The Group Travel Leader July August 2022

FAITHFUL FAVORITES

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Georgetown, Kentucky

Harness the fun by discovering the joy of exploring Georgetown.

Known as Kentucky’s Horse Headquarters with numerous horse -centric attractions, including the Kentucky Horse Park, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, and plenty of horsepower at Toyota Motor Manufacturing’s largest facility in the U.S. With 19 hotels, over 80 restaurants and its enviable location on I-75 and I-64, Georgetown is an excellent home base for groups looking to explore Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.

Nearby attractions: Ark Encounter, Keeneland & Bourbon distilleries.

Scan QR code to get group information about Georgetown, Kentucky!

www.georgetownky.com/groups • 844.863.8600

TOUR

BIGGER

Life-Size Noah’s Ark

Ararat Ridge Zoo

Truth Traveler: Virtual Reality Experience

Answers Center

2,500-seat auditorium with short films, music, and live teaching

Plan your visit at ArkEncounter.com Williamstown, KY (south of Cincinnati)

Emzara’s Kitchen

One of the largest restaurants in North America

CONTENTS

GROUP TH E

TRAVEL LEADER

CHARTING THE EVOLUTION OF GROUP TR AVEL

COLU M NS

N EWS

6 Editor’s Marks

8 Family Matters

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ON TH E COV E R

White Sands National Monument in New Mexico is a masterpiece of color and contrast. Photo by Will G Photography, courtesy Visit Las Cruces.

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OnSite in Myrtle Beach

Faith on Display

New Mexico Spotlight

VOL 31 | ISSUE 7

FAITH BASED TRAVEL

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

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D OW N T HE SH O RE

O KLAHO MA S PECIA L SEC TI ON

Coastal New Jersey offers lots of fun for groups.

Discover new attractions and iconic favorites throughout the Sooner State.

K E LLY T Y N E R 888.253.0455

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

KELLY TYNER KYLE ANDERSON ASHLEY RICKS SARAH SECHRIST RENA BAER

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

VP, Sales & Marketing Director of Advertising Sales Graphic Design & Circulation Controller Copy Editor

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

IN OKL AHOMA , (S IGHT)S EE ING IS BELIE VING Are your sights set on spirituality? Start your trip in Tulsa at the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, dressed its Sunday best in ecclesiastical Art Deco architecture. Then, tour the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art. This synagogue hosted a New York art exhibit in 1965 … and the rest is history! Next, visit Oklahoma City’s Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine. Learn about the Oklahoma priest and missionary who became the first America-born martyr beatified by the Catholic Church. Finish up at the Holy City of the Wichitas in Cache, home to the USA’s longest-running passion play.

Want more inspiration for group outings?

Visit TravelOK.com/Group.

EDITOR’S MARKS

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BY BRIAN JEWELL

ow do you define the value of travel in today’s world?

In a normal world, we talk about the value of travel — or anything else — in terms of the price paid and the goods or services received. But the world hasn’t been normal for years now.

For a while, nobody wanted to travel. Now, it seems, everyone wants to travel, and they’re willing to pay a lot of money to do it. This surge in demand, coupled with inflation nearing the 10% mark, has pushed travel prices to staggering heights. At the same time, labor shortages and supply chain issues are forcing travel providers to cut services to the bone.

In other words: Travelers are paying more and more while getting less and less.

This is true across every part of the travel industry. But it seems especially evident in the hotel sector.

According to STR and Tourism Economics, the nationwide average daily rate for hotels is $145 — a 16.5% increase over 2021. But though prices are high, the number of employees in hotels nationwide has shrunk by some 30%, meaning hotels don’t have the staff to offer many services travelers were accustomed to before the pandemic.

And this pricing environment may be here to stay. On a recent episode of “Gather and Go,” Hannah Smith of STR told me her firm expects continuing price increases through 2024. (You can hear the whole conversation at grouptravelleader. com/podcast or in your favorite podcast player).

But enough with the numbers. What does this mean for a travel planner like you?

First, it means you can no longer count on being able to offer low prices for your tours. And second, it

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means you and your travelers may have to adjust expectations regarding the level of service during a trip.

This poses a unique challenge for the group tour market. For decades, a significant portion of tour companies have sold their products primarily on price, touting the cost savings of traveling in a group instead of traveling alone. Others have taken the opposite tack and sold their products primarily on service, advertising features such as door-to-door luggage handling.

But if group travel is no longer cheap and may not include the frills and services it used to, how should those organizations sell their products today?

The answer is to find a new way to define the value of group travel.

Even when prices are crazy and services are scarce, there are still many great reasons to travel with a group. It gives your customers the opportunity to visit the best places on earth alongside old friends or to bond with new friends over shared experiences on the road. It invites them into expertly curated journeys that promise to surprise and delight them around every turn.

Group travel makes even the farthest and most exotic destinations feel safe and accessible. And it affords travelers opportunities to connect with local cultures on a meaningful level and make a positive impact on the places they visit.

If you ask me, these have always been the most powerful things about group travel. Maybe it’s time we start promoting these underappreciated values that have been the most important parts of group travel all along.

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FAMILY M AT T E R S

L O O K B E F O R E YO U B O O K A M O T O R C OAC H SALEM, Ohio — People are traveling again! Hotels are booking up, and people are hitting the road for quick weekend getaways and longer cross-country trips. As more travelers are getting back out there and seeing the sights both near and far, it’s important to talk to your clients about their transportation options and provide safety reminders before they head out.

Traveling can be a fun and rewarding time, and buses provide an affordable option, making travel more accessible. Passenger safety should always be the top priority when booking a bus trip, with passenger comfort being a close second.

Remember, it’s up to you to “Look Before You Book” to ensure your clients’ vacations are as fun and safe as possible.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to help. The Bus Safety Search tool on FMCSA’s website can help you research a bus company. Look up the company’s U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number or use

the bus company’s name to learn about its safety history, operating authority status and more.

FMCSA also provides a “Learn Before You Board” tip sheet as a downloadable resource to share with your clients. In it, you can find helpful safety information about everything from the use of handrails while boarding to how to exit safely in case of an emergency while on the road.

Comfort is also important. FMCSA provides a tip sheet for safety and comfort while on board a bus, which provides passenger with reminders like staying seated and buckled up while the bus is moving. You can also suggest activities to keep your clients occupied such as books or games and remind them to pack snacks.

Your clients are ready to get back on the road, and bus travel can be a great option for many of them. Remember to use FMCSA’s resources to make bus passenger safety and comfort a priority.

GREEN BAY TO HOST 2023 GOING ON FAITH CONFERENCE SALEM, Ohio — Green Bay, Wisconsin, was just honored as one of the top-three places in America to live, and travel planners will have a chance to experience this great destination when they attend Going On Faith 2023.

Discover Green Bay will host the Going On Faith Conference August 21–23, 2023, and is inviting interested group travel planners to experience the vitality of the city.

On naming Green Bay as the third most livable city in America, US News and World Report had this to say: “Green Bay has the perfect mix of big-city amenities complemented

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with a Midwestern, small-town feel. This city boasts a thriving entertainment and arts scene, revitalized downtown and two college campuses, creating an energy that may appeal to young families and retirees alike.”

Green Bay also has a strong following of travel groups that visit the destination. While the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field is a must see, groups also enjoy city tours specifically designed for their interests. Travel planners can learn more about offers and options by contacting Julie Gerczak at 920-405-1154 or email to julie@greenbay.com.

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Flowers at the Queen’s Tea, a Texas Rose Festival tradition

TEXAS IN BLOOM

BY RACHEL CRICK The best kinds of trips allow groups to stop and smell the flowers, and there’s no better place to do that than the Rose Capital of America.

Founded in 1846, Tyler, Texas, was once known for its peach production before a blight in the early 1900s forced local farmers to switch to roses. Today, the east Texas city is responsible for growing about 80% of the roses in the U.S. These fragrant flowers have become an integral part of the city’s culture and its tourism industry.

Groups can immerse themselves in this floral tradition at the Texas Rose Festival.

The Texas Rose Festival is the crown jewel of tourism in Tyler, drawing thousands annually to celebrate Tyler’s history and its most prominent industry. Each year, the festival features a unique theme and costumed performers. This 89-year-old Tyler tradition is held on the third weekend in October, but preparations begin as early as January, giving performers plenty of time to craft elaborate costumes and rehearse.

The festival comprises several events for groups to attend. It kicks off with a coronation, where the festival’s royal court is crowned. The following day begins with the Rose Parade, where groups can watch floats and performers from stadium seats. After the parade, they can attend the Queen’s Tea in the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden and take photos with the parade’s court. An arts-and-crafts fair held simultaneously in a nearby park is the perfect event to shop for local, handmade artwork and jewelry.

If a group can’t make it to Tyler on the weekend of the festival, there are still many opportunities to see Tyler’s roses in its Municipal Rose Garden, which features 14 acres of gardens filled with 200 varieties. Groups can learn about the history of the rose industry in Tyler by rounding out their trip with a visit to the Tyler Rose Museum and Gift Shop.

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MYRTLE BEACH FAM

“You were able to show me the perfect place for adventures, food and sightseeing for my groups in three short days! I can’t wait to bring my military groups and bus groups every year.”

— TAMMY BEENE KNOW BETTER TRAVEL

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ONSITE IN MYRTLE BEACH TR AV E L PL AN N E RS DIS COV E R E D TH E B EST O F TH E B E ACH O N TH IS FAM TO U R

THE FUN NEVER STOPS

PHOTOS BY BRIAN JEWELL AND KELLY TYNER

for groups visiting Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

That’s what 20 tour operator and travel planner readers of The Group Travel Leader discovered during a four-day familiarization tour in the area in May. Hosted by the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, this trip introduced participants to the beautiful beaches, scenic waterfronts, lively entertainment and exciting attractions in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach and nearby communities.

During the trip, participants visited some of the area’s most popular attractions, including Ripley’s Aquarium, the Barefoot Princess and Duplin Winery. They enjoyed tours and meals at several oceanfront resorts, as well as plenty of fresh seafood. And during the evenings, they experienced three of the area’s signature stage shows at The Carolina Opry, Alabama Theatre and Legends in Concert.

Follow along on this itinerary to begin planning your group’s next seaside adventure in Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach FAM highlights, clockwise from left: exploring Brookgreen Gardens; a group photo at the Dayton House pool; relaxing at Crooked Hammock Brewery; Brookgreen Gardens flowers; Helicopter Adventures

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A Brookgreen Gardens tour

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Travel planners from around the country arrived in Myrtle Beach by car and airplane and had the balance of the day to enjoy their accommodations at Grande Shores Ocean Resort, which would be the group’s home base throughout the tour. Grande Shores sits directly on the beach (part of the 60 miles of beach that compose the Myrtle Beach area) and features beach access, a restaurant, a pool and other resort amenities.

For dinner, the group visited Kingston Bistro, a relatively new Myrtle Beach restaurant blending classic American dishes with Balkan cuisine. Then they returned to the Grande Shores to rest up before beginning their adventure the next day.

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• BROOKGREEN GARDENS • COCKTAILS AT MOJO’S MARINA BAR & GRILL • DINNER AT WICKED TUNA

Monumental sculpture at Brookgreen Gardens

Admiring the live oaks

Taking in the gardens

After-dinner transportation

Mojo’s Marina Bar & Grille

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Travel planners spent the morning at their leisure enjoying the beach and amenities at Grande Shores while several other participants made their way to Myrtle Beach. Once everyone had arrived, the group gathered and boarded the motorcoach to make the 25-mile drive down the coast to Brookgreen Gardens, a stunning attraction blending sculpture and horticulture. After a guided tour, they proceeded to Murrells Inlet, a nearby waterfront village, where they enjoyed cocktails and appetizers at Mojo’s Marina Bar and Grill, followed by dinner at Wicked Tuna.

BROOKGREEN GARDENS With more than 9,000 acres, Brookgreen Gardens is the largest garden in the country. It features thousands of varieties of plants native to the Carolinas. In addition to impressive floral displays, the garden is filled with more than 3,000 sculptures, many by artist Anna Hyatt Huntington. The group enjoyed a private docent-led tour, during which they saw highlights such as Live Oak Allee and Huntington’s sculpture “Diana of the Chase.”

DINING IN MURRELLS INLET Murrell’s Inlet, a charming village located on a body of water of the same name, is home to numerous waterfront restaurants. The group enjoyed a sunny cocktail hour on the patio of Mojo’s Marina Bar and Grille, where they sampled appetizers and a variety of mojitos, mules and mai tais. They proceeded next door to Wicked Tuna, where they had an upscale dinner of some of the freshest seafood in the Myrtle Beach area.

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Da y 3 • BREAKFAST AND TOUR AT AVISTA RESORT • HELICOPTER ADVENTURES • LUNCH AT DAVE AND BUSTERS • RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM • BEACH AND BOARDWALK • DINNER AND TOUR AT ORIGINAL BENJAMIN’S CALABASH SEAFOOD • ALABAMA THEATRE • CAROLINA OPRY

A Brookgreen Gardens sculpture

Enjoying the Brookgreen Gardens breeze Modern artwork at Brookgreen

The third day of the tour was packed with action, beginning with a breakfast and tour at Avista Resort, followed by a spectacular helicopter tour that gave participants breathtaking views of the beach and boardwalk. Next, travel planners enjoyed lunch and arcade games at Dave and Busters, then proceeded to Broadway at the Beach to visit Ripley’s Aquarium. After that, they spent some time taking in the sights, sounds and shops of Myrtle Beach’s boardwalk before indulging in a seafood feast at Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood. After dinner, they sampled the entertainment at two of Myrtle Beach’s most popular theaters: Alabama Theatre and the Carolina Opry.

HELICOPTER ADVENTURES Travel planners got an unforgettable view of Myrtle Beach during five-minute helicopter tours with Helicopter Adventures. In groups of three, they boarded choppers with expert pilots, who ascended to an altitude of 900 feet and took them flying over Broadway at the Beach and the oceanfront, offering commentary along the way about what the passengers were seeing below.

One of thousands of Brookgreen Gardens sculpture

The beach from a helicopter

Preparing for takeoff

RIPLEY’S AQUARIUM Travel planners came face to face with a variety of ocean animals from around the world at Ripley’s Aquarium, one of the anchor attractions of Broadway at the Beach. Highlights included a 5,000-square-foot Penguin Playhouse, which opened early this year, and Ray Bay, where visitors can touch stingrays in a special shallow tank. Planners also enjoyed seeing sharks swim overhead via the tunnel in Dangerous Reef and gazing at the otherworldly creatures swimming in Planet Jellies.

“Brookgreen Gardens was one of my favorite parts. I feel like there is so much more to explore at all times of year.”

— LIZ MYER STAR DESTINATIONS

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Getting a birds-eye photo

Commemorating a helicopter adventure

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Penguin Playhouse at Ripley’s Aquarium

BEACH AND BOARDWALK Planners got a taste of classic Myrtle Beach when the group made a short stop at the beachfront boardwalk, a retail and recreation area full of unique shops, restaurants and ocean scenery. They browsed the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove, a Myrtle Beach institution with thousands of beach-inspired gift items, and spent some time strolling the boardwalk, where Myrtle Beach SkyWheel is another popular group attraction.

An aquarium tunnel

ORIGINAL BENJAMIN’S CALABASH SEAFOOD Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood has been a fixture for food lovers visiting Myrtle Beach since 1986. Both a museum and restaurant, Original Benjamin’s features the largest antique nautical collection in the Southeast. The group enjoyed touring the collection and meeting the resident model-ship maker, as well as feasting on a buffet featuring more than 170 items. The highlight of the buffet is the Calabash seafood, lightly battered and deep fried.

ALABAMA THEATRE The tour planners enjoyed the first half of “ONE The Show,” the signature production of the Alabama Theatre. Throughout the performance, singers, musicians and dancers interacted with elaborate staging and video screens to create immersive musical experiences running the gamut from Broadway tunes and country hits to the music of Disney movies and more.

Watching penguins play

Strolling on the boardwalk

“ONE The Show” at Alabama Theatre

“Time Warp” at The Carolina Opry

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Dinner at Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood

THE CAROLINA OPRY THEATER After a short drive during intermission, the FAM group arrived at The Carolina Opry, where they caught the second half of the company’s signature show, “Time Warp.” Featuring musical hits of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, the show stars a talented cast of singers performing music by the likes of Janice Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and the Bangles, complete with costumes and multimedia effects.

Afternoon on the beach

A Disney song performance at Alabama Theatre

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Da y 4 • BREAKFAST AND SITE VISIT AT DAYTON HOUSE • BAREFOOT LANDING • LUNCH AND CRUISE ON BAREFOOT QUEEN • SITE VISIT AT BEACH COVE RESORT • TASTING AT DUPLIN WINERY • TOUR, TASTING AND DINNER AT CROOKED HAMMOCK BREWERY • LEGENDS IN CONCERT The final day of the familiarization began with a tour and breakfast at the Dayton House hotel. From there, the group headed to Barefoot Landing, where they enjoyed some free time to shop and explore before boarding the Barefoot Queen for a scenic lunch cruise. Next came a site visit at Beach Cove Resort. The group enjoyed a tasting experience at Duplin Winery after that, followed by a tour, tasting and dinner at Crooked Hammock Brewery. The day ended with a rousing performance at Legends in Concert, a fun end to an exciting trip in Myrtle Beach that left the travel planners full of ideas for return trips with their groups.

Inside Ground Zero Blues Club

Lulu’s at Barefoot Landing

Touring a Myrtle Beach hotel

Barefoot Queen riverboat

Dancing on the Barefoot Queen

Pre-departure photo

Public artAatlunch the spread aboard Mississippi Aquarium the Barefoot Queen

BAREFOOT LANDING Set along the Intracoastal Waterway, Barefoot Landing is a shopping and entertainment complex modeled after a quaint waterfront village. Beach-themed restaurant Lulu’s, owned by Jimmy Buffet’s sister Lucy, is among its prime attractions, but the landing features more than 40 other shops and restaurants. The travel planners enjoyed some free time to explore Barefoot Landing, and a few came back with souvenirs and other special finds from the shops.

“Barefoot Queen was a lovely ride. I do many boat rides with my groups, and I loved this one. Lunch was nice, the music was great and the view was gorgeous.”

— BARBARA ANARELLA BARBARA’S GETAWAY TOURS

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Pouring samples at Duplin Winery

Crooked Hammock Brewery

Legends in Concert

Preparing for a wine tasting

Tasting notes at Duplin Winery

“Duplin Winery has a great set up and very nice shopping. Our folks could purchase wine early in the trip to have in their rooms.”

— CAROL BUCZEK TOURS BY DESIGN

A beer tasting at Crooked Hammock Brewery

The lawn at Crooked Hammock

BAREFOOT QUEEN Not far from Barefoot Landing, the Barefoot Queen offers scenic cruises, dinner cruises and sunset cruises along the Intracoastal Waterway aboard an authentic 70-foot paddle-wheeler. The FAM group was treated to a private lunch cruise, during which they enjoyed live music, tropical drinks and food catered by Hook and Barrel and Croissants. They also got an up-close look at the beautiful homes lining the waterway.

DUPLIN WINERY Originally established in North Carolina in the 1970s, Duplin Winery has become famous throughout the Carolinas for its distinctive sweet wine made of the muscadine grapes that grow in the area. The winery’s Myrtle Beach location has become a popular destination for wine lovers on vacation. The travel planners had a private tasting, during which they learned the history of the winery and sampled six of its products.

CROOKED HAMMOCK BREWERY A relatively new attraction at Barefoot Landing, Crooked Hammock Brewery is a sprawling site where visitors can dine, sample house-made beers, take a brewery tour, play games and relax in a casual, inviting waterfront setting. The tour planners enjoyed a leisurely late afternoon there, sampling beer and touring the facility, as well as a delightful dinner al fresco.

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

MYRTLE BEACH AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & CVB

SANDY HAINES 843-916-7248 SANDY.HAINES@VISITMYRTLEBEACH.COM

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LEGENDS IN CONCERT For their final activity in Myrtle Beach, the group took in a full show at Legends in Concert, a production with tribute artists performing as some of the greatest musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries. With detailed costumes and makeup, careful choreography and precise vocal execution, the singers don’t just cover songs by famous artists — they virtually re-create the legends’ very presence on stage. The group enjoyed singing along with Elvis, the Blues Brothers, Luke Bryan, Michael Jackson and other tribute artists.

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GROUPS ENJOY THESE FA I T H - B A S E D FAVO R I T E S

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Ark Encounter

WI LLIA M STOW N, K E NTU C K Y

Kentucky’s largest attraction is getting even bigger.

The Ark Encounter is home to the largest timber structure in the world — a 510-foot-long replica of Noah’s ark. And the enormous, have-to-see-it-tobelieve-it theme park inspired by the Genesis flood is adding plenty of things for guests to see and do.

Repeat visitors can expect new additions like a custom-built Italian carousel, new residents to its Ararat Ridge Zoo and more to come.

Plus, the Ark Encounter will again host the biggest Christian music festival on the planet: 40 Days and Nights of Gospel Music, which takes place from August 2–September 10.

“I’m thrilled our music event is returning this

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trip that satisfies your group’s wanderlust, as well as their spirits, is just a drive away.

From a replica of Noah’s Ark in Kentucky to natural, cultural and American history museums across the South, America’s faith-based attractions offer a wonderful variety of travel experiences.

These sites will deliver entertainment and quench the thirst for knowledge while providing one-of-akind experiences that feed the whole person: body, spirit and soul.

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summer to the ark after last year’s wonderfully successful 40 Days and Nights Festival,” said Ken Ham, Ark Encounter and Creation Museum founder.

The theme park, which is among Kentucky’s most popular attractions, is getting easier to visit, too.

Bouncer passes now allow visitors to return up to three times in a seven-day window, as well as spend one or two of those three days at its sister attraction, the Creation Museum, just 40 miles down the road.

Groups of 15 or more enjoy discounted rates, check-in assistance and booking services.

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Creation Museum

PE TE RS B U RG , K E NTU C K Y

Where else can you find a Bible-affirming natural history museum with botanical gardens, zip lines and dinosaur exhibits? That’s a rhetorical question.

For hands-on, family-friendly fun, get your group to the Creation Museum.

Petersburg, Kentucky, is home to this institution that is part natural history museum, part Bible school and part theme park. The 75,000-square-foot facility invites visitors to understand history as revealed by the Bible. More than 100 exhibits feature ferocious dinosaurs, heroes of the faith and the world of the Bible. Plus, guests can enjoy a new theater with immersive displays and presentations, a planetarium, a petting zoo and nature trails.

No matter what aspect or area of the museum

Legacy Hall at the Creation Museum

COURTESY CREATION MUSEUM

receives the focus of your group’s visit, the destination embodies the telling of biblical history, from the first creation of light in Genesis to the return of Christ in Revelation. Prepare to have your faith edified and your understanding of science tested.

Recently, the museum’s Legacy Hall Auditorium was renovated and expanded.

This new state-of-the-art auditorium will host daily presentations, from dynamic speakers on a wide variety of topics to fascinating animal encounters with museum staff, and special concerts and events.

The Ark Encounter’s bouncer pass is also applicable to the Creation Museum. Groups of 15 or more can take advantage of planning assistance and discounted rates.

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Museum of the Bible WA S H I N GTO N

The Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky is the world’s largest timber-frame structure.

If you like history, archaeology and ancient artifacts set in a modern experience, you’ll love the Museum of the Bible.

The nation’s capital is home to a bevy of excellent museums, and the Museum of the Bible is no exception. The destination is more a modern experience than a simple collection and offers a unique approach to the history of the Bible and its impact on humanity.

Your group will be astounded by the scope of exhibits and unique experiences, from the Nazareth of Jesus Christ to the treasures from the Vatican. Groups can easily spend the entire day feasting on the interactive exhibits. Inspired by the design of the Tabernacle, the

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The Ark Encounter

World Stage Theater immerses guests in a Scripture Experience daily from noon until 2 p.m. Check the schedule ahead of time to see which productions best suit your group, and choose among live performances, lectures, presentations, Bible readings and musicals.

And while the museum has endless exploration options on each floor, don’t forget to ascend to the sixth floor for great views of the city.

The museum introduces new exhibits every year.

Starting in September and lasting until January 2023 is a collection of artifacts titled “Samaritans: a Biblical People.”

Groups enjoy special rates, advanced booking, early access, designated motorcoach zones and planning assistance.

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Exploring the Museum of the Bible

Billy Graham Library

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Museum of the Bible in Washington

“A message of hope, by every means available,” was the mission of Billy Graham in his nearly eight decades of ministry. The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, remembers the legacy of America’s pastor and his lifelong mission of bringing people to Jesus. In tandem with its exhibits, the Graham family homeplace, Ruth’s Attic Bookstore, Graham Brothers Dairy Bar, the Memorial Prayer Garden, and soon the refreshed library will deliver that same message to visitors through its freshly revamped “Journey of Faith” tour.

Since 2007, nearly 2 million people have visited the library. Now, 15 years later, Journey of Faith will incorporate multimedia enhancements, updated exhibits and new technology. Billy Graham’s story will come alive to visitors — from his public life as a global preacher and counselor to world leaders to his private life with his family.

The library will reopen by August 1, when these exciting changes will be on display.

Admission is free, and group planners can augment their visit with stops at local historic sites important to the formation of Graham as a speaker and leader. Tour operators can book experiential tours that can last up to a day.

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The Creation Museum planetarium

Ongoing construction at the Billy Graham Library

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C HA R LOT TE , N O RTH C A RO LI N A

Main Street USA display at the Billy Graham Library

REOPENING SOON

Experience it for yourself.

Bring your friends and family to see a powerful story of hope unfold at the Billy Graham Library. You’ll see exciting changes including multimedia enhancements, updated exhibits, and new technology. Come discover how God used a dairy farmer’s son to tell the world about His love—and see for yourself how this never-changing message changes everything.

FR EE A DM ISSION ©2022 BGEA

Mon.–Sat., 9:30–5:00

A MINISTRY OF BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION

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

NEW MEXICO

By Elizabeth Hey

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ew Mexico’s immense natural beauty and rich cultural heritage make it a joy to explore.

Mountains ring many of the cities with vast deserts and spectacular sunsets in between.

Most travelers in New Mexico immediately make plans to visit Santa Fe, Taos or Albuquerque, and rightfully so.

Each is worth exploring for its culture, culinary and outdoor possibilities. Not to be overlooked, Gallup boasts plentiful Native American art and jewelry, while southern New Mexico offers a Southwestern vibe and culture all its own.

White Sands National Park near Alamogordo is among the most stunning landscapes in New Mexico.

PHOTOS COURTESY NEW MEXICO TRUE, EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

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Taos Earthships

Albuquerque’s Sandia Peak Tramway

POPULAR DEMAND SANDIA PEAK TRAMWAY

Soaring above deep canyons and the rugged mountainside, the longest aerial tram in the Americas whisks passengers to the 10,378-foot crest of the Sandia Mountains high above the city of Albuquerque. Twin red and blue cars ascend more than 2.5 miles in 15 minutes.

At the top, which can be 20 to 30 degrees colder than city temperatures, visitors can take in the 11,000-square-mile panorama, hike trails weaving through fir and aspen, ski in winter or dine at the TEN 3 restaurant, featuring views of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains.

EARTHSHIP BIOTECTURE

Sustainable in every conceivable way, Earthship Biotecture rises from the high desert near Taos. These houses are built of natural and upcycled materials — earthpacked tires, glass bottles and soda cans. Food grows via indoor gardens; water is harvested and stored; and the home’s energy is entirely off-the-grid. Self-guided tours in the visitor center and a 10-minute movie explain design principles. Guided walking tours discuss the history and design of Earthships and give access inside educational facility buildings. Private tours offer a peek inside some of the nation’s most remarkable dwellings.

WHITE SANDS NATIONAL PARK Sunset at White Sands

Indigenous Celebration 2022

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Truly a natural wonder, miles of pure white sand form undulating dunes at White Sands National Park. As the world’s largest gypsum dune field at 275 square miles, it can actually be seen from space. Visitors can hike a variety of trails, some with red markers for orientation, slide down the dunes in a rented saucer or just ogle at the surreal landscape on the eight-mile Dunes Drive offering numerous turnouts. Gypsum doesn’t absorb heat from the sun, which makes the sand cool and comfortable to walk on, even in summer.

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UP AND COMING ROUTE 66

On its way from Chicago to Santa Monica, historic Route 66 bisects New Mexico with more than 600 miles down memory lane. Although its centennial anniversary isn’t until 2026, events commemorating the Mother Road will begin this fall. Starting at the state’s eastern border at Tucumcari, Route 66 stops include the pink-stucco Blue Swallow Motel.

Journeying west to Gallup, which has an abundance of Native American crafts and jewelry, numerous Route 66 attractions and towns in between will host myriad events.

INDIGENOUS CELEBRATION 2022

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Santa Fe Indian Market and indigenous art events across New Mexico. Two new galleries will open at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture: Here, Now and Always and the Balzer Native Market and Contemporary Art Gallery. Santa Fe is also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Institute of American Indian Arts and the 50th Anniversary of the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, which stewards over 10,000 indigenous cutting-edge works in the heart of downtown.

Indigenous cultural ambassadors

Route 66

Thermal springs in Truth or Consequences

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TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES

Becoming known as America’s most affordable spa destination, laid-back Truth or Consequences boasts 10 hot mineral spring soaking houses.

Flowing from a rift along the Rio Grande, thermal waters reach temperatures up to 115 degrees and contain trace elements of 38 minerals plus natural chloride, a germ killer that sterilizes skin and purifies water. Some establishments offer massage, reflexology, mud wraps and more. A renaissance on historic Main Street has spurred new shops and galleries, restaurants, wineries and the highly lauded Truth or Consequences Brewing Co. A Truth or Consequences spa

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Albuquerque’s Hotel Chaco

O V E R N I G H T S E N S AT I O N S HOTEL CHACO

Inspiration for Albuquerque’s AAA 4-Diamond Hotel Chaco originates from the ancient Anasazi community, whose members lived at Chaco Canyon between 850 and 1250 A.D. Their Puebloan ruins lie at Chaco Culture National Historical Park, some 50 miles northwest. Guests enter the lobby rotunda through a hallway enclosed by water and fire elements; registration lies under a giant, glass oculus representing three sacred eagles. Part of New Mexico’s family-owned Heritage Hotels and Resorts, this property lies in Historic Old Town and the Sawmill District. Level 5 rooftop restaurant features 360-degree views on its wrap-around terrace loaded with comfy couches.

COURTESY HERITAGE HOTELS & RESORTS

EL RANCHO HOTEL

Situated on historic Route 66, the El Rancho Hotel became the home-away-from-home to movie stars of the 1930s and ’40s when Westerns were filmed near Gallup. Rooms are dedicated to each star who stayed here, so guests can pick their favorites from the likes of Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Mae West and many more. Rumors suggest that several rooms are haunted. From its glitzy neon sign to the lobby’s dramatic red-carpet staircase and Indian artwork, this historic gem shouts Old West. The iconic 49er Lounge serves cold beer and handsqueezed margaritas.

El Rancho hotel in Gallup COURTESY HOTEL EL RANCHO

MEMORABLE MEALS CAMPO AT LOS POBLANOS

Las Poblanos in Albuquerque

BY KATE RUSSEL, COURTESY LAS POBLANOS

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Albuquerque’s Sandia Mountains form the backdrop for 25 acres of lavender fields, stately cottonwood trees and gardens at Los Poblanos.

The historic inn and organic farm tout one of the Southwest’s purest field-to-fork menus. Seasonal ingredients are picked on-site and supplied through longstanding relationships with local organic farmers and herdsman. Dishes incorporate honey, stone fruits, figs, eggs, greens and vegetables harvested and grown in their 1934 Lord and Burnham greenhouse. After a meal, shop for lavender products in their boutique and stroll the picturesque farm.

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THREE REASONS GRO UPS LOVE G ALLUP

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NATIVE ARTS With more than 1,000 Native American Artists, 70% or more of the world’s authentic Native American art comes from the Gallup area.

Jennifer Lazarz Tourism & Marketing Manager City of Gallup Tourism Department

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GREAT STAYS 30 hotels offer 2,000 rooms throughout Gallup including Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham, Holiday Inn, Choice Hotels, Best Western, and the historic El Rancho Hotel.

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CULTURAL IMMERSION Groups can get hands on in classes with Native American Arts Instructors, can witness the beauty of Indigenous Dance Performances, and more.

LET’S START PLANNING YOUR GROUP TOUR TODAY.

visitgallup.com jlazarz@gallupnm.gov 505-863-1227

Appetizers at D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro

COURTESY LESCOMBES FAMILY VINEYARDS

D.H. LESCOMBES WINERY AND BISTRO Planted nearly 400 years ago by Spanish settlers, the Mesilla Valley nurtured the country’s first wine grapes. Here, the Lescombes family has crafted wine for six generations. D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro in Las Cruces features a well-rounded wine list — the family creates more than 40 labels — and Hatch green chili-inspired dishes served on a garden patio. Begin their winery tour at the bistro with a mimosa followed by a guided vineyard tour, lunch and wine pairing at the Lescombes’ home near Lordsburg before exploring their Deming operation with tastings straight from the barrel.

NEWMEXICO.ORG

Gather & Go W I T H

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J E W E L L

Plan, promote and lead better trips with our new podcast, Gather & Go!

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CUSTOM CONTENT

White Sands is just the start in Alamogordo

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

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ichelle Brideaux shakes her head, thinking of all travelers miss when they come to Alamogordo, New Mexico, and see only White Sands National Park, the area’s main attraction.

Brideaux, the city’s communications & marketing manager, doesn't question that White Sands and its 275 miles of startling white gypsum sand dunes is a must-see.

There’s plenty to do there, with step-on guides, museum tours, picnics in vintage pavilions, and sunset and full moon programs.

But, she points out, this town of 30,000, tucked in a basin between mountain ranges in southcentral New Mexico, offers much more.

Go nuts with Alamogordo's attractions For example, there’s the opportunity to go a little nuts about pistachios, a cash crop here. Neighboring family-run farms, Heart of the Desert and McGinn’s PistachioLand, offer not only tours but gift shops stocked with all products pistachio, including ice cream. Each farm also has a winery. McGinn’s claims the world’s largest pistachio,

a manmade photo op that’s hard to pass up; Heart of the Desert’s patio faces pistachio trees and the west, perfect for sunset toasts.

Just a few miles up the road at Three Rivers Petroglyph Site, a short accessible trail makes it easy to see many of the 21,000 petroglyphs carved on the basaltic ridge, along with a stunning view of the basin.

Back in town, the Alameda Park Zoo is as old as Alamogordo. What began as a deer park in 1898 to entertain train passengers is today a 12-acre zoo shaded by cottonwoods. Known for environmental and educational programming, the zoo offers behind-the-scenes experiences about species it protects, including the Mexican grey wolf. After a visit, groups can chill with a local brew, live music, and tastes from diverse food trucks on the patio at 575 Brewing Co. or try homemade salsas, tamales, stuffed sopapillas, and enchiladas at CJ’s Si Senior.

Expand your group's horizons Given its wide skies and New Mexico’s role in space exploration, it makes sense Alamogordo would be home to the New Mexico Museum of Space History and International Space Hall of Fame. This Smithsonian Institution affiliate gets visitors involved, allowing them to experience how it feels when a rocket lifts off or what it’s like to land a space shuttle. Its New Horizons Dome Theater and planetarium make it easy to explore the Earth and space through large-format films and star shows.

Although Alamogordo is fairly temperate thanks to its 4,500-foot elevation, summertime temps drop another 20 degrees in nearby Cloudcroft. The Old West village is up a winding mountain road and its Burro Street Boardwalk is lined with popular shops. In the winter, skating, skiing, and sledding are popular pastimes.

Speaking of sledding, no one should leave town without renting a disc-style sled from the gift shop at White Sands National Park for a slide down the dunes. Soft sand makes it safe for any age. And, even in the summer, the sand stays cool, thanks to moisture beneath the surface, a remnant of the ancient sea that created the dunes– just one more fun surprise in a destination that’s full of them.

AlamogordoNMTrue.com

1-800-826-0294 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: MICHELLE BRIDEAUX 575-439-4264 MBRIDEAUX@ CI.ALAMOGORDO.NM.US ALAMOGORDONMTRUE.COM

At 227 feet high, The Wheel at Steel Pier offers breathtaking views of Atlantic City and the New Jersey coast.

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ATLANTIC TRADITIONS NEW JERSEY IS A B O U T O L D FAVO R I T E S

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BY KEVIN OSBOURN

or residents of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, a vacation to the Jersey Shore has long been attractive because of the beaches, arcades, amusement parks, shopping and fun.

But groups across the country might consider a trip there because of other bonuses, including history, museums, diverse restaurants and nature adventures from birding to whale watching. Just as monarch butterflies visit on their way south each year, New Jersey tourism leaders believe groups will continue to make the Garden State a regular stop once they’ve experienced its multitude of attractions.

Here are four great coastal communities to consider on your group’s next trip to the Jersey Shore.

C A PE M AY M AGIC At the state’s southern tip, where the Atlantic meets Delaware Bay, Cape May enjoys its reputation as one of the best birding sites in North America.

Sitting at the intersection of two migration routes, the community attracts warblers and songbirds in the spring, and hawks, falcons, eagles and other raptors in the fall.

Each May, the city’s World Series of Birding brings visitors from all over the world who come to witness the migration up close.

“It’s an amazing event,” said Diane Wieland, Cape May County’s director of tourism. “It’s really something for nature-lover tour groups with the birds, the butterfly migration, and the dolphins and whales. “ When the Monarchs head south each fall, visitors are amazed to see vegetation covered by the black-and-orange beauties.

In addition to its natural attractions, Cape May features one of the largest collections of Victorian buildings in America. When the homes are decorated for the holidays and the streets echo with carolers’ songs, a visit feels like stepping back in time.

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“Cape May owns Christmas in the state of New Jersey,” Wieland said. “It may take time to book [a group trip there], but it will be worth it. It is quite magical.”

The city is home to the 157-foot Cape May Lighthouse, and unlike many beach communities, the oceanfront is close to farmland, where crops from herbs to grapes are produced for local restaurants and wineries. Guests can fish all day and bring their catch to local restaurants to be cleaned, cooked and consumed.

At the community’s Sunset Beach, everyone gathers each evening for a ceremony to honor one deceased veteran.

Car and Harley engines are shut off and hats are removed as “God Bless America” and “The Star Spangled Banner” play on the loudspeaker.

Also at Sunset Beach, visitors can see the wreckage of the SS Atlantus, an experimental ship built with concrete during World War I. Another pastime is collecting quartz crystals called “Cape May diamonds,” which wash up there, and then having them polished and made into jewelry.

The Wildwood boardwalk

C A P E M AY.C O M

W I L DWOODS F E S T I VA L S Located near Cape May, the Wildwoods is the collective term used to describe four communities on Wildwood Island, including the city of Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, West Wildwood and North Wildwood.

A major reason for its popularity is that the five-mile beach — touted as the widest and largest on the East Coast — is free. Its 38-block boardwalk contains more rides than Disneyland and is packed with shops and restaurants, creating a carnival atmosphere.

There has been a restaurant renaissance outside the boardwalk that has widened the choices of ethnic foods and gourmet menus, and beer lovers will find multiple craft options, including breweries such as the Bucket Brigade, Behr Brewing and The 7 Mile Brewery.

For those wanting a unique culinary experience, visitors can turn breakfast into an adventure by dining with fine china on white linen tablecloths while riding the 156-foottall Morey’s Piers Ferris wheel.

There are three waterparks and so many festivals and things to do that local tourism leaders call the Wildwoods the events capital of the East Coast.

One of the best-known festivals takes place this year October 14–15: the Wildwood ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Weekend.

Played every June at Ringer Stadium, the Nation Marbles Tournament is also a popular and well-attended event for both competitors and spectators.

“There are free outdoor concerts, a ton of things for families to do and not just the beach or boardwalk,” said Tracey

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COURTESY GREATER WILDWOOD COC

DuFault, executive director of the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce. “There’s fishing, boating and water sports, along with fireworks on the boardwalk every Friday night.

Bands play regularly, and the August 27 concert by the Beach Boys headlines this year’s summer concert schedule.

Wildwoods guests enjoy deep sea fishing trips, dolphin and whale watching, and dinner cruises.

Every Saturday morning from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Downtown Wildwood Farmers Market pulses with life from vendors selling baked goods, gifts and fresh Jersey produce.

G WC O C .O R G

H IS TOR IC E L I Z A BE T H Located just miles from the Statue of Liberty and New York City attractions, Elizabeth combines history, dining, shopping and nightlife in one affordable package.

In addition to its proximity to Newark’s seaport, Elizabeth provides easy access to the Garden State Parkway, Newark Liberty International Airport, train stations and ferry rides to New York City.

The history of New Jersey and America both have strong ties to Elizabeth, which is why Boxwood Hall is a must see.

Alexander Hamilton visited. George Washington had lunch there before being ferried to New York to be sworn in as

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Cape May in summer

Finally, Elizabeth is home to a wide variety of cultures, making its culinary choices extremely broad.

“We are a dining melting pot,” Costa said. “You can have dinner in Columbia or lunch in Portugal.”

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AT L A N T IC C I T Y C A SI NOS

BY CRAIG TERRY, COURTESY CAPE MAY COUNTY TOURISM

Liberty Hall Museum in Elizabeth COURTESY ELIZABETH DMO

president. Revolutionary war hero Marquis de Lafayette also stayed there.

Liberty Hall Museum chronicles hundreds of years of American history and houses collections of furniture, toys and tools. It has antique fire engines and a rare American LaFrance steam engine.

Another historic building, the 2,800-seat Ritz Theatre, brings style to the performing arts with its chandelier, murals and marble floors.

The Mills at Jersey Gardens is the state’s largest outlet mall with over 200 stores, and one reason more than 19 million visitors go there each year — and to other retailers in the state — is because New Jersey has no sales tax on clothes or shoes.

Elizabeth has a path for walking, running and biking called the Elizabeth River Trail, which features local art and goes to midtown Elizabeth. From there, users can connect to the Goethals Bridge and Staten Island.

A greenway along the river was first proposed by Frederick Olmsted, America’s father of landscape architecture. Before he became the architect of New York City’s Central Park, Olmstead designed Elizabeth’s beautiful Warinanco Park, which has an ice skating rink in the winter, trails and a winding waterway.

“He did our park first,” said Jennifer Costa, executive director for the Elizabeth Destination Marketing Organization. “It’s a great outdoor place to go.”

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It’s the only city in New Jersey that provides casino gaming on the beach, and with nine casinos in Atlantic City, there is plenty of it. “AC” boasts having America’s first boardwalk, the state’s tallest lighthouse and 32 golf courses in or near the city.

“There are so many firsts in Atlantic City,” said Heather Colache, director of tourism for Meet AC. “We also have the oldest working pipe organ in the world, and it is being restored. They do free tours and give a short concert at Boardwalk Hall.”

Gamers who want to enjoy sea breezes can walk outside the casinos carrying their beverage of choice while strolling the boardwalk.

Among the many culinary delights, including some of the best seafood around, one local favorite is Gilchrist Restaurant, located on the bay, where the blueberry pancakes for breakfast are a specialty.

At North Beach Atlantic City, the Steel Pier has games, helicopter rides over the Atlantic and the Wheel, a 227-foot tall Ferris wheel — lit with changing colors at night — overlooking the ocean and boardwalk. Riders get a 10-minute ride in temperature-controlled gondolas.

Steel Pier has event space for groups with discounts and menus from barbeques to pizza parties to buffets.

The Absecon Lighthouse shines every night and is open to the public. Although no longer used as an active navigational aid, the lighthouse includes a re-creation of the keepers’ quarters, a museum and a gift shop.

In addition to the Fourth of July fireworks, one of the largest Atlantic City events will take place August 24: Thunder Over the Boardwalk. Guests come in by boat and also watch from the resorts and the boardwalk.

Performers pack the seats at casinos and other venues across town. Summer headliners include New Kids On the Block, the Black Crowes, Lynard Skynard, Alicia Keys and many more.

One popular attraction is Lucy the Elephant, a six-story elephant built of wood and tin sheeting just five miles south of AC. People tour and take in the spectacular view of the barrier islands at top.

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MAIN STREET MISSOURI THESE SMALL TOWNS A R E G R O U P FAVO R I T E S

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BY ELIZABETH HEY

issouri’s small towns have made a big impact on America.

From German wine country and Civil War battles to world-famous personalities and renowned Route 66, Missouri appeals to a variety of interests. When your group visits, they will discover the diversity of attractions, natural beauty and breadth of culinary possibilities in the small towns of Show-Me State.

JOPL I N Looking forward to Route 66’s Centennial in 2026, Joplin is formulating plans and collaborating with surrounding towns. Route 66 bisects downtown, and the 1910 City Hall houses Thomas Hart Benton’s last signed mural. A step-on guide can point out nearly 20 murals depicting the city’s story.

In November, Spiva Center for the Arts will move to the new Harry M. Cornell Arts and Entertainment Complex. Exhibits, art workshops and entertainment in the 470-seat multi-use performance hall will fill their calendar. PhotoSpiva, the longest running photography competition west of the Mississippi, displays juried entries March through May. Less than 20 minutes away, George Washington Carver National Monument tells the story of Carver’s life and work and his contributions to Black history.

Groups can tour the homestead where Carver was born or stroll through native prairie on walking trails. Lunch can be catered inside the visitor center or on picnic tables alongside the creek. Groups can pick a project in Carver’s lab, such as making peanut butter or take a guided ranger tour.

“With the park’s proximity to I-49 and I-44, it’s the perfect location to begin or end a tour of Joplin,” said Kerstin Landwer, director of sales for Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s one of our most popular attractions.”

In the surrounding countryside, local caterers can provide dinner at Christine’s Vineyard. Guests can also order charcuterie boards, enjoy weekend food trucks and outdoor games. Keltoi Winery will set up a large tent for dinners. Both offer wine tasting and live entertainment.

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A Route 66 mural showcases the Mother Road’s influence on Joplin history.

SPR I NGF I E L D Outdoor gear fills the world’s first and largest Bass Pro Shops store — Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World — in Springfield. Inside, visitors can explore the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum, Archery Hall of Fame and exhibits detailing the history of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. Connected to Bass Pro, the nonprofit Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium wows visitors on its one-mile walk-through.

“It’s a wildlife gallery and aquarium adventure with an incredible attention to detail,” said Susan Wade, public relations manager at the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The displays and murals make people feel like they’re looking at animals in their natural environments, and the fish are from around the world.”

In the Ozark hills, Smallin Civil War Cave boasts the state’s largest cave opening at 11 stories high. It was once used by Native Americans and settlers as a social gathering place, especially in the hot summers. Guided tours on the paved walkway recount its history and geology. At Fantastic Caverns, jeep-drawn trams deliver the nation’s only ridethrough experience. The cave wasn’t discovered until the Civil War and was first explored by a group of women.

West of the Mississippi, the Civil War’s first major battle took place at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. An excellent visitor center and museum showcase interpretive displays and artifacts such as weapons, flags and medical supplies. Today, 75% of the battlefield remains intact and offers a drive-through option.

S P R I N G F I E L D M O.O R G

A Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium exhibit in Springfield COURTESY SPRINGFIELD CVB

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield COURTESY JOPLIN CVB

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A Hermann vineyeard

J E F F E R SON C I T Y Jefferson City is the political epicenter of Missouri, and no visit would be complete without touring the state capitol.

Groups start on the first floor near the Missouri governor’s portraits and rubberneck at the extensive art throughout the building. The second floor features 41 lunette paintings by 20 different artists, plus 13 rotunda oils painted in London.

On the lower level, the Missouri State Museum rotates special exhibits. Next door, the Governor’s Mansion offers a limited number of first-floor tours each week.

Nearby, Central Dairy Ice Cream’s red-and-white striped awning trademarks this iconic spot. Open since 1934, the old-fashioned ice cream parlor reminds guests of simpler times. Some 40 flavors are crafted in-house.

Connecting the capitol complex and Veterans Memorial to Deborah Cooper Park, Bicentennial Bridge also provides access to Adrian’s Island. Paved walking and nature trails showcase panoramic views of the capitol and Missouri River. Great for group picnics, public art dots the landscape, including the life-size Missouri bicentennial chessboard.

Known as “The Walls,” the Missouri State Penitentiary served as the state’s primary maximum-security institution from 1836 to 2004. Extremely popular history tours, ghost tours and overnights tours investigate the paranormal inside the prison walls.

“Visitors can see the different housing units and the gas chamber,” said Alexandra Bobbitt, communications/film manager for the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “A handful of the tour guides worked at the penitentiary before it was decommissioned. They sprinkle in personal stories, talk about infamous inmates and highlight the penitentiary’s 168 years of history.”

V I S I TJ E F F E R S O N C I T Y.C O M

HER MANN German immigrants brought their passion for winemaking to Hermann. Eventually, the area became the nation’s first designated wine appellation before Prohibition shut down production.

On a hilltop, award-winning Stone Hill Winery gives tours of the largest series of underground cellars in North America, with 175 years of history. The winery’s Vintage Restaurant features German specialties in a restored horse barn and carriage house. The German sampler platter features sauerbraten, German-style schnitzel and knackwurst.

“The Hermann Trolley and Hermann Crown Suites Taxi will take groups to most area wineries,” said Tammy Bruckerhoff, tourism director for Visit Hermann. “Our wineries are very picturesque, and each one has a unique

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COURTESY VISIT HERMANN

The Missouri Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City

BY TYLER BECK, COURTESY JEFFERSON CITY CVB

Jefferson City’s Central Dairy Ice Cream

BY LINDSAY PANTALEO, COURTESY JEFFERSON CITY CVB

setting; some overlook the Missouri River or the town of Hermann. Hermannhof Winery’s downtown tasting room still has its original 1852 cellars.”

All beautifully restored, many of Hermann’s buildings are listed on the National Historic Register, and their red bricks originate from a late-1800’s brick factory. Many of the historic buildings offer lodging, and groups can stay in boutique hotels, small cottages, or bed and breakfasts.

On historic Market Street and First Street, antique stores, specialty shops and museums line the sidewalks.

Historic Hermann Museum is located in the 1871 German school building. Deutschheim State Historic Site offers tours of its four-square garden, the 1840 family home and barn, as well as the 1842 home on Second Street, which contains the printing press that produced the first German newspaper west of the Mississippi.

V I S I T H E R M A N N .C O M

I N DE PE N DE NC E This year, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum completed a $30 million renovation. All of the exhibits were redesigned and rebuilt, plus two exhibit galleries were added. Truman’s Oval Office and the Thomas Hart Benton mural, “Independence and the Opening of the West,” remain part of the experience.

“Anyone who hasn’t been here since 2019 will see a

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completely different museum,” said museum curator Clay Bauske. “Exhibits are more interactive and deal with the challenges that Harry Truman faced as president.”

Ten blocks away, groups can tour Bess Truman’s family home. Harry and Bess lived in this two-story Victorian from 1919 until they passed away. According to Bauske, it’s the only home they lived in outside of Washington, D.C. Missouri artist George Caleb Bingham also called Independence home. The Victorian-era Bingham-Waggoner Estate sits along the Santa Fe Trail. Behind the house, a paved quarter-mile walking trail loops around 10 wagon swales.

Inside, 95% of the contents are original, including numerous European oil paintings. Guided tours can be followed by a catered lunch in the 1900s carriage house.

Across the street, the National Frontier Trails Museum highlights the Kansas City region as the principal jumping off point for the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails.

Displays recount stories of westward travel using original maps and diaries, artifacts and an award-winning video.

Chuck wagon dinners or pioneer meals with square dancing and fiddle music can be scheduled through Pioneer Trails Adventures.

V I S I T I N D E P E N D E N C E .C O M

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Independence

COURTESY TRUMAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Hermannhof Winery

Independence’s Harry Truman Home COURTESY VISIT HERMANN

COURTESY VISIT INDEPENDENCE

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

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

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WALT DISNEY HOMETOWN MUSEUM

L AURA INGALLS WILDER HOME & MUSEUM

MOVERS. MAKERS. MISSOURIANS. THAT’S MY M-O. Visionaries, musicians, writers and legends all call Missouri home. Explore the places behind their famous faces at locations across the

NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM

Show-Me State.

THE JOHN WILLIAM “BLIND” BOONE HOME

MARK T WAIN BOYHOOD HOME AND MUSEUM

Discover more itineraries for memorable group getaways.

For more information, contact Ashley Sneed with Visit Missouri at Ashley.Sneed@ded.mo.gov

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Oklahoma Originals LEGACIES OLD AND NEW SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATE

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ome of Oklahoma’s most iconic figures have legacies that continue to resonate with the public.

Group travelers in Oklahoma will want to learn more about Gene Autry, Jim Thorpe and Will Rogers (who would have been Instagram famous if they were alive today) at museums dedicated to their lives and careers. The Philbrook Museum of Art was made possible through the generous donation of an Oklahoma oil baron, and “The Pioneer Woman,” Ree Drummond, brought a small town back to life through her books, blogs and television appearances.

R ee Dr u m mond , The P ioneer Wom a n Pawhu sk a

Inside the Philbrook Museum of Art COURTESY PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART

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Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, has put her small town of Pawhuska on the map. A city girl turned rancher, Drummond got her start as a blogger, writing about her life as a wife and mother living on a large Oklahoma ranch with her husband, Ladd. She has also written several cookbooks and children’s books.

Her blog proved so popular that she was asked to do a cooking show on the Food Network in 2011. Drummond films her show from The Lodge, a four-bedroom guest house on the Drummond family ranch. Visitors flock to Pawhuska to not only tour the lodge but also to visit The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, a restaurant retail store opened by the Drummonds in 2016 in a 100-year-old building downtown. Groups wanting to tour the lodge must first stop at the mercantile to grab tickets on days tours are available. A calendar is listed on the store’s website.

The lodge pulls in between 500 and 2,000 visitors a day when it is open for tours. When groups are done touring, many like to check out the Drummonds’ other businesses in town, including a

COURTESY PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART

Shopping and dining at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile pizza parlor called P-Town Pizza, Charlie’s Sweet Shop (an ice cream and candy shop named after their late dog Charlie) and The Pioneer Woman Collection store, which opened in 2020.

Ree and her sister will open a pool, spa and restaurant within the next year. Work is also underway to add 14 new rooms to the Drummonds’ eight-room bed and breakfast, The Boarding House.

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BY LORI DUCKWORTH, COURTESY OK TOURISM

Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art got its start as a 72-room villa built by oilman Waite Phillips, in 1927.

BY RETROSPEC FILMS

A 1927 Italian Renaissance villa is the home of the Philbrook Museum of Art, one of Tulsa’s premier cultural institutions.

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Ph i l brook Mu seu m of A r t T u l sa

Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art got its start as a 72-room villa built by oilman Waite Phillips and his wife, Genevieve, in 1927. The villa was designed in the Italian Renaissance style by Kansas City architect Edward Buehler Delk. Phillips gifted the mansion and its 23 acres to the city of Tulsa as an art center in 1938.

Visitors can tour the original mansion as well as additions to the property. A 70,000-square-foot wing was added in 1990. Twenty-five acres of gardens surround the building. A sensory garden features wrought-iron arches to mimic the arches found in Villa Philbrook. A formal garden descends to the tempietto, which were both part of the original design and construction of the home. The gardens extending to the summerhouse at the south end of the property were conceived later and completed in 2004 as part of a major garden renovation.

The art museum features more than 16,000 objects that focus on American, Native American and European art and attracts worldclass exhibitions, including “Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism,” which runs from July 6–September 11, and “Martine Gutierrez: Indigenous Woman,” which runs through November 27.

The museum attracts 160,000 visitors annually. Groups of 10 or more people receive a discount on admission. Reservations are required. Kitchen 27 is a restaurant at the museum that was conceived by chef James Shrader and incorporates produce from the Philbrook Edible Teaching Garden. The restaurant also caters private events.

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Gardens at the Philbrook

Wi l l R o gers Memor ia l , Mu seu m a nd Bi r t hpla ce R a nch Cla remore

Will Rogers was at the peak of his popularity when he died in a tragic plane crash in Alaska in 1935. People across the country read his column in the newspaper every day, listened to him on the radio and watched his movies. To honor his memory, the Oklahoma Legislature built a memorial to him on a piece of property Will and Betty Rogers bought in Claremore in 1910. They had planned to build a retirement home there. The memorial was built in 1938.

Because of the memorial’s popularity, Rogers’ family kept donating personal items to the site, turning it into more of a museum.

“What’s great about him is he brought everybody together: Republicans, Democrats, kings and the common man,” said Tad Jones, executive director of the museum. “He looked at the good of people. He never met a man he didn’t like, and it endeared him as a friend to people all over the world.”

The museum is currently being renovated to introduce Rogers to a new generation. The museum has 12 galleries that feature artwork and family memorabilia, and tell the story of Rogers’ career.

An interpreter is available to speak with groups about Rogers’ legacy, and guided museum tours are available. The newly renovated theater plays Will Rogers documentaries and movies.

Visitors also can take a self-guided tour of his Birthplace Ranch in Oologah.

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COURTESY PHILBROOK MUSEUM OF ART

Snacking in Bayfield Gene Autry Museum COURTESY CHICKASAW COUNTRY

G ene Autr y Ok la hom a Mu seu m G ene Autr y

Nicknamed the singing cowboy, Gene Autry was a legendary recording artist, television and movie star who became the king of Hollywood’s B-Western movie scene from 1934 to 1953. He appeared in 93 films and hosted “The Gene Autry Show” on television. As a country artist, he was considered one of the most influential figures of his time with hits such as “Back in the Saddle Again” and “At Mail Call Today.” He is the only artist on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to be awarded stars for film, television, music, radio and live performance.

Autry made such a splash in his home state of Oklahoma that locals renamed the town of Berwyn after him in 1941. The Gene Autry Oklahoma Museum, which is housed in a former schoolhouse, has the world’s largest collection of memorabilia commemorating vintage cowboys in entertainment from the 1920s to the present day.

It was founded in 1985 by local citizens who wanted to preserve the old buildings. Autry and other singing cowboys play a prominent role in the museum.

Visitors to the museum will learn about the cowboy way of life and about the small town founded in the middle of Chickasaw Country in the 1870s with just one store.

Statues and memorabilia at the Will Rogers Memorial and Museum in Claremore

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PHOTOS COURTESY WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM

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The Blue Whale of Catoosa

Will Rogers Museum

Pryor Creek Bridge Home of Oklahoma’s Favorite Chicken Fried Steak

J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum

Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park

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Relax at one of our many Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfasts and RV Parks

Ji m Thor p e Mu seu m a nd Ok la hom a Sp or t s Ha l l of Fa me Ok la hom a Cit y

Bring your group and enjoy an enriching, shared experience exploring centuries of Chickasaw history and traditions. The vibrant, vivid, living expression of Chickasaw culture unfolds through a 1700s

The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame pays tribute to famous athletes, coaches and contributors who were either natives of Oklahoma or who played an integral part in running various sports leagues in the state. The hall of fame covers the gamut of Oklahoma sports history, from heavy hitters such as Mickey Mantle and Johnny Bench, to coaches such as Barry Switzer, Henry Iba, Sherri Coale and Patty Gasso. Two to six individuals are inducted into the hall of fame every year, and the museum tells their stories, as well as displays sports memorabilia.

The facility’s top draw is Jim Thorpe, a world-famous athlete

tribal village, dance demonstrations, traditional gardens and engaging exhibits. please call for

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Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame COURTESY OK SPORTS HALL OF FAME

and member of the Sac and Fox Nation who was the first Native American to win a gold medal for the U.S. in the Olympics.

He won gold medals in decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics. He also played collegiate and professional football, baseball and basketball.

“Here in Oklahoma, he is like a folk hero, like Will Rogers or John Wayne,” said Justin Lenhart, museum curator for The Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. “But he was a real person, and he did real things.”

Currently, there is an entire gallery in the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame dedicated to Thorpe’s sports legacy and his activism. In October, he will have dedicated to his memory an entire museum that will house the many artifacts and memorabilia associated with his life, culture and career.

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OPEN TUE–SAT 10 A.M. to 5 P .M.

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S u l p h u r , O k l a h o m a | 5 8 0 - 6 2 2- 7 1 3 0 | C h i c k a s a w C u l t u r a l C e n t e r . c o m

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THE MODERN FRONTIER Sunset in Myrtle Beach

The perfect road trip for exploring The Mother Road requires cruising through Oklahoma City’s “must-see” attractions, one-of-a-kind lodging, and insider blogs for classic road trip inspiration.

Start your journey at VisitOKC.com.

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Oklahoma Vibes NEW ATTRACTIONS ENERGIZE THE SOONER STATE B Y PA U L A AV E N G L A D Y C H

Tulsa’s Bob Dylan Center

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klahoma keeps giving groups new reasons to visit.

Oklahoma travelers today have their pick of new experiences, from two museums dedicated to the history and culture of the state’s Native American tribes to Reba’s Place, a live music venue and restaurant that will open later this year. Legendary musician Bob Dylan has a new museum dedicated to his life and career in Tulsa, and Western enthusiasts will want to meet the bison at Old West Buffalo Co. Here are five new attractions to check out next time your group travels to Oklahoma.

Bob D yla n Cent er T u l sa

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Bob Dylan wasn’t from Oklahoma, but he chose to sell his archives to the George Kaiser Family Foundation because he liked Tulsa’s vibe. (Tulsa is also home to the Woody Guthrie Center, which made Dylan’s decision that much easier, because Guthrie had a major influence on Dylan’s work.) Now, Tulsa’s new state-of-theart, 29,000-square-foot Bob Dylan Center displays artifacts from Dylan’s life and career, along with videos, photographs, handwritten song lyrics, notebooks, journals and film clips.

After seven decades in the music industry, Dylan’s archive includes previously unreleased recordings, never-before-seen film performances, visual art and priceless items spanning his career as a singer, songwriter and cultural icon. The center also features rotating exhibits, a 5,000-square-foot archive and a 55-seat screening room.

The center, which opened in May, serves to educate, motivate and inspire visitors to engage their own capacity as creators using interactive exhibits such as chalk and magnet walls and a typewriter.

The permanent exhibit is about the life and work of Bob Dylan. A

COURTESY FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM

Artwork at the First Americans Museum

re-creation of a recording studio gives visitors a chance to experience one of Dylan’s historic recording sessions. A screening room showcases Dylan-related scripted films, documentaries and concert performances, and the Columbia Records Gallery provides an in-depth look at the creation, performance and production of timeless Dylan songs, such as “Like a Rolling Stone.” An immersive film experience presents archival music and film from his life. Group rates are available.

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COURTESY FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM

The museum tells the stories of 39 Native American tribes that are native to the

Exploring the Bob Dylan Center

area or were forced to relocate there.

Bob Dylan memorabilia COURTESY BOB DYLAN CENTER

COURTESY BOB DYLAN CENTER

F i rst A mer ica n s Mu seu m Ok la hom a Cit y

Honoring the 39 Native American tribes that live in Oklahoma, the First Americans Museum made a splash in Oklahoma City when it opened last year.

The First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City has been in the works since the 1980s but only opened to the public in September 2021. The museum tells the stories of 39 Native American tribes that are native to the area or were forced to relocate there from all over North America.

People tend to lump all Native American tribes together, but indigenous cultures are just as diverse as European cultures, said Shoshana Wasserman, deputy director of the First Americans Museum. Oklahoma has more cultures in one geographic area than most places in the world, each having different languages, people and cultures.

“During the forced period of removal, we were located to Indian territory, Oklahoma,” she said. “So, while this seems to be a very regional story, it is America’s story. It is our shared national history.”

The museum’s exhibits, programs, demonstrations and culinary experiences take visitors on a journey through Native American history and experiences with both indoor and outdoor interpretive areas. One of the highlights of the new museum is the mound incorporated into its design, which pays homage to America’s moundbuilder cultures.

The Tribal Nations Gallery shares the collective stories of 39 tribal nations that were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands to what is now Oklahoma. Another gallery features selections from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. A Family Discovery Center is coming soon. The 5,000-square-foot immersive space will be designed like a pop-up book with interactive and experiential learning centers and activities for all ages.

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Old West Bu f fa lo Compa ny Pawhu sk a

Neil and Teresa Fischer started Old West Buffalo Company in Colorado in 2017. They have raised bison for 25 years and knew visitors would love to be able to interact with the large animals in a more personal way, and even feed them, if it could be done safely.

The concept was really catching on pre-COVID, but once Colorado shut down due to the pandemic, the duo decided to leave the state for Oklahoma.

They opened their new location in Pawhuska in the summer of 2021, with Neil Fischer describing it as the “ultimate bison experience.” The company produced a 12-minute film that takes the story of bison from the Ice Age through modern times and includes stories of the individuals who saved them from extinction in the late 1800s. The film is shown in the facility’s theater, which also hosts dinner theater shows.

The couple built an 80-foot Old West storefront, called Buffalo City, with an apothecary, saloon, bank, jail and trading post, which is great for taking old-time photos. If the weather is good, guests can take a wagon ride out to meet the bison herd, including Woody, a 6-year-old, 2,200-pound bison who loves to be the star of the show, or feed the animals from the back deck.

Groups can visit a small history exhibit and even organize an old-fashioned brisket barbecue meal for lunch or dinner. Check the website to see when the facility is showing “The Bison Story,” a dinner theater show featuring Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Goodnight, two of the heroes who saved the bison from extinction.

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A parade at the Chickasaw Cultural Center

Old West Buffalo Co. COURTESY OLD WEST BUFFALO CO.

A Buffalo encounter

Choctaw Cultural Center

COURTESY OLD WEST BUFFALO CO.

COURTESY CHOCTAW CULTURAL CENTER

Choct aw C u ltu ra l Cent er D u ra nt

The Choctaw Cultural Center has been in the works since 2012.

After exploring other cultural centers across the country and hosting numerous community meetings, tribal leaders created plans for a 100,000-square-foot center with two exhibit halls, an art gallery, auditorium, children’s area, gift shops, classrooms and outdoor areas to watch native dances and stickball demonstrations. The center opened in Durant in 2021.

The center tells the 14,000-year history of the Choctaw through interactive and immersive exhibits. One exhibit was built to look like the village of Moundville. Visitors can follow a path around the mound, exploring the dwellings and culture of the Choctaw people.

The center sits on 22 acres of native prairie and grassland.

The main permanent exhibit is a four-part story focusing on the history of the tribe from 1250 to current-day Oklahoma. The exhibit uses “lifecasts,” mannequins cast from real Choctaw people, dressed in traditional garments, to tell the stories of those places in time, from the tribe’s origin story and what life was like after European contact to how the tribe changed and adapted to life in the U.S. Group visitors can take advantage of the many classes held at the center as well as purchase tickets to the myriad special events that take place there annually. The gift shop offers Choctaw-made items, and the café offers traditional Choctaw food, along with more modern fare.

“We try not to focus on the sad part of the story,” said Cady Shaw, interim senior director of the center. “We are still thriving and here.

We want people to walk away with a sense of home and understand the resilience of the Choctaw people.”

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COURTESY CHICKASAW CULTURAL CENTER

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R eba’s Pla ce At ok a

Artist’s renderings of Reba’s Place in Atoka

Fans of country music legend Reba McEntire will want to head to Atoka to visit Reba’s Place, a restaurant, bar, live music venue and retail store set to open this fall. Constructed in a 100-year-old masonic temple, the venue will feature two stories of dining space that open up to a central stage, which will host live music performances.

McEntire, who was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, was raised on an 8,000-acre ranch in Chockie, Oklahoma. Her father was a world champion steer roper, competing in rodeos. Reba’s Place will tap into her ranching and Western past with a collection of memorabilia from the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s personal archives. Reba’s Place was created in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the city of Atoka.

“We are working very hard to create something not only for the local community but that will also bring in folks from across the country,” McEntire said during the announcement for Reba’s Place.

The restaurant’s menu will include everything from the “fancy” steak dinner and street tacos to chicken fried steak and Reba’s favorite pinto beans and corn bread. The restored 100-year-old antique bar on the main floor will offer beer, wine and spirits, and the retail space will feature merchandise created for the new venue along with Reba favorites.

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IMAGES COURTESY REBA’S PLACE

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