Restaurants in North Carolina

You'll have to choose sides in North Carolina -- the mountains or the sea. Do you want to hike wooded trails or stroll on hotel-free beaches? Drive the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway or sail across the sound on a ferry? Gaze over misty valleys from a mountain peak or admire the arc of the shoreline from a sand dune? It's difficult to make a wrong choice with these options, but you're still likely to do some hand-wringing.

Because North Carolina's two best features lie on the far east and west boundaries of the state, separated by more than 250 mi/400 km of middle ground, it's difficult to see them both in a one-week vacation. North Carolina is blessed with a great wealth of scenic parks and recreation areas, including several national forests. The solution is to make two visits or one very long one. It will be time well spent.

Popular towns

• Greensboro
• Wilmington
• High Point
• Durham
• Charlotte