Custom Carolina's Summer Rewind

It is crazy to think it is already August. As a student and biz owner I am quite overwhelmed by that, but Fall is my FAVORITE season by a landslide so I am excited for all the cozy vibes.

I also really love summer and really loved this one. I explored a lot of new places and revisited my personal favorites. That being said, I detailed my favorite summer experiences, in each region of North Carolina, for those looking for more things to do to wrap up summertime or people like me that need a bucket list or plan for everything! This would make a great bucket list for next summer.

We also kept track of our summer adventures on Instagram and TikTok @customcarolinatravel. Our last post featured restaurants in North Carolina featured by the one and only Food Network, so don't stop here for summer fun! Check us out on our socials for more things to do and just who we are.

Without further ado, here are the ultimate summer experiences in NC for you...

Coast:

• Basin Trail at Fort Fisher Recreation Center, Kure Beach

• Playa Bowls: Nothing beats acai by the beach

• Learned how to properly eat crab legs at Shuckin Shack in Carolina Beach: Yes I know I should have learned this earlier 

• Experienced a garden day: Strolled through Airlie Gardens and New Hanover Arboretum for tropical botanic views 

• Stayed at the new Trailborn Surf and Sound: Enjoyed complimentary beach access, watercraft rentals, hammocks, and more in the heart of Wrightsville. 

Triangle:

• Pickleball at Pinpoint: Pickleball, bars, golf simulators, you name it. 

• Brunch at Birdie’s 

• Cooled off with all natural gelato at Amorino 

• Reveled in the Blue Whale exhibit at the Museum of Natural Sciences: You can too until early September!

• Brought Europe to Raleigh in Lafayette Village, a French style shopping and dining center that feels like a slice of Europe

Charlotte and LKN:

• Brakeman’s Coffee: Like stepping into a living room inside and a garden outside 

• Swimming in Lake Davidson: Isolated from LKN so less boat traffic

• So. much. Topgolf: Amazing deals during the week

• Explored the updated Camp Northend: My typical lineup here now includes Hex Coffee, Gravity Sourdough Pizza or Room Service for lunch,  shopping at Voyage, Grow, Good Postage, Hardy Boys Records, That’s Novel Books, and finishing off with Seemingly Overzealous gluten, dairy, and egg free ice cream. 

• Took a quick day trip to Lexington NC for Elevated Wake Park: This all age, all skill level welcoming, family owned wake park and water park is such a perfect summer experience. 

Mountains:

• Ziplining at The Gorge in Saluda for my birthday: Ranked top 10 nationally for a reason

• Hiked Little Bradley and swam under a refreshing waterfall: Helene made this a work for the prize situation… 

• Swam in the Watauga River in Boone: Use the Guy Ford River Access

• Hiked Craggy Pinnacle near Asheville to see the lush green mountains that make summer so beautiful 

• Ate my way through Blackberry Fest in Beech Mountain: In July, the local businesses in Beech Mountain offer blackberry themed treats and experiences. 

We hope you love NC over the summer as much as we do. It is a truly special place and season. If you are looking for local experiences as good as these, we want to make it easier for you to reach them. Click here for our itineraries to keep the adventuring flowing even when summer ends. We tailor our itineraries around your schedule and budget and with the busyness of fall, you might need a getaway;) Now is the best time to look because our LABOR DAY SALE is ongoing through August so our weekend itineraries are literally the price of a meal.

I want to wrap this post up by sincerely thanking you. Yes, you, because if you are reading this right now you have played an active role in making Custom Carolina come to life.

We were a brand new business going into this summer and we are leaving this summer with almost 200 people exploring with us, our first people exploring with our itineraries, and feedback that has dramatically shaped the trajectory of our next steps. Your eyes simply being on this post is making dreams come true, so THANK YOU!

Enjoy the rest of your summer and happy travels!