Topics Related to Explore North Carolina
Located in Gates County 10 miles south of North Carolina's northeastern border with Virginia, Merchants Millpond State Park centers on a 760-acre millpond more than 190 years old. Hiking the surrounding trails or paddling the placid, shallow waters of the pond offer a great way to explore this wetland environment. Old-growth cypress trees adorned with Spanish moss create an "enchanted forest," particularly at Lassiter Swamp.
*Updated 6/19/2025There’s no better place for a day at the beach than North Carolina's barrier islands. A must-visit beach for the adventurers among us is the beach at Bear Island, the crown jewel of Hammocks Beach State Park.