North Carolina's heart beats soundly in its Heartland, the area located between the wild beauty of the Outer Banks in the east and the serenity of majestic mountain ranges in the west.The state's capital city, Raleigh, and NC's highest populated cities Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem are all located in the Heartland region. Smaller towns, parks and recreation areas surround the larger cities in this middle section of the state, also known as the Piedmont.

As one of the 13 original colonies, where Native Americans lived for centuries before Europeans arrived, North Carolina has a long and varied history.  The Heatland is the place where the American Civil Rights Movement got a gentle, but powerful push; early Moravian settlers created a community; NASA astronauts learned how to navigate the skies; Brightleaf Tobacco was introduced to the world; and a Star was born.

More Info: North Carolina Visitor's Bureau:1.800.847.4862 (VISITNC)