This year, give them North Carolina | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Face it. Everyone has someone on their list for whom it is difficult to shop. What do they like? Is it the right color or size? Do they already have it? More likely than not you wander around the mall, or more recently the Internet, hoping something to get an inspiration. Gift cards seem so impersonal and how do you know they eat there or shop there anyway? You have to get them something so too often, in desperation you spend the dollars, knowing that the day after Christmas has become the second largest retail day of the year. Long lines prove folks get presents they don't want or can use.

    For years our adult children complained about how hard it was to shop for us. I'm not sure whether they collaborated or not but they each came up with the most wonderful idea and we love it. They gave us North Carolina. Not the whole state, but each decided to give us a North Carolina experience. We once lived in Wilson, so our daughter gave us a trip back to visit the Whirl-a-gigs, the baseball museum, antique stores and lunch at the always wonderful Dick's Hot Dogs. Our son and his wife gave us a weekend visiting Yadkin Valley wineries that concluded in a three-hour concert featuring The Embers. And the very best part icing of these experiences was that they shared them with us. What could be more magical than happy time with your children? We begged them to repeat the idea again this year.

    What other state has so many opportunities for experiences? There's no place more wonderful than Biltmore at Christmas, but the Candlelight Christmas Tour of Tryon Palace comes close. It doesn't have to be Christmastime to enjoy a tour of the USS North Carolina and stroll through the waterfront in Wilmington. We love the front porch music festival at picturesque Oriental but Wilkesboro's Merlefest or Raleigh's Bluegrass festival are hard to beat. If you love beach music Atlantic Beach's annual event attracts shaggers from all around. An evening at the North Carolina Symphony or Ira David Wood's A Christmas Carol is a delightful experience.

    Did you know we have 35 museums in our state, ranging from topics like baseball, cats, trains, motorsports, fossils, the US Army Airborne, country doctors, Ava Gardner and, of course, our state museums of Natural Sciences, Art, and History? Just about every village, town and city has something unique and interesting to see. And no state has such wonderful state parks at does North Carolina. We're not known at the Variety Vacationland for nothing.

    Some good friends comb through the pages of Our State magazine each month to learn about events and interesting places they might choose to visit, but there are several books on day trips, camping, hiking trails and historic buildings. Our daughter gave us an old-fashioned picnic basket (which are back in style), complete with plates, glasses and silverware. We're thinking about a ride on the Piedmont or Carolinian with a stop for a picnic lunch.

    There's nothing wrong with buying presents, especially if you know something the recipient wants. But if you want to give someone something meaningful, something in which they will know that you really thought specifically about them, let me suggest you give them a North Carolina experience this year.....and go with them if you can. I promise they will look back on the experience -and you - with fondness for many years.

      Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina Broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965. He recently retired from writing, producing and moderating the statewide half-hour TV program NC SPIN that aired 22 1/2 years. Contact him at tomcamp@carolinabroadcasting.com.