The Group Travel Leader January 2021 by The Group Travel Leader, Inc.

L E A D E R S C O N F R O N T C O V I D -19 | O H I O H A S I T T R AV E L G U I D E | M I LWA U K E E R E L O A D S

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SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY

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CONTENTS

GROUP TH E

TRAVEL LEADER

CHARTING THE EVOLUTION OF GROUP TR AVEL

COLU M NS

N EWS

6 Editor’s Marks

8 Family Matters

O N T H E COV E R

Artwork by Donia Simmons

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

VOL 31 | ISSUE 1

Comeback Stories

Staff Sound-Off

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SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY

TOUR PLANNER

GO S O UTH TO UR P L A NNE R

Get to know the great destinations and experiences awaiting groups in the Buckeye State.

America’s Southeast offers waterfronts, mountaintops, wildlife and nightlife.

K E LLY T Y N E R 888.253.0455

MAC T. LACY CHARLES A. PRESLEY BRIAN JEWELL HERBERT SPARROW DONIA SIMMONS KELLY TYNER

OHI O HAS IT!

Founder and Publisher Partner VP & Executive Editor Senior Writer Creative Director VP, Sales & Marketing

KYLE ANDERSON ASHLEY RICKS ELIZA MYERS MELISSA RILEY CHRISTINE CLOUGH

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

Director of Advertising Sales Graphic Design & Circulation Associate Editor Accounting Manager Copy Editor

The GROUP TRAVEL LEADER is published ten times a year by THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc., 301 East High St., Lexington, Kentucky 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified group leaders who plan travel for groups of all ages and sizes. THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER serves as the official magazine of GROUP TRAVEL FAMILY, the organization for traveling groups. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants and other travel-related companies may subscribe to THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER by sending a check for $59 for one year to: THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (859) 2530455 or (859) 253-0503. Copyright THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

Restart Your Travel Plans with Tourism Navigator

f you’re ready to plan group trips again, Tourism Navigator is the place to start. The coronavirus pandemic and resulting government regulations have made group travel planning a complicated mess. Tourism Navigator helps you find critical information to plan successful trips to the places you want to go. And best of all, it’s 100% free. Created by The Group Travel Leader, Tourism Navigator is a one-stop source for important opening and operational information from hundreds of destinations, hotels, attractions and restaurants around the country. The coronavirus crisis brought a lot of upheaval to the tourism industry. Many sales professionals who worked at CVBs, hotels and attractions for years are no longer there, and the tour operators and group leaders who relied on them for help planning group trips are not sure who to turn to now. Additionally, pandemic-related restrictions have been implemented at state and local levels, which means there is no uniformity for travel planners. And for those organizing trips to multiple destinations, finding current information on what is open and available is difficult, if not impossible. “We’ve been talking closely with tour operators and other travel planners since the crisis began in March,” said Kelly Tyner, vice president of sales for The Group Travel Leader. “Many of them are interested in restarting their travel programs, but they’re having trouble finding current group sales contacts or deciphering which destinations are open or closed. Tourism Navigator solves both those problems.” When you visit Tourism Navigator, you’ll be able to search for information from the leading group tour destinations and attractions in the country. For each one, you’ll get current contact information, including the

name, phone number and email address of the person there responsible for group sales. The Tourism Navigator listings also have up-to-date information on openings, closures and travel restrictions that apply to destinations, attractions, cruises lines and other travel companies. In addition, many detail the steps they are taking to keep visitors safe. “The organizations that have uploaded information on Tourism Navigator are the ones who are most eager to welcome groups back,” Tyner said. “They have done a lot of work to put health and safety protocols in place, and they want to make sure you have all the tools you need to start bringing your travelers back to visit them again.” To access this critical information and begin planning your group’s return to travel, visit Tourism Navigator at grouptravelleader.com/navigator. Travel industry representatives who want to include information to Tourism Navigator can submit information at grouptravelleader.com/listing.

Search for information from the leading group tour destinations and attractions in the country.

Plan your group’s return to travel at:

GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM/NAVIGATOR

EDITOR’S MARKS

“N

BY BRIAN JEWELL

ow boarding.” Whether it’s an airplane, a train, a cruise ship or a motorcoach, the act of stepping on board and making your way to your seat marks a milestone in the travel experience. After a long time of planning, preparing and waiting, you’re finally about to get underway. Sometimes, the boarding call is a call to adventure. You’re on your way to somewhere you’ve always dreamed of going, with a week or more of bucket-list experiences ahead of you. Other times, the boarding call is a call to work. For those of us who make a living in the tourism industry, many of our workdays begin by stepping on a plane and flying off somewhere to do business and pursue prosperity. There is another kind of boarding call, though: the call home. At the end of a trip, boarding a bus or a plane means that the people and places I love most are almost within reach. The journey may take a while — sometimes more than a day if I’m returning from the other side of the world. But once I’m on board, the feeling of movement makes the waiting easier. We chose “Now Boarding” as our theme for this issue’s cover because we believe this phrase perfectly encapsulates the moment the tourism industry is in right now. The past 10 months have felt like a strange and painful exile. We’ve been on a collective trip that none of us wanted to take, without any certainty of when we would return. Now though, there is change on the horizon. There’s a path forward. The journey may still be

JANUARY 2021

long, and some stretches will be difficult. But at last, there is a way home. It’s time to start boarding. We have said from the beginning that travel could still be safe and enjoyable despite the pandemic, and in this issue we’re telling the stories of some companies and organizations that have proven that to be true (see “First Responders” on page 10). But despite our confidence, we have also known that many people won’t feel comfortable traveling again until the pandemic subsides. And finally, we’re seeing the beginning of the end. As I write this in mid-December, the first COVID-19 vaccine has been approved and begun distribution. By the time you read this in mid-January, at least one more vaccine is likely to be on the market as well, with more to follow in the coming months. This has been an extraordinary feat of science, and it will take an equally impressive feat of logistics to administer these vaccines to the public at large. But with any luck, widespread vaccination could bring us to the point of herd immunity sometime this summer. It will still take a while before we’re truly home again — or, in the case of tourism, on the road again. But now that we can see the way forward, it’s time to begin making preparations. Now is the time for travel planners to start booking trips and recruiting travelers. And now is the time for destinations to begin marketing themselves to groups. Change is headed our way, this time for the better. So let’s come together, shake off the terrible year behind us and embrace a brighter future. It’s time to board. Are you coming?

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RESTART YOUR MARKETING TO GROUP LEADERS AND TOUR OPERATORS IN 2021 MAY History & Heritage Birdwatching Georgia Tennessee California Missouri Oklahoma City

FEBRUARY Museums Guide The Great Lakes America’s Crossroads New Mexico Virginia Beach MARCH US Civil Rights Trail Food & Spirits Louisiana Minnesota Kentucky APRIL Native American Guide Student Travel The Carolinas Florida Kansas Alabama Philadelphia

SEPTEMBER Buyers Guide Directory Arts & Culture Studio Tours Virginia Alaska St. Louis

JUNE Along the Mississippi River Waterfront Destinations Presidential Sites Wisconsin South Carolina Los Angeles JULY/AUGUST Faith-Based Travel Live Theater Arkansas Iowa Oklahoma Pennsylvania The Smokies

OCTOBER America’s Heartland Kentucky Travel Guide Outdoors Beaches & Seashores Adventure Colorado Wyoming The Black Hills NOVEMBER/DECEMBER African-American Heritage Guide International Buyers Guide Cruising Gaming Indiana Texas Columbus, Ohio

CONTACT KELLY TYNER OR KYLE ANDERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DISCOUNTS ON PRINT & DIGITAL PACKAGES

888.253.0455 GTL-ADVERTISING.COM KELLY@GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

KYLE@GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

FAMILY M AT T E R S

‘ I N T H E R I N G’ J U M P S TA R T S U P C O M I N G A AT C C O N F E R E N C E

Rasheda Ali

An Ali family photo album

PHOTOS COURTESY LOUISVILLE TOURISM

SALEM, Ohio — Louisville Tourism recently undertook a bold, much-needed project when it delivered a live webinar event aimed at the tourism industry with the goal of advancing awareness and discussion of racial inequality. The hourlong event was keynoted by Rasheda Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali. “In the Ring” was an insightful look at the life and efforts of Muhammad Ali in creating a level playing field for all people, inside and outside the ring. Rasheda Ali added warm, personal touches to the story of her father, who made his fame in the tough world of boxing. Led by COO Cleo Battle, Louisville Tourism designed “In the Ring” as a virtual prelude to the African American Travel Conference, which will be held in Louisville March 30-April 1. But the reach of the virtual event stretched throughout the travel industry. The Group Travel Family, parent company of the African American Travel Conference, assisted in promoting the event and opened viewership to its group travel industry membership. “We felt it important to stand by Louisville Tourism with this important message and get as many tourism industry eyes as possible,” said Charlie Presley of The Group Travel Family. The partnership established a nationwide viewership within group travel. “I am extremely proud of our members who made the effort to join Rasheda Ali and work to move forward,” Presley said. He emphasized the value that group travel

planners bring to the table as influencers. “Remember, each group travel planner is a volunteer who has vast outreach in their local community.” On average, group leaders each have a following of 250 loyal travelers in their circles, and their influence goes far beyond travel. It is estimated that Group Travel Family members who viewed “In the Ring” will bring the message to more than 25,000 active group travelers. Louisville Tourism gave maximum effort in the promotion of “In the Ring,” not only by enlisting Rashada Ali but also by throwing the weight of staff members Nicole Twigg, vice president of tourism development, and Saundra Robertson, tourism and group sales manager, into the mix. “Nicole and Saundra utilized their vast tourism knowledge to connect the message directly to our travel industry audience,” Presley said. “In the Ring” was broadcast live from the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. Donald Lassere welcomed viewers and announced that delegates of the African American Travel Conference will personally experience the facility when the Muhammad Ali Center hosts the conference’s opening dinner May 30. The travel industry thanks Louisville Tourism for this vast undertaking, and the African American Travel Conference looks forward to calling Louisville home for AATConference2021. To view “In the Ring,” visit aatconline. com. To attend the African American Travel Conference, call 800-628-0993.

Louisville Tourism COO Cleo Battle

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A RETURN TO PROMINENCE LIES AHEAD FOR GROUPS SALEM, Ohio — The Group Travel Family has 25,000 members, mostly volunteer leaders in the field of group travel, who offer their communities the value of traveling together. That outreach includes networking, educational seminars, conferences, online content and even this publication, The Group Travel Leader. “We are dedicated to helping our members be better leaders, not just of travel but of life experiences and human interaction,” said Jennifer Ferguson of The Group Travel Family. The travel shutdown caused by the COVID19 pandemic has led to a number of group travel leaders contacting The Group Travel Family with concerns that their groups are being negatively affected by the loss of human interaction. “It is the hidden cost of this crisis,” said Ferguson. “Group travel is the opportunity for people to interact, and that’s very necessary for our health.” The Group Travel Family serves 25,000 members that, in turn, have a community following of over 5 million people who follow them on planned travel programs. In the 30 years the organization has existed, its focus has remained on assisting existing travel leaders and opening the door to waves of new group travel organizers. Group travel is important because of the immense value it delivers. “Every volunteer group travel planner we help makes life better for at least 200 people,” said Kathleen Presley, co-founder of The Group Travel Family. “It has brought me personal satisfaction to know how many people have been positively touched through the work of our members and the encouragement of The Group Travel Family.” Travel planners who wish to keep their skills sharp and jump-start their travel programs in 2021 may call 800-628-0993 for details on attending the Select Traveler Conference, the African American Travel Conference, Going On Faith, Boomers in Groups or the Small Market Meetings Conference.

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LOOKING AHEAD

FIRST RESPONDERS

Nashville’s honky tonks adopted the city’s Good To Go safety protocols COURTESY NASHVILLE CVC

COVID-19 SLAMMED THESE LEADERS WITH CAREER-DEFINING CHALLENGES

BY BRIAN JEWELL

fter a long and difficult 2020, tourism is poised to begin its comeback in 2021. The devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel and hospitality cannot be overstated. But despite the damage, many tourism leaders are optimistic that this year’s vaccine rollout will awaken latent demand for travel and lead to a swift rebound the third and fourth quarters. To begin sketching out the road to recovery, The Group Travel Leader spoke to leaders from four tourism industry companies to learn about their 2020 experiences and their prospects for success in 2021. These are their stories.

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COLLETTE: ‘GETTING THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE’

ne of the world’s oldest and largest tour companies, Collette was primed for a year of historic profits at the beginning of 2020. But by mid-March, it became obvious the year would be nothing like they expected. “We really had to make some difficult decisions early and quickly,” said Collette president Jaclyn Leibl-Cote. “There’s never been anything of this magnitude. We’re very financially healthy, and we have a very strong balance sheet from decades of managing the business. So we knew we could weather it — it was just a matter of being smart and getting through to the other side.” Collette, which normally has dozens of tours operating at any given time, shut everything down March 16 and didn’t operate a tour for more than 100 days. During that period, the company refunded more than $115 million in customer payments. By summer, though, Collette leadership determined there was both demand for tours and a way to operate them safely. So the company launched a series of small domestic departures that highlighted iconic destinations in the American West. “Our first tour was a spotlight on South Dakota that departed on July 3,” Leibl-Cote said. “It wasn’t the full bus of 40 to 44 people you’d typically see. It was half that size, but they wanted to go. We worked with different health officials to make sure we were taking all the proper precautions. We made sure people wore masks on the coach and in public areas. We also took cleaning and cleansing protocols to the next level.”

Safe on tour with Collette

JACLYN LEIBL-COTE PRESIDENT COLLETTE

“We had about five departures in the month of July and a similar amount in August. In September, we had a tour on the road every single day of the month.”

After that initial departure, Collette found enough customer interest to continue operating domestic trips through the rest of July, August and September. Still, Leibl-Cote said the majority of the company’s customers are still waiting to return to travel. “We have surveyed clients and guests that have moved their trips to 2021,” she said. “People definitely want to travel again. A lot of the booking trends for 2021 and beyond are in North America, but there’s also a lot of Europe. And we’re still seeing Japan just like it was pre-COVID.” Many of those customers are counting on widespread vaccination to curtail the pandemic before they begin traveling again. When that moment comes, Collette will have another challenge in ramping back up to capacity. “That’s a difficult thing to do,” Leibl-Cote said. “We have to manage the burn rate and business, but we’re also seeing strong demand coming in the later half of 2021. So we have to watch different triggers. As we see things develop, we’ll take people back as quickly as we can. We have multiple plans in place depending on what happens.”

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NASHVILLE: ‘WE GOT BETTER’

ew American destinations can boast the tourism track record of Nashville, Tennessee. The city welcomes millions of visitors each year and was on track to have its ninth consecutive year of double-digit growth when the pandemic hit in March. “We as an industry were impacted first,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation. “We were impacted the hardest. And we were probably impacted on the largest scale. We’re at about $4 billion in lost business.” Pandemic closures took a double toll on Nashville, shutting down not only tourism and hospitality but also its sizable music industry. After the initial spring quarantine, local leaders were eager to find ways to get Nashville going again. They started by following visitor sentiment research.

BUTCH SPYRIDON PRESIDENT NASHVILLE CVC

“Until further notice, masks will be required, regardless of where we are in the reopening plan. But you can come and have a good time.”

Masking up at Nashville honky tonks

“People wanted to know what you were doing to make your destination safe,” Spyridon said. “So the first thing we did was launch a program called Good To Go. It was a commitment to follow public health protocols, participate in webinars and share best practices with each other. We ended up with 700 businesses that participated: hotels, attractions and restaurants, but also churches, schools and retail businesses.” The CVC worked with public health authorities at Vanderbilt Medical Center to develop those protocols and roll them out into the hospitality community. But rather than highlighting the minutiae of cleaning procedures in their marketing and outreach, the city focuses on telling people about its improvements. “We’re not going to bury you with how we’re sanitizing doors and testing employees,” Spyridon said. “Our approach is to say, ‘While you’ve been away, we’ve been creating new hotels, new restaurants and new attractions. When you’re ready to come back, come back. We got better.’

COURTESY NASHVILLE CVC

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“Good To Go” cleaning products in Nashville

“If we see the vaccine go into any sort of public distribution, even if it’s just first responders or health care, that will give us the confidence to start pushing the message,” he said in a November interview. With any luck, Spyridon expects to see a big bounce back in the summer. “If we get the all-clear in summer like most people think, we’ll use CMA Music Fest and July Fourth as big welcome-back parties,” he said. “July Fourth is completely free, and half of CMA Music Fest is free. So we’ll really shine a light on the fact that it’s safe to travel.” Spyridon thinks it will take two years for business to recover to prepandemic levels but that local businesses can get back to profit quickly. In the meantime, the city will continue to plan and prepare. “We miss our friends, neighbors and visitors,” Spyridon said. “We care about their health and safety. When they’re ready, we’re ready.”

COURTESY NASHVILLE CVC

SOME PEOPLE SEE A PILE OF TOOLS. WE SEE A WAY TO HELP IMPROVE A DESTINATION IN NEED.

Tourism Cares can help you see the world differently. By participating in our outreach, education and volunteering programs you’ll be able to more successfully connect needs to opportunities. And, you’ll gain the direction, networking, tools and skills required to shape a more resilient and sustainable future for the destinations and communities we all sell and rely upon. Join us and unite with your industry colleagues to harness the transformative power of travel.

Visit TourismCares.org. See the possibilities. Join these companies in seeing the possibilities.

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PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW: ‘STAYING FLEXIBLE’

mong major events in the U.S., the organizers of the Philadelphia Flower Show got lucky: The 2020 edition of the event at the Philadelphia Convention Center concluded just as the pandemic began to sweep the East Coast. “I left the convention center on Wednesday, and by Friday, the entire country shut down,” said Sam Lemheney, chief of shows and events for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). “We were one of the last major events in the entire country.” The flower show, which began in 1829 with 200 plants, has grown into a large-scale exhibition with 5,000 plants and about 250,000 visitors over nine days. Lemheney and his team typically plan the show 18 to 24 months in advance, but last spring it became apparent that an indoor event for hundreds of thousands of people wouldn’t be feasible in early 2021. So the PHS took a radical step and completely reimagined this year’s event, moving it from March to June and from the convention center to an outdoor venue: Philadelphia’s Franklin D. Roosevelt Park. “We brainstormed a lot and played with a lot of ideas,” Lemheney said. “It’s going to be an outdoor show in a location that has great access. It’s going to be much safer to have the event outdoors.” After so many years of indoor events, moving the show outdoors will present new challenges. But PHS planners seem to be taking them all in stride. “A lot of us have friends who do outdoor events, so we really tapped into them,” Lemheney said. “It’s going to be a different muscle mechanism to do an outdoor show. The

SAM LEMHENEY CHIEF OF SHOWS AND EVENTS, PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

“Having the show in the first week of June opens the door to some other plants that we don’t have in March. So some of our designers are just like kids in a candy store.”

restrooms are different. Electricity isn’t just in the floor. Where do we find water, and how do we use it? There are a lot of details, so we’re working with experts on the infrastructure.” PHS is planning on taking additional measures to keep attendees safe and will regulate ticket sales to cap the size of the crowd. And current plans call for the flower show to return to the convention center in March 2022. But if Lemheney and his team have learned anything through the pandemic, it’s the importance of adaptability. “We’re staying flexible and understanding that things are going to change,” he said. “They’re changing daily. So we’re kind of aiming at a moving target a bit. But this is something the events industry is striving to make sure is very safe and successful.”

Philadelphia Flower Show COURTESY PHS

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DRURY HOTELS: ‘SMILING WITH OUR EYES’

or 45 years, Drury Hotels has been a leader in midscale hospitality, offering personalized service and high-value amenities to leisure travelers and tour groups. The company started in St. Louis and now has 150 hotels in 35 states. And though the pandemic put unprecedented stress on the organization’s local and corporate leaders, it didn’t stop their commitment to hospitality. “We kept 100% of our hotels open every day,” said Carrie Sheridan, Drury’s vice president of sales and marketing. “That’s something that was very important to us. We were able to flex pretty quickly because we’re family owned and operated.” Some of Drury’s signature amenities, such as its included hot breakfast and evening Kickback with appetizers and drinks, became challenging during the pandemic. But instead of doing away with them, the company invested heavily in acrylic shields and other protective equipment. And now team members serve food to guests directly, which helps them maintain a level of connection with customers. “With acrylic shields and masks, we now have this barrier between us and the guests,” Sheridan said. “So trying to deliver that plus-one service to customers has been a real challenge for our leaders. We’re working on smiling with our eyes. We’ve gotten really creative with leading our teams on sight expressions: waves, thumbs up and other things that bring people in.” The company also partnered with EcoLabs to create new sanitizing protocols and reconfigured guest rooms to allow for a deeper level of cleaning. Based on the leisure traffic to Drury hotels this summer, Sheridan is hopeful about the year ahead. “We’re optimistic that as we come out of the first quarter, there will be some kind of light at the end of the

A recently opened Drury Inn in Columbia, Missouri

CARRIE SHERIDAN VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING DRURY HOTELS

“The core of everything we do comes down to consistency for guests. That’s where our focus has stayed through everything this year.”

tunnel,” she said. “We’re going to stay very focused on local and regional customers and continue to implement smart promotions that make sense for business.” Sheridan also said the company plans to offer extra flexibility and more attractive promotions to boost tour group business. “We’re offering more aggressive comps: one per 10,” she said. “And we’ve increased our concessions to accommodate for smaller group sizes. We’ve been very flexible with our deposit and payment terms, as well as our attrition and cancellation terms.” The added flexibility is part of Drury’s commitment to ongoing relationships in the tourism industry. “We want to thank them for hanging in there and enduring through this,” Sheridan said. “We want them to know we’ve been around for 45 years and providing clean rooms and exceptional service, and they can continue to count on that.”

COURTESY DRURY HOTELS

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The Milwaukee Art Museum atrium

Admiring the Milwaukee Art Museum

D E S T I N AT I O N

REBOUND YEAR M I LWA U K E E R E L O A D S FOR A 2021 TO REMEMBER COURTESY VISIT MILWAUKEE

BY TOM ADKINSON

ilwaukee was supposed to be Party Central in 2020. The Democratic National Convention was going to fill up the city, the Society of American Travel Writers was to open its readers’ eyes to the city’s charms, golf’s Ryder Cup was to be played only an hour away, and leisure groups aplenty were going to roll into town. We know what happened instead. However, the downer that was 2020 is in the rearview mirror. Group travel leaders now have the enviable opportunity to explore anew Milwaukee’s appealing mixture of art, history and pizazz as better times approach.

Sculpture Milwaukee COURTESY VISIT MILWAUKEE

SIGNATURE ART Milwaukee has no problem transcending its well-earned — and still enjoyable — reputation for beer and brats, and a solid starting point is the Milwaukee Art Museum, one of its best-known attractions. The museum began as the city’s first art gallery in 1888 and now contains 30,000 works of art, stretching from antiquity to today. It entices you to explore all its 40 galleries. Among the museum’s treasures is an extensive collection of works by Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe. Of special note this year is the 20th anniversary of the museum’s Quadracci Pavilion, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and featuring the building’s signature wings that gracefully open and close. The 72 steel wings, ranging from 26 to 105 feet long, take threeand-a-half minutes to open or close. The building is beautiful either way, and you can watch the wings in action when the museum opens, and again at noon and when the museum closes.

JANUARY 2021

BY TOM ADKINSON

North Point Lighthouse

National Bobblehead Hall of Fame BY TOM ADKINSON

COURTESY VISIT MILWAUKEE

City Lights Brewing Co.

Art and the outdoors unite nearby when you stroll through Sculpture Milwaukee 2021, a new-every-year collection of three-dimensional public art primarily along Wisconsin Avenue. Some pieces are heroic in scale, some are whimsical, and some are just downright odd, but all are for sale, and several have been purchased and put on permanent display. Sculpture Milwaukee means the city has one of the most significant collections of public art in the nation.

BY TOM ADKINSON

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SLIGHTLY SILLY

REMEMBERING & REFLECTING

The journey from the sublime to the ridiculous is only about one mile long when you climb the steps of an unassuming building to enter the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum. Yes, those plastic novelties that are perhaps most famous at minor league baseball parks have a Hall of Fame and a museum. It’s the brainchild of Brad Novak and Phil Sklar, and their collection of jiggly-headed dolls numbers well beyond 11,000, including some from the late 1800s that far predate promotions for the Milwaukee Milkmen of the American Association or the Midwest League’s Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Who besides baseball players are shaking their heads here? Try Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, Helen Keller, Jesus, Marilyn Monroe, Mark Twain, Elvis Presley, Anthony Fauci and politicians galore. There will be no end because, as the museum’s Novak observed, “there always will be new sports figures and politicians doing something stupid.”

More somber history is told frankly and startlingly at the American Black Holocaust Museum in the Bronzeville neighborhood. James Cameron, who survived a lynching, founded the museum on the belief that people should “forgive but never forget” injustices perpetrated against them. The museum’s themes are remembrance, resistance, redemption and reconciliation. Through graphic photography and illuminating graphics, the museum explains the legacy of slavery in America while promoting racial repair and healing. The museum was founded in 1988 and had difficulties after the Great Recession and with the pandemic, but it is ready for a 2021 reopening, thanks in part to a $1 million grant. Another piece of Black history is out in the countryside, the site of Paramount Records, distinguished as a point on the Mississippi Blues Trail. It was here that some of the early recordings of Louis Armstrong, Ma Rainey, Jelly Roll Morton and Ethel Waters were made.

LAKEFRONT ATTRACTIONS

SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Only a couple miles in the other direction is the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, a cultural treasure that overlooks Lake Michigan.Sharks, It was originally a home, built in the style of octopus and sea turtles a 16th-century villa in northern Italy for industrialist Lloyd are among the more than 10,000 Smith and his wife, Agnes. It is famous for its Renaissance marine creatures at Ripley’s garden, and its holdings include the metal masterpieces of Cyril Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. Colnik. Beer baron Frederick Pabst encouraged the Austrian immigrant to move to Milwaukee, where he became known as the “Tiffany of wrought-iron masters.” Slightly farther up the lake is a museum from a different era and with a different mission. It is the North Point Lighthouse, built in 1888 and now on the National Register of Historic Places. You get a full-circle view of Milwaukee after climbing its 84-step spiral staircase. The museum has a special lunch and tour program for groups. The lighthouse overlooks Lake Park, which was conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted, designer of New York City’s Central Park.

The village of Grafton helps tell that story through the Walk of Fame at Paramount Plaza, where the sidewalk resembles a piano keyboard and honors the legends that recorded in Paramount’s studio. The Grafton walking tour is only a half-mile long and can be a prelude to more strolling around in nearby Cedarburg. Cedarburg is only about 20 miles north of downtown Milwaukee, but it seems distant in time. Its walkable main street is an inviting mix of shops, inns, cafes, art galleries and historic buildings. Most impressive is an imposing woolen mill built in 1864 known now as the Cedar Creek Settlement, a site with multiple businesses that houses the Cedar Creek Winery. There as well are the Anvil Pub and Grille and the Cream and Crepe Cafe for meal options. The Anvil Pub’s specialty is freshly baked sandwiches from a stone hearth oven. Barely seven miles west of downtown in suburban Wauwatosa are a pair of dining targets that could challenge a group to make a choice. One is Frank and Larry’s Buckatabon Tavern and Supper Club, which takes its theme from the family-run restaurants of Wisconsin’s Northwoods. With an emphasis on in-state food purveyors and traditions — Friday fish fries, prime rib on weekends and an Old-Fashioned with house-made brandy, for example — it’s a fill-you-up place. Expect a fancier fill-up just across the street at Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993. It offers a culinary excursion through Italy set in a historic Pabst brewery building. See? You’re never far away from Milwaukee’s beer heritage.

Waterfront dining in Cedarburg. BY TOM ADKINSON

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WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE MUST TRY WHEN THEY VISIT YOUR HOMETOWN?

GRAPHIC DESIGN & CIRCULATION ASHLEY RICKS

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING SALES KYLE ANDERSON

e moved all over the place when I was a child, and each place has something neat! But my family finally settled in central Kentucky when I was a teenager. One of the best things about Kentucky is it has its own take on Southern comfort food, so we make sure to treat friends from far off to a meal at Ramsey’s whenever they’re in town. My favorite thing to get is a hot brown with sweet tea and a big slice of gooey, chocolatey May Day pie to round it off. They also have a country store that’s perfect for local jams and sauces if you want a Kentucky Proud souvenir or a present to bring home from a trip to the Bluegrass.

MAC LACY

CREATIVE DIRECTOR DONIA SIMMONS

he Killer Brownies at Dorothy Lane Market in Springboro, Ohio. Look them up — they have a website because they are so good. Anyone can get them delivered.

PUBLISHER

claim two hometowns. I grew up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and if you go, you have to eat at Ferrell’s Hamburgers downtown. I have friends there who will wish I had picked something a little more contemporary, but you can’t miss Ferrell’s. Go late at night and let your date have the seat. We’ve been in Bardstown, Kentucky, for the past 28 years, and the answer there is even more obvious: bourbon. As we tell the entire world, bourbon comes from Bardstown.

erthoud, Colorado, is a quaint small town between Boulder and Fort Collins. While it has grown some over the years, downtown still maintains its adorable “Norman Rockwell” feel. Some of the classics, like the Wayside Inn and Dinner Theater — which served the best fried chicken, honey rolls and bread-n-butter pickles — are a thing of the past. But several stores I grew up with still remain. Berthoud would be a perfect afternoon stop for a unique shopping experience. The oldschool dime store pharmacy, Berthoud Drug, has been around for over 100 years. The Indigo Sky Trading Co., owned by my high school cheerleading sponsor, Gena Feldman, is the place to shop for antiques and handcrafted goods by local artisans. They offer various art classes in stained glass, mosaics and jewelry that would be perfect for a group.

VP & EXECUTIVE EDITOR BRIAN JEWELL

’ve spent my entire life in Lexington, Kentucky, which is famous for its Thoroughbred horse industry. I don’t have much to do with the horse business, but I always encourage visitors to spend an afternoon at Keeneland Race Course. Surrounded by fieldstone fences and rolling bluegrass hills, it’s perhaps the most scenic race track in the country. If you happen to visit during one of the racing meets in April or October, you’ll enjoy a unique sample of the best of Kentucky food and culture — even if you know nothing about horseracing.

EDITOR’ S NOTE Welcome to Staff Sound-Off, the monthly column where our staff members answer questions about their travel practices and preferences. We hope you enjoy these tips. If you have a question you’d like to see us answer, send it to me and it may appear in a future issue. BRIANJ@GROUPTR AVELLEADER .COM

JANUARY 2021

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OHIO CLASSICS

DENISE MCCONNELL, PRESIDENT RAMADA BY WYNDHAM STRASBURG

FA M O U S FAC E S

LORI KAPPES, VICE PRESIDENT VISIT GAHANNA

AMISH ENCOUNTERS

LEIANN STEWART, SECRETARY/TREASURER MIAMI COUNTY VISITORS & CONVENTION BUREAU

OHIO OUTDOORS

LINDA SMITH, IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT WARREN COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU CHRISSY BLACKWELL, VIRTUAL ASSISTANT KELLY ASHBY ZANESVILLE-MUSKINGUM COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU BRIAN CHEEK DESTINATION GRANDVIEW TIFFANY GERBER HOLMES COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM BUREAU DIXIE LACY CAMBRIDGE/GUERNSEY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU ALYSCIA SBERNA LAKE ERIE SHORES & ISLANDS JANE TOUGOUMA

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WELCOME

irthplace of astronauts, inventors, writers and presidents, Ohio has a proud and rich heritage we invite you to discover on your next group tour. Whether you want a science-filled student trip or an experiential adventure for adults, Ohio can offer your group a warm welcome and a plethora of exciting attractions. We created Ohio Has It! to help serve your group’s needs with travel planning ideas that illustrate the wide scope of quality destinations across the five regions of Ohio. Hopefully, you can use this magazine as a tool when you plan trips to the Buckeye State. So what is the “it” that Ohio has? Ohio’s “it” factor reaches everything from sleek big city offerings to charming rural towns. It encompasses the state’s hands-on experiences, elegant historic homes, modern galleries and handmade crafts. Ohio is known for both rock ’n’ roll and football; Amish communities and roller coasters; award-winning zoos and scenic parks. Each one of Ohio’s five regions showcases different aspects of these unique perspectives. With this magazine, you can glimpse into the many faces of Ohio, which while they are different, stay unified in their welcoming citizenry and memorable attractions. So give us a call and let us help plan your next Ohio adventure! S I N C E R E LY,

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Columbus is a city that’s made for sharing. Tour the stirring National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Explore Adventure Cove, the brand-new sea lion exhibit at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Live it up at Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus in iconic German Village. Our partners city-wide have taken the Live Forward Pledge to make health a priority so your group’s visit can be as safe as it is memorable. ExperienceColumbus.com/tours

Courtesy Pro Football HOF Courtesy Experience Columbus

RIGHT ON QUEUE Courtesy Experience Columbus

Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

Courtesy Destination Mansfield

By Nathan Migal, courtesy Destination Cleveland

GROUPS GRAVITATE TO THESE OHIO ICONS B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

hio refuses to stay in one lane. The Buckeye State doesn’t attract only one type of person. Instead, all kinds of people visit to discover everything from football to manatees. Ohio’s top attractions are fueled by the passions of both staff and visitors. Because of this enthusiasm, the state’s signature attractions, such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Columbus Zoo and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, consistently draw visitors from all over the country. Travel planners should plan plenty of time for groups to explore these rock star Ohio attractions.

COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM COLUMBUS

Groups can watch the bellyflops, spins and acrobatics of California sea lions and harbor seals at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s new Adventure Cove exhibit. Opened in 2020, the $40 million exhibit features a 60-foot-long tunnel where visitors can appear to walk underwater next to the playful swimmers. A 250-seat amphitheater will show off more of these mammals’ tricks this year. A new indoor area called Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounter Village houses more than 60 species of animals, including sloths, African penguins and cheetahs. The exhibit was inspired by Jack Hanna, the zoo’s director emeritus and television personality. “Right off the bat, you can hear harbor seals’ barking that welcomes the visitors to the park at Adventure Cove,” said Roger Dudley, director of tourism sales for Experience Columbus. “Then Jack Hanna’s Animal Encounter Village brings the animals closer to the people. The animals that used to travel with Jack Hanna now have a facility where the public can visit them and sometimes see them out and about in that exhibition.” The new exhibit adds to the zoo’s already extensive displays that provide a home for more

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Courtesy Destination Cleveland

Above: Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is among the most popular attractions in Ohio. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; Pro Football Hall of Fame; animal encounter in Columbus; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; Ohio State Reformatory; riding the Racer at Kings Island

than 9,000 animals and 650 species from around the world. With an attached water park, golf club and other educational exhibits, visitors will rarely run out of new things to discover. Groups can opt for either a self-guided tour of the zoo or An immersive tour at the Columbus a curated tour experience such Zoo and Aquarium as the Wasafiri Adventure. Participants have breakfast at the Heart of Africa exhibit before the zoo opens to the public. The private experience allows groups to take photos with select animals and feed giraffes.

KINGS ISLAND MASON

Groups with a mix of people — some who want to scream as they drop 300 feet and others who want to relax and watch a Courtesy Experience Columbus show — can find a range of entertainment at Kings Island in Mason. “It is a well-rounded amusement park experience,” said Scott Hutchinson, director of marketing and communications for the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We hear that a lot when we speak to people who are followers of roller coasters throughout the nation. They view Ohio as a mecca for roller coasters. They feel Kings Island is best for people of all ages because it has little kids’ rides all the way up to rides for grandma and grandpa.” The park’s new Orion giga coaster debuted in July 2020 as one of seven giga coasters in the world. The park’s tallest, fastest and longest steel roller coaster features a 300-foot drop and a maximum speed of 91 miles per hour. Roller coaster enthusiasts can also enjoy the park’s other trademark roller coasters, such as the Beast and Mystic Timbers. Beyond these adrenaline-producing experiences, the park offers more than 100 rides and attractions. The park’s Planet

Kings Island’s Diamondback

Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

“THEY VIEW OHIO AS A MECCA FOR ROLLER COASTERS. THEY FEEL KINGS ISLAND IS BEST FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES BECAUSE IT HAS LITTLE KIDS’ RIDES ALL THE WAY UP TO RIDES FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA.” — SCOTT HUTCHINSON 6

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Snoopy-themed area has been voted “Best Kids’ Area in the World” for 18 years by Amusement Today. The area features Peanuts-themed rides, shows and attractions. Kings Island also connects to Soak City Water Park, with 50 aquatic activities such as water slides, tropical lagoons and kids’ play areas.

OHIO STATE REFORMATORY MANSFIELD

A prison with a marble floor seems like a contradiction. Yet at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, decorative architecture contrasts abruptly with crowded cellblocks. The former prison’s Victorian Gothic and Romanesque architecture was intended to encourage inmates to repent. These lofty intentions were at the heart of the Ohio State Reformatory, built in 1896 to house young first-time offenders. The site transformed into a maximum-security prison in 1946 and closed in 1990; it later reopened for tours.

Kings Island Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

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A “Shawshank Redemption” exhibit at the Ohio State Reformatory

“Visitors are not going to find this attraction anywhere else,” said Jodie Snavely, group tour and media director for Destination Mansfield. “We suggest groups factor in anywhere from two to three hours because there is so much to see. Every time I go through, I hear or see something different or hear a new story.” Groups can learn about the site’s use as the main filming location for “The Shawshank Redemption” on the History Meets Hollywood Tour. Several rooms appear just as they did in the movie, such as the warden’s office, Brooks’ hotel room and Andy’s cell with a hole dug through the wall. The Shawshank Bus Tour incorporates the Ohio State Reformatory into a larger tour of 11 filming locations in three hours. The tour ends with a walking tour of the prison using Andy’s entrance in the movie.

Courtesy Destination Mansfield

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME

Young visitors at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

CLEVELAND

No one can walk by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame without noticing it. Just like the bold, energetic music it honors, the building stands out. Architect I.M. Pei designed it as a glass pyramid anchored by a 162-foot-high tower. The inside proves just as inventive, with a mix of priceless memorabilia, videos that celebrate the music genre and interactive exhibits. “One thing that gives you chills is the floor-toceiling video screens taking you through dramatic performances from the induction ceremonies,” said Gordon Taylor III, vice president of convention sales and services for Destination Cleveland. “The last one I saw was Tom Petty and Prince. It is By Cody York, courtesy Destination Cleveland a concert with two people who have passed away, but it’s like you are seeing them in person. You can feel the room vibrate. It is so impactful.” Groups love to include the Garage exhibit. Participants can imagine themselves as real-life rock stars by playing, mixing and recording their own music. After seeing so many famous guitars off-limits to guests, visitors can grab a drum, guitar or other instrument to create a souvenir song. Some groups take the entire day to explore the seven-story museum. Planners can arrange a meal voucher for the All Access Cafe.

NO ONE CAN WALK BY THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME WITHOUT NOTICING IT. JUST LIKE THE BOLD, ENERGETIC MUSIC IT HONORS, THE BUILDING STANDS OUT.

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Where History & Adventure Await

Jewelry isn’t something guests expect to admire at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. However, at the “Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery” exhibit, visitors gawk at the Super Bowl championship rings, which started out modest and grew to the size of a small fist. The surprising exhibit illustrates how the winning team’s logo is crafted into the bejeweled design. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has been exceeding expectations since its simple beginnings in 1963. Canton was chosen as the site of the Hall of Fame partially because the American Professional Football Association, now known as the National Football League, was founded in the Ohio town in 1920. “There is a misconception that you have to be a diehard football fan to come here,” said Lauren McRitchie, coordinator of the Pro Football Hall of Fame experiences. “That couldn’t be further from the truth. It is not just a museum with stats lying round. You learn the history of the game. It is interactive, and everyone can take something away from it.” The Hall of Fame Gallery houses bronze busts of each of the more than 300 inductees. Visitors can learn about each member through touch-screen kiosks that include bios, photos and videos about the inductees. The holographic theater “A Game for Life” uses multisensory theater techniques to relate football stories that illustrate how the game can teach life lessons as well as entertain. Groups can view these exhibits and more on a guided museum tour for an insider’s look at the museum’s diverse collection.

A championship ring on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Courtesy Pro Football HOF

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Courtesy Ohio History Connection Courtesy Ohio History Connection

BORN LEADERS Courtesy Ohio History Connection

Courtesy Ernest Warther Museum

Courtesy Ohio History Connection

THESE OHIOANS HAVE MADE AMERICA PROUD B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

he Buckeye State has raised more than its fair share of dreamers. Eight presidents lived in the state, among them Ulysses S. Grant, Warren G. Harding and William McKinley. Other Ohio natives aspired to reach for the stars, such as astronauts Neil Armstrong and John Glenn. The state also produced one of the country’s best-known abolitionists: Harriet Beecher Stowe. Groups can learn how history forever changed because of some of Ohio’s most famous faces at these significant attractions.

OHIO’S PRESIDENTIAL SITES

F R E M O N T, P O I N T P L E A S A N T, GEORGETOWN, MARION AND CANTON

Ohio’s impressive list of former presidents makes for fascinating attractions throughout the state. The Ohio History Connection runs many of the presidential sites that welcome groups. The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museum in Fremont remembers the 19th president with tours of his 31-room mansion, two-story Victorian home and burial site. Groups can see original furniture and even the bed in which Hayes died. Abraham Lincoln’s slippers are among the interesting artifacts Hayes collected during his life. A typical tour includes stories about the president, accompanied by music, chocolate and toasts. Two sites commemorate the Civil War hero and 18th president Ulysses S. Grant: The U.S. Grant Birthplace in Point Pleasant and the U.S. Grant Boyhood Home and Schoolhouse in Georgetown. Both sites are restored to their historic period for tours.

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Courtesy Ernest Warther Museum

Above: The Ernest Warther Museum and Gardens in Dover showcase the amazing railroad collection of master carver Ernest Warther. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Grant’s Birthplace State Memorial; Harding Presidential Library; Harriet Beecher Stowe House; Armstrong Air and Space Museum; John and Annie Glenn Museum; Ernest Warther

“The boyhood home has some of the original furniture, which is really incredible because that was so long ago,” said Emily Schofield, marketing coordinator for the Ohio History Connection. “The home has a high-quality animatronic Grant that talks Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta about his life growing up. The sites both give a lot of information on how Grant influenced the country. That’s the cool thing about our presidents. They are part of Ohio’s history, but they also fit into the larger American history.” The Warren G. Harding Home in Marion is now closed for restoration. The site is adding a presidential museum and restoring the home to when it was best known as the site of Harding’s 1920 Front Porch Campaign. Hourlong guided tours will showcase Courtesy Ohio History Connection original furnishings and the final resting place of the 29th president. One presidential site owned and operated by the Stark County Historical Society is the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton. Artifacts from McKinley’s birth to his death by assassination reveal his interesting life. The museum also boasts a science center with wildlife, fossils and a planetarium.

ARMSTRONG AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM WAPA KONETA

Visitors love to sample astronaut ice cream at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta. The museum not only chronicles Armstrong’s 1969 moon walk but also explains the larger history of spaceflight.

Ulysses S. Grant Boyhood Home Courtesy Ohio History Connection

THE UNUSUAL EARTH MOUNDED DESIGN OF THE MUSEUM MAKES THE BUILDING APPEAR TO BE UNDERGROUND.

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

“The museum has simulators where you can practice landing a space shuttle,” said Schofield. “It is not a static museum. It is interactive. Groups can do a self-guided tour. Both experiences allow time for people to explore the museum themselves.” Run by the Ohio History Connection, the museum chronicles events that led to Armstrong’s walk on the moon. Guests can see two full-size aircrafts flown by Armstrong, the Gemini VII space capsules, a moon rock and other artifacts from Armstrong’s Apollo 11 mission. The museum runs a short documentary on the Apollo 11 mission. Other exhibits detail other Ohio aviators, such as the Wright brothers and astronaut Glenn. The museum opened just three years after the historic moon landing as a monument to the achievements of not only Armstrong but also “all Ohioans who have attempted to defy gravity.” The unusual earth mounded design of the museum makes the building appear to be underground. The museum’s striking multimedia dome theater presents documentaries and other multimedia programming.

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library Courtesy Ohio History Connection

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ERNEST WARTHER MUSEUM AND GARDENS DOVER

Earnest Warther Museum

Courtesy Ernest Warther Museum

Ernest Warther started adulthood with only a second-grade education. By the time his life ended, he was known as a genius, self-taught master carver. Groups can see his hand-carved Great Events in American Railroad History, which consists of solid ivory renditions of landmark trains, such as the first train that traversed the transcontinental railroad. “One of our most famous pieces is Lincoln’s funeral train,” said Kristen Moreland, assistant director of the Ernest Warther Museum. “It is seven feet long. All the carvings are scaled to the actual engine, and all of them are done completely by hand. Despite no tools and no glue, the replica is perfect. The Smithsonian Institute has deemed our collection priceless.” Though Warther continued work outside of his carving hobby, he spent an average of four hours a day working on his carvings. He created a “tree” of 511 pliers that could be folded back re-creating the block of wood from which they were fashioned. “It is a great American story,” said Moreland. “He never sold any of his work but was offered money for it. One unique thing about our museum is that his entire artistic collection, his home and his studio are here. There are only a handful of museums that can say that.” The museum offers several group amenities, such as a private space for hosted meals and group workshops.

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE HOUSE CINCINNATI

Harriet Beecher Stowe moved to Cincinnati in 1832 when the city was an abolitionist haven. Her 20 years in the home on the banks of the Ohio River inspired her to write the bestselling book of its time, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The fictionalized account of slavery and the Underground Railroad made Stowe a household name. “Stowe’s book was one of the earliest that discussed the problem of slavery,” said Schofield. “The home focuses on her and the Underground Railroad. Then it connects that history to the present. You can get a sense of what life was like back then and what influenced her to write the book.” Groups can tour the Ohio History Connection home to learn about Stowe’s time in Cincinnati and her remarkable family, which included a leader of the women’s suffrage movement, a founder of colleges for women and the first Civil War general who commanded African American troops in the Union Army. 16

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The site also offers walking tours of the surrounding Walnut Hills neighborhood. The area has been home to Olympic gold medalists, women’s rights leaders and Underground Railroad conductors. Because the Beecher family assisted freedom seekers while living at the Cincinnati home, the house is a recognized site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

JOHN AND ANNIE GLENN MUSEUM NEW CONCORD

Historic artifacts at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House Courtesy Ohio History Connection

Wayne County Ohio Kick back and relax in part of the world’s largest Amish community. We are home to Lehman’s, P. Graham Dunn, The J.M. Smucker Company Store and Café, The Ohio Light Opera, Everything Rubbermaid, Secrest Arboretum and more!

Visiting groups can receive a warm welcome from John Glenn’s mother, father, sister or son when they arrive at the John and Annie Glenn Museum in New Concord. Far from your typical space-themed museum, the site gives guests a living-history tour experience. “The John and Annie Glenn Museum is a fun museum,” said Schofield. “They have costumed reenactors guide you through it while depicting people from John’s life. That really brings the house to life.” Glenn moved to the home at age 2 and stayed there until he enlisted as a Marine in 1943. In 1962, he rode into space and piloted the Friendship 7 spacecraft around the globe, making him the first American to orbit the earth. Glenn landed an American hero. The museum displays exhibits John and Annie on this exciting time, his subseGlenn Museum quent years as a senator and his 1998 spaceflight as the oldest person to travel to space. While Courtesy Ohio History Connection learning these stories, guests can see a model of the Friendship 7 space capsule, Glenn’s jumpsuit and his military uniforms. A 20-minute award-winning movie about Glenn begins the tour. Groups can incorporate lunch or dinner with their tour. The site is now offering boxed lunches for a quick meal at the site. Though closed for the season, the museum plans to reopen in May.

LEARN ABOUT STOWE’S REMARKABLE FAMILY, WHICH INCLUDED A LEADER OF THE 1.800.362.6474 • www.wccvb.com

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WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT AND A FOUNDER OF COLLEGES FOR WOMEN. 2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Courtesy Lehmanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

SIMPLE PLEASURES Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

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Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

ENJOY A DAY WITH OHIO’S AMISH B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

n the midst of a constantly changing world, one culture remains constant: the Amish. An Amish community today appears much as it did when the sect originally formed in 1693. The Amish hold onto traditional customs lost to many in the modern world, such as sewing clothes, constructing furniture and living without modern technology. Ohio has one of the highest populations of Amish in the country. Their communities in the Buckeye State welcome visitors to learn about the Amish lifestyle and values. Groups can taste Amish homemade meals, shop for handcrafted Amish goods and leave inspired after a tour of Ohio’s Amish communities.

EXPLORING HOLMES COUNTY

HOLMES COUNTY

Why do Amish men grow beards but not mustaches? Do Amish allow people to take their photographs? The Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Holmes County has the answers to these and other questions. The museum introduces visitors to the Amish history and culture with interactive exhibits. Typically, guides with Amish or Mennonite backgrounds lead the tours to offer an informative experience that includes videos, displays, a Conestoga wagon, a one-room schoolhouse and a gift shop. For a visual representation of Amish history, groups can admire “Behalt,” an imposing 265-foot circular mural that traces the history of the main Anabaptist groups: the Amish, Mennonite and Hutterite people. Holmes County’s Amish immersion continues at Yoder’s Amish Home, an authentic Amish farm that invites guests to glimpse daily Amish life. Started 20 years ago by a couple with an Amish background, the 116-acre farm offers guided tours of an 1866 Amish home and a barn full of

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Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

Above: Groups can dine on traditional fare in Amish homes during a visit to Holmes County. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: an Amish shop in Holmes County; Lehman’s marketplace; an Amish Country store; a Holmes County buggy; a show at Ohio Star Theater; an Amish farm visit in Holmes County

livestock. Groups can ride across the farm in horse-drawn buggies for a way to slowly take in the pastoral scenery. Beyond Yoder’s, groups can hire a local guide and explore Holmes County’s backroads. “About 50% of our population are Amish,” said Tiffany Gerber, executive director of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. “While we have pockets of typical downtowns, we are mostly rural. In Holmes County, our Amish folks like to share their faith in general. In some cases, they like to work in tourism. I think that makes us an easy place to learn about Amish culture. Our folks are so willing to share their story.” Landscapes straight out of a Laundry day at an Amish home Rockwell painting dot the hills interspersed with people workCourtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB ing in fields, clothes hanging out to dry and roadside stands selling baskets, chocolates and other handmade items. “The Amish’s lifestyle is not about living an inconvenient life,” said Gerber. “It is about not letting other things come into the home and interfere with the three tenets of Amish life: faith, family and community.” In recent months, groups have found safe ways to explore Holmes County, with many vendors coming up with innovative ways to follow health protocols and still offer authentic experiences.

AMISH MARKET MAHONING COUNTY

As soon as visitors walk into the Amish Market in Boardman, the heavenly smell of freshly fried doughnuts greets them. Other smells soon mingle in for a sensory experience. Opened in 2013 as the Valley Marketplace, the attraction is Ohio’s first indoor Amish market. The market became fully Amish owned and

operated when various vendors purchased the attraction in 2017. Today, about 15 Amish vendors sell a range of goods from furniture to candy. The Market Restaurant serves homestyle Amish cooking with original family recipes. Vendors offer additional meal options, for instance, pretzel wrap sandwiches like the Reuben wrap at Miller’s Soft Pretzels and Ice Cream. Those just looking for a treat can try fresh doughnuts at Aunt Martha’s Donuts, homemade breads at Cora’s Cookies and Such, or Amish fudge at the Candy Corner. Famously built to last, Amish furniture and home goods are in high demand at a couple of the market’s stands. “The Amish vendors come from outside the area,” said Tara Mady, assistant director of the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There aren’t any stores

AS SOON AS VISITORS WALK INTO THE AMISH MARKET IN BOARDMAN, THE HEAVENLY SMELL OF FRESHLY FRIED DOUGHNUTS GREETS THEM.

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Buggy country in Holmes County

Mahoning County’s Amish Market Courtesy Holmes Co. COC/TB

Courtesy Mahoning Co. CVB

like this around. It is a unique stop. Groups can get something to eat there. They have tables set out where people can spread out.” The Amish Market is open Thursday through Saturday year-round.

LEHMAN’S WAY NE C OUN T Y

The staff at Lehman’s in Kidron never have to worry about mowing the store’s grass. The mowing is taken care of by intrigued customers who want to try out the store’s nonelectric push mower. “With a modern lawnmower, when it’s not working you probably have to take it to the dealer,” said Glenda Lehman Ervin, vice president of marketing for Lehman’s. “With our mower, if it’s not working, you’re not walking. We make products that help you lead a simpler life.” Lehman’s feels like the convergence of a shop and a museum. Museum-quality antiques cover the walls, and newly made nonelectric products line the shelves for purchase. Jay Lehman started the store in 1955 with the intention of selling nonelectric products to the Amish community. The shop now primarily sells to non-Amish customers seeking products from another time. The store employs many Amish craftspeople to create the goods that would otherwise disappear, such as wood-heated stoves. www.ohiohasit.com

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DISCOVERY. Bring your group to Greater Lima.

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In the expansive store, guests can view old-fashioned products for cooking, gardening, heating and nonelectric lighting. Groups looking for souvenirs will enjoy the locally made snacks, desserts, meats and pantry items. Hundreds of American-made, nonelectric toys also take up an entire section of the store. “Because of the pandemic, our products are hugely popular,” said Ervin. “If you are completely reliant on someone else for everything you need, it can be disconcerting. They are seeking what we are selling, which is a simpler way of life.”

IN AMISH COUNTRY

stands for

A SIMPLER LIFE Bring your guests to visit our rambling retail store to shop thousands of products and unique experiences including a tour of our Tiny House on a Tiny Homestead, and a rich history. Here’s what we offer: Fantastic shopping Step-on tours Ample free parking Free catalogs and brochures A free meal for the driver & escort Great deals at the Outlet Store Enjoy lunch at the Cast Iron Café Free shipping on purchases over $100

Visit Lehmans.com/bus-tours for more information. Please allow at least two hours for your visit. Prior to visiting call 1-800-438-5346 or email info@lehmans.com LEHMANS.COM 800.438.5346

OHIO STAR THEATER TUSCA R AWAS COUNT Y

Audience members can laugh and cry with Amish characters at the Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek. Part of Dutchman Hospitality Group’s Amish-themed attractions, the theater features original musicals and plays with Amish characters. “The musicals give a glimpse into Amish life but not in a gimmicky way that pokes fun of the Amish,” said Vicki VanNatta, interim marketing manager for the Dutchman Hospitality Group. “We want everything we offer at our restaurants, shops, inns and theater to be a celebration of the traditions, foods and rural charm of the Amish life.” The Ohio Star Theater not only produces Amish-themed musicals but also welcomes touring concerts and comedy acts. The production company selects family-friendly acts designed to entertain and enlighten. The theater follows strict social distancing protocols, includOhio Star Theater ing masks, reduced capacity and sanitizing. Courtesy Dutchman Hospitality Once guests leave the theater, the fun can continue. Within walking distance, the Dutchman Hospitality Group also oversees the Dutch Valley Market with its high-quality traditional Amish foods. For trendier offerings, Dutch Valley Gifts sells home decor and boutique clothing. Groups can dine Amish-style at Dutch Valley, which serves homestyle meats, noodles, apple pie and other hearty options. The Carlisle Inn combines modern comforts and Amish simplicity with handcrafted beds, jigsaw puzzles and a deluxe continental breakfast for those who wish to linger. “A motorcoach could easily stay here for five nights,” said VanNatta. “We are still a very rural area. I think that is one of the differences between us and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which is more urban. Our area is still made of small towns. Even though we now have hotels and restaurants, we don’t have chain restaurants. It is very authentic.”

On the Square in Kidron, OH In the heart of Amish Country Open every day except Sunday

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

Courtesy Carter Historic Farm Courtesy Lake MetroParks

BUCKEYE Courtesy Visit Guernesy County

VISTAS

Courtesy Great Ohio Lodges

Courtesy Carter Historic Farm

Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands

THERE’S A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT OHIO’S OUTDOORS B Y EL I ZA M Y ER S

rom the smallest blossom to the vast Lake Erie vistas, Ohio’s nature amazes. The state’s outdoor attractions appeal to all kinds of outdoor lovers with both leisurely farm experiences and more challenging nature hikes. The Ohio outdoors allows group travelers scenic views and plenty of personal space. Whenever the time of year, these Ohio outdoor attractions ensure plenty of photo ops and unrestrained beauty.

BRUKNER NATURE CENTER TROY

Visitors can gaze into the bold eye of an eagle at the Brukner Nature Center in Troy. The 165acre nature preserve houses animals that cannot be released into the wild, such as a bald eagles and coyotes. Groups can see more than 50 of these “wildlife ambassadors” at the center’s indoor and outdoor exhibits. Wildlife also roams the property unfettered in the park’s protected ravines and pine forests. To spy some of these creatures, guests can walk on some of the preserve’s six miles of hiking trails. The Treetop Bird Vista provides an all-season bird-viewing room at eye level with the birds. Inside the interpretive center, the room looks out over feeders where migrating and local birds frequently appear. Typically, groups can book one-hour tours with naturalists to get up-close with a wildlife ambassador or take a hike. The nature center also features rotating wildlife art exhibits, a nature-themed gift shop and an 1804 log house, which is known as the county’s oldest structure on its original site. Miami County’s outdoor abundance goes far beyond the Brukner Nature Center. Groups also enjoy floating on the Great Miami River on rented kayaks or canoes. The Great Miami River Recreational Trail is another preferred natural getaway, with a 75-mile trail that connects communities in

www.ohiohasit.com

Courtesy Miami Co. CVB

Above: Groups can bike, paddle or bird-watch at Brukner Nature Center in Troy. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Salt Fork State Park; exploring Carter Historic Farm; Lake MetroParks’ Chapin Forest; cruising Lake Erie; Carter Historic Farm in Bowling Green; Golf at Salt Fork State Park

southwest Ohio. Groups can hike or bike the trail with pit stops for local shopping and dining along the route.

CARTER HISTORIC FARM BOWLING GREEN

Hard times live on at the Carter Historic Farm in Bowling Green. Interactive programming, displays and special events allow visitors to relive the penny-pinching realities of a 1930s farm. “We are a Depression-era living-history farm,” said Corinne Gordon, historic farm specialist for the Carter Historic Farm. “That time period was chosen because it is a really interesting time. Farming changed from needing large groups of men going to the farms each fall to using a threshing machine. That really changed how families interacted.” The 80-acre farm depicts chores from the decade, such as washing clothes with an agitator and wringer, a difficult job that once took an entire day for many families. The farm’s programs also teach useful skills, such as cooking, canning, gardening, knitting and mending. Farm implements from the ’30s often impress guests, since they were designed and built without the aid of computers. Animals, such as sheep, goats, chickens and friendly barn cats, also thrive on the farm. The farm offers guided group tours through the farmhouse, a oneroom schoolhouse and a garden.

Goodtime I on Lake Erie

Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands

. t h g i l de Try a new take on outdoor dining. Ohio restaurants are open and ready to safely serve you. Enjoy a well-deserved meal out while supporting local. Find local businesses to support at Ohio.org Barcelona in Columbus 28

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

“We can handle multiple classes, so we are used to dealing with a fair number of people,” said Gordon. “If we get information on the group coming, we can tailor the tour to their interests.”

GOODTIME LAKE ERIE ISLAND CRUISES

Playful animals at Carter Historic Farm

ERIE COUNTY

Groups can sail on the Earth’s 10th-largest lake aboard Goodtime Lake Erie Island Cruises in Sandusky. The family-owned company offers groups daylong island-hopping cruises for sightseeing or a meal. Cruises run from May through October. The company’s primary vessel, Goodtime I, can accommodate 315 passengers. The Daytime Island Hopping Cruise features narration pointing out the history and landmarks of the local area. The all-day excursion visits Kelleys Island and Put-In-Bay, with time built in for passengers to explore both islands. For some picturesque relaxation, the two-hour Sunset Bay Cruise includes live music, pizza and specials from the cash bar. Courtesy Carter Historic Farm

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Chapin Forest in Lake County Courtesy Lake Co. VB

Groups wanting to explore the area by boat can also opt for the Jet Express, Miller Boatline and Kelleys Island Ferry. Once on the islands, groups can arrange golf carts or train transportation to visit the attractions or dine out. The Put-In-Bay Tour Train shuttles riders to some of the island’s inland attractions, including Heineman’s Winery and Crystal Cave, the Aquatic Visitors Center and Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial. Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie that took place near the site. The American victory was one of the most significant naval battles in the War of 1812. On Kelleys Island, the Glacial Grooves attract the most visitors. The National Natural Landmark shows off one of the largest and most accessible examples of this geological phenomenon in the world.

SALT FORK STATE PARK GUERNSEY COUNTY

Visitors keep their eyes open for giant, hairy creatures at Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County. The park has recently received a lot of attention as a Bigfoot hot spot. “There are a ton of sightings out there,” said Brenynn Mowery, regional marketing and sales coordinator for Great Ohio Lodges. “On a typical year, our naturalists will do Bigfoot night hikes. We have a sightings map that visitors can look at. That’s a cool opportunity for guests to experience.”

Though Bigfoot isn’t likely to make an appearance, groups can count on seeing forested hills, open meadows and a 3,000-acre lake at Ohio’s largest state park. The Sugar Tree Marina provides convenient access to the expansive Salt Lake with kayak, jet boat and pontoon boat rentals. Guided boat tours can also be arranged. Groups can explore the park from the Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center. The lodge boasts a 450-person meeting venue, a 148-room lodge and 53 cabins. Guests can take advantage of the lodge’s indoor and outdoor pool, as well as the Timbers Restaurant. “We can cater a group’s meal, or they can visit our restaurant for typical American food,” said Mowery. “One of the most famous things on our menu is the Salt Fork pretzel. It is a pretzel with cream cheese. It is delicious. Everyone who has it is blown away.” Though expansive, the park offers many ways to access nature, such as a 2,500-foot beach, one of the biggest inland beaches in Ohio. Other activities include a golf course, horseback riding, fishing, 14 hiking trails and the Kennedy Stone House Museum, a sandstone farmhouse restored to its 1840s appearance.

LAKE METROPARKS

LAKE COUNTY

Visitors can watch the sky light up during a Lake Erie sunset in Lake County. East of Cleveland, the county manages Lake Metroparks, an impressive park system that ranges from lakeside beaches to forested retreats. “Our county is by physical size the smallest county in Ohio,” said Neil Stein, executive director of the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau. “Our Lake Metroparks system has 35 parks. That is an amazing amount for the size of the county. We have 60 miles of trails through the different parks.” Lake Erie Bluffs is one of the most popular of these parks because of its sunset views, lakeside trails and 50-foot coastal observation tower. The tower’s 360-degree views allow visitors to regularly spot bald eagles flying over the wetland, wood and lake habitats below. Groups also enjoy the Fairport Harbor Lakefront, which was featured in Coastal Living as the best beach in Ohio. Guests can walk along a Tshaped wooden platform that provides an accessible path to the beach. Youth groups can learn about farming and country life at Farmpark. The family-oriented science and cultural center educates visitors with live horses, cows, goats and other animals. Travel planners can contact the Lake County Visitor’s Bureau to see which park would work best for their group. Lake County also boasts one of the country’s largest arboretums and botanical gardens: the Holden Arboretum. The arboretum protects 3,000 acres of natural habitat and 600 acres of gardens. Groups can climb the 120-foot-tall Emergent Tower for panoramic views. Standout gardens include the Display Garden, the Holden Wildflower Garden, the Layer Rhododendron Garden and the Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden.

“OUR NATURALISTS WILL DO BIGFOOT NIGHT HIKES.” — BRENYNN MOWERY 30

2021 ohio has it! group travel guide

330-674-3975 VisitAmishCountry.com You may know our buggies, bulk foods & brooms. . .

Have you experienced our boutiques, burgers & bouquets

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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

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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

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

PUBLISHED BY

SCENERY AND TRANQUILITY AWAIT IN THESE SOUTHERN ALPINE DESTINATIONS.

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 CollegeÂ 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, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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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

B Y MAC L ACY

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

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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off

SHORE

OUTINGS

SOUTHEASTERN WATERS DRAW GROUPS ON DECK

BY BRIAN J EWELL

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

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

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.

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

SOMERSET, KENTUCKY

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

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outerbanks.org/planners

“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

GULF SHORES, ALABAMA

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

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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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 thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as safe as it is memorable.

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}

PEAK

your

INTERESTS

HERE ARE A FEW MOUNTAIN MECCAS IN THE SOUTHEAST

BY J I LL G LEESON

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

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

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

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

ARKANSAS

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

11/12/20

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

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

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

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 areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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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

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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

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

SUPERIOR BATH HOUS E BR EWERY

Courtesy Visit Hot Springs

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Superior Bathhouse Brewery

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

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

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

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

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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A SCENIC E VENT AR EA AT LAN DRY VI N EYAR DS

Landry Vineyards

WEST MONROE, LOUISIANA

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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Crush Wine and Food Festival

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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

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

ALL things WILD ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS ARE NATURALS IN THE SOUTHEAST

BY RACH EL CARTER

A ZEBRA AT TUPELO BUFFALO PARK

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

A MANATEE ENCOU NTER

Courtesy Discover Crystal River Florida

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Swim With Manatees CRYSTAL RIVER, FLORIDA

Courtesy WV State Wildlife Center

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

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

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Tupelo Buffalo Park and Zoo TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI

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

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

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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Explore the movement that changed the nation — and the people behind it.

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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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