It seems as though thousands of people are moving to North Carolina each day – at least, it feels that way. When I lived in Charlotte, I came across the estimate that 100 people were moving to Charlotte per day. Pair that with 100 per month in Wilmington and the expanding Research Triangle Park and it means that there are plenty of newbies from all over coming to this state. Not to mention – tourists. While we welcome all with open arms, I’ve also realized sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a fellow North Carolinian and an out-of-stater just blending in. While plenty of tourists will straight up tell you they’re here on vacation (and how much they love it) these other 10 signs are ones to look out for.
1. They don't say "y'all."
Worth noting: northern accents are also a dead giveaway. Even if out-of-staters don't have a northern accent (and maybe even if they have a southern one) North Carolinians have unique accents based on where they grew up in the state. Over time, you learn how to tell a North Carolina accent from, say, an Alabama one.
2. They think there's only one style of BBQ.
Even if they praise the BBQ, this is a dead giveaway. On the other end of the spectrum, you might encounter some out-of-staters who've come all the way just to conquer the North Carolina BBQ Trail.
3. They're buying Cheerwine in bulk.
Honestly, I'm just flattered.
4. They're taking pictures in front of Bojangles and/or the Winston-Salem Krispy Kreme.
Again, just flattered.
5. They only praise the mountains or coast.
We love our seasonal visitors, with many traveling to the same beach or mountain town each year. North Carolina is a home away from home but you can tell they're not from here because they haven't really taken the time to explore everything in between.
6. They act surprised to discover North Carolina isn't just a bunch of southern hillbillies or stuck up southerners.
The south has plenty of stereotypes, but if you're going to say something along the lines of "Wow, there's actually such a diverse group of people here, y'all all aren't actually like I thought," just keep it to yourself.
7. They argue about their state's rivalry.
Pretty obvious giveaway, but I've had to correct so many people when it comes to college basketball rivalries. There's literally no comparison to the UNC V. Duke rivalry...and even you explaining it for 20 minutes is not going to change my mind.
8. They are driving 10 m.p.h on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
While we usually go off out-of-state license plates, sometimes they're sneaky and might be driving a rental car...flying completely under the radar. Sure, plenty of North Carolinians might go slower around certain overlooks and such, but if they're doing the whole journey at a turtle's place, no, they're not from around here.
9. They ask questions like, "Is North Carolina wine actually good?" and make statements like, "I'm seriously amazed at the craft beer scene here and the quality of the beer."
Bonus points for those who are seriously impressed by the arts and culture scene - I mean, birthplace of bluegrass, anyone?
10. They ask you questions like, "Should I move here?"
This literally happened to me the other day. Of course many people vacation or travel here with a dream to one day retire in a mountain cabin or beachside bungalow - but plenty of people from all over are moving here daily. From fast growing cities for young professionals to quaint mountain towns and isolated seashores, there really is something for everyone here and you can't really blame them.
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