North Carolina is an area full of history, dating back to the 16th century, when the first English settlement was built - and then vanished. Visit sites from pre-Revolutionary Days through the Civil War, as well as historic lighthouses (including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which at 208 feet is the tallest brick lighthouse in the nation). Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the North Carolina Coast is a sunny place filled with pristine beaches, enormous sand dunes (including Jockey's Ridge, the highest along the East Coast), and wetlands filled with wildlife and a variety of plants. Here, you'll find the Outer Banks, a chain of fragile barrier islands containing 130 miles of unspoiled coastline surrounded by 900 square miles of water.

The Great Smoky Mountains are located in southwestern North Carolina - a popular destination where visitors can enjoy 250 miles of the world-famous Blue Ridge Parkway winding through North Carolina's mountains. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the state, and at 6,684 feet, it is also the tallest mountain in the eastern United States. In the central part of the state, you'll find the Piedmont, an area of gently rolling foothills with the occasional boulder or unexpected rock outcropping. Renowned research universities, textile and furniture factories, tobacco farms, shopping meccas, top golf courses and abundant historic sites are part of the makeup of the Piedmont.

Whatever your interests, there are numerous attractions that make The Old North State a must see vacation destination!