Although
harsh winters made it impossible for early English colonists to settle North Carolina, success finally came in 1587. That year, a baby girl, Virginia Dare, became the first child of English parentage born in America.
Today, a more famous historic association with the state lies near Kitty Hawk at Kill Devil Hill where in 1903 the Wright Brothers made the world's first successful powered flight.
And, with North Carolina's varied "from the mountains to the sea" terrain North Carolina wines are a big draw for wine lovers throughout the state along the 42-mile Uwharrie Mountains Wine Trail that begins near Charlotte, NC.
North Carolina's all-natural tourist attractions include stunning vistas in the Great Smoky Mountains
on the NC-Tennessee border,
(left); tours of the Blue Ridge National Parkway (middle);
and fun in the sun at Cape Hatteras along the Atlantic seashore.
Kid-friendly North Carolina - Asheboro, Charlotte, Raleigh
The Piedmont region of NC offers the biggest cities and - coincidentally - the biggest kid-friendly attractions in the entire state, starting with the North Carolina Zoo, ("the zoo with lots to do") in Asheboro featuring a Kid's Zone, a play area, and a carousel in addition to a large number of animal and educational exhibits.
Head northeast to Raleigh's Marble Kids Museum for wonderful interactive play time, educational fun, a puppet theater with regular performances for children 1-8, and a full-scale IMAX theater for kids of all ages.
More fun for the whole family begins with an entire day trip to Carowinds, North Carolina's largest theme park in Charlotte offering thrill rides for teens, family rides for toddlers and younger children,
live entertainment shows, and Boomerang Bay water park.
• Charlotte NC and surroundings have served as backdrops for such movies as The Hunger Games, The Color Purple, Days of Thunder, and Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.
• The world's smallest daily newspaper is the Tryon Daily Bulletin with a total readership of 4,500.
• Famous people born in North Carolina include basketball star Michael Jordon, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, singer James Taylor, and actor Andy Griffith.
Charlotte Tourism - Practical & searchable guide to the city offering information on shopping, restaurants & hotels, golf courses, art, culture, sports events, and more.,
Raleigh Travel Guide - Info on Raleigh and Wake County with major and nearby attractions, hotels & restaurants, travel package discounts, plus an excellent Getting There guide with printable maps, driving directions, links to bus & train schedules, airport info.