North Carolina invites you to explore. Criss-crossed with major highways and the second largest ferry system in the country, virtually all of North Carolina is easily accessible. But the most interesting parts of the state are to be found off the beaten track.

Divided into three major regions, North Carolina offers mountain idylls in the western portion of the state. Framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is not your typical mountain town. It is a modern, artistic community filled with galleries yet manages to retain its historic charm. Scattered throughout the western part of the state are a variety of big towns, villages and hamlets, so it is possible to get away from it all.

The Piedmont of North Carolina is one of the fastest growing places in the Tarheel State. This is where Charlotte, a major metropolitan center, shines. Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte is a delightful blend of tree-lined avenues and soaring skyscrapers. Raleigh/Durham is another area seeing almost exponential growth.

And then there is the coast. Florida may have many more miles of beach, and South Carolina's neon Grand Strand just might be visible from the space station, but North Carolina offers us the Outer Banks and the Cape Fear Coast, where pirates once plundered and strong ships sank to the bottom of the sea during blustery storms. Today, the North Carolina shore is quiet-except, perhaps, during the summer months-encouraging long strolls as the sun rises above the endless waves. Although some are remote, most of North Carolina's islands are easily reached by bridge, but the only way to get to Ocracoke is by ferry or by air. Farther south, Bald Head Island is a community where you won't hear traffic noise-just the steady hum of golf carts passing by.

It's clear to see why North Carolina is one of the most popular places to retire in the Southeast.

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