Going On Faith Fall 2017

ON T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R FAITH-BASED TRAVEL PLANNERS VOL. 20 - NO. 4

FALL 2017

KHERITAGE E N TFAITH U C K Y ’S OF

OHIO’S MUSEUM

SCENE

H O L I DAY DESTINATIONS

GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE COVERAGE

Your group. This mountaintop. His purpose.

Hold your own event at The Cove. The picturesque surroundings provide the ideal year-round backdrop for your next Christian conference, retreat, or ministry event. The Cove’s gracious accommodations, delicious meals, distinctive meeting spaces, and exceptional service combine to provide an atmosphere free of distractions where your group can relax, refocus, and be renewed through the leading of the Holy Spirit. Book your event today— visit TheCove.org or call our Guest Group team at 828-298-2092.

458-Seat and 119-Seat Auditoriums • 14 Additional Meeting and Breakout Rooms • Warm and Inviting Guest Rooms • Complete Audio and Visual Capabilities • 24-Hour Complimentary Beverages • Delicious Cuisine A ministry of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

©2017 BGEA

“Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

—PSALM 27:8, NKJV

Dine with History in SoutheaSt indiana Hotels & Attractions only 5 minutes / 1 exit from Creation Museum

Twilight Tour Hillforest Victorian House Museum Gather in the double parlors for an elegant catered dinner followed by a tour of the mansion by costumed guides.

Veraestau Historic Site

Explore the home and grounds of the estate known for its spectacular view of the Ohio River Valley.

Help yourself to coffee or tea and the delightful dessert buffet serving in the formal dining room.

($42/person, all inclusive; 2 tours, dinner, dessert buffet; 20 person minimum; Escort & Driver Comps)

Dinner at Knigga Hay Press Barn Step back in time when you explore an original 1853 Hay Press Barn located in Dillsboro Indiana.

Enjoy an All-American Meal on the main floor of the barn. Learn how the press operates and explore the property, out buildings, farm antiques and equipment. ($30/person, all inclusive, dinner with dessert; 40-55+ people; Escort & Driver Comps)

Contact Dearborn County Group Sales, Sally McWilliams at 812-265-6999 or smcwilliams@visitsoutheastindiana.com

Dearborn County Convention Visitor & Tourism Bureau 320 Walnut Street • Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 • 1-800-322-8198 “Like” TOUR Southeast Indiana on Facebook

Request Your Planner at www.TourSoutheastIndiana.com

GOF

THE MAGAZINE F O R FA I T H - B A S E D T R AV E L

[ FA L L 2 0 1 7 ]

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Buckeye Museums Ohio cities offer great cultural institutions.

Christmas is Coming

These destinations put groups in the holiday spirit.

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Riverfront Cities Enjoy the view in these scenic river cities.

DEPARTMENTS Columns 6 EDITOR’S NOTES: Learning Growth from Great Leaders ON THE COVER: A couple enjoys a fall afternoon at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Photo courtesy Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

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Spotlights 12 HOW TO: Grow Your Group

14 PROFILE:

News 8 CONFERENCE COVERAGE: Ohio Amish Country welcomes Going On Faith

KENTUCKY FAM KENTUCKY FAM

28 Going On Faith took travel planners to discover the faith-based attractions of the Bluegrass State.

Linda Bensen and Cathy Cepican

16 INTERNATIONAL: Petra, Jordan

Mac T. Lacy Founder and Publisher

Brian Jewell Executive Editor

Eliza Myers Online Editor

Charles A. Presley Partner

Herb Sparrow Senior Writer

Christine Clough Copy Editor

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Ashley Ricks Circulation

Savannah Osbourn Staff Writer

Stacey Bowman Account Manager

Going On Faith is published quarterly by THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc., 301 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified group leaders who plan travel for churches, synagogues and religious organizations. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants, and other travel-related companies, may subscribe to Going On Faith by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Going On Faith, Circulation Department, 301 East High Street, Lexington, KY 40507. Phone: (859) 253-0455 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.

Plan your visit at ArkEncounter.com Williamstown, K Y (south of Cincinnati)

LEARNING GROWTH EDITOR’S

NOTES BRIAN JEWELL

FROM GREAT LEADERS

H

ere’s an interesting conundrum to think about: Each year, thousands of churches close in the United States. Conversely, the number of megachurches around the country is exploding. How can both be true?

I see this clearly in my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky. The church in which I grew up dwindled in attendance throughout the last decade, finally closing at the end of last year. The church I attend now is growing rapidly, though, and a half-dozen other churches around town are growing almost more quickly than they can manage. The largest church in the area has expanded to numerous campuses, including outposts in smaller suburbs surrounding the city.

It can be difficult to make sense of these contradictory trends. The core message and mission of most American churches is the same. And even within each distinct worship tradition, some local congregations are dying while others are thriving. What can explain that disparity?

I can come to only one conclusion: leadership.

Every growing church I know has great leaders with crystal-clear vision and intense focus. Dying churches, however, often see a lot of turnover in their pastoral staff. And if they do have veteran leaders in place, those people, well-meaning though they may be, don’t have the leadership skills to turn the ship around.

Interestingly, there are similar trends in the group travel industry. I get to talk to group travel planners around the country, and I fre-

quently hear one of two stories: either the group has an aging and shrinking membership, or it is growing quickly. And the major tour companies in the industry are posting impressive numbers right now, with many saying that 2018 is on track to be their best year ever.

If people are still traveling in groups, why are some groups struggling? Again, the problem comes down to leadership.

With the right leader, any travel group has the potential to thrive or even grow. And if you want to be a great leader, you should start by doing what great leaders do.

In churches and travel groups alike, great leaders focus on their vision. They have a clearly defined reason for what they do, and they don’t lose sight of it. An organization without a specific vision will not thrive in the long term.

Great leaders also focus on visitors. They don’t limit the scope of their activities to those their current fans will like. Instead, they intentionally do things to attract new audiences, even if that means catering less to the tastes of longtime members.

Finally, great leaders focus on the future.

They appreciate the ideas and successes that have brought their organizations to where they are, but they aren’t tied to the past. They are willing to try new things, abandon what no longer works and make costly investments for the sake of future success.

Like the mission of the church itself, the mission of church group travel is not changing.

The question is, what kind of leader are you going to be?

BRIAN JEWELL [ EDITOR ] brianj@grouptravelleader.com

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tops for groups at the top of the state

Left to Right: Ark Encounter, Coppin’s at Hotel Covington, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Garden of Hope, Marriott RiverCenter, Newport Aquarium, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Newport Aquarium, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Smoke Justis, Creation Museum, Ark Encounter, World Peace Bell, Covington, BB Riverboats

#makeitNKY meetNKY.com

AN AMISH WELCOME

HOLMES COUNTY, OHIO, HOSTS GOING ON FAITH CONFERENCE

GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE COVERAGE

Amish ice cream makers were a hit.

Photos by Dan Dickson

T

BY DA N DICKSON

he Going On Faith Conference is typically held inside large convention halls in midsized cities across America. But in 2017, the gathering happened in a delightfully different place: Holmes County, Ohio, the centerpiece of Amish Country.

Delegates met for three days, August 22-24, inside a large church, but enjoyed plenty of the sights and sounds of the surrounding Amish community. Amish people dressed in their simple daily

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wear, horse-drawn buggies, and attractive farms and Amish businesses dotted the green countryside.

Locals opened their arms and extended a warm embrace to 135 church travel directors and 130 travel industry professionals who represented 28 states, the District of Columbia and nine foreign countries. Everyone seemed to come away a little better for the experience.

Amish Country has existed since 1809, and the residents make up the largest Amish community in

the world. Delegates to the Going On Faith Conference numbered but a fraction of the more than 4 million visitors to the area each year.

“We first visited this site three years ago and found it to be a unique venue,” said Joe Cappuzzello of Group Travel Family, the conference organizer.

“It ties in greatly with the Going On Faith Conference, which was held in Grace Mennonite Church. For the church to open its doors to our people was too good to be true. We love the inspiration and wel-

Jennifer Ferguson, center, with conference hosts

Faith-based business boomed

Amish goods starred with delegates

A youthful ice cream assistant

Amish Country Theater

come feeling they gave us.”

Laurie Judson of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau saw a distinct advantage to having so many travel planners visiting.

“We’re so excited to showcase our area,” said Judson. “In Holmes County and surrounding counties, we believed that if we could get people here and show them our hospitality and beautiful scenery, they’d come back on their own. We’d love to host everybody.”

BUYERS AND SELLERS

The chief purpose of the conference was to connect travel buyers with travel sellers. That was accomplished in two busy marketplace sessions.

“The marketplace is where travel industry members can meet with church and program directors about great destinations for their groups. It’s very important,” Mac Lacy, a conference partner, told delegates in his opening remarks.

Larissa Vieira, from Champions of the World Resort in Kissimmee, Florida, attended for the first time.

“I’M TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT AMISH COUNTRY. I’M UNFAMILIAR WITH OHIO AND WAS EXCITED TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND OTHER PLACES TO VISIT AROUND THE COUNTRY. COMING HERE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.” “We look to bring new business to the property,” she said. “The religious business has really grown in the Orlando area. We’re reaching out to this church conference.”

Many convention and visitors bureaus sent representatives to attract groups to their communities.

Kathryn Henning from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was one.

“Many haven’t heard of Manitowoc,” she said.

“My goal is to educate people about what we offer, such as the SS Badger car ferry taking passengers on

The Amish ways explained

four-hour trips across Lake Michigan from Manitowoc to Ludington, Michigan. The maritime museum has a submarine tour, and there’s a small family-operated cheese factory producing large wheels of cheese.”

Another was Jessica Smith from nearby Beechwood, Ohio.

“We’re located 80 minutes north of the conference,” she said. “You begin to leave Amish Country and get back closer to the city with our many parks, restaurants and hotels.”

Representatives of attractions across the country also attended.

“We’re so excited about the work our theater does,” said Barbara Reid of the Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. “Our productions are Broadway quality. We take great pride in our dining, and we have a conference center for trade shows.

We want to invite new groups to come to our theater to look us over.”

Church and program directors came with their agendas, too. Linda Bensen of Trinity Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois, was thrilled about

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

9

“I won!”

“Let’s eat!”

what she was learning at the conference. “We came to interact and hear about new destinations with their hotels, restaurants and tours. I’ve gotten some wonderful ideas.”

Two Southern church programmers enjoyed learning. One was Bill Highsmith of Tusculum Hills Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

“I try not to repeat trips, so I look for new venues that our folks will enjoy,” he said. “This conference really helps because I get ideas [about venues] I never knew about.”

The same was true for Alice Ortiz of Our Place Tours in Greenwood Springs, Mississippi. “I’m trying to learn about Amish Country,” she said. “I’m unfamiliar with Ohio and was excited to learn about it and other places to visit around the country. Coming here has been successful.”

Yvonne Emmanuel of Williams Temple CME Church in Philadelphia found herself in somewhat familiar surroundings.

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Delegates register for sightseeing

“I love our Amish community back home in Pennsylvania,” she said. “The Ohio Amish community has always interested me. Whenever I do this conference, I get fantastic information and discover places I never knew existed.”

SPONSOR PRESENTATIONS

Organizations that are sponsoring the Going On Faith Conference bring great travel information to delegates. The 2017 show presented several sponsors that invited planners to partner with them.

Diane Wilhelm of Globus Family of Brands in Littleton, Colorado, said Globus and Cosmos are two brands her company uses for faith-based tours.

“They’re very carefully planned,” she said. “You get hassle-free journeys to the most holy and treasured places on earth. Next year, we will be celebrating our 90th year.”

Wayne Peyreau of MSC Cruises out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, told delegates about his company’s aggressive shipbuilding program.

“Normally, a cruise company builds each ship as a copy of what was last delivered,” he said. “With us, that’s not so. We have three different classes of vessels, and one thing I can tell you is that they keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger.”

Scott Goss of Experience Park Tours in Reno, Nevada, represents a niche tour company.

“We’re a small-group luxury tour company specializing in U.S. national parks,” he said. “Our motto is ‘A Better Way to Travel.’ That means because we’re small, we’re flexible, control the experience and allow you to do what you want.”

Religious attractions were show sponsors as well.

Paul Anderson from the Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana, described the site as depicting “the pain and suffering that our Lord endured to save us.”

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s truly a one-of-a-kind destination. They built a place that lets people of all faiths get closer to the Lord.”

Eddie Lutz of the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, described his site as “a full-scale reproduction of Noah’s Ark and built to biblical specifications.”

“It’s 510 feet long, almost two football fields in length and uses 3.3 million board feet of wood, which could stretch from Kentucky to Philadelphia,” he said.

INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKERS

Rob Quillin was a featured speaker. He told delegates about his chance meeting with a man on an airline flight in September 2001 and how he offered to help the man fulfill a special wish for his son. It turned out that Quillin’s seat companion was a pilot on one of the doomed jetliners that crashed the next day, September 11. That prompted Quillin to write a book about the encounter and to create a foundation to help fulfill the dreams of others. “Some of you will make the decision to go home and buy the book, ‘Why Wait?’ And when you do, all of that money goes to the foundation. I have never received a penny from that book. When you buy it, you will be helping someone else’s dream come true.”

Greg Nahmens of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) preached “Look Before You Book.” He urged travel planners to go to the FMCSA website to investigate motorcoach operators they plan to hire to make sure they are properly certified, safe and insured.

TOURS AND MORE

Sightseeing, mealtimes and special presentations are always a pleasant sideline during the Going On Faith Conference. The first afternoon featured an ice cream social outside Grace Mennonite Church. The ice cream was churned by an elderly Amish couple using a gas-powered churn to create the frosty treat.

That evening delegates went to the Amish Door for a delectable meat-and-potatoes dinner cooked and served by Amish staff. A stage play with a deep spiritual message followed.

On day two of the conference, delegates traveled around the county to see one of the many Amish furniture-making companies, various country stores, a cheesemaking factory and more. That evening, dinner was served at the Amish Country Theater, followed by a hilarious stage performance appropriate for families that featured a country bumpkin named Leonard; a remarkable ventriloquist, Ken Groves; backup singers and dancers; and a live, toe-tappin’ bluegrass band.

Little Rock, Arkansas, looks forward to hosting the 2018 Going On Faith Conference.

“We’ve noticed that many people don’t have an opinion of Little Rock, either good or bad,” said Amanda Glover of the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. “But when they come and see all the great things we offer, it changes their minds. We’re a hidden gem. When planners see us, then there will be word of mouth, and they’ll all want to book us.”

To register, visit www.gofconference.com.

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KNOW

HOW

HOW TO G ROW YO U R G RO U P

H

BY B R I A N J E W E L L

ow important is growth to your organization?

If you plan travel mostly for fun or personal satisfaction, you may not think a lot about whether your group is growing. After all, if the group is going to disband when you’re no longer able to travel, why invest in long-term sustainability?

If, however, you believe that travel is an important part of your church or organization’s greater mission, you should be interested in setting your travel ministry up for long-term success. A vibrant travel program that outlives you can be a part of your legacy and your church’s impact in your community.

To enjoy long-term success, your travel program needs consistent growth, both to replace the members who can no longer travel and to expand your reach and impact. Growth is exciting, but it doesn’t always come easily. Sometimes growth takes effort and long-term investment.

If you want to reach people you have never reached before, you’re going

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to have to do things you have never done before. With that in mind, here are six strategies you can use to grow your group.

Each can be modified to fit your specific skills and personality.

Taken together, they can help jump-start growth that will carry the mission of your travel group for years to come.

1)

AUTOMATE COMMUNICATIONS. If you want to get more people to come on your trips, one of the best ways to start is by reaching more people with your invitations. Taking advantage of some simple technology tools can help you do that.

One of the most effective methods is blast email. Relying on phone calls, newsletters and catalogs limits how you reach travelers because each of these activities is time intensive, and your time is limited. Emails allow you to reach a wider audience at a lower cost and with less investment.

Messages don’t have to be long and complex; they can be as simple as a few sentences and a picture from a place you’re going (or have gone). They can be quick, too: With a little effort you can use services such as Constant Contact or Mail Chimp to set up campaigns that will send a series of messages to anyone on your list.

2)

OFFER INCENTIVES. People who already travel with you can be your greatest marketing force if you encourage them to bring their friends and family members on your trips. Incentives help leverage their influence.

Offer incentives to your current travelers for bringing new people on trips. This can be something simple, such as a Starbucks gift card, or a more elaborate gesture, such as a room upgrade or even a cash referral bonus. You can also offer incentives directly to first-time travelers to help them see the value in trying out your trips.

Another option is to create an incentive program for frequent travelers. For example, people who travel with you four times might get an upgrade or a discount on their fifth trip. Or give frequent travelers extra input on the trips your group takes next year.

3)

ENLIST INFLUENCERS. Your travelers love spending time with you, but people that don’t know you well might be more persuaded to join the trip if there is another influential person coming along.

You can often attract increased interest in a trip by enlisting a high-profile, well-known personality from your community to come on the trip with you.

Many church travel groups have found success in bringing the pastor or other member of the church staff along. Joining the trip gives members an opportunity to spend time with these important people.

If you’re working with a tour operator or a hotelier that offers comps, you may be able to use one of your comps to host this person on the trip free of charge, which will go a long way toward convincing him or her to come with you. If you don’t have comps, consider offering the person a free or discounted trip by slightly increasing the cost for other travelers.

4)

HOST TRAVEL PARTIES. One of the best ways to expose new travelers to your travel group is to invite them to events to publicize and build excitement for upcoming adventures.

Preview parties are a great way to promote an upcoming trip and to test the waters. If a preview party isn’t well attended, chances are the trip won’t sell well. And parties give you a chance to start building camaraderie in your group and introduce potential new travelers to the dynamics and fun of group travel.

Similarly, hosting wrap-up and photo-sharing parties after a tour is a great way to keep the excitement of a trip alive. It’s also a good time to announce your upcoming trips and begin marketing to people who are flush with pleasant memories from the trip they just took.

5)

REBRAND YOUR IMAGE. People’s perceptions of your travel program and the trips you take may be the biggest factor in their holding back from joining your group.

Potential travelers may perceive your trips as too cheap, too expensive, too long, too short, too busy or too boring. So take a hard look at your itineraries, photos and other materials to make sure they’re not sending a message you don’t intend.

If your group members are perceived as being too old, try to attract some younger travelers to your trips and assure them they will have an enjoyable time. Part of this will require creating a simple website and Facebook page and keeping those fresh and updated.

6)

TRAVEL NEAR AND FAR. If you are locked in to doing specific kinds of trips — only day trips, only mystery tours, only international trips — you’re missing out on a host of travelers who aren’t interested in those kinds of experiences.

Try adding one or two trips a year that differ from your norm, and see if they attract different travelers. Don’t rule out certain destinations just because they require flying, overnight stays or higher-than-normal prices.

If you can offer fantastic experiences over a range of tour types, you might convince your travelers to try a new type of trip they wouldn’t have thought attractive.

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 13

FACES

of FAITH

Travel for All Ages

TRAVEL

BY A SHLE Y R ICKS

LINDA BENSEN & CATHY CEPICAN

[ TRINITY TRAVELERS ]

T

Cathy Cepican (left) and Linda Bensen (right)

WHO DO YOU PLAN FOR? Linda Bensen and Cathy Cepican plan for Trinity Travelers, the travel group at Trinity Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois

BY A SH L E Y R I CK S

ravel at the Trinity Lutheran Church used to be just for the youngsters.

Linda Bensen started at the church planning annual trips for the high school group, but after leading a camp trip she found out the camp also offered a program for senior citizens. The next year, she planned her first adult trip, and the Trinity Travelers got its start.

“It kind of grew from that, and people began to look forward to the trips,” said Bensen.

Cathy Cepican joined the church’s staff 34 years ago and helped Bensen in planning trips; the two have been a dynamic duo ever since. The travel program has now grown to include all ages and enjoys two extended trips and six to eight day trips every year.

While on each trip, the travelers incorporate their faith in a variety of ways. The group members share meals, fellowship time and, at some destinations, mission experiences or service projects. And every day starts with a prayer and a devotional, whether it’s the youth group or the adults on the trip.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE? Bensen and Cepican say Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite Scripture they have in mind when planning and traveling.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Cepican hails from Oak Lawn, a Chicago suburb, and Bensen has lived there for nearly 50 years.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DESTINATION? Cepican’s favorite destination is North Carolina for its scenic beauty; Bensen likes the Carolinas, too, but said Scandinavia is at the top of her list.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? Bensen enjoys gardening and sewing; Cepican’s hands are full leading the church’s preschool and spending time with her grandchildren.

Bensen and Cepican recently took their group to Europe and enjoyed a tour of Edinburgh Castle.

All photos courtesy Cathy Cepican

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“It’s easy for us to do that because a lot of the devotions are on the bus,” Cepican said. “We can see so much of the country that God has made and talk about it.”

The women say what sets their trips apart, though, is the extensive planning and level of detail they incorporate into their trips.

“We do a lot of research so that we’re staying in nice places, eating in good restaurants, and the activities we do are well thought out,” said Bensen. “We also do a lot of prayer while we’re planning, and if there’s a choice, then we let the Holy Spirit decide.”

Another big help to their planning is the annual Going On Faith Conference. Both Bensen and Cepican are regular attendees and say that the ideas they’ve gathered there have been an immense help to them.

“We go to the conference and may not know what [our next] mystery trip will be, but we get so many ideas and can walk away with the trip already planned,” said Cepican.

Bensen (left) and Cepican (right) dress in matching outfist to help their travelers find them easily.

“WE ALSO DO A LOT OF PRAYER WHILE WE’RE PLANNING, AND IF THERE’S A CHOICE, THEN WE LET THE HOLY SPIRIT DECIDE.”

T RAV E L T IP S TIP 1 Attend the Going On Faith Conference.

TIP 2 Do your research. Fill trips with great experiences and well-thought-out activities. This creates all-inclusive trips that are easier for travelers.

TIP 3 Do evaluations. This gives valuable feedback while it’s fresh in the minds of your travelers and generates ideas for upcoming trips.

Bensen (left) and Cepican (right) at a Trinity Lutheran Church fellowship

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PASSPORT

STAMPS INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

PETRA JORDAN

The Royal Tombs — a collection of colorful facades and intricate stonework— are the highlight of the Petra archaeological site.

All photos courtesy JTBNA

BY A S H L E Y R ICKS

W H E R E I N T HE BIBL E ?

Petra is mentioned in Isaiah 16:1 and 2 Kings 14:7 by its ancient name, Sela, which translates to “rock.” Petra is in the land of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, and is also frequently mentioned in the Old Testament.

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A

short walk through a narrow desert canyon brings visitors to one of the most stunning sites in all of Jordan: the Treasury, a towering Roman facade carved into the cliffs in the ancient city of Petra.

Known as the Rose City, Petra was carved from the pink rocks of the south Jordanian landscape by the Nabataeans around 300 B.C. Though many of the carvings were created to mark elaborate entrances to tombs, collectively they resemble the buildings of a living city, and many of the carvings have been given nicknames that reflect the civic buildings they depict.

Petra flourished until it was conquered first by the Israelites and then by the Romans, who eventually reduced the site. The city was lost to the greater world

until it was “rediscovered” by Westerners in the early 1800s, adding to the lore and mysterious feel of the site for foreigners.

During this “lost period,” mainly Bedouin peoples inhabited the city and the surrounding area until Petra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Many Bedouin still live in the area and travelers are able to connect with this regional culture through time spent with local families, often by sharing a traditional meal.

Near modern day Wadi Musa, the city is easy to reach for travelers and filled with modern restaurants and posh hotels. Groups will likely want to stay in Wadi Rum, since there are no overnight accommodations and no motorized vehicles are allowed in Petra. The visitor center there is the main departure point for tours.

TO P AT T RA C T ION S

FOR CHURCH GROUPS • THE MONASTERY — Some 900 stone steps lead to the striking carving known as the Monastery, but the climb is well worth the effort.

The spectacular facade is like that of the Treasury but was carved on a larger scale, reaching nearly 55 square yards.

• THE ROYAL TOMBS — The Nabataeans carved over 800 tombs in Petra, but the Royal Tombs are the crown jewel of the archaeological collection. Make sure to check out the Urn Tomb, thought to be the final resting place of a Nabataean king, as well as the Silk Tomb and the Palace Tomb.

• THE HIGH PLACE OF SACRIFICE — A 30-minute hike brings visitors to a spectacular overlook that showcases the High Place, a unique rock coloring and carved facades found in the gorge.

MUST-DO: To experience Jordanian culture in more depth, groups love to meet with one of the Bedouin families that live near the site and enjoy a meal with them.

MUST-TASTE: Maqlooba, translated as “upside down,” is named for the unusual way the dish is prepared. Cooks layer rice, meat and vegetables in a clay pot before turning it out upside down onto a platter to be served alongside yogurt or salad.

BRING IT HOME: A popular souvenir is bottled sand art that features a camel or another image reminiscent of Jordan. Other ideas include the hatta scarves worn by many Jordanians or handmade painted plates and jars.

• LITTLE PETRA — An important “suburb” of Petra, Little Petra includes some smaller monuments like those at the main site.

PHOTO OP: Groups love to take photos in front of the Treasury, which has also appeared on the silver screen in well-known movies like “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “Arabian Nights.”

RESEARCHI N G YOUR T RI P Jordan Tourism Board North America www.myjordanjourney.com The Treasury at Petra

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ON

A

STATE OF FAITH

EXHIBIT IN

Courtesy COSI

OHIO T H E B U C K E Y E S TAT E H AS A WE ALT H OF PRO MI N E N T MU SEUM S

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Ohio museum experiences, clockwise from top: the new COSI Planetarium in Columbus; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland; and Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

going on faith [ fall 2017 ] Courtesy NURRFC

Courtesy RRHOF

5

1

4

TOLE D O

CLEVELAND

DAY TON

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3

OHIO

CO L U M B U S

CINCINNATI

E

BY B RI A N J EWE LL

very major city in Ohio has a major museum worth exploring.

The Buckeye State enjoys a wealth of notable cultural institutions, most of which are in its five most significant cities. Groups that enjoy history, music, art, science and other interests will find some of the country’s leading museums in those fields during a trip through Ohio.

This itinerary begins in Cincinnati, on the state’s southern border, and works its way north through Dayton to Columbus, then on up to Cleveland before crossing along the lakefront over to Toledo. Taking five days and four nights will allow time to travel the moderate distance from city to city and see the main highlights. Add another day or two for more in-depth exploration.

CINCINNATI H I G H L I G H T | UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MUSEUM For many slaves running away from their homes in the South, crossing the Ohio River from Kentucky to Ohio represented an important milestone on the path to freedom. Today, the Underground Railroad Freedom Center stands on the banks of that river in downtown Cincinnati to commemorate their struggle and the heroic efforts of those who helped them.

Opened in 2004, the museum now consists of three buildings symbolizing courage, cooperation and perseverance. The museum’s exhibits use a mix of historic artifacts and modern technology to tell the stories of the Underground Railroad. Highlights include an early-1800s slave pen recovered from a nearby Kentucky farm and “Brothers of the Borderland,” an immersive 25-minute film that depicts one slave’s flight to freedom with the help of two Cincinnati-area Underground Railroad conductors.

The museum also focuses on modern-day freedom fighters and encourages visitors to get involved with efforts to abolish human trafficking and other slavery around the world.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Cincinnati has a number of other noteworthy museums, including three — a history museum, a children’s museum and a science museum — under one roof at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, a 1933 Union Terminal train station that still features many historic elements and Art Deco touches.

MORE INFO | www.cincinnatiusa.com

2 DAYTON HIGHLIGHT | AIR FORCE MUSEUM About 60 miles north of Cincinnati, Dayton is home to WrightPatterson Air Force Base, one of the largest Air Force installations in the country. There, groups will find the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum.

More than 1.3 million visitors visit the museum each year to explore more than 17 acres of indoor exhibit space. There are 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles on display, as well as thousands of other artifacts. Highlights include a Wright Brothers plane, a NASA shuttle crew compartment trainer and the world’s only permanent public display of a B-2 stealth bomber.

In addition to the exhibits, the museum features a number of thrilling interactive experiences. Groups can try out several simulators at the museum or see one of the multiple daily 3-D screenings in the Air Force Museum Theatre. And the museum’s cafeteria even sells freezedried “astronaut” ice cream.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Dayton’s aviation roots run much deeper than the Air Force. Groups can discover the bicycle shop where the Wright Brothers perfected their airplane designs at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, which also preserves the historic home of Paul Laurence Dunbar.

MORE INFO | www.daytoncvb.com The National Museum of the United States Air Force near Dayton

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 19 Courtesy NMUSAF

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COLUMBUS

CLEVELAND

HIGHLIGHT | SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY MUSEUM

HIGHLIGHT | ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MUSEUM The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame makes news every year when it inducts a new class of musicians, songwriters, producers and other industry insiders. But this Cleveland institution isn’t just about remembering past stars; in addition to the hall of fame, this museum gives visitors an expansive overview of the breadth and influence of rock music, with interesting artifacts and plenty of music along the way.

Travelers will like the stage costumes, instruments and other memorabilia that rotate on display through the museum. And they’re just as likely to see an item from a modern performer such as the Black Keys or Katy Perry as they are an artifact from one of the Beatles.

In addition to the permanent exhibits that cover the roots of rock — including jazz, blues, folk and R&B — the museum puts on a lineup of high-profile temporary exhibitions that explore interesting areas of music and its intersection with greater culture.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Groups can choose from a variety of live theater experiences at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square. This neighborhood is the second-largest theater district in the United States — after Broadway in New York — and is home to 10 different performing arts venues that offer Broadway-style shows, comedies, concerts and more.

In the heart of Ohio, Columbus serves as the state capital, as well as a thriving urban city with plenty of cultural institutions. One of the best is the Center of Science and Industry (COSI).

COSI has a variety of interactive and engaging experiences for groups. The museum’s new planetarium is the largest in Ohio and features a 60-foot dome and a digital projection system. Groups can schedule shows that make use of this technology to display eye-popping imagery from throughout the Milky Way galaxy, as well as question-and-answer sessions with resident astronomers.

Another impressive element of the museum is “Progress,” an immersive exhibit that demonstrates how the main street in a small town in America would have changed in 64 years. Visitors start in 1898 and see the technology of that period before turning a corner into 1962, when the electronic age revolutionized daily life.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Construction is underway on Columbus’ next cultural institution: the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, with a mix of historical artifacts and interactive programs. This museum’s collection and exhibits will help visitors appreciate the experiences and sacrifices of American veterans. The museum is expected to open next summer.

MORE INFO | www.thisiscleveland.com

MORE INFO | www.experiencecolumbus.com

Highlight exhibits at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Center of Science and Industry Courtesy COSI

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going on faith [ fall 2017 ]

Photos courtesy RRHOF

5 TOLEDO HIGHLIGHT | GLASS MUSEUM On the eastern side of Ohio’s Lake Erie, the Toledo Museum of Art features an encyclopedic collection of artwork in all kinds of media, but the museum is perhaps best known for its glass collection. In 2006, the museum opened its Glass Pavilion across the street from the main museum facility in a sleek 74,000-square-foot building whose exterior walls are made entirely of glass.

The Glass Pavilion features more than 5,000 pieces of glass, ranging from ancient glass artifacts to contemporary art glass sculpture. Many are related to Toledo’s role in the growth of the Studio Glass movement.

Groups have a variety of ways to get their hands on glass at the Glass Pavilion.

Private art glass workshops give participants a chance to create small glass art pieces using hot glass, warm glass, flamework and a variety of other techniques.

The museum also offers a range of glassblowing demonstrations in one of several hot shops at the Glass Pavilion.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: The Toledo Zoo is recognized as one of the leading zoos in the nation. More than 100 years old, this zoological park sits on 62 acres, houses 4,700 species of animals and includes several buildings constructed in Works Progress Administration-era architectural styles.

Glass exhibits at the Toledo Museum of Art

MORE INFO | www.dotoledo.org Photos courtesy Toledo Museum of Art

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H O L I DAY

LIGHTS

THE S E DE S T IN AT IONS REVEL IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

BY KEREN HA MEL

The holiday decorations at Biltmore Estate reflect the style trends of 1895.

T

An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City in Branson Courtesy Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City’s “A Dickens Christmas Carol”

Courtesy Silver Dollar City

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going on faith [ fall 2017 ]

Courtesy Biltmore Estate

his holiday season, Christmas will shine brighter than ever.

Twinkling lights by the thousands and, in most cases, millions illuminate these five incredible Christmas destinations, several of which are debuting impressive new expansions. Whether it’s the town of Grapevine, Texas, or inside Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the merry sights, sounds and smells of Christmas begin in November and run through the New Year.

[ OZARK MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS ] BRANSON, MISSOURI With dazzling parades, live shows and drive-through light tours, it seems like Christmas in Branson couldn’t possibly shine any brighter. Yet it will.

“Branson has the largest variety of wonderful and unique Christmas trees found anywhere,” said Lynn Berry, director of communications for Explore Branson. “This year, we’re doubling the number of trees to 100.”

The lights will burn November 1 through January 4. Branson’s Gift of Lights Christmas drive-through display is a 1.2-mile-long stretch of holiday lights, and the Trail of Lights at the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead is an illuminated wonderland winding through the historic hills of the 160-acre homestead.

An Old Time Christmas festival at Silver Dollar City will be brighter this year, too; it will add 1.5 million lights, bringing the park’s total to 6.5 million. “It’s an unbelievable world,” Berry said. “In an area of 100 acres, we have lights on everything standing still.”

The festival has added Christmas in Midtown, an area filled with light displays nine stories high, including 30 angels, three light tunnels and moving trains. A popular feature of the festival is a nightly parade with musical lighted floats and costumed characters. The parade begins with the lighting of a five-story Christmas tree with 350,000 dancing LED lights. Groups can also enjoy two musical productions: “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Dickens Christmas Carol.”

Branson will officially kick off the season November 4 with the “Most Wonderful Time of Year” parade hosted by a full line-up of the city’s favorite entertainers. The parade concludes with live performances in front of the Branson Landing fountains.

A month later, on December 3 at dusk, Branson celebrates keeping Christ in Christmas. The Adoration Parade, 69 years running, exclusively honors the story of Jesus’ birth, with no other person or organization promoted. www.explorebranson.com [ CHRISTMAS CAPITAL OF TEXAS ] GRAPEVINE, TEXAS As the Christmas Capital of Texas, Grapevine goes big with millions of lights and more than 1,400 Christmas events in 40 days. The town’s popular resorts — Great Wolf Lodge and Gaylord Texan Resort — transform themselves into winter wonderlands as well.

Historic downtown is the hub of activities and shopping. “It’s a beautiful, historic Texas town blanketed in lights and decor and Christmas trees,” said Leigh Lyons, director of communications for the Grapevine Convention and Visitor Bureau. “Every corner along Main Street is a photo opportunity.”

On November 20, the mayor flips the switch on Grapevine’s 30-foot tree to live music and fireworks, and Santa Claus finally shows up December 7 on the final float in the Parade of Lights down Main Street.

This year, Grapevine hosts the “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” exhibit, on loan from the Charles M. Schulz Museum to one lucky town each year. It’s free and will be open November 1 through December 31 in the Grapevine Clock Tower Gallery on South Main Street.

Also on the southern end of Main Street is the platform for Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s North Pole Express, which ferries families to visit Santa at the North Pole.

Great Wolf Lodge, a giant rustic-themed resort and indoor water park, transforms into Snowland starting November 25, with daily snowfalls in the lobby while temperatures inside the adjacent water park remain a comfortable 84 degrees.

The “Ice!” exhibit hall at the Gaylord Texan Resort is kept at a chilly nine degrees to preserve the 2 million pounds of ice carved into beautiful sculptures by a team of 40 artists from China. Groups can also slide down five two-story ice slides. Gaylord events will run November 10 to January 1, 2018. www.grapevinetexasusa.com

Grapevine’s Polar Express

Courtesy Grapevine CVB

[ GRAND ILLUMINATION ] WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA When it comes to Christmas nostalgia, Williamsburg has a far-reaching memory. The historic area known as Colonial Williamsburg will re-create Christmas in the 18th century, albeit more extravagantly.

“It is a truly magical feeling to be in a place so rich with history and experience the holidays surrounded by the simplistic beauty of old-fashioned decorations, music, taverns and shops,” said Kayla Kearse public relations representative for the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance.

Williamsburg will signal the start of the holidays just as it would have celebrated in 1770: with the firing of guns and the lighting of fireworks from three different locations. This year’s Grand Illumination will be held December 3. The celebration will include musical performances on multiple stages, and the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra will put on a Holiday Pops concert four times during Grand Illumination Weekend in the Kimball Theater.

Groups can also enjoy several modern Christmas traditions. The outdoor Liberty Ice Pavilion will be open mid-November through February 2018. The rink will be surrounded by lights and Christmas trees, and skaters will have a nice view of Merchants Square, the Colonial shopping district.

Another popular shopping stop is the Yankee Candle Village. Groups can make their own customized candles; tour the ornaments room, where it snows every five minutes; and try the gourmet popcorn and fudge.

Busch Gardens Christmas Town, which will be open select days November 24 to January 1, 2018, will be decked out in 8 million lights and will host several live holiday shows. The park will also open rides that give groups a full view of the extravagantly decorated grounds. www.visitwilliamsburg.com [ RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR ] NEW YORK The Radio City Rockettes are part of the magic of Christmas in New York City, and crowds have marveled at their intricate dance routines for nearly a century. The “Christmas Spectacular” promises nostalgic old favorites as well as newer routines, stunning costumes and an unforgettable LED light show.

This year’s production runs November 10 to January 1, 2018.

“For people who make it a tradition to come every single year, they like classic numbers like ‘Parade of the Wooden Soldiers’ and the ‘Living Nativity’ which have been in the show since 1933,” said Rockette Hannah Sides.

“Those have been people’s favorites throughout time, and it’s nice for the Rockettes to honor that tradition; and alongside that tradition, we sprinkle in some new things, and it’s a great combination.” going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 23

Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg

Courtesy Colonial Williamsburg

“Parade of the wooden soldiers” at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Courtesy MSG Photos

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going on faith [ fall 2017 ]

Biltmore Estate

Dance numbers in a wide range of styles include tap, jazz and lyrical ballet.

In “Snow,” a recently introduced routine, each Rockette represents a unique snowflake, and dancers increasingly appear on stage until the whole hall is filled with dancing snow. “As an audience member, you feel like you’re inside a snow globe inside Radio City,” Sides said.

The audience is also drawn into the performance through LED lighting.

Radio City Music Hall houses the country’s largest indoor LED screen, and this year, new equipment will project Bethlehem’s starry night sky in the “Living Nativity” and Santa’s whimsical workshop in the North Pole onto Radio City’s proscenium arches and iconic ceiling.

Groups attending the show can add a tour of Radio City Music Hall, where they can discover Art Deco masterpieces, learn the secrets of the theater and meet a Rockette. They can also opt for the VIP Elite experience, which includes a premium ticket to the show, a preshow reception, a private entrance into Radio City Music Hall, a personal Christmas concierge to escort the group and a photo opportunity with Santa and two of the Rockettes. www.rockettes.com [ BILTMORE ESTATE ] ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Already one of the most impressive historic estates in the world, the Biltmore will hold nothing back during Candlelight Christmas Evenings, November 3 to January 6, 2018. The front lawn will glow with hundreds of hand-lit luminaries and twinkling lights on a towering Norway spruce.

Inside will be a decorator’s dream, with wreaths, bows, garlands and thousands of ornaments on more than 55 Christmas trees. Each night, live Christmas music will echo throughout the grand rooms. This year’s theme, “A Vanderbilt Christmas,” will hearken back to the elegance of the Gilded Age, with decorations in gold, platinum, silver and shades of blue, burgundy, ruby red and other jewel tones.

“Our inspiration comes from the elegant dinner and Christmas party held by George Vanderbilt for family and friends in 1895,” said Mallory Flynn, public relations coordinator at the Biltmore. “With the fireplaces lit up, lights everywhere, and a massive tree inside the house, it’s just so Courtesy Biltmore Estate incredible.”

The 35-foot Fraser fir will go up in the Banquet Hall November 1, and groups are welcome to attend the ceremony. Santa will deliver the tree via horse-and-buggy to the front door around 10 a.m., and nearly 50 workers will maneuver the tree inside.

The self-guided Candlelight visit also includes daytime admission to the estate grounds. Groups can enjoy colorful holiday blooms in the conservatory and special menus in the estate winery and restaurants.

In addition to the regular tour, groups organizers can contact group sales ahead of time to create customized activities. The wide range of possibilities includes floral workshops, touring the gardens with estate horticulture and history experts, and specialty lectures based on a group’s interests. During the holidays, groups especially enjoy meeting the designers responsible for the lavish decorations. www.biltmore.com

R I V E R F RO N T

ICONS

T H ESE D E S T I N AT I O N S M A K E THE M OST OF THE WATERS RUNNING THROUGH THE M B Y SAV AN N AH OS BOU RN Public artwork adorns the Albany riverfront at Empire State Plaza.

A Lewis and Clark re-enactment in St. Charles

Courtesy Greater St. Charles

SkyRide over the Spokane River

Courtesy Visit Spokane

A

Courtesy Albany Co. CVB

world of color awaits travelers in riverfront cities, from river cruises to waterfront festivals and rich local cuisine.

Groups can take advantage of these diverse offerings and more at the following five destinations. [ ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI ] Founded during the late 1700s by French Canadian fur traders as Les Petites Côtes, or “The Little Hills,” St. Charles, Missouri, is characterized by historic architecture, charming boutiques and a variety of local restaurants. In downtown, visitors can stroll down the same cobblestone streets that Lewis and Clark would have seen over 200 years ago when they stopped in St. Charles just before their famous expedition to the West Coast.

Groups will find a wide selection of dining options in St. Charles, from chic farm-to-table venues like Prasino to elegant, homestyle settings like the Mother-in-Law House restaurant on historic Main Street. One of the most notable landmarks is the First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site, housed above the old going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 25

Celebration Belle

Peck Brothers Dry Goods and Hardware store. The Foundry Art Centre, inside a former train factory from the 1920s, hosts special exhibitions and is home to 20 art studios and a Grand Hall for community events.

Travelers can take a walking or driving tour of the historic district to learn more about these unique sites. Motorcoach groups can contact the local convention and visitors bureau about booking a step-on guide. In the Frenchtown district, just a block from Main Street, many religious travelers make pilgrimages to the Shrine of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, which was named in recognition of the French missionary who, in 1818, founded the adjacent school, the Academy of the Sacred Heart, as the first free school west of the Mississippi River.

Katy Trail State Park is a popular destination for cyclists and hikers. The 237mile trail follows the path of the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, passing four fully restored railroad depots along the scenic route. Every year during the third weekend in August, the city hosts the three-day Festival of the Little Hills, drawing more than 200 craft vendors and food booths to the heart of downtown. www.discoverstcharles.com [ QUAD CITIES ] As the largest metropolitan area between St. Louis and Indianapolis, the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area encompasses five principal cities on the Mississippi River: Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in Illinois. Thanks to interstates 80 and 74, as well as other adjoining highways, visitors can reach almost every corner of the urban hub within 20 minutes.

“If you’re doing a driving trip, it’s very easy and accessible to get to,” said Jessica Waytenick, public relations and marketing manager at the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For an introduction to the local highlights, many groups enjoy taking a leisurely river cruise aboard the 750-passenger paddle-wheel vessel the Celebration Belle, which docks in Moline. The Celebration Belle offers narrated sightseeing cruises, dinner and dance cruises, and themed cruises throughout the week.

Passengers can lounge in the climate-controlled portions of the boat or visit the top deck to relish the surrounding scenery.

In Davenport, groups can take a free tour of the art studio founded by the late sculptor Isabel Bloom. Early in her career, Bloom studied under the celebrated painter Grant Wood and, later, developed an original sculpting style that involved concrete castings of whimsical mermaids, children and animals. During the 75-minute tour, visitors get the chance to learn about her unusual artistic process and even purchase select sculptures available only to tour groups.

In August, the Bix Beiderbecke Museum opened in Davenport, paying homage to another local legend. The museum commemorates Beiderbecke’s contributions to the world of jazz as an influential jazz cornetist, pianist and composer during the 1920s. Every fall, the Quad Cities hosts the four-day Bix Jazz Festival, which features about 20 regional and local jazz artists.

The Quad Cities is also home to the John Deere Headquarters, and groups can visit John Deere Pavilion to learn about the company’s wide range of products, from tractors to dump trucks and seeding equipment.

“Even if you don’t think you’re interested in tractors, many people are surprised by how fascinating it is to see these massive machines up close,” said Waytenick. www.visitquadcities.com

Famous butter biscuits in Natchez

Courtesy Quad Cities CVB

Courtesy Visit Natchez

Park in New York City. With the Spokane River intersecting the park, groups can take advantage of water activities such as rafting or paddleboarding. Visitors can lean against the railings of pedestrian bridges to feel the spray of Spokane Falls, which is the second-largest urban waterfall in the country. In addition, the park features the 40-mile paved Centennial Trail for walkers and cyclists, the historic Great Northern Clock Tower and the hand-carved 1909 Looff Carousel.

Within eight blocks of the river and convention center, groups can take their pick of more than 80 restaurants, many of them independently owned.

“You really get a true feel for the character of the locals from the quality of the cuisine because it’s locally sourced and made by very creative chefs,” said Sonja Haddad, director of national accounts at Visit Spokane.

On West Maine Avenue, visitors will find a unique strip of restaurants that cater to vegetarians and that focus on fresh ingredients and fair-trade practices. Boots Bakery and Lounge serves gluten-free baked goods and organic coffee, and the Saranac Public House features local favorites like vegan mac-and-cheese and black bean burgers. For a more in-depth foodie experience, groups can follow the Spokane Food Tour to over a dozen bistros, bakeries and charcuteries in town as they learn about local history and architecture.

“It’s such a neat way to interact with the local business owners and see how friendly they are,” said Haddad.

A few of these stops are Bruttles Gourmet Candies, Santé Restaurant and Charcuterie, and Soulful Soups. www.visitspokane.com [ NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI ] Overlooking the Mississippi River from lush, forested terrain, Natchez, Mississippi, attracted early French settlers during the 1700s and eventually became the commercial and cultural capital of the Old South.

“For a small town, we have a lot going on,” said Jennifer Combs, executive director of the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission and Visit Natchez.

Spokane’s Riverfront Park

[ SPOKANE, WASHINGTON ] Based near the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains, the city of Spokane offers beautiful natural escapes, a thriving culinary arts scene and convenient walkability throughout its downtown area. The centerpiece of the city is the 100-acre Riverfront Park, designed by the same landscape architects who designed Central 26

going on faith [ fall 2017 ] Courtesy Visit Spokane

Drawing from over 300 years of history, Natchez is home to hundreds of historic sites like antebellum mansions, Indian ceremonial mounds and more than 240 churches, from beautiful Catholic basilicas to towering white Presbyterian edifices.

“The best music you’ll hear on a Sunday is at Holy Family Catholic Church,” said Combs, referring to a 123-year-old Gothic Revival church that once hosted the first African-American congregation in Mississippi.

Groups can visit many of these stunning structures during a local sightseeing tour. Miss Lou Heritage Tours draws attention to the history of Natchez’s African-American community, taking guests to sites like the Forks of the Road slave market and the Rhythm Night Club Memorial Museum, which commemorates a local dance hall where 209 AfricanAmerican people died in a tragic fire in 1940.

For a taste of regional cuisine, visitors can stop by local eateries such as Biscuits and Blues, Rolling River Bistro and King’s Tavern. One of the area’s major attractions is the Natchez City Cemetery. Every year in November, the city hosts an extraordinary event called Angels on the Bluff, during which actors dress in period clothing and act out the colorful stories of various individuals buried in the cemetery. Guests are shuttled to the cemetery by bus, where they can explore the grounds with flashlights and watch the fascinating narratives unfold. www.visitnatchez.org [ ALBANY, NEW YORK ] Initially established as a trading post in 1609, the New York capital of Albany is the oldest continuously chartered city in the country and carries a rich heritage from the Dutch, British, German, Polish and Italian colonists who first settled the region. Today, the city offers a colorful range of ethnic restaurants and cultural festivals. Albany’s signature Tulip Festival kicks off with the Dutch custom of street scrubbing, during which local Boy Scouts and other community members don traditional Dutch costumes and clean the streets to prepare for the festivities.

Along the historic and scenic Hudson River, groups can take advantage of numerous waterfront attractions. Dutch Apple Cruises offers narrated boat rides that highlight fun facts about the namesake of the river, Henry Hudson, as well as native wildlife like bald eagles. Groups can board and tour a historic warship called the USS Slater, which is the last floating destroyer escort. The vessel has been beautifully restored to its original appearance; artifacts from the crew, such as old maps and photographs of the captain’s wife and child in his cabin, are on display.

“It really is like stepping back in time,” said Molly Belmont, director of marketing at the Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It looks as if the crew just stepped away for a few minutes and you’re walking through this 1944 warship.”

In the Empire State Plaza, groups can take a free tour of the New York State Capitol, which some people consider the most beautiful state capitol in the country. Visitors can also stop by the New York State Museum on the opposite side of the plaza, which is the nation’s largest and oldest state museum. Nearby, the Egg, a prestigious performing arts venue, hosts evening entertainment such as live concerts, comedy shows, film series and dance performances.

Starting in spring 2018, Albany will offer a food tour called Taste of Albany that will give groups the opportunity to sample delicious culinary creations from over 30 regional chefs www.albany.org

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 27

KENTUCKY FAM

FAM PARTICIPANTS POSE IN FRONT OF THE ARK ENCOUNTER, KENTUCKY’S NEWEST AND LARGEST FAITH-BASED ATTRACTION.

I really enjoyed touring the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter.

I’ve toured Israel twice so I’m always looking for biblical experiences that can bring the Bible to life and both the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter did an excellent job!”

— ROBIN WARE THE WARE AGENCY 28

going on faith [ fall 2017 ]

ON SITE IN KENTUCKY FAITH TR AV E L LE A D E RS DIS COV E R M O N U M E NTA L R E LI G IO US ATTR AC TIO NS I N TH E B LU EG R ASS STATE

BY B R I A N J E W E L L

THANKS TO AN ATTRACTION OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS, a deep religious heritage and a tradition of hospitality, Kentucky has surged to become the leading faith-based travel destination in the country.

That’s what 14 tour operators, travel agents and other readers of Going On Faith magazine discovered during a four-day familiarization tour throughout the state in June. Hosted by the Kentucky Department of Tourism, this tour visited Newport and northern Kentucky, as well as historic sites in the central Bluegrass region and charming Bardstown.

During their stay, guests experienced the Ark Encounter, the new faith-based attraction that has brought international attention to the state, as well as other iconic sites. Along the way, they met some of the tourism professionals who make sure groups feel at home in Kentucky.

Follow along on this itinerary to enjoy the best of Kentucky’s faith-based attractions and other signature activities.

Day All photos by Brian Jewell

1

• ARRIVAL IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY • NEWPORT AQUARIUM • BELLE OF CINCINNATI DIXIELAND JAZZ DINNER CRUISE

Guests traveled from throughout the United States to Newport, a city that sits in the northernmost tip of Kentucky, directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. After settling in at the new, hip Aloft Newport on the Levee hotel, group members met to walk through the Newport on the Levee entertainment district to the Newport Aquarium. From the aquarium, the group proceeded to Newport Landing and boarded the Belle of Cincinnati.

NEWPORT AQUARIUM The Newport Aquarium is the anchor attraction at Newport on the Levee. The FAM group got a guided tour of the 100,000-square-foot riverfront aquarium, which going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 29

NEWPORT AQUARIUM

features underwater tunnels that give up-close looks at sharks, stingrays, beautiful exotic fish and other creatures. Highlights of the experience included the new Shark Ray Bay theater, a touch tank at Stingray Bay Hideaway and an adventurous walk across the Shark Bridge suspended above the top of a giant shark tank.

BELLE OF CINCINNATI The Belle of Cincinnati is a beautiful three-deck paddle-wheel boat that cruises the Ohio River from the Newport Landing. Operated

by BB Riverboats, it is one of three vessels in the company’s fleet and offers sightseeing cruises as well as lunch and dinner sailings. The group enjoyed the Dixieland Jazz Dinner Cruise, which featured excellent live music, great food and beautiful sunset views of the Cincinnati and Newport skylines.

Day

The Creation Museum was an awesome experience, much more than I had imagined it to be. The fact that it actually brought the Bible to life was so unexpected.”

— ANNE BROWN REGAL COACH LINES

LEFT: CREATION MUSEUM

SHARK RAY BAY THEATER AT NEWPORT AQUARIUM

2

• • • •

CREATION MUSEUM ARK ENCOUNTER AND LUNCH DEPART FOR HARRODSBURG DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT SHAKER VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HILL

Participants woke up excited for the second day of the trip, which was set to feature some of the most high-profile faith-based attractions in the state. The group left Newport for Petersburg, a northern Kentucky town, where they toured the Creation Museum.

From there, the group took the short trip to Williamstown, also in northern Kentucky and home to the Ark Encounter. They enjoyed a buffet lunch in the on-site restaurant, then spent the balance of the afternoon exploring the ark’s exhibits and expansive gift shop.

After leaving the Ark Encounter, the group proceeded south through Lexington to Harrodsburg and Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, where they enjoyed dinner at the Trustees’ Table restaurant, an evening marshmallow roast and overnight accommodations in some of the historic structures on the property.

CREATION MUSEUM The 60,000-square-foot Creation Museum offers visitors a comprehensive look at the Bible’s account of the beginnings of the universe.

The group explored galleries that deal with the importance of Scripture in modern life, as well as scientific evidence supporting the Genesis account of Creation. Along the way, they saw life-size dinosaur statues, animatronics, a planetarium, a special-effects theater and beautiful outdoor botanical gardens.

ARK ENCOUNTER The entire afternoon was dedicated to the Ark Encounter, the newest and largest faith-based attraction in the state. This massive structure is built to the scale of Noah’s Ark as described in the Bible — 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high — and made headlines when it opened in 2016. Officials estimate more than 1 million visitors

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going on faith [ fall 2017 ]

have come in its first year of operation. It is the largest timber-frame building in the world. The group explored all the decks of the exhibit, which includes interesting dioramas depicting the way Noah’s family lived aboard the ark and how they stored and cared for the thousands of animals on board with them.

Day

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PHOTOGRAPHING THE ARK ENCOUNTER

• GUIDED TOUR AND MUSIC PERFORMANCE AT SHAKER VILLAGE • LUNCH AT KENTUCKY FUDGE COMPANY • DEPART FOR BARDSTOWN • SHOPPING DOWNTOWN IN BARDSTOWN • CIVIL WAR MUSEUM OF THE WESTERN THEATER • HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES BOURBON HERITAGE CENTER • MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME STATE PARK • DINNER AT KURTZ RESTAURANT • “THE STEPHEN FOSTER STORY” • OVERNIGHT IN BARDSTOWN

AN ARK ENCOUNTER EXHIBIT

After enjoying the overnight guest rooms at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, FAM participants learned the story of the settlement and the Shakers who lived there during a guided tour of the 3,000acre site.

Stopping for lunch at the Kentucky Fudge Company in downtown Harrodsburg, the group then proceeded west to H a l l o f Fa m e & Mu s e u m Bardstown, a charming Kentucky town roughly 40 miles south of Louisville. Participants had a choice of activities upon arrival, including shopping downtown, a visit to a Civil War museum, and a tour and tasting at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center.

The rest of the day focused on Bardstown’s claim to fame.

The group spent time touring • One of a kind museum highlights Creation My Old Kentucky Home State Kentuckians in the music industry Museum Park. Then, after a delicious din• Interactive Exhibits ner of traditional Kentucky fare • 93.5 miles from the Ark Encounter Ark Encounter at Kurtz Restaurant, the group • 136.4 miles from the Creation Museum attended a performance of “The • Group Rates Available Stephen Foster Story,” one of the • Motor Coach Friendly KY Music longest-running outdoor dramas Hall of Fame • Tour takes approximately 1.5 hours in the country.

Kentucky Music

Exit 62 Renfro Valley, KY

606-256-1000

www.kentuckymusichalloffame.com

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 31

SHAKER VILLAGE After a delicious breakfast in the on-site restaurant, the group got a full introduction to Shaker Village. The tour included an overview of the Shakers, a 19th- and 20th-century Christian sect that built the village and operated a celibate commune there. Visitors saw some of the dozens of Shaker buildings remaining on the property and enjoyed the beautiful surrounding pastoral landscape. The experience ended with a rousing Shaker musical performance by an interpreter in the historic house of worship.

GARDENS AT THE CREATION MUSEUM

EXPLORING BARDSTOWN Founded in 1780, Bardstown is the second-oldest city in Kentucky and has history and small-town charm to rival any other destination in the country. Group members had three options for exploring Bardstown during the early afternoon. Some spent their time shopping downtown, where there are dozens of locally owned boutiques and more than 300 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

Others visited the Civil War Museum of the Western Theater, one of the most significant Civil War museums in the country. The rest took some time to learn about the area’s long history in bourbon distilling with a visit to the Bourbon Heritage Center at Heaven Hill Distillery.

This is among the best bourbon museums in the country, and the visit featured a private tasting that introduced them to the wide variety of bourbons made in the area.

THE ARK ENCOUNTER

Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral

Deep In the heart of bourbon country lies a religious retreat unlike any other.

In Kentucky’s second-oldest city, you can take the Kentucky Holy Land Tour, purchase goods from local Trappist monks, or walk on the hallowed grounds of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. Stand amazed in Bardstown, KY – the small town with big escapes.

www.visitbardstown.com | 800.638.4877 32

going on faith [ fall 2017 ]

MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME STATE PARK The group reunited later in the afternoon for a tour of My Old Kentucky Home State Park. The park preserves Federal Hill, the mansion and estate said to be the inspiration for composer Stephen Foster’s classic “My Old Kentucky Home,” the official state anthem of Kentucky. Costumed interpreters guided the group through the house, telling the story of the family’s life there and the time Foster spent at the estate before serenading them with the famous tune.

‘THE STEPHEN FOSTER STORY’ The group returned to My Old Kentucky Home State Park for an evening performance of “The Stephen Foster Story,” a Broadwaystyle outdoor musical that tells the story of Foster’s pioneering life as America’s first professional music composer. The show features daz-

zling costumes, high-energy dancing and several of Foster’s most famous songs, including “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer” and “My Old Kentucky Home.”

Day

• ABBEY OF GETHSEMANI

• BASILICA OF ST. JOSEPH PROTO-CATHEDRAL

• LUNCH AT TALBOTT TAVERN

• DEPART FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND RETURN HOME

In addition to its history and culture, Bardstown enjoys a deep religious heritage, and the group spent the final morning of the tour seeing Catholic sites in and around the city. They began at the Abbey of Gethsemani, a monastery founded in 1848. Next, the group visited the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral. When it was built from 1816 to 1819, this was the first Catholic cathedral west of the Allegheny mountains.

Before leaving Bardstown, the group stopped for a farewell lunch at Talbott Tavern, an iconic, historic restaurant on the town square.

Then everyone boarded the motorcoach for the two-hour drive back to northern Kentucky, where they bid goodbye to their new friends and began making plans to return to the Bluegrass State.

ABBEY OF GETHSEMANI The quiet morning air was a perfect welcome at the Abbey of Gethsemani, a historic monastery that is still home to dozens of Trappist monks. The group visited the chapel, the visitor center and the gift shop and learned about the history of the order and the lifestyle practiced by the brothers who live and work at the large site.

A HISTORIC BUILDING AT SHAKER VILLAGE

TOURING SHAKER VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HILL

avor ...

KENTUCKY

S

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THE SIGHTS & SOUNDS OF GEORGETOWN.

MALL TOWN CHARM. PURE SMALL

SCOTT COUNTY

We already have tours into Kentucky, but we will be adding more do to the excitement for the Ark Encounter.”

— JEANNE BURKE VILLAGE TOURS

INTERSTATE

64

INTERSTATE

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going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 33

BASILICA OF ST. JOSEPH PROTO-CATHEDRAL The final faith-based stop on the itinerary was the Basilica of St. Joseph. This historic church is a Bardstown landmark and once served as the Catholic Church’s headquarters for the entire western United States. Visitors saw valuable artifacts, learned about the cathedral’s history and discovered Bardstown’s role in the expansion of Catholicism on the American frontier.

MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME STATE PARK

BASILICA OF ST. JOSEPH

KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM WAY N E C US I CK 502-892-321 5 WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of The Group Travel Leader, call Kelly Tyner at 888.253.0455.

BOURBON HERITAGE CENTER

.

Make Ashland the Heart Of Your KY Spiritual Adventure Compliment Kentucky’s growing line-up of faith-based tourism attractions with Ashland’s authentic small town faith legacy.

•

Music Heritage

•

On the Country Music Highway Weekly Gospel & Christian Music Concerts •

Entertainment

EXPERIENCE ~

•

The Paramount Arts Center Highlands Museum & Discovery Center •

Ashland’s Historic Tour

•

Historic Churches & Floodwall Mural •

Inspirational Places

•

Riverfront Park & Central Park Convenient for tour groups right off I-64 in the Tri-state area.

VisitAshlandKy.com 800.377.6249

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Old For Harrod State Park

A Landmark Destination — The Historic Centre, The Farm & The Preserve

Costumed artisans, seasonal outdoor theatre, fort, museum & gift shop

• Beaumont Inn—Classic KY Cuisine • Award-winning Downtown with Unique Dining • Year-round arts, cultural & music events • Olde Towne Distillery & Lemons Mill Brewery www.HarrodsburgKY.com • 800-355-9192

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going on faith [ fall 2017 ]

I especially enjoyed Bardstown and learning how much this small area had to offer my groups. I also loved Shaker Village and my religious groups will really enjoy a faith-based tour there.”

— BONNIE PRATT YMCA OF SOUTHEASTERN INDIANA

Kentucky offers dozens of attractions. From a life-size Noah’s Ark to Shaker Village, you’ll find something for everyone. For sample itineraries and travel tips, visit kentuckytourism.com/faith.

The Ark Encounter

Making plans for your group?

Try some of ours.

Shaker Village

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption

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