Introduction
The Carolinas are an area of immense natural beauty, with a coastline boasting delightful beach resorts and an interior of rural farming lands and charming towns and cities filled with history and culture. Ranging from the Atlantic coast to the Appalachian Mountains, these two eastern states offer endless holiday opportunities.
North Carolina's National Parks
If you're talking National Parks, North Carolina has its southern sister beat. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park bordering North Carolina and Tennessee is a haven of lush forests and hiking routes, including sections of the famous Appalachian Trail. The 500,000 acre Pisgah National Forest encompasses mile-high peaks and gushing waterfalls, while the The Blue Ridge Parkway covers 252 miles along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Appalachian Highlands.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina
South Carolina's Coast
South Carolina is closer to the equator, meaning warmer temperatures year-round and a thriving beach culture. Myrtle Beach is a haven for water sports, golf courses and fun, thanks to its bustling beachfront boardwalk. Edisto Island, one of South Carolina's Sea Islands in Charleston County, is breathtakingly beautiful, particularly the wild treescapes on the wetlands at Botany Bay Preserve. And, the pristine white-sand shores of Hilton Head Island are perfect for dolphin watching.
Mrytle Beach, South Carolina
Charming Cities
Charleston, SC is perhaps the best-known city in the Carolinas. Its historic downtown, pastel antebellum houses, and authentic French Quarter are highlights, while its southern cuisine is some of the best in America. Charlotte, NC, home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, has a bustling Uptown district, original Victorian architecture, and a complex Civil War past, showcased in the Levine Museum of the New South. Of course there are many other cities to explore across both states, including Columbia, Raleigh and Durham.
Charleston, South Carolina
