Last Updated on June 5, 2024
It’s summertime! Get out and explore our great states with this ultimate list of things to do this summer in North and South Carolina.
Feel free to use the jump to section to browse specific areas:
Things to do in Greenville, SC
Things to do in Boone/Blowing Rock
Things to do in Raleigh/Durham
Fun things to do in and around Greenville, SC
Get lost at Paris Mountain State Park: Located just five miles north of Greenville, Paris Mountain State Park is a quiet sanctuary perfect for exploring the great outdoors.
Chill out at Camperdown Plaza: Completed in late 2021, Camperdown Plaza is the place to be if you’re looking for amazing food, drink and entertainment.
Take a ride with Greenville Pedego: When weather permits, the best way to see Greenville is on an electric bike!
Get wild at the Greenville Zoo: Home to over 90 species, The Greenville Zoo is the perfect destination for families.
Explore more fun things to do in Greenville, here.
Fun things to do in Boone/Blowing Rock
Spend some time on Price Lake: If you’re looking for the perfect place to fish, canoe, kayak, or paddle-boat, Price Lake makes it easy with their on-site rental facility that provides all equipment, supplies, and even bait for fisherman.
Go higher at Higher Ground Adventures: When in the High Country, get as high up as you can! This aerial adventure park features a zip line tour above Blue Ridge Park culminating in a 70-foot simulated free fall.
Explore the area with High Mountain Expeditions: Go whitewater rafting, caving, hiking or tubing in style, thanks to the expertise provided by High Mountain Expeditions.
Take a ride on Tweetsie Railroad: North Carolina’s original family theme park is still going strong after 65 years.
Explore even more things to do in Boone/Blowing Rock here.
Things to do in Asheville
Take a scenic drive on the parkway: The summer is the perfect time to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Visit downtown Asheville: A visit to Ashevilleis not complete without experiencing the sights and sounds of this vibrant and eclectic city center. The self-guided Urban Trail is a fun way for all ages to learn about the history of Asheville.
Cool off on sliding rock: located in Pisgah National Forest near Asheville, Sliding Rock is a 60-foot natural water slide. This large sliding rock has been providing families with fun for decades.
Explore Biltmore: The largest privately owned house in America has more than 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 3 kitchens, and an indoor pool. George Vanderbilt chose a spot for his estate with gorgeous vistas, which remain stunning to this day. Biltmore is more than just a house—check out the dining, hiking, and biking options.
Find even more things to do in Asheville here.
Fun activities in Charlotte
Catch a throwback flick at Camp North End: View your favorite flicks from the 80s and 90s every Thursday outside of the Ford Building.
Attend a Charlotte Knights Game: They may be the triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, but catching a Knights game at Truist Field is a quintessential Charlotte experience—most of the games are even set for a 7:04pm first pitch to honor Charlotte’s area code. And even if you can’t make it to one of the 22 games featuring fireworks, it’s stunning enough to watch the city skyline light up as the sun goes down.
Take in a concert or get outdoors at the White Water Center: This 1,300-acre outdoor center on the Catawba River has what it takes to keep people of all ages busy for a full day and then some. Activities include whitewater rafting, kayaking, ziplines, standup paddleboarding, rock climbing, yoga, mountain biking, hiking, and a ropes course. Not into outdoor activities? No problem! YOu’ll love The WWC’s summer concert series, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Be a book worm at Imaginon: This gem in the heart of Charlotte’s cultural arts district was recently ranked by Livability.com as the number-one children’s library in the U.S.
Visit the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market: Peruse the bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, pork products, grass-fed beef, goat milk cheese, homemade jams, baked goods and more; then bring your treasures home and involve the whole family in making a meal with your finds.
View even more things to do in Charlotte here.
Fun activities in the Triad
Tour the Greensboro Science Center: If you’ve never been to the Greensboro Science Center, you’re in for a trifecta of fun, as the science center is technically home to a museum, zoo, and aquarium.
Visit Old Salem Museums & Gardens: This a living history museum located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It’s a great spot for visitors to experience the 18th and 19th centuries through its historic buildings, artifacts, gardens, and more!
Walk on the Wild side at the Asheboro Zoo: The world’s largest natural habitat zoo is located on 2,600 acres just south of Asheboro in Randolph County. More than 1,800 animals call the zoo home, but the destination also offers attractions, hiking trails, and educational programs including camps.
Have fun at the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum: Recently clinching the title of North Carolina’s Visitor Attraction of the Year by the NC Tourism Industry Association, children will love this museum as they challenge their climbing, step into the upside down world of ginormous, get lost in space in the Mars Academy, and more!
See more things to do in the Triad here.
Fun activities in Raleigh/Durham
Visit Lake Johnson Park:This public park in Raleigh has it all: paved greenways, natural surface trails, fishing, boat rentals, and a swimming pool. Their website lists upcoming programs like nature exploration, guided hikes, and yoga. Best of all, Lake Johnson Park is BYOH (bring your own hammock)
Roam around the Museum of Life + Science: Visitors can enjoy one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast; explore outdoor exhibits with black bears, lemurs, and endangered red wolves; and board a life-size NASA Command Module prototype.
Tour the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences: With more than a million visitors each year, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the largest institution of its kind in the southeastern US. More than 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, 100 species of fish and aquatic invertebrates, and three floors of labs and exhibitions will entertain all ages on rainy days.
Stroll the Sarah P. Duke Gardens: One visit to this popular destination and you will instantly see why it receives so many accolades, from “best place to take visitors from out of town” to “finest public garden in North Carolina.”
Admission to the 55 acres of specialized gardens in the heart of Duke University is free (parking is $2), and the center is open from 8 a.m. until dusk, 365 days a year. The iris garden in the South Lawn marks the origins of Duke Gardens, which dates back to 1934.
Roam with the dinosaurs: The Dinos Alive Immersion experience runs now through July 29.
View more things to do in Raleigh/Durham here.
