There's something about Appanoose County. And several writers were in the area Wednesday to find out what has made this county a burgeoning mecca for tourism.

Writers from Chicago, Missouri and Iowa Farm Bureau in West Des Moines, using Honey Creek Resort State Park as a base, made visits to the Exline Old Country Store, Bradley Hall, The Columns, Centerville's downtown square and The Continental before going to Albia Wednesday and returning to Honey Creek. The next day the plan was to take the writers out onto Rathbun Lake before going home.

Leading the merry band of journalists was Nancy Landess and Jessica O'Riley, both with the Iowa Tourism Office.

"We had more with us last night and they all have stayed at the resort," Landess said. "We know that when people are going to come to the resort, usually there is plenty of things for them to do there, but they're also going to venture out and go to some of the surrounding communities. So we want to acquaint these writers with what there is to see and do in the area."

The writers were impressed with the resort and the varied activities they have there.

"It's a beautiful resort," April Maher, who writes "Camping Journal," a syndicated monthly column for five midwestern papers and on the Web, said. "You can have anybody from any age group at that resort. Or camping. And they stay at the hotel or the cabin or camp. And so that takes care of a lot of people. And a family reunion, they structure a naturalist program for your family."

Teresa Bjork, a writer for Iowa Farm Bureau in West Des Moines, said she grew up in northern Iowa and was totally unaware of Rathbun Lake until she moved to Des Moines. And all it took was one camping trip to the lake with her family for her to realize the areas potential.

"And we were just so impressed by this area. It's a really nice kind of getaway within the state," Bjork said. "So I was happy to get a chance to come back here and get a really nice tour of the towns here. I think there's a lot people that don't realize what's here."