15 Best Weekend Getaways in North Carolina, According to Locals

Not all vacations need to be extended, expensive trips. Sometimes, a simple weekend getaway — in the form of a cozy mountain retreat, a couple of days at the beach, or a whirlwind city escape — is the perfect way to satisfy a travel itch. While there are numerous East Coast destinations to choose from, it’s sometimes easier to first narrow down the search; in this case, to North Carolina, a state with a wide range of fun, fulfilling places to explore. “North Carolina is a really interesting, diverse state with sub-locations that are almost entities in and of themselves,” says Tiffany M. Griffin, co-owner and co-founder of Bright Black, a Durham-based retail shop. “The mountain ranges are some of the best on the East Coast (and in the country), the Outer Banks have some of the best beaches in the country, the cities are walkable and all [have] their own vibe, and the food rivals some of the best in the country.” The state’s coastal towns — Beaufort and Emerald Isle, to name a few — freq...