Start date: 1/10/13

Start time: 8:00 AM

End date: 1/12/13

End time: 3:30 PM

Cities visited: Seagrove, Raleigh, Smithfield, Fayetteville, Pinehurst

North Carolina has always proven to be a state of contrasts. From mile-high mountains to tranquil coastlines or cosmopolitan glitz to down-home hospitality, it never disappoints. Tour this diversity for yourself in Seagrove first, a destination illustrating the state’s craft heritage with the nation’s largest community of potters. In Raleigh, also known as the “Smithsonian of the South,” the NC Museum of History and NC Museum of Natural Sciences are sure to amaze with interactive exhibits and artifacts that depict the state’s rich history.

For a touch of glamour, look no further than Smithfield, where you’ll visit the Ava Gardner Museum filled with exhibits paying tribute to the native daughter and actress, then discover some starlet style of your own at the nearby Carolina Premium Outlets. Visitors can then celebrate our country’s active duty soldiers and veterans at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville and tour Fort Bragg, the world’s largest airborne facility. Lastly, a stop in Pinehurst will showcase its incredible golf heritage (43 courses all reside within a 15-mile radius) in addition to its premier equestrian facilities.