Going On Faith Spring 2022

ON T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R FAITH-BASED TRAVEL PLANNERS VOL. 25 - NO. 1

SPRING 2022

AMISH ENCOUNTERS T R AV E L I N G

ROUTE 66 KANSAS CITY,

K A NSAS SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

VISIT INDIANA’S TOP GROUP DESTINATION From the authentic and engaging to the quirky and creative, Northern Indiana’s Amish Country offers memory making experiences for groups of all ages and sizes.

Wander scenic backroads along the Heritage Trail enjoying the popular Brown Bag or Meet the Makers Amish Tours.

Learn how to make Cinnamon Rolls from Elaine, ride in Carolyn’s horse drawn buggy, laugh at Laverne’s crazy jokes in his basket shop and go back to school in a one-room-Amish schoolhouse. You’ll have fun and love every minute of these authentic group exclusive experiences in Northern Indiana!

Experience variety and family-friendly events for all ages offering continuous programs including classic cars, tractors, horses, or crafts, combined with food and entertainment at the Michiana Event Center (the MEC)!

Planning your next group tour is easy, include one of these specialty events: March Tractor Pull, July Professional Bull Riding, August Auto Mania, September 3-day craft fair, October Circus and December Noel Christmas Show.

Scan the QR code with your phone to learn more.

Contact Sonya Nash, CTIS, CTP at 800.262.8161 to start planning your next exciting and entertaining group-friendly tour to Northern Indiana!

Plan your next group experience at VisitElkhartCounty.com/groups

GOF

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

SPRING 2022

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Kansas City, Kansas

The Kansas side of this border city offers exciting options for church groups.

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Historic Route 66 Groups still get their kicks on this iconic American highway.

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Keeping It Simple Timeless treasures await in Amish communities throughout the country.

DEPARTMENTS Columns 6 EDITOR’S NOTES: An Ode to the Road ON THE COVER: A white bonnet and simple blue dress are hallmark clothing items in America’s Amish communities.

Photo by HKPNC.

Mac T. Lacy Founder and Publisher

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Conference

Spotlights

8 PANAMA CITY BEACH will showcase its natural beauty and fun amenities for Going On Faith Conference attendees.

Christine Clough Copy Editor

Charles A. Presley Partner

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Brian Jewell VP & Executive Editor

Ashley Ricks Graphic Design/Circulation

Herb Sparrow Senior Writer

Sarah Sechrist Controller and Office Manager

34 RETREAT: Potomac Park Retreat and Conference Center

SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE Explore the signature attractions, waterfront destinations and hidden gems of America’s South.

22 The Signature South 26 The Waterfront South 30 The Undiscovered South

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales and Marketing

888.253.0455

Kyle Anderson Director of Advertising Sales

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.

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

AN ODE TO

EDITOR’S

NOTES BRIAN JEWELL

W

THE ROAD

hat’s your favorite part of a road trip?

Like any tradition, the great American road trip creates a lot of memories, and everyone will have their own favorite elements. Some of the habits I formed early in life still follow me on the highway today.

So here are some of my favorite parts of traveling over the road, along with tips on how you can integrate them into a group experience.

1) Tempting Treats Taking a road trip means stopping periodically for gas and restrooms. I look forward to convenience store snacks and drinks as part of the road trip ritual and allow myself to enjoy guilty pleasures I would otherwise avoid.

When you’re traveling on a motorcoach with dozens of people, stopping at a gas station isn’t always feasible. But you can re-create some of the road trip thrill by stocking the coach with a variety of snacks and drinks.

2) Scenic Surroundings The United States is home to some of the most impressive scenery anywhere in the world, and road trips offer the opportunity to soak in the sights as you go. I often enjoy the views from the interstate, and traveling backroads can be even better.

When you plan trips for groups, leave enough time in your itinerary to admire the scenery as you go. Include a slower jaunt on a scenic byway here and there. And if the weather is good, pull off for a photo stop at a scenic overlook or two along the way.

3) Notable Novelties The 20th-century boom in America’s driving culture led to the emergence of roadside attractions. Ranging from the kitschy to the awe-inspiring, these attractions offer a unique sense of place during road trips and can help break up the monotony of highway travel.

If your tours involve travel days covering several hundred miles over the road, do some research ahead of time to find some roadside attractions to keep everyone stimulated and entertained.

4) Leisurely Listening There’s nothing quite like cranking up the volume on your favorite song when you drive alone on the highway. Whatever your audio format of choice — radio, longform albums, podcasts or audiobooks — road trips offer opportunities for uninterrupted listening rarely found in daily life.

On your tours, leave some time during road trips with no guide commentary or other distractions to allow people to enjoy some quality audio experiences.

5) Compelling Conversations Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had took place during road trips, with hours to kill and little else to do but talk. Highway conversations can range from deep and meaningful to spontaneous and funny, but they’re often a highlight of time on the road.

You can help facilitate great conversations on your trips by encouraging people to rotate seats and offering some compelling icebreakers to get them talking.

BRIAN JEWELL [ EDITOR ] brianj@grouptravelleader.com

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going on faith [ spring 2022 ]

GO FOR THE GULF PANAMA CITY BEACH MAKES A PICTURE-PERFECT DESTINATION FOR THE GOING ON FAITH CONFERENCE

GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE PREVIEW

The Panama City Beach area features 27 miles of white-sand beaches on the Florida panhandle.

C

BY DA N DICKSON

hurch and religious group travel planners have myriad options available to them if they want their people to spend time in warm, sunny Florida. But not everyone wants to vacation in busy settings like Miami, with its big-city international flair, or Orlando, known for its pulsating theme and water parks, or the many cities hugging the east and west coasts of the state.

Some prefer the quiet atmosphere of northwest Florida’s Panhandle, specifically the Panama City

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going on faith [ spring 2022 ]

Beach area, where the Gulf of Mexico meets St. Andrew Bay. The 27 miles of beaches along this stretch remind many of how Florida used to be. That does not mean old-fashioned and dull, just a quieter and slower-paced atmosphere. The area offers almost every outdoor activity imaginable. Add to that an average of 320 days of sunshine per year and an average year-round temperature of 77 degrees, and the setting becomes quite appealing. Another plus:

The coastline along Panama City Beach angles slightly toward the west, which means you can watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico every day of the year. It is a true American beach town.

BEACH ADVENTURES

“There are so many different types of beaches along that 27 miles,” said Renee Wuerdeman, vice president of sales for Visit Panama City Beach, the

A paddleboarding adventure

Pier Park

A beachside treat

All photos courtesy Visit Panama City Beach

local convention and visitors bureau. “We have the wide-open white beaches and emerald-green water.

Those alone are the destination within our destination because there is so much to do on the water and sand.”

The fun starts with swimming, playing, relaxing, socializing and soaking up the sun. From that you can launch into anything else you might want to do.

For example, said Wuerdeman, younger people may love to participate in adventure and ecotourism

“WE HAVE THE WIDE-OPEN WHITE BEACHES AND EMERALD-GREEN WATER. THOSE ALONE ARE THE DESTINATION WITHIN OUR DESTINATION BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO ON THE WATER AND SAND.”

while older people may want to get on a boat, cruise the bay and watch the dolphins. “And in between is every pleasurable thing to do in the outdoors, plus city attractions like restaurants, shopping and amusements,” she said. “So there is, as they say, something for all age groups.”

The overall variety of Panama City Beach is one reason the next Going On Faith Conference will be held at the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf and Spa Resort, September 13-15. This will be a wonderful

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

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opportunity for religious travel planners to see the area and talk to local tourism agents and to consider taking their groups there to enjoy the sun and sand.

Another major hotel site that religious travel planners might consider using is the Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort, a place where you can simply walk out the building’s doors and onto the beach.

Local tourism officials are eager to welcome faith-based groups to their city.

“We have wanted to get the Going On Faith Conference here for probably four years,” said Wuerdeman. “I know the importance of the religious market, and I know of the economic power of these groups and what they can bring to your destination.”

Wuerdeman said these church groups are great for Panama City Beach. The groups are of varied sizes; they are willing to fly or travel there in motorcoaches; and the people love to do social trips with friends and fellow church members. “They are exactly who we are after,” she said.

ACCESS AND AMENITIES

Panama City Beach is served by Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, located just 20 miles from this coastline city of 13,000 people. Flying in is easy with seasonal direct flights from such major cities as Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Denver, Washington and more. Others prefer to drive to Panama City Beach from neighboring states such as Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The CVB estimates the area has 20,000 guest rooms in every price range.

This includes hotels, condominiums, town homes, resorts and villas.

Church travel planners will be happy to know that Panama City Beach has five

SkyWheel at sunset

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going on faith [ spring 2022 ]

religious retreat centers. One of them is Laguna Beach Christian Retreat, which is an excellent choice for Christian groups and families; it is on a quiet, uncrowded stretch of beach, which helps promote the proper atmosphere for ministry.

Laguna Beach has eight acres of private grounds, varied accommodations, 13 swimming pools, sports courts, commercial kitchens and home-style catering. In addition, there are 20 meeting rooms and a 700-seat chapel.

The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily put the brakes on several hotel and condo projects in the area, but now things have loosened up and work is getting done. These new units are being built primarily for tourists, not residents, so there will be even more choices for visitors. Due to open soon are a new Embassy Suites and a Hyatt Place, among others.

EAST END EXPLORATIONS

The east end of Panama City Beach is where you can find the Grand Lagoon, known as the Gateway to the Gulf. There are many ways to explore the water.

Fishing is perennially popular. The area offers all kinds of coastal, migration and reef fishing, as well as blue-water fishing, which means starting at 50 miles offshore. Guided fishing charters are available. Some call the area the Seafood Capital of the South. A handful of local restaurants will even let visitors bring in their personal catches for cooks to prepare. Red snapper is a popular catch found often in the area.

“We have a huge sports fishing community here,” said Wuerdeman. “We even produce a popular nationally syndicated fishing show on the Discovery Channel called ‘Chasin’ the Sun.’” The show features two local fishing guides taking a few anglers out on their small boat and into every watery corner of the Panama City

Beach area looking for an interesting catch.

In addition to fishing, people love to go diving, snorkeling, kayaking, wind surfing and parasailing, as well as on scenic boat tours. At the far eastern tip of Panama City Beach are beautiful St. Andrews State Park and Shell Island, an uninhabited barrier island. There are two piers in the area for fishing and getting wonderful views of the whole area, as well as nature trails popular for bird-watching.

Travelers will get to see wild things at ZooWorld, a combination zoo and botanical conservatory, where they can see animals from around the globe, including big cats, monkeys, big snakes and parrots.

Special experiences include feeding an alligator and petting a lemur.

POPULAR ATTRACTIONS

Another popular family attraction is Gulf World Marine Park. Daily shows showcase creatures such as sea lions, dolphins and trained birds. There are also penguins, sharks and alligators to see.

The east end also offers land-based activities to keep everyone happy. City Pier is a major landmark in Panama City Beach, and people love to walk it to watch people and to snack and play games along the way. Across the street is Pier Park, a 1 millionsquare-foot open-air complex with 125 top retailers, dozens of restaurants, and attractions like the 170-foot-tall SkyWheel, a Ferris wheel. There is also the SkyRail for zip lining and an astonishing Imax theater. The area also has several fine golf courses, including one that was created by the team at Nicklaus Design.

The west end of Panama City Beach is a quieter place than the east end, and that may be fine for a lot of people. One place every visitor should explore in this area is Camp Helen State Park. It is bordered on three sides by water, including Lake Powell, a rare coastal dune lake.

Nearby Conservation Park is quite unusual. It is a protected area of wetlands, cypress forests and wildlife. People can hike or bike over 12 different trails or travel on boardwalks suspended above the water-covered forest floor. Critters are everywhere and will probably see you before you see them.

The history of diving is the theme at the Man in the Sea Museum on the west end. You can view new and old diving equipment, walk through a submarine and see treasures brought up from the ocean’s bottom, some from as far back as the 16th century.

From the east end to the west end, groups can have it any way they like at Panama City Beach: fastpaced or slow as you go. going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 11

TRAVEL

SNAP SHOT

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS

BY ELIZABET H H EY

E

Top: Groups can have tea and povitica, an Eastern European dessert, at Kansas City’s Strawberry Hill Museum.

Bottom: A stop on the Taco Trail

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going on faith [ spring 2022 ]

mbedded in the culture of Kansas City, Kansas, there’s a rich history waiting to be explored.

Within the Strawberry Hill community, where Eastern Europeans once settled, traditions and food are still celebrated.

During the Civil War era, the historic town of Quindaro became a significant stop on the Underground Railroad.

Nestled within Wyandotte County, the nation’s second most diverse community, the city celebrates its current ethnic majorities with experiences such as the new Taco Trail, which features more than 50 local taquerias.

Coupled with welcoming Midwestern hospitality and abundant sports events, cuisine and shopping, Kansas City is well-rounded and filled with interesting diversions.

“We’re a great stopover for group tours, and we like to work with Tour Kansas to tie in specific attractions all across the state,” said Kerry Green, services manager at Visit Kansas City Kansas.

At the epicenter of Kansas City lies Village West. Built around the Kansas Speedway, this district offers plentiful shopping from major retailers at Legends

All photos courtesy Visit Kansas City KS

Outlets KC, as well as Cabela’s and Nebraska Furniture Mart. Restaurants within the district run the gamut from Asian to barbecue and Mexican cuisine.

Lodging options include the Northwoodsstyle Great Wolf Lodge, which features a family-friendly indoor water park filled with waterslides, pools and whirlpools.

Children’s Mercy Park in Village West is home to Sporting Kansas City, the 2013 Major League Soccer Champions. KC Current, a member of the National Women’s Soccer League, also competes there, and a future stadium for the team is in the works. In partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Kansas City Monarchs baseball team plays next door at Legends Field. Nearby, the Kansas Speedway hosts races throughout the year, plus more than 200 annual events, including the American Royal World Series of Barbeque.

“As part of the larger Kansas City metropolitan area, our city within a city is a very accessible hub,” said Green.

“Downtown Kansas City [Missouri] is just across the Missouri River. Lawrence and historic Leavenworth are less than 30 minutes away and make fun day trips.”

Strawberry Hill Museum

STRAWBERRY HILL Decidedly unique, the Strawberry Hill Museum and Cultural Center celebrates the culture of the area’s Eastern European residents. Built in 1887, the Victorian Queen Anne-style home became an orphanage during World War I, and the lovely chapel used by local nuns is still open. Guided tours highlight the many rooms, which are decorated to represent the various cultures and countries represented. During the Christmas season, the rooms showcase cultural traditions, and the chapel displays approximately 100 Nativity scenes. A traditional lunch can be served featuring cabbage rolls and Strawberry Hill povitica, a traditional Eastern European dessert bread served during the holiday season. Groups often visit the off-site Strawberry Hill Bakery before touring the museum.

SPORTS GALORE At Children’s Mercy Park, 90-minute guided tours highlight the pitch, locker room and press box.

At Legends Field, each of the 6,500 seats is within 50 feet of the playing field. Zip KC soars high above the Kansas River bluffs on nine zip lines that reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, and its Night Flight tour zips under the stars with glow sticks, lasers and headlamps. Kansas Speedway fans can opt for a behind-the-scenes tour or the Richard Petty Driving Experience, riding shotgun in a NASCAR stock car driven by a professional instructor.

Kansas City Monarchs

Children’s Mercy Park

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 13

QUINDARO AND THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD The Underground Railroad Museum, John Brown statue and Quindaro ruins offer a glimpse into the past. The museum is housed in the former Vernon Elementary School, and local guides recount the history of the Underground Railroad and the story of Quindaro and its people. There, slaves forded the Missouri River to settle in the free state of Kansas. Across the street, the lifesize, bronze statue of John Brown stands as an icon of the Kansas Underground Railroad. One block away, a scenic overlook offers views of the Missouri River and the town ruins. Wilson’s Pizza, owned by a longtime resident, makes a tasty lunch stop.

The John Brown memorial at Quindaro

Tacos at El Pollo Rey

CULINARY NOTES Highlighting the city’s Latin American community, the popular Taco Trail launched in 2020, featuring street tacos, Tex-Mex-style tacos and more. A smartphone app allows visitors to check out each spot and earn prizes. At Cider Hill Family Orchard, groups can hop on a hayride through the pick-your-own orchard filled with more than 1,000 apple trees, enjoy the pumpkin patch, fish in catch-and-release ponds, dine on barbecue and peruse the gift shop. Located on Southwest Boulevard, Spicin Foods creates specialty sauces, salsas and snacks for wholesale, retail and private label. Visitors tour the manufacturing facility and shop for “seconds” at bargain prices that aren’t available at retail.

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ST I L L

KICKING

B Y RO B I N ROENKER

ROUT E 6 6 OF F E RS GROUPS ICONIC AMERICANA EXPERIENCE S

Larger-than-life neon signs, like this one for the Big Texas Steak Ranch, are a quintessential part of the Route 66 experience.

Pops in Oklahoma City

Courtesy Visit OKC

The end of the road in Santa Monica

Courtesy Santa Monica Travel & Tourism

Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch

Courtesy Travel Texas

T

Courtesy Travel Texas

he “Mother Road” is nearing a major milestone: In 2026, Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Since its commissioning in 1926, the legendary road, which originally ran from Chicago to California, has been a beacon for generations of Americans traveling west in pursuit of new destinations and new adventures.

Today, visitors can still indulge in the nostalgic embrace of a road trip from yesteryear in the form of vintage signs, kitschy roadside attractions and historic cafes along well-preserved sections of the iconic route. But there’s also plenty of modern fun to be had along “The Great Diagonal Way,” including lots to see and do in essential Route 66 cities, several of which are spotlighted here. going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 15

Christ in the Smokies Museum and Gardens

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS In Springfield, Illinois, visitors can enjoy multiple attractions synonymous with the highway, including the Cozy Dog Drive In, a family-run Route 66 diner that’s been serving up its beloved hot dogs on a stick since 1949. Along with great food, the stop offers a selection of Route 66-related memorabilia and souvenirs.

The city’s Ace Sign Co. Sign Museum houses more than 85 original neon signs that once graced Springfield’s Route 66 corridor. And no exploration of the city’s Route 66 heritage would be complete without a visit to the Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum, which, in addition to being a good spot to grab a burger, is also home to an impressive collection of vintage roadside signage, as well as diner and motorsport memorabilia.

In Auburn, Illinois, roughly 20 minutes from Springfield, a picturesque, 1.4-mile-long, hand-laid brick section of the original Route 66, which was laid in 1931 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers an excellent photo stop for any journey along the byway.

“If you’re a road tripper or just somebody who wants to stand on the brick Route 66, you can do that there,” said Sarah Waggoner, tourism manager for the Springfield Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s a really neat experience.”

Beyond the allure of Route 66 itself, there’s plenty to see and do in Springfield, beginning with tours of the history-packed Lincoln Home National Historic Site, where Lincoln lived from 1844 to 1861. Lincoln fans will also want to visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, where exhibits and artifacts highlight the life of the 16th president. visitspringfieldillinois.com JOPLIN, MISSOURI Route 66 runs through the heart of historic downtown Joplin, Missouri.

Groups can stop by the city’s visitors bureau, located on the corner of Sixth and Main, to pick up Route 66 postcards, magnets and travel tips.

The city’s downtown is also home to many fun and eclectic shops, restaurants and art galleries, so visitors can easily spend hours exploring portions of the city’s Route 66 corridor by foot.

“When you actually get to the heart of Route 66 downtown, there is a lot of upscale shopping and specialty restaurants,” said Kerstin Landwer, assistant director for Visit Joplin.

Every Thursday evening from March through October, groups can enjoy Thursday on Main Street, a free downtown festival with food trucks and live music, as well as open art galleries and extended restaurant hours.

Throughout downtown, colorful public art murals, many of them created during rebuilding following the devastating tornado in 2011, speak to the city’s vibrancy and resiliency.

While in Joplin, visitors should make time to explore the Joplin History and Mineral Museum, which houses exhibits on the city’s early mining history, as well as its Route 66 heritage and ties to infamous robbers Bonnie and Clyde. visitjoplinmo.com

Nighttime on Route 66 in Gallup

Courtesy New Mexico True

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Courtesy Christ in the Smokies A Route 66 café in Oklahoma City Courtesy Visit OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY Vintage architecture fans will find plenty to enjoy in Oklahoma City at stops like the Gold Dome, a geodesic dome built in 1958, and the Milk Bottle Building, a triangular 1930s-era structure that had a milk bottle added to its top as advertising in the 1940s.

In the city’s Uptown district, the historic Tower Theatre, with its intact, 1930s-era neon marquee, now hosts movies, live music and entertainment events. Not far away, Cheever’s Café, housed in a building that was for many decades a florist shop, now serves steaks, seafood and salads surrounded by unique, Art Deco ambiance.

In nearby Arcadia, Oklahoma, Pops, with its 66-foot-tall soda pop bottle outside and 500 flavors of soda inside, is a service station, a convenience store and a restaurant that has become a go-to Route 66 stop, offering a convenient spot to refuel and recharge.

For overnight accommodations, groups can book rooms at the Classen Inn, which has recently been refurbished to its classic 1960s glory.

“It’s very cool,” said Sandy Price, vice president of tourism sales for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It was renovated in 2020, and they’ve really furnished it back to the era.”

This summer, June 18-19, Oklahoma City will host the first-ever Route 66 Road Fest at the OKC Fairgrounds complete with vintage cars, musical acts, exhibits and vendors. The event is expected to become an annual attraction leading up to the 100th anniversary of Route 66. visitokc.com AMARILLO, TEXAS The Cadillac Ranch, one of the most iconic roadside attractions in the U.S. since its creation in 1974, features 10 Cadillacs with their noses buried in the ground alongside Route 66 just west of Amarillo, Texas. Admission is free, and visitors are welcome to add their own artistic flourish to the cars with a simple can of spray paint or two.

Route 66 runs through downtown Amarillo, where more than 60 antique shops and boutiques offer plenty to explore. When groups get hungry, they can try their luck at the 72-ounce steak challenge at the Big Texan Steak Ranch, a historic Route 66 diner that now sits near Interstate 40, a location easily found thanks to the 60-foot neon cowboy sign.

For a break from the road, groups can get some fresh air at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, a roughly 20-minute drive from Amarillo, where “The Grand Canyon of Texas” offers 30 miles of hiking trails. visitamarillo.com

Springfield’s Cozy Dog Drive In

A Route 66 mural in Joplin Courtesy Springfield IL CVB

GALLUP, NEW MEXICO In New Mexico, Route 66 travels through Gallup, home to the annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, a marquee event hosted each August that draws Indigenous peoples from throughout New Mexico, across the U.S. and around the world. In 2002, the event will be hosting its centennial celebration August 4-14.

At any time of year, groups can enjoy the city’s many public murals via a downtown walking tour or enjoy a movie or live theater event at the city’s historic El Morro Theatre, which opened in 1928 just one block off Route 66.

Fans of vintage signage will want to visit “Motel Row” on Gallup’s Route 66, where original neon signs like the Lariat Lodge marquee and the treeshaped Blue Spruce Lodge logo hearken to bygone eras.

“Gallup has a long history as a trading post,” said Nicole Barker, media relations manager for the New Mexico Tourism Department.

“Today, it showcases Western wares and works by Diné and Zuni Pueblo artists and artisans.”

Shops like the Silver Dust Trading Company on Route 66 offer jewelry made by artisans at the nearby Zuni Pueblo, for example. Nearby, Zimmerman’s Western Wear features Stetson hats and Pendleton wool goods, and Richardson’s Trading Company sells both Native American and Western decor.

After exploring the downtown shops, groups can book an overnight stay at the city’s historic El Rancho Hotel, which has greeted guests to Route 66 since 1936. visitgallup.com SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA Route 66 ends at the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, where groups can take a photo at the “End of the Trail” sign and bask in the beauty of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Book some shopping time at Third Street Promenade, just east of the pier, where open-air shopping plazas are filled with both high-end designer boutiques and eclectic mom-and-pop shops.

Just be sure to plan some fun-in-the-sun time on any Santa Monica trip, since wide-open beach space is plentiful at the city’s municipal beach.

“The Santa Monica State Beach is public, and it’s vast. It’s one of the largest sandbars in the entire state of California,” said Ozzie Otero, sales and services manager for Santa Monica Travel and Tourism. “You could go there and be hundreds of feet from the next nearest person. Catching a sunset there is magical.” santamonica.com

Courtesy Visit Joplin

Ace Sign Co. Sign Museum in Springfield Courtesy Springfield IL CVB

Oklahoma City’s Milk Bottle Grocery

A neon sign in Gallup Courtesy New Mexico True

Courtesy Visit OKC

Zuni nation members at Gallup’s Red Rock Park

Courtesy New Mexico True

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 17

SIMPLE

PLEASURES

A M I S H DE S T IN AT ION S A RE PERENNIALLY POPULAR WITH CHURCH G R O U P S B Y KEVIN OS BOU RN

The Amish Village in Pennsylvania Dutch Country Courtesy DiscoverLancaster.com

The pastry case at northern Indiana’s Essenhaus Inn Courtesy Elkhart Co. CVB

An Amish farm in northern Indiana

A buggy ride in Ohio’s Holmes County Courtesy Holmes Co. CCTB

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going on faith [ spring 2022 ]

Courtesy Elkhart Co. IN CVB

T

raveling to America’s Amish destinations is popular with tour groups because the trips offer an uplifting escape to a pastoral culture centered on faith and family-friendly entertainment.

According to the Elizabethtown College Young Center, the three largest Amish settlements are Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Holmes County, Ohio; and the Elkhart/LaGrange counties area of northern Indiana.

Visiting communities where Christian beliefs are so central to daily life holds a special attraction to faith groups. They enjoy visiting craftspeople, savoring delicious cooking, and traveling roads where horses and buggies are the common mode of travel.

It’s an unplugged life, enjoyed at a slower pace, with scenic tours and multiple crafts from basket weaving to quilting, along with wineries, dinner theaters and concerts.

Visitors love learning about Amish beliefs and their peaceful antidotes to modern life, and that’s why the three largest settlements rank as major tour destinations.

“The Amish faith seeps into everything in a good way,” said Tiffany Gerber, executive director of Ohio’s Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. “It’s family values and family traditions.”

OHIO AMISH COUNTRY One of the most popular destinations for faith groups visiting Holmes County is the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center in Berlin, Ohio. It informs visitors about the varied faiths and lifestyles of the Amish and similar peoples, including the Mennonites and the Hutterites.

The center features a massive cyclorama mural that depicts the story of the Amish. They upset Europe’s religious community by promoting adult baptism and yet chose nonviolence in the face of persecution.

Not far from the Amish Center are many other popular attractions, including the Farm at Walnut Creek, Yoder’s Amish Home, the Village Antique Emporium, the Millersburg Glass Museum, the Holmes County Courthouse, Heini’s Cheese Chalet, Guggisberg Cheese and the Holmes County Historical Society.

Those wanting to experience local culture often take a backroad tour in a buggy to visit basket-makers, buggy builders or a family-owned store.

There are two theaters featuring comedy, concerts and plays: the Amish Country Theater in downtown Berlin and the Ohio Star Theater in nearby Sugarcreek.

Another local gem is the 23-mile Holmes County Trail. Built on a former

Ohio’s Amish Country Theater

Courtesy Holmes Co. CCTB

railroad bed, the trail features a canopy of trees for walkers, runners, bicyclists and buggy drivers. Trail users can even rent an electric bike.

Gerber, the Holmes County tourism director, said that guests appreciate that faith, family and community are evident in Amish and non-Amish locals alike.

“When visitors come here, they feel safe,” she said. visitamishcountry.com PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COUNTRY William Penn established Pennsylvania as a haven for religious freedom, so it seems entirely appropriate that many Amish settled there in Lancaster County. The county is the largest Amish settlement in the nation, according to the Young Center at Elizabethtown College.

The Amish culture and multitude of attractions attract groups year after year, said Joel Cliff, director of communications for Discover Lancaster.

Among these attractions are grand auctions, called mud sales because so many people walk in the fields where the auctions occur.

“It’s the simplicity of the lifestyle, the steadfastness of faith and family, and all the beauty of Lancaster County,” he said. “Those things are all interlinked with the Amish businesses and tour attractions.”

To learn about the culture, people visit the Amish Village and the Amish Farm and House, both in Lancaster. Also popular is the Amish Experience at Bird-inHand, which features a multimedia show that explains Amish history called “Jacob’s Choice.”

Northeast of Lancaster, the Ephrata Cloister offers tours of the grounds; there, a community of believers sought union with God and prepared for Christ’s second coming.

Visitors also enjoy the Lititz Moravian Church and museum to learn about the history of the Moravians; they can then walk the beautiful main street of Lititz to visit shops like Moravian House Antiques and the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery.

The Sight and Sound Theatre offers epic live musical productions of the stories of biblical characters from Moses to Jesus. Show sets tower above audiences and include trained animals and spectacular special effects.

Through the end of the year, Sight and Sound will showcase “David,” the story of the fearless warrior from the Old Testament. discoverlancaster.com going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 19

A Holmes County cyclorama Courtesy Holmes Co. CCTB

A traditional Amish dinner at Northern Indiana’s Essenhaus Inn

NORTHERN INDIANA AMISH COUNTRY For groups wanting an unforgettable escape, northern Indiana’s Amish country offers a fabulous place to unplug and recharge, said Sonya Nash, director of group and experiential sales and marketing at the Elkhart Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“These are people who live very simply and welcome visitors and groups into their homes and businesses,” said Nash.

Because of strong interest in the origins and traditions of the Amish, hundreds of craftspeople built the barn for the Menno-Hof Visitors Center in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Across from the Menno-Hof, the Shipshewana Trading Place boasts a flea market the size of 30 football fields and the title of largest flea market in the Midwest.

There are many Shipshewana vendors, like Ben’s Soft Pretzels, where guests sample giant pretzels and can sign up for a pretzel-making class.

In Nappanee, Indiana, the Round Barn Theater is the main draw with a spring lineup that features “Beauty and the Beast,” and tours of Amish homes and farms, along with horse-and-buggy rides, are available.

Another favorite is a center of boutiques housed in the renovated building of the famous Hoosier Cabinet. Called Coppes Commons, its stores sell everything from antiques to gourmet popcorn. The selection of vendors in Nappanee ranges from bakeries to candy stores to restaurants and includes non-Amish treasures like Hunter’s Hideaway.

Just north of Nappanee live people from the Old Order Mennonite community of Wakarusa.

Visitors can step back in time and enjoy Wakarusa Pro Hardware, with its original hardwood floors and merchandise stored in more than 1,000 wood drawers that reach from floor to ceiling.

To satisfy a sweet tooth, the Wakarusa Dime Store sells jelly beans with flavors from jumbo chocolate-covered cherry to assorted fruit, along with many fine candies.

Near the Michigan border lies the town of Middlebury, Indiana. At Das Dutchman Essenhaus, guests dine on time-tested Amish recipes and can book a room, hold a conference or sample products made on-site.

Tour groups of all kinds go to northern Indiana to travel roads that Life magazine named among America’s most scenic drives and to disconnect from the stress of modern life.

“It’s a higher and different belief,” said Nash, “and it’s very appealing to groups because these folks have figured out a way to be healthy and happy.” visitelkhartcounty.com

Courtesy Elkhart Co. IN CVB

Coppes Commons in Nappanee

A traditional hardware store in Elkhart

A calf in Holmes County

Courtesy Elkhart Co. IN CVB

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Courtesy Holmes Co. CCTB

Courtesy Elkhart Co. IN CVB

A Lancaster byway

AMISH INFLUENCE CONTINUES TO GROW The Amish influence continues to expand: The Amish population has doubled over the past 20 years, according to the Young Center at Elizabethtown College.

With large families and high numbers of members who stay, the Amish today have expanded to 31 states and to Canada, Argentina and Bolivia.

Although Amish and similar faiths share many core beliefs, they have many differences in names, dress and rules. That includes differences in the use of technology.

Depending on the order, many Amish use technology, but they do not allow technology to infringe on the foundations of faith, family and community.

“It’s living without distraction,” said Tiffany Gerber, executive director of Ohio’s Holmes County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau.

Ephrata Cloister in Pennsylvania Dutch Country

Photos courtesy DiscoverLancaster.com

PUT MEANING

Travel with Purpose Across North America.

As travelers, we all want rich, authentic, and meaningful travel experiences. As travel professionals, we want to ensure we use travel as a force for good. Through the

ON THE MAP.

Meaningful Travel Map of North America, visitors can connect to locally owned social and environmental impact experiences and opportunities, unique and hands-on cultural experiences, products, and services.

www.meaningfultravelplatform.org/main/map Pictured: Take a cooking class with The League of Kitchens, to build cross-cultural connection and access to traditional cuisine.

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 21

SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

THE SIGNATURE

A new visitor center at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis promises enhanced experiences for groups.

THESE ATTRACTIONS SHOULD BE ON EVERY TRAVELER’S LIST

T

BY PAUL A AVEN GL ADYC H

he South is home to many signature attractions that are must-visits for any group travelers. From the longest-running radio show in the world at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, to one of the most beautiful river gorges in the U.S. in West Virginia, these five iconic stops offer a taste of history and natural wonder.

Georgia Aquarium

Courtesy Georgia Aquarium

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SOUTH GRAND OLE OPRY NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE A legend in country music, the “Grand Ole Opry” radio show got its start in 1925 when Nashville radio station WSM introduced a new show called “The WSM Barn Dance,” featuring live performances by some of the biggest names in country music. Later renamed the “Grand Ole Opry,” it is the longest-running radio show in the world. The show moved to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974.

The theater seats 4,400 fans. More than 6,000 songs are performed during the show each year, and the Opry has welcomed more than 200 members throughout its history, from Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline to Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks.

People come from all over the world to see the Opry’s live shows. Groups can book tickets to see performances or sign up for a daytime backstage tour of the Opry with a guide that will share stories and exclusive photos from some of the biggest moments in the show’s history. They also talk about the country music legends who got their start on the show and continue to grace its stage. Groups can step on the stage and into the famed wooden circle or visit Studio A, a live television studio and the former home of “Hee Haw.” Post-show backstage tours are also available, showing what happens right after performances and offering a closeup look at the Opry’s 18 uniquely themed dressing rooms. opry.com

U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

Courtesy NPS

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center opened in 1970 to showcase Alabama’s contributions to the U.S. space program, including the Saturn V rocket that took America to the moon. It is the official visitor center for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. Displays include the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket, the only one-to-one scale model of a Saturn V, as well as the Apollo 16 capsule that went to the moon, a moon rock and many exhibits that talk about the Apollo

Nashville’s Opry House Courtesy Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry stage Courtesy Grand Ole Opry

missions. The site also has an exhibit about the International Space Station to help visitors understand what it is like for the astronauts who live and work there. The Intuitive Planetarium offers original programming with the latest data and images from NASA’s space telescopes and the Mars rovers. The center is also home to the Space Camp program, which encourages children to become astronauts, engineers and scientists.

Groups can schedule tours of the facility with knowledgeable docents. Many of the center’s docents have worked in the space programs detailed in the museum exhibits and love to tell their first-person accounts as they lead people through the exhibits. The Daily Space Adventure includes general admission to the center and a visit to the planetarium. The Ultimate Field Trip includes general admission, a planetarium show, a guided tour and a one-hour student lab. rocketcenter.com

NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE FAYETTEVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in West Virginia protects the longest and deepest gorge in the Appalachian Mountains, which was carved by the New River. The park encompasses 70,000 acres of dense forest that cover the remains of several coalmining towns from the late 1800s and early 1900s that were built on the banks of the river.

The best preserved coal town of the era, Nuttallburg, has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places because its coal tipple, coal conveyor, coke ovens and buildings are still intact. The town became famous in the 1920s when automobile industrialist Henry Ford leased the town’s mines to provide coal for his company’s steel mills. The park features one of the largest tracts of unfragmented forest in the East.

U.S. Space and Rocket Center Courtesy U.S. Space & Rocket Center

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 23

Groups can take a ranger-led walk or talk at the Grandview visitors center, learning about the area’s diversity of wildlife and plants and its coal-mining history. The overlook at Grandview offers spectacular views of the gorge from 1,400 feet above the river. Many of the park’s major features are easy to access by road, and some are accessible via shorter hikes, including the New River Gorge Bridge, which spans the gorge 876 feet above the river, and Sandstone Falls, the largest waterfall on the New River. Outdoor junkies will want to take a guided whitewater rafting trip through the gorge, hike or bike the many trails, or climb the sandstone cliffs. nps.gov/neri

A shark exhibit at Georgia Aquarium

Glade Creek in West Virginia’s New River Gorge

By Louise McLaughlin, courtesy NPS

The renovated grounds of the Gateway Arch

GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK ST. LOUIS The iconic Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis stands sentinel over the city and the Mississippi River. The 630-foot-tall, stainless-steel landmark, which was completed in 1965, symbolizes the area’s significance as the jumping-off point for western expansion. For many years, there was a small museum in the base of the arch.

In the past few years, the National Park Service spent $380 million to build a 46,000-square-foot space at the base of the arch, which includes a new entrance, additional security and museum space, and an education center for meetings and workshops.

The Gateway Arch museum educates visitors about westward expansion from the perspectives of the many people that have called the area home, including Native Americans and European settlers. Groups can learn about the Louisiana Territory and the Lewis and Clark expedition, Manifest Destiny and how the Gateway Arch came to be built. A 35-minute film, “Monument to the Dream,” gives a detailed account of how and why the arch was built.

The museum is free to visit, and groups can get discounts on tram tours to the top of the arch. Ranger-led tours of the arch are available for larger groups, or planners can arrange for a park ranger to speak to them in more detail about the many themes encapsulated in the museum’s exhibits. nps.gov/jeff

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Courtesy Georgia Aquarium

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

By Gary Hartley, courtesy NPS Courtesy NPS

GEORGIA AQUARIUM ATLANTA Featuring dolphin and sea lion shows and a rare opportunity to see whale sharks in captivity, the Georgia Aquarium is one of the most famous attractions in Atlanta. The aquarium is a research and conservation organization that works with the animals in captivity, as well as those out in nature, to get a better understanding of their natural habitats. This research better informs aquarium staff on how to take care of their marine residents and build better exhibits to help conserve many species.

The largest exhibit at the aquarium, “Ocean Voyager,” is a 6.3-million-gallon saltwater tank that is home to whale sharks, the largest sharks in the deep, as well as manta rays, a green sea turtle and more than 90 species of brightly colored fish. “Cold Water Quest” is home to penguins, beluga whales and sea otters, all marine animals that live in colder waters.

Visitors to the aquarium can watch many live animal shows daily, from “Dolphins in Depth” to “22.5 the Fin,” the aquarium’s sea lion presentation. There is a 4D theater experience and a state-of-the-art, motion-based, virtual reality ride that transports visitors back in time to see amazing prehistoric marine life.

The 30-minute-long Behind the Seas Tour takes groups to the aquarium’s backstage areas, where they can learn about how the exhibits are maintained and the animals cared for every day. The tour includes a look at the aquarium’s watery residents from the topside galleries. georgiaaquarium.org

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Whether it’s learning about the natural world in Decatur and Gulf Shores, the past and future of space exploration in Huntsville, visiting sights where Rock ‘n Roll hits were made, or the history of the Civil Rights Movement, we can supply you with itineraries for several group tours. Trouble is...deciding which tour to take first. We’ll keep adding to the list, you just keep coming for new adventures. www.alabama.travel To learn how your group can experience Alabama, contact Rosemary Judkins at rosemary.judkins@tourism.alabama.gov or 334-242-4493.

SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

THE WATERFRONT

Groups will find beautiful oceanfronts and plentiful activities in the St. Petersburg area.

RIVERS, BEACHES AND BAYOUS OFFER ENDLESS EXPLORATION

F

BY PAUL A AVEN GL ADYC H

rom marshes and bayous to rivers and barrier islands, the South has much to offer when it comes to waterfront appeal. Group travelers can board boats for wildlife-watching cruises or take guided kayaking adventures along some of the marshes and water features that pepper the area.

These five Southern waterfront destinations also feature some worldclass attractions, including aquariums, botanical gardens and museums.

Kayaking Coastal Mississippi

Courtesy Coastal MS

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SOUTH

Courtesy VisitStPeteClearwater.com

MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Not only is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a prime golf destination with nearly 100 golf courses to choose from, but the area is part of the Grand Strand, a string of 14 communities spread out along 60 miles of beautiful coastline.

Visiting groups wanting to get out on the water have plenty of opportunities, from sunset cruises and dolphin-watching trips to group kayaking adventures.

Swimming, boating and water sports are huge. There are also several great ways to enjoy the water from land.

The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is a half-mile-long boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary that is lined with restaurants and shops. The area also offers live music, charter fishing expeditions, kayaking and water sports.

Ripley’s Aquarium is a huge hit with groups. It offers an indoor glass-bottom boat adventure atop a shark tank, which allows guests to see these denizens of the deep closeup.

Brookgreen Gardens sits on four former rice plantations and showcases natural and cultivated landscapes. Live Oak Allée comprises 250-year-old live oak trees that were planted on the former plantations in the early 1700s. The gardens feature a collection of more than 2,000 sculptures and artworks.

Several tours are offered, including a creek excursion that takes groups out on a pontoon boat past historic rice fields, alligators and other wildlife as they learn about the role enslaved Africans played in the cultivation of rice in the area.

Myrtle Beach is also home to several theaters with daily shows and two state parks with interpretive centers and prime bird-watching. visitmyrtlebeach.com

COASTAL MISSISSIPPI Biloxi, Gulfport and 10 other small towns along the Mississippi coast are fantastic getaways for fans of the water. The beaches in the area are protected by a chain of barrier islands that stretch 160 miles from Mississippi to Florida. The waters are calm and perfect for swimming, sunbathing and paddle sports.

Coastal Mississippi also has 62 miles of scenic shoreline with pine forests,

swamps, bayous, beaches and the Pascagoula River.

Gulf Islands National Seashore offers fishing, biking, hiking and bird-watching. Ship Island is the only island accessible by public ferry. It takes about an hour to reach the island by boat, and passengers are sure to spot dolphins and other wildlife during the crossing. The island is home to Fort Massachusetts, a brick fort used during the Civil War that is open for tours. The other five nearby barrier islands can be reached by charter boat.

Gulf Coast Gator Ranch and Airboat Tours allows visitors to feed alligators, hold baby gators and take an airboat tour through the swamps.

Top attractions include a ride on the Betsy Ann Riverboat out of Biloxi, as well as the Pascagoula River Audubon Center, the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art and the Mississippi Aquarium in Gulfport, which features wildlife from the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River, wetlands and marshes. gulfcoast.org

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA Three of TripAdvisor’s top beaches in the U.S. are near St. Petersburg, including St. Pete and Clearwater beaches, with their crystal-clear turquoise water and soft sugar sand. The city itself sits on Tampa Bay and is considered the arts and culture hub of Florida.

Clearwater Beach has a beach walk with restaurants and shops along the waterfront; Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill is the home of St. Petersburg’s famous grouper sandwich. The $92 million St. Pete Pier juts out into Tampa Bay; its offerings include restaurants, bars, art installations, a splash pad for the kids to enjoy and two museums. Groups can learn about the founding of St. Petersburg and its place in history at the St. Petersburg Museum of History, or they can visit the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, which tells the

The Myrtle Beach shoreline

A Myrtle Beach sunset

Ohr-O’Keefe Museum Courtesy Coastal MS

Courtesy Myrtle Beach Area CVB

Courtesy Myrtle Beach Area CVB

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story of Tampa Bay’s vast estuary. The discovery center also offers ecotours that explore Tampa Bay history and the marine life, which includes manatees and dolphins, living in the area.

Art lovers won’t want to miss the Dali Museum, which holds the largest collection of Salvador Dali artwork outside of Spain, and the James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, which features more than 400 works of art, including sculpture, paintings and jewelry. The city has more than 500 street murals. Every year, the city adds 15 to 20 more, making the entire downtown a colorful place to visit. There are walking and biking mural tours, and many of the murals have QR codes to give enthusiasts additional information about the painters and their artwork. visitstpeteclearwater.com

A pirate-themed cruise in St. Petersburg

Exploring the Outer Banks

Courtesy Outer Banks VB

Courtesy VisitStPeteClearwater.com

A historic church in Colonial Beach

An Outer Banks hang gliding adventure

Courtesy Outer Banks VB Courtesy Visit CBVA

THE GOOD WORD ON A GREAT GETAWAY

If you’re looking for the perfect destination for your next faith gathering, this is it.

We’re proud to be nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains and built on wholesome fun for all. With facilities suited for groups from 20 to 12,000, we’re well-versed in making every event a joyful one. Enjoy more than 100 experiences including 28

going on faithmuseums, attractions, shows, shopping, dining, Dollywood and more. [ spring 2022 ]

PigeonForgeMeeting.com Info@LeconteCenter.com

OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA Orville and Wilbur Wright took flight for the first time in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Visitors to the barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina will want to tour the three national park sites within a short drive of Nags Head, the largest town in the Outer Banks and one of the oldest beach communities in North Carolina.

Roanoke Island is between Nags Head and the North Carolina mainland.

Groups can learn about the native Algonquian people and European colonists who settled the area at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. North Carolina Aquarium Roanoke Island is another popular group stop to see native animals, including alligators and sea turtles.

The Wright Brothers National Memorial is a museum and monument to the Wright Brothers and their first flight at Kitty Hawk, and groups can tour Cape Hatteras National Seashore, one of the largest stretches of undeveloped beaches on the East Coast.

The Bodie Island Lighthouse is a few miles outside of Nags Head and is open for climbing from April to October. Nearby, the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center organizes fishing charters in the Gulf Stream to hunt for blue marlin, tuna and grouper.

Nags Head is home to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, a giant mountain of sand in the middle of town that encompasses 426 acres of natural dunes that rise nearly 90 feet above sea level. Groups visiting the park can take hang gliding lessons through Kitty Hawk Kites or hike to the top of the dunes for beautiful panoramic views of the Outer Banks. outerbanks.org

COLONIAL BEACH, VIRGINIA The town of Colonial Beach has the second-longest sand beach in Virginia and is only 65 miles from Washington. Founded in 1651, it is on a peninsula surrounded by the Potomac River and Monroe Bay and is split into several distinct beach areas. Downtown is the busiest waterfront area, with a boardwalk, boutique hotels, water sports, a pier, food trucks and restaurants. North Beach/White Point is a smaller, quieter beach within walking distance of downtown to the north, and several narrow strips of beach extend to the south. The town is in the midst of a $25 million redevelopment that includes townhouses, waterfront condos, a hotel and retail space.

Two state parks nearby offer water sports, hiking, tours and events.

Westmoreland State Park has a beach, a picnic area and a bathhouse with restrooms and showers. The park offers several guided and selfguided walks, including hikes that take visitors on a hunt for fossils and ancient shark teeth at Fossil Beach. Guided kayak tours take visitors out on the Potomac River to learn about the cliffs, birds and area history and include a stop at Fossil Beach.

Caledon State Park is known for its old-growth forest and the American bald eagles that make the park their home during the summer months. The visitor center has bald eagle exhibits, several picnic areas and trails that lead to the Potomac River. visitcbva.com

HUNTSVILLE IS A GO FOR RE-ENTRY Our Mission Is Living Life to the Fullest.

Home to the world’s largest space museum and U.S. Space Camp, “Rocket City” reignites America’s ingenuity and lively spirit. Featuring a vibrant arts and entertainment district, plus a vast number of natural attractions and cuisine offerings, Huntsville, Alabama, is the perfect destination for those who want to see and do it all. ( 8 0 0 ) 8 4 3 - 0 4 6 8 | H U N T S V I LLE. OR G

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 29

SOUTHERN

TRAVEL GUIDE

THE UNDISCOVERED

BAPS Shri Swaminara Yan Mandir, a traditional hindu temple, opened in an Atlanta suburb in 2007.

THESE HIDDEN GEMS WILL SURPRISE AND DELIGHT YOUR GROUPS

T

BY PAUL A AVEN GL ADYC H

he South is full of unique destinations that are not familiar to many people but are well worth a visit.

From animal sanctuaries and museums to spectacular natural wonders, here are a handful of hidden Southern gems that should be at the top of any group travel planner’s itinerary.

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge Courtesy Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

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SOUTH OLD FRIENDS FARM GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY Fans of Thoroughbred racing will want to tour Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. The Thoroughbred retirement facility, which was founded in 2003 by former Boston Globe film critic Michael Blowen, is home to some big names in racing as well as lesser known horses that didn’t quite make it in the big leagues. The farm provides sanctuary and aftercare for horses whose racing and breeding days are over.

Since its founding, Old Friends Farm has grown from a leased paddock with one horse to a 236-acre farm with a herd of 140 rescued and retired racing horses. Blowen founded the facility because he thought horses past their prime could still be valuable. The farm is now a living history museum of horse racing that attracts nearly 20,000 visitors a year.

Groups visiting the facility can take a 90-minute guided walking tour of the farm, seeing about 15 of the farm’s most famous residents, paddock to paddock, including 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm. Tour guides share racing stats, background stories and personality tales about each of the horses, and visitors can even feed the horses treats. After the tour, groups can visit the gift shop.

The Founder’s Tour takes place on Fridays and is a personal tour of the farm with Michael Blowen as the guide. Private tours for larger groups are also available. oldfriendsequine.org

BIEDENHARN MUSEUM AND GARDENS MONROE, LOUISIANA

Courtesy BAPS Atlanta

Biedenharn Museum and Gardens in Monroe, Louisiana, was built by Joe Biedenharn, the first person to bottle Coca-Cola.

“He did not invent the bottle, and he didn’t invent Coke. He just married the two together,” said Ralph Calhoun, executive director of the museum complex.

“It is a big deal in the history of Coca-Cola and the history of marketing.”

Visitors can tour the original house, built by the Biedenharns in 1914, and a small

estate garden. Initially, the home had a modest vegetable garden, but Joe’s daughter, who toured Europe as a singer before World War II, decided to build a formal garden like the ones she had seen overseas. The garden is known for its azaleas, thousands of tulips and crepe myrtle bushes. It also has a small conservatory full of tropical and semitropical plants.

Also on-site is a Coca-Cola museum, the Bible Museum and a museum store. The Coca-Cola museum has a wonderful collection of Coke bottles, old signs, a Model-T Coca-Cola delivery truck and an old-fashioned soda fountain serving Coke. Visitors can get a small, bottled Coke out of the museum’s 25-cent soda machine and listen to a soda jerk tell the history of the beverage. The Bible Museum holds a collection of bibles, many of them from the 1500s and 1600s, including a leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, as well as rotating exhibits that feature biblical art. It has a permanent exhibit of 14 Stations of the Cross sculpted out of bronze by Gib Singleton. bmuseum.org

TURPENTINE CREEK WILDLIFE REFUGE EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge got its start as a big-cat sanctuary 30 years ago. Founded by Don and Hilda Jackson in 1992 as a home for abandoned, abused or neglected lions, tigers, cougars and leopards, the facility has since expanded to care for other animals that need support, including bears and ligers, which are lion/tiger mixes. On 459 acres in the Ozark Mountains, Turpentine Creek has become a haven for animals that have been exploited in roadside zoos or attractions.

The refuge rescued 13 big cats from Jeff and Lauren Lowe’s Tiger King Park in May 2021. In total, 68 big cats were rescued from the facility and dispersed to

Artwork at BAPS

Old Friends Farm Courtesy BAPS Atlanta

By Laura Battles, courtesy Old Friends Farm

Biedenharn Museum and Gardens Courtesy Biedenharn

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 31

accredited sanctuaries across the country. Visitors to the refuge can learn about the various residents and how they came to live in Eureka Springs. The facility emphasizes that it doesn’t buy, sell, trade or breed animals. It only cares for animals that have come from rough situations, including private homes where their owners thought they could safely raise these wild animals.

Group visitors can take a covered tram tour of the facility, stopping at each habitat to learn about the animals’ backstories. The tram can hold up to 70 people at a time. If groups want to stay on-property, there are several lodging units available, including glamping tents and a family-friendly treehouse. Groups can take one tram tour of the refuge daily as part of their stay. turpentinecreek.org

An art exhibit at the Biedenharn Museum

By Daniel Luther, courtesy Biedenharn Museum

Hiking Dismals Canyon in Alabama

A brown bear at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

Courtesy AL Tourism

DISMALS CANYON PHIL CAMPBELL, ALABAMA Dismals Canyon in Phil Campbell, Alabama, is one of the only places in the world where visitors can see thousands of bioluminescent creatures light up the night with a bright blue-green glow. Called dismalites, these glowworms are fungal gnat larvae that glow to attract other flying insects for food. Dismals Canyon is a great home for

A lodge near Dismals Canyon

By Chris Granger, courtesy AL Tourism

Courtesy Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

KENTUCKY

SCOTT COUNTY

KENTUCKY HORSE PARK WARD HALL

TOYOTA

Just 30 miles from the Ark Encounter with..

INTERSTATE

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INTERSTATE

these small creatures, as the humidity prevents them from drying out and there are plenty of places to attach their sticky webs to help them trap their food. They also need a nice supply of insects to feast upon and enough darkness so their prey can see them light up.

Dismals Canyon is full of big, beautiful rock formations covered in green moss. There are 74 steps to get down into the canyon, then a short walk into the formations where the larvae put on their colorful display.

The area also is home to a fungus called foxfire that grows on dead wood and that illuminates as it consumes the wood. Tour guides like to bring different types of light with them on the walk, including an ultraviolet light, to help visitors see other usually toxic creatures that will glow in the dark, such as centipedes that glow green.

The best times to view the dismalites are from April to the second week of June and from September to October. The site recommends that visitors bring red flashlights instead of traditional white light flashlights to help their eyes adapt better to the darkness so they can better see the dismalites in action. dismalscanyon.com

BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR LILBURN, GEORGIA The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple outside of Atlanta opened in August 2007. In traditional Hindu, Mandir is a Sanskrit word with “man,” meaning “mind,” and “dir,” meaning “peace” or “still.” It is a traditional place of worship where the mind attains peace.

The structure, which took a year and a half to build, is made of granite, Turkish limestone, Italian Carrara marble and Indian pink sandstone. The structure is built of 34,671 pieces of stone in traditional Hindu fashion, without metal, and it took over 1.3 million manhours to complete.

The campus encompasses 35 acres and comprises traditional brickand-mortar buildings that are used as an assembly hall, a gymnasium, meeting rooms and classrooms. Before the temple was built, the congregation worshiped in a converted skating rink in a suburb of Atlanta.

The congregation outgrew its space, so members decided to move to this piece of property close to major highways to make it easier to attend. The BAPS is one of many mandirs across the country. Each is unique and beautiful in its own way. Groups larger than 10 people can sign up for a free guided tour of the temple or take the audio tour, which details various aspects of the mandir, which include religion, music, architecture and culture.

A food court on campus serves vegetarian Indian and American food. baps.org

Sunset at the BAPS temple

The intricate interior at BAPS

Photos courtesy BAPS Atlanta

“This year’s group picture will look a lot better from here.”

- Vacation From family reunions to group trips, any outing is better with a dash of a Branson vacation. Plan your next group trip at ExploreBranson.com.

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Potomac Park Retreat and Conference Center offers miniature golf, a coffee shop and a pool, among many other amenities.

POTOMAC PARK

RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER Photos courtesy Potomac Park Retreat and Conference Center

I

BY REBECC A TREON

n a corner of Appalachia where the Potomac River marks the boundary between West Virginia and Maryland, not far from the southern border of Pennsylvania, the Potomac Park Retreat and Conference Center is a secluded escape for mindful ministry in Falling Waters, West Virginia. Owned and operated by the Assemblies of God, the retreat center is part of the Potomac Ministry Network and, though it is open to the public, is exclusively available to Christian-based groups.

“Everything that we do is focused around the idea of a ministry, which makes us unique,” said marketing manager Ashley Haschemeyer. “We are a Christian ministry, and we strive to partner with other Christian ministries, so it isn’t like a public wedding or meeting venue. It’s a private, religious nonprofit.”

On roughly 30 acres, the space is designed with Christian retreats in mind, knowing that groups will want to have worship services, prayer sessions and breakout groups in addition to those on-site activities. The venue offers a range of lodging and meal options, spacious grounds and plenty of recreational opportunities.

With the help of its team of on-site planners and staff, Potomac Park sets the scene for an ideal group retreat.

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LOCATION Falling Waters, West Virginia SIZE: 30 acres CAPACITY: 400 overnight guests CONTACT INFO: 855-929-7722 potomacparkretreat.org

ACCOMMODATIONS Potomac Park offers motel-style and dorm-style accommodations with a capacity for 400 overnight guests. Motel-style rooms are configured with a variety of options, from king-size beds to bunk beds, and a private lavatory and shower; linens and towels are provided. Dorm-style lodging offers shared lavatory facilities, and guests bring their own linens and towels. The Potomac Lodge, offering a more secluded environment, has two bedrooms with dorm-style sleeping, as well as a living room and a kitchen. All lodging has heating and air conditioning.

“We don’t do individual stays — it is all group event based,” said Haschemeyer. “We have several smaller buildings spread across campus. We have rooms that are a little nicer that adults like, and we can accommodate kids in the dorm-style rooms, and it has a camp feel.”

Conveniently, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal plan is included in the per-person cost of each retreat. Groups can choose buffet-style meals in the dining room, upgrade to a banquet meal served tableside or have meals delivered to the meeting rooms. There is an on-site cafe and ice cream shop, Potomac Perks.

MEETING FACILITIES At Potomac Park, one private meeting room with complimentary audiovisual equipment is included in every retreat package, and the cost of the meeting spaces is included in the per-person cost of the retreat. The largest space is the conference center, which can be configured in a number of ways to accommodate groups of up to 700, or 500 seated, in its auditorium. The two side rooms, each with a capacity of 100 guests, can be opened to be a part of the larger auditorium space or closed for private meetings. The auditorium features a stage with a sound board, lighting and full audiovisual capabilities.

Hensley Hall is an informal indoor space with two levels, one for meetings and one for recreational activities, and has space for 400 participants. The Cover Center Meeting and the Schaeffer Conference Room each have a 150-person capacity with various configurations, and there are five additional spaces on the campus for small groups of 10 to 40 people to meet, among them a newly renovated outdoor gazebo.

ACTIVITIES There are plenty of indoor and outdoor activities included in the retreat package at Potomac Park.

Activities are coordinated ahead of time, simplifying things for planners. For an additional fee, the center can provide additional staff to facilitate activities for the group. Outdoor activities include a mini-golf course, soccer, sand volleyball, basketball, baseball, football, a gaga ball pit, an outdoor pool and tennis courts. There are two playgrounds, a serene woodland trail and fields designated for group activities such as games, bonfires and hayrides. Indoors, the gym houses table tennis, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball and a fitness center. There are board games provided, as well as several team-building and ice-breaking games — think tug of war and water balloon toss.

“One of the most popular activities we have at Potomac Park is called Slippery Slopes,” said Haschemeyer. “It’s a big, long hill that is covered in a plastic gridding. You get on a tube and go down — no water or snow or anything required.”

Another option is sister property Pine Creek, roughly 45 minutes away and tucked into the Appalachian hills.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO Potomac Park is on the border of West Virginia and Maryland. It offers easy access to cities like Baltimore and Washington, which are just over an hour’s drive away and offer ample tourist attractions, including the Museum of the Bible and the Smithsonian. It’s also in the heart of Appalachia, offering unrivaled scenery and a chance for groups to reflect on the beauty of nature and explore the region’s small towns.

“We are in that part of West Virginia that is five minutes from Maryland just across the river,” said Haschemeyer. “This area of the country has so much history to it, you can drive about 30 minutes and see a long list of historical sites.”

There are nearby state parks for hiking and other outdoor activities, such as the Yankauer Nature Preserve or the waterfalls at the aptly named Falling Waters. The nearby town of Hagerstown has many retail shops, museums, restaurants and other attractions. The location is also close to historic destinations such as Antietam National Battlefield and Gettysburg, both popular with history buffs.

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ArkEncounter.com Williamstown, KY (south of Cincinnati) an attraction of Answers in Genesis