1-Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Located near the Tennessee border, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in North Carolina. The park is accessible all year and provides incredible animal viewing, hiking, camping, picturesque drive, and so much more. There are several recreational activities available here, and entrance to park is free. Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most visited National Parks on the East Coast.
The park protects wildflower diversity, with over 1,500 distinct varieties of blooming plants, more than any other North American national park, and the area is home to a variety of animals.
2-Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia stretches 469 miles from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Shenandoah National Park. There’s no need to skip a journey along this route with so many lovely vistas, fantastic hiking paths, and stunning waterfalls.
Picnicking here may also be highly memorable, given the parkway’s scenic sights. From mid-spring until fall, 14 picnic spots are available. If you wish to get out of the automobile and explore further, there are several small hiking paths off the parkway.
3-Appalachian National Scenic Trail
The 2,100-mile-long trail runs along the east coast of the United States, passing through some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes and historically significant locations. The Appalachian Path features day walks ideal for both novice and experienced hikers who may complete the entire trail in just a season.
Because the path spans so much of the nation, it is home to a diverse range of animals. Along the journey, you’ll see moose, black bears, racoons, bobcats and coyotes.
4-Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is one of North Carolina’s ocean-front national parks and it’s is continually evolving. Every wave and fierce storm brings something fresh to the Outer Banks of North Carolina’s barrier islands. The first protected shoreline in the United States was Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The National Shore is larger than 30,000 acres and is home to a wide range of plant and animal species, from sea turtles nesting on sandy beaches to deer seeking refuge in coastal woodlands.
The shore is regarded as the top surfing destination in the eastern United States, and there are several beach activities available.
5-Wright Brothers National Memorial
The Wright Brothers National Memorial is one of North Carolina’s most well-known national parks. It honors the first airplane flights, which occurred on December 17, 1903. Small statues in the park record the beginning and conclusion sites of the brothers’ four flights.
The park is accessible all year and includes a museum where visitors may learn about the initial flights’ routes. There are also reconstructions of the Wright Brothers’ hangar and living quarters from their stay in North Carolina.