Going On Faith Spring 2020

ON T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R FAITH-BASED TRAVEL PLANNERS VOL. 23 - NO. 2

SPRING 2020

A WARM WELCOME AWAITS IN

W I C H I TA W H AT ’ S NEW IN WASHINGTON

EXPLORING

INDIANA SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

INCLUDED ROUND TRIP

hometown to airport transfers Collette takes the hassle out of getting to the airport with our hometown pickup for all air-inclusive tours (for groups of 10 or more).

THE WORLD AWAITS WITH TOURS TO ALL SEVEN CONTINENTS. Call 844.445.5663 or your local travel professional now to learn about our booking offers.

CST# 2006766-20 UBN# 601220855 Nevada Seller of Travel Registration No. 2003-0279

GOF

THE MAGAZINE F O R FA I T H - B A S E D T R AV E L

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[ SPRING 2020 ]

14 20

Making News in D.C.

On the Road in Indiana

Washington boasts numerous debuts and expansions.

Discover fascinating transportation heritage on this tour.

Creative Cities

The arts are thriving in these popular destinations.

DEPARTMENTS Columns 6 EDITOR’S NOTES: Letting the Good Times Roll

Spotlights

Travel Ideas

8 CONFERENCE:

SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

26 Southern Downtowns 32 Small Town Charm 38 Animal Encounters

24 RETREAT:

Sponsors add value to Going On Faith events

Sunstream Retreat Center

ON THE COVER: The Keeper of the Plains honors Native American heritage in Wichita, Kansas, host city of the 2020 Going On Faith Conference.

Photo by Mickey Shannon

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Mac T. Lacy Founder and Publisher

Herb Sparrow Senior Writer

Christine Clough Copy Editor

Charles A. Presley Partner

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales and Marketing

Brian Jewell VP & Executive Editor

Ashley Ricks Graphic Design/ Circulation

Kyle Anderson Director of Advertising Sales

Eliza Myers Associate Editor

Caroline Davis Executive Assistant, Sales and Marketing

Going On Faith is published quarterly by THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc., 301 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified group leaders who plan travel for churches, synagogues and religious organizations. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants, and other travel-related companies, may subscribe to Going On Faith by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Going On Faith, Circulation Department, 301 East High Street, Lexington, KY 40507. Phone: (859) 253-0455 or (859) 2530503. Copyright THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

Bethany Beyond the

Jordan “I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.” - The Gospel of John 1:26-28

Learn more about Holy Jordan and pilgrimages to Jordan at HolyJordan.com.

MyJordanJourney

@VisitJordan_NA

MyJordanJourney

@visitjordan

EDITOR’S

NOTES BRIAN JEWELL

LETTING THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

S

ometimes an opportunity comes along that’s just too good to pass up.

I’ve worked in travel journalism for more than 15 years.

And during the hundreds of trips I’ve taken during that time, there have been many moments when I wished I could have my loved ones with me. But business travel almost always means leaving my wife and kids at home.

This winter, though, we got an opportunity to do something different. The Louisiana Office of Tourism asked me to come to Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans, to participate in a Mardi Gras parade. And since Metairie’s Mardi Gras is known as a family-friendly affair, they invited the whole family to join me.

So on a Sunday morning in February, my wife, Laura, and I boarded a flight with our 5-year-old daughter, Daisy, and 3-year-old son, Liam, and took off for Louisiana on a family adventure.

Traveling with young kids can be a lot of effort, especially for someone used to working alone on the road. But the benefits far outweighed the hassles, because Daisy and Liam had the times of their lives in Louisiana.

We flew in a couple of days before Mardi Gras so we could enjoy some of the other family attractions in the area. Our first dinner was at Middendorf’s, a waterfront restaurant in Manhac, Louisiana, with an 85-year history. We enjoyed a platter of fried seafood and desserts like ice cream sundaes and bananas Foster crepes.

We stayed overnight in Hammond and then spent the next morning at the Global

Wildlife Center in nearby Folsom. At this incredible 900-acre park, we saw hundreds of animals from six continents. The animals roam free, and we got a guided tour of the park in converted World War II-era military vehicles. As we went, we met zebras, deer, buffaloes and many other animals, including giraffes and llamas that ate feed right out of our palms. Needless to say, the kids were ecstatic.

We spent that night in Metairie so we would be close to the parade route the next day. The Krewe of Argus parade each year attracts between 900,000 and 1 million people, many of them families, who come out to enjoy the marching bands, colorful floats and millions of colorful plastic beads.

I got to ride on a parade float and throw beads into the screaming crowd, and I was delighted to see so many kids enjoying themselves with parents and grandparents. It wasn’t the wild scene many people associate with Mardi Gras. This event is fantastic for youth groups and families.

Laura and the kids watched the parade from the grandstands and had a blast eating, dancing and catching throws. Daisy and Liam needed an extra bag to carry all their toys and souvenires home.

We celebrated the end of an unforgettable family trip that night by having beignets at Café du Monde, one of the places in the New Orleans area that I’ve always wanted to share with my family.

My job will always require me to be away from the family from time to time. But I’m thankful for a chance to share the joy of travel with the people I love most.

BRIAN JEWELL [ EDITOR ] brianj@grouptravelleader.com

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CUSTOM CONTENT

THROUGH CHURCH, GUITARS AND BUFFALO T U P E L O TA L K S A B O U T I T S T I E S T O E LV I S

T

upelo, Miss., proudly sings the praises of Elvis Presley, its most famous son. But you don’t have to be an Elvis fan to appreciate this small northern Mississippi town. The stories Tupelo shares are universal: tales of humble beginnings, faith, music and small decisions that change lives in big ways.

ELVIS BIRTHPLACE: START WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

AN EXOTIC ANIMAL ADVENTURE Elvis had a soft spot for animals, especially his horses, so chances are he’d applaud the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo. It’s the typical collecting story, with an exotic twist: you buy a few bison and before long, there’s zebra, an African lion, lemurs, Capuchin monkeys, boa constrictors, a tarantula… . The current tally at what is now Mississippi’s largest zoo stands at 125 species.

Groups can board the Monster Bison Bus when it’s cool and an open-air trolley on warm days to meet zebra, bison and Watusi cattle or get in touch with friendly creatures at a petting zoo. Trail rides, camp outs and picnics in a pavilion with food from one of 150 local restaurants are easily arranged. The park reminds some of their days on the farm; for others, it brings unexpected thrills, like feeding a giraffe.

Many visits begin where it all began, the Elvis Presley Birthplace. The two-room clapboard home where Elvis was born and spent his early years and modest church where his family worshipped remind that the Presleys were of modest means.

Through the magic of video screens, modern visitors feel as if they are sitting elbow to elbow with the Presleys’ fellow parishioners. Often, tour planners don’t tell their group about this surprise. “The hidden screens come down and you feel like you are in the 1950s Church of God worship service,” said Jan Pannell, sales manager for the Tupelo Convention and Visitor Bureau.

In a movie theater at the site’s Elvis Presley Events Center, groups can watch a short film about Elvis’ early days. The center is also perfect for receptions or dinners featuring grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches, an Elvis favorite, or Southern specialties like fried catfish or pot TUPELO’S STORY STANDS ON ITS OWN roast. Dinner entertainment can include a visit from the King. “We have Ninety miles south of Graceland, Tupelo is a logical stop on a trip to Memphis. many Elvis Tribute artists in the area,” Pannell said. ”We can do 50’s Elvis, But its story is strong enough to stand on its own.

1968 Comeback Special or Vegas era Elvis. We have them all and they “When people think Elvis, they think about Graceland, but you don’t know the are all professionals.” Another possibility? Gospel music by a local choir. whole story unless you see Tupelo,” Pannell said. “This is where it all started.”

TUPELO HARDWARE CHANGED MUSIC FOREVER Though the birthplace is where Elvis’ life began, Tupelo Hardware Company is where his musical career was born. The downtown store is happy to share the story of its role in Elvis’ incredible career. “It’s where his mom, Gladys, bought his first guitar,” said Pannell. The story goes that Elvis wanted a gun, but his mom talked him into a guitar. “It changed the world,” said Pannell. Tupelo Hardware Company, by the way, still sells guitars. “Lots of them,” Pannell added.

The hardware store and every other downtown business are locally owned, which makes dining and shopping a treat. Smells of barbecue, fried chicken, cinnamon rolls and blue-plate specials scent the air.

Reed’s department store is as welcoming as it was when it opened in 1905; men’s clothier, MLM, keeps in mind its slogan “dress better than you have to” as it outfits gentlemen.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau 662-841-6521 www.tupelo.net Jan Pannell jpannell@tupelo.net

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

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SPONSORS BRING VALUE TO GOING ON FAITH CONFERENCE GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Courtesy Visit Wichita

Going On Faith Conference attendees will experience a dynamic downtown in Wichita, the event’s host city.

JOE CAPPUZZELLO

T

BY DA N DICKSON

ravel planners who attend the annual Going On Faith Conference, this year scheduled for August 19-21 in Wichita, Kansas, see the names of sponsors at every turn during the three-day event. But these aren’t just corporate entities that have paid money to gain more visibility during the gathering; sponsors provide a valuable service to the travel leaders for whom the conference was created.

That’s because the travel business is all about relationships. They are forged between the profes-

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

sionals who work for the many destinations and attractions that attend the conference and the planners representing faith-based travel groups who are seeking new ideas. Many such relationships begin during casual conversations at conference registration time and are strengthened at a live stage presentation, during pleasant chit-chat at mealtimes or during a delegate sightseeing tour. They are then cemented during the fast-paced six-minute marketplace appointments that are the cornerstone of the conference.

“We talk about this all the time,” said Joe Cappuzzello, president of The Group Travel Family, which organizes the Going On Faith Conference.

“People in our industry need to know you first, and then they need to trust you in order to do business with you.”

Cappuzzello said two particular types of contact with travel planners serve sponsors well. One is the presentation of up to 30 minutes from the theater stage. “They are out there talking to all of our guests at one time, and they often show a beautiful and

Photos courtesy Visit Wichita

Sightseeing tours and social events will provide numerous opportunities for conference delegates to explore WIchita.

informative video,” he said.

Another critical point of contact is at the booths that line the main hall.

“Travel planners stop to meet sponsors at these booths and break the ice, so to speak,” said Cappuzzello. Then, when the two sides have their six-minute appointment later, they can get down to business right away because they feel they already know each other a bit. “We are driving people to the booths during registration to enhance the relationships. A select number of sponsors, maybe 15 or

“PEOPLE IN OUR INDUSTRY NEED TO KNOW YOU FIRST, AND THEN THEY NEED TO TRUST YOU IN ORDER TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU.”

20, will have booths where people can come over and have a casual conversation,” he said.

Some of the conference sponsors are destinations, and others are attractions or even religious sites.

“It’s not like we have to book a faith-based sponsor like that,” Cappuzzello said. “Naturally, they are among the first we contact because of the obvious match. While some travel planners may be looking for a religious-based component in the trips, many others are really just looking for any site anywhere that their travelers will enjoy.”

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

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The Ark Encounter

Courtesy Answers in Genesis

COLLETTE REFLECTIONS

Jim Edwards is the senior vice president for global sales for Collette and a familiar face at the Going On Faith Conferences. Collette will be sponsoring the vendor showcase. Edwards sees the value in partnerships.

“This is our 102nd season in business, and from the beginning, we have been group specialists and work with many different affinities,” he said.

“That’s why it’s important for us to be at these conferences and visit with our partners.”

In an age when many companies are producing less printed travel material, Collette has gone in the opposite direction.

“We’ve found that for our demographic, the booth is a great place for them to pick up the latest and greatest of what Collette offers, which is 170 itineraries on all seven continents,” he said. “It’s nice to have a great product, a trip of a lifetime. But if you can’t support your partners in getting the message out in marketing, it doesn’t do folks much good. We usually have two or three people at the conference, and we like to see our partners face-to-face.”

Edwards enjoys breakfast, lunch or dinner time with partners because it is a more intimate setting and his team gets to know partners a little better. “We find out what’s important to them and what their goals are,” he said

ARK PROMOTION A bronze statue of Jesus at the Shrine of Christ’s Passion Courtesy Shrine of Christ’s Passion

WICHIVIEW

Shrine of Christ’s Passion

Eddie Lutz is business development manager for the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Williamstown, Kentucky. The Ark Encounter was built to biblical scale, and many say it is awesome to see. Lutz has been heavily pro-

Courtesy Shrine of Christ’s Passion

WICHIROO

WICHIMEET

WICHIBEAT

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO DO IN WICHITA NO MATTER “WICHI” WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. Watch a fire show at sundown. Pet a kangaroo. Or meet beneath a T-Rex. So much to do.

So much to love. The heart of the country is ready to make your time here unforgettable.

Check out all there is to see and do at VisitWichita.com.

WICHIHEART

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

WICHIART

WICHITREE

WICHISEE

moting the Ark and the museum since even before they were built, attending every Going On Faith Conference, as well as other conferences sprinkled across the calendar. His attraction is sponsoring the conference’s Day 2 breakfast.

“This will be the fourth year we have sponsored a breakfast,” said Lutz. “It’s a great opportunity for us because it’s a really targeted faithbased conference. We can be in front of our core audience onstage for up to a half-hour.

“People know about us,” he said. “For me, it’s now about strongly reinforcing the message about the Ark and to also show people what is new. We are always growing, and I explain why people should come back for a visit.”

SHRINE OF CHRIST’S PASSION

Paul Anderson is the general manager of Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana, about 35 miles south of Chicago. The Shrine is a half-mile winding interactive path with 40 life-size bronze statues that represent scenes from Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The shrine will be sponsoring the Going On Faith Conference’s keynote address. Anderson sees great value in aligning his attraction with the travel planners who attend the conference.

“We get about 200,000 people visiting us every year, and our goal is to get that up to half a million people a year as fast as possible,” he said. “We are very happy with our sponsor relationship with Group Travel Family, and we find that it works well for us.”

Anderson said the best thing about his religious site is the deep spiritual impact it has on many visitors. “It’s life-changing, it’s beautiful, one of a kind. And it’s free.”

LOOKING FORWARD TO WICHITA

Going On Faith Conference planners were pleased when the largest city in Kansas agreed to host the 2020 conference.

“In Wichita, we will hold the conference at a Hyatt Regency Hotel, all self-contained,” said Cappuzzello. “We always go to places where we feel special and our guests are looked after.”

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 11

TRAVEL

SNAP SHOT

WASHINGTON, D.C.

O

Courtesy NMAAHC

Top: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2018.

Bottom: A historic photo on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

ne of my vivid childhood memories is crossing the Potomac River on Memorial Bridge on the way to my father’s office in downtown Washington, D.C. Behind us was our apartment in Arlington, Virginia. Ahead was the Lincoln Memorial.

I was too young to know anything about Abraham Lincoln, but the sight of the gleaming colonnaded building that bore his name was planted in my memory. It was big, solid, majestic, and simple and complex at the same time.

Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, would say that the mental picture I took that day was simultaneously unique to me and in common with virtually everyone’s first visit to this relatively compact, attraction-filled, historic, visual and newsmaking city. Washington has that memory-making effect on people, and that’s a big reason it is everpopular as a group destination.

“Washington is always of interest because it is the nation’s capital and it is full of monuments, memorials and museums,” Ferguson said. “It’s a world-class city filled with free attractions, and it’s a truly interesting city filled with activities many people don’t expect.”

Ferguson encourages group tour leaders to explore other corners of the city beyond the famous Smithsonian muse-

BY TOM A D K I N SO N

By Tom Adkinson

ums on the National Mall and iconic structures such as the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress.

You can find many inspirations at the “Discover the Real DC” section of washington.org, but Ferguson’s top-of-mind suggestions include the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, the 25-acre urban retreat of Marjorie Merriweather Post that among other treasures showcases the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside Russia; the 446-acre National Arboretum, just 10 minutes from the Capitol; the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; and the emerging collection of restaurants, shops and theaters in the area known as the Wharf.

A probably unexpected excursion in this urban environment is an outing with Anacostia River Explorers, boat tours for up to 20 passengers to learn about the river’s revival and perhaps to see a nesting bald eagle. Another natural retreat is Theodore Roosevelt Island, which is accessible from Arlington, an 88-acre island in the Potomac just across from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The island offers nature; the Kennedy Center has a free performance of some nature every day at 6 p.m.

Here are four major and mostly new Washington attractions to consider for your group’s next visit.

INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM Learn about the charms of Mata Hari, the secret Glomar Explorer ship built to raise a sunken Soviet submarine, a fake dog dropping figures in Cold War clandestine operations, why George Washington was deemed a masterful spy and much more at the International Spy Museum. This commercial attraction, opened first in 2002 and relocated and substantially expanded in 2019, is as professionally presented as the nearby Smithsonian museums and can capture your attention for hours. It tosses in some wry humor, too, such as the parting voiceover message “Enjoy the rest of your day. Remember that we’ll be watching you.”

SPYMUSEUM.ORG

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE Much more somber, at least in part, is the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. It was an idea launched in 1915 that did not come to fruition until 2018. It is in high demand, and instruction for group access is precise. Passes are free for groups of 10 or more but must be secured beforehand. Be prepared for a powerful history lesson on the museum’s lower three floors, where the stories of slavery, emancipation, Jim Crow and current issues unfold. Three upper floors explore topics such as entertainment, sports and family history.

NMAAHC.SI.EDU

International Spy Museum

By Tom Adkinson

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM The real lives of America’s law enforcement personnel, everyone from the traffic officer and the police detective to the wildlife office and the 911 dispatcher, are the focus of the National Law Enforcement Museum, authorized by Congress in 2008 and opened in 2019. The underground museum is part of a Judiciary Square campus that includes the nation’s memorial to law officers killed in the line of duty. Several museum exhibits are highly participatory, including one in which you play the role of a police trainee thrust into realistic training videos. The entire experience reinforces how those police shows you enjoy so much on TV barely touch real life.

LAWENFORCEMENTMUSEUM.ORG

National Law Enforcement Museum

By Tom Adkinson

Arlington House

ARLINGTON HOUSE AND ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY One of the Washington region’s most visible sights is in Virginia: Arlington House, built by enslaved laborers between 1802 and 1818. It’s the colonnaded house that overlooks Arlington National Cemetery. The mansion closed in early 2018 for a $12.35 million restoration and aims to reopen this spring. Across more than two centuries, it has been a memorial to George Washington, home to Robert E. Lee, a Civil War Union military headquarters and the site of America’s most famous National Cemetery. Restoration included taking the house back to its 1860 appearance, telling the story of the enslaved people forced to live there and adding a museum and bookstore.

NPS.GOV/ARHO

Courtesy Arlington CVB

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 13

A

STATE OF FAITH

ON THE ROAD IN

INDIANA

Courtesy Visit Indy

T H E HOOS IE R S TAT E HA S A FASCINATING TRANSPORTATION HERI TA G E

Indiana highlights, clockwise from top: the Indianapolis 500; Studebaker National Museum in South Bend; University of Notre Dame

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ] Courtesy Visit South Bend Mishawaka

Courtesy Visit South Bend Mishawaka

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SO U T H B E ND

F

A M IS H CO U NT RY

BY BRIAN JEWELL

rom canal boats to race cars, America’s transportation heritage runs through the heart of Indiana.

The Hoosier State may be famous for its signature auto race, but its history of transportation innovation goes far beyond IndyCars. Indiana is home to a portion of the country’s longest canal, as well as a scenic railroad, a historic automaker and the country’s RV capital.

During a trip through the state, groups can experience Indiana’s legacy of ingenuity in various cities and towns.

This itinerary begins in Jasper, a small town in southwestern Indiana, then goes to French Lick before turning northward to Indianapolis. From there, it stops in Delphi, a town outside Lafayette, then continues north to South Bend before concluding in Amish Country. From there, groups can continue on to other destinations or return southward to depart for home. Plan at least five days and four nights to explore the best of Indiana’s transportation heritage and other experiences the state has to offer.

3 D E L PHI

INDIANA 2 IND IA NA PO L IS

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JA SP E R & FR ENC H L IC K

JASPER AND FRENCH LICK HIGHLIGHT | SPIRIT OF JASPER This trip through Indiana’s transportation history begins in Jasper, a tiny town about 80 miles west of Louisville, Kentucky, in the southwestern part of the state, where the Spirit of Jasper is a sightseeing train that uses historic equipment and traverses tracks that served passenger rail companies from the 1870s through the 1930s.

Spirit of Jasper excursions start at a charming railroad depot built to replicate the 1905 depot that served the town. The railroad offers several different routes, but the most popular is the Jasper-to-French Lick Express.

This 25-mile journey takes two hours and crosses several tunnels, trestles and bridges, all while showcasing the scenery of Hoosier National Forest.

The train arrives in French Lick around lunchtime. Groups can take some time to explore French Lick before returning to Jasper by train in the afternoon, or stay in French Lick longer before continuing on to Indianapolis by motorcoach.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: After arriving in French Lick by train, take some time to visit the area’s twin historic hotels, the French Lick Resort Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel. These properties showcase the splendor of their 19th-century origins and offer plenty of amenities and activities for groups to enjoy, even if they don’t stay overnight.

Spirit of Jasper

MORE INFO | visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com Courtesy IOTD

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 15

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INDIANAPOLIS

DELPHI

HIGHLIGHT | INDY CAR FACTORY

HIGHLIGHT | HISTORIC CANAL

In the center of the state, Indiana’s capital city is also at the center of its automobile heritage. The renown of the Indianapolis 500 led to the creation of a new kind of race car, commonly called the IndyCar, and groups can learn all about Indianapolis auto racing at the Dallara IndyCar Factory.

Just outside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the factory is a joint venture between race car manufacturer Dallara Automobili and the Indy Racing Experience. The factory features 23,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits that detail the history and technology of this highspeed sport. Historical displays feature blueprints of IndyCars and concept drawings that were eventually developed into racing vehicles

by Dallara Automobili.

The attraction also features numerous racing simulators to help guests feel the sensation of driving in the Indy 500. Visitors can also look through display windows at the adjacent Dallara factories to see race cars being built.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: No auto enthusiast’s trip to Indianapolis would be complete without a visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Groups can tour the on-site museum to learn about the history of the famed Indianapolis 500 and even take a lap around the racetrack in a special tour vehicle.

In Delphi, a small town about 75 miles northwest of Indianapolis, groups can learn about a different kind of transportation history at the Wabash and Erie Canal Park.

Built in the 1830s and 1840s, the Wabash and Erie Canal was an artificial waterway that connected the Great Lakes with the Ohio River to allow for shipping between northern states and the Gulf of Mexico.

At 480 miles, it was the longest canal ever built in North America and ran through northwest Indiana.

At the Wabash and Erie Canal Interpretive Center, visitors learn about the important role the canal played in the commercial development of the United States. From mid-May to mid-October, groups can take a 40-minute canal boat ride. There is also a nearby historic home to explore. And at the Historic Pioneer village, interpreters demonstrate 19th-century trades and crafts such as blacksmithing, basket weaving and paper-making.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Explore Carrol County’s system of scenic driving routes and historic bridges. Sightseeing drives highlight areas around Wildcat Creek and the Wabash River, and feature a series of covered bridges and other memorable structures.

MORE INFO | carrollcountychamber.com

MORE INFO | visitindy.com

Wabash and Erie Canal

Courtesy IOTD

A statue at Notre Dame’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Poll position at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Courtesy Visit Indy

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

Basilica of the Sacred Heart Courtesy Visit South Bend Mishawaka

Courtesy Visit South Bend Mishawaka

Tour

SOUTHEAST INDIANA

4

Bees, Birds &

SOUTH BEND HIGHLIGHT | STUDEBAKER MUSEUM About 90 miles north of Delphi on Indiana’s border with Michigan, South Bend is a quiet college town — except on Notre Dame football game days. It’s also home to an automobile museum that honors one of America’s historic car manufacturers.

At the Studebaker National Museum, guests learn about the history of South Bend’s Studebaker Company, which began making wagons in the 1850s and went on to design and build beautiful automobiles until it went out of business in the 1960s. The museum features more than 70 Studebaker vehicles, ranging from early wagons to concept cars, as well as other company memorabilia.

Known for their distinctive front ends that resemble aircraft noses, Studebakers are among some of America’s most beautiful classic cars.

The collection also includes notable historic vehicles, such as the carriage that carried Abraham Lincoln on the night of his assassination.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Take some time to tour the scenic campus of the University of Notre Dame. Church groups will especially enjoy a visit to the school’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a Gothic Revival cathedral, as well as its accompanying museum.

Butterflies Explore the natural world in Southeast Indiana – where our garden centers, artists, farms, wetlands area, brewery and feed mill offer one-of-akind group experiences and hands-on fun.

MORE INFO | visitsouthbend.com

Experience the Oxbow Wetlands

Studebaker National Museum

Build a birdhouse OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

1

Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

Louisville

Lexington

South of I-74 & west of I-275, 20 minutes west of Cincinnati

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198

Courtesy Visit South Bend Mishawaka

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 17

5 AMISH COUNTRY HIGHLIGHT | RV FACTORY TOURS

Elkhart County’s RV/VM Hall of Fame Courtesy Elkhart Co. CVB

In the northern reaches of the state, Elkhart County is known as Amish Country for its large population of Amish inhabitants. But in in the transportation world, Elkhart County is known as America’s RV Capital.

Eighty percent of the nation’s recreational vehicles are manufactured in Elkhart County in more than a dozen factories. There are more RV manufacturers here than in any other part of the country, and some employ residents of the area’s Amish communities. The Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau can help groups arrange tours of RV factories and workshops in Elkhart, Goshen, Middlebury and other nearby towns.

Groups interested in learning more about Elkhart County’s transportation heritage should also plan a visit to the RV/VM Hall of Fame, where a museum displays unique and historic recreational vehicles and other interesting exhibits.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: From the end of May through mid-September, Amish Country and Elkhart County come alive with the colors of more than 1 million flowers during the Quilt Garden season. Inspired by heritage quilts, this multicity celebration features 17 massive flower gardens and 21 hand-painted murals.

MORE INFO | visitelkhartcounty.com

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Visit TourismCares.org. See the possibilities.

Join these companies in seeing the possibilities.

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

D E ST I N AT I O N :

BY J IL L GL EES ON

I N S P I R AT I O N THESE CREATIVE CITIES REVEL IN T H E A RT S

A

Groups can examine a religious art exhibit at Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art.

t its best, art does much more than fill our eyes with beauty.

It can feel divinely inspired, as if the creative who made it was filled with the Holy Spirit as brush touched canvas or hands molded clay. And perhaps they were. After all, some of the greatest art is sacred art, meant to infuse those experiencing it with the awe that comes from God’s love.

But even art that doesn’t use religious symbols can spark spirituality for group travelers, especially in places like Santa Fe, New Mexico; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Philadelphia; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Chicago. Each is blessed with a bounty of art — sacred and secular — that is sure to stir the soul.

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By Graham Chapman, courtesy Choose Chicago

Philadelphia Cathedral

National Museum of Mexican Art

By Graham Chapman, courtesy Choose Chicago

Philadelphia Museum of Art

By B. Krist, courtesy Visit Philadelphia

By M. Fischetti, courtesy Visit Philadelphia

[ SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO ] Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, was settled by the Spanish about 1609 and is filled with houses of worship that date back centuries. Groups should especially take time to visit San Miguel Chapel — the oldest church in the country — and the now-deconsecrated Loretto Chapel. It’s home to the Miraculous Staircase, spiral steps that were built in the late 1800s by a mysterious carpenter and — incredibly — have no means of support.

But there’s more incredible art for groups to discover in Santa Fe than just architecture. The New Mexico History Museum offers “Treasures of Devotion,” which features “retablos,” “crucifijos” and other religious works, some dating to the 1700s. The Museum of International Folk Art on Museum Hill boasts a collection of more than 130,000 objects, including sacred art. Downtown’s Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, the country’s only institution dedicated to a woman artist, can provide guides for groups, and Santa Fe Art Tours will escort travelers on custom tours of Canyon Road, which boasts some 100 galleries.

According to Joanne Hudson, public relations manager for Tourism Santa Fe, what makes the city stand out as an arts destination is “truly the volume of art in a dense, concentrated walkable area.

“Groups really maximize their time and see the incredible diversity of mediums, styles and types of art in an easy, compact area,” she said. santafe.org [ OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA ] Oklahoma’s capital city has evolved into one of the country’s premier destinations for art, and it isn’t slowing down, with the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center debuting on March 13. Along with exhibitions, it will offer art instruction, eventually giving groups the chance to produce their own masterpieces. And next spring, the First Americans Museum will debut, showcasing art from 39 tribes and nations.

“It’s going to be a phenomenal facility,” said Oklahoma Convention and Visitors Bureau president Mike Carrier. “We’re hoping that the motorcoach industry will start looking at it as they make their plans for 2021 and beyond.”

Groups should also be sure to visit the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, which boasts a comprehensive collection of Dale Chihuly’s sublime glass work. The crowd-pleasing National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum exhibits works from artists that depict the Old West, such as Frederic Remington. It also offers groups special tours and fun events such as “A Date With the Duke,” which pairs dinner with a John Wayne movie.

But the city’s most moving artwork will remain the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, which includes the “Field of Empty Chairs.” Made of glass, bronze and stone, the 168 sculptures represent the lives lost in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing.

“In a lot of ways, it’s very holy ground because of the things that happened there,” Carrier said. “Not just the bombing, but the recovery... the way that citizens here and from all over pulled together.” visitokc.com

New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe

Oklahoma City public art

A Dale Chihuly tower at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Photos courtesy Oklahoma City CVB

[ PHILADELPHIA ] The City of Brotherly Love has plenty of divine love to offer groups thanks to a host of magnificent religious architecture and art. The abundance is partly because “Pennsylvania was one of the few colonies founded on religious tolerance,” said Jim DePhilippo, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism sales manager. “So we have a lot of different faiths that have communities and churches here, some dating quite far back.”

Groups will want to visit the Neoclassical-style Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, which was completed in 1864 and offers a spectacular vaulted copper dome and interior filled with sacred artifacts and art. For art related to Judaism, groups can head to the National Museum of American Jewish History, fronted by the statue “Religious Liberty,” crafted by Moses Jacob Ezekiel in 1876.

Philadelphia is blessed with iconic museums, too, like the Barnes Foundation, home to a collection of impressionist, postimpressionist and early modernist works, as well as El Greco’s “Apparition of the Virgin and Child to St, Hyacinth.”

The Philadelphia Museum of Art displays a legendary array of work in 200 galleries, including “The Annunciation” by Henry Ossawa Tanner. The institution also provides groups with special Christian art and Jewish art tours. discoverphl.com going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 21

By Kitty Leaken, courtesy Explore Santa Fe

[ RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA ] A friendly and lively place, Rapid City, South Dakota, is rich with outdoor art that groups will love. The patriotic “City of Presidents” is a series of lifesize bronze sculptures of the country’s chiefs of state grouped around the downtown’s street corners. Tucked between Sixth and Seventh streets, Art Alley serves up brilliantly hued murals, and “The Sculpture Project: Passage of Wind and Water,” focusing on natural elements, offers 21 granite sculptures by the internationally renowned Masayuki Nagase.

Should the weather prove inhospitable during a group’s visit, Rapid City offers the Dahl Arts Center. Filled not only with contemporary visual art but also a fascinating 180-foot cyclorama that explores 200 years of American history, it hosts groups for guided tours and lunch or dinner. The Suzie Cappa Art Center features the work artists with disabilities, and the two-story Prairie Edge Trading Company and Galleries proudly presents art from Northern Plains Native Americans.

“We are a huge motorcoach destination,” said Lindsey Myers, director of group sales for Visit Rapid City. “And arts and culture is really big for our city.

We have a lot of residents who really embrace it, and we encourage visitors to go and see any of our art.” visitrapidcity.com

Rapid City art highlights, clockwise from top: Art Alley; Dahl Arts Center; City of Presidents Photos courtesy Visit Rapid City

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Public art in Chicago

Courtesy Choose Chicago

[ CHICAGO ] The City of Big Shoulders might be better called the City of Big Art. Featuring a jaw-dropping array of outdoor sculpture, architecture and museums, Chicago beckons groups looking for an intensive art immersion.

“Chicago to me is the Capital of the Midwest, a metropolis full of experiences, many firsts, including art, architecture, entertainment, restaurants, culture, theater, classical and popular music, parks and the river,” said Arnaldo Altoran, director of global development for Choose Chicago.

“Our slogan says, ‘Welcome Home Chicago.’”

With so much art to offer, it’s difficult for groups to know where to begin their tours of the Windy City. The fabled Art Institute of Chicago, guarded by its famous bronze lions, might be the place. There are sacred art superstars there like El Greco’s “The Assumption of the Virgin,” which groups can see in some of the museum’s 11 themed, guided tours. But groups shouldn’t neglect the city’s smaller institutions, including the National Museum of Mexican Art, which has plenty of religious art on display.

Chicago’s outdoor art and architecture provides singular pleasures as well, from the instantly recognizable Picasso sculpture at Daley Plaza to Millennium Park’s reflective “Bean.” And groups can choose to tour three of the city’s most beloved houses of worship — including Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, designed by Louis Sullivan — with the Chicago Church Tour. choosechicago.com

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FAITH

CENTERED

SUNSTREAM RETREAT CENTER

A young visitor prepares to traverse one of the ropes courses at Sunstream Retreat Center.

Courtesy Christian Retreat Network

P

BY ELIZA MYERS

ulling back an archery bow looks so easy in the movies. Youth groups staying at the Sunstream Retreat Center in Ogden, Iowa, know better.

The 210-acre Christian retreat center offers groups more than a dozen outdoor and indoor activities to build teamwork and personal resilience.

Each experience calls on participants to access particular skills, such as the strength necessary to shoot with a bow and arrow. The Christ-focused staff at Sunstream Retreat Center ensure that archery and other retreat activities have a deeper meaning for guests than simply filling time.

The center is less than an hour’s drive from Des Moines, but visitors would never know its proximity to the capital city while enjoying its remote surroundings.

Guests can forget about the stress of daily life while soaking up the fresh air and scenic views of the Des Moines River valley.

Church groups can enjoy the peace of nature, Christian programs and plethora of activities at the Sunstream Retreat Center.

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LOCATION Ogden, Iowa SIZE: Sunstream features several buildings centrally located on 210 acres.

CAPACITY: The retreat center can accommodate 350 overnight guests. The largest meeting room can hold 400 people.

CONTACT INFO: 515-275-2645 sunstreamretreat.org

CHOOSE YOUR OWN RETREAT

GAGA BALL

Thanks to the center’s all-inclusive packages, faith-based planners can save money and easily plan retreats at Sunstream. Lodging, dining, meetings and basic recreation are bundled into per-person packages so no hidden fees add stress to a visit.

Groups can choose from deluxe motel-style accommodations to more economical dorm-style lodging. Linens are included in motel-style rooms but not in dorm areas unless requested. Suite cabins work well for group leaders or speakers who want a little privacy.

For youth groups staying in the bunk beds in each of the two air-conditioned dormitory rooms, it often feels like a giant sleepover. The participants usually bring a sleeping bag for an indoor camping experience. For even larger groups, the Economy Dorms offer 24 sleeping rooms for up to 8 people per room, for a total capacity of 240 people.

Smaller groups frequently choose the Sunstream Motel, which comes with linens, private bathrooms and a total capacity of 48 people in 12 rooms. Guest cottages offer a full kitchen, a dining area, a bathroom and a back patio with views of the river valley below.

Sunstream’s staff seeks to combine belly-shaking laughter with moments of quiet reflection.

Lighthearted moments often come from Sunstream’s free indoor and outdoor recreation activities.

Many groups find gaga ball one of the most memorable activities. In this tamer version of dodgeball, players hit the ball with their hands to knock each other out.

Other indoor activities in the center’s gym include basketball, billiards, air hockey, foosball, carpetball, table tennis and board games.

Participants can also use the gym’s Xergame Sportwall, an interactive wall that can be used for various aerobic games. For a different perspective during activities, groups can use the gym’s black light sports arena for glow-in-the-dark games.

Outside, groups can giggle their way through a game of human foosball. Other options include sand volleyball, basketball, kickball, softball, football, soccer and disc golf.

For a communal nature experience, groups can book a hayride and bonfire evening. Hiking trails also weave through the property for group or independent exploration.

MISSION-MINDED

Sunstream sought to go beyond typical retreat activities with its recent addition of Pioneer Village. The added experience allows groups to try archery, skeet and slingshot ranges while staff supervise and facilitate.

Participants at the Pioneer Village’s Blacksmith Shop stay on high alert while working with heat to weld metals. For a less extreme skill, groups can learn to whittle wood at the nearby Grandpa’s Wood Shop.

Scenic views of the Des Moines River valley enhance the thrills on the Sunstream’s zip-line course, which features five zips through the trees.

Other teambuilding activities include a climbing tower and a low-to-the-ground challenge course that focuses on team development through planning and problem-solving. Facilitators encourage participants to reflect on how the challenge relates to everyday life.

For summer visitors, an aquatic center offers a respite from high temperatures with a swimming pool, waterslides and a volleyball net.

PIONEER VILLAGE What began as 19 Iowa churches in 1914 evolved into the Iowa Ministry Network. The organization strives to assist Pentecostal churches in their ministry efforts. Today, the Iowa Ministry Network owns and operates the Sunstream Retreat Center.

In 1974, the organization first planned an event on the center’s grounds. Though the site served as simple campgrounds at first, over the years the organization helped to grow the center so it could better serve more churches, as well as reach and disciple children.

Sunstream furthers this mission by emphasizing quality staff that understand Christian groups and their needs. The friendly team can help planners organize worship services, workshops and other ministry opportunities.

No need to explain what an altar call is and why the service went so long. Sunstream’s staff already understand. The staff often make close connections to the event leaders while assisting and praying with them.

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SOUTHERN

LET’S GO

TRAVEL GUIDE

Groups can enjoy sidewalk shopping in historic downtown Savannah.

DISCOVER THE VIBRANT CENTERS OF THESE SOUTHERN DESTINATIONS

T

BY ROBIN ROENK ER

he South boasts some of America’s most charming and inviting downtowns, places where history and culture coexist with a vibrant, modern energy.

Home to museums and specialty shopping, historic districts and cutting-edge food scenes, these Southern downtowns offer a great destination for your next group getaway.

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Baton Rouge’s Shaw Center for the Arts Courtesy Visit Baton Rouge

DOWNTOWN

Courtesy VisitSavannah.com

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

Baton Rouge’s USS Kidd

Courtesy Visit Baton Rouge

For pure Southern charm, few cities can match Savannah. Renowned for its stately antebellum homes, picturesque parks and cobblestone streets, Savannah is also home to some of America’s most beautiful churches and a bustling riverside district full of eclectic shops and eateries.

“People appreciate that Savannah is a very walkable destination,” said Erica Backus, director of public relations for Visit Savannah. “It’s only 2.5 square miles, so if you’re up to the challenge, you can experience all 22 of our historic parks and squares in a couple of days.”

Top on the list of Savannah green spaces to visit is Forsyth Park, known for its iconic fountain and Spanish-moss-draped trees. “It is one of Savannah’s most photographable spots,” Backus said.

Faith-based groups will want to explore the city’s many places of worship, such as the First African Baptist Church, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the Congregation Mickve Israel, noteworthy both for their architectural beauty and their history.

The city’s downtown bustles with energy, particularly on River Street, which hugs the Savannah River and is home to more than 75 boutiques, galleries, restaurants and artist studios.

The city’s two paddleboats, the Georgia Queen and the Savannah River Queen, offer an excellent way for groups to enjoy Savannah’s downtown waterway, as well as sweeping views of the city. Of course, because Savannah’s a coastal city, world-class beach access is also a stone’s throw away, at nearby Tybee Island. visitsavannah.com

Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge

Courtesy Visit Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA Home to Louisiana State University (LSU), the Louisiana state Capitol, a vibrant riverfront and prominent museums, Baton Rouge is a town with a vibe that’s both sophisticated and fun.

Groups can enjoy touring both the Old and New State Capitol buildings downtown. Both are architecturally significant in their own ways: The earlier 19thcentury building is noteworthy for its castlelike design; its towering 1930s-era successor stands 450 feet and 34 stories tall, making it the tallest capitol in the United States.

“Our New State Capitol has a great observation deck that offers a birds-eye view of the downtown area and Mississippi River,” said Courtney Taylor, director of destination services for Visit Baton Rouge. “On a clear day, you can even see all the way to LSU Tiger Stadium.”

The downtown riverfront is a destination itself, with attractions like the USS Kidd, a restored World War II-era Fletcher class destroyer, and its accompanying Louisiana Naval Veterans Museum. Next door, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum offers exhibits that cover everything from ancient Egypt to the solar system.

A new reflective sculpture with sensors that make music corresponding to the rise and fall of the river was recently installed on the Baton Rouge riverfront, offering another must-see destination.

Savannah’s River Street Courtesy VisitSavannah.com

Savannah’s riverfront

Courtesy VisitSavannah.com

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 27

“We’ve also added some riverfront seating and shading — it’s really become an inviting place to go up on top of the levee and see the magnificent river,” Taylor said.

The Shaw Center for the Arts, also downtown, houses the LSU Museum of Art as well as several theaters that can host an array of concerts and performances.

With more than 20 restaurants in the downtown walking area, there’s also no shortage of places to dine.

The city’s historic Third Street is an especially popular, pedestrian-friendly downtown corridor, home to spots like the Bengal Tap Room and Boudreau and Thibodeau’s, a go-to destination for classic Cajun fare. visitbatonrouge.com

A Biloxi trolley tour

BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI It may be famous for its many resort casinos, but there’s much more to Biloxi, Mississippi, than a chance to press your luck.

Founded in 1699 by French explorers and named for the Biloxi Indian tribe that lived there, the city has overcome a recent spate of hardships. Hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010, Biloxi is now thriving.

“It’s important to know just how far this region has come,” said Anna Roy, media relations manager for Coastal Mississippi. “I think a lot of people don’t realize the amount of development that’s happening down here right now. It’s amazing.”

Groups can explore the rich culture and history of the city’s maritime and fishing industries at the newly rebuilt Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, home to two masted, 65-foot Biloxi Schooners; the Wade Guice Hurricane Museum; and dozens of exhibits highlighting the ecology and industry found on the waters of the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico.

“For coastal Mississippi, it’s all about the water,” Roy said. “That’s what life revolves around here. That’s why we love to get guests to that museum. They also do cooking classes there, and they’ll do traditional seafood boils, which large groups really enjoy.”

No tour of the city is complete without a visit to its picturesque lighthouse, erected in 1848. The lighthouse is open for tours Monday through Saturday, and visitors can climb its spiral staircase for a stunning view of the coast.

The city’s downtown corridor, especially Howard Avenue, is also booming.

Home to the Coastal Mississippi Mardi Gras Museum as well as many shops, bars, art studios and businesses, the street has recently been renovated to make it more suitable for visitors.

“Howard Avenue is a brick road now, and it’s stunning,” Roy said. “There are loads more businesses moving in rapidly.” gulfcoast.org

Biloxi’s Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Photos courtesy GulfCoast.org

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For sheer architectural beauty, Charleston, South Carolina, is unmatched. With street after street of historic buildings and quaint byways, walking or enjoying a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Charleston is a bit like going back in time.

Dubbed the Holy City for its history of religious tolerance and its many historic churches, Charleston also offers a great destination for faith-based groups.

“Our history is steeped in religious freedom,” said Doug Warner, vice president of media and innovation development for Explore Charleston. “There are 180 historic churches on the [downtown] Peninsula alone. That includes the oldest French Huguenot church and the oldest Jewish Reformed synagogue in continuous use in the country. You can’t separate the history of Charleston from that historic founda-

tion on religious acceptance and freedom.”

History buffs will also want to visit nearby Fort Sumter National Historic Park, site of the opening salvo of the American Civil War. For more recent military history, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, just minutes from downtown Charleston, offers access to three World War II-era ships — the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, the destroyer USS Laffey and the submarine USS Clagmore — plus multiple aircraft exhibits and the Medal of Honor Museum.

History aside, Charleston is a city that’s very much alive, especially in terms of its food scene.

“History is the No. 1 reason visitors come to Charleston,” Warner said. “No. 2 is our culinary experience. We have eight James Beard Award-winning chefs who practice their art here.”

By late 2021, a new International African American museum will open in the city as well. The museum will commemorate Charleston’s status as the port of arrival for nearly half of all Africans forced into North American slavery while, at the same time, sharing the important story of African Americans’ lasting contributions to American culture and society. charlestoncvb.com

Dock Street Theatre in downtown Charleston

Courtesy Explore Charleston

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CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE Charleston’s Battery Seawall

Courtesy Explore Charleston

Spring on the Chattanooga riverfront

With its 13-mile paved Riverwalk dotted with parks and attractions, including the Chattanooga Zoo, the Tennessee Aquarium and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, it’s easy to build a fun-filled itinerary in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Nestled along the Tennessee River, Chattanooga boasts both natural beauty and a thriving arts and cultural scene thanks to a downtown brimming with shops, restaurants and nightclubs.

Art aficionados will want to explore the Hunter Museum of American Art — home to one of the finest collections of art in the Southeast — as well as the Bluff View Art District, a historic neighborhood within walking distance of downtown that’s become a mecca for both visual and culinary artists.

Opened in late February, the new National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga celebrates recipients of the nation’s highest military award for valor, from the first medals given in 1863 to the present.

The city also offers easy access to nearby attractions, such as Rock City, home to breathtaking rock formations, panoramic views and beautiful gardens to explore.

While in the area, groups should make time to visit Lookout Mountain via the unique Incline Railway — a National Mechanical Engineering Landmark in operation since 1895 — and then enjoy attractions at the top, including Point Park and the Battles for Chattanooga Museum. chattanoogafun.com

Courtesy Chattanooga Area CVB

Chattanooga’s Warehouse Row

Courtesy Chattanooga Area CVB

NASA Visitor Center Downtown Chattanooga

See the world’s largest collection of space artifacts and explore the fascinating future of space travel!

Looking to stay a bit longer? Sign up for an inspiring experience at Space Camp! Two- to six-day Camps are available for all ages: children, families, adults and corporate groups.

Huntsville, Alabama • (800) 637-7223 www.rocketcenter.com Courtesy Chattanooga Area CVB

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THINK

BIGGER

Plan your adventure at ArkEncounter.com (South of Cincinnati)

SOUTHERN

SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

Harper’s Ferry is one of countless charming small towns in America’s South.

THESE SMALLER DESTINATIONS ARE BIG ON CHARM

T

BY ROBIN ROENK ER

hink of them as some of the South’s best treasures: small and midsized cities that offer bucket-list-worthy experiences you can’t find anyplace else.

Though they may be smaller, these five Southern destinations deliver on history, culture and scenic beauty in a big way.

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My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown Courtesy KY State Parks

TREASURES

Courtesy Jefferson Co. CVB

BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY At the epicenter of Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail lies Bardstown, routinely voted one of America’s Most Beautiful Small Towns.

Groups can enjoy strolls through the city’s quaint downtown, where locally owned shops and restaurants abound, including Bardstown’s famed Old Talbot Tavern, built in 1789, one year before the city’s founding.

At My Old Kentucky Home State Park, guests can tour the famed Federal-style manor that inspired Stephen Foster’s iconic ballad. Each summer, Foster’s music comes to life through productions of “The Stephen Foster Story” at the park’s outdoor amphitheater.

For bourbon lovers, the city and its surrounding region offer no shortage of distilleries to explore.

“We have nine distilleries within 16 miles of our downtown courthouse,” said Sam Lacy, director of marketing and bourbon experiences for the Bardstown/ Nelson County Tourism and Convention Commission. “Our distilleries offer multiple, unique experiences, so it really just depends on what groups are looking for.”

Groups can opt for everything from a free tour experience at Barton 1792, the oldest distillery in Bardstown, to hands-on learning opportunities at the new Bardstown Bourbon Company, where visitors can learn to make a proper OldFashioned and even taste the bourbon straight from the barrel.

Booking a dinner excursion on My Old Kentucky Dinner Train, which leaves from a Bardstown depot, offers another way to explore Kentucky’s bourbon country.

Faith-based groups may also want to schedule stops at the city’s historic Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral, the first Catholic cathedral west of the Allegheny Mountains. Additionally, the nearby Abbey of Gethsemani, a community of Trappist monks well known as the former home of famed spiritual writer Thomas Merton, offers group tours and retreats on its picturesque campus. visitbardstown.com

HARPERS FERRY, WEST VIRGINIA

A Bardstown distillery Courtesy Bardstown Nelson Co. TCC

Famous as the site of abolitionist John Brown’s ill-fated 1859 raid, which he had hoped would lead to a slave rebellion, Harpers Ferry has long held a unique position in American history.

A visit to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park offers insights not only into John Brown’s life and the specific events of the raid, but also, life in general in 19th-century America. Costumed re-enactors demonstrate period-authentic crafts and trades through living-history workshops. Trails at the park also commemorate Civil War skirmish lines from the Battle at Harpers Ferry.

The city is also home to breathtaking natural beauty, sitting as it does along the Appalachian Trail at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.

“We have this great mix of history and outdoor recreation,” said Annette Gavin-Bates, director of the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“Harpers Ferry is this beautiful small-town village amongst a national park, surrounded by hills and valleys and rivers, which really lends itself to a unique setting that’s like nothing else you’ve ever been to.”

Groups can easily hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail from the city or, for those looking for even more adventure, book a kayak or tubing trip on the Shenandoah River through outfitters such as River Riders Family Adventure Resort.

The city also offers easy access to major destinations like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. “You can enjoy our authentic natural beauty here in Harpers Ferry — and avoid rush hour traffic — and still be in Washington, D.C., in under an hour, which is one reason we are fortunate to host so many visitors here every year,” Gavin-Bates said. discoveritallwv.com

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in America. The town proudly bills itself as America’s first city, and there’s no shortage of history to explore.

Groups can tour the famed Castillo de San Marcos, where costumed re-enactors often delight visitors with cannon-firing demonstrations. Built between 1672 and 1695, it’s the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.

A visit to the city’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, situated in the area first visited by Ponce de Leon in 1513, offers a trip even further back in time to chart the earliest origins of Spanish exploration in the area.

“Archaeological digs on the back of the park have found that it is, significantly, the site where Pedro Menendez de Aviles and the Spaniards, in 1565, had developed their first colony site among the Timucua Indians,” said Barbara Golden, communications manager for St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Occasionally, it’s possible to see ongoing exploratory digs as they happen.

Downtown Bardstown Courtesy Bardstown Nelson Co. TCC

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 33

A carriage ride in St. Augustine

Another popular stop is the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, where visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse for breathtaking views and, down below, enjoy detailed exhibits about the city’s centuries-long maritime heritage.

Art and design fans will want to make time to visit the Lightner Museum, as well as nearby Flagler College. Former hotels built by Standard Oil founder and railroad magnate Henry Flagler in the 19th century, they each offer daily tours of their stunning buildings and grounds.

The Lightner Museum, formerly the Alcazar Hotel, is today home to one of the country’s top collections of 19th-century fine and decorative art. Flagler College, the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, is home to one of the largest collections of Louis Comfort Tiffany stained-glass windows in the world. floridashistoriccoast.com

BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA Courtesy FloridasHistoricCoast.com

A cannon firing at St. Augustine’s Castillo de San Marcos

A picturesque home in Beaufort Courtesy FloridasHistoricCoast.com

Beaufort is a sun lover’s dream destination, with easy access to boating and all varieties of watersport fun.

Its small downtown is bustling with shops, restaurants and galleries, as well as cultural gems like the North Carolina Maritime Museum, which celebrates the area’s rich seafaring history.

The nearby Rachel Carson Reserve, accessible only by boat, offers opportunities for birding, shelling and even wild-horse viewing. Private tour groups such as Island Ferry Adventures offer daily ferry and tour service.

In the city, groups can take bike, walking and even pirate-themed tours to learn

Courtesy CrystalCoast.org

THE GOOD WORD on a great getaway.

If you’re looking for the perfect destination for your next faith gathering, this is it. We’re proud to be nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains and built on wholesome fun for all. With facilities suited for groups from 20 to 12,000, we’re well-versed in making every event a joyful one. Enjoy more than 100 experiences including attractions, museums, shows, shopping, dining, Dollywood and more.

PIGEONFORGEMEETING.COM INFO@LECONTECENTER.COM

PFT002266-012_Mrr_GoingOnFaith_8x4.5.indd 1

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more about Beaufort and its history.

“We have lots of pirate history in Beaufort,” said Karen Gould, director of digital and event marketing at the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority.

Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, which ran aground in 1718, was found and identified just offshore near Beaufort in 1996. Some of the items reclaimed from the ship are now on view at the city’s Maritime Museum.

The town was also part of a so-called Pirate Invasion in 1747, an event that’s re-enacted over two days each August in an annual citywide celebration with costumed pirates, a parade, demonstrations and more.

“There are also beautiful homes to view down Ann Street,” Gould said. “And some tours focus on sites mentioned in Nicholas Sparks’ book ‘A Walk To Remember.’”

In all, the Beaufort Historic District includes 285 historic homes, more than 150 of which are at least 100 years old. Some, such as the Leffers Cottage, date to the late 1700s.

Guided walking tours of the historic district are available, as are double-decker bus tours. Staff at the Beaufort Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum can help groups make the most of their visit to the city’s old-town center. crystalcoastnc.org

A marina on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast

Courtesy CrystalCoast.org

BIEDENHARN MUSEUM & GARDENS 2020 EXHIBITS: ADAM & EVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

FEATURING- BIBLE MUSEUM, COCA-COLA MUSEUM, FORMAL GARDENS & HISTORIC HOUSE 318-387-5281 | 800-362-0983 | BMUSEUM.ORG 5¢ COCA-COLA MONROE-WEST MONROE.ORG FOR HOTEL/RESTAURANT INFO going on faithINgoingonfaith.com [ A GLASS BOTTLE ] 35

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

Sunset over Charlottesville

Home to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Charlottesville offers guests a chance to walk in the footsteps of presidential history.

“There’s a ton to take in there,” said Brantley Ussery, director of marketing and public relations for the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We always encourage groups to allocate at least four hours for a tour of the home and its grounds.”

The city’s University of Virginia campus — specifically its rotunda, lawn and original academic core, which was designed by Jefferson and is often celebrated for its beauty — has also been named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Historic tours of the campus are available through the university.

Charlottesville also boasts a bustling downtown center, highlighted by its pedestrian-only Downtown Mall.

“We are home to one of the most successful pedestrian malls in the country,” Ussery said. “Our Downtown Mall is about eight blocks in length and features a wonderful variety of restaurants and shopping, unique bookstores and real boutique-type places where you can get those truly one-of-a-kind gifts.”

Many restaurants feature patio dining with live music when the weather is nice.

“It’s the true artery of downtown and a real must-see when you’re in the area,” Ussery said. “It’s just a very vibrant, cool place to explore.”

Groups can also enjoy the region’s booming wine scene, which includes more than 35 wineries, all within just 20 minutes of downtown. visitcharlottesville.org

Photos courtesy Charlottesville Albemarle CVB

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

An Albemarle County vineyard

By David Ahnold

By J. Looney

Charlottesville wine country

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

SOUTHERN

ANIMAL

TRAVEL GUIDE

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs provides a safe home for big cats and many other animals.

INCLUDE THESE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES ON YOUR NEXT SOUTHERN ADVENTURE

L

BY ROBIN ROENK ER

ooking for an animal adventure?

Sites across the South offer groups the opportunity to get close to a menagerie of creatures, from alligators and turtles to big cats, wild ponies and lemurs.

Here are just a few places where your group can enjoy interacting with creatures great and small.

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

Chincoteague Wild Ponies

Courtesy Chincoteague COC

ENCOUNTERS WILD PONIES CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND, VIRGINIA

Courtesy Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Horse lovers from across the country flock to Chincoteague Island, Virginia, for a view of its famous wild ponies, especially during the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction, set this year for July 29-30.

During the weeklong event, which includes a parade, fireworks and other activities, the region’s two herds of wild ponies are rounded up by saltwater cowboys, gathered onto the Chincoteague beaches and then paraded to a corral for a routine vet checkup. Some of the ponies are then auctioned to buyers who hope to domesticate them, and the rest are returned to the wild.

“The ponies swim from nearby Assateague Island to Chincoteague, and there are maybe 40,000 people here in town watching,” said Joanne Moore, marketing and event coordinator for the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce. “People watch from land; they watch from boats and kayaks. It’s pretty amazing. People will also line up to watch the ponies on the parade route as they go by.”

The region’s roughly 150 wild ponies can also be seen in their native habitat at other times of the year. One good spot to see the so-called Southern herd is via the main road to Assateague Island National Seashore.

“You can walk, bike or drive your vehicle over there, and there is a pull-off over near their area,” Moore said. “From the Woodland Trail, you can also hike out to an observation platform, and you can often view them from there.”

To view the Northern herd, work with a local boat captain to charter a tour to their preferred grazing lands, which are not accessible by road. chincoteaguechamber.com

Courtesy Chincoteague COC

TURPENTINE CREEK WILDLIFE REFUGE EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Courtesy Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Chincoteague Island

In Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is an accredited wildlife sanctuary dedicated to helping animals in need.

The refuge’s key focus is providing a safe home to abandoned, abused and neglected big cats like tigers, lions, leopards and cougars. But an array of other animals, including bears, a coatimundi and a rhesus macaque, also call Turpentine Creek home.

The center is well equipped to handle large groups, and staff there can arrange guided three-hour tours that include immersive and educational opportunities for visitors.

“While individuals will always be protected from our animal residents by a habitat perimeter fence and public safety rail, in most instances groups are able to view our resident cats as close as five feet away,” said Ike Wever, Turpentine Creek’s promotions and events coordinator.

Groups can visit the refuge’s majestic cats and other animals on guided, half-mile walking tours led by Turpentine Creek staff. Guided trolley tours are also available.

Overnight accommodations are available on-site in the form of RV and tent spaces as well as fully stocked safari lodges, and behind-the-scenes tour options are available for guests who wish to learn more about the daily lives of the animals in Turpentine Creek’s care. turpentinecreek.org

Chincoteague ponies

Courtesy Chincoteague COC

A baby tiger at Turpentine Creek Courtesy Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 39

GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER JEKYLL ISLAND, GEORGIA

An alligator encounter at Sawgrass Recreation Park

Courtesy Sawgrass Recreation Park

Georgia Sea Turtle Center

Sea turtles in need of a little TLC can find it at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island.

Here, visitors can see rehabilitation in action as they tour the facility and enjoy both indoor and outdoor exhibits that highlight the challenges facing turtles in the area and the important role they play in the region’s coastal ecosystem.

From September through May, educator-led, guided group tours of the interactive learning center and public portions of the sea turtle hospital are available with advance reservation.

Daily individual tours are offered year-round, allowing visitors to learn about the turtle “patients” being cared for in the center’s rehabilitation pavilion and see them being fed and treated.

From the beginning of June through the end of July, guided, nighttime turtle walks for groups of up to 25 are also available by reservation. Attendees will learn about the biology and life cycle of turtles and go on the hunt for a chance to safely view a nesting mother on an area beach. gstc.jekyllisland.com

Courtesy Golden Isles CVB

A Present of the Past

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

S ite of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, the largest hand-cut stone

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SAWGRASS RECREATION PARK FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA There’s no better way to experience the Everglades than by airboat, a mode of transport that’s an adrenaline-fueled thrill in itself.

But the team behind the family-owned and -operated Sawgrass Recreation Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is committed to ensuring that visitors also leave their airboat adventure with an appreciation for the beauty and ecology of the Everglades, one of America’s most unusual ecosystems.

During the airboat portion of the tour, guides point out wildlife along the journey, from wading birds like blue herons and roseate spoonbills to turtles, snakes, frogs and alligators.

“We call our tour an eco-adventure,” said Tim Schwartzman, the park’s owner. “The boat itself is an adventure — half boat, half plane — but we add education to it. When we come across wildlife, we share information about what we’re seeing and basic information about the Everglades, what it is and how we’re trying to keep it around.”

The park also offers land-based exhibits at its headquarters, where visitors can touch and hold baby alligators. “It’s very safe and humane to the animals, but we find that touch has a big impact on people’s understanding of what an animal is and how they work,” Schwartzman said.

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Sawgrass Recreation Park Courtesy Sawgrass Recreation Park

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 41

Lunch at Sawgrass Recreation Park in Fort Lauderdale

Visitors can also see the park’s 13-foot-long, 800-pound adult alligator, as well as the crocodiles, caimans, pythons and other smaller reptiles housed at its on-site exhibits.

The facility is well equipped to handle large groups, operating a fleet of more than 10 boats that can each fit 25 riders at a time. “We have a lot of school groups that come out with 100 or 200 at a time, and we’re able to handle that,” Schwartzman said. evergladestours.com

ALABAMA GULF COAST ZOO GULF SHORES, ALABAMA Courtesy Sawgrass Recreation Park

Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

An animal encounter at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Courtesy Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Courtesy Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

At the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo in Gulf Shores, visitors can enjoy unusual addon Animal Encounter experiences that allow for individual, hands-on visits with a lemur, a sloth, a kangaroo, an anteater and more.

Guests on the encounters can not only learn fascinating facts about the various animals from their keepers but also enjoy a few minutes touching, holding, feeding and petting them.

A longtime top-rated destination along the Gulf Coast, the zoo was spotlighted on Animal Planet’s documentary series “The Little Zoo That Could” and is home to roughly 600 animals, including 22 crtically endangered species.

In March, the zoo will triple its size when it unveils its new inland location, featuring more than 20 acres of exhibits.

“It’s going to be fantastic,” said Kay Maghan, public relations manager for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. “Their plan is to divide exhibits by continent, so you’ll have the African section, the Americas section, the Australian section and so on. There is already also a new restaurant at the entrance to the new zoo called the Safari Club. And they’re adding some new attractions, including a carousel.”

Visitor-favorite animals at the zoo include Chuckie, an American alligator who serves as the zoo’s oldest resident and honorary mascot, and Sylvia, one of the zoo’s two-toed sloths, who’s available for animal encounters. The facility is also home to kookaburras; marmosets; hamadryas baboons; a colony of Madagascar lemurs; three Bengal tigers named Rajah, Rani and Omar; and many more. alabamagulfcoastzoo.com

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D e z I S KIng

’s Graceland y le s re P is lv E e c Experien ere are more h T . re fo e b r e v e n in Memphis like live events. re o M . s e ri to s t a gre attractions. More ever before. n a th re lo p x e d r, taste, an More to see, hea

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Interacting with lemurs at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Courtesy Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

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going on faith [ spring 2020 ]

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