9 days in North Carolina Itinerary

The location of an old Cherokee village, Bryson City embraces a quiet side of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Family-friendly places like River Rafting & Tubing and Grotto Falls Parking will thrill your kids. Change things up with these side-trips from Bryson City: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Roaring Fork, Newfound Gap Road, &more). There's more to do: stop by Bryson City Outdoors and examine the collection at Smoky Mountain Trains Museum.

To find more things to do, maps, photos, and tourist information, read Bryson City trip itinerary planning tool.

Boston to Bryson City is an approximately 4-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of train, bus, and car. Traveling from Boston in July, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Bryson City, with lows of 62°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 3rd (Mon) to allow time for the car ride to Blowing Rock.

Blowing Rock is a town in Watauga and Caldwell counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. On the 4th (Tue), see the interesting displays at Hickory Ridge Living History Museum, surround yourself with nature on High Mountain Expeditions, then go deep underground at Foggy Mountain Gem Mine, and finally kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: explore by horseback at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, identify plant and animal life at Grandfather Mountain State Park, then identify plant and animal life at Grandfather Mountain, and finally stop by Souvenir Shirts.

For photos, traveler tips, more things to do, and other tourist information, you can read our Blowing Rock online holiday maker.

You can drive from Bryson City to Blowing Rock in 3 hours. Another option is to do a combination of car and bus. Traveling from Bryson City in July, you will find days in Blowing Rock are a bit cooler (78°F), and nights are about the same (61°F). Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Thu) to allow time to fly to Raleigh.

For those not from the South, Raleigh might be one of the region's better-kept travel secrets.

Start off your visit on the 6th (Thu): identify plant and animal life at Fletcher Park, hike along Neuse River Trail, then find something for the whole family at Frankie's Fun Park, and finally engage your brain at Marbles Kids Museum.

For ratings, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Raleigh tour itinerary planner.

You can fly from Blowing Rock to Raleigh in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of taxi, bus, and train. Traveling from Blowing Rock in July, things will get somewhat warmer in Raleigh: highs are around 90°F and lows about 71°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 7th (Fri) early enough to go by car to Wilmington.

Holiday in Willington to discover a charming coastal city filled with azalea gardens, historical neighborhoods, and cozy cafes.

You'll visit kid-friendly attractions like Room Escape Games and Airlie Gardens. Change things up with a short trip to North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in Kure Beach (about 30 minutes away). There's still lots to do: step aboard Battleship North Carolina, look for gifts at The Veggie Wagon, add some adventure to your tour with a kayaking and canoeing tour, and make a trip to Riverwalk.

To see where to stay, more things to do, ratings, and more tourist information, read Wilmington day trip app.

Drive from Raleigh to Wilmington in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In July in Wilmington, expect temperatures between 89°F during the day and 73°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Sun) early enough to fly back home.