100 Things You Must See in North Carolina: 26-30
Jennette’s Pier
paramountdestinations.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:
Click Below to View Other Segments of This List
100 Things You Must See (6-10)
100 Things You Must See (11-15)
100 Things You Must See (16-20)
100 Things You Must See (21-25)
26. Carowinds
carowinds.com
If you live in North Carolina and you enjoy theme parks, then you’ve most likely been to Carowinds at least once in your life. With all types of rides for all ages, Carowinds guarantees a full day of fun for everyone. Are you a roller coaster enthusiast? With a total of 14 roller coasters, the park ranks 5th in the world for number of coasters. Two of them rank among the tallest in the world, with the 325-ft, 95-mph Fury 325 often cited as one of the world’s best steel roller coasters. Are you looking for thrill rides? Drop Zone, Slingshot, and the Electro-Spin are among many that will get your adrenaline pumping by dropping, launching, and spinning you in the air. If family and kids rides are more your speed, then rides like the Sky Tower, Rock ‘N’ Roller, and Woodstock Express will have you covered, among many more. Carowinds even has its own waterpark with all types of slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool to keep you cool on a hot summer’s day. It is also worth noting that the theme park is located partially in South Carolina as well, as it was built on top of the state border just south of Charlotte, giving way to their advertising slogan of, “the place where the Carolinas come together.”
27. Lake Lure
visitnc.com
There are lakes all over the state, but Lake Lure just may be the most picturesque. Though the lake is named after the town of Lake Lure, for this list I am concentrating on the lake itself. What separates Lake Lure from other North Carolina lakes are the beautiful surrounding mountains, which make it a perfect place for photographs. The lake is measured at 720 acres in area with 21 miles of shoreline. Within this shoreline are limitless opportunities for boating, kayaking, skiing, wakeboarding, fishing, and swimming. Outside the shorelines are opportunities to hike, rock climb, and bird watch. Located in the Hickory Nut Gorge, the lake can be seen from the top of nearby Chimney Rock, also featured on this list. And if you’ve seen the movie Dirty Dancing, then you probably know that many of the scenes were shot at Lake Lure, providing one more reason to visit this magnificent lake.
28. Jennette’s Pier
outerbanks.org
Extending 1,000 feet out into the Atlantic Ocean in the town of Nags Head is Jennette’s Pier, one of the most popular fishing spots on the Outer Banks. The pier opened back in 1939 to eager fishermen in the growing area, and soon became well known after many big catches were made, including many state record catches. But in 2003, Hurricane Isabel destroyed much of the pier, with over 500 feet of its original 754 feet collapsing into the ocean. With the help of thousands of people, it would bounce back stronger and better than before, now at 1,000 feet in length. Jennette’s Pier is not just a hot fishing spot for locals, but instead people from all around the country visit to test their luck in the very successful waters. Everything from red drums, bluefish, and striped bass to mackerel and flounder can be caught here. For those not interested in fishing, you should definitely still visit to walk the length of the pier, see what people are catching, and take in the wonderful views of the beach from 1,000 feet out into the ocean.
https://www.outerbanks.com/jennettes-pier.html
29. Old Salem
thecrazytourist.com
Take a step back in time by visiting the historic district of Old Salem, situated in Winston-Salem. The district was first settled by the Moravian community in 1766, most of whom migrated down the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania. With the effort of the non-profit group, Old Salem Inc., visitors today can walk the streets through Old Salem and witness life as it was during the 18th and 19th centuries. Blacksmiths, gunsmiths, cobblers, bakers, and carpenters are all working on their craft as you walk by and will gladly interact with you to tell you all about what they do. Most of the buildings are the original ones that were built centuries ago, such as the Salem Tavern. The tavern is one of the highlights of the district because it is the very place where George Washington spent two nights while passing through North Carolina in 1791. As you stroll along the streets taking in all the history, don’t forget to stop by the bakery to enjoy some Moravian sweets!
30. Sugar Mountain Resort
seesugar.com
Sugar Mountain has been the favorite ski resort of many North Carolina skiers and snowboarders since it first opened in 1969. It’s located just outside of Grandfather Mountain State Park and is the place to go for outdoor winter fun. With a total of 21 slopes, skiers and snowboarders have plenty of options to choose from to give them a good ride down the mountain. And speaking of a good ride, the longest run here is 1.5 miles long. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, Sugar Mountain offers snow tubing, ice skating, and snow shoeing. There are a couple of cafeterias, along with a restaurant, for those who want to take a break and grab a bite to eat. It is an awesome place to spend a cold winters’ day/night. Also open in the summer as well, Sugar Mountain is then transformed into a bike terrain park for bikers of all skill levels.
Check back soon for the next segment of “100 Things You Must See in North Carolina: 31-35”
Garett