the marine sanctuary. A highlight is the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center with 9,000 square feet of exhibits that include a full-size replica of a wooden Great Lakes schooner and shipwreck, a dive operations center, gift shop # $ ! " and a theater showing films daily. Hillman is less than two hours from Mackinaw City, the boats to Mackinac Island and the bridge to the Upper Peninsula. The staff at Thunder Bay resort works with numerous local attractions and does a great job of helping plan group tours. You can reach them at (800) 729-9375.
cial group packages are available and there are special shows during the holiday season. Additional features include a petting zoo with animals ranging from skunks to chicks and goats. A rubber-tired train provides rides around the complex with a guided tour that shows some of the other animals on the property. The show itself is visually stunning and very appropriate for groups. Your editor once owned a bus company located near here and I can tell you that there are several other attractions in the area. Lake Geneva was once the summer home of millionaires and you can ride on a Gage Marine boat to view the historic homes or join the mailboat as it delivers mail around the lake. Yerkes Observatory is located in nearby Williams Bay. A few miles east is the East Troy Electric Railroad operating trolley and interurban cars. For more information on Dancing Horses, phone (262) 728-8200.
Crazy Horse Memorial World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest & Festival Oxford, Mississippi Founded in 1975, the World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest and Festival recently moved to Oxford, Mississippi. While this event is not for everyone, it has been highly regarded by people who are interested in this type of music. Discounted group rates apply for the contest competition, activities and meals. A driver and guide for each bus are included as complimentary guests. The event takes place over the Memorial Day weekend from Thursday night to Monday morning. In addition to the actual competi- " ! tion with several classes, there is a wide range of activities including opportunities for meals, music workshops, a silent movie luncheon, dinner with the 2015 Champion and a bus tour of Oxford. Some of the activities will take place in Oxford Square downtown. Oxford is the home of William Faulkner as well as Barry Hannah, John Grisham and Ace Atkins. It is only 45 minutes from the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale and 90 minutes from the Elvis Presley home in Memphis. For information phone (662) 925-1282.
Dancing Horses Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Located on a 40-acre horse farm just outside of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is Dancing Horses. The state-of-the-art heated indoor arena features an elaborate show of Arabians, Andalusians, Lippizzans, national show horses plus their talented trainers and performers. Options include either the show itself or the dinner theater per ! ! formances. Spe36 • Bus Tours Magazine / November, 2015
Crazy Horse, South Dakota If your group liked Mt. Rushmore, they will be delighted with Crazy Horse Memorial. Located just a short drive down the road from Mt. Rushmore is an impressively huge sculpture that is still in process. Because of the size of this sculpture, they use dynamite and huge tools rather than chisels and other hand tools. Chief Henry Standing Bear invited sculptor Korczak Ziolkoswki to create a monument to “let the white man know the red man has great heroes, also.� It is the largest mountain carving in progress and, when complete, the carving will be 563 feet tall and 641 feet wide. The face of Crazy Horse alone is 87 and a half feet tall. You can stand under his nose. Crazy Horse is a 501C3 non-profit that accepts no government funding. Visitors can enjoy several museums detailing Native American history and culture, past and present, from tribes across the nation. Other features include the sculptor’s home and studio, the Mountain Carving room and the Native American Cultural and Educational Center. Other features including a laser night show, a weekly lecture series and special events throughout the season. Those who have run tours to Mt. Rushmore know that there are several other attractions in the area. The Black Hills Central Railroad operates from nearby Hill City. Rapid City has several attractions including Reptile Gardens. Not far away are the Black Hills attractions. For group tour information on Crazy Horse phone (605) 673-4681.
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