Come See What?s New in North Carolina For Winter 2008 and Beyond

RALEIGH, N.C. (Jan. 15, 2008) From America’s Best Beach to luxury hotels and classic barbecue, North Carolina is making news in 2008. For the whole story, go to VisitNC.com or call 1-800-VISIT NC.



Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center, (near Asheville)

This 12,800-square-foot, $9.8 million facility houses exhibits that highlight the natural and cultural diversity, economic traditions and recreational opportunities found along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The center, built to the latest energy-saving standards, also has a 70-seat auditorium with a high-definition film and classroom space for groups. A grand opening is planned for spring 2008. The new “Go Blue Ridge Card” multi-attraction pass includes one-price admission to more than 20 popular attractions. The card can be purchased online or at the Asheville Visitor Center. The Federal Highway Administration named the Blue Ridge Parkway an All-American Road. The roadway was recognized for its scenic, historic, recreational and other intrinsic qualities that make it “one of a kind.” www.goblueridgecard.com or 828-271-4779; www.nps.gov/blri
Dr. Beach Names Ocracoke America’s Best Beach

Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach on Ocracoke Island was named #1 in Dr. Beach’s America’s Best Beaches list 2007, the first time a beach outside of Hawaii or Florida reached the top. Ocracoke Island, embraced by the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is known for clean water, golden sand and unspoiled beauty. At 16 miles long and a half-mile wide, it is a sun-swept wilderness, once a haunt of Blackbeard the pirate and the place where he met his demise. Nestled against the Graveyard of the Atlantic, Ocracoke is 26 miles from the mainland and accessible only by water and air. It features a pristine beach and a historic village – and no chain hotels or restaurants. International beach expert Stephen Leatherman, Dr. Beach, made the #1 designation. He judges more than 650 beaches throughout the nation each year on a list of 50 criteria. 305-348-8364; www.drbeach.org 



Ski NC: There’s something for everyone at North Carolina’s ski resorts and they’ve added more this year. Sugar Mountain added a 10,000 sq. ft. outdoor ice skating rink that is open day and night. Appalachian offers Fresh Fridays, where the Terrain Park crew sets up an entirely new feature for skiers and snowboarders. Hawsknest features a new training area and a conveyor sidewalk that safely and efficiently takes skiers and snowboarders to the slopes. Cataloochee made significant improvements to its snowmaking capabilities to extend the season. North Carolina’s ski season typically runs from Thanksgiving to mid-March. 828-898-4521; www.goskinc.com



World’s Largest Bodyflight Center Opens in NC, Raeford

Paraclete XP opened January 11, 2008, in Raeford, NC  (1 ½  hours south of Raleigh), featuring the innovative sport of bodyflight. Paraclete’s wind tunnel enables guests to fly in a controlled manner in the safety of a wall-to-wall air flow chamber. No experience is necessary and the sport is open to people of all ages and experience levels. The facility also hosts groups and birthday parties. Paraclete is one of the biggest vertical wind tunnels on the planet. The tunnel boasts a 16.5 foot circular chamber and it is completely climate controlled. Paraclete has high-definition video in the chamber that is stored on hard drives linked to the debrief rooms throughout the facility which makes debriefing flight sessions quick and effective. 910-495-3334; www.paracletexp.com 



Greensboro Celebrates 200, Greensboro

The city of Greensboro is celebrating 200 years of history, culture, education, art, industry and progress in 2008. The series of special events will run from March 25 through May 17. These dates coincide with the sale of the land on which Greensborough was founded and the date the sale was officially recorded. Events will include a heritage festival, parade of decades and World of Tomorrow technology expo. 800-344-2282; www.visitgreensboronc.com



Emissaries Return to Cherokee

After a five-month run at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Emissaries of Peace: The 1762 Cherokee and British Delegations returns to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian reopening Jan. 3, 2008. The exhibit chronicles the 1762 trip of Cherokee leaders to London to meet King George III. At the time, the Cherokees held the balance of power in the southeastern colonies, and the British were courting them as allies against the French. The exhibit explores Cherokee and British perspectives of one another’s cultures; the role of the Cherokee in colonial life; and changes in Cherokee culture due to interaction with Europeans. Artifacts in the exhibit include peace pipes, weapons, uniforms, jewelry, documents and artwork. The exhibit also features videos, interactive displays and dioramas. 828-497-3481; www.cherokeemuseum.org



North Carolina Barbecue Trail   

This year the North Carolina Barbeque Society presents the “Barbecue Trail” that hits 25 hot spots across the “Cradle of ’Cue.” These historic Barbecue Pits must have operated continuously for fifteen or more years, make their own sauce and have earned the high esteem of barbeque aficionados. From Greenville in the east to Murphy near the Tennessee border, these restaurants offer distinctive cooking styles that have made North Carolina the “Barbecue Capital of the World.” 336-765-NCBS (6227); www.ncbbqsociety.com



ArtDuckO, Raleigh

For centuries ducks have provided a traditional food source and livelihood for North Carolinians. On March 1, the N.C. Museum of History opens a 5,000-square-foot exhibit presenting a multifaceted look at these feathered friends. ArtDuckO: Waterfowl Culture in North Carolina showcases vintage decoys, Audubon prints, artifacts and images that tell how ducks and other waterfowl have affected North Carolina’s history and culture. Visitors explore the state’s coastal life through environmental settings and audio and video components. All ages will enjoy searching for “quack facts,” handling decoys, and checking out the virtual shooting gallery. The exhibit runs through Aug. 24. 919-807-7900; www.ncmuseumofhistory.org



Lighthouse Opens to Visitors, Oak Island

 Starting this summer the Oak Island Lighthouse will begin allowing visitors to explore the second level of the tower. The Lighthouse will be open without appointment on Wednesdays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. May 28 through September 3. Visitors to the second level of the lighthouse must be 7 years of age or older and all climbers must wear closed toe rubber sole shoes. Tours to the observation balcony at the top of the lighthouse must be arranged two weeks prior. Climbers to the top must be 10 years or older and five feet tall. The Lighthouse does not have a spiral staircase, it has ships ladders with a total of 131 steps to the lantern gallery level. 910-457-6964; www.oakislandlighthouse.org



Sylvan Heights, Scotland Neck

Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center, a breeding center with the world’s largest collection of waterfowl including many rare and endangered species, opens a new flamingo exhibit in early 2008. The exhibit features Chilean and Lesser flamingoes that were hand-raised by Sylvan Heights Curator Brad Hazelton. Located in northeastern North Carolina, the center provides conservation-oriented programs and avian exhibits showcasing more than 170 species of birds including animals from Australia, Africa, Eurasia, North and South America. 252-826-3186; www.sylvan-heights.org



Billy Graham Library, Charlotte

Trace back to the humble beginnings of a native-North Carolinian evangelist who has spoken to 210 million people in 185 countries. This innovative and interactive facility opened in June 2007 chronicling the life, ministry and message of Billy Graham with exhibits, multimedia displays and films. This family-friendly 40,000 square-foot complex includes the original Graham family homestead, a resource center and an on-site restaurant with “country kitchen” menu. Free to visitors, the complex anticipates hosting 200,000 visitors a year. 704-401-2432; www.billygraham.org/BGLibrary_Index.asp



Animal News at North Carolina Zoos

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro is in the midst of an $8.5 million expansion of its elephant and rhinoceros facilities called the Watani Grasslands Reserve. The project was developed in support of a nationwide effort by zoos to improve the captive care and breeding of both species. Grand opening is scheduled for April 2008. The N.C. Zoo is the nation’s largest walk-through natural-habitat zoo. 800-488-0444; www.nczoo.org

Greensboro’s Natural Science Center opened a new Animal Discovery Zoological Park in April 2007. The 500 acre, $12 million addition immerses visitors in a world of up-close creature encounters, featuring tigers, gibbons, wallabies, coatimundis, meerkats, howler monkeys and others. Themed on the ‘Science of Survival,’ Animal Discovery focuses on the unique and fascinating adaptations of diverse species. 336-288-3769; www.natsci.org



Conservancy to Create Barrier Island Study Center

The Bald Head Island Conservancy, an independent non-profit organization, is creating the world’s first Barrier Island Study Center in response to growing global concern about barrier island sustainability. The objective is to identify worldwide solutions to save and maintain these environments. Bald Head Island’s unique environment, which includes beach, marshland and maritime forest in 12,000 acres, offers researchers both pristine and developed habitats to study. The $2.5 million, certified “green” study center opens in late 2008. 910-256-9742; www.baldheadisland.com



Whitewater Center Hosts Olympic Trials, Charlotte

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte is the only facility of its kind in the world offering four manmade channels of class III-IV whitewater, more than 5,700 square feet of climbing wall surface, and 11 miles of rolling hiking, biking, and running trails.  Already creating a buzz among outdoor adventure seekers, the facility will host the 2008 Summer Olympic Trials for kayaking this April. 704-391-3900; www.usnwc.org



Orchid Conservatory, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont

The $12.5 million Orchid Conservatory opening January 19, 2008 will be the area’s only public conservatory devoted to the display of tropical plants. An 8,000-square-foot, five-story sparkling, crystalline structure, the Conservatory and its horticultural display will surround patrons in a lush environment of color, fragrance, sound and the world’s finest orchids and tropical plants. With ever-changing displays, winter orchid festivals and butterfly events during the fall, the Conservatory will challenge visitors’ imaginations and delight their senses. 704-829-1240; www.dsbg.org
El Greco to Velázquez, Durham

The Nasher Museum in Durham in association with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, presents the works of two of the world’s greatest painters – El Greco and Velázquez – within the context of the art of their time, the dawn of the Golden Age in Spain. El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III features more than 100 paintings, sculptures and decorative arts including seven works by El Greco, three by Velázquez and one large work by Peter Paul Rubens, painted during his 1603 diplomatic mission to Spain. The exhibit runs Aug. 21 – Nov. 9. Important loans will come from museums in Spain and five other countries; some works are traveling for the first time. El Greco to Velázquez gathers the best examples of art made during the 23-year reign of King Philip III of Spain (1598-1621). The exhibition is the culmination of 20 years of research by Sarah Schroth, the Nasher Museum’s senior curator, and will bring about a complete reevaluation of this chapter in art history. 919-684-5135; www.nasher.duke.edu
American Heritage Tours, Wilmington

American Heritage Tours is a new African-American heritage tour company offering narrated tours of historically significant African-American sites in Historic Wilmington. Guests hear the stories, experiences and contributions of African Americans of the Cape Fear area. The tour covers the 1898 racial riot, Pine Forest Cemetery and Dr. Eaton Home where Althea Gibson trained. Schedule changes seasonally and group tours are available year-round with advance reservations. 910-371-2848; www.amhtours.com
NC Literary Trails

The North Carolina Arts Council has created a Literary Trails Guide that connects the lives and work of 170 of North Carolina’s visiting and native writers with destinations across the 25 counties of the state’s mountain region. The guide comprises eighteen half-day and one-day tour itineraries which take travelers through the landscapes of Sequoyah, Thomas Wolfe and others. The guide offers a glimpse into North Carolina literary history, from the William Bartram Trail followed by Inman, the protagonist of Charles Frazier’s novel Cold Mountain, to the Toe River Lodge, in Plumtree, where the film version of John Ehle’s novel, The Winter People, starring Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis, was shot. Travelers can also spend a night at the Nu-Wray Inn in Burnsville, known for its country cooking, where both Mark Twain and Elvis are reported to have stayed. 919-807-6520; www.ncliterarytrails.org
Tasting Room at Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery, Ronda

Opening in early 2008 for wine tasting, private parties and special events, Villa Raffaldini, is a 5,600-square-foot tasting room designed in the Tuscan style featuring tasting rooms on two levels. Panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains are enjoyed from inside and outside balconies and landscaped terraces. A stone fireplace graces the upstairs tasting room and a full catering kitchen is available. Villa Raffaldini provides an expansive setting for special occasions and can accommodate up to 250 people. North Carolina is home to more than 60 wineries. That number has more than tripled since 2001. The industry has two focuses – muscadine grapes and vinifera grapes. Scuppernong, a muscadine, was the first grape cultivated in the United States and is the official fruit of North Carolina. North Carolina’s mother vine, a 400-year old Scuppernong vine, is the oldest known grapevine in the nation. 336-835-9463; www.raffaldini.com



The North Carolina Birding Trail

This trail of 120 birding sites across the coast is open to the public and attracts birders from all over the world. North Carolina has 460 of the 900 to 1,000 species found across the country and 93 species of special concern. The North Carolina Birding Trail will expand across the state in mid-2008. 919-604-5183; www.ncbirdingtrail.org



Airlie Gardens Take Flight, Wilmington 

Airlie Gardens will open the first butterfly house in Southeastern North Carolina this summer. Many colorful native species of butterflies will take flight inside an open-air greenhouse that is open to visitors. The butterfly house will be operated by Airlie’s Environmental Education Program and will focus on the butterfly life cycle, and how visitors can create their own backyard butterfly garden. 910-798-7564; www.airliegardens.org 



Benny Parsons Vineyard, Wine Tasting Room and Racing Museum, Wilkesboro

The Rendezvous Ridge Wine Tasting Room and Museum opened in summer 2007. It was started by Nascar Racing Legend, Benny Parsons, and completed by his wife, Terri, upon his death in January 2007. Parsons’ Rendezvous Ridge vineyard is the newest vineyard to the Yadkin Valley and was founded in 2005. The Tasting room and museum is closed on Sundays for the simple reason that Benny “firmly believed that there’s two things that Sundays should be for and that’s for going to church and going to races.” 336-973-7375; www.rendezvousridge.com



Park Adds Access to Dismal Swamp, Camden County

Access to the Great Dismal Swamp was never possible in North Carolina until now.  The 14,344-acre Dismal Swamp State Park opens in January 2008 allowing pedestrians and bicyclists to cross a new 80-foot swing bridge across the historic Dismal Swamp Canal to visit the Park. The Park eventually will include 20 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, all of which will run along old logging routes through the swamp. The Park’s exhibition hall will offer interactive exhibits on the swamp’s history as a sanctuary for runaway slaves, a commercial trade route, and a logging center. Connecting the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and the Albemarle Sound in North Carolina, the Dismal Swamp Canal is the oldest continually operating man-made canal in the United States. 252-771-8333; www.dismalswamp.com or www.ncparks.gov



New Site Offers Self-Driving Trails, Fayetteville

Fayetteville’s CVB created 10 packaged self-driving trails allowing visitors to explore the area’s rich heritage. The trails explore 10 themes including the Civil War, African-American Heritage, American Independence and Religious Freedom. Maps with detailed history, site descriptions and detailed site-to-site driving directions are available on the Cultural Heritage Trails section of CVB’s website. Visitors are also able to design custom trails including downloadable audio files. 910-483-5311; www.visitfayettevillenc.com



Carolina Crossroads, Roanoke Rapids

Carolina Crossroads is a new 123-acre, $129 million entertainment complex directly off Interstate 95 in northeast North Carolina. The first part of the complex, the Roanoke Rapids Theatre, opened in summer 2007. The 35,000-square foot, 1,450-seat theater showcases country, pop, beach and gospel music. Crossroads will encompass more than 700 acres and include five theaters, a $14 million ocean-themed venue, a Black Widow billiard center, hotels, restaurants and recreational activities. Developers expect it to rival Nashville and Branson as a destination for artists and music lovers. 252-537-6252 or 1-800-522-4282; www.carolinacrossroads.com



ACCOMMODATIONS:

The Proximity Hotel, Greensboro

One of the “greenest” hotels in the country, the new Proximity Hotel is built to use 36.5 percent less energy and 30 percent less water than a convention hotel. The property was built following guidelines of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. It is the first hotel in the United States to achieve the highest LEED certification and is North America’s first installation of the regenerative drive for Otis’ Gen2 elevator (which reduces net energy usage by capturing the system’s energy and feeding it back into the building’s internal electrical grid). The Proximity features 147 guest rooms and 4,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. It is a new structure that was designed to look like an old converted factory. 336-379-8200; www.proximityhotel.com



The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Cary

This 150-room, AAA-Five Diamond hotel with 14,000-square-foot spa opened in January 2007 on a three-acre lake near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Locally owned by Ann Goodnight, wife of SAS Institute co-founder Jim Goodnight, the soaring glass and limestone complex features 17 suites, 8,000 square feet of meeting space, a sculpture garden, 24-hour room service, original artwork, and a two-story spa and health club. It is a member of Leading Hotels of the World and Leading Spas of the World. Herons, the hotel’s signature restaurant, which boasts its own herb garden, serves modern American cuisine with regional influences and offers an extensive wine selection. 919-447-4000; www.theumstead.com



Embassy Suites, Concord - Lowes Motor Speedway

Opened in January 2007, the $65 million Embassy Suites Hotel Resort and Conference Center Charlotte-Concord is only a short walk away from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, home of the Coca-Cola 600, and the Concord Mills Mall. The property offers a full-service spa, golf course and more than 42,000 square feet of flexible event and conference space, including a 28,800-square-foot ballroom and 26 breakout rooms. The property is the official hotel of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. 704-455-8200; www.embassysuitesconcord.com



Hampton Inn and Suites at Shelton Vineyards, Dobson

Opened in April 2007, this property features 102 suites and 1,600 feet of meeting space in the North Carolina wine country. Owner Shelton Vineyards features a wine tasting bar in the lobby, and you can also relax in the indoor pool and jacuzzi. 336-353-9400; www.sheltonvineyards.com/default.aspx?shelton=41



Landmark Carolina Hotel Gets Makeover, Pinehurst

More than 100 years after it was built, the grand Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst - once known once as the Queen of the South - is getting a tiara-to-glass slipper makeover. An $8 million renovation of its guest rooms, as well as upgrades to the main dining room, the addition of a new Presidential Suite and more have made the resort new again – without losing its Southern Belle charm. 800-487-4653; www.pinehurst.com



LOOKING AHEAD

Sparta Teapot Museum, Sparta (near Virginia state line)

Open 2008

Northwestern North Carolina will welcome the Sparta Teapot Museum, a multimillion-dollar international collection of tea-themed treasures. The collection of more than 10,000 objects represents many cultures and includes priceless antique teapots from the 1700s, as well as contemporary ones. A preview gallery on Main Street in downtown Sparta is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. 336-372-8118; www.spartateapotmuseum.org



Great Wolf Lodge, Concord

Open 2009

Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. announced it will build a 402-suite, four-story, northwoods-themed indoor water park in Concord (near Charlotte). The park will provide a comprehensive package of family entertainment and amenities, including a kid’s spa with ice cream-themed products, a spa featuring Aveda products, a 100-game arcade and more. www.greatwolf.com



North Carolina Museum of Art Rodin Exhibit and Expansion, Raleigh

Open 2009

This permanent collection of 23 works by sculptor Auguste Rodin includes casts of The Thinker and The Kiss. The museum will display the work in a new gallery, part of its $75 million expansion. This remarkable collection will make the Museum one of the world’s top Rodin repositories. 919-839-6262; www.ncartmuseum.org



NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte

Open spring 2010

The NASCAR Hall of Fame, a state-of-the-art facility capturing the spirit of racing will create an enduring tribute to the industry’s drivers, crewmembers and team owners. Plans include extensive exhibit space, interactive entertainment, restaurants, retail outlets and a world-class media center. Currently 82 percent of NASCAR Nextel Cup teams, 72 percent of NASCAR Busch Series teams and 55 percent of NASCAR Craftsman Truck teams are based in Charlotte, a hub of the NASCAR industry. 704-331-2737; www.belongshere.com