North Carolina's Best Tourist Attractions Won't Break the Bank

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Traveling can be such a fun experience no matter the season, but taking a big trip to a tourist spot can also be expensive. While Americans love to center their summer and holiday plans around vacations and visits, the cost of those trips can really add up, especially when considering transportation, the hotel, renting a car, eating and everything else that goes along with a real vacation. That's why it's so great to find some totally free tourist attractions across the country, because sometimes, a freebie is just what is needed. Now, one outlet has named the best free tourist attraction in every state, including this one.

The Top Free Tourist Attractions in the State

The crew at Travel Pulse has rounded up a tally of the best free attractions across America. In the piece, they note that even though "the price of travel continues to rise, it's nice to know that there are still plenty of free attractions around the U.S.A. to enjoy." Also, thankfully, "from towns full of so much history it can soaked up on a stroll through town to state capitol buildings, parks and attractions, the list of free things to do in every state is stacked with fun."

As for North Carolina, Travel Pulse notes that there's lots of free stuff to do and says that "there's no better place to start than Asheville, where you can stroll the vibrant River Arts District (where local artists’ studios line the streets) without having to pay for the privilege." They also suggest taking a hike on the scenic trails along the Blue Ridge Parkway "or explore the waterfalls at DuPont State Recreational Forest."

Aside from this study, one of the best places to visit that's usually a low-cost activity is going to a museum. According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as of 2014, there were "35,144 museums in the U.S., more than double the agency's working estimate of 17,500 from the 1990s." At the time, IMLS director Susan H. Hildreth said, "They are places where Americans go to pursue the discovery of art, history, science, technology and the natural world."

Evergreen North Carolina

Anne EricksonWriter

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.