I am slowly making my way through all of the United States and this time stopped in North Carolina. Day 1 was a write-off since we got in late and there is a tornado warning in effect. So, Day 2, we woke up bright and early and drove from Charlotte to Raleigh, the capital city.
The drive itself is around two hours, but you can add stops along the way to make it more interesting and see some pretty sweer stuff, if you ask me. Below you will find my Day 2 (Charlotte to Raleigh) outlined if you do ever plan to visit North Carolina.
Stop 1 The Last Shell Clamshell Gas Station
This probably sounds a little strange but trust me it's certainly worth a quick stop. You will take all of 2 minutes to get out of your car and take a picture, but it is interesting, and you will probably never see it anywhere else.
Stop 2 World's Largest Chest Drawers
This is exactly what it sounds like. A massive dresser with a sock hanging off the top. I don't know what it is about Americans wanted to have the largest of anything, but hey whatever makes a scenic monument, I guess.
Stop 3 Cloud Chamber for Trees and Sky and the Outdoor Museum
Once you make it to downtown Raleigh, most of the stops are in the same spot, so park your car and get walking. This stop is a piece of outdoor artwork in a massive museum park. It sounds fancy, but it's just stones used to build a hut. Nonetheless, pretty neat. The Outdoor Museum has a bunch of public artworks, but fair warning the map around the park is really confusing and I got lost in the forest.
Stop 4 Free Expression Tunnel
Get your camera ready with that 0.5 lens because this is a definite Instagram-worthy stop. It is the longest, widest (again with being the biggest lol), pedestrian tunnel in the state. Everyone has the rights to decorate any surface in the tunnel, so it is seriously a cool way to see local culture (and a few swear words). Warning: finding the entrance to the tunnel is nearly impossible and Google Maps is no help.
Stop 5 World's Largest Globe Theatre
Evidently, I'm having too much fun with everything being the "world's largest," but anyways, this theatre is pretty cool looking and right in the downtown core.
Stop 6 Historic Yates Mill County Park
Another picture-worthy stop here. A pretty park with an old mill as well as water cascades for a perfect backdrop. Definitely a nice step back from the city if you feel like taking a breather with all the driving to get some steps in.
I suggest skipping the following stops:
Old Salem Coffee Pot
Pretty much just a giant coffee pot monument. It is in the middle of a road median and a waste of time in my opinion.
Of course, there is always more to do and see, but here are a few of the unique and interesting stops worth taking a look at! Hope you enjoyed this quick read.
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