It's high summer in this old state and the last few weeks of summer vacation for many families before school resumes in late August. Even with the high price of gas, a lot of folks wouldn't miss the chance for some time at the beach or the cool breezes of the N.C. mountains.
What would you say are the most popular counties for tourism? While I'd have to rank my favorites as Hyde and Carteret in the East and Buncombe and Swain in the West, they aren't among the leaders. The urban Piedmont counties of Mecklenburg, Wake and Guilford are -- at least on dollars brought in from tourists during 2007.
Here's an excerpt from the Commerce Department's latest compilation reporting $17.1 billion in tourism revenue:
• Mecklenburg County led all North Carolina counties in tourism revenue, receiving more than $3.4 billion in domestic travelers’ expenditures. Wake County ranked second with nearly $1.5 billion, followed by Guilford County with close to $1.1 billion.
• 33 counties each received more than $100 million in domestic travelers’ expenditures in 2007.
• 33 counties reported 1,000 or more jobs directly supported by domestic travelers during 2007.
• Nash County had the largest percentage increase in visitor spending, a 12.7 percent gain or $25 million. Of the state’s larger tourism destinations, Wake County showed the greatest increase, 10.7 percent or $143 million.
What's your favorite N.C. place to vacation, and why?
