N.C. is a summer road trip haven

For those of us who live here, it's really no surprise that North Carolina is a wonderful spot for summer road trips. But now others are taking notice.

According to WalletHub (don't ask), North Carolina is in the top 10 best states for summer road trips. The study calculated its findings based on three key factors:

• Costs
• Safety
• Activities

N.C. makes it into WalletHub's top 10 states for summer road trips at No. 9. The state receives an overall ranking of 57.41, ranking No. 15 in the country for costs, 35 for safety and 6 for best activities.

The Old North State can thank 62 scenic byways and favorable gas prices as a couple of reasons for the high ranking.

Here are the top 10 states for road trips, according to WalletHub:

• No. 1 - Minnesota
• No. 2 - New York
• No. 3 - Ohio
• No. 4 - Utah
• No. 5 - Louisiana
• No. 6 - Florida
• No. 7 - Idaho
• No. 8 - Texas
• No. 9 - North Carolina
• No. 10 - Pennsylvania

Wilmington to boast first 'urban' scenic byway in the state

When one thinks of scenic byways, the images of winding country roads, mountain views or battlefields come to mind. But Wilmington now has the state's first "urban" scenic byway.

The Cape Fear Historic Byway "zigzags right through the downtown Wilmington area, making it the first 'urban' byway in the state," writes the Wilmington Star-News.

The N.C. Department of Transportation initiated the program in 1990 to highlight routes with unique historical, cultural or scenic appeal and raise awareness for their preservation.

The Cape Fear Historic Byway was adopted by state transportation officials last week, just in time for this year's N.C. Azalea Festival. It allows local transportation planners to apply for grants for improvements along the route, such as benches, public restrooms and other amenities.

Starting on North Third Street near the Isabel Holmes Bridge, the byway includes about 7 miles of streets in the downtown Wilmington area. By mid-summer, signs will be put up to guide visitors around it.