The Group Travel Leader July/August 2023

GROUP TRAVEL LEADER THE

�uild your next tour around a visit to the Biblical History Center—one of only seven such museums in the world. Journey through archeological replicas, experience Biblical meal presentations and see exact replicas of ancient Middle Eastern life settings. From archaeology to ancient history to cutting-edge teaching, your group will be immersed in stories of the Bible brought to life. VisitLaGrange.com

A group experience of Biblical proportions.

Los Angeles Crusade display at the Billy Graham Library

BY BRIAN JEWELL

Our industry is full of new faces. Over the past couple years, whenever I have traveled to a tourism industry event, I have been struck by how many new people I see there. Some of this is natural, as people retire or leave organizations and new employees are hired to replace them. But turnover accelerated during the pandemic, as many tourism professionals lost their jobs and found other work. Now that travel is booming again, they have been replaced with new hires.

A lot of these new hires are very young, and many have no previous experience in tourism. When I spoke to a group at Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College last month, I was surprised how many said they had only been working in tourism for a few months.

This infusion of new, younger workers isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But for tour operators and travel planners who have been in the industry for years, working with new partners from younger generations is going to come with a learning curve. With that in mind, here are four things we can all expect to encounter from our new colleagues.

New Ideas

New people bring a new outlook and fresh perspectives to our industry. Because they don’t have much experience, they don’t have much baggage. There are things we have done for years, or even decades, that may not make a lot of sense to new tourism professionals, and we should hear them out when they explain their thinking. Their ideas might help solve problems and streamline processes that we didn’t even realize were inefficient. The new ideas they bring about attractions and activities could prove to be a lot of fun.

EDITOR’S MARKS

New Communications

The more time I spend with millennials and Generation Z, the more I’m convinced that they will fundamentally change the way we communicate in business. In general, millennials hate making phone calls, and Gen Z barely knows what a telephone is. If you’re used to doing a lot of business over the phone, you may have to adjust your expectations. Newer, younger tourism partners could be hard to reach by phone but easy to reach on social media or by text message.

New Priorities

Our newer, younger tourism colleagues came of age in a different era than many of us, and that reality is reflected in priorities that may be different than what you’re used to. They’re likely to prioritize worklife balance and demand more flexibility around work locations and hours. They’re also much more likely to actively promote social causes they care about. As a rule, they are more focused on sustainability and diversity than any generation that has come before. Those priorities will be reflected in their approach to tourism.

New Friendships

Adjusting to generational change can come with its share of challenges. But there are some great benefits too, including the opportunity to build new friendships. At its core, tourism is still a relationship business. And the lion’s share of the new, young tourism pros I have met are smart, upbeat, outgoing and personable. Building relationships with them will make your life — and our industry — richer.

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FAMILY MATTERS

BOOMERS IN GROUPS HEADS TO THE ARK ENCOUNTER IN NOVEMBER

SALEM, Ohio The Ark Encounter will host delegates of the Boomers In Groups Travel Conference this November.

“Ark Encounter is the fastest-growing group travel destination in America, and it has to be experienced to fully appreciate the quality, vastness and message,” said Charlie Presley, founder of Boomers In Groups.

Boomers In Groups Conference attendees will have an opportunity to explore the Ark Encounter during their time in Northern Kentucky.

Boomers In Groups delegates come to the conference each year from more than 20 states. These travel planners for mature and boomer groups organize tours and outings for their communities, with the average planner operating six overnight trips a year with 36 passengers per trip. It is estimated that the Boomers In Groups delegates take 21,000 people on tours each year and account for over $22 million in annual tour revenue.

“This is an extremely important part of the group travel industry, and we are so excited to showcase the Ark Encounter to these travel leaders so they can return with their groups of travelers,” said Presley.

Eddie Lutz of the Ark Encounter was instrumental in making arrangements to host Boomers In Groups. He has expressed the importance of visiting the destination firsthand to fully understand the monumental structure, which is 510 feet long and over eight stories high. An estimated 1 million visitors a year make their way to Ark Encounter, located between Lexington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, off Interstate 75.

Boomers In Groups delegates will stay at the Cincinnati Marriott Airport, a member of Ark Encounter Hotel Affiliates and the largest property with the most meeting space in the affiliation.

“Boomers In Groups delegates will spend two nights at the Marriott, and our meeting space is conveniently located in the hotel,” said Boomers In Groups Conference manager Janine Emanuel.

The Boomers In Groups Conference will be held November 6-8. Meals, lodging, seminars and the marketplace will be in the Marriott with a sightseeing excursion to Ark Encounter on Tuesday, November 7. It will include dinner at Emzara’s Kitchen, Ark Encounter’s on-site buffet restaurant.

Travel planner registration for Boomers In Groups is $195 per person and includes meals, sightseeing, seminars, entertainment, Ark Encounter admission and two nights lodging at the Cincinnati Marriott Airport. Attendance is limited to 100 travel planners. To register, call 800-628-0993 or visit boomersingroups.com

Travel industry members who are interested in attending are welcomed and encouraged to register soon, as industry space is also limited.

FAITH-BASED GROUPS TO CONVENE IN GREEN BAY

SALEM, Ohio Faith-based and church travel planners are invited to attend Going On Faith Travel Conference, August 22-24, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The three-day event features sightseeing, seminars, networking and a travel marketplace.

Group travel leaders and planners who are interested in Green Bay as a destination are invited to attend and may bring a travel friend. While the spotlight will be on Green Bay as a group tour destination, travel planners will have the opportunity to meet dozens of representatives from tour companies, destinations, hotels and receptive operators from across the United States and even some from other countries.

The Going On Faith Conference’s value is in the contacts planners make and the networking they do. Attending the conference helps them plan and operate better trips.

The $95 registration includes meals, sightseeing and two nights lodging at the Hyatt Regency Green Bay. To register, call 800-628-0993 or visit gofconference.com.

Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame at Lambeau Field

The Group Travel Leader is taking a trip to Louisiana’s River Region, and we want you to come with us!

Our friends at Louisiana’s River Parishes, Visit Kenner, Ascension Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Jefferson Parish and Louisiana’s Northshore are arranging a familiarization tour of the Louisiana cities and towns along the Mississippi River, and they’re inviting our travel planner readers to attend. The tour will take place December 8-12.

You’ll join Kyle Anderson, our director of sales and marketing, and our staff writer Rachel Crick as they explore the area with our River Region hosts. Highlights of the five-day tour will include:

• Christmas on the River — Discover the Festival of Bonfires, a traditional Cajun holiday celebration in Louisiana’s River Parishes.

• Holidays at Houmas House — Explore this historic mansion, along with its 38 acres of grounds and gardens, all lavishly decorated for Christmas in Ascension Parish.

• Holiday Swamp Tour — Get to know the beauty of the bayou and the creatures that live there on this boat tour in Jefferson Parish.

• Das Schulerhaus Gift Gallery & Christmas Boutique — Spend time browsing Christmas merchandise and other seasonal items at this shop on Louisiana’s Northshore.

• Magical Christmas Village — Enjoy holiday lights, live entertainment, food and craft vendors on Kenner’s historic riverfront.

• Christmas at the Rise — Immerse yourself in a winter wonderland of lights and interactive experiences at this holiday attraction in Tangipahoa Parish.

Your hotel accommodations, meals, admissions and other expenses will be covered by our River Region hosts. Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the area.

You can apply to attend this FAM tour at grouptravelleader.com/louisiana-christmas-fam. Space is limited to 10 travel planners; application deadline is October 15.

Don’t miss this opportunity to join us December 8-12 in Louisiana’s River Region!

Join Us for a Holiday Trip to Louisiana’s River Region

DECEMBER 8-12, 2023

REGISTRATION CLOSES: OCTOBER 15

You can apply to attend this FAM tour at: GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM/ LOUISIANA-CHRISTMAS-FAM

If you have any questions, call Kyle at 859-253-0455. WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

Festival of Bonfires in the River Parishes

The Candy Bank in Louisiana’s Northshore

Holidays at Houmas House

Kenner’s Magical Christmas Village

A Jefferson Parish swamp tour

Christmas at the Rise in Tangipahoa Parish

HO L I D AYS

Louisiana’s River Region IN S S

Find SEEK

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Women in traditional Amish attire

An Amish store in Middlebury

A meal at Das Dutchman Essenhaus

THESE FIVE PLACES DELIVER FAITH-BASED FUN

BY RACHEL CRICK

Destinations that emphasize simpler ways of living, offer wholesome entertainment, feature friendly faces and serve homestyle cooking have long appealed to faith-based travelers. Add natural beauty and religious attractions, and these faith-based groups find much to praise. Here are some destinations that deliver what the faithful seek.

Amish Country, Indiana

Elkhart County, Indiana, is a collection of small towns and communities in the northern part of the state. The county has a strong connection to Amish and Mennonite culture and its reputation for craftsmanship, art and farmland.

“The appeal of Amish Country is the idea that the Amish, because of their views on technology, live a simple life,” said Terry Mark, director of communications and public relations at the Elkhart County, Indiana, Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Compared to the life that a lot of people are accustomed to, it’s a much different lifestyle.”

Shopping is abundant in Amish Country, with “shingle shops,” small shops on Amish farmsteads where furniture and other goods are sold, as well as shopping destinations like Coppes Commons, a reclaimed cabinet factory where popcorn, ice cream, pretzels and other baked goods are sold in shops and eateries. The Evelyn Lehman Culp Heritage Museum at the Nappanee Center is home to a large collection of works by Emma Schrock, a well-known Amish painter. In the summer, Quilt Gardens, gardens throughout the area designed to resemble quilt patterns, brighten the landscape.

Dining in Amish Country delivers traditional favorites. Groups can arrange to have a home-cooked

FAITH BASED TRAVEL

meal in an Amish home or visit Middlebury’s Das Dutchman Essenhaus, the largest restaurant in Indiana, for Amish favorites like fried chicken, roast beef and mashed potatoes with homemade pies for dessert.

VISITELKHARTCOUNTY.COM

Dallas

Dallas is known for its sports teams, Tex-Mex cuisine, shopping, a massive state fair and a lively arts and music scene, a combination that appeals to faith-based groups.

“It’s a very family-friendly city,” said Andrea Coker, director of communications at Visit Dallas. “We’re in the heart of the Bible Belt, and there are ways to see beauty that God made right here in Dallas.”

Among the beauty spots are the Dallas Arboretum and its 66 acres of trails and botanical gardens, as well as the Dallas Zoo, the largest zoo in the state, where more than 2,000 animals live in habitats built across 106 acres.

Art excursions can go in different directions. Guided tours of the Museum of Biblical Art showcase its collection of art with Biblical themes and subjects. The Dallas Museum of Art displays works by Jackson Pollock, Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia

O’Keeffe, Claude Monet and other notable artists. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science’s five floors of exhibits examine subjects like dinosaurs, engineering and outer space.

Near the Perot Museum, Meso Maya Comida y Copas serves tasty authentic Mexican food, like carne asada and pollo con mole. The Exchange Food Hall, an upscale food hall in the AT&T Discovery District, gives tour members the chance to choose from among 11 restaurants and two bars.

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The Dallas Arboretum

COURTESY VISIT DALLAS

Branson, Missouri

A hub for lively fun in the serene Ozark mountains, Branson, Missouri, has been entertaining for a long time. This town of about 13,000 residents on the White River is visited by 10 million people each year. Tourism has been its major industry for over 100 years, and for good reason. “There’s nothing in Branson you can’t take your three-year-old or your 103-year-old grandma to,” said Yvonne Long, senior sales manager at the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We live in a wonderful bubble of Midwestern values and faith and family.”

One of Branson’s top attractions is Silver Dollar City, a 100-acre theme park that’s a throwback to the 1880s. It combines demonstrations by craftsmen with amusement park rides and live entertainment. Groups can see a show, enjoy 1880s-themed meals and ride rollercoasters. With 40 theaters and approximately 110 shows, Branson is definitely a theater town, and it has several shows that appeal to faithbased groups in particular. Sight and Sound Theatre tells stories from the Bible, while Dolly Parton’s Stampede combines musical theater with homestyle cooking and extravagant stunts.

The Ozarks scenery and city’s three lakes bring people outdoors. The Top of the Rock has golf courses and wide views as well as a natural history museum. Pink Jeep Tours go off-road to see the mountains up close. With a host of other attractions, from the Titanic Museum to the Aquarium at the Boardwalk, groups won’t run out of ways to fill their time in Branson.

EXPLOREBRANSON.COM

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Charlotte

A roller coaster at Silver Dollar City

COURTESY BRANSON/LAKES AREA CVB

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COURTESY BRANSON/LAKES AREA CVB

Charlotte, North Carolina

Some 2.6 million people call the Charlotte metropolitan area home. But this city’s size doesn’t diminish its hospitable spirit, especially for faithbased travelers.

“We’re nestled in the southeastern corner of the Bible Belt, and we have over 700 churches in and around Charlotte,” said Chacara Harvin, travel trade marketing manager at the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. “We have that gracious spirit and welcoming environment.”

One of Charlotte’s most iconic attractions, especially for religious groups, is the Billy Graham Library. The library and museum honor one of the best-known evangelists of all time and share his message of faith and Christian values. Set on 20 acres, the library is shaped like a barn to remind of Graham’s childhood on a dairy farm. After an interactive, multimedia tour, groups can stop at the Graham Brothers’ Dairy Bar for barbecue or homemade ice cream. Not far down the road, they’ll find the Graham Family Homeplace, the house where Graham grew up, which is also available for tours.

To discover even more about Graham’s life, C-Charlotte Tours takes groups through the city, stopping at sites relevant to Graham’s life, including the Bank of America Stadium, where Graham held his last four Crusade events in the 1990s. Groups that visit around the holidays can check out light displays at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. Charlotte’s culinary scene is a delicious delight. Supperland, in two historic church buildings, is a fusion of church potluck and steakhouse cuisine. Groups can also grab a bite at Nana Morrison’s Soul Food, known for its smothered pork chops and candied yams, or catch dinner with a show at NarroWay Productions.

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VISIT INDIANA’S TOP GROUP DESTINATION

Step into the heart of Amish Country and experience true Hoosier Hospitality at Das Dutchman Essenhaus.

- family-style dining

- unique shopping at the Village Shops

- peaceful carriage rides

- generously-sized guest rooms

- deluxe hot breakfast

- baggage handling

Experience all the sights, sounds and flavors of Fall

Groups love the Fall, Food & Fun Tour in Amish Country where you tour Indiana’s largest apple orchard, see flour ground at Indiana’s oldest operating grist mill and dine in a famous retro diner. Include the popular guided Fall Treats & Color Backroads Tour along the Heritage Trail

Traditional southern cooking in Branson

The Billy Graham Library

Branson’s Titanic Museum Attraction

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

One of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee’s biggest draws is its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the busiest national parks in the country. The mountains are a majestic backdrop to the city and an attraction in and of themselves both for hikers and those who simply like to take in the views.

In addition to natural beauty, Pigeon Forge offers a likeminded community for faith-based travelers.

“If they’re a faith-based group, they feel at home here because there’s a kindred spirit,” said Mike Gwinn, senior sales manager at the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism. “It’s very welcoming, and they can sense God’s presence here.”

Many people come to Pigeon Forge to go to Dollywood, Tennessee’s number-one ticketed attraction. Known for a wholesome atmosphere and live music, Dollywood’s dinner shows have themes that range from pirates to the Hatfield and McCoy feud.

The city also is known for its shopping and entertainment districts. Among them is the Island in Pigeon Forge, an amusement park with rides and plenty of local shops and boutiques. Another is the Old Mill Square, the site of a historic mill which is on the National Register of Historic Places. There, groups can enjoy traditional Southern favorites at the Old Mill Restaurant, the Old Mill Pottery House Café and the Old Mill Creamery and visit the district’s general store, pottery store and other shops.

MYPIGEONFORGE.COM

The Great Smoky Mountains

PHOTOS

The Island Entertainment District

“If they’re a faith-based group, they feel at home here because there’s a kindred spirit. It’s very welcoming, and they can sense God’s presence here.”

— MIKE GWINN, PIGEON FORGE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

A group enjoys a horseback tour of the beautiful landscape surrounding Cody, Wyoming.

DESTINATION TRAVEL BIG

WYOMING AWAITS YOUR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS

BY CYNTHIA BARNES

Hold on to your (cowboy) hat when you visit Wyoming. The 44th state’s rugged Western heritage and untamed wilderness promise a wild ride.

Wyoming is the tenth-largest state by area but the least-populated state in the union. Its name is from the Delaware tribe’s word for “land of vast plains,” a wide-open claim that still holds true.

High-rises? You won’t find many. Hot springs and horses? Wyoming has too many to count. And even cowboys like comfort, so there are enough luxurious lodgings and delicious dining options to satisfy even the most sophisticated city slickers. Throw in spectacular scenery, friendly locals and world-class national parks and it all adds up to a destination sure to delight groups.

CHEYENNE

Tucked in the southeastern corner of the state, the capital city proclaims that it’s “Where Wyoming Begins.” Staying true to its cowboy credo, Cheyenne is home to Frontier Days, the largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration in the world. Each year, more than 200,000 people descend on Cheyenne during in the last two weekends of July for rodeos, a carnival and performances by some of the biggest names in music.

Beyond Frontier Days, visitors can also experience the best of the Old West at the Hell on Wheels Rodeo and Chuck Wagon Dinner series held throughout the summer. No hardtack served here. Instead, there’s a feast of cowboy-approved delicacies like brisket, beans, coleslaw and cobbler served before a 90-minute rodeo featuring bull riding, steer wrestling and much more. Groups can reserve tables and stadium seating so that everyone can enjoy the event together.

“We offer a truly authentic Western destination that still is in a modern city,” said Jim Walter, vice president of Visit Cheyenne. “With the advent of shows like ‘Yellowstone’ and ‘1893,’ you can experience the romantic notions

of today’s Western lifestyle and immerse yourself in the history and the modern culture that is the West.”

Visitors will also want to ride the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley, which offers tours throughout the year that highlight the town’s rich history. After busy days, Little America Hotel and Resort offers spacious and comfortable accommodations as well as shops, a golf course and an impressive collection of Western art.

CHEYENNE.ORG

SHERIDAN

Sheridan, halfway between Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore in the Big Horn Mountains near the border of Montana, is rich in old West history and culture. It’s also the unlikely home of America’s premier polo facility. The sport of kings has been played here since the late 1800s, when brothers William and Malcolm Moncreiffe, sons of a Scottish lord, brought the noble game to this otherwise rough-and-tumble outpost. Other royalty who came to enjoy the ponies and the spectacular scenery include Ernest Hemingway, Teddy Roosevelt, Cary Grant and Queen Elizabeth II.

“All of our [polo] games are free and open to the public,” said Shawn Parker, executive director of Sheridan Travel and Tourism. “But we have a lot more to offer. Buffalo Bill used to audition acts for his Wild West Show at the historic Sheridan Inn, and our entire downtown is exceptional.”

Sheridan is well worth a leisurely stroll, with 46 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. A stop at King’s Saddlery, one of the best tack shops in the world, offers shopping for handmade leather goods and a visit to the onsite museum with its a collection of Western artifacts. A gourmet sandwich at Sackett’s Market or a brick oven pizza slice at Big Horn Mercantile make a tasty lunch.

Groups will appreciate the accommodations and activities at Eatons’ Ranch, the oldest “dude ranch” in the nation. The ranch is 17 miles from Sheridan and has horseback riding, fly fishing and its own secluded swimming hole, along with dining, dancing and a children’s program.

SHERIDANWYOMING.ORG

COURTESY CODY YELLOWSTONE

COURTESY SHERIDAN TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Cody’s Shoshone Lodge and Guest Ranch

BY MATTHEW IDLER, COURTESY VISIT CHEYENNE

A mountain lake near Sheridan

An event in Cheyenne’s Depot Square

CODY

“Buffalo Bill” was the nickname of William Frederick Cody, and in 1901, the Wild West showman founded the town that bears his name. A year later, he built a hotel and named it after his daughter Irma. Visitors can stay there and visit one of the five museums comprising the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

But there’s much more to Cody than Cody himself.

“We have incredible landscapes, wildlife and history for the experience of a lifetime,” said Ryan Hauck, executive director of Cody Yellowstone (the Park County Travel Council). “Tread ‘n Trails offers on-road and off-road tours that are great for groups. Our free Sippin’ Trail Pass lets you win prizes while checking out some of our great breweries and cocktail bars and our wonderful food scene.”

(Don’t miss the mushroom-laden and truffle oil-drizzled Fungi Pizza at the Trailhead Restaurant.)

Thirty minutes from Cody, the Kirwin Ghost Town has a dozen historic buildings to wander through, and Amelia Earhart’s vacation cabin is a short hike away.

CODYYELLOWSTONE.ORG

By Wagon Train or MotorCoach, Every Road Leads to Adventure

COURTESY CODY YELLOWSTONE

COURTESY CODY YELLOWSTONE

A group ATV tour near Cody

Trail rides at Cody’s Shoshone Lodge

Cheyenne’s Big Boots public art project

COURTESY VISIT CHEYENNE

When planning a group tour that includes a Wyoming destination, we’d like to extend a little taste of Western Hospitality. Send us your itinerary, and we will send you a box with some helpful guides, a That’s WY plush, and a handful of giveaways for the entire group.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Old Faithful is only the beginning. Yellowstone, America’s first national park, established in 1872, is larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined. Its almost 3,500 square miles of pristine wilderness are a hot-water wonderland of steam vents, mudpots, hot springs and geysers — the site of half of all the known geothermal features on the globe. The park is also a veritable safari of North American wildlife, home to more than 60 species including grizzly bears, bald eagles, bison (almost 6,000 at latest count), wolves and elk.

Groups can explore more than 1,000 miles of hiking trails on foot or on horseback; take in the highlights from an open-air vehicle; enjoy a scenic lake cruise; or join an expert photographer to capture their own images of landscapes and animals. Lodging options include historic hotels and inns, comfortable modern cabins and, just outside the park, multiple glamping options in luxurious tents, Airstreams and more. All the outdoor activities whet appetites for dinner buffets in log cabin ambiance at the Old Faithful Inn Dining Room. Don’t miss the Huckleberry Barbecue Chicken and save room for the bread pudding.

NPS.GOV/YELL

JACKSON

Often called Jackson Hole, this scenic mountain town lies in the shadow of the majestic Grand Teton. At almost 14,000 feet, it’s the highest peak in the Teton Range, which extends 40 miles across northwestern Wyoming. The town and its surrounding valley are beloved by celebrities — Harrison Ford and Sandra Bullock are just two who have homes here — and skiers who come for the powdery snow piling up at the area’s three resorts. Great photo opportunities can be had at the town’s rustic square, which is bordered by four arches made from elk antlers. Many of the antlers are collected from the National Elk Refuge, located a mile from downtown. After strolling the chic galleries and shops around the square, tuck into smoked trout dip accompanied by hand-crafted beers at Snake River Brewing, the state’s oldest brewpub.

COURTESY NPS

COURTESY NPS

COURTESY NPS

One of the peaks at Grand Teton National Park near Jackson

Old Faithful Inn inside Yellowstone National Park Lupines blooming in Grand Teton National Park

ARTWORK BY DONIA SIMMONS

Jackson is best known as the gateway to Grand Teton National Park.

“This is one of the best parks in the country for hiking.” said C.J. Adams, public affairs specialist at the park. “We had quite a winter, and the wildflowers are incredible. The water levels on Jackson Lake are higher this year, so there are also great opportunities to get out on the water.”

In addition to hiking, visitors can splash in cold lakes, float down the Snake River, test their balance on stand-up paddleboards or explore high Alpine meadows on horseback. And Jackson Hole doesn’t roll up the sidewalks at sunset. Music lovers can listen to live acts seven nights a week at the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, where the bar is lined with saddles instead of stools. When the bars close, groups can gather around campfires in rustic but comfortable cabins or lounge in five-star luxury at exclusive resorts.

VISITJACKSONHOLE.COM

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A Yellowstone bison

COURTESY JACKSON HOLE TTB

Jackson Hole’s Million Dollar Cowboy Bar

Round up your group for some rip-roarin’ excitement from the likes of Cheyenne Frontier Days and Hell on Wheels in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western Celebration and the chuck wagon dinner and rodeo series are complemented by the thriving Wild West lifestyle found in our sophisticated city.

Wyoming starts here. Live the Legend in Cheyenne. Cheyenne.org

BOTH SIDES NOW

GROUPS ARE BRIDGING CINCINNATI AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY

BY CARRIE MCLAREN

In the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati region, groups can break out the walking shoes and explore two states in one visit. The Ohio River splits the region and many of Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati’s top attractions are located near the riverfront. With green spaces, restaurants, nightlife and hotels for all budgets, it is easy to build an itinerary along both sides of the river.

Groups will find abundant opportunities for fun on both sides of the Ohio River in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

STINGRAYS, SHARKS, PENGUINS AND MORE

At Newport on the Levee in Newport, Kentucky, the Newport Aquarium has welcomed visitors to explore the underwater world since 1999. It is home to hundreds of marine species, including penguins, stingrays and sharks. Among its highlights is the world’s first and only Shark Bridge, a rope bridge that challenges visitors to walk inches above tank where sharks, rays and more than 300 fish live. For hands-on adventures, the Stingray Touch, Tide Pool and 5,000-gallon Shark Touch Tank let visitors feel underwater creatures and learn about their natural habitats.

Nearby, 85 feet of tunnels walk through a 385,000-gallon tank amid schools of fish, sea turtles and plenty of sharks in the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit. The aquarium’s Coral Reef Tunnel is home to over 50 species of fish and brightly colored coral.

At group dinners, biologists can give presentations or guests can dine alongside sharks. The popular Penguin and Shark Breakfast, a buffet for groups of 30 or more, is held before the aquarium opens to the public. Dinners in the aquarium’s Riverside Room come with views of the Cincinnati skyline.

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EXPLORE THE PAST AND PRESENT

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, located on the Ohio River, explores Cincinnati’s role in the Underground Railroad, when thousands of slaves crossed the Ohio River to seek freedom. The museum tells those stories as well as others of more modern-day efforts to free enslaved people.

The center’s largest and most significant artifact is a slave pen, built in the early 1800s and moved from a farm in Mason County, Kentucky, less than 60 miles from the Freedom Center. The structure held slaves waiting to be sold farther South. The center’s Harriet Tubman Theater shows “Suite for Freedom,” a visual experience set to music that tells the stories of the Underground Railroad and struggles to escape slavery.

“Here at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, we are more focused on the model of having docents located throughout the building, allowing guests to learn the stories and ask questions,” said Cody Hefner, vice president of marketing and communications for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. “Some may be surprised to see the museum in Cincinnati, but it is on the banks of our city where many had their first taste of freedom.”

BB Riverboats on the Ohio River

Roebling Bridge and the Cincinnati skyline

A ray encounter at Newport Aquarium

COURTESY ALIAS IMAGING

COURTESY NEWPORT AQUARIUM

COURTESY NEWPORT AQUARIUM

Inside a Newport Aquarium exhibit tank

The slave pen at Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

BY MARK BEALER, COURTESY NURFC

COURTESY ALIAS IMAGING

ROLLING ON THE RIVER

A cruise along the Ohio River with BB Riverboats is a good way to see development along the Kentucky and Ohio sides of the river. The company has plied those waters since 1980 and has two boats in its fleet, the River Queen and the larger Belle of Cincinnati. A variety of sightseeing and dinner cruises depart from Riverboat Row in Newport.

Themed cruises range from: ice cream socials; history sightseeing tours; music and sunset sailings; a Dixieland Jazz brunch cruise; and more upscale voyages like the Captain’s Dinner Cruise, which includes a DJ for dancing the night away.

BB Riverboats offers group pricing for groups of 15 or more and customized experiences, with add-ons that include entertainment, flowers and décor onboard, souvenirs for guests, an event coordinator and special pricing for dining and bar packages.

“We were a restaurant family before we were a riverboat family,” said Nancy Willhoite, the company’s director of sales. “We understand the importance of good food. You’ll also find plenty of bus parking in Northern Kentucky and hotels for all price points here. We love welcoming groups aboard the riverboats.”

Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame

HEY BATTER, BATTER

Groups can root for the home team at the Great American Ballpark and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

“Baseball and Cincinnati are synonymous,” said Rick Wall, executive director of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. “We are home to the largest team hall of fame with over 15,000 square feet and 7,000 artifacts on display. Word is getting out that we are the best hall of fame around.”

The hall of fame is adjacent to the ballpark, so there is access to the museum whether groups go to a game or not. Guided tours of the ballpark include complimentary admission to the hall of fame, where visitors can learn about the 1869 Red Stockings and explore exhibits like Pursuit of a Dream, which details the Negro Leagues and the integration of baseball. It includes stories told by Chuck Harmon, the first African American player in Reds history.

Groups of 15 or more have another option. On Sundays when the Reds have away games, there’s Brunch, Brews and Baseball at nearby Moerlein Lager House. The brunch includes a flight of beers and a tour of the brewing operation. Afterward, guests can tour the Reds Hall of Fame and the Great American Ball Park.

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Oklahoma Octaves

MUSIC AND MUSICIANS FIND HOMES IN THE SOONER STATE

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Many of the world’s most famous musicians and songwriters got their start in Oklahoma, so the state’s amazing music experiences shouldn’t come as a surprise. Group travelers can experience the early days of Oklahoma’s Red Dirt music scene, learn more about musical legends Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, and explore the origins of one of country music’s most famous instruments, the banjo.

RED DIRT MUSIC Stillwater

Red Dirt is a genre of country music that gets its name from the color of the soil found in Oklahoma. It usually includes a guitar, fiddle, steel guitar, Dobro, harmonica, bass guitar, drums, mandolin and banjo. The music got its start outside Stillwater in 1979 at a twostory farmhouse known as The Farm, which launched the careers of storied musicians such as Bob Childers (known as the Father of Red Dirt music), Tom Skinner, Jason Boland and Stoney LaRue.

Group travelers who want to hear Red Dirt music and learn more about its roots can visit during Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café, Oklahoma’s largest homegrown songwriters festival. The 2023 event in May had five stages with acoustic sets from 70 Oklahoma songwriters. Live music venues, like Tumbleweed Dancehall and Concert Arena, Willie’s Saloon and The Salty Bronc Saloon, are also a big part of Stillwater’s Red Dirt music scene.

Tumbleweed Dancehall opened in 1980 and is known for hosting legendary and up-and-coming Red Dirt and country music performers. It has the largest wooden dance floor in the state.

Group visitors can tour the venues or meet local musicians, such as Monica Taylor, a well-known musician and storyteller. Stillwater is also home to two other large Red Dirt music festivals, Calf Fry and Outside City Limits.

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Oklahoma City’s American Banjo Museum

OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM Muskogee

The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum pays tribute to many of the big-name artists who got their start in the state, including Woody Guthrie, Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Kristin Chenoweth, Merle Haggard and Neil Schon from Journey. Since 1997, the hall of fame has inducted more than 100 of the world’s most famous musicians, artists and songwriters with ties to the state. Its goal is to educate the public about these home-grown artists and promote their musical legacy.

The building the museum is housed in was originally a train station, so there are train tracks on both sides of the building and a caboose connected to it.

The museum is hidden in a corner of Muskogee, across from Depot Green, a downtown park where festivals and events are held. Local radio station Okie Country 101.7 recently relocated to the hall of fame, bringing in fans for a visit. Visitors can watch the DJs in action from behind the glass.

The museum is relatively small and takes about an hour to tour. The rest of the museum is dedicated to live events and shows. Groups that want to time their visit with a specific show can visit the hall of fame’s social media pages for a schedule of events.

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Experience the Cherokee story, through centuries of ingenuity, determination and sovereignty, in a customized tour for your group. One Nation. Ten Attractions. Endless Adventure.

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A creativity experience at the Bob Dylan Experience

A Bob Dylan Center exhibit

BY ALYSSA HEI, COURTESY LAKE CO. COC

Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum

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CHEROKEE NATIONAL HISTORY

MUSEUM, TAHLEQUAH, OK

BOB DYLAN CENTER Tulsa

The Bob Dylan Center opened to the public in May 2022, steps away from the Woody Guthrie Center in the Tulsa Arts District. Visitors to the museum can see more than 100,000 artifacts from the Bob Dylan Archive, including hand-written lyrics to some of Dylan’s most famous songs, previously unreleased recordings, never-before-seen film performances and plenty of photographs and visual art spanning his seven-decade career.

The archive features notebooks and correspondence, recording session reports, contracts and sheet music. Along with artifacts and stories from Dylan’s life, the museum has an immersive experience that merges archival music and film, as well as a re-creation of an authentic recording studio where visitors can experience what it was like to be present for one of the artist’s recording sessions. The Columbia Records Gallery provides an in-depth look at the creation, performance and production timeline of Dylan songs, such as “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Tangled Up in Blue,” and “Chimes of Freedom.”

A screening room showcases films, documentaries and concert performances by or about Dylan. The newest exhibit, Becoming Bob Dylan: Photographs by Ted Russell 1961-1964, opened April 26, and will run through October 15, 2023. It features rare images of Dylan from his early years in New York City. Many fans wondered why the Minnesotan’s archives ended up in Tulsa. The answer? He liked the “casual hum of the heartland.”

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WOODY GUTHRIE CENTER Tulsa

The Woody Guthrie Center, in the Tulsa Arts District, is easily identifiable. A giant mural of the singer, holding his famous guitar and honoring his most famous song “This Land is Your Land,” is painted on the museum’s side. The mural is one of the most photographed sites in Oklahoma and Tulsa. The center is in the city’s historic downtown, home to museums, art galleries, parks and other attractions.

The museum is “really dedicated to spreading the message of diversity, equity and justice,” said Cady Shaw, director of the Woody Guthrie Center. “In today’s world, with intolerance and violence on the rise, it is a message of positivity to all generations. He spoke for people who didn’t have a platform to speak for themselves. He would write about it, sing about it and draw pictures about it.”

The museum features exhibits highlighting the life and legacy of Guthrie. There is an exhibit about the Dust Bowl and Black Sunday, the worst storm in U.S. history, and its impact on Guthrie, who lived through it.

Interactive exhibits bring his history to life, and artifacts from his storied career are showcased throughout, including some of his musical instruments and hand-written lyrics for “This Land is Your Land.” Groups can take a guided tour through the museum’s exhibits with time to roam afterward.

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AMERICAN BANJO MUSEUM Oklahoma City

In Oklahoma City, the 21,000-square-foot American Banjo Museum’s mission is to preserve and promote the banjo as a musical instrument while expanding appreciation for its history and music. About 400 instruments are on display, as well as recordings, films and videos.

One of the museum’s founders, Jack Canine, played banjo and collected gorgeous instruments from the 1920s and 1930s, which were decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays and bedazzled with jewels. At one time, he considered leaving his collection to the Smithsonian, but he wanted them to stay together, preserved so people could see them, not collecting dust on a shelf or in a damp garage where they could be warped and damaged.

In 1998, he and Midwest City attorney Brady Hunt founded the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame Museum to honor the four-stringed instrument associated with the jazz of the 1920s and early 1930s. The museum has since expanded to tell nearly 400 years of the instrument’s history and its many forms and styles, including its origins among enslaved Africans.

The museum houses many banjos played by famous people, including a custom banjo that was gifted to Steve Martin in 2005 as part of the Mark Twain Prize. Groups can take self-guided tours or sign up for a guided tour of the museum that includes lunch and a four-string ragtime jazz show performed by museum executive director Johnny Baier.

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Historic instruments on display at the American Banjo Museum

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Woody Guthrie Center

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DON’T MISS A BEAT ON YOUR ROUTE 66 RETREAT

ARE

Main Streets OK

GROUPS LIVE LARGE IN THESE SMALL TOWNS

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Oklahoma’s small towns have big stories to tell. Visits to these five lesser-known destinations are a way to travel back in time and learn more about the Dust Bowl, the discovery of oil or what it was like for Native Americans who settled in Oklahoma after surviving the Trail of Tears. Adventures often veer off the beaten path, with plenty of outdoor recreation, music and culture.

Bartlesville

Bartlesville is best known for two attractions: the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, a 3,600-acre facility founded by Frank Phillips, owner of Phillips Petroleum Company, and Price Tower, the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed office building ever built.

Woolaroc was Phillips’ country home, a lodge where he entertained guests and made deals for Phillips 66. A museum on property houses the Phillips’ collection of Native American artifacts, Western art, bronze statues and an impressive gun collection.

The Price Tower was built by H.C. Price, owner of a local pipeline company. The top floor of the 19-story office building housed Price’s office and included retail and living spaces. Guided tours take groups through the top three floors of the tower, including an apartment preserved as it would have looked when the building was constructed.

BY LORI DUCKWORTH, COURTESY OK TOURISM

BY LORI DUCKWORTH, COURTESY OK TOURISM

Groups may also want to visit the Nellie Johnstone No. 1, the state’s first commercial oil well, and Prairie Song Pioneer Village in nearby Dewey, a recreated 1800s village with 30 buildings, including a saloon, a one-room schoolhouse and a homestead cabin. The village is in the middle of a working ranch from the same era, which provides a peek at what life was like back then. Another popular group experience is a Native American Style Show, put on by the Bartlesville Indian Women’s Club, which shows regalia from different tribes including the Osage, Delaware and Cherokee nations.

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A restaurant in Sulphur

Azaleas blooming in Muskogee

Claremore

Will Rogers put Claremore on the map. He and his wife purchased 20 acres on the west side of town, hoping to build a home to retire in, but that never happened. After Rogers passed away, his wife deeded the property to the state of Oklahoma and, in return, the state built the Will Rogers Memorial Museum there.

The museum sits on a hill overlooking Claremore, and its galleries emphasize different roles Roger played throughout his life, from radio commentator and newspaper reporter to trick roper and vaudeville actor. A Will Rogers reenactor meets groups when they arrive to take them through the museum and answer questions.

Claremore is the county seat, and it is connected to several communities along historic Route 66. Several Route 66 tours are available from Chelsea on the North end of Rogers County to the famous Blue Whale, a waterfront landmark in Catoosa. Oklahoma has 44 drivable miles of Route 66, more than any other state, lined with local shops and eateries.

The Tulsa Port of Catoosa is a hidden gem. On the Verdigris River, it is the furthest inland port in the U.S., covering parts of Rogers and Tulsa counties. During driving tours, a guide will step on the motorcoach and lead the group through the port, talking about its economic impact, jobs and more.

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Sulphur

Sulphur sits at the entrance to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, which Native Americans call “the land of rippling waters” because of its mineral waters, streams, lakes and swimming holes. The recreation area, with swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, camping and hiking, is a big draw.

Group travelers will want to start their visit to the recreation area at the Travertine Nature Center, where exhibits explain the forest and prairie ecosystem of southern Oklahoma as well as its water resources, geology, wildlife and plants. There are also live reptiles, fish and amphibians to meet. Lake of the Arbuckles is the largest body of water in the park, and the Historic Platt District, which was Platt National Park until 1976, has many waterfalls.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center focuses on the history and culture of the Chickasaw people, and its Chikasha Inchokka’ Traditional Village teaches groups about what life was like in an 18th-century Chickasaw village. It recreates a Council House, two summer houses, two winter houses, a mound, a corn crib, a stickball field and a stockade fence. Cultural demonstrations include traditional art, storytelling, cooking, stomp dance, stickball and language.

To learn more about Sulphur, groups can visit the Arbuckle Historical Museum or head to either of two resorts: the Artesian Hotel, Casino and Sole’renity Spa or Echo Canyon Spa Resort.

Muskogee

Muskogee got its start as a trading post because of its strategic location at the confluence of the Arkansas, Verdigris and Grand rivers. Five Native American tribes that survived the Trail of Tears — the Muscogee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee and Seminole — settled in the area and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum is devoted to the art, culture and history of the tribes.

A favorite destination for groups, the Castle of Muskogee and its accompanying Renaissance Village, is 60 acres of fun. In the castle, there’s a dungeon, torture chamber and catacombs to explore, while the village has three pirate ships, a mermaid cove, a faery boardwalk, a jousting arena, a working clock tower and an Italian piazza. No surprise, the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival is held there.

Muskogee War Memorial Park, home to the USS Batfish, a World War II submarine that was responsible for sinking three enemy submarines and 11 other enemy vessels, is a popular tour stop. The park also displays cannons, a Howitzer, missiles and other military artifacts. Three Rivers Museum tells how the Three Rivers region of Oklahoma developed. The historic Thunderbird Speedway is a sanctioned NASCAR Home Track and part of the Whelen AllAmerican weekly racing series.

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COURTESY VISIT BARTLESVILLE

Bartlesville’s Price Tower is the only skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Sulphur sits at the entrance to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, which Native Americans call “the land of rippling waters.”

A Route 66 mural in Claremore

COURTESY VISIT CLAREMORE

A Chickasaw stickball game in Sulphur

Eufaula

Eufaula is an outdoor lover’s playground, thanks in part to its position on Lake Eufaula, which was built for flood control, but over the years, migrated to recreation. Its 600 miles of shoreline provide plenty of options for water sports like boating, kayaking, swimming, water skiing and fishing. Lake Eufaula State Park’s diverse foliage and wildlife make it a popular hiking and mountain biking destination. Groups can learn more about native animals and plant species through naturalist programs at Deep Fork Nature Center or enjoy an 18-hole disc golf course at Hummingbird Beach.

The Fountainhead Creek Golf Course has views of the lake, a putting green and pro shop.

Eufaula’s quaint downtown and Main Street have many buildings that date to its founding in 1872, before Oklahoma was even a state. Antique shops, restaurants, coffee shop, art gallery and a Made in Oklahoma store make it “a little piece of Americana or a little slice of Hallmark experience,” said Jeb Jones, Eufaula’s city manager. The town also has the oldest active newspaper in the state.

A short drive from town is Robbers Cave State Park, whose caves were once a reported hideout for some of the most notorious outlaws after the Civil War, including the Youngers, Daltons and Jesse James. The Honey Springs Battlefield in nearby Checotah is another popular destination.

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BY LACI SCHWOEGLER, COURTESY RETROSPEC FILMS COURTESY VISIT BARTLESVILLE

Bartlesville Union Depot

A Muskogee brewery

Historic downtown Eufaula

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Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

First Americans Museum