Spring will soon arrive in Elizabeth City, and you know what that means-----road trip! There's nothing like a sunny weekend and the open road to bring out your inner traveler. When wanderlust calls this spring, set your sights on Elizabeth City for an outdoor-inspired getaway that's sure to please. For starters, we have two excellent exhibits that are presently on display at the Museum of the Albemarle. One focuses on North Carolina's vibrant Latino community, and the second on the history of the U.S. Coast Guard, represented by local headquarters right here in Elizabeth City. If you're a sports enthusiast, we have two fun outdoor events to consider: The TarWheel Century Bike Ride and Paddle for the Border, in April and May. Or, if you prefer a more pedestrian form of exercise, check out two history-themed Elizabeth City walking tours. So make plans to visit Elizabeth City this spring. Whether you arrive by car, or boat, you'll find our "Harbor of Hospitality®" has just the tonic----- must-see exhibits, outdoor fun and a laid-back vibe that will shake off winter's chill!  

Happy Travels!  

Charlotte Underwood

Director, Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

You can double the familial experience when you visit Elizabeth City's Museum of the Albemarle this spring, thanks to a pair of excellent, yet diverse, exhibits that portray close-knit communities with ties to North Carolina. 

 

In January, the Museum opened Al Norte al Norte: Latino Life in North Carolina, featuring 51 images of the state's vibrant Latino community at work, at worship and in celebration. Taken over the course of 10 years by Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist José Galvez, the photographs reveal the strength of this growing community. It is the first bilingual exhibit presented at the Museum of the Albemarle. 

 

A second exhibit, Out of the Blue: Coast Guard Aviation, focuses on another close-knit community----- the U.S. Coast Guard, with local headquarters at Air Station Elizabeth City. Navigating two centuries of Coast Guard history from its 1790 beginnings to its aviation presence in northeastern North Carolina today, the exhibit helps to explain the work these guardians conduct daily to protect U.S. shores. This exhibit debuted at the museum in 2009 and has just re-opened with new features that illustrate search-and-rescue missions that took place during Hurricane Sandy, the Haiti earthquake and the Midwest floods. Elizabeth City area residents, in particular, will appreciate seeing the dramatic exhibit images and video footage from the rescue of the Bounty, which sank off nearby Cape Hatteras in 2012.

 

Al Norte will be open through July 5, 2014, and the Out of the Blue can be seen through February 2015. Admission is free. See them now! 

 

Whether you pedal or paddle, prefer the open road or scenic waterway, be sure to make Elizabeth City your headquarters for these upcoming spring events:

The TarWheel Century Ride, April 26

Bicyclists can choose from 33-, 62- and 100-mile rides along rural roads for this free-wheeling event, which marks its 21st year. Organized by the River City Cycling Club, this year's ride will cover new scenic routes through Camden County-----  with some of the best "support and gear" stops ever (deviled eggs, smoothies!). After the ride, it's showers and massages for the cyclists. How sweet is that? Pre-register online or on site the day of the event. 

 

Paddle for the Border, May 3

One of North America's great wetland forests is the backdrop for Paddle for the Border. The leisurely paddling event takes kayak and canoe enthusiasts 7.5 miles along the historic Dismal Swamp Canal, from the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center in South Mills, N.C. to the Dismal Swamp Canal Boat Ramp in Chesapeake, Va. Standard registration deadline is April 4; online deadline is March 31.

 

Elizabeth City is ideally suited to accommodate sports enthusiasts for both events. Check our lodging and dining guide for accommodations and a great place to grab a bite. Then give us a call. Cozy quarters and a warm welcome await you! 

The season's warmer weather and longer days are perfect excuses to step out for a stroll. In Elizabeth City, we have two excellent self-guided tours that will please both the walking enthusiast and history buff.

 

For a street-side view of local history, pick up a copy of the "Elizabeth City Historic Walking Tour" guides----- and get started. Published by the Elizabeth City Historic Neighborhood Association, the guides cover practically every corner of the city, from Main Street to Riverside. With a corresponding map, photos and site descriptions, you can take in the city's historic homes, tree-lined streets and stately government structures.

 

Another option is the "Civil War Trails in Elizabeth City" tour. Part of the national Civil War Trails program, the self-guided tour weaves together the history of Union occupation in Elizabeth City through real-life accounts of arson, ambush, guerrilla warfare-and the tragic tale of a family murdered on a trip to town. Copies of both tour guides are free and available at the Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Residents have long been accustomed to seeing airships in the skies over Elizabeth City. In 1942, from two enormous hangars in neighboring Weeksville, the U.S. Navy began launching airships, or blimps, that were instrumental in combating enemy submarines that lurked off the North Carolina coast during World War II. Known as the "Shepherds of the Fleet," the Navy "K" airships were ideally suited for spotting the German U-boats that devastated the Outer Banks and gave it the moniker "Torpedo Junction." The airships hunted for submarines and escorted groups of ships along the coast. During wartime, the air station covered 822 acres and had 10 miles of railroad tracks. Today, TCOM, L.P., an international supplier of tethered aerostats and airship blimp envelopes, operates at the Weeksville site. If you drive by, you can see one of the historic hangars and the remnants of the second that burned in a fire. If you're lucky, you might just spy a blimp aloft!   

Elizabeth City is the "Harbor of Hospitality®," located in Northeastern North Carolina on the Intracoastal Waterway, halfway between Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks. Situated on the Pasquotank River, the city has six National Register Historic Districts and is home to the Museum of the Albemarle, The Center at Arts of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State University Planetarium, Port Discover Hands-on Science Center and one of the largest U.S. Coast Guard air stations in the Continental United States. Nature-based travelers are drawn to the area's proximity to Dismal Swamp and the abundance of outdoor recreational offerings. For additional information, call Elizabeth City Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-866-ECity-4U (1-866-324-8948) or visit DiscoverElizabethCity.com. For up-to-the-minute info on happenings and events visit ElizabethCityHASIt.com.