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MINNESOTA MRT MARKETING TOOLBOX <br />The Mississippi River Trail Bikeway Setting <br />The MRT is orientearound the <br />Mississippi River, a recognized <br />national treasure, and an <br />international icon, and offers a <br />rewarding bicycling experience for <br />visitors worldwide. Photo provided <br />by Explore Minnesota Tourism <br />Minnesota, where the Mississippi <br />River originates, offers unique <br />experiences. Here the Mississippi <br />River changes from a tiny, <br />meandering brook to a vast and <br />powerful river. Photo provided by <br />Explore Minnesota Tourism <br />Minnesota is segmented into the <br />same six regional destination <br />areas as the Great River Road <br />National Scenic Byway. Each area <br />offers a unique setting for <br />promoting local and regional <br />amenities and helping tourists <br />navigate focused trips. <br />SUMMARY VISION <br />NATIONAL SETTING <br />TEN STATES. ONE RIVER. <br />The Mississippi River runs through ten states —Minnesota, <br />Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, <br />Mississippi and Louisiana. The MRT is oriented around the <br />Mississippi River, a recognized national treasure and an <br />international icon, and offers a rewarding bicycling experience for <br />visitors worldwide. <br />Each state designs their portion of the route independently, based <br />on state standards, priorities, and resources, but collaborates with <br />other states to provide a cohesive route. MRT Inc, a non-profit <br />organization, was formed to help establish and advocate for the <br />route in all ten states. MRT, Inc. provided the 10-state map shown <br />on the following pages. <br />STATE SETTING <br />FROM THE HEADWATERS AT LAKE ITASCA TO THE IOWA BORDER <br />Minnesota contains the source of the Mississippi and has a special <br />role within the MRT bikeway. Minnesota is the only state where <br />people can see the mighty river as a small brook and easily walk <br />across it. Where most states share the river with a neighboring <br />state, Minnesota is unique in that a large portion of the river, and <br />the route, is entirely within its borders. <br />You will find a 10-state MRT map and Minnesota MRT maps on the <br />following pages. These maps and a detailed MRT mapbook can be <br />downloaded for your use and information at MnDOT's website <br />http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/mrt.html. <br />REGIONAL SETTING <br />DESTINATION AREAS IDENTIFIED BY REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />The authors of the Great River Road (GRR) Development Study <br />established the basic destination areas used by the GRR and MRT. <br />Dividing Minnesota into distinct destination areas promotes local <br />and regional amenities and helps travelers navigate focused trips. <br />Because the MRT experience varies significantly along the river, <br />these recognizable areas will help marketing partners develop a <br />ISETTINd MARKETING PRODUCT AUDIENCE STRATEGY PARTNERS SUPPORT <br />Minnesota Mississippi River Trail Bikeway Page 2-1 <br />