KNOXVILLE (AP) — A nonprofit tourism group aims to raise the profile of the Cumberland Plateau with a new website.
According to The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/JlrlCp ), the Alliance for the Cumberlands will put up a new website on Friday to help vacationers plan their trips. It will be at http://www.edgetrekker.com .
Alliance executive director Zebulon Turrentine said the site will spotlight the plateau as biologically and culturally distinct.
"People use the Internet to make their travel decisions," Turrentine said. "The idea of the Cumberland Plateau as a travel destination is still a young concept. We wanted the website to give a realistic view of what's out there."
The plateau is made of up 4 million acres in eastern Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and northern parts of Georgia and Alabama.
Among public lands are Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.
Turrentine said the new website is intended to educate travelers about what the region offers. As an example, he points out Colditz Cove State Natural Area in Fentress County.
"It features one of the prettiest waterfalls in Tennessee," Turrentine said.
The website will build on one traveler's itinerary to help others. Once a trip package is saved online, it's available to other site users, who might choose the same plan or modify it.
Businesses will also be able to look at the site and see what venues are drawing the most hits.