Tripadvisor
1 / 30#30. Sullenberger Aviation Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (708 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated things to do in North Carolina by visitors
When planning your next holiday, you might feel an instinctual pull toward destinations that would take you across oceans, like Tokyo or Paris, but there are experiences closer to home that will have you thinking twice before booking a trip abroad ever again.
If you're craving a burst of adrenaline, why not reserve a spot in Michigan's famed Saugatuck Dune Rides? The activity's charmingly dated website is a great indication of its word-of-mouth notoriety and timeless appeal. Over in Arizona, you might be surprised to find that it's not just the Grand Canyon that tempts travelers to its desert landscape—it's also one-of-a-kind venues like the Musical Instrument Museum, where music enthusiasts can find over 7,500 instruments from 200 countries around the world.
Indeed, even if you've lived in North Carolina your whole life, you might be surprised by just how many top-rated things you've yet to cross off your list. From architectural wonders and picturesque views to historical museums and other must-see sights, you'll find your appreciation for North Carolina reignited just by reading through this list of top-rated things to do.
Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated things to do in North Carolina using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 15, 2025.
Whether you're a family of five traveling in a recreational vehicle or a duo of friends looking for a quick getaway in North Carolina, read on for a list of sights you could easily plan a trip around.
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Tripadvisor
2 / 30#29. Freedom Park
- Rating: 4.6/5 (805 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
3 / 30#28. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,639 reviews)
- City: Buxton Hatteras Island Outer Banks North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
4 / 30#27. Greensboro Science Center
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,329 reviews)
- City: Greensboro North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
5 / 30#26. Mingo Falls
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,247 reviews)
- City: Cherokee North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
6 / 30#25. Museum of Life + Science
- Rating: 4.7/5 (928 reviews)
- City: Durham North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
7 / 30#24. The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild)
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,438 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
8 / 30#23. Riverwalk
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,466 reviews)
- City: Wilmington North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
9 / 30#22. JOLO Winery & Vineyards
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,097 reviews)
- City: Pilot Mountain North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
10 / 30#21. North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,586 reviews)
- City: Manteo Roanoke Island Outer Banks North C
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
11 / 30#20. Pullen Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,309 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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12 / 30#19. Discovery Place Science
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,495 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
13 / 30#18. North Carolina Zoo
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,720 reviews)
- City: Asheboro North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
14 / 30#17. Chimney Rock At Chimney Rock State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,647 reviews)
- City: Chimney Rock North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
15 / 30#16. North Carolina Museum Of Art
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,856 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
16 / 30#15. Jockey's Ridge State Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,342 reviews)
- City: Nags Head Outer Banks North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
17 / 30#14. Airlie Gardens
- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,147 reviews)
- City: Wilmington North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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18 / 30#13. Topsail Island
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,117 reviews)
- City: Surf City Topsail Island North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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19 / 30#12. Grandfather Mountain
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,251 reviews)
- City: Linville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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20 / 30#11. Sarah P. Duke Gardens
- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,223 reviews)
- City: Durham North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
21 / 30#10. Wright Brothers National Memorial
- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,485 reviews)
- City: Kill Devil Hills Outer Banks North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
22 / 30#9. The North Carolina Arboretum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (2,831 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
23 / 30#8. Dry Falls
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,654 reviews)
- City: Highlands North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
24 / 30#7. NASCAR Hall of Fame
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,515 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
25 / 30#6. Blue Ridge Parkway
- Rating: 4.8/5 (6,994 reviews)
- City: North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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Tripadvisor
26 / 30#5. Elijah Mountain Gem Mine and Goat Farm
- Rating: 4.9/5 (2,362 reviews)
- City: Hendersonville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
27 / 30#4. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,351 reviews)
- City: Raleigh North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
28 / 30#3. Battleship North Carolina
- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,641 reviews)
- City: Wilmington North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
29 / 30#2. Billy Graham Library
- Rating: 4.8/5 (2,527 reviews)
- City: Charlotte North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor
30 / 30#1. Biltmore Estate
- Rating: 4.6/5 (27,831 reviews)
- City: Asheville North
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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