Pennsylvanians hoping for flood of visitors

Johnstown, Pa. This blue-collar city, known mainly for the infamous Johnstown Flood of 1889, plans to launch a $500,000 tourism marketing campaign to let potential visitors know that the “flood’s over” and it’s safe to come back.

The Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Convention and Visitors Bureau wrestled with the problem of how to best attract tourists to the town where 2,209 people died in the flood.

They decided that they would tackle their catastrophic legacy head-on.

The Kaiser Group, a Pittsburgh firm, was brought in to help fashion a series of billboards and other marketing schemes.

A prototype billboard features old-fashioned, lace-up boots with pant cuffs much too high and the words “Flood’s over! Come back to Johnstown, Pa.”

Historic homes on tour

Atlanta A historic Atlanta neighborhood designed by famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted will sponsor a home and garden tour next month.

Druid Hills was featured in the film “Driving Miss Daisy” and has 100-year-old mansions on tree-lined avenues. It was one of the South’s earliest planned communities.

Olmsted is best known for planning New York City’s Central Park.

The tour is April 19 through 21. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

For information, call (404) 524-8687 or visit www.druidhills.org.

Ten views to remember

The United States’ 10 best panoramic views, as selected by the Society of American Travel Writers:

1. New York City (many locations)

2. South or North Rim, Grand Canyon, Ariz.

3. Na Pali Cliffs from helicopter, Kauai, Hawaii

4. Monument Valley, Ariz.

5. San Francisco, from Golden Gate Bridge

6. Yosemite Valley, Calif.

7. Chicago skyline, from Lake Michigan

8. Big Sur, Calif.

9. Diamond Head, Honolulu

10. National Mall, Washington, D.C.