A come-to-life cover for the Official 2019 North Carolina Travel Guide features a replica of the 1902 Wright Brothers glider flying over a dune.

The flight is certainly one of the “firsts that lasts,” the theme created by Visit North Carolina, the state’s tourism agency.

Mark Shore, director of tourism and marketing for Visit NC, visited the Dare County Tourism Board on Dec. 18 to make a formal presentation of the dramatic cover. The cover photo by Ryan Donnell represents the coastal section of the state. Two other covers, one in Raleigh and another from Polk County, represent the Piedmont and mountains sections.

Shore demonstrated how the front and back cover come to life using the free augmented reality application, Layar. A 20-second video is launched showing the gliding of the Wright Brothers replica.

The guide is free and is available in print and digitally.

The 176-page print edition is available at the state’s nine welcome centers and by calling 800-847-4862 (800-VISITNC). A digital magazine version is available at VisitNC.com. The digital version, which includes all three covers, is enhanced by information pop-ups, a social media share feature, search functions and clickable URLs. Responsive design technology automatically adapts the digital guide to desktop, mobile and tablet devices for a seamless, user-friendly experience, no matter how readers access it, reports a media release.

The 2019 Travel Guide was produced by Meredith Travel Marketing. It was financed by private industry support from 78 advertisers. Listings for the 875 attractions and 2,750 accommodations and campgrounds were provided for free. Some 500,000 printed copies are available.

Each of the covers is connected to a sweepstakes offer. An Outer Banks stay is hooked up with hang-gliding lessons and passes to the Wright Brothers National Memorial.

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