Book Synopsis From the Outer Banks to Asheville, discover the best of the Tar Heel State with Moon North Carolina . Inside youll find: Flexible itineraries, including scenic drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway, four days in the Great Smoky Mountains, and a five-day coastal getaway Strategic advice designed for hikers, beach-goers, foodies, wildlife-watchers, and more The top local experiences: Explore the gardens of the Biltmore Estate, check out the art museum in Raleigh, or kick back with a craft beer at an outdoor concert in Wilmington. Escape to the Outer Banks for a glimpse of wild horses, historic lighthouses, and remote islands. Tap your foot to live bluegrass and dig into famous North Carolina barbecue Outdoor activities: Hike to waterfalls or challenge yourself to climb the highest peaks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kayak around Kitty Hawk, whitewater raft in the wild Nantahala River Gorge, go hang gliding, or spend a day fly-fishing Expert tips from North Carolina local Jason Frye on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay, from rugged campgrounds to historic inns and beachside B&Bs Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Thorough background on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and local culture With Moon North Carolinas expert advice and local insight, you can find your adventure. Focusing on the mountains? Check out Moon Asheville & the Great Smoky Mountains . Cant get enough of the beach? Try Moon North Carolina Coast . About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell--and they cant wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media. Review Quotes Far from narrow minded, each Moon travel guide gives itinerary options for a variety of travelers budgets--from frugal to lavish. They make books catering to those who love the outdoors, those who have limited time, those staying exclusively in cities and those whove fully committed to living abroad. In all, they have hundreds of titles, ranging Bermuda to Budapest, thatll teach you to embrace a new culture.-- Gear Patrol, The Best Travel Guidebooks for Every Journey Moon guides are perfect for the relaxed road tripper or outdoor explorer.-- No Small Plan Moon handbooks are always a pleasure to read. The writing is crisp, the research impressive, and the recommendations practical and down to earth.-- Chicago Tribune Moon handbooks are known for cannily combining logistical information with cultural background of a country or state.-- Los Angeles Times Moon handbooks have become known as well-written and exceptionally informative guides.-- The New York Times The books are more easily readable than other guides. The main attractions are also marked with a special icon and sidebars and boxes highlight special information, making the Moon handbooks one of the most user-friendly guides in terms of visual appeal and organization...the quality is uniformly excellent.-- Transitions Abroad About the Author Raised deep in the mountains of West Virginia, Jason Frye first fell in love with North Carolina as a kid during family vacations to the Outer Banks. In 2002, he swapped his mountains for sand dunes and his river for an ocean when he moved to Wilmington to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. There, his love for North Carolina deepened into a longing to stay, settle, explore, and be a part of the people, culture, and history of the state. Along with his wife, Lauren, Jason has kayaked the marshes and waterways near his home; hang glided off the Outer Banks; explored the cityscapes of Charlotte, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem; and wandered the woods and wilds around Asheville. Jason has contributed stories to VisitNC.com, AAAs Go Magazine , Our State magazine, and the Wilmington Star News , where hes a restaurant reviewer. He is also a food blogger for Our State Eats .