Minnesota's New Vacation Pitch: Biking, Anyone?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota's vacation season is underway, and state tourism officials are promoting a special kind of recreation this summer.

Gas prices have softened a bit, which could add to the number of Minnesotans driving to their favorite destination.

But spokeswoman Joan Hummel says the state tourism office is peddling something different:

"We actually have the best collection of paved 'rail-to-trail' bike trails in the nation" said Hummel. "So that's one secret we really, really want to uncover and let people know about."

Minnesota has more than 1,500 miles of paved trails and many designated biking routes.

It's part of a new campaign called Pedal Minnesota. And tourism officials see plenty of green, with biking generating more than $1 billion in spending in Minnesota.