Growing up in New Hampshire I never thought twice about the fact that although we have four distinct seasons, there is always something to see and do in the great outdoors. I guess you could say, “I took for granite” (yes, that’s an old NH pun) all the fun and natural beauty that NH has to offer. No longer a resident, I now view my home state differently, and their tourism campaign “You’re going to love it here.” resonates with me.

In an effort to capitalize on the trend of staycations and daycations, the NH Division of Travel and Tourism created a campaign and contest geared toward residents, aptly titled, “I love it here.” And what better way to promote tourism in your state and stimulate the local economy than by engaging the people who love it the most?

The contest, “NH Dream Vacation Scavenger Hunt” which launched in May, encourages residents to visit their favorite attractions and outdoor activities throughout the state, and/or explore some new ones. To play, all you need is the “I love it here!” sign (pictured), a digital camera, access to the Internet, and an outing with a friend(s) to wherever in the state you love the most. Participants then upload their photos to NHdreamvacation.com where they are entered for a chance to win the grand prize, a dream vacation in New Hampshire.

Simple. Engaging. Fun. Three words perfect for consumers, and perfect for marketers. By the way, did I mention pretty cost-effective too?

The contest officially ends this weekend, but in a state with that much to see and do, and some of the proudest residents north of Texas, surely this campaign is just getting started.