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2021 TOUR PLANNER
Discover group destinations that are distinctly Georgia, from the mountains to the coast and all the worlds in between. We invite you to...
NACOOCHEE ADVENTURES
Helen
There’s no better way to take in the stunning scenery of North Georgia than ziplining through the Blue Ridge Mountain canopy. At Nacoochee Adventures, only a mile from downtown Helen, your group can glide through the trees, set out on ATV excursions, and get immersed in the heritage of the area. Between activities, guides will share local history spanning from the Native Americans to the gold rush and prohibition-era moonshiners. Photo credit: @kaaaaaaty
NATIONAL CENTER FOR CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS
Atlanta
Standing proud in downtown Atlanta, the National Center for Civil & Human Rights is a beacon of hope and progress. Like the many civil rights monuments and museums across the state, the draw of the center isn’t just the lessons of looking back, but what your group will take away moving forward. Photo credit: @brittjane_c
TYBEE ISLAND LIGHT STATION & MUSEUM
Tybee Island
Just twenty minutes from the historic and lively port city of Savannah is Tybee Island. Your group will find five miles of public beaches, discover a lighthouse built in 1736, and enjoy plenty of fresh, local seafood. Whether for relaxation on the sand or dolphin tours and sunset cruises on the water, Tybee gives your crew an island getaway right here in Georgia. Photo credit: @mylittlelifesjourneys
ExploreGeorgia.org/groups
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SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY 2021 TOUR PLANNER Courtesy Sevierville CVB
Plotting the Course Ahead
Beer, Wine & Spirits
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STS PRESIDENT MONICA SMITH DISCUSSES THE SOUTHEAST’S COMEBACK PLAN FOR 2021.
SOUTHERN BREWERS, DISTILLERS AND WINEMAKERS ARE PREPARING GREAT GROUP EXPERIENCES.
On the Water
Animal Encounters
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EXPERIENCE THE LAKES, RIVERS AND SEASHORES OF AMERICA’S SOUTHEAST.
THESE SOUTHEAST DESTINATIONS OFFER MEMORABLE WILDLIFE EXPERIENCES.
Mountain Destinations
PUBLISHED FOR
1425 MARKET BLVD., STE. 530-324 ROSWELL, GA 30076-5624 770-355-4002 SOUTHEASTTOURISM.ORG
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PUBLISHED BY
SCENERY AND TRANQUILITY AWAIT IN THESE SOUTHERN ALPINE DESTINATIONS.
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ON THE COVER: Sunset begins over Everglades National Park. Photo by Simon Skafar.
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NICHE TRAVEL PUBLISHERS 301 EAST HIGH STREET LEXINGTON, KY 40507 WWW.GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM
FOR ADVERTISING CALL KELLY TYNER AT 888-253-0455 S O CIE T Y
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Ordinary People. Extraordinary Courage. A Singular Focus. The Civil Rights Movement was a lightning bolt in the history of our nation forged through the efforts and sacrifice of thousands of individuals, many of whom we’ll never know. But with the U.S. Civil Rights Trail in Kentucky, we’re shining a light on a number of the stories, people and events that not only changed Kentucky, but forever changed the country. We invite you to explore Whitney Young’s birthplace, Lincoln Hall at Berea College, Louisville’s downtown Civil Rights Trail and the Muhammad Ali Center, and to visit the SEEK Museum in Russellville.
kentuckytourism.com
SEEK Museum, Russellville
Southeast Tourism Society
LEADERSHIP TEAM
2021-2022 OFFICERS Chair
MEREDITH DASILVA DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS
ANNA PLANTZ PARTNER PROGRAMS WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF TOURISM
VISIT FLORIDA
DOUG BOURGEOIS ASSISTANT SECRETARY
MICHAEL MANGEOT COMMISSIONER
LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM
KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
CRAIG RAY DIRECTOR
TRAVIS NAPPER DIRECTOR
VISIT MISSISSIPPI
ARKANSAS TOURISM
ROBYN BRIDGES VICE PRESIDENT
WIT TUTTELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LORI SIMMS DEPUTY DIRECTOR
A UBURN -OPEL IKA TOU RISM
VISIT NORTH CAROLINA
MISSOURI DIVISION OF TOURISM
AMY DUFFY CHIEF OF STAFF
MARK JARONSKI DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
SC DEPT. PARKS, RECREATION & TOURISM
EXPLORE GEORGIA
DONNA CARPENTER PRESIDENT & CEO C A BA R RU S COU N T Y CVB
Vice Chair JILL KIDDER PRESIDENT & CEO LOUI SIAN A TRAVEL ASSOCIATION
Treasurer KAREN TREVINO PRESIDENT & CEO NOR T H L IT TL E ROCK CVB
Secretary
Marketing College Provost BERKELEY YOUNG PRESIDENT Y OUNG STRAT EGIES
Immediate Past Chair TIM TODD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR D I S C O VER U PCOU N TRY CAROL IN A
LEE SENTELL DIRECTOR
MARK EZELL COMMISSIONER
ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT
JONI JOHNSON DIRECTOR, DOMESTIC SALES & MARKETING VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION
WWW.SOUTHEASTTOURISM.ORG 6
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UNION STATION, KANSAS CITY
VIEWS WORTH THE WAIT. With destinations like this, it’s no surprise Missouri is a major stop for group tours. For help planning a future trip, contact Ashley Sneed of the Missouri Division of Tourism at Ashley.Sneed@ded.mo.gov
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Courtesy Sevierville CVB
BRING FRIENDS
C H A R T I N G A C O U R S E F O R T R AV E L’ S R E C O V E R Y
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s president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) in the age of COVID-19, Monica Smith has balanced her enthusiasm for promoting travel into 13 Southern states and Washington, D.C., with a step back to consider how the pandemic might alter the way people enjoy her popular travel region in the future. “I believe tourism will change in many respects as a result of this,” she said. “It’s been nearly 20 years since 9/11, and we’ve grown accustomed to screening requirements in airports that resulted. We must realize that changes will also take place after COVID-19. I think we’ll need to implement those in our planning and processes in the days ahead so people can be confident to travel again.” Not all these changes will necessarily be arduous, Smith believes. The leap forward in virtual meetings and presentations is an example of positive change. “Virtual meetings will only get better,” said Smith. “Hybrid events will offer participation to those who cannot travel to a meeting site. Those who can afford to attend in person may still do so, but these are just examples of new realities that all of us will plan for.” The short-term effects of this pandemic, however, continue to be devastating to STS members and destinations. “The truth is that our industry could still be a year away from the full benefits of a safe vaccine,” she said. “Until then, our members are facing very difficult circumstances. For their well-being and the well-being of their destinations, our industry needs consistent standards across the country.”
Smith said STS has adopted a timeline for restarting its in-person events. “We’re planning to begin hosting in-person events again this summer,” she said. “Our first will be Marketing College at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, in June. We’ll hold our Congressional Summit on Travel and Tourism June 21-24 in Arlington, Virginia. Our Connections annual conference takes place in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on September 26-29.” Smith knows that travel groups have already begun getting out in the Southeast and are already practicing new safety protocols for their trips. “It’s great that many groups are traveling again,” she said. “I want to be sure our organization offers them best practices and current information for their trips. On February 23-24, we’re offering a virtual tour planning event titled STS Domestic Discovery: Online Education, Networking and Itinerary Development for Tour Operators and Suppliers. “Our Group Travel Symposium was canceled this year, but the 2021 event takes place November 30-December 1 in Roswell, Georgia,” said Smith. STS plans to hold one-day Travel Media Meetups at both the Congressional Summit and the Group Travel Symposium. “In 2022, we’re excited about holding STS Domestic Showcase as an in-person event February 13-15 in Virginia Beach, Virginia,” she said. “We already have a couple of new benefits for attendees: Our membership includes new destinations in Florida and Washington, D.C., for buyers, and we’ll be adding educational sessions to the program.” For information on any of these events, visit southeasttourism.org.
MON I CA SMI T H
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Historic Central High School, Little Rock
Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs
Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs
The Old Mill, North Little Rock
Clinton Presidential Center, Little Rock
COME FIND YOUR ARKANSAS
Arkansas.com/Group-Travel
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Courtesy Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
S T S R E L AT I O N S H I P S W I L L B E V I TA L I N 2 0 2 1 B Y MAC L ACY
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onna Carpenter represents an area known for fast cars. The past year for her might better be characterized by caution flags than straightaways, but the president and CEO of the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau and 2021 chairperson for the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) has not lost sight of the finish line. “In Cabarrus County, our visitor numbers are going up,” she said. “We know recovery from this pandemic will be slow, but last April was our worst month, and we have enjoyed a gradual climb back since then. I am forever an optimist, and I like to think we are nimble here. That said, what’s been good for us here may not be good for someone else. “The Charlotte Motor Speedway has done a phenomenal job of creating new business for our area,” said Carpenter. “Early last summer, they created high school graduation events so our kids could have their ceremonies; since then, they’ve started doing drive-in movie nights and live concerts, all of which are spaced out for people, who stay in their cars or sit next to them. The Speedway’s racing events have been impacted, but they have responded with a lot of successful ideas for our area.” Carpenter sees Cabarrus County’s tourism recovery unfolding through a progression of three key markets. “We think we’ll see outdoor sports business return first, followed by group
travel, then meetings,” she said. “Our transient hotels are doing very well, and all our group travel visitors are invited to come see us as soon as they can. We’re ready for them. Great Wolf Lodge is open and doing great, restaurants are open, some of the racing museums may be open, and tours of the speedway are definitely open.” Carpenter embraces her role as STS chairperson during such a pivotal year. “Someone told me a long time ago that no one ever got fired for doing a good job,” she said. “That’s no longer true. A lot of very good people across this industry have lost their jobs this past year. My STS network has been invaluable to me because I haven’t felt alone in facing these difficult circumstances. For that reason, I’m more than happy to give back to STS this year. “Advocacy is at the top of my agenda as chairperson,” she said. “STS does such a great job at the local, state and national levels. Our industry continues to be taken for granted, and we must stay in front of these elected officials. I will stress advocacy, and I will stress the benefits we enjoy through our relationships between members. STS will continue to be invaluable in helping us to support each other on our journeys through this ordeal.” Carpenter concluded her interview with a heartfelt statement: “In 2021, STS has a vital role to play for all its members and for our industry. As chairperson this year, I’m honored to be a part of it.”
DONNA CARPENTER
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SOUTHEASTERN WATERS DRAW GROUPS ON DECK
BY BRIAN J EWELL
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eauty, history and adventure await on Southern waters. From beaches to wetlands, lakes and the mighty Mississippi, water has physically and psychically shaped many Southern destinations. Today’s travelers can get to know cities and towns throughout the region by exploring their waterfronts to take in the scenery and stories that flow through them. Here are five distinctive waterfront experiences to include on your group’s next journey through the Southeast. FLORI DA STON E CRAB
HAN NI BAL’S MARK TWAI N RIVER BOAT
Courtesy Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB
Courtesy Hannibal CVB
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Explore the Everglades
FLORI DA’S E VERG LADES OFFER A DIVERS E AR RAY OF OPPORTU NITI ES FOR EXPLORATION AN D WI LDLI FE WATCH I NG.
EVERGLADES CITY, FLORIDA
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Courtesy Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB
hen most Americans think of waterfront destinations in Florida, they think of beaches. But nature lovers and adventurers know that an entirely different watery ecosystem awaits in Florida’s Everglades. At the southernmost tip of the state on the Gulf Coast, near Naples, Everglades City serves as the gateway to Everglades National Park. At this park, as well as nearby Big Cypress National Preserve and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, groups have a variety of options for exploring the wetlands environment. “All three have trails and boardwalks, so you can walk out and look over the foliage,” said Jack Wert, executive director of the Naples, Marco Islands and Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau. “But there are also some unique opportunities, like taking a park-rangerguided swamp walk. You can actually get into the water, normally about knee deep. You walk with the guide through the water. People are astounded how clear the water is and how peaceful it is.”
AN E VERG LADES ALLIGATOR
Courtesy Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB
W W W. S O U T HE A S T T O U R IS M . O R G
Courtesy Visit NC
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POTOMAC RIVER BOAT COM PANY’S S PI RIT OF MOU NT VER NON
Courtesy Hornblower Cruises
During these swamp walks, as well as on other guided tours that stay up on the boardwalks, visitors learn about the unique Everglades ecosystem that comprises both fresh and salt water. Guides point out plants such as cypress trees and orchids, as well as birds and wildlife, common in the area. Another popular option with groups is an airboat tour. Several airboat operators in the area have vessels that can accommodate up to 12 passengers and take groups out on hourlong tours of the swamp. “They’re not just driving you around in an airboat,” Wert said. “The captains are very knowledgeable about all the flora and fauna, so they stop and talk to you about them. In mating season, you’ll see mother alligators out there sitting on nests, and certain times of year you’ll see the babies as well.” PARADISECOAST.COM
Cruise the Potomac
WASHINGTON, D.C.
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ith countless monuments, memorials and patriotic attractions, Washington, D.C., is among the country’s most popular group tour destinations. And although seeing the sites from land is fun, seeing them from the water offers a completely different perspective on the capital city. The Potomac Riverboat Company offers many ways for groups to explore Washington from the water. “We have dining cruises, as well as a water taxi and sightseeing operation,” said Kelsey McCarthy, general manager of the Potomac Riverboat Company. “The water taxis run from D.C. down in the beautiful wharf area to Old Town Alexandria in Virginia and National Harbor in Maryland. We also run sightseeing tours to Georgetown.” The water taxis can hold up to about 150 people in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Some groups use them as hop-on/hop-off transportation between sites in the Greater D.C. area. Others stay aboard for an entire round trip, which showcases views of numerous major monuments, as well as the Georgetown waterfront. Another popular part of the Potomac Riverboat Company portfolio is dining cruises. “Our dining cruises are really popular with groups,” McCarthy said. “For lunch, we do two-hour cruises, either south toward National Harbor or north toward Georgetown. Then in the evening, everything is lit up, and you see all the beautiful sites as you sail by. We have live entertainment, typically a DJ playing music. There are outdoor decks as well, and in the summer, that space is really special.” The company also offers daylong cruise experiences that feature a 90-minute sailing to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate in Virginia. The package includes admission to the estate and on-site museum, with an optional return sailing to D.C.
KAYAKI NG ON KENTUCKY’S LAKE CUM B ER LAN D
POTOMACRIVERBOATCO.COM
Courtesy Somerset-Pulaski Co. CVB
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Live Large on Lake Cumberland
FIS H I NG I N LAKE CUM B ER LAN D
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ew places in the South offer the kind of extended aquatic adventures available on Lake Cumberland, a man-made lake in southern Kentucky with more than 1,200 miles of shoreline. Known as the Houseboat Capital of the World, Lake Cumberland is a great place for groups to try a houseboating adventure. “We manufacture houseboats here and have a large rental fleet on several of our marinas,” said Michelle Allen, executive director of the Somerset-Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You can get anywhere from a small one with two bedrooms to an eight-bedroom boat that sleeps up to 20 people. You rent it, and they will actually go out with you and tie up somewhere. You can find your own cove and not see anybody all weekend if you want. Everything is there — showers and fully furnished kitchens. It’s like you’re staying in a cabin, but you’re on the water.” Another option for groups is to stay on land in some of the hundreds of cabins around the lake, then take advantage of water activities during the day.
A LAKE CUM B ER LAN D ADVENTU R E
Photos courtesy Somerset-Pulaski Co. CVB
Outer. Space. A true getaway, the Outer Banks offers incredible connections to nature and an abundance of soul-stirring experiences. From a luxurious four diamond resort to charming seaside properties, your groups are guaranteed to enjoy the varied amenities that make each of our properties safe and unique. Home to 3 National Parks, a myriad of bucket list adventures and 100 miles of free beaches to explore; the Outer Banks provides an authentic coastal vibe vacation for your customer. Ask us about our new night skies program. #remoteandlovingit
For group adventures, contact Lorrie Love; love@outerbanks.org, or call 877-629-4386
The Outer Banks
®
OF NORTH CAROLINA
W W W. S O U T HE A S T T O U R IS M . O R G
outerbanks.org/planners
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“There’s a group called Wake Cumberland Watersports,” Allen said. “They have a wake boat, so if you’re interested in learning how to ski or surf or if you want to go out tubing and don’t want to drive the boat, they provide that service. They can also do night cruises. We also have tons of fishing guides that can take you out as well.” In addition to getting out on the water, groups visiting the area often enjoy attending one of several special events on the water, including the Thunder Run in June and the Poker Run in September, which features hundreds of boats from as far away as Canada. LCTOURISM.COM
Find Dolphins in the Gulf
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ulf Shores, Alabama, is a popular destination for family vacations during the summer. But for tour groups, it offers a different kind of excitement: getting up close with a pod of dolphins. Dolphins love the warm waters of the Gulf Coast, and the area around Gulf Shores is one of the best places for visitors to see them in the wild. Numerous operators offer dolphin-watching excursions. “There are all kinds of dolphin cruises,” said Beth Gendler, vice president of sales for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. “We have educational dolphin cruises, as well as fast boats, where dolphins swim and jump in the wake of the boats. That’s fun for them, and they’re very playful.” Dolphins are a protected species, and boat crews are strictly prohibited from feeding them or doing anything else to attract them. But local captains have become so familiar with the area’s dolphin population that they usually know where to find them and have even given some of them nicknames. “The captains interact a lot with the people on the boat and tell lots of jokes,” Gendler said. “They’re really great about educating you. Last time I went, the captain was talking about how male dolphins typically swim by themselves. But female dolphins, if they’re carrying a baby, have another female swimming with them to protect them.” Other popular water activities around Gulf Shores include fishing charters, which can accommodate up to 40 passengers, and guided kayaking ecotours, which highlight the waterfowl that live in the area. Groups can take guided Segway tours through the 6,100-acre Gulf State Park to see alligators and other local wildlife. GULFSHORES.COM
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Discover Mark Twain’s Mississippi HANNIBAL, MISSOURI
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elebrated author Mark Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, and based many of his characters and novels on people he met during his childhood in this Mississippi River town. Today, groups can get a taste of the writer’s childhood on the river with a cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat. “Mark Twain grew up here, creating mischief and playing on the river,” said Steve Terry, the riverboat’s captain. “The river was only two blocks from his home, so it was a major part of his childhood. I want people to look out and imagine seeing him as a young man down here, borrowing somebody’s boat to go out fishing.” Visitors can visualize this scene during sightseeing cruises on the Mississippi River. During the excursions, the captain tells stories from Twain’s days on the river and points out notable scenery, including a historic lighthouse, a railroad bridge and other structures dating to the 1800s. The Mark Twain Riverboat is 123 feet long and can accommodate up to 350 passengers. The three-deck vessel offers a mix of indoor and outdoor seating. During the daytime, hourlong sightseeing cruises focus on history and scenery. In the evening, the company offers a dinner cruise. “Our dinner cruise is two hours,” Terry said. “It features a two-entree buffet and live entertainment. You get to see the sunset. You enjoy the experience of the evening on the river, with a good meal, good music and dancing.” MARKTWAINRIVERBOAT.COM
PADDLE-BOAR DI NG I N GU LF S HOR ES
Courtesy Gulf Shores Orange Beach CVB
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OPEN NOW with socially distanced seating
narroway.net 803.802.2300
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Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival is the largest fine arts festival in the state. Founded 43 years ago, this two-day event in early November features exhibitions by more than 400 artists and crafters and draws more than 150,000 people to the town of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The event was first organized to honor Peter Anderson, a local master potter credited with pioneering the area’s arts scene in the 1920s. Organizers envisioned an event that would create public awareness of local artists and businesses in the area. Today, the festival has grown to showcase the creative work of people from all across the Southeast. Groups that visit the festival can browse the arts and crafts booths for handmade goods to take home. There’s also food available from vendor booths. The festival is a street fair, with booths set up beneath the live oaks lining downtown Ocean Springs. PETERANDERSONFESTIVAL.COM
EVENTS
OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI
Courtesy Coastal Mississippi
Tour life with the Lowcountry tides. Meet the coastal town that will transform your next tour: Beaufort, SC. With over 70 historic sights to see, a walkable downtown, unique Gullah-Geechee heritage and freshcaught cuisine, Beaufort is the charming Southern destination motorcoach groups can’t stop talking about. BeaufortSC.org
02 1 SO UTH EA S T T O U R IS M 18LOOK FOR US AT TRAVEL SOUTH2OR CALL US AT 843.525.8526
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{
Celebrate the gifts of land and sea with epic Virginia Beach adventures the entire group can enjoy safely. With 400 square miles of wide open space, revel in hands-on experiences and unique access to a group tour that’s as safe as it is memorable.
VISITVIRGINIABEACH.COM/GROUPTOUR
}
PEAK
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INTERESTS
HERE ARE A FEW MOUNTAIN MECCAS IN THE SOUTHEAST
BY J I LL G LEESON
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or groups smitten with the great outdoors, there is perhaps no finer playground than the mountains of the South. From the Ozarks and Ouachitas up to the Smokies and over to the Blue Ridges, the peaks and pinnacles found below the Mason-Dixon line provide such diverse habitats and dramatic topography they might well be the envy of the country. And just as crucially, the towns and parks nestled within these ancient ranges offer all the know-how and equipment necessary for groups to make the most of their time in the mountains. Whether you’re looking for canoes or all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), hiking guides or naturalists, you’ll find who and what you need within the delightful borders of the following mountain destinations. FOU R-WH EELI NG I N DAH LON EGA Courtesy Iron Mountain Resort
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S H ENAN DOAH NATIONAL PARK Courtesy NPS
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TH E M I LE H IGH SWI NGI NG BRI DG E OFFERS SWEEPI NG B LU E RI DG E VI EWS FROM GRAN DFATH ER MOU NTAI N.
Dahlonega GEORGIA
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Courtesy Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
erched prettily within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Dahlonega features not only spectacular mountain scenery but also plenty of ways to enjoy it. Rich with waterfalls and wineries, the town also offers groups adventures that are decidedly wilder, according to Sam McDuffie, tourism director at the Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber and Visitors Bureau, who calls the area “magical.”
“Just experiencing everything, from the Southern charm of our downtown area to all the offerings in our county, where you start getting more into nature and hikes and things like that — it’s got a little bit for everyone,” McDuffie said. That includes group members that are looking for adrenaline-charged activities and may want to split off from the tour and paddle the Chestatee or Etowah rivers with guides like Appalachian Outfitters. Or group visitors can get their dirt on at the Iron Mountain Resort, which rents ATVs and lets guests go fast and furious over its hundreds of miles of trails, some of which offer the area’s best views.
PETIT J EAN STATE PARK
By Kirk Jordan and Casey Crocker, courtesy Arkansas Parks
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Looking for more low-key pleasures? McDuffie suggested that groups visit some of the area’s five wineries and 12 tasting rooms. “We’re called the Napa Valley of the South because our grapes are grown and bottled here,” he said. Specifically for tour groups, McDuffie recommended stops at the award-winning Frogtown Cellars, Three Sisters Vineyards and Winery, and Wolf Mountain Vineyards and Winery, all within easy driving distance of one another. DAHLONEGA.ORG
Table Rock State Park
OFF-ROAD ADVENTU R ES I N DAH LON EGA
SOUTH CAROLINA Courtesy Iron Mountain Resort
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hould any especially fit group members want to brave the 2,000-foot elevation gain that rises from the foothills of Table Rock at South Carolina’s Table Rock State Park, they will be rewarded with the kind of breathtaking biodiversity seldom seen in a day hike. “When you start down low, you’re in some very wet, stream environments,” said Michael Trotter, Table Rock State Park manager. “As you climb it gets drier, so you walk through an oak/hickorytype forest. Especially on the southern slopes of the mountains as you climb up toward the top, you actually have a little bit of pines, so it gives you the chance to see a lot of different environments.” Located at the edge of the Blue Ridge escarpment, the 3,083-acre Table Rock State Park also offers plenty of activities for visitors perhaps more familiar with their couches than hiking boots. The park is criss-crossed by easy trails and features two lakes. During the summer, pedal boats, canoes and kayaks can be rented from the concession stand on Pinnacle Lake, across the street from the main trailhead and nature center. “It’s all right there together,” Trotter said, “so it’s easy to come in with a group and park, and then have part of the group start out at the nature center and go hiking, and then the other part of the group could swim or do boat rentals.” SOUTHCAROLINAPARKS.COM/TABLE-ROCK
Petit Jean State Park
CANO EI NG AT TAB LE ROCK STATE PARK
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By Julia Thompson, courtesy Table Rock State Park
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f groups are in search of a landscape blessed with unique topography, they should look no further than Petit Jean State Park, which sits atop the mesa for which it’s named and alongside the Arkansas River, between the Natural State’s Ouachitas and Ozark mountain ranges. Although hiking to see features like the stunning 95-foot Cedar Falls is the name of the game in the park, there is much else for groups to enjoy, according to Kathy Fitch, Petit Jean State Park’s group sales manager. “We also have two swimming pools,” Fitch said, “and there is an antique automobile museum here on the mountain. There’s
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also a privately owned petting zoo; we have tennis courts; and Memorial through Labor Day, we have the boathouse on Lake Bailey that rents fishing and pedal boats, and kayaks and canoes.” The first state park to open in Arkansas, Petit Jean is getting upgrades groups will love, including a new visitors center and a 100-seat banquet room overlooking the lake; both are slated to open early this year. But for group members who wish to submerge themselves more deeply in Petit Jean’s remarkable terrain, there is a range of easy trails that don’t take long to hike. One, the Rock House Cave Trail, leads to a shelter that boasts Native American art created some five centuries ago.
GATLI N BU RG’S S KYLI FT PARK
Courtesy Gatlinburg SkyLift Park
ARKANSASSTATEPARKS.COM
“We’re called the Napa Valley of the South because our grapes are grown and bottled here.” — SAM MCDUFFIE, DAHLONEGA-LUMPKIN COUNT Y CHAMBER AND VISITORS BUREAU HUNT_Motorcoach_9x5_3438.pdf
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FALL I N PETIT J EAN STATE PARK FU N I N S E VI ERVI LLE By Kirk Jordan and Casey Crocker, courtesy Arkansas Parks
Courtesy Sevierville CVB
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Great Smoky Mountains TENNESSEE
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he South’s most famous mountain ranges by far, the Great Smoky Mountains are part of the Appalachians and so named for the ethereal blue mist that clings to their peaks and valleys. The Smokies benefit from three towns, beloved by group visitors, that lie in Tennessee: Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and Sevierville. Though they are close to one another, each offers its own singular identity and opportunities for mountain fun. Pigeon Forge is best known as the home to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood, an amusement park themed around Southern Appalachian mountain culture, with more than 40 rides and 15 shows. Surrounded by the Smokies, it offers spectacular views of the range’s rises and special rates to tour operators. A gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg provides group visitors primo peeks into America’s most-visited national park from attractions like the Space Needle, a 407-foot observation tower, and SkyLift Park, which includes the SkyBridge, the continent’s longest suspension bridge for pedestrians. Meanwhile, Sevierville, the birthplace of country music icon Parton, includes goodies such as Forbidden Caverns, a chance to see the Smokies from down under, and Foxfire Mountain Adventure Park. The latter attraction gives groups the opportunity to immerse themselves in the mountain landscape with hiking, zip lining and more. MYPIGEONFORGE.COM GATLINBURG.COM VISITSEVIERVILLE.COM
Grandfather Mountain NORTH CAROLINA
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Shenandoah National Park VIRGINIA
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here’s a lot to love about the 300-square-mile Shenandoah National Park, which ranges through the forest, wetlands and occasional rocky peaks of the gently rolling Blue Ridge Mountains. It has a history that groups will enjoy investigating, thanks to President Herbert Hoover, who in 1929 built an upscale camp of sorts within what would shortly become Shenandoah National Park. Nowadays, groups can reserve a shuttle to take them down to the buildings that once housed guests such as Winston Churchill and Thomas Edison, who were no doubt just as entranced by the landscape as Hoover. “A lot of people talk about the park’s views,” said Helen Morton, director of sales and marketing for Delaware North at Shenandoah National Park. “They just capture you. Groups can sit back and just kind of breathe in and listen to the sounds of nature. It’s not that dramatic — it’s more peaceful; Shenandoah has a deep-down soothing effect on a lot of people.” Hiking trails like the iconic Stony Man, just 1.6 miles roundtrip, provide for plenty of gorgeous gazing, but groups don’t have to leave the motorcoach for jaw-dropping vistas. Skyline Drive, Shenandoah’s public road that runs 105 miles along the mountain’s ridge, provides almost 70 scenic overlooks with magnificent views anyone can see without sliding on so much as a hiking boot. NPS.GOV/SHEN
owering nearly 6,000 feet above the western North Carolina high country, Grandfather Mountain is unique among Blue Ridge Mountain peaks. The ancient mountain is home to 72 rare or endangered species and 16 different ecosystems, as well as the legendary Mile High Swinging Bridge, 220-foot-long suspension bridge that spans a chasm that’s 80 feet off the ground but a mile high in elevation. It’s a group favorite thanks in part to its views. On a clear day it’s possible to see all the way to Charlotte, 80 miles away. Along with more than 12 miles of hiking trails, Grandfather Mountain also gives groups the opportunity to see alpine critters in environmental wildlife habitats, large enclosures that replicate the animal’s natural surroundings. Bespoke tours of the habitats, home to cougars, bears, otters and more, as well as special naturalist programs, can be arranged for groups. “With our different outcroppings and our geologic history, you see a lot of beautiful mountaintops and rolling
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hills,” said Frank Ruggiero, director of marketing and communications for the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation. “It’s just gorgeous. It goes as far as the eye can see. It’s simply the kind of place that groups really have to visit. It’s a fascinating mountain, unlike any other on Earth.”
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Courtesy Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation
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Wilson County Fair About 30 miles east of Nashville, the town of Lebanon, Tennessee, is usually quieter than its famous neighbor. But for nine days each August, Lebanon turns up the volume for the Wilson County Fair, which has grown to become the largest county fair in the state. Like all great fairs, the Wilson County Fair features a wide variety of attractions and experiences designed to appeal to a diverse crowd of attendees. More than 100 musical artists, including nationally known headliners each night, typically perform across eight stages. In addition to the music, visitors enjoy about 50 rides and games, as well as lots of fair food and other concessions. The Wilson County Fair also shines a spotlight on the area’s agricultural heritage. The fair serves as the umbrella organization for a number of livestock shows where children and adult farmers exhibit cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and more. WILSONCOUNTYFAIR.NET
EVENTS LEBANON, TENNESSEE
Courtesy TN Dept. Tourist Dev.
Our tell the stories.
you feel the
History.
Book your tour at MissouriPenTours.com.
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Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Stonewall Lake & Resort
Jackson’s Mill Farmstead
Asylum operated as a mental
the scenic Stonewall Jackson Lake
steadfast place of learning,
health facility for 130 years.
with breathtaking views from the
leadership and growth for more
Visitors can enjoy daily walk-in
Adirondack-style lodge or quiet
than 90 years. Famous as General
historic and paranormal tours,
lakefront cottages. Enjoy an
“Stonewall” Jackson’s homestead,
festivals and events from
irresistible meal, play the Arnold
the old gristmill still stands. This
April through November.
Palmer Signature golf course,
is an important arena for adult
pamper yourself at the spa, hike
education, special events and
the trails or play on the lake.
meetings—and the State 4-H camp.
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic
This luxury resort is located on
This historic area has been a
V I SI T U S ONLINE O R CALL TO DAY FOR YO UR FREE L EW I S C OU NT Y, WE ST VIRGINIA TRAVEL GUIDE
WV Museum of American Glass
The museum is dedicated to the
Mountaineer Military Museum Childhood friends were drafted
region and nation’s rich glass
into their country’s service and
heritage. The stories of people and
only one made it home.
processes come to life! See a huge
A graveside promise was made
collection of brilliant colored and
that “I’ll never let anyone forget
sparkling crystal glass by dozens
you guys.” More than 18 new
of American manufacturers from
exhibits, feature personal and
1860 to the present.
historical items from the Civil War to current day.
Appalachian Glass Appalachian Glass is keeping the
tradition of hand made glass alive in West Virginia with offerings of over 500 traditionally produced soda-lime crystal products. Their studio is open to the public for shopping and to enjoy live demonstrations.
STONEWALLCOUNTRY.COM 304-269-7328
Lambert’s Winery Nestled in the heart of West
Virginia is a winery whose beauty is almost as exquisite as the fine selection of wines. The winery’s magnificent tasting room is constructed from hand cut stones gathered from various parts of the state. Tour the beautifully landscaped grounds and browse their gift shop.
MannCave Distilling
With the development of three artesian water springs, the distillery was unearthed out of hand dug coal mines. The smooth, award-winning, top shelf spirits (whiskey, vodka and moonshine) are produced and sold onsite. Tours and tastings are available on Saturdays.
SIP
your
FAVORITES
END YOUR DAY WITH A SOUTHERN SPIRIT
BY RACH EL CARTER
CITYSCAPE WI N ERY
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istilling, brewing and winemaking are an integral part of the South’s cultural heritage. Kentucky is known for its corn-based, barrel-aged whiskey, made using the state’s sweet, blue limestone-filtered water. St. Louis is the birthplace of Budweiser, and in Arkansas, visitors can drink healing hot springs water — in the form of a cold beer. Though the South isn’t as famous for winemaking as its West Coast counterpart, Southern vineyards and wineries are committed to growing grapes and establishing the region as a winemaking destination. If your groups enjoy sampling local beer, wine and spirits, schedule a trip to one of these distinctive Southern destinations.
Courtesy CityScape Winery
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SUPERIOR BATH HOUS E BR EWERY
Courtesy Visit Hot Springs
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GROUPS WI LL FI N D H ISTORIC CHARM — AN D LOTS OF BOU R BON — DU RI NG A LONG WEEKEN D I N BAR DSTOWN.
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
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Courtesy Visit Bardstown
he Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only brewery inside a U.S. national park, and it may be the only one that uses hot springs water in every beer it brews. When the National Park Service put together a program to allow small, private businesses to lease and repurpose vacant buildings, Rose Schweikhart signed up. She leased a 1916 brick building that had operated as a bathhouse in Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park until it closed in 1983. The building sat vacant for 30 years until Schweikhart opened her brewery in July 2013. The park service had partially restored the building, but Schweikhart still had to do about $1 million in phased renovations to make it suitable for a brewery and restaurant. “One of the parts I’m most proud of is people who did not have access to this building when it was closed — now they do,” she said.
OUTER BANKS DISTI LLI NG’S KI LL DE VI L RUM
Courtesy Outer Banks Distilling
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SUPERIOR BATH HOUS E BR EWERY I N HOT S PRI NGS Courtesy Visit Hot Springs
Visitors will find original features like historic tile, exposed brick walls and rows of tiny lockers behind the bar. Though the production area is too small for tours, a window provides a view into the brewery, where the park service pipes in spring water. “I turn a valve, and 140-degree spring water comes out,” she said. During a visit to the park, groups can stop at the brewpub for a beer or the scratch kitchen for a meal; the kitchen uses as much local produce and meat as possible. Superior’s No. 1 seller is the Beer Bath, a tasting flight of all 18 of its beers. Groups can also reserve the brewery’s private event space, which accommodates up to 100 people, and may be able to arrange for Schweikhart to speak to the group. SUPERIORBATHHOUSE.COM
Bourbon Distilleries BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY
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entucky is known for bluegrass, bourbon and Thoroughbreds. And Bardstown is the beating heart of the state’s bourbon scene, with 16 bourbon distillers within 11 miles of downtown. “What I think is so great about Bardstown is the diversity of our bourbon distilleries,” said Samantha Brady, executive director of Visit Bardstown. “You can go to a small, family-owned distillery then go to a big mecca like Jim Beam and have two completely different experiences.” Heaven Hill Distillery is undergoing a $17.5 million expansion. The first phase, which was completed in November 2019, included three new tasting rooms and a revamped retail area. The second phase, set to open this spring, will include interactive exhibits and the You Do Bourbon immersive space, where guests can enjoy a tasting, then bottle, label and personalize their favorite bourbon. Bigger distillers like Four Roses, Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark all offer tours, tastings and group experiences, but the area’s small distilleries are hidden gems. Preservation Distillery produces only two to three barrels a day, but it prides itself on its small-scale, upscale bourbon offerings. Log Still Distillery is a new operation that’s reviving the owner’s family farm, where his great-great-great-grandfather first made bourbon in 1836. A new tasting room is being built and is scheduled to open this spring. It will anchor the larger destination — called Dant Crossing — which will feature a farm-to-table restaurant, an event space, a 12-acre lake and an amphitheater. Downtown is its own bourbon destination, home to the Talbott Tavern, the oldest bourbon bar in the world, and the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History. Visitors can walk to the Blind Pig Bourbon Marketplace to buy a bottle of bourbon, then cross the street to the Blind Pig Bourbon Speakeasy, where a password is required to enter.
BAR DSTOWN ’S PR ES ERVATION DISTI LLERY
VISITBARDSTOWN.COM Courtesy Visit Bardstown
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Outer Banks Distilling MANTEO, NORTH CAROLINA
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um and seafaring have a long history, from rumloving pirates to rum runners during Prohibition to the British sailors who were given daily rum rations. Outer Banks Distilling, the first legal distillery on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, incorporates that seafaring lore in everything it does. The small rum distillery is in downtown Manteo on Roanoke Island, just a couple of blocks from the water’s edge. Outer Banks Distilling has a total of eight Kill Devil Rums: three flagship varieties and seasonals and small-batch releases. Group tours typically begin in the tasting room with an overview of the company and the building, which “we renovated ourselves; it’s all reclaimed wood,” said Scott Smith, co-owner and one of the founders. The building itself ties into the area’s reputation as the Graveyard of the Atlantic — over 1,000 shipwrecks surround the islands — and even has pieces of shipwrecks on display. “We’re almost like a mini shipwreck museum in here,” Smith said. A guide leads the group back to the distillery to explain the equipment and the process, from “molasses to glasses” — taking visitors from the raw ingredient to barrel-aging and bottling. The group returns to the tasting room, where the guide leads a tasting. During the pandemic, North Carolina changed its laws, allowing the distillery to add a full bar and mix drinks. Outer Banks hired a beverage director who makes his own fresh-squeezed juices, tinctures and bitters and creates custom cocktails. OUTERBANKSDISTILLING.COM
Reserve the place where New Orleans goes to meet and unwind.
Just next door to New Orleans, discover Jefferson Parish! Where a unique blend of wetlands & coastal experiences and metropolitan flare meet. From scenic bayou tours to historic districts, rustic venues, and creole cuisine, authentic culture awaits you along the Louisiana Oyster Trail. Jefferson Parish is a Clean & Safe Destination committed to the safety and well-being of our community and visitors.
WWW.VISITJEFFERSONPA RI S H .CO M 504 .731.7083 | Tol l Fre e 1.87 7.5 7 2.7474 OUTER BANKS DISTI LLI NG Courtesy Outer Banks Distilling
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GI R LS’ DAY OUT AT CITYSCAPE WI N ERY
CityScape Winery
PELZER, SOUTH CAROLINA
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CITYSCAPE ’S ELEGANT OUTDOOR DI NI NG S PACE
Photos Courtesy CityScape Winery
MUSIC HISTORY COMES TO LIFE IN MACON, GEORGIA.
ost people get into winemaking because they’re passionate about wine. Josh and Debra Jones got into it for a different reason: boredom. But the passion soon followed. While looking for a hobby — and after watching a lot of YouTube videos about winemaking — the couple took the winemaking plunge. They went to a local winery and winemaking supply store, CityScape Winery, near their home in Greenville, South Carolina. Boredom birthed a hobby, and the hobby morphed into a lifestyle. The two made dozens of varietals; they even made 10 different types of wine for their wedding. So when the previous owners of CityScape Winery asked the Joneses to consider taking over the winery in late 2015, they jumped at the chance. Five years later, the couple is breaking ground on a new 10,000-square-foot facility: 5,000 square feet on the lower level for production and 5,000 square feet upstairs for a tasting room. The building will have plentiful indooroutdoor access, including a central courtyard and a deck. The new facility will also have a commercial kitchen, and the Joneses hope to bring in chefs to offer cooking classes. Groups can still schedule guided tours, though the facility will be a construction site until the building is complete this fall. “The whole thing is going to be filled with lots of experiences,” said Debra Jones. “That’s what we specialize in: the experience.” The 12-acre property also has large fields, where the winery set up socially distanced tables to accommodate guests during the pandemic. CITYSCAPEWINERY.COM
Explore the sounds that shaped Macon through music, video, and interactive exhibits at Mercer Music at Capricorn. We invite your group to step back in time and safely experience Macon’s storied past and musical future.
“The whole thing is going to be filled with lots of experiences. That’s what we specialize in: the experience.”
Plan your visit at VisitMacon.org.
800.768.3401
— DEBRA JONES, CIT YSCAPE WINERY
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Landry Vineyards
WEST MONROE, LOUISIANA
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andry Vineyards got its start in 1999 when the Landry family — Jeff and Libby Landry and their four sons — planted their first grapes: two acres of Blanc du Bois, a white European American hybrid grape. Those first vineyards were located in Folsom, Louisiana, about 50 miles north of New Orleans. But after Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the family took the opportunity to move to higher ground, relocating to the hill country of West Monroe. “It’s a much better growing situation up here, much drier,” said owner Jeff Landry. Though the winery imports some grapes, “we are committed to growing grapes,” he said. “We are not going to have a successful wine industry in Louisiana unless we grow grapes.” Today, Landry Vineyards’ 20-acre site includes a new winery, a tasting room and 16 acres of vineyards with three different hybrids “that are suitable to our growing situation,” Landry said. The winery offers tours for groups small and large. Smaller groups can ride golf carts down to the vineyards, and larger groups can opt to walk down to see grapes growing on the vines, though they don’t have to. Guests learn about growing grapes and the winemaking process as a guide leads them through the winery, where they’ll see the equipment and tanks, the barrel-aging room and the bottling room. Groups can taste up to 24 different wines in the tasting room or have a catered meal on the massive, open-air, covered timber pavilion, where a deck delivers views of the vineyard below.
LAN DRY VI N EYAR DS’ VARI ETI ES
LANDRYVINEYARDS.COM
GRAPES ON TH E VI N E AT LAN DRY VI N EYAR D Photos courtesy Landry Vineyards
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top
Crush Wine and Food Festival
EVENTS
Huntsville, Alabama, is known as Rocket City, but each year in September, it becomes a destination for wine lovers during the fiveday Crush Wine and Food Festival. Launched in 2014, this event is Alabama’s first state winery competition. During this festival in Big Spring International Park, participants can sample more than 150 varieties of wine — ranging from dark red cabernets to bright and sweet chardonnays — produced by vineyards around the state. An information tent on site allows them to place orders for new favorite bottles they discover at the festival. To go along with the wine, there’s a grape stomping, as well as chocolate- and cheese-pairing samples. In between flights of wine, visitors can listen to live music from local artists and order food from one of the city’s plentiful food trucks. CRUSHWINEFESTIVAL.COM
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA
Courtesy Hunstville/Madison Co. CVB
Real Flavor . Real History. Real Adventure. Groups of all sizes will delight in discovering real flavor in the heat of the gumbo pots along the Andouille Trail, real adventure in our lakes and bayous in New Orleans Swamp Country, and learn the real history of New Orleans Plantation Country in Louisiana’s River Parishes. 2 02 1
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Anheuser-Busch Brewery ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
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nheuser-Busch is one of the biggest names in brewing, and Budweiser is one of the most recognized beers, and it all began in St. Louis. Anheuser’s St. Louis brewery was founded in 1852, making it one of the oldest in the nation, and it has been giving tours to the public for over 130 years. The brewery’s complimentary tour is available several times a day and is capped at 60 people. The tour starts in the Clydesdale stables, which the Busch family built in 1885. A guide takes guests through the historic 1891 Brew House to learn about the seven-step brewing process, then to the Beechwood aging cellar, where of-age guests can sample Budweiser. The tour wraps up in the open-air Biergarten, where each of the 18 on-tap beers is served in a special glass to highlight its qualities. Although the standard tour is free, the brewery recommends reservations for groups. Groups have several other options that expand on everything offered in the standard tour. The Day Fresh tour takes visitors through the packaging facility, and each guest leaves with a beer that was brewed that day. The Beermaster tour provides an in-depth look at the brew-
ing process. Visitors can get close to the brew kettles in the Brew House, taste beer that’s in the process of aging and sample Budweiser straight from the finishing tank in the finishing room. During Beer School, visitors learn about four different types of ale, as well as proper pouring and tasting techniques, before sampling and tasting food pairings. BUDWEISERTOURS.COM
A CLYDES DALE AT ANH EUS ER-BUSCH
Courtesy Explore St. Louis
SOCIAL DISTANCING BY NATURE. W W W. S O U T HE A S T T O U R IS M . O R G
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ALL things WILD ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS ARE NATURALS IN THE SOUTHEAST
BY RACH EL CARTER
A ZEBRA AT TUPELO BUFFALO PARK
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ome snorkel-to-snout with a manatee. Watch wild horses swim across an ocean channel. Drop food onto a bison’s bluishpurple tongue. Set off an alligator feeding frenzy with the toss of a few biscuits. Whether it’s a national park, a wildlife refuge or a zoo, these Southern destinations give visitors the chance to come face-toface with exotic animals and connect with wildlife.
Courtesy Tupelo CVB
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A MANATEE ENCOU NTER
Courtesy Discover Crystal River Florida
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BOBCATS AR E AMONG TH E MANY NATIVE SPECI ES VISITORS CAN S EE AT TH E WEST VI RGI NIA STATE WI LDLI FE CENTER.
Swim With Manatees CRYSTAL RIVER, FLORIDA
Courtesy WV State Wildlife Center
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here’s only one place in North America where people can legally swim with manatees, and that’s Crystal River, Florida. “When you get in the water with a manatee, it will change your life,” said Terry Natwick, sales and marketing manager for Discover Crystal River Florida. The headwaters of the Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature hovers around 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round thanks to more than 70 natural springs pumping out 600 million gallons of warm freshwater every day. When water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico drop below 68 degrees, manatees can swim to the springs to stay warm, making November to March the best time to visit. Groups have many options in the area to swim with the manatees, such as Plantation on Crystal River, which has a fleet of pontoon boats. Guests don wetsuits, and guides steer the boats to the
WI LD HORS ES ON ASSATEAGU E IS LAN D
Courtesy NPS
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ASSATEAGU E IS LAN D NATIONAL S EAS HOR E Courtesy NPS
manatees. Once there, the group gets into the water, which is usually shallow enough to stand in, and waits for the curious manatees to come over — which they usually do. Guests can float, swim and snorkel alongside the manatees; although it’s OK to touch them, visitors should observe as passively as possible. “They are the gentlest wild animal you will ever encounter on Earth,” Natwick said. Groups can also rent kayaks and paddleboards to see the manatees or take boat tours without getting in the water. The ultimate passive observation experience is at the 57-acre refuge in the middle of the city. Trolleys shuttle groups from the offsite Three Sisters Springs Center to the park to see dozens or hundreds of manatees gather in the aquamarine springs. A boardwalk circles the one-acre Three Sisters Springs complex, where a record of 528 manatees was recorded in December 2014. DISCOVERCRYSTALRIVERFL.COM
Wild Horses at Assateague Island National Seashore VIRGINIA
SWI M M I NG WITH MANATEES I N CRYSTAL RIVER
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ssateague Island National Seashore spans two states: Maryland and Virginia. Groups make the trek to the island to see its famous herd of wild ponies. Most bus tours visit in spring and fall, when access on the island’s two-lane road is a little easier. Because the horses roam where they like, there’s no guarantee of seeing them, but groups often have a good chance aboard pontoon boat tours or during kayak, canoe and bike outings. On the Virginia side, the horses are privately owned by the town of Chincoteague’s Volunteer Fire Co. For nearly 100 years, the town has held its annual Pony Penning and Carnival every July. The last Wednesday and Thursday of the month, thousands of people gather to watch as the feral ponies are rounded up to swim across the Assateague Channel to Chincoteague Island to be auctioned the next day. The best way for groups to experience the swim is aboard a charter boat, but local operators can also reserve prime viewing spots on land. Throughout the year, small-bus and boat tours take groups to see the Chincoteague ponies. At the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, groups can climb the Assateague Lighthouse or stop at two visitor centers for exhibits, films and displays. NPS.GOV/ASIS
Global Wildlife Center FOLSOM, LOUISIANA
Courtesy Discover Crystal River Florida
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n Folsom, Louisiana, about an hour’s drive north of New Orleans, visitors will find giraffes, kangaroos, Watusi cattle and five species of antelope at the Global Wildlife Center.
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The 900-acre free-roaming wildlife preserve allows guests to go on safari without leaving the country. The park also has five different types of deer, including fallow deer, and visitors can feed several different kinds of camelids by hand, including alpacas, llamas and two different types of camels. Groups have their choice of two experiences: wagon safaris or private tours. The center has four canvas-covered, open-air wagons that can each seat 30 people. Tractors pull the wagons out to the fields, where guests can feed the animals. “It’s up to the animals to decide whether to come up to the wagons, which they usually do because they know you have food,” said Allisyn Fauntleroy, tour operations manager. One of visitors’ favorites is the African Cape eland, “which we like to call our cup stealers,” she said. The park also has Pinzgauer all-terrain vehicles available for private tours. Each vehicle — with roll-up canvas sides — seats about eight adults, and because they can go off-road, drivers can take guests directly to the animals. “It offers that up-close-and-personal experience,” Fauntleroy said. The giraffes “will even stick their heads in the vehicles sometimes.” The park has a large picnic pavilion, but groups can also reserve one of two 50-person pavilions overlooking a large pond filled with koi, catfish and turtles.
group trip
GLOBALWILDLIFE.COM
Photo by: A. Caldecott
For planning assistance contact: UP CLOS E WITH ANI MALS AT TH E G LOBAL WI LDLI FE CENTER By Brian Jewell
ASHLEY GATIAN
Sales Manager ashley@visitvicksburg.com 800.221.3536 toll-free 601.883.9939 office
@VisitVicksburg VISITVICKSBURG.COM
Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI
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he Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo began as a cattle ranch, but today it’s home to a lot more than livestock roaming the range. In 1997, owner Dan Franklin began adding bison and removing cattle, growing the bison herd to over 300 at one point. Eventually, Franklin and his wife, Sheila, began construction of a zoo, and the Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo opened in 2001. Today, the 210-acre park has 330-some animals, including 34 bison and a slew of other exotic animals: giraffes, ostriches, llamas, zebras, camels, addaxes and one wildebeest, to name a few. The park has two trolleys; each seats 50 and can lead drive-through group tours, giving guests a chance to feed animals. Currently, visitors drive through in their own vehicles because of COVID-19 restrictions. “The ostriches and buffalo come running up, and the ostriches are sticking their heads in the car,” co-owner SheiPhotos courtesy Tupelo CVB la Franklin said. “We get tickled because [the guests are] screaming and rolling up their windows.” During a walk-through experience, guests will see giraffes, primates, various birds, two sloths, two species of camel, two species of small cat — Natchitoches (Nack-A-Tish) welcomes groups caracal and lynx — foxes, coatimundis, kanof all sizes to experience the charm of the garoos, reptiles, donkeys, goats and sheep. oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Park staff can also arrange an educationPurchase territory, est. in 1714. You will find al animal encounter for groups, depending on shopping, dining, unique attractions and what animals may be available. Pavilions are affordable accommodations. Call today to available for private group reservations, and start planning for your next trip. the park has picnic areas open to visitors.
UP CLOS E WITH A BU LL I N TUPELO
TUPELOBUFFALOPARK.COM
A GI RAFFE AT TUPELO BUFFALO PARK
Destination of Travelers Since 1714 800-259-1714 • www.Natchitoches.com
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West Virginia State Wildlife Center
FRENCH CREEK, WEST VIRGINIA
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t the West Virginia State Wildlife Center in French Creek, “we concentrate on wildlife species that are native to the state,” said Zack Brown, assistant chief of operations for the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Though some species have been introduced, most of the animals at the center are native — or were once native — to the state. That includes black bear and white-tailed deer, elk and buffalo, mountain lions and bobcats, river otters and bald eagles. The park features a 1.25-mile paved walking loop that leads guests through a hardwood forest and past most of the exhibits. The center’s large enclosures allow animals to interact with their environment and display more natural behavior patterns. A separate section that isn’t on the loop is where guests go to see the elk. The center also has a 5,000-gallon water display for the river otters, which “are always cute; people like to watch their antics,” Brown said. Staff wildlife biologists and technicians are available to lead guided group tours, with advance arrangement. Groups can also reserve a pavilion or a picnic shelter for meals. Depending on the time of year, the center offers various events, including fall hayrides; Halloween night tours; a celebration of West Virginia Day, June 20; and Groundhog Day, which features the center’s very own groundhog, Fridge Creek Freddie.
Courtesy WV State Wildlife Center
WVDNR.GOV/WILDLIFE/WILDLIFECENTER
“ [River otters] are always cute; people like to watch their antics.” — ZACK BROWN, WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
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Wild Adventures VALDOSTA, GEORGIA
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ust 10 miles south of Valdosta, Georgia, Wild Adventures is three attractions in one: a zoo, a theme park and a concert venue. The park is home to hundreds of exotic animals, and “our animal exhibits are very consciously spread out around the park,” said Patrick Pearson, director of sales and marketing. VALDOSTA'S WI LD The layout makes it easy to explore on foot and discover ADVENTU R ES animals throughout the visit, for instance, the park’s, eldest Asian elephant in the world, 76-year-old female named Shirley. By Brian Jewell The Alapaha Trail “is a true south Georgia swamp experience,” Pearson said. A boardwalk leads guests over a blackwater swamp to black bear, wild boar and exotic bird exhibits. One of the park’s newer areas is Discovery Outpost, which opened in 2018; its alligator exhibit features more than 100 alligators. Guests can walk on a rope bridge over the gators and buy biscuits to feed them. “It’s like a frenzy; it’s fun to do,” Pearson said. In the adjacent gator nursery, guests can hold baby alligators. The park offers interactive and educational animal shows. “If a group wanted to, we could arrange for a special visit with an animal and do a talk,” Pearson said. Groups can also eat meals at the park, and on concert days, general admission tickets include admission to the live show. WILDADVENTURES.COM
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Oglebay Resort Festival of Lights
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EVENTS
For more than 90 years, the 2,000acre Oglebay Resort has been a favorite of families and groups traveling in the Appalachian foothills of northern West WHEELING, Virginia. The property is impressive at WEST VIRGINIA any time of year, but it comes alive with brilliant color for the holiday season during the Festival of Lights. Beginning in early November and extending into mid-January, the Festival of Lights is one of the nation’s largest holiday light shows. More than 1 million people attend the festival each year. Guests drive through a 300-acre portion of the grounds to see dozens of large-scale light displays depicting a variety of festive holiday scenes. The resort offers a number of packages for groups during the Festival of Lights. Options include day tours or overnight plans that can be customized to include step-on guides, behind-the-scenes tours of the holiday lights and tours of other historic attractions at Oglebay Park. OGLEBAY.COM/LIGHTS
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