The North Carolina is known for much more than our great sand and surf. It is a place rich in history of pirates, battlegrounds and sunken ships. Visit historic Beaufort and walk the streets where Blackbeard once strolled, view artifacts from his pirate ship the Queen Anne’s Revenge, or take in lunch at one of the great restaurants on the quaint downtown waterfront. Ride a state ferry to Oriental, a picturesque fishing community on the Pamlico Sound. For a taste of 18th-century style, walk the romantic garden paths of Tryon Palace in historic New Bern, North Carolina’s first capital and the birthplace of Pepsi.

From hiking through the Blue Ridge mountains around Asheville to learning a little about history and politics in the State Capitol building in Raleigh, North Carolina vacationers will find an array of activities to enjoy.

Must see places include: Beaufort Historic Site, Cape Lookout National Seashore, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, Fort Macon State Park, Hammocks Beach State Park, The History Place, Missiles & More Museum, North Carolina Aquarium, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Poplar Grove Plantation, & Tryon Palace

North Carolina has incredible restaurants and vacation lodging accommodations for everyone with hundreds of moderate hotels, economy motels, full service resorts, inns, cabins and more. If luxury is your style, check out a few of North Carolina’s Best luxury vacation rentals and lodging accommodations! Lodging can be booked online and lift tickets and season passes can be purchased online.

When planning your North Carolina, contact the various Chamber of Commerce organizations for ongoing events you won’t want to miss. An online search for “North Carolina vacation” will yield more possibilities than you can fit in to your North Carolina vacation time!