LITTLE ROCK, AR–(Marketwire – September 23, 2010) – The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism is making it easy for smart phone users who visit the state to have a fun, “social,” good time. The agency is the first state tourism organization in the United States to launch a campaign on Gowalla, the location-based mobile and web service that allows people to keep up with friends, share the places they go and discover the extraordinary in the world around them. People will now have the ability to check in at featured destinations around Arkansas to receive customized Stamps for their Gowalla Passport. Along with the featured destinations, curated Gowalla Trips have been created highlighting many of the rich experiences that are available to travelers across the state.

The five initial trips showcased include Haunted Arkansas, Historic Arkansas, Arkansas Float Trip, Billgrimage, and Arkansas Traveler. To access the Trips, go to Gowalla.com/Arkansas and hit the “follow” button on the top right. The Trips are accessible via the Web and on Gowalla for your mobile. Via Gowalla, people can check in on their smart phones at locations they visit and share those check-ins, along with pictures and comments, across their Gowalla network as well as with friends on Twitter and Facebook.

“We are excited that Arkansas is leading the way in social media for tourism across the United States,” said Dena Woerner, communications manager for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. “This campaign with Gowalla is a unique and fun way for visitors to discover and do things in Arkansas and share their experiences with family and friends by letting them know where they have been.”

“We hope that Gowalla users will map out their own Arkansas-specific Trips after discovering the ones we created. Over the next several months new itineraries will be added to the five Trips we are launching today, providing exciting travel options for the Arkansas Gowalla experience.”

Arkansas Parks and Tourism has designated 15 attractions in the state where Gowalla users can check in to receive a stamp on their Passport. They are:

• Arkansas Welcome Center in Lake Village
• Arkansas Wine Country in Altus
• Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff
• Basin Spring Park in Eureka Springs
• Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs
• Big Dam Bridge in Little Rock
• Blanchard Springs Caverns near Mountain View
• Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro
• Delta Cultural Center in Helena-West Helena
• Dickson Street in Fayetteville
• Fort Smith National Historic Site
• Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott
• Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover
• The Lodge at Mount Magazine in Mount Magazine State Park near Paris
• William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock

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