Traveling. Good for the mind, the body, and the soul. Travel allows us to take a step away from our everyday lives to engage in experiences and make memories that can last a lifetime. In addition to the personal benefits of traveling, it is also an incredibly lucrative industry; according to the U.S. Travel Association, in 2018, travelers spent nearly $1.1 trillion in the U.S.—generating $171 billion in tax revenues for federal, state and local governments including $78.6 billion in state and local revenue. Travel creates and supports 15.7 million jobs across the U.S., and the money generated from travel could pay all state and local police and firefighters, or the over one million public high school teachers! Because of the profound impact of travel and tourism on towns and cities in the U.S., the U.S. Travel Association decided to create National Tourism and Travel Week, held from May 5th – May 11th this year.
In honor of NTTW, the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau has been hard at work compiling events and resources that showcase the very best of High Point, North Carolina. Kicking off the week on Monday, May 6th, there will be a proclamation at the High Point city council meeting, officially declaring May 5th -11th as National Travel and Tourism Week in High Point, so make sure to stop by and show your High Point spirit! On the morning of Thursday, May 9th, the High Point CVB along with the City of High Point will kick off the first High Point Ambassadors Breakfast for 2019 with our interim President Melody Burnett and the High Point Rockers at BB&T Point! Throughout the entirety of National Tourism and Travel Week, the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau will be providing freshly baked cookies and drinks at our Regional Visitor’s Center to show visitors the warm and friendly welcome that awaits them in High Point.
Travel matters, and it improves High Point in ways that have a wide-reaching impact on local residents as well as visitors, providing memories that last a lifetime. Travel also has an impact that we do not always see: it can strengthen families, foster hometown pride, and build bridges that connect us with one another. To show you how High Point is a travel gem waiting to be discovered, let us show you a few of the great things we have to offer.
Spacious and comfortable accommodations in some of our hotels such as the historic J.H. Adams Inn or the exquisitely unique Pandora’s Manor allow you to enjoy all High Point has to offer at your leisure and still be able to relax at night after a fully packed day of memorable experiences. Speaking of comfort and leisure, food can be just as important as where you stay when visiting a destination. If you’re looking for something classy and modern, try out local spot Lulu & Blu, or perhaps Southern Roots, or maybe even go Cajun with the new Magnolia Blue! For a more homey and casual cuisine, Uncle Maddio’s pizza covers all the bases, not to mention our new addition, Sweet Old Bill’s, located right next to the ever-popular Brown Truck Brewery. For a unique and special coffee shop experience that goes beyond everyday chains, DeBeen Espresso or perhaps 83 Custom Café are places to go. To satisfy your sweet tooth, try out local favorites like the Penny Path Café, the Sweet Shoppe Bakery, or perhaps Sweet Josephine’s. For a full listing of all of our mouthwatering food options, come to the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau or check out our website!
It’s not just great food and comfort that we have to offer our visitors; the attractions in High Point cater to a variety of tastes. For those interested in the arts, we have the beautiful Theatre Art Galleries, as well as the Sechrest Arts Gallery at our very own High Point University. High Point also houses organizations like the High Point Arts Council which hosts artistic enrichment events such as a Summer Arts Splash Series for the community and visitors during the summer! History buffs can earn their stripes by visiting our High Point Museum, or perhaps our Celtic treasure, Castle McCulloch. Anyone looking to get in touch with nature can enjoy our unique All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm, or get their heart racing at Kersey Valley, in addition to our lovely parks such as Oak Hollow Festival Park, High Point City Lake Park or the greenway that begins at Piedmont Environmental Center.
Of course, High Point is famous for being the Home Furnishings Capital of the World!TM, and we surely deliver on that front. Home to the world’s largest furniture store, Furnitureland South, as well as several specialized furniture stores to fit every customer’s needs, High Point has a wealth of opportunity for those interested in any facet of the home furnishings industry. A unique service the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau provides in this field is the Design Access program. With top-notch expert designers, Design Access offers the opportunity to shop in showrooms that are not available to the general public with an interior designer who works with you personally to achieve your vision.
With all those options, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the opportunities in front of you. Luckily, once again the High Point Convention & Visitors Bureau has answered your questions before you can even ask them! We have broken down a few of the many incredible things our city has to offer into suggested itineraries and established guides. To make sure you hit all the cultural staples High Point has to offer, check out our established African American Heritage Trail or maybe our John Coltrane Trail. To enjoy the food and drink available to of-age patrons, check out our Cheers to Beers Trail, our Farm to Table & Wine Trail, or the North Carolina Craft Beer Month blog recently published. For some Roadside-America style attractions in High Point, check out our Bigger is Better Trail or a brief guide to what High Point does best with our Home Furnishings Trail. More guides and trails are ready for you to explore at our Regional Visitors Center.
All of these wonderful things are only a few reasons why it’s so important to keep welcoming visitors to High Point, North Carolina —and why our industry is elevating the message of “Travel Matters” during National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) May 5th – 11th. We encourage you to join us in observing NTTW this year, and celebrate all that travel does for High Point, and for our country as a whole.