22 days in North Carolina Itinerary

A rapidly growing city in central North Carolina, Charlotte is the state's largest urban center and a major regional hub for finance, industry, technology, and entertainment.

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 46 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 Klarna Trips 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.

Cashiers is a census-designated place and unincorporated village located in southern Jackson County, North Carolina. 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.

The location of an old Cherokee village, Bryson City embraces a quiet side of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Get some cultural insight at Smoky Mountain Trains Museum and Crane Creek Vineyards. Let the collections at Elizabeth Ellison Gallery and The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachians at Bryson City capture your imagination. Venture out of the city with trips to Murphy (Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Cherokee Cellars Winery) and Horseback Riding Tours (in Blairsville). It doesn't end there: whizz through the canopy at some of the top local zipline courses and adventure parks and do a tasting at Deep Creek Winery.

To see more things to do, reviews, where to stay, and tourist information, read our Bryson City trip planner.

You can drive from Cashiers to Bryson City in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive. Expect a daytime high around 54°F in December, and nighttime lows around 32°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 9th (Fri) early enough to travel to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park contains some of the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River, but it's the ease of access that makes this national park the United States' most visited.

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.

Asheville nestles between two major mountain ranges in the scenic western section of North Carolina.

Get some cultural insight at New Morning Gallery and The Folk Art Center (Southern Highland Craft Guild). 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. The adventure continues: view the masterpieces at Grovewood Village, indulge your thirst for a good beer at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Tours & Tastings, get a taste of the local shopping with Lexington Glassworks, and pause for some serene contemplation at Basilica of Saint Lawrence.

To see reviews, ratings, where to stay, and more tourist information, go to the Asheville trip app.

Getting from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Asheville by car takes about an hour. Other options: drive. In December, plan for daily highs up to 54°F, and evening lows to 35°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 15th (Thu) so you can drive to Blowing Rock.

Blowing Rock is a town in Watauga and Caldwell counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. 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.

Winston-Salem is a city in and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Home Moravian Church and Salem God's Acre Cemetery. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Korner's Folly and Reynolda House Museum of American Art. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Winston Salem: Zipline (in Archdale), JOLO Winery & Vineyards (in Pilot Mountain) and Greensboro (International Civil Rights Center & Museum & Ambleside Gallery). It doesn't end there: tee off at Tanglewood Park and steep yourself in history at Wait Chapel.

You can plan Winston Salem trip in no time by asking Klarna Trips to help create your itinerary.

You can drive from Blowing Rock to Winston Salem in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. Plan for a bit warmer nights when traveling from Blowing Rock in December since evenings lows in Winston Salem dip to 37°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 20th (Tue) to allow enough time to drive to Raleigh.

For those not from the South, Raleigh might be one of the region's better-kept travel secrets.

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.