The Iowa Tourism Office joins destination marketing organizations around the country today, Jan. 29, to mark National Plan for Vacation Day, an annual celebration that calls on people to make use of their paid time off and plan getaways.
The Iowa Tourism Office also released the 2019 version of the Iowa Travel Guide, the state’s official travel guide that inspires potential travelers with thousands of Iowa vacation ideas.
In 2017, Americans left more than 705 million vacation days unused. Iowans left 7.2 million paid time off days unused, roughly one-quarter of all paid time hours earned. Research by Project: Time Off, a part of the U.S. Travel Association, shows individuals who plan vacations are more likely to use all their time off, take more vacation days at once and report greater levels of happiness at work and at home.
The 2019 Iowa Travel Guide includes 148 pages showcasing Iowa’s authentic and unexpected destinations, small town soda fountains, ice cream shops, wineries and breweries, patios worth biking to, cultural festivals, hidden shopping gems, unique places to stay and outdoor adventures. The new guide also includes campground and cabin listings. The free guide can be ordered online at traveliowa.com or by phone at 800.345.IOWA. An online version is also available.
The Along the Route tool, available on traveliowa.com, allows people to enter a starting location and ending destination and see attractions, restaurants, shops and museums along the route. Travelers can add the attractions they are interested in to a custom itinerary and have it emailed to them.
Tourism in Iowa generates more than $8.5 billion in expenditures and $507 million in state taxes, plus employs 69,600 people statewide. The Iowa Tourism Office is part of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. For more information, visit traveliowa.com, call 800.345.IOWA, or stop at any Iowa Welcome Center. Travelers can find additional travel inspiration on the Iowa Tourism Office blog, Facebook page, Twitter feed, Pinterest boards, Instagram account or You Tube channel.
