Midwest: Trailblazing in Missouri

on location: midwest â?–

randy mink

Trailblazing In SLICES OF FRONTIER LORE ENCHANT GROUPS TOURING THE

SHOW ME STATE

The Tom Sawyer riverboat, departing from downtown St. Louis, offers one-hour sightseeing cruises on the Mississippi River.

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herever tourist paths lead, reminders of our pioneer past crop up every step of the way on a journey through Missouri. Travels back to the 1800s, when America was young, fresh and eager to explore its Western horizons, stirs up a sense of discovery

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and whiffs of nostalgia. Visions of Lewis & Clark, Mississippi riverboats, Tom Sawyer and the Pony Express create a colorful mosaic as you crisscross Missouri, a Midwestern state with a westward tilt. There’s Civil War history as well.

Historical attractions, from Mark Twain sites in Hannibal to the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, fit well into group itineraries. Museums in St. Joseph spotlight the noble Pony Express and infamous Jesse James.

For me, Missouri starts in St. Louis, LeisureGroupTravel.com

home of the mighty Gateway Arch, Museum tells the story of St. Louis from which symbolizes the city as a portal to its frontier days in the 1700s, covering the American West. As an Illinois stu- everything from early fur traders and the dent who attended the University of Civil War to Cardinals baseball and civil Missouri-Columbia for four years, I rights struggles of the 1960s. An entire crossed the Mississippi River at St. gallery is devoted to the St. Louis Louis on many treks to the campus. My World’s Fair. Another major exhibition residence halls were named for Lewis & focuses on the life of aviation pioneer Clark and Mark Twain, names com- Charles A. Lindbergh and his historic monly encountered across the state.

1927 transatlantic flight on the Spirit At the Gateway Arch, a tourist magnet on grassy grounds sloping to the downtown riverfront, activities range from viewing the gianttory of wedding fashion. Docentscreen movie Lewis & Clark: Great led tours of the museum are availJourney West to riding the tram to able at $3 per person. General the top of the 630-foot silvery span. admission to the museum is free; For another perspective, consider a there is a fee for some special exMississippi River sightseeing cruise hibitions. (mohistory.org) on the replica steamboats Tom If visiting the St. Louis area, don’t overlook the Missouri River Sawyer and Becky Thatcher. city of St. Charles. Though I had Under the Arch, at the excelbeen to St. Louis many times, I lent, free-admission Museum of had always bypassed it until my Westward Expansion, follow in the footsteps of Native Americans, trip this past spring. St. Charles, Lewis & Clark, cowboys, soldiers with a population of 283,000 and and pioneers. More free exhibits just 10 minutes from St. Louis await at the nearby Historic Old International airport, is a major Courthouse, where Dred Scott, a urban center, but its historic slave, asked for his freedom in a fashopping district, the largest in mous case that preceded the Civil Missouri, is a charming place to Exhibits recall the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair.

War. The museums, boat cruises commune with the past. and Arch are all part of the Jefferson Na- of St. Louis. Treasures of Napoleon, runAlong the brick sidewalks of treetional Expansion Memorial, a National ning from Nov. 21, 2010, to Feb. 13, lined, brick-paved Main Street, more Park Service site. (gatewayarch.com) 2011, will shine a light on France’s than 70 specialty shops housed in 19th Forest Park, west of downtown, is Napoleon Bonaparte, whose govern- century brick buildings purvey ananother focal point for visitors, offering ment negotiated the Louisiana Purchase tiques, artwork, luxury soaps, candles, such free attractions as the St. Louis with the fledgling United States. gourmet foods, British imports, and For groups, the Missouri History Mu- other craft and gift items. Restaurants Zoo, St. Louis Science Center, St. Louis Art Museum and Missouri His- seum can arrange for historical characters range from fine dining salons to casual tory Museum. Larger than New York’s (like a Civil War spy or abolitionist mar- cafes and a microbrewery set in a 1760s Central Park, the vast green oasis was tyr) to perform in one- and two-person grist mill. Exposed beams and brick the site of the 1904 World’s Fair, offi- plays. The 15- to 20-minute presenta- walls accent many dining rooms, and cially the Louisiana Purchase Exposi- tions ($75) include a brief question-and- patios appeal to al fresco fans. Cliption; its Fine Arts Palace houses the St. answer period. The same charge applies clopping horse carriages and old-style Louis Art Museum. to private curator talks on such subjects as gas lamps add to the ambience. Many The group-friendly Missouri History the World’s Fair, Lindbergh and the his- festivals spice the calendar.

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on location: midwest ❖ The St. Charles CVB can provide step-on and walking tour guides in period dress. Sights include Missouri’s First State Capitol (restored to its 182126 appearance) and the riverfront Lewis & Clark Nature Center and Boathouse.

The latter attraction features replica boats used by the Lewis & Clark Expedition, which headed west from St. Charles in 1804. A complimentary trolley serves the historic district.

LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI Hannibal, about two hours north of St. Louis, is custom-made for group tours and was a highlight of my recent Missouri trip. Brimming with 19th century charm, the Mississippi River town was the boyhood home of America’s most famous author, providing inspiration for Samuel Clemens (better known as Mark Twain) to create the tales of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. A year-long calendar of festivities in 2010 will observe the 100th anniversary of his death and 175th anniversary of his birth.

With a Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum ticket, group members can take a self-guided walk through the compact historic district, mixing visits to seven museum buildings with stops in downtown gift and antique shops, art

Relive the Old West at the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence.

galleries, cafes, bakeries and ice cream parlors. The ticket allows entrance into the Interpretive Center, Mark Twain Boyhood Home, Huckleberry Finn House and Museum Gallery, among other places with a Twain connection.

The Museum Gallery, two blocks from the boyhood home, boasts one of Twain’s trademark white coats and 15 original Norman Rockwell oil paintings that illustrated special editions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Besides dozens of Twain books in museum shops, you will find huckleberry jam, huckleberry syrup, even huckleberry pretzels. (marktwainmuseum.org)

Tales of Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher enchant visitors to Hannibal.

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Visitors also can tour the historic district via trolley, Twainland Express “choo choo” or horse-drawn wagon.

Sightseeing and dinner cruises are available on the Mark Twain Riverboat; groups can book lunch cruises as well.

For panoramic views of Old Man River, go to Lovers Leap (outside of town) or hike to the blufftop Mark Twain Memorial Lighthouse, passing the Tom & Huck statue at the end of Main Street.

Two actors in town portray America’s first worldwide celebrity in onehour shows full of humor and satire.

Other entertainment options: The Spratt Family Dinner Theatre and refurbished 1906 Star Theatre, where groups can enjoy a classic movie with dinner. Downtown’s Main Street Cinema recently opened as Missouri’s first all-digital movie theater complex.

One of my favorite Hannibal taste treats was the butterscotch chocolate chip pie at Ole Planters Restaurant, a homey place in an 1836 building on Main Street. Depending on the day you visit, pies (featured on the Food Network) may include German chocolate, gooseberry, apple cream cheese or strawberry rhubarb. The vinegar pie is a bit like custard or chess. Other crowd-pleasers are the burgers, barbeLeisureGroupTravel.com

and beef, chicken-fried steak and pork tenderloin sandwich with barbecue sauce.

In a wooded hollow south of town, more Twain lore surfaces on tours of Mark Twain Cave. As a boy, Clemens explored the cave, which he mentions in five of his books but made famous in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The cave complex also includes Cameron Cave, the newest of Missouri’s 18 show caves open for tours; the intricate maze is toured only by lantern.

On the other side of the state, Independence is a city jampacked with things for groups to see and do. The National Frontier Trails Museum tells the story of hardy traders, trappers and settlers who headed west from Independence, the jumping-off point of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails. Groups can tour the city on Pioneer Trails Adventures’ mule-drawn covered wagons. Grand historic homes, like the 1852 Bingham-Waggoner Estate and 1881 Vaile Mansion, also take visitors down the past lane.

125 spacious guest rooms 2 meeting rooms for corporate or social events 10 spectacular Walk of Fame Suites 5 Cosmic King – Jacuzzi Rooms Rooftop Terrace Bar with fabulous downtown views Luxurious lobby and sleek décor Convenient location - just steps from The Pageant,Washington University, Forest Park, MetroLink and more.

For further information, contact a reservation specialist at 877.872.1122

WILD ABOUT HARRY Historic Independence Square, where thousands began their journey west, abounds with restaurants, specialty and antique shops, and historical sites like the 1859 Jail and Marshal’s Home. Dominating the square is the Historic Jackson County Truman Courthouse, where Independence native Harry Truman began his political career as a county judge.

Truman’s first job was at nearby Clinton’s Soda Fountain, a delightful lunch or ice cream stop.

Truman’s home on Delaware Street, where he lived from 1919 until his death in 1972, is not conducive to large groups because guided tours are limited to eight people (and it’s closed for renovations through next spring). But the exhibits and films at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, one of the best presidential museums in the country, can keep guests engaged for hours. Groups can walk into a replica Oval Office, take part in interactive “Decision” theaters and visit the graves of Harry and Bess.

This year a special exhibit with photographs (some never seen before) and rarely seen artifacts marks the 125th anniversary of Truman’s birth in Lamar, LeisureGroupTravel.com

The difference is night and day…

www.MoonriseHotel.com

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on location: midwest ❖ participants to take on the roles of Truman and his advisers. (trumanlibrary.org) The Missouri River town of St. Joseph, an hour north of Kansas City, overflows with stories of frontier daring, none more compelling than the Pony Express. A legendary chapter in American history that began on April 3, 1860, the short-lived transcontinental mail service between St. Jo and Sacramento is immortalized in the Pony Express Museum, which occupies the stables where the riders left on horseback. Museumgoers see what riders confronted—wild animals, brutal weather, bands of Indians—and The Pony Express Monument in St. Joseph commemorates the city’s pioneer heritage. get a look at a typical relay station, where the rider had about Mo. His post-presidency office at the li- two minutes to get a drink, go to the brary, closed for restoration since 2006, bathroom and change the mochila (sadjust reopened to the public. dle bag) over to a fresh horse.

The library can offer rooms for lunch The Pony Express office was at the and special programs for groups, or an Patee Hotel, now the Patee House appearance and press conference with Museum. A rambling, high-ceilinged the 33rd commander in chief. For stu- building that served as a hotel three dent and adult groups, the White times, a girl’s college twice and a shirt House Decision Center half-day pro- factory for more than 80 years, the mugram recreates the West Wing for a seum is crammed with antiques, from hands-on history simulation that allows fire trucks and vintage cars to a covered wagon and locomotive.

Peek into shops on the “Streets of Old St. Jo,” including a fully stocked general store and the dentist office of Walter Cronkite’s father. Visitors can sip a sarsaparilla and listen to the nickelodeon in the 1854 Buffalo Saloon and ride the 1941 Wild Thing Carousel, whose lead animal is a Pony Express horse.

Groups like the Pony Express Museum in St. Jo. On the Patee House 44 August 2009

grounds is the Jesse James Home Museum, a small frame house where the outlaw was shot and killed in 1882 by fellow gang member Bob Ford. See the famous bullet hole, James’ death photo and items found in his grave during the 1995 exhumation.

Groups will be fascinated by the Glore Psychiatric Museum, once known as State Lunatic Asylum No. 2. On display are a tranquilizer chair and other devices used to treat mental illness. During a tour, one group member gets to try on a straitjacket. Everyone pauses to examine a piece of art made from the contents of a patient’s stomach—buttons, pins, nails, etc. The museum complex also includes galleries devoted to St. Joseph history and local black culture.

Whether your group is searching for quirky curiosities, pioneer heritage or big-city excitement, a Missouri odyssey promises tour trails ripe with discovery.

Adventure awaits those who chart a course through the land of Mark Twain, Lewis & Clark and the Pony Express. LGT

PLAN IT! Missouri Division of Tourism: 800-519-2100, visitmo.com St. Louis CVC: 800-916-0092, explorestlouis.com Greater St. Charles CVB: 800-366-2427, historicstcharles.com Hannibal CVB: 866-263-4825, visithannibal.com Independence Tourism Department: 800-748-7323, visitindependence.com St. Joseph CVB: 800-785-0360, stjomo.com For more Missouri group tour ideas, see the article on Kansas City, Springfield, Joplin and Branson attractions at www.leisuregrouptravel.com/2009/Missouri _Ideas.pdf

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on location: midwest ❖

brittany schmidt

Chicago Girlfriend Getaways

ALL THAT GLITTERS A visit to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without stopping in one of the city’s renowned museums. From Oct. 23, 2009 – March 28, 2010, Chicago’s Field Museum welcomes visitors to its cool new exhibition, The Nature of Diamonds. The Field’s group sales department (312-6657300, fieldmuseum.org) has designed an immersion itinerary around the exhibition with women of all ages in mind.

Suggested group excursions: • Take a walking tour of the famous Tiffany domes of Chicago • Create your own sparkle – beaded necklaces, earrings or bracelets with a jewelry-making expert • Learn about the “Four C’s” of diamonds with a diamond buyer • Enjoy a South African wine lunch or dinner at Lawry’s The Prime Rib • Relax with a private champagne tasting and presentation • Indulge in a luxurious spa treatment GREEN GIRLFRIENDS North Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile offers a huge variety of fine retailers, restaurants and hotels. Girlfriends 46 August 2009

Gal groups like downtown Chicago.

GRN nail and facial therapies were designed to combat the adverse effects of environmental toxins on the skin while promoting relaxation and rejuvenation.

Customizable group packages are available. (945 N. State St., 312-753-6500; exhalespa.com) Chicago’s First Lady Cruises.

Architecture cruises (through Nov. 22) showcase some of Chicago’s most beautiful and famous buildings. The company embraces a comprehensive program to limit the environmental impact of its cruises. Its three vessels use 11 percent biodiesel fuel and recycle used oil, batteries, beverage containers, cardboards and papers. Brochures are printed on recycled paper and cruise maps are recycled as guests disembark. (Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, 847-358-1330, cruisechicago.com)

free-range naturally fed beef, biodynamic wines and more. Of course, the 2008 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence doesn’t hurt either. (200 E. Chestnut St., 312-280-5454, saloonsteakhouse.com) NoMi Lounge and Garden in the Park Hyatt. This is a fabulous place to sip on some organic cocktails while waiting for reservations, meeting up with friends or just taking a few moments to kick back. The lounge’s signature drinks are crafted with organic vodka from Peak Spirits in Colorado and fresh-grown produce from Harvest Moon farms. (800 N. Michigan Ave., 312-239-4030, nomirestaurant.com) Exhale Spa. Exhale’s GRN (Grow, Restore, Nurture) product line is an ecoconscious, paraben-free skincare line that produces visible results while honoring Exhale’s dedication to sustainability. The

TRENDY TREASURES For those hip ladies who live to shop, the Belmont area can’t be beat. A short trip north of downtown, Belmont offers a great range of trendy, fashion-forward shops anchored at the intersection of Clark Street and Belmont Avenue. Shops offer a wide variety of clothes, accessories and other gear for any style you can think of. Favorites include The Alley, Tragically Hip, Pink Frog, Fashion Tomato and Hollywood Mirror. There are plenty of specialty shops selling used books, posters and gifts. Restaurant choices for those allday shopping jaunts include Ann Sather, the Swedish restaurant famous for its brunch menu; Philly’s Best, specializing in Philadelphia-style pizza and sandwiches; Shiroi Hana, a reasonably-priced sushi restaurant; and Giordano’s, featuring Chicago’s deep-dish pizza. LGT

will have no trouble enjoying this fashionable area in a totally eco-friendly way.

Consider the following: Saloon Steakhouse. Enjoy an earthfriendly dinner at one of Chicago’s greenest restaurants. Saloon Steakhouse uses re-usable table coverings, energy-efficient lighting, recycled menus and to-go paper,

© City of Chicago/GRC

THERE’S NOTHING AVERAGE about today’s woman. She works hard and takes care of her family, whether that means plants, pets or children. She does it all. So why would she expect any less from a getaway with her girlfriends?

From Lake Michigan to the Magnificent Mile to that hidden local hotspot, Chicago is a great destination for any group of women looking to relax, have fun and create some fantastic memories.

Here are a few options:

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ILLINOIS The Central Illinois town of Pontiac now has 19 outdoor murals for visitors to see. More than 150 artists from around the country, a creative group known as the Walldogs, gathered in Pontiac the last weekend in June to paint 18 outdoor, wall-size murals commemorating the town’s commercial, social and cultural history. A map/guide to the murals is available. For those who are unable to walk to all murals, the city can provide transportation and commentary via a guided tour on the Pontiac Jolly Trolley, which seats up to 30 persons and is equipped with a wheelchair lift.

Pontiac’s most famous outdoor mural, at the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, shows a giant Route 66 shield; new landscaping includes bricks taken from the original Route 66. A new addition to the outdoor exhibit area is a wishing well that originally stood at the Wishing Well Motel in Countryside, Ill. Also housed in the old city hall/firehouse complex are the Livingston County War Museum and a collection of shops selling antiques,

Stacie Evans

on our radar: midwest ❖

Striking murals provide photo opportunities in downtown Pontiac, Ill.

gifts and Route 66 souvenirs. The City of Pontiac, with the cooperation of the Vermilion Players Theatre, now offers bus tours a light-hearted musical about the historic highway that ran through Pontiac on its way from Chicago to California. The production is staged at the historic Chautauqua Park Pavilion.

Only layers of glass separate Skydeck Chicago visitors from the ground below.

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The park has two of Pontiac’s three swinging bridges, another tour attraction. (800-835-2055, visitpontiac.org) The 103rd-floor Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) now includes The Ledge, a series of glass bays that extend 4.3 feet from the building, offering unobstructed views—1,353 feet straight down. The enclosed glass boxes rest between conveyer belts and retract into the building, allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance. Located on the tower’s west side, each box can accommodate four to five people at a time, offering views of people, taxis and bridges over the Chicago River. Skydeck exhibits highlight the 110-story landmark, North America’s tallest building, and celebrate Chicago’s sports, pop culture, history, food, music and people. (312875-9447, theskydeck.com) The Wit, a 27-story boutique hotel, has just opened at one of the busiest intersections in the Loop, Chicago’s downtown business district. Facing the LeisureGroupTravel.com

Holland

Michigan

May 1-8, 2010 elevated train (“Lâ€?) tracks at State and Lake streets, the high-energy hotel is ideally situated in Chicago’s Theater District, just steps from the Goodman, Oriental and Chicago theaters. State and Lake, the ground-floor restaurant, is a contemporary gastropub offering an artisanal American menu. A glass stairway leads to Cibbo Matto (“crazy foodâ€?), a fine dining restaurant with a modern Italian menu and a 30-foot ceiling fresco. Roof is a hip, indoor-outdoor rooftop lounge where fire pits lined with bar stools, a large projection screen on an outdoor wall, live music and DJs, and a telescope for sneaking peaks into surrounding buildings are all part of the experience at one of Chicago’s most talked about bars in the sky. A menu of 20 Italian-inspired small plates is executed from Roof ’s own kitchen, with a pizza oven in the main bar area. The sleek, 298-room Wit, adorned with a yellow lightning bolt on the façade, is a operated by Doubletree. (312-4670200, thewithotel.com) INDIANA The Indianapolis Museum of Art in spring of 2010 will open 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park.

Located on 100 acres of woodlands, wetlands, a lake and meadows adjacent to the museum’s current 52-acre campus, it will be one of the largest museum art parks in the country and the only one to feature the ongoing commission of site-specific sculptures. Eight inaugural works will respond to the park’s varied environments.

One artist will create a floating island in the lake that can be approached by rowboat and explored by park visitors. The land, a former gravel pit, is bordered by the White River. Admission to the museum, including the new art park, is free. (imamuseum.org) LeisureGroupTravel.com

IOWA Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines will be the home to Pappajohn Sculpture Garden, a collection of 24 sculptures donated by John and Mary Pappajohn, well-known philanthropists in the community. A grand opening is set for September. The Pappajohns are known worldwide, and ARTnews magazine listed them as one of the top 200 art collectors in the world. The sculptures (by 15 internationally acclaimed modern and contemporary artists) purchased by the Pappajohns is the largest single public gift ($27.5 million) in Des Moines’ history and the largest public gift of art in Iowa history. The collection is expected to expand as the Pappajohns have indicated they will add to it in the future. (seedesmoines.com)

Celebrating tulips and Dutch culture for over 80 years!

Group Meals, Step-on-Guides, Group Discounts, Promotional DVD, Itinerary Assistance

Parades, Concerts, Dutch Market, National & Local Talent, And so much more!

www.tuliptime.com For group sales call 1.800.822.2770 ext. 107

MINNESOTA The exhibit Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World is scheduled from Nov. 27 through July 4, 2010 at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Visitors will learn about the many accomplishments of this founding father, following him as an ambitious teenager in Boston and then traveling with him to Philadelphia, London and Paris. Along the way, they learn about Franklin’s scientific experiments and civic initiatives and explore the world from his ever-curious point of view. On display will be some of Franklin’s own possessions – many of which have been handed down in his family and rarely seen in public. In the “Electricity Party� room, visitors get a charge out of learning about electricity.

Hands-on experiments include a “pleasetouch� generator. In another interactive display, visitors learn about printing apprentices and the challenges of setting type accurately, then set their own type on a touch screen. (651-259-3000, mnhs.org) August 2009 49

on our radar: midwest ❖

JOIN IN WITH GROUP SALES AT POTAWATOMI BINGO CASINO

Experience the bigger, better Potawatomi Bingo Casino, which now offers: • Over a hundred table games • Thousands of slots • 5 restaurants • Off-Track Betting • Woodland Dreams Ballroom

GROUP PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR BINGO OR CASINO PLAY

777 CALL 414-847-7910 GROUPSALES@PAYSBIG.COM

OHIO The Cambridge/Guernsey County VCB offers girlfriend getaway packages in cooperation with Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center (Southeastern Med). A portion of each “Think Pink: Getaways with a Purpose” package sold is donated to Southeastern Med’s Pink Link Pass, a program that provides a free mammogram for underinsured or uninsured women. The Nov. 7-8 package will take place during Dickens Victorian Village. Participants will enjoy a special preview of the Guernsey County Music & Light display, take a “Spirit of Christmas” train ride on the Byesville Scenic Railway and a carriage ride through historic downtown Cambridge, enjoy high tea at My SweeTea Pie Tea Boutique and have dinner at the Colonel Taylor Inn B&B, a Victorian mansion. There will be lots of opportu-

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Ladies groups will have a Dickens of a time in Cambridge, Ohio.

nities for holiday gift buying in the quaint shops along Wheeling Avenue.

One trip in 2010 will feature a spa treatment, style show and shopping.

On another, women will have the opportunity to participate in eco-friendly activities, including a tour of The Wilds and the Guernsey County Farmers Market. All attractions, events, restaurants

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Potawatomi Bingo Casino Located in downtown Milwaukee, Potawatomi Bingo Casino offers more than 100 table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette and much more. In addition, the Casino’s Poker Room is open 24 hours and has 20 tables of limit and no-limit Texas Hold ’Em, Omaha and Seven Card Stud. For those who enjoy horse and greyhound racing, the Off-Track Betting Room simulcasts races held at tracks across the country. With 74 high-definition TVs, you won’t miss a second of the action. Slot players have a lot to be excited about – Potawatomi Bingo Casino features 3,100 slot machines in both smoking and non-smoking areas. From high-tech video slots to the latest in progressive banks, you’ll find a game suited just for you. Bingo is still a popular choice. The 1,354-seat Nest of Life Bingo Hall, with average daily payouts of $75,000, features both smoking and non-smoking sections and fills up quickly with guests who are ready to try their luck. (paysbig.com)

Bay Mills Resort & Casinos

1721 WEST CANAL STREET MILWAUKEE, WI 53233 1-800-PAYSBIG • PAYSBIG.COM MANAGEMENT RESERVES ALL RIGHTS • MAKE A SURE BET — KNOW YOUR LIMIT ©2009 FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI COMMUNITY, WISCONSIN

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An Upper Peninsula northwoods retreat, Michigan’s only waterfront casino overlooks Waishkey Bay on Lake Superior. Operated by the Bay Mills tribe of the Ojibwe Indians, the resort features a 144-room hotel, two gaming areas, a conference center, RV park, restaurants, a sports bar and lounges. Sacy’s restaurant offers an upscale dining experience, with signature menu items like Northern Michigan Wild Berry Toast and baby back ribs. The main resort’s spacious, 15,000square-foot gaming area boasts nearly 1,000 slot and video poker machines, plus table games like blackjack, roulette, craps and three-card poker. Guests also enjoy Royal Ascot video horse racing and “live” keno throughout the complex.

There’s more gaming at the Kings Club Casino, Bay Mills’ original casino, which opened in 1984 as America’s first tribally operated blackjack casino. Shuttle buses connect Kings Club to the main resort, two miles away. Nearby is Wild Bluff Golf Course. (4baymills.com) LeisureGroupTravel.com

and lodging facilities in each of these packages are asked to donate a portion of their proceeds to Pink Link Pass. (800933-5480, visitguernseycounty.com) WISCONSIN History and Hollywood merge in The Era of Public Enemies: A Wave of Crime in a Troubled Time, the new gangsters exhibit at the Oshkosh Public Museum. Running through Oct. 18, it spotlights circumstances that led to the 1933-34 crime wave and inspired the filming of Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp.

Assorted movie props, pieces of set design and a slideshow of images illustrate what went on in front of and behind the cameras during the movie’s production in Wisconsin. Historical artifacts include weapons, a bullet-

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proof vest, 1930s car paraphernalia and hood ornaments, and a 200-pound steel jail door. Displays also document the rise of the FBI and structured law enforcement as the feds attempted to take down American gangsters. Visitors can watch reels of a John Dillinger biography or pick up a 1930s telephone

and listen to one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats. A shooting gallery lets guests experience the force behind firing the Thompson submachine gun. Living historians on select days portray gangsters, FBI agents, bartenders and bank tellers. (920-2365799, oshkoshmuseum.org)

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