The goal of a travel guide is to influence a trip or inspire travelers however our travel guide challenged us to really connect with both community and visitor. Our goal of the Knox County Visitor Guide Magazine was to connect our community with pride and connect our visitor with their unexplored passions. Our planning process began in June of 2021, when we met with Great Lakes Publishing and told them our “new story”. Our recent rebrand and discovery helped us understand that Knox County is a place for a curious explorer, someone who is willing to participate in a tangible experience that will leave them wanting more; someone willing to explore the unexplored and unexpected of Knox County. This guide was built on the foundation of authentic storytelling. We needed this piece to be more than words and pictures, but stories from the people who make this place so special. Previous guides (were in black and white, newspaper paper) provided lists, facts, and pictures, but this guide addressed the need of connection. Connecting community members to our guests, having them show authentic pride and share their own stories. Our intention was to implant a feeling of belong here with us, whether it was one day or a few nights. Released in April 2022, we placed the call to action on our guests to get out there and pull back the curtain on their own curiosity, and it may just lead them to some place unexpected, in Knox County.
