North Carolina

North Carolina runs from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west to the Outer Banks in the east, which means mountains and beaches are both a few hours from the middle of the state.

Asheville has built a genuine food and craft beer scene around the Blue Ridge foothills, along with the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in America. Charlotte anchors the state's banking industry with a modern downtown skyline. The Outer Banks, a chain of barrier islands, mixes lighthouse history with some of the best surfing on the East Coast.

Barbecue sauce style is a genuine dividing line between the state's eastern and western halves.