The Group Travel Leader May 2022

GROUP T E N N E S S E E ’ S S M O K Y H E R I TAG E | A R T F U L LY I N S P I R E D C I T I E S | G O K A L A M A ZO O I N G

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America’s highway

HISTORY & HERITAGE

ISSUE

MAY 2022

Discover the secret coast

Coastal Mississippi is the perfect year-round destination, with an incredible amount to do, see, and experience across its 62 miles of scenic shoreline. Whether your group kayaks the area’s stunning waterways, enjoys headliner enteratinment at one of our 12 casinos, or tours of one of our award-winning art museums, you will find southern hospitality at its finest.

With the help of Coastal Mississippi, opportunities for memorable experiences are truly endless!

For assistance with group planning, visit www.coastalmississippi.com or give us a call at 228-896-6699.

This page was prepared by Coastal Mississippi using Federal funds under award 04-79-07589 from the EDA, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the EDA or the U.S. Department of Commerce.

CONTENTS

GROUP TH E

TRAVEL LEADER

CHARTING THE EVOLUTION OF GROUP TR AVEL

COLU M NS

N EWS

6 Editor’s Marks

8 Family Matters 10 Select Traveler Conference

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Mississippi Spotlight

ON TH E COVER

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Women Who Made History

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Kalamazoo, Michigan

VOL 31 | ISSUE 5

HISTORY & HERITAGE

ISSUE

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

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T HE SMOK I ES AN D BEYO ND

RO UTE 66 S PECIAL SEC TI ON

East Tennessee offers a wealth of experiences for groups.

Discover iconic photo stops and fascinating museums along the Mother Road.

K E LLY T Y N E R 888.253.0455

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A vintage Route 66 sign welcomes travelers to Old Town in Albuquerque.

Photo by Ed Gifford.

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

KELLY TYNER KYLE ANDERSON ASHLEY RICKS SARAH SECHRIST RENA BAER

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

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

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

E XPERIENCE OKL AHOMA’ S WE STERN HERITAGE Experience Oklahoma’s rich Western history and heritage with a week-long trip around the state. On Day 3, explore incredible collections of classic and contemporary Western Art at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Then, quench your thirst at POPs - an iconic Route 66 restaurant and gas station with over 600 varieties of pop-soda-licious! On Day 5, tour Will Rogers Memorial Museum for a look into life on the frontier.

Wrap up the itinerary at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile to shop and enjoy tasty treats.

Find a full 7-day itinerary and more ideas at TravelOK.com/Group.

EDITOR’S MARKS

“I

BY BRIAN JEWELL

f I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.”

Liza Minnelli sang those words in the film “New York, New York” in 1977, and Frank Sinatra released his own famous recording of the song in 1980. Both these stars, of course, were referring to the Big Apple. But the sentiment expressed in the song applies just as much to today’s tourism industry as it did to 1970s New York.

Life in New York has never been easy (although it’s probably easier now than it was in the gritty ’70s).

Anytime I go there, I’m struck by how much more difficult things are in a big city. There’s much more traffic and much less personal space. Everything costs more and takes longer.

And yet each year, millions of travelers visit New York. And many thousands move there, trading the ease of the life they had in smaller places for the dreams they’ll chase in the big city.

Why do so many people make this choice?

Because they believe the prize they’ll ultimately find in New York outweighs the challenges they’ll face in getting there.

Like living in New York, working in tourism has never been particularly easy. Ours is an industry that requires unconventional hours, extraordinary flexibility, constant creativity and relentless adaptability. Every time national or global events make news, tourism professionals have to pivot.

Over the past two years, of course, working in tourism has been more difficult than anyone could have anticipated. The lockdowns were brutal.

Public policy was confusing and counterproductive.

Customers were legitimately scared. And tourism professionals had to navigate wave after wave, challenge after challenge.

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Some people didn’t make it. But for those who did, I’ll echo Liza and Frank’s sentiments: If you made it to here, you can make it anywhere.

While COVID hasn’t been eradicated (and never will be), the worst of the pandemic now seems to be fading in the rearview mirror. For those of us who love travel, that’s very good news. And one of the things it means is your customers who love travel are more than ready to get back out there.

Certainly, we still face headwinds, including some that would have seemed very difficult just a few years ago. Gas prices are outrageous.

Motorcoach drivers — and many other hospitality service workers — are in short supply. Inflation is pushing the costs of travel to dizzying heights. And as of this writing, the war in Ukraine is causing continued global uncertainty.

In previous eras, these challenges would have walloped the tourism industry. But not today. Tour companies, cruise lines, hotel chains and others report that business is booming. Many are seeing future bookings at unprecedented levels.

The travails of the pandemic taught us an important lesson: We can overcome far more than we ever imagined. And after the storm passes, we find that we haven’t just survived; somehow, through it all, we have become stronger.

So, as you make your travel plans for the rest of 2022 and 2023 — and even as you wrestle with the challenges that remain — remember this: Despite the odds, you’ve made it here. And that means you can make it anywhere.

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BLANKENSHIP BECOMES GROUP T R AV E L’ S N E W E S T C O N V E R T SALEM, Ohio — Cassandra Blankenship “It’s true, when a group travel planner joined the travel industry six months ago and leads a tour, the destination is the focal point. has already become a devoted believer in But the undiscussed value is the improved the value of group travel. As a member of quality of life that traveling with friends and the marketing staff at Group Travel Family family brings,” Blankenship said. of Brands, she attended the Select Traveler Travel planners enjoyed over 5,000 Conference at Cheyenne, Wyoming – her business appointments at the conference. first travel industry event – where delegates Those one-on-one meetings with destinafrom 25 states got to know the city, explore tions, hotels and tour operators resulted in its travel possibilities and build relationships hundreds of new group tours being planned. with other travel industry professionals.

It is estimated each travel planner at the CASSANDRA BLANKENSHIP “I immediately recognized the value conference has a membership in excess of that our travel planner delegates gained at the Select Traveler 250 travelers and operates six group tours annually. That results Conference Marketplace,” Blankenship said. “They networked in a total of 24,000 travelers per year. with other travel planners, shared ideas and met with destina“It was an honor to think I had a small part of helping travel tions, hotels and operators to build new tour packages for their planners return to their communities, build better tours and groups.” really help people enjoy life,” Blankenship said.

“It’s nice to see a sharp new face like Cassandra recognize The Group Travel Family of Brands has a membership of the value that group travel brings to people’s lives,” said Charlie 25,000 travel planners and is the parent organization or management firm for seven national group travel or meetings conPresley, president of Group Travel Family of Brands.

The Group Travel Family of Brands’ mission is to help group ferences. To contact Blankenship, email to cblankenship@ travel leaders develop skills to better serve their communities. grouptravelfamily.com or call 800-628-0993.

30 YEARS OF STS MARKETING COLLEGE ATLANTA, Georgia — Southeast Tourism Society (STS) will celebrate 30 years of Marketing College, its unique continuing education program for the travel and tourism industry, this summer.

Since its inception in 1992, the annual STS Marketing College has hosted tourism professionals for one week on a three-year path to earning their Travel Marketing Professional (TMP) certification. What began as the vision of the late Dorothy Hardman has now graduated over 1,200 TMPs across the association’s 14-state region. Marketing College has become a staple of professional development for tourism organizations throughout the Southeast.

“We are excited to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Marketing College this year.” said Monica Smith, president and CEO of

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Southeast Tourism Society. “The longevity of this program, and the 1,200-plus TMPs to date, are a testament to the quality of education, leadership development and networking that are the cornerstones of Marketing College.”

This year’s Marketing College will take place June 5–10 on the campus of Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Class topics will include Vital Tools to Empower Your Online Marketing Strategies; Tourism Product Development; Trends and Best Practices for Sports Tourism Marketing; and Perception is Reality: Creating a Crisis Communication Response Framework.

Registration is open and can be accessed, along with a complete schedule, at southeasttourism.org.

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ARK ENCOUNTER &

CREATION MUSEUM PASS 10 MILLION MARK PETERSBURG, Kentucky — The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, internationally popular attractions of Answers in Genesis, welcomed their 10 millionth visitor in April.

The attractions have been visited by a wide range of internationally well-known people over the years, from President Jimmy Carter and a Nigerian king to celebrities like Bill Nye and rock star Ozzy Osborne.

“We’re thrilled with our total attendance number, as visitors come here from around the world,” said Ken Ham, founder and CEO of Answers in Genesis and its two attractions.

“It gives me confidence that 2022 will be our best year, especially as we continue to expand and hold special events.”

The Ark Encounter, featuring a 510-footlong Ark as its centerpiece, and the Creation Museum, with high-tech experiences, are faithbased attractions that have found significant appeal with tour groups.

“The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum attendance will only increase as more international visitors resume traveling and as bus tours return to levels we’ve experienced before, such as up to 55 tour buses in a day,” Ham said.

With attendance returning to pre-pandemic levels, Answers in Genesis is working on expansion plans. The the organization hopes to build a future Tower of Babel attraction that will tackle racism issues, showing how all people have developed from one biological race.

Over the years, directly and indirectly, the Ark Encounter has added tens of millions of dollars into the state and local treasuries and has spurred the construction of several new hotels to meet guest demand, especially in the cities of Dry Ridge and Florence, Kentucky.

The Ark Encounter, Creation Museum and Answers in Genesis employ over 1,000 staff, which makes them significant employers in northern Kentucky.

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E AG E R B U Y E R S AT T E N D S E L E C T T R AV E L E R C O N F E R E N C E I N C H E Y E N N E CHEYENNE, Wyoming — More than 50 upscale-travel planners joined 90 domestic and international travel destinations at the 2022 Select Traveler Conference held March 28–30 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Each year travel planners representing banks, chambers of commerce, alumni associations and similar high-end affinity groups are invited to the event.

“We all know travel industry gatherings of all types remain pressed to reach their pre-pandemic attendances,” said conference partner Charlie Presley of the Group Travel Family, “but what this group lacked in size, it made up for in energy. The delegates who attended were enthusiastic and were just happy to be face-to-face again. Mac and I heard from dozens of buyers and sellers alike that the enthusiasm for taking groups back out is overwhelming right now.”

“In our buyer breakout session, 83 percent of attendees expected to operate from six to 15 major trips or more in the coming year,” said conference partner Mac Lacy, “and 93 percent said their travelers were ready to travel right now. We wanted to know what our planners’ frames of mind were coming out of the pandemic and if any felt ‘emotionally worn out.’ They all described themselves as ready to travel again, and 60 percent said they were ‘as good as new and ready to go.’”

Visit Cheyenne hosted an opening Western-style honkytonk evening event at Outlaw Saloon, where delegates dined on fresh smoked brisket and enjoyed live music and line dancing. Jim Walter and Andi Jaspersen of Visit Cheyenne managed the city’s hospitality efforts and offered sightseeing tours of its state capital sites, breweries, museums, Terry Bison Ranch and more.

Buyers and sellers alike were enthusiastic about seeing each other again in a travel-friendly environment at the Select Traveler Conference in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Other major sponsors for meals included travel companies and destinations like Collette, U.S. Tours, Trips and next year’s host, Explore Branson. Two conference marketplace sessions were offered and most travel industry buyers had 30 or more appointments over the two days.

The 2023 Select Traveler Conference takes place March 27-29 at the Chateau on the Lake resort in Branson, Missouri. For registration details, visit selecttravelerconf.com PHOTOS BY DAN DICKSON

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CUSTOM CONTENT

In Birmingham, eat and explore in one stop

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BY VICKIE MITCHELL

irmingham loves to feed people. Known as the “Dinner Table of the South,” local restaurants are its specialty, with some led by James Beard Award-winning chefs, others by culinary pioneers and entrepreneurs. Good news for tours: a number of favorites are at or near popular attractions, making it easy to eat and explore in one stop. Here are a few ideas, and the Birmingham CVB has others. Check out its Taste and See itinerary, available on its website.

Food for all at Pizitz Food Hall Downtown, across from the McWane Science Center and a block from the Alabama and Lyric theaters, Pizitz Food Hall is all about options, with a dozen inventive food stalls offering anything from sushi and pho to Indian street foods and tacos. For mid-day sugar surges, Edolyn’s $5 four-inch pies are the answer. Lemon chess, pecan and sweet potato and other pies are based on recipes passed down three generations. Areas for communal dining are indoors and out at the old department store-turned-food hall.

A feast for the eyes and stomach It costs nothing to stroll the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which means all the money saved can be invested in lunch at its Gardens Café. Open Tuesday-Friday, the lunch spot is operated by Kathy G. Mezrano, considered the city’s premier caterer by many. Specials like shrimp and grits and tomato stacked salad are accompanied by views of the garden through two-story windows or of roses and hydrangeas that blossom near the covered terrace.

Birmingham didn’t become a city until after the Civil War, so unlike other Southern towns, it doesn’t have many antebellum homes. Its one remaining house museum of that era, Arlington Antebellum House and Gardens, has tours of its collection of 19thcentury furnishings, silver and art. Staff there can also arrange three-course lunches on site for groups.

Sample Alabama-grown on Saturdays There’s no better place to grasp what Alabama-grown means than The Market at Pepper Place. Up to 100 farmers and vendors set up each Saturday until noon, nearly year round, and sell everything from vegetables and fruits to baked goods and cheeses. Pepper Place, once the campus of a Dr Pepper bottling operation and now home to restaurants, shops and galleries, is a good stop anytime.

Greece, the South and the sea It’s a rare when seafood pastichio, fried pickles and collard greens meet up on a menu, but that’s exactly what happens at The Fish Market on Southside, where one of Birmingham’s best-known chefs, George Sarris, brings together the sea, the South and his Greek homeland in a tastefully eclectic menu. Sarris and other chefs like Clayton Sherrod, who runs his own catering business and teaches cooking classes, love to entertain groups with cooking demonstrations that are guaranteed to add more local flavor to a stop in the South’s culinary capital.

inbirmingham.com

205-458-8000

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PLANNING AN ITINERARY OR A COOKING DEMONSTRATION, CONTACT: GREATER BIRMINGHAM CVB SARA HAMLIN CTIS, VICE PRESIDENT, TOURISM 205-458-8000 SHAMLIN@INBIRMINGHAM.COM INBIRMINGHAM.COM

l a t n e MonWumO M E N

Oil portrait of Louisa May Alcott

by George Peter Alexander Healy, 1870

Amelia Earhart with her airplane in 1937 COURTESY AMELIA EARHART HANGAR MUSEUM

Louisia May Alcott’s Orchard House

BY TREY POWERS, COURTESY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S ORCHARD HOUSE

A statue at the Rosa Parks Museum

COURTESY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S ORCHARD HOUSE

A Betsy Ross interpreter

COURTESY ROSA PARKS MUSEUM

BY S. ALMAZAN, COURTESY HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA

The Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum

Orchard House and the Alcott Family, circa 1865 12

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COURTESY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S ORCHARD HOUSE

COURTESY AMELIA EARHART HANGER MUSEUM

The exterior of Georgia O’Keeffe’s Ghost Ranch in New Mexico

HISTORY & HERITAGE

COURTESY GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM

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V I S I T T H E S E S I T E S T H AT HONOR AMERICAN HEROINES

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BY BRIAN JEWELL

ou don’t have to look far through the pages of history to find women who made a mark on America.

From Betsy Ross to Louisa May Alcott, Amelia Earhart and Rosa Parks, notable women have been part of America’s story. Their fingerprints are everywhere: on the first American flag, on the expansion of voting rights and civil rights, and in literature and fine art.

Here’s a look at just a few of the many monumental female figures from our nation’s history, as well as historic sites, museums and other places travelers can learn more about them.

Betsy Ross PH I L A D E LPH IA

Among the most famous stories from the founding of our country is the tale of Betsy Ross stitching the first American flag, with one star representing each of the 13 original Colonies. While some historians debate whether Ross actually created the first flag, she was a successful upholsterer and flag maker in Philadelphia in the 1770s. During her career, she sewed numerous other items for George Washington and the Continental Army, which lends credence to the legend about her creating the first American flag.

Groups can learn more about Ross’ fascinating life — and decide for themselves whether the American flag story is true — at the Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia.

One of several sites administered by a group called Historic Philadelphia, the house is a 1740 building that served as Ross’ workshop, showroom and family home. Groups can meet a Betsy Ross interpreter and enjoy other immersive experiences during their visits.

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Louisa May Alcott

CO N CO R D, M A S SAC H U S E T T S

In an era when few women had the opportunity to write and publish fiction, Louisa May Alcott

became one of the most celebrated American novelists of the 1800s when her book “Little Women” took the country by storm. The story has been read and beloved by generations of children and adults ever since, and Alcott went on to enjoy financial independence and a continued writing career.

Alcott penned “Little Women” at a small desk at her family’s home in Concord, Massachusetts. The family called the home the Apple House because it was surrounded by an orchard. Visitors can now tour the Apple House, which has been meticulously preserved and is still filled with many furnishings and objects owned by the Alcott family. The house and surrounding area were major sources of inspiration for Alcott, so many fans see visiting the Apple House as a chance to step into the pages of their favorite novel.

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Susan B. Anthony RO C H ESTE R , N E W YO R K

Anyone who values women’s place in civic life owes a debt of gratitude to Susan B. Anthony. A leader in the suffragist movement in the late 1800s, Anthony ran the National American Woman Suffrage Association out of her home in Rochester, New York. In 1872, she was famously arrested for having voted illegally in an election. And though she died in 1906, 14 years before women gained the right to vote nationwide, her vision, courage and inspirational leadership paved the way for the success of the movement that fundamentally reshaped America.

Today, that house in Rochester is preserved as the National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House.

The home tells the story of Anthony’s life and mission, and visitors will find a collection of objects and artifacts that help bring that story to life. The museum features a variety of educational interpretive programs and a gift shop with inspiring books, jewelry and other items.

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Rosa Parks

M O NTGO M E RY, A L A BA MA

The history of the civil rights movement is full of impressive figures. While some dedicated themselves full-time to the effort, others, such as Rosa Parks, were ordinary citizens who displayed extraordinary bravery. In 1955, Parks, a Black woman, famously refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Though she was arrested, her principled stand led to the Montgomery Bus Boycotts and inspired thousands of people across the country to take up the cause of civil rights.

Today, travelers can learn more about Parks, her life and the change she helped catalyze at the Rosa Parks Museum. Part of Montgomery’s Troy University, the museum is located at the corner where Parks was arrested in 1955. It has a permanent exhibit, “The Cleveland Avenue Time Machine,” which tells Parks’ story, as well as temporary art exhibits and educational programs.

V I S I T M O N TG O M E RY.C O M

Amelia Earhart ATC H I S O N , K A N SA S

When Amelia Earheart was born in in 1897, few people knew humans were less than a decade away from powered flight. Even fewer could have imagined that this girl from Atchison, Kansas, would become famous worldwide as an aviation pioneer. Earhart first encountered airplanes as a nurse’s aide during World War I and learned to fly soon thereafter. She set records as the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Her 1937 disappearance over the Pacific during an attempt to fly around the world remains one of history’s great unsolved mysteries.

Several sites in Atchison pay homage to Earhart.

The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum preserves the home where she was born and spent much of her early childhood. And set to open in 2023, the Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum will display a historic airplane identical to the one Earhart piloted on her final, fateful flight.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

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COURTESY ROSA PARKS MUSEUM

Booking a meeting in Laredo, Texas means plenty of options for accommodations, incredible facilities of all sizes, and personalized service, all at affordable prices. And when it’s time to unwind, the nightlife on Iturbide St. and all throughout downtown welcomes anyone ready for a good time. Book your meeting today and see if your group qualifies for incentives.

visitlaredo.com 1.800.361.3360

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Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau

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Georgia O’Keeffe

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COURTESY GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM

COURTESY DESTINATION LANCASTER GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM

A sitting room at Georgia O’Keefe’s home in New Mexico

A carpooling exhibit at the Rosa Parks Museum

The bus in which Rosa Parks made her stand in Montgomery

In the middle of the 20th century, as the age of the automobile made nationwide travel accessible for everyday Americans, many set off toward New Mexico to see for themselves the landscapes that had become immortalized by the country’s preeminent Southwestern artist, Georgia O’Keeffe.

Born in Wisconsin in 1887, O’Keeffe first began spending time in the Southwest in 1912. By 1929, she was making annual pilgrimages to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to paint. By the time she died in 1986, O’Keeffe had established herself as one of America’s most influential artists.

Today, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe pays tribute to both the artist and the landscape that inspired her. The museum displays numerous pieces of O’Keeffe’s original artwork, as well as works of her contemporaries and others she influenced. Groups can also tour her home and studio at the O’Keeffe Welcome Center in nearby Abiquiú.

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COURTESY ROSA PARKS MUSEUM

With our wide array of beautiful meeting spaces, flexible itinerary customization, and lagniappe such as multilingual tour leads, group travel is made easy in Louisiana’s River Parishes.

Let Willma Harvey, CTP, CTIS customize the perfect trip for your group. willma@lariverparishes.com | 985-359-2783

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

MISSISSIPPI

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here’s a magic and mystery to Mississippi so strong it’s nearly palpable. It rises up from that famously rich soil, creating a culture as potent and productive as the land itself.

This is the place that begat the blues, the music out of which everything from rock ’n’ roll to jazz grew. But there is more to the Magnolia State than world-changing sounds, including a celebrated culinary scene that’s the envy of the country, and historical treasures that tell the story of a deeply troubled past while looking toward a much brighter future.

And Mississippi is imbued with a heaping dose of sweet Southern hospitality, all the better to enchant group travelers.

ARTWORK BY DONIA SIMMONS

By Jill Gleeson

Live music at a Clarksdale blues venue, such as Red’s Lounge, is a must for groups traveling in Mississippi.

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Grammy Museum National WWII Museum Mississippi COURTESY VISIT MISSISSIPPI

POPULAR DEMAND VICKSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK Called “the key” to Civil War victory by Abraham Lincoln, Vicksburg was the site of a bloody 47-day siege that changed the course of American history. Today, Vicksburg National Military Park is home to more than 1,400 beautifully crafted memorials and monuments that have earned it the well-deserved title “the largest outdoor art gallery in the world.” Other sights at the park include the restored U.S.S. Cairo, a Union gunboat that was torpedoed in the Yazoo River near Vicksburg during the war. Step-on guides are available, and groups may also schedule tours of the charming downtown.

GRAMMY MUSEUM MISSISSIPPI

You might wonder why there’s a Grammy museum in the small town of Cleveland.

Turns out more Grammy winners per capita come from Mississippi than Vicksburg National any other state, and the town sits Military Park in the heart of the Delta, where the blues were born. There are plenty of COURTESY VISIT VICKSBURG nods to the influential genre in this 28,000-square-foot musical repository, as well as exhibits featuring Magnolia State greats like B.B. King, Elvis Presley and Muddy Waters. Specialized tours and expanded hours are available for groups.

CLARKSDALE BLUES

People come from all over the world to visit Clarkdale, where legend has it Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for blues guitar mastery. Groups will want to check out the indispensable Delta Blues Museum, then enjoy some live music at places such as Bad Apple Blues Club or Ground Zero Blues Club, an establishment co-owned by actor Morgan Freeman that serves up Southern classics like fried catfish and pork barbeque. Red’s Lounge, perhaps the last remaining original juke joint in Mississippi, is a must. Private, off-hour concerts for tour groups can be arranged through Visit Clarksdale.

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POPULAR DEMAND MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

Mississippi Aquarium

Tucked away within LeFleur’s Bluff State Park in Jackson, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is a wonderfully wide-ranging attraction serving up a whopping 73,000 feet of exhibit space exploring the state’s flora and fauna. Highlights include a massive display of fossils, a 1,700-square-foot greenhouse and a 100,000-gallon aquarium network that’s home to more than 200 aquatic species. The museum offers plenty of special group tours and experiences, such as meeting some of the museum’s creepy critters, like alligators and snakes.

Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

COURTESY VISIT MISSISSIPPI

BY BRENT WALLACE, COURTESY HATTIESBURG ZOO

COURTESY VISIT MISSISSIPPI

Hattiesburg Zoo

Vicksburg Civil War Museum COURTESY VISIT VICKSBURG

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B.B. King Museum

COURTESY VISIT MISSISSIPPI

UP AND COMING MISSISSIPPI AQUARIUM

The Mississippi Aquarium opened in Gulfport about 18 months ago. Set within a nearly six-acre campus, it offers indoor and outdoor habitats spread over 80,000 square feet. Residents in the one million gallons of water range from dolphins and otters to sharks and stingrays. Group visitors can opt for a number of thrilling adventures like the immersive SeaTREK Diving Experience; the Dolphin Encounter, which allows guests to touch and feed the mammals; and a 90-minute eco tour that sails around the harbor.

CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Opened in May 2021, the Vicksburg Civil War Museum is a true rarity: It might be the only privately held, Black-owned Civil War museum in the South. Filled with thousands of fascinating pieces of ephemera from the War between the States, it features everything from pistols and rifles to shells, uniforms, medical equipment, musical instruments and more. Some of the most poignant are the re-creation of an enslaved person’s quarters and the bill of sale for a 7-year-old girl named Ella. It’s all in the service, a sign near the front reads, of inspiring visitors “to want to become more educated” about the Civil War.

HATTIESBURG ZOO

Groups can get a feel for life on the African plains with Hattiesburg Zoo’s new expansion, which has grown the attraction’s size by a massive 25%. The “Experience Africa” enhancement, which debuted in June 2021 to the tune of nearly $4 million, offers seven new buildings, including a restaurant and pavilion, as well as new animals like a hyena, two giraffes, colobus monkeys, chinchillas and boa constrictors. The zoo offers groups customizable experiences, such as animal encounters and behind-the-scenes tours.

B.B. KING MUSEUM AND DELTA INTERPRETIVE CENTER

B.B. King now has a museum fit for royalty, thanks to the 4,500-square-foot expansion to the Indianola institution dedicated to him. The enlarged space, which opened June 2021, includes new displays featuring two of King’s cars and his tour bus. Located in Indianola, King’s hometown, the museum also offers groups the chance to see the last two iconic “Lucille” guitars, as well as King’s gravesite, contained in an upgraded pavilion. Check availability for catered group packages that feature lunch and a live blues performance.

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VISITNATCHEZ.ORG Lynsey Gilbert Director of Sales lynsey@visitnatchez.org 601.446.6345

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Part of the boutique hotel brand with locations in a handful of college towns across the country, Graduate Oxford is very specific to Ole Miss and the charming burg in which the school is located. The expansive lobby is lined with vintage books (legendary author William Faulkner hailed from Oxford) and decorated in Southern-style seersucker and preppy pink. Groups will especially enjoy The Coop terrace lounge, a relaxing spot with craft cocktails that looks toward The Square, Oxford’s justifiably beloved historic heart.

The Graduate Oxford

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The Beau Rivage on the Mississippi Coast

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Nick Wallace of Nissan Café COURTESY COTTON HOUSE HOTEL

COTTON HOUSE

Located in the hip enclave of Cleveland, the luxebut-laidback Cotton House opened its doors less than three years ago. Named for the commodity still traded out of the city, the hotel offers groups

Cotton House

goodies like an art collection inspired by the people and places of the Delta; spacious, beautifully appointed rooms with a modern flair; and two restaurants overseen by the Delta’s own James Beardnominated chef, Cole Ellis. Bar Fontaine is the tonier of the two, specializing in small plates and house-made pasta, while Delta Meat Market serves more casual cuisine, like awe-inspiring sandwiches.

BEAU RIVAGE RESORT AND CASINO

If your group wants it, chances are they can get it at Beau Rivage. Standing tall on Biloxi’s Gulf Coast, the resort boasts a sumptuous spa; a 1,595-seat theater that welcomes huge headlining acts like Tony Bennett and Martina McBride, restaurants ranging from a sophisticated steakhouse to a downhome snack bar, thrilling shopping, a spectacular pool overlooking Mississippi Sound and even a celebrated 18-hole, par72 championship golf course. And with 1,800 slot machines, a plush poker room and a premiere High Limit Lounge, plus craps, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and more, the fun for groups never stops.

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MEMORABLE MEALS

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THE CRYSTAL GRILL

Family-owned for nearly nine decades, the Crystal Grill is a Greenwood institution. The eatery’s delectable pies have appeared on the Food Network and in Southern Living and People magazines. Groups will especially want to sample the lemon icebox, a local favorite, or the coconut creme, piled with “mile high” meringue. The restaurant serves steak, chicken and sandwiches, as well as pastas, but groups might want to order one of the Delta’s traditional dishes, such as the broiled shrimp fresh from the Gulf of Mexico, breaded pork cutlet or lemon pepper catfish.

NISSAN CAFE BY NICK WALLACE

Group travelers can fill two needs with one deed by dining at Nissan Cafe. The restaurant, which offers “modern Mississippi” cuisines, sits inside Jackson’s Two Mississippi Museums, giving guests a chance to fuel up on exquisite fare when visiting the Museum of Mississippi History and the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Nissan Cafe is the brainchild of Nick Wallace, a lauded Magnolia State culinary artist who has appeared on Food Network programs including “Comfort Nation,” “Chopped” and “Cutthroat Kitchen.” Groups will want to try stand-out dishes like shrimp and grits, made with gulf shrimp and pork belly, and Mississippi gumbo, sourced from regional ingredients such as Delta brown rice.

COURTESY VISIT OXFORD

CITY GROCERY

Perched prettily on The Square in Oxford, inside a former livery stable dating back to the Reconstruction, City Grocery is the first establishment opened by legitimate Southeast cooking sensation John Currence. Nominated for James Beard awards in 2005, 2007 and 2008, Currence has guided the restaurant to appearances on the covers of Food and Wine and Bon Appétit, while maintaining its feel of casual elegance. Carefully considered change is the name of the game here, with an always-evolving City Grocery gallery of local artists on the brick walls, and menus that change every six weeks.

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RARE AIR EAST TENNESSEE S P R E A D S B E N E AT H S M O K Y M O U N TA I N V I S TA S

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BY TOM ADKINSON

ast Tennessee’s tourism magnets are strong, getting more powerful and growing in number. As contradictory as it may sound, that situation makes the job of mapping an itinerary simultaneously easy and difficult.

Within a small radius are majestic mountains, a world-famous theme park, enjoyable cities, abundant entertainment and food destinations, plus the novelty of an Olympic sport venue and the spot where country music was born. Let’s explore.

BY STEVEN BEARDEN, COURTESY VISIT KNOXVILLE

C H AT TA NOOG A H E A DL I N E R S Chattanooga — tucked into Tennessee’s southeast corner, touching Georgia and practically within rock-throwing distance of Alabama — is easy to enjoy.

Among its headline attractions is the Tennessee Aquarium, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year. It’s actually three attractions in one. The first is River Journey, which focuses on freshwater ecosystems (specifically the Tennessee River). The second is Ocean Journey, where visitors get to see penguins, seahorses, jellies and more. The third is an IMAX theater, where the films are guaranteed to impress.

“With two aquariums and the IMAX, we can spread groups very effectively,” said Thom Benson, vice president and chief communications and marketing officer. “It’s fun when they see gentoo penguins on the IMAX screen and then get face-to-face with them in Ocean Journey.”

The glass-topped aquariums are Chattanooga riverfront landmarks, and they offer easy access to the downtown portion of the 16.1-mile Chattanooga Riverwalk.

From the Riverwalk, groups can stroll to the Hunter Museum and go just a few steps more to explore the Bluff View Art District (a family-owned district with restaurants, gardens, an art gallery, outdoor sculptures and great views of the river).

An alternate Riverwalk destination is the Chattanooga Northshore, easily reached via the 2,376-foot-long Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge. To the locals,

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This page, clockwise from top: The Knoxville skyline; Chattanooga’s Ruby Falls; Anakeesta in the Smoky Mountains

BY TOM ADKINSON

Tennessee Aquarium

BY TOM ADKINSON

it’s simply the Big Blue Bridge. On the Northshore are shops, restaurants and parkland with more views of the river and downtown.

A bonus for groups that enjoy wandering is Chattanooga’s free downtown electric shuttle system that links the Chattanooga Choo Choo area (hotel, restaurants, music) with the aquarium and the riverfront. Shuttles stop at every block on the 1.3-mile route and are convenient to hotels such as the Read House, the Westin, the Indigo and the DoubleTree.

Looking down from towering Lookout Mountains are three of America’s great visitor attractions.

The Incline Railway is a mile-long funicular rail system, whose bright red and yellow cars have been gliding up and down the ridge for more than 125 years. A five-minute walk from the upper station is Point Park in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

Less than 10 minutes by car from the Incline Railway’s lower station are Ruby Falls and Rock City. Ruby Falls is a groups’ opportunity to drop 260 feet inside Lookout Mountain (via elevator) and take a one-mile cave tour crowned by a 145-foot waterfall. Rock City is a multi-faceted attraction with ancient rock attractions, sculpted gardens and, as Rock City proclaims, a view of seven states, though squinting may be required to see Virginia and South Carolina.

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A Knoxville mural

BY CURTIS GLOVER, COURTESY VISIT KNOXVILLE

It’s a straight shot of only 125 miles to Knoxville, but the trip offers at least three great detours.

First is an outdoor destination, the Ocoee Whitewater Center in the Cherokee National Forest. It showcases the world’s first Olympic whitewater competition site on a natural river.

Second, especially if Ruby Falls whetted an appetite for underground activity, check out the Lost Sea Adventure, which offers a cave tour with a boat trip on a 4-acre underground lake that is a registered National Natural Landmark.

Third is the Mayfield Dairy Farms Visitor Center, where an old-fashioned ice cream parlor awaits.

Knoxville is another Tennessee River city, this one made especially vibrant by being home to the University of Tennessee, one of only two universities whose football stadiums are reachable by boat. To get groups on the river, check out the Star of Knoxville for lunch, dinner or sightseeing cruises.

Downtown Knoxville has its own collection of attractions and diversions.

Curtis Glover and other local artists have decorated multiple buildings with colorful murals, both indoors and outside. There’s even a murals walking tour (download an app or pick up a map at the visitor center on Gay Street).

The visitor center, which is decorated with the “Postcard from Knoxville” mural, offers the unexpected treat of live entertainment. A radio show, sometimes with A-list performers, on WDVX called “The Blue Plate Special” originates Monday through Friday at noon inside the visitor center. Admission is free.

Knoxville’s Market Square is a pedestrian space in the heart of town surrounded by shops and restaurants and regularly enlivened with special events. Among the events are outdoor concerts, summertime movies and “Shakespeare on the Square.”

Rock City’s Lookout Mountain COURTESY ROCK CITY G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M

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Enjoying a drink at Anakeesta Another dining and activity district is simply called the Old City. In its renovated buildings are boutiques, nightclubs, barbecue joints, craft cocktails, sushi, pizza and, in a college town, beer. Notable on that front is Pretentious Beer Co., which offers 16 craft beers and a twist. The twist is that part of the business is a glass studio, so groups can watch a glass blowing demonstration while downing cold brews.

Upcoming for the Old City is a $74.5 million multiuse 7,000-seat stadium, whose primary tenant will be the Double A Knoxville Smokies baseball team. The first pitch is planned for 2024.

Newer on the food scene is Marble City Market, a food hall with a collection of outlets with catchy names such as Penne for Your Thoughts, Seoul Brothers and Gekko Poke and Ramen.

On the cultural side, the Knoxville Museum of Art (free admission) is home to “Cycle of Life,” one of the largest figurative glass-and-steel works of art in the world. The artist is Knoxville native Richard Jolley. Another museum component is Higher Group, a permanent exhibition of works by east Tennessee artists.

Birthplace of Country Music

BY TOM ADKINSON

An AnaVista sunrise

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SMOK Y MOU N TA I N H IGH

PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY in Nashville’s Backyard Visit the Home of the 7 th President

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Visible on the horizon from some spots in Knoxville is Tennessee’s biggest attraction: Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It is big in size (522,427 acres) and popularity (14.1 million visitors in 2021, the most of any national park).

The Sevier County gateway communities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg provide lodging, dining, entertainment and attractions that supplement the majesty of the mountains.

Entertainer Dolly Parton by far is the most famous personality born in Sevier County, and her impact is significant. There’s a statue of Dolly (great for tour group photos) on the square in Sevierville, and Pigeon Forge is home to the Dollywood theme park, the DreamMore Resort, Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction and Dollywood’s Splash Country water park.

Outlet shopping, especially in Sevierville, is perennially popular, and Pigeon Forge’s Mountain Mile is drawing attention. It’s a mix of retail, attractions and food. (An additional attraction, indoor, year-round snow tubing at Snow Pigeon Forge, is nearby.)

The Mountain Mile’s food component got a boost this spring when Downtown Flavortown opened. It’s a Guy Fieri establishment with a 300-seat restaurant, a 14-lane duckpin bowling alley and arcade games galore. Fieri also has his tongs in the fryer in Gatlinburg with his Chicken Guy! restaurant.

The volume of attractions and stage shows is difficult to describe. They include the Titanic Museum Attraction (where the devotion to the history of the ill-fated ship astounds visitors), the Alcatraz East Crime Museum (surprisingly entertaining and even educational), WonderWorks (a hands-on science attraction even adults enjoy) and the perennially popular Country Tonite stage show.

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Of course, the Smoky Mountains themselves remain the core reason for the region’s popularity, and the Gatlinburg attraction called Anakeesta capitalizes on that.

For many, Anakeesta’s highlight is AnaVista, a modernistic-looking observation tower that offers 360-degree views of the Smokies’ rolling ridges. Climbing the 84 steps to the top for those views is exercise well spent. Below are meandering walkways through Anakeesta’s botanical gardens, along with restaurants, a canopy walk with 16 suspended bridges, a zipline and a rappelling adventure.

Gatlinburg adjoins Great Smoky Mountains National Park on three sides, and there’s even a well-trod trail from town to the park’s Sugarlands Visitor Center. The National Park Service is famous for its videos, and the one here is among the best. It explains the park’s geology, Native American heritage, pioneer influences, how lumbering almost denuded the entire region, and how the people of Tennessee and North Carolina, along with some big benefactors, acquired the mountains and gave them to the nation.

COU N T RY ’ S BIG BA NG Farther up the Appalachians is one more destination to consider plugging into an itinerary: the place where commercial country music came into being.

Scoot up I-81 to Bristol (where a line down the middle of State Street separates Tennessee from Virginia) to visit the Birthplace of Country Music. Bristol was the site of the “big bang,” a 10-day recording session in 1927 featuring people who became legends in country music. Among them were the Carter Family (the “First Family of Country Music”) and Jimmie Rodgers (the “Father of Country Music”).

The museum is high-tech, high-touch and high-emotion, and it lets groups wrap up an east Tennessee tour with a song in their hearts. The Carter Family’s “Keep on the Sunny Side” is a good candidate.

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ACTUALLY, YOU CAN PLEASE ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

Inspire miles of smiles for your tour group with hundreds of unique attractions conveniently located in one beautiful mountain town. Stunning views, shows, Dollywood, down-home cooking, arts, crafts and much more make us a destination to remember.

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FLYING ZOOS AND WORLD-CLASS BREWS TA K E YO U R G R O U P T O E C L E C T I C KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN HISTORY & HERITAGE

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here’s plenty to do in Kalamazoo.

Conveniently located halfway between Chicago and Detroit, this Michigan city makes an excellent destination for groups. Its urban feel and abundance of museums and unique local attractions make it a hub for culture and adventure. Its proximity to beautiful outdoor scenery means it’s also sure to satisfy nature enthusiasts.

Among the many things to choose from, groups can experience the best Kalamazoo has to offer at these local attractions.

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Kalamazoo highlights, clockwise from left: Air Zoo; Bell’s Eccentric Café; Gilmore Car Museum; Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

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Doubling as a museum and indoor amusement park, the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum was founded 40 years ago with the mission of bringing aviation history and adventure to its guests. It features interactive exhibits about the history of flight, rare historic planes and aviation artifacts, and thrilling indoor rides for visitors of all ages.

“There’s a ton of things to see and do,” said Dana Wagner, director of marketing and communications at Discover Kalamazoo. “Everyone would be able to find something of interest.”

Groups can enjoy a guided tour through the museum to view its extensive collection of historic planes, which have been painstakingly restored by the museum’s nationally recognized restoration team. Aviation enthusiasts will be impressed by rare aircrafts such as the SR-71B Blackbird, the world’s fastest spy plane. Museum guests can take a ride on the indoor Ferris wheel or test out the flight simulator. After a day of fun and learning, groups can also grab a bite to eat at the Kitty Hawk Café.

Michigan is well known for its contributions to automobile history, and Kalamazoo has the distinction of being home to North America’s largest automobile museum: the Gilmore Car Museum. What started as a personal vintage car collection in the 1960s has now grown to a 90-acre campus with over 400 cars from different eras of American history on display. Groups can take a step back in time with a visit to the museum’s functioning 1940s diner, 1930s Shell Station and vintage car dealerships.

Tours of the Gilmore Car Museum are self-guided, so groups can spend the whole day perusing the museum’s expansive campus and its six onsite partner museums, including the 1950s Cadillac and LaSalle Club Museum.

History and auto enthusiasts alike will enjoy the museum’s collections of unique and vintage cars, such as the 1930s Rolls Royce gifted by Walt Disney or its oldest car on display, the 1899 Locomobile steam car. Groups can visit the vintage diner or the café for a bite to eat, and a stop at the museum shop is an excellent way to round out the trip.

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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY DISCOVER KALAMAZOO

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First opened in 1924, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is a fine art museum located in the heart of downtown.

It’s home to more than 5,000 pieces of art across multiple media, from watercolor paintings to ceramics to sculptures. The museum’s collection includes art from many different time periods and cultures around the world. It also features rotating and traveling exhibits, ensuring guests have something new to see each time they visit.

“It’s a nice mixture to see art from nationally known artists but also discover new things from local artists in Kalamazoo,” Wagner said.

A selection of guided tours is available for groups to see the museum’s collections and rotating exhibits, but selfguided tours are also available. For a hands-on experience, groups can arrange to take a class at the museum’s Kirk Newman Art School, which allows them to learn about and create artwork of their own. Museum guests can also stop by the gallery shop for jewelry, pottery and many other artworks crafted by local and international artists.

Kalamazoo is famous for its craft beer scene and being home to, perhaps, the best-known brewery in the area, Bell’s Brewery. What started as a homebrewing operation in 1985 has since become the oldest craft brewery in Michigan and home to one of America’s top-rated beers, Two Hearted Ale. Bell’s Eccentric Café, located in downtown, provides a great place for groups to sample some of the brewery’s popular beers while enjoying excellent food in a relaxed atmosphere. Guests can even try some Bell’s creations not sold in stores. The café is a live entertainment venue and also features local artwork, making it a hotspot for Kalamazoo culture.

“We like to think that Bell’s is the premiere craft beer destination in Michigan,” Wagner said. “They have a really fun, unique atmosphere there.”

Groups can relax outdoors in the spacious beer garden or on the patio. Or, they can venture inside the café and enjoy a meal, a craft beverage and a performance by a local artist. This might be enough to convince them to stop by the adjacent Bell’s General Store for home brewing supplies or Bell’s souvenirs.

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K A L A M A ZO O NAT U R E C E N T E R

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Groups looking to enjoy the beautiful Michigan landscape should head to the Kalamazoo Nature Center, which has been recognized as one of the top nature centers in the country. In addition to 14 miles of hiking trails, it features interactive programing designed to educate about the environment and the wildlife of the Kalamazoo area.

The center consists of 1,100 acres of rolling hillsides and wooded areas that provide a habitat for many types of flora and fauna and plenty of land for groups to explore.

“If a group is looking to get outside, enjoy nature and get some physical activity, this is a great place to do that,” Wagner said.

Groups can take a self-guided hike and also check out the education center, where hands-on presentations and demonstrations take place. Visitors can learn about and meet some local wildlife, such as the many varieties of owls that reside at the center. They can also become familiar with the local ecosystem and nature conservation efforts through the education center’s many informative exhibits, which change on a regular basis.

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BOLD STROKES

OUTDOOR ART MAGNIFIES THESE CITIES

Murals and public sculpture bring Norfolk’s downtown NEON district to life.

NORFOLK VIRGINIA

COURTESY DOWNTOWN NORFOLK COUNCIL

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BY LINDSEY HYDE

ome of America’s most compelling art can’t be found inside museums.

From displaying bright, colorful murals to massive three-dimensional sculptures, communities throughout the United States are home to must-see public art collections. Here are five cities with flourishing public art scenes that are bound to leave your group in awe.

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Norfolk, Virginia’s NEON District is home to numerous beautiful murals and a mix of modern and traditional sculptures, with many having an overarching theme. But it also boasts a rather unique artistic attraction: glass blowing at the Chrysler Museum of Art. “It’s an amazing institution, and they have on their campus a glass-blowing studio that has sparked this interesting art scene based around glass,” said Rachel McCall, director of strategic initiatives for the Downtown Norfolk Council.

Chrysler’s glass collection contains over 10,000 pieces, and its Perry Glass Studio gives guests the chance to see how these beauties are created.

Free demonstrations are held at noon Tuesday through Sunday, and visitors can sign up to take part in different hands-on classes.

Guests can gaze upon and learn more about multiple murals and sculptures in the NEON District through the Norfolk Tour Company’s guided walking tours. An example of a stop on the tour is “Bella Bones,” a colorful T. rex mural by Aimee Bruce.

“It’s a really great way to dive in and learn the backstories behind the murals or the artwork,” McCall said.

Plus, a trip to Norfolk would not be complete without a self-guided tour of some of the city’s most iconic sculptures. More than 20 years ago, a local bronze sculptor produced 130 mermaids, which area artists decorated.

Today, the community has double that number. “[We are] known for our mermaid sculptures, and there are dozens and dozens of them all over the city,” said McCall, who added that visitors love to hunt around for them, take photos and choose their favorites.

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“La Grande Vitesse” in Grand Rapids COURTESY EXPERIENCE GRAND RAPIDS

GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN It’s hard to turn a corner in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and not catch a glimpse of an artistic creation.

“For many, many decades, Grand Rapids has been in love with artistic things and art in all forms: performing arts, visual arts, sculptures and even architecture,” said Janet Korn, senior vice president of Experience Grand Rapids.

While Grand Rapids isn’t a stranger to the arts, Korn said one piece is known for launching the city’s public art scene: a sculpture by Alexander Calder named “La Grande Vitesse,” meaning “the grand rapids” in French. The city hired Calder to create this 42-ton red masterpiece in 1967 as part of its urban renewal project, and the well-visited artwork remains woven into the city’s fabric.

“It’s really become our iconic piece of sculpture,” Korn said. “It’s part of the city’s logo. It’s on our street signs. It’s on the garbage trucks, but that was really the first piece.”

Walking, running and step-on bus tours of the city’s public art, including “La Grande Vitesse,” can be scheduled through Grand Rapids Running Tours.

The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, which opened its doors in 1995, also warrants a visit. Guests can take self-guided or docent-led tours through this indoor/ outdoor 158-acre campus, where they can feast their eyes on beautiful foliage as well as over 200 pieces of art.

“Because it’s a horticultural place, they do an amazing job of changing the seasonal plants there, and so there’s equal care for the art and horticulture … and how they blend together,” Korn said.

Additionally, in late summer/early fall, Grand Rapids holds ArtPrize, an 18-day international art competition started in 2009, where art is displayed throughout the city — in parks, museums, businesses, galleries and more — for the public to view and cast votes for their favorites.

“It’s the most amazing multigenerational experience I’ve ever seen because it’s so consumable for everyone, from a child in a stroller to a senior citizen in a wheelchair and everything in between,” Korn said.

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IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

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There is nothing more exciting than meeting new people, hearing their stories and being inspired.

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MONROE-WEST MONROE LOUISIANA Home to a burgeoning public art scene, Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana’s various murals and sculptures largely tell the story of its community.

For example, to honor a former area resident, the region boasts a collection of vintage Coca-Cola murals, which were revitalized in 2016.

“Monroe is home to the first bottler of Coca-Cola,” said Sheila Snow, vice president of communications for Discover Monroe-West Monroe. “Joseph Biedenharn lived in Monroe, so we have several Coke murals around town.”

Brightly colored postcard murals that say “Welcome to Monroe” and “Welcome to West Monroe” are also must-see works of art in the region.

“Every letter has a little bit of a representation of something in the area,” said Snow.

Visitors can also learn more about the region by participating in a self-guided “Heron Hunt.” Over 85 heron sculptures, many of which are decorated to represent an aspect of the community, can be found throughout the area. These were created as part of Herons on the Bayou, a public art initiative launched in 2018 to bring artists and the community together.

For example, a local pizza joint called Johnny’s Pizza House has a pizza-themed heron.

“I think they do a great job of telling our story and showing people all the different facets of our community,” Snow said.

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MESA ARIZONA While Mesa, Arizona’s vibrant public art scene is full of beautiful murals and thought-provoking sculptures, it also offers a number of interactive and immersive pieces.

“I think we have a very robust public art scene,” said Cindy Ornstein, executive director of Mesa Arts Center. “We have a fair amount of art out in the public spaces. But we also have a lot of temporary or event experiences available to the public.”

Mesa Arts Center, which comprises a number of art galleries and a must-see mural by El Mac called “Nuevas Generaciones,” offers Mobile Art-Based Engagement Lab (MABEL), a mobile art studio that allows people to create their own artistic masterpieces.

MABEL is about making the arts accessible, “which at heart is really what public art is all about,” Ornstein said.

While visitors can also sign-up to take a variety of classes such as metal sculpture and drawing/painting at the center, they can find several interactive works of art across the community. These include “The Big Pink Chair” created

by Mary Consie and housed outside the i.d.e.a. Museum, which guests can sit on for a photo opportunity; a butterfly mural on Main Street by Kelsey Montague that invites guests to stand between the wings; and “Musical Shadows” at Mesa Arts Center, where tiles in the sidewalk react to people’s shadows by playing different singing tones.

A mural in downtown Mesa COURTESY VISIT MESA

PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA Philadelphia boasts an eclectic public art collection made up of thousands of murals and sculptures dispersed throughout the area. While many are downtown and easy to spot, others are tucked away like hidden gems in neighborhoods.

“In my opinion, Philadelphia is the United States’ public art capital,” said Conrad Benner, founder and editor of Streets Dept, a photo blog that discovers art on the streets of Philadelphia. “It’s not just one organization leading it.

It’s many, many, many big and small organizations and businesses.”

One large, well-known sculpture that deserves a visit is the “Clothespin” by Claes Oldenburg, which was installed in 1976. This was commissioned as part of the city’s Percent for Art program, which requires 1% of any construction project that includes city funds to be put toward public art.

The “Clothespin” is part of a self-guided walking tour called Around City Hall where visitors can learn about and view 14 pieces of art. The Association for Public Art offers an online map for this jaunt as well as many other public art routes.

A must-see mural in the area is “Common Threads,” which was created in 1997 by Meg Saligman and recently repainted due to fading. The piece portrays young individuals emulating postures of historical figurines.

“That is really one of the first murals to step away from this sort of ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’ kind of mural making,” Benner said, noting the artist created the piece independently of any organization.

A newer piece that’s not out in the open is Miguel Antonio Horn’s “ContraFuerte,” featuring figures holding up a bridge on Cuthbert Street.

“It’s not a place you would expect to find public art,” said Benner. “A lot of the most beloved pieces now are tucked away and [when] found bring surprise and delight.”

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Boasting with history at every turn, Jefferson City has groupfriendly attractions yearning to be discovered. Explore what Missouri’s beautiful capital city has to offer your groups.

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Museum Road DON’T MISS A STOP ON ROUTE 66

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ven COVID couldn’t stop Route 66 from kicking.

The highway has achieved legendary status around the world — so much so that the majority of its travelers over the past several decades have been international. That changed during the pandemic, however, as American travelers turned their attention to road trips and rediscovered the charm of the historic highway If your group is planning a Route 66 adventure, here are five essential stops to help your travelers immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and history of this beloved highway.

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum COURTESY OK RT. 66 MUSEUM

Ok la hom a R out e 66 Mu seu m Cl i nt on , Ok la hom a

Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman COURTESY AZ RT. 66 MUSEUM

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The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton tells the story of America’s Mother Road through one of the largest repositories of photographs and artifacts in the country. Before the interstate highway system was developed, people and commerce traveled the two-lane Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles, breathing life into hundreds of small towns that sprung up along the way with their neon signs and kitschy roadside attractions.

Visitors to the museum can learn about the labor that was needed to build the road, experience the Dust Bowl of the 1930s as thousands of people streamed along the road looking for a fresh start somewhere else or learn more about how the road was used after World War II. Many of the small towns along the road fell into ruin after the interstate highway system bypassed them, but the road itself is making a resurgence. The pandemic, in particular, has sparked a renewed interest in family road trips. Visitors from all over the world flock to Clinton to see the red 1957 Chevy in the front window and the restored 1950s diner on property.

COURTESY OK RT. 66 MUSEUM

COURTESY OK RT. 66 MUSEUM

THIS HISTORIC HIGHWAY CONNECTS THE PRESENT TO THE PAST. BEST WESTERN ROUTE 66 RAIL HAVEN, SPRINGFIELD

Bright neon. Delicious bites. World-famous attractions. Experience a storied piece of Americana in Missouri — U.S. Route 66.

Discover the possibilities at VisitMo.com For more information, contact Ashley Sneed with the Missouri Division of Tourism at Ashley.Sneed@ded.mo.gov

MERAMEC CAVERNS, STANTON

GARYʼS GAY PARITA, ASH GROVE

MISSOURI HICK BAR-B-QUE, CUBA

TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD, ST. LOUIS

The galleries use technology and interactive elements to tell the story of each decade along the road using music and artifacts from businesses that no longer exist. QR codes allow visitors to take an audio tour of the exhibits.

The museum is home to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association Hall of Fame. In conjunction with the 2022 induction ceremony, the museum is adding a new photo exhibit called Route 66 Transitions, which follows the evolution of Route 66 through the photography of Jerry McClanahan.

that Route 66 has a mystique to people outside the U.S. as being literally the Mother Road of our country if you want to see the real U.S. outside of New York and Chicago and L.A., see real Americana.”

BY DANIEL ROCKAFELLOW, COURTESY RT. 66 CAR MUSEUM

O K H I S TO RY.O R G /S I T E S/ R O U T E 6 6 . P H P

“I found over the past several years

— GU Y MAC E

Missouri’s Route 66 Car Museum

R out e 66 Ca r Mu seu m Spr i n g f ield , M i ssou r i

A Corvette display at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton COURTESY OK RT. 66 MUSEUM

An antique car on display at the Route 66 Car Museum

Guy Mace began collecting cars in 1991. It started with a 1967 Austin-Healey and grew from there. Mace’s car collection became so large, he decided to open his own museum, capitalizing on the renewed popularity of Route 66. Mace’s car museum opened five years ago on Route 66, just west of Springfield, Missouri’s downtown square. It now has 80 cars in its inventory, and Mace says he adds three to four new vehicles every year.

“I opened the museum because I enjoy cars and talking with the public,” he said. What surprises Mace the most is the number of international travelers who stop in to see his cars. About onethird of his visitors are from foreign countries. “That has proven to be a wonderful boon to tourism all along Route 66, especially for my museum.

“I found over the past several years that Route 66 has a mystique to people outside the U.S. as being literally the Mother Road of our country if you want to see the real U.S. outside of New York and Chicago and L.A., see real Americana,” he said.

BY DANIEL ROCKAFELLOW, COURTESY RT. 66 CAR MUSEUM

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THE MODERN FRONTIER

The perfect road trip for exploring The Mother Road requires cruising through Oklahoma City. Named the #1 city for street art in the nation, it's a vibrant combination of must-see attractions, one-of-a-kind lodging, and insider blogs for classic road trip inspiration. Start your journey at VisitOKC.com.

Route 66 Car Museum Along with vehicles spanning the generations, the car museum also has a selection of movie cars, including a Batmobile, a Ghostbusters car and a DeLorean similar to the one featured in “Back to the Future.” Since most visitors are not motorheads, it is the movie cars that attract the most attention, he said. In particular, the DeLorean is very popular with guests.

In 2021, the museum saw the most visitors in its five-year history, and Mace said he is hopeful this year will break even more attendance records.

BY DANIEL ROCKAFELLOW, COURTESY RT. 66 CAR MUSEUM

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Arizona Route 66 Museum

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Willie Nelson’s golf cart at the Arizona Route 66 Museum COURTESY ARIZONA ROUTE 66 MUSEUM

A r i zon a R out e 66 Mu seu m a nd R out e 66 E lectr ic Veh icle Mu seu m K i n g m a n , A r i zon a

A photo op at the Arizona Route 66 Museum

A historic power station, now the site of the Arizona Route 66 Museum

Arizona’s Route 66 Museum is different from other Route 66 museums across the country in that it tells the chronological history of the Mother Road. Many people don’t realize Route 66 follows a migration path carved by Native Americans for centuries that eventually was followed by early settlers with their wagon trains, prospectors searching for precious minerals and scouts looking to map the area. The railroad and then the highway followed.

The museum, which opened in 2001, is housed in a historic power station that was built between 1907 and 1911 and was operated by the Desert Power and Light Company. The facility powered Kingman and area mines beginning in 1909. It also provided power for the construction of Hoover Dam until that operation began generating power in the late 1930s. The building opened up as a visitor center in 1997. The museum features brilliant murals, photos and life-size dioramas showing scenes from Route 66, U.S. Army-led survey expeditions and North American trade routes.

In 2014, the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum opened as part of the Arizona Route 66 Museum. The 3,600-square-foot museum displays 28 vehicles that are on loan from the Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation to preserve the history of the earliest electric vehicles, from those built 100 years ago to those produced in the 21st century,

PHOTOS COURTESY ARIZONA ROUTE 66 MUSEUM

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including a 1909 Elwell-Parker baggage tug, one of only two known to exist in the world; the Buckeye Bullet, the fastest electric vehicle in the world until 2018; and a golf cart that belonged to country music legend Willie Nelson.

In 2021, the city of Kingman acquired a new 20,000-squarefoot facility in its historic downtown area to better accommodate the famous collection. Renovations are expected to begin in 2022.

The foundation and its members own 113 electric vehicles, and the collection keeps growing.

displays 28 vehicles that are on loan from the Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation to preserve the history of the earliest electric vehicles, from those built 100 years ago to those produced in the 21st century.

COURTESY NM RT. 66 MUSEUM

ROUTE66MUSEUM.NET

The 3,600-square-foot museum

New Mexico Route 66 Museum

New Mex ico R out e 66 Mu seu m T ucu mc a r i , New Mex ico

Early American vehicles at the Route 66 Car Museum

BY DANIEL ROCKAFELLOW, COURTESY RT. 66 CAR MUSEUM

The New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari features memorabilia from the road’s younger days, including old gas pumps, classic cars on loan from private owners and Coca-Cola merchandise that was prevalent in Route 66’s heyday. The oldest vehicle on display is from 1915, but most of the vehicles are from the height of the road’s popularity, when families would load up the family car and road trip across country. The museum originally started as a way to highlight photographs taken by Michael Campanelli, who has documented the road for years, driving the route more than 75 times from Chicago to Los Angeles. The collection includes 166 photographs and is the largest Route 66 photo collection on display anywhere in the country.

The museum also features a vintage diner display with a RockOla jukebox, old neon signs from along the route, a Route 66 guitar signed by Loretta Lynn and New Mexico history displays.

There’s also an audio-visual presentation visitors can watch to learn more about Route 66 through the state.

Historic travel memorabilia at the New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari COURTESY NM RT. 66 MUSEUM

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THREE REASONS GRO UPS LOVE G ALLUP

1

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

Jennifer Lazarz Tourism & Marketing Manager City of Gallup Tourism Department

2

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

3

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

LET’S START PLANNING YOUR GROUP TOUR TODAY.

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

The museum is located in the Tucumcari Convention Center and is one of four museums along Route 66 that are working together to attract visitors with one entrance pass. The pass will include the Route 66 Museum; Mesalands Community College’s Dinosaur Museum and Natural Science Laboratory, where visitors can see dinosaur skeletons and other artifacts found in an active dig site nearby; Tucumcari Historical Museum, which is home to dinosaur fossils, wagons, trains, an F-100 Super Sabre jet, cowboy, military and other historical artifacts from New Mexico; and the Tucumcari Railroad Museum, which is housed in the town’s restored Union Station depot that was built in 1926.

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A historic gas station exhibit at the California Route 66 Museum PHOTOS COURTESY CA RT. 66 MUSEUM

Ca l i for n ia R out e 66 Mu seu m Vict or v i l le, Ca l i for n ia

The California Route 66 Museum is hard to miss when traveling the Mother Road in Victorville, as the building’s exterior is covered in Route 66-themed murals. The museum has two exhibit areas: one focusing on Route 66 and the other using historic images to depict the evolution of Victorville from a small mining town in 1860 to its current status as a Route 66 destination.

Everything in the museum was donated by private sources, including a 1917 Ford Model T, which the museum obtained from a silver mine in Colorado; a 1966 VW bus that makes a great photo stop for visitors; and a battery-powered washing machine from the 1930s that would be hooked to a tractor or other vehicle for power.

The museum also has one of the first transistorized radios to be installed in an automobile and a teardrop or honeymoon trailer that looks like an airplane wing from the side and was built to be pulled by four-cylinder cars. In the Victorville room, one of the oldest photos in the museum is from 1860, one year after California became a state and a year before the Civil War started. Hanging beneath that photo is the same picture taken 90 years later showing the expansion of Victorville. There’s also a tribute exhibit to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, since they lived in Victorville, and a dining area with a pinball machine, jukebox and an old 1960s-style Pepsi-Cola machine.

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Wigwam Village Motel No. 6 HOLBROOK, ARIZONA

Holbrook, Arizona’s Wigwam Village Motel is probably one of the most photographed places along Route 66 and in the West, with its 15 concrete and steel teepees arranged in a semi-circle around the main office. Chester Lewis, who built the motel, purchased the plans for Wigwam Village from the original architect, Frank Redford, who had built a Wigwam Village in Cave City, Kentucky, in 1937.

Under the agreement, Lewis installed coin-operated radios in every room, and the proceeds were sent back to Redford as payment. Lewis operated the motel until Interstate-40 bypassed Holbrook in the late 1970s. The property became a gas station until Lewis’ wife and adult children repurchased the property and reopened it as a motel in 1988.

The motel was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Out of the seven original Wigwam Villages built across the country between 1936 and 1950, only three remain, located in Arizona, Kentucky and California.

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California Route 66 Museum COURTESY CA RT. 66 MUSEUM

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CUSTOM CONTENT

Two stops in quaint Canyon tell story of Texas Panhandle

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

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n Canyon, Texas, the state’s largest history museum and the country’s second-largest canyon team up to tell the story of the Panhandle region.

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, 16 miles south of Amarillo in Canyon, has been called one of the state’s “best-kept secrets;” 10 minutes east of it, the TEXAS Outdoor Musical entertains under the stars each summer in an amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon.

The museum and musical now work together to tailor full-day itineraries for groups, according to Stephanie Price, marketing and communications director for the Cultural Foundation of the Texas Panhandle. “One call is all that’s required,” she said.

With nearly 3 million artifacts, the museum covers everything from art and archeology to oil rigs and Native peoples. As it tells the story of a harsh land that made life difficult for the

people who settled there, it’s not surprising that perseverance is a frequent theme. “The museum is a true reflection of the community,” said Price. “Texans are known for having grit, especially in the Panhandle.”

The musical, on the other hand, mixes the hardships with humor as it explores the lives of settlers in the 1800s.

“It’s a romantic telling of the history of the Texas Panhandle, so it fits in nicely,” said Price.

Groups typically spend three to four hours at the museum, with lunch before or after on Canyon’s historic square or catered in and enjoyed in one of the museum’s event spaces.

Guided tours are always led by curatorial staff and can be customized. “They’ll be led by someone incredibly knowledgeable in that area,” said Price. A women’s tour might focus on women who were leaders in the Panhandle or women artists. History, archeology, cowboys, Native Americans and the oil industry are just a few other possible themes.

The Texas Outdoor Musical From June to August yearly, groups can also see the Texas Outdoor Musical. Preshow add-ons include a backstage tour and a barbecue dinner. The show starts at 8:15, when a rider on horseback carrying a Texas flag dashes along the canyon rim and 60 singers and dancers pour onto the stage.

Of course, the canyon is worth the short drive at other times of the year. The museum can arrange for a step-on guide to talk about the its geology and history on the drive out, with stops at the visitors center, museum and gift shop and the amphitheater. Groups might stretch their legs on short trails or snap photos. Since vehicles are allowed into Palo Duro, visitors get views from the rim as well as from the canyon floor.

All in all, a day spent in Canyon is the taste of the West that many groups seek, said Price. “People are looking for a true Western experience, and we give them that here.”

wtamu.edu

806-651-2181

FOR A TOUR THAT INCLUDES THE MUSEUM AND THE MUSICAL, CONTACT: MARK SELLERS 806-651-2181 MSELLERS@WTAMU.EDU FOR MUSEUM TOURS, CONTACT: STEPHANIE PRICE 806.651.2235 SPRICE@WTAMU.EDU

Route 66

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ROUTE 66 IS AN INSTAGRAM ICON

A End of the trail in Santa Monica

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ome of America’s most iconic travel photos have been taken on Route 66.

The Mother Road is known for its crazy roadside attractions, relics left behind from long ago when families would hop in their vehicles and drive across country for vacations. Locals would build monuments to advertise their towns or businesses along the road, and even though the businesses no longer exist, their monuments live on and draw visitors from all over.

Here are a few favorites from Route 66 that are totally Instagram-worthy.

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In Atlanta, Illinois, Bunyon Giant was one of the original Muffler Men used to advertise businesses along Route 66. This particular Muffler Man is is made from fiberglass, polyester resin and steel, and stands 19 feet tall. Instead of a muffler, he holds a giant hot dog in his hands to advertise a now-defunct hot dog restaurant in Cicero, Illinois. When the family that owned the restaurant decided to close down, they thought about selling the statue but decided to donate it to a community along Route 66 instead.

The giant arrived in Atlanta in 2003 and has not left since.

“For community members, he is a town icon,” said Whitney Ortiz, tourism director for Atlanta. “Everyone knows and loves the giant.”

Residents of the town are proud to have the giant because of his status along Route 66. Before the pandemic hit, the town had about 10,000 visitors a year, about 75% of whom came just to snap photos of the famous statue, with his red shirt, blue pants and serious expression. International visitors love the Bunyon Giant. The town even hosted a radio broadcast from a Czech radio station in

Illinois’ Bunyon Giant

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The Blue Whale of Catoosa

Will Rogers Museum

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

J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum

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front of the statue because of its iconic status among international tourists, Ortiz said.

Nearby, visitors can stop in Route 66 Park to take a sip out of the bubbler fountain or visit the U.S. Route 66/Illinois Route 4 Driving Exhibit, which is located on the north edge of Atlanta and features a quarter-mile section of concrete roadbed constructed in 1924 when Illinois Route 4 became the first paved road in Logan County. The road’s name changed to Route 66 in 1926 when it became part of the new U.S. Highway System. The section of road was abandoned after World War II when a Route 66 bypass was installed around Atlanta.

The mural depicts a girl driving a flatbed Ford and represents famous lyrics from The Eagles’ first hit single, “Take it Easy.” The song’s famous lyrics mention a flatbed Ford on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.

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D E S T I N AT I O N LO G A N C O U N T Y I L .C O M

Eye to eye with the Bunyon Giant

St a nd i n g on t he Cor ner Pa rk Wi n slow, A r i zon a

Bunyon Giant in downtown Atlanta, Illinois COURTESY DISCOVER ATLANTA

One of the most famous photo ops on Route 66 in Winslow, Arizona, Standing on the Corner Park features a twostory, Trompe-l’œil mural by John Pugh that gives the illusion of being three-dimensional. It is accompanied by “Easy,” a life-size bronze statue of a man holding a guitar, created by Ron Adamson.

It was inspired by the American troubadours of the 1970s. The mural depicts a girl driving a flatbed Ford and represents famous lyrics from The Eagles’ first hit single, “Take it Easy.” The song’s famous lyrics mention a flatbed Ford on a corner in Winslow, Arizona. Parked on the corner is a red flatbed Ford that looks identical to the one in the mural.

Visitors come from all across the country and from around the world to stand on the corner of Kinsley and East Second Street and snap photos of the mural and statue. Winslow, like many towns along Route 66, faded into the background when Interstate 40 bypassed it. On May 29, 1997, the Standin’ on the Corner Foundation decided to develop a park in downtown Winslow

Standing on the Corner Park in Winslow

BY HOWARD L. BROWN, COURTESY VISIT WINSLOW

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commemorating the Eagles song that put Winslow back on the map.

The park was dedicated in 1999. After Eagles founding member Glenn Frey passed away in 2016, the foundation commissioned another statue in his memory.

Visitors to Winslow will also want to stop at the Old Trails Museum, which tells the history of the area with exhibits on topics such as the Hopi and Navajo people, the Mormon’s Brigham City, the Santa Fe Railway, area ranches and trading posts, Fred Harvey and La Posada Hotel.

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Catoosa’s Blue Whale

BY RHYS MARTIN, COURTESY CITY OF CATOOSA

Blue Wh a le of Cat oosa Cat oosa , Ok la hom a

El Rancho Hotel GALLUP, NEW MEXICO

The El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, was built by R.E. “Griff” Griffith, the brother of famous movie director D.W. Griffith, in 1936 to house Western movie stars such as Vincent Price, John Wayne and Kirk Douglas. The historic location is still grand, with its rustic gray stone walls, wooden beams and railings, and a double staircase leading up to the second floor. The facade of the hotel is reminiscent of a Southern plantation home with its long second-floor balcony.

Photographs of famous guests line the walls of the lobby along with beautiful Native American art, including works by the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni who make New Mexico their home. Guests can still enjoy this throwback to a time when travelers took their time exploring their surroundings.

The hotel is currently undergoing a $2 million renovation to replace the roof and update the restaurant, bar and restrooms.

The Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, is one of the most iconic attractions along Route 66. It is strategically located just outside of Tulsa and is hard to miss when traveling on Route 66 east to west.

But it wasn’t originally intended for the public. Hugh Davis built the Blue Whale in the early 1970s as a surprise anniversary gift for his wife, Zelta, who loved whales and collected whale figurines. The Blue Whale and its pond became a popular swimming hole for locals and visitors traveling Route 66. Seeing its popularity increase, Davis brought in sand and put in picnic tables to make the attraction more of a destination.

It closed to the public in 1988 because the Davis family was no longer able to manage it on their own. After they passed away, the property sat vacant for a decade until local residents started a fundraising and volunteer effort to save the Blue Whale. They restored and repainted it and fixed up the picnic area. And in 2019, before the pandemic, the Blue Whale saw 100,000 visitors from all 50 states and 42 foreign countries.

In 2021, the city of Catoosa bought the property and has plans to turn it into a major tourist destination with an improved gift shop and a large area for food trucks. Nearby Tulsa also has some must-see Route 66 stops, including the Route 66 Rising art sculpture that looks like the shield of Route 66 coming out of the ground in a traffic circle.

Another famous photo op in the area isn’t connected to Route 66 but is worth a visit anyway. The Golden Driller is a 75-foot-tall statue of an oil worker that stands in front of the Tulsa Expo Center.

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Miami, Oklahoma

The gateway to Oklahoma on Historic Route 66

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Northeast Oklahoma

Full of Charm, History, Hospitality & Fun on the Mother Road Mention this ad at our hotels for a free gift!

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Texas’ Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café

Tower St ation a nd U-Drop I n n Ca fé Sh a m rock , Texa s

One of the most iconic buildings on Route 66, Tower Station in Shamrock, Texas, is an Art Deco building with two towers and neon lights. Immortalized as Ramone’s House of Body Art in Radiator Springs in the Disney/Pixar movie “Cars,” the beautiful building was constructed in 1936 as a Conoco gas station. The small café inside has played host to numerous restaurants.

The building is now owned by the city of Shamrock, which used a $2.4 million Federal Transportation Enhancements Grant to renovate the building. The Texas Historical Commission worked with the city to make sure everything was historically accurate, down to the seats.

The front portion of the building is staged as a 1930s gas station, including some of the original pieces from the site, such as an old rotary phone and road maps from the era. There is an extensive gift shop with a map on the wall where visitors can put pins showing where they are visiting from. The diner, called U-Drop Inn Café, reopened in September 2021 and is set up like a 1950s soda fountain. The café is famous because Elvis once ate there. The booth where he sat has been preserved.

The city’s Visitor Information Center is in the gas station portion of the building. Before COVID hit, 33,000 visitors came through a year, including tour groups. A good portion of the visitors were from Europe. During the pandemic, the site saw a resurgence of domestic travelers who packed up their families to road trip along Route 66.

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Sa nt a Mon ica P ier Sa nt a Mon ica , Ca l i for n ia

California’s Santa Monica Pier is the end of the line for Route 66.

Many visitors traveling the Mother Road love to stop at the pier and take a selfie with the Route 66 End of the Trail sign. But the Santa Monica Pier wasn’t originally the official end point of Route 66 on the West Coast. The actual end point was a few blocks away from

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Wagon Wheel Motel CUBA, MISSOURI

One of the original tourist court motels, Wagon Wheel Motel, with its small stone cabins, was built along Route 66 in 1935 in Cuba, Missouri, and still features its original 1947 neon sign. Connie Echols, the latest owner of the famous motel, and sign, bought it over a decade ago on a whim. She had experience redoing houses and thought the motel would be a new and challenging chapter in her life. As she says, 11 years and $500,000 later, the Wagon Wheel has been restored to its former glory.

The stone buildings themselves were in fantastic shape when she bought the motel. There were no structural cracks, which was amazing for a facility that old. The insides were another story.

Echols basically gutted the cabins down to their stone walls and rebuilt the insides, including the air conditioning and electrical systems.

Guests, including celebrities, come from around the world to stay at the iconic Route 66 motel. Many people love the setup because they can gather in the central courtyard and mingle with the other guests.

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Route 66’s endpoint in Santa Monica COURTESY SANTA MONICA TRAVEL & TOURISM

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The Santa Monica Pier the pier at the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards. A local Route 66 souvenir shop was responsible for marketing the pier as the end of the trail, and in 2009 it was designated as the route’s official western terminus.

Travelers can pick up a Route 66 completion certificate at any Santa Monica Visitor Center. Of course, once there, visitors can enjoy everything Santa Monica has to offer, from beaches and crazy characters performing on the boardwalk to great restaurants, shops and amusement park rides.

The pier itself was built in 1909 as the first concrete pier on the West Coast. The Looff Hippodrome, which was built in 1916, is one of the last surviving structures from the original pier. It houses the Santa Monica Pier Carousel, which was built in 1939 and still has its original wooden horses and sleighs. The easily recognizable Santa Monica Yacht Harbor neon sign was unveiled in 1941 and is another photo op not to be missed, especially when it is lit up at night.

In 2020, more than 2 million visitors came to Santa Monica, 505,000 of those from outside the United States.

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S A N TA M O N I C A .C O M

In 2020, more than 2 million visitors came to Santa Monica, 505,000 of those from outside the United States.

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