North Carolina 7 days in August
 

I plan to bring my daughter and 18 year old grand daughter to NC in August. We will be flying to Raleigh and are looking for suggestions as to what we can't miss during our stay. We enjoy the beaches, history, seafood and the arts. At first I thought about getting a condo on the beach through vrbo someplace and making day trips from there but am now thinking it might be so much driving and am thinking about maybe 3-4 different locations to stay might be the way to go. One area I am thinking about is Wilmington, where else is good?. Are there any nice beach areas that are more relaxing and less crowded to go to? Any great seafood restaurants that aren't super expensive?
Thanks for any help you can give us.

I would split the time between a beach and the mountains - Asheville.

If you like history it is pretty hard to beat Old Salem. www.oldsalem.org It is about a two hour drive due west from Raleigh on I-40. Were you to decide to go with Starrs' suggestion of Asheville, it would be on your way.

If you want history at the beach, stay in the area of Atlantic Beach and visit Beaufort, NC. Best of both worlds!

Inexpensive seafood restaurants? the motherlode is Sanitary Fish Market in Morehead City (a mile from Beaufort) or Spouter Restaurant in Beaufort. Further down the coast go for Calabash!

Welcome to North Carolina and book your hotels, etc soon. It is a popular time to visit.

Old Salem is GREAT. Just a little west of Raleigh, and a great place to visit. Get some real Moravian sugar cake at the Winkler Bakery. I think they would also love to see Chapel Hill and UNC on the way to Wilmington and the beach there.
Wilmington-the beach and the historic district would be super.
That will fill your days. I wouldn't go as far west as Asheville for that length of time.

You got good advice. One other thing you should take into account: the heat. August is the hottest, most humid month of the year. If you plan to go to the beach book ahead. Many families take beach vacations to get a little relief.

The above suggestions to visit the Crystal Coast of North Carolina (Atlantic Beach, Morehead City, Beauford) and then head west to Old Salem are great! You posted that you enjoyed the arts, you should visit the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. Admission into the museum and museum park is free. However, there is a charge for special exhibits, films, and classes.

Enjoy!
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Thanks for the info everyone. I've got Wilmington for 2 nights, Atlantic Beach for 3 nights, New Bern 1 night and Raleigh booked for 1 night. Not sure if we should do 2 nights in Raleigh instead of 1 in New Bern or only do 1 night in Wilmington. We will definitely plan to visit the NC Museum in Raleigh as suggested. Does anyone have any thoughts on our itinerary so far??

Skip new bern and go for two in raleigh

Be sure and visit Beaufort while you are at Atlantic Beach. Did you book the Windjammer by chance?

I agree with cmfong. I also recommend the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.