National tourism map to feature Highlands

Popular Highlands area sites will be featured in a major tourism map that will be distributed to more than 900,000 people across the country.

Highlands area waterfalls and a historic inn will be featured on the map.

The National Geographic Society and the Appalachian Regional Commission are collaborating to produce the map, which will feature 45 sites total from Western North Carolina. In all, 356 sites are listed across the 13-state Appalachian region.

Gov. Mike Easley said the map would promote a region that suffered major damage from storms last September and possibly generate tourism money for local counties.

"The maps recognize and promote Appalachia as a national treasure," said Easley in a statement Tuesday. "They send the clear message that Western North Carolina is open for business and continues to be a great place to visit.

"This initiative helps bolster travel and tourism industries in our mountains as they continue to recover from last year's storms," he added.

Highlands sites included in the map are:

Highlands Area Waterfalls

(Bridal Veil, Glenn Falls, Dry

Falls, Cullasaja Falls)

Highlands Inn in Highlands

Southern Highroads Trail, which travels through Highlands

Highlands Chamber of Commerce Director Bill Bassham said the map would benefit the town.

"Anything that promotes Highlands on a map of this magnitude can be nothing but positive," he said. "Hopefully, people will come and see what is here and become regular visitors."

Other sites included in the map range from tourist attractions such as the Biltmore Estate and Grandfather Mountain to events, parks, waterfalls, craft schools and historic sites. The N.C. Department of Commerce helped identify and recommend potential sites from the state.

Beginning with a website in mid March and followed by a print version available the first of April, the North Carolina sites will be part of a campaign promoting Appalachia. The printed map will be inserted in the April issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine and delivered to more than 900,000 subscribers nationwide. Maps will also be offered to area schools and libraries.

Sites selected in North Carolina include the following:

Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee