Our favorite North Carolina summer vacation spots May 29 2026

By Elizabeth Ritchie Sherrill

Top North Carolina places to visit: fast, slow, and on-the-go

Even if you despise the heat and humidity, there is no denying that the prospect of summer break carries a giddy, Christmas morning feel. As kids, summer is a constant countdown, a sign of growth and progression. You are another school year older and the promise of slow mornings, late night movies, pool days, and family vacations are just within your reach. The lure of summer still snags you as an adult. You may not have the weeks or months without a set schedule that you once did, but you still plan the trips to maximize the sunny days. You have to! It’s summer break.

As a family bakery, here is our “food for thought” on NC travel spots to look forward to this summer. Whether you want to go somewhere with plenty to do, slow down and take in the scenery, or make a quick day trip, we have mountain to sea picks for fast, slow, and on-the-go!

Let’s start with our fast, fun favorites:

COAST: If you only have a day to get away, try finding a coast-adjacent town to shop and play. New Bern has some amazing shops, restaurants, and historic sites. Visit Tryon Palace before swinging by The Birthplace of Pepsi fountain shop to refresh while you shop. Don’t miss Mitchell’s Hardware, it feels like the coastal Mast General Store! End your afternoon with dinner and beer flights at Morgan’s Tavern and maybe a stroll by the Neuse River at sunset.

PIEDMONT: Head to Durham and take in a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center! On either side of showtime, stop in for brunch at PRESS Coffee, shop adorable gifts at Parker & Otis, then grab dinner at Seraphine. Don’t miss their beignets!

MOUNTAINS: You can’t beat Boone for a day trip. Walk down King Street, stroll the college campus, ride the train at Tweetsie, and grab dinner at Daniel Boone Inn. Maybe drive for a while on the Blue Ridge Parkway at sunset before heading down the mountain again.

Slow, relaxing weekend trips

If you have a weekend, or more, and want to slow down and relax with your spouse and/or family, here is what we recommend:

COAST: Skip the beach towns and head over to the Outer Banks, drive right past the hustle and bustle of Nags Head and find a quiet spot in Waves. Find yourself on the quiet beach in the morning, stop for essentials at Waves Market & Deli, and head over to the Salvo Day Use area to picnic and swim at sunset in the sound.

PIEDMONT: Bring your tent or camper to Uwharrie National Forest. Spend the day navigating trails by truck, jeep, or ATV and cool off by paddling around Badin lake. Cook over an open fire and tell some of Uwharrie’s famous ghost stories, and be sure to stop by El Dorado Outpost for one of the best bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits I’ve ever had. It may be the nostalgia talking, but I never skip it! If you want to explore a little more, the campground is a short drive away from the North Carolina Zoo where you can walk wilds that are a little more exotic.

MOUNTAINS: One of my favorite adventure spots is Linville. Pack a picnic and hike Linville Gorge Trails to see the waterfall, then drive a little further down the road and into the darkness to take a tour in Linville Caverns. Be sure to spend an afternoon spread out on the sand at Lake James State Park, and then head over to Fonta Flora Brewery at Whippoorwill Farm for fresh brews, great pizza, and beautiful views! (They also may have adorably designed t-shirts that I may or may not have bought on impulse!)

Our on-the-go vacation spots

If you like to be up and on the move on your vacation and doing all the things, here are our top picks:

COAST: If you have followed our family for awhile, you know that Wrightsville Beach holds a special place in our hearts. There’s no way we can leave it off the list. Wrightsville is much busier than I remember it being thirty years ago, but the atmosphere of Wrightsville cannot be beat. Wake up and run the WB Loop, scope out the farmer’s market, get your groceries at Robert’s, grab a Trolley Dog, do some window shopping, hit the beach, and eat on the water at the Oceanic. Wrightsville is a mix of college enthusiasm and family traditions with a healthy dose of surfer vibes, and you will never be without something to do. Even the nightlife in Wrightsville is bustling.

PIEDMONT: One of my absolute favorite places on this planet is Lake Norman. You may have to sit in a little traffic to make it down Brawley School Road, but once you do it is well worth it. Surrounded by amazing shopping and restaurants in all directions, this is a great place to pass the time even when you aren’t in the water. But definitely spend most of your time on the water! Stroll downtown Davidson, and grab a meal at Milkbread or Hello, Sailor. Take a sunset cruise or rent jet skis to take it all in from the water, and of course, relax on the dock as much as possible.

MOUNTAINS: Asheville is an easy pick with a little something for everyone. Stroll the arts district, grab a meal at, honestly, any restaurant, and get drinks with a comedy show at one of the dive bars. Check out their open air market and stop in Wake Foot Sanctuary for a pampering experience like no other. If you can time it right, see a concert at Harrah’s Cherokee Center.

Wherever your summer takes you, we hope you have wonderful, sunny days ahead.