Come for the Conference and Stay a While

May is a wonderful month to visit North Carolina. From the mountains to the shore, enjoy the blossoming beauty that comes with spring. With an average daytime temperature around 78 degrees, you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities.

Western North Carolina offers the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains, and the Black Mountains. At the other end of the state are more than 300 miles of sandy beaches dotted with historic lighthouses. Between the mountains and the ocean are many historical and cultural sites that will add to your conference experience. When you come to Raleigh in May 2009, spend some time exploring all that North Carolina has to offer.

Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, take the kids to the North Carolina Zoo, explore the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, or learn about early flight at the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

Raleigh is about equidistant between the mountains and the shore and boasts its own array of historic and cultural spots. Explore the unique outdoor art exhibits at the North Carolina Museum of Art, learn about the state's history at the North Carolina Museum of History, take the kids to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, stroll down historic Fayetteville Street, take a guided or self-guided tour of the State Capitol, enjoy a quiet afternoon at Pullen Park, or hike one of the trails in Raleigh's 54-mile Greenway Trail System.

Visit the following websites for more information about tourism in North Carolina and in Raleigh:

North Carolina Division of Tourism
Greater Raleigh Visitors and Convention Bureau