5 Best Nature Centers in North Carolina!

Visit North Carolina to explore the beauty of nature. From the rolling hills of the Outer Banks to the stunning Great Smoky Mountains, the state is home to some of the country’s most breathtaking outdoor locations. Here, we look at the five best nature centers in North Carolina where you can listen to the lull of rivers, spot wildlife in their natural habitat, and admire the sweeping views of the state’s lush landscape.

Western North Carolina Nature Center, Asheville, NC

Uncover the wild wonders of the Southern Appalachian Mountains at the Western North Carolina Nature Center. From red wolves to American bald eagles, you'll encounter creatures native to the region and discover how they are conserved to protect its rich biodiversity.

Highlands Nature Center, Highlands, NC

Nestled in the picturesque mountains of the Highlands Biological Station is a haven of biodiversity and fun. From visiting researchers and academic courses, to free educational programs for all ages, the Station is the perfect place for any naturalist. Take a peek into the magical world of the Plateau's wonders and explore the unique beauty of this region.

Piedmont Environmental Center, High Point, NC

The Piedmont Environmental Center is your gateway to learning and exploring the natural world. With interactive exhibits, activities, and educational programming, visitors can explore the wonders of nature through exciting and informative hands-on activities.

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve, Wake Forest, NC

Revel the wild beauty of Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve. Surround yourself with pristine pastures and woodlands, and explore the stunning Neuse River that borders the preserve on three sides. Keep up to date with alerts and news about this hidden gem, and get ready for a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Friends of Weymouth Woods, Southern Pines, NC

The division of Parks and Recreation includes access to the Friends of Weymouth Woods - a diverse oasis of natural beauty. From mountains to coastline, explore the exceptional trails, rivers, and lakes, and revel in stunning views of a unique collection of wildlife. It's an outdoor escape almost too good to be true!

This text was created by the author with the assistance of GPT-3, a large-scale language generation model developed by OpenAI. The author reviewed, edited, and revised the draft language to their satisfaction and is fully responsible for the content of this publication.

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128 South Fayetteville Street, Liberty, NC
Discover new worlds of nature. Enjoy time looking and reading about mammals, fish, gardens,insects, earth, sky and more. Take a peek at our interes... Read More
3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC
Welcome to the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens. We invite you to enter a variety of gardens, including the unique natural environment of the North ... Read More
572 Pumping Station Road, Sanford, NC
San-Lee Park is a 177+acre park, located at 572 Pumping Station Road, that offers hiking trails, a mountain bike trail, a Nature Center, playground... Read More
401 Ashland Drive, Greensboro, NC
This 17-acre site features 14 plant collections, special display gardens and distinct structural features. The extensive variety of plants offers r... Read More
399 E. Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill, NC
HistoryIn 1903, Dr. William Chambers Coker, the University's first Professor of Botany and the first chair of the University Buildings and Grounds ... Read More
100 Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC
MissionThe North Carolina Botanical Garden is a unit of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We further the University's mission of tea... Read More
Old Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC
From the 1960s into the 1990s, William Lanier Hunt donated over 100 acres of land to the North Carolina Botanical Garden, including several beautif... Read More
1220 Penny Road, High Point, NC
Piedmont Environmental Center is an environmental education facility offering classes for school groups, kayak and canoe trips, outdoor workshops a... Read More
1101 Hobbs Road, Greensboro, NC
About Us:This garden features an elevated boardwalk which meanders through 7 acres of natural wetlands. Stone pathways traverse a forested hillside... Read More
364 Leigh Farm Road, Durham, NC
Piedmont Wildlife CenterThe Mission of Piedmont Wildlife Center is to foster healthy connections among people, wildlife and nature. ConservationGoa... Read More
7850-B Clinard Farms Road, High Point, NC
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday we provide tours by APPOINTMENT ONLY and you must have a group of 20 or more. If you have a smaller group, ... Read More
5834 Bur Mil Club Road, Greensboro, NC
The Frank Sharpe Jr. Wildlife Education Center is located at Bur-Mil Park for the purpose of educating the public about wildlife and natural resour... Read More
420 Anderson Street, Durham, NC
About Us:Duke Gardens is recognized as one of the premier public gardens in the United States, renowned for its landscape design and high quality h... Read More
2616 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC
Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve is home to a unique community of Eastern Hemlock trees and other mountain plant species, access to approximately 3 m... Read More
215 South Main Street, Kernersville, NC
Our Garden's HistoryPaul Ciener loved horticulture. He toured great gardens around the world, studying the plants and garden styles he encountered.... Read More
4709 Ten-Ten Road, Apex, NC
Located on 33 acres of landscaped grounds and hardwood forests, Crowder District Park offers citizens a variety of recreational and educational opp... Read More
631 Sherman Drive, Fayetteville, NC
Clark Park is the city’s second largest regional park and is considered a gem those who frequent it. It was designed, and remains, a natural ... Read More
6800 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC
Dan Nicholas Park has 17 covered shelters available for rent. Eleven shelters will accommodate 150 people and six will accommodate 30 people. They ... Read More
536 North Eastern Boulevard, Fayetteville, NC
Mission Statement The mission of Cape Fear Botanical Garden is to transform people’s relationship with plants and the natural world. Vision... Read More
4415 Beryl Road, Raleigh, NC
About Us The JC Raulston Arboretum is a nationally acclaimed garden with the most diverse collection of cold hardy temperate zone plants in the ... Read More
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