What’s your most memorable childhood vacation? Was it when your toes first touched the ocean? Eating a sundae the size of your head? Going on your first upside-down roller coaster? Here’s a list of things to do they’ll never forget.

This area of the North Carolina mountains features some of the highest peaks in the East, which means some of the most thrilling cycling routes and bike trails as well.

It’s one of the few things guaranteed to make you feel like a kid again: the swimming hole. Usually a natural oasis requiring some effort to reach, these bodies of water are known to wash away all worries on a hot day.

Visit the North Carolina coast to explore manicured formal gardens, see masses of brightly blooming azaleas and learn about botanical treasures such as the rare Venus flytrap. It’s sandy, easy to cultivate the light, and the climate is tempered by the Gulf Stream for a lengthy growing season. It’s not hard to see why the earliest settlers were eager to make our shores their home.

Make a golf trip to Pinehurst, Asheville or Wilmington to experience the golf great's greens yourself.

Everyone says you have to try hang gliding in Kitty Hawk when you’re on the Outer Banks. But being a “must see” doesn’t mean it can’t surprise you. Learn more about this classically North Carolina destination, and then go beyond the guidebook with our insider tips.

The Nantahala, Pisgah, Uwharrie and Croatan National Forests are full of wild places to hike, hunt, camp, raft and fish.

Cyclists are fond of our state because of the many scenic routes and annual fall rides that showcase natural beauty, iconic monuments and local charm.

For exciting activities in, on or above the water, our shores offer pristine beaches, expansive marshes, depths to dive and skies to fly.

In the early 1800s, you could hardly cross North Carolina without falling into a gold mine. During our gold rush — the nation’s first — many industrious men made fortunes in North Carolina.