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Biltmore Estate
America’s largest privately owned home, the Biltmore House is nestled among 8,000 acres in the mountains near Asheville. George Vanderbilt, son of industrialist and philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt, saw his 250-room French-Renaissance chateau completed in 1895. This National Historic Landmark is among the country’s most visited historic residences with shops, a four-star hotel, lush gardens, serene walking trails and an award-winning winery.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Lighthouse
This popular National Seashore preserves and protects 75 miles of North Carolina’s Outer Banks and includes the area of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse as well as visitor centers at Buxton, Bodie Island and Ocracoke Island. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America. In 1999, the lighthouse was relocated 2,900 feet away from the ocean to protect the landmark from beach erosion. It now stands 1,600 feet from the shore, as it did at the time it was built.
Blue Ridge Parkway
The Blue Ridge Parkway, nicknamed “America’s Favorite Drive,” is a 469-mile scenic route connecting the Great Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah National Parks. North Carolina is home to 252 miles of Parkway, which meander through two national forests and offer campgrounds, picnic areas, lodges, restaurants and countless scenic overlooks and hikes. The Parkway is popular during the fall for its beautiful foliage.
Pinehurst Resort
The Pinehurst Resort, host of the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open Championships, is one of North Carolina’s top attractions, offering eight world-class golf courses. Visitors can also relax at the spa or enjoy tennis, swimming, fishing, biking, lawn sports and more.
Cherokee Village and Qualla Boundary
Homeland of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, Cherokee welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Popular attractions include Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, Oconaluftee Indian Village, the outdoor drama Unto These Hills, Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutuals, shopping and more.
Wright Brothers National Memorial
The site of man’s first powered flight by Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903, the Wright Brothers National Memorial is located in Kill Devil Hills on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The memorial boasts a 60-foot-high granite pylon atop a 90-foot hill to commemorate the visionary brothers as well as a museum, a reconstructed hangar and daily presentations on the Wright brothers’ historic first flight.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest protected land area east of the Rocky Mountains and the most visited national park in the United States. Although it saddles two states, the majority of the park lies within North Carolina: 276,000 acres of forest and trails welcome hikers, bikers and equestrians. Rivers, streams and lakes offer some of the best canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting in the country.
Southern Food - North Carolina Barbecue Trail
Barbecuing is more than just a method of preparing food – in North Carolina, barbecue is a way of life. Calabash is another popular method of cooking. Named after a coastal village, it is lightly breaded seafood, quickly deep-fried and absolutely delicious. Restaurants and food festivals throughout the state specialize in barbecued and locally grown food. The North Carolina Barbeque Society has a new “Barbecue Trail” that hits 25 hot spots across the “Cradle of ’Cue.” Historic Barbecue Pits have operated continuously for fifteen or more years, make their own sauce and have earned the high esteem of barbeque aficionados. From Greenville in the east to Murphy near the Tennessee border, come and sample distinctive cooking styles that have made North Carolina the “Barbecue Capital of the World!”
North Carolina Wineries
North Carolina is home to more than 60 wineries and the number of wineries has more than doubled since 2002. More than 350 individually owned grape vineyards are spread across the state, covering 1,350 acres. Nearly all of them are open for tours and many have restaurants and inns associated with the wineries. Asheville is home to the Biltmore Estate Winery, which receives more than one million visitors annually and is the most visited winery in the United States. Scuppernong is the first grape cultivated in the United States and is the official fruit of North Carolina. North Carolina’s mother vine, a 400-year old Scuppernong vine, is the oldest known grapevine in the nation.
Lowe’s Motor Speedway
Located in Concord, Lowe’s Motor Speedway is a mecca of motorsports. In addition to hosting two NASCAR Nextel Cup races and two NASCAR Busch Series races each year, this venue also holds NASCAR’s All-Star Race in addition to a variety of auto-related events. The Nextel Cup Gift Shop offers guided tours of the speedway including a high-speed lap around the 1.5-mile banked oval.
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