North Carolina

North Carolina is blessed with a great wealth of scenic parks and recreation areas.  The Croatan National Forest has its own unique features, such as pine forests, marshes, and beaches.  If you are hiking through this park watch out for the Venus Flytraps that grow wild here.  Also keep an eye out for waterfowl, several types of owls, alligators, and black bears.  Other parks include the Nantahala National Forest and the Pisgah National Forest.  A number of North Carolina areas have unusual geographic features.  Mt. Mitchell is the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi, Pilot Mountain has an interesting hiking corridor, and Merchants Millpond has a large cypress swamp.

Located on the northeastern shore near Kitty Hawk you will find the Wright Brothers National Monument.  It commemorates the spot where the Wright Brothers took their historic flight in 1903.  You can see the reconstructed hangar that housed the aircraft, a museum, and the site where they flew.

Raleigh boasts one of the most splendid architectural wonders ever created is  the Legislative Building.  This structure is composed entirely of white marble and extends an entire city block.  One of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the U.S. is the 40-room Governor’s Mansion.  This Queen Anne cottage was completed in 1891.  While visiting the city be sure to see the North Carolina Botanical Garden.  It has an example of almost every plant that grows in the state.  Other points of interest include the Morehead Planetarium, which is a training center for more than 100 U.S. astronauts, and the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, showcasing prehistoric exhibits, a zoo, a wildlife preserve, and a narrow-gauge railroad.   

Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashore are located on North Carolina’s Atlantic Coast.  The beaches  are protected and will never be developed.  This coast is often referred to as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic”.  Over the years, more than 2,000 ships, ranging from U-boats to tankers, have sunk to the bottom of the ocean.  Divers, whether you are a beginner or a professional, will find these ships to be intriguing underwater attractions.  Some of the activities allowed along the Cape Lookout National Seashore are camping, swimming, picnicking, boating, surfing, horseback riding, sailing, and fishing.    

If you are an avid golfer try your luck at Pinehurst.  If not, attend a class at the famous Golf Advantage School.

Swim parallel to the shore if you are caught in a riptide.  Once you feel you have escaped the pulling current, head for shore.

Don't forget the insect repellant during the summer months.

Definitely try one of the local barbecues.

 

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