February 2015 Edition of Leisure Group Travel

FEBRUARY 2015

A Premier Travel Media publication • www.leisuregrouptravel.com

AD VERTI SEM ENT

Groups Shop in Atlantic City Whether you’re on the prowl for high-end fashion or kitschy souvenirs from the Boardwalk, you’ll find it in this East Coast resort city, a Mecca for all shoppers.

And there’s no tax on clothing and shoes!

Tanger Outlets The Walk is one of Atlantic City’s shopping magnets.

nown for the best shopping in New Jersey, Atlantic City of-

club, karaoke bar and IMAX theater. Be sure to check out Hamilton

fers it all—from upscale retail options, discounted brand-

Mall, the largest indoor mall in the area, in the nearby town of Mays

name fashions, accessories at your favorite factory outlet

Landing. The mall boasts more than 140 stores and restaurants, an

and everything in between. On the world-famous Atlantic City

international food court, an indoor play area and a custom-made

Boardwalk, you’ll find local favorites like saltwater taffy and fudge,

Deep Sea Carousel.

K

plus lots of souvenir stores and specialty shops.

Tanger Outlets The Walk, a 15-block retail, dining and entertainment venue between the Boardwalk and convention center, features a collection of more than 80 retail outlets like Nike, Hilfiger, Chico's, H&M and DKNY. The Pier Shops at Caesars is a shopping center that includes exclusive retail shops such as Gucci, Apple, L'Occitane and Burberry. You’ll want to catch the hourly water, sound and light show in the towering atrium.

The Quarter at Tropicana, a three-level complex with 30 shops under one roof at the Tropicana Resort and Casino, offers shops like Zephyr Gallery, Swarovski and The Old Farmer’s Almanac General Store. There are also restaurants, a comedy Groups love the shops and treats that abound on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk, alive with more than just bustling shoppers, is the place to shop for everything beachy as well as yummy treats like saltwater taffy.

Shop ’til you drop, then show off your new outfit, play with your new purchases or give the perfect gift—all in the one-stop shop that is Atlantic City.

contents

10 ON THE COVER:

Time for leisurely shopping keeps tour groups happy.

COVER STORY 10 Recipe for Success: Shopping & Cuisine

BY CAROLYN FEIMSTER

COLUMNS

6

Flavor your group’s retail foray with a fun food or drink experience

On My Mind

BY JEFF GAYDUK

8

FEATURES

On Tour

BY MARTY SARBEY DE SOUTO

16

Must-See Metroplex

18

Hilton Head Island

59

Virginia Shines with Holiday Cheer

64

Branson for All Seasons

68

Oklahoma City Remembers

70

Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills

78

BY LAUREN REINIGER

On Marketing

BY DAVE BODLE

BY DAVE BODLE

BY DAVE BODLE

BY DON HEIMBURGER

BY RANDY MINK

BY RANDY MINK

72

©iStock.com/monkeybusinessimages

VOL. 25, NO. 1 • FEBRUARY 2015

Top Casino Picks

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT RELIGIOUS TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE

18 Sonesta and other big names are part of the Hilton Head resort scene.

4 February 2015

16

NUMBER CRUNCHING

168 People killed in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing

ON LOCATION Publisher Jeff Gayduk meets up with Pastor Stephan Tchividjian, keynote speaker at the recent Faith Travel Association event in New Orleans. He is the oldest grandson of the Rev. Billy Graham.

35 Blocks comprising Sundance Square district in Fort Worth

WHAT’S ONLINE?

0

GALLERY GOING 2015

C

heck LeisureGroupTravel.com for our list of major exhibitions coming to U.S. museums this year. Also see our online report on the latest hotel and resort renovations around the country.

Other new articles to watch for: the changing Cuba travel situation, shopping in Delaware, New Mexico casinos and new developments in Hawaii.

Tax on clothing and shoes in New Jersey

12 Miles of beaches on Hilton Head Island

1775

Metroplex visitors get their thrills at attractions like Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington.

Year that Patrick Henry gave his “Liberty or Death” speech

10,000 Approximate population of Branson, Missouri Arlington CVB

2,380 Height in feet of Mt. Frissell, highest point in Connecticut

O N MY M I N D

By Jeffrey Gayduk

New Tools to Grow Your Business in 2015 UNLESS YOU SUBSCRIBE to the “right place, right time” philosophy, building a business doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a lot of ingenuity, hard work, planning and, dare I say, a little luck to achieve success.

With all this stacked against you, the task of getting out of bed might feel daunting. When I step back from my role here as publisher and take a bird’s-eye perspective of our industry, there are some unique opportunities that lie ahead of us along with challenges we all face.

On the opportunity front, aging boomers entering their prime travel years should fill our coffers for decades to come. As over 8,000 people a day are turning 65, the seminars we attended in the ’90s about the potential impact of this generation are today’s reality. While they don’t travel like their parents or grandparents, they are the prime market for group travel. How we better reach this demographic, as well as Gen X, Gen Y and Millennials, needs some sharpening, so as we officially launch into 2015 we have undertaken a series of initiatives for readers.

Group Sales Bootcamp We have teamed up with noted group sales expert Stuart Cohen to develop a series of educational videos on improving your group sales tactics and skills, along with discounted subscriptions to Stuart’s exclusive bootcamp series for group travel professionals. These kick off in late February on LeisureGroupTravel.com and watch for future editorial contributions from Stuart in the pages of this magazine.

An Alternative to Bad Websites When I look at the landscape of how tour planners go to marketing online, their presence is often dated. Since this is the “front door” upon which many customers judge your business, we’ve teamed up with a worldwide leader in website development for the travel industry. This spring you’ll have access to low-cost, professionally designed website services that will help you better promote your trips online, book passengers, engage customers on social media and expand your offerings.

Take 5 There’s a lot of success stories from travel planners who are making a difference and carving out a niche for themselves. In a new interview column that launched on LeisureGroupTravel.com this winter, I sit down with group travel professionals who are making a difference to learn how they’re doing it. 5 questions, 5 minutes out of your day – Take 5.

New Courses on GroupUniversity.com Need advice on orchestrating a group cruise for 100 people? Our new 60-page guide will help chart your course. Tasked with planning a family reunion? Download the complete Reunions Workbook, chock full of tips, tools and tricks. Want to create great new itineraries?

Our white paper is flush with fresh ideas. GroupUniversity.com has over a dozen books, guides and whitepapers, many of them free of charge.

The way I see it, our future is tied into your future. These new resources, along with Leisure Group Travel magazine and our weekly InSite e-newsletter, are aimed at providing you a tool kit to not only compete, but prosper in today’s market.

Happy Traveling,

Vol. 25, No. 1 February 2015 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 of Online Media – Lance Harrell lance@ptmgroups.com

Staff Writer – Lauren Reiniger lauren@ptmgroups.com Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

Vice President – Theresa O’Rourke theresa@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

Southeast/Texas – Eric Moore P 352.391.3314 eric@ptmgroups.com The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, slides or manuscripts.

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

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

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

A

publication

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

Jeff Gayduk, Publisher 6 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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spotlights

By Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTC

O N TOU R

Helping Tour Members Prepare for the Trip

W

ell, another year is here and it’s time to look ahead to your 2015 travel program. Hopefully you have most of it already

set and are now beginning to promote it

Get information on their

3

medical coverage, policy

number, doctor’s name, allergies and medications being taken.

and receive early bookings. This year, let’s see how you might be particularly helpful to your trip members if you assist

4

Be sure they’ve refilled any necessary medications before

them to be properly prepared for each

leaving home so they have a sufficient

trip.

supply for the entire trip.

know that many folks begin dreaming and thinking about the trip long before they come aboard. In fact, anticipation is one of the great pleasures of a trip.

©iStock.com/scanrail

sturdy bag with wheels – a bag that I can handle alone if there are no bellmen

Those of us who work in travel/ tourism and plan these wonderful trips

The well-prepared traveler nails down pre-trip details well before departure day.

5 6

Ask for their birth date. You may

or porters anywhere to be seen.

wish to celebrate birthdays en route.

Also help them with wardrobe

If they’re leaving their house unattended, remind them to stop

11

planning and suggestions. Over

the years I’ve learned to live in black

the mail (or have it picked up by a willing

and white – using color only for scarves

the particular tour or cruise until they

neighbor) and leave everything looking

or accessories. They should pick a color

finally decide to enroll, they’re already

“lived in” while gone.

scheme that works for them and stick to

From the time they first hear about

it. This will simplify life – traveling or at

emotionally involved and usually excitedly looking forward.

However, what we may not realize

7

Suggest they select just a couple of

home.

credit cards to take with them, and Lastly, they should get a good

is that in addition to being excited and

leave the rest at home. If this is an

happy anticipating the travel experience,

international trip, they should call and

many may not know how to prepare

advise the credit card company that

the trip. I often pretend I’m leaving the

before departure so that they can go with

they will be abroad so they won’t be

day before and I go to a motel near the

a free mind. Here are some pointers

surprised if their card is turned down.

departure airport so I can sleep and

night’s sleep the night before

greet my tour bright eyed and rested the

you might wish to pass along to them in pre-trip information bulletins you prepare:

12

8

Recommend that if they plan to buy gifts for friends and family, they

next day at departure.

The above dozen suggestions are

If the trip is out of the U.S., be sure

should jot down favorite colors, sizes,

just that – suggestions only. Some of

you have notified them in writing

etc. to make en route shopping easier.

them may help you and your trip

1

whether they need a passport and if it is still valid. (It’s a good idea to ask for this information on the trip enrollment form

participants depart with worries behind

9

If the trip involves air travel, be

them, knowing that they are properly

sure to notify them about baggage

prepared for most any trip. If you have

allowance, size and weight. Nowadays

some additional good ideas, let us know.

to the leader to know if there are any

virtually all air carriers have minimized

We love to hear from you and know what

non-U.S citizens aboard.

allowance and are charging extra fees

works for you and your passengers.

so you can double-check it). It’s helpful

at check-in for additional bags.

2

Be sure they have given you an emergency contact in the event you

may need to talk with a family member or specified friend.

8 February 2015

10

Help them select the right kind of suitcase for the particular trip

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.

in question. I travel with one small, LeisureGroupTravel.com

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

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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 food food experiences experiences your your group group won’t won’t soon forget. forget. Start Start planning your your C Columbus olumbus visit today today at at e experiencecolumbus.com/tours xperiencecolumbus.com/ /tours or call 800-354-2657.

800-354-2657.

W What ha h t does mead taste like? tas te lik e?

N SHOP P I NG on Olocation: midwest ❖

By Carolyn J. Feimster

Recipe for Success: Shopping & Cuisine

Earls Kitchen + Bar at Assembly Row, outside of Boston

Flavor your group’s retail foray with a fun food or drink experience

W

ith “foodie” becoming one of the most overused words in today’s vocabulary, the new word for 2015 is “cuisine-tainment.” This demonstrates how foodies have transitioned to a new level, seeking unique experiences during their

quest for great food while traveling.

As the group travel market continues to evolve, group-friendly shopping centers are working diligently to keep up with the pace.

Savvy centers are offering their versions of “cuisine-tainment.” So what is it? It’s an opportunity for your groups to have fun while en-

stration and a special meal. Says Earls Kitchen + Bar Executive Chef

joying fabulous cuisine.

Tim Pennington, “What a wonderful way for small groups to be im-

Here are some examples of experiences that your clients will love:

mersed in the theater of cuisine first, then enjoy a special tasting menu prepared especially for them”. Earls is an "upscale casual"

Noodles, Noodles, Noodles

restaurant and bar with a cook-from-scratch kitchen highlighting the

At Westfield San Francisco Centre, groups love the noodle pulling

use of fresh local ingredients. Future plans call for the program to be

demonstration at MY China. What is a noodle pull? It’s world cham-

rolled out in several other Assembly Row restaurants so that the

pion noodle dancers pulling giant balls of dough into thousands of

group can decide on the type of food and price point they desire.

thin noodles in minutes, using only their bare hands. MY China’s owner is TV personality Martin Yan. (mychinacafe.com)

Also, a new family-friendly beer garden, American Fresh Brewhouse, just opened utilizing repurposed shipping containers, and

Meizhou Dongpo is the hottest Chinese restaurant to hit the U.S.

Somerville Brewing Company will soon be brewing beer out of an-

This noodle restaurant at Westfield’s Century City in the Los Ange-

other shipping container, which will be a first in the New England area.

les area hails straight from China and has Chinese travelers visiting

Assembly Row seeks to provide events that bring in different

in scores. It’s also a hot spot with local Asians. Contact: Frank Yang

crowds of people for purposes other than just shopping. The As-

at frank.meizhou@gmail.com.

sembly Row Bar Stars Event, for example, features bartenders from Assembly Row restaurants who compete for the best cocktail.

Local Flavors and More In Boston, Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a “cuisine-tainment” de-

For more information on the above programs, contact tourism@assemblyrow.com or visit assemblyrow.com.

light with the world-famous Quincy Market Food Colonnade and a

In New Orleans, Crescent City Cooks offers group cooking

variety of sit-down restaurants that cater to groups. Looking for good

classes in the French Quarter. Not only will attendees learn how

old-fashioned fun? Try Dick's Last Resort in the Quincy Market build-

to capture the culture of New Orleans in a dish, but they can also

ing. Dick's serves up buckets of tasty grub, including jumbo half-

shop in the restaurant’s new store for utensils, spices and recipes.

pound burgers and seafood plates, to groups of all sizes. What

(theculturaltraveler.com/crescent-city-cooks)

makes it unique is the delivery—the food is served in steel pails brought to your table by cheeky servers with steak knife-sharp wit.

In the Spirit of Things

Dick’s wisecracking servers have always played a central role in the

In Las Vegas it is all about tastings, and restaurants now are

brand's personality by bringing fun back to dining. Contact: Hannah

offering “spirits tastings.” Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at the

Davis, 617-267-8080; dickslastresort.com.

Venetian offers Southern hospitality and welcomes groups of 15 to

The Outlets at Assembly Row, which just opened this past sum-

100 people. Groups enjoy their own private dining room with family-

mer outside of Boston, is developing a “Behind the Scenes” dining

style, prix-fixe menus catering to every palate. Now comes the

experience where a group can mix and mingle with the chef as

fun part! Nicole Ismert, sales & marketing manager, explains, “We

guests receive an exclusive tour of the kitchen, a cooking demon-

urge our groups to get creative and develop custom experiences that

10 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: midwest ❖

ON SHOP P I NG

Dining Card Programs Many centers offer a commissionable

encourage team building and interaction,

dining voucher or card program at net rates,

such as bourbon tastings, cooking instruc-

providing the group with a variety of choices.

tion or whatever your creative mind can think

Examples of centers with a dining card pro-

up.” For more information, contact Yardbird

gram include Fashion Show and Grand

Las Vegas at 702-297-6541.

Canal Shoppes in Las Vegas and Fashion

More fun tastings can be found at Dou-

Island and Irvine Spectrum Center in Orange

ble Helix. Already famous for its wine bar,

County, California. Each center’s card is valid

they recently opened a wine and whiskey

at dozens of cafes and full-service restau-

bar at Town Square in Las Vegas offering

rants. At Westfield San Francisco Centre,

40 wines by the glass and over 100

groups enjoy hot or cold selections from

whiskey labels. This is in addition to their

California’s gourmet market, Bristol Farms.

champagne-and-chocolate tastings. Con-

There are also voucher programs at Fa-

tact: stephanie@dhvegas.com; double-

neuil Hall Marketplace in Boston and Union

helixwine.com.

Station DC. At Westfield San Francisco

How about a wine-pairing lunch followed

Centre and Union Station D.C., groups can

by a tour of the vineyard where the wines

package in a historic architectural tour.

were made? Sophie’s Bistro in Somerset,

Contact: carolyn@historicshoppingand-

New Jersey is developing a program to

dining.com

launch this summer. Once the meal is done and guests have determined their favorite wines, the group can visit the nearby vineyard for a tour and buy what they liked at lunch. Contact: sophiesbistro@comcast.net; sophiesbistro.net

Carolyn J. Feimster, SCMD, is owner/president of CJF Marketing International. The company’s primary focus is on developing results-oriented programs to enhance the tourism experience at shopping centers, retail districts, and other commercial properties and organizations. Feimster can be reached at 718757-8489, carolyn@cjfmarketinginternational.com, or log on to cjfmarketinginternational.com.

on location: midwest ❖

Must-See Metroplex In this far-flung urban area, you can see it all when big cities are minutes away from rustic towns—topped off with that country flair that makes Texas, well, Texas

By Lauren Reiniger

FORT WORTH

Fort Worth CVB

Known as “Where the West Begins,” Fort Worth is the place to channel your inner country. The Old West comes to life, especially during the Fort Worth Herd’s twice-daily cattle drive in the Stockyards National Historic District. While there, stop in Billy Bob’s Texas—the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk—or catch a rodeo at Cowtown Coliseum. Learn all about Annie Oakley, Georgia O’Keeffe, Patsy Cline and Jessie from Toy Story 2 at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West.

Texas Civil War Museum is the largest Civil War museum west of the Mississippi.

At the Vintage Flying Museum, see dozens of rare and historic aircraft, from bombers to fighters to civilian planes, and memorabilia from World War II. Amon Carter Museum of American Art and Kimbell Art Museum, in close proximity of each other, abound with masterpieces. The Fort Worth Water Gardens is a beautiful and refreshing oasis located downtown, adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center. Sundance Square is a dazzling, 35-block shopping and entertainment district. Did you know that over half of the nation's currency order is produced in Fort Worth? Learn how billions of dollars are printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) state-of-the-art Tour and Visitor Center.

DALLAS At the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, guests can learn about the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, located in the Dallas County Courthouse, tells the area’s story from prehistoric to present times. Dallas is home to the nation's largest arts district; Dallas Museum of Art showcases 5,000 years of art history from every continent. Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Gardens features 66 acres of display gardens.

The State Fair of Texas, taking place Sept. 25-Oct. 18, 2015, has been wowing fairgoers since 1886. Your visit isn’t complete without seeing the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the GeO-Deck at Reunion Tower, where foodies, shoppers, adrenaline junkies and sightseers congregate.

Big Tex greets visitors to the State Fair of Texas.

Dallas CVB

R

esidents of the area informally refer to it as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, DFW, or the Metroplex. According to the North Texas Commission (NTC), the term originated from an ad agency's combination of the terms “metropolitan” and “complex.”

It encompasses 9,286 square miles, making it larger than the states of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. Here are seven mustsee cities and attractions to explore in the Metroplex.

Grapevine CVB

GRAPEVINE Grapevine holds true to its name in its wine tour offerings. With Grapevine Wine Tours you’ll sample vintages from Grapevine’s most-acclaimed wineries while your tour guide recounts the history of wine-making in North Texas. Delaney Vineyards & Winery, the largest vineyard in North Texas, is in a French chateau-inspired building with an Old World feeling and a Texas twist. Hop aboard Grapevine Vintage Railroad and ride the rails along the historic Cotton Belt Route between downtown Grapevine and the Fort Worth Stockyards. Riders can wine and dine or simply enjoy the ride in authentic Victorianstyle coaches that simulate the early 1900s. You’ll want to stop at the 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial, the nation’s only memorial specifically honoring the 9/11 airline personnel.

ARLINGTON

High drama at Six Flags

Arlington CVB

Six Flags Over Texas theme park and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor water park anchor Arlington’s entertainment district. At the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, located just across the street from Six Flags, explore early Egyptian bowling games, see what Middle Age lawn bowling was like and actually bowl on the “Highway 66” mini lanes. The Levitt Pavilion’s performing arts stage offers the perfect setting for an array of programs in music, dance and performance art. Tour and enjoy the tea garden at Top O’ Hill Terrace, known as “Vegas Before Vegas,” which was once alive with gambling and nightlife in the early 1920s. AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL Dallas Cowboys, and MLB Rangers’ Globe Life Park are available for tours; if the season’s right, catch a game!

IRVING The Mustangs of Las Colinas, located in Williams Square of Las Colinas Urban Center, are nine giant bronze statues of galloping mustangs—the perfect photo spot and largest equestrian sculpture in the world. Nearly everyone has had some experience with the Boy Scouts; visit the National Scouting Museum of the Boy Scouts of America and learn about the evolution of the organization. Heritage Park features historic structures including one of the city’s original cabins, a windmill and a reconstructed railroad depot. The waterways of the Mandalay Canals and Lake Carolyn in Irving's Las Colinas Urban Center are home to neo-Venetian gondolas available for rides.

GRAND PRAIRIE You won’t want to miss life-size wax characters and the mysteries of The Palace of Wax and Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Watch a performance at historic Uptown Theater, a fully restored 1950s theater and performing arts center. For another taste of Texas, see exciting thoroughbred and quarter horse racing at Lone Star Park or browse Traders Village, Texas’ largest weekend flea market. It spans 120 acres with more than 3,500 dealers every weekend.

The Museum of the American Railroad has a new home in Frisco.

FRISCO Recently relocated from Dallas' Fair Park, the Museum of the American Railroad has transported its collection of more than 40 pieces of railroad rolling stock and historic structures to its new home in Frisco.

Bronze Cattle Drive Depictions is the longest themed bronze sculpture collection in the nation where longhorns, cowboys and a chuck wagon bring the Shawnee Trail to life.

on location: south ❖

Island

Breezes

Beaches, outdoor recreation, history and top-notch accommodations lure groups to Hilton Head Island, a resort hideaway in South Carolina’s Lowcountry

By Dave Bodle

The 11th hole overlooks the beach at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Palmetto Dunes.

18 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

A

friend shared, “Hilton Head Island isn’t on the way to

Reason No. 3: There’s a resurgence happening on Hilton

anywhere. You must want to go there.” My immediate

Head Island. More than $200 million in resort and community

thought: I could give you six good reasons to visit. Here

renovations and new construction are underway. Here are just a

they are:

few of the highlights:

Reason No. 1: Hilton Head Island has a serene, semi-tropical,

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island in Shipyard Plantation has

lush feeling. It doesn’t take a visitor long to put the hustle and bus-

completed $30 million in renovations, including the addition of the

tle of their world behind them and ease into a state of relaxation.

Arum Spa. Located on the island’s south end, it is close to shopping,

Supporting the island’s natural beauty, signage restrictions have kept

restaurants and nightlife at Coligny Plaza and Park Plaza.

glaring outdoor advertising out. Businesses blend their location seamlessly into the island’s landscape.

Reason No. 2: More than 12 miles of white sandy beaches are right at the doorsteps of oceanfront resort accommodations. It only

Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort in Palmetto Dunes Resort launched a $12-million renovation project. Enhancements are seen in the resort’s 325 guest rooms and suites, lobby, front entrance, pool and courtyards.

takes one spectacular sunrise or sunset to realize you’re in a special

The $30-million renovation at the Westin Hilton Head Island

place. Whether it’s relaxing under a beach umbrella, walking as the

Resort & Spa in Port Royal Plantation includes recently completed

ocean waves nip at your heels or a challenging beach volleyball

guest rooms, grounds improvements, exterior decking and resort

match, there’s always some fun to be had on the beach.

pool enhancements, and WestinWorkout®.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

February 2015 19

Hilton Head visitors feast on the ocean’s bounty at an oyster roast. Harbour Town Lighthouse has been the island’s best-known landmark for decades.

Harbour Town Golf Links Clubhouse with a new world-class

Reason No. 4: Abundant outdoor options keep even active trav-

19,000-square-foot clubhouse will be completed for the 2015 RBC

elers busy. With names like Stan Smith and Van Der Meer, Hilton

Heritage PGA Tour Tournament. Along with an indoor and outdoor

Head Island tennis is legendary. From individual lessons to group

restaurant and bar, a gallery will showcase the Heritage’s tradition,

clinics, tennis players are in paradise. With more than 20 golf

history and past champions.

courses, many located within the island’s resorts, a golf package is

Sitting on the unspoiled banks of the May River in charming Bluffton, South Carolina, The Inn at Palmetto Bluff is investing

easily arranged for a group of 20 or just a few individuals on your tour. Rental clubs are available at almost every course.

more than $100 million in expansion. The development includes the

More than 60 miles of multi-use trails perfectly connect bike

construction of a 150-room, five-star hotel, spa and fitness center

riders with much of the island. In the 1970s when development

and additional dining opportunities.

began, the community had an environmental sensitivity. Bicycle

Located in Palmetto Dunes, the Hilton Head Marriott Resort &

pathways were a central part of the infrastructure and today those

Spa has a $12-million renovation project underway. The resort’s

paths wind through a natural setting. There’s even a 12-mile stretch

lobby area and 513 oceanfront/oceanview guest rooms and suites

on hard-packed beach sand. No need to bring your bikes. There are

all will experience a facelift.

plenty of rentals available at reasonable prices.

The Beach House has completed updates on all 202 rooms.

For the young and young at heart, there are two new additions

The Sea Pines Beach Club opened a new facility in summer 2014,

to the outdoor scene. ZipLine Hilton Head features eight zip lines

maintaining the relaxed atmosphere while providing new amenities.

in a truly eco-adventure. The two-hour tour’s finale is a breathtak-

Both guest rooms and the breakfast area received a makeover at

ing ride overlooking the marsh. Aerial Adventure Hilton Head is

the Hampton Inn Hilton Head.

comprised of 50 “in the-tree challenges” on six different ability

Regardless of your group’s needs and budget, there are accommodations and event venues that fit the bill.

courses. You’re harnessed and helmeted and proceed through the chosen course at your own pace. Both attractions are located at

Vacationers can nourish their intellectual curiosity at the Coastal Discovery Museum and pamper their body at one of the island’s many spas.

20 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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

the Broad Creek Marina.

There are plenty of other good reasons to

If you want to be in the water, check in with

visit Hilton Head Island. Dining options at

H2O Sports. Parasailing might give you a great

more than 250 restaurants represent a vari-

view, but waterski/tubing and banana boating

ety of cultures. Fresh seafood from oyster

will get you wet. It’s up to you how wet you get

roasts to local specialties takes center stage.

with stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking.

Of course, nighttime is the right time at the

For the less adventuresome there’s a one-

award-winning Arts Center of Coastal Car-

hour guided tour through Sea Pines Forest

olina. Five annual plays or musicals are pro-

Reserve freshwater lakes. It’s an educational

duced annually, while performances and

boat ride that explores the area’s plant and an-

special events round out a full calendar of

imal life, including the American alligator. Still

entertainment. For “shopaholics” the choices

other options are a dolphin/nature tour or

are almost limitless, from specialty shops to

beachcombing trip.

outlets. Many are located within a short walk

The largest of the southern coastal barrier

or bike ride of your accommodations.

islands, Hilton Head is a birding utopia. Mar-

Regardless of your group’s make-up or

itime forests, marshes, wetlands and sandbars

interest level, Hilton Head Island is a choice

host more than 220 species. Bring your cam-

destination. Reunions, guy or girlfriend get-

era!

aways, faith-based groups, student/youth

Reason No. 5: Hilton Head Island has his-

and senior group travel will each find a full

tory to share. The best place to begin that

itinerary waiting for them. Get your planning

story is at the Coastal Discovery Museum.

On the 68 acres of the Honey Horn property,

Zip line operations on Hilton Head Island provide a chance to fly through the trees.

started at hiltonheadisland.org; 800-5233373. LGT

visitors explore the island’s cultural heritage through historical and natural history exhibits.

Off-site activities are an important part of the museum’s mission with a full schedule of options available throughout the year.

The Native Islander history and Gullah culture are intertwined. In 1862 Mitchelville was established for the island’s African-American freemen and refugees from other barrier islands. While enslaved they maintained much of their African cultures and developed their own language, Gullah. The traditions continue to this day.

Reason No. 6: Savannah, Bluffton and Beaufort are right where you need them. Each of Hilton Head Island’s Lowcountry neighbors is a perfect destination for a day trip from the island. Tasteful treasures and fascinating history can be discovered in Savannah, Georgia, only 45 minutes away. The historic riverfront community of Old Town Bluffton is an eclectic blend of arts and culture in unique boutiques and galleries. Beaufort, South Carolina is a must stop for history, architecture and movie enthusiasts. You can park the coach and board the Spirit of Harbour Town for day trip cruises to Savannah or Beaufort.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

February 2015 21

2015 EDITION

A Premier Travel Media publication www.ReligiousTravelPlanningGuide.com

12 visitlondonimages/britainonview/Pawel Libera

St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of London’s most impressive landmarks.

contents

VOL. 5 • 2015 EDITION

FEATURES

8

Walking in Circles

BY RACHEL GILMORE

SPECIAL SECTION Luther 2017 in Germany

Retreat planners find that a prayer labyrinth may strengthen the connection with God

12

Follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther as the Reformation’s 500th anniversary approaches

Divine Designs: Cathedrals of England

26

BY RANDY MINK

Visiting fine examples of ecclesiastical architecture can be a heavenly experience

16

Five Destinations for Your Next Youth Trip

BY DANIEL MORRILL

Consider Branson, Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Colorado Springs and the Tennessee Smokies

Mission Trips: Putting Faith Into Practice

30

BY RICHARD KRIEG

ritarobin/Bigstock.com

Ministering to those in need brings Bible lessons to life and grows a congregation

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Let a Tour Operator Chart Your Faith Journey Working with a professional travel expert eases the way for church leaders

ON THE COVER: The quire at York Minster, York, England. (Visit York Photo)

Jonah delights audiences at Sight & Sound Theatre, Branson, Missouri ©2014 Sight & Sound Theatres

12

26 4

Religious Travel Planning Guide

religioustravelplanningguide.com

Randy Mink

Church Group Travel Renews the Spirit

F

or religious heritage and cultural treasures, no place can rival Europe as a travel destination. Castles, cathedrals, art, music, theater….it’s all there. If I had a choice of going anywhere, I’d choose the Old World. The older the place, the better.

Medieval sites, dating from long before Columbus put the Americas on the map, really pique my interest.

Last year I was lucky enough to visit Europe twice. On a spring trip that started in London and ended in Madrid, I spent most of my days in Spain. The highlight was Cordoba (shown above) and its historic quarter, anchored by the monumental Mezquita, a mosque that became a church in 1236. In England six months later I made a point of visiting the main cathedrals in each town (see my story on page 12).

Europe has always been a favorite with church groups, from Catholics visiting pilgrimage sites like Lourdes and Fatima to Protestants touring Luther’s Germany or Calvin’s Switzerland. The big news regarding religious travel to Europe these days is the Luther 2017 campaign in Germany, a tourism promotion observing the Reformation’s approaching 500th anniversary. A special section in this magazine describes the major sites related to Luther’s life, from his birthplace, to the castle where he translated the New Testament into German, to the church door memorializing his 95 Theses. In addition to religious points of interest, the charming towns of LutherCountry offer plenty of other attractions with Old World flavor.

Also in this issue, readers get some guidance on planning youth fellowship trips right here in America. Our article profiles five family-friendly destinations that offer fun things to do, natural splendor and a Christian attraction or two. In “Walking in Circles,” Rachel Gilmore, author of 6

Religious Travel Planning Guide

The Complete Leader’s Guide to Christian Retreats, suggests a prayer labyrinth as a retreat planning tool. In his column on mission trips, Pastor Richard Krieg talks about the spiritual impact these projects have on participants.

To make travel dreams become a reality, many church leaders rely on professional tour operators. You’ll see descriptions of leading faith travel specialists starting on page 26.

Whether your church already has a thriving travel program or has been thinking about forming a travel ministry, we hope you’ll find inspiration in these pages. Please consider passing along this copy of the 2015 Religious Travel Planning Guide to colleagues who might find it helpful. Or let

Europe has always been a favorite with church groups, from Catholics visiting pilgrimage sites like Lourdes and Fatima to Protestants touring Luther’s Germany or Calvin’s Switzerland them know they can download it for free.

In addition to our annual print publication, we have online resources for planning and marketing your group trip.

ReligiousTravelPlanningGuide.com is the premier research tool for the faith travel market. Our monthly newsletter, InSite on Religious Travel, offers ideas as well.

We wish you the best in creating meaningful trips that will energize and inspire your community of faith.

Happy traveling,

Vol. 5, No. 1, 2015 Edition

Editorial 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

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com

Contributing Writers Rachel Gilmore Richard Krieg Daniel Morrill

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

Advertising Sales Office Phone: 630.794.0696 advertising@ptmgroups.com www.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 or manuscripts.

Religious Travel Planning Guide is published annually by Premier Travel Media, 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. Postage paid at Willowbrook, IL and Lebanon Junction, KY. The magazine is distributed free to religious group travel organizers and travel suppliers catering to the market. Single copies for all others is $9.95.

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

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publication

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

Randy Mink Managing Editor religioustravelplanningguide.com

connecting travelers to the roots of their faith

Offer the world to your travelers with journeys to seven continents.

To learn about our extensive tour selection, call 800.762.5345 or your local Travel Agent.

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

By Rachel Gilmore

y definition, a retreat is a going-away time, a taking a little time for yourself time. It's a time to renew and refresh your mind, body and spirit. More specifically, though, a retreat is designed to model God's concept of Sabbath. God created the world and included time to rest, but the busyness in our lives has pushed us far away from that divine gift of R&R. We have become so over-scheduled, over-committed, overtired, overworked, over-

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worried, overemotional, over budget...over and over and over again.

A retreat helps break that pattern. It inserts a time-out, a Sabbath rest, in the middle of our fast-paced, sensory-overloaded lives.

Yet a prayer labyrinth is a wonderful retreat tool for deepening spiritual connection with God that actually engages the mind and spirit through bodily movement. Visitors to a labyrinth will spend time silently walking and talking with God and giving God time and

WALKING IN

CIRCLES Retreat planners may find that using a prayer labyrinth strengthens group members’ connection with God

8

space to speak into their lives. For retreat planners, some of the many benefits of incorporating the walking of a prayer labyrinth include: • Helping participants' minds to focus on creating a connection with God by occupying their bodies with a familiar, repetitive physical task (walking) done within a safe, structured environment (labyrinth path).

• Offering a spiritual growth tool which is accessible to people of various ages and stages of faith.

• Making extended quiet time more productive by adding a simple physical component, lessening the "strangeness" of group silent meditation and reflection.

• Creating a common group activity that is experienced individually, providing for a wealth of follow-up conversations post-walk.

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But Isn’t That A New-Agey Thing?

Actually, labyrinth symbols have been discovered on archeological remnants dating back almost 4,000 years in pre-historic cultures. However, use of the labyrinth in Christian art and architecture dates back to Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity and his hosting of the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Founded in 324 AD, the Basilica of St. Reparatus outside of Algiers in North Africa is the first documented example of a Christian church with a labyrinth. Following the Romanstyle mosaic tile floor layout, the center contains the words “Santa Eclesia” or “Holy Church” repeated over and over again as a type of prayer.

While the terms labyrinth and maze often get used inter-

Nancy Bauer/Bigstock.com

Walking an outdoor prayer labyrinth helps retreat goers focus on their relationship with God and adds a physical component to quiet time.

ritarobin/Bigstock.com

Labyrinths come in many forms and sizes, but the purpose is the same.

changeably, they are very different things. Both are pathways, often big enough to be walked. A labyrinth, though, is not designed to deceive. It has no dead ends or confusing twists and turns like a maze so that a walker can never get lost. The oldest form, called a Classical labyrinth, is rounded and contains a single path that loops back and forth on itself toward a center point which requires the walker to turn around and go back out the way she came.

During medieval times when labyrinths grew in popularity as a Christian symbol of following one path to God, another design emerged, based on a symmetrical, quadrant geometry, with the most famous one still on the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France.

Again, its purpose was to allow the walker to move intentionally toward the center (toward God), pause for a time of extended prayer or worship and then follow the path back out of the labyrinth (toward the world), hopefully leaving with a deeper sense of God’s presence in her life. (For detailed descriptions and illustrations of labyrinth types, visit www.labyrinthos.net/typology.html).

“For me, personally, I think we need more symbolism in Christianity,” says Debbie Warnock, a Virginian artist, gardener and pastor's wife who created a backyard labyrinth that is now open to visitors. “Sometimes it seems like we forget about the whole thought process with symbolism. It’s a tool that God gave us. It’s Religious Travel Planning Guide

9

ing,” Warnock said. Which is exactly the purpose of a retreat...to get people walking and talking with God in a deeper, more purposeful way and encouraging them to carry that close, personal connection back into their daily lives.

There is a prayer labyrinth at St. John’s Church in Glastonbury, England.

chrisd2105/Bigstock.com

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like art. Symbols give us a visual that can help ground us in our feelings.” And, according to labyrinth users and researchers, a revival has been underway since the 1980s, reintroducing this spiritual-physical prayer practice to modern Christianity.

More specifically, though, Warnock sees the labyrinth as her faith forefathers did…as a metaphor for a life spent walking with God. Visitors to Warnock's labyrinth receive a bookmark that explains that upon crossing the threshold, walkers are encouraged to let go of their worries, clear their minds of worldly things and invite God to be present with them. Upon reaching the center, walkers can pause to reflect on areas of their lives that need spiritual work, that need God’s healing, that need God’s guidance, that need celebration and thanksgiving of God’s blessings. This rest can be a time of prayer, of enjoying God’s creation, of reading Scripture, or of heart-to-heart conversations with God. When the walkers are ready to move out of the labyrinth, they are encouraged to actively listen for the still, small voice of God speaking into their lives.

“I think of when God was walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (before the Fall) and how the whole experience was so intimate, just the two of them and God, walking and talk10

Religious Travel Planning Guide

Learning About The Labyrinth

However, before incorporating a labyrinth into your retreat plan, be aware that some people might feel that this activity is too far outside their faith tradition for it to be meaningful. Or, it may be a completely unfamiliar approach to the planning team, so it's best to keep these pre-walk guidelines in mind: 1. Do background reading on labyrinths and be prepared to answer questions from the group as to the purpose and practice of walking a labyrinth. Testimonies from Christians who use a labyrinth as part of their prayer life might be useful to share. Check out prayer labyrinth expert Dr. Jill Geoffrion's website for a wealth of background information at www.jillgeoffrion.com/.

2. Be sensitive to your group’s/church’s theological comfort zone and determine if this approach is acceptable. Remember that a gentle nudge to encourage risk taking for spiritual growth can be helpful…a shove over the edge, not so much.

3. Give some structure to your group’s labyrinth time, especially if participants are new to the experience (see ideas below).

4. Explain labyrinth etiquette in advance. New walkers need to know that it’s okay to step aside or move off the path to let someone go around you. If your group is the only group using the labyrinth, decide if you will be silent or if talking quietly with one another is okay. It’s also normal for some to walk slowly and others more quickly. Each labyrinth walk is individually paced.

5. Depending on the size of your group and the size of the labyrinth, you may want to walk it in shifts or stagger the entry times. Having additional devotional materials or prayer options available can help keep the group focused even if they don’t all start and finish together.

©iStockphoto.com/Corey

Sundahl

religioustravelplanningguide.com

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Learning From The Labyrinth

A prayer labyrinth returns believers to an ancient Christian practice designed for intentionally exploring and growing one’s faith. Used in the retreat setting, the labyrinth can not only strengthen individual connections to God but also to others sharing the retreat experience. Help your group members maximize their spiritual growth by…

1. Incorporating Scripture into your walk. Have either a verse or verses printed on a slip of paper for people to stop and read along the way. Or, have a reader stand outside the labyrinth and share a verse every few minutes.

Labyrinth creator Warnock says her favorite is Psalm 16:11 from the Message translation: “Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face. Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way.” You can also look up words like path, way, feet, guide, direct or seek in a concordance and choose a handful of passages or select denominational devotional/prayer materials for reflection. Make copies to give to the walkers.

2. Assigning prayer partners who will pray for one another during the walk.

3. Setting aside time after walking to talk with participants about their experience…Was it helpful? Was it comfortable? Did walkers gain any insights?

Could they hear God’s voice? Would they do it again?

4. Inviting group members to bring a journal into the labyrinth and/or spend time journaling after walking.

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Ready To Hit The Road?

If you’ve decided that incorporating a labyrinth into your retreat is exactly what your group needs, find a labyrinth near you by visiting www.labyrinthlocator.com. Just type in your city, state or zip code and see what your options are. These days, public labyrinths grace the grounds of retreat centers, churches, parks and private homes, and this website gives you all the specifics you'll need regarding location, type, hours of availability, etc. In addition, the website includes labyrinths from around the world, many located in the historic churches of Europe. (Note: For those reading this issue's articles on English cathedrals and Germany's LutherCountry, there are 128 labyrinths in England and 37 in Germany if you're inspired to combine a European retreat with a prayer labyrinth walk.)

"The main thing for me," adds Debbie Warnock, "is that the labyrinth is simply a place to be and to enjoy God's presence, and any means that we can use to bring us closer to God, that's healthy and wholesome, is a good thing." U

Rachel Gilmore is the author of The Complete Leader’s Guide to Christian Retreats (Judson Press, 2008, judsonpress.com). She is happy to answer planning questions via email (rachel@thegilmoregirl.com) and is available to work as a consultant with your planning team or serve as a retreat speaker.

Fridays and Saturdays

June 19–September 26

Ohio’s Only Passion Play

41 Years of Faith

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740.439.2761 | LivingWordDrama.org Religious Travel Planning Guide

11

ver since taking a college course in Late Medieval Art and Architecture, I’ve been drawn to the magnificent cathedrals of Europe and make a beeline to them as soon as I arrive in town. Such was the case in York, which turned out to be my favorite city on a recent Christmastime trip to Northern England.

Circled by ancient town walls and threaded with a cobweb of cozy lanes, York’s historic core abounds with attractions, including York Minster, the largest medieval Gothic church north of the Alps.

A masterpiece in stone and stained glass, York Minster is religious architecture on the grandest scale, dwarfing all that surrounds it. For almost three hours I marveled at its construction and toured its exhibits, capping my visit with an arduous climb to the rooftop.

But York Minster is not a museum—it is a working Anglican church—and I wanted to experience it as a worshipper. So, that night I returned to attend a carol service featuring the red-jacketed boys and girls of the Minster School’s choir. The children’s voices lifted in song and strains of the mighty pipe organ made it all come alive. Like others in the audience, I sat in the ornately carved choir stalls, the singers in front of the high altar. Afterwards, it was fun mingling with the locals over wine, juice and mini mince pies (a Christmas staple) just outside the “quire” (an archaic spelling used in Britain to denote the area occupied by the choristers).

Cathedrals, more than just places to worship, are at the very

C at h e d r a l s

VisitEngland/Diana Jarvis

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York Minster, an imposing Gothic masterwork, dominates York’s walled old city.

of

England

Divine Designs Visiting some of the world’s finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture can be a heavenly experience

By Randy Mink

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Religious Travel Planning Guide

religioustravelplanningguide.com

Lincoln Cathedral, as viewed from Lincoln Castle, looms high above the medieval town center.

religioustravelplanningguide.com

Religious Travel Planning Guide

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VisitBritain/Tony Pleavin

VisitEngland/VisitKent

For drama, though, there’s nothing heart of British history. They also are like attending a service or concert. If prime tourist attractions, each with its you can’t make Sunday worship, conown story to tell. sider evensong, a late-afternoon servAs monuments to the glory of ice with musical elements. Other God and power of the church, catheoptions include organ and choir drals in medieval times were the recitals. Besides carol services, Christlifeblood of the city, towering over the mastime might bring special perhouses huddled below. Many of Engformances, such as Handel’s Messiah. land’s most famous cathedrals were In York I attended carol services on built in the Gothic style, with soaring two nights, each with a different arches and windows emphasizing school choir; the second one attracted height and light. Piercing the heavCanterbury Cathedral, the mother church of Anglicanism, was more people and was held in the 500ens, their spires dominated the landan important pilgrimage center during the Middle Ages. foot-long, 100-foot-wide nave, not scape and could be seen from miles the intimate quire. away. The identities of certain English cities, like Canterbury and York Minster (built between 1220 and 1472) is one of the most Salisbury, are inextricably tied to their cathedrals. (While the word visited cathedrals in England and has plenty to see. Start with a “cathedral” usually refers to a church that serves as the seat of a guided tour that leaves on the hour between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. bishop, we’re using it here to connote a large, important church.)

Then explore the recently renovated Undercroft, where the subYou have to stop and ponder that some of England’s massive terranean Revealing York Minster exhibition, a high-tech affair with ecclesiastical edifices are over 900 years old—and still standing. videos and touch-screens, reveals the Roman and Norman founAs scaffolding attests, these artistic and engineering miracles are dations on which the present Gothic church stands. Many of the constantly undergoing restoration and repair. Some have seen exarchaeological discoveries on display were made during the 1960s tensive design changes over the centuries; others have suffered fire engineering project that shored up the crumbling foundation and damage or just the ravages of old age. A few were targets of Gersaved the central tower from collapse. Back upstairs, see interactive man bombing in World War II. galleries spotlighting the current 10-year project that will clean Many of England’s popular cathedrals charge admission to and repair the Great East Window, one of the largest medieval walk around or take a guided tour, with a tower climb sometimes stained-glass windows in the world (now behind scaffolding but extra. Entering for worship services, however, is free. with a few panels on display). York Minster’s 128 windows hold On a guided tour you get a better understanding more than half of England’s medieval stained glass. of the church’s history and artwork, but I also like to wander on my own, peeking into side chapels, reading inscriptions and just absorbing the reverent atmosphere from a seat in the endless nave. You can learn a lot from the church’s free leaflet or guidebook for sale.

Church-Hopping in London f asked to name the most famous church in England, most people would say Westminster Abbey. Everyone knows it as the place of William and Kate’s 2011 wedding and Princess Diana’s funeral 14 years earlier. Under the direct jurisdiction of the reigning monarch, London’s Westminster Abbey has been the site of almost every coronation, and many English sovereigns are buried there. Filled with hundreds of statues and tombs, plus tablets and plaques that remember great English poets and writers (from Chaucer to Shakespeare to Dickens), this iconic Gothic church, usually crowded with tourists, deserves as much time as you can give it. Check the schedule for evensong services or organ

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visitlondonimages/britainonview/Pawel Libera

Westminster Abbey, domed St. Paul’s Cathedral and Southwark Cathedral (below) wow visitors.

recitals. Westminster Abbey is not to be confused with Westminster Cathedral, England’s largest Catholic church (not a major attraction).

London’s other must-see church is St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Europe. A Baroque jewel designed by Sir Christopher Wren and completed in 1710, it was the first Anglican church built in London after the Reformation.

Its dome, the third largest in the world, rises 365 feet and is a familiar fixture on the city’s skyline. A climb up 528 steps to the dome’s galleries provides stunning panoramas.

Stained-glass windows in the American Memorial Chapel honor 28,000 U.S. servicemen and women who lost their lives while based in Britain during World War II. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were wed at St. Paul’s in 1981.

For a quieter experience, stop for a look inside Southwark Cathedral (pronounced “Suth-uck”) while touring the south bank of the Thames. London’s oldest Gothic church, dating from 1220, sits next to Borough Market, a foodie favorite, and is just blocks from the Shard, London’s tallest building. Of note are a memorial window to William Shakespeare (whose Globe Theatre was nearby) and a chapel dedicated to John Harvard, founder of Harvard University. Relax in the cathedral’s gardens or cafe, or catch a lunchtime organ recital.

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Religious Travel Planning Guide

You can get an up-close look at the windows, buttresses, gargoyles and spiky pinnacles from the outdoor catwalk, part of the self-guided “Tower Tour” to the top of the central tower, the highest point in York. The panoramic views are worth the trek, an option not for the unfit or claustrophobic. The 10-minute ascent involves 275 steps, 197 of them on a narrow, spiraling staircase. I bumped my head only once.

The pleasant university city of Durham, 75 miles north of York and not far from the Scottish border, is home to Durham Cathedral, built from 1093 to 1133 in the heavy Norman, or Romanesque, style, with early Gothic elements. Considered Britain’s largest and best-preserved Norman church, William the Conqueror’s cathedral is noted for its strikingly decorated cylindrical columns surmounted by a ceiling with elegant rib vaulting.

It began as a shrine to St. Cuthbert, patron saint of Northumbria, and still holds his tomb. Both the church and neighboring Durham Castle, situated picturesquely by the River Wear, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Traveling between York and London, you might consider a stop in Lincoln, a rather remote town renowned for Lincoln Cathedral, which towers high above the medieval streets. For centuries this was the tallest building Europe.

In the great port city of Liverpool, two hours east of York by train, I climbed to the open-air rooftop of a huge Neo-Gothic church—108 steps after two elevator rides. The size of Liverpool Cathedral, officially named Cathedral Church of Christ Liverpool, is just staggering. A 20th century creation, the brown sandstone behemoth (started in 1904 and completed in 1978) is Britain’s biggest cathedral and the largest Anglican cathedral in Europe. As I trudged up the tower steps, I looked down into the bell chamber, which boasts the highest (219 feet) and heaviest (31 tons) ringing peal of church bells in the world. One of the world’s longest cathedrals, the “Great Space” boasts more superlatives: world’s highest and widest Gothic arches, world’s highest church tower (330 feet) and Britain’s largest organ (10,267 pipes).

The architect of Liverpool Cathedral was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the same man who in the 1920s designed Britain’s red, cast-iron telephone box. A real-life example of the iconic kiosk, standing next to the first elevator to the tower, suggests the contrast between Scott’s largest and smallest structures.

Admission to the church is free, but an attractions ticket (about $7.60) includes tower entry, a 10-minute film, a gallery showcasing ecclesiastical embroidery, and the self-guided Great Space audio tour of the cavernous interior with all its paintings, stained glass and carvings. Groups can arrange a guided tour and a meal in the Welsford Restaurant or a function suite. Performance opportunities at lunchtime concerts are available for visiting choirs.

Less than a mile away, at the opposite end of Hope Street, looms another modern Liverpool landmark, the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. The futuristic, coneshaped building with a round central sanctuary is topped by a giant glass cylinder. Started in 1933 with a grand design by famed British architect Sir Edwin Luytens, the church had to halt construction as World War II approached and wasn’t finished until 1967. The religioustravelplanningguide.com

Marketing Liverpool

VisitEngland/Iain Lewis

during the Middle Ages. The classic literary work comes to life at scaled-back result gave it the nickname “Greatest Building Never The Canterbury Tales, a tourist-friendly museum inside St. MarBuilt.” garet’s Church. Canterbury, 56 miles southeast of London and not Manchester, like nearby Liverpool, is an old northern industrial far from the English Channel, is a popular day trip from the capital. city undergoing regeneration. German bombing decimated its meNoteworthy cathedrals also await south and west of London. dieval quarter, so little remains except for Manchester Cathedral Salisbury Cathedral, perhaps England’s most graceful Gothic and the neighboring Chetham’s Library, part of a complex where church, claims the country’s tallest spire (404 priests lived. (The atmospheric library, the feet), a feat of medieval engineering that can oldest free library in the English-speaking be seen close up by those willing to climb world, is a page out of Harry Potter books.)

330 steps. Surrounded by an enormous The cathedral’s stained glass was installed grassy field, Salisbury’s is architecturally one between 1972 and 1995, earlier windows of the most harmonious and homogenous of having been destroyed in the war; others all England’s great cathedrals; after being were blown out by an IRA bomb that built between 1220 and 1330, it saw no adrocked central Manchester in 1996. Much ditions or alterations, unlike others that reof the cathedral’s stonework dates from flect a patchwork of styles. Make sure to see Victorian times, but the tower arch is 800 what is probably Europe’s oldest working years old and the choir stalls’ exquisite clock (1386) and in the octagonal chapter woodwork was done in the early 16th cenhouse one of four surviving original copies tury. The church holds the distinction of of the Magna Carta. having the widest medieval nave of any In Winchester, east of Salisbury, Winchurch in Britain. chester Cathedral is the longest medieval Manchester Cathedral sustained the cathedral in Britain, and its elaborately carved worst wartime damage of any UK cathedral choir stalls are England’s oldest. In the north aside from Coventry’s St. Michael’s Catheaisle a simple stone memorial marks the grave dral, which was burned to the ground in Salisbury Cathedral, dating from the 13th of novelist Jane Austen, who worked and lived 1940 along with the city’s entire medieval century, epitomizes Gothic grandeur. in nearby Chawton. Wells Cathedral, in the center. The new St. Michael’s, completed in quiet town of Wells, is one of Britain’s smaller cathedrals but im1962, stands next to the ruins, making it a poignant site that reppresses visitors with six tiers of 13th century statues of kings and resents death and resurrection. Various monuments are scattered saints adorning its monumental west front. A short drive northeast around the ruins. The new church boasts colorful glass windows leads to the spa town of Bath and Bath Abbey, called the “Lantern and the largest tapestry in the world. of the West” for its expanses of stained glass. A symphony in golden Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of Anglicanism (the stone dating from 1499, the abbey, with its fan-vaulted ceiling, is Church of England) and the seat of the archbishop of Canterbury, one of the last great medieval churches of England. is a must-see for cathedral collectors. Formally called Cathedral Communing with the past in Britain’s heavenly spaces—among Church of Christ Canterbury, the imposing church combines Northe most jaw-dropping temples in Chrisman and Gothic styles and dates from the 11th century. It is most tendom—is a cultural and spiritual jourfamously associated with Thomas Becket, the archbishop who in ney that shines a light on man’s 1170 was hacked to death in a side chapel by four knights of Henry creativity and his religious devoII responding to the king’s question “Who will rid me of this turtion. Some have called them bulent priest?” For 400 years the saint’s tomb was an extravagant hymns in stone. U shrine that drew pilgrims from all over Europe. You can see the tomb near the high altar and stained-glass scenes from Becket’s life. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales tells the stories of pilgrims journeying from London to Becket’s shrine Liverpool Cathedral, a 20th century wonder nicknamed the “Great Space,” is Britain’s biggest cathedral.

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Richard Krieg Pastor Richard Krieg on the Sea of Galilee

Mission Trips Let Us Put Our Faith Into Practice

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teenagers came to me heartbroken with stories of both physical and spiritual poverty.

All the sermons in a lifetime couldn’t teach my kids what they were learning first hand through these kids. The Bible stories that they took for granted now resonated in their hearts as they began to minister.

In addition to Bible lessons coming alive, these teens began to have revealed in their lives opportunities to use strengths they were unaware of. Some could easily speak of their faith. Others began to teach lessons and lead in music or craft projects, while some wanted to take on the physical re-

“What I learned on the trip, I still put into practice today.” recall the work and still apply the lessons to their lives. Though I have moved many miles from them and many years have passed, when I have had contact with them, the mission trips always come up in conversation. The lessons are still alive. And the conversation is the same.

“What I learned on the trip, I still put into practice today.”

After the suitcases are unpacked and the teaching supplies are back in the storage room, even when life gets back to the routine of school, church, family and friends…the faces of the mission children, the needs of their families and the privilege of helping them stays with a person. And by its presence in our memories, we discover that we now respond to people and needs where we live. Ministry isn’t just for the far off.

There are needs at home, in our neighborhoods, maybe with our neighbors.

Sometimes the journeys are shorter. My current congregation ministers monthly in local rescue and food missions. But the lessons are the same. The needs resonate the sermons. The opportunities reveal our strengths. The lives continue to respond wherever we go. And my church today, with their local work, is talking about distance work. They want to travel to other places and minister away from our church…a faith journey. It is a trip I look forward to leading. U ©iStockphoto.com/MissHibiscus

t was 1981. I was two years out of seminary and on a church staff as a minister of youth and education. I loaded a dozen teenagers and four adults into a church van and a pickup truck and left the comfort of our home church in Missouri for a mission trip to the farm land west of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We taught Vacation Bible School to a small congregation that met in a Grange Hall. We stayed at an old CCC Camp from the Depression era. We had few conveniences and little luxury. That was my first mission trip, my first faith travel adventure.

Since that time, I have involved several church groups (both youth and adult) in trips that revolve around our faith. Through it all, whether a big mission trip to Pennsylvania, Georgia and Massachusetts or a small trip to the local nursing home, food pantry or soup line, the lessons are ultimately the same. Faith travel grows a congregation. Members are blessed with the opportunity to take a lifetime of Bible study lessons and sermons and put those words into practice.

Imagine a person who has sat in a church pew and heard the story of the Good Samaritan or the teachings about feeding the hungry and visiting the lonely. Sadly, for too many church members these are truly just words.

They hear them, they digest them, they would nod their heads in agreement with them, but they never put them into practice. But a faith journey changes that. It forces our hand. It puts us into the world of need and allows us to use what we have heard and know. A lifetime of knowledge begins to resonate within our hearts and allows us to open up our lives and use what we know.

On that first trip to Pennsylvania, I saw my 16- and 17-year-olds talk to small children who had never been in church, never sung a song, rarely played an organized game and came to the meetings hungry. My

Mission trips at home and abroad provide church members with unforgettable experiences.

sponsibilities of securing some needed clothing or food or toys for some of the children.

As we encountered the families and the community, each of my faith travelers found new insights into who they were and what they could do. Even my adults had new revelations as to how they could use their abilities to touch the lives of the people we were visiting with. But that didn’t end on the journey.

When the traveling was over and we had said our good-byes and gone back home, the lessons continued. These faith travelers, to this day, remember the trips,

Richard Krieg is pastor of Red Land Baptist Church, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania religioustravelplanningguide.com

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Martin Luther

Thinker, monk, rebel DZT/ Andrew Cowin

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is weapon was the Word, and he delivered it with conviction. Martin Luther, the Great Reformer, not only revolutionized the church but also the way people thought, giving them reassurance and conveying to them the comforting image of a merciful and forgiving God. A man who defined his time – and whose message is as relevant today as it was 500 years ago.

500 Years of Reformation

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n 2017 the Protestant Reformation marks half a millennium. On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This single act was responsible for a worldwide movement whose legacy can still be felt today, especially in Germany. It was an event that changed the world — the Reformation did not only affect theology and the church but also had an impact on culture, science, business, politics, language and education.

Germany is paying tribute to one of its greatest sons with an entire decade devoted to the church reformer.

Through 2017, this great anniversary will be celebrated with exhibitions, festivals and concerts not just in Wittenberg and Eisleben but across the country.

Follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther throughout Germany and embark on a fascinating journey to the great age of the Reformation.

The 500th birthday of Lucas Cranach the Younger in 2015 is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in the arts to discover the works not only by this great artist but also by his father, Cranach the Elder. The Cranachs along with Albrecht Dürer are considered the most important painters during the Renaissance in Germany and their portraits of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora have iconic status. For more information and special events visit www.wege-zu-cranach.de and www.cranach2015.de.

The Heartland of Luther’s Legacy – A Journey of Discovery ore than 30 sites all over Germany allow you to discover Luther’s legacy.

The most prominent Luther sites are in Eisleben, where Luther was born and where he died; in Wittenberg, where he lived for more than 35 years teaching and practicing his beliefs; and Wartburg Castle in Eisenach, where Luther translated the New Testament into German.

The German National Tourist Office provides you with useful tools to plan your Luther trip to Germany. Visit www.germany.travel/luther for detailed information on all important Luther sites and events. You can also find information about eight Luther routes featuring different topics such as Luther’s legacy or Reformation and cultural heritage.

Download the online brochure on the Reformation’s 500th anniversary, including the eight specifically designed routes in LutherCountry, at www.germany.travel/en/ebrochures.

While in Germany, explore other famous sites and cities this beautiful country has to offer.

Find travel inspiration at www.germany.travel.

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Luther Events & Exhibitions March 1 – September 30, 2015 Nuremberg The Medium of Paper – A Nuremberg Invention Exhibition, Museum for Industrial Culture June 2 – July 19, 2015 Eisenach The Cranach Studio's Portraits of Luther Exhibition

June 12 – 14, 2015 Wittenberg Luther’s Wedding Festival

August 21 – September 20, 2015 Grimma Lightning Strike – Luther and the Reformation Exhibition

June 19 – 21, 2015 Eisleben Luther City Festival

May 20 – September 30, 2017 Wittenberg Reformation World Exhibition

June 26 – November 1, 2015 Wittenberg Cranach’s World Exhibition

May 29, 2017 Wittenberg Festive Reformation Church Service

For more information on Luther events and exhibitions, please visit www.germany.travel/luther.

DZT/Wartburg-Stiftung/Bildarchiv Monheim GmbH

Wartburg Castle in Eisenach was where Martin Luther translated the New Testament from ancient Greek into German.

LutherCountry

Feel the Spirit of the Reformation

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njoy an inspirational and purposeful journey filled with insights into the Protestant Reformation. A visit to LutherCountry is not only a powerful spiritual voyage but also a special way to honor and learn about Martin Luther. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to explore scenic LutherCountry and to follow in the footsteps of the

The baptism center in St. Peter’s Church, Lutherstadt Eisleben IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Klaus-Peter Voigt

Great Reformer, a transformational figure in the history of the Christian Church.

LutherCountry is a stunning and very authentic region right in the heart of Germany, between Frankfurt (Main), Munich and Berlin. It offers enchanting towns with half-timbered houses straight out of a children's storybook. History

comes alive in castles and elegant palaces surrounded by lush forest and open countryside. LutherCountry will move you spiritually and emotionally with endless charm, beauty and compassion. Apart from being a spiritual destination, LutherCountry is home to many of Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also where you can sample traditional culinary delights such as the renowned Thuringian bratwurst and KÜstritzer dark beer, which even Martin Luther was a great fan of.

LutherCountry invites you to join in the celebrations in the build-up to 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Regardless of when you visit, there will always be something special waiting for you in LutherCountry.

A Luther Bible in the library of the Francke Foundations in Halle (Saale).

IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Harald Krieg

DZT/Jochen Keute

Points of interest in the market square of Lutherstadt Wittenberg are the town hall, Melanchthon and Luther monuments, and town church.

In Martin Luther’s Footsteps...

Where to Go, What to See

IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Jörg Gläscher

Where It All Began – Lutherstadt Wittenberg

The Castle Church door memorializing Luther’s 95 Theses

LUTHERSTADT WITTENBERG is known as the birthplace of the Reformation. It was here on October 31, 1517 that Luther sparked the Reformation when he nailed his 95 Theses to the Castle Church door. Today, a massive bronze memorial door marks the spot that changed the course of history. Pay your respects to the Great Reformer at this door or at his grave inside the church, beneath the pulpit. Another significant church in Wittenberg is the City Church, regarded as the “Mother Church of the Reformation”.

Martin Luther preached, was married and baptized his six children here. Be sure to attend one of the English services that takes place weekly from Wednesday to Saturday between May and October in either of the two main churches.

The Luther House, a former Augustinian monastery and Luther's home for more than 35 years, is now the world’s largest Reformation museum. Luther's living room is a real highlight with his original desk and 500-year-old period furnishings on display. The remarkable Ten Commandments painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a Luther Bible from 1534 and a letter of indulgence can also be found here. At the Melanchthon House learn about Martin Luther's formidable "right-hand man" in the permanent exhibition Philipp Melanchthon: Life – Work – Impact.

IMG Sachsen-Anhalt/Jörg Gläscher

The Circle of Life – Lutherstadt Eisleben Martin Luther's birthplace, LUTHERSTADT EISLEBEN, claims to have introduced the world's very first “heritage tourism” site with the biographical exhibition Where I Come From – Martin Luther and Eisleben. The font where Luther was baptized in the City Church of St. Peter and St. Paul still remains, and the new Luther Font was built as a tribute to the Great Reformer. Also, the Church of St. Anne was consecrated by Martin Luther and was the first Protestant church to be built in the region. The pulpit from which he preached is still used today for major religious occasions. Luther’s Death House, a late-Gothic reconstruction of the house in which he died, also can be visited. The new exhibition includes furniture, documents and signatures, as well as the original cloth that covered Luther's coffin.

Luther's Parents' Home in nearby MANSFELD-LUTHERSTADT sheds light on the history of Luther's childhood and the Luther family.

The historic market square, Lutherstadt Eisleben

Eisenach-Wartburg Touristik GmbH/A. Nestler

In the Beginning was the Word – Eisenach

The half-timbered Luther House in Eisenach

EISENACH invites you to wander through picturesque streets to the historic market square, which is lined with half-timbered houses. The city is the birthplace of Johann Sebastian Bach, a passionate Lutheran, who was baptized in St. George Church, where Luther sang in the church choir as a boy and later preached. In the Bach House short concerts featuring antique musical instruments take place every hour on the hour.

The historic part of the museum is dedicated to Bach’s life and family, while the modern part focuses on his work and music with multimedia experiences. In fall 2015, the renovated and extended half-timbered Luther House from the 14th century will re-open as a museum, with the new permanent exhibition Luther and the Bible as its focal point.

Visitors can also see the two rooms where Martin Luther lived with the Cotta family as a child or simply relax over coffee at the Bible Cafe.

Nestled among the hilltops of Eisenach is Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament from ancient Greek into German. Making the Word accessible to the common man was his greatest cultural achievement. At the impressive castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, step into the Luther Cell, where Martin Luther stayed and, whilst hiding, completed this great work in only 10 weeks.

TTG/T. Babovic

Feel the Thunder – Erfurt The very spot that God's voice "thundereth marvelously" and where Luther faced his own mortality and devoted his life to God after being caught in a thunderstorm is in STOTTERNHEIM, near Erfurt. Visit the Luther Stone, a memorial to the momentous event that changed Luther’s life forever.

Erfurt, undeniably one of Germany's most beautiful cities, was Luther's spiritual home.

It is where he studied, became a monk and was later ordained as a priest. Luther served as a monk at the Augustinian Monastery, now a pilgrimage center. In the monastery church you will find the stained-glass windows with the famous Luther Rose, the earliest symbol of Lutheran beliefs. The monastery offers 67 guest rooms and apartments for long- and short-term stays in a serene atmosphere. It is also a modern conference center and museum, with a breathtaking historic library. Stop by the Luther Cell during your stay.

Follow the “Luther Mile” through Erfurt and visit St. Mary's Cathedral, where Luther was ordained. Next door is St. Severi Church. Standing together on top of a hill, the photogenic cathedrals, connected by steps, serve as a stage for the annual Open-Air Cathedral Steps Festival and Christmas Market. Merchants' Bridge, arching across the Gera River, is Europe's finest example of a medieval inhabited bridge and dates back to 1325.

Luther was a monk at the Augustinian Monastery.

LutherCountry’s Hidden Treasures The splendors of LutherCountry are countless. Here are more tour-worthy sites—additional reasons to put Luther Country at the top of your travel list.

There is no better way to experience authenticity than going off the beaten

Germany’s LutherCountry

path. Follow the LUTHERWEG (LUTHER TRAIL), a route that connects many Luther-related locations. Visit SCHMALKALDEN, the half-timbered town with the Luther House and where Luther gave sermons at St. George’s Church and published the Schmalkaldic Articles of faith. LutherCountry is also home to romantic medieval cities like QUEDLINBURG. In MAGDEBURG, prominent during the Reformation, see enormous Magdeburg Cathedral, the first in Germany to be built in the Gothic style.

Martin Luther, together with Bach, Goethe, Liszt, Gropius and Lucas Cranach the Elder and Younger, was a man who appreciated the fine arts. Discover the city of WEIMAR, where all of these great men left their mark. Luther had a tremendous influence on one artist in particular, Lucas Cranach the Elder. Cranach was a strong supporter of Luther, and several of his most important works are on display in the Anhalt Picture Gallery in DESSAU. Cranach changed the way religious paintings were composed, conveying Lutheran ideas through his art.

In HALLE (SAALE), step inside the Market Church and see the original cast of Luther’s death mask. The Francke

Foundations is the orphanage where Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, known as the Father of the American Lutheran Church, taught before traveling to Pennsylvania.

At Your Service – Planning Tips Let us help you organize an enjoyable, faith-based tour in LutherCountry.

Simply check our website for brochures and other helpful information, or browse the list of experienced tour operators.

Itineraries can be customized Ideas on where to for any group size, go and what to do in this brochure including schools, churches, non-profit organizations, orchestras and choirs. The tour operator list also includes local agents in Germany who can plan and arrange a personalized itinerary. There already are a number of tour packages available, but they can be fine-tuned to suit your specific needs.

For more information on LutherCountry, please visit: www.visit-luther.com www.facebook.com/LutherCountry www.pinterest.com/luthercountry

SAMPLE ITINERARY

In the Footsteps of Martin Luther (9 days) After arrival in Frankfurt, travel to Dresden and visit Old Town Square, the palace and Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). Take time to explore this lovely town on the banks of the River Elbe.

Afterwards explore the family home on the grounds, today a museum housing his writings and other artifacts from the Reformation. Then visit the Castle Church, where the 95 Theses were posted, launching the Reformation.

Overnight in Dresden

Overnight in Wittenberg

DAY 3

DAY 5

DAY 1 & 2

Frankfurt – Dresden

Dresden – Leipzig

Discover the city’s musical heritage at St. Thomas Church, whose boys’ choir has been performing for over 800 years.

Martin Luther preached here, and famed composer Johann Sebastian Bach was its choir director. Enjoy strolling through the medieval market square.

Overnight in Leipzig

DAY 4 Leipzig – Eisleben – Wittenberg In Eisleben, the site of Luther’s birth and death, delve into his life by visiting the museum inside the home where he was born; St. Peter and Paul Church, where he was baptized; and St. Andrews Church, where he delivered his final sermons. Continue to Wittenberg and explore the former Wittenberg University, where Luther served as a professor of theology.

TTG/T. Babovic

Frankfurt – Dresden – Leipzig – Eisleben – Wittenberg – Erfurt – Eisenach – Coburg – Nuremberg – Munich

Wittenberg – Erfurt

Explore St. Mary’s Church, where Luther preached, was married and where his children were baptized. Discover the Renaissance-style home of Philipp Melanchthon, Luther’s scholarly confidant who aided him in communicating his revolutionary theology. In Erfurt, you will be able to taste the famous grilled sausage before passing by the Merchants’ Bridge with its 62 half-timbered houses with small shops on the way to the Augustinian Monastery, where Luther lived as a monk from 1505 to 1512.

Overnight in Erfurt

DAY 6 Erfurt – Wartburg Castle – Eisenach – Erfurt At Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the Bible, step into the room where he spent many months in hiding. In the town of Eisenach enjoy a musical performance played on instruments at the Bach Haus dating back to Bach’s time. Visit the Lutherhaus, where Luther resided as a child, and St. George Church, where he was a choir boy.

Overnight in Erfurt

Historic churches in Erfurt (above) and the Elbe River city of Dresden (below) are itinerary highlights.

DAY 7

Erfurt – Coburg – Nuremberg

In Coburg, tour the Veste Coburg, the fortress where Luther took refuge and lived during the Augsburg Confession. Continue south to Nuremberg, a city that figures prominently in Reformation and World War II history. It also boasts the most famous Christmas market in Germany and churches with masterpieces by artists like Albrecht Dürer and Tilman Riemenschneider.

Overnight in Nuremberg

DAY 8 & 9

Nuremberg – Munich

Travel to Munich and feel the energy of this lively Bavarian city during a tour that highlights Olympic Park, the Glockenspiel and Marienplatz, a beautiful square surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafes.

Overnight in Munich For more information, please contact the German National Tourist Office: germanyinfo@germany.travel For other itineraries, please visit www.touritineraries.com DZT/Dietmar Scherf

Thrill rides, music shows and down-home Ozarks ambience make Silver Dollar City theme park a popular draw in Branson, Missouri.

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Destinations for Your Next Youth Trip Group members build relationships and grow their faith while pursuing recreational activities in mountain, beach and theme park settings

By Daniel Morrill

f you were to ask your graduating seniors which youth group trip had the greatest effect on them, you would probably get answers like “the inner-city mission trip we took, where I learned what it truly looked like to serve.” Or “the winter retreat my sophomore year, where I really started to see the Scriptures in a different light.”

Chances are your students aren’t going to look back on the trips to the local theme park or the camping trip up north as ones that fundamentally changed their lives, but that doesn’t mean that these types of trips aren’t vital to the health of a youth group. Youth fellowship trips help to build relationships and set the stage for the retreats and mission trips that your students will be talking about for years.

“The overall purpose [of youth fellowship trips] is for the students to have a positive experience around the group,” said Rob Chagdes, student pastor at Eagle Church in Zionsville, Indiana and currently in his 20th year doing youth ministry. “In those activities, that is really usually the catalyst for the relationships that people form in their youth group.”

Like any trip, there are plenty of factors you will need to take into consideration when planning a fellowship trip. Location, length, activities, logistics, cost. These decisions should all circle

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Branson CVB Photo

back to the purpose of the trip-building relationships, both among students and between students and leaders.

“Decide on what trip would give the youth pastor the greatest visibility and opportunity for building relationships with those kids going,” said Dr. Steve Vandegriff, professor of youth ministries at Liberty University. “Our trips always had a purpose, whether it was relationship building, a concerted time of Biblical instruction, or building unity among the group. The biggest advantage is the building of relationships with the leader(s) in a focused amount of time.”

While fun, fellowship-based trips are necessary and have lasting benefits to a group, but youth pastors need to be careful how many trips are taken and how much emphasis is put on these trips, compared to spiritual retreats and mission trips.

“You just don’t want it to be the centerpiece of your ministry,” Chagdes said. “Because if the fun things are the centerpiece, people won’t want to come to the meaningful stuff, and you become a recreation director.”

Fellowship trips can range from half a day to a long weekend.

For longer trips, you will need to find a place to go that has enough different things to do to keep students engaged, while also being a safe, friendly environment. Here are five locations across the U.S. that lend themselves particularly well to youth fellowship trips: religioustravelplanningguide.com

A gospel act performs at Silver Dollar City in Branson. Holy Land Experience, a popular Orlando attraction, brings biblical teachings to life.

Branson, Missouri D

eep in the heart of the beautiful Ozark region, Branson has plenty of faith-based and other attractions to go along with its mountain setting.

With over 100 recurring live music shows, Branson has earned the title “Live Music Capital of the World.” For groups that have never experienced gospel music, there is no better place than Branson with shows like the Good News Gospel Hour and Sunday Gospel Jubilee.

Sight & Sound Theatres has been bringing the Bible to life since 1976. The 2,000-seat theater in Branson uses large casts, live animals and special effects to perform memorable, musical versions of the biblical stories of Noah, Jonah, Daniel, Joseph, Ruth and more.

Silver Dollar City has been Branson’s No. 1 attraction for over 50 years, and it is particularly well-suited for church groups.

The theme park has Southern Gospel Night concerts each evening in Echo Hollow Amphitheater during Southern Gospel Picnic (Aug. 27-Sept. 7, 2015), with hundreds of performances from Grammy winners, Dove Award winners and top gospel acts. Its Young Christians Weekend each year features contemporary Christian artists. To go along with its 30 different rides, Silver Dollar City is also known as the “Home of American Craftsmanship,” as guests can watch dozens of craftsmen doing woodcarving, blacksmithing, glass blowing and more throughout the park. Tours of Marvel Cave, located within the park, are another popular activity. religioustravelplanningguide.com

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ppropriately known as the “Theme Park Capital of the World,” Orlando is by default a top choice for any youth trip. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando are the biggest draws. But Florida’s fifth largest city also has plenty of attractions geared specifically to religious groups.

The Holy Land Experience calls itself a “living, biblical museum,” but it’s much more than that. The 15-acre park recreates such biblical sites as the birthplace of Jesus, a Jerusalem street market, the temple plaza and Jesus’ tomb. Live actors perform scenes from Jesus’ life throughout the park. Other highlights include a model of the entire city of Jerusalem in A.D. 66, a 2,000-seat theater and the Scriptorium, which uses ancient artifacts to show the history of the Scriptures.

While it is always difficult to schedule trips around annual events, Disney’s Night of Joy may be worth it for your youth fellowship trip. Every September more than a dozen contemporary Christian bands converge on Disney’s Magic Kingdom for a twoday festival. The 2014 lineup featured such performers as Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, Hillsong United, Mandisa, Skillet, MercyMe and Casting Crowns.

Wycliffe Discovery Center has exhibits and programs that show the history of how the Bible has been preserved since it was written, and how it is currently being translated into hundreds of languages. Guided tours of the Discovery Center occur every hour, and a different missionary speaks each day about topics ranging from the linguistic challenges of translating the Bible to how computer programmers have helped the translation cause.

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VisitCOS.com

Youth groups can take a Segway tour with Adventures Out West at Colorado Springs’ Garden of the Gods or chill out by the pool in Myrtle Beach.

Colorado Springs, Colorado I

f you want to incorporate a little recreation and a lot of beautiful scenery into your youth fellowship trip, Colorado Springs should top your list. This family-friendly city is surrounded by gorgeous vistas and peppered with things for youth groups to do, both inside and out.

Garden of the Gods is a must see on any Colorado Springs trip. The 1,323-acre city park at the base of Pikes Peak features 300-foot-tall sandstone formations surrounded by lush vegetation.

Horseback riding tours through the park are popular.

Whitewater rafting may not always be immediately thought of as a youth group activity, but it can be a great time of bonding and fun for an adventurous group. Nearby Cano City offers a variety of rafting excursions on America’s most popular river to raft, the Arkansas River.

If the youth of your church grew up listening to “Adventures in Odyssey,” then the Whit’s End Soda Shop inside the Focus on the Family Welcome Center will bring back plenty of memories.

The building also has a 170-seat theater that plays films centered around the mission of Focus on the Family. Also in Colorado Springs is the U.S. Air Force Academy; its strikingly modern, 17spire Cadet Chapel is a campus landmark.

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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina M

yrtle Beach has long been a go-to destination for families wanting to give their kids a one-of-a-kind experience, and it shouldn’t be any different for youth groups. Known as the Golf Capital of the World, Myrtle Beach has much more to offer than just outstanding golf courses along its shores, as it features some of the best resorts, amusement parks, water parks and music shows around, not to mention its signature boardwalk and thriving beachfront.

Myrtle Beach’s 1.2-mile Oceanfront Boardwalk is the site of numerous summer festivals, but even if there is nothing on the calendar, there is always something going on. The boardwalk features plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as a carnival-type experience towards its center, all with a great view of the ocean.

For groups looking for a relaxing place to stay, away from the fast pace of downtown but still within reach of the city’s attractions, consider staying at the Myrtle Beach Christian Retreat and Conference Center. The 60-plus-year-old retreat center has both hotel-type accommodations and rooms full of bunk beds for large groups. For recreation, the beach is just a five-minute walk away, and the site features a swimming pool, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor basketball court, an arcade, a waterslide and an obstacle course. religioustravelplanningguide.com

Gatlinburg Department of Tourism

Zip lining provides an adrenaline rush for adventurous types in the woodlands of Eastern Tennessee.

Tennessee Smokies A

distinct blue haze hangs over Tennessee's Smoky Mountains and gives them their name, but there is nothing hazy about the area’s wide range of options for youth fellowship trips. Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville all make up the developed region on the north edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and each town offers unique benefits to youth trip planners.

The Miracle Theater in Pigeon Forge has a recurring “Miracle” show that recreates the resurrection of Christ in musical form. The show features a large cast of actors, singers, dancers, live animals and even incorporates audience members. The theater puts on other seasonal shows as well, such as the Broadway hit Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat. Dollywood theme park, Pigeon Forge’s major attraction, stages six weeks of concerts every fall during the National Southern Gospel & Harvest Celebration. Groups also like Dollywood’s Splash Country water park and more than 100 engaging science-related exhibits at WonderWorks.

Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens in Gatlinburg features 3-D dioramas that bring the Biblical account of Christ to life with life-size figures, music and special effects. The museum has special exhibits as well as outdoor gardens with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Ober Gatlinburg, a ski resort on Mount Harrison, has indoor ice skating, an alpine slide and a wildlife attraction.

For a retreat-style youth fellowship trip in the Smokies, consider Mountain Lake Ranch in Dandridge, just minutes from Sevierville. The peaceful Christian retreat center on the shore of Douglas Lake has a variety of lodging options for large groups and is close to area attractions such as Forbidden Caverns and NASCAR Speedpark Smoky Mountains go-kart complex. U religioustravelplanningguide.com

Religious Travel Planning Guide

29

Let a Tour Operator Chart Your

Faith Journey orking with a professional tour operator, especially one with years of experience in crafting faith-based itineraries, is a wise move for church groups making travel plans. Having a pro at the helm, both in the planning process and on the road, eases the way for church leaders putting together a group, saving them time, aggravation and money.

Many church trips, such as those to the Holy Land or to Germany for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that call for expert planning. A tour company relieves the church leader of having to deal with all the messy logistics. The tour operator, for example, goes to bat negotiating airfares and hotel costs, using its buying power to obtain the best rates. Meals, tour guides, lecturers, special activities and worship programs—and whatever else you want to include— are taken care of, too. You sit back, they do the work. On the road, having a tour manager take care of day-to-day details frees the pastor/church leader to enjoy the fellowship of congregation members and share biblical insights. Following are tour operators experienced in working with church groups:

Israel Ministry of Tourism

W

Reformation Tours eformation Tours specializes in quality Christian and cultural tours to Europe and the lands of the Bible. Owners Frank and Rowena Drinkhouse have over 25 years of experience in Christian travel, including many years based in England and Turkey. They hand-craft tours for groups and individuals, including pastors on sabbatical, churches, schools and Bible colleges. Commissionable tours are available through their Travel Partner program. The goal is to showcase the best of Europe from a Christian perspective, including fellowship and fun.

R

800-303-5534 • reformationtours.com

Terra Lu Travel Germany-based company, Terra Lu Travel is in close contact with both the Lutheran churches and local tourism organizations in Germany. Terra Lu is owned by Christian Utpatel, an ordained Lutheran pastor and bus driver who is actively involved with steering committees for the Reformation Jubilee in Germany, Switzerland and Netherlands. With more than 25 years of experience and long-established local contacts, Terra Lu Travel is able to make unique “hand made” arrangements. terra-lu-travel.com

A

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a pilgrimage site in Jerusalem

30

Religious Travel Planning Guide

religioustravelplanningguide.com

Holy Land itineraries include multiple days in Jerusalem.

Collette

of Paul the Apostle,” is set for March 23-31, 2016 and priced at $1,499 (twin rate) from New York. Participants will retrace the missionary journey of the Apostle Paul. A Greek islands cruise is included. 866-577-9161 • gocollette.com

eligious leaders share in many inspiring moments, and faithbased, guided travel can also inspire through fostering profound experiences connecting travelers to the roots of their faith. Collette will provide your travelers with the peace of mind that comes with guided travel while you raise funds for your church.

A leader in guided travel since 1918, Collette makes it easy for you. Every facet of the trip is covered—from the convenient hometown pickup that brings groups roundtrip between home and the airport, to the worry-free Travel Protection Plan that allows for cancellation for any reason up to the day before departure. Collette’s dedicated group travel experts and proven group-marketing plan make your experience easy. Personalized marketing materials and multimedia presentations are designed to help you succeed.

There are many benefits to traveling with Collette; most important, Collette wants you to relax. From finding the perfect hotel to blending personal cultural inclusions with the must-sees, Collette seamlessly takes care of the details. The adventure goes beyond incredible destinations; the social aspect of guided travel is one of the best parts. Many travelers on tour have forged lasting • See with new eyes as you envision and friendships. This is the perfect setting to cultivate connect Biblical thought to the sites of the Holy Lands stronger connections within your congregation.

Travel will bring you to the places that spark • Follow the roots of your church heritage the spirit, touch the soul and build ties with the through European Landscapes origins of your beliefs. You can relax, spend time • Share Fellowship & with your group and assist them in connecting Christian History together with their faith while Collette’s experts take care • Experience Egypt—its culture, of everything else. people and faith Tours include the 9-day “Pilgrimage to Poland,” “On the Trail of Martin Luther” (11 days in Germany), “Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes with Barcelona,” (10 days in Portugal, France and Spain), “Greece: In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle” (11 days in Greece and 320 Elton Hills Drive NW, Rochester MN 55901 Turkey), the 10-day “St. Patrick’s Ireland,” 11Phone: 507-289-3332 • Toll-free: 800-658-7128 day “Shrines of Italy” and two, 9-day tours to Israel. tours@ed-ventures.com • www.ed-ventures.com A 9-day FAM trip, “Greece: In the Footsteps

R

Group Leader Discounts

Familiarization Tours Available Call today for details!

Life-Changing Travel Experiences

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Religious Travel Planning Guide

31

Key Tours ey Tours Vacations’ team of religious travel experts can tailor a divine itinerary that will renew your group members’ faith and spirituality. In addition to customized programs, your group of 10 or more can choose any program from the company’s Religious or Special Interest brochure. Key Tours is a wholesale tour operator that provides travel services to destinations worldwide, with strong foundations in travel to Europe, the Mediterranean region and Latin America.

Key Tours truly understands the importance of guide services for the success of any tour and provides the very best. Guides are licensed by local governments, have experience with North American travelers and possess a deep knowledge of the sacred sites on the itinerary. For in-depth information on a particular field of interest, Key Tours can arrange qualified lecturers on such topics as religion, architecture, history, Egyptology, biblical history, politics, and arts and crafts. If your group wants to visit a certain village, university, high school, church, synagogue or historical area, this also can be arranged.

Key Tours operates its own deluxe air-conditioned motorcoaches. For smaller groups, air-conditioned minibuses are used. The turnaround time for group quotes is 48 hours with prices offered in five-passenger intervals. Generally, there is one free place (priced on a double basis) for 15 passengers on land. Key Tours’ buying power enables it to make special price agreements and flexible schedule arrangements with well-known airlines; land-only arrangements also can be made. A wide range of hotel classes is offered.

Key Tours’ mission is to provide each organization with a deep spiritual experience and exceptional value by going the extra mile to ensure that every single component and service is delivered to surpass customer expectations and create peace of mind for the traveler knowing that all funds are escrowed until the trip is completed.

K

800-576-1784 • keytours.com

Peter Burgo

The fortress in Mukawir, Jordan where John the Baptist was executed.

32

Religious Travel Planning Guide

Ed-Ventures d-Ventures, a provider of group travel packages, recognizes that faith-based travel can go anywhere in the world. The company specializes in Europe, the Middle East and Central America, operating tours for groups of all ages. As the tours are highly inclusive, the traveler is not going to be surprised by hidden costs. Ed-Ventures works with faith-based groups, family groups, youth groups, mission groups and performance groups.

As recognized experts in the faith-based market, the company works primarily with Catholic and Protestant groups, but also with Jewish and interfaith groups. It focuses on letting the traveler not only see the ancient stones but experience the living stones.

Ed-Ventures can arrange a pilgrimage to a holy site, take your group on a church heritage tour or include a mission element in the trip. The company believes customization is needed to provide the unique experience the faith-based traveler is seeking, but also offers set departures.

Services provided include: air arrangements, travel insurance, emergency phone contact 24/7 and help marketing and filling groups. The company offers complimentary tours for pastors and group leaders; familiarization tours are available and vary from year to year.

Ed-Ventures wants the traveler to return home with an increased understanding, growth in their faith and a desire to share his/her experience with others.

E

507-289-3332 • ed-ventures.com

Religious Travel Planning Guide

33

E.D.I. Travel .D.I. Travel is a boutique one-stop resource, specializing in Christian tourism to the Holy Land. The main focus is North American groups. E.D.I. offers a customized itinerary to every group that uses its services.

Its clients include churches from all over the United States, Christian schools, church schools and synagogues. E.D.I.’s all-inclusive tours cover all aspects of your trip—airfare, travel insurance, all meals, accommodations, luxury motorcoaches, all entrance fees and gratuities. Pastors, ministers and their spouses travel free. The unique itineraries include home hospitality, kibbutz tours, lectures by professional archeologists and sites that are off the beaten path. The company has dedicated followers on its Facebook page and Trip Advisor, and last but not least, it is the only operation in Israel owned by a professional tour guide with a master’s degree in history, Bible and archeology. E.D.I. Travel invites groups to experience Israel first hand and promises you will come away with a new understanding of the Bible. 855-200-4334 • editravel-israel.com

34

Religious Travel Planning Guide

VisitEngland/Diana Jarvis

E

Visitors to York, England gravitate to York Minster, which anchors its medieval core.

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QUÉBEC’S NATIONAL SHRINES (CANADA) A DREAM OF FAITH YOU CAN SHARE

QUÉBEC’S NATIONAL SHRINES Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal Our Lady of the Cape Shrine Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

SAINT JOSEPH’S ORATORY OF MOUNT ROYAL

Saint Anthony’s Hermitage of Lac-Bouchette

Virginia Shines Bright with Holiday Cheer Celebrate the spirit of the season at Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town.

Christmas festivities provide a Santa’s bag full of group tour options in communities all gussied up for the season

W

By Dave Bodle ell into its second decade, the annual 100 Miles of Lights holiday festival stretches from Richmond to Virginia Beach during mid-November through December.

Seven individual destinations have partnered to

blend historic sites and homes, entertainment, shopping, dining and marvelous light displays into memorable tour options.

One of the pure beauties of this Virginia festival is its flexibility. Regardless of your accommodations location, length of stay, interests or budget, there are numerous options available. Here are just a few to get you started.

Richmond The city’s historic homes take center stage during the holidays. Tudor-style Agecroft Hall is fully decorated for the season. At the nearby Virginia House guests craft their own gingerbread house and afterwards enjoy afternoon tea service and a tour.

Maymont is splendid with Victorian Christmas decor.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden comes to life from late November to mid-January with its GardenFest of Lights. More than a half-million lights are presented in botanical arrangements. Begin your afternoon with a moving re-enactment of Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech at

Busch Gardens® Williamsburg

St. John’s Church followed by dinner at the botani-

LeisureGroupTravel.com

cal garden and its lights display.

The Carpenter Center at Richmond CenterStage, Swift Creek Mill Theatre and Hanover Tavern offer seasonal evening entertainment. Performances and an African Market are featured during Capital City Kwanzaa Festival.

February 2015 59

Newport News From mid-November through Jan. 1 there are more than 200 displays at the 23rd Annual Celebration of Lights, Virginia’s oldest drive-through light show. This spectacular display features more than 700,000 lights and is just one reason nighttime is the right time in Newport News.

The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center houses the Ella Fitzgerald Theater, named for the “First Lady of Song,” who was born in Newport News in 1917. The theater offers a variety of holiGroups in Newport News enjoy the annual Celebration of Lights, a festive drive-through light show.

day performances. Christopher Newport University’s Ferguson Center for the Arts has welcomed holiday performances of A Christmas Carol, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis,

Greater Williamsburg Area The Historic Triangle of Virginia is filled with a multitude of seasonal events. History, entertaining shows, shopping and, of course,

Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah, The Irish Tenors Christmas and Hits and many more. The Boxwood Inn “dinnertainment” should be a part of every itinerary.

twinkling lights complement the holidays.

Busch Gardens’ Christmas Town sparkles with eight million

Hampton

lights and holiday entertainment rivaling the best Broadway shows.

Hampton Holidays invites you to establish a new tradition this

Visitors experience Christmas traditions from around the world, mak-

year. A full line-up of events begins the Saturday before Thanks-

ing Christmas Town their holiday event with dinner and a mug of

giving with the 17th Annual Holiday Parade starting at Coliseum

Busch Gardens’ signature hot chocolate.

Central.

With more than 100 unique events, Colonial Williamsburg de-

Holiday shopping comes easy in Hampton. The open-air Penin-

livers the joy and merriment of the 18th century. Throughout the Rev-

sula Town Center features more than 60 retailers and restaurants,

olutionary City you are welcomed with music and entertainment,

including Macy’s and every imaginable menu. Bass Pro Shops

dining and evergreen decorations adorning doors and windows of

Outdoor World is an attraction in itself. The Hampton History

historic homes. The Grand Illumination and Fireworks on a mem-

Museum’s Holiday Market features entertainment, arts and crafts,

orable night in early December celebrates the Christmas season.

and food. Plan to join the museum’s First Light Celebration with

The illumination of Colonial Williamsburg’s buildings with candles

Christmas carols, yummy goodies and ornament making.

and cressets, complete with narrative, is scheduled throughout the season.

Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center display the Christmas traditions of the 17th and 18th centuries. Hear the struggles of a Christmas and winter encampment at Yorktown and the story of a 1780s farm as it prepares for the holidays.

Not to be missed are the boat parade at Historic Yorktown and

The American Theatre, a restored vaudeville house dating back to 1908, will soon be announcing its 2015 holiday performance schedule. The Charles H. Taylor Arts Center welcomes groups to its diverse array of seasonal exhibitions.

Deck the Halls, a musical tribute to Christmas traditions at Busch Gardens Williamsburg Busch Gardens® Williamsburg

shopping at Premier Outlets, Williamsburg Pottery Factory, and countless boutiques and specialty shops throughout the area.

60 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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

the Winter Carnival at MacArthur Center. Not to be missed is the Norfolk Botanical Garden Dominion Garden of Lights. In a USA Today/Inside Edition poll the public voted Dominion Garden of Lights #8 best light show in the country.

Planning your itinerary around seasonal, evening entertainment options is a breeze. The Virginia Stage Company performs year round at the historic Wells Theatre with a special holiday production in December. Chrysler Hall hosts The Nutcracker, performed with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Children’s Chorus and Todd Rosenlieb Dance. The T.C.C. Roper Performing Arts Center has presented such holiday favorites as Hurray for the Holidays and Virginia Beach’s Holiday Lights at the Beach features 250 displays.

Norfolk

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

Portsmouth

The “Holidays in the City” celebration begins Nov. 21, 2015 with

With its neighbor across the Elizabeth River the Olde Towne

the 31st annual Grand Illumination Parade. The lighting of the

Portsmouth skyline is illuminated on Nov. 21. On the weekend fol-

downtown skyline signals the beginning of a parade of spectacular

lowing Thanksgiving the holiday season kicks into high gear with the

floats, marching bands, giant balloons, dancers and Santa. A visit to

opening of Winter Wonderland at Portsmouth Art and Culture Cen-

Dickens’ Christmas Towne is a conveyance to Victorian London.

ter. From the Coleman Nursery Collection that for 39 years dazzled

MacArthur Center, the area’s leading shopping destination, be-

Portsmouth residents and visitors, the center has re-created the dis-

comes an event-filled winter spectacular with MacArthur on Ice and

play that featured “Snow Babies,” “Snow Palace,” “Christmas Towne 1890,” “Teddy Bear Land” and many more.

Every Friday and Saturday in December the Children’s Museum of Virginia presents Snow Wonder! Snow and Light Shows. Music fills the museum and snow falls in the planetarium. All ages will enjoy the show. Round out your visit to Portsmouth with a stop at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum.

A special Holiday Pass granting admission to all three major venues is available.

Virginia Beach During “The Season of Lights,” Virginia Beach combines coastal charm, historic homes, whale watching, a boardwalk of lights and one very delicious, gourmet chocolate bar.

Holiday Lights at the Beach might be one of the more unique experiences.

You’ll enjoy a spectacular view of more than 500,000 lights and 250 displays as you cruise comfortably in your motorcoach on the boardwalk. If they know you’re coming, you’ll even get that chocolate bar. Do save an evening for a seasonal performance at the Sandler Center The lavishly decorated Williamsburg Inn sets the tone for an 18th century Christmas at Colonial Williamsburg.

62 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Make Room for the Memories.

Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech is re-enacted at St. John’s Church in Richmond.

for the Performing Arts. Located in The

itary air history. Dinner at the Founders Inn

Town Center of Virginia Beach, it’s per-

is followed by a stroll through the English

fect for shopping, dinner and a show.

gardens and its 100,000 lights.

A visit to historic homes Lynnhaven,

We haven’t even scratched the surface

Adam Thoroughgood and Francis Land

of all the options available to fill a 100 Miles

House, each decked out in period holiday

of Lights itinerary. To learn more and get

decorations, is a must. A guided tour of

your planning started, phone 888-493-7386,

Naval Air Station Oceana or a stop at the

ext. 100, or visit 100milesoflights.com. Re-

Military Aviation Museum for “Swingin in

member, Christmas is just around the cor-

the Skies” highlights our nation’s proud mil-

ner. LGT

LeisureGroupTravel.com

An adventure of historic proportion is waiting for your groups—at two living-history museums that explore America’s beginnings. They can board replicas of colonial ships. Grind corn in a Powhatan Indian village. Try on English armor inside a palisaded fort. And join historical interpreters at a Continental (YT` LUJHTWTLU[ MVY H ÄYZ[OHUK SVVR H[ [OL 9L]VS\[PVU»Z LUK ;HRL WHY[ PU guided tours and hands-on programs.

Tell them not to forget their cameras.

Because the history here is life size. And their memories will be even bigger!

1-888-868-7593

February 2015 63

on location: midwest â?–

The ShowMen brighten the holidays on Showboat Branson Belle cruises.

BRANSON

FO R

ALL SEASONS

Christmastime or anytime, this thriving Ozarks community offers groups a festive experience

By Don Heimburger leigh bells ring a little early every year in lively Branson, Mis-

S

Landing Promenade and Amphitheater, featuring more than 100 star

souri as the town of about 10,000 gears up for the big Christ-

entertainers, marching bands, floats and decorated cars with nota-

mas holiday season. Tour groups discover plenty to do from

bles. Of course, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus are there, too. The pa-

November 1 through December 25, when the town buzzes with spe-

rade always honors crooner Andy Williams, a beloved Branson

cial shows, colorful wintertime events and added attractions during

fixture for so many years. Among stars in the recent parade were the

the Ozark Mountain Christmas celebration.

Osmonds, Lennon Sisters and Texas Tenors, all with their own fan

Downtown stores along Main Street pull out their most festive

clubs cheering as they passed by.

merchandise and tidy up their windows with seasonal displays, while

The riverfront stage last year included performances by the

the city wraps green bulbs and green garlands around light poles to

Hughes Brothers, Gatlin Brothers, Nat King Cole from Legends, SIX

brighten the main thoroughfare.

(six remarkable singing brothers), Janice Martin from the Showboat

But that's just the tip of the holiday iceberg. In mid-November there's the Most Wonderful Time of Year Parade at the Branson 64 February 2015

Branson Belle and New South.

Lenni Neimeyer, director of leisure group sales for the BranLeisureGroupTravel.com

son/Lakes Area CVB, said, "Christmas in Branson is wonderful for

Ross Summers, president of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of

those who enjoy a traditional, old-fashioned celebration of the sea-

Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Some people might

son. Many of the theaters throughout the town offer totally new pro-

be surprised to see Branson on the list of 25 best American desti-

ductions during the months of November and December, singing

nations, but we’re not. Branson has been welcoming folks for more

everyone's favorite carols and with

than 100 years, and it is our great hos-

beautiful choreography."

pitality that keeps them coming back.”

According to the CVB, Branson is

With more than 100 shows per-

among the top three destinations for

formed during a typical season at 50 dif-

motorcoach travel in the country. The

ferent musical venues in Branson, it's

Branson/Lakes Area has been recog-

easy to see why the town attracts more

nized for the past five years as the No.

than 9 million people each year. The

1 motorcoach destination by both the

show that started it all was the Bald-

American Bus Association (ABA) and

knobbers, a group then known as the

National Tour Association (NTA). But

Mabe Brothers, which began entertain-

only 5% of its visitors arrive by bus.

The dominant mode of travel to Bran-

ing visitors on the Lake Taneycomo waPlying Table Rock Lake, Showboat Branson Belle delivers a rousing stage show with lunch or dinner.

son is by family car (80.4%), with more Branson visitors flying into the Springfield/Branson National Airport (about an hour north of Branson) every year.

terfront. Today the second and third generations of the family hit the stage

with comedy, and classic and contemporary country music.

Presleys' Country Jubilee, located on what's called 76 Country

Branson has been named a top U.S. destination by reviewers on

Boulevard or The Strip (U.S. Route 76), began in 1967 with the first

the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor. In the 2014 Travelers'

live music theater in Branson, and features country, gospel, blue-

Choice Awards for Destinations, Branson came in at No. 19.

grass and comedy. The show, which started as a performance in

“It’s fun to see our little town listed among all the popular cities on

one of the many area caves, packed them in so solidly that the Pres-

this list, but TripAdvisor regulars are experts at discerning what it

leys purchased property on an isolated, two-lane stretch of asphalt

takes to be a great destination and not necessarily a big one,” says

just “outside” of town. That Strip is now loaded with the bulk of the

The Branson Landing Fountains in downtown Branson feature 120-foot geysers.

Branson/Lakes Area CVB

on location: midwest ❖ theaters in Branson.

Not all shows feature country or pop music. Jonah, at the huge 2,085-seat Sight and Sound Theatre, depicts the journey of the biblical Jonah as a faithful, righteous prophet who runs away from his purpose and is challenged by a terrible storm, an encounter with an enormous fish and a wicked empire. The staging and special effects of this two-hour extravaganza, which includes live animals, are revealed in a popular backstage tour where visitors discover the technology and ingenuity that powers the complexity of each show in a theater that uses a million watts of light and 60,000 watts of sound.

On the 700-seat Showboat Branson Belle, guests enjoy a multi-

Silver Dollar City theme park, festooned in holiday finery, offers special music shows and other festivities during the Christmas season.

course dinner served at their seat while the paddlewheeler cruises Table Rock Lake. Performers include include Janice Martin, the

park presents six world-class festivals from April through December.

world's only violin-playing aerialist, and the male vocal group The

Besides 12 stage venues, 30 rides and attractions (including a rare

Did You Know?

• •

Branson has more theater seats than the New York Broadway District.

The Cathedral Room in Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City is the largest cave entrance room in the United States.

•

• Over 65% of Branson visitors come from outside a 300-mile radius.

Showmen.

German-built steam train), 12 restaurants and 60 shops, it features

Besides the numerous shows, Bran-

100 resident craftsmen. The on-site Marvel Cave, first discovered by

son's other attractions include Silver

the Osage Indians in 1500, is the reason the theme park exists today,

Dollar City, which has its own Christmas

and guided cave tours are offered.

light parade; a five-story, 350,000-light

Other big-time Branson attractions include the Titanic Museum,

tree; 5 million dazzling lights throughout

where you can see more than 400 artifacts from the ship that went

the park; and two Broadway-style pro-

down in the North Atlantic in 1912; guided tours are available.

ductions. The 1880s-style Ozarks theme

A scenic ride that includes 1940s clear-view dome cars is offered Branson/Lakes Area CVB

Branson was featured on Travel Channel’s “Most Christmassy Places in America.”

Tanger Outlets, with more than 70 stores, is one of Branson’s big-time shopping magnets.

66 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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

by the Branson Scenic Railway from its historic downtown depot.

suites, some with fireplaces and balconies.

The 40-mile roundtrip excursion through the Ozark foothills features

Between shows and attractions, visitors can visit Tanger Outlet

narrated stories about the history of the railroad and the communi-

Mall with more than 70 brand-name stores or the 100-store Bran-

ties through which it passes. There's

son Landing. In downtown Branson

also a Saturday dinner train that serves

you'll find specialty shops, small cafes

a four-course meal. The Auto and

such as the cozy Farmhouse Restau-

Farm Museum on 76 Country Boule-

rant. The iconic Dick's Oldtime 5 and

vard has 90,000 feet of space to display

10, called a “pathway back in time,” fea-

200 classic, collectible vehicles and 180

tures more than 50,000 items packed

farm tractors, implements and buggies.

into narrow aisles and 60-year-old,

Groups will enjoy a tour of Dog-

hand-built counters and fixtures. From

wood Canyon Nature Park in the

lunch boxes and golf balls to T-shirts,

heart of the Ozarks, which sprawl

hairnets, pill boxes, toys and games

across the Missouri-Arkansas border.

and even Silly Putty, Dick's probably

The preserve is a habitat for buffalo, elk and deer, plus many birds and smaller

has it.

Branson’s popular Titanic Museum tells the chilling story of the ill-fated oceanliner that sank in 1912.

animals.

Another fun store downtown is the Old-Fashioned

Candy

Company,

At College of the Ozarks (called Hard Work “U”), student guides

where you can buy your favorite type of candy, plus 120 different

take guests to see a working grain mill, greenhouses, a working

kinds of taffy—banana is the best seller. The shop displays vintage

dairy and an ice cream shop, all staffed by students who earn their

candy memorabilia.

way through college. The college's Keeter Center, built by students,

The Branson area provides groups with many options during all

is an ideal place for conferences and meetings and includes a 320-

seasons. Whether it's lights, glitter and action or laid-back relaxing on

seat auditorium and a 275-seat dining room, as well as 15 high-end

a lake or in the woods, the Branson area is a show-stopper. LGT

LeisureGroupTravel.com

February 2015 67

The Memorial’s reflecting pool and Field of Empty Chairs provide a contemplative setting.

REMEMBERS

A moving memorial and museum recall a chilling chapter in recent history that shook mainstream America to its core

By Randy Mink

“Since I am blind, I didn’t see anything. And that is the only day of my life that I am glad I couldn’t see anything.” —Raymond Washburn, survivor

U

p until the events of September 11, 2001, it was the most

floors, using artifacts, videos and touch-screen computers. Coincid-

deadly terrorist attack ever perpetrated on U.S. soil. Gen-

ing with the 20th anniversary year of that horrific day, the museum in

erally known as the Oklahoma City bombing, the detonation

January marked its grand reopening with $10 million in enhance-

of a truck bomb outside a downtown federal office building at 9:02

ments, including new artifacts, oral histories and 35 interactive sta-

a.m. on April 19, 1995 sent shock waves across the country and

tions. The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, a place for thought and

changed Oklahoma’s capital city forever.

reflection that is open at all times, is best visited after the museum.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, an indoor-out-

Museum exhibits provide a timeline of the event, from everyday

door site that honors victims, survivors and rescuers, serves as a re-

activities in Oklahoma City on that fateful Wednesday morning

minder of the city’s resilience and has been one of its must-see

through the last exhibit about hope for the future. Artifacts include

attractions since opening 15 years ago. An affiliate of the National

shards of glass, support beams, a crushed file cabinet and mundane

Park System but privately funded, it stands on the former site of the

objects like shoes and coffee mugs that belonged to office workers.

nine-story Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was destroyed in

Also see the twisted metal frame of the parked Ryder rental truck

the bombing.

that was filled with explosives.

The Memorial Museum is housed in a building that suffered sig-

“I have seen people emerge from the museum in every possible

nificant damage in the blast. Offering a chronological, self-guided tour

emotional state, from tears to flag-waving pride,” said Kari Watkins,

through the story of that day and the weeks and years that followed,

executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Mu-

museum galleries present the event in 10 “chapters” spanning two

seum. “There is a Reflection Station where we ask visitors to make

68 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

comments, and over and over again they tell us it was one of the

and is now the memorial’s official logo. The bronze Gates of Time

most moving experiences they ever had.”

at the east and west entrances to the Memorial are inscribed 9:01

Visitors hear the actual explosion as recorded during a meeting

and 9:03, the moments before and after the tragedy.

held directly across the street and then see newscasts of the chaos

In the years that have passed since those dark days, Oklahoma

and destruction, including survivor accounts. Dramatic stories of res-

City has renewed its spirit and undergone significant economic de-

cue and recovery recall the heroic actions of rescue workers, the

velopment.

medical community and construction volunteers. (In addition to 168 people killed, 850 were injured.)

“This is not just a museum about a crime,” Watkins said. “Most of all it is a place to remember those we lost and the brave and noble

Rescue workers often couldn’t see the victims trapped in the rubble beneath them. Survivor Patti Hall recalls, “I heard someone

way the world responded and the hope that transcended out of the horror.” LGT

say, ‘We can’t find you,’ and Nancy [Ingram] screamed, ‘You’re walking on our faces.’”

One overhead video reveals how a simple pocket knife and piece of rope on display were used by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andy Sullivan to amputate the leg of Daina Bradley, who was trapped under a concrete beam. She and her sister survived, but her mother and two children were killed.

The Gallery of Honor has photos and personal effects of the 168 who died, along with interactive computers that provide their personal stories, with reminiscences by family and friends.

Mementos chosen by the families include toys, needlework, Precious Moments figurines, a Secret Service badge and Marine Corps pin. (Families are totally involved in all aspects of the memorial and always will be consulted about future plans.)

Other exhibits detail the hunt for the evildoers (Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols), their capture and the trials that convicted them of the mass murder.

The Outdoor Memorial spans both sides of the block where the Murrah Building stood. On a grassy plot called the Field of Empty Chairs, 168 chairs are aligned in rows to represent the building’s nine floors. Glowing with light at night, each

BECAUSE OKC-ING IS BELIEVING It’s no longer a secret – Oklahoma City has the world talking.

bronze-and-stone chair rests on a glass base

From the OKC Thunder to the OKC skyline. From our totally unique river

etched with the name of a victim. The 19 smaller

watersports to the restaurants and nightlife of Bricktown, Midtown and the

chairs recognize the children who were lost on

Arts District. National monuments and museums. And people whose

that day (15 in the building’s daycare center in

welcoming spirit built the experience that will surround you.

addition to four children visitors). At the east end

Now is the time to OKC us in a whole new light.

of the green oasis is the only remaining wall from

—VisitOKC.com—

the Murrah Building; inscribed there are names of more than 800 survivors, some of whom were seriously injured.

The Memorial also has a block-long reflecting pool, children’s area and the Survivor Tree, an elm that miraculously withstood the blast LeisureGroupTravel.com

February 2015 69

on location: northeast ❖

I

n a well-developed state so close to New York City, the region west of Hartford often surprises visitors with its scenic vistas and small-town pace. Commonly known as the Litchfield Hills, north-

western Connecticut is less densely populated than the southern and central sections.

In this forested spur of the Berkshires, bordered by New York on the west and Massachusetts on the north, tourists revel in the post-

Learn about America’s first law school at the Tapping Reeve House.

card-perfect scenery, especially during fall foliage season. They find steepled white churches and well-preserved Colonial houses, plus

the town’s past is showcased in such attractions as the Litchfield

antiques shops, country inns, state parks and Connecticut’s three

History Museum and Tapping Reeve House and Law School. Grad-

largest natural lakes. The pretty Housatonic River cuts through the

uates of the country’s first law school, which started in 1774 and

region from the far northwest corner to Stratford on the coast. It all

closed in 1833, included several U.S. Congressman, three Supreme

says quintessential New England.

Court justices and Vice President Aaron Burr.

The Litchfield Hills also is home to celebrities from the worlds of

The Lourdes in Litchfield Shrine, operated by the Montfort Mis-

entertainment, politics and media; they own country estates or va-

sionaries, is a replica of the famous grotto in France. Its 35 acres of

cation there regularly. In many towns their presence has spawned

grounds feature a Stations of the Cross trail that winds to a crucifix-

restaurants, boutiques and art galleries that cater to sophisticated

ion scene at the top. Groups in Litchfield also can visit the Swiss-

tastes. Famous residents include Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman,

style winery building of Haight-Brown Vineyard, Connecticut’s first

Sam Waterston and Henry Kissinger, to drop just a few names.

winery, which opened in 1978.

In the town of Litchfield visitors make a beeline to the elm-

In Washington, located 14 miles southwest of Litchfield, groups

shaded green laid out in the 1770s. Its focal point is the stately First

can learn about New England’s Native American history at the Insti-

Congregational Church, a much-photographed icon whose tower-

tute of American Indian Studies, which includes a replica Algonquian

ing spire appears on countless calendars and in coffee-table books.

village, a simulated archaeological site and nature trails. Washington,

Nearby are fancy shops and eateries along with Colonial and Greek

one of the state’s best preserved Colonial towns, was settled in 1734

Revival mansions. The historic homes are private residences, but

and in 1779 was the first town in the United States to be named for

Exploring Connecticut’s

Litchfield Hills

The state’s hilly northwestern corner, with bucolic landscapes and charming villages, is New England in a nutshell

By Randy Mink

LeisureGroupTravel.com

the first president. It is home to the exclusive Mayflower Inn. Not far from Washington is Woodbury, Connecticut’s antiques capital. Many of the 20-plus stores are in 18th and 19th century houses on Main Street, nicknamed Antique Avenue. Shoppers also like Woodbury Pewter Factory Outlet Store, where items include dinnerware, mugs and lamps.

New Milford, west of Woodbury, has a gracious town green and is often a starting point for travelers coming from the south. North of New Milford is Silo at Hunt Hill Farm Trust, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate. Once the property of the late band leader and New York Pops conductor Skitch Henderson, the Silo consists of farm buildings that house a kitchen store, cooking school, art gallery and museum devoted to Henderson’s career. Also in New Milford is Elephant Trunk’s Country Flea Market, billed as New England’s largest outdoor rummage sale (open Sundays from April to October).

During fall foliage season, many tour buses do the mile drive around Lake Waramaug, located between New Milford and Litchfield. Points of interest include Lake Waramaug State Park, Hopkins Vineyard on its north shore and nearby New Preston, an antiquing center.

West of Lake Waramaug, Main Street in the town of Kent abounds with antiques dealers, art galleries and urbane shops, many of them in Victorian buildings on the Housatonic. The Eric Sloane Museum displays vintage tools and encompasses a 19th century iron furnace.

Kent Falls State Park, north of Kent toward Cornwall, offers great photo ops at one of the state’s most impressive waterfalls. In the quiet Cornwall area northeast of Kent, another photogenic stop is the 1841 West Cornwall Bridge, a bright red-painted, one-lane covered bridge. The drive along the river from West Cornwall to Kent is a fall favorite.

For history, scenery and overall coziness, few places in southern New England rival the towns and countryside of Connecticut’s unspoiled northwestern corner. For more information, visit litchfieldhills.com. LGT

A Must-See Native American Museum

• History of the land and its Native people • Memorable life-size 16th c. Indian village • 4 acres of unique interactive exhibits • Themed guided tours • 18-story observation tower • Cafeteria, gift shop, Wi-Fi

Contact Group Sales for group rates (860) 396-6839 groupsales@pequotmuseum.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

February 2015 71

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here’s something about the chance to strike it rich that is so appealing. Combine that anticipatory thrill with delicious dining options, a variety of entertainment and world-class hotels and you’ve got a one-stop itinerary that is sure to make your group members feel like jackpot winners.

72 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Hard Rock Rocksino

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

Northfield, Ohio

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Y

our motorcoach will dock in the Backstage Bus Bays where

you’ll be welcomed to a rock star experience. When you

he Potawatomi tribe’s thriving entertainment center has nearly 100

T

table games, 3,000 slot machines and a fast-paced bingo hall, plus

walk into the 200,000-square-foot Rocksino, located between

a brand new, $150-million hotel.

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Gather your group and plan a trip

orabilia. Enjoy the one-level, non-smoking gaming floor with

to Potawatomi Hotel & Casino for

more than 2,200 VLT’s (slot-like gaming machines). Don’t miss

high-energy gaming, award-win-

dining at the Hard Rock Café and Eddie Van Halen’s red-hot

ning dining, bars, live music and

motorcycle in the heart of the Rocksino at the Center Bar.

luxurious accommodations. Just

(hrrocksinonorthfieldpark.com)

blocks from the heart of downtown Milwaukee and open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, it’s the perfect stop for your private group or bus tour. (paysbig.com)

Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City, New Jersey

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and casino offering the best in gaming, dining and entertainment on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Open 24/7, the casino features more than 2,500 slot machines and exhilarating table games in more than 100,000 square feet of casino space. In the fall of 2015, a $9.4-million investment will create a 100,000-square-foot meeting complex, turning Resorts Casino Hotel into the ultimate place for any event. (resortsac.com)

Scioto Downs Casino & Racetrack Columbus, Ohio

S

cioto Downs Racino was

Ohio's first Racino. Open

24 hours and seven days a week, it features more than 2,100 of the industry’s best games, ranging from penny to high-limit action, with live harness

horse

racing

May

through September and live music—all together in one total entertainment destination. Visitors can also experience exquisite cuisine in several dining locations including The Grove Buffet, Clubhouse and, coming soon, Brew Brothers Restaurant. (www.sciotodowns.com) 74 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Coeur D'Alene Casino Resort Hotel

G

uests at this Inland Northwest playground can indulge in a

massage or facial at the spa, hit the bingo hall or try their luck at more than

1,600 video gaming machines. Every month there are more than 1,000 jackpot winners. Another popular amenity is Circling Raven Golf Club, one of the finest new golf challenges in the region. Guests at the 202-room resort can choose from multiple restaurants and bars, including a food court, High Mountain Buffet and Chinook Steak, and Pasta & Spirits. (cdacasino.com)

Circus Circus Las Vegas, Nevada

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ocated on the Las Vegas Strip, Circus Circus has 100,000 square feet of gaming in

four full-size casinos. The resort’s 3,767 guest rooms and 135 suites are housed in three towers and five, three-story buildings. Circus acts perform on the Carnival Midway, which offers 200 classic games. The five-acre Adventuredome, the largest indoor theme park in America, has a roller coaster, swinging pirate ship, Ferris wheel and FX theater with two 4-D special effects ride films, plus 20 other rides and at-

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tractions. (circuscircus.com)

76 February 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

By Dave Bodle

O N M AR K ET I NG

Insights on Crafting Successful FAM Trips

F

ormulating thoughts for this marketing column, it just

experience the destination.

The level of success for

seemed natural to review our

both approaches is very high.

2014 articles. If you missed any

Today, the professional tour

©iStock.com/Paolo Cipriani

of the columns mentioned below, you

operator does not have time for “free

can find them online in past issues. Each

vacations” if they are going to continue

developed. The days are extremely

is appropriate for both buyers and sellers

being successful. This is business. On the

busy in a DMO’s effort to share the entire

and no, there will not be a test.

other hand, the wise DMO will not call on

destination.

February shared some ideas on the

their partners for support if they have not

importance of customer retention. April

properly vetted the operator(s) and are

focused on effective business e-mails.

assured there is a high level of interest.

Strengthening our listening skills was

As a side note, press trips have pretty

3

Stay on target with what your participants expect. Case in point is

with the growing popularity of boutique

the June subject. August looked at the

much the same purpose and result. The

hotels. They certainly have a place in

importance of partnering and packaging

stories I write after visiting a destination

the packaged travel marketplace. Sure,

and introduced “ink blotter” marketing.

come much easier and most likely are

the tour operator(s) certainly appreciate

Taking a slightly different look at customer

more informative.

the boutique hotel experience, but it’s far

service headlined October. December looked at how tour operators approach industry shows. Let’s kick off the New

2

more useful for them to feel exactly what This isn’t speed dating like marketplaces where DMOs are painting

their customer will.

The same argument can be made for

Year with some thoughts on familiariza-

broad strokes in timed formats. FAMS

restaurants. Tour operators appreciate

tion (FAM) tours.

should be organized as a tour, but with

a skillfully prepared meal with local flavor

ample opportunities to display options.

served in a special setting. However, if

to this column, I am a regular contributor

DMOs should have a pretty good idea of

the restaurant isn’t group-friendly from

to Premier Travel Media’s group travel

the tour operator’s product and customer.

seating to menu to rest rooms, it will never

platforms. In that position I’m fortunate to

Plan a FAM to appeal to that target, but

make the itinerary.

be invited to participate in numerous

not at the expense of failing to showcase

press trips during the year. I also have a

what’s special about your destination.

important as the event itself. Both DMOs

small destination management company

DMOs need to remember that operators

and tour professionals need to do their

and think like a tour operator.

have an interest in a destination prior to

homework. Talk regularly and be certain

their arrival.

when the time comes that you are on the

Regular readers know that in addition

A general rule of thumb is never invite journalists and tour operators on the

Here’s where there is a significant

Planning and organizing a FAM is as

same page. From my end I promise that

same FAM. I’m probably the exception to

difference between press trips and

when those press trips are taken, I’ll have

that rule. With that unique perspective

FAMs. The former attracts writers and

my tour operator hat on, too.

here are three insights:

bloggers from different media outlets, each with a seemingly different interest.

1

You have to see it to sell it. FAMs

To accommodate these multiple interests,

are planned and implemented

different daily itineraries (or tracks) are

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

for the sole purpose of showing off a destination. A DMO may invite a group

Looking Ahead To Our

of non-competitive tour operators who have shown a significant interest in the area’s group product. Another popular approach is to invite a tour operator

APRIL ISSUE

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