Department of Tourism Releases 2009 Official Tennessee Vacation Guide

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development has released the 2009 Official Tennessee Vacation Guide. The state’s premiere resource for vacationers is packed with hundreds of colorful photos, feature articles, and descriptions of the state’s attractions, lodging, historic locales, entertainment venues, golf courses, outdoor adventures and more.

 

For the first time in Tennessee Vacation Guide history, the cover features an oil-on-canvas painting, - "Autumn Breezes," by Knoxville resident Jim Gray. Gray’s passion for painting Great Smoky Mountains National Park has helped raise public awareness of the park since he began painting the Smokies in the 1960s.

 

“Jim Gray was very gracious in allowing Tennessee Tourism to use his magnificent painting to pay tribute to the park," said Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker. "We are so appreciative and owe a debt of gratitude for Jim's generosity."

 

Also new to this year’s guide is a special Great Smoky Mountains National Park feature highlighting the 75th Anniversary of the park. Another special feature is a culinary tourism section, showcasing some of Tennessee’s outstanding cuisine.

 

The 2009 Vacation Guide provides an enhanced reader experience with a number of unique advancements, which directly correlate with the department’s Web site, www.tnvacation.com, and advertising campaign. These include tips and instructions on creating your own video itinerary and posting your Tennessee story online.

 

The glossy magazine-style guide, which features more than 200 pages and highlights the state’s three grand regions, divided into nine distinct sub-regions, is free to Tennessee residents and visitors and is Tennessee’s most comprehensive and accessible printed resource.

 

More than 500,000 guides are available for distribution at the state’s 13 Welcome Centers and to tourists requesting the publication via tnvacation.com and 1-800-GO2-TENN. The guide is Tennessee’s primary vacation planning publication and marketing tool for domestic and international tradeshows. The guide is published by Miles Media for The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

 

For more information, contact Cindy Dupree at (615) 741-9010 or by e-mail at Cindy.Dupree@state.tn.us. A PDF of the front cover is attached below.

 

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