The Carolinas

By Joan Drammeh

The historical differences between North Carolina and South Carolina are strong and span the gamut from political persuasions to barbecue and topography. During the Civil War, South Carolina was the first Southern state to secede from the Union while North Carolina was the last. When it comes to barbecued pork, North Carolina uses a ketchup-based sauce with South Carolina favoring a mustard-base. In the same way, there are many variables and differences for groups to consider when choosing between the neighboring states.

NORTH CAROLINA

Fayetteville

Named after Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette, Fayetteville, N.C., is a town with a history steeped in American freedom, democracy and patriotism. In 1789, the U.S. Constitution was ratified in Fayetteville and during the Civil War, the city found itself in the path of General Sherman’s Union troops. Located halfway between New York and Florida, Fayetteville is a destination easily accessible by plane, train (an Amtrak station is located in the heart of downtown) and automobile. Whether visitors are looking to tour unique buildings and homes listed on the National Register of Historic Places, visit the country’s largest military installation, Fort Bragg, or challenge themselves at one of 20 area golf courses, Fayetteville offers plenty of ways to pass the time between meetings. The Expo Center can be adapted for meetings from 10,000 to 60,000 square feet and is connected to the Crown Coliseum, which provides a luxurious pre-function area and ballroom.

Charlotte

Charlotte has been known for many things since it was founded by King George III in 1769 — cotton-processing center, major railway hub, site of America’s first gold rush — these days, the city is the nation’s second leading financial center and home to Bank of American and Wachovia headquarters. Located along the state’s southern border, Charlotte is so accessible that it garnered the nickname “International Gateway to the South.” The Charlotte Convention Center, home to 90,000 square feet of meeting space, is a mecca of convenience. Within walking distance of the center, visitors will discover two major dining, entertainment and shopping venues. The EpiCentre has 267,000 square feet of possibilities including EpiCentre Theaters, Strike City, BlackFinn Restaurant & Saloon and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. At the NC Music Factory visitors can enjoy a “stroll district” that “rivals the likes of SoHo, Buckhead or Beale Street.” Charlotte’s 35-acre Upton Village is in its first phase of construction and offers first-rate entertainment options like the Fillmore and the Uptown Amphitheater that put the “music” in Music Factory.

Greensboro

Named after patriot commander Nathanael Green, it is no wonder that Greensboro is home to a convention complex that is directly adjacent to a war memorial. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex offers 150,000 square feet of meeting space neighboring the 2,376-seat War Memorial Auditorium. Less than a mile away, planners will find even more reasons to meet in Greensboro: the largest privately owned convention center complex between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. The Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons and Joseph S. Koury Convention Center combine to provide 1,017 guestrooms and more than 250,000 square feet of meeting space. Greensboro is looking to celebrate both the past and the future with the arrival of a new exhibit at a local museum and a brand new Civil Rights Center. The Natural Science Center welcomed “Extreme Deep: Mission to the Abyss!” July 18, a six-month exhibition exploring mysterious life, landforms and shipwrecks found within Earth’s final frontier. A $22-million International Civil Rights Center and Museum is scheduled to open February 1, 2010, on the 50th anniversary of famous sit-ins at the downtown Woolworth store.

Cabarrus County

In 1799, a 17-pound gold nugget was found in Cabarrus County and led to the first documented gold discovery in the U.S. Reed Gold Mine is now just one of many attractions Cabarrus County has to offer meeting planners. NASCAR races, Great Wolf Resorts and Waterpark, Concord Mills, Lowe’s Motor Speedway and the Billy Graham Library are the goldmine destinations that make Cabarrus County a year-round spot. The Concord Convention Center features a 28,000-sq.-ft. hall adjacent to the 308-room Embassy Suites Concord Golf Resort & Spa. One of the newest must-visit attractions in the area is Restaurant Forty Six. Named for the 46 chromosomes in the human genome, the restaurant is known for its healthy food culture and scientific-themed art.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Anderson

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Anderson boasts numerous historic attractions including churches steeped in African-American history. There is even an entire district where visitors can step back in time with guided tours of antebellum plantations at Woodburn and Ashtabula homes. For groups looking to enjoy Anderson’s natural ambiance, Anderson Civic Center’s outdoor amphitheater provides a green setting. The Anderson Civic Center is a 28,800-sq.-ft. arena with a 7,700-sq.-ft. ballroom in addition to the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Complex with numerous fields and picnic areas. Another option is the 18,000-seat William A. Floyd Amphitheater, a natural-terrain facility featuring a natural stream, pond and fountain. Anderson County has more than 1,500 hotel rooms.

Columbia

Columbia invites convention attendees to leave the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and discover its riverwalk, where three rivers flow into downtown. Another of Columbia’s attractions is an elite circus collective; the Columbia Alternacirque is a performance group featuring belly dancers, fire performers and hula-hoop performers that will liven up any meeting. Columbia is known to welcome conferences on a consecutive basis to its convention center, which features 24,700 square feet of exhibit space. The Columbia Metropolitan CVB in partnership with the South Carolina Tourism & Hospitality Educational Foundation is so committed to the area’s reputation for Southern hospitality that it offers a Certified Hospitality Hotspotter Program. “We actually train people on how to have Southern charm at our front desks,” says Twila Jones, sales manager for the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports & Tourism.

Myrtle Beach

In addition to its sandy white beaches, Myrtle Beach is a destination that offers major coastal resorts, shopping venues and conference centers. The Freestyle Music Park is the area’s newest theme park and features the Time Machine and Iron Horse. Broadway at the Beach, a sprawling shopping center, is South Carolina’s largest festival entertainment complex and Myrtle Beach’s premier shopping locations. For a diverse meeting adventure, go horseback riding along the Atlantic or set sail for a dinner cruise, then head to the 100,800-sq.-ft. Myrtle Beach Convention Center. There’s a plethora of themed dining options for large groups surrounding the center including Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Tommy Bahama’s Tropical Café.