Travel on The Fourth. N.C. AAA says, "You Will Be Flying."

North Carolina is one of the most beautiful states in the southeast. Each year, millions of visitors drive through North Carolina, either to see the coast or to visit the mountains. But, few of them actually know all the little known facts about this great state.

• Krispy Kreme was founded in Winston-Salem.
• North Carolina is also the furniture capital of the world.
  
• The University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill is the oldest state university in America.
  
• Babe Ruth's home run fame began in Fayetteville.
  
• North Carolina is the birthplace of Pepsi. It was first made and served in 1898 in New Bern.
• Biltmore Estate, located in Asheville, is a 255 room chateau. The Largest in the country. Biltmore has an award winning winery, impressive gardens, and has also been featured in many movies .

Top 10 Popular North Carolina Attractions

1. Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park
   Chimney Rock, NC - Mountains (7,452)
2. Historic Ocracoke
   Ocracoke, NC - Coast (6,194)
3. Old Salem Museums and Gardens
   Winston-Salem, NC - Piedmont (4,536)
4. Biltmore
   Asheville, NC - Mountains (4,200)
5. Grandfather Mountain
   Linville, NC - Mountains (3,850)
6. Carolina Beach State Park
   Carolina Beach, NC - Coast (2,640)
7. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
   Pittsboro, NC - Piedmont (1,650)
8. Hanging Rock State Park
   Danbury, NC - Piedmont (1,503)
9. Emerald Village, Inc.
   Little Switzerland, NC - Mountains (1,290)
10. Fearrington House Country Inn

N.C. travel: Motorists down, Airlines up

Despite recent dips in average gas prices across the state, July 4th road travel by North Carolinians is expected to be nearly 3 percent lower than last year, according to AAA Carolinas.

Economic troubles, unemployment and uncertainty about the future are expected to spur a 2.7 percent drop in expected motorists this holiday weekend from 971,000 in 2008 to 945,000 in 2009. This marks the second straight year July 4th travel has declined.

The announcement follows 10 consecutive days of decreasing gasoline prices, from a state average of $2.66 per gallon on June 20 to $2.61 per gallon on June 30. Currently, the lowest average gasoline prices in the state can be found in High Point at $2.53 per gallon, while the highest can be found in Durham at $2.66.

Nonetheless, the overall 61-cent increase in average prices over the last 61 days appears to be keeping travelers off the road. Instead, many will turn to air travel this weekend, with 59,000 passengers taking flight across the state — a 5.4 percent increase from 56,000 during the holiday weekend in 2008.

Arthur Williams Travel Agent