| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> North America
> United States
> North Carolina
|
Introduction
OUTER BANKS REGION: This region was selected as the site for the first English colony in America, but the attempt failed. This important part of North Carolina’s history is recreated every year in an outdoor play, The Lost Colony, performed from June to August. Outer Banks was also where the Wright brothers made the first powered flight in 1903, commemorated at the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk.
Today, the Outer Banks offers beach resorts and magnificent wildlife reserves in the south. Attractions along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore include the Outer Banks ponies, Bodie Island and the Hatteras lighthouses which are among the oldest in the country. A few miles inland, America’s past is revealed in the historic Albemarle region, in which the towns of Halifax, Edenton, Washington and Bath are located.
New Bern is the State’s first capital and second-oldest town. The restored Tryon Palace and surrounding buildings transport visitors back to the 18th century. Also in New Bern is the Fireman’s Museum, formed by the two oldest continuously operated fire companies in the USA. Included in the exhibits is ‘Fire Horse Fred’, who pulled the fire-hose wagon for 17 years. He died in 1925 while pulling the fire wagon to a false alarm. A 40-minute drive from New Bern is the Crystal Coast area, which includes the deep-sea port of Morehead City, the historic waterfront town of Beaufort and many beautiful beaches.
Wilmington is North Carolina’s largest seaport. The Cotton Exchange, a 19th-century structure converted into shops and boutiques, once exported more cotton than any other port in the world. Across the river sits the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial, a World War II battleship. Her story is told on summer nights in ‘The Immortal Showboat’, a spectacular sound and light show.
HEARTLAND REGION: The State capital, Raleigh, is a relaxed, historic town with a thriving arts community. It is the home of the nation’s first State symphony and museum of art: the North Carolina Museum of Art has eight galleries with works by Rubens, Monet, Botticelli and Raphael. Other attractions include the North Carolina Museum of History and the Museum of Natural Sciences. Chapel Hill is the setting for the University of North Carolina, the oldest State-supported institution in the country. North Carolina Botanical Gardens contain almost every plant found in the State, and the Morehead Planetarium is where more than 100 of America’s astronauts trained before venturing into space.
Durham, known as ‘The City of Medicine’, is the home of the world-famous Research Triangle Park and Duke University with its lovely chapel and gardens. Other attractions include Bennett Place, site of the largest surrender of the Civil War, the Tobacco Museum and the historic Stagville Center.
Charlotte is the State’s largest city and is rich in commerce and industry. Discovery Place features hands-on exhibits of science and technology for all ages. The State’s biggest theme park, Carowinds, lies ten minutes south of Charlotte. It pays tribute to the film Wayne’s World with a white-knuckle ride called Hurler.
CAROLINA MOUNTAINS: To the west are the magnificent North Carolina Mountains, including Mount Mitchell (2040m/6684ft), the highest peak in Eastern America. Two hundred peaks in the Appalachian Mountain chain reach more than a mile high. A great way to see the area is along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway which winds along the spine of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Within easy reach of the parkway are numerous small mountain towns. Tweetsie Railroad has a steam locomotive that carries passengers through mountain passes and a frontier village. The parkway also leads to Asheville, where George Vanderbilt’s elaborate 225-room Biltmore Estate is located. The estate includes a winery with a visitor centre, tasting room and shop where bottles of the local vintage are sold. Grove Park Inn Resort is also situated nearby. The list of people who have stayed at this high-class hotel includes Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D Roosevelt and F Scott Fitzgerald.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
