Going On Faith Summer 2020

ON T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R FAITH-BASED TRAVEL PLANNERS VOL. 23 - NO. 3

SUMMER 2020

ESCAPE TO

N O RT H C A RO L I N A SCENIC

SHORELINES R E S TA RT I N G Y O U R T R AV E L

PROGRAM GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE PREVIEW

Other historical attractions explain the what.

We also shine a light on the why.

COMI N G 2 0 2 1 P HILADEL PHI A , PA To learn more, call 215.309.0316 or visit faithandliberty.org/grouptours.

Handheld lamp guests receive to interact with immersive American history exhibits, giving visitors an experience that’s informed, inspired and personalized like never before.

wide open spaces and interesting places.

In s pirat ion come s in ma ny fo r m s.

o ut a n d c ustom -t a i lored for t h os e

Ou t here it’s e asily foun d in the m a ny

w h o e n joy si m p le p lea s u res a n d

ways we ex pre ss t he cu lture of Ne w

w h o le so m e fu n . So c h ec k u s ou t ,

Orlea n s Plant at ion Countr y. Th e re’s

a n d se e how a t ri p ou t h ere c a n

so mething out he re for eve r yo n e .

be a n in sp ire d d ec i s i on .

Unfo rge t t able food. Ama zin g a rchite ct ure . And a hos t of ways to

i m m e r s e yo u r s e l f # o u t h e r e

en joy t he gre at outdoo r s. But w h at’s

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mo st e nd e ar ing is our p a ce a n d sp a ce .

Everyth ing is slowe d dow n , sp re a d

GOF

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

SUMMER 2020

20 26 30

Tarheel Treasures

Outside Opportunities

Back to the Beach

Discover North Carolina gems from the mountain to the sea.

Enjoy outdoor exhibits at these museums.

Coastal destinations are ready to welcome groups.

DEPARTMENTS Columns 6 EDITOR’S NOTES: ‘Let’s Figure This Out’ ON THE COVER: The sun sets over the historic Bodie Island Lighthouse on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Photo by Grant Ordelheide.

Spotlights

GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE PREVIEW 7 Wichita is stepping up to host combined tourism conferences and help get America traveling again.

News

16 HOW TO: Restart Your Travel Program

18 PROFILE:

12 #TRAVELAWAITS: Resources for the Rebound

Joy Rissmiller

34 RETREAT: Eagle Rock Retreat Center .

Mac T. Lacy Founder and Publisher

4

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

Caroline Davis Executive Assistant, Sales and Marketing Melissa Riley Accounting Manager

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

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SELECT YOUR SIZE ADDED VALUE: • 250 x 250 pixel banner ad on our website for 3 months • Sponsored Article in one issue of our e-newsletter • 300 x 250 pixel banner ad in three issues of our e-newsletter • Inclusion in one issue of #TravelAwaits e-newsletter • Your own advertisers page on our website for one year • Facebook post promoting your destination or company • Instagram post promoting your destination or company • Up to ten photos in our Photo Slideshow on our website for one year • Your destination video on our website for one year • Up to five itineraries on our website for one year

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EDITOR’S

NOTES BRIAN JEWELL

‘LET’S FIGURE THIS OUT’

N

ot even a global pandemic can stop the Quilt Gardens from growing.

For 13 years, the Quilt Gardens have been a fixture of Northern Indiana’s Amish Country. In the cities and towns throughout Elkhart County, gardens laid out in the colorful patterns of heritage quilts are a bright spot of summer, and many groups plan their trips to the area to coincide with the Quilt Gardens schedule.

The Quilt Gardens will be in full bloom this summer. But in a year that has turned everything on its ear, that wasn’t a certainty. The Quilt Gardens project is a public-private partnership spearheaded by the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Typically, the CVB funds much of the installation and maintenance of the gardens. But when the pandemic caused tourism organizations around the country to freeze their budgets, the CVB was unable to provide funding for the gardens.

Sonya Nash, director of group and experiential sales and marketing at the CVB, runs the Quilt Gardens project. When she realized there would be no funding this year, she began reaching out to partners to share the news.

“I called each site one by one and laid out the situation,” she told me in a recent Zoom call. “The very first call was to an Amish noodle shop. He said, ‘This brings people to my door. My family loves it. I just can’t imagine not having it. You have helped us with this for the last 12 years. For one year, I can do it. Let’s figure this out.’”

As the calls continued, Sonya found similar reactions from nearly all the Quilt Garden partners.

“One said, ‘This is a rallying cry,’” she told me. “He said ‘It’s going to be a symbol.

So many things have been canceled, but this is not getting canceled.’”

“It was those partners who took it upon themselves,” she said. “Our communities and individuals are stepping up more than ever before. They’re funding the flowers and doing the labor. They’re saying they’re not going to let this die because it’s their way to express their love for their community.”

I did my best to maintain my composure during that call. But I’m willing to bet Sonya noticed the occasional crack in my voice and a bit of mist in my eyes.

The past few months have been trying for everyone. For those of us who work in tourism, it has been especially painful. Even as restrictions ease and people begin venturing out, the road to recovery is going to be long. But hearing the story of the Quilt Gardens inspired me.

If the people of Elkhart County can rally together to support something they love, then the people in your community can, too.

All over America, communities are getting ready to rally. And they’re getting ready for guests. Sonya said she already has group bookings for late summer and early fall. And the Quilt Gardens may stay open a bit longer than normal so those visitors can see them.

You may be wondering if your group will ever travel again. But don’t give up hope. Travel is too important to lose.

Instead, I suggest we follow Amish Country’s lead. There are still a lot of unanswered questions for all of us. But we don’t have to surrender to despair.

Let’s figure this out.

BRIAN JEWELL [ EDITOR ] brianj@grouptravelleader.com 6

going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

WICHITA WILL HOST COMBINED

TRAVEL CONFERENCES

All photos courtesy Visit Wichita, except where noted

Wichita’s Eisenhower National Airport will welcome delegates to a combined Going On Faith Conference and Select Traveler Conference in August.

GOING ON FAITH AND SELECT TRAVELER EVENTS WILL HELP JUMP-START TOURISM IN AMERICA

F

BY DA N DICKSON

or the first time, the Select Traveler Conference will work together with the Going On Faith Conference for a combined event to be staged in beautiful Wichita, the largest city in Kansas. The conference will take place August 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The two conferences were merged because of the cancellation of the Select Traveler Conference, which was to have taken place March 22-24 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The meeting was called off for health and

GOING ON FAITH

CONFERENCE PREVIEW

safety reasons due to the covid-19 pandemic. Cheyenne has been promised it will host a future Select Traveler Conference when a date becomes available.

Select Traveler brings together group travel planners who represent banks, chambers of commerce and college travel programs. Going On Faith draws faith-based group travel planners who also are seeking new and interesting places to take their people.

Both meet with destination providers from all over the nation and a few foreign countries as well.

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

7

Wichita’s city flag

“Wichita, which is located in the heart of our country, is excited to be selected as the host city for the 2020 Select Traveler/Going On Faith Conference,” said Moji Rosson, vice president at Visit Wichita, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “We are looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our city as a must-visit Midwest destination. From our undiscovered food scene to the pride that is impossible to miss, there’s so much to do and so much to love here in Wichita.”

MAKING IT WORK

Conference organizers at The Group Travel Family expect an interesting blend of delegates for the gathering. The two travel planner groups will be taking part in a series of six-minute meetings with destination providers in hopes of arranging travel deals for their groups.

“Right now, we think there will be one large marketplace space located in a hotel ballroom, and it will be divided with Select Traveler appointments being held on one side and Going On Faith meetings on the other,” said Joe Cappuzzello, CEO of The Group Travel Family.

It might be July before final details of the gathering are finalized, Cappuzzello said, but he thinks meal functions — such as the opening night’s dinner and entertainment, as well as breakfasts and lunches for the two groups — will be shared. The keynote speaker and any other educational speakers who are scheduled will also likely be shared by the two delegate groups.

Above all else, safety will be the conference’s guiding principle.

“We will take all of the steps necessary to make sure everyone is safe and healthy while at the conference,” said Cappuzzello. “That includes the proper social distancing and sanitation. That will be paramount. We will work with the staff at Visit Wichita, the Hyatt Regency and the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center to go over the proper protocols and safety standards. It is a fluid situation.” And while there may still appear to be many organizational details left to decide, “we are going to work through them,” Cappuzzello said.

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going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

Sunset on the Arkansas River

“WE WILL TAKE ALL OF THE STEPS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE AND HEALTHY WHILE AT THE CONFERENCE. THAT INCLUDES THE PROPER SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SANITATION.” — Joe Cappuzzello

JOE CAPPUZZELLO

HELLO, WICHITA

Wichita is happy to host even more conference delegates than it was originally expecting this summer. The staff at Visit Wichita believe the city is perfect for Going On Faith travel planners.

“Wichita is primed to host these kinds of groups simply because of the culture we have in the city,” said Rosson. “We have many different faiths represented here, and we are part of the Bible belt.”

Convention sales manager Lindsay Gulley agrees.

“We have over 600 churches, and we are very welcoming,” she said. “The things the church groups I work with like best are the size of the city and what it has to offer. It’s easy to get to and navigate in, and we have plenty for them to do.”

Gulley thinks a Select Traveler planner would be surprised to learn that Wichita is a pretty lively Midwestern city with a lot of local pride.

Wichita has more than 8,100 hotel rooms with prices that range from economy to luxury. The only AAA 4-Diamond hotel in the state of Kansas is Wichita’s Ambassador Hotel Autograph Collection. The city’s main meeting space is the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center, with nearly 200,000 square feet of space. The center also has 20 meeting rooms, a concert hall, a theater and other amenities. The center’s headquarters hotel is the the Hyatt Regency Wichita.

Wichita is pleased to show off its rising downtown area. “Over the past 15 years, downtown Wichita has been evolving into a vibrant area,” said Gulley.

“There has been a lot of revitalization, with restaurants, boutique shopping, breweries, art galleries and neat outdoor spaces. It’s really fun to walk downtown and see all of those things.”

WICHIBACON

Union Station Train Platform

WICHITAKIN’

WICHITUDE

WICHIVIEWED

WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON FOR GOING ON FAITH NO MATTER “WICHI” WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. From our undiscovered food scene to the pride that’s impossible to miss. So much to do.

So much to love. The heart of the country is ready to make your time here unforgettable.

Check out all there is to see and do at VisitWichita.com.

WICHINIGHTS

WICHISIGHTS

WICHINATION

WICHICATION

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ]

9

CITY SIGHTS

Conference organizers are still working with Visit Wichita to finalize details for any delegate sightseeing tours that may be offered. Whatever is arranged, the CVB likes to take its visitors to a number of popular attractions in the area.

One such trip is to see the B-29 Doc Hanger and Education Center. Doc is the nickname for the World War II-era B-29 Superfortress aircraft. About 1,600 of these planes were manufactured in Wichita and one of them has been restored and still flies. It functions as a flying museum and a glimpse into Wichita’s important role in aviation and wartime history.

Another popular excursion is to Tanganyika Wildlife Park, where visitors get close to many rare and endangered animals. The park is a steward of these unusual creatures and shares their mystery and beauty with the public.

Other stops around town include history. A must-see destination is the aweinspiring Keeper of the Plains sculpture and plaza. This is a 44-foot-tall steel sculpture of a Native American and stands at the spot where the Big Arkansas and the Little Arkansas rivers join in downtown Wichita. It is the work of KiowaComanche artist Blackbear Bosin. Also part of this history tour is the MidAmerica All-Indian Center, the goal of which is to educate the public and preserve American Indian art and culture.

Often included on this history jaunt is a stop at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, housed in the city’s original city hall, built in 1890. The museum exhibits artifacts that go back centuries to the Wichita tribe, from which the city took its name. There’s also a lot to see about the cowboys who drove cattle into town and the rise of Wichita as the Air Capital of the World.

The Old Cowtown Museum also satisfies history lovers’ curiosity. It is an openair museum spread on 23 acres near the famed Chisholm Trail. There are more than 50 outbuildings, including a period farm.

The CVB also guides tourists to a popular “sweet spot” — a place they may be grateful they visited. Stops include Cocoa Solce Chocolates; Peace, Love and Pie; Nifty Nut House; and the Spice Merchant.

“Keeper of the Plains”

The Pioneer Woman Mercantile near Bartlesville Courtesy Visit Bartlesville

10

going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

An educational exhibit near the “Keeper of the Plains”

PRE-CONFERENCE FAM

One group of planners that will attend the conference has been offered an interesting familiarization tour through the heart of Oklahoma. US Tours has created this FAM tour for Select Traveler planners. They will spend four days visiting Tulsa, Bartlesville, Pawhuska, Claremore and Ponca City. These small towns are a key part of Oklahoma’s fascinating history and offer planners unique opportunities to entertain and educate their groups.

Day one of the tour begins in Wichita on Sunday, August 16, and will include Pawhuska for the Osage Cultural Center, the Pioneer Woman Mercantile, and the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve. Next up is Bartlesville and the Price Tower and the Philips Museum. Then it will be the Coleman Theater for dinner, with an overnight stay in Miami, Oklahoma.

Day two of the tour includes a visit to the Cherokee Experience with lunch afterward. The group then travels to the Claremore Dog Iron Ranch, where they will enjoy dinner. The overnight stay will be in Claremore. Day 3 will be busy with stops at the Will Rogers Memorial and the famous Blue Whale in Catoosa.

In Tulsa, the group will stop at the Buck Atoms Church Studio, the Mother Road Market, the Greenwood Cultural Center and the Woody Guthrie Center. Then it’s on to Marland Mansion in Ponca City, with an overnight stay there.

The last day of the FAM starts with a stop at Standing Bear Park and Museum before the return trip up to Wichita and the Select Traveler/Going On Faith Conference, which kicks off that afternoon.

Nifty Nut House

Oklahoma’s Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve Courtesy Visit Bartlesville

LAST THOUGHTS

The Group Travel Family’s Cappuzzello hopes a significant number of Select Traveler delegates will attend the combined conference with Going On Faith.

“Select Traveler is our oldest and biggest conference,” he said, “and we hope the delegates who missed out on Cheyenne in March because of the cancellation or because the dates conflicted with their schedule will join us in Wichita.”

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 11

Focusing on the

future of travel

BY BRIAN JEWELL

Travel awaits for all of us.

Like many of you, our team at The Group Travel Leader Inc. enjoyed a successful fall and winter filled with fruitful, enjoyable trips. And like many of you, we were stunned when forces beyond our control ground travel to a halt.

As we began to wrap our heads around what was going on, two things became clear to us. First, despite the current difficulties, travel will make a comeback. And second, in a season filled with an incessant stream of bad news, our industry needs a voice of hope to remind us all that there are better days ahead.

That’s why we decided to launch the #TravelAwaits initiative.

We want to spread a message of endurance and optimism. We want to inspire people to look forward to a future full of travel. We want to rally people in unity and solidarity.

We want to start a movement, and we want you to be a part of it.

In print, online, on social media and in your community, you can come together with us to remind the world that #TravelAwaits. Together, we’ll share our best creative ideas, encourage each other with uplifting messages and shine a spotlight on the amazing people working tirelessly through challenging times to secure the future of travel.

To help you do that, we’ve compiled a wealth of positive messages, bright ideas, useful tools and other resources on our website. You can find them at grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits.

In the next few pages, we’re going to highlight some ways you can take advantage of these tools and support our tourism community through uncertain times. Look to see how you can find inspiration for yourself and share it with others.

We hope you’ll join us in spreading the message of hope and fueling a hunger for travel. Our comeback day is coming. And when it does, we can’t wait to see you on the road.

The Group Travel Leader Inc. 12

going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

Hear Messages of Hope When the news is mostly negative, messages of hope can help you hold on until brighter days arrive. At grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits, you’ll find encouraging video messages from members of our team, including publisher Mac Lacy and Brian Jewell, VP and executive editor.

Tune in to hear why we’re confident about the future of travel and discover how you can help make that future a reality.

Watch Uplifting Videos People may be staying home for now, but destinations around the country have begun creating amazing travel videos to encourage and reassure their visitors. Check out the #TravelAwaits web page to watch some of the most inspiring travel videos we have found from across the country and around the world. These videos will keep you in good spirit and help you start planning your travel for the future.

Find Creative Ideas Unexpected challenges can bring out the creativity in all of us. On our #TravelAwaits page, we’re collecting some of the most clever and creative uses of social media and other online efforts that we’ve found from around the travel industry. Check it out to find ideas for how you can keep your own organization thriving online until people begin traveling again.

Take Virtual Tours Many attractions have taken advantage of digital technology to showcase their experiences even while their doors are closed. Museums are offering virtual tours of blockbuster exhibits.

Zoos and aquariums are doing live “quaranstreams” that introduce virtual visitors to their amazing animal residents. Theater and music companies are taking their shows live online and performing from home in creative ways.

Our #TravelAwaits page has listings of numerous virtual tours and performances to give you some ideas.

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 13

Read Positive News Had enough of depressing headlines? Check out our #TravelAwaits page for a collection of positive articles from across the travel industry.

From encouraging stories of tourism organizations helping their local communities to editorials from industry experts charting the path to recovery, these stories will fill you with optimism.

Show Your Support Around the country, travel planners, destination representatives and attraction professionals are joining the movement by adding the #TravelAwaits photo frame to their Facebook profile photos. We have links to photo frames in three different colors on our website, grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits. You can pick the one that fits your photo best and add it with the click of a button. Dress up your profile photo to show your support and remind your friends that travel awaits.

Download the Logos Want to use the #TravelAwaits graphics in your own print or online communications? They’re free to download in a variety of color schemes on our website. Add the logo to your email signatures, videos, social media posts and other online communications, or use it in your printed newsletters, brochures and catalogs.

The more people see the #TravelAwaits logo, the more excited they’ll be to hit the road again.

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going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

Travel

AWAITS Hashtag Your Posts Are you posting travel information, videos, photos or other content to social media? Use the hashtag #TravelAwaits with all your travelrelated posts so others in the tourism industry can find them, too. We may even share your post with our community of fans and followers around the country.

Subscribe for Updates

GOINGONFAITH.COM

M AY 2 0 2 0

Do you have a great story of unity, support or creativity from your corner of the travel industry? We’d love to hear it. Send your ideas, links, press releases or videos to executive editor Brian Jewell at brianj@grouptravelleader.com.

We’ll continue sharing the best of what we find with our readers in print and online.

WISCONSIN CLASSICS

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A M E R I C A’ S C A S T L E S

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W H E R E T H E W E S T WA S WO N

GROUP THE

TRAVEL LEADER

TH E G RO U P TR AV E L LE AD E R

Share Your Story

W W W.G ROU P TR AVE LLE AD E R .CO M

Throughout this season, we’re sending #TravelAwaits update emails to our online subscribers several times a week. Those emails include positive stories, creative ideas, uplifting videos and other content to keep you inspired and encouraged about the future of travel. You can subscribe free of charge at grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits to ensure you never miss an update.

MAY 2020

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 15

HOW TO

HOW TO R E STA RT YO U R T R AV E L P RO G R A M

Travel

AWAITS

16

going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

T

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

ravel is going to make a comeback. When it does, will your group be ready?

The events of the past few months have taken us all by surprise. And although nobody can predict exactly when, at Going On Faith we are confident that

#TravelAwaits.

When the world opens up again, many people will be anxious to start traveling, including some of your church members. So instead of sitting still and staying quiet during this season, why not use this time to prepare for the trips your group will take in the future?

The work of restarting your travel program doesn’t begin once restrictions end — it begins now.

Here are five things you can do now to set your travel program and your members up for success.

1)

KEEP IN TOUCH. The purpose of your church travel program is to foster relationships among your community, and that doesn’t have to change just because travel is suspended. During this time of uncertainty, relationships are more valuable than ever, and you can use this opportunity to strengthen them. You should regularly be communicating with your members through e-newsletters and social media posts. And consider reaching out personally to your most important influencers through phone calls or video chats. You could even set up a virtual social gathering for your members using Zoom or another videoconferencing tool.

2)

CONTINUE TALKING TRAVEL. Travel will resume eventually — it’s only a matter of time. And there will be a fair amount of pent-up demand among people who love to travel. You can help stoke that demand by continuing to talk about travel, even while it’s suspended. You should already be communicating with members about the status of trips that they’ve booked. But in addition to that, talk about other trips, too: Share memories and photos from great trips your group has already taken, and spread ideas about places you could go in the future. You can find some helpful resources for these communications on our #TravelAwaits page at grouptravelleader.com/travelawaits.

3)

PLAN AN INTRODUCTORY OUTING. Given the unprecedented nature of what we’re experiencing, some of your travelers may be a bit gun-shy about getting back out on the road. You can help allay their fears by planning shorter trips to nearby places. These should be the first outings you offer after restrictions are lifted. You can work with CVBs or tour operators now to build evergreen itineraries that can be easily rolled out once travel is safe to resume. Then operate those trips to demonstrate to your other members that your program is hitting the road again — even if only a handful of people sign up. Some of your travelers may be more comfortable with a group of 12 to 15 than one of 40 to 50.

4)

RELY ON YOUR PARTNERS. As you restart your travel program, it will be more important than ever to work with trusted partners to operate your trips. Although there may be some advantages to planning your own tours, in this environment the liabilities outweigh the benefits. Professional tour companies and cruise lines have many resources that you don’t, and they’re constantly monitoring the horizon for potential challenges. If complications or delays arise with an upcoming trip, these professional travel partners will go to great lengths to protect your investment and ensure the safety of your customers.

5)

COMMIT TO MAKING AN IMPACT. Your group’s travel has always had a positive economic impact on the places you visit. But now more than ever, people are realizing just how important that impact is. You can help inspire people to join your trips by reminding them how much their spending will help front-line workers at the hotels, attractions and restaurants you visit. Or go one step further and arrange some voluntourism projects or charitable gifts in the communities you travel to. Your group’s generosity will be much appreciated, and your travelers will love being part of travel’s comeback story.

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 17

FACES

of FAITH

‘Passionate About Travel’

TRAVEL

BY A SHLE Y R ICKS

JOY RISSMILLER

[ ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL ]

BY E L I Z A M YE R S

W

TRAVEL PROGRAM: Joy Rissmiller started Adventures in Travel 10 years ago. Though her customers vary, most are people of faith. Adventures in Travel’s customized itineraries range from day trips to international tours.

hen Joy Rissmiller was young, travel made her ill. Severe motion sickness made family vacations a queasy nightmare during childhood. Dramamine helped but also made her drowsy. So, although she was present for those vacations, she wasn’t enjoying them much.

It was not an auspicious start for someone that has made a career in travel.

“God has a sense of humor,” said Rissmiller, owner of Adventures in Travel.

“When I told my mom I was going to start leading bank trips, she didn’t think I was going to be able to do it.”

Not long after, Rissmiller’s mother watched a television program on ginger root’s positive effects on motion sickness. She stuffed Rissmiller’s Christmas stocking with bottles of ginger root for her to try.

Just in time, Rissmiller found the one thing that abates her nausea without putting her to sleep.

“I live on ginger root,” said Rissmiller. “Luckily, it’s all natural. What are the odds my mom would see that show on ginger root right after I got hired at the bank?

FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

HOMETOWN:

TIP 1

Columbia, Missouri

Always have a Plan B.

FAVORITE DESTINATION:

TIP 2

Rissmiller can’t choose just one, but found Kenya, Israel and Jordan especially life-changing.

HOBBIES: Rissmiller has collected antiques for over 30 years. She also enjoys gardening, home projects and watching her granddaughters play sports.

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TRAVEL TIPS

going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

Encourage your travelers to get out and experience new adventures.

TIP 3 Travelers always enjoy great entertainment and surprises. For example, in Nashville, I often hire Chris Golden for a private gospel concert.

There have been big and little miracles in my life.”

Rissmiller began her travel career leading group trips for a local bank. When she left the bank, she started her own faith-based travel company: Adventures in Travel.

“I quit my job in 2009 at the worst possible time,” said Rissmiller. “It was the economic downturn. But I felt that starting that company was what God wanted me to do. I’ve never advertised, but I’ve been successful from day one.”

Rissmiller’s fervor for faith-based travel began while bringing an elderly widower home after a church retreat.

“He said, ‘Thank you for getting me away from my four walls.

They were closing in on me,’” said Rissmiller. “I realized these people would never have traveled without me. I have become so passionate about travel planning because it helps people live an exciting life instead of just existing.”

Adventures in Travel plans trips for people of all faiths.

Rissmiller starts every tour with a prayer and ends with a Scripture verse. What happens in between is largely customized for each group. Many relish faith-based entertainment, which Rissmiller includes when she can.

“Whenever I am anywhere near Nashville, I will hire Chris Golden to deliver an exclusive gospel concert,” said Rissmiller. “I like to use Chris as a surprise on our last night of a trip. People love it.”

Since each trip is customized, Adventures in Travel’s experi-

Rissmiller’s Adventures in Travel group enjoying a demonstration in Israel.

ences run the gamut from day trips to motorcoach domestic trips to international trips. Rissmiller can recall a long list of impactive travel moments, from traveling to the Holy Land to listening to Jimmy Carter teach Sunday school in Georgia.

Although she is grateful for the chance to explore the world, it is her connection to her travelers that drives her. Their regard for her is evident, as during the pandemic, many have reached out to her to check on how she is doing.

Though her trips are now on hold, she expects to start again at full speed based on how quickly her tours normally sell.

“My success is because of the people traveling with me,” said Rissmiller. “I don’t have whiners and complainers. We bring our dancing shoes and dance in the rain if we have to.”

Whenever Rissmiller’s next travel adventure comes calling, she’ll be ready with her joyful attitude, friendly personality and ginger root.

WE’RE OPEN!

BIEDENHARN MUSEUM & GARDENS 2020 EXHIBITS: ADAM & EVE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

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A

STATE OF FAITH

MOUNTAINS TO THE

SEA F IN D P E A C E IN T HIS NORTH CAROLINA GROUP GETAWAY

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Clockwise from top: the chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy; a cross at St. Clement’s Island State Park in St. Marys County; National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

going on faith [ summer 2020 ] Courtesy St. Marys Co. Div. of Tourism

Courtesy Visit Frederick

B LOW ING RO C K

2 1 A S HE V IL L E

R A LEI G H

NORTH CAROLINA

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or gorgeous outdoor spaces and a trail of travel treasures, it’s hard to beat North Carolina.

With the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Tarheel State enjoys more than its fair share of natural beauty.

And among those scenic places are numerous offthe-beaten-path spots where groups can have great travel experiences away from the crowds.

This itinerary travels from the mountains to the coast and highlights many of those out-of-the-way destinations and attractions that will appeal to travelers in the coming months. It begins in Asheville, then proceeds to Blowing Rock, Charlotte, Raleigh and New Bern.

From there, your group can continue to another coastal destination or begin the return journey westward toward home.

There’s a fair amount of driving time along this route, so you should plan a minimum of five days for this tour. A full week would give your travelers plenty of time to soak in the beauty of these North Carolina treasures.

1 ASHEVILLE HIGHLIGHT | A SPIRITUAL RETREAT

The Biltmore Estate is one of the crown jewels of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

Photos courtesy VisitNC.com except where noted

Surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has long been one of North Carolina’s most popular travel destinations. And while there’s plenty to do in and around the city, church groups can find a unique opportunity for peace, beauty and spiritual connection at The Cove.

Founded in 1988 by Billy Graham, The Cove is a retreat and training center set on more than 1,200 acres of Blue Ridge wilderness, just a short drive from downtown Asheville. The property has two inns with rustic-yet-comfortable accommodations and a variety of meeting venues.

Groups can use the meeting space for their own services or take advantage of the spiritual programming offered by the staff on-site.

After gatherings, groups can enjoy the outdoor activities offered on the acreage or explore some of the sites on the grounds, including the Chatlos Memorial Chapel in the woods and Ruth’s Prayer Garden.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: No group visit to Asheville would be complete without spending some time at Biltmore Estate. One of the largest and most ornate historic homes in the country, Biltmore offers a wide array of tours, as well as dining, accommodations and other guest experiences.

MORE INFO | exploreasheville.com going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 21

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BLOWING ROCK

CHARLOTTE

HIGHLIGHT | A MOUNTAIN’S MAJESTY About 90 miles northeast of Asheville, Blowing Rock and the surrounding area also enjoy the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Groups that visit the area can take in the scenery at numerous attractions, including the popular Grandfather Mountain.

Perched at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet, Grandfather Mountain is a place where visitors can discover the beauty and biodiversity of North Carolina. Many groups enjoy scenic drives up the mountain, and intrepid guests can walk across the Mile High Swinging Bridge, which connects two peaks at one mile above sea level. Groups can also engage a staff naturalist to lead them on tours through the mountain habitat to view the area’s flora and fauna.

There are plenty of other activity options available on the mountain, including native wildlife exhibitions, a museum, a theater and a restaurant. Hikers can venture out on several miles of alpine trails at adjacent Grandfather Mountain State Park.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Take some time to see the Blowing Rock, the natural attraction that gives the area its name. First opened to the public in 1933, this scenic mountain outcropping is said to be North Carolina’s oldest tourist attraction.

MORE INFO | blowingrock.com

HIGHLIGHT | A WHITEWATER ADVENTURE Charlotte is not only the largest city in North Carolina, but also one of the largest urban centers in the South and a nationwide leader in the financial industry. And though it offers all the museums and other amenities you would expect from a destination of this size, Charlotte also has an attraction that sets it apart from other cities: the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

Since it opened in 2006, the U.S. National Whitewater Center has been dedicated to promoting a love of the outdoors and an active lifestyle. The center sits on 1,400 acres along the Catawba River just outside the city.

Visiting groups can choose from more than 30 land- and water-based activities. In addition to whitewater rafting, the staff offers guided kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and other excursions. Other highlights include rock climbing, zip lining and a 50-mile-long trails system.

In addition to its adventure activities, the center hosts various events throughout the year, such as a film series and a number of culinary festivals.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Take a lap at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR fans can experience the famous racetrack on a variety of tours that highlight behind-the-scenes areas rarely seen by the public.

The experience includes a trip around the track in a tour vehicle.

MORE INFO | charlottesgotalot.com

Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain

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going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

Charlotte Motor Speedway

The Blowing Rock

Courtesy Blowing Rock TDA

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 ] 23

4 RALEIGH HIGHLIGHT | A HERITAGE FARM Driving east from Charlotte for about two and a half hours will take travelers to Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital. Raleigh is known for its highly educated population and proliferation of high-tech businesses, but groups can also learn about one of the area’s enduring industries at the Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum.

Operated by North Carolina State University, the Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum is an agritourism experience that teaches visitors how milk makes its way from North Carolina dairy farms to their breakfast tables. Staff at the working dairy farm demonstrate how farmers raise cattle, milk them and use the milk to create dairy products. The on-site museum has additional information about dairy cows and the history of the dairy industry in the state.

Groups can arrange guided tours at the farm. Each tour ends with a sample of Howling Cow ice cream, which is produced on campus with milk from the dairy.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Raleigh has been called the Smithsonian of the South because of its concentration of high-quality museums.

Groups should plan some time to visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Art.

New Bern’s scenic waterfront

MORE INFO | visitraleigh.com

Randleigh Dairy Heritage Museum

Latham Memorial Garden at Tryon Palace

A dairy exhibit at North Carolina State University Courtesy NCSU

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Courtesy NCSU

5 NEW BERN HIGHLIGHT | A HISTORIC CAPITOL There are plenty of destinations for a beach vacation on North Carolina’s Atlantic coast. But in its spot at the mouth of the Neuse River, New Bern offers an attractive alternative for groups that enjoy waterfront views and historic attractions.

On the history front, New Bern is home to Tryon Palace, the official residence and administrative headquarters of the British governors of North Carolina from 1770 to 1775. After the American Revolution, it served as the North Carolina Capitol for several years. Today, the palace is operated as a living-history site to educate visitors about life in coastal North Carolina during the Colonial and post-Colonial periods.

Groups visiting Tryon Palace can choose from several experiences. Firstperson costumed interpreters provide interaction and highlight details of the various historic buildings at the complex. There is also a museum onsite for additional education and interpretation.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: With its waterfront location on North Carolina’s coast, New Bern offers numerous opportunities to get your groups out on the water. The local tourism office can help arrange boat tours, paddle excursions and other aquatic activities.

Tryon Palace

Walking the New Bern waterfront

MORE INFO | visitnewbern.com

SPILMAN AUDITORIUM

MOUNTAIN LAUREL EAST

JOHNSON SPRING

ROCKING CHAIR RIDGE

COME FOR THE VIEW. LEAVE WITH A VISION.

Ridgecrest Conference Center rests beautifully in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, just off Interstate 40, minutes from Asheville, North Carolina.

At Ridgecrest, our goal is to offer superb customer service in a Christian environment. Before you even set foot on the campus, Ridgecrest’s staff will be praying for you, your event and its attendees. Come spend a few days here and you’ll soon agree with the hundreds of thousands of guests who over the last century have said, “There’s just something about Ridgecrest.”

RidgecrestConferenceCenter.com

CAMPUS OFFERS Deluxe Accommodations • 1,300 Acres Youth Housing • Hiking Trails Meeting Space • On-Site Recreation Groups from 10 to 2,000 • Culinary Team PERFECT FOR • Events, Retreats & • Christian School Events Conferences • Personal/Family Spiritual • Staff Retreats Retreats

• • • •

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going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 25

Sales Department: 866.768.9048

B E YO N D

GALLERIES T H E S E M US E UM S F E AT URE INVITING OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES B Y JI LL G LEESO N

“Giving Thanks for the Rain, the Grass and Life” is among numerous bronze sculptures on display outside the Booth Western Art Museum.

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Courtesy Booth Western Art Museum

here is an undeniable spirituality to the outdoor world, to big skies and tall trees, and flowers in bud or bloom. It’s easy to see the creator’s hand in it — after all, how could man be responsible for something so wonderful as the warmth of the sun on a cloudless day?

But humans, despite our foibles, have long provided the planet with great beauty, too.

From sublime architecture to masterful visual art and even monuments marking our triumphs in technology, the United States is filled with testaments to humankind’s creativity and ingenuity.

Some of the country’s best institutions manage to mix the two, offering the finest examples of art, architecture and scientific achievement in stunning outdoor venues that faith-based group travelers will adore. The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, the Booth Western Art Museum, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Cheekwood Estate and Gardens are five iconic examples of this kind of attraction, offering groups the best outdoor exhibits under the sun.

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FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS AND SCULPTURE PARK GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN Created with a gift from the founder of the Meijer chain of superstores, the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park celebrated its 25th anniversary in April. Reopened earlier this month, it offers groups what John VanderHaagen, the attraction’s director of communications, called “158 acres of wellgroomed gardens and a sculpture park with interior and exterior areas.”

“We like to say it’s an art history book come alive,” he said. “Our permanent collection is about 300 works and growing each year, but you can do a broad overview and be in and out in a couple of hours. There’s something to see whether you’re a casual art fan or horticultural lover.”

Among the pieces group visitors will especially enjoy are the whimsical 30-foot garden trowel sculpture “Plantoir” by Claes Oldenburg and his wife, Coosje van Bruggen; “Aria” by Alexander Liberman, a large metal piece that represents musical notes; and Ai Weiwei’s stunning “Iron Tree,” which continues to evolve with the elements as the sculptor intended. In addition, the Sculpture Park boasts work by the legendary Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and Keith Haring.

Just as glorious are the Meijer Gardens, which include an English perennial garden, a Michigan farm garden and a children’s garden that groups can explore on a 45-minute tram tour. Behind-the-scene tours are also available to groups, who can lunch at the brand-new Meijer-Shedleski Picnic Pavilion.

Before leaving the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, devout guests will want to spend a moment in the peaceful faith reflective garden in the Richard and Helen DeVoss Japanese Garden. meijergardens.org

“Iron Tree” at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park

Booth Western Art Museum

Courtesy Booth Western Art Museum

BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA The 120,000-square-foot Booth Western Art Museum is a rare gem, housing a collection focused on contemporary Western art, as well as a presidential gallery and a space dedicated to Civil War artwork. But as enriching as it is inside, so is it outside, with a stunning collection of outdoor sculptures, some with spiritual overtones that should inspire and touch faith-based group travelers. Among them is “Giving Thanks for the Rain, the Grass and a Way of Life” by Deborah Copenhaver-Fellows, which depicts a cowboy on horseback, head lowered in prayer.

“It’s loosely based on the artist’s dad, who was a world champion bronc rider in the ’50s,” said executive director Seth Hopkins. “She said her most vivid memory of her childhood was when he would ride into the ring during the grand entry at the beginning of the rodeo. He would pray for the safety of the cowboys and cowgirls, and also the animals.”

According to Hopkins, what makes the sculpture even more moving is that it’s located near the cornerstone for the church that once stood on the museum’s site. The spiritual heft of the cornerstone and the sculpture together has been known to bring visitors to tears. Other pieces of special note are a totem pole from a Canadian tribal group that stands more than 40 feet high and a bronze piece that depicts dancing Native American women by Glenna Goodacre, who designed the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. When the Booth reopens, groups will be able to learn more about these and other sculptures during informal tours of the grounds. boothmuseum.org

Courtesy Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

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Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Courtesy Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

The Rocket Garden at Kennedy Space Center

Courtesy Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

An outdoor sculpture at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Courtesy Crystal Bridges

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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA Aside from blasting off in a rocket ship, there is perhaps no way groups can feel closer to the heavens than by visiting the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The massive site got its start in 1964 with drive-through tours before America’s growing fascination with space led to the opening of the 42-acre Visitor Information Center in 1967. Today, the attraction is organized into Mission Zones that take groups through the history of the U.S. Space Program in chronological order. Highlights include the Space Shuttle Atlantis, one of only three remaining space-flown orbiters.

There are a number of outdoor exhibits at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex that promise to leave groups awestruck, like the new Mars Rover Vehicle Navigator, designed for traversing the red planet; a full-scale model of the Orion, the spacecraft that will take astronauts deeper into space than ever before; and the Space Mirror Memorial, which honors NASA heroes that made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of the stars.

Now reopened, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has not yet announced what kind of special tours and events might be available to groups.

But travel planners will want to include time at the Rocket Garden, one of the complex’s most photographed sites. The rockets, as Rebecca Shireman, public relations and communications manager for Delaware North at Kennedy Space Center, noted, are authentic.

“These rockets pioneered America’s space exploration,” she said. “Most of the rockets you see are real, though never flown in space.” kennedyspacecenter.com CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS A rare cultural treasure that seamlessly merges art, nature and architecture, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is set on 120 acres of Ozark forest, inside a ravine. The building’s showstopping design, by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, incorporates natural streams, curving around and crossing two spring-fed ponds. The landscaping honors and celebrates the God-given surroundings as well, using mostly native plants and cultivars of indigenous species, including plenty of colorful wildflowers and favorites like redbud and dogwood trees.

There are about five miles of trails for groups to explore, some leading to delightful natural features like springs and an evergreen forest. The half-mile Art Trail “connects the museum’s south entrance to downtown Bentonville and features a variety of sculptures,” said Beth Bobbitt, the museum’s public relations director, “including the popular ‘Love’ sculpture by Robert Indiana, native plants and waterways. There are numerous glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly in the North Forest and ‘Buckyball’ by Leo Villareal near the museum’s additional parking.”

Crystal Bridges, which opened to the public in November 2011, was founded by Walmart heiress Alice Walton. Its mission is to connect visitors with the power of art and the serenity of nature in a welcoming environment that unites both. To that end, the museum and its grounds are free to enter.

Traditionally, Crystal Bridges has offered groups special tours, including a look at the Art Trail and the institution’s architecture. crystalbridges.org

Tour

SOUTHEAST INDIANA

Ready When You Are If you’ve visited us in the past, or plan to visit us in the future, thank you.

The gardens at Cheekwood Estate

When you’re back on the road again, remember, we are ready with history and hands-on fun adventures!

Courtesy Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

CHEEKWOOD ESTATE AND GARDENS NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE Built as a country manor by the Cheek family in 1929, the lavish 55-acre Cheekwood Estate and Gardens was opened to the public in 1960 as an art museum and botanical garden. More than 225,000 people annually now visit the grounds, which, since 1999, has included the Ann and Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail.

“The Carell Trail has contemporary sculpture from many acclaimed artists,” said Caroline Jeronimus, Cheekwood’s senior communications manager.

“It just underwent a major renovation — we’re really excited to reopen it. We now have better lighting, it’s fully accessible on parts of the trail so all guests can come out, and with that lighting, we’ll now have evening programming out there. That’s really fantastic.”

Ten works of art dot the 1.5-mile-long path, which winds through woodland, unusual topography for a sculpture trail. The pieces range from Sophie Ryder’s “Crawling Lady Hare,” an immense piece depicting a half-woman, half-rabbit figure, to a spectacular covered glass pedestrian bridge by Siah Armajani, installed on the trail in 2003. Of particular note, according to Jeronimus, is James Turrell’s “Blue Pesher,” a circular room built into a hillside with a 10-foot opening to the sky in the center. The artist has said the tranquil space was inspired by the Quaker meetinghouses he attended in his youth.

A variety of guided group tours are now available at the reopened Cheekwood, including tours of the sculpture trail and the estate’s historical gardens. There are special add-ons group leaders may want to book, like buffet and boxed lunches, and cocktail or wine events in gardens. cheekwood.org

Hillforest Victorian House Museum

McCabe’s Greenhouse

OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

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Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

Louisville

Lexington

South of I-74 & west of I-275, 20 minutes west of Cincinnati

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 29

The towering Haystack Rock is an icon on Oregon’s Cannon Beach.

B AC K

TO T H E

B E AC H

C OA S TA L DE S T IN AT ION S ARE IDEAL PLACES TO START TRAVELIN G A G A I N B Y ELI ZA M YERS

Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach

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Courtesy Cannon Beach COC Courtesy Answers in Genesis

he beach on a screen doesn’t compare with the real thing.

To stand on a beach is to witness one of God’s most impressive natural wonders. Faithbased groups can soak in the ocean views on trips that can also include a Christian retreat experience, an attraction that’s suitable for families and a restaurant that welcomes groups.

As travel restrictions begin to lift, group travel leaders can start planning trips to these breezy beach destinations.

Courtesy Visit Myrtle Beach

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VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA In 1607, seeing what is now Virginia Beach, Virginia, felt like a miracle. After a four-month-long journey across an untested ocean, English colonists erected a wooden cross to thank God for safe passage before traveling on to Jamestown, Virginia.

In 1935, the granite First Landing Cross was erected to memorialize the spot.

Groups can see this national landmark at the Cape Henry Memorial.

Religion continues to play an influential role in the city at Regent University, a Christian college on 70 acres. The Regent University Theatre offers Broadway musicals and classical productions by the Christian school’s students. Last year’s shows were “The Gifts of the Magi,” “A Tale of Two Cities” and “Brigadoon,” among others.

Faith-based groups can also tour the Christian Broadcasting Network’s campus for a behind-the-scenes look at the network behind “The 700 Club.” Tours begin with a live taping of the show before guests see the studio buildings.

Fighter jets roar across Virginia Beach’s skies due to the town’s military connection. The Hampton Roads area contains features the world’s largest naval base, as well as the Virginia Military Aviation Museum.

The museum houses a comprehensive collection of warbirds from both world wars. Tours feature the heroic stories behind some of these historic planes, as well watch flight demonstrations.

Another group favorite, the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, features 800,000 gallons of freshwater and saltwater displays. Groups can interact with some of the aquarium’s residents at a touch pool for horseshoe crabs, sea stars and whelks. visitvirginiabeach.com MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Visitors can greet Sunday morning by praising God and listening to the ocean waves at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The destination offers much more than 60 miles of coastline to occupy groups’ time, including entertainment, shopping and the Myrtle Beach Christian Retreat, all appropriate for families.

An interdenominational retreat and conference center, the Myrtle Beach Christian Retreat offers Sunday morning beach worship services. Church groups of up to 260 can take advantage of the faith-based retreat’s recreational activities, conference center, dining hall and ropes course with Biblebased lessons.

After a day at the beach, groups can choose from a wide assortment of activities at Broadway at the Beach. The shopping and entertainment complex sits on 350 acres in the heart of Myrtle Beach and offers a range of activities from roller coasters to high-end restaurants. Entertainment options abound, among them the Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center, Ripley’s Aquarium and WonderWorks.

For a more relaxing outing, groups can tour Brookgreen Gardens, voted one of the top 10 Best Public Gardens in the U.S. by TripAdvisor. Gorgeous blooming flowers accompany sculptures that groups can view on tours with a guide or on their own. The site also has a zoo, historic sites and nature trails.

Uplifting music keeps audiences coming back to Myrtle Beach’s “The Carolina Opry.” Fiddling champions, hip-hop cloggers and soul-stirring vocalists fill each second of the two-hour performances with talent and energy. More live performances can be found at venues across the Grand Strand, including Le Grande Cirque, the Pirates Voyage and Dinner Show, the House of Blues and the GTS Theatre. visitmyrtlebeach.com

The Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach Courtesy Virginia Beach CVB

A Virginia Aquiarum encounter Courtesy Virginia Beach CVB

Skywheel Myrtle Beach

Courtesy Visit Myrtle Beach

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PANAMA CITY BEACH, FLORIDA Emerald green waters and 27 miles of sugar-white beaches make stunning backdrops for baptisms at Panama City Beach, Florida. The city offers two Christian retreats. The Laguna Beach Christian Retreat offers accommodations, food, activities, meeting space and baptisms in the ocean. The retreat center sits on eight acres of gulf-side property, with rooms that range from dorm housing to comfortable cottages. Basketball courts, volleyball courts, swimming pools and a 700-seat chapel help provide a private experience for faithbased groups.

Pier Park features the city’s premier shopping, food and entertainment options with over 124 stores ranging from clothing to home goods. Youth groups looking for fun can opt for a game of laser tag, a mirror maze or arcade games at Dave and Buster’s. Pier Park also offers Imax movies and live music for an exciting night out.

St. Andrews State Park is one of the town’s favorite nature getaways with a two-mile-long white-sand beach, paved trails, watersports equipment rentals and shuttle boat tours to Shell Island.

Shell Island allows visitors to retreat further from modern life. The sevenmile-long undeveloped barrier island allows groups to explore undisturbed sand dunes, coastal scrub forests and beaches often covered in colorful shells.

Groups can also go beyond the beaches on a dolphin sightseeing cruise or a deep-sea-fishing charter. Other ecotours allow groups to witness the area’s abundant wildlife, such as alligators, herons, ibises and white-tailed deer. visitpanamacitybeach.com

A campfire on Huntington Beach

USS Lexington in Corpus Christi Courtesy Visit Corpus Christi Courtesy The Holy Land Experience

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA Huntington Beach, California, welcomes both the adrenaline junkie and the peace-seeking visitor to its wide, sandy shores. Known as Surf City USA, the city is a popular place for group surfing lessons.

Huntington Beach also encourages relaxation with over 500 bonfire pits, where groups can watch the stars shining above and the waves rolling by firelight below. The Waterfront Beach Resort even offers a bonfire butler service, complete with fire pit set-up, take-down, blankets and s’mores.

Each September, the Huntington Beach Interfaith Council hosts the Blessing of the Waves, when people of all faiths gather in prayer and celebration through music. The faith-based Beachside Summerfest each June provides another chance to gather in faith on Huntington Beach for live Christian music, talks and baptisms.

Local historian and author Chris Epting leads historic walking tours of Huntington Beach for background on how the beach became Surf City USA. Nearby Sunset Beach also offers fascinating historical tours.

Groups can discover the wilder side of Huntington Beach at several parks, including Huntington Beach Central Park. The 350-acre park features walking trails, gardens and a nature center.

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve contains a 1,400-acre saltwater marsh reserve. More than 300 birds have been spotted at the wetland ecosystem.

Groups can walk on five miles of trails or stop by the Bolsa Chica Wetlands Interpretive Center for exhibits and information on the area. surfcityusa.com

Courtesy Visit Huntington Beach

A Huntington Beach sunset

Courtesy Visit Huntington Beach

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Tour

SOUTHEAST INDIANA

Ready When You Are Panama City Beach

Courtesy Visit Panama City Beach

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS The rich faith history of Corpus Christi, Texas, dates to its discovery by the Spanish in 1519.

Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda nicknamed the lush, semitropical bay Corpus Christi after the Catholic feast day, which, translated from Latin, means “the body of Christ.”

Historic churches built here in the 1800s still welcome congregations and tours. The 1846 First United Methodist Church is the oldest in town. One of the most ornate is the Corpus Christi Cathedral, built in Spanish Colonial Revival style.

Faith-based groups can also choose from two retreat centers: Our Lady of Corpus Christi Retreat Center and Pax Christi Retreat Center. Both centers offer quiet getaways to facilitate spiritual growth with accommodations, natural settings, food and chapels.

The town boasts easy access to natural wonders at the Padre Island National Seashore. With over 70 miles of beaches and dunes, the park is the largest undeveloped seashore in the country. Groups can explore the area on a fishing excursion or an ecotour to see the rare Kemp’s ridley sea turtles during nesting in mid-April.

In Corpus Christi, the largest coastal city in Texas, groups can enjoy some major attractions alongside the city’s pristine beaches. The USS Lexington allows visitors to stand on the flight deck of a historic aircraft carrier from World War II. The rooms below deck depict the living conditions endured by the sailors during the war.

The Texas State Aquarium takes guests under the sea to showcase aquatic life from around the world. Visitors can admire more than 360 species at dive shows, animal feeds and educational presentations. visitcorpuschristitx.org CANNON BEACH, OREGON As if dropped from the heavens, a 235-foot high monolithic rock rises above the waves at Cannon Beach, Oregon. Known as Haystack Rock, the landmark is one of many remarkable rock formations along the dramatic northern Oregon coast.

Haystack Rock retains its appeal up close. The formation is home to colorful tide pools and diverse bird life, such as puffins. Faith-based groups can gaze at God’s creation and explore the beach’s tide pools for glimpses of sea stars, anemones and crabs.

Cannon Beach inspires visitors not just by its scenic wonderland, but also at the Cannon Beach Christian Conference Center. Founded in 1945, the center has grown over the years and now hosts over 150 Christian retreat groups each year.

Groups can stroll through the charming art town’s downtown in the city’s center. Local galleries, restaurants and shops lie around every corner. Bruce’s Candy Shop offers a tasty stop for visitors with a sweet tooth.

The Coaster Theatre Playhouse provides evening entertainment with five plays and two musical performances each year. cannonbeach.org

We’re all re-thinking, adjusting, and planning for future travel. If you’re looking for Midwest experiences for your groups, we have some terrific trip ideas. And we’d love to welcome you to Southeast Indiana!

Request your planner today.

Aurora and Lawrenceburg OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

1

Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

Louisville

Lexington

South of I-74 & west of I-275, 20 minutes west of Cincinnati

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198

going on faith [ goingonfaith.com ] 33

FAITH

CENTERED

EAGLE ROCK

RETREAT CENTER

Cabins at Eagle Rock Retreat Center overlook Missouri’s scenic Ozark Mountains.

Courtesy Christian Retreat Network

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BY ELIZA MEYERS

he Eagle Rock Retreat Center in Eagle Rock, Missouri, began as a ministry for boys. In 1986, the Royal Rangers purchased land in southwestern Missouri for an Ozark mountain retreat that would help turn boys into godly men by combining outdoor adventure with lessons in Christian service and biblical training.

The Assemblies of God opened the retreat center to the public so other denominations could experience similar spiritual strengthening and fellowship.

Today, groups ranging from small to large can host Christian-based retreats at the Eagle Rock Retreat Center for a getaway that both relaxes and energizes the soul.

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going on faith [ summer 2020 ]

LOCATION Eagle Rock, Missouri SIZE: The facility’s buildings sit on 1,500 acres in southwestern Missouri.

CAPACITY: The center can host up to 250 overnight guests. Unlike many retreat centers, Eagle Rock can also accommodate large events or festivals of up to 10,000 guests.

CONTACT INFO: 855-337-3772 eaglerockretreat.org

VENUE Eagle Rock has welcomed a wide range of faithbased gatherings for groups of 15 to 10,000.

Accommodations from rustic to modern allow planners to choose their group’s retreat experience.

The Eagles Resort offers motel-style rooms for groups of up to 104. Seven cabins with two sleeping rooms, private bathrooms and other amenities make this a popular option for large groups.

The 33-person JB Lodge, the 48-person Deaverton and the 32-person Stanekville offer dorm-style rooms frequently used for youth groups or guests looking for simple accommodations. For those seeking a wilder setting, the center offers 16 recreational vehicle sites and 16 campsites to retreat and conference groups.

The center can also host large outdoor festivals, such as music festivals or competitions. Groups of up to 10,000 can gather and stay overnight at primitive camping sites. The center has several shower houses throughout the property, as well as support kitchens that can serve thousands.

Meeting spaces have complimentary audio and visual equipment included in the center’s price.

Some of the main meeting areas are the 100-person Eagles Resort Conference, the 120-person JB Annex, the 50-person Deaverton Town Hall and the 50-person Farewell Chapel. The 250-person JB Lodge Dining Room is the largest facility and features traditional lodge-style decor.

ACTIVITIES Set amid 1,500 acres of Ozark Mountain vistas, the Eagle Rock Retreat Center places natural beauty front and center. Many attendees say their favorite activity is simply sitting on handcrafted rocking chairs and watching the sun set behind the mountains.

Groups can explore the scenic surroundings on several of the center’s hiking trails. The facility also rents mountain bikes that visitors can race down the mountain slopes at a quicker pace.

Basic recreation options are complimentary in every retreat package, although planners should schedule group activities in advance. Participants can try their hand at a disc golf course, swim in an outdoor pool or play a round of sand volleyball.

Other outdoor recreation options are hayrides, horseshoes, tetherball and a bouldering wall.

PREMIUM SERVICES Spheres of paint splatting all over giggling guests make paintball a laugh-filled, colorful game that creates lifelong memories. Planners can add a paintball tournament to their experience for a high-energy bonding experience.

Paintball is one of Eagle Rock’s many premium recreation activities. Groups can also challenge themselves on a rock-climbing tower and attached zip line for some extra thrills. The center’s high ropes course is another treetop adventure that delivers both physical and mental challenges.

Other team-building challenges help groups develop problem-solving skills with team-oriented initiatives. Shooting sports using skeet, BB guns and arrows enhance participants’ concentration skills. Other ideas are available in Eagle Creek’s Recreation Guide handbook that lists rainy-day games, outside-the-box ideas and other team-building options.

ROYAL RANGERS A young, energetic preacher named Johnnie Barnes started the Royal Rangers program in 1962. Though as a teenager Barnes was set on becoming a park ranger, God called him to ministry. To create Royal Rangers, he drew on his time as an Eagle Scout.

The Pentecostal mentoring program started small with summer camps before expanding into other countries. After the purchase of Eagle Creek, named Camp Eagle Creek at the time, the organization hosted several National Camporama tournaments at the site. These events allow boys from kindergarten to 12th grade compete in various outdoor challenges while engaging in Scripture teachings.

Although the property is still owned and operated by the National Royal Ranger Council, Christian Retreats Network manages the property and offers a variety of planning resources.

Christian Retreats Network teaches planners marketing strategies, tips on making flyers and how to send out group event registration forms.

The company’s website also provides informational videos on a wide range of topics, from setting up a retreat budget to filling out a rooming list.

These resources allow planners to focus more on creating retreats that empower people to follow Christ and less on the organizing details.

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