Byways River Views

Featuring North America’s Leading Travel Destinations

River Views

James, Susquehanna, Hudson, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado, & Sacramento Rivers

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PREVIEW

By Steve Kirchner, Editor & Publisher

oin us in this issue of Byways as we America. It rises from the Rocky Mountains of western travel some of the major river sys- Montana, and flows to St. Louis, where it joins the tems in North America. Some, like Mississippi. The river was one of the main routes of the famous Mississippi River, cover western expansion, as it winds through the Great Plains. many states, and have an impact far and The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, all 3,700 wide. Others, like Virginia’s James miles, follows nearly the entire Missouri River.

Rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand River, run entirely within a single state.

Canyon is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with Arizona All have history that helped shaped the country, and we River Runners, operating since 1970. It’s a unique tell some of their stories. opportunity to experience one of the Wonders of the The James River in Virginia forms in the Appalachian World.

Mountains, extends to Richmond and ultimately south California’s Shasta Region and the Sacramento River through the state to the coast. It is here that in 1607 the end this exploration of great rivers. The Sacramento risfirst permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown along the banks of the James River. Today the James River provides A view of the Hudson River from the Walkway numerous parks and recreational attractions, Over the Hudson. and it’s even possible to raft in the whitewater rapids that flow through downtown Richmond.

The Susquehanna River is the East Coast’s longest river, traveling through New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. It begins its journey in Cooperstown, NY, the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Susquehanna played an important role in Colonial times, and also during America’s Civil War. Today over two hundred bridges cross the river, and it’s also known as the longest river in North America without commercial boat traffic.

Also in New York is the “Heavenly” Hudson River, which begins in the Adirondacks, and spans 315 miles to Manhattan Island. The Hudson played a pivotal role in the outcome of the Revolutionary War and es in the Klamath Mountains and flows over 400 miles became the post for the prestigious U.S. Military before reaching San Francisco Bay. The Sacramento watershed reaches to the volcanic plateaus and ranges of Academy at West Point.

Northern California. The Three Shastas, Mount Shasta, The mighty Mississippi borders or bisects 10 states Lake Shasta and Shasta Dam, provide spectacular from Minnesota in the North to Louisiana in the South. scenery.

Redding is the largest city in the Shasta region, One of the best ways to explore the river is the Great River Road, which travels over 2,000 miles through 10 and is the stopping off point to explore the area.

Eventually reaching Sacramento, the river provides the states following the winding course of the river. backdrop to the historic district of Old Sacramento.

The Arkansas River begins its journey in -- Colorado!

We also do a little shopping with a visit to the Not far from Colorado Springs, the river displays some Shipshewana Flea Market in Indiana, and visit a major of the most spectacular scenery at the Royal Gorge, as it Outlet Center in Oregon. winds its way to Kansas, Oklahoma and into Arkansas.

In What’s Happening, we learn how to Sweeten Your Along the way we explore cities the river has touched, Tour Experience in Pennsylvania! including Wichita, Fort Smith and North Little Rock.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Byways.

The Missouri River is the longest river in North 4 • Byways

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Byways Magazine yways is published bi-monthly by smk Byways, Inc. and distributed electronically throughout North America. Byways is emailed to more than 4000 tour operators and 13,000 travel agencies through the internet.

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Features

Volume 29, Issue No. 4, 2012 On the cover. The New Netherland Museum operates the Half Moon, a replica of the ship that Henry Hudson sailed from Holland to the New World in 1609. To learn more about the Heavenly Hudson River turn to page 22. Photo courtesy New Netherland Museum and John W. Mangrum. Coverage on River Views begins on page 10.

River Views Virginia’s James River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Susquehanna, the East Coast’s Longest River. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 The Heavenly Hudson River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Mighty Mississippi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The Arkansas River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 North Little Rock on the Arkansas River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The Impact of the Arkansas River on Fort Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 A Closer Look at Wichita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Experience the Colorado Springs Region. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Rafting the Colorado River and Grand Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 California’s Shasta Region and the Sacramento River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Shopping Indiana’s Shipshewana Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Oregon’s Largest Outlet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Departments

Byways Instant Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Byways Preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Free Byways Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

What’s Happening

Sweeten Your Tour Experience in Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Coming in future issues of Byways…

Great American Roads, featuring favorite destinations along the highways and byways of America.

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Whitewater rafting on the James River in downtown Richmond.

Photo courtesy Virginia Tourism Corporation (virginia.org)

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Virginia’s James River

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Looking west from the bridge over the James River on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia.

Native Americans who populated the area in the late he James River is 348 miles The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a 16th and early 17th centuries called the James River the population of 2.5 million people. It is the 12th Powhatan River, named for the chief of the Powhatan longest river in the United States and remains entirely Confederacy which extended over most of the Tidewater region of Virginia. The English colonists named it within the State of Virginia.

The James River forms in the Appalachian Mountains, “James” after King James I of England, as they also constructed the first permanent English settlement in the near Iron Gate on the border between Alleghany and Botetourt counties, from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Ships of the U.S. National Defense Reserve Fleet’s Ready Reserve Force tied up on the James River, often rivers, and flows into the Chesapeake Bay at called the “Ghost Fleet.”

Hampton Roads. Tidal waters extend west to Richmond, the capital of Virginia, at the river’s fall line.

At the mouth near Newport News Point, the Elizabeth River and the Nansemond River join the James River to form the harbor area known as Hampton Roads.

Between the tip of the Virginia Peninsula near Old Point Comfort and the Willoughby Spit area of Norfolk in South Hampton Roads, a channel leads from Hampton Roads into the southern portion of the Chesapeake Bay and out to the Atlantic Ocean a few miles further east.

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The Atlantic Coast Line Rail Trestle over the James River in Richmond.

Civil War history can be experienced by a scenic walk out over the James River, part of the “1865 Exhibit” and Canal Walk, commemorating the burning of Richmond.

Photo by Bill Crabtree, Jr., Virginia Tourism Corporation.

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Amtrak’s Northeast Regional crosses the James River trestle shortly after departing Lynchburg, VA. The train is headed to Boston.

Americas in 1607 at Jamestown along the banks of the for a large portion of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River about 35 miles upstream from the called the “James River Fleet” or the “Ghost Fleet,” conChesapeake Bay. sisting of mothballed ships, mostly merchant vessels, The James River contains numerous parks and recre- that can be activated within 20 to 120 days to provide ational attractions. Canoeing, fishing, kayaking, hiking, shipping for the United States of America during nationand swimming are some of the activities that people al emergencies, either military or non-military, such as enjoy along the river during the summer. From the riv- commercial shipping crises. er’s start in the Blue Ridge mountains to Richmond, numerous rapids and pools offer fishing and whitewater rafting. The most intense whitewater stretch is a 2-mile segment that ends in downtown Richmond where the river goes over the fall line. This is the only place in the country where extensive class III (class IV with above average river levels) whitewater conditions exist within sight of skyscrapers.

Below the fall line east of Richmond, the river is better suited for water skiing and other large boat recreation. Here the river is known for its blue catfish, reaching average sizes of 20 to 30 pounds, with some Tubing on the James River at Hattons Ferry, near Scottsville. catches exceeding 50 pounds.

The James River is the anchorage Photo by John Henley, courtesy Virginia Tourism Corporation.

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Susquehanna River, Asylum Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, as seen from Marie Antoinette Overlook along Route 6.

The Susquehanna, the East Coast’s Longest River

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The Susquehanna River begins its journey at Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York, the home of Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

he Susquehanna River, at 464 miles, is the longest river on the American East Coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed, it is the 16th largest river in the United States.

It is also the longest river in the continental United States without commercial boat traffic. It flows through three states: New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

The Susquehanna watershed includes portions of the Allegheny Plateau region of the Appalachian Mountains. The river empties into the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, providing half of the Bay’s freshwater inflow.

Rising as the outlet of Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York, the north branch of the river runs west-southwest through dairy country, receiving the Unadilla River at Sidney and the Chenango in downtown Binghamton.

It receives the Lackawanna River southwest of Scranton and turns sharply to the southwest, flowing through the former anthracite industrial 18 • Byways

heartland in the mountain ridges of northeastern Pennsylvania, past Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke, Berwick, Bloomsburg, and Danville.

Downstream from the confluence of its branches it flows south past Selinsgrove, where it is joined by its Penns Creek tributary, and cuts through a water gap at the western end of Mahantongo Mountain. It receives the

Millersburg Ferry, courtesy Millersburg Ferry Boat Association.

Juniata River from the northwest at Duncannon, then passes through its last water gap through Blue Mountain, just northwest of Harrisburg. It passes downtown Harrisburg (where it is nearly a mile wide), the largest city on the lower river, and flows southeast across South Central Pennsylvania forming the border between York and Lancaster counties.

It crosses into northern Maryland approximately 30 miles northeast of Baltimore. The river enters the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, where Concord Point Light was built in 1827 to accommodate The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York the increasing navigational traffic.

The river has played an imporanthracite coal by Necho Allen in its upper reaches in the tant role throughout the history of the United States. In mountains. In 1790, Colonel Timothy Matlack, Samuel the 18th century, William Penn, the founder of the Maclay and John Adlum were commissioned by the Pennsylvania Colony, negotiated with the Lenape to Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of allow white settlement in the colony between the Pennsylvania to survey the headwaters of the river and Delaware River and the Susquehanna. explore a route for a passageway to connect the West In late colonial times, the river became an increasingBranch with the waters of the Allegheny River. In 1792, ly important transportation corridor with the discovery of the Union Canal was proposed linking the Susquehanna Facing west towards the confluence of the Susquehanna (left) and Chenango (right) rivers.

Confluence Park in downtown Binghamton, NY.

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Downtown Harrisburg and the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building as seen from Cumberland County, across the Susquehanna River. and the Delaware along Swatara Creek and Tulpehocken Creek. In the 19th century, many industrial centers grew up along the river.

During the Civil War’s 1863 Gettysburg Campaign, the commander of the Department of the Susquehanna, Union Major General Darius N. Couch, resolved that Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia would not cross the Susquehanna. He positioned militia units under Maj. Granville Haller to protect key bridges in Harrisburg and Wrightsville, as well as nearby fords. Confederate forces approached the river at several locations in Cumberland and York counties but were recalled on June 29 when Lee chose to concentrate his army to the west.

The Susquehanna River has long been associated with boating because of the many migratory fish that are caught there.

Many tourists and local residents use the Susquehanna in the summer for recreation purposes such as kayaking, canoeing, and motor-boating. Canoe races are held on various sections of the river every year.

The Susquehanna River has played an important role in the transportation history of the United States. Prior to the 1818 opening of the Port Deposit Bridge, the riv 20 • Byways

er formed a barrier between the northern and southern states, crossable only by ferry.

Today, there are over two hundred bridges crossing the Susquehanna. The sole remaining ferry, the Millersburg Ferry at Millersburg, Pennsylvania, is a seasonal tourist attraction. The canals are gone or are part of historical parks, and dams are related to power generation or recreation.

Downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA

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The Heavenly

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The Culinary Institute of America on the Hudson River in New York State.

Photo courtesy Dutchess County Tourism.

Hudson River

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xplorer Henry Hudson was merely one of the first voyagers to behold the majestic river that now bears his name. Today, the Hudson River’s breathtaking beauty attracts countless visitors to discover what merits the river’s nickname “America's Rhine”.

Designated as one of the American Heritage Rivers, the Hudson River spans 315 miles from its original source, Lake Tear of the Clouds in the Adirondacks; past historic Great Estates; through the winding channel of the Highlands; along the cliffs of the Palisades to the east banks of Manhattan Island.

The River was called Mahicantuck or “river that flows two ways” by native tribes. Over half of the waterway is a tidal estuary whose brackish waters provide sanctuary to a remarkable diversity of habitats and species.

Settled by the Dutch and French Huguenots in the 1600s, the Hudson played a pivotal role in the outcome of the Revolutionary War and became the post for the prestigious U.S. 24 • Byways

The View from the Walkway Over the Hudson.

Photo courtesy Dutchess County Tourism.

Military Academy at West Point. The river moved brick and stone to build New City York; transported soldiers and supplies and was significant to escaped slaves during the Civil War; and links the northeast through the Erie Canal to America’s heartland.

The Vanderbuilt Mansion on the Hudson.

Scenic Long Dock on the Hudson Photo courtesy Linda Hubbard

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The Dutchess County Fair Photo courtesy Dutchess County Tourism

In 1963, extensive pollution prompted Scenic Hudson to launch a crusade to ensure the river be recognized as an irreplaceable national treasure. American folk music icon and activist, Pete Seeger, also cofounded Hudson River Sloop Clearwater to highlight efforts to clean up the Hudson. Presently several organizations monitor the river’s health and take action to protect its resources, making the Hudson River one of the richest water bodies on earth.

The extraordinary natural resource that is the Hudson River is a haven for nature lovers, artists, outdoor adventurers, culinary enthusiasts, and history buffs.

Tourists to Dutchess County encounter rich history along its banks at the Livingston home at Clermont; the Mills and Vanderbilt Gilded Age mansions; the birthplace and Presidential Home, Library & Museum of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Rockefeller Estate, Kykuit, is located down river.

The Dutchess County Fair celebrates the region’s abundant agriculture which brands the Hudson Valley as the ideal culinary destination. The Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest introduces travelers to artisan foods and local wines. A Garden of Eating Tour entices sightseers to delight their palettes with cheese at Sprout Creek Farm, wine on the Dutchess Wine Trail, tastings at Crown Maple Syrup and Harney & Sons Fine Teas.

Guests can indulge in farm-to-table menus at spots like 26 • Byways

Hudson River Striped Bass

Watch or order our video. Email Dawn or call 845-463-5444.

Click on sites below for group tour info.

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Hyatt y house:

Dutchess Wine Trail:

New York State Parks – Taconic:

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Historic Rhinebeck:

Poughkeepsie g p Grand Hotel:

Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh g State Historic Site:

Hudson Valley y Wine & Food Fest:

Crown Maple p Syrup y p Tours:

Cosimo’s Restaurant:

Clermont State Historic Site:

y y Marriott - 2 locations: Courtyard by

Hudson River Valley y Tours:

The Rhinecliff:

Bannerman Castle Island Tours: Hampton Inn – Fishkill: p y Restaurant: Mahoney’s Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites:

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Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Pilot Photo courtesy Dutchess County Tourism

The Culinary Institute of America, or dine-with-a-view at Mahoneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s or The Rhinecliff.

Cultural arts are alive and well with Dia:Beacon as a top draw, and works by the famed Hudson Valley School of Painters can be viewed at Vassarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frances Loeb Art Center. Live performances at Powerhouse Theatre, Bardavon Opera House and seasonal festivals like Bardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summerscape Festival and The Wassaic Project offer unique entertainment settings.

Experience the Hudson River up close in a kayak or on a sightseeing cruise, or hike and bike the plentiful trails, gardens, and parks, including Walkway Over the Hudson, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest elevated pedestrian bridge offering unprecedented views of the mountains and Hudson River Valley.

For more information, contact: Dutchess County Tourism 800-445-3131 www.dutchesstourism.com

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The Mighty Mississippi

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s the third largest river in the world, the Mississippi is truly a sight to behold. From its unpretentious beginning in Minnesota all the way down to its wide mouth opening into the Gulf of Mexico, each part of the Mississippi River is unique. Ancient philosopher Heraclitus knew “it is impossible to step into the same river twice.”

The river either borders or cuts through the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The Mississippi River is divided into the Upper Mississippi, the Middle Mississippi, and the Lower Mississippi, with the Upper Mississippi upriver of its confluence with the Missouri River, the Middle Mississippi from there downriver to the Ohio River, and the Lower Mississippi from there downriver to the Gulf of Mexico.

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The Celebration Belle on the Mississippi

One way to see America’s river is on the Great River Road. This National Scenic Byway takes you through the 10 states lining the Mississippi River. Traveling over 2,000 miles, it follows the river on its winding course and travels through the charming river towns and metropolitan cities.

The Great River Road takes you through the Midwest into the Land of Lincoln and through the rich farmland of Iowa. See what each riverfront town has to offer linking past and present into a complete Mississippi River tour destination.

With the overhaul of Iowa’s oldest city, Dubuque’s bustling $400 million Port of Dubuque riverfront offers Iowa’s number one attraction—the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium; and the shortest steepest railroad tracks in the world—the Fenelon Place Elevator.

The rich history of Galena/Jo Daviess County allows a look back into the 19th century. During this time period, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant walked the streets. Walk the historic main streets filled with 19th century storefronts, homes, hotels, train depots, town halls and more.

Savanna, Illinois, is known for its rugged limestone bluffs and for the wide variety of outdoor activities for boaters and anglers. Hikers can enjoy challenging trails, or a leisurely stroll along the banks of the Mississippi.

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Known for its Dutch heritage, Fulton, Illinois, has a traditional Dutch windmill and cultural center.

Located on the Mississippi flyway, Savanna has second-to-none bird watching.

Known for its Dutch heritage, Fulton, Illinois, has a traditional Dutch windmill and cultural center to tour, the Martin House Museum, and Heritage Canyon with a 1800s village.

At the Quad Cities, the river changes direction to flow east to west at the only time in its course. The area lets visitors experience a riverfront city atmosphere, riverboat casinos, non-gaming riverboat cruises, world-class festivals, and wonderful museums.

Kayaking on the Mississippi River

Once known as “The Pearl Button Capital of the World,” learn about the Iowa riverfront town of Muscatine at the Muscatine History and Industry Center, the Muscatine Art Center, and the historic Pine Creek Grist Mill.

Test your driving, walking or bicycling skills on what Ripley’s Believe It or Not calls the “Crookedest Street in the World.”

Visit Burlington, Iowa’s most famous landmark, Snake Alley, along with historic homes, outdoor recreation, and family fun.

Nauvoo was one of the largest cosmopolitan cities in Illinois in the 1840s. Today, Nauvoo is home to more than 60 restored historic sites, cultural centers, and museums which all come together to tell the story of Joseph Smith and his followers.

Situated on an Illinois bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Quincy is home to the state’s largest collection of significant architecture outside of Chicago.

You can experience the mighty Mississippi River as you travel the rolling hills and majestic countryside of the Great River Road in Illinois and Iowa with regional events, trendy shopping areas, charming restaurants and historic sites.

For additional information visit the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitquadcities.com or www.TravelMississippiRiver.org.

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A barge on the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

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The Arkansas River

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he Arkansas River flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s initial basin starts in Colorado, specifically the Arkansas River Valley where the headwaters derive from the snowpack in the Collegiate Peaks. From there it flows east into Kansas, and finally into the South through Oklahoma and Arkansas.

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The Royal Gorge Bridge ranks as one of the world’s outstanding engineering achievements. The bridge also ranks among the highest suspension bridges in the world, spanning the Royal Gorge and the turbulent Arkansas River with deck height at 956 feet. For more information, visit http://www.royalgorgebridge.com.

At 1,469 miles, the Arkansas River is the sixth longest the Mississippi River. river in the United States, the second-longest tributary to The Arkansas has three distinct sections in its long the Mississippi. path through central North America. At its headwaters, It begins its journey not far from Colorado Springs, the Arkansas runs as a steep mountain river through the and cities along the river include Pueblo in Colorado, Dodge City and Wichita in Kansas, Tulsa in Oklahoma, and Fort Smith, Little Rock and North Little Rock, and Pine Bluff in Arkansas.

Its origin is in the Rocky Mountains in Lake County, Colorado, near Leadville. In 1859 placer gold was discovered in the Leadville area bringing thousands seeking to strike it rich; however, the easily recovered placer gold was quickly exhausted.

The Arkansas River’s mouth is at Napoleon, Downtown Tulsa on the Arkansas River in Oklahoma.

Arkansas where it flows into Photo courtesy © Caleb Long 36 • Byways

John Martin Dam and Reservoir on the Arkansas River in Colorado.

Photo courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Rockies in its narrow valley, dropping 4,600 feet in 120 miles. This section, including The Numbers near Granite, Colorado, Brown’s Canyon, and the Royal Gorge sees extensive whitewater rafting in the spring and summer.

At Cañon City, Colorado, the Arkansas River valley widens and flattens markedly. Just west of Pueblo, Colorado, the river enters the Great Plains. Through the rest of Colorado, through Kansas, and through most of Oklahoma, it is a typical Great Plains riverway, with wide shallow banks.

The river is navigable by barges and large river craft to Catoosa, Oklahoma because of a series of locks and dams. Above Catoosa, the Arkansas River waterway itself is navigable only by small craft, rafts or canoes.

From the central portion of Arkansas, the river flows southward through the rich farmlands of the Arkansas delta to its confluence with the Mississippi River.

Twenty-three recreation areas with campgrounds ranging from fully equipped to day-use-only can be found along this stretch. The river is also popular for other outdoor recreation such as boating and water skiing.

Locks and dams along the river allow access to some of the best fishing in the country. Pools formed by these are stocked by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission with sport fish such as bass, crappie, catfish and bream, making the river a popular location for major fishing tournaments such as Bassmasters and the Arkansas Big Bass Classic.

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North Little Rock on the Arkansas River

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The Big Dam Bridge spanning across the Arkansas River. Photos courtesy www.Arkansas.com.

njoy the scenic Arkansas River up-close by visit- Rail Trolley that will take you into the Argenta Arts ing the North Shore Maritime Center that houses District full of art galleries, restaurants, retail shops, and the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum featuring nightlife entertainment. While you’re in Argenta take in the USS Razorback Submarine and the Arkansas Queen a ballgame at Dickey-Stephens Ballpark, home to the Arkansas Travelers.

Riverboat.

If you need a little retail therapy, visit the newly renoStroll on the Arkansas River Trail, a multi-use 17 mile vated McCain Mall and the Lakewood Village Shopping trail that connects North Little Rock and Little Rock via, Center. the lovingly called, Big Dam Bridge. Elevated 90 feet For more, visit www.northlittlerock.travel. above the Arkansas River, the Big Dam Bridge is the or see the North Little Rock Facebook page longest pedestrian/bicycle bridge in the world designed www.facebook.com/NLRVB and built for that purpose.

Also along the river, visitors have the opportunity to stay at the Downtown Riverside RV Park where they can enjoy the striking view of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and the capital city’s skyline.

The Old Mill is a replica of an old grist mill as seen throughout the Old South.

The Old Mill is featured in the opening scenes of Gone with the Wind. Whether it is the blooming flowers in spring or the snow covered paddlewheel in winter, the Old Mill is the place for the perfect picture.

The Arkansas Queen passes the Clinton Presidential Ride North Little Rock’s Electric River Library on the Arkansas River in Little Rock.

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The Riverfront Amphitheater on the Arkansas River in Fort Smith.

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Impact of Arkansas River on Fort Smith

ome folks swear it’s the bend in the Arkansas River Arkansas River was the primary means of travel west of that defines the unique quality of Fort Smith, while the Mississippi River. most folks probably rarely consider it. But whether it is merely a matter of location or just the coincidence of nature, the Arkansas River is unique and has provided Fort Smith with a rich history as well as a special place in the exploration and development of our nation’s western lands.

First used for generations by the Native Americans as an artery for commerce and trade, the river was also used by early French fur trappers in the 1700s as they trapped and explored the vast lands that would later be known as The Louisiana Purchase. During the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, the U.S. sent military detachments and explorers such as Lewis & Clark to identify and establish posts, garrisons, and forts to secure and study this new addition to the country. After the colonization of the eastern seaboard and the inevitable push west during the age of discovery, the The Hanging Gallows in Fort Smith 40 • Byways

The garrison at Fort Smith was established in 1817 at the confluence of the Poteau and Arkansas Rivers to protect the settlers and provide a military presence in the face of potentially hostile native tribes.

The river later was the preferred means of moving people and goods and became the commercial thread that created the fabric of Fort Smith.

Due to the fluctuating depths and flows of the river, the new and larger craft had navigation problems until legislation was passed in Congress and construcThe National Historic Site in Fort Smith tion of a waterway project (McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System) promise, and it is with this same view and prospective was completed in 1971.

Throughout its long history, Fort Smith has looked to that Fort Smith celebrates its past with the Arkansas the Arkansas River, seen its drawbacks and worked dili- River, embraces its present with all the river’s possibiligently to overcome them. We’ve seen its potential and ties, and applauds the shared vision of its potential.

Miss Laura’s is the only former bordello to serve as a Visitor’s Center in North America.

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A Closer Look at Wichita

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Downtown Wichita on the Arkansas River in Kansas.

Photo courtesy Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau.

ig-city energy at Midwestern prices – plus yearround events for every age, whim and passion.

Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, is a destination where you can expect the unexpected!

Wichita evolved from a trading post and cowtown to “Air Capital of the World” where close to 40 percent of the world’s general aviation aircraft are built.

The iconic 44-foot-tall “Keeper of the Plains” statue pays tribute to the Native Americans who lived here long before settlers arrived.

Just blocks away, Old Cowtown Museum relives the 1870s complete with reenactors, a chuckwagon supper, and cowboy songs from the Diamond W Wranglers.

The Kansas Aviation Museum chronicles 42 • Byways

Wichita’s rise to aviation prominence. The city’s 35 museums include The Kansas African American Museum, telling the story of the local African-American experience and the people who helped shape it. Enjoy world-class traveling exhibits at Exploration Place, Wichita’s science discovery center.

For the ultimate nightlife destination, visit the Old Town red-brick warehouse district in the heart of downtown. The area also serves as the focal point for Wichita’s First Friday music crawl and Final Friday art gallery crawl. The American Planning Association calls Old Town one of the Top 10 Great Neighborhoods in the U.S. The largest city in Kansas, Wichita knows how to celebrate its history and cultural arts. The nine-day Wichita

Riverfest combines food and fun. The Asian Festival, Black Arts Festival and Cinco de Mayo Celebration recognize the city’s cultural diversity. The Tallgrass Film Festival brings independent filmmakers to Wichita each October.

Food aficionados will feast their eyes on the menus from more than 1,000 restaurants spread across the city!

Livability.com calls Wichita one of its Top 10 Surprising Food Cities.

Wichita offers shopping choices for all budgets and tastes – from the fashionista to the antique hunter.

The 44-foot-tall “Keeper of the Plains” statue pays tribute to The flourishing arts and culture the Native Americans who lived in Wichita long before settlers community includes Music Theatre arrived. Photo courtesy Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau. of Wichita, the Wichita Symphony and Wichita Grand Opera – all with productions featuring internationally acclaimed performers. From CityArts to the Commerce Street Arts District – art galleries and artists thrive in Wichita.

Sports fans have a lot to cheer about. Wichita State University’s men’s basketball team won the 2010 National Invitational Tournament championship.

The Wichita Thunder hockey plays its home games in the 15,000-seat INTRUST Bank Arena. Lawrence-Dumont Stadium is home to the Wichita Wingnuts baseball team and the National Baseball Congress World Series. Hartman Arena is where you’ll find the Wichita Wild professional indoor football team and the Wichita Wings professional indoor soccer team.

If wildlife is your passion, the Sedgwick County Zoo is the seventh largest zoo in the United States.

Its newest exhibit, the Slawson Family Tiger Trek features Amur and Malayan tigers in their natural habitat.

The family budget stretches farther in Wichita! NBC’s “Today” show named Wichita the most affordable city in the United States.

The city also was ranked on “Forbes Magazine Online’s” Top 10 list of “Best Bang for the Buck Cities.”

Take a closer look at Wichita.

Visit gowichita.com or call 800288-9424.

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Experience the Colorado Springs Region

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lue skies, historic treasures and exciting itineraries await you in Colorado Springs. If it’s your first visit or if you are returning, the area welcomes you and your tour group to experience the warm western hospitality of the region and the uncompromised beauty of Pikes Peak, America’s Mountain and Garden of the Gods Park.

With convenient access and fantastic attractions, Colorado Springs is the perfect place for hub-and-spoke fun. WOW your group -- stop in Colorado Springs.

On your trip to Colorado Springs, do not miss the breathtaking beauty of the Garden of the Gods rock formations and learn about the ancient culture of Southwest Indians.

Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center A short drive offers a spectacular and unique view of the famous red rock formations of the region. Get an upclose look at how those red rocks got there in the Center’s new HD theater show.

Garden of the Gods Trading Post. Head west where you can shop for unique and beautiful souvenirs of the region. Since its start in the 1920s, the Trading Post has become Colorado’s largest.

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Rafters and train riders meet in the Royal Gorge. Photo courtesy Matt Inden/Miles Colorado Office of Tourism.

The Garden of the Gods

Manitou Cliff Dwellings. This rare, historical treasure and even go inside these architectural remnants of an was built by the Ancestral Puebloans more than 700 American Indian culture from the Four Corners region. years ago. At this unique attraction, you are free to touch Royal Gorge-ous!

From amazing landscapes to extreme engineering to wild west shows, Canon City and the Royal Gorge provide unique stops for any family expedition.

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. You can walk or drive across the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest suspension bridge, which spans the gorge 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River.

Royal Gorge Scenic Railway. A relaxing three-mile, 30 minute open-car scenic train ride to the spectacular Royal Gorge.

Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Established in 1879, this railroad combines Colorado history, spectacular scenery, and unique dining options on a leisurely 24-mile journey through the breathtaking Royal Gorge.

For unforgettable itinerary ideas, click on http://www.visitcos.com/group-itineraries.

A fisherman on the Arkansas River near Salida, Colorado. Photo courtesy Colorado Tourism Office.

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Lower Missouri River - A stretch of the Missouri River between Rocheport, MO and Boonville, MO.

The Missouri River

he Missouri River is the longest river in North America and a major waterway of the central United States. Rising in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, the Missouri flows east and south for 2,341 miles before entering the Mississippi River north of St. Louis The Missouri was one of the main routes for the westward expansion of the United States during the 19th century. The growth of the fur trade in the early 1800s laid much of the groundwork as trappers explored the region and blazed trails. Pioneers headed west en masse beginning in the 1830s, first by covered wagon, then by the growing numbers of steamboats entering service on the river.

Former Native American lands in the watershed were taken over by settlers, leading to some of the most longstanding and violent wars against indigenous peoples in American history.

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The Missouri River in Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument, Montana, at the confluence with Cow Creek. Courtesy Montana Geographical Society.

During the 20th century, the Missouri River basin was extensively developed for irrigation, flood control and the generation of hydroelectric power. Fifteen dams impound the main stem of the river, with hundreds more on tributaries. The lower Missouri valley is now a populous and highly productive agricultural and industrial region.

The Missouri River officially starts at the confluence of the Jefferson and Madison in Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks, Montana, and is joined by the Gallatin a mile downstream.

Flowing eastwards through the plains of eastern Montana, the Missouri receives the Poplar River from the north before crossing into North Dakota where the Yellowstone River, its greatest tributary by volume, joins from the southwest.

The Missouri makes a bend to the southeast as it winds through the Great Plains. It then proceeds to form the boundary of South Dakota and Nebraska, then after being joined by the James River from the north, forms the Iowa–Nebraska boundary. At Sioux City the Big Sioux River comes in from the north. The Missouri flows south to the city of Omaha where it receives its longest tributary, the Platte River, from the west.

Downstream, it begins to define the Nebraska–Missouri

Jefferson City, Missouri’s Capital, on the Missouri River.

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A barge on the Missouri River near Saint Charles, MO.

border, then flows between Missouri and Kansas. The Missouri swings east at Kansas City, where the Kansas River enters from the west, and so on into north-central Missouri. It passes south of Columbia and receives the Osage and Gasconade Rivers from the south downstream of Jefferson City. The river then rounds the northern side of St. Louis to join the Mississippi River on the border between Missouri and Illinois.

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, some 3,700 miles long, follows nearly the entire Missouri River from its mouth to its source, retracing the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Extending from Wood River, Illinois in the east to Astoria, Oregon in the west, it also follows portions of the Mississippi and Columbia Rivers. The trail, which spans through eleven U.S. states, is maintained by various federal and state government 48 • Byways

agencies; it passes through some 100 historic sites, notably archaeological locations including the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site.

Many U.S. national parks, such as Glacier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Badlands National Park are in the watershed. Parts of other rivers in the basin are set aside for preservation and recreational use – notably the Niobrara National Scenic River, which is a 76-mile protected stretch of the Niobrara River, one of the Missouri’s longest tributaries. The Missouri flows through or past many National Historic Landmarks, which include Three Forks of the Missouri, Fort Benton, Montana, Big Hidatsa Village Site, Fort Atkinson, Nebraska and Arrow Rock Historic District.

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Rafting The Colorado River & Grand Canyon

By Wendy Rubicam

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veryone needs a braincation now and then, and some of us more than others! Urban Dictionary defines a braincation as “a vacation for your brain to escape stress.” There is no better escape from the stresses of everyday life than a Grand Canyon rafting trip on the Colorado River.

Imagine a vacation full of incredible natural wonders, relaxation, reconnection, a splash (or two) of exhilaration and adventure, time for both introspection and interaction, and absolutely none of the stresses of your life back home.

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There are no cell phones or pagers, no emails, no traffic, no bad TV shows or noisy neighbors. You don’t have to decide what to cook for dinner or how to entertain the kids for another week this summer.

Arizona River Runners has been operating on the Colorado River since 1970, and has seen the restorative effects of those taking a braincation on a rafting trip. One recent Arizona River Runners customer summed up his

Believe it or not, all you need to do for a fabulous river rafting experience is show up and just relax. The rafting outfitters and guides do the rest for you – from camping gear to incredible meals to river and canyon know-how, you will be in good hands. You are free to decide whether you’d rather take in a side-hike or simply chill out on the beach.

Asked to define braincation for those considering a Colorado River rafting adventure, the veteran outfitters at Arizona River Runners came up with the following explanation: B is for the Brilliant blanket of stars that fills the Grand Canyon night sky R is for the exhilarating Rapids of the mighty Colorado River A is for Awe-inspiring rafting experiences and Grand Canyon scenery I is for Incredibly delicious, fresh food enjoyed in the great outdoors N is for Nature’s many gifts on a Grand Canyon river trip C is for Camping along the shores of the Colorado River A is for Amazing vistas and sights T is for river rafting braincation, saying, “The moment I stepped T e r r i f i c onto the raft, the river had a decompressing effect from guides to lead all the tension built up by work and the modern world. you on your Not a care in the world except what hike or adventure adventure awaits you around the next river bend.” He goes on to I is for the say, “My fellow passengers, although strangers, became I n v a l u a b l e instant friends. The peace and relaxation I got while I friendships was on the river was astounding! I plan on making this a you’ll make yearly pilgrimage.”

O is for the 52 • Byways

Outdoor activities on a Grand Canyon rafting trip – and there are many N is for Native American history and canyon folklore Colorado River rafting trips are perfect for singles, couples, families, friends, extended families that want to reconnect, or anyone who wants an unforgettable experience that benefits not only the brain, but the heart and soul as well.

About Arizona River Runners White water rafting through the Grand Canyon offers a unique view of one of the most popular natural wonders of the world. Experience the vacation adventure of a lifetime on a Grand Canyon rafting trip with Arizona River Runners.

Arizona River Runners, 1-800-477-7238 info@raftarizona.com, www.raftarizona.com

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California’s Shasta Region and the Sacramento River

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Three Shastas - Mount Shasta, Lake Shasta, and Shasta Dam near Redding, CA. Photo courtesy Redding Convention & Visitors Bureau.

he Sacramento River flows from Northern California through Central California. The state’s largest river by discharge, it rises in the Klamath Mountains and flows south for over 400 miles before reaching Suisun Bay, an arm of San Francisco Bay, and thence the Pacific Ocean. The Sacramento drains an area of about 27,500 square miles in the northern half of the state, mostly within a region bounded by the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada known as the Sacramento Valley.

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Redding’s Turtle Bay Visitor’s Center.

The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay in Redding. The dramatic pedestrian span was designed by the noted Spanish architect-engineer-artist Santiago Calatrava and links the north and south campuses of the 300-acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

Its extensive watershed also reaches to the volcanic plateaus of Northeastern California. In the 19th century the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada led to an enormous population influx of American settlers. Overland trails such as the California Trail and Siskiyou Trail followed the Sacramento and other tributaries, guiding hundreds of thousands of people to the gold fields and the growing agricultural region of the Sacramento Valley. By the late part of the century, many populated communities had been established along the Sacramento River, chief of which was the booming city of Sacramento.

Since the 1950s the watershed have been intensely developed for water supply and the generation of hydroelectric power. Today, large dams impound the river and almost all of its major tributaries. The Sacramento’s water is used heavily for irrigation purposes and serves much of Central and Southern California through the canals of giant federal water projects.

The river now provides water to over half of California’s population and supports one of the most productive agricultural areas in the nation.

The Sacramento’s source waters rise in the volcanic plateaus and ranges of far northern California as two streams – the Upper Sacramento and Pit. The main stem rises in the shadow of Mount Shasta and flows south through the Klamath Mountains, past Mount Shasta, Dunsmuir and Lakehead for about 72 Byways • 55

Black Butte, located along I-5, is a satellite cone of Mount Shasta. Photo courtesy California Travel and Tourism Commission/ ShutterStock.

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The Delta King Paddlewheeler in Old Sacramento on the river. Photo courtesy California Travel and Tourism Commission/Christian Heeb.

miles. The two rivers join in the waters of Lake Shasta, a The historic Cascade Theatre, which opened in 1935, giant reservoir formed by the Shasta Dam. has been restored and now operates as a multiuse perFrom the dam the Sacramento winds south through formance venue. The theater is an example of Art Deco foothills and leaves the mountains near Redding, the first architecture of the period. large city on the river’s course and second largest on its The mouth of the Sacramento is on Suisun Bay near entire course. Redding is the largest city in the Shasta Antioch, where it combines with the San Joaquin River, Cascade region and is the fourth largest city in the south of the Montezuma Hills. The Sacramento is nearly Sacramento Valley behind Sacramento, Elk Grove, and a mile wide at its mouth. The joined waters then flow Roseville. west through the tidal marshes of Suisun Bay, the Redding and its neighbor to the south, Red Bluff, are Carquinez Strait, San Pablo Bay and San Francisco Bay, popular with tourists, especially for those who use the whereupon the river’s waters finally join the Pacific in cities as bases to explore Lassen Volcanic National Park, the Golden Gate just to the north of San Francisco.

Lake Shasta, and the area’s other natural attractions.

In 2004, the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay was completed in Redding. The dramatic pedestrian span was designed by the noted Spanish architect-engineer-artist Santiago Calatrava and links the north and south campuses of the 300acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park, located along the banks of the Sacramento River, contains a museum and 20acre gardens. The campus features permanent and changing exhibitions highlighting art, history, horticulture, Dining along the river in Old Sacramento. Photo courtesy forestry and natural science.

California Travel and Tourism Commission/Christian Heeb.

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ecause of its distinction as the Midwest’s largest Flea Market, the Shipshewana Flea Market is at the top of the list for shopping experiences for tour groups from all over the United States and Canada.

Groups of every size and demographic are welcomed each year by the 900 plus vendor booths which offer a wide variety of crafted, created, imagined and supplied products. With over 100 acres to cover, many groups decide to spend more than one day exploring the Market and enjoying the experience as each one of their senses becomes involved.

Visitors spread the word of bargains, tasty treats and one-of-a-kind finds as they carry their treasures home.

Words like, “I wish I lived closer,” and “I can’t wait to come again next year” are repeated with longing and anticipation as this destination becomes a necessity on every visitor’s summer adventure list.

Open every Tuesday and Wednesday, 8am to 5pm, from May to October in the quaint, picturesque town of Shipshewana in Northern Indiana, the Shipshewana Flea Market has helped to put Shipshewana on the tourism map. It is nestled amongst the third largest Amish community in the United States which makes this destination even more interesting and appealing. The Amish intermingle as both vendor and buyer at the Market, offering 58 • Byways

are all designed to add that extra touch of comfort everyone hopes for on a trip away from home.

Group rates are available as well as meeting rooms and catering menus.

Those who love antiques should also find time to peruse fine antiques and collectibles in The Antique Gallery, a 31,000 sq. ft. showroom which could double as a museum, but serves as an opportunity for over 100 dealers to offer their special and unique products to antique lovers of every age and interest.

For bargains or priceless antiques, the Shipshewana Flea Market, The other visitors a peek into their simple lifestyle.

Farmstead Inn and The Antiques Gallery offer groups a For those groups who wish to enjoy the Shipshewana destination worthy of repeating each year. Find more Market on both Tuesday and Wednesday, farmhouse-like information about what else might be available in accommodations are available just across the street at Shipshewana at www.TradingPlaceAmerica.com.

The Farmstead Inn. The 154 guest rooms, free continental breakfast and wi-fi, plus the indoor pool and spa

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Oregon’s Largest Outlet Draws From Near and Far

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estled in the Willamette Valley, in the heart of Oregon’s wine country, is Woodburn Company Stores, the West Coast’s largest tax-free outlet shopping destination.

More than 4.4 million shoppers visit Woodburn Company Stores each year, some just a drive away from neighboring towns and others jump on a tour bus and make the trip from across the border in Canada.

What makes this outlet center stand out?

Big Name Brands With 16 new stores scheduled to open in late 2012, Woodburn Company Stores is one of the country’s fastest growing destination shopping centers. After its final expansion, the center will offer shoppers 114 stores attracting outdoor enthusiasts, home entertainers, “fashionistas” and those looking to score big deals on bigname brands. Some of the top-tier retailers include:

Under Armour Apparel American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Taylor Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein, Banana Republic Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, J.Crew Children Janie & Jack, Disney Outlet, Gymboree Outlet, The Children’s Place, Naartjie Kids, Carter’s Childrenswear Handbags/Accessories Coach Factory Store, Cole Haan Outlet, GUESS Factory Store and GUESS Accessories, Fossil, Samsonite

Tax-Free Shopping = A Footwear/Outdoor Apparel Savvy Shoppers’ Paradise Nike Factory Store, adidas, The North Face, Columbia Domestic and international visiSportswear, Icebreaker, Merrell, Helly Hansen, Puma, tors have made Woodburn 60 • Byways

Company Stores a top tourist destination in Oregon. Not a run-of-the-mill shopping mall, this 380,000 squarefoot center makes shopping a paradise for bargain shoppers and a great place to stretch one’s legs after touring the state’s nearby attractions.

Experience Oregon: And the Best of the Northwest The Pacific Northwest’s rugged beauty offers an inviting backdrop for this open-air shopping center.

“We offer a shopping experience that indoor malls just can’t touch,” states Kristy Kummer-Pred, general manager. “From spring tulip displays, to giant pumpkins in the fall, to a winter wonderland complete with the Northwest’s tallest decorated Christmas tree, a a fun and festive shopping experience is offered year-round.” The center also has a community garden that benefits the local food bank and electric car charging stations.

popular nearby attractions include The Oregon Garden, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm and Silver Falls State Park.

Woodburn Company Stores makes parking motorcoaches, plus loading and unloading passengers, easy. An onsite Oregon Visitor Travel Information Center and special programs and incentives for group tour leaders make Woodburn Company Stores worth the trip.

Located Near Portland and Oregon’s Capital Woodburn Company Stores is a quick jaunt from Portland, approximately 25 minutes south, and 15 minutes north of Salem, just off of the Interstate 5 corridor. Other

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Sweeten Your Tour Experience in Pennsylvania

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Wolfgang Chocolate Plant Courtesy York County Convention & Visitors

rom the iconic mouthwatering smells of Hershey’s chocolate to the famous fluffy marshmallow Peeps, Pennsylvania is a candy lover’s paradise.

Looking to discover more hidden sweet spots?

Take a trip through the state and indulge in unique, rich and delicious treats near Pittsburgh, York and more.

Wilbur Chocolate Co Dutch Country Roads Lititz

www.wilburbuds.com Wilbur Chocolate Company, known for its fine quality chocolate, annually produces more than 170 million pounds of chocolate products and other various food ingredients. Visitors to the modern candy kitchen can watch handmade chocolates created right before their eyes, including homemade marshmallow, almond bark, heavenly hash, mint drizzle and more. After the mouthwatering tour, check out the Wilbur Chocolate Co.’s Candy Americana© Museum, which has more than 150 hand-painted European and Oriental antique porcelain chocolate pots.

Peeps Candy Lehigh Valley Bethlehem

www.marshmallowpeeps.com Everyone is familiar with the famous colorful sugar 62 • Byways

and fluffy marshmallow combination called Peeps, but many are surprised to know that they are made right here in Pennsylvania. For more than fifty years, Peeps candy has become a staple in Easter baskets all around the country and a tasty reminder that spring is here. Peeps now offers its tasty candies year round. Enjoy a traditional yellow peep chick this Easter, celebrate Halloween with a sweet fluffy ghost, and on Valentine’s Day, forget the flowers and send a dozen red Peep hearts to someone special.

Wolfgang Candy Company Dutch Country Roads York

www.wolfgangcandy.com Indulge in more than just delicious chocolate and candy when visiting the Wolfgang Candy Company.

Recently voted one of the “Top 5 Tasty Tours” in the nation by the Food Network, a tour of Wolfgang Candy allows guests to see, smell and taste candy being created and learn the unique history behind this fifth generation, family-owned business. Visitors can feast their eyes on the process that transforms tiny pretzels into chocolatecovered delights and watch as peanut butter centers are covered in creamy milk chocolate. Watch the process culminate on a hand-packing line reminiscent of that signature I LOVE LUCY episode.

Sarris Candies Pittsburgh and its Countryside Canonsburg

Chocolate Kingdom, located at the retail store in Sharon, includes large chocolate animals, two large castles and an entire miniature village with chocolate houses and railroads. The company also holds Swizzle Stick day, an www.sarriscandies.com open house day during at the Farrell Starting from humble roots in the basement of Frank candy factory Sarris’s Canonsburg home, the Sarris Candy Company has been voted by Pittsburgh natives to have the

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when visitors can view how candy is created. Patrons also receive a free sample of a swizb e s t zle stick dipped in fresh candy filling with fresh chocochocolates in the city. From late dipped on top. bite-size s’mores candies, to chocolate-shaped Croc sandals, Sarris Candy creates a wide and creative mix of The Hershey Company treats that is sure to impress. The company also offers Dutch Country Roads treats for every holiday and even allows the customer to customize their own box of chocolates so they only get Hershey their favorites. www.hersheys.com Touting the title, “The Sweetest Place On Earth,” Hershey lives up to its name with chocolate and candy Anstine’s Candy Box sights, smells and taste-testing experiences abounding.

Dutch Country Roads

York

www.anstinescandy.com Located in York, Anstine’s Candy has been selling quality, handmade chocolate for nearly 60 years. In the late 1930s, young Anna Belle Anstine started making chocolates as a hobby.

Now, two generations later in the same small shop, her granddaughter Anna and her husband Allen make candy in the same tradition, using only quality ingredients and no preservatives.

The centers are cooked and stirred (and stirred and stirred!) and rolled by hand. Because of this method, no two pieces are alike. Each center is coated in pure milk or dark chocolate of the highest grade, derived directly from the cocoa bean.

They do it the old-fashioned way at Anstine’s, using only the best ingredients.

Daffin’s Candy Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Farrell

www.daffins.com Daffin’s Candies has earned national recognition for its delectable sweet and semi-sweet milk chocolate candy with nearly 100 years of experience and three generations of chocolate makers.

In addition to its line of yummy chocolates, Daffin’s provides gourmet chocolates through its Jean Marie Collection, featuring unique handmolded chocolates. Each piece of Daffin’s candy continues to be hand-decorated, increasingly becoming a rarity in the candy business. Daffin’s

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Visitors can go behind the scenes to learn how the famous chocolates are created on Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour and receive a sample of the delicious, finished product.

Chocolate enthusiasts also can experience Hershey’s one-of-a-kind Create Your Own Candy Bar attraction that lets guests design customized candy bars and wrappers.

Continue the sweet time and embark on Hershey’s Chocolate Tasting Adventure to earn a degree in chocolate tasting, see Hershey’s product characters come to life during the Really Big 3D Show and climb aboard the Hershey Trolley Works for old-fashioned fun.

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Gardners Candies Alleghenies Tyrone

www.gardnerscandies.com For more than a century, Gardners Candies has been crafting beautifully decorated candies, described by sweet lovers as “simply out of this world.” Founded by sixteen year old James “Pike” Gardner, the young entrepreneur first operated out of a small store in downtown Tyrone and later added a horse-drawn wagon to transport and sell candy, popcorn and peanuts at local fairs and carnivals. Today, Gardners Candies is most famous for its Original Peanut Butter Meltaway, a creamy, smooth peanut butter dipped in rich chocolate, which can be purchased at its 15 retail stores in Pennsylvania.

www.arrowstagelines.com

motorcoach.com

Trieloff Tours

The National Reservation Center Charter a motorcoach anywhere in North America 888-733-5287 â&#x20AC;˘ nmn@motorcoach.com

Byways â&#x20AC;˘ 65

Byways is published bi-monthly by Byways, Inc. and distributed electronically throughout North America.

Byways is emailed to more than 4000 tour operators and 13,000 travel agencies through the internet. Subscriptions are complimentary. An iPad version is available for consumers in iTunes and Newsstand in the App Store.

Byways’ distribution includes motorcoach companies, tour operators, travel agents, bank travel managers, school band and athletic planners, and meeting planners. For advertising rates, editorial deadlines, or to place advertising insertions, contact: Byways Magazine, 42 Cabin Hill Lane, Mount Jackson, VA 22842. Telephone 540-477-3202.

Fax 540-477-3858. Toll-free 800-469-0062. ©Copyright 2012 by Byways, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be duplicated in any form without express written permission of the publisher.

Editor and Publisher Stephen M. Kirchner

Advertising Director 1.800.469.0062 • 540.477.3202 • Fax 540.477.3858

Internet: bywaysmagazine.com byways@motorcoach.com

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Dutchess County Tourism, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Franklin Hotel, South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Galax Visitors Center, Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Harrisonburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . motorcoach.com - National Reservation Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Greater Niagara’s Country Byways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Little Rock, Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PA Dutch Hotels, Clarion Inn, Strasburg, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PA Dutch Hotels, Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Pulaski County Tourism, Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Richmond Convention & Visitors Bureau, Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ross - Chillicothe Tourism, Ohio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Shipshewana Flea Market, Indiana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Silverado Casino, South Dakota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sullivan County Catskills, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sumner County Tourism, Tennessee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Virginia Tourism Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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