Hurricane Irene may have left the coast of North Carolina, but her effects on tourism are still being felt. North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue has asked the federal government to declare seven North Carolina coastal counties as Federal Disaster Areas. State transportation engineers were studying N.C. Highway 12 on Monday to determine whether Hurricane Irene’s storm surge breached the vital link along the Outer Banks in a third area, Gov. Beverly Perdue said in a news conference. The Cape Hatteras and Outer Banks areas received unexpected damage.
While business owners up and down the North Carolina Coastal areas are putting their best foot forward and hoping to attract the more than 250,000 Labor Day Weekend tourists, officials associated with the Western North Carolina and High Country tourism industry are reminding everyone of alternative plans for their end of summer celebration.
Wright Tilley, Executive Director for the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority and the Boone Tourism Development Authority detailed just a few of the reasons why Boone NC Things To Do is a great way to spend your Labor Day Weekend 2012.
The Boone Bike Rally will be held September 2 & 3 at the High Country Fairgrounds. This event will feature bikes, biker games and bands including Molly Hatchet on Saturday night, Sept. 3rd at 8pm.
Friday, September 2nd features our monthly Downtown Boone Arts Crawl. Shop, mingle and meet local artists from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at our shops and galleries and stay late for live music, food and drinks at one of our many fine restaurants. For details on many of the Boone NC Restaurants, visit High Country Dining before making our weekend dining choices.
The Watauga County Farmers Market will be open on Saturday the 3rd from 8:00 a.m. until Noon. This historical farmers market is located on the grounds of Horn In The West. After taking advantage of the mountain grown fruits and vegetables, stroll back through time and visit the Heritage Museum just a few steps from the Market. Experience the era when settlers including Daniel Boone first came to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Also on Saturday, The Broyhill Inn is host to the High Country Beer Fest, the annual celebration of great craft beer from around the region and the world. Come sample craft beers, club beers, and delicious food in the beautiful high country of North Carolina. Educational seminars will cover all aspects of beer, brewing, and pairing food and beer. Tickets are for sale on-line and can also be purchased at the following two local locations in Boone: Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants and at Bulldog Beer and Wine. Tickets are $30 and will not be sold at the event, all sales are required prior the event.
These are just a few of the special Labor day weekend events going on that should help make your decision to spend the Labor Day weekend in the High County of NC. Of course there is always the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway, the camping, hiking, biking, white water rafting, golfing and so many other High Country Outdoors Things to Do in Boone, NC.
Kenny Griffin, Tourism Meteorologist for High Country Weather an Appnet tourism web site, is reporting a beautiful, clear and warm weekend ahead. With highs in the low 80’s and lows near 60, there is no better time to plan a trip to the Boone NC area” stated Griffin who continued by saying “chances of a stray thunderstorm are minimal at only round 30% throughout the weekend.”
Tilley best summarized his thought by saying "The best part of living in North Carolina is that our state is so diverse, a natural disaster like Hurricane Irene allows the tourism industry to remain relevant to the state’s economy. The North Carolina High Country, especially the Boone and Watauga areas are open and waiting to help make this Labor Day Weekend one your family will remember for a life time."
