• Two $50 prizes every day
• Two $100 prizes every week
• $500 grand prize
• Great way to boost your online writing skills

LIVE MAP of locations in contest entries! Only 200 can be displayed at a time, so zoom in to see all the entries in a certain region.

AHOY ME HEARTIES!! This September, HubPages be settin’ sail and surfin’ the wide open Internet for local buried treasures. Care to come aboard, ye scurvy dog? There be lots of loot for those brave enough to join!

This month’s contest, dubbed HubPages Marks the Spot, is all about sharing local treasures using HubPages’ new map capsule. Every week, we’ve got a new theme- from local restaurants and attractions to favorite vacation destinations, and with every location-based hub you write, you’re entered to win a wide variety of prizes.

Here is a brief summary of the rules, but please read the full Official Rules at the bottom of this page before starting, since you are bound by their terms by participating:

1. Create a HubPages account, if you don’t have one. It costs nothing, and only takes a minute. And you only have to do it once!
2. Find out the week’s topic. Look at the Topic Calendar below for the full list. As you will see, Week 1 is for articles about venues of bars, restaurants, and the like, Week 2 is for articles on local shopping and services, Week 3 is about local highlights attractions, and Week 4 is about vacation destinations.Remember, the week's topic begins at noon (PT) every Wednesday and continues until 11:59 a.m. the subsequent Wednesday.
3. Publish up to five new, original Hubs, per day on that topic. You might also want to check the @HubPagesDotCom twitter feed and Facebook page for bonus topics.

Keep in mind that all entries MUST...

• Be categorized within the Travel and Places Category
• Include the week’s keyword (the keyword is “hmtswk1” for week 1, “hmtswk2” for week 2, etc...)
• Include at least one relevant map capsule with a marked location or set of locations
• Be a minimum of 300 words
• Contain completely original content
• Be about about locations that are truly related to the week’s topic (and not only vaguely-related to the topic)

... in order to qualify.

Every eligible Hub, up to a maximum of 5 per day, published on the right topic, categorized correctly, before noon PT the next day, will be eligible.

The Daily Bonus Topic: In a @HubPagesDotCom tweet and Facebook Wall Post published at noon (PT) every day, a Bonus Topic related to the week’s theme will be posted.

Any participant to publish a hub on that topic within 24 hours and share its link as a tweet, replying to @HubPagesDOTcom with a #HubPagesContest hashtag, or as a comment on that day’s Bonus Topic Facebook Wall Post, will be granted 3 additional entries in the day's Daily Doubloon Drawing, as if 3 eligible Hubs had been published. (This does not have any bearing on the 5 per-day Hub limit, so you could potentially earn 8 entries in the Daily Doubloon Drawing for a day if you publish 5 eligible Hubs and one of them adheres to the Bonus Topic. Only three additional entries will be granted to each Bonus Topic participant per day).

Judging criteria for HubPages Marks the Spot:

• search-friendly topic/title of appropriate scope*
• map capsule(s) with marked highlights
• engaging, informative writing
• photos, especially your own
• judicious use of other capsules, including tables, videos, etc.

* a short, descriptive, to-the-point title that addresses a type of restaurant, business, or other highlight in a specific geographic area. Ideally, you’d profile 3-5 spots in each Hub. Here are two examples: Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Orange County, CA and Best Brunch Spots in Oakland, California.

Week 1 Around the Harbor: Restaurants, Bars, Clubs and the Like: : Consists of hubs about local restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, clubs, lounges, and other sources of sustenance and entertainment.

Tag: hmtswk1

Sample Hub Titles:

• Best Tacos in Las Vegas
• Best Thai restaurants in Princeton, NJ
• Late-night bars in Myrtle Beach
• Paintball Facilities on Long Island, NY

Week 1 starts at 12:01pm PT September 1 and ends at 12:00pm PT September 8

Week 2: Around the Harbor: Shopping & Services: Features hubs about your local stores, shops, markets, physical therapists, spas, doctor’s offices, DMV, library, and any other nearby venues of supplies and assistance.

Tag: hmtswk2

Sample Hub Titles:

• Hardware stores in Tempe, AZ
• Health food grocery stores in Ottawa
• Best, honest mechanics in Indianapolis
• Great dentists for children in Inland Empire, CA

Week 2 starts at 12:01pm PT September 8 and ends at 12:00pm PT September 15

Week 3: Around the Harbor: Local Highlights and Attractions: Includes hubs on charming recreational sights, such as parks, hikes, historical areas, museums, picnic areas, haunted houses, and any other place to unwind or gawk at.

Tag: hmtswk3

Sample Hub Titles:

• Stadiums and Arenas in San Jose, California
• Best hikes in Aurora, Colorado
• Architectural tour of Perth, Australia
• Modern art museums in Houston

Week 3 starts at 12:01pm PT September 15 and ends at 12:00pm PT September 22

Week 4: Out to Sea: Vacation Destinations: Involves hubs on your favorite vacation spots- from the best places to snorkel and English-friendly restaurants to local emergency resources for injured, lost, or broke visitors.

Tag: hmtswk4

Sample Hub Titles:

• Best hostels with private rooms in Paris
• Beaches around San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Bars and nightclubs in Curitiba
• Vietnamese cooking courses in Hanoi

Week 4 starts at 12:01pm PT September 22 and ends at 12:00pm PT September 29

An ongoing list of winners will be posted on this page. Bonus Topics as well as Treasure of the Day and Daily Doubloon Drawing winners will be posted in the Topic Calendar.

Please read official rules (below) for complete details and eligibility information.

The HubPages Marks the Spot Contest – Official Rules

No purchase or payment necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning.

Contest Description

Contest begins at 12:01 P.M. (PT) on September 1, 2010, and ends at 12:00 noon (PT) on September 30, 2010 (the “Promotion Period). Cash prizes (the “Prizes”) will be awarded (the “Awarding”) to the eligible entrants with the winning entries in accordance with these Official Rules.

ELIGIBILITY:

THE CONTEST IS NOT OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF CUBA, IRAN, IRAQ, SYRIA, NORTH KOREA, MYANMAR (FORMERLY BURMA), SUDAN, PUERTO RICO OR THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. This contest is void in these countries and any other jurisdiction where prohibited and restricted by law. YOU MUST BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF ENTRY TO PARTICIPATE. Entrants must participate by way of an Internet Service Provider or other method of Internet access and have a personal e-mail address. You must live in a country where you can receive contest earnings via PayPal, since this is our method of disbursement. Employees of YieldBuild Inc. and its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies, and the immediate family members and/or those living in the same household as such employees are not eligible to enter or win. All national, federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

HOW TO ENTER:

To enter, visit http://hubpages.com/topics/travel-and-places/5482 and follow the directions in the HubPages Marks the Spot tab. All eligible Hubs, up to a maximum of five (5) per day, that are published for the first time between 12:00 noon (PT) on one day and 11:59 AM (PT) the subsequent day during the Promotion Period are considered for the daily drawing (the "Daily Doubloon Drawing") and weekly and final winners (the "Best TreasureHub Winner", "Pirate's Choice Winner" and "Grand HubBuccaneer Winner"). Each eligible Hub is only eligible for the Daily Doubloon Drawing for the day on which the Hub is first published. Eligible entries can only eligible for the Daily Doubloon Drawing, Best TreasureHub Winner and Pirate’s Choice Winner once. To be eligible for a day's Daily Doubloon Drawing, the Hub must be written on the week’s topic, must be categorized appropriately in the Travel and Places category (or one of its subcategories), must have a minimum of 300 words, and must be significantly unique from other Hubs and other Web pages. To be eligible for a week's Best TreasureHub and Pirate's Choice prizes, or the Grand HubBuccaneer prize, the Hub must be written on the week's topic, must be categorized appropriately in the week's topic subcategory (or one of its subcategories), must have a minimum of 300 words, and must be significantly unique from other Hubs and other Web pages. Eligibility for any prize requires the Hub to have been created and published in accordance with the HubPagesTerms of Use and must otherwise comply with the terms of these Official Rules. In addition, all entrants writing on the Daily Bonus Topic, to be posted on Facebook and Twitter, within 24 hours of the topic’s posting, will win an additional three (3) entries (chances) in the day's Daily Doubloon Drawing.

YieldBuild Inc. is not responsible for lost, late, misdirected, or incomplete entries, technical or software malfunctions, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete or delayed electronic communications. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of any winning entry, the entry will be deemed submitted by the record holder of the e-mail account from which the entry originated. Use of any automated or robotic devices to create Hubs is prohibited and such entries shall be void. Proof of submission does not constitute proof of receipt.

AWARDINGS/PRIZES AND ODDS:

The Awarding of the Daily Doubloon Drawing and and Treasure of the Day Winners will be conducted on or about 4pm (PT) at the end of each day's eligibility period from among all eligible entries received, beginning September 2, 2010 (12pm on the Monday following weekend entries), and continuing every day until September 30, 2010. Odds of winning any Daily Doubloon Drawing or Treasure of the Day Awarding depend on the number of eligible entries for that Awarding. Each Daily Doubloon Drawing and Treasure of the Day Winner will receive US$50, payable through PayPal.

The Awarding of the weekly Best TreasureHub Winner and Pirate's Choice Winner will be conducted on or about 4pm (PT) on the Friday after the week's contest period, or September 10, 17, 24, and October 1. Every week, the Best TreasureHub Winner will be chosen by HubPages-appointed judges or HubPages. Every week, the People's Choice Winner will be chosen through a poll administered on the contest page, which will feature the seven (7) Treasure of the Day Hubs selected by HubPages, and which will run from approximately noon (PT) on Wednesday through noon (PT) on Friday for approximately 48 hours; the Hub receiving the highest number of eligible votes will be declared the Winner. Odds of winning any Best TreasureHub Awarding or Pirate's Choice Awarding depend on the number of eligible entries for that Awarding. Each Best TreasureHub Winner and Pirate's Choice Winner will receive US$100, payable through PayPal.

The Awarding of the Grand HubBuccaneer Prize will be conducted on or about 12pm (PT) on October 4, 2010, from among the four Best TreasureHub Winners. Odds of winning the Grand HubBuccaneer Awarding depend on the number of eligible entries for that Awarding. The Grand HubBuccaneer Winner will receive US$500, payable through PayPal.

Winner must have an active and functioning PayPal account in order to receive the prize, and will be responsible for any and all fees and taxes associated with the cash transfer. Winner will be notified by e-mail at the e-mail address associated with the HubPages account. Winner may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability, and where legally permissible publicity release within seven days following attempted notification. Failure to comply within this time period may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.

PARTICIPATION/ACCEPTANCE OF RULES:

By participating, entrants agree to the Official Rules and Terms of Use and agree to accept and be bound by the decisions of YieldBuild Inc. which shall be final and binding.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:

YieldBuild Inc., in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person who tampers or is suspected of tampering with the entry process or who is otherwise in violation of the Official Rules and void all associated entries. CAUTION; ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, YIELDBUILD INC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OR OTHER RELIEF FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

If, for any reason, the contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by a computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized, intervention, fraud, technical failures, human intervention, technical, human or other error, or any causes beyond the control of YieldBuild Inc. which corrupt or affect the administration, security fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this contest, YieldBuild Inc. reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the contest. In the event of cancellation or termination, YieldBuild Inc. reserves the right to select the winner for the Awarding impacted from among all eligible entries received prior to termination or cancellation. In no event will YieldBuild Inc. be responsible or liable for more than the number of prizes stated herein.

All federal, state and local taxes associated with the acceptance of the prize, are solely the responsibility of the winner.

No substitution or transfer of prizes permitted. This contest will be governed by the laws of the State of California. Any and all legal actions or claims arising in connection with this giveaway must be brought in the State or Federal Courts in San Francisco, California.

By participating in the giveaway, each participant agrees to release and hold YieldBuild Inc. and its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives, its parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, and fulfillment agencies, and legal advisors, harmless from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with the sweepstakes or resulting from acceptance, possession, or use of any prize.

WINNER:

The winners’ usernames will be posted on the HubPages.com website, on this page.
Sponsored by: YieldBuild Inc., 95 Minna St, San Francisco, CA 94105.