of course there is
VisitNC
Rafting
For rafting i can personally recommend the Nolichucky, good rapids, gorgeous scenery
several groups run it but
Cherokee Adventures is probably the most commercial and will cause you the least hassle. It is a natural river so be sure to ask about the water level or you'll spend more time stuck on rocks than going down the river
if you want truly dangerous whitewater, try the
Gaulley. It is the premier whitewater east of the Mississippi.
if you can stay till the first weekend of october you might want to try
Russel Fork, another very dangerous river
Since i really don't know anything about rafting, it would be better to ask the good people in rec.boats.paddle
amusement parks
There is
Carowinds in Charlotte although i prefer
Kings Dominion in Virginia simply because of the
rides. Volcano and Flight of Fear use linear induction motors to start you out with a bang. Very cool. Hypersonic XLC also looks interesting but i've never had a chance to ride it. Depending on when you go, expect 15-45 minutes waits per ride.
I've also heard good things about
Busch Gardens but haven't ever been there
This site has a fairly complete list of amusement parks around the country
Sports
as mentioned above don't miss out on a college football game. It's hard to beat UT. If you can finagle tickets, the
Sept 21 game vs Florida should be a doozy
while it doesn't quite have UT's tradition,
NCState has a pretty good football atmosphere
to get tickets, it might help to ask around on some of the forums
here and
here
and though I am loathe to mention it, the
USC Gamecocks also know how to put on a football show.
as always, half the fun is tailgating, so be sure you show up plenty early
Of course there is also the
Carolina Hurricanes, this year's Eastern Conference Champions. However since you're from Finland, travelling to the US to see a hockey game might seem odd . . .
If you really want to make a day of it, on Sept 28 the Hurricanes and NC State both have home games. As the stadiums are right next to each other, you could easily see both without moving your car (I don't think they will schedule them at the same time)
Hiking
Grandfather Mountain has activities for the whole family (mile-high swinging bridge, mini-zoo, cave, wide-variety of hiking trails from easy to perilous)
easy 'hike':
Linville Falls has spectacular falls but paths consist of 15 foot wide level gravel paths, hardly roughing it
moderate:
Wilson Creek has some nice trails and waterfalls with absolutely no one on them (hiked all day without seeing a soul)
very difficult:
Linville Gorge is poorly marked and has treacherous terrain. Although listed as overnight, some trails can be done in a day (but start early)
again, i don't really know anything about this, so better to check with
people who do
Coast
Myrtle Beach is famous and hugely commercialized. On the other hand there is always something to do.
The
Outer Banks also have good beaches but are basically deserted (well sorta). They are also home to
Kill Devil Hill (location of first flight),
Cape Hateras Lighthouse (tallest lighthouse in country, recently moved to a safer location), and
Ocracoke. Be sure to take the
ferry.
Wilmington has the battleship
USS North Carolina and Fort Fisher
If you're more adventurous, the Outer Banks are the Graveyard of the Atlantic and there are several charter companies that run expeditions out to dive the wrecks. If you can, i would recommend getting a copy of the book
'Shipwrecks: Diving the Graveyard of the Atlantic' by Roderick M. Farb (ISBN 0-89732-034-4). Also check
here and
here
Food and Lodging
for lodging in different areas, why not
try a bed and breakfast?
nothing compares to woofing down a dozen fresh hot
Krispy Kreme donuts
another must visit is
Bojangles. It is the epitome of southern fast food with the best sweet tea and fries anywhere. (Make sure you get the seasoning on the fries. At the store near me they have a metal canister where you pick up your order with the fry seasoning in it. Don't miss it)
Cracker Barrel almost fits the definition of tourist trap, but everyone should eat there at least once just to say they've been
Other Attractions
Linville Caverns is pretty and reasonable sized
Mammoth Cave is the largest cave system in world
Even though it is best seen at Christmas, you should still visit
Biltmore Estate
Discovery Place is a cool museum in Charlotte
you may be interested in the
NC Zoo. Everything from elephants to polar bears. Plan on LOTS of walking as it's pretty good sized.
In Raleigh the
Museum of History and
Museum of Art are very good.
Misc
other activities to look into: caving and climbing
tourist traps to avoid: Blowing Rock, Mystery Hill, any gemstone 'mining' thing
some general info links
here,
here,
here
looking at the map, it seems you will have easier access to
Atlanta than to many parts of NC, so definitely visit. The Coke factory, Underground Atlanta, some great museums,
Six Flags and well Atlanta
ALWAYS bring sunblock (especially on rafting trips). The sun can be absolutely brutal even in September. One bad burn can ruin the rest of your trip so don't risk it.