Here’s The Ultimate Bucket List For North Carolinians Who Are Obsessed With Nature

Love exploring the great outdoors in North Carolina? We do, too! It's not hard to find pretty places to visit, though. What is hard is narrowing down the list to one that's actually doable in a reasonable amount of time. Check out the nine nature attractions below. In our opinion, these gorgeous destinations belong on everyone's North Carolina bucket list. We hope you enjoy exploring these natural wonders in NC!

1. Crabtree Falls - Blue Ridge Parkway

Take a 2.5-mile loop trail to view this 70-foot emerald waterfall deep in the forest along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Not exactly an easy trail, it's doable if you have the staying power to climb back out of the gorge on your way back to the car. Learn more about the falls and the trail to Crabtree Falls.

2. White Lake

Located near Elizabethtown, White Lake has been a vacationing paradise resort area for decades. The main attraction is the pristine, crystal clear lake with a white sand bottom. What more do we need for a natural getaway? Learn more about White Lake. And if visiting during the summer, head over to this old-school water park for even more family fun!

3. Sand Dollar Island

Hop on one of the ferry services out to this small island that's teeming with sand dollars. The excursion is like no other you'll find along the coast, but there is no shade and no facilities, so plan accordingly and prepare to return with a bounty of sand dollars! The whole family should love this adventure. Learn more about Sand Dollar Island!

4. Jockey's Ridge State Park

Trek over the largest living sand dune on the East Coast when you visit North Carolina's most popular state park. Discover a variety of ecosystems here, plus trails that lead to the ocean. At the right time, you may even see hang gliders taking off from the enormously high perch on top of the dune.Learn more about Jockeys Ridge State Park. You can also watch the brief video below to see why visiting Jockey's Ridge State Park is such a fun thing to do in NC.

5. Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest - Robbinsville

Western North Carolina is home to one of the largest old-growth forests in the country and a visit here is like traversing into Narnia. Hiking trails and picnicking make this a great place to spend time outdoors with the kids! Learn more about Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.

6. Rattlesnake Lodge Ruins - Swannanoa

Hike a 3.9-mile loop trail deep into the woods to discover the ruins of Rattlesnake Lodge, a once-thriving homestead for a family in North Carolina. Learn more, including how the place got its unique and almost terrifying name, in this previous article about Rattlesnake Lodge.

7. Elk River Falls - Elk Park

Drive down a beautiful country road to the parking area for this massive waterfall and rock beach and then hike down 0.3-mile to reach the beach at the base of the falls. Take caution to heed all warning signs about venturing toward the top of this enormous waterfall and don't swim on let your raft drift too close to the plunge pool. There have been many fatalities here over the years and the waterfall is rumored to have a bottomless plunge pool. Still, even with all of the warnings, this is a gorgeous hike with a huge payoff. Learn more about Elk River Falls and the secluded beach nearby!

8. Bullington Gardens - Hendersonville

You'll be dazzled by the enchanting Fairy Trail hiding inside this botanical gardens in Hendersonville. Discover fairy homes, fairy doors, fairies, and a whole world of enchantment. Due to the pandemic, there may be a wait to enter the fairy trail as the gardens want to be sure everyone has enough time to enjoy it and to practice social distancing. Learn more about the Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens.

9. McGailliard Falls Park - Valdese

Head to this little-known city park near Valdese to discover a waterfall hiding in plain sight along a trail, as well as sandy beach at the bottom (yes, you can swim!). This may become your new go-to spot if you live anywhere near here. Bring a picnic!Learn more about this waterfall park in North Carolina.

Did we miss adding your favorite spot in nature? What places do you have on your North Carolina bucket list? Feel free to add them to the list by joining the Facebook discussion or, you can nominate them here for a featured article.

For related content, be sure to check out our list of the best hikes in North Carolina.