North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina has something for everybody, from the Great Smoky Mountains in the west to the Outer Banks in the east. You might consider it the epicenter of the east coast outdoors scene with the tallest waterfall, oldest tree, and highest mountains east of the Rockies. It’s also the first place the Gulf Stream comes close to shore north of West Palm Beach, Florida.

Culturally and geographically, it’s in the Mid South. It’s the birthplace of NSACAR, they drink sweet tea and say y’all, but the Research Triangle is home to three major research universities: North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You’re far enough south to have beach days in the summer and far enough north for fall color and winter skiing in the mountains.

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Language(s)

English

Currency

US Dollar

Exercise Normal Precautions
Summer Winter
Asheville 83 28
Raleigh 89 33
Wilmington 89 37
Outlets
Type-A
Type-B

Best Time to Visit

North Carolina vacations have two general flavors, mountains or beach. Summer is the high season for the beach as well as hiking and camping in the mountains. However, there are four seasons for mountain sports, with five major ski resorts for winter fun, wonderful fall leaf peeping, and spring waterfalls.

Fun Facts

  • High Point in North Carolina is the furniture capital of the world
  • Fort Bragg is the largest military base in America
  • The 480′ Fontana Dam in North Carolina is the tallest dam in the eastern US
  • North Carolina didn’t have a state flag until 1861
  • The Biltmore Estate in Asheville is the largest mansion in America
  • The Collettsville Cup House (AKA House of Mugs) is decorated with over 20,000 coffee mugs
  • The North Carolina Zoo is the world’s largest natural habitat zoo.
  • The oldest woman to run a marathon was North Carolina’s Harriette Thompson
  • Asheville has the most breweries per capita in the US

Bucket-List Activities

  • Seeing wild mustangs (Corolla / Outer Banks)
  • Mountain Biking on granite slick rock trails (Dupont State Forest)
  • Hang gliding at the birthplace of aviation (Kitty Hawk)
  • Watching blue ghost fireflies (Dupont State Forest)
  • Sliding on Sliding Rock (Brevard)
  • Visit the Biltmore Estate (Ashville)
  • Cross America’s highest suspension footbridge (Grandfather Mountain / Linville)
  • Biking 300 miles of urban greenways (Raleigh / Durham)

Natural Wonders

  • Whitewater Falls (881′ – the highest waterfall east of the Rockies)
  • Black River / Three Sisters Swamp (the oldest tree east of the Rockies, a 2,624-year-old cypress)
  • Jockey’s Ridge State Park (the largest sand dunes in the east)
  • Bay Lakes / Carolina Bays (roughly 900 perfectly round lakes with mysterious origins)
  • Linville Gorge (the Grand Canyon of North Carolina)
  • The Outer Banks (200 miles of barrier islands)
  • Mt Mitchell (6,684′, the highest peak East of the Mississippi)
  • Lake Mattamuskeet (the largest natural lake in North Carolina)

Major Attractions

  • NASCAR Hall of Fame (Charlotte)
  • Leaf peeping along the Blue Ridge Parkway
  • North Carolina Zoo (Asheboro)
  • Hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Outer Banks)

Native Foods

  • Pepsi
  • Krispy Kreme
  • Sweet Potato (North Carolina produces the most sweet potatoes in America)
  • Texas Pete Hot Sauce (don’t let the name fool you)
  • Carolina BBQ (pork brushed with a spice-and-vinegar mop while cooking and served with a tomato-based sauce on the side)
  • Charlotte / Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT ✈✈✈✈) – North Carolina’s largest city and an American Airlines hub
  • Raleigh / Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU ✈✈✈✈) – The state capital and gateway to the research triangle
  • Greensboro / Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO ✈✈✈) – The name says it all; it’s the Piedmont Triad airport
  • Asheville / Asheville Regional Airport (AVL ✈✈✈) – North Carolina’s mountain town
  • Wilmington / Wilmington International Airport (ILM ✈✈) – The major city on the North Carolina coast
  • Fayetteville / Fayetteville Regional Airport (Grannis Field) (ILM ✈✈) – Home to Fort Bragg and the Cape Fear River
  • Jacksonville / Albert J. Ellis Airport (OAJ ✈✈) – Home to Onslow Bay, where the New River reaches the Atlantic Ocean
  • Concord / Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (JQF ✈✈) – Alternative airport for Charlotte
  • New Bern / Coastal Carolina Regional Airport (EWN ✈✈) -the second-oldest European settled colonial town in North Carolina
  • Greenville / Pitt–Greenville Airport (PGV ✈) -Home to ECU and some fun things to do
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