No matter where you go in North Carolina you’re likely to be greeted with warmth and welcome. These are friendly people, who know they live in a very pretty part of America. Drop the diet to feast on Carolina barbecue and fresh seafood, washed down with a few pints from its impressive craft brewing scene. You can find luxury accommodation and dining in all the main cities, but overall you won’t pay much for the tasty food and comfortable hotels in this state.

The great thing about North Carolina is that it offers a taste of everything for travellers. Its east coast is lined with quiet beautiful beaches along the Outer Banks, while the western side of the state is nothing but rolling Appalachian Mountains and old-timey towns. In between, the relatively flat Piedmont region is a golfer’s paradise. Within a single trip you can easily enjoy the sea, the cities, and the mountains without much wasted travel time.

Cross the border of South Carolina and dive back in time. For a traveller heading down the eastern seaboard, venturing into South Carolina marks the beginning of the Deep South. South Carolina is very hot in the summer, and it’s nice coastal areas are a big tourist attraction. Winters on the coast are generally mild, though the upstate does get snow accumulation from time to time.