From the Outer Banks to Sunset Beach and all points in between, North Carolina’s Coast has been a favorite vacation destination for generations. With exciting events and venues, but also uncrowded beaches, the character and charm of Eastern North Carolina entices visitors year after year. More than 300 miles of sandy beaches and two national seashores beckon beachcombing, exploring lighthouses, boating, or playing in the ocean. Relaxation, rejuvenation and recreation are what you’ll find in Eastern North Carolina. It’s all here, shouldn’t you be?

Engage your senses at Cape Hatteras, the county’s first national seashore and try some board surfing or beachcombing. Climb any of the coastal lighthouses for amazing ocean views. These lighthouses include Currituck Beach, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, Ocracoke Island, Cape Lookout, Oak Island and Old Baldy Lighthouse. Visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk and stand where the Wright brothers took flight. While in Kitty Hawk, go fly a kite on the beach, or pick up a surfboard or kayak and experience the Outer Banks from a different vantage point. Watch wild horses run free along towering dunes and stretching shores in Corolla, a must see sight. Charter a fishing boat out of Nags Head and try your luck catching cobia, flounder or mackerel. If relaxation is on your agenda, head out to any of the beaches and enjoy the rolling sand dunes and the sound of waves crashing.

Eastern North Carolina features charming small towns where you can appreciate life at an easier, relaxed pace. Stroll through unique NC coastal towns to shop and dine on the catch of the day. Experience the scenic beauty of Coastal North Carolina along the sandy beaches of the Crystal Coast and climb the Cape Lookout National Seashore Lighthouse. Visit historic sites featuring Revolutionary and Civil War artifacts. Take in a sunrise and sunset at Brunswick Islands where south facing beaches allow you to see both. Check out the Crystal Coast for the nation’s best wreck diving. Enjoy the sound of the waves rolling in; appreciate the sunsets, sand between your toes and feeling of bliss at Emerald Isle Beach. Check out the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington. Visit New Bern and explore the Birthplace of Pepsi, Tryon Palace and the Firemen’s Museum. Bike, hike, camp or kayak along the Intracoastal Waterway. Spend the day swimming and playing at Topsail or Ocean Isle Beach. See newly hatched baby sea turtles begin their journey to the sea. Tee off at any of the thirty championship golf courses in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands.

Whether you’re looking for a daring outdoor adventure or a more relaxing escape, a Coastal North Carolina vacation will fill your days with new experiences and unforgettable memories. When the sun sets, you’ll find many charming bed and breakfast inns, popular hotels and beach house rentals to rest up for another day. North Carolina beach vacation rental companies utilize their expertise to help you find the perfect home for your family or group. Some even provide concierge services to aid in finding the activities, attractions and discounts that will make your getaway complete. Plan an unforgettable NC beach getaway along the scenic shores of North Carolina’s Coast.

An outdoor playground with rich traditions, epic adventures and mountain heritage, West Virginia’s diverse destinations provide visitors with experiences that will make lasting memories. Craft a West Virginia getaway to connect with your family and friends and enjoy all that a vacation in the Mountain State has to offer.

Drive the winding mountain roads – by car, or better yet, on motorcycle and see the Allegheny, Appalachian and Cumberland Mountains, the Cabwaylingo, Calvin Price, Camp Creek, Coopers Rock, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Kumbrabow, and Seneca State Forests, and the Monongahela National Forest. Nearly the entire state provides options for outdoor recreation, stunning overlooks and scenic byways. Explore 11 major rivers, many perfect for whitewater rafting, venture down into Seneca Caverns or Smoke Hole Caverns, and scale rock faces at Seneca Rocks in the Mountain Highlands or Coopers Rock State Park. Zip line through the treetops on canopy tours, boat, swim or fish at places like Summersville Lake or ride a scenic railroad like Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad or Potomac Eagle Train Excursions in Grant County. Check out Canaan Valley’s world-class skiing or ATV in Mercer County and the Hatfield-McCoy Mountains Region.

Rich heritage is a trademark of West Virginia and you’ll find no shortage of mountain music, fine arts and handcrafts made by local artisans such as Blenko Glass in Huntington – Cabell County and Ron Hinkle Glass in Buckhannon- Upshur County. If it is live culture that feeds your craving for the arts, enjoy live productions at the Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsville-Berkeley County, or the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University – voted one of the“50 Essential Summer Festivals” by The New York Times. The sounds of West Virginia’s roots play at the Veterans Bluegrass Festival in Wetzel County.

Historic treasures such as Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park in Greater Parkersburg, frontier-era forts, Civil War cemeteries, Pricketts Fort State Park in Marion County, the ancestral home of Stonewall Jackson and Grave Creek Native American Burial Mound connect visitors with long past eras. Haunted history abounds as well at places such as the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Stonewall Country – Lewis County and the former West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville – Marshall County.

If it is the thrill of lady luck’s good fortune, you’ll find that on a West Virginia vacation too! Casinos and Greyhound racing in places like Wheeling, Thoroughbred racing and other games of chance will fill your appetite for entertainment.

Plan ahead and search out unique lodging such as a yurt or tree house vacation rental, or stick with the tried and true, but no less accommodating options of campgrounds, national brand hotels or vacation rentals. West Virginia vacation rentals may include small cabins to deluxe lodges in your choice of scenic and secluded locations. Luxurious amenities such as hot tubs, fireplaces or spas will make your West Virginia stay even more enjoyable.

Whether you’re gaming at a casino, hunting for game in the great outdoors, riding the rapids or the rails, reliving history or enjoying live entertainment, a West Virginia vacation is a getaway that you’ll never forget! Visit West Virginia and make this the year for your epic adventure!