Troy and Pike County will be featured as one of the Alabama Tourism Department’s Alabama Road Trips in the state’s three-year travel promotion.

The state’s Alabama Road Trips promotion kicked off at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in 2012 and will continue through 2014.

Jennifer Kornegay, a travel writer, was in the county Tuesday to visit several sites that will be included in the statewide promotion.

“The Department of Tourism will release about 40 Road Trips each year on its Alabama Road Trips website,” Kornegay said. “The really good thing about the website is that once a road trip is highlighted, it will stay on the website.”

Kornegay said the Pike County Road Trip is scheduled to be in next group of featured trips.

“I have been to Pike County before and I’m familiar with several of the sites that will be included on the Road Trip,” she said. “The idea is to highlight sites and events that travelers can enjoy at different times of the year.”

Kornegay visited the Pioneer Museum of Alabama and the Johnson Center for the Arts in Troy and City Antiques and the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge.

Although it was not possible for her to visit all of the restaurants and downtown destinations that will possibly be included on the Pike County Road Trip, Kornegay did get input from several sources including Shelia Jackson, Troy director of tourism; DeJerilyn Henderson, Troy City Council member, and Catherine Jordan, Colley Senior Complex director.

“I was impressed with all Troy and Pike County have to offer as a Road Trip destination,” she said. “The Pioneer Museum has an outstanding collection of artifacts in the main building and a large number of historic structures on the grounds. It is a great point of interest for a Road Trip.”

Kornegay was impressed with the Johnson Center facility as well as the exhibitions in both the upper and level galleries. Although the exhibitions change periodically, the quality of the exhibits will attract art enthusiasts year around, she said.

Jackson said being among the 100 Alabama Road Trips will bring attention to Troy and Pike County and should create a lot of interest in the county.

“Publicity is good if it’s positive, and to be recognized on the state’s website is very positive publicity,” Jackson said. “When travelers are looking for destinations and can find a trip, whether it’s an overnight trip or day trip, that has been planned out for them, that is a real advantage.”

Jackson expressed appreciation to Kornegay for spending time in the county.

“We have a lot to offer travelers in Troy and Pike County,” she said. “The more informed travelers are, the better chance we have of them spending time with us. We especially appreciate the efforts of the Alabama Tourism Department to highlight all regions of our state. The regions are all different and that makes Alabama a great state to visit from the mountains in the north to the Gulf Coast and everywhere in between.”