The beauty of North Carolina is that there are mountains in the western part of the state, including Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the US east of the Rockies. And there are beaches along the Atlantic in the eastern part of the state. Part of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park is there, along part of the border with Tennessee. There is also the fascinating Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic highway that runs down through Virginia and into North Carolina. In fact, you pass under the Blue Ridge Parkway on Interstate 77 if you head from Radford (VA) towards Mount Airy (NC), which was the inspirational town for the Andy Griffith Show. There are hiking trails, waterfalls, whitewater rapids, fishing, and plenty of wildlife if you want the 'outdoor' experience, plus plenty of history & museums if you want an 'indoor' experience. North Carolina is not short on activities and fun! And great places to eat, too! I lived there for 24 years and loved it. 🙂
My niece goes to university in Radford. It's a beautiful area! I remember visiting the blue ridge mountains when I was young and we did the whole Clingman's Dome walk. I still have photographs floating around in an album somewhere from that trip. I hope to get back again one day and visit it over a longer period. I don't think I ever spent much time on the east side of the state though.