All United States North Carolina

The Atlas Obscura Guide To North Carolina

180 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in North Carolina

Updated August 16, 2023

Email

Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Asheville
  2. Beaufort
  3. Brevard
  4. Bryson City
  5. Burnsville
  6. Charlotte
  7. Cherokee
  8. Corolla
  9. Durham
  10. Greensboro
  11. Hatteras
  12. Hendersonville
  13. High Point
  14. Hillsborough
  15. Hot Springs
  16. Manteo
  17. Mount Airy
  18. New Bern
  19. Ocracoke
  20. Raleigh
  21. Rose Hill
  22. Sanford
  23. Supply
  24. Sylva
  25. Wilmington
  26. Winston Salem

Unusual Attractions in North Carolina

See All 180 Things To Do in North Carolina

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in North Carolina

See all 9 Places to Eat in North Carolina
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Secret History & Hidden Wonders of Charlotte, North Carolina

At the heart of the south, Charlotte is a booming city full of new life. Cranes have dotted the skyline for more than a decade as it has become the most populous city in North Carolina. There is so much to see in Charlotte, from a rose garden hidden just outside the city center to a retro video rental store with over 30,000 titles. What many newcomers don’t know is Charlotte’s deep-rooted history that dates back to before the colonies became the United States. This list of 10 destinations will only scratch the surface of the many special places to visit in the Queen City.

View Itinerary

Explore North Carolina

History 17
Museums And Collections 15
Houses 12
Homes 12
Art 11
Monuments 11
Animals 10
Architectural Oddities 10

North Carolina Leaderboard

Recent North Carolina Activity

Stories About North Carolina

An aerial view of the Biltmore’s grounds and gardens.

10 Reasons to Visit Asheville During the Week

Savoring the city’s cultural and culinary offerings with more room to explore.
Sponsored by Explore Asheville

Podcast: The Fugitive Train Wreck

Near the remains of a famed movie scene, an older, true story of injustice.
by The Podcast Team

What’s Inside the New Gastro Obscura Vending Machine?

The second iteration is filled with rare and unexpected treats from the American South.
Sponsored by Partners of Travel South
The beach at Hatteras.

Podcast: Shipwrecked Doritos

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
At farmers markets and other events, Brown displays a variety of apples to incite pomaceous conversations.

Meet the Appalachian Apple Hunter Who Rescued 1,000 'Lost' Varieties

Tom Brown's retirement hobby is a godsend for chefs, conservationists, and cider.
by Eric J. Wallace
Morgan Crisp holds a beer from 7 Clans, the Native beer brand she cofounded in 2018.

The Radical Act of Opening a Brewery as a Native American

Many associate beer and spirits with disease and colonialism.
by Eric J. Wallace
Freeman Vines and his guitars, 2015.

A North Carolina Artist’s Search for a Lost Sound Uncovered a Dark History

Freeman Vines honors a lost Black life with his ‘Hanging Tree Guitars.’
by Winnie Lee
The 1975 Hollerin' Contest in Spivey's Corner, North Carolina.

The Rise and Fall of North Carolina's National Hollerin' Contest

Hollers are sort of like the yodels of the American South.
by Emily Cataneo

Lists Featuring North Carolina

Rats of Karni Mata Temple
Paxton Gate Exterior
Albino Squirrels of Olney, Illinois

A Rat Lover's Tour of the World

15 places where rodents are celebrated, feared, preserved, and studied.

15

Including Karni Mata Temple, Nutty Narrows Bridge, and Paxton Gate

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.
A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet
Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

12

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Learn More