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Let's face it: Every state has something worth seeing. California? The Golden Gate
Bridge. Arizona? The Grand Canyon. South Carolina? Well ...
Anyway, North Carolina, of course, is no different when it comes to bragging rights. For example, we can claim the only gas station that's on the National Register of Historic Places (the old Shell Oil station in Winston-Salem). We have the country's only trucking museum and the country's oldest Hardee's burger joint (Cherryville and Rocky Mount, respectively). If that's not enough, there's always Fred the Stuffed Fire Horse (New Bern's Firemen's Museum). Hard to believe any other state could top that one. But for all the goofy stuff, North Carolina has no shortage of the sorts of landmarks that put a place on the map. Like the country's largest private residence (Biltmore Estate, 250 rooms); the tallest peak east of the Rockies (Mount Mitchell, elevation: 6,684 feet); the country's oldest outdoor drama (The Lost Colony, 1937); and the world's tallest brick lighthouse (Cape Hatteras, 193 feet and 2 inches). We think these are the sorts of things that every North Carolinian ought to experience - hence, this list. While the choices are staggering, and sins of omission are inevitable, here are 50 things - in no particular order - that we think you oughta see, do, eat, drink, ponder, gawk at, swoon over, walk under, and generally enjoy in the "goodliest land under the cope of heaven." If you are already familiar with North Carolina, but would like some informtion on what to do and see, and where to dine and shop in Charlotte, visit the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau. 1. Climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton If there is a defining image of the Outer Banks, then surely it is the famous lighthouse at Cape Hatteras. Built in 1870, it contains 1.25 million bricks and replaced the original Hatteras lighthouse built in 1803. At 193 feet and 2 inches, it is the world's tallest brick lighthouse and one of only two spirally striped lighthouses in the country. (The other is in Florida.) The lamp was fired by whale oil until 1934, when it was electrified, and on a good night, it's visible from 20 miles offshore. Its distinctive spiral bands - two black and two white - each circle the lighthouse once and were first painted in 1873. After years of controversy over encroaching beach erosion, the lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet inland in 1999. It will take you 257 steps to reach the top of America's tallest lighthouse, but this is one climb that every Tar Heel ought to make. Admission is free; for more information, contact the National Park Service, (252) 473-2111. 2. Sightsee along the Blue Ridge Parkway The Blue Ridge Parkway was built during the Great Depression to provide a scenic roadway between the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks. Well, it worked. They broke ground in 1935 at Cumberland Knob - at the state border - and it took 52 years to complete. The last link was the famous Linn Cove Viaduct, which skirts Grandfather Mountain and was completed in 1987. We share about half of the 469-mile long corridor with Virginia, and whether you go for an hour or a weekend, our half is tough to beat. We have the highest point - 6,047 feet at Richland Balsam - and other don't-you-dare-miss-it stops include Linville Falls, Mount Pisgah, and Craggy Gardens. Admission is free, and access points are numerous. For more information, call the park office at (828) 271-4779. 3. Walk the deck of the USS North Carolina, Wilmington The USS North Carolina was one of 10 battleships to join the fleet in World War II, and the sailors who served aboard her steamed more than 300,000 miles and saw action in every major naval offensive in the Pacific. When she was commissioned in 1941, she was called "the world's greatest sea weapon," and more than 7,000 sailors called her home before she was decommissioned in 1947. By 1958 she was scheduled for scrapping, but an outpouring of Tar Heel support brought her to Wilmington in October 1961, where this old battlewagon is maintained as a State Historic Site. She's an important link to history, as there are no battleships on active duty and only a handful remain as museums. She's open year-round, and tours take about two hours. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for active duty military, and $4 for children ages 6 to 11. For more information, call (910) 251-5797. 4. Drink a Pepsi at the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola Store, New Bern Thank goodness for Caleb Bradham. If not for his pharmacy in New Bern, there would be no Pepsi-Cola, no North Carolina rival to that other cola made down in Atlanta. Invented in 1898, Bradham's Pepsi was a product of its time, when many pharmacies offered specialty fountain drinks that were intended to aid digestion and boost energy. The first small batches of syrup were cooked up in the pharmacy's cellar and sold to other soda fountain businesses. Deemed less medicinal than its competitors, it was a hit, and by 1902, the soft drink that would come to be known as "The taste of the Carolinas" was an incorporated business. Drink one where it all began, at the Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola Store, on the corner of Middle and Pollock streets in downtown New Bern. While you're there, shop for all manner of Pepsi memorabilia. For more information, call (252) 636-5898. 5. Eat a Krispy Kreme Doughnut (or several) One taste of a hot, glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut, and you'll know that flour, yeast, and sugar have reached their highest calling. These Carolina classics aren't just good - they're downright addictive. The idea was hatched in 1933 when Vernon Rudolph bought a doughnut shop and a secret recipe in Paducah, Kentucky. Four years later, he landed in Winston-Salem, where he rented a building with his last $25, borrowed ingredients from a local grocer, and the rest, as they say, is history. His doughnuts were so popular that he had to cut a hole in the bakery's wall so that customers could walk up and buy them. The original shop is long gone, but today you can choose from 19 varieties in 17 North Carolina locations. If you get hungry on the road, Krispy Kremes are now sold in 32 states and Canada. Just look for the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign. Oh, and try not make a spectacle of yourself. As luck would have it, Charlotte has a Krispy Kreme shop on Woodlawn, which is on your way to and from the airport. Many a flight has been missed because of that location, I'm sure. 6. Say "amen" in the state's oldest church, Bath If you take the trip to the tiny fishing village of Bath, in Beaufort County, you will check off the following items on your "Things I have seen in North Carolina" list:
1. Oldest town in North Carolina (1705) 7. Stand in the rotunda of the State Capitol, Raleigh As state capitols go, North Carolina's is hard to beat. Built of granite quarried nearby and topped with a copper dome, it was completed in 1840, and this regal building is considered one of the country's finest and most faithfully preserved examples of Greek Revival architecture. It was built to replace the first state capitol, which, ironically, burned while workers were attempting to fireproof it. It's still earning its keep as a public building - the governor has an office here - but stepping inside is like stepping back in time. Stroll the shaded, immaculately groomed grounds and take in the 14 statues and monuments that date from 1857. Take the guided tour inside, and marvel at how the entire legislature worked in this tiny building until 1961. It's in downtown Raleigh, bounded by Edenton, Wilmington, Morgan, and Salisbury streets. Admission is free, and it's open daily. For more information, call (919) 733-3456. 8. Feast on a family-style breakfast at Shatley Springs Inn, Ashe County Lots of places serve breakfast. Lots of places serve family style. Lots of places serve breakfast family style. But not many places serve it like it's done at the Shatley Springs Inn, where the country cooking has been bringing them back since the 1920s. The place was named for the local spring, which was named after the original owner who ascribed medicinal powers to the waters. Forget the water - just grab a plate. The menu is nearly incomprehensible: eggs, bacon, country ham, sausage, tenderloin, grits, potatoes, baked apples, cereal, strawberry preserves, two kinds of gravy, juice, coffee, and biscuits. About those biscuits: who knew that flour and water could taste that good? You're guaranteed to leave full and happy. Shatley's is on N.C. Highway 16, five miles north of Jefferson. Prices vary from $7.50 for adults down to $1 for toddlers. For more information, call (336) 982-2236. 9. Watch the moon rise over the Wright Brothers' National Memorial, Kitty Hawk If you're looking for bona fide change-the-course-of-world-history sorts of stuff, look no further than the wind-blown sands of Kitty Hawk. When Orville Wright made the world's first powered flight on December 17, 1903, he flew for only 12 seconds. Although he covered less distance than the length of a modern airliner, what he and brother Wilbur did that day put North Carolina in the historical big leagues. Walk that ground and ponder the real genius of these men. For some real perspective, stand there and then look at the moon: Manned flight went from the beach to the moon in less than two generations. The site is administered by the National Park Service and is open daily except Christmas. Admission is $2 per person or $4 per vehicle. For more information, call (252) 441-7430. 10. Make a declaration in Historic Halifax, Halifax Everyone knows about the Declaration of Independence, but few Americans know about the Halifax Resolves, which was adopted by the North Carolina Provincial Congress in this small town on April 12, 1776. It was the first official call by a colony for independence from England; check the state flag - you'll see the date there. Today, Historic Halifax is maintained as a State Historic Site, and in addition to commemorating Halifax Day every April 12, the site offers tours of several beautifully restored colonial-era buildings from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Admission is free, and the site is open daily except Mondays. For more information, contact the site at (252) 583-7191. 11. Shop in the Mast General Store, Valle Crucis Need some cast iron cookware? Chicken feed? A cherry pitter? Cornhusk doll? Check out Watauga County's Mast General Store, a genuine throwback to the days when the local country store was part business and part community meeting place. this amzaing old-timey store has been in business since 1883 and is an example of the time when the local shopkeeper had to carry a little bit of everything, from "cradles to caskets." Oh, you can get modern things here, but it's the atmosphere and shelves brimming with merchandise that you'll never see is a mall that's the real charm. The business has grown to a half dozen stores across western North Carolina, but if you want the real McCoy, visit the original in the town of Valle Crucis which also happens to be North Carolina's only Rural Historic District. The store is open daily. For more information, call (828) 963-6511. 12. Take a tour of Biltmore Estate, Asheville There aren't many castles in the United States, and with 250 rooms and four acres of floor space, we've got one of the very best. It was modeled after a trio of 16th century French Renaissance chateaux, took six years to build, and when business tycoon George W. Vanderbilt moved in on Christmas Eve in 1895, it was (and remains) America's largest private residence. It's still family owned, and they love visitors. When you get tired of counting the bedrooms (34), bathrooms (43), fireplaces (65), and priceless works of art (too many to count), take a stroll in the 250 acres of gardens. If you get thirsty, head for the winery, which has garnered more than 200 awards. The estate hosts a variety of seasonal festivals, the most famous of which is the lavish Christmas at Biltmore House. Admission varies according to the season. For more information, call (800) 543-2961. 13. Take a grandstand seat at a stock car race When it comes to making an art out of flooring it and turning it left, nobody did it quite as well as the likes of North Carolina's own Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, and Dale Earnhardt. Stock car racing is the South's only contribution to big-time sports, and North Carolina can claim the world's longest stock car race - the Coca-Cola 600, held at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Concord. And, although it's gone national - there's even a track in Las Vegas, of all places! - adherents to the Cathedrals of Carburation are still firmly rooted in the South. NASCAR comes to North Carolina five times a year: three at Lowe's Motor Speedway, and twice at the North Carolina Speedway near Rockingham. So grab a bucket of chicken wings and some ear plugs (it's REALLY loud), and head for the races. For more information, contact Lowe's Motor Speedway at (800) 455-3267, and North Carolina Speedway at (910) 582-2861. 14. Sit in the world's largest Duncan Phyfe-style chair, Thomasville I promise - you've never seen a chair like this one. Built to trumpet Thomasville's status in the chair building universe, this 18-foot-tall chair is made of steel, brass, and concrete and is perched atop a 12-foot high limestone base. Let's see your toes touch the ground while seated in this one! The current chair is actually the second; the original dated from 1922 and was a genuine wooden chair, complete with leather upholstery. Alas, decay claimed it in the mid-1930s, and the new one came along in 1951. Among the luminaries who have climbed up for a photo: President Lyndon Johnson. You'll find it in downtown Thomasvillle at the corner of Randolph and Main streets. 15. Watch the Lost Colony, Roanoke Island Long before Wilmington emerged as a filmmaking hub, there was The Lost Colony. First produced in 1937, it is America's oldest outdoor drama and tells the story of the doomed colonists who settled Roanoke Island in 1587. The locals had been staging homegrown pageants since around 1900, but real stature arrived when playwright Paul Green wrote his symphonic drama to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the birth of Virginia Dare, a lost colonist and the first English child born in the New World. It was only supposed to run for one season, but 65 years and 3 million tickets later, it's still going strong as an entertainment favorite on the Outer Banks. It's staged on the grounds of Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and runs nightly except Sundays from May 31-August 23. Tickets range from $15 to $20 for adults, and $8 for children younger than 12. For more information call (800) 488-5012. 16. And while you're there, explore Fort Raleigh National Historic site, Manteo When Sir Walter Raleigh sent his second expedition out in 1585, they were supposed to go to Florida. Well, after a run of bad luck, they ended up at Roanoke Island and established the first English colony in the New World. They left after a year, but mystery joined history in July 1857 when another English expedition returned to the island. When the entire bunch - more than 100 souls - vanished, The Lost Colony became one of America's most well-known mysteries. This is an important place in our nation's history - The Lost Colony preceded Jamestown by nearly 20 years, and it also produced Elizabeth Dare, the first English child born in the New World. Admission is free and the site is open daily. For more information, call (252) 473-5772. 17. Drink a Cheerwine, Salisbury Great things seem to originate in odd places. Krispy Kreme doughnuts were first sold from a 1936 Pontiac. Pepsi-Cola came to life in a pharmacy cellar. And Cheerwine, another Tar Heel original, was concocted in the basement of L.D. Peeler's grocery store in Salisbury in 1917. This drink's bubbly cherry flavor, which also inspired its name, arrived courtesy of a St. Louis salesman who convinced Peeler that it would set his drink apart from the competition. Seems he was right, and Cheerwine has remained a hardy regional favorite available in only seven states, from Florida north to West Virginian. 18. Eat some North Carolina barbecue All right - let's keep this civil. Whether you like it vinegar-based or tomato-based, whole hog or pork shoulders, chopped or sliced, if you're going to live in North Carolina, you're just going to have to eat some barbecue. End of story. Just in case you're fuzzy about the rules: Eastern-style uses vinegar; western doesn't. Lexington-style is somewhere in the middle, but it's more eastern than western. Either way, it's all good. No pig ever died in vain in this state. The genuine article is wood-fired, and the tea has to be rattle-your-fillings-sweet. If you're a native, take a newcomer to the local joint. If you're a newcomer, make friends with a native. (But don't start in with how you do it in Texas or Tennessee, or else you'll have to walk home.) 19. Hit the trails in Mount Mitchell State Park, Yancey County Forget that scene in Titanic. If you really want to feel like you're "on top of the world," then visit Mount Mitchell, which in 1916 became our first state park. At an elevation of 6,684 feet, it's the highest point east of the Rockies, and the summit tower offers sweeping views of six peaks more than 6,000 feet in the Black Mountains, so-named for their dark mantle of spruce-fir forests. Bundle up - average snowfall exceeds 100 inches, and measurable snowfall has fallen in every month. Little wonder it's called "Canada down south." The park provides haven for a bevy of rare species, but it's the scenery that keeps 'em coming back. Admission is free and the park is open daily, weather permitting. For more information, call (828) 675-4611. 20. Hear a "hoi toide" accent, Ocracoke Island, Cape Hatteras National Seashore The first visitors to the New World had to contend with our famous Outer Banks, and one of the most famous is Ocracoke. This small fishing village is accessible only by boat, and it's about as quaint as it gets. The lighthouse was built in 1823 and is the oldest one still in operation in North Carolina. At 75 feet, it's also the shortest. Other landmarks on the island include the British Cemetery, resting place of four British sailors who were killed when HMS Bedfordshire was torpedoed in May 1942. You'll also see the famous Banker Ponies, wild horses that are believed to be descended from horses abandoned by The Lost Colony. And of course, you'll get to hear the famous high tide accent, which rises to all new levels here. 21. Soak up the sophistication of the Mint Museum, Charlotte Need some culture? Well, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the Mint Museum. Established in 1933 and opened to the public in 1936, this is the oldest art museum in North Carolina. The building began life in uptown Charlotte as a branch of the U.S. Mint, hence the name. Mint operations ceased during the Civil War, and the building served as a Confederate hospital. Threatened with demolition in 1933, it was saved and moved to its current location. The permanent collection emphasizes artworks from the Americas, and you'll find it all, from painting to pottery to fine decorative arts. It's open daily except Mondays and major holidays. Tickets range from $3 to $6 and include admission to the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. For more information, call (704) 337-2000. 22. Cross the swinging bridge at Grandfather Mountain, Linville If you want a view from the roof of the Blue Ridge, then this is the place. It rises 4,000 feet from the Catawba River valley, and once on top, you might think you're in Canada. The mountain has been privately owned by the Morton family since 1885, and, although it's a renowned tourist attraction, its 4,500 acres are also an important nature preserve, providing habitat for 42 rare species. You can hike, birdwatch, take in the scenery and, of course, stroll across the famous "Mile High Swinging Bridge." It's cold, with an average temperature of 45° F, and the winds are legendary, so don't forget the sweater. It's open daily except Christmas and Thanksgiving (weather permitting), and admission fees range from $6 to $12. For more information, call (800) 468-7325. 23. Attend the Easter Sunrise Service at Old Salem, Winston-Salem No need to travel all that way to Williamsburg to see how it was done back in the 1700s. You can see one of the best colonial-era restorations in the country at the 234-year-old Moravian community of Old Salem. Old Salem Inc. has been at it since 1950, and today you can tour nearly three dozen immaculately restored buildings. Walk on 200-year-old pine floors, take in the sun as you sit in the town square, laid out in 1768, or get a treat at the Winkler Bakery, where they're still using the original ovens built in 1800. Plan on browsing the delightful shops and eating in the tavern. Old Salem is open daily except for Thanksgiving Day and December 24-25. Admission to the site is free; tickets for self-guided tours are $20 for adults, $11 for children five to 16. For more information, call (336) 721-7300. 24. Meander through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park We share this one with Tennessee, but it's hard to imagine a more spectacular landscape than our half of the Smokies. From spring wildflowers to fall foliage to cascading streams, this is truly one of the best places on Earth. The park was established in 1937, and at 520,000 acres, or about 800 square miles, it's one of the largest protected areas east of the Rockies. If you go, bone up on your botany - more than 4,000 plant species grow here! Recommended stops include Clingman's Dome, Fontana Dam, Newfound Gap, and the beautiful drive through Cades Cove. The park is open daily, and unlike many other national parks, admission is free - the Rockefellers insisted on this after they donated $5 million for the park's creation. For more information, call (865) 436-1200. 25. Ride the ferry on Bear Island, the state's largest undeveloped barrier island, Swansboro This 890-acre island is a genuine pearl in the necklace of barrier islands that skirt the coast, but unlike its brethren, this island is almost completely undeveloped. Aside from a few campsites and picnic tables, you'll think you've stepped back in time when you hit the three-mile long beach. It is the centerpiece of Hammocks Beach State Park, and this is a glorious place, bounded on one side by Atlantic rollers and on the other by quiet salt marshes. It's open daily, and fittingly, it's accessible only by boat, but you're in luck: for $2 ($1 for kids), the park provides a ferry ride through the marshes. The more intrepid can paddle a canoe trail. For more information, call (910) 326-4881. 26. Remember Bentonville, site of the last major Confederate offensive in the Civil War North Carolina gave more soldiers to the Confederacy than any other state, and Bentonville was the Civil War's last major battle and the last full-scale offensive mounted by the Confederacy. If you like Civil War history, this one should be on your list. From March 19 through 21, 1865, nearly 20,000 Confederates went up against 60,000 Union soldiers in a last-ditch effort at stopping Sherman's march north from Atlanta through the Carolinas. Today the battlefield is a State Historic Site. Admission is free, and the site is open daily. For more information, call (910) 554-0789. 27. Read a poem at the Carl Sandburg Home, Flat Rock Most folks know that Carl Sandburg was one of this country's most beloved poets and biographers. What most folks don't know is that this literary great, who is remembered for having given a voice to the downtrodden, moved to Flat Rock in 1945 and spent 22 years quietly pursuing his craft in a farmhouse that he called Connemara. All told, one-third of his published works sprang from these mountains. Today, the site is managed as a National Historic Site by the National Park Service. It's open year-round except for Christmas Day; house tours are $3 for adults, free for children 16 and younger. You can also tour the grounds, which are maintained as a living farm. For more information, call (828) 693-4178. 28. Slide down Jockey's Ridge, Nags Head There are big sand dunes, and then there's Jockey's Ridge. How big is it? Well, at 12 million cubic yards and nearly 90 feet in height, it's visible from space. It's not just big, it's vast. It appeared on navigation charts as early as 1738, and popular legend says it was named for the locals' penchant for horse racing on its sands. It was nearly paved over for a subdivision in 1973, until Carolista Baum marched up and dared the bulldozer operator to move one more foot. Well, the guy blinked, and we got a new state park and the tallest sand dune on the east coast. Admission is free, and it's open daily. The sunset from the summit is well worth the walk, and sliding down the slopes will make you feel like a kid again. For more information, call (252) 441-7132. 29. Sip hot chocolate in front of the fireplace at The Grove Park Inn, Asheville Edwin W. Grove liked the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the slopes of Sunset Mountain, so he decided to build a hotel so that others could enjoy it as well. It was a good idea then, and it still is. But Grove's hotel wasn't just any old hotel. He broke ground in July 1912, and when the mule teams and workers had finished toting the last of the massive granite blocks up the mountain, it was hailed as one of the finest resort hotels in the world. It is one of North Carolina's most famous landmarks, and if you want to spend some time in a place that has "all the old-fashioned qualities of genuineness with no sham," then make the drive to Asheville. For reservation and more information, call (800) 438-5800. 30. Listen to the silence at Fort Macon State Park, Atlantic Beach If you admire things that were built to last, then this is one place that you need to see. This pentagonally shaped fortress was completed in 1834 and was intended to protect Beaufort Harbor. It took 9 million bricks, and it's one of the finest and best preserved examples of 19th-century military architecture that you'll ever see. It was one of 38 coastal fortifications built between 1817 and 1865, and one of its siblings is Charleston Harbor's Fort Sumter. Oddly, it spent more time as a prison than as a battle station, and it saw combat only once, when the Union captured it in April 1862. The state got it for $1 in 1923, and it is lovingly maintained as the state's second-oldest state park. It's open daily, and admission is free. For more information, call (252) 726-3775. 31. Dance around Tryon Palace, New Bern Tryon Palace, a massive Georgian-style palace that was built between 1767 and 1770, became North Carolina's first state capitol after independence was declared. George Washington dined and danced here (but he didn't sleep over), and the palace was the state capitol until 1794, when it was moved to Raleigh. The palace burned in 1798 and was painstakingly rebuilt in the early 1950s. Today, the palace and its 13 acres of grounds are maintained as a State Historic Site. It's open daily except for Thanksgiving, December 24 through 26, and New Year's Day. For more information, call (800) 767-1560. 32. Marvel at Duke Chapel, Durham Every Gothic cathedral is a colossal undertaking, and most take decades, even centuries, to complete. The Duke University Chapel is Gothic through-and-through, and with 73-foot ceilings, it's certainly colossal. But the bunch over in Durham didn't dawdle; from cornerstone to dedication in 1935 took only five years. It is one of the largest and most actively used university chapels in the United States, and it is wondrous. The wood and stone carvings are truly extraordinary, and there are more than 1 million pieces of stained glass depicting both the old and new testaments. The chapel is located on the Duke University campus, and Sunday services are at 11 a.m. 33. Go round and round at the State Fair, Raleigh Lots of cities and counties have agricultural fairs in the fall, and going to them is an annual rite for most folks. But if you want to see the big time, then you need to come to the State Fair, held every October in Raleigh. The State Agricultural Society hosted the first shindig in 1853, and it cost a quarter to get in. Except for closures during the Civil War and World War I, it's been going strong ever since. It was originally intended to showcase the state's agricultural, mineral, and artistic riches, and despite the rides, concerts, and other entertainment, the theme of rural life is still a main feature. Favorites include the Folk Festival (begun in 1948), the Crafts Pavilion, and, of course, the livestock pavilion. Moo. Make sure you go this year. 34. Listen to music by Doc Watson, Wilkesboro I don't care where you're from, or how much mountain music you've listened to, nobody - I mean nobody - picks and sings traditional Appalachian music like Doc Watson. Long acclaimed as one of the best pickers ever to take up a guitar, he's world famous, drop-dead talented, and he's from the mountains of northwestern North Carolina. From bluegrass to gospel to folk, he plays and sings with a signature style that is unmatched. For my money, his version of "Tennessee Stud" is the single best song ever recorded, period. True aficionados make the annual pilgrimage to Wilkesboro for Merlefest, the festival hosted by Doc in memory of Merle, his late son. [This year Merlefest is April 25-28; call (800) 343-7857 for more information.] 35. Walk the grounds of Town Creek Indian Mound, Mount Gilead In 1936, Montgomery County farmer Lloyd Frutchey almost tore this mound apart so he could fill in a low spot in his fields. Luckily, the archaeologists talked him out of it, and for that, we got Town Creek Indian Mound, which turned out to be a world-class prehistoric site that's almost 800 years old. Excavations lasted for almost 50 years, and it became one of the most renowned archaeological features in North America. This mound is the only one of its type in North Carolina, and it tells the story of one of our earliest native cultures. Today, it is the only State Historic Site dedicated exclusively to Indian history. It's open daily and features a museum and reconstructed village. Admission is free; for more information, call (910) 439-6802. 36. Wander through a longleaf pine stand at Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, Southern Pines "Here's to the land of the longleaf pine." Those famous words immortalize one of North Carolina's most significant natural resources: the majestic longleaf pine. They once covered 60 million coastal acres, from North Carolina down through the gulf coast, and their resin and lumber fueled a thousand local economies. Today, the trees that helped put us on the map are almost gone; only 3 percent of the original acreage survives, and one of the best places to see them is in North Carolina's sandhills. At Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve you can walk amongst 200-year-old longleafs, learn the history of how these trees were used, and get a feel for what North Carolina looked like before the first settlers arrived. The preserve is open daily, and admission is free. For more information, call (910) 692-2167. 37. Discover treasures at the N.C. Maritime Museum, Beaufort Our history is inextricably linked to the sea, and when it comes to telling that story, this may well be one of the best museums you'll ever visit. From sea shells to hands-on boat building classes, this museum's sensational collections, displays, programs, and field trips honor our rich nautical history. It started in 1898 when some pickled specimens and fishing tackle went over to Norway to represent North Carolina at the International Fishing Exposition. Today, it's a beautiful, world-class museum on the water in historic Beaufort. It's open daily except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day, and admission is free. For more information, call (252) 728-7317. 38. Go see Unto These Hills, Cherokee North Carolina is home to almost 100,000 Indians, meaning that we have the largest Indian population east of the Mississippi and the seventh largest in the country. Of the dozen tribes that call North Carolina home, certainly the Cherokees are among the most familiar. Their story, from the arrival of the Spanish in 1540 to the tragic Trail of Tears in the early 19th century, is told in Unto These Hills, one of the country's oldest and most popular outdoor dramas. It's been staged at the Mountainside Theater in Cherokee since 1950 and has been seen by more than 5 million visitors. Performances occur nightly except for Sundays and will run in 2002 from July 13 through August 24. Tickets range from $6 to 16; for more information, call (866) 554-4557. 39. Gaze at the stars in the Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill Got a thing for stargazing? Want to know more about black holes, the night sky, the star of Bethlehem, or that fellow called Orion? Can't figure out the difference between a comet and a meteor? Then you need to visit the place where NASA's first astronauts learned how to find their way around outer space. With a 68-foot diameter dome, the Morehead is one of only five planetaria in North Carolina, one of the country's largest and most modern, and one of the few completely automated planetaria in the world. A gift from John Motley Morehead (UNC class of 1891), it's been thrilling visitors since 1949, and the gee-whiz technology can project an astounding 8,900 stars onto the dome. Indoor shows run Wednesday through Saturday evenings, live sky shows are featured on Fridays, and there's a delightfully diverse schedule of programs throughout the year. Admission is $4.50 for adults; $3.50 for seniors and children. For more information, call (919) 962-1236. 40. Celebrate the holidays in Christmas Town, McAdenville Think you've seen Christmas lights? Think again. Until you've seen the nationally renowned "Christmas Town" in the small Gaston County town of McAdenville, all bets are off. They started in 1956 with nine trees, and at last count they were up to 400 trees and 450,000 lights. That's 727 lights per resident in this textile town. They use only live trees, and the number of lights per tree ranges from 500 to an eye-popping 9,300. The show runs nightly for about three weeks, beginning around the first of December. They pull the plug at 9:30 p.m. on weeknights so that the shift change at the plants won't get delayed, but the glow stays on until 11 p.m. on weekends. 41. Be awed by the Churches of the Frescoes, Ashe County Most churches that use art to make a spiritual statement do so by relying on that old theological standby, the stained-glass window. Not so the two Episcopal churches that comprise the Parish of the Holy Communion in the tiny Ashe County towns of Glendale Springs (Holy Trinity Episcopal Church) and West Jefferson (St. Mary's Episcopal Church). These churches' inspiration - and reputation - springs from a trio of astounding frescoes painted between 1974 and 1980 by Ben Long. You've never seen the likes of this before - the frescoes are truly breathtaking. These are tiny country churches, but they have brought them international acclaim and an annual visitation estimated at 60,000. Holy Trinity Church is located on N.C. Highway 16 in Glendale Springs; St. Mary's is located on N.C. Highway 194. Both are open daily. Admission is free. For more information, call (336) 982-3076. 42. Take in the big state museums, Raleigh Really now, if you're going to take in the sights, then you'll have to visit Raleigh and hit the Big Three of the museum world. For culture, head for the N.C. Museum of Art. From classics to modern, international to homegrown, it's all there. For all of those "I-didn't-know-that" moments, it's hard to top the N.C. Museum of History. The exhibits are top-dollar, and you'll wonder why you didn't get there sooner. And for the backyard naturalist, there's the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. This is no ordinary museum - it has a real mountain waterfall, and the displays will knock your socks off. All three are open daily, and admission is free. (But some special exhibits at the art and natural sciences museums charge a fee.) For more information, call the art museum at (919) 715-5923; history museum at (919) 715-0200; and natural sciences at (919) 733-7450. 43. Explore the N.C. Zoological Park, Asheboro Say goodbye to the bad old days, when zoos were a depressing collection of small, steel-barred cages. Say hello to the N.C. Zoological Park, a leader in the next wave of zoos. With more than a thousand animals living on more than 500 acres, it's the country's largest walk-through, natural-habitat zoo. The African exhibit will make you think you've hitched a ride on a photo safari, and the bird house alone is worth the trip. You'll also find restaurants and gift shops. The park is open daily except Christmas Day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and children. Admission is half-price from December through February. For information, call (800) 488-0444. 44. Mold clay at the Seagrove Pottery Festival, Seagrove They've been making pottery in Seagrove since the mid-1700s, and with nearly 100 potteries within a 25-mile radius, this little spot in the Piedmont has developed an international reputation for craftsmanship and excellence. The first potters were British settlers who sold pots to augment their farm income; the area's commercial doings took off in 1915 when Jugtown Pottery was established. The variety is endless - from traditional to contemporary, stoneware to porcelain, high art to purely functional - but the real treasures are the traditional pots and wares. Seagrove is located in Randolph County, and the potteries are open every day. For more information, call (336) 873-8430. 45. Yell and scream at an ACC basketball game You knew this one had to be on the list. Think of it as the third leg in North Carolina's Holy Trinity, along with NASCAR and barbecue. Oh sure, other places think that they have real basketball, but let's face it, comparing them to the ACC is like trying to use a garden hose to put our a four-alarm fire. If you're new to the phenomenon, just watch and learn. And if you leave your first game feeling like you've just attended an old-time religious revival, then you'll have done it right. Go Heels and Hoos, Terps and Tigers, Deacs and Devils, Pack, Jackets, and 'Noles. 46. Pan for god at Reed Gold Mine, Cabarrus County Move over John Sutter. You might have had the most famous gold strike in American history, but you didn't have the first. That honor goes to a Tar Heel - John Reed - whose son found a 17-pound nugget in Little Meadow Creek in 1799. Reed used the nugget as a doorstop before selling it for $3.50, and then found another one weighing in at 28 pounds. Reed's mine was the first gold rush in America, and at its height it produced more than $1 million annually. It was only surpassed when Sutter's strike in 1848 led to the 1849 rush in California. The site is in Stanfield; it is open daily but closed on Mondays from November 1 through March 31. Admission is free, and you can pan for gold for only $2.50. For information, call (704) 721-4653. 47. Appreciate the African-American history at the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Memorial, Sedalia Charlotte Hawkins Brown was a granddaughter of former slaves, and this memorial honors her life at the helm of the Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute, "the important school she conceived of, built and rebuilt, led, and ... let go of after it flourished for more than 60 years." She built her school in rural Guilford County in 1901, and when it closed in 1971, she had educated, inspired, and transformed the lives of more than a thousand African-American students. She was decades ahead of conventional thought, and this site addresses her national role in education and social history. It is the state's first site honoring its African-American citizens. The campus includes more than a dozen restored buildings and is open daily except Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, call (336) 449-4846. 48. Picnic by a waterfall in Transylvania County Have you seen the ad that pictures a waterfall and invites you to come "hear the original rock music"? If you go to Transylvania County, you'll hear an entire symphony. There are more than 200 large waterfalls in the area, including Whitewater Falls, whose 400-foot drop is considered by many to be our most scenic. How did we get this lucky? The short answer is that we came along just in time to reap the benefits of 200 million years of erosion, which left Transylvania County perched above its neighbors. The area averages 80 inches of rain per year, and, since water runs downhill, the rest is history. While you're there, live a little: You can drive under Bridal Veil Falls, walk under Dry Falls, and slide down Sliding Rock. 49. Learn a craft at Penland, Penland The arts and crafts that symbolize North Carolina have a host of homes, but mountain folk seem destined to create with their hands, and Penland celebrates those skills by hosting some of the world's most talented artists. This school is the oldest and largest of its kind in the country, and students come from all over the world to learn from the masters of Appalachian weaving, pottery, glass blowing, wood-working, music, and more. Some studios are open to the public, and there are exhibits year-round. The school is north of Spruce Pine, off N.C. Highway 226. For more information, call (828) 765-2359. 50. Enjoy rhododendron in bloom, Roan Mountain For all its cultural attractions, big cities, famous people, and big-time athletics, there's nothing like natural North Carolina. The rhododendrons at Roan Mountain cover about 600 acres, and at 6,285 feet above sea level, it's the largest and highest natural flower garden you'll ever see. If you can't get to Roan, then get to Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Asheville. These shrubs are common, but the view of an entire mountainside covered in pink blossoms isn't. Peak week is usually mid-June, and it's accompanied by the Rhododendron Festival. For more information, call (704) 688-3456. Roan Mountain is on N.C. Highway 261, at the Tennessee line, 13 miles north of Bakersville. Admission is free, of course. |