One of the most distinct features of North Carolina is its 300 miles of coastline.The Wright Brothers Memorial in Kill Devil Hills and the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington are just two of countless historical sites to visit. There are three aquariums in the state: at Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores and Manteo. Also in this region are the Outer Banks, an area unique to North Carolina and Virginia. The Outer Banks are connected to the mainland via ferries, so if you are traveling there, you should check the schedule before beginning a trip. Also, because either car or ferry is the main mode of transportation in the coastal area, route planning is essential to visiting the beaches.
The Appalachian Mountains dominate the western side of the state. At least a seven-hour drive from most of the beaches, the mountains offer a different sort of landscape. From the Great Smoky Mountains to the ski slopes in Boone and bluegrass music in Asheville, the area is ripe for the explorer. One of the most scenic ways to see the Appalachians is to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile stretch of highway running through North Carolina and Virginia. Like the beaches, route-planning is essential when traversing the North Carolina mountains. Asheville and Boone are good hubs from which to explorer or set up a base camp for outdoor adventures. You can find canoeing, white-water rafting, hiking, skiing and rock-climbing in abundance. During the summer, Sliding Rock near Asheville offers a cool dip and natural water slide.
North Carolina is ripe with metropolitan areas, both emerging and traditional. Charlotte, the largest city in area and population, offers plenty of activities to those looking for fun. Downtown Charlotte is bustling, and there are restaurants, bars, theater and sporting events, including Carolina Panthers football in the fall. Charlotte also has a major airport that serves as a Southern hub for several airlines and a recently built Light Rail system, known as LYNX. Raleigh, the state capital, is also an up-and-coming city, home to Carolina Hurricanes hockey and North Carolina State University. Nearby Durham and Chapel Hill contain Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill respectively, which are longstanding athletic rivals. The main highway to access these cities is Interstate 40, which can be busy during rush hour.
While North Carolina offers different landscapes from coast to coast, there is also much to do in between. Pinehurst, located in the middle Sandhills region of the state, is a popular destination for golfers and tennis players. Pinehurst is also known for its quaint homes, some of which have become bed and breakfasts. Lexington, located south of Winston-Salem, is well known as a famous stop for barbecued pork and chicken. Pittsboro, a small community 20 minutes south of Chapel Hill, is known for its pottery studios and galleries.
