Free Vacation Rental Homes Magazine and Forums

Whether lounging on the beach or hiking through the Appalachians sounds most appealing, North Carolina has it all!

North Carolina’s geographical terrain, from mountains in the Appalachians to barrier islands in the Atlantic Ocean, offers visitors a variety of activities in varied and spectacular landscapes. Along with the area’s three regions, which include the famed coastline, mountains and industrialized towns, there are also several historical attractions. North Carolina has a rich African American heritage, is home to the Wright Brothers’ legendary first flight and is also the area where much of America’s formative history took place.

The coastal region of North Carolina, one of the most renowned coasts in the country, is known for its popular vacation destinations. Visit the Outer Banks, a strip of islands famed for their sand dunes, white beaches and lighthouses; the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge; Cape Fear and Bald Head Island. There are also fishing communities, colonial villages and great recreational options like hang gliding, scuba diving, kayaking, and even wolf watching! Heading south takes you to the Emerald Coast, home to Morehead City, Topsail Island, Emerald Isle, and Atlantic Beach. Delicious sea food restaurants, white sand, and optimal surf make this a great playground for kids of any age.

There are some key attractions that you should definitely fit into your itinerary. For a lofty experience visit the hallowed ground where the first powered flights took place, at the Wright Brothers Museum in Kill Devil Hills or climb America’s tallest lighthouse at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. There are several options for historical sightseeing. Roanoke Island was home to some of the first British settlers. New Bern is the colonial village that was the state capital in its early years. Wilmington, one of the most important harbors for the confederacy, has various museums and interesting architecture. Other than its historical significance, Wilmington, dubbed the “Hollywood of the East”, is a popular film location and also has the unusual distinction of having the oldest living Christmas tree, a 400-year-old oak!

Nature and wildlife are abundant in this region. The Croatan National Forest is considered the only true coastal national forest, while beautiful Cedar Island Wildlife Refuge is one of the state’s many parks that protect coastal wildlife. Drop in at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and try and spot one of its toothy inhabitants. You must also indulge in some seafood cooked Calabash style. A fishing village on the Atlantic coast of the state lends its name to this style, which involves either frying fresh seafood, steaming it with drawn butter or broiling it lightly with a squeeze of lemon juice.

The area encompassing the Appalachian Mountains and its foothills has spectacular scenery and a great variety of recreational activities. State parks like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and North Carolina’s highest peak, Mount Mitchell, are just a few of the attractions. The Blue Ridge Parkway is, perhaps, the most popular scenic highlight of this region and extends 469 miles along the Southern Appalachians. It offers breathtaking landscapes featuring scattered hills, the imposing Black Mountains, named for the dark green spruce and fir cover

Spend some time in Asheville. Whether savoring mountain folk music, luxuriating at a spa, reveling in the magnificence of the mountains, enjoying artistic performances or shopping at eclectic stores, Asheville has something for everyone. The mountain region also has an abundance of recreational activities like canoeing, kayaking and hiking. You can go mountain biking at night, a more appealing option for those who wish to avoid overcrowded trails. The Bent Creek Experimental Forest has a collection of trails suitable for mountain bikers of all levels.

Textile and tobacco towns make up the largely industrialized area of the Piedmont Region. At the Capitol Square in Raleigh, the state capital, you can see the unusual statue of George Washington in Roman garb. Take a chronological tour of the state’s history at the North Carolina Museum of History, shop at the City Market or learn about some great international works of art at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The Duke Homestead Historical Site, a museum in Durham, covers the social history of tobacco farming. You can enjoy the fashionable village atmosphere of Chapel Hill in the bars and coffee houses along Franklin Street.

Winston Salem may be synonymous with the brand name of its cigarettes, but what merits a visit is Old Salem, a twenty-block area that preserves the city’s Moravian heritage. The Reynolda House Museum of American Art has a unique collection of work from top American artists while the renowned Diggs Gallery has several exhibits through the year, which focus primarily on African American culture. With all these highlights, plus some more attractions like gem mining, spending the day on one of the states beautiful beaches and playing a round of golf at some spectacular golf courses, your vacation in North Carolina promises to be a fulfilling experience!