The Intel AppUp Challenge is awarding the submitter of the best travel photo a $25,000 custom vacation for him/her and three friends or family members. If you don’t take home the grand prize, there is also a chance to win a $10,000 second prize and a $5000 third prize. Plus gift cards, Netbooks, and cash.
The Intel AppUp center is a source for thousands of free and paid applications which have been validated by Intel. You download the application to your Netbook, PC, and/or tablet to access apps for all sorts of things like travel, entertainment, sports, and hobbies (and much more).
Sorry Apple users, this one’s not for you.
Screenshot of Intel AppUp
After registering and downloading the free Intel AppUp software, you can send in your best travel photo to be voted on by the public (must be registered to vote). If your photo has the most votes when 17:00 PST hits on August 14, 2011, you and three others are going on a vacation on Intel’s dime.
Second and third place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5000 custom vacations respectively. But that’s not all. Keep reading for more ways to win…
Throughout the challenge, up to three micro-challenges will be presented. To enter, you will need to click to send a Micro-Challenge email to a friend or family member. The first 10 people to have a friend or family member register and download the AppUp software within the specified time limit will win a $25 gift card.
Girls just wanna have fun in Manzanillo, Cuba (Photo: author)
There are also two different weekly draws for prizes:
1. For simply registering and downloading AppUp, you will automatically be entered to win a $500 prize. One winner will be selected every week until the end of the Challenge (August 14).
2. If you’ve entered the Travel Photo contest, you will also be entered for a weekly draw to win a Toshiba Mini Netbook (worth approx. $260). Cool part: even if you win a Netbook you’re still eligible to win the grand prize should your photo receive the most votes.
The contest is open to all legal residents of the United States (excluding New York) and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are over 18 years of age at the time of entry.
For more details on the contest rules, click here. 
[Editor’s note: this post was created in partnership with Intel]