North Carolina gives you a fantastic choice of great experiences, from discovering one of America’s best beaches to driving one of the nation’s most scenic roads. You’ll find stylish, trendy cities, and beautiful seashores, mountains and countryside across the Tar Heel State – all perfect for exploring in a hire car.

The National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a beautiful 70-mile ribbon of sand along North Carolina’s Atlantic coast and has been judged one of the best beaches in the US. You’ll find it’s an area with exceptional surfing and fishing, and is memorable for strolling along the shoreline between windswept sand dunes and towering lighthouses. It’s the highlight of more than 300 miles of spectacular sandy barrier islands along the coast.

Come into the Garden

The wonderful Airlie Gardens near Wilmington date back to 1901, when they were originally planted by a rich industrialist’s wife. More than a century later, her social venue has grown into an estate of more than 100,000 azaleas, and two lakes framed by magnolias and camellias. The star attraction is a giant oak tree that has grown here for 500 years. The North Carolina Arboretum is another botanic hotspot for nature enthusiasts, homing a diverse range of blooming flowers.

The Triangle

The triangle formed by the cities of Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill is a hotbed of scientific research, thanks to the universities and pioneering technology companies based there.

In Raleigh you’ll be able to tour the grand neo-classical State Capitol building, while in Durham you mustn’t miss the famous Duke Chapel. This eccentric Neo-Gothic centrepiece to the university has a 210ft tower, magnificent stained glass and uses stone of 17 different colours.

Home to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill offers a different atmosphere to the rest of the state, with the student district homing a host of cafes and restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat.

Shopping and sports in Charlotte

North Carolina is generally known for its small, quirky independent shops but one of the biggest attractions in the state is the Concord Mills Outlet Centre near Charlotte. This 1.4 million square foot mall houses more than 200 stores, plus restaurants and amusements. Next-door is the giant Great Wolf Lodge waterpark, while the Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR circuit is just round the corner – check their website to see if there's an event on during you're stay to feel the buzz of a race weekend.