Going On Faith Fall 2022

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) 2530503. Copyright THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in a ny manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

Bryce Wilson Named Advertising Account Manager

Bryce Wilson is the new advertising account manager for The Group Travel Leader Inc and will be work ing in the Lexington, Kentucky, office with Kyle Anderson, director of sales and marketing for the company. Bryce is a 2021 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, where he played football; was a volunteer with Shriner’s Hospital and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes; and earned a degree in international business.

“Bryce comes to us with a strong background in sales for someone who is a recent graduate,” said publisher Mac Lacy. “His outgoing personality and ambition were precisely what we were looking for in this position.”

A native of Lexington, Wilson will work with Anderson to serve advertising clients for all the brands of the company, including The Group Travel Leader, Select Traveler and Going On Faith, as well as on projects for outside organizations.

To contact Wilson about advertising, call 859-334-1708 or email him at bryce@grouptravelleader.com.

EDITOR’S

NOTES

BRIAN JEWELL

WHY CHURCH TRAVEL MATTERS

“R

emind me again why we’re doing this?”

When you’ve been working at something for a while, it can be easy to lose sight of the underlying motivations that make it important. And when circumstances make that work more challeng ing than normal, you might find yourself stop ping to ask if it’s all really worth the effort.

I imagine many church travel planners have had thoughts like this. Coordinating and leading group travel is a big job in the best of times. Under particularly difficult circumstances, like those we’ve all lived with since 2020, it can feel overwhelming.

In moments like that, I find it helpful to pause for a moment and remind myself why the thing I’m doing matters. If you have found yourself questioning the value of your church’s travel program, reminding yourself of the importance of church group travel might give you the boost of motivation you need.

At Going On Faith, we believe travel can be an indispensable part of a church’s mission. Here are four key reasons why trav el is so important for your organization.

1) It creates community.

Group travel offerings create opportu nities for people in your church to come together to do something exciting. The trips you plan are likely to attract interest from people who may not socialize together or attend the same Sunday school classes. They may even attract people who wouldn’t attend a small group meeting or Bible study at all. Travel can be an incredible gateway to bring people into your faith family and give them a chance to make new friends.

2) It strengthens relationships.

Not only is travel a great way of welcom

BRIAN JEWELL EDITOR

ing people into relationships at your church, but it’s also an excellent vehicle for strength ening relationships that already exist. Many people in your church see each other for an hour or two once or twice a week, which is great. But when you take a trip together, those people will be with each other for 16 hours a day. Time spent together eating, exploring and sharing compelling experiences can accelerate relationship growth and take friends to new level of trust and vulnerability.

3) It inspires engagement.

When people find community and begin to build strong relationships within the context of a church, they are much more likely to engage with the organization in other ways. They don’t just have an intellec tual understanding of the church’s mission — they have experienced it firsthand, and they begin to own the vision. People who travel with you can become some of your best candidates for volunteer and leadership roles. And you may find that they start bring ing friends from the outside to visit and attend church events.

4) It deepens faith.

At the end of the day, the most important part of your church’s mission is to help people find and grow in their faith. And though group trips don’t seem to carry the same spiritual weight as compelling sermons or indepth Bible studies, they can play integral roles in people’s faith journeys. Trips to the Holy Land or other destinations important to your faith tradition can help bring the scrip ture to life and give people a richer under standing of its meaning. But even if you never travel outside the United States, faith-based attractions around the country can deliver meaningful experiences that help move peo ple forward in their spiritual lives.

Chandler: Desert City with a Distinct Local Spirit

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

Pull out a map of Phoenix and there, on the big city’s southeast edge sits Chandler, Arizona. Far more than a suburb, Chandler is a city in its own right, the fourth largest in Arizona. With a population nearing 300,000, Chandler has friendly locals and plenty to do. It’s a place where faith-based groups find much to like.

Entrepreneurial spirit lives

Founded in 1912 and only 30 years younger than Phoenix, Chandler was the brainchild of Dr. Alexander J. Chandler, and his entrepreneurial spirit is rooted in the desert city that bears his name. Chandler today is blessed with start-ups, small local businesses and energetic entrepreneurial types who welcome visitors.

“Chandler is a very personable community,” says Kimberly Janes, tourism program manager for Visit Chandler, who’s lived there nearly 20 years. “You get to know folks and part of that goes back to that entrepreneurial spirit. Have you ever met an entre preneur? They’re always happy to keep talking about what they love.”

The downtown Dr. Chandler designed in the early 1900s is well preserved, its historic buildings filled with some 40 local restaurants and shops. Palm trees and trellises shade sidewalks as murals and more than 60 pieces of public art add color and creativity. Tour groups and conference attendees love to be turned loose to dine

CHANDLER’S LAIDBACK, PLAYFUL ATMOSPHERE MAKES IT A FUN STAY FOR EVERYONE. photos

MORE THAN 60 PIECES OF PUBLIC ART ADD COLOR AND CREATIVITY TO CHANDLER’S STREETS

at restaurants that cover most of the food bases: Thai, Mexican, sushi, ramen, Italian, American steak and burgers, Irish and BBQ, to name a few. Music is also an attraction. “About 14 venues have music; every night there is live music in downtown Chandler,” said Janes.

Plenty of meeting places

Dr. Chandler also had a hand in building downtown’s historic Crowne Plaza Phoenix Chandler Golf Resort. Its location, 249 guest rooms and 32,000 square feet of meeting space make it a natural for meetings. Next to the resort, the San Marcos Golf Course reminds of Dr. Chandler’s biggest innovation – he figured out how to make grass grow in the desert and thus created the state’s first grass golf course.

The Crowne Plaza was the city’s first gathering place, but it is not its only one. Of 3,900 total hotel rooms in Chandler, 2,500 have been added in the last 20 years. One of its newest properties is the Marriott Phoenix Chandler, a four-star, 264-room hotel with Sonoran desert views that opened in 2019. Its 28,000 square feet of meeting space is all on the main level, making for easy navigation. Other conference hotels include the 192room Hilton Phoenix Chandler with 16,000 square feet of meeting space and the 106-room Holiday Inn Phoenix Chandler, with 2,000 square feet of meeting space. Select-service properties are plentiful, including several adjacent to the city’s popular Chandler Fashion Center mall.

Sweet spot: Groups of 100 to 150

Chandler sees its share of faith-based conferences and retreats. “I’d say our sweet spot is groups of 100 to 150,” said Janes. Faith-based group tours often use Chandler as a home base for itineraries that have a Phoenix focus. The area is a short drive from attractions such as the Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Zoo or, in the spring, baseball’s Cactus League spring training. For those arriving by air, Chandler is 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. bring the family along has found that many faith-based bring along, and laidback, atmosphere makes it a fun stay for everyone.

THE CROWNE PLAZA PHOENIX CHANDLER GOLF RESORT

ENJOYING A SCENIC BIKE RIDE IN CHANDLER

A GROUP ENJOYS LUNCH AT SANTAN BREWING, OF CHANDLER’S

ENJOYING ROUND GOLF

In summer months, when temperatures are high and room rates are low, indoor entertainment centers like Big Air Trampoline Park are cool retreats. A bevy of bowling alleys also provide team building and family fun, including its new boutique alley, 810 Billiards and Bowling. Another good escape? Escape Chandler, recognized as one of the West’s top five escape rooms.

Chandler is also home to the Crayola Experience, one of five centers of colorful fun from the maker of America’s favorite crayon. Group outings and discounts are easy to arrange; kids can spend hours dashing among 20 hands-on Crayola-themed projects.

The Crayola Experience is located at the Chandler Fashion Center with its 200 stores and restaurants. In the fall 2023, the center will add to its offerings with the opening of Arizona’s first Scheels. The North Dakota-based retailer sells sports equipment, outdoor goods, clothing and home décor, but it’s also famous for features like the gigantic saltwater aquarium stocked with 600 fish that will entertain shoppers at the Chandler location.

For other indoor options, history and art buffs can enjoy the Chandler Museum or the Eddie Basha Collection and its 3,000 pieces of Western American and American Indian art.

Given its desert location, Chandler is also a natural for hikes and horseback rides. And, like any desert locale, it has its share of oases, including the 100-acre Veterans Oasis Park, 100 acres of wetlands and desert laced with hiking and biking trails. Birders, picnickers and fishermen flock there; sunset is celebrated with a concert series from October through March. Public pools are also a cool option and many are so elaborate they seem like mini water parks.

Local restaurants loaded with stories

With a wealth of local restaurants, it’s easy to find great food and see the restaurateurs passion for their community. The Hidden House, a remade 1930s cottage with three dining areas including a lush patio, makes meals feel like a celebration. The Perch is a restaurant and bar with a mission. Diners there can meet more than a dozen exotic birds the owner has rescued. And speaking of fowl, there’s also the Ostrich, a subterranean speakeasy named for one of Dr. Chandler’s unsuccessful ventures, raising ostriches for their feathers.

Family-run and a family favorite, Serrano’s is one of Chandler’s oldest businesses. Known for its delicious bean dip and a roomy banquet space, it’s a perfect place to celebrate Chandler’s entre preneurial spirit. And, as Janes reminds, “Everyone loves to have Mexican food when they are out here.”

SAHARA CAMELS

THE EDDIE BASHA COLLECTION INCLUDES 3,000 PIECES OF WESTERN AMERICAN AND AMERICAN INDIAN ART.

THE PATIO AT CHANDLER’S HIDDEN HOUSE

KIDS CAN SPEND HOURS DASHING AMONG 20 HANDS-ON CRAYOLA-THEMED PROJECTS THE CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE.

FAITH TRAVEL of

‘Be Authentic, Be Yourself’

SAUNDRA BRIGGS-ROBERTSON

BY REBECCA TREON LOUISVILLE TOURISM

Saundra Briggs-Robertson, the senior tourism sales manager at Louisville Tourism, always knew she wanted to be in a role where she would be helping people. She just didn’t start out knowing how. She initially went to college to study nursing, but it wasn’t what she’d hoped.

COMPANY: Louisville Tourism

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” — Philippians 4:13

HOMETOWN: Louisville, Kentucky

FAVORITE DESTINATION:

“My newest favorite destination is San Francisco. My son lives there. The weather is great; there are many things to do, like visiting museums; the piers have a variety of activities, shopping and restau rants, and of course, the beach! And it helps that it’s so close to Sonoma and Napa Valley, which are a short drive away, to go winetasting or take a day trip.

HOBBIES:

Briggs-Robertson enjoys going shopping, traveling (especially to visit her son in the Bay Area), online vending and binge watching a new Netflix series with her husband.

“I didn’t finish, with just a few months to go, because once we got into the clinical part of it, I realized it just wasn’t for me and I couldn’t do it,” said BriggsRobertson. “I took a job as an office manager, worked as a test proctor; I had many different jobs, really, but I’ve always kept my eyes set on personal development. I got a job at the Hyatt Regency in their sales department, and then a friend of mine told me about a position at Louisville Tourism that she thought I should apply for. I got the job in 2007, started at the bureau and quickly got the hospitality bug.”

If the phase of her life between nursing school and tourism bureau made her feel unsure about the future, her faith was her rock. Briggs-Robertson grew up attending the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where she was active in the choir.

“That’s where I learned a lot of my morals and values,” Briggs-Robertson said.

TRAVEL TIPS

TIP 1

Plan some activities but do not overdo it — schedule some downtime into your trip.

TIP 2

Make sure to check out the weather — it’s an easy detail to overlook, but it will affect everything you do.

TIP 3

Start packing at least five days before your trip — it will help you be organized.

“God has been a part of everything that I do every day. Especially in dealing with my customers, I lean on it — making sure that I take care of them, and my faith has made me want to make sure that I do what I say I’m going to do and not over-promise.”

These days, Briggs-Robertson attends the nondenominational Church on the Rock and keeps a plaque quoting her favorite Bible verse on her desk — it’s a constant reminder to serve in what she does every day. Though taking care of her customers comes naturally to her, it’s also part of her core belief as a Christian to serve her clients in a way that’s as genuine as possible — doing God’s work on earth.

“One of the things I pride myself on is that I have repeat business because people come back knowing we’re going to take care of them,” she said. “In this industry, peo ple need to love their destination, have a positive outlook on life, be willing to help people and have a lot of patience, because we get a different question every day. I really love helping my custom ers plan their itineraries and put their packages together. People come back with such gratitude and say thank you all the time — they call, send cards, send gifts; it’s very gratifying.”

Briggs-Robertson sees all types of groups in her day-to-day work, ranging from multigenerational travelers to church groups, and she customizes itineraries for them all. Most want to visit the iconic sights of Louisville, whether the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs or touring the Cathedral of the Assumption and taking a tour to learn about its history and iconography.

Briggs-Robertson promotes Louisville at numerous trade shows throughout the year, stimulating visitation to the city, which hosts conventions, its own trade shows, corporate meetings, group tours and individual leisure

travel to the tune of roughly 19 million visitors a year. That tourism supports more than 70,000 local jobs and contributes $3.4 billion to the economy. Briggs-Robertson is proud to be a part of that, put ting her own God-given talents to use. Drawing strength through her faith, her hard work has kept her going strong in her role for a decade.

“In the beginning, I prayed that I would be able to do a good job,” she said. “I had always been in the background, and sales puts you all the way out there. But I quickly realized that people want you to be authentic, to be yourself, and you don’t have be the shiniest penny on the block. They want you to have results, to follow up, give back to your custom ers. At the beginning, I was so worried about it. But I prayed about it and realized that I was enough.”

Saundra Briggs-Robertson with her husband, Neal Briggs-Robertson at a Derby-themed celebration with colleagues

Briggs-Robertson and other local tourism leaders enjoying a nearby hotspot

GOING ON FAITH ATTENDEES LIVE LARGE AT THE BEACH

More than 200 group travel planners, destination representatives and tour ism officials gathered in Panama City Beach for the 2022 Going On Faith Conference, held September 13–15, and enjoyed brilliant gulf weather, coastal cuisine and bonfires both nights as tourism for churches and faith-based organizations returns to full vigor. Visit Panama City Beach and the Sheraton Panama City Beach and Golf Resort were gracious hosts for three days and two nights of travel planning and fellowship.

“People travel together for their like interests, and there is no more like interest than their faith and their church,” said Charlie Presley, founder of the Group Travel Family and a founding partner of the Going On Faith Conference. “To that end, Panama City Beach is a perfect destination for this meeting because it is familyoriented and offers sun, fun and the warm Gulf Coast atmosphere that energizes anyone who visits.”

Steve Bailey, vice president of sales for Visit Panama City Beach, shared the same sentiment.

“This conference fits right in our wheelhouse,” Bailey said. “We are known for good, clean fun and our beautiful beaches, and these delegates understand that. We’ve talked to a lot of buyers here who came to Panama City Beach 30 years ago, and now they’ve come back for Going On Faith and they want to bring their groups. That’s just what we intended.”

Nearly 20 sponsors joined in the activities, from major travel companies like Collette to nationally known faith-based destinations like the Ark Encounter

Going On Faith Conference delegates enjoy a perfect evening in Panama City Beach.

COVERAGE

GOING ON FAITH

BY MAC LACY

and Creation Museum, Sight and Sound Theatres, the Biblical History Center, Plimoth Patuxet Museums and the Billy Graham Library. Discover Green Bay spon sored a luncheon to invite delegates to next year’s con ference in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Hundreds of six-minute business appointments were held between travel buyers and sellers in two market place sessions, and sponsored meals and entertainment made for a full schedule of networking opportunities for attendees.

We’re ready to go

SkyWheel at Pier Park

Bidding big

“PANAMA CITY BEACH IS A PERFECT DESTINATION FOR THIS MEETING BECAUSE IT IS FAMILY-ORIENTED AND OFFERS SUN, FUN AND THE WARM GULF COAST ATMOSPHERE THAT ENERGIZES ANYONE WHO VISITS.”

— CHARLIE PRESLEY

Photos by Mac Lacy

Auction winner!

Dinner at Harpoon Harry’s

WHAT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IS SAYING

“Our trips are selling out this year, and next year will be our biggest ever. People are buying our longer trips, 12 days or more, because they never want to miss out on travel again. The national parks, Alaska, Hawaii — they’re all selling out. In Europe, they are buying upgrades and extensions. Our biggest sellers are Iceland, Ireland, Italy and Greece. The biggest trend we see is more confident travelers. They enjoy lots of time on their own to explore.”

Jim Edwards Collette Pawtucket, Rhode Island

“At Sight and Sound, we have two-year cycles for shows. We have our pre miere year when a show is new, and then our second year. So, our numbers are strongest in the first year. We’ll debut ‘Queen Esther’ in 2023, and we expect to have north of 600,000 guests for that. Of that number, 25% will be groups. There are still some markets where people are concerned about traveling again. We’re telling them they need to be ‘going on faith!’”

Mike Pitman Sight and Sound Theatres Branson, Missouri

Green Bay chat

Marketplace meetings

Industry friendships

An Ark Encounter encounter

Collette breakfast

Thanks for coming

“We’ve seen a huge increase in groups this year. It’s been our highest increase in 10 years. In the summer months, we have dozens of youth groups who are coming as part of churches or volunteer groups, and then in the fall our traditional senior groups start coming, so we have a season for both markets. On Tuesday nights this fall, we’ll have eight or nine coaches in the parking lot for the show.”

Ray Hendon Great Passion Play Eureka Springs, Arkansas

“We’re back to 2019 levels, and our length of stay in the area has increased. Groups love the authenticity of our product and people. Our restaurants are open and staffed, and we answer our phones, which is a big thing today. We have noticed that our average group size is in the 30s and it takes longer to load or unload a coach. I think that’s because the groups are out of practice!”

Sonya Nash Amish Country of Northern IN Elkhart, Indiana

“We specialize in custom trips and we’re busy now. We just put together a presidential libraries trip for 28 travelers from Texas. They did both Bush Libraries, the Clinton Library and the Lincoln Memorial. We’re up more than 25% over 2019, which was our best year ever. We just took a group of 30 to Spain on a custom itinerary. We can create an itinerary for someone in two weeks or less in most cases.”

Julius Stecker The Travel Corporation Cypress, California

Staff hijinks

“THERE ARE STILL SOME MARKETS WHERE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TRAVELING AGAIN. WE’RE TELLING THEM THEY NEED TO BE ‘GOING ON FAITH!’”

— MIKE PITMAN

Fun on the pier

Branson gang

Food and fellowship

WHAT TRAVEL PLANNERS ARE SAYING

“We ran trips for our church for 15 years and then turned the program over to another person in 2016. They weren’t very successful, and someone said, ‘will you all do it again?’ So, we’re back in charge, and we’ve added a few other churches that want to travel. We’re taking 20 people to the Savannah Theatre this month and will take 40 or more to Myrtle Beach in November. We use BusRates.com to book our coaches, and it couldn’t be easier.”

Nick Nichols New Hope Baptist Church Fayetteville, Georgia

“I’ve always had a passion for planning travel. I did it with printed guides as a kid for our family vacations. I’d say I’m a travel nerd. In 2020, I sold a company and found the freedom to start Servacations.com. Our goal is to connect travelers to the Lord, their families and local needs in communities across the world. Recently, we’ve taken home school groups to Greece and to London and Paris for curriculum-based travel.”

Fred Carlson Servacations.com Tampa, Florida

“I was in the school bus industry for many years. In 2014, I became an ordained minister. I don’t serve in a pulpit, but my ministry is bringing people together to enjoy Christian travel. In that way, I consider myself an evangelist. We have traveled numerous times to the Billy Graham Library and to the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. I came here to find new ideas for trips for church groups.”

Bob Crocker

Eastside Transportation Services

Boiling Springs, South Carolina

Ice cream at Pier Park

Marketplace appointment

Let’s compare notes

Dinner at Harpoon Harry’s

Take money!

Welcome to the beach

Networking at Marketplace

Courtesy Visit Greenville

Courtesy Explore Charleston

Scenic South Carolina highlights include Greenville’s Pretty Place Chapel, top, and Charleston’s Middleton Place, bottom.

SOUTH CAROLINA

BY KATI HYER

What’s something you’ve seen or done on the road that you wish you could go back and experience again?

Was it an unforgettable trip to a historic city? Time on the water discovering the ecol ogy of a destination by boat? Maybe it was a quaint yet exciting downtown. For some perhaps, it was a museum, science center or theater. Or maybe when you think about it, that thing you wish you could experience again was on a beach trip.

On this South Carolina itinerary, there are plenty of chances to make those irreplaceable memories — together.

We’ll look at America’s oldest landscaped grounds, estuarine marshes, a delightful downtown, a cultural center (with, dare we say, everything?) and a beach trip deserving a gold star.

This five-to-eight-day itinerary loops around the state, starting in Charleston. It stays in the low country region exploring Beaufort before heading upstate to Greenville and Spartanburg. Finish by heading east to the Pee Dee region for Myrtle Beach, where your group can leave directly or disperse from nearby Charleston.

CHARLESTON

HIGHLIGHT | GROUNDED IN HISTORY

Where better to start a faith-based trip in South Carolina than in the Holy City?

Roughly halfway down the Palmetto State coast, Charleston has long been a traveler favorite for its unique architecture, food scene and fascinating his tory.

“Groups find the region alluring to visit any time of year and are drawn to a wealth of activities including walking tours, gardens, beaches, parks and various other attractions,” said Helen Hill, CEO of Explore Charleston.

This most elegant of Southern cities offers groups plenty of all-in-one stops, like national treasure Middleton Place.

The National Historic Landmark is the ancestral home of the Middleton family, seven generations of enslaved people and a micro cosm of American history. The grounds transcend America’s Colonial period, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Invite your visitors to explore the home, stable yards, gardens, Eliza’s House and more.

Tours are available at different places throughout of Middleton Place’s 110 acres. Don’t miss your chance to try Charleston’s famous she crab soup at onsite Middleton Place Restaurant. Part of the menu is sourced from the on-site organic farm.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Make time for a stop at the South Carolina Aquarium. Find this easy group pick on a downtown stroll by the harbor. The aquarium’s famous rehabilitation center offers a chance to see the care and rehabilitation of loggerhead, leatherback, Kemp’s Ridley and other sea turtles up close.

MYRTLE BEACH

CHARLESTON

BEAUFORT

Photos courtesy Explore Charleston

Charleston’s Middleton Place

A historic Charleston neighborhood

BEAUFORT

HIGHLIGHT | SEA-ZING THE DAY

Once you’ve had your fill of Charlestonian period actors and crab bisque, take the forested drive along Highway 17 southwest to Beaufort. This Port Royal Island city, on one of South Carolina’s coastal islands, has to be seen from the water. So grab your lifejackets and cameras for an adventure.

“I love Coastal Expeditions’ boat tour that leaves right from Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in the historic district,” said Cristy Armstrong, public relations director at Visit Beaufort said. This fun escape will introduce your group to the town’s history, wildlife and unique estuarine ecology. Part relaxing break, part history lesson, your group won’t know if they’re at a show or in class learning about Native Americans, Spanish exploration, French settlement and English colonization.

And make sure your batteries are charged. If luck strikes, your group may see bald eagles nesting, ospreys hunting for dinner and resident bottlenose dolphins playing in the water. A dozen restaurants are within walking distance from Waterfront Park, where the tour starts and ends.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Take to the Huntington Island Lighthouse in the Huntington Island State Park, the state’s most popular. Yes, there are 167 steps, but you won’t be disappointed with the panoramic view from South Carolina’s only publicly accessible lighthouse.

MORE INFO | beaufortsc.org

GREENVILLE

HIGHLIGHT | THE MAIN THING

“I would say that our main attraction is our Main Street!”

Beth Moats, the director of marketing at VisitGreenvilleSC, wasn’t kidding. The city’s shaded Main Street winds its way past Falls Park on the Reedy and plenty of quaint shops and restaurants just begging to distract and delight. As your group explores Greenville’s Main Street and its offshoots, they’ll have the chance to shop, to eat and to con template nearly 100 public art pieces.

Plus, Falls Park on the Reedy’s Liberty Bridge is the only singlesided pedestrian suspension bridge in the United States. It is the per fect place for a calm walk, fun selfies and views of the natural waterfall dancing through downtown.

“With over 110 restaurants, abundant shops and entertainment options, your group can enjoy a unique blend of traditional Southern warmth and contemporary cool,” Moats said.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Greenville is perfectly poised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, so take a jaunt to the mountains for some amazing vistas. A popular place for church groups is open-air sanctuary Fred W. Symmes Chapel, or “Pretty Place.”

MORE INFO | visitgreenvillesc.com

Hatcher Gardens in Spartanburg

Spartanburg’s Chapman Cultural Center

Photos courtesy Visit Beaufort

Courtesy Visit Spartanburg

Courtesy Visit Spartanburg

Courtesy Visit Greenville

Greenville’s Falls Park on the Reedy

A Beaufort marsh

Appetizers at a Beaufort restaurant

Beaufort’s waterfront

SPARTANBURG

HIGHLIGHT | CULTURAL CORNUCOPIA

Is your group full of theater enthusiasts, exhibit lovers or hands-on learners?

If so, Greenville neighbor Spartanburg has something for everyone — under the same roof. Here’s more good news: Spartanburg and Greenville are close enough that you could depart from Greenville after lunch and spend most of the afternoon exploring Hub City.

When you arrive, let your travelers hop off at Spartanburg’s down town Chapman Cultural Center, where there’s plenty to be found for everyone. The Cultural Center in Spartanburg’s Downtown Cultural District is home to an exciting collection of activities sure to please multiple tastes among group members. Check out the Spartanburg Art Museum, the Spartanburg Regional History Museum, the Spartanburg Science Center and a variety of entertainment options on the stage.

“Spartanburg’s blossoming downtown offers visitors a taste of authentic Southern charm,” said Naomi Sargent, vice president of strategic communications at Visit Spartanburg.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Hatcher Garden features 10 acres packed with flora and is a magnet for birds and bird-watchers. The garden’s trails and paved quarter-and half-mile paths are wheelchair accessible, so everyone can enjoy nature’s beauty on a visit. This is a great option for a picnic lunch.

MORE INFO | visitspartanburg.com

By JJ Adams, courtesy Visit Greenville

Courtesy Visit Greenville

Public art in Greenville Family fun in Spartanburg

Courtesy Visit Spartanburg

Courtesy Visit Greenville

Greenville mini-golf

Downtown Greenville from above

MYRTLE BEACH

HIGHLIGHT | SKY HIGH FUN

Finish the trip with a few sun-soaked days at Myrtle Beach. Powder-soft sand, miles upon miles of shoreline and just-right weather makes the South Carolina mainstay the perfect exclamation point to the end of a trip. Myrtle Beach is located in the state’s northeast quadrant, resting on the Atlantic known as the Pee Dee, named for the Native Americans who made their home in the region.

Other than plenty of free time on a beach lounger, what is a Grand Strand must-do for your group?

“SkyWheel is a great choice! And the beach for sure,” said Julie Ellis, Visit Myrtle Beach’s public relations manager.

She’s right: The best way to relax and view the town, the shoreline and the vast blue Atlantic expanse is from Myrtle Beach’s iconic SkyWheel.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Head to the MarshWalk, the inspired food and watersport adventure destination on Murrells Inlet. It’s on the once pirate-inhabited island just 10 miles south of Myrtle Beach. From boat rentals, Jet Skis and sightseeing tours to hungry pelicans, wandering egrets and ridiculously fresh oysters, MarshWalk is different, quirky and well worth the excursion.

MORE INFO | visitmyrtlebeach.com

A dolphin-watching cruise in Myrtle Beach

SkyWheel on the Myrtle Beach coast

Photos courtesy Visit Myrtle Beach

The Changing Face of Group Travel with Contiki’s Ian Kynor

Pioneering Travel Trends with Jaclyn Leibl-Cote of Collette

Exploring Culture Through Travel with Cheryl Hargrove

Understanding Faith-Based Travel with Eddie Lutz

BY JILL GLEESON

SNAP

GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

Somehow, it’s surprising that Gettysburg is so lovely.

Tucked away in South Central Pennsylvania, just 10 miles from the Maryland border, the little town was, after all, the site of the largest battle fought in the American Civil War. It was also the bloodiest single battle, with more than 51,000 casualties. But God, as he will, has healed here, and today both the Gettysburg National Military Park and the town itself are not only deeply historic, but breathtakingly beautiful. It’s just one of the pleasures that awaits faith-based groups that visit the area.

So, too, is Gettyburg’s notable medita tive qualities. This is a place, according to Carl Whitehill, Visit Gettysburg’s vice president and director of communica tions, made for spiritual contemplation.

over the first three days of July in 1863. By the end of it, the Army of the Potomac had stopped the Army of Northern Virginia’s invasion of the North. Had the Union Army not been proved victorious, the Confederates might have won the war, forever fracturing the United States. But the cost was high: thousands of lives brutally ended in the formerly quiet, bucolic farmland outside of town.

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“There are a lot of powerful things that occur when people visit here,” Whitehill said. “It’s a destination that really allows people to connect, whether that’s con necting with their faith, their family or their friends. “It’s a very important part of the experience for people.”

A turning point in the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought

Groups will want to begin their explo ration of the area at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center, which offers not only a 22,000-square-foot museum but also a massive cyclorama oil painting and an engaging film. Then it’s on to a tour of the park, which covers 6,000 acres and includes more than 1,300 monuments. A licensed battlefield guide, who will hop on the motorcoach, is also a must. They can provide crucial context as well as take groups to special sites, like the Father Corby statue. It honors the beloved priest who blessed the men of the Irish Brigade before battle.

In addition to touring the battlefield and museum, groups will want to make time for some of these other activities during their Gettysburg visits.

All photos courtesy Destination Gettysburg

SEMINARY RIDGE MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER

Located on the Gettysburg campus of the United Lutheran Seminary and along Gettysburg National Military Park’s auto tour, this decade-old museum is housed in a historic building used as a field hospital during, and for months following, the battle. Groups will find it filled with engaging, interactive exhibits focusing on subjects such as the critical role faith played in the average soldier’s life. The museum offers all kinds of special opportunities for groups, including off-hour visits and hands-on programs that give guests the chance to “Become a Soldier,” practice “Civil War Emergency Medicine” and much more.

DOWNTOWN GETTYSBURG

Lovingly tended and absolutely charming, Gettysburg’s downtown is not to be missed. Groups will appreciate time on their own to explore the many independent shops, cafes and art galleries, but there is also a wealth of companies offering guided walking tours through the town’s vibrant center. Gettysburg Licensed Town Guides provides groups with a wide range of both day and evening tour options to select from, lasting from 60 to 90 min utes and zeroing in on themes like Black history, President Abraham Lincoln’s “Visit, Civilian Experience” (of the battle) and more. Or the company can customize a tour to your group’s unique interests.

FARMS AND FIELDS

Gettysburg is well-known for the quality (and quantity) of apples and other fruit grown in the area, and making a stop or two at area ag operations is always a treat for groups. For a peek at a round barn more than a century old, head to the Historic Round Barn and Farm Market. Meanwhile, Hollabaugh Bros., Inc., gives group tours of the farm that can include activities like picking apples in the orchard, planting veggies and herbs, taking wagon rides and learning about everything from bees to current challenges facing food producers.

EISENHOWER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

There’s more than Civil War history waiting to be discovered in Gettysburg. Located next to the park, Eisenhower National Historic Site offers groups a look at the farm and home where President Dwight Eisenhower hosted less-formal meetings with world leaders and relaxed with his wife, Mamie. Group reservations are available. Whitehill also suggests a stop at the area’s brand-new museum, the World War II American Experience and Education Center, which contains a jawdropping collection of artifacts and memorabilia. Special group offerings include guided tours, on-site dinners, guest speakers and more.

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Seminary Ridge Museum

Downtown Gettysburg

Freshly picked peaches

BY CYNTHIA BARNES TREASURES GLOBAL

Travelers visiting Cairo enjoy exploring the iconic pyramids of Giza.

THESE INTERNATIONAL CITIES DESERVE A SPOT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST

International travel is back in a big way. Although densely populated urban centers were initially hit hardest by the pandemic, many took advantage of the drop in visitors to improve and expand their appeal. New policies — such as timed admission tickets and capacity limits on popular attractions — now make sightseeing less stressful, and pedestrian-friendly car-free areas foster leisurely, more meaningful explorations.

Cities have an undeniable allure, highlighting the best of a region’s unique offerings. And while offthe-beaten-path villages have their charm, cities act as magnets, drawing a diverse cast of chefs, artists and other creatives to create a delightful diversity for residents and tourists alike.

Boasting everything from glorious historic archi tecture to cutting-edge modern art, the following cities are rolling out the welcome mat and ready to show off for visitors. So dust off your passports, pull out the suitcases, take advantage of the strongest U.S. dollar in almost 50 years and plan that dream trip today.

By Anton Yacoub, courtesy Anton’s Egypt Tours

CAIRO, EGYPT

Set along the lush banks of the Nile River, Cairo (“The Victorious”) com bines ancient glories and the energy of a modern metropolis. The largest Arab city in the world, bustling Cairo is the gateway to all of Egypt’s astounding antiquities, including the Great Pyramid of Giza. The pharaonic tomb was constructed more than 4,500 years ago, and of the Seven Wonders of the World, only it remains. Unsurprisingly, the city is home to the world’s largest collection of Egyptian antiquities, including the breathtaking gold funeral mask of the boy king, Tutankhamun. This and countless other treasures will soon be displayed in the newly completed Grand Egyptian Museum, opening later this year.

But beyond the riches surviving from the ancient Three Kingdoms, Cairo also contains spectacular Roman remains such as the Babylon Fortress, the ornate mosques of Sultan Hassan and Muhammad Ali, and the Saint Sergius and Bacchus Church. An icon of Coptic Christianity, the church is said to be constructed at the resting spot of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus, after their flight from Bethlehem.

The city is also famed for its labyrinthine open-air shopping areas, known as souks. Browse a seemingly endless array of ornate lanterns, jewelry and souvenirs at Khan El-Khalili Souk, Cairo’s largest tourist market. As the day winds down, head to the green oasis of Al-Azhar Park, where 74 acres of gardens and fountains offer a cooling respite from the city’s frantic pace. After sunset, walk to Muizz Street, where stunning examples of Islamic architecture come alive with street food vendors offering every sort of traditional delicacy. egymonuments.gov.eg

By Pierre-Nic Lessard, courtesy Destination Québec

By Anton Yacoub, courtesy Anton’s Egypt Tours

By Anton Yacoub, courtesy Anton’s Egypt Tours

An outdoor art installation in Quebec City

Handmade goods in Cairo

By Anton Yacoub, courtesy Anton’s Egypt Tours

Cairo’s Hanging Church Fortress of Babylon, an ancient fortress in Cairo

By François Gamache, courtesy Destination Québec

QUÉBEC CITY, CANADA

For European flavor without long trans-Atlantic flights, it’s hard to beat the capital city of Montreal, a mostly French-speaking Canadian province. Located at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Saint-Charles rivers, Québec City is the continent’s only walled city north of Mexico. Founded in 1608, the former military fortification and fur-trading outpost bursts with Old World architec ture spanning more than 400 years, and the Old Quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

At the Notre Dame Basilica-Cathedral, pilgrims of any faith will have a rare opportunity to step through the only Holy Door located outside Europe.

Usually sealed, the contemplative spiritual passage will be open for two years beginning on December 8, 2023. Fans of military history won’t want to miss strolling the ramparts and exploring the Citadelle de Québec, where guards clad in scarlet tunics and tall bearskin hats stand watch over the largest British fort in North America.

For a fun journey and outstanding views, take a ride in the glass-enclosed cabins of the Funiculaire. The unique railway climbs 282 feet at a 45-degree angle to connect the Petit-Champlain district, where cobblestoned streets are lined with bistros and boutiques with Dufferin Terrace, near the majestic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. If you’re lucky enough to be in the city between January and March, be sure to tour the spectacular Hôtel de Glace. Built each winter from 2,300 blocks of ice and 15,000 tons of snow, the hotel and surrounding grounds are truly a winter wonderland.

Quebec City’s Samuel de Champlain Monument

SEVILLE, SPAIN

Colorful and cosmopolitan, vibrant Seville captivates everyone lucky enough to stroll her sun-soaked streets. Nestled in southwest Spain, it’s the capital of the Andalusia region, which borders the country’s scenic southern coast. This area was under Moorish control for centuries, and the Moors’ architectural influence is preserved in iconic landmarks like Granada’s Alhambra Palace, Córdoba’s Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral and Seville’s most famous structure: the Alcázar Castle.

Built in the 10th century, the ornately tiled palace is a fairyland fortress of fountained courtyards and grand receptions areas. Originally constructed by Andalusia’s first Islamic caliphate, it remained a royal residence when Christians reconquered the region in 1248, and the modern Spanish monar chy still occupies part of the castle when they visit Seville.

The grandiosely Gothic Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See — the fourthlargest church in the world — is a must-see, especially the Capilla Mayor for its Gothic altar made of 45 panels representing the life of Christ. The cathedral is also the final resting place of explorer Christopher Columbus. In addition to glorious churches and monuments, Seville offers abundant nightlife and unparalleled cuisine. It’s particularly famous for flamenco, the folkloric dances and songs that are dramatically performed in bars and clubs through out the city.

Seville’s food scene is exceptional. The tasty bites known as tapas are syn onymous with Spain, and in Seville they reach perfection. While amazing fare can be found throughout the city, the Mercado Lonja del Barranco has more than 20 kiosks that showcase the region’s best food. To experience a tradi tional market, head to the Mercado de Triana, which sits on the west bank of the Guadalquivir River, over the lovely Triana Bridge.

visitasevilla.es

By Y Skoulas, courtesy Visit Greece

By Jens Korte, courtesy Cologne Tourism

Courtesy Visit Seville

The Acropolis in Athens

Shopping in Seville

Courtesy Visit Seville

Athens’ Temple of Olympian Zeus

Old Town Cologne

Royal Alcazar of Seville

By Y Skoulas, courtesy Visit Greece

An Outer Space Exploration

ATHENS, GREECE

The oldest capital in Europe, Athens is a bucket list destination for lovers of classical antiquity and culture. Continuously inhabited since Neolithic times, Athens grew to become the center of Mycenaean civilization, its influ ence spreading from the commanding stronghold of the Acropolis (“high city”) across the Aegean and throughout the Hellenic world, the largest and most powerful of the Greek city-states.

Groups can explore the city’s rich history at the splendid National Archaeological Museum, which houses artifacts from prehistory to late antiquity, including breathtaking marble sculptures, bronze works, and ceramics and jewelry of extraordinary craftsmanship. Visitors can marvel at the grandeur of the Parthenon and follow in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul at Mars Hill, where he delivered a historic sermon.

Although the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democ racy and philosophy, Athens also offers many modern attractions among its historic temples and ruins. The cosmopolitan metropolis is filled with charming and vibrant neighborhoods, each with its own unique appeal.

Traditional dishes are as classic as the architecture, so feast on souvlaki, moussaka and delicious grilled seafood pulled fresh from the sparkling Aegean. Don’t forget the souvenirs — the shops and stalls along Adrianou Street (the oldest commercial street in the city) will provide a bounty of highquality handmade gifts such as leather goods and incredibly tasty olive oils. visitgreece.gr

COLOGNE, GERMANY

Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, Cologne is a veritable treasure trove of beauty. The 2,000-year-old city began as a Roman outpost and became a cultural and commercial powerhouse in the Middle Ages.

The city’s crowning jewel is the medieval Catholic cathedral, a High Gothic landmark that is Germany’s most visited attraction. The tallest cathe dral in the world and one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites in Europe, the UNESCO World Heritage Site contains an outstanding collec tion of stained-glass windows as well as the Shrine of the Three Wise Men.

In the historic city center, narrow cobbled lanes are lined with rows of colorful pastel houses, many now serving as boutiques and restaurants. After shopping, stroll through the expansive botanical gardens or one of the city’s beautiful parks. Art aficionados will appreciate the magnificent collec tion of Picassos and other 20th century masterworks on exhibit at the Museum Ludwig, while chocolate lovers will make a sweet stop at the Chocolate Museum, which celebrates the city’s famed cocoa confections.

Discover more in The Rocket City

Home to the world’s largest space museum, “Rocket City” has much for visitors to explore. Featuring breathtaking outdoor vistas, fun-filled attractions, and a vibrant art & entertainment district, Huntsville, Alabama, has something for everyone.

cologne-tourism.com |

Courtesy Cologne Tourism

Nightfall on the Rhine in Cologne

SOUL OF THE

NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR AUTHENTIC ENCOUNTERS

BY RACHEL CRICK

The Southwest has always had an allure for travelers. The region’s arid landscapes, featuring countless natural wonders, are a draw in and of themselves. It’s also an area that captures the imagination, trans porting visitors back to the Wild West in the days where cowboys and outlaws roamed the unsettled territories. However, the Southwest offers travelers something few regions in the world offer: a chance to appreciate and explore Native American culture.

Although travelers must take care to abide by the appropriate eti quette and customs while visiting, many indigenous groups welcome travelers and the chance to share their culture. Whether this is via a modern museum full of artifacts or a tour of the lands on which their ancestors settled, there are many ways for groups to explore indige nous cultures and the landscape upon which their histories unfolded.

Travelers can discover Arizona scenery and culture on a tour of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

A rock formation in Monument Valley

SOUTHWEST

NAVAJO NATION ARIZONA

The Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United States, covering 27,000 square miles in four different states and comprising nearly 400,000 tribe members. The Navajo people, known amongst themselves as the Diné, speak the Diné language, which was made famous during World War II by the Navajo Code Talkers. The Navajo are known for silversmithing and for weav ing rugs and blankets. Their culture places great emphasis on harmony with nature, which is demonstrated through their traditional dwellings, dome-shaped structures made of mud and logs, called hogans. Hogans are still used today as sites for the Navajo’s many ceremonies.

Because of its vast size, the Navajo Nation offers endless opportunities for groups to experience and learn about Navajo culture. A tour narrated by a Navajo guide through some of the Navajo parks is the perfect way to gain an appreciation for the land that informs Navajo culture and tradition. Groups can visit some of the most beautiful recognizable natural landmarks like Antelope Canyon and the sandstone mesas of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

There are also several museums within the reservation that allow visitors to see artifacts and explore the history of the Navajo people, including the Explore Navajo Interactive Museum in Tuba City and the Navajo Code Talkers Museum.

For some authentic Navajo jewelry and hand-woven textiles, groups can stop at any one of the many trading posts. The Hubbell Trading Post is also a national historic site and a popular place for visitors to catch a rug-weaving demonstration.

On the Navajo Reservation, the Indian Taco is known as the Navajo Taco, and this along with other Mexican- and American-inspired fare can be found at the Hogan Family Restaurant in Tuba City.

discovernavajo.com

lages. The Hopi migrated to their sacred land, known to them as Hopitutskwa, in northern Arizona in the 12th century and have resided there since. Their culture emphasizes living in peace and har mony with the land. The Hopi occupy highly elevated and very dry, which led Hopi farmers to develop a technique called dry farming, a practice which is still in use today. The Hopi have retained their language and many of their cultural practices and stepping on Hopi land can feel like stepping back in time.

Lamar Keevama, the general manager of the Hopi Cultural Center, said the best part of visiting is inter acting with the Hopi people because “each one has their own story to tell.”

The Hopi Cultural Center, located near the Second Mesa, is an inn and restaurant that offers travelers a place to stay and a bite to eat while they visit the reservation. Hopi artists and merchants can be found outside the center, and visitors can purchase Hopi kachina dolls, pottery and artwork.

The only way to explore the reservation is with a Hopi guide, who can bring groups to some of the villages, cultural sites and landmarks. The village of Old Oraibi, known as one of the oldest continu ously inhabited settlements in North America, is a popular destination on tours, as well as Prophecy Rock, a cultural site with petroglyphs, or rock carv ings, of Hopi religious teachings. At Dawa Park, visitors can check out the scenic canyon to find historic petroglyphs and pottery shards.

HOPI RESERVATION ARIZONA

Located on 1.5 million acres in Arizona that are surrounded by the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Reservation sits on three mesas that contain a total of 12 vil

In certain villages, groups may catch a glimpse of one of the ceremonial Hopi dances; however, the Hopi have strict rules for visitors to follow to ensure their culture remains respected and unexploited, such as rules against photography, sketching and recording.

Photos courtesy Arizona Office of Tourism

Weaving a Navajo rug

A Navajo Code Talker statue at Window Rock

A Hopi basket weaver

ACOMA PUEBLO AND SKY CITY CULTURAL CENTER

NEW MEXICO

Resting atop a 367-foot sandstone mesa, Sky City is aptly named. The com munity, made up of traditional dwellings of Adobe brick and plaster, is part of a Native American pueblo, the Acoma Pueblo, and is another one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in North America. There are close to 6,000 members enrolled in the tribe, most of whom live on the 500,000-acre reserva tion surrounding the mesa. The Acoma Pueblo is known for its preservation of the Acoma culture and their native language, Keres, as well as the traditional, picturesque architecture and pottery.

“Be looking out for all the beauty that we have and all of the services that we have that will leave you with a wonderful experience,” said Melvin Juanico, operations manager at the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum.

Acoma culture is best experienced through a visit to the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum. Located on the mesa, the center offers stunning views of the New Mexico landscape in addition to its many lessons about Acoma culture.

Though guided walking tours of Sky City haven’t yet been reinstated following the pandemic, groups can take a virtual tour of the historic city in the cultural center’s theater. The museum features two galleries of exhibits and artifacts detailing the history and way of life of the Acoma people.

Groups can purchase authentic Acoma art such as pottery, jewelry and tex tiles at the Gaits’i gift shop or from Acoma vendors who set up near the center. The center also features the Yaak’a Café, which will reopen late in 2022 and offers visitors traditional Acoma fare as well as American cuisine.

acomaskycity.org

CHICKASAW CULTURAL CENTER

OKLAHOMA

The Chickasaw people originally hail from the southeastern United States, in present-day Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky. However, during President Jackson’s administration, the Chickasaw, along with many other Native American tribes, were forced to relocate to Oklahoma during the Great Removal. The Chickasaw are renowned as skilled hunters and warriors, often participating in the battles between European powers in the Colonial period.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center is a loving tribute to the Chickasaw people’s origins and present-day culture. Everything about the campus is inspired by their ancestral homelands, from the materials used to build the center to the plants around its 184-acre campus.

“It’s a very unique map of different ideas of what our people remembered from the original homelands,” said Fran Parchcorn, executive officer of the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

The center offers groups an abundance of ways to immerse themselves in Chickasaw culture, from fine art galleries to hands-on demonstrations of tribal traditions. Groups can take guided or self-guided tours of the Chikasha Poya Exhibit Center, where interactive exhibits tell the story of the tribe and allow visitors to explore different elements of Chickasaw culture. At the Anoli’ theater, which is scheduled to open in late 2022 following renovations, groups can view films, cultural demonstrations, workshops and lectures about the Chickasaw.

The beautiful and expansive campus also contains the Chikasha Inchokaa’ Traditional Village, a replica of a 1700s Chickasaw village, which offers groups a chance to see historically accurate demonstrations of Chickasaw life. In the village, groups will find Chickasaw dwellings and a replica mound. They can watch or even take part in traditions such as the Stomp Dance, weaving, and stickball, a Chickasaw sport.

Upon its reopening in late 2022, the newly renovated Aaimpa’ Café will fea ture a menu inspired by Chickasaw cuisine.

The Acoma Pueblo’s Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum

Courtesy Chickasaw Nation

Courtesy Chickasaw Nation

Chickasaw Cultural Center in Oklahoma

Courtesy Sky City Cultural Center/Haak’u Museum

An arts experience at the Chickasaw Cultural Center

TAOS PUEBLO

NEW MEXICO

On 99,000 acres in northern New Mexico, groups can find Taos Pueblo, a community where the Taos Pueblo Indians have been living for nearly 1,000 years. The pueblo consists of stacked adobe dwellings, which are passed down from generation to generation and are notable for glittering in the sunlight due to the mica in the mud that covers them.

There are 150 people living in the original structures, and due to their tradi tional beliefs, there is no electricity or running water within the village walls. However, many of the tribe’s 1,900 members live in more modern homes on the land surrounding the pueblo. Also located in the pueblo is the San Geronimo Chapel, which was built in 1850 to replace the original chapel after it was destroyed. The Taos people practice Catholicism alongside their traditional Taos religion and speak Tiwa, their native language, alongside English and Spanish.

The pueblo provides plenty of opportunities for groups to interact with tribal members, although they should be aware of and respect the community’s guide lines about photography. Groups can take guided tours around the pueblo to view the adobe buildings and culturally significant sites. These tours are narrated and detail the tribe’s history. There are shops within the pueblo where visitors can buy handcrafted arts and souvenirs, such as moccasins, pottery, jewelry and drums. On the days of annual feasts and ceremonies, visitors are welcome to observe, provided they remain respectful and observe proper etiquette.

taospueblo.com

Courtesy New Mexico True

New Mexico’s Taos Pueblo