Carolina Blue

My sister always says "Forget about Miami, you will love it here in North Carolina". And after my third visit there, a couple of years ago, I must say I ended up liking it a lot. So much that some of those moments still echo on my mind.

Since the first time I was there, at the age of thirteen, everything has changed a lot. North Carolina has turned into one of the fastest growing states. It is a vivid place to visit and one of the most livable places in the USA with its low cost of living and moderate climate.

There is no shortage of things to do in North Carolina. It has a great variety of recreational opportunities, amazing beaches and mountains and a rich cultural offering thanks to major cities like Charlotte, Durham and Raleigh. You can easily access mountains or sea for a weekend get-away. 

Ashville is a great daytrip destination. Not to mention the Biltmore Estate which is worth seeing in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Ashville. It is a private estate with its châteauesque-style mansion built by George Washington Vanderbilt. You can also visit the estate's vineyards and do some wine tasting. 

North Carolina is a great place for shopping as well. The Tanger Outlets is worth a visit for some great bargains and it offers a great variety of stores for all ages.

In Durham, I quite enjoyed exploring the Southpoint mall and two of my favorite stores there, Anthropologie for bohostyle clothes and home decor, and West Elm for home and housewares.

One of the most typical local things to taste in North Carolina is the Cheerwine. It is a legendary cherry-flavored soft drink produced since 1917. The taste is somewhat a mix of cherry and cola flavors, a bit too sweet for my taste. Anything with ginger suits my taste better. :D

Although I absolutely love Miami with its Latin flavor and New York is always New York, I must say North Carolina with its sights and beautiful green nature is definitely worth exploring.