2018 February LGT

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LEISURE FEBRUARY 2018

Tastes of New Orleans

GROUP TRAVEL

Festive culinary experiences await group travelers

East Coast Craft Distilleries

Savoring small-batch spirits from Maine to New Jersey

Taking a Bite Out of Ohio

Mouthwatering adventures in the state’s great cities

Guide to Inspiring Museums

A Premier Travel Media publication LeisureGroupTravel.com

America’s top treasure houses of art, history and science

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SI SITE INSPECTION

Explore 6 of the Best Beaches in St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra hen you think of Florida, beaches immediately pop into your head. It was, after all, the glorious beaches of St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra that first captivated Ponce de Leon nearly 500 years ago. Today, the 42 miles of pristine sandy coastlines make Florida’s Historic Coast® a renowned spot for beach getaways. If your group is planning a beach vacation, St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra has just the spot for your crew.

Whether you’re seeking a fun-in-the-sun friendly trip, a romantic escape or an active outdoorsy experience, you’ll find just the beach you need in St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra.

Not sure where to start? Here are six of the best beaches in St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra.

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Ponte Vedra Beach Located on Florida’s northeast coast, Ponte Vedra is a splendid resort town. Its immaculate beach complements the elegant lodging that lines the shore. But this beach is known for more than just luxury and relaxation—it holds historic significance, too. Ponce de Leon first stepped on the shores of Florida just south of Ponte Vedra Beach. The statue and descriptive panels on the boardwalk overlook describe the beach as the point where Ponce de Leon sighted land the day before coming ashore.

If you love nature and adventure, visit the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM Reserve) located alongside Ponte Vedra Beach. It features 73,000 acres of salt marsh and mangrove tidal wetlands and 10 miles of hiking trails. It’s 2

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the perfect spot to kayak, hike and discover the abundance of wildlife.

Florida is synonymous with beaches. Now the seaside escapes on Florida’s Historic Coast® attract visitors from all over the world. perfect spot to take in the beach views, and the seaside restaurants are easily accessible to satisfy your food cravings.

Vilano Beach Surfers and kite boarders will find heaven at this popular beach destination. The coquina sands and a near-shore break create perfect conditions for ocean thrillseekers. If you prefer to stay out of the water, the beach provides plenty of spots to bask in the sun, or you can explore the small beach town where there’s plenty of shopping, delicious restaurants and cozy beach cottages you can rent.

Butler Beach Despite being filled with private homes and condos, Butler Beach offers several access points, making it easy for the public to enjoy. Spend the day relaxing on the sand and splashing in the waves or venture over to the surrounding park to check out the dune ecosystem. See if you can spot the endangered Anastasia Island beach mouse and the gopher tortoise.

Anastasia State Park Admired as one of the region’s most beautiful beaches, Anastasia State Park offers beachgoers a mixture of relaxing coastline and lively adventure. Traverse the colorful salt marsh before crossing the sand dunes to the white quartz beach. There you can walk on the protected sands and take in the fresh salt sea air. Take a hike on the nature trail at the state park or enjoy a leisurely bike ride. Spend the day fishing, boating or kicking back with a good book.

St. Augustine Beach This is one of the best beaches for a group vacation. Accommodations line the shore, from familiar hotel chains to condominiums to boutique establishments. You can spend the whole day on the beach enjoying different activities such as beach volleyball, surfing and skim boarding. The fishing pier is the

Crescent Beach If you’re a scenery buff, then you must visit Crescent Beach. Situated on Anastasia Island, the beach is named for the shoreline’s natural crescent moon shape. Beachgoers love walking the miles of broad white sand and taking in the scenic and unspoiled area.

You’ll get some Instagram-worthy shots at this St. Augustine beach.

Florida’s Historic Coast® offers miles of stunning beaches. No matter which one you choose to visit for your group vacation, you’re sure to find the paradise you’re seeking. You really can’t go wrong with any of these St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra beaches.

ST. AUGUSTINE, PONTE VEDRA & THE BEACHES VCB Evelyn Vazquez, Director of Leisure Sales 800-418-7529, ext. 2011 • EVazquez@FloridasHistoricCoast.com

FHCTourandTravel.com >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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They conquered a 350-year-old fort covered in coquina shells. They climbed 219 steps to the top of a historic lighthouse. Naturally, they had worked up an appetite. Discover new challenges in one of America’s oldest cities. Only on Florida’s Historic Coast®, where history is not the same old story.

FHCTourAndTravel.com | 800-418-7529, ext. 2011

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CONTENTS

February 2018 • Vol. 28, No. 1

LEISURE GROUP TRAVEL

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FeatUres GUIDE TO INSPIRING MUSEUMS Show your travelers different time periods and other worlds

DestiNatiONs

22 24 27 38 40 42 45 48 51

CENTRAL URBAN OHIO FOOD TOURS BY MILES DOBIS Savor the flavors of Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND A BITE TO EAT BY RANDY MINK Ohio museum packages pair admission with a dining experience OHIO’S OLD COUNTRY CUISINE BY MILES DOBIS Sample history and heritage along with tasty treats

SOUTH NEW ORLEANS’ FOOD CULTURE BY JASON PAHA Diverse and delectable options await visitors to the Big Easy 5 NEW ORLEANS FOOD FESTIVALS BY DAVE BODLE Round out your itinerary with these annual celebrations MEALTIME SERENADES BY RANDY MINK Music enlivens New Orleans’ most entertaining eateries

EAST EAST COAST CRAFT DISTILLERIES BY MILES DOBIS Sample small-batch spirits from Maine to New Jersey

WEST BREWING UP THE BEST IN THE WEST BY SUE ARKO Craft beer in California, Arizona, Washington and Oregon

INT’L CULINARY EXPERIENCES IN COSTA RICA BY LANCE HARRELL Five tempting restaurants in the capital city of San Jose

Latest & Greatest 18 31 44 50

CENTRAL SOUTH EAST WEST

COLUMNs

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ON MY MIND

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ON TOUR

February 2018

BY

BY

JEFF GAYDUK

MARTY SARBEY DE SOUTO, CTC >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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40 Royal Street Stroll, New Orleans Wine & Food Experience

miSSouri tour guide What’S inSide: he Missouri Tour Guide has multiple articles on groupfriendly destinations in the Show Me State. If you are considering taking your group through this diverse and beautiful state, our Missouri Tour Guide is your essential first step in planning an unforgettable experience.

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4 Featured Articles: Magnificent Makeover, 6 Places to Quench Your Thirst in Missouri, 3 Behind the Scenes Tour Options in Branson, Beautiful Spaces and Famous Faces 2 Sample Itineraries: Central Missouri – Postcards from the Heartland, Kansas City – Show Me the Money

Check out the online version or download a print copy at: LeisureGroupTravel.com/2018-Missouri-Tour-Guide

only on leiSuregrouptravel.com Still hungry for more great content?

Check out our recent Online Exclusives at bit.ly/2uK063d • 6 Snow-Based Activities for Group Travelers • 12 Savory LA Food Trucks to Sample • A Touch of Morocco Just Steps from Times Square

et weekly digests of all the best online content with InSite, our free Friday e-newsletter, at: bit.ly/2nJBpje

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LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

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ON THE COVER: Seafood gumbo, a New Orleans favorite.

(Courtesy Joyce Bracey/New Orleans CVB)

February 2018

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ON

MY MIND

Vol. 28, No. 1 February 2018

By Jeffrey Gayduk

Editorial & Advertising Office

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

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk

Looking to the Year Ahead ack in 1994, a meetings magazine publisher named George Lowden saw an opportunity. Having sold his magazine titles a few years prior, he got a little itchy.

Investigating various travel markets, he saw an opportunity in the underserved group leader marketplace and started a magazine titled Senior Group Travel.

I met George on a trip to Ireland in 1999.

He was a traveling journalist onboard a bank travel club leader fam I was hosting.

We immediately hit it off and shared a few Guinnesses during that tour. Our relationship blossomed with the rosy article he wrote upon returning to the States, and it produced for our tour company new group bookings from his readers.

Taking a page directly out of the Victor Kiam playbook, I liked the product so much I bought the company!

While I can’t say the rest is history, it is certainly a work in progress. We put a lot of effort into making Leisure Group Travel the best magazine, website and e-newsletter in the group travel marketplace and are always refining our approach and coverage. Here are a few things we have in store for 2018.

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LATEST & GREATEST There’s a lot of tourism developments happening around the country and across the globe. As a travel planner it’s tough keeping up with the flurry of information. Seeking to enhance our news coverage, we’ve created regional sections titled Latest & Greatest that feature items culled from hundreds of press releases, newsletters and personal visits by our editorial team. This section is both in the print magazine and on the home page of LeisureGroupTravel.com.

SPECIAL SECTIONS AND CUSTOM PUBLISHING At the same time, we’re striving to create more in-depth content on important destinations. Our custom publishing team has created brand new travel guides for Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana, all launched within the past 60 days. These stand-alone publications provide in-depth destination articles, sample itineraries and travel tips that make new trip planning a cinch.

In-magazine we are enhancing our special section coverage. This month we promote the culinary prowess of New Orleans and Ohio with a series of focused articles on different aspects of the culinary experience in each destination. Watch for more of these as the year progresses.

DON’T FORGET TO VISIT US ONLINE There’s always something new at LeisureGroupTravel.com! Everything from the print magazine is repurposed in full digital format, plus regular columns on the cruise market, interviews, itineraries and Site InSpections – it’s where your online planning should start.

2018 marks the 23rd consecutive year that our magazine has been in circulation. From rather humble beginnings it has developed into the best read magazine and website in the industry. This obviously is on you – you’re why we’re here, doing what we’re doing.

Thank you for picking up the first edition of Leisure Group Travel for 2018! Much success in the coming year,

Jeff Gayduk Publisher

jeff@ptmgroups.com

Associate Publisher – Dave Bodle

dave@ptmgroups.com

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com Associate Editor – Jason Paha jason@ptmgroups.com Staff Writer – Miles Dobis miles@ptmgroups.com Editorial Coordinator – Danielle Golab danielle@ptmgroups.com

Chief Development Officer – Lance Harrell

lance@ptmgroups.com

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

Vice President – Theresa O’Rourke Midwest, Frontier/Mountain West P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 theresa@ptmgroups.com

Regional Business Development Managers Midwest, Mid-Atlantic/New England – Tom Tobiason P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 tom@ptmgroups.com

South/West Coast – Cheryl Rash P 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274 cheryl@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

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publication

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

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THE ONLY THING MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN SEEING THEM AT TOP SPEED IS SEEING THEM SITTING STILL. Standing amidst the largest motorcycle collection in the world, it’s impossible not to feel the energy in the room. More than 1,600 vintage and modern bikes and race cars from all over the world, dating back to 1904, all housed in a towering, awe-inspiring museum, are proof of a city that’s moving forward. Even when the exhibits aren’t. Right here in Birmingham.

inbirmingham.com | # INB irmingham | 800 - 458 - 8085

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ON

TOUR

Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTC

often the most difficult type of travel project to ensure success and can involve financial risk on your part.

Princess Cruises

A relaxing trip to the Caribbean is possible with advance planning.

Are You Too Late With This Year ’s Offerings? ere we are in February already. Are you all set for your groups’ travel schedule for the year? If not, it’s high time you schedule, book, price and announce your trips if you hope to have a successful year.

Waiting until too late not only means you probably won’t be able to get the space you need, it also means that your potential travelers may already have made plans and perhaps have decided to book with some other company or organization since they haven’t heard from you. Many organizations require more than one trip a year, and these could vary: a cruise, a long-weekend away, a post-convention trip, an adventure trip for the whole family, a one-country-in-depth learning vacation and so on.

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MORE HAND-HOLDING REQUIRED If you are handling just one major client organization and operating several different travel projects for them throughout the year, 8

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that’s one thing. But if, on the other hand, you’re handing half a dozen different client organizations, that’s something else totally.

A client organization that has had you arrange their annual trip in the past is familiar with your modus operandi, trusts you and is often easier to work with because they know what to expect and may not be as demanding.

A new account, however, may require much more hand holding, be more demanding and require more of your time and attention if you are to have a successful outcome.

You would hope that new accounts can be converted into annual clients, thus building your client base, assuring their ongoing business and, hopefully, their referrals to other new accounts.

Maybe you’re not planning to operate a trip specifically for an organization but rather are hoping to put a trip together and then offer it to the public at-large through newspaper or magazine advertising. This is

WHAT KIND OF TRIPS SHOULD YOU OFFER? You’ll want to offer trips that will appeal to your projected clientele. Some trips like a short Caribbean cruise would be appropriate for those who may not have cruised previously and who are limited in their budget. A motorcoach tour of Europe— maybe 10 to 12 days—may appeal to the client who has not been to Europe previously and is on a medium budget.

You’ll want to offer trips that you feel comfortable operating. If you have no experience with yacht trips on the Dalmatian Coast, for heaven’s sake don’t try it unless you have access to a top-notch operator who specializes in that part of the world. I find it’s a lot easier if you offer what you know and what you feel comfortable with.

UPFRONT MONIES Another pitfall to avoid is to sign on to offer a trip for which you or your company must put up large non-refundable deposits.

Many hotels, coach companies and other suppliers may require a deposit if they are to confirm space for your group. There are two issues here. One is cash flow; will you or the company you represent put up the deposit?

The second issue is that if the trip doesn’t materialize, can you get the deposit back?

The key word here is “non-refundable.” In many cases, there will be no problem IF you cancel the space within the stipulated cancellation date requirements.

GET GOING! So it’s time to get going and put up for sale your 2018 program. It’s also time to think about announcing early 2019 plans so you don’t get caught in a “late offering crunch” next year.

Happy planning! LGT Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) with a long history in the travel/tourism industry. She has been a tour operator, worldwide trip leader, college tourism instructor and textbook author. Her consulting firm is Sarbey Associates (sarbeyassociates.com).

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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OUR BOARDWALK There’s a reason they call Atlantic City’s Boardwalk world-famous. From shopping and dining to amusements and attractions, you’ll find fun-filled treasures and wonders all along the wooden way.

Atlantic City invites you to create memories and stories that will last a lifetime.

y r o t S r u o

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Heather Colache is available at 609-449-7151 or hcolache@meetac.com to plan your stroll down the Boardwalk and discover all the entertaining ways to Experience Atlantic City.

TourAtlanticCity.com

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GUIDE TO

INSPIRING

MUSEUMS

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a Nashville favorite.

Museums are a favorite among travelers, and why wouldn’t they be? They provide a journey through different time periods and other worlds. They can take you into the Wild West, the Oval Office and medieval times without ever leaving the building. Museums are the perfect addition to any group itinerary. No matter the age and background of your group, the following museums will captivate everyone through their one-of-a-kind artifacts, engaging art and interactive features.

BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST he Buffalo Bill Center of the West is the largest history, art, and nature museum between Minneapolis and the West Coast.

The seven-acre facility typically leaves visitors stunned as they venture inside. With nearly 200,000 visitors annually, the center is the most popular cultural attraction in the Yellowstone National Park region. The five museums boast priceless treasures related to the art, history, culture and nature of the American West.

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(centerofthewest.org)

Cody, Wyoming

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM he Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a hallmark of Nashville’s musical heritage. Located downtown, the museum is equipped to handle multi-bus arrivals and offers self-guided tours and pre-arranged private programs. Visitors will enjoy on-site eateries and nearby attractions such as the museum’s own Hatch Show Print. The museum also operates Historic RCA Studio B, which is situated on famed Music Row. Private studio tours and recording packages are available as group-only options.

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(countrymusichalloffame.org)

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INSPIRING MUSEUMS

CHARLES HOSMER MORSE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART he Morse Museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933).

Exhibits include Tiffany’s jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass lamps and windows, his chapel interior from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, and art and architectural objects from his Long Island country estate— Laurelton Hall. The museum’s holdings also include American art pottery, turn-of-the-20th-century American paintings, graphics and decorative art. (morsemuseum.org)

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Winter Park, Florida

RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY he Reagan Library is one of California’s most beautiful and unique destinations. Guests tour through the actual Air Force One that flew seven U.S. presidents, touch an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall and view a full-scale Oval Office replica. It’s also home to the President’s and Mrs. Reagan’s memorial site.

Docent-led tour group packages and tour meal packages available.

Don’t forget to inquire about special rotating exhibits.

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(reaganfoundation.org)

Simi Valley, California

FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL ocated at the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93, the Flight 93 National Memorial honors the crew members and passengers aboard the flight. Learn about the actions of the passengers and crew that prevented the hijackers from flying the plane to the planned target: Washington, D.C. Groups can admire the beautiful memorial wall and experience the story told through outdoor exhibits, cell phone tours and interpretive programming offered by park rangers. (flight93friends.org)

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Stoystown, Pennsylvania

PHILLIP AND PATRICIA FROST MUSEUM OF SCIENCE ring your group to Frost Science. Looking for an unforgettable field trip or group activity? Book a thrilling day of adventure and exploration at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Miami’s only planetarium, aquarium and science museum.

Guests will explore lively ecosystems, the human mind and body, the adventure of flight and the beginning of innovation and technology through interactive, fascinating exhibits. Be amazed at the 250-seat planetarium and the three-level aquarium.

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(frostscience.org) 12

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Miami, Florida >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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INSPIRING MUSEUMS

THE GETTYSBURG MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR xperience more than a history lesson—discover Gettysburg’s world-class museum at Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. Be engrossed in Civil War history as you travel passageways filled with one-of-a-kind artifacts, educational interactive exhibits and short films. Visitors of all ages are moved by stories of the Battle of Gettysburg and its significance to our nation’s history as well as perspectives from President Lincoln, Confederate and Union generals and soldiers, war correspondents and civilians. (gettysburgfoundation.org)

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Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART he Portland Museum of Art houses over 18,000 works of art, with artists ranging from Andy Warhol and Winslow Homer to Louise Nevelson and Claude Monet. The museum is proud to present noteworthy holdings of American, European and contemporary art. Iconic works from Maine highlight the deep artistic tradition of the state and its artists. The Docent Tour is ideal for groups of ten or more and is led by experts and art-lovers.

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(portlandmuseum.org)

Portland, Maine

SAINT LOUIS ART MUSEUM he Saint Louis Art Museum collects, presents, interprets and conserves works of art of the highest quality across time and cultures; educates, inspires discovery and elevates the human spirit; and preserves a legacy of artistic achievement for the people of St. Louis and the world. The museum is home to a collection of more than 33,000 works of art. Group visits are available. Discounted rates are available for groups of over 10 people. (slam.org)

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St. Louis, Missouri

THE MOB MUSEUM he Mob Museum, steps from Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, chronicles over 100 years of organized crime history through high-tech theater presentations, hundreds of artifacts and interactive exhibits. Private guided tours, audio tours, scavenger hunts, Mob Mystery games and more are also available.

Ranked among TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Museums in the Country.”

New in 2018 is “The Underground Prohibition,” a glimpse into a lost way of life. Enjoy a classic cocktail in the speakeasy.

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(themobmuseum.org)

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Tiffany at the

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

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

March 25–September 9, 2018 More than 1200 years ago, two ancient Egyptian cities were lost to the Mediterranean Sea. Their stories, along with stunning ancient religious, ceremonial, and commercial artifacts, are unveiled first in North America at the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Group visits Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more.

Reservations for groups must be received at least four weeks in advance.

Contact Madeline Perel at 314-655-5193 or madeline.perel@slam.org.

The bust of the colossal statue of the god Hapy has been strapped with webbings before being cautiously raised out of the water of Aboukir Bay, Egypt; IEASM Excavations; Photo: Christoph Gerigk © Franck Goddio / Hilti Foundation

slam.org/SunkenCities

#SunkenCities

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INSPIRING MUSEUMS

THE HUNTINGTON hat began in 1919 as Henry Huntington’s pursuit of his interests in reading, horticulture and the arts blossomed into one of the most varied museums in the United States. Visit the botanical gardens and wander through 120 rolling acres of rare flowers, idyllic ponds and breathtaking sculptures. Head to the library, where you’ll find rare works like Gutenberg’s Bible, then swing by the art galleries and enjoy pieces by American and European masters. (huntington.org)

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Discover The Huntington Group Tours Available | Pasadena Adjacent | huntington.org

San Marino, California

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Latest

& Greatest

centraL region

Nation’s First Veterans Memorial & Museum • Ohio

Indiana Lands 6-Day National Agritourism Convention • Indiana

Later this year, Columbus welcome the new National Veterans Memorial & Museum.

The 53,000-square-foot facility will be the first and only national museum in the United States dedicated to honoring veterans.

The National Veterans Memorial & Museum began with a vision of the late Senator John Glenn, who served as founding chairman. His vision was to create an experience that includes the foundation for the four pillars of the museum: honor, connect, inspire and educate.

Once open, it will take visitors on a narrative journey telling individual stories and shared experiences of veterans throughout history and pay tribute to the sacrifices of servicemen and women and their families.

The history will be presented through dynamic participatory experiences with photos, letters and personal effects, multimedia presentations and interactive exhibits. The museum and surrounding Memorial Grove will occupy a seven-acre site overlooking the Scioto River with views of the downtown skyline.

The nation’s foremost agritourism convention is coming to Indiana in 2019.

Hosted by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Hamilton County Tourism, the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association Convention will take place February 1-7, 2019. The event includes educational sessions, workshops, a business exchange and farm tours around the state.

Agritourism operators like u-pick fruit and vegetable farms, wineries, farmer’s markets, destination dairies and tree farms attend NAFDMA to get critical tools, tips and information to help them better market and grow their businesses.

“Given our rich agricultural heritage and the rise in demand for experiential travel among consumers, we recognize the tremendous growth potential of agritourism and believe our state is well-positioned to deliver unique farm-based and food-based experiences,” said Mark Newman, IOTD’s Executive Director. “Activities that bring authentic local flavor experiences and working landscape experiences to consumers are important to both of us.”

National Museum of Gospel Music

Gospel Music Shrine Coming to Chicago • Illinois Plans are in the works for the National Museum of Gospel Music, a $37.2 million project expected to open in September 2020 in Bronzeville, an African-American neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. The proposed site was once occupied by Pilgrim Baptist Church, known as the birthplace of gospel.

Blues musician Thomas A. Dorsey, the church’s music director beginning in the early 1930s, developed the style of music now known as gospel. Mahalia Jackson, Albertina Walker, Aretha Franklin and the Staple Singers are among the musicians who performed there. The 40,000-square-foot museum, with exhibition space, an auditorium and a research library, will be near the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Itinerary Ideas Await in New Group Travel Guides

The National Veterans Memorial & Museum in Columbus will feature the Great Hall, a space that honors America’s brave servicemen and women.

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With the new year comes fresh new travel guides from the states of Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Produced by Leisure Group Travel ’s custom media division, these comprehensive publications feature extensive destination coverage, sample itineraries and unique twists to tried-and-true favorite group destinations. Pick up your digital copy of any of these publications at http://leisuregrouptravel.com/group-travel-state-tour-guides/.

Visit the Makers Trail • Michigan Every land has its makers: crafters of furniture, forgers of steel, tillers of earth.

In southwest Michigan, masters are making wine, beer and spirits. More and more of these artisans are putting down stakes near the Lake Michigan shore, where they handcraft award-winning beverages.

Over 40 sites are featured along the trail, each with a distinct personality and specialties to showcase. The Makers Trail Flight Crew Passport adds to the fun. The more destinations you visit, the more different stamps you can collect and Flight Crew gear your crew can earn.

Makers Trail

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Lake County

Lake Michigan

Milwaukee

Chicago

Let the ride take you to an incredible experience.

Looking for an unforgettable group getaway? Head to Lake County, Illinois! Let the beauty of the Chicago Botanic Garden take your breath away. Revel in the grandeur of the landmark Cuneo Mansion and Gardens. Try a local winery or enjoy a dining experience before taking in a 60th-anniversary performance of the magnificent Tempel Lipizzans stallions. Dine. Shop.

Stay overnight. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go!

For more group-friendly ideas, contact our group tour specialist, Jayne Nordstrom at Jayne@LakeCounty.org or call 800-525-3669.

Find helpful planning resources at VisitLakeCounty.org.

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ake a journey to the past that’s loaded with plenty of modern fun in Northern Indiana Amish Country. Get a true look at the Amish lifestyle and learn about their history in the third largest Amish area in the nation. Tour country roads traveled more by buggies than cars. Stop at shops filled with goods your grandma probably used. Savor hearty Amish style fare. Meet Amish business owners who make the products and craft the wares for their culture. Delight in scenic backroads, peaceful people and local products that make Amish Country so memorable. Laugh, sing and be entertained in local theatres on family-friendly entertainment and Broadway musicals.

You’ll be busy all the time and loving every minute.

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Amish Country, Northern Indiana

The Amish Experience in Northern Indiana Day 1 The Shipshewana Flea Market is a not-to-bemissed Hoosier tradition with nearly 900 booths in an open-air market covering 100 acres. Vendors offer a variety of products and truly have something for everyone: quirky novelties, fresh seasonal produce, crafts, home décor and everything in between. The antique auction barn, open Wednesdays year-round, has up to 10 rings simultaneously auctioning antiques and collectibles.

Later, enjoy Amish Acres’ famous family-style Threshers Dinner in the century-old barn restaurant.

Start your dining experience with thick ham ‘n bean soup served from cast iron kettles, baskets of homemade Hearth bread, sweet & sour cabbage salad and sweet & sour pickles. Then pass around heaping platters filled to the brim with your choice of two farm-fresh meats served with brimming bowls of beefy egg noodles, fluffy mashed potatoes, flavorful sage dressing and giblet gravy. Top it all off with tins of fresh baked pies and hot coffee.

Your evening continues in the majestic 1911 Round Barn Theatre with a Broadway musical production on the Joseph Stein Stage.

Day 2

AMISH COUNTRY Sonya Nash sonya@amishcountry.org 574-903-1148, 800-262-8161 AmishCountryTours.org

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Today begins with a buggy-maker visit and shopping session in Slab Town. See baskets made by a family of weavers and take home a gift to remember them by. Enjoy a popular Amish fundraiser meal, the Haystack, for lunch. Then go back to school—one room that is—to visit an Amish teacher. If you’re a good “scholar,” you’ll go home with a yummy fried pie for a sweet end to your day.

The next stop is Das Dutchman Essenhaus, home of Indiana’s largest restaurant and a peaceful escape in the country that offers a unique combination of dining, lodging and shopping opportunities.

Manicured grounds invite a leisurely stroll or perhaps a carriage ride through a quaint covered bridge. Enjoy the beautiful Essenhaus grounds with a relaxing horse-drawn carriage ride around the immaculate grounds, play a round of miniature golf or go shopping in one of several Village Shops on the same facility grounds. Shop for quilts, baked goods, home décor, ladies apparel, Vera Bradley, jewelry and more. Later, enjoy faith-based entertainment suitable for all audiences in the quaint theatrical setting of Heritage Hall. Laugh and enjoy family-friendly productions with a message from the heart.

Day 3 At the Menno-Hof Amish Mennonite Interpretive Center, learn the religious history and background of the Amish, Mennonite and Huterite people from their beginnings in Europe through their arrival in North America. Several interactive exhibits and displays depict "real life" experiences and answer many questions. On the Amish Acres Historic Farm Tour, learn about the heritage, culture and history of the “Plain People".

In the evening, enjoy some of the best Amish/Mennonite cooking around, outstanding entertainment, locally crafted furniture and much more at the Blue Gate in downtown Shipshewana.

Featuring three retail stores, a restaurant, bakery, theatre, hotel, event center, catering, backroad Amish tours and a carriage business, this venue offers a variety of group-friendly services and options for your itinerary. Tonight you’ll sit down inside the 1200-seat Blue Gate Restaurant, enjoying buffet or family-style dining before heading upstairs for the original Blue Gate Productions musical productions.

These original musicals based upon popular Christian books with Amish themes are brought to life in the 300-seat theatre. >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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ust south of Champaign County, Illinois, you’ll take a step back in time in Arthur, the heart of Illinois’ Amish Country. Here in the oldest and largest Amish settlement in Illinois, groups will be accompanied by a step-on guide to showcase a different way of life, from one-room schoolhouses to woodworking and heartwarming food.

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Urbana and Arthur, Illinois

Illinois Amish Country & Beyond Day 1 Before heading to Arthur, treat your group to a meal on the farm. What began as a family’s side project has evolved into one of Champaign County’s true staples. Willow Creek Farms, located in Urbana, sources the ingredients for downtown Champaign’s favorite restaurant—V. Picasso. This locally owned farm and event center offers everything from an indoor greenhouse and pollinators for honey, to goats, horses, pigs and cows. Groups can get a first-hand look at where their food is coming from, then taste the delicious flavors of V. Picasso’s cuisine. Cooking demonstrations and lessons are available upon request.

Day 2 Begin the day with a tour of Amish Country.

Located in the heart of Amish Country, Arthur is home to over 2,000 members of the Amish community. Meet your step-on guide at the welcome center in downtown Arthur and begin your journey through the land. See horse-drawn buggies, Belgian horsepulled field equipment, roadside stands with fresh produce, and one-room schools with pony carts lined up in the driveway and grass lot ball diamonds full of Amish children at recess.

Following this informative and inspiring tour, you’ll step back in time as you enter the home of an Amish family. Let your host guide you through their living space, and take notice of the handmade items and the lifestyle the home reflects. Take your seat at one of the long tables, constructed by hand right here in Arthur. After you’ve taken a moment for a silent prayer, your host will begin serving your delicious home-cooked meal. Last but not least, you’ll venture through the family’s farm to see what their daily work consists of. Learn the ins and outs of Amish culture and be amazed at how similar their life is to yours, minus one thing— electricity.

Groups will then visit a local Amish buggy maker as you experience and in-depth tour of his buggy shop. See the process of creating the undercarriage and buggy body, and listen as he discusses the old art of wheel making. Finish up the tour with a short buggy ride, completing the true Amish experience.

Finally, your group’s visit will end in Arthur’s downtown area. Strolling the streets, you’ll find a variety of gift shops, craft shops, furniture stores, antiques, restaurants and more. Pick up something old or something new to remember your trip.

VISIT CHAMPAIGN COUNTY Ryan Reid ryan@visitchampaigncounty.org 800-369-6151 TourChampaign.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

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CENTRAL

REGION

URBAN OHIO FOOD TOURS

Sample the flavors and history of three Ohio cities with these immersive food experiences

Columbus Food Adventures can arrange visits to restaurants like Wolf’s Ridge Brewing and Basi Italia (inset).

By Miles Dobis

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ing Asian and South American communities, and innovative new chefs who rival the creativity of any coastal dining destination.

There’s no better way to savor the flavors of these Ohio metros than with a food tour, a guided exploration that includes stops at restaurants and historic sites.

Experience Columbus Photos

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uch more than just chili and German brats, modern Ohio cuisine is a rich amalgamation of international flavors. The state’s three largest cities—Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati— boast diverse restaurant scenes attributable to 19th-century European immigrants, grow-

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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CINCINNATI FOOD TOURS Your group can explore this Ohio River city’s German heritage and hilltop neighborhoods with Cincinnati Food Tours. If you’re seeking a condensed experience, the “Original Findlay Market Tour” gives a 90-minute crash course on the city’s cuisine. The Italianate-style structure houses permanent tenants (like Dojo Gelato and Eli’s BBQ) and welcomes vendors from across the Midwest for its summer farmers market. Longer tours depart from Findlay Market and send groups to restaurants and attractions with narration from a local guide. Popular with groups is the “Signature Over-the-Rhine Tour,” which explores an area originally developed by German immigrants and remains the largest historic district in the nation. For three hours, groups will eat mouthwatering waffles at Café Belgium, crème brûlée at French Crust Café and Bavarian brews at Taft’s Ale House among other tasty treats.

Venture beyond Over-the-Rhine and through the Central Business District on the “Taste the Streetcar Tour.” Groups board the Cincinnati Bell Connector, a new streetcar system introduced in 2016, and ride past Great American Ballpark, the Ohio River shoreline, and Washington Park between food and drinks. Potential samples for this tour include craft beer at Jefferson Social, noodle bowls at Le’s Pho and house-made wines at the Skeleton Root. (cincinnatifoodtours.com)

Touring Cincinnati’s Findlay Market

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

COLUMBUS FOOD ADVENTURES This outfitter offers 13 itineraries with themes that range from breakfast to dessert and lets visitors explore every corner of Ohio’s capital. Tours are designed to showcase the culinary cultures of the city’s many neighborhoods, including Short North. This once-impoverished area “just north” of Columbus’ central business district is now a revitalized bohemian hub with coffee shops, boutiques and craft breweries. Samples on a Short North tour include gourmet truffles at Le Chocoholique, artisan bread at Knead and fresh produce at the North Market. Farther south is German Village, formed in the 1830s after a surge of European immigration and now one of the largest groupings of European restaurants in North America. Your group will savor authentic Low Country cuisine at G. Michael’s Bistro, Spanish sangria at Pistacia Vera and traditional Jewish latkes at Katzinger’s Delicatessen.

Java-lovers should consider the “Coffee Tour,” which features visits to a roaster, top espresso bars and premier coffee shops to learn about the international coffee trade, while those with a sweet tooth will want to register for the “All-Dessert Tour.” This threehour indulgence session whisks groups across the city to try whoopee pies at Pattycake Bakery, seasonal flavors at Jeni’s Ice Cream and dessert cocktails concocted by mixologists at M Restaurant. (columbusfoodadventures.com)

TASTE CLEVELAND FOOD TOURS Cleveland, a lakeside city known for sports, manufacturing and rock n’ roll, boasts one of the fastest-growing culinary scenes in the nation. Cleveland Food Tours constantly tweaks its lineup of restaurants to showcase emerging trends in the city, but most food tours include three savory stops and one sweet stop that include visits with chefs and background information on the community.

For a taste of the Old Country, embark on the “Little Italy Tour.” Developed by immigrants from Italy’s Abruzzi region in the 1880s, the neighborhood is home to venerable restaurants such as Trattoria on the Hill and Mia Bella. The tour is an immersive look at Italian-American culture, with stops at a pasta producer, bakery and Tuscan wine tasting.

Groups also enjoy the “Tremont Tour,” which explores the diverse neighborhood just south of the Cuyahoga River. Learn about the area’s Ukrainian immigrant history, growing craft beer scene and German architecture on a walking tour that can include traditional Polish dishes at Sokolowski’s University Inn, Asian fusion at Parallax and delectable desserts from Lilly’s Handmade Chocolates. You can also visit the century-old churches that border the neighborhood’s Lincoln Park to learn about the spiritual life of Eastern European settlers. (tasteclevelandfoodtours.com) With many more customizable tours available, these three companies offer groups the opportunity to bundle cuisine and history into one delicious itinerary. LGT

Taft’s Ale House, Cincinnati

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OHIO TOUR IDEAS

What a way to start the day: breakfast at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Several Ohio museums offer group packages that pair admission with a dining experience on or off the premises Grahm S. Jones/Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

Food for Thought and a Bite to Eat

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ttractions that want group business know how to make the tour planner’s life easier. One way of doing that is offering a special meal package. Here are some Ohio museum plans that combine culture and cuisine: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, one of Cleveland’s premier tourist attractions, has a variety of group options, including two that offer museum admission and a meal at a musically inclined downtown restaurant.

Tour groups can customize their experience at the Music Box Supper Club, a two-story concert venue located on the west bank of the Flats. The “Soundtrack Package” lets diners enjoy a specially curated playlist of the best-known songs of the music legend of their choice. For groups of 30 or more, rates for adults are $37.75 for lunch, $47.75 for dinner (including tax, gratuity and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame admission). Reduced rates apply for youth (6-18) and seniors (65+).

For only $10 more, the “Live Performance 24

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Groups can combine a dinner buffet with the “Red Herring” theatrical production at the Ohio History Center in Columbus.

Package” features talent that can perform the music of the famous artist or band.

Options for soundtrack and live tribute performances include Paul Simon, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Elton John, Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen. If a concert is scheduled during your group’s mealtime, they can attend with the

other fans for the live-music price. There’s a concert almost every night of the week, with genres ranging from blues, jazz and soul to country and rock.

The Music Box, voted Best Live Music Venue in 2017 by readers of Cleveland Magazine, offers gorgeous views of the riverfront and the option of outdoor seating. Entree choices on the group lunch menu: cheeseburger, chicken Parmigiana sandwich and beef burrito.

For dinner, guests can choose from the salmon, braised short rib and chicken Parmigiana.

Packages include a non-alcoholic beverage and dessert.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also works with the House of Blues, a lively spot in Cleveland’s East 4th Street entertainment district. The “Southern Inspired” group package ($32-$37.75 with a minimum of 20 guests) includes four plated entree choices: mac and cheese, cheeseburger, blackened chicken sandwich and Island Turkey Burger seasoned with Jamaican spices and topped with cheese on a chipotle mayo-brushed >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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OHIO TOUR IDEAS in a historic powerhouse, has creatures from all over the world, including freshwater species native to Ohio. Guests can walk through the Shark SeaTube with sharks and fish swimming overhead. (greatercleveland aquarium.com) In Columbus, the Ohio History Center offers two-hour group programs that combine an interactive theatrical presentation with a dinner buffet and optional cocktail hour (minimum 30 guests). The “Red Herring” option harks back to the 1950s and fears of Communist agents infiltrating the U.S. It’s all about Soviet espionage and investigations by the CIA, FBI and other government agencies. Guests become involved in questioning and decoding as evidence is collected to reveal who is the Soviet spy and the person who killed the chairman of a Senate committee looking into un-American activities.

“Dickens of a Mystery” (based on the Ebenezer Scrooge tale) and “Mayhem & Mystery in the Museum” are other Ohio History Center programs calling for audience participation. The dinner buffets are catered by local operators such as Weiland’s, Creative Cuisine and Berwick, with food usually served in the same room as the play.

At the center’s Ohio Village, a re-created 19th century community open from Memorial

Day weekend through Labor Day, group members can play parts in an old-fashioned English farce based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. The Ohio History Center is a treasure house showcasing the state’s agricultural, industrial and social heritage. Highlights include Civil War artifacts, a Native American collection, mounted animals and vintage automobiles.

Baby Boomers like the exhibit 1950s: Building the American Dream. A special World War I display (running through Nov. 11, 2018) marks the centennial of the “Great War.” (ohiohistory.org) Also in Columbus, your group can start the day with special programs (7:15 to 9:15 a.m.) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

“Sunrise on the Savanna” includes breakfast and a trek through the Heart of Africa, with a visit to the cheetah habitat and a giraffe feeding experience. “Breakfast with the Animals” spans three continents and includes visits with the manatees, a trip Down Under and rhino feeding. (columbuszoo.org) The Cincinnati Art Museum offers adult packages ($25 or $30 a person) that include lunch and a docent-led tour on the topic of your choice. Topics include “Ancient Worlds,” “Flowers in Art,” “American Art” and “Cincinnati Ceramics.”

—Randy Mink

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum is one of Cleveland’s top tourist attractions.

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>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

Cody York/This Is Cleveland

brioche bun. All entrees come with chips and salsa, a brownie with ice cream and unlimited soda.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a giant glass pyramid fronting Lake Erie in downtown’s North Coast Harbor District, is not a place that can done in just an hour or so.

With seven floors of exhibits, the shrine deserves as much time as you can give it.

Whether a fan of Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix or Madonna, everyone remembers a certain era and revels in nostalgia as they peruse the photos, videos, costumes and instruments. There are the pioneers like Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly. Motown is represented by the Jackson Five, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and Diana Ross and the Supremes. (rockhall.com) The Greater Cleveland Aquarium, another downtown attraction, shares a parking lot with the Music Box Supper Club and offers a “Rock with the Fishes” package with the same “Soundtrack” and “Live Performance” features in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame admission/meal combo. The aquarium also has a group package that includes a lunch, brunch or dinner cruise on the Nautica Queen riverboat.

Ohio’s only free-standing aquarium, housed

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Ohio’s Old Country Cuisine

Sample history and heritage along with delicious cuisine in these historic Ohio areas

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hio’s ethnic roots can be traced through its fertile farmland and cosmopolitan cities. Rural and urban areas alike share the state’s rich cultural heritage, and there’s no better way for groups to experience the Buckeye State and its hundreds of nationalities than through its ethnic cuisine. From hearty Italian to farmfresh Mexican, nearly every global culture is represented in the state’s restaurants, festivals and historic districts.

CINCINNATI’S OVER-THE-RHINE Ohio experienced a wave of Central European immigration in the mid-1800s, with millions of Germans, Poles and Hungarians seeking a better life in the booming Midwestern river cities. No American neighborhood witnessed a greater influx of Germans than Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine, a district north of downtown populated by poor factory workers. Isolated from the rest of the city by the Miami and Erie Canal, the neighborhood retained its European flavor, LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

and the district boasts distinct Queen Anne architecture and curved cobblestone streets found nowhere else in Ohio. Today, Over-theRhine is the largest preserved historic district in the United States, and visitors can sample authentic German and creative Continental cuisine in addition to visiting the preserved buildings.

Begin with a visit to Findlay Market, an iron pavilion constructed in 1855. Home to Cincinnati’s largest farmers market, the building also hosts a walkway of permanent vendors such as Babuska Pierogis and Dojo Gelato. Stop by the Little Berlin stall to taste a döner, a kebab consisting of roast chicken and cabbage that’s popular as German street food. Next, walk the winding streets toward Brezel, which serves authentic Bavarian-style pretzels with garlic and jalapeno variations. The nearby Taste of Belgium serves European breakfast favorites beyond the obvious Belgian waffles, such as hand-rolled crepes and galettes—French breakfast pies filled with eggs and sausage.

COSHOCTON’S BUTTER STIRRIN’ FESTIVAL Coshocton is a city of convergences, not just of the Walhonding and Muskingum rivers but also the various cultures that formed modern Ohio. A Lenape tribe settlement for generations, the town developed rapidly after the completion of the Erie Canal in 1824, and the area became known for intercontinental trade and its bountiful apple orchards, which survived even the devastating Great Flood of 1913. Your group can taste the fruits from these same trees at the annual Butter Stirrin’ Festival, which features more than 100 vendors and savory offerings served over an open flame. Costumed interpreters recreate Coshocton’s 19th century past, while volunteers stir the apple butter in enormous cast-iron cauldrons in the centuriesold tradition.

Findlay Market, Cincinnati’s largest farmers market, is a focal point of good eating in the Over-the-Rhine district.

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TOLEDO’S BIRMINGHAM NEIGHBORHOOD Toledo, located at the mouth of the Maumee River, was a depository for cultures and traders as they traveled downstream toward Lake Erie. While dozens of ethnic neighborhoods developed during the city’s rich history, none have become as notable as Birmingham—the heart of Ohio’s Hungarian population. A working class district named for the industrial city in England, the area became a Hungarian enclave after foundries in Cleveland shipped their non-union workers to new plants in Toledo. Nearly 40,000 Poles, Czechs and Hungarians lived in East Toledo during its population peak in the 1940s, and while the area has since become much more diverse, the city still celebrates its Eastern European heritage with the annual Birmingham Ethnic Festival. Here your group can sample kolbász (sausage sandwiches spiced with paprika), palacsinta (thick crepes with fruit fillings) and traditional stuffed cabbage. If your group can’t visit in August, stop by Tony Packo’s, an authentic Hungarian diner founded in 1932. Be sure to sample the signature sandwich (kolbász

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Explore Little Italy

OHIO TOUR IDEAS

The Little Italy neighborhood on Cleveland’s East Side offers restaurants dishing up the best in Italian cuisine.

sausage served on rye with spicy chili sauce) that’s been nicknamed the “Hungarian Hot Dog,” and consider sharing an authentic strudel filled with layers of decadent cherry or apple filling.

CLEVELAND’S LITTLE ITALY A culinary anchor on Cleveland’s East Side, Little Italy was developed by immigrants from the Abruzzi region. The neighborhood’s most notable resident was Giuseppe Carabelli, an artisan who moved from New York to expand his masonry business. He and his fellow

sculptors quickly developed such a reputation that their craft was in demand by architects throughout the Midwest, and their success allowed the neighborhood to prosper.

Today, your group can tour the preserved Roman Catholic churches and indulge in hearty Italian cuisine served up by local establishments.

Valerios, operated by classically trained Florentine chefs, serves hearty Tuscan favorites like gnocchi and veal ossobucco in addition to savory seafood specials like linguine al vongole (pasta with clams) and farfalle pasta with salmon and caviar. Nearby is La Dolce Vita, opened in 1914 to recreate the atmosphere of Italy’s street cafes. Stop by any time of day for a pick-me-up of cappuccino and biscotti, or savor an entire meal of antipasti, seafood risotto and tiramisu.

For a more upscale atmosphere, consider a meal at Angelo’s Nido Italia, an elegantly appointed dining space with a dance floor and large tables ideal for groups. A menu inspired

by Italy’s northern provinces includes jumbo ravioli, veal Milanese and sweet spumoni.

—Miles Dobis

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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FEEDING GIRAFFES AT THE ZOO WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TOUR ‘TIL WE HIT THE DESSERT TRAY AT SCHMIDT’S

Great tours are Made in Cbus. Pair a visit to the zoo Jack Hanna calls home with a cream puff at iconic Schmidt’s in historic German Village. As a leader in experiential tours, Columbus is a perfect fit for a group of any size (or taste)!

experiencecolumbus.com/tours

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olumbus' art scene is bursting with creativity from independent artists, professional troupes and artistsin-residence. Your group will rave about their experiential dive into Columbus’ fascinating arts and history on this entertaining three-day tour.

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Columbus, Ohio

Art, History and Creativity Day 1 Morning: Start with a curator-led tour of the modern Pizzuti Collection or tour masterworks at the recently expanded Columbus Museum of Art. Then, step inside a painting at the Topiary Park, a larger-than-life topiary recreation of Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

Lunch: Enjoy unparalleled views of the Columbus skyline while dining at The Boat House at Confluence Park.

Afternoon: Wander cobbled streets, past Old World architecture, on a step-on guided tour of historic German Village. Groups can tour private homes and gardens on an explore Beyond the Door tour.

Evening: Taste the history of this special neighborhood with dinner at Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus, with generous portions of famous German-style wurst, kraut and cream puffs.

Day 2

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS Roger Dudley rdudley@experiencecolumbus.com 614-222-6136 ExperienceColumbus.com

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Morning: Release your own tropical butterfly in Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, where dazzling works of art are tucked among the plantings.

Lunch: Delight in Old European charm at Mozart’s restaurant, bakery and piano cafe. Top off your meal with one of the famous handmade pastries or tortes.

Afternoon: Try the art of candle-making at The Candle Lab. While you’re waiting for your creation to firm, craft your own card at Igloo Letterpress on an antique, hand-operated press, savor a scoop of Graeter’s ice cream and stroll enchanting Old Worthington’s boutiques.

Evening: Relax in the Short North Arts District – the “art and soul” of Columbus. Try one of many local, group-friendly spots like Gallerie Bar & Bistro. Afterwards, find special treasures at the district’s many galleries and boutiques.

Day 3 Morning: At Brandt-Roberts Galleries, gifted artists lead your hands-on experience while you enjoy your morning cup during “Canvas and Coffee.”

Lunch: Nibble your way around Columbus’ celebrated, 130-plus-year old North Market.

Afternoon: At the Kelton House, an Underground Railroad stop, Sophia Kelton lets you in on the family’s secret in an immersive experience that’ll leave you speechless. Then, slip backstage at the Ohio Theatre, with its Spanish-Baroque architecture, for a spectacular light show and the lush sounds of the Mighty Morton theater organ.

Evening: Figure out “whodunit” during “1950s: A Red Herring,” an original evening of dining and interactive live theater at the Ohio History Center.

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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Latest

& Greatest

south Region

Titanic Fashions Visit Biltmore • North Carolina

Virginia Historic Hotel Makeover • Virginia

Costumes from the iconic 1997 film Titanic will star in the first large-scale exhibition inside America’s largest home: the Biltmore in Asheville. Glamour on Board: Fashion from Titanic the Movie runs from February 9 through May 13, 2018.

The fashions, displayed in grand rooms once lived in by George and Edith Vanderbilt, features hats, gowns, jewelry and tuxedos worn

by Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathy

A Virginia icon that has played host to 10 U.S. presidents, the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach reopens its oceanfront doors this winter after a massive $75 million restoration. Inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and built in 1927, the newly reimagined property will be a member of Marriott’s distinguished Autograph Collection.

Exterior details, including the portico with classical columns, have been meticulously restored. Inside, the original paneling, plaster ornamentation, terrazzo flooring and painted ceilings have been reconditioned to historical accuracy. Originally designed with 195 guest rooms, the hotel has been reconfigured to create 85 spacious standard rooms and suites. Also new are a full-service spa, farm-to-table restaurant and on-site distillery with tours and a tasting room for sampling bourbon, gin and vodka. The historic Raleigh Room, with its magnificent fireplace, now has billiards, game tables, drink carts and a tall, luminous back bar.

National Museum of African American Music • Tennessee The National Museum of African American Music is set to open its doors in 2019 in downtown Nashville. It will be the only museum dedicated to preserving the legacy and celebrating the accomplishments of the many music genres created, influenced or inspired by African-Americans.

Within five galleries covering 56,000 square feet, museum visitors will experience the Rivers of Rhythm Pathway, where they will be taken from the beginnings of American music with Southern religious and blues traditions to hip-hop and R&B. The museum will be located at the Avenue of the Arts in the re-development project of the former Nashville Convention Center, within walking distance of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Arena and Ryman Auditorium.

National WWII Museum Breaks Ground on Higgins Hotel • Louisiana The National WWII Museum in New Orleans has broken ground on the 230room Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, which is scheduled for completion in 2019.

It will operate as part of the exclusive Curio Collection by Hilton. Located on the museum campus, the hotel is named after Higgins Industries shipbuilder Andrew Higgins, whose New Orleans-based company built the amphibious landing craft used in the Allies’ D-Day invasion of Normandy.

Inspired by the war era, the property will sport an Art Deco style. Food and beverage outlets will include Kilroy’s (a first-floor bar), the Cafe Normandie and Rosie’s on the Roof (a rooftop bar).

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

Titanic at Biltmore

Bates and others in the movie. The luxurious wardrobes reflect the styles favored by transatlantic travelers like the Vanderbilts in the early 1900s. Biltmore is the only location to see these Oscar-winning costumes on display.

The exhibition also will include the story of the Vanderbilts’ own plans to sail on the Titanic’s maiden voyage. At the last minute, they decided to sail instead on the Titanic’s sister ship, the Olympic.

Hollywood Studios Adds Toy Story Land • Florida Walt Disney World Resort’s Hollywood Studios announced that the scheduled opening of Toy Story Land is slated for summer of 2018.This addition will bring the hit Disney-Pixar films to life in part by making you feel as if you've been shrunk to the size of a toy. The new land will also feature themed dining options and attractions, including Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers.

The restored Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach will feature 195 elegant guest rooms and handsome hardwood furnishings.

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ime travelers are welcome in Colonial Williamsburg.

Imagine jumping into a living, breathing 18th-century city complete with historic reenactors and nearly 100 reconstructed buildings. Come and share thoughts with our tradespeople, business owners and Nation Builders. Meet their animals, enter their homes (there is even a royal palace!) and immerse yourself in the culture of the dawn of America.

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COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG Group Sales groupsales@cwf.org 1-800-228-8878 ColonialWilliamsburg.com/grouptours

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Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Destination:18th Century Day 1

Day 2

A day in Colonial Williamsburg begins with a visit to the Capitol, a recreation of the building that served as the home for the House of Burgesses— colonial Virginia’s representative government. Here, visitors can witness laws being passed and debates over American independence. Continue down Duke of Gloucester Street by foot or buggy to Raleigh Tavern, where you can debate American sovereignty with local patriots or learn about 18th-century brewmaster techniques. At the Apothecary, you’ll learn about how much medicine has changed since the days of George Washington, while the Foundry demonstrates how buckles, knobs and utensils were created using metal castings. If your group has spare time in the afternoon, visit the many craftspeople who create objects using accurate period technology. Weavers, wigmakers and wheelwrights are all willing to share their knowledge and discuss their art.

After a long day of walking, relax with hot beverage at R. Charlton Coffeehouse and a performance on the adjoining Charlton Stage, which welcomes guests such as Martha Washington and Sam Adams. As the sun sets, an uneasy air descends upon Williamsburg as groups prepare for the Official Colonial Williamsburg Ghost Walk. For an engaging hour, listen to tales of the restless souls who still wander the town and explore the buildings they are reported to haunt.

Your second day begins with a journey through the Governor’s Palace, which evokes the grandeur of Virginia’s early state government before the capitol was relocated to Richmond in 1780. Famous occupants included Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, and your group can pass through the elegant dining room and reception areas. Down the road lies the Colonial Garden, which grows herbs and vegetables using accurate 18th century methods.

Further down the Palace Green, your group will find the George Wythe House, home to the prominent attorney who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. On the corner lies the Bruton Parish Church, a three-centuries-old Episcopal worship center where several Founding Fathers worshiped.

Be sure to observe a trial at the Courthouse, one of Williamsburg’s signature attractions. Groups can witness court sessions, prosecutions and justice meted out at the pillory and stocks outside.

Few visitors realize that half of Williamsburg’s 18th century population was black, and groups can learn about the stark contrast of freedom and slavery in the African-American Experience areas throughout the town. Notable stops include the African-American Religion building, the slave quarters at the Peyton Randolph House and “Century of African American Quilts” exhibit at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum. For more art, visit the Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. The building houses the world's largest collection of southern furniture and one of the largest collections of British ceramics outside England. Relax in the Portrait Gallery, attend a lecture or musical event in the Hennage Auditorium or take part in a hands-on activity in the Education Studio. Conclude your day with a hearty colonial-inspired meal at Chowning’s Tavern. Illuminated by candlelight, this restaurant serves old favorites such as Brunswick stew and Welsh rarebit, as well as shepherd’s pie and bangers & mash.

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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SI SITE INSPECTION

Southern Cuisine with Flair in Fayetteville, North Carolina Buffets and Barbecue While Greenville and Goldsboro boast the highest concentration of highly ranked barbeque establishments in North Carolina, Fayetteville surely give them a run for their money. A nationally famous cuisine from North Carolina, pork barbecue and bacon from the Tar Heel State usually consists of a tomato- and vinegar-based barbecue sauce.

Eastern regions tend to use both white and dark meat, whereas western North Carolina utilizes only the pork shoulder. Group travelers can have all their barbecue needs met at any one of the two Fuller’s Old Fashioned Bar-B-Q locations within Fayetteville.

Ranked “Top Five” in Southern Living and “Best Soul Food Restaurant” from the Best of Fayetteville, Fuller’s provides guests with the ultimate North Carolina barbecue experience. From barbecue plates and quail to seafood platters and barbecued sandwiches, Fuller’s eclectic menu is sure to satisfy taste buds of any kind. To make sure groups get their bang for their buck, Fuller’s offers a lunch buffet Monday through Friday, a dinner buffet from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a Sunday buffet starting at 11 a.m. Children two years and younger feat free, and three-to-nine-yearolds eat at half price. Located just a few miles north of downtown Fayetteville, Grandson’s Buffet provides a similar dining experience with authentic eastern North Carolinian barbecue. This southern-style buffet is known 34

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Scrumptious seafood, tantalizing barbecue and sizzling steaks are just a few Fayetteville indulgences awaiting groups in North Carolina.

Check out the following eateries for the best in North Carolinian cuisine.

for its hot-off-the-grill barbecue, lip smackin’ chicken and fresh grilled veggies. Grandson’s has available seating for large groups and is open Monday through Saturday from 11a.m. to 9p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Seafood and Steakhouses Situated on the Atlantic Coast, North Carolina is home to a variety of delicious seafood and a myriad of mouthwatering steakhouses. Chris’s Steak and Seafood House provides guests exceptional service and high-quality dining experiences, the freshest Atlantic seafood, homemade specialties and an extensive selection of fine wines.

Chris’s in-house steaks are always hand-cut, containing Angus and USDA beef and cooked over hardwood coals in the restaurant’s open hearth. It also offers private dining rooms for groups of up to 125 people. The Angus Room seats up to 40 guests and is ideal for a graduation party, special event or large group.

The Prime Room seats between 75 to 125 guests and is suitable for larger events such as engagement parties or corporate events.

For an unparalleled fine dining experience, groups should head to Hilltop House in the heart of downtown Fayetteville. The restaurant’s brunch buffet includes delectable southern favorites such as shrimp and grits, fresh oysters, country ham, macaroni and cheese and southern banana pudding. Hilltop House has a variety of certified Angus steaks

as well as delicious seafood options like the Chilean sea bass or herb-crusted salmon.

Ideal for large groups, the restaurant provides six different private rooms to choose from, with personal event planning, custom menus and an elegant atmosphere. Due to limited spacing in private rooms, groups should reserve rooms in advance.

Mediterranean Delights Although Fayetteville specializes in barbeque and other popular Southern cuisine, it is also home to a diversity of ethnic Mediterranean dining options. Sherefé— meaning “cheers” in Turkish—is dedicated to serving healthy cuisine with a Mediterranean flair. Whether groups are looking for a quick lunch or a private event, Sherefé has three large dining spaces and three private rooms available for group travelers. The restaurant’s Mediterranean-inspired dishes are a natural fit for gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and even Paleo diets. Some authentic Mediterranean specialties include arancini, izgara kofta (a grilled, home-ground lamb and short meatballs dish) and pan seared bronzini. Groups can even schedule cooking demonstrations and classes with the owner, Mustafa Somar.

VISIT FAYETTEVILLE Jessica Bennett, jbennett@visitfayettevillenc.com 910-483-5311

VisitFayettevilleNC.com >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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eorge Washington grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia, one of America’s most historic and intriguing cities. He, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and even Abraham Lincoln all lived or visited here. This tour visits the newly reconstructed home that Washington knew as a child and adolescent as well as three gorgeous original homes and a colonial tavern that Washington knew well. A lively trolley tour of the town and fun dinner theater round out the experience.

G

FREDERICKSBURG Mary Prince Lewis mlewis@hovtour.com 804-678-9750 VisitFred.com

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Fredericksburg, Virginia

George Washington’s Home Town Day 1

Day 2

George Washington’s Ferry Farm, a replica of the home Washington grew up in, has been recreated on its original foundation. A guided tour of the home and visit to the archaeology lab gives fascinating insight into the site both in colonial times and during the Civil War. Continue with a visit to the Mary Washington House. In 1772, George Washington purchased this home for his mother, Mary Ball Washington.

She spent her last 17 years in this comfortable white frame house. An avid gardener, Mrs. Washington could often be found tending to her plantings.

According to legend, General Lafayette visited her here during the Revolution. Learn about this fascinating lady and take a stroll through her beloved gardens.

Nearby is the Hugh Mercer Apothecary, where Dr. Mercer served the citizens of Fredericksburg with medicines and treatments of the time.

Leeches, lancets, snakeroot and crab claws made up just some of the remedies. Mercer later served as a general alongside his friend George Washington in the Revolutionary War. Enjoy a colorful firstperson tour of this reconstructed apothecary shop.

Start your day at Historic Kenmore Plantation. This Georgian-style brick mansion was home to George Washington’s sister—Betty Washington Lewis— and her husband. A colonial “gentry” home, Kenmore is famous for its intricate plasterwork ceilings, some of the finest of the colonial period. Tours through Kenmore’s rooms highlight its elegant architecture and history. The gardens were the inspiration for the first Historic Garden Week in Virginia in 1929. Their designs are based on popular styles of the colonial era.

Chatham Manor, a magnificent Georgian mansion completed in 1771, is the only house visited by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. For more than a century it was a thriving plantation and home to the wealthy Fitzhugh family. It served as headquarters for Union generals during the Civil War, and the grounds were used as a hospital where Clara Barton and Walt Whitman were among nurses tending to the wounded.

What is a group tour without a live theater experience? Fredericksburg’s Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is a smash hit with locals and visitors alike. Great food accompanies first-rate productions by national professional touring shows as well as regional talent. You can also discover this historic town aboard a modern-day trolley on a tour of downtown and quaint neighborhoods.

Beautiful homes (some dating to the colonial period), churches and stately downtown architecture line the streets of Fredericksburg.

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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isit NC Smokies is the place you want to gather.

The farm-to-table experience in Haywood County covers everything from locally raised trout to roasted coffee to hand crafted soda, beer and distilled spirits. And while you enjoy eating and drinking your way through town you can visit one of our museums or take in the views along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

V

Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, Canton, and Clyde

Trout Farm to Table Day 1 Arrive early in the afternoon at BearWaters Brewing Company in Canton to sample some award-winning craft beer. A brew aptly named “Smells Like Money” won a bronze medal at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival. Their riverside deck and patio are a great place to gather before moving on to your next stop. Afterwards, head over to Sunburst Trout Farms, which has been sustainably raising trout in waters from the Shinning Rock National Wilderness since 1948. They are known for a variety of items like caviar, smoked trout, boneless fillets, trout dips and trout jerky.

That evening, visit Waynesville for dinner at one of our farm-to-table restaurants like Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen or The Sweet Onion.

Day 2 Begin the day with breakfast at your hotel, and then head out for a morning drive along 13 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Maggie Valley and Waynesville. Stop at WaterRock Knob for some amazing views, a short hike and a talk with a ranger at the visitor’s center. There are numerous overlooks along this section of the parkway for additional photo opportunities. Head towards Maggie Valley for lunch at Catalooche Guest Ranch.

Afterwards, take your experience to another level by visiting the Wheels Through Time Museum to see

an amazing collection of American motorcycles, memorabilia and one-off automobiles. The museum has been featured on both the History Channel and Velocity. Later, stop by Elevated Mountain Distillery for a genuine whiskey experience. Learn about how they use local grains during the distilling process and finish with a tasting. That evening, grab dinner back in Canton at Southern Porch, which is housed in The Imperial, a former home and hotel built in 1876.This picturesque building was built in a Queen Anne style of architecture.

Day 3 Begin the day by visiting the Copper Pot & Wooden Spoon to learn about handcrafted jams, pickles and artisan foods with a focus on sustainable agriculture in western North Carolina. Afterwards, head to downtown Waynesville for some shopping on Main Street and lunch at BooJum Brewing Company. Don’t forget to stop by Sunburst Market for local trout as well as other delicious food and beverage items like a handcrafted soda from the Waynesville Soda Jerks. Before leaving, you need to visit Hazelwood. This eclectic section of town is home to the Hazelwood Soap Company, which is a family-owned business that specializes in artisanal bath, body and home products. Also, grab a book for the road at Blue Ridge Books or a coffee from Smokey Mountain Coffee Roasters. Finally, stop in Robin Blu for a last-minute unique gift to take home.

VISIT NC SMOKIES Ben Wilder ben@visitncsmokies.com 800-334-9036 VisitNCSmokies.com

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

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SOUTH

reGioN

New Orleans’ Food Culture is Diverse, Delicious

Groups will enjoy signature seafood dishes at Galatoire’s, a Bourbon Street staple for over a century.

Visitors to the Big Easy can enjoy a variety of delectable options

By Jason Paha

W

hen Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in late August 2005, the damage the storm inflicted upon the city was monumental.

In the ensuing years since, New Orleans’ residents have proven their fortitude by rebounding from Katrina’s destruction and rebuilding many of the city’s homes and businesses. New Orleans’ dining scene followed a similarly resurgent path as the city, prior to Katrina, reportedly was home to

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around 800 restaurants but now supports more than 1,400 such establishments.

With the city’s culinary atmosphere thriving, it’s no surprise New Orleans’ food culture is one of the most diverse in the country. It has garnered a reputation as a haven for Cajun and Creole foods and is also home to impressive French, Spanish and soul food restaurants. Here are some establishments groups can visit when taking a jaunt down to the Big Easy.

CAJUN/CREOLE Cajun and Creole cuisines are most affiliated with Louisiana and are often considered interchangeable. While that isn’t necessarily true (Creole food utilizes tomatoes while proper Cajun food does not), they are similar.

Cajun food is based partly on French fare, while Creole is a fusion of French, Spanish, West African and Native American cuisine.

An iconic Cajun/Creole dish is gumbo, which can be found throughout the city. >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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Galatoire’s, in the French Quarter, has been open for more than 100 years and offers a French Creole seafood gumbo filled with shrimp and crab meat. Restaurant R’evolution, in the French Quarter, features a dish named Death by Gumbo, a dark-roux, Cajunstyle gumbo served with a whole stuffed quail in the bowl. Cochon Butcher is a relative newcomer that was established in 2009 in the Warehouse District. The Cajun shop is known for offering house-cured meats, sausage and cheese platters and also provides one of the finest muffulettas in the city.

K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, in the French Quarter, features a signature Blackened Redfish created by late celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme. Mulate’s, in the Arts District, bills itself as “The Original Cajun Restaurant” and serves fried alligator, stuffed fish and jambalaya. Commander’s Palace, in the Garden District, has been a New Orleans landmark since 1893 and serves haute Creole dishes like blue crab, seared wild white shrimp and veal tenderloin over truffle potatoes. Domilise’s is an Uptown New Orleans locale famous for its roast beef, shrimp and oyster po-boy sandwiches, while Parkway Bakery and Tavern is one of the oldest po-boy restaurants in New Orleans (it was established in 1911) and has attracted luminaries such as President Barack Obama.

SPANISH While New Orleans was founded by the French, the French Quarter’s architecture is largely Spanish. After losing the Seven Years War, France relinquished control of Louisiana to Spain from 1763 to 1803, and in that time, fires in 1788 and 1794 gutted original French architecture, prompting the Spanish government to rebuild the French Quarter with a heavily Spanish influence.

Spanish food is also popular in the city and Lola’s, located in the mid-city area, serves traditional Spanish dishes like paella and lamb stew along with house sangria in a contemporary setting, while Baru Bistro & Tapas, in the Garden District, is a small bistro offering modern Latin-Caribbean small plates and sidewalk seating. Mais Arepas is a bright, contemporary Central City café serving authentic Colombian specialties, including fried pork belly arepas, empanadas calenas, ajiaco and caramel flan. Barcelona Tapas in the Leonidas neighborhood, serves Spanish food with a New Orleans accent, including paella and tapas, garlic shrimp pasta, a rack of lamb chops and a 16-ounce ribeye.

SOUL FOOD Tracing its origins back to West Africa, soul food generally features hearty, flavorful dishes made with economical ingredients.

Among the most popular Soul Food establishments in New Orleans are Dooky Chase’s Restaurant and Willie Mae’s Scotch House, both in the Tremé neighborhood.

Dooky Chase’s, led by legendary chef Leah Chase, is a family restaurant that serves an array of dishes like red beans and rice, fried chicken, shrimp Clemenceau, stuffed shrimp and chicken Creole. Family-owned since 1957, Willie Mae’s serves some of the finest fried chicken in the country. In 2005, Willie Mae Seaton was honored with the prestigious James Beard Award for “America’s Classic Restaurant for the Southern Region.”

Tee-Eva’s Old Fashioned Pies and Pralines, in the Garden District, is a popular dessert spot that serves signature pralines and a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

The open-air coffee shop Café du Monde (below) serves beignets and café au lait in a relaxed setting, while Parkway Bakery and Tavern (right) specializes in hearty sandwiches.

FRENCH The French Quarter is the oldest section of New Orleans, having been founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. Not surprisingly, this lovely and festive neighborhood is filled with excellent French food, including Antoine’s, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in America. Established in 1840, Antoine’s serves famous French-Creole food including turtle, pompano, redfish and shellfish and is also credited with inventing Oysters Rockefeller. For a more modern and unique take on French cuisine, N7, in the 9th Ward, is a secluded bar and restaurant hidden behind a wooden fence off of St. Claude Avenue. N7’s menu includes steak au poivre and mussels, smoked sardines, spiced calamari, escabeche and an impressive wine list. For dessert, Café du Monde is a renowned coffee shop in the French Quarter that serves perhaps the best beignets and café au lait in New Orleans and is a major tourist destination.

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

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NEW ORLEANS TOUR IDEAS

The Royal Street Stroll is part of the festivities during the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience. The annual May culinary event features food tents and more than 1,000 wines.

t’s difficult to determine historically when and where the first festival was held. Regardless of that minor detail, New Orleans has embraced the idea with a full calendar of festivals and events. Art, architecture, heritage, music, sports and certainly food provide the backdrop for special celebrations every week of the year.

Round out your itinerary with this tasteful sampling.

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HOGS FOR THE CAUSE MARCH 23-24, 2018

It’s not too late to join the premier national fundraiser for children with pediatric brain cancer. Founded in 2008, Hogs for the Cause was originally planned to showcase open-flame pig roasts, Southern style. An encounter with a four-year-old with incurable brain cancer inspired festival founders to make the event a fundraiser.

Over the years the festival has continued to grow bigger and better, attracting more music, local celebrities and food competitions.

Each year more than 80 teams compete in the High on the Hog cook-off competitions and the fight for the title “Louisiana Pork Champion”. Attendees vote for their favorite chef by donating to the team and sampling their offerings. Regardless of where your taste buds lead you, you’ll be satisfied with the assortment of pork, sides and sauces.

Live music on two stages enhances the weekend. (hogsforthecause.org) 40

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5

New Orleans Food Festivals

The Big Easy did not invent festivals. It just perfected them.

NEW ORLEANS WINE & FOOD EXPERIENCE (NOWFE) MAY 23-27, 2018

Gearing up for its 26th anniversary, NOWFE continues to be one of the most astonishing culinary events in the nation.

Hundreds of wineries and restaurants will participate, with menus combining local favorites and new creations. Over 1,000 wines from around the world will be featured.

Whether your group is looking for a true culinary getaway or simply enjoys good food and wine, this is the event for you.

Visitors can choose from a variety of packages and à la carte options. The Tasting Package gives a “taste” of what the event is

all about. Included are the Grand Tasting and Royal Street Stroll. The latter features a walk on Royal Street with food tents, galleries and wine offerings along the way.

The Grand Tasting features more than 1,000 vintages and tastes from New Orleans chefs.

The Connoisseur Package is for wine and food enthusiasts wanting to be a part of the entire NOWFE. The VIP Connoisseur Package includes early entry into all events and VIP areas. (nowfe.com) FRENCH MARKET CREOLE TOMATO FESTIVAL JUNE 10-11, 2018

For more than 20 years the Creole Tomato Festival has celebrated this Louisiana favorite, an important ingredient in many local recipes.

The Creole tomato’s arrival in early June signals they’ll be appearing on menus at restaurants and farmers’ markets. Join the fun as life-size tomatoes stroll the grounds handing our tomato fans and local chefs bid at auction on the first tomatoes of the season.

Centered on the French Market, the festival features live music, cooking demonstrations and seminars, the Creole Tomato Parade, a farmers’ market and food and beverage booths. You’ll find the Creole tomato presented in just about every way.

Festival favorites include fried green tomatoes, Creole Bloody Marys, Creole tomato and shrimp salad, Creole tomato basil crepes and Creole tomato cream crawfish pies. (frenchmarket.org) >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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LOUISIANA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

TREMÉ CREOLE GUMBO FESTIVAL

OCTOBER 2018 TBA

NOVEMBER 10-11, 2018

With New Orleans’ world-renowned restaurants and proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, it’s just logical that the Crescent City hosts the three-day Louisiana Seafood Festival. Fabulous cuisine, live entertainment, cooking demonstrations and local arts and crafts bring the Festival Grounds in City Park alive with the aromas and sounds of New Orleans.

There were more than 20 food vendors at the 2017 festival, including Andrea’s, Bienvenue, GoodFellas Seafood & Po Boys, The Praline Connection and Superior Seafood and Oyster Bar. At the Cooking Tent, the state’s top seafood chefs reveal their secrets to excellent seafood prep and cooking. Music from all genres keeps the party going from Friday through Sunday. And what’s a festival without shopping? The Art Market is where you’ll find distinctive decor, gifts and more. (louisianaseafoodfestival2017.com)

Faubourg Tremé, the nation’s oldest black neighborhood, has been the site of significant political and social events that have shaped black America for two centuries. It is home to museums dedicated to African-American life, art and history. The festival, produced by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, is staged at Congo Square in Armstrong Park, a memorial to jazz legend Louis Armstrong.

Hogs for the Cause, a March fundraiser, pits more than 80 teams vying for the title “Louisiana Pork Champion.”

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

The musical highlight of the event is the New Orleans jazz performed by acclaimed artists, some of whom grew up in theTremé neighborhood. You may recognize musicians from the popular HBO TV series Tremé.

Some of the city’s most popular brass bands are always on hand.

Music shares the stage with the festival’s tasty namesake, gumbo, a signature dish of many New Orleans restaurants. Recipes vary, but ingredients often include okra, chicken Andouille sausage, shrimp, crawfish, oysters or fish. Served over white rice, gumbo should be a little spicy. (jazzandheritage.org/treme -gumbo) We’ve just begun to share the variety of New Orleans festivals that are centered on the city’s rich culinary traditions. If you don’t see one that fits your itinerary, check out the Oak Street Po Boy Festival, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, New Orleans Oyster Festival, Chicken Festival and many more. New Orleans is truly the world’s festival headquarters.

You’ll find a complete list of New Orleans festivals and events at neworleansonline.com /neworleans/festivals.

—Dave Bodle

February 2018

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NEW ORLEANS TOUR IDEAS

MealtiMe SerenadeS National World War II Museum

House of Blues

Steamboat Natchez

Mulate’s

Give your group the bonus of music at New Orleans’ most entertaining eateries

F

ew places in New Orleans are more popular with tour groups than The Court of Two Sisters, famous for its daily Jazz Brunch. There’s nothing like dining in casual elegance around the fountain on the leafy brick patio tucked away from the frenzy of the French Quarter.

Or maybe your group is up for a night of dancing to the toe-tapping sounds of a Zydeco band at Mulate’s – The Original Cajun Restaurant.

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Both places, along with other New Orleans venues, combine entertainment with food, making them ideal fits for group itineraries in one of the most musical cities in America.

Call it one-stop shopping.

A jazz trio serenades brunch-goers in the spacious, wisteria-shaded courtyard of The Court of Two Sisters, a restaurant run by the third generation of the Fein family.

The 200-year-old building at 613 Rue Royale once housed a colonial governor of Louisiana

and later had a shop owned by two sisters, Emma and Bertha Camors, who sold Parisian perfumes and other niceties to upper-class ladies.

The bountiful Jazz Brunch buffet (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) features more than 80 hot and cold menu items, including turtle soup served all day. Breakfast items (like classic eggs Benedict and made-to-order omelets) dominate in the morning, while afternoon brings out the roast beef carving station, barbecue >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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pork ribs, Creole jambalaya, shrimp etouffee, duck a l’orange, and chicken-and-andouillesausage gumbo. Cold dishes include boiled shrimp (crawfish when available) and seafood and pasta salads. For dessert, choose from New Orleans favorites like bread pudding in whiskey sauce, pecan pie, Mardi Gras king cake and bananas Foster. (courtoftwosisters.com) Mulate’s, a rustic, down-home place with a dance floor and wood-beam ceilings, preserves the culture found in small towns along the bayous of southern Louisiana.

Billed as the “King of Cajun dine-and-dance halls,” it features Cajun and Zydeco bands nightly. Group dinner menus include a house salad or seafood gumbo followed by a choice of entree served with jambalaya and a potato side dish. Among the entrees are catfish, red beans and rice, crawfish etouffee and fried shrimp. Bread pudding with butter rum sauce rounds out the meal. Mulate’s is located in the downtown Arts District. (mulates.com) House of Blues, a French Quarter tourist haunt, is a concert venue/eatery showcasing the best in jazz, country and rock as well as blues and soul. Part of the famous chain, the Decatur Street joint charms its guests with

BB’s Stage Door Canteen at the National World War II Museum features 1940s-style entertainment.

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

colorful folk art, a Delta roadhouse atmosphere and Southern-inspired cooking.

Fare ranges from fried chicken, burgers and ribs to jambalaya, gumbo, Cajun pasta, shrimp po’boys, and shrimp and grits. The allyou-can-eat Gospel Brunch buffet on Sunday mornings, featuring the signature chicken and waffles, is great for large parties, but be warned—you could end up on stage waving a napkin and dancing off some of that delicious cuisine with the gospel singers. (houseofblues.com) Hard Rock Cafe, part of the worldwide chain of rock music-themed restaurants, lures groups with live performances, rock memorabilia and American food. The group menu offers a choice of entrees, which include, among others, the Legendary Burger (a half pound of Angus beef with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and onion ring) and Twisted Mac Chicken & Cheese (cavatappi macaroni with roasted red peppers and grilled chicken breast in a three-cheese sauce). The Bourbon Street hotspot displays items like Louis Armstrong’s silver trumpet, an Elvis Presley microphone, a Bob Dylan harmonica and an outfit worn by Britney Spears. (hardrock.com)

Groups can enjoy live traditional jazz while dining in a casually elegant atmosphere at the Palm Court Jazz Cafe. Located in a restored early 19th century warehouse in the French Quarter, it’s a stylish dinner club offering Creole fare and an old New Orleans vibe with ceiling fans, a classic mahogany bar, mosaic tiled floor, Steinway grand piano and brick walls lined with photos of jazz greats. There’s a jazz brunch Saturday and Sunday. (palmcourtjazzcafe.com) At the National World War II Museum, groups can enjoy live entertainment with a dinner, Sunday brunch or Wednesday matinee buffet lunch at BB’s Stage Door Canteen, a venue that brings back the 1940s when Hollywood favorites performed for GIs. Dinner and brunch are three-course plated meals with wine. Food is provided by the museum’s American Sector restaurant, and service concludes prior to the start of the show. Themed menus are based on the show offered. The playbill ranges from swing bands (with dancing) to tributes to the Andrews Sisters, Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra. The Victory Belles put on shows with dazzling costumes and Rockettes-style choreography. If a group of 50 or more wishes to see a dinner or matinee show when one is not scheduled, a show can be added, based on talent and Stage Door Canteen availability. The museum is nine blocks from the French Quarter. (nationalww2museum.org) Combine music, food and Mississippi River landscapes on the Dinner/Jazz Cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez paddlewheeler, with entertainment by the Dukes of Dixieland. The buffet menu includes carved roast beef, pork loin in peach sauce, blackened fish topped with crawfish etouffee, pasta primavera, red beans and rice, tossed salad in Steen’s cane syrup vinaigrette and Creole steamed spinach in a creamy Cajun cheese sauce. There’s white chocolate bread pudding for dessert. (steamboatnatchez.com) For something a little different, plan an evening of music, food and recreation at Rock ’N’ Bowl, a combination bowling alley and night club in the Uptown neighborhood.

From each of the 19 lanes you have a view of the stage where bands entertain with musical genres ranging from Cajun and Zydeco to blues and R&B. The limited menu revolves around burgers, hot dogs and chicken wings. (rocknbowl.com) —Randy Mink February 2018

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Latest

& Greatest

east Region

American Gothic Visits Whitney Museum • New York

Salisbury Honors Folk Music • Maryland

International Spy Museum to Double in Size • DC

The upcoming Grant Wood retrospective at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art will reassess the career of an artist whose most famous work, American Gothic, will be making a rare voyage from the Art Institute of Chicago for the occasion. Titled Grant Wood: American Gothic and Other Fables, the exhibition (March 2 through June 10, 2018) will be only the third survey of Wood’s work outside the Midwest since 1935. Wood’s romanticized depictions of a seemingly more innocent and uncomplicated time elevated him into a popular, almost mythic figure celebrated for his art and promotion of Regionalism, the representational style associated with the Midwest that dominated American art during the Depression.

One of America’s largest, most prestigious and longest-running celebrations of traditional arts is the National Folk Festival. It will bring as many as six stages of continuous music, a dance pavilion, traditional crafts, regional food, storytelling, parades and folk life demonstrations to downtown Salisbury. This outdoor event is free to the public Sept. 7-9, 2018.

Construction is underway on a new permanent home for the International Spy Museum in Southwest DC’s L’Enfant Plaza.

Set to be completed in fall 2018, this 140,000square-foot museum will provide more than double the floor space of the existing building.

New resources for educational programming include a lecture hall/theater and multifunction event space with sweeping views of DC.

Abbe Museum Announces New May Event: Indian Market • Maine The Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor will host the new three-day Indian Market in May 2018. Juried Indian art shows are rare in the Northeast and will draw artists from around the country. In addition, 2018 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market held in Bar Harbor each July.

Old-time music and crafts take center stage in September at the National Folk Festival in Salisbury, Maryland.

Spectacular Experiences to Amaze Your Groups!

ATLANTIC CITY

NEW YORK

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EAST

REGION

CRAFT THE PERFECT

EAST COAST DISTILLERY TOUR

Savor your craft liquor experience at Wigle Whiskey in Pittsburgh.

Sample small-batch spirits and learn about their creation in the growing array of craft distilleries

By Miles Dobis

T

he emerging network of craft distilleries in the American Northeast is a convergence of modern trends and centuries of history. The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard liquor legacy spans the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development, through the West Indian rum traders in colonial New England to the illicit gin producers in Prohibition-era New York City. With the resurgence of craft breweries, distilleries across the nation are following a similar model and developing spaces that serve as tasting rooms, restaurants and live music venues. Now hundreds of them populate the Eastern U.S., and whether or not your group members are alcohol connoisseurs, the history in these establishments flows as freely as the taps.

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

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MAINE Portland, Maine’s largest city, began as a fishing village in the 1600s and blossomed into an international trade hub during the colonial era. Rum-runners from the Caribbean often stopped by New England seaports to trade, and their preference for rum influenced the distilling tradition that lives on today. You can taste that tradition for yourself at Liquid Riot, whose Rhum Blanc is inspired by the sugar plantations of Martinique and Haiti.

You can sample other small-batch spirits in the establishment’s industrial-inspired dining room along the Portland waterfront. The expansive tasting room serves specialties like Bonfire Spirit, a citrusy whiskey made with special rye, and several IPAs and porters for those who prefer beer.

For further Portland tasting, visit Maine Craft Distilling. Your group will enjoy unique creations like blueberry moonshine and Chesuncook (a floral gin mixed with carrot juice and mint) in a wood-paneled dining space. For an in-depth look at the distilling process, venture north to the city of Union.

There groups can register for a 30-minute tour and subsequent tasting at Sweetgrass Farm Winery & Distillery. Operated by the husband-and-wife duo of Keith and Constance Bodine, the farm creates sweet dessert wines, apple brandy and cranberry gin for sampling and purchase. Groups can also embark on guided tours that show barrels and fermentation tanks for whiskey production.

MASSACHUSETTS Award-winning Berkshire Mountain Distillers has opened a new facility in Sheffield that specializes in “sensory tours.”

These hour-long experiences involve touching the raw grains, nosing spirits at various stages of production and tasting the finished product. Groups will want to sample Greylock, a floral combination of juniper and citrus flavors rated the best craft gin in the nation by the New York Times. Other highly rated offerings include cask-finished bourbon, Ice Glen Vodka and Ragged Mountain Rum. Groups can continue their craft spirits adventure in Boston, home of GrandTen Distilling. Once the largest foundry in the nation, the space has been converted into a barrel aging warehouse and bar space populated with foosball tables. Groups will enjoy a tour package that includes discussions on mixology, a history of Boston spirits and 46

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the opportunity to sample limited-run drinks.

Next, travel to the mouth of the Neponset River and Boston Harbor Distillery. This Civil War-era mill building has been repurposed to house hundreds of whiskey barrels and fermentation tanks, and tours will explain the distillery’s grain-to-glass philosophy that emphasizes direct connections with growers. Afterwards, sample some of the establishment’s signature liquors like maple cream & coffee.

NEW YORK New York City, the densest collection of restaurants and bars in North America, boasts dozens of craft distilleries that range from cramped neighborhood establishments to enormous warehouses. Especially appealing to groups are three distilleries in Brooklyn, including Greenhook Ginsmiths, which offers a behind-the scenes look at its signature American Gin process. The spirit is produced in a custom-made, 300-liter still engineered to stew and develop flavor in a completely vacuumed environment. Afterwards, try the drink for yourself in addition to signature cocktails such as the raspberry-flavored Greenhook American and Chauncey Buck— a mix of plum gin, ginger beer and lime juice. Also in Brooklyn is Cacao Prieto, a double-threat producer of spirits and gourmet chocolate made in the Domincan Republic tradition. Tours include a peek at the chocolate-making process, tastes of rum and samples of the indulgent Don Esteban chocolate liqueur. Complete your Brooklyn tour at Kings County Distillery, the oldest commercial distillery in the county. Located in the Paymaster Building in the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, the distillery came to prominence during the Whiskey Wars of the 1860s and continues to use authentic whiskey stills crafted in Scotland. Tours include stops at the on-site barley patch, wooden fermentation tanks and samples of barrel-aged bourbon.

Farther upstream in the Hudson Valley is Tuthilltown Spirits, New York’s first whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Structured around a centuries-old gristmill, the complex uses grains and fruits grown less than 10 miles away for its micro-batch creations.

Your group can savor these in a flight of five hand-crafted spirits in addition to hearty farm-fresh cuisine served in the adjoining restaurant.

Stateside Urbancraft (above); Thistle Finch (below).

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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PENNSYLVANIA The fertile hills of the Lehigh Valley produce exceptional oak trees for aging barrels, and it’s here where groups will discover Eight Oaks Craft Distillers. Vodka-lovers will enjoy the facility tour, where they can see a 25-foot “vodka column” that creates the beverage from local potatoes and ancient aquifer water. The tour concludes at the tasting barn, where you can sample gin created from soft red winter wheat, colonial-style rum that uses locally sourced molasses and applejack liquor sourced from local orchards.

Continue west to Pittsburgh for a taste of Wigle Whiskey, a local favorite that celebrates the Steel City’s role in the Whiskey Rebellion. The 1791 protest of distilled spirits was the first major domestic conflict for the young United States, and tour guides will explain its history as you taste creations like Monongahela Rye and Organic Pennsylvania Wheat. If you visit in warm-weather months, your group can relax and enjoy live music in the outdoor Whiskey Garden.

Your next stop is Philadelphia, home to Stateside Urbancraft in the revitalized Norris Park neighborhood. It’s the city’s first standalone vodka distillery and host to groups interested in the drink’s history, from its creation in medieval Poland, development in 15th-century Russia and contemporary refinement at Urbancraft. After the tour, you’re encouraged to relax in the Federal Distilling Room and enjoy a cocktail or craft brew. In nearby Lancaster is Thistle Finch, a former tobacco warehouse converted into a welcoming space where libations rule. Here you’ll learn the history of rye whiskey, Pennsylvania’s manufacturing history and the technical finesse needed to craft the perfect barrel.

In addition to its classic recipe, Thistle Finch also offers eclectic whiskey flavor additives such as black pepper and coffee to sample.

Farther north in Asbury Park you’ll find not only Bruce Springsteen’s old haunts but also Asbury Park Distilling, a sophisticated cocktail hostpot blocks from the ocean. Once you’ve toured the facility and observed the vodka taps at work, your group can relax and try signature cocktails like the No. 64 (gin with orange juice, lemongrass and coconut) and Tambussi Family Tonic (gin with lemon, orange and coriander syrup).

Depart from the shore and travel inland to Hopewell, site of Double Brook Farm and the accompanying Sourland Mountain Spirits. An extension of the popular Triumph Brewing Company, Sourland uses its farm location to grow grains, fruits and herbs

on-site and constantly refines its vodka and gin recipes. Owners Ray and Erica Dish imported state-of-the-art distillery equipment from Hungary, and they’ll explain to your group how a combination of 12 botanicals give their gin its unique aroma and sophisticated flavor.

The number of craft distilleries has increased sevenfold since the start of the decade, and these establishments are only a tip of the North Atlantic iceberg for the East Coast’s craft spirits community. Reach out to these distilleries and alert them your group is coming; all welcome larger parties and can accommodate you no matter your level of interest. LGT Boston Harbor

NEW JERSEY Amidst the boardwalks and beaches of Fairfield, New Jersey is one of the most acclaimed vodka-producers on the Atlantic: Lazy Eye Distillery. The Jersey Shore served as a port and distribution center during Prohibition, and Lazy Eye discusses this Garden State history along with the process behind its gluten-free creations and three samples after the tour. Lazy Eye is also the only U.S. distillery to legally sell raki—a Greek aperitif made from sweet grapes.

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

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weST

Brewing Up The

REGION

BeST

in The

weST

By Sue Arko

n the past, American beer was considered dull. It’s now anything but, as a fantastic selection of free-spirited microbreweries are emerging throughout the West, creating and serving local ales, pilsners, IPAs and stouts. Guided tours enhance the experience by providing an introduction to the passionate craftsmen, their stories, and behind-the-scenes looks at the art and production of the tasty brews.

I

Eric Conger

Anchor Brewing compAny

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SAN FRANCISCO Anchor Brewing Company is one of the oldest breweries in the country. Before “microbrewing” and “craft brewing” became popularized in the American lexicon, Anchor was leading a brewing revolution in San Francisco.

Its rich history can be traced back to the California Gold Rush, when German brewer Gottlieb Brekle arrived in San Francisco and bought and transformed an old beer-and-billiards saloon on Pacific Street into an American brewery in 1871. Twenty-five years later, Ernst F. Baruth and his son-in-law, Otto Schinkel, Jr., bought the brewery from Brekle and renamed it Anchor. The great fire in 1906 consumed the brewery and Prohibition shut it down in 1920, but Anchor was resurrected in 1933.

In the mid-1900s, Anchor fell on hard times. Americans were preferring the highly-marketed, “mass” light beers. But the business was saved in 1965 by a young Stanford grad named Fritz Maytag. After learning that the makers of his favorite beer were soon to close their doors, he bought 51 percent of the historic San Francisco craft brewery, rescuing it from bankruptcy.

Despite its primitive equipment and financial condition, it >> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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TEMPE, ARIZONA Based in a retired 1890s ice house, Four Peaks Brewery has helped define craft beer in the Southwest. The original home of Four Peaks in 8th Street, this Mission Revival-style brick building was transformed into a state-of-the-art brewery in 1996. In addition, the building now also serves as a quintessential neighborhood pub – the go-to spot for a locals and visitors alike.

Claiming blind ambition, dumb luck and undying thirst, a group of people obsessed with beer opened the brewery to share their passion with the community. While they create numerous varieties of beer and seasonal specialties, Kilt Lifter has always been the mainstay and is available at all times in each of the Four Peaks pubs.

One-hour tours are offered at both the original 8th Street location and the Wilson Tasting Room, which is where most of the brewing now takes place. Guests learn what goes into each pint and what makes the Four Peaks brewing process so special. The tour concludes with the sampling of the most popular brews.

In 2015, Four Peaks began partnering with Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest brewer, to help share Four Peaks and Arizona with the rest of the world. (fourpeaks.com)

DesChUtes Brewery BEND, OREGON Deschutes is one of the largest craft brewers in the U.S. and has been a vibrant fixture in downtown Bend since 1988. Its success has been built on two beers: a black, beautifully balanced porter called Black Butte, and Mirror Pond, pure pale ale perfection.

In addition to 19 taps of great beer, Public House is a popular destination for delicious food served in a relaxed urban atmosphere. A talented culinary team creates classic pub food taken to the next level. Matching the same quality and handcrafted excellence, chefs embrace the brewers’ passion, creating dishes from scratch with the best possible local ingredients, many from local farmers and ranchers.

Spent grain from the brewing process is used in several menu items.

The brewery offers tours called “Beerventures” for $5 per person. It is a 45-minute guided walking tour and includes two complimentary beer samples on the tour route. (deschutesbrewery.com) LGT

Enjoy signature beers in Anchor Brewing Company’s taproom (above) or Deschutes Brewery’s “Beerventure” (center and below).

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

Anchor Brewing Company

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON Located in the heart of the Cascadia, the Fish Tale Brewery is Olympia’s oldest Brewpub. Known simply as “The Pub,” it is the flagship of Fish Brewing Company and since 1993 has been home to tasty ales, including the award-winning Fish Tale Ales.

Patrons, from first-timers to stalwart regulars, enjoy some of the freshest ales in the region.

In the beginning, the Pub and the company’s brewery were housed in the same building. With the brewery's 1996 move to larger facilities, the Pub expanded, more than tripling its original seating. A cold-food tap room known as the Fishbowl has since transformed into a full-fledged restaurant with a menu featuring local meats, breads and produce. The Pub offers 24 taps of beer and cider such as Fish Tale Ales, Leavenworth Biers and Spire Mountain Ciders. This might seem overwhelming to first-timers, so the knowledgeable staff is available to help make the selection process a little easier.

Fish Brewing Company also has locations in Woodlinville wine country and Tacoma. (fishbrewing.com)

Deschutes Brewery

FoUr peaks Brewery

Fish Brewing Company

Deschutes Brewery

survived, and nearly 100 years after Gottlieb Brekle founded the brewery, Maytag began bottling Anchor Steam Beer. By 1975, Anchor had produced four other distinctive beers – Anchor Porter, Liberty Ale, Old Foghorn Barleywine Ale and the first annual Christmas Ale. Maytag moved the operation to the current building in San Francisco’s Potrero Hill in 1979. Excellent 90-minute guided tours are available, complete with tastings.

Tours encompass three floors of the brewery and include a glimpse of craft brewing traditions, San Francisco history and the story of Anchor. All tours conclude with a tasting in the taproom. Across the street is the new Anchor Public Taps, a new pilot brewery and bar where you can hang out with a beer and grab a bite from local food trucks. (anchorbrewing.com)

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Latest

& Greatest

west Region

Genghis Khan Invades Reagan Library • California The most comprehensive exhibition of Genghis Khan and his treasures invades the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library through August 19, 2018, its only Southern California stop on an international tour that has drawn more than a million visitors.

As the exhibit strikingly portrays, Genghis’ reputation as the greatest conqueror is welldeserved. He dominated three times more land in his lifetime than either Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great, a conquest attested to by the formidable array of swords, bows, arrows, saddles and armor included on display in Genghis Khan. In fact, the historic exhibition showcases hundreds of artifacts from Genghis’ 13th century empire, the largest such collection ever to tour.

However, this special exhibition presents a more complete image of the legendary leader whom Time Magazine and CNN named “The Man of the Millennium.” As visitors discover, Genghis not only created the nation of Mongolia and its written language, but his lineage established the modern borders of India, Iran, Korea and China as well as opened the trade routes that united East and West forever.

Foodways of the West Honored During 34th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering • Nevada Not surprisingly, Western cattle ranching communities prepare a lot of beef. With immigration came food traditions that mixed with Native American cuisine. All will be represented in workshops and presentations at the 34th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering from January 29 to February 3, 2018 in Elko, Nevada.

The event honors the contemporary culture and heritage of Basques and buckaroos in the Great Basin and the Basque Country, including their food traditions. Hands-on workshops are a popular part of the event, and those that teach foodways are usually the first to sell out.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s Genghis Khan exhibit includes the sophisticated military technology he used to conquer Asia.

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>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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INT’L

Five Delectable

Culinary Experiences

By Lance Harrell

in San Jose, Costa Rica

B

ursting with adventure and cultural travel options, Costa Rica is always a crowd-pleaser. The only difficulty in building an applause-worthy itinerary for your group is deciding what to leave out.

Food, however, is another matter entirely.

As dining becomes an ever-important aspect of any travel experience, striking the balance between sampling local flavors and meeting the needs of your group can be challenging, especially in a developing country. Here is where I come in.

Having lived in Costa Rica for over 12 years, I have been blessed (and occasionally cursed) with the opportunity to sample nearly 500 restaurants, from rural mom-andpop sodas (mini-restaurants) featuring traditional arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and beachside “catch-of-the-day” fish taco stands, to elite, reservation-only, Michelin-starred establishments.

Beyond coffee and chocolate, Costa Rica is not known for its culinary scene, having LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

A rich blend of domestic and international flavors awaits your group

Salon Indio (top) is one of seven themed rooms at Tin Jo, which serves Pan-Asian specialties such as Salmon Coco.

adopted more of an import-based philosophy regarding food. If you are looking for the best places to find the most authentic traditional Costa Rican dishes, they are, in my opinion, at the little sodas tucked away in every town or roadside rest stop. While many gems do exist among them, they are not the best places for a group, as they simply lack the capacity needed to accommodate large numbers.

However, thanks to its ideal geographical location, ballooning tourism industry and growing affluent population, I have witnessed the Costa Rican foodie scene diversify and mature over the last decade with both traditional and fusion establishments offering up delicious dining options.

While I could easily list scores of excellent eateries, here I have focused on the capital, San Jose, and tried to provide a few options for either a planned group or for your members to experience on their own.

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La Esquina de Buenos Aires

Hotel Grano de Oro

Pescatore

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to dine on grilled Argentinian cuts of steak, sipping a glass of perfectly matched Argentinian wine and soaking in the colorful atmosphere of a San Telmo bistro while soft, yet passionate tango music plays in the background? If you haven’t, add the experience to your list, then in big bold letters next to it write “La Esquina de Buenos Aires, San Jose, Costa Rica.”

Argentina is famous for its beef and its bistros, and the little slice of this legacy that is La Esquina de Buenos Aires does that tradition proud. Although several vegetarian options exist, the main attractions here are for the carnivores in your group. Come hungry, pace yourself and leave satisfied. (laesquinadebuenosaires.net)

Located in a series of exquisite Victorian homes once owned by the locally prominent Pozuelo family, Hotel Grano de Oro takes its name from the Costa Rican slang term for the coffee bean, which translates to “grain of gold.”

Whether your group is dining in the elegant indoor dining room or enchanting open-air inner courtyard, the French chef, Francis Canal Bardot, offers a refined take on French Mediterranean cuisine, using local Costa Rican ingredients that will delight even the most selective foodie in your group. (hotelgranodeoro.com)

It would be a tragedy to bring your group to Costa Rica and not indulge in one of the prime delicacies Latin America has to offer – seafood. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and Caribbean Sea to the east, Costa Rica is a perfect destination for experiencing the fresh bounty of the sea, and nobody does it better than Restaurante Pescatore.

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Peru, Peruvian chef Regis Molina serves up a creative and original fusion of Mediterranean and Peruvian creations. Fans of ceviche in your group? They offer six varieties, including some with passion fruit or avocado. While there are plenty of dishes featuring nonaquatics as well, the main reasons for visiting Pescatore are the wonderful fish and seafood offerings. (pescatorecr.com)

My RecoMMendations: STARTERS

• Vitel Tone – beef slices covered with a tuna and anchovy sauce topped with capers • Marlin Ahumado – thin slices of smoked marlin with arugula ENTREES

• Lomito al Malbec – tenderloin beef in a Malbec wine and rosemary sauce with potatoes au gratin.

• Chorizo – Argentinian sausage served with linguini in an olive oil, black pepper and Parmesan cheese sauce DESSERTS

• Crêpe de Banana Flambeé – banana crêpe rum flambé served à la mode • Mousse "La Esquina" – made of chocolate, orange peel, ground coffee and served with walnuts

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My RecoMMendations: STARTERS

• Raviolo dede Conejo Confit – homemade rabbit ravioli, carrot foam, rabbit jus • Pâté de Campagne – country pate, black currant mustard, brioche crostini ENTREES

• Corvina Cardamomo – sautéed Costa Rican sea bass, jumbo prawn, wilted spinach, cardamom essence • Portobello Relleno – roasted Portobello mushroom stuffed with braised beans, tomato marmalade, herbed quinoa, sautéed zucchini and cauliflower couscous DESSERTS

• Tres Leches – three milk cake, a traditional Costa Rican dessert • Marquise de Chocolate – dark chocolate marquise, red wine poached pear, sweet gorgonzola

My RecoMMendations: STARTERS

• Tartar de Atun y Aguacate – fresh cubes of tuna softly marinated with ginger, lemon, soy and sesame • Carpaccio de Salmon – salmon slices, marinated with soy vinaigrette with avocado and arugula ENTREES

• Corvina Portobello – corvina in dry tomato juice, Portobello and a touch of butter and white wine, accompanied by angel hair pasta • Salmon Pescatore – grilled salmon fillet, topped with a layer of Portobello slices, tomato and onion seasoned with soy sauce and accompanied by rosemary potatoes

>> LeisureGroupTravel.com

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Kalu

Tin Jo

This trendy, relatively new choice on the San Jose culinary scene takes its name from the Kuna Yala (Panamanian Indian) word for “meeting place.” Camille Ratton, a chef of French and Costa Rican origin, bases the restaurant on the concept that the act of eating in the company of others constitutes the cornerstone of civilization by building ties between members of the community.

A full coffee bar and generous dessert menu are the highlights of the open-air, naturally lit eatery, the perfect place for your group to have a respite from the tour trail and reenergize themselves. The entrée menu is nothing to slouch at either, with a varied selection of dishes combining Costa Rican, Taiwanese and American elements. The on-site bakery is perfect for grabbing a little something for the road before getting back on the bus. (kalu.co.cr)

Delivering delicious Pan-Asian cuisine, Tin Jo resides in the expansive former house of Don Cuco Arrieta, notable as the first kidnap victim in Costa Rican history. But don’t worry – the only dangers you will face are getting your group to decide in which of the seven immersive, beautifully decorated themed rooms they wish to dine and perhaps getting them to leave this warm and inviting dining atmosphere.

Featuring traditional and idiosyncratic dishes from India, China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, greater Southeast Asia and a little Costa Rica thrown in for good measure, Tin Jo’s extensive menu can at first blush seem overwhelming, but within its pages your group will find true culinary enlightenment. They also have an extensive vegetarian and gluten-free menu. (tinjo.com)

My RecoMMendations:

My RecoMMendations:

STARTERS

• Crema de Tomates – served with crostini of bread with pesto and creamy goat cheese • Tortilla Espanola – with salmon cured in coffee, mini green asparagus peelings and apple cider vinaigrette ENTREES

• Grilled Scallops – Beurre Blanc Sauce – lemon and basil sauce, on farro, asparagus tips and colored tomatoes • Risotto del Bosque – porcini, crimini, oyster and Portobello mushrooms served with Parmesan flakes DESSERTS

• Tarte Tatin – homemade baked apple pie with cinnamon and caramel • Pie de Maracuya – Passion fruit pie filled with cream

STARTERS

• Maya’s Miso Soup – seaweed-based broth with miso, tofu, carrots and scallions • Samosas – Indian curried potato and pea turnovers with tamarind chutney

Shrimp and pineapple curry is a favorite of diners at Tin Jo, an eclectic Pan-Asian restaurant in San José.

ENTREES

• Vegetarian Green Curry – bok choy, Swiss chard, French beans and shiitake mushrooms in green curry paste • Korean Chapche – sweet potato noodles sautéed with vegetables and choice of meat or vegetarian DESSERTS

• Fried Banana Tempura – with coconut ice cream • Rosemary Polenta Short Cake – with organic strawberries and Chantilly

Kalu

LeisureGroupTravel.com <<

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