Kids in a canoe photo (CC) by CC Chapman

Our latest Survey of Rural Challenges said natural resources are rural communities’ best rural assets, but most places don’t have enough outfitters to take advantage of them as tourism development.

Here’s how rural people like you can take small steps to grow into outdoor outfitters. 

• Gather Your Crowd to attract groups and organizations that want to help
• Build Connections to borrow equipment and acquire insurance
• Take Small Steps by splitting the work with different businesses and organizations in the community.

Both Deb and I visited Eastern Kentucky last year. I visited Estill County, and Deb was in Jackson County. We each shared a version of this process to help get tourism ideas off the ground.

Ask around, others may help

Kathy from Jackson County wanted to start her own outdoor business but she only had one side by side ATV to use. Then another person offered a canoe for Kathy to rent out. This started a conversation around the room of how she could start now, using what others offer and they would help her too. 

Small steps to take now

In Estill County, we sketched out the steps to grow their own outfitters for river and forest recreation. Here are some of the key steps:

• Talk to an existing outfitter in a similar area from the surrounding communities. Ask lots of questions.
• Find local outdoor recreation groups. Their members might be good potential operators, partners or customers.
• Consider covering startup costs with Sponsor-A-Canoe with local business logos or wraps.
• Cover insurance costs by finding a sponsor or getting a discount through the chamber or organizations like the American Canoe Association.
• Break up all the parts of the business and find a person or group to manage or run each part. One group might own the canoes, another has a trailer and can handle payroll, another might volunteer for part of the work during startup.

It’s not as traditional as starting all at once with a business plan and lots of debt, but it’s more of the rural approach. We’re used to making do and making things work.

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Some possible travel trends to blog about via Longwoods International, on a slide during the IITA (International Inbound Travel Association) annual conference in San Diego, California. Photo by Sheila Scarborough.

Tourism Currents, experts on social media for tourism, wrote about 5 travel trends to blog about right now, and there’s a lot for rural communities to latch onto there.

1) Wellness Travel

Sheila says, “where people can go to relax, detox, relieve stress, get a massage and spa treatments, eat healthy food, be more mindful, get some exercise, etc.”

You can promote your clean air and water, and even your small town slow pace of life is part of wellness.

2) Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Travel

Some of the keyword trends include:

• Greener, more local getaways
• Environmentally-friendly travel ideas
• Eco-friendly, eco-conscious vacations

3) Multigenerational and Family Travel

Sheila said there has been a spike in searches for “where to plan a family reunion.” This is a great chance to feature how safe your town is for kids, how many activities are open to everyone in the family.

A rural cabin rented via HipCamp. Photo CC by Myles Tan

4) An Appreciation for Nature & The Outdoors

“Smaller towns, rural areas, scenic byways – they all have an advantage right now, in that travelers still very much want the natural beauty they can offer,” Sheila said.

Hello, nature! See our pair of articles on Harvest Host, Boondockers Welcome and also HipCamp.

5) Unique, Local Experiences

Sheila said travelers want to “Learn about and support local culture. Do something hands-on, like a cooking or craft class, that teaches you about that local culture.”

Look to your local artists, crafters, musicians, makers and other fun creatives. Do they offer short term or one-day classes? Are there longer retreats in your area? All these are smart things to share about your community.

Is this just a fad? No.

“There has been a big uprise in traveling to smaller towns that have some quirky and regional appeal,” said Arabella Bowen, executive editorial director of Fodor’s Travel. “There is a want for a local, authentic, mom-and-pop experience.”

That’s from 2013. And it could just as well be from 2023.

All the themes from 2013’s Changing travel motivations favor small towns are still true. People want to explore, visit local artists, and get off the beaten path.

Make your “What to do in…” Pinterest Board today!

What to do: action steps

Of course blog about any of these topics, as Sheila suggests.

Share anything from your town that fits into these trends on your social channels.

Promote these destinations on your “What to do in [town]” Pinterest board. We’ve said it before, but this is still a great tip!

Play up your quirky businesses, mention your local characters, and share the things that some folks find embarrassing but that make your town unique.

Full disclosure: I helped co-found Tourism Currents along with Sheila Scarborough.

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EV charging stations are popping up in lots of rural places, especially along interstate highways and along the coasts in the US. They’ve become relatively common at some motels as well.

Chargers are also popping up globally in rural places. Deb Brown reported seeing electric vehicle chargers in rural Portugal in Dec 2022.

Photo by Becky McCray

This EV charging station is near an interstate highway in Flagler, rural East Central Colorado. Seems kinda boring.

How visitors use electric vehicle charging stations

Most drivers are stopping at chargers for a boost, rather than driving until the battery is empty and charging it to 100%. As Canary Media reported, “EV charging tends to come in sips, rather than gulps.”

How long does EV charging take? Quick chargers take 15 to 30 minutes to deliver this kind of sip. 

Imagine people pulling off the highway and into your small town, then standing around or sitting in their cars for 15 to 30 minutes. What could you do to turn them into visitors?

Idea 1. Post wayfinding signs

If you already have way-finding signs for your community, look for EV charging stations to post them at.

Photo by Becky McCray

Limon, Colorado, has the full wayfinding sign package: directional arrows to all the amenities, plus a map of the town mounted on the post.

Idea 2. Include signs to businesses

What local businesses might a traveler visit? Any kind! Of course retail, convenience, grocery stores and restaurants. But while you’ve got the chance, why not go all out and share a huge business directory sign?

Photo by Becky McCray

This wayfinding sign is not far from the EV charging station shown at the top of this article. It’s in Flagler, Colorado, and includes an easily-updateable  list of businesses and a pointer to the business district.

Idea 3. Feature your local culture

Photo by Becky McCray

When you pull into Concrete, Washington, from the highway, you come to a stop at the main intersection facing this wayfinding sign with a list of businesses and direction arrows. The chainsaw art border reflects their local mountain culture and history.

Idea 4. Show them a map

Photo by Becky McCray

This wayfinding map of the town of Lumby, British Columbia, Canada, includes an inset map of the town park. The design is printed on metal and mounted on the building. When it fades, it will be easy to replace.

Idea 5. If signs aren’t allowed, paint a map mural nearby

Photo by Becky McCray

If wayfinding signs aren’t allowed, how about an artistic map mural? Here Concrete, Washington, lays claim on being the Center of the Known Universe. This mural led me to discover the historic concrete bridge at the edge of town which was well worth a visit for an infrastructure nerd.

Get more top topics for small towns

This is just one of the 5 top topics that Deb Brown and I put together. These topics are ones we think don’t get enough attention right now. Discover the other 4 topics at LearnTo.SaveYour.Town: 5 Top Topics. No charge.

After we discussed Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome, our friends at Marketing Delmarva pointed out HipCamp.

One of our local blueberry farms does this with an app called HipCamp. Folks literally camp in the middle of a historic fruit farming operation. Well, not quite the same; they don’t trade blueberries for campsites, but you DO get access to the pick-your-own, and that is completely worth it. Best blueberries I’ve ever had.
Yes, it’s a somewhat historic property…. but the blueberries….are simply out of this world.

That’s the big difference: HipCamp sites charge for the stay and offer more amenities.

HipCamp hosts offer:

• tent camping
• RV parks
• cabins
• treehouses
• yurts
• glamping*

*Glamping is glamorous camping, or comfortable camping with lots of amenities like regular beds.

Stay at Tin Willows and milk a sheep!

Hosts are sharing their private property. Some offer added experiences like picking berries at the blueberry farm or meeting the sheep at the Tin Willows Milk a Sheep Camp in Oregon.

The HipCamp website also lists public camping places like state park campgrounds, though some have to be booked direct through park websites.

You’ll notice a theme of protecting and regenerating the environment at HipCamp, with features on supporting Monarch butterflies, protecting wild places and stargazing.

Rural tourism potential

HipCamp sites are almost all in rural areas or small communities.

For rural tourist businesses like wineries and agritourism farms, it may make sense to sign up as a host.

Want to try it out first? Consider something like Harvest Hosts at first, while you’re still building up your amenities.

Tourism pros: practical steps to take

For rural tourism promoters, this is a tool to watch. Whether you work at a tourism bureau, chamber or other organization, make time to learn more about this.

Find out which of your businesses are listed by searching the site.

Recommend it to appropriate local businesses. Start with wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and your agritourism folks who already offer camping or cabins.

Tie in with your blogger or influencer tours. Get inspired by Deb Brown’s story of a Harvest Tour you could copy.

What about local RV camps? Won’t this competition hurt them?

HipCamp will attract a different kind of camper than standard RV campsites. They’re targeting different parts of the market.

—

Photo from HipCamp: screenshot of Historic Blueberry.

Photos CC from Flickr: Yurt and cabin photos by Myles Tan, tents and sheep camp by Matt Zimmerman

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RV travelers, vanlifers and other self-contained nomads can stay at interesting destinations with Harvest Hosts. Stays feature wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and more. 

There’s a membership fee for campers to join, but no camping fee when they stay. Guests are encouraged to buy at least one thing from their hosts during their stay.

One guest summarized the exchange as, “buy a bottle of wine, camp for free. Ok.”

Harvest Hosts also owns Boondockers Welcome, another membership site for RV tourists. Boondockers’ hosts offer private property but aren’t necessarily commercial. Camping spaces may be just a parking spot in a driveway. 

Both sites are geared to self-contained campers, not tents.

Rural tourism potential

By definition, a large proportion of the Harvest Hosts sites will be in rural areas or small communities.

The appeal is obvious, in this list borrowed from Erin at Gyspyn’ Around: 

Vineyards vs. Parking lots
Starry skies vs. Streetlights
Peacefulness vs. Ruckus

For rural tourist businesses like wineries and agritourism farms, it may make sense to sign up as a host.

Tourism pros: practical steps to take

For rural tourism promoters, this is a tool to watch. Whether you work at a tourism bureau, chamber or other organization, make time to learn more about this.

Find out which of your businesses are listed by asking them. Ask around to see if you know a member who can let you browse for others nearby. Does your state or territory tourism group have a membership so they can browse for you?

Recommend it to appropriate local businesses. Start with wineries, farms, breweries, museums, and your agritourism folks.

Tie in with your blogger or influencer tours. Get inspired by Deb Brown’s story of a Harvest Tour you could copy.

Use it as a way to help potential campsite owners to test the waters. Anyone who owns some empty lots could potentially support a few visitors, and serving as a free host may help them find out if they’re interested in growing a business.

Add more lodging for special events. Hosting a major event, but lack the hotel or lodging space needed? Maybe some informal RV camping will help.

Does your organization have some property that could host self-contained RVs? Think of empty lots, undeveloped parks or underused properties. See if you can find a way to list it and boost visitors.

What about local RV camps? Won’t this competition hurt them?

Both Harvest Hosts and Boondockers Welcome limit stays to just one or a few nights, provide no or only limited services like hookups, and restrict what type of campers are accepted.

In other words, there’s plenty of other business to be had. A few overnights at wineries won’t hurt your RV campsites. Sooner or later, those RVs or vans will need to stop for services.

Encourage your Harvest Hosts to share info about nearby full-service campsites with their guests. Win-win.

Top photo CC by sf-dvs, small photo CC by Suzanne Schroeter, both from Flickr

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The Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts are still visible near Lakin in Western Kansas. You can walk across the little dam, past the tree and right out to the original trail, but there isn’t a lot to see.

Here’s a closer view of the ruts. The ruts are running diagonally from top left toward the lower right. It’s still not what you’d call much to see, and the “Wagon Ruts” sign isn’t terribly helpful.

For places like this where the is little left to see, a smart addition would be a “look through” sign like this one, shared with me by Doug Mackenzie. You look through the sign, and it shows you where things used to be.

If you stand in the right place and line up the outline of the courthouse with the actual courthouse in the distance, you can see the locations and outlines of other buildings that were there in 1920.

Imagine a similar design showing wagons and people walking. When you looked through the sign and lined up the horizon, the outlines of wagons and people would line up with the remains of the Santa Fe Trail ruts. I think that would be cool.

Here’s the Kansas Historical Marker at the site, describing how to find the ruts.

Another obvious addition is any mention of the Indigenous people. The marker mentions “attack” but no context or story about the conflict between people here. It would be another way to add value and meaning to the scant remains of the old Santa Fe Trail.

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The famous Royal Theater in Archer City, Texas, still has its front facade and part of the side wall. In the back, it’s a roofless building that’s turned into an event space. Photo by Sheila Scarborough.

A building that is falling down or where the roof has fallen in can still be useful. One example is the Royal Theater, in Archer City, Texas.

The Royal Theater was featured in the movie “The Last Picture Show,” and production crews did the work to shore up the facade. The space behind has a shed roof helping to enclose a small open air event space. On the theater’s website, a neighboring building is used for indoor events.

Any small town can save their important facades, and create open air event spaces behind them. 

Tourism expert Sheila Scarborough sent us these photos from her recent visit to Archer City. Read more about her visit in All Booked Up in Archer City.

Bike tourists. Photo by Baker County Tourism

Have you got a “coming soon” biking trail? Or a biking trail that is not completely finished yet? Well, don’t keep it a secret!

A couple of places I’ve visited lately, I’ve heard about trails that are in the partially-finished stage. Some segments of the trail have been improved, others are still rough.

“Once the trail is finished,” people say, “we’ll promote it.” 

“When it’s done, we’ll see a lot more visitors.” 

But why are you waiting? If people can ride or bike on even part of t now legally, then it’s ready enough to tell the world. Even if there are parts that are unimproved.

Not all bike riders are looking for perfectly smooth easy rides. There are plenty of riders out there who are thrilled by a challenging ride. You could be attracting all kinds of riders now, matching them up to the kinds of rides they can expect to find.

People who start coming to enjoy your trail now will feel like they’re discovering something new, a hidden gem. They’ll have a sense of investment as they come back year after year and see improvements. They’ll talk about you to other riders, gaining some status from being in the know.

Start talking about your not-quite-finished trail as an “emerging” trail. One that’s partly ready now and steadily improving.

Put it on trail listings and online maps as “partly improved.” (Just search your state name and “bike trails” or ask bikers where to list it.) Clearly mark which parts are improved and which aren’t. Be scrupulously honest about current conditions, so people know which segments are right for them. 

Bonus points: Include a link in your new listing for the donation page where people can help fund improvements.

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