North Carolina holidays - Striking, active and mouth-watering

From live street performances to ziplining and rafting - the outdoorsy lifestyle is rife here

We find North Carolina to be the perfect location for those seeking a slow-paced, outdoorsy experience in America. In this beautiful State you’ll find rolling mountains that change from emerald to auburn as the seasons turn, 300 miles of beach adorned with charming loggerhead turtles, and vibrant city streets where every corner is met with a cool brewery or live Bluegrass music.

With 350 cascading waterfalls, miles upon miles of soft golden sand, picturesque barrier islands and winding rivers, there’s much for active travellers to explore during their time here. We love fun activities like rafting, ziplining and camping and it seems as if the locals in North Carolina do too – there’s plenty of opportunity to spend all day and evening outside.

North Carolina is wonderfully cultural too. Somewhat surprisingly there’s a booming pottery scene here, a bit of a juxtaposition to the State’s plethora of trendy craft breweries and distilleries. The founding location of Krispy Kreme and Pepsi, it’s less surprising that the food here is fabulous, including small cafes flaunting locally-sourced cuisine and wicked meus filled with fresh seafood and delectable barbecue. As the original home of Bluegrass music, you’ll come across many a street performance either by a busking band or a theatre group showcasing their talent. North Carolina’s cities are just as fun as the outdoor playgrounds.