Some Rockingham County residents keeping it local this travel season

“Staycations,” or the explorations of areas close to home rather than those out of town, are becoming increasingly popular in today’s economy, considering the high unemployment rate and rising gas prices.

“We have seen an increase of folks opting to stay closer to home and enjoying the surrounding area. They’re rediscovering where they live,” said Robin Yount, vice president of tourism for the Rockingham County Partnership for Economic Development & Tourism. “It’s affordable. Gas prices are going up again.”

Not only are staycations more affordable than vacations, but they help people rediscover the “beauty and fun” of their hometowns, Yount said. She said a lot of people are getting out on the rivers and lakes, going to the car cruise-ins in downtown Reidsville, shopping in the downtown shops and going to athletic tournaments and concerts at Freedom Park in Eden.

“I think the county’s buzzing with lots of activity,” Yount said.

Cindy Adams, Eden’s director of tourism and special events, agreed.

“There’s always something going on in this county,” she said.

Among the tourist attractions that Rockingham County has to offer are its three rivers, greenway trails, three farmers’ markets and annual festivals, Adams said.

“When you collectively put together all that we have here, I think that portfolio is very impressive,” she said.

For the nature lovers

• Lake Reidsville is a great destination for nature lovers, offering camping, fishing, water recreation and a new disc golf course. Lake Reidsville Park is at 630 Water Works Road just off U.S. 29 Business in Reidsville. For a schedule of fishing tournaments and other events, call (336) 349-4738.

• Freedom Park in Eden offers a walking track, a skate park, picnic shelters, baseball tournaments and Friday night concerts in the park. A concert is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Cotton’s Country Classic Band will perform. Admission to concerts in the park is free. Freedom Park is on North Edgewood Drive, just off Stadium Drive in Eden.

• Carolina Marina on Belews Lake offers boating and other water recreation opportunities, as well as lakeside cottage rentals. Located in Stokesdale, Carolina Marina is accessible to Western Rocking-ham residents. For more information, call (336) 427-0498.

For the river adventurers

The Dan, Smith and Mayo rivers are popular tourist attractions in Rockingham County. Three Rivers Outfitters in Eden offers 21 different trips on the three rivers, as well as a batteau excursion on the Dan River and a full-moon paddle on the Dan and Smith rivers for couples. The trips vary in navigability and time spent on the river. Three Rivers also regularly hosts special river trips, such as Saturday’s Silverfish for the Rivers 2009 Benefit Paddle. The river trip will benefit the Dan River Basin Association’s work to protect the rivers. The paddle will include lunch, entertainment and prizes. To register, visit http://www.silverfishfortherivers.com or call Three Rivers Outfitters at (336) 627-6215.

For the history buffs

• Rockingham County is a history lover’s paradise. Start by taking a self-guided tour through the historic district of downtown Reidsville. Be sure to stop in the Penn House on Maple Avenue. The 12,500-square-foot Penn House was originally built in 1908 by Charles Penn, vice president of American Tobacco Company and one of the developers of the Lucky Strike cigarette. The home burned down in 1931 and was rebuilt in the Colonial revival style. To schedule a tour of the Penn House, call manager Judy Yarbrough at (336) 349-1099. Tours are available Monday through Thursday. Pick up a walking guide to the historic district at Reidsville City Hall.

• Just a few miles down the road from the Penn House on Wentworth Street is Chinqua Penn, an eclectic 1920s mansion built by Charles Penn’s brother Jeff. To schedule a tour of Chinqua Penn, call 349-4576.

• Another taste of history can be found in the Eden Historical Museum on Washington Street in the Olde Leaksville Shopping District of Eden. The museum is open from 3 to 7 p.m. every other Friday during the Eden Downtown Farmers’ Market. The museum’s permanent exhibits will be completed in time for the City of Eden’s annual Riverfest in September.

For the wine lovers

• Wine lovers are in luck in Rockingham County, which boasts a winery in Mayodan: Autumn Creek Vineyards. The winery has a wine tasting room and offers overnight cabin rentals: “Cabin in the Vines” and “Cabernet Cabin.” For directions to Autumn Creek or for more information, call (336) 548-9463.

• Chinqua Penn Plantation in Reidsville has a wine-tasting room offering wine from grapes grown at Chinqua Penn and vineyards in the surrounding area. The wine room at Chinqua Penn is open in the afternoons Wednesday through Sunday. Both Autumn Creek and Chinqua Penn are part of the Piedmont Heritage Wine Trail.

For the moviegoers

If your idea of a fun Saturday night is sitting on a blanket under the stars watching movies on the big screen, head to the Eden Drive-In off N.C. 770 heading toward Stoneville.

The drive-in has a playground for children and a snack bar. The gates open around 7:30 p.m. and the first movie starts around 9 p.m. The cost of admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 11. Children 5 and under are admitted for free. Visit http://www.edendrivein.com to find out what movies are playing this weekend.

Travel guide

Popular Destinations:
• “Jamaica has been real hot with us lately,” said Clark Turner of Ashcroft Travel Agency in Reidsville. “New York City, Las Vegas and cruises are all really popular this time of year.”
• Rockingham County residents are also flocking to the beaches. Some popular picks are Myrtle Beach, Litchfield Beach and Virginia Beach, Turner said. St. Lucia is a popular spot for honeymooners.
• Pam Cundiff, owner of Travel Consultants in Eden, said she has booked a lot of honeymoons recently. She said Caribbean cruises are a good option for honeymooners because they offer all-inclusive packages.
• “Disney remains very popular and cruises are an exceptional buy right now, as well as Mexico,” Cundiff said. “Las Vegas remains popular.”
• For those looking to stay a little closer to home, regional attractions such as Tweetsie Railroad, the casino in Cherokee, the North Carolina and South Carolina beaches, the mountains of North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee are all popular getaways.

Travel tips:
• “There are such good deals right now because the hotels are hurting,” Turner said. “There are a lot of bargains to be had.”
• Turner advises those traveling out of the country to have a passport with them.
• Turner said travelers who fly during the week can get better deals than weekend travelers because the airlines are less crowded during the week. To find the best deal on an airline, he recommends booking the flight at least 21 days in advance.
• “The key is just to be flexible,” Cundiff said. “Planning in advance will help save you money.”

• Contact Baines at or 349-4331, ext. 35.