SHOPPING, DINING & LODGING

Morse Farm Montpelier, Vermont Morse Farm in Montpelier, Vermont is open year-round with each season offering a memorable outing for bus tour passengers. Enjoy a live presentation or video about maple sugaring and the Morse family in the woodshed theater, examine the equipment used for maple sugaring in the Sugar House, trek the Maple Tree Trail or witness how the sap is collected. Visitors can also sample a variety of maple syrups and maple-flavored treats; visit an outdoor museum that includes an antique replica of the Vermont State House or shop for authentic maple syrup, other specialty foods and gift items. Selections can be mailed from the store or carried out. The two most popular seasons for tours are spring and fall. Tree-tapping (or sugarin’) takes place in the spring, has a short threeto five-week run, beginning anywhere from late February to mid-March and ending early April, depending on weather conditions. During this harvest, tour passengers can witness the maple sap being boiled down into syrup in the Sugar House and get a taste of Sugar on Snow – hot maple sugar that turns to taffy when it is drizzled over shaved ice. This is served with a fresh donut. Fall is the prime tourist season in Vermont. At Morse Farm, tour passengers can enjoy a maple creemee (soft serve ice cream flavored with authentic Vermont maple) and stroll the nature trail to take in the brilliant colors of the sugar maple leaves. No on-site dining is available, but maple creemees, Sugar on Snow and other treats, such as milkshakes and floats, are offered for sale. Drivers and escorts get a free sample.

Morse Farm welcomes bus tours anytime of year. Self-guided tours are free, and 20-minute guided tours are available for a small fee. Reservations are required from mid-September to mid-October due to the high volume of visitors. Buses can drop off and pick up passengers at the main entrance and park in the adjacent lot. Tour planners should allot at least one hour for

Morse Farm

the stop. For more details and reservations, e-mail Glee@MorseFarm.com.

The City of Gallup Gallup, New Mexico Come to the epicenter of Native American arts and shopping: Gallup, New Mexico. Gallup is 45 minutes from both the capital of the Navajo Nation and from the Zuni Pueblo. Located 30 minutes from Arizona on Interstate 40 and historic Route 66, this cozy town provides a lot for shoppers with an eye for art and culture. The Navajo and Zuni are the largest silversmithing tribes in the United States and produce a significant portion of fine Native American jewelry. With these tribes as neighbors, it is no wonder that an estimated 70 percent of Native jewelry sales come from the Gallup area. Navajo jewelry is known for its stunning silver work, which is complimented by natural gem-quality stones. Two jewelry techniques are overwhelmingly Navajo: stamp work and tufa casting. Tufa casting is the art of carving tufa stone, compressed volcanic ash, into a mold for silversmithing. These traditions are alive and well today and take on new life with contemporary art influences. Zuni Pueblo artists are known for using intricate stone inlay in their silverwork. Zuni artists create refined cluster work – a technique where a group of shaped stones rest in a bezel setting. The stone inlay of the Zuni Pueblo often involves animal shapes, use of bold color and small intricate pieces that take hours to craft.

In the Gallup area, groups have ample opportunities to connect with Native artists and to purchase one-of-a-kind arts and crafts. From Zuni Pueblo programs such as the Zuni Art Walk, where guests can visit artists in their home studios, to the Gallup Native Arts Market, held every August with more than 100 artists from six tribes in attendance, groups have a lot to explore in

Gallup. Do not miss the oldest Native arts and culture celebration: the Gallup InterTribal Indian Ceremonial, which features 20 plus Native dance groups, arts and crafts and shopping opportunities. The Gallup area is a rich location for groups in love with culture and shopping. For more information visit gallupnm.gov or e-mail Tourism and Marketing Manager Jennifer at jlazarz@gallupnm.gov.

Starved Rock State Park and Lodge Oglesby, Illinois More than 2.5 million visitors per year come to see Starved Rock State Park and Lodge, located in Oglesby, Illinois. The area is composed of stunning sandstone rock formations and seasonal waterfalls complemented by bluff views of the scenic Illinois River Valley. Centrally located at the crossroads of the Midwest (interstates 80 and 39), Starved Rock is LaSalle County's premier destination. At this National Historic Landmark,

Photo courtesy of Bandwagon LLC

Starved Rock Lodge is the only hotel. The lodge offers a wide variety of fun activities from Tribute to the Stars (musical tribute performances) to trolley tours of local attractions. Customized itineraries are available, and friendly staff is happy to coordinate the details.

Motorcoach groups find Starved Rock State Park and Lodge to be an excellent stop because of the many things to do. River cruises on the Eagle 1 are wheelchair accessible and so are the trolleys. Outdoor dining on the veranda allows guests a chance to experience the great outdoors and enjoy lunch or dinner with an amazing view. The Starved Rock Lodge Restaurant is a place for casual dining surrounded by a nostalgic feeling of yesteryear. Locally-brewed craft beer is available on tap in the Back Door Lounge along with appetizers, lunch and dinner options. The Cafe prides itself on its housemade ice cream and fudge – both of which are voted guest-favorite snacks. Starved Rock souvenirs, gifts, books and more are available at the Gift Shop and Trailheads Concessions. The self-guided Art in the Park exhibit showcases the largest collection of chainsaw carvings in the state along with steel, bronze and kinetic art. The indoor pool complex provides a relaxing way to enjoy some quiet time. Group tour operators love to come to Starved Rock for Mystery Tours, because the lodge and park are surrounded by flatlands and cornfields, the unique geology of the park is quite a surprise to those unfamiliar with this part of Illinois. Step-on guides are always

available for larger groups. For trolley tours, large groups must break down into smaller groups. For more information, visit starvedrocklodge.com or phone (815) 220-7386.

Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB Martinsburg, West Virginia Shoppers and history enthusiasts find hours of entertainment in Berkeley County, West Virginia. The rich history of the area links to events from before the Revolutionary War through the Civil War. Surrounded by historic sites, Martinsburg provides the perfect picturesque downtown for hub-and-spoke tours or good old-fashioned shopping sprees. It is time to park the bus and let tour passengers explore. The peaceful and delightful town of Martinsburg has great finds at every turn. With innumerable shopping opportunities, the quaint downtown area is sure to charm visitors. The store windows shine with artisan décor, quality clothing, spa-worthy luxuries and antiques only available in such a historic area. Word to the wise: pack an empty suitcase to carry all the new treasures one will find at the downtown shops. Feeling peckish after shopping? Groups find a selection of delicious food at Martinsburg’s many restaurants. Choose between world cuisines or simply go straight to dessert. Visits to DeFluris Fine Chocolate, Everything Cheesecake and Latte Da Cupcakery will satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. For more eclectic shops and tasty eateries, groups head 10 minutes away to Shepherdstown. Groups visiting Shepherdstown find the only thing more alive than the local arts scene is the hospitality. It is easy to make a group tour historical in Berkeley County. Historic sites like Morgan Cabin – the home of one of West Virginia’s first white

Starved Rock State Park and Lodge

settlers, the General Adam Stephen House and The George Washington Heritage Trail pull history from the past and into today. Groups can even see George Washington’s outdoor bathtub. There is an ample amount of Civil War sites, as well. Groups can visit the Martinsburg

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B&O Roundhouse to see the site once destroyed by Stonewall Jackson’s troops in 1861. Men, of course, are not the only participants in war. Check out the house of Confederate spy, Belle Boyd, at the aptly named Belle Boyd House.

These opportunities and more wait for motorcoach tours in Berkeley County. For information on how to add Martinsburg

travelwv.com, phone (304) 264-8801 or download the CVB’s free app, Visit

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