Department of Parks
Families Invited to Take Adventure Quest through Kentucky State Parks

FRANKFORT, Ky. –  Forget about “The Amazing Race.” You and your family can take a reality trip of your own through Kentucky’s parks with a fabulous prize waiting at the end -- and you don’t even have to hurry.

Better yet, no one gets eliminated. In fact, everyone is invited to participate in the “Family Adventure Quest,” which kicked off Oct. 1. Similar to a scavenger hunt, participants are asked to complete 25 “quests” at a variety of state parks, including such tasks as canoeing, archery, pottery making, fishing and photography.

With more than 50 state parks located throughout Kentucky, this is bound to be an adventure worthy of Hollywood.

There are great prizes, too. Families that complete all 25 “quests” receive a $100 gift card to Kentucky State Parks. Those that complete 20 “quests” receive a $50 parks gift card, and everyone with at least 15 completed quests is entered into a drawing for other prizes.

The entry fee is $15, which is a bargain since it includes a Family Adventure Quest backpack, a disposable camera, and a $10 parks gift card. The quest continues through December 2006.

Entry forms are available online at http://www.parks.ky.gov and at state resort lodges. For more details, please call 1-800-255-PARK.

“This is a fun way to bring families together and showcase our wonderful parks at the same time,” said Parks Commissioner George Ward. “In a recent survey of leisure travelers, 71 percent of parents said they want to spend more time with their children, and  66 percent of kids said they want to do things with their parents that they cannot do at home.  The Family Adventure Quests meets both of these requirements.  I think everyone who participates will be richly rewarded.”

The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov