Category: Tourism

RALEIGH, N.C. —Travelers looking for a standout summer send-off will find themselves in good company across North Carolina. With longstanding Labor Day festivals and special events leading up to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, destinations are ready to welcome a stream of Labor Day visitors. “The weekend will truly end summer on a high note,” said Lynn Minges, the N.C. Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary of Tourism, Marketing and Global Branding. “With an extra day between coming and going, the …

With 35,000 delegates, dignitaries and media representatives as well as the eyes of the world converging on Charlotte for the 2012 Democratic National Convention next week, the Division is seizing the opportunity to showcase the state’s assets as a travel destination. “Attention will be fixed on Charlotte and North Carolina,” said Assistant Sec. Lynn Minges. “We want people to see beyond the headlines, appreciate the unique travel experiences the state offers, and showcase North Carolina as a special setting where …

Americans won’t let the sluggish economy and spiking gas prices keep them home this Labor Day, according to AAA, which says holiday travel will hit a post-recession peak. AAA says 2.9 percent more people will travel at least 50 miles from home this holiday than last year – 33 million hitting the road from Thursday, Aug. 30, to Monday, Sept. 3. That’s up from 32.1 million over the same holiday last year. If those projections materialize, it would be the …

The American Battlefield Protection Program has awarded Civil War Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants to two historic sites in N.C. Averasborough Battlefield in Dunn was awarded $103,380 and Bentonville Battlefield in Four Oaks received $60,380. The grants were made from the National Park Service’s ABPP to help states and local communities acquire and preserve threatened Civil War battlefield land outside the boundaries of National Park units. Funds were awarded based on the property’s location within pre-defined core and/or study areas, the …

An Associated Press story, picked up nationwide, noted “Visitors come to Mount Airy looking for Mayberry.” While Mayberry was fiction, it was inspired by a real place: Mount Airy, hometown of the late Andy Griffith. And more than a half-century after the series first aired, fans are still coming to Mount Airy, looking for a glimpse of small-town life and the simpler times portrayed on the show. Tourism in Mount Airy is up since Griffith died, with about 10,400 people …

Officials are planning to renovate berthing areas and the ward room on board the Battleship North Carolina in anticipation of offering overnight stays. The program, which is expected to start next spring, is aimed at giving groups – such as the Boy Scouts – a taste of living on board a historic naval vessel while also opening up a new revenue stream for the ship, which is financially self-sustaining. Overnight visitors – who are likely to pay around $55 each – will …

For the week of Aug. 16 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” take in either outdoor drama “Pathway to Freedom” or “Sword of Peace” in Snow Camp. Sample the brews the easy way on an Asheville Brews Cruise in Asheville. Enjoy the great outdoors at Grandfather Mountain State Park in Banner Elk. Lift a glass at Windsor Run Cellars in Hamptonville. And check out the scene at Busy Bee Café in Raleigh. (Please note: listings are subject to change.)  “North Carolina …

Southport businesses will earn a large chunk of the millions in revenue the film “Safe Haven” is projected to spend in the region during filming. Bringing red-carpet stars Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel and David Lyons, “Safe Haven” filmmakers are expected to spend between $15 million and $20 million in North Carolina on qualifying expenses, such as crew salaries, lodgings and construction costs, according to the N.C. Film Office.The Southport-based production will wrap filming this week, but the film’s impact will …

United Airlines will begin offering non-stop service between Raleigh-Durham International Airport and San Francisco International Airport today, (Aug. 15). The daily flight will depart at 7 a.m. and arrive at SFO at 9:50 a.m. local time. That time is aligned with outbound Asia flight departures in the 11 o’clock hour. Following are just some of the cities passengers will be able to connect to: Tokyo, Hong Kong, Osaka, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and Kahului, Hawaii. Governor Bev Perdue, N.C. Department of …

In its July issue, Travel + Leisure shown its spotlight on the “Coolest New Airport Terminals.” RDU’s Terminal 2 was included on the list for its architecture, including long-span wood trusses (the first of their kind in any airport), a nod to the region’s heritage of furniture-makers and craftsmen, hanging artwork and abstract DNA sequences. Terminal 2 was also given kudos for the three ticketing counters, which reduce congestion at check-in. RDU breaks ground on Terminal 1 makeover Raleigh-Durham International …

Lodging in North Carolina continues to improve, according to recent data received by the Division from Smith Travel Research. Hotel/motel occupancy was up 4 percent for the first half of 2012, just outpacing U.S. (+3.4 percent) and South Atlantic (+3.1 percent) levels. Since 2009, year-to-date occupancy through June in N.C. is up nearly 15 percent. As well, ADR in the state for the first half of the year had its largest growth since 2008, increasing 4 percent from 2011, and …

The Division recently completed the 2011 analysis of international visitation to the state. The analysis concluded that in 2011, more than 680,000 international visitors spent time in North Carolina, spending over $312 million. These estimates do not include Canadian visitation. The top countries of origin for N.C. were the United Kingdom (81,497) and Germany (61,053), followed by Mexico (42,470), Japan (32,383) and India (31,424). These top countries accounted for more than one-third of the international spending in the state. Interesting …

For the week of July 26 on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” enjoy the great outdoors at Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro. Relax at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. Get your toes a-tapping at the PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival in Franklinton. Learn about Hamlet’s extensive train history. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Hillsborough Barbecue on Hillsborough. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) “North Carolina Weekend” is exclusively underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In addition, UNC-TV …

Halfway through the 2012 calendar year, film productions in North Carolina have already eclipsed 2011’s recording setting numbers for in-state spending, Gov. Bev Perdue announced today (Wednesday). As of July, the North Carolina Film Office has received notification from more than 35 productions in regards to filming in the Tar Heel state this year. The projects are expected to have a direct in-state spend of more than $300 million while creating 15,000-plus job opportunities, including more than 3,300 well-paying crew …

Ghost Town in the Sky opened earlier this month – sort of. The once-popular amusement park in Maggie Valley opened its chairlift and a new zipline just in time for the July 4 holiday and is offering rides on both attractions. For now, visitors can view the mountains surrounding Maggie Valley and the valley itself as they ride the chairlift. Some arcade games are housed on the first level, and tours are being offered of the slowly recovering park. The …