The Outer Banks is one of North Carolina's most visited vacation destinations and consists of four distinct islands: Bodie, Roanoke, Hatteras and Ocracoke. However, these are islands that are accessible by car from the mainland at Port Harbor in the north, or via the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge in the south. The Outer Banks offer 90 miles of pristine beaches, nature preserves, historic sites and four lighthouses. The northernmost islands---Bodie and Roanoke---offer more of a commercialized feel with countless shops, restaurants and nightlife options. The southernmost islands of Hatteras and Ocracoke are more low-key and known for their superior white, sandy beaches and excellent fishing. Attractions include the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, which includes a visitor center featuring exhibits and full-scale reproductions of the 1903 glider and 1903 flying machine. Cape Hatteras, the first national seashore established in the Unites States and administered by the National Parks Service, encompasses 24, 470 acres of which 5,880 acres are dedicated to the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Be sure to visit the grazing "Banker Ponies" while in Ocracoke. The Banker Ponies are believed to be descended from Spanish mustangs that came ashore in shipwrecks centuries ago. Accommodations are plentiful in the Outer Banks with affordable hotels and rental cottages situated on the ocean's edge.
The Outer Banks, NC
outerbanks.org
Situated in western North Carolina in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, the city of Asheville offers something for everyone with its outdoor activities, vibrant downtown area, diverse shopping options and historical attractions. Enjoy fishing or whitewater rafting on the French Broad, Watauga or Nolichucky Rivers. Go hiking in the 500,000-acre Great Smoky Mountains Park with its 850 miles of hiking trails and paths. Take a trip to Asheville's downtown area and shop in the unique stores or visit the Pack Place Education and Arts Center which houses the Asheville Art Museum, the Diana Wortham Theatre, the Colburn Earth Science Museum and the Health Adventure Children's Museum. Historical attractions in the city include America's largest home, the breathtaking 250-room Biltmore House built by George Vanderbilt. Set on 8,000 acres, it includes Antler Hill Village featuring restaurants, a winery and farm. Dining options in Asheville are also numerous and eclectic and range from coffee shops to fine dining establishments.
Asheville, NC
exploreasheville.com/index.aspx
For a winter skiing or snowboarding vacation there is no better place in North Carolina than the Sugar Mountain Resort. Located in Banner Elk and just 50 minutes from Hickory, North Carolina and 93 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Sugar Mountain offers 115 acres of skiable terrain with 20 slopes and the largest vertical drop of 1,200 feet in the state. The resort offers beginners, advanced and expert trails as well as a separate snowboarding park and a 700-foot-long tubing park. Summer activities at the resort include golf, tennis, hiking, biking, fishing and rafting. The resort offers both season passes and day passes. Sugar Mountain Resort does not provide accommodations but numerous options are available just minutes away.
Sugar Mountain Resort
1009 Sugar Mountain Drive
Banner Elk, NC 28604
828-898-4521
skisugar.com
