Category: Tourism

RALEIGH, N.C. — Come to push your limits or to take in the unrivaled views. North Carolina is home to attractions that top lists of lighthouses, bridges and rivers based on measurable qualities. The height of summer is a perfect time to catch the action. Steepest zipline in the Continental United States: Newly opened in Saluda, The Gorge Zip Line drops 1,100 vertical feet on a course that includes 11 ziplines, three rappels and a sky bridge. Hear the roar …

For the week of July 11 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, lift a glass at Appalachian Mountain Brewery in Boone. Find something unique at Todd Mercantile in Todd. Step back in time during First in Freedom, an outdoor drama in Halifax. Tempt your sweet tooth at Maple View Farms in Hillsborough. And tour Rock Barn Golf & Spa Resort in Hickory. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In …

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 9, 2013) — For the first time since 2009, the North Carolina Division of Tourism has significantly enhanced its digital presence with a new website for consumer travel planning. VisitNC.com features a fresh look with dynamic content and responsive web design to make travel planning easier and more interactive. In addition to its agile design, the new website aligns with the Division’s key focus of showcasing North Carolina’s beauty and continued growth of downstream referrals to industry …

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 9, 2013) – The North Carolina Division of Tourism celebrates the launch of its revamped travel planning website, VisitNC.com, with the “Beauty Amplified? Photo Sweepstakes,” which offers travelers the opportunity to win one of three unique experiences: a behind-closed-doors tour of Biltmore, a private dinner in the home of renowned Raleigh chef Ashley Christiansen, or a dive on the wreck of Blackbeard’s legendary flagship — a location so secret that the winner will be blindfolded en route. …

For the week of June 27 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, be amazed at the “Dinosaurs in Motion” exhibit at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh. Lose yourself in one of the dramas presented by the Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre in Snow Camp. Step back in time at Historic Rosedale Plantation in Charlotte. Enjoy a tour of Sunset Beach. And relax at the Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill in Mills River. (Please note: listings are subject to …

Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach is taking Civil War history to new heights. Beginning July 2, the site will offer “Above the Scenes,” a special 45-minute walking tour from the floor of the fort to the top of the traverses, along an area normally closed to pedestrians. “This new tour will afford the visitor a different perspective from a unique vantage point,” said tour guide and Curator of History Ray Flowers. “We’re very excited about providing this …

Led by his guide dog, Tennille, and cheered by well-wishers, Trevor Thomas of Charlotte finished his extraordinary cross-state trek on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail last Saturday at Jockey’s Ridge, becoming the first blind person to hike the 950-mile trail. Hundreds followed his trek via Thomas’ Facebook page and several media outlets reported his latest accomplishment. Thomas hiked the 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail in 2008 by himself and the 2,654-mile Pacific Crest Trail with friends in 2010. Unlike the Appalachian Trail, a well-defined …

The Carolina SciQuarium, part of the Greensboro Science Center in Greensboro, opens this Saturday. The state’s first inland aquarium and the first AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accredited aquarium in the United States to be LEED-certified, the 22,000-sq.-ft. aquarium makes the Greensboro Science Center the state’s only aquarium, museum and zoo in one attraction. The $11.5 million project was paid for with bond money and private fundraising, and is just the first project in a $32 million master plan …

Tens of millions of Americans plan to travel this Fourth of July, but it may cost them a bit more than last year to get where they’re going. AAA predicted last Thursday that 40.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over July 4, traditionally the most traveled holiday of the summer. That’s a 0.8 percent dip from last year but still higher than the 13-year average of 38.9 million Americans who celebrate Independence Day by getting …

For the week of June 20 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, step back in time at the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station in Rodanthe. Get lost in history at the “Horn in the West” outdoor drama. Tempt your sweet tooth at Britt’s Donuts in Carolina Beach. Relax with a stay at Elizabeth Leigh Inn in Hendersonville. And see what’s the “House Special” at SoCo Farm and Food in Black River. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten …

Applications are due on July 31 for the N.C. Dept. of Commerce’s Certified Retirement Community program for communities that are positioning themselves to attract retirees as an economic and community development strategy. To gain certification, a local government must submit an application for consideration. Applications are accepted twice each year, and the next round of applications is due by July 31. Once a community has completed the certification process, the Division will help market and promote the community as a …

In addition to the impact of direct spending by filmmakers in North Carolina, towns across the state are benefitting as visitors are increasingly interested in learning more about and seeing the locations in which productions have shot.  For example, Southport has set a new record for tourism numbers this year, thanks to film productions taking over the town. The Southport visitors’ website numbers have reached an all-time high. Website traffic shows that in January, prior to the theatrical release of …

Spending a day at a boardwalk is the ultimate summer experience — they’re home to amusement park rides, play lands, arcades, shopping, and, most importantly, delicious food. Boardwalks are so beloved, they have inspired songs, been featured in films like Beaches, and provided a backdrop for TV shows. About 60 towns in the United States have boardwalks. USA Today chose the top 25 boardwalks around the country based on reflection of region, price, and quality of ingredients, and it included …

Gov. Pat McCrory has proclaimed June North Carolina Wine & Grape Month. North Carolina currently has 118 wineries with 400 commercial grape growers, creating an industry economic impact of $1.28 billion. Read the proclamation here.

20th Century Fox Television is bringing the TV series Sleepy Hollow, a modern-day retelling of Washington Irving’s classic story, to Wilmington. Filming is expected to start in late July and go through December. The pilot for Sleepy Hollow shot earlier this year in the Charlotte region, including the cities of Charlotte, Gastonia and Salisbury. Early estimates showed that the pilot had an estimated in-state direct spend of $8 million. This will mark the second series from 20th Century Fox Television …

For the week of June 13 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, kayak along the Alligator River and Duck. Take in a production of The Lost Colony. Experience a bit of history via the Watergate Exhibit at N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Step back in time at the Henderson County Heritage Museum in Hendersonville. And get back to nature and learn a little something, too, with Dana’s Outdoor Edventures in Danbury. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina …