Leisure Group Travel June 2015

JUNE 2015

A Premier Travel Media publication • www.leisuregrouptravel.com

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/LPLWHG WLPH RĆżHU SOHDVH FRQWDFW D *URXS 6SHFLDOLVW WRGD\ DW *R &RVWD *Cruise-only fares do not include (i) the cruise fuel supplement, if any, and (ii) certain government taxes and fees on cruise travel from $74.55- 149.21 per person.

Fares and government taxes and fees are subject to change before payment in full. Fares are in U.S. Dollars and are valid for North and Central American Residents (U.S., Canada, Mexico and Central American countries). Fares apply to cruise only, transportation to and from the cruise embarkation/debarkation point is not included. Fares are per person based on double cabin occupancy for the lowest cabin category, subject to availability and may be higher for GHVLUHG WUDYHO GDWHV )DUHV DUH DSSOLFDEOH DW WKH WLPH RI SULQWLQJ IRU QHZ LQGLYLGXDO ERRNLQJV RQO\ DQG FDQQRW EH FRPELQHG ZLWK RWKHU RĆżHUV $ GHSRVLW SHU SHUVRQ LV GXH DW WKH WLPH RI ERRNLQJ 7LFNHWV PD\ QRW EH UHIXQGDEOH DQG FKDQJHV DUH VXEMHFW WR ERRNLQJ FODVV DYDLODELOLW\ $ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH IHH LV FKDUJHG IRU FUXLVH FKDQJHV DIWHU GRFXPHQWV DUH LVVXHG &RVWD PD\ FKDUJH D FUXLVH IXHO VXSSOHPHQW RI XS WR SHU SHUVRQ SHU GD\ LI WKH 1<0(; RLO SULFH H[FHHGV SHU EDUUHO $GGLWLRQDO UHVWULFWLRQV DSSO\ FRQVXOW 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV ZZZ FRVWDFUXLVHV FRP RU RXU 5HVHUYDWLRQV 'HSDUWPHQW DW IRU PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ 6KLSVĆ&#x201A; 5HJLVWU\ ,WDO\ 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV DSSO\ FRQWDFW RXU *URXS 6SHFLDOLVWV IRU GHWDLOV *R &RVWD $VN DERXW Ć&#x201E;&RVWDĆ&#x201A;V IRU Ć&#x2026; DSSOLFDEOH VDLOLQJ GDWHV 6XEMHFW WR DYDLODELOLW\ 2ĆżHU PD\ EH ZLWKGUDZQ RU FORVHG DW DQ\ WLPH ZLWKRXW QRWLFH

VOL. 25, NO. 3 • JUNE 2015

contents 45

COVER STORY 45 North Carolina’s Beautiful Blue Ridge

ON THE COVER: Chimney Rock Park in western North Carolina (Photo courtesy VisitNC.com)

BY DAVE BODLE

The mountains and foothills offer friendly towns, Cherokee heritage and scenic spots aplenty.

COLUMNS SPECIAL SECTIONS

14 19

6

On My Mind

BY JEFF GAYDUK

Switzerland: Lake Lucerne – Geneva – Zurich Iowa Tour Guide: Ag Adventures and Culinary Finds

8

On Tour

BY MARTY SARBEY DE SOUTO

10

FEATURES

On Adventure Travel

BY VANESSA DAY

32

Discovering Huntington, West Virginia

40

Monumental DC

42

Florida Museum Exhibits

50

A Fresh Look at North Dakota

89

Scenic Railroads Beckon Tour Groups

BY DAVE BODLE

99

On Marketing

BY DAVE BODLE

BY RANDY MINK

BY LAUREN REINIGER

40

BY DON HEIMBURGER

92

Top Summertime Cruises

95

Getting Down to Business at Midwest Marketplace

BY LAUREN REINIGER

8TH ANNUAL GROUP ITINERARY PLANNING GUIDE Sample trips in each region of the country provide inspiration for tour planners on the prowl for fresh ideas.

4 June 2015

The Jefferson Memorial: a DC must-see. Jacksonville museum-goers will encounter dinosaurs this summer.

National Cherry Blossom Festival, Museum of Science & History

42

ON LOCATION

NUMBER CRUNCHING

78 Suppliers at Circle Wisconsin’s Midwest Marketplace

250 Managing editor Randy Mink visits the Dutch town of Hoorn on his Emerald Waterways river cruise in Holland and Belgium.

Rooms in Biltmore, “America’s Largest Home”

WHAT’S ONLINE?

T

his edition features our annual Itinerary Planning Guide…

Remember itineraries live yearround on TourItineraries.com. Hundreds of sample itineraries are featured online.

Search by destination or special interest to hone in on itineraries that match your groups’ style. Share via email or on your favorite social network and connect directly with the sponsoring destination or tour company – all in one place!

4,048 Sculpted gold stars at National WWII Memorial

49,160 Population of Huntington, West Virginia

340 Length of North Dakota in miles

56 Miles between Zurich and Lucerne

28 Percentage of U.S. pork produced in Iowa

O N MY M I N D

By Jeffrey Gayduk

Vol. 25, No. 3 June 2015 Editorial & Advertising Office

A First Time for Everything

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

FLYING AS MUCH as I do, I try to make myself invisible on airplanes. Head down, polite nod, laptop out. I’m no chatty Cathy @ 30,000 feet. But on a recent trip to Orlando when I plopped down in seat 7D, I knew immediately no work was being done on this flight.

“You ever flown before?” came the voice from 7F. “At least twice a month,” I replied. “My first time ever!” the little boy said.

You can expect that from a first grader en route to MCO, but I didn’t expect the same comment from his mother (7E). “How do you handle this?” she barked in a manner. “Handle what? We’re still at the gate,” I responded.

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com Director of Online Media – Lance Harrell lance@ptmgroups.com

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

“This whole flying thing just makes me nervous,” she replied. Turns out, they had plenty of reason to be nervous. They weren’t going to visit Mickey and Minnie, but grandpa who had cancer.

Vice President – Theresa O’Rourke

As we backed out of the gate, the son blurted out, “What happens next?”… We go real fast, like a dragster. “Okay, I think I can do this,” mom replied… Okay, you have no other choice, I thought to myself.

Northeast & Eastern Midwest/Canada – Harry Peck

For the next hour I played in-seat flight attendant. “What is that shake?” Turbulence. “Can I go to the bathroom?” Wait for the seat belt light to go off. “Where’s breakfast?” It ended 20 years ago. “Why are the seats so squished?” So fewer people drive to Florida.

When the peppering slowed down, I reflected back on my first flight. I paid $119 on People’s Express, the original no-frills carrier to, of all places, Orlando. My flight was delayed an entire day with a mechanical issue. Since they didn’t have any interline agreements, we were told to come back tomorrow and try again. I left the airport like this was normal, showed up the next day with my sandwich packed (People’s Express was well ahead of its time) and off I went. Maybe I barraged the guy next to me with questions, maybe I was a nervous nelly, maybe I didn’t even eat my sandwich. Or maybe, just maybe I plotted out my future career path as a publisher on this flight.

As we started our descent into Orlando, the questions started up again. I patiently answered them one by one and I thought to myself, “Everyone’s got to start somewhere.”

If you’re starting somewhere to plan your 2016 group journeys, enjoy our 8th annual Itinerary Planning Guide. This will be the last of its kind, as effective February 2016, we will be featuring sample itineraries in every edition of Leisure Group Travel. I hope you like the new format we’ll be unveiling—it will place more planning tips at your fingertips throughout the year.

Happy traveling,

theresa@ptmgroups.com

Regional Business Development Managers

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

Jeff Gayduk Publisher

A

publication

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

6 June 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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Chateau de Villandry, Loire Valley Offer the world to your travelers with journeys to all seven continents.

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

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guided by travel

By Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTC

O N TOU R

Give Your Travelers Extra Care En Route

O

ften we don’t design a custommade tour just for our own group; instead we join our group onto a cruise or bigger program where

we don’t control the trip contents. How, then, do we make our group members feel “special” and not just another individBob Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau

ual lost in the multitudes on a ship or at a convention or at a city-wide celebration of some sort? How do you make your group members feel glad they joined the trip with YOU and YOUR GROUP? There are a number of ways you can do this, pre- and post-trip or within the

Tour planners might package a Caribbean cruise with a few days in Key West.

basic trip itself. For example, you might

Suzhou during a free day in Shanghai.

decide to do a one-week Caribbean

No one knew which of the two cities was

and extra care above and beyond the

cruise but package it with a three-day,

preferable so I spoke to the shore excur-

standard service everyone else on the

pre-cruise visit to the Florida Keys that

sion department and learned that the trip

ship is getting so that in the future your

you set up. Or, you might do like a com-

to Wuxi offered a one-hour cruise on the

people will always want to travel with

pany I’ve seen that packages a Caribbean

Grand Canal whereas the Suzhou trip

you and your organization again. Don’t

cruise in combination with a rail journey

didn’t. I, therefore, quickly reserved space

forget, most cruise lines are going to

from the group’s West Coast home city,

for our group on the Wuxi one and later

solicit your group members by mail for

headlining the glories of train travel.

when it was sold out, other folks on the

future cruises, bombarding them with

cruise were asking how we got the space.

mailings, offerings and “good deals”

provide wine at dinner the first night out

Our group members told them that their

from the minute they arrive home. You

and group seating of your folks so no

tour leader was looking out for them

probably want to announce to your

one ever feels left out or at loose ends

and booked it for us when it was first

group while on board that your organi-

on a big ship with no friends. Maybe

announced. People then started asking,

zation’s next cruise will be to such and

you’ll even want to order something

“How do we get to be in your group?”

such place; in fact, you might even want

On a cruise, you’ll certainly want to

special from the chef for that first night

The idea is to show togetherness

Another idea for making your group

to take advance reservations from your

for your group only – for example, a

feel special might be to give out T-shirts

group members while you’re onboard.

cake (or several cakes) saying “Welcome

with the name of your group or company

All in all, the name of the game

Aboard From Your Name.”

on them, to set up a group photo op with

is special service, togetherness and

the ship’s photographer, or to participate

attentiveness to your participants. It

behind the scenes to assure that your

in an ongoing contest throughout the trip.

makes all the difference in the world

group gets “the best” of everything when

For example, on an England trip recently

between an average tour leader and

there are choices. For example, on a

I had my members write down as many

the true professional. Don’t waste the

cruise to China most shore excursions

words as they could that were different

opportunity.

were already included in the cruise pack-

in the British and American version of

age price but occasionally there were

English – for example, lorry and truck or

some optional shore trips available and

lift and elevator. You might design a con-

we were supposed to choose individually

test based on some historic fact of each

whether we wanted to go to Wuxi or

of the Caribbean islands you’re visiting.

You’ll certainly want to work quietly

8 June 2015

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.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

By Vanessa Day

O N ADVENTU R E TR AVEL

Stepping Up: More Countries Show Potential for Adventure Tourism Switzerland, © Christian Perret

H

iking through dense rubber tree and fig forests on the

These are the kinds of experiences people seek when they

slopes of Kilimanjaro. Standing in a Buddhist temple

travel. Activities and adventures that bring them closer to a country’s

smelling the burning incense during May Day festivi-

culture, history and people.

ties in China. Walking the Via Dolorosa and Stations

Travel is more than just seeing a country; it’s about experienc-

of the Cross in Jerusalem. Speeding down a zip line

ing it. Whether that experience is accomplished through physical

in the rainforests of Costa Rica.

activities or cultural ones, it has become the expectation of more and more travelers. They want to do more than just visit a country; they want to taste it, hear it and feel it. This is what adventure tourism is all about. It is defined by the Adventure Travel Trade

Travel is more than just seeing a country; it’s about experiencing it.

Whether that experience is accomplished through physical activities or cultural ones, it has become the expectation of more and more travelers.

Association (ATTA) as a trip that includes at least two of these three elements: physical activity, natural environment and cultural immersion. Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing categories in the industry, according to the ATTA, and its potential is being felt across the globe.

As people seek a more immersive travel experience, countries have stepped up their efforts to drive the growth of adventure tourism and put themselves on the map as adventure travel destinations. In addition, tour operators and entrepreneurs are creating new product offerings and adding elements of adventure tourism to traditional leisure trips in hundreds of destinations.

The Adventure Tourism Development Index (ATDI) was created to measure adventure tourism potential in countries around the world.

“It seeks to facilitate adventure tourism policy and planning to drive economic growth that is environmentally and culturally sustainable,” according to the 2015 ATDI report. The index uses a panel of industry experts to determine scores for each country, which are based on 10 pillar ranks and data pulled from a range of sources.

Countries that want to develop adventure tourism can use the index to help them build an effective strategy or improve the one they already have. The index can help countries track their performance, highlighting strong and weak points. It is clear, even in the short time the index has been around, that countries are serious about cultivating or maintaining their ranks. The latter is especially true for the top 10 countries.

Switzerland, © Christian Perret

The ATDI breaks up its rankings into two groups: developed

10 June 2015

countries and developing/emerging countries—based on the country’s United Nations designation. The 2015 report shows that Switzerland has remained the No. 1 developed country for adventure tourism for the last five years, and eight of the remaining nine have been in the top ten since 2010, in various positions.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Bass Reeves Statue, Fort Smith

Eureka Springs

YOUR TRIP BEGINS HERE

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Johnny Cash boyhood home, Dyess

Clinton Library, Little Rock

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Front Row Seats!

Located at the crossroads of I-68 and I-79, Greater Morgantown is a discovery of hidden gems and once-in-a-lifetime experiences!

2,252 rooms — with 376 additional rooms in 2015 — ensure an abundance of amenities at multiple price points.

Summer Broadway

Appalachian Art / Antiques

Winery, Brew Pub and Distillery

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Don Knotts Hometown Tour

O N ADVENTU R E TR AVEL

People will always want to see the traditional destinations and attractions that have been popular for years. However, there is more of a demand for vacations that take them off the beaten path, into new territories and completely out of their comfort zone. natural heritage, which can be seen in the caves, rock cities and forests throughout the countryside.

There are some countries in the high cluster that may surprise, as they may not immediately scream “adventure travel.” Poland and the United Arab Emirates have an image of history and modern development, but do not necessarily project themes of cultural immersion and adventure to even the seasoned traveler. However, Norway, © VisitNorway.us / Sveinung Myrild

they have made strong efforts to promote active experiences, local festivals and natural beauty, expanding their audience of tourists and catching attention of travel experts. The ATDI encourages countries that fall into the “medium” or “low” categories to follow the examples of these leading countries and aim to move to the high cluster in order to better compete in the industry.

There has been significant movement in the rankings since 2011, especially in developed countries. The biggest reason for A similar trend is seen in the developing countries category, with

this was the recent availability of data; however, the shifts are still

Costa Rica as the only new entry to the list in 2015. These coun-

significant. Serbia, Moldova, Palau and Turkmenistan moved up

tries have established themselves as leaders in the adventure

25-32 spots, compared to 4-6 position changes from developed

travel industry, and they continue to drive growth through various

countries like Monaco and France. Governments and local organ-

reforms, campaigns and policies. For example, Slovenia promotes

izations are improving their country’s humanitarian efforts, safety,

itself as an active and adventurous country, using the brand identity of “Green, Active, Healthy, Slovenia.”

The most competitive countries tend to be the developing

Alpine hiking is among the activities that makes Switzerland a leader in adventure travel.

nations, with 27 falling in the high cluster (based on overall score), compared to just five developed countries. Leading the pack of developing nations is the Czech Republic, which has long been a popular tourist destination. It has branded itself as “Land of Stories,” emphasizing its illustrious past, splendid castles and multiple World Heritage sites. It has highlighted its cultural strengths, as well as its

Switzerland, © Christian Perret

12 June 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

doors for tour operators, agents and other travel companies to include new destination offerings, as well as exciting activities and experiences for their clients.

People will always want to see the traditional destinations and attractions that have been popular for years.

However, there is more of a demand for vacations that take them off the beaten path, into new territories and completely out of their comfort zone. Tour operators should consider organizing tours to exotic countries that may have lacked safety or infrastructure in the past but have now stepped up their operations in order to attract adventure travelers.

In their current itineraries, group tour operators should try to add more active or immersive experiences, such as hiking amid the natural beauty of China’s Yellow Mountains or visiting a local corn farmer’s home in Brazil. These kinds of activities add an element of adBased on ATDI’s 10 pillars, Switzerland ranks No. 1 among developed countries, while the Czech Republic is tops in the developing countries category.

venture that connects people to the country they are visiting and the locals that live there.

health and tourism infrastructure, among other things, which has

Travelers are given a better understanding of the landscape and

improved overall image—another key factor in adventure potential.

culture through adventure travel. Tour operators that offer these ex-

As countries continue to build their adventure tourism industries,

periences will not only gain more travelers, but also help countries

the draw for tourists to visit becomes more appealing. It also opens

LeisureGroupTravel.com

improve their image as adventure travel destinations. LGT

June 2015 13

Looking for a spiritual vacation like no other? Come experience

Switzerland. he city of Lucerne beckons with attractions including the centuries-old Chapel Bridge and historic Old City, alongside contemporary, world-class shopping and restaurants. The surrounding Lake Lucerne region with its unique mountain landscapes offers hiking, cycling and touring options.

The dynamic metropolis of Zurich, the gateway to the Swiss Alps, has a 2,000-year-old history and strong flair for arts and culture. Magnificent guild houses and significant houses of worship including Grossmünster Church and Fraumünster Church are waiting to be discovered.

In Geneva your group can travel from the banks of the largest lake in Western Europe to the foot of the highest mountain in Europe in one hour. The Reformation movement and the work of John Calvin helped the city become known as “Protestant Rome.” The Reformation Wall and St. Peter’s Cathedral headline Geneva’s impressive list of faith attractions.

T

Grossmünster Church, a Zurich landmark, played a major role in the Protestant Reformation.

Lucerne. Lake Lucerne Region City Experience

Mountain and Lake Experiences

Lucerne, the starting point for the Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region, offers a wide range of attractions. Centuries-old sights such as the Chapel Bridge, Musegg Wall, Lion Monument and historic Old City pose an exciting contrast to contemporary Lucerne—the KKL Luzern (Culture and Convention Centre), abundance of restaurants and wide range of shopping. Festival City Lucerne delights throughout the year with blues, jazz, rock, comics and the splendidly colorful Carnival. The Lucerne Festival has a top-notch program of classical events with world-famous artists. The Rosengart Collection, natural monuments in the Glacier Garden and Swiss Museum of Transport are among Lucerne’s museum highlights. Immerse yourself in this city, stroll along the docks and get to know the charm of Lucerne on a guided tour.

Just as fascinating as the city of Lucerne is the surrounding area. The Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region, with its Alpine mountain and lake landscapes, offers countless options for excursions. Visitors enjoy the scenery while riding Europe’s oldest mountain railway up Mt. Rigi or on the world’s steepest cogwheel train to the top of Mt. Pilatus. Those looking to encounter a glacier have to ride the first revolving aerial cable car – the Rotair – to the top of Mt. Titlis, at 9,842 feet the highest accessible peak in the region. Since 2012 the world’s first CabriO® cable car (a double-decker) connects the middle station Kälti with the Stanserhorn. A boat ride on Lake Lucerne, which has the most extensive inland navigation system in Europe, is simply a must.

Touring, Hiking, Cycling and Mountain Biking Experiences Explore the hiking trails of the Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region. For example, take the varied “Swiss Path,” which makes a loop around the Urnersee, or the new “Waldstätter Trail” around Lake Lucerne, which showcases places rich in historical and religious significance. The region offers pure nature and a wide network of hiking, cycling and mountain biking routes. All routes are bookable including luggage transport. Or follow the new “Grand Tour of Switzerland” by car or by public transport and visit its highlights in the heart of the country.

Sacred Places Monasteries, convents and places of pilgrimage are very much part of life in the Lucerne-Lake Lucerne Region. Pilgrim routes and religious sites are to be found at every turn, offering art lovers and those following a spiritual path opportunities to draw strength and make new discoveries.

Chapel Bridge, a symbol of Lucerne, is one of the most photographed sights in Switzerland.

Lucerne Tourism • Phone: +41 (0)41 227 17 06 • sales@luzern.com • luzern.com/trade

Geneva. A ‘Faithinating’ City n all-in-one destination located in a prime position at the heart of Europe, Geneva offers visitors a mix of unexpected, unforgettable experiences against a natural backdrop like nowhere else in the world. Here you can travel from the banks of the largest lake in Western Europe to the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain on the continent, in just one hour.

From the mythical birthplace of fine watchmaking to the famous international district, offering the pleasures of fine dining in the best restaurants along the way, Geneva has everything to ensure you have a magical stay.

Throughout the centuries, Geneva has built up its international and humanitarian credentials. The Reformation movement and the coming of John Calvin both contributed to the fame of the city, known today as "Protestant Rome."

Geneva is a place where all religions live in harmony. At the crossroads of the Reformation movement, Geneva has always welcomed places of worship for all religions. Its exceptional religious tolerance has made the city a world ecumenical center.

Here are some tips on visiting famous places related to the Reformation:

A

St. Peter’s Cathedral: Highest Point in the Old Town St. Peter's Cathedral, built in the 12th century, underwent important transformations in the 16th century. In 1535 at the time of the Reformation, the Cathedral became a place of Protestant worship. Visitors undaunted by climbing the 157 steps of the north tower are rewarded with an incredible view of the city and lake.

International Museum of the Reformation: The Movement that Changed the History of Europe The International Museum of the Reformation (MiR) sets out the history of the Reformation. The MiR is housed in the prestigious 18th century Maison Mallet at Cour St-Pierre, the site of the former St. Peter’s Cloister, where in 1536 Geneva voted in favor of the Reformation. Cutting-edge audio-visual technology, documents and artifacts recount the Reformation movement, which in the 16th century spread from Geneva to become one of the great currents of Christianity.

The Reformation Wall: Four Men, One Wall, One Story At the heart of the Parc des Bastions, the main protagonists of the Reformation—John Calvin, William Farel, Theodore Beza and John Knox— are depicted in giant statues and bas-reliefs. Geneva's "Post Tenebras Lux" motto is engraved in the wall.

During the 1500s, John Calvin preached at St. Peter’s Cathedral, a centerpiece of Geneva’s Old Town.

Geneva Tourisme/Olivier Miche

Geneva Tourism • Phone: +41 (0) 22 909 70 70 • info@geneva-tourism.ch • geneva-tourism.ch

Visit Zürich. he vibrant and elegant metropolis of Zurich is located on Lake Zurich amidst stunning nature and mountains. The charming Old Town has developed from a Roman custom station into a tourist destination bustling with life. Art connoisseurs and culture enthusiasts have over 50 museums and more than 100 galleries to choose from.

The Swiss Alps are within easy reach of Zurich. Day trips can be made to Mount Titlis in central Switzerland, to Mount Pilatus and Rigi, or to the famous Jungfraujoch in the Bernese Oberland. The imposing Rhine Falls, where visitors can experience at close quarters the power of the water as it cascades at 158,503 gallons per second, is no more than an hour away.

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Patron Saints and Grossmünster Church Zurich’s patron saints, Felix and Regula, lived in the 3rd century AD. They were persecuted because of their Christian faith and fled to Zurich.

The Roman rulers were not sympathetic towards the two Christians, and they died a martyr’s death, beheaded on the site where the Wasserkirche (Water Church) stands today. According to legend, Felix and Regula picked up their heads and walked up the hill to the place where they wished to be buried. Five hundred years later, while out hunting a stag, Charlemagne heard this story and immediately had the Grossmünster Church – today a Zurich landmark – built on the very spot where Felix and Regula were buried.

The Swiss Alps and Lake Zurich provide a scenic backdrop for Zurich’s Old Town.

Discover Switzerland

Zwingli and the Reformation Several centuries later, the Grossmünster once again became the scene of a major historical event, when Huldrych Zwingli came to Zurich in 1519. Under Zwingli and his successor, Heinrich Bullinger, Zurich became the birthplace and center of the Reformation in German-speaking Switzerland. Nowadays, churches and monuments invite visitors to explore Zurich on the trail of Christianity and the Reformation.

Powerful Fraternities History-steeped guild houses, with their magnificent rooms, bear witness to the period between 1336 and 1798, when Zurich was significantly influenced by its guilds. Between the 11th and 13th centuries, artisans’ associations, guilds and corporations representing the interests of their trades were formed from religious fraternities in Zurich and throughout Europe. Over time the guilds developed into political and military organizations with tremendous power.

Top Sights Faith-based itineraries in Zurich may feature: Grossmünster Church (1100); Fraumünster Church (1250), with stained glass windows created

by Marc Chagall; St. Peter Church, with Europe’s largest clock face; Helferei, the office where Huldrych Zwingli studied and wrote sermons; Wasserkirche; guild houses; Swiss National Museum, with 16th and 17th century historical rooms and special emphasis on Zurich’s Reformers; and Anabaptist caves on Lake Zurich.

Zürich Tourism • Phone: +41 (0)44 215 40 10 • trade@zuerich.com • zuerich.com/trade

Airolo, Tremola, Ticino

Grand Tour of Switzerland.

Following the path of the reformers in Switzerland? The Grand Tour of Switzerland offers you further highlights and attractions. MySwitzerland.com/grandtour

TOUR GUIDE

SPEND A DAY Down On The Farm TOUR LEADING-EDGE Research Facilities SAVOR Culinar y Delights

Special Supplement

June 2015

ecause many folks these days are several generations removed from even knowing anyone who has farmed, excursions into the Iowa countryside can be eye-opening additions to any itinerary.

Farms and other ag-related attractions provide insights on the state’s agricultural past and how our food is grown today. Agritourism is all about connecting travelers with life down on the farm—it’s big business in Iowa.

On tours of Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch, near Fredericksburg in the rolling hills and timber country of Northeast Iowa, guests on the 1.5hour tour learn about the history of the bison and the heritage of this family farm, which dates back to 1854, when owner Dan McFarland’s great-great grandfather lived in a sod house. On a wagon ride into the woods they get to hand-feed the buffalo. Tours also include a Lakota Sioux smudge ceremony, a traditional ritual of spiritual and physical cleansing.

McFarland manages the growing herd of grass-fed bison and Polled Hereford cattle with daughter Martha. She said, “We can regularly accommodate bus tours of 40 people and serve up to 80 with special features, circulating groups by including a tour of the farm or a taste testing and demo of bison meat. We love having bus tours and we can always adapt tours to whatever a tour guide needs. I would say our charm is being a truly authentic farm experience—we

work the buffalo first and welcome guests because we love this lifestyle and want to share it with others.

Chickens will follow our guests around and you’re getting the same welcome as a cousin would if they came to visit our place.”

The ranch also can proCol. Emil Tyden vide a catered meal that includes buffalo meat. Its small store sells buffalo steaks, burger and jerky, plus farm/buffalothemed gifts.

At Tyden Farm No. 6 in Dougherty, groups will discover one of America’s true unsung innovators and his patents for inventions during his railroad and manufacturing days. The story includes how Col. Emil Tyden transformed eight farms in North Central Iowa into big operations between 1915 and 1936, providing employment to many during the Great Depression. Tyden Farm No. 6, on the National Register of Historic Places, stands as it did in 1936. Visitors see a 20-minute movie on Col. Tyden and his farms, view antique farm equipment in the Big Red Barn, and see museum exhibits of a 1940s farm family. They also enjoy the

whimsical gardens and find out what a summer kitchen was like in the 1920s. A catered meal and demonstrations of spinning and butter making can be arranged. Complimentary cookies and drink are always served.

Nelson Pioneer Farm and Museum in Oskaloosa showcases Iowa farm life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The 18 buildings on the grounds include the 1850s home and barn, a schoolhouse, country stores with early 1900s goods, blacksmith and stagecoach shops, a post office, log cabin and Quaker meetinghouse. Early vehicles and farm equipment also are displayed.

Agriculture’s past, present and future is on display at Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence, just east of Waterloo. At this 16-acre complex, tour groups learn about corn shelling and dairy farming, view antique tractors and farm implements, and encounter

the whole gamut of livestock, from cows and pigs to goats and chickens. The classic car museum represents a vintage gas station.

Other agritourism stops in the Waterloo area include Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy in Hudson, a working family farm where groups can view the entire process of getting the milk from the cows to the bottle and to delivery trucks. A special hands-on tour lets guests milk a cow, feed a baby calf, make butter, and even pet wallabies and kangaroos. In Waterloo, where many are employed at John Deere manufacturing plants, factory tours are given at the John Deere Tractor Assembly Operations and John Deere Engine Works. John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum, Hawkeye Community College Farm Laboratory and Kenny Krass’ Private Tractor Collection also appear on ag-related itineraries in Waterloo. ●

iowa

Agrit urism an

Growth Industry Pioneer farming skills are showcased at Living History Farms, an open-air agricultural museum in Urbandale, just outside of Des Moines.

W

hen you think of farming, what comes to mind? If it’s not GPS systems, research analysis, state-of-the-art equipment and biotechnology, it’s time to change your mindset! Get ready to learn more than you thought possible about the food you eat. With the agricultural innovation coming out of Ames and Des Moines, this area claims to be the “bio-tech headquarters of the world.”

Iowa State University in Ames is a key player in agriculture education.

See for yourself on the BioCentury Research Farm, where you will learn about the integration of biomass production, harvest, storage and conversion into one complete system. You also get the opportunity to see on-site plots of biomass crops and biorenewable processing facilities.

Pay a visit to the ISU Meats Laboratory, a federally inspected facility where you can see the latest design in thermal processing equipment. View an analysis of the physical and chemical properties of meat and observe the slaughter house floor where beef, pork, lamb and veal are all processed. An Iowa State University Animal Science Teaching Farms tour includes several farm sites used for hands-on classes and demonstrations of the production systems with livestock such as beef cattle, sheep and swine.

At Iowa State University Dairy, learn just how milk makes its way from the farm to your table. As part of Iowa State’s Live Green! Initiative, the animal farms, ISU dining and BioCentury Research Farm provide organic materials for the Iowa State Compost Facility, which generates approximately 2,000 tons of finished compost per year.

Iowa State University Ag Engineering and Agronomy (AEA) Research Farms host demonstrations focusing on a variety of perennial crops. Witness more than 1,200 acres of intensive plot research, plus corn, soybean, oat, sorghum and biomass perennial crop demonstrations. Iowa State University

iowa

Iowa State University’s BioCentury Research Farm

Ag-Innovati n Advances in Farmers in Iowa employ devices their grandfathers could never have imagined.

Many agricultural research facilities showcase the latest technology.

Horticulture Station has a broad variety of research on its extensive apple orchards, vineyards, fruit and vegetable plantings, turf grass research, ornamental plantings and a 15-acre lake.

Have your group see why Des Moines is leading the nation in both agriculture and biotechnology. The city is home to many world headquarters for agriculture and biotech companies—many of which offer group tours— and to a precision-farm learning center, Monsanto Learning Center, which is the only one of its kind in the world.

Des Moines is home to The World Food Prize. Conceived by Iowan Dr. Norman E. Borlaug (recipient of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize), The World Food Prize honors individuals who have made vital contributions to improving the quality, quantity or availability of food. Explore exhibits at the Hall of Laureates, including The History of Agriculture Timeline and The Greatest Global Challenge: How we will feed nearly 9 billion people by the year 2050. While you’re here, enjoy gardens, murals, photo galleries and learn the awe-inspiring stories of Iowa’s world-renowned scientists and leaders who have been named World Food Prize Laureates.

Also in Des Moines is the Downtown Farmers’ Market, ranked No. 2 in the nation. Iowa producers from 58 counties across Iowa offer fresh fruit, vegetables, wine, cheese, baked goods, meat and more every Saturday, May through October. ●

We are right off of Interstate 80 and Highway 67.

Sitting right on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi River, our hotel offers a hot complimentary continental breakfast.

LeClaire has a variety of unique shops and restaurants all within a short driving distance of the hotel, including Antique Archeology, the shop owned by Mike Wolfe from the program “American Pickers” airing on the History Channel.

1 Comp Room with 20 Paid • ½ Price Driver’s Room with 20 Paid Step-on Greeting by Management with Welcome Reception to Follow Baggage Handling Available (for a fee) • Convenient Loading and Unloading Rooms Pre-Keyed with Rooming List Attached for Escort Room Upgrade for Escort Whenever Possible with 20 Paid • Bus Parking

1201 Canal Shore Drive LeClaire, Iowa 52753

563-289-9978 German American Heritage Center Visit this cultural center & museum that chronicles & preserves the history of German-Americans in the Midwest!

Call us at 563-322-8844 to book your tour today!

A special experience in a small footprint.

Accessible and budget-friendly!

A small jewel not to be missed!

German American Heritage Center 712 W 2nd St Davenport, IA www.gahc.org

Tomato tasting at Seed Savers Exchange brings thousands to Decorah each September.

M

iowa

Eating Y ur Way Through

eal times and snack stops are often the exclamation points of an Iowa itinerary. In cities and small towns, at resorts and farms, there’s plenty of good eating to be had. Treat your palate with farm-fresh foods, sip Iowamade wines and maybe even try a lavender sugar cookie.

Cedar Rapids is a dream for the culinary-minded traveler, offering a variety of premium experiences. Groups might start with a visit to NewBo City Market in the historic Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District, a cultural corridor that straddles the banks of the Cedar River just south of the downtown business district. Promoting access to healthy, locally grown foods, it occupies a former industrial building that covers a whole block. A showplace for small food entrepreneurs, the year-round market, according to its website, “is made up of fab foodies, persnickety purveyors of all things good and green, cupcake divas and creators of other really cool stuff.” Shops include NewBo Cheese Co., That One Cupcake Place, Caribbean Kitchen, Roasters Coffee House, and Betty and Bob’s Better Bread.

There’s a seasonal farmers’ market in the Market Yard.

The National Czech and Slovak Museum, in the heart of Cedar Rapids’ Czech Village, hosts group meals served by one of the city’s Czech catering companies.

The Village Meat Market also dishes up authentic Czech meals. Czech Village’s landmark Sykora Bakery is famed for its kolaches in a variety of flavors, from cream cheese and poppy seed to prune, fig and rhubarb.

A number of Cedar Rapids restaurants take pride in sourcing locally, from the angus beef to the ground flour. You’ll find that farm-to-table dining experience at places like Bata’s, which uses produce from nearby New Bo City Market vendors; the highly regarded Cobble Hill; and The Class Act, situated on the Kirkwood Community College campus. Groups also like Farmer’s Daughter’s Market in Hiawatha, a great breakfast and lunch place with

homemade quiche, soups and baked goods. In this beautiful barn building, combine your farm-fresh meal with shopping for antiques and gifts. Tours and tastings are available at three area wineries—John Ernest Vineyard & Winery, Fireside Winery and Cedar Ridge Vineyards (which also makes small-batch spirits, including Iowa’s first bourbon).

Did you know that Iowa has more than 300 wineries?

In the scenic Loess Hills region of Western Iowa, groups can get familiar with the aronia berry. What’s an aronia berry? Well, it’s touted as the one of the most nutritionally dense fruits on the planet, and you can learn all about it at Sawmill Hollow Family Farm in Missouri Valley. America’s first commercial aronia berry farm has more than 13,000 bushes that produce the dark purple berry, hailed for its antioxidant strength and considered the ultimate superfood based on scientific research. On

personalized tours of the organic farm, guests can sample aronia berry wine, juice, smoothies and other foods in the tasting room. Products for sale include syrup, salsa and jelly, plus extract supplement and capsules. Eaten raw, the rough-textured fruit, also known as the chokeberry, is tart and dry.

Loess Hills Lavender Farm

For an up-close look at a versatile herb, tour Loess Hills Lavender Farm, another purveyor of a purple crop in Missouri Valley. It cultivates more than 2,000 lavender plants, whose oil is used in skin care and bath products. The most common culinary application on the farm is its “Almost World Famous Lavender Sugar Cookie,” made with dried lavender buds. These are served to bus groups, along with lavender lemonade. The herb is also used in flavoring tea. A private high tea, with hors d’oeuvres, tea, lemonade and desserts, can be arranged. The farm has served lavender cupcakes, lavender lemon bars and lavender ice cream, not to mention chicken and pork sandwiches seasoned with lavender, rosemary and thyme.

Groups touring the steep, sharplyridged Loess Hills, recognized the world over for its superior agricultural soil, also may want to visit wineries like Breezy Hill Vineyard in Minden and Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery in Crescent.

Rathbun Lakeshore Grille at Honey Creek Resort State Park sizzles as a culinary hot spot in South Central Iowa. Located on Lake Rathbun, the state’s second largest lake, Honey Creek is considered Iowa’s greenest resort, widely recognized for its eco-friendly activities and practices.

Foodies know Honey Creek for its creative cuisine, with many dishes based on Iowagrown or produced items. Groups can arrange a cooking demonstration (perhaps a pasta, appetizer or dessert) in the banquet

kitchen or take part in a hands-on cooking class and enjoy the results afterwards.

Patrick Koffman, food and beverage director, said, “ We have also done classes as a team-building exercise where the attendees are broken into teams and each team has to make a specific dish.”

Signature dishes on Rathbun Lakeshore Grille’s menu include Honey-Fried Walleye, a walleye fillet dipped in a honey-egg mixture, lightly breaded and pan-fried until flaky, then drizzled with honey. The Green Tomato Parmesan features fried green tomatoes and melted Italian cheese with a

zesty tomato sauce on a bed of linguine.

For an excellent rendition of an Iowa specialty, try the Classic Iowa Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, breaded with cracker crumbs.

Breakfast favorites include Midwest Eggs Benedict—poached eggs and grilled pork tenderloin on English muffins, with sundried tomato hollandaise sauce. Honey Creek guests can work off this good food by participating in resort activities, from nature and team-building programs to golf, kayaking and other water sports. The resort offers 105 guest rooms and 28 luxury cottages with full kitchens. ●

FARM TO TABLE Central Iowa - 3 days Greater Des Moines – Ames ast of Des Moines, learn about the famous blue cheese at Maytag Dairy Farms and sample the product. Then visit a corn, soybean or cattle farm. At the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines, discover Norman Borlaug’s lifelong passion for feeding the world. Dine on locally grown food, perhaps at a farm-themed restaurant, the first 100% compostable restaurant in Iowa or a restaurant in which 90% of the ingredients come from local farms. Tour the John Deere Works, one of the only plants in the world producing sprayers, cotton pickers and tillage equipment, or visit Monsanto Learning Center to see how precision farming is so important to feeding the world. Make a snack stop at a shop that serves over 100 artisan and farmhouse cheeses. If you are in town on Saturday morning from May to October, enjoy the Des Moines Farmers’ Market, one of the best in America. Experience the Midwest’s rural past at Living History Farms outside of Des Moines. The third day is in Ames, where groups can visit the BioCentury Research Farm or ISU Meats Laboratory. ●

Greater Des Moines CVB

E

iowa Smothered tater tots at RōCA, downtown Des Moines

T p Itineraries in Danish Windmill

The Iowa Group Travel Association has developed creative sample itineraries in every part of the state.

Four trips, all with agricultural themes, are featured here.

IOWA NATURAL WONDERS AND AGRI-CULTURAL HERITAGE Western Iowa – 2 Days Council Bluffs, Honey Creek, Missouri Valley, Elk Horn, Manning long the Missouri River we’ll discover the beauty of the Loess Hills while visiting Hitchcock Nature Center in Honey Creek.

Learn about the fragile ecosystem, view wildlife and explore hiking trails. Then it’s on to a lavender farm to smell the fragrant fields and sip on lavender lemonade. Visit a creamery and taste artisan cheese from goats raised on chemical-free alfalfa. At another farm we get to know the aronia berry, a fruit packed with antioxidants. Overnight is in the Council Bluffs area. Iowa’s Danish heritage is preserved in Elk Horn, where the 1848 Danish Windmill processes grain as it was done 160 years ago in Denmark. In Manning we’ll go inside an authentic German Hausbarn, built in the 17th century when it was common for families to live with their livestock. Nearby is the William A. Leet and Frederick Hassler Farmstead District, a well-preserved, early 20th century farm built as a country estate meant to impress and reflect the most progressive ideas in farm buildings and livestock production. ●

A

BARNS, BIRDS, BUGGIES AND HAY BALES South Central and Eastern Iowa – 2 days Fairfield, Eldon, Moravia, Chariton t the historic Maasdam Barns at the Evergreen Ridge Stock Farm, get a look at an early 20th century draft horse breeding business. Next, strike your own American Gothic pose in front of the Eldon house made famous

by Iowa artist Grant Wood. Costumes and pitchfork available. Spend the afternoon and evening at Honey Creek Resort, an ecofriendly place on Rathbun Lake. Activities include bird watching, star gazing, kayaking and geocaching. The culinary staff can create a hands-on cooking class. Day 2 takes us to an Amish community in Lucas County for a farm tour and visit to a general store. Then visit a cattle ranch where Corriente cattle, the original cattle breed in North America, are raised.

Enjoy a meal of grilled hamburgers and chili from Corriente beef, which is low in cholesterol, calories and fat. Lucas County is home to two of the state’s designated Bird Conservation Areas (BCA), so bring your binoculars. In fall enjoy the Hay Bale Art Contest with creatures and famous characters created from hay bales. In Chariton get a behind-the-scenes tour of a distribution facility of one of the nation’s largest grocery chains. ●

A

DIG IN! AG INNOVATION TOUR FOR PROFESSIONALS Eastern & Central Iowa – 5 days Dubuque – Waterloo Ames – Quad Cities tart in Dubuque with visits to the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, followed by majestic botanical gardens and a river cruise. In Waterloo tour John Deere manufacturing plants and the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum. A two-day stay in Ames includes research farms, Iowa State University facilities and the Farm Progress Show at the Central Iowa Expo Site. En route to the Quad Cities stop at Kinze Manufacturing’s headquarters. Quad Cities highlights include a lunch and tour at the Maxwell family’s Cinnamon Ridge Farms. Then explore the John Deere Pavilion and Store, tour John Deere Harvester Works or Seedling Division, and visit Deere & Company World Headquarters. End your stay with a sunset dinner cruise on the Mississippi River aboard the Celebration Belle. ●

S

Events National Balloon Classic Indianola July 24-Aug. 1, 2015 Iowa’s largest ballooning event wows visitors with more than 100 hot-air balloons, including eye-popping special shapes. Enjoy musical entertainment, an open-air market and the Nite-Glow Extravaganza. (nationalballoonclassic.com) Iowa State Fair Des Moines, Aug. 13-23, 2015 Iowa’s largest event attracts over a million people who come for the carnival rides, stage entertainment and classic fair food. More than 70 on-a-stick items range from corn dogs to pork chops. Grandstand headliners this year include Reba, Carrie Underwood, Alabama, Meghan Trainor and Def Leppard. (iowastatefair.org)

Covered Bridge Festival Winterset, Oct. 10-11, 2015 Winterset, home of the brand new John Wayne Birthplace Museum, spotlights the Madison County bridges made famous in the novel and 1995 Clint Eastwood/Meryl Streep movie. Guided bus tours stop at some of the six bridges. In addition, there are foods, crafts and live music, plus cannon-firing and sheep-shearing demonstrations. (madisoncounty.com) University of Okojobi Winter Games Okojobi, Jan. 29-31, 2016 Named for a fictitious university, this wacky event puts a different spin on winter carnivals. The frigid fun in Iowa’s Great Lakes region includes broomball (on ice), flag football, softball, snowmobile races, a bean bag toss and polar plunge. Go indoors for the chili cook-off and chocolate classic. (uofowintergames.com)

Tyden Farm A 20-minute Your Experience documentary on Includes...

Emil Tyden's impact on American industry and agriculture Tour of the impressive buildings and antique machinery The beauty of nature and whimsy in the gardens and the workings of the summer kitchen A look at how the farm family lived in the ‘40s and ‘50s in the newly remodeled hog house Ted & Judy Pitzenberger Tyden Farm No. 6 Tours tyden6@netins.net

Complimentary cookies and drink are always served as on the farms of old

641- 426 - 5277 tydenfarm.com

Pella Tulip Time May 5-7, 2016 Parades, quilt and flower shows, Dutch foods, and tours of Pella Historical Village and Pella Opera House bring busloads to town every spring. Also enjoy demonstrations of wooden shoe making and other crafts. The Grandstand Show features street scrubbing, Dutch dancing and a Dutch cheese market reenactment. (pellahistorical.org) Orange City Tulip Festival May 19-21, 2016 With thousands of tulips in bloom, the community celebrates its Dutch roots with ethnic costumes, dancing and foods. A carnival midway, nightly musical theater and a dozen replica windmills add to the festivities. (octulipfestival.com) Tivoli Fest Elk Horn, May 28-29, 2016 This Danish community celebrates its heritage with Danish foods, folk dancing, a parade and fireworks. Tours of the Danish Windmill and Museum of Danish America are other highlights. (danishvillages.com)

VisitMuscatine.com 563.272.2534

Pine Creek Grist Mill, Built in 1848

DIG dining, shopping, arts and entertainment in downtown Waterloo.

DIG agriculture and tours at the John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum.

DIG museums, history and culture at the Grout Museum District.

DIG DEEPER IN WATERLOO

EXPERIENCE THE HERITAGE AND HISTORY WATERLOO HAS TO OFFER.

Tour John Deere Operations, including the new John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum.

Discover history and culture at the Grout Museum District and Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. Dig this and more in Waterloo. Contact Erin Schmitz, Director of Group Sales, to start planning your groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit today.

TravelWaterloo.com | JohnDeere.com/TractorandEngineMuseum | GMDistrict.org

(800) 728-8431

Waterloo, Iowa

Dig Deeper in Waterloo his four-day tour spotlights one of Iowa’s most dynamic communities, with visits to two John Deere plants, the new John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum and 100-year-old churches in Historic Church Row. Enjoy a dinner under Galleria de Paco’s Sistine Chapel ceiling and a lunch featuring locallygrown foods at RiverLoop Public Market Co-op and Cafe. Other highlights include Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Waterloo Center for the Arts and gaming action at Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo.

T

Day 1 Begin your tour of Waterloo at John Deere Tractor Cab Assembly Operations and take a free trolley ride through the factory to see first­hand how the large green tractors are manufactured. Afterwards, stop by Deere Crossing to pick up your John Deere merchandise and souvenirs.

Enjoy a group luncheon at the historic Snowden House. After lunch, explore the rest of the Grout Museum District, where you can “Touch, See, and Feel” the history. Then on to the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, which honors Waterloo’s military heroes ­ The Fighting Sullivans, five broth­ ers who perished on the same ship during WWII. This museum features interactive exhibits, displays and oral histories for all conflicts from the Civil War to present day.

Next, drive just a few blocks to the world­famous Galleria De Paco and take a tour and dine under the breathtaking Sistine Chapel ceiling. The artist, Paco Rosic, created this masterpiece with 5,200 cans of Krylon spray paint as he worked on scaffolding for four months. Following dinner, check into one of our accommodating and group­friendly hotels.

Day 2 WATERLOO CVB

Erin Schmitz, CMP erin@travelwaterloo.com 800-728-8431 TravelWaterloo.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Our first stop of the day is at John Deere Engine Works. Watch as engine blocks, heads and crank­ shafts are precision­machined and assembled into John Deere diesel engines as well as power centers for other manufacturers.

Head downtown to RiverLoop Public Market Co-op and Cafe for lunch. This year­round market and cafe sells fresh and locally­grown food items. After lunch, travel a short distance to the brand new John Deere Tractor & Engine Museum. Located on the original site of the Waterloo Tractor Works, this museum features an impressive array of John Deere tractors and memorabilia. Wrap up the after­ noon with a tour of Kenny Kass’ Private Tractor Collection, the fifth largest in the United States.

TourItineraries.com

That evening, experience dining, gaming and enter­ tainment at Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo. Or choose from a variety of shopping options located nearby in the Crossroads area.

Day 3 Begin your day with a visit to Waterloo’s Historic Church Row Neighborhood. Tour up to seven of these 100­year­old churches all located within a two­block area.

View artistry at its best at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, which presents a full program of exhibitions and works from its permanent collection, as well as temporary exhibits of works by regional and international artists. Your group can get creative with a hands­on workshop or class in drawing, pottery, jewelry making, digital photography or video editing. Be sure to check out the center’s gift store, which sells original fine arts and crafts created by Midwest artists. Just steps away, it’s time for a fresh and innovative lunch at the Laughing Tree Cafe.

Following lunch, enter a world of discovery at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The museum preserves the history of mankind’s oldest sport through historic artifacts, exhibits and a library. The Hall of Fame completes the tribute to some of the most memorable wrestlers in American history.

In the evening, head downtown to Hope Martin Theatre, home of the Waterloo Community Playhouse/Black Hawk Children’s Theatre.

Sit back, relax and enjoy one of their outstanding performances.

Day 4 Start your final day with a behind­the­scenes tour of a third­generation business, Petersen & Tietz Florist and Greenhouses. Next, have lunch and tour Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens.

Complete your tour of Waterloo with a visit to the Hawkeye Community College Farm Laboratory.

June 2015 31

Discovering

Huntington West Virginia

Heritage Farm Museum & Village showcases the history and culture of rural West Virginia.

Itineraries in this Ohio River city and the mountainous Tri-State area focus on fine arts and Appalachian culture

By Dave Bodle

A

s every good tour planner knows, blending individual op-

An Art, Etc. tour theme makes a good choice, and the Hunt-

tions and attractions into a cohesive theme makes a win-

ington Museum of Art is the ideal place to begin. The museum has

ning tour. The process begins with location.

the largest and most significant art collection between Cincinnati,

Huntington, West Virginia sits on the banks of the Ohio River and

Pittsburgh and Richmond. Tours led by trained docents cover all

is part of the Tri-State area encompassing Ashland, Kentucky and

areas of the museum, including the Herman Dean Firearms, Touma

Ironton, Ohio. I-64 travels through Huntington. Half of the U.S. pop-

Near Eastern, British Portraits and Silver (currently closed) and

ulation is within a six-hour drive. Tri-State Airport has service from

Glass galleries.

US Airways/American and Allegiant.

32 June 2015

Five temporary galleries rotate the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collections and host LeisureGroupTravel.com

special exhibits, such as HIMG Presents Alice 150: Selections from

Blenko Glass Co. in Milton is a popular stop on Huntington-area itineraries.

the Lewis Carroll Collection of Victoria J. Small, which opened May 30 and continues through Sept. 6. WHAAM!: Original Comic Drawings from the Collection will be on exhibit June 27-Oct. 11.

Nestled on 52 acres, the museum is also home to the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory of tropical plants and orchids.

Historically, glass manufacturing has been an important economic engine in West Virginia. Our Art, Etc. theme continues at LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2015 33

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

The Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center in downtown Huntington is a piece of art in itself. Originally opened in May 1928 as the Keith-Albee Theatre, it exemplified the grandeur of the 1920s.

Chandeliers, balconies, intricate craftsmanship and fireplaces in the men’s and ladies restrooms graced the historic structure. A Wurlitzer organ accompanied live vaudeville performances and later motion pictures. As large multi-cinema locations began to emerge, the theater’s existence was in jeopardy, but it was saved and went on to be listed in 1986 on the National Register of Historic Places. Having dodged the wrecking ball, the grand lady was diKeith-Albee Performing Arts Center, a well-preserved jewel in Huntington, West Virginia

vided into three theaters. A fourth was added where retail space had once been and it became the

the Blenko Glass Company. Family-owned and -operated since

Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.

1893, Blenko has been located in nearby Milton since 1921. Car-

Today, the Marshall Artist Series brings a regular schedule of top

rying on the tradition of hand-blown glassware, it produces functional

concerts and Broadway shows to the center. Discounted rates are

glassware and art glass. Blenko’s visitors center, with museum

available for groups of 20 or more. The 2015/2016 Marshall Artists

displays, is located just minutes off I-64 at Exit 28. Tours of this real,

Series will be announced soon. An evening at the Keith-Albee should

working factory are available.

be a part of every Huntington Art, Etc. itinerary.

The History Made, Heritage Preserved theme is a natural for the area. Heritage Farm Museum & Village is a group favorite affording visitors an opportunity to step back and spend some time in yesteryear. Heritage Farm became West Virginia’s first Smithsonian affiliate in March 2015. Sixteen buildings and five museums with more than 25,000 square feet of artifacts share the story of Appalachian life, including the hardships and the culture it created. Guided tours of the Museum of Progress, Museum of Transportation and the Country Store Museum are Monday through Saturday. It’s fascinating to see the inventions that changed the quality of life for rural West Virginians and, in fact, all of us. Good country meals are available for Heritage Farm guests.

The legendary Hatfield-McCoy Feud also adds flavor to the area. Actual feud sites to visit include the Hog Trial Cabin, Paw Paw Patch, Site of the McCoy Massacre, Aunt Betty’s House and Devil Anse Hatfield’s Gravesite. A Stolen Pig Dinner at Chief Logan State Park with entertainment should be a part of every itinerary, and a moonshine tasting with Hatfield McCoy Distillery is another must. Lodging at the park is available.

You’ll want to stay at Chief Logan State Park because a visit to the Hatfield McCoy Mountains

34 June 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

We’re your pulse, your passion.

We’re outdoor enthusiasts, with an edge.

We’re Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. #GoToWV | 304-957-9338 Tina.L.Stinson@wv.gov

Groups in the Huntington area learn about the Hatfield-McCoy Feud at various attractions and enjoy rugged mountain scenery on the New River Train.

is only complete with a look at the area’s coal mining history. The

New River Train excursions are perfect any time of year. The ride

state produces 15 percent of the nation’s fossil fuel energy. A visit

shows off the beauty and grandeur of the New River Gorge. If you

to the Coal House, home to the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce

want to experience fall color, make reservations well in advance. Re-

in Williamson, is a good start to the story. Although never a house,

gardless of the season, traversing the former Chesapeake & Ohio

it was built from 65 tons of bituminous coal quarried in blocks and

mainline from Huntington to Hinton is continuous scenic eye-candy.

dressed as stone. The Depot Museum in nearby Matewan shares

Huntington has a dozen flag hotels and others that welcome

the history of coal mining and the tragic story of the Matewan Mas-

groups. Group dining choices are numerous. A stop at Hillbilly Hot-

sacre.

dogs (seen on The Tonight Show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and

You can round out your itinerary with shopping at the Huntington Mall in nearby Barboursville. There are more than 150 stores,

the Travel Channel) for a hot dog is a must. You’ve never seen anything like this.

restaurants and services. A visit to the Museum of Radio & Tech-

Start your group planning at the Cabell-Huntington Convention

nology, with the largest collection of antique radios in the eastern

& Visitors Bureau, 800-635-6329, wvvisit.org; or email Anna at

United States, fits nicely into any itinerary. The J. Taylor Auto Col-

anna@wvvisit.org.

lection displays elegant examples of automobile technology and design, and it’s free to all visitors.

36 June 2015

By the way, if you happen to find out the real reason for the Hatfield-McCoy feud, let me know. LGT

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Make

your own h i s t o r y.

E s c a p e , d i s c o v e r & p l a y.

Request FREE information from the Greater Parkersburg CVB today!

GreaterParkersburg.com | 800.752.4982

Parkersburg, West Virginia

The Blennerhassetts & The Ohio Frontier his story/tour begins in 1803 on the American frontier, with a tale of romance, a white mansion in the wilderness and a blissful life; all shattered by politics and greed, ending with treason and conspiracy. Visit the frontier while lodging in luxury accommodations from the 1890s Gaslight Era.

T

Mulberry Lane Country Store (the largest country store in the State), and Woodcraft Supply (head­ quartered in Parkersburg)

Day 1 Your arrival in Parkersburg should be in time for dinner tonight. You will be lodging at the luxurious Blennerhassett Hotel, built in the Queen Anne style, in a historic downtown. This hotel opened in 1889 as new money from oil and natural gas flooded into Parkersburg. During this boom the town quickly became a vivacious city and the hotel a grand showplace for what would later be known as the Gaslight Era. Dinner this evening will be a wonderful pre­set menu in a private room with a jazz band. A nice meal with entertainment and a small dance floor should your guests be so inclined.

Day 2 You begin this day with a short visit to the Oil & Gas Museum featuring the area’s history from the period of its greatest growth the 1880s.

Next is a visit to the Blennerhassett Museum, dedicated to the story of a young family who arrived here when it was very much the American Frontier.

The Blennerhassetts were Irish aristocrats traveling by flatboat down the Ohio River when they found an island that would serve as their home.

US TOURS

Bob Cline bob@ustours.biz 304-485-8687 USTours.biz 38 June 2015

This evening you enjoy a second wonderful meal at the Blennerhassett Hotel. It is followed by a short walk to the historic Smoot Theater, built in 1926 during the vaudeville era. You will have a behind­the­ scenes tour and then enjoy a dessert served while seated on stage.

Day 3 This morning as you leave Parkersburg a quick stop is made at Holl’s Swiss Chocolatier (locally owned and operated). Then you visit historic Henderson Hall, built in 1859 as the centerpiece of a 2,600­acre plantation. It is an impressive 17­room, pre­Civil War mansion with all of its original furnishings. It survives today as a legacy of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Continuing your journey, you travel into Ohio and visit The Wilds, a private conservation center and wild animal park. Here you board a Safari Transport with a knowledgeable guide that will take you through the open­range animal areas. You'll see rhinos, giraffes and many other rare and endangered animals roaming in large, natural settings. This tour includes selected destination stops including the Carnivore Center. Following this visit you are on the way toward home.

You will also arrive on Blennerhassett Island by boat, a riverboat though. Here you will tour a home that was at one time the most beautiful on the American Frontier (c.a.1804). The Blennerhassetts with cash money lived here like royalty until that lifestyle was lost because of their involvement in a scandal, called a treasonous conspiracy, with former Vice President Aaron Burr. Once on the island, a costumed guide will lead you through the reconstructed mansion. Afterwards you have time to explore the island on a nature walk, wagon ride or a bicycle. You will also find a gift shop and refreshment stand.

But the day’s itinerary isn’t complete without a little shopping. Your group will enjoy visiting TourItineraries.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Appalachian Music : Ballads

Folklore on the Mountain he High Alleghenies of West Virginia have given to both life and lyric. Here eight rivers and a thousand songs have been born.

Come see these blue-green peaks, meet the ancestors of European immigrants and learn of traditions that have been passed through the ages. Highlights include Snowshoe Mountain luxury lodging, a Bluegrass dinner on the mountain, folklife musician guide, small-town Appalachian evening and Cass Railroad Dinner Train.

T

Day 1 Almost Heaven Snowshoe Mountain, south of Elkins, is your home for an adventure in Appalachia. At the summit in Snowshoe Village you have a luxury two­room suite. Once the sun sets across the Alleghenies you enjoy a Bluegrass Dinner at The Junction.

Day 2 Rural Appalachia Today’s adventure features a folklife musician guide weaving stories of rural Appalachia with music and ballads as you travel the scenic high country roads of West Virginia. On the Highland Scenic Highway you ride a mountain ridge for 20 miles with magnif­ icent scenic vistas on both sides. A music stop is made at the Cranberry Glades, where a boardwalk leads into a glacial park left behind in the last ice age.

As you continue over the peaks and valleys of remote Pocahontas County, you find a hidden treasure known as the Falls of Hills Creek. Here three waterfalls, shaded by a tall forest canopy, are connected and a picnic matinee is provided.

Nearby on another mountaintop is a wooden obser­ vation tower built by the CCC in 1929 on the site of a Civil War battle. It provides an outstanding view as the wind, blowing wild across ridge after ridge of blue­green mountains, whips through your hair.

US TOURS

Bob Cline bob@ustours.biz 304-485-8687 USTours.biz LeisureGroupTravel.com

Your last stop of the day is picturesque Beartown State Park, where interpretive signs along a third boardwalk guide you around rock formations and small caves. The name was chosen because locals claimed the many cave­like openings were ideal for winter bear dens.

With full bellies and a song in your heart you next visit the Pocahontas Opera House where for first­ timers there will be instruction in old­style square dance. Those with experience can just jump in, those who are spectators will find there’s plenty to watch as locals join your group for an evening of fun. As the dance comes to an end, homemade ice cream is served and the day is complete. All that’s left is climbing back to the lodge on top of Snowshoe.

Day 3 Timber and Telescopes On this leisure morning you motor into the quiet valley of Green Bank, WV. Here you find the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, a field of large radio satellite dishes that are listening to sounds from Outer Space. You will enjoy a visit to the science center and a tour of the satellite field.

The afternoon in Green Bank includes craft shop­ ping, a visit to the Mountain Art Center and tasting of herbal teas from the early days. Your tea expert provides an engaging commentary on both the folk­ lore and modern science of the mountain’s most healthy herbs. You will leave here with your eyes opened, minds awakened, taste buds tickled.

Late afternoon, you visit Cass, a turn­of­the­20th­ century timber town (now state park) where the company owned the homes and stores. You will have time to learn of this lifestyle long past before your evening ride on the Cass Railroad Dinner Train.

Returning to Snowshoe this evening, you have time to toast the high road before bed.

Next is a small­town community dinner in the village of Marlinton. You have a lesson on mountain biscuit making and it’s also a competition as you are divided into teams. Once your tray of biscuits is finished, it’s numbered and sent to the oven. In the meantime a Bluegrass band appears and waitresses bring your supper. As plates are passed your biscuits return and it’s a toe­tappin' biscuit­bitin' hillbilly family meal.

TourItineraries.com

June 2015 39

on location: northeast ❖

Monumental DC Millions of visitors in Washington gravitate to the National Mall to remember great presidents, honor veterans and celebrate the nation’s commitment to freedom and equality

By Randy Mink The Washington Monument accents this view of the Tidal Basin at cherry blossom time.

M

onuments, memorials and museums….More than a

pendence. A 70-second ride in a glass-walled elevator takes visitors

third of the major attractions in our Nation’s Capital lie

to an observation room near the top, where eight windows provide

within the National Mall, a pedestrian-friendly, green

spectacular views. This is a ticketed attraction, and groups will want

expanse that stretches two miles from the U.S. Capi-

to reserve well in advance.

tol to the Lincoln Memorial and Potomac River.

East of 17th Street are the popular Smithsonian museums, to the

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

west the most-visited monuments and memorials. Maintained by the

Located on the Tidal Basin between the Martin Luther King

National Park Service, the monuments attract throngs to West Po-

and Jefferson memorials, this shrine to the longest-serving U.S.

tomac Park and the cherry-tree-lined Tidal Basin. Here we feature

president spotlights issues he faced while leading the nation during

six must-see shrines that reflect the best of America.

the Depression and World War II. At 7½ acres, the largest presidential memorial on the Mall incorporates sculptures, ornamental

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Washington Monument

plants and engravings of FDR’s words on a maze-like plot. Granite

Dominating the city skyline from its position in the center of the

walls define four “galleries” that represent his four terms in office.

National Mall, the 555-foot Washington Monument reopened last

Water features signify his love of swimming and sailing, stint as

May after being closed for three years because of earthquake dam-

assistant secretary of the Navy in World War I, and rehabilitative

age. Built from 1848-1894, the world’s tallest freestanding stone

water exercises for his polio. One sculpture depicts the partially

obelisk honors George Washington, America’s first president and

paralyzed president in a wheelchair. Completely accessible, the

commander of the army that defeated England in the war for inde-

memorial is a focal point for disabled causes.

40 June 2015

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

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Washington’s newest major memorial opened in 2011 to honor the Baptist minister who championed civil rights across the land until his assassination in 1968. Its centerpiece is the mammoth granite sculpture of the Rev. King emerging from the “Stone of Hope,” a boulder flanked by two background pieces representing the “Mountain of Despair,” a symbol of struggles he faced in the fight for social equality. Set on a cherry-tree-ringed plaza along the Tidal Basin, the sermons and speeches. One pas-

NPS

memorial features long, curved granite walls with quotes from MLK The National World War II Memorial salutes America’s Greatest Generation.

sage comes from the 1963 “I Have a Dream” speech delivered at the nearby Lincoln Memorial.

National World War II Memorial At the end of the Reflecting Pool, opposite the Lincoln Memorial, stands a bright, open space that honors the 16 million who served

Lincoln Memorial

Martin Luther King, Jr.

in the Armed Forces during World War II and those who supported

Anchoring one end of the Na-

the war effort at home. Dedicated in 2004, the memorial includes

tional Mall, its west side overlook-

fountains, 17-foot-high granite pillars representing U.S. states and

ing the Potomac River, this

territories, and bronze bas-reliefs depicting major battles, bond

majestic, neoclassical structure of

drives, women in the military and other scenes. The Freedom Wall

marble and limestone presents

has 4,048 sculpted gold stars, one for every 100 of the 400,000-plus

one of the capital’s great photo ops. A symbol of democracy, free-

American soldiers who died in service. LGT

dom and equality, the memorial has been a site for rallies and other national events.

Dominating the interior is the colossal marble statue of a seated President Abraham Lincoln, the man who led the nation through the Civil War. Built in the form of a Greek temple, the memorial is supported by 36 Doric columns representing states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death. His Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address are carved on the walls.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Standing on the Tidal Basin, the white rotunda supported by Ionic columns is one of the most beautiful sights in Washington, especially when clouds of pale pink blossoms adorn the Yoshino cherry trees in late March and early April. Patterned after the Pantheon in Rome, it reflects the classical architecture that Jefferson, himself an architect, introduced to this country.

The focal point of the interior is a 19-foot bronze statue of our third president, author of the Declaration of Independence and founder of the University of Virginia. Exhibits in the lower level provide insight into the life of the multi-talented man.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2015 41

on location: south

Fun, Fascinating and Fresh

Amazon Voyage

Florida Museum Exhibits

Miami Science Museum/Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science

Eww! What’s Eating You? South Florida Science Center and Aquarium

What does it feel like to fly?

Have you ever come face-to-face with a robot? Would you survive prehistoric Earth? Answers and more await in Florida.

By Lauren Reiniger

Florida Museum of Natural History

Meet Sue, the largest T. rex ever unearthed. Did you know its arms are human-sized and couldn’t reach its mouth? The purpose of these small limbs remains a mystery.

H

ere’s a lineup of exhibits—covering everything from grand

interactives such as a dig pit and a close-up of Sue’s skull. Follow

fine art to tiny bugs that live off humans—that debuted in

Sue’s journey from the Cretaceous period and sedimentary rocks of

museums all across the Sunshine State in 2015. If your

South Dakota to the U.S. courts and, finally, the world.

calendar includes a visit to Florida this year, check them out while they’re shiny and new.

A T. Rex Named Sue Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville Until Sept. 13, 2015

Amazon Voyage Miami Science Museum/Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, Miami Until Aug. 31, 2015 Amazon Voyage is sure to make its mark on everyone in your

At 42 feet long and 13 feet tall at the hips, Sue is the largest, most

group thanks to hands-on activities, original multimedia presentations,

complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex discovered to date.

computer interactives, storytelling, fish in uniquely designed tanks,

Explore how this “tyrant lizard king” (translation of T. rex) interacted

original artifacts, dance, music and live demonstrations. Investigate

with its world—its movement, vision and sense of smell—as well as

the region’s incredible biodiversity, encounter field researchers making

what we can learn from studying bones. Enjoy family-friendly

new discoveries and participate in a celebration of the Amazon River.

42 June 2015

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

Eww! What’s Eating You? South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, West Palm Beach Until Sept. 27, 2015

It’s time to soar high into the sky in a 7D simulator—an experience like no other.

Get your tickets and step right up into a carnival of creatures. Dig into the history of human/parasite interaction from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt to more modern tales of these critters that live to hitch a ride on human hosts. Explore dramatic oversized models and preserved and live specimens. See case studies from parasite survivors, researchers and health care professionals.

To Fly Museum of Discovery and Science, Fort Lauderdale The new permanent exhibit immerses visitors in aviation technology. By exploring different areas within the exhibit, visitors can learn about controlled flight, fundamentals of flight, navigation and the materials used to build planes. It features a 7D simulator that

Museum of Discovery and Science

will take visitors on an exhilarating flight through the sky.

Psyched Out: Reinvented Myths The Dali Museum, St. Petersburg Until Aug. 30, 2015

Japan’s Robot Kingdom: Mecha and Androids and Cyborgs, Oh My! Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach Until Sept. 13, 2015

Surrealism draws upon myths in order to understand the human

In the past 50 years, Japan has played a leading role in tech-

psyche. Sigmund Freud saw ancient Greek and Roman myths as

nological advancements, particularly in robotics. The exhibition

bearers of truth and a way to understand the mind. This year in The

explores Japan’s vast robot kingdom by way of a variety of vintage

Dali’s Student Surrealist Art Exhibits, students explore the mythic in

toys and figurines including the famous furry seal, Paro, a therapy

their everyday world, recast something familiar into the mythic or

robot created to calm and comfort those in need.

create a new myth entirely. This is done through a variety of media such as drawing, collage, watercolor, acrylic, digital photography and mixed media. The exhibit is separated into four separate shows.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Dinosaurs Unearthed Museum of Science & History, Jacksonville Until Sept. 2, 2015 The awe-inspiring stories of prehistoric Earth are unfolding at an immersive exhibition that features dynamic scenes of life-sized, lifelike, animatronic dinosaurs, full-scale skeletons and fossils from around the world. The experience presents two tales of large-scale excavation sites from opposite sides of the globe and reveals secrets about life on Earth during the days of dinosaurs.

Revival and Reform: Eclecticism in the 19th-Century Environment Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, Winter Park End date to be determined The Arts window, c. 1894, by J. & R. Lamb Studios is the centerpiece of this exhibition that illustrates the styles that made up the visual environment of the late 19th century in Europe and America.

Besides works by Lamb, windows on view include examples by For decades, robots have played major roles in Japanese culture as subjects of entertainment and as catalysts for new technologies.

44 June 2015

Tiffany Studios, John LaFarge, Frank Lloyd Wright, Edward BurneJones, Donald MacDonald and Heaton, Butler & Bayne. LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com

Biltmore, a lavish estate dominated by a 250-room mansion, draws groups to Asheville, North Carolina.

on location: south ❖

I

Four Seasons of Fun in the Beautiful Blue Ridge….

North Carolina’s mountains and foothills have a well-deserved reputation for outstanding fall color, holiday tours and winter sports. Spring and summer also are perfect for group travel.

The Biltmore Company

t’s easy to see why the National Park Service

designated it the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.

There’s a special blend of natural splendor comple-

mented by agricultural, craft, music and Cherokee heritage.

The big plus for tour planners is that a trip can be planned with a single focus, or you can seamlessly combine multiple themes.

Western North Carolina, within a six-hour drive of more than 50

percent of the U.S. population, is served by I-26, I-77, I-40 and, of course, the Blue Ridge Parkway. Regardless of your point of origination and the Interstate that brings you to the Blue Ridge Mountains, there will be plenty to see and do.

Traveling on I-26 to Western North Carolina Plan your trip to arrive in Saluda, just one of the region’s many historic small towns and cities. Enjoy a group lunch at The Purple Onion or Crust & Kettle, each a local favorite. In nearby Columbus plan a stop at the House of Flags Museum. Each full-size flag

By Dave Bodle LeisureGroupTravel.com

reproduction has a detailed story to tell.

December June 2015 2014 45

VisitNC.com

Vibrant fall colors set Pisgah National Forest ablaze. Cherokee attractions in the mountains of North Carolina provide cultural fireworks.

It’s on to Hendersonville and a visit to Burntshirt Vineyards.

ending to Day 1.

You’ll be treated to seven wines and a souvenir wine glass. North

This morning you’ll be joined by a Hendersonville step-on-guide

Carolina, with more than 100 wineries and 400 vineyards, is ranked

for a windshield tour with a surprising look at historical tidbits and

as a top-five destination for wine travelers. Dinner at group-friendly

oddities. A stop at Bullington Gardens provides an opportunity to

restaurants Kelsey’s or Bay Breeze Seafood makes an eventful

stroll the grounds. This nonprofit educational center includes a therapy garden, shade garden, butterfly garden, woodland garden, herb garden and more. Lunch

MOTORCOACHING HITS A JACKPOT OF FUN FOR GROUPS

is on your own in Historic Downtown Hendersonville with free time in the afternoon for shopping. On the National Register of Historic Places, it is a delightful mix of seasonal landscaping, shops, galleries and museums.

Dinner at the Flat Rock Wood Room is followed by a performance at Flat Rock Playhouse.

The State Theatre of North Carolina is a professional theater presenting musicals, comedies and dramas.

Begin your third day with a trip to Biltmore in Asheville. “America’s Largest Home,” built in 1895 for George and Edith Vanderbilt, is set in the

We have more of what your groups are looking for with more games and more incentives. For more information or to book your group, call toll free 1-877-778-8138 or e-mail mpegg@cherokee.harrahs.com

natural beauty of the North Carolina mountains.

Three floors and a basement display period furniture, art, accessories and vintage clothing. Allow time to walk the gardens and visit the conservatory, winery and Antler Hill Village. Have lunch at Biltmore’s Deerpark Restaurant.

The afternoon begins with a visit to the Cradle of Forestry in Brevard. This historic site within the

Must be 21 or older to enter casino floor and to gamble, and must present a valid state or federal photo ID upon request. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. An Enterprise of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. ©2015, Caesars License Company, LLC.

Pisgah National Forest has an interesting tie to George Vanderbilt. For the land encompassing his COMING LATE SUMMER, 2015

www.HarrahsCherokee.com

estate, it was recommended that he needed a “forest manager.” A plan was developed by Gifford

46 June 2015

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Pinchot and handed to German forester Dr. Carl A. Schenck. Con-

Groups choosing accommodations at Lake Junaluska begin their

sidered the “Birthplace of Forest Conservation in America,” today’s

day with breakfast and a tour of the Lake Junaluska campus before

Forest Discovery Center is a premier attraction with an introductory

going on to Maggie Valley and Waynesville. Mast General Store in

movie and an interactive exhibit hall. Easy trail walks highlight forest

Waynesville and lunch at Sid’s On Main in the historic Imperial Hotel

work today, an antique portable sawmill, a 1915 Climax locomotive

in Canton finishes an exciting morning.

and the Biltmore Forest School’s rustic campus. The latter includes a

The afternoon features a visit to the Cherokee/Qualla Boundary

one-room schoolhouse, general store, cabins and a blacksmith shop.

highlighted by the Museum of the Cherokee and a behind-the-

Finish your day in Hendersonville at the Moose Cafe. There’s

scenes tour. The Oconaluftee Living History Indian Village is

country cooking and Cathead biscuits with apple butter waiting.

a walk through the culture and lifestyle of a proud people.

Those biscuits really are the size of a cat’s head!

Dinner at the Historic Jarrett House Inn in Dillsboro concludes a busy day.

Traveling on I-40

Regardless of the time of year you visit, an excursion on the

There are choices to be made. You may want to hub & spoke from

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will be memorable. Departing

Asheville and begin your arrival with dinner at Pisgah View Dude

from Bryson City, the ride takes you through the beautiful North Car-

Ranch, which has been owned by the same family since 1790. Your

olina countryside. Your rail adventure can be either a First Class Car

alternative is to arrive at Lake Junaluska Assembly for a buffet din-

with dining, or an Open Air Gondola. Complete your afternoon with

ner and a walk on the grounds or relaxing on the front porch in a rock-

a visit to the Mountain Farm Village, a collection of farm buildings,

ing chair.

or take a leisurely, narrated Pontoon Boat Tour on Lake Junaluska.

Asheville visitors begin their day with a step-on-guide and a tour

If traveling on I-77, there is also plenty for you to see and do. From

of Downtown Asheville. It’s a special place with a rich architectural

charming historic small towns and ageless attractions to mountain

mix, unusual boutiques and art galleries, music and museums. Close

crafts, museums and memorable regional meals, there’s a full itiner-

by is the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center featuring its award-

ary waiting, all set in the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains.

winning film, America’s Favorite Journey. The Western North Car-

Start your planning by reaching out to the Blue Ridge National

olina Farmers Market (open daily) is a good stop for mountain

Heritage Area Receptive Services. You can reach Amy at 828-298-

crafts, canned goods and farm-fresh items. Lunch is at the Moose

533, ext. 303, or email amy@blueridgeheritage.com. Call Kristi at

Cafe, different from the Hendersonville location, but still the ultimate

828-407-0088, or email kristi@blueridgeheritage.com. Visit online at

farm-to-table dining.

blueridgeheritage.com or blueridgemusic.com. LGT

Groups in western North Carolina can enjoy the scenery from Great Smoky Mountains Railroad or atop Chimney Rock, a granite monolith that rises 315 feet above a gorge.

48 June 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

VisitNC.com

Fa yetteville, North Carolina

All American Sampler ome experience Fayetteville, North Carolina, a place where History, Heroes and a Hometown Feeling create the backdrop for a funfilled 3-day adventure. Fayetteville, home of Fort Bragg and Pope Field, has a rich tradition of service to our country. Add the charm of Southern hospitality, and your group has the perfect recipe for a wonderful getaway.

Highlights include the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory, Fort Bragg Museums, North Carolina’s Veterans Park, 1897 Poe House and Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

C

Day 1 Hometown History & Local Highlights Afternoon: Your visit begins with a historic walking tour of downtown. Your local guide will recount the history, stories and people who were important to this unique city. You will see the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum to learn about the transportation system that united the Colonies. Next, you will visit the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Armory to see a treasure trove of artifacts and collectibles. Then you will see a number of historic churches and discover the unique architecture in the city’s buildings. Also included on the tour is a stop at the Market House, Cool Springs Tavern and Liberty Point. Check into your hotel this afternoon.

Evening: A popular option for dinner is at Heritage Square hosted by the Woman’s Club of Fayetteville.

You will enjoy a catered dinner along with a Colonial­ style tour and storytelling.

Day 2 Fort Bragg Experience & Museums

FAYETTEVILLE AREA CVB

Shannon Deaton sdeaton@visitfayettevillenc.com 910-483-5311 VisitFayettevilleNC.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Morning: Begin your day with a tour of Fort Bragg, one of the U.S. Army’s most important installations.

A guide will provide insights and stories of our patriots in uniform. You will see the headquarters of the famous Golden Knights parachute team, tour the JFK Special Warfare Museum and visit the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum.

In addition, you will view a number of interactive sights involving our hometown heroes.

Evening: Include dinner at the Hilltop House, a popular eatery and historic home, circa 1910. You will learn about the history and features of the house following dinner. (Advanced reservations required.)

Day 3 1897 Poe House & Cape Fear Botanical Garden Morning: Begin with a tour of the 1897 Poe House, home of an affluent Fayetteville businessman and his family. Here, you discover innovations and changes that defined the turn of the 20th century.

Uncover historic, technological, economic and social changes in North Carolina and the United States.

Next, it’s off to Cape Fear Botanical Garden.

Nestled on 77 acres, the garden boasts blooms year round. You will experience more than 2,000 varieties of plants and specialty gardens. Enjoy a self­guided tour or have a docent explore the garden with your group. Specialty garden tours available include: Flower Promenade, Urban Forest, Down to the River Hike, Heritage Farm Life and Butterfly Stroll.

Afternoon: Enjoy lunch provided by the garden’s Café Cart.

Depart Fayetteville early afternoon. We wish you safe travels and welcome you back anytime to our community of History, Heroes and Hometown Feeling.

Afternoon: For an authentic experience, plan to include lunch for your group and dine on post with local patriots. Then visit the Airborne & Special Operations Museum, which highlights the role of the U.S. Army’s Airborne and Special Operations forces since 1940. Next, travel to North Carolina’s Veterans Park, the first state park dedicated to all military veterans from each of the five service branches.

TourItineraries.com

June 2015 49

Fresh Look at North Dakota Groups can look forward to dramatic new additions to old favorites and take part in 50th anniversary celebrations for the state park system and Medora Musical

L

North Dakota Tourism Photos

A

on location: midwest ❖

The newly expanded Fargo Air Museum has room for more planes.

icans while showing Japan it was vulnerable to attack.

The most unique thing about the historic aircraft at the Fargo Air Museum is that they are flyable, including fighters like the P-51 Mustang and the TBM Avenger. The Fargo Air Museum will host the Fargo Air Sho July 25-26, 2015. It will feature the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerobatics team flying Boeing FA-18 Hornet fighting jets. Many vintage World War II aircraft from the Fargo Air Museum will fill the skies and the local skydiving team will provide a skyline of entertainment. (fargoairmuseum.org, fargoairsho.com)

egendary North Dakota is always changing. Like the four seasons that sweep across this part of the country, activities and attractions here are always evolving and growing, so that

things you may have seen the last time you dropped by for a visit are much different this time around. Instead of another ho-hum bus trip to that place you’ve gone the last few years, take a detour to North Dakota. Here are some new experiences that await your group:

Fargo Air Museum Adds New Wing – and Wings The communities of Fargo and West Fargo offer up an array of activities and fun with the new “North of Normal” campaign, which includes the addition of a new wing at the Fargo Air Museum. Gerry Beck and Robert Odegaard, founding members of the Fargo Air Museum, are the namesakes of the museum’s newly expanded space – the Beck-Odegaard Wing. The expansion is home to a variety of new aircraft. The focal point is a B-25 Mitchell bomber, which will be the centerpiece of an interactive diorama sharing World War II history and stories of the Doolittle Raiders. The Doolittle Raiders were a group of 80 men who risked their lives on a World War II bombing mission on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The mission just four months after the Pearl Harbor attack boosted the moral of Amer50 June 2015

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Belting Out Tunes for 50 years – the Medora Musical The 2015 season will mark the 50th anniversary celebration of

In Killdeer, There’s Always Been Cowboys

the Medora Musical, the “Greatest Show in the West.” Since the

Long before there were roughnecks in Killdeer, there were cow-

first show in 1965, the Medora Musical has unforgettably show-

boys. That cowboy spirit has kept Killdeer bustling through booms

cased the history of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, the North

and busts and that get-it-done spirit is being preserved for the future

Dakota Badlands and the spirit of the American West. Revel in the

at the High Plains Cultural Center. The new space will serve as a

arrangement of country and patriotic music performed by the Burn-

tourism center for travelers and can accommodate a myriad of

ing Hill Singers and the brilliant Coal Diggers Band. Prior to the

events. It provides the region with a multi-use complex for cultural

Medora Musical, enjoy the delicious Pitchfork Fondue while view-

events, education training and social and group opportunities.

ing the majestic North Dakota Badlands. The Medora Musical has

(highplainsculturalcenter.com)

received the honor of being selected numerous times as an American Bus Association Top 100 Event. (medora.com)

State Museum at the North Dakota Heritage Center Perhaps you’ve seen the Heritage Center before. But you haven’t

Paddle On Offers Missouri River Water Rentals

seen the new and expanded State Museum at the North Dakota

Paddle On is a Bismarck/Mandan business renting and selling

Heritage Center on the Capitol Grounds. New galleries, interactive

stand-up paddle boards, kayaks and canoes. The owners started

exhibits and high-tech displays, laced with thousands of artifacts,

the venture with a passion for water fun and adventure. Through its

keep visitors entertained for hours. The museum includes large dis-

rental service, visitors can experience the serenity and unmatched

plays of Native American photos and artifacts, life-sized dinosaur

beauty of many miles of the Missouri River, or other less challeng-

skeletons and displays explaining the search for oil in North Dakota.

ing small rivers and lakes in North. With the many water resources

There is even a fallout shelter for those old enough to remember to

available in North Dakota, Paddle On is something everyone should

“duck and cover.” (history.nd.gov/exhibits/index.html)

try. (paddleonnd.com)

The rip-roaring Medora Musical, a North Dakota tradition, celebrates its 50th year as the “Greatest Show in the West.”

LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2015 51

Lewis and Clark Brought Their Paddles, Not Their Sticks

pretive Center. Its hands-on, interactive journey will have you immersed in the life

Already one of the most challenging

and strife of the Lewis and Clark Expedi-

treks around, Painted Woods Golf

tion and the interpreter Sakakawea. Visit

Course at Washburn has expanded to 18

the replica winter home at the Fort Man-

holes. Painted Woods, part of the Lewis

dan Historic Site with its fully furnished

and Clark Golf Trail, already had a strong

quarters, and take a side trip to Knife

reputation for being one of the nicest nine-

River Indian Villages National Historic

hole courses in the state. The new 18-hole

Site at Stanton, the home of Sakakawea.

course will bring on the same accolades.

(sites.google.com/site/paintedwoods-

The course features 50-foot elevation

golfcourse, fortmandan.com, nps.gov/

changes on some holes and Painted

knri/index.htm)

Woods Creek is a factor on 12 holes. Its manicured greens and fairways are nestled amid beautiful scenery with wildlife like deer, rabbits and snapping turtles prominent.

52 June 2015

North Dakota State Parks Celebrate 50 Years The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department oversees 13 state parks, host-

If you prefer exploration to golf, the

ing numerous festivals and events through-

expansion project includes a 3.5-mile

out the year. It celebrates 50 years in 2015

walking trail that meanders through the

with special events at various parks through

250-acre property. When you have fin-

Sept. 26. Events will feature entertainment,

ished your round of golf or walk and would

traveling exhibits, interpretive programs

like to learn a little history about the area,

and complimentary foods and refresh-

visit the nearby Lewis and Clark Inter-

ments. (parkrec.nd.gov)

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Seeking inspirational tours? Scouting new destinations?

Looking to put a spin on a tried-and-true trip? Nothing beats

fresh sample itineraries

L

to get your creative juices flowing.

eisure Group Travelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 8th Annual Itinerary Planning Guide gets those juices flowing with sample itineraries for group-friendly journeys throughout the United States. From name brands to hidden jewels, the following destinations are rolling out the red carpet for your next group trip by putting some

of their best assets on display.

Use this guide and our companion website,TourItineraries.com,

to help you develop new trips in the coming year. The latter resource features hundreds of sample trips from across the globe with beautiful photography and additional planning details.

Programming note: Starting in 2016, we will begin featuring sample itineraries in every edition of Leisure Group Travel. Whether tied to a niche like arts & culture, outdoor adventure or historic fun, or themed for an affinity group like girlfriends, churches or students, our goal is to feature even more great itineraries throughout the year.

A great sample itinerary is like having a helping hand in the office.

Consider this your faithful assistant as you craft beautiful tours.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2015 53

Rapid City, South Dakota

Experience Rapid City in a Day entrally located to bucket list-worthy experiences like Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial, Rapid City, South Dakota is the ideal touring destination where every day brings a chance to Do Big Things.

C

RAPID CITY CVB

Julie Jones-Whitcher, Lindsey Beasley tours@visitrapidcity.com 605-718-8484, 800-487-3223 TourRapidCity.com 54 June 2015

Day 1 Begin your day in Rapid City by learning about the history and culture of the area at The Journey Museum & Learning Center, where you will take on an incredible trek through time, from the violent upheaval that formed the Black Hills over 2.5 billion years ago to the continuing saga of the Western Frontier. When your journey is complete, you will fully understand the legacy of the land and its people.

A rotating gallery within the museum showcases a variety of exhibits throughout the year, and the Museum Store features a variety of local gifts and books. For a unique experience, talk with museum staff about having a special presentation by an area artisan or historian. The museum is also available for group functions, such as receptions and dinners.

After experiencing The Journey Museum & Learning Center, make the short trip to Downtown Rapid City, where you can explore a variety of local shops, including Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries.

Prairie Edge provides a unique experience where you can view a variety of Native American arts and crafts, as well as a fine art gallery and gift shop. Just across the street from Prairie Edge is Rapid City’s newest attraction, Main Street Square. Main Street Square is a beautiful, new public space in the heart of downtown Rapid City that hosts events throughout the year, such as the Black Hills Art & Wine Festival, Music on the Square and Movies under the Stars.

The Square includes water features, flower beds, granite spires and The Sculpture Project: Passage of Wind and Water. Also available downtown is the Dahl Arts Center, which features revolving exhibits, along with a cyclorama mural of the first 200 years of U.S. history. It is also available for private events. Tickle your taste buds at the Firehouse Brewing Company, where you can sample a locally brewed beer or broaden your palate at Firehouse Wine Cellars with locally made wine.

with life­sized bronze sculptures of our US presidents.

If time permits, a ride on the City View Trolley* gives visitors a narrated tour of Rapid City, stopping at many of our local attractions.

Once you’ve experienced all that Downtown Rapid City has to offer, make time for a free factory tour.

Black Hills Gold factory tours are available at the Landstrom’s-Mt. Rushmore Black Hills GoldFactory Tours. A factory tour provides visitors the chance to go behind the scenes with the artisans, learning step­by­step how Black Hills Gold jewelry is made. Also available are tours of the Sioux Pottery factory, where visitors can talk with Sioux Indian artisans designing the handcrafted pottery and learn how the process works from start to finish.

You won’t want to miss these Rapid City free attractions, including the Museum of Geology, Stavkirke Chapel in the Hills* and the new Outdoor Campus West.

For evening entertainment, try Downtown Rapid City, Main Street Square, or contact the Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau for additional options. *Indicates seasonal attraction

Your guests will enjoy the selection of local shopping and dining downtown, along with walking from corner to corner viewing bronze sculptures of our past presidents. The City of Presidents offers visitors the unique opportunity to have their photo taken TourItineraries.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com

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Ingomar, Forsyth, Hysham and Billings, Montana

Best of the West: Southeast Montana Scenic Loop njoy an escape into the clean air, endless skies, and a kaleidoscope of badlands, flatlands and highlands that includes history, culture and a really great steak. Explore Montana’s largest city, rich in history, culture and local cuisine. Highlights include Jersey Lilly Saloon, Pompeys Pillar, Yellowstone Art Museum, Pappy’s Cowboy Cookout and Western Heritage Center.

E

Day 1

Day 2

This morning, drive east on Highway 12 and take in some of the unusual sandstone structures along the route. Stop in Ingomar, once one of the world’s leading sheep­producing regions, and home today to the historic Jersey Lilly Saloon. This rustic 100­ plus­year­old building is a great place to have lunch.

Be sure to try the “Best Cowboy Beans in the West” and their “sheep­herders’ hors d’oeuvres.” Your group can arrange to take a ride on a real horse­ drawn stagecoach to see the buffalo herd that calls the area home.

As Montana’s largest city, Billings is unequalled in the state for the variety of entertaining and relaxing diversions available.

Proceeding south and east on highway 12 brings you to Forsyth, site of one of the most beautiful courthouses in Montana. Forsyth is also home every year to the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match where over 500 participants, many dressed in 19th century garb, shoot original and replica black pow­ der rifles at metal silhouette targets up to a half­ mile away. Stop at the Rosebud County Museum to view some of their unusual collections.

VISIT BILLINGS, MONTANA’S TRAILHEAD

Visit Billings, Montana’s Trailhead info@visitbillings.com 406-245-4111 VisitBillings.com

56 June 2015

Visit Hysham and the Treasure County Museum in the Yucca Theater. The original 1931 movie house is on the National Register of Historic Places and one of eastern Montana’s more unique structures.

And don’t forget a stop at Pompeys Pillar, just 26 miles west of Billings. This famous sandstone out­ cropping is famous for the signature that Capt.

William Clark carved into it in 1806 on his return leg of the Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery.

Climb to the top and you’ll enjoy a vista that is very much like the view Clark and his men experienced over 200 years ago.

TourItineraries.com

This morning, a fun and informative city tour takes you to places of historical beginnings and nostalgic memories. Learn how these places contributed to Billings as we know it today. Visit the Yellowstone Art Museum for a guided tour and a deliciously catered lunch. Visit the Moss Mansion followed by other historic stops including Chief Joseph Historic Site, Yellowstone County Museum, Yellowstone Kelly’s Grave/Boothill Cemetery and Pictograph Cave State Park.

Tonight, enjoy an evening of entertainment, gourmet cowboy dinner and enjoy old wholesome country music with cultural activities at Pappy’s Cowboy Cookout. This evening affair takes place just minutes from downtown Billings. There is only one way to get to the chuckwagon camp: by covered wagon.

While dinner is being served up, enjoy Western activities like horseshoes, calf roping and outdoor games.

Day 3 This morning, visit the Western Heritage Center and enjoy the “Heart of Art” in Billings. Featuring studios, art galleries, unique gift shops, handmade jewelry, authentic Native American beadwork and Western memorabilia before heading on to Yellowstone National Park.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Elko, Carlin, Wells and Lamoille, Nevada

Western Adventure Starts in Elko, Nevada tart your Western Adventure Tour in Elko, Nevada and experience the raw majesty of the Ruby Mountains to the rugged canyon streams. Itinerary highlights will include the California Trail Center, Chinese Gardens Nature Study Area, Trail of the 49ers Interpretive Center, Angel Lake Scenic Drive, Northeastern Nevada Museum, Lamoille Scenic Byway and Western Folklife Center.

S

Day 1 Check in at your Elko accommodations and enjoy a manager’s reception. Dinner tonight is on the prop­ erty or at one of Elko’s group­friendly restaurants.

Day 2 Wake up to breakfast and the beauty of this Northeastern Nevada community, framed by the splendor of the Ruby Mountains. Our adventure begins at the California Trail Center. This new, $20­ million facility depicts the life­and­death experiences of pioneers who made the grueling 2,000­mile journey to the West.

Return to Elko for lunch on your own at any of the 50 area restaurants with cuisine to please any palate.

Spend the afternoon shopping in the downtown historic district. Tonight enjoy a dinner experience at one of Elko’s many restaurant options. From Japanese and Mexican to Italian and American, there is an abundance of group­friendly restaurants.

Day 3

ELKO CVA

Tom Lester tom@elkocva.com 775-738-4091or 800-248-3556 ExploreElkoCVA.com

58 June 2015

This morning’s journey takes us west to Carlin and the Chinese Gardens Nature Study Area. Carlin’s history is all about the Gold Rush and railroad construction. Chinese immigrants played a major role in the latter. Nature trails with interpretive signs share the story. Next it’s on to Carlin Canyon Historical Wayside. This was a travel route for Native Americans, mountain men, pioneers and eventually the Central Pacific Railroad. Interpretive signs share the history of the 3,000­year­old geo­ graphical formations. Return to Elko for a leisurely lunch on your own.

Our first stop this afternoon is a visit to Wells and the Trail of the 49ers Interpretive Center. An intriguing collection of artifacts reinforces the hard­ ships early travelers experienced on the California TourItineraries.com

Trail. Right outside Wells we’ll begin our 11­mile Angel Lake Scenic Drive. This spectacular tour presents a panoramic view of the Humboldt Mountains and Lake Angel. Back in Elko we’ll have lunch on our own and finish a busy day with a tour of the Northeastern Nevada Museum and the new mining exhibit. Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner at one of Elko’s casino restaurants followed by an evening of gaming action.

Day 4 This morning our travels take us to the quaint town of Lamoille and the breathtaking beauty of the Lamoille Scenic Byway. Filled with unusual rock formations, this spectacular drive takes us through the glacially carved Ruby Mountain Wilderness. Next stop is the historic Little Church of the Crossroads, which has hosted more than 600 weddings. A tasty lunch at O’Carrols is an absolute must when visiting Lamoille.

Returning to Elko, let’s get serious about getting our “cowboy on” with a tour of the Western Folklife Center’s Wiegand Gallery and 20­seat Black Box Theater. If time allows, cross the street to J.M. Capriola and watch a master saddle maker display his skills. Enjoy dinner at one of Elko’s famous Basque restaurants. Elko­area Basques take pride in the culture of their homeland, Southern Spain/Northern France. Bring your appetite because we’re going family­style and nobody leaves hungry.

Day 5 Enjoy breakfast and set out your luggage. We’ll be saying good­bye to Elko with a promise to return.

Day 5 option: Northeastern Nevada is the nation’s largest gold producer. Newmont Mining Corporation provides mining operation tours April­October in Elko/2nd Thursday, Battle Mountain/3rd Thursday and Winnemucca/4th Thursday.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Laughlin, Nevada; On The Colorado River

Laughlin, Nevada − Where Western History and Culture Meet Modern-day Boomtown aughlin, Nevada, may have had humble beginnings, yet it’s full of history and culture that reflects a pioneering spirit. From the first Native Americans who etched their stories into rock to miners seeking a gold fortune, and a 1960s’ casino visionary to a developer who relocated a famous bridge. Laughlin offers a rich heritage along with the comfort and conveniences of modernday resorts. Highlights include the Colorado River Museum, Oatman/ Route 66, North Reach Park & Trails, Pot A Gold Stables, Grapevine Canyon, London Bridge Jet Boat and the Classic Auto Exhibition.

L

The views are spectacular from the ridge lines over­ looking Lake Mohave, Davis Dam, the river, mountain ranges and the casinos.

Day 1 Originally built in 1947 as a church for the workers constructing Davis Dam, the Colorado River Museum is itself a historical landmark.

Peruse the displays of local Native Americans and early pioneers of the Tri­State Area. Then experience pioneer life by visiting the gold­mining town of Oatman, Arizona. Just 45 minutes from the neon lights of Laughlin, it looks like a Western movie set.

Saloons, wooden sidewalks and the resident feral burros share the town’s history with the country’s first major highway, Route 66. Souvenir shops, local artist galleries and staged gunfights add to Oatman’s entertaining atmosphere.

Back in Laughlin, continue your historical quest on a narrated riverboat cruise. The U.S.S. Riverside and The Celebration offer 90­minute tours daily on the scenic Colorado River. Relax with a cool beverage as the boat gently floats past casino row and listen to the history of this modern­day boomtown. Or, book your group for a special two­hour dinner cruise.

Laughlin offers an abundant selection of all­you­ can­eat buffets, 24­hour cafes, national chain restaurants, and specialty and gourmet dining options. Your group will have no trouble finding a menu to please the palate and pocketbook.

VISIT LAUGHLIN

Meg McDaniel mmcdaniel@lvcva.com 877-685-2845 VisitLaughlin.com/meetings/rfp LeisureGroupTravel.com

Day 2

Grapevine Canyon, about a 15­minute drive from Laughlin, offers an easy eighth­of­a­mile walk via a marked trail. The first sight is the Indian petroglyphs that adorn the sheer canyon walls, visible at eye level. Spring runoff fed by infrequent desert rainfall is enough to nourish the wild grapevines that emerge like a bright green labyrinth around the hard surfaces of the rocks.

If your group desires a little less physical activity, board the London Bridge Jet Boat for a scenic ride on the Colorado River to Lake Havasu City. From the vessel, you’ll see scores of three­ and four­story houses that line the river banks, as well as breath­ taking Topock Gorge with its volcanic rock and emerald waters. Your guide will stop to show you Indian petroglyphs and point out desert wildlife such as big horn sheep, burros and eagles. The jet boat docks at the famous London Bridge. Enjoy two hours of sightseeing, shopping and a lunch break at one of four restaurants nearby.

The Classic Auto Exhibition at the Riverside Resort, open daily with free admission, is a collection of various modes of transportation. It consists primarily of antique cars, but there are vintage motorcycles and other collectibles. Groups can take their time enjoying a “ride down memory lane” during the day or evening hours.

With 300­plus days of sunshine annually, Laughlin is perfect for groups that want to explore outdoors.

The North Reach Trails beckon those who want to put on their walking shoes for an easy trek that parallels the beautiful Colorado River. The trails are dotted with interpretive signs, shade ramadas, drinking fountains and restrooms. Pot A Gold Stables operates from the Horseshoe trailhead and offers one­ to three­hour guided horseback rides.

TourItineraries.com

June 2015 59

© Courtesy Cheyenne Area CVB/Matthew Idler

Cheyenne, Wyoming

The Old West Lives in Cheyenne his truly authentic Western city, the capital of Wyoming, abounds with tour-worthy sites that bring back the wild ’n’ wooly days of yesteryear. Groups will enjoy shopping for Western gear at downtown stores and stepping back in time at attractions like the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum and Nelson Museum of the West. See a herd of bison and check out the world’s largest steam locomotive. Western entertainment in summer includes the Cheyenne Gunslingers, Bit-O-Wyo Horsebarn Dinner Theater and the Old-Fashioned Melodrama.

T

VISIT CHEYENNE

Day 1 Go downtown to the newly restored Cheyenne Depot. A National Historic Landmark, the depot has been restored to its original glory and is once again a center of activity in the community. Tour the Art Deco lobby and visit the Cheyenne Depot Museum, which chronicles the railroad and its relationship to Cheyenne.

In the depot, purchase tickets for the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley (307­778­3133), which provides a 90­minute overview of the community, its history and attractions. The tour includes stops at various attractions, allowing riders to disembark for the attraction and then reboard the next trolley 90 minutes later. Stops include the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum (307­778­7290), Nelson Museum of the West (307­635­7670), Wyoming State Museum (307­777­7022), Historic Governors’ Mansion (307­777­7878), Wyoming Capitol and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (307­637­6458). (Trolley drivers are available as step­on guides for motor­ coaches.)

Head south nine miles to the Terry Bison Ranch (307­634­4171) for a horseback ride or a train ride into the middle of the bison herd that calls the ranch home. Back in town, be sure to check out Big Boy 4004, the world’s largest steam locomotive (1.2 million pounds). It was designed especially for the rugged Cheyenne to Ogden, Utah run.

End your day watching the Western skits and escapades of the Cheyenne Gunslingers at 6 p.m. in downtown Cheyenne (June­July). Then enjoy the Bit-O-Wyo Horsebarn Dinner Theater in the beautiful mountains west of town (July­August).

Or catch the Old-Fashioned Melodrama (307­638­ 6543) at the Historic Atlas Theater where you can cheer the hero and hiss the villain (July).

Enjoy one of Cheyenne’s new nightlife options — Freedom’s Edge Brewpub in the historic Tivoli Building, Suite 1901 Martini Bar, Morris House Bistro or Cadillac Ranch Bar.

Day 2 Darren Rudloff darren@cheyenne.org 800-426-5009 or 307-778-3133 Cheyenne.org

60 June 2015

Spend some time downtown shopping at a couple of true Western stores. Try the Wrangler (307­634­3048) for jeans, boots, hats and other Western apparel or Wyoming Home (307­638­ 2222) for its unique Western furniture and artwork.

Or catch a ride on the free downtown carriage rides.

TourItineraries.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Portland, Tillamook, Newport, Sunriver, Bend and Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon’s Natural Wonders njoy an exciting Northwest adventure from the Pacific Coast to the high desert, Crater Lake to Multnomah Falls. Visit historic Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, Sunriver Resort, Lava Lands, an orchard, salmon hatchery, farm, grains mill and cheese factory. Other highlights include a wildlife cruise of Newport Bay and dinner cruise on the Columbia River Gorge.

E

Day 1 Portland Enjoy a welcome reception in the beautiful City of Roses.

Day 2 Tillamook/Newport We visit Bob’s Red Mill, which still grinds whole grains at cool temperatures with a traditional stone mill, then learn about hazelnut cultivation at Oregon Orchard. After lunch, we discover the fertile Tillamook Valley, which attracted pioneer dairy farmers a century ago, then continue to Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the region’s most photographed.

Day 3 Newport/Philomath/Sunriver On a cruise of Newport Bay, an ocean naturalist shares fascinating tales of local wildlife, ranging from sea lions and gray whales to pelicans and bald eagles. Then, we head inland for lunch at Philomath's certified organic Gathering Together Farm. Later, we pass through Willamette National Forest and lovely Sisters, a small town nestled near the Cascade Mountains. Then, we settle into Sunriver Resort, our home for three nights.

Day 4 Newberry Volcano/Bend/ Sunriver/Deschutes River

COUNTRY TRAVEL DISCOVERIES

Steve Uelner groups@countrytraveldiscoveries.com 262-923-8120 CountryTravelDiscoveries.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Today we explore one of many natural wonders near our resort up­close in the obsidian lava fields at Newberry National Volcanic Monument. Then, frontier history comes alive in life­size dioramas of an 1800s settlement at Bend's High Desert Museum.

We'll view fascinating Western and native art, and see golden eagles, otters and porcupines, maybe even a wild mustang. After lunch, we're free to enjoy our resort at our own pace: ride miles of bike trails, enjoy a swim or rest up before tonight's gen­ tle float trip along the Deschutes River followed by a tasty BBQ dinner.

Day 5 Sunriver/Crater Lake Today, enjoy the resort and its amenities, or take our excursion to Crater Lake National Park.

TourItineraries.com

Native Americans considered this tranquil blue gem so sacred that they didn’t breathe a word of it to European pioneers for half a century. We’ll circle around the 33­mile rim, stopping often to take in such awesome sights as Wizard Island and the “phantom ship” rock formation.

Day 6 Mt. Hood/Kiyokawa Orchards/ Cascade Locks Today is full of the sights, sounds and scents of Oregon. We'll marvel at the dramatic, 300­foot­deep river canyon, Crooked River Gorge, before ascending majestic Mt. Hood right up to the timberline. We’ll lunch at Timberline Lodge, a rustic resort built by the WPA craftsmen during the Great Depression, followed by a ranger­led tour. Next up, we stop at Kiyokawa Orchards in the Hood River Valley – the “fruit bowl” of Oregon – to sample fresh­picked apples and pears at their orchard market. Our day ends with a dinner cruise on the spectacular Columbia River Gorge.

Day 7 Bonneville Dam/Columbia River Gorge/Portland This morning, we'll visit the Bonneville Dam, an engineering wonder whose enormous turbines gen­ erate electricity for the entire region. Fishing is also big business here, and we'll visit an elaborate hatch­ ery that turns out millions of salmon each year.

Then, it's on to legendary Multnomah Falls, America's second highest year­round waterfall.

Next up is the majestic Crown Point overlook and the Vista House, a rest stop observatory for travel­ ers on the old Columbia River Gorge Highway. We head back into Portland for free time and lunch at one of the city’s vibrant market areas, followed by a delightful tour of the Rose City.

Day 8 Portland Return home overflowing with wonderful memories of Oregon.

Images: Multinomah Falls courtesy Travel Oregon; Owl Group courtesy High Desert Museum/John Williams.

June 2015 61

Norfolk, Virginia

Tall Ships, Entertainment & Food Enjoy Norfolk’s Annual Harborfest ®

orfolk is host to the annual festival favorite, Harborfest.

Each June Norfolk celebrates nautical history by displaying tall ships, along with maritime events, entertainment, delicious food and a spectacular fireworks display all along the downtown waterfront.

Itinerary highlights include the Parade of Sails, tall ship tours, Chrysler Museum of Art and Norfolk Botanical Garden.

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Day 1 The Hampton Roads Naval Museum introduces you to over 200 years of naval history in Hampton Roads. Located next to Nauticus is the Battleship Wisconsin, the largest and last battleship ever built by the U.S. Navy.

Come aboard the Spirit of Norfolk for the Parade of Sails. Watch tall ships sail down the Elizabeth River in a spectacular two­hour parade. You will have the best view of the harbor, with 200 boats and vessels to see, as well as several tall ships.

Afterwards, come explore an outdoor festival on the water at Harborfest. Enjoy live music and great food accompanied by art and educational programs.

Tall ships are open for tours after the Parade of Sails for visitors to explore the decks and talk to sailors.

Day 2 VISITNORFOLK

Melissa Hopper mhopper@visitnorfolkotday.com 800-368-3097 VisitNorfolkToday.com

Stroll through the streets of Ghent, a National Historic District and one of Norfolk’s most charming neigh­ bors. Explore Ghent’s unique blend of locally­owned boutique stores, fine restaurants and cafés. Tucked into Ghent is Virginia’s first urban winery. Taste a fight of wines at Mermaid Winery, where you can view the winemaking process from the tasting bar.

Tour the Douglas MacArthur Memorial and discover the compelling story of General Douglas MacArthur, a five­star general of the Army, and the millions of Americans who served our nation through five wars.

Located in downtown Norfolk's restored 1850s City Hall, the complex contains a museum, theater and special exhibit galleries.

Stroll over to Granby Street, just one block walking

62 June 2015

TourItineraries.com

distance from Harborfest. Experience over 30 locally owned and operated restaurants from American bistro to tapas to Mexican.

Head back over to Town Point Park for Harborfest and enjoy over 50 food vendors, live concerts on three stages and fireworks along the downtown waterfront. Do not forget you can jump aboard the Victory Rover or Spirit of Norfolk for the best seats in the house for the fireworks!

Day 3 Take a fun­filled boat ride at Norfolk Botanical Garden and explore the waterways or stroll the gardens and discover a variety of plants from the cultivated to the wild. Shop till you drop and enjoy a leisurely lunch at MacArthur Center with over 70 retailers anchored by Nordstrom and Dillard's.

Head to Hermitage Museum and Gardens.

Formerly home to the Sloane family, the Hermitage is “home to the arts” with a nationally recognized art collection spanning 5,000 years. Art includes contemporary exhibition galleries, working artist studios and 12 acres of gardens and grounds.

Day 4 Before you depart for home, head to Chrysler Museum of Art, recently expanded and renovated with new galleries and engaging programs to bring the collection to life. Enjoy 5,000 years of art in one of the country’s most impressive museums, featuring a newly expanded restaurant, library, gift shop and theater.

Please see our website for a list of newest itineraries at www.visitnorfolktoday.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Fort Smith, Arkansas

Still Wild, Still West xperience Fort Smith, Arkansas' colorful history as the United States' original Gateway to the West. It sets the stage for the popular film True Grit and is one of True West Magazine's "Top Western Towns." Highlights include Miss Laura’s Visitor Center, Miss Laura’s Players in The Medicine Show on Hanging Day (dinner show), Fort Smith National Historic Site, Clayton House Museum and specialty shopping. Visit Fort Smith – Still Wild, Still West.

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Day 1 Arrive in beautiful Fort Smith and then experience a one­of­a­kind prelude to the adventures waiting.

Afternoon: A guided tour through Miss Laura’s Visitor Center – the first former bordello to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Out of seven houses of ill­repute on “The Row” of Fort Smith’s red­light district during the early 1900s, Miss Laura’s is the only one still remaining.

With prior arrangements, Miss Laura will be in cos­ tume to greet the group and give the tour.

Refreshments of sarsaparilla and peanuts are avail­ able by request.

Fort Smith Museum of History – 150 years of Fort Smith history and its role in the early frontier, Civil War and lawlessness of the Old West. Experience the Darby Room and discover Fort Smith's famous son and World War II hero, William O. Darby, and "Darby's Rangers." Enjoy an old­fashioned soda at the working drug store and soda fountain.

Evening: Barbecue dinner served on the banks of the Arkansas River at the River Park Events Building. Miss Laura’s Players will perform The Medicine Show on Hanging Day, an original comedy skit. Step back into a colorful past, both novel & entertaining.

Afternoon: Lunch will be at Taliano’s Italian Restaurant in the restored J. M. Sparks home, built in 1887. This Romanesque, Victorian­style home includes hand­carved fireplaces and original chandeliers.

Following lunch, it’s time to shake things up, Elvis Presley­style. Visit the Chaffee Barber Shop and Military Museums. Learn the history of Fort Chaffee, built in 1941 to train World War II recruits. See the restored barber shop where many got their “buzz” cut, including Elvis Presley in 1958.

BrickCity Emporium – In a laidback atmosphere, find over 160 unique shops in one building, including artisans, crafts, gifts, food & specialty items and a cafe with sitting area.

Farm Tour – Always a favorite, this working farm has been in operation for over 60 years by three generations of a family. Stroll through pecan groves and see how honey bees do their work. Learn about regional farming and growing crops such as soybeans, rice and corn.

Evening: Dinner at Calico County, a landmark of the Fort Smith area where you’ll enjoy tastes of down­ home Southern cooking served in an environment of American memorabilia that provides for a nostalgic ambiance.

Day 2 FORT SMITH CVB

Carolyn Joyce tourism@fortsmith.org 479-783-8888 or 800-637-1477 FortSmith.org

64 June 2015

Morning: Driving tour of Historic Fort Smith with a step­on guide. You’ll learn more about the rough­and­tumble days of early Fort Smith, and see the 22­square­block Belle Grove Historic District, spanning 150 years of architecture. The entire area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. Some blocks are still paved with the original bricks. Tour the Clayton House (circa 1850s), which was the home of Judge Parker’s prosecuting attorney.

Or:

Fort Smith National Historic Site ­ tour Hangin’ Judge Isaac C. Parker’s courtroom, the old jail known as “hell on the border” and see a replica of the famed gallows where 79 men met their fate.

Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM): This state­of­the­art facility exhibits permanent as well as traveling exhibitions and works by regional artists.

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A & M Railway: Excursion north through the beautiful Ozark Mountains. One­way or roundtrip available. Box lunch can be pre­arranged.

Arkansas Wine Country: Tour St. Mary’s Church on St. Mary’s Mountain. Arrive at Wiederkehr’s Wine Cellar for a tour of the winery followed by tasting the wines and visiting the gift shop.

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Virginia Beach, Virginia

Military & History Tour irginia Beach is home to one of the largest military populations in the country and offers groups the chance to experience the area’s history of heroism through the Military & History Tour. Visitors can tour the battleship USS Wisconsin, military aircraft of the past and present, a lighthouse commissioned

by President George Washington and hear tales of shipwrecks from long ago at the Old Coast Guard Station, housed in an old U.S. Life Saving Station. Other highlights include touring the Naval Air Station Oceana, spotting dolphins from your hotel balcony along Virginia Beach’s three-mile boardwalk, and dinner and dancing in an aircraft hangar surrounded by the largest private collection of working WWI and WWI aircraft in the world.

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VIRGINIA BEACH CVB

By land, air and sea, here in Virginia Beach you’re close enough to feel the excitement of days gone by.

As home to thousands of sailors and airmen through the years, our shores have long inspired heroism and these adventures take you up close and personal with their bravery.

Day 1 Salty Seaside Stories PM: Experience the Old Coast Guard Station through the Surfman Chronicles for tales of shipwrecks long ago. Have a special evening of dinner enter­ tainment at Waterman’s Surfside Grille. Invite the Doorway Singers for “Liberty Call,” a musical trip back to the 1940s, while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 2 Lighthouses and Battleships AM: After breakfast in your hotel, pick up your step­on guide for a view of area history including Fort Story and the Cape Henry Lighthouse, the oldest government­built lighthouse in America.

century. Then it’s back to the present for The Sound of Freedom at Naval Air Station Oceana, home to the Navy’s most sophisticated aircraft.

PM: Take an afternoon walk on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and be sure to stop at the Naval Aviation Monument Park, honoring our rich naval aviation heritage. To see amazing WWI and WWII aircraft firsthand, head over to the Military Aviation Museum for SwingTime in the Skies, a tour and dinner with high­flying songs and entertainment.

Day 4 Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel AM: After a breakfast of fluffy pancakes at Pocahontas Pancake House & Waffle Shop, make your way to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum. This beach cottage was built in 1895 and is the oldest remaining structure on the oceanfront.

On your way back home stop at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world. Enjoy a shopping spree at Virginia’s Originals and lunch in the middle of the Bay at the Chesapeake Grill.

PM: Head to Norfolk to visit the USS Wisconsin, the last and largest battleship built by the U.S. Navy.

Take a stroll through Nauticus, an interactive maritime science center, and visit the MacArthur Memorial, the final resting place of Five­Star General Douglas MacArthur. On your way back to the beach, stop for dinner at Town Center and enjoy a microbrewery lesson at Gordon Biersch or Irish fare at Keagan’s. Save room for sweets at The Royal Chocolate.

Day 3 Historic Homes and the Sound of Freedom Jim Coggin jcoggin@visitvirginiabeach.com 757-385-6642 VisitVirginiaBeach.com/grouptour/ LeisureGroupTravel.com

AM: After breakfast at Mary’s, a local favorite for over 40 years, tour the Adam Thoroughgood House, a National Historic Landmark built in 1719. Pay a visit to the Francis Land House or Lynnhaven House for a look at plantation life in the early 18th TourItineraries.com

June 2015 65

Sa vannah, Georgia

The Jewel of the South his much-celebrated destination has been enticing visitors with her sultry ambiance, striking beauty and Old World charm for centuries. Waiting to charm you with her tree-filled squares and perfectly preserved historic buildings, Savannah will delight your visitors with all this coastal jewel has to offer. Highlights include historic homes and forts, a riverboat excursion, Tybee Light Station and National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.

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Day 1 Take a Tour: Get to know Savannah by experiencing a city tour, either on our period­style trolleys or with one of our highly trained step­on guides. The tour lasts about two hours and will help your group get better acquainted with our genteel Southern beauty.

It will also give them a sample of the attractions they may want to explore later on their own. Be sure to stop at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist along the tour route. It’s free.

Step Back in Time: Savannah’s past is told in the many house museums and cultural centers that populate the area. Visit the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts; OwensThomas House, featuring one of the few intact slave quarters in America; or the Davenport House, a fine example of Federal architecture. As an added activity, have breakfast or a wine & cheese reception in the Davenport House garden.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry: Your group covered a lot of ground on their first day and they may want to have a casual bite to eat before retiring for the evening.

Savannah’s historic River Street has all types of casual and upscale dining options. Seafood, steaks and light fare can all be found in the restored cotton warehouses that are home to some of Savannah’s favorite restaurants and pubs. We can help you determine which restaurants are particularly group­ friendly.

VISIT SAVANNAH

Day 2 Mindy Shea mshea@visitsavannah.com 912-644-6419 VisitSavannah.com

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Tybee Time: Just 20 minutes from Savannah lies Tybee Island, a uniquely charmed island that offers a change of pace and taste. While there, take your group to the Tybee Light Station. Dating back to 1773, the lighthouse is one of America’s most complete historic light stations. After the lighthouse, take the group to the nearby Fort Pulaski National Monument. Built in 1829, the fort, which was under Robert E. Lee’s TourItineraries.com

command, came under a 30­hour siege by Union forces. You can still see the holes from that long­ago bombardment.

Rolling on the River: After lunch on Tybee, make your way back to the historic district to explore the Savannah River’s natural beauty on the Savannah Riverboat. This two­hour excursion shows you the city from a unique perspective. You might even spy playful dolphins swimming alongside.

Fright Night: Discover why Savannah has repeatedly been named "America's Most Haunted City.” There are numerous touring options to choose from, making this a great evening event for your group.

Day 3 Military Might: Visit one of the world's most powerful museum experiences, the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. Located only minutes from historic downtown Savannah, where the Eighth Air Force was activated in 1942, the museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the "greatest air armada of all time." Hear stories of bravery, experience a bomber mission and briefing, and see the ongoing restoration of the World War II B­17 Flying Fortress "City of Savannah" in the Combat Gallery.

Fun at the Forts: From its beginning, Savannah has been fortified to protect its residents and strategic port. This morning, there are several exciting forts to visit including Old Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski.

Your group won't want to miss the afternoon cannon firings at each.

It’s Showtime! Your group’s final night in Savannah is sure to be a memorable one as they experience one of the city’s theater presentations. They will be amazed by the abundance of talent that prevails in our small city.

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Yazoo City, Bentonia, and Vaughan, Mississippi

Unique Art and Colorful History in Yazoo County xperience an authentic juke joint, learn about the techniques of master craftsmen in wood and metal, shop historic downtown including antiques and much more.

Highlights include Yazoo Historical Society Museum, historical graves at Glenwood Cemetery and meeting Mississippi Craftsmen's Guild artists.

We can customize this tour with agriculture, African-American history or learning about the workings of a cattle ranch. Agriculture tours are best taken in the fall of the year.

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YAZOO COUNTY CVB

Dawn Davis info@visityazoo.org 800-381-0662 VisitYazoo.org

Day 1 Morning: Explore the history of Yazoo County, the largest county in Mississippi, through displays and artifacts in the Sam Olden Yazoo Historical Society Museum. From there, experience Glenwood Cemetery in Yazoo City, runner­up in the 2012 “Spookiest Cemetery in the US” poll on HuffPost Travel. Hear the history of Yazoo County through the graves of the cemetery, as well as the story of the Witch of Yazoo, all told by costumed storytellers.

Visit the grave of Yazoo native writer Willie Morris, who made the legend of the witch famous.

Yazoo County has no shortage of great down­home cooking, with a few surprisingly unique options as well. Your group can dine at any number of fine establishments, including Stub's Restaurant ­ a local favorite offering cafeteria­style dining which has been in business for more than 50 years. Yazoo County offers over 30 locally­owned restaurants and eateries with everything from home­cooked soul food, to Yazoo County's famous Simmons Farm Raised Catfish, to international dishes such as the Chivito from Uruguay. Or, take in the award­winning BBQ experience at Ubon's Barbeque of Yazoo, the restaurant of the famous Ubon's competition barbecue team.

Afternoon: Explore the shops of historic downtown Yazoo City. Downtown Marketplace offers two floors full of just about anything you can imagine from over 80 vendors. Stop for a snack at Rose's Downtown Bakery, as the sweet smell will surely draw you in.

Further up the colorful street is Main Street Market, also full of finds from many vendors. For timeless treasures, visit Cindi's Gifts of Distinction, located in downtown Yazoo City for over 40 years.

For a unique overnight stay, check in at the Main

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Street Hotel, located on the second floor of several historic buildings. Amenities include claw­foot tubs with showers. For a more conventional overnight stay, your group may opt for one of our other highly­ rated chain hotels.

Day 2 Our tour continues in the beautiful countryside of Yazoo County, including Vaughan, site of the famous wreck of train engineer Casey Jones. Vaughan has produced two talented members of the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild: Bobby Rico of Rico Knives and Greg Harkins of Greg Harkins Woodworks. Tour the shops and work areas of each of these artists.

Lunch will be at the Hall of Fame Restaurant in the Bentonia area. Owned by the brother of NFL Hall of Fame member and Yazoo native Willie Brown, the unassuming cedar building is full of memorabilia from Brown and other Hall of Fame members. The menu features burgers named after Mississippi members of the Hall of Fame.

Afternoon: Your group will make the short trip into downtown Bentonia, the site of the historic Blue Front Cafe, the oldest juke joint in Mississippi still in operation. It was the site of an episode of Southern Fried Road Trip on the Food Network starring Jamie and Bobby Dean.

Alternatively, during the fall harvest season, your group can tour the countryside from an agricultural perspective. Options include Simmons Farm Raised Catfish, a tour of a working cotton gin at Yazoo Planters Gin, and if the timing is right, a tour of Collins Honey Farms or White Honey Farms.

Other options include Oakes African-American Cultural Center or a day trip with fishing at Wells Ranch.

June 2015 67

Sharpsburg, Boonsboro, Hagerstown and Williamsport, Maryland

Movements & Monuments mmerse your group in the sights and sounds of Washington County, Maryland with a tour of Civil War battlefields and a visit to the Arts & Entertainment District.

Over 90 Civil War monuments are located in the area, and each tells the story of sacrifice.

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Day 1 Arrange for pick up or delivery of box lunches from Hempen Hill BBQ, a hometown favorite boasting some of the best ranked BBQ in the nation. Plan to stop for a BBQ picnic while touring the Civil War sites of Washington County. Begin your day in Sharpsburg at Antietam National Battlefield Visitors Center. The Battle of Antietam occurred on September 17, 1862, preceding the Battle of Gettysburg. After 12 hours of combat, 23,000 soldiers were missing, wounded or killed. More than 90 regimental and state monuments are located on the battlefield and surrounding heritage sites including South Mountain at Fox's Gap and Crampton's Gap. Washington Monument State Park is located on South Mountain and is the first completed Washington Monument in memory of George Washington. During your visit, challenge your group to locate all the monuments!

brands you love at Hagerstown Premium Outlets.

Plan an evening in Hagerstown’s award­winning Arts & Entertainment District. Dine at Bulls and Bears or 28 South before experiencing the movements of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra on the stage of historic Maryland Theatre. For a complete listing of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra’s schedule, contact the box office prior to your visit. Group discounts are available.

Day 3 Before heading home, venture to the Cushwa Basin in Williamsport. The scenic viewshed spans a half­ mile along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and features an aqueduct, the Cushwa warehouse on the turning basin, trolley barn, canal lock, lock house and a railroad lift bridge.

Day 2

HAGERSTOWN & WASHINGTON COUNTY CVB

Audrey Vargason audrey@visithagerstown.com 240-420-1740 VisitHagerstown.com

68 June 2015

Start your day with a morning stroll in City Park, recently named one of America’s Best Parks. City Park is home to Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, where you can take a self­guided tour or arrange for a docent­led tour. Celebrating the making of one of our nation’s most notable monuments, Mount Rushmore, the museum’s permanent collection includes Guzton Borglum’s preliminary sculpture to Rushmore, the bust of Abraham Lincoln.

After touring the museum, visit the city’s monument to our founder—Jonathan Hager House—also located in City Park. The restored 1740 stone house is built in German style complete with authentic furnishings of the period.

Make your next stop Hagerstown’s City Center.

Visit Washington County Arts Council Gallery and Shop and have lunch at Rhubarb House or Gourmet Goat. After lunch, spend the afternoon browsing the TourItineraries.com

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Coastal Maryland

Seashore Learn and Libations cean City is famous for its clean, free, wide beach and exciting three-mile Boardwalk beside the Atlantic Ocean. Picturesque views of the sun rising, ships passing along the seaboard and fabulous sunsets over the bay are all part of an Ocean City memory. Itinerary highlights include the Life Saving Station Museum, Assateague National Seashore Park, Casino at Ocean Downs, Costa Ventosa and Fenwick wineries, and feasts featuring scrumptious Maryland crabs.

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Perhaps on your way to this Mid­Atlantic icon you have toured Annapolis and crossed the famous Chesapeake Bay to the Eastern Shore of Maryland with its thousands of miles of coastline. Perhaps you stopped outside Cambridge to see Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, often called the “Everglades of the East.” Nesting eagles and Canada geese are preva­ lent at this national park. Soon Harriet Tubman National Park will take its place right across the road from the Blackwater entrance. You’ll learn about the Underground Railroad made famous by this Dorchester County native daughter. As you traveled east on the US Route 50 you entered Ocean City, and the Atlantic Ocean was directly in front of you. After a day of educational travel, you’re ready to relax, get settled and enjoy a nice dinner. Everything is available to you, fine dining or Boardwalk fare, seafood platters to crab feasts.

On your first full day in Ocean City get the best view in town with a visit to the Life Saving Station Museum. Here you will see the Boardwalk of our past, sands of the world and the history of early surf men who saved the shipwrecked with early life­saving apparatus. As you walk outside you will see Assateague Island, the inlet that was cut through Ocean City in 1933 by a hurricane and gave birth to the fishing industry here. Three miles north, the Boardwalk awaits with games, arcades, fudge, popcorn, ice cream and the best people­ watching in the world.

On your way back to town you may go to see Berlin, the 2014 “America’s Coolest Small Town.” This popular Main Street community boasts art galleries, small cafes, unique gift shops and a host of antique shops to explore. If you feel lucky, you can cross Rt. 50 to Casino at Ocean Downs to try some gaming before returning to Ocean City. If you are thirsty, local wineries Costa Ventosa or Fenwick Wine Cellars would love to host your group for tastings.

Celebrate your fabulous day of exploration with a crab feast Maryland­style­­corn on the cob, hush puppies, fried chicken and hot steamed crabs are a tradition at many Eastern Shore and Ocean City restaurants. If seafood is not on your list of favorites, Ocean City has many chef­inspired dining options, from fine Italian to local dishes.

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND DEPT. OF TOURISM CVB

Norma Dobrowolski ndobrowolski@ococean.com 800-626-2326 OCOcean.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Assateague National Seashore Park is home to the world­famous wild ponies that roam the island with very little managing from the rangers. The new interactive visitor center on Route 611 is a must stop for great views of the inland bay waterways, wildlife and a rest break. Your vehicle can tour the island and its winding paths to get a glimpse of this undeveloped preserve. Most folks get a glimpse of a herd or even just a few ponies grazing off to the side of the road or snuggled into the bayberry brush for a mid­day rest.

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June 2015 69

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Celebrity Chefs, Beauty Queens and the Jersey Devil ongs have been written about it. Movies have been filmed about it. Legends have been made on it. Since its inception in the 1800s, the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk has been the epicenter of entertainment and people-watching in Atlantic City. Highlights include the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Boardwalk Hall, Miss America Parade/Miss America Rose Walk, Haunted Tales and Atlantic City’s Tanger Outlets– The Walk.

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Day 1 Afternoon: See and Be Seen Stroll Atlantic City Boardwalk and visit Central Pier, Steel Pier and Garden Pier along the four­mile wooden way. With an endless array of restaurants, retail, casinos, attractions, surfing and volleyball competitions and the one­and­only Miss America Parade, the boardwalk will have everyone yelling more than, “Show us your shoes!”

If the weather becomes a problem, step inside your favorite casino or catch a matinee at the IMAX Theater at The Quarter at Tropicana, which fea­ tures the latest Hollywood blockbusters, major concerts and sporting events.

Evening: Celebrity Dining & Entertainment Pop culture devotees are hungry for more than dinner. Luckily, several of today’s hottest celebrity chefs have opened trendy restaurants in Atlantic City. From Bobby Flay to Wolfgang Puck, finding a famous name in Atlantic City is not a problem.

After dinner, Boardwalk Hall is the place to find superstars. From the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Lady Gaga, entertainers have caused crowds to roar in the events arena that has stood in the center of Atlantic City for decades. When the sun goes down, check out comedy clubs, showrooms, nightclubs and lounges.

ATLANTIC CITY/MEET AC

Day 2 Morning: Shopping or Spa Nirvana Atlantic City is celebrated as one of the best shopping destinations on the East Coast. At Atlantic City’s Tanger Outlets–The Walk, bag bargains from more than 100 retail outlets like Michael Kors, Coach, Kenneth Cole, H&M and DKNY.

Heather Colache hcolache@meetinac.com 609-449-7151 AtlanticCityNJ.com

70 June 2015

The Playground, Atlantic City’s newest entertainment complex, will feature night clubs, restaurants and bars inspired by all genres of music. The first attraction, The Monkey Bar, will offer ocean and beach views on two sides of the pier that extends out TourItineraries.com

into the Atlantic Ocean. There will also be a beach­ front concert venue and an over­21 beach club with a pool that will be the only one in the country actually on a beach. And that's just the first floor, which is expected to be renovated and reopened come July 4.

Visitor favorites Buddakan, The Continental, Souzi Sushi and Phillips Seafood House restaurants are all located on the third floor with beautiful ocean views.

Those who love to shop will find many upscale shops, like Gucci, Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton, to name a few. Stay tuned for more fabulous offerings through the summer and fall.

The Quarter at Tropicana, a major retail center, brings to life the streets of Old Havana through a three­story streetscape and shopping experience that includes Zephyr Gallery, Swarovski and The Old Farmer’s Almanac General Store. On Atlantic City Boardwalk, treat yourselves to souvenirs and salt­water taffy, Atlantic City’s hallmark treat.

If you prefer salt scrubs to shoe sales, spend an indulgent morning at one of Atlantic City’s world­ class spas, modeled after Roman baths to the modern day masterpieces.

Afternoon: Take Your Pick of Beauty Queens, Oddities or the Jersey Devil If you’re enchanted by the coveted Miss America crown, don’t miss the Miss America Rose Walk, a collection of bronze plaques featuring Miss America quotes embedded in Michigan Avenue’s sidewalk, with the focal point being a bronze statue of Bert Parks. Take advantage of a priceless photo oppor­ tunity by posing under the crown in the statue’s outstretched hands as you hear the pageant’s tradi­ tional theme song, “There She Is, Miss America.”

See the bizarre at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum on the boardwalk, from Vlad the Impaler to shrunken heads to the girl down the well.

Also on the boardwalk you’ll find Haunted Tales, an animated theater that tells stories of the Jersey Devil, pirates and more. For the brave, take on the coffin ride and experience the sights, sounds and smells of being buried alive.

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Aurora, Yorkville, Plano and Sugar Grove, Illinois

Teen Fun Getaway ere is a two-day Chicagoland itinerary that is ideal for youth travel, church groups, a youth retreat or activities after a sporting event to blow off a little steam. Total cost (including overnight accommodations) is approximately $110 per person. All attractions are motorcoach-friendly and parking is free. Think you can sell it?

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Plunge, surf and zip into the day at Raging Waves Waterpark, Illinois’ largest waterpark. Located in Yorkville, the Aussie­themed park offers 17 water slides, including the Boomerang, Crocodile Mile, Tasmanian Twisters and Platypus Plunge. Other attractions include Kookaburra Kreek lazy river and the Great Barrier Reef wave pool. Or zip across the whole park while 72 feet in the air on the Cowabunga Zip Line. The park has 23 private cabanas with shaded private patio, server, lounge chairs and picnic table. Group discounts are available.

Superhero to Go-karts: For the 2013 film Man of Steel, Warner Brothers and DC Comics chose Plano, Illinois to represent Smallville, a special place where a certain super hero came to earth and spent his childhood days. A sequel also featuring Batman and Wonder Woman is now being filmed and will be released soon. Stop by the Smallville Museum to see props and memorabilia used in the filming. Just down the road, Sugar Grove Family Fun Center has two go­kart tracks, miniature golf, bumper boats, water wars and a lighted golf range. Come on out to ride the fast go­karts on the slick track or compete in one of the teen Race Nights.

Ride the Fox River: The Marge Cline Whitewater Course, a state­of­the­art facility at Bicentennial Riverfront Park in Yorkville, has an 1,100­foot­long whitewater bypass chute that allows canoes, kayaks, and tubers to travel downstream safely around the Glen D. Palmer Dam without having to portage. It also provides a recreational amenity for kayakers to play in the river. The course is home to the annual Illinois Whitewater Festival (July 18, 2015). Rentals are available at reasonable prices. For a refreshing break after a day on the water, stop by Foxy’s Ice Cream or enjoy Ribs on the River, Summer Solstice or any of the festivals held every summer.

AURORA AREA CVB

Mike Pfeiffer sales@enjoyaurora.com 630-256-3194 EnjoyAurora.com

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Bunkhouse Overnight: Stay overnight at one of the new Hoover Forest Preserve Bunkhouses, located on 400 acres of woods and grasslands that stretch a mile along the Fox River in Yorkville. Hiking trails lead you through a variety of habitats and scenic overlooks. Each bunkhouse has its own fire ring and accommodates groups up to 48. Another overnight option is Hampton Inn Yorkville with indoor pool, hot tub and free hot breakfast.

TourItineraries.com

Ultimate Paintball: Fox Valley Paintball in Aurora is the largest paintball­only retail store in the Chicagoland area with the best selection of paintball equipment available. Offsite near Millington, Illinois, they have 60 acres of paintball fields that include Tournament & Speedball fields, X­ball, Ultimate Air and Woods fields. Mini and all­day scenarios, group rates and private games are available. A private game or group outing is exactly that—it’s private!

This game is for church groups, youth retreats, business groups, corporate challenges or just a fun friends & family outing where you want to have exclusive control over who you play with.

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Dixon, Fulton, Savanna, Mt. Morris, Oregon, Illinois

Northwest Illinois Mystery Tour he small towns along the Rock and Mississippi rivers invite groups to explore the peaceful countryside, check out historic attractions and enjoy time shopping. Trace the roots of Ronald Reagan in Dixon, tour an authentic Dutch windmill in Fulton and settle in to a full-amenity cabin at White Pine State Park, famous for the meals and theatrical performances at White Pines Inn log lodge. Other highlights include Barnacopia Farm Museum, Havencrest Castle and a dinner cruise on the Rock River.

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Day 1 Dixon A tour of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home in Dixon is a glimpse back in time at the Reagan family residence of the 1920s. Check out the Visitor Center and Gift Shop, which features books and gifts high­ lighting the Reagan legacy.

The Northwest Territory Historic Center is a history, research and learning center housed in President Reagan’s grade school. The center is proudly affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and houses exhibits of Native American life, early American farming, a research library, historical exhibits, an art gallery and museum store.

A local step­on guide gives a narrated tour of Dixon’s Historic Sites including stops at the Dixon Welcome Center and Gift Shop and the riverfront location of the bronze, life­size statue of a young Ronald Reagan on horseback entitled Begins the Trail.

Enjoy dinner at local fine dining restaurants offering a variety of choices including Italian, Thai or locally grown organic cuisine.

BLACKHAWK WATERWAYS CVB

Day 2 Fulton – Savanna – Mt. Morris Fulton’s deep roots are in the Netherlands, where an authentic Dutch Windmill was pre­assembled and erected by Dutch craftsmen for the town’s Mississippi River dike. It is open for tours with millers giving demonstrations. The Windmill Museum & Cultural Center is across the street and features models of 21 European windmills, education area and gift shop.

Lori King office@bwcvb.com 800-678-2108 VisitNorthwestIllinois.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

at Poopy’s Pub & Grub, one of Illinois’ best known biker bars. Not a traditional restaurant or typical biker bar, instead it has great food and drinks served in a relaxed, laid­back atmosphere.

Continue the afternoon on a tour of Havencrest Castle.

Love and beauty fill every corner of this one­of­a­kind, 63­room fantasy castle. Visitors are left with an unforgettable experience. NOT handicap­accessible.

Travel to White Pines State Park and check in to full­amenity cabins followed by dinner at the White Pines Inn log lodge. After dinner relax around a campfire and enjoy the peace and quiet of the surroundings deep in the heart of the White Pines Forest.

Day 3 Mt. Morris - Oregon Entering the Barnacopia Farm Museum, visitors are greeted by a 1950s­era diner and a replica of a bygone downtown. Many antique farm machines and equipment, classic cars and more are on display including an antique tractor that rotates in the cupola at the top of the barn.

The afternoon includes a live theatrical performance at the White Pines Dinner Theatre featuring a home­ cooked, three­meat buffet with all the trimmings.

After the production browse the unique Gift Shop.

After the show head to the Conover Square Mall, a restored piano factory offering a unique shopping experience including the Blackhawk Model Railroad Club. Your evening will be highlighted by a dinner cruise on the panoramic Rock River aboard the Pride of Oregon, an authentic 102­foot paddlewheel boat.

Fulton’s Heritage Canyon is a 12­acre area featuring numerous buildings that take the visitor back to the 1800s on self­guided walking tours. Travel along the Mississippi River Road for a unique lunch experience TourItineraries.com

June 2015 73

Champaign, Urbana, Sidney, Fithian and Arthur, Illinois

Rural Breezes our the Central Illinois countryside and enjoy fresh-from-thefarm foods, including cheese made from goat milk, fruit from invasive plants and dinner at an Amish home. Your group will also discover a sculpture garden set within a tallgrass prairie, take in the beauty of an arboretum and go behind the scenes at a popular apple orchard.

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Start your day with a tour of Ludwig Farmstead Creamery, a European­style, farmstead creamery that sits on Feather Creek Farm, a fifth­generation farm originally settled in 1866. The Ludwig family breeds high­pedigree, purebred Holstein dairy cattle. Taste their small­batch, handcrafted artisan cheese made with day­fresh milk from their own cows.

What do you do when a plant becomes invasive?

Utilize the fruit! Autumn Berry Inspired is working towards changing the perception of one invasive species, the autumn olive tree, planted in the early 1900s to serve as wind breaks and help control erosion. Tour the working farm where they educate people on re­thinking this plant while harvesting the tasty fruit to create delicious and healthy food.

Then tour 7 Sisters Farm, a sustainable “food farm” in eastern Champaign County, named for two of the seven sisters who grew up on the farmstead in the 1930s. They raise and sell grass­fed lamb, pasture­ raised broilers and turkeys, eggs from free­range hens, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. You’ll be able to visit with their Leicester Longwool and Romney sheep, whose wool fleece is turned into handspun yarn, sold in natural and dyed colors.

Enjoy the sculpture garden on 22 acres of re­created Illinois tallgrass prairie in Meadowbrook Park.

There are 22 sculptures from artists with ties to the University of Illinois, as well as pieces from artists in New York, California and New Mexico.

Discover one of Champaign’s most sought after tours at Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, where you’ll meet the goats, walk through the orchard and garden, and taste some of their divine products. The goat dairy produces award­winning cheeses and goat milk gelato. Their farm dinners are the hottest ticket in the county. Cheese and gelato are a great way to wrap up the hour­long tour.

VISIT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

Terri Reifsteck terri@visitchampaigncounty.org 217-351-4133 VisitChampaignCounty.org

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At Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch, discover how this piece of Central Illinois has changed from prairie to farmland to apple orchard. Who knew that this land, settled by the Curtis family in 1873, would someday be one of the area’s favorite places for family fun? Paul Curtis and his wife Joyce traded the traditional corn and beans for apples, planting their first trees in 1977. Soon they had a growing business on their hands. Enjoy a behind­the­scenes­ tour of the apple­processing area. Walk the yellow brick road through their Wizard of Oz­themed farm, shop in the country store and don’t leave without a sip of the award­winning apple cider.

Take in the beauty of the University of Illinois Arboretum, a living laboratory including plant collections that support the teaching and research at the public institution. Enjoy a walk through the Welcome Garden, Hosta Garden, Kari Walkway and native pond plantings, Idea Garden sponsored by Champaign County Master Gardeners, and Japanese Tea and Dry Gardens at the Japan House.

End your day in the heart of Illinois Amish Country.

Enjoy a family-style Amish dinner prepared and served by an Old Order Amish hostess in her home.

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Chicago Southland, Illinois

Martini, Wine and Tea -A Unique Taste of the Chicago Southland njoy a unique taste of the Chicago Southland on the Martini, Wine & Tea Tour. This three-day tour features Pullman National Monument; breakfast at the Pickwick Society Tea Room, Gifts & Antiques; a night at the races at Balmoral Park Race Track; distillery tour and tasting at Frankfort Spirits and more. Conveniently accessible throughout the Chicago-area via Interstates 55, 57, 80, 94, 294 and 355, the Chicago Southland is an ideal group tour location.

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Day 1 Afternoon: The Chicago Southland experience begins with “raising your spirits” at a Frankfort Spirits tour and tasting event. Tour the distillery, learn about tasting spirits and what makes craft spirits special and then explore and taste sensational cocktails.

Balmoral Park Race Track, Illinois’ premier harness racing facility, is a great place to finish off the day.

The group will enjoy a spectacular buffet, reserved seating, an official race dedication and winners' circle group photo. Weather permitting, one member of the group will get to ride in the lead pace car.

Day 2 Breakfast is served at The Pickwick Society Tea Room, Gifts & Antiques. Named the #1 Tea Room in Illinois, Pickwick Tea Room is loosely based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women. The notable Pickwick Tea Room works with groups to meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

After breakfast, the group will enjoy a relaxing shopping experience in the small­town setting of downtown Frankfort. From upscale to eclectic, the boutiques and stores in Downtown Historic Frankfort offer unique selections and personal service that you won't find at shopping malls.

CHICAGO SOUTHLAND CVB

After some fun shopping around downtown Frankfort, it's time to cook our way through lunch!

The famous Francesca’s Vicianto Restaurant chef, Mario Lopez, will demonstrate how to make a four­ course meal in front of the group, which they will later enjoy eating.

Tobie Fitzpatrick tobie@visitchicagosouthland.com 888-895-3211 TourChicagoSouthland.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

A visit to Historic Pullman, America's first planned industrial community, listed as a National Historic Site and recently designated a National Monument, is a perfect place to learn history and experience 19th and 20th century architecture. The well­preserved TourItineraries.com

area was built in 1880 by George Pullman for the production of his famous sleeper car. This fascinating tour includes visits to the Visitor Center, Greenstone Church, Hotel Florence, administration building and factory grounds.

Fabulous food, award­winning wines and specialty shopping is combined to delight the group's senses at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant, a modern casual restaurant with a menu created with their own handcrafted wines in mind. The group can start in the Napa­style tasting room and sample the wine­ maker's latest creations. Next a stop in the gift store, for a unique food or wine related gift to bring home.

Finish in the restaurant to enjoy a delectable dish designed to pair with Cooper's Hawk's own award­ winning wine for a dining experience the group won't soon forget.

Day 3 The group will be impressed with their final “healthy and innovative” meal. The concept is simple: from the farm to your table. Harvest Room Restaurant specializes in familiar dishes made fresh with local, organic or organically raised ingredients purchased from area farmers when possible. The restaurant also has a great selection of crafted, loose leaf teas blended in­house with blue zone and raw honey.

The tour wraps up with Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens’ an 85­acre park that includes woodlands, prairie, wetlands and a 10­acre lake. Unique group programs such as Geocaching, Beginning Birding and Fly Fishing make this location special for groups of all ages.

Please note: Itinerary may be modified to meet your group’s specific needs. Locations and selections are subject to availability.

Please contact Tobie at tobie@visitchicagosouthland.com or toll free at 888-895-3211 to obtain current pricing and confirmation of dates and locations.

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Skokie, Illinois

Historical Introspection, Breathtaking Botany & Spectacular Shopping riveting tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum will stir your emotions while provoking quiet introspection. Then relax with a restorative stroll through 26 lush gardens of rolling hills and tranquil lakes at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Don't miss the best Midwest shopping destination, Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center.

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shopping options, visit Village Crossing Shopping Center, Skokie Fashion Square and the West Dempster Retail District.

Day 1 Morning: The largest of its kind in the Midwest, the Illinois Holocaust Museum was designed by renowned architect Stanley Tigerman utilizing architecture itself to stir the emotions associated with the Holocaust and provoke thought and introspection. The exhibition tells the story of the Holocaust, from pre­war German life through ghetto life and concentration camps to eventual liberation and resettlement throughout the world. More than 500 artifacts, documents and photographs. The tour takes 1.5–2 hours total. Groups can request a docent.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch nearby the museum or at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Afternoon: Serenity and natural beauty take center stage 365 days a year at the Chicago Botanic Garden, where you’ll marvel at 26 stunning gardens and three native habitats set on 385 acres of rolling hills and tranquil lakes. Highlights include the Japanese Garden with its carefully styled plants and judiciously placed stones; the garden is a tribute to the beauty of pure form. There are seasonal art exhibits, and educational activities for adults and families. Group rates available; minimum 15, maximum 150. Motorcoach parking available.

Hotel: Overnight in one of Chicago North Shore’s warm and inviting hotels. www.visitchicagonorthshore.com

Lunch: One of the fabulous restaurants at Westfield Old Orchard.

Afternoon: After you’ve shopped up a storm, treat yourself to something sweet where raising the “Candy” Bar has always been the goal. Illinois Nut & Candy strives to be the largest niche candy store in the Midwest, offering over 600 confections from apple rings to zebra bark, freshly roasted nuts and world­renowned confections like buttery English toffee and hand­dipped taffy apples. Find a huge variety of gluten­free, lactose­free, sugar­free, organic and vegan­friendly products.

After your sweet stop at Illinois Nut & Candy, set your own pace for the rest of the day to explore the wonder and diversity of Skokie.

The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park boasts a magnificent open­air art exhibit displaying more than 70 sculptures positioned along two miles of beautifully landscaped walking, running and biking paths.

Thanks to the diverse ethnicity of its residents, Skokie is home to incredibly diverse dining options including traditional American, Russian, classic Italian, Mexican, Asian, kosher and much more.

CHICAGO'S NORTH SHORE CVB

Day 2

Caryn Shulman cshulman@cnscvb.com 847-763-0011, ext. 25 VisitChicagoNorthShore.com 76 June 2015

Morning: Chicago’s North Shore is home to some of the most stunning shopping centers in the Midwest including Westfield Old Orchard, an open­air, upscale shopping center with gorgeous landscaping and over 170 specialty stores including retail giants Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor. This spectacular outdoor mall features beautiful gardens, landscaped walkways, sparkling fountains and children's play areas. For even more TourItineraries.com

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Racine, Milwaukee, Lake Geneva, Madison, Spring Green, Prairie du Chien & Dickeyville, Wisconsin

The Best of Wisconsin Art & Architecture our group will witness some eye-popping buildings and outstanding art museums on this four-day cultural odyssey that starts on the shores of Lake Michigan and ends on the Mississippi River.

Highlights include the Racine Art Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, the Ten Chimneys estate of Broadway legends Lunt and Fontanne, a Lake Geneva cruise and one of Wisconsin’s most visited attractions, The House on the Rock in Spring Green.

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Day 1 A drive along the Eastern Shores of Wisconsin will bring you to Racine to visit the largest commercial and residential buildings designed by world­renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. These free tours feature the SC Johnson headquarters campus including the newly opened Research Tower.

Opening this year to the public is Wingspread, the home of the Johnson family. Head to downtown Racine for a visit to the Racine Art Museum, which is North America's largest contemporary craft museum, with nearly 9,000 objects in the permanent collection.

Its focus is on work from internationally recognized artists in wood, glass, metal, fiber/fabric and clay, as well as painting, sculpture and works on paper.

Day 2

CIRCLE WISCONSIN

Wendy Dobrzynski wendy@circlewisconsin.com 414-545-1100 CircleWisconsin.com

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Head into Milwaukee to view the Santiago Calatrava­ designed Milwaukee Art Museum with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. Enjoy a visit to the Grohmann Museum “Man at Work” collection, the largest collection of industrial art in the world. With more than 1,000 paintings and sculptures representing the evolution of human work, your guests are sure to identify with several pieces in the collection.

Head west for a tour of Ten Chimneys, the estate lovingly created by Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Guests are welcomed into the Lunts' extraordinary home without the fuss of ropes or barriers. Tours of Ten Chimneys not only celebrate the one­of­a­kind collection the Lunts amassed during their lifetimes, but also honor the values found in every corner of their lives, both on the stage and in the house they called home for more than half a century. Later this afternoon enjoy a cruise on Lake Geneva to marvel at the estates TourItineraries.com

once occupied by the turn­of­the­20th­century Chicago industrialists. Take the time to visit Black Point Estate, one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture, and view one of the most intact collections of Victorian furnishings in the Midwest.

Day 3 Start your day in Madison with a visit to Monona Terrace on the shores of Lake Monona. Based on designs by Frank Lloyd Wright, this dramatic building offers sweeping views of the lake. Head to Spring Green for a visit to one of the most unique attractions in Wisconsin, The House on the Rock.

Designed by Alex Jordan, it features hundreds of eclectic displays and collections ranging from automobiles to dollhouses and everything in between. You don’t want to miss the beautiful sight of the world’s largest carousel inside the building.

Day 4 Head to the Great River Road and travel along the Mississippi River to Prairie du Chien for a visit to Villa Louis. Experience Victorian life during the 19th century as you visit the estate of one of Wisconsin's most prosperous families. As you leave Wisconsin, you won’t want to miss an interesting stop at the Dickeyville Grotto and Shrines, which are the works of Father Matthias Wernerus. His handiwork in stone, built from 1925­1930, is dedicated to the unity of two great American ideals­­love of God and love of country. These religious and patriotic shrines created from stone, mortar and brightly colored objects were constructed without the use of blue­ prints.

June 2015 77

Geneva, Illinois

The Charms of Geneva, Illinois eneva, a pocket of small-town charm in the greater Chicago area, offers group planners a variety of options, many of them focusing on food and history. Oneof-a-kind shops and dining spots, clustered in the downtown area, draw visitors from far and wide. Handson activities for tour groups include painting and cookie decorating.

Among other itinerary highlights: a tasting session at All Chocolate Kitchen and tours of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Fabyan Estate and Forest Preserve (with its villa, Japanese garden and Dutch windmill).

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Start your day with shopping for that something special on South Third Street, where many of the shops and eateries occupy former homes in this gracious, tree­lined neighborhood in downtown Geneva. The Little Traveler, a cornerstone of the shopping district since 1922, offers 36 rooms full of treasures. Take a guided tour and learn about the history of the house and the business, a one­of­a­ kind “department store” with a maze of rooms devoted to candy, gourmet foods, kitchen wares, toys, jewelry, women’s fashions and other carefully selected merchandise. Have lunch at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Cafe.

After breakfast at the Comfort Inn, head to Fabyan Estate and Forest Preserve, once the estate of an eccentric couple, Col. George and Nelle Fabyan. Tour the Frank Lloyd­designed villa they used as a summer retreat in the early 1900s and see the museum with their collections of Asian objects and natural history specimens. The preserve also has a Japanese Garden, an oasis with paths and ponds. Across the bridge over the Fox River stands a picturesque, 68­foot­tall Dutch windmill (built in the 1840s and moved to the estate around 1914). Next, take a tour and view displays at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, or FermiLab, America’s premier particle physics laboratory. FermiLab’s natural areas include prairie grass fields and a bison herd.

Continue your exploration of Third Street with a stop at the Geneva History Museum, where you may view their award­winning exhibits or arrange a historic walking tour.

Just north of downtown, visit The Party Kitchen and adjacent Penrose Brewery. Half of your group will sip on Penrose’s craft brews and receive a behind­the­scenes tour (everyone gets a souvenir glass) while the other half gets a hands­on lesson in decorating bakery­quality cookies under the super­ vision of Party Kitchen experts.

CITY OF GENEVA, ILLINOIS

Next, get your creative juices flowing with a session at The Chilled Palette, a “wine and canvas studio” where your instructor will walk you through the steps of replicating the featured painting while you enjoy a glass of wine. Your very own work of art will make a cherished memento of your trip to Geneva, Illinois.

Jamie Heflin jheflin@geneva.il.us 630-938-4555 Geneva.IL.us 78 June 2015

After lunch, head to downtown Geneva and your Chocolate 101 tasting course at All Chocolate Kitchen, the cafe and chocolate shop of chef Alain Roby, who has appeared on Martha Stewart, Food Network and TLC shows. You’ll get your fill of dark and creamy samples of handcrafted sweetness while training your palate to understand the subtle distinction between different types of cacao. From bean to bar, you will learn how chocolate is made.

Marvel at Roby’s life­size, all­chocolate sculptures (including a Chicago Blackhawks player, Neil Armstrong on the moon and a 23­foot­tall tree) and read the displays on the cookbook author and 2013 Pastry Chef of the Year. Bring home some freshly made truffles, chocolate bacon or the signature chocolate rum cannon balls.

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Effingham, Illinois

Effingham…We Can’t Wait to Show You Around ocated in Central Illinois where Interstate 57 meets Interstate 70, the City of Effingham has a little something for everyone. With 18 hotels and over 65 restaurants, Effingham provides the very best in service and hospitality. We welcome visitors to come spend a few days exploring what our vibrant city and surrounding communities have to offer.

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EFFINGHAM CVB

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For the Foodie

Great Grains & a Show

Effingham has multiple sites to see and products to experience for food lovers. With stores such as John Boos & Company and renowned restaurants like Firefly Grill, Effingham is sure to please even the toughest food critic.

Another culinary gem located in the heart of Effingham, Hodgson Mill is a company that focuses on your health. Hodgson Mill is a family­owned company with more than 125 years experience in producing their one­of­a­kind products. They focus on producing delicious stone­ground, whole­grain and organic foods made from premium quality whole grain, including flours, corn meals, cereals, baking mixes, pastas and more. Since 1882, their family of employees has been grinding 100% whole grain to create wholesome, naturally healthy food ­ with no artificial preservatives, additives or colorings.

Visit their website at www.hodgsonmill.com. End the day with a show at the Effingham Performance Center. This is a 1,564­seat theater that hosts 40 performances a year. Local, regional and national acts are scheduled to perform, with categories including country, pop/Top 40, contemporary Christian, comedy, jazz, dance, classical and bluegrass.

Several nationally recognized performers will take the stage during the theater’s fourth season. For more information, visit www.theepc.org.

Start the day out by making your way to John Boos & Company to see what all the hype is about. With celebrity chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali using cutting boards and butcher blocks from this plant, guests certainly will want an up close look at Boos Butcher Blocks. John Boos and Company is the oldest industry in Effingham and has been in business continuously since 1887. The company has four dry kilns that will dry up to 210,000 board feet of lumber on a continual basis. Visit www.johnboos.com for more information.

After visiting John Boos, have dinner on a John Boos table at a one­of­a­kind restaurant. Firefly Grill in Effingham is much more than just a restaurant; it is a culinary experience that brings thousands of people each year to the Effingham community. Firefly Grill has been recognized in several publications including Chicago Tribune, Bon Appetit and the St. Louis Post for its unique atmosphere and efforts to go green.

Firefly Grill offers an unforgettable experience for travelers. Groups are invited to explore the gardens where food is grown for the restaurant, participate in demonstrations and spend time relaxing on the beautiful grounds. For more information, visit www.ffgrill.com.

Day 3 Enjoy Great Wine with a Tuscan Feel Spend your last day in Effingham relaxing while enjoying some great wine. Tuscan Hills Winery focuses on offering exceptional quality wines. They offer wine tastings daily and host a number of meet­ ings, parties and special events year round. They also feature live music every Friday night. All of Tuscan Hills’ current wines (white, reds and roses/blushes) are blends for added complexity and interest. The full range of wine styles and sweetness levels is covered, providing something for every guest. For more information, visit www.effinghamwinery.com.

Jodi Thoele thoelej@ci.effingham.il.us 217-342-5305 or 800-772-0750 VisitEffinghamil.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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June 2015 79

Columbus, Ohio

Hills, Hops & Home Teams iscover the rich sports heritage of Ohio’s capital city.

Tour famed Ohio Stadium, visit the place paying homage to golf legend and Columbus native Jack Nicklaus, and get pumped at a professional soccer, hockey, or baseball game. Be sure to save room for one of Columbus’ many craft brew options.

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Day 1 Morning: Start your day with a tour of the famed Ohio Stadium, the fourth largest football facility in the nation. Sit in the press box, stroll through the suites and sport your best O­H­I­O on the 50­yard line. Then, tour the nearby Jack Nicklaus Museum, which pays homage to the golf legend himself as well as the history of the game.

Lunch: Enjoy a laid­back American lunch at Barley’s Brewing Company, known for its selection of craft beers. This is one of more than 20 stops on the Columbus Ale Trail so be sure to collect a stamp.

Afternoon: Drink craftily at one of many local micro­breweries. Trek the Columbus Ale Trail at Wolfe's Ridge Brewing, The Land­Grant Brewing Company, Zauber Brewing and more.

Evening: Columbus is a sports lover’s city so catch a game to cheer on the team. Join the Columbus Crew SC (one of the first of 10 inaugural Major League Soccer clubs), Columbus Blue Jackets (of National Hockey League fame) or Columbus Clippers (Triple­A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) depending on the season.

gambling on slots as well as live bands. Or take in full­service Hollywood Casino Columbus with over 2,200 blockbuster slots, 70 table games and 36 tables of live poker. Groups won’t go hungry as both gaming venues offer a variety of dining options within a range of budgets.

Day 3 Morning: Grab breakfast downtown at the historic North Market, where you’ll be welcomed by the aroma of flowers, coffee, baked goods, fresh produce and meats. On Saturdays during growing season, venture outside for a farmers’ market on the plaza.

From June through October, be sure to stop by on Sunday for Market Flea where local artisans, vintage sellers, furniture makers and jewelers congregate on the plaza.

As you head out of Ohio’s capital city, get into the action in Hocking Hills, an adventure travel desti­ nation where rafting, canoeing, mountain biking and ziplining enthusiasts all get a thrill.

Day 2 EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS

Tourism Department tours@experiencecolumbus.com 800-354-2657 ExperienceColumbus.com/tours 80 June 2015

Morning: After breakfast at your hotel, hit the links at one of Columbus’ 50+ golf courses. Forecast too chilly? Head to Black Wing Shooting Center, Ohio’s five­star­rated shooting clubhouse and one of the largest firearm pro shops in the state.

Lunch: Rusty Bucket Tavern & Restaurant welcomes you to the friendly eatery and hangout spot founded in Columbus.

Evening: Test your luck at Scioto Downs Racino, a live harness horse­racing venue offering 24­hour TourItineraries.com

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Candle Lab

What was Ohio like in the 1950s?

The Kitchen

How do you throw an authentic festa italiana?

From exploring charming neighborhoods to sampling old-country flavors, wines and more, Columbus is full of unforgettable hands-on experiences perfect for groups of all sizes. Start planning your Columbus visit today at experiencecolumbus.com/tours or call 800-354-2657.

Ohio Historical Center

How does a 200-yearold letterpress work?

Igloo Letterpress

Krema Nut Company

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

A Tale of Twin Cities he ultimate MinneapolisSt. Paul history tour starts here.

The history books say that if the mighty Mississippi River hadn’t strategically sliced Minnesota, the state would have given birth to only one major city in the mid-1800s.

Instead, she had twins: St. Paul and Minneapolis. Learn how they grew into the unique places they are today on this eye-opening three-day itinerary.

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St. Paul Highlights

Minneapolis Highlights

Morning: As the older of the two cities, it’s only fair to start in St. Paul. Spend the morning exploring what makes the capital city tick—from stately Summit Avenue with its architectural, historical and literary treasures, to lovely downtown with its mix of old and new. Stops along the way include the James J. Hill House. Its rugged stone, massive scale, fine detail and ingenious mechanical systems recall the powerful presence of Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway, who put St. Paul on the map. Guides lead tours that help you imagine family and servant life in the Gilded Age mansion. Completed in 1891, the red sandstone residence was the setting of the public and private lives of the Hill family. A spacious, two­ story, sky­lit art gallery features changing exhibits of Minnesota art and artists.

Morning: A fitting start to the day is the Mill City Museum, which re­enacts the history of how Minneapolis became the country’s premier flour milling city. Perched along the banks of the Mississippi River and built inside the ruins of what was once the world’s largest flour mill, the museum offers Flour Tower, an eight­story elevator ride where the mill’s history unfolds as you go from floor to floor.

Learn about the explosive end to the mill, visit the Baking Lab and follow the General Mills life of Betty Crocker.

Afternoon: Enjoy lunch at Cafe Minnesota, inside the impressive Minnesota History Center, where you’ll be wowed by the “Then Now Wow” exhibit.

Explore the state’s history in the prairies, forests and cities, interacting with the people and animals who have made their homes here. At the exhibit, you can ride a streetcar and peek out the windows as different times and places go by; descend under­ ground into an Iron Range mine and drill the ore; sit in a modern tipi and learn about Dakota history and culture; and visit a pioneer family and imagine what life was like in an 1870s sod house.

EXPLORE MINNESOTA

Continue your time travel as you pass in front of the 1906 Cass Gilbert­designed State Capitol building, with its marble dome and gilded horses, before heading to the newly renovated Union Depot in downtown St. Paul. After a tour of the gangster haunts at Wabasha Street Caves, end the day with a sunset dinner on the Jonathan Padelford Riverboat.

Afternoon: A few miles away, stop at a Minneapolis castle for a New Nordic lunch at FIKA, the cafe in the American Swedish Institute, where your group will enjoy a meal featuring a variety of classic and modern dishes such as cucumber salad, Swedish meatballs and smörgås (an open­face sandwich). FIKA was voted to have “America’s Best Sandwiches” by Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2013. After lunch, take a docent­ led tour of the exquisite 33­room Turnblad Mansion.

View detailed wood carvings, sculpted ceilings and handcrafted Swedish tile stoves. Explore contempo­ rary art exhibits from the Nordic region.

Day 3 Shop till you drop at Mall of America Mall of America, the country’s largest entertainment and shopping complex, is located in suburban Bloomington just five minutes from the Minneapolis­ St. Paul International Airport. Devote a full day to your mall adventure. This retail mecca has more than 520 stores, plus the indoor amusement park Nickelodeon Universe, SeaLife Minnesota Aquarium, restaurants, nightclubs, movie theaters and special events.

Jessica Dodge jessica.dodge@state.mn.us 651-757-1873 ExploreMinnesota.com 82 June 2015

Up next, the Byzantine­style Lakewood Memorial Chapel at Lakewood Cemetery, featuring exquisite mosaic tile work, considered among the finest in the nation. Artists from Italy created more than 10 million pieces from marble, colored stone, and glass fused with gold and silver; installation of the tiles was completed in 1910.

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Kankakee County, Illinois

Historic Barn Quilts, Frank Lloyd Wright and More ocated just 60 miles south of Chicago, the Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomes group travelers to our community. You will find busloads of discoveries here. From a B. Harley Bradley House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, French Heritage Museum, Barn Quilt tour, Mystery Dinner Theatre, antique shops to a 4,000-acre state park. Groups can combine stops at different attractions to customize their personal itineraries.

Kankakee County is happy to share our hometown feeling.

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Day 1 Momence and Grant Park, IL Begin by exploring history, art and tradition on the Barn Quilt Tour where colorful quilt patterns are hand painted then displayed on historic barns and corn cribs in Kankakee County’s scenic countryside.

Request a step­on guide and custom route to make the most of this unique experience. Stop to stretch your legs in Historic Main Street Momence, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historic integrity and reflection of the character of the district. Take a break for lunch or have a wine tasting at Off the Vine. Complete the day at Sunrise Greenhouse, Inc., with more than 220,000 square feet of greenhouses and a two­acre display garden to inspire new ideas. Arrange to meet staff gardening experts that can provide you with guided tours and insightful tips to help your blooms be the brightest.

Riverview Historic District. Guided one­hour tours are available to learn more about how this property marks the beginning of Wright’s Prairie School Style period. Afterwards, enhance your experience at the Stable Gift Shop that offers a large array of Wright­ inspired items.

Day 2 Kankakee, IL KANKAKEE COUNTY CVB

Vicki Layhew sales@visitkankakeecounty.com 800-747-4837 VisitKankakeeCounty.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Wind down the Barn Quilt Tour on the east side of Kankakee County along the scenic Kankakee River.

Make your last stop of the tour the Kankakee County Historical Society Museum, where you can explore a Barn Quilt display up close and photograph historic buildings on the museum campus. Take advantage of the educational tours at the museum and see exhibits including items from three Illinois governors that came from Kankakee County and how Dairy Queen got its start. The museum shop features Barn Quilt items in addition to other gift items. After taking a break at one of the nearby unique eateries, it is a short drive to Frank Lloyd Wright’s B. Harley Bradley House, situated in the heart of the TourItineraries.com

June 2015 83

Barrington Hills, Crystal Lake, McHenry & Woodstock, Illinois

McHenry County: Fun Filled Days, Star Filled Nights ome to world-class attractions, fine dining, the arts, charming communities and endless outdoor recreation, McHenry County is a treasure to explore. Highlights include music, specialty shopping, special events and fine dining.

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Day 1 Start your day at The Sanfilippo Place de la Musique, known worldwide for its magnificent collections of beautifully restored antique music machines; phonographs; arcade and gambling machines; chandeliers; the world's largest restored theater pipe organ; the most spectacular European salon carousel in existence; street and tower clocks; and steam engines—all displayed within a breath­ taking French Second Empire setting.

Le Petit Marche will satisfy the hungriest traveler with a gourmet picnic lunch featuring specialty cheese from around the world.

VISIT McHENRY COUNTY

Stroll through historic Downtown Crystal Lake/ Main Street and shop ‘til you drop. Catch the latest in fashion at Where Did U Get That? or pick up a souvenir at Out of the Box. Marvin’s Toy Store, the place to purchase "future­friendly" toys that are kind to the earth and fun for the kid in everyone. Stop in Material Girl, filled with over 5,000 bolts of high quality fabric and the latest and greatest in sewing notions, buttons, books and patterns.

Off The Rails is a casual, family friendly Italian restaurant offering Italian food and scrumptious pizza. Dine in a rustic historic building among rail­ road motif and historic Woodstock imagery.

Tammy Townsend Kise tammy@visitmchenrycounty.com 815-893-6280 VisitMcHenryCounty.com

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August. Indulge in intimate concert performances at the Woodstock Mozart Festival featuring a superb orchestra and world class artists at the Woodstock Opera House.

Day 2 Wake up to Brunch Café in McHenry. You’ll find plenty of breakfast basics here, but try a decadent twist on the regulars, such as the stuffed French toast, blueberry bliss cakes and berry explosion waffle.

Explore more of McHenry’s unique shops including The Black Orchid Boutique, where you will find one­of­a­kind local artist designs; White River Junction, home to new and different home décor; or learn to dress upscale for less at the Cottage Boutique.

Lift your dining experience to a new level at Jameson’s Original Charhouse in Crystal Lake.

Select from one of their Black Angus steaks or baby back ribs to satisfy your taste buds in a memorable dining experience.

Lakeside Legacy Arts Park welcomes you to their nightly Blues Jams in the Listening Room. Amateur and professional musicians perform, and even encourage crowd participation, which makes for an unexpected and exciting experience.

The city of Woodstock has become the hottest destination for live music in McHenry County. Jazz on the Square continues the tradition by offering live jazz performances in addition to special events such as the annual Woodstock Jazz Festival in TourItineraries.com

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Western Nebraska

Western Nebraska’s Unique Stops, One-of-a-Kinds and Amazing Stories estern Nebraska is full of unique and special treasures and places. Take a walk off the beaten path in search of some of the region’s more quirky and whimsical destinations. Listen to the many amazing stories you’ll hear along the way. Western Nebraska truly is a one-of-a-kind place, and you’ll see all that and much more on a tour that will take you out of the ordinary.

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Morning: Start your Nebraska one­of­a­kind tour at a unique private home. Located in a former Atlas E Missile site, Kimball’s only underground house (allow 1 hour) has a 47­ton “garage door” and a 120­foot­long access hallway. The owners tell you how they make such a massive space livable.

Morning: After breakfast, depart for Alliance along the Gold Rush Scenic Byway to visit Carhenge (allow 45 minutes), an exact replica of England’s famous Stonehenge built with old cars instead of stones. Also tour the Knight Museum & Sandhills Center (allow 1 hour), which features exhibits on pioneer, Native American and railroad history.

Enjoy a leisurely ride along the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway through the Nebraska Sandhills and stop for lunch at Whisperin Angel Inn or Hyannis Hotel (allow 1 hour) in Hyannis.

Afternoon: Head to Sidney for lunch and Cabela’s (allow 1 hour) flagship store. The showroom of the world’s largest outdoor outfitter features quality animal displays in realistic re­creations of their natural habitats. Depart for Bayard and stand at the base of Chimney Rock, the most recognized landmark along the Oregon, California and Mormon trails. Visit Chimney Rock National Historic Site and Visitors Center (allow 1.5 hours) to view exhibits highlighting the pioneer experience.

Day 2 Morning: After breakfast, explore Scotts Bluff National Monument (allow 1.5 hours), a prominent landmark along the Oregon and Mormon trails.

Wagon ruts are visible at the base, and the summit offers tremendous views of the North Platte River Valley, including Chimney Rock and Laramie Peak in Wyoming. Next head to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument (allow 75 minutes), which has paleontology exhibits and a collection of American Indian artifacts.

VISIT NEBRASKA

Micheal Collins micheal.collins@nebraska.gov 402-471-3795 VisitNebraska.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

Afternoon: Enjoy a delicious, made­from­scratch lunch at Harrison House in Harrison, built in 1886 by the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. Heading east along the Bridges to Buttes Scenic Byway to Crawford, your first stop is Hudson-Meng Research and Education Center (allow 1­1.5 hours), an archaeo­ logical site where 600 bison perished 10,000 years ago. Stop at High Plains Homestead for a cold sarsaparilla or piece of tasty homemade pie. Your final stop is the Museum of the Fur Trade (allow 1 hour) in Chadron.

TourItineraries.com

Afternoon: In Arthur, visit the Arthur County Courthouse and Jail and Pilgrim Holiness Church.

At 26 x 28 sq. ft., the courthouse is one of the smallest in the country and today houses a museum. The church is one of only a handful of buildings in the country made entirely out of baled rye straw (allow 45 minutes for both attractions). Continue through the Sandhills to Lake McConaughy and the Old West town of Ogallala, where you can experience the past at Front Street and Cowboy Museum (allow 1 hour), a recreation of a 1880s main street. During the summer, don’t miss The Crystal Palace Revue and Shoot Out. This is followed by a tour of the Petrified Wood and Art Gallery (allow 30 minutes).

After dinner, continue to North Platte to check into your hotel.

Day 4 Morning: First stop is Fort Cody Trading Post (allow 45 minutes), one of the state’s largest and most eclectic gift shops. Explore the Old West Museum in back and don’t miss the 20,000­piece, hand­carved animated miniature version of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Enjoy a 360­degree view of Union Pacific Railroad’s Bailey Yard (the world’s largest railroad classification yard) from atop the 8­story Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center (allow 1 hour). Next tour the home of “Buffalo Bill” Cody at Buffalo Bill State Historical Park (allow 2 hours). Before departing North Platte, enjoy lunch in one of its many fine restaurants.

June 2015 85

Owatonna, Minnesota

Back in Time Tour ee what Owatonna was like at the turn of the 20th century by visiting the majestic Louis Sullivan-designed bank and taking the Historic Walking Tour. Stop by State School Orphanage Museum, the only of its kind in the country, to learn about what life was like for the over 10,000 children who lived there. Next, enjoy an afternoon at the Village of Yesteryear, visiting a blacksmith shop, an old country school house and more. Finally, spend an afternoon in Mineral Springs Park where the Princess Owatonna statue resides.

S

Day 1

Day 3

Begin the afternoon by touring the majestic Louis Sullivan­designed National Farmers’ Bank in downtown Owatonna. Built from 1906­1908, the bank is widely recognized as one of the premier pieces of Prairie School Architecture in America.

The most famous of all Louis Sullivan's banks, it is considered "a jewel box of the prairie," featuring gold leaf arches, stained glass windows and nou­ veau baroque art designs.

Stroll through Mineral Springs Park and visit the Princess Owatonna statue. Legend has it that Chief Wabena heard of the curing waters called “minnewaucan.” His daughter, Princess Owatonna, was very frail so he moved his tribe to the site of the natural springs on the banks of Maple Creek.

Princess Owatonna drank from the springs daily and recovered her health. The true origin of the name Owatonna stems from the word Native Americans used for the river they called “Ouitunya,” which means “straight” and is today the major river in Steele County. Take a walk on the beautiful trails, or even play Frisbee golf.

Continue your trip back in time by embarking on the Historic Walking Tour. Encounter a blend of architectural styles from the late 1800s to early 1900s including historic homes, schools, churches and other buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visit downtown Owatonna, residential exteriors and Owatonna's murals throughout your walking tour. Grab a bite to eat at any of the fine downtown establishments, shop at many boutiques and listen to a summer concert in Central Park.

Day 2

VISIT OWATONNA

Katie Godfrey kgodfrey@owatonna.org 800-423-6466 VisitOwatonna.org 86 June 2015

Tour the State School Orphanage Museum and learn the story of Minnesota's orphans. Between 1886­1945, 10,635 neglected, abused and orphaned children passed through the State School, which is now the only known orphanage museum in the country. Take a guided tour, watch videos and hear stories as told by those who lived there.

Explore the Village of Yesteryear, a setting of 15 structures where you can experience what life was like in Owatonna and Steele County at the turn of the 20th century. The highlights include an 1868 mansion built by Mark Hill Dunnell; two log cabins; a railroad station and a caboose from Steele County dating back to the 1850s; general store/post office building; fire station; farm machinery building; blacksmith shop; country school house; and the St. Wenceslaus of Moravia Church, built in 1891.

Don’t leave without checking out the exhibit at the new Steele County History Center next door.

TourItineraries.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Where History, Harleys and Brewing Heritage Mean FUN ocated on beautiful Lake Michigan and renowned for its warm Midwest hospitality, Milwaukee is a destination that combines tradition with big-city entertainment and must-see attractions. Experience colorful neighborhoods, unique museums, historic mansions, a hotel/casino, brewery tours, gardens and a parade of music and ethnic festivals. The city’s German heritage is celebrated along Old World Third Street and excursion boats beckon for a cruise onto Lake Michigan. Make it Milwaukee for year-round fun. Itinerary highlights include Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Milwaukee Public Museum, Old World Wisconsin, Ten Chimneys and Pabst Mansion.

L

VISIT MILWAUKEE

Brian Hutchings bhutchings@milwaukee.org 414-287-4241 VisitMilwaukee.org LeisureGroupTravel.com

Day 1

Day 3

Nowhere is Milwaukee’s German heritage more evident than along cobblestoned Old World Third Street. Visit century­old Usinger’s Fine Sausage and be transported back to the days of old German butchers and then take in the delectable scents of the Spice House. Afterwards stroll the gas­lit streets of the turn­of­the­century Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum, and then head over to tour the historic North Point Lighthouse. The bustling Milwaukee Public Market in the Historic Third Ward serves up great choices for lunch, and afterwards continue to explore art galleries and unique specialty stores in the area.

Travel for a half hour and discover Old World Wisconsin, a premier outdoor museum of immigrant farm and rural life on 600 acres of wooded country­ side. Return to Milwaukee for dinner at Mader’s legendary German restaurant and be sure to order the apple strudel for dessert.

Milwaukee’s legendary beer heritage still thrives today. Start the day at the splendid, restored Pabst Mansion, built by Captain Frederick Pabst in the 1890s. Continue on to the retro­cool tour of Best Place at the historic Pabst Brewery and enjoy vintage beer commercials and a tour of the restored Pabst Brewery. Take in a tour at Lakefront Brewery, one of the top four brewery tours in the country according to Trip Advisor, now with a group­friendly restaurant featuring best­loved Milwaukee favorites like the fish fry, giant pretzels and cheese curds. Take a relaxing drive along Milwaukee’s lakefront to view Lake Michigan beaches and continue north on Lake Drive to view the mansions of the beer barons. Next make a stop at one of the Midwest's premier entertainment destinations, Potawatomi Hotel and Casino, offering the best in bingo, blackjack, craps, roulette, slot gaming and poker, and enjoy world­class dining and live entertainment.

Day 2 Explore the iconic lakeside Milwaukee Art Museum with its spectacular “wings” that open and close over a magnificent vaulted atrium. Enjoy the largest collection of industrial art in the world at the The Grohmann Museum, featuring paintings and sculptures depicting everything from farming to beer brewing, and lace making to early factories.

Traveling north, a stop at Kopps Custard for lunch is a must. Located 10 minutes further north, the Lynden Sculpture Garden offers a unique collection of more than 50 sculptures on 40 acres of park, lake and woodland. Head back downtown and unleash your inner rebel at the world’s only Harley-Davidson Museum, where the first Harley ever produced in 1903 leads a priceless display of 450 bikes, chronicling the history of this American legend and its role in pop culture. The museum’s two restaurants, Motor and Cafe Racer, serve up American classics for a great dining experience.

TourItineraries.com

Day 4 Today travel just 20 minutes west of Milwaukee to visit enchanting Ten Chimneys, the 60­acre estate of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, the most revered acting team in American theater history.

The main house and additional buildings are known for their theatrical decor and have remained virtually unchanged since the Lunts entertained famous actors like Helen Hayes and Laurence Olivier.

Head back to Milwaukee to have lunch at the Safe House, the world­famous spy stop where you can expect intrigue and surprises, group fun, gourmet sandwiches and entree spycials. Just outside, visit The Fonz statue in the theater district and take your picture with this life­size statue to keep as a memento of your visit to Milwaukee.

June 2015 87

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Family Fun in “The Waterpark Capital of The World! ” ®

isconsin Dells has long been a destination for group tours looking for exciting activities and incredible accommodations. With the largest concentration of waterparks in the world, Wisconsin Dells has earned its reputation as “The Waterpark Capital of the World!® ” From gorgeous scenery to exciting activities, scenic tours, live entertainment, dining, and shopping, Wisconsin Dells is one place everyone will agree on.

Itinerary highlights include the famous Tommy Bartlett water ski show, scenic boat tours on the Wisconsin River, magic shows, theatrical performances and Circus World.

W

WISCONSIN DELLS VCB

Tifani Jones tifani@wisdells.com 800-223-3557 MeetInTheDells.com

88 June 2015

Day 1

Day 3

They don’t call us “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®” for nothing. Here you’ll find Wisconsin’s largest indoor waterpark (Kalahari Waterpark Resort Convention Center), America’s largest out­ door waterpark (Noah’s Ark Waterpark), the nation’s largest combination indoor/outdoor water­ park resort (Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort), and the highest concentration of waterparks on the globe. And be sure not to miss out on the expansive indoor/outdoor waterparks at resorts like Chula Vista Resort and Mt. Olympus Theme Park & Water Park. In the Dells, you’ll find every kind of water ride and slide there is – from extreme plunge slides to racing speed slides, and massive wave pools to lazy rivers – more than 200 waterslides in all. There’s no doubt, when it comes to putting the biggest splash in family fun, no place compares to Wisconsin Dells.

Get in on the action at one of the Dells’ many inter­ active attractions. The Tommy Bartlett Exploratory – Interactive Science Center features over 150 hands­on exhibits, including the Original Russian Space Station MIR and NASA’s Mercury Space Capsule.

Or experience Wizard Quest, an interactive fantasy game where you search for clues to free Wizards.

Another family favorite is MagiQuest/ShadowQuest at Great Wolf Lodge, a full­size adventure game that sends participants straight into a mythical Renaissance world. Other interactive attractions include historic and eclectic museums, game centers and paint­it­yourself pottery shops.

Day 2 A great way to relax after a day at the waterparks is to take in one of the area’s entertaining live shows.

The famous Tommy Bartlett Show is a must. It’s been entertaining families – rain or shine – for over 60 years with its daredevil skiers, death­defying acrobats, and hilarious stage acts. Another favorite is the 90­minute, family­friendly magic extravagan­ za at the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater. Bringing more magic to the Dells is Jeremy Allen’s Grand Illusions Show. Other entertainment options include live music, lumberjack show, wildlife parks and the newly opened Palace Theater, which plays host to nationally recognized comedians, musical acts and Broadway­quality plays.

TourItineraries.com

Day 4 No Dells vacation would be complete without a land and water tour on one of the “Ducks,” amphibious WWII vehicles that showcase the beautiful sandstone bluffs that made the Dells famous. The photographs taken of these bluffs by 19th century photographer H.H. Bennett are what first brought visitors to this area over 150 years ago. Tour his 1875 photography studio, now a Wisconsin Historical site with 6,000 feet of interactive exhibits, at the H.H. Bennett Studio in downtown Dells. History buffs will also need to consider Circus World in nearby Baraboo a must see. Once home to the Ringling Bros. Circus, this Wisconsin Historical Site still has original Ringling Bros. buildings packed with memorabilia.

End your trip on a relaxing note at International Crane Foundation, a must for nature enthusiasts of all ages, as it’s the only place in the world to see all 15 species of cranes.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Scenic Trains Beckon Tour Groups

Essex, Connecticut

By Don Heimburger

Essex Steam Train

A

n unusual mix—a steam train ride and a connecting riverboat excursion—combines to add variety and interest to this rail-river duo.

The 12-mile roundtrip from Essex Station to Deep River and Haddam offers about an hour's adventure, while the rail-water combination lasts up to 2½ hours. The steam train is hauled by a 1920s locomotive or a newer Chinese-built #3025 engine, and the water portion of the journey is undertaken by a three-deck, Mississippistyle riverboat. (essexsteamtrain.com) Huntington, West Virginia

New River Train

T ozens of railroads across the country offer a trip down memory lane, providing sentimental journeys for young and old alike.

Here, for your group’s next outing, we highlight some of America’s best excursion trains. Relax and enjoy the ride. All aboard!

D

LeisureGroupTravel.com

raveling over former Chesapeake & Ohio main line trackage, this historic rail route runs from Huntington to Hinton, through breathtaking scenery and one of the newest national parklands. A highlight of the line is the New River Gorge Bridge, the largest arch bridge in the country. During the peak foliage season in October, trains fill fast. The New River foliage excursions this year run Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25, and provide an exclusive seat to enjoy the dramatic, colorful landscape the region has to offer. (newrivertrain.com) June 2015 89

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Mount Washington Cog Railway

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assengers experience a sense of adventure and history on the Mount Washington Cog Railway's three-hour guided train tour to the highest peak in the Northeast. At the 6,288-foot summit, visitors can revel in the spectacular panoramic view that spans the mountains and valleys of New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont, north into Canada, and east to the Atlantic Ocean. At the top, there's plenty to do, including exploring the Sherman Adams Visitors Center, Mount Washington Observatory's Weather Museum and the 1853 Tip Top House. (thecog.com)

Elkins and Durbin, West Virginia

Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad

T

hree Mountain Rail Group Adventures depart the two historic depots of Elkins and Durbin, April through December. Wilderness adventures include trips on the climate-controlled New Tygart Flyer and vintage Cheat Mountain Salamander into the heart of the mountains. Choose to chug along the Greenbrier River on the Durbin Rocket, the railroadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature steam-driven train. Multiple train options and food service plans are available for any size group, including an all-day, two-train outing with meals provided. (mountainrailwv.com)

New Freedom, Pennsylvania

October 17, 18, 24, & 25, 2015

New River

Train ®

EXCURSIONS Since 1966

From Huntington, WV to Hinton, WV and Return!

Four, 300 Mile Long Round Trip Excursions Through The Majestic & Historic, Grand Canyon of the East, The New River Gorge!

Coach: $149 • Heritage Coach: $169 • Premium: $259 Premium Service includes lounge car seating with breakfast and dinner.

Dome is Sold out for 2015! | Please visit our website for more information!

Sponsored by the...

Collis P. Huntington Railroad Historical Society, Inc. PO Box 393 | Huntington , WV 25708

866-639-7487 www.NewRiverTrain.com

Steam Into History

I

magine a real 1860s steam locomotive pulling an authentic Civil War-era steam train through the beautiful, rolling Pennsylvania hills that Abraham Lincoln gazed on as he rode on the Northern Central Railway to deliver his now famous Gettysburg Address. Engine #17, the William H. Simpson, is an American 4-4-0 typical of hundreds of locomotives used during that period. All roundtrip train excursions leave from and return to New Freedom. Many special events are planned for 2015. (steamintohistory.org)

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VTO

800

U R ISM. CO

M

-22 5 - 5 9 8 2

Complete Your Civil War Experience on the train (replica) that Lincoln rode to give the Gettysburg Address. Your experience will include Civil War Music, Reenactors and History.

717-942-2370 • www.steamintohistory.com

Top Summertime

New York

CRUISES

By Lauren Reiniger

CitySightseeing NY ince launching in 1986, CitySightseeing has carried more than 65 million passengers. Set sail from any of the locations in New York or New Jersey for priceless views of historical sights and monumental skyscrapers.

Charters can accommodate up to 299 guests, and you can choose from daytime cruises, tour packages or holiday specials. Interested in a private charter? CitySightseeing NY can customize cruises to fit your group needs. (citysightseeingnewyork.com)

S ummer days are longer and warmer, and the sun’s sparkling reflection on the water sets the stage for a relaxing way to sightsee—on a cruise. A harbor cruise, riverboat journey or tall ship adventure adds a heady dimension to any group itinerary and provides a refreshing alternative to the “road routine.”

Quad Cities CVB

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Quad Cities CVB

Moline, Illinois

Celebration Belle he Celebration Belle is the largest nongaming riverboat on the Upper Mississippi River, accommodating up to 750 passengers.

Enjoy four decks with two enclosed, climatecontrolled dining decks, two outer observation decks, an elevator, a gift shop, five fully stocked bars and two dance floors. There are several cruise options for groups—All-Day Cruises, 4-Hour Themed Cruises (Big Band, Classic Oldies, Fall Foliage), Captain’s Dinner Cruises and Special Events & Holiday Cruises, to name a few. (celebrationbelle.com)

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92 June 2015

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Cleveland

Goodtime III amily-owned and -operated since 1958, Cleveland’s largest excursion boat invites you aboard its quadruple-deck, 1,000-passenger luxury ship. Cruise Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River and see the panorama of Cleveland’s skyline and Flats area—all while learning the city’s history from an engaging tour guide. Other options include happy hour or dinner and dance cruises. Private charters with full catering can be arranged, or snacks and beverages are available from the ship’s galley, lounge and captain’s pub. (goodtime3.com)

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LeisureGroupTravel.com

June 2015 93

Marietta, Ohio

Valley Gem

LeClaire & Dubuque, Iowa

he Valley Gem cruises the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, day or night.

Along with variously themed public tours, it offers customized private cruises for groups of 40 or more. You choose the itinerary and the menu and the Valley Gem staff takes care of the rest. The sternwheeler features a cafe, restrooms and a climate-controlled lower deck.

The Valley Gem can cater a meal for your event or you can bring your own food. (valleygemsternwheeler.com)

Quad Cities CVB

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Riverboat Twilight iverboat Twilight offers one- or two-day cruises on the Mississippi River. The twoday cruise departs from and returns to LeClaire, just north of the Quad Cities. Explore this historic, charming river town that is home to antique and gift shops, the Buffalo Bill Museum and the TV show American Pickers. Dubuque is the overnight destination for two-day cruises and the departure point for one-day cruises. On two-day cruises in 2015, groups get admission to Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque. (riverboattwilight.com)

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Yorktown, Virginia

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

From the OKC Thunder to the OKC skyline. From our totally unique river watersports to the restaurants and nightlife of Bricktown, Midtown and the Arts District. National monuments and museums. And people whose welcoming spirit built the experience that will surround you.

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

—VisitOKC.com—

94 June 2015

Yorktown Sailing Charters earby Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown is a charming riverfront village where you can embark on a tall ship and set sail for adventure aboard Yorktown’s Schooners. The 49-passenger Alliance and 26-passenger Serenity offer daily, two-hour cruises on the York River. Sail past the battlefield where the United States won its independence; scan the water’s surface for dolphins; wave to working watermen; and even lend a hand to the crew. Private charters feature Yorktown history, Chesapeake Bay ecology, wine tasting or pirate themes. (sailyorktown.com)

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LeisureGroupTravel.com

Getting Down to Business at

a Ellen Klest

Midwest Marketplace

Midwest Marketplace, held in Madison’s Monona Terrace Convention Center, set the table for lively interchange between travel buyers and sellers.

Besides making valuable contacts, attendees at Circle Wisconsin’s regional trade show in Madison had time for sightseeing, evening fun and making new friends

T

our planners attending the second

panse of Lake Monona. An architectural

annual Midwest Marketplace in

gem known for its curvilinear forms and lake

late March came away with loads of

views, the hall is just two blocks from the

fresh itinerary ideas, thanks to many chances

State Capitol and downtown shopping.

to network informally and pre-scheduled,

Wendy Dobrzynski, executive director of

one-on-one appointments with leading travel

Circle Wisconsin, said, “Building on the suc-

suppliers from the region.

cess of our first show, we highlighted groupfriendly suppliers from around the Midwest

Circle Wisconsin, which has been promoting

as well as Circle Wisconsin members. The

group travel since 1985. Twenty-five travel

Ellen Klesta

The three-day event was sponsored by

planners representing 35 companies met with 78 suppliers.

The setting was Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed civic center that rises dramatically from the blue ex-

regional focus was certainly a plus, and the positive feedback from everyone has been

“Building on the success of our first show, we highlighted group-friendly suppliers from around the Midwest as well as Circle Wisconsin members. The regional focus was certainly a plus, and the positive feedback from everyone has been gratifying and spurs us to plan an even better show next year.”

gratifying and spurs us to plan an even better show next year.”

Suppliers, from DMOs to casino resorts, came from all states touching Wisconsin, plus the Dakotas and Indiana. About

—Wendy Dobrzynski, Executive Director of Circle Wisconsin LeisureGroupTravel.com

December June 2015 2014 95

CIRCLE WISCONSIN IS YOUR FIRST

Ellen Klesta

Celebrating Over 30 Years

Circle Wisconsin’s booth was a hotbed of activity at the second annual Midwest Marketplace.

half the suppliers were from Wisconsin.

portantly, the staff made those who attended

SOURCE FOR

Among those represented: North Dakota

feel welcome and added many social extras

Tourism, Explore Minnesota Tourism, Cen-

to make the off time more enjoyable."

PLANNING THAT

tral Iowa Tourism Region, Michigan’s Upper

Susan Yarolem, sales & marketing man-

Peninsula Travel Association, Chicago’s

ager, Celebration River Cruises, of Moline,

North Shore CVB and several Wisconsin

Illinois, said, “Attending the second annual

CVBs, including Fond du Lac, Fox Cities,

Midwest Marketplace was extremely bene-

Wisconsin Dells and Janesville. Attractions

ficial. Not only did I make new contacts

included Mall of America, Green Bay Pack-

through appointments and networking, but

ers, Potawatomi Casino and Resort, and

also reconnected with clients I may have not

Lake Geneva Cruise Line.

seen for a while. It was a success and I left

IDEAL,

FUN,

INTERESTING GROUP TOUR THAT

Midwest Marketplace attendees enjoyed

with booked business!”

EMBRACES TWO

an evening tour and reception at The

GREAT LAKES, A

Green and a Wisconsin sup-

Dakota Tourism, said, “Circle

per club-themed dinner with

Wisconsin Marketplace is an

MIGHTY RIVER AND

entertainment provided by

ideal place for B2B meetings

Walworth County Visitors Bu-

with qualified tour operators

EVERYTHING IN

reau featuring Mark & Gretch

BETWEEN.

Deanne Cunningham, CTIS, group

House on the Rock in Spring

travel marketing coordinator, North

and travel industry leaders. It’s

Hladish of Rosewood, a new entertainment venue opening soon.

A post-FAM to the Janesville area was followed by a performance of The Wizard of

all about generating new business and increasing awareness of our North Dakota partners’ products.”

Julie

Kronlage,

director

of

sales,

Oz at The Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort

Dubuque Area (Iowa) Convention & Visitors

Atkinson. Janesville tour highlights included

Bureau, remarked, “This year’s Circle Wis-

414.545.1100

the Lincoln-Tallman House (where Abraham

consin Midwest Marketplace proved to be

Lincoln was a weekend guest in 1859), the

another success. Of the planners in atten-

CIRCLEWISCONSIN.COM

Armory, Rotary Botanical Gardens and

dance, 46% of them were planners who had

MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc., the largest

never been to Dubuque or it had been more

producer of pheasants in North America.

than 10 years since they were last in the

CONTACT US AT

PROUD PARTNERS AND MEMBERS OF:

96 June 2015

Michael Th. Embrey, of FunME Events in

community. We walked away from the show

DeKalb, Illiniois, said, "I was extremely im-

with solid leads and from those leads, we

pressed with the opportunities that Midwest

have already booked three groups who are

Marketplace afforded the tour operators in

doing a three-day/two-night stay, giving us

attendance. It was great to network with

a great ROI for our investment in the mar-

unique vendors that do not always attend

ketplace. I am already looking forward to

some of the major travel shows. More im-

next year!” LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com

WELCOME TO A PLACE THAT MAKES MORE MEMORIES PER GALLON Bring your tour groups to a place that puts a sparkle in the eye and creates ear-to-ear smiles. A destination with more attractions and shows. More shopping. More arts and crafts. More mountain views. More down-home cooking. A town ďŹ lled with fun for anyone, any age.

Welcome to a detour from the ordinary.

PIGEONFORGETOURS.COM

1-800-285-7557

By Dave Bodle

O N MAR K ET I NG

Improving Your Trade Show and E-Newsletter Marketing orrecting trade show shortcom-

appointment without any

ings and a few tips for better

background prepared. On the

e-newsletters are on my agenda.

positive side 100 percent were present

“…Explained,” I may get ill. Just today

We all have grumpy and happy

at our scheduled appointment! Unfortu-

I received one with a subject line that

sides. Let’s see how mine play out with

nately, fewer than 20 percent actually

announced a kids club function this

today’s subjects.

followed up.

weekend. Really people, my kids are well

Trade Show Preparation

meetings that followed up. One supplier

if you continue sloppy e-newsletters, your efforts will be doomed.

C

©iStock.com/A-Digit

Hats off to the appointments and

past that level of involvement. I promise

It never ceases to amaze me how

shared my information with their public

poorly some buyers and sellers prepare

relations firm. A representative reached

for trade shows. How can you come

out to me and I now have a source to

engage the subscriber and eventually may

unprepared to talk? Profiles are in your

pursue an article. A few others followed up

turn them into prospects and customers.

trade show packet. It’s quite likely you

directly and provided specific information

E-newsletters should be a part of your

may have requested the appointment.

from our appointment. One supplier

marketing mix. Does your e-newsletter

Did you take a few minutes to research

called, reviewed our discussion and

program pass these three simple litmus

online?

asked if anything else was needed before

tests?

When done right, email newsletters

Granted, the majority of my appoint-

emailing me. The rest I simply haven’t

ments were with group sales personnel.

heard from. Guess who gets the cover-

Page” the focus of your e-newsletter?

However, regardless of your job title, 85

age.

Tell your subscriber what will be in the e-

percent of you did not come prepared.

The good news is you have a year to

Follow-up doesn’t have to be complicated. Instead of giving me a postcard

1. Is it clear on your “Subscribe

newsletter and how often they can expect to hear from you.

get ready! At your next trade show do

with your information, why not mail it to

some homework. Study the profiles.

me? One of the most successful group

content a 90 percent/10percent

Seeing an appointment with a journalist,

sales people I know used a postcard

balance? There’s only so much “selling”

get prepared. Involve your public relations/

mailed the next morning to recap a con-

a subscriber wants to hear.

marketing people. Have them prepare a

versation and assure the recipient their

list of suggested story ideas. Make certain

request would be met. Upon returning to

You really do need to rise above the inbox

a business card for the correct contact is

the office the follow-up was completed.

clutter. Do not be afraid of using humor.

included in the package.

Trade Show Follow-up Anytime you read a marketing article

Customers are seeking more engage-

3. Are your subject lines creative?

There are plenty of online sources that

ment from their suppliers. The trade

provide detailed direction into doing a

show experience provides that opportu-

results-oriented email newsletter. Check

nity, but only if you seize the opportunity.

them out and thanks for putting up with

on trends driving the future, you’ll see the words “transparency” and “engagement.”

2. Is your educational/promotional

Grumpy and Happy Dave.

Email Newsletter Observations

At the risk of oversimplification, both are

If I see one more subject line that

used when discussing customer relation-

reads, “Explore…,” This Week in…,” or

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

ships. Back in the day, if you told me I’d

Looking Ahead To Our

have an opportunity to vet a prospect, see them at a trade show and follow up with that prospect, I’d tell you that’s the triple crown of sales opportunity.

We know from the previous “Grumpy

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