North Carolina Luxury Vacation Rentals
The North Carolina vacation rental landscape features a diversity that offers a gem of a vacation for any traveler. What other state can offer both the highest mountain east of the Mississippi (Mount Mitchell), the nation’s most visited national park, (the Blue Ridge Parkway) and some of the most pristine beaches in North America (the Outer Banks).
From hiking through the Blue Ridge mountains around Asheville and Pisgah National Forest to enjoying a round of golf in Pinehurst, the birthplace of golf in the United States, to learning a little about history and politics in the State Capitol building in Raleigh, North Carolina vacationers will find an array of activities to enjoy.
Not only that, the Outer Banks (birthplace of flight) and its magnificent beaches and lighthouses are a must vacation experience. And for the vacationer that does not depend upon amenities like a maid service, luxury North Carolina vacation rentals offer the opportunity to stay in a resort setting with all of the comforts of home at an affordable price.
North Carolina has some of the longest coastline in the country and highest mountains East of the Mississippi. From the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Mountains, and across the great Piedmont in between, North Carolina luxury vacation rentals provide the best accommodations to experience these wonderful places. The Outer Banks have been drawing visitors since the earliest days of Spanish and English explorers. Wild horses whose ancestors once belonged to those explorers still roam free on Shackleford Banks and Corolla. Scuba divers who cherish the offshore waters for their amazing clarity also enjoy exploring the shipwrecks. Roanoke Islandoffers two great opportunities to learn more about the natural and cultural history of these barrier islands: the North Carolina Aquarium and the North Carolina Maritime Museum. For shopping, dining and entertainment, a visitor’s best bet would be Nags Head or Corolla. No trip would be complete without visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk, home of the first airplane flight.
Coastal North Carolina includes more than the Outer Banks, however. The famous barrier islands shelter two huge sounds, the Pamlico Sound to the south and Abermarle Sound to the north. Both provide excellent fishing, wildlife viewing, sea kayaking and power boating opportunities. Where the Outer Banks fade away to the south, visitors will find the hip town of Wilmington and several smaller beach communities stretching from North Topsail Beach to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Inland, the Piedmont region stretches nearly 300 miles from the coastal Sandhills to the mountains. This gently rolling land holds massive lakes created from the great rivers that drain the Appalachian, making fishing and watersports very popular. North Carolina’s Piedmont is also home to two great vacation destinations, the Research Triangle and Pinehurst. The Research Triangle consists of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, three vibrant cities who have embraced the arts and culture as wholeheartedly as they have technology, research and development. Nearby, the golf resort community of Pinehurst has become known as the home of more golf championships than any other course in the country. Most recently, the historic greens hosted the 2005 U.S. Open.
The mountains that border the western end of the state match the grandeur of the coast. These peaks are the highest of the Appalachian Mountains, and they include the famous Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. Western North Carolina is typically divided into four parts: Asheville, Grandfather Mountain, Murphy-Franklin and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Asheville, nicknamed the “Paris of the South” and the “Boulder of the East,” is the metropolitan center of the region. Once a former gold rush town, the city exploded in the 1920s after the Vanderbilts settled here on the Biltmore Estate, which continues to boast America’s largest private home, and which is open for tours. The eclectic mix of Art Deco, Neoclassical and other architecture to be found also draws visitors. Today, the city is enjoying a great revival. The booming restaurant menu includes unique establishments such as the Caro-American Tupelo Honey Café. The art scene flourishes in dozens of galleries such as the Kress Emporium. Many weekenders come into town to see a concert at the Orange Peel or Thomas Wolf Auditorium, two venues that pull in major national acts. Although Asheville and the entire surrounding metropolitan area barely have a population approaching 100,000, the urban amenities suggest a large city. For more information, check out the Asheville Visitor's Guide.
If you came to the mountains to get away from the bustle, head up north to the area around Grandfather Mountain. This northwestern corner of North Carolina has three of the best ski resorts in the Southeast: Sugar, Beech and Hawk’s Nest. A drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway is the perfect way to see fall foliage or scenic vistas. Linville Gorge offers hiking and more autumn colors, as well as waterfalls. The namesake Grandfather Mountain has been named an International Biosphere Reserve and includes the Mile High Swinging Bridge, which leads to some of the best views in all the mountains.
In the opposite corner of the state, the two small towns of Murphy and Franklin anchor the mountains’ other resort and retirement region. Two other small towns, Highlands and Cashiers, also offer some dining and shopping. Visit the Nantahala Outdoor Center to sign up for a whitewater rafting trip. Hiwasse Lake is the largest of several in the region that offer fishing and watersports. Many visitors sign up for a class at the John C. Campbell Folk School to learn about arts and crafts, music and dance, cooking and gardening, nature studies, photography and writing. Part of the North Carolina state line runs along the spine of the Smoky Mountains, splitting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Tennessee. The Carolina side doesn’t have major attractions like Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, but that’s the way most people like it. After all, those places are just a short drive away. If you want some entertainment, the Harrah’s Casino in Cherokee has shows, dining and gaming. These cabins are closer to the Smoky Mountain Railway, Fontana Lake and the giant old-growth trees of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest.
North Carolina’s Top Ten Things to Do or See
1. Lighthouses of the Outer Banks
2. Wild Horses
