For most North Carolinians, memories of family road trips and vacations from days gone by are often the fuel for planning the kinds of trips we’d like to take in the present. Throughout the course of modern day, destinations in North Carolina have been the first choice for natives as well as millions of out-of-state visitors that call the Tar Heel State home for short bursts of fun and relaxation. Looking back at the following vintage photos of vacation destinations in North Carolina, it’s easy to see why locals (and visitors!) have always loved exploring our state.
1. Laurel Lake Park Inn and Bathing Beach - Hendersonville
Taken in an era when personal photographs were developed right onto postcards for easy sharing, this casual shot was taken at Minnesott Beach. The locale was a popular vacation destination along the Neuse River from the 1930s through the 1950s. This image was taken in July 1934.
They just don't make 'em like the Topsail Motel anymore and from the looks of it, the folks arriving in the station wagon had a very good beach day awaiting! (Date unknown)
Although the author's caption says this is Wilmington, the photo was likely captured at Wrightsville Beach. The photo is circa 1906. Beach attire has changed a great deal in the last century!
In the early 1900s, no visit to Wrightsville Beach (or Wilmington, for that matter) would have been complete without a visit to the Lumina pavilion, which opened in 1905. For many, the memories still linger. The pavilion even had a movie screen in the surf that showed silent movies to an audience on the second level.
A photographer's postcard rendition of the French Broad River and a rail line. The mountains can be seen in the distance. It's a bit crooked, but the subject matter is perfectly framed for October of 1908. You can bet this was a vacation to remember!
Folks have been traveling to Fayetteville and Fort Bragg for at least a century. Fort Bragg opened in 1918, exactly 102 years ago.
Where was your favorite North Carolina vacation destination from your childhood? Feel free to jump on the bandwagon and share some great memories of your own!
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