 |
|
  click to enlarge |
Heritage Trails N.C. Arts Council wins Presidential Award The N.C. Arts Council was awarded the first Preserve America
Heritage Tourism Award by President and Mrs. Bush in a ceremony
in the Oval Office. The award was given to Four heritage trails of the Initiative are at the heart of the 2003 designation of 25 counties in western North Carolina as a National Heritage Area. These trails are: Blue Ridge Music Trail, Cherokee Heritage Trail, Craft Heritage Trails of Western North Carolina and Farms, Gardens, and Countryside Trails of Western North Carolina. The themed self-driving trails include guidebooks and Web sites that explore cultural stories of the southern mountains. Pictured with the President and First Lady are Arts Council Executive Director Mary Regan and Arts Council Folklife Director Wayne Martin. Read more about the Blue Ridge Heritage Initiative at www.ncarts.org/places_blueridge.cfm. Call (919) 733-2111. Visit the N.C. Arts Council at www.ncarts.org. |
 click to enlarge |
Historic Albemarle Tour DOT installs signs The N.C. Dept of Transportation Highways Division has installed over 100 new Historic Albemarle Tour (HAT) signs along the heritage trail’s major thoroughfares. Mileage and directional signs were added in the 17-county northeastern North Carolina region that is home to the Historic Albemarle Tour’s member sites and towns. The project is 90 percent completed. Once construction on several roadways in the region is completed (such as US 64 from Plymouth to Manteo), the rest of the signs will be installed. Major highways on the Historic Albemarle Tour are US 64, US 264, US 158/168, NC 12, and US 17. The Historic Albemarle Tour is North Carolina’s oldest heritage trail. It was founded in 1975 and connects 32 historic sites and towns. Visit all of the HAT sites online, and order a brochure with a trail map at www.historicnenc.com. |
 click to enlarge |
The new Richard Petty Museum The Richard Petty Museum in Randleman at 142 W. Academy Street houses Richard Petty race cars, trophies, awards, a Richard Petty model and Cool Suit display and Daytona crash photos. The online store carries Richard Petty Museum merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, books, keychains, watches, gold coins and autographed tires. All items carry the museum’s logo. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (336) 495-1143 or visit www.pettyracing.com. |
 click to enlarge |
Blue Logger GPS Earthmate.com sells a hand-held mapping tool that collects information about where you travel, similar to the “global positioning system” (GPS) in some vehicles. From walking a property line to taking a long trip, the Blue Logger GPS lets you collect and store map information, while you travel, without being connected to a computer. It works for more than 50,000 locations. After you use the map information, you can download the data to your computer so you can see and record where you traveled. The Blue Logger comes with mapping software. Packages start at $149. Call Brooke DeLorme at (207) 846-7111 x2377 or visit www.earthmate.com |
 click to enlarge |
Australian Walkabout exhibit Cockatoos, red kangaroos, lizards, wallabies, pythons, kookaburras and a skink are part of the recently opened new 1.5-acre exhibit at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro. The first display of Australian wildlife in the zoo’s history, “Australia Walkabout” showcases the animals’ relationships |