Looking for the best places to travel North Carolina? Check out these most recommended places to visit in the first in flight state.
Planning a trip to North Carolina is super exciting! If you’re anything like me, you’re here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. As a travel lover, I am giving you suggestions for 3 extraordinary days to travel North Carolina.
You are going to learn about things to do within Charlotte, Wilmington, Raleigh, and Durham. After learning about these cities and where to go, you are going to be ready to travel North Carolina!
This post is 3 Extraordinary Days to Travel North Carolina.
Day 1: Charlotte, The Queen’s City
We started our morning with breakfast at Cafe Monte in Foxcroft. This is a French bistro serving breakfast and lunch. I thought this would be the perfect restaurant to try escargot for the first time! And it did not disappoint. The escargot traditionnel is baked to perfection in garlic butter and puff pastry. I was pleasantly surprised to find it super delicious. We also enjoyed the classic benedict and florentine quiche. I love the options they offer for benedicts and breakfast in general. It has a cute bistro style interior and the option to sit outside under cheery yellow umbrellas. The neighborhood of Foxcroft has cute boutiques and other shopping centers as well as several unique restaurants.
Segway Tour
In order to make the most of our short time in the city, we made our way to downtown Charlotte for a Segway tour! I was so nervous to do this, as I’ve never rode a Segway before. However, everyone in the office was kind, friendly, and made us feel comfortable. Before you begin the tour, you’ll go through a short training on how to use the Segway and also get a chance to practice with help from the tour guide. Oh and we made sure to wear helmets, which made me feel more safe!
During the tour, we were able to visit several different wards, each having their own unique style. My favorite was the fourth ward because of the beautiful Victorian homes. I love that each ward has their own outdoor park and architectural style. We learned about several different architectural buildings, some local restaurants, and the history behind Charlotte being named the “queen city”. You’ll have to check out the Segway tour to find out!
After the tour, we went to Pinky’s Westside Grill. Not your average bar and grill, it is named by Condé Nast as one of the best restaurants in Charlotte. It’s also been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives! We ordered the Asian Pork Burger and Da Pimp sandwich, both of which were featured on the show. They were delicious! I really enjoyed the Da Pimp sandwich, the pimento cheese was so good. It’s a fun, eclectic vibe with indoor and outdoor seating. Definitely worth checking out!
NoDa Historic Arts District
Next in our travel North Carolina itinerary, we explored the NoDa Historic Arts District. This is such a cool neighborhood! We checked out some of the murals as we drove through the area. I am always drawn to the arts districts of cities. They have so much character and through the art, showcases what makes the city unique. There are so many cute shops, bars, and restaurants. We stopped for coffee at Undercurrent Coffee. I loved the aesthetic of this place. It is decorated with beautiful hues of blue and green. A very calming interior that is great for relaxing while enjoying a cup of coffee, or even to get some work done if needed.
While in NoDa, we visited Mac Tabby Cat Cafe. This is a great place to relax and get in some pet therapy. I am a big cat lover, so this was one of the highlights of our trip. I enjoyed sitting with the cats, petting them, and playing with them. They’re so cute! If you have a chance, definitely check out the cat cafe! You won’t regret it!
After the cat cafe, we drove an hour back to Durham where we were staying for the duration of our stay.
Day 2: Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach
From Durham, we drove an hour and a half to the oceanside city of Wilmington. This is a super cute southern town with the most beautiful beach and coastal homes and mansions. I loved driving around admiring the coastal colors of the beach front homes and the swaying palm trees.
Our first stop was Cast Iron Kitchen for brunch. I ordered the chicken and waffles and it was incredible. The chicken was super crispy and flavorful and the waffles came with a fruit compote on the side. They have a well rounded menu of southern favorites. It was pretty busy while we were there, so expect to wait in line, especially if you go on a weekend.
Bellamy Mansion
After brunch, we toured the Bellamy Mansion. This is a local mansion built in the 1800s by black enslaved workers and owned by physician Dr. John D. Bellamy. The tour includes both the mansion and the slave quarters. I enjoyed learning about the history of the home as well as those who lived there. The mansion is open daily 10:00am-4:00pm. Tickets are $14 per adult. I highly recommend adding a historic mansion tour to your travel North Carolina itinerary.
From the mansion tour, we made our way to Wrightsville beach. We had lunch at Oceanic. While waiting for our table, we ordered drinks from the outdoor bar. With our drinks in hand, we strolled along their attached pier enjoying the sights of the beach and ocean while sipping on refreshing tropical cocktails. Once seated, we ordered the seasonal fish entree and the crab cakes. Every meal comes with an appetizer of hush puppies. Being from Michigan, we enjoyed eating fresh ocean seafood! After lunch we took a drive through the surrounding beach neighborhoods to take in the beautiful scenery of palm trees and colorful coastal homes.
Downtown Wilmington
Later, we explored downtown Wilmington. There are plenty of places to shop, eat, and explore.
We walked along the river, enjoying the boutiques and other small businesses. We stopped for ice cream at Boombalatti’s Ice Cream. For the first time ever, I ordered an affogato. If you’re not familiar, an affogato is espresso poured over a scoop of ice cream. It was so delicious! A great vacation treat!
In the late afternoon, we went on the Eagles Island Tour with Wilmington Water Tours. This tour takes you along the Historic Downtown and Eagles Island, where you’ll see the Battleship, learn about rice plantations, and view shipwrecks, flora, and fauna. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful birds unique to the area. It is a relaxing tour, and a great way for us to end our time in Wilmington. If you enjoy history, this is a great water tour to check out.
Day 3: Raleigh & Durham
On the third day of our visit to North Carolina, we explored the smaller cities of Raleigh and Durham.
We started the day with breakfast at The Flying Biscuit. This restaurant has locations in both Raleigh and Atlanta. The portions here are ample size and their menu offers a variety of breakfast options. I highly recommend getting here early if you plan to go on a weekend. They do not take reservations and it gets busy very quickly. We waited over an hour to get a table!
After breakfast, we stumbled upon a local street market. This was a fun way to explore the city like a local. We walked through the park, enjoying all of the artisan booths. Vendors were selling homemade soaps, jewelry, house decor, spices, and more. Later, we checked out the surrounding downtown businesses of Raleigh.
For lunch, we met up with my aunt, uncle, and cousins at Luna Rotisserie in Carrboro. This restaurant is a mix of South American and southern foods. The menu offers both meat and vegetarian options. We sat on their beautiful covered outdoor patio and enjoyed the vegetarian empanadas and grain bowls.
Duke University
In the afternoon, we walked through the Duke University campus. Located in Durham, this is a great no-cost activity. I enjoyed strolling through campus admiring the beautiful architecture and learning about some of its history, including the famous neo-gothic chapel tower and surrounding gardens. This is a must see when visiting the area!
There is so much to see and do in the state of North Carolina. The state offers a variety of scenery. Rolling green hills and mountains in some parts, and the waves of the ocean in others. It’s rich in history and offers a variety of things to do. There’s something for everyone. Our favorite city we visited during this trip was Charlotte. It’s rich in arts, history, and diversity. I look forward to visiting again some day and exploring other cities like Ashville and Greensboro.
[…] A very unique way to explore Chicago’s architecture is by doing a Segway tour. If you’ve never done a Segway tour and want to learn more about my own first experience, check out my post 3 Extraordinary Days to Travel North Carolina. […]