Tourism By Region

Mountain adventure of the most diverse kind awaits your visit to Asheville, whether you’re planning a tour of restaurants and culinary delights or coming to try out the area’s top-rated outdoor sports activities. The Blue Ridge Parkway, a thriving arts community and Biltmore Estate top the list of Asheville’s best-known delights. Downtown, with its funky charm and secrets to be discovered, awaits, as do day trips to surrounding towns and attractions. Or, plan a trip of cultural discovery to explore the homes of our nation’s great writers and take in the history of mountain music. Whatever the season or the reason for your visit, Asheville is sure to have something special to offer. Come for the abundant natural beauty, friendly atmosphere, wealth of year-round outdoor activities, rich history, and lively local arts and music scene. Stay for the diverse economy, entrepreneurial opportunities, mild climate and high quality of life. Build your business, or live and work in Asheville – one of the Southeast’s most livable cities.

The Appalachian mountain chain runs through the western part of the state, forming the lush landscape of the region. The Great Smoky Mountains in southwestern North Carolina are one of the country's top natural destinations, and visitors can enjoy 250 miles of the world-famous Blue Ridge Parkway winding through North Carolina's mountains. Mount Mitchell is the highest peak in the state, and at 6,684 feet, it is also the tallest mountain in the eastern United States. Two-thirds of North Carolina's mountains are covered with hardwood forests, and in autumn, the over 120 species of trees put on a brilliant display of color. Some areas of the region see over 30 inches of snow a year, so skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports are popular activities. Summers are cool and refreshing with low humidity. Covering nearly one half of North Carolina in the central part of the state, the Piedmont is an area of gently rolling foothills with the occasional boulder or unexpected rock outcropping. The Piedmont region boasts of one of the most dynamic economies in the United States and is home to the state's largest cities and biggest financial institutions. Renowned research universities, textile and furniture factories, tobacco farms, shopping meccas, top golf courses and abundant historic sites are also part of the makeup of the Piedmont. Although the area enjoys four distinct seasons, temperatures are mild year round. The average wintertime temperature is about 42 degrees. In summer, it's 77 degrees. The area also enjoys sunshine for about 210 days a year. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the North Carolina Coast is a sunny place filled with pristine beaches, giant sand dunes (including Jockey's Ridge, the highest along the East Coast) and wetlands filled with wildlife and a variety of plants. The defining characteristic of the area is the Outer Banks, a chain of fragile barrier islands - 130 miles of unspoiled coastline surrounded by 900 square miles of water. The area is also full of history, dating back to the 16th century, when the first English settlement was built - and then vanished. There are also sites from pre-Revolutionary Days through the Civil War. Not to mention the historic lighthouses (including the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which at 208 feet is the tallest brick lighthouse in the nation). The city of Wilmington is a major US seaport. And, in 1903 the Wright Brothers ushered in the era of flight at Kitty Hawk. The average annual temperature here is 63 degrees. The growing season lasts 295 days. Favorite Foods North Carolinians enjoy eating and cooking so much that they hold festivals in honor of their favorite delicacies, such as apples and watermelons, seafood and turkey, even pickles and collard greens. Pork is a basic fare, and Tar Heel cooks can prepare it in many delicious ways: sausage biscuits with grits, country ham with red eye gravy, livermush (in a sandwich or with eggs) and of course barbecue, or, as it is commonly spelled, BBQ. BBQ is chopped pork slowly cooked so the hickory flavor is just right. But the key ingredient is the sauce, and the debate over which kind is best is intense and heated. Eastern Carolina BBQ features a vinegar-based sauce, while western North Carolinians use a tomato-based sauce. The city of Lexington––which features a Western variation––is considered the BBQ capital of the state. In North Carolina, you'll find BBQ any way you like it, on a bun or as an entrée and served up with coleslaw, hushpuppies and baked beans. On the Atlantic coast near the South Carolina line, there’s a fishing village called Calabash. It lends its name to a style of cooking known all along the Carolina coast, a laid-back, fill-the-stomach, easygoing manner of cooking and eating. From lean-to oyster shacks to fancy gourmet-style restaurants, the fresh oysters, clams, crabs, scallops and shrimp are generally fried to be called Calabash, but certain connoisseurs tell us seafood can be steamed or shucked and gobbled down raw with drawn butter, or broiled lightly and eaten with a squeeze of lemon juice. As a local states, “Calabash is a style of eating fresh seafood where you are – right here – however you like it.”

was one of the first organizations of its kind in the United States. This local “sports commission” is staffed by enthusiastic, knowledgeable volunteers who’ll work tirelessly to help make your sporting event a success. Working with the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau, the SSC specializes in planning, managing, organizing and staging all sorts of sports events. Chances are, we’ve already handled one just like yours. We’ll provide a range of services, including acting as a liaison between your group and the local facilities, and serving as your information clearinghouse for the public and media. To recognize superior athletic talent and noteworthy achievements among local athletes, the SSC sponsors the Believe to Achieve Award. Click to learn more. Overall, the mission of SSC is to enhance economic development and quality of life in the area, by actively attracting quality sporting events to Syracuse. Read our complete Mission Statement.

Mansions/Museums/Historical Sites Long Island history comes alive- from the site of key Revolutionary War battles to the location of the first wireless radio transmission to the airfield where Charles Lindbergh began his momentous nonstop flight to Paris. George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, William Floyd, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, among others, played an integral part in the vast historic landscape that comprises Long Island. Long Island museums and historical sites are dedicated to science, the arts, culture, Long Island's maritime trade and influential Americans. Long Island art museums also recall its artistic past, as home to Jackson Pollock and Walt Whitman, among others. Nassau County… So close to New York City, yet a world away. Come play a round of golf at the world-famous championship golf courses at Eisenhower Park, or spend the day at the South Shore, where the soft white sand and lively boardwalk of Long Island’s most famous beach, Jones Beach, meets the sparkling blue Atlantic Ocean. An outdoor amphitheatre, the Tommy Hilfiger Theater at Jones Beach books top musical acts all season. Nearby, go on a fishing charter, a paddleboat cruise, visit the seafood extravaganza of the Freeport Nautical Mile, or come see horse racing at its finest at Belmont Racetrack. Catch the excitement of a hockey game with the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, or experience an evening of culture and music at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. Tour the North Shore where Gold Coast mansions, including Sand’s Point, Old Westbury Gardens, Nassau County Museum of Art and Coe Hall, immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby grace the dramatic bluffs overlooking the Long Island Sound. Or stroll through lavish public gardens at Bailey Arboretum or Planting Fields Arboretum. Visit the summer home of Theodore Roosevelt at Sagamore Hill. Nassau has a museum for nearly all interests: from its world-class Children’s Museum and remarkably in-depth Cradle of Aviation museum, to museums taking you back to the time of the Native Americans at Garvies Point Museum, and back to life pre-Civil War at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. Nassau County also acts as the business and commercial hub of Long Island, with shopping that rivals NYC’s Fifth Ave., restaurants, business amenities and hotels to make your next visit, for business or pleasure, unforgettable.

You can feel it. As the first flakes land; winter welcomes you - come experience a place that revels in the art of playing in the snow. With the first dusting of snow, the countdown to outdoor adventure begins. But how you experience your is up to you. Adrenaline junkies can take on Whiteface and the slope with the highest vertical in the east - shredding and carving your way down the steeps. Or escape life's frantic pace on . The sound of your breath, the hiss of your skis and the tranquility of nature are all you will encounter as you rediscover peace in the snow covered forests. Once upon a time, the harsh Adirondack winters were something to be endured, not enjoyed. These days, outdoor winter enthusiasts tell Old Man Winter to bring it on. Locals long for that promise snow, and plenty of it. Come see for yourself why the whole world was watching the village of Lake Placid in 1932 and 1980. Still home to world-class sporting 25 years after the Olympics, winter is the time to celebrate the lingering competitive spirit. Explore our winter wonderland by ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, dogsled or horse-drawn sleigh. No matter how you choose to relive your favorite memories of playing in the snow, each is a guaranteed-fun winter excursion. But be careful, because once the thrill of adventure grabs you, you may end up just .

When Henry Hudson sailed his ship "Half Moon" up the Hudson River and into Cornwall Bay in 1609, he was the first in a long list of remarkable travelers to Orange County. Trace the history of the United States from Washington's Headquarters through the founding of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Relive the 1800's at Museum Village, then jump to the 21st century at Storm King Art Center and the Paramount Theatre. You'll find that Orange County is a place of many facets and textures. From our historic manor houses to our modern sculpture park, we have so much for you to experience. Please join us, we're eager to share. Drive, fly, take the train or bus. Wherever you’re coming from, it’s easy to get here. Orange County has 3 major highways and an international airport. Buses to many of our cities and villages leave frequently from the Port Authority in New York City. Trains from Hoboken, New Jersey make stops at 7 stations in Orange County with connecting service to Manhattan. Our staff will be happy to help if you need more information. Call us at 845-291-2136 Brick House Route 17K • Montgomery 12549 • 845-457-4921 18th century estate of Nathaniel Hill. Colonial and Victorian furnishings. Mid-May to mid-Oct. Sat & Sun, 10-4:30. Special events throughout the year. Admission. The Bull Stone House 183 County Route 51 • Campbell Hall 10916 • 845-496-2855 1722 fieldstone homestead continuously occupied by the Bull family for 10 generations. Original furnishings. Only New World Dutch Barn in the county. Both on National Register of Historic Places. Tours Mon-Sat by appointment. Carnegie Library 138 Pike Street • Port Jervis 12771 • 845-856-7313 or 856-9154 Only Carnegie Library in Orange County. Opened in 1903 and still a full service library. Chester Railroad Station 19 Winkler Place • Chester 10918 • 845-469-2591 On the former Erie Main Line, this 1915 Arts & Crafts style passenger station has been restored. Roatating exhibits relate to the history of Chester and the railroad. The station serves as an entry to the Heritage Trail. Sat 9-1. Clove Furnace Historic Site 21 Clove Furnace Drive & Route 17 • Arden 10910 • 845-351-4696 Museum with iron mining displays, iron making furnace and exhibits related to county history. Year round Mon-Fri, 9-11 and 1-4. FREE.