1. Barbecue Is Like Religion Here…
Everyone in the Carolinas knows how to barbecue—it’s a rite of passage growing up. And everyone knows the difference (and has their own favorites) between barbecue in western North Carolina, Eastern North Carolina, and the three regional barbecue styles of South Carolina.
But one thing every Carolinian can agree on is that mustard-based barbecue sauce rules.
2. Religion Is Also Like Religion Here
They don’t call this the Bible Belt for nothing.
Religion is a pretty big deal here. People ask what church you attend in passing on the street as often as they ask about the weather. Approximately half of North Carolinians are affiliated with a church and more than half are in South Carolina.
3. Who Needs Bagels When You Have Biscuits?
New Yorkers can keep their bagels and schmear. Carolinians have warm, flaky, buttery pillows of perfection. And unlike bagels, biscuits aren’t just for breakfast—they are the perfect accompaniment for every meal.
Whether it’s served up with gravy and eggs, or alongside some cheesy grits, or complementing the perfectly fried chicken wing—biscuits are the bomb.
4. Southern Hospitality Reigns Supreme In The Carolinas
Carolinians take pride in their quintessential southern charm. And who could blame them? Everything is so much sweeter when said with a “please” and “thank you.”
Carolinians are the first to hold your door open or give you lengthy directions. They will also pull over and help you change a flat in their Sunday best. With hospitality like that, who wouldn’t want a Carolinian for a neighbor?
5. Going To Folly Beach Is No Folly
Folly Beach is expansive, clean, and beautiful. It’s a great way to while away a day with the family.
6. Carolinians Have Their Own Language
“Y’all” should have an entry in the dictionary, if you ask a Carolinian. It is way easier than having to say “you all,” or “you guys,” which just sounds weird (or Canadian).
Many Carolinians speak with a drawl, but the devil is in the details. There is a difference between the drawl varieties from the region. The foothills, mountains, the eastern and outer banks, and piedmont all have their own lyric lilt.
7. Livermush: The Breakfast Meat Only A True Carolinian Could Love
Livermush is definitely one of those things you learn (hopefully) to love while living in the Carolinas. Sometimes called liver pudding, it’s comprised of pig liver, head parts, and cornmeal.
The annual Liver Mush Exposition, held in Shelby, celebrates this economical and curious cut.
8. Move Over Austin, Asheville Is Where It’s At
So Austin has SXSW. Big deal. Asheville has developed its own emerging music scene that rivals other big cities. Countless bigwigs have graced the stage at The Orange Peel Social Aid & Pleasure Club, which was named by Rolling Stone as one of the best rock venues in the nation. And the local music scene is off the charts.
9. Carolinians Dread The Sight Of Florida Plates…
Maybe it’s because the Carolina Panthers have sustained a fierce rivalry with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the years. The rivalry started in 2002 when the NFC South formed, but has been fueled over the years with players injuring one another and getting into verbal spats.
10. …But They Love The Buzz Of A Hornet
Basketball gets much love in the Carolinas, where the newly renamed Charlotte Hornets are revered. In fact, it may even be more popular than football.
There must be something in the water around these parts, because an abnormally high concentration of MVP b-ballers were born in the Carolinas, including Michael Jordan, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, James Worthy, and John Hall.
Browser not compatible.
11. Everything Is Better With Pork
Especially collard greens. Carolinians love their bacon. So much so that they dedicate a major social event to porker picnics, called pig pickins, where people get together and roast an entire pig.
12. The Only Non-Alcoholic Beverage Worth Cheering To Is Cheerwine
Cheerwine is a delicious, cheery-flavored soda near and dear to the hearts of Carolinians. It’s been around since the early 1900s and is still owned and operated by the same family, which only makes Carolinians love it more.
13. Bojangles’ Is So Good You’ll Want To Slap Ya’ Mama
OK everyone knows their mama makes the best biscuits in the Carolinas, but Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits runs a close second. And the fried chicken is nothing to balk at either. Trust in Bojangles’, it will serve you well on your next tailgate.
14. You Can Sing Like A Freak-A-Leek
Living in the Carolinas, you will hear the Petey Pablo song so many times you can probably rap the lyrics in your sleep.
15. All Good Things Come In Threes
There is a ton of stuff to do in the Piedmont Triad, which represents Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. Chief among them, NASCAR racing, nightlife, shopping ‘til you drop, and great food.
16. Darlington Is Everyone’s Darling
South Carolina has one of NASCAR’s first tracks and its first paved speedway, Darlington Raceway. Affectionately nicknamed “the track too touch to tame,” Darlington holds a place near and dear to the hearts of many drivers and NASCAR fans.
In fact, when drivers hit the walls at this raceway and come away with paint on their car, they are proud of getting their “Darlington Stripes.”
17. A View Worthy Of The Gods
Chimney Park Rock is North Carolina is a thing of beauty. The state park contains a 315 foot granite monolith, complete with a bubbling waterfall and plentiful trails perfect for hiking, biking, and rock climbing.
18. Adventure And Glorious Nature Await In The Swamp
Cypress Gardens isn’t just for tourists. It’s a great place for Carolinians to commune with their natural surroundings, and in this case their natural surroundings happen to be 170 acres of preserves, blackwater bald cypress, and tupelo swamp waters. There are even canoes for the daring to get up close and personal with gators.
19. Yum Yum’s Takes Yummy To A Whole New Level
Yum Yum’s full name can be misleading, because what Yum Yum Better Ice Cream is really known for are it’s awesome hot dogs. The locals like to go “all the way” with theirs, heaping portions of chili, slaw, and onions.
20. Hot Dogs Aren’t The Only Thing Carolinians Like To Go All The Way With…
They also like their burgers topped with chili, slaw and onion too.
21. Hominy Is Harmony For Your Mouth
Hominy Grill in Charleston is the place to go to tantalize your taste buds. Crowd pleasers are the shrimp and grits and fried green tomatoes. And of course, “the big nasty biscuit” is a staple.
22. Sweet Tea Is Tea
Carolinians don’t order “sweet tea.” That’s because all tea is sweet, silly. That’s how we do in the South!
No, when someone wants their tea a little different, they have to specify “un-sweet tea, please.”
23. Jockey Park Jockeys For First Place Among Outdoor Enthusiasts
Jockey’s Ridge State Park lays claim to the tallest dune in the east coast and is a great place for hang gliding, hiking, and kite flying.
24. Merlefest Isn’t For Merle
… At least not for Mr. Haggard, that is. The annual music festival held in Wilkesboro at the Wilkes Community College is in honor of Eddy Merle Watson, who died in a tractor accident in 1985. His father, Doc Watson, hosted the event to showcase roots and bluegrass music.
Watson has since passed away but the concert remains strong with an average of 80,000 people in attendance each year.
25. Hunting Isn’t Just For The Fellas
Hunting is a big deal in the Carolinas and here the women and children do it just as well as the men. There are a ton of hunting lodges and preserves in South Carolina for turkey, quail, pheasant, and duck, and in the north hunters aim for bear, deer, and turkey.
26. Husk Puts New And Crazy Delicious Spin On Comfort Food
Husk is like kids’ food for grown-ups. With dishes like Kentuckyaki pigs ear lettuce wraps and cornmeal dusted catfish (locally sourced), being a kid again at suppertime never tasted so good.
27. Carolinians Can’t Resist A Night Sleeping Under The Stars
The Uhwarrie National Forest offers the best of everything for campers. There is hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, and off-roading and being an hour away from Charlotte makes it convenient too.
28. Carolina Autumns Are The Best Season Around
When fall descends upon the Carolinas, the trees explode with vibrant hues of reds, greens, oranges and yellows. Just ask the leaf peepers, fall in the Carolinas is not to be missed!
