The Official 2014 North Carolina Travel Guide is now available. A photo-centric design and state-of-the-art digital options bring natural, manmade and historic attractions to life in a handbook that’s unique among state travel guidebooks. Two covers are available for the guide, which takes in more than 880 attractions, nearly 4,000 accommodations and travel resources in every county. One cover photo commemorates the back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open championships on Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst and one features two Western lowland gorillas at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, which celebrated multiple births of the endangered species in 2012.
“North Carolina’s natural beauty lies at the heart of the state’s appeal,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker. “Yet it’s more than what the eye takes in. The new Travel Guide inspires you to grab hold of the spirit that’s expressed in our culture, our sense of adventure, our food and drink, and the stories we tell.”
The guide inspires travelers with alluring photographs and concise copy blocks in the style of an upscale catalog. Vibrant images of popular festivals, Southern culture, national parks and other attractions draw readers in and deliver essential information. Sections on beer and cult cuisine cater to travelers with an appetite. Exciting military-related sites are highlighted on pages that travel through history from the 1770s to modern times, from museums to air shows to Civil War and Revolutionary War locations.
“Pinehurst and the North Carolina Zoo are more than well-loved attractions,” said Wit Tuttell, acting assistant Commerce secretary for tourism. “Both are nationally significant as well. Pinehurst has a storied history that reaches another high point with the 2014 championships. And the zoo – the nation’s first state-supported zoo and the first built on the ‘natural habitat’ philosophy — has advanced the cause of species survival. Multiple gorilla births in 2012 is one recent success.”
To add additional excitement to the release of the new guide, today also starts “Putt & Play: The Travel Guide Sweepstakes.” Visitors to VisitNC can enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win accommodations and golf at Pinehurst Resort plus accommodations, zoo tour and zipline excursion in Asheboro.
The Travel Guide is available for visitors at all nine of the Division’s Welcome Centers, by calling 1-800-VISITNC or by placing an order at VisitNC.com. Bulk orders of the Travel Guide are available by emailing your request and delivery information to visitnc@nccommerce.com. Users can also access the enhanced digital version, which includes embedded videos plus animated photos and ads. The mobile app is available for iPhone/iPad plus Android and Kindle Fire via Google Play.
The Division of Tourism will distribute 550,000 copies of the printed guide. Printed at no cost to the state, the publication represents a $1 million investment by Division travel partners in print and online advertising and cooperative marketing efforts. Destinations, attractions and accommodations are listed for free.