re: Planning a North Carolina Vacation

I have stayed at the Nantahala Outdoor Center twice. It is a great place to hang right on the Nantahala River.. You can do hiking and ziplining there too (the Appalachian trail goes right through the complex). There are a couple restaurants, a convenience store, a bar, etc. The rafting there is class 2-3.. It's pretty manageable and I think you can do it without a guide. It's an hour or so from Asheville, so you could either drive there for the day or stay in a cabin or bunkhouse there.

If you want a more advanced trip, look no further than the class 4-5 full day trip on the Chatooga River. The NOC is the outfitter I used. That trip is such a fun time. You raft, then stop at a waterfall for lunch, and then do a couple more stops. The raft flipped when I went, so just be ok with that happening (it's still pretty safe).