For the week of Feb. 5, on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, visit J.R. Moore & Son General Store, a country store in Gulf. Enjoy the art and activities at the Eastern North Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival in Washington. Lift at glass at Stonefield Cellars Winery in Stokesdale. Step back in time at Blandwood Mansion in Greensboro. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Fat Fellas BBQ and Grille in Newport. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina …
Category: Tourism
Moogfest could have $30M economic impact for Asheville
Festival organizers outlined plans and hopes for Moogfest, a music festival in Asheville April 23-27, as a future job creator for the community, appearing before an unprecedented joint meeting of the boards of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Buncombe County TDA, and Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County. Organizers anticipate the revamped festival’s anticipated economic impact of $30 million for the city. Besides music fans, Moogfest should attract professionals and businesses eager to connect during the five days of …
Delta’s last DC-9 retires at Charlotte museum
Charlotte added another retiree Thursday, one finishing a high-flying career after 35 years. Delta Air Lines’ last DC-9 arrived at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and took up residence at the Carolinas Aviation Museum. Built in 1979, the aircraft is the latest addition to the growing fleet at the museum, which includes the fuselage of the “Miracle on the Hudson” jetliner that ditched five years ago without any loss of life to the 155 aboard. Shawn Dorsch, president of the Museum, …
N.C. posts second year of record demand for lodging
For the second year in a row, North Carolina’s lodging industry posted record demand for accommodations. Recent data released by Smith Travel Research (STR) shows that 2013 room demand was up nearly three percent from 2012 with more than 31 million room nights sold in the state. Since 2005, room demand is up more than ten percent. Room demand nationally and in the southeast region increased 2.2 percent from 2012 to 2013. Room demand is defined as the number of …
Eden becomes the 7th NC Certified Retirement Community
On Jan. 23, N.C. Commerce Sec. Sharon Decker presented Eden with its N.C. Certified Retirement Community certificate. The distinction means the state has certified that Eden has the infrastructure and amenities sought by retirees. In addition, the Division will provide promotional assistance to help encourage retirees to visit and relocate to the area. Eden met a rigorous set of requirements, including a comprehensive community survey and an asset assessment of the community’s preparedness for retiree attraction. Now that the city …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Jan.30, on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, the “Collecting Carolina” series visits Edenton. Take in the art at The Bascom: a Center for the Visual Arts in Highlands. Soar through the air via the Hawksnest Zipline in Seven Devils. Lift a glass of hard cider at McRitchie Winery & Ciderworks in Thurmond. And tempt your tastebuds at Beyú Caffé in Durham. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division …
New Trails Link African American History, Culture
RALEIGH, N.C. (January 27, 2014) — Paths have a way of crossing in history, and 2014 brings an intersection of new African American history and heritage trails across North Carolina. Both famous and ordinary people play a role in extraordinary stories that inspire a journey through the heart of the state. Choose your destination and find everything you need for the trip at VisitNC.com. African American Music Trails of Eastern North Carolina The newest culture trail from the North Carolina …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Jan.23, on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, step back in the past at the New Winston Museum in Winston-Salem. Lift a glass at Mystery Brewing Company in Hillsborough. Explore the arts scene in Salisbury. Enjoy a tour of Havelock. And the “House Special” samples the fare at SoundSide Restaurant in Morehead City. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In addition, UNC-TV has made recent editions …
Sleepy Hollow stars, producer tout N.C. food, history and crew
While promoting the show’s first-season finale, the stars and producers of Fox’s Wilmington-region filmed drama Sleepy Hollow reflected on their time working and living in Wilmington. “Wilmington is beautiful,” said Nicole Beharie, who plays tough cop Abbie Mills. “It is the best crew. They’re really classy and it is like a family.” Actress Katia Winter, who plays a witch named Katrina, spent much of her downtime during the summer months at the beach. The actors did mention one downside to …
Concord Mills’ Sea Life aquarium set to open Feb. 20
Sea Life, the aquarium that will give people a chance to walk “under” an ocean of marine animals, will open to the public Feb. 20, officials announced last week. Construction on the 36,000-square-foot aquarium is nearing completion at Concord Mills. When open, the attraction will feature 5,000 creatures, including sharks, stingrays, an octopus, seahorses, jellyfish, and other animals.
Designing Better Places – a new video and website on urban design and the importance of creating walkable communities
Raleigh – The N.C. Department of Commerce announced Thursday that a new video and website on urban design and the importance of creating walkable communities, Designing Better Places, is available for viewing and download on the Commerce website at www.designingbetterplaces.com Designing Better Places showcases numerous communities from across North Carolina that are developing public spaces where residents and visitors feel at ease. The website and video provide examples of basic design principles and building streets that work for everyone. “The …
DPAC #4 in U.S. on Pollstar list
Pollstar named the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham #4 in the U.S. in its recent 2013 report Worldwide Ticket Sales – Top 100 Theater Venues, based on attendance at DPAC. The magazine named DPAC # 4 in the U.S. in its recent 2013 report of worldwide ticket sales of the top 100 theater venues, based on attendance. The top five theaters in the Pollstar survey, with their seating capacity, were Radio City Music Hall in New York City, N.Y., …
Record-level attendance at N.C. State Parks continued in 2013
For the third straight year, attendance at North Carolina’s state parks and state recreation areas hovered at a record level with 14.2 million visits in 2013, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. Among 40 state parks and state recreation areas, 19 reported increases in attendance in 2013. Fort Macon State Park in Carteret County reported the highest attendance at 1.19 million visits, followed closely by Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Dare County with 1.18 million visits. Several …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Jan. 16 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, discover some history at the Statesville Historical Collection. Enjoy a tour of downtown Salisbury. Step back in time at the Rockford General Store in Rockford. Relax with a visit to the Harmony Hill Bed & Breakfast in Sparta. And tempt your tastebuds at Youssef 242 in Hickory. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In addition, UNC-TV has …
Mount Airy Named a N.C. Certified Retirement Community
Raleigh, N.C. —The N.C. Department of Commerce announced today that Mount Airy has been designated a N.C. Certified Retirement Community. The N.C. General Assembly established the program in 2008 to designate communities that offer unprecedented quality of living that is desirable to retirees. “This designation will be a valuable economic development tool for the city of Mount Airy and its residents, “said N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker. “The people of Mount Airy recognize the valuable contributions that retirees can make …
Gateway Centre Hotel Complex recognized for electric charging station
Tradeshow publication Exhibit City News recently spotlighted Rocky Mount’s Gateway Centre Complex. This past November, Tesla Motors installed a supercharger station for its electric cars at the Centre. The company is planning to install similar charging stations about every 150 miles along major highways in the U.S. so that Tesla electric car owners may conveniently travel long distances. The Gateway Centre is a prime location to serve this objective. According to the Gateway Center, the charging stations are already attracting …
N.C. Zoo visitors get Christmas gift of new polar bear
A different kind of White Christmas was in store for North Carolina Zoo visitors in Asheboro when “Patches,” the zoo’s new female polar bear, went on exhibit for the first time the day after Christmas. Born in 1987, Patches came to the N.C. Zoo from the Erie Zoo in Pennsylvania. The N.C. Zoo’s polar bear exhibit has been undergoing an $8.5 million renovation and expansion during the past two years. Patches will be exhibited in the older part of the …
U.S. Travel Outlook: U.S. economy strengthening
Economic analysis indicates that the U.S. economy appears to be strengthening with a revised forecast for GDP growth at 3.6 percent for the third quarter of last year, according to the latest U.S. Travel Outlook. While the growth was expected to slow somewhat in Q4, the second half of 2013 should end up with an average of 2 percent growth from the previous year. Supporting this growth is strength in employment, consumer confidence and household spending. Leisure travel in 2013 …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Jan. 9 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, enjoy a tour around Star. Roar along with the big cats – and other interesting animals – at the Conservators’ Center outside of Burlington. Discover the uniqueness of the Gourd Museum in Angier. Tempt your taste buds at the Weeping Radish Restaurant and Pub in Grandy. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Bay Leaf Restaurant in New Bern. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina …
Chapel Hill/Orange County VB utilizes book’s popularity to attract, assist visitors
The Chapel Hill/Orange County VB has adapted the popular local book Goodnight Carolina into a printed Family Fun Map and tour guide brochure as well as an app for the iPhone, iPad and Android. These new resources offer visitors a new way to explore UNC-Chapel Hill and the surrounding communities, in time for the holiday influx of visiting friends and family and beyond. Like the book, the Goodnight Carolina brochure/map and app spotlight the uniqueness of Chapel Hill and the …