Socially Distanced Tours & Talks HOW COVID-19 HAS RESHAPED THE GROUP TOUR INDUSTRY
HISTORY PROGRAMS AT YOUR LOCATION You and your group will be entertained while discovering the ordinary people from the past who lived extraordinary lives. AVAILABLE PROGRAMS:
• Sisters of Courage • Rocky’s West Side Story • Lost Lodges of Rocky • Who was the Sculptor in Buckskin?
IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Lively Tours and Talks provides step-on guide services for large group bus and motor coach tours of Rocky Mountain National Park–the perfect day trip offering for senior/rec centers, schools, vacation clubs, family reunions and other private group functions. Each tour has a mix of sightseeing, historic tales and trivia, short walks/hikes to scenic views plus the opportunity for the group to become immersed into the wilderness, wildlife, and wonder of Rocky Mountain National Park.
(970) 531-1211 livelytoursandtalks.com 30 • Colorado Byline | Summer 2020
By Todd Pernsteiner, Pernsteiner Creative Groups
Since early this year, the motorcoach/bus tour industry in Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park has been halted by most organizations, including all recreation, senior and active adult centers. A number of tours have been postponed with no set date into the future due to the uncertainty we all face. Dave Lively, owner of Lively Tours and Talks, explained that Grand Lake continues to see Colorado residents and visitors from other states such as Texas and California, but no international travelers. “These visitors typically tour Rocky Mountain National Park from the comfort of an enclosed cab 4-door pickup truck, so they are high enough to enjoy the views and animals without being in the wind on wooden benches. Scenic and animal photo stops are frequent.” Though the pandemic has postponed or cancelled group tours, Lively said requests for private guided history tours with short walks has increased over 2019 for the quieter and cooler west side of the Rocky. While health regulations did not allow any tour operations until mid-June and held guest capacities to 50% capacity after June 20, the July regulations allowed full capacity if all the guests are from the same Dave Lively (on right) leads household. a private group tour
On private tours, Lively, a certified tour guide and celebrated historian, navigates groups to off-the-beaten-path landmarks that most would miss on their own in the a vehicle. Along the way, guests hear animated stories of the unique characters and hidden narratives that helped shape the development of Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to tours, many senior and active adult centers have booked Lively to give history talks on Rocky Mountain National Park and historical figures. During the pandemic, in-person history talks have temporarily stopped, so Lively has gotten creative and now offers interactive online presentations. “With many centers open on a limited operating basis, we’ve transitioned our in-person history programming into virtual programs. These talks have been a huge success and will be continued throughout 2021 even as in-person groups are allowed to resume,” explained Lively. If you’re looking for ways to engage adult/senior populations and increase programming revenues, visit livelytoursandtalks.com to learn more about their tours and talks.
