Topics Related to Explore North Carolina

The lake itself may not reopen until 2026 – nearly a million tons of silt/sediment had been removed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in the first 11 months of recovery from Hurricane Helene – but the mountains surrounding Lake Lure, the Village of Chimney Rock and the Hickory Nut Gorge have begun to welcome back visitors. Our Day Trip offers several ways to experience – and support – the area as recovery continues.  

Burnsville is a gateway to some of the top experiences of their kind, from exploring the heights of East Coast hiking, to casting some of the top trout waters in the state, to getting serious, really serious, about your craft.  

Bryson City is the gateway to the nation’s most popular National Park and is only a few minutes from iconic mountain biking and whitewater rafting, making it the ideal basecamp for adventure.  

After 6 active days exploring Brevard’s trails, rivers and waterfalls, you’re gonna need a day of rest. Quantity is rivaled by quality when it comes to adventure here in Transylvania County.

Marshall sits snug as a town can be in a mountain river valley, making use of both banks of the French Broad River, not to mention the river itself. The town 25 minutes north of Asheville makes for a most adventurous day trip. Morning

You have an adventurous side, a side that loves exploring the best that the outdoors has to offer. Yet there’s also your creative side, a side equally in need of nurturing. With a weekend in Spruce Pine you can satisfy both needs.  Day 1MorningSince it’s easier to sit still after expending some energy, begin the day with a hike -- or two. And since you are on the Blue Ridge Escarpment, where mountain runoff abruptly contends with steep drops, how about a couple of hikes that feature impressive waterfalls?  

In one location in Lansing you can fly-fish for trout, take a hike, go mountain biking – even play horseshoes! And less than a half mile away you can visit the Lost Province. That’s a big day in a town that covers less than a half square mile! Morning

Imagine being within a half hour or so of not one, but five of the state’s top adventure destinations. Well, imagine yourself in Morganton, where a short drive takes you to two state parks, three state trails, a wilderness area and “the Grand Canyon of the East,” offering a range of hiking, mountain biking, cycling, paddling, fishing and more. Plan to spend a day, at least, at each location.South Mountains State ParkAdventure options: Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing

Old Fort is all about escape, whether it’s deep into the woods on a trail or into the past in a museum.  A weekend in Old Fort offers a diverse mix of history, hiking, and hucking.Day 1Morning

Time was, driving I-40 to the Smokies you passed the paper mill town of Canton with nary a thought of stopping. Adventure? There!? Yes, as it turns out, adventure there! Adrenal adventure, wilderness adventure, even underwater adventure. Day 1Morning