Let’s say you are thinking outside the box for this year’s family vacation. You want to take the family to see something different this year. Check out South Carolina and North Carolina’s best record breaking attractions.

Lucky for us in North Carolina and South Carolina we can immerse ourselves in coastal sites and mountain sites and everything in between. The North Carolina coast is famous for lighthouses, especially on the outer banks. The outer banks was home to many a ship wreck back in the day and so lighthouses were erected to help with that problem.

The Cape Hatteras lighthouse is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States. This according to an MSN survey of the best record breaking attractions across the country. It was built back in 1870 but refurbished over the years. This black and white structure is quite the site to see!

South Carolina is home to the country’s oldest museum. The Charleston Museum is America’s very first one founded in 1773. It has gathered quite the collection over the years. You will find extensive photography, natural history collections and displays dedicated to low country life over the years.

To learn more about the best record breaking attractions in every state including North and South Carolina get details here.

US News Ranks These Two North Carolina Cities Among The Nation's 10 Best Places To Live

We love a friendly rivalry between cities. And we love to see who comes out on top in those rivalries when publications put together different lists. This time it’s the Best Places To Live. And this list comes from a reputable source- US News and World Report. As North Carolina residents we know there are plenty of fantastic places to call home in North Carolina. Whether it’s the beaches the Piedmont, or the mountains. There is something for everyone. Each year US News ranks the best places to live in the US, and this year not one but two North Carolina cities made the top 10. Yes, the top 10 for the entire country. That’s big! And yes, it comes down to the two cities you’d expect Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham.

I know people have strong feelings about both, but I’ve called the two cities home though Charlotte for much more of my life, and love them both. I’ll give you a hint one city ranked number 3 and the other came in at number 8 on this list. You can read all the information on the methodology US News uses in ranking cities here. Below you’ll find the top 7 places to live in North Carolina. Why seven? It’s the cities that are among the nation’s 150 most populous. You’ll also see where they stack up overall against the rest of the United States. And below that, you’ll find the top places to live in the US.

You can read the full list from US News & World Report here.

Best Places To Live In North Carolina
According to US News & World Report
7. Fayetteville
#135 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 5.7

Quality of Life: 6.0

Value: 6.8
6. Greensboro
#72 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 5.7

Quality of Life: 6.5

Value: 7.5
5. Winston-Salem
#41 Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.4

Quality of Life: 6.7

Value: 7.7

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4. Asheville
#29 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.5

Quality of Life: 6.8

Value: 7.0

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3. Hickory
#25 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.5

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 8.6

Jeff Yount
2. Charlotte
#8 Overall Best Places To Live

Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Sean Pavone
1. Raleigh & Durham
#3 Best Places To Live Overall

Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Sean Pavone
Top 10 Best Places To Live
According To US News
10. Fayetteville, AK
Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.9

Value: 7.8

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9. Colorado Springs
Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.5

Value: 5.8

Jacob Boomsma
8. Charlotte, NC
Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Sean Pavone
7. Portland, ME
Overall Score: 6.7

Quality of Life: 7.4

Value: 6.2

Sean Pavone
6. Naples, FL
Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.1

Value: 6.2

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5. Sarasota, FL
Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.0

Value: 6.1

KarolinaBorkowski
4. Boulder, CO
Overall Score: 6.8

Quality of Life: 7.7

Value: 5.3

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3. Raleigh & Durham, NC
Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 6.4

Value: 7.0

Sean Pavone
2. Huntsville, AL
Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 7.0

Value: 8.2

Sean Pavone
1. Green Bay, WI
Overall Score: 6.9

Quality of Life: 7.3

Value: 8.0

Jacob Boomsma