Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

North Carolina's dramatic mountains and beaches tend to overshadow the state's Piedmont and Sandhills regions. However, visitors who take the time to experience the woodlands and hills that grace the heart of the state will find themselves enchanted by the same sturdy beauty that has nurtured generations of intellectuals and artists, from early 20th-century wit O. Henry to the modern master of dark humor David Sedaris.

The Triangle. Since the region is home to Duke University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, life in the Triangle revolves around basketball and higher education. Leafy campuses offer architectural delights, and the surrounding communities reflect the universities' progressive spirits with a vibrant farm-to-table food scene and a passion for learning and the arts.

The Triad. A legacy of devotion to craft and faith is woven into the fabric of the Triad communities. History comes to life here in the restored Moravian village of Old Salem, and the furniture-making traditions of the Piedmont thrive at High Point's International Home Furnishings Market. Theater fans can take in performances at Winston-Salem's North Carolina School of the Arts and its biannual National Black Theater Festival and at High Point's North Carolina Shakespeare Festival.

Charlotte. The Queen City's contemporary facade dazzles, and its skyline gleams with the most impressive modern architecture in the state. Alongside fans cheering the NFL's Carolina Panthers and hipsters hitting the city's sleek nightspots in this New South metropolis, you'll find traditional Southern hospitality and a lot of good eating inspired by regions around the world.

The Sandhills. Quieter than the neighboring Piedmont communities, the Sandhills boasts Pinehurst, a quaint village that happens to be one of the world's most cherished golf destinations. Fort Bragg, home to the Army's storied 82nd Airborne Division, the North Carolina Zoo, and the vast Seagrove pottery district also draw visitors to the region.