North Carolina Attractions for Families

If you’re a newbie to North Carolina, like we were, or are just wanting to discover new places, here is my list of North Carolina attractions for families. Depending on the season you’re traveling to North Carolina is up to you, but we wanted to experience what’s it was like during the Christmas season so we went in the month of December. We wanted to get away from the heat of Florida and get a feel of a country Christmas. It was beautiful, chilly, and we had the best time!

Sapphire & Cashiers Area

Nestled as small towns in the heart of North Carolina are Sapphire & Cashiers. Sometimes the best places to visit are those least known. These two towns surely didn’t disappoint. Here are some awesome places you can visit with your family that will make memories to treasure forever.

Nantahala National Forest

This is the largest of the four national forests in North Carolina and it encompasses many beautiful scenic spots. There are a lot of waterfalls here!

Bridal Veil Falls

As you are driving through the Nantahala National Forest, you will want to make a quick stop at Bridal Veil Falls. It is possible to pull over, get out, and take some fun photos.

Cullasaja River Gorge

As you drive through the forest, you will see that there are many spots that you can pull over and view. It’s a great way to see nature at its finest.

Dry Falls

If you’re planning on stopping at just one of these falls, this is the one! It is gorgeous! It is a short hike and there are some steps. Get a view of the waterfall from behind by walking down the path! However, be careful if you go in winter because there is dry ice that makes the ground slippery! I actually fell and it scared me so much! I was thankful that there are rails you can hang onto. Wear sneakers that have a good grip and hold onto your littles. Outdoor adventures are fun, but not if you get hurt.

Silver Run Falls

Silver Run Falls is one of the easiest paths to walk to get to a waterfall. You might miss the sign though because we had to make a U-turn to get to it. This waterfall reminded me of something out of the Blue Lagoon movie. It was serene & gorgeous!

Whitewater Falls

The whitewater falls viewing area has some of the most beautiful scenery. We went during sundown and it was breathtaking!

Blue Valley Overlook

This was one of our last stops in the Nantahala National Forest. Sunset here is stunning!

The Zachary-Tolbert House

The Zachary-Tolbert House is a registered historical site. It is an 1850’s restored pre-American Civil War house. Unfortunately, it was closed when we went and as it was an unplanned stop, but we pulled into the parking area and explored a bit anyway. We would have loved to go inside, so if you want to go here make sure you look up their opening times.

Asheville

Visiting Asheville is a must stop in North Carolina. It is about an hour and a half from The Fairway Forest Resort where we stayed in Sapphire. We decided to make a day trip since we had never visited Asheville before. It is quite an artsy town with a nice vibe. It makes for a great destination for families. By the way, it is not hard to catch the Blue Ridge Parkway highway to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Visitor Center

Normally, I would never highlight a visitor center, but this visitor’s center was quite big, full of information and the entrance to the Thomas Wolfe Memorial. As a suggestion, it is always nice to make a stop first at visitor centers because many have knowledgeable volunteers that love what they do and are there to help you make the most out of your vacation. They will tell you the best places to visit and how you can get the best prices. We love stopping at visitor centers!

Thomas Wolfe Memorial

Downtown Asheville

It can’t get any quainter than downtown Asheville. Between poets on the streets, murals, and an old-fashion Woolworth with an authentic soda shop, it makes exploring so much fun!

Grove Arcade

Grove Arcade is not at all an arcade with video games. Sorry kiddos! It is an indoor mall dedicated to just local shops. The upstairs, however, are apartment units. If you want to shop small business, this is the place to do so. And, as you can see, since we visited in December, it was decked out for the holiday.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge

This lounge is a chocolate lovers dream! You can find chocolate here from all parts of the world. They have 2 sections of the store where you can purchase chocolate. They even have ice cream and hot chocolate. So, it doesn’t matter what season you go, you’ll be in for a treat! Since it was cold I opted for the hot chocolate. Be prepared though to spend a pretty penny here because I did find them to be on the pricier side. My small hot chocolate cost $8. Make sure you stop at Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill for lunch or dinner while in Asheville. It is some of the most delicious Hawaiian inspired food served on the mainland!

River Arts District

The River Arts District is named appropriately because it is near a river and it is artsy. Like I mentioned before above, Asheville is an art filled town. You can park and walk the local art shops, but because we were to be somewhere else at a certain time we just drove by.

Historic Biltmore Village

This was my favorite part of Asheville! And because it was Christmastime, it was even better! Make sure you park and definitely take your time walking & shopping! I loved the architecture of the entire village and the Christmas Shoppe was perfect timing. We skipped the Biltmore Estate visit since we found it very pricey!

To make your family trip to North Carolina the most memorable you can make it, make sure you go in and explore the most you that you can at a pace where you are most comfortable. Don’t try to rush to just get everything in. I think it would be best to see North Carolina at different seasons, so there’s your excuse to go back and do more! I hope you have found these North Carolina attractions for families helpful and I hope you have the best time ever!