| Charlotte is the largest city in North Carolina, which also makes it one of the most diverse and entertaining. The city offers professional sports arenas, cultural attractions, historical attractions, exclusive shopping, unique cuisine, recreational opportunities, and of course, southern charm. Millions of visitors flock to Charlotte in droves to witness the rolling thunder of a NASCAR race at the world famous Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Many fans will attest that nothing is as exciting as the roar of the engines, the cheer of the crowd, and watching their favorite drivers propel themselves down the track and past the stands at blistering speeds. Likewise, football, hockey, and basketball fans can catch a Panthers, Checkers, or Bobcats game. Culture and history lovers can pick and choose from the annual Renaissance Festival, the Afro-American Cultural Center, the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, the Charlotte Museum of History, King’s Mountain National Military Park, the historic Latta or Rosedale Plantations, or the Mint Museums. Shoppers and diners are sure to like Concord Mills, the state’s largest tourist attraction with an interior circumference of over a mile, or the upscale shops at South Park Mall. And when hunger strikes, there’s nothing like North Carolina BBQ. Charlotte has restaurants that serve up all types, from the thick, tomato-based sauce from the western part of the state to the thin, vinegar-based sauce from the eastern part. Outdoor enthusiasts can stroll through one of the city’s botanical gardens or head a few hours west to the great Appalachian Mountains. And don’t worry, children love Charlotte too. There’s the Children’s Theater of Charlotte, Discovery Place, and just a short drive away is Paramount’s Carowinds amusement park. North Carolina has much to offer its citizens and visitors alike, from its bustling, modern cities to its rural areas, whose undeveloped woodlands still cover the majority of the state. In the eastern region of the state are the beautiful, tan sand outer banks, a chain of over 100 natural barrier islands that protect its mainland’s coastline from the great Atlantic. In the center of the state is the piedmont region, home to “the Triangle”, an area comprised of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Here you’ll find NC State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina all within short drives of one another. These accredited universities and the many growing businesses that call the area home bring with them academic, artistic, and cultural diversity, as well as shopping, dining, and nightlife. Raleigh is the spot to be to catch the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes in action. A bit farther to the west is the state’s largest city, Charlotte, where NASCAR fans rally at the track, NFL fans flock to the Carolina Panthers’ stadium, and thrill seekers take the rides of their lives at nearby Paramount’s Carowinds amusement park. In the western part of the state lie the majestic, rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains, where campers, hikers, and sightseers can take in the breathtaking views along one of the nation’s most scenic roads, the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. Also, as one of the original 13 colonies, the Old North State, as it’s sometimes called, is rich in historical landmarks throughout the state. Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Mountains, Outer Banks, Atlantic Ocean, Raliegh, Durham, Chapel Hill, UNC, NC State, Duke University, Carowinds, Civil War Great Wagon Road, Bank of America, Goodrich Corporation, Wachovia, Lowe's, Time Warner Cable, Meineke Car Care Centers, Carolina Panthers, Lowe's Motor Speedway, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Mecklenburg County, The Queen City, Charlotte Hornets, Family Dollar, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, Reed Gold Mine, Charlotte Bobcats, |