North Carolina Travel Guide
The state of North Carolina is blessed with a lengthy Atlantic coastline in the east, contrasting its amazing 6,700 foot mountains in the west. With a long and rich history dating back to the original colonies of America, much culture and historic heritage is to be found throughout the state. The natural and varied terrain of North Carolina is home to many national parks, amazing mountain ranges and rural farmland with rich soil producing top grade agriculture including cotton and tobacco.
The capital city of North Carolina is Raleigh, often referred to as the ‘City of Oaks’ because of the many oak trees that line the city’s streets. Raleigh might not be the largest city in the state but in recent years it has been one of America’s fastest growing cities. The city is home to North Carolina State University as well as the North Carolina Museum of Art and Museum of History, which are popular tourist attractions.
The western North Carolina region is commonly nicknamed the ‘Land of the Sky’ because of its high elevation. The Blue Ridge Mountains are located in this area and are part of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Blue Ridge is filled with granite and limestone cliffs, which offer adventurers great hiking and climbing challenges. The park is also where many Native American Indian tribes lived and hunted before the colonization of America.
During the 18th century many permanent European and British settlers migrated to North Carolina, which subsequently led to the state’s rapid growth in farming and agriculture that made North Carolina what it is today. The lands have seen many battles during civil wars of the past which are well-documented and shown at numerous war and history museums throughout the state.
North Carolina has an active and acclaimed film and arts culture, with numerous film studios located in the state’s larger cities. Many well-known movies and television shows have been filmed here including Dawson’s Creek, The Color Purple, The Fugitive, Hannibal, Patch Adams, Cape Fear and the Green Mile to name a few. The North Carolina School of the Arts is one of the country’s best performing arts schools, with many famous stars having trained at its facilities.