North Carolina Vacation Spots

North Carolina, also called the wine country, is located on the Atlantic seaboard in the southeastern part of the USA. It comprises of 100 counties and its capital is Raleigh. The state has a lot of geographical diversity. The fact that it has mountains, beaches, wineries, sports venues and more, makes it a hub for vacationers. Tourism in North Carolina revolves around Raleigh, Charlotte and Greensboro, which are the three main cities of North Carolina. But some smaller cities like Winston Salem, Durham and Fayetteville have many historical sites.

Vacation Spots in North Carolina

North Carolina Museum of Art: Other than being the state capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is also known for having the North Carolina Museum of Art. It is one of the best museums in the area for European and American Art. Tourists throng this museum because of its fantastic collection of American and European paintings. Along with the museum's permanent collection of Art, it has 10-15 special exhibits annually. It also boasts of paintings by Homer, Monet, Raphael and other classic artists. And the best part for visitors is that the entry to the museum is totally free. A good look at the museum will take at least two hours.

Mint Museum: This museum of Art is located in Charlotte. It is so called because it is the only museum to be housed inside a former United States mint production building. However, the building no longer houses a mint. The museum has everything from gold coins minted in the official mint to pre-Colombian art, contemporary prints and photography. You will need 2 hours to take a good look at the exhibits.

Appalachian Mountains: This is one of the most popular tourist spots in North Carolina. These are a long stretch of mountains from Newfoundland in Canada to central Alabama in the US. The enchanting Appalachian Mountain trail is what the hikers and visitors in this area swear by. Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the highlights of the mountain tour. The best time to visit this place is during summer and fall.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Established in 1934, this National Park is another major tourist hive in North Carolina. It has numerous small and big trails, fishing spots and there are cabins for rent as well. But there is prohibition on hunting and lighting a fire. Vehicles are not allowed inside the park. Here too, there is no entrance fee.

Outer Banks: Abuzz with tourists throughout the season, Outer Banks is a beautiful stretch of beaches along the coast of North Carolina. This is open to visitors for fishing, swimming and camping.

Shell-Shaped Gas Station: This is one of the odd but interesting spots in Winston Salem, North Carolina. This shell-shaped gas station is a testament to an era when fossil fuel seemed inexhaustible. It is the last of the eight built by Winston-based Quality Oil company, a marketer of Shell Oil. The station was modeled on the brand logo of Royal Dutch Shell Oil.

Kill Devil Hills: It is located near the Outer Banks and is known for its historic connections. The Wright Brother's National Memorial is a major tourist hub here. Orville Wright took the first flight here in a machine powered plane heavier than air, which has given this place a historic significance.

Apart from these, the world's largest chest of drawers, largest Ten Commandments, Marvin Johnson's Gourd Museum, Belhaven Memorial Museum and Discovery Place Museum of Science are some other tourist attractions in North Carolina. With all its geographical beauty and historical links, North Carolina is surely a haven for tourists!