NORTH CAROLINA THE OFFICIAL 2016 TRAVEL GUIDE

INSPIRATION TAKES FLIGHT Celebrating 100 Years of NC State Parks MOTORSPORTS The country’s premier racing destination will definitely rev up the excitement level.

A. Hstory of Short Track Racing Motorsports didn’t always involve going in circles. Early practitioners transported liquor on back roads during Prohibition, using “stock” cars to blend in and souped-up engines to outrun authorities. Between runs, drivers competed for bragging rights in dirt fields. A sport was born. Professionals still launch careers on dirt or paved short tracks such as Hickory Motor Speedway, called The Birthplace of NASCAR Stars, where the mindset remains: Go fast. Turn left. Try not to crash.

B. Hstoric Site To racing fans, is The King. The family compound in Randleman features the preserved Petty-Toomes Homestead. Plymouths, , Pontiacs and were prepped at Petty’s Garage for 10 NASCAR championships, 250 race wins and countless starts. The Petty Museum, which honors four generations of the legendary racing family including Lee, Richard, Maurice, Kyle and , holds cars, trophies and photos tracing success on dirt tracks and super speedways.

C. Kannapolis Area Racing Attractions Like cars racing in a pack, motorsports attractions crowd the D C Kannapolis area: racetracks, museums, tours, collections, driving schools, art galleries, racers’ home shops and more. The Dale Trail, named for Kannapolis native and seven-time NASCAR champion , connects landmarks including his childhood neighborhood; a statue of The Intimidator in Dale Earnhardt Plaza; Curb Motorsports Museum, showcasing cars he drove; and his granite-and-glass “Garage Majal” complex, home of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. in Mooresville.

D. Museum He was an OK driver, but as a team owner, Richard Childress really excels. His 17-year alliance with Dale Earnhardt driving the No. 3 car, is one of ’ best partnerships ever. The RCR Museum in Lexington, on a campus where engines for several active teams are fine-tuned for race days, recounts victories with many drivers at all levels. Not bad for a guy who began his career selling peanuts at a local short track.

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50 2014 North Carolina Travel Guide North Carolina is the heart of the racing world, so plan to make a pit stop where motorsports are king.

E. Busco Beach & ATV Park Count on riding hard and getting dirty at this recreational facility on 2,000 acres near Goldsboro. Home to all-terrain- vehicle action, it sports mud pits, mud holes, mud races, motocross tracks and drag-racing strips where ATV and dirt bike riders enjoy revved up fun. There’s a lake for rinsing off all that dirt-slinging excitement, a beach for drying in the sun and an RV campground for cookouts, bonfires and after-riding socializing. G. Smack dab in the heart of NASCAR country with racing teams F. headquartered all around, this 93,000-seat facility hosts A don’t-miss for NASCAR fans – especially those who favor major NASCAR events – including the Sprint All-Star Race, Chevys – Hendrick Motorsports Museum & Team Store Coca-Cola 600 and Bank of America 500 – on the 1.5-mile showcases decades of racing champions and their cars. superspeedway, plus AutoFairs, stock car driving experiences Located in Concord, the Hendrick race shops are home and even track tours. The Dirt Track, a .4-mile clay oval track, to drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Kasey is the annual home of the World of Outlaws World Finals; and Kahne. Drop by for a behind-the-scenes look at the zMax Dragway, the world’s only four-lane, all-concrete drag state-of-the-art technology used to prepare these cars strip, hosts two NHRA international events each year. for each race. H. Wheels Through Time Museum Finding 300-plus vintage motorcycles in one place – most in working order, many fired up daily – will make any motorsports fan slam on the brakes. Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley preserves and showcases rare The zMax Dragway is motorcycles dating to the early 1900s, a collection like also located at Charlotte no other of classic Harley-Davidsons, Indians, Excelsiors, Motor Speedway. Crockers, Hendersons, Flying Merkels and other brands. It also collects tools, photos and other materials that capture the cultural history of motorcycling in America.

I. Rockingham Dragway High-powered racers blast as fast as possible in a straight line for a few thrilling seconds at this quarter-mile strip in Rockingham. The dragway hosts speed-obsessed spectacles such as the International Hot Rod Association Pro-Am Series, the American Drag Racing League’s Dragstock Series and the All-Harley Drag Racing Association Series, plus car shows, bike rallies, racing schools, swap meets and monster rock concerts. Nearly every weekend, The Rock roars.

Find More Discover more at visitnc. ONLINE com/motorsports-racing. VISITNC.COM 1-800-VISIT NC The Official North Carolina Travel Guide is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. for VISIT NORTH CAROLINA, THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA’S OFFICIAL TOURISM OFFICE Executive Director Wit Tuttell Director of Tourism Marketing Mark Shore Tourism Marketing Manager Kathy Prickett Marketing Specialist Dana Grimstead

JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS INC. VP/Travel Publishing Susan Chappell Travel Project Manager Jill Wyatt Contributing Writers Lynne Brandon Jason Frye Jessia Mozo Joe Rada Art Director Laura Gallagher Senior Graphic Designers Michael Betts Vikki Williams Color Imaging Technician Alison Hunter Photography Kevin Adams Jeff Adkins Ken Blevins Chip Henderson Ray Matthews Steven McBride Brian McCord Jeffrey S. Otto Bill Russ VP/Sales Maryann Stafford Executive Integrated Deshaun Goodrich Media Manager Senior Integrated Media Manager Will Zanetis

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Listing information in this guide was obtained directly from Visit NC’s central database and should not be construed as a recommendation or endorsement by Journal Communications, Visit NC or the State of North Carolina. For advertising information, questions or comments about the guide, contact Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080, [email protected] ©Copyright 2015 Journal Communications Inc. All rights reserved.

For additional travel information, contact: + Visit North Carolina 15000 Weston Pkwy., Cary, NC 27513 Phone: (919) 447-7801, (800) VISIT NC (847-4862) Fax: (919) 733-8582 Website: visitnc.com 525,000 copies 12/15. Not printed at government expense. This guide is printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper from a mill that supports all credible forest-certification programs. Cover photos: Mt. Mitchell State Park photo by Steven McBride Jockey’s Ridge photo by Ray Matthews Photo Credits Page 7 Musician: Steven Paul - Whitsitt Photography Page 9 North Carolina Museum of Art: North Carolina Museum of Art Page 16 Venus Fly Trap: istockphoto.com/hayatikayhan Page 18 Grandfather Mountain: Grandfather Mountain Page 19 Sailboats: NC Division of Parks & Recreation, Kayakers: NC Division of Parks & Recreation, Alligator: Brian Lasenby/Shutterstock.com Page 20 Chef Vivian Howard: Rex Miller Page 22 Chef Andrea Reusing: Lissa Gotwals Page 32 Pirates: Maryna Kulchytska/Shutterstock.com, Arrowhead Inn: Matthew Lovette Page 36 Inn on Biltmore Estate: Biltmore Company Page 37 Raffaldini Vineyards: Raffaldini Vineyards Page 38 Emerald: istockphoto.com/ NagyDodo Page 39 Lake Gaston: Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce and VC Page 40 Singletree Lodge: Johannah H. Stern; Boat-in camping: NC Division of Parks & Recreation Page 41 Grapes: istockphoto.com/Lezh Page 42 Krispy Kreme: Dave Mead Page 45 A Southern Season: A Southern Season Page 50 Merlefest: Dr. Gordon Burns Page 52 Mountains to Sea Trail: K. Greven