The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development has released the 2010 Official Tennessee Vacation Guide. The state’s premiere resource for vacationers is packed with hundreds of colorful photos, feature articles, and descriptions of the state’s attractions, lodging, historic locales, entertainment venues, state parks, outdoor adventures and more.

Of special note this year is a 20-page editorial section spotlighting Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways, the department’s recently launched statewide initiative. The special feature includes a detailed description of points of interest along the three themed statewide trails – Civil War, Music and Motorcycles – and 15 regional trails including “Old Tennessee,” “Proud Mary” and “Rocky Top” trails.

In a continued effort to promote Tennessee’s social media presence, Facebook fans are featured throughout the Trails article with personal quotes and pictures.

“The Official Tennessee Vacation Guide always features the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on Tennessee’s world-class tourism attractions,” said Tourism Commissioner Susan Whitaker. “This year we were finalizing the Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways article just days before the book went to press. It’s a tremendous new program, and we are pleased to provide information on it to all recipients of our 2010 Tennessee Vacation Guide.”

Also included in the 2010 Vacation Guide is an enhanced editorial spread on Tennessee’s award-winning state parks. This feature includes a two-page article highlighting the parks and the many outdoor recreation opportunities for park visitors. In addition, for the first time, the guide provides a double-page spread with all 53 state parks listed and their locations tracked on an accompanying state map.

The 2010 Vacation Guide cover features a spirited illustration of Tennessee’s most popular attractions and recognizable icons. Among the highlights are the trademarked Rock City red barn, the Nashville and Knoxville skyline, a rock formation of Dolly Parton, Beale Street’s famous Memphis sign and other fun-loving images.

The glossy magazine-style guide, which includes more than 200 pages and showcases the state’s three grand regions, divided into nine distinct sub-regions, is free to Tennessee residents and visitors and is Tennessee’s most complete and accessible printed resource.

The guide contains more than 3,000 listings of attractions located throughout the state as well as a fold-out state map.

More than 500,000 guides are available for distribution at the state’s 14 Welcome Centers and to tourists requesting the publication via tnvacation.com and 1.800.GO2.TENN. It is also available as an e-guide at tnvacation.com.

The guide is Tennessee’s primary vacation planning publication and marketing publication for domestic and international tradeshows.

For more information, please contact Cindy Dupree at 615 741-9010 or by e-mail at Cindy.Dupree@tn.gov. You can also contact Leah Caudle at 615 532-7822 or by e-mail at Leah.Caudle@tn.gov.