Anytime you move somewhere new, there’s an adjustment period to get used to the new people, culture, and landscapes. Moving somewhere new can be exciting yet also scary. While North Carolina is the sixth most visited state in the nation, we’re also constantly seeing an influx of people looking to call the Tar Heel state home. From young professionals moving to Charlotte or Raleigh, to retirees settling down in a mountain cabin, you get a wide assortment of ‘transplants’ (looking at you, Ohio) when you live here. We natives know that these new North Carolinians will have a few things to get used to – specifically, these 12 things.
- How to relax
Flickr / Alvin Smith Carolinians have perfected the art of relaxation and are quite good at it. There’s nothing wrong with watching the world go by.
- Words tend to have more than one meaning
Flickr / mugenai From the saying, “Bless your heart,” to a wide assortment of state-centric lingo, it can be confusing at first for a non-native to master the art of speaking like one. Just know, if someone says bless your heart, it’s usually not a good thing.
- But we also keep it real
Flickr / Haeckdesign Yet with that being said, our state mottos is “Esse quam videri” aka - to be rather than to seem. Some of us might use sayings as swords, but most of us will just speak to you straight up.
- It’s ok to be completely consumed by basketball
Flickr / Max Masnick Don’t be shocked if your child tells you they watched the ACC tournament at school.
- There’s a lot more to the state than beaches and mountains
Flickr / lisadonoghue(away) Sure, one of North Carolina’s main draws is that the state is home to both the beautiful Blue Ridge and breathtaking beaches, but in between both lies a wealth of culture, community, sites to see, and things to do.
- Everyone insists they know where to find the best BBQ in the state
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM And usually no one can agree on this subject either. In North Carolina, BBQ is very strictly ’to each their own,’ and we all use our refined BBQ palettes to let you know THE best place to get BBQ in state. My advice - just try them all and decide for yourself.
- We love ‘craft’ anything
Flickr / RobinJP From craft breweries to small wineries, local shops, and amazing farmers markets, North Carolinians prefer things that come straight from the Tar Heel state.
- We love our farmers
Flickr / Wendy From the start, farming has always been deeply ingrained in North Carolina culture. From strawberry picking in May, to peach and watermelon festivals, to even a peanut festival - you’re sure to bump into a farmer or two in the Tar Heel state.
- No two North Carolinians are alike
Flickr / Don McCullough From Asheville hippies and Outer Banks fisherman, to big city stunners, North Carolina has a wealth of culture that also produces an interesting mix of people.
- We prefer swimming holes to swimming pools
Flickr / Coryn Wolk Because…why swim in a swimming pool when you can swim right next to a breathtaking waterfall?
- We’re always adding to our bucket list
Flickr / Carol Von Canon North Carolina is the perfect state for the adventurous. From hang gliding off Jockey’s Ridge to spending a week on the Appalachian Trail, we always are craving more adventure and more exploration in our beautiful state.
- You’re not gonna want to leave
Flickr / Mickey Bo North Carolina has a strange effect on a person; it’s no surprise there are multiple songs about Carolina, and ‘Carolina in my Mind’ couldn’t be more true. From the day you come to the Tar Heel state to the day you leave, it will always have a strange pull on you and you’ll always be craving to return ‘home.’
I think all of these are true and then some! What would you add to the list?
Flickr / Alvin Smith
Carolinians have perfected the art of relaxation and are quite good at it. There’s nothing wrong with watching the world go by.
Flickr / mugenai
From the saying, “Bless your heart,” to a wide assortment of state-centric lingo, it can be confusing at first for a non-native to master the art of speaking like one. Just know, if someone says bless your heart, it’s usually not a good thing.
Flickr / Haeckdesign
Yet with that being said, our state mottos is “Esse quam videri” aka - to be rather than to seem. Some of us might use sayings as swords, but most of us will just speak to you straight up.
Flickr / Max Masnick
Don’t be shocked if your child tells you they watched the ACC tournament at school.
Flickr / lisadonoghue(away)
Sure, one of North Carolina’s main draws is that the state is home to both the beautiful Blue Ridge and breathtaking beaches, but in between both lies a wealth of culture, community, sites to see, and things to do.
Flickr / Jimmy Emerson, DVM
And usually no one can agree on this subject either. In North Carolina, BBQ is very strictly ’to each their own,’ and we all use our refined BBQ palettes to let you know THE best place to get BBQ in state. My advice - just try them all and decide for yourself.
Flickr / RobinJP
From craft breweries to small wineries, local shops, and amazing farmers markets, North Carolinians prefer things that come straight from the Tar Heel state.
Flickr / Wendy
From the start, farming has always been deeply ingrained in North Carolina culture. From strawberry picking in May, to peach and watermelon festivals, to even a peanut festival - you’re sure to bump into a farmer or two in the Tar Heel state.
Flickr / Don McCullough
From Asheville hippies and Outer Banks fisherman, to big city stunners, North Carolina has a wealth of culture that also produces an interesting mix of people.
Flickr / Coryn Wolk
Because…why swim in a swimming pool when you can swim right next to a breathtaking waterfall?
Flickr / Carol Von Canon
North Carolina is the perfect state for the adventurous. From hang gliding off Jockey’s Ridge to spending a week on the Appalachian Trail, we always are craving more adventure and more exploration in our beautiful state.
Flickr / Mickey Bo
North Carolina has a strange effect on a person; it’s no surprise there are multiple songs about Carolina, and ‘Carolina in my Mind’ couldn’t be more true. From the day you come to the Tar Heel state to the day you leave, it will always have a strange pull on you and you’ll always be craving to return ‘home.’
If you think those twelve are a cultural adjustment, here are ten more things North Carolinians do that seem insane to outsiders.
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