Asset Based Community

Development

Cultural / Heritage Assets Craft Music Agri-Heritage Ethnic – Food

Natural Assets Natural Wonders Scenic By-ways Parks (State and National) Water Amenities – Costal, Lakes, Rivers

Educational Assets

University Programs – Elder Hostels etc. Unique Schools Craft Schools, Sailing Schools, Boat Builders New Trends Learning Vacations- i.e. Archeological Digs, Cooking SchoolsOutdoor Recreation/Adventure Schools Rock Climbing, Kayaking, Hang Gliding

Asset Mapping and Public Meetings

Public Meetings were and are the key for our trails program

We asked specific questions of each meeting, but always asked certain key questions – Where don’t you want

visitors to go (sacred places)?

Sites to share with visitors? What are you most proud

of here? What makes your area

unique in WNC? Then we literally put up a map

and placed dots where folks gave us information

What is a Trail? Thematic Geographic

Trail to Marketers Trail to Visitors Trail to Hikers

Just a Few Examples from NC * African American Heritage Trail *

American Motor Sports Trail * American Tobacco Trail * Appalachian Trail * Asheville Urban Trail * Beaufort By-The-Sea Coastal Carolina Christmas Trail * Brunswick Co Farm Trail * Canoeing the Haw River Trail * Craft Heritage Trails * Madison County Driving Trails * Elizabeth City’s Historic Walking Trails * Farms Gardens and Countryside Trails of Western North Carolina * Glen Burney Trail * Boone Greenway Trail * Historic Albemarle Trail * Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail * Civil War Trails * Great Smokey Mountain Agricultural Trail * Homegrown, HandMade and Absolutely Wild * Rock Stew Ramble * NC Golf Trail * Twenty Miles of Furniture

out of 274!

When is a trail appropriate vs. straight marketing of sites?

Criteria HandMade must have

criteria to know who to include – but more importantly to say why certain sites were left out

This is the standard that ensures the best experience for your visitor

Policing?? Enforcement? (print is very different here from web)

Key to striving towards a consistent product

Gives the organizers some control over final product

Site Criteria Focus on authenticity and

quality Celebrates and reflects

positively on the cultural heritage of the region

Locations easy to access (excludes 4-wheel drive across areas

Private residences must have separate business entrance

All sites specify: Regular Business hours – a minimum of 2-days per week

Craft Criteria Sites (studios, shops,

galleries) must provide interpretation

Historic sites must be related to craft/crafts person /architectural craft…

Shops must feature American-made craft with an emphasis on WNC

Selected events include craft fairs, demonstrations, educational experiences must take place on an annual basis

Craft/Garden/Farm Criteria Restaurants feature

indigenous mountain foods (i.e. blue plate specials, family style dining, organic and vegetarian meals

Lodgings – B & B, farm stays, historic inns, fishing or hunting lodges, indigenous garden sites