Summer travel season begins with Visit Indiana Week May 1-7

INDIANAPOLIS (April 27, 2016) – Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb and Visit Indiana are kicking off the summer travel season with Visit Indiana Week May 1-7. In celebration of Visit Indiana Week, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources is once again teaming up with Visit Indiana to offer a day of free gate admission to all Indiana state parks, reservoirs and state forest recreation areas on Sunday, May 1.

“Visit Indiana Week has an added significance this year as we celebrate the state’s bicentennial and our state park system’s centennial,” said Lt. Governor Holcomb. “With so much to experience in our great state, Visit Indiana Week is the perfect time for Hoosier families to hit the road and explore the amazing destinations and attractions Indiana has to offer.”

Indiana’s bicentennial year is already off to a great start as Indiana destinations and attractions continue to rack up accolades. USA Today named Indiana one of the “14 places in America you have to visit in 2016.” The beaches along Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline were recently named one of the top four beaches in America by Coastal Living Magazine. The Levi Coffin House’s new interpretive center, set to open this fall, was named one the 12 most important new museums in the world by Smithsonian Magazine. Just last week, Indianapolis’ culinary scene was called “a rising star of the Midwest” by Food and Wine Magazine.

Visit Indiana Week is a great time to experience what national travel experts are writing about. Here is a mere sampling of the hundreds of Hoosier places and destinations that stand out:

• Columbus is one of the world’s most compelling architecture and design destinations.
• French Lick and West Baden are home to the best historic resort in America.
• Indiana’s system of mountain biking trails in Brown County is one of the finest trail systems   east of the Mississippi River.
• Indiana wineries and microbreweries have been awarded international prizes for excellence.
• The state’s array of local foods and destination dining experiences led Midwest Living Magazine to say “Indiana just might offer the richest statewide dining lineup in the region.”
• Indiana’s annual array of festivals is among the largest and most diverse in the country and the state’s burgeoning music scene is attracting people in droves to places like Goshen’s Ignition Music Garage for the best in Americana music.
• Parkview Field in Fort Wayne and Victory Field in Indianapolis are two of the top six best ballparks in minor league baseball according to Baseball America.

“Visit Indiana Week is a terrific time to experience the beauty of our backroads, the allure of the unique destinations that dot our landscape and the heartwarming appeal of Hoosier Hospitality,” said Mark Newman, Visit Indiana’s executive director. “As we head into May and the start of the popular spring and summer travel season, I hope Hoosiers will make plans during this bicentennial year to visit an Indiana destination.”

Tourism contributes to a strong, vibrant and diverse economy.  When travelers hit the road in Indiana, communities throughout the state benefit.  Tourism is the state’s sixth largest industry, is directly responsible for over 144,000 jobs and contributes $10.7 billion in revenue to Indiana businesses.

Travelers looking for Honest-to-Goodness Indiana destinations throughout the state will find over 257 trip ideas at Indiana’s official tourism website, VisitIndiana.com. In addition to the online tools available, free copies of the 2016 Indiana Travel Guide and other travel publications can be ordered at VisitIndiana.com or by calling 800.677.9800.