Traveling In NC Over the Holiday

Travelers looking for a standout summer send-off can find it across North Carolina.  The state’s official travel website,  VisitNC.com, lists dozens of festive weekend events from the mountains to the coast, including the Mile High Kite Festival at Beech Mountain, the North Carolina Apple Festival in Hendersonville, the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival in Asheville and the Labor Day Music Extravaganza at Bald Head Island.  Charlotte’s big event, the Democratic National Convention, takes place Sept. 4-6.  The American Automobile Association predicts a 2.9 percent increase in Labor Day travel nationwide despite rising gas prices. U.S. Energy Information Administration figures show pump prices in the Lower Atlantic region averaging $3.71 per gallon compared with $3.66 over Labor Day 2011. Even compared with summer 2012’s lowest average price of $3.26, the extra cost at the pump should have little effect on North Carolina travel.  Lynn Minges, the N.C. Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary of Tourism said, “In our experience, visitors weigh the extra $20 or $25 they’ll spend at the pump against the overall cost of the trip and conclude that North Carolina is a value destination.”   Year-to-date reports indicate continued growth for North Carolina tourism after 2011’s record $18.4 billion in spending.