrounding Beaufort on the Crystal Coast.

• If you want to enjoy the historic downtown area, our recommendation is a vacation rental in Beaufort. See options on VRBO here.
• The Beaufort Hotel would be our top pick as the most charming hotel in Beaufort. Although note, it’s location is not in the downtown area, but in a tranquil spot on the water just out of town. See more here
• We absolutely LOVED our stay at the Grande Villas condos with stunning ocean views at nearby Indian Beach. Watching dolphins swim by each sunrise with my cup of coffee was incredible. See more here.

If you’re looking for other accommodation in Beaufort NC, you can use the map below to compare hotels and short-term rental options.

More posts about North Carolina:

• How to slip into serenity at Lake Lure and Chimney Rock
• Top Places to visit in The North Carolina Mountains
• 2 Day itinerary for things to do in Wrightsville Beach, NC
• 48 hours in Durham, NC with kids
• North Carolina Bucket List
• 16 Fun things to do in the Outer Banks
• 4 Day Vacation to Brunswick Islands
• 17+ things to do in Carolina Beach

If you found this post on Beaufort, North Carolina remember to share it with your friends. If you’re on Pinterest, you can pin this image to save it for later.

My favorite moment each year is the instant joy I feel when those tiny white and pink buds start popping on the trees in Raleigh. That’s my signal to start packing our bags for a spring vacation and celebrate the return of warmer months. 

It’s not unusual for us to head straight to the Wilmington and Beaches region of North Carolina, as it’s our favorite NC coastal destination. It is easy to get to from Raleigh, has fewer crowds, flowers bursting with spring colors, and warm temperatures. 

Wilmington, NC offers a rare combination of historic architecture, a beautiful riverfront, and a close location to some of the best beaches in North Carolina, if not America!

We’ve always said, it’s a smaller version of Charleston or Savannah – oodles of Southern Charm with a vibrant, unique North Carolina personality and plenty to do. 

Plus, it’s the home of Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill – two very popular TV shows filmed in Wilmington – the Hollywood of the East. 

Our spring vacation to visit Wilmington happened in partnership with Wilmington and Beaches, and you can find more spring ideas from them here! 

During our weekend getaway, we focused on exploring Downtown Wilmington. Can you believe it’s the first time we’ve written about Wilmington, North Carolina on our website after years of visiting and living in Raleigh? 

This is just some guidance for your Wilmington trip. Feel free to swap around attractions and activities to suit the weather during your trip, your schedule, hotel location, and particular style of travel.

NOTE: we arrived on a Friday evening, and left on Sunday afternoon. If you visit mid-week, adjust accordingly to the opening hours of businesses.

We grabbed a quick dinner in town on Friday evening, choosing to have an early night, so we’d be ready for our two big days of exploring.  

Consider Rooster & The Crow, the Seabird or Front St Brewery as dinner options. Indochine Wilmington is also another incredible option just outside of downtown, but as one of the most popular restaurants in Wilmington it can have wait times from 1-3 hours. The gardens in this restaurant are extraordinary!

Stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton, Wilmington Riverfront

Our hotel of choice in Wilmington is usually the Embassy Suites by Hilton on the Wilmington Riverfront. It’s probably the nicest Embassy Suites I’ve stayed at and felt fresh, modern, and stylishly decorated. 

With an easy 10-minute walk to downtown, its riverfront location is hard to beat!

We enjoy their spacious suites, especially welcome when traveling with kids for the extra “time out” space. If you work (or school) remotely, you’ll love the living room/office space. 

Your stay at the Embassy Suites comes with a buffet breakfast that has a decent array of offerings including omelet’s made to order, pancakes, grits and pastries. 

They also have afternoon happy hours, where you can get two drinks, including standard well drinks. 

We were so disappointed to miss the opening of their Cloud 9 Rooftop bar for the season by one week. Sunset from here is meant to be one of the best things to do in Wilmington. It really is a prime position for a magnificent panoramic sunset view over the river with your favorite drink in hand. 

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Riverfront for two nights, and would happily stay there again!

For other hotels in Wilmington, we liked the look of The Ballast Hotel a block up the river, but it was a little more expensive. The Aloft and Best Western were also next door to the Embassy and looked good – location wise at least! 

Day 1: Downtown Wilmington

Park your car at the hotel, you won’t need it for this day exploring downtown Wilmington. We love destinations where we can walk everywhere. 

Early AM: Riverfront Walk

Enjoy the quietness of the morning with less crowds by walking along the boardwalk that lines the Cape Fear River. 

The Wilmington Riverwalk is 1.75 miles long, but we typically do the section from our hotel to the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and back. Plus, we walk along it all the time during the day to access some of the downtown area’s favorite historical shops, colorful buildings and restaurants. 

You can enjoy views of the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, as well as Eagle Island and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge – which is known as the only steel vertical-lift bridge in North Carolina.

Check Spring happenings, as events can be held along the Wilmington Riverfront, including the bustling weekend farmer’s markets.

Wilmington takes awhile to wake up, so take advantage of those early hours to have the riverfront area to yourself.  

We love to stop for a coffee at Bespoke!

Bespoke Coffee & Dry Goods

• Location: 202 Princess Street 
• Website: BespokeCoffee.com

A friend recently told me they select cafes on their road trips based on how aesthetically pleasing they are. Bespoke, then, would be high on anyone’s list of cafes to visit. 

In fact, whenever we pass through Wimington on road trips south we stop at Bespoke for a coffee break. 

Not just for it’s style, but because Bespoke makes our favorite coffee in Wilmington. 

The black and white modern design is refined and elegant and invites you to sit for a while, and you’ll see many locals tapping away at their mobile workstations there. 

All of the coffee at Bespoke is provided by Durham’s Counter Culture Coffee and treated with the utmost care this local NC roaster deserves. They have hot chocolates and smoothies for the kids – or chai lattes for your teens!

And, Bespoke also invites you to return in the later hours to enjoy their beer and wine bar!

10am: Brunch at The Basics

• Location: 319 N Front St
• Website: TheBasicsWilmington.com

High on the list of best places to eat in Wilmington is brunch at The Basics!

You’ll find a wide variety of Southern inspired breakfast dishes including crab cake benedict, and cajun shrimp and grits, but other breakfast favorites like Mediterranean scrambled eggs, and blueberry pancakes. 

Brunch always pairs nicely with a delicious dragon fruit mimosa or Irish coffee!

Either reserve your table, or arrive a few minutes before the 10am opening. Thankfully, we were about third in line, which quickly grew after we arrived. 

As we ate a filling brunch, we did not need to stop anywhere for lunch, which gave us even more time for exploring!

11am (ish): Horsedrawn Carriage Ride of Historic Wilmington

• Location: Market St, Downtown Wilmington
• Website: HorseDrawnTours.com

A relaxing way to start your trip to Wilmington with kids is to take a horse drawn carriage ride through the historic downtown neighborhood. 

30 years ago this district was dilapidated and considered dangerous. You could have bought a house here for around $10,000 – but you’d need cash as no bank was willing to loan money for this run down area high on the hill near the Cape Fear River. 

The people came together to call it a historic district, which then gave them access to federal money and grants to restore the buildings. It’s now an expensive and well-sought area to live, with some homes now worth a million dollars! 

Black plaques on homes let you know they are over 100 years old, and anything new that now gets built in downtown Wilmington must blend in with the historic look and feel. 

You’ll learn all of this and more on The horse drawn carriage ride pulled by Jeff and Jake, two rescued horses from Amish County in Philadelphia. Tour company, Springbrook Farms has saved 18 draft horses in their 35 years of business. 

The horses are well cared for, given adequate rest between rides, and always pull way less than what they are capable of. Each horse only spends one week a month downtown, and two or three weeks minimum out on pasture on their farm.

The carriage ride follows eight different routes. We passed by the oldest home in Wilmington at 284 years, the childhood home of President Woodrow Wilson, and learned that the Spanish moss draping over the oaks is actually part of the pineapple family and does not harm the trees. 

Reservations are not needed for the tour. They leave from the end of Market St near the water, and cost $14 for adults, $6 for kids. 

NOTE: We just missed the 11:15 horse drawn carriage ride as it was full. While we waited for the 12 pm departure, we visited a few of the nearby stores.

Shopping in Downtown Wilmington

I was surprised by the good local stores in downtown Wilmington. In the spare moments between visiting Wilmington attractions, spend time browsing the stores. You’re bound to discover something for all members of your family. 

Across the cobblestoned street from the riverfront walk is the small City Market, a historic landmark and retail destination since 1880. There’s a melange of specialty shops as well as art and craft galleries.

I loved City Gypsy Boutique. They sell unique art from over 30 local artisans, fair trade, and boutique items including apparel, accessories, jewelry, crystals, pottery, and home décor, and much more! 

Another shopping district in downtown Wilmington is the Cotton Exchange, which is housed within eight restored buildings connected by brick walkways and open-air courtyard giving a 19th Century Port City vibe from when Cotton was King. There are 30 unique specialty shops and restaurants.

1:30pm: Sightseeing Cruise of the Cape Fear River

• Location: 101 South Water Street
• Website: cfrboats.com

For a relaxing hour of seeing Wilmington from the water, board a sightseeing Cruise with Cape Fear River Boats.

We boarded the small Captain J.N. Maffit boat to cruise upriver to where the Cape Fear forks before turning back south past the pastel colored shops and historical buildings of Downtown Wilmington on your left and, the Battleship North Carolina and Eagles Island to your right.

The captain gave us a brief overview of Wilmington’s history from the early explorers to Modern day ships from all over the world. 

We also learned more about the geography of the region, including the fascinating story of Eagle Island which was once filled with rice fields until river dredging turned the freshwater to salt and destroyed the industry. 

Before turning around to cruise back, you’ll get a good look at the shipping industry that gives Wilmington the name, Port City.

Wondering how the Cape Fear river got its name? 

Old merchants would often notice the approaching shallow cape and would turn their boats around, only to run aground on the shoals. They would list on their charts that it was a Cape to be Feared.

Ice Cream at Kilwins

• Location: 16 Market Street
• Website: Kilwins.com

The smell wafting out of Kilwins ice cream is irresistible and will pull in your children just like the witch dragged Hansel and Gretel into the Gingerbread House.

This is bound to give them all the energy they need to continue to enjoy the rest of the day.

We’ve been taking our 14 year old Kalyra to Kilwins since she was two, so it’s a very nostalgic place for us to revisit with each trip to Wilmington.  

From Kilwin’s it’s only a ten minute walk to the Bellamy mansion!

3pm: Bellamy Mansion and Museum

• Address: 503 Market Street
• Website: BellamyMansion.org

I enjoyed touring the 10,000 sq. ft, twenty-two room Bellamy Mansion, built by primarily enslaved and free black artisans for the Bellamy family from 1859 to 1861.

I thought it was tastefully done to really tell the truth of the slave story and help develop that understanding and empathy. 

The self-guided audio tour begins outside the mansion, and then immediately moves to the two-story brick, slave quarters – one of the best preservered ones in the country. 

You learned more about the life of the slaves and the back breaking work they did from sunup to sundwon. That story continued as you entered the house and began on the basement level to see the work the slaves did from within the house. 

You then move up the five levels of the home to see how the Bellamy family lived.

I loved the elaborate parlor room, which definitely made my welcoming room in our house feel tiny! The tour ends up in the Belvedere, the small room that was responsible for creating natural air conditioning by capturing the natural breeze and sending it down to the rest of the house. 

My other favorite was the gorgeous magnolia tree at the side of the house in the small garden offering a quiet peaceful place to rest under its shady beauty. 

You can also join a 90-minute guided tour of the Bellamy Mansion. It took us about an hour to tour it ourselves, and both the girls really enjoyed it.

This is a worthy family-friendly experience and one of the most popular Wilmington attractions, and we recommend adding it to your itinerary. 

4pm: Flytrap Brewery

• Location: 319 Walnut St
• Website: FlyTrapBrewing.com

Another short walk will take you from Bellamy House to a family-friendly brewery with plenty of space in the beer garden for kids. You’ll appreciate a rest in the sun with an ice cold local brew. 

Flytrap Brewing is a popular neighborhood brewery located in the booming Brooklyn Arts District of Historic Downtown Wilmington. You’ll find some local art hanging on the walls!

Flytrap specializes in American and Belgian style ales, and Craig thoroughly enjoyed his light and refreshing Belgian Blonde. 

They also have unique natural wines and flavored sparkling waters for the kids. Check the website for latest events as they often have artisan markets, food trucks and live music, making it one of the best breweries in Wilmington.

6pm: Sunset on the River

One of my favorite things to do in Wilmington is to watch the sunset down by the riverfront. We’ve been doing that with our kids for years. 

You can either sit at any of the Wilmington restaurants lining the boardwalk or just stand on the boardwalk to watch it. (There are also sunset cruises you can take).

The restaurants can get very busy, so try and get there early and reserve ahead. Some won’t take you in unless you are eating. 

We managed to get a small cocktail table on the deck of the beautifully restored Pilot House to enjoy a sunset drink. We had to get our own drinks from the bar, which we were more than happy with if it meant they could squeeze us in for this beautiful sunset show. 

You could dine at any of these riverfront restaurants. You’ll find menus filled with seafood options, and typical American fare. Prices may be a little higher given the waterfront location and popularity. 

We have eaten many times at a longtime Wilmington favorite, Elijah’s Restaurant. They have a very affordable kids menu.

7pm: Dinner at Platypus and Gnome

• Location: 9. S Front St
• Website: PlatypusAndGnome.com

What Australian can pass by a restaurant named after one of our favorite native animals? 

What makes Platypus and Gnome a worthy place to eat in Wilmington is its unique restaurant focus which is on exotic game meats.  

Meats are sourced from sustainable sources. Their can’t miss favorites are wild boar, elk and bison. I LOVED the very extensive gluten free options they had – almost every item on the menu could be adapted. 

Craig and I ordered the two most popular items on the menu: The elk burger and the ostrich sandwich. Kalyra was happy with her juicy Bacon Bacon burger. There’s a kids menu – even with gluten free chicken tenders. 

The smoky wild boar soup was deliciously memorable. Either have a bowl for appetizer or sub it in as your main meal’s side for an extra price. 

Platypus even sometimes has kangaroo in the menu – we missed it by a week.

Day 2: Downtown Wilmington to the Beach

We made use of the breakfast that came with our hotel at the Embassy Suites Wilmington Riverfront this morning. 

9am: Coffee: Seabird Restaurant

• Location: 1. S Front St
• Website: Seabirdnc.com

We were thrilled to discover another great place for coffee in Wilmington, Seabird, a relatively new restaurant in downtown Wilmington. 

It’s not just a place for great coffee, it’s a popular lunch and dinner restaurant as well. Seabird is set in a historic building and has a focus on a seasonal seafood menu with ingredients found in North Carolina.

This coastal focus is reflected in a tastefully decorated modern space with full-length subway tiles, blue toned aquatic artwork on the walls, porthole windows on the swinging doors into the kitchen, and blue upholstered chairs. I also loved the addition of a small library in the wrap-around bar area.

Seabirds is cozy and sophisticated with a warm friendly service to match. Most importantly, baristas who know how to make a proper latte. 

Seabird has a limited breakfast menu that includes grits and roasted potato bowl and a fried chicken biscuit plus pastries. This could be a good alternative for a grab-and-go quick breakfast here as well as coffee. 

9:30am: Tour the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA

• Location: 1 Battleship Road
• Website: BattleShipnc.com

One of the most popular things to do in Wilmington with kids is to tour the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA, which was one of the first of ten battleships to join the American fleet in WWII.

During World War II, North Carolina participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific area of operations and earned 15 battle stars.

She was considered the world’s greatest navy ship and you can wander through the ship to see the sailor’s and officer’s quarters and mess hall as well as the vast amount of artillery on the expansive deck.

With two daughters, we were unsure if they would like touring the North Carolinian battleship, but we all enjoyed it. 

It was a fascinating insight into life aboard a navy vessel, helping us see the difficulties of life cramped below a steamy, smelly deck – and that’s without being stuck in the throes of a fierce battle. NO THANK YOU! It will raise the respect and admiration you have for our service men and women. 

It’s unbelievable how big it is below deck – you can tour 9 different levels – and we had no idea whether we were bow, stern, starboard or port the entire time. Arrows will guide you along the self-guided trail. 

We could not tour the upper decks as they were closed for renovations. 

Be sure to walk around the perimeter of the boat on the SECU Memorial Walkway – you may even see an alligator or two in the murky waters! The views of Downtown Wilmington opposite the river are also beautiful from here. 

The North Carolina battleship is also one of the most popular attractions in North Carolina.

We spent an hour here, but it’s common for visitors to Wilmington to spend two hours.

11am: Museum of the Bizarre

• Location: 201 South Water Street
• Website: https://www.museumbizarre.com

We like to visit quirky and unique museums when exploring a new destination. I thought the Museum of the Bizarre may also be interesting for Kalyra, our teen. And it was! 

We had quite a laugh exploring this small museum in downtown Wilmington. You only need about 30-60 minutes but it’s well worth it, especially at such an affordable price. 

This curiosity museum focuses on the strange, unusual or collectable oddity.

You’ll find life-sized movie characters, artifacts like Alexander Hamilton’s hair and Houdini’s ouija board, random scribblings from Charles Manson, shrunken heads, bizarre creatures from the Circus like the goat brothers, a cast model of Regan from the exorcist, and a real life cauldron discovered in Pennsylvania that without warning blasts out a fiery steam to make you jump.

There is also a small mirror maze and laser trail game you can do. We had fun with both of them, especially the fun music we danced away too as we slowly made our way through the confusing hall of mirrors. (You can see that in the video soon!)

This is a great Wilmington attraction for teens. 

12pm Lunch: Beer Barrio

• Location: 34 N Front
• Website: BeerBarrionc.com

Love tacos and margaritas? Pull up a colorful table on the sidewalk and enjoy this craft-beer infused Mexican restaurant for lunch (Sundays has an all-day brunch menu as well). 

You may find a southern flair in these tacos though choices like a catfish po’boy and beer braised beef tacos and pulled pork on your nachos, bowls and burritos.

The food is colorful, affordable, and unusually large for a taco! Plus, most of the ingredients are sourced locally. 

Beer is the other star of this restaurant with a local brew finding its way into almost every dish! 

Owners, beer Sommelier Hayley Jensen and her husband Chef Stephen Durley have worked together in some of the finest restaurants in New York City so expect big flavors and bold experiences. 

They even had a delicious french toast dish on the brunch menu for our exceptionally fussy tween eater!

1pm: Head to the Wilmington NC Beaches

Since it’s spring and the weather is warming up, we recommend adding beach time to your list of things to do in Wilmington. 

Wilmington is near two great North Carolina beaches: Our favorite is Wrightsville Beach, but Carolina Beach to the south is also colorful and very family-friendly. So is Kure Beach.

Each beach location has great options for food, and various beach activities you can do like paddle boarding and surfing lessons. 

These posts will help you plan your time at the beach, including places to eat for dinner before you head home. Here are our tips:

• Things to do in Wrightsville Beach
• 17+ Things to do in Carolina Beach

Wilmington Video

You can see more of Wilmington in our video sharing all the fun things we did in Wilmington on our two day getaway.

We hope you have a great time visiting Wilmington NC on your spring getaway. Please leave a comment sharing any other favorite things to do in Wilmington, NC.

We’ll always be returning and love to hear your suggestions, as do all the future readers of this post!

Whether you are road tripping the entire parkway or just taking a day trip from Boone (or the High-Country region), you’d be remiss if you did not dedicate the entire day to exploring Grandfather Mountain and Linville Falls!

Not only are these two attractions in the North Carolina mountains only a 30-minute drive from each other, but they also feature a variety of activities for all ages and fitness levels.

It’s worth getting up early to experience a full-day of the many beautiful viewpoints, hikes, and waterfalls.

We were staying in Boone over Thanksgiving week and chose the clearest day to do this day trip. Even though our winter views were devoid of color and tree life, they were still beautiful. We can’t wait to return in Spring or Summer for a more lush version. 

Follow our itinerary below. This experience took a full-day and we returned to our Boone cabin just after sunset. It was enough time for a well-rounded Blue Ridge Parkway experience that included fantastic hikes (short and longer), time to absorb the views, a restful lunch, and a happy wine tasting cheers to the day.

We did not get time for any pullover viewpoints along the parkway, but we got plenty of views at both Rough Ridge Overlook and Grandfather Mountain.

There is so much more you could add to this one-day road trip along the parkway, but I think it would impact the experience. Less is often more.

Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway, known as “America’s favorite drive,” is a spectacular road trip winding through the North Carolina mountains and Virginia. (For more top USA road trips and stunning drives in the United States, see here.)

The Blue Ridge Parkway starts at Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ends at Shenandoah National Park, running through the Blue Ridge Mountains alongside the Appalachian Trail.

The Parkway actually started in the NC High Country at Cumberland Knob in 1935 and the opening of the Linn Cove Viaduct in 1987 completed it.

The High Country has about 23 percent of its 469-mile length. Many people would say it’s even more beautiful through this section than it is in the other parts. It certainly has several of the most popular attractions on the Blue Ridge.

The views are great throughout, but there are some particularly stunning stops along this scenic drive which you should not miss!

We caught a beautiful sunset on our drive back to Boone on the Parkway.

Hike the Rough Ridge Trail (Milepost 302.8)

The Rough Ridge Trail is an easy 1.5-mile return hike with an elevation gain of 480 ft. It takes you to the most spectacular views of Grandfather Mountain, the parkway, and the Pisgah National Forest ridges below.

Just before the Linn Cove Viaduct, you’ll see the Rough Ridge Overlook parking lot on the right-hand side of the road.

Take the trail from here and veer left on the Tanawha Trail (which the Rough Ridge is part of). It will take you to a boardwalk where you can walk onto a rock for great photos and views of Grandfather Mountain and the Linn Cove Viaduct.

Keep walking a little further past the boardwalk and you’ll see this most famous rock where you can sit and dangle over the valley below.

The photo is deceiving as there is only a short drop below to a ledge. While you couldn’t hurt yourself too bad if you fell (you still could) it’s still a little unnerving dangling over space like that. But boy what beautiful views and a photo opportunity.

The trail ends a little further up to the Rough Ridge Summit (4,773 ft).

Go early to beat the crowds. We arrived around 9am. There was only one other person on the trail when we went. Sunset is meant to be stunning here but be prepared for crowds.

There will be less people in the colder months, but the view will be a little dull and brown (but still great).

Allow for about an hour on this hike, which will give you time for photos and to enjoy the view.

Marvel at the Linn Cove Viaduct (Milepost 304.4)

The Linn Cove Viaduct, between Rough Ridge and Grandfather Mountain, is an iconic stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This bridge-like structure jutting out of the side of the mountain is an engineering marvel. It was built to preserve the beautiful scenery of Grandfather Mountain while enabling highway traffic to continue along the parkway.

A pull-off on the left before you get there leads from the north with a little walking path on the other side of the guard rail to a lookout area with the perfect vantage point of the viaduct.

The path is wide enough for walking and the drop off not too high, but still be cautious and watch children. Do NOT walk on the road!

You can also stop in at the Visitor Center on the southern side to learn more about the viaduct.

Explore Grandfather Mountain (Milepost 305)

You’ve been staring at it all morning on your hike and viaduct adventures, now it’s time to flip the view from atop Grandfather Mountain.

Grandfather Mountain is one of the highest peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountain ranges. It’s an iconic thing to do in North Carolina.

The 300-million-year-old peaks stand 6,000 feet above sea level, giving you stunning 360-degree views over the Appalachian Mountain ranges. It’s a pristine place for interacting with nature and soaking up some peace and serenity.

One-third of the mountain is a privately owned nonprofit nature preserve that operates as a paid scenic travel attraction. The other two thirds of the wild and undeveloped sections of Grandfather Mountain are owned by the state of North Carolina. The Grandfather Mountain state park has miles of backcountry hiking trails!

In November of 1992, the United Nations added Grandfather Mountain to its international network of Biosphere Reserves. Grandfather is unique because in less than 5,000 acres there is habitat for 16 distinct ecological communities and 72 rare or endangered species.

Grandfather Mountain Attractions + how long do you need

How much time you spend here is dependent on what you want to do and how much time you have? You could easily spend half to a full day here.

Take your pick from scenic overlooks, hikes, nature museums, and picnic areas. (Be sure to pack up a picnic lunch to take with you.)

As we wanted to fit in the Rough Ridge Trail and Linville Falls, we did the shortened Grandfather Mountain experience with just a couple of stops on the way to the top and then the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. We were here for just over an hour.

If you have more time, and are experienced hikers, Craig and I thoroughly recommend the 2.4-mile Grandfather Trail. We did it in 2005 and LOVED it. Expect rocky cliffs and scrambles with cables and ladders to spectacular views. It’s definitely strenuous, but loads of fun. Allow for at least half a day just for that hike!

Grandfather Mountain is a paid attraction. Tickets are only available through online reservations, usually 2-3 weeks in advance. Admission tickets include the Swinging Bridge, Nature Museum, hiking trails, wildlife habitats and more. See rates here. 

Drive slowly up to the top while you listen to the CD/USB audio (given at the entrance) where you can learn more about Grandfather Mountain and the various stops along the winding road to the top.

I found the commentary excellent. I loved this unique way of learning more about Grandfather Mountain as you slowly drove up.

Overlooks include Half Moon Overlook, Cliffside Overlook and Sheer Bluff.

The Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum houses more than two dozen educational exhibits outlining the natural history of Grandfather Mountain and the surrounding region, including gems and minerals native to the region, stories of early explorers and local birdlife. (Currently closed for renovations)  

Sphinx and Split Rocks

One of the first stops on the drive up to the peak are the Sphinx and Split Rocks right on the edge of the road. Both are thought to be over 640 million years old and Sphinx Rock weighs more than 4,000 tons. 

Split Rock has a huge crack in it that grew to its current size after water seeped in through a small crack and split it. It’s a good place to snap a few family photos and portraits.

Cliffside Overlook: Forrest Gump Curve

A stop not to miss on the scenic drive up to Grandfather Mountain summit is the famous Forrest Gump Curve. This steep hairpin curve section is where he ran with several of his followers in the movie.

Pull over at the Cliffside parking lot on the map. From here you will get this great birds eye view of Forrest Gump Curve. We stopped here on the way back down. There is also a picnic area here. 

Fun Fact: It was Tom Hanks’ brother who ran the scenes. He was used as his body double in most of the running scenes in the movie. Tom himself decided to come for the filming as he wanted to see Grandfather Mountain. Staff did not even realize they were talking to him!

Walk the Mile High Swinging Bridge on Grandfather Mountain

The most popular thing to do on Grandfather Mountain, especially if short on time, is the Mile High Swinging Bridge, which connects two peaks at one mile above sea level.

Even though it’s a mile up, this 228-foot suspension bridge actually only spans an 80-foot chasm. 

As it is now made of galvanized steel and reinforced with cables and springs, it doesn’t swing like it used to, instead tends to sing with the whistling wind. It has railings on the sides to ensure safety!

It’s worth it, even if you are afraid of heights. 

The 360 degree views from here are incredible. Once across the bridge, continue out on the rock cliffs for spectacular views atop Linville Peak, elevation 5,305 feet. It can get busy here so go slow and watch for sharp drop offs. 

From the top parking area, take a few flights of steps or ride the elevator to a short path. I didn’t realize until it was too late, but you can park in the bottom parking lot (Black Rock Parking Area), and take a trail from there up to the SwingingBridge which is about half a mile one way. We would have time for that and I know I would have enjoyed it. 

Lunch: The Tin Trout

As it was colder, a picnic lunch was not as enticing for us. We’re also terrible at planning these things in advance.

So if you don’t pack a picnic to enjoy at Grandfather Mountain, you’ll have to detour off the Blue Ridge Parkway to find a place to eat. Otherwise you can drive straight down to Linville Fall.

Linville is the nearest town to Grandfather Mountain (3 miles) so you’ll find a few options there. 

We randomly stumbled upon the Tin Trout, located a little past Linville, and still on the way to Linville Falls. We discovered a cozy homestyle environment with warm Southern service and seasonal creative farm to table meals.  

As you can imagine, trout is the star feature of the menu in dishes such as smoked trout dip, salad, platter, or carbonara. We took our grilled trout with a side of delicious mash and brussel sprouts!

You’ll also find other southern dishes like chicken and waffles, Shrimp Po Boy, fried chicken, shrimp and grits, cornbread and burgers.

Hike Linville Falls (Milepost 316)

Now, let’s follow the Linville River from its beginning point high on Grandfather Mountain as it flows two thousand feet down to form a two-tiered cascading falls at Linville Falls, before dropping 90 feet into the beautiful, forested Linville Gorge, (the Grand Canyon of the Appalachians) before ending at Lake James and the Catawba River.

You can see why it’s known as “Eeseeoh” or River of Cliffs in Cherokee and is one of the star attractions of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Since we’ve seen some stunning waterfalls in the US (and the world i.e., Victoria Falls), it’s hard for us to be wowed by them, but we loved Linville Falls and agree it’s one of North Carolina’s best.

I’d especially love to return in the summer to see it surrounded by the lush forest landscape. Linville Falls is part of the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, a popular area of hikers and rock climbers. 

Linville Falls Hikes

The Linville Falls overlooks can be reached along two trails that lead from the Linville Falls Visitors Center.

Linville Falls is more than just a “snap your I was here” photo, which I liked about it. There are two trails that lead from the Linville Falls Visitors Center that go to five different overlooks. 

 Its a lovely hike through the virgin hemlock forest mixed with other trees such as such as white pine, oaks, hickory, and birch. 

The main trail is a 1.6-mile round-trip walk taking you to four of the overlooks. Each offers a unique perspective of the Falls, and all worth experiencing.

The first overlook is Upper Falls Overlook, which offers a unique perspective of the Upper Falls flowing through the narrow canyon where it disappears and plunges forty-five feet over the lower falls. You can see it in our Reel here. 

The next overlook is Chimney View, which was probably my favorite as got take in both the lower and upper falls up closer than the other viewpoints. The overlook is named for the chimney-like outcroppings located to the right of the waterfall.  

Continuing on you’ll reach Erwins View overlooks at the trail end. From here, you’ll get a distant view of the upper and lower falls. Even though I think Chimney View is better, it’s still worth walking the extra bit up here. It’s not that much further. 

Near here is also the panoramic Linville Gorge View. Be prepared for bright sunlight if you go in the afternoon which made it hard to see 

Don’t miss the Plunge Basin overlook which gives you a magnificent view of the lower falls and chimney view above.

The Plunge Basin trail is to the left of the restroom block in the bottom car park. You’ll see some stone stairs hiding in the forest. Follow it through the forest until you come to the viewpoint. It branches off in one part to go further down the river. We did not take that trail.

Surprisingly, no one else was on this trail, whereas the other one was quite busy. A steep flight of stairs will take you to rock-walled perch above the falls. The viewpoint from here was close to the lower falls and beautiful. You also got a great view up to Chimney View outcroppings.

In this area is also the Linville Gorge Trail which you can turn down from the Plunge Basin View junction, which takes you down to the river. 

There is also a gravel parking lot halfway up to the Falls – not far from the Lower Falls Campground. GPS took us here. From here we hiked up to the Erwin’s View Overlooks, then back down to the other overlooks, ending at Plunge Basin and then walked back up to the car. 

Check out these other Grand Canyons of the USA:

• Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
• Grand Canyon of Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park

Wine Tasting at Linville Falls Winery

What a surprise Linville Falls Winery was! We only learned about it when we drove past a crowd of people sitting in the sun with gorgeous valley and mountain views.

We decided we’d return after our Linville Falls hike. It was the perfect end to a wonderful day spent exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This family owned and operated 40-acre vineyard, winery, and farm sits in a fertile valley between hills in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Cool nights, low humidity, and an elevation of 3,200-3,400 ft allows the grapevines to thrive and ripen slowly into fresh vibrant flavors. Varieties include Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Noiret, Marquette, Petit Verdot, Marechal Foch, and their flagship grape, Riesling.

North Carolina is not typically known for wine, but it’s wineries like this that is starting to give it a label of “Place to watch for quality wines”

It’s family-friendly (and pet-friendly) with a beautiful outdoor seating area overlooking the vines and the Christmas tree farm (which was a hive of activity.) There is a small pond with Adirondack chairs as well.

We each chose a wine tasting flight and grabbed some cheese and crackers from the fridge. You are welcome to bring your own snacks and they sometimes have food trucks. (And live music in the warmer months)

Flights are $12 for your choice of four wines, 2oz. of each. I loved the Riesling and Chardonnay and I found their Brandy Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon to be outstanding and very similar to one of my favorite Double Barrel Jacob’s Creek wines back in Australia (which you can get at Harris Teeter!)

Our next trip to Boone, we want to visit the Grandfather Mountain winery. (It was closed for Thanksgiving!) Here are some of our suggestions for Boone, including places to eat in Boone.

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Things to know about the Blue Ridge Parkway

• Fill your car with fuel before starting, just to be sure.
• For this trip, it might be best to pack a picnic lunch as restaurants are few and far between. Plus, if its busy you may not get in or have a long wait.
• The Parkway is windy with a speed limit of 45mp, sometimes going as low as 25mph in busy areas. Leave enough time and drive slowly.
• There are many overlooks which make pulling off the road easier. There are also a few passing zones.
• Parking is available at trailheads and overlooks and you can park on the grassy shoulder of the road as long as you are off the road and on firm ground.
• It’s always cooler on the parkway (up to 10 degrees) so dress accordingly and throw in a raincoat just in case.
• The weather can be unpredictable in transitional seasons and winter snows can last for weeks. Always do your research.

More Blue Ridge Content

• A Summer family road trip to the Shenandoah National Park
• 22 Fun things to do in Roanoke, VA
• A Spring Mountain Getaway to Virginia’s Blue Ridge
• A mountains and music road trip (NC – TN)
• Most Unique things to do in Asheville, NC (2 day stay)
• Bryson City Thanksgiving Vacation (includes Polar Express)

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Paintings adorn the walls, sculptures stand proud in gardens, murals form the backsplashes to bars, and graffiti wraps around the revitalized warehouses and brick buildings of the region.

This is not just one or two buildings dedicated to celebrating local artisans and a vibrant community spirit but several blocks of it. It’s well suited to the free and adventurous lifestyle of Western North Carolina, and it’s now one of our favorite things to do in Downtown Asheville. 

What is the River Arts District in Asheville?

The River Arts District, or RAD for short, is the artistic heart of Asheville. In the late 1800s it was the industrial heart of the city with factories and mills lining the river. This didn’t last and soon it turned into a run-down area with abandoned and boarded up buildings.

Until the 1980s where this gritty industrial area started to transform, its rebirth growing local artist’s need for cheap rents and large studio spaces.

For over two decades now these empty warehouses, factories, mills, and tanneries have been revitalized into this colorful and creative safe haven for local and resident artists, and now visitors, who want to experience what can happen when a community puts art, people, and unique stories first.

These days the rent prices aren’t as cheap as they were in the beginning. With the exploding growth of this area, and future expansion plans, it was only a matter of time.

The River Arts District stretches over a mile and is made up of 22 buildings housing more than 200 local artists working in paint, pencil, pottery, metal, fiber, glass, cold wax, paper and more. Within some of these buildings, you’ll find multiple artists, sculptors, and studios.

The region is divided into hubs that take up a block or two.

Each hub is identified by a color (red, green, blue, purple, orange), which corresponds to pole banners you’ll see along the road, building colors, and the map/brochure for each area.

Within each hub, you’ll find studios, galleries, places to eat and drink, and live music venues. (See our REEL of the River Arts District)

Where is the Asheville River Arts District?

The River Arts District is located just south of the main Asheville downtown area east of the railroad trips and the French Broad River. The paved 2-mile Wilma Dykeman greenway runs alongside the river and through the district and features public artwork.

There is ample parking on the streets around each of the hubs.

Why visit the River Arts District (especially with kids)

I was worried half a day would be too much exploring this place in Asheville and the kids would get bored. Typically, they are in an art museum. But this is not pristine, stuffy, and quiet like an art museum. Even our teen enjoyed it a lot.

What sets this apart from an art museum, and why I especially recommend it when traveling with kids, is that this is a living, breathing creative space.

It’s art in process: from the originating ideas written all over walls, to pieces in motion sitting on desks or easels, to completed works beautifully displayed on shelves.

You can walk through artists’ studios and see the messy side of creation (with its mistakes), touch (check first) or snap mural photos, talk to the artists, participate in a class, see an eclectic mix of art designs and forms, and even purchase something you can’t stop thinking about or looking at.

And all of this comes with a local perspective helping you to get to know the culture of the region you are visiting. In this case, Asheville, a city that puts community, art, and nature at the center of everything.

Any art enthusiasts or collectors on a getaway to Asheville, you will love diving into this blossoming eclectic, home-grown art scene.

It’s also a place for those who love shopping – you can’t beat a piece of art hanging from your wall to remind you of your Asheville.

There is something to suit all budgets from postcard sized prints, little trinkets, mugs, vintage clothes, and jewelry pieces to wall sized canvas paintings and commissioned sculptures that could set you back tens of thousands of dollars. Art is always in the eye of the beholder (of the eye or wallet)

As this is a living, breathing space, I can’t wait to come back with every return visit to Asheville to see how it is evolving and keeping up with Asheville’s vibrant spirit and pace.

How to experience the River Arts District, Asheville

Spend a little bit of time planning out your River Arts District Day. I recommend at least 3-4 hours.

We started at the top red hub and then finished in the Blue Foundy area. I liked ending here as it was my favorite section with a lot to do.

Plan your itinerary around where you want to eat, have coffee, and a craft brew or urban wine – and at what times. The art you can easily fit in around that. Unless there are specific exhibitions, events, or live music on.

Many people love to cycle around the River Arts District, or you could walk from one district to another. I felt it was manageable and we walked between a couple of districts.

Some of the streets between the hubs don’t have sidewalks. I would have been fine regardless, even with kids. We did not visit on a busy day, however.

You can pick up maps at various places in the city, and more than likely, your first stop on your River Arts Explorations. There is also an interactive map here.

There is a guided tour available of the River Arts District, if you don’t want to do it on your own. See more here.

Things to do in the River Arts District

We did not get to visit everything, but plan to come back and explore more. That’s where we (and future readers of this post) need your help! Please leave a comment sharing your River Arts District favorite and why! We appreciate all your tips!

From what we experienced, here are what we feel are things to do in the River Arts District that are unique and memorable.

I’ll move down from the most northern green hub down to the southern blue. We started in the purple district and, with this decision, missed the Green district! I’ve researched to give some information below.

RAD Green Hub (Riverside Drive)

Asheville Cotton Mills Studios

One of the oldest buildings in Asheville, the Cotton Mill complex was built in 1887 and produced denim and flannel, employing more than 300 people until it ceased operations in 1953.

Most of the two-story brick complex burned to the ground in 1995, except for the south wing building which is today known as The Asheville Cotton Mill Studios. It’s now one of the busiest studios in the district, with eight studio spaces filled with natural light that is the dream of all artists.

Inside Cotton Mill you’ll find photographers, custom-made clothing, tattoo artists, painters, and printers.

On my wish list is to return to the Asheville Guitar Bar, an intimate music venue for musicians to play, network and compose, and Daidala Ciders, a small-batch cider company experimenting with creating rare and unconventional ciders.

White Duck Taco Shop, Hatchery Studios

High on the list of foodies visiting Asheville is the White Duck Taco Shop, a colorful, sunlit space that sells $3 fish tacos to rave about. One of their locations is in the vibrant Hatchery Studios, formerly the Earle-Chesterfield Mill Company Hatchery.

The Hatchery houses R.A.D. artists who create jewelry, pottery, paintings and more

RAD Red Hub: (Roberts St)

North Carolina Glass Center

After seeing master glass blower Chihuly’s artwork around the country, in particular Biltmore Estate Gardens and the Chihuly center in Seattle, the NC Glass Center  was at the top of my list of things to do in the River Arts District.

First highlight was the vibrant mural on the front of the building inviting you into this fiery world of turning glass into masterpieces.

Not only can you watch artists at work, and see beautiful pieces in the gallery, you can try your hand at glassblowing with a range of workshops and glassblowing and flameworking classes they offer.

Olde London Road English Pub

I stared longingly through the windows of this English pub as we walked by. Crowds of people sat with their team scarves draped over their shoulders eagerly watching their team on the screen.

The girls wouldn’t have been happy if we stopped in to watch. But, if you’re an English fan, this may be a place you want to stop, especially if there is a soccer game on.

Wedge Studios

One of the most well known and popular of the places to visit in the River Arts District is Wedge Studios. This historical building houses over 30 professional working artists’ studios on four levels, a brewery, a restaurant, a hair salon, and a wine bar. Originally constructed in 1898, it was once the largest leather tannery in the USA during its time.

I loved the encaustic paintings with beeswax by artist Dagmar Bruehmueller and the abstract art of Callie Ferraro. Kids will especially love all her thoughts written over the walls!

Wedge Brewing Company

Tucked away behind the art studios is an industrial railroad yard is the popular brewery and beer garden of Wedge Brewing Company  

While it feels cluttered and thrown together the vibe really works. I loved the industrial welding artistic style of the place with its tables, seats, and hanging art pieces made from salvaged iron and steel, possibly paying homage to Wedge Studios founder, metal artist John Payne.

They have regular rotating food trucks and patrons love their hoppy IPAs and stouts. Look for live music on Saturdays! They also have another location at the Foundy Section of RAD.

On our next visit we will stop here for a beer and, when I return, sans kids. I will also visit the adults only wine bar, Bottle Riot!

If you need coffee, Ultra Coffeebar is in this in the red area. The Bull and Beggar is also a popular restaurant (with raveable cocktails)

Purple District (Depot Street)

Pink Dog Creative

A good place for us to start our River Arts District, especially to capture the girls attention, was the vibrantly colorful Pink Dog Creative, housed in a former manufacturing and warehouse building.

Walk from one studio to another along the row. You’ll find 30 artists, a gallery and two restaurants – Fresh West Pizza and Vivian.

A favorite of ours for this building were the colorful and intricate patterns on the Ukrainian pysanky eggs by artist Andrea Kulish. You may even pick up a stunning piece of handcrafted jewelry from Christie Calaycay.

You can grab a coffee from Grind Coffee Shop, the first Black-owned coffee shop in Asheville. It’s also a coworking space and café whose aim is to nurture entrepreneurship, especially in the Black community. You’ll find pastries AND cool artwork on the walls inside as well. Or, nearby Ultra Coffee Bar.

The Community Container Project

One of my favorite murals was across the road from Pink Dog Creative. Trinity Harper Pierce, an eleven-year-old budding artist, won a competition to paint the 44×18 ft container.

Her message was accompanied by a giant red heart “Love your community.” She says,

“There was a lot of violence in my neighborhood. I want people to care more about their community. When they drive by and see this, I hope their hearts grow as big as the heart in the painting. I want the love to spread all throughout my community, my city and my county.” (Source: The Laurel of Asheville).

Just reading this makes my heart grow bigger.

(Be sure to grab a photo if you arrive and there are no cars parked in front! We had a brain fart and had to settle for a photo later navigating around them!)

Orange Art District (River Arts Pl)

Curve Studios and Garden

Curve Studios has been keeping the RAD in R.A.D for over 30 years. Originally built in 1916 by Standard Oil Company of New Jersey as a warehouse from which they supplied their chain of retail gasoline stations, it was reborn into a studio space in 1989 by Patti Torno who purchased the buildings.

You’ll now find 11 artists hard at work making ceramic sculpture, functional pottery, jewelry, clothing, and fine art photography as well as teaching the art of chair caning.

Curve Studios close on Sundays which meant we couldn’t see anything inside the studios. But we enjoyed taking photos outside in front of the LOVE mural and their hidden garden.

Not to miss is the 8ft tall chair arch to honor Torno’s long contributions to the art district. Built by Brandy Clements, Dave Klingler, and Lucy Kruesel from the Silver River Center for Chair Caning at Curve Studios which is the only chair caning school and museum in the USA

Blue Hub: Foundy St 

The Blue Foundy St area was my favorite place in the River Arts. It had an urban funk vibe with wild graffiti wrapping the walls of every building.

It feels like you’ve just walked onto a canvas and become part of the masterpiece. If you like street art, and your selfies in front of it, you’ll want to plan to spend some time here.

There are also several places to eat and drink and cool vintage shopping in this area.

Foundation Studios

Foundation Studios is a gallery space with working artist studios, and rooms for events and classes. Their mixed medium art includes painting, printmaking, ceramics, metal arts, wood burning, and fiber art.

They have a wide variety of classes such as basket weaving or oil painting that cater to adults and kids. The diversity of art here was incredible!

Both the girls and I were intrigued by the Amy Winehouse painting on display in the gallery. I did not record the artist’s name down and now cannot find it!

I loved the fun and bright prints and stickers from A Quartzy Life (Perfect gifts or souvenirs) and Jerry Cahill’s murals on the outside of the building are boldly mesmerizing.

Riverview Station

Housed in a former tannery and candle manufacturing building overlooking the French Broad River, this 110,000 sq foot space is home to a thriving community of more than 60 artists.

Inside Riverview Station you’ll find potters and painters, photographers, woodworkers, jewelry designers, mixed media artists as well as three art galleries.

Don’t miss the Art Garden, a studio and gallery space of artists working together to create an immersive art environment with Earth centered themes.

You’ll find not only extraordinary pieces of art but plants that naturally uplift and inspire awe and wonder. It’s worth going here just to see the fantastic realism paintings of Annie Kyla Bennett and Magical Realism art from Medicine Heart Mural (Annie Kyla Bennet, Dillon Endico, Jack Henry)

Riverview also has live art demonstrations and classes.

Summit Coffee

On our last morning leaving Asheville, we stopped into the Foundy St for lunch and a latte from Summit Coffee. I’m so glad we did, otherwise we would have left Asheville without sampling its best coffee.

Its minimalist interior and fun graffiti wrapped building, and outside garden creates the coffee shop experience only Asheville could offer, and two floors of seating inside with loads of natural light.

12 Bones Smokehouse 

This BBQ joint is so good Obama went back twice for some Carolina BBQ!

Yep, unpretentious 12 Bones Smokehouse serves up a few mouthwatering items your President and his family will love! It’s hard to resist the smells wafting through the entire Foundy district as you]re exploring.

Meats include pulled chicken and port, and sliced beef brisket.

12 Bones makes everything from scratch and meats are smoked long & slow over select hardwoods, oak, and cherry.

We did not have the pulled pork, which I think is what Obama returned for. While the brisket was great, I have had better. I still highly recommend a visit though. Have some of that pork and let us know what you think.

Next door is the Wedge Brewing Foundy St if you need to wash it down with something cold and local.

Pleb Urban Winery 

If there is one unmissable thing to do in the Asheville Arts District, it’s a tasting flight of local wine at Pleb Urban Winery.

A giant-sized mural of an angelic girl blowing a dandelion into the breeze entices you into the large, open warehouse space that is both chic and rustic. The mural behind the bar is just as enticing.

It has an unpretentious vibe that invites thoughtful conversation, similar to the Roman plebeian community after which it is named. They wisely worshiped the gods of agriculture, fertility, and viticulture.

There is much to talk about over a $12 paddle of wine that gets you a choice of four different wines. Choose your own or select from the crafted options on the menu.

Know that with every sip, you are supporting local Western NC agriculture, sustainable practices, all the while enjoying the unique characteristics of Appalachian wine

I chose the Roaming Lands Paddle with a Redwood white chardonnay, a Sequoia Rose, and a Sequoia Red (Syrah). The Syrah is worth leaving with a bottle in hand, or a return visit!

Grail Moviehouse

While we did not watch a movie at the Grail MovieHouse, I loved the concept and look of this tiny independent theater. An intimate theater that shows a mix of first-run films, old classics, documentaries, and indie flicks.

Expect an eclectic vibe in the small theater rooms with either upholstered chairs or loveseats.

Foundation Spot Skate Park

It’s not just art lovers coming from all over to visit Asheville, but skateboarders as well. The Foundation Spot is a DIY skateable sculpture park built by volunteers with all the pipes, runs, tunnels, and bumps wrapped in graffiti.

I love watching skaters when we travel – it helps you get to know more about the people who live there. It’s my favorite thing to look at when we visit Venice Beach in California.

Next door is also the Rad Skate Park. It’s an indoor skate park with all the ramps and obstacles skaters dream of.

The French Broad River Trail

If you haven’t yet walked on the paved path beside the French Broad River, now is the perfect chance, as it’s right next to the blue area.

The French Broad River is the third oldest river in the world and is older than the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can walk north to reach the River Arts District sculptured sign, or south to the French Broad River Park.

This would be a great spot for a bike ride. Kayakers and tubers may also love a float (in the warmer months!)

Best time to visit the River Arts District

Many studios are open every day, all year round, but it does vary from studio to studio. If you want to see a particular artist, be sure to research their opening time.

Wednesday to Saturday is typically the best time to catch artists, although Saturday is usually the busiest day of the week and when you’ll have the best shopping success.

‘Second Saturday’ is held every second Saturday of the month. The Asheville Arts District has gallery walks, with demonstrations, workshops, live music, wine tasting and more!

Popular with art aficionados is the annual Studio Stroll held on a weekend each Fall. Two days full of special demonstrations and events, including unique workshops and gallery receptions. Many studios have snacks and refreshments, and there are free trolley rides to help you get between the buildings.

From the beginning of May to November, the River Arts District Farmers Market runs on Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. every week. You will find dozens of local farms, creameries, and bakeries here. 

Where to stay in Asheville?

As the River Arts District is only minutes from downtown Asheville, you have a range of options for accommodation to suit your needs.

We loved our stay at the Hotel Indigo Asheville downtown.

We like accommodation options that help to tell the story of the region we are visiting, and this boutique Asheville hotel does that with its ideal location, engaging service (with insider tips), and local flavors in both art and food. Click to read why we loved it.

OTHER ASHEVILLE HOTELS TO CONSIDER

1. Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
2. AC Hotel Asheville Downtown
3. Kimpton – Hotel Arras
4. The Biltmore Inn

Places to Visit Near Asheville

Check out the following posts for more inspiration and things to do in the Asheville region.

• Top Places To Go in the North Carolina Mountains (Western NC)
• Welcome to the Largest Home in America: Biltmore Estate, North Carolina
• Asheville NC: Rock climbing, breweries and stunning waterfalls
• Slip Into Serenity With These 8 Things To Do In Lake Lure, NC
• Lake Junaluska, North Carolina Mountains – a retreat for the spiritually minded
• Climb 499 Steps To The Top of Chimney Rock, NC for Incredible Views!