North Carolina Travel Guide
North Carolina Guide
North Carolina State Travel Guide
North Carolina Travel Guide North Carolina formerly known as “Province of Carolina” with capital city Raleigh, is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the US. With various kinds of geographical features and climate varying from humid subtropical to subtropical highland, North Carolina is an outdoor lover’s dream. It is famous for Lexington Barbecue Festival which is held in October and attracts over 100,000 visitors. Various fast-food chains such as Hardees, Bojangles and Cook Out is first operational in North Carolina. The scenic beauty of North Carolina’s vineyards and wineries are worth exploring. It is also home for internationally prize winning wine Noni Bacca. Culturally North Carolina is quite vibrant and rich with Rock Gallery of Fine Art housing some of the masterpieces of painters like G. Harvey, William Mangum, Tom duBois, Terry Redline, Paul Landry and more. North Carolina houses various golf courses. Among which Oak Island Golfing Club is considered as one of the top destinations in the country. It features a rolling terrain that is landscaped alongside the Atlantic Ocean.
North Carolina State Information
| North Carolina Official Language(s) | English |
| North Carolina Demonym | North Carolinian; Tar Heel (colloq.) |
| North Carolina Capital | Raleigh |
| North Carolina Largest City | Charlotte |
| North Carolina Area | Ranked 28th in the US |
| - Total | 53,865 sq mi (139,580 km2) |
| - Width | 150 miles (340 km) |
| - Length | 560 miles (900 km) |
| - % water | 9.5 |
| - Latitude | 33° 50′ N to 36° 35′ N |
| - Longitude | 75° 28′ W to 84° 19′ W |
| North Carolina Population | Ranked 10th in the US |
| - Total | 9,380,884 (2009 est.) |
| - Density | 165.24/sq mi (63.80/km2) Ranked 15th in the US |
| - Median Income | $44,670 (38th) |
| North Carolina Elevation | |
| - Highest Point | Mt. Mitchell 6,684 ft (2,038 m) |
| - Mean | 705 ft (215 m) |
| - Lowest Point | Atlantic Ocean 0 ft (0 m) |
| North Carolina Before Statehood | Province of North Carolina |
| North Carolina Admission to Union | November 21, 1789 (12th) |
| North Carolina Governor | Bev Perdue (D) |
| North Carolina Lieutenant Governor | Walter H. Dalton (D) |
| North Carolina Legislature | General Assembly |
| - Upper House | Senate |
| - Lower House | House of Representatives |
| U.S. Senators | Richard Burr (R) Kay Hagan (D) |
| U.S. House Delegation | 8 Democrats, 5 Republicans |
| North Carolina Time Zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 |
| North Carolina Abbreviations | NC US-NC |
| North Carolina Website | http://www.nc.gov |
Brief History
North Carolina was inhabited by Native American tribes such as Cherokee, Catawba, and the Tuscarora. Spanish forces led by Juan Pardo were the first to fortify San Juan. Later it became one of the English Thirteen Colonies. During the early national period North Carolina became the epicenter of Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Democracy. Even though the state was pro-Union and seeped in anti slavery sentiment, it joined the Confederacy during the Civil War. Political, economic and social life of the state from eighteenth to twentieth century was influenced by differences in the settlement patterns of the low country and uplands. Historic sites such as Duke Homestead, Historic Edenton, Ft Fisher lets you peek into the past which in turn help you understand the world we live in today. North Carolina has many firsts to its credit. Humanity’s first successful flight by Wright Brothers was carried out at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina.
Things to See and Do
North Carolina is a southern state with temperate climate that offers visitors a variety of activities that range from hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, kite-surfing, fishing along with historic neighborhoods, museums and nightlife. Emerald Hollow mine, the only US emerald mine open to public is for those treasure-seeking travelers who want to strike it rich. Extensive trails of hiking and overnight camping are found in Appalachian Mountains. Hikers can enjoy some of the picturesque views of nature while traversing through the wilderness. The city of Charlotte presents a plethora of museums - from pre-Revolutionary buildings of that time period to Science and Natural History center. Great Smokey Mountain National Park is famous for its 25 foot Grotto falls where a hiking trail passes behind the falls. Basilica St. Lawrence, a red brick Catholic Church is an architectural wonder with its Spanish Renaissance exterior, stained glass windows, statues of saints and other religious art.
