The combination of crisp morning air, colorful blooming flowers and lush green foliage make spring in North Carolina a very special time of the year.

Here are some fun and exciting ways to spend a spring day in the Tar Heel State:

Golf in Pinehurst

One of America’s great, historic golf destinations, Pinehurst is an amazing place during the spring, with golfers playing on flower-laden golf courses similar to the azalea-rich Augusta National. There are more than 40 golf courses in the Pinehurst area with designer tags like Donald Ross, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, and Robert Trent Jones. After a day on the course, golfers may want to visit Pinehurst Village, which has the ambiance of a turn-of-the-century New England town and is loaded with specialty shops, art galleries, pubs, and restaurants. For a luxurious visit, you may want to stay in the posh Pinehurst Resort, which has eight golf courses, including the famous No. 2 course, site of many major golf championships.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

A ride on this railroad line is great any time of the year, but may be especially great in spring when flowers are in bloom and the train winds through lush, green valleys and through river gorges. Based in Bryson City, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad travels through 53 miles of track, 25 bridges, and two tunnels on its journey through western North Carolina. The route takes passengers through a southern section of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Cherokee, Pisgah, and Nantahala National Forests. Excursions to attractions like the Nantahala Gorge or Tuckasegee River last around four to five hours, with time set aside for lunch by a river or in an historic village.

North Carolina Azalea Festival

A celebration of the brilliantly-colored pink and red azalea blooms, this five-day festival in early April in Wilmington includes a parade, street fair, concerts, circus, and other events that celebrate Southern culture, history, and gardens. The festival, which started in 1948, attracts more than 300,000 people to Wilmington annually with more than 125 events. Visitors to the festival can see beauty queens in Southern Belle costumes and their escorts stroll through beautiful gardens at the annual garden party, listen to live musical concerts, and visit art shows featuring local artists, among other activities.

Merlefest

Looking for a great music festival? Founded in 1988, the Merlefest in late April in the town of Wilkesboro features 90 performers on 14 separate stages on the campus of Wilkes Community College. Artist Doc Watson created the festival to honor his deceased son Eddy Merle Watson. You’ll hear a wide variety of music, including bluegrass, jazz, country, Cajun, Celtic, Americana, folk and blues. Some of the artists who’ve appeared since the festival’s inception include Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Ricky Skaggs, Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill, John Prine, and Elvis Costello.

Block House Steeplechase

Staged in Tryon for the past 65 years, this event features races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, as well as an amateur race. Attended by nearly 20,000 spectators, the event’s appeal revolves around tailgating, a hat contest, and horse demonstrations ranging from carriage club to Paso Fino. Tailgating at the Block House Steeplechase is an art form, with many picnickers utilizing elegant displays to enhance the experience. If you don’t tailgate, make sure you have a sumptuous barbeque lunch prepared by Lindsey’s BBQ, located at the base of the tower by the sponsor’s area.