North Carolina is a state with many talents.
It can whisk travelers away to charming mountain towns with artsy vibes and breathtaking foliage; it can educate them in thriving capitals stocked with historic sites and museums; and it can entertain them for hours on barrier islands with white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. The state offers rugged outdoor adventures, refined cultural attractions and restful relaxation in equal measure.
From the Blue Ridge Mountains at the state’s western edge to gorgeous beaches on its eastern coast, here are five places for groups to incorporate on a multifaceted North Carolina itinerary.
Asheville
Thanks to Herculean restoration efforts following the devastation of 2024’s Hurricane Helene, Asheville is back and better than ever.
One of the area’s top attractions for groups is the Biltmore Estate, just outside of downtown. Constructed between 1889 and 1895, it’s the largest privately owned home in the U.S. with about 250 rooms and is still owned by the Vanderbilt family. This Gilded Age treasure is now a house museum and Asheville’s largest tourist attraction, drawing in more than 1 million visitors annually to view the Chateau-style mansion and surrounding 8,000 acres. In addition to touring the home and gardens, groups can visit the estate’s winery, the most visited winery in the country. They can also stop at Historic Biltmore Village to peruse dozens of shops.
Back in downtown, groups can explore galleries, boutiques, craft breweries and restaurants. For a more organized group outing, they can head to the Asheville Art Museum, featuring contemporary American art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Or they can hit the Asheville Museum of Science to browse exhibits on the natural world, from geology to astronomy. Groups can also take one of Asheville’s unique tours, with themes ranging from food foraging to craft beer. A visit to the River Arts District is another great way for groups to spend an afternoon shopping for art and other handmade goods. Asheville’s nature scene offers countless opportunities for group hikes or even yoga with mountain vistas.
Many Asheville restaurants place an emphasis on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Downtown, The Blackbird is open for brunch and dinner and is known for dishes like braised beef, mushroom risotto and a signature coconut cake. Also in downtown, Curate is a James Beard Award-winning restaurant that serves Spanish cuisine. Groups can dine in its elegant private dining room.
Raleigh
North Carolina’s capital city is nicknamed the “Smithsonian of the South” thanks to its abundance of museums, many of which are free or low cost to the public. Raleigh’s cultural institutions appeal to a broad range of interests, from science to history.
Groups can spend a day or more exploring the city’s trio of free museums, beginning with the North Carolina Museum of Art. The museum showcases a large collection of art and historic artifacts spanning many cultures, from Egypt to the American South. It’s also home to the Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, the largest museum park in the country, with 164 acres boasting beautiful gardens and contemporary art. Next up is the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, a Smithsonian affiliate filled with interactive exhibits exploring the world around us. Finally, the North Carolina Museum of History explores the state’s past and features the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
Groups are bound to work up an appetite with all that museum hopping, and Raleigh dishes up meals that delight. Groups can head to Morgan Street Food Hall or Transfer Co. Food Hall to sample food from a variety of local establishments. Visitors can enjoy food from around the world, sip craft brews and spirits, and enjoy the stylish atmosphere of Raleigh’s downtown. Raleigh also has a range of food tours on tap, from walking foodie tours to a tour of Escazu Chocolates.
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks are a chain of barrier islands that stretch nearly 200 miles from the coasts of Southern Virginia to northern North Carolina. North Carolina’s portion of these islands is over 100 miles long. The islands’ narrow width, natural wonders and quaint communities give them a signature charm and carefree feel that draw in vacationers who want to dine on fresh seafood, explore the waterways and enjoy endless beach days.
The area is known for its landmark lighthouses, and there are plenty to choose from. The Cape Hatteras Light Station is painted with a black-and-white barber’s pole stripe, making it perhaps the most recognizable. It’s currently undergoing restoration efforts, but when it reopens in 2026, visitors can climb the stairs to the top for breathtaking views. Or they can simply visit the beaches of Cape Hatteras and use the lighthouse for a spectacular photo op. Bodie Island Lighthouse, another black-and-white beauty, is also a popular choice for lighthouse climbs.
Nature lovers are in for a treat at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, which boasts over 150,000 acres of wildlife habitat. Species including alligators, red wolves and black bears can be found in the refuge, in addition to many other species of birds and wildlife. Ranger-led programs, hiking, wildlife viewing and other activities are available for groups visiting the refuge.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the location of the mysterious Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, offers ranger-led tours and is home to the Waterside Theatre, where groups can catch a popular theater production of “The Lost Colony.” Groups can also visit The Elizabethan Gardens, a botanical garden with a butterfly house, a variety of flowering plants and plenty of sculptures.
Crystal Coast
Sometimes called the Southern Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast is an 85-mile stretch of North Carolina coastline that includes communities like Beaufort, Morehead City, Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle. The Crystal Coast is known for its white-sand beaches, historic towns and distinct wildlife, including wild horses.
Fort Macon State Park is a great stop for history-loving groups. The Civil War-era fort puts on reenactments in the summer and offers guided tours year-round. Back on the mainland in Beaufort, groups can board a double-decker bus for a historic tour of the city and stop at the North Carolina Maritime Museum. South of Beaufort, the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores features a charming cast of marine life, from otters to bull sharks.
To catch a glimpse of the wild horses, groups have two options. They can catch a boat to Rachel Carson Reserve, a nature preserve off the coast of Beaufort, where a herd of about 35 horses lives on the barrier islands, or groups can take a ferry farther out to Shackleford Banks, which has a larger herd of more than 100 horses. Many tour companies that bring passengers to Shackleford Banks also stop at Cape Lookout Lighthouse to see the iconic 150-year-old lighthouse. While they’re on the islands, groups can spend the day swimming and beachcombing for some of the state’s best shells. Sunset dolphin tours are also a popular choice for wildlife viewing.
At mealtimes, groups have their pick of restaurants, bars and cafes in any of the Crystal Coast communities. In Beaufort, 34° North Restaurant offers upscale food and cocktails in a scenic, waterfront setting. For fresh-caught seafood, small plates and a variety of wines, groups can head to Aqua in Beaufort.
Wilmington
Even farther down North Carolina’s lovely coastline, Wilmington is a charming, laid-back port city with beautiful beaches and lots of history. With the Cape Fear River on one side and the Atlantic on the other, it’s a birder’s paradise and chock-full of natural beauty. It also has more than 400 film and television credits; “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “One Tree Hill” and “Safe Haven” are just a few of the popular TV shows and movies that have filmed there. Local tours take set-jetting visitors around town to popular filming locations.
Groups can enjoy Wilmington’s natural scenery with a trip to the 67-acre Airlie Gardens, home to a 470-year-old oak tree, 75,000 azaleas and even a seasonal butterfly house. Or they can head to the nearby island beaches, including Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Cruises and chartered boats can take groups out on the water for sunset cruises, marsh tours, paddleboarding excursions and even an oyster farm tour. If a boardwalk is more their style, groups can head to the vintage Carolina Beach Boardwalk, which offers plenty of amusement rides, shopping and tiki bars.
Groups can’t leave such a historic community without delving into its rich past. One fun way to do so is with a ghost tour. Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington, one of the city’s most popular paranormal tours, offers a 90-minute walk through historic Wilmington, exploring the city’s past through the lens of its allegedly haunted locations and burial sites. Another popular historic attraction on the Cape Fear River is the Battleship North Carolina, a World War II vessel that’s open for tours. Many other museums and historic sites further expand on the city’s history, from its first settlement in the Colonial era to its role in World War II.
