Finding a moonlit hayride in the mountains, alpaca farm in the Piedmont or a pick-your-own berry field near the coast just got easier.
Full-color, fold-out maps of North Carolina agritourism farms will soon be available at the nine state Welcome Centers, county extension offices, state farmers markets and other spots across the state.
You can even get some for yourself, a business or organization by calling Martha Glass, manager of our Agritourism Office, at (919) 733-7887, ext. 276, or by e-mail at martha.glass@ncagr.gov.The free maps can be delivered individually, in packages of 25 or in boxes of 300.
Agritourism refers to value-added agricultural activities on a farm, ranch or vineyard that provide entertaining and recreational experiences. These maps are up-to-date with 2009 information and feature 213 farms and vineyards with barnyard animal exhibits, pond fishing, pick-your-own opportunities, vacation retreats, weddings, unique meeting spaces for business retreats and more.
The map includes contact information, seasonal specifications and directions from major N.C. cities for each farm. The map also classifies farms into eight categories: Hayrides/Mazes, Barnyard Animals, Groups/Tours/Food, Choose ‘n’ Cut/Pick-You-Own, Lodging/Camping, Walking/Riding Trails, Slow Dining/Picnics and Handicap Accessible.
In addition to these maps, a searchable directory of farms is available online at www.VisitNCFarms.com, which lists farms by both county and category.
A big thanks goes to the Tobacco Trust Fund Commission for providing a grant to make these maps possible, as well as to the NCDA&CS Marketing Division and Agritourism Networking Association for their support of this project.