Pilot Mountain is located approximately 20 miles from Winston Salem and two to two and a half hours from Raleigh. If you are looking for a quick weekend camping trip, this is a good destination. The main camping section is set up just like any state park in NC with fire rings and tent pads. It's not terribly private, but overall the facilities are well kept. The hiking is not as good as some of the other state parks, but there are a lot of areas to play in the creeks and fish. You cannot climb to the peak although it seems like you may be able to from a distance. You can view it from several vantage points within the park. Overall, this may be a place to check off the list of things to see if you live in NC, but probably not too high on the list unless you live in Winston Salem.

It's free to enter the park but camping is $15/site.

This is a great place to visit for the entire family. There are a lot of educational exhibits but it's a very hands on museum. There are very few displays that you just sit back and look at and can't at least touch or get close to. It also seems that the layout is conducive to the attention span of children....nothing drags on for too long. There is so much room to run and play and so many different things to see that it's almost impossible to take it all in on one trip! The 6 and 8 year old could have dug in the pit on the dinosaur trail all day and my 9 month old had lots of new animals and sights to take in. The insect section is really interesting, and there are even giant spiders out in the open! This is a must see in the Triangle area.

Hill Ridge Farms is located just outside of Wake Forest and near Raleigh NC. The fall festival at the farm is a lot of fun and includes picking your own pumpkin after the hay ride to a big grassy area. There are a variety of things to do on the farm including mazes, a train ride, gem stone panning, a big tube slide, a corn pit (lots of fun!), animal corral, teepee and many exhibits.

Know if you go: The general admission for the Fall Festival does not automatically include the train ride, pony rides, gem panning or games on the farm. Weekdays during the fall season are a good time to go if you do not want to wait in lines for the kids to play but don't mind missing out on events like the live music. General admission: $10/person, Superpass: $20/person

Located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Deep Creek is one area that is definite must visit for families! There is an abundance of outdoor activities to be experienced here such as mountain biking, fishing, camping, and picnicking to name a few. However, if you have never floated down Deep Creek on an inner tube, this is one experience that you can't miss. As you drive into the Deep Creek area from Bryson City, you'll pass several tubing companies ready to equip you with a wooden seat or fully inflatable inner tube. The upper section of the creek is a bit bumpier than the slower flowing bottom portion. Relax as you make your way down and enjoy a couple stops at the swimming hole or waterfall. For about $5 or less, you can tube all day. Don't forget a picnic lunch!

Know if you go: The plastic inner tubes with a back are your best bet if you want to sit back. There are a couple inner tube companies right at the entrance of the park which is convenient since you do have to drive up to the parking lot with tubes on the top of your car.

We recently took our first family vacation near Bryson City, NC and stayed in a great cabin 2 miles uphill from the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Stonewood Cabin was perfect for us for traveling with our 8 month old because it was just secluded enough, but in the middle of a lot of different activities. We were 2 miles from the NOC (which has so many activities), 15 minutes from Bryson City and the Great Smoky Railroad, 20 minutes from Deep Creek, and about 40 minutes from Fontana Dam, and the list goes on and on....The cabin has a great loft area with 4 full size beds that is secluded from the downstairs, a hot tub, two queen beds downstairs, a fire pit and a screened in porch. It was a great, relaxing vacation! www.stonewoodcabin.com