North Carolina's
three key "parts" are the Coast Region to the east, the Mountains Region
in the west, and the Piedmont
plateau, or Heartland Region, in the middle.
The coast of North Carolina was the site of one of the most
momentous events in the history of technology: the flight of the
Wright Brothers' aircraft, at Kitty Hawk in 1903. But Kitty Hawk
aviation history is only a tiny fraction of what the North
Carolina coast has to offer. The three capes on the coast --
Cape Fear Coast, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and Cape
Lookout National Seashore -- lure vacationers from around the
world; Hatteras and Lookout are designated National Seashores.
North Carolina's share of the Great Smoky Mountains rise through
the light haze which gives them their name. Drive on the scenic
Blue Ridge Parkway from the Smoky Mountains to the Shenandoah
Mountains of Virginia. Great Smoky Mountains
National Park is the nation's busiest national park, drawing 10
million visitors (almost all by car) yearly.
Between the coast to the east and and the mountains of the west is
North Carolina's Piedmont Plateau,
where most of North Carolina's population is settled and where
many will choose to spend their North Carolina retirement. The
state's largest urban area is Charlotte. The "research
triangle" is composed of the cities of Raleigh, Durham, and
Chapel Hill. Retirees desiring a rich intellectual
environment will want to consider this area home, there are
several universities and a vibrant academic life.
With several hundred courses to choose from, North Carolina
lives up to its billing as the "Golf Capital of the World". The
courses are spread throughout the state. The courses in
this golf paradise range from immaculately sculpted coastal gems
to rugged mountain terrain. You'll find the courses here
with challenging elevation changes, stunning views, and much
more. Some three-hundred golf courses in the neighboring state
of South Carolina and the moderate climate, and an extensive
golf retirement community infrastructure make the Carolinas one
of the premier golf retirement destinations in the world.
Asheville - Raleigh - Charlotte
