North Carolina
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From miles of trails to acres of public land, the explorable and beautiful terrain in these states stand out above the rest.
As people get called back to the office in cities, now might be a good time to chase the mountain-living dream, especially in these lesser-known areas
The Swag, a beloved southern hideaway, borders Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cozy up in down-home cabins, hike to balds with views across Appalachia, and explore the least-crowded corners of the park.
These great towns are in the middle of glorious mountains with spectacular leaf-peeping, mega views, and fun things to do...and eat...and drink
Our national forests are brilliant, underappreciated, and uncrowded compared to most national parks. Here’s the intel on where to hike in these stunning landscapes.
At these Labor Day Outdoor fests, for three sweet days, you can be outside, hike, hear live music, swim, boat, and run. Plus: there's food and beer.
The Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins, with 16 sweet A-frames, is an ideal base camp for exploring greater Asheville
Some of the wildest, best beaches in the country can be found in our national parks system. These are the most spectacular.
Adventures in national parks don’t end at sundown. We’ve found the best ways to explore after dark, from seeing the Northern Lights to Yooperlite hunting.
This charming North Carolina mountain town has world-class dining, excellent beer, and plenty of mountains, rivers, and trails to explore
This North Carolina destination is the ultimate in responsible outdoor adventure
There’s learning, connecting with self and others, and did we mention dance parties?
As you’re visiting national parks this summer, don’t miss out on these spectacular outlooks, mountain summits, and lake vistas. We’ve got the intel on how to reach them all.
If you're hoping to see thousands of stars, planets, star clusters, meteors, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way, we’ve got you covered at these stunning spots
Touring rock stars aren’t exactly known for clean living. The members of this band do ginger shots and ice baths.
This lesser-known outdoor hub has something for every kind of explorer, from novice to adrenaline junkie—on, under, and off the water
These mountains made out of sand should be on your travel bucket list
When the celebrated singer-songwriter moved to this adventure hub nearly ten years ago, she instantly fell in love with the small-town feel and surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Here are her tips for where to hike, grab a meal, and go dancing afterward.
Great Smoky Mountains is a mecca for millions of outdoor visitors each year. But as our 63 Parks columnist explains, that doesn’t mean you can’t find solitude and peace. Often all it takes is a walk in the woods.
This month the Outside Book Club will read ‘Riverman,’ by Ben McGrath, the tale of a traveler who glimpsed the kind of freedom most of us only dream about
This North Carolina city is an outdoor vacation hub you’ll never want to leave
All you need is a long weekend to get out, get lost, and find yourself again. From Asheville to Seattle, we’ve researched the best three-day wilderness trips within road-tripping distance from a city.
SylvanSport CEO Tom Dempsey says “public lands are to the outdoor industry as roads and bridges are to the automotive or transportation industry”
The two-hour corridor from Asheville, North Carolina, to Bluff City, Tennessee, packs eight adventures into 60 miles
The addition of 10 new members brings the organization to a count of 83 retailers in 45 states
Homesteaders were ready for this. Here's how to kick your self-sufficiency skills into high gear.
In the South, a series of hostels have welcomed hikers, defying trail closures and guidelines. They say they're acting on behalf of their communities.
Anna Levesque uses yoga to slow down and fight self-doubt
Despite the coronavirus, you can legally thru-hike the Appalachian Trail right now. But should you?
The ice climber, kayaker, and paraglider continues to explore uncharted territories into his fifties
The start of spring is one of the best times to travel, thanks to perfect weather, fun festivals, and a screaming flight deal to the Virgin Islands
Joey Henson draws maps of his favorite climbing areas around Boone, North Carolina, and sells them to raise funds for land conservation
The North Carolina–based buddy adventure brings blue-collar fishing culture to the big screen
For times when you want the surf and sand but not all the hype
There was something about Primland that made Emily Nunn see red—a lavish and expensive outdoor Xanadu situated near her beloved Virginia hometown. Then she went there and had... a pretty good time. Blame the trout stream and the 400-thread-count linens.
This video recaps the Tuck Fest's deep-water solo competition at the U.S. National Whitewater Center
Crews carry your gear and provide meals and campsites as you cruise through some of America's most scenic back roads
Jeff Lenosky travels the U.S. knocking out mountain biking's toughest trails. Here's how he stays fit.
Fitness studios are incorporating rowing into every kind of workout imaginable. But can it actually be fun?
The world's best lodges have something in common—unparalleled access to vast wilderness, soaring peaks, and empty coastlines
Hugo was the worst hurricane to ever hit the U.S. Florence could be worse.
Classroom time isn't so bad when you're building fly-fishing rods in Virginia or barbecuing in the Lone Star State
Newly created state offices are promoting outdoor recreation as a major contributor to local economies and the public good, but they need a lot more support to be successful
At these five parks, the food is the treasured resource.
"Confluence" gathering works toward debut of national platform to strengthen and align state-level efforts
Score everything from hotel rooms to concert tickets to dinner reservations on the online marketplace
Frugal Backpacker is helping adventurers spend less and play more
August’s full solar eclipse is the first visible from the United States since 1979. Traveling over 14 states on its way east, from Oregon to South Carolina, the eclipse passes over the southern end of the Appalachian Trail - a 2,200-mile wilderness hike that winds from Georgia to Maine.
You may be in the middle of the wilderness, but a local IPA isn’t that far away
Have a perfect summer day in this beautiful North Carolina mountain town
For his latest timelapse project, filmmaker Mike Zorger wanted to find a spot East Coast with Western-like light pollution, despite major metropolitan areas and condensed population
This video is part of a series from Moxy International called Where the Wind Blows that profiles female kiteboarders.
How to build a huge fire while staying on the right side of the law
Two North Carolina fishermen venture out to some of the state's most remote fishing holes.
This video of Highlands, North Carolina, features footage of Glenn Falls, Whiteside Mountain, and one of the area's most popular antique stores
For 28 years, Kay Grayson lived side-by-side with wild black bears in North Carolina's swampy coastal forests, hand-feeding them, defending them against poachers, and letting them in her home. When she went missing last year, the only thing the investigators could find were her clean-picked bones. And that's just the start of the mystery.
You can hang in Cancun with the rest of the world, or head to one of these less well-known spots for a real ocean adventure.
From epic skiing in Antarctica to a lazy beer-fueled canoe trip in North Carolina, these are the best places to visit this year
Mountain bikers and wilderness advocates have buried the hatchet and created an alliance in the Appalachians—but will the Forest Service back their plan?
Where to enjoy autumn's best views—on two feet or two wheels
Presenting blueprints for the best way to beat post-summer blues
Learning to ride the waves isn't easy. But pick the right spot and find a gifted enough teacher, and you'll find your flow state
Find a hardy vehicle and hit the (off-) road
And you thought trail runners got all the good views.
In burgs recognized for an abundance of adventure, these are the winning places that will set you up for everything
A river- and mountain-loving town took home the top prize (again) in our 2015 contest.
Plus, 5 tips to avoid a close encounter
A nonprofit aims to publicize never-before-seen footage of marine life in its natural, undisturbed habitat. The goal? Develop the ultimate marine observation tool.
When a craft-beer brewery starts making hand-made mountain bikes and putting them on a kickass North Carolina ranch, happiness is only a singletrack ride away.
Kai Lightner of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is making himself known in pro competitions and confidently tackling some of the toughest routes out there. It's even more impressive when you consider that he's only a high school sophomore.
An epic, 10,000-mile road trip across America to find the best place to live in the country.
One man and his canine pal cover 13,000 miles in 32 states to discover just how strong our relationship is with man's best friend.
Long stretches of open road through some of the most beautiful areas of the country, peppered with wildlife sightings, adventurous detours, and good brews—it's so much more than getting from Point A to Point B.