Category: Tourism

As in 2011, North Carolina witnessed another year of record-breaking film numbers in 2012. Year-end projections show productions had a direct in-state spend in excess of $376 million and created more than 4,100 well-paying crew positions for the state’s highly skilled workforce. All told, productions created nearly 20,000 job opportunities-including talent and background extra positions-for North Carolinians. These numbers eclipsed 2011’s record-breaking $220 million in spending and 3,300 crew positions. All told, nearly 50 productions registered with the state film …

The Official 2013 North Carolina Travel Guide is now available. A new 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 800 attractions, nearly 4,000 accommodations and travel resources in every county. One cover photo features mountain kayaking in recognition of the Nantahala Gorge as the site of the 2013 International Canoe Federation’s World …

New Year’s celebrations kicked off early Monday at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, which celebrated the millionth visitor at its Nature Research Center since it opened in April. The millionth visitor was showered in confetti and received a bag of gifts. The 80,000-square-foot wing features labs where visitors perform the experiments; nearly 80 interactive exhibits, including WRAL Storm Central; a Naturalist Center with touch tables and a submersible that allows visitors to experience what it feels like …

American Airlines has announced a new flight between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and LAX, to start April 2. With a year-round, seven-days-a-week schedule, it’s a step up from the thrice-weekly nonstop Delta offers to Los Angeles during warm months. RDU says about 400 people make the trip each day between the Triangle and Los Angeles on flights that can arrive several hours sooner if there are no stops along the way.

For the week of Jan. 3 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” take in the “Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: the Cone Sisters of Baltimore” exhibit at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in Durham. Experience the Southern Folklife Collection at the Wilson Library at UNC in Chapel Hill. Stay at one of the rental cabins and enjoy White Sulphur Springs in Mount Airy. Step back in time at the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. And the “House Special” …

Mount Olive’s New Year’s Eve celebration was among last week’s USA Today’s “10 great places for a family-friendly New Year’s Eve.” The event culminates at 7 p.m. – midnight Greenwich Mean Time – with a 3-foot glowing pickle that’s lowered 50 feet into a tank at the corner of Cucumber and Vine streets, the site of the Mt. Olive Pickle Co.

As in 2011, North Carolina witnessed another year of record-breaking film numbers as 2012 comes to an end. Year-end projections show productions had a direct in-state spend in excess of $376 million and created more than 4,100 well-paying crew positions for the state’s highly skilled workforce. Productions created nearly 20,000 job opportunities – including talent and background extra positions – for North Carolinians These numbers eclipsed last year’s record-breaking $220 million in spending and 3,300 crew positions. All told, nearly …

This Christmas travel season could be the busiest in six years, with AAA predicting that 93.3 million Americans will hit the road. That’s 1.6 percent more than last year and just 400,000 people shy of the 2006 record. More cars will crowd the highways than ever before, largely because finding a seat on a plane at a desirable price has gotten more difficult. AAA says a record 84.4 million people will drive at least 50 miles between Dec. 22 and …

For the week of Dec. 20 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” step back in time with Christmas at Old Salem in Winston-Salem. Enjoy a romantic getaway at Darlings by the Sea in Kure Beach. Take in a show at White Horse Black Mountain in Black Mountain. Lift a glass at Stonefield Cellars in Stokesdale. And the “House Special” samples the fare at RuckerJohns in Greenville. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) “North Carolina Weekend” is exclusively underwritten by the …

RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 17, 2012) — The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development today unveiled “The Official 2013 North Carolina Travel Guide.” A new 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 800 attractions, nearly 4,000 accommodations and travel resources in every county. One cover photo features mountain kayaking in …

For the week of Dec. 13 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” take in one of several performances of “The Nutcracker” across the state. Get into the spirit of the holidays with the decorations at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont. Answer the call of the wild with a bear tour at Pocosin Lakes in Pantego. Enjoy a tour of the Shaffner House Inn, a bed & breakfast in Winston-Salem. And experience the “Twelve Days of Christmas” at The Carolina Inn …

After the unusually warm 2011-12 winter in the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina skiing got off to a record-breaking season this year when two of the state’s six ski areas opened on an unprecedented early date: Halloween. Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, several inches of natural snow fell in the North Carolina High Country and Smoky Mountains in late October, allowing both Sugar Mountain Resort in Sugar Mountain and Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley to open Oct. 31 with both …

Slightly more Americans will hit the road this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. That includes people who are choosing to drive instead of fly as household budgets remain tight. In its annual Thanksgiving travel forecast released Tuesday, AAA predicts 43.6 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the holiday, up just 0.7 percent from last year. But while more people are traveling, it appears that the pent-up demand seen following the recession has largely dissipated. Demand grew …

For the week of Nov. 8 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” grab your canine buddy and head to the pool for fun at Lap it Up in Durham. Enjoy a stay at The Pack House Inn in Edenton. Whet your appetite at Skippy’s Hot Dogs in Winston-Salem. Tee it up at Crooked Creek Golf Club in Fuquay-Varina. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Melanie’s Food Fantasy in Boone. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) “North Carolina Weekend” …

RALEIGH, N.C. (November 1, 2012) — From wind-powered whirligigs to Wings Over Water, early-season skiing and late-season leaf watching, North Carolina promises visitors a “November to Remember.” Travelers can find information on nearly 300 November events at VisitNC.com, the state’s official travel planning website, and scope out activities in a new “Fall Into Winter” Facebook album filled with images taken this week. With two ski areas adding their snowmaking power to the early snowstorm’s powder, travelers can opt for winter …

Last week, the Battleship North Carolina reported its highest annual attendance in 10 years. From Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, 2012, 216,438 visitors paid to tour the World War II battleship, which is moored across from downtown Wilmington. “That’s an amazing number of visitors,” said Capt. Terry Bragg, the ship’s director. “We sort of build around the summer tourism season and go from there.” The 2012 attendance record is the third best since 1995. That year, the battleship recorded …

For the week of Nov. 1 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” enjoy the wonders of the Children’s Museum of Alamance County in Burlington. Feel a sense of history at the Cupola House and its gardens in Edenton. Step back in time at the Thomas Day House in Milton. Tour a few of the historic mansions in Wilmington. And lift at glass at Rioja Wine Bar in Greensboro. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) “North Carolina Weekend” is exclusively underwritten …