Related Articles River use down, but still a good year Winter Campground Hours This weekend will be the last weekend that all campgrounds will be open on the Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District. Brochure promotes handmade arts Titled Forest Inspiration: Handmade in the Tennessee Overhill, the brochure highlights places to buy works of art. Day-use fees waived Sept. 27 & 28 This does not include overnight fees at campgrounds. New Overhill guide published The 24 page, full color booklet highlights attractions, outdoor recreation, museums, art, nature, and more.

To encourage in-state travel during high-priced gas conditions, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development made changes to its summer advertising initiative to include an aggressive, in-state campaign.
 
The in-state initiative featured four weeks of television at prime point levels, highlighting tourism’s new television commercial with Kix Brooks, with supporting radio promotions reminding Tennessee residents of the affordability and variety of attractions the state presents. Additionally, the radio campaign included all-inclusive trip giveaways to the three grand regions of Tennessee.
 
“The in-state advertising initiative is a reminder to Tennesseans that our state is an incredible vacation destination,” said Tennessee Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker. “We want to encourage Tennesseans to take a trip just down the road to some of the greatest places on earth that just happen to be right here in Tennessee.”
 
With 4th of July weekend just around the corner, Tennessee’s official tourism Web site, www.tnvacation.com, offers tools to plan a successful vacation in Tennessee. Tennessee celebrations include Nashville’s Music City July 4th Spectacular, Gatlinburg’s 4th of July Midnight Parade,  Knoxville’s Festival on the Fourth, and Pickwick Dam’s Annual 4th of July Fireworks Display. For a complete listing of upcoming events go to http://www.tnvacation.com/calendar/2008/July/
 
The summer mini-site of tnvacation.com includes gas saver tips and trolley listings to help trim travel expenses, while the pre-planned trip options and interactive maps allow for minimal work in trip planning.
 
According to research on www.gasbuddy.com, Tennessee ranks in the top 10 for the lowest gas prices nationwide. Tennessee is also within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population, offering an additional advantage to short-distance vacationers. This combination makes Tennessee even more appealing to the almost 50 million people who visit Tennessee annually.
 
The year 2008 has been a challenge for many sectors of the economy. In the tourism industry, travel indicators are forecasting shorter trips for vacationers. Tennessee has an advantage with this prediction because according to the Travel Industry of America, 39 percent of travelers to Tennessee are Tennesseans.