Does Your Holiday Destination Hold a Secret Landmark?

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Travelers Find Unique Holiday Landmarks Through www.hamptonlandmarks.com and Rates from around $69(a) at Hampton Hotels

As travelers gas up their cars, dig out their mittens and buckle up the kids to visit family and friends this holiday season, Hampton(R) Hotels is providing Hit the Road(R) rates and ideas for quick "holiday stops" along the road trip. Millions of holiday travelers can spice up their car trip this season by first referencing the Hampton Hidden Landmarks(TM) Web site, www.hamptonlandmarks.com, to find hundreds of interesting sites and unique landmarks along their route, as well as more than 50 holiday themed locations.

From November 1, 2004 through January 31, 2005, participating Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels also are offering Holiday Hit the Road Rates(R)(a), with rates from around $69 per night every night. Hotel reservations can be booked directly through the brand Web site at hamptoninn.com or through hamptonlandmarks.com. Hotel reservations also can be made at 1-800-HAMPTON (1-800-426-7866), or by contacting a professional travel agent. (Customers seeking the promotional rate should use the promotional code HTR when making reservations.)

While most travelers already know their destination for the holidays, the Hampton Hidden Landmarks site can help turn the usual road trip into one with fun holiday magic along the way. Holiday themed stops are listed by state or region, or can be searched within Road Trips under "Holiday Road Trips" or "Holiday Movies" sites. Where is the location of the first Thanksgiving or the three U.S. cities named 'North Pole'? The answers are on www.hamptonlandmarks.com as well as other spots to help create a more memorable holiday trip, such as:

--Plimouth Plantation (sic): Celebrate Thanksgiving like the pilgrims in Plymouth, Mass. This living history museum includes an exhibit that leads visitors from present day celebrations and traditions backward through time, ending with a new look at the 1621 harvest celebration.

--"It's A Wonderful Life" High School: Visit the Beverly Hills High School gym where young Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed danced at the prom as the gym floor opened into a swimming pool.

--Giant Menorah: Each year in New York City prominent officials and leaders of the local Jewish community come together to light this famous 32-foot-tall golden menorah.

--A real Gingerbread Castle: Once recognized as one of America's first children's theme parks, the Gingerbread Castle in Hamburg, N.J., is a larger than life fairy-tale shrine inspired by the Brothers Grimm's classic story "Hansel and Gretel."

--The World's Largest Santa Claus: Appropriately residing in North Pole, Alaska, this 42-foot-tall statue was originally created for the 1962 World Fair in Seattle and later moved here.

The Hampton Hidden Landmarks site was developed in cooperation with Chris Epting, pop culture expert and author of books on roadside treasures and hidden landmarks. In addition, the site contains information on roadside landmarks and Route 66 tours which have been a part of the Explore the Highway with Hampton(R), Save-A-Landmark(TM) program, responsible for refurbishing roadside landmarks and historic sites for more than five years. Hampton accepts suggestions for restoring landmarks across the U.S. and Canada through the Web site.

About Hampton

Hampton, which includes Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels, is a mid-priced leader in the lodging segment. Hampton is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, which develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,200 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R).

(a) These rates (HTR) are available for stays seven days a week. Rates range from $49 to $169. Rates do not include taxes, gratuities and incidental charges. Rates are not available at all locations. Rates vary by location and are subject to availability. Advance booking required. Use Promotion Code HTR. Rate offer valid November 1, 2004, through January 31, 2004. (C) 2004 Hilton Hospitality, Inc.