From early light to late nights across North Carolina
Hi, I’m Sierra — I grew up in Lenoir County and have been in Greenville since my ECU days, and I still love showing people around. Sometimes, the best days don’t need much planning. I might start with coffee at Backstage, then head out on the Greenway or through Wildwood Park before wandering downtown. By afternoon, I’m meeting friends over lunch or browsing local shops, and in the evening, it’s live music at Town Common or dinner on Dickinson Avenue.
That easy flow — from outdoors to downtown, from good food to great music — is what I love most about Greenville. The day unfolds naturally. All you have to do is follow it.
Sierra Jones
VP of Destination Marketing & Development at Visit Greenville, NC
Save the date for Lejeune Memorial Gardens’ new addition
If you’re in Jacksonville, start your day at Lejeune Memorial Gardens, where shaded paths lead past powerful tributes to service and sacrifice. Then plan to return in June 2026 for the new Carolina Museum of the Marine, where immersive exhibits and personal stories bring that legacy into focus in a whole new way.
Begin with a cozy cafe, ease into lakeside views or local art, then spend the afternoon vineyard hopping (and in NC’s Wine Country, a vineyard is never far away).
Go from lake life to lawn games to live music in Hickory
Options abound in Hickory. Try easing into the morning along the Hickory Trail or out on Lake Hickory, then wander downtown for bold bites at spots like Hatch or Cowa Sake. As golden hour hits, downtown and the social district come alive with patio drinks, lawn games and live music that carry the night forward.
Paddling the Roanoke, hiking Mount Mitchell ... There are so many ways to embrace the day in North Carolina, and the adventure doesn’t stop when the sun sets. NC has some of the darkest skies on the East Coast, including Cape Lookout National Seashore, a certified International Dark Sky Park with ideal stargazing conditions. When you’re peeping the starry night, Be Considerate of Others by keeping your phone in your pocket and using a flashlight with a red filter, which will preserve everyone’s night vision and enhance the brilliance above.
Visit North Carolina is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina 150 Fayetteville St., Ste. 1200, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601, United States
