North Carolina Vacation Ideas
North Carolina is as diverse a state as we have in the United States.
A vacationer can find a mile-high mountain to hike, a four story sand dune to climb or a serene lake or river to kayak, and that is just to start.
North Carolina has some of the best rock climbing in the south. From the boulders of Boone to the aid climbing at Looking Glass you can find quite a bit if adventure in this diverse state.
North Carolina consists of three main geographic sections which are largly responsible for the states diverse atmosphere.
The Atlantic coastal plain, which occupies 45% of the state, the Piedmont region, which contains the middle 35% and is where most of the states Urban settings are and the Appalachian Mountains which accounts for the remaining 20%.
Piedmont
Piedmont is a plateau stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south.
The North Carolina coastal plain transitions to the Piedmont region along the "fall line", a line that marks the elevation where waterfalls first appear on streams and rivers.
Covering nearly one half of North, the Piedmont is an area of gently rolling foothills. Many small, isolated, and deeply eroded mountain ranges and peaks are located here. The area enjoys four distinct seasons but temperatures are mild year round.
Your camera or your memory can capture many great hikes and scenic views here.
Mountains
The Appalachian mountain chain runs through the western part of the state, forming the lush landscape of the region.
A lot of great Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Canoeing and Kayaking can be had all through out the sub ranges of the Appalachians.
The Great Smoky Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Balsam Mountains, Pisgah Mountains, and the Black Mountains have great tales of Native Americans as well as American History waithing to be discovered.
The Great Smoky Mountains in southwestern North Carolina are one of the country's top natural destinations. Summers are cool and refreshing with low humidity.
The Black Mountains are the highest in the Eastern United States, Mount Mitchell is the highest at 6,684 feet.
Two-thirds of North Carolina's mountains are covered with hardwood forests. In autumn they are quite the sight to see. Over 120 species of trees put on a brilliant display of color.
In winter some areas of the region see over 30 inches of snow a year, so skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports are popular activities.
Hot Springs
Hot Springs, NC is named for the hot mineral springs found there.
It is located at the junction of the Appalachian Trail and the French Broad River in a valley surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Pisgah National Forest.
Hot Springs has the distinction of being the only area with hot mineral spring water in the Southeastern United States as well as North Carolina's only Appalachian Trail town.
It is a great place to visit after a week on the Appalachian Trail.
North Carolina Coast
The North Carolina Coast is filled with pristine beaches, giant sand dunes and wetlands filled with wildlife and a variety of plants.
Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the defining characteristic of the area is the Outer Banks, a chain of fragile barrier islands. 900 square miles of water surround the 130 miles of unspoiled coastline.
The area is also full of history, dating back to the 16th century, when the first English settlement was built and consequently vanished.
There are also sites from before our Revolutionary Days through to the Civil War.
Like much of the eastern seaboard North Carolina has many historic lighthouses; including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Standing at 208 feet, it is the tallest brick lighthouse in the nation.
Wilmington NC and the beaches of the Cape Fear Coast are fantastic vacation destinations.
You will discover everything from relaxing warm Gulf Stream waters to Civil War battlefields.
Take a night out on the beach and follow the baby sea turtles scampering into the gleaming midnight surf.
Camping
This is where North Carolina gets really interesting. River otters will keep you company under the dim light of sparkling stars, planets and the occasional meteor shower.
In the fall and spring you can go camping on a wooden platform in a swamp off the Roanoke River.
Here you can spend your days canoeing the Roanoke River Paddle Trail, 200 miles of interconnected creeks, rivers and swamps, mostly surrounded by protected land.
This massive river system gives you the opportunity to watch birds like, Owls, Woodpeckers, Great blue herons and pure-white great egrets strut through the swampy woods. Turtles sunning themselves on logs, beaver engineering projects are also common.
These slow moving creeks can be as wide as 150 feet giving you plenty of sun bathing opportunity as you admired miles of curvy cypress and tupelo trees, dripping with Spanish moss and clusters of knobby cypress knees.
North Carolina is a place of wonder, a place where you can go to see what it was like to discover this land hundreds of years ago. There are many possibilities for the family as well as the adventurer.
Enjoy your vacation!