The Group Travel Leader October 2019

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table ofCONTENTS VOL 29 | ISSUE 9

KENTUCKY

6 EDITOR’S MARKS

G RO U P T R AV E L G U I D E

NEWS ARTS

8 FA M I LY M AT T E R S

BOURBON

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O N THE COVE R

Native grasses poke through the pristine dunes at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. Photo by Brendan van Son.

FEATURES

OUTDOORS

Birds of a Feather GROUPS WILL LOVE THESE BIRDWATCHING DESTINATIONS

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LAND OF

Enchantment Discover desert beauty and timeless culture in New Mexico.

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JOIN US IN LOUISVILLE

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BEACH ESSENTIALS

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AMERICA’S HEARTLAND

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

Founder and Publisher Partner Executive Editor Senior Writer Creative Director

K E L LY T Y N E R 4

CHRISTINE CLOUGH KELLY TYNER KYLE ANDERSON DANIEL JEAN-LOUIS ASHLEY RICKS

Copy Editor Director of Sales & Marketing Account Manager Account Manager Graphic Design & Circulation

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KELLY@GROUPTR AVELLEADER.COM

The GROUP TRAVEL LEADER is published ten times a year by THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc., 301 East High St., Lexington, Kentucky 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified group leaders who plan travel for groups of all ages and sizes. THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER serves as the official magazine of GROUP TRAVEL FAMILY, the organization for traveling groups. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants and other travelrelated companies may subscribe to THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER by sending a check for $59 for one year to: THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (859) 253-0455 or (859) 253-0503. Copyright THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

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GROUPS OFTEN HAVE THE SAME RESPONSE TO CLEVELAND. They come back.

Join in at ThisisCLEveland.com | #This isCLE Contact Cleveland’s Group Tour Team:

Jane Tougouma, CTIS, CTSP | Tel: 216.875.6607 | Email: jtougouma@destinationcle.org

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tep up to the microphone. It’s your time to shine.

Many people are terrified by the prospect of speaking in public. But if you work in tourism, either as a supplier or a travel planner, chances are you’ll have to address a group from time to time. So you might as well accept it and try to get better at it.

Nobody enjoys a boring or uncomfortable public speech; it’s torture for the speaker and drudgery for the audience. Unfortunately, bad presentations take place every day all across the country. And, to be honest, tourism conferences are full of them.

Whether you give sales presentations, lead team meetings or simply speak to your travel groups over the motorcoach sound system, here are five essential elements that can make your public speaking more effective and more enjoyable for your audience.

1) CRUCIAL CONTENT The entire point of a public speech is to communicate information to your audience. Too often, though, the important content in a speech gets lost in a tangle of formalities and rabbit trails. To maximize the impact of your presentation, distill your content to the most basic and important points, and strip away anything that could distract your audience from what you want them to know. Nobody will mind if your speech runs short.

2) SMART SLIDES PowerPoint slides can be helpful or dreadful, depending on how you use them. Many inexperienced speakers pack their presentations with too many slides

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and too much information. This distracts your audience and ensures that you’ll go over your allotted time. Smart slide decks are designed to reinforce what the speaker is saying. My presentations often have only a handful of slides, each with one big image and two or three key words to represent the ideas I’m sharing.

3) TARGETED TIMING Some times are better than others for speaking: Audiences are less receptive early in the morning or in the sleepy hours right after lunch. If you want to communicate crucial information, pick a time when people are at their best and there’s nothing else competing for their attention. At a meal event, don’t try to talk while the waitstaff is working. And whatever you do, don’t be the speaker standing between your audience and their food.

4) PROPER PREPARATION Many people with valuable things to say struggle onstage because they lack confidence. The more important your speech is, the more preparation you need to put into it, not only crafting the content but also practicing the presentation. Rehearse your speech out loud in front of a mirror until you feel great about it. Effective speakers count on their preparation instead of reading from scripts or notes.

5) ACUTE AWARENESS You might be the only one talking during a presentation, but you’re not the only one communicating. Your audience’s facial expressions and body language can tell you a lot about what’s going on in their minds. No matter what you have planned or prepared, you need to be aware of the audience’s reaction while you’re speaking. If they look bored or sleepy, liven things up. If they seem restless, cut things short. Learn to read the room and adjust as necessary.

Put these practices into place, and your audience will thank you. You might even enjoy your next speech.

OCTOBER 2019

Make your destination for

Book your 2020 Green Bay Signature Experiences and custom itineraries now!

Call Julie Gerczak at 888-867-3342 or julie@greenbay.com to learn more.

Search Green Bay Group Tours on Facebook for sneak peek videos.

FAMILY MATTERS KUDOS TO TRIPS, A SELECT TR AVELER REGUL AR SALEM, Ohio — Every once in a while, we get a letter from a travel leader that is so impressive it deserves to be published. This is one such letter, written by Suzie Glisson of the CNB Bank and Trust Prime Time Travel Program, regarding the over-the-top service from Brian Doughty and his staff at Trips. Trips is a charter sponsor at the Select Traveler Conference and organizes exclusively for travel clubs and organizations.

Dear Friends, I want to share with you a story about our trip to Alaska this past June, which is a great example of a tour company going above and beyond for their clients.

Brian Doughty and TRIPS arranged our cruise-tour, my 4th to Alaska. First of all, I was most appreciative for the opportunity to assist with the planning so that it would fit the desires of our 56 travelers.

Our originating flight from O’Hare to Seattle was cancelled about an hour before takeoff. There were no more flights to Seattle that night, nor apparently was there any room on flights the next day to Vancouver (where we were to board the Azamara Quest for our cruise). After about five hours spent at the airport, Alaska Air did put us up in an airport hotel. Brian’s assistants, Mikki Walker and Nancy Kreisher, were waiting for us at the hotel in Seattle.

Immediately, they began to work with Alaska Air officials, and the three of us stayed up all night trying to get everyone a flight to Vancouver the next day.

At some point, they talked to Brian again, and he left a “ black-tie” affair to return to the office and help secure flights for all of us.

Alaska Air worked diligently to help us find flights for almost all of the group! At around 3:00 AM, we were told that there was absolutely no more space on ANY airline available, which meant 7 of our travelers were going to have to miss the trip!

Within 30 minutes, Mikki called to say that Brian was able to watch for cancellations on all of the airlines and was able to purchase as they became available the seven one-way flights for our passengers. I can’t tell you how relieved we were to get that call!

In addition, the last couple were taking a flight that was going to make it almost impossible to make 8

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TRIPS PRESIDENT BRIAN DOUGHTY WON PRAISE FROM A READER FOR GOING THE EXTRA MILE WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE.

it to the ship before departure. Brian went to bat for us and spoke to several of the officials on the ship and on the pier in addition to hiring a private car to meet this couple at the airport. None of us could believe that the captain held the ship for 35 minutes, the workers on the pier stayed overtime, and as Jay and Shelley jumped aboard, the ropes flew and we took off!

Those seven last-minute one-way flights were extremely expensive. I will always be thankful to have had Brian Doughty in charge, a person who cared so much about our travelers and who had the deep pockets to get the job done! It is often the actions taken when things go wrong that reveal the true quality and professionalism of your tour company.

Thank you again, Brian and TRIPS Inc., for going the extra mile for us.

Suzie Glisson, CNB Bank & Trust.

What a letter, and what extreme effort on the part of Doughty and Trips to deliver a successful trip for CNB Bank and Trust. Doughty made the decision to spend an additional $15,000 on airfare to ensure that those last seven travelers made the trip. This is dedication worth noting and the reason Trips has such a strong following.

You can reach Doughty at 818-753-4530 or brian@gotripsinc.com.

LTPA ATTENDS GOING ON FAITH CONFERENCE SALEM, Ohio — The Louisiana Travel Association, the statewide organization of over 700 destinations, hotels, attractions, receptive operators and travel-related services, is making efforts to promote Louisiana to travel planners and tour operators. Representatives from the Louisiana Travel Association recently attended the Going On Faith Conference, a gathering of faith-based travel planners.

Going On Faith hosted over 300 delegates, including travel planners from 25 states, at its recent conference, held at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Among the delegates was Laine Garner, vice president of the Louisiana Travel Association, and Charlie Waltman, membership and marketing manager. Garner and Waltman’s objective was to increase awareness of Louisiana as a destination for traveling faith-based organizations.

If you are interested in taking your group to Louisiana, please contact the Louisiana Travel Association at louisianatravelassociation.org.

PANAMA CITY BEACH SIGNS ON TO HOST THREE CONFERENCES SALEM, Ohio — The Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau has made a threeyear marketing commitment to increase visibility in the travel market. They will kick off the marketing outreach by hosting the Small Market Meetings Summit on May 13-14. The Small Market Meetings Summit is a personalized gathering of targeted meeting planners who will meet with a select 25 destinations for in-depth product discussions.

“SMM Summit is a boutique gathering, where meeting planners and destinations build strong relationships,” said Joe Cappuzzello of the Small Market Meetings Summit.

Panama City Beach will follow up that effort by hosting the Select Traveler Conference 2021, where bank travel clubs, alumni associations and upscale travel directors will spend three days at a beach resort.

Next the Going On Faith Conference 2023 will be there. At this conference, faith-based and church travel planners will discover the great destination. visitpanamacitybeach.com OCTOBER 2019

QUESTIONS? CALL K ACIE!

The Meeting for Bank, Alumni, & Chamber Travel Directors KACIE HONEYWELL

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f you are reading this article and organize group travel, you have probably spoken with Kacie Honeywell and recognize her photo. Kacie is the group leader guru at The Group Travel Family and personally speaks with about 200 travel planners every week.

That’s correct: 40 conversations a day, 200 every week. That’s speaking with almost 9,000 travel planners per year.

What are all these conversations about?

“Oh, that’s easy,” Honeywell said. “I help leaders find easier ways to plan travel and have happier and bigger travel groups.”

Those objectives are met when one of Kacie’s friends, as she calls them, decides to attend one of the five travel conferences she promotes.

Kacie is dedicated to helping travel planners by explaining the benefits of attending the Select Traveler Conference, the Going On Faith Conference, Boomers in Groups, the African American Travel Conference or the Small Market Meetings Conference. She speaks with travel planners from banks, churches, mature organizations, boomers and diversity groups every day.

“It really doesn’t matter what type of group someone leads travel for. Their challenges are all the same, and I like helping them find solutions,” Honeywell said.

“Kacie has an infectious energy and optimism,” said Charlie Presley of The Group Travel Family. “She is interested in really making the group leader’s job easier and more successful.”

Those solutions include discovering new destinations, networking, motivation and tips on building group travel. Next time you speak with Kacie, you can put a face with the name. You can contact her at 800-628-0993 or khoneywell@grouptravelfamily.com.

GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

Cheyenne, Wyoming March 22-24, 2020

selecttravelerconf.com

Call to Register Today:

800.628.0993

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IN THE FALL AND EARLY WINTER, COLUMBUS IS WUNDERBAR

BATTELLE DARBY CREEK Photo by Debbi Steinhausser, courtesy Experience Columbus

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

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hen it comes to Oktoberfest, Columbus is simply wunderbar, as they would say in Germany.

Organizers of the free weekend event include the group-friendly Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus in German Village.

Oktoberfest takes place over a three-day weekend every September.

It has found the perfect home at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds, north of downtown. There, three century-old buildings that feel like German bier halls provide

www.experiencecolumbus.com/ tour-planners

100,000 square feet of weatherproof space — plenty of room for people, Polkas and oompah bands. Parking is plentiful for a small fee.

The site is flat and compact, with a food hall (giant cream puffs or deep-fried Reubens on a stick, anyone?) and a bier hall that pours Ohio craft beers and German-style brews. The Klaberheads, Toledo Holzhacker and other popular bands perform on two stages as the Tuba Troupe and other roving musicians stroll through crowds. A yodeling contest and karaoke make for memorable moments. Artisans sell wooden toys, jewelry, soaps and other handcrafted items. Festivities get off to a fast start with a run on Friday night followed by a ceremonial tapping of the keg.

FAIR BRINGS COUNTRY LIVING TO LIFE

For many, the pages of Country Living magazine feel like home — or at least a home they’d love to live in. The popular lifestyle magazine has found a way to bring its colorful pages to life with a series of weekend events called Country Living Fair. In Columbus, the fair is held in the 19th-century Ohio Village at the Ohio History Center, a perfect vintage setting for the three-day event, held every September.

In addition to some 200 artisans and craftspeople selling everything from vintage linens, antique furniture, handmade jewelry, repurposed garden decor, ethically made clothing, zero-waste home goods and beef jerky, the fair offers a lineup of well-known

A CUSTOM CONTENT SERIES FROM EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS

THE NEW YORK TIMES NORTHERN LIGHTS, ICELAND

has named Columbus one of its “52 places to visit in 2019.”

EASTON TOWN CENTER DURING THE HOLIDAYS

OHIO HERB EDUCATION CENTER Courtesy Gahanna CVB

OHIO HERB EDUCATION CENTER

Courtesy Experience Columbus

Photo by Steve Brady, courtesy Easton

creative forces. Among them this year is Annie Sloan, the woman behind Chalk Paint®, who will give insider tips and demonstrate ways to inventively use her paint, and Nancy Fuller, cookbook author and Food Network star, who will talk about baking, sign cookbooks and talk to fans about their favorite bakers from “Spring Baking Championship.”

Others in the speaker lineup include Kimberly Schlapman, Little Big Town vocalist and author of the best-selling cookbook “Oh Gussie,” and Kim Leggett, award-winning interior designer and author of “City Farmhouse Style.”

SEE BRIGHT LEAVES AND FORAGING BISON

BATTELLE DARBY CREEK

Photo by Mike Williams, courtesy Experience Columbus

For fall foliage enhanced by wildlife, take a drive out to Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.

Bison that were recently reintroduced to the park graze in two fenced pastures; the park’s 7,000 acres stretch along two National Scenic Rivers and are pocketed with wetlands and

prairies. To elevate the drive to an educational experience, arrange for a docent or a naturalist to talk about the protected landscape.

REAP THE BENEFITS OF A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

Fall harvest is a time of bounty, and, sometimes, bewilderment. What to do with armloads of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme? The Ohio Herb Center in Gahanna has become known for classes that show students simple ways to preserve crops, such as freezing herbs in olive oil so the cubes can be dropped into soups and stews come winter.

TWO HOLIDAY BRIGHT SPOTS

Two Columbus favorites entice visitors in the fall and early winter with displays along their pathways. In late September, Franklin Park Conservatory replaces summer flowers with bunches of mums and pansies and piles of bright pumpkins along paths. On Novem

ber 16, as the holidays near, trees made of poinsettias or Christmas trees bedecked in hand-blown glass ornaments replace fall foliage during Conservatory Aglow.

Beginning in mid November, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also glows each evening as millions of LED lights are plugged in for the 30th year of Wildlights. Night falls around 4:30 p.m. so groups should plan to arrive then and beat the post-workday rush.

They’ll have plenty of time to enjoy hot coffee and cocoa as they see many of the zoo’s 10,000 animals in a new light. Visits with Santa, photos with Rudolph and train rides make it a fun family event. During Wildlights, the zoo stays open until 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday through the first week of January.

WILDLIGHTS AT THE COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM

EASTON TOWN CENTER Photo by Steve Brady, courtesy Experience Columbus

Photo by Randall L. Schieber, courtesy Experience Columbus

EASTON EXUDES HOLIDAY SPIRIT — AND SHOPPING OPTIONS

Easton, a village-style shopping complex, sparkles in November and December with lights wound around trees, strung merrily SAHARA CAMELS above streets and wrapped around its more than 50-foot Christmas tree. More than 230 stores put shoppers in the spirit to find gifts for everyone on their list. Weekends are especially lively with horse drawn carriages, carolers, brass quartets and Christmas tree light shows. Nearly every major national retailer is represented, as well as many Columbus favorites including Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, Homage and Buckeye Corner.

EASTON TOWN CENTER Photo by Steve Brady, courtesy Experience Columbus

TOURS SHOW YOU THE LIGHTS

Several companies, including Columbus City Adventures, offer holiday light tours.

SegAway Tours of Columbus’ two-hour jaunt allows groups to cover more ground as they speed along on segways, listening to holiday tunes via a personal wireless system. Tours are nightly from late November through December 23, and groups larger than the standard eight-person tour can be accommodated with advance notice.

Along the way, groups take in the Grand Illumination along the Scioto Mile, the Festival of Lights at Columbus Commons and a grand tradition since 1932, the State Farm Christmas Corner. On weekends at this lifesize Nativity scene, musicians and singers encourage everyone to sing along. Holiday window displays in the old Lazarus building, across from Columbus Commons, are another favorite. The windows are dressed up in holiday themes, just as they were in downtown’s heyday, when children pressed their noses against the cold glass and made their Christmas wish lists.

FOOD & WINE GERMAN VILLAGE LIGHTS

named Columbus one of its “32 Places To Go (And Eat) in 2019.”

Courtesy Experience Columbus

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

ROGER DUDLEY EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS www.experiencecolumbus.com RDudley@ExperienceColumbus.com

866-397-2657

JOIN US FOR A FAM TRIP TO LOUISVILLE IN MAY

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

H

ave you always wanted to experience the top attractions in Louisville, Kentucky? Are you looking for ways to learn more about trip possibilities in Louisville and have a great time doing it?

Do you have a few days to see Louisville firsthand in May? Would you like to spend a few days with executive staff of The Group Travel Leader magazine while you’re at it?

If so, we have just the opportunity for you.

BRIAN JEWELL (BOTTOM LEFT) AND DANIEL JEAN-LOUIS (BOTTOM RIGHT) WILL ACCOMPANY TRAVEL PLANNERS TO FAVORITE LOUISVILLE ATTRACTIONS, INCLUDING Louisville Tourism is inviting up to 20 A BOURBON DISTILLERY (TOP) AND THE FAMOUS CHURCHILL DOWNS (BOTTOM). of our travel planner readers to enjoy a fourday site inspection trip May 27-30, 2020.

Qualified travel planners will be guests of Louisville Tourism.

And once you get to Louisville, all your expenses are covered.

“Join The Group Travel Leader’s executive editor, Brian Jewell, and account manager Daniel Jean-Louis for this fun and educational site inspection trip to experience the best of Louisville,” said publisher Mac Lacy. “Brian and Daniel will accompany Photos courtesy Louisville Tourism our Louisville hosts on this trip and will be sharing their travel experiences with everyone in attendance.

“Brian and Daniel will be highlighting the trip in real time on social To submit your travel profile and request a spot on this exciting trip, go media, and Brian will write an article on this tour for publication in The to grouptravelleader.com/louisville-fam and fill out your profile online.

Group Travel Leader magazine,” said Lacy. “Tour participants will have To inquire by phone or to ask a question, call us toll-free at 888-253-0455 the opportunity to share their impressions and experiences about Louisville and ask for Daniel. with our staff and meet some wonderful hosts from the state. It’s going to Registration for this complimentary site inspection trip in Louisville be a lot of fun for everyone involved.” closes February 1, so don’t delay.

All accommodations, sightseeing, transportation and meals are included Join Brian, Daniel and Louisville Tourism for a wonderful trip May once participants arrive in Louisville. No travel expenses to and from 27-30.

Louisville will be reimbursed.

This readership event and site inspection tour is limited to 25 qualified travel planners. Applicants will complete a brief travel profile that will be used by Louisville Tourism staff to select attendees.

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CONFERENCE SCENE

GRAND RAPIDS HOSTS GOING ON FAITH CONFERENCE

ENJOYING FREDERICK MEIJER GARDENS AND SCULPTURE PARK

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, GOT THE T-SHIRT!

Photos by Dan Dickson

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — More than 275 delegates, including faith-based travel planners from 23 states and the Bahamas, gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 4-6, for the 15th annual Going On Faith Conference. These planners were joined by travel industry representatives from across the United States and seven foreign countries, including Israel, Jordan, England, Germany, Ireland, the Bahamas and Canada.

“The Going On Faith Conference is a joy to produce due to its faith-based emphasis,” said conference CEO Joe Cappuzzello of The Group Travel Family. “With the help of our hosts in Grand Rapids, this relaxed gathering was a great place to be for selling to churches and religious entities from across the world. This is an event everyone looks forward to.”

Experience Grand Rapids was instrumental in planning the event, and under the guidance of Dave Nitkiewicz, the organization hosted a superb opening evening at the acclaimed Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

Delegates enjoyed guided tram tours of the gar-

dens and were entertained by jazz and contemporary musicians during the event.

More than 3,000 six-minute appointments were held between planners and destinations in the conference’s two marketplace sessions.

Sightseeing tours of Grand Rapids showcased its museums and craft breweries, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, and other local points of interest.

Primary meal and event sponsors at the conference included the Globus Family of Brands, the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, MSC Cruises (USA) Inc., Visit Wichita, Collette, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Diamond Tours, US Tours, the Galveston Island CVB and Visit Evansville. The Shrine of Christ’s Passion sponsored a keynote presentation by Bob Pacanovsky, who shared his expertise in planning black-tie experiences for faith-based clients and groups.

Next year’s Going On Faith Conference will take place August 19-21, in Wichita, Kansas. For registration details, visit gofconference.com.

REMEMBERING BOB HOELSCHER Bob Hoelscher, longtime owner of Flemming Tours and a frequent contributor to The Group Travel Leader, passed away in September while traveling in Washington state. He was a founding member of Travel Alliance Partners and a past chairman of NTA. Ever the pragmatist, Bob had given friends instructions about how the travel industry should commemorate his life.

They appear below in their entirety, courtesy NTA:

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“Please do not report ‘sad’ news when it comes time for me to cash in my chips. All in all, it’s been a good ride, and for the most part, I think I’ve been able to get about as much as I could out of every day that I’ve been on this planet. Whenever the time comes for it to end, so be it. I definitely don’t want to be the source of sorrow or useless ‘thoughts and prayers,’ but if anyone wants to raise a beer to celebrate anything worthwhile that I might have been able to accomplish along the way, that will be more than enough.”

Cheers to a life of travel, Bob.

BOB HOELSCHER (RIGHT) LOVED CRUISING AND TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY AROUND THE WORLD, OFTEN WITH TRAVEL BUDDY GIG GWEN (LEFT).

OCTOBER 2019

Plan your travel getaway visitnopc.com

866.204.7782 I @nolaplantations

Encounter a land,

shaped by diversity

The architecture of the historic homes spanning our River Parishes is as diverse as the people who built them. From Greek Revival to Creole style plantations, these structures are a reflection not just of a regional culture, but of a time marred by inequity. Travel this stretch of land, and uncover stories of generations past that continue to be felt across the south.

Wing It

BY J I L L G L E E S O N

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GROUPS VISITING CAVE CREEK CANYON IN ARIZONA CAN SPOT A VARIETY OF RARE BIRDS, SUCH AS THIS ELEGANT TROGON.

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t’s only early June, but in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, summer is in full swing. The sun is strong, the temperatures warm, and birds are everywhere. Before I’ve even passed the refuge’s gates, I’ve spotted a blue heron hanging out casually alongside the road, massive and with such intense yellow eyes I imagined he’d have been at home amongst the dinosaurs. As I head down Wildlife Drive, I spy an eagle soaring overhead and flocks of egrets the color of clouds standing sentinel in the wetlands. My heart beats faster with every avian sighting.

I’m not alone in my passion for birding. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and WildlifeAssociated Recreation, “more than 45 million people watch birds around their homes and away from home,” spending $41 billion on trips and equipment. Because birds of a feather do flock together, bird-watching makes for an especially great group activity, particularly at the following locations, renowned as some of the country’s best places to spot fine-feathered friends.

By Michael Jacobi, courtesy Friends of Cave Creek Canyon

E V E N YO U R N O N - B I R D E R S W I L L LOV E T H E S E V I E W I N G S I T E S

BLACKWATER WILDLIFE REFUGE Dorchester County, Maryland More than 1,000 acres of woods, fields and streams make up Jacobsburg State Park in Pennsylvania. With equestrian outfitters Lehigh Valley Trail Rides, groups can enjoy a scenic and relaxing ride and take in the serene beauty of the park. More than 18 miles of trails wind through forest that displays the vibrant colors of fall. The outfitter uses natural horsemanship training techniques to ensure their horses are gentle and well mannered. What better way to take in the area’s natural beauty than atop a majestic horse?

BLACKWATER WILDLIFE REFUGE

— F W S .GOV/ R EFUGE / BL ACK WAT ER—

HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY Kempton, Pennsylvania Founded as a nonprofit in 1938, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 35 minutes from Allentown, Pennsylvania, was the world’s first refuge for birds of prey. Today, it affords groups opportunities to see some 18,000 raptors soar past during fall migration.

The season begins in August, which brings bald eagles, and continues into December. In between, broad-winged hawks, kestrels, ospreys, golden eagles, peregrine falcons and more pay the sanctuary a visit before heading south.

A variety of programs, including guided walks and raptor presentations, are available to groups.

Reservations should be made six to eight weeks in advance during peak times, like mid-September to mid-November, when it’s possible to see thousands of birds in a single day.

— H AW K MOU N TA I N.ORG —

Courtesy Dorchester Tourism

SANDHILL CRANES IN GRAND ISLAND

By Brad Mellema, c ourtesy VisitGrandIsland.com

A COMMON YELLOWTHROAT AT ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

By Jan Allen

Courtesy Lafayette Travel

PENNSYLVANIA’S HAWK MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY

ARIZONA’S CAVE CREEK CANYON

By Michael Jacobi, courtesy Friends of Cave Creek Canyon

GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

By John Mercer

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Courtesy Aramark

CAVE CREEK CANYON Portal, Arizona Cave Creek Canyon, which sits hidden in the Chiricahua Mountains, just may have the best birding not only in southwestern Arizona but also in the entire state, according to Michael Jacobi, caretaker of the Cave Creek Canyon Visitor Information Center.

“Cave Creek Canyon is one of the few places the elegant trogon, a Mexican species, breeds,” he said.

“People come from around the world to see that one.”

Also popular with birders is the blue-throated mountain gem, which Jacobi says is “the largest hummingbird in the United States. It lives here year-round.”

Birders have documented approximately 370 bird species in the rugged, isolated Cave Creek landscape, which large motorcoaches may have difficulty traversing.

However, smaller groups will have no problem reaching the South Fork area, where trogons and more await.

LOS LOBOS STATE NATURAL RESERVE NEAR MONTEREY

Courtesy SeeMonterey.com

vide ideal avian habitats. That includes Carmel’s Point Lobos State Reserve, where groups can find “everything from chestnut-backed chickadees to California quails and red-tailed hawks to snowy egrets,” according to Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau public relations manager Rachel Dinbokowitz. “Avian life at Pinnacles National Park in Salinas Valley also is astoundingly diverse,” she said, “with raptors, owls, warblers, woodpeckers and more.”

For groups looking to take to the water, boats tours are available at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve in Moss Landing, home to more than 340 bird species. Naturalist-led tours can also be arranged for groups at Elkhorn Slough.

— FR I E N DSOFC AV ECR EEKC A N YON.COM —

MONTEREY COUNTY California Beautiful, well-heeled Monterey County, California, has a lot going for it, such as its reputation as a birders paradise, thanks to a profusion of wild spaces that pro-

BIRDING ON DAUPHIN ISLAND Courtesy AL Tourism Dept.

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GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK Moose, Wyoming The breathtaking Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming features a 40-milelong mountain range capped by the eponymous peak. Beneath it unspool lakes, glaciers, wetlands, forests, meadows, alpine tundra and more, providing an incredible diversity of habitat for the more than 330 species of birds that live there.

They range from the calliope hummingbird, the smallest bird in North America, on up to the rare trumpeter swan, the largest waterfowl on the continent.

Groups in the park should keep an eye out for bald eagles, western tanagers and the great gray owl, the tallest owl in North America. Although any time of the year is rich with birds in the Tetons, be aware that winter weather may shutter some of the park’s roads and six ranger stations and visitors centers.

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ACADIA NATIONAL PARK Bar Harbor, Maine Boasting miles of spectacular coastline and deep, still forests, the 47,000-acre Acadia National Park is located mostly on Maine’s Mount Desert

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Island. Seabirds, including the common and Arctic tern and black guillemot, can be spotted there, but that’s not all that makes the park special.

“Acadia is a hot spot for migration because it’s located along the Atlantic flyway,” said Patrick Kark, interpretive ornithology ranger. “It’s possible to see more than 250 species here, including 21 species of warbler that breed in Acadia in the spring and summer.”

Kark recommends groups stop at Sieur de Monts Spring for great birding on easy walking trails groups will enjoy. He also notes that motorcoach tours are required to register for a Commercial Use Authorization permit. Note that after October 1, group tours will need a CUA to access every national park, as well as pay park-specific per-person entrance fees for each passenger.

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CRANE TRUST NATURE AND VISITORS CENTER Grand Island, Nebraska With almost 350 species recently tallied in the area, Grand Island, Nebraska, is a gateway to great birding year-round, giving groups peeks at everything from the meadowlark, Nebraska’s state bird, to the Harris spar-

row. But the Platte River Valley, in which Grand Island sits, is most renowned for its epic spring sandhill crane migration, when a half-million of the red-masked birds descend on the area to feed and rest before continuing the trek north.

Compared by naturalists to the great wildlife migrations in Africa and the Antarctic, Grand Island’s sandhill crane migration can best be witnessed from the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center. The Crane Trust maintains blinds to watch the birds from, offering groups special guided sunrise and sunset tours to the blinds in early to mid-March.

— V ISI T GR A N DISL A N D.COM —

AUDUBON BIRD SANCTUARY Dauphin Island, Alabama A 14-mile-long barrier island off the coast of Alabama, Dauphin Island is so crucial to birds that the National Audubon Society declared it a Globally Significant Important Bird Area. Every spring, neotropical birds make their first landfall on Dauphin after their harrowing journey across the Gulf of Mexico. If these migrants from the Yucatan hit inclement weather, group travelers might get to see a dramatic “fall-out,” when massive numbers of exhausted birds seem to nearly drop from the sky.

Roughly 420 species have been noted on Dauphin Island, but during spring migration the most popular species with birders tend to be the brightly-hued warblers, buntings and hummingbirds. Groups should visit the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, which offers, among other treats, a 1,000-foot boardwalk, excellent for travelers to amble along.

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ANCIENT CAVES &

Modern-Day

El Paso

Drive through El Paso's majestic Franklin Mountains, and you'll find towering peaks, ancient caves and stunning views of the modern-day Wild West.

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AZTEC TRAIL GROUP 19 T HE

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Courtesy Visit Las Cruces

Courtesy Couse-Sharp Historic Site

By Esteban Avion, courtesy Casa Flamenca

NEW MEXICO

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Courtesy Visit Las Cruces

Courtesy Hotel Albuquerque

Courtesy Visit Las Cruces

Courtesy Visit Las Cruces

Courtesy Hotel Chaco

Courtesy Visit Taos

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ew Mexico’s visitor experiences are as memorable and varied as its landscape.

To the north, Taos is a world unto itself, where the Old West meets cutting-edge biotecture and outdoor adventure. Albuquerque celebrates flamenco culture and stunning views from Sandia Peak.

Nestled in the southern Mesilla Valley and boasting more than 320 days of sunshine per year, Las Cruces lures visitors with a wide range of experiences, including nearby White Sands National Monument. And near Truth or Consequences, Spaceport America invites visitors into a hands-on experience inside its commercial space launch facility.

TAOS: HISTORY AND SCENERY In the high desert of northern New Mexico, Taos is a picturesque mountain town with a rich Native American heritage.

On the edge of town, the Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States. The river flowing through the property is still used for drinking and cooking. Today, five to eight families live in the pueblo full time, but 3,000 to 4,000 tribal members inhabit the region.

The original church bell tower is surrounded by the graveyard that contains those buried after the 1847 bombing by the U.S. Calvary. The reconstructed St. Jerome’s Chapel dates to 1850 and remains in use today.

In town, the Couse-Sharp Historic Site commemorates two artists who shared a common vision to bring the European art scene to Taos. All looks as it did 100 years ago. Besides lovely gardens, visitors can tour the home of E.I. Couse. Oneor two-hour docent-led tours highlight the studios, paintings and original furnishings of Couse

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and J.H. Sharp, who started the Taos Society of Artists. Visitors can stand at Couse’s easel and see his model stage and props, as well as step inside Sharp’s recently restored 1915 studio.

Near Taos, the Rio Grande takes rafters on both tame and thrilling journeys. Between Questa and Pilar, this stretch of river is divided into different sections by difficulty. Los Rios River Runners has been operated by owner Cisco Guevara for 48 years. Its full-day Taos Box trip flows through 17 miles of intense rapids. The Lower Gorge offers a half-day, mellow float on Class II rapids and a full day that includes the Racecourse, with Class III rapids.

The company’s unique trips combine paddle and pedal, or paddle and saddle; and its tranquil sunset dinner float in summer serves dinner on the riverbanks.

“My favorite is the sunset raft trip because it’s relaxing and wildlife comes out in the evenings,” said Guevara. “People have the opportunity to spot river otter, beaver, eagles and, sometimes, a bobcat.”

Before reaching Taos proper and just north of the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, the futuristic Earthship community makes an interesting stop.

Here, off-the-grid houses are built from used automobile tires packed with dirt. Residents grow food with indoor gardens and water used multiple times. The visitor center demonstrates a fully functioning Earthship home and explains the design principles involved.

A LBUQUERQUE: FLAMENC O AND MOUNTAIN VISTAS Sophisticated and earthy, cultured and outdoorsy, Albuquerque displays many facets. Woven into the city’s cultural fabric is the tradition of flamenco. The Hotel Albuquerque hosts year-round

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flamenco performances that feature premier artists from Spain and the United States. Spanish tapas are served by award-winning chefs, accompanied by regionally inspired wines and spirits.

Within the intimate setting of a refurbished house adjacent to historic Old Town, groups can experience an authentic Spanish tradition at Casa Flamenca. Each summer, tableau performances feature a series of guest performers. Audiences sit in a circle around the dancers and play an important role in the performance, yelling words of encouragement such as “Ole!” “Flamenco is always a conversation among the musicians and dancers, and the tableau isn’t a choreographed performance, which makes it alive,” said Valeria Montes, executive and artistic director. “Groups can also come for a dance class and lunch buffet, or we collaborate with a local winery to serve tastings as part of the experience.”

Anticipating its 33rd year in June, Flamenco Albuquerque reigns as the largest flamenco event held outside of Spain. The crowning performance, Fiesta Flamenca, takes place at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, which hosts more than 700 events annually and is home to the largest concave fresco in North America, by artist Frederico Vigil. The gala event showcases world-class dancers and musicians in a swirl of color and passion.

Groups shouldn’t leave Albuquerque without venturing up Sandia Peak. Sandia Peak is accessible via the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway, the longest of its kind in North America. This mountaintop experience guarantees panoramic views.

Hiking trails fan out from the peak, which delivers downhill skiing in winter, all just 30 minutes from downtown. A new restaurant, Ten 3, opened at the top of Sandia Peak. The restaurant is named for its elevation, 10,300 feet above sea level.

Set to open in February, the Sawmill Market

TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: MOONRISE AT WHITE SANDS NATIONAL MONUMENT; COUSE-SHARP HISTORIC SITE IN TAOS; ALBUQUERQUE’S FESTIVAL FLAMENCO. MIDDLE, LEFT TO RIGHT: SLEDDING AT WHITE SANDS; TABLAO FLAMENCO AT HOTEL ALBUQUERQUE; NEW MEXICO CHILES. BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: MOUNTAINS NEAR LAS CRUCES; HOTEL CHACO; TAOS PUEBLO

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LAS CRUCES: WHITE SANDS AND GREEN CHILES Art and shopping are plentiful in Las Cruces and the hisA STUDIO AT TAOS’ COUSE-SHARP HISTORIC SITE toric town of Mesilla, located 10 minutes from downtown.

Shoppers won’t want to miss the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market, which is open every Wednesday and Saturday morning on Main Street.

“On Wednesdays, the market takes place on the Plaza de Las Cruces, and on Saturday, they shut down seven city blocks for the market,” said Jamila Gilbert, director of marketing and communications for Visit Las Cruces.

“There’s a little bit of everything, with more than 300 vendors selling artwork and crafts while farmers sell green chile and local honey, propagated desert plants and more.”

New Mexico State University (NMSU) showcases the largest contemporary art gallery in the southern region and one of the world’s largest collections of Mexican “retablos.” At the university’s Alumni and Visitors Center, the curated Zuhl Geological Collection displays petrified wood, minerals, fossils and geological artifacts.

The public can visit the NMSU Chile Pepper Institute, where scientists study the heat of different chile peppers. Visitors can check out the different variCourtesy Couse-Sharp Historic Site etals of plants and learn about the genetics involved. The institute shop sells chile pepper seed varieties developed at the university, sauces and chile-related merchandise.

THE NIGHT SKY OVER THE EARTHSHIP COMMUNITY RIO GRANDE RAFTING Another popular group attraction is the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, a 47-acre site that showcases the state’s 3,000-year agricultural history.

Visitors can watch a cow being milked and stroll along corrals filled with longhorn cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Permanent and changing exhibits span fine art to rows of farm implements. Hands-on exhibits demonstrate skills such as blacksmithing, quilting and water dowsing.

About 45 miles east of Las Cruces, White Sands National Monument makes a fascinating day-trip destination. Dunes Drive, an eight-mile scenic roadway leads Courtesy Earthship Biotecture Courtesy Visit Taos from the visitor center to the world’s largest gypsum dune field. Gypsum doesn’t absorb heat from the sun, which makes the dunes cool and comfortable to walk on, even in summer. will be housed within the Sawmill District. The former Paxton Lumber The pure-white dunes invite picnicking, sand surfing and tobogganwarehouse is being converted into a 25,000-square-foot artisanal food hall, a ing. Roaming the dunes are more than 3,000 African oryxes, a species of first in New Mexico, and will focus solely on the state’s farmers and producers. antelope from East Africa that can weigh up to 450 pounds each. Activities “Our full demonstration kitchen will feature chef events and dinners, as such as the guided Sunset Stroll Nature Walk, full-moon night programs, well as four outdoor sheds hosting family-friendly games and stages for movie tours of Lake Lucero and special events highlight this otherworldly spot. nights and music,” said Brandon Palmer, Sawmill Market general manager.

The Sawmill District will be anchored by the Hotel Chaco, a locally owned boutique property patterned after the UNESCO Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Some 50 miles northwest of Albuquerque, it was home to NE W ME XICO TOURISM the thriving Anasazi community from A.D. 850 to A.D. 1250. In addition, D E PA R T M E N T the hotel’s sister company, Heritage Inspirations, offers more than 20 halfor full-day tours, including outdoor expeditions, curated walking tours and — N EW ME X ICO.ORG — glamping adventures, plus custom itineraries.

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bout 55 miles north of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the middle of the desert, Spaceport America is ground zero for the organizations pioneering space tourism, including Virgin Galactic and SpaceX. Although it will still be a few years before any of these companies are able to offer space flights to the public, groups can visit Spaceport to learn about this exciting industry and see some of the technology making it possible.

The journey into Spaceport America begins at the Spaceport America Visitor Center in the town of Truth or Consequences. After traveling to the Federal Aviation Administration-licensed launch complex adjacent to the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, visitors enter the Gateway Gallery, where their tour includes interactive exhibits. The optional G-Shock simulator gives the experi-

ence of rapid acceleration, comparable to what an astronaut might feel in actual flight. In the Spaceport Operations Center, visitors can interact with Spaceport America crewmembers and view the state-of-the-art fire station before posing in front of the Gateway to Space hangar for a photo op.

SPACEPORTAMERICA.COM

VISITOR EXPERIENCES AT SPACEPORT AMERICA

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SEA CHANGE

T HER E A R E M A N Y DIF F ER E N T R E A SONS TO G O TO T HE BE ACH

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ot all beaches were created equal. Many have the basic combination of waves and sand, but not much else. However, several beach destinations across the U.S. stand out with signature experiences.

Groups can listen to award-winning musical performances in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, or immerse themselves in Colonial history in St. Augustine, Florida. Those seeking a wilder beach vacation can climb giant dunes at Porter, Indiana, or see massive whales in Monterey, California.

Instead of simply parking groups in front of the ocean, planners should take advantage of the tour possibilities at these memorable beach destinations.

MYRTLE BEACH BOARDWALK

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Powerhouse vocals that can fill a theater, hip-hop cloggers and fiddling champions ensure that every second of the Carolina Opry is packed with talent. A cast of 35 top performers put their hearts and souls into the twohour, high-energy performance at Myrtle Beach’s Calvin Gilmore Theater.

Named the “Top Attraction in Myrtle Beach” by CNBC, the Carolina Opry is one of many theater and entertainment performances available at the Grand Strand. The Calvin Gilmore Theater alone presents four other award-winning live entertainment experiences, including “Time Warp” and “The Christmas Special.” “Time Warp” takes guests on a musical tour of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s with live musical performances of hit songs.

New in 2019, Le Grand Cirque features acrobats from around the world performing impressive stunts that don’t seem humanly possible. Aerial acts, trampoline acts, fire dancers and contortionists keep viewers’ eyes transfixed.

More live performances happen at Broadway at the Beach, the Asher Theatre, the Pirates Voyage and Dinner Show, and the House of Blues.

The House of Blues offers live musical entertainment, a custom menu and a two-level music hall. Groups can also opt for more intimate private rooms.

Beachgoers that like to end their day with dinner and a show will also enjoy two new venues. P. Reynolds by the Ocean recently opened as a musicthemed restaurant with live jazz music and Cajun French-style cuisine.

The GTS Theatre has also attracted more shows and casts this year, with an upcoming lineup that features “Elvis Live” and the “Michael Bairefoot Comedy and Magic Show.”

V ISI T M Y RT L EBE ACH.COM

FRESH ATLANTIC SEAFOOD IN MYRTLE BEACH

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HISTORICAL TOURS

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In America, it’s hard to compete with 500 years of written history. St. Augustine’s history is not just written in the history books; it is visible to visitors around every corner.

Groups can discover the city’s colorful history while sipping wine with Tour St. Augustine. The tour company uses costumed guides to walk guests through the city’s historic district. Stops at local eateries allow participants to sample gourmet chocolate, olive oils, drinks and other tasty treats.

Groups don’t have to stay on land to tour the coastal town. The Schooner Freedom Sail allows guests to board a replica 19th-century sailboat to admire the coastal scenery, look for wildlife and enjoy a complimentary drink.

Traditionally, groups love to explore the city on the Old Town Trolley, which passes by 100 different points of interest, including the Fountain of Youth, the City Gates, the Spanish Quarter and historic St. George Street.

The Colonial Quarter takes guests back to the city’s time as a Spanish colony with re-created blacksmith shops, print shops and other interactive historical reenactments.

The city’s Gilded Age ties are also obvious around town. The railroad and Standard Oil millionaire Henry Flagler built several sprawling Mediterranean-style buildings to launch the town’s tourism industry.

Forty-two miles of unspoiled beaches, shopping, golf and live downtown music ensure that a trip to the vibrant Florida town is more than a history lesson.

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Rivaling the depth of the Grand Canyon, the Monterey Submarine Canyon measures a full mile from top to bottom. The largest submarine canyon along North America’s west coast hides a wealth of marine life that normally inhabits ocean ecosystems far removed from easy human access.

Because of this close-to-shore canyon, Monterey is one of the only places in the world where visitors can see whales year-round. Occasionally, visitors can even spot whales offshore with the naked eye.

Groups can go on an ocean safari to search for a wide range of whale species, such as humpbacks, blue whales, sperm whales and orcas. Birds, sea otters, sea lions and other coastal creatures also frequently turn up for whale cruises.

Discovery Whale Watch sails groups of up to 45 people on three- or four-hour cruises. For larger groups, the Monterey Bay Whale Watch offers three- to five-hour trips for up to 420 people on multiple boats.

Upscale cruises like Princess Monterey Whale Watching and Sanctuary Cruises lead customized charters with catering options for a more relaxed wildlife experience. Marine naturalists lead each of these whale tours.

Once a group returns from whale watching, plenty of entertainment awaits at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, local wineries, golf courses and 99 miles of California’s central coastline between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

SEE MON T ER E Y.COM

FLOR I DASH IST OR ICCO AST.COM

ST. AUGUSTINE WHALE WATCHING IN MONTEREY

Courtesy St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & the beaches CVB

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Courtesy SeeMonterey.com

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MYSTIC SEAPORT

HISTORIC WATERCRAFT IN MYSTIC Courtesy CT Office of Tourism

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Courtesy CT Office of Tourism

MARITIME EXPERIENCES MYSTI C, CO N N EC TI CUT

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Residents of 1830s Mystic, Connecticut, would feel right at home at Mystic Seaport, the largest maritime museum in the country. The museum re-creates a 19th-century shipbuilding village with more than 60 historic buildings.

Visitors can immerse themselves in the city’s past by wandering into a variety of restored shops, such as a chandlery, a sail loft, a ropewalk and a bank.

The 19-acre site preserves four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the last wooden whaleship in the world, the Charles W. Morgan. Groups can explore the site’s extensive collection, which includes 500 historic watercrafts, maritime art, a working ship-restoration shipyard and a children’s museum.

An on-site planetarium demonstrates how seamen used the stars to navigate.

Mystic’s connection to maritime traditions goes beyond the museum with historical cruises operated by Argia Mystic Cruises. The boat tour offers views of the area, refreshments and passage under the National Landmark Bascule Bridge.

What is happening beneath the waves also plays a featured role in Mystic at the Mystic Aquarium. Guests can interact with stingrays, sharks and reptiles. The aquarium displays thousands of other animals, like whales, penguins, fish and sea lions.

The New England charm of the coastal city especially shines at Olde Mystic Village. Over 50 local shops, restaurants and businesses operate within a re-created 1720s Colonial community.

INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK

LAKEFRONT DUNES IN INDIANA Courtesy Indiana Dunes Tourism

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Courtesy Indiana Dunes Tourism

BEACH SCENERY

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Most people don’t immediately picture Indiana when they think of untouched beach vistas. But Indiana Dunes National Park showcases some of the world’s largest lakeshore dunes and several ecosystems, including forests, marshes and wetlands.

Officially renamed a national park in February, the 15,000-acre Indiana Dunes National Park and 2,000-acre Indiana Dunes State Park preserve some of the most ecologically diverse places in North America. Visitors love to relax by the wild beaches and look up the massive mounds of sand that reach nearly 200 feet high.

The park’s dunes formed when glaciers passed through the area over 10,000 years ago. The serene landscape was almost swallowed up by development when the largest dunes were carried off in boxcars as early as 1916. But local activists managed to preserve many of the dunes, which now serve as home to more than 1,000 native plant species and 370 bird species.

The area also boasts nearby towns with inviting downtowns to wander.

Every week, downtown Chesterton hosts the European Market, where artisans and farmers sell handmade crafts, artisan breads and farm-fresh cheese.

The Old Lighthouse Museum, the Taltree Arboretum and Gardens, and the Chicago Street Theatre also welcome groups in the area.

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let your

imagination run wild.

VIRGINIA BEACH’S OLD COAST GUARD STATION

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MILITARY AT TRACTIONS

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Fighter jets roaring across the skies in Virginia Beach are visible reminders of the area’s past and present connection to the armed forces. The military tradition began in 1607 when Capt. John Smith declared the area near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay an important defense position.

Today, the region known as the Hampton Roads houses the world’s largest naval base, the only NATO command headquartered in the country and close to 85,000 servicemen and servicewomen. Guests can explore the area’s deep ties with the military at related museums and on tours.

Virginia Beach has not only a popular beach and entertainment options, but also the Virginia Military Aviation Museum. This museum goes beyond storing planes for viewing; it restores them to their original flying condition.

Guests can book rides with veteran pilots in historic aircraft. Flight demonstrations at the museum also bring these warbirds back to the skies. The museum has one of the world’s largest collections of military planes, with special emphasis on World War I and World War II. Tours highlight the history of some of these incredible planes created by American, Russian, British and German engineers.

Each spring, the Annual Warbirds Over the Beach airshow take these planes to the skies over Virginia Beach. Historians, World War II-era music and pilots dressed in period clothing bring the 1940s back to life.

A costumed storyteller can walk groups through the exhibits at the Old Coast Guard Station Museum. The museum houses a collection of 1,800 artifacts and stories of daring shipwreck rescues from the Coast Guard Services. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the surrounding Hampton Roads area, groups can also explore the Naval Air Station Oceana, the Battleship Wisconsin and Langley Air Force Base.

Known as North Carolina’s Southern Outer Banks, the Crystal Coast has inspired world renowned authors such as Nicholas Sparks and Kristy Harvey. Let us inspire you with help planning events, selecting outstanding accommodations and making your experience our top priority. We’ll make sure everything is perfect so you can focus on making memories, enjoying our beautiful beaches, unique activities and natural beauty.

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AMERICA’S HEARTLAND S PECIAL S EC T ION

N A w C o I h R E w M A kno B Y PAU L A AV E N G L A D YC H

Courtesy DeBrand Fine Chocolates

GROUPS VISITING DEBRAND FINE CHOCOLATES IN FT. WAYNE CAN WATCH AS CONFECTIONERS PREPARE CARAMEL PRETZELS AND OTHER SWEET TREATS.

ENJOY THESE HEARTLAND BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS merica’s Heartland is known for its rich agricultural heritage and for manufacturing some of the most iconic American-made products in the world. From cheese, chocolate and horses to motorhomes and Ford trucks, this selection of farm and factory tours will fuel your imagination and paint a picture of what it means to be made in America.

WINNEBAGO MOTORHOME FACTORY TOUR | FOREST CITY, IOWA

Visitors to Winnebago Industries are usually astounded by the size of the property, but it takes a lot of space to churn out 9,000 motorhomes annually.

The company, which has been in business since 1958, offers tours of its huge campus and manufacturing facility daily, Monday through Friday. Groups start their visit at the Visitor’s Center in Forest City, where they can visit the museum before taking a tour of the manufacturing facilities. The Forest City plant makes Winnebago’s Class A and Class C motorhomes.

Tours take about two hours because they highlight the entire Winnebago campus, which is “almost a city within a city,” said Sam Jefson, public relations specialist for Winnebago Industries. “It’s fun to see all this happening.”

The tour takes visitors through two specific buildings, one where motorhome interiors are stitched together and the other where the vehicles themselves are produced. They 28

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can see chairs, window valances, sofas and other pieces of furniture being made. They also can view the main production facility in a building nicknamed Big Bertha because it is eight football fields long. It features two production lines. Guests can look down on the production from two different mezzanines, where they can see things like the extended living spaces being built into the motorhomes.

“It’s a pretty fascinating thing to watch,” he said.

Winnebago accommodates close to 10,000 visitors a year.

WINNEBAGOIND.COM/COMPANY/VISIT

THE TEMPEL LIPIZZANS OLD MILL CREEK, ILLINOIS Lipizzan stallions were bred to be cavalry horses 400 years ago. When the horses were no longer used in battle, they were adopted by the royal courts of Europe as the epitome of classical riding and highly choreographed horse ballet, said Esther Buonanno, program director at The Tempel Lipizzans in Old Mill Creek, Illinois.

The Tempel Lipizzans is a private riding school in America’s Heartland where visitors can tour the grounds, see the magnificent stables and watch these beautiful dressage horses being trained.

“We explain how the training program works and the temperament of this particular breed. We explain the history of the breed, this herd and about the basic training of these horses,” Buonanno said.

Tours can be tailored to a group’s particular interest.

Some people are fascinated with how to care for these horses; others want to tour the stables and get nose-tonose with them.

Half of the tour is spent watching the horses perform choreographed pieces to classical music where they show off their synchronized movements and airs. Tours are available even in the winter, although guests need to be a bit more bundled up.

The farm has 85 horses, 26 of which are in training.

“It’s the biggest population of Lipizzans in the United States,” Buonanno said. “They are considered an endangered domestic breed. There’s less than 10,000 of them worldwide.”

museum and heading directly to the factory tour in their own motorcoach.

The tours take between one and two hours.

The top attraction is the walking tour of the Dearborn Truck Plant, where the new military-grade, aluminum-alloy-body Ford F-150 truck is made. An elevated walkway takes visitors on a one-third-mile journey above the plant’s final assembly line. Guests get to see firsthand the equipment, robotics, parts delivery and skilled workers that are needed to build one truck per minute at full line speeds.

Visitors also get the chance to see the trim lines for cab, box and door, as well as final testing. They can see the F-150 come into the plant as an empty shell and leave as a fully tested truck ready for the road.

The tour also takes visitors on a tour of the Living Laboratory, which shows how Ford turned a brownfield into a sustainable site with storm-water management, land use and redevelopment, support of natural ecosystems and wildlife habitat, and solar energy. There is even a living roof on the Dearborn Truck Plant finalassembly building. It is planted with drought-resistant THE TEMPEL LIPIZZANS groundcover called sedum and spans 454,000 square feet, or more than 10 acres. It is one of the largest living roofs in the world.

Courtesy Tempel Lipizzans THEHENRYFORD.ORG

DEBRAND FINE CHOCOLATES FORT WAYNE, INDIANA DeBrand Fine Chocolates has been around since 1987. The founder, Cathy Brand-Beere, grew up in her parents’ confectionary supply store helping demonstrate the art of chocolate-making for guests from the tender age of 8. That experience fostered her love of creating fine chocolates, and she dreamed of opening her own chocolate shop.

DeBrand now has four locations in Fort Wayne and one in Indianapolis.

Courtesy Iowa Tourism Office

TEMPELFARMS.COM

FORD ROUGE FACTORY TOUR DEARBORN, MICHIGAN Tours of the Ford Rouge Factory begin with a 15-minute bus ride from the Henry Ford Museum to the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center. Guests start their tours with an immersive sensory experience in the center’s Manufacturing Innovation Theater that details the process of building the F-150 from start to finish.

Tours are self-guided, even for large groups. Groups have the option of skipping the shuttle buses from the GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

WINNEBAGO FACTORY TOUR Courtesy Winnebago

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The factory and corporate headquarters are on Auburn Road in Fort Wayne.

Groups can visit the factory to see where the confections are made by hand. They also can watch a video about the company and how it got its start before touring the facility, from the party room to the kitchens and mail order operation, said Audree Beere, marketing manager for DeBrand. Free samples are a must, and most visitors are thrilled to get a chance to taste what they’ve just seen being made. DeBrand offers three main gift box collections: the classic, the truffle and the connoisseur collections. They are carefully crafted from fresh local ingredients and the best imported Belgian and Swiss chocolate.

All of the chocolate centers are made from scratch, including fresh cremes, rich caramels, ganaches, truffles, brittles and smooth creams.

Tours are $5 per person and last 30 to 45 minutes. Each guest is given a rebate of $5 on a $10 purchase

The cheese is made from locally produced milk.

Visitors get to see the open-style vats of milk and curd being stirred by hand. The company’s cheeses are all made by hand.

Bunker Hill presses its cheese for 12 hours to expel the moisture.

“You get a higher-quality product that way, ” O’Brien said. “It gives us a stronger flavor profile and a higherquality product because of that.”

HEINIS.COM

DEBRAND.COM

HEINI’S CHEESE CHALET MILLERSBURG, OHIO In the heart of Ohio’s Amish country, Heini’s Cheese Chalet is the factory retail store for Bunker Hill Cheese in Millersburg, Ohio. Tour groups can take a free guided tour of the factory where Bunker Hill produces 35 types of cheese, including classic mild farmer cheese, fiesta jack, colby, Swiss and feta. The company also makes a yogurt cultured cheese that is lactose-free and contains live probiotics.

One of Bunker Hill’s most popular varieties of cheese is raw milk cheese, which is heat-treated instead of pasteurized. The process “tends to have a richer flavor profile,” said Gabriel O’Brien, director of marketing at the Bunker Hill Cheese Company.

“That is something we do that is pretty unique. You would be hard-pressed to find any other manufacturer making raw milk cheese. That is one of our fastest-growing products over the last 10 years.”

The company makes all its cheeses on-site at Heini’s Cheese Chalet, and the free samples are the biggest draw for tourists.

“On Fridays and Saturdays, there are significant lines and large groups, so coming early is a good idea,” O’Brien said.

DEBRAND FINE CHOCOLATES

Courtesy DeBrand Fine Chocolates

FORD ROGUE FACTORY TOUR

Courtesy The Henry Ford

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There is only one place in America where historic Route 66 meets the Great River Road – just outside St. Louis in southwest Illinois.

The Great Rivers & Routes region has more than 50 group-friendly attrac tions and over 40 hotels and motels to match every tour budget.

Let us create a customized itinerary to delight your travelers and help them experience the best of our region.

Katie Bennett, Tourism Sales Manager (800) 258-6645 kbennett@riversandroutes.com

RiversandRoutes.com

AMERICA’S HEARTLAND S PECIAL S EC T ION

D O O G ?

S y ’ T a A d H o t W B Y PAU L A AV E N G L A D YC H

By Emily Glison, courtesy Fulton Street Farmers Market

SHOPPERS FIND BEAUTIFUL FRESH FLOWERS AND LOTS OF LOCAL FOODS AT FULTON STREET FARMERS MARKET IN GRAND RAPIDS.

HEARTLAND PUBLIC MARKETS NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE ublic markets have been around for hundreds of years but seem to have been more prevalent in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Now there is a push to revamp old markets or develop new ones across the country.

Check out these public markets that not only offer nostalgia from years past but also integrate the diversity and excitement of the present in America’s Heartland.

FULTON STREET FARMERS MARKET | GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

The Fulton Street Farmers Market is celebrating its 97th year. Started in 1922, the market was one of four public markets that thrived at the time.

Fulton Street managed to outlive the other three markets in the same location where it was originally founded, said Rori Weston, market manager and executive director for the market. It operates year-round.

Farmers markets aren’t just about fresh produce anymore. Fulton Street features meat and dairy vendors, homemade tortillas, root vegetables, craft booths and greenhousegrown fresh produce even during the winter months.

“Even in the dead of winter, you can still shop super local and get your basic needs at the farmers market,” Weston said.

The market takes up a full city block. The huge open-air pavilion has 118 stalls, and a small head house that is enclosed can house another 10 vendors. During the 32

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winter, the head house and the first two sections of the pavilion are enclosed and heated.

The market sees 7,000 visitors on a busy Saturday during peak season. It also works closely with food assistance programs in the city.

“We are advocates to make food accessible to all income levels. We do quite a bit of that here,” Weston said.

FULTONSTREETMARKET.ORG

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MARKET | MILWAUKEE

The Milwaukee Public Market opened its doors in 2005. Project planners envisioned the market as an economic catalyst for Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward, providing a different food-shopping experience to both city and regional customers, said Paul Schwartz, executive director of the market.

The Third Ward is in a hot spot, adjacent to the freeway, with a large neon sign that is a “great welcome to the city,” he said. “The freeway is the great divide between the Third Ward and downtown. Now the market is able to bridge the gap and have people cross through there, which was one of its original purposes as well.”

The market offers many types of ethnic cuisine, including Middle Eastern, Thai and Hispanic, but also offers the beer, cheese and sausages for which the region is known. It even has a vegan vendor that serves only plant-based offerings.

An outdoor market takes place during the summer months and features local farmers, artists and craftspeople, musicians, photographers, jewelry-makers and vendors of other items produced locally.

In 2018, the public market had 1.8 million visits and north of $18 million in sales, Schwartz said. The market gives visitors a great introduction to Milwaukee’s culinary scene and offers cooking classes in its state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen.

The market partners with the Milwaukee Public Library and children’s groups by hosting events or fundraisers that benefit them.

FRESH PRODUCE AT FULTON STREET FARMERS MARKET

By E mily Gliso n, cou rtesy Fulto n Str eet F arme rs M arket

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MARKET

MILWAUKEEPUBLICMARKET.ORG

NORTH MARKET | COLUMBUS, OHIO

Back in the 1800s, there were four public markets in central Ohio.

The North Market, which opened in 1876, is the only one left. Surprisingly, it still sits on its original footprint, even though it is on its third building.

Now run by a nonprofit organization, the

Courtesy Milwaukee Courtesy Iowa PublicTourism MarketOffice

MICHIGAN CHERRIES AT FULTON STREET FARMERS MARKET

By Emily Glison, courtesy Fulton Street Farmers Market GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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North Market is advantageously situated next door to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The area has seen a lot of growth over the years, and the North Market, an “urban pioneer of this neighborhood,” has survived and continues to be a destination, said Rick Harrison Wolfe, executive director for the North Market Development Authority.

Rather than knocking the market down to pave the way for new development, ket r a M orth Columbus’ administration realized the importance of the last remaining public N y s e t Cour market, Harrison Wolfe said. The North Market features 35 merchants that sell a variety of foods, including fresh produce, meat, fish and cheese. They also sell flowers, spices, bread, olive oil and vinegars, hot sauce and salsa, doughnuts, pretzels, waffles, ice cream, beer and wine.

The market is in the midst of building a $192 million mixed-use development that, when completed, will comprise 11,000 square feet of additional market and mixed-use space, along with a high-end hotel and residential and office space. The North Market is also expanding into a second location 20 miles away in Dublin, Ohio, that will offer 25,000 square feet of market space.

The new location “further enhances our mission of incubating and supporting local business,” Harrison Wolfe said.

Between 1.5 million and 2 million people visit the market annually, which is HISTORIC CITY MARKET IN KANSAS CITY “pretty great for us and the city,” he said.

A BUSY LUNCH AT COLUMBUS’ NORTH MARKET

Courtesy Historic City Market

NORTHMARKET.COM

HISTORIC CITY MARKET | KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

In downtown Kansas City, very close to the river, the Historic City Market is the “crown jewel of downtown,” said Sue Patterson, the market’s director of marketing and events. The market is part of a larger district called River Market and encompasses more than 30 shops, restaurants and specialty grocers that are open year-round. It also hosts the largest farmer’s market in the region on weekends.

“We are the most diverse spot in Kansas City,” she said. “All kinds of languages are spoken here. You’ll see a very wide variety of international cuisines represented by our restaurants and our farmers market vendors from all over the world.”

Exotic produce, such as squash blossoms, bitter melon and water spinach, are sold next to more traditional Midwestern fare such as corn and tomatoes.

Prepared foods, distilled spirits, wine and craft beer, crafts and other locally made products are also available at the market. The Historic City Market tries to keep things fresh by offering special events throughout the year, including a vintage sale for used items, car shows, a local artist showcase and a Grub Crawl, where attendees buy a passport to dine so they can sample foods from the market’s many vendors while listening to live music.

FRESH PRODUCE AT HISTORIC CITY MARKET

THECITYMARKET.ORG

MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKET | MINNEAPOLIS

By Lane Sauve

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The Midtown Global Market is unusual in that it takes up the bottom level of an abandoned Sears building on Lake Street in Minneapolis.

The area around the market became crime-ridden once the Sears and other reputable businesses left the area. The city of Minneapolis wanted to change that, so it put out a request for proposals for projects in the area that would embrace and celebrate Minneapolis’

OCTOBER 2019

MINNEAPOLIS’ MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKET

diversity, said Elisa Pluhar, chief development and communications officer for the Neighborhood Development Center.

The Midtown Global Market was a partnership between both the private and public sectors and nonprofits. It opened in 2006, just before the recession hit.

“There were definitely some times of us not really being sure what was going to happen, but we have come out on the other side of that and become a worldwide destination, which is crazy to us,” Pluhar said. “We get a ton of tour groups and people from all over the world [that] want to experience it. It is a big destination for people who live here as well. It really embraces the vibe of Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, really embracing the newer immigrant communities and celebrating that culture.”

More than 20 different languages are spoken at the market, which features about 18 food vendors; shops specialize in everything from African arts and crafts to Hmong clothing and a Mexican convenience store.

The goal of the market is to incubate businesses, to give them a place to start without the added costs that come with a bricks-and-mortar location.

MIDTOWNGLOBALMARKET.ORG

Photos courtesy Midtown Global Market

One Destination, Unlimited Memories Harrison County offers something for everyone — caves, adventurous attractions, a historic downtown, artisans, wineries and More.

888-738-2137 thisisindiana.org GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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AFTER YOUR TRIP, IT’S TIME FOR A RIDE.

CIRCLEWISCONSIN.COM

|

414-545-1100

DUCKS & DELLS BOAT TOURS

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Discover the unknown | Travel the world | Blast off into space Visit the past | See live butterflies and bugs | Take a tour with an expert

Start your adventure today at mpm.edu/groups or 414-278-2728 MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM | 800 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233

BELOIT Wisconsin

NAMED WISCONSIN'S MOST UNDERRATED CITY

EXPERIENCE MIDWEST CHARM PEPPERED WITH URBAN FLAIR

Beloit features a revitalized downtown, public art and galleries, fine dining and supper clubs, museums, historical attractions, and the state’s second-largest Farmers’ Market!

DiscoverHudsonWI.com • 715.386.8411

PLAN YOUR GROUP TOUR TODAY! VisitBeloit.com | 608.365.4838

AMERICA’S HEARTLAND

C I S s S n A o L i t C c e

S PECIAL S EC T ION

l l o c

B Y PAU L A AV E N G L A D YC H

By L. Hewett, courtesy Field Museum

THE FIELD MUSEUM IN CHICAGO FEATURES ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S BEST EXHIBITS OF DINOSAUR FOSSILS.

THESE HEARTLAND MUSEUMS ARE ICONS merica’s Heartland has some of the best museums in the country, from the Field Museum in Chicago to the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields in Indianapolis. A focus on science, art or history helps these signature museums define the cities in which they are located.

Plan to take your groups to visit some of these museums next time you tour the Midwest.

FIELD MUSEUM | CHICAGO

On the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago’s Field Museum opened to the public in its current location in 1921. One of the most iconic museums in the country, its collections grew out of the items on display at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

The museum first opened to the public in June 1894 in a different location. The Field has 35 permanent exhibits, including some of the most complete dinosaur skeletons in the country and 23 well-preserved Egyptian mummies. It also features world-class temporary exhibitions.

Groups not only get a discount on their entrance fee to the museum, but they can also organize a group lunch or view a 3D movie as part of their visit. For an additional fee, they can take a docent-led tour of the museum’s permanent collections or take part in a docent presentation of the museum’s many special temporary exhibits.

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If groups would like to go beyond the exhibits on display, they can set up a tour of the nonpublic collections areas with a museum curatorial staff member. Visitors can wander through the zoology and entomology departments, where they can see real live bugs, including Madagascar hissing cockroaches, up close and learn about the special worker bugs that help clean animal skeletons at the museum.

Popular exhibits include the man-eating lions of Tsavo; the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found; and Maximo the Titanosaur, a cast of a huge plant-eating dinosaur modeled from fossil bones excavated in Argentina that is 122 feet across and 28 feet tall at the head.

FIELDMUSEUM.ORG

INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART AT NEWFIELDS | INDIANAPOLIS

The Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields is a must-see destination in the heart of Indianapolis. For the price of general admission, visitors get access to 100 acres of art and the surrounding nature park with formal gardens. There is also a 30-acre lake in the middle of the nature park that is always open and free to the public.

The museum features art from all eras and all over the world, from ancient African art to the art of living local artists. There are four floors of galleries featuring impressionists like Vincent van Gogh to contemporary art.

Customized group tours are available if there is one section of the museum in which a group is most interested, but all groups receive a discount even if they don’t book a guided tour. Tours are available both inside and outside the museum in the formal gardens. Accessibility tours are also offered that are touch and audio descriptive for people who are visually impaired, said Emily Sogard, communications coordinator for Newfields.

The museum moved to its current location in 1964, but the formal gardens were already there. The museum itself started in 1883, and “we have been a fixture of the Indianapolis arts community for a very long time,” Sogard said.

HISTORIC GROUNDS AT THE NEWFIELDS CAMPUS IN INDIANAPOLIS Cour

tesy N ewfie lds

DISCOVERNEWFIELDS.ORG

HAPPY HOUR IN THE GARDEN AT NEWFIELDS Courtesy Iowa Tourism Office Courtesy Newfields

EXPLORING THE FIELD MUSEUM

By L. Hewett, courtesy Field Museum GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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Hands-On Fun

Get Your Craft On!

SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA | ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

Along the mighty Mississippi River on the edge of downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, the Science Museum of Minnesota is a museum for all ages.

“We’re not just for kids,” said Tom Hedrick, marketing director for the museum. “We certainly have a lot of activities that children of all ages love and a lot of parents bring children to see due to the interactive nature of the exhibits and their high educational value.”

Highlights include an exhibit on race; a three-story-tall, 7,000-pound astronaut created for the 2014 Coachella Music and Arts Festival that allows visitors to project their own image on the face shield; and Science Live theater performances that educate and entertain guests about various scientific principles.

The facility isn’t just a science museum; it is also a research center that employs scientists in the field.

The museum has a huge collection of fossils and samples of biological and scientific specimens in its labs, which are opened for tours at various times of the year.

“Our collection of scientific artifacts is very expansive with discoveries found in Minnesota and other parts of the world,” Hedrick said. “We have drawers full of exciting things visitors can see when we open our vaults for tours.”

The museum sports one of the few Omni theaters in the region; this is an Imax theater with a domed screen so visitors can completely immerse themselves in the movie experience.

SMM.ORG

WISCONSIN MARITIME MUSEUM | MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN

“All the different hands-on activities are a blast, no talent required!

You are treated like their guest and everything is planned out for you.

We loved it!”

– Triumph Community Bank Travel Club, East Moline, IL

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. The museum, which originally was built to commemorate the area’s distinguished past as a submarine builder for the U.S. Navy, has since evolved into an institution that preserves all the maritime history of the Great Lakes region and Wisconsin.

Shipbuilders in Manitowoc built 28 freshwater submarines for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Visitors to the museum can tour the inside of the USS Cobia, a World War II submarine that also was built in freshwater and tested in the Great Lakes before doing five war patrols.

Request Your FREE Planner

USS COBIA AT THE WISCONSIN MARITIME MUSEUM

Call 1-800-322-8198

Courtesy WI Maritime Museum

or order it online at:

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com/planner OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

1

THE GRAVESITE AT HERBERT HOOVER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

Louisville

Lexington

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

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198

Courtesy Hoover Presidential Library

2020

A season of favorites!

The museum talks about all aspects of the maritime landscape in Wisconsin. One of its temporary exhibits talks about the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and how it interacted with the Great Lakes for thousands of years.

Another exhibit tells the maritime history of Wisconsin from schooners and submarines to luxury yachts. Two theaters in the museum show films, and for the families that visit, a water area allows kids to build a boat and sail it along Wisconsin waterways, going through locks and dams and learning about water as they get wet splashing each other, said Abby Diaz, director of education and public programs for the museum.

Groups of more than 10 people get the discounted rate of $10 per person, and that includes a tour of the submarine and unlimited access to the galleries and theaters.

WISCONSINMARITIME.ORG

HERBERT HOOVER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM | WEST BRANCH, IOWA

Dec 31 - Feb 23

June 4 - July19

Feb 27 - Apr 12

Apr 16 - May 31

July 23 - Sept 6 Sept 10 - Oct 25 Oct 29 - Dec 27

Superb Musicals | Memorable Dining Family Hospitality | Spectacular Shops 1131 Janesville Ave, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 800-477-9505 | www.firesidetheatre.com 42

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The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries operated by the National Archives and Records Administration. It is a popular destination for tour groups, many of which follow the presidential library and museum trail through the middle states visiting the Hoover, Truman and Eisenhower libraries as part of the same journey.

“Presidential libraries are great places for people to kind of get the CliffsNotes version of American history,” said Thomas Schwartz, director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. “If you look at the comments both on our website and on social media, you will see that people really discover a man that they knew very little or nothing about or that they only associate negatively with the Great Depression.

“What they discover is this really great humanitarian, a fellow who, at age 40, essentially turns his back on his fortune; he lives off his fortune and spends the next 50 years in humanitarian and public service endeavors, all without compensation.”

The library not only holds all Hoover’s papers but also archives many of his recorded speeches. The museum galleries tell Hoover’s story from birth to his time as an engineer, as secretary of commerce and as president of the United States and about his humanitarian work following his presidency.

Groups also can visit other Hoover-related attractions in the area, like the home where he was born, the Quaker meetinghouse he attended, a replica of his father’s blacksmith shop, the one-room schoolhouse his older brother attended and the gravesite where he and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover, are buried. Those sites are operated by the National Park Service.

SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA

HOOVER.ARCHIVES.GOV

Courtesy Science Museum of MN OCTOBER 2019

KENTUCKY 2020 GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

ADVENTURE AWAITS IN LOUISVILLE Join Our Spring FAM Tour

Experience the colorful culture of Louisville in an unforgettable three-day FAM. Get an up-close look at one-ofa-kind attractions including the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs. Plus, immerse yourself in an urban Bourbon experience unlike anywhere else in the world while getting a taste of our celebrated local food scene.

MAY 27 – 30, 2020 Space is limited to 20 tour operators.

RSVP date: February 1, 2020 Sign up now at grouptravelleader.com/louisville-fam

CONTENTS 8 MEET THE STORYTELLERS 10 BOURBON 16 HORSES 22 FOOD TA O G Y’S K C 28 OUTDOORS TU KEN 32 HISTORY L TO TEL 36 MUSIC

40 ART 44 EVENTS ON THE COVER

PUBLISHED BY

Kentucky storytellers from many walks of life welcome group travelers to experience the best of the Bluegrass State.

NICHE TRAVEL PUBLISHERS 301 EAST HIGH STREET LEXINGTON, KY 40507 888-253-0455 WWW.GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

4

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

THINK

BIGGER

Plan your adventure at ArkEncounter.com and CreationMuseum.org

PREPARE TO

BELIEVE

W

hether you are friends that come every year or a group of first-time visitors, we welcome you to Kentucky.

Bluegrass, horses and bourbon are only the beginning. The Kentucky Group Travel Guide will show you the many special ways to discover our commonwealth. The stories you hear and the experiences you share here in the Bluegrass will last you a lifetime.

From handcrafted instruments to Grammy-winning artists, music has a rich history in Kentucky. Bluegrass music is especially important to our culture, as the genre is native to the Bluegrass State. In some ways, each song tells Kentucky’s story, and you can hear bluegrass at our many live music venues across the state. But don’t forget to stop in at the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Museum in Owensboro to explore our authentic bluegrass heritage.

And when you’re enjoying some live music, why not have a drink? With 95% of the world’s supply crafted in Kentucky, bourbon is more than a drink here — it’s a lifestyle. Stop in at one of our 70-plus Kentucky distilleries to learn how every bottle of bourbon is uniquely crafted from corn mash to shelf. Once you get a taste, go where the spirit leads you by continuing your journey along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Many people say our limestone-rich water is what makes our bourbon taste so good, and it’s also what makes our horses grow strong and run fast. Beautiful rolling hills and miles of

painted fences stretch across horse country, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into breeding, raising, training and caring for these majestic creatures.

The Kentucky Horse Park celebrates everything horses year-round; but if you’re a sports enthusiast or a horse-racing aficionado, you can’t miss the first Saturday in May: the date of the Kentucky Derby. You won’t want to miss the superior athletes and their pounding hooves, plus mint juleps and gorgeous hats. In addition, in 2020, the world championships of horse racing will be back in Kentucky as the Breeders’ Cup returns to Lexington’s Keeneland Race Course.

But if you want to take in all the flavor of Kentucky, chefs across the state are cooking up regional favorites while putting their own spins on traditional Southern fare. From hot browns to burgoo, street food to fine dining and everything in between, it only takes one bite to taste why meals are better in the Bluegrass.

And with the Department of Tourism and Kentucky State Parks partnering to offer an annual Culinary Trail experience, now you can enjoy an authentic taste of our state while experiencing the natural beauty of our state parks on the side.

Whether aboveground or underground, Kentucky has great adventures for thrill-seeking groups. Mammoth Cave offers extensive underground adventures throughout its longest cave system in the world. Your group can enjoy whitewater rafting at Cumberland Falls in addition to the thousands of waterways, shorelines and trails throughout the state, like rock climbing in the Red River Gorge or hiking up to Natural Bridge.

If you’re looking for a more relaxing itinerary, check out one of Kentucky’s many charming small towns that feature a mix of historic architecture and revitalized art, shopping, dining and entertainment options. Berea, known for its artisans, offers opportunities to not just observe art but also create it. Plenty of museums and memorials throughout the state commemorate everything from the Civil War to Bill Monroe and from Muhammad Ali to the Corvette.

From our handcrafted bourbon to our bluegrass music, picture-perfect natural scenery, delicious culinary delights, native horses, charming small towns and museums, the Kentucky experience is one that leads to stories and memories you’ll keep with you forever.

Y O U R F R I E N D I N T R AV E L Don Parkinson Secretary Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet 502-564-4930 kentuckytourism.com

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

We’ve got the makings of the best tour stop ever in Northern Kentucky.

Pet sharks at Newport Aquarium, take a cruise on BB Riverboats, zip line at the Ark Encounter, cheer for MLB’s first Major League team, or shop ‘til you drop in historic Mainstrasse Village. But don’t be late for a visit with Cincinnati Zoo’s Fiona!

meetNKY.com

KENTUCKY

STORYTELLERS

N ARTS KRISTIN WILLIAMS Founder — EPHEMERA PADUCAH — PADUCAH

8

o matter where you go in the state, Kentucky has a story to tell.

The Kentucky Department of Tourism has designated 2019 as the Year of Storytelling and recruited well known figures from throughout the state to share their personal stories of Kentucky with the world. These storytellers represent eight pillars of the Kentucky travel experience: arts, bourbon, events, food, history, horses, music and the outdoors.

To help you plan inspiring group trips to the Bluegrass State, we’re exploring each of these essential elements of Kentucky along with the storytellers who represent them.

In the coming pages, you’ll meet the Kentucky storytellers and learn about their passions. We’ll also share some of the essential attractions, events and experiences that will help your travelers write their own Kentucky stories.

Here are the eight Kentucky storytellers who you’ll learn about in this guide.

HORSES MICHAEL BLOWEN Founder — OLD FRIENDS — THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FARM GEORGETOWN

BOURBON

FOOD

MUSIC

FREDDIE JOHNSON Tour Guide — BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY —

DIXON DEDMAN Fifth-Generation Owner — BEAUMONT INN —

SAM BUSH Founder — NEW GRASS REVIVAL & THE SAM BUSH BAND —

FRANKFORT

HARRODSBURG

BOWLING GREEN

EVENTS

HISTORY

OUTDOORS

GLENN TAYLOR, JR. Sponsor and Volunteer — ROMP FESTIVAL —

BOB SCOTT Direct Descendant — HATFIELD AND MCCOY HERITAGE —

PAUL TIERNEY Park Naturalist — CARTER CAVES STATE RESORT PARK —

OWENSBORO

PIKE COUNTY

OLIVE HILL

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

KENTUCKY ARTISAN CENTER OPEN DAILY 9-6 WORKS BY 800 ARTISTS ARTISAN CAFÉ & GRILL DEMONSTRATIONS SPECIAL EXHIBITS

SHOP ● DINE ● EXPLORE

JUST OFF I-75 ● BEREA EXIT 77 www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov

BUSES WELCOME!

859-985-5448

BOURBON IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO FAMILY

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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reddie Johnson’s family has played a key role in the history of Buffalo Trace Distillery, as well as the broader story of Kentucky’s signature spirit.

Johnson’s grandfather, Jimmy Johnson Sr., was a personal friend to Col. Albert Blanton, who, in 1921, became president of the George T. Stagg Bourbon Distillery, the precursor to Buffalo Trace. The two worked side by side at the Frankfort distillery for more than five decades, with Johnson eventually becoming the first African American warehouse manager in the industry.

In 1936, Freddie Johnson’s father, Jimmy Johnson Jr., solidified the family’s central stature in Buffalo Trace’s history by assuming the role of warehouse supervisor, a position he held until the late 1970s.

Though Freddie Johnson had moved and started a career in Georgia, fate called him home to Kentucky and to the same sweet smell of simmering mash that had greeted his family for generations.

“I moved back to Kentucky to take care of my dad,” Johnson said. “He asked me to promise him that I’d go to work for the distillery. He was so proud of the idea of having three generations of Johnsons working there.”

These days, Freddie Johnson makes good on his promise as a tour guide at Buffalo Trace, where he works on the front lines of the Kentucky bourbon industry, educating visitors from across the globe about the craftsmanship that goes into every bottle.

On his tours, Johnson makes sure to point out the engineering and history behind the buildings — he likes to point out that timbers from the 1800s are supporting over 6,000 tons of whiskey in one of the distillery’s oldest warehouses — as well as the science and art behind the distilling process itself.

“All of a sudden they realize, it’s not just a bottle of bourbon they’re drinking,” he said. “There’s a lot more to it than just liquid in that bottle.”

Above all, Johnson hopes his tours help visitors make a connection to Buffalo Trace and the broader bourbon industry and to the Kentuckians like his own family that have shaped its past and are shaping its future.

“On my tours, people get a chance to talk face-to-face with the people who are making the bourbon, rolling the barrels and filling the bottles,” he said. “They’re taking pictures with them and chatting with them, and all of a sudden, because of that human contact, they leave with an emotional tie to what we’re doing here.”

F R E D D I E J O H N S O N C O N T I N U E S A T H R E E - G E N E R AT I O N FA M I LY T R A D I T I O N AT B U F FA L O T R A C E D I S T I L L E RY I N F R A N K F O R T.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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MAKER’S MARK In addition to producing one of Kentucky’s most recognized bourbon brands, thanks to bottles hand dipped in signature red wax, Maker’s Mark also boasts beautiful grounds and a stunning overhead art glass installation by famed creator Dale Chihuly in its historic barrel room. The one-hour General Distillery Tour offers an overview of the entire distillation process, including a chance to see the hand dipping area. For those wanting more insight into the distillery’s early days, the two-hour Heritage Tour promises a deep dive into the heritage of the brand. While on-site, make time to dine at Star Hill Provisions restaurant, where chef Newman Miller and team serve seasonally inspired, locally sourced farm-to-table fare.

Horse Headquarters – Equine Excursions –

makersmark.com

A TA S T I N G AT W O O D F O R D R E S E R V E

M A K E R’ S M A R K D I S T I L L E RY

• Minutes from

the Kentucky Horse Park • Old Friends Thoroughbred

Retirement Farm • Whispering Woods Riding Stables • Keeneland Race Course

– Unbridled Fun – • Toyota Motor Manufacturing KY, Inc. Tour • Ward Hall • Country Boy Brewing • Bourbon 30 Spirits • Antique & Specialty Shops • Georgetown & Scott County Museum • Nearby Wineries and Bourbon Distilleries • Close proximity to the Ark Encounter

15 hotels + over 80 Restaurants

Right Off

INTERSTATE

64

INTERSTATE

75

www.GeorgetownKy.com 888.863.8600

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

Courtesy VisitLex

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

WOODFORD RESERVE Marked by stately stone barrelhouses, three iconic copper-pot stills and a 500-foot-long gravity-fed barrel run, Woodford Reserve sits on the grounds of Kentucky’s oldest distilling site, founded in 1812. The distillery is home to one of the only heat-cycled barrelhouses in the world, meaning the temperature in the storage facility is intentionally raised or lowered by staff periodically, rather than depending on the cycles of external temperatures alone, to facilitate the aging process. The one-hour distillery tour offers an overview into the process behind Woodford’s award-winning bourbons and whiskeys; the two-hour Bourbon Legacy Tour offers a detailed history of the distillery from 1812 to today.

woodfordreserve.com

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

There’s a lot to cover when it comes to bou rbon

WILLE T T DISTILLERY

RO L L I N G B A R R E L S AT W I L L E T T D I S T I L L E RY

Independent and family-owned, Willett Distillery is in Bardstown, known as the Bourbon Capitol of the World. The distillery traces its heritage to 1936 and produces brands that include Johnny Drum, Rowan’s Creek and Willett Family Estate. The standard, guided walking tour includes a look at the main distillery room, the cistern room, the aging warehouses and more. For added insight into the craft of bourbon making, the Seasoned to Perfection Tour offers an introduction into the sensory process of aging and flavor selection.

kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com Courtesy Bardstown/Nelson Co. TCC

Whisky Magazine

2018

DISTILLER of the Year

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a destination unlike any other—and it’s an experience worth sharing. With crowd-pleasing tour guides, ample parking, and complimentary tours and tastings seven days a week, Buffalo Trace Distillery is an unforgettable experience for groups large and small.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Read more about our tour options at

Tours.BuffaloTraceDistillery.com Contact visitorcenter@buffalotrace.com to schedule your group tour. @BUFFALOTRACE KENTUCKY 13

@BUFFALOTRACEDISTILLERY

GUIDE 113 GREAT BUFFALOGROUP TRACE,TRAVEL FRANKFORT, KY 1-800-654-8471

EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE On historic “Whiskey Row” in downtown Louisville, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience offers an immersive introduction to the Evan Williams brand, one of Heaven Hill Distillery’s flagship bourbons. The attraction is a museum and a retail store rather than a large-scale production facility, but visitors can still learn about the distillation process here thanks to a small-scale, artisanal distillery on-site, as well as educational bourbon tastings.

evanwilliams.com E VA N W I L L I A M S B O U R B O N E X P E R I E N C E

FOUR ROSES Striking for its distinctive Spanish Mission-style architecture as well as its picturesque location on the Salt River in Lawrenceburg, Four Roses Distillery is also noteworthy for using five proprietary yeast strains with two separate mashbills, or grain recipes, in its distillation process.

The variety yields 10 distinct bourbon recipes that are blended by hand to create Four Roses’ small-batch, select and single-barrel bourbons. Tours of the separate warehouse and bottling facility in Cox’s Creek are also available.

fourrosesbourbon.com B U F FA L O T R A C E D I S T I L L E RY

Courtesy Louisville Tourism Courtesy Frankfort Tourism Commission

BUFFALO TRACE Buffalo Trace offers five distinct tours of its award-winning Frankfort distillery, from standard visits to its warehouses and bottling facilities to a behind-the-scenes “hard hat” tour and a “Bourbon Pompeii” experience, which takes guests to the remnants of the 1870s-era E.H. Taylor distillery on-site.

All tours are free and conclude with the opportunity to taste a sampling of the distillery’s products, which include brands such as Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Elmer T. Lee and Weller.

For those not yet 21, the distillery offers tastings of its Freddie’s Root Beer, named in honor of tour guide Freddie Johnson. While there, consider grabbing a bite at the distillery’s Firehouse Sandwich Stop, routinely voted to have some of the best burgoo in Kentucky.

buffalotracedistillery.com Get to know where the world’s finest bourbons are born at visitbardstown.com.

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

HORSES

BLOWEN BELIEVES OLD FRIENDS ARE BEST FRIENDS

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

F

or decades, former Boston Globe film critic and dabbling horse owner Michael Blowen lived a metropolitan lifestyle many would have called charmed. But it’s been in retirement, both his own and the four-legged kind, that Blowen has found his calling and his joy.

In 2003, Blowen moved from Massachusetts to the rolling pastures of Georgetown, Kentucky, with his wife, Diane White, herself a former Globe columnist, to establish the Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm, a special facility that offers a safe haven where former racing horses can enjoy their later years.

An initiative that started with a single horse in a leased paddock has now grown to include 240 horses, a 136-acre farm and two satellite locations — one in Franklin, Kentucky, and the other in Greenfield Center, New York.

Even now, after more than 16 years of operation, Blowen can hardly believe that he gets to wake up every day to enjoy the company of such famous neighbors.

“The idea that I would end up with Silver Charm in my yard is just totally crazy,” Blowen said. “He’s my favorite horse of all time.”

In addition to Silver Charm, the roughly 25,000 visitors who travel to Old Friends each year can enjoy meeting fellow Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion War Emblem, plus Belmont Stakes winners Sarava and Touch Gold, Santa Anita winner Game On Dude, Breeder’s Cup champions Amazombie, Little Mike and Alphabet Soup, as well as dozens of lesser-known but equally charming former racers.

“We have more stakes winners than any farm in the history of horse racing,” Blowen said. “Our horses have won virtually every important race in the sport.

At my age, it’s hard to be astounded, but I’m literally astounded to be surrounded by these horses every day.”

Operating as a “living history museum of horse racing,” Old Friends lets visitors enjoy rare, up-close face time with some of the Thoroughbred industry’s biggest names and, sometimes even, get the chance to feed them a carrot or two.

“Many people see the horses’ value in their racing lives or in the breeding shed, but I think their true value doesn’t come out until they’re retired, when people can get to know their personalities and appreciate them as unique individuals,” Blowen said. “People come here and get to pet them and appreciate these great athletes. I get a thrill out of it every day.”

M I C H A E L B L O W E N E N J O Y S G E T T I N G T O K N O W T H E H O R S E S AT O L D F R I E N D S T H O RO U G H B R E D R E T I R E M E N T FA R M.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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HORSE SENSE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK Home to many different breeds of horses, the Kentucky Horse Park offers visitors a chance to explore a real working horse farm. From draft horses in the Big Barn to elite members of the Hall of Champions, including Belmont and Preakness winner Funny Cide, to working horses on the park’s popular horseback riding trails, there’s no shortage of equines to enjoy at the park’s 1,229 acres. While there, make time to enjoy the Parade of Breeds showcase, held daily April through November. Four on-site museums, including the International Museum of the Horse and the American Saddlebred Museum, offer unique lenses through which to appreciate all things equine.

PA R A D E O F B R E E D S AT T H E K E N T U C K Y H O R S E PA R K

kyhorsepark.com

PORT OF ASHLAND STATUES

CENTRAL PARK

Courtesy KY Horse Park

CAMAYO ARCADE SPECIALTY SHOPS

DELTA

BY MARRIOTT

PARAMOUNT ARTS CENTER

A Riverfront Destination with Engaging Adventures & Authentic Experiences.

World Famous Statues • Scenic Hiking Trails • Central Park • Downtown Riverfront • Paramount Arts Center • Highlands Museum & Discovery Center • Floodwall Murals • Antique & Specialty Shops • Year-round Events & Performances

VisitAshlandKy.com • 800.377.6249 Northeast KY off I-64 • Gateway to KY’s Country Music Highway & Birthplace of The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus & Jason Carter

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

When i n Kentuck y, go enjoy horses

KEENELAND Opened in 1936, Lexington’s Keeneland Race Course is revered for its picturesque stone clubhouse, immaculate grounds and stately saddling paddock, where racing fans enjoy gathering before the start of each live race to get a glimpse of the participating horses and their jockeys.

Keeneland hosts racing meets each April and October but has become a must-visit attraction for locals and visitors year-round. Early-morning visitors can enjoy watching the horses warm up before race day, and they can grab a hearty country breakfast at the well-loved Keeneland track kitchen, where they might rub elbows with jockeys and trainers.

S P R I N G M E E T AT K E E N E L A N D I N L E X I N G T O N

keeneland.com

Courtesy Keeneland Race Course

Corbin Loves Company!

S

urrounded by the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, Corbin is located in the outdoor adventure mecca of Kentucky, and is the perfect destination for your next group tour. Conveniently located off of I-75 at exit 25 by the shores of the beautiful and pristine Laurel Lake, Corbin is home to the Cumberland Falls, Daniel Boone National Forest, the Original KFC, Sanders Park, and the 7,000 seat Corbin Arena which hosts a variety of entertainment and different shows. Corbin is home to a host of locally owned restaurants who can accommodate large groups and satisfy any pallet. Whether you enjoy history, outdoor adventure or shopping and culinary treats, Corbin, KY can offer a variety of itineraries for your group! We cannot wait to see you ‌ Corbin Loves Company!

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

www.corbinkytourism.com 606-528-8860

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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OLD FRIENDS THOROUGHBRED RE TIREMENT FARM

CHURCHILL DOWNS

Guided, 90-minute walking tours of the Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm are available via reservation. Reservations can be made online, and tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Tours typically include visits with 15 or more of the farm’s retired equine residents and include insights into their racing careers and unique personalities.

Home to “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” and the iconic Twin Spires, synonymous with horse racing in Kentucky since their completion in 1895, Churchill Downs is the site that draws horse racing fans’ full attention on the first Saturday in May. Though Kentucky Derby Day is the track’s marquee event, there’s plenty to see and enjoy on the grounds year-round, including frequent live racing and special events, and access to the Kentucky Derby Museum, which is open daily.

HORSE COUNTRY Horse Country makes it easier for visitors to reserve tours at many of Kentucky’s most famous horse farms, including Coolmore at Ashford Stud, seasonal home of Triple Crown winners Justify and American Pharoah, plus Claiborne Farm, Lane’s End Farm, WinStar Farm, Three Chimneys, Darby Dan and many others. In all, tours at more than 30 central Kentucky Thoroughbred industry locations are available, all through a single online reservation system.

Through Horse Country, groups can set up experiences and tours at breeding facilities, equine clinics, equine nursery operations — homes to mares and their foals — Kentucky racetracks and more.

churchilldowns.com Artwork by Donia Simmons

oldfriendsequine.org

visithorsecountry.com

field

tle d Bat n o m h Ric ough Fort Boonesbor

White Hall Sta te Park

RICHMOND where history meets hospitality

RICHMONDKYTOURISM.COM

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

RED MILE For a different horse racing experience, groups can visit Lexington’s Red Mile to witness harness racing, where horses pull their jockeys trailing two-wheeled carts. Founded in 1875, the Red Mile, named originally for its one-mile, red-clay track, is one of the oldest and most revered harness racing venues in the nation. Stakes races are typically held on select dates between July and October.

On-site gaming, via slotlike historical racing machines, is available year-round.

redmileky.com

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

FOOD

DEDMAN BALANCES TRADITION AND TRAIL-BLAZING

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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he Beaumont Inn, which is celebrating its centennial in 2019, has been a revered dining and lodging destination in Harrodsburg since Dixon Dedman’s great-great grandparents first established the business in 1919.

“We like to think the Beaumont Inn is a bit of a Kentucky icon,” said Dedman, who is the fifth generation of his family to help run the business.

The Beaumont Inn operates out of a historic former school for girls constructed in 1845. Generations of Kentuckians have made it their go-to destination for celebrating life’s happy occasions, from engagements and anniversaries to birthdays and retirements, thanks to its reputation for serving classics with a side of Southern hospitality.

“Our menu changes seasonally,” Dedman said. “We’re very active in local flavors and local ingredients. But for 100 years, the mainstay in our restaurant has been our fried chicken and country ham, along with other favorites like our corn pudding.”

In addition to the Main Dining Room, the inn also includes two options for more casual dining: the Old Owl Tavern and the Owl’s Nest. Beaumont Inn’s long commitment to culinary excellence earned it a James Beard Foundation American Classics Award in 2015.

Recently, Dedman has been able to weave another thread of his family’s heritage into the Beaumont Inn story thanks to his resurrection of his family’s pre-Prohibition bourbon brand, Kentucky Owl, in 2014.

“I was born and raised to have a deep understanding and appreciation for history and legacy, and taking pride in not only your work but also your reputation,” Dedman said. “It’s very cool to be able to have two very storied brands in our family and to be able to represent them both.”

Dedman said he enjoys being on the front lines of the hospitality industry, especially in the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon country, because it offers him a chance to greet visitors from across the country, many of whom are experiencing Kentucky’s Southern charm for the first time.

“I just love talking to people about the nature of Kentucky — the generosity and the hospitality and the genuineness of people here,” he said. “Our guests often comment on how kind everyone is here,” he said. “It makes you proud to be a Kentuckian.”

D I X O N D E D M A N G R E E T S G U E S T S AT H I S FA M I LY ’ S C E N T U RY- O L D B E A U M O N T I N N.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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PULL

UP A

CHAIR

BROWN HOTEL A Louisville landmark since 1923, the grand Brown Hotel has hosted generations of guests drawn to its Georgian Revival elegance and sophisticated Southern charm. Famous as the birthplace of the Kentucky Hot Brown, a signature state dish that features an open-faced turkey sandwich typically served with bacon, tomatoes and Mornay sauce, the Brown Hotel’s English Grill remains one of the city’s most elegant and romantic dining options. The hotel’s J. Graham’s Café offers more casual a la carte and buffet dining, and the Lobby Bar offers an excellent venue for a craft cocktail or a bourbon flight.

brownhotel.com

T H E B RO W N H O T E L’ S FA M O U S H O T B RO W N Courtesy Louisville Tourism

Kentucky’s

Experience Frankfort Kentucky!

We are the essence of everything that makes Kentucky special.

Visitfrankfort.com

Frankfort/Franklin County Tourist Commission 800-960-7200 • salesdirector@visitfrankfort.com

20 min. from Lexington • 45 min. from Louisville

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

LINCOLN MUSEUM Visit historic downtown Hodgenville to experience Lincoln’s life and legacy.

The collection features life-size dioramas, Civil War memorabilia, a unique artwork collection, and gift shop.

Group Rates • Motorcoach Friendly Guided Tours by Appointment ADA Compliant

OPEN YEAR ROUND 66 Lincoln Square • Hodgenville, KY 42748 (270) 358-3163 www.lincolnmuseum-ky.org

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Enjoy a Kentuck y tra d itiona l mea l

HOLLY HILL INN

H O L LY H I L L I N N

Lauded as a “gem of a restaurant” by the New York Times, the Holly Hill Inn in picturesque Midway, right in the heart of Bluegrass horse country, is owned by celebrated Kentucky chef Ouita Michel, a frequent James Beard Foundation nominee. In operation since 2001, Holly Hill specializes in fresh farm-to-table menus using locally sourced ingredients that change according to the season.

hollyhillinn.com

Courtesy Woodford Co. TC

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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PAT TI’S 1800’S SE T TLEMENT

BEAUMONT INN

Situated in quaint Grand Rivers — population under 400 — Patti’s 1800’s Settlement is a re-created historical log cabin village known far and wide for the delicious Southern-style fare served at its flagship restaurant.

As the result of a fire in early 2018, the restaurant is being rebuilt and is scheduled to reopen this fall. In the meantime, the Settlement’s famous dishes, including its one-inch porch chop and Patti’s strawberry butter, are still being served on-site at the village’s Grist Mill Outdoor Café. In addition to delicious food, the Settlement offers a full day of fun thanks to an array of unique shops and boutiques, miniature golf, gem mining and more.

The Beaumont Inn, a historic bed-and-breakfast in Harrodsburg is celebrating 100 years of serving fine food and authentic Southern hospitality. The inn has three restaurants: the lauded Beaumont Inn Dining Room, the Old Owl Tavern and the Owl’s Nest pub. Dining Room specialties include Southern classics like corn pudding, country ham and fried chicken. Winner of numerous honors, including the James Beard Foundation America’s Class Award, the Beaumont Inn is routinely voted among the South’s best places to stay and dine.

pattis1880s.com

beaumontinn.com

CLAUDIA SANDERS DINNER HOUSE Built on the site of the Dinner House opened by Col. Harland Sanders and his wife, Claudia, in the late 1960s, the Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville is a go-to destination for classic Southern fried chicken as well as other regional favorites, including catfish, chicken and dumplings, baked country ham and the restaurant’s famed yeast rolls.

americanrestaurantshelbyville.com

EXPERIENCE ~

Explore a 3,000-acre Destination SHAKER VILLAGE OF PLEASANT HILL

KY’s First Town Rocks Its Pioneer Heritage!

OLD FORT HARROD STATE PARK & SUMMER OUTDOOR THEATRE

Group-friendly activities & adventures with over 300 affordable rooms just minutes SW of Lexington.

• Award-winning downtown • Beaumont Inn • Bright Leaf Golf Resort • Dixie Belle Riverboat • Dedman’s Drugstore • Lemons Mill Brewery • McAfee Jamboree • Unique Shopping/Dining • Year-round arts, cultural & music events www.HarrodsburgKY.com • 800-355-9192

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED I-64 at Exit 110 between Lexington & West Virginia

GROUP TOUR BUSES ARE WELCOME Easy access for tours of the Ruth Hunt Candy Factory, The Arts Center and Downtown Shopping and Dining. Hotels and Restaurants that can accommodate large groups.

WWW.MTSTERLINGTOURISM.COM

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

SMOKING MEAT AT MOONLITE BAR-B-Q INN

KENTUCKY CASTLE Undeniably one of the most unusual venues in the state, the Kentucky Castle looks like an authentic European-style castle complete with turrets, built right in the heart of Kentucky horse country in Versailles.

Created as a private residence, the Kentucky Castle now operates as an inn and restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. The menu prioritizes locally sourced ingredients and offers an array of main course options, from duck and lamb to pork and steak.

Courtesy VisitOwensboro.com

MOONLITE BAR-B-Q INN

thekentuckycastle.com T H E G O RG E O U S K E N T U C K Y C A S T L E

Routinely voted among the best barbecue restaurants in Kentucky and the South, the Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn in Owensboro is known for its lunch and dinner buffet that offers an array of barbecue dishes. Guests will enjoy meat such as pulled pork, brisket and ribs, as well as countrystyle vegetables, the restaurant’s signature corn muffins and a full desert bar with fresh fruit cobblers and soft-serve ice cream.

moonlite.com Courtesy VisitLEX

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Full-Service Bar | Live Entertainment | Free Parking | Handicap Accessible CONVENIENTLY LOCATED MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI, CALL US TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR SPECIAL EVENT!

NEWPORT BREWERY & RESTAURANT

KENTUCKY WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM 3RD & SARATOGA AT THE LEVEE | 200 EAST 3RD STREET, NEWPORT, KY | 859-491-7200 | HOFBRAUHAUSNEWPORT.COM | KMASLIN@HOFBRAUHAUSNEWPORT.COM GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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OUTDOORS TIERNEY WOWS VISITORS WITH KENTUCKY GEOLOGY

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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GROUP T HE

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aul Tierney has one of Kentucky’s most beautiful office views.

As park naturalist at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Olive Hill, Tierney gets to go to work each day and revel in Kentucky’s natural beauty — both above and below ground.

Carter Caves State Park is home to more than 40 known caves, though public tours there focus primarily on the park’s largest caves: Cascade Cave, X-Cave, Saltpetre Cave and Bat Cave. During peak summer months, the park offers as many as 15 different tour types to explore them.

“We have tours ranging from simple, scenic walking tours to wild tours, crawling tours, flashlight and lantern tours, and ghosts and legends tours,” said Tierney. “We try to give visitors insights on all the interesting stories and every significant aspect of those caves.”

Tierney is following in the footsteps of his father, John Tierney, who was park naturalist at Carter Caves for more than 35 years. Said Paul, working at the park feels “like coming home.”

As naturalist, Tierney helps develop programming and special events at the park, leads tours and generally tries to connect with visitors as much as possible to help ensure their visits to Carter Caves are meaningful and memorable.

“When you see someone get it — maybe it’s seeing a bat for the first time or seeing a salamander, or understanding what it takes to make a cave — that moment is just so cool,” said Tierney, who enjoyed a 17-year career as historian at Kentucky’s Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park in Carlisle before joining the Carter Caves State Park staff in 2016.

“You can lead as many as 10 cave tours a day and see hundreds of people on those tours, but if you get that one person where the light comes on and they have that ‘aha’ moment or that ‘wow, that’s so cool’ moment, that’s what it’s all about,” Tierney said.

Tierney feels lucky to work in a field and a state where it’s his job to help others see the natural beauty around them.

“A large part of what makes Kentucky so special is its diversity,” he said.

“You’ve got the mountains in the far eastern portion of the state. And then, as you go westward, you have these huge, gorgeous prairies. The diversity that you find here is really unique. No matter what region you travel to in Kentucky, there’s something very special and beautiful to enjoy there.”

PA U L T I E R N E Y L O V E S S H A R I N G E N L I G H T E N I N G M O M E N T S W I T H V I S I T O R S T O C A R T E R C AV E S S TAT E R E S O R T PA R K .

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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SHOW STOPPERS CARTER CAVES

N AT U R A L B R I D G E S TAT E PA R K

As their name suggests, caves are the stars at Carter Caves State Park in Olive Hill, where visitors can choose from an array of cave tours, from leisurely strolls through large caverns to more adventurous “wild” cave tours. The most popular tours include treks through Cascade Cave, noted for rooms so large that dances were once held there; X-Cave, home to ornate cave formations such as the Great Chandelier, the Pipe Organ and Headache Rock; and Saltpetre Cave, used as a source of gunpowder ingredients during the War of 1812. Aboveground, the park also boasts ample opportunities for hiking on 26 miles of nature trails, as well as guided horseback riding, fishing and more.

parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/carter-caves

CUMBERLAND FALLS As one of the most visited and photographed spots in Kentucky, Cumberland Falls is known as the Niagara of the South thanks to its 125-foot-wide curtain of water that’s been a must-see destination in Corbin for generations. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, camping, horseback riding and more, and the on-site DuPont Lodge, which was completely renovated in 2006, offers 51 rooms, many overlooking the nearby Cumberland River. Visitors can dine at the lodge’s Riverview Restaurant for sweeping views of the river valley as well as hearty Southern-classic meals crafted from locally grown ingredients. For a special sight, groups may want to time their visits to the park around a scheduled appearance of a moonbow, a lunar rainbow, that forms near the falls on clear nights with a full moon.

parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/cumberland-falls M A M M O T H C AV E N AT I O N A L PA R K

Courtesy Kentucky State Parks

BERNHEIM ARBORE TUM AND RESEARCH FOREST In Clermont, roughly 30 miles south of Louisville, the 16,000-acre Bernheim Arboretum is home to over 8,000 varieties of trees, shrubs and perennials. Bernheim includes more than 40 miles of nature trails with varied difficulties to accommodate hikers and mountain bikers of all skill levels. The new “Forest Giants” exhibit, added to celebrate Bernheim’s 90th anniversary, features three large-scale giant sculptures, created by Danish artist Thomas Danbo using reclaimed wood, that greet visitors along a two-mile-long loop on the grounds.

Bernheim also hosts frequent special events and eco-learning workshops, as well as guided group tours.

bernheim.org

MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK No trip to explore Kentucky’s outdoor wonders would be complete without a stop at Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest known cave system: So far, more than 400 miles have been mapped.

Groups should start their journey at the National Park Visitor Center, starting point for all cave tours. Popular ranger-led tour options include the Frozen Niagara Tour, the Historic Tour and the Domes and Dripstones Tour.

nps.gov/maca Courtesy NPS

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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Kentucky’s outdoors proves what’s real is what matters

Hands-On Owensboro

Experiences

NATURAL BRIDGE One of Kentucky’s most recognizable spots, the Natural Bridge is a natural sandstone arch that spans 78 feet and stands 65 feet high in the Daniel Boone National Forest, near the Red River Gorge geologic area, a popular destination for camping, hiking, rappelling and rock climbing. At Natural Bridge State Park, visitors can hike to the famous arch or ride up on a sky lift. The state park lodge in Slade features 35 rooms, all with private balconies.

Bluegrass Instrument Lesson In The Morning

parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/ natural-bridge

Bourbon Tasting Tour In The Afternoon KENTUCKY LAKE Courtesy Kentucky State Parks

LAND BE T WEEN THE LAKES The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a designated U.S. National Recreation Area that spans some 170,000 acres in Kentucky and Tennessee between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. A lake lover’s paradise, the region offers unlimited options for water sports, fishing, boating, swimming, camping and more. Lodges are available at Lake Barkley State Resort Park in Cadiz, Kenlake State Resort Park in Hardin and Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in Calvert City.

LEARN@ MORE

VISITOWENSBORO.COM

landbetweenthelakes.us

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

KENTUCKY 31 TRAVEL GUIDE Special Group Rate GROUP Pricing Available

HISTORY FUN HAS REPLACED FEUDING IN KENTUCKY’S PIKE COUNTY

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

M

ost know it simply as “The Feud.”

The legendary Hatfield and McCoy Feud’s decades of violence spilled across generations in the hills of both eastern Kentucky and West Virginia.

Perhaps no one knows the story more intimately than Pike County’s Bob Scott, who owns the property that once belonged to Randal McCoy and is a direct descendant of both families, though his lineage falls more heavily on the Hatfield side.

Scott’s property includes the original McCoy family well site where on January 1, 1888, in an event that became known as the New Year’s Massacre, a group of Hatfields surrounded and attacked the McCoy cabin as the family slept.

“The well still stands where Alifair McCoy ran for water,” Scott said. “She was shot and killed. It was pretty much the climax of the end of this feud.”

The source of the hostilities, which raged from 1863 to 1891 and claimed the lives of more than a dozen family members on both sides, is debated by historians, though many point to the families’ differing allegiances during the Civil War and, later, a seminal event in 1878 when Randal McCoy accused Floyd Hatfield of stealing one of his pigs.

Today, tour groups routinely visit Scott’s farm to visit the well and trace the footsteps of one of the bloodiest chapters in Kentucky’s history. Water from the well is also now the source of Scott’s new business venture, Fuel of the Feud Moonshine, produced by the Pauley Hollow Distillery.

“It’s made from the same water that [the McCoys] drank from, washed dishes from and made moonshine from,” he said.

Sharing the story of the feud is important to Scott, who believes it’s a key part of Kentucky’s history, one that people know about far and wide.

Once, on a cruise to Istanbul, Scott struck up a conversation with a fellow traveler who had never heard of Kentucky basketball or horse racing, but knew all about the Hatfield and McCoy feud.

“What we’re trying to do in Pike County now, through events like the Hatfield McCoy Heritage Days Homecoming, is promote peace, harmony and love,” Scott said. “There’s no feuding going on here anymore.”

B O B S C O T T H E L P S T R AV E L E R S U N D E R S TA N D T H E R E A L S T O RY O F T H E H AT F I E L D S AND MCCOYS.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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BLUEGRASS BLUEBLOODS ABRAHAM LINCOLN BIRTHPLACE

M Y O L D K E N T U C K Y H O M E S TAT E PA R K

O L D F O R T H A R RO D S TAT E PA R K Photos courtesy KY State Parks

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Nestled near Hodgenville, on the land where America’s future 16th president was born, the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park lets visitors retrace the earliest days of one of the country’s most revered leaders. A symbolic cabin, meant to evoke the one-room cabin in which Lincoln was born in 1809, is enshrined on the site in a neoclassical Memorial Building made from Connecticut granite and Tennessee marble with columns inspired from ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The 56 stairs leading up to the building represent Lincoln’s 56 years of life, and the 16 windows represent the numerical order of his presidency.

Visitors can take a short stroll from the memorial to view the property’s still visible Sinking Spring, likely a key reason the Lincolns selected the hillside as the location for their cabin.

nps.gov/abli

HATFIELDS & MCCOYS FEUD TOUR Visitors interested in tracing the path of America’s most notorious feud will find many spots of interest in Pike County, including the McCoy homeplace, the Hatfield Hog Trial Cabin and the HatfieldMcCoy Monument. A driving tour is available through the Pike County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

tourpikecounty.com

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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H istor y ha s been good to Kentuck y

OLD FORT HARROD STATE PARK

MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME

In Harrodsburg, Old Fort Harrod State Park features a full-scale replica of the fort built there by James Harrod in 1774. Modest wood cabins and blockhouses are outfitted with furnishings and tools of the era to offer visitors a sense of what an early settlement village would have been like. Costumed interpreters frequently lead demonstrations on skills such as blacksmithing, broom- and soap-making and other key pioneer skills. The park also includes a nearby Mansion Museum located in a Federalist-style, early-1800s-era home on the property. Inside, visitors can view a collection that includes Native American objects, Civil War-era artifacts, antique firearms and more.

In Bardstown, guests can tour Federal Hill, the historic mansion that inspired Stephen Foster’s classic melody “My Old Kentucky Home,” which has served as the state song of Kentucky since 1928. First published in 1853, the song references vignettes seen during one of Foster’s visits to the Bardstown plantation, now the site of My Old Kentucky Home State Park and the long-running, popular outdoor summer musical “The Steven Foster Story.” Tours of the home offer a glimpse into antebellum life in the South, and the musical tells the story of Foster himself, who also penned American musical classics including “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer,” “Old Folks at Home (Swanee River),” “Camptown Races” and many more.

parks.ky.gov/parks/recreationparks/fort-harrod

parks.ky.gov/parks/recreationparks/old-ky-home

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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MUSIC

WHEN IT COMES TO BLUEGRASS, SAM’S THE MAN

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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rowing up on a farm outside of Bowling Green, Sam Bush was surrounded by music.

“My father played the fiddle and a little bit of mandolin, and my mother played guitar,” said Bush, long one of the country’s most celebrated bluegrass musicians. “I was lucky to grow up in a household where music was loved and encouraged.”

By the age of 11, Bush had picked up the mandolin himself, adding fiddle by 13 and guitar whenever he was lucky enough to sneak his sister’s instrument out of her room. By the age of 15, he was named the U.S. national junior fiddle champion, a title he went on to claim three years in a row.

Bush’s early music influences included mandolin greats Bill Monroe and Jethro Burns and fiddlers Tommy Jackson and Byron Berline, but also, equally, rock guitarists Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.

After high school, he got a gig with a band called the Bluegrass Alliance in Louisville, then split off to form his deeply influential, progressive group New Grass Revival, which performed together between 1971 and 1989 and is credited for creating an entirely new genre of bluegrass dubbed “Newgrass.” In the decades since, Bush has enjoyed a highly productive solo career, partnering with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Bela Fleck and now his own Sam Bush Band.

As one of the leading figures in bluegrass for more than four decades, Bush has his share of accolades, including four Mandolin Player of the Year awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award and, perhaps his favorite honor of all, a spot in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.

“To be included in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, you can’t imagine how good that feels,” said Bush, who is based now in Nashville but gets back to Kentucky often. “Another time I was honored on the Kentucky State Senate floor, and, of course, growing up a kid from a tobacco farm, I never thought I’d be in that room. It was pretty overwhelming.”

Bush’s talent continues to place him at the top of his industry. His Sam Bush Band received nominations for both Entertainer of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year at this year’s IBMA awards, and he was nominated again as Mandolin Player of the Year.

Part of what keeps him going strong is knowing that each time he picks up his instrument, he’s helping share a little piece of Kentucky with the world.

“As part of being a Kentuckian, just the word bluegrass is a magical word to me, and it always has been,” he said. “As much as anything, the word does mean our heritage and our state. To be thought of within that framework is a pretty great goal to have achieved.”

K E N T U C K Y N AT I V E S A M B U S H H A S B E E N A N AT I O N A L L E A D E R I N B L U E G R A S S M U S I C I N N O VAT I O N.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

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AUTHENTIC MUSIC RENFRO VALLEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTER Located in Renfro Valley, just off Interstate 75, the historic Renfro Valley Entertainment Center has welcomed fans of country music, bluegrass and Southern gospel since its founding in 1939. The 90-acre complex includes two show theaters, two recreational vehicle parks and a shopping village. Travel packages for motorcoaches and large groups are available. Upcoming headliner concerts include Tanya Tucker and Trace Adkins, as well as the Oak Ridge Boys Christmas concert.

renfrovalley.com

KENTUCKY MUSIC HALL OF FAME Located in Mount Vernon, just minutes from the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center, the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame opened in 2002 and now features more than 50 inductees. Exhibits there celebrate Kentucky natives or musicians with Kentucky roots from across all genres of music: Loretta Lynn, Sam Bush, John Michael Montgomery, Naomi and Wynonna Judd, Rosemary Clooney, the Everly Brothers and many more. Visitors can also learn about the history of Kentucky music generally, from its earliest roots in the 1800s to today.

kentuckymusichalloffame.com

R E N F RO VA L L E Y

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

BLUEGRASS MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM In Owensboro, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of the genre that’s synonymous with Kentucky through exhibits that celebrate the musicians and artifacts that have played key roles in its development and popularity. Self-guided tours offer access to permanent collections, rotating exhibits and the Hall of Fame itself.

Galleries include “Sources of Bluegrass Music,” “Dawn of the Bluegrass Era” and “Modern Roots and Branches,” offering a comprehensive look at where bluegrass started and where it’s going.

bluegrasshall.org

COUNTRY MUSIC HIGHWAY MUSEUM

K E N T U C K Y M U S I C H A L L O F FA M E The Country Music Highway Museum, on U.S. 23 in Staffordsville, Kentucky, features more than a dozen exhibits showcasing memorabilia from the many country music stars that hail from portions of Kentucky near U.S. 23, dubbed the state’s “Country Music Highway.”

Among the artists spotlighted at the museum are Lynn, Gayle, Chris Stapleton, Dwight Yoakam, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tom T. Hall, Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless and The Judds. Every Thursday, the museum hosts live bluegrass music and dancing as part of its Front Porch Pickin’ concert series.

paintsvilletourism.com Courtesy KY Music Hall of Fame

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I n Kentuck y, bel ieve what you hea r

LORE T TA LYNN HOMESTEAD Fans of the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” will want to make a pilgrimage to see her childhood home of Butcher Holler in Van Lear, just north of Pikeville. Visitors can tour the cabin in which she and her sister, fellow singer Crystal Gayle, grew up and view authentic artifacts such as the family’s original washboard and porch swing. Groups can also stop at nearby Webb’s General Store, run by members of Lynn’s family, for sandwiches and souvenirs.

tourpikecounty.com L O R E T TA LY N N H O M E S T E A D AT B U T C H E R H O L L E R Courtesy Paintsville Tourism

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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ART

A CREATIVE LIFE BEGINS AT 50

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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urning 50 was the moment when Kristin Williams knew she was ready for a new adventure.

The former economic development specialist decided to put her lifelong love of art and crafting into a business that could become a haven for other creative types.

The result was Ephemera Paducah, now going into its sixth year.

The shop routinely brings in nationally renowned art instructors to lead workshops and art retreats on an array of mixed media, from fiber crafts to painting to stained glass and more.

“Ninety-five percent of my students at these retreats come from at least three hours away,” said Williams, who also offers an active schedule of one-day workshops popular with local and regional visitors.

Now that the business is booming, Williams knows she picked the perfect spot to celebrate her own creative streak — and foster others’.

“We’re in Paducah, where the National Quilt Museum attracts tens of thousands of quilters each year,” she said. “For a whole community of creatives, Paducah has become their happy place. They come here for our classes and to visit the museum five or six times a year. They want to be here as much as they can.”

As someone who’s spent a lifetime playing with felt, yarn, glitter, paper and paint, Williams loves playing such an active role in sharing Kentucky’s creative side with visitors.

“I want my classes to be fun,” she said. “We provide chocolate. I bring in lunch, and we eat on a lovely patio. Our class sizes are kept small — to no more than 24 — so participants get to know the teachers.”

Being part of Paducah’s vibrant, thriving arts scene has also been a thrill.

“When people come here, they’re always surprised by all the fine dining, great shopping and cultural things we have to do,” she said. “Paducah’s a lovely town, and it always shows so well.”

K R I S T I N W I L L I A M S H E L P S T R AV E L E R S D I S C O V E R T H E I R I N N E R A R T I S T S AT E P H E M E R A PA D U C A H.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

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BE ORIGINAL KENTUCKY ARTISAN CENTER The 25,000-square-foot Kentucky Artisan Center offers a rich array of crafts and fine art for sale and routinely displays special exhibits of Kentucky artists’ work. Guests can browse and shop from among a wide selection of media that includes crafted glass, metal, jewelry, ceramics, fiber and paper crafts, specialty foods, painting, photographs and more.

While in Berea, visitors may also want to make time to enjoy the downtown area, home to a thriving community of artists. The city’s Artisan Village makes it easy to stroll and explore art shops and studios.

kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov visitberea.com

Courtesy Louisville Tourism

J O S E P H I N E S C U L P T U R E PA R K Courtesy Frankfort TC

SPEED ART MUSEUM

JOSEPHINE SCULPTURE PARK

As Kentucky’s oldest and largest art museum, the Speed Art Museum in Louisville houses a permanent collection that represents some 6,000 years of human creativity. With masterpieces across all genres, from Native American, European and American masterworks to a rich collection of Kentucky-made furnishings and cutting-edge examples of contemporary art, the museum offers something for everyone. Guided group tours are available with three weeks’ notice. Upcoming exhibitions include “Tales From the Turf: The Kentucky Horse,” set to run November 15, 2019, through March 1, 2020.

A unique, 20-acre outdoor exhibit space, Josephine Sculpture Park showcases art as it intersects with nature. The Frankfort park is open for self-guided tours year-round, from dawn till dusk. Guests are invited to touch and even climb on many of the exhibits. Launched in 2009 by founder Melanie VanHouten, who named the park in honor of her grandmother, the park hosts frequent special events, including an annual Fall Arts Festival that features an array of artists demonstrating their creative processes and techniques and that is fun for the whole family.

speedmuseum.org

KENTUCKY FOLK ART CENTER

42

SPEED ART MUSEUM

josephinesculpturepark.org

UNIVERSIT Y OF KENTUCKY ART MUSEUM

On the campus of Morehead State University, the Kentucky Folk Art Center houses a permanent collection of roughly 1,400 pieces of art, from carved, whimsical wooden figures to drawings, paintings, mixed-media works and more, all created by self-taught artists. The museum’s secondfloor gallery also hosts an array of rotating exhibits each year that showcase fine art, textiles and photography by noted regional artists. The center is open Monday through Saturday, and admission is free.

On the campus of the state’s flagship public university in Lexington, the University of Kentucky Art Museum is home to a collection of more than 4,800 objects. The museum includes works by both American and European artists and spans a diverse mix of genres, from painting and sculpture to prints, photographs and decorative arts. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, with the exception of university holidays, and admission is free.

moreheadstate.edu

finearts.uky.edu/art-museum

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Kentuck y’s a rts venues featu re native bri l l ia nce

NATIONAL QUILT MUSEUM

EPHEMERA PADUCAH

Every year, the 27,000-square-foot National Quilt Museum in downtown Paducah welcomes more than 100,000 visitors representing all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, all of them drawn to the facility to see some of the world’s most beautiful and intricate quilts. The museum’s exhibits rotate frequently, as many as 10 times per year, so each visit to its galleries is different. The museum also hosts frequent educational workshops, as well as its popular annual Spring and Fall Quilt Weeks, with special events, vendor malls, workshops and more, each April and September.

Home to a host of art workshops, from watercolor painting and needle felting to art journaling, collaging and more, Ephemera Paducah has become a go-to destination for creative types searching for single-day workshops or more extensive destination art retreats. For longer workshops, food is typically provided, and the studio space can typically accommodate up to 24 students at a time. For a weekend getaway, small groups of up to eight people can rent The Loft @ Ephemera, a fully outfitted apartment studio suitable for a private art retreat.

quiltmuseum.org

ephemerapaducah.com

Creativity.

Heritage.

Experience.

Creativity is the common thread that connects people from around the world to Paducah, Kentucky’s rich American heritage and globally-celebrated culture.

Create an itinerary with our collection of new and immersive tours, performances and hands-on Paducah Signature Experiences exclusively for groups!

Paducah Signature Experience: “A Creative Stitch” at the National Quilt Museum PCVB-HALFpg-2019GROUPTRVL.indd 1

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

For more event planning and group-friendly resources, visit Paducah.travel/groups 1-800-PADUCAH 9/10/19 10:35 AM

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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EVENTS TAYLOR WELCOMES GUESTS TO A KENTUCKY ROMP

BY ROBIN ROENKER

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lenn Taylor Jr. is a serious music festival fan.

“My wife and I are really into music,” said Taylor, who has traveled with his wife and young daughter in an RV to enjoy music festivals across the country. “We’ve been to probably more than 200 festivals and more concerts than I can count.”

One festival, though, is his favorite: The Romp Festival, held annually in his hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky.

Entering its 17th year in 2020, the yearly festival, hosted by the Bluegrass Music Museum and Hall of Fame, celebrates the “roots and branches” of bluegrass music, bringing top-tier headlining acts to Owensboro’s Yellow Creek Park including Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Del McCoury and others.

Taylor’s family business, Glenn Funeral Home, is one of the sponsors of the annual Romp Festival, and he personally enjoys volunteering on the “Street Team” for the event, helping with preevent marketing, passing out drinks to volunteers during the event and offering other logistical support.

Mostly, though, he loves reveling in the great music and unique community that develops at the festival year after year.

“The music is so important, first and foremost,” he said. “But the energy and the vibe and the feeling of family at Romp is so important to that festival.

When you come to Romp, as soon as you cross into those gates, you’re part of a new family.”

Over the years, Taylor has enjoyed sets by well-known musicians such as Vince Gill and Steve Martin, who performed alongside the Steep Canyon Rangers. He’s also seen up-and-coming performers like Billy Strings grow and evolve through repeated appearances on the Romp Stage.

“Billy Strings is an incredibly talented, energetic performer who is one of the artists kind of stretching bluegrass music into different genres,” Taylor said. “As I’ve watched him perform year after year, seeing his growth has been wonderful.”

Still, Taylor says the best part of the Romp Festival has been watching it grow from a young, startup event to achieve status as one of the premier bluegrass festivals in the nation.

“Having been to so many festivals across the country, getting to watch this one grow in my own backyard in a town that I’m so proud of, has been amazing,” Taylor said. “It brings light to bluegrass music, to Owensboro itself and to Kentucky.”

G L E N N TAY L O R J R . B R I N G S H I S L O V E O F L I V E M U S I C T O H I S V O L U N T E E R W O R K F O R T H E RO M P F E S T I VA L I N O W E N S B O RO.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

Courtesy KY Dept. of Tourism

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CIRCLE

THE SE

DATES!

GREAT AMERICAN BRASS BAND FESTIVAL

S T. J A M E S C O U R T A R T S H O W

ROMP FESTIVAL

Each June, the city of Danville, Kentucky, welcomes big band, jazz and military band aficionados from across the country, as well as some of the best brass bands from around the world, for its annual Great American Brass Band Festival, a four-day extravaganza that includes dozens of outdoor concerts, as well as a picnic, a hot-air-balloon race and a parade.

Held in Owensboro each June and sponsored by the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Romp Festival celebrates “the roots and branches” of bluegrass through a series of headliner concerts with some of the biggest names in the genre. Past performers have included Ricky Skaggs, Del McCoury, Patty Loveless and Sam Bush. The festival also includes musician-led workshops and lots of opportunities for bluegrass jam sessions.

gabbf.org

rompfest.com

Courtesy Louisville Tourism

KENTUCKY BOURBON FESTIVAL Held in Bardstown, the self-proclaimed Bourbon Capital of the World, the third week of each September, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival annually draws some 50,000 visitors to central Kentucky to enjoy bourbon tastings, free music concerts, workshops on the history and science of distillation, and more.

K E N T U C K Y B O U R B O N F E S T I VA L Courtesy KY Bourbon Festival

kybourbonfestival.com

COVINGTON OKTOBERFEST AT MAINSTRASSE VILLAGE An annual favorite since 1979, the Oktoberfest at MainStrasse Village in Covington, Kentucky, just across the river from Cincinnati, celebrates the region’s rich German heritage with a street festival and an array of vendors selling German food, music, art and beer.

mainstrasse.org

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KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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Groups get festive in the Bluegrass State

TOURS START AT 9 AM

ST. JAMES COURT ART SHOW Held each year in Louisville during the first weekend in October, the St. James Court Art Show is a long-running, juried fine-art-and-crafts show that annually draws more than 700 artists from around the country. Held in St. James Court, a neighborhood of historic, Victorian-era homes in Old Louisville, the street festival showcases arts and crafts of all types, from painting and jewelry to fiber works, pottery, woodworks and stained glass, and is annually voted among the best art festivals in the country.

stjamescourtartshow.com

W O R L D C H I C K E N F E S T I VA L Courtesy World Chicken Festival

WORLD CHICKEN FESTIVAL

a well

crafted experience

To experience authentic Kentucky, spend a day in ShelbyKY for stables, tables and designer labels.

You will wish you planned for a few more days.

See what you’re missing at VisitShelbyKY.com

Visitors to the World Chicken Festival, held each September in London, can enjoy fried chicken from the World’s Largest Stainless Steel Skillet, which has served more than 120,000 chicken dinners since 1992. The three-day festival, launched to celebrate the region’s ties to the origins of both Kentucky Fried Chicken and Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, also includes midway rides and carnival games, craft and food vendors, concerts, a parade and much more.

SHELBYVILLE . SIMPSONVILLE . KY

chickenfestival.com

Located between Louisville and Lexington.

WWW.KENTUCKYTOURISM.COM

KENTUCKY GROUP TRAVEL GUIDE

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