North carolina: The essential guide to visiting North Carolina

The essential guide to visiting North Carolina Here’s everything you need to know about exploring the Tar Heel State—when to go, where to stay, what to do, and how to get around. Welcome to NC’s official travel-planning destination. Explore things to do, browse maps and places to stay, and discover ideas for your next vacation. North Carolina is a quintessentially Southern state in the United States, which offers visitors endless varieties within three distinct regions. North Carolina and South Carolina are jointly referred to as "the Carolinas", with North Carolina being the larger of the two. The state is known for its barbecue, music, and unique culture. In 2023, North Carolina had a population of 10.6M people with a median age of 39.1 and a median household income of $69,904. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of North Carolina grew from 10.5M to 10.6M, a 1.09% increase and its median household income grew from $66,186 to $69,904, a 5.62% increase.