1. Swimming at the Quarry at Carrigan Farms
We have an absolutely beautiful swimming hole just 40 minutes from Charlotte. By taking a day trip to his Quarry, you can have an adventure away from the city. Located in Mooresville, North Carolina, it is a true hidden gem. A swimming hole will open in May of 2022, and registration is required. In addition, there is food service on-site so you can grab a juicy burger after a long day of swimming. You can see more on this adventure spot here.
Divine Llama Vineyard
Okay, the drive is a little ways from Charlotte, but it is a true adventure. A cute llama is one of my favorite things. I mean, who wouldn’t love it? A llama farm in Georgia is one of the largest in the Southeast. Our llamas come in all fiber types, sizes, genders, and ages. Everything you need is here! A llama farm can be found in East Bend, North Carolina at Divine Llama Farm. It’s only an hour and thirty minutes from Charlotte, but the adventure is worth it. You can hike with llamas and get views of Pilot Mountain while exploring the beauty of nature. Divine Llama Vineyards’ tasting room offers wine tastings for an additional fee. Reservations are required for hikes. You can see more about the Divine Llama Vineyard here.
Lavender Oaks Farms
Located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is a magical place called the Lavender Oaks Farm. Lavender Oaks Farm is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The farm allows visitors to enjoy the smells, views, and relaxation aspects of nature. There are 4,000 lavender plants in 9 varieties, elegantly restored century-old timber frame barns, and a shop on this lavender farm. There is also a beautiful forest around it. Find more information about planning your trip here.
Book a Getaway House
In North Carolina, you can get away in a literal Getaway House. I have never done one but a friend of mine has and she fully enjoyed it. You can enjoy a view through your house windows of nature and relax. Located in Ashboro you can get a one or two-person cabin. You can see more on Getaway House here.
Visit the U.S. White Water Center
Located right in Charlotte, North Carolina is the U.S. Whitewater Center. Whitewater Center is a great place to experience adventure. Swimming, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, whitewater rafting, ziplining, and more are all available. The options are truly endless. They also have live music and other events. You can start planning your trip here.
Linville Gorge & Falls
You can take a little day trip to Linville and get outdoors. If you love waterfalls, this is a must-see in North Carolina. Linville Gorge is one of my favorite places. Whenever I visit, I play on the rocks for hours. The Linville Gorge is one of the most scenic and rugged in Eastern America, formed by the scouring action of the Linville River. This area is sometimes referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Eastern USA.” It is only about two hours away from Charlotte, and it is full of adventure. Linville Falls is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 316.4, about 66 miles north of Asheville. Located in Burke County, Linville Falls drops 90 ft. into the 12-mile long Linville Gorge with cliffs towering above the river. You can see more on the falls here.
See Large Furniture
What the heck…let’s end with something weird. Located at 508 North Hamilton St., High Point, North Carolina is the World’s largest chest of drawers. If you want to see some big wood then this is the spot. The Town landmark was built in 1926 and completely remodeled in 1996. Thirty-eight feet tall, accessorized with two giant socks hanging from one of its drawers. You can see more on this travel spot here.
Need to Know: 17 Endangered Species in North Carolina
Red Wolf
The red wolf can be found in eastern North Carolina. It’s extremely close to extinction, with only between 15 and 17 estimated to live in the wild, according to October data. There are 241 of them in captivity.
Gray Bat
Unlike most bats, the bats’ wings attach at the ankles, not at the toes. Western North Carolina is their range, but it is further restricted by their need to hibernate in large groups inside caves. The bats will waste energy if they are disturbed, and can even leave the cave and die as a result. Scared bats may even drop their young. Flooding can damage their caves, including those near reservoirs.
Cape Fear Shiner
Freshwater fish can be found in the upper Cape Fear River Basin. This species has been on the endangered list since 1987. The species has, however, seen improvements due to breeding programs and dam removals. Yellow, pointed fins cover the fish’s body.
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Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is the world’s smallest sea turtle. In the 1990s, turtles started to make a comeback in the Gulf of Mexico. However, since 2010, the population has plateaued. Turtles can be tangled in fishing gear, hit by boats, or injured by underwater noise.
Leatherback Turtle
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world, reaching 6 feet and weighing 1,000 pounds as an adult. Turtles don’t have scales or a hard shell and haven’t had either since the dinosaurs. They can get tangled in fishing gear, hit by boats, or injured by underwater noise.
Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel
The gliding mammal can be found in the cold mountains of North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. The critter has been around since the most recent ice age but has seen declining numbers. They are so cute!
Loggerhead Shrike
Loggerhead shrikes have gray upper parts and white underparts. When the bird is in flight, there is considerable white showing on its wings and tail. Black trim serves to separate the gray of the head from the white of the throat and underparts. In-flight, this bird resembles the familiar and more common mockingbird, and at least one popular field guide compares them for clarification.
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale’s population was cut by more than 95% before a commercial whaling moratorium was put into place in 1985. The whale is having a comeback but is still at risk of being tangled in fishing gear, being hit by boats, or being injured by underwater noise.
Sperm Whale
Whales range from 15 to 45 tons in weight and live up to 60 years, making them the biggest toothed whales. Commercial whaling nearly decimated them, but they are now recovering. The whales are at risk of being tangled in fishing gear, struck by boats, or injured by underwater noise.
Carolina Heelsplitter
Carolina heelsplitter is a bivalve mollusk in the family Unionidae, a species of freshwater mussel. It is called the “Carolina heelsplitter” because, in life, the edges of the valves protrude from the substrate and could cut the feet of people walking along the river bed.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker
More than 50 years ago, the red-cockaded woodpecker was listed as endangered. There are fewer old longleaf pine trees due to the commercial timber industry – the birds prefer old longleaf pine trees that have only 3% of the population they once had.
Carolina Gopher Frog
Compared to toads, Carolina gopher frogs are characterized by warty skin, a large head, and a chunky body. There are prominent, cobblestone-like warts and distinct folds on the sides of its body. With numerous dark spots, the color varies from pale gray to tan to nearly black. Its belly is mottled with dark pigment and its thighs and groins are colored yellow or orange.
Ornate Chorus Frog
An ornate chorus frog is a small, stout frog that is usually reddish-brown, but it can also be tan, grayish, or green. There is a bold black stripe running from each eye to the shoulder, and dark spots on the sides, lower back, and near the groin. The groin and underside of each thigh are spotted with bright yellow. Pine forests and pine savannas cover the southern Coastal Plain, where these frogs live. Most of the time, they are nocturnal and seldom encountered outside of breeding season. The chorus frogs can be heard from December to March. Breeding occurs in temporary ponds, and females lay clusters of 10 to 100 eggs on vegetation. Tadpoles metamorphose in eight to twelve weeks.
River Frog
North Carolina’s second-largest frog is this very rare species. Only the bullfrog is larger. River frogs resemble bullfrogs, but are often brown or olive in color, lacking bright green markings. Its belly is primarily gray or blackish, mottled with white.Mabee’s Salamander
The Mabee’s salamander is a slim, brown, or black salamander with a brown or gray belly. Both sides of its body are covered with white flecks. North Carolina is home to an endangered population.
Eastern Tiger Salamander
The eastern tiger salamander is named for the yellowish blotches running down its dorsum that may make it appear striped like a tiger. A mole salamander, the eastern tiger salamander spends most of its time underground and is most active at night. Except during its breeding season, it rarely emerges from the ground.
Green Salamander
Rare and attractive green salamanders have become something of a symbol for the conservation of amphibian species, and are a perfect example of how creatures with highly specialized lifestyles and habitat requirements have been severely harmed by humans. The dorsal ground color of the green salamander is black, gray, or dark brownish, with bright green or yellowish-green patches that resemble lichens. The belly is pale yellow or white. The head and body are somewhat flattened, the tail and legs are rather long, and the toes are slightly webbed with enlarged, squarish tips.