Leisure Group Travel, August 2014

AUGUST 2014

VOL. 24, NO. 4 • AUGUST 2014

contents COVER STORY

44 ON THE COVER:

44 America’s Must-See Museums

The Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock

Museums roll out the welcome mat for groups. See our 16 top picks across the land, from Maine to Miami, D.C. to Denver.

COLUMNS FEATURES

6

10 14

The Godmother of Educational Travel

16

Poking Around Prague

18 22 28

Flavors of the Pacific Northwest

32 36 40

Arkansas’ Captivating Northwest Corner

Epicurean Escapades

4 August 2014

8

On Tour

BY MARTY SARBEY DE SOUTO

BY RANDY MINK

BY DANIEL MORRILL

51

On Marketing

BY DAVE BODLE

BY LAUREN REINIGER

Milwaukee Celebrates Summer

Doing Durango

BY JEFF GAYDUK

BY RANDY MINK

Sampling Northeast Ohio

Boardwalk Bonanza

On My Mind

BY RANDY MINK

BY PAIGE K. POPE

BY RANDY MINK

BY DAVE BODLE

28

German Fest, one of Milwaukee’s summer ethnic parties on the lake

LeisureGroupTravel.com

NUMBER CRUNCHING

ON LOCATION In Alliance, Nebraska, managing editor Randy Mink visits Carhenge, a whimsical version of Stonehenge made out of vintage automobiles.

54 Peaks in Colorado over 14,000 feet (Fourteeners)

130 Miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline in New Jersey

WHAT’S ONLINE? ONLINE EXCLUSIVES BRIDGE THE GAP

W

e invite you to visit our website, www. leisuregrouptravel.com, to see all the articles that didn’t make it into our print issue. We call them Online Exclusives.

Managing editor Randy Mink has been busy writing up highlights of his recent London trip. Go online and see his articles on guided walking tours of the St. James’s neighborhood, a fancy hotel in Mayfair and two favorite foodie havens—Borough Market and Fortnum & Mason.

Associate publisher Dave Bodle has Online Exclusives about theme restaurants and Lexington, Kentucky. You’ll also find Germany and Colorado Springs reports from contributing writer Don Heimburger. Visit our website often!

900,000

Approximate attendance at Milwaukee’s Summerfest

53 Breweries in Portland, Oregon

86,209 Population of Fort Smith, Arkansas’ 2nd largest city

1803 The year Ohio entered the Union

36 Atlantic City boasts the mother of all boardwalks.

$48.95 Cost of brunch atop Seattle’s Space Needle

O N MY M I N D

By Jeffrey Gayduk

Vol. 24, No. 4 August 2014

Rewarding Superior Performance FOR 11 YEARS we’ve held our annual Reader’s Choice awards in December. This program recognizes excellence in the field of group travel. Many of you have voted for your favorite tour operator, cruise line, tour attraction or destination and we sincerely appreciate your dedication to this program.

Earlier this year I was approached by two partners in the business, Hotel Planner, which handles group hotel reservations for a lot of readers, and Group Travel Organiser, our sister magazine based in London. They were seeking to expand on a successful Group Travel Awards show that’s put on by Group Travel Organiser in London with a similar event based in New York this November.

They asked if we would be interested in participating in the program with our Reader’s Choice program and after reviewing the pros and cons I thought this would be a worthwhile endeavor. After all, what better way to be recognized for outstanding achievement than by your peers, live in New York!

Thus, this year we are transitioning voting for Reader’s Choice to the new Group Travel Awards. From your perspective, not much has changed. Yes, there are a few more categories to choose from, and voting is strictly online (blame technology for that).

But your role is as important as ever in deciding who takes home the big prize.

So, before you get too entrenched in this edition of Leisure Group Travel – which is fabulous by the way – visit LeisureGroupTravel.com and click on the Reader’s Choice tab. You’ll be taken to our new online voting system which I promise to be quick and easy. You can also learn more about this big event, and if you’re interested in attending, mark your calendars for the night of November 11, 2014 as the industry's finest will gather at the historical and renowned Hudson Theatre in the Millennium Broadway Hotel, Times Square, New York.

Just as we work hard to produce Leisure Group Travel for you, vendors work hard to deliver an outstanding travel experience for your travelers. Show your appreciation by voting for them in our Reader’s Choice & the new Group Travel Awards. Every vote counts!

Get started by visiting LeisureGroupTravel.com and click on the Reader’s Choice tab.

Happy travels,

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

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com

Associate Publisher – Dave Bodle dave@ptmgroups.com

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

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

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

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

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

Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is published bi-monthly by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations.

Other travel-related suppliers may subscribe at the reduced rate of $12.00 per year. The regular subscription price for all others is $18.00 per year. Single copies are $4.95 each.

Send Address Change to: Jeff Gayduk, Publisher

Premier Travel Media 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527

A

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All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

6 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

By Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTC

O N TOU R

Expand Your Horizons and Offer Learning Vacations

Y

our travelers may travel with

individual looking for intellectual growth

or music festival or theater perform-

you for a myriad of reasons:

– often a university graduate (perhaps

ance. A few years ago I enjoyed a

fun, camaraderie, intellectual

long ago). It could be those who enjoy

three-day Shakespeare study tour

or spiritual growth, excitement

the programming of their local PBS

sponsored by a local senior center in

and others. Yet, travel companies are

television station, who buy season

Northern California. We attended the

finding that one of the top motivations

tickets to local theater, who are mem-

Oregon Shakespeare Festival in

nowadays is education. If we are de-

bers of a book club and read prolifically.

Ashland. We stayed at the dorm at

signing our trips properly, we find that

It’s often those who quietly bemoan

Southern Oregon University – permis-

we can insert the learning experience

that their personal life no longer offers

sion granted because we were an offi-

into the trip subtly so that participants

the lifetime learning experience they

cial study tour with our own professor/

come home excited at having learned

crave. Being in the company of other

lecturer giving classes during the trip.

something new –something they didn’t

like-minded travelers discussing what

expect on their trip.

they’re learning as they go along has

Association of University Women), I

great appeal.

just received notice of an innovative

But above and beyond that, there are companies that openly feature their

If you might like to try a trip of this

As a member of AAUW (American

trip to Warsaw, Poland they’re offering.

trips as learning adventures – nothing

nature, how should you go about it?

It follows in the steps of physicist/

subtle about the educational content.

One way would be to buy into an

chemist Madame Curie in her lifelong

In fact, many such trips are no longer

existing trip from a company that may

quest for radium. Since one of AAUW’s

called “tours” or “trips.” They’re often

offer such trips. Another would be to

goals is to encourage women in the

simply referred to as educational

do it yourself, putting together all the

U.S. to study science, the trip fits into

adventures. Elderhostel’s Road Scholar

usual trip components (transportation,

the organization’s goals and purposes.

programs, for example, offer a broad

accommodations, etc.) but locating an

You could locate other organizations

array of options – some are actual

expert on a specific topic to work with

for which a trip might become part and

tours on the road, others a stay in one

you in designing the trip, escort it and

parcel of their goals.

locale with daily activities and lectures.

give lectures en route. A third approach

Many stay in moderate hotels and

would be to buy into a cruise and

search for those in your community

university lodgings, while others oper-

bring your own lecturer with you for

who would make good “Pied Pipers” for

ate at a more deluxe level. The topics

the intellectual content (although some

such a program and act as lecturers

around which the trip is woven are

cruises offer onboard lectures but not

as well.

as broad as the specialty of the hired

as frequent or as deep as you might

lecturers.

prefer). Similar trips could be built

This type of trip can appeal to a type of client whom you may not be servicing up to now. It could be the retired

around blockbuster museum exhibits.

Still another approach would be to

I urge you to spread your wings and

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

build the trip around an historical figure

Members of Road Scholar tour groups in Havana, Cuba meet with musicians, artists, intellectuals and other local residents.

Road Scholar

INTERVIEW J. MARA DELLIPRISCOLI

The

Godmother of Educational Travel his past March, J. Mara DelliPriscoli, president of Travel Learning Connections, presided as the godmother of Avalon Waterways’ newest ship, the Impression. While on board the inaugural cruise, Leisure Group Travel publisher Jeff Gayduk sat down with Mara for a state-ofthe-industry report.

T

Leisure Group Travel: What was your reaction when you were asked to be the godmother of the Avalon Impression?

Mara DelliPriscoli: I was speechless for a moment and J. Mara DelliPriscoli organizes the Educational Travel Conference, where a champion Native American hoop dancer performed this year.

indeed very honored. The river cruise market has always been big for the affinity market. It’s been historically a great seller and the rivers of Europe have always been a mainstay for the educational travel community.

LGT: Not only are you the godmother of this ship, but some would call you the godmother of the educational travel market. As leaders of industries do, give me a state of the sector of your business.

Mara: The affinity market is experiencing resurging growth. Planners and operators are very busy with their programs and they’re hiring. In our annual State of the Industry report colleagues noted that customizing tours to provide unique cultural experiences was one of the top trends as well as broadening the geographical range of cruise offerings.

Offering shorter trips with optional extensions and focusing on smaller group sizes as well as more independent options were also trending. Tours providing a strong educational com10 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

“The affinity market is experiencing resurging growth. Planners and operators are very busy with their programs and they’re hiring. In our annual State of the Industry report colleagues noted that customizing tours to provide unique cultural experiences was one of the top trends as well as broadening the geographical range of cruise offerings.”

— J. MARA DELLIPRISCOLI ponent within specialized themes like art, culture or soft adventure

LGT: Is your conference still focusing mainly on alumni?

continue to be strong.

Mara: Alumni have always been strongly represented at ETC. We

We are seeing an increase in active travel being integrated with

certainly have accommodated many other nonprofit travel planners

more traditional art and cultural programming. Domestic travel is also

during our 29 years. There are zoos, conservation and cultural or-

strong. The other big trend is intergenerational travel. It’s not just

ganizations, plus other non-profits that are associated with educa-

immediate family; it could be uncles, nieces, grandparents with sons,

tional travel. Alumni travel marketing is definitely evolving. Whereas

daughters and grandchildren. You have to redefine what family travel

once it was just the affinity connection that could sell out travel pro-

means.

grams, current offerings have to appeal to evolving interests and

LGT: Does this bring a new type of tour operator into the fold?

differing travel demands of millennial to boomer affinity travelers –

Mara: We’ve had specialist family and active tour operators in the

while continuing to provide exceptional leadership and innovative

fold, so to speak, but they weren’t getting any traction early on. Now they are. I am also seeing a lot of bike tours, walking tours, culinary tours getting picked up in catalogs.

LGT: How has this translated to your Educational Travel Conference?

programming.

LGT: Having been to your conference before, there’s an overwhelming presence of international destinations and tour operators with product to very exotic destinations. How can a domestic destination play in this marketplace?

Mara: We’ve successfully grown the ETC conference large

Mara: We’re seeing a transition in this conference where travel

enough to allow for diversification in products and destination repre-

planners are actively seeking destination knowledge both domestic

sentation but still intimate enough to allow for networking and small

as well as international. On the domestic front, travel planners are

group exchanges. We’re growing the online community across the

often looking for customization and behind-the-scenes access – they

globe and that’s getting significant traction.

don’t need to be sold on a specific city. They are seeking specialty

The annual Educational Travel Conference (ETC) recognizes organizations, such Nunatsiavut Solutions, with Responsible Tourism Showcase Awards.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

August 2014 11

“I have always held to the belief that travel is the ultimate engagement tool. As such nonprofit travel programs will continue to require sophistication and customization in terms of design and delivery – as well as sustained institutional support for travel program and leadership development – in order to truly thrive and deliver on their full potential.”

— J. MARA DELLIPRISCOLI

alumni/members. A great deal of operational flexibility and programming customization is required of operators serving this niche.

LGT: What’s the launch pad for suppliers becoming comfortable and building business within ETC? Mara: My colleagues would say it takes about three years to significantly break into this market. In that process you need to be visible, you’ve got to network and not just stand behind a display table. So newbies are advised to really get involved in the conference program and community to get their name out there. Success in breaking in is not selling your product but your knowledge – and building long-term relationships. I saw a lot of newcomers this year and they were thrilled with the reception.

LGT: How does the community of ETC work?

Mara: The membership is one year and it gives you access to all online resources such as searches, research reports and conference session recordings. We do a number of educational sessions around the world where we share information about product development, guides and research. You get these resources along with the opportunity to network internally by joining as a member.

LGT: What about the regional roundtables?

Mara: Regional roundtables are open to anyone. Starting in the early ’90s we held a roundtable on both the East and West coasts.

J. Mara DelliPriscoli, the godmother of Avalon Waterways’ Impression, celebrates its March christening with managing director Patrick Clark.

Now we have expanded across the US and Canada with six to seven roundtables annually. They feature time for collegial discussions, updates on ETC happenings, addressing industry issues and

experiences with specialized venues such as customized culinary programs, biking tours, specialized cultural programs, unique family tours, national parks, and specialty train experiences.

LGT: What’s the biggest separator between this sector and the traditional group market?

social hours.

LGT: There’s the phrase “if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it’s a duck.” You talk like an association, you act like an association, but you’re really not an association. Why is that?

Mara: From ETC’s inception I envisioned the concept of facili-

Mara: There’s a unique qualifier for the nonprofit affinity mar-

tating a community – a collaborative camaraderie of like-minded

ket. Travel programs are designed to serve the greater mission of the

individuals sharing best practices, issues and expertise as well as

sponsoring institution as well as to deepen the engagement with

furthering the development of nonprofit and for profit partnerships in

12 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Leisure Group Travel’s Jeff Gayduk caught up with J. Mara DelliPriscoli and Jay Parker of Globus family of brands on the Avalon Impression inaugural.

the field of travel. As such ETC has developed very much as a pow-

I can’t give the crystal ball outlook, but I know that travelers will

erful grass roots network with colleagues taking ownership of vol-

increasingly seek connections that touch their hearts while pursuing

untary roles such as program leadership and online content curating

their interests. If nonprofit institutions and organizations facilitate

– only a few of the ways individuals are deeply involved in this “com-

meaningful connections through relevant travel programs, the out-

munity.” Membership is on an individual basis, not based on corpo-

come for sponsoring institutions will be significant in terms of impas-

rate affiliation. Many retired colleagues enthusiastically elect to stay

sioning member/alumni commitment to their affinity institution – and

active in the community in terms of mentoring and sharing expertise

ideally long-term giving. LGT

on an ongoing basis both virtually and at the ETC conference.

LGT: They say every organization has a life cycle. What stage is the nonprofit travel industry right now?

Mara: The affinity market has a lot of new energy, professionals and diverse organizations influencing future growth, and a lot is changing in terms of how institutions are managing and resourcing their travel programs. One big shift is that many alumni programs have now been moved under the development umbrella of their respective institutions.

It is an exciting time with new opportunity and challenge. If the case can effectively be made – both qualitatively and quantitatively – that travel is the ultimate alumni/member engagement tool, nonprofit travel programs will be one key driver in future strategic outreach and engagement initiatives. This sets the stage for the next phase of growth for affinity travel. If travel programs are viewed as a sidebar to essential program offerings, with limited resources provided and sustainability directly contingent on the income generated by each tour, growth and maturation may take a decidedly different direction.

LGT: Is that a positive move for the industry?

Mara: I have always held to the belief that travel is the ultimate engagement tool. As such nonprofit travel programs will continue to require sophistication and customization in terms of design and delivery – as well as sustained institutional support for travel program and leadership development – in order to truly thrive and deliver on their full potential.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

August 2014 13

Tour members learn from highly regarded chefs and may be exposed to exotic ingredients, such as cactus and squash blossoms (left) in Mexico.

on culinary travel ❖

Epicurean

Escapades

By Randy Mink

or those passionate about

Dakota,” noting that he has a net-

F

food, especially the Italian

work of chefs and ground tour oper-

Edible Destinations.com ators all over the world. dishes up flavorful forays gion east of Rome would seem to be a litAt the request of a group of 14 women for travelers open to tle slice of heaven. One day you visit an olive in Kansas City, Loy said Edible Destinations grove, taste the oils and learn how they’re created a Scotch-tasting tour in Scotland and exploring regional processed. Another day it might be a cheese facIreland that included several distilleries. Trips for cuisines and tory, biscotti-making class or making pasta with a vegetarians also have been arranged. dabbling in local chef. Seafood sampling on the Adriatic coast, a “We can create a custom package for a group the culinary wine-pairing session, comfortable accommodations in travel agent, brand it with their branding and name it arts the historic hilltop village of Carunchio….they’re all ingreanything they want,” Loy said. The trip even comes with table, a week in the Abruzzo re-

dients of a culinary escape offered by Edible Destina-

its own private website.

tions.com in the rugged foothills of central Italy’s Apennine

Edible Destinations, he said, has tended to be “a con-

Mountains.

sumer-driven company,” but to grow the market he wants to

For serious foodies, those looking to sharpen their kitchen

reach out and have more involvement with agents and other group

skills, and travelers who just enjoy eating and learning about regional

planners. The minimum agent commission is 12 percent.

cooking, Edible Destinations.com offers a smorgasbord of appetizCooking vacations include hands-on classes.

ing trips, foreign and domestic. Peruse its website, lavishly illustrated with mouth-watering creations, and you can’t help drooling.

The company’s five- to 10-day “Edible Vacations” are escorted overseas tours that include hands-on cooking classes and meals that feature the fruits of your labor. Most of these full-immersion opPeru, South Africa, Thailand, Costa Rica, Turkey, Morocco and Mexico. Two- and three-night mini-tours, called “Edible Getaways,” take place in North American culinary hotspots.

Individuals or groups can choose from pre-designed itineraries, or they can customize a trip to practically anywhere. Said David Loy, president and CEO of Edible Destinations.com, “If they say, ‘We want a package in North Dakota,’ we can create a package in North 14 August August2014 2014 LeisureGroupTravel.com

Photos Courtesy of Edible Destinations.com

portunities are in Europe, but other countries include Argentina,

Wine tasting whirls are part of some Edible Destinations programs.

A foodie tour in France might include a melt-in-your-mouth macaron (left).

Loy’s ability to make things happen rest on his background in the travel industry, online travel in particular. In the early 1990s he was

birthday or 25th wedding anniversary, Loy said. “A lot of people do the trips as bucket-list items.”

the executive director of Discover America in Washington, D.C. and

Italy is the No. 1 seller for Edible Destinations, which annually

from 1996-2000 served as executive director of international travel

handles about 3,000 passengers in Abruzzo, Tuscany, Umbria,

for Trip.com. In 2003 he launched Groople, a consumer site that of-

Rome, the Amalfi Coast and other locations. “To many people, Italy

fered automated group hotel booking and plan-

and cooking vacations tend to be synonymous,”

ning capability, later entering into a partnership

Loy remarked. The next most popular countries

with Travelocity whereby his site powered all of

are Greece, Spain and France.

its group hotel bookings.

On the website’s menu of international trips,

Loy’s passion for cooking sparked the for-

there are no set departure dates because a

mation in 2006 of Epitourean.com., which of-

package can be arranged practically any time

fered two- and three-night culinary getaways in

the client wants to go. If a group wants to go to

the U.S. Then he founded Cooking Vaca-

Abruzzo from late March to early November, for

tions.com for international trips. Just over a year

example, securing accommodations in Carun-

ago he merged the two sites to form Edible Va-

chio is no problem, as Edible Destinations buys

cations.com, which still uses the website with that catchy address—epitourean.com.

out all the inventory from the Palazzo Tour d’Eau, David Loy, President and CEO of Edible Destinations.com

a historic luxury residence perched on the

As for his interest in food, Loy said, “I got

highest point in town. The published price of the

hooked on the food and cooking channels, and

six-night Abruzzo program is $3,498 per person,

One doesn’t have to be double occupancy, plus taxes and international an accomplished cook household…I love to cook and I love to travel.” airfare. to thoroughly enjoy What kind of travelers do these trips attract?

Another six-night program based in one EuroThe vast majority of initial inquiries, Loy said, come pean city is “A Showcase of Spanish Cuisine in one of these trips. from women, but the male-female mix of those who Madrid.” In three cooking classes, guests learn how to Everyone can actually travel is much closer, a 60/40 ratio. Often it’s make such dishes as paella Valenciana, gazpacho and appreciate the the man on the trip, he added, who is the cook at home. arroz con leche (rice pudding). Tasting tours focus on special meals One doesn’t have to be an accomplished cook to sweets, tapas, and wine and brandy. and dinner-party “thoroughly enjoy one of these trips,” Loy said. Everyone More than 50 “Edible Getaways” are available in the can appreciate the special meals and dinner-party atmos- atmosphere. U.S. Loy said the hottest destinations are California’s Napa I’m the one who does all the cooking in my

phere. Trips, moreover, include free time and historical sight-

Valley; New York City; Charleston, South Carolina; New

seeing—not every minute is spent in a kitchen or dining room.

Orleans; and Santa Fe. The two-night “A Big Bite of the Big

Because travelers come with different degrees of cooking acumen, “the chef will take the temperature of the group and measure the level of experience in the kitchen” in fashioning his instruction, Loy said.

Apple” ($949) includes a cooking class, foodie tour of Chelsea Market and the Meatpacking District, and tasting dinner at celebrity chef Mario Batali’s Del Posto Ristorante.

Food-focused vacations may not be every group’s cup of

The average group size on international trips is 12, but it could be

latte, but for the right audience, these specialty tours hit the spot.

up to 20. As for the age range, he said, “We’ve found the sweet spot

Invite your groups to broaden their palates, pack their appetites

is 45-65…on the girlfriend getaways it’s a little bit younger.”

and dig in.

For many travelers, a culinary trip to Italy or elsewhere in Europe is a special way to mark a milestone in their lives, perhaps a 50th LeisureGroupTravel.com

For more information on Edible Destinations.com, call 800-3903292 or visit epitourean.com. LGT August 2014 15

on eastern europe ❖ or many of us who remember the drab, gray

F

ary planners. Surrounding the Czech Republic are

cities of the Soviet bloc, it’s hard to believe

Poland, Germany, Slovakia and Austria.

that Prague has blossomed into one of the

Prague’s appeal stems from its Old World magic,

most desirable destinations in Europe. In the 25

a storybook charm that enchants those of us from

years since the Czech people ended four decades

the New World. With a skyline of red rooftops, spires

under the yoke of Communism, the country’s capi-

and domes, it’s what the Europe—in our imagina-

tal has become a different place—a lively, freedom-

tions at least—is supposed to look like. Luckily, the

loving city thronged with tourists from around the

city was spared from bombings in the world wars,

world. As many tour operators lament, it’s almost too popular—the crowds can be overwhelming, especially during the peak summer season.

so the central core is pretty much intact. Thanks to Take a clip-clopping ride from Prague’s Old Town Square.

Prague has emerged as one of Europe’s most visited cities and always ranks among the top 10, not far down the list from perennial

better economic times that followed the fall of Communism in 1989, long-neglected facades have been

spiffed up. In short, the new Prague, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, is well preserved and tourist-friendly.

favorites London, Paris, Rome and Berlin. For many Americans,

The best way to savor “Golden Prague”—also known as the “City

Prague serves as their introduction to Eastern Europe. Its location in

of a Hundred Spires”—is to get out, wander and soak up the ambi-

the geographic heart of the continent makes it a winner with itiner-

ence. Marvel at the melange of architectural styles, from Gothic and

POKING AROUND

PraguE

Prague Castle overlooks Charles Bridge, a tourist magnet.

The Czech capital mirrors the best of the Old World

By Randy Mink

16 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Obtain international visitor guides and itineraries and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

Tiny medieval houses line the Golden Lane near Prague Castle.

place to view the magical skyline, dominated on the west side by Prague Castle looming over the city and river. The palaces, courtyards, churches and streets comprise the largest castle complex in the world. Once the seat of kings and princes, Prague Castle is home All Photos Courtesy of ©Prague Information Service, www.praguewelcome.cz

today to the president of the Czech Republic. Be sure to stroll down

Renaissance to Baroque and Art Nouveau. Explore winding me-

the Golden Lane, where exhibits in tiny, recently restored houses de-

dieval lanes. Linger at an outdoor cafe. The checklist of can’t-miss

pict the lives of castle guards and others who lived there from the

sights is rather short, so the pressure is off. Happily for visitors, the

16th century to the 1950s. Some houses are souvenir shops with

old center is substantially traffic-free.

wooden toys, marionettes, jewelry and books relating to the lane’s

Old Town Square, at the heart of the action, is a good place to

most famous citizen—author Franz Kafka.

start. Expect a global street party from morning to night. A rousing

A visit to central Prague is not complete without walking around

cafe scene and clip-clopping horse carriages set the tone in what

Wenceslas Square (named after the “good king” from the Christmas

was the city’s market area as early as the 11th century.

carol) in New Town. Actually a broad boulevard, it is the city’s com-

The square’s main attraction, and perhaps the city’s most famous

mercial heart; the equestrian statue of the king is a common meet-

sight, is the crowd-pleasing Astronomical Clock built into the facade

ing place. Demonstrations during the 1969 Prague Spring uprising

of the 14th century Old Town Hall. It doesn’t tell time, but it does give

and 1989 Velvet Revolution took place there. The nearby Museum

the month, season, zodiac signs, course of the sun and Christian

of Communism looks at everyday life under Russian rule.

holidays. On the hour a skeleton appears and chimes the bell, fol-

The dynamic spirit pervading Prague today is reflected in the

lowed by a parade of the 12 Apostles. For views of the square, climb

young people who speak English and are tuned in to Anglo-Ameri-

or take the elevator to the top of the Town Hall. The square’s cen-

can culture. Combine the medieval monuments and fairy-tale flavor

terpiece is the memorial to Jan Hus, the Czech religious martyr who

with the infectious buzz, and you’ve got one of the must-see cities in

was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1415.

Eastern Europe. LGT

Prague’s Jewish Quarter, an easy walk from Old Town Square, holds the best collection of Jewish historical monuments in Europe, though the old ghetto (dating from medieval times) is only a fraction of its former self. Scattered over three

Groups & Special Events Experts to

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blocks are several synagogues-turned-museums

• CUSTOM DESIGNED ITINERARIES

focused on Jewish life and religious customs. An exhibition in the 1535 Pinkas Synagogue remembers the 80,000 Czech and Moravian Jews who died in WWII concentration camps; their

• DESTINATION & THEME EXPERTS

Golf

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New Synagogue, built in 1270, is the oldest synagogue in Eastern Europe. The quarter’s most memorable sight is the Old Jewish Cemetery, a jumble of 12,000 tombstones crammed into a

Culinary & Wine

Cultural & Historical

small space—it’s actually 12 to 15 layers deep.

Many of the buildings survived the Nazi regime because of Hitler’s perverse plan to create a museum dedicated to the vanished Jewish race.

Today there are fewer than 2,000 Jews in Prague.

Women Only

Walking

Some would say Charles Bridge is Prague’s top attraaction. Linking Old Town with the Lesser Quarter, it’s more than just a bridge, though.

Lined with Baroque statues of saints and marked by towers at each end, the pedestrians-only span over the Vltava River bustles with vendors, mu-

Conferences

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ASIA EUROPE HOLY LANDS SOUTH PACIFIC LATIN AMERICA AFRICA

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sicians and tourists. The bridge is the perfect LeisureGroupTravel.com

August 2014 17

on location: west ❖

Flavors of the Pacific Northwest When it comes to culinary prowess, five cities in Washington and Oregon really step up to the plate

Savoring the fruit of the vine in Washington’s Yakima Valley wine country

By Daniel Morrrill

M

ost people associate the Pacific Northwest with two

Portland, Oregon

things—beautiful scenery and rain. While the weather is

With more than 600 food carts, the streets of Portland are filled

often overstated, the natural settings and faithful watering

with plenty of competing smells. While other cities’ food carts often

of the farmland help to make the region a foodie’s paradise.

move around, Portland’s street-side snack shops are congregated

From downtown farmers’ markets and food carts to countryside

into stationary “pods.” There are eight large pods of food carts in

farm to table hotspots and hidden vineyards, there is something for

Portland, and many other smaller pods and individual carts sprinkled

every hungry and thirsty group. It’s never hard to find good food and

throughout the city. Walking tours, such as “Flavor Street” and “Fork-

drink—what’s hard is finding a restaurant, winery or brewpub with a

town Food Tours,” allow groups to visit several pods and sample the

bad view. Your group will leave a Washington or Oregon food tour

best of Portland’s food carts in just a couple of hours.

with plenty of great pictures and most likely a few extra pounds to remember the trip by.

While everywhere in the Pacific Northwest seems to be serving something good, five cities stand out for group tours.

18 August 2014

While many cities crown themselves as the “Beer Capital of the World,” Portland actually has a right to the title. The 53 breweries within the city limits give Portland more than any other city on earth.

Popular stops for groups include the BridgePort Brewing Company LeisureGroupTravel.com

Pike Place Market, a food lover’s dream, is one of Seattle’s prime tourist magnets.

Howard Frisk

and produce stands on the famous cobblestone street during the summer months and within the arcade during the winter. “Chefs on the Cobblestone” cooking demonstrations run during the summer and always draw a crowd. Camera-toting visitors congregate at the Pike Place Fish Market to wait for “flying fish.” Well, the fish may not have wings, but when someone orders a whole king salmon or another variety of fish, a fishmonger in slick coveralls and rubber boots removes it from the mound of ice and tosses it to the counter attendant, calling out the order in a time-honored ritual.

The market is also home to the original Starbucks Coffee shop. The multi-billion-dollar company now has more than 5,000 franchises in over 50 countries, but it all started in 1971 on 1st and Pike in Seattle. The inside of the coffee shop has been re-

Yakima Valley Tourism

modeled, but the outside looks the same as it did when it first opened.

Miner’s Landing at Pier 57 is a popular dining spot for locals and tourists alike. Once an integral part of shipping gold during the gold rush, the pier is now home to three seafood restaurants and a and Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, both of which offer tours

bakery, all with outdoor seating and great views of Puget Sound

and tasting trays. While no longer a brewery, Henry’s Tavern on 12th

and the Seattle skyline. For scenic views, there isn’t a better spot

Avenue pays homage to one of Portland’s beer legends, Henry Wein-

to dine than SkyCity atop Seattle’s most iconic landmark, the

hard, by using his original brewery as a restaurant and bar.

Space Needle.

Portland is also well out in front of the “Brew and View” trend, already with six movie theaters that offer local brews, wine and pub food. Each theater has its own personality that fits with the types of movies, food and drinks that it serves.

Spokane, Washington Spokane was originally settled as a trading post for animal furs, but today the city is more focused on the meat. With the fertile Spokane Valley directly to the east, Spokane’s restaurants don’t

Seattle, Washington

have to look far for quality meat and fresh produce.

Farmers’ markets don’t often become famous, but Pike Place

Though inland, Spokane still offers great water-view dining on

Market has cemented itself as one of the most well-known in the

the shores of the Spokane River. Anthony’s is a seafood fixture in

world. This nine-acre market operates 362 days a year with seafood

Washington, and its location overlooking the Spokane Falls is a

LeisureGroupTravel.com

August 2014 19

Obtain Washington and Oregon visitor guides and itineraries and contact group-friendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

Visit Spokane

travelportland.com

on location: west ❖

Indulge at one of two Voodoo Doughnut locations in Portland and enjoy healthy, creative fare at Spokane’s Santé Restaurant & Charcuterie.

local favorite. Fresh fish arrives at Anthony’s daily, including Alaskan silver salmon and ahi.

Venture outside the city for a taste, literally, of the country. Walters’ Fruit Ranch offers tours of its orchards during the summer and

Clinkerdagger’s patio is right over the edge of the river and fea-

fall. The sprawling ranch grows strawberries, cherries, raspberries,

tures views of the city skyline. Perfect land-and-sea combos include

tomatoes, apricots, peaches, nectarines, corn, apples, pumpkins and

grilled smoked sirloin and jumbo prawns, rock salt-roasted prime rib

squash, so something is always in season. Nestled between the

and grilled salmon, and char-grilled filet mignon and lobster tail. If

snaking Lake Roosevelt and the mountains, Whitestone Vineyards

kicking back on a riverside lawn with a craft brew sounds good for

and Winery delivers views as bold as its wine. Enjoy the tasting

your group, try NoLi Brewhouse, which specializes in hoppy IPAs

room, sprawl out on the lawn and listen to live music or tour the bar-

and sweet ales.

reling facility, all with one—or a few—glasses of award-winning wine.

Ben Tobin/Visit Spokane

Outdoor dining is an idyllic summer pastime in downtown Spokane, Washington.

20 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Eugene’s Saturday Market offers the pick of Willamette Valley produce.

Eugene, Oregon Eugene has always been an adventure

groups can visit a number of craft breweries and cideries that get their ingredients straight from

tourism hotbed, and as a city constantly bom-

the valley, as well as tour the American Hop Mu-

barded by mountain climbers, whitewater rafters

seum. The quaint downtown has its own set of

and sandboarders, boring food would never fly.

Eugene restaurants often have European and Asian influences that utilize the fruits, vegetables and nuts that thrive in the lush Willamette Valley farmland.

Agate Alley Laboratory prides itself on its alwayschanging menu and ingredients exclusively from local farms.

wine tasting rooms, along with plenty of boutiques, galleries and restaurants.

Even with so many vineyards and hops farms, Yakima Valley still somehow manages to be littered with u-pick farms, orchards and farmers’markets, just like the rest of the great Pacific Northwest. LGT

Fusion experiments include ratatouille paninis, horseradish salmon, summer squash nachos and crab cake sandwiches. 1285 Restobar is a casual Italian cafe that uses local organic produce and free-range organic meat. The meat lovers pizza features handmade Italian and linguisa sausage to go along with pepperoni and salami.

The bus ride into the city will no doubt pass a smattering of farmstands, which offer produce straight from the fields behind them.

Many local farms let groups do their own picking of cherries, pears, apples, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, plums, squash, pumpkins and even nuts.

Adventure seekers and food tours alike are always satisfied by Eugene’s offering of local spirits. No Oregon city is complete without a few craft breweries, and Eugene boasts 20 of its own. In addition, downtown wine bars feature wines from wineries throughout Willamette Valley.

Yakima, Washington Yakima and the surrounding Yakima Valley live up to everything you would expect from Washington’s wine country. Located in the heart of the state, Yakima Valley is home to over 100 wineries, 13,000 acres of vineyards and 300 days of sunshine a year. Mountains on each side of the river valley offer picturesque views while strolling the vineyards, relaxing in a tasting room or enjoying an outdoor concert.

Yakima Valley veterans have developed numerous tasting routes, which groups can follow to get a little taste of all the valley has to offer.

While mostly known for its wine, more than 75 percent of the hops grown in the United States come from Yakima Valley. In town LeisureGroupTravel.com

August 2014 21

on location: midwest ❖

SAMPLING

Northeast Ohio Branch out from Cleveland and discover what the region has to offer

By Lauren Reiniger

S

ome of the nation’s best kept secrets can be found in North-

of Northeast Ohio may seem off the beaten path, I’m willing to bet

east Ohio. Did you know Shawshank Redemption was

your group will have a more memorable experience just outside

filmed there? It’s also home to the one and only Smucker’s

Cleveland, but it’d be more fun to put your money down at the track

headquarters, museum and café—score points with your group and

and casino in Northfield Park.

give them the chance to take home something sweet. Since the region is situated on the edge of Lake Erie, there are countless water activities for your group to enjoy as well.

South of Cleveland Northfield Park, about a half-hour drive south of Cleveland, fea-

Cleveland is Northeast Ohio’s largest and best-

tures year-round live harness racing and the Hard Rock Rocksino.

known city, so of course it’d be easy for you to

Your group will love being treated like rock stars with the casino’s

plan a group trip there. Though the rest

“Backstage Bus Bays,” where they will step off the motorcoach and

22 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Another half-hour southwest leads to the Akron Art Museum, which showcases art dating back to 1850 and visiting then continue inside to play the games, see

shows featuring national and international collec-

the show and dine in the Hard Rock Cafe.

tions. Akron is also home to National Historic Land-

Travel just seven miles south to enjoy the great out-

mark Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, the nation’s

doors at Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio’s only

sixth largest home open to the public. The estate

national park. Brandywine Falls is one of the park’s most popular attractions, with 65-foot cascades and rocks more than

was built between 1912 and 1915 for F. A. Seiberling, founder of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

350 million years old. Also located in the Cuyahoga Valley, near Bath,

Chippewa Lake Water Ski Show Team, located in Norton 13

is Hale Farm & Village, an outdoor living history museum depicting

miles southwest of Akron, is the state’s only competitive water ski

19th century life.

Kent State University, a half-hour southeast of Cuyahoga Valley

show team and puts on free shows all summer. At the JM Smucker Company in Orrville, 15 miles south of Norton, taste products, walk

National Park, is the site of the Kent State shootings where National

through the heritage museum, shop and enjoy ice cream with any

Guardsmen shot and killed unarmed student protesters in 1970.

of Smucker’s toppings on an outdoor patio.

Learn more about this turning point in history at the May 4 Visitors

Just eight miles south of Orrville is Lehman’s Hardware,

Center and see memorial sites and statues with original bullet holes

a brilliantly unorthodox hardware store serving the agri-

from that day.

cultural community. Originally specializing in Amish prod-

The Inn at Brandywine Falls is a bed and breakfast overlooking the cascades in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

LeisureGroupTravel.com

August 2014 23

on location: midwest ❖ in North Canton. While you’re in the area, check out Canton Classic Car Museum’s memorabilia, gift shop and more than 40 vehicles including a 1901 Oldsmobile. National First Ladies’ Library/First Ladies Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park

National Historic Site in Canton offers guided group tours and covers every First Lady in the U.S., from Martha Washington to Michelle Obama. Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame offers self-guided tours of the interactive exhibits that tell the story of pro Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park features more than 2,000 video slot machines.

football and its players.

East of Cleveland

ucts, it is a famous source for non-electronic

area; Wayne County is one of the three

goods. The museum-like quality of this huge

counties that makes up the “Gateway to

A half-hour east of bustling Cleveland lies

store beckons tourists to shop for and see

Amish Country,” home to the world’s largest

one of Mother Nature’s sanctuaries, the

demonstrations of these products. Lehman’s

Amish community.

Holden Arboretum. Covering 3,600 acres

also features a bookstore that shows films

Take a short drive eastbound to shop for

in Kirtland, it is the largest arboretum in the

on Amish life, complete with a café. Get in

fine chocolates and take a guided tour of

nation. Continue your nature adventure by

touch with Amish culture while you’re in the

Fannie May & Harry London Chocolates

traveling 10 miles northeast to Grand River,

• Like shopping in the good, ole’ days!

• Everything you need under ONE ROOF • Museum-quality antiques and hand-carved artwork on display • Housewares, hand tools, tin toys, locally produced food and snacks, grills, stoves and accessories Conveniently located four miles south of Rt. 30 between Wooster and Canton – just a few miles from P. Graham Dunn and Smucker’s.

Contact info@lehmans.com and put Group Tours in the subject line.

On the Square in Kidron, Ohio IN THE HEART OF AMISH COUNTRY • OPEN EVERY DAY EXCEPT SUNDAY

»

LEHMANS.COM 800.438.5346

«

Mansfield & Richland County CVB

Pretend to be an inmate at the prison where Shawshank Redemption was filmed.

where your group will find their sea legs on a fishing charter trip on Lake Erie with Rampageous Fishing Charters.

A trip to Northeast Ohio wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be complete without exploring Amish Country.

An Amish tour through Middlefield will have you traveling back roads to learn about this culture by visiting shops, enjoying lunch in an Amish home and appreciating the simple way of life.

on location: midwest ❖

Holiday Traditions Live Here!

Visit “America’s Museum” in Youngstown; the Butler Institute of American Art, dedicated in 1919 as the first American art museum, shows

November 7, 2014 - January 4, 2015

more than 20,000 individual works created by

Book Today!

American citizens. Finish a day in Northeast

(800) 733-2077 cincymuseum.org/groups

the Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown

Ohio by stargazing and watching a laser show at State University.

West of Cleveland Some of the country’s best wineries are in Northeast Ohio. Drive a half-hour west from Cleveland to taste and tour at Klingshirn Winery in Avon Lake, then stroll along Lake Erie just minutes away.

Feel the heat 14 miles southwest of Avon Lake at Lorain County Speedway to watch races and fireworks. While in Lorain, pay homage to the abolitionists who helped slaves escape to Canada at the Lorain Underground Railroad Station 100 Monument and Reflective Garden.

Drive farther southwest to find yourself in Mansfield at the prison where Shawshank Redemption was filmed. The Shawshank Trail takes your group on a self-guided drive through 14 filming sites in the area. Your group can shop for Shawshank souvenirs and learn fun facts about the movie.

Take some time to discover what else there is to do throughout Northeast Ohio. If you like the idea of spending time outdoors, there are more than 70 golf courses across the region and plenty of places to fish. Of course there are department stores and factory outlets, but true Ohio-style shopping calls for flea and farmers markets, collectibles and antique stores, and arts and crafts made for sale right before your Pro Football Hall of Fame

eyes. The foodies in your group will be interested in a Northeast Ohio (NEO) Food Tour or

Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame last summer underwent a major renovation and expansion.

any of the dozens of wineries in the region.

The nice thing about Northeast Ohio is that it’s not your typical tourist spot—you will avoid long lines, obnoxious crowds and congested traffic, allowing your group to have a more intimate, fun-filled and relaxing trip.

For help in planning your next trip, contact Adventures in Northeast Ohio, adventuresinnortheastohio.com. LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com

Can memories be measur measured ed by db y the sc scoopful? oopful?

Where can I find the Perfect Créme puff? puff Fr From om legendary créme puffs tto o behind-the-sc behind-the-scenes enes culinary ttours, ours, C Columbus olumbus is full of one-of-a-kind ffood ood e experiences xperiences y your our gr group oup w won’t on’t soon fforget. orget. S Start tart planning y your our C Columbus olumbus visit ttoday oday a att e experiencecolumbus.com/tours xperiencecolumbus.com/ /tours or call 800-354-2657.

800-354-2657.

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on location: midwest ❖

MILWAUKEE

r e m m u S

Celebrates

st German Fe e the last takes plac in July. full weekend

LIKE NO PLACE ELSE

By Randy Mink

ummertime is party time in Milwaukee, the “City of Festivals.” Al-

S

most every weekend a major celebration is taking place downtown or nearby, so chances are there will be something

happening when your group is in town. The Wisconsin State Fair is in Milwaukee, too.

Henry Maier Festival Park, a 75-acre expanse along the shores of Lake

All Photos Courtesy of VISIT Milwaukee

Michigan, plays host to many of the bashes. Best known as the site of

ith hot w s le z iz s n o The seas ethnic pride t, n le ta l a ic s mu h from the s e fr ts a e tr and tasty p fryer grill and dee 28 August 2014

Summerfest, the breezy downtown playground also becomes a portal to the world as some of the nation’s biggest ethnic celebrations draw crowds looking to be Italian, Irish, German or Polish for a day.

Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, attracts almost a million people the last week in June and first week in July. The 11-day party spotlights more than 800 acts on 10 permanent ground stages and a 23,000-seat amphitheater that hosts national headliners. Among the hot LeisureGroupTravel.com

French-themed celebrations. Revelers enjoy Mardi Gras parades, entertainment on four stages, and strolling musicians, mimes and stilt walkers. Attracting around 200,000 visitors and spread over eight city blocks in the East Town neighborhood, the free, fourday soiree also offers wine-tasting events, chef demos and plenty of French and Cajun cuisine. An international marketplace features more than 90 merchant booths. Other events: Storm the Bastille 5k Run/Walk and the Waiter/Waitress Race in which teams of servers from competing restaurants balance wine-filled glasses in a relay race littered with obstacles. The signature, 43foot-high Eiffel Tower replica offers hourly light shows. (easttown.com) Mid-July’s three-day Festa Italiana, the country’s largest Italian cultural event, encourages everyone to play, eat and be Italian. Nine stages in Maier Festival Park host everything from traditional music and opera to jazz and rock. Italian Idol spotlights additional talent. Fest-goers also can test their bocce ball skills, take a romantic gondola ride, attend celebrity chef sessions and enjoy wine tasting. Nearly 40 food vendors keep

stomachs

happy,

dishing out rice balls, Italian sausage sandwiches, pasta, fried eggplant strips, calamari, paninis and cannoli. A colorful religious procession

follows

Sunday

mass. Fireworks explode over the lakefront every night. (fesThe amphitheater at Henry Maier Festival Park spotlights national headliners during Summerfest. Right: Bring your appetite to German Fest and dig into bratwurst, sauerkraut and other ethnic favorites.

taitaliana.com) On the last full weekend in July, grab a stein and cool off with your favorite brew at

names that performed this year:

German Fest. This one, too, is

Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Brad Pais-

in Maier Festival Park and en-

ley with Darius Rucker, Outkast and the Dave

joys biggest-in-the-nation status.

Matthews Band. Besides concerts, Summerfest keeps guests happy

Bring your appetite and dig into

with four shopping marketplaces, a giant Ferris wheel and other

bratwurst, roast pork sandwiches, potato pancakes, sauerkraut,

rides, and activities like paddleboating in the lagoon. Some 45 food

strudel and Black Forest cake. Watch craftsmen demonstrate Old

and drink vendors offer everything from ribs to fajitas. (summer-

World artistry, tap your feet to a brass band and shop for German

fest.com)

imports in the marketplace. Besides ethnic entertainment, concert

The parade of world cultures at Maier Festival Park begins with

headliners this year were Bret Michaels, Plain White T’s and Three

mid-June’s Polish Fest, billed as “America’s largest Polish festival.”

Dog Night. Special features include a Dachshund Derby, home-

Enjoy folk dance ensembles, a nonstop polka stage and perform-

brewing competition and human Glockenspiel. (germanfest.com)

ances by gifted pianists in the Chopin Youth Piano Competition. Also

Arab World Fest takes over Maier Festival Park the second

see Polish craft and cooking demonstrations, cultural exhibits and a

weekend in August. Have your hand decorated with henna, your pic-

marketplace with Polish products. Come hungry and bite into Polish

ture taken in a traditional Bedouin setting or your name written in

sausages and savor pierogis with every possible filling. Relax over

Arabic script as you enjoy the sights and sounds of 22 Arab coun-

drinks in the Tyskie Beer Garden or Sobieski Vodka Lounge. (pol-

tries. Ride a camel, revel in the tales of the 1001 Nights and shop for

ishfest.org)

traditional Arab crafts, including rugs, jewelry and musical instru-

Francophiles gather at downtown’s Cathedral Square Park the second weekend in July for Bastille Days, one of the nation’s largest LeisureGroupTravel.com

ments, in the colorful “souk,” or marketplace. Guests enjoy foods like hummus, falafel and shish kebab. (arabworldfest.com) August 2014 29

on location: midwest ❖ The Wisconsin State Fair, an 11-day, early-

100 acts on 16 stages, visitors to Irish Fest

August extravaganza in suburban West Allis,

(Aug. 14-17) will find roaming performers in tra-

gets visitors in touch with the state’s farm her-

ditional costumes, craftspeople at work, cultural

itage. See pig races and milking demonstra-

exhibits, Irish plays, a marketplace and daily

tions, roam the SpinCity amusement area, and

tug-of-war matches. They also can try their hand

take a magic carpet ride down the Giant Slide.

at hurling and watch hurling games. The Celtic

Main Stage headliners this year include Aretha

Sports Pub features six screens to watch some

Franklin, Alabama, Lady Antebellum and Peter

of Ireland's best sports, including hurling, Gaelic

Frampton. There are 30 free entertainment

football, boxing and rugby. (irishfest.com)

stages as well. Be sure to indulge in the famous

Groups can spice things up at Mexican Fi-

Original Cream Puff. These iconic pastries, a

esta (Aug. 22-24), a south-of-the-border expe-

fair tradition dating back to 1924, feature a

rience that brings the flavors of Mexico to

mountain of sweet cream sandwiched between

Milwaukee’s lakefront. Elaborately costumed

a scrumptious puff shell. An average of 350,000

folk dancers, rousing mariachi bands, cultural

is consumed each year. Also feast on deep-

exhibits and a Mexican craft showcase highlight

fried cheese curds or roasted sweet corn drip-

the event. Mouth-watering tacos and other Mex-

ping with butter. Groups of more than 50

ican specialties keep the crowds well fed. Dare-

receive discounts on SpinCity wristbands, food

devils enter the jalapeno-eating contest.

vouchers and even tickets for cream puffs. (wis-

(mexicanfiesta.org)

tatefair.com)

On the weekend after Labor Day (Sept. 5-

In mid-August, fiddles, bagpipes, Irish bands

7), Indian Summer Festival, the largest of its

and Celtic dancers keep toes tapping as the na-

kind in the country, concludes the lakefront’s

tion’s largest Irish festival brings the Emerald

summer-long series of ethnic celebrations with

Isle to Milwaukee’s lakefront. Besides more than

insights into both traditional and contemporary American Indian culture. Visitors can see demonstrations of lacrosse, which has its roots in the customs of Na-

Celebrating 50 Years of Klopcic Family Hospitality!

tive American tribes, and vil-

Superb Dining • Professional Broadway Shows Beautiful Gift Shops • Award-Winning Hospitality

lages of Wisconsin tribes

2015 Season On Sale Now! The Sensational 70’s • The Wizard of Oz • All Shook Up Guys On Ice • Pump Boys and Dinettes • West Side Story A Wonderful Life - The Musical

like the Menominee, Oneida and Ojibwa. Dazzling dancing and drumming highlight the competition pow wows.

Foods include frybread, the traditional Native American flatbread, topped with seasoned chicken or beef, powdered sugar or honey. Indian tacos, wild rice casserole and soup, bison burgers and walleye strips also tempt fair-goers. The Native marketplace, with more than 100 vendors from across North America, has jewelry, pottery,

artwork,

regalia,

clothing and music CDs.

Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 • 800-477-9505 • www.firesidetheatre.com 30 August 2014

(indiansummer.org) LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com

whole crowd has never been so easy. With Planning a group tour that will please the the world along with exciting attractions the largest concentration of waterparks in is one place everyone can agree on.

Dells nsin Wisco tions, moda accom e and ďŹ&#x201A;exibl om | (800) 223-3557 dells.c s@wis group | m ells.co MeetInTheD

on location: south ❖

ARKANSAS’ Captivating Northwest Corner

Highlights include Ozark beauty spots and towns like Bentonville, Fayetteville, Eureka Springs and Fort Smith

By Dave Bodle

A perch in the historic Basin Park Hotel affords views of Eureka Springs and its scenic surroundings in the Ozark Highlands of Northwest Arkansas.

T

here’s much for tour groups to enjoy in Northwest Arkansas—

Multi-generational visitors will find plenty to do in Hobbs State

thriving communities, scenic splendor in the Ozarks and a

Park-Conservation Area. Located just west of Rogers, it offers

bounty of surprising tour options, from historic to heroic.

exhibits, wildlife viewing, hiking trails and a visitor center. Park

Offering a tantalizing combination of recreational pursuits and groupfriendly attractions, a memorable trip awaits your gang.

rangers provide guided tours.

At Beaver Lake and Hobbs State Park, along with Devil’s Den

Beaver Lake, located in the Ozark Highlands, attracts fishermen,

State Park, Buffalo National River and other spots in the Ozark

birdwatchers, hikers and boaters. Resorts, cabins, shops and restau-

Highlands, you can certainly get your nature on. However, a trip

rants are available, as are outfitters and marinas. Just below Beaver

down I-540 from Bella Vista at the Missouri state line to Fort Smith

Dam, White River trout fishing is popular. The lake is near Rogers,

at the Oklahoma border offers charming communities and more

Eureka Springs, Fayetteville and Springdale.

options.

32 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Shop the Farmers’ Market in Fayetteville’s downtown square and get a taste of the Wild West at Fort Smith’s Visitor Center, a former bordello.

Simple Pleasures Event Center in Bella Vista is in a lovely land-

and the gift shop is a delight.

scaped setting that mirrors the lush beauty of the surrounding area.

In Springdale the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History explores

It’s a popular dining and entertainment stop for tour groups. Groups

the rich history of Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains. Seven historic build-

step back in time as they enjoy a homemade meal among autos

ings comprise a handicap-accessible campus of artifacts, photo-

from the 1920s-1970s and other memorabilia. Simple Pleasures is

graphs and frequently changing exhibits. Guided tours can be

just minutes from Bentonville and Rogers attractions.

scheduled.

Plan to spend a few days in Bentonville. The Wal-Mart Visitors

The Arkansas & Missouri Railroad operates numerous excur-

Center Museum has interactive exhibits on the origin and growth of

sions from its Springdale headquarters. A roundtrip to Van Buren

the Walton family’s business and its resounding success. It is located

with lunch and shopping downtown is the perfect way to enjoy the

on the site of Walton’s original 5 & 10 Store; admission is free. Allow

beauty of the region and historic Van Buren.

additional time for a stop at the nearby Spark Cafe Soda Fountain.

When you’re in Northwest Arkansas and particularly Fayetteville,

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in Novem-

understand you’re in Razorback country as this is home to the Uni-

ber 2011 and in less than three years its success has been nothing

versity of Arkansas. Don’t miss Dickinson Street in downtown Fayet-

short of astounding. Visitation has exceeded expectations. The mu-

teville, a lively mix of dining, shopping and history. A highlight of the

seum’s permanent collection spans American art genres from colo-

Dickinson Street experience is the Walton Arts Center, which pres-

nial times to the current day, and touring exhibitions are mounted

ents entertainers from around the world. The season runs from Sep-

regularly. Guided and audio tours are available. Large groups can re-

tember through May and a group program is available.

serve lunch, brunch (Sunday) or dinner at Eleven Restaurant. The museum and restaurant are open daily except Tuesday.

Bentonville’s Peel Mansion Museum & Heritage Gardens, dating from 1875, serves as a wonderful display of the time period.

The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, a collection of 12 themed gardens, includes the only butterfly house in the region. For both the intense gardener and those who simply enjoy natural beauty, there are guided tours, workshops, classes and lectures.

Event space is available for catered meals and teas. The free-ad-

Just an hour east of Fayetteville off I-540, Eureka Springs is

mission Museum of Native American History, divided into five time

known for its Victorian-era heritage. The downtown area and its un-

periods, chronicles America’s first inhabitants. The stylish rooms and

spoiled architecture are on the National Register of Historic Places.

suites at 21c Museum Hotel and culinary offerings of The Hive

Visitors have been welcomed since the late 1800s when they came

Restaurant are just part of the story. Opened in 2013, it is the first

for the purported healing power of the springs. Today groups enjoy

museum devoted to 21st century art.

Fans of the classic 1983 movie A Christmas Story may recall this conversation: Ralphie: I want an official Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot range model air rifle!

Mrs. Parker: No, you'll shoot your eye out.

Rogers is home to the Daisy Airgun Museum and the Red Ryder that Ralphie coveted. Filled with nostalgia, the museum details the history of the Daisy Company and has a gift shop with Daisy and movie items.

Also in Rogers is the War Eagle Mill, Arkansas’ only operating, water-powered gristmill. Group menus are available for the Bean Palace Restaurant, LeisureGroupTravel.com

All Photos Courtesy of Arkansas Dept. of Parks & Tourism

Visit the Fort Smith Trolley Museum and ride on a 1926 streetcar.

Northwest Arkansas crowd-pleasers include Bentonville’s Crystal Bridges Museum and Peel Mansion and Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville.

on location: south ❖

Changing Nation and Frontier Marshals. Fort Smith lends its self well

a narrated Beaver Lake cruise aboard the Belle of the Ozarks and

to the latter.

a show package combining the Pine Mountain Theater, Ozark Mountain Hoedown and Intrigue Theater.

Fort Smith was the gateway to the Old West and the place where Rooster Cogburn in True Grit began his search for Tom Chaney. The

Since 1968 The Great Passion Play has been performed in Eu-

movie was based on a real place, and Fort Smith’s very own “Miss

reka Springs and continues its 2014 season through selected dates

Laura,” portrayed by the CVB’s Carolyn Joyce in costume, will be

in October. New ownership is committed to the group industry and it’s

happy to greet your group and give a tour of the Visitor Center, a for-

reflected in the 2015 schedule already online. Groups also enjoy re-

mer bordello and the first to be placed on the National Register of

lated attractions, including the Bible Museum and Sacred Arts Mu-

Historic Places. Arrange for your group to have sarsaparilla and

seum.

peanuts in the bar area.

Arkansas’ second largest city has its roots in Southern hospitality

Be certain to include a tour of the Fort Smith Trolley Museum fol-

and Old West swagger. The new U.S. Marshals Museum is sched-

lowed by a ride on a 1926 streetcar. From high tea at the Clayton

uled to break ground this September on a site along the Arkansas

House and Miss Laura’s Players to Arkansas Wine Country and

River, with an expected opening in 2017. Planned exhibits will feature

the BrickCity shopping and dining emporium, there’s plenty to fill

the U.S. Marshals Hall of Honor and the galleries Marshals Today, A

your itinerary in Fort Smith. LGT

Clinton House Museum, Fayetteville

SCAN FOR TRIP IDEAS

Babe Ruth, Hot Springs Baseball Trail

P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home at Moss Mountain Farm, Roland

#VisitArkansas

WWII Japanese-American Internment Museum, McGehee

From viewing this season’s beautiful gardens to journeying back decades along the Baseball Trail or standing where Bill and Hillary Clinton got married, Arkansas is rich with culture and history for you to explore. FIND OUT MORE BY VISITING ArkansasGroupTravel.com OR CALLING 1-800-872-1259.

WELCOMING THE WORLD. Since opening its doors in 2004, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center has welcomed more than three million visitors from around the world. The Clinton Center is a world-class educational and cultural venue offering a variety of special events, exhibitions, educational programs and lectures throughout the year.

CLINTONPRESIDENTIALCENTER.ORG • 501-748-0419 Forty Two Full Service Restaurant 1200 President Clinton Ave. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. • Mon. – Fri.

Clinton Museum Store Official Store of the Clinton Center 610 President Clinton Ave. 10 a.m – 5:30 p.m. • Mon. – Sat. 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. • Sun.

on location: northeast ❖

Atlantic City boasts the most famous boardwalk in the world.

Atlantic City CVA

Boardwalk Bonanza Iconic wooden promenades along the Jersey Shore blend carnival thrills with beach blanket bliss and the flavor of yesteryear

By Paige K. Pope

Morey’s Piers delivers white-knuckle thrills in the Wildwoods.

Atlantic City - The Mother of All Boardwalks Atlantic City boasts not only the first, but the largest boardwalk and hosts more than 30 million visitors a year. The gaming capital of the East Coast, bouncing with energy 24 hours a day, switches from a sunny, splashing hangout in the day to a pulsating strip of activity at night. Its boardwalk is an icon of romance, nostalgia and just pure fun.

In 1883, a candy shop on the pier was flooded after a storm. The

othing is more New Jersey than the boardwalk. Miles of el-

evated planks in coastal resort areas are full of all the rides,

salty treat, saltwater taffy was born. Needless to say, the Atlantic City

N

store’s taffy was soaked in salt and after a young girl raved about the

games and food needed for a hot summer day or cool au-

Boardwalk is the best spot in the country to buy a bag of the scrump-

tumn evening. Popularized by film and literature, boardwalks have

tious candy. Absecon Lighthouse, built in 1857, is one of the oldest

endured over time and remain a staple for a laid-back coastal get-

lighthouses in America. Climb its 228 steps to witness sweeping

away or action-packed, carnival escape on the Eastern Seaboard.

views of the ocean and the Boardwalk.

In the late 1800s, the Jersey coast became a major tourist des-

Fun at the Boardwalk can be both classic or modern. Take a

tination. The sandy beaches brought in trails of tourists, and the

swing with the ocean breeze in your hair at the Atlantic City Minia-

tourists brought trails of sand back into the hotels. Therefore, in

ture Golf Course. At Central Pier Arcade and Speedway ride go-karts

1870, the first boardwalk was built in Atlantic City to keep the pesky

or play one of the hundreds of games and walk away with a prize

sand out of the hotel lobbies. The pragmatic barriers evolved into

tucked under your arm. At Steel Pier Amusement Park, in the midst

tourist favorites, transforming from practical promenades to amuse-

of a $102-million renovation project, you can scream your head off

ment fests. Here are five great New Jersey boardwalks:

on one of 25 extreme rides or enjoy views of the pier and ocean on

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on location: northeast ❖ the Ferris wheel. At night the lights come on and the adults come out to play at casinos with names like Resorts, Caesars, Trump and Tropicana. Resorts Casino Hotel last year unveiled Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Cafe, the beachside Landshark Bar & Grill and Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar.

Wildwoods – “Two Miles of Smiles” Near the southernmost tip of New Jersey, The Wild-

The Wildwoods Boardwalk explodes with Jersey-style fun all summer long.

woods—consisting of the towns of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood—all come together for one beach experience

Seaside Heights – Where the Wild Things Are

and boardwalk that is pure sensory overload. Revelers enjoy amuse-

The mile-long boardwalk at Seaside Heights, a favorite with

ment parks, water parks, casinos, carnival games, arcades, live music

young people, has two amusement piers, a water park, wall-to-wall

and fireworks.

arcades and lots of casual dining spots. There’s a constant flurry of

Scream your head off on three of the country’s best shoreline

movies, concerts and other live entertainment right on the beach.

roller coasters at Morey’s Piers—the Sea Serpent, Great Nor’easter

Throughout summer fireworks displays light up the shoreline. Wrap

and Great White. Take a dip in one of three water parks complete

up the evening with a visit to Bum Rogers Crabhouse for live music

with cabanas, waterfalls, speed slides and rope swings. Wildwoods

and a plate full of their famous garlic crab legs. Seaside stays active

is also the place for parasailing, boat tours, whale and dolphin sight-

year round with celebrations and parades for Columbus Day and St.

seeing, and water sports. The Doo Wop Experience Museum, full of

Patrick’s Day and a freezing Polar Plunge in the Atlantic to raise

neon light displays, pays homage to the Wildwoods of the 1950s and

funds for Special Olympics.

’60s. A ride on the Sightseer Tram Cars, originally built for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City, is the best way to take in the spirit of Wildwoods Boardwalk end to end.

Point Pleasant Beach – The Crowd Pleaser This mile-long boardwalk is the stop for family beach fun, with rides, miniature golf, games of chance and crystal-clean sand. At Jenkinson’s Aquarium see sharks, African penguins, alligators and harbor seals. The Festival of the Sea is a huge street fair thrown every September. Dine in a tropical setting at Martell’s Tiki Bar, known for its fresh seafood.

Spring Lake – The Hidden Gem Spring Lake Boardwalk is the coast’s bestkept secret. This quaint beach resort town retains the elegance and sophistication of an earlier age, inviting visitors to soak in its rich Victorian history. Pristine beaches flank the two-mile-long boardwalk, the longest commercial boardwalk in New Jersey. What the promenade lacks in bells and whistles is made up for in fine dining, peaceful views and smart shops.

Visit the Spring Lake Historical Society to learn more about the history that has sustained the boardwalk today. Reside in style at the Historic Inns of Spring Lake.

Choose the boardwalk that best fits your group’s needs and personalities. Each promenade promises something that will delight.

To explore the possibilities, log on to visitnj.org/ boardwalk. LGT 38 August 2014

LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: west â?&#x2013;

DOING

DURANGO

Mild to Wild offers rafting adventures on the Animas River.

Fanning out from this historic Colorado town, groups can savor Western ambience, sample Native American heritage and marvel at the incomparable majesty of the San Juan Mountains

By Randy Mink

roups venturing to the mountains of Southwest Colorado will strike it rich in the old stomping grounds of early miners. They may not find a vein of gold or silver, but they will come away with a mother lode of golden memories from this picture-postcard kingdom.

History fans will discover ancient cliff dwellings and revel in Old West lore, while a variety of activities awaits outdoor lovers amid alpine forests backed by soaring peaks. Stunning red mesas and deserts add to the scenic overload.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a captivating vista around every turn.

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The San Juans are the largest and most rugged collection of mountain peaks in Colorado with 13 above 14,000 feet. Geologically

during the gold and silver booms of the 1880s, and many of its downtown buildings date from that period.

younger than the rest of the Rockies, they present a more jagged

Just as Durango started as a railroad town, its chief claim to tourist

appearance than other ranges. Looping through the region is the

fame is one of the country’s premier excursion trains—the Durango

232-mile San Juan Skyway, one of the most beautiful drives in

& Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The train actually started in

America. A car rental advertisement described it as a place where

1882, serving prospectors eager to cash in on mineral deposits un-

“the road touches the sky.” The All-America Road travels over four

earthed in the San Juan Mountains. The steam-powered, coal-fired,

mountain passes and through two national forests, the Uncompaghre

1920s-era locomotives pull six gold-colored Victorian coaches

and San Juan, encompassing several different climate zones.

through the remote wilderness of San Juan National Forest, follow-

The town of Durango (pop. 17,000) makes a good base camp

ing the course of the Animas River through granite-faced canyons.

for exploring the area. Durango emerged as a transportation center

The train hugs the cliffsides as high as 350 feet above the water.

Sven Brunso/Durango Area Tourism Office

Ranches and outfitters welcome guests of all abilities on trail rides across the forest-covered slopes of the San Juan Mountains near Durango, Colorado.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

August 2014 41

Obtain Colorado visitor guides and itineraries and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

Along the 45-mile route between Durango and Silverton are majes-

evening option: Bar D Chuck-

tic peaks in all directions. In September aspen trees paint the moun-

wagon’s Western stage show and

tainsides a brilliant yellow. Some of the vintage cars are open-air.

supper, nine miles north of Du-

Silverton, once a boomtown full of bordellos and saloons, today

rango. Guests dine on rib-eye

lures tourists with shops and galleries in false-fronted buildings that

steaks and barbecue beef and

recall the Wild West. Both Silverton and Durango have railroad mu-

chicken with all the fixin’s followed

seums at the stations. Passengers on the nine-hour roundtrip excur-

by songs, stories and corny com-

sion get 2¼ hours to mosey around Silverton before reboarding the

edy from the Bar D Wranglers.

train headed back to Durango. Or they can ride one-way (3½ hours)

Also at Bar D are a Western town

and return by bus on the San Juan Skyway. For a peek into a real

with shops and a miniature train.

gold mine, your group can hop on an electric train at Silverton’s Old Hundred Gold Mine and pan for gold afterwards.

Sven Brunso/Durango Area Tourism Office

on location: west ❖

Downtown Durango

Hay wagon tours of the James

Ranch, in the Animas River Valley 10 miles north of Durango, give an

In Durango the best place to get a handle on area history is the

overview of this organic farming operation. Included are visits to the

Animas Museum, operated by the La Plata County Historical Soci-

vegetable and flower garden, dairy and artisan cheese making facil-

ety. The 1904 stone building, once a schoolhouse, has a turn-of-the-

ities, and lush pastures where beef and dairy cattle graze along with

20th-century classroom and an 1870s log cabin.

wild deer and elk.

Hugging cliffs high above the Animas River, the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad provides one of America’s most scenic train trips.

Shoppers gravitate to downtown’s Main Avenue. Along the stretch

Several ranches and outfitters in the area offer horseback trail

from the Durango & Silverton depot to 10th Street, you’ll find every-

rides. Other recreational activities include mountain and road biking,

thing from Western wear and imported gifts to kitchen wares and

kayaking, hiking and rock climbing. Durango Mountain Resort, 25

T-shirts. More than a dozen art galleries in Durango feature a range

miles north of Durango, is a big-time ski destination. Companies like

of works, from home furnishings, jewelry, photography and Western

Outlaw Tours and AAM’s Mild to Wild Rafting & Jeep Tours feature

art to museum-quality Indian paintings, pottery, baskets and weav-

whitewater rafting adventures and trips into the mountains to visit

ings. The non-profit Durango Arts Center mounts monthly fine arts

ghost towns, mining camps and waterfalls.

exhibits in its galleries.

The state-of-the-art Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum

You’ll notice that Durango, as home to the 4,500-student Fort

in Ignacio, 25 miles southeast of Durango, showcases Colorado’s

Lewis College, has a youthful feel. Known as Colorado’s “campus in

longest continuous residents—the Southern Ute Indian tribe. Next

the sky,” the college sits atop a mesa, its red-roofed buildings sur-

door, the 140-room Sky Ute Casino Resort offers slots, table games

rounded by cliffs and mountains. The Fort Lewis College Art Gallery

and a bingo hall, along with four dining options, a bowling center,

and Community Concert Hall bolster the town’s cultural offerings.

mini-golf and a “lazy river” pool. Other facilities include a fitness cen-

For old-fashioned evening entertainment in Durango, consider the

ter/gymnasium and arena for rodeos and other equestrian events.

Durango Melodrama and Vaudeville at the Henry Strater Theater

Native American culture also is preserved at Mesa Verde Na-

in the historic Strater Hotel on Main Avenue. Or stop by the hotel’s Di-

tional Park, 35 miles from Durango and one of Southwest Colorado’s

amond Belle Saloon, famous for its ragtime piano players, wait-

must-sees. Its ancient cliff dwellings, built into sheltered alcoves of

resses dressed as saloon girls and gilt-and-mahogany bar. Another

sandstone canyon walls, were home to the Ancestral Puebloans be-

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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: See the article on Colorado Springs at http://tinyurl.com/mj9yoqd

tween 600 and 1300 A.D. Spruce Tree House, one of the largest and best preserved of the 600 dwellings that remain, can be reached via a short paved trail. Others are accessible only by ladder on ranger-led tours. Mesa Top Loop Road provides views of about 40 cliff dwellings from canyon-rim lookouts.

Another popular excursion from Durango goes to the quaint Victorian town of Ouray, the northern terminus of the Million Dollar Highway, a scenically spectacular section of the San Juan Skyway that starts in Silverton. Cut from nearly vertical cliffs, the highway includes many overlooks. Ouray is known for its hot springs pool, waterfalls and stunning views. Nearby, the posh ski town of Telluride draws visitors year-round with its festivals, restaurants and boutiques.

With Durango as the hub of the spoke, colorful slices of Western history and some of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most spellbinding scenery lie within easy reach. Throw in Native American heritage and a wide range of outdoor activities, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got the elements for a perfect itinerary in the mountains of Southwest Colorado. LGT

Salem, Massachusetts

S ’ A C I R E S M A M U SU E M E E S SU T M

House of the Seven Gables he House of the Seven Gables, which constitutes its own National Historic Landmark District, was built in 1668 and is the oldest surviving 17th century wooden mansion in New England. The stately TurnerIngersoll Mansion (with a secret staircase) inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic novel of the same name. The author’s transplanted birthplace sits just feet away from the estate.

Also on the grounds are the 1655 Retire Beckett House, an 18th century granite seawall and seaside gardens. (7gables.org)

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Denver, Colorado

Visitors to the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock can experience a state dinner, peek into the Oval Office and relive events of the 1990s.

useums are orderly sanctuaries that give us a chance to pause and reflect, to step out of the everyday world and delve into history, admire timeless creations of human expression or just get wrapped up in nostalgia. In their galleries we find exhibits that awe, amuse and stretch our imaginations. With computer stations, hands-on activities, videos and giantscreen movies, today’s state-of-the-art museums entertain us as well.

These storehouses of knowledge and stuff, more popular than ever with tour planners, roll out the welcome mat for groups. Highlighted here are museums that will enhance any itinerary.

M

“An amazing experience! This museum is a national treasure.”

– The Bentons, Drexel Hill, PA

Only in Maine. Only at MMM! 䡵

Life-size sculpture of largest wooden sailing ship Wyoming 䡵 One-of-a-kind historic shipyard 䡵 Indoor galleries & outdoor exhibits 䡵 Group tours & exclusive activities available 䡵 Low group rates; driver, guide comps

243 Washington Street • Bath, Maine • 207-443-1316 • www.MaineMaritimeMuseum.org 44 August 2014

Denver Art Museum he Denver Art Museum, an architectural landmark in downtown Denver, is one of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast. Its more than 70,000 works of art are divided between 10 permanent collections--African, American Indian, Asian, European and American, modern and contemporary, pre-Columbian, photography, Spanish Colonial, textile and Western American art. The world-exclusive exhibition Brilliant: Cartier in the 20th Century (Nov. 16, 2014 to March 15, 2015) will feature jewelry, timepieces, and decorative objects. (denverartmuseum.org)

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LeisureGroupTravel.com

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal he Cincinnati Museum Center, one of the top cultural attractions in the Midwest, includes the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater and Cincinnati Historical Society Library. At the giant-screen theater from Oct. 10 to Feb. 12, 2015, the eye-opening movie Jerusalem tells the story of the ancient city by following three young Jerusalemites and their families—Jewish, Christian and Muslim. (cincymuseum.org)

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Winter Park, Florida

Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art ouis Comfort Tiffany was America’s most renowned stained-glass artist at the turn of the 20th century, but few know that his portfolio also includes brilliant works of pottery, jewelry and paintings. Here, groups will see esteemed works such as his chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago as well as architectural gems from his Laurelton Hall estate in Long Island. Visitors will also see decorative art pieces from other late 19th and early 20th century American artists. (morsemuseum.org)

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A M E R I C A’S M U S T - S E E M U S E U M S Green Bay, Wisconsin

National Railroad Museum et up close and personal with some of the most famous trains in history, including Gen. Eisenhower’s World War II command train, a 1924 Pullman sleeping car and the Union Pacific Big Boy, the world’s largest steam locomotive. You can even dine like a rail rider with the hobo box lunches the museum provides as part of some group packages. Train rides on vintage equipment are available from May through October. (nationalrrmuseum.org)

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Bath, Maine

Maine Maritime Museum xplore Maine’s rich maritime heritage at the Maine Maritime Museum, located along the Kennebec River. Hundreds of artifacts tell the state’s seafaring story, including the history of lobstering. An intact turn-of-the-20th-century shipyard and Victorian-era shipyard owner’s home bring the past to life. Watch modern ships come and go from the nearby active waterfront, and see New England’s largest sculpture – a full-size representation of the largest wooden sailing vessel ever built, the Wyoming. Seasonal trolley tours and lighthouse/nature cruises are available. (mainemaritimemuseum.org)

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Mashantucket, Connecticut

Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center he Mashantucket Pequot Museum seeks to further the public’s knowledge and understanding of the richness and diversity of Native American culture by bringing the history of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation to life. Visitors learn through fascinating dioramas, interactive computer stations and videos the natural and cultural history of the Eastern Woodland tribes.

The building itself is in harmony with its surroundings, embracing the tree line and tunneling below the ground. Outdoors is a recreated Pequot farmstead. (pequotmuseum.org)

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee Art Museum he Milwaukee Art Museum, with more than 30,000 works of art, features one of the largest collections of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as some of the nation’s best holdings of American decorative arts, German Expressionism and folk, Haitian and modern American art.

Art in the 40 galleries is rotated regularly. The building itself, with its iconic sunscreen resembling a ship’s sail, has become a landmark on the Lake Michigan shoreline. (mam.org)

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Dallas, Texas

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza he Sixth Floor Museum building is better known by its old name—the Texas School Book Depository. Here, in the very building from which President John F. Kennedy was shot on Nov. 22, 1963, see exhibits relating to the assassination and its legacy. The sixth floor is devoted to a permanent exhibition on the memory of our 35th president, while the seventh hosts temporary exhibits on Kennedy and life in the 1960s. (jfk.org)

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Connecticut’s Premiere Native Museum “One of the hidden gems of the state ... it rivals anything in the nation.” connecticutmag.com

• Memorable life-size 16th c. Pequot village • 4 acres of unique interactive exhibits • Themed guided tours • Educational programs and craft workshops • 18-story observation tower • Libraries, gift shop, restaurant, and free Wi-Fi 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT 06338

pequotmuseum.org

Special pricing available: contact Kathy at (860) 396-6839 or kdavis@pequotmuseum.org

A M E R I C A’S M U S T - S E E M U S E U M S Washington, D.C.

Smithsonian he world-class Smithsonian Institution museums are a must-see in Washington, D.C. From the National Air and Space Museum to the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian museums showcase priceless artifacts. Tour groups love the exciting educational films in the IMAX theaters and newly renovated Einstein Planetarium. The National Museum of Natural History’s Live Butterfly Pavilion is a great group activity. Dining packages and food vouchers are available for groups in the museums’ restaurants and food courts. (si.edu/groupsales)

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Washington, D.C.

Newseum xperience history through the lens of the news media at this state-of-theart museum on Pennsylvania Avenue in the Nation’s Capital. The 15 galleries and 15 theaters showcase coverage of pivotal events like the Civil War, civil rights movement, fall of the Berlin Wall and September 11 attacks. Star in your own TV newscast in the Interactive Newsroom and ponder over journalistic dilemmas in the Ethics Center. The rooftop terrace offers the best vistas in Washington. (newseum.org)

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Nashville, Tennessee

Country Music Hall of Fame ashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been showcasing the story of country music since 1967. The museum recently underwent a $100-million renovation that doubled its size and added first-class galleries, special event space and more. With the 800-seat CMA Theater, weekly instrument demonstrations, a collection of over two million artifacts and new exhibits highlighting stars like Miranda Lambert, this museum is a must-visit for all country music fans. (countrymusichalloffame.org)

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Little Rock, Arkansas

Clinton Presidential Center he Clinton Presidential Center will bring your group along with Bill Clinton during his ascent to the presidency in 1993. From the campaign trail to the Oval Office, follow his footsteps through countless photos, videos and artifacts that will better your understanding of America’s third youngest president. Take a group tour through the multiple permanent exhibits as well as the new temporary exhibit highlighting another American icon, studio glass artist Dale Chihuly (through Jan. 5, 2015). (clintonpresidentialcenter.org)

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Independence, Missouri

Harry S. Truman Library & Museum t the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, groups are transported back to 1945 when Truman assumed the presidency and follow post-World War II history to the end of the Korean War. Historical objects, plus dozens of interactive and hands-on exhibits, paint a picture of the life and times of Harry and Bess Truman, including their family life. Check out the current exhibit Spies, Lies and Paranoia: Americans in Fear through Oct. 26. (trumanlibrary.org)

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Tiffanyat the

MORSE The Morse Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

445 n. park avenue winter park, fl 32789 (407) 645-5311 www.morsemuseum.org

THE MAN. THE STORY.

THE LEGACY.

Visit The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and discover President John F. Kennedy’s lasting impression on our country. Located in the former Texas School Book Depository.

Group discounts for 20 or more with advance booking Tour group escorts are free Q Audio / ASL guide included Q Q

411 Elm Street |°Dallas, TX 75202 GroupSales@jfk.org |°Toll-Free 888-485-4854 ext. 6652

Miami, Florida

Perez Art Museum Miami he new Perez Art Museum Miami in downtown’s Miami’s Museum Park houses an international collection of modern and contemporary works from the 20th and 21st centuries. Previously known as the Miami Art Museum, it focuses on Miami’s ties to the Caribbean and Latin America. The city of Miami’s community of artists, designers, collectors and an art-engaged public has driven the demand to create this world-class art museum overlooking Biscayne Bay. (pamm.org)

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AUSTIN, TEXAS

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center n 1982 the former First Lady joined with actress Helen Hayes to preserve the native flora and fauna of central, southern, and western Texas. This 279-acre botanical garden is the result. Part of the University of Texas at Austin, it includes cultivated gardens, wild meadows and verdant woodlands, as well as local examples of architecture and sculpture, an observation tower and a visitors center. The blooming season peaks March through May. (wildflower.org)

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By Dave Bodle

O N MAR K ET I N G

Start analyzing the elements of your group sales game plan.

Simple Strategies for Building Your Tour Business

P

artners, Packaging and the Ink

individuals in your market. Who else

Blotter? Not a bad way to build

in your area is doing group tours? In

a tour & travel business for

addition to the traditional tour market,

suppliers or buyers. You'll love

there are affinity markets, too. Student/

it when a game plan comes together.

youth trips, sports travel, reunions, adventure travel and faith-based all come

Partners If there's one segment of tourism that

©iStock.com//Franck-Boston

The Ink Blotter I’m probably dating myself, but it’s the

in groups. Some may be your market,

best way to describe where you should

others may not. Visit your partners’

go with your sales effort. As the spot on

fosters working together, it's the group

businesses and get to know them, their

an ink blotter spreads from a starting

industry. Tour operators learned this

property and their target markets.

point out, so should you. Restaurants

simple concept years ago. The National Tour Association, American Bus Associa-

and attractions should consider partnering

Packaging

and plan a sales blitz a three-hour

This certainly isn’t a new concept. Tour

tion, United States Tour Operators Asso-

drive away.

ciation and others all have a similar core

operators and travel agents have been

principle.

packaging trips forever. Sandals and its

attractions and restaurants to your part-

Adding accommodations and additional

Caribbean resorts and packages have

nership makes for a great sales blitz.

operator, the primary objective is filling

become a household name. Airlines and

You’ll have to go farther than the day trip

the tour. Partnering is often critical to

Amtrak don’t just want to sell you tickets

range. Take a look at the 3½- to 6½-hour

meeting that goal.

– they want to wrap an entire experience

drive range and remember to have your

up in a bow and sell you a package (and

itineraries in-hand.

From the wholesale to the retail

On the supplier side of the equation, working together is even more important.

make more money in the process!).

For our purposes, exactly where does

Tours do not visit a destination because

You’ll be surprised at the number of prospects in both sales spheres. Tour

of an individual hotel or a wonderful

the individual supplier begin his or her

operators are the easiest to find and

country-cooking buffet. Of course, these

packaging efforts? It begins with an

usually will welcome your call. However,

accommodations and restaurants are

itinerary, which may have been developed

be creative when searching for group

part of the picture. However, there's more

by the DMO. However, when an itinerary

opportunities. Remember, virtually

to the story. That includes attractions,

doesn't exist, you'll need to bring your

everyone is a member of a group.

services and yes, the scenery and culture

partners and the DMO together to develop

Student/youth groups, churches and

of the area.

themed itineraries. Add sizzle to your

sports teams all travel. It’s just a matter

itinerary and include experiential options

of finding them.

Step one for any supplier who wants to partner is knowing and supporting your

whenever available.

For more detail, visit our “Laying the

With itinerary in hand, the next step is

tourism development office. These are the

Foundation of Your Group Sales Strategy,”

people who are selling the destination. In

setting a package price by adding each

part 3 in the Becoming a Rock Star Sup-

a sense they're promoting your product.

of the individual components together,

plier series, at http://tinyurl.com/nsao9rp.

Participate in their projects. If asked

though pricing the hotel based on double

to host a tour operator familiarization

occupancy. After all, the next question

(FAM) visit, the answer should be

after where is how much.

Contact Dave at 843-997-2880 or email dave@ptmgroups.com.

a simple yes. Consider being part

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of sponsorships and cooperative

OCTOBER ISSUE

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property to sell it. Most importantly,

join and be involved.

See our page-flip edition & past issues at LeisureGroupTravel.com We can help showcase your business to groups. Call us 630.794.0696 or advertising@ptmgroups.com

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August 2014 51

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From our homestyle cooking that satisfies the pickiest eaters to our country store filled with gifts and games for everyone.

With our designated tour bus parking*, dedicated group phone line, and large party seating accommodations, it’s like we were custom built just for you. And as always, a meal for your driver and guide is on the house. It’s just one of our ways of making sure everyone on the road is taken care of.

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