A trip by train, a battleship and natural wonders that include the "Grand Canyon of the East" are among the many adventures families on vacation or staycation can enjoy when visiting North Carolina.
Here are seven great places to visit in the Tar Heel State:
1. The Tweetsie Railroad at Blowing Rock in the Appalachian Mountains is a Wild West theme park featuring a 3 mile ride on a historic steam railroad train. The attraction "is more than a train — it's an institution, a tradition and a legend," writes a reviewer on Trekaroo. The Tweetsie Railroad provides children "a trip back into the Wild West, helping the U.S. Marshal fight off howling renegades and would-be train robbers" while also offering visitors good food, music, country fair rides and arcades.
VOTE NOW: Is North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory Doing a Good Job?
2. Known as the "Grand Canyon of the East,"
Linville Gorge is the most popular wilderness area in the eastern United States for climbers, hikers and nature lovers. The area's centerpiece is the multi-tiered Linville Falls. "With three trails — easy, moderate and strenuous — leading to the same awe-inspiring falls, your family will find its way to enchantment, too," writes a reviewer on Trekaroo.
3. Adults and youngsters on a family vacation or staycation visiting Wilmington can enjoy going aboard the
USS North Carolina, the first of 10 battleships to join the American fleet in World War II after being commissioned in 1941. Tourists may wander through the ship to visit its mess hall, tour its sailor's and officer's quarters and see all the intimidating guns up-close and personal.
VOTE NOW: Should the Government Be Doing More to Promote Tourism in America?
4. Families on vacation or staycation strolling along five miles of shaded pathways can see more than 1,600 animals and 52,000 plants at
North Carolina Zoo located in Asheboro. The zoo offers 500 acres of exhibits that are carefully constructed to resemble natural habitats, including Africa's grasslands.
5. Visitors to the
Wright Brothers National Memorial at Kill Devil Hills can go to the site where the first airplane was flown and also tour a museum. Families on vacation or staycation can explore and learn the history.
6. Grandfather Mountain located in Linville is a 5,964 foot peak named for its profile as it appears from the north. This place offers beautiful views, a fun and safe swinging bridge, a small museum and a zoo where visitors can watch employees feed bears and otters.
7. The Museum of Life and Science, located in Durham is described as the perfect place to take young children. Families on vacation or staycation can explore and discover all about the earth and much more.
URGENT: Do You Approve of the Job Pat McCrory Is Doing as North Carolina Governor?
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.