North Carolina Travel Guide
Perfect for travellers who seek unspoiled beaches or peaceful
mountain scenery, North Carolina is not a state known for its
high-paced cities and cultural attractions. Its two best features,
the mountains and the coast, are situated on opposite sides of the
state, with miles of sparsely populated ground separating them.The west is home to beautiful rugged mountains, valleys and
flower-filled meadows, waterfalls, streams and rivers brimming with
trout, scenic drives and miles of hiking trails. Sharing the border
with Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of
the most visited parks in the country with acres of virgin forests
and the oldest mountains on earth. Snaking its way along the
backbone of the Blue Ridge Mountain Range is the dramatic Blue
Ridge Parkway providing magnificent scenery and elevated views on
its way towards Virginia.To the east is the Atlantic coast with good beaches, fascinating
historical sites and natural refuges that stretch from the thin
band of barrier islands known as the Outer Banks to the Cape Fear
Coast and the seaport of Wilmington in the south. Apart from
seaside holiday resorts, most of the beaches, dunes and marsh areas
are protected within the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and there
are plenty of recreational activities such as surfing, fishing,
swimming and birdwatching on offer.The central Piedmont, or Heartland, lies between the coastal
plains and the mountains and is a largely industrial and
agricultural region of textile and tobacco towns, dominated by the
academic institutions of the celebrated Research Triangle, a trio
of university towns including Durham, the state capital of Raleigh,
and Chapel Hill. A typically southern pace of life exists among the
rolling farmland and picturesque golf courses despite the growth
and swift economic progress, with landscapes reminiscent of the
writings of Southern authors such as Thomas Wolfe.
North Carolina Travel Guide
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North Carolina Travel Guide
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Description:
Designed as a scenic drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile
(755km) road connecting the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North
Carolina-Tennessee border. Running through the Southern
Appalachians, most of the roadway follows the spine of the Blue
Ridge Range providing stunning scenery and magnificent vistas of
distant mountain peaks, twisting through mountainous country that
would otherwise be inaccessible. It was begun in 1935 to link the
parks and also to provide employment during the Great Depression,
and today the parkway attracts more than 20 million visitors
annually. Its main attraction is the endless dramatic viewpoints
overlooking forested mountains and valleys, and the rich autumn
colours that blaze in October that are the highlight of the year,
drawing crowds of motorists. The parkway's highest elevation of
6,047ft (1,843m) at Richland Balsam Overlook has magnificent views.
The road provides access to many hiking trails, including a section
of the Appalachian Trail that follows the parkway from Mile 0 to
Mile 103, as well as unusual rock formations, impressive
waterfalls, wild flowers, lakes, and camping and picnic sites.
Along the way are visitor centres, food and modern lodgings nestled
in striking mountain scenery.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(828) 298 0398 or (828) 271 4779
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/blri
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Description:
Straddling the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, the
Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts many natural assets that
have made this one of the most visited national parks in the
country. The Smoky Mountains, named for the blue smoke-like mist
that frequently hovers in the air (caused by the natural oils and
water vapour released into the air by the plants), are the oldest
mountains in the world. The mountainsides are covered in an
unparalleled diversity of wildflowers, plants and trees, and the
park is renowned for its multitude of birds, fish and mammals,
particularly black bears.Within its vast wilderness are streams, rivers and waterfalls,
acres of virgin forest and miles of hiking trails, including part
of the Appalachian Trail that runs along the crest of the mountains
through the park. Remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture
can be discovered in the numerous historic buildings around the
park, many of them found in the isolated mountain valley of Cades
Cove that features cultural history as well as many recreational
opportunities. Barns, churches, farmhouses and a gristmill
preserved from the pioneer settlers of the 19th century can be
viewed along the one-way loop road that is the most popular way to
visit the Cove. The land was once sacred to the Cherokee who were
brutally removed from their ancestral home in 1838 to Oklahoma
along the Trail of Tears, but some remained hidden in the mountains
and the Quall Indian reservation was later formed, sharing part of
the park's southern border.On the edge of the park the town of Cherokee (North Carolina)
and Gatlinburg (Tennessee) offer extensive visitor facilities, and
the smaller towns of Bryson City (North Carolina) and Townsend
(Tennessee) are more pleasant but with limited services. During
summer and autumn, accommodation can be booked up for weeks and
roads leading to the park become jammed with traffic. The
headquarters of the North Carolina side of the park is the
Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(865) 436 1200, or (828) 926 1686 (Oconaluftee Visitor
Center)
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/grsm
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Description:
Asheville's historic attractions are best seen from
aboard a vintage trolley. This narrated tour features the town's
memorable sites such as the Montford Historic District, the Grove
Park Inn and Biltmore Village. The Thomas Wolfe memorial and Grove
Arcade Building are also included in the tour. The ghost tours add
a darker twist...
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(888) 667 3600
Email:
Website:
www.ashevilletrolleytours.com
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Description:
Established in 1901 and spanning 67 acres, these gardens by the
sea comprise formal gardens, a butterfly garden, wildlife, historic
structures, walking trails, sculptures, freshwater lakes and
breathtaking views over Bradley Creek. Airlie Gardens are best
known for their collection of over 1,000 azaleas, their countless
cultivars of camellia and the Airlie Oak, the gardens' majestic
centrepiece dating back to 1545. Airlie offers various events
throughout the year, including kayak eco tours, oyster roasts and
concerts.
Address:
300 Airlie Road
Postcode:
Telephone:
(910) 798 7700
Email:
Website:
www.airliegardens.org
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Description:
Beautiful Bald Head Island lies off the tip of the Cape Fear
peninsula, a serene retreat to a simpler way of life. Scattered
along the tiny island's beaches and tidal creeks, and nestled amid
its maritime forest, are stunning homes carefully constructed in
the coastal architectural style to complement their natural
surroundings. Many are available as holiday rentals, and year after
year, families board the ferry at Southport, the only way to reach
the island, for a week or two of relaxation. Bald Head is also a
lovely day trip, however. There are no cars on the island, so
visitors are free to meander along the roads on bicycles or golf
carts. Other than the tiny, picturesque harbour, the country club
and the Old Baldy Lighthouse, the main attractions are the sun, the
sand and the quiet.
Address:
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Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.baldheadisland.com
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Description:
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has recreated a
series of natural environments, complete with living animals and a
20-foot-high (6m) waterfall, through which visitors can walk and
discover North Carolina's diverse geography, geology, plants and
animals. The museum is also home to Willo, a 66-million-year-old
dinosaur skeleton, the only one in the world with a fossilized
heart. Other dinosaurs are also on display, as is one of the
world's finest great whale skeletons. The Afro Café serves tasty
breakfasts and lunches.
Address:
11 W. Jones Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(919) 733 7450
Email:
Website:
www.naturalsciences.org
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Description:
Artspace is a pioneering visual arts centre that allows the
public to become part of the creative process. As the heart of
Raleigh's arts community, Artspace stages countless challenging and
award-winning exhibitions, workshops, outreach programs and public
events each year. Its unique open studio environment enables
artists to collaborate with one another and with visitors. Today,
it is the second-largest open studio space in the country.
Address:
201 E. Davie St
Postcode:
Telephone:
(919) 821 2787
Email:
Website:
www.artspacenc.org
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Description:
The collection at the North Carolina Museum of Art spans 5,000
years, from ancient Egypt up to the present day. Ancient pieces
include Greek and Roman sculptures and vases, but it is the
European collection that is internationally celebrated. This
includes significant works from the Renaissance through
Impressionist periods by artists such as Botticelli, Raphael and
Monet. American art, however, is certainly not neglected. The
museum has a range of 18th and 19th-century American works as well
as modern art by major contemporary artists. The museum shop offers
books, posters and other art-related merchandise, while the Blue
Ridge restaurant, overlooking the lush grounds scattered with
sculptures, serves delicious lunches.
Address:
2110 Blue Ridge Rd
Postcode:
Telephone:
(919) 839 6262
Email:
Website:
www.ncartmuseum.org
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Description:
The Liville Caverns are an underground labyrinth of rooms and
passageways moulded out of the rock-bed beneath Humpback Mountain
by years of flowing water. The caverns were first discovered in the
19th century when it appeared that fish were swimming out the
mountain. Today, guided tours make this extraordinary attraction
available to all.
Address:
19929 US 221 North, Marion (4 miles south of the Blue
Ridge Parkway)
Postcode:
Telephone:
(828) 756 4171
Email:
info@linvillecaverns.com
Website:
www.linvillecaverns.com
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Description:
Famous as the site of the Wright Brothers' first flight in 1903,
Kitty Hawk is a sleepy village on the North Carolina coast that
offers visitors the chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as
kayaking, boating, golf, fishing, surfing, and more. The town
itself has a few shops and restaurants, and family entertainment
like cinemas and mini golf. The most popular attraction in Kitty
Hawk is the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Visitor
Centre.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.townofkittyhawk.org
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