Moving toward the east, there are more great reasons to consider North Carolina’s abundant offerings for family fun when planning getaways and vacations.

11. Mountains to Sea Trail

From the very top of Clingman’s Dome near the Tennessee border to the sand dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the strand of the Outer Banks, North Carolina’s 925-mile long Mountains-to-Sea Trail offers an adventurous way to explore the state’s natural treasures and human wonders. This is an adventure a visitor can embrace in small chunks or in an extended all at once while experiencing the best of NC’s towns and cities, rural agritourism initiatives and natural preserves.

12. Waldensian Valdese

The rich history of the Waldensian sect is preserved in beautiful Valdese, NC in the foothills between Morganton and Hickory. With a world famous winery, a summer festival and outdoor drama, the finest Bocce Ball clay court anywhere and one of the best regional musical venues anywhere, Valdese is a fun and educational stop along the way for anyone wanting to experience some of the best of North Carolina’s homespun heritage.

13. NC’s Arts and Agriculture Trails

In a unique alliance between the North Carolina Arts Council and the NC Cooperative Extension Service, a total of 16 different, well-planned “Arts and Agriculture Trails” have been mapped out for a project called Homegrown Handmade. These trails meander through foothills, across the piedmont and around the coastal regions, allowing visitors to visit wineries, organic farms and dairies, art studios and sidewalk cafes in charming little towns.

14. Cosmopolitan Charlotte and the Sporting Life

From bustling Lake Norman and its posh golf courses and sailboat regattas through the home of NASCAR in “Race City USA” Mooresville, tothe Bank of America Stadium uptown to see NC’s Panthers play professional football, the Charlotte area boasts some of the finest sports tourism opportunities available anywhere. And while you’re there, do check out the busy Charlotte nightlife at famous regional brewhouses and musical venues offering a variety of musicians and styles.

15. Pinehurst – Home of American Golf

Farther to the east between Charlotte and Fayetteville in the rolling Sandhill region, Pinehurst offers golfers the largest collection of Donald Ross golf courses anywhere, and enjoys the distinction of being the “Home of American Golf.” In addition to 10 of the top 20 NC golf courses, the area’s resorts also offer world class tennis courts, spa facilities, exquisite dining and luxurious accommodations. While golf is a regular way of life here, there are also arts, history, botanical gardens, festivals and unique shopping on the smorgasbord of offerings.

Posts to This Series:
Part 1: Reasons 1 – 5
Part 2: Reasons 6 – 10
Part 3: Reasons 11 – 15
Part 4: Reasons 16 – 25

In the Raleigh area you could get tickets for the North Carolina Symphony New Year’s Eve Extravaganza Package. To include a pre-concert cocktail party at 5 o.m. at the Sheraton Capital Center in downtown Raleigh, the 7:30 p.m. concert, and a post concert dinner and dancing fest back at the Sheraton offering a four-course dinner and big band music from Leon Jordan’s Continentals. There will of course be plenty of champagne at midnight too.

Music Director Grant Llewellyn hosts special guests mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy and the Red Clay ramblers’ mix of Irish and French folk tunes, classical favorites and bluegrass-rock fusions.

If you’re in the Raleigh area and you’d like to make other plans, check out the offerings at The Twisted Fork, or at Michael Dean’s, Bogart’s, Hi5, or the Red Room. In Fayetteville check out the planned festivities at the Mash House Restaurant & Brewery. Make your reservations now!

ClubZone offers a rundown of New Year’s events in Charlotte, for which you can pre-purchase tickets on line so they’ll be ready to give for Christmas gifts.

You could make plans to be in Mt. Olive for the Annual New Year’s Pickle Drop, or in Clay’s Corner (Possum Capitol of the World) for the midnight Lowering of the Possum. There’s a fairly complete list of events all over North Carolina at the Carolina Connoisseur website.

North Carolina’s ski resorts are planning some fun New Year’s festivities as well. Appalachian Ski Mountain near Blowing Rock offers fireworks, a torchlight parade, night skiing until 11:30 p.m., moonlight ice skating until midnight, and breakfast in the restaurant from 9 p.m. to midnight.

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort near Banner Elk plans a Mountain Style celebration to which the public is invited free of charge. There will be a torchlight parade and fireworks at midnight. Reservations will be required for indoor festivities, so call quick!

Links:

North Carolina Symphony

ClubZone: Charlotte

Mt. Olive Pickle Drop

Lowering of the Possum

Carolina Connoisseur

Appalachian Ski Mountain

Sugar Mountain Ski Resort