Mike McInally

The organizers of that “Stay and Play One More Day” campaign, designed to persuade visitors to Corvallis to linger another day here, are getting ready to roll out the campaign’s second phase.

And they’re calling for an assist from the public.

Perhaps you recall the first part of the “Stay and Play” campaign, spearheaded by Corvallis businesswoman Marti Staprans Barlow. The campaign encourages guests in Corvallis hotels to extend their stay an extra day, with room discounts and ideas for ways to spend that additional day. The idea is that the extra revenue generated helps boost the local economy – and increases the money collected in room taxes, which then is allocated to economic development organizations and local fairs and festivals.

The first phase of the campaign included the top 10 places in Benton County for a picnic with a view. That list was easy to come up with — the county is packed with great picnic spots, wonderful places to spend a sunny day.

The next phase, though, is a bit more of a challenge: The goal is to compile a list of the top 10 ways to spend a rainy Corvallis winter day.

Actually, there are those of us who like rainy days — especially those of us who come from spots like Montana with weather that tends to get a little more extreme. So one of my top 10 suggestions would be this one: “Gloat that you don’t have to shovel show any more.”

But that probably wouldn’t do much to convince someone in a Corvallis hotel to stay an extra day.

Some of the suggestions already in include these:

– Tour local wineries in a Prius or other environmentally sensitive car.

– Browse the shelves at The Book Bin or Grass Roots Books & Music or one of the area’s other bookstores.

– Climb the rock wall at Dixon Recreation Center on the Oregon State University campus.

But more ideas are needed. And that’s why Staprans Barlow is issuing the call for suggestions. They can be e-mailed to her at this address: marti@sandbassociates.com.

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