The NC Weekend Warrior:Golfer's Delight

Looking for something to do this weekend? Every Thursday, the Visit North Carolina Blog will be taking a quick look at things to do around the state to help you plan your adventure. For even more events and happenings around North Carolina, go to VisitNC and click on 'events'.

Where the Pros Play

Imagine being able to see 10 of the world's top 14 professional golfers... all in one place! Well, this weekend that place is Charlotte, NC at the Quail Hollow Championship. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and a host of other golf greats will be vying for shares of the 6.5 million dollar purse.

The tournament is now in its seventh year and is already considered one of the top events on the PGA Tour. Past winners have included Woods, Anthony Kim, Jim Furyk, and Vijay Singh.

The tournament is being held at the Quail Hollow Club in South Charlotte, and while there is no parking at the Club, shuttles are available from various locations around the city.

Food Friendly Festivals

Elswhere around North Carolina, it seems this weekend is all about food. For your entree, we've got Barbecue in Kinston and Hams & Yams in Smithfield on the menu. There are Spring Herbs to spice up your day in Asheville, a wine and art festival in North Wilkesboro, and for dessert... there's the family-friendly Strawberry Festival in Chadbourn. Bon Appetit!

Batter Up!

It's a big weekend of baseball across the state, as six of North Carolina's ten minor league teams are homestanding all weekend. The Carolina Mudcats, Charlotte Knights, Durham Bulls, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Hickory Crawdads and Kannapolis Intimidators are all playing at home on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Meanwhile, the Asheville Tourists have one game at home on Friday night before hitting the road for the rest of the weekend.

Weather

It looks like another weekend with mostly pleasant weather across North Carolina. Highs will be in the 70s across the mountains, with temperatures at or above 80 in Charlotte and points eastward and 70s right along the coast. There's a small chance of pop-up thunderstorms on both Saturday and Sunday across the state.

Enjoy your weekend. Get out and play!

Greensboro to Host Figure Skating Championships

U.S. Figure Skating has announced the selection of Greensboro, NC, as the host city for the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Jan. 22-30, 2011. The event, held annually since 1914, is the nation’s most prestigious figure skating event. Over the course of a week 12 national champions will be crowned in ladies, men’s, pairs and ice dancing on the senior, junior and novice levels.

“This is the first time the U.S. Championships have taken place in North Carolina,” said U.S. Figure Skating executive director David Raith. “We’re very excited about the opportunity to bring this event to the fans of figure skating in Greensboro and throughout the state.”

Governor Beverly Perdue welcomed the selection.

“North Carolina will be a fantastic location for the 2011 U.S. Championships,” Perdue said. “We have a proven track record of (hosting) successful major events, and we have great facilities and wonderful volunteers.”

Paul Wylie, the 1992 Olympic silver medalist and five-time U.S. medalist who resides in Charlotte and coaches at the Carolinas Figure Skating Club, sees North Carolina’s selection as a defining moment for the state.

“The state of North Carolina has never hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships,” Wylie said. “We have been growing in terms of new ice facilities and having more participants in the sport. With figure skating’s premier event coming to the state in less than two years, I expect the growth in figure skating in North Carolina to be tremendous.”

The seven-day event is expected to attract approximately 1,500 figure skaters, coaches and officials. Details are available at www.NorthCarolina2011.com.

No Snow, No Problem at Sugar Mountain

Winter has turned to spring in North Carolina's mountains, and the snow is gone for the season. But that doesn't mean the fun is over at the Sugar Mountain Resort.

This Friday, May 1, Sugar Mountain will open its hiking and biking trails for the season. Miles of hiking and biking trails intertwine throughout the Village of Sugar Mountain and are accessible from points throughout the village and the resort. Daily trail access is free of charge May through October from dawn until dusk. Trail maps are available online here, in a mailbox located at the base of Sugar Mountain's Flying Mile slope, or when purchasing a lift ride ticket at the bottom of the Gray lift station.

Beginning in July, scenic chair lift rides will also be available Saturdays and Sundays through September 6. Ticket prices are $10 for a one-time 45-minute round trip ride and $22 for an all-day ticket. For mountain bikers, special hooks mounted on the back of the Gray lift-chairs carry bikes to the top of Sugar Mountain.

The resorts 'summer season' ends October 10-11 with a big, two-day Oktoberfest celebration.

Bennett Place - Correcting History's Omissions

Most school kids are taught, and most people believe, that the Civil War ended when General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

As it turned out, that famous battle and the ultimate surrender definitely marked the beginning of the end of the War Between The States. But if it weren't for another surrender fifteen days later at NC's Bennett Place in Durham, the war may have dragged on months, maybe years.

At the time, tens of thousands of southern troops were still in the field from North Carolina to Texas, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis was on the run - but had not given up. There was a very real possibility of a southern insurgency.

But on April 26th, 1865, two war-weary generals met at a hardscrabble farm in present-day Durham, North Carolina and agreed upon terms for the largest troop surrender of the war. General Joseph E. Johnston's surrender to William T. Sherman ended the war for 80,000 Confederates serving in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. In his best-selling book April 1865: The Month that Saved America, historian Jay Winik argues it was this surrender that ensured peace and national unity.

Yesterday, the Raleigh News & Observer reports that several hundred people marked the 144th anniversary of that surrender, as Bennett Place's caretakers are trying to secure its proper place in history. As one lecturer put it, this is the spot where Sherman and Johnston could have chosen to fight on, but agreed to end the war in favor of unity.

BREAKING NEWS: Tiger is Coming!

The number one professional golfer in the world is coming back to Charlotte next week.

Just before today's commitment deadline, Tiger Woods signed onto the field at the PGA Quail Hollow Championship, which runs all next week on the south Charlotte course. It will be Woods' fourth time in the tournament.

The addition of Woods puts this year's field among the tops in the tournament's seven years. Along with Woods, number 2-ranked Phil Mickelson and number 3 Sergio Garcia will also be competing. All told, ten of the top 14 ranked golfers will be playing next week at the Quail Hollow Championship.

According to the Charlotte Observer, Woods will likely arrive in Charlotte on Tuesday, and play in Wednesday's pro-am event.

Fayetteville To Honor Soliders, Veterans in May

As the country’s First Sanctuary Community For Soldiers, the community of Fayetteville, North Carolina is dedicating the entire month of May to honor soldiers, vets and their families who have put it all on the line to defend our country. During a reception to open the United We Stand Art Exhibition today, Mayor Anthony Chavonne will officially unveil 31 Days of Glory, a new series of events for anyone who wants to experience the area’s military heritage and honor our brethren in the services – past and present.

Through the efforts of more than ten community organizations, activities are planned for every single day of the month. Venues around the county will host events, ranging from Chester Biggs discussing his years in China as a POW to family-friendly hands-on activities like creating Blue Star Banners for wartime military families to re-enactments of different time periods and demonstrations using Civil War ammunition. A number of concerts, author readings, parades and art exhibits will also be staged throughout the area.

“While everyone else celebrates Memorial Day, we devote an entire month to thank the military, vets and their families,” says Chavonne. “We invite the world to do what we do every day – show our enthusiastic appreciation, respect and support for those who have and are putting it all on the line for us.”

Intended to be an annual event, 31 Days of Glory is the result of the collective vision of the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, USO North Carolina, Fascinate-U Children’s Museum, Museum of the Cape Fear, Fayetteville Downtown Alliance, Fayetteville Symphony, Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center, Fayetteville Museum of Art, Airborne & Special Operations Museum, Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial, The Arts Council, Fort Bragg MWR, Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum, Cape Fear Botanical Gardens and J.E.B. Stuart Chapter 483.

For all events, dates and times visit www.31daysofglory.com.

The NC Weekend Warrior:Songs & Stories

Looking for something to do this weekend? Every Thursday, the Visit North Carolina Blog will be taking a quick look at things to do around the state to help you plan your adventure. For even more events and happenings around North Carolina, go to VisitNC and click on 'events'.

Sweet Songs & Tall Tales

NC Native Tift Merritt is among the artists performing this weekend at Merlefest, the popular music festival held annually at Wilkesboro Community College. Other notables among the nearly 100 artists performing include Doc Watson, Sam Bush, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Donna the Buffalo, Emmylou Harris, Travis Tritt, and Linda Ronstadt featuring Los Camperos de Nati Cano.

As in previous years, the list of performers fits the "traditional plus" definition offered by Doc Watson when describing the musical diversity that is a trademark of the event. Sounds of bluegrass, Americana, gospel, blues, folk, Celtic, Cajun and mariachi music will fill the air. The gates open today at 2:30 p.m. and at 9 a.m. on Friday through Sunday.

If the Southern storytelling is more your cup of sweet tea, you should head over to Laurinburg for the Storytelling Festival of Carolina. The festival features some of the country's best tale tellers and yarn spinners to make you laugh and sing and clap your hands. The festival begins tomorrow in Scotland County (south of Fayetteville) and continues through Sunday.

Pickles and Ponies and Planes... Oh, my!

It's another big weekend of events and fun throughout the state. Out on the coast, Washington County is bringing its history to life, including a re-enactment of the Civil War's Battle of Plymouth featuring a replica of the ironclad CSS Albemarle.

A little further west, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro will be hosting the Wings Over Wayne Air Show, featuring the Navy's ever-popular Blue Angels. In nearby Mount Olive, all things pickle will be celebrated at the family-friendly NC Pickle Festival. Over in Mineral Springs (just south of Charlotte) the annual Queen's Cup Steeplechase has become a springtime tradition, bringing Old Southern Style together with thoroughbred horse racing.

The Cure For Football Fever

Every good football fan knows that the NFL Draft is this weekend, but if watching teams try to find talent for next season isn't enough to satisfy your need for gridiron action, the American Indoor Football Association's Fayetteville Guard has a home game this Saturday against the Columbus Lions.

Meanwhile, there's baseball action all over the state this weekend. The Carolina Mudcats, Greensboro Grasshoppers, and Kannapolis Intimidators are home Friday night, the Asheville Tourists are home Saturday and Sunday, and the Hickory Crawdads, Kinston Indians, and Winston-Salem Dash home all weekend!

And, the Carolina Hurricanes continue their quest for the Stanley Cup in Game 6 of their playoff series Sunday against the New Jersey Devils at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

Picture Perfect Weather

The forecast this weekend is for the kind of weather NC is famous for: sunny skies all weekend long, highs in the upper 70's in the mountains and on the coast, and low-to-mid 80's through most of the Piedmont.

Enjoy your weekend! Get out and play!

Beech Mountain To Host Bike Time Trials

In the spring of 1998, Lance Armstrong came to Beech Mountain to train for the first of his seven-straight Tour de France victories. This spring, cycling aficionados can put themselves to the test on the same curvy mountain ascent that inspired Armstrong.

The first annual Beech Mountain “Beest” Cycling Time Trial Weekend is May 23-24. The event includes a host of activities for participants and their families, highlighted by Saturday’s time trial from Banner Elk up Hwy. 184 to the top of Beech Mountain.

The Beech Mountain Beest was created by David Klein of Charlotte, a 42-year-old cyclist who also owns Charlotte Health & Fitness Magazine.

“It is geared toward all avid cyclists,” Klein said. “We welcome racers, but it is not necessarily for racers. It’s for working guys like me who like to get out and stay athletic. We might not fly up the mountain, but we’ll get up there.”

Klein has put together a weekend agenda that includes a post-ride dinner & awards ceremony on Saturday evening at the new Beech Mountain Recreation Center, followed by several road rides and a variety of family activities on Sunday. Discount lodging is available for the weekend at several places on Beech Mountain.

“Endurance athletic events don’t always have a family component. We specifically designed this for families – spouses and children,” said Klein. “There are so many amenities on Beech Mountain for family members to enjoy. And for the cyclists, it’s pretty cool to be able to ride the same road that motivated Lance’s comeback.”

Registration fee is $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. The entry fee includes a goody bag, t-shirt and dinner. Awards will be presented to the top three finishers in each age group, male and female. All participants are entered into a drawing for door prizes.

Haw River Valley Becomes NC's Third AVA

Wine aficionados in North Carolina now have a new official wine-making region to explore.

This month, the Haw River Valley was officially designated an American Viticultural Area (AVA). An AVA is defined as a "delimited grape-growing region distinguishable by geographical features." Those features include climate, soil, topography and elevation that distinguish the viticultural region from its surrounding areas.

The new Haw River Valley AVA covers about 868 square miles (555,508 acres) and encompasses all of Alamance County as well as portions of Caswell, Chatham, Guilford, Orange, and Rockingham counties. Wineries in this AVA include Benjamin Vineyards & Winery (Saxapahaw), GlenMarie Vineyards & Winery (Burlington), Grove Winery & Vineyards (Gibsonville) Iron Gate Vineyards & Winery (Mebane), Silk Hope Winery (Silk Hope) and Wolfe Wines (Snow Camp). Also included more than ten other vineyards with more than 60 acres planted.

The Haw River Valley becomes North Carolina's third AVA, joining the Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek AVAs, both in the northwestern part of the state.

An Eco-Trip Down the Nolichucky

Looking for a great outdoors adventure with a purpose? The French Broad Riverkeeper will be paddling the entire 140-mile length of the Nolichucky River in May, and there's a variety of activities the public can take part in, including a camping trip, a film festival, and lessons at local schools.

Paddlin' the Nolichucky is a two-week monitoring, education and outreach trip, starting on the North Toe River in Spruce Pine and finishing at the mouth of the French Broad River. The trip is designed to monitor the water quality of the river, but also to educate the public about issues facing the river and to highlight the river as a world-class recreation destination.

It all begins on May 23 at Riverside Park in Spruce Pine at a kickoff event that will feature music, speakers, grilled food, a raffle, and boating on the North Toe River. You can bring your own boat or rent one from the park. You can also sign up for a two-day, two-night camping trip down 19 miles of the North Toe and Nolichucky rivers, from Spruce Pine to Loafers Glory. Everything is provided and reservations are required.

On May 26, the trip reaches the Nantahala Outdoor Center for a rafting/paddling/film festival on the banks of the Nolichucky. You can bring your own boat or jump in a raft for an exciting ride down class II-IV rapids. Movies will start at dusk and feature kayaking films from Rapid Transit Video. There will also be prizes provided by REI.

For more information about RiverLink and all the events of Paddlin' the Nolichucky, click here, or call 828-252-8474.

2010 Southern Conference Basketball Tourney Coming to Charlotte

The country's longest-running college basketball tournament is returning to Charlotte next year for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The Southern Conference announced that its 2010 men's and women's basketball tournament will move to Charlotte from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it had previously been scheduled. The first three days of the March 4-8 tournament will be held at the Bojangles Coliseum on Independence Boulevard, with the semifinals and finals held at the larger Time-Warner Cable Arena Uptown.

"We think this is a step that will help ensure the future growth of our basketball tournament," Southern Conference commissioner John Iamarino said. "The SoCon has not held a tournament in Charlotte since 1971 and we think it's a market that has tremendous potential for us."

The decision means Charlotte will host basketball tournaments in consecutive weeks next year. The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association will be played at Time Warner Cable Arena a week earlier.

The Conference says the move to a more centralized location will also lower travel costs for its schools. Five North Carolina schools are in the Southern Conference, including Elon, Davidson, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.

The NC Weekend Warrior:La Dolce Vita

Looking for something to do this weekend? Every Thursday, the Visit North Carolina Blog will be taking a quick look at things to do around the state to help you plan your adventure. For even more events and happenings around North Carolina, go to VisitNC and click on 'events'.

Bon Appetit in the Blue Ridge

Spring has sprung in the NC mountains, and that means that it's time for some fine food and wine up in Blowing Rock. The Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival kicks off its four-day run today, and includes winemaker dinners, seminars, cooking demonstrations, and wine tastings from several NC winemakers. Also in the mix is the Fire on the Rock Chef Challenge, in which eight of the area's top chefs compete in an "Iron Chef" style competition.

From Scots to Scalywags

There's an eclectic mix of other events and festivals stretched out across the state this weekend as well, including the Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games near Charlotte and the Yadkin Valley Bluegrass Convention in Yadkinville. You can celebrate spring in Robbins or old timey pirates in Greenville. And, if you're in the mood to sample some savory soup, head out to Carolina Beach for the Pleasure Island Chowder Cookoff!

Playoff Fever

The Carolina Hurricanes have already won one Stanley Cup (in 2005-06), and their quest for another has begun. Game Three in their best-of-seven series with the New Jersey Devils is sceduled for Sunday at 7:30 at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

Meanwhile, the Boys of Summer are just warming up, and this weekend's homestanding baseball teams are the Asheville Tourists, the Charlotte Knights, and the Kinston Indians.

Weather

Looks like another great weekend in North Carolina, with highs mostly in the 70s except for the high country, which will be in the 60s. Saturday will see sunny skies across NC, with Sunday a little more cloudy and a chance of scattered thunderstorms in the western half of the state.

NC State Parks Reservations to go Online Next Week

One week from today, it will be easier than ever to reserve campsites, vacation cabins, picnic shelters, community buildings and other facilities at North Carolina's 37 state parks and recreation areas. Starting April 22, you'll have the option of reserving those facilities online, by calling a toll-free number, or with an in-person visit to any state park office or visitor center.

In the past, most NC Parks facilities were reserved on a first come/first served basis, either by mail or by visiting the park of your choice in person. That meant that people leaving work on Friday for a weekend at a popular state park sometimes had trouble finding a campsite, especially during the most popular times of the year. The old system will continue for park visits prior to July 15.

The new system will allow visitors to reserve a campsite at most state parks for a visit of a single night or more. Available campsites, picnic shelters and other facilities can be reserved as quickly as 48 hours beforehand.

What this means is that you'll be able to bring up the state parks campgrounds online, go to your park of choice, click on the camping area, then examine it site by site. Need to be near the bathrooms? You can make that happen. Need a site with an RV hookup? You can do that, too. And, you can pay for your stay with a credit or debit card.

There will still be a few sites made available for walk-up registration, and the 14-day maximum stay remains in effect. For more details on the new system, click here.

Boardwalk Carnival for Carolina Beach?

According to the Wilmington Star-News, there's a movement afoot to construct a carnival-type atmosphere on Carolina Beach's boardwalk this summer.

The idea is the brainchild of local business owners and an amusement park operator from Florida. If approved by the town council, five parcels along Cape Fear Boulevard would be given conditional use permits for a "family-oriented carnival consisting of a series of large mechanical rides, kids' rides, funhouses and food stands." Included in the plan is a 60-foot Ferris wheel with a view of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Star-News reports if everything goes as planned, the attraction could be up and running by May 6. It's all part of a plan to bring back "the Carolina Beach of yesteryear". Local leaders have already announced a summer slate of activities on the boardwalk for six nights a week, including music shows, competitions, and other family activities.

A Ride on the Carolina Cobra

A couple of weeks ago, we told you about the new thrill ride at Carowinds, the Carolina Cobra.

Now, we can show it to you.

Enjoy!

Horse Play

Horse lovers, rejoice! April seems to be filled with equestrian events in North Carolina.

Last weekend, we had the Stoneybrook Steeplechase in Raeford. This weekend, the herd moves into Uptown Charlotte with the Charlotte Jumper Classic at the Time-Warner Cable Arena. The Classic is the premier equestrian event in the Carolinas and home to one of the richest grand prix events in the United States featuring ten classes of intense competition where some of the best riders in the world compete for $585,000 in overall prize money.

But even when the Classic ends, there are still two major steelplechase events in North Carolina in the weeks ahead. On April 18th, the Block House Steeplechase takes place in the heart of Carolina Horse Country in Tryon. Then, the Queen's Cup Steeplechase takes place April 25 in Mineral Springs, about a half-hour outside Charlotte.

Steeplechase events are quite a spectacle in NC, and it isn't all about the horses. Many people who attend these events dress up in their finest spring hats and wardrobe, and outdoor dining takes on a whole new sophistication as some tailgaters dress their picnic tables with fine china, glassware, tablecloths and elaborate centerpieces. It's a bit of Old South gentility taking center stage for the sport of kings.

But dressing up is not required, and an equal number of people come dressed casually to relax and enjoy the horse racing and the other events that come with it. At the Queen's Cup, for example, one of the more popular sideshows is a series of Jack Russell Terrier races held before the horses take their positions.

So, whether you're looking to view the majesty of horse racing, or just searching for an outdoors social event to celebrate spring, check out some of the horseplay going on in NC this month!

The NC Weekend Warrior:Spectacular Sunrises

Looking for something to do this weekend? Every Thursday, the Visit North Carolina Blog will be taking a quick look at things to do around the state to help you plan your adventure. For even more events and happenings around North Carolina, go to VisitNC and click on 'events'.

Easter Sunrises

It's Easter weekend, and for many people the highlight of an Easter Sunday is a sunrise service in a spectacular location. In North Carolina, we've got just the backdrop for whatever type of Easter experience you're looking for. Out on the Outer Banks' Hatteras Island, there are at least three places to see the sun rise over the Atlantic to celebrate Easter: in Rodanthe, at the beach behind the Chicamocomico Lifesaving Station at 6:20 a.m., at the Avon Pier in Avon at 6:30, and in Buxton near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, also at 6:30.

Of course, Easter is always an important day for Moravians in Old Salem, and the Easter Sunrise service at God's Acre has been a tradition here in Winston-Salem since the 1770s. At about 2 a.m., bands from the individual churches in Salem Congregation go throughout the city playing chorales to awaken people and remind all of the service. The musicians make their way back to Home Moravian Church where they gather and prepare to play for the Easter Sunrise Service. At 6:30 a.m. the presiding minister begins the first part of the Easter service in front of the church, then the congregation walks to God's Acre. After all have entered, the Band members come together again en masse and play Beethoven's "Creation Hymn" to begin the second part of the service. The Liturgy concludes as the sun rises over the graves of God's Acre.

A newer tradition in the mountains is the non-denominational service at Chimney Rock Park. It began as a small community gathering more than 50 years ago, but has grown to a celebration involving more than a thousand people from around the southeast. Also starting at 6:30, the highlight of the service is watching the sun rise over Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. Gates at the park will open from 5-6 a.m for the service, there is no admission charge, and guests are welcome to stay and enjoy the park for the day.

Horses, Hats, and Halifax

If you're not a "morning person", there are still plenty of other things to do this weekend in North Carolina. Fans of equestrian events need to climb onto their saddles and head to Charlotte, where the annual Charlotte Jumper Classic is being held all weekend at the Time-Warner Cable Arena. Up in Dillsboro, the quirky Easter Hat Parade takes place on Saturday, and the Halifax State Historic Site celebrates the 233rd anniversary of the Halifax Resolves on Sunday. The Resolves were signed April 12, 1776, and were the first official action by an entire colony recommending independence from Great Britian.

Diamond Days

In a sure sign that spring is here, Minor League Baseball returns to NC this weekend in a big way. Six of the state's ten teams are homestanding this weekend, including the Charlotte Knights, Durham Bulls, Greensboro Grasshoppers, Hickory Crawdads, Kannapolis Intimidators, and Kinston Indians.

Meanwhile, the boys of winter are wrapping up their regular seasons and heading for the playoffs. The NHL's Carolina Hurricanes play their regular-season home finale Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres at the RBC Center in Raleigh, while the Charlotte Checkers begin their quest for an ECHL title with two home playoff games versus the South Carolina Stingrays at the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail.

Weather

High temperatures look to be in the 60s and 70s across the board this weekend. There may be a few scattered showers across some of the eastern sections of the state on Saturday, but forecasters expect everyone to see sunny skies for your Easter Sunday. Perfect sunrise service weather.

Enjoy your weekend! Get out and play!

Maggie Valley & Waynesville Offer Deals"For Ladies Only"

If you're a woman looking to make a quick escape from your job, your stress, and your man, a couple of western North Carolina communities have an offer you may not be able to refuse. Maggie Valley and Waynesville have come up with a "Girlfriend Getaway" deal to lure the ladies into a weekend of fun in the mountains.

Participating accommodations in the two Haywood County towns, from quaint and cozy bed & breakfasts to rustic and private cabins to resorts and vacation rentals, will make sure your stay is the perfect getaway. Any group of three or more women will receive a “Spa Gift Bag” with two-night minimum stay. Valued at $115, the bag will include a pair of terry spa slippers for each guest, assorted lotions, bath salts, body wash, soy candle, a soothing sounds CD, plus a $20 gift card to a local wine cellar for a bottle of wine. Be sure to mention “Girlfriend Getaway” when booking with any participating accommodation.

Officials say Haywood County is the ideal place to go with the gal pals, since the area is loaded with shops, spas, galleries, and restaurants to enjoy. Those more interested in the great outdoors will find plenty of hiking, rafting and other opportunities... and Harrah's Cherokee Casino is nearby for those who want to see if Lady Luck is along for the trip as well.

“This is the perfect way and place to get away from it all,” said Lynn Collins, executive director of the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. “Spend time with friends, and rejuvenate yourself in this scenic, slow-paced setting. And the best part, groups of three or more women will receive a great gift bag to help set a relaxing mood, and they can also save with amazing offers from accommodations.”

Call 866.623.9468 or click here for more information about the “Girlfriend Getaway” promotion and all that Haywood County has to offer, including accommodations, attractions and restaurants.

Carolina Hoop-la

Well, the college basketball season came to its exciting conclusion last night, and the North Carolina Tar Heels claimed their fifth national title by beating the Michigan State Spartans 89-72. But the NCAA Championship not the only accolade that UNC has collected this season.

Recently, CNN teamed up with collegiate sports experts to determine the country's best college basketball towns... and right there, at the top of the list together, are Chapel Hill and Durham, which are home to the University of North Carolina and Duke University respectively.

Given their intense rivalry, Tar Heel and Blue Devil fans will probably resent having to share the top spot, but since their two home courts are only about 20 minutes apart, CNN put them together as one great destination for anyone on a college hoops pilgrimage. The article goes into detail about the devotion to the game in both towns, but also points out that each has a thriving restaurant and night life scene. Also mentioned is UNC's Carolina Basketball Museum, a new 8,000 square foot interactive museum that chronicles more than a century of Tar Heel basketball.

And now, that museum will have to make room... for yet another NCAA Championship trophy.

First "Sandburg Kid" of Season Makes Debut

There's a new kid in town at the Carl Sandburg Home. Literally.

The first baby goat of the season, an eight-pound Toggenburg kid named Bella, was born at 2:55 p.m. on March 30. The proud parents were 7-year-old Brie and Prince William. Four more births are on the calendar for the spring: Trinity, a Nubian goat, has a due date of April 15; Charlotte, also a Nubian, is due April 19; Bridgit, a Toggenburg, is due May 12; and Celeste, a Nubian, is expecting to give birth May 23. Since goats usually give birth to one or two kids, there could be as many as nine new kids roaming the site this year.

The Sandburg historic site was the home of famed poet and Biographer Carl Sandburg. In his later years, Sandburg shared the 263-acre estate in Flat Rock with his wife, who raised prize-winning goats. The National Park Service's staff and volunteers currently maintain a herd of 15 goats, descendants of the original herd raised by Sandburg's wife.

Visitors to the estate will be able to see Bella and the other future newborns interact with their mothers. Vounteers Walter and Janet Chase say viewing the kids and their mothers is "an unforgettable experience."

Paisley's OBX Video Reaping Award Recognition

Brad Paisley More CMT Music More CMT Music Videos

The music video for Brad Paisley's "Waitin' On A Woman", which features NC native Andy Griffith as a heavenly adviser to the singer, is up for yet another top country music award.

Shot on location on North Carolina's Outer Banks, the video has been nominated for Video of the Year at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which airs Sunday. It has already won Video of the Year honors at the Country Music Awards in 2008.

In the video, Griffith, a native of Mount Airy and resident of Roanoke Island, wears a flannel shirt and overalls as he sits next to Paisley and makes conversation as the singer grows impatient waiting for his female companion. The majority of the video was shot at the Tanger Outlet Center in Nags Head.

As the video continues, it becomes apparent that Griffith is waiting for his woman in the next life. The final scene features Griffith dressed in angelic white, waiting on a bench on a wide stretch of beach at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.

"Honey, take your time," he says. "Cause I don't mind waitin' on a woman."

Jim Shea, who produced and directed the video, says filming on NC's Outer Banks was a magical experience. "It was the perfect place to make my project with Brad Paisley and Andy Griffith come alive."

The NC Weekend Warrior:Season of Flowers

Looking for something to do this weekend? Every Thursday beginning today, the Visit North Carolina Blog will be taking a quick look at things to do around the state to help you plan your adventure. For even more events and happenings around the state, go to VisitNC and click on 'events'.

April Flowers

North Carolina is ready to welcome spring, judging by two major events going on this weekend at opposite ends of the state. In Wilmington, the 62nd Annual North Carolina Azalea Festival is already underway, but the big stuff (including a parade, street fair, circus, and concert by American Idol's David Cook) begins today.

Up in the mountains, the Biltmore kicks off one of its most popular events, the Festival of Flowers, which paints the grounds of the estate in a carpet of color, including hundreds of flowering shrubs, trees, and a sea of tulips. The festival continues through May 17.

Film, Food & Fillys

Food also seems to be on the minds of North Carolinians this weekend, with the 31st Annual Newport Pig Cookin' Contest taking place out on the coast in Newport and the 14th Annual Wild Game Cookoff & Sportman's Expo in Lake Waccamaw. In Raeford, the Stoneybrook Steeplechase is taking place on Saturday at the Carolina Horse Park, and Durham is hosting its Full Frame Documentary Film Festival today through Sunday.

Game On!

The NHL's Carolina Hurricanes are nearing the end of the regular season and are at home this weekend (Thursday & Saturday) against the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins at the RBC Center in Raleigh. The Charlotte Bobcats are still fighting for for an NBA playoff spot and host the Miami Heat at the Time-Warner Cable Arena on Friday, while the Charlotte Checkers play their regular-season finale in the same arena on Saturday.

Weather

Essentially, the entire state is expecting sunny skies on Saturday, with more cloudy conditions on Sunday. Highs will range from the low 60s in the mountains to the mid-70s out on the coast.

Enjoy your weekend! Get out and play!

Baseball Is Back

Ah, the smell of fresh-cut grass. The sound of a bat connecting with a ball. The taste of hot dogs and peanuts. The sights of mascot shenanigans and dizzy bat races.

It's April, and that means that minor-league baseball is back in business in North Carolina. From single-A to triple-A, from Asheville to Zebulon, NC has a love affair with baseball that is almost as old as the game itself. When Hollywood sought to canonize the minor leagues into movie history, it chose the Durham Bulls as its quintessential franchise (and at the end of the movie, Kevin Costner's character gets his record-setting home run with the Asheville Tourists), and this month's edition of Baseball America has named NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro one of the ten best minor league ballparks in the country. North Carolina may not have any major league teams, but it doesn't make the state's relationship with the game any less real.

NC now has ten minor-league teams playing in the state, each providing family-friendly, budget-conscious entertainment throughout the spring and summer. All teams have special deals and promotions at nearly every game, including giveaways, discounted food, fireworks displays, and two-for-one ticket deals. Here's a list of North Carolina's minor league baseball teams, with links to team websites where you can find schedules and other information:

• Asheville Tourists
• Burlington Royals
• Carolina Mudcats
• Charlotte Knights
• Durham Bulls
• Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Hickory Crawdads
• Kannapolis Intimidators
• Kinston Indians
• Winston-Salem Dash

PLAY BALL!