In Wake of Rising Gas Prices, Elizabeth City, N.C., Offers “One-Tank Trip” Getaway Packages for Motorists and Boaters

Contact: Elizabeth Evans
Public Relations Consultant
Cahoon & Cross Marketing Consultants
Phone: (757) 625-7068 direct line
E-mail: evanspr@cox.net
In Wake of Rising Gas Prices, Elizabeth City, N.C., Offers “One-Tank Trip” Getaway Packages for Motorists and Boaters
(Elizabeth City, N.C., June 13, 2008) – If prices at the pump are putting the brakes on your summer travel plans, the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (ECACVB) has an affordable, scenic solution. Now through Aug. 31, 2008, the “Harbor of Hospitality” is offering a special “One-Tank Trip” getaway package geared toward motorists and recreational boaters who live nearby.

“Rising gas prices have travelers thinking about shorter, close-in trips,” said Russ Haddad, director of the ECACVB. “Just 50 miles south of Norfolk, Va., and located on the Intracoastal Waterway, Elizabeth City is a wonderful option, whether you drive or boat.”

The “One-Tank Trip” package includes accommodations at participating Elizabeth City hotels, inns and B&Bs. Rates start at $180 plus tax, based on a two-night stay for two guests. Guests can add on a personalized historic walking tour and British tea, offered by De’Tours of Elizabeth City, and a Carolina Carriages’ horse-draw carriage tour of the Elizabeth City waterfront. For booking details, go to www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com or call the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or (252) 335-5330.

Fairfield Inn & Suites, which is participating in the package, is including a $25 gas card at check out, for guests who book the two-night minimum stay.

The summer promotion should be especially appealing to boaters, according to Haddad, who said that boating visitors may dock at Elizabeth City’s Mariner’s Wharf for free now through mid-September. There’s even a famous welcoming crew – the “Rose Buddies” – who greet wayfaring travelers with a rose and an impromptu wine-and-cheese party. Restaurants, shopping and attractions are located within walking distance from the docks.

To enhance a visit to Elizabeth City, the ECACVB also suggests:

Dismal Swamp State Park Visitor Center – Located in neighboring Camden County, the visitor center is an ideal launching point for hiking and biking on the park’s 16 miles of trails, or a paddling excursion along the historic Dismal Swamp Canal. A popular stop for recreational boaters, the adjacent Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center is the only facility in the country to welcome visitors by car and by boat.

Museum of the Albemarle – The northeastern regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History, the museum recently opened “Our Story,” a permanent 6,200 square-foot exhibit that depicts the Albemarle region’s maritime, canal, railroad, automobile and tourism eras. Admission is free.

Downtown Waterfront Market – On Saturday mornings, shop for fresh produce grown by local farmers at the new Downtown Waterfront Market at Mariners’ Wharf Park in Elizabeth City. Fruits, vegetables, free-range eggs and baked goods are available, as well as arts and crafts created by local artisans.

About Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is located in northeastern North Carolina on the Pasquotank River, halfway between Norfolk, Va., and the Outer Banks. Elizabeth City has six National Register Historic Districts and is home to the Museum of the Albemarle, Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State University Planetarium and Port Discover Hands-on Science Center. Nature-based travelers are drawn to the area’s proximity to the Dismal Swamp and the abundance of outdoor recreational offerings. For travel information and suggested itineraries, call the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or (252) 335-5330 or go to www.DiscoverElizabethCity.com
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Harbor Arts Festival reception

Downtown Business Professionals Association will be hosting a welcome reception where you can meet and greet the Harbor Arts Festival Artists. The reception will be held Friday, June 27 from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm at the Arts of the Albemarle Gallery at 609 East Main Street. It is free and open to the public. Sponsored by Embarq. For more info please call 252-338-6455.

This week at the market (Jun 14)

THE VEGGIES ARE COMING!!!
THE VEGGIES ARE COMING!!!
The growing season if upon us and the veggies have arrived.
Come to the Downtown Waterfront Market to see what new!

Downtown Waterfront Market
Mariners Wharf - Downtown Elizabeth City
June 14th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
www.DowntownWaterfrontMarket.com

Dismal Swamp Canal Trail Designated as National Recreation Trail

Date: June 11, 2008
Contact: Penny Leary-Smith, Director
Email: dscwelcome@camdencountync.gov
Phone: 252-771-8333 or 877-771-8333

Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
2356 Highway 17 N
South Mills, NC 27976
www.DismalSwamp.com
Dismal Swamp Canal Trail Designated as National Recreation Trail
On June 4, 2008, in the spirit of the 40th Anniversary of the National Trails System, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced that he has designated the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail in Camden County, one of the 24 trails in 16 states, to be a National Recreation Trail. North Carolina had only two trails receiving this recognition.

“One of my priorities at Interior is to reconnect American families to nature,” said Kempthorne. “The National Trails System, including these additions, provides an excellent link to the outdoors, particularly for children. National Recreation Trails exemplify partnerships and are providing a path to fitness and stewardship for Americans of all ages.”

The announcement coincides with the 16th annual celebration of National Trails day on Saturday, June 7, 2008. The theme for this year, “Join Us on the Trail,” encourages people of all ages to get outside and use trails for exercise and exploration. Thousands of trail enthusiasts will participate in hikes, educational programs, bike rides, volunteer repair projects, festivals, paddle trips, and trail dedications across the country.

National Recreation Trails have been a touchstone of the National Trails System since the first designations in 1971. The National Recreation Trails recognize existing trails that connect people to local resources and improve their quality of life.

In 1998, the concept of a multi-use trail running parallel with US 17 from the village of South Mills, North Carolina to the North Carolina/Virginia border was first discussed. Groundbreaking for the trail was on September 29,2004, with completion of the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail opening to the public in June, 2005, with Enhancement monies from NCDOT. The main trail begins on the southern end of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center off US Highway 17. Asphalt tops the 10-foot wide trail ... making it user-friendly and ideal for families and handicapped individuals. The first three miles meander through a wooded area between the historic waterway and the historic highway, ending at NC Highway 343. A 5-foot wide highway extension provides access for the trail to the Village of South Mills via NC 343 and Mullen Road, ending at the drawbridge over the canal. Two picnic tables, four benches, and several trash receptacles complement this trail overlooking the beauty of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal.

In the midst of the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the historic Dismal Swamp Canal, the trail became part of the NC Birding Trail on December 15, 2005, and part of the East Coast Greenway on November 6, 2006. The trail runs long the Dismal Swamp Canal which is the oldest hand-dug waterway in the United States and is part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. The canal is still in use today as part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The trail runs close to the highway in one area because this was the location of the old Culpepper Locks (1830-1898), causing the canal to be extra wide at this point, pushing the trail east. The original stone milepost marker # 19 sits along the trail. This trail connects with the Dismal Swamp State Park which only enchances the entire area.

Since it opened the trail has become very popular with both travelers and residents, as it provides wonderful recreational opportunities for bicycle enthusiasts, walkers, runners, birders, and photographers.

For more information please call the Dismal Swamp Welcome Center at 877-771-8333.

ECACVB Wins Three Awards at Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina’s Annual Meeting

Contact: Elizabeth Evans
Public Relations Consultant
Cahoon & Cross Marketing Consultants
Phone: (757) 625-7068 direct line
E-mail: evanspr@cox.net
The Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Wins Three Awards at Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina’s Annual Meeting
(Elizabeth City, N.C., June 10, 2008) – The Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (ECACVB) was recognized for achievements in marketing and innovation by the Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina at its annual meeting this month.

During a special presentation in Asheville, N.C., the ECACVB received a Gold Destination Marketing Achievement Award for a holiday greeting card, and earned two Innovation Awards for creating online social networking visibility for Elizabeth City attractions, event organizers and businesses.

“We are pleased that the Destination Marketing Association recognizes our innovative programs,” said ECACVB Director Russ Haddad. “The Innovation Awards, in particular, are gratifying, as we competed against North Carolina convention and visitor bureaus with much larger budgets.”

One Innovation Award, in the category of “Best Bureau Local Stakeholder Relations,” was shared with the Albemarle Economic Development Commission (AEDC) for a joint public relations campaign promoting Elizabeth City’s headquarters as the launch for the Ron Paul blimp.

When the presidential primaries were heating up in November 2007, a national, grassroots group supporting Republican candidate Ron Paul decided to use blimp advertising to generate publicity. When the ECACVB and AEDC learned that Elizabeth City-based Airship Management Services would launch the blimp – the first ever to carry an advertisement for a presidential candidate – staff filmed the history-making take-off and posted the footage on www.youtube.com.

More than 15,000 people viewed the footage, which was shot and posted by ECACVB Sales and Web Site Coordinator Jessica Faulkingham. CNN and other major media outlets re-broadcast the video clip. Traffic to both the tourism and economic develop Web sites has since tripled.

The other ECACVB Innovation Award was in the category of “Best Bureau Community Partnerships” for its Net-Work project. Beginning in 2007, as a service to Elizabeth City area attractions and event organizers, the tourism office began placing visitor information on www.youtube.com, www.myspace.com and launched a blog, www.harborofhospitality.blogspot.com. An account at www.merchantcircle.com was also created to promote local businesses.

“These are networking outlets that the tourism and business community might not have time to create on their own,” said Faulkingham, who manages the sites on their behalf. “It relieves these organizations of having to manage the sites, while providing free publicity for Elizabeth City.”

The tourism office was awarded the Gold Destination Marketing Award in the category of “Publications” developed by CVBs with an annual budget less than $650,000. In December 2007, the ECACVB and its marketing and public relations firm, Cahoon & Cross, developed and mailed a greeting card that extended the CVB’s branding campaign, “Discover the Good Life Daily.”

Mailed to tourism industry stakeholders, CVB partners, the media and motorcoach operators, the card was both a holiday greeting and a reminder that Elizabeth City is a wonderful place to visit, year-round.

“People appreciated receiving the greeting – and it made them think about Elizabeth City in a very positive manner,” said Haddad.
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Tarheel Traveler

Good Morning:

Scott Mason of WRAL-TV in Raleigh was in town last week doing some stories about Elizabeth City for its Tarheel Traveler segment. The first segment aired last night featuring Bridge Tender Joe Kramer. You can view it by going on www.wral.com and scrolling down to Tarheel Traveler and clicking on Elizabeth City man captains drawbridge, or you can just click here.

Additional segments will be airing in the future, including the Underground Railroad and Dismal Swamp Canal. Scott also plans another visit to Elizabeth City to do stories on the new arts council building, the first school and the Rose Buddies, among other topics.

Have a great day.

Russ

Harbor Nights on July 4th

July 4th Harbor Nights is one you won’t want to miss! The event moves to Waterfront Park as Arts of the Albemarle is partnering with CapSan Media, (Classic Hits 104.9, 99.1 The Sound, ESPN 92.3 and Country 97.1) Radio Media Promotions and Promoter John Vick and to bring the band Mountain Heart straight from Nashville, Tennessee to perform as the headliner of the night.

Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. Widely known throughout the music industry for continually redefining the cutting edge, Mountain Heart has gained legends of fans as a result of their superlative musicianship, and more notably, their incomparably exciting live performances. Mountain Heart’s name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence since their creation in 1998. As one of the most highly awarded ensembles ever assembled, Mountain Heart, or members of the band, have won numerous Grammy’s, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards. They have appeared on the revered stage of the Grand Ole Opry in excess of 100 times and have shared the stage with everyone from Lynyrd Skynrd, Montgomery Gentry, Merle Haggard, and Brad Paisley, to Alison Krauss, Travis Tritt, Yonder Mountain Stringband, LeAnn Rimes, and Patty Loveless. Now with the introduction of their phenomenally talented young lead singer, the band is poised to take their success to an even higher level. As the group leading the charge in taking acoustic music to the masses, Mountain Heart deftly combines elements of rock, jamband, country, blues, jazz, and bluegrass into a high-energy sound that is at once fresh, accessible, and unmistakable!

Harbor Nights begins at 5 pm as the Embarq Children’s activity tent opens and food vendors begin serving. CapSan media will present three top local bands, chosen by CapSan Media The runner ups will begin at 5:30 pm and the top local band will open for Mountain Heart.

At 9 pm the fireworks begin, bigger and better on a barge moored in the river.


For more information please call 252-338-6455 and/or check out www.artsofthealbemarle.com.

Dr. Tom Vinick Friday night at The City Wine Sellar

Dr. Tom Vinick Friday night at The City Wine Sellar
Host: Debbie Malenfant
Location: City Wine Sellar
102 Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909 US
When: Friday, June 13, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Phone: 252-335-1163

Join us Friday night at The Sellar Wine Bar (located inside The City Wine Sellar) for the sounds of the super-entertainer, Dr. Tom Vinick. Dr. Tom hails from the Moyock area and plays "cool baby" 70s cover tunes. Come out for a night of entertainment that will have you singing and shimmying.

Entertainment is from 7-10 pm. Regular deli menu items served from 6-9 pm. The Sellar Wine Bar is Elizabeth City's only non-smoking bar. Enjoy our outside patio seating.

RSVP nice, but not necessary.

It'll be a lucky Friday the 13th with Dr. Tom Vinick.

Check out other upcoming events at www.citywine.blogspot.com. Call 252-335-1163 for more information.

First Great Strides Walk for a Cure in Elizabeth City

Be part of the FIRST Great Strides Walk for a Cure for Cystic Fibrosis in Elizabeth City. Make plans to attend a planning meeting on June 26 at 5:30 pm at the AOA Gallery at 609 East Main St. and sign up to volunteer, create a team or find out more about the walk. Refreshments will be served. Call Lisa Winslow at 252-562-5441 or the Raleigh CF Chapter at 800-822-9941 or visit http://www.cff.org/Chapters/carolinas/.