North Carolina
Off to the beaches and mountains
Dining & Drinking
High country living
The craggy ranges of the Blue Ridge and the Great Smoky mountains dominate the western part of North Carolina, making it easy to stumble upon stunning waterfalls, ancient rivers and awe-inspiring views on this section of the Appalachian chain.
Mountain adventures abound in this part of the state, with zip-lining, rock climbing and whitewater rafting in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in the winter.
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The lofty landscapes along the 755km-long Blue Ridge Parkway – nicknamed “America’s favourite drive” -- are a great way to soak in those mountain vibes. (The custodians of the park are so devoted to this rural ambience that the landscape architects made sure there were no white lines on the side of the roads.)
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park hiking, biking and gawking are the name of the game with trails for all elevation lovers, while at The Blowing Rock, the cliff juts out 4,000 feet above sea level, looking out over Johns River Gorge.
All Southerners are serious about their barbecue, but North Carolina is downright devoted; the North Carolina Barbecue Society Historic Barbecue Trail outlines 20 restaurants to visit throughout the state, known as “the cradle of cue.” And the Society is serious about its work; each spot must be operating for at least 15 years, cook meat over charcoal or wood and make its own sauce.
In the eastern part of the state, the barbecue tradition centers on smoking the whole hog; western style pit masters smoke only the pork shoulder. Both styles use a vinegar-based sauce, though in the west it’s laced with just enough tomato sauce or ketchup to tame the tang.
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BEACHES & mOUNTAINS I cULINARY I hISTORY I sPORTS
All roads lead to the beaches in North Carolina. And to the mountains. And to everything in between. In the span of one trip, you could zip-line in the Blue Ridge Mountains, make a pilgrimage along the Historic Barbecue Trail and finish on the coast, surfing the Outer Banks waves.
It’s easier than ever for Canadians to experience this northern Southern state with daily flights from Toronto and Montreal to Raleigh and Charlotte. Here, we present some of the countless reasons to start planning your trip to North Carolina.
All roads lead to adventure
From mountain ranges to barrier-island beaches and everything in between
As relevant as North Carolina’s colonial history is to the rest of the country, the indigenous history might matter even more. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, about an hour’s drive west of Asheville, showcases more than 12,000 years of native North American history through a full sensory experience and interactive displays. It sets the scene for the forced displacement of the Cherokee people, known as the Trail of Tears. Make sure to get tickets for the “Unto These Hills” performance.
The next stop on the historical tour is The International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, where you can step back in time to the Civil Rights movement and see the lunch counter and stools occupied by the four N.C. A&T College students from the 1960 protest at F.W. Woolworth’s that launched the national sit-in movement
More than just milestones and monuments
History and architecture enthusiasts have been coming to the Tarheel state (named for its industrial history as a producer of tar for shipbuilding) for decades, but North Carolina’s historical sites offer so much more than reenactments and plaques.
Check out Biltmore, George W. Vanderbilt II’s 250-room mansion and 8,000-acre estate, to immerse yourself in the Gilded Age’s grandest and best-preserved estate.
Historical Experiences
Sporting life
It's all fun and games
North Carolina is all about the fun and games on land, sea and air. Both amateur and professional sports abound in this state, so whether you want to play a round of golf on a world-class course, face the whitewater at the U.S. National Whitewater Center or stay rooted in the stands at an NCAA basketball game or a NASCAR race, sports enthusiasts are always part of the team.
Pinehurst Resort is said to be the birthplace of American golf. Teeing off at one of the nine 18-golf courses is like a golf history lesson: while Pinehurst No. 1 has the oldest greens (built in 1898), No. 2 has mythic status among links-lovers, having hosted a PGA Championship and U.S. Opens.
College basketball is a way of life in North Carolina, centered around the town of Chapel Hill and the oldest public university campus in the U.S., The University of North Carolina (circa 1789), which is home to the Division 1 North Carolina Tar Heels. The town itself is worth a visit, with craft breweries, farmers’ markets and of course, the Carolina Basketball Museum.
Another revered sport is stock car racing — and with many famed NASCAR drivers hailing from the state, it’s no wonder NASCAR chose to build their Hall of Fame in Charlotte, putting a spotlight on the best drivers in the high-speed business.
The waves and dunes of North Carolina await
There’s a reason so many novels and movies are filmed on the North Carolina coast (Where the Crawdads Sing, Nights in Rodanthe, The Summer I Turned Pretty…and so on). Those barrier-island beaches, quaint coastal towns and surf-worthy waves would ignite romantic vibes in anyone. The islands that line the North Carolina coast provide seemingly endless chances for beachy keen relaxation along the boardwalks, windswept dunes and 515 kilometers of oceanfront.
Climb the “living” dune in Nags Head, the tallest on the eastern seaboard, take a guided tour to catch a glimpse of the wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs that have roamed free on the islands for more than 400 years, or slow down and enjoy the views from Bogue Inlet Pier in Emerald Isle. Just south of Kitty Hawk, visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills to see where the famous brothers first took flight.
Air Canada offers flights to Raleigh and Charlotte.
Start planning your getaway or explore Visit North Carolina for more trip inspiration.
On top of Old Smoky, and others
Barbecue and beers are just the beginning
North Carolina isn’t just the birthplace of flight, it’s also home to Pepsi Cola, Krispy Kreme and more than 300 craft breweries, not to mention a Historic Barbecue Trail.
Visiting The Triangle (Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill) is a must for foodies and culinary adventurers. Thanks in part to Durham’s Duke University, more than 100 languages are spoken in the area, and the cultural diversity is reflected in the cuisine.
When it comes to the perfect barbecue pairing, there’s no shortage of brews to choose from —the craft brewing scene is bubbling in North Carolina.
There are more than 300 craft breweries across the state, with 50 in Asheville alone! Visit in October for NC Beer Month, when you can enjoy a host of special events and tastings across the state.
There are also wineries and artisanal cider works to visit, and a decent above-board moonshine scene in distilleries across the state.
Air Canada offers flights to Raleigh and Charlotte.
Start planning your getaway or explore Visit North Carolina for more trip inspiration.