10.  North Carolina Arboretum

This exceptional arboretum encompasses 434 acres. It was founded in 1986 and is nestled in the verdant Bent Creek Experimental Forest south of Asheville, adjacent to the previously mentioned Blue Ridge Parkway. The arboretum was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed the landscape around the Biltmore Estate. It includes 65 acres of beautiful, cultivated gardens. Highlights include bonsai trees, various indoor and outdoor events and exhibitions, sculpture displays, and more than 10 miles of scenic hiking trails.