North Carolina

The first English settlement in North America was built on the North Carolina coast 1585 -- and disappeared without a trace a few years later. It has never been determined what happened to the original settlers of this 'Lost Colony'. A few years later, the first permanent English colony was established in Jamestown, Virginia, north of the first, ill-fated settlement.

Those original settlers were not the only ones to encounter difficulties along the Carolina coast. The waters off North Carolina are famous for their treacherous currents. In fact, so many ships have sunk off the state's Outer Banks that it has been called the 'Graveyard of the Atlantic'. That's not say, however, that the coast of North Carolina is lacking in charm or beauty. To the contrary, the beaches and towns of the Carolina shore are among the most attractive on the Atlantic coast. Currituck Sound, lying between the mainland and the Outer Bank islands off the coast, is as beautiful and peaceful a body of water you're likely to encounter. And Ocracoke Island at the southern end of the Outer Banks is one of the last undeveloped areas on the East Coast.

The western part of North Carolina offers a sharp contrast to the tempestuous coast. At 6,650 feet, Mount Mitchell in the Smoky Mountains is the tallest mountain in the eastern part of the United States. Part of the Appalachian chain that runs from Georgia to Maine, the Smokies are famous for their hardwood forests and breath-taking scenery. The Blue Ridge Parkway winds its way through this area, providing excellent views of this beautiful area.

Between the mountains and the coast lies the Piedmont Plain, and most of the state's urban centers are in this region. The capital, Charlotte, is a booming banking center. To the north of the capital, the high concentration of educational institutions in the famed 'Research Triangle' of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, has gained an international reputation as a source of high-tech development. And no matter where you go in the Piedmont, make sure you sample one of the state's famous pleasures: pork barbecue sandwiches.