There’s something about the darkness that is intense, powerful, yet also inviting. The night sky is filled with wonders beyond our comprehension and there’s no way not to feel small in comparison to the millions of glowing stars and bright moon shining above. While many choose night as a time to relax in the house and get some shut eye, those night owl North Carolinians (like myself) just see it as an extension of day, a time in which the world is silent but still explorable. Luckily for us, there’s plenty of nighttime adventures (from scary to fun) we can experience in the Tar Heel state.
- Go on a ’night flight'
ZipQuest Both Kersey Valley and ZipQuest offer nighttime treetop adventures for the nocturnal explorer. At Kersey Valley, you leap off a solar-powered, 60-foot sky deck with glowstick in hand. ZipQuest offers the ‘NightQuest’ where you explore the park’s amenities and treetop rope and ladder courses beneath the dark of night, of course though, you do have a helmet light to help guide the way. Kersey Valley - 1615 Kersey Valley Rd Archdale, North Carolina ZipQuest - 533 Carver Falls Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28311
- Take a black light mine tour
Emerald Village Emerald Village in Little Switzerland offers a black light mine tour through Bon Ami Mine. With the blacklight, you can see hidden colors earthed within the rock of mainly Hyalite Opal, a true form of opal found in this area. Black light tours are offered ten days out of the year with arrangement of special, custom group tours also available. For more information on Emerald Village, read our guide here.
- Drive to the country and watch a meteor shower
Flickr / Ralph Arvesen At least once in your North Carolina life, everyone needs the experience of driving to the country and laying on the hood of a car, or in the bed of a truck, and gazing up at the night sky. Once you’re surrounded by total blackness with minimal light pollution, stargazing becomes a wondrous experience. For an even better experience, plan your trip around a meteor shower. This Farmer’s Almanac Meteor Shower Calendar shows you upcoming ‘sky shows’ for North Carolina. The next one will be the Perseid, August 11-13.
- Visit the Bare Dark Sky Observatory
Bare Dark Sky Observatory Located in Burnsville, the Sam Scope used at the observatory is the largest in the southeast for public use. At 2,736 elevation, you can gaze in 360-degree views of the night sky high up in the Appalachian mountains. 785 Cranberry Street Newland, NC 28657
- Walk on the beach with a guiding light
Only In North Carolina / Joel Wadsworth Between hunting for ghost crabs or watching a lighthouse beam off in the distance, a night stroll on the beach is amazing. It’s interesting to think about the loads of history that go into North Carolina’s lighthouses, and the many ships they guided to a safe haven. Looking to make an entire journey of it? Follow our lighthouse road trip.
- Witness the mysterious Brown Mountain Lights
Youtube / Daniel Caton For years, scientists, researchers and even paranormal investigators have been trying to solve the mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights. Appearing in orbs of different shapes and colors, the lights seem to dance above the treetops and sometimes whiz about. From being deemed ‘swamp gas,’ to departed souls, while many spooky North Carolina stories have no definitive proof, you can actually see these with your own two eyes. For more information on the Brown Mountain Lights or where to view them, read our guide here.
What are some of your favorite North Carolina nighttime activities? Any on the list you’ve done before.
ZipQuest
Both Kersey Valley and ZipQuest offer nighttime treetop adventures for the nocturnal explorer. At Kersey Valley, you leap off a solar-powered, 60-foot sky deck with glowstick in hand. ZipQuest offers the ‘NightQuest’ where you explore the park’s amenities and treetop rope and ladder courses beneath the dark of night, of course though, you do have a helmet light to help guide the way. Kersey Valley - 1615 Kersey Valley Rd Archdale, North Carolina ZipQuest - 533 Carver Falls Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28311
Emerald Village
Emerald Village in Little Switzerland offers a black light mine tour through Bon Ami Mine. With the blacklight, you can see hidden colors earthed within the rock of mainly Hyalite Opal, a true form of opal found in this area. Black light tours are offered ten days out of the year with arrangement of special, custom group tours also available. For more information on Emerald Village, read our guide here.
Flickr / Ralph Arvesen
At least once in your North Carolina life, everyone needs the experience of driving to the country and laying on the hood of a car, or in the bed of a truck, and gazing up at the night sky. Once you’re surrounded by total blackness with minimal light pollution, stargazing becomes a wondrous experience. For an even better experience, plan your trip around a meteor shower. This Farmer’s Almanac Meteor Shower Calendar shows you upcoming ‘sky shows’ for North Carolina. The next one will be the Perseid, August 11-13.
Bare Dark Sky Observatory
Located in Burnsville, the Sam Scope used at the observatory is the largest in the southeast for public use. At 2,736 elevation, you can gaze in 360-degree views of the night sky high up in the Appalachian mountains. 785 Cranberry Street Newland, NC 28657
Only In North Carolina / Joel Wadsworth
Between hunting for ghost crabs or watching a lighthouse beam off in the distance, a night stroll on the beach is amazing. It’s interesting to think about the loads of history that go into North Carolina’s lighthouses, and the many ships they guided to a safe haven. Looking to make an entire journey of it? Follow our lighthouse road trip.
Youtube / Daniel Caton
For years, scientists, researchers and even paranormal investigators have been trying to solve the mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights. Appearing in orbs of different shapes and colors, the lights seem to dance above the treetops and sometimes whiz about. From being deemed ‘swamp gas,’ to departed souls, while many spooky North Carolina stories have no definitive proof, you can actually see these with your own two eyes. For more information on the Brown Mountain Lights or where to view them, read our guide here.
For total darkness in the day, everyone in North Carolina is gearing up for the total solar eclipse.
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