Gem Mountain offers mine trips and flume mining. Gems that can be collected and kept include rubies, sapphires, emeralds, aquamarine and more. The mining is always fun, but the covered flumes make this a perfect rainy-day activity. During the colder months, the flumes are closed in and heated, allowing Gem Mountain to be open March through December.

Carolina Beach State Park is located south of Wilmington on Pleasure Island near. It is on the Cape Fear River and Snow's Cut, a part of the Intercoastal Waterway.

The campground has 83 rustic sites and two bath houses with hot showers. The park does not offer electric and water hookups, but does have a dump station.

"Man, you should have been here last week!"

The slogan for the Kure Beach Fishing Pier is a reminder of the changing fortunes of fishing, and the benefits of fishing often. The Pier is a fun way to spend a day at the beach and to fill a cooler with fish for the freezer. Bait and tackle can be purchased at the Pier, as well as snacks and gifts.

Check their website for more information, fishing reports and a gallery of great catches.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area provides a glimpse into Civil War history as well as the opportunity for a great day at the beach.

Falls Lake State Park is just minutes north of Raleigh and offers endless opportunities for water recreation. Around the lake are a number of campgrounds and recreation areas. The campgrounds offer clean bath houses and private, rustic sites with hookups. Most campgrounds have boatramps, and the Division of Wildlife Resources also maintains some public boat ramps.

Jordan Lake is one of 3 lakes in the Research Triangle of North Carolina. Jordan is south of Durham and provides unlimited water recreation.

There are many great and well-maintained campgrounds around the lake, with Crosswinds being one of them. Nearby is the Crosswinds Marina as well as some local baitshops. The NC Division of Wildlife Resources maintains a boat ramp at Farrington Point.