<p>My family and I want to visit NC for about a week or less sometime later this month like towards the end, but we've never been there nor do we know anyone who lives there. We want to go hiking, my dad wants to stay in a log cabin, I want to visit Duke and Chapel Hill... but I'm mainly concerned about the heat. Will it be unbearably hot to go hiking? </p>
<p>Do you suggest staying in a log cabin then stay in a hotel one night to visit the colleges? Which log cabin? Which hotel? Will it be too hot to go hiking? If it is, what other things should we do while we're in the state? Btw, I desperately want to go zip lining. Where should we do that?</p>
<p>hahaha it is NOT unbearably hot here . . . oh well . . . i may be biased because i live here . . .</p>
<p>Excellent Life Science museum in Durham ^.^ . . . very close to Durham and Chapel Hill. . . . . make sure you go to the Duke Gardens <3</p>
<p>^^ when i said durham the 2nd time i meant DUKE.</p>
<p>Most of the log cabin-y places (Boone, Asheville, etc) are on the western end of the state, and up here in the mountains it’s easy to find a hike and it’s not oppressively hot. However, we are 3-4 hours away from Durham and Chapel Hill, so that’s something for you guys to consider. There’s more in the way of shopping/entertainment in the central part of the state, so you’ll find plenty to do in Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham or the Charlotte area. Except for the beach, I’d stay away from the eastern end because it’s hotter than blazes and there is NOTHING to do. Tobacco fields as far as the eye can see! We do also have excellent ziplines in the western part of the state, along with log cabins, pretty views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, great hikes along the Parkway and relatively normal temperatures. We’re no Texas, but NC is a pretty big state, so y’all will definitely want to do some more research before you come visit!</p>
<p>I have to agree with bekahshoemake. Do not go into the eastern part because it is really just tobacco, cotton, corn, and everything else for miles and miles down the road. Plus, it is really boring out here. However, if you want to experience the sound and our swamps, then definitely come on out this way. But, I would advise against it.</p>
<p>The central part of the state is really a grab bag when it comes to weather. It can be either really hot and oppressive or rainy or nice or thundering and lightning with all hell breaking loose. So, I would just say make your stop here first and then make your way over to the mountains (which is really cool and nice all year round to me). I don’t think that it will be too hot to hike. You should do some research to see what you may interested in. I can give you some things to do in the central part since I am familiar with that area.</p>
<p>Raleigh: Marbles Kids Museum with the IMAX theater, North Carolina State, maybe The Pit for lunch (amazing NC BBQ place, be prepared to shell out big bucks though), shopping at Brier Creek or Crabtree malls, NC Art Museum
Chapel Hill: UNC-Chapel Hill of course, Franklin Street (right near campus and amazing place to pick up UNC gear)
Durham: Duke, NC Central (HBCU, one of the nicer schools in the state, rapid growth for research), Duke Gardens, NCSSM (one of the best high schools in the nation, spam for my high school), shopping at Northgate and Southpoint malls</p>
<p>I hope that I helped plan your trip! And have fun in NC!</p>