Take a mountain road trip through artful craft and curiosities. Explore a central NC getaway filled with unexpected stops and offbeat art. Or indulge in a ferry-filled escape discovering wild horses along the coast. With more than 50 of NC’s quirkiest sights, sounds and views for you to explore, a real & rare adventure awaits.
Hey, I’m Matt — Visit NC’s content creator and professional road trip excuse maker. This Piedmont itinerary digs into NC’s Real & Rare side, from hidden record shops and vintage markets to indie bookstores, old-school eats and one very large troll. Pack your camera, leave room in the trunk and get ready for a three-day trip that proves nostalgia is alive, well and waiting down the next side street.
North Carolina is full of Real and Rare adventures that can only be experienced in the Tarheel state, like witnessing the colony of feral mustangs that roam the shores of the Northern Outer Banks. You can transform an encounter with these horses into an act of stewardship when you Keep Wildlife Wild. Maintaining a safe distance from the horses and trashing all food scraps and waste will help ensure that this herd of mustangs continue to thrive.
