Going On Faith Spring 2021

ON T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R FAITH-BASED TRAVEL PLANNERS VOL. 24 - NO. 1

SPRING 2021

KANSAS ROCKS ROLL IN TO CAR MUSEUMS

D I S C OV E R DEARBORN

COUNTY SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

GOF

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

SPRING 2021

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Kansas Treasures Value Destinations These small towns offer big experiences for groups.

Get the most bang for your buck in these cities and towns.

Auto Art

TRAVEL

Car museums offer a trip down memory lane.

GUIDE

DEPARTMENTS Columns 6 EDITOR’S NOTES: A Year of Self Discovery ON THE COVER: A traveler stands in the stone archway at Monument Rock National Natural Landmark in western Kansas. Photo by Claudia Uripos

Spotlights 10 PROFILE: Shannon Bennett

24 RETREAT:

SOUTHERN

26 Discover the faith-based attractions and family-friendly destinations of America’s South.

News 8 MIDDLE EAST PEACE accords have big implications for travel

Black Hills Area Retreat Center

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Mac T. Lacy Founder and Publisher

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Eliza Myers Associate Editor

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales and Marketing

888.253.0455

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.

Charles A. Presley Partner

Christine Clough Copy Editor

Kyle Anderson Director of Advertising Sales

Brian Jewell VP & Executive Editor

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Herb Sparrow Senior Writer

Ashley Ricks Graphic Design/Circulation

Sarah Sechrist Controller and Office Manager

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

APPLY TODAY FOR THE FAMS YOU’D LIKE TO ATTEND!

Are you looking for new ideas in your old favorites or a new destination for your group to enjoy? Register for one of our 2021 FAMs to learn about these great destinations from the local experts. To apply for a chance to attend any of these complimentary FAMs, go to www.grouptravelleader.com/FAMs.

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

LOUISIANA’S RIVER PARISHES

MAY 19-21

JULY 21-30

Tour well known attractions like Louisville Slugger Museum and Kentucky Derby Museum and new attractions including the Waterfront Botanical Gardens, Stoneware & Co. at Paristown Pointe and Butchertown Market. Best of all, you’ll get to experience what it feels like to be a VIP at Churchill Downs with a dinner reception and racing in a Suite!

Join us in Louisiana’s River Parishes just outside of New Orleans where you’ll learn about the history of Whitney, Destrehan and Oak Alley Plantations, enjoy a cooking demonstration and tasting at Spuddy’s Cajun Cooking Experience and take a thrill ride on ZipNOLA over the Manchac Greenway with views of alligators, turtles and other wildlife.

ALABAMA

GALLUP, NEW MEXICO

FALL 2021 (DATES TBD)

AUGUST 2-6

We are partnering with the City of Gallup to highlight this New Mexico hidden gem along Route 66. Gallup is THE destination for outdoor adventures, culture seekers, and art lovers.

This is as real and authentic as it getsNative American Culture, steeped in tradition, and surrounded by some of the best outdoor recreation and trails.

We are working with Alabama Tourism Department to host a FAM showcasing Alabama’s Natural, Historic and Exciting Group Tour Wonders. Explore Birmingham, Huntsville, Muscle Shoals and DeSoto State Park and learn what Sweet Home Alabama has to offer your groups.

LOUISIANA’S NO MAN’S LAND OCTOBER 6-10, 2021

(RESCHEDULED FROM APRIL 2021)

We are partnering with Louisiana Tourism to showcase the best of Louisiana’s No Man’s Land region that includes Lake Charles, Natchitoches and DeRidder.

You’ll tour the Creole Nature Trail, Melrose Plantation, Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu for a King Cake Demo & Tasting, casino resorts and much more.

GROUP THE

TRAVEL LEADER

If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Tyner at:

888-253-0455 KELLY@GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

EDITOR’S

NOTES BRIAN JEWELL

A YEAR OF SELF DISCOVERY

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can’t believe it’s been a year.

At this time 12 months ago, we were all grappling with the implications of the novel coronavirus, wondering what it was, where it came from and how long it would impact our lives. We worried about contracting COVID-19, certainly. But those of us who worked in travel also worried that this pandemic could destroy the industry we love.

A year later, many of those questions are still unanswered, and there are plenty of worries still swirling around. But over the past 12 months, we have learned quite a bit.

Here are five things I’ve learned about myself — some silly, some serious.

1) I need refills.

I’m a sucker for a cold soda, and when I go out to a restaurant, I enjoy a refill — or two or three. During the early months of the pandemic, when restaurants were limited to carryout service, I found myself craving the unlimited refills that had become an essential part of my dine-in habit. When restaurants finally reopened their dining rooms, I was more excited about the drinks than the food. I’ll never take refills for granted again.

2) I need chocolate graham crackers.

My birthday is in July, and for years my family celebrated it with chocolate eclair cake.

The “cake” is made from vanilla pudding, whipped cream and chocolate graham crackers. But by early July, there were no graham crackers to be found anywhere, one of many surprising food shortages caused by COVID. When it seemed that my birthday would come and go without my favorite dessert, I nearly gave in to despair. Thankfully, a family friend found one lone box of chocolate grahams, and the celebration was saved.

3) I need community.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how much we need one another. While some people may thrive working at home, none of us were made to be alone for long, and we understand that now more than ever.

My wife and I did our best to keep in touch with friends and family over Zoom or Facetime, and we streamed our church service each Sunday morning. But those experiences made us crave face-to-face connection even more.

4) I need travel.

In my 18-year career in tourism, I’ve rarely spent more than a month without traveling somewhere. My 2020 travel calendar was absolutely packed. But after a trip in early March, those plans came crashing down. I did my best to make the most of extended time at home with the family. But during that time, I couldn’t help but dream of being back on the road. Now that there’s light at the end of the tunnel, I can hardly wait to start traveling again.

5) I need hope.

I’ll be honest: During the early weeks of the pandemic, when COVID seemed especially scary and toilet paper seemed especially scarce, I felt hopeless. The bad news came in waves, each revelation more intimidating than the one before it, and I wasn’t sure how my family or my industry would make it through. Thankfully, rays of sunshine occasionally cut through the darkness, and even small bits of good news gave me the hope I needed to press on through the challenges. Today, there is more good news than we’ve had in a year. And I’m hopeful that we’re turning the corner into a brighter future.

BRIAN JEWELL [ EDITOR ] brianj@grouptravelleader.com

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going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

CUSTOM CONTENT

Discover a spiritual sanctuary on a pilgrimage to Arkansas

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

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irds fly two miles straight from Eureka Springs, Ark., to Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery, home of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity. For motorcoaches, the trip is a bit longer, 30 minutes up, down and around pretty Ozark Mountain roads, and worth every minute.

A Hidden Gem for religious groups in the Ozarks Although the monastery has been tucked into a quiet mountain valley since the early 1980s, it is still a surprise to many. John Michael Talbot, the contemporary Christian recording artist who founded Little Portion, says visitors often ask, “Who has been keeping this a secret?

How did I not ever hear of this place?”

It is likely to become better known, as many groups are taking domestic trips instead of abroad. For that, Little Portion can provide a spiritual experience closer to home.

“You can make a holy pilgrimage in your own country, not just as a tourist stop but as a pilgrimage to a holy spot for a few hours or a few days,” Talbot says.

Easy stop or home base for groups visiting Eureka Springs Little Portion’s proximity to Eureka Springs

makes it an easy stop for tours on their way to the Great Passion Play and Thorncrown Chapel. Visits accommodate a tour’s schedule and interests.

For some, it’s a quick stop, to stretch legs in Little Portion’s gardens or pray in its tiny, stone Portiuncula chapel. A longer visit could include prayers and chants with cloistered monks in the Monastery Chapel, designed by protégés of famed architect E. Faye Jones, followed by lunch in a dining room that overlooks the gardens. A guided tour could focus on varied topics like Little Portion’s history, the environmental design of its monastery, or the human need for silence.

Groups can also make the monastery their home base, staying in its spacious guesthouse with its four living rooms and kitchens and mix of private and dormitory-style accommodations.

“Wonderfully tasty” meals and baked goods are a staple Viola Talbot, John Michael’s wife and founding mother, cooks for everyone, and the meals she creates, her husband says, are far from the “bread and water or beans and rice,” expected at a monastery. “She is a genius with food,” says Talbot. “She can take a simple meal and turn it into something wonderfully tasty.”

Viola Talbot is also the mastermind behind Little Portion Bakery, which produces the all-natural Viola’s Granola, St. Clare’s Heavenly Breakfast Cookies and St. Anthony’s Hermit Bars. It’s the rare visitor who leaves without a bag of baked goods, purchased in a small gift shop where John Michael’s CDs and books are also available. He’s modest about his success as a musical artist and author of 40 books. “I was famous in the 80s and 90s,” he says, somewhat sheepishly. “The front page of the Wall Street Journal and featured in People magazine.”

All are welcome It seems his focus now is on sharing his community and Little Portion Hermitage and Monastery, reminding that all are graciously and warmly welcomed there. “Clearly, we are unapologetically Christian and Catholic,” he says, “but we don’t push it down anyone’s throat. We are open to people of all faiths--Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhists, Hindu.”

LITTLEPORTION.ORG

877-504-9865

OR

479-253-0253

INFO@LITTLEPORTION.ORG

NEWS WORTHY Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem

By Noam Chen, courtesy IMOT

Praying at the Western Wall

By Noam Chen, courtesy IMOT

The Abraham Accords will allow groups to visit sites in Israel, such as Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, as well as other countries such as the United Arab Emirates, on the same trip.

A Dubai camel excursion

By Noam Chen, courtesy IMOT

Courtesy Dubai Tourism

ISRAEL ACCORDS PRESENT NEW TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

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mericans interested in traveling to Israel and other Middle East countries will have more options than ever thanks to new peace accords announced last year.

The Abraham Accords, a peace agreement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, were signed in September in Washington, D.C.. Brokered by the Trump administration, they represent the first normalization of relations between Israel and Arab nations since the peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

The accords have widespread geopolitical implications for the region, which has been plagued by racial and national hostilities since the founding of the modern Israeli state in 1948. But among the benefits of the normalized relations will be an unprecedented ease of travel for 8

going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

visitors from North America, South America and Europe.

Following the lead set by the U.A.E. and Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan recently normalized relations with Israel as well.

One significant aspect of the agreement is the opening of airspace over Saudi Arabia, which had previously been closed for flights to or from Israel.

“The big impact is that Saudi Arabia is a silent partner in the accords,” said Eyal Carlin, Israel Ministry of Tourism’s commissioner for North America. “Before the agreements, if you wanted to fly to visit multiple countries in the Middle East, you’d have to do multileg travel through a place like Jordan just to get from point to point.

“You can now travel from the U.S. to the U.A.E. on an Emirates plane, then fly straight to Israel, then to

Amman, Jordan. Or you can be part of some kind of airline alliance that code-shares through the region. That’s a huge impact for travelers; it makes the region much more accessible.”

For American groups that travel to the Middle East, and especially church groups interested in visiting biblical sites in the region, Egypt and Jordan have been popular companion destinations to Israel. The new accords will expand the list of countries that can be included on a Middle East tour.

“It opens up at least four more destinations to combine on trips with Israel,” Carlin said. “We’re estimating that we’ll see combinations that have Israel, Emirates, Jordan and Egypt. And there are other countries that are easily accessible through those countries. So, it’s easy to travel to Oman, Qatar or Saudi Arabia from the Emirates, then on to Tel Aviv.”

In addition to facilitating ease of movement from one country to another, the accords will give U.S. travel planners more options for airlines and tour companies on trips to the Middle East. Emirates, the national airline of the U.A.E., already offers extensive service to the region from the U.S. and can now offer connections into Israel.

“There will be competition between more players,” Carlin said. “That’s something that will favor the consumer. The U.S. traveler now will have a lot more countries that can offer them the full product. That will make it a bit cheaper, and it will be a one-stop shop. Before, the traveler would have to design the trip themselves and buy things from different operators and airlines. Now, there’s a lot of cooperation between Israeli and Emirati companies.”

Carlin said that the tourism boards

Dubai’s Burj Al Arab Jumeirah

Courtesy Dubai Tourism

Tea in Dubai Courtesy Dubai Tourism

A Dubai Bedouin camp Courtesy Dubai Tourism

BY BR IA N JE WE LL

of the signatory countries plan to work together to create joint product and educate American travel planners about new possibilities in the region.

Although the increased travel became legally possible when the accords were signed last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed implementation of planned route expansions. But airlines such as Emirates, Etihad and Fly Dubai have announced they will fly to Israel once pandemic lockdowns are lifted, and El Al, Israel’s national airline, has plans to fly to the U.A.E. as well.

Carlin said he is hopeful that public health restrictions may ease soon, as Israel currently leads the world in vaccination rollout.

“We see the light, but it’s taking a while to get there,” he said. “We’re trying to push our ministry of health to publish a target opening date. And we’re working on a few different entry procedures and travel protocols.

“I’m hearing from a lot of the tour operators that deal with Christian travelers. A lot of people are estimating that a large portion of the groups they’re planning to send to Israel will be vaccinated by the summer. So that’s very optimistic.” going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

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FACES

of FAITH

Museum of the Bible

TRAVEL

BY A SHLE Y R ICKS

SHANNON BENNETT MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE

W

BY R E B E CCA T R E O N

hen Shannon Bennett met the founding president of the Museum of the Bible at a conference in 2013 and was offered a job, it was her opportunity to combine her experience in marketing and tourism, the master’s degree and museum work she did in Israel, and her faith.

“Although they had been doing traveling exhibits for a long time, I got to be the very first employee on the ground in Washington, D.C., which is a pretty exciting experience,” said Bennett. “The Bible is such a rich book, and it has had such an impact on every single facet of society. Getting to bring those stories to the public, where we can

NAME: Shannon Bennett

TRAVEL TIPS

ORGANIZATION: Museum of the Bible

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: “Faith is the evidence of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

HOMETOWN: “I currently live in Arlington, Virginia, was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi; but lived for 15 years in the Orlando, Florida, area and spent four years in Jerusalem, Israel — those two places really feel like home to me.”

FAVORITE DESTINATIONS: Israel and Florida

HOBBIES: Reading, attending live theater, concerts and MLB games — and, of course, travel 10

going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

TIP 1 Insider intel is like gold. Not only will the locals know the best places to eat, how to avoid the crowds and which attractions are worth your time and which to skip, they will also let you know where the hidden gems are. It’s these stops that will differentiate your tour from others and cause people to join you on your next adventure.

TIP 2 Be careful about adding people to your group simply to fill it out for economy’s sake. On one trip I was involved in, a couple was added to the group who had completely different expectations and desires for the trip. Throughout the entire journey, there was a pervasive sense of discontent and conflict.

TIP 3 Take the time to connect your group with local ministries. I know of groups who have built relationships with ministries and individuals they encountered during a tour that have lasted over a decade. Both sides are still benefiting from this connection.

connect any specific topic to the Bible — it’s all about grabbing people and enriching those stories.”

Bennett began her career as a performer in entertainment operations with the Walt Disney Company and then moved into its travel and tourism marketing division. It was after the attacks of September 11, 2001, that she left the travel industry for roughly five years and worked in the legal field but also rediscovered her faith.

“I really came back to my faith in a powerful way, and that’s when I started working with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem,” she said. “I eventually moved to Jerusalem and lived there for four years, where I volunteered doing Christian outreach for the Holocaust Museum.”

Simultaneously, Bennett got her master’s degree from Hebrew University before returning to the U.S. in late 2012.

“I grew up reading the Bible, and I was already passionate about my faith,” she said. “But when you just read the book, you lose sight of the reality of it. When I went to Israel for the first time, I was just impressed by the land where these things happened. I was in the place where these things were written.”

Washington isn’t considered by most to be a faith-based city, but, said Bennett, if you know where to look, the city is filled with biblical references. Among the Museum of the Bible’s permanent exhibits is “The Impact of the Bible,” which traces the book’s influence on everything from city architecture to fashion and pop culture. The museum has a wide range of artifacts, including the original bill of sale for the Mayflower and a portion of the Western Wall, that bring the stories to life for visitors. There are exhibits that connect the Bible to everything

Shannon Bennett accompanies Christian artist Chris Tomlin on a hard-hat tour of the Museum of the Bible during its construction.

from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to the lyrics of popular hip-hop music.

Bennett said a visit to the Museum of the Bible can be great for those who can’t make the trip to Israel, as well as for groups and as a field trip, some of which are currently virtual.

“As difficult as this year has been, it’s enabled us to explore some of the things that we just don’t have time to do with the museum open and running every day,” she said.

The virtual exhibits and programs — you can even have a Zoom meeting with a living-history interpreter — have allowed the museum to become available not only to those in Washington but also to people around the world.

“We’re pulling all these pieces together so when you learn about the history of this country, we tell the whole story and you see how the Bible is ingrained in everything you’re experiencing,” said Bennett.

“For me, being able to connect people to those things that run deep in all of our souls, for them to see or touch an item — you’re touching thousands of years of history that relate to this book — the Bible — and our history of faith. It’s just overwhelming sometimes.”

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

Tourism Cares can help you see the world differently. By participating in our outreach, education and volunteering programs you’ll be able to more successfully connect needs to opportunities.

And, you’ll gain the direction, networking, tools and skills required to shape a more resilient and sustainable future for the destinations and communities we all sell and rely upon. Join us and unite with your industry colleagues to harness the transformative power of travel.

Visit TourismCares.org. See the possibilities.

Join these companies in seeing the possibilities.

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 11

A

STATE OF FAITH

SMALL TOWN

TREASURES

Courtesy Explore Lawrence

T HE S E KA N S A S DE S TINATIONS PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGH T

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Notable museums in smaller Kansas towns (clockwise from top): The Robert Dole Archives in Lawrence; Lawrence’s Spencer Museum of Art; Hutchinson’s Cosmosphere

going on faith [ spring 2021 ] Courtesy Cosmosphere

Courtesy Explore Lawrence

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M A NHAT TA N

L E AV EN WORTH

1 L AW R EN C E

L INDS B O RG

2 HU TCH INSO N

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KANSAS

BY B RI A N JE WE LL

he most fascinating aspects of Kansas can be found in its small towns.

Although most trips start at, end in or pass through a larger city at some point along the way, smaller towns and hamlets offer travelers unique glimpses of life and unexpected interactions. That’s the case in Kansas, where small towns are homes to impressive college campuses, inspiring art colonies, fascinating museums, stunning natural areas and other sights worth seeing.

This itinerary showcases distinctive towns in eastern and central Kansas. It begins in Lawrence and ends in Leavenworth, both a short drive from Kansas City, which makes an easy point of entry via airport or interstate. The route makes a counterclockwise loop through the state and hits Hutchinson, Lindsborg and Manhattan along the way.

This itinerary is easy to do as a four-day trip; adding more days would allow time for stops in larger cities along the way.

LAWRENCE HIGHLIGHT | ART ON CAMPUS Just 45 minutes west of downtown Kansas City, Lawrence is an energetic and eclectic college town, home to the University of Kansas. The university presents several opportunities for groups, including tours of the Spencer Museum of Art. Part of the university, the Spencer is the state’s only comprehensive art museum. Its collection includes some 45,000 works from Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as numerous pieces of contemporary art and sculpture. Highlights include works by the likes of Winslow Homer and Georgia O’Keeffe, as well as Native American textiles, ceramics, basketry, beadwork and silverwork. The museum also hosts special exhibitions and events throughout the year.

The museum recently reopened to visitors after an extended closure due to COVID-19. As the pandemic recedes, the museum will resume special programming and tour opportunities normally available for groups.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Another KU institution, the Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archive and Special Collection, honors the life and career of prominent Kansas politician Bob Dole. Artifacts and memorabilia on display help groups learn about Dole’s early life, his World War II service, his work in Congress and his presidential campaign.

MORE INFO | unmistakablylawrence.com

2 HUTCHINSON HIGHLIGHT | SEEING STARS It takes about three hours to drive from Lawrence to the town of Hutchinson, although you can break up the trip by visits to bigger cities like Topeka or Wichita, worth a visit in their own right. Once you’re in Hutchinson, though, you’ll find an attraction many wouldn’t expect to encounter in the middle of the Plains: a world-class aerospace museum.

Founded in 1962 as a makeshift planetarium on the state fairgrounds, Hutchinson’s Cosmosphere has grown into a Smithsonian-affiliate museum with over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. Visitors can see fascinating vehicles, such as the SR71 Blackbird suspended in the lobby, as well as missiles and weapons systems used during World War II and the Cold War. Among museum highlights is the Apollo Gallery, which showcases the Apollo 13 command module Odyssey, Apollo spacesuits and a moon rock recovered during an Apollo mission.

Groups that visit the Cosmosphere can arrange a number of tour experiences, as well as a show in the now state-of-the-art planetarium.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: For decades, workers harvested salt from a mine beneath Hutchinson. Today, at the Strataca: Kansas Underground Salt Mine, visitors can go 650 feet underground to explore the mine and catch a glimpse of some important Hollywood films and costumes that are stored in its underground vaults.

MORE INFO | visithutch.com

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 13

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LINDSBORG

MANHATTAN

HIGHLIGHT | A VISIONARY VILLAGE

HIGHLIGHT | PRESERVING THE PRAIRIE

It’s only 40 miles from Hutchinson to Lindsborg, but when you arrive there, you might feel like you’ve been transported to Europe.

Known as Kansas’ Little Sweden, Lindsborg was settled by Swedish immigrants in 1869. Today, the village of 3,500 people is a thriving arts community that celebrates it international heritage.

Visitors to Lindsborg can learn about the area’s artistic visionaries at several galleries and studios. A favorite for groups is Red Barn Studios, which was the working studio of 20th-century artist Lester Raymer, who became known as the Picasso of the Plains. Raymer considered himself a painter and a printmaker but experimented with many different artistic media and methods. On a tour of the studio, visitors can see some of the tools he used in his creations, as well as finished works of painting, ceramic, woodcarving and more.

In addition to Red Barn Studios, art-loving groups can see the work of National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson at his Small World Gallery nearby.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Groups can continue to appreciate Lindsborg’s art and Swedish cultural heritage by looking for the eight Dala horse statues scattered around the streets of the village. The Dala horse is a traditional Swedish craft, and the ones on display throughout Lindsborg have been painted and decorated by local artists to showcase the area’s creativity.

The return east from Hutchinson will take you through beautiful natural landscapes, including a stunning tallgrass prairie known as the Flint Hills.

By stopping in the town of Manhattan, your groups can learn more about the fascinating geology of the area at the Flint Hills Discovery Center.

Opened in 2012, the Flint Hills Discovery Center gives visitors an overview of the 4 million-acre Flint Hills geological region, which stretches from Kansas into northern Oklahoma. The area is defined by limestone deposits close to the surface that made the land impossible to cultivate and farm. As a result, it’s the last surviving tallgrass prairie in America. The discovery center features exhibits about the area’s geology, along with an immersive theater, interactive programming and a special terraced landscape to highlight the area’s natural features.

Nature lovers can see more of the prairie and the animals that call it home at the nearby Konza Prairie Research Natural Area.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Explore a private museum of exciting automobiles at the Midwest Dream Car Collection. The museum features more than 65 cars that range from a 1907 Model T Ford to a 2019 Tesla Model X. Visitors will find muscle cars, classic automobiles and other exotic or customized vehicles.

MORE INFO | manhattancvb.org

MORE INFO | visitlindsborg.com Blackstone Lighthouse in St. Mary’s A Lindsborg Dala horse

A Swedish celebration in Lindsborg Courtesy Lindsborg CVB

Flint Hills Discovery Center

Courtesy Lindsborg CVB

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going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

Courtesy Manhattan CVB

5 LEAVENWORTH HIGHLIGHT | BUFFALO SOLDIERS For the final leg of your small-town Kansas tour, head to Leavenworth, a town about 30 miles northwest of Kansas City. The city is famous for its formal federal penitentiary, as well as Fort Leavenworth, a large Army installation with numerous stories to tell.

Fort Leavenworth was founded in 1827 and is an important education site for officers in training. After the Civil War, it became famous as the home base of the Buffalo Soldiers, the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments that comprised African American soldiers who served on the western frontier. In the early 1990s, Colin Powell spearheaded an effort to create a monument to the Buffalo Soldiers at Fort Leavenworth. Groups that visit the fort can see the monument and have conversations with former Buffalo Soldiers who now serve as guides.

Another Fort Leavenworth highlight is the Frontier Army Museum, which has displays and artifacts that detail the history of the fort and its role in various world events.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: During the heyday of railroad travel, waitresses known as Harvey Girls served travelers at Harvey House restaurants in depots around the country. Leavenworth is restaurant founder Fred Harvey’s hometown, and groups can arrange a Harvey Girl dining experience in the city’s restored 1888 train depot.

There’s also a Fred Harvey museum in town.

The Buffalo Soldier Monument at Fort Leavenworth

Courtesy Leavenworth CVB

MORE INFO | visitleavenworthks.com

Manhattan’s Midwest Dream Car Collection Courtesy Manhattan CVB

A Lindsborg coffee shop

Courtesy Lindsborg CVB

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 15

BY RO B I N RO E N K E R

TRAVEL

SNAP SHOT

DEARBORN COUNTY, INDIANA All photos courtesy Dearborn Co. CVB

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Top: Groups can have hands-on horticultural workshops at McCabe’s Floral and Greenhouse in Lawrenceburg.

Middle and bottom: A group visits Graystone Farm.

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ocated along the Ohio River in southeast Indiana, just west of Cincinnati, Dearborn County and its largest city, Lawrenceburg, offer a great hub for groups visiting the nearby Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, less than 25 minutes away.

The Creation Museum brings biblical history to life through 75,000 square feet of exhibits, plus special events including speakers and hands-on educational programs.

“Our location is very convenient, especially for groups coming to experience the Creation Museum or its sister attraction, the Ark Encounter, in Williamstown,” said Sally McWilliams, group tour sales representative for the Dearborn County Visitor Center. “Our hotels are some of the closest available to the Creation Museum itself.”

Easy to reach by Interstate 275, Dearborn County provides easy access to the region’s faith-centered attractions, as well as local doses of history and outdoor fun.

The county is also an excellent place to begin a tour of Indiana’s Ohio River Scenic Byway.

“There are a lot of river towns and quaint communities that are off the beaten path along the byway, and we are a great gateway to all of that,” McWilliams said.

While in the area, groups can enjoy live concerts and events at the Lawrenceburg Event Center or dinner at one of county’s many restaurants. In winter, groups can hit the slopes for skiing, snowboarding or snow tubing at Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, one of the region’s largest snow sport centers. Dearborn County is also home to miles of bike and walking trails, golf courses, and marina access to boating and water sports.

Many travel planners have designated Dearborn County as a favorite “mystery trip” destination — where attendees aren’t told their destination beforehand — simply because the community is so friendly and accommodating to groups.

“I have a lot of mystery trips year after year,” McWilliams said. “When people come, they always say, ‘This is so fun. I didn’t know you had this.’ It’s always our goal to exceed groups’ expectations, and usually, we do.”

Hillforest Victorian House Museum

CELEBRATED HOME In the Ohio River town of Aurora, the Hillforest Victorian House Museum, a National Historic Landmark, offers groups a picturesque spot to step back in time. Built in the mid-1850s, the impressive mansion, originally built for industrialist and financier Thomas Gaff and his family, sits on a hillside overlooking the Ohio River. “The mansion looks over the historic town and looks over a picturesque bend in the river,” McWilliams said. Groups working with the CVB can arrange to have a guided experience at the museum, led by costumed docents. “They also offer three-course teas, luncheons and dinners,” said McWilliams. “It’s quite a lovely experience, and groups can choose from among many customizable options.”

Mount Tabor Alpaca Farm

HISTORY Groups interested in Civil War history won’t want to miss the first-person re-enactment of the life of Maj. Jacob Ebersole. The 45-minute presentation, held at the Aurora City Hall, shares the history of Ebersole, a noted Civil War surgeon from Aurora who served in the 19th Indiana Regiment and at the Battle of Gettysburg. “The program is just incredible,” said McWilliams. “Groups always comment about how captivating it is. The local historian really lives that character.” While there, groups can also visit the second-floor council chambers at Aurora City Hall, which still bear evidence of high-water marks from the 1937 flood.

AGRITOURISM For groups looking for outdoor experiences, Dearborn County delivers. Mount Tabor Alpaca Farm in Aurora, for example, allows groups to visit its friendly herd of Suri alpacas and experience a working farm. The family-run Greystone Farm in Lawrenceburg also provides a great option for a group stop. “Groups love being able to get farm-fresh food at Greystone Farm,” McWilliams said.

“Visitors can buy local honey, fruits, vegetables and, even, meat — which is why we encourage travel planners to remember to bring coolers.” Guests can also enjoy Greystone’s wide menagerie of farm animals, including chicken and pigs. “It’s what I call a freedom experience,” McWilliams said. “You’re outside, and free to explore.”

The fudge shop at McCabe’s Floral

WORKSHOPS At McCabe’s Greenhouse and Floral in Lawrenceburg, groups can enjoy sampling and purchasing homemade fudge while shopping at the unique on-site gift shop. “I call it our headquarters for candy, flowers and fun,” McWilliams said. “Their home and garden shop is full of cute things to explore.” McWilliams can also help groups book a floral demonstration at McCabe’s that shows how to do arrangements in vases, foam or planters. “Those arrangements then go home with the group, and often the travel leader will have a drawing or a game on the bus ride home to award them to three winners,” McWilliams said.

VISITSOUTHEASTINDIANA.COM

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THE IS

PRICE

RIGHT

T HE S E DE S T IN AT ION S DELIVER BIG VALUE AT SMALLER EXPE N S E B Y P AULA AVEN GL A DY CH

Y

Situated at the headwaters of the Everglades, Kissimmee offers a number of outdoor and amusement attractions not far from Orlando.

our group doesn’t have to spend big to have big travel experiences.

It can be rather expensive to travel to some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Visitors who want to take in the sights in Seattle; Orlando, Florida; New Orleans; Detroit; New York; or Boston should explore these well-placed suburbs that are destinations in their own right and that offer accommodations, retail shops and restaurants that are easier on the wallet.

Courtesy Experience Kissimmee

A group experience at Fontainbleau State Park in Old Mandeville Courtesy St. Tammany Parish CVB

Poolside in Kissimmee

Live music on the Louisiana Northshore

Courtesy Experience Kissimmee

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Courtesy St. Tammany Parish CVB

[ OLD MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA ] Old Mandeville’s claim to fame is that it sits right across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. Located in St. Tammany Parish, the historic town is just 40 minutes from the French Quarter. Old Mandeville offers everything that visitors to Louisiana expect, including wonderful Cajun cuisine and vibrant Creole history. Groups can also get out on the waters of the lake or look for wildlife on a scenic paddle trip on King Bayou or down the Bogue Falaya River.

Fontainbleau State Park in Old Mandeville is the most visited state park in Louisiana. Many visitors come to walk or bike the Tammany Trace, a rail trail in the park that connects five communities on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

Groups that want to learn more about the town can take a self-guided tour of 20 significant sites, among them the Jean Baptiste Lang House, one of just a few Anglo-Creole structures left in the area. It was built in the 1850s along the lake and served as a summer home for the original owner, who was a tobacco merchant. It was moved away from the shore to preserve it from flooding and now serves as a museum that tells the story of Old Mandeville.

The Dewdrop Social and Benevolent Hall was built in 1895 and is one of the oldest unaltered jazz halls in the world. Visitors who come during the spring and summer months can take in jazz concerts performed by New Orleans-based and local musicians. Visitors who want a taste of something different should stop at the Old Rail Brewing Company, which overlooks the Tammany Trace trailhead and offers specialties like tempura alligator, speckled trout and crawfish yaya pasta. louisiananorthshore.com [ KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA ] Kissimmee is in central Florida, minutes away from Orlando International Airport. Known as the vacation home capital of the world, with more than 50,000 vacation homes and 70,000 accommodations, the area is easier on the budget than neighboring Orlando. It is well placed to visit the Walt Disney World Resort, the Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld and is also known for its eco-tourism and outdoor adventures.

Kissimmee is at the headwaters of the Everglades, making it a great place to explore the local waterways for alligators and other Florida wildlife. Central Florida is full of freshwater lakes, rivers and streams that all feed into the Everglades in the southern part of the state. Visitors to the area can see the waterways close-up by taking airboat tours or by renting a canoe or a kayak and paddling down Shingle Creek to see what wildlife they can spot along the creek’s banks.

Wild Florida is one of the main attractions in Kissimmee. The 85-acre safari park takes visitors past giraffes, zebras and other animals they can observe from the comfort of their vehicles. Gatorland gives visitors many opportunities to interact with some of the largest alligators and crocodiles in the world. Guests who are daredevils at heart can ride a zip line over 130 giant alligators. There are shows for the whole family, including the Gator Jumparoo show, which reveals just how far the creatures are willing to jump to get a taste of raw meat.

After experiencing theme park overload, many visitors to the area love some downtime. That could mean taking in the free Classic Car Show and Cruise on Saturday nights in Old Town or visiting the Promenade at Sunset Walk for a wide variety of restaurants and live entertainment. The Promenade is adjacent to the Margaritaville Resort Orlando. experiencekissimmee.com

A Kissimmee amusement attraction

Courtesy Experience Kissimmee

Biking in Old Mandeville Courtesy St. Tammany Parish CVB

Waterfront cabins at Fontainbleau State Park Courtesy St. Tammany Parish CVB

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[ REDMOND, WASHINGTON ] The home of Microsoft and other tech giants, Redmond, Washington, has become the destination it is because of its nerd culture. When Bill Gates set up his headquarters there, other tech giants followed suit. Facebook, Google, SpaceX and Nintendo all have offices there.

Situated between Seattle and Bellevue, Redmond makes a great base for anyone wanting to explore the area without staying in the middle of a bustling, concrete jungle. It also gives visitors the chance to see what all the techy fuss is about.

One of the premier destinations in Redmond is the Microsoft Visitor Center and Microsoft campus, which offers miles of trails and secret courtyards for the company’s employees and visitors to discover.

“We’ve grown as a mini Silicon Valley here,” said Peter Klauser, a spokesman for Experience Redmond. “It is so easy to access the big urban centers, but we are in the middle of glorious nature.”

Redmond is surrounded by parks, trails and water, and people who come here are passionate not just about technology but also about beer, bicycling and other outdoor activities. There are more bike trails in Redmond than anywhere else in Washington.

“We are the bicycle capital of the Northwest,” Klauser said.

There are 11 hotels in the area with nearly 1,700 rooms, ranging from budget to luxury. Redmond is also home to one of the only outdoor shopping centers in the state: the Redmond Town Center. Redmond is 40 minutes from a major ski resort, making the city a year-round destination. experienceredmond.com [ DEARBORN, MICHIGAN ] Just 10 miles from downtown Detroit, Dearborn, Michigan, is an affordable option outside the city. One of the most visited attractions in Michigan, the Henry Ford complex, is in Dearborn. It includes the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Greenfield Village and the Ford Rouge Factory.

At Greenfield Village, families can take a ride in a Model-T or visit four working farms. The village sits on 80 acres and has more than 80 historic structures to visit, including the laboratory where Thomas Edison created the lightbulb, the George Washington Carver house, the home where Henry Ford was born and Orville and Wilbur Wright’s bike shop.

For automobile lovers, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour shows visitors how the F-150 pickup truck is manufactured and allows them to visit the assembly plant. The Automotive Hall of Fame highlights the people behind the auto industry and the moguls who made a difference.

After a long day of sightseeing, visit Ford’s Garage, a car-themed restaurant that allows car geeks one more opportunity to look at car industry memorabilia while enjoying a nice meal. Dearborn is also a great base location for sports enthusiasts who want to attend sporting events in Detroit or visitors interested in learning more about the birthplace of Motown at the Motown Museum. dearbornareachamber.org

Courtesy Dearborn Area COC

going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

Courtesy Experience Redmond

[ NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT ] The city of New London, Connecticut, is almost 400 years old, and because of that, it is always reinventing itself. Early settlers found prosperity in the whaling and oil industry. Today the city is an epicenter of marine manufacturing, ship and submarine building, and a regional arts and culture hub.

Strategically placed within driving distance of Hartford, Connecticut; New York; Boston; and Providence, Rhode Island, the city is an affordable option for visitors who want to explore the area.

“When people come to New London, especially the waterfront, they are amazed to see how much activity is along the river,” said Felix Reyes, director of economic development and planning for the city.

The majority of America’s submarines are built in Groton, Connecticut, just across the Thames River from New London. The Submarine Force Library and Museum Association, home to the USS Nautilus, the nation’s first nuclearpowered submarine, is a must-visit.

People who love history will enjoy exploring Fort Trumbull State Park and Museum, which tells the story of the original fort built on that spot to protect the harbor from British attack, as well as the masonry fort that stands there today. They can also see the Coast Guard Eagle, a 295-foot-tall ship that makes its berth in the harbor. New London is also home to two world-class theaters — the Garde Arts Center and the Hygienic Art Theater — as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

New London is in the process of turning its downtown into a designated cultural arts district. The Hygienic, an outdoor amphitheater, is also home to artist studios. Downtown’s buildings, sidewalks and streets are covered in murals, and the area is full of street performers and live music. Beach lovers should spend at least one day at Ocean Beach Park, which has a boardwalk, arcades and other forms of family entertainment. newlondonct.org New London’s Fort Trumbull

Ford Rogue Factory Tour

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Microsoft Visitors Center in Redmond

By Tom Bombria, courtesy City of New London

New London’s USS Barque Eagle

By Tom Bombria, courtesy City of New London

AMERICANA ON

EXHIBIT

T HE S E M US E UM S SHOWCASE THE ART OF THE AUTOMOBIL E B Y JI L L GL EES ON

Visitors can see rare automobiles, such as a 1932 Helicron, at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville. .

“Driving America” at The Henry Ford

Courtesy The Henry Ford

A dramatic show at The Holy Land Experience

Courtesy Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

I

Courtesy Lane Motor Museum

s there anything more American than the automobile?

After all, American ingenuity helped produce some of the world’s best cars, and the long, wide-open roads of the United States were made for road trips in our favorite vehicles. Perhaps it’s no wonder, then, that the country is lined with museums dedicated to our ongoing infatuation with the auto, many of which offer special experiences for groups.

From the Lane Motor Museum, home to head-scratching eccentricities, to the National Automobile Museum and its celeb-owned masterpieces — plus the Henry Ford, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum and the forthcoming Savoy Automobile Museum — these are some of the nation’s finest institutions dedicated to the car.

A racer at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

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A 1937 LaSalle Coupe at The Henry Ford Courtesy The Henry Ford

An exhibit at The Henry Ford

Courtesy The Henry Ford

A 1948 Packard 8 Wagon at the Savoy Automobile Museum

Courtesy Savoy Automobile Museum

Courtesy Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

A rare vehicle at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

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[ HENRY FORD ] DEARBORN, MICHIGAN According to Cynthia Jones, general manager of innovation experiences at the Henry Ford, groups should prepare to be wowed by the institution and all it offers.

“We’re a destination where you can see trucks being built at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour,” she said. “You can see the earliest origins of automobiles and how they were being developed in our living-history outdoor museum, and you can see one of the best vehicle collections ever brought together in the indoor museum. And I think, compared to almost any other museum, that makes us just incredibly unique.”

The Henry Ford, which is located alongside the Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn, Michigan, plant, has about 120 vehicles on display. They range from the quadricycle, the first auto Henry Ford ever built, to Model Ts and a stunning custom 1949 purple Mercury convertible. But just because Ford’s name is on the museum doesn’t mean that other companies aren’t featured. Cars from General Motors, Mercedes Benz and other manufacturers also make appearances.

This spring, the Henry Ford will open the 22,000-square-foot permanent exhibit “Driven To Win: Racing in America,” a must-see for groups that love race cars.

“We have street racing vehicles, land speed racing vehicles, Indy cars — just a huge array of American race vehicles,” Jones said. “It’s really going to be spectacular.” thehenryford.org [ SAVOY AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM ] CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA When the Savoy Automobile Museum opens its doors this fall, car aficionados will discover a stunning campus ranging across 35 acres. Built specifically to house the attraction, the museum will include a massive 70,000-square-foot main museum with four large galleries. Three will be devoted to temporary exhibits, ensuring there will always be something new on at the Savoy. The final gallery will be filled with a rotating selection of autos from the institution’s permanent collection, which include beauties like a 1932 Buick that won the prestigious Concours d’Elegance award, a 1940s Packard “woody wagon” and midcentury Corvettes.

Sound eclectic? That’s part of the museum’s plan, said Savoy Automobile Museum director of development Tom Shinall.

“Our mission is to showcase the automotive industry as a whole, not any one type of vehicle,” he said. “So whether its early gas-era cars or steam-era cars, all the way up to muscle cars and the has-beens of the ’80s and the current exotics and everything in between — we want to exhibit them all, because every car tells a story.”

The Savoy Automobile Museum is planning to offer a variety of special experiences for groups and will have the event space and ability to cater lunch or dinner. savoymuseum.org [ SIMEONE FOUNDATION AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM ] PHILADELPHIA Founded by physician Fred Simeone, who donated his jaw-dropping collection of racing sports cars, the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia offers some 75 vehicles on display for groups to ogle. They include everything from Bugattis to Aston Martins, but according to Simeone, there’s more to the museum than simply showing off a collection of what he terms “Mona Lisas.”

“The theme of the museum is the spirit of competition,” Simeone said. “We want young people to know that they need a sense of competition, a sense of doing better, a sense of progression.”

To that end, the Simeone is arranged in racing dioramas that show that the more advanced cars were the ones able to compete most effectively. The vehicles

are also presented chronologically, beginning with the oldest, a Renault owned by William K. Vanderbilt that raced in France in 1907. There are groupings as well by legendary races like the French Le Mans and Italy’s Mille Miglia, leading up to the “winner’s circle.”

Inside the circle sits a racing sports car that groups — which may opt for a docent-led tour with advance notice — might well consider the finest they’ve ever seen.

“It’s the Alfa Romeo 1938,” Simeone said. “It’s the car I wouldn’t change one molecule on. It has everything: Technically, it was 10 years ahead of its time.

Performance-wise, it won the Mille Miglia race. It’s gorgeous.” simeonemuseum.org [ NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM ] RENO, NEVADA Perhaps more than any other institution on this list, the National Automobile Museum is a great stop for groups with stars in their eyes. Founded in 1989 from some of the most memorable cars in casino magnate Bill Harrah’s collection, the attraction features a wealth of vehicles once owned by celebrities.

They include Frank Sinatra’s 1961 Ghia, a 1953 Corvette that belonged to John Wayne and Elvis Presley’s 1973 Cadillac Eldorado. Movie buffs in the group will especially get a kick out of the 1949 Mercury driven by James Dean in “Rebel Without a Cause.”

But the attraction’s rarest car, said interim executive director Buddy Frank, is the 1907 Thomas Flyer. “It’s on the National Historic Vehicle Register,” Frank said.

“What makes it unique is it won the around-the-world race in 1908. It was NYC to Paris, but west across the U.S., then via a boat to Japan, another boat to China and Russia and then on into Paris. There were no roads in 1908, so it was phenomenal.”

For groups that would like to spend the morning browsing the more than 200 automobiles and then have lunch, the museum offers an event space with catering. Guided tours are also available. automuseum.org [ LANE MOTOR MUSEUM ] NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE The Lane Motor Museum, which showcases 150 of collector Jeff Lane’s menagerie of oddball autos and motorcycles, is a great museum for groups who enjoy the offbeat.

“We pride ourselves on finding vehicles that are extremely unique,” said Robert Jones, curator of collections. “We have a lot of prototypes or one-offs — ideas that people had and tried out but [that] never took ground. Most of these tend to have technical advances.”

That includes the Czech-manufactured Tatras. The Lane has a wide-ranging array of the strange autos seldom seen elsewhere in the United States — including the 1938 T-97, which sports a center fin in back and a bonnet that resembles a Volkswagen Beetle. Other eye-catching curios include the 1947 Davis “Baby,” a three-wheeled car that could reach speeds of 100 mph. And then there are the propeller-driven vehicles that date from the early 1900s to the 1970s.

Among the loopiest of these is the 1932 Helicron.

“It was found in a barn in France,” Jones said. “We were able to get it and restore it to its full glory, and we drive it around. That’s one of my favorites.”

Curator-led group tours are available at the Lane Motor Museum with advance reservations. Weekend tours feature special visits to the vault, where the 500 vehicles not on exhibit are stored. lanemotormuseum.org

A 1947 Davis “Baby” at the Lane Motor Museum Courtesy Lane Motor Museum

A 1961 Ghia owned by Frank Sinatra, now on exhibit at the National Automobile Museum

Courtesy National Automobile Museum

The Lane Motor Museum’s 1952 Citroen Cogolin Courtesy Lane Motor Museum

Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Courtesy Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

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FAITH

CENTERED

BLACK HILLS The Black Hills Retreat Center offers meeting space, accommodations and outdoor adventure surrounded by stunning South Dakota scenery.

RETREAT CENTER

Courtesy Black Hills Retreat Center

I

BY K RISTY ALPERT

t was gold that first brought visitors to the Black Hills of South Dakota in a time when names like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok were spoken with familiarity along the dusty streets of Deadwood. Things are noticeably less calamitous today. Visitors now arrive in the region not in search of earthly treasures, but rather for the real treasures that await at the Black Hills Retreat Center.

Part of the Christian Retreats Network, the Black Hills Retreat Center offers retreat packages for ministry groups for up to 250 overnight guests in a setting that celebrates God’s creation. The center sits on 60 stunning acres inside the Black Hills National Forest, where there are no less than six national parks, monuments, memorials and historic sites nearby. At the heart of the center is a driving passion for providing guests places to commune with God while deepening their faith and connecting with friends, family and peers.

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LOCATION Deadwood, South Dakota SIZE: 60 acres CAPACITY: 250 CONTACT INFO: 605-578-9965 blackhillsretreat.org

LODGING The packages offered through the Black Hills Retreat Center make planning easy and affordable and include dining, one meeting space, on-site recreation and lodging options. Groups can go the bunk route in the dorm-style rooms within the 13 cluster cabins — with one bathhouse for every three cabins — or within the two inns equipped with showers and restrooms inside the buildings. The three motelstyle guest cottages offer a more private retreat experience with a full bed, full bath, a fridge, a microwave and a coffee pot. The center’s four lodges can host up to 120 guests. The main level of each lodge has a living room, a full kitchen, two bathrooms and two bedrooms; most of the upper levels have a sitting area, a bathroom and two bedrooms.

Two of the lodges — Papa Bear and Lone Star — come with meeting spaces in the basement that can host up to 20 guests, great for prayer meetings and small group gatherings for guests.

Larger spaces at the center include the Lakeside Amphitheater, for up to 50 guests; the dining room basement, for up to 100 guests; and the chapel, for up to 300 guests. All meeting spaces come with complimentary audiovisual equipment, Wi-Fi and room setup.

SPECIALTIES ​ big advantage to booking a retreat with the A Black Hills Retreat Center is the access to planning and promotion materials offered through its parent company, Christian Retreats Network. All planners receive access to Planner Central, a hub of planning and promotional resources that help to streamline and simplify the planning. The hub contains downloadable templates for budget, registration, flyers and emails. Planners can access property maps well before arriving on-site and can check out audiovisual equipment lists and lodging layouts. The hub also offers resources such as marketing to-do lists and event health and safety guidelines.

Once the group arrives, members will be well cared for by the team at Black Hills — and well fed, too. The center includes buffet dining in all retreat packages. Groups enjoy all-you-can-eat breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Hot side dishes, fresh fruit, a salad bar and multiple entree options for all dietary requirements are standard fare.

ACTIVITIES All basic recreation activities are included in group retreat packages. Indoor recreation activities are housed in the dining room basement and include billiards, air hockey, foosball and carpetball. Groups arriving during the warmer months can take advantage of all the lake activities: swimming, waterslides, paddleboats, kayaking and more. More competitive teams can go head-tohead with rounds of disc golf and four-way volleyball or test their skills at the fan favorite: gaga ball.

Summer camp groups prefer to plan evening activities to take advantage of the remote forest scenery. Favorites include scavenger hunts, flashlight tag, hiking and, of course, bonfires with worship songs or storytelling under the stars. Groups can add premium adventure recreation activities such as rock climbing, zip lining, archery and wacky team-building activities like “larger-thanlife twister,” “slip-n-slide kickball” and “foam noodle quidditch.”

Rainy days are full of adventure, too. Groups can stay indoors to laugh and play their way through games of toe tag, reverse charades and “noodles of destiny,” which involves balancing a foam disc on one hand while trying to knock off other players’ discs with a three-foot-long pool noodle.

VENTURING OUT The Black Hills Retreat Center is surrounded by national forest, where ponderosa pines provide the shade for countless hiking, all-terrain vehicle and snowmobiling trails. The wildlife is abundant, with deer and elk living in the area, and the landscape offers myriad opportunities for unplugging and enjoying fresh air and blue skies. The center is a short drive from many nationally known attractions, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Groups can walk along the original George S. Mickelson Trail or head below ground to gaze in awe at the Jewel Cave National Monument.

The center is only a 25-minute drive to the center of Deadwood, a town still bustling with the energy of the gold rush. Walking tours through the town are led by a guide dressed as one of the town’s first lawmen.

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SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

SOUTHERN FAMILY

Families love driving through Cade’s Cove, a scenic route in Gatlinburg’s Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

THESE DESTINATIONS APPEAL TO GROUPS OF ALL AGES

F

BY PAUL A AVEN GL ADYC H

rom Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia to Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina, the South is a veritable playground for visitors of all ages. Here are just a few family-friendly destinations that offer a wonderful mix of outdoor adventure, history and amusement park thrills.

A Williamsburg selfie Courtesy Williamsburg Tourism Council

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FAVORITES GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is surrounded on three sides by Great Smoky Mountains National Park and its jaw-dropping mountain vistas. It also is home to four family-friendly attractions: the Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Area, Gatlinburg SkyLift Park, Anakeesta Mountaintop Park and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. Pigeon Forge, the home of Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park, is only six miles away.

Ober Gatlinburg is a ski area in the winter but offers year-round amusements, such as an indoor ice skating rink, a snowless tubing hill, a mountain coaster and children’s rides. Gatlinburg Skylift Park is home to the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America. It features glass panels, giving guests a heart-pounding view of the terrain below.

Anakeesta Mountaintop Park has dining, shopping, lush botanical gardens and an observation tower with 360-degree views of the Smokies. It also has zip lines, a treetop skywalk and a challenging ropes course.

Ripley’s Aquarium boasts a large saltwater lagoon that is home to 8,500 aquatic animals, including sharks, sawfish and Sally, a green sea turtle. Visitors can take a glassbottom-boat ride on top of the tank to get a closer view of the lagoon’s inhabitants. gatlinburg.com

Courtesy Journal Communications

WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA Williamsburg is the ultimate destination for families because its attractions span historic sites, amusement parks and many outdoor adventures. The most famous attraction is Colonial Williamsburg, the perfectly preserved Colonial city, where visitors learn about the birth of our country.

Group tours touch upon some of the historic highlights of the site, including the Governor’s Palace and the Capitol, taverns that date back to the late 1700s, museums, and historic area demonstrations and daily reenactments. The site also explains the relationship between wealthy landowners and slaves and tells the story of African Americans’ long road to freedom.

Williamsburg is within 13 miles of Historic Jamestowne, the site of the 1607 James Fort, the Jamestown settlement and Yorktown, the location of the last battle of the Revolutionary War.

And although younger generations will enjoy the historical aspects of the area, two major theme parks also call the area home: Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, Virginia’s largest water park. Outdoor recreation options include biking, hiking, Segway tours, zip lining, golf, schooner sails, and paddleboarding and kayaking on the James and York rivers. visitwilliamsburg.com

LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA Lafayette, Louisiana, is the capital of Cajun country and is best known for its food, its blend of Cajun and Creole culture and its zydeco and Cajun music.

Groups that want to experience what it was like at the founding of Lafayette can visit Vermilionville, a living-history museum that delves into the history and culture of the area and how it was influenced by Native Americans, French Acadians, Creoles and people of African descent who called the area home. Costumed interpreters give tours and handson demonstrations.

Avery Island, which is just outside Lafayette, is a popular attraction. People can take a factory tour and learn how Tabasco brand pepper sauce is made. Explore the museum, pepper greenhouse and barrel warehouse, or see how Tabasco is blended and bottled. After the tour, visitors can stroll through Jungle Gardens, a 170-acre semitropical garden, to view local plants and native wildlife.

Visitors who want to experience the natural wonders of Lafayette should take an airboat tour or a guided kayak or canoe trip through the Atchafalaya Basin, the largest swamp in North America. Families can enjoy the mystique of the moss-draped trees and search the area for elusive alligators, beautiful birds and other wildlife. lafayettetravel.com

Avery Island’s Tabasco factory

An Atchafalaya Basin adventure

Red peppers on Avery Island near Lafayette Photos courtesy Lafayette Travel

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Biking in Ocean Springs

Kayaking on the Mississippi coast

Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum

BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Gulfport make up coastal Mississippi, a region full of fun family activities. The area offers pristine beaches, kid-friendly museums, an aquarium, boat tours and casinos. The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport offers hands-on indoor and outdoor activities for children, including a treehouse village and Kids Street, a real-life kid-size subdivision that fuels the imagination.

The Mississippi Aquarium, which opened in Gulfport in August 2020, sits on 5.8 acres along the waterfront and features more than 200 species of animals and 50 species of plants that are native to the area. The Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi brings the area’s seafood and maritime history to life. Groups that are interested in learning more about the seafood industry can get out on a shrimping boat for a more hands-on experience.

Families can get out on the water by taking a ferry to Ship Island to enjoy the beach and tour a real Civil War fort or by booking a ride on the Betsy Ann Riverboat, which gives historical and ecological tours of the Mississippi Sound and Biloxi Bay. Art lovers should visit the Frank Gehry-designed Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, which features the pottery of George Ohr, the “mad potter of Biloxi.” gulfcoast.org

Photos courtesy Coastal Mississippi

SHOOT FOR THE MOON. EXPERIENCE HUNTSVILLE. Our Mission Is Exceeding Expectations.

Home to the world’s largest space museum and U.S. Space Camp, “Rocket City” is no stranger to celebrating man’s greatest achievements. This iconic destination is ideal for making your next event out of this world with unique venues, as well as plenty of dining and entertainment options when the business day is done.

(800) 843-0468 | HUNTSVILLE.ORG

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going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA Greenville sits at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which makes it a great jumping-off spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Downtown is walkable, and museums, restaurants, bike trails and attractions are all withing walking distance. A free trolley service offers passage to the Village of West Greenville — the city’s arts district — and the baseball stadium, which is home to the Greenville Drive, a minor league team affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. Greenville has a robust arts scene with multiple theaters that produce everything from live local music and theatrical productions to Broadway shows, ballet and symphony performances.

Younger visitors will love the Greenville Zoo and Cedar Falls Park, a 90-acre park that features a 200-foot-wide waterfall on the Reedy River, as well as 2.2 miles of walking and mountain biking trails. More adventurous families should experience the Gorge, a zip-line canopy tour that plunges visitors 1,100 vertical feet from the rim of the Green River Gorge.

Greenville also is home to the Greenville Museum of Art, which has the largest Andrew Wyeth painting collection in the country, and the BMW Performance Center, a driving school that allows group visitors to drive BMWs on more than 1.7 miles of paved and off-road tracks. visitgreenvillesc.com

Greenville’s Saturday market

By Chelsey Ashford, courtesy Visit Greenville SC

BMW Performance Center

Courtesy BMW Performance Center

Liberty Bridge at Falls Park

By Chris Leyland, courtesy Visit Greenville SC

Horseplay is Okay in Horse Country!

KENTUCKY

SCOTT COUNTY

• Get up close and personal with stars of the turf at Horse Racing’s living history museum, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm.

• Share Kentucky’s love of horses at the Kentucky Horse Park, an over 1,200 acre world famous equine attraction.

• See a Toyota automobile constructed from the ground up at the largest Toyota Manufacturing plant in the world.

• Explore Ward Hall, one of the finest Greek Revival-style mansions in the United States.

• Travel 30 miles north to walk in the footsteps of Noah himself at the one-of-a kind and historically themed Ark Encounter.

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going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 29

CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA A sculpture at Charleston’s Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences

West Virginia Capitol

Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences

The riverfront capital of West Virginia is still a small town at heart, with hip art galleries, independent restaurants and boutique shops. Visitors should make a point of touring the newly refurbished, historic gold-domed state Capitol and taking a tour of the opulent Governor’s Mansion.

The West Virginia State Museum, which is housed in the Culture Center, tells the history of the state from prehistoric times to present day. West Virginia Public Broadcasting records its “Mountain Stage” program from the Culture Center. The show presents live folk, country and blues concerts that air on National Public Radio. Visitors are welcome to take in these live performances during their visits.

Haddad Riverfront Park is home to Live on the Levee, the city’s free live concert series that takes place every Friday night from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Streets are closed off, and there are numerous food trucks to choose from.

Art aficionados can take a self-guided art tour through different neighborhoods in the city or spend the day at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences.

The 240,000-square-foot center features the Avampato Discovery Museum, a children’s museum with hands-on exhibits and a towering climbing sculpture; the Caperton Planetarium and Theater; the Maier Foundation Performance Hall; and Juliet Art Museum. charlestonwv.com

Photos courtesy Charleston CVB

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going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

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SOUTHERN

FAITH MEETS

TRAVEL GUIDE

Kentucky’s Ark Encounter features a Noah’s Ark replica, a zoo, ziplines and more.

THESE SOUTHERN ATTRACTIONS FOCUS ON SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

T

BY PAUL A AVEN GL ADYC H

he South not only is rich in food and culture but also has deep roots in faith.

The region offers many faith-based attractions that feed the soul and make great group destinations. Here are a few you won’t want to miss.

The Ark Encounter

Courtesy Answers in Genesis

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going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

FUN ARK ENCOUNTER WILLIAMSTOWN, KENTUCKY To say the Ark Encounter is impressive would be an understatement. The centerpiece of the theme park is a replica of Noah’s Ark that was handcrafted from 3.3 million board-feet of wood and stretches 510 feet long. It features three exhibit-filled decks that rise to 10 stories at the bow. The ship can be seen for miles around and attracts visitors from around the world.

Built by Answers in Genesis, the organization behind the Creation Museum, the park features a zoo, gardens, a 2,500-seat auditorium that offers musical performances and lectures, zip lines and one of the largest restaurants in the country, which can seat 1,700 people at a time.

The Ark Encounter came about because of the popularity of the Creation Museum 43 miles down the road. More than half a million people visit the Creation Museum annually, and the founders wanted to find additional ways to invite those visitors in. The idea for the Ark was dreamed up in the 1970s, but it didn’t come to fruition until 2016, when it opened to the public on 800 acres.

The Ark Encounter is all about location. It sits right off Interstate 75 and is within driving distance of two-thirds of America’s population. arkencounter.com

Courtesy Answers in Genesis

GREAT PASSION PLAY EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS The Great Passion Play tells the epic story of Jesus Christ’s last days on Earth using amazing sets, live animals and more than 120 performers. The Passion Play has been performed in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, since 1968 and takes place from Easter weekend to the last weekend in October.

The play is the main event, but there’s lots to see and do on the property, including a visit to Christ of the Ozarks, a seven-story representation of Christ that was completed in 1966.

The Holy Land Tour takes place by appointment or on days when the Passion Play is presented. The two-hour interactive tour takes visitors on a trip through

time, visiting full-scale replicas of sites such as Moses’ tabernacle, the Bethlehem stable where Jesus was born and the garden tomb where he was buried.

The Bible Museum, the History Museum and the Sacred Arts Museum are all free and open to the public. The property also has 20 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Smaller faith groups are invited to take part in the Great Passion Play’s mission trip program, in which they can come and stay on the property and volunteer their time behind the scenes at the Great Passion Play. greatpassionplay.org

BILLY GRAHAM LIBRARY CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA The Billy Graham Library, which opened to the public in 2007, is set up like a presidential library with exhibits and multimedia presentations that take visitors on a journey through the life and ministry of Christian evangelist Billy Graham. Guests can watch video of Billy Graham delivering sermons or see memorabilia from 80 years of ministry, as well as a telegram from Ruth Bell Graham to her parents asking permission to marry Billy and letters from U.S. presidents.

The library building looks like a barn from the outside, a nod to Graham’s upbringing on a dairy farm. A beautiful window shaped like a cross welcomes visitors to the building. Groups can reserve a guided tour of the property, along with a lunch at the Graham Brothers Dairy Bar. Groups that visit the library can also tour Graham’s childhood home, which was brought to the property when the library opened from his family’s dairy farm about four miles away. The home is full of Graham family memorabilia. Billy and Ruth are buried on the property, and visitors are welcome at the site. billygrahamlibrary.org

Ararat Ridge Zoo at the Ark Encounter

Christ of the Ozarks at the Great Passion Play Courtesy Answers in Genesis

“The Holy Family” at The Great Passion Play Courtesy Crescent Hotel

By Chip Ford, courtesy the Great Pasion Play

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 33

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA As the oldest city in America, St. Augustine, Florida, has a rich religious history dating back to the city’s founding by the Spanish in 1565. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine was America’s first parish.

Groups interested in learning more about the church and its history can opt for a self-guided tour or the behind-the-scenes tour, which takes visitors into areas of the building that are not traditionally open to the public. Tour stops include the choir loft, the sacristy, the confessional, the baptistery and the chapel. Visitors learn about the church’s 400-year history, see the paintings and stained-glass windows in the chapel and peek at the cathedral’s own relic, a bone fragment of St. Augustine that is encased in a golden bust of the saint.

The cathedral was built in a combination of Neoclassical and Spanish Mission styles and features bell gables, wooden beams and clay roof tiles. The church got a much-needed facelift in 1966, and in 1976, Pope Paul VI raised the cathedral to minor basilica status. dosafl.com/parish/ cathedral-basilica-of-st-augustine

An outdoor exhibit at the Biblical History Center

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

Courtesy Biblical History Center

Courtesy City Museum

Courtesy FloridasHistoricCoast.com

A Biblical History Center experience

Ave Maria Grotto

AVE MARIA GROTTO CULLMAN, ALABAMA The Ave Maria Grotto is on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Cullman, Alabama, that was founded by Germans who settled in the area in the late 1890s. Brother Joseph Zoettl, a monk who came to the monastery when he was just 14 years old, became one of its most influential members.

He built beautiful grottos on the property that feature miniature cement structures he built from everyday items.

Many of the 160-plus structures were based on buildings Zoettl saw when living in Bavaria, and others were modeled after photographs of famous landmarks around the world, including Little Jerusalem, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and St. Peter’s Basilica. Because of their popularity, the grottos were moved in 1934 to the former abbey quarry, which is now a four-acre park. Zoettl continued to add structures to the grotto until his death in 1961. During Christmas, the grotto is beautifully illuminated.

“What we are trying to do at the grotto is provide an oasis of peace in these awful times we face,” said Roger Steele, director of the Ave Maria Grotto. avemariagrotto.com

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going on faith [ spring 2021 ]

Courtesy Ave Maria Grotto

Courtesy Biblical History Center

BIBLICAL HISTORY CENTER LAGRANGE, GEORGIA The mission of the Biblical History Center in LaGrange, Georgia, is to help people encounter the ancient biblical world, history and culture. The way it does that is through interactive programming. The site offers guided tours through its archaeological replica garden that consists of more than 25 exhibits, from an ancient grain silo and grape press to a tent made of goat hair.

“It is the full experiential place when it comes to wanting to deepen your faith,” said Carlos Cantu, executive director for the center. “We don’t lean toward any denomination. Our goal here isn’t to proposition spiritual relocation but to present archaeological insight and historical context of where we’re coming from.”

Docents at the site dress in ancient attire, taking guests on a trip through biblical times. The Biblical Life Artifacts Gallery presents more than 250 artifacts on long-term loan from the Israel Antiquities Authority. Guests also can learn how to make shepherd’s bread or take part in a recreation of an archaeological dig.

For the more technologically advanced visitor, the center offers an augmented reality history where you can point your phone at QR codes and interact with different exhibits. Its most unusual offering is the Biblical Meal, a four-course meal that includes foods from ancient meal practices, including Passover and the Last Supper. biblicalhistorycenter.com

He walked the line with Johnny Cash.

For the last 34 years of his life, Johnny Cash enjoyed a deep friendship with Billy Graham. They often fished together, prayed together, and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ to thousands together. Their Gospel message transcended culture, age, politics, and race— and touched music legends, sports heroes, movie stars, presidents, and people just like you. Bring your group to the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., and invite them to see for themselves. It’s part movie, part exhibit, and

totally inspiring.

©2021 BGEA

A ministry of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

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