Travel Writers Explore Milledgeville to Promote the City

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Dozens of travel writers toured Milledgeville on Friday as part of the state’s annual event to promote tourism.

“I’m looking for places that are interesting,” travel writer Christine Tibbetts said.

Stories that will hopefully inspire the group of 40 travel journalists to write about Georgia’s Lake Country. Every year, the Georgia Tourism Division hosts the Travel Media Marketplace event. This year, the group is exploring Milledgeville, Eatonton, Greensboro, and Madison.

“We take them to our communities and showcase all the wonderful things we have to offer,” Jane Sowell, the executive director of the Milledgeville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said.

The group kicked off the event in Milledgeville. They toured several historical landmarks, including the home of Sally Ellis Davis, an educator and Georgia Woman of Distinction honoree. They also explored the Old Governor’s mansion and went back in time to when they city used to be the state’s captial.

“We’re so fortunate that we have so much to show and showcase that there’s a lot for them to see and do here,” Sowell said.

Sowell hopes the writers will encourage their readers to visit.

“Tell them what the best thing to see in the area, the best places to be for families, the best destinations and why there a good destination,” travel writer Samantha Feuss said.

“I’m looking for the stories behind the stories that people can access and not use their whole holiday for doing homework,” Tibbetts said. “Let me be the researcher and tell you some tips.”

And the journalists didn’t have to wait long to share their stories.

“Its such a social world now, everything is done instantaneously,” Sowell said. “They’re tweeting and Facebook and all that kind of stuff. We’re getting out to a larger audience much quicker.”

And getting more people to check out Georgia’ Antebellum capital.

This is the first year Georgia’s Lake Country was selected to host the travel media event. The group is in town until Saturday. They will check out Lake Oconee and experience a farm-to-fork dinner in Madison.