QC Wild Places - Fostering ecotourism in the region

River Action and a number of area partners have launched a website and program called QC Wild Places that describes dozens of natural areas within an hour's drive of the Quad-Cities and how to find them. At its heart, QC Wild Places highlights that nature thrives in the Midwest and the Quad Cities region is no exception. From the Mississippi River and its tributaries, to their floodplain wetlands and backwaters, to the wooded bluffs and upland plains, more than 16,000 acres of publicly accessible natural areas lie within an hour’s drive of the Quad Cities metro area.

The sheer scope of these natural areas is impressive, but their existence may come as a surprise to even the most avid local naturalists. Many of our best natural areas have been overlooked in favor of promoting our riverfronts and traditional tourist attractions – but “the times they are a-changin’.”

Eco-tourism and nature-based recreation is flourishing. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people.”

Since the 1990’s, it has been estimated global ecotourism is growing more than 20 percent annually, a rate nearly three times faster than the tourism industry as a whole.

Instead of planning vacations around popular attractions anchored to the hustle and bustle of world cities, ecotourists are spending time and money off the beaten path. They are seeking experiences of exploration and discovery, including hiking, bird watching, wildlife photography, snorkeling and SCUBA diving, sustainable hunting and fishing, and cultural immersion.

River Action has taken up the call to bring Quad Cities’ region natural areas to the attention of its communities and to foster ecotourism to these amazing resources. This effort is called “QC Wild Places.”