Contact: Leann Kispert
651-757-1854
leann.kispert@state.mn.us

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ST. PAUL (May 27, 2009) Ads running now on Twin Cities area radio stations are encouraging families to get out and enjoy the great outdoors – an extension of Minnesotans’ back yards. It is part of a cooperative venture by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Explore Minnesota Tourism, the state’s tourism marketing office, to promote outdoor recreation and visits to state parks and trails. The message of this campaign is: for just $25 a year your family has access to Minnesota’s State Parks and Trails – geocaching, waterfalls, trails, wildlife and more. Two different radio spots will run on seven stations in May and June.

“In today’s economy, people are looking for affordable, close-to-home getaways,” explains John Edman, director of Explore Minnesota Tourism. “It’s the perfect time to remind folks about all of Minnesota’s great state parks and trails and the fun they can have there. Our parks and trails are wonderful destinations for families, especially this year.”

It is also part of Minnesota State Parks effort to attract more families with children, adding such programs as geocaching, “how to camp” programs and a new, handy brochure outlining the wide range of activities and naturalist programs at state parks, many of them geared specifically toward kids. Last year, Minnesota state parks attracted 8 percent more campers than in 2007, probably reflecting that more travelers are choosing close-to-home getaways.

Travelers are also looking for economical getaways these days, and at $25 for an annual permit or just $5 a day per vehicle, the state parks are a bargain. And there’s no charge for biking, rollerblading or hiking the state’s scenic, paved trails developed along former railroad beds.

According to a 2007 DNR survey, the most important experiences to park visitors are to have fun and enjoy nature. A study done for Explore Minnesota Tourism found that half of summer visitors (51 percent) participate in some kind of outdoor activity during their trips in the state. The new radio ads let listeners know that Minnesota’s state parks and trails offer biking, kayaking, geocaching, hiking and more fun in the outdoors.

For more information on Minnesota state parks and trails, go to www.exploreminnesota.com or www.mnstateparks.info. To get copies of brochures on Minnesota State Parks and their programs and special events, call Explore Minnesota Tourism at 888-868-7476.

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About Explore Minnesota Tourism
As the state’s tourism office, Explore Minnesota Tourism pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state’s tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. A council of representatives from the state’s tourism industry strongly connects Explore Minnesota Tourism with tourism businesses and organizations.

Tourism is an $11 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs more than 248,000Minnesotans. More information can be found at www.exploreminnesota.com.

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