North Carolina is home to a world of magical places to discover and they can be found all over the state, from the coast to the mountains. What better way is there to see some of them than to pile in the car and hit the road for an adventure-filled day of sightseeing some fairy tale and magical places in North Carolina? Are you ready? Let’s go!

This road trip, as you'll notice, is very easy to add to any itinerary when you're in western North Carolina, especially if you're heading to the Asheville area.
Google Maps
You'll find a fully-interactive Google map of our Fairy Tale Road Trip to help guide your travels. You can also reverse the order: instead of starting all the way to the right at Craggy Gardens, you can reverse the travel direction and begin at Juney Whank Falls all the way to the left on the map provided here.

Gas up the car and prepare for the ultimate: one of our most enchanting road trips yet!
1. Fairy Stairs and Footbridges at Crabtree Falls
Crabtree Falls, North Carolina 28777, USA
Google Maps/Ray L
A three-mile loop trail leads to one of the most visited waterfalls along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Crabtree Falls towers high into the forest canopy and drops an impressive 70 feet. Getting there requires a dreamy hike filled with fairytale surrounds.

Read more: You’ll Fall In Love With The Fairy Stairs And Footbridges On This North Carolina Waterfall Hike
2. Craggy Gardens's Trail Tunnels and Mountaintop Views
Craggy Gardens Visitor Center, 364 Blue Ridge Pkwy, Black Mountain, NC 28711, USA
Flickr/Louis
Hike a short trail through a tree tunnel of mountain laurels and rhododendrons to an overlook with a long-range view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Read more: Visiting This One Place In North Carolina Is Like Experiencing A Dream

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3. A Fairy Garden within the Flowering Bridge at Lake Lure
Lake Lure, NC, USA
TripAdvisor/BirdLoverXoX
As if we need an actual reason to visit the beautiful Lake Lure, the repurposed old bridge into town has been turned into a wonderful flower-filled adventure — including a fairy garden! Kids and adults alike love it!

Read more: Most People Have No Idea There’s A Fairy Garden Hiding In North Carolina And It’s Magical
4. The Fairy Trail at Bullington Gardens
Bullington Road, Bullington Rd, North Carolina 27043, USA
Googe Local/Bullington Gardens
Head to Hendersonville to a small, non-profit garden that showcases more then 10 different gardens. But don't miss taking a stroll on the gardens' magical Fairy Trail. You'll find fairy doors, fairy homes, fairy gardens, and more.

Read more: Most People Don’t Know North Carolina Has A Fairy Trail And It’s Positively Magical
5. The Fairytale Footbridge at Juney Whank Falls
Juney Whank Falls Trail, North Carolina 28713, USA
Google Images/Brian Solomon
A twenty-minute hike just outside of Bryson City leads through a shady forest to Juney Whank Falls. The falls are broken into two sections with a total drop of 90 feet. Competing with the jaw dropping view of this nearly vertical waterfall, though, is a fairytale footbridge, complete with a bench only a few feet from the upper falls.

Read more: Hike To This Waterfall Fairy Tale Foot Bridge In North Carolina For A View You Can’t Pass Up

Did you have any idea there were so many magical places in North Carolina? Road trip memories are some of the best treasures we carry forth from childhood. If you love road trips as much as we do, then you should read all about The 11 Best Backroads In North Carolina For A Long Scenic Drive!

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More to Explore

Magical Places in North Carolina

Sarah M. | November 17, 2022

What's the most magical place in North Carolina?

Without a doubt, the most magical place in North Carolina is the Biltmore. Easily the most famous castle in the United States, the Biltmore Estate is a place of pure magic. Built by George Vanderbilt between 1889 and 1895, this 178,926-square-foot mansion is located on 8,000 acres of pristine property just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. As the largest privately-owned home in America, it's a place of stunning scenery, lush gardens, ornate architecture, and historic relevance. While the house itself is a major attraction (the Biltmore draws over a million visitors each year), the massive and meticulously kept gardens on the estate are heavenly and only enhance the home's stunning beauty. The Biltmore is more than just a castle; it's an entire kingdom.

What are some magical hikes in North Carolina?

Fanciful footbridges, trickling waterfalls, lush forests... there are so many magical hikes in North Carolina that will make you feel like you're living your very own fairy tale! Some of our favorite fairy tale hikes in North Carolina include:

  • Graveyard Fields: This short hike will have you wandering through enchanting forested segments that seem plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. It seems, no matter how many times you hike Graveyard Fields, you never tire of wandering through the myriad landscapes trailing off into scenery and views that are beyond gorgeous.
  • Boogerman Trail: Located within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Boogerman Trail winds through some beautiful terrain crossing several streams — and even crossing several of them many times. From the Palmer Fork stream to the Sag Branch stream, then up to the top of Snake Ridge and then back down to cross the Snake Branch stream, you can attempt to count the number of water crossings on this hike. It's somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 crossings!
  • Juney Whank Falls Trail: Travel a mere three miles north of Bryson City and you’ll discover an adventure that leads to a foot bridge that crosses right over (and in front of) an 80-foot waterfall. Let’s take a look at this lovely little waterfall trail in North Carolina. There's no hike more magical for North Carolina waterfall chasers!

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