Although native to the Andes Mountains, llamas are becoming more common in the state, with at least ten farms averaging forty llamas each. North Carolinians use them as pets as well as for breeding, showing, packing, and wool production.
Living conditions, including moderate climate, low crime and taxes, affordable housing, and a high quality of life, are attracting many out-of-state retirees to coastal areas like Topsail Island, the Wilmington area, and the Crystal Coast.
Several of the state's coastal inns, including The Docksiders Inn at Kure Beach and The Tranquil House Inn at Manteo, are known for the outstanding service they provide.
James K. Polk, eleventh president of the United States, was born near Pineville in Mecklenburg County. State celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of his birth will culminate on November 5, 1995, at the James K. Polk Historic Site near Pineville.
From a small beginning in 1961 in Maggie Valley, snow skiing in the state's mountains is enjoyed now at six resorts, including Beech Mountain and Banner Elk.
The hospitality of bed-and-breakfast inns in the state is found in private homes and also in historic dwellings, including the Langdon House in Beaufort and the Oakwood Inn in Raleigh.
The state has become a mecca for retirees because of its low cost of living, good climate and personal safety, as well as the availability of leisure activities. A number of towns, including Chapel Hill and Southport, share these characteristics.
Variety is the key word to describe the state's Christmas celebrations, which include light festivals, flotillas, and holiday tours of homes. Two of the largest are Asheville's Light Up Your Holidays and Winston-Salem's Tanglewood Festival of Light.
New Bern's inns, including the Aerie, Harmony House Inn, The King's Arms Inn, Magnolia House Inn, and New Berne House, offer guests gracious Southern hospitality served up with a mixture of history and legend.
Swain County offers visitors a variety of things to enjoy, including rivers and lakes, country inns, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the town of Cherokee.