100 Things You Must See in North Carolina: 1-5
Beech Mountain Ski Resort
visitnc.com
There’s no denying that North Carolina is one of the most beautiful and diverse states in the nation. The Tar Heel state really does have something to offer for everyone. From the Appalachian Mountains in the western portion of the state to the Atlantic Ocean bordering the eastern portion there are big cities, small towns, lakes, rivers, professional sports teams, great restaurants and breweries, plenty of popular music scenes, and anything else you can think of that makes it such a great state to live in. Because of my love for the state and traveling to all the places it has to offer, I decided to put together a list of the “100 Things You Must See in North Carolina.”
First off, this list won’t be in any particular order. The #1 thing won’t be any better, or worse, than the #100 thing, because how could it be? Everybody has their different opinions on what they like better. Some people are “mountain people” while others are “beach people” or “city folks.” So, as I make this list, I’m just thinking about things that are MUST SEE attractions for all these different types of people. I will be breaking down the list into segments of five at a time. Let’s get started:
1. The Biltmore House
Getty Images/George Rose
Completed in 1895 for George Vanderbilt, the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the Biltmore House is the largest private residence in the United States. With a total of 250 rooms, the house includes 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and even its own swimming pool and bowling alley. You can take a guided tour of the house, where you will absolutely be blown away by its magnificence, as well as explore the adjacent Biltmore Gardens (designed by Fredrick Olmstead, who designed New York City’s famed Central Park) and the next-door winery, where you can also take a tour and sample different types of wine. Although there is no bad time to visit, visiting during Christmas season is the best time of year to do so. Seeing the house decorated with lights and the 35-ft Fraser Fir that adorns the dining room are stunning. All in all, there are a total of 55 Christmas trees in the house that are all hand-decorated.
2. Truist Field
rogersbuilders.com
Formerly known as BB&T Ballpark until the recent bank merger, Truist Field is home of the Charlotte Knights minor league baseball team. The Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, meaning they are just one level below the major league. Although catching a minor league baseball game is always a fun thing to do, the reason why this is a “must see” is because of the wonderful scenery and atmosphere. In 2018 the ballpark was rated #1 by Baseball America, among all minor league ballparks in the country, to watch a game. You simply cannot beat the awesome views of the uptown Charlotte skyline just beyond the outfield wall. The stadium is nestled perfectly among the skyscrapers making it an integral part of the uptown scene. In addition to the views, the games always draw big crowds, making the atmosphere a very fun one to be a part of. There are plenty of great food options to choose from as well. Spending a summer evening watching baseball at Truist Field is about as good as it gets.
https://www.milb.com/charlotte-knights
3. The Wild Horses of Corolla
corollawildhorses.com
Corolla is an unincorporated community on the northern portion of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. While people vacation there for the quiet beaches, the main attraction for most people is catching a glimpse of the famous wild horses that have resided there for centuries. These Colonial Spanish Mustangs are descendants of the horses that early Spanish explorers brought over from Spain centuries ago, and as a result, are a rare breed. In fact, they are one of the oldest and rarest strains of this breed still remaining in the world. With only around 100 of them left on the island, they are considered a nearly extinct breed. With the help from the Corolla Wild Horse Fund (a not-for-profit organization), four full-time, and 19 seasonal employees, hopefully these wild horses can continue to delight vacationers for a long, long time.
https://www.corollawildhorses.com/
4. Racing at Bowman Gray Stadium
bowmangrayracing.com
If you want to get the true experience of good ol’ southern racing, then look no further than Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem. Every Saturday night from April through August fans pack this place out to enjoy 3+ hours of racing at its best. Four different divisions of racing occur (modified, sportsman, stadium stock, and street stock) with the modified race(s) being the main event. The track is just a quarter of a mile long and actually surrounds the football field of Winston-Salem State University. Sure, there are plenty of small race tracks around the South, but what separates this one from all others is the atmosphere. Nowhere else will you find fans so deeply devoted to the action. If you need further proof that this place is action-packed, it actually had its own nationally televised tv series twice. In 2010 the History Channel featured the show “Madhouse” in living rooms all across the country, while the Discovery Channel did the same in 2018 with “Race Night at Bowman Gray.” People from all over the country visit “The Stadium” to catch the action and so should you.
5. Beech Mountain Ski Resort
trip101.com
When winter arrives in North Carolina, many people flock to Beech Mountain to shred the fresh snow on skis and snowboards. It has the highest altitude of any ski resort in the East and with 17 slopes, it is many people’s favorite ski resort to visit in the state. The slopes range from “easy” to “most difficult (black diamond trails)” and also includes two freestyle terrain parks for the more experienced. At over 5,500 feet at the top of the mountain, the view is absolutely incredible. There is also a bar at the summit for anyone who wants to take a break, enjoy the view, and have a drink. If you still want to visit but skiing or snowboarding is not your thing, the resort also offers tubing and ice skating. There is plenty to do here to keep everyone occupied on a cold winter’s day/night. Live music can also be found in one of the resort’s four restaurants. And did I mention that Beech Mountain Ski Resort also has its very own brewery located at the bottom of the slopes?
https://www.beechmountainresort.com/
Check back soon for the next segment of “100 Things You Must See in North Carolina: 6-10”
Garett