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NC Green Travel Promotes Sustainable Tourism

Raleigh, N.C. - Experience the state’s serene beauty this summer with the Center for Sustainable Tourism at East Carolina University and the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development’s list of 10 green travel tips. These tips and green travel locations throughout the state help visitors enjoy the natural and scenic beauty of North Carolina while preserving it for the future.

“NC green travel is an opportunity for visitors to slow down, open their eyes and view the places they visit not only as an attraction, but as someone’s home,” said Alex Naar, Outreach Coordinator for ECU’s Center for Sustainable Tourism. “If visitors follow these tips, they have the opportunity to leave these beautiful parts of our state even better than they found it.”

NC Green Travel Tips

1. North Carolina has a number of breathtaking and easily reached natural areas. By staying on designated trails and roads you help protect these areas by preventing erosion and keeping sensitive plants and ecosystems from being trampled.

Mountains: Enjoy the Biltmore Campus Trail or Forest Festival Trail at the birthplace of forest conservation, the Cradle of Forestry near Brevard. www.cradleofforestry.com
Piedmont: Stroll the miles of hiking trails, mountain biking trails and birding sites in the Little River Regional Park. www.enoriver.org/eno/parks/littleriverpark.html
Coast: Cross the 300-foot boardwalk and walk the 16.7 miles of trail at the Dismal Swamp State Park. www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/disw/main.php

2. North Carolina’s vibrant panoramas make it an ideal destination to enjoy by car on the many scenic byways, and you can save gas, reduce air pollution and protect wildlife by respecting designated speed limits on your trip.

Mountains: Feel the cool air blowing through your hair as you climb up the Cherohala Skyway, a scenic byway along NC Highway 143 near Robbinsville. www.cherohala.com
Piedmont: Drive through some of oldest mountains in North America on the Hanging Rock Scenic Byway near Mount Airy. www.byways.org/explore/byways/11582/
Coast: Drive carefully over the sand as you explore the beaches and sound-side waters of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (www.nps.gov/caha/) in the Outer Banks. (Journey through the rich Civil War history and beautiful landscapes along the Blue-Gray Scenic Byway near Kinston. www.byways.org/explore/byways/12843/)

3. The diversity of nature makes North Carolina an interesting place for people and pets. By keeping pets on a leash and under control you can help protect both other visitors and wildlife. And remembering to bring a plastic bag for pet waste can help keep streams and creeks cleaner.

Mountains: When you stop by the scenic Dry Falls in Nantahala National Forest.
Piedmont: As you stroll along a converted railroad line on the American Tobacco Trail near Durham. www.triangletrails.org/ATT.HTM
Coast: When you visit the dog-friendly Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge in Hyde County, where more than 200 species of birds call home. www.fws.gov/mattamuskeet

4. When you support local artists and craftsmen by purchasing locally made handicrafts and products, you help preserve North Carolina’s rich cultural heritage and help sustain the next generation of local artist.

Mountains: Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, Inc. in Cherokee is one of the oldest and leading Native American Arts cooperative in the United States. www.cherokee-nc.com/index.php?page=28
Piedmont: North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove is a showcase of North Carolina’s remarkable history and ongoing tradition of pottery making. www.ncpotterycenter.com
Coast: The Arts Center at the Imperial Center in Rocky Mount is set in a renovated historic tobacco company complex that spans an entire downtown city block. www.imperialcentre.org

5. Supporting local agriculture is one of the best ways to enjoy the rich flavors of North Carolina, while reducing the distance food has to travel and supporting local farmers.

Mountains: The Western NC Farmers Market in Asheville is where local chefs go to find their secret ingredients while enjoying the beautiful views and character of the southern Appalachian mountains. www.wncfarmersmarket.org
Piedmont: The State Farmer’s Market in Raleigh offers more than 300 fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, wines and gift products from across the state. www.ncagr.gov/markets/facilities/markets/raleigh/index.htm
Coast: Elizabeth City Downtown Waterfront Market is a weekly celebration of local foods, crafts and activities along the riverfront of this coastal North Carolina town. www.downtownwaterfrontmarket.com

6. While enjoying our many historic downtowns, you can help keep things clean by making sure you put all trash in waste bins. Many towns and business offer recycling for visitors, so if you can’t find a recycling bin, ask for one.

Mountains: Enjoy ice cream and car shows along the streets of downtown Hendersonville in the heart of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. www.historichendersonville.org
Piedmont: Catch a baseball game, go to live performances or enjoy the shade under the trees in a park at the American Tobacco District in Durham. www.americantobaccohistoricdistrict.com
Coast: Step into the past at Historic Halifax, the site of the first official action by a colony calling for independence from Great Britain. www.visithalifax.com

7. There is a lot of North Carolina that can only be seen using non-motorized forms of transportation. Traveling that way helps reduce air and noise pollution.

Mountains: Walk the 25 miles of carriage trails at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park and Flat Top Manor along the Blue Ridge Parkway. www.blowingrock.org/mosescone.html
Piedmont: Paddle in a rented paddle boat or walk the trails at Guilford-Mackintosh Marina near Burlington, where you can try your luck at two bank-fishing areas. www.burlingtonnc.gov/index.asp?NID=240
Coast: Paddle and camp on one of the many camping platforms along the 200-mile Roanoke River Paddle Trail, home to bald eagles, ospreys and more. www.roanokeriverpartners.org

8. North Carolina’s rich history has given the state a number of historic sites and artifacts, and you can reduce impact on the sites by following all posted signs and not touching or removing objects.

Mountains: Brush up on your gem knowledge and hit the mines at the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum. fgmm.org
Piedmont: Search for gold at the Reed Gold Mine near Concord, the site of the first documented gold find in the United States. www.reedmine.com
Coast: See what life was like for early settlers of eastern North Carolina at the Newbold-White House in Hertford, the oldest brick house in North Carolina. www.newboldwhitehouse.com

9. To help reduce noise and impact, try traveling in small groups and be respectful of other visitors.

Mountains: Dip into the cool waters at Sliding Rock, Pisgah National Forest a naturally occurring 60-foot waterslide. www.romanticasheville.com/sliding_rock.htm
Piedmont: Walk along secluded wilderness trails, historic mill sites, and river bluffs at Eno River State Park. www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/main.php
Coast: Explore North Carolina’s rich history with the sea at the N.C. Maritime Museum, featuring artifacts recovered from the shipwreck believed to be Blackbeard’s flagship. www.ncmaritime.org/

10. The rich environment of North Carolina makes it a great place to see a wide range of wildlife. Help protect these animals by viewing wildlife from a distance, not feeding any wild animal and never following or harassing wildlife.

Mountains: Mount Mitchell State Park, the highest point in the eastern United States, is home to peregrine falcons, flying squirrels and black bears. www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/momi/main.php
Piedmont: Crowders Mountain State Park is a place where many chipmunks, gray foxes, and salamanders call home. www.crowdersmountain.com
Coast: From a distance, watch the wild horses roam at Shackelford Banks in Carteret County or Corolla in Currituck County. www.visitcurrituck.com (The smooth, dark waters of the millpond at Merchants Millpond State Park is home to species of primitive fish.)

Tourism remains one of the state’s most vital industries. The economic activity and employment generated by tourism spans various economic sectors. Annually, visitors to North Carolina spend more than $16 billion, generating more than 190,000 jobs for North Carolinians. State and local tax revenues, as a result of the visitor spending, totaled more than $1.3 billion in 2007.

The North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development unifies and leads the state in developing North Carolina as a major destination for leisure travel, group tours, meetings and conventions, sports events, film production and grape and wine industry growth. The Division develops and executes effective marketing programs to accomplish these goals for the benefit of the travel, film, sports and wine industries; the economy; and the citizens of North Carolina.

East Carolina University’s Center for Sustainable Tourism is dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism throughout North Carolina and the nation through innovation in graduate education, leadership development, community consultation, and collaborative research. Devoted to implementing sustainable practices in business operations, public policies, and personal travel behaviors, the Center offers solutions to challenges facing the tourism industry and destination communities as they balance economic viability with socio-cultural and environmental enhancement and equity. Sustainable tourism outreach is provided through a partnership between ECU’s Office Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development and the Center for Sustainable Tourism at ECU.

Natural scenic beauty, adventure and relaxation, a dining experience for every taste, rich history and warm Southern hospitality come together in North Carolina. Call 1-800-VISIT NC or go to VisitNC.com to plan your next getaway.

Contact:
Alex Naar
ECU’s Center for Sustainable Tourism
252-737-1346
naara@ECU.edu

Wit Tuttell
North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development
919-733-7420
wit@visitNC.com