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The Best of North Carolina 2024 (Presented by NC Tripping)

Published by Carl. Last Updated on November 25, 2024.

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We are excited to launch the 2024 Best of North Carolina Awards, chosen by NC Tripping's readers and social media followers.

Jump to Vote for Your Best of NC

This is our fourth annual Best of NC Awards, where we feature local businesses and destinations in North Carolina across four major categories, including:

  • Getaways
  • Outdoors
  • Food and Drink
  • Community

Our readers and social media followers (aka you) nominated picks from November 10 to 24, 2024, followed by voting (jump to vote) for the Best of NC from November 26 to December 15, 2024.

Categories

Best of North Carolina 2024 Awards Logo a blue and white circle with a lighthouse and text

Here’s the order in which you can vote for your Best of North Carolina 2024:

  • Getaways Category
  • Outdoors Category
  • Food and Drink Category
    • Best Breakfast Restaurant
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner and NC Tripping’s Pick: Gogo’s Cinnamon Rolls (Old Fort)
    • Best Barbecue Restaurant
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Stamey’s (Greensboro)
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: The Smoke Pit (Concord)
    • Best Ice Cream
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Howling Cow Dairy (Raleigh)
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: Boombalatti’s (Wilmington and Hampstead)
    • Best Burger
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner and NC Tripping’s Pick: Nick’s Old Fashioned Hamburger (Lexington)
    • Best Brewery
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Flying Machine Brewing Company (Wilmington)
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: Fullsteam Brewery (Durham)
    • Best Winery
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Grandfather Mountain Vineyard (Banner Elk)
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: Raffaldini Vineyards & Winery (Ronda)
    • Best Distillery
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Fainting Goat Spirits (Greensboro)
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: End of Days Distillery (Wilmington)
  • Community Category
    • Best Sports Team
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heels
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: Carolina Hurricanes
    • Best Downtown
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Blowing Rock
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: Sylva
    • Best Dog-Friendly Destination
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Asheville
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: We Don’t Have a Dog
    • Best Annual Festival
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Merlefest (Wilkesboro)
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: NC Mountain State Fair (Fletcher)
    • Best Museum
    • Best Locally Owned Business
      • 2023 Readers’ Winner: Shark Shack (Atlantic Beach)
      • 2023 NC Tripping’s Pick: Burnette’s Country Store (Spruce Pine)
    • NC’s Strongest Community (NEW Category)

2021 Best of NC Awards Winners
2022 Best of NC Awards Winners
2023 Best of NC Awards Winners

2024 Best of NC Updates and Changes

To continue improving The Best of NC, we made the following updates and changes to the awards for 2024:

  • “Getaways” Category
    • Paused “Best Mountain Getaway” Out of Respect to our Friends in Western NC
  • “Outdoors” Category
    • Removed “Best Lake”
  • “Food and Drink” Category
    • Removed “Best Hot Dog”
  • “Community” Category
    • Added “NC’s Strongest Community”

Read More: The North Carolina Bucket List Book

Vote for Your Best of NC 2024

Now, without further ado, here is your chance to vote for the Best of North Carolina 2024.

While We Wait for the Best of North Carolina 2024 Awards Winners

We want to thank you and everyone who participates in this Best of NC Awards. We love sharing our passion for this wonderful state we call North Carolina with you.

While we wait to announce the next stage of 2024’s Best of North Carolina, stay tuned for more articles and social media posts from us. You can also subscribe to receive our weekly email newsletter.

Don’t forget to share your picks for the Best of NC in our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group!

More of The Best of NC

We have featured these Best of North Carolina award winners and finalists in many of our NC Travel Guides. Here are some guides to help you explore this amazing state.