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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.

More historic associations include the Carl Sandburg home near Hendersonville, and the Old Salem Restoration in Winston-Salem.

Other major North Carolina travel spots include the Great Smoky Mountains, and the scenic Blue Ridge National Parkway, Along the Atlantic shore, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, are also popular summer destinations.

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.

DID YOU KNOW? North Carolina Travel Fun Facts

Ashville cheer

• Asheville ranks as a favorite U.S. craft beer destination. Beer lovers can tap into 18 breweries, and attend a half a dozen beer festivals held throughout the year.

• 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.

• At 210 feet tall, North Carolina's Cape Hatteras boasts the tallest lighthouse in the U.S with 268 cast-iron steps to the top.

• 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.

also see -> North Carolina Fall Color | North Carolina Beaches | North Carolina Campgrounds

North Carolina Fall Foliage | Christmas in North Carolina | NC Outlet Malls

More information about North Carolina travel & tourism around the Web:

VisitNC.com - Easy, one-stop browsing featuring North Carolina's major attractions, hotels & restaurants statewide, events & festivals, vacation ideas, pictures, travel screensavers, quick facts, maps & weather info.

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.