For tour groups, reunions and more, nothing beats Myrtle Beach. We proudly offer top-flight accommodations and endless activities, along with 2,000+ restaurants to enjoy. It's time to gather your crew – then bring them to The Beach.
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Atlantic City’s glittering casinos. Princeton’s Ivy League charm. Cape May’s Victorian grandeur. New Jersey has something for everyone . Explore eclectic eateries, a 3 million square-foot entertainment complex, festive holiday lights—even a larger-than-life sculpture garden. All in easy reach of NYC and Philly too!
22 Dubuque
Adventures are waiting in Iowa’s oldest city
Itineraries Sauk Centre, Minnesota Champaign County, Illinois Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
42 An Artistic Escape Creativity reigns in The Berkshires of western Massachusetts Itineraries Hagerstown, Maryland Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Newport, Rhode Island
58 Party in the Parishes Louisiana, the “Festival Capital of the United States,” shows groups a good time
Itineraries Louisville, Kentucky Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Martin County, Florida
96 Cherished Land
Rich culture and breathtaking natural resources abound in the Navajo Nation
Itineraries Wichita, Kansas Salt Lake City, Utah
IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I took a eld trip to a place called Curwood Castle, a romantic interpretation of a Norman chateau, located on the banks of the Shiawassee River in the small town of Owosso, Michigan. My fourth-grade self was enthralled as a tour guide led my class up winding staircases and inside the di erent rooms and turrets throughout, adorned with period furnishing. e castle was built in 1923 by James Oliver Curwood, an American adventure writer and conservationist—he used the castle primarily as his writing studio. Not too shabby, right?
My visit to this little castle near my hometown still holds a special magic in my memory today. Perhaps it’s because I felt a connection as a little girl who aspired to become a writer. Or maybe it’s because it reminded me of the settings in my cherished Harry Potter books. Or maybe it’s because castles just hold a certain charm that’s hard to forget. Our story on page 16 takes you inside some of America’s most beloved castles, proving you don’t have to travel to Europe to nd these enchanting estates.
We’ve lled this issue with many topics and destinations we’re sure you’ll love. On page 6, we spotlight Timo Shaw, president of VBT Bicycling Adventures—a tour company that leads active adventures across the globe. You’ll meet Lori Erickson on page 12, a travel writer and author, who discusses the popularity of genealogy travel. Our Food & Drink feature on page 14 showcases some of the newest food halls across the country that are true destinations in themselves. Other features include the Navajo Nation, arts and culture in e Berkshires, Louisiana festivals, and Dubuque, Iowa. Plus, you’ll also nd special sections showcasing the best group stops in North Carolina and Texas, and shopping and gaming destinations for your next itinerary.
As always, we appreciate your readership and support of Group Tour magazine. For more travel planning ideas, check out grouptourmagazine.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@grouptourmagazine).
Until next time,
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Courtney Birchmeier courtney@grouptour.com
BY DAVID HOEKMAN
Timo Shaw believes bicycling and walking are fantastic ways to experience the world. As president of VBT Bicycling Vacations and its sister brand Country Walkers, Shaw oversees day-to-day operations, stays in touch with colleagues around the world, and meets with guides and sta around Europe and North America. A New Zealand native, Shaw loves to travel and has visited 53 countries. We chatted with Shaw to learn more about his companies and his outlook on the group-travel industry.
A. VBT started in 1971, and we just celebrated our 50th anniversary! It was founded by a professor at Middlebury College who wanted to show people around Vermont’s beautiful farm country. We started out in a barn and have grown over time to now o er more than 70 biking tours in 30 countries. Historically, our bread and butter has been guided bik ing tours for small groups. However, just a few years ago, we introduced self-guided biking tours, which have been popular.
ese are fully planned, private vacations where we give you everything you need, including ights, hotels, turn-by-turn GPS directions with voice navigation, and a local host in case of emergency.
A. I started my career in the airline business and worked with many tour operators who were my customers. I appreciated that they made travel safe
and accessible for everyone, so I jumped at the opportunity when I was o ered a position. irty-six years later and I still love what I do.
Q. What appeals to you about the industry?
A. We get to help people responsibly explore the world, opening minds to new communities, cultures, and ideas. I believe the respectful interaction between people and the environment helps us understand and appreciate our beautiful planet. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
Q. What sets VBT Bicycling Vacations and Country Walkers apart from the competition?
A. First, it’s the authenticity of experience. When you travel by bike or on foot, you get out into the countryside and experi ence places most tourists don’t even know exist. We work exclusively with local guides—not all tour operators do—and there’s a depth of connection that comes with that. You’re visiting their hometown, meeting their friends, and trying local dishes at their favorite hole-in-the-wall bistro. It’s hard to top that!
Secondly, we put everything together in a complete package. at includes ights, airport pickups, hotels, most meals, and all your gear. You really can leave all the logistics to us.
Q. What industry trends are you noticing?
A. One trend I’ve noticed is that more guests are booking multiple tours in the
same year—o en back to back. It makes sense. Doing one ight to Europe and multiple tours is more environmentally friendly than going back and forth every few months. Plus, people are eager to make up for lost time a er the pandemic.
Q. How have you modified your offerings to meet these trends?
A. Self-guided tours are a great way to put multiple tours together in a cost-e ective way. ey’re easy to put back to back with guided tours. You can take a weeklong trip to Italy and transform it into a grand tour of Europe!
Q. What’s next for VBT Bicycling Vacations?
A. Without a doubt, e-bikes have been— and will continue to be—huge for us. ey let couples with di erent tness levels comfortably travel together.
ey let cautious cyclists try out our travel style more comfortably. ey extend the ability for riders to continue to travel. Our eet is already large, and we anticipate growing it by leaps and bounds over the next few years.
Q. Do you have any key advice to tour planners just starting out in the grouptour business?
A. Do your homework! ere are many travel styles and experiences available, and providing your guests with the one that best meets their needs will ensure they have an amazing experience and come back for more.
A. Word of mouth is big for us—many of our guests are referred by someone who’s traveled with us before. We also have a robust groups program, which encour ages people to gather their bike club, alumni group, or extended family and take over a departure.
Q. What travel destination or activity is on your bucket list?
A. We recently introduced biking and walking trips in Greece, and the feedback has been fantastic, so I’m looking forward to going there next. However, I love to travel and get joy wherever I go, so my bucket list is everywhere even if I’ve been there before—I’m a bit of a vagabond.
Q. Is there anything else our read ers should know about you or your companies?
A. We have fun! To my mind, there’s no point in being in our industry if you can’t enjoy the journey, as it were. Whether it’s annual trips to meet with guides and sta around Europe and North America, wine tastings in the o ce, or weekend rides around Vermont, we genuinely love what we do.
Country Walkers, 855-445-5609 countrywalkers.com
VBT Bicycling Vacations 800-245-3868, vbt.com
Responses to a late-summer survey of National Tour Association (NTA) tour operators show that travel demand has bounced back from pandemic lows, and while travel professionals are facing new challenges, they are also developing new solutions.
“Our tour operators are hearing a call for flexibility, choice, and individual experiences within a group itinerary, and that’s what they’re delivering,” says Catherine Prather, NTA president.
Asked about 2023 bookings for domestic travel, most NTA operators are positive: Two-thirds report that bookings are meeting or exceeding expectations, with 33% terming business as stronger than expected. Just under a quarter (23%) say bookings are not as promising as they had hoped. The outlook for overseas travel is nearly identical.
A er two years of diminished travel opportunities, tour operators are seeing packaged-travel clients return. Some report seeing a heightened desire to fulfill bucket-list trips. But not all operators are seeing the same demands.
“The range in responses and observations from our operators matches the variety of clients they serve, the destinations they visit, and the experiences they specialize in,” Prather says. “While some companies are simply picking up where they le off, others are dealing with shi s in client requests, including an interest in smaller group sizes.”
Worker shortages and supply-chain struggles have been widely reported, yet client expectations of service vary. A bigger challenge for operators is staff shortages that lead to reduced hours or days of operation among suppliers—restaurants and experience providers. They’re handling those challenges by adding flexibility and individual choice within itineraries.
“Tour operators might book fewer group meals in restaurants and instead allow clients to choose their own dining experiences,” Prather says. “They’re also providing unstructured time in the itinerary so their travelers can choose how to spend this free time.” ntaonline.com
e Government of Canada has removed all COVID19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada, e ective Oct. 1, 2022.
As of Oct. 1, all travelers, regardless of citizenship, no longer have to: submit quarantine and vaccination information through the ArriveCan app or website; provide proof of vaccination; undergo pre- or on-arrival testing; carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation; or monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving in Canada.
Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements for domestic travel. As of Oct. 1, 2022, travelers are no longer be required to: undergo health checks for travel on air and rail, or wear masks on planes and trains. Cruise measures are also being li ed. canada.ca/en/public-health
e American Bus Association (ABA) recently announced Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the site of its 2025 ABA’s Marketplace and Busworld North America. e dates of the 2025 Marketplace and Busworld North America will be Jan. 31-Feb. 4, 2025. is will be the rst time ABA has been in Philadelphia since 2011.
“We look forward to bringing our ABA’s Marketplace and Busworld North America back to Philadelphia in 2025,” says Peter Pantuso, ABA president and CEO. “Our last time there was in 2011, and since then the city has reinvented itself as a booming cultural and culinary destination.”
ABA’s next Marketplace will be held in Detroit, Michigan, Feb. 4-7, 2023. Marketplace 2024 is set for Nashville, Tennessee, Jan. 13-16, 2024. buses.org
TULIP TIME FESTIVAL
TULIP TIME FESTIVAL
May 6-14, 2023
May 6-14, 2023
Every year, over 500,000 tulip bulbs sail from the Netherlands to Holland, Michigan. These treasures are hand sown each autumn and burst forth in a riot of color each spring. Groups enjoy the festive blooms in city parks, on Windmill Island, and along miles of tulip lanes.
Every year, over 500,000 tulip bulbs sail from the Netherlands to Holland, Michigan. These treasures are hand sown each autumn and burst forth in a riot of color each spring. Groups enjoy the festive blooms in city parks, on Windmill Island, and along miles of tulip lanes.
During the first week of May, Tulip Time adds concerts, plays, and fireworks to Holland’s springtime celebration. And two parades! Tulip Time parades are some of the largest and most spectacular events in Michigan, and groups can book advance seats to watch over two miles of pure jubilation. Dutch Dancers also perform 47 times, high kicking their wooden shoes through traditional folkdances. Tulip Time’s award-winning festival is an experience that will delight everyone in your group.
During the first week of May, Tulip Time adds concerts, plays, and fireworks to Holland’s springtime celebration. And two parades! Tulip Time parades are some of the largest and most spectacular events in Michigan, and groups can book advance seats to watch over two miles of pure jubilation. Dutch Dancers also perform 47 times, high kicking their wooden shoes through traditional folkdances. Tulip Time’s award-winning festival is an experience that will delight everyone in your group.
Visit TulipTime.com for full festival details.
Visit TulipTime.com for full festival details.
State o cials and tribal leaders recently joined Visit California in unveiling a new statewide initiative designed to showcase California’s vibrant Native communities and cultural tourism experiences to travelers from around the world.
Home to more than 100 federally recognized tribes, California’s Native culture is woven into the fabric of its communities. Visit Native California will be a vital source of information on all the cultural tourism experiences visitors can nd across the state, including museums and cultural centers, outdoor experiences like hiking and boating, restaurants, tasting rooms, and so much more.
Visit Native California is funded by a federal grant awarded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act to help the communities hardest hit by the pandemic. e grant earmarks $1 million to increase awareness of and travel to the state’s cultural heritage tourism experiences.
e funding will allow Visit California to create and share stories on the Visit Native California platform, which will be housed online at visitcalifornia.com. Stories will celebrate the spirit and diversity of California’s people and promote visitation to tribes’ cultural heritage tourism experiences. visitcalifornia.com
As part of its vision for the future, Amtrak has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the Amtrak Network by 2045. This net-zero emissions target focuses on expanding efforts across Amtrak’s entire carbon footprint to reduce environmental impacts from operations while safely moving people.
“Not only are trains convenient and comfortable, they are also one of the most sustainable modes of transportation,” says Stephen Gardner, Amtrak CEO. “With new equipment, modernized stations, and net-zero emissions, Amtrak can lead the drive toward sustainable transportation throughout the nation.”
In addition to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, Amtrak plans to reduce diesel fuel use through advanced technologies and achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030.
“We are seeing a new generation of travelers who are conscious of their environmental impact,” says Amtrak’s president Roger Harris. “This is providing a significant opportunity to attract rail riders well into the future.”
amtrak.com/sustainability
Wit Tuttell, director of Visit North Carolina, has been named national State Tourism Director of the Year for 2022. e announcement came at the U.S. Travel Association’s annual Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations.
Since taking the helm of Visit North Carolina in 2013, Tuttell has led the state through a period of growth, engineering strategies that helped North Carolina become one of the top-visited states.
roughout the pandemic, Tuttell prioritized e ective communication across the state’s counties, hosting a webinar series that equipped partners with resources to help facilitate recovery e orts. Tuttell also led Count On Me NC, a public health initiative that promoted safe travel to help businesses reopen.
A er pivoting to promote more contactless travel experiences at the height of the pandemic, Tuttell shi ed the
organization to active travel promotion in spring 2021 with the campaign, “Get Back to a Better Place.” Visit NC reports the campaign strengthened the state’s market share, helping it remain one of the top ve most-visited states in 2021.
Candidates for State Tourism Director of the Year are nominated by state and territory tourism directors. ree nalists are presented annually for selection by ballot. ustravel.org
BY LORI ERICKSON
As both a travel writer and the author of a new book on tracing my family roots, I have a keen sense for the ways in which genealogy and travel are related. From visiting research centers to touring the village where your ancestors once lived, a genealogical quest provides many tempting travel possibilities. And while each person’s search is unique, tracing family roots provides rich opportunities for group travel as well.
In my book “ e Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestors, Stories, and the Spirits We Inherit,” I explore my Scandinavian roots and how genealogy can provide valuable life lessons. I travel to places that include Norway and Newfoundland, learn about Norse history, attend a Viking re-enactment, and trace the story of my great-great-grandparents from the Norwegian ords to Iowa. Along the way, I discover how outer journeys can lead to inner growth.
I hope readers will use my book as a springboard for their own genealogical travels. While most people start their search for family roots online, the itch to hit the road o en follows. at’s when group tours can be especially valuable. Two of the top destinations are the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is one of the world’s largest genealogy centers, and e Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which houses the second-largest genealogy center in the United States. Other major research institutions include the American Family Immigration History Center at Ellis Island in New York, the National
Archives in Washington, D.C., and the New York Public Library.
Groups can also visit centers geared to speci c ethnicities and groups.
e Norwegian American Genealogical Center in Madison, Wisconsin, for example, provided invaluable help to me while I was researching my book. No matter what your background, there’s an institution that can be of help, from the Puget Sound Genealogy Center in Washington state and the Germanic Genealogy Society in Minnesota to the National Hispanic Cultural Center in New Mexico.
Tour leaders can hire professional genealogists to assist in the exploration of sites such as Colonial Williamsburg and Civil War battle elds, adding an extra layer of meaning to these historic landmarks. Trips to countries that sent large numbers of emigrants to America o en bene t from a genealogy component as well. Visitors to Ireland, for example, can explore the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork. And cruise lines have long been aware of the popularity of tracing family roots, many o ering genealogy-themed trips to ports of call around the world.
Given the fact that genealogy is one of the world’s most popular hobbies, heritage travel—as this segment of the travel market is sometimes called—is likely to continue to grow. at’s because there’s no substitute for seeing a piece of your family history in person, whether it’s a
grave marker; a baptismal record written in a spidery, 18th-century hand; or the church where your great-grandparents were married. I know that one of my peak travel experiences was gathering a handful of soil from the farm in Norway where my great-great-grandfather lived before emigrating to the United States in 1850. As travel planners and group-tour leaders, you can help others have these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Lori Erickson is a travel writer in Iowa City, Iowa, and the author of “ e Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestors, Stories, and the Spirits We Inherit.”
Discover your place to getaway. To indulge and enjoy it all your way. This is your day of adventure. Your day to win. So come and go all-in. There’s delicious dining, king-size luxury, big-time winning and so much more at Michigan’s most exciting destination.
Food halls bring almost endless options to group dining
BY COURTNEY BIRCHMEIER
Planning group dining can be a tricky part of itinerary prepa ration. With a motorcoach full of guests who have di erent tastes, dietary needs, and pref erences, choosing restaurants that will exceed all expectations can feel daunting. Enter the food hall. e concept isn’t new—a building or open-air space for multiple food vendors to serve their chosen delicacies—but it’s also not going away anytime soon. Hundreds of food halls exist throughout the country, in cities big and small, and more are pop ping up every year—proving that these food establishments have a broad appeal. e following three food halls opened their doors over the last several years and welcome groups to savor their tasty culinary o erings.
THE GARAGE FOOD HALL
Opened in January 2021, e Garage Food Hall in Indianapolis, Indiana, features 20-plus food, beverage, and retail vendors in its 38,000 square feet of space. As the city’s rst food hall, it brings a variety of culinary styles to the heart of the city as part of the new Bottleworks District.
e $300 million district is a 12-acre, urban, mixed-use development that reimagines the once-iconic Coca-Cola bottling plant in downtown Indianapo lis, built in 1931. e Garage Food Hall occupies two of the former bottling plant’s original garage buildings.
“ e sheer size of the food hall makes it much di erent from other markets and food halls, along with its history” says RoseAnn Haedt, director of public rela tions at Geronimo Hospitality Group. “Each vendor is independently owned and operated. e architecture, attention to detail, and furnishings all make it incredibly unique.”
Vendors include the likes of Clancy’s Hamburgers, Hard Truth Distillery, J’s Lobster & Fish Market, Lick Ice Cream, and Poke Guru, among many others.
“ e Garage o ers something for every taste and diet,” Haedt says. “Every one in a group can order something di erent and dine at a table together.”
Groups of all sizes are welcome at e Garage. ere are seating options both inside and outside, and all food is counter service.
e Garage Food Hall is located footsteps away from Bottleworks Hotel and plenty of entertainment options like Pins Mechanical, Living Room eaters, restaurants, a spa, and retail establish ments. garageindy.com
Set in the circa 1912 former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad depot building in Sheridan, Wyoming, Wel come Market Hall serves a side of history alongside its culinary fare. e food hall opened in 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and lives to tell the tale.
Welcome Market Hall features four kitchens, two bars, a wine shop, a cafe, a patio, and event spaces. e stimulat ing space can accommodate up to 300 patrons at a time.
“We o er several types of cuisine showcasing the best ingredients and culinary techniques Sheridan has to o er,” says Travis Egan, general manager at Welcome Market Hall. “Our chefs have traveled the country training in some of the top restaurants from New York,
Chicago, Florida, and the West Coast and are eager to elevate the culinary scene in Wyoming. We can host large groups with or without notice and certainly have something for everyone.”
Must-eats include Welcome Market Hall’s Neapolitan-style pizzas, which use ingredients imported from Italy. ere’s also handmade pasta, including fettuc cini, ravioli, and gnocchi. e hall’s Asian concept features dishes such as authentic Japanese-style ramen, handmade egg
rolls, and ve-spice pork belly bao buns. Its American kitchen serves dishes like ame steak and wagyu rib steak.
“What sets us apart from other food halls is our attention to detail, top quality ingredients, and our ability to host large events,” Egan says. “Our cuisine is unique and authentic.” welcomemarkethall.com
A new culinary destination made its debut in Boston, Massachusetts, in March 2022. High Street Place is a 20,000-square-foot food hall featuring 20-plus vendors that showcase some of Greater Boston’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, brewmasters, cocktail experts, and co ee roasters.
High Street Place’s historic structure is infused with modern sensibilities. e space is marked by a ve-story atrium, a green wall, a retractable window wall system that opens during warmer months for open-air dining, and an outdoor patio.
e food hall features communal tables, banquettes, high tops, and outdoor dining.
Tour guests may have a hard time choosing between the many food options. ere’s Dive Bar, a seafood and raw bar that brings together the best of Southern Gulf traditions and coastal New England favorites, or Mamaleh’s Delicatessen, featuring hand-rolled bagels, signature pastrami, and pastries.
ere’s Daiquiris & Daisies, serving inven tive cocktail creations and Bubble Bath, a Champagne-focused wine bar. Other options include pizza and grinders, gelato, Asian-inspired dishes, and doughnuts.
“High Street Place makes it easy for tour operators,” says Lauren Johnson, manager of High Street Place. “Simply email events@highstreeetplace.com to order prepaid gi cards for each guest. We recommend loading each card with $25, so each person can get a drink and something delicious to eat from our local, owner-operated restaurants and bars.”
High Street Place can accommo date groups of all sizes, from small get togethers to large gatherings of 75-100, and full buyouts up to 500 guests. Sev eral motorcoach parking spots can be reserved out front. highstreetplace.com.
America’s castles and historic mansions would talk for ages.
A regal roster of lavish vacation homes and sprawling estates across the United States paint a picture of what life for the wealthiest of citizens was like during the Industrial Revo lution. From the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, to e Castle at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., tour experiences around the country take groups into the past during a time when ornamental and column-adorned facades, elaborate ballrooms, dual staircases, sparkling chan deliers, and hand-painted wallpaper made known the who’s who of the Gilded Age.
“ e Gilded Age is de ned by the years from post-Civil War through the early 1900s,” says Dan Fryer, group tour manager for the Newport Mansions and e Preservation Society of Newport County in Rhode Island. “It was a time when American industrialists generated an immense amount of money and power, using America’s raw materials to help with the expansion of the United States. e nation became more of a dominant face of world politics due to the rapid growth of the industry.”
e means to achieve a new level of status and wealth during the Industrial Revolution spurred a wave of invest ment in castle-like mansions across the country. Filling up as quickly as workers could lay down railroad tracks, emerging metropolitan hubs like Chicago, New York, St. Louis, and Philadelphia began to boom as the economy shi ed from agriculture to industry.
“Some of the places that we call cas tles in the United States are really just imitations of castles,” says Keith Hart, manager of programs at the Joslyn Castle & Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska. “A real castle probably is a medieval fortress from, you know, the 12th century. But during the19th century, there was huge interest in reviving a lot of the Gothic and medieval styles of architecture.”
To escape the hustle and bustle of city life—and aunt their insurmount able wealth—the richest of men and families of the well-to-do constructed full-time residences and mansion-size “cottages” to get away from it all.
Across the United States, preservation ists today believe protecting, restoring, and sharing stories of the past that played such an in uential role in Amer ica’s history is essential. Groups of all ages and interests can tour these historic properties and castle-like homes to relish and revere the structural masterpieces in all their glory.
“We’re very proud of what preserva tion societies like ours have done to preserve these houses,” Fryer adds. “We are not only protecting what might otherwise be torn down or fall into disrepair but also playing an important role in educating current and future generations to come.”
From countryside to cli side, some of the largest and most recognizable castles and mansions in the United States welcome tour groups to experience and appreciate each of their architectural and historic legacies.
A larger-than-life legacy continues its reign at America’s largest home: the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Caro lina. e 250-room French Renaissance chateau houses the Vanderbilt family’s collection of original furniture, art, and antiques. To this day, the Vanderbilt fam ily remains one of the wealthiest names in U.S. history.
“When George Vanderbilt envisioned and Frederick Law Olmsted designed Biltmore, their ambition was to provide an oasis where the family and friends of the Vanderbilts could retreat from the world,” says LeeAnn Donnelly, senior public relations manager at the Biltmore Estate. “We strive to provide the same experiences to our guests today.”
e property’s 8,000 acres is engulfed by a backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. On site, groups can tour the estate’s gardens, schedule a tour and tasting at the Biltmore Winery, or shop and stroll the Antler Hill Village and Antler Hill Barn & Farmyard, which connects the estate’s past and present with re ned dining, boutique stores, agriculture, and exhibits.
Group tours of all interests and sizes are available during the calendar year. In addition to the Audio-Guided Visit of Biltmore House and the Self-Guided
Tour of Biltmore House, specialty tours include the Biltmore House Roo op Tour, which gives groups a rare experi ence to capture photos and walk through behind-the-scenes locations, and the Biltmore House Backstairs Tour, which shares fascinating tales of the people who worked and lived on the estate during the era. In winter, Biltmore explodes with lights, seasonal tastes, and spectacular holiday decor. Christmas at Biltmore and Candlelight Christmas Evenings provide a feast for the senses, featuring dozens of Christmas trees designed and hand-decorated by Bilt more’s oral team.
Group rates and tours are available year-round and can be arranged by con tacting a group sales reservations agent at 828-225-1400. biltmore.com
e Smithsonian Institution has shaped the nation’s future by preserving its past. e world-renowned museum and science institution gives opportunities for knowledge-sharing and scienti c discovery across the globe, right from the heart of Washington, D.C., and the famous museum campus.
Aptly nicknamed “the Castle,” the Smithsonian Castle was the original and
Julian Fellowes aptly describes Newport as “A Village of Palaces.” e English novelist, screenwriter, and lm director, known for his international chart-toppers like “Downton Abbey” and “ e Gilded Age,” which recently wrapped-up lming at several Newport Mansion proper ties, says he has seen nowhere quite like Newport anywhere else in the world. e mansion mecca has preserved history at scale unlike anywhere else in the country.
Newport’s Gilded Age mansions consist of e Breakers, e Marble House, e Elms, and Rosecli , each donning its own unique history and regal architecture. Eleven historic homes, cottages, and gardens—seven of which are National Historic Landmarks—uphold the history of the region’s prominence during the Colonial era through the Gilded Age.
“ ey’re just amazing, beautiful places that are so perfect, you really feel like you’ve stepped back in time,” says Dan Fryer, group tour manager for the Newport Mansions and e Preservation Society of Newport County. “What you see inside is really what it looked like
when the Vanderbilt family lived in e Breakers or e Marble House. A lot of work goes into the conservation of these mansions—these houses don’t preserve themselves.”
All four mansions o er a self-guided audio walking tour throughout each property and surrounding grounds.
e tour covers not only the history of each house but also narration and storytelling about the people who worked and lived within each home.
Tour planners should contact 401-847-2251 to request additional group information. newportmansions.org
e Joslyn Castle & Gardens play an important role in remembering and preserving the history of the growth of Omaha, Nebraska.
“When walking into the Joslyn Castle, you’re stepping back in time about 120 years to learn about the lives of the people who built our community in Omaha,” says Keith Hart, manager of programs at the Joslyn Castle & Gardens. “Our city would not have been the same had it not been for George and Sarah Joslyn. ey may have been millionaires during their time, but they were also famous for giving away their money. e contributions played an important in uence in building many community and nonpro t organizations in our city that still exist today.”
Groups enter the front door of Joslyn Castle through a small vestibule with ornate stained glass, colorful mosaic tile, and exotic Italian marble surround ing visitors on all sides. Stepping into the main foyer, an English Gothic-style room with mahogany wood, a huge replace, and an enormous carriage staircase to the second level dazzles any visitor who walks through the door.
Tours of Joslyn Castle start with a 12-minute documentary video about the Joslyn family and the construc tion of their estate. roughout the 90-minute, docent-guided tour, visitors walk room by room throughout the
three-story mansion learning about the architecture and design, the history of the family and workers, and the in uence the family and mansion had on Omaha.
Group rates and tours can be arranged in advance by calling 402-595-1415. joslyncastle.com
Located in Charlevoix, Castle Farms remains one of northern Michigan’s hidden gems. Characterized by its Romanesque and Gothic-style arches, embellished turrets, and thick stone walls, the castle provides a stark jux taposition to the rolling green hills and lush farmland that make up the surrounding landscape.
Dating to its construction in 1918, Castle Farms, a model dairy farm built by the acting president of Sears, Albert Loeb, modeled his stone-walled castle a er those found in Normandy, France. Many of the buildings among the main property can be seen on a historic tour
of Castle Farms, including the castle’s blacksmith shop, icehouse and cheese box, round o ce, carriage hall, and 11-room horse barn and hay lo .
On daily tours, docents share stories and insights that bring groups deep into the lore of the world-famous property to learn about its regional in uence of the past, historical collections, and ongoing restoration. Self-guided and docent-led walking tours show o inside rooms and immaculate gardens and grounds. Castle Farms can also be experienced via tram, one of the most popular ways to see the castle’s 45 acres of land.
Visitors can also explore the castle’s World War I museum. e converted blacksmith shop houses a collection of World War I relics as well as items like toys, kitchenware, and photos, o ering a glimpse into daily life from the Great War era.
Private tours and tours by tram can be arranged from June through August. Reservations are suggested but not required. castlefarms.com
Discover the stories and animals of American rivers. Explore the happy alliance of history, food, and enter tainment. Ride the world’s steepest and shortest railway. All these activities—and more—are possible in Dubuque, the place where Iowa started.
is city on the Mississippi River was chartered in 1833, 14 years before Iowa became a state. It takes its name from Julien Dubuque, the French-Canadian fur trader who was the city’s rst permanent settler.
As the Mississippi River could be considered Dubuque’s front yard, Julie Kronlage, vice president of sales at Travel Dubuque, says many tour groups book a Mississippi River cruise on American
Lady Yacht, Riverboat Twilight, or Cele bration Belle Riverboat. Groups can also experience the Mississippi River at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium—part museum, part aquar ium, and part science center.
“ is Smithsonian A liate is on 14 acres in the Port of Dubuque and features 25,000-gallon and 40,000-gallon tanks lled with freshwater animals, along with hands-on exhibits, displays about the Mississippi River and all major rivers in the United States, and so much more,” Kronlage says. “It’s the top stop for group tours in Dubuque.”
Becky Carkeek, sales manager at Travel Dubuque, agrees that tour groups love the museum and aquarium. She advises tour planners to allow enough
time to explore the exhibits and recom mends tour operators schedule at least two hours for a visit.
Sometimes called the world’s shortest and steepest scenic railway, Fenelon Place Elevator is 296 feet long and is a must-do experience in Dubuque. Take a ride up the blu to see some magni cent views of the river, downtown, and into Illinois and Wisconsin.
In fact, it’s Dubuque’s topography that o en surprises group travelers. “ ey think it will be at with corn elds every where,” Kronlage says. “ en they see the beautiful blu s, tall hills, and look down and see the beauty of the area. It’s a di er ent topography than most people expect.”
Another Dubuque surprise is Con vivium Urban Farmstead, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve life through food. Carkeek says Convivium is a favorite with groups and makes for an interesting stop on an itinerary.
“Nestled in Dubuque’s north end, these former greenhouses have been turned into an amazing space for learn ing about food,” Kronlage adds. “ e restaurant serves the items gathered from the gardens in the surrounding community. You can tour the gardens and really hear the story of this transfor mation from the farm manager as you go on the tour.”
Historic surprises are everywhere in Iowa’s oldest city. Travel Dubuque has put together a Historic Progressive Dinner for group tours allowing din ers to enjoy a four-hour experience at Dubuque’s historic properties.
“Start out with an appetizer and his tory in the former o ces of one of our largest manufacturers,” Kronlage says. “ en move on to the main course with musical entertainment at our historic former St. Mary’s Catholic Church. End the evening with dessert in one of our beautiful mansions. It’s one of our more popular motorcoach o erings.” A His toric Progressive Lunch can be arranged if midday works better in an itinerary.
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church was founded in 1833 as Iowa’s oldest church. e current building, built in 1897, has a huge collection of Ti any stained-glass windows. Groups can see the 105 beautiful windows up close.
In nearby Dyersville, encounter his tory of a more recent vintage. e Field of Dreams Movie Site continues to draw motorcoach tour groups more than 30 years a er the movie’s release in 1989. Join a Ghost Player for a site tour; the
Ghost Players have been entertaining guests for years and some of them were even extras in the movie!
Travel Dubuque helps tour operators with itinerary development, welcome bags, site visits, and in-person wel comes on the motorcoach. For over night visitors, the welcome bags hold, among other things, creamy caramels made by the nuns of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey.
Kronlage says what makes Travel Dubuque stand out is the sta ’s dedica tion to making sure every group planner is well taken care of.
“We plan the itinerary, we book locations for the itinerary, and we gather hotel room rates,” Kronlage says. “It’s our attention to detail and the amazing his tory of our community that keep group tour planners coming back for more!”
Tourgoers quickly realize that Dubuque was and continues to be the “Masterpiece of the Mississippi.”
Travel Dubuque 563-845-7698, traveldubuque.com
Find joy and cheer all year at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland
Shimmering lights, glittering ornaments, and whimsical ani mated gures bring year-round holiday delight at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store, located in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
Groups can shop and experience the wonder and Christ mas spirit at Bronner’s 361 days out of the year. A selection of over 50,000 trims and gi s ll the Christmas shopping mecca (which is equivalent to the size of ve and a half football elds), and over 100,000 twinkling lights illuminate Bronner’s halfmile Christmas Lane every evening.
“Bronner’s welcomes hundreds of tour groups, school groups, and business groups annually,” says Wendy Taylor, who oversees group tours, marketing, and wholesale departments at Bron ner’s Christmas Wonderland. “It is a magical place lled with all things Christmas plus much more. Our store is a special place to view thousands of lights, trees, animations, nativities, toys, collectibles, miniature villages, and Christmas displays— and we have gi s and personalized items for everyone on your shopping list.”
Tour planners can book guided walking tours ranging from one to two and a half hours, which accommodate groups of
BY ERICA ZAZOany size. Upon arrival, groups will watch the 20-minute video presentation “World of Bronner’s,” which highlights the design and production of Bronner’s worldwide selection of trims and gi s. Other video presentations—“Silent Night, Holy Night and the Silent Night Memorial Chapel” and “A Decorative Life: the Wally Bronner Story”—are shown daily as well. Advance reser vations for groups of 40 or more are appreciated.
Bronner’s also o ers groups a special experience to view the destination’s Silent Night Memorial Chapel, a 56-foot-tall landmark nestled into the 27-acre property and landscaped grounds. e replica of the original chapel in Oberndorf/Salz burg, Austria, marks the site where “Silent Night” was rst sung on Christmas Eve in 1818. Bronner’s chapel is open daily for visitation and meditation only.
Before or a er a tour, groups can visit Bronner’s Season’s Eatings Café, which serves drinks, including co ee or cocoa, handheld bites like sandwiches and baked goods, and freshbaked Christmas cookies.
Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland 989-652-9931, bronners.com
DISCOVER Nobel Prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis was born in Sauk Centre. Visit the Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home, where he lived from 1889 until 1902, when he le Sauk Centre to attend college. The recently renovated home, a National Historic Land mark, is open from June through September and by appointment the rest of the year. Lewis was the first American to be awarded a Nobel Prize in literature. He received the Nobel Prize in 1930 for five novels he wrote in the 1920s, “Main Street,” “Bab bitt,” “Arrowsmith,” “Elmer Gantry,” and “Dodsworth.” Although “Arrowsmith” was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1926, Lewis declined that prize.
Tour the Sauk Centre History Museum to learn more about Sauk Centre and the area. Built in 1901, The Palmer House Hotel was the first building in Sauk Centre with electric ity. The Palmer House continues to operate as a hotel and restaurant. Book a historical tour to learn about the previous owners, famous guests, and unregistered residents.
EXPLORE The 10-block Original Main Street Historic District is considered the inspiration for Sinclair Lewis’ 1920 novel, “Main Street.” Be sure to browse the stores to find a souvenir to take home.
DO Arrange for a walking mural tour of Sauk Centre conducted by an art and history enthusiast from 510 Art Lab, an inclusive art environment and member-run makerspace.
Take a hike on the Lake Wobegon Trail, a 65-mile paved trail that connects 10 communities in central Minnesota and goes through Sauk Centre. Pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, and snowmobilers may use the trail. The Sauk Centre trailhead in Sinclair Lewis Park on Sauk Lake connects to the Lake Wobegon Trail via a short, paved trail. The park features a band shell and a nearby splash pad.
Visit Sauk Centre 320-352-5201, visitsaukcentre.org
“Sauk Centre provides group tours with original Main Street shop ping, dining, lodging, Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home tours, the Lake Wobegon Trail, Sauk Lake activities, and ghost tours! Visit Sauk Centre can help tour operators put together a grand itinerary.”
Core of the American Experience: Kurt
Core of the American Experience: Kurt
In 2023, champion Vonnegut's advocacy for education with KVML.
Step back in time to the 1840s at Lanier Mansion, a time capsule of U.S. history and stories from the heart of America’s heartland in Madison, Indiana. e historic mansion is one of 12 locations within the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites system. Today, it serves as a modern-day look into his tory-in-the-making during the country’s westward expansion along the Ohio River during the early 1800s.
e Lanier Mansion is also known as the “crown jewel” of Madison’s Historic District, which spans 130 blocks and displays homes and historic buildings featuring 19th-century architecture. An a ernoon at the mansion lets groups imagine what life might have been like for James F.D. Lanier and his family during the mid-1800s. e former home of the clerk of the Indiana General Assembly and prominent banker and businessman displays one of the country’s most impressive preservations of Greek Revival architecture.
e mansion was designed by Indiana-based architect Fran cis Costigan. Greek Revival features shine through its white Corinthian columns on the south portico, exterior Doric
pilasters, ornamental-decorated windows and doors, decora tive plaster moldings, and interior oor-to-ceiling columns.
Guided tours begin at the Lanier-Madison Visitor Center on the west side of the state historic site and explore the entire interior and exterior of the mansion grounds.
“Our tour covers all three floors of the beautifully restored mansion,” says Devin Robinson, program developer at Lanier Mansion. “Groups will get to see and experience the reproduction of wall coverings, carpeting, and furnishings from the time period as they walk through the house, as well as learn about the Lanier family, their history, and their contributions to the state of Indiana.”
Group tours must be scheduled in advance by phone, and all group tickets must be purchased in person. Special discount tickets are available for school and adult groups of 15 or more.
Lanier Mansion 812-265-3526, indianamuseum.org
TASTE Head to Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery, Illinois’ first farmstead cheese making facility. Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery grows organic fruit and makes award-winning goat cheese and goat milk gelato. Meet the goats, view the milking parlor and the cream ery, walk through the orchard and garden, and taste some of the farmstead products. Cheese and gelato sampling is a great way to wrap up the 50-minute tour.
SIP Be immersed in Japanese culture at the University of Illinois’ Japan House. Discover the “Way of Tea” through a traditional tea cer emony with the time-honored art of “Chado.” Codified almost 400 years ago by Sen Rikyu, the greatest tea master, the four spirits of tea (harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility) signify the highest ideals of the “Way of Tea.” Its core elements involve the acts of serving and receiving a bowl of tea with the utmost sincerity, appreciation, and attentiveness, with an attitude of single-mindedness and a keen awareness of the concept “ichigo, ichie” (one life, one opportunity). Take part in this ceremony and find yourself renewed for the remainder of your tour.
EXPLORE A historical treasure hidden near the upper Sangamon River in Monticello, the Allerton Park & Retreat Center offers an extraordinary combination of art, nature, and history. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and named one of the Ameri can Institute of Architects’ “150 Great Places in Illinois,” this private residence of artist and philanthropist Robert Allerton was donated to the University of Illinois Urbana-Cham paign in 1946. The park is an ideal destina tion for adventurers looking for deep-nature immersion. It features 1,500 acres of wood land and prairies, a 10-acre meadow, and 14 miles of hiking trails. The quiet grounds allow visitors to escape everyday life. ASK Visit Champaign County
“Champaign County is brimming with ‘Outside of Ordinary’ experiences. You’ll be delighted by the authentic and affordable options available for your groups.”
CAITLYN FLOYD, director of sales, Visit Champaign CountyAllerton Park & Retreat Center Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery tour
BY MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
Illusions compel us to view the world in a di erent way and can provide insights about how our brains process reality. Chicago’s Museum of Illusions immerses visitors in illusions as they explore more than 80 fun exhibits. e museum’s unique design encourages guests to have fun as they learn about vision, perception, and the human brain.
“We call ourselves an edutainment concept,” says Stacy Stec, marketing manager at LOL Entertainment, the parent company of Museum of Illusions. “We are a blend between a museum rooted in education and an entertainment venue.”
Framed optical illusions, holograms, and hands-on exhibits like turntables and kaleidoscopes await visitors during their self-guided visit.
e Smart Playroom includes a series of dilemma games, puzzles, and brain teasers that inspire a little friendly competition. Sta members are on hand to answer questions or provide a hint for those particularly perplexing puzzles.
“Exhibits like the ‘Ames Room’ are popular experiences,” Stec says. As visitors walk from one corner of the room to the other, they appear to grow and shrink. e illusion distorts perceptions about depth and has applications to camera techniques
like forced perspective. “Sta are on hand with some expert tips on snapping the perfect social media-worthy photo,” Stec adds. Other great photo opportunities include “ e Beuchet Chair Illusion” or “Head on the Platter.” e e ects are inescapable in the must-do “Vortex Tunnel.” Visitors walk across a completely at and stable surface as rotating lights and images confuse the body’s vestibular system, the sense of balance and spatial orientation that coordinates movement with balance.
“It is fun to challenge your brain to see things from a di erent perspective,” Stec says. “We pride ourselves on explaining why you are seeing what you are seeing.”
e museum’s gi shop is the perfect place to nd a souvenir to continue the fun at home—from dilemma games to books about perception and the brain.
e Museum of Illusions is in the heart of downtown Chicago, making this interactive site a perfect way to round out a city-day itinerary.
Museum of Illusions Chicago 312-722-6780, moichicago.com
Franklin Park Conservatory grows community through horticulture, arts, and education
BY ERICA ZAZO
With 13 acres of lush gardens, botanical biomes, and horticulture and art exhibitions, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens showcases the best of natural beauty and cultural experiences. e conservatory, located in Columbus, Ohio, has over 400 species of plants from around the world in its diverse exhibits and botanical gardens.
“Franklin Park Conservatory features glass-enclosed gardens lled with exotic plant life from around the world, water features, seasonal oral displays, and special exhibitions,” says Dee Ashworth, associate director of visitor experience at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. “In addition to beautiful plant life, the conservatory is known for its permanent collection of 18 installations of Dale Chihuly glass artwork, and also houses an on-site glassblowing studio featuring local glass artists giving daily demonstrations.”
Just 2 miles from downtown Columbus in central Ohio, the botanical garden is situated east of Franklin Park and is home to the iconic grand Victorian-style glass greenhouse—the John F. Wolfe Palm House—which dates to 1895. Horticulture designs and magni cent oral displays bloom year-round in the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. e 2-acre Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden provides an interactive experience to reconnect with nature and take in a wealth of horticulture education in a natural setting.
In addition, the conservatory hosts special temporary exhibitions throughout the year, displaying national and international artists from around the world.
Current rotating seasonal exhibitions include “Orchids, Blooms & Butter ies,” “Columbus Blooms,” “Harvest Blooms,” and “Conservatory Aglow.” ere’s also a wide range of workshops and classes, including gardening, cooking, ne art, and wellness that are o ered throughout the year.
Hourlong walking tours educate groups on the conservatory plants, art, and history. Groups larger than 15 are eligible for group rates.
“Of course, we have an amazing plant collection, and our horticulturists are true artists in their own right; but you don’t have to be a plant enthusiast to nd something to love about the conservatory,” Ashworth says. “Whether you love plants, art, or model trains, the conservatory has a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy.”
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens 614-715-8000 fpconservatory.org
DISCOVER Visit the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre to see some of the most iconic airplanes in Canadian history. The cen ter also features interactive aircra and forest fire displays. The Entomica insectarium, located inside the center, displays a variety of live exotic insects from around the world in beautiful living vivariums. Tours allow for hands-on interaction with the insects.
EXPLORE At the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site, watch the boats lock through as you walk along the canal.
Head to the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site. Open year-round, the site consists of the interactive Heritage Discovery Centre and two of the oldest stone buildings northwest of Toronto: the Ermatinger Old Stone House and the Clergue Blockhouse. See how Sault Ste. Marie’s ear liest European settlers lived and learn about the War of 1812. For an evening experience, there’s a group dinner theater at the site based on the Group of Seven artists and their ties to the area.
RIDE Board the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. The one-day, 114-mile excursion show cases the rugged beauty of northern Ontario. Passengers see the same landscapes that inspired the Group of Seven artists to create some of Canada’s most notable works of art.
PADDLE Work with an outfitter to set up an interpretive canoe or kayak tour of the waters around Sault Ste. Marie.
HIKE An hour north of Sault Ste. Marie, is Pancake Bay Provincial Park and the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout Trail. Follow the trail to the lookout and witness stunning views of Lake Superior, as far out as the resting position of the Edmund Fitzgerald ship—the American Great Lakes freighter that sank during a storm in 1975.
Tourism Sault Ste. Marie 800-461-6020, saulttourism.com
“Discover unique and exciting attractions, events, and activities in and around Ontario’s best adventure town. Rugged Great Lakes coastlines, ancient Canadian Shield mountains, countless rivers and lakes, pristine beaches, and exceptionally snowy winters pro vide a world-class outdoor backdrop for all kinds of adventures.”
RICHARD JONES, marketing specialist, Tourism Sault Ste. MarieErmatinger Clergue National Historic Site Agawa Canyon Tour Train
BY KATHIE SUTIN
When visitors walk into Kelch Aviation Museum in Brod head, Wisconsin, they’re o en taken aback by its unique collection of 20th-century airplanes.
“Everyone who walks through the door goes, ‘Wow, I had no idea this stu was around,’” says Patrick Weeden, executive director of the Kelch Aviation Museum. “Even if you’re not into airplanes or antiques, it’s just neat stu to look at.”
The museum’s specialized focus is what it calls “the golden age of aviation,” the period between World War I and World War II. “That’s roughly 1920 to 1940,” Weeden says, “when the private sector and the military led many aviation engi neering developments.
“Everything here is airworthy,” he adds. “Most of the aircra y regularly.” Old cars, a retruck, and many artifacts related to airmail service, barnstorming, crop-dusting, and things of that nature are also on display.
Alfred Kelch and his wife Lois, businesspeople from the Milwaukee area, owned what Weeden describes as an
impressive collection of about 15 aircra . e couple le funding to set up the museum a er their passing. A nonpro t, formed in 2012, raised $1.5 million to construct the museum, which opened in 2021.
Alfred Kelch, a pioneer in preserving vintage and pioneer ing aircra , established the vintage division of the Exper imental Aircra Association and developed preservation standards for old airplanes.
Stories accompany each artifact, Weeden says. “We’ve been able to unearth some pretty interesting stories about where these things have been, the people who ew them, and the adventures they had,” he adds.
e museum can accommodate groups of just about any size, Weeden says. Admission and self-guided tours are free. Guided tours require a $5 per person donation. “We do sur vive 100% on donations,” Weeden says.
e time to allot for a visit varies. Weeden says some groups will want to spend three hours at the museum, while others will not need that much time. Free motorcoach parking is available, but the museum requests advance notice. Groups can arrange to have a catered lunch or dinner at the museum as part of a visit.
Kelch Aviation Museum 608-897-1175, kelchmuseum.org
Create exciting, unique group travel experiences in one of the most culturally dynamic destinations in the world. With award-winning dining and theatre, exceptional attractions and festivals, there's always something new to discover in Toronto.
Visit DestinationToronto.com/Travel-Trade to start planning your group tour.
CIRCLEWISCONSIN.COM | 800-223-0652
Circle Wisconsin is a state-wide membership organization representing some of the best group-friendly destinations, attractions, restaurants, theaters, casinos, museums, and lodging in the state.
Our primary mission is to assist tour operators and other Travel planners in ensuring your next group tour to Wisconsin is full of fun.
Email Wendy at info@circlewisconsin.com
With a good mind, a good heart, and a strong fire, the Oneida Nation invites you to visit. The Oneida Nation offers visitor experiences that explain the Oneida way of life both now and historically. Attractions include Oneida Casino, the official casino of the Green Bay Packers; an annual summer powwow; a farmers market; an apple orchard; the Oneida Nation Museum; Buffalo Overlook; and Oneida Longhouse Village. As the Oneida Nation honors its past, present, and future, reserve your group tour today. Email inquiries can be sent to tourism@oneidanation.org. 920-496-5647, exploreoneida.com
e Grohmann Museum, located on the campus of Milwaukee School of Engineering, has become a Milwaukee must-see for both locals and visitors alike. Nowhere else can you experience such a collection dedicated to the art of industry and human achievement. e museum welcomes visitors to three oors of gallery space where the permanent collection is displayed along with special feature exhibitions. e museum also has a spectacular roo op sculpture garden, a library, and conference facilities. Email inquiries can be sent to grohmannmuseum@msoe.edu. 414-277-2300, grohmannmuseum.org
Nearly 130,000 visitors per year enjoy this holiday tradition of over 3 million lights by driving, walking, or taking a carriage ride through Riverside Park in La Crosse, Wisconsin. e annual holiday display opens the day a er anksgiving and runs through New Year’s Eve. e event includes local entertainment, a parade, a live Nativity scene, a skating rink, Santa and reindeer, and s’mores. Admission is free but a voluntary contribution of cash or nonperishable food items is appreci ated. Rotary Lights is a cooperative e ort among area Rotary Clubs, volun teer organizations, and nonpro ts. 608-784-9993, rotarylights.org
Each summer, the Ringling Brothers’ hometown of Baraboo, Wisconsin, celebrates its heritage with its Big Top Parade & Circus Celebration. On Satur day, June 24, 2023, at 11 a.m., a parade featuring elephants, exotic animals, clowns, marching bands, and historic Circus World wagons will circle the downtown streets. e parade highlights a weekend full of circus-themed fun and events in the Baraboo area. e parade features traditional circus parade units and circus-themed entries created by community groups and businesses. 608-356-8333, bigtopparade.com
Enjoy a fun tradition for every season with your tour group. Spend a summer day cruising the lake hearing about the historic mansions on Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s Narrated Tours. See the beautiful autumn colors along the lakeshore on Fall Color Cruises. Or embark on a festive journey around the lake observing col orful holiday light displays on your way to Santa’s hideaway on a Santa Cruise. A boat tour with Lake Geneva Cruise Line is the ultimate Lake Geneva experience! To book a cruise for your group, contact Susan Schindler (susan@glcl.net), who handles group tour sales. 262-248-5642, cruiselakegeneva.com
Happy Times Tours & Experiences enhances your trips throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest by providing receptive tours that have unique and exclusive experiences. Happy Times’ tours will always be fun, creative, unique, and pro vide local experiences. One of its tours, Schlemiel, Schlimazel MKE, is a tour of Milwaukee themed a er the “Laverne & Shirley” television show. Other options include extended vacations, daycations, Milwaukee tour experiences, and casino trips. For more information, tour oper ators should contact Kris Ho or Aimee Fels at info@happytimestours.com. 414-867-2727, happytimestours.com
For over 50 years, a memorial to Richard I. Bong was in place in Poplar, Wiscon sin, about 15 miles east of the Twin Ports cities of Duluth, Minnesota, and Supe rior, Wisconsin. Bong, America’s leading ace of all time, piloted a P-38 Lightning through more than 200 missions over the Southwest Paci c in World War II and destroyed 40 enemy planes. Opened in 2002, the Richard I. Bong Veterans Historical Center hosts veteran, memo rial, and other events honoring Bong and other veterans. e center is dedicated to preserving and sharing their stories. 715-392-7151, bongcenter.org
Check out the inspiring itinerary ideas from across the Lake Winnebago region. From the endearing charm of Wisconsin supper clubs to eld-to-table experiences, your escape from the ordinary starts in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and the Lake Winnebago region. e area is “group tour approved” by tour operators around the country. Make the “Foot of the Lake” your motorcoach destination for that one-of-a-kind group tour that is sure to please. It’s easy to see why groups return to the area time and time again. For more information, contact Liz Engh (lengh@fdl.com), director of group tour sales. 920-923-3010, fdl.com
Local flavors meet urban bustle at the Milwaukee Public Market
BY ERICA ZAZOIn the heart of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Mil waukee Public Market is a place for groups to taste local avors and interact with local makers and creators. Located in the Historic ird Ward neighborhood, the market sits adja cent to the Milwaukee River and is steps away from the city’s award-winning Riverwalk.
A giant, historic neon sign glows red from atop the indus trial-in uenced building that houses the market. Inside, local merchants sell homemade and handmade food, art, and products throughout the 14,000-square-foot market, which represents the vibrancy and charm of the city all under one roof.
“ e Milwaukee Public Market is a remarkably unique space, especially if you’ve never been here before,” says Paul Schwartz, executive director of the Milwaukee Public Mar ket. “Our year-round, open-air concept market houses 18 independent and locally owned shops on our main oor. On the second level, we have a seating area that also serves as a exible space for cooking classes and private events from
corporate gatherings to demonstrations by renowned cook book authors and locally known chefs.”
Serving as a “gathering place,” the market provides groups an experience unlike any other in Wisconsin. e market re ects Milwaukee’s vibrant culture, international heritage, and industrial history. Popular spots inside include Café Benelux, inspired by the Benelux region in Europe; Brew City Brand Apparel, a Milwaukee-based and family-owned business; West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe; and Kehr’s Candies, a Milwau kee staple since 1930.
“
ere’s something for all the senses here, and if you’re a group coming to town for an authentic Milwaukee experi ence, I can’t think of many other venues you’ll nd quite like the market,” Schwartz says.
e Milwaukee Public Market requests large groups contact the Public Market Management O ce at 414-336-1111 at least one week before visiting to coordinate motorcoach parking and notify vendors in advance of additional foot tra c. Due to the Milwaukee Public Market’s size and scope, the facility does not o er structured docent-guided tours. Groups are encouraged to explore the market independently and interact with vendors along the way.
Milwaukee Public Market 414-336-1111, milwaukeepublicmarket.org
BY DAVID HOEKMAN
Set among serene mountain vistas in western Massachusetts, e Berkshires region over ows with tourism assets. Less than three hours from New York City and Boston, e Berkshires delivers striking mountain scenery, many opportunities for outdoor mountain excursions, an array of lodging options, picturesque towns, a deeply rooted food culture, and a ourishing arts and culture scene.
e world-class arts and entertainment found in e Berkshires make it a para dise for lovers of the arts. Groups can ll itineraries with art, theater, dance, music, lm, and historic sites.
“ e Berkshires o er culture and adventure year-round,” says Lindsey Schmid, senior vice president of tourism
and marketing at 1Berkshire. “ e Berk shires are a picturesque rural destination with a cultural scene that rivals far larger urban areas.”
At the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, groups engage in Rockwell’s world with interactive experiences. e museum has the world’s largest and most signi cant collection of art and archival materials relating to the famed illustra tor’s life and work. Ten galleries help visitors discover the world of American illustration. Spring through fall, check out Rockwell’s last studio, moved to the museum grounds in the mid-1980s.
Also in Stockbridge is Chesterwood, the former summer home, studio, and
gardens of sculptor Daniel Chester French. He is best known for creating the seated gure of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Open from spring to fall, Ches terwood can accommodate groups of up to 25 people. Larger groups are split into two tours. Groups should allow 90 minutes for a visit.
e Massachusetts Museum of Con temporary Art, housed on a restored 19th-century factory campus in North Adams, features galleries and indoor and outdoor performing arts venues.
e museum embraces all forms of art, including boundary-crossing works. Groups can arrange a self-guided visit, and a reduced admission rate is avail able to groups of 10 or more. Hourlong guided tours o er conversations within selected galleries.
e Clark Art Institute in William stown is an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Encounter art in nature throughout the 140-acre campus of meadows, lawns, and hiking trails. Self-guided visits, educator-led talks, and digital talks are available for adult groups.
Other attractions to consider include Naumkeag, Hancock Shaker Village, TurnPark Art Space, Smith College Museum of Art, and the Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio.
Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its training academy, the Tanglewood Music Center, as well as the Boston Pops. In a typical summer, more than 350,000 visitors come to Tanglewood for performances, recitals, and seminars across 500 acres located between Lenox and Stockbridge. Tanglewood’s group sales team helps tour operators secure discounted tickets for guided tours. Visit the Koussevitzky Music Shed, Ozawa Hall, and other facilities while learning about the site’s history, which dates to 1937.
e woods near Becket is an epicenter for dance. Jacob’s Pillow, a National Historic Landmark, is the site of America’s longest-running international dance festival, which just celebrated its 90th season. e festival runs from mid-June to the end of August, as its two theaters play host to performances by dance companies from across the globe.
Shakespeare & Company’s summer season in Lenox features the works of William Shakespeare in repertory with classic and contemporary plays. Weekday matinees t nicely into an itinerary. Berkshire eatre Group presents performances in theater, dance, music, and entertainment at several theaters in the region during the summer. Barrington Stage Company produces award-winning theater in Pitts eld during the summer and fall. Williamstown eatre Festival
Jacob’s Pillow
brings talented actors, directors, designers, and playwrights to e Berkshires for a summer season.
1Berkshire 413-499-1600, berkshires.org
Winterthur shines light on America’s cultural heritage
Henry Francis du Pont was visiting a friend in Vermont when he noticed an everyday American-made cupboard lled with valuable Sta ordshire china in her home.
“It triggered an epiphany,” says Mark Nardone, communications manager at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. “He thought it was absolutely beautiful, and it ignited his passion for collecting American decorative arts.”
Although European style and decor was the rage among society’s elite at the time, du Pont saw the potential to design spaces that were equally beautiful using American furniture, art, and accessories. “So that is what he began to do,” Nardone says.
e result is Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in New Castle, Delaware. e museum o ers a world-renowned collection of nearly 90,000 objects made since 1640. e collection is displayed in a magni cent 175-room house, much as it was when du Pont called it home.
Opened to the public in 1951, Winterthur “tells stories about commerce and trade; design and cra smanship; the progress of technology; immigration and the exchange of ideas, class structure, and personal comportment; enslavement and its legacies and use of resources—so many subjects that are thoroughly relevant today,” Nardone says.
BY JACKIE SHECKLER FINCHWhen rst lady Jacqueline Kennedy toured Winterthur in May 1961, it helped inform her vision of what the White House could be. Instead of a drab relic, Kennedy wanted to transform the White House into a showcase of all the things that make America great and special.
To do that, the 31-year-old rst lady called upon the 81-year-old du Pont, creating the White House Fine Arts Committee with du Pont as chairman. e result, of course, was something magical.
Winterthur also is home to a world-class library of American lifestyles through time. And du Pont’s beloved 60-acre garden is one of the few surviving examples of the “wild garden” or naturalistic style that was popular at the turn of the 20th century. Groups are welcome to enjoy self-paced and guided tour options in the museum and garden.
“ e collection of plants tells many stories, too,” Nardone says. “Of course, Henry Francis du Pont was a master designer of interior spaces, gardens, and, really, the entire 1,000-acre Winterthur landscape, so it is all stunningly gorgeous.”
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library 800-448-3883, winterthur.org
A world of entertaining and unique experiences awaits your arrival in Atlantic City. Enjoy tax-free shopping, the world-famous Boardwalk, award-winning dining for every taste, exhilarating gaming action, and live entertainment. It’s all back better than ever! Create a casino package with deluxe accommodations today for the ultimate getaway at the shore.
Atlantic City expert Heather Colache is available at 609-318-6097 or hcolache@meetac.com to make sure you enjoy Atlantic City as it was meant to be experienced.
Meet AC received funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.
BY MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
e phrase “movie magic” is a tting description for the many creative and technical processes that go into the production, promotion, and presentation of lms, television shows, and digital entertainment. e Museum of the Moving Image in New York City celebrates this magic and educates visitors through dynamic, hands-on experiences.
e core exhibition “Behind the Screen” reveals the skills, resources, and decisions that go into making moving images. With artifacts spanning from the rst days of lm to the present-day impact of digital tools, the exhibition is informative and interactive.
Groups can arrange a guided highlights tour with a museum educator. “Our guides share their own background in lm and animation as they explain concepts,” says Norah Tyler, manager of school programs and group visits at the museum.
“Behind the Screen” includes nearly four hours of audiovisual material, all of which bring key moments in film
history to life. e space incorporates about 1,400 artifacts like historic lm and television cameras, television sets, sound equipment, costumes, sketches and models, and licensed merchandise, as well as modern-day examples of moving images like video games.
Interactive stations allow visitors to experience the “magic” for themselves. “Sound and audio editing stations let visitors explore Foley e ects with popular lms and series to really get a sense of how audio editing changes the experience.” Tyler says. “ e Titanic station is another fan favorite where guests explore this by layering sound, dialogue, and music on or o .”
Guests can also create their own ip-books, try their hand at stop-motion animation, play vintage arcade games, and dub their voice over a classic movie scene.
Another highlight is “ e Jim Henson Exhibition,” which features a range of objects from throughout his career. e exhibit reveals how Henson brought to life enduringly popular worlds like “ e Muppet Show,” “Sesame Street,” and “Fraggle Rock.” Among the nearly 300 objects on view are 47 puppets—including Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Big Bird, Elmo, and Cantus Fraggle. Interactive experiences allow visitors to try their hand at puppeteering on screen and designing a puppet character.
Film-focused groups can add a screening to cap o their visit. “It is one thing to see and interact, but to then stay and see a lm that incorporates everything you just learned is a pretty unique experience,” Tyler says.
Museum of the Moving Image 718-777-6800, movingimage.us
Capture the grandeur of old and new money as portrayed on the HBO TV series, The Gilded Age, at aristocrats’ Mills and Vanderbilt Hudson River estates.
An important new temporary exhibition, Black Americans, Civil Rights and the Roosevelts 1932-1962, begins in June 2023 at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum —America’s first presidential library.
Name dropped twice by Mrs. Astor in Season 1 of HBO’s The Gilded Age, Ruth Livingston Mills requests the honor of your group’s visit to her Hudson River country estate at Staatsburgh State Historic Site.
Have fun boutique shopping in the charming village of Rhinebeck, then enjoy a meal or overnight at the oldest inn in America, Beekman Arms Delamater Inn.
Dutch’s Spirits is a cool spot with an unique history. The former bootlegging operation of a famous mobster offers underground bunker tours, farm-fresh fare and Sugar Wash Moonshine cocktails.
Place Poughkeepsie makes a great place for an overnight, conveniently located on Route 9 and only minutes from favorite group attractions.
Handcrafted Oktoberfest is a harvest celebration at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck. The festival is a lively event that brings together the handcrafted, artisanal, and agricultural of the Hudson Valley each fall.
You’re sure to find a group-friendly overnight at the Hampton Inn Fishkill, located just off of I-84 near Hudson River water-front sites.
Forget your planning troubles and let the Hudson Valley receptive experts at Twin Travel Concepts do the heavy lifting.
® I LOVE NEW YORK is a registered trademark and service mark of the New York State Department of Economic Development; used with permission. Staatsburgh State Historic Site, Dutchess County, New York Photo Credit: Pieter EstersohnEXPLORE The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour gives groups a glimpse of the life of a coal miner—300 feet underground in a restored anthracite coal mine. Guided tours typically last 90 minutes and are available from April through November.
The Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, located in Scranton’s McDade Park, offers guided tours that highlight the history of hard coal mining and the story of the people who came from Europe to work in the mining and textile industries.
ENJOY Arrange a private tour of The Ritz Theater and learn the history of the famous acts who entertained in Scranton. A er the tour, the group can relax with a cocktail, a seated or buffet dinner, and a customized theatrical or musical act.
Get a private tour before an evening show at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple. This architectural wonder, built by the Masons in the Great Depression, also hosts Broadway in Scranton.
STROLL During walking tours of down town Scranton, The Lackawanna Historical Society reveals more about the vaudeville and entertainment scene during the early 1900s.
VIEW At Steamtown National Historic Site, a former railroad yard, learn the history of the steam engine and see giant locomo tives. Visit the roundhouse, the locomotive repair shop, and the museum. Seasonal train rides range from 30-minute trips in the yard to full-day trips through the Poconos.
EAT The Lackawanna County Pizza Trail is an opportunity for visitors to test taste buds at 62 locally owned pizzerias, many serving the famous “Old Forge”-style pizza. Order a “tray” of pizza and have a couple of “cuts” to taste the difference between the red and white varieties.
Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau 570-468-8625, visitnepa.org
“Lackawanna County is full of surprises. We invite you to experience customized tours of unique attractions, living history, and delicious cuisine.”
ALEXA PEREGRIM, director of sales, Lackawanna County Visitors BureauSteamtown National Historic Site Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour
e Andy Warhol Museum tells the iconic pop artist’s story and explores his legacy through its extensive collection. Situated in Warhol’s birthplace of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, e Andy Warhol Museum provides visitors with a sense of the in uences that shaped his unique style.
A guided group tour can help visitors unpack the museum’s seven oors of art, memorabilia, and stories.
“Our tours are led by artist-educators who are artists in their own right and bring that unique perspective to their tours,” says Nicole Dezelon, director of learning and public engagement at e Andy Warhol Museum. “We promote deep-looking and active learning by engaging visitors with questions about the art they are viewing and the process behind it.”
Visits begin on the top oor. e gallery provides a primer on Warhol, highlighting his immigrant heritage in industrial Pittsburgh and his move to the Carnegie Institute of Technology. e gallery explores his move to New York where he worked as a commercial designer and illustrator for magazines, storefronts, and high fashion.
“Warhol was multidisciplinary,” Dezelon says. “He worked in lm, silkscreening, and painting—and le behind many writings. is is a piece that people don’t necessarily know about him, which the museum helps visitors appreciate.”
e third- oor gallery holds 610 Andy Warhol time capsules. Researchers have been able to take his accumulated writings
continued from page 50 and learn more about the sources behind his work and connect the dots, meaning the world is still learning more about Warhol. Another oor is dedicated to contemporary artists with special exhibits. ese rotating exhibits connect the current day with the art life of Warhol, whether by practice, concept, or relation to pop culture.
roughout the tour, interactive elements bring the museum to life. e museum’s industrial vibe resonates with Warhol’s studio. Visitors can create their own screen test or walk through the reproduction of “Silver Clouds”—an installation of oat ing metallic “pillows” hovering in space, allowing viewers to become physically involved in the art.
In addition to the hourlong guided tour, groups can participate in a hands-on artmaking workshop in e Factory. “ e Pop Portrait class is a popular o ering,” Dezelon says. “Visitors follow Warhol’s process from beginning to end in creating a silkscreen print of a contemporary pop icon to take home with them.” is year’s icons include Zendaya, Lil Nas X, and Bernie Sanders.
As one of the most comprehensive single-artist museums in the world, e Andy Warhol Museum is sure to engage, enlighten, and entertain visitors in exploring the artistic output of “ e Godfather of Pop Art.”
The Andy Warhol Museum 412-237-8300, warhol.org
SEE Head to Antietam National Battle field. The September 1862 Battle of Antietam ended the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia’s first invasion into the North and led Abraham Lincoln to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. One of Ameri ca’s most beautiful and historically preserved battlefields, it is home to the Illumination at Antietam held annually on the first Saturday of December. Guided tours with a variety of themes are available for groups of all sizes and ages.
SIP Washington County’s first winery opened its doors in the mid-2000s. Since then, the county has become a celebrated wine-producing region in Maryland. The Grapes & Grains Guide from Visit Hag erstown and Washington County directs groups to six wineries, six breweries, and three distilleries. Sip and take in the scenic beauty of the Appalachian foothills.
EAT Visitors love the home-cooked food and hospitality they experience by dining at Bonnie’s at the Red Byrd, serving locals and visitors since 1958 and located just minutes from Antietam National Battlefield. Bonnie and her staff also prepare box lunches and catered meals.
DO From east to west, Washington County’s historic sites, attractions, and Main Street communities are connected by the Historic National Road Scenic Byway. View mile markers, historic bridges, and inns that date to the 19th century and are still catering to travelers 200 years later.
The 236-mile C&O Canal Scenic Byway connects several canal towns that offer food, cra beverages, and outdoor recreation. Visi tors can also enjoy walking and cycling along the Washington County portion of the 184mile Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Visit Hagerstown 301-791-3246, visithagerstown.com
“Washington County’s location among popular regional destinations make it the epicenter for American history from the Civil War to the evolution of transportation. Tour planners will find a variety of people, places, and stories that connect the past to 21st-century themes.”
TIFFANY AHALT, director of sales and community engagement, Visit HagerstownAntietam National Battlefield Washington County hops Cyclists on Burnside Bridge
TOUR Unparalleled history lingers around every corner in Newport. From Redwood Library and Athenæum , the oldest contin ually operating lending library in the country, to Touro Synagogue , the oldest standing Jewish synagogue in North America, take time to explore and be inspired by New port’s historical landmarks.
STROLL Find a moment of serenity along the 3½-mile Cliff Walk. Enjoy panoramic Atlantic Ocean views, the sounds and sights of crashing waves, and the architecture and size of massive Gilded Age mansions.
DISCOVER Head to Bristol to tour Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum. The Van Wickle family built this 45-room English-style mansion with sweeping views of Narragansett Bay in 1907. But exquisite gardens set Blithewold apart. Learn about the different gardens and extensive flowers blooming for more than 100 years. Enjoy lemonade and cookies or hot tea and scones, depending on the season, on the veranda overlooking the bay.
ENJOY Bring your group to the Interna tional Tennis Hall of Fame Museum for some friendly competition. A croquet pro will oversee the classic lawn game on the proper ty’s historic grass courts. Or guests can play tennis on grass courts before learning more about tennis in the museum. Its holographic theater makes visitors feel as though they are in the room with tennis champ Roger Federer. Guided tours can be arranged.
SEE The Sailing Museum is a state-of-the-art exhibit that opened in spring 2022. The expe rience gives visitors a front-row seat to sailing’s most interesting personalities, builds and tests knowledge and skills, and provides resources to begin or deepen a sailing journey.
ASK
Discover Newport 401-845-9119
discovernewport.org
“Newport is located in the heart of New England and offers so many unique venues and attractions. Our destination experts offer free assistance to find the perfect place to meet. Newport offers worldclass hospitality for all types of groups.”
FRANCESCA DONLAN, communications director, Discover NewportBlithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum Cliff Walk
Louisiana, the ‘Festival Capital of the United States,’ shows groups a good time
BY ERICA ZAZOYou can’t experience Louisiana without a festival experience of some kind. Across the state, groups can attend over 400 festivals, cultural celebrations, musical gatherings, and food-focused functions throughout the year.
With its melting pot of cultures from around the world, Louisiana became the cultural and festival destination it is today thanks to its geography. e Mississippi River served as an early gateway to North America for the French, Spanish, Africans, Italians, and Canadians, as well as many other cultures. is unique blend of cultures and heritage in uenced and continues to shape Louisiana’s legacy as a global festival destination.
“We hold the uno cial title of ‘Festival Capital of the United States’ for a reason,” says Charlie Whinham, public information o cer for the Louisiana O ce of Tourism. “In Louisiana, we don’t have a festival season. We have festivals nearly every week of every month of the year. It’s truly amazing.”
Visitors ock to Louisiana for the most popular party of them all: Mardi Gras. Beginning on Fat Tuesday at the end of February, the streets of New Orleans swarm with costume-adorned participants, decorative oats, and live music performers parading down the streets of the French Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods of the Crescent City.
“We sprint out of the gates running at the beginning of every year for the Mardi Gras season—with a tidal wave of festivals following throughout the rest of the year,” Whinham says.
Mardi Gras spills into a lineup of cultural festivals like the Black Heritage Festival of Louisiana in Lake Charles, the African American Music Festival at Xavier University in New Orleans, and the Adai Caddo Pow Wow, a celebration of heritage and cultural traditions of the Native peoples of the northwestern region of Louisiana, held in Robeline.
To round out the year of celebrations, locals celebrate Cajun-style Christmas. Along the Mississippi River in St. James Parish, the Festival of the Bon res on Christmas Eve serves as a long-standing
holiday tradition in Louisiana. Along the levees in the river parishes of St. James, St. John, and St. Charles, locals light hundreds of aming bon res that light the way for “Papa Noel,” or the Cajun Santa Claus. e festival, in uenced by old-world French and German colonizers, remains an ode to summer and winter bon res customary in their homelands.
Every spring since 1970, one of the state’s largest and most recognized jazz festivals featuring music, entertainment, and soul takes over the heart of the birthplace of jazz.
e annual New Orleans Jazz & Her itage Festival in New Orleans combines local music and culture, attracting thousands of visitors every year. Eth nic in uences from African dance and drums shaped what we know as jazz today. e festival’s distinctive American style of music that developed in the early 20th century lls the streets with sounds, rhythm, and the true spirit of jazz music.
But there are more than just jazz music festivals to enjoy across Louisiana.
In the center of Lafayette, the “Happi est City in America,” the largest interna tional music festival in the United States
takes over the city streets. e ve-day Festival International de Louisiane transforms downtown Lafayette into a colorful celebration of music and enter tainment. Other popular festivals like the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival in Opelousas, and the Cajun Music and Food Festival in Lake Charles celebrate musical in uence of the region.
Groups will also enjoy e Ponderosa Stomp, an annual American roots music festival featuring the convergence of rock ’n’ roll, blues, jazz, country, swamp pop, and soul, and the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo, which mixes an array of traditional and emerging genres with food and art vendors throughout the festival grounds.
Boiled craw sh, zesty Cajun dishes, juicy jambalaya, and mouth-watering gumbo—these local delicacies are among some of the foods that groups will nd at festivals around the state.
e family-friendly Louisiana Peach Festival features homegrown avors, farm-fresh produce, local music, and art vendors. e community-rooted
Shreveport-Bossier is known as the “Festival Capital of North Louisiana”—and for good reason. More than 60 events are hosted there throughout the year. Downtown Shreveport is home to Festival Plaza, where many of the events are held. Check out the Mudbug Madness Festival, Let the Good Times Roll Festi val, Red River Revel Arts Festival, Red River Balloon Rally, and the State Fair of Louisiana. shreveport-bossier.org
celebration has been a long-standing tradition in Ruston since 1951.
“When the Ruston peach season swings, you’ll want to make your way to the Louisiana Peach Festival,” Whin ham says. “Ruston peaches are about the size of, practically, a softball, and they’re the freshest, sweetest peaches you’ll ever taste.”
At the Breaux Bridge Craw sh Festival outside of Lafayette and the Louisiana Craw sh Festival in the St. Bernard Parish in New Orleans, groups can chow down on craw sh until their bellies are stu ed to the brim. Other seafood festivals like the Amite Oyster Festival, Gulf Coast Shrimp and Jazz Festival in Lake Charles, and the St. Tammany Crab Festival give visitors a taste of Louisiana’s coastal fare.
Finally, in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, located in Lafourche Parish, a mix of many local avors can be found at a number of festivals in the area that blend cultural heritage and cuisine. From the French Food Festival and the Creole Classic Fest to the La Fete Des Vieux Temps, or “Festival of the Old Times,” every dish, tune, and cultural in uence comes to life in the Louisiana bayou.
Louisiana Office of Tourism 225-342-9282, louisianatravel.com
EAT Head to Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant, which features a 170-item seafood buffet. The restaurant has a meet-and-greet program for group tours and ample motorcoach parking.
SHOP Barefoot Landing, located along the Intracoastal Waterway, contains national retail shops, boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment offerings. Find everything from apparel, jewelry, and shoes to gi s, toys, and specialty foods. Attractions include Alabama Theatre, House of Blues, Alligator Adventure, and Crooked Hammock Brewery Tours.
Broadway at the Beach is the largest entertainment complex in South Carolina, with 350 acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Additional shopping can be found at Coastal Grand Mall, The Hammock Shops Village, The Market Common, and two Tanger Outlet Centers
TOUR Book a guided tour of Hopsewee Plantation, built in 1740 on the North Santee River as one of the South’s major rice plantations. The tour includes two original slave cabins that are still standing. Several group meal options are available.
HIKE Visit the two state parks in the Myrtle Beach area. At Myrtle Beach State Park, take a walk on the Sculptured Oak Nature Trail through the maritime forest. Or stroll along Huntington Beach State Park’s iconic causeway to view the many types of wildlife, such as birds and alligators, that call the marsh home.
ENJOY In 1986, Calvin Gilmore and The Carolina Opry pioneered theater in Myrtle Beach. Since then, the area has become a center for live family entertainment. Take in live theater, dinner shows, variety shows, concert halls, and movie theaters.
ASK
Myrtle Beach Area Convention &Visitors Bureau 843-916-7248, visitmyrtlebeach.com
“Let us assist you to create the perfect tour that offers something for everyone. Take advantage of our live entertainment theaters, beautiful sculpture gardens, and an assortment of other activities. ‘The Beach’ offers more than 2,000 restaurants—from mouthwatering seafood buffets and steaks to waterfront eateries.”
SkyLand Ranch opens with Southern entertainment and country living
Groups visiting Tennessee’s popular destinations like Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg won’t want to miss the Smoky Mountains’ newest entertainment destination: SkyLand Ranch.
SkyLand Ranch opened its barn doors to groups in fall 2022.
e mountaintop ranch seamlessly blends into the landscape at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Groups, families, and travelers of all ages and interests can explore 14 acres of the 100-acre Ogle family farm while taking in authentic sights, sounds, and tastes of Tennessee.
“Our destination really embodies the whole Smoky Moun tain area,” says Jordan Briggs, director of sales and marketing at SkyLand Ranch. “Our modern cowboy ranch experience gives travelers in this area something they really can’t nd anywhere else. In addition to getting to visit with our farm animals, enjoy great food, do some shopping, and see the views. We also pro vide a full gamut of entertainment throughout the day.”
Upon arrival, groups have two options for reaching the top of SkyLand Ranch. For a scenic view, visitors can take a 20-minute chairli ride, or, for a more traditional arrival, groups can opt for a short ride in an open-air or air-conditioned shuttle bus.
BY ERICA ZAZOAt the top of the mountain, two 5,000-square-foot barns with food, drinks, and shopping, a 1,000-seat amphitheater for live performances, and three pastures with miniature horses, donkeys, cows, goats, and sheep tower 300 feet above the park way. Tourgoers can also dine on Southern delicacies at three di erent food trucks on-site: a Southern-style barbecue truck, a chicken truck, and a truck serving sweets like doughnuts, pastries, and lemonade.
rill-seekers can enjoy an adrenaline-pumping, 12-minute ride on SkyLand Ranch’s mountain coaster—the longest moun tain coaster in the entire United States. Or, for a more relaxed experience, groups can take in the scenery from the ranch’s 50-foot elevated walkway for even more stunning views.
SkyLand Ranch is located o Veterans Parkway across from the Tanger Outlets between Sevierville and Pigeon Forge.
Tour operators and planners should call in advance to pur chase group tickets.
SkyLand Ranch 865-333-9844, skylandranch.com
“Where else can you see seven states from one location, journey into Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village, adventure through massive ancient rock formations, and see almost 500 species of plants and owers with gnomes around every turn?”
BY ERICA ZAZOSoak in the natural beauty of ancient rock formations, take in views of natural scenery from atop towering overlooks, and wonder in awe at the pristine landscape that surrounds you at Rock City. Over its 90-year history, the fourth-generation, family-owned Rock City, home of the Rock City Gardens, has helped groups of all ages and sizes create lasting tour memories worth repeating.
Located at the top of Lookout Mountain in northern Georgia (about 6 miles from downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee), Rock City takes visitors on a journey along the 4,100-foot Enchanted Trail, where groups encounter larger-than-life rock formations, magical caves, and beyond-breathtaking views. e destination is known for its themed events, entertaining festivals, and tours steeped in history and interactive experiences.
“Rock City is a world-famous, group-friendly attraction that is truly a bucket-list destination,” says Meagan Jolley, senior manager of public relations and social media at Rock City.
Popular tour experiences include the Incline Railway on Lookout Mountain; Battles for Chattanooga, a museum focused on Civil War history; and the Enchanted Garden of Lights, an award-winning light display during the holidays.
“We also o er themed events throughout the year, so there’s a reason to visit in any season,” Jolley says. “For instance, Rocktoberfest is our German festival, which features a natural backdrop of breathtaking fall colors atop Lookout Mountain. We are also celebrating our 90th anniversary through May 2023, so stay tuned for fun announcements and enhance ments to our Enchanted Trail this year.”
All Rock City Gardens tours are self-guided, and dis counted rates are available for groups of 15 or more (20 or more for Enchanted Garden of Lights). Groups should allow one and a half to two hours to explore Rock City. Free motorcoach parking is available, and group tickets must be purchased at least ve days in advance.
Rock City 877-820-0759, seerockcity.com
Rock City creates group memories worth repeating
LEARN Muhammad Ali’s legacy still inspires in his hometown of Louisville. Walk (or drive) in the Footsteps of Greatness on a self-guided tour around the city highlighting landmarks that shaped Ali into a boxing superstar and interna tionally known humanitarian. Plan a visit to the Muhammad Ali Center, a six-story multicul tural center and award-winning museum.
CRUISE Book a cruise on the Ohio River aboard the Belle of Louisville or the Mary M. Miller. Both vessels are climate-con trolled on at least one deck, with the Belle of Louisville available April through October (depending on weather) and the Mary M. Miller available for charter year-round.
TOUR Every day is Derby Day at Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum. Visits include a historic walking tour of Chur chill Downs racetrack; “The Greatest Race,” a 360-degree, 18-minute media experience; two floors of exhibits; and access to the museum store and Derby Café & Bourbon Bar. Premium experiences include the Black Heritage in Racing Tour, the Backstretch Breakfast Tour, and the Garden and Green house Tour. Mint Julep University, Hatitude, and Lucky Shoes are VIP experiences. See the wood chips fly at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, where base ball bats have been made since 1884.
SIP Louisville is Bourbon City and the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the Urban Bourbon Trail, and many bourbon experiences, including 10 distilleries.
PLAY Derby City Gaming is expanding. The larger gaming floor is targeted to open in late 2022, and a five-story hotel tower is expected to open in 2023. Derby City Gaming Downtown, a new historical racing machine entertainment venue, is slated to open in early 2023.
ASK
Louisville Tourism 502-560-1496, gotolouisville.com
“Louisville is a great destination for tour and travel groups because of all the iconic attractions that can only be found here. That’s one of the reasons why so many planners book tours annually.”
SAUNDRA ROBERTSON, senior tourism sales manager, Louisville TourismBelle of Louisville Churchill Downs
Get away from it all, to discover all we have. Whether for 20 or 400, we will help your group find the perfect natural or historical destination. From the Revolutionary War and pioneer lore to bass fishing and wildflower walks, one of our 17 resort parks is waiting to share their Kentucky stories.
Speak to a group sales professional to learn more about Kentucky State Park opportunities and discover your next destination: jovan.wells@ky.gov or call 502-892-3341. parks.ky.gov/meetings-weddings
#kystateparks
Two Mississippi Museums shares state’s many stories BY DAVID
e Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum are two interconnected museums in Jackson that deliver a sweep of Mississippi history and information about the state’s role in the civil rights movement. Collectively, the museums are known as Two Mississippi Museums.
e Museum of Mississippi History explores over 15,000 years of state history through rich and complex stories that illustrate how a shared past in uences a future together. e Mississippi Civil Rights Museum shares the stories of a Missis sippi movement that changed the nation. It promotes a great understanding of the Mississippi civil rights movement and its impact by highlighting the strength and sacri ces of its peoples.
A lobby, auditorium, classrooms, collection storage, and exhibit workshop are shared by the museums.
“ e Two Mississippi Museums is the premier location to explore and understand not only Mississippi’s story, but the nation’s history,” says Laurin Paris, public relations director with Two Mississippi Museums. “Visitors have the unique
HOEKMANopportunity to tour two important and impactful museums on one campus. When visitors arrive in a place like Mississippi, a visit to a history museum provides context for the people you meet, the food you eat, and the streets you travel on. Missis sippi stories de ne the spirit of our state, and you can’t fully enjoy one without the other.”
Two Mississippi Museums o ers self-guided tours, but groups are always personally welcomed and given a com prehensive overview by a sta member. Civil rights veteran Hezekiah Watkins is a docent at the museums Tuesday through Saturday. He shares his story about being a Freedom Rider and his life of activism.
Eight galleries in the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum chronicle the events of the national civil rights movement that occurred in Mississippi. A dramatic light sculpture plays the museum’s theme song, “ is Little Light of Mine”—honoring people who lost their lives for the movement.
continued from page 68
e Museum of Mississippi History’s theme—One Mississippi, Many Stories—runs throughout eight galleries that explore the many diverse people who contributed to the state’s history from prehistoric times to the present day.
“Groups appreciate the exhibits that bring up a personal connection or story,” Paris says. “Members of a group are o en found in our communal spaces talking about family history and personal experiences, using the artifacts and exhibits as inspiration. Groups o en remark on the size and scope of the Two Mississippi Museums and enjoy the experience of learning from so many Mississippi perspectives.”
Paris hopes adult tour groups come away with a better understanding of Mississippi. “I hope they appreciate the many stories shared here that dispel some of the myths and preconceptions people may have had before visiting,” she says. “I hope that as they confront and embrace our history while at the museums, they are inspired to make positive social change. I hope they want to come back to see more!”
Arrangements for group visits need to be made at least two weeks in advance.
Two Mississippi Museums 601-576-6800 mdah.ms.gov/2MM
NewOrleans.com
For more than 300 years, New Orleans has been inspiring stories. Our Spanish, French, African and Caribbean infuences create a cultural gumbo of distinctive architecture, cool jazz and celebrated cuisine that only New Orleans knows how to dish out. From award-winning attractions to immersive experiences, this timeless city offers something amazing around every cobblestone corner. Start creating your New Orleans story today!
Visit NewOrleans.com.
Contact Rachel Funel, Senior Account Executive at RFunel@NewOrleans.com
DISCOVER Located along Florida’s Trea sure Coast, Martin County is one of Florida’s best-kept secrets. Groups will find more than 22 miles of uncrowded beaches and over 100,000 acres of parks and conserva tion land. Experience high-end shopping, unique attractions, aquatic adventures, and a dynamic arts and cultural scene.
EXPLORE The Elliott Museum boasts an impressive collection of vintage automobiles, plus rare baseball memorabilia, artwork, and more. Across the street, the 57-acre Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center houses diverse marine life and fascinating exhibits about Florida’s coastal ecosystems in the new Ocean EcoCenter.
Groups can explore natural wonders like Jonathan Dickinson State Park and Blow ing Rocks Preserve in Hobe Sound. Or get a taste of unique agritourism experiences in rustic Indiantown
SHOP Historic Downtown Stuart (crowned “America’s Happiest Seaside Town” by Coastal Living magazine) is teeming with charming storefronts, colorful galleries, and waterfront eateries. Jensen Beach also offers one-of-a-kind shops to find the perfect souvenir, along with the upscale boutiques of Sewall’s Point and Palm City
EXPERIENCE Sitting on the most biodiverse lagoon estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is an angler’s paradise. Home to more than 800 species of fish, visitors can embark on inshore, offshore, saltwater, and freshwater fishing excursions. There are also more than 28 world-class golf courses to swing by the sea—including Sailfish Sands, Florida’s first reversible nine-hole course. Or spend your sun-drenched days boating, paddleboarding, diving, horseback riding, or cycling.
ASK
Martin County Office of Tourism & Marketing 772-288-5451, discovermartin.com
Golf course, Martin County
“Martin County is an easy-to-reach, under-the-radar escape that truly packs a punch. It’s the perfect place for groups because there’s always something new to discover with accommodations to fit every style and budget.”
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art inspires important
Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton in 2011, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, brings a world of opportunity to an o en-overlooked region of the country.
Crystal Bridges, a nonpro t organization and public art museum, inspires groups through its permanent and rotating collections featuring an array of art exhibits, architecture, and social justice-inspired works. At Crystal Bridges, groups can enhance their knowledge of American art and the diverse perspectives that have contributed to the history and culture of the United States.
“Our museum welcomes all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature, in the center of the American heartland,” says KC Hurst, chief marketing, communications, and digital o cer at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. “As a cultural
institution, Crystal Bridges makes room for important conversations to facilitate a space of measurable change.”
Crystal Bridges is known for its collections that champion the work of underrepresented artists. e museum’s permanent collection includes works such as Asher B. Durand’s “Kindred Spirits,” Gilbert Stuart’s “George Washington,” and Georgia O’Kee e’s “Jimson Weed.” e collection tells broad and inclusive stories about the artists, their lives, and the untold experiences and tales behind their work. Crystal Bridges also o ers temporary exhibitions that complement the permanent collection, each commenting on the art’s connection to equality and justice.
Outside on the museum grounds, visitors can explore 5 miles of beautiful trails and outdoor art installations in the heart of Ozark forestland. Groups can take a self-guided or docent-led tour of the
Located at the crossroads of Interstate 29 and MO Highway 36, and only 30 minutes from North Kansas City puts St. Joseph within easy driving distance of over 17 metropolitan areas.
Located on the scenic river blufs of the vast “Mighty MO”, St. Joseph, Missouri is a notable American city with a fascinatng heritage, born of the fur trade, nurtured by the “Westward Expansion”, and brimming with a spirit of adventure as the startng place of the Pony Express. St. Jo is a city you and your group will never forget. St. Joseph is home to 13 distnctve museums, 12 annual festvals, amazing architecture listed on the Natonal Register of Historic Places and personalized itneraries custom made with hometown hospitality. Also enjoy goodie bags for groups and a personal welcome from a St. Joseph representatve.
Find your Mo’Jo at stjomo.com/grouptour Gracia Pinzino gpinzino@stjomo.com | 800-785-0360
continued from page 74 trails, while taking in natural beauty and architectural masterpieces such as the Bachman-Wilson House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. An hourlong guided tour of the house, which is o ered ve days per week, can be booked online in advance.
For an all-inclusive experience of the museum, grounds, and artist history, groups can book a Big Picture Tour. e docent-led tour takes groups on a complete Crystal Bridges experi ence, where they’re introduced to the museum’s most iconic paintings, given highlights of architectural design, and are able to explore the natural envi ronment and expansive trails with interpretive discussion along the way.
Admission to Crystal Bridges is free year-round. Guided group tours must be coordinated at least 14 days in advance online or by phone.
479-367-7500, crystalbridges.org
Documenting the ministry of Christian evangelist Billy Graham, the 40,000-squarefoot Billy Graham Library sits on 20 acres of manicured gardens and grounds in Charlotte. Known as “America’s pastor,” Billy Graham served as a minister of God’s word. His collections and works are displayed throughout the library to document his dynamic journey through faith and ministry.
Groups can take a self-guided tour of e Memorial Prayer Garden, the peaceful burial sites for Billy Graham and Ruth Bell Graham, or e Graham Family Home place, which o ers a glimpse into Billy Graham’s childhood and roots. billygrahamlibrary.org
Explore the most biodiverse park in the National Park Service: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Located in western North Carolina near Ashe ville and eastern Tennessee, the nature oasis spans 520,000 acres with endless recreation opportunities for groups, including hiking, biking, sightseeing, and wildlife viewing—plus more than 800 miles of mixed-use trails and a 71-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail.
e gentle-contoured mountains that formed “ e Smokies” over 200 million years ago are ush with more than 19,000 unique and diverse plant and animal species. Groups will nd over 100 species of native trees within the park, which is more than any other North American national park in the entire system. nps.gov/grsm
Adventure enthusiasts gather from around the world to run, paddle, climb, and hike at U.S. National Whitewater Center, a 1,300-acre natural playground in Charlotte. Used by many adventure junkies for seasonal training and tech nical practice, the outdoor center o ers over 30 di erent recreation activities in one spot—from whitewater ra ing and rock climbing to mountain biking and trail running.
Fi y miles of single-track trail and direct access to the Catawba River and Long Creek give visitors an opportunity to test their skills and have fun in nature.
e facility o ers day passes for multiand single-sport adventures, equipment rentals, and programming and events. center.whitewater.org
Over 80 years of military history and wartime storytelling come to life at the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville. e museum aims to recognize and remember the heroic actions of soldiers from major battles in United States military history, from the Parachute Test Platoon in 1940 all the way to the ongoing global war on terrorism that continues today. Groups can take a self-guided tour of the main exhibit gallery as they navigate through history and context settings for a glimpse into the lives and missions of soldiers during World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and Special Forces missions in Afghanistan, among others. asomf.org
In the heart of Greensboro, groups will nd one of the largest collections of museum artifacts and archives documenting the civil rights movement at the world-renowned International Civil Rights Museum e museum is housed at the very national landmark and national site of conscience of the nonvio lent protests of the 1960 Greensboro sit-ins at Woolworth’s lunch counter. e museum commemorates the young African American students who staged the sit-in a er being denied service.
e International Civil Rights Museum’s permanent galleries, rotating exhibitions, video screenings, lectures, and events serve to inspire and ignite conversation and re ection on the bravery of the visionary young advocates of social justice. A variety of docent-led tours, focused on storytelling, fact sharing, and interactive education, can be booked in advance online. sitinmovement.org
Learn about the legendary ve-string banjo master Earl Scruggs at the Earl Scruggs Center. e center explores Scruggs’ career, accomplishments, and in uence in breaking musical bound aries through the sounds and legacy of banjo performance. Located in the heart of Shelby, only a few miles from the Flint Hill Community where Earl Scruggs was born and raised, the Earl Scruggs Center helps visitors discover and gain inspi ration from the life and career of a true banjo master and the region that shaped him. earlscruggscenter.org
TOUR Head to the Don Gibson Theatre in Shelby and join Stan Lowery, Don Gibson Theatre director, for a behind-the-scenes tour. See the “Don Gibson” exhibit and the Backstage Wall of Fame where national touring artists have signed the wall. Stand on the stage where the likes of Earl Scruggs, Marty Stuart, Chubby Checker, Whitney Houston, and Lisa Marie Presley have entertained.
LEARN Groups of all ages and backgrounds enjoy the Earl Scruggs Center: Music & Stories from the American South . From learning about the heritage and music of the region to the worldwide impacts of Earl Scruggs’ three-finger pickin’ style of banjo playing, visitors get a hands-on, sensory experience. Pick up a banjo or other instrument in the instrument petting zoo.
EAT Stop for lunch at a restaurant in Shelby or at the Earl Scruggs Center Great Hall with lunch catered in from nationally acclaimed Red Bridges Barbecue. Enjoy a program about traditions and heritage of the area, participate in banjo lessons, or listen to live music during lunch.
DISCOVER Tour The Banker’s House, which is among North Carolina’s finest examples of Second Empire-style architecture and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in 1874-75, the home was owned by prominent members of the banking profession in Shelby.
SIP At Baker Buffalo Creek Vineyard and Winery, enjoy a tasting and tour with Ann and Charles Edwards. The name of the vineyard and winery comes from Buffalo Creek that slowly winds through the property and the Baker family, representing over 100 years of ownership. A wine tasting includes 14 wines and a tour of the vineyard and winery in the Carolina foothills.
Visit Cleveland County 704-484-4804, landofrhythm.com
“Cleveland County, ‘Carolina’s Land of Rhythm & Roots,’ represents the heart of Carolina culture—vibrant walkable streets, distinctive Southern food and drink, and easy access to extensive networks of rivers and trails. The roots of bluegrass, country music, and agricultural traditions serve as catalysts for this growing hub with diverse craft food and beverages, live music, and art experiences.”
VIEW Island Express Ferry Service, an authorized concessionaire of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, provides service to view one of North Carolina’s most historic and beautiful lighthouses, Cape Lookout Lighthouse, known as the Diamond Lady. The national seashore is one of the few remaining natural barrier island chains in the world, accessible only by boat.
DISCOVER The ancestry of the Shackle ford Banks ponies has been traced back 400 years to the offshore wrecks of Spanish galleons. Over 150 of these magnificent animals can be observed from a variety of tour boat companies.
TOUR The beautiful town of Beaufort is the third-oldest town in North Carolina. The historic homes date to the early 1700s and can be viewed from a double-decker bus that cruises the tree-lined streets.
EXPLORE The Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority offers a multitude of attraction choices that are perfect for groups. Historic Fort Macon State Park is the most visited attraction with 1 million visitors annually. North Carolina Aquarium, the largest saltwater aquarium in North Carolina, introduces guests to the incredible array of fish and wildlife native to the area. The North Carolina Maritime Museum features artifacts salvaged from Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, which wrecked many years ago in Beaufort Inlet.
STROLL The towns of the Crystal Coast provide for quaint and eclectic shopping that can be combined with strolling the waterfront. Many waterfront restaurants offer exceptional views of world-class yachts, beautiful sunsets, and wildlife.
Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority 252-726-8148, groups@crystalcoast.org crystalcoastnc.org
“The Crystal Coast is an 85-mile stretch of beaches known as the Southern Outer Banks. The collection of beaches and towns offers a unique blend of history, attractions, adventurous activities, and a vast array of culinary experiences. The Crystal Coast offers tour groups exceptional experiences unmatched on the East Coast.”
ELLEN JOHNSON, senior sales manager, Crystal Coast Tourism Development AuthorityCrystal Coast
They say there’s strength in numbers. There’s also wonder, excitement, and joy in them. From thrilling adventure to amazing food to laidback relaxation, there’s something special about bringing a group of wideeyed visitors to a place as wonderful as this. This wasn’t just the adventure of a lifetime. It was the adventure of all their lifetimes. Make us a stop on your next tour. Learn more at CrystalCoastNC.org or email groups@crystalcoastnc.org or call 888-891-0021
Towering with grandeur and grace, the USS North Carolina, moored in the Cape Fear River across from downtown Wilm ington, welcomes visitors and World War II enthusiasts to step into history on its valiant decks. Also known as Battleship North Carolina, the ship opened to the public in 1961 to memorialize and preserve its history as one of the war’s most revered naval ships. e 729-foot-long and 36,600-ton ship was the fastest battleship in the U.S. Navy eet when commissioned in 1941 and carried out nine shore bombardments—sinking an enemy troopship, destroying at least 24 enemy aircra , and earning 15 battle stars for its esteemed accomplishments.
Self-guided tours allow groups to explore the ship’s nine levels, including the mess decks, berthing areas, engine room, bridge, and Combat Information Center. battleshipnc.com
Embark on an adventure in Chimney Rock State Park, a nature-lovers para dise located in Chimney Rock. Groups can climb Outcropping Trail, a half-mile route ending in a steep 494-step staircase ascending to the summit. For a more approachable option, groups can opt for an elevator ride to the top, which leaves just 44 steps to the breathtaking view. e top of Chimney Rock gives visitors an unobstructed, 75-mile viewpoint 315 feet above Hickory Nut Gorge and Lake Lure. Before or a er the hike, groups can visit the Animal Discovery Den where wildlife ambassadors teach parkgoers about local wildlife and native habitats found within the park. Also o ered throughout the year is the park’s Animal Encounter program, which gives groups of all ages the chance to see animals up close, including snakes, reptiles, and mammals like groundhogs and opos sums. chimneyrockpark.com
From drivers and broadcasters to crew chiefs and fans, the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte honors the history and heritage of American racing. e 150,000-squarefoot racing museum includes artifacts, high-tech and hands-on exhibits, and a 278-person, state-of-the-art theater. Visitors can even get behind the wheel of one of eight stock car replicas to experience the race-day thrill for themselves in one of the hall of fame’s NASCAR racing simulators.
Groups can book a private behind-the-scenes tour of the NASCAR Hall of Fame for an exclusive deep dive into NASCAR history. On the two-hour guided walking tour, visitors embark on a storytelling journey to learn about the heroes and legends that shaped the sport. e tour covers prominent and lesser-known facts about speci c cars, NASCAR artifacts, and inductee history while inspiring lifelong and emerging NASCAR fans along the way. nascarhall.com
e NC Oyster Trail spans North Carolina’s coastal towns along the entire shoreline of the state and in landlocked cities. e grassroots e ort aims to improve and advance economic, environmental, and social bene ts to the state’s seafood industry, coastal communities, and organizations dedicated to oyster conservation.
Groups can visit the interactive online trail map to nd restaurants, outdoor recreation and education opportunities, farms, and markets to enjoy and support North Carolina oysters and its oyster community. Year-round e orts by the NC Oyster Trail culminate in an annual celebration for NC Oyster Week in mid-October to “shellebrate” the history, culture, economy, and ecology of oysters across the state. ncoystertrail.ncoysters.org
TOUR Built in 1917 for tobacco tycoon R.J. Reynolds and his family, Reynolda House Museum of American Art is now part art gallery, part history museum—and an absolute must-see. The home’s 64 rooms feature an unparalleled collection of American art along with a treasure trove of Reynolds family relics, fashions, period furnishings, vintage toys, and more. A er touring the house, stroll through the adjacent Reynolda Gardens—home to a spectacular formal garden and greenhouse—and Reynolda Village, a former working farm that’s now filled with specialty shops and dining options.
VISIT Tourgoers can experience hands-on history at Old Salem Museums & Gardens. Become an apprentice in this 1766 Moravian settlement turned living history attraction, complete with master potters, bakers, and woodworkers. Stroll along the cobblestone sidewalks to see Salem Square, the Mickey Coffee Pot, and over 100 preserved buildings. Dig into more than 250 years of horticulture history at the site’s award-winning gardens. A can’t-miss experience is Salem Pathways, a new immersive tour following the lives of seven individuals who lived in or visited Salem from 1700 to 1989.
And don’t forget to stop by the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), where you’ll find a wondrous maze of period rooms filled with furniture, textiles, art, kitchenware, and other souvenirs of the early South.
EXPLORE Visit Historic Bethabara Park for an imaginative journey to the Carolina backcountry. A National Historic Landmark, this 1753 Moravian settlement is nestled in a wooded 175-acre wildlife preserve with 126 species of birds. As the oldest European settlement in the North Carolina Piedmont, Bethabara now offers tours, exhibits, archaeological ruins, historic gardens, a reconstructed village and fort, and miles of nature trails.
Visit Winston-Salem 336-728-4237, visitwinstonsalem.com
“We love helping groups explore our rich history all while enjoying our hip and happening downtown. Winston-Salem is an unexpected and delightful discovery.”
KAY CALZOLARI, group tour and convention services manager, Visit Winston-Salem
Centrally located in North Carolina, Winston-Salem is easy to get to and even easier to navigate. Enjoy touring our vibrant nightlife, historical museums, heirloom gardens, a Moravian Culinary Trail, art, culture, shopping, and more—all within a walkable city center. And with 5,300 hotel rooms—including 1,200 downtown—our city welcomes groups of all sizes. Come see why we were named as one of the “South’s Best Cities on the Rise” by Southern Living.
EXPLORE Biltmore is a favorite stop for tour operators. The impressive 8,000-acre estate provides a full day of sightseeing. Groups can visit the 250-room chateau with its collection of art and literature, the acres of cultivated gardens and trails, or Antler Hill Village’s shops, restaurants, and winery. Tip: Snag the earliest house entry time to maximize your time on the estate!
RIDE The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most popular units of the National Park Service. This scenic byway, which requires no special bus permits, conveniently passes through Asheville, providing quick access to recreation, incredible panoramic views, and points of interest like the Parkway Visitors Center and Folk Art Center. Tip: Contact the Folk Art Center about your group’s arrival to schedule an artist demo.
The Gray Line Trolley is a must for tourgoers who enjoy exploring at their leisure. The fully narrated ride through town includes several hop-on, hop-off stops in all corners of downtown, the River Arts District, Omni Grove Park Inn, Montford Historic District, and Biltmore Village. Be sure to spend a little time walking through Asheville’s vibrant downtown area, which offers eateries, galleries, and plenty of people-watching!
ENJOY At the North Carolina Arboretum, located minutes from Asheville, acres of cultivated gardens and groomed trails feature some of the most beautiful, botanically diverse plants in the region. Groups enjoy visiting the gardens and exhibits at a self-guided pace, and an on-site cafe can provide a lovely lunch option.
SIP Known for its flagship Gaelic Ale, Highland Brewing offers a large variety of brews in its group-centric spaces, which include a tasting room, meadow, barrel room, and roo op bar. Groups are welcome for tours, tastings, special events, or just to enjoy a cold one.
Explore Asheville 828-258-6139, exploreasheville.com
“Asheville is a destination punching above its weight in culinary, craft beverage, art, music, and recreation experiences. That’s because the heart of our city belongs to the makers. Explore Asheville is available to help you craft your perfect group itinerary. We offer a variety of services and incentives for tour operators. Contact us first when planning your visit to Asheville.”
Meet the largest and most diverse population of lemurs in the world outside of their native home of Madagascar at Duke University’s Duke Lemur Center in Durham. Founded in 1966, the center studies, cares for, and protects this extremely endangered and threatened species. Groups can book a tour during warmer seasons of the year, since lemurs are not natu rally adapted to cold-weather climates. Visitors will see more than 200 animals across 14 species of lemur—learning about their behaviors, habitats, diets, and lesser-known facts.
e center also o ers two specialty tours for small groups. e Walking with Lemurs tour takes visitors through nine naturally forested habitats during lemur feeding time. e once-in-a-lifetime opportunity gives groups the chance to experience what it might be like to wander the forests of Mada gascar. On the Behind-the-Scenes tour, groups get an exclusive look at the world-renowned research, education, and conserva tion center in areas typically closed o to the public. lemur.duke.edu
e Museum of the Cherokee Indian, located in the town of Cherokee, aims to preserve and perpetuate the history, culture, and stories of the Cherokee people. Over its 75-year history, the museum has helped to revitalize the cultural traditions and Cherokee legacies. These include stamped pottery taught by the Cherokee Potters Guild, traditional dance supported by the Warriors of AniKituhwa, and the beauty of traditional 18th-century Cherokee dress, feather capes, and language carried on by the Cherokee people today.
e museum’s permanent collection celebrates 13,000 years of Cherokee history, showcasing stories, clothing, g ures, artwork, and priceless artifacts from the Native people of the region. mci.org
e Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills near Kitty Hawk on North Carolina’s Outer Banks shares the legacy of Wilbur and Orville Wright. In 1903, the selftaught engineers gi ed the world the innovation and ability to y. Owned and operated by the National Park Service, the memorial site commemorates the rst-ever sustained and successful airplane ight.
Inside the visitor center, groups can plan their trip, visit the park store, and learn from hands-on exhibits about the history of the Wright brothers’ lives and inventions. A reproduction of the 1903 yer is on view in the Flight Room. ere, groups can see an up-close replica of the actual aircra the Wright brothers successfully ew and explore the inner workings of the handcra ed machine. nps.gov/wrbr
Explore the outdoors in Haywood County’s five adventure-filled mountain towns of Canton, Clyde, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, and Waynesville. From scenic mountain hikes to cascading waterfalls, swimming holes to trout fishing, there are outdoor adventures here for everyone.
Plan your adventure at VisitNCSmokies.com.
environment—the sounds and sights of expansive nature. e Garden is self-paced, which also gives an opportunity for every visitor to experience this acreage as he or she prefers.”
As the Garden is close to Charlotte, it is easy to add a unique and natural gem to a Queen City itinerary, Gallagher notes. e Garden also complements the nearby Billy Graham Library.
“Our group events are very similar to our individual visits with overall guests nding beauty in various parts of the Garden,” Gallagher says. “Our most popular areas are the William H. Williamson III Orchid Conservatory, the Ragan Canal Garden, and Lost Hollow: e Kimbrell Children’s Garden.”
Guided tours can be arranged for those groups that are seeking an educational component.
A passenger drop-o area is next to the Visitor Pavilion. Designated parking for motorcoaches is nearby.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina, aims to provide peace and instill a love of nature and beauty.
e 30-acre Garden, located within 300 acres of rolling meadows and woodlands on the shores of Lake Wylie, encompasses spectacular gardens, sparkling fountains, a children’s garden, a conservatory dedicated to the display of tropical plants and orchids, a visitor pavilion, a gi shop, and nature trails.
“Our Garden o ers a much-needed break to visitors,” says Art Gallagher, interim executive director at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. “It’s an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life as well as other attractions. We provide a quiet, natural destination that allows guests to reconnect with their
Holidays at the Garden closes out each year with twinkling lights in the evenings across pathways and plants. e rest of the special exhibits highlight the Garden’s seasonal vibrance. An event quickly becoming a favorite annual activity is the Butter y Bungalow, which fosters native butter ies that are released into nature as summer fades to fall.
“From an inspiring beginning by Daniel J. Stowe, a retired textile executive, nature lover, and gardening enthusiast to a signi cant commitment from community, this Garden is our gi to our guests, and we hope they love each acre, each tree, and each budding bloom as much as we enjoy bringing this vision and vitality to life every single season,” Gallagher says. “We hope that our guests depart the Garden with the peace, calm, and renewal that nature presents.”
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden 704-829-1294, dsbg.org
Come enjoy the beauty of 30 acres of stunning gardens, sparkling fountains, peaceful meadows and wooded trails. Experience the colorful wonder of the William H. Williamson III Orchid Conservatory. Explore Lost Hollow Children’s Garden – for the young and young at heart. And, be sure to visit our gift shop for beautifully unique treasures before you leave!
e Garden delights year-round with our seasonal events including the Butter y Bungalow, Hummingbird Banding, Yoga in the Garden, Birding Walks and Holiday Lights at the Garden. So, take a break and experience the joy of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Book your group tour today. Please call 704-829-1294 for more information and special pricing.
Open ve days a week, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays
Summer Hours (Memorial Day - Labor Day)
Open six days a week, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
Free motorcoach parking. Check our website for a calendar of activities, classes and special events.
6500 South New Hope Road | Belmont, N.C. 28012 | DSBG.org
Rich culture and breathtaking natural resources abound in the Navajo Nation
BY COURTNEY BIRCHMEIERSpanning 27,000 square miles, the Navajo Nation Reservation is the largest tribal sovereign nation in the United States. Its boundaries extend from northwestern New Mexico into northeastern Arizona and southeastern Utah, a combined area larger than many U.S. states. Home to the Navajo people, the vast area is rich with national monuments, tribal parks, historic sites, cultural attractions, and stunnng natural beauty.
“We want tour groups to experience Navajo culture, food, and history at the source on the Navajo Nation,” says Kristal Anderson-Begay, marketing specialist at Navajo Nation Tourism Department in Window Rock, Arizona. “We hope that people take away that
we are one of the many tribes in North America. Each tribe has its own culture, beliefs, way of life, and language. We are still here. Responsible and sustainable tourism is very important on our land.”
One of the ways groups can connect with the Navajo spirit is by taking in the peace and tranquility of a tribal park. One of the most recognized landscapes in the country, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is o en considered the centerpiece of Navajo Nation, and one of ve tribal parks overseen by Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation. e natural wonder, located along the state line of southeast Utah and northeast Arizona, is a collection of crimson mesas and towering sandstone buttes. Authorized tour operators o er guided experiences
within the 92,000-acre park, including Jeep tours, stargazing tours, horse trail rides, and photography tours.
Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park in Arizona is home to the famed Ante lope Canyon—a place that has inspired photographers for decades. Shaped by millions of years of water and wind ero sion, the pristine slot canyon welcomes visitors inside the truly natural sculpture. To experience the magic of the Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon, all visitors must use an autho rized tour operator.
Other tribal parks include the Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park, where the four states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado inter sect, and Canyon de Chelly National
Monument in northeastern Arizona, rec ognized as one of the longest continually inhabited landscapes in North America.
In Window Rock, Arizona, the capital of the Navajo Nation, groups will nd Window Rock Tribal Park & Veterans Memorial. With a graceful, red sand stone arch as a backdrop, the park is home to symbolic structures like a statue of a Navajo Code Talker and a healing sanctuary with a sandstone fountain. Nearby, the Navajo Nation Museum, Library & Visitors Center preserves and interprets the culture of the Navajo Nation. e museum features Native dis plays, a gi shop, auditorium, snack bar, outdoor amphitheater, and an authentic Navajo hogan dwelling.
Also nearby is the Navajo Nation Zoo and Botanical Park, the only Native American-owned and -operated zoo in the country. e nature sanctuary is home to injured or orphaned wildlife, as well as over 50 animal species native to the Navajo Nation and the Southwest.
At the Explore Navajo Interactive Museum in Tuba City, Arizona, visitors learn all about the journey Navajos take through life. e 7,000-square-foot museum is divided into directional sym bol quadrants, where visitors begin in the east and move clockwise. Each quad rant introduces visitors to the land, lan guage, history, culture, and ceremonial life of the Navajo. Nearby, the Navajo Code Talkers Museum showcases how the Code Talkers transmitted informa tion on tactics, troop movements, orders, and other vital battle eld information in their Native dialect during World War II.
Another way to immerse in Navajo culture is by purchasing Native goods.
“Buy straight from the source as much as possible,” Anderson-Begay says. “Purchase authentic cra s, jewelry, art, and handmade Navajo products from a Navajo person or business.”
One place to buy Navajo products is at a trading post. A number of these his toric meeting places have been preserved and remain in business. e Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, established in 1876, is the oldest con tinuously operating trading post on the
Navajo Nation and in the country. Visi tors can browse authentic Navajo cra s, explore exhibits, attend rug-weaving demonstrations, and take a self-guided tour of the original 160-acre homestead. Public events like Navajo fairs are another place to nd Navajo-made goods. A er a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these Navajo events are just beginning to take place again. Some popular fairs include Northern Navajo Fair in Shiprock, New Mexico; Western Navajo Fair in Tuba City, Arizona; and Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock, Arizona.
For tour operators interested in visit ing Navajo Nation, Anderson-Begay says the Navajo Nation Tourism Department can help suggested places to go but can not negotiate prices or schedule tours.
“Each place/destination will need to be reached for pricing and scheduling, as each business on the Navajo Nation operates independently,” she says. “We operate similar to a destination market ing organization at a county level, but in the Navajo Nation.”
► Navajo Nation remains under a COVID-19 mask mandate.
► Navajo Nation observes Daylight Saving Time and typically follows the same time zone as Denver, Colorado.
► Powwows and Fancy Grass Dancing are not traditional Navajo events. These have been adopted from other tribes and slowly adopted over the past few decades.
► Not all ceremonies can be attended by non-Natives.
► Younger generations of Navajo are recapturing the traditional tribal name Diné, which means “The People.”
► Visitors should respect the land. If you find artifacts on the ground, respectfully observe them, and leave them in peace.
Navajo Parks & Recreation Department 928-871-6647 avajonationparks.org
Navajo Nation Tourism Department 928-810-8501 discovernavajo.com
BY JACKIE SHECKLER FINCH
A World War II veteran, Robert Pond collected vintage air cra —some in good condition and some needing repair. But the former Navy aviator wanted to be sure his beloved aircra would never be destroyed or sold for junk metal.
As further protection for his World War II aircra collec tion, Pond and a group of veteran pilots decided to open an air museum. On Nov. 11, 1996, the Palm Springs Air Museum was founded with Pond’s 14 aircra and a mission “to preserve, educate, and honor.”
“Today, we have about 80 di erent airplanes from aviation past and present,” says Greg Kenny, operations manager for the Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California. “Our newest one this past April was an F-117 stealth ghter, a very unique aircra that was just recently retired. You can get right up next to it here.”
e Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk was covered in black paint to make it more di cult to spot during its late-night
missions. e attack aircra , nicknamed the Black Devil, was widely publicized for its role in Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
e Palm Springs Air Museum is unusual in that the planes can be own and are displayed in ve well-lighted, air-condi tioned hangars. “We have no ropes to keep you from interact ing with the exhibits,” Kenny says. “You can see our planes y, smell and hear them, and watch as we work on them.”
A crew of trained and knowledgeable volunteers—many of them veterans and retired pilots—can provide details on the history of each aircra and a sense of the experience of ying them. Visitors can even climb aboard a plane for an exciting “warbird” ride. “ e rides make a wonderful gi for someone, and there is a variety of price levels,” Kenny says.
e air museum o ers discount prices for groups as well as box lunches, plane rides, and special guides. e museum also has a cafe, library, gi shop, and theater. Operators should allow at least two hours for a group tour. Tour coordinators and motorcoach drivers are comped.
“We have volunteers with various backgrounds in the mili tary and the aviation industry who serve as our guides,” Kenny says. “Everybody here has a passion for aviation.”
Palm Springs Air Museum 760-482-1839, palmspringsairmuseum.org
Bright neon lights are often associated with cities such as New York or London. But perhaps the best-known location for flashing neon signs is Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s the city’s history and connection with neon that The Neon Museum has memorialized for visitors.
“ ere is no backdrop in Las Vegas like e Neon Museum for photos, memories, or nostalgia,” says Aaron Berger, execu tive director of e Neon Museum. “Whether you are looking for the history of Las Vegas or you’re just looking for that perfect photograph, you’re going to nd it here.”
e Neon Museum has more than 250 neon signs on display at the museum, and it also partners with the city of Las Vegas to direct visitors toward iconic signs located throughout the
city, such as e Silver Slipper and the La Cienda Horsemen. Of the 250 signs on display, 22 are lit at night for evening tours.
Visitors to the museum walk through the Neon Boneyard, a re-creation of where sign manufacturers stored old signs to use as parts for new signs. Over 200 signs of e Neon Muse um’s collection are stored there. e museum also features a gallery where signs beyond repair have been brought to life using projection mapping, all set to an iconic Las Vegas-style soundtrack from 24 speakers.
While visitors get a great look at iconic Las Vegas signage, e Neon Museum recognizes the stories, history, and culture of Las Vegas that the signs tell. “We have some people who have been coming to Las Vegas for years so they’re coming to sort of
The Neon Museum gives new life to vintage Las Vegas signsThe Neon Museum
relive their memories,” Berger says. “Or, we have people who are fascinated with learning about the civil rights movement out West. People tend to align themselves with some of our stories.”
e Neon Museum o ers special rates for groups, which are limited to 22-25 people. Tours typically last 45 minutes. Some of the most popular tours include e Neon Boneyard Tour; Brilliant Jackpot Tour, which includes a tour of the audiovisual gallery; or the newest addition—the Neon Night Flight Spectacular, where groups take a helicopter ride around the city, followed by a tour of the museum.
The Neon Museum 702-387-6366, neonmuseum.org
TOUR The best way for groups to explore Wichita is on a tour. The city’s Q-Line is a fun, free way to explore downtown, the Historic Delano District, and the up-and-coming Douglas Design District—home to local shops, restaurants, and breweries.
Smaller groups of beer or wine enthusiasts can hop aboard a Brew Wagon Tour. During a three-hour excursion around Wichita, guests try some of the city’s award-winning breweries and other local businesses that create cra beverages, such as hard cider and kombucha tea.
DISCOVER Wichita boasts an incredible art scene. Groups can engage in painting, glassblowing, and culinary classes at some of Wichita’s top art venues and restaurants like Mark Arts, City Arts, Paint the Towne, and The Kitchen
During the day, explore Wichita’s Museums on the River and at dusk, experience the Keeper of the Plains sculpture. When the sun goes down, groups will be delighted watching the firepots light up around the iconic Wichita landmark.
DO Get plenty of steps while enjoying internationally recognized Sedgwick County Zoo. The 250-acre zoo features more than 3,000 animals and nearly 400 species grouped geographically in settings mimicking their natural habitats.
Groups can also participate in a friendly race along the Arkansas River by renting kayaks, pedal boats, scooters, and more from Boats and Bikes. If you want to keep your crew on their toes, reserve an indoor or outdoor pickleball court at Chicken N Pickle
TRY Your group can sip from a botanical martini bar while creating their own terrariums at GROW or try their hand at ax throwing at Axe to Grind, Blade and Timber, and Kiss My Axe! Throwing
Visit Wichita 316-265-2800, visitwichita.com
“There’s always something happening in Wichita, the heart of the country. It’s a city that offers amazing experiences for groups— delivered with heart. From arts to attractions, nightlife to sports, visitors will feel the energy at every turn.”
SUSIE SANTO, president and CEO, Visit WichitaKayaking near Keeper of the Plains statue Tanganyika Wildlife Park
Our ancestors got their frst glimpses of Nebraska from the rock-hard seats of buckboards, buggies, and Conestoga wagons. They also probably perspired heavily or froze half to death. Thanks to the modern-day motorcoach, today’s travelers enjoy distinct advantages. Luxurious comfort, for example. And by bringing them to Nebraska, you enjoy advantages, too. With everything from frontier trails and unspoiled nature to small-town charm and the lights of the big city, Nebraska has adventures galore. Let us help you plan your next one. Go to www.visitnebraska.com/group travel.
okay, maybe not exactly like the pioneers did.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is home to massive ‘Spruce Goose’
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, is home to a supersized aircra whose story has been largely lost to history—the Hughes H-4 Hercules, aka the “Flying Boat.” Although it was built largely of birch, critics dubbed it the “Spruce Goose.”
American businessman, investor, pilot, engineer, and movie director/producer Howard Hughes built the one-of-a-kind air plane for his vision of a “sky bridge.” at vision encompassed ying people and equipment across the Atlantic Ocean rather than shipping them on the surface of the ocean.
“ is concept of a sky bridge inspired him to think of a ying boat,” says Tyson Weinert, president and CEO of the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.
e plane made only one short ight—on Nov. 2, 1947, in Long Beach, California, where it was built. e plane was moved Oregon in 1993.
In its prior location, visitors were not able to go inside the Spruce Goose. “But here at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, there’s a chance to go into the cargo area,” Weinert notes. “On special tours, visitors can actually go into the cockpit
BY KATHIE SUTIN
and see the original settings when the Spruce Goose took its rst and only ight.”
e plane is ranked as one of the 50 best achievements of mechanical engineering, because many structural support elements are made of wood. “It’s fascinating to think that this aircra actually did get airborne,” Weinert says. From wingtip to wingtip, the plane measures 320 feet, which is almost as long as a football eld.
Other aircra on view include a rare SR-71 Blackbird, which cruised at three times the speed of sound, and the Titan II SLV, the main vehicle for the Gemini capsule with the original launch room. Visitors can watch space and aviation movies in the Evergreen Giant Screen eater for an additional charge.
Two-hour, docent-led tours are available for an additional charge. e museum is amenable to o ering ticket discounts to groups. Groups can also schedule a catered lunch or wine tasting at the museum.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum 503-434-4180, evergreenmuseum.org
Explore a geological masterpiece at White Sands National Park
BY ERICA ZAZONestled within the Tularosa Basin in southern New Mexico, White Sands National Park covers 275 square miles of the largest gypsum dune eld in the world. Nowhere else in the world can groups explore a larger swath of the rolling white sand landscape outside of this natural gem in the Chihuahuan Desert.
“White Sands National Park is such a unique landscape and magical experience for visitors,” says Kelly Carroll, chief of interpretation at White Sands National Park. “ e layout and experiences at our park are great for groups because there’s no one speci c place everyone in the park arrives and sightsees at. ere are so many places to recreate, explore, and enjoy the sand dunes while here.”
At the White Sands Visitor Center, groups will nd museum exhibits, a theater featuring a short interpretive movie about White Sands National Park, and a park store for souvenirs and
informational maps and guides. Motorcoaches can park at the Visitor Center or parking lots located throughout the park.
Despite having a desert designation, White Sands National Park is full of diverse wildlife. More than 800 di erent species live among the sand dunes, including frogs, toads, salamanders, birds, and mammals like bobcats, coyotes, and the Ameri can badger. e mile-long Dune Life Nature Trail and 2-mile Backcountry Camping Loop Trail are popular sightseeing and wildlife-viewing destinations within the park.
Groups can also take a ranger-led walk through the gypsum sand dunes during the park’s weekly Sunset Stroll programs. O ered one hour before sunset every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening, the leisurely guided hike gives groups a chance to interact with and learn from a national park ranger along the walk. Groups will learn about White Sands National Park’s geology, its diverse ecosystem, and information about the ecol ogy, wildlife, and plant life within the park. Advance reserva tions are not required.
“It’s important for group visitors and tour planners to remember safety when visiting White Sands National Park,” Carroll adds. “A lot of people aren’t used to being at higher elevations and desert heat, and it’s something parkgoers’ bodies have to get used to. Sunglasses, sunscreen, protective sun gear like hats and light layers, and ample hydration are key.”
White Sands National Park 575-479-6124, nps.gov/whsa
Take a walk on the wild side in West Yellowstone, Montana, at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center (GWDC). e American Zoo & Aquarium Association-accredited wildlife park and educational facility o ers groups the unique experience of an up-close look at Yellowstone’s most extraordinary and notable animal species, including grizzly bears, wolves, and river otters.
From raptors and great horned owls to grizzly bears and three di erent wolf packs, the center aims to provide intimate viewing and educational opportunities to inspire the next generation of naturalists, conservationists, and wildlife advo cates. e 14-acre wildlife center is home to eight wolves, eight grizzlies, and numerous other wildlife species.
“ e Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is a great place to start or end a visit to Yellowstone National Park,” says John Heine, executive director of the GWDC. “While groups may see bison in the wild at the national park, animals like wolves, bears, and river otter sightings are much more rare. Our destination gives groups the opportunity to learn from naturalists as they see the animals up close.”
Inside the center’s Naturalist Cabin, oor-to-ceiling windows give visitors an intimate view of the complex social lives of the GWDC’s wolves as they interact across packs. e center also houses the world-class exhibit “BEARS: Imagination and Real ity,” originally produced by the Science Museum of Minnesota. e exhibit o ers groups the chance to better understand the science, natural life, and behavioral habits behind some of the world’s largest mammals.
In 2019, the center opened the state-of-the-art “Banks of the Yellowstone River Otter” exhibit, which showcases and educates the public about Yellowstone’s native animal species, including the exhibit’s showstopper: the North American river otter. Groups can walk through the immersive facility that re ects the otters’ pond, stream, and waterfall habitat found within Yellowstone. Get a good look at the otters and learn from supplemental interpretive and educational materials throughout the exhibit.
“Groups can really get the lay of the land and a better understanding of the ecosystems and animals you can nd
throughout Yellowstone,” Heine says. “Here, groups have the unique opportu nity to go nose-to-nose with the wolves at the Naturalist Cabin glass viewing area or watch river otters interact in our Yellowstone riparian habitat.”
Daily presentations and demonstra tions from the center’s naturalists, as well as talks from actual Yellowstone National Park rangers, take place in the museum theater, along with a variety of rotating educational wildlife movies, which are included with admission.
To book a group trip at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, tour planners should email the education department at education@grizzlydiscoveryctr.com and include information on the size of the group, age of the visitors, date and time of the proposed visit, and the plan ner’s contact information.
Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center 406-646-7001, grizzlyctr.givecloud.co
It isn’t hard to nd a cra brewery tour today but nding a thorough cra brewery tour is another thing.
at’s where New Belgium Brewing, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, really shines.
Although the brewery o ers several tour experiences, the full 90-minute tour is the brewery’s most popular.
“No one does a tour on the caliber that we do,” says Tera Been, whose uno cial title at New Belgium Brewing is “mothership hostess.” en a er a moment she adds: “Well, maybe Budweiser rivals it.”
Been says New Belgium’s storytelling is what makes its tour one of the top brewery tours in America. “New Belgium has a really unique story,” she says.
A young Fort Collins couple, biking their way through Bel gium in 1988, were inspired to create the avors of Belgian beer in their hometown.
e company is also “forward thinking” in how it treats its employees and in its sustainability measures, Been says.
Visitors on the 90-minute tour visit the brewhouse, sour beer wood cellar, research and development pilot brewery, quality assurance labs, and packaging hall. An expert guide serves the brewery’s beers along the way. Groups can also do the tour as a private event for a at fee. Tour planners should email the brewery for details or submit a form through the website.
New Belgium is famous for its agship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, as well as Voodoo Ranger IPA, America’s No. 1 India pale ale brand, which has released over 20 beers in the past few years. e brewery is also known for its award-winning, wood-aged sour program and innovative limited release beers.
Over the years, New Belgium Brewing has expanded to Asheville, North Carolina; Denver, Colorado; and San Francisco, California. New Belgium Brewing acquired Bell’s Brewery based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2021.
New Belgium’s guided tasting and tour experiences in Fort Collins are available in English and Spanish. The brewery also offers a free 45-minute Tour Teaser (with free beer sampling) and guided tastings for a fee.
Tours are limited to 25 participants. However, larger groups can be divided into two sections for a maximum of 50 participants. Free motorcoach parking is available at the brewery.
New Belgium Brewing 970-221-0524, newbelgium.com
EXPLORE The Wasatch Mountain Range looms large over Utah’s urban core, serving as an 80,000-acre backyard for countless outdoor adventures. Big Cot tonwood Canyon is home to Solitude and Brighton; and Little Cottonwood Canyon is home to Alta and Snowbird.
Red Butte Garden is one of the largest botanical gardens in the intermountain West and covers 100 acres of lush beauty, includ ing herb, medicinal, and fragrance gardens. Tracy Aviary, in the heart of Liberty Park, features live birds exhibits and an outdoor bird show. The Natural History Museum of Utah offers interactive exhibits on various topics, including minerals, metals, flora, fauna, and dinosaurs.
RELAX Salt Lake is a diverse and eclec tic city with a vibrant portfolio of festivals celebrating everything from culture and the arts, heritage and history, and sometimes just a great concert or the pleasures of having a locally brewed beer in the sun.
Some of the many festivals to build a tour around include The Living Traditions Fes tival in May, which celebrates Utah’s diverse culture through dance and food from around the world. June’s HIVE Festival is a two-day hip-hop music festival. Sundance Film Festi val, held in January at venues in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious independent film festivals.
TASTE With thousands of dining establish ments to choose from, running the gamut from posh to plebeian, Salt Lake has become a destination with restaurants and bars that defy convention. The city has been given nods by the likes of the prestigious James Beard awards and scooped medals galore from brewery and distillery bashes. Consider Log Haven, Bewilder Brewing, and Caffe Molise/BTG Wine Bar
Visit Salt Lake 801-534-4900, visitsaltlake.com
“Salt Lake is a perfect place for groups and FIT travelers. Here, urban meets mountain where you can shift from a world-class arts, culture, and culinary scene to skiing, hiking, biking, and cool moun tain temperatures in a matter of minutes.”KAREN
BOE, vice president of communications and public relations, Visit Salt Lake
Stroll under a canopy of foliage and through color- lled gardens over owing with seasonal owers and ora at the 66-acre Dallas Arboretum and Botani cal Garden. Located in downtown Dallas, the grounds invite groups to experience the beauty and wonder of nature in over a dozen gardens around the property.
e Dallas Arboretum, open yearround, o ers discounted tickets for groups of 15 or more. Docent-guided tours cover the history of the arboretum and information about the gardens and plants. dallasarboretum.org
Groups can visit the home of Dr Pepper in Waco at the Dr Pepper Museum Inside the original 1906 Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company building and the historic Kellum-Rotan building, tourgoers can learn about the fascinating history of one of America’s most beloved soda pops. More than 2½ million visitors have walked through the Dr Pepper Museum since it opened in 1989. e museum houses a revered so drink memorabilia collection.
e popular Make-A-Soda experience, located in the Liquid Lab, gives visitors the culinary challenge and creativity of blending their own avored soda. For groups more interested in tasting an array of original concoctions, the Taste-A-Soda experience includes blind taste testing six unusual soda avors— allowing guests to judge and enjoy their favorites all while learning how the so drink industry uses consumer testing to create new products. e museum expe rience is typically self-guided, but groups can also book a guided walking tour, which includes exploring the gi shop and soda fountain, and sipping compli mentary Dr Pepper in the courtyard to cap o the experience. drpeppermuseum.com
Experience a history lesson and a sobering re ection on the impacts of World War II on many of the world’s nations at the National Museum of the Paci c War in Fredericksburg. e wartime museum documents the monumen tal and deep-rooted history of Allied attacks on Japan, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the Soviet Union’s war and invasion of Manchuria during the Asia-Paci c War.
Inside the Admiral Nimitz Gallery, visitors can learn about the life and career of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz as they take a self-guided tour of interactive multimedia exhibits and personal artifacts of Nimitz himself. Other popular exhibits include the “Pearl Harbor” exhibit and “ e Doolittle Raid” exhibit, which houses a full-size B-25 bomber plane similar to those own in the Dolittle Raid in 1942, the rst attack on mainland Japan. paci cwarmuseum.org
Creatively curated boutiques and shops, hand-picked by home decor and renovation celebrities Chip and Joanna Gaines, welcome groups from all over the world to shop in style at Magnolia Silos. Encompassing two full city blocks in downtown Waco, the Magnolia Silos’ o erings range from bath and body products to men’s and women’s clothing, books, and paper goods.
Each with its own unique aesthetic are, the shops at Magnolia Silos blend a mix of family interests, passions, and creativity. e destination cra s both a cohesive, yet diverse shopping experi ence you can’t nd anywhere else in the world. Magnolia Market is the agship store, where guests can browse all things home goods. Ferny’s: e Retro Plant Shop takes a retro twist on shopping for home greenery, while the No. 16 shop, named a er Chip’s youth baseball number, sells both modern and vintage sports-themed apparel and furnishings. ere’s Reverie, which sells a women’s clothing collection, and Tried & True, featuring classic accessories. Grab a co ee at Magnolia Press or baked goods from Silos Baking Co. magnolia.com
Relive one of the Texas government’s most important historical moments at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site on the banks of the Brazos River. e General Convention, which met in Washington, Texas, in March of 1836, would decide the fate of Texas and later dra the constitution of the nation’s rst lasting government at this very historic site. Its location on the Brazos River provides a serene and picturesque destination for groups visiting the area to picnic, sightsee, watch wildlife, and relax. e Star of the Republic Museum, Independence Hall, and Barrington Plantation all o er unique perspectives for visitors. thc.texas.gov/historic-sites
Groups can get a glimpse of the Milky Way and over 100 billion stars in the visible galaxy at one of four International Dark Sky Parks across Texas. e state’s o cial dark sky park locations include Big Bend Ranch State Park (West Texas), Copper Breaks State Park (Panhandle Plains), Enchanted Rock State Park (Hill Country), and South Llano River State Park (Hill Country). During the day, groups can hike, bike, climb, and explore the parks’ trails and recre ation areas. When night falls, visitors can join park rangers and astronomers for stargazing programs within the parks or visit a nearby observatory for an unobstructed view of the night sky. tpwd.texas.gov
SHOP Import shopping is easy in Laredo. Friendly on the budget, Mexican import shops carry everything and anything you can purchase in Mexico. Tourgoers can stroll San Bernardo Avenue, Laredo’s original main street, which boasts a collection of import merchandise along 40-plus city blocks.
EAT Laredo has many dining options for you to explore during your stay, including authen tic Mexican cuisine, American fare, scrump tious sushi, or antojitos (Mexican appetizers) such as corn in a cup, nachos, and others. One of Laredo’s most popular restaurants is Palenque Grill, which has two locations in the city. Palenque’s menu packs an authentic Mexican flavor punch. Make sure you save room for dessert!
ENJOY Bird-watching is big in Laredo. Blessed with a rich and diverse river ecosys tem, Laredo is home to hundreds of species of local and migratory birds, which include prized birds like the Morelet’s seedeater, scaled quail, grey hawk, Audubon and Altamira oriole, green parakeet, Muscovy duck, red-billed pigeon, and clay-colored thrush. This pastime is perfect for relaxing and to spend some time appreciating nature.
PLAY The Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course is located along the banks of the Rio Grande River. Golfers can enjoy stunning views of the river throughout the course, especially on the four holes that play directly on the waterfront. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II, the course is set up for both the advanced and novice golfer.
EXPLORE Walk along the cobblestone streets of downtown Laredo and stop by the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum to learn about Laredo’s history. Tour guests can then venture out on their own with one of the museum’s self-guided tours.
Visit Laredo 800-361-3360, visitlaredo.com
“Laredo is the perfect South Texas destina tion to do some import shopping, search for the perfect margarita, and add on some calories with authentic Mexican food. Laredo’s yearround sunny skies set the perfect backdrop to soak up the sun, do some bird-watching, play a round of golf at the Max A. Mandel Mu nicipal Golf Course, or take in a historical tour as you walk the streets of downtown Laredo.”
Step back in time and discover the history behind Laredo’s famous streets, buildings and people. Texas begins here, and so does your unforgettable trip with over 265 years of history.
Step back in time and discover the history behind Laredo’s famous streets, buildings and people. Texas begins here, and so does your unforgettable trip with over 265 years of history.
visitlaredo.com 1.800.361.3360
visitlaredo.com 1.800.361.3360
An out-of-this-world space museum, the Space Center Houston invites groups to venture through the ever-evolving history of science and space exploration—from the rst moon landing in 1969 to current missions aimed at dis covering new planets, unknown galaxies, and distant solar systems. Within the 250,000-square-foot center, groups can view more than 400 space artifacts and permanent and trav eling exhibits while engaging with interactive programming led by museum sta .
With more than 400 things to experience at the center, groups can cra their own adventure. Popular experiences include walking under the twice- own SpaceX Falcon rocket, browsing the international landmark Independence Plaza to learn about the legacy of the space shuttle program, or riding the NASA Tram Tour for an up-close look at the Apollo Mission Control Center, astronaut training facilities, and the larger-than-life Saturn V rocket. spacecenter.org
A one-of-a-kind roadside attraction meets a work of art at Cadillac Ranch on the outskirts of Amarillo. Constructed by art hippies from San Francisco, Cadillac Ranch is a group of 10 classic cars half-buried in the ground and rising out of the dirt like spires in a row. e multicolored, gra tied hot rods, which stick out like a sore thumb in the desolate desert landscape, have attracted groups traveling along Route 66 since their installation in 1974. visitamarillo.com
See how money materializes at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Fort Worth. Group tours span two oors of interac tive exhibits and displays, as well as o er an up-close look at the currency production facility. Starting from the visitor center, groups embark on a behind-the-scenes look at where billions of dollars are printed. e highlight of the tour is the opportunity to see a bird’s-eye view of the facility from within an enclosed walkway above the production oor. Groups will get a better sense of the organization, processes, and technical machinery required to produce U.S. currency. Visitors also leave with a better sense of the history of currency in the United States and the intricate art of currency manufacturing. bep.gov
Holiday at the Arboretum returns with a garden transformed for the magic of the season including the return of our beloved Christmas Village, the 12 Days of Christmas and our Dazzling Musical Tree!
The Dallas Arboretum is a non-profit organization supported, in part, by funds from Dallas Park & Recreation. We are a welcoming place for all.
RIDE Texas State Railroad , the official railroad of Texas, hosts scenic rides through the Piney Woods region of East Texas. The ride includes comfortable seating, food and adult beverage service, and historic narration on a rail journey that whisks you back into another century. Steam or vintage diesel locomotives pull the the train cars. Grouptour pricing is available for round-trip and one-way excursions.
TOUR Head to Columbia Scientific
Balloon Facility. Operated by Peraton for NASA, the facility builds balloons as large as 400 feet in diameter to conduct studies of the upper atmosphere and outer space. Get a behind-the-scenes tour with one of the scientists and talk to the special project teams about their experiments.
EXPLORE Old Town Palestine is a muststroll for visitors and a popular hangout for locals. Shop in unique boutiques offering curated hand-sculpted, hand-painted, and made-with-love items while sipping a beverage from Cream & Coffee or savoring a slice of pie from Oxbow Bakery. But don’t stop there—the foodie and bar scene is where you’ll find scrumptious flavors from pub-style dining at Pint & Barrel Dra house to Cajun seafood at Hambone’s.
ENJOY Davey Dogwood Park is open year-round during the daylight hours and has over 7 miles of hiking and biking trails and scenic views. The park is a great location to host a box lunch outing for tour groups.
DISCOVER Visit Palestine partners with many historical attractions for private guided tours in downtown for groups of all sizes. Tour options include Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Historic Redlands Hotel, Eilenberger’s Bakery, and Braly’s Ace Hardware Store
ASK
Visit Palestine 903-723-3014, visitpalestine.com
“Palestine is a charming East Texas town that boasts more historic structures than any other mainland city in Texas with over 1,800 sites, including the Main Street District. Home to the Texas State Railroad and the Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration, Palestine is graced with stately homes, gorgeous scenic drives, and a Texas-friendly welcome that offers a true Southern experience.”
e Lady Bird Johnson Wild ower Center in Austin boasts over 900 species of native Texas plants, more than 50 species of oaks found across the state, and endless opportunities for nature-based research and education. e center o ers a variety of programming, events, tours, and ongoing education across its 284 acres of maintained gardens, tree arboretum, and managed natural areas and
See Dallas from a new perspective with a view of downtown from atop one of Texas’ most iconic landmarks: the Dallas Reunion Tower. e 561-foot observation tower characterizes the Dallas skyline, giving locals and visitors a stunning view of the city and sur rounding landscape. Groups can enjoy a self-guided experience by day or night on the open-air wraparound GeO-Deck or opt for a docent-led tour. e hour long guided tour includes a 30-minute history and fact-sharing discussion with Reunion Tower sta followed by 30 minutes of exploring the GeO-Deck. reuniontower.com
wildlands encompassing the Edwards Plateau and Texas Blackland Prairies ecoregions. e center is home to the largest collection of native Texas plants in one location.
Groups can book a private docent-led tour to learn about the manicured gardens, plant life, and architecture that characterizes the botanic gardens and arboretum. wild ower.org
No trip to Austin is complete without a guided tour of the Texas State Capitol. Four tour options give groups a variety of ways to learn about architecture, Texas history, and legislative processes.
On shorter tours, docents lead groups through the Capitol grounds, covering the stories, history, and leaders that have shaped Texas politics from the Capitol’s dedication in 1888 to the present day. Half-day and full-day tours guide groups on in-depth experiences at a variety of buildings and exhibits on the Capitol grounds. Group tours at the Texas Capi tol complex must be booked in advance. tspb.texas.gov
e USS Lexington, also known as “ e Blue Ghost,” in Corpus Christi takes groups on a journey back in time. Today, the moored World War II aircra carrier serves as a museum documenting military history and commemorating the brave who defended the ship in its numerous missions. e 910-foot, 42,000-ton warship valiantly served in the United States Navy from 1941 to 1999. e ship sailed for 21 months of combat, destroying 372 sky-bound aircra and 475 grounded aircra , and sinking 300,000 tons of enemy cargo during its lifetime.
Guided, behind-the-scenes tours include the Flight Operations Tour, the Hard Hat Tour, and the Ghost Tour. e Late-Night Paranormal Investigation experience is also available. usslexington.com
Inside the Texas School Book Depository building, groups can better understand and commemorate the life of President John F. Kennedy. Overlooking Dealey Plaza at the corner of Elm and Houston streets, e Sixth Floor Museum takes groups on a storytelling journey through Kennedy’s life, his assassination on Nov. 22, 1963, in downtown Dallas, and his continuing legacy. e museum’s main exhibit, “John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation,” interprets the historical context of events that took place during Kennedy’s lifetime and his presidency—and details the events and a ermath of that fateful day. Visitors can take a self-guided walking
tour to explore the historic images, news footage, artifacts, and original evidence of the case, or book a docent-led group tour in advance. j .org
Art-covered walls and a kaleido scope of colors cover downtown Beaumont and the Jack Brooks Regional Airport—a result of the artistic masterpieces that make up the Beaumont Murals Walkways, plazas, museum walls, and sculpture gardens show o the hotbed of creative talent in the southeast Texas town that embraces the unconventional. e mural project began in 2017.
Groups can explore on a self-guided walking tour with the help of the Beaumont Mural Guide, which plots the murals and the eclectic mix of art wait ing to be found around the city. beaumontcvb.com
Sightsee, shop, and dine on the San Antonio River Walk, a 15-mile urban waterway and walking path through downtown San Antonio. e River Walk brims with world-renowned restaurants, boutiques, and a variety of music, performance, and cultural experiences unique to the Lone Star State.
From cruising on a river barge for a view of the town from the water to vis iting nearby attractions like e Alamo and the King William Historic District, the San Antonio River Walk remains a classic Texas experience for tour groups and visitors of all ages. More than 10 unique neighborhoods in the San Anto nio area, most a short distance from the River Walk, provide a diverse mix of cuisines and unforgettable opportunities ripe for adventure.
visitsanantonio.com/river-walk
Experience the world’s only twicedaily cattle drive on the streets of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Known as the place where “ e West Begins,” the stockyards embody Western heritage and history that continues today. From no-frills country bars and two-step dance oors to stock shows and bull-riding competitions, the Fort Worth Stockyards showcase the best of Texas culture on the outskirts of downtown Fort Worth.
Dusty streets bordered by old brick buildings, country music spilling onto rickety wooden porches, and the aroma of Southern cooking in the air de ne the sights, smells, and sounds of the Fort Worth Stockyards. ere are nearly endless group experiences to explore within the district. At Billy Bob’s, the world’s largest honkey-tonk, groups can experience live country music, two-step dancing, and live bull riding all under one roof. Groups can also book a guided historic walking tour of the stockyards to learn about the stories and moments in time that shaped the stockyard as we know it today. fortworthstockyards.org
DISCOVER For a true Wild West experience, visit the National Ranching Heritage Center. A trolley tour takes guests through time as they witness the evolution of ranching across America’s heartland with over 50 historically accurate structures, most of which were once in use. Inside the center, exhibits of Western art, cowboy poetry, and ranching information provide an in-depth look into the founding of the area.
SIP Known as the leading producer of wine grapes in the Lone Star State, with 85% grown on the Texas High Plains, the region boasts eight award-winning wineries, including Llano Estacado Winery. Taste the legacy of Texas wine and include a happy hour in the trip’s itinerary.
SEE Ranked among the “Top 10 Public Art Collections in the Nation” by Public Art Review, the Texas Tech University Public Art Collection is a great option to take in the beauty and grandeur of Texas Tech’s campus. With over 100 art installations, there is something beautiful around every corner.
ENJOY Catch local and international artists performing live at Cook’s Garage, an outdoor venue in south Lubbock. With an on-site restaurant and bar, as well as an extensive collection of neon and vintage oil and gas signs, Cook’s Garage provides an immersive atmosphere. Menu items include steak dinners, fried chicken, street tacos, wings, and burgers. The venue also plays host to special events throughout the year.
DO Try your hand at ceramics at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts Clay Studio . From pinch pots and vases to pottery thrown on the wheel, novice and expert ceramicists alike can sculpt, glaze, and fire the perfect new addition to any home’s decor.
Visit Lubbock 800-692-4035, visitlubbock.org
“Group tour operators and visitors alike will find Lubbock, Texas, to be an unexpected host city that offers a one-of-a-kind experience for everyone. From critically acclaimed cuisine and a prominent wine region to a renowned arts community and a variety of attractions, Lubbock is ready to welcome you and your group to experience West Texas.”
TORY MITCHELL, sales manager, Visit Lubbock
When considering a destination to host your next event, choose a city that lies west of your expectations. Where the people are as warm as the West Texas sun and hospitality is woven into our blue jeans, attendees and meeting planners alike will find Lubbock, Texas to be an unexpected host city that offers a one-of-a-kind experience. From critically acclaimed cuisine and a prominent wine region to a renowned arts community that boasts unique venues and hands-on activities, Lubbock welcomes groups of all sizes to experience the wild West Texas. Plan your meeting in the 806 today at visitlubbock.org/meet
The Nicolett
National Ranching Heritage Center
LHUCA Clay Studio
Log Cabin Village in Fort Worth is dedicated to log cabin culture, history, and preservation. e city of Fort Worth owns and operates the living history museum that allows guests to escape the present and experience the past.
Nine historic structures, furnished with authentic arti facts, provides a vivid look at life in the 19th-century North Texas frontier. Each log house displays di erent aspects of pioneer life. e exhibits include a water-powered gristmill, a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, an herb gar den, and several log home settings. Historical interpreters depict the lifestyle of the people who lived and settled the area in the mid-1800s to late 1800s. e historical interpret ers give demonstrations and answer visitor questions.
Log Cabin Village also manages the Van Zandt Cottage, a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. e cottage is currently undergoing restoration through a partnership between the city of Fort Worth and the Van Zandt Cottage Friends Inc.
Groups are welcome to bring box lunches and enjoy a picnic at the park directly adjacent to Log Cabin Village’s parking lot. Several restaurants are also nearby. Bottled water and historic-style soda pop (and stick candy for your sweet tooth) are sold on-site. logcabinvillage.org
e Padre Island National Seashore in Corpus Christi embod ies the best of Texas’ coastline beauty. Separating the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre, Padre Island National Seashore is one of very few hypersaline lagoons in the world, a place where the seawater is saltier than average. Over 66 miles of protected coastline, dunes, prairies, and wind tidal ats over ow with wildlife native to the region, including salt-tol erant sea grasses, algae, and hardy crustaceans and sh. From camping out on the beach to witnessing a park-facilitated Kemp’s ridley sea turtle hatchling release, Padre Island is full of outdoor recreation experiences for groups of all interests. nps.gov/pais
step-on tours give an overview of life as it was in the early days of Saint Charles. Groups can uncover some of Saint Charles’ colorful past and discover what the 14-block historic district has to o er.
e 200-plus-year-old Historic Main Street is Missouri’s rst and largest historic district. Running parallel to the Missouri River, the brick-paved street leads to more than 125 one-of-akind shops and restaurants. Dress up your home with framed art, antiques, clocks, collectibles, stained glass, garden ags, quilts, silk orals, and decorating accents from every period. Or dress yourself with original clothing designs, shoes, mono grammed items, handbags, and ne and costume jewelry. Spe cialty food options also abound in the Historic District. Hone your culinary skills with spices, seasonings, mixes, hot sauces, olive oils, and balsamic vinegars. Indulge your taste buds with handmade chocolates, fudge, to ee, homemade cookies, ice cream, and even gooey butter milkshakes!
Just west of St. Louis, you’ll nd Saint Charles, Missouri, a river city with a unique historical perspective, beautiful sites, friendly people, and a pace just a little slower than that of the big city. Saint Charles grew into a thriving riverfront trading center for young America. e people of Saint Charles have labored lovingly to preserve and share their treasured river her itage. e history and hospitality found in Saint Charles make it the perfect destination.
Saint Charles was the starting place for thousands of Amer icans on their journey westward. Historic walking tours and
On the south end of Historic Main Street, you’ll nd the Ameristar Casino Resort Spa. Featuring an all-suite AAA Four Diamond hotel, a captivating 7,000-square-foot innovative spa experience, nightlife, ne and casual dining, and 130,000 square feet of gaming excitement, the Ameristar is a destination on its own.
Saint Charles o ers endless options for group tours. Visit discoverstcharles.com or request a copy of the visitor magazine for additional information. For more assistance, call Chris Wilson, group sales manager at Greater Saint Charles CVB.
Greater Saint Charles CVB 636-946-7776, discoverstcharles.com
Mall of America delivers retail, entertainment, lodging, and attractions
Mall of America®, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, is the largest retail and entertainment center in North America. With over 500 stores, 50 restaurants, and 16 attractions, the Mall is a premier destination that o ers something for everyone.
Every year, more than 12,000 groups visit the Mall and enjoy tremendous savings at over 500 stores with no sales tax on clothing or shoes. Tourgoers can discover 50 restaurants, 7 acres of rides at Nickelodeon Universe® indoor theme park, SEA LIFE Mall of America, and much more. From leisure group tours and student programs to family reunions, the team at Mall of America is ready to help tour planners make their next group visit an unforgettable and one-of-a-kind experience.
Since opening its doors in 1992, the Mall has revolutionized the shopping and entertainment experience of tens of millions of visitors per year. A leader in retail, entertainment, and attractions, Mall of America is one of the top tourist destinations in the country and is known around the world.
With an average of 25 new brands introduced at the Mall of America each year, group-tour visitors can always count on having a new experience for each visit. New stores in 2023
include Ebisu, a unique life store that o ers thousands of products from Japan, and Karl’s Fishing & Outdoors, o ering products for the modern angler as well as interactive displays, events, meetups, and a helpful sta . e Mall o ers complimentary VIP Shopping Packages to all pre-registered group tours. e package includes a Mall of America coupon book and souvenir shopping bag ($16.95 value). With the coupon book, group-tour visitors enjoy tremendous savings with over 200 o ers that are exclusive to the Mall’s stores, restaurants, attractions, and hotel partners. To reserve VIP Shopping Packages, group planners should email tourism@moa.net at least two weeks before the arrival date.
In 2022, Mall of America launched the O cial MOA Tour, which allows guests to get behind-the-scenes peeks at how the Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe theme park work. e walking tour lasts approximately 90 minutes; exible scheduling is available, including weekends and evenings.
Want to go deeper? Mall of America o ers customizable group tours based on a group’s interest. For school groups and eld trips, possible tour themes include business and marketing e orts or STEM topics, including energy and engineering. For history bu s, some previous tour topics have included sports history featuring Met Stadium moments.
Mall of America 952-883-8643, mallofamerica.com/tours
When sending your clients to Southern California, the Outlets at Tejon in Arvin o ers a great selection for style and savings. e mall is conveniently located about an hour north of Los Angeles on Interstate 5. You will nd your favorite American brands with savings up to 65% at more than 40 upscale fashion, home goods, and accessories stores. Set against the mountains of Tejon Ranch, this is a must-shop stop for any itinerary.
e Outlets at Tejon o ers group and FIT incentives, including a free VIP coupon booklet with discounts up to 65% in addition to already discounted outlet prices, a special VIP gi tote bag, and free and convenient motorcoach parking. To schedule a meet-and-greet, tour planners should provide a 48-hour notice in writing to Becca Bland at bbland@tejonoutlets.com. Other amenities include ample and luxurious restroom facilities,
friendly guest services sta , an integrated food court, and plenty of nearby sit-down restaurants. Tour operators, tour guides, and bus drivers receive perks and privileges, too. ose who book ve trips to Outlets at Tejon can earn a $50 gi card to the outlets—that’s on top of the $15 gi card for the driver and two group leaders of a group of 15 or more.
In addition to stellar shopping, the Outlets at Tejon o ers other features and amenities. New, attractive canopies o er shade and large fans to keep shoppers cool in the California heat. An 80-room Hampton Inn is now open adjacent to the outlets. Featuring an indoor pool and tness center, the hotel is ready to host travelers a er a day of fun- lled shopping and dining. e Outlets at Tejon app is a great resource for the lat est deals and news from your favorite brands like Michael Kors, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Coach, Levis, Le Creuset, and more! e Outlets at Tejon welcomes groups of all sizes as well as FIT travelers. Right on your route between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Outlets at Tejon is the perfect mid-trip shopping and dining break. Your guests will nd themselves surrounded by designer labels and captivated by the center’s California Mis sion Ranch design and upscale amenities—a testament to the rich legacy of historic Tejon Ranch, a true California landmark.
Wondering about Outlets at Tejon’s COVID-19 protocols? Sta members are happy to share them for your review.
For more information about group and FIT visits, email Becca Bland at bbland@tejonoutlets.com or Carolyn J. Feimster at carolyn@cjfmarketinginternational.com.
Outlets at Tejon 661-858-2155, tejonoutlets.com
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort assembles all the elements of fun
One of the hardest things about any group trip is making sure everyone has a good time. at’s why it makes sense to go to a place where they can do it all.
At Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, tourgoers can experience it all—whatever their idea of fun is. Everything from an action-packed gambling casino to awesome restaurants to a full-service salon and spa, planning the perfect group trip has never been easier.
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is the ultimate place to have a winning time; and with good reason, as it is home to Michigan’s largest gaming oor. Whether they love playing for triple sevens or putting on a mean poker face, all guests can really win big with one of the largest collections of (and biggest variety of) slot machines and table games in Michigan. In addition, tour guests can continue their hot streak over at the bingo hall. So, no matter how they like to play, a full day of winning and excitement awaits them.
en, when a day spent winning leaves guests feeling like they need to recharge, they can always relax and rewind at Soaring Eagle Resort’s Salon & Spa. An array of body treatments, facials, signature massages, and more welcome them to an experience of relaxation they’ve always dreamed of. Guests can unwind from a week’s worth of muscle aches and pains thanks to deep-tissue massages. Or maybe their idea of stress
relief is a nice manicure and pedicure. Rest assured, a er a day spent in absolute “pampering,” the group will be looking good and feeling good for the big night ahead.
Getting hungry? Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort presents a variety of top-notch, award-winning dining options that’ll suit anyone’s fancy—whether they’d like to dig in to a thick, juicy steak or enjoy an all-American burger and milkshake. Or maybe they would prefer a quick slice or a deli sandwich piled high. Tour guests will experience the kind of dining they’re looking for—no matter their taste palate. Plus, they can catch all the latest sports action and place bets at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort’s Ascend Sports Book & Lounge.
And what’s dinner without a show? When it comes to entertainment, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has been voted the “Best Outdoor Concert Venue” in Michigan, and it has won countless awards for bringing in top-tiered talent to the middle of the state. Be sure to check online at soaringeaglecasino.com for upcoming concerts and events. With the Entertainment Event packages, tour planners can easily purchase tickets plus a discounted hotel rate specially created for their guests.
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort 888-732-4537, ext. 55444; soaringeaglecasino.com
Discover your place to getaway. To indulge and enjoy it all your way. This is your day of adventure. Your day to win. So come and go all-in. There’s delicious dining, king-size luxury, big-time winning and so much more at Michigan’s most exciting destination.
Sevierville, Tennessee, sells a wide variety of merchandise
Sevierville, Tennessee, is known for great views, fun attractions, delicious food, and plenty of amazing shopping. From great deals on high-end designer merchandise to outdoor gear, kitch enware, and even historic artifacts, this Smoky Mountain town really delivers the goods.
Sevierville provides well-known outlet shopping destinations like Tanger Outlets Sevierville, which has over 100 high-end, name-brand retailers. Tour operators can reach out to mall management before visiting to receive special services, includ ing complimentary coupon books.
Visiting a er summer 2023? Plan a stop at the world’s largest Buc-ee’s, which will have just opened in Sevierville near Inter state 40, exit 407.
Book a cooking demo for your group at KaTom Chef Sup plies, then turn them loose to shop for professional-quality cookware. Plan a stop at the Russell Stover Outlet to load up on delicious candies at deep discount prices. Browse Smoky Mountain Knife Works for an hour or more and let tourgoers marvel at museum-quality displays, historic artifacts, high-end
cookware, survival gear, and, of course, pretty much every kind of knife known to man. Bringing a group for the weekend? Visit Sevierville’s ea markets for a real treasure hunt!
Tony Funderburg, director of sales and advertising at Visit Sevierville, says the wide variety of merchandise available sets Sevierville shopping apart. “Your groups can buy everything from authentic dinosaur fossils to homemade apple butter and outlet-priced designer handbags,” he says.
Downtown, new public art, including vibrant murals and bronze sculptures, have joined the iconic statue of Dolly Parton in the walkable historic district. Enjoy lunch and spend a few hours shopping the boutiques in downtown—or book a guided historic walking tour with a local guide.
“I hope group tour visitors to Sevierville gain an appreciation for the beauty of the Smoky Mountains and the thrill of nding amazing deals on really cool merchandise,” Funderburg says.
Visit Sevierville 888-738-4378, visitsevierville.com
With over 40,000 square feet of shopping and a display of museum-quality antiques, Lehman’s is worth a trip to Kidron, Ohio. e store was founded in 1955 by Jay Lehman to serve the local Amish, and today sells nonelectric, practical, and old-fashioned (but brand-new) products all over the world.
“When you step through the doors of Lehman’s, you step back in time,” says Glenda Lehman Ervin, director of marketing at Lehman’s. “Visitors will cherish the memories of products that have been used for generations.”
At Lehman’s, there is something for everyone on the motorcoach. From handcra ed pottery and jewelry to gardening, camping, and grilling supplies and from hand tools to nonelectric appliances, Lehman’s has it all. In recent years, the store has added over 10,000 new products, so groups that haven’t visited recently will nd a new shopping experience.
“Why were we voted the best place to visit in Amish Country ve years in a row?” Lehman asks. “Because we exist to create a simpler life for you and your loved ones.”
Tour planners can call 800-438-5346 to schedule their visit and three-minute step-on greeting. One lucky tour guest will also win a special prize. Lehman’s has ample free motorcoach parking and free shipping on orders of $100 or more. e driver and escort receive a free meal at Lehman’s Cast Iron Café.
Lehman’s 800-438-5346, lehmans.com
Experience a new level of excitement at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas. See live championship thoroughbred racing every December through May. Plus, take in the high energy of the casino, which features slots, table games, high limits, and sports betting.
With denominations starting at 1 cent, there’s a wide selec tion of slots and over 1,500 machines, including video poker. Prefer table games? For new players or experts, the casino currently has 32 tables on the oor, including blackjack, craps, three-card poker, and roulette.
e luxury hotel features elegantly appointed rooms and suites, the spacious Astral Spa, an outdoor pool with cabanas, a multipurpose event center with banquet space and meeting rooms, and several dining options.
e 15,000-square-foot multipurpose event center accommodates up to 1,500. Layout options range from small settings for discussions and presentations to large areas for weddings and special events. With advanced audiovisual technology
and on-site sta , any audiovisual requirements can be met. e resort’s talented culinary team provides delectable choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Group meals can be plated or served bu et-style.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort 501-623-4410, oaklawn.com
Head to Ridgeland, Mississippi, for an interesting retail mix
Ridgeland, Mississippi, is home to a variety of unique experiences, indoors and out. From the 33,000-acre Barnett Reservoir to a variety of shopping options, groups never run out of ways to explore, says Kelly Durrett, director of sales and event partnerships at Visit Ridgeland.
Boutiques, galleries, and antique stores are located along the Ridgeland Retail Trail from one end of the city to the other. Stroll the Old World-style streets of Renaissance at Colony Park and the new urbanist Township at Colony Park. A few miles away, the Jackson Street district is bustling with specialty shops, restaurants, spas, and bike stores. e renowned Bill Waller Cra Center features treasures from over 400 leading artisans.
“With a variety of locally owned and big-name retailers across the city, Ridgeland welcomes group tours with plenty of parking, year-round mild weather, Southern hospitality,
and delectable dining options for every taste in your party,” Durrett says.
For overnight group visitors, Visit Ridgeland offers a Group Room Rebate program and secure hotel rates. For all groups, Visit Ridgeland provides gift bags to hold your treasures, brochures and maps, event planning assistance, and a personal welcome.
Visit Ridgeland 601-605-5253, visitridgeland.com
You need Ridgeland, a true urban oasis and the perfect spot for your next getaway. Enjoy over 150 restaurants and six shopping districts home to big name brands and specialty boutiques.
From Creole cowboys lling the air with zydeco music to a training center that teaches equestrians, St. Landry Parish is the “Equine Capital of Louisiana” with a culture of horsemanship that goes back centuries. e horse races at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Opelousas make up a modern piece of that complex cultural puzzle.
e Evangeline Downs Racetrack was moved to Opelousas from its Carencro facility in 2005. When the owners of the track needed a new place to go, St. Landry Parish—with its trail rides, the famous Courir de Mardi Gras, rodeo stars, and miles of countryside, perfect for keeping horses—was the ideal t for the racino.
Today, the races are free to attend with racing season at Evangeline Downs kicking o in April. e spring and summer months are peppered with thoroughbred racing that continues throughout September. From October to December, quarter horse racing takes place and coincides with fall events. A er your group attends the Sweet Dough Pie Festival,
St. Landry Catholic Church’s re-enactments and cemetary tours, or the Port Barre Cracklin Festival, you can head to Evangeline Downs for an evening of races. e Evangeline Downs Hotel is conveniently located on-site.
St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission 337-948-8004, cajuntravel.com
Horse racing draws groups to Louisiana’s St. Landry ParishEvangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino
The North Dakota roads are calling, inviting your tour group to experience our fabulous parks and trails, events and attractions, downtowns and main streets. Discover how much there is to see and do. Visit us online to plan your group tour.
