North Carolina

From road tripping to ocean dipping, North Carolina is the gateway to the great outdoors

As the birthplace of Nina Simone and the final resting place of infamous buccaneer Blackbeard, North Carolina is one America’s most storied states. This is where the Wright Brothers first took flight and where wild horses now canter along the Outer Banks seashores fringing the state. Today, it’s a spectacular starting point for road trips across the Blue Ridge Parkway, and into the must-see Smoky Mountains.

Things to do

BEACHES
Explore Pacific coastline and capes punctuated with lighthouses, like upside-down exclamation marks. Saunter vintage boardwalks dotted with Calabash seafood hatches and doughnut stands. Or go wreck diving off the Crystal Coast. Days at the beach in North Carolina go far beyond swimming and sandcastles – though there are plenty of beautiful spots in which to do both. 

LANDMARKS
When the rising (or setting) sun casts its golden glow over Asheville’s Biltmore Estate, this magnificent mansion transports you back to the Gilded Age. Outside, stroll some of its 8,000 acres of manicured gardens, parasol in hand. Or see the wild(er) side of North Carolina on a must-visit journey through the iconic Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Whether on foot, by zipline or on board the legendary railroad, adventures through the ‘Smokies’ promise truly epic views. 

CULTURES
From bluegrass to ‘mountain folk’, North Carolina has music in its soul. Pause at Nina Simone’s namesake plaza to see the bronze piano-playing statue sculpted in her honour. And embrace the creative spirit of Raleigh and Asheville, where any night of the week you’re likely to find live bands of every musical style and size, playing bars and breweries.

Top Tip from SLH

With fair winds and following seas, discover a pair of nautical icons in North Carolina. Beaufort is home to items from the wreck of Blackbeard’s ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge – while Battleship North Carolina, moored beside Wilmington, is a WW2 warship with tales to tell.