ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
April • 2022
Discover a Stokes State of Mind HANGINGROCK.COM
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELER ADVERTORIAL
Choose Your Adventure in Stokes County, North Carolina Nestled amid North Carolina’s scenic mountainous landscapes and beautiful beaches sits Stokes County, in the Piedmont region of the state. Home to the towns of Danbury, Walnut Cove, City of King, and many rural communities where hospitality of a wave or simple hello will make you feel right at home. One of the top 10 state parks of North Carolina finds its home here: Hanging Rock, named for the rock outcropping projecting out from surrounding rock formations. The Sauratown Mountain range spans the county with vast beauty to explore, starting with the mountains themselves. Explore scenic ridges, knobs, and elevated vantage points, including Moore’s Knob, Moore’s Wall, Cook’s Wall, Wolf Rock, House Rock, Hanging Rock, and even a cave-like formation, known as Tory’s Den. Because of the mountainous landscape, hiking is a fanfavorite activity. More than 20 miles of wooded passageways form a network of trails at Hanging Rock State Park,
including waterfalls, high rock cliffs, beautiful views, and small mountain caves to explore. Or, for the bravest adventurers, consider rock climbing along Cook’s Wall or Moore’s Wall. The climb takes you to an elevation of over 400 feet. Visitors can end their day with a picnic along the trails, with 15 grills available and 60 picnic sites to choose from. Then, as the day winds down, settle into your tent or camper as you sit by the
campfire at one of the campsites or rustic cabins. The campground offers a peaceful place to relax with family and friends during the spring and summer.
EXPLORE THE DAN RIVER STATE TRAIL
Experience the mighty Dan River flowing from the northwest in Westfield at Jessup Mill Access, to southeast at Pine Hall Bridge Access. The Dan passes through the Sauratown range, keeping
waters cool and refreshing for kayaking, canoeing, or river tubing. In the northwestern section, fishermen find pleasure at Jessup Mill or Harts Access. Here, Brown Trout are easily reeled in from their eastern most native habitat. For 57 miles, it cuts diagonally across Stokes County from the northwest to the southeast, losing about 500 feet in elevation as it goes. The Dan offers great outdoor recreation activities for boating, paddling, tubing, fishing,
and swimming. But it pays to do your research and have a plan. Especially for transportation to get back to your starting point. And yes, there are places on the Dan where there are Class I, II, and III rapids.
SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL
Attend a show, concert, street market, or class at The Arts Place of Stokes in Danbury, a regional Arts Market with unique gifts for all seasons. During Memorial Day weekend, learn a little flat footing and enjoy bluegrass music at Historic Priddy’s General Store. Attend festivals, cruise in events, and performances at Cove Square in Walnut Cove. Take a stroll at Central Park, or meander the shops downtown in the City of King. Stokes County boasts beauty to be discovered in all of its towns, making it difficult to stay in one place! You’ll want to book a multi-day visit at one of the many relaxing cabins, suites, and cozy rentals. Plan your adventure at hangingrock.com
A Pathway to Representation in Travel and Tourism “Listening leads to progress, and that’s true of everybody,” says Leon Burnette, lifelong Tour Director, civil rights activist, and impassioned mentor, when discussing the critical need for authentic storytelling in travel. In the age of misinformation and disinformation, giving a platform to the custodians of a community and its culture, whose ancestors have lived and breathed its history, is more important than ever. Travel is widely recognized as one of the most impactful educational privileges available to us, but who tells the stories of a destination matters immensely. “The best way to teach history is through a tour—but it must be an authentic tour where people can truthfully walk in the footsteps of heroes, victims, and villains,” says Burnette. This simple yet powerful idea is the foundation of Burnette’s brainchild, the Pathways Project. In the United States, less than eight percent of Tour Guides are Black, and less than two percent are Indigenous (Zippia). To tackle this problem at the root, Tourism Cares, in partnership with the
TreadRight Foundation, The Travel Corporation, TRIP School, and the Media Arts Institute of Alabama, have launched the Pathways Project, which aims to increase the representation of Black, Indigenous, and historically underrepresented individuals in the Group Tourism industry. This subsidized training and recruitment program aims to place individuals from diverse backgrounds in positions as cultural heritage Tour Guides, Tour Directors, interpreters, and storytellers.
The idea of the project was born from a discussion between Leon Burnette and Richard Launder, Director of The Travel Corporation USA, and The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) global brands, including Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki. Through cultural heritage itineraries such as Trafalgar’s “Journey along the Civil Rights Trail” in the American South, and through MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences featuring Indigenous experience providers in Canada and the U.S., for example, TTC
PATHWAYS PROJECT © MILES RASHAD
brands are harnessing the power of travel to reduce inequalities, while providing guests with transformative and conscious travel experiences. However, Launder recognizes that the need for greater representation among Tour Guides is undeniable. Tour Guides and Travel Directors are the essential interfaces between the tour operator and the guest. They are providers of real-time lessons in history and empathy, and are critical to ensuring representation is part of a destination’s story. Burnette believes these interactions are transformative. “These stories can address biases and tackle systemic injustices. We can share prejudices, tolerance, empathy, and determination,” Burnette says. Increasing representation in the guided tour space begins by eliminating the barriers to entry and reducing hiring inequalities. The Pathways Project will actively recruit communities underrepresented by the industry and provide selected applicants with online learning, active mentorship, and an in-person training boot camp. Upon graduation
from the program, each participant will be poised for success and assisted with employment opportunities. The program is anticipated to go a long way towards greater representation in travel and tourism. With the program well underway, its early impacts are clear. Najah Roberts, a recent participant in the program, has since been inspired to begin her own tour company titled “The Feel Trips,” which aims to teach economically challenged students financial literacy using the city of Los Angeles as its classroom. “The Feel Trips” also lead empathy and tolerance tours, plus Civil Rights Pilgrimages from the West Coast to the South to help participants understand and reconcile with American history. The Pathways Project is the beginning of what Burnette hopes will be systemic change. “As our industry changes and those Tour Directors rise through the ranks and start to work higher and higher within travel organizations, it starts leveling out. Equity and inclusion are my hopes for the future,” he concludes.
ADVERTORIAL
There’s a Movement Growing in Virginia’s Vineyards Nothing expresses a “sense of place” like well-made wine, and, in Virginia, one hard-earned vintage after another, winemakers are crafting local wines that do just that. Virginia Wine has a rich history dating back to the first settlers and even a few founding fathers, but it wasn’t until the late 1970s when the industry began to take root. These pioneers set the tone for those to come—curious, collaborative, and stubborn in the face of setbacks. Today, a community of farmers is producing wines that embody the grace, grit, and experimental spirit of Virginia. They don’t bend to trends. They listen to their land and draw out the story in every vine and vintage, producing unique wines from over 30 grape varieties. You can learn a lot about Virginia Wine just by looking at a map. Sitting halfway between Europe and California, Virginia’s wines embody this unique position in the world. They are lush but structured, aromatic, expressive, and beautifully balanced— blending the subtlety of the Old
World with the boldness of the new. Like perfect French spoken with a slight southern drawl. With 300+ wineries, ten regions, and eight distinct AVAs spanning the state, there’s
IMAGE COURTESY OF © VIRGINIA WINE MARKETING OFFICE
something for everyone. Whether you’re just passing through or are planning a memorable trip, there are countless ways to help make your adventure through Virginia Wine Country one to remember.
Virginiawine.org helps you personalize your experience, discover new favorites, and search for offerings that match your preferences. When browsing Virginia wineries, you can search
by wine and food offerings, events, overnight stays, pet friendly, child friendly, and more. Register for an account to create customizable itineraries and track your adventures. For quick and easy access, download the Virginia Wine app to view saved itineraries and find nearby wineries all from your mobile device. Or request a physical copy of the Virginia winery guide—a perfect resource to have in hand for any planned or spontaneous excursion! With so many options, the Gold Medal Wine Trail helps narrow the scope of your search and connects you with awardwinning wineries. With a free sign-up at taste.virginiawine.org, you receive exclusive access to special discounts and prizes while sampling the best of Virginia. No matter how you discover or choose to experience #vawine, you’re sure to find something to love. Learn more and plan your Virginia Wine adventure at virginiawine.org/pages/visit
