Not sure of the exact logistics but I estimate that it would take twelve hours to drive across the state of North Carolina. That is from Manteo to Murphy. If you live where I do, in the Triad/Piedmont, you can easily take a day trip to the mountains or the ocean. Not the furthest most points of course, but you can see them both. And, what sights they are to see.
As it goes for major metropolitan areas those in NC don't come close to being in the top ten in the country. Charlotte is getting there and the Triangle (Raleigh) continues to become the hub of technology and research. We have a professional football team that lately hasn't delivered much. I think there is a hockey team or a basketball team. If so, I'm not aware of their status, thinking that they are not delivering either.
North Carolina is the home of some of the most prestigious universities in the country and their sports programs as well. The fans of these I'm sure are the most competitive and faithful. On any given Fall Saturday or a Winter night you can bet that most North Carolinians are watching the ACC sports offerings or those of the many other great schools.
I as so many complain that the weather in NC sometimes does not give us enough Spring or Fall. It seems we go from boots to flip flops and back again. We are not immune to natural disasters. Everyone in the state can name a hurricane, tornado, ice/snow storm that has touched their lives.
And, the history of NC? How many states can claim that they were one of the original 13 colonies, had Revoluntary and Civil war battles fought on their soil and home of some of the arcitecturial marvels of our time. The Biltmore House and Tryon Palace to name a couple. The genesis of the civil rights movement began in a dime store in this state. North Carolina is the home of tobacco, dogwoods and now has a rapidly growing vineyard and wine industry. Numerous TV shows and Movies are filmed here.
We boast some great people as well. President's Andrews Jackson and Johnson, O'Henry, Edward R. Murrow, Jesse Helms and David Brinkley to name a few. If you Wikepedia them you will be amazed of all the famous musicians, actors and athletes who call NC home other than James Taylor, Andy Griffith and Michael Jordan who you already know about.
NC is not unaffected by the imfamous either. Blanche Taylor Moore and Velma Barfield brought it to everyone's attention that ant poison isn't good for humans either. Jeffrey MacDonald chose to make his mark on history right here in NC. Fritz Klenner too. We are certainly not perfect.
If those of us born and bred here want to venture out... within eight hour drives we can be in DC, Atlanta, Nashville, Charleston, Richmond and Savannah which immediately come to mind as places you don't want to miss. Heck, we can be at the Jersey Shore or Northern Florida in the span of a workday. If we choose to fly, we are closer to Bermuda, Bahamas and Europe than our friends to the west.
There are lots of good reasons to "Like Calling North Carolina Home".
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