Home to the tallest peaks along the near 2,200-mile route, North Carolina’s stretch of Appalachian Trail draws both thru-hikers and day-trippers for mountain views and tranquility.
Nina Simone
For this legendary musician, the path to stardom — and civil rights activism — began during her early childhood in Tryon.
Mt. Olive Pickles
When met with a surplus of produce, Southerners turn to Ball jars of brine. In one Wayne County railroad town, this led to the launch of a booming business — and a small town’s identity.
Fraser Firs
Our state boasts the second-largest Christmas tree industry in the country. With full, emerald-green branches and plenty of pageantry, Fraser firs are at the root of a classic North Carolina Christmas.
Seagrove
Close to the Sandhills, a community of talented ceramicists continues the multi-generational legacy of Seagrove pottery.
Apples
In North Carolina, apples are our sweet and tart stars of autumn.
Richard Petty
Many debate the greatest of all time in American sports, but when it comes to North Carolina racing, there’s no doubt who reigns supreme.
Jockey’s Ridge
There is no more recognizable natural feature on the Outer Banks than the largest living sand dune on the East Coast — but this coastal icon was almost lost to development in the 1970s.
Grandfather Mountain
The rugged profile of the old man has long captivated North Carolinians as it keeps watch over the Blue Ridge.
