The Group Travel Leader February 2020

MUSEUMS OF NOTE

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A TEXAS TUTORIAL

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M O N TA N A I C O N S

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TRAVEL LEADER

Grandeur defines A M E R I C A’ S

GREAT LAKES

FEBRUARY 2020

Start coasting.

Welcoming groups of all ages and sizes.

Make planning a breeze with one phone call for customized itineraries and services.

Explore Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores & Islands!

Cedar Point Beach

groups.SHORESandISLANDS.com 800.255.3743 S A N D U S K Y

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P U T - I N - B A Y

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K E L L E Y S

I S L A N D

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P O R T

C L I N T O N

REDISCOVER ATLANTIC CITY

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CONTENTS

GROUP TH E

TRAVEL LEADER

CHARTING THE EVOLUTION OF GROUP TR AVEL

COLU M NS

N EWS

6 Editor’s Marks 14 PROFILE:

8 Family Matters 12 Conference Scene

Jim Edwards

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O N T H E COV E R

13 News From Us

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Montana Spotlight

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Texas Insights

VOL 30 | ISSUE 2

Visit Plantation Country

A traveler overlooks Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake Shore in Michigan. Photo by Ian Shive.

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GREAT LAKES S PECIA L SEC TI ON

See what’s new and explore iconic art and aviation museums around the country.

Discover the iconic cities and charming towns on the water in the Great Lakes region.

K E LLY T Y N E R 888.253.0455

MAC T. LACY CHARLES A. PRESLEY BRIAN JEWELL HERBERT SPARROW DONIA SIMMONS KELLY TYNER

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M USEUM G UIDE

Founder and Publisher Partner VP & Executive Editor Senior Writer Creative Director VP, Sales & Marketing

KYLE ANDERSON ASHLEY RICKS ELIZA MYERS CHRISTINE CLOUGH

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

Director of Advertising Sales Graphic Design & Circulation Associate Editor Copy Editor

The GROUP TRAVEL LEADER is published ten times a year by THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc., 301 East High St., Lexington, Kentucky 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified group leaders who plan travel for groups of all ages and sizes. THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER serves as the official magazine of GROUP TRAVEL FAMILY, the organization for traveling groups. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants and other travel-related companies may subscribe to THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER by sending a check for $59 for one year to: THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (859) 2530455 or (859) 253-0503. Copyright THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

VisitNOPC.com

Architecture is living art

out here.

I t ’s e a s y f o r y o u r g r o u p t o f e e l s w e p t a w a y b y t h e a r c h i t e c t u r e a s i t i s t h e c o l o r f u l c u l t u r e t h a t ’s i n s p i r e d b y t h e v e r y p e o p l e w h o c a l l L o u i s i a n a’s River Parishes home.

Explore our architecture on YouTube

Watch “An Architectural Gumbo #OutHere” to learn about our region.

EDITOR’S MARKS

E

BY BRIAN JEWELL

very great trip follows a recipe for success.

In 2018, chef and food writer Samin Norsat made a splash in the culinary world with her cookbook “Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking.” She built her book around the simple assertion that no matter where in the world you go, the best food had those four elements in common.

What’s true in the kitchen is also true on the road. I’ve found that the best trips, like delicious food, all share some fundamental traits.

Whether you take your groups to visit museums, explore the outdoors, walk in the footsteps of history or enjoy live entertainment, make sure your tours include these five fundamental elements.

1) A MEMORABLE MEAL Great food can bring warmth and excitement to even the dreariest day. Don’t overlook the power of a meal to add sizzle to your travel packages. Make it a priority to include at least one genuinely memorable meal in every trip your group takes. And remember, the best meals aren’t always the most expensive ones: Beachfront barbecues, food tours or hands-on culinary workshops are great ways to create food memories without the fuss and expense of gourmet dining.

2) A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE Before they sign up for a trip, travelers want to know where the tour will be going and what they’ll be doing when they get there. You should always market your trips based on marquee destinations and attractions but should never reveal everything on the itinerary. The best trips always have a surprise, flourish or twist. This could be something simple, like a small gift or souvenir, or something major, like a concert or show you didn’t advertise.

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3) AN ENGAGING HOST The best way to get to know a destination is to get to know the people that live there. To do that, you need more than a group leader or a tour guide; you need a host with a warm, welcoming personality. The best hosts go the extra mile to build friendships and make travelers feel genuinely welcome. If you can’t find a tour guide with that disposition, look for a chef, a docent or another local ambassador with a big personality to greet the group and love on them a little.

4) A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP Nothing makes me feel quite so relaxed as a great bed and a leisurely breakfast. But too many tour schedules are so packed that I don’t get to enjoy either. Early mornings may be a necessity at certain points along the way, but don’t schedule any more than necessary. Try to make sure that trips include at least a couple of nights at enjoyable hotels, and give your travelers ample time to relax in the evening, sleep in before breakfast and enjoy the amenities.

5) A SENSE OF FUN Going on vacation should never be work; so why do many group tours feel like such a grind? Probably because the itinerary reads more like a to-do list than an adventure. The best trips blend learning opportunities with lighthearted moments, and a sense of fun undergirds everything the group does. Make sure your travel itineraries include plenty of enjoyable activities. And try to foster a culture of laughter no matter where you go.

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TOGETHER

REACH WE

PRINT ADVERTISING + DIGITAL ADVERTISING ONSITE DESTINATION FAMS + CUSTOM PUBLISHING CUSTOM CONTENT

TOGETHER GTL-ADVERTISING.COM

K Y L E @ G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

888.253.0455

K E L LY @ G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

FAMILY M AT T E R S

F E R G U S O N N A M E D G E N E R A L M A N AG E R SALEM, Ohio — The Group Travel very well into giving our members quick Family will kick off the new decade with and valid group travel solutions.” the Vision 2020 Project, coupled with the “I have not only enjoyed my time in the travel industry but valued the many solid promotion of Jennifer Ferguson to the position of general manager. The Group Travel relationships built around helping people Family is the nation’s leading organization achieve their goals in travel,” Ferguson of group travel leaders and planners and said. “As the general manager of The Group reaches 25,000 travel industry members.

Travel Family, my goal will be the same as our company vision: to be the No. 1 choice Ferguson assumed her new leadership in group travel solutions.” responsibilities January 1. Her previous The Group Travel Family assists group position was national sales manager, and JENNIFER FERGUSON travel planners in operating better trips and she will continue to oversee the organizahelps the travel industry in marketing to the group and meeting tion’s sales outreach. She is a seven-year veteran of the travel markets. industry, with directed focus on group and meeting markets.

Ferguson resides in Ohio with her husband and daughter. In “Jennifer is an industry shining star with unlimited insight addition to travel, she and her family are active in the world of into the needs of our members,” said Charlie Presley, founder of The Group Travel Family. “Her understanding of what it takes to rodeo and own a farm dedicated to raising horses. You can reach organize successful travel of groups and organizations translates her at 800-628-0993 or jferguson@grouptravelfamily.com.

GROUP TR AVEL FAMILY LAUNCHES VISION 2020 SALEM, Ohio — The Group Travel Family has announced its Vision 2020 project and looks to the new decade to bring great advancements in group travel and meetings.

“Group travel is growing and will be a strong market into the future simply because people like to travel with others of like interests” said Charlie Presley, founder of The Group Travel Family.

Presley has been an industry leader in group travel for 40 years and has seen a lot of change, mostly for the better. He said that the group segment of travel has a fairly simple reason for existence: People like to travel together. He also noted the convenience that group travel planners offer customers as well as the affordability of group travel.

Vision 2020 by The Group Travel Family will focus on delivering better travel tools to group leaders to help them succeed.

“Our organization reaches 25,000 volunteer travel planners who are responsible for over 5 million travelers every year, and

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we provide the networking to the travel industry in order for the groups to have better trips,” Presley said. He explained that Vision 2020 will expand to serve group travel with increased education and destination awareness, available 24/7.

“We envision an electronic platform that will provide insight to our existing members as well as offer training for the person who is interested in building a travel group following,” Presley said.

The organization is dedicated to building new travel groups in this decade through its belief now, as in the past, that all group travel planners who have reached success have done it through sheer determination and, quite honestly, on their own.

“No person interested in leading group travel should be an island unto themselves,” Presley said.

Keep an eye on this publication for updates on The Group Travel Family’s Vision 2020.

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JOIN US IN CHEYENNE FOR THE SELECT TRAVELER CONFERENCE SALEM, Ohio — If 2020 is the year to grow your travel following, offer better trips or simply increase your travel destination knowledge, there is a meeting designed just for you.

The Select Traveler Conference has been dedicated to better group travel for over 25 years and is opening its doors to you.

Select Traveler executives understand the challenges that you have as a group leader or travel planner and have been helping people like you to more successful group travel through education, networking and destination selection. The Select Traveler Conference gives you the tools to build bigger groups and run better trips, with the result of happier travelers.

This year, the Select Traveler Conference will be hosted by Visit Cheyenne in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and will be a great three days. Visit Cheyenne has planned a private indoor rodeo to kick off the event, complete with a chuckwagon, entertainment, music and even line dancing. If you are a qualified group travel leader, you could receive a full scholarship for the trip, provided by Collette. That scholarship includes two nights’ hotel, meals, entertainment and all event functions.

The Select Traveler Conference will build your travel knowledge through meetings with more than 300 destination, hotel and attraction representatives. Best of all, you can network with 100 other group leaders from across the country. This networking will give you relationships that can help throughout the year at times when you might want to run a thought by a fellow travel planner. The meeting will also include seminars to get you motivated for the travel season.

You work hard to offer your travelers the best value available, and the Select Traveler Conference is on your side. Call Kacie today at 800-628-0993 to inquire about the free scholarship program, and be a cowboy for a few days.

S E L E C T T R AV E L E R C O N F.C O M

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The Meeting for Bank, Alumni, & Chamber Travel Directors

Cheyenne, Wyoming March 22-24, 2020

selecttravelerconf.com

Call to Register Today:

800.628.0993

G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

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Group Travel

WORKING WITH CVBs

essentials

BY BRIAN JEWELL

Planning trips can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of work. Fortunately, you can cut down on the amount of legwork for your next trip by working with a convention and visitors bureau (CVB).

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Business Basic: GATHER ITINERARY IDEAS You may know the cities you want to visit, but chances are you’re a little hazy on exactly what to do when you get there. When you start researching a travel destination, your first step should be to reach out to the local CVB to get suggestions for your itinerary. The staff can help you plan how much time to spend at the most famous attractions in the area and suggest lots of other activities to complement the experience. They’ll also be able to assist with shopping and dining suggestions, step-on-guide referrals and logistical details to make sure your itineraries are robust and well thought out.

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CHECK YOUR TIMING The timing of your trip can have a major impact on your group’s experience. Local CVB experts know their destination’s traffic patterns well, so they can help you plan a season for your visit that will maximize fun while minimizing crowds and expense. They also know the patterns for business travel and other hotel occupancy for any given week — some places are cheaper on weekdays; others offer better rates over the weekend — and can steer you toward the days with the most optimal hotel rates for tour groups.

Also known as tourism boards, tourist offices, visitors councils or similar names, CVBs are public agencies staffed with local travel experts. Their job is to promote their destinations and help people like you bring groups to the city. And their services are free.

CVB experts have helped with many travel planners before you and offer a wealth of information about what tour groups enjoy doing in their cities. Working with a CVB to plan your next group tour will save you lots of time and trouble and help you build a better trip than what you could come up with on your own.

Best Practice:

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Innovative Ideas: ARRANGE GROUP EXCLUSIVES One of the biggest selling points for group trips is the ability to offer your customers travel experiences they can’t get on their own. When you’re looking for these exclusive group perks, CVBs offer a major source of intelligence. They can leverage their local expertise and relationships to help you arrange VIP experiences such as behindthe-scenes, curator-led museum tours and hands-on cooking classes with local celebrity chefs. Taking advantage of these connections will help you make your trips more memorable and add value to your tour packages.

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Pro Tip: GET HOTEL ASSISTANCE Savvy travel planners rely on CVBs to help them identify the hotels in the areas best suited to their groups’ needs. Many CVBs can forward travel planners’ inquiries to hotel partners around town. Tell your CVB representative when you want to come, how many rooms you think you’ll need and what your target price range is, and they’ll gather bids for you. These bids are often more competitive than what you could find yourself, and the hotels have been vetted by the CVB, so you know you can trust them.

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Growth Opportunity: TAKE FAM TOURS If you’re on the fence about a destination, the best way to make up your mind is to visit the place ahead of time and decide for yourself. To assist with this, many CVBs offer familiarization tours, often referred to as FAMs or FAM tours, for qualified travel planners. These trips, which can happen individually or with groups of travel planners, give you a chance to experience the destination and identify activities your group would enjoy. The CVB usually covers your hotel accommodations and meals; but FAM trips aren’t meant to be free vacations — you should only take one if you’re seriously considering a group trip to the destination.

GO ANYWHERE, DO ANYTHING AND SEE IT ALL! Customize your next road trip with Be Native Tours and create a personalized experience for any group. From iconic landmarks and local attractions to Native American and Western culture, let Be Native Tours create a special itinerary of your choice. Whether it’s across the country or down the road, your group travel adventure will be anything but ordinary.

For information, contact:

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MORGAN PRIM 405-642-4082 | morgan.prim@chickasaw.net G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

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CONFERENCE

SCENE

ABA TOUTS NATIONAL PARKS WIN AT 2020 MARKETPLACE

BY BRIAN JEWELL

PHOTOS COURTESY ABA

Thousands of tourism industry delegates gathered in Omaha January 10-14 for the American Bus Association Marketplace.

OMAHA, Nebraskas — The American Bus Association (ABA) announced a significant government relations victory and several new partnerships and initiatives at its 2020 Marketplace, which took place January 10-14.

During the conference’s opening session, ABA president and CEO Peter Pantuso briefed attendees on the organization’s multiyear effort to forestall the implementation of rule changes that would have put onerous and expensive restrictions on group travel to national parks.

Those changes were set to take effect this year, but the National Park Service (NPS) announced in December that it was delaying and re-evaluating the policy change.

ABA had joined with other tourism industry groups, including NTA, the United States Tour Operators Association and others, to convince park service officials to modify rules to be more friendly to tour and bus operators.

“We put a lot of effort into that for the last year, working with our industry partners,” Pantuso said. “We thought success had eluded us, so we moved it to the next level. We hired a lobbying firm to work on this issue, and the park service began hearing from Congress members

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who wanted to know what was going on. Our message was finally heard.”

Thanks to those efforts, NPS has decided to delay the implementation of the new rules until 2021. The fee structure for Conditional Use Permits has been significantly changed from the earlier proposal — now tour companies can expect to pay $350 for a nationwide permit for all park sites, plus an additional $50 for each park they visit. Group entrance fees will be based on the number of passengers, not a flat per-vehicle rate, and tour companies will be able to manage all their NPS permits through an online portal.

Pantuso said that while these concessions from NPS don’t include everything the tourism industry had hoped for, they still mark significant change from the original set of fees and rules that were supposed to go into effect this year.

“We’re certainly happy we’ve been able to get this far,” he said. “On a scale from one to 10, what we are getting is probably a five. And that’s the way government should work.”

In addition to the parks update, Pantuso announced a partnership with Busworld, an organization based in Belgium that hosts largescale transportation industry events in Europe

attended by tens of thousands of people. ABA’s Marketplace this year included an educational track called Busworld Academy, which featured high-level discussions about the future of motorcoach transportation.

Beginning in 2021, Busworld will host a Busworld North America expo in conjunction with ABA Marketplace every other year.

Pantuso said the Busworld event will likely take place before the main Marketplace meetings and will be aimed at attendees from outside tourism.

“I think it will attract a totally new audience, although it’s going to be an integrated system with one registration,” he said. “But for our regular tour companies and DMOs, I don’t think they’ll see much change.”

Finally, Pantuso announced a partnership with a legal consortium called U.S. Law that will offer ABA members access to attorneys with expertise in transportation issues throughout the country. U.S. Law is setting up a special 24-hour hotline for ABA members to call for quick legal help should an emergency occur.

Next year’s ABA Marketplace is scheduled for January 29 – February 2 in Baltimore.

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NEWS FROM US

B R I A N J E W E L L A N D K E L LY T Y N E R NAMED VICE PRESIDENTS

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everal key employees of The Group Travel Leader Inc and Small Market Meetings have been given promotions heading into 2020. They include two veterans with years of experience managing divisions of the companies and a relatively new employee who has quickly distinguished himself in the areas of sales and marketing.

“Brian Jewell and Kelly Tyner are wellknown to our readers, our clients and the industry at large,” said publisher Mac Lacy.

“Both have proven over years of work that they can be trusted with major responsibilities for heading up primary areas of our companies.

“Since joining us years ago as a freelance writer right out of college, Brian has steadily proven he has a great sense of editorial content and innovation,” said Lacy.

“In addition to managing our three dozen or so publishing deadlines each year, Brian is adept at overseeing numerous writers and designers and is an accomplished speaker.

His talents have shone for years, and I am very happy to add the title of vice president to his existing title of executive editor.

“For about the same period of time, Kelly Tyner has distinguished herself as a peerless sales and marketing executive for our companies,” said Lacy. “Kelly is as good at maintaining client relationships as anyone I have met in 40 years of business. She always takes the side of her clients and works tirelessly to be sure they receive what they have paid for. Like Brian, she has

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BRI AN JEWELL

created innovations for our us and richly deserves her new title of vice president of sales and marketing.

“Kyle Anderson is a recent University of Kentucky graduate who has proven very quickly that he understands how to sell our companies’ products,” said Lacy. “The new business Kyle has brought into our shop in just two years is remarkable, and he, too, has proven that he wants his clients to succeed.

As a result, Kyle has been promoted to director of advertising sales for The Group Travel Leader Inc and Small Market Meetings, where he works directly with Kelly Tyner on behalf of our many clients.”

“Brian Jewell and Kelly Tyner are well-known to our readers, our clients KELLY TY NER

and the industry at large.

Both have proven over years of work that they can be trusted with major responsibilities for heading up primary areas of our companies.”

KY LE ANDERSON

—

MAC LACY —

G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

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PROFILE

Jim Edwards COLLETTE

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BY BRIAN JEWELL

n an era when many people change jobs more often than they change their sheets, Jim Edwards’ career is a testament to the power of loyalty.

Edwards, who is vice president of U.S. affinity development for Collette, has been with the company for 23 years. He started as a business development manager based in Tennessee, then moved up through the ranks to hold several other sales positions in the company. Today, he lives in Cleveland, and focuses on leading the company’s sales efforts in group travel niches.

“For the past four years, I’ve been working with leading our strategy for all the affinity partners we work with because each affinity group is different,” Edwards said. “They all have different reasons for why they offer travel to their members. It’s important that we meet each of their specific needs.”

That’s a skill Edwards picked up in the early part of his career, first working as a dietitian in hospitals and then moving on to nutrition and sales roles for Bally Total Fitness. He found that

SALES

TIPS

teaching people and meeting their needs were critical parts of the sales process. And he has since discovered that there’s no better way to do that than to show them the world.

“Travel is a great educator,” he said. “It has allowed me to really learn but also to really teach. Travel allows us to learn about people, culture and history.”

For that, he leans on the deep well of experience at Collette. The company has been in business for 102 years and employs professional tour designers who travel up to 250 days a year to discover new destinations and build itineraries based on their firsthand experiences.

In over two decades with the company, Edwards has found that destination innovation is always in demand with clients.

“People always want the next great destination,” he said. “Innovation allows us to put together packages in places like Finland, which is the next great northern lights destination. We’ve had that now for a few years, and it’s doing fantastic, especially with the alumni groups, who are looking for a little more intimate experience.”

He’s also finding that today’s group travelers see themselves differently than when he first started working in tourism. That point of view is reflected in the way they travel.

“We have so many baby boomers retiring, and they’re retiring in better health and more wealth,” he said. “There are more people that have that thirst for travel. And those travelers don’t want to be considered seniors.”

To stay in touch with the changing tastes and demands of new travelers, Edwards travels to about a dozen affinity conferences and events each year. And when he’s not on the road, you’re likely to find him attending one of his children’s sporting events or hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park with his wife.

“Family is hugely important to us,” he said. “When I’m home, I want to be there for my family. That’s part of the culture of Collette.”

“We really like to visit with our partners face to face and show we’re experts.

There are so many tools now that make marketing easy. But we still do trip presentations and answer questions face to face. When someone is spending $4,000 per person, they may have a few questions before they’re ready to write a check.”

— JIM

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Join Us for a Trip to New Orleans Plantation Country in July

H

ave you always wanted to experience the beautiful plantation country around new Orleans and the Mississippi River?

Are you looking for ways to learn more about trip possibilities in Louisiana and have a great time doing it? Do you have a few days to see New Orleans Plantation Country firsthand in July?

Would you like to spend a few days with executive staff of The Group Travel Leader magazine while you’re at it?

If so, we have just the opportunity for you.

New Orleans Plantation Country is inviting up to 25 of our travel planner readers to enjoy a five-day site inspection trip, July 15-19. Qualified travel planners will be guests of the New Orleans Plantation Country staff and will enjoy visiting the area’s riverfront plantations and other attractions.

And once you get to New Orleans, all your expenses are covered.

“Join The Group Travel Leader’s vice president, Brian Jewell, and Kyle Anderson, our director of advertising sales, for this fun and educational site inspection trip to experience the best of New Orleans Plantation Country,” said publisher Mac Lacy. “Brian and Kyle will accompany our Louisiana hosts on this trip and will be sharing their travel experiences with everyone in attendance.

“Brian and Kyle will be highlighting the trip in real time on social media, and Brian will write an article on this tour for publication in The Group Travel Leader magazine,” said Lacy. “Tour participants will have the opportunity to share their impressions and experiences about New Orleans Plantation Country with our staff and meet some wonderful hosts from the state. It’s going to be a lot of fun for everyone involved.”

All accommodations, sightseeing, transportation and meals are included once participants

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Kyle Anderson (bottom left) and Brian Jewell (bottom right) will accompany travel planers to enjoy Oak Alley Plantation (top) and bayou animal encounters (bottom center) in New Orleans Plantation Country.

arrive in Louisiana. No travel expenses to and from Louisiana will be reimbursed.

This readership event and site inspection tour is limited to 25 qualified travel planners. Applicants will complete a brief travel profile that will be used by New Orleans Plantation Country staff to select attendees.

To submit your travel profile and request a spot on this exciting trip, go to grouptravelleader.com/nopctour and fill out your profile online. To inquire by phone or to ask a question, call us toll-free at 888-253-0455 and ask for Kyle.

Registration for this complimentary site inspection trip in New Orleans Plantation Country closes April 15, so don’t delay.

Join Brian, Kyle and New Orleans Plantation Country for a wonderful trip July 15-19.

G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

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S TAT E S P O T L I G H T

MONTANA

M

ontana may have a cure for cramped city life: wide open spaces. Nicknamed Big Sky Country, Montana inspires with the giant peaks of Glacier National Park and the rich wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. Cities like Billings, Butte and Bozeman boast personality, amenities and proximity to natural beauty. Groups can enjoy culture, cuisine and all the fresh air they desire on a tour of Montana.

ARTWORK BY DONIA SIMMONS

by Eliza Myers

Striking mountains and crystal-clear lakes are hallmarks of Montana’s Glacier National Park.

COURTESY NPS

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Glacier National Park

COURTESY NPS

POPULAR DEMAND GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

COURTESY NPS

Museum of the Rockies

COURTESY MUSEUM OF THE ROCKIES

Glacier wildlife

Jagged mountains jut upward to form a gorgeous mountain range so imposing that Native Americans in the area referred to it as the “backbone of the world.” Its famous Going-to-the-Sun Road travels up the peaks for sweeping views of alpine meadows and crystal-clear mountain lakes.

The park features several historic grand hotels so groups can properly soak in the landscape.

MUSEUM OF THE ROCKIES

Groups can learn about the prehistoric dinosaurs that once roamed across the state at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. The Smithsonian Affiliate displays one of the country’s largest collections of dinosaur remains, including a mounted T. rex skeleton. Exhibits also include the area’s Native Americans, frontier days and a living-history farm where costumed interpreters demonstrate life in an early-20th-century home.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Gardiner, Montana, is the only year-round entrance to the world’s first national park: Yellowstone. The charming Western town offers friendly locals, Wild West attractions and proximity to Mammoth Hot Springs, a trademark geothermal area of the park.

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Big Sky Resort gondola

PHOTOS COURTESY BIG SKY RESORT

UP AND COMING BIG SKY RESORT

A $13 million renovation and expansion to Big Sky Resort’s Mountain Village was announced in 2019. Due to open in time for the 2020 ski season, the expansion will include a new food hall and more amenities for skiers. Big Sky Resort in Big Sky is one of the nation’s most popular ski destinations with 5,850 acres for skiing, 34 chairlifts and the Lone Peak Tram to elevation 11,166 feet.

Skiing in Big Sky

MONTANA SEGWAY

Visitors can now explore Montana’s largest city, Billings, by Segway with Montana Segway Tours.

From the economic hub, excursions such as the Black Otter Trail tour explore nearby natural attractions. The tours also follow the Yellowstone River, a wetlands reclamation area and the Alkali Creek.

CLARION INN COPPER KING HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER

In 2017, the Clarion Inn Copper King Hotel and Convention Center cut the ribbon after a major renovation of the Butte hotel. The hotel now offers 92 rooms, event space and a restaurant.

Big Sky Resort

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O V E R N I G H T S E N S AT I O N S WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT

A full-service alpine village, Whitefish Mountain Resort in Whitefish opens its slopes to skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and guided snowmobile rentals in the winter. In the summer, the resort welcomes the warm weather with zip line tours, an alpine slide, downhill mountain biking and scenic lift rides. The hotel also makes a convenient base camp for visits to nearby Glacier National Park.

DOUBLE ARROW LODGE

Located in the serene mountain valley of Seeley Lake, Double Arrow Lodge captures a blend of European design and Western comfort. A massive stone fireplace invites guests to relax after a day spent exploring nature. The hotel offers several recreational options, such as tennis, golf, trails and easy access to other outdoor adventures.

Hiking in Whitefish

PHOTOS COURTESY WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT

MEMORABLE MEALS FINN AT DOUBLETREE

BY HILTON MISSOULA

For a riverside view and a savory menu, Finn at DoubleTree by Hilton Missoula welcomes groups.

The restaurant specializes in seafood, steaks, pork chops and cocktails. Diners can admire Mount Sentinel and the Clark Fork River from the restaurant’s outdoor deck.

MONTANA ALE WORKS

In Bozeman’s historic downtown, the Montana Ale Works is a former railroad warehouse that was transformed into an eclectic restaurant with upscale Montana cuisine and farm-to-fork offerings. Groups can enjoy signature dishes like buffalo pot stickers and other seasonal specialties.

Whitefish Mountain Resort V I S I T M T. C O M

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LONE STAR STUDIES HERE’S A SMART W AY T O E N J O Y T E X A S

BY TOM ADKINSON

T

exas is the travel corollary to the how-do-you-eat-an-elephant joke. The answer, of course, is “one bite at a time.”

Texas is simply too big to take in all at once. Until Alaska came along, Texas was the biggest state in the Union. In motorcoach terms, it is 786 miles from Marshall in the east to El Paso in the west and 785 miles from Brownsville in the south to Amarillo in the north; and it’s still another 95 miles from Amarillo to the Oklahoma state line. That’s a lot of time on the asphalt.

So how can you tackle the Lone Star behemoth? Start by understanding who Texans are by visiting the University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio and then by biting off logical regions. Authentic Texas magazine calls the institute a terrific starting point for understanding the larger picture of Texas.

SA N A N TON IO & T H E H I L L COU N T RY The institute, a Smithsonian Affiliate that transcends its academic roots and is a vibrant visitor attraction, was born as the Texas pavilion for HemisFair ’68, the first world’s fair in the American Southwest. By design, it remained after the fair to tell the story of the many cultural and ethnic groups that settled Texas and continue to help it grow: Native Americans, Spanish, Germans, Norwegians, Jews, Danes, Poles, Vietnamese, Syrians and others. The list numbers more than two dozen.

A Texas tour itinerary could radiate from the institute and, of course, should begin in San Antonio.

“Everyone knows the Alamo; but remember that there are four other Spanish colonial missions: Mission San Jose, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Juan

ARTWORK BY DONIA SIMMONS

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Completed in 1782, Mission San Jose is one of five historic Spanish missions in San Antonio.

and Mission Espada. All are active Catholic parishes,” said Dee Dee Poteete, director of regional communications at Visit San Antonio.

The Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River Walk provides a special way to enjoy the missions. Mission Reach is an eight-mile linear park for walking, bicycling and even kayaking. Imagine adding an urban float trip to your Texas tour for a most unusual perspective on nature and history.

The San Antonio Food Trails program offers guidance for dining destinations. A nonprofit called Culinaria launched it with three trails: tacos, barbecue and margaritas.

Trail restaurants are on a two-year rotation, so ideas remain fresh in a city that is one of only two in the U.S. designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy for its diverse culinary heritage. Tucson, Arizona, is the other.

BE AU MON T & E A S T T E X A S East Texas is a slice of the Lone Star State that contrasts dramatically with San Antonio. Anchored by Beaumont down toward the coast and stretching up to Arkansas and Oklahoma, east Texas is a region of coastal plains, piney woods, lakes and perennial attractions, such as the Texas State Railroad that connects Rusk and Palestine.

“We’re pure Texas with an overlay of Cajun and the Old South, and we are heaven for groups that want to enjoy nature,” said Dean Conwell, executive director of the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In particular, Beaumont is famous for bird-watching, with two migratory flyways and abundant species to see.

The CVB offers multiple itineraries into four habitats — woods, wetlands, marsh and shore — and it is possible to visit them all in just a day. Smith Oak Sanctuary is a place to see colorful spoonbills, and right in town are viewing platforms along the wetlands boardwalk of Cattail Marsh.

Beaumont is one place where it’s easy to verify the twostep directions for this recreational pursuit: (1) go outdoors and (2) start looking around.

If you’re the least bit sun-averse, you can get indoors at several museums. Among them are the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Clifton Steamboat Museum, the Edison Museum and the Texas Energy Museum. Just-for-fun group photo locations are with Big Beau, a 135-foot-long alligator attraction, and a 24-foot-tall fire hydrant donated to the city after the 1999 rerelease of Disney’s “101 Dalmatians.”

Three hours north of Beaumont is a trip into the late 1800s. It’s the Texas State Railroad, which uses vintage locomotives and coaches for a 25-mile trip through the first state forest in Texas. It crosses 24 bridges, one that is 1,042 feet long, and allows you time to enjoy the depot areas of Rusk and Palestine — say “Pal-es-teen” if you want to sound like a local — during the four-hour experience.

An even more tranquil east Texas experience is another hour north at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, 14 acres of floral beauty that showcases 38,000 rosebushes and more

BY CODY YORK, COURTESY THISISCLEVELAND.COM COURTESY BEAUMONT CVB

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than 500 varieties of roses. Ask about varieties saluting notables such as Barbara Bush, Miranda Lambert and Brenda Lee. October, the month of the Texas Rose Festival, is especially active with special events.

T E X A S M E T ROPL E X Heading west about 100 miles gets you to the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex, where you could plan an entire week’s tour and never go all the way into the two major cities. There’s plenty to see and do in the sprawling outskirts. Here are some ideas for tour planning.

Sports are big throughout Texas, but Frisco, about 30 miles north of Dallas, has particular sports cred. Not yet 2 years old is the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which is built into Toyota Stadium, home of major league soccer’s FC Dallas. It is the first major league sports Hall of Fame within a stadium. It is highly interactive, and its static displays are impressive. Example: The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy is here permanently.

That other kind of football, the NFL type, is the focus of The Star, the headquarters and practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys. Wesley Lucas, communications manager at Visit Frisco, highlights the fact that this is the only NFL facility of its kind open for tours. The 91-acre complex also includes the Ford Center, a 510,000-square-foot athletic center for football and soccer games, and a collection of three dozen restaurants, shops and other businesses. You don’t have to be a Cowboys fan to enjoy The Star.

Arlington delivers another sports/entertainment/ dining combo with the new $250 million complex called Texas Live! between the stadiums where the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers play. One attraction is Live Arena, a 35,000-square-foot arrival area where you can watch games in the two stadiums on a 100-foot LED HD television. As they say, “No ticket, no problem.”

Rodeo, of course, is a sport of a different kind, and it’s the big draw in Mesquite, which bills itself the Rodeo Capital of Texas. Target a Saturday evening from June through August to see saddle bronc riding, bull riding, team roping, barrel racing and other events in a 5,500seat arena that has the special attribute of being air conditioned. Check out the Mesquite Outlaws — Major Arena league soccer — in the same space.

After the excitement of rodeo, you can chill out with a tour on the Grapevine Urban Wine Trail. Grapevine

Frisco’s National Soccer Hall of Fame

San Antonio Barbecue Trail COURTESY VISITSANANTONIO.COM

preserved its historic main street, making it a picturesque location to visit a variety of tasting rooms and other shops and restaurants. Tip: Dr. Sue’s Chocolate is a special Grapevine treat.

An activity that’s even more chill is a visit to Nash Farm, just a few blocks off Main Street. This 5.2-acre farm dates to 1859 and features a farmhouse, a barn, vegetable gardens, orchards and farm animals. Ask about arranging a farmhouse breakfast and participating in activities such as feeding sheep, collecting eggs and picking peaches. Hint: You can enjoy a peach or two while you’re “working.”

E L PA SO & W E S T T E X A S The far west of Texas is Big Bend Country, the place to go for wide-open spaces and outdoor grandeur that’s on a — well — Texas scale. El Paso, which is so far west that it’s in the Mountain Time Zone, is the only metro area in the region.

It is made special for many reasons, most particularly because it is joined at the hip with Juarez, Mexico, making it an international destination. You can offer your group a distinctive side trip with a walk over the Paseo del Norte International Bridge, where you can pick up a local tour vehicle or take a walking tour that includes the excellent Museum of the Revolution, the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe and a bustling mercado. Most Juarez

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Mission Concepcion COURTESY VISITSANANTONIO.COM

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Starr Western Wear in El Paso

tours end with a stop at the Kentucky Club and Grill, where margaritas were invented. Few will object.

Downtown El Paso has had a hotel renaissance recently, and there are plenty of lodging choices within walking distance of the El Paso Art Museum, the El Paso History Museum, the Plaza Theatre and a down-home shopping district anchored by Starr Western Wear, where you can buy the cowboy hat you’ve always wanted and have it custom fit, too.

This is the region for enormous parks, even directly in El Paso. Spectacular views of the city distinguish Franklin Mountains State Park, the largest urban park in America.

Its tallest peak tops out at 7,192 feet. Slightly more than 100 miles away is Guadalupe Mountains National Park, where Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Texas at 8,751 feet. Still in the region but almost 350 miles away is the spectacular Big Bend National Park. Break up that drive by seeing the Fort Davis National Historic Site and the McDonald Observatory for looks into frontier expansion and outer space.

If you seek a national park marathon, you could target Carlsbad Caverns National Park, but that would take you into New Mexico, and as you already realize, there’s plenty of Texas remaining to explore.

BY TOM ADKINSON

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THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW MUSEUMS TO VISIT

BY ELIZA MYERS

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HOUSTON The Oscars, the Statue of Liberty and the Phillie Phanatic have something in common: Each of these icons serves as the inspiration for a new museum.

Group leaders looking to add never-before-seen destinations to their tours should consider incorporating one of these new museum experiences in their itineraries.

A multiyear redevelopment of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) will transform the 14-acre site into a walkable public greenspace. Construction began on the $450 million expansion in 2015, with an expected completion date this fall.

Among the additions is the 15,000-square-foot Nancy and Rich Kinder Building to showcase art created after 1900. The new building will also include 25 traveling exhibit galleries, educational areas, a theater and a restaurant.

Other planned buildings include an art school, a conservation center and a landscape plan that knits together a century’s worth of signature architectural structures.

Opened in 1924, the MFAH is already one of the largest cultural institutions in the country. The museum covers art from around the world. It is especially lauded for its collection in pre-Columbian, Renaissance, Baroque and Latin American art.

Groups can book an intimate tour of the museum for behindthe-scenes information into some of the museum’s 64,000 works from six continents.

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Museum of Fine Arts Houston

M A SCOT H A L L

BY ALLYSON HUNTSMAN, COURTESY MFAH

Mascot Hall of Fame COURTESY MASCOT HALL OF FAME

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WHITING, INDIANA Before its grand opening in April 2019, the Mascot Hall of Fame began as a website in 2005. After years of honoring standout sports mascots, the Hall of Fame opened a vibrantly colored physical building on the south shore of Lake Michigan in Whiting, Indiana.

Founded by a former mascot, Dave Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic, the museum educates visitors about the history of mascots, explains how they are created and showcases mascot memorabilia from around the world.

The three-story museum embraces its whimsical theme to appeal to children, sports fans and roadside Americana enthusiasts.

Groups can see items from beloved mascots, such as the costume for Moonchester, the soccer mascot for Manchester City, England, and the shoes worn by the Phillie Phanatic.

Kids and adults with a sense of fun can design their own mascots and brush up on their mascot skills with interactive activities such as launching virtual T-shirt cannons into a crowd.

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A 3,600-pound torch immediately grabs guests’ attention at the Statue of Liberty Museum. The new museum allows patrons to learn about the history and construction of the famous statue and symbol of freedom. The statue’s original torch, replaced in 1986, serves as the museum’s centerpiece.

The museum is on Liberty Island in New York City. Opened in May 2019, the museum began construction in 2016. The 26,000-square-foot museum can accommodate all the island’s daily visitors; the former museum could only hold 20%.

The sustainable building’s design mimics the statue’s copper structure and granite base. Inside, multimedia displays offer a virtual tour of the statue’s interior. More than 500 photographs include images from the statue’s construction and early sketch designs from France.

Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island

Liberty Island at night

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Lady Liberty’s original torch

LOS ANGELES PHOTOS COURTESY ELLIS ISLAND FOUNDATION

Set to open this year, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will be the country’s first large-scale museum dedicated entirely to the art and history of film. Permanent and rotating exhibits will immerse visitors in the process and magic of Hollywood and the film industry.

The museum will open in two buildings, one a renovated historic landmark and the other a new structure. Named the Sphere, the new building will feature a 1,500-panel glass dome. Together, the two buildings will have 300,000 square feet of public and exhibition space.

Officials announced plans for the museum in 2012. The Academy of Motion Pictures has collected movie-related materials since the 1930s. Among the museum’s key memorabilia are Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” a shark mold from “Jaws” and tablets from “The Ten Commandments.”

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Courtesy High Museum of Art

AC A D E M Y M U S E U M .O R G COURTESY ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES

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NAT IONA L M USEU M OF A F R IC A N A M ER IC A N M USIC

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NASHVILLE National Museum of African American Music

Clothes worn by Nat King Cole, Whitney Houston and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes are among many artifacts from influential musicians honored in the National Museum of African American Music.

Set to open this year, the Nashville museum will be one of the few attractions to focus on African American contributions to more than 50 American music genres.

A 200-seat theater and five permanent themed galleries with up to 1,400 artifacts will explore African American music roots. An animated timeline links American history with the music of each period. In the Wade in the Water gallery, exhibits reveal how the African music brought to America by the slave trade transformed over time to become African American spirituals and gospel music.

Similar exhibits explore the African American influences on blues, jazz, country and hip hop, among others.

The 56,000-square-foot facility will open in downtown Nashville with an expected cost of $50 million.

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NASA Visitor Center

See the world’s largest collection of space artifacts and explore the fascinating future of space travel!

Looking to stay a bit longer? Sign up for an inspiring experience at Space Camp! Two- to six-day Camps are available for all ages: children, families, adults and corporate groups.

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Huntsville, Alabama • (800) 637-7223 www.rocketcenter.com

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RETRACE THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR PAST

BRING YOUR GROUP TOUR TO LIFE. By land, air, and sea, there’s no shortage of ways for your group to have an epic adventure for the history books here in Virginia Beach. Enjoy hands-on experiences and uncommon access to storied sites in our coastal city.

Plan your group’s Live the Life Adventure at VisitVirginiaBeach.com/GroupTour.

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YOUR GROUP WILL LOVE THESE MUSEUMS OF FLIGHT

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BY ELIZA MYERS Every child is born with the innate desire to fly.

Some have chased this innate wish all the way to reality by becoming pilots or astronauts. For the rest of us, aviation museums provide a glimpse into the fascinating world beyond the limits of earth.

These five museums celebrate the visionaries who have furthered humanity’s path to the clouds and beyond.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

A space capsule at the Smithsonian

WASHINGTON, D.C. Visitors walking into the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum can’t help but immediately look up. Historic aircraft hang from the ceiling of the large museum, among them the original 1903 Wright Flyer and the Spirit of St Louis.

One of the most visited cultural institutions on the planet, the museum delves into the first attempts to study space, the first attempts at flight and the journey beyond Earth’s atmosphere. The museum contains about 60,000 exhibits and more than 14,000 videos related to aviation and space.

Almost all the aircraft on display are originals or the original backup craft. Among the highlights are the Bell X-1 which broke the sound barrier; the model of the starship Enterprise of “Star Trek” fame; and the Apollo 11 command module, which brought the first astronauts to the moon.

Thousands more aircraft hang in the museum’s companion facility, the Udvar-Hazy Center. Two large hangars hold historically significant aircraft, such as the space shuttle Discovery and the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber Enola Gay, which dropped an atomic bomb during World War II. A I R A N D S PAC E . S I . E D U

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Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum

COURTESY INTREPID SEA, AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

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The USS Intrepid served as an aircraft carrier during World War II and the Vietnam War. After it was decommissioned, the massive ship reopened in 1982 as the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. The 250,000-ton carrier now holds exhibits, videos and military aircraft.

Tours explore areas of the ship that have been restored with historic accuracy. Among the highlights are a giant 1940s computer, radar equipment and pneumatic tubes used to ferry messages from one point in the ship to another.

The ship also houses the USS Growler, a submarine armed with nuclear missiles during the Cold War. Walking down into the submarine allows groups to picture life underground for months on end in confined spaces and no access to the sun.

The Concorde Experience depicts a more glamorous mode of travel. Groups can walk through the Concorde’s first-class cabin and learn how the technological marvel became the fastest commercial aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean advanced flight technology.

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U.S. Space and Rocket Center

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Groups visiting the U.S. Space and Rocket Center can admire spacecraft and then try to pilot one themselves. The center offers several hands-on experiences and programs, including space travel simulators that re-create the forces of liftoff and weightlessness.

Mammoth rockets reveal the immensity of space equipment. The National Historic Landmark Saturn V moon rocket looms large at the site. Other artifacts, such as a replica of Pathfinder, a handprint of America’s first space monkey and an Apollo Command Module simulator help travelers relive moments from the space race. To feel the power of these spacebound rockets, visitors can stand inside a rumbling, simulated flame pit beneath a Saturn V engine.

For longer visits, groups of all ages can book a program with weeklong Space Camp. Other space-related educational experiences include the Aviation Challenge Camp and the Robotics Camp.

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A historic plane at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

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NAT IONA L M USEU M OF T H E U. S . A IR FORC E DAYTON, OHIO Visitors can imagine themselves as president for the day at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. On the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the museum’s sprawling 17 acres of displays could take a couple of days to tour completely.

The museum allows guests to walk onto some of the planes used to fly presidents to important international meetings. Groups can explore the cabin of the Boeing aircraft that served as Air Force One when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The plane carried his body from Dallas to Washington.

Tours point out the spot where Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president.

Other exhibits use more than 360 aircraft to trace human flight from the Wright brothers to the modern era. A restoration hangar to the east of the main museum allows tours to see these historic planes brought back to functioning condition.

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ONE SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE world-renowned garden I historic mansion tours scenic tram tours I shopping

“Breathtaking. A treasure worth exploring.”– Trip Advisor Review WINTERTHUR MUSEUM, GARDEN & LIBRARY I 800.448.3883 I winterthur.org/groups G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

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Museum of Flight

The largest private air and space museum in the world, Seattle’s Museum of Flight goes back to the beginning of the Boeing corporation. The museum’s Red Barn is a registered historic site that was used in the early 1900s as Boeing’s original manufacturing plant when the company crafted wooden airplanes with fabric overlays.

Visitors watch as the planes advance through the company’s history.

Beyond the exhibit, groups can wander through 15 acres of exhibits and more than 175 air and space craft. A new pavilion opened in 2016 to showcase some of Boeing’s most successful commercial jet aircraft, among them the first jet Air Force One, the only Concorde on the West Coast and a B-17F Flying Fortress.

Flight simulators use 3D visuals to create a realistic piloting experience. The Lear Gallery continues the simulations with NASA’s Space Shuttle Trainer, used to prepare astronauts for their missions.

A replica of the International Space Station’s laboratory provides insight into the daily life of an astronaut on a space mission.

Groups can book several interactive experiences, including “Amazing Skies Theater,” a living-history production that brings aviation history to the stage.

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s r u o T r u O e v o You’ ll L The Butler Institute of American Art

Ideal Northeast Ohio location midway between New York & Chicago, Cleveland & Pittsburgh

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800.447.8201

youngstownlive.com

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THESE MUSEUMS CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY OF AMERICAN ART

BU T L ER I NST I T U T E OF A M ER IC A N A RT

BY ELIZA MYERS What does it mean to be an American? Artists across the country have explored that question, from Norman Rockwell’s classic scenes of American life to Andy Warhol’s pop art.

Groups can ponder the question for themselves as they take in famous works from impressionists to social realists at these five American art museums.

A Crystal Bridges sculpture

The Early American gallery at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art COURTESY CBMAA

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At a time when serious art aficionados were traveling to Europe to buy art, Joseph Butler Jr. collected American art. The result became the first museum dedicated to American art: the Butler Institute of American Art. Opened in 1919, the museum celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. Known as America’s Museum, the site grew over the years from 34 works donated by Butler to today’s collection of more than 20,000 pieces in all media, spanning four centuries of work.

The museum’s Beecher Center was the first museum addition dedicated solely to new media and electronic art. The Bitonte Skywalk connects the museum to the Butler North Education Center, where groups can see the Americana Collection and sign up for an art class or program.

Groups can opt for a tour to focus on the museum’s highlights, such as Winslow Homer’s “Snap the Whip” or William Gropper’s “Youngstown Strike.” The museum also offers a gift shop, a cafe and a fine art gallery.

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Butler Institute of American Art

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C RYSTA L BR IDGE S M USEU M OF A M ER IC A N A RT BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art strives to unite nature and art. The museum takes its name from a nearby natural spring and the bridge motif incorporated in the building’s architecture.

A glass-and-wood design by Moshe Safdie complements the surrounding creek-fed ponds and forest trails with a series of pavilions.

Inside, the elegant building spans five centuries of American masterpieces from the Colonial era to the current day.

Guests can view acclaimed works by Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackson Pollock, among others. Outdoors, the art continues with 3.5 miles of walking trails linking sculptures, such as Leo Villareal’s “Buckyball,” which illuminates with a light show from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

The Walton Family Foundation founded Crystal Bridges in 2005 to create a nonprofit museum free to the public. Alice Walton, philanthropist and daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, spearheaded the museum and chairs the museum’s board of directors.

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GILC R E A SE M USEU M

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TULSA, OKLAHOMA

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Thomas Gilcrease grew up in the Creek Nation in present-day Oklahoma. His pride in his Native American heritage encouraged him to create his own American West collection, which eventually included more than 500 paintings by 20th-century Native American artists.

His collection became the bedrock for the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1958. With one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive art collections of the American West, the museum features 13,000 works of art. The museum includes Western artists such as Thomas Moran, Frederic Remington and George Catlin.

The Kravis Discovery Center uses technology to provide insights into the museum’s extensive anthropology collection from the early history of the Americas. The center’s exhibits on America’s prehistory, settlement and expansion complement the art.

Garden tours explore gardens themed to match four centuries of the American West: Pre-Columbian, Pioneer, Colonial and Victorian.

Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum

GILCREASE.ORG COURTESY GILCREASE MUSEUM

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RELAXING BEACH ENTERTAINING BOARDWALK HERITAGE EXPERIENCES FESTIVALS & EVENTS OCO-2019-25513 GroupTravelLeader_5x4.5.indd 1

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CALL NORMA DOBROWOLSKI 800.626.2326 OCOCEAN.COM/GROUP-TRAVEL 12/11/19 4:22 PM

NATURE, ART, CULTURE 626-405-2240 | Pasadena-adjacent Tours@huntington.org

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NOR M A N ROC K W EL L M USEU M STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS Though considered too sentimental by many critics for much of his life, Rockwell made a huge impact on the art world. His enduring illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post reflected American culture for over five decades. Groups can gain a deeper understanding of this iconic artist at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

A prolific artist, Rockwell produced more than 4,000 original works, including illustrations of more than 40 books, portraits of four presidents and 64 years of art for the Boy Scouts of America. In Rockwell’s later years, he was acclaimed for taking on more serious subjects, such as his painting on racial integration of schools titled “The Problem We All Live With.”

The museum offers 10 galleries, a gift shop and a 36-acre property.

Groups can opt for a more personalized guided tour, such as the Highlights of the Collection Tour. The Plein Air Art Experience invites participants to create their own artwork to take home.

NRM.ORGA

Norman Rockwell Museum COURTESY NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM

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A N DY WA R HOL M USEU M

MUSEUMS

PITTSBURGH

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The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh COURTESY ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM

Most people know about Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup cans pop art.

But the multitalented artist developed many unusual art techniques, including illustrations using a complicated blotted line technique.

These works and more make up the comprehensive Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

One of the largest museums dedicated to a single artist, the Andy Warhol Museum features more than 1,000 prints, 4,000 photographs and 900 paintings. Seven floors of exhibits cover Warhol’s life, works and rotating exhibits from other artists.

Over the course of his life, Warhol amassed a collection of moving images, films, paintings, screen prints and music videos. Along with his lesser-known works, groups can see some of the images that made Warhol a household name, such as the larger-than-life “Elvis 11 Times” and “Campbell’s Soup Box.” The 1911 museum building originally served as a distribution center for milling and mining equipment. Organizers chose the building due to Warhol’s fascination with “mechanical” art.

Groups can learn more about the Prince of Pop Art by attending a tour, a lecture or a film screening. The museum also offers youth programs and art classes.

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PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM

One of California’s most beautiful and unique destinations!

Ask about our docent-led group tours - Two restaurants available with tour group options

For information on Egypt’s Lost Cities or FBI call 805.557.2704

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Tour Through Air Force One 27000 FEBRUARY 2020

View a Full Scale Replica of the Oval Office

GROUP

Touch an Authentic Piece of the Berlin Wall

40 Presidential Drive • Simi Valley, CA 93065 • 805.577.2704 • ReaganLibrary.com

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Lake Living THERE ARE GREAT CITIES ON THE GREAT LAKES B Y PA U L A AV E N G L A D Y C H

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he Great Lakes area is home to some stellar cities.

Beloved destinations such as Chicago and Milwaukee can be found on these Midwestern shores. The Great Lakes cover 94,250 square miles and have become a centerpiece of group travelers’ visits to the states surrounding them.

Here are a few of cities that have made names for themselves on the Great Lakes.

Ch ic a go

The sun sets over the Loop in Chicago.

BY ADAM ALEXANDER, COURTESY CHOOSE CHICAGO

Everything in Chicago revolves around the river and Lake Michigan.

Chicago is a large city mixed with nature, said Naomi Hattori, acting vice president of global development for Choose Chicago.

“If someone hasn’t heard about Chicago, they hear about the lake,” she said. “They really appreciate the breadth of how close the water is to the city and our open lakefront.”

Many of Chicago’s iconic city parks, including Millennium Park, are along the lake so the “lake is accessible to everyone,” Hattori said.

To get a sense of how large the lake is, she recommended that groups go to one of the city’s tallest buildings with observatories to get a view from above.

The water makes an excellent vantage point to view Chicago’s famous architecture. Visitors can take a 60- to 90-minute architecture tour by boat along the Chicago River and out onto Lake Michigan.

The River Walk connects the Navy Pier to west of the river.

Groups visiting the historic Navy Pier can ride on the Centennial Wheel or take advantage of Pier Park attractions like the Light Tower Ride, the carousel, the Pepsi Wave Swinger or the climbing walls.

Water taxis are a great way to get around the city; they connect the more than 450 shops along the Magnificent Mile with Navy Pier and the Museum Campus that includes the famous Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium.

River cruises showcase Chicago architechture.

BY RANVESTEL PHOTOGRAPHIC, COURTESY CHOOSE CHICAGO

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D u lut h , M i n nesot a

Many people don’t realize that Milwaukee, which sits on Lake Michigan, is also located at the confluence of three rivers. Groups take advantage of Milwaukee’s watery location by booking a dinner, a brunch or a history cruise that starts on the Milwaukee River and goes out onto Lake Michigan.

The world-class Milwaukee Art Museum has a huge window with amazing lake views, said Lindsey McKee, communications manager for Visit Milwaukee, and the Discovery World Science and Technology Center, also on the lake, has a must-see Great Lakes exhibit that talks about the importance of the Great Lakes and Milwaukee’s place in it.

Visitors can even set sail on Discovery World’s tall ship, the Sailing Vessel Denis Sullivan, a re-creation of a 19th-century three-masted Great Lakes schooner.

Milwaukee is known as the city that beer built, and Lake Michigan and Milwaukee’s three rivers played a huge role in building that reputation, McKee said. Groups can tour some of Milwaukee’s many breweries, but the Historic Pabst Milwaukee Brewery is a must. Visitors can explore the historic Pabst campus, learn about its long history and sample some beer on tap in the tavern.

A Paddle Tavern tour allows guests to drink some of Milwaukee’s famous brews while they paddle along the Milwaukee River. If groups just want to get out and experience the vastness of Lake Michigan, they can take the Lake Express Ferry, a car ferry that transports passengers across the lake to Muskegon, Michigan, said McKee.

Duluth sits on the greatest of the Great Lakes: Lake Superior. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is — group visitors can find something fun to do in and around the water, including boating, swimming, surfing, ice fishing and ice skating. Groups can start their visit at Fitger’s, a hotel, restaurant and retail mecca lakeshore that occupies the site of a historic brewery that dates back to the 1800s. Vista Fleet offers cruises on the lake that take visitors beneath the aerial lift bridge that is a fixture of the port city.

Residents as well as tourists love to line up along the ship canal to watch big ships coming in under the lift bridge. Another attraction by the water is the William A. Irvin, a 1,000-foot ship that is now a free museum. The Irvin was the flagship of U.S. Steel’s Great Lakes Fleet, hauling bulk materials from Lake Superior towns to U.S. Steel’s mills on Lake Michigan and Lake Erie. A train ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad takes visitors from the historic Duluth Union Depot through downtown Duluth and Canal Park, along the shore of Lake Superior and into the North Woods. The fully narrated tour tells the history of Duluth, the harbor and the railroads that built Minnesota and Wisconsin.

More adventurous groups can take guided fat-tire biking or kayak tours or take a city or brewery tour.

“The brewery and cider scene has exploded here over the last few years,” said Lori Steinbach, visitor services manager for Visit Duluth. That includes distilleries that make gin and whiskey. Groups can also book fun adventures like behind-the-scenes brewery tours and curling lessons.

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Er ie, Pen n s ylva n ia

Milwaukee Art Museum

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U.S. Brig Niagara in Erie

Kayaking downtown Milwakee

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Erie is the only port Pennsylvania has on the Great Lakes.

What makes the area special is Presque Isle State Park, a 3,200acre sandy peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie. It is famous for its seven miles of beaches. Presque Isle Bay itself is the largest harbor in the Great Lakes at two miles wide and seven miles long.

Visitors to the park can book a narrated boat tour on either the Lady Kate or the U.S. Ariel, a replica historic ship that sports 18 water cannons.

Erie’s Bayfront district is home to the Erie Maritime Museum and the U.S. Brig Niagara, a replica of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s two-masted relief flagship that helped defeat the British at the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. The Victorian Princess, a paddle-wheeler, also launches from Bayfront and offers scenic boat tours and meal cruises for large groups.

“It’s really becoming where the action is,” said Emily Beck, director of tourism development for VisitErie. The Bicentennial Tower is another must-see destination. The 187-foot-tall tower offers wonderful views of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie from two observation decks.

Erie has 4,500 lodge rooms and plenty of shopping and restaurants. It is also the largest Concord-grape-growing region in the world, making it a great place to make wine, grape juice and jelly.

“It is a perfect spot,” said Beck. “Everything is right, from the weather to the lake and the sandy soil to the warmer fall. It tends to be warmer here in the fall because the lake is still warm. All those elements make it good for growing grapes.”

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Clevela nd

Cleveland sits at the confluence of the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. The best way to see the city skyline is to take a boat ride on either the Cuyahoga River or Lake Erie. The Goodtime III, which can hold 1,000 passengers, offers narrated tours and dinner and entertainment cruises on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie. The Nautica Queen takes groups on dining cruises of the area.

Edgewater Beach is Cleveland’s most popular beachfront destination in the summer, with live music and food vendors. It is also a great place to lounge on the beach or participate in water sports like kayaking, jet skiing and paddleboarding.

The North Coast Harbor area of Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center and FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns. All three are on the shores of Lake Erie.

The Flats neighborhood, which sits on both the east and west banks of the Cuyahoga River, recently underwent a multimillion-dollar revitalization that brought in restaurants, bars, shops and a boardwalk.

Water taxis transport visitors to both sides of the river to explore. The Greater Cleveland Aquarium, with its more than 5,000 sea creatures, is also popular with groups.

Duluth Rose Garden on Lake Superior

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Paddleboarding Lake Erie in Cleveland

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Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame COURTESY THISISCLEVELAND.COM

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HARBOR TOWNS ARE GREAT LAKES GETAWAYS B Y PA U L A AV E N G L A D Y C H

A Wisconsin whitefish appetizer

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ome of the most notable treasures of the Great Lakes can be found in unexpected places.

Though waterfront cities get much of the attention from travelers, there are plenty of quaint, historic and beautiful small towns on the Great Lakes worth a visit. Here is a selection of small waterfront towns group travelers might want to add to their itineraries.

Por t Cl i nt on & Ma rblehea d , Oh io

COURTESY BAYFIELD CVB

If beautiful beaches, picturesque lighthouses, island hopping and water sports are high on your to-do list, the North Shores of Lake Erie are a destination you shouldn’t miss. Port Clinton and Marblehead offer everything from group fishing expeditions and sailing adventures to quick ferry passage to Ohio’s beautiful Lake Erie islands, like Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island and Kelleys Island.

Ferries in both Marblehead and Port Clinton can take groups on day trips to the islands. They are a “nice jumping-off point if groups also want to see the shore,” said Amanda Smith Rasnick, director of group accounts for Lake Erie Shores and Islands.

Group travelers staying in the area should make a stop at the Marblehead Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses and the oldest continuously operated lighthouse on the Great Lakes.

It began operation in 1822 to protect ships from the rocky shores and shallow waters along the Marblehead Peninsula.

The Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton enlightens groups about the history of aviation. The museum’s showpiece is a vintage World War II North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber called “Georgie’s Gal.” Port Clinton is also home to the drive-through African Safari Wildlife Park, where groups can have live encounters with different animals.

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Enjoying Mackinac Island

Ma ck i n a c Isla nd , M ich i g a n

Mackinac Island in Lake Huron is “the jewel of the Great Lakes,” said Tim Hygh, executive director of Mackinac Island Tourism.

What makes Mackinac Island special is that no cars are allowed on the island, and they haven’t been since 1895. “It was the most genius marketing decision ever made, and it is what sets us apart,” said Hygh.

The historic Victorian-era town makes visitors feel like they are stepping back in time. Horses are the main mode of transportation on the island. The Grand Hotel, a 400-room wooden hotel built in 1875, is a must-see. It has the world’s largest front porch — 660 feet long — and overlooks the Straits of Mackinac, which connect Lake Huron to Lake Michigan.

There are 35 other lodging facilities on the island that offer a total of 1,600 rooms. Food comes in from the mainland by boat, and horses pulling drays deliver it to the restaurants and hotels on the island.

COURTESY MACKINAC ISLAND CVB

Marblehead Lighthouse

Sailing Lake Superior near Bayfield

COURTESY LAKE ERIE SHORES & ISLANDS

COURTESY BAYFIELD CVB

Many groups take group carriage tours of the island. Without the noise of cars and the hectic nature of the automobile, the island is a peaceful place to visit. Groups can tour Fort Mackinac, which played a role in the War of 1812, or take a Sip N’ Sail cruise aboard the Isle Royale Queen III for a 90-minute cruise around the island with live entertainment. When the hordes of day trippers leave, those staying on the island have it to themselves, which offers “a whole other realm of relaxation, of experience of quiet and serenity,” Hygh said.

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Bay f ield , Wi scon si n

Groups enjoy the natural beauty and relaxed pace of Mackinac Island on Lake Michigan.

What makes Mackinac Island special is that no cars are allowed on the island, and they haven’t been since 1895.

Bayfield, Wisconsin is best known as the gateway to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, on Lake Superior, which includes 21 protected islands. Visitors to Bayfield get the best of both worlds.

They can stay onshore and partake of everything the community has to offer, or take a water taxi or ferry to the islands.

Bayfield has a beautiful downtown with great local shopping, said Paige Rautio, marketing director for the Bayfield Chamber and Visitor Bureau. It also has excellent farm-to-table restaurants and lots of food that can only be found in Bayfield, like wine bread — a doughy dessert that is filled with a mixture of fruit and cream cheese — white fish livers, apple pie sticks and apple cider doughnuts.

All of the lodging in Bayfield is locally owned. There are about 400 lodge rooms available.

Groups can take a three-hour private cruise around the Apostle Islands, where they can see sea caves and shipwrecks through the crystal-clear water. They can also rent a sailboat for a sunset cruise and take a guided kayak tour through the sea caves. Many of the islands have lighthouses, parks and beaches that make for a fun day trip. Groups can also take a day trip to Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands and the only one not included in the National Lakeshore. It has shops, restaurants, lodging, a marina, swim beaches and hiking trails.

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T wo Ha rb ors, M i n nesot a

Two Harbors, Minnesota, is a port city on the north shore of Lake Superior. Visitors to the area come to see the lake and to take advantage of the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail, the extensive mountain biking trails, the beaches, the state parks and the waterfalls; they also hope to score a peek at the northern lights.

Groups enjoy sitting on the deck at the Castle Danger Brewery and watching the 1,000-foot iron ore ships coming into port, or walking along the Two Harbors Breakwall pier, where they can get so close to the ships that they can almost touch them.

There are three state parks within 20 minutes of Two Harbors with waterfalls, lighthouses and water-based activities. The Split Rock Lighthouse State Park features a historic lighthouse that sits on a 130-foot cliff overlooking Lake Superior. The structure’s 1,000-watt bulb has guided ships away from the lake’s rocky shores since 1910.

Visitors can walk up the spiral staircase to the top to get a close-up look at the light as well as unparalleled views of the lake and park.

Guests can also tour the original fog signal building, the oil house and one of the original homes occupied by a lighthouse keeper.

Gooseberry Falls State Park is a big draw for groups because of its three spectacular waterfalls that travel through a rocky gorge and an ancient lava flow that leads down to Lake Superior. Silver Bay, with its black sand beaches, is a short drive from Two Harbors and “is gorgeous,” said Janelle Jones, president and CEO of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce. Fall leaf peeping is also “a big deal,” she said.

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Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Park

Relaxing in Two Harbors

BY ALYSSA HEI, COURTESY LAKE CO. COC

Kyaking the Apostle Islands Snacking in Bayfield COURTESY BAYFIELD CVB

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Sa cket s Ha rb or, New York

In Sackets Harbor, New York, the War of 1812 looms large. The small town sits on Lake Ontario and is home to the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site. It also is close to the St. Lawrence River and its 1,000 islands.

Group travelers love to take advantage of the Sackets Harbor experience, a three-hour group tour that takes visitors through the 1813 battlefield site, the visitors center and a driving tour of the area.

Visitors spend about an hour and a half touring several buildings on the site and learning about Sackets Harbor’s integral part in the War of 1812, said Constance Barone, site manager for the battlefield.

“Sackets Harbor is the only naturally protected harbor in the area, so the military selected us as their headquarters,” she said. The Navy built a large fleet of ships at the site, which became a major target for British-Canadian forces, which launched an attack on May 29, 1813. The Americans managed to fend off the attack, and Sackets Harbor remained under Navy control until 1955.

The Village of Sackets Harbor has numerous downtown restaurants that can accommodate large groups. Its main streets are lined with boutiques, galleries and inns. Groups also like to tour North Harbor Dairy at Old McDonald’s Farm, where they learn about animal care and the technology that keeps today’s modern farms running. Another popular spot is Farmhouse Maple, a 170-acre farm right on Lake Ontario that has a 50-acre sugar maple forest, where groups can see how maple syrup is made.

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Sunset over Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario PHOTOS COURTESY SACKETS HARBOR BATTLEFIELD SHP

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