Honeymoon in Annapolis

Sometimes the wrong number can turn out to be the right one.

Michelle Mattiske, 49, of Waterford, N.Y., said she's had at least two experiences in which that sage wisdom has proven true. The first time happened nine years ago when the man she is about to marry, then a complete stranger, misdialed a coworker's phone number and got her instead, thus beginning their "fairy tale relationship."

The second happened just last week. In an online wedding contest called Saratoga Race Course's Race to the Altar challenge, Ms. Mattiske and her beau Jim Barbetta, 54, were hoping for honeymoon option No. 2, a Royal Caribbean cruise, of three destination choices. Instead, they got an all-expense paid trip to the fair city of Annapolis.

As the winners of the contest, the couple will be married in the winner's circle of the racetrack Aug. 29, but voters determined the rest of their wedding, as well as their post-wedding plans. Just days ago, 1,170 New York metro area residents cast their votes on where the two will honeymoon.

And 58 percent of them chose package No. 1, a five-day stay in Annapolis, squelching the competition, with the cruise receiving 36 percent of the votes and Las Vegas getting just 6 percent.

"We were actually hoping for the cruise, but that was only because it was the only one of the three that wouldn't begin during the closing day of the races," she said. "But the people at the (Annapolis) Visitors Bureau have been very accommodating and are letting us leave a day later, so it worked out well."

And as for what she and Mr. Barbetta think of their predetermined vacationing plans: "We think it's great. Neither one of us has ever been to Annapolis, and it looks beautiful," she said.

Susan Steckman, vice president of communications at the visitors bureau, said she believes the majority of voters who selected Annapolis probably did so, in part, due to the beautiful photo of Ego Alley posted beside the package description.

"I think that the variety of what we had to offer - if the voting public was advocating for the couple - perhaps they saw they would have many wonderful things to do here. Like a personalized walking tour of the historic district," Ms. Steckman said.

The honeymooners' package includes airfare, limousine services and luxury stays at Harbor View Inn, Loews Annapolis Hotel or The O'Callaghan Hotel. Aside from historic tours, sailing lessons and paddling excursions, the trip also features a variety of massage and body treatments, including a few exotic offerings like a chocolate body wrap and champagne facial at Annapolis Day Spa.

Ms. Mattiske said the uniqueness of the open itinerary has piqued her interest.

"I'm excited about the cruise on the schooner from the 'The Wedding Crashers,' " Ms. Mattiske said.

Yankee Trails World Travel agency coordinated the three options for the Race to the Altar contest. Because the agency opted to use airfare provided by Southwest Airlines, Annapolis' name was thrown in as a suggestion during the competition's planning stages. The Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference Center and Visitors Bureau was approached to participate in the contest, and local tourism officials eagerly jumped on the opportunity to promote the city.

"We got in on it right away," Ms. Steckman said. "The New York metro area is a wonderful feeder market for Anne Arundel County. So this helps to further our marketing efforts in a big way."

The national economic slowdown has taken its toll on many tourist destinations, and Annapolis has likewise suffered financially from some of the recession's ripples. As of late, the visitors bureau has attempted to get creative with advertising campaigns in order to combat the problem.

In May, the bureau launched a $15,000 radio campaign with commercials advertising to D.C. listeners "Trips on a Tank Full," a vacation getaway close enough that it won't eat a hole in your wallet because of rising fuel prices.

The bureau's participation in Race to the Altar is just one more effort to increase the city's exposure to travelers.

The bureau wouldn't mind if Race to the Altar helps to spark a trend of Annapolis becoming a premiere honeymoon destination, Ms. Steckman said.

"We certainly see Annapolis as a wonderful place for honeymooners," she said. "Our sales office has already helped many a bride and groom plan a destination wedding here, so we hope the additional visibility will encourage more to plan to come here."