The Group Travel Leader July August 2018

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NEW IN MISSISSIPPI

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When your tour guide really doesn’t have to say anything.

GIBBS GARDENS Ball Ground

Plan an unforgettable vacation for your next group tour. Make it fun, fill it with adventure. Embrace the culture, the taste, nightlife and picture-perfect scenery at every turn. Because in Georgia, the experiences are endless and they are all Pretty. Sweet. Plan your trip today at ExploreGeorgia.org/Groups.

Find Your Rhythm Jus t

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Albany GA provides the perfect ensemble of Civil Rights history, natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and exciting family attractions. And if that’s not enough, we’ll jazz things up with an array of amazing local food made from scratch. You’ll find all this and more just off I-75, when you take a detour from the expected in Albany GA.

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history A ND nature flow

DiscoverAlbanyGA.com

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table ofCONTENTS VOL 27 | ISSUE 7

OKLAHOMA

6 EDITOR’S MARKS

SPECIAL SECTION

14 C H A N G I N G H O R I Z O N S

OKLAHOMA CITY

NEWS

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ENID

8 FA M I LY M AT T E R S

BARTLESVILLE

10 I N D U S T R Y N E W S

ELK CITY

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L AW T O N N AT I V E A M E R I C A N H E R I TA G E

O N THE COVE R

A steam engine pulls a train along Oregon’s scenic Sumpter Valley Railway. Photo by Bruce McCammon.

FEATURES

Touchdown!

FALL TRAVEL MEANS FOOTBALL EXPERIENCES FOR GROUPS.

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Icons of

ARKANSAS The northwest portion of the state is home to many essential Arkansas destinations.

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GEORGIA FAM

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MISSISSIPPI SPOTLIGHT

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FAMILY TRAIN TRIPS

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

Founder and Publisher Partner Executive Editor Senior Writer Creative Director Online Editor

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CHRISTINE CLOUGH SAVANNAH OSBOURN KELLY TYNER KYLE ANDERSON DANIEL JEAN-LEWIS ASHLEY RICKS

Copy Editor Staff Writer Director of Sales & Marketing Account Manager Account Manager Marketing & Circulation Manager

888.253.0455

KELLY@GROUPTR AVELLEADER.COM

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 travelrelated 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) 253-0455 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.

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EDITOR’S T HE

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t’s amazing how small gestures can help turn a bad situation around.

My family and I came home from vacation a few weeks ago to discover that a water line in our guest bathroom had sprung a leak. We called our favorite plumber to come stop the leak, but in the process, he had to tear up a portion of the floor and jackhammer through the concrete slab beneath to get to the damaged pipe.

Once he had removed that portion of the floor, we began to get a grip on the extent of the damage. Water had soaked underneath the entire floor of the bathroom, as well as the drywall and baseboard surrounding it, and we would discover later that the water had penetrated the concrete slab foundation and even seeped through the brick on the exterior of our house.

It’s never fun to find damage in your home, especially when you realize that fixing the damage is going to entail an insurance claim, multiple contractors and a hefty amount of cash out of pocket. I was overwhelmed by the situation and unsure of how to begin cleaning up the mess. So we reached out to a friend who works in real estate, and she hooked us up with a water damage specialist that she said was the best in town.

I called the company’s owner, Tina, and within

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half an hour, she and her husband, Paul, were at our house.

Their presence was a breath of fresh air. They knew exactly what to do to start drying out our house and explained every step with kindness and smiles. Their professionalism and calm demeanor immediately made my wife and me feel better about our situation.

While Paul began setting up equipment in the bathroom, Tina sat down with us at our kitchen table and pulled out a small gift bag. Inside was a bundle of goodies: gift cards for pizza, free massages and other services.

“We know this is a stressful time for you,” Tina said, “so we want to do some things for you to help relieve some of that stress.”

We were already impressed with Tina and Paul’s professionalism, but the thoughtfulness of this gesture endeared them to us even more. They weren’t just concerned about taking care of our house — they were concerned about taking care of us.

There’s a lesson here for anyone who works in tourism or hospitality. You’re in the business of helping make people’s travel dreams come true, but sometimes, unforeseen emergencies can turn those dreams into nightmares. And when that happens, how you respond can have a significant impact on their experience.

Many organizations in the travel business do the absolute minimum to help passengers or guests in distress. But you can do better. Don’t just take care of people’s problems; when problems arise, take care of people.

How you care for your customers will depend on your role in the industry.

But whether you give them a helping hand, a listening ear, a free meal, a ride home or a thank-you gift, your small gesture can make a bad day on the road a positive memory.

JULY/AUGUST 2018

ONE MISSISSIPPI. TWO MUSEUMS.

MANY STORIES.

Mississippi is known for storytelling. The new Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum invite visitors inside the state’s rich and complex history.

Come learn the true stories responsible for shaping a state and influencing the world.

VISITMISSISSIPPI.ORG/HISTORY

MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM - JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

FAMILY MATTERS KNOX RE T URNS IN BUSINESS DE VELOPMENT ROLE

CHARLIE PRESLEY, RIGHT, WELCOMES TAMMY KNOX BACK TO THE GROUP TRAVEL FAMILY.

SALEM, Ohio — A travel industry veteran has returned to the group tourism market. The Group Travel Family recently announced that Tammy Knox has joined its staff in business development. Knox is a 20-year veteran of the business and has held top marketing positions in the gaming industry in West Virginia and the hospitality and conventions market in Tennessee.

Knox began her career with the GLAMER Travel Shows and has most recently been involved in the retail floral and wedding industry, where she built a series of locations before selling the business.

“My heart has always been in group travel, and to be back at The Group Travel Family is great,” she said.

“Tammy will be looking forward in our organization and working with industry members in growing their presence in the market,” said Charles Presley, founder of The Group Travel Family.

It is no surprise that on Knox’s third day at work, she traveled to Chicago to help run the African-American Travel Conference, one of The Group Travel Family conferences.

“Tammy knows the needs of the travel industry and simply gets the job done,” Presley said.

Knox can be reached at 800-628-0993 or tknox@grouptravelfamily.com.

TALI TRAVELS VLOG FEATURES GROUP TRAVEL SALEM, Ohio — Group travel is catching the attention of a growing set of younger travelers, as evidenced by the recent video blog by Tali Travels. Tali Travels is a small but growing travel video blog, or vlog, hosted on YouTube by Atalia Shlafer, who also publishes a lifestyle vlog.

Tali Travels is focused on providing timely information on up-to-date travel destinations and travel trends for a younger audience than the stereotypical group travel market. Shlafer caught our eye when she published a vlog titled “Travel Tour Groups Pros and Cons.” The video deals with taking a group tour through the eyes of a

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Generation X or millennial traveler and is a good starting point for people making decisions about group tours.

“I was encouraged to see the group travel subject discussed in a vlog targeted to people under the age of 35,” said Charlie Presley of The Group Travel Family.

The video points out obvious factors such as value and convenience but also discusses the hidden value of traveling with a group: camaraderie.

“It is interesting that a millennial vlogger sees participation with a group as a value,” Presley said.

“That is the open secret of group travel and will con-

tinue to be so for generations of travelers to come.”

The video is one of Shlafer’s most-watched postings and can be viewed on the Tali Travels YouTube channel.

WWW.YOUTUBE.COM

JULY/AUGUST 2018

BOOK THE RIGHT BUS FOR ROAD TRIPS SALEM, Ohio — The U.S. Travel Association predicts that domestic travel is on course for solid growth in 2018.

AARP’s 2018 Travel Trends reports that across generations, the average traveler anticipates about four domestic trips in 2018.

AARP found the top motivation for travel remains spending time with family and friends. But among baby boomers, there was an increase in the categories of “relax and rejuvenate” and “get away from everyday life.” Those motivations fit well with road trips, which were the second-most-popular mode of transportation.

Bus travel can be an appealing road-trip option for many travelers. It provides access to many popular destinations, major cities and off-the-beaten-track attractions with affordable, fuel-efficient travel that lets travelers sit back and enjoy the scenery, with room to stretch.

If you’re considering chartering or booking bus travel for a road trip, ask the bus company about its amenities. Does it offer reclining seats, footrests, satellite radio, DVD players, charging outlets and Wi-Fi? If your passengers have special needs, ask about wheelchair access, including access to the onboard restroom, as well as wheelchair mounts and locking systems.

Many newer buses are incorporating optional safety technology like crash avoidance systems, speed limiters, lane-keeping support and systems that prevent doors opening while the bus is in motion All buses manufactured after November 2016 are outfitted with passenger safety belts, and all your travelers should wear them whenever the bus is moving.

Passengers should also know where to find and how to use onboard safety equipment.

Just as important as safety equipment is the bus company’s commitment to safety, which includes hiring qualified drivers and complying with federal safety requirements. It’s easy to research a bus company’s safety history before booking a trip. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Look Before You Book website provides information, resources and a convenient online research tool.

Learn more, research bus companies and download free bus safety resources for travel planners and passengers at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/lookbeforeyoubook.

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INDUSTRY NEWS TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS HELP RESTORE HURRICANE DAMAGE IN FLORIDA KE YS MARATHON, Florida — Tourism Cares, the philanthropic community of the tourism industry, kicked off its yearlong Uniting for Resilient Destinations volunteer program in May in the Florida Keys.

In the first of two service projects, 150 travel professionals joined local partners at eight sites to support communities impacted by climate change and Hurricane Irma.

Among the work done by the volunteers was helping with a fish survey to help researchers and resource managers further assess the effects of Hurricane Irma on marine ecosystems; helping rebuild an owl enclosure at the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center; diving to monitor diminishing coral and snorkeling to help with fish identification; and assessing reef health as part of a national study.

Others in kayaks helped clean up debris in a canal at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and along the shoreline of Big Pine, while two groups helped with home repairs in neighborhoods in the Middle Keys and Lower Florida Keys and planted and cleaned up at Grimal Grove, a small farm and botanical garden.

In addition to volunteer labor, tools and materials, Tourism Cares donated an additional $35,000 to the nonprofit host projects from its Destination Disaster Recovery Fund.

W W W.T OU R ISMC A R ES .ORG

MORE THAN 150 TOURISM INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS WORKED IN SMALL GROUPS TO HELP CLEAN UP AND RESTORE SITES THROUGHOUT THE FLORIDA KEYS.

Photos courtesy Tourism Cares

NEW SHREVEPORT AQUARIUM ENTERS FIRST SEASON SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — The Shreveport Aquarium, which opened last November, is enjoying its first full season in the historic Barnwell Center in downtown Shreveport.

The aquarium features more than 3,000 different animals representing nearly 300 species showed in brightly colored coral reefs, shipwrecks, ocean caves, tropical lagoons and walkthrough tunnels. Northwest Louisiana flora and fauna are displayed in a special Bayou Dome.

Touch tanks feature sea creatures such as sea stars, sea urchins, stingrays and cleaner shrimp.

Designers claim the Shreveport Aquarium is one of the greenest building in the state, incorporating renewable energy, high efficiency equipment, water recycling and innovative design.

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The on-site restaurant SALT offers moderncreative cuisine coupled with southern-style and handcrafted libations.

W W W.SHREVEPORTAQUARIUM.COM

A YOUNG GUEST GETS AN OVERHEAD VIEW OF MARINE LIFE.

VISITORS ENJOY A SHREVEPORT AQUARIUM TOUCH TANK.

Photos courtesy Shreveport-Bossier CTB

JULY/AUGUST 2018

OLD FORESTER DISTILLERY RETURNS TO HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE SITE LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Kentucky’s bourbon tourism scene continues to grow, with the latest addition coming on line June 14 when the Old Forester Distilling Co. opened a $45 million, 70,000-square-foot distillery in a historic downtown Louisville building along what is known as Whiskey Row. An immersive experience takes visitors through the bourbon-making process, from fermentation and distillation to an on-site cooperage where handcrafted barrels are made and fired.

There also is an on-site warehouse where the bourbon will be aged.

A glass elevator provides a close look at the 44-foot tall copper column still in the middle of the building.

The stretch of historic buildings where the new distillery is located once housed 89 bourbonrelated businesses, including the former headquarters of Old Forester in the early 1900s.

W W W.OLDF OR EST ER .COM / DIST I L L ERY

GROUPS CAN TOUR OLD FORESTER’S NEW $45 MILLION DISTILLERY ON WHISKEY ROW IN LOUISVILLE.

Courtesy Old Forester Distilling Co.

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CONFERENCE SCENE

MANAGEMENT CHANGES SET FOR 2018 FOR TRAVEL ALLIANCE PARTNERS B Y M AC L AC Y

TAP PRESIDENT NICK CALDERAZZO ADDRESSES DELEGATES.

CATCHING A RIDE AT STEEL PIER

A BIG TIME ON THE BOARDWALK!

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For Travel Alliance Partners (TAP), 2018 is a year of transition. The cooperative organization of tour operators has begun working with a new management company and is searching for a new executive director.

Longtime executive director Stefanie Gorder and the nationally known travel company have agreed to an amicable parting over the coming months, and the Rochester, New York-based hybrid marketing firm Break the Ice has been hired to begin day-to-day management activities for the company in the months ahead.

The first order of business for Break the Ice is overseeing a search for a new executive director to replace Gorder, and that process is underway.

“Our goal is to keep building on our track record, because we’ve had great success over the past decade with Stefanie at the helm,” said TAP president Nick Calderazzo during the company’s annual TAP Dance gathering held June 4-7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. “We want to refine our programs, maybe redesign our websites and create a greater awareness of who we are and what we offer. That’s what our new management group Break the Ice is known for, and we want them to help us get to the next level of national brand awareness for all the great travel products we’re offering.

“If everything goes well, we hope to have identified and hired an executive director by August,” said Calderazzo. “Break the Ice is handling the search and will bring us final candidates for our board to consider. The board will make the final decision on who that person will be.”

Nearly three dozen destination pods, each comprising four to six industry representatives, met with the 28 tour operator owners of TAP in Atlantic City over three days of meetings. This innovative appointment configuration allows tour companies to consider cities or regions as a whole during 25-minute discussions that are

not as restrictive as the short appointments at many other tourism conferences.

“TAP Dance was created to give all of us more time with key suppliers than we can get at other major industry shows,” said Calderazzo.

“We can drill down a lot more with these small groups of suppliers in a 25-minute appointment and be a lot more creative. These meetings really are more conducive to creating new product instead of just being able to start the conversation.”

When the TAP Dance delegates weren’t in business meetings, they were enjoying social events like a night of carnival rides and games at Steel Pier, compliments of Meet AC and its partners. Delegates ate corn dogs, sausages, potato salad and other summertime foods and enjoyed iconic midway rides ranging from a giant Ferris wheel to roller coasters. Following the appointments at week’s end, TAP invited all attendees to a day on the beach at the Landshark Bar and Grill’s private beach area.

Karen Pryor of Eureka Springs CAPC was named the 2018 Spirit of TAP Award winner at a luncheon held during the event for her years of service to the organization, and The Group Travel Leader Inc. continued its long sponsorship of the daytime hospitality suite, providing refreshments and relaxation for attendees between appointments.

Calderazzo gives the TAP business concept a lot of credit for helping his Twin Travel Concepts business grow over the years.

“Becoming a partner in TAP has allowed my company to grow beyond anything I could have done on my own,” he said. “This group of tour operators creates a comfort level for all of us to try new things and create new programs.

Knowing you have each other to depend on and consult with creates that level of confidence. It’s quite a success story.”

Photos courtesy Meet AC JULY/AUGUST 2018

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NEWS FROM US

BOWMAN BIDS FAREWELL AND TWO NEW ACCOUNT REPS COME ABOARD

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ersonnel changes are taking place this summer in the sales departments at The Group Travel Leader Inc and Pioneer Publishing Inc. Longtime director of advertising sales, Stacey Bowman, is leaving the company to spend more time at home with her two young daughters, and two new advertising account managers are coming onboard to work with director of sales and marketing, Kelly Tyner.

“We wish Stacey all the best as she departs,” said publisher Mac Lacy. “Stacey has been with us for fourteen years and has been a tremendous asset to our companies. She is the consummate professional and has been a joy to work with. I speak not only for our staff but for many in the industry across the country when I say we wish her well.

“I am happy for Stacey’s family and know

STACEY BOWMAN

she will enjoy that time at home,” said Lacy. “I feel certain Stacey will return to the workforce at some point in the future and she will be a tremendous asset to anyone she works with.”

Coming onboard as advertising account managers are Kyle Anderson, who worked part-time the past few months as he finished his business degree at the University of Kentucky, and Daniel Jean-Louis, who comes to the companies from a sales management position at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort, Kentucky. Jean-Louis is a familiar face to many in the travel and meetings industries through his involvement with travel industry groups like the Kentucky Travel Industry Association and Travel South USA. “We have two great new young employees in Kyle and Daniel,” said Lacy. “One of my philosophies in business is to stay young whenever you can. At this juncture, we have the opportunity to

KYLE ANDERSON

gain the insight and acumen of two young men who believe in the future of group travel, small meetings, marketing and publishing, so we are happy about that. All our clients and friends in the industry will enjoy getting to know Daniel and Kyle.”

Anderson and Jean-Louis will work directly for Kelly Tyner and will be very visible additions to the companies’ ongoing presence at industry events and trade shows. They may both be reached at the companies’ headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky.

For more information about marketing to the nation’s group travel industry and to small meetings destinations, call Kyle Anderson or Daniel Jean-Louis at 888-2530455 or visit www.gtl-advertising.com or www.smallmarketmeetings.com.

DANIEL JEAN-LOUIS

KELLY TYNER

“At this juncture, we have the opportunity to gain the insight and acumen of two young men who believe in the future of group travel, small meetings, marketing and publishing, so we are happy about that.”

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Changing

BY B O B H O E L S C H E R

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HORIZONS

COPING WITH TIPPING

don’t have a simple solution to the ever-vexing subject of tipping, but perhaps a few observations might give readers something to ponder.

My recent visit to Tokyo and cruise departure from Yokohama brought the matter to mind again, as I was most impressed to discover that tipping is not a practice that is part of the Japanese culture. Consequently, travelers in the country are not confronted with outstretched palms, and gratuities are not expected. Instead, I received the refreshing impression that workers in Japan are honored that visitors trust them to serve their needs and feel sufficiently rewarded if their service lives up to expectations.

The other side of the coin became apparent as the sailing continued to Alaska. After calls at several ports in the 49th state, I chatted with an English-speaking Japanese couple who registered shock and dismay with signs posted prominently in sightseeing vehicles as well as with comments made by tour guides, even excursion boat captains, openly asking guests for tips to “register their appreciation.”

I suppose we Americans have become so accustomed to handing over extra greenbacks for service that in many cases is nothing special, a national phenomenon not specific to Alaska, that as much as we may not enjoy the process, we’re resigned to going along with it. The real problem is that tipping is becoming so endemic to our society that even those who provide any service beyond their basic job descriptions expect us to pony up more than we have already been charged.

When I had my own tour company, we included all gratuities to tour directors, coach drivers and step-on guides, and we never had a problem with or a complaint from anyone involved, as guests were paying reasonable and very competitive prices, and our employees and contractors were being well compensated for their work. On mass-market cruise ships today, where service provided largely by staff members

from Third World countries normally is very good or excellent, at least gratuities are now added automatically to onboard accounts so we don’t have to run around on the final day clutching envelopes stuffed with cash. I still do hear complaints, however, that “automatic” 18 or 20 percent tips assessed on bar beverage and spa purchases sometimes unjustly reward poor service. And, of course, quite a few upscale “luxury” lines include the gratuities in their basic fares from the outset.

Over the years, I’ve noted that Europeans generally pay less attention to tipping than we Americans do. Seldom do I see them give gratuities to guides on cruise shore excursions or more than some loose pocket change for meals at restaurants that add an automatic “service charge.” But the photo below from tour documents issued to guests of one of my consulting clients by a major international operator shows just how confusing and, in this case, bizarre the whole tipping procedure has become. Mind you, this was for a full-coach move operated only for my client’s guests, on which all gratuities had been prepaid in full. So why would it be necessary for the travelers to put vouchers into tip envelopes to be handed to the tour director and coach drivers?

One final thought: I always tip those who provide memorable, superior service, including exceptional tour guides who have learned their trade well and provide fascinating commentary. I hope you do, too.

By Bob Hoelscher A TRAVEL COMPANY PROVIDES GRATUITY VOUCHERS AND ENVELOPES FOR TRAVELERS TO TIP SERVICE STAFF.

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EXPERT

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JIM COGGIN

V IRGINI A BE A CH CON V EN T ION A ND V ISI T OR S BURE AU

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

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etting laid off is rarely a positive experience. But when Jim Coggin lost his sales job in the 1980s, the door opened to a new career he loves.

“I had a background in sales, and I had a job that required me to travel a lot,” he said. “I stayed in a lot of hotels. The hotel business always looked fun to me. My company was downsizing and did away with my territory, so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to get into the hospitality industry.”

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Coggin found a sales job at a small, high-end hotel in town, which led to a series of other hotel jobs. From there, he joined the staff of the convention and visitors bureau in nearby Norfolk, where he worked in meetings and conventions. Then, in 2008, he joined the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau as tourism sales manager.

“I’m responsible for the domestic group-tour market, so I work with tour operators across the United States and in Ontario, Canada,” he said.

“My primary job is to bring motorcoach groups to Virginia Beach. I do that through a lot of different things: trade shows like American Bus Association Marketplace, Select Traveler and NTA’s Travel Exchange. I’m a firm believer in meeting face to face, so we do a lot of sales missions with our partners to meet with people on their territory.”

During those face-to-face meetings, Coggin tells travel planners about all the things their groups can do in Virginia Beach. He also does everything he can to help them plan the practical elements of tours or come up with creative activity options.

During Coggin’s 30-year career, a lot has changed in both tourism and technology. But although the methods of communication are different, he said, the fundamentals of business are not.

“Back when I started, we didn’t have computers and Facebook and all the social media,” he said. “But as quickly as things have changed technologywise, the business is still all about good, solid relationships. We have all the new hotels and attractions, but without good relationships, it won’t do much for us.”

Today, promoting Virginia Beach means talking about more than just the boardwalk.

GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

SALES TIP FROM JIM “ Use you r DMOs [dest inat ion ma rketing org a n iz at ions] to t hei r f u l l ef fec t.

We of fer to me et g roups a nd welcome t hem to t he dest inat ion. We a lso have i ma g e s a nd it i ner a r ie s a nd a l l s or t s of t h i ng s t hat c a n help you promote you r prog ra m bet ter, a nd we have good ma rk et i ng tool s t hat c a n st reng t hen you r abi l it y to sel l a tou r.”

“Right now, culinary is hot,” Coggin said. “Virginia is for oyster lovers.

We have some great oyster programs here in Virginia Beach, and we have a new winery opening up and some new breweries. We’re also a very proud and rich military town, so we focus a lot on our proud military heritage.

There’s a lot of American history here in Virginia Beach that people don’t really think about.”

Having a great destination to sell helps makes his career enjoyable, but it’s the long-lasting relationships that Coggin finds most fulfilling. Some of the people he met 30 years ago in his first tourism jobs are still friends, he said.

“I’m really lucky to have a great destination like Virginia Beach, and I’m also very lucky that I have great partners,” he said. “I love the business, or else I wouldn’t have been in it as long as I have.”

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GEORGIA

FAM

FAM PARTICIPANTS EXPLORE THE GARDENS AND HISTORIC CHAPEL ON THE PROPERTY OF THE CRESCENT IN VALDOSTA.

My brain was fully engaged at each stop thinking of the different types of groups that would fit each venue.

I just loved that!”

— JEN HENRICKSEN MISSION: ADVENTURING

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JULY/AUGUST 2018

SPRING IN GEORGIA’S PLANTATION TRACE REGION

ON SITE IN GEORGIA TH E PL ANTATIO N TR ACE R EG IO N I M PR ESS E D TR AV E L PL AN N E RS O N TH IS FAM TO U R

ALBANY WELCOME CENTER

GEORGIA KNOWS HOW TO ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET.

All photos by Brian Jewell

GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

Spend some time in the towns of southwest Georgia, and you’ll likely be charmed by the area’s warm weather and even warmer hospitality.

That’s what 11 tour operators, travel agents and other readers of The Group Travel Leader found during a four-day familiarization tour in Georgia’s Plantation Trace region in April. Hosted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, this tour visited Valdosta, Thomasville and Albany, three destinations with a distinct flavor and appeal for visitors.

During the trip, participants toured beautiful plantations and homes, shopped in historic downtown districts, experienced wildlife and animal attractions, and enjoyed amazing Southern cuisine. Along the way, they spent time with some of the tourism and hospitality professionals who specialize in helping groups plan great trips in Georgia.

Follow along on this itinerary to enjoy your own exploration of Georgia’s Plantation Trace region.

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Thomasville was such a neat town. This would be a great destination for adult groups.”

— LYDIA GAGNON EXTRA MILE TOURS

Day

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ARRIVAL IN VALDOSTA WILD ADVENTURES VALDOSTA WAKE COMPOUND DOWNTOWN VALDOSTA DINNER AT STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Guests traveled from around the country to Valdosta, the largest city in southwest Georgia, and met at a local hotel to begin the tour.

From there, the group departed for lunch and a private tour at Wild Adventures, a local theme park and zoo.

The next stop was Valdosta Wake Compound, a man-made watersports park where guests can watch wakeboarding demonstrations or attempt the sport themselves. After that, the group enjoyed a walking tour through downtown Valdosta, with a stop at a local coffee shop and time to browse other area shops. The day ended with cocktails and dinner at Steel Magnolias, a popular downtown restaurant that serves inventive takes on classic Southern cuisine.

WILD ADVENTURES

PUBLIC ART IN DOWNTOWN VALDOSTA

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WILD ADVENTURES Few communities the size of Valdosta have their own amusement park, which makes Wild Adventures a popular destination for visitors from throughout southwest Georgia. This theme park features several roller coasters and thrill rides in addition to hundreds of exotic animals from around the world. FAM participants got a private tour of the park and had some special encounters with cuddly baby animals as well as the opportunity to hand feed a giraffe.

Wild Adventures also features a nature trail through a wetland area, an African safari ride, a 17-acre water park and a holiday event that features millions of lights.

VALDOSTA WAKE COMPOUND Wakeboarding, a hybrid of waterskiing and skateboarding, has become a popular extreme sport among young people, and the Valdosta Wake Compound is one of the country’s top wakeboarding facilities. A special pulley system at this man-made lake allows riders to practice high-speed boarding and tricks on the compound’s lake without being pulled by a speedboat. The FAM group got to learn about wakeboarding and watch professional competitors demonstrate jumps, flips and other aerial maneuvers. Groups can also take wakeboarding lessons at the compound to try the sport.

JULY/AUGUST 2018

TOURING DOWNTOWN VALDOSTA

DOWNTOWN VALDOSTA Valdosta was founded in 1860, and its historic downtown district is full of interesting landmarks and late-19th- and early-20th-century buildings. The FAM group toured downtown with a representative of the local Main Street organization who highlighted aspects of the area’s recent $12 million improvement project. They also saw the early-1900s courthouse and a building that once housed the dental office of legendary gunslinger Doc Holliday, who grew up in the area.

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• CRESCENT VALDOSTA GARDEN CENTER • DEPARTURE FOR THOMASVILLE • LAPHAM PATTERSON HOUSE • LUNCH AT JONAH’S FISH AND GRITS • DOWNTOWN THOMASVILLE • PEBBLE HILL PLANTATION • RECEPTION WITH SWEET GRASS DAIRY • DINE AROUND DOWNTOWN THOMASVILLE

The second day of the FAM began with one more stop in Valdosta.

The group began the morning at the Crescent, a landmark home built in 1898 and now run by the local garden club. Next, they departed for Thomasville, which sits about 40 miles west of Valdosta near the Florida border. There they toured the Lapham Patterson House, a fascinating structure built as a vacation home by an eccentric industrialist. Next, participants enjoyed lunch at Jonah’s Fish and Grits and free time in Thomasville’s charming and walkable downtown district. That afternoon they toured Pebble Hill Plantation, a spectacular plantation home and art museum, where they also enjoyed a wine-and-cheese reception that featured products from local Sweet Grass Dairy. The day ended with a dine-around downtown.

THE CRESCENT Built by Colonel William West between 1898 and 1900, the Crescent is a 23-room Neoclassical home that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It sits on a street known locally as Millionaire’s Row and was the first house in Valdosta with plumbing and electricity. The FAM group got a personalized tour of all three floors of the home as well as the beautiful gardens and 117-year-old live oaks on the property. The estate was saved by a group of local women in the 1950s and is now run by the Garden Clubs of Valdosta.

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VALDOSTA ARTWORK

VALDOSTA WAKE COMPOUND

WILD ADVENTURES

A LAST SUPPER EXPERIENCE AT THE BIBLICAL HISTORY CENTER

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LAPHAM PATTERSON HOUSE In Thomasville, the Lapham Patterson house is a quirky and intriguing house that was built in the 1880s as a winter vacation home by a female industrialist from Ohio. Thomasville was known as a health resort destination at the time, and the owner designed the house to follow the naturalist philosophy of the time. These touches include an exit in every room in the house — there are 51 overall — as well asymmetrical design and other unusual characteristics. The home sits across the street from the Thomasville history center, which runs the site, and groups can arrange for guided tours by appointment.

DOWNTOWN THOMASVILLE Thomasville is perhaps best known for its charming historic downtown district. Visitors love meandering through the pristine, walkable area, which is full of locally owned stores and boutiques.

The downtown district has also become a hub of culinary arts, with more than a dozen restaurants that serve everything from barbecue and pizza to steak, seafood and upscale Southern fare. The town’s inventive Downtown Dollars program allows tour coordinators to prepurchase credits that can be used like cash for meals or shopping at most downtown establishments.

LAPHAM PATTERSON HOUSE

FLOWERS IN THOMASVILLE

PEBBLE HILL PLANATION A short drive from downtown, Pebble Hill Plantation is the jewel of Thomasville. Built between 1934 and 1936, this 4,000-acre estate was built as a vacation home for a family that enjoyed hunting, fishing and the sporting lifestyle. Today, visitors can tour the 16-bedroom, 19-bathroom house, which features beautiful original furniture and an extensive art collection, including 33 first-edition Audubon prints.

The FAM group also enjoyed browsing the family’s art gallery on the second floor of the home and the expansive, blooming gardens outdoors. The visit ended in one of the plantation’s outbuildings with a wine-and-cheese reception that showcased cheeses made by a Thomasville creamery.

POSING AT THE BIG OAK IN THOMASVILLE

LUNCH AT JONAH’S FISH AND GRITS IN THOMASVILLE

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Day

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• DEPARTURE FOR ALBANY • CHEHAW • DOWNTOWN & RAY CHARLES PLAZA • ALBANY CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE • THRONATEESKA HERITAGE CENTER • FLINT RIVERQUARIUM • DINNER AT BLACKBEARD’S

The third day of this FAM began with a short drive from Thomasville to Albany, a town about 60 miles north. On arrival, the group toured the 100-acre zoo at Chehaw, the city’s large nature park. Next was a stop at the Albany Welcome center, in a historic building on the banks of the Flint River, and a visit to Ray Charles Plaza to see the iconic statue of the famous Georgia native. After lunch, the group toured the area’s most famous attraction — the Albany Civil Rights Institute — and enjoyed a private concert with one of the original Freedom Singers. Later, participants toured a pair of area museum attractions — the Thronateeska Heritage Center and the Flint RiverQuarium — before enjoying a lively farewell dinner of seafood and barbecue at Blackbeard’s, a favorite Albany restaurant.

AN ALLIGATOR AT CHEHAW

I always pictured Albany as a quiet Southern farm town.

What a surprise it turned out to be!”

— WILLIAM CHMELA ANIMAL KINDNESS AWARDS

CHEHAW Chehaw is a city-owned park that spans 800 acres of woodland.

Part of that space is a 100-acre zoo that features large free-range animal habitats. The FAM group toured the zoo with a guide and saw some of the 21 alligators in the swamp area, including “Big Charlie,” who is more than 13 feet long. They also saw an interactive demo with a pair of Bactrian camels. Visitors can watch alligator and rhino feedings or take a safari-style ride to see African animals roaming a 40-acre area of the park.

RAY CHARLES PLAZA FLOWERS IN ALBANY

FLINT RIVERQUARIUM

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DOWNTOWN ALBANY The Flint River runs through Albany, and the city’s downtown district sits on the riverbanks. The group stopped to see the Albany Welcome Center, which occupies a historic building connected to a bridge over the river, then took a short stroll down the Flint River Walk to Ray Charles Plaza. Charles was born in Albany, and the city honors this local son with a larger-than-life statue of him singing at a piano. The statue slowly rotates on its base and plays Charles’ music around the clock.

A HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AT FLINT RIVERQUARIUM

ALBANY CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE Perhaps the most famous attraction in town is the Albany Civil Rights Institute. The city was the birthplace of the Albany Movement, a form of mass protest that became a staple of the civil rights efforts of the mid-20th century, and the museum uses images, newspaper articles and oral histories to teach visitors about the struggle that took place in Albany and throughout the South. The FAM group toured the museum and the adjacent Old Mount Zion Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke, and enjoyed a private concert by Rutha Harris, an Albany local who toured the world as one of the original Freedom Singers.

FLINT RIVERQUARIUM Groups touring Albany should include time to visit the Flint RiverQuarium, which highlights the fish and animals that are native to the Flint River, as well as creatures from the Gulf of Mexico, where the river ends. The highlight of the aquarium is its 175,000-gallon, open-air blue hole spring exhibit that features hundreds of different aquatic species. FAM participants enjoyed seeing snapping turtles, oysters, octopuses, tropical fish and the aquarium’s rare albino alligator. Visitors can also walk through a new on-site aviary that serves as home for rescued birds indigenous to the area.

FREEDOM SINGERS AT THE ALBANY CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE

Day GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT L AC E Y CA M E RO N 404-962-4175 LCAMERON@GEORGIA.ORG WWW.EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of The Group Travel Leader, call Kelly Tyner at 888.253.0455.

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

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• DEPARTURE FOR VALDOSTA • RETURN HOME

The final morning of the trip gave participants the chance to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the Merry Acres Inn in Albany before boarding the motorcoach and making the hour-and-a-half drive back to Valdosta. From there, some continued on to explore the Plantation Trace region on their own and others began their return journeys home with fond memories of Georgia on their minds.

This was an interesting and very soul-wrenching day. The singing in the church was beautiful and very touching.” — BARBARA ANERELLA BARBARA’S GETAWAY TOURS JULY/AUGUST 2018

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I S S U E J U LY/ A U G U S T 2 01 8

End

OVER

end

by BRIAN JEWELL

By Matt Cashore, courtesy Visit South Bend Mishawaka

W

hen the days begin to shorten and the chill of autumn descends on the air, sports fans have just one thing on

their minds: football.

There is no sport more quintessentially American than football, a game played in big cities and small towns across the country. During the fall, traveling groups can soak up the action by planning their trips around famous football games or catching marching-band performances. And throughout the year, football museums and other attractions promise insight into America’s game.

If your group enjoys football, consider including some of these attractions and activities in your fall travel plans.

Courtesy Canton/Stark Co. CVB

A G R E AT F O O T B A L L S T O P C A N B E A G A M E C H A N G E R PRO FO OTBA LL HA LL OF FAME AND MUSEUM Canton, Ohio Professional football had early roots in Canton, Ohio, which is why this small city is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Museum. Galleries trace the growth of the sport from its infancy in the early 20th century to its current dominance of the American sports world. The exhibits use video, audio and special effects, and visitors see tons of historic artifacts and memorabilia, including player’s jerseys, equipment and championship rings. They can also try their hand at various football skills and test their knowledge of football trivia and officiating rules in the museum’s interactive section.

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C OLLEGE FO OTBA LL HA LL OF FAME Atlanta After nearly two decades in South Bend, Indiana, the College Football Hall of Fame moved to Atlanta in 2014 and now enjoys a prime location and stateof-the-art facility in Midtown. The museum uses an RFID chip embedded in visitors’ tickets to tailor their experiences, highlighting their favorite college teams and allowing them to create digital photos and recordings of themselves at various interactive stations. They can access and download these files after their visits. In addition to high-tech exhibits, the museum also features an indoor football field where groups can try running plays and kicking field goals.

LAMBEAU FIELD AND MORE Green Bay, Wisconsin A seat at a Green Bay Packers home game is one of the toughest tickets to get in professional sports, so seeing a live football game isn’t a viable option for groups visiting Green Bay. But travelers can still get a taste of the area’s football culture with a visit to famed Lambeau Field, which is open year-round and recently underwent a $140 million renovation.

In 2017, Green Bay debuted the Titletown District, a football-themed neighborhood right outside the stadium full of shopping, dining and activity options.

Groups can also take Packers-themed sightseeing tours around the city.

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FIGHTING IRISH W EEKENDS South Bend, Indiana Football is something of a second religion for the University of Notre Dame, where team spirit turns each home-game weekend into a multiday event.

Groups can walk out of the home team’s tunnel onto the field during Friday Tunnel Tours. On Friday night, students lead a pep rally on campus that features Notre Dame cheerleaders, the leprechaun mascot and the pom squad, culminating in a performance of the Notre Dame Victory March. Then on Saturday, the school sets up a hospitality village around the stadium, where visitors can see pregame concerts and participate in tailgating festivities.

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THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ENJOYS A PROMINENT SPOT IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA.

Courtesy CFHOF

A GROUP TOURS LEGENDARY LAMBEAU FIELD IN GREEN BAY.

Courtesy Green Bay CVB

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: FANS CELEBRATE GAME DAY AT THE UNIVERISTY OF NOTRE DAME; A YOUNG FAN EXPLORES THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME. GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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AT&T STADIUM Arlington, Texas The Dallas Cowboys have long been known as America’s Team, and their palatial home facility might be the country’s most famous stadium.

Built at a cost of $1.2 billion and opened in 2009, AT&T Stadium is famous for its sheer size. Groups can take 90-minute guided tours of the stadium to see the press box, visit the locker rooms and walk on the field. They also see the signature 160-by-72-foot video screen, which was the largest high-definition video screen in the world when it was built. The tour also showcases some of the 21 pieces of contemporary art that were commissioned for the stadium.

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BA LTIMORE MARCHING RAV ENS Baltimore The history of professional football in Baltimore is storied, with two different teams leaving the city during the 20th century. Although the Colts famously left Charm City for Indianapolis in 1984, the team’s marching band stayed in Baltimore and continued to uphold its musical tradition despite the lack of a pro football team to support. After another team

THE BALTIMORE MARCHING RAVENS ARE ONE OF ONLY TWO MARCHING BANDS IN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. Courtesy Baltimore Ravens

came to town in the ’90s, the band was rebranded as the Baltimore Marching Ravens and is now one of only two marching bands in the NFL. Fans can see the band perform at Baltimore home games or hear concerts at various events throughout the city.

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HOWARD UNIV ERSIT Y ‘SHOW TIME’ MARCHING BAND Washington Though Howard University isn’t a football powerhouse, fans pack William Greene Stadium in Washington on fall Saturdays nonetheless. In addition to the school spirit and intimate community feel of the small stadium, spectators come to see the halftime performances of the Howard University “Showtime” Marching Band, which prides itself on boisterous, energetic productions that sometimes overshadow the football game itself.

Accompanied by the Ooh La La Dancers and a high-stepping drum major, the band members frequently break out into dance themselves, putting a colorful and distinctive twist on a long-standing college football tradition.

H T T P://CO AS . HOWA R D. EDU

GROUPS CAN TAKE GUIDED TOURS OF TEXAS’ $1.2 BILLION AT&T STADIUM.

Courtesy Arlington CVB

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THE “SHOWTIME” MARCHING BAND IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE.

Tour

SOUTHEAST INDIANA

PAT TILLMAN MEMORIA L Glendale, Arizona Pat Tillman made a name for himself in Arizona as a college and professional football player during the late ’90s, eventually starting as a defender for the Arizona Cardinals. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, he turned down a multimillion-dollar contract extension to enlist in the U.S. Army and went on to serve tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tillman was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2004. Today, an eight-foot-tall bronze sculpture honoring Tillman and his courageous service stands outside University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

By J. Knight, courtesy Howard University

Meet a friendly herd of alpaca, tour a greenhouse, visit an orchard and find locally made specialty foods and fresh produce in the Fall.

“Fun Farm & Market Experiences!”

- Clarksville Parks & Rec,

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ARM Y VS . NAV Y Various Locations Travelers lucky enough to get tickets to the annual Army vs. Navy game might find themselves in the company of the president of the United States.

Sitting presidents are known to attend this contest between the Army Black Knights of West Point and the Midshipmen of the Naval Academy, one of the most hotly contested rivalries in all of college sports.

The location of the game varies — it’s in Philadelphia through 2020 — but each edition promises a lot of patriotic pregame pageantry, as cadets from both schools ceremonially march into the stadium before kickoff.

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HOWARD UNIVERSITY BAND MEMBERS PERFORM A ROUTINE.

By J. Knight, courtesy Howard University

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Fall Mums, Farms & Markets

Clarksville, IN

Courtesy Visit South Bend Mishawaka GROUPS VISITING SOUTH BEND ON FOOTBALL WEEKENDS CAN TOUR ICONIC SITES ON THE NOTRE DAME CAMPUS, SUCH AS THE GOLDEN DOME ON THE MAIN BUILDING.

BIG GAME TICKETS Nationwide If your group includes some big football fans, and perhaps some big spenders, you can plan a fun and memorable trip by packing a tour around attendance at a big game. The late fall and early winter bring plenty of options, such as important college bowl games and even the NFL’s Super Bowl, and there are numerous tour operators that specialize in acquiring in-demand tickets and hosting groups at these events.

For a less-extravagant experience, many of these same operators can help get your group tickets to a regularseason game or even arrange a trip that follows your favorite local team to an away game.

OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

1

Cincinnati

KENTUCKY Lexington

Louisville

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

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198

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MISSISSIPPI

STATE SPOTLIGHT

VICKSBURG

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JULY/AUGUST 2018

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

E

xciting things are happening in Mississippi.

This Southern

state is abuzz

with energy over new attractions and

tourism experiences, some of which opened online this year or early in 2019. These and updated museums, plus a beach resort with

a famous name, are giving groups new reasons to plan tours to the state.

In Jackson, the Museum of Mississippi

History and the Mississippi Civil Rights

Museum opened side by side in December and have already proven popular with visitors. The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience in Meridian pays tribute to many of the famous creators and entertainers from around the state, as

well as the communities that shaped their voices. And the upcoming Catfish Row Museum in Vicksburg will tell stories of

this river city’s unique history and culture.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast had several

notable openings as well. In Biloxi, the new

Margaritaville Resort is a coastal property full of Jimmy Buffett-inspired activities and dining options. And the Infinity

Science Center in nearby Pearlington just debuted a $9.8 million overhaul complete with interactive exhibits.

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Photos courtesy MS Development Authority

late last year and others that are coming

DYNAMIC DUO In Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city, a pair of museums opened in tandem in December, and the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. The Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum sit adjacent to each other in a 200,000-square-foot complex that was built with more than $107 million in public-private partnership funding.

The Museum of Mississippi history gives visitors a comprehensive look at the state’s past. Exhibits cover early Native American inhabitants, the slavery era, the Civil War and Reconstruction. Guests also learn about events that happened in the 20th century and even some of the forces shaping Mississippi today. These stories are all told through thousands of artifacts donated to the museum by people from around the state.

At the adjoining Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, seven galleries give visitors a closer look at the period between 1945 and 1976 to highlight the pivotal role that Mississippi played in the civil rights movement.

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE What do Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Eudora Welty, Walter Anderson and Jimmy Buffett have in common? They all hail from Mississippi, a state that has made impressive contributions to America’s arts and entertainment culture. To honor these and other figures, the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience opened in April in Meridian, a town in the east-central part of the state.

The museum has been in the works since 2001, though it officially broke ground in 2015. Organizers designed it to be an immersive experience that would not only introduce visitors to Mississippi stars but also give them a look at their heroes’ cultural influences, their early artistic works and even the creative processes they went through to craft their writing, music and other products.

The exhibits are just as much about Mississippi as they are its celebrities. Galleries highlight the physical landscape, the home life, the community support and the church culture that shaped the perspectives and work of Mississippi’s creative spirits.

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MARGARITAVILLE ON THE COAST Because beach music superstar Buffett is a Mississippi native, it’s only fitting that his Margaritaville brand should have a home on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Last year saw the opening of the Margaritaville Resort, a 371-room, 23-story resort in Biloxi themed around the music and culture that made Buffett famous.

Though many people know Biloxi for its gaming properties, Margaritaville has no casino. Instead, the city was built with families in mind and features a wide variety of activities for people of all ages. A 55,000-square-foot indoor entertainment center features a 48-foot-high rock-climbing wall in the shape of a volcano, as well as ropes courses, golf simulators, bowling alleys and a “cloud coaster.” Outdoors, the pool complex features a 450-foot-long lazy river, a splash pad and other amenities.

Adult groups will find plenty of fun at the resort as well, including a variety of dining options themed around concepts from other popular Buffett songs. Favorites include the Landshark Bar and Grill, the 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar and Doe’s Eat Place.

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AMERICAN~HISTORY Mississippi Music ~ Southern Charm

Contact Ashley Gatian, Sales Manager for planning assistance.

800-221-3536 • ashley@visitvicksburg.com

4 SOUL OF VICKSBURG It’s difficult to pin down the precise geographical boundaries of the fabled Mississippi Delta region, but author David Cohn once said that it begins at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and ends in Vicksburg on Catfish Row. With an opening planned for late 2018 or early 2019, the Catfish Row Museum hopes to capture some of the cultural heritage and diversity that makes this city a unique part of the Delta experience.

The museum is being constructed in a 1911 building on Catfish Row that has housed a factory, a car dealership and other businesses. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it was a club that hosted touring R&B acts. The museum organizers want to showcase these various elements of the city’s history and are planning to have a live-performance space in addition to the exhibit areas.

Groups that visit the museum will learn about the Mississippi River and how it has shaped the city, as well as various aspects of local history and culture.

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VisitVicksburg.com 32 /VisitVicksburg

Scan this QR to visit our mobile site and get your keys to Vicksburg.

JULY/AUGUST 2018

Elvis Presley Event Center Elvis Presley Birthplace

Elvis at 13 Bronze Statue

5 DIVING DEEP In Pearlington, a town on the Gulf Coast just across the border from Louisiana, the Infinity Science Center just unveiled a new $9.8 million overhaul that added several new immersive experiences for visitors.

Among the most popular of the new exhibits is Deep Ocean Explorer, an interactive simulator that lets visitors virtually dive into the depths of the Gulf of Mexico using joysticks and monitors to see dolphins, turtles and other sea life. A new 3D theater shows films about earth and space, and the Hurricane Prediction Lab allows visitors to try their hand at measuring atmospheric conditions and monitoring hurricanes in a digital environment.

New outdoor features include a butterfly garden and a boardwalk through forests and wetlands.

The funding for the museum overhaul was provided

by BP as part of its continuing efforts to help the Gulf Coast tourism community recover from the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.

Courtesy Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast

State-of-the-Art Theater

TRUE DELTA VIBE. TIMELESS SOUTHERN CHARM. Treat your group to a unique melting pot of experiences and cultures that only Greenwood can deliver. Uncover the mystery of Blues legend Robert Johnson, learn the secrets of mouthwatering Southern cuisine at the world-renowned Viking Cooking School, or soak up the atmosphere and landmarks featured in the DreamWorks blockbuster film “The Help.”

And that’s just the beginning of a tour sure to end in rave reviews!

Talk to us about custom itineraries, group travel rebates and concierge services.

W W W.V I S ITI N FI N IT Y.C O M

662.453.9197 www.visitgreenwoodMS.com

Paid for in partnership by Visit Mississippi.

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5 ZARK O

Favorites Courtesy Experience Fayetteville

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS ACTIVITIES, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: FAYETTEVILLE ALE TRAIL; CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM; ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI RAILROAD

Courtesy Experience Fayetteville

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JULY/AUGUST 2018

THESE TOWNS DEFINE

NO RT H W E S T AR K AN SAS

B Y R AC H E L C A RT E R

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ising out of the dense forests of the Ozark Mountains, the towns and cities of northwest Arkansas offer worldclass art museums and small-town charm, state-of-the-art performance venues and Victorian-era downtowns, all within a short drive of one another. Groups can take handson art classes, see renowned portraits of George Washington, ride the rails in refurbished historic train cars, watch a water-powered grist mill grind flour and see the BB gun made famous in the 1983 film “A Christmas Story.”

Together, these five communities make up a dynamic destination that has proven perennially popular with groups.

visitor center, groups can watch a film and explore exhibits about the decisive Civil War battle that took place in March 1862.

Groups will find several sites east of town along Highway 12. At Hobbs State Park, they can learn about local wildlife and habitats at the visitor center or during ranger-led nature walks, Shaw said. On neighboring Beaver Lake, travelers can go kayaking in the summer or take bald-eagle-watching pontoon cruises in the winter.

At War Eagle Mill, groups can watch the waterwheel-powered gristmill in action, eat breakfast or lunch at the Bean Palace Café and shop for flours and meals in the store. Guided cave tours are available at the nearby War Eagle Cavern.

ROGERS: HOME OF THE DAISY RED RY DER Rogers was founded in 1881, the same year the railroad arrived, and the historic downtown is still lined with brightly painted Victorian-era buildings. A visit there “feels like a step into an authentic small-town downtown,” said J.R. Shaw, executive director of Visit Rogers.

In the 1983 film “A Christmas Story,” Ralphie famously asked for “a Red Ryder BB gun with a compass in the stock and this thing which tells time.” Rogers has been the home of Daisy Outdoor Products since 1958, and although groups can’t visit the assembly operation, they can tour the Daisy Airgun Museum in downtown to learn about the company’s history and see nearly every model Daisy ever made. Although the gun in the movie never existed — a different model had the compass and clock — Daisy now puts out an anniversary edition of Ralphie’s Red Ryder gun every five years. It is available only through the museum.

On the same block, groups can take in an Arkansas Public Theatre show or tour the 1927 Victory Theater building. Also near downtown, visitors can picnic or stroll on trails at Lake Atalanta Park.

North of town, the Pea Ridge National Military Park was the site of the Battle of Pea Ridge. At the

FORT SMITH: ARKANSAS TERRITORY OUTPOST On December 25, 1817, soldiers arrived in the Arkansas Territory to establish the first Fort Smith.

On Christmas Day 2017, the city kicked off a yearlong bicentennial celebration that features concerts, dramatic re-enactments and special events.

The Fort Smith National Historic Site is a sprawling park dotted with historic buildings, including the commissary, the federal courthouse and the 1903 train depot. Groups can arrange for guided tours, ranger talks or living-history re-enactments, and Floyd and Sue Robison are available to portray Judge Isaac C. Parker and his wife, Mary.

The Fort Smith Museum of History has been in continuous operation since 1910. Inside the four-story former warehouse, groups can explore recently updated museum exhibits and artifacts, including an 1862 cannon used by Union troops.

The museum’s soda fountain is a “working exhibit” where visitors can order ice cream and old-fashioned fountain drinks.

Miss Laura’s Visitor Center is a restored row house that was once a bordello. Groups can arrange for Carolyn Joyce, tour and travel sales director for Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau, to

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portray the madam, Miss Laura, during a guided tour. Afterward, they can enjoy a barbecue dinner and take in a “medicine show” across the street at an indoor-outdoor pavilion overlooking the Arkansas River.

Construction is underway on the new $50 million, star-shaped U.S. Marshals Museum, slated to open in fall 2019. The Chaffee Crossing Historic District is the site of World War II-era barracks and buildings, and visitors will find several museums there, including the Chaffee Barbershop Museum where Elvis Presley received his famous first G.I. buzz cut.

The CVB can also arrange guided walking tours of nearly 30 murals and sculptures throughout downtown.

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BENTONVILLE: AMERICAN ART SHOWCASE Bentonville has two claims to fame. In addition to being home to Walmart’s headquarters, it is home to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. But the city is so much more.

One of Bentonville’s newest additions is the 8th Street Market, anchored by Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food, which opened in January 2017. Developers reimagined a former Tyson fried chicken plant as a community-focused food hub.

Visitors can taste what’s on tap at the Bike Rack Brewing Co., grab a bite at Yeyo’s Mexican Grille or buy sweets at Markham and Fitz chocolatier — and new restaurants and vendors are lining up, said Andrea Ritchie, communications manager for Visit Bentonville.

With advance notice, Brightwater can provide guided tours of its culinary school, including the greenhouse and garden; arrange cooking demonstrations; lead cooking classes; and dish up meals for groups.

In downtown, groups will find a historic square surrounded by restaurants and boutiques, as well as free tip-based pedicabs that were just introduced this spring. Sam Walton opened his five-and-dime

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store on the town square in 1950, and the store today houses the Walmart Museum, where groups can take guided tours or dine at the Spark Café.

Visitors will find public art throughout downtown. The 21c Museum Hotel’s art galleries and exhibits are free and open to the public every day, and public art dots the half-mile trail leading to Crystal Bridges. The museum owns an extensive collection of Colonial, 19th-century, modern and contemporary pieces, but the sparkling white-and-glass building is itself a work of modern art.

Crystal Bridges offers group tours for 10 to 60 people, and the museum’s guided Trails Tour of the grounds boasts 3.5 miles of sculpture-dotted walking trails.

Groups also enjoy visiting the Museum of Native American History and guided tours of the 1875 Peel Mansion and gardens, Ritchie said.

A BEAUTIFUL ARKANSAS AND MISSOURI RAILROAD PASS NEAR FORT SMITH Courtesy Fort Smith CVB

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FORT SMITH MURALS Courtesy Fort Smith CVB

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FAY ET TEVILLE: RAILROAD AND RA ZORBACKS Fayetteville is the state’s third-largest city, but it’s most famous as a college town. More than 25,000 University of Arkansas students call the city home, and thousands more people visit for Razorback football games and other sporting events. Groups can explore the hilltop campus and stroll among its trees, historic buildings and outdoor artwork. Completed in 1875, Old Main is both the campus centerpiece and the university’s oldest building still standing.

Visitors can sample Fayetteville’s flavors on the Fayetteville Ale Trail, which includes 11 craft breweries and one cidery, according to Hazel Hernandez, director of marketing and communications for Experience Fayetteville.

Along with sampling flights of craft beer, groups can take brewery tours and get behind-the-scenes looks at the brewing process. For more local flavor, visitors shouldn’t skip Catfish Hole, a local favorite and a group standby since

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1994 and famous for its hush puppies.

The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad is one of the nation’s few remaining commercial lines with both freight and passenger service. During three different scenic excursions through the Ozark Boston Mountains, passengers ride in refurbished antique passenger or parlor cars that pass through the quartermile Winslow Tunnel and travel over trestle bridges 125 above the ground.

The Walton Arts Center is a performing-arts venue that features live theater and concerts, including Broadway shows such as “School of Rock,” “Jersey Boys” and “Les Misérables,” and is home to the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Discount tickets are available for groups of 10 or more.

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EUREKA SPRINGS: HILLSIDE VICTORIAN CHARM Eureka Springs is a preserved, Victorian-era gem, and the entire city is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Century-old stone buildings line steep downtown streets, and elegant Victorian homes climb the hillsides.

Groups can explore the historic city during a Eureka Springs Tram Tour that showcases the historic downtown business district dotted with natural springs as well as the adjacent neighborhoods, where many of the gingerbread homes are now bed-and-breakfasts. Many of the city’s 64 springs can be found bubbling up in downtown, including one of the most prominent springs at Basin Spring Park, a popular spot for free concerts, art festivals and craft fairs.

During a Downtown Underground Tour, groups can see what used to be the street level of downtown Eureka Springs; it went underground when the city raised Main Street — nicknamed “Mud Street” for how often it flooded — an entire building story. At the Mud Street Café, a window in the floor

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shows the spring beneath the 1888 building that contributed to the flooding.

In addition to its Victorian vibe, the mountain town is renowned for its arts community. The Eureka Springs School of the Arts has seven studios and offers “build your own workshop” options for groups that want to customize their experience. With enough advance notice, the school will find an instructor to teach workshops in jewelry-making, painting, woodworking — basically any medium a group wants to explore.

During its season, which runs March through October, the school also offers weekly studio strolls, during which guests can explore the campus and watch demonstrations from that week’s instructors.

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DOWNTOWN EUREKA SPRINGS

A EUREKA SPRINGS ARTIST DEMONSTRATION

Photos courtesy Eureka Springs CAPC

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oddlers point in amazement. Adults feel a rush of excitement.

The ground rumbles, and a whistle pierces the air. When a train comes thundering past, the whole family pays attention.

Train travel captivates people of all ages, and a relaxing excursion aboard a train allows passengers to fully enjoy the journey rather than focus only on the destination.

Throw in Santa Claus, train robbers and rafting excursions, and even the most antsy children will walk away from their train ride fully entertained. The mix of a laid-back, scenic trip with kid-focused addons creates the perfect opportunity for grandparents and grandchildren to travel together.

Group leaders seeking an intergenerational itinerary should consider one of these family-friendly rail rides.

AMTRAK’S COAST STARLIGHT WINDS ITS WAY UP THE SCENIC PACIFIC COASTLINE BETWEEN LOS ANGELES AND SEATTLE.

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Daily local wine-and-artisan-cheese tastings thrill adults, and children can hear stories behind the spectacular scenery on the Amtrak Coast Starlight. The train route caters to all ages during its two-day journey between Los Angeles and Seattle, through some of America’s most dramatic scenery.

Instead of struggling through congested airports or clogged freeways to explore the Pacific Coast, passengers can opt for the freedom of movement and amenities possible on a train. If booking overnight accommodations for the two-day ride, passengers enjoy included regional cuisine in the dining car, happy-hour specials and exclusive entrance to the Pacific Parlor Car. With floor-to-ceiling windows and swivel chairs, the Sightseer Lounge Car offers a way for guests to fully focus on the surrounding splendor.

For the section between Santa Barbara and Oakland, California, the train’s onboard Trails and Rails program relates interesting information about the passing Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. Guides discuss the dangers and discoveries of de Anza’s exploratory expedition in the 1770s.

Between Seattle and Portland, Oregon, National Park Service representatives comment on the passing Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park and the relevant stories about miners in search of instant riches.

Though the snow-covered Cascade Range, lush forests and dramatic Pacific Ocean shoreline viewed from the train keep passengers glued to the window, add-on excursions along the coast can easily stretch the train trip’s itinerary.

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If grandparents fear their grandchildren will find a train ride dull, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad can add some fun to the experience. The train partners with local outdoor adventure companies to offer options of whitewater rafting, zip lining and jeep tours.

Adventures begin after a gorgeous two-hour ride through the Nantahala Gorge, past Fontana Lake and historic trellis bridge Fontana Trestle. The train makes an hourlong stop at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for shopping or relaxing by the river.

Groups that book the Rapid Transit with Nantahala Outdoor Center can stay longer for a two-hour rafting trip on the center’s controlled Class II whitewater rapids. This trip works for novice rafters, making it a good option for families, and includes a riverside barbecue lunch, a posttrip photo, showers and transportation back to Bryson City.

Wildwater Nantahala Rafting and Canopy Tours offers a zip-line canopy tour of 13 zip lines and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, as well as a Rail and Trail package for a two-hour jeep ride past waterfalls and lakes.

Groups seeking a calmer experience can choose the Tuckasegee River Excursion for a four-hour round trip to Dillsboro. The route passes by scenery so impressive that it appears in several films that feature trains, including “The Fugitive,” starring Harrison Ford.

Numerous scheduled departures on both routes incorporate the Great American Rails-N-Tales Narration Car for an entertaining learning experience led by local poet Horace Kephart. Throughout the year, the train company also features themed excursions that are good choices for families, such as Peanuts: The Great Pumpkin Patch Express, Freedom Train and the Polar Express Train Ride.

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Passengers aboard the Grand Canyon Railway keep careful watch for pronghorn antelopes, elk, endangered California condors and train robbers. For each train ride, the Cataract Creek Gangsters ride galloping horses alongside the moving locomotive for an oldfashioned train robbery.

Naturally, the good guys win, and the Wild West entertainment continues with cowboy singers and musicians that stroll between cars and sing old-timey standards by the likes of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Guests can see real cowboys rounding up cattle during treks through wide-open ranchland. Other vistas include the majestic San Francisco Peaks, a ponderosa pine forest and the ultimate panorama at Grand Canyon National Park.

The ride, which lasts about two and a half hours, travels north on refurbished 1950s cars to the South Rim and stops at the Grand Canyon Depot.

A National Historic Landmark, the Grand Canyon Depot impresses visitors with its 1910 wood-frame structure. At the canyon’s rim, groups can shop for Native American crafts, hike or combine the experience with a guided tour to learn the geologic and human history of the canyon.

Groups can also time their visit to coincide with a themed excursion, such as the Polar Express Train Ride or the Pumpkin Patch Train. The railway uses a vintage steam locomotive to pull the train the first Saturday of the month March through October.

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ADMIRING ARIZONA SCENERY ON THE GRAND CANYON RAILWAY

A SINGING COWBOY ON THE WAY TO THE GRAND CANYON Photos courtesy Grand Canyon Railway

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A STEAM TRAIN ON THE DURBIN AND GREENBRIER VALLEY RAILROAD

A YOUNG PASSENGER ENJOYING A WEST VIRGINIA TRAIN RIDE

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From toddlers to teenagers, curious passengers can find entertainment on different themed excursions on the Essex Steam Train in Essex, Connecticut. Thomas and Friends train events occur each April and May with a 25-minute train ride accompanied by daylong, family-type activities. After meeting Thomas, young passengers can also meet Percy the Small Green Engine and other characters from the series. Carnival rides, face painting, storytelling, a petting zoo and more will enchant children and win the accompanying grandparents many bonus points.

For older children, the Connecticut train company offers Passengers From the Past weekends in June. During these events, actors portraying historic figures relate interesting life stories and interact one-on-one with passengers.

Past characters have included Abraham Lincoln, Babe Ruth and Mark Twain.

Even when there isn’t a themed event, the steam train ride captivates multiple generations with its connection to interesting and natural wonders.

The train ride through the Connecticut River Valley provides access to several coves, tidal wetlands and preserves. Passengers can see numerous birds, such as cormorants, blue herons and bald eagles.

Once the train pulls into the Deep River Station, groups can add on a cruising experience aboard the Becky Thatcher riverboat to continue the visual delights. The boat glides for an hour and 15 minutes past inlets, marshes and rocky shoreline for a pristine viewing experience. Afterward, the train brings the group back to the Essex Depot. The entire trip lasts two and a half hours.

Founded in 1868, the 45-mile rail line faced demolition in 1968, but volunteers banded together to obtain a temporary lease to delay the end before the Valley Railroad Company bought the track in 1970.

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CROWD INTERACTION DURING A GRAND CANYON RAILWAY SHOOTOUT

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Courtesy Grand Canyon Railway

Join us in the Mountain State for Mountains, Music & Rails!

Group discounts and packaging available.

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HOCKING VALLEY SCENIC RAILWAY Courtesy Hocking Valley Scenic Railway JULY/AUGUST 2018

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The puffing steam locomotive, deafening train whistle and other creaking noises of a moving steam locomotive will create a feeling of stepping into a time machine for young and old visitors traveling aboard the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad. The company runs vintage diesel and steam locomotives through the scenic West Virginia mountains on routes from two to eight hours long, many with included meals.

The train runs within Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, which has preserved the 1901 logging town that shut down, along with the paper mill and railroad, in 1961. By 1977, the company town and railroad joined the park system and transformed into a tourist line managed by the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

One popular stretch runs four and a half hours to the overlook at Bald Knob, the third-highest point in the state. Passengers enjoy the open-air cars as they glide past rural forests, valleys and miles of uninhabited wilderness.

The company crafts group itineraries to combine the ride with the region’s other entertainment options, such as biking trips and overnights in cabooses transformed into hotels. Onboard commentators share local rail facts and wildlife information in case of sightings of birds, foxes, deer or even the occasional bear.

Special events, such as the Cottontail Express and the Polar Express, are beloved by younger passengers.

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Ohio’s Friendliest Train Robbery happens monthly during summers at the Hocking Valley Scenic Train. Bandits arrive on horseback, then walk through the train looking for money. Passengers can hand them play money passed out before the trip. Groups should book these exciting train rides early because of their popularity. The train company also offers other in-demand themed trains, such as the Easter Bunny Train, the New Year’s Eve Train and the Santa Train.

No matter the time of year, groups love riding through the historic and scenic Hocking River Valley in either open-air cars or enclosed coaches. The train offers two routes: the 90-minute ride to Haydenville, Ohio, and the twohour route to East Logan, Ohio. Both routes pass through Hocking River, a Hocking Canal lock and the former company town Haydenville.

Groups can extend the trip with Nelsonville’s arts district, Stuart’s Opera House, biking routes, hiking trails and off-road vehicle tours. The nearby Smoke Rise Ranch welcomes visitors to its working cow ranch for horseback rides, as well as cabin rentals, fishing ponds and a playground.

The 1864 railroad line originally began running to transport Hocking Valley’s salt and coal. When the first freight train from Nelsonville arrived in Columbus in 1869, it fired a cannon on board to let the town know of its upcoming arrival.

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C AT C H T H E S P I R I T

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JULY/AUGUST 2018 Courtesy OKC CVB

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nown as the Horse Show Capital of the World, Oklahoma’s vibrant capital city is renowned for its rich Western heritage, eclectic cuisine and nationally acclaimed museums. Visitors will discover unique pockets of culture throughout Oklahoma City, from the Historic Stockyards City, where stockyards and meatpacking plants first established the city as a center of commerce, to the Bricktown Entertainment District, a former warehouse district that has since been transformed into a trendy nightlife, restaurant and entertainment complex.

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M AJOR AT TR ACTIONS Groups will find no shortage of world-class attractions to explore in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum commemorates the victims, survivors and families affected by the tragic 1995 bombing that claimed the lives of 168 Oklahomans. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is among the country’s most distinguished museums on Western culture and houses over 28,000 artifacts and works of art. Based in the heart of downtown, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art has a distinguished collection that spans five centuries of European, American and contemporary art, including one of the world’s largest public displays of glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly.

UNIQ UE GRO UP EXPERIENCES At the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, groups can participate in First Person: Stories of Hope, a program that features first responders, survivors or victims’ family members who lived through the bombing speaking with the group about their harrowing experience. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Oklahoma City’s oldest and largest attraction, recently began offering a new immersive experience called The Secret History of the Oklahoma City Zoo, which takes guests on an exclusive two-hour, behind-thescenes tour of unusual areas such as the Shuttered Gorilla Observatory and the Asian elephant exhibit.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS Each year, thousands of arts-and-crafts enthusiasts flock to the colorful Paseo Arts District for the annual Paseo Arts Festival. Visitors can wander through art galleries, studios and street booths to pick up original Oklahoma City souvenirs, all while enjoying live stage music and tasty snacks from local food vendors. In late May, the Chuckwagon Gathering and Children’s Cowboy Festival takes place at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, featuring covered-wagon rides, campfire storytelling, Western-themed crafts and authentic chuck-wagon food.

A RESTAURANT IN OKLAHOMA CITY’S STOCKYARDS DISTRICT NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM OPPOSITE PAGE: MORNING BREAKS OVER THE PEACEFUL OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL.

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nid was one of the first towns to be settled during the Cherokee Strip Land Run that brought thousands of settlers to Oklahoma in 1893. It often served as a popular watering hole for cattle drivers traveling along the Chisholm Trail. Today, the city brings this colorful history to life through attractions like the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma, Leonardo’s Children’s Museum and the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center.

There are also many notable art venues in town, such as the Gaslight Theatre, one of the state’s oldest and most active community theaters.

Voted one of Oklahoma’s Outstanding New Attractions, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center tells the story of the famous Land Run of 1893. Leonardo’s Children’s Museum is an interactive arts and science museum that inspires learning for all ages. The museum recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation that added new exhibits on modern health, technology and energy conservation.

Among the highlights are a critter clubhouse, a medical clinic with a life-size Operation game and a two-story climbing tower that extends from the first floor to the second.

UNIQ UE GRO UP EXPERIENCES Once the home of a Western-style retail outlet, Simpson’s Old Time Museum now showcases Western history exhibits as well as several full-scale Western movie sets, among them an 1880s saloon, a jail, a hotel lobby, a general store and a church. With advance notice, groups can star in 15to 20-minute Western films of their own, using museum costumes and provided scripts. The filming takes roughly three hours; later, the museum cinematographer edits the footage and sends the group leader a finished copy to share with the participants.

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FESTIVALS AND EVENTS One of Enid’s most beloved annual events is the Summer Enid Chautauqua, a series of historical re-enactments that involve several history scholars from the local community. The five-night event has a different theme each year; past themes have included the Roaring ’20s, Cowboys and Cattle Trails, and World War II. During the production, each scholar chooses a historical figure related to the theme and emulates the character’s style, mannerisms and philosophies during a first-person presentation. Audience members are invited to engage the historical figure at the end of the presentation with any questions or comments.

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JULY/AUGUST 2018 A WESTERN MOVIE EXPERIENCE IN ENID

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ative American heritage is an integral part of Oklahoma, and groups traveling through the state have a variety of ways to explore it.

One of the best ways for groups to experience Cherokee history and culture is through one of the tribe’s guided tours, which trace landmarks from before and after forced relocation.

The popular History Tour takes guests to the Cherokee Heritage Center in Park Hill, where they can step back in time as they wander through re-created ancient villages that illustrate Cherokee culture before European contact.

The Cherokee Heritage Center contains the most extensive collection of Cherokee resources and artifacts in the state and continuously revitalizes its exhibits so return visitors will always find something new to appreciate.

The next major stop is the National Capitol Building, the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum and the Cherokee National Prison Museum in the Cherokee Nation capital of Tahlequah. This year, the tribe began renovating the National Capitol Building, with plans to convert the structure into a full-scale museum by spring of 2019.

For another perspective on Native American culture, groups can visit Chickasaw Country in south-central Oklahoma. Thought to be the epicenter of Chickasaw heritage, the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur features diverse programming such as history exhibits, fine-arts galleries, a re-created traditional village and gift shops with handcrafted goods. Every week, visitors can see dance performances, meet with artisans working on their crafts and sample traditional Native American meals.

Within a short distance of the heritage center, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area is a true Oklahoman oasis, with shaded springs, streams and lakes that never rise above 65 degrees in the summer, offering hikers a refreshing respite. No trip to Sulphur would be complete without a visit to Bedré Fine Chocolate, a local chocolate factory that manufactures premium-grade treats with Oklahoma flair. Guided tours are not available, but guests can view the production process through floor-to-ceiling windows.

take your next tour somewhere

new

What tour doesn’t need to stop somewhere new to ensure an experience that’s fascinating, fresh and fun? In Oklahoma City there’s something new to discover on every corner.

From our gleaming new downtown to the Old West at the National Cowboy Museum. From a new appreciation of our spirit at the Oklahoma City National Memorial to being welcomed like a new friend everywhere you go. Add us to your next itinerary and you’ll soon discover that around here, things are more than just new. They’re OKC new.

WWW.VISITCHEROKEENATION.COM WWW.CHICKASAWCOUNTRY.COM

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lk City embodies some of the best traits of small-town America. It is a prominent stop along Route 66, the historic highway that came to define the classic American road trip, and home to a thriving local culinary scene. In the city’s diverse downtown shopping district, travelers can pick out a pair of cowboy boots or browse through boutique jewelry and home decor. It is also one of the top rodeo destinations in the country. For groups looking for a classic, Old West vibe, Elk City is just the place to visit.

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The National Route 66 Museum Complex encompasses four museums that highlight different aspects of Oklahoma’s diverse history. At the National Route 66 Museum, groups can learn more about the iconic highway that immortalized Americana like mom-and-pop shops, country diners and quirky roadside attractions. Based inside a two-story Victorian house, the Old Town Museum explores the history of early Oklahoma settlers and cowboys. The Farm and Ranch Museum showcases an extensive collection of agricultural equipment through exhibits on barbed wire, tractors and windmills. In the Blacksmith Museum, visitors will discover how blacksmiths forge everyday tools from iron or steel.

UNIQ UE GRO UP EXPERIENCES Ackley Park is a beautiful 220-acre park with six picnic pavilions, a miniature golf course, a children’s train ride and a vintage carousel with 36 hand-carved wooden horses.

During the holiday season, Ackley Park sets the stage for the annual Christmas in the Park celebration, one of the most spectacular light displays in the state. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, groups can tour the festive decor on the Mistletoe Express or an English double-decker bus or take a ride on a classic horse-drawn carriage. For a special souvenir, visitors can pick up a limited-edition Christmas ornament from Santa’s gift shop.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS At the beginning of June each year, Elk City locals gather in town for Route 66 Days, a three-day, fun-filled event that includes a Route 66 car show, stock car races at Elk City Speedway and a citywide garage sale. On Labor Day weekend, Elk City hosts one of the best-known rodeo competitions in the state, the PRCS Rodeo of Champions, attracting thousands of visitors to watch top-ranked cowboys and cowgirls compete for national titles.

BARTLESVILLE’S FRANK PHILLIPS PARK

By Lisha Newman, courtesy OK Tourism A KIAMACHI STATUE IN ELK CITY

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estled in the lush northeastern part of Oklahoma known as Green Country, Bartlesville is a small city with big character.

Nature lovers can explore the area’s extensive trail system and relish the wooded, sweeping landscape of rural Oklahoma; others will enjoy delving into regional history and culture at local museums, theaters, festivals and more. No matter what the interests of the group, visitors are sure to find something to entertain everyone in this remarkable city.

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M AJOR AT TR ACTIONS Nature, art and history blend at the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve. Over 30 species of mammals roam the 3,700-acre property, and as visitors drive along a two-mile stretch within the enclosed area, they might catch sight of native and exotic animals like American bison, water buffaloes, pigmy goats and ostriches. Nearby, the Woolaroc Museum complements this rugged experience with an extensive collection of Western art and Native American artifacts. In the heart of downtown, visitors will discover another one of Bartlesville’s signature landmarks: the Price Tower.

Built in 1956, this 19-story building stands as the only fully realized skyscraper designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

UNIQ UE GRO UP EXPERIENCES Bartlesville is home to the Bartlesville Indian Women’s Club, a local organization of nearly 70 Native American women from 18 different tribes who present cultural demonstrations across the country. Groups can learn about Native American clothing, beadwork and traditional cuisine. Likewise, the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve features an entertaining, hands-on experience called Mountain Man Camp, during which participants can learn about everyday life in the 1840s.

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s the largest urban center in Southwestern Oklahoma, Lawton provides a perfect balance of outdoor recreation opportunities and modern city amenities, whether groups want to hike, boat and swim, or take advantage of city nightlife. It is also home to Fort Sill, an Army base that is the site of the grave of famous Apache chief Geronimo, an example of the region’s blend of Native American and military heritage.

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Just 10 minutes outside Lawton, the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge was founded to protect endangered wildlife and help restore native species. The stunning 59,020-acre natural grassland is home to bison, prairie dogs, wild turkeys, elk, otters and owls and features some of the most scenic hiking trails in Oklahoma. It is a popular destination for hiking, camping, swimming and fishing. For an interactive, educational experience, travelers of all ages will enjoy a trip to the Museum of the Great Plains, a state-of-the-art history museum that promotes learning through hands-on exhibits such as a tornado simulator, a “mammoth bone” dig and an 1830s replica Trading Post staffed by costumed actors.

Groups can also learn about the rich local history and culture of the Comanche Nation at the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center.

UNIQ UE GRO UP EXPERIENCES It is not every day that travelers can step inside an active military installation. Fort Sill allows groups to acquire a guest pass and tour some of the base’s top-notch museums. These venues include the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum, the U.S. Air Defense Artillery Museum and the U.S. Army Field Artillery Museum. This experience is wonderful for military reunion groups as well as those who enjoy learning about military history.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS In late spring, Lawton hosts Arts for All, one of the largest outdoor cultural festivals in southeast Oklahoma. Now celebrating its 44th year, the three-day event draws artists from all over the country to showcase their expertise in painting, pottery, sculpting, woodwork, glasswork and more. During Labor Day weekend, local members of the community and the military join in town for the Armed Forces Day Parade, a public display of some of Fort Sill’s most impressive military vehicles. The celebration honors veterans and active military, but also serves to educate the public about military service.

SUNSET OVER HONEY CREEK AT GRAND LAKE O’ THE CHEROKEES

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There’s nothing one-dimensional about Oklahoma. This is home to the world’s largest collection of Western art and artifacts. It’s where the rhythm of Native culture reverberates in traditional powwows. This is the land of Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, where the food is as legendary as the music. Pay us a visit and travel back in time amid gleaming classic cars at the National Route 66 Museum.

Find adventures and itineraries at TravelOK.com/Group.

sound-off

STAFF

WHO DO YOU ROOT FOR DURING FOOTBALL SE ASON? “My team is the Florida State Seminoles and anyone playing against the Gators.

There is a renewed sense of pride and excitement for Seminole fans due to our new head coach Willie Taggart, so I can’t wait for this season to start. Go, ’Noles!”

— Kelly Tyner, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING

“Obviously, the University of Kentucky. I don’t have an NFL team, so I just root for Kentucky, as I prefer college sports better.”

“I was a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts during the Peyton Manning era. The team hasn’t fared as well since his departure, but I still enjoy seeing him in TV commercials.”

— Brian Jewell, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

“I don’t have any particular allegiances, but if I have to pick someone, it’s usually the underdog.”

— Savannah Osbourn, STAFF WRITER

“Boomer Sooner baby!”

“F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-AT-E Florida State! Florida State!

Florida State! Woooooooo!!!!!”

— Donia Simmons, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

— Ashley Ricks, CIRCULATION MANAGER

— Kyle Anderson, SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR

EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to Staff Sound-Off, the monthly column where our staff members answer questions about their travel practices and preferences.

We hope you enjoy these tips. If you have a question you’d like to see us answer, send it to me and it may appear in a future issue.

BRIANJ@GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM 50

GROUP T HE

TRAVEL LE ADER

JULY/AUGUST 2018

GoingOn OnFaith Faith Going

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