Vacation Rentals in North Carolina

North Carolina is a rare kind of vacation destination. It has 300 miles of almost unbroken, sandy beaches. There are stunning mountains and forests, as well as vibrant cities like Asheville, Charlotte and Raleigh.

Getting to North Carolina is easy. The major tourist areas are a manageable drive from Atlanta, Washington DC and New York, and there are excellent flight connections as well. Amtrak services connect Raleigh and Charlotte, and Greyhound buses knit together the coast and the Piedmont country too.

Hospitality is taken for granted in the Tar Heel State, and tourists are always welcomed warmly, from the small communities of the Great Smoky Mountains to college towns like Chapel Hill and the resorts of the coast.

North Carolina’s coastline is essentially one endless beach. The Outer Banks enjoy excellent surf courtesy of the Atlantic Ocean, but on the western side you will find peaceful beaches that are ideal for families – a mixture that few beach destinations can match.

Whether you adore fresh sea air or you want to strike out on the trails of the eastern mountains, staying in a vacation home in North Carolina provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Rent bikes and cycle in the Pisgah National Forest, find an idyllic picnic spot on the Blue Ridge Parkway or fish the mountain streams in blissful solitude.

North Carolina’s coast is a wonderful golfing destination. The sandy coastline is ideal for building links-style courses, and there are some exceptional choices. From venerable Major Championship venues like Pinehurst No. 2 to coastal courses like the Grandover Resort, golfers will be in their element. Find a rental home near a highly-rated course and have plenty of space to store your clubs in between rounds.

Inhabited for 14,000 years, Bryson City is a gorgeous town in the Great Smoky Mountains that is famous for its trout fishing streams, river rafting and the charming Great Smoky Mountains Railroad.

Charlotte offers plenty to see, but the highlight has to be the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which honors greats of the sport and the teams that allowed them to succeed. A must-visit for motor sports fans.

One of the finest museums in the USA, the Museum of Natural History is crammed with incredibly lifelike recreations of North Carolina’s forests and coastline, and is a fascinating place to spend the day.

Held in September in High Point, NC, the John Coltrane festival is a superb reason for music lovers to visit the state. Set up to honor one of North Carolina’s most famous musical sons, it brings together soul, blues and jazz artists from all over the world.

The North Carolina coast is a fantastic family beach destination. From Corolla in the north to Oak Island in the south, there are countless resorts with everything families could need to have an unforgettable time.

The climate of North Carolina is characterized by variability. Thanks to the enormous changes in elevation between the coast and the mountains, temperatures vary dramatically. While the southern Tidewater coast has a climate resembling Florida, parts of the western Piedmont are more like upstate New York.

If you travel to the coast between March and October, you can expect warm, generally sunny weather. The Great Smoky Mountains are beautiful as spring blooms in May, as well as the fall (late September onwards), but icy during the winter months.

Major events on the NC calendar include the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in July, June’s Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and Wilmington Riverfest in October. There are also some fabulous food based events like Lexington's BBQ Festival and Morehead City's Seafood Festival.