The Group Travel Leader January 2023

EDITOR’S MARKS

BY BRIAN JEWELL

Every group has “that one” person.

You know the one I’m talking about. It’s the person that gets on everyone else’s nerves.

Group travel is an inherently social activity. And experienced group leaders know operating a successful trip can require a lot of interpersonal skills. When you put dozens of people together nonstop for several days, there is bound to be some friction.

Interpersonal problems can be the Achilles heel of group trips. But they don’t have to be. Here’s an overview of four of the difficult personalities you’re likely to encounter in your groups, as well as some tips on how to handle them.

1. The Talker

Some people just don’t know when to shut up. They talk over guides and tour directors and find a way to commandeer every conversation and steer the topic back to themselves. Over-talkers can drive the people around them crazy, but they don’t have to ruin a trip. Some people talk too much when they’re nervous or uncomfortable. They could be masking some travel or social anxieties. Try to put them at ease if you can. And in the moments when they get too chatty, intentionally steer the conversation toward other people and topics.

2. The Loner

The polar opposite of the Talker, the Loner has almost nothing to say to anyone. Sometimes they are so shy they make everyone else around them uncomfortable. But they may actually have more in common with over-talkers than you would think the tendency to clam up and withdraw could be a result of stress, nerves or anxiety. So again, finding ways to put them at ease could help draw

them out of their shells. You can also make intentional efforts to start conversations with them (even when it’s difficult) or invite other socially gifted members of your group to join you in making the quiet traveler feel welcome.

3. The Wanderer

Group trips work best when everyone is conscientious about the itinerary and shows up promptly when it’s time to go. So when someone consistently makes the group late, it can drive everyone crazy. Some people have inherent difficulty being on time, but others run late because they’re not clear about the itinerary or expectations. If someone in the group is consistently causing time problems, have a discreet conversation to emphasize the importance of timeliness, and make sure they know exactly when they’re expected to be places. You can also get ahead of the problem by making sure you are near them when it’s time to leave somewhere so you can gently prompt them toward the exit.

4. The Grouch

From time to time, you’ll have a traveler in your group who is simply a grouch. They’ll find something to complain about at every step during a trip, and they may be surly with their fellow travelers. The best way to prevent this is to make sure you set realistic expectations before a trip, then be sensitive and responsive to legitimate concerns as they come up on the road. If you’re kind, generous and compassionate when listening to their issues, they may change their tune. If they don’t, you’ll probably have to put up with their attitudes until the trip is over, then remove them from your customer list for the future.

BENTONVILLE SHINES ON SELECT TRAVELER CONFERENCE FAM TOUR

SALEM, Ohio US Tours, a leading group travel company, is offering a familiarization tour for travel planner delegates attending Select Traveler Conference. The three-day tour will visit Bentonville, Arkansas, on March 25-27.

US Tours specializes in serving travel groups and helping them discover new and interesting tour destinations.

“Bentonville is a town with a big heart and even bigger ambition,” said Bob Cline, founder at US Tours. “It’s a town where modern progress meets rich history, where the arts meet innovation. We are pleased to help travel planners discover Bentonville while scouting for new group tour destinations.”

The FAM tour will include two nights’ lodging and sightseeing at the Museum of Native American History, Walmart Museum,

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The Momentary, and Cooper Chapel. Participants will enjoy meals and snacks at establishments such as Spark Café Ice Cream, Table at Hickory Inn, Buttered Biscuit Breakfast, Airship Coffee, Dinner at Louis, and Ozark Mountain Bagel.

The FAM will be free of charge to qualified travel planners attending Select Traveler Conference in Branson, Missouri.

“US Tours always provides added value to the travel planners at Select Traveler Conference,” said Charlie Presley of The Group Travel Family of Brands.

Space on the FAM is limited. To get your name on the list, contact Cassandra Blankenship at 800-628-0993 or cblankenship@ grouptravelfamily.com.

BRING YOUR STICKER TO THE SELECT TRAVELER CONFERENCE

SALEM, Ohio Stickers promoting travel destinations are the new bling on laptops, tablets and even cell phones, serving as signs of personalization and maybe even bragging rights.

It’s a new twist on an old idea (going back to the time of steamer trunks). At Select Traveler Conference, attendees will be mailed a colorful conference logo sticker prior to the conference, which will take place March 27-29 in Branson, Missouri. The logo will feature the “Open for Tourism” design to remind everyone that tourism is back in America.

“We are going to have fun with this,” said Cassandra Blankenship of Select Traveler Conference. “Everyone who pres-

ents their laptop, tablet, cell phone or anything they want to attach the STConf sticker to will receive a $10 gift card at registration.”

And what better destination is there than Branson, Missouri for declaring the return of tourism and the vitality of the Select Traveler Conference next spring? Branson is synonymous with great American values and fun and will draw hundreds of sticker-wearing delegates to this premier gathering of qualified travel planners.

To help get tourism back on track, attend Select Traveler Conference, and see Cassandra for your free gift card. Contact Cassandra at 800-628-0993

COURTESY VISIT BENTONVILLE

Familiarization tour participants will explore Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.

SERVICE LEVELS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ARE HIGHLIGHTED AT TREX 22

BY MAC LACY

Most NTA tour companies are optimistic about growth in 2023, but skyrocketing hotel rates and chronic staffing issues at many hotels, restaurants and motorcoach companies are tempering that enthusiasm. Disruption of service levels as a result of the pandemic was just one point of discussion at the NTA Travel Exchange (TREX 22) held November 13–16, in Reno, Nevada. More than 600 delegates from 23 countries gathered for the annual event, including 130 tour operators and 59 tour directors.

“Service levels for groups are a key to what we have to address after COVID,” said NTA president Catherine Prather. “We need to create renewed awareness of best practices for handling groups in general. Some operators feel like they are offering on-site orientation to new hotel staff at times. It becomes another layer of work for the tour company that did not exist before the pandemic.”

Given that service has also suffered in many industries outside of travel, Prather and her leadership are realistic about the realities of having to reacquaint some in the industry with

the importance of groups. Prather said her current board members are up to the challenge and are equipped with innovative business skills.

“We have progressive, forward-thinking people on this board,” she said. “We have members from 30 countries involved in NTA, and we have never been afraid to innovate. Our board is tempered by its youth and geographical diversity. They press us forward on every issue we face.”

Prather described two evolving terms that came up in Reno that NTA uses to describe a recent phenomenon in tourism — “new packagers” and “experience providers.” She described them as entrepreneurs who have created a business from a local activity.

“They’re travel suppliers in our world, but maybe there is a more defined membership category there,” she said. “We’re still trying to figure that out. Many of them started their businesses as a direct result of COVID. They became tourism innovators in their local communities, and they offer the authenticity that every traveler wants. That presents an opportunity for us next year to have our veterans

provide training and encouragement to these new tourism drivers.”

NTA is a member of the Travel Unity organization, which promotes diversity, equity and inclusion as values for the travel industry to incorporate. Prather, a board member of Travel Unity, said NTA will release a new mission statement and core values document within weeks based on refinements discussed by her board in Reno.

She characterized TREX 22 as energetic and noted her members were among those who had led the return to in-person meetings for the industry.

“We were one of the first major travel organizations to host an in-person gathering after the shutdown that COVID created,” she said. “We had a wonderful meeting in Memphis in May 2021 that made a very positive statement to the industry and to our members. COVID reasserted itself that fall, but that positivity was evident again this year in Reno. Our tour operators were booking business on-site, and we are all excited about the year ahead.”

Optimism flourished on the NTA exchange floor.

NTA President Catherine Prather

NTA veterans shared ideas with newer delegates.

TRAVEL SOUTH USA TARGETS $10 BILLION ANNUALLY FROM INTERNATIONAL VISITORS

BY MAC LACY

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Nearly 400 delegates, including 108 international travel buyers and journalists, gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, November 27–30, for the 2022 Travel South USA International Showcase, an annual event that draws delegates from major inbound markets like the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia and Brazil.

“Our board of directors has set a goal of generating $10 billion in expenditures from international travelers into the South,” president and CEO Liz Bittner told the assembly at the opening breakfast. “We appreciate the partnerships we have with everyone here to help make that happen.”

As is the case for many travel companies and destinations, 2019 set the business standard for inbound travel to the South, when the region drew $8.8 billion in spending from international guests. Bittner and her board are hoping to reach their $10 billion goal by 2026.

“We can’t just go back to what we were doing prior to COVID,” she said, following the breakfast. “Our strategy is not so much to drive more guests into the region but to keep our guests longer. An extra day from all the international guests into the South would mean an additional $1 billion in expenditures. For example, we need to get international visitors to go from Nashville to Muscle Shoals instead of from Nashville to Austin.”

Bittner said Travel South USA will be adding a new consumer media emphasis at its Global Week gathering in April. Foreign journalists will be invited to attend and meet with Southern media professionals one-on-one.

“We have longstanding ties with trade journalists who influence travel producers overseas, but we need to create more demand at the consumer level,” said Bittner. “We’ll be inviting writers for print and other media to come and discuss assignments with those who can make travel arrangements for them. International travelers need to see the authentic South in their media at home.”

To that end, six member states contracted with MDSG, a London-based advertising agency, to create digital campaigns that go live in early 2023. Teams of multimedia photographers spent about nine days in each state last fall shooting still and video photography in outdoor destinations.

“Our targets for these campaigns include empty nesters and young adults who have visited the United States four to five times and are looking for their next vacation idea,” said James Bailey of MDSG. “Nikon and Osprey outfitters are corporate partners, and our media partners are Wanderlust and the Independent. We’ll have a call to action for viewers using selected travel companies and will be able to measure results using several metrics.”

While in Louisville, international buyers and journalists enjoyed events at the Muhammad Ali Center, the Frazier History Museum, the Evan Williams Experience and the Kentucky Derby Museum. After the event, foreign delegates left for site inspection trips across Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee.

“Team Kentucky, Louisville Tourism and volunteers made a huge impression this week, and they will see international visitors as a result,” said Bittner.

PHOTOS COURTESY TRAVEL SOUTH USA

Brunch at the Muhammad Ali Center

Annual Honors Night Celebration

International guests at Kentucky bourbon reception

Marketplace sessions

Liz Bittner and staff

DREAM TO TRAVEL GROUP

ALABAMA FAM

— ROBERTA MUHAMMAD

“Seeing the civil rights sites really brought awareness to what happened in those days.”

Travel planner readers of The Group Travel Leader posed for a picture in the aircraft pavilion at Mobile’s USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park during a familiarization tour in Alabama last fall.

ONSITE IN ALABAMA

TRAVEL PLANNERS DISCOVERED A HERITAGE OF HEROISM IN MOBILE, SELMA AND MONTGOMERY

A TRIP THROUGH ALABAMA

is a journey in the footsteps of history makers.

That’s what 10 tour operator and travel planner readers of The Group Travel Leader discovered during a five-day familiarization tour of the state’s southern and central regions hosted by the Alabama Tourism Department. The tour took them from Mobile in the south to Marion, Selma and Montgomery, destinations that were pivotal during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Along the way, they met foot soldiers who participated in the fight for justice and had a chance to enjoy some of the other attractions and experiences that highlight the region’s culture, nature and cuisine.

Follow along on this itinerary to begin planning a history-making Alabama tour for your travelers.

ALL PHOTOS BY BRIAN JEWELL

Artwork at the Mobile History Museum

An exhibit at Lowndes Interpretive Center

•

ARRIVAL IN MOBILE

WATERFRONT WALKING TOUR

MOBILE HISTORY MUSEUM

DINNER AT SQUID INK

1 Day 2 Day

Travel planners began their trips by flying or driving into Mobile, a port city on Mobile Bay with a long history and rich cultural tapestry. Those who arrived early in the day enjoyed a walking tour along the Mobile waterfront, where they learned about the shipbuilding industry, which is still a major economic engine in the area. Later, the planners visited the Mobile History Museum, a downtown institution housed in a beautiful white stone building that was constructed as a courthouse in 1858. Once everyone had arrived at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, which would be home for two nights, the group walked through to Squid Ink restaurant in the city’s bustling downtown entertainment district for a lively welcome dinner. • BREAKFAST

AT SPOT OF TEA

USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK

5 RIVERS NATURE CRUISE

LUNCH AT BLUEGILL RESTAURANT

MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE TOUR

DINNER AT THE INSIDER

The second day of the FAM was full of experiences that showcased the history and diversity of Mobile. After a gourmet breakfast at Spot of Tea, the group toured the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, home of several historic military vessels. Next, they took a nature cruise in the 5 Rivers Delta Area to get to know the local waterways and wildlife that inhabit them. The cruise ended at Bluegill Restaurant, where they enjoyed a fresh seafood lunch. After that, they learned about the area’s Mardi Gras traditions at the Mobile Carnival Museum. Finally, they took an African American heritage tour, which showcased significant sites in the Africatown neighborhood and along the Dora Franklin Finley African American Heritage Trail. The day ended with dinner at The Insider, a food hall that is home to a variety of local culinary businesses.

USS Alabama

Breakfast at Spot of Tea

A Civil War exhibit at the Mobile History Museum

The Mobile History Museum atrium

The view atop the USS Drum submarine

USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK

Permanently moored in Mobile Bay, the USS Alabama is a World War II battleship that served in both the North Atlantic and South Pacific. Some 2,500 sailors served aboard the 18-story ship at any given time. Today, visitors can explore the vessel in detail, learning about what life, work and war were like aboard the battleship. The memorial park is also the home of the submarine USS Drum and a pavilion with a number of historic aircraft and other military memorabilia.

5 RIVERS NATURE CRUISE

Set within Historic Blakely State Park, the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center is a gateway to explore the estuary created by the waterways that converge at Mobile Bay. The FAM group explored the estuary aboard a sightseeing cruise boat, whose crew shared stories about the area’s history and highlighted local flora and fauna. Along the way they saw alligators, eagles, great blue herons and great white egrets.

MOBILE CARNIVAL MUSEUM

In 1703, Mobile was the site of America’s first Mardi Gras parade, and the Mobile Carnival Museum celebrates the city’s festive traditions. Visitors learn about the mystic societies that host more than 40 parades in the city during the 18-day celebration. Exhibits include parade floats and dozens of costumes worn by Mardi Gras kings, queens and other revelers. FAM attendees also got a chance to sample king cake, the signature dessert of the Gulf Coast region during the Mardi Gras season.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE TOUR

In 1860, the last known illegal shipment of slaves landed in the Mobile area aboard the Clotilda, carrying 110 enslaved men and women from west Africa. Years later, some of their descendants established a settlement called Africatown about five miles north of Mobile. The FAM group toured Africatown with a local heritage guide, stopping at Union Missionary Baptist Church to learn more about the area’s history and enjoy singing with members of the congregation. They also learned about the Africatown Heritage House, an interpretive site expected to open early this year.

— TERRY ALTIZER BEST TRIP YET

5 Rivers Nature Cruise

Learning the history of Africatown

Union Missionary Baptist Church

A Mardi Gras mask

“Joanne Bland’s presentation was incredibly moving and impactful. It was the best part of the trip.”

Enjoying a parade float at the Mobile Carnival Museum

•

3 Day

BREAKFAST AT GREER’S

• DEPART FOR MARION • TOUR AND LUNCH AT REVERIE

• FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MARION • DEPART FOR SELMA

•

SELMA DRIVING TOUR

•

DINNER WITH FOOT SOLDIER JOANNE BLAND AT TALLY HO

After checking out of the hotel, the group enjoyed a catered breakfast at local specialty grocery store Greer’s before embarking on the 160-mile drive north to Marion. Upon arrival, they enjoyed a tour and lunch at Reverie, a restored antebellum mansion. From there, they took a driving tour of Marion that highlighted significant civil rights sites in town and included a stop at First Congregational Church. Next, the group continued to Selma, site of the infamous Bloody Sunday attack of 1965. There the mayor welcomed them at the local library. Back on the motorcoach, they got a driving tour of town led by a former foot soldier in the civil rights movement. Then, during dinner at Tally Ho, they were joined by Joanne Bland, a civil rights activist who told stories of her experiences during the events in Selma. The group overnighted at Selma’s charming St. James Hotel.

REVERIE

Upon arriving in Marion, the group headed to Reverie, an 1858 Greek Revival mansion that has been restored as a historic home. The group spent some time exploring and admiring the house while Scott Peacock, a James Beard Award-winning chef, prepared a light lunch of soup, salad and his signature biscuits in the kitchen. Peacock spent some time with the group, telling the story of how he adopted Marion as his hometown, and then boarded the motorcoach to accompany them on a tour of Marion.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF MARION

The widely remembered Alabama civil rights events of 1965, including Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery March, were reactions to a racially motivated killing that took place in the town of Marion a few weeks earlier. The group saw the sites where the killing and ensuing demonstration took place, then visited First Congregational Church, constructed in 1869, where a local historian told them more about Marion’s role in the civil rights movement.

SELMA DRIVING TOUR

About 25 miles southeast of Marion, Selma is a small town that was the site of one of the most momentous events of the civil rights era. A local guide who had participated in Selma’s civil rights marches and was twice arrested took the group on a tour of town, showcasing

Chef Scott Peacock

The sitting room at Reverie

Learning Marion’s civil rights history

A sunny day at Reverie

First Congregational Church of Marion

Outside a church in Marion

significant sites including the Dallas County Courthouse, Sturdivant Hall, Brown Chapel AME Church and a home that Martin Luther King Jr. often stayed in when he visited town.

DINNER WITH JOANNE BLAND

Groups visiting Selma can arrange to meet with people who were involved in Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery March. Known as foot soldiers, they tell their personal stories of the struggles of segregation and the sacrifices and triumphs of the civil rights movement. The FAM group enjoyed a dinner with foot soldier Joanne Bland, who recounted her experiences with the violence of Bloody Sunday and the triumph of the Selma to Montgomery March.

4 Day

•

EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE WALK

•

DEPART FOR MONTGOMERY

•

LOWNDES INTERPRETIVE CENTER

•

THE LEGACY MUSEUM

•

NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

•

DINNER AT MOTHERS OF GYNECOLOGY PARK

The fourth day of the trip was dedicated entirely to exploring significant civil rights sites from Selma to Montgomery. The morning began with a walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Then the group retraced the route of the Selma to Montgomery March of 1965, stopping at the Lowndes Interpretive Center to learn more about the momentous demonstration. Upon arriving in Montgomery, they took a driving tour to see important civil rights sites around the city. Then they visited two attractions operated by the Equal Justice Initiative: The Legacy Museum, which chronicles the injustices of slavery and segregation, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, which honors the memories of hundreds of lynching victims. As night fell, the group enjoyed a catered dinner

“I loved the tour of the Dora Finley African American Heritage Trail in Mobile. It included a visit to a church and singing the old-time hymns that I grew up singing.”

Learning about the Selma to Montgomery march

Walking across the bridge

Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge

Lowndes Interpretive Center

The Legacy Museum in Montgomery

— ANNIE NELSON ODYSSEY TRAVEL CLUB

Dinner at Tally Ho in Selma with Joanne Bland

Joanne Bland

at Mothers of Gynecology Park, a site operated by a local artist whose sculptures memorialize enslaved women who were subjects of involuntary medical experiments in the city. They overnighted at Embassy Suites Montgomery.

EDMUND PETTUS BRIDGE

Spanning the Alabama River, the Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of the Bloody Sunday attack, when law enforcement officials violently turned away civil rights demonstrators who planned to march to the capitol in Montgomery. Several weeks later, demonstrators were able to successfully cross the bridge and complete their march thanks to a court order barring state interference. The FAM group followed in the footsteps of those demonstrators, walking across the bridge on foot and then spending some time in the small memorial area on the south bank of the river.

LOWNDES INTERPRETIVE CENTER

From Selma, the group retraced the route of the 54-mile Selma to Montgomery March. Along the way, a guide who participated in the marches pointed out roadside properties where marchers spent the night. One of them is now the site of Lowndes Interpretive Center, a National Park Service facility with a 28-minute overview film and museum exhibits providing additional information about the march and the Voting Rights Act that it helped catalyze.

THE LEGACY MUSEUM

Opened in 2018 by the Equal Justice Initiative, the Legacy Museum is an immersive and interactive attraction offering a sobering look at the injustices of slavery and segregation and their lasting impact on American life. It is situated a block away from one of America’s most prominent slave auction sites. Notable exhibits include re-creations of slave pens with holographic videos retelling the personal stories of enslaved people, as well as hundreds of glass jars filled with soil from lynching sites around the country.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE

Also created by the Equal Justice Initiative, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened in 2018 in remembrance of lynching victims. The outdoor memorial has hundreds of markers — one for each county in the Southern states — with names and dates documenting the known lynchings that took place in each one. Several sculptures throughout the site depict artistic representations of slavery and other racial injustices. A memorial garden on the site offers space for quiet reflection.

A memorial in Montgomery honoring lynching victims

Artwork at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice

—

GAIL ROBERTS

MCDONALD BOOMERS AND SENIORS

“This has been an eye-opening experience. I never knew much about civil rights. I’m glad to have a better understanding.”

Artwork outside the Rosa Parks Museum Mothers of Gynecology Park

ROSA PARKS MUSEUM

HANK WILLIAMS MUSEUM

LUNCH AT D’ROAD CAFE

DEPART FOR HOME

After breakfast at the Embassy Suites, the travel planners made stops at two more museums before finishing their time in Montgomery. The first was the Rosa Parks Museum on the campus of Troy University. The museum uses a variety of interactive and immersive exhibits to tell the story of Rosa Parks’ role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which became a touchstone that helped civil rights leaders in their push for equality in Alabama and beyond. Next was a tour of the Hank Williams Museum, which details the life of the legendary country singer and songwriter who spent his formative years in Montgomery. The final stop of the tour was D’Road Café, where participants enjoyed a hearty lunch of homemade Latin American cuisine. From there, the travel planners departed for home and began planning their groups’ journeys to Alabama.

The Legacy Museum, located on a site in Montgomery, Alabama, where Black people were forced to labor in bondage, uses interactive media, sculpture, videography, and exhibits to draw dynamic connections across generations of Americans impacted by slavery, lynching, segregation, and mass incarceration.

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is a sacred space for truth-telling and reflection about racial terror in America and its legacy. Set on a six-acre site a short walk from the Legacy Museum, the memorial uses sculpture, art, and design to contextualize racial terror lynchings and the legacy of racial injustice.

A car owned by Hank Williams

Montgomery’s Hank Williams Museum

— The New York Times

“There’s nothing like this in this country.”

STATE SPOTLIGHT

PENNSYLVANIA

By Jill Gleeson

Travel planners could be forgiven for feeling a bit overwhelmed when trying to plan an itinerary through Pennsylvania. From the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, where the fate of the nation was decided, to the recently expanded Philadelphia Museum of Art and its stunning Impressionist collection, PA (as it has been lovingly dubbed by residents) is chock full of historical and cultural showstoppers. And when the time comes to relax and refuel, groups will find the commonwealth blessed by an abundance of one-of-a-kind hotels and restaurants as winning as the attractions themselves. Here, to help you suss out the best options, are a few of our favorites.

COURTESY DESTINATION GETTYSBURG

Gettysburg National Military Park

POPULAR DEMAND

ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM

From hoofer Gene Kelly to gridiron great Joe Namath, numerous luminaries have called Pittsburgh home, but none have had the enduring impact of Andy Warhol. The continent’s largest single-artist museum explores the life of the pop art icon through engaging exhibits of some of his most famed work, including Campbell’s Soup Cans, portraits of celebs like Marilyn Monroe, and Silver Clouds, a room filled with metallic, pillow-shaped balloons. Special one-hour guided tours and three-hour hands-on “Warhol Workshops” are available to groups.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL

Dubbed the “handsomest building” by none other than U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt, the Pennsylvania State Capitol debuted in 1906. Today, the Harrisburg building is open for 30-minute tours of the architectural and artistic highlights and has an interactive welcome center and an expansive gift shop. Groups may want to dine at the Capitol Restaurant or reserve tables in the East Wing for catered lunches. The Senate and the House both have public viewing galleries.

GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK

Ask any historian to name the turning point battle of the American Civil War, and chances are they’ll answer Gettysburg. The conflict’s largest battle, it marked the end of the Confederate drive to invade the North. Groups might want to begin the day at the excellent Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center before continuing with a tour of the 6,000-acre park. Licensed Battlefield Guides are available for step-on service, so groups get the most out of their visit.

PHOTOS BY JIN WU, COURTESY ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM

A Gettysburg battlefield monument

Pennsylvania State Capitol

PHOTOS COURTESY PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL

An Andy Warhol collage

COURTESY DESTINATION

GETTYSBURG

The Andy Warhol Museum

Visitors marvel at the art and architecture of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

UP AND COMING

LONGWOOD GARDENS

There are big changes underway at Brandywine Valley’s spectacular horticultural display. Dubbed “Longwood Reimagined: A New Garden Experience,” the $270-million-plus, 17-acre project will expand Longwood’s grounds, adding new buildings as well as indoor and outdoor gardens. Among the new spaces set to debut in 2024 are the 32,000-square-foot West Conservatory, featuring soaring, asymmetrical peaks rising from a glasshouse that will appear to float atop a massive pool. But groups won’t have to wait to see one of Longwood’s enhancements: the transformed Orchid House, with its stunning, gallery-like interior, is now open.

MOONSHOT MUSEUM

Pittsburgh might seem an unlikely home for a space museum, but technicians recently built the Peregrine Lunar Lander, the first American lander since Apollo, in the city. The Moonshot Museum, which opened in October, celebrates and explores this historic achievement while offering guests the unparalleled opportunity to see new lunar landers and rovers under assembly. Other highlights include the chance to undertake a simulated lunar mission and innovative exhibits exploring the moon’s surface and the space industry.

PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART

It was a long time coming — all told, two decades from planning through construction — but the expansion and renovation of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s historic main building finally debuted in mid-2021. Designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry, the project added or reimagined a whopping 90,000 square feet of museum public space, including two new suites of galleries that grew exhibition areas by 20,000 square feet. Guided tours of the new galleries of Early American art are available to groups.

BY HALL + MERRICK, COURTESY PMA

An installation at the Pennsylvania Museum of Art

Longwood Gardens

Pittsburgh’s Moonshot Museum

BY PHILIP GABRIAL, COURTESY CHESTER CO.’S BRANDYWINE VALLEY

COURTESY VISIT PITTSBURGH

OVERNIGHT SENSATIONS

NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS RESORT

Tucked away on 2,200 acres within the bucolic beauty of the Laurel Highlands, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort serves up a range of accommodation types. Ideal for many groups is The Lodge, the comfy, Tudor-style property makes a great base camp from which to explore the area’s offerings, which include the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Fallingwater and the Flight 93 National Memorial. Onsite at Nemacolin, groups will find a wealth of activities like guided art walks, tours of the resort’s zoo and more customized group adventures.

GRADUATE STATE COLLEGE

The Graduate State College may be part of a boutique brand with hotels in college towns across the country, but its interior is all Penn State. The university’s colors, blue and white, are everywhere throughout the property. And the guest rooms feature lion-shaped floor lamps (in honor of the school’s “Nittany Lion” mascot) and throw pillows reading “We Are” (the first part of the rousing call football fans holler at Beaver Stadium, which is invariably answered with “Penn State”). Best of all, the Graduate is within walking distance of attractions like the Penn State All-Sports Museum, located in the stadium.

MEMORABLE MEALS

THE CHOCOLATIER RESTAURANT, BAR AND PATIO

The new Chocolatier Restaurant is an eatery unlike any other. Located in Hershey outside of Hersheypark’s front gate and open year-round, the Chocolatier offers panoramic views of the neighboring attractions. Decor pays homage to “The Sweetest Place on Earth” with roller-coaster-themed booths and the Carousel Bar. The fare is inspired by the restaurant’s location as well, with goodies like the Chocolatetown burger featuring potato chips drizzled with Hershey’s Chocolate, Heath Barcrusted salmon and Reese’s Peanut Butter hummus all on the menu.

THE DUTCH APPLE DINNER THEATRE

Still going gangbusters after more than 35 years in business, Lancaster’s Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre hosts more than 150,000 guests each year. Meals may be served by waitstaff or offered buffet-style and often feature dishes like prime rib, spaghetti in tomato basil sauce and brown sugar honey ham. Shows range from popular musicals such as “Sister Act” to beloved plays like “Murder on the Orient Express.” Group rates and add-ons, including programs autographed by the cast and after-show question-and-answer sessions, are available.

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

COURTESY GRADUATE STATE COLLEGE COURTESY HERSHEY ENTERTAINMENT

The Graduate hotel in State College

Chocolatier Restaurant in Hershey

Make haste to Philadelphia then take time to take it all in

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

Ben Franklin reminded us “haste makes waste.” So he’d be dismayed when tour groups blow through Philadelphia on their way to Washington or New York.

Franklin lived in Philadelphia most of his long life, and if he returned today, he’d agree with Annie Jirapatnakul of the Philadelphia CVB.

“We are,” she says, “more than a day trip.”

A World Heritage City

The nation’s birthplace, Philadelphia was the first in the U.S. to be named a World Heritage City. Its historic district, often called America's “most historic square mile,” is “walkable with low-cost and free attractions and nearby hotels at all price points,” says Jirapatnakul. But even though it is compact, tours should schedule at least a day and a half to absorb it all, she says. Good ways to start are a walking tour or a trip aboard one of the city’s double-decker buses.

A number of the historic district’s sites are tied to Franklin, including Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the Declaration of Independence

and the Constitution were hammered out; the Benjamin Franklin Museum, which explores Franklin’s curiosity, inventiveness and other personality traits; and Christ Church Burial Ground, where visitors toss pennies toward Franklin’s grave, a nod to his financial advice that “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

The Museum of the American Revolution, a newer addition to the district, focuses on how everyday colonists took up the revolutionary cause. In 2023, a special exhibit will examine the impact of a Black Philadelphia family, the Fortens, on the revolution and abolition. Other stops include the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House and the National Liberty Museum, as well as a new and decidedly different Museum of Illusions.

Philly Favorites

Along the way, groups can enjoy dining spots like Campo’s, which has been serving Philly cheesesteaks and hoagies since 1947. The restaurant is small but has a knack for making tasty box lunches and delivering them to places where groups can gather to dine, such as the welcoming, Old Pine Community Center. For a stop to please diverse tastes, Reading Terminal Market offers a world of foods. Voted the best public market in the nation in 2022 by USA Today 10Best, the Market offers Cajun, Caribbean, Chinese, cheesesteak, pasta, Pennsylvania Dutch, seafood, sushi and even Georgian.

While Philadelphia is without a doubt a hotbed of American history, as Jirapatnakul reminds, it is also packed with art, music, Broadway shows, murals, museums and sporting events. New exhibitions at two institutions are likely to draw groups in 2023 — the new Mediterranean gallery at the Penn Museum and the world premiere of Disney100: The Exhibition at The Franklin Institute.

“With so much new development, we are more than we used to be,” said Jirapatnakul.

Ben Franklin would agree.

discoverphl.com/group-tour

The Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture is an icon of the cultural scene in Minneapolis.

DESTINATION SO MINNESOTA

TAKE YOUR GROUP NORTH ON A TRIP THAT’S BIG AND BOLD

BY RACHEL CRICK

The Land of 10,000 Lakes is also the land of art, entertainment and outdoor recreation.

Groups won’t have to look far to find diverse fun in Minnesota. The southeastern corner of the state is home to the bustling metropolitan area of the Twin Cities, packed with museums, notable architecture and a diverse food and beverage scene. Nearby, travelers have a chance to unwind in the picturesque river towns surrounding the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers or reconnect with nature in the state’s scenic bluff country.

Travel planners will find countless options for enjoying the North Star State’s rich culture and natural beauty in these regional hotspots.

SAINT PAUL

In the capital of Minnesota, known as one half of its famous Twin Cities, groups visiting Saint Paul can delight in a rich world of history, architecture and hands-on fun. Because its shoreline is on the Mississippi River, Saint Paul grew as a center of manufacturing and transport. Later, it became a hub for gangsters and organized crime, playing host to notorious criminals like Babyface Nelson and John Dillinger. The city’s thrilling past is featured prominently throughout many of its attractions; groups can even take gangster tours, which lead them through some of the well-known gangster hideouts, such as the Wabasha Street Caves. Carved into the bluffs along the river, these caves were used for innocuous purposes like mushroom growing, but during the prohibition era they played a key role in the city’s organized crime.

Another way for groups to enjoy the city’s rich history is through its architecture. Saint Paul’s downtown is known for its European feel and for Summit Avenue, a historic district that features the longest stretch of Victorian homes and buildings in America. Groups can take walking tours to see the beautifully crafted homes and learn the histories that go along with them.

“You get a definite historic feel through things like our architecture,” said

BY LANE PELOVSKY, COURTESY MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Jaimee Hendrikson, vice president of marketing and partnership at Visit Saint Paul. “We’re definitely a worldly city, a big mix of culture and cultural destinations, as well.”

For some hands-on fun, groups can head to Can Wonderland, a whimsical minigolf and entertainment complex. Visitors can play 18 holes, each designed by different artists, or spend some time in the old-fashioned soda fountain, restaurant and vintage arcade.

For a great meal served up with a groovy atmosphere, there’s no better spot than the brand-new Apostle Supper Club. This 1970s dinner club-themed restaurant has a tiki bar inside and offers a wide range of entrees, appetizers and original cocktails.

VISITSAINTPAUL.COM

MINNEAPOLIS

It’s said the Twin Cities are not identical twins but fraternal. While Saint Paul brims with a charm that stems from its classic architecture and its gangster history, Minneapolis is its sleek and modern counterpart. Like Saint Paul, Minneapolis depended on the Mississippi River to grow; thanks to Saint Anthony Falls, the only natural waterfall on the Mississippi, Minneapolis became a milling town. Though it has plenty of its own history, today its glass skyscrapers, prominent arts scene and diverse cuisine make it an exciting metropolitan getaway for groups.

“We have amazing art, amazing sports, amazing theater, amazing shopping,” said Casey Kluver, manager of global tourism sales at Meet Minneapolis. “You could spend a few days here.”

The rich arts and theater scene of Minneapolis is one of its crown jewels. Groups can view the vast collection of artworks at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, which contains over 90,000 works from different countries and cultures across time. Works by masters such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Monet are among its most famous holdings. Minneapolis is also home to the Walker Arts Center, a prominent contemporary art museum. Nearby, groups can walk through the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden to view the abstract and fascinating three-dimensional art. For a riveting performance, groups can head to one of the many

theaters within the Minneapolis Theater District, such as the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, the biggest dinner theater in America.

One of Minnesota’s best known attractions, the Mall of America, can also be found in Minneapolis. Groups can explore the four-level mall’s hundreds of shops, restaurants, aquarium and indoor theme park.

To enjoy the city’s diverse culinary scene, groups can eat at Midtown Global Market, which offers a range of international cuisine.

MINNEAPOLIS.ORG

ROCHESTER

South of the Twin Cities, Rochester is a city intertwined with the Mayo Clinic, the impressive medical center renowned worldwide for solving the toughest medical problems. The clinic’s origins date back to the late 1800s, when it began as a meager operation to treat Rochester residents. It soon grew into a revolutionary medical practice and began attracting thousands of patients to the city every year for treatment.

On trolley tours of the city, groups can learn about the history of the clinic and its many ties to Rochester. They can see where its most famous patients may have stayed over the years, including Ernest Hemingway, Helen Keller and Muhammad Ali. Groups can also tour the Mayowood

Treats at Can Can Wonderland

COURTESY VISIT SAINT PAUL

COURTESY VISIT SAINT PAUL

COURTESY MEET MINNEAPOLIS

COURTESY VISIT SAINT PAUL

Cathedral of St. Paul Minneapolis Museum of Art

Fall in Saint Paul’s Mounds Park

C

Mansion, built by Charles Mayo in 1911. This beautiful historic mansion demonstrates the Mayo Clinic’s importance in Rochester and showcases some of its heritage and architecture.

“The rich history around Mayo Clinic is so fascinating to people, and the uniqueness of Rochester as an emerging arts and culture well destination is as well,” said Bill Von Bank, vice president of marketing and communications for Experience Rochester.

For a glimpse of this burgeoning arts scene, travelers can check out the Rochester Arts Center, the Rochester Civic Theater and the Art Walk, where art has been installed on Rochester’s public walking and biking trails.

The city offers a range of unique restaurants, wineries and breweries suitable for groups. At Bleu Duck Kitchen, a fine dining restaurant set in a historic printing press building, visitors have their choice of creative and fine fare, from oysters to duck to lamb pasta. Forager Brewery and Café offers groups their choice of craft beers and locally sourced pub food from a scratch kitchen.

Hastings City Hall

ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY

Running along Minnesota’s eastern border, the St. Croix River Valley is peppered with small towns that each have something unique to offer travelers. In addition to the local boutiques and eateries, the area is renowned for its natural beauty and ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation.

“People who come to the St. Croix Valley can find quaint historic river towns to explore,” said Rosemary Mansfield, marketing director of the St. Croix Valley Regional Tourism Alliance. “It also has so much nature.”

At the southern end of the valley, at the convergence of the Mississippi, St. Croix and Vermillion rivers, groups will find Hastings, a well of history. Its main street is on the National Register of Historic Places, and groups can take walking tours to explore the beautiful architecture of its historic homes and businesses. To see the area’s natural beauty, groups can visit the Carpenter Nature Center, which has trails, preserved wildlife habitats and an apple orchard. At the Alexis Bailly Vineyard, groups can arrange tours and tastings of its award-winning varietals.

Due north, Stillwater is known among Minnesotans as the birthplace of Minnesota. It was named the best smalltown food scene by USA Today. Groups can have lunch at Lowell Inn, known for its walleye and prime rib. River cruises and trolley tours are popular ways to explore the city’s galleries, shops and historic sites, such as its lift bridge and Main Street.

Travelers interested in Scandinavian heritage should head north to Scandia. Groups can tour the Gammelgarden, or “Old Farm” Museum, which preserves the heritage of the Swedish farmers who immigrated to the region in the 1800s. They can also find these settlers’ original log cabins in Log House Landing.

STCROIXRIVER.COM

EXPERIENCEROCHESTERMN.COM

BY NATHAN RIBBETT, COURTESY ST. CROIX VALLEY RTA

Hiking in Red Wing

Stillwater in the St. Croix River Valley

COURTESY ST. CROIX VALLEY RTA

Rochester Trolley

BY AB PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY EXPERIENCE ROCHESTER

COURTESY EXPLORE MN

BLUFF COUNTRY

Minnesota’s bluffs overlook the breathtaking Mississippi River Valley. The state’s Bluff Country, made up of small river towns and their surrounding forests, gives visitors a reprieve from the hustle of the larger cities and gives them a taste of idyllic small-town life. No matter which city in bluff country they visit, groups can hike up the bluffs for sweeping scenic views.

“These charming river towns are just great places because they all have a unique feel to them,” said Jake Juliot, public relations and communications specialist at Explore Minnesota. “You get these downtown city feels but you’re right next to nature.”

In Red Wing, groups will find a Main Street with an American feel. Local boutiques, restaurants and ice cream parlors straight out of a movie scene adorn the streets. Groups have access to the river, so riverboats and riverside farmer’s markets are easily accessible. Also in Red Wing is the St. James Hotel, a historic hotel first opened in 1875. Inside, groups will find the Scarlet Kitchen and Bar, an upscale restaurant featuring seasonally rotating selections of gourmet dishes and interesting cocktails.

In Wabasha, groups can visit the National Eagle Center, where eagles are rehabilitated. They can watch live demonstrations and get a close-up look at these majestic birds. Groups can also watch demonstrations at Lark Toys, a toy factory in Kellogg that produces hand-carved wooden toys and has a hand-carved wooden carousel. In Winona, they can head to the Marine Art Museum, where all the art has a water theme.

THE GOOD LIFE

EVERY GROUP DESERVES AN OCCASIONAL RESORT STAY

BY KATI HYER

Resorts may not be top of mind for tour planners, but some jaw-dropping, action-packed and historic properties are worth a closer look. With unique history, striking scenery and experiences only available on-site, these resorts across the U.S. pack appeal for a wide variety of group travelers.

Travelers can immerse themselves in the architecture and scenery of New Mexico at Bishops Lodge in Santa Fe.

PHOTOS COURTESY BISHOPS LODGE NM

A dining table at Bishops Lodge

Topnotch Resort

TOPNOTCH RESORT

STOWE, VERMONT

Acre upon acre of northern hardwood forest at the base of Vermont’s Mount Mansfield is the setting for popular ski destination Topnotch Resort. But skiing isn’t the only thing that draws groups to Topnotch: The resort is a mecca for tennis lovers and racket-sport enthusiasts alike.

Groups can sign up for any of 25 activities at the tennis academy’s recently renovated indoor and outdoor courts. “It’s a fun experience even if you’ve never picked up a tennis racket,” said Elizabeth Seward, sales manager at Topnotch.

In addition to tennis, equestrian activities stand out at Topnotch. With its ideal ski location, Topnotch also boasts plenty of activities for fresh powder seekers.

“One reason group travel planners choose Topnotch Resort is the variety of activities their clients can enjoy,” Seward said. Core resort staples like spas and pools are many, but unique offerings draw planners in. “People love our bike rides and snowshoeing along the Stowe Recreation Path, which starts here on the property,” she said.

TOPNOTCHRESORT.COM

BISHOPS LODGE

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

Enchanting New Mexico is on full display at Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, and attractions for group travelers are brimming over. The resort, whose name pays homage to the 1860s on-site chapel and home of a local 19th century archbishop, has a rugged desert-meets-oasis vibe. Groups can stay in any of their more than 80 guest rooms or pick a family-style casita, where guests enjoy private rooms and shared living spaces.

The resort is a quick jaunt from Santa Fe, but travelers might not even feel the draw of the city with so much to do at the resort. Experiences, as Bishop’s Lodge calls its activities, include the small and intimate (such as historic chocolate tastings) as well as “mild to wild” whitewater rafting. Groups can consider hiking, outdoor yoga, guided geology tours or birding on the resort’s 317 scenic acres or get in touch with their creative side through pottery, incense workshops or al fresco painting classes.

AUBERGERESORTS.COM/BISHOPSLODGE

THE GREENBRIER

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA

The first thing that will strike groups at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is the neoclassical architecture of a bygone era. Surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains, the Greenbrier offers modern luxury in a historic setting. The resort was founded over 200 years ago to accommodate the many visitors to nearby natural mineral springs.

“People love the Dorsey Draper decor,” said Stephanie Yeager, Greenbrier’s director of marketing. “It’s not something you see with a typical hotel — every single room is different.” The stately Greenbrier has earned a listing as a National Historic Landmark, and its history stretches back to America’s revolutionary period.

“It all started in 1778,” Greenbrier’s public relations head Cam Huffman said. “That’s when visitors first started coming to the area to bathe in and drink the restorative waters of the springs.” Visitors believed the nearby spring held magical powers. “They came to soak, and those same waters are still used in our spa today,” Huffman added.

The potential of healing — and relaxation — drew many of America’s trendsetters over the years, including presidents, business leaders and visiting royalty. Today, the Greenbrier draws in not only East Coast elites but also tours, multifamily trips and groups longing for a grand getaway.

“We have over 55 activities on our 11,000-acre property,” Yeager said. “It’s like a cruise ship — you don’t have to leave. Some people really love golf, but we also have falconry, off-roading in the mountains, so many things. And people love the 100-year-old original pool.”

GREENBRIER.COM

COURTESY TOPNOTCH RESORT

The Greenbrier Resort

COURTESY THE GREENBRIER

GRAND HOTEL

MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN

If groups are looking for a charming experience, Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel is it.

The old-world hotel, with its world-famous Midwestern friendliness, offers groups a chance to get away from it all — and has since the late 1800s. Here to deliver “exclusive experiences” and “extraordinary memories,” the Grand Hotel is full of activities, starting with simply enjoying the breeze from a rocking chair on the expansive front porch overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, said Dana Orlando, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing.

The Grand Hotel has had a first-row seat to plenty of important moments in the American experiment — shades of which can still be explored and enjoyed today. Groups with an ear for history can spend a whole day feasting on lectures and historic tours with themes such as Prohibition and the Roaring Twenties; Movies on Mackinac; and The Art, Antiques and Interior Design of Grand Hotel, all led by the hotel’s resident historian. Groups can enjoy other outdoor leisurely pursuits like biking, carriage rides, golf and exploring the property’s legendary gardens on foot.

GRANDHOTEL.COM

THE FOXHALL RESORT

DOUGLASVILLE, GEORGIA

“Foxhall is just a stone’s throw from Atlanta, but when you get here it’s a complete escape,” said Angel Lipscomb, director of sales at Foxhall Resort.

Part sportsman’s paradise, part relaxing escape, the Foxhall is western Georgia’s best-kept secret. Originally acquired by Roy Richards to serve as an equestrian haven for his wife in the 1980s, the property grew to become a resort with world-class paddocks and stables, noted for housing the horses in competition at the 1996 Olympics.

Today, groups can take aim on the Foxhall’s Beretta Trident Course, a 15-station sporting clay course. UTV tours offer high-adrenaline opportunities. If groups prefer the tranquility of waterside activities, kayaking, exploring the Chattahoochee River or fighting for a dream trophy bass on one of the Foxhall’s 16 freshwater lakes are all options, too. If group members are new to scatter guns, quail hunting or picking the right lure for the right fish, guides are available to help them learn the new skills.

FOXHALLRESORT.COM

BIG CEDAR LODGE RIDGEDALE, MISSOURI

Anyone who has visited a Bass Pro Shop knows that picking up some gear may have been a convenient excuse, but the adventure of the shop itself was the visit’s true aim. An even greater adventure awaits the guests of the Big Cedar Lodge, developed by Bass Pro Shop founder Johnny Morris. This jaw-dropping property in the Missouri Ozarks will leave groups refreshed and inspired.

“If you’re wanting to escape the world and the hustle and bustle, Big Cedar has so many amenities,” said Madison Horner, the resort’s public relations manager. “We have numerous restaurants, including the property’s original building, which was transformed into the Worman House Restaurant in 1921.”

When it comes to outdoor activities, if groups can imagine it, chances are, Big Cedar has it. “The resort team customizes tours for different seasons,” Horner said. In the winter, groups can enjoy holiday tram rides, take a “Deck the Trails” self-guided drive-through tour of landmark Top of the Rock, and explore on-property caves through the Lost Canyon Christmas Tour. “We also have the ‘Best Summer Ever’ outdoor adventures and Cedar Fest in the fall, and we’re expanding what we offer all the time,” Horner added.

Don’t miss the daily evening sunset ceremony.

“We salute by cannon and play ‘Amazing Grace’ on the bagpipes,” Horner said. “It’s incredible. The scenery is beautiful and the whole experience leaves people in awe.”

BIGCEDAR.COM

COURTESY BIG CEDAR LODGE

COURTESY GRAND HOTEL

A horse-drawn carriage outside the Grand Hotel

The best itineraries are fi lled with inspiration, entertainment and excitement from start to fi nish. And that’s exactly what you’ll fi nd in North Carolina where our scenic tours, cultural attractions, award-winning restaurants and more await your group’s arrival. Plan your group adventure to North Carolina by contacting Amanda Baker at 919-447-7765 or amanda.baker @visitnc.com. visitnc.com/groups

Whether it’s learning about the natural world in Decatur and Gulf Shores, the past and future of space exploration in Huntsville, visiting sights where Rock ‘n Roll hits were made, or the history of the Civil Rights Movement, we can supply you with itineraries for several group tours. Trouble is...deciding which tour to take first. We’ll keep adding to the list, you just keep coming for new adventures. www.alabama.travel

To learn how your group can experience Alabama, contact Rosemary Judkins at rosemary.judkins@tourism.alabama.gov or 334-242-4493.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, Montgomery Cook Museum of Natural Science, Decatur

Gulf Shores Beach

Tourism Society

LEADERSHIP TEAM

MEREDITH DASILVA

2023

OFFICERS

Chair

JILL KIDDER

PRESIDENT & CEO

VISIT BATON ROUGE

Vice Chair

KAREN TREVINO PRESIDENT & CEO

NORTH LITTLE ROCK CVB

Treasurer

ROBYN BRIDGES PRESIDENT & CEO

AUBURN – OPELIKA TOURISM

Secretary

DEBBIE MEIHLS PRESIDENT & CEO

NEW SMYRNA BEACH AREA VB

Marketing College Provost

BERKELEY YOUNG PRESIDENT YOUNG STRATEGIES

Immediate Past Chair

DONNA CARPENTER PRESIDENT & CEO

EXPLORE CABARRUS

GREY BRENNAN

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT

DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS

VISIT FLORIDA

DOUG BOURGEOIS

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM

ENNIS SMITH

DIRECTOR OF DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT

WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF TOURISM

MICHAEL MANGEOT

COMMISSIONER

KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

NELL KNOX DEPUTY DIRECTOR

VISIT MISSISSIPPI

WIT TUTTELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR VISIT NORTH CAROLINA

JESSICA FRAHM

MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER ARKANSAS TOURISM

AMY DUFFY CHIEF OF STAFF

SC DEPT. PARKS, RECREATION & TOURISM

LORI SIMMS

DEPUTY DIRECTOR MISSOURI DIVISION OF TOURISM

MELANIE BEAUCHAMP

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TOURIST DEVELOPMENT

MARK JARONSKI DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

EXPLORE GEORGIA

JONI JOHNSON

DIRECTOR, DOMESTIC SALES & MARKETING

VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION

BE NEAR EVERYTHING BUT FEEL FAR AWAY

Take a deep breath and watch the sun set over the Arkansas River. Then take your friends for craft beer at Hill Station, just a few minutes away. A vacation in The Natural State means you can feel far away but still be near everything. Plan your trip at Arkansas.com.

Hill Station, Little Rock

Emerald Trail, North Little Rock

SOUTH BRING FRIENDS

STS Celebrates 40th Anniversary in 2023

BY MAC LACY

It may be two years later than originally planned, but Southeast Tourism Society’s Domestic Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama, will take place April 17–20, and Monica Smith is excited. As president and CEO of a 515-member-strong tourism organization that celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023, Smith has seen this meeting come full circle since COVID protocols postponed it and others across the country in 2021.

“Everything works out in the end, doesn’t it?” she said. “Huntsville has put together a wonderful delegate experience for us, and our attendance is looking strong. We’ve added some key educational programming this year, and we think Huntsville will be a perfect destination for STS Domestic Showcase.”

Known throughout the travel industry for its advocacy and educational programs, STS has added several key elements to this domestic group travel event in just two years. At this past year’s meeting in Virginia Beach, STS introduced breakfast sessions featuring dynamic presenters. Those continue this year, and the organization has added an educational component to the meeting for participants who arrive early.

“Ariel Azoff, executive director of brand partnerships for Atlas Obscura, will keynote our Tuesday breakfast, and we’re delighted that your executive editor, Brian Jewell, will

MONICA SMITH

speak on Wednesday morning,” Smith said. “We’re also offering a two-day session in Huntsville for sales, marketing and public relations professionals. We’re calling it the SMPR Forum, and it’s being offered for DMO, attraction, lodging and event facility personnel on the front end.”

Smith noted that the business climate for group travel in 2023 is distinctly improved from the past three years.

“We’re delighted to see tour operators in the Southeast are busy,” said Smith. “It’s important we help them maximize their business here. We expect our research and educational components at Domestic Showcase to help tour operators as much as they help our members.”

Smith plans to have 40th anniversary branding elements prominently displayed at STS Domestic Showcase. Those brand elements will also be prominent at other major events like STS Marketing College in June at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and the STS Congressional Summit in Washington D.C., July 10–13. Policy issues including job creation, transportation infrastructure, the cultural benefits of tourism and others are all voiced at the Congressional Summit each year.

“For four decades, the Southeast Tourism Society has advanced careers in this industry and has helped make the Southeast one of the busiest travel regions in America,” said Smith. “After 40 years of accomplishments, we know our best work is still ahead of us.”

Courtesy Moravian Culinary Trail

DISCOVER WHERE LOCALS PLAY.

Get a front-row seat to the places, people and experiences that make Missouri a must-see for groups of all sizes.

For more information, contact Megan Sheets with Visit Missouri at Megan.Sheets@ded.mo.gov

go SOUTH

BRING FRIENDS

OZARK MUSIC FESTIVAL IN ARKANSAS

Kidder Believes It’s Never Too Late for STS Marketing College

BY MAC LACY

As chairperson of Southeast Tourism Society (STS), Jill Kidder used an old African proverb she treats as a mantra to talk about her goals for the upcoming year: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Kidder, president and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, said one of STS’ greatest membership benefits is the strength individual members derive from its collective initiatives.

“I will definitely emphasize what is already one of our greatest attributes as an organization,” she said. “I want to build our membership and bring new industry leaders into the networking umbrella that defines STS. Our board members and I have been charged with that responsibility, and we’re going to meet that challenge.”

Kidder sees the upcoming STS Domestic Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama, as an opportunity for membership growth. And she sees STS Marketing College, an educational event that takes place each summer, in the same light.

“We’re seeking a new provost for Marketing College after years of leadership by Berkeley Young and Judy Randall,” said Kidder. “We commend both leaders for all they brought to that training ground for tourism, and finding the right person to become our new provost is a

JILL KIDDER

serious responsibility. While Suzanne Moon is still with us on the staff side, I want to also commend her for her years of service to that signature STS program.”

Kidder has a Visit Baton Rouge staff member enrolled now in Marketing College and sent several of her former employees at Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) through the program.

“Industry partnerships grow out of Marketing College,” she said. “Lifelong friendships grow out of it. And to emphasize that, I’ve decided to go back this year as a freshman myself.”

Baton Rouge, the destination Kidder represents, is Louisiana’s state capital and one of the best-known college towns in the South. Not only is Louisiana State University (LSU) there, but well known historically black Southern University is as well. Baton Rouge Community College adds a third to the city.

“We treat our college students like tourists,” she said. “We have 45,000-50,000 of them here and we want as many as possible to stay after graduation and work here. We’re invested in them.”

For groups coming to Baton Rouge, Kidder suggests seeing Louisiana’s Old State Capitol, the LSU Rural Life Museum and other museums, the Louisiana Planetarium and many other sites. She also recommends a stop at LSU to see Mike the Tiger, one of America’s favorite athletic mascots.

“Baton Rouge is the capital of one of America’s most distinctive states,” she said. “We have a little bit of everything here. Groups can come to Baton Rouge and get all the Louisiana they want.”

Courtesy Ozark Music Festival

Take your group on a world tour of Mississippi’s musical legacy

For music lovers, there’s no better place to explore the history and future of popular music than Mississippi, “The Birthplace of America’s Music.” Here, African and European musical traditions collided and were crafted into a new form of music, the blues, and its rock, gospel, and country offshoots. View a sample itinerary of music museums, attractions, and stages at VisitMississippi.org/MusicTour.

GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi | Cleveland

#WanderMS

BY RACHEL CRICK

Ahistory lesson from a foul-mouthed pirate is never dull, which is one of the many reasons it’s important to select the right city tours when building a travel itinerary.

Sightseeing tours can incorporate many of an area’s must-see attractions, historical sites and exceptional cuisine, delivered in well-organized and entertaining packages. However, some tours are more memorable than others.

From riding in party buses to squad cars, an unconventional tour of a town can help groups build the travel experience of a lifetime. These tours capture the souls of their cities with lively characters and charming themes that showcase each downtown’s individual spirit.

Whether they’re exploring a new city or rediscovering an old favorite, groups will enjoy fresh and charismatic perspectives on downtown tours of these Southeastern cities.

Eat, Drink and Ride with

Comedienne Joy

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

One of the best ways to learn about a city is to become acquainted with its cuisine. In Birmingham, affectionately nicknamed “the Dinner Table of the South,” the food and beverage scene is famous for its barbecue and Southern influences. It also boasts lively music and nightlife, which makes it a great city for groups looking for both food and fun.

Joy King, also known as “Comedienne Joy” and “the Queen of Clean Comedy,” is no stranger to Birmingham’s cuisine. Her television show “Dining Out with Comedienne Joy” encouraged viewers to eat at delicious local restaurants. Now, groups can eat like King and tour Birmingham, which has a culinary scene as rich and varied as its history, with the Eat, Drink and Ride with Comedienne Joy tours.

“If you want to eat like a local, some great delicious food from places you didn’t know existed, you need to come on this tour,” said King, who has been giving these tours for five years.

Tours take place on a luxurious party bus that travels from one side of Birmingham to another, with King or another knowledgeable — and hilarious — guide keeping guests entertained while they’re shown around town. Groups of 10 to 17 will make four or five stops at local restaurants to sample their small plates and adult

HOT SPRINGS WALKING TOURS SHOWCASE THE HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE AND NATURAL BEAUTY OF THIS UNIQUE ARKANSAS DESTINATION.

By M. Smith, courtesy NPS

By

beverages. From hidden gems to town favorites, the restaurants along the route are sure to delight and surprise even long-term residents of Birmingham. Food is ready to be enjoyed when groups arrive at each stop.

“You get the VIP service when you come on the tour,” said King. “You don’t have to worry about ordering off the menu because these are my favorite dishes.”

Hot Springs Walking Tours

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Appropriately named for its naturally occurring thermal springs, Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a town in the Ouachita Mountains whose historic downtown is uniquely preserved as Hot Springs National Park. The famed springs that earned the town its name have also given it a reputation for their health benefits and relaxing scenery. Many of the town’s visitors come to see the hot springs and visit its plentiful bathhouses for their therapeutic qualities. One of the most famous ways to explore this city’s history and its beautiful natural environment is with the Hot Springs Walking Tours, given by the national park’s very own troop of park rangers. While ranger-led tours are a constant in any national park, Hot Springs tours may look a little different because they focus on the downtown area as well as the surrounding park.

“We really want people to have a chance to learn about Hot Springs within the resource itself — the bathhouse buildings, the thermal springs, the hillside itself with its rock formations,” said Cane West, park ranger at Hot Springs National Park, who added that the tours present visitors with a “combination of history and geology and biology and the theme of public health.”

These 45-minute walking tours allow visitors to explore the downtown area and ask rangers questions in real time, whether they’re curious to know about the 10,000-year history of people occupying the area or the 4,000-year history of the thermal waters in the springs. From the 143-degree springs to the town’s museums and cultural centers, groups can see and learn about all that makes this breathtaking mountain town unique.

NPS.GOV/HOSP

Pirates of the Quarter

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans is a city of magic and intrigue, known for its vibrant mix of cultures and its exciting nightlife. Shaped heavily by French, Spanish and Creole influences, New Orleans’ music, architecture and cuisine make the city one of the most distinctive and exciting destinations in the

ONE OF HOT SPRINGS’ NAMESAKE SPRINGS

EMBARKING ON THE EAT, DRINK AND RIDE WITH COMEDIENNE JOY TOUR IN BIRMINGHAM

Courtesy Eat, Drink and Ride with Comedienne Joy

M. Smith, courtesy NPS

Southeast. It’s home to many mystical legends and traditions, from the ghosts that allegedly haunt its above-ground cemeteries to its prominent voodoo practices.

One part of the city’s history that may seem more legendary than factual is the presence of pirates in the city during the early 1800s. To hear the tales of the real pirates that once inhabited the city and their exploits, and to explore the popular attractions of the French Quarter with fresh perspective, guests can take a Pirates of the Quarter tour.

Founded six years ago by a duo known only by their pirate titles, the Captain and the Quartermaster, tours are given by guides clad in traditional pirate attire. The walking tour allows groups of up to 15 to explore a one-mile stretch of the French Quarter, with many stops at historic sites.

“A lot of people have the idea of one thing when they sign up for this tour. They think it’s going to be just movie pirates. We are going to dispel a lot of myths people think are true about pirates,” said the Captain, adding that the tour “intertwines a lot of significant events with real pirate history.”

From pirate involvement in the New Orleans economy to their significance in the War of 1812, there are plenty of tales to be told on the tour. Pirates of the Quarter also offers a pub crawl for an after-hours experience that explores the darker and more raucous side of the area’s pirate history.

PIRATESOFTHEQUARTER.COM

Courtesy Eat, Drink and Ride with Comedienne Joy

Courtesy Pirates of the Quarter

PIRATES OF THE QUARTER IN NEW ORLEANS

LIVING IT UP IN BIRMINGHAM WITH COMEDIENNE JOY

EXPLORING

By D. Cmill, courtesy NPS

“The tours present visitors with a combination of history and geology and biology and the theme of public health.”

— CANE WEST, HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK

Squad Car Tours

MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA

One of the most beloved sitcoms of the 20th century, “The Andy Griffith Show,” took place in the small, fictional town of Mayberry. People grew to love the quaint town and its quirky characters, which are said to be based on Mount Airy, North Carolina, where Andy Griffith grew up. Mount Airy has embraced the fictional Mayberry and become a hub for all things related to the series and even adopted replica businesses and landmarks from the show, such as Wally’s Fillin’ Station and a replica Mayberry courthouse. But one of the area’s best known Mayberry-related activities is the Mayberry Squad Car Tours, which give visitors the opportunity to tour the town from a vintage Ford Galaxy painted to resemble Sheriff Andy Taylor’s squad car.

“We were starting to see some tour buses coming to town, so I came up with the idea of making a replica of a squad car to drive people around,” said Mike Cockerham, a long-time car enthusiast who personally restored the first replica squad car and began giving tours.

Now, two decades later, the fleet has grown to include seven cars, all Ford Galaxies from the 1960s. Up to five people can ride in each car for an interesting introduction to Mount Airy and an exploration of the town’s connections to the Andy Griffith Show. Tours begin at Wally’s Fillin’ Station, where groups can explore the service station and the adjacent model courthouse. Then, visitors are driven down Main Street for a tour of the town where Griffith himself once lived. The tours also showcase some of its other notable features, such as the Mount Airy Granite Quarry, the largest open-faced granite quarry in the world. Still, it’s the connection to the beloved Mayberry that gives Mount Airy its claim to fame and its charm.

“You can’t hop in a Mayberry squad car and ride around anywhere but here in Mayberry,” said Cockerham.

TOURMAYBERRY.COM

Photos courtesy Mayberry Sqad Car Tours

A MAYBERRY SQUAD CAR IN MOUNT AIRY

THE MAYBERRY TOUR FLEET

“We were starting to see some tour buses coming to town, so I came up with the idea of making a replica of a squad car to drive people around.”

— MIKE COCKERHAM, TOURMAYBERRY.COM

At the heart of America’s inland waterways, you’ll find a sophisticated rivertown that inspires. Paducah, Kentucky, is a confluence of cultural heritage and creativity where art goes beyond something to appreciate – it’s a way of life.

A designated UNESCO Creative City, Paducah is gaining acclaim as a destination for those who crave rich, authentic cultural experiences!

EXPERIENCES Signature

Immerse yourself in history, art and culture through unique experiences created exclusively for groups.

Plan your experience at Paducah.travel 1-800-PADUCAH

Backbeat Tours

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

One of Tennessee’s two music cities, Memphis is known for its role in shaping blues music. Early rock ’n’ roll is rumored to have gotten its start in the city too, as did musicians such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, B.B. King and Jerry Lee Lewis. Downtown is dotted with famous music studios, concert venues and musical hubs.

Headquartered on the famed Beale Street, Backbeat Tours provides both walking and bus tours that explore the city’s history and contributions to music. It was founded in 2006 by Bill Patton, who wanted to use musicians to explore the city’s history and bridge the gap between the music of the 1950s and ’60s to the music of today.

The company’s signature tour, the Mojo Tour, was designed to do just that. Patton created this 90-minute bus tour to allow guests to learn about music history in Memphis from actual musicians, with many opportunities to hear live music along the way.

“His idea behind that was instead of just driving around and telling visitors to Memphis the history of its music, why not let its musicians do it, because they’re the ones entrenched in it every day,” said Meagan May, vice president and group sales and event coordinator for Backbeat Tours.

Prominent stops on the tour include Sun Studios, where musical legends got their start in the recording studio. Groups can get off the bus to get a close-up look at the Overton Park Shell, another Memphis staple and historical site, where Elvis performed his first concert. Backbeat Tours also offers other historical walking tours, ghost tours and musician-themed tours, each of which offers fresh perspectives on this delightful musical city.

BACKBEATTOURS.COM

Courtesy Backbeat Tours

An Outer Space Exploration

Hatfield and McCoy Airboat Tours

MATEWAN, WEST VIRGINIA

Few stories have captivated the public and inspired their imaginations as much as the Hatfield and McCoy feud. This decades-long dispute between two families on either side of the Tug Fork River has been explored in countless books, documentaries and even an acclaimed miniseries. Today, the small communities in both states bordering the river claim this long and bloody feud, and the legends that go with it, as important parts of their histories.

Matewan, a West Virginia mining town with a population of about 500, was founded years after the height of the feud. It’s geographically close to where much of the fighting between the families took place, which has brought an increase in tourist traffic in recent years. While exploring Matewan’s tiny downtown doesn’t take long, one of the best ways to discover the area and its ties to the legendary feud is with Hatfield and McCoy Airboat Tours.

Discover

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

HATFIELD AND MCCOY AIRBOAT TOURS

Courtesy Hatfield and McCoy Airboat Tours

CHARLESTON’S AWE-INSPIRING EXPERIENCE

— KEITH GIBSON, HATFIELD AND MCCOY AIRBOAT TOURS

“A lot of people started coming to Matewan, but there wasn’t a lot to do in Matewan when they did get here,” said Keith Gibson, the creator of the Hatfield and McCoy Airboat Tours. “I bought an airboat, and that’s been 10 years ago now.”

For a decade, Gibson has been taking people out on the river to see the sights and sounds of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains, combining the experience of riding on an airboat with the area’s rich history. Exploring the river by airboat is best because it has no problems riding through the river’s shallowest and rockiest regions, where a motor would be unable to go.

The airboat can accommodate groups of up to six at a time. During the tours, Gibson gives a history of the area and points out wildlife, such as bald eagles, heron, deer, river otters and the occasional bear. Prominent sites from the feud itself, such as the cabin where Roseanna McCoy lived after her ill-fated affair with Johnse Hatfield, can be found along the river and are included in the tour.

HATFIELDMCCOYAIRBOATTOURS.COM

“A lot of people started coming to Matewan, but there wasn’t a lot to do in Matewan when they did get here. I bought an airboat, and that’s been 10 years ago now.”

Courtesy Hatfield and McCoy Airboat Tours

live theatre and dinner with year-round entertainment just outside of Charlotte in Fort Mill SC View the complete show schedule online at narroway net

SHINING AWARDS

African American Experience of Northeast North Carolina

The Southeast Tourism Society presented its 2022 Partnership Award to the African American Experience of Northeast North Carolina. The initiative is a cooperative effort of destination marketing organizations in six counties in rural northeast North Carolina to showcase the area’s African American culture and heritage for visitors.

The Partnership Award recognizes effective partnerships within the tourism industry. Nominees demonstrate how the partnership has impacted their organizations and share plans for further collaborations.

The African American Experience of Northeast North Carolina was created with input from an advisory board comprising regional civic leaders, educators and historians. They identified 30 visitor-ready African American sites, including museums, monuments, parks, waterways and interpretive signs throughout the six counties. They also developed a self-guided digital heritage trail with its own logo, branding and marketing plan.

Groups have more fun at Oaklawn. We start at the racetrack. Sip a couple beers in the infield under the magnolia trees, then grab a corned beef. Winner buys a round at Silks, then we hit the blackjack table. This is our Oaklawn. What’s yours?

It’s been 60 years.

A cultural revolution engulfed the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963.

Birmingham was Ground Zero for America’s Civil Rights Movement in 1963. Fists and firehoses on one side were met with peaceful resistance and resolve for a better tomorrow on the other.

Then came the bombing. Four little girls were killed on a September Sunday morning in 1963 at Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute tells these and other significant stories of the city’s pivotal role in desegregating the American South.

For more information on touring the Birmingham Civil Right District, now a National Monument, during the 60th anniversary, contact:

The stories are as powerful today as they were those decades ago.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum operated as a mental health facility for 130 years. Visitors can enjoy daily walk-in historic and paranormal tours, festivals and events from April through November.

Stonewall Lake & Resort

This luxury resort is located on the scenic Stonewall Jackson Lake with breathtaking views from the Adirondack-style lodge or quiet lakefront cottages. Enjoy an irresistible meal, play the Arnold Palmer Signature golf course, pamper yourself at the spa, hike the trails or play on the lake.

Jackson’s FarmsteadMill

This historic area has been a steadfast place of learning, leadership and growth for more than 90 years. Famous as General “Stonewall” Jackson’s homestead, the old gristmill still stands. This is an important arena for adult education, special events and meetings—and the State 4-H camp.

Appalachian Glass is keeping the tradition of hand made glass alive in West Virginia with offerings of over 500 traditionally produced soda-lime crystal products. Their studio is open to the public for shopping and to enjoy live demonstrations.

WV Museum of American Glass

The museum is dedicated to the region and nation’s rich glass heritage. The stories of people and processes come to life! See a huge collection of brilliant colored and sparkling crystal glass by dozens of American manufacturers from 1860 to the present.

Mountaineer Military Museum

Childhood friends were drafted into their country’s service and only one made it home. A graveside promise was made that “I’ll never let anyone forget you guys.” More than 18 new exhibits, feature personal and historical items from the Civil War to current day.

Lambert’s Winery

Nestled in the heart of West Virginia is a winery whose beauty is almost as exquisite as the fine selection of wines. The winery’s magnificent tasting room is constructed from hand cut stones gathered from various parts of the state. Tour the beautifully landscaped grounds and browse their gift shop.

MannCave Distilling

With the development of three artesian water springs, the distillery was unearthed out of hand dug coal mines. The smooth, award-winning, top shelf spirits (whiskey, vodka and moonshine) are produced and sold onsite. Tours and tastings are available on Saturdays.

BY LIA MILLER

Southern music might be America’s greatest cultural contribution to the world.

No region in the United States has more musical bragging rights than the South, as it is the birthplace of some of America’s most cherished and iconic musical traditions. Groups traveling throughout the region should make time to visit these music heritage sites and enjoy the live music performances in venues nearby.

Ray Charles Plaza ALBANY, GEORGIA

The Ray Charles Memorial Plaza was founded in the heart of downtown Albany, Georgia, in honor of local son Ray Charles, one of the most recognizable faces and influential voices in music history. Charles’ music was transformative and brought together people from all races and all walks of life. Not only a musical inspiration, he also proved that no physical limitations could stop him from pursuing and realizing his dreams. That’s why the city chose to honor him with a memorial plaza.

“The Ray Charles Plaza was part of the redevelopment of downtown Albany,” said Kirsten Rome, group and leisure sales manager for the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau and Welcome Center. “Artist and sculptor Andy Davis wanted to do a sculpture of Ray Charles and designed the whole plaza around the statue.”

Groups can find the life-size bronze sculpture of Ray Charles sitting at his baby grand piano located on Front Street and enjoy a “free” concert by day coupled with a light show at night.

“Visitors from across the United States and internationally come to visit Ray Charles Plaza,” Rome said. The plaza is situated on the Flint River, where interested travelers can find the Greenway Trail. During fair weather, the welcome center rents bikes so visitors can ride up and down the trail and around Ray. Biking is an easy way to see the other nearby sites, which include Riverfront Park, Turtle Grove Park, the Albany Aquarium, and the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau and Welcome Center.

Visitors interested in hearing live music while visiting Ray Charles Plaza need only find their way to the Veterans’ Park Amphitheatre for outdoor performances, or the Albany Civic Center, which offers robust live music and other performance options. Gladys Knight will hit the stage at the civic center in late February.

RAYCHARLES.COM

THE BLUE ROOM AT THE AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM CONTINUES THE LEGACY OF LIVE MUSIC IN KANSAS CITY’S 18TH AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT.

Photos courtesy VisitMo.com

B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center

INDIANOLA, MISSISSIPPI

The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, located in the heart of the Delta in Indianola, Mississippi, is dedicated to telling the story of the life, music and legacy of B.B. King and sharing the stories, history and music of the Delta. The museum and Delta Interpretive Center’s stated mission is “to empower, unite and heal through music, art and education and share with the world the cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta.”

B.B. King, born Riley B. King in the Mississippi Delta, one of the most impoverished regions in America at the time of his birth in 1925, is among the most prominent and influential blues musicians in history. Defying the odds, he became one of the greatest contributors to the development of the blues music genre. He continues to serve as an inspiration for musicians to this day thanks to his musical contributions.

For blues aficionados, the museum and interpretive center offer a wide variety of live music options, from First Thursdays events featuring living music, Delta food and a chance to tour the museum, to live blues music competitions featuring solo, duo and group performances.

BBKINGMUSEUM.ORG

Courtesy Albany CVB

AN EXHIBIT AT THE B.B. KING MUSEUM AND DELTA INTERPRETIVE CENTER

Courtesy CFMA

ALBANY’S RAY

CHARLES PLAZA

CAJUN MUSIC HALL OF FAME

“Historically, many Cajun music musicians were family men.”

— TODD ORTEGO, CAJUN MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum

EUNICE, LOUISIANA

For travelers interested in Cajun music, culture and food, the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Eunice, Louisiana, is the place to be. The museum is operated by the Cajun French Music Association, a nonprofit organization promoting not only Cajun music but also various aspects of Acadian heritage.

In 1995, the Louisiana Legislature proclaimed the city of Eunice the official site for the Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In the museum, artifacts and other fascinating memorabilia are on display, showcasing Cajun music and culture.

“Historically, many Cajun music musicians were family men,” said museum president Todd Ortego. “Carpenters, mechanics and construction workers, who would work a full day to support their families then play three to four shows at night.”

The Cajun Music Hall of Fame and Museum recognizes those artists who created the musical style. Because of their humble origins, many of them are not well known outside of Louisiana.

“The museum offers travelers the opportunity to know these artists, who they are, where they came from and what they were all about,” Ortego said.

Groups can enjoy live Cajun music performances many weekends in a dance hall called La Poussiere in the nearby town of Breaux Bridge. Cajun music festivals typically take place in the spring and fall at various venues throughout the state.

CAJUNFRENCHMUSIC.ORG

By Rory Doyle, courtesy B.B. King Museum

SUNSET OVER RAY

CHARLES PLAZA

B.B. KING MEMORABILIA AT HIS MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM

Courtesy B.B. King Museum

Courtesy Albany CVB

18th and Vine Jazz District

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Kansas City’s Historic 18th and Vine District is not just an intersection but also a historic location for travelers and visitors interested in baseball, barbecue and celebrated live jazz clubs. The district has been home to legends including Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Satchel Page, Josh Gibson, George and Julie Lee, and James “Cool Papa” Bell, among others. Groups traveling to the 18th and Vine Jazz District area will find several well-known live music clubs and the American Jazz Museum, in addition to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and popular barbecue joints.

The American Jazz Museum bills itself as “the nation’s leading institution dedicated to expanding the influence, awareness and appreciation of American jazz.” Its on-site jazz club, The Blue Room, offers a variety of live music options that are open to the public, including Monday Night Jam Sessions, Free Jazz at Noon on first and second Thursday of each month, Free Indigo Hour on Friday evenings, and Friday and Saturday night performances at 8:30 and 10 p.m.

Travelers will have no shortage of opportunities to hear live music, including First Fridays, events for entertainment, which offer a variety of live music options.

AMERICANJAZZMUSEUM.ORG

The Grand Ole Opry

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, is the stage that showcases country music’s past, present and future. A live radio show that began in 1925, the Opry has been home to the art form’s growth and evolution for over 97 years.

Known as the place where country artists such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and many others performed at pivotal moments in their careers, the Grand Ole Opry maintains its legacy as America’s premier country music institution. At the same time, the Opry continues to evolve and embrace new variations of country music to ensure it will be around for another 97 years.

“The true history of Nashville cannot be told without a visit and experience at the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry,” said Kristi Driver, tourism sales manager for the Opry Entertainment Group.”

The Ryman Auditorium is perhaps the most famous historic home of the Opry, hosting the show from 1943 to 1974. When the crowds outgrew the 2,200-seat Ryman (which had no air conditioning), Opry organizers built the Grand Ole Opry House, where the show remains to this day.

Photos courtesy VisitMo.com

KANSAS CITY’S 18TH AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT

A JAZZ MURAL IN THE 18TH AND VINE NEIGHBORHOOD

Three National Parks

long-term exhibits and special exhibits are available yearround and are ideal for classes, business teams, community groups, family reunions, bus tours, clubs and other organizations.”

Travel planners can customize their experiences at the center to fit their groups. Many begin with a step-on introduction to the area and center from a museum staff member. Docent-guided tours of the first-floor galleries are available.

“On the second floor, guests can see a special exhibit gallery that changes twice a year, enjoy a special program for their group, tell their story in our oral history booth and try their hand at bluegrass instruments in our education room,” Barrett said.

Other options include food, wine and live music performances.

EARLSCRUGGSCENTER.ORG

“Visitors from around the world travel to the Earl Scruggs Center to discover the life and career of the legendary banjo master and the region that shaped him.”

— STEPHANIE BARRETT, EARL SCRUGGS CENTER

Courtesy Earl Scruggs Center

NORTH CAROLINA’S

EARL SCRUGGS CENTER

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site

SHINING AWARDS

Suzanne Moon

The Southeast Tourism Society presented its 2022 Dorothy Hardman Spirit of STS Award to Suzanne Moon. Moon serves as STS’ vice president of operations and has worked with the organization for more than 30 years.

The Spirit of STS Award is a special recognition of an individual who best expresses the genuine love and devotion Dorothy Hardman had for the organization, its members and its purpose. A small, anonymous committee selects winners.

In three decades with STS, Moon has had her hand in most every element of the society’s operations. She is the driving force behind the execution of every STS conference and event. And her signature project, Marketing College, has provided invaluable training and networking opportunities for thousands of Southern tourism professionals over the years. She is deeply respected and admired by the STS membership and has shown unwavering dedication to the association throughout her career.

SUZANNE MOON, SECOND FROM RIGHT

Adventure Loves Company

Theysay there’s strength in numbers. There’s also wonder, excitement, and joy in them. From thrilling adventure to amazing food to laidback relaxation, there’s something special about bringing a group of wideeyed visitors to a place as wonderful as this. This wasn’t just the adventure of a lifetime. It was the adventure of all their lifetimes. Make us a stop on your next tour. Learn more at CrystalCoastNC.org or email groups@crystalcoastnc.org or call 888-891-0021

Kentucky Beer Cheese Trail

CLARK COUNTY, KENTUCKY

Clark County, Kentucky, is the birthplace of beer cheese.

“The spread was first served at Allman’s Restaurant as early as the 1940s,” said Nancy Turner, executive director of Winchester-Clark County Tourism. “We have built a culture around beer cheese throughout the decades.”

The spread, the precise recipe of which is a closely guarded secret, is a staple around the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Made of fresh or flat beer and typically a sharp cheddar, garlic and cayenne, beer cheese is traditionally served as an appetizer with carrots and celery.

“Literally, one of my favorite things is to fantasize about what I can eat with beer cheese. It’s that good,” Turner said with a laugh, mentioning a seasonal beer cheese named “fetaveissen” at Winchester’s First Circle Market.

“We are really blessed to have multiple restaurants that can accommodate more than 50 people,” Turner said. At Woody’s Sports Bar, groups can try beer cheese burgers and beer cheese with pretzels. DJ’s does a take on cheese nachos with beer cheese over hand-cut potato chips. Halls on the River makes a beer cheese soup. Winchester’s downtown opera house has been converted into a restaurant, Loma’s, with specialty beer cheese dressings and dishes.

“They have a beer cheese vinaigrette that they serve with pork rinds,” Turner said. “And they have beer cheese grits, which are just unbelievable.”

There are currently 13 stops on the Kentucky Beer Cheese trail. Planners can find the full list, as well as prizes for participating, on the CVB’s website.

Groups that really enjoy beer cheese can upgrade the trail experience by visiting during the Clark County’s Beer Cheese Festival, which takes place each year on the second Saturday in June.

“It is a delicious adventure,” Turner said.

VISITWINCHESTERKY.COM

Mississippi Seafood Trail

You could say that oysters, shrimp and catfish built Mississippi’s coastal region — and you’d be right. The Mississippi Seafood Trail is a great way to feast on that history in the tri-county coastal region from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula. Nearly two dozen restaurants featuring Mississippi Seafood can be found on a dedicated trail website. It’s a testament to the culture of the people — although battered by more than their fair share of disasters, natural and man-made, the people in Mississippi can always find something to celebrate through food.

The trail, which got its start thanks to a BP grant to promote

FRESH GULF SHRIMP ON THE MISSISSIPPI SEAFOOD TRAIL

ATHENS BEER TRAIL

By Bryan Redding, courtesy Athens Beer Trail

Courtesy Mississippi Seafood Trail

gulf seafood, has grown to a statewide list of restaurants that employ Gulf seafood in their cooking.

What’s the best dish for a visitor to try?

“That’s hard to say,” said Pat Fontaine, president of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. “I enjoy all Gulf seafood, from raw oysters to shrimp to crab meat to a lot of the fin fish, from redfish to speckled trout. There are not many items of Gulf seafood that people don’t enjoy.”

Groups looking for places to indulge in local seafood should check out The Reef in Biloxi or The Half Shell Oyster House’s many locations along the coast. They can also use an interactive map on the trail’s website to plan stops.

MISSISSIPPISEAFOODTRAIL.COM

Moravian Culinary Trail

WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA

How thin is a “whisper thin” cookie? And how can it tell the 300-year-old history of a town and its people?

The answer can be found on the Moravian Culinary Trail. Winston-Salem, North Carolina, can trace its roots to the Moravians, a devout community of emigres from Eastern Europe. Their Moravian heritage can be seen, heard and tasted in the industry around the food that makes the area famous: whisper-thin Moravian cookies (billed as the world’s thinnest), Moravian sugar

Courtesy Moravian Culinary Trail

BEER CHEESE & ALE 8 ONE IN WINCHESTER

WINKLER BAKERY'S MORAVIAN SUGAR CAKE

INSTAGRAM-WORTHY SEAFOOD IN COASTAL MISSISSIPPI

Courtesy Visit Winchester

Courtesy Moravian Culinary Trail

MORAVIAN COOKIES

Courtesy Mississippi Seafood Trail

cake and Moravian chicken pie. The Moravian Culinary Trail memorializes these three old-world foods.

“It’s a virtual trail, so people can start anywhere and experience different destinations à la carte,” said Kay Calzolari, group tour and sales manager for Winston-Salem.

Many groups start their journeys in the heart of Old Salem Museums and Gardens at Winkler Bakery, where the process to make the Moravian sugar cakes hasn’t changed, including the use of the fire-burning stove. The Spring House Restaurant just outside of downtown Winston-Salem is highly recommended for Moravian chicken pie. If there’s time (and well, even if there’s not), make plans for a quick jaunt outside the city center for a world-famous stop on the Moravian Culinary Trail: Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookie Factory.

“No cookie journey is complete without a visit to Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies,” Calzolari said. “It’s a seventh-generation fam

Courtesy Visit Greenville SC

PAPIS CARNITAS TACOS ON THE GREENVILLE TACO TRAIL

RAISE YOUR GLASS IN BOURBON CITY

As the gateway to Bourbon Country, Louisville invites groups to explore our iconic attractions, become a bourbon afficianado at one of our urban bourbon distillery experiences, and enjoy our award-winning culinary scene.

Learn more at GoToLouisville.com/Travel-Professionals

The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

Greenville Taco Trail on National Taco Day, just this past fall.”

With 12 destinations to choose from, groups can explore the restaurants that make Greenville part of a bustling food scene. Each stop on the trail makes for great group options.

“You can do vegetarian; you can love meat — there’s an array of everything on the trail,” Cassabon said. “Variety was important to us when making the trail.”

That variety extends to geographic variety, as well.

“One of the nice things about the trail is it takes you all over the county,” Cassabon said. “If you’re staying on the perimeters like in Travelers Rest or Fountain Inn, you can still enjoy the trail no matter where you’re staying.”

Visitors can pick up a Greenville Taco Trail Passport at the Visitors Center in City Hall or at participating restaurants. VisitGreenvilleSC runs seasonal activities with redeemable prizes for participants who collect enough stops on the trail.

“The taco is universal,” Cassabon said. “I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like them.”

VISITGREENVILLESC.COM

Salty Southern Route

SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA

In Virginia, a group of localities that are serious about their food but don’t take themselves too seriously has created the Salty Southern Route.

The southeastern region of the state has long been known for its peanuts, salt-cured hams and other pork products.

“We are all western tidewater localities that got together to figure out the exact thing we had in common,” said Judy Winslow, director of Smithfield and Isle of Wight Tourism. As it turns out, the thread that ties the Southampton, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Smithfield and Suffolk counties together is a salty one.

“Pork and peanuts, that’s what the entire Salty Southern Route is centered around,” Winslow said. “So our fun tagline is ‘Drive the Route from Nuts to Snout.’”

Two big names with outsize a history stand out on the Salty Southern Route: Smithfield Hams

TACOS FROM SALTWATER KITCHEN ON THE GREENVILLE TACO TRAIL

Courtesy Visit Greenville SC

and Planters Peanuts. Smithfield County is famous for using peanuts to feed the hogs to create a more savory product. “The hams are not as sweet; they are salty,” Winslow said.

“On the peanut side of things, our soil produces a specialty peanut that is a bigger, gourmet snack peanut, with extra crunch and a lot of flavor,” said Ashley Convington, marketing and existing business manager at Franklin Southampton Economic Development said. “It makes them stand out.”

Getting a taste of the trail is easy, too.

“When we identified things that were clearly related to pork or peanuts, almost everything in our localities had some kind of tie-in,” Winslow said. “We tell people to go to saltysouthernroute. org and pick out the thing that is most interesting to their particular group.”

Groups can learn to shuck peanuts at Hubs Vine or in Franklin, Virginia, or see the world’s oldest “pet” ham (the oldest known edible cured ham) at the Isle of Wight County Museum. The route features attractions, restaurants, storefronts, lodging facilities, visitor centers and events that connect visitors “from nuts to snout.”

SALTYSOUTHERNROUTE.COM

Courtesy Salty Southern Route

A CULINARY EXPERIENCE

ON VIRGINIA’S SALTY SOUTHERN ROUTE

SHINING AWARDS EXAMPLE

Tammy Jordan

The Southeast Tourism Society presented its 2022 Best Epicurean Partner Award to Tammy Jordan, founder of Fruits of Labor, a café, bakery and culinary training center in Rainelle, West Virginia.

The Best Epicurean Partner Award recognizes restaurants, caterers, wineries, distilleries, or other food and beverage organizations that support their communities. They are exceptional partners during FAM tours and community events and in times of crisis.

Fruits of Labor offers farm-to-table dining experiences for locals and visitors in the Greenbrier Valley Area. The company’s mission is to provide not only food but also employment opportunities and training for people recovering from addiction. Jordan takes a holistic approach to helping her team members continue their recovery journeys and learn culinary skills that will help them build careers. Jordan often works with local tourism partners to cater events for the community.

Celebrate the gifts of land and sea with epic Virginia Beach adventures the entire group can enjoy safely. With 400 square miles of wide open space, revel in hands-on experiences and unique access to a group tour that’s as safe as it is memorable.

VISITVIRGINIABEACH.COM/GROUPTOUR

Landmarks

BY RACHEL CRICK

If these walls could talk, they’d have centuries of stories to tell.

From relics dating back to America’s colonization to modern-day medieval castles, the architectural wonders of America’s South are more than just ornate and interesting buildings; they represent the intersection of history and aesthetics. They capture important moments in time and demonstrate what their designers and craftsmen were capable of, and visitors won’t need to be architecture aficionados to appreciate their beauty.

In addition to admiring their exteriors, groups can tour these impressive structures to gain a greater appreciation for their history, design and the cities they’re part of, which makes them an excellent stop on any journey through the South.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

The seat of the oldest parish in the United States and the oldest Catholic church in the city, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is a historic church in the city of St. Augustine, Florida. The first Catholic mass was held during 1565, upon the city’s founding, and is thought to be the first mass held in North America.

The cathedral basilica’s current structure isn’t quite that old. The original structure was complete in 1797, and its two-foot-thick walls were made of coquina, a type of rock derived from seashells. This material saved some of the building’s structure when a fire broke out in the late 1800s. The church was rebuilt in an eclectic mix of styles; the curved gables and clay roof are evidence of the Spanish-mission style, while the entrance is adorned with neoclassical elements, and the addition of a Spanish-Renaissance bell tower introduces a European touch. Inside, the cathedral basilica is intricately detailed. Gilded statues, murals, stained-glass windows, exposed beams and painted ceilings wait to awe visitors and parishioners alike.

“It includes so much of the history of St. Augustine,” said Michelle Reyna, tour guide at the cathedral basilica. “Even the murals tell the story.”

To learn more about the journey of this church, from its origins as a modest parish church to its designation as a cathedral and later to a basilica, groups can take behind-the-scenes tours, which are offered daily during the week. From the choir loft to the sacristy to the chapel, a guide will walk the group through the building’s

CHARLESTON’S DRAYTON HALL IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE EARLIEST EXAMPLES OF PALLADIAN ARCHITECTURE IN NORTH AMERICA.

Courtesy Explore Charleston

A GOURMET BREAKFAST AT KENTUCKY CASTLE

history and its significance to the parish of St. Augustine. They may have a chance to see the holy relics that lie in the church, such as the piece of Saint Augustine of Hippo’s finger bone, which dates back to the fifth century.

THEFIRSTPARISH.ORG

Kentucky Castle

VERSAILLES, KENTUCKY

The last thing a traveler expects to see on a drive through the scenic rolling hills and horse farms of central Kentucky is a medieval European-inspired castle. But it’s no fairy tale — the Kentucky Castle, a stone castle with towers and turrets sits majestically on 53 acres of farmland, backlit by the beauty of the Bluegrass. Inspired by the old castles of Europe, its original owners began construction of this 19,355-square-foot castle in 1969. Construction was halted in 1980, but the castle changed ownership and was eventually rebuilt in 2004 following a fire. Today, the Kentucky Castle is a source of intrigue for those driving by it, but it’s also a must-see attraction for locals and tourists alike.

“We always say first and foremost we're a working farm,” said Christie Eckerline, chief operating officer at the Kentucky Castle. “Beyond that we're a hotel, and we have a farm-to-table restaurant.”

Groups can tour the castle and its surrounding farm and gardens to learn about their history and enjoy the Kentucky scenery. Specialty experiences like bourbon-tasting meals, murder-mystery dinners, rooftop yoga and tea are also offered. At the property’s restaurant, Castle Farm, fresh and creative dishes are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner; groups can enjoy elegant meals with a bourbon cocktail for a signature Kentucky dining experience.

A total of 18 overnight accommodations are available on the property, including nine elegantly decorated hotel rooms, four luxurious tower suites on the castle’s outer walls, a glamping tent, a garden cabin, a farmhouse and two tiny homes. A spa is available for guests looking to rejuvenate with massages, skincare treatments and a sauna.

THEKENTUCKYCASTLE.COM

Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park

STE. GENEVIEVE, MISSOURI

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, was a settlement founded by French colonists in 1750 on the banks of the Mississippi River, during a time when land in North America was still divided among French, Spanish and British colonial rule. Due to flooding on the riverbank, the town was forced to move three miles to its current location in 1785. Though technically under Spanish rule, the settlement was heavily influenced by its French origins.

Today, Ste. Genevieve has some of its original buildings, built

Courtesy Kentucky Castle

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST. AUGUSTINE

Courtesy FloridasHistoricCoast.com

in one of the rarest architectural styles in the United States. Some of these historic buildings are the Jean Baptiste Vallé House, the Bauvais-Amoureux House and Green Tree Tavern. The tavern, which also served as an inn, was built in 1790 and is the oldest building in Ste. Genevieve. They are vertical log homes, a popular French colonial building style. Of the handful of known poteaux-en-terre, or “post-in-ground,” buildings — where the logs go directly into the earth instead of a stone foundation — three in the United States can be found in Ste. Genevieve.

“For those interested in architecture, Ste. Genevieve is a place to explore traditional French architecture in a way that you can't anywhere else,” said park rangers at Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park.

To get to know Ste. Genevieve and these historic homes, groups can take ranger-guided tours through the homes. They can peruse the grounds, including the Jean Baptiste Vallé gardens and the trails near the historic town. For a look at French colonial life and history, groups can check out exhibits at the Center for French Colonial Life or the park’s Museum Learning Center.

NPS.GOV/STGE

Drayton Hall

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Awell-preserved home that was in one family for seven generations has also become a historic landmark and a treasure of Charleston, South Carolina. Drayton Hall, built from 1747-52, was constructed by John Drayton, the member of a prominent Colonial family. Drayton’s wealth stemmed from raising indigo, rice and cattle on multiple slave plantations totaling over 75,000 acres. Drayton Hall, while not a working plantation itself, was the center of Drayton’s business affairs.

KENTUCKY CASTLE

STE. GENEVIEVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

GREEN TREE TAVERN AT STE. GENEVIEVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN MISSOURI

Courtesy Kentucky Castle

Courtesy NPS

Courtesy NPS

The two-story red-brick building on the Ashley River is one of the earliest examples of Palladian architecture in North America. Its symmetrical designs, stately columns and ornately detailed interior can still be seen today, as very few renovations or alterations have been made inside the home. The home has survived the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and several natural disasters such as hurricanes and fires. The property is an active archaeological site containing artifacts ranging from art found within the home to items used by slaves on the property.

Group experiences at Drayton Hall include a guided tour of the home and grounds and a catered lunch. Groups can learn about the history of the house and observe its unique architectural features. The grounds of Drayton Hall contain an African American cemetery, a caretaker’s home, gardens, an education center, an exhibit gallery and a visitor center for groups to learn about the hall’s extensive history and the lives of all those who lived there. While the Drayton family and their lives are explored in depth, the caretaker’s home has been converted to a museum exploring the lives and legacies of the slaves who lived and worked on the property.

DRAYTONHALL.ORG

Frankfort is

Monticello

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA

The home of any founding father makes a worthy stop on a travel itinerary, but Monticello, home and lifelong project of Thomas Jefferson, is significant for its status as both a historical site and an architectural marvel. The author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, Jefferson was also an inventor, legal scholar, amateur botanist and architect.

What began as a grand house constructed on his father’s 5,000-acre plantation in Charlottesville, Virginia, became a passion for Jefferson, who renovated and modeled it after Italian-Renaissance and neoclassical architecture he saw during his time in Europe. By the time it was completed in 1809, it was one of the most unique and impres-

“What Monticello has done ... has been to ... make sure they’re telling a much more complete narrative of what happened.”

— BRANTLY USSERY, CHARLOTTESVILLE ALBERMARLE CVB

Courtesy Explore Charleston

DRAYTON HALL IN CHARLESTON

Centrally located in North Carolina, Winston-Salem is easy to get to and even easier to navigate. Enjoy touring our vibrant nightlife, historical museums, heirloom gardens, a Moravian Culinary Trail, art, culture, shopping, and more — all within a walkable city center. And with 5,300 hotel rooms — including 1,200 downtown — our city welcomes groups of all sizes. Come see why Southern Living named us one of the “South’s Best Cities on the Rise.”

sive structures in the country, with 35 rooms and an octagonal dome as a centerpiece, the first in the United States.

For all its impressive architecture, the house and its grounds were not just home to Jefferson, and the conflicting ideals present on the land of the man who championed equality and owned nearly 600 slaves in his lifetime leave additional stories to be told.

“What Monticello has done over the past 15 to 20 years has been to really make sure they're telling a much more complete narrative of what happened on the mountaintop,” said Brantley Ussery, director of marketing and public relations at the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Groups can tour the home and grounds to hear the stories of its residents, see Jefferson’s inventions and belongings, and admire the home's innovative design. Named for the signature property and inspired by Jefferson’s attempts to grow grapes, the Monticello Wine Trail makes an excellent activity for groups in the area, which will have their pick of 40 wineries to visit. For a satisfying lunch on the road to Monticello, they can stop at Michie Tavern, a buffet-style restaurant set in an 18th century tavern serving old-fashioned Southern classics.

MONTICELLO.ORG

Palace of Gold

MOUNDSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA

Constructed between 1973 and 1979, Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold was intended to be a home for Srila Prabhupada, an Indian guru at the forefront of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), or the Hare Krishna movement. Prabhupada was a Vedic scholar who came to the U.S. in 1965 to spread the ancient religion, a precursor to Hinduism, to the Englishspeaking world. Prabhupada passed away in 1977, and instead of becoming a home for the guru, the palace became a memorial constructed by his followers.

Though they were amateur craftsmen, Prabhupada’s dedicated followers managed to create one of the most intricate and beautiful religious buildings in the United States. It’s nestled in the serene hillsides near Moundsville, West

THE WOODLAND GROUNDS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON’S MONTICELLO IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

“A heaven kind of place”

- Visit quaint small towns where you can enjoy boutique shopping, the local food scene, and classic Americana.

- Meet the artists and see the process behind traditional Appalachian crafts

Appalachian crafts - Explore the music scene that has produced generations of talent in every genre.

- Explore the music scene that has produced generations of talent in every genre.

Find your own escape whether that’s relaxing under the canopy of an ancient forest or trying your luck at the horse track Wade in clear, cool waters or sample the moonshine distilled from them. Stand on Kentucky’s highest peak or venture deep beneath the ground. It’s all available here!

- Find your own escape whether that’s relaxing under the canopy of an ancient forest or trying your luck at the horse track Wade in clear, cool waters or sample the moonshine distilled from them. Stand on Kentucky’s highest peak or venture deep beneath the ground. It’s all available here!

Virginia. Though it’s a surprising find for a state in the Bible Belt, the palace’s beauty and distinct architecture make “America’s Taj Mahal” a major tourist attraction. Adorned with gold, marble floors, chandeliers, precious stones and stained-glass windows, the palace is a luxurious tribute to Prabhupada and a wonder to behold. It’s set on a 133-acre plot known as New Vrindaban, which features a lodge, picturesque gardens and temples devoted to honoring the Vedic principles of ISKCON.

Taste the abundance of the region as you sample traditional and modern faire in southeastern Kentucky’s local food scene Experience the first frontier just as the earliest settlers did when they crossed the ancient Appalachians with pristine landscapes and a peaceful nature you won’t find anywhere else

Taste the abundance of the region as you sample traditional and modern faire in southeastern Kentucky’s local food scene

Experience the first frontier just as the earliest settlers did when they crossed the ancient Appalachians with pristine landscapes and a peaceful nature you won’t find anywhere else

Visitors of any faith can go to New Vrindaban to tour the Palace of Gold and see its artistry and lush gardens for themselves. Groups can dine at Govinda’s Restaurant, which serves vegetarian fare from traditional Indian dishes to American classics like fries and pizza. The palace lodge offers 70 rooms and 10 cabins for guests of the palace to stay in while they visit.

PALACEOFGOLD.COM

Though they were amateur craftsmen, Prabhupada’s dedicated followers managed to create one of the most intricate and beautiful religious buildings in the United States.

Courtesy WV Dept. of Tourism

WEST VIRGINIA’S PALACE OF GOLD

- Daniel Boone

The misty mountains of Daniel Boone Country are teeming with history and heritage.

WHERE

NORTH AND SOUTH CONNECT

THE ARK ENCOUNTER

The largest wood framed timber structure in the world that brings the Bible to life.

THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND FREEDOM CENTER

A world class museum telling the true story of freedom and commitment to working every day to ensure freedom.

THE AMERICAN SIGN MUSEUM

The largest public museum dedicated to signs in the U.S. making for a unique look at American history through signs across time.

CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER

Located in Union Terminal, the Cincinnati Museum Center offers four different museums under one roof. With temporary installations and permanent exhibits, there is always something new to explore.

GROUP BENEFITS

Welcome Gifts for all passengers delivered to your host hotel when arranged before arrival. Many hotel partners offer complimentary bus driver accommodations and generous complimentary room allotment. Itinerary planning services available for unique step-on guide offerings or city tours. Single point of contact for both sides of the river in this unique multi-state destination.

CREATION MUSEUM

BB RIVERBOATS

CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER

AMERICAN

ARK ENCOUNTER

NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER

Kathryn Shea Duncan

The Southeast Tourism Society presented its 2022 Rising Star Award to Kathryn Shea Duncan. Duncan served as the media and public relations manager at Visit Lake Charles before being promoted to director of social media. The Rising Star Award recognizes extraordinary on-the-job performance by a person who has worked in tourism or travel for five years or less. Nominees are evaluated on leadership, enthusiasm for the industry, innovation, successful programs or events, and other accomplishments. Extra consideration goes to nominees who are involved in the industry outside their normal employment.

With a passion for photography and exploration, Duncan has made her way through every part of Lake Charles, capturing the area’s culture, natural beauty and signature cuisine to share online and in media outlets. Thanks to her efforts, Lake Charles has been covered in several prestigious media outlets, including Southern Living, HowStuffWorks and Thrillist. She also published a personal account of her experience with hurricanes in the New York Times.

the

Crowds

BY BRIONA LAMBACK

What’s a better way to enjoy the culture, cuisine and music of the South than celebrating it with 10,000 of your closest friends?

From the Gulf Coast to the Appalachian Mountains, Southern communities know how to party. Every year brings carnivals, music, food, art and Christmas festivals across the Southeast. There is something for everyone, and many events are worth traveling to attend.

The following six Southeastern events are ideal for groups wanting to immerse themselves in regional culture. From an intimate music festival in the Ozark mountains to a fried chicken festival in Kentucky, there is a lot to do, eat and experience at these festivals.

The National Shrimp Festival

GULF SHORES, ALABAMA

Alabama’s National Shrimp Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. The four-day festival will be held October 12–15 on the beaches of coastal Alabama. It’s the place to be for seafood, art and music lovers. The programming continues growing each year with live music, a sand sculpture contest, a children’s activity village, a 10K and 5K run, and the Miss Shrimp Festival pageant.

At the festival, visitors find shrimp prepared in nearly endless ways alongside other seafood like crab, and nonseafood delights. The entertainment is spread across two stages and various genres like country, jazz, rock and more. For art enthusiasts, there are paintings, jewelry and artisan-made crafts to enjoy. But according to Steve Jones of the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, one of the unique parts of the festival is it’s entirely volunteer run by passionate locals and visitors alike.

Three hundred thousand people typically attend the festival, so planning at least six months ahead of the event is crucial. The festival team makes getting to the event smoother and more accessible for groups by organizing local shuttle services to and from the event to reduce crowded parking.

MYSHRIMPFEST.COM

THE NATIONAL SHRIMP FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE SEAFOOD BOUNTY OF ALABAMA’S GULF COAST COMMUNITIES.

Courtesy National Shrimp Festival

Miami Carnival

MIAMI

Carnival started in the beautiful country of Trinidad and Tobago, but today iterations are celebrated all over the world, including in Miami every October. Miami Carnival is the largest Carnival in North America. Each festival season is packed with events from a steel-band competition to Parade of the Bands, featuring more than 18,000 masqueraders dressed in colorful beaded and feathered costumes and over 20 masquerade bands.

At Miami Carnival, travelers can also enjoy the unique Carnival Village, a mashup of food and drink options with more than 50 vendors and food from across the many Caribbean countries, from Jamaica to the Bahamas. For an added cultural flair, distillery and brewery representatives will be on-site serving the best rums, beers and spirits from across the islands.

John Beckford, chief marketing officer, recommends groups block out hotel rooms and car rentals well in advance because there’s an acute shortage.

The Miami region has more than 40 miles of beaches and year-round warm weather, which makes the festival’s early fall date attractive to travelers coming from the colder Northeastern states.

MIAMICARNIVAL.ORG

Courtesy Miami Carnival

DANCERS AT MIAMI CARNIVAL

A SAND SCULPTURE AT THE NATIONAL SHRIMP FESTIVAL IN GULF SHORES

Courtesy National Shrimp Festival

World Chicken Festival

LONDON, KENTUCKY

London, Kentucky, loves fried chicken. The area is home to Colonel Sanders’ original Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants, established in the 1940s. Today, the annual World Chicken Festival continues the tradition honoring the beloved crispy finger food. For three decades, it’s been one of Kentucky’s largest festivals, taking place annually during the last full weekend of September.

Over 170 vendors spread out over downtown London, and multiple music stages feature free concerts from regional and national artists. Entertainment line-ups are usually announced in the spring.

Kelly Burton, executive director at London Laurel County Tourist Commission, said the event is run to benefit local nonprofits.

“The one thing that makes it different from any other festival is that all these food vendors on Main Street have to be associated with a nonprofit organization,” she said. The vendors’ relationships with nonprofits significantly impact the organizations’ fundraising efforts.

Of course, there’s a lot of fried chicken to be tasted at the festival, and one of the features of the celebration is the World’s Largest Stainless Steel Skillet, which weighs 700 pounds. Dozens of volunteer cooks stand around the piping hot cauldron frying birds for festivalgoers, having served over 120,000 chicken dinners since the festival’s 1992 start.

The festival is digitally enhanced this year with a QR code and scannable map that allow travelers to have the festival layout at their fingertips.

CHICKENFESTIVAL.COM

Courtesy London Laurel Co. TC

HARLAN SANDERS

CAFÉ AND MUSEUM

NEAR LONDON

A MULLET CONTEST AT THE WORLD CHICKEN FESTIVAL IN KENTUCKY

HEADLINER ENTERTAINMENT AT THE NATIONAL SHRIMP FESTIVAL

Courtesy National Shrimp Festival

Courtesy London Laurel Co. TC

“The vendors’ relationships with nonprofits significantly impact the organization’s fundraising efforts.”

— KELLY BURTON, LONDON LAUREL COUTNY TC

FestivALL

CHARLESTON,

WEST VIRGINIA

FestivALL is a three-day, citywide, multiarts festival each June in Charleston, West Virginia. It features music, dance, theater and visual art from local, national and international artists, and it attracts about 30,000 attendees annually. Exhibitions, installations and performances happen across various city galleries, theaters and outdoor venues. There’s so much to be explored and experienced as the Appalachian city becomes one extensive work of art itself.

The festival’s main events range from a Carriage Trail to the Porch Parade, a popular pandemic-era adaptation to the festival’s programming that utilizes locals’ front yards for art installations. But the festival is also going back to its pre-COVID-19 roots, with a large, ticketed concert, parades and community arts projects.

Surrounding the festival are various outdoor activities like hiking and river rafting.

“It’s the best of both worlds here,” said Mackenzie Spencer, FestivALL executive director. “Get off the grid and take part in all of the outdoor activities. But then at the end of the day, you can come downtown, see a show, support local music and artists,

Beyond the festival’s season, FestivALL is an arts organization supporting Charleston with yearround arts programming and events. As the cooler months roll around, FestivALL transforms into FestivFALL, an October event with even more art experiences happening over 10 days.

FESTIVALLCHARLESTON.COM

Natchitoches Christmas Festival

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA

It’s been nearly

since this holiday tradition began in Natchitoches, a town in north-central Louisiana. The event started with a display of 10-watt Christmas

“See a show, support local music and artists, and really be immersed in the culture.”

— MACKENZIE SPENCER, FESTIVALL and really be immersed in the culture.”

Courtesy FestivALL

DECORATIONS IN NATCHITOCHES

tree bulbs strung along Front Street. It’s now a six-week Christmas celebration from late November through early January. The Natchitoches Christmas Festival features over 300,000 colored lights covering the city, a firework show and live entertainment on the riverbank stage.

Food vendors at the festival sell all kinds of bites, from the usual cotton candy and funnel cakes to burgers and alligator. But the most sought-after food at Natchitoches Christmas Festival is the meat pie, a famous cultural delight of the region that’s reminiscent of an empanada. It’s made with ground beef, pork, onions and peppers stuffed in a flaky pastry turnover.

Unique attractions like Mistletoe Market, an annual arts and crafts market, make this celebration memorable. The lineup of events includes the Festival of Lights Parade, a lighted boat parade, a 5K run and cookies with Santa. For an enchanting experience, groups can travel on a Christmas-themed road trip along Louisiana’s Holiday Trail of Lights across 10 regional festivities cities, including Shreveport-Bossier, Minden, Monroe-West Monroe, Alexandria/Pineville, Ruston and Logansport.

NATCHITOCHESCHRISTMAS.COM

By Brad Ferguson, courtesy Natchitoches Christmas Festival

FIREWORKS AT THE NATCHITOCHES CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

By Abid Dyer, courtesy Natchitoches Christmas Festival

There is no better place to live the legacy of the king than at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis. The place where Elvis hung his jumpsuits and gold records. A place so wild it has a jungle room, jet, and a 450-room guest house. It’s the only building that Elvis never left and the place where his legacy lives forever.

ShelbyKY is Your Bourbon Destination, no matter the weather or season. With groupfriendly distillery tours and tastings operating year-round, an all-season designer outlet mall, and dozens of unique and world-class lodging, groups of all sizes will love gathering in ShelbyKY.

Learn more at visitshelbyky.com.

Shelbyville | Simpsonville | Shelby County Kentucky

SHELBY KY

OZARK MUSIC FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE IN EUREKA SPRINGS

Ozark Mountain Music Festival

EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Tucked away in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the Ozark Mountains Music Festival, also known as OzMoMu, is an annual four-day annual taking place each January and featuring 20 acts. The festivals’ sounds are a fusion of Bluegrass, folk, urban and American roots music. And because it happens on a crisp January weekend, the festival takes over the entire Basin Park Hotel, bringing the vibe of an outdoor festival inside.

The 1905-era hotel hosts multiple festival stages in the heart of its downtown entertainment district location, allowing for popular events like Late Night Jams to be held in a nearby local cafe, Chelsea’s. The festival is unique because there are no backstage or private areas for the artists. Instead, bands and festivalgoers share the same space, experiencing the concert together. Music lovers enjoy hanging out personally with artists for an experience unlike any other festival.

Beyond the mean stage performances, there are listening rooms where feature artists can share their music and personal stories with attendees.

Courtesy Ozark Music Festival

AN

NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY

BILL WALLER CRAFT CENTER

BARNETT RESERVOIR

The Southeast Tourism Society presented its 2022 Beacon Award to Dan Rowe. Rowe is the president and CEO of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Beacon Award recognizes individuals who best exemplify outstanding leadership in the pursuit of excellence and who have advanced the tourism industry. Judges consider the nominees’ accomplishments, innovation, performance, integrity and empowerment of others over the course of an entire career. Rowe has been described as a servant leader who is excellent at forging relationships across various sectors of the industry. Over the past 13 years, he has led the Panama City Beach tourism community through several crisis situations, including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Hurricane Michael and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also headed a brand makeover for Panama City Beach and the creation of UNwineD, a new annual upscale culinary festival. Rowe is known for training and mentoring future tourism leaders across his region.

Dan Rowe

Kentucky State Parks