Good Reads: U.S. Tourism Slump Continues | Virginia's Presidential Heads Park | NC Gears Up for America 250
Today’s New York Times has an article on 11 Million Visitors Short: Inside America’s Continuing Tourism Slump. The ongoing decline in is concerning but also raises the question will policy makers and industry officials recognize the important of domestic tourism and put resources into encouraging Americans to travel the country, particularly in the landmark year of America’s 250th birthday.
In What 42 massive and decaying presidential heads say about America, The Washington Post takes a look at an unusual yet popular tourist destination in Virginia: a park of crumbling presidential statues that are the leftovers of a $10 million park that went bankrupt in 2010. According to the Post, “the vibe is Stonehenge-meets-”The Walking Dead.”
The Carolina Journal reports on North Carolina Gears Up for America’s 250th with a look at some of the 700 events that have been organized through the state to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence. The article notes “that since 2021, over $2.1 million in grants have been awarded to local communities across North Carolina. 74 counties received grants, representing 126 different projects, including musical performances, art installations, festivals, and history projects.”