North Carolina, United States: Towns to Explore on Foot

North Carolina is a state of contrasting landscapes and layered history, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains. The best things to do in North Carolina include exploring coastal communities, mountain landscapes, historic cities, museums, music, and regional food. Neywo offers free audio guides for 9 cities in North Carolina, with 274 narrated places across 14 walking tours.

What to see and do in North Carolina

Explore the coast and the mountains

North Carolina’s geography changes dramatically from east to west. The Atlantic coast offers beach swimming, while the mountain regions are cooler throughout the year and include opportunities for mountain skiing. The Appalachian Mountains attract several million visitors annually, with the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park among the state’s major draws.

The North Carolina State Park System protects areas across this varied landscape. The contrast between ocean and high country is one of the defining features of a journey through the state, with a broad range of soils and landscapes between them.

Discover North Carolina’s history

People had lived in what is now North Carolina for at least 10,000 years before Europeans arrived. The region later became part of the wider Carolina colony, established under King Charles II, and was eventually divided because it was difficult to govern from Charles Town. North Carolina became a royal colony in 1729 and later one of the Thirteen Colonies.

The state played an important role in the approach to the American Revolution. The Halifax Resolves made the first formal call for independence from Great Britain among the American Colonies. North Carolina later ratified the United States Constitution.

Its history also includes the profound legacy of slavery. One third of the population was enslaved before the Civil War. North Carolina left the Union to join the Confederacy and returned in 1868. These events remain part of the historical story behind the state’s cities, institutions, and everyday life.

Visit Raleigh, the capital

Raleigh is North Carolina’s capital and one of the state’s main centers for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Research Triangle around Raleigh includes Research Triangle Park, described as the largest research park in the United States. These industries have grown since the early 2000s.

The city also offers several narrated places through Neywo, including the City of Raleigh Museum, Pullen Park Carousel, North Carolina Museum of Art, and Marbles Kids Museum. See the Raleigh city guide for more places to explore.

Experience Charlotte’s urban and economic history

Charlotte is North Carolina’s largest city and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It is a major textile and trade center, while its metropolitan area is also a major banking center. The city’s modern identity reflects the wider state’s combination of industry, commerce, and movement.

Neywo’s narrated places in Charlotte include the William T. Alexander House, Biddle Memorial Hall, Hezekiah Alexander House, and James A. Blakeney House. The Charlotte guide brings these locations together in a walkable audio experience.

Walk through Asheville and the western mountains

Western North Carolina is closely associated with the Appalachian Mountains. In Asheville, Neywo covers 43 narrated places, including the Asheville Art Museum, Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, Thomas Wolfe House, and Overlook Castle.

Nearby Black Mountain has two narrated places: Swannanoa Valley Museum and Thomas Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Together, these city guides offer a way to explore the region’s museums, buildings, and local history while moving through the mountain setting.

Learn about civil rights and local history in Greensboro

Greensboro brings together architectural, cultural, and civil rights history. Its Neywo guide includes Blandwood Mansion and Gardens, West Market Street United Methodist Church, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, and Greensboro Historical Museum.

With 53 narrated places, Greensboro is one of the state’s most extensive city guides. Its museums and historic buildings show how national events and local stories meet in an urban setting.

Find smaller city stories

North Carolina’s history is not limited to its largest cities. In Beaufort, North Carolina, Neywo covers nine narrated places, including the Aurora Fossil Museum, North Carolina Estuarium, and St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Hendersonville has two narrated places: the Mineral and Lapidary Museum and Henderson County Courthouse. In eastern North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina includes the Cape Fear Museum, Cameron Art Museum, Burgwin-Wright House, and New Hanover County among its ten narrated places.

Wilson offers two narrated places, Imagination Station Science Museum and Wilson County. These smaller guides make it possible to focus on specific local stories rather than trying to cover the state all at once.

Taste North Carolina’s food and culture

Food, music, and regional speech are central to North Carolina’s identity. Pork barbecue is described as a culinary staple, connected to the state’s agricultural traditions. Tobacco remains especially important, and North Carolina leads the nation in its production.

The state also has traditions in art and music, including a large number of noteworthy jazz musicians. Its regional voices range from Southern American English to Appalachian English dialects. These differences in language, music, farming, and food help create a shared culture across a state with very different landscapes.

Explore North Carolina with Neywo

Download Neywo to discover North Carolina through 14 walking tours across 9 cities, with 274 narrated places in total. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, making this a flexible North Carolina audio guide for exploring cities from the coast to the mountains.