North Carolina MountainsThe magnificent
North Carolina mountains in the west of the state are an outdoor enthusiast's paradise with hiking and biking trails through miles of national parks and forests, grand landscapes and beautiful mountain roadways, and attractive towns that are the perfect base for exploring the area. Natural attractions and outdoor activities abound.
One of the best ways to see the area is to drive along the scenic
Blue Ridge Parkway, which snakes its way along the spine of the Blue Ridge and
Smoky Mountains from
Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. The national park is the most visited in the state and offers a variety of walking trails, including part of the
Appalachian Trail that traverses the park on its way from
Georgia to
Maine. The Blue Ridge Parkway also leads to the holistic center of
Asheville where the Biltmore Estate and Winery, an enormous chateau-styled mansion built for the incredibly rich Vanderbilt family, is located.
Other natural attractions include the highest mountain in the
Blue Ridge Mountain Range, the Grandfather Mountain, with its Mile High Swinging Bridge, and the natural granite tower of Chimney Rock. The mighty waterfall, sheer cliffs and unusual rock formations are the famous site of filming of the final scenes of 'The Last of the Mohicans'. The
Nantahala River Gorge is home to one of the most popular whitewater rafting and kayaking destinations in the country with rapids to suit beginners and experts alike.
Climate: The mountainous area of North Carolina has a mild temperate climate, cooler in summer than the lower regions of the State, but humid. Winters are moderate with temperatures above freezing (colder in the highest elevations on the mountaintops). Spring and summer are generally sunny, though hikers should be prepared for unpredictable changes. Fall has warm days and cool nights and is the driest time of year. Rainfall is plentiful year round. Frosts occur from late September.
North Carolina CoastBarrier islands stretch the whole length of North Carolina's coastline, with sandy beaches, estuaries and enclosed lagoons, and some remarkable historic sites.
The thin curving line of sand bar islands, linked by bridges and ferries, shelters the mainland from the
Atlantic Ocean and has become a popular tourist destination, with many developed holiday resorts. These are known as the
Outer Banks and include the islands of Bodie,
Roanoke, Hatteras and Ocracoke. Much of the area has been spared over-development by its inclusion in the
Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores, with wildlife refuges, stretches of undeveloped beaches, tall dunes and salt marshes that are home to a variety of birds. Among the historic sites of interest is
Roanoke Island, where the continent's earliest settlers, known as the Lost Colony, vanished inexplicably shortly after their landing in 1587; and the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk commemorates the world's first powered flight in 1903.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches for 70 miles (113km) down the Outer Banks barrier islands and has a wealth of history relating to shipwrecks and lighthouses. Once known as the 'Graveyard of the Atlantic', wrecks of over 600 ships lie in the treacherous waters along the coast. The park's fishing and surfing are considered to be the best on the East Coast, and beautiful beaches provide opportunities for many different water activities. In contrast to the shops, restaurants, accommodation, and recreational opportunities offered by the small towns on Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout is a beach wilderness that is unconnected to the mainland and remains undeveloped, offering a comparatively pristine beach experience.
At the southern end of the North Carolina Coast in the
Cape Fear Coastal area is the beach resort of
Wilmington. Although the largest seaport on the coast, it is an attractive and friendly town with an appealing historic district around its waterfront, and the cobbled streets and boardwalk lined with cafes and restaurants have a welcoming atmosphere.
Climate: Situated midway between
New York and
Florida, the 'Crystal Coast' of North Carolina is well-placed to have the seasonal weather of the north, but south in latitude enough for extremes to be counteracted by the influence of the offshore Gulf Stream. The coast averages 212 days of sunshine a year, has a low rainfall and snow is a great rarity. Summer breezes keep temperatures balmy and humidity at bay. The area has often been hit by hurricanes, but this does not deter holidaymakers from enjoying the great vacation weather.
AshevilleNestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the beautiful, spirited and eclectic town of Asheville has long been a haven for artists, poets and visionaries. In this rugged region of majestic terrain, the '
Paris of the South' is a cultural epicenter with an extensive display of wonderfully preserved Art Deco, Beaux Arts and Neoclassical architectural triumphs. These structures hint at Asheville's fascinating history as an elite getaway during America's Gilded Age. One of its premier cultural attractions is Biltmore Estate, the largest home in the country, commissioned in 1895 by
George Vanderbilt. Today, its magnificent grounds boast a luxurious inn, stunning gardens and an award-winning winery. Its 8,000 acres offer visitors a taste of the abundance of outdoor activities the Asheville region offers, including hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, rafting and golfing.
Downtown Asheville is a vibrant destination for both tourists and locals, with buzzing arts and music scenes. The Urban Trail offers visitors a comprehensive understanding of the town. Its 30 landmark sculptures, arranged along a lovely walk through downtown streets, reveal Asheville's legends and lore. Countless galleries showcase hundreds of artists, from fine to hip to folk artists and mountain craftsmen. The music and performing arts scenes include a symphony orchestra, an opera company and dozens of venues for bluegrass and folk, jazz and blues, and rock and alternative music. The local writers' scene is thriving, and Asheville natives like
Thomas Wolfe, whose boyhood home is now a historic site downtown, and
Charles Frazier, who penned
Cold Mountain-the novel's namesake is located just 35 miles (56km) from Asheville-have had significant impacts in the literary world. Shoppers will delight in the many antique shops, funky boutiques and farmers tailgate markets found throughout the area, as well as in historic Grove Arcade, another of Asheville's architectural gems, a bustling marketplace with unique shopping and dining options.
Wilmington (NC)Wilmington, saved through a massive revitalization effort about 30 years ago, is today as charming and quaint as Southern towns come. Rambling antebellum mansions, rescued from ruin by ardent preservationists and now restored to their former glory, sit back from shady, tree-lined lanes that lead toward the
Cape Fear River and Wilmington's historic downtown district. Here, brick-paved streets overflow with shops offering delectable sweets, stylish and funky clothing as well as resort wear, handmade jewelry and crafts. Locals lounge alongside tourists at sidewalk cafés and coffee shops before taking a stroll on the system of boardwalks and promenades along the Cape Fear River. Dining here is an art, featuring genuine 'barbecue', the noun rather than the verb, meaning pit-cooked pork, with sides of collard greens and hush puppies as well as fine low country cuisine in beautifully restored buildings, where a guest might indulge in an exquisitely presented meal of shrimp and grits. In recent years, this small but picturesque area has earned a major reputation in the film and television industry as the headquarters of
EUE Screen Gems Studios and the site of multiple films as well as television hits like
Dawson's Creek.
Wilmington's other draw is its Atlantic coastline, well worth the drive across town through unremarkable suburbs and sprawling shopping centers. Across a short bridge spanning the
Intracoastal Waterway lies the beautiful barrier island of
Wrightsville Beach, a breathtakingly lovely hideaway of pastel beach houses raised on high pilings and weathered fishing piers. A handful of upmarket shops, beach gear outfitters and restaurants are the only distractions from the warm blue-green waves dotted with surfers, the boats skimming along the Intracoastal and the endless stretches of sandy beach bordered by dunes and sea oats.
Wrightsville's reputation as a quiet, classy, family destination is carefully guarded. Farther down the peninsula toward the tip of Cape Fear, there are other pretty beaches, like
Kure and Carolina, though none with quite the same charm as Wrightsville. However, along the ocean and the myriad inlets and waterways of the Wilmington area, visitors will discover pockets of the quintessential coastal South. The images of oyster gatherers in their wellies, wading in the marshland mud, and of shrimp trawlers against the sunset are not soon forgotten.
RaleighNorth Carolina's capital,
Raleigh, makes up the southeastern corner of the famous
Research Triangle, with
Durham and Chapel Hill at the other two points. The state's second-largest city is a vital center of high-tech business and education. Unlike many cities that grew up around ports or stations, Raleigh was planned specifically to be the capital. At its center stands the beautiful North Carolina Capitol building, a fine Greek Revival-style landmark, from which wide, oak-lined streets radiate. This careful geometry makes exploring Raleigh quite straightforward, although the city lacks the charming scenes that often develop with more haphazard growth, such as shops on crooked alleyways and old homes on narrow, hidden lanes. Nonetheless, Raleigh remains a pleasant city, with a unique mix of Southern heritage and down-home manners; elite academia and boisterous university life and athletics; and the fast-paced, sleek sophistication of Triangle professionals.
Raleigh has been described as somewhat sleepy in the past, but its nightlife scene has become much livelier in recent years, and its diverse historic districts and neighborhoods cater to many different tastes. The area surrounding the Capitol is the center of government, business and history. Despite its daytime bustle, it remains a lovely spot for a stroll, with grand museums and a leafy square. Nearby Oakwood is full of exquisitely restored 19th century homes and gardens. Moore Square, with its old-fashioned lampposts and cobbled streets, is another city oasis. By day, visitors can lounge in the park and must rub for good luck the giant copper acorn sculpture, in honor of Raleigh's 'City of Oaks' nickname. By night, Moore Square comes alive with upscale bars and restaurants, as do pedestrian Fayettesville Street and the chic Warehouse district, popular with Raleigh's 'urban hip' crowd. Shoppers should head for the posh shops of
North Hills or the boutiques of Cameron Village. Those in search of a more colorful atmosphere, however, will find it on Hillsborough Street and in the
NC State University district, where a jumble of undergrads, professors and tourists mingle in coffeehouses, restaurants and casual pubs.
NC State is the North Carolina's largest university, and its strong reputation for research is often overshadowed by its wildly popular
Wolfpack, a leader in intercollegiate sports.
Raleigh is often lumped together with nearby cities Durham and Chapel Hill, and though the three are only about a 30-minute drive from one another, there are different communities. Durham was once one of the most thriving African-American centers in the country. Today, its main attraction is
Duke University, one of the top schools in the
United States and home of the
Blue Devils, another sports powerhouse. Its downtown areas, however, have suffered in the past years, although revitalization efforts are underway. Chapel Hill, meanwhile, has the reputation of a lovely college town, with beautiful old homes; endless independently-owned coffee shops, pubs and restaurants; and a decidedly liberal leaning. It is home to the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, another top American institution, and the beloved
Tar Heels, another top force in college athletics. The three cities, and their massive college sports followings, remain friendly rivals.
Getting Around: While it is possible to walk in Raleigh within certain districts, especially in the central downtown area, a car is highly recommended. Raleigh is a big city, and destinations are spread out, though navigating the area by car is relatively straightforward. Capitol Area Transit (CAT) operates a bus system; regular fare is $1. When in need of a taxi, it is best to call ahead for one, as it can be difficult to hail one on the street.
Climate: Raleigh has a moderate subtropical climate. Although it has four seasons, warm weather is common throughout spring, summer and autumn. Summers can be quite hot and humid, while the spring and autumn seasons are extremely pleasant and sunny. Winters are mild, with somewhat chilly temperatures but very rare snowfalls.
