22 days in North Carolina Itinerary

Do some cultural sightseeing at Discovery Place Science and NASCAR Hall of Fame. Mint Museum Uptown and Carolina Raptor Center will appeal to museum buffs. Take a break from Charlotte with a short trip to The Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville, about 44 minutes away. There's still lots to do: test your problem-solving skills at popular escape rooms, get a taste of the local shopping with SouthPark, revel in the low prices at Concord Mills, and learn the secrets of beer at a beer tour and tasting.

Plan my Charlotte trip by asking Inspirock to come up with tips and suggestions.

Newark to Charlotte is an approximately 3.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Newark in December, expect nights in Charlotte to be about the same, around 38°F, while days are a bit warmer, around 58°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 4th (Sun) so you can go by car to Cashiers.

Kick off your visit on the 5th (Mon): admire the sheer force of Bridal Veil Falls, then tee off at Sky Valley Resort, and then hit the slopes at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center. On the 6th (Tue), you'll have a packed day of sightseeing: get a dose of the wild on Lake Glenville Scenic Waterfall Cruises, then take in the dramatic scenery at Bust Your Butt Falls, then learn about winemaking at 12 Spies Vineyards and Farm, and finally contemplate the long history of Sky Valley Overlook.

To find reviews, ratings, photos, and more tourist information, use the Cashiers holiday planning site.

You can drive from Charlotte to Cashiers in 3.5 hours. Traveling from Charlotte in December, expect a bit cooler with lows of 32°F in Cashiers. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Tue) early enough to drive to Bryson City.

Get some cultural insight at Smoky Mountain Trains Museum and The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians at Bryson City. Get outdoors at Zipline and Horseback Riding Tours. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Bryson City: Crane Creek Vineyards (in Young Harris) and Murphy (Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Cherokee Cellars Winery). There's more to do: take in the exciting artwork at Elizabeth Ellison Gallery and learn about winemaking at Deep Creek Winery.

To find maps, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Bryson City trip itinerary builder.

Traveling by car from Cashiers to Bryson City takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. In December, plan for daily highs up to 54°F, and evening lows to 32°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 9th (Fri) to allow enough time to travel to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Kick off your visit on the 10th (Sat): take in the dramatic scenery at Laurel Falls, then identify plant and animal life at Cades Cove, and then hike along Collins Creek Picnic Area. On your second day here, take in the dramatic natural features at Chimney Tops Trail, then appreciate the history behind Rockefeller Memorial, then take a memorable drive along Newfound Gap Road, and finally contemplate the long history of Mingus Mill.

To find photos, traveler tips, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Great Smoky Mountains National Park driving holiday planner.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is very close to Bryson City. In December in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, expect temperatures between 53°F during the day and 36°F at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Mon) early enough to travel to Asheville.

Get some cultural insight at New Morning Gallery and Lexington Glassworks. Escape the urban bustle at The North Carolina Arboretum and Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park. When in Asheville, make a side trip to see Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards in Hendersonville, approximately Hendersonville away. And it doesn't end there: take in the exciting artwork at Grovewood Village, sample the tasty concoctions at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Tours & Tastings, see the interesting displays at The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild), and learn the secrets of beer at a beer tour and tasting.

To see other places to visit, ratings, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Asheville trip planner.

Traveling by car from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Asheville takes an hour. Alternatively, you can drive. In December in Asheville, expect temperatures between 54°F during the day and 35°F at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Thu) so you can drive to Blowing Rock.

On the 16th (Fri), admire the masterpieces at Artists in Residence at Edgewood Cottage, then kick your exploration up a notch at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks, and then get curious at Mystery Hill. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: ride a horse along Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, then take in the awesome beauty at Grandfather Mountain, then browse the exhibits of Crossnore Weavers and Gallery, and finally stop by Mast General Store.

To find other places to visit, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, read Blowing Rock travel planner.

Traveling by car from Asheville to Blowing Rock takes 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus. Traveling from Asheville in December, expect nights in Blowing Rock to be about the same, around 31°F, while days are slightly colder, around 48°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 17th (Sat) so you can go by car to Winston Salem.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Home Moravian Church and Wait Chapel. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Salem God's Acre Cemetery and Reynolda House Museum of American Art. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Winston Salem: JOLO Winery & Vineyards (in Pilot Mountain) and Greensboro (International Civil Rights Center & Museum & Ambleside Gallery).

To find traveler tips, maps, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Winston Salem trip itinerary site.

Getting from Blowing Rock to Winston Salem by car takes about 2 hours. Other options: do a combination of taxi and bus. Traveling from Blowing Rock in December, plan for a bit warmer nights in Winston Salem, with lows around 37°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Raleigh.

Start off your visit on the 21st (Wed): identify plant and animal life at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, take in the spiritual surroundings of Duke University Chapel, and then get to know the fascinating history of Historic Oakwood. Here are some ideas for day two: engage your brain at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, then look for all kinds of wild species at Fletcher Park, then admire the masterpieces at North Carolina Museum of Art, and finally look for all kinds of wild species at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.

To find maps, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Raleigh driving holiday planner.

Drive from Winston Salem to Raleigh in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or take a bus; or do a combination of bus and train. December in Raleigh sees daily highs of 57°F and lows of 37°F at night. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 22nd (Thu) so you can catch the flight back home.