Welcome to North Carolina

Flanked by the rugged Appalachian Mountains to the west and the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to the east, North Carolina is among the most diverse states in the union. Tee off at championship courses, sunbathe on postcard-worthy beaches or tour lavish historic estates. Adventure lovers can hike to the tallest peaks in the eastern United States or cast for prize-winning marlins on the Atlantic.

Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Goin’ Golfin’

Back on the mainland, continue the easy living on over 400 golf courses. Thanks to pleasant temperatures year-round, golfers can hit the green 24/7 and even play on legendary courses like Pinehurst No. 2. After 18 holes, treat yourself with a cold one at Raleigh Beer Garden, the Guinness World Record holder for the most types of beer on tap (there’s 366, to be exact).

Leave the World Behind

You Get away from it all at the Outer Banks. Featuring charming villages and serene beaches, these four barrier islands just off the coast offer the ultimate escape. Dive underwater to uncover over 2,000 shipwrecks. Say hello to wild horses in Ocracoke and Corolla. For a memorable road trip, take N.C. Highway 12 and make stops at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Ocracoke Light Station.

A wild horse navigates the dunes on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

Fish, Hunt and Boat

Year-round Hunters and anglers won’t run out of places to play here. Deer, duck and turkey can be hunted year-round in game preserves like Cherokee Whitetail, Devil’s Rib and the national forests of Croatan and Nantahala. North Carolina also boasts the country’s only fly fishing trail. Situated in the southwestern corner of the state, this trail consists of hundreds of streams and 15 key fishing spots for rainbow, brook, brown and golden trout. If you have a boat, it’s easy to have fun on the water thanks to a multitude of Boating Access Areas, which provide free access to more than 100 lakes, rivers and waterways.