Discovery Adventure of a Lifetime Sweepstakes

I have been finding some great contests lately by national brands, but this may be one of my favorite. Discovery is giving away a Discovery Adventures Serengeti Wildlife Safari trip for two including airfare. The trip is values at almost $10,000!. Can you even imagine winning a safari trip through the African wildlife?

Even if you are not the lucky Grand Prize winner, Discovery is giving away a number of other prizes including a Life Ultimate Fan Set (which includes a Blu-ray Disc Player), a Life DVD Fan Set, and Life Extraordinary Animals Books.

Visit the Discovery Adventure of a Lifetime Sweepstakes for more information. Contest ends 04/23/2010.

Free Disney Ticket for Volunteering and Vacation Sweepstakes

Big news on Good Morning America today! Disney is giving away theme park tickets for people who volunteer. The new program is called “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.” When you volunteer one day for a participating organization, you will get your choice of a ticket for Disney World or Disneyland. If you cannot use your ticket yourself, you can even donate it to a Disney charity.

Although Disney is obviously getting a lot of publicity out of this and it isn’t costing them much (they’ll likely get more people to visit just because of the promotion), I still think that it is great to see a corporation encouraging people to give back to the community. In particular, this is a good reason to get parents to engage their entire family in a volunteer activity.

In addition to the Give a Day promotion, you can enter to win a free trip to Disney in the “Cheers to Volunteers” Sweepstakes. The grand prize is a 5 day, 4 night vacation for 4 to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. You get bonus entries for Tweeting the contest each day. (ends March 31, 2010)

The program will officially begin January 1, 2010. You must be at least 6 years of age and pre-register for your volunteer service. Of course, there are quite a few details that you will need to check out at disneyparks.com in January, but it looks like a terrific opportunity! You may also want to follow the Disney Parks twitter account to get up to the minute information.

Fun in the Hoosier State

Looking for a little fun and adventure in Indiana? I’ve got great news! The other 49 states have nothing on us! We have beaches, zoos, caves, museums, sporting events, and more. You just have to know where to find them. While this is not an exhaustive list, it is a great start for those of you looking to try something new.

Bloomington has been called the “cultural pulse of the Midwest” by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Bloomington offers a little bit of everything–beautiful views in the fall and spring, NCAA sports, and frequent cultural events and festivals. When you are there, make sure you visit our favorite–Oliver Winery.

Holiday World in Santa Claus is a small amusement park with big heart. With great rides, reasonable prices, and free soft drinks, Holiday World is a local favorite.

Did I mention before that we have a beach? Indiana Beach in Monticello, Indiana is home to roller coasters, a water park, camping, shopping, and other entertainment.

Southern Indiana has terrific caves, some of which are national landmarks. Tour the Marengo Caves, Wyandotte Caves, or Squire Boone Caverns. You’ll admire their beauty while you appreciate the history behind their formation.

The French Lick, Indiana area is known for more than Larry Bird. It is home to the French Lick Springs Resort as well as the West Baden Hotel.

The Hoosier National Forest affords some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. Gentle rolling hills and gorgeous foliage make driving down the highway seem like a treat. On the north of the Forest is Brown County, known for its splendor in the fall.

For the smaller set (preschool aged kids), Indiana has its fair share of zoos and museums. The zoos in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne are both popular. Even more, the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis is one of the best in the country.

Although this is just a very short list, hopefully it will inspire you to go out and make the most of our state has to offer. I know that I will!

For more information on these and other Indiana tourism locations, visit www.enjoyindiana.com.