3 ways to experience Nicholas Sparks' new book set in Asheboro, North Carolina

Beloved author Nicholas Sparks' new book " Counting Miracles " comes out Sept. 24. It's set in Asheboro, N.C., about a 90-minute drive from Charlotte and Raleigh.

Here are a few ways to explore Asheboro like the characters in the book.

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Head to the zoo

Tanner Hughes, one of the main characters in "Counting Miracles," visits the North Carolina Zoo.

If you go: The state-owned zoo is at 4401 Zoo Pkwy . Hours vary by season. General admission is $15 for adults and $11 for children ages 2-12. Children under age 2 get in free.

• [Go deeper: 13 kid-friendly things to do in and around the Triangle / 20+ family-friendly activities to check out around Charlotte ]

Say hi to Winnie (center), a hamadryas baboon, who was born at the North Carolina Zoo on June 16. Photo: Courtesy of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

Go for a hike

Uwharrie National Forest is a central part of the story.

If you go: Check out Pisgah Covered Bridge at 6900 Pisgah Covered Bridge Road Asheboro . You'll find a 0.25-mile hike here.

Check out Birkhead Mountains Wilderness for a moderate or strenuous hike. You can access 15 miles of trails at these trailheads:

• Thornburg : 3977 Lassiter Mill Road Asheboro
• Tot Hill Farm : 3091 Tot Hill Farm Rd Asheboro

View at Walker's Creek in Uwharrie National Forest. Photo: Mary Joan Pugh/Courtesy of HeartofNorthCarolina.com

Head downtown

Explore Asheboro's downtown, including Four Saints Brewing Company ( 218 S Fayetteville St Asheboro, N.C. ) and Antiques & Geeks ( 227 Sunset Ave. ).

• Fun fact: From Thursday to Saturday, Asheboro is a social district , meaning you can buy an alcoholic drink from a participating business, then sip and stroll through a designated part of downtown with it.

Downtown Asheboro. Photo: Courtesy of HeartofNorthCarolina.com

Zoom out: Most of Sparks books have been set in North Carolina, as you can see on the map below: