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Visit North Carolina
North Carolina is a prominent cultural and eco-tourism destination, featuring diverse activities such as visiting historic sites, museums, and experiencing the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains. The state attracts 44 million visitors, generating $16 billion in revenue, and ranks high in cultural tourism. The document outlines various regional attractions, tours, and accommodations across North Carolina's distinct areas: the mountains, piedmont, and coast.
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Visit North Carolina
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- 2. A focus on Cultural& Eco Tourism • Civil War Trails • 27 Historic Sites • Celebration of Craft • Recreation and Nature • Cultural & Scenic Trails on the Web – Blue Ridge Mountains & Music – African American Heritage – Cherokee Heritage – DiscoverCraftNC – Literary Trail – HomegrownHandmade.com
- 3. N.C. Travel Stats •$16 billion industry • 44 million visitors • Ranked 6th overall • 10th in Cultural & Heritage Travel • Up to 40% of all N.C. travel is cultural/heritage
- 4. Popular Cultural &Nature Activities 1. Visiting a historic site (31%) 2. Visiting a museum (24%) 3. Visiting an art gallery (15%) 4. Going to the theater (14%) 5. Hiking, Rafting, Scenic Drives
- 5. North Carolina’s ThreeDistinctive Regions North Carolina Mountains The Appalachian mountain chain running through the western part of the state and the Great Smoky Mountains in the southwestern are one of the country's top natural destinations. Visitors can enjoy 250 miles of the world- famous Blue Ridge Parkway winding through North Carolina's mountains.
- 6. Blue Ridge Mountainsand Smoky Mountains
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- 9. Hiking & CanopyTours
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- 12. Biltmore Historic Home& Gardens
- 13. Home of ZebulonVance North Carolina’s Writer Thomas Wolfe Boyhood Home Civil War governor Thomas Wolfe Historic House
- 14. Museums Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum Homespun Museum Pack Place Education, Arts and Science Museum
- 15. Mountains “Must See, Must Do” • Wild Water Adventures • Biltmore House and Village, Ashville • Zipline Canopy Tours • Ashville Historic Trolley Tours • NC Homespun Museum • Cycling in the Blue Ridge Mountains • Collburn Earth Science Museum • Pack Place Education, Arts and • Mountain Scenic Drives Science Museum • Estes-Winn Antique Car • Great Smoky Mountain Museum Railroad
- 16. Asheville, NC Tour May-June 2011* 2 Nights – 3 Days Day 1: • Enjoy free time and lunch on own today in Downtown Asheville. • Narrated trolley tour covering Asheville’s major sights • Enjoy dinner this evening at the Moose Café in Asheville. Day 2: • Great Smokey Mountain Railroad Tour • Museum of the Cherokee Indian • Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual Day 3: • Visit the Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Winery. • Visit River Bend Farm where you’ll be transported back in time to see what life was like on the estate in the 1890’s.
- 17. North Carolina’s Tours TheMountains of Western North Carolina The lush mountains of southwestern North Carolina await you on this mountain itinerary. Visit beautiful Lake Lure and see the majestic Hickory Nut Gorge from the heights of Chimney Rock, Learn about the fascinating history of an ancient culture in Cherokee. Travel to Asheville and Dillsboro and visit the historic Biltmore House and garden and shop for traditional crafts inspired by the mountains.
- 18. North Carolina’s Tours TheMountains of Western North Carolina Explore Western North Carolina “Go Blue Ridge 3-Night Package” 3 night Outdoor Package offered by 1847 Blake House Inn Bed & Breakfast. March - December. Price: Starts at $525 - $550 plus tax. • Biltmore Estate OR Great Smoky Mountains Railroad • Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville • Chimney Rock Park • Lake Lure Tours • Grandfather Mountain • Tweetsie Railroad • Emerald Village • Wildwater Rafting • Smith-McDowell House Museum • Colburn Earth Science Center
- 19. North Carolina’s Tours The Mountains of Western North Carolina Asheville Golf Packages Lush green fairways, crisp mountain air, rolling terrain and beautiful mountain landscapes are just a few of the reason to treat yourself to some of the best golf in the country. We have put together three of our favorite courses to offer this golfing package. Included are: • 2 rounds at Grove Park Inn’s stunning course in the heart of Asheville • 2 rounds at Reems Creek, known for having the look and feel of a Scottish Highlands course • 2 rounds on the beautiful Black Mountain Golf course with its challenging par six 17 th hole All cart fees included.
- 20. North Carolina’s ThreeDistinctive Regions The Piedmont University of North Carolina Morehead Planetarium at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill Duke Chapel, Duke University Durham The Piedmont is an area of gently rolling foothills in the center of the State. The region boasts of one of the most dynamic economies in the United States. It is home to the state's largest cities, biggest financial institutions, renowned research universities, abundant historic sites, top golf courses and the Yadkin Valley Vineyards, the first Viticulture region in the United States.
- 21. The PIEDMONT CHARLOTTE RALEIGHDURHAM CHAPEL HILL
- 22. FIREBIRD SCULPTURE, BECHLTERMUSEUM CHARLOTTE
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- 25. NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUMOF ART RALEIGH
- 26. MARBLES KIDS MUSEUMRALEIGH
- 27. BENTONVILLE BATTLEFIELD NEARRALEIGH
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- 30. The Piedmont "Must-See, Must Do" • Catch a thrill at the U.S. • Explore a major Civil War National Whitewater Center, battleground at Bentonville Charlotte • North Carolina Museum of Art, • Nascar - Satisfy your need Marbles Kids Museum, for speed, Charlotte Motor Raleigh City Museum Speedway and the Nascar Museum, Charlotte • See the stars at the Morehead Planetarium, Chapel Hill • Discovery Place for Kids, Charlotte • Marvel at the Duke University Chapel, Durham • Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte • Explore the Carolina Museum of Life and Science, Durham
- 31. Piedmont Tours RaceCars, Rafts, and Roller Coasters: The Charlotte Thrill Seeker’s Tour From white knuckles to whitewater, this four-day tour is sure to get your adrenaline pumping! Take your own Turn behind the wheel of a real NASCAR race car, rafting, kayaking and hiking/biking trails at The National Whitewater Center, Scale the cliffs at Crowders Mountain State Park, or simply hike to the top of Kings Pinnacle for a view of the Charlotte city skyline to the East and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west.
- 32. Piedmont Tours City of Culture: Museums, Music, and More in Charlotte Come spend three days in the Queen City and discover a great sampling of museums, music, famous people, and flowering plants! Day 1 Discover what life was life in 18th Century Charlotte, then spend an evening in the city’s funky NoDa arts and entertainment district. Day 2 Explore a series of fascinating museums in the Uptown area and enjoy endless nightlife opportunities in the big city’s center. Day 3 Find out how a president and a preacher both trace their beginnings to Charlotte, then explore botanical wonders in Belmont.
- 33. Piedmont Tours Wine Weekend Getaway: Two Days In The Yadkin Valley On this flavor-filled jaunt, you’ll sample some of North Carolina’s Diverse and unique wines and meet some of the people behind them. For this weekend, we jag off of I-77 from the Virginia border south, and then down east towards (but not to) Winston- Salem. Along the way, explore the town of Mount Airy, the “real” Mayberry, and get a bird’s eye view of North Carolina’s wine country from a hot air balloon in Boonville, about 25 miles west of Winston-Salem.
- 34. Piedmont Tours Pinehurst Golf & Art Vacation, Aberdeen This area of rolling sandhills is covered with classic golf courses, so golfers of all skill levels will enjoy the magnificent links the area has to offer. You will also enjoy the many historic sites in this section of the south central Piedmont. Either way, this 3-day itinerary will teach you much about your game and the region’s fascinating history.
- 35. North Carolina’s ThreeDistinctive Regions NORTH CAROLINA COAST Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the North Carolina Coast is a sunny place filled with pristine beaches, giant sand dunes and wetlands filled with wildlife and a variety of plants. The defining characteristic of the area is the Outer Banks, a chain of fragile barrier islands – 130 miles of unspoiled coastline surrounded by 900 square miles of water. The area is also full of history, dating back to the 16th century and from pre-Revolutionary Days through the Civil War.
- 36. Battleship North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington
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- 38. WRIGHT BROTHER’S MEMORIAL,KILL DEVIL HILL CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE JOCKEY’S RIDGE, NAGS HEAD
- 39. Coastal "Must-see, MustDo" • Stand on the deck of the USS • Let your spirit soar at the Wright NORTH CAROLINA, Brothers Memorial, Kill Devil Hills Wilmington • Slide down Jockey’s Ridge, Nags • Climb the Cape Hatteras Head Lighthouse, Buxton • Drink a Pepsi where it all began, • Dance to beach music on New Bern Carolina Beach • Explore Bald Head Island by • Drive the length of NC Highway bicycle 12, Outer Banks • Marvel at the sight of wild horses, Outer Banks .
- 40. Coastal Tours Outer BanksLights and Flights, Cape Hatteras Spend a day learning about flight, from the past to the present, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Climb to the top of the only lighthouse in North Carolina still housed in its original structure. Visit a handsome hunt club that recently underwent a $5 million restoration, enjoy Some of the best seafood around and learn the history of the early colonists and seamen in this beautiful yet rugged area.
- 41. Coastal Tours Enjoy HistoricWilmington and the Cape Fear Day 1: Battleship North Carolina, Burgwin Wright House and Gardens, Wilmington Adventure Walking Tour, Cape Fear Museum Day 2: Carriage and Horse Drawn Trolley Tours. cruise aboard the Henrietta III Riverboat, visit the Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum, the Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington Day 3: North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, Fort Fisher State Historic Site and Civil War Museum, Carolina Beach State Park Day 4: Orton Plantation and Gardens, Greenfield Park & Gardens Scenic Drive Day 5: Cape Fear Serpentarium, a thrill for snake haters and snake lovers alike, Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park, Tote-Em-Zoo: Over 100 varieties of animals live here, including Siberian tigers, camels, monkeys and more
- 42. GETTING THERE ANDAROUND International Airports: Raleigh/Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte, Wilmington Regional Airports: Ashville Regional Airport Amtrak Trains Carolinian with service from Boston to Charlotte stopping at all major cities on the Eastern Seaboard including Richmond, Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Greensboro, Charlotte. Rental Car: Enterprise, Avis, Budget Tour Buses: from Washington DC, Richmond, Raleigh/Durham, Greensboro, Charlotte, Wilmington
- 43. HISTORIC INNS &BED & BREAKFASTS Asheville Area: Brookstone Lodge, Fryemont Inn, Princess Anne Hotel Chapel Hill: Carolina Inn, Franklin Hotel, Fearrington Inn Charlotte: Charlotte Marriott South Park Pinehurst: Pinehurst Resort Raleigh: Fuquay Mineral Spring Inn and Garden Hatteras Island: Hatteras Realty Beach cottage vacation rentals Wilmington: Graystone Inn, The Verandas .
- 44. DSConsulting CONTACT Deepa Sanyal Sustainable Development 319 Baneberry Close Mail: 319 Fearrington Post Pittsboro, NC 27312 Phone: 919-533-6166. 202-460-8660 deepasanyal@uicalumni.org deepasanyal@gmail.com
Editor's Notes
- #2 Every corner you turn reveals something unexpected: a thriving movie production studio, cobblestone streets with horse-drawn carriages, elegant restaurants, gardens, crafts and shops, music festivals, theatrical performances, art galleries, history museums, welcoming nightspots….
- #3 Cultural Resources is very involved in cultural and heritage tourism. North Carolina is blessed with an abundance of the authentic kinds of experiences that cultural tourists crave.
- #4 Here are some other fast facts…
- #5 Here we have three destinations – the French Broad River in the Mountains, the Thomas Wolfe House in Asheville and the Museum of Art in Raleigh. While very different, they attract cultural and eco tourist tourists, which in turn brings money into local economies.
- #12 Asheville is the largest city in western North Carolina. It is a hub of cultural offerings that range from crafts to mountain music to contemporary art and theater. This thriving mountain city features 30-plus art galleries downtown alone, a growing culinary scene, a thriving live music scene and, of course, the awe-inspiring scenery of the Appalachian Mountains.
- #14 The Thomas Wolfe House is the boyhood home of the famed North Carolina author, and is one of North Carolina’s 27 State Historic Sites. Just up the road in Weaverville, the boyhood home of Zebulon Vance, North Carolina’s Civil War governor draws schoolchildren and history buffs. Asheville is also known for its restaurants, shopping and a vibrant arts scene.
- #16 The Thomas Wolfe House is the boyhood home of the famed North Carolina author, and is one of North Carolina’s 27 State Historic Sites. Just up the road in Weaverville, the boyhood home of Zebulon Vance, North Carolina’s Civil War governor draws schoolchildren and history buffs. Asheville is also known for its restaurants, shopping and a vibrant arts scene.
- #17 The Thomas Wolfe House is the boyhood home of the famed North Carolina author, and is one of North Carolina’s 27 State Historic Sites. Just up the road in Weaverville, the boyhood home of Zebulon Vance, North Carolina’s Civil War governor draws schoolchildren and history buffs. Asheville is also known for its restaurants, shopping and a vibrant arts scene.
- #22 (This photo was taken during a Charlotte Pops concert)
- #23 Charlotte is a destination for arts, culture, sports, and history. With many fine hotels downtown, visitors can plan trips around the city, such as the Public Art Walking Tour, take in a museum (Discovery Place for Kids, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, The Vineries Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, the Mint Museum of Craft and Design, the Levine Museum of the American South, and the Billy Graham Museum), check out a sporting event at Panthers Stadium or Bobcat Arena, or travel to the surrounding counties for a visit to the President James A. Polk State Historic Site or the Charlotte Motor Speedway. This photo is of the Firebird sculpture in front of the Bechtler Museum.
- #26 Raleigh is the capital city of North Carolina. One of the new attractions that is really sparking international interest is the new home of the permanent collection for the N.C. Museum of Art. It has more than 25 sculptures by famed artist Auguste Rodin; more than any other museum in the Southeastern United States.
- #27 The Museum of Art, and other museums in the capital educate children, as well as lifelong learners. And, businesses like restaurants and hotels benefit from the influx of cultural tourists, who spend more and stay longer.
- #28 The Civil War story is compelling and it is an economic opportunity for North Carolina. Did you know that 50,000 people came to Bentonville Battlefield near Raleigh last spring for the re-enactment of the battle? This almost doubled expectations for the draw of the event. The reported economic impact to the area was a whopping $6 million over 3 days. People came from Canada to Connecticut to Texas. The state is ready for the sesquicentennial commemoration. The theme is “Freedom. Sacrifice. Memory.”
- #37 Wilmington, N.C. is the home of the Battleship North Carolina, another of the state’s 27 Historic Sites. The ship was the most decorated vessel in the United States Navy during World War II. Wilmington is a jewel on the Cape Fear River. From riverboats to battleships, screen gems to civil war scenes, riverwalks to ghost walks, Wilmington NC is a city full of surprises and delights. It has a charm and style all its own – befitting an historic port city with roots that go back almost three centuries and the energy of a thriving destination.