Discover the Tar Heel State: 9 Exciting Fun Facts about North Carolina for Kids!

1. Blackbeard's Shipwreck

You won't find this treasure on Oak Island, matey: Blackbeard's infamous ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, was discovered in Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina in 1996, and the North Carolina Maritime Museum proudly displays artifacts and tells the story of the legendary pirate's coastal escapades.
Source => visitnc.com

2. Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Fancy a walk from the mountains to the beach without leaving one trail? North Carolina's got you covered, faster than you can say "hiker's paradise": Jockey's Ridge State Park boasts the eastern terminus of the epic 1,175-mile Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, stretching from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, complete with majestic live oaks and a variety of water sports at the Roanoke Sound.
Source => ncparks.gov

Did you know South Carolina's "Garden City" boasts a mouthwatering assortment of local produce and stunning landscapes? Discover the delights of Barnwell County and its picturesque Ag + Art Trail! 🍑🌳✨

=> Fun Facts about South-Carolina

3. Wright Brothers' First Flight

Before the Wright brothers soared through the skies like the mighty Pegasus, they had to learn to glide like a homesick seagull: In 1900, they began their first glider tests in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and after refining their designs over several years, they achieved the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air machine on December 17, 1903.
Source => airandspace.si.edu

4. Red Wolf Refuge

Feeling lost in a sea of mundane trivia? Fear not, intrepid explorer, for we shall embark on a wolfish adventure in the land of the pocosin: North Carolina's Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is home to the endangered red wolf and the exotic pocosin wetlands, making it a wildlife wonderland for black bears, river otters, and waterfowl seeking a winter retreat. Grab a paddle, binoculars, and a sense of humor to truly appreciate this soggy sanctuary where red wolves roam, fairy tales unfold, and weary feathered travelers waddle to and fro.
Source => fws.gov

5. Pepsi's Fizzy Origins

Did you ever wonder if we could ever "ketch-up" with the guy who first popped the top on a bottle of "Brad's Drink"? Well, it's time to lift the lid on some fizzy history: The original formula of Pepsi-Cola, the notorious "Brad's Drink," was whipped up in New Bern, North Carolina by pharmacist Caleb Bradham. Blending sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, kola nuts, nutmeg, and other mysterious goodies, Bradham concocted a carbonated confection back in 1893, eventually trademarking the name and giving birth to the Pepsi we know and guzzle today.
Source => pepsiborninthecarolinas.com

6. Bovine Ice Cream Masters

Rumor has it that during the moo-stle and bustle of the early 20th century, an elite group of bovine maestros in North Carolina were stealing the limelight for their extraordinary contributions to ice cream history: Biltmore Dairy, on the famous Biltmore Estate in Asheville, once housed the world's largest herd of registered Jersey cows, whose milk was churned into some of the most legendary dairy products around—including ice cream, butter, buttermilk, and cottage cheese, helping the estate survive through world wars and the Great Depression. Today, visitors can still treat themselves to a scoop of nostalgia at the Biltmore Dairy Bar® and try their original vanilla ice cream recipe.
Source => biltmore.com

7. Venus Flytrap's Fast Food

In North Carolina, even the plants have a taste for fast food: The Venus flytrap, a carnivorous plant native to the state, lures unsuspecting insects and arachnids with its flashy reddish glands and traps them in a mouth-like leafy enclosure, digesting its prey in a matter of days – all within a mere 75-mile radius of Wilmington.
Source => ncpedia.org

8. Misleading Mountain Height

When intrepid French botanist Andre Michaux wasn't busy creating the next blockbuster perfume, he liked to climb mountains and make lofty claims: In 1794, he scaled North Carolina's Grandfather Mountain, mistakenly declaring it the highest peak in North America. While he was slightly off in his elevation estimation, his adventure led to the discovery of the rare and beautiful Gray's Lily, which still graces the mountain today.
Source => grandfather.com

9. Natural Mountain Waterslide

Slide and splash, yee-haw! North Carolina's got its very own mountain slip 'n slide, where you can shoot down the rocks like a fish out of water: Sliding Rock, a 60-foot natural water slide in Pisgah National Forest, whisks visitors down a sloping rock face waterfall into an 8-foot-deep pool. Perfect for all ages, this watery wonderland features lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and nearby attractions like Moore Cove Falls and Looking Glass Falls for more nature-based adventures.
Source => exploreasheville.com