Weekly e-newsletter for Visit NC Partners - December 19, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE:
* 2025 NC Travel Guide now available in print, online
* Visit NC January webinar: Tourism Exchange USA News & Updates
Thank you for your insight and partnership this year. We look forward to working together in the New Year to inspire travel to and within North Carolina. Warm wishes for a happy and safe holiday season.
NewsLink returns Jan. 9 with a new look for the New Year!
2025 N.C. Travel Guide now available in print, online
The Official 2025 North Carolina Travel Guide is now available. The publication is designed to inspire real-life trips across the state. Building on the “For Real, Visit NC” brand, the 118-page guide connects trip planners to everything from high adventure to pure tranquility across 500 miles of scenic wonder.
“With four distinct seasons and our geographic medley, North Carolina inspires wish lists of every description,” said Visit NC’s Wit Tuttell. “The new Travel Guide brings a fresh approach to channeling what, where, why and how into meaningful getaways that reflect authenticity along every mile. We extend a special invitation for travelers to pin down plans for 2025 trips as a ‘Happy New Year’ to destinations across the state, especially those that are newly recovered from the effects of Hurricane Helene.”
The journey begins with a three-page cover package. The series of aerial images, all shot after dark, starts with Fayetteville’s ZipQuest Waterfall & Treetop Adventure. This is followed by two-page spreads of Old Baldy lighthouse at Bald Head Island and Biltmore, an Asheville landmark that embodies history, elegance and innovation. By the time readers reach the end of the guide, they’ll have passed through 158 towns and cities to glimpse more than 300 attractions, restaurants, lodging properties and events.
The Official 2025 North Carolina Travel Guide is free. The print edition is available at the state’s nine Welcome Centers or by calling (800) 847-4862 (800-VISIT NC). Readers can also link to https://www.visitnc.com/travel-guides to request a copy, access the digital edition or download a PDF version.
Bulk orders of the Travel Guide are available at no cost for distribution by visitor centers, attractions, accommodations and other tourism-related businesses. The guides come 50 guides/box. Email your request (number of boxes) and physical delivery information to Pam Jarett at the Call Center.
Visit NC kicks off the new year as Tourism Exchange USA presents a refreshed introduction to their platform and explains how DMOs can help local tourism businesses benefit by getting started with the Exchange. They will also cover the latest update about the first-of-its-kind National Travel Trade Portal, which launched in October 2024. The NTTP, developed by Tourism Exchange USA, provides a one-stop shop for tour operators, travel agents, distributors and buyers to explore and book travel product from across the country. Tourism Exchange USA is brought to you by Visit North Carolina in partnership with Travel South and Brand USA. The webinar is open to all DMO team members and their partners. The webinar will be 10 a.m. on Jan. 9. Click here to register.
NC Sports Hall of Fame announces Class of 2025 inductees
The NC Sports Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 induction class. The new members are Greg Ellis, Nora Lynn Finch, Rollie Geiger, David Gentry, Dale Inman, Bobby Isaac, Cullen Jones, Chester McGlockton, Wendy Palmer, Jimmy Raye and Miles Wolff. The members will be enshrined during the annual induction banquet on May 2 in Greensboro.
Oxford family’s home wins ABC’s ‘Great Christmas Light Fight’
ABC’s holiday decorating competition series “The Great Christmas Light Fight” picked a family in Oxford from three other families from across the country to win the episode’s $50,000 prize. “In our community, we don’t have a place where people can go see lights so I decided I wanted to do something, and every year, I get a little bit bigger and bigger and bigger,” Yvonne Campbell told the show’s judge, Carter Oosterhouse. Episode 1 of Season 12 for the series is available to stream on Hulu.
Highlands among ‘Best Places to Go in the US in 2025’
Highlands is included in Condé Nast Traveler’s "Best Places to Go in the US in 2025."
The article noted, in part, “The North Carolina town of Highlands [celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025] strikes the perfect balance: a mountain-town escape with the surprising cosmopolitan edge of a mini Aspen. Here, horseback riding, hiking, and fly-fishing coexist with a vibrant arts scene, stylish hotels, and fantastic dining—all wrapped up in postcard views and teeming with a come-as-you-are attitude.”
Asheville among ‘Top 12 Destinations For 2025’
Forbes Travel Guide included Asheville among its “Top 12 Destinations for 2025.” Of the inclusion, the article noted, “Most of downtown Asheville is open for business, including shops, restaurants, galleries and art studios. Tourists can also enjoy the mountain town’s bountiful breweries, including Highland Brewing Company and Archetype Brewing. Asheville’s most famous attraction, the 8,000-acre, castle-like Biltmore Estate, and its Four-Star inn are welcoming visitors.”
Passages
Sarah Davis – Sarah Davis, of Marion, died Dec. 12 at age 71. She, along with her husband, Ronnie “Stump” Davis, was the owner and operator of Linville Caverns in Marion. The site has been in her family since 1941. Information on memorials wasn’t announced.
Tim Mabe - Tim Mabe died Nov. 3 in Clemmons. Mabe served as president and CEO of the High Point CVB from 2011-2018 before he retired.Prior to coming to High Point, Mabe managed convention centers and arenas in Georgia and Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fellowship Baptist Church (1084 Rainbow Rd., Advance, NC 27006).
Harold ‘Catman’ Sims – Dr. Harold “Catman” Walter Sims Jr, of Sylva. died Nov. 17 at age 89. After collecting cat art and memorabilia for more than 30 years, Sims set out to create The American Museum of the House Cat, which opened in 2017 in Sylva. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the two organizations Sims founded: The American Museum of the House Cat (5063 US Hwy 441 S, Sylva, NC 28779) and the Catman2 Shelter (PO Box 2344, Cullowhee, NC 28723).
For the week of Dec.19, "North Carolina Weekend” celebrates “The Holiday Season.” Featured segments include Speedway Christmas at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord; Callahan’s of Calabash in Calabash; Mitchell’s Nursery & Greenhouse in King; The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival in Kinston; and the NC Chinese Lantern Festival n Cary. (Check local listings, as
segments are subject to change.) "North Carolina Weekend" is underwritten by Visit North Carolina. In addition, PBS North Carolina has recent editions of "North Carolina Weekend" available online.
Visit North Carolina is part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
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