N.W. North Carolina has three of top tourist sites in state

By Richard Craver | Journal Reporter

Published: January 27, 2009

The Triad and Northwest North Carolina had three of the top 25 tourist sites in the state for 2008, according to a survey released today by Carolina Publishing Associates.

Biltmore Estate topped the ranking of North Carolina's most popular museums and historic attractions for the fifth consecutive year. It attracted more than a million visitors for the third consecutive year.

The three sites with a local connection were the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro in second with 764,637 visitors, Natural Science Center in Greensboro in 14th with 267,086 visitors and Grandfather Mountain in Linville at 15th with 255,000 visitors.

The rest of the top 10 were the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh (760,188 visitors), Fort Macon State Park in Atlantic Beach (703,120), Discovery Place in Charlotte (665,609), Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills (529,909), N.C. Aquarium in Fort Fisher (408,671), N.C. Museum of Life and Science in Durham (378,000), N.C. Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores (376,321) and N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh (327,425).