RateItAll: The Opinion Network

There needs to be a way to combine the two Carolina's

UPDATE: A couple of years back I went on vacation to Kure Beach, North Carolina and loved the area. Kure Beach neighbors Carolina Beach but is more of a fishing village therefore less commercial.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE: I love North Carolina. It reminds me a lot of Virginia without the strong rip currents a short distance off the beach. North Carolina has it all and does not have humidity problems as bad as Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

North Carolina has some truly beautiful places to live or just visit. I go there at least once a year to visit my sister, she lives in Hendersonville, which is thirty minutes from Asheville, and also right near a tiny town called Flat Rock that's a great place to go and check out the music and culture scene. If you prefer a bigger city, Charlotte's the place to go. Spent a week in Indian Trail last year, just outside of Charlotte and it was beautiful. The cost of living is very reasonable too. I can see why so many people want to live there. If it were feasible, I'd consider moving there myself.

Crackheads in Fayetteville & dirty ghettos everywhere but GREAT on the beaches in the east of NC!

I've lived in: New York, Virginia, Colorado, Kentucky, South Carolina and North Carolina - I've also travelled through 33 states, spending considerable time in about 12. North Carolina is by far the nicest place I've been. If you are in central NC, you are 2-3 hours from the ocean (with the beach that was named #1 beach in the US this year), 2-3 hours from the mountains (the oldest range, with the most diversity of species of any area in the US), and weekend trips to many major hotspots (DC, FL, TN) are possible. NC Cities are the most progressive cities on the east coast, cost of living is fairly low compared to the payscale, I could go on and on.

The couple of times I've been to Raleigh were very enjoyable. It's a pretty little college town with some nice museums and restaurants, and the people were friendly even though I didn't meet one that was originally from there. On a drive right outside Raleigh, I noticed pretty houses and condos. It seems like a good place to live and North carolina would be a state I would consider moving to sometime in my far future mainly because of the beauty, cost of living and weather.

Great variety in this state. Mountains to the west, the Atlantic to the east. Charlotte metro is the 20th largest city in the US and the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area is a hot bed of major universities and high tech companies (Research Triangle). Asheville and the surrounding mountain areas are great for a cool summer get away and some fairly good snow skiing in the winter. Cost of living is respectable and the citizens are friendly. Good place to live overall.

I've lived here since 1989, and mostly love it. There is a lot of respect given to strangers here of all races. The Bible belt is the thing that keeps respect high here. I'm from Michigan and it was like soaking in vinegar to live there (around Detroit). I heard the "F" word everyday and I thought I was Rodney Dangerfield until I moved here. The Triangle is a people's rupublic of sorts, I like to call it North Corealina, we vote down taxes and the libs will pass them anyway. My area has been soaked by rain, but Raleigh still wants to fine people for washing their car. Because hurricane Floyd doesn't come every year, they say we are in a drought. I get a kick out of it at times. The good old boy network in Raleigh is getting a shake up here now, with Jim Black and payoffs, but if this gets swept under the carpet, it will be back to normal again.

appears is wrong on the KKK! there is alot of blacks here and they are respected! this state is very nice, clean, has excellent real estate, has alot of nice people, it's very beautiful, has awesome biking trails, is a very bike freindly state (since when could you go bking and be prefectly respected on the road as much as a regular car!) and they keep the state clean, and nice, there is hardly any crime here in cary, raleigh is pretty safe too. the only area that needs work is durham and that's becuase it is old. ALL OLD AREAS ARE LIKE THAT! and if you think the people are snotty here go to tennesee, then you'll find the worst aholes in the world! everyone that I knew except the assistant manager at one apartment complex I've lived at was an asshole. and all the women were jealous of my good looks and they all had 10 different kids from 10 different guys! none of NC is like this. I have only seen ONE homeless person here, when i lvied in TN there were by the dozens on roadways and by taco bell. and also raleigh is also like living in a park, there are lots of trees and nice scenery everywhere. and also NC has excellent educational standards, people are overall more educated here, unlike tennesee where 8th grade school was like 4th grade in ohio! also there is alot fo new development here and lots of new buildings are going up and lots of businesses are locating here. the rent is very good here, its around 750 avg for a 2bed/2bath 1000 sq ft apartment, now take that same apartment and stick it in VA and its like 1300/mo! and also you can get good deals on rent if you come the right times. and also house prices are farily good here, you can get a HUGE 3600 sq ft house for about $200,000 in CA you pay that for a hole in the wall "condo" or a shack with live wires sticking out of it or RATS! Now how is this palce expensive to live? not unless you blow your money eating out every day adn going to teh movies twice a week, then you have no room to talk if you dog this state just beacuse you think you can get a versace wardrobe for the price of old navy. its actually not all that bad living here. the prices for stuff in the malls is the same as it was in ohio! and also you can shop at walmart and not be embarrassed like most states. which is a major plus! hell when I shoped at walmart in ohio peoople would make fun of me. but here even the rich people shop there and recommend it! I do admit some people are snotty, its the old 35-40 year olds that are like that. now the younger people can be very nice and I've known more nice people here than ohio. and there is a LARGE influx of people coming from ohio that are respected here. and also this area is very diverse and I've met some itneresting people from France, India, China,and Indonesia. I've also met alot of people that moved here from NJ and NY that say they will never go back to NJ or NYC! and NYC is a DUMP compared to raleigh. imgine trying to make it there on 1500/mo it will never happen since rent is that much or more over there its like 3,500-5,000 for a 2 bedroom apartment in NYC!!! Nw how cna you say this NC is expensive, you dont know expensive till you live it for a while and I had a friend who lived in CA and had a 200,000 dollar house that was crap, came here and was jaw dropped at what you can get here for 200,000!!!

I like the Carolina Coast a lot. Some of America's finest beaches are found on the Outer Banks dotted with scenic lighthouses, mile after mile of clean sandy beaches with impressive dunes and warm water. I'd like to see Asheville and the Smoky mountains but from what I've read here the cities such as Raleigh and Charlotte don't seem very compelling. Politically it seems to resemble many parts of America, extreme right wing in some places and pockets of liberlism in others.

Home of NASCAR loving, good ole boys and hicks. I lived in Charlotte for a year and couldn't wait to leave, boring city full of yuppie aholes and bible thumpers and unfriendly people, if you are not from the south, they will shun you. The rest of the state sucks too, don't move here!!

The research triangle is nice, but everything eles in NC pretty much sucks. It has the highest number of KKK members in the US and the unemployment rate is through the roof. It's very hard to make friends because most of the people are not friendly to you when they know you're not a native. It's also really hot, but I'm originally from Florida so I was used to it. Just remember to dress light in the summer.

Lots of nice people--decent climate.

Yeah, their may be too many yuppies in the triangle but I like NC anyway. It has plenty of Southern Women. To top it off it's Flair Country! Whooo!!!!!!!! Whoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

The horrible state that I made the mistake of moving to for a year. I lived in Charlotte. I also went to the triangle plenty of times. And I don't know what you people are talking about. Raleigh-Durham is a lifeless, materialistic, yuppie-filled, wannabe rich, generic place just like Charlotte. Yes, the two urban areas are the opposite of the rest of the state, but it is so far the opposite that is equaly as bad.

As one other entry has said-hope in the research triangle- only if they they can 'evolve' beyond the right wing christian fundamentalist denial of 'science'. Considering the states past- this is probably not possible.

Ditto what other have said. . .the research triangle is the brain-trust of the state (research, industrial, academic, and medical, et. al.) Love the high speed limit, decent road conditions, weather, beaches, and friendly locals. Great state to visit or work for a few years before moving on.

Some rays of hope in the research triangle- if they are able to go beyond the right wing religous zealotry- if not, well then there are more 'scientific oriented' nations will eat their lunch. NC is a state with few social positives- like SC- it lives in the mid 19th century.

I live here, and I have to say that my feelings about it change with every season. I love it in the winter and fall, and I find it to be okay in the spring, but in the summers I can't stand it. It is ridiculously hot and humid, and there's not all that much to do. As a student of any age on summer break in NC, the best option is to work in some air conditioned building all day long. The winters are my favorite, with temps usually around 40 but the occasional exciting snowstorm. The history here is intriguing, but it's not as though there are really any tourist sites where one could experience the history. In fact, besides go to the beach, I'm not really sure what a vacationer would do here in NC.

Nothing factual here describes all your posts Dick...no need to start specifying now. Anyway, I have some family down in North Carolina and I must say that although NC is a state with a compelling history, I could never live there. The heat and just the overall pace of North Carolinians is too much for me to handle. And when they hear I live in the north, I somehow become the reason why the south should've won the war.

This state has the positive of the research triangle- that is a prime innovator in nanotechnology and reaching new frontiers into such concepts as extending life and finding cures for many diseases. This part of the state is mainly newcomers with impressive credentials- the rest of state seems to fit the mold so many have talked about here- southern backwater, arch conservative and instead of taking a cue from the science being used at the research triangle- the majority of the states populace relies on highly subjective thinking .... 'moral values' and religion as a guide to living life. NC seems to fall mainly into the latter 'value meter' line of thought. So it my opinion it only deserves a rating of two.

The states resident population (not the Yankee newcomers) seems hung up on religion and social values. Yet hypocrisy seems to be everywhere. Unless you like NASCAR, are part of the rebel good ol boy network, and despise the north- look elswhere.

Lived here a year, and making friends is tough. Up north people are just friendlier, I think. Too hot and HUMID as well.

In my opinion, North Carolina is the greatest state in the country. You get a combination of beaches, rolling hills in the Piedmont, and Mountains in the western part of the state. The people are very friendly. Excellent school system and climate.

I think North Carolina is one of the best states of them all. It has everything from the mountains to the coast. I love its humid, subtropical climate and the people are so friendly and it has such a southern atmosphere.

Take your pick; North Crapolina, or Norf Cawina! Been here 9 years, glad to be leaving. the people are terribly unfriendly and unwelcoming, the weather is horrible, (that whole perfect medium climate thing is the biggst crock of bull i ever heard) hurricanes, tornadoes, icestorms, severe thunderstorms every day at 2 oclock in the summer, and unbearably hot an humid from may to august. schools are some of the worst in the country, and the teachers are the lowest paid in the lower 48. North Carolina has the highest number of KKK members as well, there was a big meeting of them in downtown raleigh a few months ago. but, of course, the media hushed it up after 2 days and it never made national headlines because for whatever reason, people want to make North Crapolina look good. The only friendly people in all of north carolina are the black people in the country, this is coming from me, the whitest person on earth. Raleigh is no city at all, and there is way to much tension between races, and northern and southern people. I am northern, and i have to actually side with the southern people too, i dont like the trend of northern people moving the south either. And charlotte has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and a lot of traffic. HOW PATHETIC IS IT THAT THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE BIRTHPLACE OF AVIATION, ORVILLE AND WILBUR DIDNT LIVE IN NC, WEREN'T BORN IN NC, AND DIDN'T BUILD THE PLANES IN NC, SAYING THAT FLIGHT WAS BORN IN NC IS LIKE SAYING THAT THE SOUTH WON THE CIVIL WAR BECAUSE THE FINAL BATTLE WAS FOUGHT IN THE SOUTH! Like a bumper sticker that i saw in a gass station (which is the place to be in most of north carolina0...... North Carolina Pride: #1 in hogs, #48 in teacher pay!........ And Ralph, why don't you share what you think about NC rather than slam me for spelling errors!

The outer Capes are nice- beaches are wonderful. Ashville is nice. The rest of the state is still fighting the civil war. The Chapel Hill area has many newcomers- so this area is not so bad. Unfriendly people- Basically a southern conservative bible belt state.

I've been to most states in the U.S. and from a visitors perspective NC is the best state of them all!! Beautiful land, clean, amazing road system, friendly people, great towns and the weather is fantastic most of ther time. I love NC !!!

Best State in the country.

In polls North Carolinians are the most likely people in the U.S. to say their state is the best. I live right on the border, and I can't say that I disagree.

i love this state!

I have had short stays in both Charlotte and Raleigh, and drove the state between them. N Carolina seems nice. Not many tourist attractions, though, unless you count a tobacco farm as such. Raleigh is a real hip place, like SF or Seattle or Austin, lots of young educated people. smaller cities seem rural and southern.

I'd give it a higher rating, but a few things trouble me here. First, it's becoming a vast suburban wasteland without that neat Southern charm and character. Raleigh is an OK town, but Charlotte is such an Atlanta wannabe. Second, I find that by and large, the people here trend to the arrogant side, especially as it relates to people from neighboring states. And third, the cost of living is not really all that low as stated on a previous review. Raleigh-Durham is nearly as expensive as Washington-Baltimore (and higher than Atlanta), without all the advantages of either place. But NC does have its good points; good universities, OK beaches (go to SC for the best beaches in the South, though), and pretty mountains.

Not all it's cracked up to be. School systems are segregated and terribly inequal, although recent reforms in Raleigh have slowly started to improve. But change comes very slowly to a state such as NC (or any state for that matter). Like Georgia, too many Yankees have moved here and have transformed the state (Charlotte and Raleigh and the Chapel Hill area) into another New York or New Jersey. NCers are understandably resentful of this Yankee invasion and I don't blame them. Hot as hell in the summer, but very nice inland. Not a lot of religious diversity outside of Charlotte and Raleigh. Pamlico Sound and the coastal regions are prone to hurricanes. Too much underlying racial tension. Great basketball mecca. I wouldn't want to live here, but it's an OK state to visit.

North Carolina is a great place to live and work. The economy is strong, the cost of living is low and the jobs are plentiful. An abundance of recreational opportunities exist. Renowned medical facilities like Duke and UNC provide quality medical care. Mild falls and winters. No more snow tires or chains.

Yes there are some really interesting historical areas in North Carolina and there are some very beautiful places as well but first and foremost in my mind is holy Jesus is it uncomfortably hot. Ouch! I spent about 6 weeks down there recently and found it to be oppressively hot and unbearable. Sorry NC but no thanks.

WE LOVE OCEAN ISLE BEACH NORTH CAROLINA! WHAT A GREAT SMALL FAMILY BEACH!

A little bit of everything from the beach to the mountains and everything in between. Hate the fact it hardly ever snows and that in the summer 110 degree days arent uncommon.Like they say, it aint the heat its the humidity.

North Carolina is the best state - it rocks!