Last Updated on June 3, 2025 10:15 am
(RALEIGH) First Lady Anna Stein joined the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, Ashe County Chamber of Commerce, and local tourism operations to promote the Western North Carolina Chamber Business Coalition’s #WNCOpenforBusiness Week. The First Lady began her visit in Todd with a canoe tour of the New River led by RiverGirl Fishing Company, Wahoo’s Adventures, and River & Earth Adventures. She later visited Footsloggers, Ashe County Cheese, and Mo’s Boots in West Jefferson and CJ’s Market, Lansing Trading Post, Squirrel and Nut, and Old Orchard Creek General Store in Lansing.
“Traveling around Ashe County today, I am struck by how far this area has come in recovering from Hurricane Helene,” said First Lady Anna Stein. “I am gratified to see the same gorgeous creeks and rivers, hardwood forests, meadows, and farms that have always been part of the landscape of this area. Western North Carolina is ready to provide vacationers with a fun escape, whether they enjoy outdoor adventures like tubing, fishing, hiking, and ziplining or indoor adventures like shopping, restaurants, and breweries. The important thing is that we intentionally spend our tourist dollars in Western North Carolina this summer to keep its recovery going strong. Western North Carolina is open for business!”
As one of her platforms, First Lady Anna Stein is promoting North Carolina’s rural tourism industry by showcasing the state’s unique natural, cultural, and culinary treasures, as well as the people who make the state such a welcoming environment for visitors. The Western North Carolina Chamber Business Coalition’s “WNCOpenforBusiness” Week highlights regional tourism and encourages visitors to support these communities by planning a trip, going on an adventure, shopping, or dining.
To plan your visit to western North Carolina, visit VisitNC.com.
