If your family like nothing more than sun, sea and sand, then head to Carolina Beach. Just 16 miles south of Wilmington, Carolina Beach is a small town of 5,600 residents (as of 2010) with miles of clean, sandy beaches. Activities at Carolina Beach include fishing, kayaking, surfboarding and both bicycles and boats are available to rent. Evenings at Carolina Beach are filled with fun with weekly music at the town Gazebo and boat parties with music and dancing along the Cape Fear River. Carolina Beach also hosts annual events such as the Beach Music Festival in June and the Seafood, Blues and Jazz Festival in October.
Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce
121 North Lake Park Blvd.
Carolina Beach, NC 28428
910-458-8434
pleasureislandnc.org
If your family prefer a big city vacation then Raleigh is the place to be. Raleigh is the state capital of North Carolina and is full of family-friendly historic sites and museums like the North Carolina Museum of History, State Capitol Rooms and Oakwood, a Victorian-style neighborhood. Raleigh has more than 30 free attractions including the North Carolina Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural Sciences and the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Reserve in nearby Swift Creek. For souvenirs, be sure to check out the historic City Market with its original cobblestone streets and specialty stores.
Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau
500 Fayetteville St.
Raleigh, NC 27601
800-849-8499
visitraleigh.com
For a truly outdoor vacation, head to South Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains. Home to the Chimney Rock State Park and Grandfather Mountain, the Blue Ridge Mountains offer an opportunity to experience small mountain towns, national forests and rivers. Known as America's Favorite Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway includes highlights such as the Mast General Store, the country's oldest operating store, the Dutch Creek Trails, offering one hour trail rides on horseback, and the Linn Cove Viaduct, a 1,234-foot-long curve at an elevation of 4,100 feet. The Parkway is also home to four lodges and six restaurants to make your visit as comfortable as possible.
Asheville Visitor Center
36 Montford Ave.
Asheville, NC 28801
828-258-6129
exploreasheville.com
