Cherokee Indian Reservation - 3 hours away
Just one hour west of Asheville adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cherokee Indian Reservation offers opportunities to explore Cherokee culture ? past and present. With 13,079 enrolled members, the reservation features a recreated vision of a 1750s Cherokee village, a newly renovated museum and 200-foot Mingo Falls. Outdoor enthusiasts can go mountain biking, tubing or trout fishing, and others can place their bets at Harrahs Cherokee Casino. The area offers a range of campgrounds and lodging facilities. Cherokee. www.cherokee-nc.com

North Carolina Museum of Art -  2 hours away
This museum houses internationally acclaimed collections of European and American art spanning 5,000 years as well as changing exhibitions. The new outdoor Museum Park Theatre schedules live performances, while the popular summertime "Movies on the Lawn" series shows flicks against the museum wall. 2110 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh. 919-839-6262; http://ncartmuseum.org

North Carolina Pottery Center
250 East Avenue, Seagrove. (336)873-8430; www.ncpotterycenter.com
With a 300-year old tradition of pottery, the community now features more than 90 potteries and is quickly becoming the pottery capital of the world. www.discoverseagrove.com

Battleship North Carolina 
Commissioned in 1941 as the first of a new breed of fast battleships, the USS North Carolina participated in every major naval operation in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Along with gift shop and tours, many special events are held at the ship, including a July 4th fireworks display. U.S. 421 North, across Cape Fear River from downtown Wilmington. 910-251-5797. www.battleshipnc.com

Yadkin Valley Wineries 
The 1.4 million-acre Yadkin Valley, just west of Winston-Salem, is home to exquisite vineyards and wineries and was approved as North Carolina's first American Viticultural Area (AVA). The Yadkin Valley designation appears on bottles when wine is made from 85 percent grapes grown in this region. The majority of wineries offer tours and tastings. http://www.visitwinstonsalem.com/experiences/exp_wine.html