Looking for a new atmosphere? Mix up your weekend routine and take a road trip, whether 25 minutes to Greensboro or a few hours to the coast, and discover a whole new bored-free world. From snorkeling to a llama farm to a ghost-infested pub crawl, Elon’s home state has many surprises in store. With all of these surrounding experiences, there is no longer any excuse for being bored. Get out there and experience all that North Carolina has to offer!

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ASHEVILLE

1) Biltmore Estate-visit George Vanderbilt’s 250-room Biltmore House, extensive gardens and winery

2) Climbmax Climbing Center-located in downtown Asheville, it is a full service indoor/outdoor climbing facility

3) Asheville Art Museum-featuring contemporary art exhibitions, tours and lectures to accommodate visitors will all levels of art interest

4) Ghost Tour in the Sky-a theme park re-opening in May, it features a mile-high roller coaster, staged gunfights, live music and shows, crafts and food

5) Food: Tupelo Honey Cafe-offering old southern favorites with creative twists, it is based off of traditional Nouveau Southern cuisine.

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CHARLOTTE

1) Mint Museum of Art-functioning as both the first branch of the U.S. Mint and N.C.’s first art museum, it now showcases a variety of American, European, African and Asian art

2) Carowind’s-opening March 24, it prides itself on being the “biggest, most unique theme park experience in the Carolinas.”

3) Richard Petty Driving Experience-jump at the chance to drive or ride around famous racetracks in authentic NASCAR Nextel Cup style stock cars

4) SouthPark Mall-boasting 168 stores, it is North Carolina’s second largest mall

5) Food: Stool Pigeon’s-an uptown yet casual sports bar providing 17 screens and Wolfman Pizza

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GREENSBORO

1) Castle McCullough-a National and State Historic Site, you can go gem panning for gold, emeralds, rubies, amethyst, crystals and more

2) Carousel Cinemas-projecting the latest films on their 15 screens, they also screen foreign art and locally-made films

3) Greensboro Coliseum-an auditorium, special events center and pavilion piled into one; come to see concerts, sports, consumer and tradeshows and other entertainment

4) Celebration Station-a fun location offering arcades, games, batting cages, bumper boats, go-karts, miniature golf and a restaurant

5) Food: Natty Greene’s Pub-a low-key atmosphere with six Natty Greene’s Brewing Co. beers on tap, two wide-screen televisions, satellite radio, pool table and dartboard for a relaxed evening with friends

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WINSTON-SALEM

1) Old Salem Museums & Gardens-a community built on the foundation of the Moravian religion, Old Salem invites you to interact with lifestyles of the 18th and 19th centuries

2) Tanglewood Park-known for its wintertime luminaries, it offers arts and crafts, golf competitions and bike trails for the warmer months

3) NC School of the Arts-see student productions of music, dance, operas, plays and more

4) Korner’s Folly-referred to as the “strangest house in the world,” the odd 100 foot tall building includes 22 rooms, three floors, ceilings ranging from six to 25 feet, and no two doors or windows the same

5) Food: The Mellow Mushroom-a bustling bar serving up delicious pizza, sandwiches and over 30 on-tap types of beer

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RALEIGH-DURHAM

1) Streets of Southpoint Mall-this shopping complex dominates North Carolina’s shopping; scene a plethora of restaurants, trendy stores and a movie theater

2) Crabtree Mall-a large enclosed mall offering hundreds of retail shops, services and restaurants

3) Ray Price Legends of Harley Drag Racing Museum-referred to as a “motorcycle mecca,” come to hear the tales of successful drag racers, as well as those who were not so lucky

4) Artspace-a three story building encompassing three exhibition galleries and more than 40 artists at work in open studios

5) Food: Sullivan’s Steakhouse-a 1940s-style steakhouse and bar; come for upscale, large portions and live music

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CHAPEL HILL

1) Franklin Street-the focal point of downtown Chapel Hill and UNC, this long road houses a variety of restaurants, shops, theaters, clubs and bars.

2) Morehead Planetarium and Science Center-a massive star projector provides awesome indoor star shows in a domed theater for an inexpensive cost

3) Cat’s Cradle-a smaller concert venue with upcoming artists such as Matt Wertz and Ted Leo

4) Carolina Brewery-voted Best Brewpub in the Southeast by Brewpub magazine, you can enjoy a drink with friends or grab a hearty meal

5) Food: Spanky’s-a local late-night American Bar and Grill favorite

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WILMINGTON

1) Ghost Walk-a safe, 90-minute guided journey through the streets of Wilmington with locally renowned actors and ghost hunters

2) Battleship N.C.-tour this World War II ship’s crew’s quarters, galley, sick bay, guns, turrets, silver service and Kingfisher float plane

3) Haunted Pub Crawl-chug down a pint or two while listening to ghost stories inside some of Wilmington's most actively haunted pubs

4) Cape Fear Serpentarium-an indoor reptile park showcasing exotic living snakes, crocodiles, dragons and more

5) Food: IndoChine-an easy-going outdoor bar with inexpensive, authentic Thai food

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Top 10 mountain attractions:

1) Chimney Rock-hiking, waterfalls

2) Boone-whitewater rafting, caving

3) Lake Lure-Cedarcreek Stables (horseback riding)

4) Marshall-East Fork Llamas (llama treks)

5) Asheville-Appalachian Trail

6) Asheville-Blue Ridge Parkway

7) Moravian Falls-Brushy Mountain Orchard

8) Wilkesboro-Edge Extreme Sports Complex (skate and BMX park)

9) Linville-Grandfather Mountain (mile-high bridge)

10) Franklin-Sheffield Mine

Top 10 Piedmont attractions:

1) Louisburg-Carolina Sky Sports (skydiving)

2) Mooresville-Ostrich Ranch

3) Mount Airy-Bright Leaf Drive-In Theatre

4) Four Oaks-Hot Air Balloon Company

5) Durham-Duke Lemur Center-

6) Smithfield-Ava Gardner Museum

7) Raleigh-ComedyWorx

8) Seven Springs-Cliffs of the Neuse state Park

9) Charlotte-Ray’s Splash Planet (indoor waterpark)

10) Troutman-Lake Norman State Park

Top 10 coastal attractions:

1) Banber ponies at Ocracoke

2) Swansboro-sea kayaking (Barrier Island)

3) Beaufort-Inlet Watersports (parasailing)

4) Wilmington-Bottom Time Dive Center (snorkeling)

5) Cape Hatteras-lighthouse, camping, beach

6) Morehead City-Cape Lookout

7) Manteo-The Lost Colony (play about Roanoke)

8) Knotts Island-Martin Orchard & Vineyard

9) Atlantic Beach-North Carolina Aquarium

10) Jacksonville-Coastal Paintball

All information courtesy of VisitNC.com

Special Features Editor: Andie Diemer and Calley Grace - 03/01/07