What are the best places to vacation east of the Mississippi?

Be more specific; city, country, ,mts., costs, good restaurants or good hiking..There'sa lot of space between the Miss. and the Atlantic. Driving, flying, train, bus....

Come to the North Carolina outerbanks. We have miles of pristine sandy beaches. I suggest Corolla or Ocracoke Island. It's a great getaway from all of the hustle and bustle of daily life. It's not as commercial as most beaches.