These 9 USA Today award-winning NC road trips are a short drive from Raleigh

With spring weather in full swing (and spring break on its way), we’re revisiting some of our favorite winners from USA Today’s 10Best Awards to find the best road trips from the Triangle.

The News & Observer’s list is arranged from shortest driving-distance to longest, ranging from an hour and a half in the car to a little over four.

The annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by readers’ votes. Initial selections came from travel experts choosing the top 20 nominees in a number of categories, including best art museum, best farmers market, best outdoor water park and more. All categories, winners and pending winners can be found at 10best.com/awards/travel.

You can also check out staff reporter Martha Quillin’s Cruising Across Carolina series, highlighting must-stops for warm weather days: bit.ly/cruiseNC.

1. Adventure in Greensboro

Greensboro: USA Today recognizes SKYWILD as one of the nation’s best aerial adventure parks.

Distance: SKYWILD in Greensboro is about an hour and a half drive from Raleigh.

What to do: “This treetop adventure park in Greensboro, North Carolina takes inspiration from the neighboring Greensboro Science Center’s zoo,” USA TODAY 10Best said. “Visitors can tackle 60 challenges and three intensity levels.”

For more, visit skywild.org. And for 10Best’s list of the United States’ best small towns for adventure, visit 10best.com search “Best Aerial Adventure Park 2022.”

2. Day trip for Wilmington’s Riverwalk

Wilmington: USA Today recommends the Wilmington Riverwalk for a day of scenic views, quaint shops and local eats.

Distance: Wilmington is about a two-hour drive from Raleigh.

What to do: “Located along the Cape Fear River, Wilmington’s riverfront is home to a colorful Riverwalk lined with more than 200 cafes, bars and shops,” USA TODAY 10Best said.

“Just across the river, history buffs can tour the moored battleship USS North Carolina. The annual Riverfest each October brings hundreds of craft and food vendors to the riverfront for three days of live music, fireworks, a mock pirate invasion and a standup paddle race.”

Learn more about the city of Wilmington by visiting wilmingtonnc.gov. And for 10Best’s list of the United States’ best small towns for adventure, visit 10best.com search “Best Riverwalk 2023.”

3. Visit a North Carolina Aquarium

Kure Beach: The Fort Fisher branch of the North Carolina Aquarium is the shortest drive from Raleigh out of the award-winning foursome of the state’s coastal aquariums.

Distance: It takes two and a half hours to drive from Raleigh to Kure Beach, where this NC Aquarium is located.

Other aquariums: The Roanoke Island and Jennette’s Pier locations are only 15 minutes away from one another, both located three hours from Raleigh. If you want to hit up two aquariums in one day, try these two. The fourth aquarium, Pine Knoll Shores, is also a three-hour drive from Raleigh.

What to do: “This foursome of aquariums – Roanoke Island, Pine Knoll Shores, Fort Fisher and Jennette’s Pier – each offer a unique experience,” USA TODAY 10Best said.

“Walk through a sunken ship or explore wetland wildlife on Roanoke Island, learn about loggerhead turtles at Pine Knoll Shores, come nose to nose with an albino alligator at Fort Fisher and get interactive at Jennette’s Pier.”

Learn about all four branches of the NC Aquarium at ncaquariums.com. And for 10Best’s list of best aquariums in the United States, visit 10best.com search “Best Aquarium 2022.”

4. Boat tours and more in Beaufort, NC

Beaufort: This quaint coastal town is a part of Carteret County.

Distance: It takes roughly two hours and 45 minutes to drive from Raleigh to Beaufort, NC (never to be confused with Beaufort, SC).

What to do: “From the wild horses on Shackleford Banks to boating, fishing and kayaking the many waterways and marshes of the Inner Banks, Beaufort, North Carolina is an outdoors Mecca,” USA TODAY 10Best said.

“The Boathouse Marina offers easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean, and it’s also possible to drop a kayak into Taylor’s Creek for a paddle. Charter companies facilitate offshore fishing and diving, and the Rachel Carson Reserve sets the scene for wildlife watching.”

Island Express Ferry Service, which operates between Beaufort and Harkers Island, has also been recognized as one of the best boat tours in the country. For more, visit islandexpressferryservices.com.

Learn more about the town of Beaufort by visiting beaufortnc.org. And for 10Best’s list of the United States’ best small towns for adventure, visit 10best.com search “Best Small Town for Adventure 2022.”

5. Coastal vacation at Nags Head

Nags Head: This beloved coastal spot was named one of the best coastal towns in the country.

Distance: Nags Head is about a three-hour drive from Raleigh.

What to do: “One of the Outer Banks’ most popular tourist destinations, Nags Head is popular with visitors for its wide variety of restaurants, natural and historical attractions, and magnificent ocean views. Nags Head beaches are pet-friendly, and water lovers will find outlets for many of their favorite sports, including kayaking, windsurfing and kiteboarding,” USA TODAY 10Best wrote.

“The historic Jennette’s Pier offers exceptional “in-shore” fishing and is home to a small museum and educational research center. For those seeking more adventure, the Bodie Island Lighthouse gives visitors a spectacular ocean view from the top of the 156-foot tower during the summer months.

Learn more about the town of Nags Head by visiting nagsheadnc.gov. And for 10Best’s list of coastal small towns, visit 10best.com search “Coastal Small Towns 2022.”

6. Road trip for adventure in Boone

Boone: This adventurous mountain town is a part of Watauga County.

Distance: It takes roughly three hours to drive from Raleigh to Boone.

What to do: “Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina at 3,333 feet, this college town is the highest elevation of any city over 10,000 population east of the Mississippi River. As a result, Boone is at the heart of outdoor adventure activities,” USA TODAY 10Best said.

“There are plenty of hiking and rock climbing sites in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nearby Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi, and Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock are popular day trips. The rivers are also ideal for fishing, or you can take a whitewater rafting trip down the French Broad River.”

Learn more about the town of Boone by visiting townofboone.net. And for 10Best’s list of the United States’ best small towns for adventure, visit 10best.com search “Best Small Town for Adventure 2022.”

7. A tranquil Asheville getaway

Asheville: The Biltmore Garden & Grounds was voted to have one of the best botanical gardens in North America.

Distance: The Biltmore Estate, where the garden is located, takes about three hours and 45 minutes to drive from Raleigh.

What to do: “The magnificent gardens and grounds of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina change every season as constantly evolving waves of color transform the 8,000 acres.

“Throughout April, enjoy the coming of spring with forsythia, magnolias, tulips, dogwoods and redbuds. In later spring, poppies, pansies, azaleas and other flowering shrubs make their glorious colors known to visitors,” USA TODAY 10Best said.

“From mid-September through October, chrysanthemums and salvias fill the garden beds, and in the latter part of October, trees display a glorious mix of greens, golds and russet colors. During the winter months, while the outdoor gardens take a well-deserved rest, the Conservatory offers poinsettias and orchids for beautiful holiday photo opportunities.”

For visitors’ information, check out biltmore.com/visit. And for 10Best’s list of rafting tours, visit 10best.com search “Best Botanical Gardens 2022.”

8. Go rafting in Saluda

Saluda: Go rafting with Green River Adventures, which has been recognized as one of the best rafting tours in North America.

Distance: The Green River office is located in Saluda, which is about a four-hour drive from Raleigh.

What to do: Green River Adventures has rafting, rappelling, trekking and more activities that are for the whole family. The “adventure filter” is measured by physical activity, adrenaline level and experience level, and you can filter by low, medium or high in all three categories.

In case you’re wondering, cranking your filter to the top setting in all three categories shows you the Big Bradley Waterfall Rappel, which can be combined with a trek for a full-day combo.

But don’t worry, there are also many mellow activities to choose from.

For visitors’ information, check out greenriveradventures.com. And for 10Best’s list of rafting tours, visit 10best.com search “Best Rafting Tour 2022.”

9. Hendersonville has the country’s best new winery

Hendersonville: Home to Stone Ashe Vineyard, which has been recognized as the best new winery in the United States.

Distance: Hendersonville is a little over four hours by car from Raleigh.

What to do: “Craig and Tina Little spent years searching for American soil that would match their beloved Bordeaux region of France. They found it on 67 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, then mated grapevine clones from France with California rootstock,” USA TODAY 10Best said. “Stone Ashe has now opened their 3,100-square-foot tasting room for their wines with a full catering kitchen that can support wedding receptions and special events.”

For more on Stone Ashe Vineyard, visit stoneashevineyards.com. And for 10Best’s list of new wineries, visit 10best.com search “Best New Wineries 2022.”

Triangle Asked & Answered: What do you want to know?

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