The first English outpost was established in what is now North Carolina in 1585. As one of the first 13 colonies, it became the 12th state of the Union in 1789. The population was increasingly living in the cities, while there are still huge tobacco fields in the countryside, which meanwhile repeatedly leads to local and national debates. Above all, North Carolina fascinates with its scenic diversity and offers a successful mixture of beautiful nature, picturesque small towns, lively metropolises and a colonial past.
Tobacco growing dominates in central North Carolina. In the west of the state is the nature lover’s paradise of the Great Smoky Mountains, which invite you to go hiking, horseback riding or cycling. Tranquility and unspoiled coastal nature as well as beautiful, historic lighthouses can be found on the Outer Banks island chain. The fine sandy beaches of North Carolina with the small bays leave nothing to be desired when looking for the perfect beach holiday.
The heart of the state is the Piedmont region, a peaceful idyll that is very popular with holidaymakers, locals and especially golfers. But it can also be faster: as the cradle of touring car racing, North Carolina is probably best known to motorsport fans. Large and small cities such as Charlotte, Asheville or New Bern invite you to stroll and shop and offer first-class accommodation and restaurants. The financial metropolis of Charlotte is particularly worth a visit, because this is where the NASCAR Hall of Fame is located – a hall of fame on four levels that honors legends and special personalities as well as exhibits unique exhibits. North Carolina, also called “Home of NASCAR”, is the ideal destination for a successful vacation
Location and Size
According to usaers, North Carolina is located on the southeast coast of the United States, bordering the states of South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, and Virginia to the north. To the east is the Atlantic. The state covers an area of 139,390 km².
Population
9.85 million people live in North Carolina. The capital, Raleigh, is populated by 431,000 people. The largest city is Charlotte with 792,000 inhabitants, with around 2.3 million living in the metropolitan region.
Local
time The time difference to Central Europe is minus six hours.
Arriving
by plane
From Munich and Frankfurt you can reach Charlotte non-stop with US Airways or Lufthansa. Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is 7 miles west of Charlotte.
Climate
Most of the state has a mild climate. The average temperature in the summer months is 32C while the winter months are a balmy 10C. Except for the high altitudes of the Appalachian Mountains.
| Average temperatures in Charlotte, North Carolina in °C | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Max | 11 | 13 | 17 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 27 | 22 | 17 | 12 |
| Min | -1 | 1 | 4 | 8th | 13 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
Sights and Attractions
The state on the east coast of the USA, which is part of the American Southern States region, impresses above all with its mixture of beautiful nature and miles of sandy beaches, picturesque small towns in breathtaking mountain ranges, lively metropolises and a colonial past.
Great Smoky Mountains
In western North Carolina there is a true paradise for nature lovers: the Great Smoky Mountains, which belong to the Appalachian mountain range, and the national park of the same name offer untouched nature, beautiful forests and rushing waterfalls, which you can go hiking, walking, horseback riding or cycling along the 1,300 km of trails. This is also where the Blue Ridge Parkway begins, a fantastic panoramic road along the main ridge of the Appalachia. During the late summer you can enjoy the fascinating play of colors of the Indian Summer on this route.
Outer Banks
Endless fine sandy beaches with historic lighthouses, small hidden bays and fishing villages can be found on the Outer Banks , a chain of islands off the coast. A landmark of North Carolina’s Atlantic coast is the legendary lighthouse of Cape Hatteras, which stands in the nature reserve of the same name. Although the sea often seems incredibly calm, this belies the treacherous dangers that sailors were at the mercy of here: two jet streams collide here, causing torrential currents, storms and hurricanes. The North Carolina coast has often been unflatteringly called the “cemetery of the Atlantic”. With its 2,000 sunken ships, the area is particularly interesting for treasure and wreck divers.
The development of tourism in the region began with the building of bridges – especially in the northern part of the Outer Banks. As well as sun, surf and sand, the area also offers family-friendly attractions in Kill Devil Hills . North Carolina’s state slogan “First in Flight” commemorates the first successful flight attempts by the Wright brothers, which took place here in the sand dunes. The Wright Brothers National Memorial stands on the spot where the two aviation pioneers made the first successful powered flight.
Also worth seeing is that of Sir Walter Raleighfounded the first English settlement in North America on Roanoke Island. In 1587 a ship brought more than 100 English colonists – men, women and children – to the island for permanent settlement. When the British returned three years later, the earlier colonists had disappeared without a trace. The mysterious story of the “Lost Colony” is still being retold today. Further south – in Port of Manteo – is the Roanoke Island Festival Park with a replica of the first explorer ship.
Beaufort
The romantic town of Beaufort attracts visitors with its historic inns, restaurants and fish markets. The main attraction here is the North Carolina Maritime Museum . Ferries at the docks take passengers to the secluded sandbars of Cape Lookout National Seashore .
Research Triangle Region
The capital, Raleigh, forms a geographic triangle with the university towns of Durham and Chapel Hill, which is also considered the intellectual center of the state. Between these cities lies the joint Research Triangle Park – a research facility for high technology. The region with urban infrastructure also has some tourist attractions to offer: Raleigh is also called “City of Oaks” because of the many oak trees along the streets. In the tranquil downtown area, across from the Greek Revival State Capitol, there are several museums including the North Carolina Museum of History , which deals with the Civil War and the civil rights movement. A few miles north is the North Carolina Museum of Artsa collection of sculptures and paintings. Chapel Hill is the most picturesque of the two college towns, home to the University of North Carolina and the Moorehead Planetarium. Downtown Durham nestles between Duke University’s three-tier campus
Winston-Salem
North Carolina’s close ties to the tobacco industry can be seen in the two major US cigarette brands named after the twin cities. In 1766, Moravian immigrants were the first to settle here. Their offspring proudly celebrate their heritage in Old Salem . In the reconstructed colonial village, employees in historical costumes demonstrate traditional activities and tell how the Moravian Protestant group came to this region. Moravian goods such as lace and pewter jewelry are sold in souvenir shops.
Asheville
The business district of the mountain-lined city of Asheville is lined with early 20th-century Art Deco buildings. The city became nationally known through the Biltmore Estate in the south of the city. George Vanderbilt’s villa was built in the French Renaissance style and houses a huge art and sculpture collection with objects from the 18th and 19th centuries and, with its 250 rooms, is the largest residential building in the USA. The magnificent property includes an exquisite luxury restaurant as well as a winery and a magnificent park area. Visitors should expect long waits, as this property is one of the most visited house museums in the United States, along with the White House and Elvis Graceland.
Golf
With more than 400 golf courses, North Carolina is a paradise for all golfers and those who want to become one. The courses are as varied as the country itself and are among the most beautiful in North America. Most of them can be found in the Piedmont region, the heart of North Carolina between the mountains and the ocean. North Carolina is best known for the first golf course in the USA developed by Donald Ross, the “Pinehurst No. 2”. The US Open Championships were held here in 1999 and 2005.
Wine
Also in this tranquil, rolling countryside are many of the state’s excellent wineries. A peaceful idyll popular with holidaymakers and locals alike.
Water sports and motor sports
Due to the numerous lakes and rivers and the proximity to the Atlantic, North Carolina is also considered a water sports paradise. There’s also plenty of action to be had at Nascar, America’s most popular motorsport, and North Carolina is considered the birthplace of touring car racing, which is why many of the major Nascar teams are based in Charlotte.
Cities
Big cities like Charlotte or picturesque places like Wilmington, Asheville or New Bern invite you to stroll and shop and offer a varied cultural program, first-class accommodation and excellent restaurants. Culture, cuisine and music are characterized by Indian, African and, above all, southern European influences.
North Carolina has a special attraction for all cinema and television fans, because well-known films and series such as Dirty Dancing, One Tree Hill, Save Haven or the hit film “The Hunger Games” were made here. Many of the local film studios offer tours and a look behind the scenes.
