Gov. Riley has declared 2006 The Year of Outdoor Alabama. The campaign, created by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel, is designed to encourage travelers to visit the state’s beautiful outdoor destinations, experience outdoor adventures in Alabama and participate in outdoor expos throughout 2006.
“Tourism is a $7 billion industry in Alabama and it’s growing each year,” says Alabama Gov. Bob Riley. “Outdoor recreation is a significant part of tourism in our state, and we hope to encourage more travelers to visit Alabama’s outdoor wonders during 2006.”
According to a recent survey by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Alabamians spent $2.3 billion on wildlife-associated recreation, and almost 1.6 million residents and nonresidents fished, hunted and/or watched wildlife in Alabama. Outdoor recreation contributed to the 8 percent increase in Alabama tourism dollars in 2004.
“Alabama’s outdoor destinations are among the best in the United States,” said Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel. “Travelers know we have many of the best golf courses in the nation as well as beautiful gardens and great food. This year, we want to encourage visitors in the Southeast and throughout the nation to experience the adventure and beauty of Outdoor Alabama.”
You might even know one of the ambassadors this year. Mark Whitlock of Mark’s Outdoors was named “The Alabama Outdoor Ambassador” for the State of Alabama in recognition of the “Year of Outdoor Alabama” from Gov. Bob Riley.

2006 Alabama Vacation Guide
With 2006 being declared The Year of Outdoor Alabama, the Alabama Vacation Guide has been expanded to highlight the state’s outdoor adventures. The vacation guide, a glossy, 160-page magazine-style book, includes statewide accommodations and attractions.
To encourage visitors to explore the state’s natural wonders, the publication spotlights bird watching, hiking, canoeing, camping and a variety of other outdoor activities. A section on outfitters provides phone numbers, Web sites and services to find information on a specific adventure.
A companion piece to the vacation guide, the 2006 Alabama Calendar of Events, is also now available. Nearly 1,300 events are listed with information about each event. To order the publications, visit www.800alabama.com or call 1-800-ALABAMA.

100 Alabama Adventures
A brochure titled “100 Alabama Adventures” lists more than 100 outdoor adventures in Alabama, from hiking into the Walls of Jericho in north Alabama to skimming over water on an airboat tour of America’s second largest delta, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, in south Alabama. The brochure will be available in Alabama’s welcome centers as well as on the Web site at www.yearofoutdooralabama.com.

Outdoor Alabama Expo at Oak Mountain State Park
The Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel is partnering with the Alabama Department of Conservation to sponsor a statewide Outdoor Alabama Expo at Oak Mountain State Park in Birmingham. The family-friendly, free event will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2006.
The Expo, an outdoor, hands-on event, allows participants to learn about recreation and conservation through a variety of how-to sessions on outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, hiking and birding. The Expo will have activities for children including learn-to fish and hunt programs. Experts will be available to assist with activities, and all equipment will be provided.

Outdoor Alabama Mini-Expos
Two Outdoor Alabama mini-expos will be held in Huntsville at Madison County Public Lake on March 25, 2006, and in Mobile at the Historic Blakeley Park and Gatra Wehle Nature Center on April 22, 2006. Visitors at the expos can learn about recreation and conservation through a variety of outdoor activities.