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Tent camping on Carolina Beach
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Fishing at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
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Jordan Lake at sunrise
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View of Stone Mountain State Park in fall colours
Story & photos courtesy visitNC.com
Stars align for one-of-a-kind experiences at North Carolina State Park campgrounds, which dot the landscape from the mountains to the coast. Granite peaks rise from ancient mountain ranges to beckon climbers, horseback riders and hikers. To the east, campers can paddle saltwater, estuaries, rivers and lakes or tramp on forest trails. For those wanting to experience nature without giving up urban amenities, parks in the heart of the state offer the best of both worlds.
Of North Carolina’s 41 state parks and recreation areas, 10 accommodate RVs. And with the state’s vast highway system, travelers can sample multiple sites on a single trip. Everything needed to plan an RV getaway can be found at VisitNC.com.
Stone Mountain State Park: Stone Mountain would be remarkable if only for its massive granite face, a 182-metre dome that’s 300 million years old. But interest extends to other features such as cascading waterfalls, mountain streams and woodland trails. Mountain culture can be explored with park office exhibits, Garden Creek Baptist Church and the Hutchinson Homestead. The park sits within the Yadkin Valley wine region, which adds a bonus to the stay. Less than an hour away: New River State Park.
Lake Norman State Park: Just off Interstate 77, the park occupies 1,328 acres on the northeastern shore of North Carolina’s largest manmade lake. Visitors with boats can use the public launch area; those without can rent pedal boats, paddle boards, kayaks or canoes. Campers looking for activities off the water and hiking/biking trails can check out the Carolina Raptor Center and other attractions in this suburban Charlotte oasis. Also an hour or so from Charlotte: Morrow Mountain State Park.
Jordan Lake State Recreational Area: Swimming, fishing and boating are obvious draws for the 14,000-acre reservoir. Those in the know have more reasons to come: Lake Jordan is home to the largest concentration of bald eagles in the eastern United States, and it’s also a prime place for stargazing. The pleasures of Raleigh, Durham, Pittsboro and Chapel Hill lie within 50 kilometres. Also near Raleigh: Falls Lake State Recreation Area and Kerr Lake State Recreation Area.
Cliffs of the Neuse State Park: Forces of nature and the Neuse River created the cliffs that rise 27 metres above the water. Easy to moderate hiking trails wind across tracts rich with history, from the Tuscarora and Saponi Indian tribes, Civil War escapades and moonshine running. Two culinary destinations are nearby: Kinston for craft beer and modern cuisine, Goldsboro for traditional barbecue. About 140 kilometres north: Medoc Mountain State Park.
Carolina Beach State Park: The signature attraction of this Wilmington-area park stands less than 20 cm tall. It’s the Venus flytrap, which grows in the wild only in southeastern North Carolina. But even when the carnivorous plants are dormant, the park appeals to travelers with its access to the Atlantic and the Masonboro Island estuary. Kayaks and paddle boards can be rented seasonally.