Nappanee Apple Pie, Holiday World and Notre Dame are “Best of Indiana”
INDIANAPOLIS (Nov. 22, 2013) – The voters have spoken and Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann and the Indiana Office of Tourism Development (IOTD) have announced the winners of the 2013 Best of Indiana Fall contest. The contest, a component of the popular fall travel site VisitIndianaFall.com, asked Hoosiers to select Indiana’s best signature fall food, best fall family-fun destination and best college football game day tradition in the state. The winners are:
· Best Signature Fall Food: Nappanee Apple Festival’s 600 pound apple pie
· Best Fall Family-Fun Destination: Holiday World’s Happy Halloween Weekends
· Best College Football Game Day Tradition: University of Notre Dame
“Fall is a special time to travel Indiana and these winners are just three of the many reasons why,” said Mark Newman, IOTD’s executive director. “All of this year’s nominees showcase a diversity of travel opportunities that is unrivaled by any state.”
Indiana’s nationally-recognized tradition of heritage and cultural festivals includes a veritable bounty of local and seasonal delicacies. This year’s Best Signature Fall Food winner is prepared during Nappanee’s annual Apple Festival. Seven feet in diameter and weighing over 600 pounds, the Nappanee Apple Festival’s apple pie is Indiana’s largest and a must taste for the festival’s 80,000 annual visitors.
While basketball may be the sport most associated with Indiana, college football in the Hoosier State has a legacy second to none. This legacy was created in large part because of the historic success of this year’s winner for Best College Football Game Day Tradition, the University of Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have won many games and championships on the field, and the fans have taken that winning tradition off the field to create Indiana’s best college football game day experience.
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is a great Indiana destination throughout the year and is uniquely so in the fall. Voters selected the award-winning theme park’s Happy Halloween Weekends as Indiana’s Best Fall Family-Fun Destination. Many of Holiday World’s famous rides remain open during these specialty weekends; and they are joined by a number of seasonal activities for kids of all ages.
Nominees for Best Signature Fall Food and Best Fall Family-Fun Destination were recommended by members of Indiana’s travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Each of Indiana’s 21 college football programs was eligible for voting.
VisitIndianaFall.com is associated with VisitIndiana.com, the official state travel website where discounts, trip ideas and helpful tips are easily accessible.
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Media Contact:
Jake Oakman
Indiana Office of Tourism Development
317.232.8897
Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann oversees the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. Mark Newman serves as the agency's executive director. IOTD is dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality of Indiana through leadership and resource support to the Indiana travel industry for awareness-building, product development and job creation.