Author: John Bordsen, Special to USA TODAY

Can’t make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras Don’t want to deal with peak crowds? You can see fab floats and creative costumes throughout the year.

Take in the glamour of Mardi Gras parades, floats and festivities all throughout the year with a visit to Mardi Gras World in New Orleans.

Wilmington sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Florence in September 2018. But its beaches are fully recovered, along with its tourism infrastructure.

North Carolina ranks second in Christmas tree production and the Fraser fir is celebrated in many towns and cities across the state.

A unique program in North Carolina trains female inmates to dispense travel advice and handle roadside assistance for official state toll-free numbers.