If you’ve been here for a while, you know I love exploring North Carolina. There is so much adventure and adorable towns just a short drive away from home. Some of the best adventures I’ve had didn’t require a passport or a plane ticket, just a coffee and the open road. I’m sure there is a ton for you to explore nearby where you live! Here are 6 Ways to be a tourist where you are: Take a different route to a familiar place. - I do this all the time! Instead of the highway, take the backroads....

Have you ever stepped into a place that feels like it belongs on the pages of your favorite book? I did that recently! For our North Carolina babymoon, we decided to take a trip to Edenton, North Carolina. Tucked along the Albemarle Sound, Edenton, NC is a magical town. It was filled with the kind of charm you can’t manufacture—historic homes, a whitewashed lighthouse, vintage theaters, and cozy coffee shops where I can only believe the staff remembers their regulars names. There’s a peaceful...

If you’re a Nicholas Sparks fan, you’re probably very familiar with Southport! The movie Safe Haven with Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel shot here! That’s one of the reasons I initially wanted to visit, but I go back because the town is adorable. Southport is also the perfect coastal escape if you’re not a lay out on the beach all day kind of person. Where to Stay I haven’t personsally stayed in Southport, but there are a few hotels in town. They also have some pretty adorable looking Inns...