Washington State Tourism Announces Publication of Cascade Loop Heritage Tour Guide

OLYMPIA, Wash., April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Washington State Tourism, in partnership with Northwest Heritage Resources and The Cascade Loop Association, announced the release of the Cascade Loop Heritage Tour – South Guide, a project partially funded by a grant from the Washington State Tourism Commission. The 50-page printed guide includes a two-disc audio driving tour of the southern section of Washington's Cascade Loop Scenic Highway, and is available for purchase at www.CascadeLoop.com.

"We are so pleased to announce the publication of this new guide, which celebrates the cultural heritage of a very special region of Washington State," said Marsha Massey, Executive Director for Washington State Tourism.  "The Tourism Competitive Grant Program was designed to help fund projects around the state that promote tourism and local economic development through visitor spending, so we hope this new guide will inspire native Washingtonians, as well as out-of-state visitors, to take a trip and experience the unique cultural landscape of the Cascade region."

The Cascade Loop Heritage Tour – South Guide focuses on the southern section of Washington's Cascade Loop along U.S. Route 2 beginning on the shores of the Puget Sound in Mukilteo and Everett, through the Cascade foothills and the Bavarian town of Leavenworth and ending along the shores of the Columbia River between Wenatchee and Entiat. The accompanying two-disc audio track features traditional music and narratives from local residents. The printed book / CD guide can be ordered online for $17.95, and an MP3 audio version is available for $15 at www.CascadeLoop.com.

In the audio portion of this tour, listeners will hear the voices of local Cascade Loop residents, including a vegetable farmer, fruit orchardists, loggers, forest service employees, traditional craftspeople, a vintner and many others. Also included is folk poetry from railroad and logger poets and musical selections from across the Cascade Loop, such as Vietnamese and Norwegian selections from Everett, Bavarian and alpine songs from Leavenworth, and Mexican American music from Wenatchee. More information about the guide and additional ways to purchase it can be found at www.washingtonfolkarts.com.

"The Cascade Loop Association is very grateful for the support from the Washington State Tourism Commission and other funders, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Washington State Arts Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources, who made this project possible," said Nancy Trucano, Executive Director, Cascade Loop Scenic Highway. "This grant has allowed us to capture and share our cultural heritage for the benefit of not only visitors to our region, but for our residents as well."

Through its Competitive Grant Program, the Washington State Tourism Commission directly funds local tourism projects that will encourage economic development through visitor spending. During fiscal year 2009/2010, the Tourism Commission awarded $250,000 in grants for 20 local tourism projects. In addition to the Cascade Loop Association, 2009/2010 grant recipients included:

• Allied Arts of Whatcom County
• Bainbridge Island Downtown Association
• Cowlitz County
• Grays Harbor Tourism
• City of Kennewick
• City of Kirkland
• Methow Valley Sport Trails Association
• NW Agricultural Business Center
• Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitors and Convention Bureau
• Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau
• Prosser Chamber of Commerce
• Puget Sound Regional Council
• SeaFair Foundation
• U.S. Canada Peach Anniversary Association
• City of University Place
• Visit Rainier
• Washington Wine Country
• Woodinville Wine Country
• Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau

For more information about the 2009/2010 Competitive Grant Program, visit www.experiencewa.com/industry, or for information about traveling to Washington, visit www.experiencewa.com.  Washington State Department of Commerce (www.commerce.wa.gov) is the lead state agency charged with enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in Washington.

The Cascade Loop Scenic Highway circles through the spectacular Cascade mountain range embracing all the scenic diversity of Washington State.  For additional travel planning information and a free 68-page Travel Guide, please visit www.cascadeloop.com.

Review copies of Cascade Loop Heritage Tour – South tour guide are available at [email protected]

SOURCE Washington State Tourism