Haunted History

History runs deep in North Carolina from the NC Museum of History to the legends of Blackbeard and his treasure along our shores. However at this time of year, another side of the story takes center stage: our authentic haunts. Ghost tours abound across the state as Halloween is just around the corner.

In Mount Airy, visitors can embark on a walking tour through downtown that is full of obscure facts about 13 of the town’s long-term residents, where they lived and are believed to have died. At Historic Latta Plantation near Huntersville, the Civil War Ghost Walk provides an unusual opportunity to actually conduct a scientific paranormal investigation at night on the plantation with training from The North American Society.

The Biltmore Village Ghost and Mystery Tour takes on many interesting historical questions: Was Samuel Reed, the Vanderbilt family lawyer, actually cursed? Are the shrieks you can hear actually from the local asylum? If you’re brave enough, you can spend the night in Biltmore Village and take this tour to find out.

If ghost hunting and paranormal photography are your thing – while in Asheville you should check out the Ghost Hunters of Asheville. Their tours come with ghost hunting equipment and paranormal photographs are guaranteed.

Check out some other stories in our video here, and if you have a favorite urban legend or a haunted story to share, tell us about it in the comments below. Happy Halloween!

Hunger Games Wraps in North Carolina

One of many movies filmed in North Carolina, The Hunger Games recently wrapped and is set for release on March 23, 2012. The cast includes Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, Liam Hemsworth as Gale, Woody Harrelson as Haymitch and Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. Locations for filming ranged from Dupont State Forest, an abandoned mill outside of Asheville in Hildebran, to uptown Charlotte and the old Phillip Morris Plant in Concord.

While in North Carolina, the stars discovered many local hangouts on location and enjoyed Cabo Fish Taco and Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen in Charlotte’s NoDa arts district and The Southern Kitchen and Bar in Asheville. Woody Harrelson was also spotted at the Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival in Asheville.

Based on the first book in The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, the story takes place in Panem, a post-apocalyptic country that was once North America, and the annual Hunger Games are a government-mandated, nationally televised battle to the death.

A gripping book, certain to make for an action-packed movie, the highly-anticipated trailer below debuted to a captive audience at this year’s MTV Music Awards. The Hunger Games joins a long list of films shot in North Carolina, and if you’re a fan, who can’t wait for the movie, please share your story with us in the comment section. We’d love to hear your thoughts on its upcoming release!

Technology Takes You Back in Time at Tryon Palace

Tryon Palace in New Bern is the perfect place to watch North Carolina’s history come to life. In addition to housing the Governor’s Palace, North Carolina’s first colonial capitol and first state capitol, along with more than twenty acres of other historical buildings and gardens, Tryon Palace allows you to step through a virtual time machine into the year 1835. There you can adopt a historic role and experience your surroundings as the coastal village they once were.

With the help of interactive technology on this trip back in time, in the Pepsi Family Center you can work as a team to sail a ship, cook in a colonial kitchen and produce a 19^th century newspaper. In the Regional History Museum, you can explore how the central coast of North Carolina has evolved geographically and in terms of population and important events. Throughout the grounds, mobile software is available for your smartphone to provide the perfect companion – complete with historical background and context.

This Saturday, Oct. 15, additional crafts and entertainment are available – from cornhusk dolls to a live performance of “The Monkey’s Paw,” celebrate fall at Family Day with time travel at Tryon Palace in New Bern.

Many Shades of Fall Color

Fall is upon us, and its cooler temperatures are here to stay. In North Carolina, we always look forward to this season. Mother Nature never lets us down with her handiwork that turns our leaves from a bright and lively green to brilliant reds, yellows and golds.

Fishing along our coast is also at its prime in the fall season – from red drum to albacore, the fish are definitely biting. Check out our fall color and fishing reports each week so you can plan your next adventure, but remember our fall color doesn’t stop there, and we’re hoping you’re fall adventure in North Carolina won’t either.

If you’re feeling daring – why not take in some of our fall colors on a zipline? With more ziplines than any other state in the continental U.S., you don’t need to travel far to hook yourself onto a line and fly through our trees when the colors are at their most brilliant. From the Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours, to the Asheville Zipline Canopy Adventures and Scream Time Ziplines, the right tour is waiting for you.

So as the leaves turn this year, set out for adventure and see fall from a new perspective. Experience its color in our foliage, in the sights and sounds of festivals and events, along the coast and in our waters and at a higher speed while soaring through our trees.

What’s your favorite fall adventure? Tell us about it in the comments below!

(Photo by Helen Moss Davis)