Explore the Outdoors in North Carolina

Located in Western North Carolina, the Pisgah National Forest is a treasure trove of picturesque waterfalls and swimming holes nestled in protected forestry land. One of our favorite points of interest in the Forest is Sliding Rock, a natural waterslide and plunge pool that draws visitors from May to September. With a gentle slope, a length of sixty-feet and a 7-foot deep pool of bracingly cold water at the base, locals and tourists flock here in the summer months to take a dip, hike the area trails, or picnic and hang out. Admission to the slide is $2 per person and lifeguards are on duty from 10:00AM - 6:00PM.

North Carolina is a camper's paradise. With so many national parks and protected forestry lands, you can pretty much pitch a tent, rent a cabin, or park your camper just about anywhere. Just outside of Asheville is one of our favorite campsites, Bear Den Family Campground. It's a perfect place to commune with nature, as guests are invited to make the most of the outdoors with on-site activities such as swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking and more. To book, visit their website, here.

If it's thrills you're after, then head down to the tiny mountain-top town of Saluda, near the South Carolina border. This is home to The Gorge, America’s steepest and fastest zipline canopy tour. With eleven ziplines that span 1.25 miles, you will descend from a thrilling 1,100 feet in the air, overlook 18,000 acres of the Green River Gorge, traverse a skybridge and conquer three huge rappels. Zoom from tree-top to tree-top at rapid speeds! The tour usually lasts about 3.5 hours, so you'll certainly get your money's worth! Book your ziplining adventure here.   

North Carolina has so much to offer in terms of out-of-doors beauty, that the state has an epic hiking trail dedicated to taking hikers to some of its most breathtaking spots along a 1,175 mile trail.  Explore the state one step at a time on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail which extends from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. With suggested routes and an interactive map available online, hikers and bikers are encouraged to make the journey their own - whether that be a short walk or a weekend-long backpacking trip with friends. The MTS Trail promises beautiful mountain vistas, farms, colonial towns, textile villages, lighthouses, seashores and much more! Click here to plan your hike.

Nestled high on Beech Mountain, in the Pisgah National Forest, is the popular resort town of the same name. In winter months, Beech Mountain Resort  draws skiers and snowboarders to their miles of trails, while summertime sports enthusiasts come for mountain biking thrills, perfect for every skill level from beginner to advanced. If you are able to take on steep, advanced terrain, Beech Mountain is the place to be -- it's the highest bike park in the east at an elevation of 5,506 feet. However, if you don't own a mountain bike and/or you’ve never been on one before, you can rent one for the day and a talented instructor will help and guide you along the way. For pricing and more info click here.