NORTH CAROLINA TRAVEL GUIDE
Why would an Australian family settle in North Carolina and love it?
From the stunning and serene Carolina coast to the lush mountains and vibrant, hipster cities, there is so much to love about this state.
We're excited to be your North Carolina travel guides and share with you the magic of this region that captured our spirits and soul.
The state is divided into three main regions:
- The North Carolina Mountains (west)
- The Piedmont (Middle)
- Coastal North Carolina (East)
All three regions offer something unique and we'll be sharing road trip ideas, itineraries and in-depth guides on each of the regions and places to visit in North Carolina.
We live in Raleigh and also share a lot about the city on our new site,, This is Raleigh. Click to learn more cool things to do in Raleigh
NC BUCKET LIST
We have put together a list of what we feel are your bucket list moments - the top NC attractions and most fun and unique things to do in North Carolina. These range from the most notable to the hidden secrets, only locals know about. You can get access to a free printable checklist of them as well!
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ROAD TRIP IDEAS
North Caroline is an amazing road trip destination. Within a few hours drive you can be in a vastly different region with exciting things to do and places to see.
It's also easy accessible from the surrounding nearby states, which you can easily include in an extended Southeast road trip.
Here are a couple of road trip ideas that include places in North Carolina.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA
From the ancient forested mountains in the west to the sandy shores and barrier islands in the East, you'll find a warm, eclectic mix of cultures and landscapes to enjoy. From tech geeks, to hipsters, surfers, and pig farmers, North Carolina has a wonderful mix of old and new. We love the quirky personalities of this state.Â
CLIMATE
North Carolina's climate has a moderate climate. Average winter temperatures are in the 60s along the southern coast and the low 40s inland. Temperatures can rise to near 100 in the summer, and can be very humid.Â
GETTING HERE
NC is located on the East Coast, half way between New York and Orlando. The I-40 and I-95 make it very accessible by vehicle. Raleigh Durham and Charlotte have international airports. Amtrak's New York-Miami, New York-Tampa, and New York-Washington-New Orleans runs through NC.
FACTS
NICKNAME: Tar Heel State
CAPITAL:Â Raleigh
SALES TAX: 6.75% + hotel occupancy up to 6%
INDUSTRY: Agriculture, booming technology, and finance
NC COASTAL HIGHLIGHTS
We love the beauty and serenity of the NC coast. We have only just begun to explore it. Subscribe to our email (optin below) as we plan to explore many of the North Carolina beaches this summer. We'll share it live on Instagram.Â
Wrightsville Beach is our favorite beach community in the USA. It is some kind of special. And the Outer Banks is a treasured wilderness area for locals and visitors alike.
BEST TIME TO VISIT NORTH CAROLINA
FALL
Late Sept- Oct offers brilliant Fall colors in the mountains with thousands of monarch butterflies clustering just before Fall. Temperatures can still be warm and lovely. Lots of festivals, and sporting events.Â
WINTER
Head to the mountains for ski and snow activities. Or, use the cooler temps to explore the cities and winter festivals. Why not retreat to a beach house for serenity and ocean views at a cheaper price?
SPRING
The state bursts into bloom with azaleas in pink and white dogwood blossoms in pink and white in the woodlands. Some festivals will start happening, sunny days start to grow and crowds can be less.Â
SUMMER
Summers in NC are consistently hot, hotter or hottest. Escape to the cooler mountains or oceanside for a slight reprieve. Expect crowds and book in advance.Â
OUR PICK
We love Fall and late Spring for travel in NC for beautiful weather with less crowds and a cheaper experience. FALL is our favorite for the FUN festivals and music, sporting and holiday events throughout the state.Â
NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS HIGHLIGHTS
A mountain getaway is easy in North Carolina with the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It’s also home to my favorite lake in the US, Lake Lure.
You'll find cute mountain towns and great food and beer! Asheville is a vibrant, alternative growing city famous for music, outdoor adventure and breweries.
The North Carolina mountains offer something unique all year round with its vastly different seasons.
Don't miss the following:
- Top Places to go in the North Carolina Mountains
- Climb 499 steps to the top of Chimney Rock
- Slip into Serenity in Lake Lure
- Welcome to the Biltmore Estate
- Carrying watermelons at the Dirty Dancing Festival
- Breweries and stunning waterfalls in Asheville NC
- Lake Junaluska, North Carolina - a mountain retreat for the spiritually minded
- Things to do in Bryson City during the holiday season
- A Guide to the River Arts District, Asheville NC (Why, What, and How)
- Things to Do in Downtown Asheville, NC (2 night stay)
THE TRIANGLE HIGHLIGHTS
Looking for cool experiences in the Triangle?
The Triangle is in the Piedmont region of NC that encompasses the three main cities: Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham.
These three areas form the three points of a triangle surrounding the Research Triangle Park's three anchoring universities, — North Carolina State University (Raleigh), Duke University (Durham), and the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).
IT also includes towns like Cary, Apex, Morrisville, Garner, and Holly Springs and down to nearby Johnston County.
Here are a few ideas:
WHAT REGION IN NORTH CAROLINA ARE YOU PLANNING TO VISIT?
North Carolina is divided into three main geographical regions: the Mountains, the Coast and the Piedmont (which includes the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill triangle region. Click the image to head straight to our tips and resource guides for the region you are planning to visit.
FEATURED VIDEO: Outer Banks
We love the Outer Banks: Wild, rugged, beautiful with plenty of outdoor adventures and wide open spaces. Check to see the fun we got up to on a short getaway to the OBX.
MORE SOUTHEAST STATES TO CONSIDER
Click the image below to find all our best tips and insights for the states in the Southeast. Subscribe to our email community so you don't miss any new content. (form below)
FOLLOW OUR CURRENT ADVENTURES
Travel has been the focus of our life since 1997 - intentionally.
We don't plan on stopping that. We now have a base in Raleigh, NC - after being granted a Green Card for our extraordinary ability in the art of travel blogging.
We will continue to explore more of the US but also intend on traveling further abroad - Europe, South East Asia and Central and South America.
We can't wait to share more of our favorites as we experience them.
Be sure to join our free VIP email community - form below for loads of free US travel planning resources.
And connect with us on social for live udpates!
OUR FAVORITE SOUTHEAST USA TRANQUIL ESCAPES
Want help planning your Southeast USA travels? We start with sharing our four favorite tranquil escapes. Our free VIP email community also gets access to a range of checklists, tipping guides, and itinerary ideas. All easy to print off and follow PDF formats! Fill in the form to join
ALL NORTH CAROLINA ARTICLES
Browse around to find all our articles on North Carolina!.Â
