Poll: We like the beach, berries, and BBQ

[Lex]

Poll: N.C. Faves Include Beach, Berries, BBQ


North Carolinians Pick Beach as Favorite Vacation Spot

North Carolinians prefer to take their summer vacations and eat their barbeque in the eastern part of the state, new poll results show.

In a Public Policy Polling survey, 51 percent of respondents said they prefer to spend their in-state summer vacations on the beach.

Twenty-eight percent favored the mountains, while 21 percent had no preference.

Overall, 52 percent said they chose to vacation in North Carolina, while 48 percent go out of state.

Food favorites parallel the geographical preference for the east.

Forty-seven percent of respondents expressed a taste for eastern-style barbeque, compared to 29 percent for western-style barbeque.

The survey, which was released today, also sampled North Carolinians' favorite summer fruits.

Strawberries were the top choice by 37 percent, followed by watermelons at 21 percent, peaches at 16 percent and blueberries at 13 percent. One percent of respondents said they don't eat fruit.

Survey respondents were also asked about their in-state sport teams loyalties.

For professional teams, 49 percent chose the Carolina Panthers as their favorite North Carolina team.

Fourteen percent said they were big fans of the Carolina Hurricanes, and 10 percent reported that the Charlotte Bobcats claim their top loyalties.

Among collegiate schools, 33 percent chose UNC-Chapel Hill as their favorite team. Seventeen percent expressed support for NC State and 12 percent for Duke.

Seven percent said they belonged to the Wake Forest fan base, and 6 percent to ECU's.

Despite North Carolina's reputation as a hot bed of car racing, only 34% of respondents said they follow NASCAR.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1555387/

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

1. East? You mean like Hickory?

There is an eastern NC?

Heh.

Who knew?

[CRK7376]

2. I hate the beach but

my wife and kids love it so we go to Kitty Hawk every summer....BBQ rules, but I don't care on East or West divide....Wake all the way, Go Panthers!

[Vox_Reason]

3. Life as a Tar Heel: good fortune abounds

Beaches or mountains? You win either way. The mountains this time of year are glorious. Enjoy it now and don't wait for the leaves.

Eastern BBQ by a mile. See you in October in Raleigh for the east-west BBQ showdown. Can't wait!

Strawberries are North Carolina's fruit. No argument there.

The Carolina Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup. Even if the Panthers eventually win the Super Bowl, the Hurricanes trump them, big time. Win 4 best-of-7 series against the best teams in the league and then we'll talk.

Every liberal in North Carolina who cares about college athletics should be a rabid fan of the UNC Tar Heels.

I find NASCAR to be a huge bore, but some people really like it--more power to them.

[littlebit]

4. Huge tarhill fan here

Never really got into NC barbeque though. I am a displaced texan so pork barbeque just doesn't taste right to me. Don't really care for Nascar I never understood the point of driving around in a circle. I have been a season ticket holder for the panthers for 7 years now. The only time I root against them is when they play the cowboys. Like I said I am a displaced texan some things never change.

[carolinablue]

5. Great state despite our politicians

How many states have such beautiful places to vacation as the Outer Banks and the Blue Ridge Mountains in the same state. I'm a Charlottean but my folks are both Lexington natives so I partial to the western BBQ and I love the vinegar-based cole slaw.

I live less than 10 miles from Lowe's Motor speedway and my husband is a race fan, but I never could get into Nascar - just seems so pointless.