Tourist bureaus across the country are primed to send brochures, booklets, directories and maps to help people plan summer vacations. Their material is as close as your phone.
Most statewide offices offer toll-free 800-numbers for information. A few states provide 800 service only part of the year, so it is wise to check with an 800 operator before placing a toll call. The telephone number for toll-free directory assistance is 800-555-1212. Operators will provide up to three numbers a call.
Many tourist offices rely on voice mail to field requests for information. It can be disconcerting to leave a message on a machine, but properly managed electronic message-takers perform admirably as long as you speak slowly and clearly, spelling out your name and address.
I found no significant difference in response time, whether I left a message on an automatic device or spoke with a human being. Be sure to let the machine (or person) know if you want details about accommodations, camping or handicapped access.
In most cases my inquiries brought postal delivery within three weeks. Hawaii had the fastest response, with a turnaround time of three days. If you don`t receive your information within six weeks, follow up with a second call. What did I get in return for my requests? Everything from the District of Columbia`s skimpy flyer to the Texas-sized 264-page guide from the Lone Star State, weighing in at a horsehair under 2 pounds.
Every state sent a highway map or information on where to get one; most sent calendars of events.
I`m partial to the thick magazine-type guides with color photos and sparkling prose. Besides Texas, my favorites are from Alaska, Washington, Maine and New Mexico. Alaska`s cover photo of Tlingit Charles Jimmie Sr. of Haines, wearing a chief`s headdress, is itself almost enough motivation for a trip to America`s Frontier.
The Illinois guide is classy and innovative, shaped tall and narrow like Lincoln`s stovepipe hat. I also liked North Carolina`s almanac of events done in old-time style with ivory paper and engravings. Colorado included some profiles of state residents, a nice touch. Wyoming sent a 26-page annual report-type brochure, with a state vacation guide with stunning historical and current photographs.
A big disappointment was that my home state of Pennsylvania sent a directory without color photos. The Gem State of Idaho made a gem of a punctuation error, captioning a photo of a trophy bull elk showing ”it`s”
winter camouflage.
One interesting packet came from New Hampshire: I thought I had reached a state office but instead received a mailing from the private ”Jim Moffat`s New Hampshire Vacations.” Later I located the correct number for the recently renamed New Hampshire Office of Travel and Tourism.
Here are the 1992 travel information numbers for the 50 states and the District of Columbia:
Alabama: 800-ALABAMA
Alaska: 907-563-2167
Arizona: 602-542-TOUR
Arkansas: 800-643-8383 outside Arkansas; 800-828-8974 in Arkansas
California: 800-862-2543
Colorado: 800-433-2656
Connecticut: 800-282-6863
Delaware: 800-441-8846
District of Columbia: 800-422-8644
Florida: 904-487-1462
Georgia: 800-VISIT-GA
Hawaii: 800-257-2999
Idaho: 800-635-7820
Illinois: 800-223-0121
Indiana: 800-289-6646
Iowa: 800-345-4692
Kansas: 800-2-KANSAS
Kentucky: 800-225-TRIP
Louisiana: 800-33-GUMBO
Maine: 800-533-9595
Maryland: 800-543-1036
Massachusetts: 800-343-9072 in northeastern states outside Massachusetts; 800-632-8038 in Massachusetts; 617-727-3201 elsewhere
Michigan: 800-543-2937
Minnesota: 800-657-3700 outside Minneapolis/St. Paul; 612-296-5029 from the Twin Cities
Mississippi: 800-647-2290
Missouri: 800-877-1234
Montana: 800-548-3390 outside Montana; 406-444-2654 in Montana
Nebraska: 800-228-4307
Nevada: 800-NEVADA8
New Hampshire: 800-944-1117
New Jersey: 800-537-7397
New Mexico: 800-545-2040
New York: 800-225-5697
North Carolina: 800-VISIT-NC outside NC; 800-334-1051 in North Carolina
North Dakota: 800-437-2077
Ohio: 800-BUCKEYE
Oklahoma: 800-652)6552; 405-521-2409 in Oklahoma City
Oregon: 800-547-7842
Pennsylvania: 800-VISIT-PA
Rhode Island: 800-556-2484
South Carolina: 803-734-0235
South Dakota: 800-843-1930
Tennessee: 615-741-2158
Texas: 800-888-8839
Utah: 801-538-1030
Vermont: 802-828-3236
Virginia: 800-248-4833
Washington: 800-544-1800
West Virginia: 800-CALL-WVA
Wisconsin: 800-432-TRIP
Wyoming: 800-225-5996
Even if you decide to stay home this summer, you`ll enjoy reading about exciting destinations. And it`s not too early to make plans for next year.
