Performance Ford – 5 Fall Weekend Trips in North Carolina

From spooky haunted houses and old-fashioned fairs to live concerts and sunny nature hikes, the Tar Heel state is a diverse place to visit in the fall. Here are five weekend trips in North Carolina that take advantage of the autumn season.

5. Tweetsie Ghost Train Halloween Festival

Want a clever twist on the haunted house idea? Why not a haunted train howling through the Blue Ridge Mountains? Normally a Wild West theme park, Tweetsie Railroad completely transforms in the fall into an amazingly spooktacular family experience. Take note that some attractions are recommended for adults and older children, but there are plenty of shows and activities for the youngest of guests.

4. North Carolina State Fair

This ten-day October fair has everything, from fireworks and wildcats to live folk music and games. Check out the daily schedule on the site to plan when you would like to arrive. Visitors can also easily check out North Carolina State University, another hotspot for fall events. Accommodations are close by, provided by many affordable hotels. It’s not all just fun for kids, either. Adults will appreciate the Got to Be NC Wine and Craft Beer Exhibit, featuring a wide variety of beers and wines for sampling or purchasing by the bottle.

3. Harvest Wild and Blue Ridge Parkway

Here’s something you can check out even before the fall (April through October). Local foraging legend Alan Muskat runs the Wild Foods Market, selling fungi and other edibles taken directly from the nearby forests. Muskat regularly runs foraging expeditions, where you and the whole family can learn how to identify valuable and delicious mushrooms. The woods are also full of blueberries, black raspberries, and wine berries you can pick yourself.

In autumn, the Blue Ridge Parkway offers numerous trails to see the leaves, and the Nantahala River is stocked with rainbow, brook, and brown trout, perfectly suited to the cold, clean mountain water. Get a fishing license or try some cold-smoked trout jerky at Sunburst Trout Farms.

2. The Maze of Terror

The Get Lost Corn Maze is both heart-pounding and family-friendly, a locally owned and operated family agritourism business 35 miles northeast of Charlotte. The Corn Maze is based in Millingport, a little rural town where you can see vast fields, livestock, and tractors tending the fields. Similar to a state fair, you get classic concessions like cotton candy, and you can even bounce on a giant pillow. At night, Get Lost turns into the Maze of Terror. This is a horror night trail through a cornfield and forest, suitable for ages ten and up.

1. Mountains to Coast Bicycle Ride

There’s something pure and truly autumn-focused to just get out and explore, taking advantage of the mild weather. See the full range of North Carolina’s natural beauty on this scenic ride from Waynesville to Oak Island. Experienced riders can go the full 482-mile distance, and casual riders can join in at the towns between Waynesville, Hendersonville, Shelby, Concord, Southern Pines, Lumberton, Whiteville, and Oak Island. Daily rides average 70 miles.

Do you live in North Carolina or visit it in the fall? Where do you love to go and what do you love to do? Tell us about your favorite trips!

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