Things to Do | NC DNCR

Our state parks, museums, historic sites, zoo and aquariums are eager for your visit.

Enjoy a hike, bike ride or picnic at North Carolina state parks and recreation areas; experience North Carolina history at our state historic sites and regional history museums; learn about the natural world at our zoo, aquariums and science museums; listen to a performance of the North Carolina Symphony or surround yourself with art at the N.C. Art Museum. The State Library and State Archives are also open for all of your family genealogists and researchers.

To help make your experience the best it can be, please Know Before You Go.

Capacity may be Limited: Many of our locations require a reservation or ticket and some programs are still limited. Please check websites for advanced reservations or tickets.

Kindness is Encouraged: Please be patient and know that we are happy to serve you and your family. We appreciate your kindness.

Finally, ENJOY yourselves!

Trip Ideas and Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

See upcoming events at state aquariums, historic sites, parks, museums and other cultural institutions across North Carolina, and some select events sponsored by the N.C. Arts Council.

Explore North Carolina Blog

Our sites and attractions have so many cool things to experience, you may want a little help figuring out where to start. We can help with that! In the Explore North Carolina blog, we share some of our favorite things to do at NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources sites, plus offer suggestions for ways to explore arts, history, nature and culture in the surrounding areas. Let’s go!

Popular Trip Ideas

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Explore Places to Visit by Location, Activities Available and Theme

North Carolina is a place of wonderful natural and cultural diversity, and that diversity is reflected in the nearly 100 state parks, historic sites, museums, aquariums and other state-owned attractions found in our network.

Using our place finder tool you can sort, search and filter these places by activity, theme, region and cost.

Find a North Carolina Place to Explore

Regional Travel Guides

The sihoulette of a man on a hang glider in front of a sunset on a sand dune.

Experience North Carolina's Outer Banks

A young woman shows a child a painting hanging in an art museum.

Experience the North Carolina Piedmont

A young boy and girl standing in front of a large aquarium glass looking at a scuba diver that is waving at them.

Experience Wilmington

Authentic Arts Experiences

North Carolina has such a wealth of wonderful arts experiences that it's hard to know where to begin. Five web-based guides, produced by the N.C. Arts Council, highlight noteworthy cultural destinations available in different parts of the state.

Guides cover music, literature, craft, performing arts and more.

Plan Your Carolina Cultural Adventure Today

Your North Carolina Symphony

From selections from the greatest hits of classical music like Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 to fan favorites from the world's best films to engaging concerts of accessible music specifically chosen with kids in mind, the nation's first state-supported symphony offers something for everyone.

Learn More About The North Carolina Symphony

Places to Visit by Category

Aquariums

Discover North Carolina's unique environment by touching stingrays, watching river otters play or looking a shark in the eye.

Historic Sites

Pan for gold at the site of North America's first Gold Rush, relive a colonial or Civil War battle and more at these historic places that tell the North Carolina story.

Libraries

Check out the latest bestseller or research your family’s genealogy at the State Library's two branches in Raleigh.