Become 'backyard tourists,' win prizes

Five Peoria attractions are offering incentives to get area residents to visit and become “backyard tourists” during the first two weeks of May.

There are prizes involved.

From May 1 through May 15, residents can purchase a Peoria Area Passport and use it to gain $10 admission to the attractions, then get their passport stamped at each one. Residents who have stamps from all five will be eligible for prizes, including tickets to Peoria Chiefs games and gift cards to the Shoppes at Grand Prairie and local restaurants.

The participating attractions are Peoria Riverfront Museum, Caterpillar Visitors Center, Wildlife Prairie Park, the Spirit of Peoria and Wheels O’ Time Museum.

Passports are available at the Museum, the Spirit of Peoria, Wildlife Prairie Park, the Peoria Civic Center and the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. 456 Fulton St., Suite 300.

According to the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the first full week of May is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week.

The U.S. Travel Association has created a multi-year campaign — called the Travel Effect — to prove the huge impact that travel and tourism has on lives, businesses and local, state and national economies.

Each year, localized events such as the Backyard Tourist event are presented in cities, states and travel businesses nationwide to champion the power of travel.