Introduction

North Carolina became my adopted home ha 1985. Having lived

in seven other states and traveled in 40 more, [ have a good basis of

comparison to say it s an appealing state to visit and a satisfying place

to live.

This book profiles all the state s major destinations and attractions,

plus a few minor ones even longtime residents may not be familiar

with. And we ve ferreted out just about everything interesting there

is to see and do. We describe historic houses and modem art galleries,

a 16th-century sailing ship, and a World War II battleship. We note

music and dance festivals, whistling and whimmy-diddle competi-

tions. We point out craft shops and farmers markets, and where to go

for golf, fishing, hiking, surfing, and hang gliding.

Unquestionably, North Carolina has a lot to offer, and we hope this

book will tempt readers to explore it.

Carolina Curiosities

The Tar Heel State has a few cultural oddities you ll soon discover

as you travel. For examplc, people here "mash" elevator buttons and

"carry" neighbors in carpools. Every year, the national media make a

celebrity of the winner of the annual Hollerin Contest down at

Spivcy s Corner. And if you should find yourself in the vicinity 0f

Salisbury, you nfight want to sample a unique local product--a soft

drink called Cheerwine.

When it comes to food, you ll hear more native lingo and love. For

instance, a barbecue is not a backyard cookout--it s a plate of

chopped or sliced hickory-smoked pork served with coleslaw and

hush puppies. And to ensure good luck for the coming year, you must

have hoppin John (black-eyed peas and rice) on New Year s Day.

One of the first things 1 noticed in North Carolina is that in warm

weather, people spend a lot of time sitting on their porches watching

tile world go by. You ll see this anywhere you go in the state--even

the humblest dwelling has a rocker or garden chair out front. I think

it makes the people here seem friendlier. Even if you re a stranger, the

locals will nod at you when they pass you walking down the street.

When my car broke down in the mountains, a 10-year-old boy

entertained me with a magic show until the tow truck came. And once