A few southeast Nebraska locations are included in the 2012 Nebraska Passport program.  The Department of Economic Development’s Travel and Tourism Division created the Passport Program as a way to encourage travelers to explore Nebraska – and take home prizes.
 This year’s Passport program has been expanded to include 80 stops organized into 10 special interest tours – culinary, culture, family fun, festivals, golf. GROW Nebraska, parks, unique accommodations, water adventure, and wineries.
 Tourists who travel to featured locations receive a stamp at each stop.  Those who complete an interest tour will get a Passport T-Shirt; those who collect 25 stamps will get a $25 GROW Nebraska gift card; and those who get 40 stamps will get a digital camera.  A drawing will be held in October for an Apple iPad.
 Regional sites included in the 2012 Passport program include: Heritage Falls Candles of Falls City in the GROW Nebraska Tour; Schilling Bridge Winery of Pawnee City and Whiskey Run Creek Vineyard and Winery of Brownville on the Wineries Tour; Tree Adventure at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City on the Family Fun Tour; the AppleJack Festival in Nebraska City and the 51st Annual Czech Fest in Wilbur on the Festivals Tour; the River Inn Resort in Brownville in the Unique Accommodations Tour; and the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park in Nebraska City on the Parks Tour.
 The Department of Economic Development says more than 170 locations statewide applied to be part of the 2012 Passport program.