Due to overwhelming demand and the tremendous success of the Pinecone Pathways Program, it is returning this autumn. In celebration of Great Trails Day in North Carolina on Saturday, October 21, this one-day event promises to be an unforgettable experience. Originally initiated by the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) to support the statewide Year of the Trail campaign, the program has garnered immense popularity. Keep reading to learn more about Pinecone Pathways in Moore County.
Teaming Up Again With Starworks For 10 More Pinecones
Collaborating with Starworks, the renowned glassmakers based in Star, the CVB has crafted 200 exquisite glass pinecones that were covertly hidden along various trails throughout Moore County this spring. Building on this successful endeavor, the CVB and Starworks are teaming up once again to hide 10 precious glass pinecones on 10 different trails within the county for the upcoming event in October.
Phil Werz, the President and CEO of the CVB, expressed boundless enthusiasm for the return of this event, saying, “The spring Pinecone Pathways event far exceeded our expectations, prompting us to bring it back on North Carolina’s Great Trail Day. During the previous event, we welcomed visitors from neighboring states as they explored our area in search of a hidden pinecone.
Pinecone Quest On Great Trails Day
This time, we anticipate active participation from the residents of Moore County as well. We encourage everyone to plan a Sandhills weekend getaway and embark on a thrilling pinecone quest during Great Trails Day.”
Due to the limited number of pinecones available on this special day, the CVB kindly requests that each finder keeps only one pinecone, leaving any additional discoveries hidden along the trail for others to enjoy. Not only will finders get to keep their unique pinecone, but they will also have an opportunity to stop by the CVB to claim an extra prize. These exclusive prizes include two tickets to a practice round for the prestigious 2024 U.S. Open, two U.S. Open coffee mugs, two adult tickets for the Aberdeen, Carolina and Western Railroad Christmas Train, a complimentary experience at Double Eagle Golf, and various other exciting prizes and experiences. Each pinecone will bear a distinctive number that corresponds to a specific prize. The CVB, located at 155 W. New York Ave., Suite 300 in Southern Pines, is open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and looks forward to welcoming participants.
Mark your calendars, gather your friends and family, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable pinecone quest during Great Trails Day. This event is a unique opportunity to explore the breathtaking trails of Moore County while uncovering hidden treasures and experiencing the beauty of nature firsthand.
In order to ensure the successful execution of the event, the CVB has enlisted the invaluable assistance of designated “pinecone hiders” who possess intricate knowledge of the precise pinecone hiding spots. These pinecones will be cleverly concealed no higher than three to four feet above the ground and no farther than three feet from any marked trail, although they will not be placed in plain sight to add an element of challenge. The exact trail locations will be disclosed through CVB social media channels in the afternoon preceding Great Trail Day. Typically, the announced trails can be found in Aberdeen, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Pinebluff, Vass, Cameron, Robbins, Carthage, and Foxfire.
The Year Of The Trail
The Year of the Trail is an extraordinary celebration of North Carolina’s extensive network of trails, greenways, and blueways, which proudly showcases a diverse range of breathtaking landscapes encompassing majestic mountain vistas, serene rivers, vibrant urban greenways, coastal woodlands, and rolling Piedmont hills. As the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in North Carolina’s history, it aims to deliver a multitude of benefits, including improved health, safety, economic development, tourism, transportation, and environmental preservation, to each of the state’s 100 counties. Trails are the very foundation of North Carolina’s rapidly expanding $28 billion outdoor recreation economy.
Recognizing the magnitude of this undertaking, the NC General Assembly has proudly designated 2023 as the Year of the Trail, with the invaluable leadership of the Great Trails State Coalition. Comprised of an array of organizations, agencies, and supporters, this coalition tirelessly advocates for increased state investment in all types of trails, be it for hiking, paddling, mountain biking, equestrian activities, or paved pathways.
For more comprehensive information about the one-day Pinecone Pathways event, please visit: [Link to Event]. To delve deeper into the variety of Year of the Trail programs available in Moore County, explore: Moore County Trail Programs.
About The Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is responsible for promoting travel and tourism, fostering product development, and providing visitor services for Moore County, NC. The CVB strategically enhances the county’s tourism brand value and product offerings to meet the evolving needs of future visitors, stimulating the local economy and improving the quality of life for both residents and visitors. As of 2022, Moore County ranked as the tenth-largest tourism economy in North Carolina, generating $750 million in annual visitor spending. This economic activity supports the county’s second-largest employment sector and saves county residents approximately $516 annually in state and local taxes.
For more information about the one-day Pinecone Pathways event, please visit https://www.homeofgolf.com/special-edition/ or visit https://www.homeofgolf.com/moore-trails/ to explore the Year of the Trail programs in Moore County, learn more about Moore County Trail Programs.
