Leisure Group Travel Magazine June 2014 by Premier Travel Media

JUNE 2014

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The Brienzer Rothorn steam powered cogwheel train in the Bernese Oberland

Panoramic pleasures. Explore the ten most beautiful routes in Switzerland by rail, bus and boat: Discover Switzerland at its best through breathtaking scenery, vibrant cities and a wide variety of day trips..

Lucerne - in the heart of Switzerland Lucerne has it all: the great transport museum, the first and the steepest cogwheel railways, a narrowgauge panoramic train, and historic steamships on Lake Lucerne. Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and watch shops, the impressive mountainous panorama and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi and Mt. Pilatus, the town is a destination for many travel groups: A train buff‘s paradise!

Zurich Zürich has much to offer: an active cultural scene with over 50 museums and more than 100 galleries, leading hotel and catering establishments, shopping facilities featuring international labels and sophisticated Zürich brands, as well as a vibrant nightlife. Numerous lakeside and riverside lidos are located in the center of the city, and the Uetliberg, Zürich‘s local mountain, is ideal for hiking. Zürich is also a leading location for science and business and is characterized by exceptional accessibility and excellent infrastructure.

The Swiss Travel System New in 2014 the Swiss Travel System has launched an exclusive new attraction, the Swiss Peak Pass. When purchased in combination with a 4-day or 8-day Swiss Pass, it entitles you to unlimited travel up to eight of Switzerland‘s most scenic summits - the Allalin, Brienzer Rothorn, Cardada, Corvatsch, Niesen, Rochers-de-Naye, Säntis, Stanserhorn CabriO.

To book a group of 10 or more, visit raileurope.com/groups or call 1-800-462-2577

Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area/Sue Ellen Hosch

VOL. 24, NO. 3 • JUNE 2014

contents COVER STORY

ON THE COVER: Tour planners look to Iowa for a true taste of America’s heartland. (Photo courtesy Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area/Daenna Newkirk, Des Moines, IA)

45 Iowa Tour Guide This special section abounds with ideas for showcasing the state’s pleasures and treasures.

Adventure Travelers: The Inside Scoop Australian Adventures

SEVENTH ANNUAL ITINERARY PLANNING GUIDE Tour planners will find enticing sample trips in each regional section of this annual special issue.

SPECIAL FEATURES

10 13 16

BY LAUREN REINIGER

BY RANDY MINK

Avalon’s Small Ships Make Big Ripples in Europe

COLUMNS

On My Mind BY JEFF GAYDUK

BY JEFF GAYDUK

88 91 95

Tracks Across Europe Best Scenic Rail Trips

BY RANDY MINK

On Tour BY MARTY SARBEY DE SOUTO

BY DON HEIMBURGER

Top Sightseeing Cruises

BY LAUREN REINIGER

On Marketing BY DAVE BODLE

REGIONAL COVERAGE CANADA

20 22

The Green Acres of Montreal

BY RANDY MINK

Quebec’s First Nations and First Settlers

SOUTH

24 27 33 36

Jacksonville: More Than Beaches BY DAVE BODLE Exploring Charleston, West Virginia BY DAVE BODLE Winston-Salem Welcomes Groups Sample Itineraries: South

BY DAVE BODLE

MIDWEST

Sample Itineraries: Midwest

WEST

76 79

Fargo Has Plenty to Offer Groups Sample Itineraries: West

NORTHEAST

82 84

DC Developments BY RANDY MINK Sample Itineraries: Northeast

BY LAUREN REINIGER

Visiting the apothecary shop at Old Salem Museums & Gardens in North Carolina

NUMBER CRUNCHING

2¼ ON LOCATION Going Dutch - Publisher Jeff Gayduk explores the Netherlands on a recent excursion aboard Avalon Waterways. See story, page 16

OUR BAD

Hours between London and Paris on a Eurostar train

1937 Year the first Krispy Kreme shop opened in Winston-Salem

o make good on an error in the “Top Theatre Picks” article in April’s Leisure Group Travel, we provide the following information: Dallas Summer Musicals, which features Broadway musicals, is not showing “Stomp” or “Jersey Boys” this season. “Stomp” was presented in early April by Performing Arts Fort Worth (Bass Hall), and “Jersey Boys” will be presented in June by Performing Arts Fort Worth (Bass Hall).

OUR GOOD

ats off to Randy Mink, managing editor of Leisure Group Travel, who has been named the 2014 Mark Twain Travel Writer of the Year in the annual Midwest Travel Writers Association contest. His winning articles were on Norwegian coastal cruising, which appeared in the October 2013 issue of Leisure Group Travel, and Berlin, published in Leisure Group Travel online.

840

Square miles in Jacksonville, largest city in the continental U.S.

105,549 Population of Fargo, North Dakota

55 Native species of kangaroos and wallabies in Australia

1 Iowa’s national ranking in egg, soybean, hog and corn production

555 Height in feet of the Washington Monument

By Jeffrey Gayduk

O N MY M I N D

Vol. 24, No. 3 June 2014

New Experiences TWENTY-SIX YEARS AGO I had a toothache. Complaining to a fellow worker, she heaped praise on her local dentist and practically threw his number to me. Suffering from years of neglect, I got to be quite close to this fellow for a period of time and have been a regular patient since. I’ve grown to admire Dr. S, not just for his dental skills, but for his love of travel. On annual check-ups we’d swap travel stories, and I’m continually astonished by his ability to recall even the slightest details of a vacation and deliver the story to me like he’s telling it the first time – even though he’s probably on the 100th rendition. Little does he know that he WAS social media way before Zuckerberg. A few weeks ago, just before going on stage for a presentation to a room of tourism delegates in Branson, Missouri, I chipped a filling. I knew immediately this wasn’t good, but managed to get through the presentation without sounding like Sylvester the Cat. On the way to the airport I called Dr. S and told him of my plight, and he agreed to see me upon my return. As we both prepped for the appointment, Dr. S sprang the news that after 50 years in dentistry he was hanging up his toothbrush. Equally parts sad that I have to open my mouth to a foreign pick, and excited for him about this new phase in his life, I learned that Dr. S and Mrs. S were moving to Texas to be closer to their two sons, and, of course, travel. New experiences for Dr. S, new visitors for Texas. This past week I traveled to Minneapolis for probably the 25th time in my professional career. Unlike previous trips, I dedicated my time to discovering fresh new travel products, thanks to the CVB’s 19 new Signature Experiences. These new group products provide a deeper dive on existing tourist attractions, while creating new experiences with non-traditional players, thanks to the innovative mind of Joe Veneto. Joe possesses the innate ability to turn vanilla travel experiences into Ben & Jerry’s, and the work he’s done with destinations like Columbus, Philadelphia and Virginia Beach fits precisely into what today’s consumers are seeking in a vacation experience. For Minneapolis, new experiences create new opportunities for growth. While at this event I received a text message and photo from my wife. It was the back of a small boy as he rode his bike down the street, backpack firmly attached. While modest at first glance, it represents a milestone in our lives. My oldest son Liam, 9 years old now, has been asking if he could ride his bike to school without mom or dad in tow. The oldest bird leaving the nest – even if it’s for a 10-minute ride on his two-wheeler, is a major stepping stone in a boy’s, and parent’s, life. Understanding the symbolism of this event, I couldn’t help but shed a tear as I glanced at the photo – first, in recognition of the event itself – the kid couldn’t be more excited, and second, that I wasn’t there to experience it. New experience for Liam, missed experience for dad. Leisure Group Travel’s 7th annual Itinerary Planning Guide includes nearly 40 new experiences for your travel group – I hope you enjoy, while also taking time to seek out new experiences in your life. Happy travels,

Editorial & Advertising Office 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com

Associate Publisher – Dave Bodle dave@ptmgroups.com

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

Regional Business Development Managers Northeast & Eastern Midwest/Canada – Harry Peck P 330.830.4880 • F 630.794.0652 harry@ptmgroups.com

Mid-Atlantic/New England/ Wisconsin/Arkansas – Ellen Klesta P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 ellen@ptmgroups.com

Southeast/West Coast – Cheryl Rash P 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274 cheryl@ptmgroups.com

Frontier & Mountain West/ Illinois/Minnesota/Southwest – Linda Ragusin P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 linda@ptmgroups.com The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, slides or manuscripts.

Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is published bi-monthly by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations. Other travel-related suppliers may subscribe at the reduced rate of $12.00 per year. The regular subscription price for all others is $18.00 per year. Single copies are $4.95 each.

Send Address Change to: Premier Travel Media 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527

publication

Jeff Gayduk, Publisher

6 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

By Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTC

O N TOU R

Negotiate “Good Deals” For Your Groups 3 f you are booking your group’s

reservations with hotels, tour

When booking a cruise, expect the line to give you a spread of different cabin categories. MSC Cruises

Introduce yourself with a very

“spread” of different categories. Many

friendly voice. If you’ve booked

years ago, the first time I booked a

operators, cruise lines and

with them before, remind them how

group on a cruise, I asked for all the

other suppliers, do you simply

much you enjoyed their services last

group cabins at the minimum rate! How

ask for space and then accept the

time and that you’d now like to repeat

they laughed at me. You’ll be lucky to

rates and conditions they quote you?

it. If this is your first time with them,

get one cabin in a low-rate category as

You shouldn’t.

perhaps tell them how much you’ve

your “come on” price and then the rest

wanted to use their services before.

at various rates.

Travel industry pros will tell you that’s a mistake. This is not to say you must quibble over every booking. But

If you’re on a tight budget, don’t

Also on a cruise, you can usually

you should initiate a conversation

letting the other party know that you

say, “Unfortunately with this group I

one-category upgrade, wine with

are knowledgeable and are looking for

don’t have as liberal a budget as I’d

dinner or a free shore excursion.

certain rates and conditions on behalf

hoped, but I thought I’d just check

Rare is the cruise line that will give

of your clients. Here are a few thoughts

with you to see between us what we

you a higher-than-usual commission

that may help you:

might be able to do.” Again, keep your

on your sales.

be afraid to say so. You might

negotiate for goodies like a

voice friendly and collaborative, not

Before picking up the phone,

demanding. You want to let them know

jot down your requirements:

that you want this agreement to be a

number of rooms or cabins or seats,

positive one for both of you.

policy is to play fair and square

beginning and ending dates, how many complimentaries you need for

Lastly, it doesn’t hurt to let them know that your company’s

with them so that they won’t get Make sure your contact knows

hurt with your dumping space on

you’re a “pro” by using correct

them at the last minute. With most

your leader, etc. Have in mind an

approximate price you estimate they

terminology. With hotels, you might

hotels, I say ”By the way, we’ll be giving

may quote you. Be prepared to have

say, “I’m looking for 15 twins for

you a 90-day report, release of most

to move your dates to get the best

three nights, in February 4, out

unused space at 60 days out, and final

rate. Note with hotels: You’ll have best

February 7,” rather than “I need 15

names and prepayment at 30. Will that

results at resorts on weekdays, at

rooms from February 4th to the 7th. If

work for you?”

downtown business hotels on week-

they quote you rates, pin them down

ends when most business travelers

as to whether the rates quoted are

special tricks of the trade up your

have gone scurrying home.

gross commissionable or net with no

sleeve as to how to negotiate the best

commission. And verify any additional

rates and the best services for your

charges like taxes, resort fees, etc.

groups. Go for it!

When you call, be sure you’re

You’ll undoubtedly have some

speaking with the right person

from the outset. Ask for “Group

If booking a cruise, don’t be

Sales.” Usually this will be someone

within the sales department, not the

give you all cabins in the same

reservations department.

category. They’ll most likely give you a

surprised if the cruise line won’t

Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor who designs and leads tours. Her travel industry consulting and educational firm is Sarbey Associates (sarbeyassociates.com). Her e-book How to Plan, Operate and Lead Successful Group Trips can be ordered on groupuniversity.com.

O N ADVENTU R E TR AVEL

By Lauren Reiniger

A hiker’s dream: the Austrian Alps

Revealing Study Spotlights the Rise in Adventure Tourism The adventure travel market has seen an average annual growth of 65 percent since 2009 Austrian Tourist Office

he 2013 Adventure Tourism Market Study suggests

Chart B (below, left) shows the 2012 percentage of international

that adventure tourism is strong and growing. Destina-

travelers classified as “hard adventure,” “soft adventure” or “other”

tions and businesses who understand the needs, pref-

travelers. From a regional perspective, most of the growth in adven-

erences and behaviors of this segment will profit from

ture travelers came from Europe and South America.

the benefits the adventure market can bring.

Key Findings: The Study

In 2012, 41.9 percent of travelers from the three regions—com-

The 2013 Adventure Tourism

pared to 26.3 percent in 2009—reported an adventure activity as the

Market Study was produced

main activity of their last trip. This growth is driven by an increase in

through a collaboration of The

international tourism departures, increase in percentage of European

George Washington University

and South American travelers classified as adventure travelers, and

(GW) and the Adventure Travel

increase in average spending of adventure travelers from all three re-

Trade Association (ATTA). It esti-

gions.

mates the value of the majority of

The adventure travel market is worth $263 billion, compared to

the adventure travel market and

$89 billion in 2009, resulting in the market having an average yearly

provides an updated profile since

growth of 65 percent.

the last study released in 2010. This study is especially useful for destination management organizations, tourism offices and tour operators.

The Inside Scoop On Adventure Travelers Only 12 percent of adventure travelers travel alone, while the rest travel with groups, families or significant others. Adventure travelers (45 percent) are more likely than non-ad-

The study surveyed 838 inter-

venture travelers (31 percent) to use professional services such

national travelers from Europe,

as guides, instructors and tour operators. It is more likely for ad-

North America and South Amer-

venture travelers over the age of 46 to use professional services.

ica. These three regions account

The study discussed how the higher use of professional services

for 69 percent of overall interna-

could reflect both the need for training and special equipment as

tional departures.

well as people searching for assistance when trying new adventure activities.

CHART A

Hard vs. Soft Adventure

“This would reinforce the growth in the adventure market and pro-

Respondents were asked to

vide opportunities for operators and guides who can attract and con-

choose the main activity of their last trip, then each activity was cat-

vert non-adventure travelers who may be open to new experiences,”

egorized as “hard adventure,” “soft adventure” or “non-adventure,”

the report concluded.

based on previous research in the market. (See Chart A)

Fifty-seven percent of travelers are male, and 48 percent are single/never married. The average income level of adventure travelers is $46,800. On average, adventure traveler per-trip spending increased from $593 in 2009 to $947 in 2012, a yearly increase of nearly 20 percent. This increase is likely due in part to a partial recovery from the global recession of 2009. Longer trips may also contribute to higher spending. The average length of an adventure trip was 10

CHART B 10 June 2014

days. (See Chart C, opposite) LeisureGroupTravel.com

Adventure travelers are younger than non-adventure travelers, averaging age 36. The average age of a non-adventure traveler is 41.

travelers did not belong to any social media site. Eighty-one percent of adventure travelers said they were likely or

Adventure travelers cited the following (in no particular order) as

very likely to recommend trips to friends and family. Thirty-nine per-

most important to their travel experiences: relaxation, exploring new

cent of adventure travelers would recommend a trip via social media,

places, time with family and learning about different cultures. This

compared to only 23 percent of non-adventure travelers.

suggests similar motivations for travel between adventure and non-

Eighteen percent of adventure travelers would recommend a trip

adventure travelers. In regard to choosing a destination, adventure

by posting reviews on travel websites, compared to only eight percent

travelers ranked natural beauty as the most important factor, followed

of non-adventure travelers.

by activities available and climate.

The report emphasizes the necessity of maintaining a strong web

Adventure travelers value international travel, with 71 percent

presence and online marketing strategy.

having a valid passport. Adventure travelers are more likely than non-adventure travelers

The Future

to prepare for a trip prior to departing (12 percent of adventure trav-

Two factors have resulted in the large increase in market size over

elers did not plan ahead, compared to 23 percent of non-adventure

the past three years: consumers demanded a more thrilling experi-

travelers). The top two planning methods of adventure travelers were

ence, and destinations quickly adapted to meet this demand. The

online research and consulting friends and family. (See Chart D)

study actually predicts this growth to slow and reach a plateau in

Adventure travelers recommend, review and discuss trips on

2020 for the three regions surveyed.

social media (78 percent of adventure travelers use Facebook). The

However, new market sources for international travel could have

graph shows the top 10 social media networks among adventure

a significant impact on the future in adventure tourism. The number

travelers. (See Chart E)

of adventure travelers from South America is quickly increasing, and

Only two percent of South American adventure travelers and more than 10 percent of both European and North American adventure CHART C

tourism markets are emerging in China, India and South Korea. Nearly 54 percent of international travelers plan to participate

Paddlers challenge whitewater rapids on the Arkansas River in South-Central Colorado.

CHART D

Matt Inden/Miles

CHART E

O N ADVENTU R E TR AVEL in an adventure activity on their next trip, compared to the 42 percent of travelers currently classified as adventure travelers (most of this increase in interest comes from soft adventure activities). Furthermore, 36 percent of current non-travelers plan to participate in an adventure activity on their next trip, demonstrating a willingness of non-adventure travelers to try adventure activities. Matt Inden/Miles

This could lead to continued growth in the market as well as sales potential in converting non-adventure travelers. While 73 percent of adventure travelers plan on participating in an adventure activity on their next trip, only 22 percent plan on doing the same activity as their last trip. This shows the importance of con-

percentage of the overall travel market. Growth in the adventure

stantly offering new and varied activities.

travel market may attract the attention of other tourism businesses

As more travelers participate in adventure activities, the adven-

such as hotels, attractions and transportation providers.

ture market is becoming integrated with the travel market as a whole,

More and more travelers are no longer satisfied with just sitting

which will force innovations in the market that continue to push

on a beach or shopping. They seek adventurous experiences that

the bounds of excitement, challenge and originality.

highlight a destinationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural and cultural assets. Destinations and businesses that can provide travelers with these experiences will

Why You Should Care

see success in this market.

Adventure tourism has grown both in absolute market and as a

To see the full report, visit www.adventuretravel.biz/research. LGT

PLAN YOUR TRIP

12 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

on international travel ❖ in itself, but those who want to penetrate the surface can go beyond traditional sightseeing and get out into the bush—or under the ocean—for memories to last a lifetime. Here are just a few examples of outdoor op-

portunities that await intrepid travelers.

Matt Nettheim/SATC

TRIP TO AUSTRALIA IS AN ADVENTURE

Four-wheel-drive expeditions explore Australia’s vast wilderness areas.

Richard Powers/Tourism Australia

Australian Adventures

From sea kayaking to camel treks, active options add an exclamation point to travel Down Under By Randy Mink

Camel treks, lasting anywhere from one hour to one month, are offered in both desert and coastal areas.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 13

on international travel ❖

sula involves paddling in calm sheltered water and camping under

Underwater adventures, sea kayaking and other water sports await travelers on the Great Barrier Reef.

Darren Jews/Tourism Australia

the stars on the beach. (rivergods.com.au) Sea kayaking opportunities, of course, abound on the Great Barrier Reef. For example, a rich array of marine life greets guests on Palm Cove Watersports’ (palmcovewatersports.com) kayak tours from Palm Cove to Double Island, north of Cairns. Coral Sea Kayaking (coralseakayaking.com) of Mission Beach has half-day trips following the coast, while three-day camping trips go to the nearby Family Islands. Freycinet National Park, on the eastAnson Smart/Tourism Australia

ern coast of Tasmania, is the island’s pre-

Diving and Snorkeling With more than 22,000 miles of coast bordering two oceans and four seas, Australia is water sports heaven. The world-famous Great

mier sea kayaking destination. Freycinet Adventures (freycinetadventures.conm.au) offers a variety of day tours, while Trulyaustralia.com has multi-day adventures along the coast.

Barrier Reef off the Queensland coast in northeastern Australia, the prime magnet for divers and snorkelers, snakes

Camel Treks

along for more than 1,400 miles and is one of the few organic struc-

In the 19th century camels were shipped from the Middle East to

tures that can be seen from space without a telescope. It hosts the

Australia for use in expeditions and construction projects, but set free

earth’s most abundant collection of sea life, including more than 1,500

with the advent of cars. Today more than 200,000 camels still roam

species of fish.

the Outback and remote areas of Western Australia. But some

Day-trip outfitters based in Port Douglas, Cairns, Mission Beach,

camels are owned by outfitters that specialize in rides for tourists.

Townsville and the Whitsunday Islands carry guests to the reefs and

Pyndan Camel Tracks (cameltracks.com) offers one-hour and half-

resort islands on motorized catamarans and smaller boats. Green Is-

day rides from Alice Springs, the main town in the Outback, Australia’s

land, less than an hour from the wharf in Cairns, makes a good half-

vast central desert region. Surrounded by the MacDonnell Ranges,

day snorkel or dive trip if time is short. Multi-day outings visit prized

you might see kangaroos, wallabies, lizards and birds of prey from

destinations like Cod Hole, Cairns’ most popular dive site, 13 miles off

atop your humped beast. From Ayers Rock Resort Hotels, Uluru

exclusive Lizard Island. Whether your group is interested in sharks,

Camel Tours (ulurucameltours.com.au) organizes one-hour treks to

sea turtles, shipwrecks or spectacular coral formations, there is a trip

see Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, the oft-photographed monolith

for them.

rising from the plains of the Red Centre, named for the rich color of the

Want to swim with whale sharks? Head to Ningaloo Reef, a na-

sandy soil.

tional marine park on the Northwest Cape, 700 miles north of Perth,

Multi-day walking experiences with pack camels in the Simpson

for a chance to get within 10 feet of the world’s largest fish. Up to 60

Desert are offered by Outback Camel Company (cameltreks.com.au).

feet long and weighing more than 15 tons, they come to the reef from

Guests are expected to help saddle the camels and load equipment on

April to July. You’ll also mingle with greenback turtles and manta rays.

these 5- to 28-day expeditions.

These full-day snorkeling tours are offered by outfitters in Coral Bay and Exmouth. (For a list of operators, contact Exmouth Visitor Cen-

Four-Wheel-Drive Safaris

tre, exmouthwa.com.au.) Ningaloo Reef is more easily accessible

The best way to get a sweeping overview of the Australian bush is

than the Great Barrier Reef—never more than two miles out and

a 4WD safari that includes some off-road touring. These small-group

sometimes only a few hundred yards from shore.

eco-adventures, using campsites or hotels, take you over sand dunes, through creeks and rivers, to remote spots ideal for wildlife-watching

Sea Kayaking

and nature walks. From Alice Springs, Ossies Outback 4WD Tours

Perth-based Rivergods, Western Australia’s leading paddle

(ossies.com.au) offers 1-to 14-day trips through the McDonnell

adventure company, offers a variety of kayak tours. The “Seal and

Ranges to Uluru, across the Simpson Desert and elsewhere. Way-

Penguin Islands Sea Kayak” day trip is highlighted by playful sea lions

outback Australian Safaris (wayoutback.com. au) is another major op-

who splash along your boat. The group then visits fairy penguins for

erator in Alice Springs. Wilderness Challenge (wilderness-challenge.

their daily feeding before sitting down to a picnic lunch followed by

com.au), based in Cairns, leads treks to the Cape York Peninsula, a

free time for snorkeling and exploring the beach. A five-day outing to

remote region of tropical rainforests and savannah grasslands at the

the Monkey Mia reserve on Western Australia’s remote Peron Penin-

very northeastern top of Australia and other northern areas. LGT

14 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

The Small Ships of Avalon Waterways Make Big Ripples in Europe Leisure Group Travel sits down with Avalon’s Patrick Clark for a chat about the line’s newbuilds and the growth of river cruising in Europe and beyond By Jeff Gayduk

Patrick Clark, managing director of Avalon Waterways, presided over inaugural festivities for the line’s two new ships—the Impression and Poetry II.

his spring I was fortunate to sail on a week-long trip aboard

European masterpiece cities and villages, while coach drivers and

the inaugural sailing of the Avalon Impression. The Impres-

transportation outshines anything I’ve seen in the lower 48.

sion was christened in a dual ceremony with the line’s other,

slightly smaller newbuild, Poetry II.

Group leaders who experienced the inaugural cruise had similar reviews.

A little perspective. I sailed on the inaugural voyage of the first

Caral Carlson from the Solivita Travel Club said, “I cannot say

Avalon ship 10 years ago and while I have fond memories of that

enough about the superb service we received. Everything on the

journey, the Globus team (parent of Avalon) has created a product

ship from the public areas to the staterooms was top-notch. We

that rivals anything plying Europe’s rivers.

have been on other river ships and by far the Avalon product was

What difference does a decade make? Well, the footprint of the ships isn’t dissimilar – there’s only so big you can make these vessels. Where they have stepped up their game is with the ship’s soft goods. The staterooms are nothing short of amazing. Thoughtful design with floor-to-ceiling windows, French balconies providing sweeping

our favorite. As soon as we returned home, we started planning for a group of friends and family.” Therese Calovini from St. John de LaSalle Travel Club said, “I have been on approximately 15 ‘big-ship’ cruises. They are very pleasurable and you get to experience many different ports of call. I think, dollar-wise, the riverboat is a much smarter deal.”

views of the countryside, well-appointed bathrooms that include a

“Our room was nicer than a four-star hotel; the view was beauti-

very unlikely large-sized shower – you wouldn’t think you’re on a

ful, the service was wonderful, the bar area was bright and wel-

ship.

coming, the food….never had better! I was so impressed that I am

The two lounges, dining room, fitness center and beauty salon

having an Avalon/Globus presentation for a ‘Taste of the Danube’

are top drawer. Tasteful appointments, eye-pleasing color schemes

cruise for 2015. I am sure my travelers will be as excited as I was

and special touches like fresh-cut flowers provide a soothing am-

to see the new ships and what a way to taste the Danube from Vi-

biance that complements the surrounding scenery.

enna to Budapest.”

And once you get off the ship, the prowess of Globus really

While onboard, I had the opportunity to sit down with Patrick

shines. Local guides bring history to life with brisk walking tours of

Clark, who heads up Avalon Waterways. Patrick was our gracious

16 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

host and master of ceremonies for the inaugural festivities. The fol-

You look at all the ships and, when people cruise the Mediterranean

lowing interview captures his perspective on the burgeoning river

on a big ship, they’re just touching it. That whets the appetite for more

cruise market, the Avalon difference and what lies ahead for the river

Italy experiences or more France experiences. And I think that’s

cruising market.

where the coach and river cruising has benefit because now they

Leisure Group Travel: The river cruise industry has come a long way in the last 10 years since you’ve launched. Why do you think that is? Patrick Clark: A combination of things. One, the big-ship cruisers,

can explore more. LGT: It’s estimated that almost a third of all cruisers on the major cruise lines come onboard as part of a pre-formed group. How does that parallel to what a brand like Avalon experiences?

21 million a year, according to CLIA. A number of them have dis-

PC: It’s not quite that high, but it’s certainly between 20 and 25

covered small-ship cruising and river cruising in particular. And they

percent when you consider all the group business going on, and

have welcomed the change from the big-ship atmosphere to the

sometimes that can be a whole big charter. But overall if you look at

small-ship intimacy. That’s number one. Number two: demograph-

the total number of passengers, certainly for Avalon and I would ex-

ics. You look at the whole baby boomer generation in all the English-

pect that we’re similar to other river cruise companies—it’s a signif-

speaking markets – it’s huge. A lot of them are coming to the end of

icant chunk of business.

their work careers or already in retirement. And they have discov-

LGT: You launched two new ships this March. Based on how

ered that seeing Europe on a river cruise offers conveniences but

business is progressing, is that the expected pace moving forward?

with the opportunity to still get the enrichment, the culture, the peo-

Do you feel as though you can bring two to three per year to market

ple. They’re on a ship with 150 people, they’re getting to know the

and maintain load factors?

ambience, are with like-minded travelers and it’s inclusive. They

PC: If you look at the size of the fleet and the growth of river cruis-

know pretty well before they leave what their vacation is going to

ing, if you’re not introducing at least one-and-a-half new ships a year

cost. Add in the proximity of the attractions on shore and all together,

on average, you’re going to fall behind. So, two to three ships gives

I think it’s particularly appealing to those demographics.

you a little bit more capacity, allows for growth beyond just the stan-

LGT: Do you think that river cruising is taking away from motorcoach travel? Or like big-ship cruising has created a traveler for river cruising, are you cultivating new motorcoach travelers? PC: When the whole cruising phenomenon launched, it really took a lot of coach travelers … we’re convinced of it. By the same token,

dard rate and allows you to get a little market share. You really need to do that to keep pace. LGT: How do you distinguish yourself in the river cruise marketplace where most ships are about the same size and visit the same ports of call?

there’s now a generation coming along rediscovering the benefits of

PC: For us, itineraries are still the first and most important reason

coach travel. And there’s certainly speculation that we might have an-

that customers choose a river cruise. Then they start looking at, what

other little mini-boom in coach travel. So, while that’s yet to play out,

is the ship like? What’s included? Excursions are important, the

like a lot of travel styles that come into favor, slide out and come back

Avalon lectures, enrichment, food and service.

into favor, I think we can attract people back to coach touring. LGT: There are some pundits that believe that traditional cruising has reached that peak. Are you one of them?

Where we are also unique and distinguished is our hardware. All those others have gone with external balconies and I get that. But it doesn’t work so well on river cruises. A) You don’t have sea days. B)

PC: If you have 21 million people cruising every year, that’s not

You’ve got space limitations. So our view is if you put that balcony on,

going to continue to grow forever. People want different experiences.

that’s basically 30-plus feet of room space you can’t use. Our

Avalon’s Impression and Poetry II were christened in a dual ceremony.

“ I cannot say enough about the superb service we received. Everything on the ship from the public areas to the staterooms was top-notch. We have been on other river ships and by far the Avalon product was our favorite. As soon as we returned home, we started planning for a group of friends and family.” —Caral Carlson, Solivita Travel Club

known—Amsterdam, Zurich, four countries, big cities, small cities, a real flavor of the river. Then it’s the Danube. We’ve found a strong appeal in theme cruise departures. We have 20 scheduled, including food and wine, art, and we’re introducing opera this year. We’ve got things like jazz cruises; we’ve got Jewish heritage; golf and beer cruises. I’ve group agents who all of a sudden say, “You know, I’ve got an alumni group down the road and they’re really into wine. I think they Eye-pleasing color schemes enhance public rooms on the Avalon Impression.

would love France.” Or, you know, “I’ve got a bunch of golfers. You know, I belong to the local country club and now we’ve got a golf

Panorama Suites are some of the largest in river cruising featuring

pro.” So, it’s lent themselves to growing and organizing unique group

unique open-air balconies with giant wall-to-wall windows that

departures.

provide spectacular views. Eighty percent of all the cabins on the

LGT: River cruising is a hot sector of the travel industry, but not

ship are like that. You go on other ships and you get one category,

all groups have jumped onboard. Make the case for why more

or two or three or four or five different categories, different sizes, so

groups should be booking river cruising.

if you have a group and you want them all to have the common size, you’ve got to work a little harder at it

PC: You’ve got this really nice small venue … it offers groups great opportunities to have time together and still share European

LGT: Do you see Avalon expanding more into Asia and exploring different areas around the world?

experiences. It has a lot of the inclusions already added in. So it’s a great “here’s your price, we’ve got everything covered” vacation.

PC: As you grow your Europe business and you have more and

You’re going to be together on the ship, you’ll have chances to dine

more customers, they want other opportunities. Yes, there are plenty

together. We’ll have our own coach when we go on excursions. So

of times you can go back to France, you can go to the lower Danube, you can do tulip time, but eventually you look for other destinations. So we’re going to put a new ship - our first Suite Ship in Southeast Asia – on the Mekong which will start in January 2015. We are also unveiling a Suite Ship and all-new itinerary on the Irrawaddy River. Both new Southeast Asia vessels are small – built for just 36 passengers

it gives you the sense of almost a private group.

“ You’ve got this really nice small venue…it offers groups great opportunities to have time together and still share European experiences.”

– but feature our signature, spacious staterooms (245 square feet) and open-air balconies. LGT: Why that size, Patrick, compared to

—Patrick Clark Managing Director, Avalon Waterways

your European fleet?

I think there are benefits that you won’t get on Oasis of the Seas simply because of the size factor. There you’re going to get on and off with lots of people. LGT: There’s a trend in the industry overall of people booking closer to departure. That doesn’t appear to be the case with river cruising. PC: In fact, it’s certainly not. Our occupancy is in the 90s already for 2014, the whole season across the fleet. Typically people wait to book, maybe the fourth quarter the year prior or they wait until the season, expecting to go the same

PC: You can argue the economics of it, that you’ve got more beds

year. If they are looking to cruise on Avalon, they’re going to be dis-

to amortize your costs better, but we felt that the intimate feel works

appointed. So, we launched 2015 product in the end of January be-

better in this market. We learned with our first ship, people said “we

cause of that.

chose you because of your size.” It’s charming. But the advantage

LGT: You have had a very distinguished career in this industry.

in the Mekong with that size ship is we’re one of the only ones that

Did you foresee this growth coming down the line? Regardless, it’s

sail into Saigon Harbor. There’s a big bridge outside of Saigon that

got to be exciting for you to be in this part of it.

all the other ships that are larger can’t sail under, but with Avalon you go right into Saigon Harbor.

PC: It is. I had a career with Uniworld before joining Avalon, so I go back a ways with river cruising. I would say I don’t think we saw

LGT: Any new plans for South America at this point?

how rapidly it grew. I think we realized way back when they started

PC: We’re on the Amazon with a partner and it’s going well. It’s

building nicer ships where people could stay on and have the crea-

small numbers because we don’t have a lot of space, but I think

ture comforts that it would be a nice alternative to traditional touring

eventually, particularly the Peru side of the Amazon, we will see fu-

and cruising. But the growth has been so rapid, faster than a lot of

ture expansion.

us anticipated.

LGT: What’s your most popular itinerary?

And it’s for the reason we talked earlier – it’s demographic-dri-

PC: France this year was hot. We’re seeing it already for next

ven. People found out it’s not a bad way to go. Big-ship cruisers have

year. Paris, Normandy, and Burgundy and Provence. Close second

introduced people to the cruising concept and so that’s all helped

is the Rhine. That is a great first cruise for so many people. Well

fuel this. So, it’s a nice niche to be in. LGT

18 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

any tourists in Canada’s second largest city make a bee-

Set in Olympic Park, it’s part of Montreal Space for Life, a group

line to the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal or down-

of natural science attractions clustered within walking distance of

town’s network of underground passageways lined with

each other in a neighborhood, minutes from downtown, that hosted

shops. They come for European ambience, creative cuisine and cut-

the 1976 Summer Olympics. A trip to the 185-acre garden can eas-

ting-edge cultural life.

ily be combined with the Insectarium, Biodôme and new Rio Tinto

But Montreal also invites visitors to commune with nature. Parks,

Alcan Planetarium. (montrealspaceforlife.ca)

gardens and other green spaces abound, providing oases for relax-

The Montreal Botanical Garden (Jardin botanique de Montréal)

ation, recreational pursuits and just a breather from the urban frenzy.

boasts 22,000 species, 10 year-round exhibition greenhouses and

Horticultural enthusiasts flock to the Montreal Botanical Garden,

some 30 thematic gardens. Highlights include the picturesque Chi-

one of the largest and most impressive such gardens in the world.

nese Garden, inspired by the private gardens of the Ming Dynasty

The

Green Acres

(14th to 17th century). Nurtured by a team from both Montreal and Shanghai, the lakeside grouping of pavilions, courtyards and ponds is considered the largest garden of its kind outside of China. Hundreds of Chinese lanterns illuminate the site at night during the

Montreal Of

Magic of Lanterns event in September and October. Other culturally themed gardens are the Japanese Garden, where a tearoom hosts tea ceremonies based on ancient traditions, and First Nations Garden, the

By Randy Mink

20 June 2014

Caption here on this line here Caption here on this line line here Caption here on this line here

LeisureGroupTravel.com

largest garden dedicated to native peoples in North America.

above the city center, the reserve of meadows and hardwood forests

Over half the botanical garden’s area is devoted to the Arbore-

offers scenic lookout points, most notably the terrace of a limestone

tum, a vast woodland in the heart of the city. With about 7,000 spec-

pavilion called Chalet du Mont-Royal. Have lunch at the restaurant

imens of trees and shrubs, it is home to almost every species of tree

overlooking the park’s Beaver Lake.

capable of growing in Montreal’s climate. Learn about them in exhibits at the Tree House.

Another visitor magnet on Mount Royal is St. Joseph’s Oratory, a huge Catholic church with a green octagonal copper dome. After

The Insectarium, on the garden’s grounds, fascinates guests

admiring the architecture and exhibits in the world’s largest shrine

with live creepy-crawlies like scorpions, tarantulas and hissing

dedicated to St. Joseph, take a walk through the Gardens of the

cockroaches. Also see an ant farm and beehives. More animals,

Way of the Cross.

including penguins, puffins, macaws and monkeys, reside across

One way to experience Mount Royal is the “Downhill All the Way”

the street at the Biodôme, where four different ecosystems—the

bike tour offered by Fitz & Follwell (fitzandfollwell.co). Designed for

Tropical Rainforest, Laurentian Maple Forest, Gulf of St. Lawrence

minimum pedaling and maximum enjoyment for groups as large as

and Sub-Antarctic Islands—share the building that housed the

13, the tour takes a wide, gradual path down the mountain to the

Olympics’ velodrome. Next door, rising above the Olympic Sta-

cool Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood in its shadow, traveling on

dium, is the landmark Montreal Tower; a glass-enclosed cable

bike paths, little alleyways and into several parks. La Fontaine

car zooms to the observation deck of the world’s tallest inclined

Park, like Montreal, has a split personality, with half laid out in the

tower (575 feet).

formal French manner, the other in a more casual English style.

Mount Royal Park, atop the 767-foot “mountain” for which Mon-

As with sightseeing in any big city, sometimes it’s wise to stop

treal is named, is the city’s largest green space. A popular place for

and smell the roses. The green acres of Montreal offer lots of escape

walkers, runners, bicyclists, picnickers and dog walkers that looms

hatches. LGT

The Chinese Garden at the Montreal Botanical Garden abounds with picture possibilities.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Randy Mink

André Charron

Lovely grounds grace St. Joseph’s Oratory, a pilgrimage site high atop Mount Royal.

June 2014 21

TROIS RIVIERES, QUEBEC CITY, SAGUENAY/LAC SAINT JEAN, QUEBEC

QUEBEC’S FIRST NATIONS AND FIRST SETTLERS HIGHLIGHTS ■ Quebec is home to 11 linguistically and culturally distinct Aboriginal nations in some 55 villages spread throughout the province

pass through old villages where the land grants and many actual buildings date to the earliest history of Quebec. We’ll visit Ile d’Orleans for a historic tour and lunch. Continuing along the St. Lawrence, we’ll stop at the Maritime Museum and Chauvin Fur Trader Museum. We’ll overnight in Tadoussac, with time for whale spotting during a sunset walk along the pier.

■ Enhance your visit to the First Nations communities by scheduling your visit to include a pow wow – see www. QuebecOriginal.com for a list of special events

Saguenay – Lac Saint Jean Interpreters will take you back to the lifestyles and traditions of early Quebec at the New France Site. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the life of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh, where for 1,000 years the shores of Lac Saint Jean was the gathering place of Quebec’s First Nations. We’ll visit the center for archeology, the AmerIndian Museum and the present day village. We’ll overnight in Saguenay, perhaps with a visit to the colorful Fabulous Histoire du Royaume stage show.

■ Through Dec. 28, 2014, the Cathedral Notre Dame of Quebec is celebrating its 350th anniversary – plan to visit the only Holy Door outside Europe and the only one open to pilgrims this year. ■ Quebec City’s Festival of Nouvelle France is celebrated every August ■ Trois Rivieres’ Heritage Trail offers 70 self-guided stops in the historic central district.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Art and Architecture of Quebec's Churches

■

Quebec's St. Lawrence and the Gaspe

■ ■

Quebec's Wine Route Quebec's Countryman's Tour 22 June 2014

Wendat We travel through parks’ open areas to the Wendat-Huron village of Wendake. We’ll visit the Traditional Huron Site, Premier Nations Museum and the old Wendake Village. We’ll participate in hands-on activities typical of the region. Lunch will be either at the award-winning La Traite Restaurant, or more traditional fare from our local hosts. In Quebec City, we’ll hear an overview of this historic city where the walls have four centuries of stories. Dinner will be at one of the oldest restaurants in North America. DAY

TQ: Jean-Francois Hamelin

■ Learn more about the First Nations of Quebec at: www. QuebecAboriginal.com

DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Odanak, Trois Rivieres We’ll start at the Amerindian House in Trois Rivieres for an overview of the art and culture of the First Nations in Quebec. After an authentic lunch, we’ll proceed to Vercheres, established in 1672. Our walking tour will include the Banal Mill, constructed in 1730, and the statue of Madeleine, who defended the village from the Iroquois in 1690. Later we’ll visit the Museum of the Abenakis at Odanak, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence. Our welcome dinner will be in Trois Rivieres. DAY

Trois Rivieres Trois Rivieres (1634) is the second oldest city in Quebec. We will explore its historic sites, including the Ursuline Museum, Forge, Fresco and Heritage Trail. We’ll visit a local sugar shack for dinner and a demonstration of traditional maple syrup production. DAY

Quebec City A tour of Quebec City and guided tour of the Museum of Civilization will tie together all we’ve seen this week. During your free afternoon you might want to visit the Plaines of Abraham, historic churches, Petit Champlain or Parliament. Our final dinner in the Old City will be followed by an optional ghost tour. DAY

Quebec City Take time this morning for a breathtaking walk of the fortifications and see sunrise over the St. Lawrence. We’ll have a guided tour of the Plaines of Abraham, the site of many clashes for supremacy of North American history. Then, we bid Quebec farewell. DAY

CONTACT: Tourisme Quebec DAY

Tadoussac We’ll drive along the Chemin du Roy (King’s Route), the first road to link Montreal and Quebec City, completed in 1737. You’ll special section

➤ Debra Ruzbasan www.quebecoriginal.com 2158 45th Ave., #218, Highland, IN 46322 Phone: 877-BONJOUR (266-5687) Email: qcder@aol.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

GALWAY, KILLARNEY & DUBLIN, IRELAND

HEART OF IRELAND Connemara Marble Factory and the Celtic Crystal Factory. Return to Galway where we have some free time before dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Galway, where we can find excellent pub entertainment! Galway Cliffs of Moher - Killarney In the morning, we depart to Galway. Travel south to Ardrahan, where we pause for tea/coffee and scones at Rathbaun Farms. Here, we will see a farming family carry out everyday chores including sheep shearing and watch as the sheepdogs maneuver the flock. Continue on to the Cliffs of Moher, which rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Then, we travel to Killarney for dinner and an overnight. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Celtic Tours World Vacations has been providing high quality vacations since 1972. The Heart of Ireland tour is a great tour at a great price. A new and updated itinerary gives you a more relaxing getaway (2 consecutive overnights in Galway, Killarney and Dublin) with more historic and scenic tours. This tour is excellent for groups! DAY

U.S. to Ireland There will be an evening departure for our overnight flight from the U.S. to Ireland. Dinner is served shortly after take-off.

Arrive Dublin DAY We have a morning arrival at Dublin Airport. Then, we depart Dublin and travel the short journey to Galway for check-in at our hotel. There will be free time to rest. In the afternoon, we enjoy a local panoramic sightseeing tour of Galway City. We have dinner and stay overnight in Galway.

Galway - Connemara - Galway Today we enjoy a scenic tour of Connemara. Travel along Galway Bay to Maam Cross and Clifden. Continue on via Kylemore Abbey and stop briefly for a photo opportunity. We continue via scenic countryside; keep an eye out for sheep en-route to Moycullen, the DAY

CONTACT: Celtic Tours World Vacations ➤ Kathy Gordon www.celtictours.com 1860 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203 Phone: 518-862-0042 Email: kathyg@celtictours.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Killarney Dingle Peninsula A delightful day takes us along the Kerry coast to the Dingle Peninsula, which offers magnificent coastal scenery. Beyond Slea Head, we see the Blasket Islands, the last outpost of Europe. After a full day tour, we return to Killarney for dinner and overnight. DAY

Killarney - Cashel - Dublin Leaving Killarney, we travel over the mountains to Blarney where we pause for optional visits to Blarney Woollen Mills and Blarney Castle, perhaps to kiss the famed Blarney Stone or visit the amazing gardens around the castle. As we leave Blarney, we travel through Tipperary and Cashel, where we pause for a photo-op at the historic Rock of Cashel, an ancient castle fortress of the Kings of Ireland. When we arrive in Dublin, the evening is free to dine on your own. We stay overnight in Dublin. Note: Dinner, Irish cabaret can be optionally arranged tonight. DAY

Dublin Morning sightseeing in Dublin includes a visit to Guinness Storehouse, Whitefriars Church and Trinity College to view the 8th century Book of Kells. You have the afternoon and evening free in Dublin. DAY

DAY

Dublin - U.S. We travel early morning to Dublin Airport for your return flight home. Arrive home the same day.

special section

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Excellent hotels with private bath or shower for six nights ■ Full Irish breakfasts daily, except day of arrival ■ Dinners daily, except in Dublin ■ Tea/coffee and Irish Farmhouse scones at an actual Irish working farm ■ Daily sightseeing by luxury coach with the services of a Celtic Tours driver/guide ■ Visits to Cliffs of Moher, Kylemore Abbey, Dingle Peninsula, Trinity College, Guinness Brewery and more ■ As always, no hidden extras when you choose Celtic Tours!

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Elegant Ireland

■

Amalfi Coast and Rome

■

Celtic Discovery; 10 day / 8 Night Tour of Ireland

■

Italian Flavors; Rome, Tuscany and Cinque Terra

June 2014 23

JACKSO NVILLE

on location: south ❖

More Than Beaches

From theater fare to sports events, groups have plenty of entertainment options in this Northern Florida city on the water

Ken McCray

By Dave Bodle

EverBank Field is home to the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars.

hat’s not to like about Jacksonville? Florida’s largest city has everything from entertainment and history to sports and, yes, beaches. Groups of all sizes and interests are discovering

that Jacksonville really does have it all. Jacksonville, or “JAX,” has a long history in the entertainment and music business. Back in 1916 there were 30 movie companies that called Jacksonville home. Unfortunately, the locals thought that the studios were just too loud. The movie companies packed up and moved to California. The rest is history. This minor setback did not keep entertainment away for long. Beginning in 1956, Elvis Presley performed in Jacksonville eight

Visit Jacksonville

times. At one of The King’s early appearances, a local judge sat through

The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra performs September to May.

the performance. He believed it necessary to monitor Presley’s body movements and assure they were not too suggestive. I’m wondering how that worked out. Fast forward to the present and you’ll quickly see that Jacksonville Landing on the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville is a hub of continuous entertainment. Whether it’s live music in a lounge setting or full-blown concerts, Jacksonville Landing has a jam-packed events calendar. Its group program provides a Preferred Customer Discount Booklet and Food Court Vouchers with savings on shopping and dining. A visit to jacksonvillelanding.com provides all the details.

Visit Jacksonville

An extremely popular venue is the historic Florida Theatre. Built in 1927, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With a rich history of vaudeville and early concerts, it continues to host leading musical, dance and spoken-word concerts. Take a look at the schedule

Enjoy dinner and a show at Alhambra Theatre & Dining.

on floridatheatre.com. The Alhambra Theatre & Dining, built in 1967, is a nationally known symbol of entertainment in the Jacksonville area. One of the few dinner theaters that remain, the Alhambra has featured a host of legendary performers and draws talent from across the country. (alhambrajax.com) The Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Visit Jacksonville

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Its concert series produces the clas-

The minor league Jacksonville Suns team offers group plans. 24 June 2014

sics, opera, gospel, big band and ballet. The venue’s popular THE ARTIST SERIES brings traveling Broadway shows, comedy and concerts to Jacksonville. LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: south ❖ Through JaxEvents.com it’s easy to see who’s playing, explore group options and reserve your space at the Times-Union Center. But details also are available for the following six venues: The new Ritz Theatre and Museum was constructed on the same site as the 1920s Ritz Movie House. The latter was located in

riety of group plans, including food options. Last but not least of the entertainment venues available through JaxEvents.com is the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, which hosts top horse competitions. In the world of sports entertainment, Jacksonville is a major golf

the African-American community of La Villa. With

destination for both the PGA Tour and visiting

both an educational and entertainment mission,

golf groups. The area’s golf is certainly well

the Ritz preserves the cultural and historical her-

known for the PGA Tour’s The Players Cham-

itage of the community. Regularly scheduled en-

pionship in May. Held at TPC Sawgrass in

tertainment and rotating exhibits are part of that

nearby Ponte Verde, it’s a fan favorite and often

mission.

referred to as the “Fifth Major.” Tickets and pack-

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, a

ages for The Players in 2015 will be online at vis-

multi-purpose arena, is the site of major concert

itjacksonville.com. Those five days in May are always an excit-

out a bad seat for up to 15,000 attendees, the

ing time in Jacksonville. However, for thousands

venue has hosted everything from NCAA men’s

of visiting golfers, it’s the more than 1,200 holes

basketball to Elton John to the Craft and Import

of golf and one significant attraction--the World

Beer Festival.

Golf Hall of Fame & Museum. Located at

Visit Jacksonville

events and festivals throughout the year. With-

Prime F. Osborne III Convention Center is a popular destination for meeting and convention planners. However, youth performance groups are also taking notice as it regularly hosts the Di-

The 1927 Florida Theatre was the largest movie palace in Jacksonville.

shares the history of golf and the individuals who played a significant part in the sport’s growth and popularity. For the visiting golfer, there’s a

amond Cheer & Dance Competition. Regardless of your group’s in-

monthly Hall of Fame Challenge, a closest to the pin contest, a golf

terest, check out what’s happening at the center. You just might find

simulator and putting course.

an expo or event that fits your itinerary.

Special Hall exhibits include “Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory”

Home to the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, EverBank Field has

and “Nancy Lopez: Pride, Passion & Personality,” a recent addition.

hosted more than professional football games in the powerful AFC

The newest permanent exhibit is “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to

South. EverBank Field also hosts the annual Florida-Georgia football

African-Americans in Golf.” From difficult beginnings to the chal-

game. It may be better known as “the world’s largest outdoor cocktail

lenges of today, the exhibit chronicles struggles and triumphs of no-

party.” If you’re reading this in mid-June, there’s a good chance that

table golfers, among them Charlie Sifford, Althea Gibson, Joe Louis

Colt Ford, Big & Rich or Miranda Lambert will be performing with nu-

and Tiger Woods.

merous other headline talents at the Florida Country Music Superfest. It’s planned to be an annual country music showcase event. If you’re keeping score, five of the seven venues associated with JaxEvents.com have been mentioned. In addition to EverBank Field, Visit Jacksonville

World Golf Village in nearby St. Augustine, it

Jacksonville is a delightful combination of older Florida and newer Florida, a blend of history and hip. It all mixes with a dining scene that goes from international elegance to classic Southern and plenty of flavor stops in between.

these last two are all about sports. The Baseball Grounds of Jack-

Begin planning for Jacksonville and the Beaches at visit-

sonville is home to the Jacksonville Suns, the Class Double-A

jacksonville.com/travelprofessionals. Contact Bob Meyer at 800-

Southern League affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Suns offer a va-

733-2668, ext. 503. LGT

The Jacksonville area, a PGA Tour destination, abounds with first-rate golf courses.

on location: south ❖

EXPLORING CHARLESTON

WEST VIRGINIA

The West Virginia Power minor league team plays at Appalachian Power Park.

The state capital hosts tour groups as well as political types By Dave Bodle

A special option for groups is Wine & Cheese with the Charleston Ballet (above). The city ramps up its cultural offerings during the 10-day FestivALL in June (left).

All Photos Courtesy of Charleston CVB

Believing that Charleston has a “Wild” side is probably safe. Discovering its “Wonderful” side is a must. The capital and largest city in “Wild

and

Wonderful” West Virginia is filled with fun and entertaining options for any tour theme. LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 27

on location: south ❖

West Virginia State Capitol. One of the city’s major attractions, the grand building was completed in 1932, its dome modeled after the U.S. Capitol’s, though slightly taller. That’s 23.5-carat gold that gilds the dome. Free tours are available. The grounds are quite lovely and perfect for a boxed lunch picnic. A brief drive to historic Malden and the Booker T. Washington Boyhood Home is option one for your afternoon. West Virginia had a thriving salt industry and Malden was the center. Born into slavery and illiteracy, Washington became an educator and a leader of black Americans from 1895-1915. Upon returning to Charleston, a visit to Heritage Towers Museum

Fresh-from-the-farm goodies tempt shoppers at the Capitol Market.

provides an in-depth look at African-Americans in Appalachia, from

The recently renovated State Museum & Culture Center is the

history to art to culture. The museum takes visitors from Africa and the

perfect place to begin your city tour. Located in the State Capitol

slave trade to the challenges faced by African-American coal miners.

Complex, the museum provides much more than a glimpse into the

(heritagetowers.us)

rich history of West Virginia. The only state born of the Civil War, West

Option two takes visitors to the Clay Center for the Arts & Sci-

Virginia celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2013. Many of the exhibits

ences. The facility has both gallery and performance spaces. Home

are interactive and a smartphone app provides an interesting way to

to the West Virginia Symphony, the Maier Performance Hall offers a

tour the museum. The State Museum & Culture Center is a free at-

regular schedule of shows and concerts. Smaller concerts are held in

traction.

the Walker Theater. The Avampato Discovery Museum houses both

Make sure to check with the Charleston CVB about exhibits or programs being hosted at the State Museum & Culture Center. The

permanent and rotating galleries and the ElectricSky Theater's planetarium shows and films. (claycenter.org)

2014 Quilt & Wall Hanging Juried Exhibition is scheduled through

Another afternoon option is Wine & Cheese with the Charleston

Sept. 8, 2014, and there are many more exhibits planned throughout

Ballet. For almost six decades the ballet has provided hundreds of

this year and next.

traditional and original performances; its talent is both regional and

Continue your visit to the Capitol Complex with a brief walk to the

nationally recognized. Your experience includes a performance by the American Academy Ballet, the official school of the Charleston Ballet. Wine & cheese and conversations with the director follow. (thecharlestonballet.com) Are you ready for dinner? You will not have to venture far for even

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the pickiest appetite to be satisfied. From white tablecloth and sports bars to local and ethnic specialties, there are numerous group-friendly restaurants. Reach out to the Charleston CVB for suggestions and the list of 101 unique dining options. If your evening calls for some gaming action at the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, you’ll be treated to three delightful restaurant options. (mardigrascasinowv.com) For a fun evening, be sure to check the schedule for the West Virginia Power, a Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Home games at Appalachian Power Park are a blast with fun entertainment between innings. While few things in life are better than hot dogs at the ballpark, also consider the full-service Italian restaurant, Paterno's

Call or click for your free Vacation Guide

800.782.2775 | canaanvalley.org Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences presents exhibits and performances.

28 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

There are places where the best thrill rides are made by nature.

FIND YOUR WILD AND WONDERFUL

WVTOURISM.COM | 800-225-5982

at the Park. If it was necessary to pick one special time of the year to be in Charleston, it would have to be during those 10 marvelous days in June appropriately named FestivALL. With mostly free admissions, this festival features more than 125 events, including performing arts performances and visual art displays. Regardless of the time of year you visit Charleston, one must-see stop is the Capitol Market. In addition to fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and fish, the market has a wonderful wine selection. Plan to spend an hour (or more!) shopping for memories of your trip. In addition to the market’s regular offerings, there is a good chance that two or three Tamarack artisans will be showing. Downtown Charleston, Greater Charleston inCome to the Greenbrier Valley where you’ll meet America’s Coolest Small Town, Lewisburg, and America’s Resort, The Greenbrier.

accommodations that fit every budget and afford the amenities your group may require. Most flag properties are represented. Some are conveniently lo-

Visit greenbrierwv.com/groups for complete details and ask for our new Destination Planning Guide. LEWISBURG RON CEVER T E

cluding South Charleston, Nitro and St. Albans offer

greenbrierwv.com 800-833-2068 • •

W HI T E SUL P HUR S P R I N G S A L D ER SON • RA I N E L L E

cated to shopping and dining options. The Charleston Marriott Town Center is near many of the downtown shops housed in historic buildings and the Charleston Town Center Mall in the heart of downtown. The Hampton Inn Southridge is centrally located in the Southridge, Trace Fork and Dudley Farms Shops complex. Charleston is ideal for a hub & spoke tour of southwest West Virginia. Visit actual sites of the legendary Hatfields & McCoy feud, or explore the contributions coal has made to our nation. There’s plenty of outdoor adventure, too. From skiing and rafting to ATV and fishing, there’s more than enough to satisfy your wild side. Getting to Charleston is a snap. Ideally located in the Metro Valley region of southwest West Virginia, Charleston has three interstates (I-64, I-77 and I79) passing through. More than 65 percent of the U.S. population is within 500 miles. The Amtrak Cardinal route operates three days weekly, serving Charleston on its New Yorkto-Chicago run, with stops in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Yeagar Airport, just a few minutes from downtown Charleston, is serviced by American Airlines, Spirit, United and US Airways Express, with 10 daily nonstops to and from major U.S. destinations. Regardless of how you get to the Capitol City, do plan to stay for at least two or three nights. You will not want to miss a thing. Let your fun begin at the Charleston CVB, charlestonwv.com. LGT

30 June 2014

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WESTON, ELKINS, BEVERLY, GREEN BANK & SENECA ROCK, WEST VIRGINIA

SWINGING SPIRITS OFF I-79 are served. Enjoy a two-hour feature show of music from the ’50s to the present, including Rock n' Roll, Country, Gospel, Patriotic, Legend Performances and the energetic Gandy Dancers. Elkins, West Virginia Board the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad's New Tygart Flyer at the Elkins Depot (circa 1908) for a Mountain Rail Adventure! This four-hour roundtrip in comfortable, climate-controlled passenger cars pulled by vintage, diesel-powered locomotives through mountain wilderness culminates at the High Falls of Cheat. Returning to Elkins, it's time for dinner at the RailYard Restaurant. After dinner, be ready for one of West Virginia's top attractions, the American Mountain Theater. This two-hour premier live music and comedy show is the “Freshest Sound in the Mountains,” with revisited favorites and completely new selections each season. DAY

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Music Theatre Shows ■ Mountain Rail Adventures ■ Heritage & Culture ■ Paranormal & The Stars

Beverly, Elkins & Weston, West Virginia This tour of the nearby Beverly Heritage Center combines four historic buildings to tell the story of the Battle of Rich Mountain and the First Campaign of the American Civil War, the pivotal role of the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike, and daily life in a small rural county seat through the 19th century. Enjoy a select lunch at Henry G’s Cafe in downtown Elkins. Back to Weston, tour the Museum of American Glass, where craftsmen make a custom glass item and ship it to your home. Back to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum for either a one-hour Paranormal Tour or Cemetery and Farm Tour, depending upon weather. The day concludes with an evening dinner at Stonewall Resort featuring a wine sampling from Lambert’s Vineyards. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY This tour is a journey into History and Heritage, accentuated with Hauntings & Spirits! Weston, West Virginia This tour of three counties in east-central West Virginia begins with a stop at the Appalachian Glass Factory in Weston in Lewis County, specializing in mouth-blown "old world" apples and ornaments and unique crystal creations. Then it's off to the Pink Moon Coffeehouse downtown for a friendly home-town lunch. After lunch, be prepared to be intrigued! The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, known for its Gothic "curative" architecture, holds fascinating stories of Civil War raids, a gold robbery and the efforts of determined individuals to help better the lives of the mentally ill. Tour this nationally recognized landmark. Afterwards, it’s off to Elkins (Randolph County) and the Iron Road Inn, Elkins' only railroad-themed hotel. From here, we're just a short walk from West Virginia's only Branson-style dinner theatre, the Gandy Dancer Theatre, where dinner and a live music show DAY

CONTACT: Gandy Dancer Theatre & Conference Center

Durbin, Green Bank & Seneca Rocks, West Virginia Board the Durbin Rocket in Durbin, Pocahontas County for a two-hour roundtrip ride on this signature steam train that chugs along the scenic Greenbrier River. Then to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory for a tour of the telescopes and lunch. The NRAO is home to the world's largest maneuverable radio telescope. Heading back to Elkins, we'll stop at Harper’s Country Store, located in Seneca Rocks. End the day with dinner at The 1863 Grill, the newly remodeled Elkins eatery known for top-quality taste for over 50 years. DAY

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Swinging Spirits Off I-79 (More Detailed Version)

➤ www.gandydancergroups.com 359 Beverly Pike, Elkins, WV 26241 Phone: 866-485-7668, ext. 301

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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June 2014 31

PARKERSBURG, VIENNA, WILLIAMSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA & MARIETTA, OHIO

A STEP BACK IN TIME features original Union Civil War fort trenches, magnificent views of the Ohio River, and interpretive signage.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park

Take home a taste of Switzerland with a stop at Holl’s Swiss Chocolatier in Vienna. Holl’s uncompromising commitment to sourcing the finest ingredients and attention to detail ensures you an extraordinary chocolate experience.

■ Oil & Gas Museum ■ Henderson Hall Plantation

Afternoon: Enjoy a delightful lunch at Da Vinci’s Italian Restaurant in Williamstown. The menu is fused with chef-inspired lunch and dinner specials that include hand-cut steaks, seafood specials, and homemade desserts.

■ Julia-Ann Square Historic District ■ Fort Boreman Historical Park ■ Smoot Theatre ■ Valley Gem Sternwheeler ■ Holl’s Swiss Chocolatier ■ Da Vinci’s Italian Restaurant ■ Spats Restaurant

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Mansions & Mysteries

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Rivers & Roads

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A Taste of Parkersburg

■

On Stage & Backstage

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY A Step Back In Time, a 3-day/2-night tour, is available May-October.

DAY

Just south of Parkersburg, West Virginia, you’ll feel like Tom Sawyer as you paddle down river in an authentic sternwheeler to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park. Listening to the steady churning of the engine and feeling the occasional spray of the paddle wheel, you’ll be quietly lulled into believing you’ve escaped every care in the world. The mystery and romance that shrouds the island’s original owners is intriguing and entertaining. As you tour the exquisite mansion you will hear the tale of Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett and their ill-fated relationship to Aaron Burr that eventually cost them their beloved paradise. Visitors to the island (open May-October) also enjoy wagon rides and the mansion’s sprawling lawns. The area also boasts a second seasonal sternwheeler, the Valley Gem, in Marietta, Ohio. Chartered and regularly scheduled sightseeing tours are offered May-October on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. Evening: The Blennerhassett Hotel’s Spats Restaurant offers a wonderful culinary adventure in a pristine, historic setting. DAY

32 June 2014

Afternoon: With the majestic Ohio River as a backdrop, we invite you to come escape, discover and play in Greater Parkersburg.

Morning: Schedule a stop atop Fort Boreman Historical Park to take in a panoramic view of the valley. The park special section

After lunch, don’t miss this opportunity to visit one of America’s finest heritage assets, Henderson Hall Plantation, located just a short drive from Parkersburg. This 17-room mansion was built in 1859 as the crown jewel of a 2,600-acre plantation. Self-guided tours are available. Evening: Finally, your group will delight in a dessert tour at the Smoot Theatre. From the glory days of Vaudeville (circa 1926) to present day, the story of the Smoot Theatre reads like a Shakespearean drama. Your group may experience a personal behind-the-scenes tour, hear tales of past performers, and enjoy a delectable dessert with the accompaniment of a musical performance or historic character portrayal. Morning: Continue your exploration of the region’s history by touring the Oil & Gas Museum. You’ll feel as if you were an eyewitness to the development of the early boomtowns as you view photographs and videos, equipment and other artifacts. The story of the industries’ early beginnings will come to life as you discover how they influenced West Virginia’s bid for statehood. DAY

Or stroll through Julia-Ann Square Historic District— West Virginia’s largest residential historic district—where oil barons displayed their newfound wealth in gleaming splendor. Summer garden tours and holiday home tours are magnificent!

CONTACT: Greater Parkersburg CVB ➤ Debbie Zyla www.greaterparkersburg.com 350 7th St., Parkersburg, WV 26101 Phone: 800-752-4982 Email: dzyla@parkersburgcvb.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: south ❖

oday, so many destinations have a delightful story to tell.

promise of abundant crops. Two settlements emerged and in 1766

North Carolina’s fifth largest city, Winston-Salem, has multi-

the Moravians established a third, Salem.

ple narratives. That’s exactly what makes it a choice place for

group travelers.

The city was established as a trade center for professional craftsmen. It thrived with a focus on pottery, ironworks, cloth- and

Can we say that the history of Winston-Salem is a tale of two cities? That’s probably accurate. More than 260 years ago the

furniture-making, and a bakery. The traditional handiwork of the Moravians lives on in Old Salem.

Moravians, a deeply religious group of German-speaking settlers, came to central North Carolina. The climate and fertile soil held the

Winston-Salem

Costumed interpreters at Old Salem Museums & Gardens tell the story of the early Moravians. Visitors also enjoy the decorative arts museum (left) and activities like apple cider preparation (below).

Welcomes Groups From engaging history tours to splendid repositories of art, the home of Krispy Kreme donuts abounds with itinerary options By Dave Bodle LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 33

on location: south ❖ About the same time in the late 18th century and just to the north

represents Winston. In 1917 Richard Joshua Reynolds, the founder

of Salem, a more secular Southern city was emerging. Winston was

of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., and his wife Katharine moved to what

formally established in the mid-1800s. The city grew with an industrial

is known today as Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

and entrepreneurial spirit to become a leader in textile and tobacco

Reynolda House is one of the few remaining examples of the Amer-

manufacturing. Successful businesses still thrive today, from Krispy

ican Country House movement, large self-sustaining homes with ex-

Kreme Doughnut Corporation, Inc. to nanotechnology.

tensive recreational facilities. With the deaths of R.J. shortly after

In 1913 the two prospering cities merged to

moving to Reynolda House and Katharine in

become Winston-Salem (always with a hy-

1924, the house was not occupied until 1934

phen) and those early hallmarks that brought

when their daughter Mary and her husband

the cities together continue today. That’s the

Charles Babcock, Sr. purchased the other sib-

Cliff Notes version of the community’s history

ling’s interest.

and culture. It simply sets the stage for the nu-

In 1962 Charles established the non-profit

merous tour options available.

Reynolda House, Inc. The Reynolda House Mu-

There’s no better place to begin your visit than

seum of American Art became a leader in the

one of America’s most complete historical at-

collection of period art dating back to 1775.

tractions, Old Salem Museums and Gardens.

There are more than 300 works from paintings

Groups have several options for interacting with

and drawings to photography and sculpture. The

costumed interpreters. Not to be missed is the

interior of the house is itself a piece of art, with

Historic Town Tour of Salem’s 18th and 19th cen-

furnishings, toys and decorative arts among vis-

tury buildings. Or consider the hour-long Twilight

itors’ favorites.

Tour through the streets of Old Salem. The Tan-

In addition to small, changing exhibitions in

nenberg Organ Tour gives a behind-the-scenes

the house’s galleries, major exhibitions are reg-

look at the organ’s history and restoration. You

ularly scheduled in the Mary and Charles Bab-

may even get to play the largest organ in existence. Special-interest tours provide insight into the

Old World architecture accents Old Salem. Below: A guide shares the history of Reynolda House in Winston.

cock Wing Gallery. From Aug. 23 to Dec. 31, The Art of Seating: Two Hundred Years of American Design will feature more than 40 pieces that

culture and lives of the early Moravians. There

tell the story of the design of American chairs.

were enslaved Africans and African- Americans

George Catlin’s American Buffalo (Feb. 23 to

in Salem. The St. Phillips Heritage Center tells

May 3, 2015) will display 40 paintings of the

their story. St. Phillips, founded in 1822 as the

America West. (reynoldahouse.org)

African Moravian Church, was renamed in 1914.

If you’re looking for more art treasures, you’ve

The original worshipers were mostly enslaved

certainly come to the right city. Located on the

people, making the church one of the oldest

campus of Winston-Salem State University in

African-American congregations in the nation.

the O’Kelley Library’s lower level is the Diggs

For smaller groups (8-20), a guided Garden

Gallery. Identified as one of the Top 10 African-

Tour, possibly combined with a Garden Work-

American galleries in the United States, Diggs

shop, may be of interest. Garden Workshops are

Gallery showcases African and African-Amer-

held regularly on a variety of topics.

ican art.

The Museum of Early American Southern

Since its opening in 1990 the Diggs Gallery

Decorative Arts (MESDA) at Old Salem is an

has experienced significant growth, adding

important part of any visit. A variety of tours is

paintings, prints and sculptures to its perma-

available and MESDA is happy to arrange some-

nent collection. The Sculpture Garden and Big-

thing for a group’s special interests. At the very least groups should schedule the 45-minute “Southernisms: People

gers Murals are highlights of the collection. (wssu.edu/college-arts-science/diggs-gallery)

and Places” tour, which showcases 12 galleries spanning craftsmen

When communities have active art scenes, are good dining and

from Jamestown to the American Civil War. Ceramics, furniture, paint-

drink also prevalent? Obviously yes, and Winston-Salem is no ex-

ings, silver and textiles each tell the history of the South and its vari-

ception. More than 35 nearby Yadkin Valley wineries, a craft brew-

ous cultures and lifestyles. (oldsalem.org)

ery and more than 100 restaurants are proof of the art, dining and

While Old Salem and MESDA reflect Salem, another tour option 34 June 2014

drink trilogy. LeisureGroupTravel.com

Less than 30 miles away, Westbend Vineyards offers tastings and tours and is the perfect setting for a picnic lunch. Downtown Foothills Brewing invites groups to stop by for a brew and a look at their artful posters and labels. Their “Sexual Chocolate” offering appears to be a favorite. The restaurant scene is every bit as vibrant and Visit Winston-Salem will be delighted to direct you to a choice of lively, independent restaurants in downtown Winston-Salem. From Southern home cooking to Mediterranean style, there is an endless number of options to excite your palate. A favorite located in the Downtown Arts District is Sweet Potatoes – The Restaurant. Their chefs not only made “shut my mouth” a rave review, but selected it as the title for their cookbook. Regardless of the time of year you visit, you’ll find the welcome mat is always out in WinstonSalem. Exciting destination, themed and seasonal itineraries are online at visitwinstonsalem.com. Certainly, though, any Winston-Salem itinerary should begin at the Visitors Center for complimentary coffee and Krispy Kremes. LGT

EAST POINT, GA

SMALL-TOWN CHARM AND BIG CITY SOPHISTICATION dining, shopping and entertainment center right off the interstate. With more than 100 affordable shops and restaurants spanning 1,400 acres, this center will fulfill all of your shopping needs.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Conveniently located just four miles from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and accessible on MARTA, major interstates ■ 214 acres of parks and green space, including the renowned Georgia Sports Park ■ Home to a 1996 Olympic training facility ■ Over 20 familyfriendly events take place between April and December ■ 15 minute drive to Atlanta’s famous attractions, civil rights history and professional sports venues

Savor Southern comfort favorites from This Is It! BBQ & Seafood. Place your order to go and enjoy a picnic at one of East Point’s 17 parks that include amenities such as tennis courts, playgrounds, pavilions, athletic fields, basketball and volleyball courts and walking trails.

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Check into one of East Point’s 16 select service, limited service or conference hotels spanning a variety of styles to fit every traveler’s personality. Discover the distinct personality and unique shopping of downtown East Point and stop for a sweet treat at E’vans Bakeshop, famous for homemade indulgences. East Point takes pride in products grown by local farmers and no other restaurant embraces this concept more than Lov’n It Live—the leader in organic living and vegan cuisine. Atlanta’s premier juice manufacturer, Arden’s Garden, makes tasty, all-natural concoctions from its East Point headquarters, so stop by and drink to your health! DAY

For heart-pumping action with historical significance visit the Dick Lane Velodrome. Built as a training facility for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, it remains one of the most unique cycling structures in the world and one of only five velodromes in the Southeast.

This quaint town packs enough activity and diversity into its annual schedule to please travelers looking for traditional, as well as out-of-the-ordinary fun. If you happen to be in town during an East Point event you’ll definitely want to join East Point locals and other visitors in the Commons area to take in the city’s captivating personality. Events include farmers markets and food truck courts, 4th of July Hometown Celebration, carnivals and so much more! DAY

Plan a day trip to Atlanta—easily accessible from East Point via the interstate or MARTA—to experience worldrenowned attractions surrounding Centennial Olympic Park. Attractions include Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and Inside CNN Studio Tours, as well as two brand new attractions set to open in 2014—the College Football Hall of Fame and Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Start the day with a hearty breakfast at local favorite Thumbs Up Diner, which offers a mix of funky originals, classic plates and build-your-own breakfast options. Visit Camp Creek Marketplace, the airport area’s newest DAY

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Family Fun in Atlanta

CONTACT: Atlanta CVB: City of East Point ➤ Chantel Ross-Francois www.atlanta.net/eastpoint 233 Peachtree Street NE #1400 Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-521-6600 Email: crossfrancois@atlanta.net 36 June 2014

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SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

SAVANNAH, EST. 1733 Fantastic Tybee Island: Just 20 minutes from Savannah lies Tybee Island, a uniquely charmed island that offers a change of pace and taste. While there, take your group to the Tybee Light Station. Dating back to 1773, the lighthouse is one of America’s most complete historic light stations.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ The nation’s largest urban historic district famous for an abundance of squares and parks ■ River Street with over 100 restored cotton warehouses, restaurants, galleries and shops

■ Informative and fun tours offered throughout the Historic District ■ Nighttime activities that include riverboat cruises, ghost tours and live musical theater ■ Outstanding dining options and culinary programs ■ Unique Civil War tours and experiences ■ Magnificent historical homes and mansions to tour

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Cherry Blossoms to Azaleas

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Savannah’s Southern Christmas

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Ladies of Leisure Girlfriends Getaway

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Savannah’s African American Heritage

38 June 2014

African American History: Take a tour that focuses on our rich black heritage. Highlights include a church that was built by slave labor and served as part of the Underground Railroad. We’re also home to the state’s oldest continuous school for newly freed slaves as well as a modern museum chronicling the civil rights struggle in Savannah. Military Might: From its beginning, Savannah has been fortified to protect its residents and strategic port. Today our eight forts stand as un-garrisoned but fascinating reminders of our military history as well as striking memorials to our country’s struggles to remain free. Fright Night: Discover why Savannah has repeatedly been named “America’s Most Haunted City”! There are numerous touring options to choose from, making this a great evening event for your group that’s entertaining, fun and informative, no matter the age. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Savannah Welcome Center/History Museum: The Savannah History Museum showcases the city’s history from its founding to the present day. The museum is home to exhibits that include Forrest Gump’s bench, one of Johnny Mercer’s Oscar Awards and a carriage owned by the family of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low. Take a Tour: Get to know Savannah by experiencing a city tour, either on our period-style trolleys or with one of our highly trained step-on guides. The tour lasts about two hours and will help your group get better acquainted with our genteel Southern beauty. Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Savannah offers all types of casual and upscale dining options. We can help you determine which restaurants are particularly group-friendly. DAY

Riverboat Tour: Explore the Savannah River’s natural beauty on the Savannah Riverboat. This two-hour excursion shows you the city from a unique perspective. You can also take a Culinary Lunch Cruise that includes a cooking demonstration followed by a lunch buffet and sightseeing cruise. Amazing Museums: Visit one of many museums that feature everything from our nautical and railroad history, to modern art, beautiful statues and paintings. DAY

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Visit a Historic Home: Savannah’s past is told in the many house museums that populate the area. Your group will enjoy this immersion into the lifestyles of our most famous founding fathers, exploring their period homes and possessions. Civil War Experience: Let an experienced guide show your group the role Savannah played and the fascinating story of how she managed to avoid the ravages of war. It’s Showtime!: Your group’s final night in Savannah is sure to be a memorable one as they experience the city’s live musical theater. From dinner theater productions to Broadway-style extravaganzas, the entertainment will have your group smiling, laughing, singing and tapping their toes to the well-known songs of the past and present. Visit Savannah is happy to assist you with hotels, attractions and restaurants! Submit your group’s RFP by clicking on the Group Travel tab on visitsavannah.com. DAY

CONTACT: Visit Savannah ➤ Mindy Shea www.visitsavannah.com 101 E. Bay St., Savannah, GA 31401 Phone: 912-644-6419 Email: mshea@visitsavannah.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS

REVEL IN THE DAYS OF OLD Morning: Driving tour of Historic Fort Smith with a step-on guide. Learn more about the early days of Fort Smith and see the 22-square-block area known as the Belle Grove Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The architecture spans 135 years and some blocks are still paved with the original bricks. Fort Smith National Historic Site Tour Hangin’ Judge Isaac C. Parker’s Courtroom, the old jail known as “hell on the border,” and see a replica of the famed gallows where 79 men met their fate. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Afternoon: Miss Laura’s Visitor Center – DAY Plan for a good look around this former bordello, the first to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was one of seven houses of ill-repute in the early 1900s in the red-light district known as “The Row.” With prior arrangements, Miss Laura will be in costume to greet the group and give the tour. Pre-arrange for refreshments of sarsaparilla and peanuts to be served from the bar area.

Fort Smith Museum of History – 150 years of Fort Smith history! Learn the city’s role in the early frontier, Civil War and the area’s late 19th century lawlessness. Experience the Darby Room and discover Fort Smith's famous son and World War II hero William O. Darby. Enjoy an old-fashioned soda at the working drug store/soda fountain. Evening: Dinner – Barbeque on the banks of the Arkansas River – served in the River Park Events Building, highlighted by Miss Laura’s Players in The Medicine Show on Hanging Day, an original comedy skit. Step back into a colorful past, both novel and entertaining!

CONTACT: Fort Smith CVB ➤ Carolyn Joyce www.fortsmith.org 2 North B St., Fort Smith, AR 72901 Phone: 800-637-1477 Email: tourism@fortsmith.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

Afternoon: “Lunch and Tour” at the Clayton House – Circa 1850’s restored home of William Clayton, Judge Parker’s prosecuting attorney. Contains authentic Clayton family and period pieces.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Miss Laura’s Visitors Center ■ Dinner show – Miss Laura’s Players in The Medicine Show on Hanging Day ■ Fort Smith National Historic Site ■ The Clayton House ■ Museums ■ Specialty shopping

Following a peaceful lunch, we’ll shake things up…Elvis Presley style! Visit the Chaffee Barber Shop Museum learn the history of Fort Chaffee, built in 1941 to train World War II recruits. See the restored barber shop where many got their “buzz” cut, including Elvis Presley in 1958. BrickCity Emporium - Destination shopping with a laidback atmosphere. Over 160 unique shops in one building, including artisans, crafts, gifts, food & specialty items, and a café with sitting area. Farm Tour – Always a favorite, visit a working farm that has been in operation for over 60 years by three generations of a family. Learn about American farming in the region. Stroll through pecan groves and see how honeybees do their work. Evening: Dinner at Calico County - a landmark of the Fort Smith area, enjoy a plate of Southern food that tastes like a home-cooked meal served in an ambiance of American memorabilia and memories. Or: A & M Railway: Excursion north through the beautiful Ozark Mountains. One-way or roundtrip available. Box lunch can be pre-arranged. Head to Arkansas Wine Country - Visit one of several wineries for tour/tasting followed by dinner at Wiederkehr’s Weinkeller Restaurant.

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OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Hats Boots Spurs

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The Real America

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Talk a Walk on the "Wild West" Side

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Fun at the Fort

June 2014 39

NORFOLK, VIRGINIA

TALL SHIPS, ENTERTAINMENT & FOOD ENJOY NORFOLK’S ANNUAL HARBORFEST ! ®

Tour the Douglas MacArthur Memorial and discover the compelling story of General Douglas MacArthur, a five-star general of the Army, and the millions of Americans who served our nation through five wars. Located in downtown Norfolk's restored 1850s City Hall, the complex contains a museum, theater and special exhibit galleries.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Parade of Sails ■ Tall Ships Open for Tours ■ Spirit of Norfolk Fireworks Cruise

Stroll over to Granby Street, just one block walking distance from Harborfest. Experience over 30 locally owned and operated restaurants from American bistro to tapas to Mexican.

■ Battleship Wisconsin ■ World’s Largest Naval Base – Naval Station Norfolk ■ Chrysler Museum of Art ■ Norfolk Botanical Garden

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Norfolk is host to the annual festival favorite, Harborfest! Each June Norfolk celebrates nautical history by displaying tall ships, along with maritime events, entertainment, delicious food and a spectacular fireworks display all along the downtown waterfront. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum introduces you to over 200 years of naval history in Hampton Roads. Located next to Nauticus is the Battleship Wisconsin, the largest and last battleship ever built by the U.S. Navy. DAY

Come aboard the Spirit of Norfolk for the Parade of Sails. Watch tall ships sail down the Elizabeth River in a spectacular two-hour parade. You will have the best view of the harbor, with 200 boats and vessels to see, as well as several tall ships.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

City Life to Beach Relaxing

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VA International Tattoo

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Haunts in the City

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Unwrap the Holidays

40 June 2014

Afterwards, come explore an outdoor festival on the water at Harborfest. Enjoy live music and great food accompanied by art and educational programs. Tall ships are open for tours after the Parade of Sails for visitors to explore the decks and talk to sailors. Take a 45-minute bus tour of the world's largest naval installation, Naval Station Norfolk. A knowledgeable, active duty Navy guide will give a narrated tour of the base highlighting the U.S. Naval Fleet, Admirals Row and how the base is a working city. DAY

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Head back over to Town Point Park for Harborfest and enjoy over 50 food vendors, live concerts on three stages and fireworks along the downtown waterfront. Do not forget you can jump aboard the Victory Rover or Spirit of Norfolk for the best seats in the house for the fireworks! Take a fun-filled boat ride at Norfolk Botanical Garden and explore the waterways or stroll the gardens and discover a variety of plants from the cultivated to the wild. Shop till you drop and enjoy a leisurely lunch at MacArthur Center with over 70 retailers anchored by Nordstrom and Dillard's. DAY

Head to Hermitage Museum and Gardens. Formerly home to the Sloane family, the Hermitage is “home to the arts” with a nationally recognized art collection spanning 5,000 years. Art includes contemporary exhibition galleries, working artist studios and 12 acres of gardens and grounds. Before you depart for home, head to Chrysler Museum of Art, recently expanded and renovated with new galleries and engaging programs to bring the collection to life. Enjoy 5,000 years of art in one of the country’s most impressive museums, featuring a newly expanded restaurant, library, gift shop and theater. DAY

Please see our website for a list of newest itineraries at www.visitnorfolktoday.com

CONTACT: VisitNorfolk ➤ Melissa Hopper www.visitnorfolktoday.com 232 E. Main St., Norfolk, VA 23510 Phone: 800-368-3097 Email: mhopper@visitnorfolkotday.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

KEEPING IT CLASSY IN ARK-N-SASSY Clinton Presidential Center See an exact replica of President Clinton’s Oval Office, the presidential limousine and a timeline with exhibits for each year of Clinton’s presidency.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Private Home Tours and Lavish Dinners ■ William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library ■ Taste Test AwardWinning Bourbons and Rums ■ Dinner Theater with Actors' Reception ■ The Civil Rights Movement - tour America's first integrated high school ■ The River Market Entertainment and Dining District

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY

Morning: Old Mill - site of the opening scene of Gone with the Wind, a good place to ease into the day and maybe enjoy donuts.

Private Homes Tour with Kay Tatum - explore a handful of private homes in the Historic District of Little Rock. The Empress of Little Rock - lunch and tour, enjoy an authentic British High Tea and hear the stories of bootleggers and discover their secret hiding places. Afternoon: MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History – General Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock. The museum was created to interpret our state’s military heritage from its territorial period to the present. The Little Rock Zoo - Penguins will greet you as you ride our one-of-a-kind, 1920s Over the Humps Carousel. Your group rides the carousel and could get the VIP behind-the-scenes tour of the zoo and feed a giraffe or rhino. Evening: Marlsgate Plantation Home - Enjoy a lavish night of comedy and candelabras; the owner will tell tales of his family while you enjoy a four-course plated meal on fine china. DAY

2 42 June 2014

Morning: Heifer International - Learn about this organization's mission to end hunger and poverty in the world and how they do it one animal at a time.

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Afternoon: River Market District - Located in the heart of downtown Little Rock, the River Market offers an exciting mix of unique shopping, dining, galleries and nightlife, all on the banks of the Arkansas River. It is very pedestrian-friendly and is served by an old-fashioned electric trolley. Little Rock Central High School - Take a step back into the 1950s and see how this school played a role in the desegregation of public schools in the United States. Evening: Murry’s Dinner Playhouse - Enjoy the allyou-can-eat buffet, then take in the best of Broadway. Murry’s offers a full season of Broadway’s best comedies and musicals. Morning: Spirited Art - Tap into your inner Picasso and enjoy a morning of stencil painting. Learn the basics of painting in the company of great friends and good beverages (BYOB). All the tools are provided. DAY

Afternoon: Strippaggio - Taste test over 50 varieties of award-winning 100% extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from select artisans around the world. Oils are imported seasonally from places like Italy, Greece, Spain, Chile, Morocco and California to name a few. MAKE AND TAKE YOUR OWN SPECIAL BLEND. Rock Town Distillery - Arkansas’s first “legal” distillery since Prohibition. Help bottle the award-winning rums, vodkas, bourbons and moonshine and TAKE HOME a free bottle. Also taste test all Rock Town offerings.

CONTACT: Little Rock CVB ➤ Kimberly Torres www.littlerock.com/tour P.O. Box 3232, Little Rock, AR 72203 Phone: 501-370-3228 Email: asims@littlerock.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

VIRGINIA BEACH, NORFOLK, NEWPORT NEWS, SMITHFIELD & HAMPTON, VIRGINIA

TOURING THROUGH THE CENTURIES Smithfield is our destination this morning, home of Smithfield ham. Today, we will tour Historic St. Luke’s Church, which is the oldest existing church of English foundation in America, dating back to 1632, and the nation's only surviving Gothic building. DAY

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Attractions and Museums ■ Driving Tours ■ Civil War

Then we head downtown to the village of Smithfield, well known for its eclectic shops and great lunch spots, where you have time to explore on your own.

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Step back 400 years when our country was new and see how we’ve grown through the centuries while keeping alive the history of Coastal Virginia. We begin our journey where we began as a country. The Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia Beach guards the entryway into the Chesapeake Bay. Standing near this “First Landing” site of the Jamestown settlers (where, in 1607, Captain Christopher Newport raised a cross to offer thanks for their safe crossing of the Atlantic), the lighthouse has stood since completion in 1792. Climb to the top of the lighthouse and look out across the Chesapeake. DAY

After lunch on the beach, we go to Norfolk to see the MacArthur Memorial. Located in the old Norfolk courthouse, the Douglas MacArthur Memorial honors the general and gives a detailed history of his life through a short film and a number of exhibits. Also see his famous corncob pipe, various medals and his 1950 Chrysler Imperial. The main attraction here is MacArthur's tomb. Tonight we head across the water to Newport News and have dinner at the Boxwood Inn. After a greeting from the owner, you are served a delicious meal provided by an award-winning chef, Josh Varga. While we eat, enjoy “dinner-tainment” by the Doorway Singers.

CONTACT: Newport News Tourism Development Office ➤ Barb Kleiss, Group Marketing Manager www.newport-news.org 700 Town Center Drive, Suite 320 Newport News, VA 23606 Phone: 757-926-1442 Email: bkleiss@nngov.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Board the coach and we cross the James River Bridge into Newport News to visit the Virginia Living Museum. See living exhibits depicting Virginia’s natural heritage and animals in naturalized habitats along the boardwalk. Weather permitting, enjoy boxed dinners from Anderson’s Showplace Café as we sit under the stars at a free concert.

■ Entertainment ■ Events and Festivals ■ Historic Homes and Neighborhoods ■ Art and Sculpture Tour

Today we head to Hampton for a threehour cruise on the Miss Hampton II. As our guide leads us to historic Fort Wool, hear a bit of the history of Fort Monroe and marvel at the ships at Naval Station Norfolk, the largest Navy base in the world. Lunch will be served on the boat. DAY

While we’re in the seafaring mood, we now move on to The Mariners’ Museum. The museum itself is one of the largest and most prestigious maritime museums in the world, with more than 35,000 maritime artifacts, including ship models, historic paintings and small crafts from around the world. Be sure to see the miniature ships with stunning detail of August F. Crabtree. Designated “America's National Maritime Museum” by Congress, The Mariners’ Museum is also the location of the premier Civil War attraction in the country – the USS Monitor Center, home to the Civil War Ironclad’s iconic gun turret. Tonight we dine at Tucanos Brazilian Grill. It starts off as a salad bar, then you will pick and choose your meats, which are brought directly to your table. Keep your Tucanos Cue green-side up and servers will continue to bring fresh selections to your table. When you have finished, or when you would like a break, simply turn your Tucanos Cue red-side up.

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Family Day

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History of America

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Just The Two of Us

June 2014 43

SCAN FOR TRIP IDEAS

Eureka Springs

Bentonville

#VisitArkansas Fort Smith

Eureka Springs

Explore a Victorian village built into a mountainside, be inspired by the greatest story ever told, see American art from Colonial times right up to the present, and experience the last outpost of civilization before the old Wild West. FIND OUT MORE BY VISITING ArkansasGroupTravel.com OR CALLING 1-800-872-1259.

Give your next tour group more memories per gallon. Bring them to a place that makes eyes go wide and mouths grin ear to ear. A destination with more shows. More shopping. More arts and crafts. More mountain views. And more down-home cooking. A city that offers a wide range of fun for anyone at any age. Welcome to a detour from the ordinary.

PigeonForgeTours.com â&#x20AC;˘ 1-800-285-7557

IOWA TOUR GUIDE

Special Supplement

June 2014 Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area / Daenna Newkirk, Des Moines, IA

here’s something magical about the Mississippi. From an early age, our visions of America’s most famous—and its second longest—river are shaped by history books and the timeless stories of Mark Twain. In our minds we picture boys playing along its banks and paddlewheeler steamboats plying its waters. Just crossing a Mississippi River bridge from Illinois to Iowa is a much-anticipated

charming communities loaded with history and a passing parade of attractions. River cruises, casinos and minor league baseball are just some of the diversions that await tour groups. Add museums, historic homes and shopping for antiques and collectibles in cozy downtowns that smack of yesteryear. Save time to watch barges going through the locks or, in winter, bald eagles swooping over the river as they feed at the open waters around the dams. Dubuque, the oldest city in Iowa, in recent years has seen much redevelopment

Mississippi Riverwalk, an amphitheater and Diamond Jo Casino. Sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises on the Spirit of Dubuque paddlewheeler and Miss Dubuque yacht also have group appeal. For the best view in town, take a ride on the Fenelon Place Elevator, billed as the “world’s steepest, shortest railway.” It was built in 1882 as a way for a businessman to get home for lunch and take a nap each day. About 20 minutes south of Dubuque along the Great River Road is St. Donatus, a sleepy hamlet with roots in the small Eu-

thrill—even if you’ve done it dozens of times before. Think of your last visit to Dubuque or Davenport, Bellevue or Burlington, and your first image is probably that of strolling along the riverfront or viewing Ol’ Man River from a bluff-top lookout. The Great River Road, a National Scenic Byway, travels 3,000 miles along both sides of the Mississippi River from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, providing a logical route for sightseeing in Eastern Iowa. It connects

along its riverfront, where the star attraction is the Smithsonian-affiliated National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Guests at its 3-D/4-D digital theater feel their seats rumble and experience wind, water and scent in a completely immersive experience. The outdoor area features a boatyard plaza with a working blacksmith shop, wetland habitat and the landmark William M. Black dredge boat. Other waterfront highlights include the

ropean country of Luxembourg. The hillside Way of the Cross and Pieta Chapel recall the Luxembourger immigrants who settled the area. Kalmes Restaurant, now in its fifth generation of family ownership, preserves Luxembourger traditions through photos, artwork and a menu with “Luxembourg Classics” like ground steak with cream of mushroom. A 10-minute drive south leads to the quiet Mississippi River town of Bellevue, where visitors can shop, watch barges

IOWA’S

Davenport’s downtown riverfront

transit the locks and enjoy panoramic views of the river valley from Bellevue State Park. Clinton, located in easternmost Iowa at the widest point of the Mississippi, abounds with attractions. The Sawmill Museum tells the story of the town’s industrial prominence from the 1850s to the 1890s, when Clinton was the “Lumber Capital of the World.” Lumber from Clinton’s mills helped fuel westward expansion and accounted for the country’s highest number of millionaires per capita during the period. The Curtis Mansion, the restored Victorian home of lumber baron George M. Curtis, awes guests with its Tiffany glass windows, carved banisters, ornate wood trim and massive fireplaces. The town’s minor league baseball team is the Clinton LumberKings, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Groups in Clinton can commune with nature at Bickelhaupt Arboretum, try their luck at Wild Rose Casino and in summer enjoy a musical or comedy at the Clinton Area Showboat Theatre, a restored paddlewheeler on the riverfront. Wide River Winery offers tastings and tours, and invites guests to hike the bluff trail for vistas of the Mississippi. Little LeClaire lures nostalgia-minded

Pine Creek Grist Mill, near Muscatine

tourists with its antique and gift shops, particularly Antique Archaeology, home base for the History Channel’s popular “American Pickers.” You might even run into the show’s Mike Wolfe, a LeClaire resident. The riverfront’s Buffalo Bill Museum honors a celebrity from the past—William F. Cody, born nearby in 1846—with exhibits and a video on the Wild West showman. The Twilight Riverboat, the riverfront’s most photogenic asset, offers two-day cruises from LeClaire to Dubuque. Another tourist magnet is Mississippi River Distillery, where free tours show the craftsmanship that goes into each bottle of vodka, gin and whiskey made with locally grown grains. Samples are available.

Davenport and Bettendorf, a short drive south of LeClaire, make up the Iowa portion of the Quad Cities, the largest metropolitan area between Minneapolis and St. Louis. Also encompassing Moline, East Moline and Rock Island, Ill., the Quad Cities (pop. 380,000) is the only place where the river runs east to west. Downtown Davenport boasts an attractive riverfront park ideal for strolling, plus attractions like Rhythm City Casino, Figge Art Museum and The River Music Experience, a non-profit center where visitors can relax over drinks at the Redstone Room and hear local talents showcasing the works of Mississippi River-inspired musicians who influenced blues and jazz. The newest river-

Mississippi River Towns Charting a course along the state’s eastern border puts groups in touch with a vital valley overflowing with river lore —and lots more

side landmark is the 110-foot-tall Ferris wheel at Modern Woodmen Park, home of baseball’s Quad Cities River Bandits, a farm team of the Houston Astros. Other crowd-pleasers in the Quad Cities include Davenport’s German-American Heritage Center and Putnam Museum of History and Science, Isle Casino Hotel in Bettendorf and the Celebration Belle, the largest non-gaming riverboat on the Upper Mississippi. The Belle’s sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises depart from Rock Island, as do day-long cruises to Dubuque. Muscatine, about 25 minutes southwest of the Quad Cities, takes pride in its industrial heritage. By 1900 it was known as the “Pearl Button Capital of the World” and once accounted for more than 40

to walk down the twisting street will be picked up by the motorcoach at the bottom of the hill. Tours of Burlington also include a drive through Heritage Hill National Historic District, a neighborhood boasting 160 structures in a variety of architectural styles, from late Victorian and Queen Anne to Gothic and Greek Revival. Mosquito Park, named for its size, offers dazzling views of the Mississippi. For an up-close look at river traffic, stop by Lock and Dam No. 18, one of 29 such operations on the upper Mississippi. Entertainment choices in Burlington include Catfish Bend Casino and Burlington Bees baseball. The ballpark of the Los Angeles Angels’ Class A affiliate caters to groups by offering a buffet meal in the

Following the mighty Mississippi is a nostalgic journey into the past and spotlights the very essence of America’s heartland Mississippi River Distillery, LeClaire

percent of the world’s button output. More than half of the city’s workforce was devoted to the button industry, from harvesting the raw material—shiny mussel shells in the Mississippi—to shipping the final product. Visitors to the Muscatine History and Industry Center learn that pearl button production ceased in the late 1960s. The Muscatine Art Center, housed in a 1908 mansion, exhibits American and European paintings, period furniture, Oriental rugs and decorative arts, plus collections of antique paperweights, American art glass and music boxes/instruments. Wildcat Den State Park, 10 miles from town, is home to the Pine Creek Grist Mill, Iowa’s oldest operating such mill, and an 1877 one-room schoolhouse. Groups in Muscatine also enjoy Winters’ Buffalo Farm, where they can take pictures of the majestic herd, buy buffalo meat and witness exotic animals like llamas, peacocks and a zedonk (a cross between a zebra and a donkey). Traveling south on the Great River Road leads to Burlington. Snake Alley, perhaps the town’s most famous landmark, was recognized by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not as the “Crookedest Street in the World.” Built of bricks in 1894, the steep street drops 58 feet over a distance of 275 feet and rivals San Francisco’s Lombard Street for the “crookedest” honor. Many groups visit the elegant, Victorian-style Phelps House Museum at the top of Snake Alley. Those who choose

Brat Garden and having a group member throw out the first pitch. Downtown Burlington’s Capitol Theater, a restored 1937 Art Deco jewel that reopened in 2012 after being closed for 35 years, presents independent and classic films, plus national touring acts. A dinner on the stage can be arranged for groups. Fort Madison’s main draw is Old Fort Madison, a replica of the frontier defense post that was built in 1808 and abandoned and burned just a few years later. Located in Riverview Park on the downtown riverfront, the fort offers tours led by costumed interpreters and on certain occasions has musket firing, military drills and bread-baking demonstrations. In Keokuk, in Iowa’s far southeastern corner, an old railroad bridge that spanned the Mississippi, is now an observation platform where people come to picnic and watch the riverboats go through the locks at Lock & Dam No. 19. The impressive dam, the largest electricity-generating plant in the world when completed in 1913, stretches almost a mile across the Mississippi. The dam is not open to the public but has a lookout deck popular with eagle watchers in winter. Also visit the George M. Verity River Museum, a steam-powered, sternwheeler towboat, and drive along Grand Avenue, lined with magnificent old homes. Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Crowd-Pleasing Itineraries The Iowa Group Travel Association has loads of sample tour itineraries that will aid planners in crafting the best trip possible. Here are just a few of the possibilities: Savor the Flavors Western Iowa – 2 days Corning – Stanton – Elk Horn – Manning Get a taste of Iowa’s ethnic heritage starting with Corning’s French Icarian Village in what remains of a 19th century utopian settlement. After a Frenchstyle picnic and visit to a Corning winery, hop over to the Swedish Heritage & Cultural Center in Stanton to sample history and Swedish delicacies. Then enjoy touring and cheese tasting at the Danish Windmill in Elk Horn, followed by a dinner of authentic Danish cuisine. The next day features the German Hausbarn in Manning, where the church ladies serve a lunch of ethnic favorites, including sandwiches, sauerkraut salad, pickled beets and German chocolate cake or fudge cupcakes with beer frosting. Finally, visit a farmstead with a 100-year-old history.

A Patriotic Tour Western Iowa – 3 days Council Bluffs – Clarinda – Atlantic In Council Bluffs, learn about historic combat aircraft at a national military museum, visit the home of a Civil War general, view a beautiful Civil War monument and tour a nationally renowned railroad museum. The next day swing into Clarinda and sway to the Big Band beat at the Glenn Miller Birthplace Museum. At a museum in Clarinda, experience the WWII prisoner of war camp housing German and Japanese prisoners and enjoy an authentic German dinner with all the trimmings. Spend the third day in Atlantic, home to a Coca-Cola memorabilia exhibit, an old-fashioned five & dime store and a restaurant serving one of Iowa’s top five burgers, farmer fries and national blue-ribbon peanut butter pie.

Experience Historic Northeast Iowa Eastern Iowa – 5 days Dubuque – Dyersville – Balltown – Elkader - Decorah Spend the first day in Dubuque, where highlights include the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, a riverboat lunch and a ride on the world’s shortest, steepest railway. Day 2 features the Field of Dreams Movie Site and National Farm Toy Museum in Dyersville; a buffet meal at Breitbach’s Country Dining in Balltown, Iowa’s oldest bar and restaurant; and Stone Cliff Winery back in Dubuque. Continue on to the delightful town of Elkader and then settle in for two nights in Decorah, home to the nation’s most comprehensive museum dedicated to a single immigrant group – the Norwegians. On the morning of Day 5, stop at a farm that grows 6,200 varieties of tomatoes – it merited a visit from Martha Stewart.

History at its Finest – From Bluffs to Barns Eastern Iowa – 3 days Burlington – Villages of Van Buren This tour is based in the Mississippi River town of Burlington and starts in the downtown historic district, a treasure trove of nearly 160 structures reflecting many architectural styles. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the river from bluff-top Mosquito Park, visit a house museum filled with antiques and amble down the “crookedest street in the world” as designated by Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Stop for dessert, coffee and a tour at one of Burlington’s premier bed and breakfasts, built by a lumber baron in 1877. Catch a minor league baseball game at night. Day 2 features the Villages of Van Buren, where favorite pastimes include gift and antique shopping. Visit Mennonite-owned businesses, an old-time general store and a cheese factory. Other highlights in the Villages include a winery visit and tour of a historic pottery where guests can make their very own piece. Dine in the home of an Amish family or perhaps in a restored grist mill or woolen mill. Back in Burlington on Day 3, tour a private garden with dozens of varieties of flowers and its antique tractor display. Then visit an elk farm and sample some of the meat before visiting a river terminal to learn about the unloading of barges and rail cars.

Cuisine in the Corn

Top Events Burlington Steamboat Days June 10-15, 2014 National rock, country, rhythm and blues, and pop stars appear on two outdoor stages. The lineup this year includes Toby Keith. A parade and carnival rides also are part of this celebration of life on the Mississippi. (steamboatdays.com)

Glenn Miller Festival, Clarinda June 12-15, 2014 On the second weekend in June, visitors and entertainers from around the world converge in Clarinda, home of the Glenn Miller Museum and Birthplace Home, to celebrate the music of Alton Glenn Miller, the top bandleader during the Big Band era. Hear bands from around the world and the World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra. (glennmiller.org)

National Balloon Classic, Indianola July 25-Aug. 2, 2014 More than 100 hot-air balloons, including special shapes, paint the sky over Indianola, home of the National Balloon Museum. Visitors enjoy musical entertainment, open-air markets and the Fire in the Sky Nite-Glow Extravaganza at Iowa’s largest ballooning event. (nationalballoonclassic.com)

Iowa State Fair, Des Moines Aug. 7-17, 2014 Considered America’s classic state fair, this ag-extravaganza annually attracts more than a million fun lovers from around the world. Featured are one of the world's largest livestock shows, the country's largest state fair foods department (about 900 classes), the state's largest arts show, hundreds of competitive events and wacky contests, and a carnival midway. Nearly 200 food stands offer more than 60 items on-a-stick, from corndogs to deep-fried butter. Grandstand shows slated this year include Lady Antebellum, Florida Georgia Line, Foreigner and Styx, and the Robertsons from A&E’s Duck Dynasty, not to mention the tractor and truck pull and demolition derby. (iowastatefair.org)

Tulip Time Festival, Pella May 7-9, 2015 Proud of its Dutch heritage and tourist attractions, Pella throws a big party that includes six parades, three of them lighted. The afternoon Grandstand Show features Dutch dancing and singing, Parade of Provinces (Dutch costume style show), cheese market demonstration, presentation of the queen and her court, and the famous street scrubbing. Festival-goers also enjoy brilliant tulip gardens, craft markets, Dutch dancing and musical performances. Groups can arrange a Dutch chocolate demonstration, costume show, tulip tips talk and Dutch meal with costumed servers. Craft demonstrations at Pella Historical Village include yoke carving, wooden shoe-making and Dutch letter baking. (pellatuliptime.org)

Farm to Table, Iowa-Style big juicy bonus of touring farm states like Iowa is the food. From milk to dinner rolls to pork tenderloin sandwiches, everything just seems to taste better, much the way we remember it growing up. Since it wouldn’t be a trip to Iowa without visiting a farm, a farmers’ market or a restaurant that relies on farm-fresh ingredients, we suggest several ways to experience the heartland’s rich bounty: In Kalona, home to Iowa’s largest Amish colony, the tourism folks can arrange a hearty meal for groups of 10 or more. Served family-style in a Conservative Mennonite home, the spread includes Amish staples like chicken or roast beef, dressing or noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad, vegetables, tapioca pudding and home-baked bread with apple butter. Save room for angel food cake or peanut butter pie. (kalonaiowa.com) How about dinner in a cornfield? For a magical evening, consider reserving seats at Cuisine in the Corn, an annual event staged at Bloomsbury Farm in Atkins. Amid the cornstalks on Aug. 23, some 200 guests will be transported by hayrack to one elegantly appointed long table complete with china, white linens, green napkins, flowers and lots of candles. Free-flowing wine and live music accompany the four-course feast. (bloomsburyfarm.com/cuisine) Groups get an inside look at dairy

production from cow to table at Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy in Hudson, a short drive from Waterloo. Tours at this family farm dating back to 1864 let you feed a calf, milk a cow or make butter. Top off your visit with a dish of premium ice cream or cheese curds and crackers. A catered meal can be arranged in the new visitor center. (hansendairy.com). There’s also a taste of the country in the middle of Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and biggest city. Let your group loose at the Downtown Farmers’ Market, held every Saturday morning from May through October. It spans nine city blocks in the Historic Court District and attracts an average of 20,000 visitors and more than 200 vendors. (desmoinesfarmersmarket.com) Following the national trend in presenting healthy seasonal dishes made mostly with farm-fresh foodstuffs produced just miles away, farmto-fork restaurants have popped up in many Iowa communities. In the historic East Village of Des Moines, the menu at HoQ evolves almost daily and showcases flavors from around the world using the finest of Iowa ingredients—almost 90% of them from local farms. HoQ features grass-fed beef and lamb, and pastureraised chicken and duck, all are raised without the use of hormones, antibiotics, steroids or cages. Its butter and cream come from grass-fed cows. (hoqtble.com)

WATERLOO, IOWA

BRING YOUR TOUR TO LIFE: DISCOVER WATERLOO HIGHLIGHTS Enjoy a delicious breakDAY fast before you begin your fun-filled day in Waterloo. View artistry at its best at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, which presents a full program of exhibitions and works from its permanent collection as well as temporary exhibits of works by regional and international artists. Your group can get creative with a hands-on workshop or class in drawing, pottery, jewelry making, digital photography or video editing. Be sure to check out the center’s Gift Store, which sells original fine arts and crafts created by Midwest artists. Just steps away, it’s time for a fresh and innovative lunch at the ArtHouse Café. Following lunch, take a behind-the-scenes tour of a third-generation business, Petersen & Tietz Florist and Greenhouses. Wrap up the afternoon with a tour of Kenny Kass’ Private Tractor Collection, the fifth largest in the United States. In the evening, head downtown to Hope Martin Theatre, home of the Waterloo Community Playhouse/Black Hawk Children’s Theatre. Sit back, relax and enjoy one of their outstanding performances!

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Begin your tour of Waterloo at the John Deere Tractor Assembly Plant and take a free trolley ride through the factory to see first-hand how the large green tractors are manufactured. Afterwards, stop by Deere Crossing to pick up your John Deere merchandise and souvenirs. Next, travel a short distance to the world-famous Galleria De Paco and enjoy a tour and meal below the breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling. The artist, Paco Rosic, created this masterpiece with 5,200 cans of Krylon spray paint as he worked on scaffolding for four months. A few blocks away is the Grout Museum District, where you can “Touch, See, and Feel” the history. Then on to the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, which honors Waterloo’s military heroes, The Fighting Sullivans: five brothers who perished on the same ship during WWII. This museum features interactive exhibits, displays and oral histories for all conflicts from the Civil War to present day. Next, check into one of our accommodating and group-friendly hotels. That evening, experience dining, gaming and entertainment at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. Or, choose from a variety of shopping options located nearby in the Crossroads area. DAY

Enter a world of discovery at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The museum preserves the history of mankind’s oldest sport through historic artifacts, exhibits and a library. The Hall of Fame completes the tribute to some of the most memorable wrestlers in American history. Step back in time with a visit to Waterloo’s oldest Victorian mansion, the Rensselaer Russell House. Next, travel down the road to the RiverLoop Public Market Co-op and Café for lunch. This year-round market and café sells fresh and locally-grown food items. After lunch, enjoy a hands-on farm experience at Hansen’s Dairy Farm. See the process of getting milk from the farm to your table, feed a calf, milk a cow, or perhaps pet a wallaby. Top your day off with a catered meal inside their new visitor center. DAY

Start your final day with a visit to the Historic Church Row Neighborhood. Tour up to seven of these 100-year-old churches all located within a two-block area. Complete your tour of Waterloo with a group luncheon at the historic Snowden House or a tour of the beautiful Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. DAY

CONTACT: Waterloo CVB ➤ Lonnie Elmore www.travelwaterloo.com 500 Jefferson St., Waterloo, IA 50701 Phone: 800-728-8431 Email: lonnie@travelwaterloo.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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■ Take a free trolley tour through the John Deere Tractor Assembly Plant ■ Enjoy a meal below the breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling at the Galleria De Paco ■ Learn about life on the home front at the Five Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum ■ Experience dining, gaming and entertainment at the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo ■ Engage in arts and culture at the Waterloo Center for the Arts and Phelps Youth Pavilion ■ See historic artifacts and exhibits at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum ■ Buy fresh and locally-grown food items at the RiverLoop Public Market Co-op and Café

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Show Me the Green

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This Land was Made for You and Me

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Gardener’s Delight

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August Ag-venture June 2014 53

DIXON, FULTON, SAVANNA, MT. MORRIS, OREGON, ILLINOIS

NORTHWEST ILLINOIS MYSTERY TOUR

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Tour Ronald Reagan's Boyhood Home ■ Visit De Immigrant Windmill & Windmill Cultural Center ■ Tour the Havencrest Castle ■ Overnight deep in the woods in full-amenity cabins ■ Step back in time at Barnacopia Farm Museum ■ Enjoy lunch & live theatre at White Pines Dinner Theatre ■ Dinner Cruise on an authentic paddlewheel boat

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Trail to Greatness The Humble Beginnings of Pres. Ronald Reagan

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Dessert Diva's Day Out

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Grand Excursion on the Great River Road

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Sweet & Salty Saturday with a Salty Covered Sunday

54 June 2014

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Dixon A tour of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon is a glimpse back in time at the Reagan family residence of the 1920s. Check out the Visitor Center and Gift Shop, which features books and gifts highlighting the Reagan legacy. The Northwest Territory Historic Center is a history, research and learning center housed in President Reagan’s grade school. The center is proudly affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and houses exhibits of Native American life, early American farming, a research library, historical exhibits, an art gallery and museum store. A local step-on guide gives a narrated tour of Dixon’s Historic Sites including stops at the Dixon Welcome Center and Gift Shop and the riverfront location of the bronze, life-size statue of a young Ronald Reagan on horseback entitled Begins the Trail. Enjoy dinner at local fine dining restaurants offering a variety of choices including Italian, Thai or locally grown organic cuisine. DAY

Fulton – Savanna – Mt. Morris Fulton’s deep roots are in the Netherlands, where an authentic Dutch Windmill was pre-assembled and erected by Dutch craftsmen for the town’s Mississippi River dike. DAY

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It is open for tours with millers giving demonstrations. The Windmill Museum & Cultural Center is across the street and features models of 21 European windmills, education area and gift shop. Fulton’s Heritage Canyon is a 12-acre area featuring numerous buildings that take the visitor back to the 1800s on self-guided walking tours. Travel along the Mississippi River Road for a unique lunch experience at Poopy’s Pub & Grub, one of Illinois’ best known biker bars. Not a traditional restaurant or typical biker bar, instead it has great food and drinks served in a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere. Continue the afternoon on a tour of Havencrest Castle. Love and beauty fill every corner of this one-of-a-kind, 63-room fantasy castle. Visitors are left with an unforgettable experience. NOT handicapaccessible. Travel to White Pines State Park and check in to full-amenity cabins followed by dinner at the White Pines Inn log lodge. After dinner relax around a campfire and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings deep in the heart of the White Pines Forest. Mt. Morris - Oregon Entering the Barnacopia Farm Museum, visitors are greeted by a 1950s-era diner and a replica of a bygone downtown. Many antique farm machines and equipment, classic cars and more are on display including an antique tractor that rotates in the cupola at the top of the barn. The afternoon includes a live theatrical performance at the White Pines Dinner Theatre featuring a homecooked, three-meat buffet with all the trimmings. After the production browse the unique Gift Shop. After the show head to the Conover Square Mall, a restored piano factory offering a unique shopping experience including the Blackhawk Model Railroad Club. Your evening will be highlighted by a dinner cruise on the panoramic Rock River aboard the Pride of Oregon, an authentic 102-foot paddlewheel boat. DAY

CONTACT: Blackhawk Waterways CVB ➤ Lori King www.visitnorthwestillinois.com 201 N. Franklin Ave., Polo, IL 61064 Phone: 800-678-2108 Email: office@bwcvb.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

CHAMPAIGN, URBANA, SAVOY, MAHOMET, RANTOUL, HOMER AND ST. JOSEPH, ILLINOIS

HIDDEN TREASURES AND FLAVORS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS ■ Shop & eat in thriving Downtown Champaign ■ Discover the universe at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium ■ Pick apples & pumpkins and devour donuts at Curtis Orchard ■ Go around the world in 60 minutes at Spurlock Museum

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Downtown Champaign - 8:30–9:30 a.m. Stop by the Champaign County Welcome Center right on Neil Street in Downtown Champaign where you’ll be treated to refreshments. Then discover over 55 locally owned restaurants, bars and specialty shops. We’ll finish off our Downtown tour with a stop at Pekara Bakery for refreshments. DAY

William M. Staerkel Planetarium - 10:00–11:00 a.m. Discover the universe at the second largest planetarium in Illinois. With a state-of-the-art digital projection system, visitors can learn about the stars, planets and more in this cutting-edge environment. Curtis Orchard - 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Spend a little time in the country! Curtis Orchard offers a fun and educational farm experience for the whole family. Pick apples, pumpkins, shop in their country store and delight in their award-winning apple cider paired perfectly with the delicious apple donuts! We’ll eat lunch in their Flying Monkey Cafe.

Spurlock Museum - 1:00–1:45 p.m. Explore the world while visiting galleries holding cultural artifacts covering six continents and 1 million years of human history. On the way to and from the museum, we’ll drive through campus to see highlights such as Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Altgeld Bell Tower. Larry Kanfer Gallery - 2:00–3:00 p.m. The Larry Kanfer Gallery features original artwork showcasing the Champaign County landscape, gifts and award-winning calendars. The gallery prides itself on going the extra mile to provide fine art photography with exceptional customer service.

■ Discover the art of the prairie at Larry Kanfer Gallery ■ Ever want to kiss a reindeer? You can at Hardy's Reindeer Ranch!

Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch - 3:30–5:00 p.m. This unique attraction is fun for the young and old alike! Try your hand at the paintball gallery, get lost in their 10-acre Cornfusion maze and be sure to get a reindeer kiss from one of the Alaskan reindeer!

CONTACT: Visit Champaign County ➤ Angela Ingerson www.visitchampaigncounty.org 108 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: 217-351-4133 Email: angela@visitchampaigncounty.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

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June 2014 55

DUPAGE COUNTY AND CHICAGO, BERWYN, BROOKFIELD, JOLIET & SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS BEYOND CHICAGO’S SKYLINE

CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

ROUTE 66: YOUR ALL-AMERICAN ROAD TRIP STARTS HERE

HIGHLIGHTS

• Brookfield Zoo (Brookfield) – One of the largest in the U.S. and houses more than 2,800 animals representing 425 different species, many living in award-winning indoor immersion exhibits. • Cantigny Park (Wheaton) – Former home of the late Chicago Tribune magnate, Robert R. McCormick, now a 500-acre park that includes a historic mansion, first-class military museum, gardens and a championship golf course. • The Morton Arboretum (Lisle) – 1,700-acre garden of trees and other woody plants from around the world. Includes Children's Garden, Maze Garden and 16 miles of hiking trails. Guided tours run throughout

■ Route 66 ■ Del Rhea’s Chicken Basket ■ Brookfield Zoo ■ Cantigny Park ■ The Morton Arboretum ■ Naper Settlement Outdoor History Museum ■ Illinois Aviation Museum

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY “Get your kicks on Route 66” as you explore the Mother Road. Illinois is the only Route 66 state east of the Mississippi—and where it all began. Watch for Wayside Exhibits and Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Experience hubs. Each tells a unique story about locations along the route. Start your day in DuPage County where you will rent your dream classic car, like a 1935 Roadster or a 1956 Thunderbird, or a Harley Davidson or Triumph motorcycle. Then, head into Chicago to Buckingham Fountain, the eastern terminal of Route 66. Stroll along the Lake Michigan shoreline before a selfguided tour of the Route 66 exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. Enjoy lunch at Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant and Bakery, which has served visitors since 1923, including U.S. presidents and movie stars. On your way back to DuPage County, see the Berwyn Route 66 Museum, with its collection of memorabilia and information about the city of Berwyn’s portion of Route 66. End your day at Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook for a classic American meal. This historic roadhouse has welcomed Route 66 travelers since the 1940s and served as a Blue Bird bus stop. DAY

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

MY BROTHERS BEFORE ME: A Military Reunion & Retrospective

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SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP: A Gals Getaway Tour

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HISTORY & HERITAGE: Tour Back in Time

The DuPage County area is rich in history, DAY culture and landscape. Before you head out on the next leg of your journey, you may want to visit one of these suggested stops within a five- to 25-minute drive from Route 66:

56 June 2014

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the day in season. • Naper Settlement Outdoor History Museum (Naperville) – 12-acre living history museum/village with 30 historic structures. Accredited by the American Association of Museums. • Illinois Aviation Museum (Bolingbrook) – Housed in Hangar One at Clow International Airport (just 3 miles north of Route 66 via Veterans Parkway), focuses on the rich history of aviation in Illinois. Departing DuPage County, you’ll make your way to the Historical Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center in Joliet. This award-winning two-story exhibit is located at the crossroad of Route 66 and Lincoln Highway, another historic Illinois road. While in Joliet, you may want your photo taken in front of the huge “Joliet Kicks on 66” sign at Route 66 Park. You can also check out the Route 66 Raceway/Chicagoland Speedway, one of the nation’s best state-of-the-art drag racing facilities. Enjoy the Route 66 scenic byways on your way to Springfield, the capital of Illinois and home of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. Plan to spend the night there and explore the city, or travel a little farther south to Carlinville and stay at the historic CarlinVilla, an original Route 66 motel. DAY

Without stops, this trip would take about four hours. CONTACT: DuPage However, give yourself plentyCVB of time to stop and take Miriam towns, Blumenthal in the➤historic sites and original alignments along the way.www.discoverdupage.com 915 Harger Rd., Suite 240, Oak Brook, IL 60523 Phone: 800-232-0502 Email: miriam@discoverdupage.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com

EVANSTON, SKOKIE, AND NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS

WHERE HISTORY AND CULTURE MEET one of the most prominent social reformers in 19th century America who rallied support for temperance as well as woman's suffrage, woman's economic and religious rights, and prison, education and labor reforms.

HIGHLIGHTS

Further along Sheridan Road, the gleaming, nearly 200-foot-high dome of the Bahá'í House of Worship comes into view. This striking landmark, which overlooks Lake Michigan and is one of the most visited sites on all of Chicago's North Shore, is surrounded by nine formal gardens and fountains. It is one of seven Bahá'í temples in the world, and the only one in the Western Hemisphere.

■ Architecture Surrounding Dawes House

The North Shore is home to the Chicago Botanic Garden, where you can experience 26 gardens and four natural areas, uniquely situated on 385 acres of land on and around nine islands. Six miles of shoreline extend along 81 acres of water, including the Great Basin, North Lake, and Skokie River Corridor. Visitors can take guided walking tours of the garden or take the popular tram tour that winds through the far reaches of the garden. DAY

■ Charles Gates Dawes House

■ Frances Willard House ■ Bahá’i House of Worship ■ Chicago Botanic Garden ■ Illinois Holocaust Museum ■ Westfield Old Orchard

Chicago’s North Shore is home to the Illinois Holocaust Museum, the largest in the Midwest. The museum, housed in a Gold Certified LEED building designed by renowned architect Stanley Tigerman, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Holocaust by honoring the memories of those who were lost and by teaching the universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice and indifference. The museum features an authentic early 20th century German rail car, an inspiring Hall of Remembrance for contemplation and reflection, a permanent exhibition chronicling life before, during and after the Holocaust, and visiting exhibits from museums around the world. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Begin your day in Evanston at the Charles Gates Dawes House, home of the former U.S. vice president, World War I brigadier general and Nobel Laureate. Built in 1894-95 on the shores of Lake Michigan, the French chateaux-style mansion designed by architect Henry Edwards-Ficken has 25 rooms, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and 11 fireplaces. Each room of the house tells the story of life as it was lived in the 1920s. DAY

From the home, take a docent-led tour of the neighborhood surrounding the Dawes House which features work by some of the 19th and 20th century’s renowned architects: Daniel Burnham, William Holabird, Myron Hunt, Dwight Perkins and Thomas Tallmadge. Nearby, visit the Frances Willard House. Willard was

After your visit, have a meal and shop at one of the few outdoor shopping centers remaining in the Midwest, Westfield Old Orchard. It features beautifully manicured gardens, landscaped walkways, unique art sculptures and cascading fountains, with over 140 stores (including such retail giants as Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s and Nordstrom) and dozens of dining options. Let your group roam the center with special VIP Incentives or have a group experience arranged for you.

CONTACT: Chicago’s North Shore CVB ➤ Caryn Shulman www.visitchicagonorthshore.com 8001 Lincoln Ave., Suite 715, Skokie, IL 60077 Phone: 847-763-0011, ext. 25 Email: cshulman@cnscvb.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Roll up Your Sleeves for a Culinary Adventure

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Unique Cultural Experiences

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Shop ’til You Drop

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Gardens Galore

June 2014 57

COLUMBUS, OHIO

EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF COLUMBUS HIGHLIGHTS

For lunch, design a wood-fired pizza at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and explore the beautiful gardens and indoor conservatory.

■ Hands on – Experiential Tours ■ Culinary destination

After lunch, check out Scioto Downs Racino with more than 2,100 slots or try your luck at Hollywood Casino Columbus. Both have award winning food options for dinner.

■ Craft Beer, Wine and Spirits ■ Great Shopping

After breakfast in the hotel, make the short drive to Licking County and hop aboard the Queen of the Lake to see a 13,000-year-old bog. DAY

■ Quaint neighborhoods

■ Gaming options ■ Award-winning Attractions

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Tour restored homes and gardens on a guided tour of German Village. Then, discover more than 100 herbs while touring an organic farm run by the “Willy Wonka” of farmers, and enjoy a farm-to-table style lunch in Gahanna. DAY

After lunch, try on fashion trends at Nordstrom at Easton Town Center and discover why Columbus has been named one of the Top 5 Shopping Destinations in the Country by Forbes. Next, challenge your inner explorer at COSI.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

How Did They Do That?

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Adventures in Art & History

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Delicious Columbus

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Go Green in Columbus

58 June 2014

Then, see the Living Word Outdoor Drama near Cambridge. Or, take a ghost tour of the Little Theatre off Broadway and then try your acting chops with an improv or dance class in Grove City. If you’re feeling thirsty, taste all six Signature Wines after a mini wine-making seminar, or savor craft brews and spirits in Grandview. Finish your day with a bang and cheer on the Columbus Blue Jackets, the city’s professional ice hockey team (seasonal). Stay at one of these group-friendly, Columbus hotels: • Embassy Suites Columbus Airport • Hampton Inn & Suites Columbus Downtown • Hilton Garden Inn Columbus – University Area • NorthPointe Hotel and Conference Center • University Plaza Hotel and Conference Center

Later in the day, explore life during the 1950s inside Ohio History Center and their exhibit, 1950s: Building the American Dream. Your group will love the interactive Lustron home that’s been built inside the museum and can enjoy a dinner theatre show or a sock hop in the museum. This morning, befriend exotic animals during breakfast at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the No. 1 zoo in America. Next, learn "Riverdance" style dance steps in Dublin at the Richens-Timm Academy, training ground to some of the premier Irish Dance professionals. After you take off your dancing shoes, head to Worthington to make your own custom-scented candle at The Candle Lab. DAY

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CONTACT: Experience Columbus ➤ Roger Dudley www.experiencecolumbus.com/tours 227 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125, Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-222-6136 Email: rdudley@experiencecolumbus.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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COLUMBUS, OHIO

MEET JACK HANNA manufacturing company in North America. Every tour member receives an American Classic whistle.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Meet Jungle Jack Hanna in person ■ See the new Heart of Africa exhibit at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium ■ Tour the nation’s oldest peanut butter manufacturer ■ Try a famous cream puff from Schmidt’s Sausage Haus ■ See the Underground Railroad come to life at the Kelton House

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY

This tour is available in June and September, 2015.

Start your trip learning how chocolates are made at the world-famous Anthony-Thomas Candy Company. After the tour, taste the final results - everyone receives a luscious, freshly made chocolate. Next, travel to the Kelton House, an Underground Railroad stop. The lady of the house, “Sophia Kelton,” will let you in on the family’s deepest secret in a dramatic, immersive experience that will leave you speechless. Eat lunch at the historic North Market, home to dozens of merchants and farmers. Everyone is certain to find something they like – from pizza to pierogis; vouchers are available. After lunch, visit the nation’s first peanut butter manufacturer, Krema Nut Company. See how nuts are hand-roasted and made into peanut butter. Enjoy samples throughout the tour and select your favorite nut butter or snack mix afterwards.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

How Did They Do That?

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Adventures in Art & History

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Delicious Columbus

■

Go Green in Columbus

60 June 2014

Explore Columbus’ downtown area and its distinctive neighborhoods with a step-on tour from Capital City Tours or the Columbus Historical Society. Taste the history of German Village with dinner at Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and save room for the cream puffs! After breakfast at the hotel, start your morning by crafting fine candles at The Candle Lab. With over 150 scents to choose from, your group members will be given a small clipboard to record their favorites, and then an expert candle maker will assist them as they mix their own custom fragrance. While the candles set, travel less than five minutes to the American Whistle Corporation for a tour of the only metal whistle

During lunch, get to know Jungle Jack Hanna, America’s favorite zookeeper, at a private meet & greet at The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The event includes a catered meal, an exclusive show from Jack Hanna and the opportunity to have your picture taken with Jack. Then spend your afternoon discovering why the Columbus Zoo is continually named the #1 Zoo in America. (Available in 2015: June 18 and Sept. 18; breakfast available on June 18, Sept. 18 and Sept. 19) Let the group enjoy dinner on their own as they wander the shops and galleries of the Short North Art District – the “Art and Soul” of Columbus. With over 40 local restaurants, everyone will find a cuisine they love.

Enjoy a hot breakfast at Nordstrom in Easton Town Center. Experts offer fashion and shopping advice during the meal. Each attendee receives a Nordstrom gift card and can put what they learned to the test with exclusive access to the store before it opens for the day. Easton Town Center also is home to the region’s only American Girl store. After shopping, have lunch at one of the area’s many fine restaurants like Brio Tuscan Grille or Cooper’s Hawk Winery. DAY

In the afternoon, take a backstage tour of the Ohio Theatre, a Spanish-Baroque- style theater with an amazing history and a 21-foot-high chandelier! Your group will be entertained with a light show featuring a performance on the Mighty Morton Theatre Organ. Uniquely situated on the water with a spectacular view of the downtown Columbus skyline, The Boat House Restaurant is the ideal dinner location to end your stay.

DAY

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CONTACT: Experience Columbus ➤ Marceline Dyer www.experiencecolumbus.com/tours 227 W. Nationwide Blvd., Ste. 125, Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-222-6146 Email: mdyer@experiencecolumbus.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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EFFINGHAM, ILLINOIS

EFFINGHAM…WE CAN’T WAIT TO SHOW YOU AROUND HIGHLIGHTS

■ Tuscan Hills Winery ■ Firefly Grill ■ The Effingham Performance Center ■ John Boos & Company ■ Hodgson Mill

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY For the Foodie! Effingham has multiple sites to see and products to experience for food lovers. With stores such as John Boos & Company and renowned restaurants like Firefly Grill, Effingham is sure to please even the toughest food critic! DAY

Start the day out by making your way to John Boos & Company to see what all the hype is about. With celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali using cutting boards and butcher blocks from this plant, guests certainly will want an up close look at Boos Butcher Blocks. John Boos and Company is the oldest industry in Effingham and has been in business continuously since 1887. The company has four dry kilns that will dry up to 210,000 board feet of lumber on a continual basis. Visit www.johnboos.com for more information.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

A Cultural Experience in Effingham

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Antiques and Architecture

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Explore Our History

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For the Automotive Lover

62 June 2014

Great Grains & a Show Another culinary gem located in the heart of Effingham, Hodgson Mill is a company that focuses on your health. Hodgson Mill is a family-owned company with more than 125 years experience in producing their one-of-a-kind products. They focus on producing delicious stone-ground, whole-grain and organic foods made from premium quality whole grain, including flours, corn meals, cereals, baking mixes, pastas and more. Since 1882, their family of employees has been grinding 100% whole grain to create wholesome, naturally healthy food - with no artificial preservatives, additives or colorings. Visit their website at www.hodgsonmill.com. End the day with a show at the Effingham Performance Center. This is a 1,564-seat theater that hosts 40 performances a year. Local, regional and national acts are scheduled to perform, with categories including country, pop/Top 40, contemporary Christian, comedy, jazz, dance, classical and bluegrass. Several nationally recognized performers will take the stage during the theater’s fourth season. For more information, visit www.theepc.org. DAY

After visiting John Boos, have dinner on a John Boos table at a one-of-a-kind restaurant! Firefly Grill in Effingham is much more than just a restaurant; it is a culinary experience that brings thousands of people each year to the Effingham community. Firefly Grill has been recognized in several publications including Chicago Tribune, Bon Appetit and the St. Louis Post for its unique atmosphere and efforts to go green. Firefly Grill offers an unforgettable experience for travelers. Groups are invited to explore the gardens where food is grown for the restaurant, participate in demonstrations and spend time relaxing on the beautiful grounds. For more information, visit www.ffgrill.com.

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Enjoy Great Wine with a Tuscan Feel Spend your last day in Effingham relaxing while enjoying some great wine. Tuscan Hills Winery focuses on offering exceptional quality wines. They offer wine tastings daily and host a number of meetings, parties and special events year round. They also feature live music every Friday night. All of Tuscan Hills’ current wines (white, reds and roses/blushes) are blends for added complexity and interest. The full range of wine styles and sweetness levels are covered, providing something for every guest. For more information, visit www.effinghamwinery.com. DAY

CONTACT: Effingham CVB ➤ Jodi Jackson www.visiteffinghamil.com 1505 Hampton Drive, Effingham, IL 62401 Phone: 217-342-5305 or 800-772-0750 Email: jacksonj@ci.effingham.il.us LeisureGroupTravel.com

MINNEAPOLIS, DULUTH, LUTSEN/TOFTE, GRAND MARAIS & GUNFLINT TRAIL, MINNESOTA

THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR ALL-AMERICAN ROAD ITINERARY Lutsen/Tofte (85 miles). Head northeast on Highway 61 with the Superior National Forest on one side and rugged shore of Lake Superior on the other. Stop at Gooseberry Falls State Park, just 35 miles north, where a visitors center begins the trail to several viewing areas. The river drops 60 feet over the upper falls, flows under a bridge and makes a dramatic 100-foot plunge into the river. Ten miles north, Split Rock Lighthouse once served as a beacon to protect ships from the rocky shore; now visitors can enjoy spectacular views from the cliffs, exhibits and a 15-minute film. Down the road at Tettegouche State Park, an easy hiking trail takes you to High Falls on the Baptism River. Along the highway, shops and restaurants invite travelers to stop for wild rice, smoked salmon, homemade pies and souvenirs. Just a few miles south of Tofte, hike the Superior Hiking Trail along the Temperance River with its rocky gorge in a thick coniferous forest. Wake up to the sounds of seagulls swooping over sunlit Lake Superior. For the adventuresome, sea kayaking, mountain biking, charter fishing and hiking are available close-by. Golf on Superior National Golf Course at Lutsen, with dramatic views of the lake from 13 of 18 holes. Ride the Lutsen Mountain Gondola Skyride to the highest point on Moose Mountain or ride the Alpine Slide from the crest of Eagle Mountain. Overnight Lutsen/Tofte.

HIGHLIGHTS

Grand Marais (25 miles). Visit Grand Marais, a charming harbor village and artist community where visitors charter fishing or sailboats, learn a craft, shop or just enjoy a leisurely afternoon. From Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail heads 30 miles into Superior National Forest, providing access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a network of 1,000 pristine lakes preserved for nonmotorized use. Enjoy the comforts of one of BWCA’s many lodges or have a canoe outfitter take care of all you need. Leave the Gunflint Trail, continuing north on Highway 61 to Grand Portage. Here the Northwest Trading Company engaged in fur trade from 1778 to 1803. The reconstructed trading post has been designated as a national monument. Grand Portage Hotel and Casino, owned and operated by the Ojibway, offers lodging, dining and gaming. Overnight Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais or BWCA.

■ The Gunflint Trail leads to resorts and into Superior National Forest

DAYS

4-6

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Arrive at the Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport in late afternoon. Complimentary airport shuttles are offered by most hotels so you can go directly to your hotel and return to the airport for your rental car the next day. This evening is quite relaxed. Overnight at a hotel near the airport. DAY

Duluth (150 miles). Travel north to the largest inland port in the world. Duluth, the third largest city in Minnesota, celebrates its seafaring history in the Canal Park entertainment complex with cobblestone streets, wrought-iron lampposts and horse-drawn carriages. The two-plus-mile Lakewalk connects Bayfront Park, the Duluth Aerial Life Bridge, Great Lakes Aquarium, SS William Irvin freighter, Canal Park Maritime Museum and dozens of shops, restaurants and attractions. Enjoy lunch overlooking Lake Superior or ride the North Shore Scenic Railroad to 1880s Two Harbors, where old locomotives are displayed at the Lake County Historical Museum. On return to Duluth, visit The Depot, an arts center and train museum. From Skyline Drive, take in panoramas of Duluth harbor and Lake Superior. Sightseeing and dinner excursions are available aboard Vista Fleet Cruises. Overnight Duluth. DAYS

2-3

DAYS

7-10

■ Duluth’s Canal Park Entertainment Complex & Harbor ■ Gooseberry Falls plunges 160 feet to Lake Superior ■ Split Rock Lighthouse’s spectacular view from the cliffs over Lake Superior ■ Temperance River with its spectacular rocky gorge ■ Lutsen Mountain Gondola Skyride to the highest point on Moose Mountain ■ Grand Marais, a charming harbor village and artist community

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

THE Great River Road Fly Drive

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Minnesota Swedish Heritage Itinerary

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Minnesota Country Autumn

CONTACT: Explore Minnesota ➤ Colleen Tollefson www.exploreminnesota.com/travel-trade 121 Seventh Place East, Suite 100, Saint Paul, MN 55101 Phone: 651-757-1872 Email: colleen.tollefson@state.mn.us LeisureGroupTravel.com

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June 2014 63

JACKSON, MICHIGAN

THE GREAT BARD AND BEHIND BARS In the afternoon, discover an active representation of life as an incarcerated inmate with a semi-guided visit to Cell Block 7 by Ella Sharp Museum, which is on the active Southern Regional Prison grounds and was once the largest walled prison in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Guided Heritage Tours: Prison History, Iconography, Art & Local History ■ Wine Tasting & Cellar Tours ■ Theatre: The Official Shakespeare Festival of Michigan ■ Soft Outdoor Adventure: Feed buffalo ■ Evening Entertainment: The Cascades' Musical Light Show & Live Music ■ Art Gallery & Museum Tours ■ Prison History: Guided Tours & Museum Visit

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

A Festive Outdoor Adventure

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Cranes and Color Tour

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Classic Cars and Prison Bars

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY “Do Time” in Jackson at the historic Michigan Theatre with the program, Jacktown: The History of the Two Largest Walled Prisons in the World. Dine at Steve’s Ranch while your lively guides tell memorable tales of colorful characters, crime, corruption and escapes. Tour Michigan’s First State Prison, now Armory Arts Village. Experience the West Wing, built by prison labor; the dungeon-like solitary area; a studio formerly home to infamous inmates; and an apartment, once 36 cells. Browse and buy souvenirs. DAY

In the early afternoon, take an engaging tour and experience firsthand how the world-renowned Iconographer, Niculai Enochi, uses an authentic Byzantine method of painting to adorn St. Demetrius Church. After the tour relax and enjoy a slice of baklava made by the Sisters of St. Demetrius. Take a guided cellar tour at the Sandhill Crane Vineyard and Café, then taste wines paired with dinner featuring farm-to-table comfort food. Or, enjoy an intimate candle-lit dinner and concert at Lone Oak Vineyard Estate, where L.O.V.E. is estate grown and served by the bottle. After breakfast at your hotel, head to the Buffalo Farm to enjoy a covered wagon ride to feed the buffalo, glide through nature on a zip line and take horseback riding lessons or a group trail ride. Then rejuvenate with a prepared lunch under the covered picnic area. DAY

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After freshening up at your hotel, enjoy a group dinner at one of Jackson’s fine restaurants. Before dark, take a private behindthe-scenes tour of The Cascades, one of Jackson’s most unique and spectacular landmarks. This man-made waterfall thrills visitors from across the globe with a nightly musical light show. Visitors may watch the dancing lights from comfortable seats while those more energetic may climb to the top of the 500-foot hill. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head to the Ella Sharp Museum. Once at the museum, you will split your time between a guided tour of the Ella Sharp Museum’s six galleries, exploring Farm Lane, taking in the sculpture walk and a hands-on craft. For your convenience, groups may eat lunch onsite or elsewhere in Jackson. While on site, consider giving your group the option of a planetarium show or a round of mini golf, with both facilities conveniently located within walking distance of the Ella Sharp Museum. DAY

Take in a Matinee Presentation of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival followed by an interactive Q&A session. This premier event draws fans of the Great Bard from throughout the Midwest for high-quality theatrical productions. The 2014 season runs July 17August 17 featuring Hamlet, Cymbeline and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Leave for home.

CONTACT: Experience Jackson: Jackson CVB ➤ Jennifer Hill www.ExperienceJackson.com/itineraries 141 S. Jackson St. Jackson, MI 49201 Phone: 517-764-4440 Email: jennifer@experiencejackson.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

KANKAKEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

HISTORIC BARN QUILTS, FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT AND MORE Kankakee, IL Wind down the Barn Quilt Tour on the east side of Kankakee County along the scenic Kankakee River. Make your last stop of the tour the Kankakee County Historical Society Museum, where you can explore a Barn Quilt display up close and photograph historic buildings on the museum campus. Take advantage of the educational tours at the museum and see exhibits including items from three Illinois governors that came from Kankakee County and how Dairy Queen got its start. The museum shop features Barn Quilt items in addition to other gift items. After taking a break at one of the nearby unique eateries, it is a short drive to Frank Lloyd Wright’s B. Harley Bradley House, situated in the heart of the Riverview Historic District. Guided one-hour tours are available to learn more about how this property marks the beginning of Wright’s Prairie School Style period. Afterwards, enhance your experience at the Stable Gift Shop that offers a large array of Wrightinspired items. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Sample some of the more than 42 barns on the first county-wide Barn Quilt Tour in Illinois ■ Visit over 220,000 square feet of greenhouses and outdoor landscaping displays ■ Take a break in a historic downtown listed in the National Register of Historic Places ■ See a renovated one-room schoolhouse and learn about the birth of Dairy Queen ■ Visit the B. Harley House, considered the first Prairie-style house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Momence and Grant Park, IL Begin by exploring history, art and tradition on the Barn Quilt Tour where colorful quilt patterns are hand painted then displayed on historic barns and corn cribs in Kankakee County’s scenic countryside. Request a step-on guide and custom route to make the most of this unique experience. Stop to stretch you legs in Historic Main Street Momence, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historic integrity and reflection of the character of the district. Take a break for lunch or have a wine tasting at Off the Vine. Complete the day at Sunrise Greenhouse, Inc., with more than 220,000 square feet of greenhouses and a two-acre display garden to inspire new ideas. Arrange to meet staff gardening experts that can provide you with guided tours and insightful tips to help your blooms be the brightest. DAY

■ Enjoy scenic views of the Kankakee River

OTHER ITINERARIES

CONTACT: Kankakee County CVB

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Artistic Escape

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Romantic Getaways

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Fun in the Sun

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Girlfriends Getaway

➤ Vicki Layhew, Sales & Marketing Manager www.visitkankakeecounty.com 1 Dearborn Square, Suite 1, Kankakee, IL 60901 Phone: 800-747-4837 Email: sales@visitkankakeecounty.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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June 2014 65

GREAT RIVER ROAD, WISCONSIN & MINNESOTA

RIVER TOWNS DISCOVERY TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

The river has many tales to tell. Mark Twain, American author and humorist, brought the Mississippi River to life in his books The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. You can experience the history, the astounding beauty and the charming features and character of the Great River Road and create your own account about life on the Mississippi.

■ A narrated, guided tour of the city along with visits to historic attractions ■ A lunch cruise aboard an authentic Paddlewheel Boat on the Mississippi ■ Sweet, refreshing treats at “The Pearl” old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda fountain ■ Visit the birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder ■ Experience extraordinary Marine Art ■ Browse through the exhibits of an auto and toy museum unmatched by very few ■ Snacks and shopping at the oldest Swedish settlement in Wisconsin ■ Lunch in a restaurant over 100 years old ■ Astounding beauty

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY A young man from New York decided to venture west to build his fortune. When he arrived in the Mississippi Valley Area, he found a spot that seemed conducive for a lucrative fur-trade business with Native Americans that dwelled in the valley. Eventually, Nathan Myrick moved his fur trading post across the river to expand operations and began what is now known as the City of La Crosse. The city became the home of lumber mills, steamboats and immigrants flooding in from Europe. It was the Wild West of its day producing success stories and scandalous news and gossip. The Grand Excursion of 1854 brought more investors and entrepreneurs into the Mississippi Valley and immigrants began to set up homesteads along the river that encouraged “settlements” on the shores of Old Man River. Steamboats would stop at these settlements, taking on wood and water needed for the operations of the boat and the comfort of the passengers and crew. The demand for goods and services by the steamboat traffic helped the settlements grow into small towns that adorn the shores of the Mississippi today. The Great River Road – a National Scenic Byway—was born of a Native American and wagon trail that followed this waterway that is known as the fourth longest river in the world.

Your step-on guide will tell the story about La Crosse and how it grew from a fur trading post to its present day status as a tri-state hub for shopping, culture, education, healthcare and technology. You will experience the hospitality and small-town charm that the La Crosse area has to offer when you visit our attractions and restaurants. DAY

The next day will encompass a drive on the Great River Road with stops in river towns surrounded by towering bluffs. You will visit interesting and unique attractions along the way and with a stop or two at overlooks on the bluffs that offer incredible views of the Mississippi Valley. You will savor the flavors of Old World recipes and traditions passed down through the generations of the residents along the river. DAY

CONTACT: La Crosse Area CVB ➤ Clarissa Erickson, CTIS www.explorelacrosse.com 410 Veterans Memorial Dr., La Crosse, WI 54601 Phone: 800-658-9424 Email: erickson@explorelacrosse.com 66 June 2014

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BARRINGTON HILLS, CRYSTAL LAKE, MCHENRY & WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS

MCHENRY COUNTY: FUN FILLED DAYS, STAR FILLED NIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS

Dine in a rustic historic building among railroad motif and historic Woodstock imagery. The city of Woodstock has become the hottest destination for live music in McHenry County. Jazz on the Square continues the tradition by offering live jazz performances in addition to special events such as the annual Woodstock Jazz Festival in August. Indulge in intimate concert performances at the Woodstock Mozart Festival featuring a superb orchestra and world class artists at the Woodstock Opera House.

■ Music ■ Specialty Shopping ■ Special Events ■ Fine Dining

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Home to world-class attractions, fine dining, the arts, charming communities and endless outdoor recreation, McHenry County is a treasure to explore. Start your day at The Sanfilippo Place de la Musique, known worldwide for its magnificent collections of beautifully restored antique music machines; phonographs; arcade and gambling machines; chandeliers; the world's largest restored theater pipe organ; the most spectacular European salon carousel in existence; street and tower clocks; and steam engines—all displayed within a breathtaking French Second Empire setting. Le Petit Marche will satisfy the hungriest traveler with a gourmet picnic lunch featuring specialty cheese from around the world. Stroll through historic Downtown Crystal Lake/Main Street and shop ‘til you drop. Catch the latest in fashion at Where Did U Get That? or pick up a souvenir at Out of the Box. Marvin’s Toy Store, the place to purchase "future-friendly" toys that are kind to the earth and fun for the kid in everyone. Stop in Material Girl, filled with over 5,000 bolts of high quality fabric and the latest and greatest in sewing notions, buttons, books and patterns. Off The Rails is a casual, family friendly Italian restaurant offering Italian food and scrumptious pizza. DAY

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Paint The Town and Party Like A Yacht Star

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A Musical Christmas From Days Gone By

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European Treasures Country Pleasures

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Planes, Trains & Automobiles in McHenry County

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Wake up to Brunch Café in McHenry! You’ll find plenty of breakfast basics here, but try a decadent twist on the regulars, such as the stuffed French toast, blueberry bliss cakes and berry explosion waffle. Explore more of McHenry’s unique shops including The Black Orchid Boutique, where you will find one-of-a-kind local artist designs; White River Junction, home to new and different home décor; or learn to dress upscale for less at the Cottage Boutique. Lift your dining experience to a new level at Jameson’s Original Charhouse in Crystal Lake. Select from one of their Black Angus steaks or baby back ribs to satisfy your taste buds in a memorable dining experience. Lakeside Legacy Arts Park welcomes you to their nightly Blues Jams in the Listening Room. Amateur and professional musicians perform, and even encourage crowd participation, which makes for an unexpected and exciting experience. DAY

CONTACT: Visit McHenry County ➤ Laura Witlox Middaugh www.visitmchenrycounty.com 600 Dakota Street Suite F, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012 Phone: 815-893-6280 Email: laura@visitmchenrycounty.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

CHICAGO, DETROIT AND WINDSOR, ONTARIO

PROHIBITION...AND ALL THAT RAZZ-MA-TAZZ! learn what happened to the bad guys when the law captured them. We then make our way to Caesar’s Casino in Windsor, Ontario. Try your hand at the slots or the tables–imagining you are an outlaw and are spending the proceeds from some of the bootleg booze you have been selling along the journey! Windsor, Ontario After breakfast we explore how Canada contributed to Prohibition. Costumed characters join us as we travel throughout the city, learning about the Temperance movement and the Rum Runners. Lunch and entertainment as well as a tour and tasting at Canadian Club are just part of the fun. Freshen up at the hotel before we head to Cooper’s Wine Hawk winery for a tasting, tour and delightful private dinner among the vines. Prizes for best-dressed gangster and gun moll are just part of the fun! DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY “What America needs now is a drink.” - President Franklin D. Roosevelt Calling all Gangsters and Gun Molls. Step back in time—back to the 1920s, that is. Prohibition is the law of the land, but the gangsters think they can make their own rules. Learn how Prohibition started in the US and how it was handled by our Canadian neighbors—and the impact it had on both nations. Chicago DAY Arrival by 2:00 p.m. Visit the site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, see where Al Capone roamed and where Dillinger died. We cruise the Windy City in search of hoodlum haunts, gambling dens and gangland shootouts with a gangster. Dinner at a speakeasy with entertainment (that even includes hooch) ends the day.

Chicago - Windsor, Ontario A stop at the John Dillinger Museum in Northwest Indiana allows us to see how the G-men tracked the bad guys. Get fingerprinted, step into a cell, even try on a bulletproof vest while there. Lunch is behind bars at Jackson State Prison in Michigan. Don’t worry, it is more than bread and water! We tour this famous institution and DAY

CONTACT: Outta Here! Travel

Detroit Psssst...what’s the password? Slouch your fedoras, shake your flapper fringe and hold onto your flasks. We’re touring Detroit’s finest Prohibition-era spots. These places have history oozing from every floorboard, and we’ve got the skinny. From haunted bars to smuggling tunnels to famed gangster hangouts, Detroit was a national epicenter of illegally procured hooch for years. We’ll learn the difference between a speakeasy and a blind pig and dig into some seriously spooky Purple Gang stories. Dinner tonight is at the Edsel Ford House, following our behind-the-scenes tour of the beautiful estate built by the family that made the cars the gangsters used to get away! DAY

Detroit-Chicago This morning we have time to explore the Henry Ford Museum and have lunch before we head home--with the rat-a-tattat of machine guns in our ears and the taste of bootleg whiskey on our lips. We will arrive in Chi-town in the early evening. DAY

➤ Brenda Fredrick www.outta-heretravel.com P.O. Box 31, Oxford, WI 53952 Phone: 866-593-1313 Email: brenda@outta-heretravel.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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HIGHLIGHTS ■ Gangster-guided Chicago tour of Prohibition-era sites ■ Lunch and a behind-the-bars tour of the "Hoosegow"Jackson, MI State Prison ■ Detroit guided tour with the Purple Gang smugglers ■ Rum Runner tour and whiskey tasting in Windsor ■ Dinner at a Chicago Speakeasy (complete with hooch!) ■ Wine and Dine among the Vine at Cooper's Hawk Winery in Windsor ■ Get fingerprinted, spend time in a cell at John Dillinger Museum

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Talking Quilts and the Underground Railroadan in depth story of struggle and escape.

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Wisconsin- Beer, Brats, Bikes and SO Much more!

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"I'm dreaming of a Wine Christmas" also known as "Life is a Cabernet"

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"Lucy, I'm home—and you got some 'splainin' to do"

June 2014 69

PEORIA, ILLINOIS

PEORIA AREA: FROM THE FIELDS HIGHLIGHTS

Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery – The fish hatchery rears 16 species of fish including trout, salmon, northern pike and many more. Come see an antique fishing tackle display containing over 200 artifacts, a "Harvesting the River" exhibit depicting life on the Illinois River during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and several live and static fish displays.

■ Caterpillar Visitors Center ■ Linden Hill Farms ■ J.K. Williams Distilling ■ Wildlife Prairie Park ■ Tanner’s Orchard ■ Jake Wolf Memorial Hatchery

■ Mackinaw Valley Vineyard ■ Windmill Farm Tour

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Central Illinois is more than just cornfields. Experience the professional side of agriculture or just be a kid again. Our agriculture tour features something for everyone. Linden Hill Farms – Begin your day on a working dairy farm. Milk a cow, feed the chickens and learn what it’s like to live on a farm. Founded in 1921, the farm boasts 180 cows, horses, sheep, chickens and more. Experience life on a farm, first-hand. DAY

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

The Art of Structure

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Find & Seek

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Trail Full of Adventures

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So Many Ways to Play

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Trick of the Trade

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And Many More

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Farm Bureau Partnership – Explore local cattle, dairy and goat farms and learn about the intricate techniques and practices of running a vegetable farm, fertilizer operation or custom spray application company. DAY

Farm to Table Meal – Visit one of our local farm-totable restaurants. Enjoy a wonderful meal at Table 19, located in the Historic Pere Marquette Hotel, or enjoy an upscale take on Midwest dining at the award-winning Salt, located in Peoria Heights.

Windmill Farm Tour – Visit the Camp Grove Wind Farm in Marshall and Stark counties to view an impressive display of the enormous 100-turbine wind farm on a guided tour. Mackinaw Valley Vineyard – Take in breathtaking panoramic views and delight in homemade wines. See the on-site vineyards and learn about the vineyard’s wine-making process. Don't forget about all of the fine items in the gift shop! J.K. Williams Distilling – Experience the whiskeydistilling process at J.K. Williams in the heart of Central Illinois. Sample the smooth, warm flavor of their whiskey and bourbon made in small batches in pot stills. See the process, sample the product and take home a bottle!

Tanner's Orchard – Pick your own apples and pumpkins or learn the process behind the orchard’s popular apple cider. This farm also offers a petting zoo, hayrack rides and a corn maze for the adventurous! Caterpillar Visitors Center - The visitors center offers a number of exhibits featuring the company's heritage, history and machinery used for both agriculture and construction purposes.

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CONTACT: Peoria Area CVB ➤ Kaci Osborne, Tourism Manager www.peoria.org 456 Fulton Street, Suite 300 Peoria, IL 61602 Phone: 309-282-3282, 800-747-0302 Email: kosborne@peoria.org

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ST. CLOUD, FREEPORT AND LITTLE FALLS, MINNESOTA

UP NORTH – ON THE ROAD AGAIN

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Original Art/Painting ■ Theatre ■ Fall Colors ■ Mississippi River

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Minnesota is known for its beautiful fall, with mild days, clear skies and with a bit of luck the trees will be in peak color. For Central Minnesota it’s usually somewhere in the first two weeks of October. Afternoon: Upon arrival in Central Minnesota meet nationally recognized artist Kim Norien, Norlien Fine Art Studio (Painter of Peace and Tranquility). Personally watch how he plans and paints original artwork. To entice this stop even more - the gift shop has a large selection of wall art, home decor, giftware, jewelry and much more. Evening: This is a chance to enjoy the show! Favorite restaurant Fuji Steak House provides deliciously entertaining Japanese Hibachi entrées. Skilled chefs not only prepare the freshly cooked food but entertain guests that make this a memorable event. The Paramount Theatre provides professional music, comedians, plays and is also home to the Great Theatre - a local children’s theatre company. There isn’t a bad seat in the house and this destination is very user friendly for groups. DAY

Morning: For almost 50 years The Hill Museum & Manuscript Library has been photographing manuscript collections across Europe, Africa, India, and in some cases secret locations. Manuscripts are history to be

preserved before the documents become destroyed either through a man-made or natural disaster. View rare manuscripts and learn about this vital program. Afternoon: It’s time to hit the road and take in some of the fall color! Garrison Keillor is well recognized for A Prairie Home Companion. Central Minnesota is home to the fictional Lake Wobegon. Charlie’s Cafe in Freeport is the hotspot for lunch. Memorabilia of Garrison Keillor is noted throughout the cafe…this is where some of the ideas for the stories featured in a Prairie Home Companion came from. Stearns County’s German heritage abounds and each small community in the county has a beautiful Catholic church such as Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport…exceptional detail, truly a “jewel” in itself and worth the breathtaking stop. The countryside is dotted with fields of corn just waiting to be harvested. Part of the route to the Charles Lindbergh Boyhood Home is on the Great River Road Scenic Byway. The Mississippi River flows quietly along the shores of the Lindbergh home in Little Falls, Minnesota. As a young boy, Charles enjoyed the river and slept on the porch of his home…even during the winter months. Enjoy the ride! This itinerary is adaptable to other seasons and attractions in and around Central Minnesota.

DAY

CONTACT: St. Cloud Area CVB ➤ Jean Robbins www.granitecountry.com 525 Highway 10 South, Suite One, St. Cloud, MN 56304 Phone: 800-264-2940 Email: jean@granitecountry.com

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STE. GENEVIEVE, MISSOURI

MISSOURI WITH A FRENCH ACCENT

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Begin your visit at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center, where you will view exhibits on the history of the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi River. Catch the 10-minute video for more insight into the French Colonial heritage of this charming town of 4,400, just an hour south of St. Louis. The center can provide a step-on guide for your tour of this National Historic Landmark District. DAY

Start your tour of the compact district at Felix Valle House State Historic Site. The Federal-style limestone building, dating from 1818, features an authentically stocked mercantile store and the family’s living quarters with early American Empire furnishings. Then walk one block to Bolduc House Properties, which incorporates three historic houses. The Bolduc House, built around 1792 by the richest man in Ste. Genevieve, is regarded as the most authentically restored French Colonial house in the nation. Its period gardens are filled with herbs, flowers and vegetables used in 18th century French recipes. Then it’s time for lunch at the vintage Anvil Saloon, where groups can enjoy a buffet meal in the

private upstairs dining room. Groups with limited mobility may prefer the Old Brick House or the Café Genevieve. After lunch, enjoy leisurely shopping in the historic district, visiting gift shops, antique shops, and art galleries and studios. Pop into the Show-Me Shop for Missouri-made wines, cheeses, sausages and other food items. Afternoon touring includes the 1806 Jacques Guibourd House with its excellent collection of French antiques and lovely gardens; enter the attic where you can see – and touch – the massive hand-hewn Norman truss system. Artifacts in the Ste. Genevieve Museum provide a unique window onto Colonial and early American local history. Then tour the nearby Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church, an imposing red-brick building dedicated in 1880 and surprisingly large for such a small town. Dinner tonight is at Audubon’s of Ste. Genevieve, a newly restored restaurant housed in the former Hotel Ste. Genevieve and commemorating one-time resident John James Audubon. (The restaurant plans to open this fall in the heart of the historic district.)

HIGHLIGHTS ■ French Colonial Tour Homes ■ Museums ■ Specialty Shopping ■ Wine Tasting ■ Tiger Sanctuary ■ Mississippi River Views ■ Easy drive from St. Louis

For visions of Mark Twain, drive down to the ferry landing, where you might see the boat that takes passengers, cars and even motorcoaches across the Mississippi to Illinois. For panoramic views of the river, visit Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area, 10 miles north of Ste. Genevieve. Head back to town for more shopping, followed by lunch at Sirro’s or the Old Brick House, the oldest brick building (1785) west of the Mississippi. DAY

Tour the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary, a rescue facility for exotic cats that have endured neglect or abuse. It is home to five tigers and a lioness. Then it’s time for touring and tasting at the wineries tucked in the rolling hills of Ste. Genevieve County. Crown Valley Winery, Chaumette Vineyards and Weingarten Vineyard all cater to large groups, and there are seven other wineries with a wide range of amenities—including one with a cave on the property! Ask about group tours during the many special events and festivals held in Ste. Genevieve.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Step-On Guide and Wine Country

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Passport to History

CONTACT: Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center ➤ Sandra S. Cabot www.VisitSteGen.com 66 S. Main St., Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670 Phone: 800-373-7007 Email: groups@visitstegen.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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MILWAUKEE AND RACINE, WISCONSIN

MADE IN AMERICA in Milwaukee since 1893 and the world leader in the design and manufacture of high-productivity mining equipment for surface and underground mining. Our next stop is the stately home of Maria and Capt. Frederick Pabst, considered the jewel of Milwaukee's famous avenue of mansions. Built in the 1890s, it represents the epitome of Gilded Age splendor in Milwaukee. We’ll continue on to lunch at Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub, located within the historic Olde Pabst Brewery, first known as Best Brewery beginning in 1844. Enjoy the largest collection of industrial art in the world at the The Grohmann Museum. Here enjoy paintings, sculptures and more that are featured in the “Man at Work” Collection. From farming to quarrying, from brewing beer to lace making, the collection highlights man’s achievements throughout history. Onward to Miller Valley, home to the MillerCoors Brewery Company. Highlights of the tour include the historic caves and perhaps a sample or two.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Potawatomi Hotel & Casino ■ MillerCoors Brewery ■ Olde Pabst Brewery ■ Harley-Davidson Museum ■ Case New Holland Factory Tour

Racine Upon arrival in Racine, enjoy a Danish kringle on your tour of Larsen’s Bakery, a multi-generational, family-run, traditional Danish bakery. Our next stop will be at the worldwide corporate headquarters of SC Johnson – A Family Company, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Learn about the rich history of this American company on a visit to Fortaleza Hall, which honors the spirit of adventure and innovations of the Johnson family and company. We’ll enjoy a delicious dinner at Spinnakers with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Enjoy these Great American businesses in the heart of the Midwest Milwaukee Begin your American Business tour with the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, that true American icon everyone knows worldwide. Enjoy the Harley-Davidson Museum to learn about the history, passion and fun of America’s #1 recognized and celebrated brand since 1903. The museum features the oldest known Harley-Davidson motorcycle as well as over 300+ motorcycles that span the 105+ year history. The museum campus features two restaurants, MOTOR and Cafe Racer, for your group to enjoy. This evening enjoy dinner and gaming at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, where you can try your luck at blackjack, craps, roulette, Let It Ride Bonus® Poker, bingo and over 3,000 slot machines. Potawatomi also offers a variety of dining options including the Fire Pit Grill, RuYi and Wild Earth. DAY

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Holidays in Milwaukee

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Century Olde Milwaukee

Milwaukee Today explore the companies that have influenced our city, country and the world. We’ll begin with a visit to the Bucyrus Museum, which explores the rich heritage of the machines, people and culture of Bucyrus, headquartered

Racine Begin your morning with a tour of Case New Holland Factory in Racine. You’ll experience the building of one of these industry-leading tractors, from specialty grape harvesters and massive combine harvesters in agriculture, to agile skid steer loaders and powerful hydraulic excavators used in construction. On your way home, stop at the Jelly Belly Distribution Center tour and shop for this sweet treat in their outlet store. DAY

DAY

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CONTACT: VISIT Milwaukee ➤ Jill Hauck www.visitmilwaukee.org 648 N. Plankinton Ave., Suite 425, Milwaukee, WI 53203 Phone: 414-287-4249 Email: jhauck@milwaukee.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

WISCONSIN DELLS, WISCONSIN

FAMILY FUN IN “THE WATERPARK CAPITAL OF THE WORLD! ” ®

Another favorite is the 90-minute family-friendly magic extravaganza at the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater. Bringing more magic to the Dells is Jeremy Allen’s Grand Illusions. Other entertainment options include live music, a drive-in theater, lumberjack show, comedy club, wildlife parks and live circus show. Get in on the action at one of the Dells’ many interactive attractions. The Tommy Bartlett Exploratory – Interactive Science Center features more than 150 hands-on exhibits, including the Original Russian Space Station MIR and NASA’s Mercury Space Capsule. Or experience Wizard Quest, an interactive fantasy game where you search for clues to free Wizards. Another family favorite is MagiQuest, a full-size adventure game that sends participants straight into a mythical Renaissance world. Other interactive attractions include historic and eclectic museums, game centers and paint-it-yourself pottery shops. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY They don’t call us “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®” for nothing. Here you’ll find Wisconsin’s largest indoor waterpark, Kalahari Waterpark Resort Convention Center; America’s largest outdoor waterpark, Noah’s Ark Waterpark; the nation’s largest combination indoor/outdoor waterpark resort, Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort; and the highest concentration of waterparks on the globe. Be sure not to miss out on the expansive indoor/outdoor waterparks at resorts like Chula Vista Resort and Mt. Olympus Theme Park & Water Park. In the Dells, you’ll find every kind of water ride and slide there is – from extreme plunge slides to racing speed slides, and massive wave pools to lazy rivers – more than 200 waterslides in all! There’s no doubt, when it comes to putting the biggest splash in family fun, no place compares to Wisconsin Dells. DAY

A great way to relax after a day at the waterparks is to take in one of the area’s entertaining live shows. The famous Tommy Bartlett Show is a must-see. It’s been entertaining families for more than 60 years, rain or shine, with its daredevil skiers, death-defying acrobats and hilarious stage acts. DAY

CONTACT: Wisconsin Dells VCB ➤ Tifani Jones www.meetinthedells.com 701 Superior St., P.O. Box 390 Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 Phone: 800-223-3557 Email: tifani@wisdells.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

The Dells is also a great place to satisfy your need for speed. Rev up the fun at one of the area’s many go-kart tracks, like ADare Go Carts and Big Chief’s Go Karts. You can also do your go-kart driving indoors at Knuckleheads Bowling & Indoor Amusement Park, Kalahari Indoor Theme Park and, coming this summer, Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort. DAY

Keep your adrenaline pumping as you fly down the Hellcat Coaster at Timber Falls Adventure Park, featuring the second steepest drop in North America! Or try one of the hair-raising rollercoasters at Mt. Olympus Theme Park & Water Park, including the world’s first wooden looping rollercoaster, Hades 360, which sends riders down the world’s longest underground tunnel. Want the adventure of a ride, but also a chance to view the scenic beauty of the Dells? Home to the world’s largest fleet of WWII amphibious vehicles, or “Ducks,” no Dells vacation would be complete without a land and water tour through the beautiful sandstone bluffs that made the Dells famous. special section

HIGHLIGHTS ■ The highest concentration of waterparks in the world with more than 200 waterslides ■ Home to the nation’s largest combination indoor/outdoor waterpark resort and largest outdoor waterpark ■ One of the world’s longest running live water ski shows ■ Tour the Original Russian Space Station MIR and NASA’s Mercury Space Capsule ■ Scenic tours along the Wisconsin River of the Dells’ famous bluffs ■ Weatherproof fun with indoor mini golf, go-karts and amusement rides ■ The world’s first looping wooden roller coaster

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Grown-Up Getaways

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Youth Group Summer Getaway

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Senior Summer Tour

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on location: west ❖

FARGO

More Than Just a Slice of Hollywood This North Dakota city on the Minnesota border has plenty to offer groups By Lauren Reiniger

ou’ve most likely heard of Fargo either from the 1996 film or the new dark comedy-drama television series that just

premiered in April. With the coming of this new TV show, the city is a hot destination these days! One of the area’s most popular photo spots is The Woodchipper, featuring the original movie prop complete with bomber hats and a fake leg. There are a lot of tributes to the movie in the Fargo-Moorhead area, but also many other things to see and do.

Fargo-Moorhead CVB

From downtown shopping and dining to attractions like Scheels’ Ferris wheel, Bonanzaville and a first-rate air museum, the fun never stops in Fargo.

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What Can We Do? Here are some must-sees and popular activities in Fargo and neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota: Plains Art Museum, located in downtown Fargo, is the largest art museum in North Dakota. The museum hosts regional and national exhibits, special events, performances and art classes. It also includes a cafe and store. At the Celebrity Walk of Fame, located at

At the Fargo Air Museum, most of the planes on display actually fly. Climb into a Huey helicopter, take a seat in the cockpit or sign up for a test flight in the Frasca simulator. The museum also features the N.D. Wall of Aces, Century of Aviation Wall, an airplane restoration area, rotating exhibits and an aviation gift shop. The 1926 restored Fargo Theatre is the area’s only remaining vintage movie palace with a vaudeville stage. This registered historic landmark serves as a multi-purpose facility

the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center, your

for film showings, live productions and

group can see more than 110 celebrity sig-

meetings. Fargo Theatre also houses a

natures, handprints and footprints in cement.

restored theatre pipe organ.

Stars include Garth Brooks, Neil Diamond,

In Moorhead, the Viking Ship Hjemkomst

Debbie Reynolds, Gov. Jesse Ventura,

resides at the Hjemkomst Center. It was built

Richard Simmons, Bill Gates and Alice

by Moorhead’s Robert Asp, who sailed it to

Cooper. Fargo’s Red River Zoo is home to more than 300 animals of 75 species. The zoo also features petting areas and a 1928 restored carousel.

Norway. Photographs, recordings and an award-winning documentary chronicle the construction of the 76-foot, hand-built Viking ship and its 6,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic in 1982.

Bonanzaville, USA is the region’s largest historical attraction.

Also located at the Hjemkomst Center is the Hopperstad Stave

Located in West Fargo, it sits on 12 acres and showcases thousands

Church Replica. The church is a full-scale replica of the 12th-cen-

of artifacts. The pioneer village (open May to October) features

tury Hopperstad Stave Church in Vik, Norway and serves as a sym-

43 historic buildings and museums including Eugene Dahl Car

bol of the Scandinavian heritage in the Red River Valley.

Museum, Eagle Air Museum, Tractor Museum and Law Enforcement

Fargo Moorhead Symphony Orchestra presents five dual-

Museum. The Cass County Museum (open year round) has a

event subscription concerts, a series of Pizza-Pop concerts, Young

display on Native Americans of the Red River Valley, bonanza farms

People’s/Family series concerts and a summer concert in Troll-

and homesteading, and the modernization of North Dakota.

wood Park. Amenities include handicap access, refreshments, on-

site motorcoach parking and assisted-listening devices. S.S. Ruby Red River Tours allow your group to explore the history, geography and wildlife of the Red River via pontoon boats, canoes or kayaks. At Fargo’s Thunder Road Family Fun Park in Fargo (open May through September), your group will enjoy mini golf, go karts, batting cages, a video arcade, laser tag and bumper cars. The Maury Wills Museum, dedicated to the former National League Most Valuable Player and Los Angeles Dodgers star, is located in Fargo on the ground floor of Newman Outdoor Field, home of the minor league RedHawks. Wills was the first player to steal more than 100 bases in a season (with 104 in 1962) and led the league in stolen bases every year from 1960 to 1965. The Roger Maris Museum, located in West Acres Mall, showcases the career of the Yankee outfielder from Fargo. Maris is best known for hitting 61 home runs in 1961. His 61 in '61 set a new major league record, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 60.

Where Can We Eat? Fargo-Moorhead has more than 350 restaurants. If you’d prefer to dine in downtown Fargo, VIP Room offers a weekly lunch menu and appointment-based private dinner. Taste of Italy opens for dinner and can seat up to 100. Other groupfriendly restaurants outside of the downtown area include Doolittles Woodﬁre Grill, Marlin’s Family Restaurant, Space Aliens Grill & Bar and Speak Easy.

Where Can We Shop? Many attractions offer gift shops and there are several boutiques in Fargo. But if you’re looking for some serious shopping, go to the Moorhead Center Mall; there is no tax on clothes and shoes in Minnesota. Fargo’s Scheels All Sports Store is one of the world’s largest sports stores with 196,000 square feet of retail shopping, a 45-foot Ferris wheel, and several interactive games and displays. West Acres Mall in Fargo is the region’s largest shopping center and home to the Roger Maris Museum.

Where Can We Stay? Fargo-Moorhead has more than 50 lodging options, including motels, hotels, lodges and suites. If you want to stay in downtown Fargo, check out Hotel Donaldson or Radisson Hotel Fargo. LGT 78 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

ELKO, CARLIN, WELLS AND LAMOILLE, NEVADA

WESTERN ADVENTURE STARTS IN ELKO, NEVADA

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY

Check in at your Elko accommodations and enjoy a manager’s reception. Dinner tonight is on the property or at one of Elko’s group-friendly restaurants.

Wake up to breakfast and the beauty of this Northeastern Nevada community, framed by the splendor of the Ruby Mountains. Our adventure begins at the California Trail Center. This new, $20-million facility depicts the life-and-death experiences of pioneers who made the grueling 2,000-mile journey to the West. DAY

Return to Elko for lunch on your own at any of the 50 area restaurants with cuisine to please any palate. Spend the afternoon shopping in the downtown historic district. Tonight enjoy a dinner experience at one of Elko’s many restaurant options. From Japanese and Mexican to Italian and American, there is an abundance of group-friendly restaurants. This morning’s journey takes us west to Carlin and the Chinese Gardens Nature Study Area. Carlin’s history is all about the Gold Rush and railroad construction. Chinese immigrants played a major role in the latter. Nature trails with interpretive signs share the story. Next it’s on to Carlin Canyon Historical Wayside. This was a travel route for Native Americans, mountain men, pioneers and eventually the Central Pacific Railroad. Interpretive signs share the history of the 3,000-year-old geographical formations. Return to Elko for a leisurely lunch on your own.

Our first stop this afternoon is a visit to Wells and the Trail of the 49ers Interpretive Center. An intriguing collection of artifacts reinforces the hardships early travelers experienced on the California Trail. Right outside Wells we’ll begin our 11-mile Angel Lake Scenic Drive. This spectacular tour presents a panoramic view of the Humboldt Mountains and Lake Angel. Back in Elko we’ll have lunch on our own and finish a busy day with a tour of the Northeastern Nevada Museum and the new mining exhibit. Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner at one of Elko’s casino restaurants followed by an evening of gaming action. This morning our travels take us to the quaint town of Lamoille and the breathtaking beauty of the Lamoille Scenic Byway. Filled with unusual rock formations, this spectacular drive takes us through the glacially carved Ruby Mountain Wilderness. Next stop is the historic Little Church of the Crossroads, which has hosted more than 600 weddings. A tasty lunch at O’Carrols is an absolute must when visiting Lamoille. DAY

■ California Trail Center ■ Chinese Gardens Nature Study Area ■ Trail of the 49ers Interpretive Center ■ Angel Lake Scenic Drive ■ Northeastern Nevada Museum ■ Lamoille Scenic Byway ■ Western Folklife Center

Returning to Elko, let’s get serious about getting our “cowboy on” with a tour of the Western Folklife Center’s Wiegand Gallery and 20-seat Black Box Theater. If time allows, cross the street to J.M. Capriola and watch a master saddle maker display his skills. Enjoy dinner at one of Elko’s famous Basque restaurants. Elko-area Basques take pride in the culture of their homeland, Southern Spain/Northern France. Bring your appetite because we’re going family-style and nobody leaves hungry.

DAY

HIGHLIGHTS

DAY

Enjoy breakfast and set out your luggage. We’ll be saying good-bye to Elko with a promise to return.

Day 5 option: Northeastern Nevada is the nation’s largest gold producer. Newmont Mining Corporation provides mining operation tours April-October in Elko/2nd Thursday, Battle Mountain/3rd Thursday and Winnemucca/4th Thursday.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Nevada’s Wild West Tour

■

Trains Through Northern Nevada

■

Scenic Wonderland Western Adventure

■

California Trail Gold Rush

CONTACT: Elko Convention & Visitors Authority ➤ Tom Lester www.exploreelkocva.com 700 Moren Way, Elko, NV 89801 Phone: 775-738-4091or 800-248-3556 Email: tom@elkocva.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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June 2014 79

DURANGO, COLORADO

HERITAGE AND HISTORY way on train with return by bus: five and a half hours. Round trip on train: nine hours). In the evening, enjoy dinner at the Bar D Chuckwagon, an authentic western show and chuckwagon supper.

HIGHLIGHTS ■ Mesa Verde National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site ■ Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

Explore Mesa Verde National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site DAY

■ Scenic drive through the San Juan Skyway

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Arrive in Durango Start your day in Durango with a walking tour of Historic Downtown and the Third Avenue Residential District; visit the Train Depot and the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum. The museum staff is knowledgeable in the history and current affairs of the local railroad. With a large selection of railroad history books, the staff is available as a great resource to help you find more information. Pre-arranged, guided tours are offered during business hours. To understand the early developments of Durango, visit the Animas Museum. Housed in a restored 1904 school building, the museum offers a variety of exhibits and programs for all ages, and is also home to a research library and photo archives. In the evening, enjoy the Durango Melodrama and Vaudeville at the Henry Strater Theater. After the show, stop by the Diamond Belle Saloon, one of the most famous original ragtime piano bars in the Wild West. DAY

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Four Corners World Heritage

■

Historic Durango Walking Tour

80 June 2014

Train to Silverton Travel back in time via the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNGRR) to Silverton. Built in 1881, the D&SNGRR is known around the world as one of the most scenic North American train journeys. As the train winds through spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the 2 million-acre San Juan National Forest, you will have the opportunity to experience Colorado at its best. (Time varies: one

Mesa Verde National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of the most well-preserved archeological sites in the United States. Visit the park and the amazing surroundings to learn more about the people who lived here for more than 700 years, from 600 A.D. to 1300 A.D. Mesa Verde National Park is a world-class Durango tourist destination just 35 miles from downtown. (Drive time from Durango to the Visitor Center is 50 minutes.) Visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, a museum of the Ancestral Puebloan culture and other Native cultures in the Four Corners region. (Drive time from Mesa Verde National Park to the Anasazi Heritage Center is approximately one hour.) Drive the Million Dollar Highway Depart for Ouray on the scenic San Juan Skyway. The Million Dollar Highway section of the Skyway between Silverton and Ouray is one of the most scenic and spectacular mountain drives in North America. (Drive time is approximately two and a half hours). In Ouray, you will find spectacular waterfalls and a year-round hot springs first used by the Ute Indians for spiritual and medicinal purposes. Travel back to Durango and enjoy dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in Historic Downtown. DAY

DAY

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CONTACT: Durango Area Tourism Office ➤ Maria Pradissitto www.durango.org 802 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 866-631-7013 Email: groupsales@durango.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

CHEYENNE, WYOMING

■ Bison Ranch ■ Western Shopping ■ Western Entertainment

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Go downtown to the newly restored Cheyenne Depot. A National Historic Landmark, the depot has been restored to its original glory and is once again a center of activity in the community. Tour the Art Deco lobby and visit the Cheyenne Depot Museum, which chronicles the railroad and its relationship to Cheyenne. DAY

In the depot, purchase tickets for the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley (307-778-3133), which provides a 90-minute overview of the community, its history and attractions. The tour includes stops at various attractions, allowing riders to disembark for the attraction and then reboard the next trolley 90 minutes later. Stops include the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum (307-778-7290), Nelson Museum of the West (307-635-7670), Wyoming State Museum (307-777-7022), Historic Governors’ Mansion (307-777-7878), Wyoming Capitol and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (307-637-6458). (Trolley drivers are available as step-on guides for motorcoaches.)

CONTACT: Visit Cheyenne

Enjoy one of Cheyenne’s new nightlife options — Freedom’s Edge Brewpub in the historic Tivoli Building, the Suite 1901 Martini Bar, the Morris House Bistro, or the Cadillac Ranch Bar. Spend some time downtown shopping at a couple of true Western stores. Try the Wrangler (307-634-3048) for jeans, boots, hats and other Western apparel or Wyoming Home (307-638-2222) for its unique Western furniture and artwork. Or catch a ride on the free downtown carriage rides. DAY

Head south nine miles to the Terry Bison Ranch (307-634-4171) for a horseback ride or a train ride into the middle of the bison herd that calls the ranch home. Back in town, be sure to check out Big Boy 4004, the world’s largest steam locomotive (1.2 million pounds). It was designed especially for the rugged Cheyenne to Ogden, Utah run. End your day watching the Western skits and escapades of the Cheyenne Gunslingers at 6 p.m. in downtown Cheyenne (June-July). Then enjoy the Bit-O-Wyo Horsebarn Dinner Theater in the beautiful mountains west of town (July-August). Or catch the Old-Fashioned Melodrama (307-638-6543) at the Historic Atlas Theater where you can cheer the hero and hiss the villain (July).

➤ Darren Rudloff www.cheyenne.org 1 Depot Sq., 121 W. 15th St., Ste. 202, Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: 800-426-5009 or 307-778-3133 Email: darren@cheyenne.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

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OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Frontier Days

June 2014 81

on location: northeast ❖

DC Developments

The Newseum’s rooftop terrace, with views of the U.S. Capitol and major monuments, offers one of the most inspiring vistas in Washington.

By Randy Mink

building under construction is the National Museum of African

ust as Cabinet officials and members of Congress come

American History and Culture (NMAAHC). As the 19th museum of

and go, the tourism scene in Washington, DC seems to

the Smithsonian Institution, it is expected to open in late 2015 on the

be as fluid as the political landscape. Nothing is static in

last available space on the National Mall, opposite the National Mu-

the Nation’s Capital. Most first-time visi-

seum of American History, where it currently has a

tors are fixated on the time-honored at-

gallery of African American artifacts on the second

tractions, but for repeaters there’s always something fresh and lively on the horizon.

floor. Among the $540-million museum’s most captivat-

Groups visiting the National Mall this year will wit-

ing pieces are two so big that cranes had to lower

ness something that hasn’t been seen since 2011—

them into the bottom levels of the building during the

the Washington Monument without its scaffolding.

early stages of construction. One is an 80-foot-long

The hallowed landmark reopened May 12 after being

railway car that had separate seating for whites and

closed for three years because of damage caused by

“coloreds.” Restored to its 1940s appearance, the

an earthquake that occurred 84 miles southwest of

Southern Railway car served routes in Kentucky, Ten-

Washington. The quake created more than 150 cracks

nessee, Georgia and Florida. Also telling a powerful

in the 555-foot marble obelisk built in honor of George

story is the concrete guard tower from Louisiana’s An-

Washington. Congress allocated $7.5 million to the

gola Prison, which, during the Jim Crow era, housed

restoration project; an equal amount was donated by

inmates in old slave quarters on former plantation

Washington businessman and philanthropist David

land. Both items will be on display in the Segregation

Rubenstein. The iconic attraction typically welcomes about 700,000 annual

Gallery as part of the inaugural exhibition Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: Era of Segregation 1876-1968.

visitors, who take the elevator or climb the stairs to the observation

A 19th century slave cabin from Edisto Island, S.C., headgear

deck. Completed in 1884, the Washington Monument was the

used in a gym by Cassius Clay (later Muhammed Ali), a red Cadil-

world’s tallest structure for five years until the Eiffel Tower was built.

lac from Chuck Berry’s collection and an airplane used to train

A public elevator was installed in 1888.

African American pilots at Tuskegee Institute for service in World War

On a five-acre tract adjacent to the Washington Monument, the 82 June 2014

II are among the many other artifacts at the only national museum LeisureGroupTravel.com

Sam Kittner/Museum

The latest Washington buzz includes a new Smithsonian museum and events commemorating the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination

devoted exclusively to African American history and culture. The Newseum, a relatively new presence on the Mall, has emerged as one of the most popular tourist magnets in the Nation’s Capital. Last year it set attendance records, boasting a 5 percent increase in visitors over 2012, more than at any time during its fiveterrace for the best vista in Washington, DC. A typical visit to the Newseum, with its 15 galleries and 15 theaters devoted to news-gathering and the five freedoms of the First

Destination DC

year history on Pennsylvania Avenue. Don’t forget to visit the rooftop The Washington Monument, now with its scaffolding off, is a DC must-see.

Amendment, only scratches the surface. The interactive museum presents more than 27 hours of video and audio content, ranging in

with a hallmark exhibit that reunites—for the first time since April

length from the four-minute “History of Newsreels” to 25-minute doc-

1865—an extraordinary collection of artifacts that resided in Ford’s

umentaries on “The Press and the Civil Rights Movement,” “Rise of

Theatre and on Lincoln’s person. Included will be the contents of Lin-

TV News” and “The Press Box: The History of Sports Reporting.” Ar-

coln’s pockets, top hat and the blood-stained handkerchief he car-

tifacts on display include a section of the Berlin Wall, twisted steel

ried the night of his assassination.

from the 2001 World Trade Center attacks and, in the FBI exhibit, items related to the past century’s most infamous crimes.

Outside of Washington, in Prince George’s County, Md., the big news is a $925-million casino complex taking shape at National Har-

The Newseum’s 1964: Civil Rights at 50 exhibit, a look at pivotal

bor, a development currently anchored by Gaylord National Resort

moments in the civil rights movement through powerful news images,

and Convention Center and a Tanger Outlets mall. The MGM resort,

historic front pages and an exclusive collection of photographs by

slated to open in 2016, will feature an 18-story hotel overlooking the

photojournalist Ted Polumbaum, runs through Dec. 28, 2015. It com-

Potomac River, near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

plements Make Some Noise, an exhibit on student leaders in the civil rights movement that opened last August. Baby boomers will be particularly interested in The Boomer List:

Tour planners always want to know what’s coming up around the bend, and staying up-to-date with developments in the Nation’s Capital will keep them on their toes. LGT

Photographs by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (Sept. 26, 2014 to June 30, 2015). His large-format portraits and interviews profile 19 iconic boomers, one born in each year of the baby boom (1946 to 1964). The Boomer List will come to life as an American Masters documentary film on PBS later in 2014, the year when the youngest members of the generation turn 50. To mark the 150th anniversary of one of Washington’s most tragic events, the Newseum plans the spring 2015 exhibit Reporting Lincoln’s Assassination. It will feature the museum’s unparalleled collection of New York Herald special editions that report the April 15, 1865 killing. Ford’s Theatre and its Center for Education and Leadership will commemorate Lincoln’s assassination with a number of events in 2015. From Jan. 23-Feb. 22, the theater will present the world premiere of The Widow Lincoln, an emotional drama about the controversial Mary Todd Lincoln in the aftermath of her husband’s death. Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War (March 13-May 16, 2015) will be a concert-style musical featuring the words of Lincoln and music inspired by those who lived through the Civil War. A special exhibition at the Center for Education and Leadership will commemorate Lincoln’s death LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 83

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY

POP CULTURE/HIP & HAPPENING HIGHLIGHTS ■ Boardwalk pleasures ■ Celebrity chefs ■ Casino action ■ Fabulous shopping ■ World-class spas ■ Miss America Rose Walk ■ Haunted Tales

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Afternoon: Since its inception in the 1800s, the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk has been the epicenter of entertainment and people-watching. Stroll the wooden way and enjoy your favorite Boardwalk foods. You’ll find the entrances to Central Pier, Steel Pier and Garden Pier scattered along its more than four miles. A seemingly endless array of restaurants, shops, casinos and attractions make it impossible to be bored on Boardwalk. DAY

But occasionally the weather has a different plan. When walking the boards is not the best option, you can always step inside your favorite casino. Or catch a matinee at the IMAX Theater at The Quarter at Tropicana. Featuring large-format films, it offers the latest Hollywood blockbusters, major concerts and sporting events. Evening: As a pop culture devotee, you’re probably hungry for more than just great food. Luckily, several of today’s hottest celebrity chefs have opened up terrifically trendy restaurants in Atlantic City. From Bobby Flay to Wolfgang Puck, finding a famous name is not a problem. After dinner, Boardwalk Hall is the place to find the superstars. From the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Lady Gaga, they’ve played in the arena. You’ll find more incredible entertainment in the casino showrooms.

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Adrenaline Rush – Extreme AC

84 June 2014

Morning: Celebrated as one of the East Coast’s best shopping destinations, Atlantic City offers upscale retailers, brand-name outlets, unique boutiques and everything in between, and it’s tax-free on clothes and shoes! At Tanger Outlets – The Walk, you can spend the day bagging bargains from more than 100 stores like Michael Kors, Coach, Kenneth Cole, H&M and DKNY. The Pier Shops at Caesars deliver an upscale shopping experience with designer stores from Gucci, Burberry, DAY

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Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. High-energy restaurants, exciting entertainment and an array of shops come together at The Quarter at Tropicana, a retail center that brings to life the streets of Old Havana through a sprawling three-story streetscape. If you prefer salt scrubs to shoe sales, spend an indulgent morning at one of Atlantic City’s world-class spas. From inviting spaces modeled after Roman baths to the modern day masterpieces, Atlantic City is home to some of the East Coast’s most exceptional spa experiences. Afternoon: If you’re enchanted by the Miss America crown, don’t miss the Miss America Rose Walk, a collection of bronze plaques featuring Miss America quotes embedded in the sidewalk along Michigan Avenue. The focal point is a bronze statue of Bert Parks, host of the Miss America competition from 1955 to 1980. Visitors can take advantage of a photo opportunity by posing under the crown in the statue’s outstretched hands as a motion sensor triggers the pageant’s traditional theme song, “There She Is, Miss America,” through an enhanced digital sound system. Located on the Boardwalk, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum is a fascinating look into the bizarre. Also on the Boardwalk, you’ll find Haunted Tales offers tales of the Jersey Devil, pirates and more. Then take the coffin ride and experience the sensation of being buried alive. Only a few are brave enough to make it through the entire ride.

CONTACT: Atlantic City CVA ➤ Heather Colache www.doatlanticcity.com 2314 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Phone: 609-449-7151 Email: hcolache@accva.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, NIAGARA FALLS, LOCKPORT, ANGELICA, ELLICOTTVILLE, SENECA FALLS & CANANDAIGUA LAKE, NY; AND NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, ON

NIAGARA FALLS & WESTERN NEW YORK HIGHLIGHTS

Seneca Falls/Ellicottville Step back in time in charming, lakeside Geneva, boasting the “Prettiest Street in America.” Then, a local Mennonite Farm family gives a personal tour of their home-grown produce operation. At picturesque Bully Hill Vineyard, enjoy lunch, wine-tasting and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. In Angelica’s quaint town circle, experience the old-time sport of Roque, which is a version of Croquet. DAY

■ View famed Niagara Falls from both sides of the border

■ Cruise the magnificent Erie Canal, Finger Lakes and Niagara Falls on three uniquely different ships ■ Visit the hometown of Lucille Ball and recall the beloved comedian at the Lucy-Desi Museum ■ Experience upstate's agricultural diversity, from Mennonite family farms to major dairy, vineyard and equestrian sites ■ Explore scenic and historic Niagara on the Lake—the “Loveliest Town in Ontario” ■ Visit the Women’s Rights National Historic Park and lunch at North America’s oldest golf course ■ Crafts sites including Medina Railroad Museum, Original American Kazoo Company, more

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

West Virginia's Mountain Railroads

■

Germany, Switzerland & Austria 86 June 2014

Ellicottville/Amherst In the hometown of legendary comedian Lucille Ball, visit the museum that pays tribute to her career with vintage memorabilia and famed sets from the beloved 1950s sitcom, I Love Lucy. After lunch, travel to Amish Country to visit the family-run Hostetler Quilt & Gift Shop and a fascinating sawmill that operates without electricity. Later, we’ll be “abuzz” with amusement at the Original American Kazoo Company–North America’s only metal kazoo factory. DAY

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY

Buffalo Enjoy a get-acquainted reception in this friendly city on Lake Erie.

Buffalo/Rochester In historic Lockport, see dazzling stained glass windows made by world-renowned Tiffany craftsmen at First Presbyterian Church. Next, enjoy a ferry cruise on the iconic Erie Canal, the 363-mile engineering marvel that helped establish New York as an international center of commerce. We’ll “lock through” enormous locks that raise and lower ships, allowing them to pass from Lake Erie to the Atlantic. Later, we’ll see one of the world’s longest HO-scale model train and diorama exhibits at Medina Railroad Museum. We cap the day with a tasty, colorful stop at pristine Hurd Orchards and flower farm. DAY

Rochester/Seneca Falls Travel among rolling hills to tiny Honeoye Falls, where you’ll be moved by how the William and Mildred Levine Ranch EquiCenter is enriching the lives of people with developmental disabilities through teaching them horsemanship. Afterward, enjoy a relaxing cruise around Canandaigua Lake, one of the country’s wealthiest regions, aboard the authentic paddlewheeler, Canandaigua Lady. Later, visit one of the region’s largest, most technologically advanced farms. Then, experience the beginning of the Women’s Movement at the Women’s Rights National Historic Park. Overnight at the Europeanstyle Hotel Clarence in Seneca Falls, the friendly, small town believed to have inspired “Bedford Falls” from It’s a Wonderful Life. DAY

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Amherst/Niagara on the Lake, Ontario Niagara Falls has mesmerized visitors for centuries. The 282-foot-tall ledge above Niagara Gorge offers stunning views of both Horseshoe and American Falls. Afterward, don your “rain poncho” and cruise through the spray of Niagara’s cascading waters aboard the famous Maid of the Mist. We lunch at the oldest golf course in North America, overlooking the shores of Lake Ontario. Then, enjoy free time and a narrated riding tour of historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, often called the loveliest town in Ontario. You’ll never forget the view from our world-renowned AAA four-diamond hotel, just 200 yards from the brink of Niagara Falls! DAY

DAY

Buffalo Return home, overflowing with wonderful memories of Niagara Falls, Erie Canal and western New York.

CONTACT: Country Travel DISCOVERIES ➤ Steven Uelner www.countrytraveldiscoveries.com/groups 13500 Watertown Plank Road, Suite 107, Elm Grove, WI 53122 Phone: 855-744-8747 Email: groups@countrytraveldiscoveries.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

COASTAL MARYLAND

OCEAN CITY HIGHLIGHTS ■ 10 miles of sparkling Atlantic Coast beach ■ Famous Assateague Island wild ponies ■ Rural heritage at its best ■ Excitement of the award-winning OC Boardwalk

DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY When you tour the Ocean City region, you will enjoy excellent accommodations and the sea air! Situated beside the roaring Atlantic Ocean, our 10-mile Boardwalk is just the place for long walks, a few reflective moments beside the ocean or a fun dinner with friends at one of the Boardwalk eateries. Or enjoy dining out on the town—Ocean City offers everything from boardwalk fries and cotton candy to the finest in elegant dining with classically trained chefs. Perhaps you have even arrived during one of Ocean City’s award-winning festivals or special events. There is always much to do in Ocean City! DAY

Today, visit the Life Saving Station Museum DAY at the end of the Ocean City Boardwalk that has the absolute best view of Assateague and the Ocean City Inlet waters. Learn about the “lore of the sea” and the forerunner of today’s Coast Guard in the surf men that pulled fishermen to land with ropes and sheer strength. From here, you might glimpse the famous wild ponies of Assateague that entice visitors from around the world. Visit Assateague National Seashore Park and the lovely new visitor center to learn

about coastal bays and wildlife in the area. Have lunch in nearby Berlin and enjoy the quaint specialty shops before heading back to Ocean City for a stroll on the boards or relaxation at the hotel. Schedule a stop at one of the local wineries on the way back or choose a round of golf for the afternoon. The Ocean City area offers extensive golfing choices.

■ Experience crab cake and Smith Island cake delicacies

Tonight might be the perfect evening for a traditional Eastern Shore crab feast or even fine Italian dining. Ocean City offers great choices for both, and everything in between, many with oceanfront or bayside dining. Travel to the historic fishing town of Crisfield, where you can board tours to Smith or Tangier Islands in the Chesapeake Bay. On land, experience a lunch where you can enjoy crab cake, and see how crabs are steamed, picked and prepared as you await the delectable Chesapeake region delicacy. DAY

Smith Island Cakes have been named Maryland’s official dessert. This multi-layer confection has become a famous favorite at meals and you can see how they are made and assembled. Talk with Smith Island native bakers and get a glimpse of how life was when the waters teemed with seafood and production and shucking houses were big business!

OTHER ITINERARIES ■

Seaside Adventures

■

Relaxation at the Beach

CONTACT: Ocean City MD Dept. of Tourism/CVB ➤ Norma Dobrowolski www.ococean.com 4001 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City MD 21842 Phone: 800-626-2326 Email: ndobrowolski@ococean.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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June 2014 87

on europe ❖

Tracks Across

Europe

Rail Europe’s group department smoothes the way for tour planners looking to glamorize standard itineraries By Randy Mink

High-speed TGV trains connect Paris to over 200 French cities. Enchanting landscapes along the Cote d’Azur in Southern France enthrall passengers on the TGV duplex, which travels at speeds approaching 200 mph.

88 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

sultants, two managers and support staff.

tion. It’s like riding a jet of air as your plush carriage

On a one-to-one basis, Rail Europe’s group consultants deal with

whooshes by vineyards, olive groves and velvety green fields. Cows

travel agents, schools, alumni associations, incentive groups, per-

at pasture, rustic stone farmsteads and mountainsides lush with wild-

formers and just close-knit groups of family and friends, not to men-

flowers, along with villages punctuated by church steeples and the

tion major tour operators like Tauck, Insight, Trafalgar and such river

occasional castle ruin, keep you glued to the window. The ride is re-

cruise companies as Uniworld and Viking, according to Fred Spag-

laxing and eye-opening at the same time—just how you imagine Eu-

nuolo, Rail Europe’s director of groups. The group office is not an im-

ropean train travel should be.

personal call center.

All you need to set the wheels in motion is a group of 10 or more.

Adding a high-speed rail segment to a group tour of Europe—

“We offer highly personalized service to our clients,” Spagnuolo

whether it’s a TGV train from Paris to Nice, an AVE run from Madrid

commented. “Because of the nature of group travel, our clients will

to Seville or Eurostar service via the Channel Tunnel—breaks up the

work with one of our highly experienced group consultants who will

days of bus travel and adds a bragging-rights feature that clients will

handle their group request from start to finish. We believe in building

appreciate. Smooth, quiet and ever-so-efficient, this kind of travel is

strong relationships with our clients; in this way we can better serve

simply not available in the United States. Forget slowdowns, inter-

them and anticipate their needs.”

minable delays and that swaying, clickety-clack over the tracks. In

The staff in Rail Europe’s group department have worked for tour

Europe, you cover the miles in style and really MOVE—right around

operators or have experience with itinerary planning, said Spagn-

186 mph on most high-speed routes. Frequent departures, from city

uolo, who once worked for Globus. “This allows us to have a unique

center to city center, make it easy to plug a rail trip into an itinerary.

perspective when arranging rail transportation as we understand the

Planners who enhance their Europe tours with a ride or two on the

logistics of touring and importance of scheduling within a day’s itin-

rails start by contacting the group department at the White Plains,

erary.”

New York office of Rail Europe, which represents more than 35 Eu-

Rail Europe not only can book a block of seats for your tour group

ropean railroads with almost 300,000 miles of rail lines. Owned by the

(at a discount, of course), but even help charter an entire train. It was

French National Railroads (SNCF) and Swiss Federal Railways

on a full charter, in fact, where I caught up with Spagnuolo a few

(SBB), Rail Europe, Inc. is the largest North American distributor of

weeks ago. He and I were two of 743 passengers hopping from Lon-

European rail products, offering point-to-point tickets and a variety

don’s St. Pancras International station to Paris’ Gare du Nord on a

of rail passes. Assisting more than 200,000 travelers a year, the

Eurostar departure reserved exclusively by EF, the Switzerland-

group office consists of 13 personnel, including seven sales con-

based educational tour company, for a contingent of middle school

LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 89

Rail Europe

treaking across the countryside like champion marathoners,

France’s high-speed trains give you a sort of floating sensa-

on europe ❖

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: See Randy Mink’s report on his Paris-Barcelona journey aboard the new high-speed train at http://tinyurl.com/m7lg87h.

Eurostar passengers traveling Standard Premier enjoy first-class amenities.

Fairy-tale scenery awaits train travelers near Landeck, Austria. Eurostar International

students from Mexico. We chatted about groups during the two-hour-

meal and second-class customers have access to snacks in the bar

and-15-minute trip, which included about 20 minutes barreling

car (as do all passengers).

through the Channel Tunnel, nicknamed the Chunnel.

Eurostar business and first-class cars feature three seats across,

High-speed trains, connecting the large population centers, have

with a pull-down table or seats facing each other (called Clubs 2s

the most sex appeal, but other types of service provide just as much

and Club 4s) with a table in between. As on most other European

in the way of comfort and scenery. Perhaps your group’s experience

trains, high-speed and otherwise, expect comfortable chairs with

will be an eye-popper like that offered by the Glacier Express or an-

head, arm and foot rests. Being free to walk around—or just know-

other classic rail journey in the Swiss Alps.

ing that you can—is another highlight of train travel. You’re less con-

“Today’s travelers are looking for authentic experiences, and rail travel certainly answers that call,” Spagnuolo observed. “This allows

fined to your seat than would be the case on a bus or plane. It all seems so civilized.

our clients to travel like the locals and embrace the culture around

Eurostar International, owned by British, French and Belgian rail-

them….Traveling by train in Europe is a highlight of the trip, not just

way companies, plans to have a fleet of 14 refurbished e300 trains

a mode of transportation.”

and 10 brand new e320s ready by 2015. Moreover, it will introduce

Besides booking train tickets, Rail Europe’s group department of-

London-Amsterdam service in 2016, with two e320s daily making

fers other travel services, which comes as a surprise to some tour

the four-hour trip with stops in Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam and

planners.

Schipol Airport. Now the tunnel trains connect London with just

“They say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you could that,’” Spagnuolo re-

Paris, Brussels (two hours) and Lille, France (one hour and 20 min-

marked. “It’s our job to educate them about what we can do for them.”

utes). Traveling at speeds up to 200 mph, the new e320s will have

Among those extra services are booking museum passes, metro

a capacity of 900 passengers (compared to the current 750). The

cards and hop-on, hop-off city bus tours. Luggage handling, onboard

London-Paris jaunt will be trimmed to two hours, Brussels to 1.5

catering, and airport or hotel transfers by coach or mini-van also can

hours. (Until Eurostar began service in 1994, the London-Paris trip,

be arranged.

with a ferry link, took more than nine hours.)

Though train seats do not open for sale until a few months before

The tunnel linking Great Britain with continental Europe is actu-

departure, tour operators seeking to block space should request it

ally three interconnected tunnels—one rail track for each direction

from Rail Europe as soon as they know their exact travel dates,

(northbound and southbound) and one service tunnel. Its length is 31

Spagnuolo said. Their information immediately is loaded into the sys-

miles, of which 23 are underwater. The average depth is 150 feet

tem and will be ready and waiting once the seats open for sale. Eu-

under the seabed. You’re usually halfway through the tunnel before

rostar seats become available 160 days prior; for other trains it’s 60

you know it.

to 90 days. Since payment is not required until 35 days prior to de-

Whether traveling underwater or through majestic mountain

parture, there is no risk in reserving space far in advance, Spagnuolo

passes, clients booked on European trains can expect a carefree,

said.

magic-carpet ride and the latest innovations in rail transportation.

On our recent Eurostar journey everyone got a sack lunch, and

All aboard for the Old World!

students were split up between cars in three classes of service—

For help with arranging train travel in Europe, call Rail Europe’s

Business Premier (premium first class), Standard Premier (first) and

group department at 800-462-2577, email groups@raileurope.com or

Standard Class (second). Normally, however, a warm, three-course

submit a group request using the website, www.raileurope.com/group-

meal is served in business, while first-class passengers get a cold

travel/group-travel.html. LGT

90 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Best Scenic Rail Trips Train journeys add a dash of magic to any group tour By Don Heimburger

My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I'll not be knowing, Yet there isn't a train I wouldn't take, No matter where it's going. o said the American lyrical poet and playwright Edna St. Vincent Millay, whose melodic verse embraces the feeling many get from riding a train. With the steam locomotive, the world's first true “machine” was put on public display, and we've grown to like, and even love, trains ever since. Today's ribbons of rails offer a fascinating variety of steam and diesel excursions in various parts of the country. There are dinner-on-the-rails trips, leisurely scenic or quick-paced rides, and journeys punctuated with nostalgic rail museum highlights. Or consider a train ride in Europe. For something a bit out of the ordinary, take your group down a different road—a railroad. There are many to choose from, each with its own destination, its own scenery and its own special equipment. Most offer group discounts and special packages. Here we present a selection of the best rail journeys available. Pick the one or ones that intrigue you and climb aboard. The train is about to leave the station.

Amtrak’s popular Capitol Limited cuts through a broad swath of the East and Midwest on its way from Washington to Chicago.

Amtrak

LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 91

Elkins and Durbin, West Virginia

DURBIN & GREENBRIER VALLEY RAILROAD hree Mountain Rail Group Adventures depart the two historic depots of Elkins and Durbin, April through December. Wilderness adventures include trips on the climate-controlled New Tygart Flyer and vintage Cheat Mountain Salamander into the heart of the mountains. Choose to chug along the Greenbrier River on the Durbin Rocket, the railroad’s signature steam-driven train. Multiple train options and food service plans are available for any size group, including an all-day, twotrain outing with meals provided. (mountainrailwv.com)

Elkins and Durbin, West Virginia Alberta and British Columbia

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER his premier rail tour company offers more than 40 different rail outings through dramatic British Columbia and Alberta, Canada scenery, and now its trains connect Seattle to the Canadian Rockies as well. The firm operates two-day and longer all-daylight trips on different scenic routes between April and October. The awardwinning trains feature different levels of service— Silver Leaf, Red Leaf and the exceptional Gold Leaf service— and passengers can dine on gourmet meals, enjoy breakfast and lunch served at their seat and complimentary beverages and snacks. (rockymountaineer.com)

MT. WASHINGTON COG RAILWAY

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

his dramatic rail line was the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first successful cog railway, opening in 1869. It continues to excite passengers who enjoy the thrill of climbing 6,288 feet to the top of Mount Washington, famous for its commanding vistas. The line's biodiesels operate trains from late April to early December, but midJune through October a steam-operated locomotive typically pulls the first train up each day. At the top of the mountain is Mount Washington State Park with hiking trails, an observatory, visitor center and a hotel that was built in 1853 and is now a museum. (thecog.com)

AMTRAK'S CAPITOL LIMITED he Capitol Limited first ran in May of 1923, and today this premier train runs daily between Washington, D.C. and Chicago. The rails follow the famous B&O line through the Potomac Valley, past historic Harpers Ferry and the Allegheny Mountains into Pittsburgh, through Ohio and Indiana, with the end point in Chicago. Spacious Superliner accommodations make the trip enjoyable, with showers and other amenities, friendly service and delicious dining. Reserved coach seats or Sleeper Service accommodations are available. In daylight hours, passengers can find a spot in the Sightseer Lounge and enjoy the scenery. (amtrak.com)

Washington, D.C. to Chicago

Seward to Anchorage and Fairbanks

ALASKA RAILROAD f you've been thinking of visiting Alaska, the Alaska Railroad offers breathtaking excursions into the rugged back-country on trains such as the Denali Star, operating daily between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Most trains operate mid-May to mid-September and feature modern coaches. Vacation packages that include rail transportation, tours and hotels are available for groups. As an example, the Alaska by Daylight tour, which packs in an Alaska-sized dose of fun and adventure, includes dogsledding with Iditarod champs, cruising Resurrection Bay in Seward and exploring Denali National Park. (alaskarailroad.com)

Essex, Connecticut

ESSEX STEAM TRAIN & RIVERBOAT he only steam train and riverboat connection in the country spotlights the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley on a 2Â˝-hour journey that begins at the historic rail station in Essex, Conn. Equipped with vintage coaches, the train travels through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester and near tidal wetlands. Sights on the 1Âź-hour cruise aboard the Becky Thatcher, a Mississsippi-style riverboat, include Gillette Castle and the Goodspeed Opera House. (essexsteamtrain.com)

Europe

RAIL EUROPE erving travelers for more than 80 years, Rail Europe is the largest North American distributor of European rail products, offering travel on more than 35 European railroads. With two million customers annually, Rail Europe books not only point-to-point tickets and railpasses, but also arranges such group services as onboard catering, hotel and airport transfers, and city sightseeing tours. The European train system continues to expand routes and schedules and upgrade equipment, making rail travel an easy choice for tour planners looking to enhance their itineraries by immersing their clients into the local culture. (raileurope.com)

Eurostar International

Don Heimburger is a journalist who has logged thousands of hours researching, writing about and photographing railroads throughout the U.S. and foreign countries. He has authored 10 railroad books and publishes two railroad magazines.

94 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Cruisin’ Groups Taking a cruise—sightseeing, dinner or themed— is a great way for your group to enjoy the outdoors and tour from a new perspective By Lauren Reiniger The 49-passenger schooner Alliance in Yorktown, Virginia

The Savannah River Queen, along with the Georgia Queen, offers fun-filled excursions, day and night, in one of Georgia’s most history-packed cities.

et your group off the road and into the water to add a refreshing break in your itinerary. Whether you’re looking to learn about the area, dine and dance the night away, or simply sit back and relax, these excursions will make waves with your group.

New York City

NY Waterway ince its first launch in 1986, NY Waterway has carried more than 65 million passengers. It has the largest ferry and excursion fleet in New York Harbor, but provides private and customized experiences. NY Waterway offers 149-passenger, double-deck catamarans and single- and double-deck boats accommodating up to 399 passengers. Choose from several departure points in New York and New Jersey. Guests have the option of receiving customized catering and beverage service. (nywaterway.com)

S LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 95

New York City

New York Water Taxi rom South Street Seaport, board the 600-passenger Zephyr luxury yacht for the “Statue of Liberty Express” cruise, which glides past Lady Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building and other Big Apple landmarks. The “All-Day Access Pass” on the bright yellow water taxis grants hop-on, hop-off privileges at five piers (including the Statue of Liberty), or do the complete ride alone in 90 minutes. Other options include eco-tours, happy hour cruises and private charters. (nywatertaxi.com)

Yorktown, Virginia

Yorktown Sailing Charters ust a short ride from Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown is a quaint riverfront village where you can set sail for a tallship adventure aboard the Yorktown Schooners. The 49passenger Alliance and 26-passenger Serenity offer daily two-hour cruises on the York River. Sail past the battlefield where our country won its independence; keep an eye out for dolphins; observe working watermen; or even lend a hand at setting sail. Private charters can include Yorktown history, Chesapeake Bay ecology, wine tasting or pirate themes. (sailyorktown.com)

Cleveland

Goodtime III oodtime III, family-owned and -operated since 1958, is Cleveland’s largest excursion boat. On Lake Erie/Cuyahoga River sightseeing cruises aboard the quadruple-deck, 1,000-passenger luxury ship, see the panorama of Cleveland’s skyline and Flats area while learning the city’s history from a tour guide. Other options include happy hour or dinner and dance cruises. Private charters with full catering can be arranged, or snacks and beverages are available from the ship’s galley, lounge and captain’s pub. (goodtime3.com)

G 96 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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Savannah, Georgia

Savannah Riverboat Cruises avannah Riverboat Cruises is Savannah’s only riverboat tour, waterfront restaurant and event venue. Guests enjoy a leisurely cruise up the Savannah River and back down to historic River Front and Old Fort Jackson. Go aboard the Savannah River Queen (capacity 600) or the Georgia Queen (capacity 550) for narrated harbor sightseeing, dinner entertainment, Saturday luncheon, Sunday brunch, moonlight, gospel dinner entertainment and murder mystery cruises. Holiday and other specialty cruises are also offered throughout the year. Staff event planners create an ideal group experience. (savannahriverboat.com)

Moline, Illinois

PA S T

PR ESENCE

FROM OUR RUGGED WESTERN PAST TO THE MAJESTIC PRESENCE OF OUR CITY’S EVER-CHANGING SKYLINE, OKLAHOMA CITY IS THE PERFECT BLEND OF HISTORICAL PRIDE AND FORWARD PROGRESS. IT’S BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL …

Celebration Belle ruise the Mississippi River, the No. 1 attraction in the Quad Cities, aboard Celebration Belle. The 770-passenger riverboat offers all-day, narrated lunch, narrated sightseeing, and “Captain’s Dinner and Dance” cruises. Your group will also enjoy such music-themed outings as the Big Band, classic oldies, Broadway, holiday and new Fiesta cruise. All meals on Celebration Belle are freshly prepared onboard. To celebrate 30 cruising seasons, special group rates are offered on all-day cruises from June to August this year. (celebrationbelle.com)

C VISITOKC.C OM

98 June 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

By Dave Bodle

O N M AR K ET I NG

Sharpen Your Sales Skills by Becoming a Better Listener t’s my hope that this month’s

column is one you’ll take time to read and give some thought to. We’re going to talk about how

Let the person know that you are hearing every word.

“of course,” “definitely.”

Ask a question or request

using the skill of listening can help your

not speaking and paying attention as

sales efforts focus on being customer-

the keys to listening. That’s a good start.

wondering how often a great idea was

centric (emotional), as opposed to com-

To become a great listener, though, we

presented to me and I wasn’t listening?

pany-centric (intellectual).

need to ask effective questions. Here are

Was I busy mentally preparing the defense

a few thoughts that might be useful:

of my own idea? How often did I miss a

Let’s explore the difference between

Think about using open-ended

learning experience from someone much

tually, an operator takes clients to the

questions. We want to avoid yes and no

brighter than me? Most importantly, how

largest flower show in the tri-state area.

answers. Instead of asking, “Can we get

can I avoid these mistakes, making

Emotionally, the clients will be introduced

this done?” ask, “How can we get this

certain they never happen again?

to the sweet beauty and captivating

done?”

emotional and intellectual selling. Intellec-

To succeed in what we do it’s important

Questions that put the listener on

to both recognize and seek information

restaurant intellectually has a reasonably

the defensive are conversation killers.

from others. That’s what good listening

priced group menu to satisfy every

Avoid using “why” questions. Try asking,

accomplishes. We need to avoid jump-

palate. Emotionally, the group menu will

“How come…?”

ing-in with answers, but look to uncover

fragrances of the spring season. A

embrace the guest in a rich bouquet of tasteful delights. The question naturally follows, “How do we gain insight to what emotional triggers

Ask your listener how they “feel

fresh insight. Asking respectful questions

about” questions. We’re all flattered

will often lead you to uncovering unique

when asked how we feel.

solutions.

Don’t be afraid to ask “What if…”.

Finally, we cannot be afraid to

a customer possesses?” Actually, they’ll

This is a trial close and may not seal the

challenge positions like the long-held

tell you. The trick is being a good listener

deal. It might very well clarify an objection.

objection, “We’ve never done it that

and knowing how to ask questions.

When appropriate, use questions

way.” Your task is to build your customer-

First and foremost, you must develop

with alternatives. “Which way do you

centric case for why trying something

the aspiration to be a good listener. Accept

prefer…” questions show respect for

new is equally as good, or better.

that when you listen, the other person

your prospect and their opinion.

will share exactly what you need to

Some people are better listeners then

Prevent misunderstandings and

know. That should be enough motivation

confirm you are listening by repeating

to be a good listener.

what was said. A simple, “You’re saying

Please, do not interrupt. We all

believe that what we have to offer is vitally

that…?” works well. Sherlock Holmes, or even Watson, that’s

so don’t interrupt.

quite normal. Great investigators are the

We have two ears and one mouth.

Use them accordingly. The 70/30 (listen-

to being a listener. In the words of Bernard M. Baruch, “Most of the successful people I’ve known

If you’re beginning to feel a bit like

important. But that’s not always accurate,

others. The key to success is committing

best listeners. As I pound away on the keyboard, I’m

are the ones who do more listening than talking.” Contact Dave at 843-997-2880 or email dave@ptmgroups.com.

ing/talking) Rule is a good guideline. Be

Looking Ahead To Our

an active listener. Let the

AUGUST ISSUE

other person know you’re hearing every word. In person, eye contact

Oregon Colorado Washington Ohio Wisconsin Rhode Island New Jersey Kentucky Restaurants Museums Educational Travel Food & Spirits Asia Eastern Europe

and regularly nodding are good. On

Theme

the telephone, a simple, timely

See our page-flip edition & past issues at LeisureGroupTravel.com We can help showcase your business to groups. Call us 630.794.0696 or advertising@ptmgroups.com

affirmation is appropriate, i.e. “yes,” LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2014 99

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