NORTH CAROLINA
Back to Fast Facts

What's New in North Carolina?

For More Information, Contact:
Wit Tuttle, Public Relations Director
North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development
wtuttell@nccommerce.com, (919) 733-7420

Reaching from the misty Blue Ridge Mountains (one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world) in the west to the 300 miles of shore on the Atlantic Ocean, North Carolina features natural beauty, sports, adventure, arts and culture, and history, guaranteeing a spectrum of activities for its visitors. The Piedmont region, in the middle of the state, offers rolling foothills and city skylines. And the mountains offer skyscrapers in the form of the highest peaks in eastern United States. Three geographic regions and four seasons make North Carolina a perfect year-round destination. The climate is moderate but varies sharply with altitude; the state's Atlantic coastline is warmer than the mountains, which rise to over 6,000 feet and offer skiing during the mild winters. The state's combination of natural resources makes it perfect for white-water rafting, hiking, camping, fishing, biking, golfing, and other outdoor adventures.

History

First settled by the British in 1585 as England's first colony, North Carolina was home to the first child born of English parents in the New World. The state was the first to vote for independence in the American Revolution and joined the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

Significant Attractions

• Blue Ridge Parkway (western part of the state)
  
• Concord Mills (Concord – Near Charlotte)
  
• North Carolina State Parks (over 35 parks state-wide)
  
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
  
• Harrah's Cherokee Casino (Cherokee)
  
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Outer Banks)
  
• Carowinds Theme Park (Charlotte)
  
• State Farmer's Market (Asheville)
  
• Lowe's Motor Speedway
  
• Biltmore Estate (Asheville)
  
• Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (Guilford County)
  
• North Carolina Historic Sites (state-wide)
  
• North Carolina Aquariums (various sights along coast)
  
• North Carolina Zoological Park (Asheboro)
  
• Wright Brother's National Memorial (Kill Devil Hills)
  
• Wet N' Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park (Greensboro)
  
• Chimney Rock Park (Rutherford County)
  
• Grandfather Mountain (Boone)
  
• Furniture-making and shopping (Hickory and High Point)
  
• Replacements, Ltd. (for china and silver, Greensboro)
  
• Old Salem (Winston-Salem)
  
• Kite flying and hang-gliding at Jockey Ridge State Park (near Kill Devil Hills)
  
• Golf (more than 500 courses state-wide)
  
• Tryon Palace (New Bern)
  
• Potter's Row (near Seagrove)
  
• University complexes and Research Triangle Park (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Wake Forest)
  
• U.S. National Whitewater Center (Charlotte)
  
• Appalachian Trail (Throughout Western North Carolina)
  

Climate

The state experiences four distinct seasons, with temperatures warmer on the coast than the mountainous western part of the state. The higher elevations have brilliant fall color and snow throughout the winter.

How to Get There

• North Carolina offers 74 publicly owned airports: 14 commercial airports, three of which are international and 60 general aviation airports for corporate and private airplanes.
  
• Thirty-two of the East Coast's "million plus" population centers are within two hours' flight time.
  
• Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Raleigh Durham International, and Piedmont Triad International (Greensboro) offer a variety of international flights.
  
• The remainder of the commercial airports are located in Asheville, Fayetteville, Greenville, Hickory, Jacksonville, Kinston, New Bern, Rocky Mount/Wilson, Southern Pines, Wilmington and Winston-Salem.
  
• In addition, North Carolina has a 78,000-mile highway network, which is the largest state-maintained system in the nation and provides same-day access to all Eastern U.S. Markets.
  
• There are five major interstate highways, which intersect North Carolina: I-26, I-40, I-77, I-85, and I-95.
  
• Also, Greyhound and Trailways bus lines and AMTRAK rail line offer stops throughout North Carolina.
  

Distances and Times

• North Carolina is in the country's Eastern Time Zone
  
• The South observes Daylight Savings Time from late April through October
  
• Charlotte is 240 miles (389 kilometers and 4 hours by car) from Atlanta, Georgia
  
• 168 miles (272 kilometers and 3 hours by car) from Raleigh
  
• 125 miles (203 kilometers and 2 hours by car) from Asheville
  

For additional travel information, call 1-800-VISIT NC (847-4862) (while in the United States) or 1-919-733-4171 (outside the United States) fax 1-919-733-8582. Internet sites: http://www.visitnc.com.