My friend Holly (and an alum of Loveland High School) knows of Appalachia, and she forwarded me this story from CNN about the Appalachain Regional Commission’s decision to build its 13-state geotourism map.

The commission has partnered with the National Geographic Society to develop a “geotourism” map promoting an eclectic mix of more than 350 attractions reflecting the diversity of the 13-state region.

It’s amazing how often I’m confronted with people who have little knowledge about Appalachia, outside the requisite knowledge of Jeff Foxworthy, Nashville, and NASCAR. There is, in fact, much more to my native home.

And, as the story points out, tourism is likely necessary to help sustain long-term growth.

$11 will buy you the map.