Get a Jump on Spring with an Early Break in NC

With the cold heart of winter about to beat its way here, spring seems an eternity away. But between December’s red holly berries and April’s crimson azaleas, travelers to North Carolina(link is external) can find spring jump-starters and, if they’re lucky, unseasonable warmth, especially from the Piedmont to the coast. Even if the weather turns a cold shoulder, the pace should be slow and crowds sparse to heighten the pleasure.

While planning a trip, review the latest information(link is external) about statewide COVID-19 restrictions. The information links to destination limitations(link is external) as well as COVID-19-specific guidelines(link is external) from Outdoor NC and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. To confirm details about state parks, check this link(link is external).

Cape Fear beauty
Miles upriver from its meeting with the Atlantic, the Cape Fear River contributes early spring splendor at Raven Rock State Park(link is external) in Lillington. As shades of green return to the treetops, early-blooming wildflowers lend shapely color near the ground. Look for spring beauty, Dutchman’s breeches, bloodroot, saxifrage, bellwort and other blossoms on trails through settings that look more like the mountains than you’d think. Reserve a campsite (tent or RV) or a cabin, or mix things up with a stay in nearby Fayetteville(link is external), where Cape Fear Botanical Gardens(link is external) lends nature a hand on an 80-acre tract just outside the downtown hub.

Eno River rambling
Culinary travelers have ample reason to love the Eno River and its watershed, which sustains dozens of farms that feed the imaginations of celebrated chefs. Along the riverbanks between Hillsborough and Durham, the Eno also nurtures fields and forests of wildflowers that bloom from February through fall. Travelers can choose a trail at Eno River State Park(link is external) (try the Pump Station Trail), Durham’s West Point on the Eno(link is external) or Hillsborough’s Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area(link is external) to hunt for bloodroot, wild lilies and other blooms. Better yet, find ideas or a guided hike from the Eno River Association(link is external). For more signs of spring, visit the N.C. Botanical Garden(link is external) in Chapel Hill and also check on a possible reopening of Sarah P. Duke Gardens(link is external) in Durham, which has been closed because of COVID-19.

Pretty at Pettigrew
Best known for its old-growth forests and legendary fishing, Pettigrew State Park(link is external) in Creswell draws pops of color from rain lilies, Jack-in-the-pulpits and other early spring wildflowers. Situated on the peninsula between the Albemarle and Pamlico sounds, the park is home to Lake Phelps, whose 16,000 acres make it the state’s second-largest natural lake. Early spring makes for a well-timed getaway before the busy season starts, allowing travelers to marvel at the oversize trees along the lake: bald cypress trunks measuring up to 10 feet in diameter, poplars that are nearly as broad, and thick vines winding high in the trees. Adding to the natural interest is the blackwater Scuppernong River. Tent and trailer campsites are available. For cultivated beauty, Elizabethan Gardens(link is external) in Manteo is an hour away. It’s vibrant with camelias, pansies, crocus, daffodils and other blooms in meticulously designed settings.

For more to inspire spring travel, check out VisitNC.com(link is external).

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