As the weather warms up, why would you want to eat inside? It’s time to take your lunch outdoors. Here are 14 of the best places in North Carolina to enjoy your picnic – and the scenery.

1. Mt. Mitchell
Nathan Gilliatt/flickr
Enjoy your lunch with this incredible view from the highest summit on the east coast. You’ll find 40 picnic tables and two picnic shelters at the picnic area, which is open year round. Bring a jacket; it’s chilly up there!
2. Emerald Isle
Carol Smith/flickr
The ultimate in beach picnics.
3. Airport Overlook
John Wenzelburger/flickr
Watch the planes take off and land from the picnic area at Overlook Park.
4. Biltmore Estate
Tim/flickr
You can spread your blanket out for a picnic pretty much anywhere (except Walled Garden). Order a picnic basket full of goodies at the Bake Shop.
5. Cape Fear Botanical Garden
Jerry Dincher/flickr
Just two miles from Fayetteville, Cape Fear Botanical Gardens boasts more than 2,000 species of plants, and a nice picnic area.
6. Lake Crabtree County Park
-ted/flickr
Enjoy 215 acres next to Lake Crabtree; plenty of perfect places to spread your blanket.
7. Craggy Pinnacle
Frank DiBona/flickr
Enjoy the gardens, then hike to the pinnacle for lunch.

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8. Duke Gardens
Connie Ma/flickr
Enjoy your lunch at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University.
9. Elk Falls
M Fletcher/flickr
This 50-foot high waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest is the perfect spot for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking.
10. Hammocks Beach State Park
Geeklythings/flickr
If you’re looking for a more solitary picnic, head to Hammocks Beach State Park. You can only access it by boat or ferry.
11. Eno River State Park
Jeff Myers/flickr
You’ll find plenty of great picnic spots in this 3,900 acre sanctuary.
12. Freedom Park
Mike Liu/flickr
Quite possibly the best park in Charlotte. Plenty of trees and pretty scenery.
13. Morrow Mountain State Park
Brian Hathcock/flickr
This beautiful park has two picnic grounds; one by the pool and one at the top of Morrow Mountain.
14. Great Smoky Mountains National Park
J. Stephen Conn/flickr
Pack your cooler and head to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where you’ll find dozens of picnic spots. This one is near Cades Cove.

What’s your favorite picnic spot?

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