Director of the Chapel Hill-Orange County Visitors Bureau, Laurie Paolicelli, wants vacationers to know about what the county has to offer this summer. WalletHub recently released their analysis of the top 20 best “staycation” spots in the U.S. for 2014. On the list this year was two North Carolina cities: Raleigh and Winston-Salem.

While Orange County did not make the list, Paolicelli has a few reasons as to why it should.

“There is live music here almost every night. You have Friday’s on the Front Porch, Downtown Chapel Hill offering their music series at the Exhale Public Sculpture at 140-West,” says Paolicelli. “Weaver Street Lawn in Carrboro is always packed with everything from hula hooping, to food, to live music all summer long.”

Paolicelli also discusses the summer opportunities offered for younger residents of Orange County.

“You also have a real rise in kid’s activity, from the ArtsCenter’s summer drop-in classes, to events like the Venus flytrap exhibits and walks at the botanical garden,” states Paolicelli. Paolicelli also mentions the Ackland Museum is also holding their own events this summer to check out.

Paolicelli is encouraged and excited about the growth of Orange County and the many great events that are to come this summer. The live music events that took place last Friday indicate that staying in the area this summer might be the best choice.

“Wow, last Friday is a great example of just how many people are flooding Hillsborough for the music, for the art, and for the food. We have new restaurants opening up here what seems like almost weekly. DSI Comedy is operating all summer long to take advantage of 10 thousand summer school students on campus,” says Paolicelli. “We are not the sleepy towns we used to be.”

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