The Group Travel Leader Summer 2021

S P I R I T UA L T R AV E L

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PA L M E T T O S TAT E P O S T C A R D S

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PRESIDENTIAL DOMAINS

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Arches and echoes ON THE MAJESTIC

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SUMMER 2021

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CONTENTS

GROUP TH E

TRAVEL LEADER

CHARTING THE EVOLUTION OF GROUP TR AVEL

ON TH E COV E R

COLU M NS

N EWS

6 Editor’s Marks

8 Family Matters 10 Group Travel Essentials

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St. Louis’ Gateway Arch is perhaps the most recognizable landmark travelers encounter as they cruise the Mississippi River. Photo by Nomadica.

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Presidential Sites

Seafood Destinations

VOL 30 | ISSUE 6

OnSite in Louisville

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MEANDERING THE M I SSI SSI P P I

These Sooner State institutions have moving stories to tell visitors.

Riverfront destinations hold treasures for cruise and tour passengers alike.

K E LLY T Y N E R 888.253.0455

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

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OK L AHOMA M US EUMS

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

KELLY TYNER KYLE ANDERSON ASHLEY RICKS

SARAH SECHRIST CHRISTINE CLOUGH

kelly@grouptravelleader.com

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

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

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Meet AC received funding through a grant from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

TourAtlanticCity.com

EDITOR’S MARKS

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BY BRIAN JEWELL

t’s finally over. But it’s not over yet.

For all intents and purposes, the COVID-19 pandemic has come and gone. The vaccination campaign has been an astonishing success, and public health authorities have declared it safe for vaccinated individuals to return to life as normal. Mask mandates are being revoked, capacity restrictions lifted and cruise ships relaunched. Even many international destinations that were strict about lockdowns and quarantines have announced plans to allow vaccinated visitors to cross their borders again. All in all, the news is good for travel.

Now that the shutdowns and panic have subsided, though, there’s a new problem to tackle: navigating a landscape that has been dramatically altered by recent events.

In many ways, it feels like our industry has spent the past 15 months riding out a long storm. Like people do in any natural disaster, we took shelter wherever we could find it. And after a harrowing experience, we’re finally beginning to emerge. The danger is gone. But there’s a lot of cleaning up to do.

In some ways, the real work begins now.

There’s no raging disease or public policy holding us back anymore. But the storm has wrecked our infrastructure. We lost a lot of seasoned veterans to layoffs in the early days of the pandemic. Many of them have found work in other industries, and we’re glad they did. But they left a gap of skills and knowledge that will take time to fill. And in a cruel twist, generous unemployment policies are incentivizing many service workers to stay home instead of returning to their jobs.

The good news is that the huge pent-up demand for travel is finally being released. But across the country, tour operators, hoteliers, restaurateurs, attrac-

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tions and other travel providers are having trouble hiring enough people to meet that demand. Compounding those challenges are continuing supply shortages that, along with an insane amount of government money sloshing through the economy, are driving travel prices to dizzying heights.

These new problems are daunting, but they aren’t permanent.

Unemployment policy, set to change in September, should push many people back to work. Broken supply chains will heal, and the demand spike will even out into a more manageable curve.

In the meantime, you’ll have to be resourceful and scrappy as you get back to travel and convince your friends and customers that they should come with you. To help with that, we’ve dedicated the Group Travel Essentials department of this issue to creative ideas for overcoming the challenges facing tour groups today. See “Meet the Challenges of Restoring Your Travel Program” on page 10.

Nobody is going to solve our problems for us; we have to roll up our sleeves and solve them ourselves. Fortunately, no single one of us has to tackle all of the issues facing the entire industry. We just have to find a way through our individual challenges. We have to open our doors. We have to find ways to serve our customers, even when help is scarce. We have to operate tours, even if they’re not full and don’t make much money.

Our collective comeback won’t be the result of a policy decision or a government bailout. Instead, it will be the sum of thousands of small victories won by people like you.

We’ve already survived the storm. Now, it’s time to clean up the damage. Who’s ready to get to work?

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Columbus delivers experiences uniquely tailored to your groups. From traditional sites such as the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to far-from-ordinary experiences like pouring your own candle or taking a tour with your taste buds, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy. Citywide, our partners have taken the Live Forward Pledge to ensure health and safety protocols remain a priority for your group.

For guidance, visit experiencecolumbus.com/groups.

FAMILY M AT T E R S

LEIBL-COTE IS CHARTING COLLETTE’S R E T U R N T O WO R L DW I D E T R AV E L year and next are going to be big for returning SALEM, Ohio — As the COVID-19 vaccine to travel. rollout continues and the return of travel is on the horizon, Collette has taken a moment and “We’re not going to let anything stop us from reflected on the past year. showing travelers incredible experiences across The travel industry, along with most group the world,” Leibl-Cote said.

At Collette, travel is back, and the company travel activities, was devastated by the pandemic.

With the cancellations of the majority of tours, is letting everyone know which tours are set to many travelers were left with no choice but to depart in 2021. You can find them listed at gocollette.com. For all tours and departures, Collette take a future travel voucher. However, Collette empowered guests to make the best decision for remains committed to monitoring all public health themselves, with full refunds of more than $135 advisories and applicable travel restrictions, then JACLYN LEIBL-COTE million. deciding to either operate or cancel specific tour “We work hard to earn your trust, and we will always work dates up to 30-45 days before departure. hard to keep it,” said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, president of Collette.

“We can’t wait to get back out into the world with you, and all She said readers can learn more about the company’s customer of us here at Collette hope to see you soon to plan your group’s service through the pandemic at collette.com/travelingwell. trip of a lifetime and make your job of fulfilling travel dreams a little easier,” Leibl-Cote said.

Slowly but surely, the world is opening up, and travel is coming back in a big way. We’ve already seen Iceland and Greece open Call your local Collette representative or 800-222-5679 their borders, with many other countries soon to follow. This to learn more about the Collette difference, or email jedwards@collette.com.

KIRBY IS LEADING HENDERSON, NEVADA, TO THE FOREFRONT SALEM, Ohio — Groups and meetings are gaining strength as planners push forward to meet the growing demand of their members to get face-to-face gatherings back to normal. While travel and meeting demand is rebounding, the most pressing question is which destinations and venues are open and welcoming to the group.

Visit Henderson, which promotes tourism to Henderson, Nevada, seems to be leading the charge with the help of national sales manager Ed Kirby “Henderson has it all: amazing resort accommodations, 190 miles of hiking/biking trails, kayaking, paddleboarding, nine golf courses and, of course, gaming, all located minutes from

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the Las Vegas Strip.” Kirby recently said in an interview with Groups on Demand.

Groups on Demand (demandgroups.com) is the online site where meeting and travel planners can go to discover and connect with tourism destinations that are welcoming groups.

Visit Henderson uses the tagline “So Much, So Close, So Nevada.” Henderson is only three miles from McCarran International Airport, which is served by 30 airlines, making Henderson one of the easiest and most affordable destinations.

Groups seeking meeting space can choose from smaller private venues to expansive halls within the 300,000 square feet of meeting space in Henderson.

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Ed Kirby in Henderson

The greatest value in Henderson is the seemingly unlimited choice of sightseeing and activities for groups during their stay.

Obvious options include the Las Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam, but extended excursions can include Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park and even the Grand Canyon. Groups also enjoy three separate tourism districts right in Henderson: Water Street, the Artist and Brews District and Lake Las Vegas, which is modeled after an Italian village.

Henderson has also gained a much-publicized attraction with the Clark County Museum, whose administrator, Mark HallPatton, is a frequently featured expert on the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars.” Groups seeking a sports outlet have access to nine golf courses, and Henderson is the headquarters of the Las Vegas Raiders NFL franchise.

“When groups plan a meeting or visit to Henderson, they very often extend their stay to enjoy the additional options available,” said Charlie Presley of the Group Travel Family of Brands.

Meeting and group travel planners interested in learning more about Henderson as a destination can contact Kirby at 702-267-2114 or edward.kirby@cityofhenderson.com.

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Group Travel

MEET THE CHALLENGES

essentials

BY BRIAN JEWELL

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We’ve reached a new chapter in the pandemic saga: After more than a year of shutdowns and quarantines, widespread travel is possible again. But travel planners are finding that restarting their tours isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. The aftermath of the past year has made many aspects of the tourism business more unpredictable and difficult than they were before.

Some of the challenges are direct aftershocks from the pandemic itself. Although the public health threat has greatly diminished, there is still some confusion over whether it’s safe to travel and what safety measures will be required during the trip.

And because many travel industry professionals were displaced during the initial shutdown phase, group planners may not know who to contact for help in putting trips together.

Other challenges have come as a result of market responses to the pandemic. A surge in demand, coupled with a labor shortage, has made it hard to book basic travel services in some destinations. And the availability of motorcoaches and drivers, already an issue before the pandemic, is even more limited.

Fortunately, these challenges aren’t insurmountable. In spite of the headwinds, you can take groups on trips this year. Here are some common problems travel planners are facing and some creative solutions you can use to overcome them.

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‘I don’t know when it’s safe.’

It’s safe now.

If you’ve followed the news closely during the pandemic, you’ve probably been conditioned to believe that COVID-19 lurks around every corner. But thanks to the marvel of modern vaccines, you don’t need to worry about that danger anymore.

With a mountain of evidence showing that vaccinated individuals are unlikely to contract or spread COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cleared vaccinated individuals to return to normal in most facets of everyday life. Many states and municipalities have dropped their mask mandates and capacity restrictions. If you and your travelers are vaccinated, there’s no longer any threat.

Despite these new developments, though, you might feel nervous about asking people to join you on a group trip. To get over that hesitation, start by taking a short trip by yourself. Stay in a hotel, visit some attractions and eat in a restaurant. You’ll quickly grow comfortable moving around in the world again. And you’ll have a deeper appreciation for how wonderful travel is.

‘I don’t know who to contact.’

The group travel industry has traditionally been built on relationships, and chances are you relied on relationships with bus operators, tour companies, destination representatives and other salespeople to help you plan trips. Unfortunately, many of those people were laid off at the beginning of the pandemic. Since then, travel planners haven’t known where to turn for information.

There is some good news, though: Many of those travel professionals are back at their desks. Some were only temporarily furloughed at the beginning of the crisis; others were rehired as tourism organizations prepared for travel to ramp up again. So there’s a fair chance your favorite tourism representatives are there to help you.

Of course, not everyone has returned to the jobs they had in 2020; some displaced tourism pros found work elsewhere. But most of their employers have filled their roles with new hires or assigned their duties to others in their organizations. So there should still be people to assist you; you may just have to ask around.

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O F R E S TA R T I N G Y O U R T R A V E L P R O G R A M

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‘I can’t find rooms.’

This is among the strangest side effects of the post-pandemic era: In many popular destinations, hotels have gone from nearly empty to nearly full, seemingly overnight. A flood of pent-up demand has hit the market, and those eager travelers are snatching up hotel rooms. Meanwhile, ongoing labor shortages have left some hoteliers unable to hire workers, leading them to hold back a portion of their rooms because they can’t service them.

Until hotel availability returns to normal, groups should be prepared to get creative about their accommodations. For many, that will mean looking for rooms farther away from the places they visit. Trendy hotels in popular tourism hot spots and city centers may be booked, but there’s a good chance that midmarket properties in nearby towns will be more available — and more affordable.

If staying in the suburbs doesn’t solve the problem, consider seeking out different travel destinations altogether. Look for small towns, hidden gems, rural areas and other places that typically don’t attract bigger crowds.

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‘I can’t fill a bus.’

Some of your travelers are anxious to hit the road; others won’t be ready until next year sometime. You might worry that with some of your customers still out of the market, you’ll have a hard time finding enough passengers to fill a motorcoach or pay your trip expenses.

Groups are likely to remain smaller for a while, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Your customers who are ready to travel now might be willing to pay more than usual — especially since they’ve been at home for a year — so you could perhaps still afford a full-size coach with a fair number of empty seats.

If that’s not an option, though, consider working with another organization or travel company in your area to combine trips. This will allow you to put more people on your trips while keeping costs down. And it might lead to new partnerships that could pay off for years to come.

‘I can’t get a restaurant reservation.’

Restaurants are feeling the effects of the labor shortage more than almost any business category right now. Because of this, many have had to limit their hours, pare down their menus and otherwise scale back service because they’re short-staffed. As a result, some groups are finding it difficult to book a meal for dozens of people at a time.

Getting space in traditional restaurants might be hit-or-miss for a while. Fortunately, though, there are numerous ways to feed people well on a tour.

Some restaurants that can’t seat a group right now can provide boxed meals to go, especially if travelers order ahead of time. Others might be willing to serve groups at an off-peak time, such as after lunch and before the dinner rush.

There are also alternative dining options to try.

Consider taking your group to a public market where they can buy their own meals from the vendors of their choice. Or book a food truck to come to your hotel or an attraction you’re visiting. You also may be able to get service from a local caterer.

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LOUISVILLE FAM

A guide at Copper & Kings Distillery pours tasting samples for group members during a familiarization tour of Louisville in May.

Hands down, my favorite part was the dinner and live racing at Churchill Downs. This experience gives my groups the trip of their dreams. What a way to really show them the spirit of Louisville!”

— TAMMY BEENE KNOW BETTER TRAVEL

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ON SITE IN LOUISVILLE TRAVEL PLANNERS SPEND TWO DAYS EXPLORING THIS DYNAMIC KENTUCKY CITY

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, IS RACING AHEAD TOWARD A BRIGHT FUTURE.

ALL PHOTOS BY BRIAN JEWELL

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That’s what 14 tour operator and travel planner readers of The Group Travel Leader discovered during a two-day familiarization trip to the Derby City in May. Hosted by Louisville Tourism, this trip introduced participants to signature Kentucky attractions, up-and-coming establishments and some new interactive experiences that explore unsung heroes of the city’s Black history.

During the trip, participants got to see some of Louisville’s most famous group attractions, including Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby Museum and Stoneware Inc. They explored the area’s distilling heritage at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and Copper and Kings, an inventive brandy distillery. They visited several institutions along Main Street’s Museum Row, including the Frazier Museum and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. Along the way, they enjoyed meals at upscale restaurants and trendy new venues.

Follow along on this itinerary to begin planning a fun-filled Louisville adventure for your travelers.

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I really enjoyed Stoneware. Our tour guide was so informative and excited about the products that are made from beginning to end by talented artists. It was so interesting to watch how the stoneware is made from forming to the final beautiful finishes. She did a good job of explaining various options for tour groups. And the lunch was great as well!”

— LINA BENSON TRINITY TRAVELERS

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A pottery demonstration at Stoneware Inc.

Finished Stoneware Inc. products

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• ARRIVAL IN LOUISVILLE • STONEWARE INC. • LUNCH AT THE CAFÉ AT PARISTOWN POINT • LOUISVILLE MEGA CAVERN • COPPER AND KINGS DISTILLERY • WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDEN • DINNER AT SWIZZLE • OVERNIGHT AT THE GALT HOUSE

Travel planners arrived in Louisville on a sunny Wednesday morning in mid-May and gathered at the Galt House Hotel, which would be their home for the next two nights. From there, they set off to explore the city, beginning with Stoneware Inc., a company that has been making beautiful dishes, mugs and other decorative products in Louisville for more than 200 years. They enjoyed lunch in the Paristown Point neighborhood, then proceeded to go on an underground adventure at the Louisville Mega Cavern.

After returning to the surface, they visited the Copper and Kings Distillery, a unique brandy distillery, for a tour and tasting.

The last stop of the day was the Waterfront Botanical Garden, a new attraction growing in Louisville. The evening ended with an elegant dinner at Swizzle, a new supper club in a rotating space on the 25th floor of the Galt House.

STONEWARE INC. The group began their explorations at a Louisville institution: Stoneware Inc. Founded in 1815 and known for years as Louisville Stoneware, this company produces dishware, mugs and other pottery products by hand, and its factory and showroom are popular stops on group trips. FAM participants got a behind-the-scenes tour, during which they met some of the artisans and watched them creating beautiful pieces from raw clay. The group also got a sneak peek at the company’s new on-site museum, which details the history of Stoneware, and browsed the Mercantile for Stoneware products and other iconic Louisville souvenirs.

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Boarding the tram at Louisville Mega Cavern

CAFÉ AT PARISTOWN POINT Stoneware Inc. is the centerpiece of an up-and-coming Louisville neighborhood called Paristown Point. A large, open indoor space adjacent to the factory now serves as home to the Café, a restaurant that has been a fixture of the neighborhood for years. The group enjoyed a lunch of gourmet soups, sandwiches and sides at the Café, then took some free time to explore Paristown Point’s small business district. Highlights include Christy’s Garden and Amphitheater, which features a large lawn and frequent live music, and Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, a performing arts venue.

LOUISVILLE MEGA CAVERN After lunch, the group traveled to the Louisville Mega Cavern, a unique attraction built in a former rock quarry that closed in 1959. With more than 15 miles of underground passages, the Mega Cavern features multiple opportunities for groups. The cavern is known for its Mega Zips and Mega Quest experiences, which offer zip lining and aerial adventures in the dark environment of the cavern. The FAM group embarked on the Mega Tram, a narrated jeep-pulled ride through two miles of the cavern’s underground terrain. Throughout the ride, guides pointed out interesting geological phenomena and told stories of the cavern’s history.

COPPER AND KINGS DISTILLERY In a city known for bourbon — there are 16 bourbon distilleries in Louisville — Copper and Kings Distillery offers a distinctive departure. This craft distillery employs used bourbon barrels to age brandy, giving the fruit-based spirit a uniquely Kentucky flavor. The group toured the Copper and Kings facility and saw the large copper pot stills used to distill the brandy. They also visited the barrel cellar and learned how the distillers use rock ’n’ roll music in its “sonic aging” process. The tour ended in the beautiful outdoor tasting area, where participants had a chance to sample the signature product.

Waterfront Botanical Garden

Copper & Kings Distillery

WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDEN The next stop brought the group to the Louisville Botanical Garden, a relatively new attraction growing on the site of a former landfill. The urban botanical garden was the vision of local horticulture lovers and philanthropists, and the garden’s leadership team is working hard to bring that vision to life. The group explored the six developed acres on the 23-acre site, where they saw the education center, the teaching greenhouse, the event center and other facilities. They also enjoyed walking the beautiful serpentine path past waterfalls made of repurposed stone, as well as taking photos of the Louisville skyline in the background.

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My favorite part of the tour was the ride through Louisville Mega Cavern, because it was for me the newest attraction I have never experienced.”

SWIZZLE The group ended its first day in Louisville at Swizzle, an elegant supper club atop the west tower of the Galt House Hotel.

This restaurant features two circular dining areas that rotate 360 degrees over the course of 45 minutes, giving every diner sweeping views of the Ohio River. The menu consists of prime steaks, seafood and locally sourced vegetables. FAM participants enjoyed luxurious cocktails and a surf-and-turf dinner before returning to their guest rooms in the hotel below.

— ROBERTA MUHAMMAD DREAM TO TRAVEL

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Barrel art at Copper & Kings Distllery

Relaxing and sipping brandy on the Copper & Kings patio downtown

• BREAKFAST AND TOUR OF THE GALT HOUSE • EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE • FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM • LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM AND FACTORY • LUNCH AT LOGAN STREET MARKET • KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM • EVENING RACING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

After a good night’s sleep, FAM participants began the next day with breakfast at the Galt House’s Walker’s Exchange restaurant. They learned about the hotel’s impressive local history and toured newly renovated rooms and public spaces. Then they took a short drive to Main Street, known as Louisville’s Museum Row, where they visited three attractions: the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, the Frazier History Museum and the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. In addition to tours, guests were able to experience moving new programs that highlight Black contributions to Louisville history, part of the city’s new Unfiltered Truth Collection.

They had lunch at the newly opened food hall Logan Street Market. Next, they stopped at the hotel to freshen up and change clothes for their visit to Churchill Downs. They began with a tour and hat-making experience at the Kentucky Derby Museum, then enjoyed dinner, mint juleps and live racing on Millionaires Row. That evening, they retired to the Galt House one last time before departing the next day to begin their journeys home.

Dinner at Swizzle

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GALT HOUSE HOTEL The FAM’s second day began with a closer look at the Galt House Hotel. Built in 1972 by a local construction magnate, and named for a historic Louisville boardinghouse, the property has become a Kentucky institution. The group toured some of the

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1,310 guest rooms in the hotel’s two towers and enjoyed breakfast at the Walker’s Exchange, one of seven food and beverage establishments at the hotel. They also met with the hotel’s sales staff, which shared anecdotes about the hotel’s history and tips for horse race wagering, which would come in handy later in the day.

EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE After departing the hotel, the group took a very short drive to the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Main Street. Part museum, part working distillery, this attraction introduces guests to the history of Evan Williams, one of the area’s first bourbon distillers, and allows them to see how bourbon is made in a smallbatch, on-site distillery. On this trip, the FAM group visited the basement speakeasy for the Ideal Bartender Experience, where they met an interpreter playing the role of Tom Bullock, a famous Black bartender who worked in Louisville during the Prohibition era. He led them through a tasting tour of bourbon history, ending with an Old-Fashioned cocktail, which Bullock is said to have created.

Learning from “the Ideal Bartender” at Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

Evan Williams bourbon

FRAZIER HISTORY MUSEUM Just down Main Street from Evan Williams, the group visited the Frazier History Museum. This is perhaps the most comprehensive Kentucky history museum in the state, and its Bourbon Welcome Center serves as the official starting point of the state’s Bourbon Trail. The group enjoyed a tour through the museum’s immersive “Spirit of Kentucky” exhibit, which details the history of bourbon and gives an overview of the distillation process and its impact on Kentucky culture. The group also saw items from the “Kentucky Cool” exhibit, which includes a dress worn by Rosemary Clooney and a customized Corvette.

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM AND FACTORY Across the street from the Frazier Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory is the home of one of the city’s most famous products: the Louisville Slugger baseball bat. The entrance is marked by a 120-foot-tall baseball bat leaning up against the building’s exterior. Inside, the group toured the museum, and members got to hold bats used by some of the game’s greatest players and participated in a historical investigation into a forgotten Negro Leagues team in Louisville. They also toured the factory floor to watch bats being made.

LOGAN STREET MARKET The group traveled to Louisville’s Shelby Street neighborhood for a tour and lunch at the Logan Street Market. Established in 2019 in a former tobacco company warehouse, the market is Louisville’s first indoor public market and features more than 30 merchants selling food, beverages and other local merchandise. Participants explored the space, sampled beer from the on-site microbrewery and then selected their food from the culinary merchants there that offer French, Mexican, Asian and African cuisine.

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Frazier History Museum on Main Street

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center at the Frazier Museum

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“Kentucky Cool” at the Frazier History Museum

The Big Bat at Louisville Slugger

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory

KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM After a quick stop at the Galt House to freshen up and change clothes, the group departed for the Kentucky Derby Museum, an educational institution on the racetrack property that gives visitors an overview of the city’s most famous sporting event. The group enjoyed the museum’s introductory film, which offers a heart-pounding glimpse of the excitement of the Derby, then proceeded to a classroom to take part in the museum’s signature “Hattitude” hat-making experience. They also got a preview of “Proud of My Calling,” the museum’s interpretive program that honors the Black jockey who won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875.

CHURCHILL DOWNS Sporting their new hats, the group walked from the Derby Museum to the entrance of Churchill Downs, the world’s most famous racetrack. Although it’s known for the Derby, Churchill Downs features live racing about 75 days a year, including “twilight racing” on Thursday nights. The FAM group got to enjoy these evening races from a hospitality suite on Millionaires Row. Over mint juleps and dinner, they tried their hands at wagering, experienced the pageantry of racing and toasted their return trips to Louisville.

I was impressed the activities were located near each other. As a visitor to the city, I noticed the businesses supported each other.”

— LAVANDA WOOSLEY WOOSLEY TOURS

Kentucky Derby Museum

LOUISVILLE TOURISM

SAUNDRA ROBERTSON 502-560-1496 SROBERTSON@GOTOLOUISVILLE.COM

GOTOLOUISVILLE.COM

A “Hattitude” workshop at the Derby Museum

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WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

The group at Churchill Downs

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FACE IT

WE’RE IN-PERSON PEOPLE For months, the National Tour Association met only online.

We supported each other … and our community held strong.

Then our in-person conference rocked Memphis in May. And NTA is back in person this November!

We’re back to handshakes Back to hugs

Travel Exchange ’21 Nov. 14–17 Cleveland, Ohio

Learn more:

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Eisenhower Presidential Library COURTESY EISENHOWER PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Reagan Presidential Library

Clinton Presidential Library COURTESY REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION

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Reagan Presidential Library COURTESY REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION

ARTIFACTS

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is nestled in the hills of scenic Southern California.

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Clinton Presidential Park in Little Rock

THESE PRESIDENTIAL SITES DEFINE POWERFUL PERSONALITIES

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BY ROBIN ROENKER

t’s one thing to read about World War II or the Cold War. It’s another to see the very table where future president Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and other world military leaders plotted plans for the D-Day invasion or to come face-to-face with a piece of the dismantled Berlin Wall.

As treasure troves of personal mementos and historic national artifacts, America’s presidential sites offer rare glimpses into the intimate lives of our presidents. In doing so, they also offer insights into our country’s story and, in particular, defining moments in our nation’s history.

Thinking of creating a travel itinerary that dives deep into U.S. presidential history? Here are just a few of the many sites your group may enjoy exploring.

Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home

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The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas, features 25,000 square feet of allnew exhibit space that spotlights Eisenhower’s accomplished life, from his farm beginnings and West Point career to his pivotal command role in World War II and his presidency and postpresidency years, via engaging, interactive displays.

Popular exhibits help explain the global scope of World War II and Eisenhower’s role in leading the Allies’ D-Day invasion, as well as his devoted partnership with his wife, Mamie.

The campus features 22 acres and five buildings, including Eisenhower’s boyhood home, which exists in its original location and still features many of the family’s own furnishings, and the picturesque Place of Meditation, a chapel-like structure where Eisenhower, his wife and their son, Doud, are buried.

The library’s holdings encompass some 26 million

papers, more than 330,000 photographs and 70,000 artifacts covering all aspects of Eisenhower’s personal life and career. In one critical, handwritten document preserved there, dubbed the “In Case of Failure Note” by historians, Eisenhower assumes full blame if the D-Day invasion were to fail.

“It’s one of my favorite pieces,” said Dawn Hammatt, the site’s director. “I think it really speaks to the character of this man.”

Though he was a celebrated military tactician, Eisenhower famously said, “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can,” words that are emblazoned on a wall of the museum. Exhibits speak to Eisenhower’s steadfast belief that to have peace, you must promote prosperity across the globe.

“We end the exhibit with a quote from him, speaking to America’s youth, addressing what it is to be a good citizen,” Hammatt said. “We lean on his own words to tell his story, as much as possible.”

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Reagan Presidential Library and Museum S I M I VA LLE Y, C A LI FO R N IA

Situated on 300 acres in Simi Valley, California, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum celebrates the life and career of America’s 40th president and serves as the final resting spot of President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan.

“We are the largest presidential library both in size and in number of visitors,” said Melissa Giller, chief marketing officer for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. “We like to say that our museum isn’t just about Ronald Reagan; it’s about the presidency as a whole and American history as a whole.”

Visitors can walk through Reagan’s Air Force One, proudly displayed in its own pavilion. The plane was used by seven presidents, though Reagan flew on this particular plane the most, Giller said. While in the pavilion, guests can grab a snack at the Ronald

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Reagan Pub, a transported, authentic Irish pub that Reagan visited while traveling in 1984.

The museum also includes a Marine One helicopter used by President Lyndon Johnson.

“This was the helicopter that took President Johnson to the White House for the first time as president after he was sworn in following the assassination of JFK,” said Giller.

Other museum must-sees include a full-scale replica of Reagan’s Oval Office and a piece of the Berlin Wall, a tactile piece of history that takes visitors back to Reagan’s famous June 1987 “Berlin Wall Speech,” in which he urged then-Soviet Union Communist Party General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”

Guided audio tours of the museum share details about the exhibits, which chart Reagan’s career pivot from acting to politics and his rise from California governor to the White House, through the actual voices of the president and his wife, Nancy Reagan.

In addition to its permanent Reagan-centered exhibits, twice each year the museum hosts special traveling exhibitions on other topics, from the Titanic to Pompeii to Abraham Lincoln.

The next special exhibition, “FBI — From Al Capone to Al-Qaeda,” is set to run July 2021 through January 2022. It will share insider history of the FBI through several key cases, including first-person accounts by lead agents and central artifacts from their investigations.

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George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum CO LLEG E STATI O N , TE X A S

George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

A trip to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, provides a window into a life of service to the country.

Exhibits chart Bush’s journey from serving as one of America’s youngest naval aviators of World War II through his career as a congressman, United Nations

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ambassador, U.S. diplomat to China and director of the CIA, and culminating in his eventual rise to the vice presidency and the presidency itself.

The museum also spotlights the strong, lifelong partnership between George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, who are both buried on the grounds.

“Visitors see what strong character President Bush had and the values he stood for,” said David Anaya, director of marketing and communications for the Bush library and museum. “He really had an amazing life and legacy. His accomplishments as a businessman, as a politician, as a father and as a president offer a little bit of a blueprint for how to live a successful life.”

Popular exhibits include a replica of Bush’s Oval Office, where visitors can snap pictures of themselves at the executive desk. The museum is also home to a TBM Avenger aircraft similar to the one Bush flew during the war and a piece of the Berlin Wall — apt, since the wall came down during Bush’s presidency.

The museum’s thousands of photographs, artifacts and personal letters offer rare insights into Bush’s long public career, as well as his personal devotion to his wife and family. The museum’s audio tour adds additional richness to the exhibits, since narration is often in Bush’s own words or the words of his family members.

“These are exhibits that you want to spend some time with and really enjoy,” said Anaya. “It’s like reading a really good book, and it’s easy to get lost in them.”

While in the area, groups can make plans to visit other attractions in College Station, including the Museum of the American GI and the Texas A&M University Art Galleries.

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William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum LIT TLE RO C K , A R K A N SA S

The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas, celebrates the life and legacy of the 42nd president.

The Clinton archives are home to more than 2.6 million photographs and 78 million pages of official records, and the museum’s collection preserves more than 100,000 objects, including many items given as gifts to Clinton by other global heads of state and by ordinary Americans.

Visitors can enjoy close-up looks at a presidential limousine and replicas of Clinton’s Oval Office and Cabinet Room. The third floor “Early Years” exhibit traces Clinton’s youth in Arkansas, his marriage to Hillary Rodham Clinton and his years as Arkansas governor, and the extensive timeline on the second floor includes the daily schedule for all eight years Clinton held office.

While in Little Rock, groups should explore the nearby William E. “Bill” Clark Presidential Park Wetlands, where pedestrian trails and elevated walkways offer panoramic views of the Arkansas River.

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Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation M E D O R A , N O RTH DA KOTA

As the future home of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, Medora, North Dakota, already boasts plenty to explore, particularly for those interested in Roosevelt’s life and legacy.

Though he was a native New Yorker, Roosevelt fell in love with the beauty of the Badlands following a hunting trip there in 1883. He sought refuge in Medora in 1884 following the death of his wife and mother, and he later credited his “strenuous life” as a rancher in North Dakota for helping prepare him for the presidency.

“He wrote in his journal that the light of his life had gone out, and he returned to the Badlands area to rebuild himself and become a cowboy,” said Kaelee Knoell, marketing manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation.

Medora serves as the main entrance to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where visitors can enjoy camping, hiking and exploring the rugged North Dakota landscape much as Roosevelt himself did. The rustic Maltese Cross Cabin, now near the park visitor center, was once used by Roosevelt as a temporary home.

The city is also home to the long-running Medora Musical, an outdoor summer stage show that pays tribute to Roosevelt and life in the West, and to celebrated Roosevelt re-enactor Joe Wiegand, who brings the 26th president to life six days a week, June through September.

Groups may want to book a stay at Medora’s historic Rough Riders Hotel — named for Roosevelt’s famed cavalry unit in the Spanish-American War — where the lobby library is devoted to Roosevelt’s life and presidential legacy.

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North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park

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PHILADELPHIA PALMETTO MAGIC GROUPS UNWIND IN CAREFREE SOUTH CAROLINA

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BY TOM ADKINSON

or being as small as it is, South Carolina packs a punch. It is 40th among the 50 states — smaller than Maine, bigger than West Virginia — but it is steeped in history, and its variety of topography is delightful. In this one state are beautiful beaches, mystical marshlands, rolling hills and a slice of the Appalachian Mountains.

Here are four regions to consider for your group’s next tour through the Palmetto State.

H IS TOR IC C H A R L E S TON You could launch a South Carolina tour anywhere, but Charleston has been in the spotlight since its founding in 1670. So many church steeples grace its downtown skyline that it earned the nickname of the Holy City. A carriage tour or a walking tour provides numerous photo opportunities of impressive churches reaching high into the blue Carolina sky.

Charleston lists six pillars of its visitor industry, and history is at the top, according to Doug Warner, director of media relations at the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau. He is quick to point out that while history itself doesn’t change, there are always more ways to look at history, one factor that keeps visitors coming back.

The International African American Museum will add multiple perspectives to the history of the city and the nation when it opens in early 2022. Its location is strategic: on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, the very spot where 40% of all enslaved Africans set foot in America.

Its objective is to illuminate the often overlooked history of African Americans in the South Carolina lowcountry and their ultimate impact on the whole country.

It will illustrate South Carolina’s role in the international slave trade and the Civil War and explore the critical role of enslaved people in the nation’s agricultural, technical, culinary and artistic heritage. One element will be the Center for Family History, which will help visitors trace their genealogy.

A visit to the new museum can be a springboard to other cultural experiences; many of these are the focus of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, which protects and promotes the traditions of the Gullah Geechee people in

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Groups can visit a sea turtle hospital at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston.

Cowpens National Battlefield

coastal South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Adding an authentic Lowcountry restaurant experienceTweetsie to a tour Railroad itinerary is a dividend of exploring the corridor.

Handmade Charleston and lowcountry items are the purview of the Charleston Night Market, held on Fridays, Saturdays and most Thursdays.

All vendors are locals and are masters at their individual goods.

“The Night Market is authentic,” said art photographer Joe Benton.

“We want visitors to enjoy Charleston’s creativity and to find items that remind them of us when they get home.”

A Charleston event to anticipate in 2022 is the world premiere of “Omar” during the Spoleto Festival USA, according to the CVB’s Warner. It is a full-length opera by MacArthur Fellow and Grammy Award-winner Rhiannon Giddens. It is based on the life of Omar Ibn Said, an enslaved Muslim African brought to Charleston in 1807.

Carriage tours, seafood dinners and harbor tours remain Charleston group favorites. Also gaining popularity is the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery at the South Carolina Aquarium. The aquarium, highly popular itself, got a boost in 2017 when its sea turtle hospital was completed. It is designed so visitors can see the patients, whose average stay is nine months, and the veterinarians and technicians who nurse them back to health.

The aquarium, by the way, is on the edge of the harbor and offers a good view of the famous Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge over the Cooper River. When opened in 2005, it was the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America.

M Y RT L E BE AC H A N D T H E GR A N D S T R A N D The “Peachoid” water tower in Upcountry

Re-enactors at Kings Mountain State Park

Rolling south from Charleston takes you to coastal towns such as Beaufort, with its photogenic lighthouse, and the resorts of Hilton Head Island; rolling north takes you to Georgetown and the South Carolina Maritime Museum and on to the Grand Strand. The Grand Strand is an arc of beautiful beaches more than 60 miles long that contains Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. Most visitors don’t realize the vibrant area is two municipalities.

While Charleston’s strong suit is history, the Myrtle Beach region hangs its sunhat on sand and surf — even if some groups want only to see the waves and enjoy the salt air — and entertainment, according to Sandy Haines, group tour sales manager at Visit Myrtle Beach.

“Our climate is mild, and we’re an easy multiday destination,” Haines said, noting that there are numerous large-scale entertainment theaters in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, and many present multiple productions.

The newest is the 370-seat Broadway Theater at Broadway at the Beach.

Waterborne entertainment is available via the Barefoot Queen, a 70-foot wooden riverboat that can carry 130 passengers on Intracoastal Waterway excursions. There are concessions and cocktails available on all trips, and two-hour dinner cruises are also offered.

Golf, not normally part of group tours even though the Grand Strand has approximately 100 tempting courses, can still be a group activity because the area also has approximately 50 miniature golf courses. Some are extraordinarily themed and challenging, and staging a tournament at attractions such as Captain Hook’s Adventure Golf, Mutiny Bay Golf or Jurassic Golf is sure to keep clients talking.

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OL D 9 6 DIS T R IC T A completely different side of South Carolina awaits when you head inland. You can get into lovely Appalachian Mountains territory within a few hours of leaving the Atlantic coastline. The five-county Old 96 District and the six-county Upcountry South Carolina tourism areas each have enough to build interesting itineraries.

The Old 96 District is in western South Carolina, and several of its small towns are group-ready. Abbeville, for instance, shines with a downtown full of colorfully painted buildings — perhaps a hint of Charleston — that house distinctive local shops, restaurants and bakeries. You may recognize Abbeville because parts of the Julia Roberts movie “Sleeping With the Enemy” were shot here.

Nearby Greenwood, once a railroad town, is said to have the widest main street in the world. Barbara Ware, executive director of the Old 96 Tourism Commission, says it certainly is the widest in South Carolina.

The Greenwood Railroad Historical Center’s collection includes a 1906 Baldwin locomotive and a classic Pullman sleeper car.

History takes center stage at the childhood home of Benjamin E. Mays, who rose from being a sharecropper’s son to president of Morehouse College. Martin Luther King Jr. entered Morehouse at age 15, and King later called Mays his spiritual mentor.

Earlier history is the focus of the Ninety Six National Historic Site. It was here in 1781 that the longest field siege of the American Revolution took place. Continental Army forces from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia, along with North Carolina militiamen, engaged British and Loyalist troops.

The best-known artistic product from this area is Edgefield pottery.

Abner Landrum is credited with establishing the Edgefield pottery tradition in the first decade of the 1800s. Most famous of the Edgefield potters was Dave Drake, born enslaved at the turn of the century. Some of his jugs and vessels are in the Smithsonian Institution, and Justin Guy is the contemporary potter who continues the tradition at the Old Edgefield Pottery in the town of Edgefield.

There’s a more modern focus in Greer, home of the BMW Zentrum, a state-of-the-art visitors center and museum next to the only BMW manufacturing plant in the U.S. Plant tours are not always offered, but the free-admission Zentrum always tells the story of BMW, which began in aviation and became famous in motorsports. Among the many vehicles is the famous — and tiny — Isetta “Bubblecar.”

Every state needs a somewhat peculiar landmark, and South Carolina’s is at Gaffney. You’d have to be unconscious to miss the Peachoid as you zip along Interstate 85. It’s a 135-foot-tall, million-gallon water tank that promotes the absolutely huge peach industry in this corner of South Carolina.

If you make a stop at the nearby Gaffney Outlet Marketplace, pull into the Fatz Café. The restaurant, a regional favorite for group visits, provides a great perspective for a photo of your group with the Peachoid in the background.

U P COU N T RY MOU N TA I NS The six counties of upcountry South Carolina in the northwest corner of the state have an alluring mix of attractions: natural, historic and humanmade. It surprises many first-time South Carolina visitors that the state has some of the prettiest mountain scenery in the South. The 120-mile Cherokee Foothills Scenic Byway proves that. Tucked up in those mountains are cool trout streams and the famous whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River.

Greenville and Spartanburg are modern, medium-size cities whose friendly rivalry means groups have plenty of entertainment and dining opportunities while exploring the region. Greenville in particular has developed a reputation for having a walkable downtown highlighted by Falls Park on the Reedy, a remarkable transformation of an abandoned mill area now adjacent to shops, restaurants and craft breweries and accented by the 345-foot-long, pedestrian-only Liberty Bridge.

Trips into history lead to Cowpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain National Military Park for more aspects of the American Revolution. Thomas Jefferson said the battle at Kings Mountain was “the turn of the tide of success” for the war. It marked the first major American victory after the British invaded Charleston in May 1780. The Patriot victory at the Battle of Cowpens in early 1781 was in the chain of events that led to eventual overall victory at Yorktown.

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Exhibit at BMW Zentrum

Charleston Night Market

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60 MILES OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER Top-tier facilities combine with endless things to do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Your group belongs at The Beach.

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OKLAHOMA COLLECTIONS THESE MUSEUMS INSPIRE SMILES AND TEARS

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klahoma is chock full of incredible museums that tell the sometimes-painful stories of the state’s past, from the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 to the Trail of Tears. But not all the stories are sad ones.

Groups can get their kicks on Route 66, the Mother Road; learn about Will Rogers, one of the country’s first national influencers before the advent of computers and cell phones; or experience the stories of the Native Americans, white settlers and freed slaves who fueled the growth of the West after the Civil War. Here are five compelling museums to include on your group’s next trip to Oklahoma.

GR E E N WOOD R ISI NG TU LSA

Oklahoma’s newest museum puts the spotlight on one of the most tragic events in Tulsa history: the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. The museum, which held its grand opening in July, was built to commemorate the victims and survivors of the massacre on the 100th anniversary of the event. Unlike other museums, Greenwood Rising won’t be full of artifacts. Instead, it uses the latest interactive technologies — projection mapping, holographic effect and environmental media — to create a narrative experience, telling the story of the massacre from many different perspectives.

Hundreds of people lost their lives, homes and livelihoods in what was then called Black Wall Street or the Greenwood District of Tulsa. Because of segregation, African Americans in the Greenwood District started successful businesses that catered to their own community, from restaurants and doctor’s offices to grocery stores. An incident that is still in question today sparked the confrontation between white Tulsans and Greenwood’s residents that ended with at least 300 Black people dead, and thousands of them left homeless and without livelihoods as their homes and businesses were burned to the

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ground. The museum, which was developed by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, wanted to find ways to educate citizens about the events that took place and help facilitate racial reconciliation in Tulsa.

“This is not a one-and-done, not a moment where the community sings ‘Kumbaya,’” said Phil Armstrong, project director for the Centennial Commission. This is the beginning of an effort to tell Greenwood’s story beyond Oklahoma’s borders. “When [visitors] come here, they will fully experience this story and history and be inspired to go back to their communities. Use this model. Look what happens when a community comes together to break down biases and prejudice.”

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NAT IONA L COW BOY A N D W E S T E R N H E R I TAGE M USEU M O K L A H O MA C IT Y

Groups that visit the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City will be amazed at the size of the place and wowed by the exhibits that take up every square inch of the museum’s 220,000 square feet.

Visitors can learn about the tribal nations that made America their home before European settlers arrived or step into the stories of the pioneers and cowboys who made their way west and learn about the challenges they faced.

The museum has a huge collection of Western art and artifacts. Outside, groups can see how different Native American tribes lived, from a replica of ancient Puebloan dwellings to grass huts, tepees and log cabins. There also is a replica of a Mexican rodeo, an oil derrick, sod houses where freed slaves lived after the Civil War, a trading post and a full-size covered wagon.

“I love what we get to do here,” said Natalie Shirley, president and CEO of the museum. “It is big and is a powerful story” Technology allows visitors to hear individual stories as well. One of the museum’s current online offerings allows people to listen to letters that were written by a young woman who came west to her mother in Oregon.

“We’re trying to connect in so many different ways,” Shirley said. “Reading these letters that otherwise would have been catalogued in our research center, we are bringing them to the front so lots of people can enjoy them and learn and feel connected.”

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W I L L ROGE R S M E MOR I A L M USEU M A N D BI RT H PL AC E R A NC H CLAREMORE

A Trail of Tears exhibit at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah gives visitors a moving account of one of the most difficult periods in Cherokee history.

An actor, performer, humorist and newspaper columnist, Will Rogers was a household name in the 1920s and 1930s. When he died in a plane crash in 1935, the Oklahoma Legislature built a memorial in his honor. The Memorial Museum and Birthplace Ranch talks about his life and showcases memorabilia

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from his years in the public eye, sculptures and paintings.

Born in Cherokee territory in 1879, Rogers was a trick roper who performed on the vaudeville circuit. He starred in Ziegfeld’s Follies on Broadway and did radio. He performed in more than 70 films and wrote a daily newspaper column commenting on the news of the day with his own brand of humor, like an early version of Jay Leno or Johnny Carson.

Groups can watch documentaries about him in the museum’s theater, learn about his life and the tragic crash that ended his life and what he meant to the country, said Tad Jones, executive director of the museum.

“People come from all over the world to visit here,” said Jones. “He was well known. He was one of those who transcended political parties, and his famous line was ‘I never met a man I didn’t like.’ He liked everybody, and they liked him.”

His birthplace is 12 miles up the road. Called Dog Iron Ranch or the White House on the Verdigris River, the home was built in 1870 and was where Will and his seven older siblings grew up.

The museum’s interpreter offers groups a special presentation and a one-to-two-hour tour of both locations. Groups can also plan a lunch at the Birthplace Ranch.

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“The Leader’s Downfall” by William R. Leigh at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum COURTESY NCWHM

A historic prison exterior at the Cherokee National History Museum COURTESY CHEROKEE NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM

C H E ROK E E NAT IONA L H IS TORY M USEU M TA H LEQ UA H

Recently restored and opened in 2019, the Cherokee National History Museum is a Smithsonian-affiliated museum located in the former Cherokee National Capitol building, which housed the tribe’s executive, legislative and judicial offices until 1906. Most recently, it housed the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court until fall 2018. The 7,000-square-foot museum takes visitors on a journey through the history of the Cherokee Nation.

Visitors can learn how to make traditional Cherokee arts and crafts, study the Cherokee syllabary and learn about the modern era of the Cherokee Nation.

Many of the permanent and temporary exhibits include interactive elements that guests can access through touch screens and that help bring the content to life beyond what is in the exhibit.

The museum will soon be connected to the nearby Cherokee National Prison Museum, the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum, the Cherokee Arts Center, the Kawi Café and the Spider Gallery through a Cherokee art park and cultural pathway project that should be completed by late summer. It will include new walkways, a public gathering space, art displays, a chalk wall, new landscaping,

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outdoor lighting and places to sit. The Cherokee Heritage Center, an outdoor living history museum with a reconstruction of a Cherokee village, is currently undergoing renovation and is closed to the public. Check for updates before your group visits.

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OK L A HOM A ROU T E 66 M USEU M C LI NTO N

Route 66, the Mother Road, was the first major road to connect East to West, running from Chicago through Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is one of the largest repositories of Route 66 history along the road and is a must-see for groups that feel nostalgic about simpler times before the interstate highway system was built.

Using artifacts and photography, the museum tells the story of the historic road from its inception in the 1920s to the end of the road’s heyday in the 1970s. Before the interstate highway system was built, Route 66, a two-lane road, was the only way for commerce and travelers to get

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First Americans Museum National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

THE MODERN FRONTIER

Discover Western and First American culture, plus the welcoming spirit of the Modern Frontier during your next group visit to Oklahoma City.

Will Rogers Museum

COURTESY WILL ROGERS MUSEUM

across the country quickly. It connected hundreds of small towns that thrived because of their location on the road.

Visitors from around the world travel to Oklahoma to see the museum and its contents, from the red ’57 Chevy in the front window to the restored 1950s roadside diner on the property. The galleries use technology and interactive elements to tell the story of each decade along the road using music and artifacts from long-gone Route 66 businesses.

For the more tech-savvy visitors, QR codes allow visitors to take audio tours as they progress through the exhibits.

Pixar, the animation company known for its collaboration with Disney on the movie “Cars,” visited the museum when it was looking for a back story and model for Radiator Springs.

When group travelers call ahead, the museum ensures they have plenty of volunteers ready to make them feel welcome. They get a brief overview and then time to wander the exhibits and gift shop on their own.

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Oklahoma Route 66 Museum COURTESY OK ROUTE 66 MUSEUM

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Tulsa was once Oil Capital of the World. Now, another boom is underway. Spend a day in the fragrant floral terraces of Tulsa Botanic Garden. Consume art on day 2… literally. Glacier Confections’ chocolate is almost too pretty to eat.

At Prairie Artisan Ales, brace your tastebuds for takeoff with an ice-cold Bomb! It’s a trip with many stops: coffee, vanilla, chocolate and chilies. Devote day 3 to Greenwood Rising, a tribute that tells the Tulsa Race Massacre story two ways: a chillingly real account and a more emotional one. Your time in Tulsa? It’ll be epic… but far too short!

Want more inspiration?

Browse Oklahoma itinerary toolkits at TravelOK.com/Group.

The La Crosse Queen offers groups a replicated Mississippi River paddle-wheeler experience in Wisconsin.

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RIVER TOWNS REFLECT THE MISSISSIPPI’S MAJESTY

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merica’s greatest river offers great opportunities for group exploration.

Boats have plied the mighty Mississippi from the earliest days of western expansion. And while the river continues to be a major hub for commerce, tourism is king. River cruise vessels ply the waterway, from the headwaters of the river in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, making stops at many wonderful river cities on the way.

Here is a mix of large and small cities that continue to flourish because of their position on the Mississippi. Groups will find these cities on Mississippi River cruise itineraries, or they can visit them while following the river on land tours.

COURTESY EXPLORE LA CROSSE

W I NONA , M I N N E SOTA

Winona, Minnesota, is the quintessential Mississippi River town. A major grain and lumber producer at the turn of the 20th century, the city’s downtown is revered for its beautifully preserved Victorian architecture. Over the years, Winona has evolved into a major art and entertainment destination, playing host to a nationally acclaimed Great River Shakespeare Festival and the Minnesota Beethoven Festival. The Minnesota Marine Art Museum, which sits on the banks of the river, features a collection of art inspired by water and includes paintings by Renoir, Monet, Matisse, Van Gogh and Picasso and has one of the largest collections of Hudson River School paintings in the world.

Beautiful 500-foot-high bluffs covered in hardwood forests line the river, making Winona a wonderful destination for leaf peeping in autumn. Bicyclists and hikers 36

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will enjoy exploring the area’s old logging trails, and groups that want to get out on the water can rent kayaks and follow the water trails, or book a sightseeing, fall foliage or bird-watching cruise on the Mississippi.

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L A C ROS SE , W ISCONSI N

The Mississippi River is an integral part of what makes La Crosse, Wisconsin, special. Groups that want to learn more about the river can take a scenic cruise on the La Crosse Queen, a modern replica of a Mississippi River paddle-wheeler, or climb to the top of Grandad Bluff, a 600-foot-high bluff overlooking the city and river.

On a clear day, visitors to the bluff get great views of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

A former lumber town, La Crosse is now known for its

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Dubuque’s National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium

COURTESY TRAVEL DUBUQUE

Waterfront Winona

the Celebration Belle riverboat or visit the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, the only place on the Mississippi River that tells the story of the river, its tributaries and its importance to the people and animals that rely on it for their survival. Visitors can ride the Fenelon Place Elevator, the shortest and steepest railway in the world, 292 feet up the side of the bluffs for a bird’s-eye view of the Mississippi.

Eagle Point Park at the north end of the city overlooks Lock and Dam No. 11 on the Mississippi River and is a great place to look for eagles or just watch the river barges navigate the lock. Many groups visiting the area spend time on Dubuque’s revitalized main street and riverfront district or at the Diamond Jo Casino or the Q Casino, which feature gaming, entertainment and dining.

T R AV E L D U B U Q U E .C O M

H A N N I BA L , M IS SOU R I

BY MARY FARRELL, COURTESY VISIT WINONA

beer-making. Many groups enjoy taking a craft brewery tour of the area or touring the historic homes — dating from the 1850s — in the 10th and Cass Streets Residential Historic District. Niagara Cave, one of the best caves in the country, is in La Crosse. Groups can take a mile-long hike underground, discovering fossils, an underground stream and a waterfall. Groups can tour the Historic Hixon House, built in 1858 by pioneer Gideon Hixon, a wealthy lumber baron. The home has all of its original Victorian and Arts and Crafts furnishings.

The hometown of one of America’s most famous authors, Hannibal, Missouri, owes much of its prominence and notoriety to the pen of Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens. For Twain fans, the big attraction is a tour of all the Hannibal locations that figured prominently in his most beloved books: “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Groups can tour Twain’s boyhood home, as well as the Becky Thatcher House, the Huckleberry Finn House and a museum and interpretive center. The Mark Twain Cave, which he wrote about in five of his books, is wonderful for groups. Look for Samuel Clemens’ name among the thousands of signatures on the cave walls. If groups want to get out on the water, they should book a cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat.

Mark Twain Riverboat in Hannibal

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DU BUQU E , IOWA

Riverboats were built in Dubuque, Iowa, until 1976, so it isn’t a surprise that riverboat cruising is one of the most popular things to do in this river city. Groups can book passage on the American Lady Yacht or

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Nightfall on the Mississippi riverfront in St. Louis

For an overview of Hannibal’s history and other famous residents, visit the Hannibal History Museum.

The Rockcliffe Mansion, built by a lumber baron at the turn of the 20th century, is considered one of America’s great castles, and car lovers will want to spend some time at Karlock’s Kars and Pop Culture Museum.

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S T. LOU IS

COURTESY EXPLORE ST. LOUIS

River kayaking in Natchez COURTESY VISIT NATCHEZ

The Gateway Arch is the iconic representation of St. Louis, but it was the Mississippi River that dictated the city’s growth. Groups visiting the city should make sure to allocate time to visit the Gateway Arch Museum before taking the tram ride to the top of the arch for panoramic views of the city and the Mississippi River. Riverboat cruises are available at the base of the arch; they give groups a detailed history of the city and the river. Big Muddy Adventures will take groups on organized paddles of the Mississippi River from just north of St. Louis at the Chain of Rocks Bridge to the Gateway Arch. That section of the river is not traversed by boats or barges, and groups can stop and visit some of the small islands on the river or have a picnic before continuing downstream.

The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station is well worth a visit. The aquarium, which opened in 2019, features both freshwater and saltwater animals and takes visitors on a journey along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Most of the city’s museums and the zoo are free to the public.

Summer was meant to be experienced

Outdoors. find your adventure. www.visitnatchez.org

601.446.6345

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E X P LO R E S T LO U I S .C O M

M E M PH IS , T E N N E S SE E

Visitors from all over the world make the pilgrimage to Memphis, Tennessee, to tour the home of rock ’n’ roll legend Elvis Presley. And although Graceland is a big draw, an entire industry has grown up around the life and accomplishments of the entertainer. Groups should allocate a day to visit Graceland and explore Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex. Music lovers will want to visit the Rock ’N’ Soul Museum, which tells the story of the delta blues and how that musical genre led to the development of rock ’n’ roll, and Sun Studio, where Presley and other musical greats launched their careers.

Groups that want to get out on the river should reserve a sightseeing or a dinner and music cruise on the Memphis Riverboats at Beale Street Landing. Guided group kayak tours of the Memphis Riverfront or the Mississippi River are also available.

Travelers can catch some live delta blues,

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Evening in downtown Natchez

jazz, gospel or rock ’n’ roll music in the Beale Street Entertainment District; enjoy some famous Memphis barbecue; or learn about the civil rights movement in the U.S. at the National Civil Rights Museum.

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NATC H E Z , M IS SIS SI PPI

COURTESY VISIT NATCHEZ

Exploring the Memphis riverfront

BY CRAIG THOMPSON, COURTESY MEMPHIS TOURISM

A river cruise vessel docked in St. Francisville

COURTESY CITY OF ST. FRANCISVILLE

St. Francisville’s Afton Villa

COURTESY CITY OF ST. FRANCISVILLE

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Founded in 1716, Natchez, Mississippi, is the oldest city on the Mississippi River. The historic river town has a deep-rooted history that is visible in its unique shops, restaurants, museums and historic homes. Groups that want to get close to the river should visit Bluff Park, which has great views of the tugboats and river traffic on the Mississippi; take a walk along Silver Street, which was home to gamblers, pirates and riverboat captains during the town’s heyday; or have a drink at the town’s oldest bar, the Under-the-Hill Saloon.

Visitors love to explore the area’s many historic homes, including Longwood. Also known as Nutt’s Folly, this octagonal antebellum mansion was started in 1860 but was never completed because of the Civil War. To learn more about the Native Americans who called Natchez home, groups should visit the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, an archaeological site that features three prehistoric mounds, a reconstructed native house and a museum. Music lovers should follow the Mississippi Blues Trail markers through town while taking in live music at juke joints, restaurants and other music venues.

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S T. F R A NC IS V I L L E , LOU ISI A NA

St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish is unlike any other location in Louisiana. The town considers itself English when most of its neighboring towns trace their roots to the French. Located near the Tunica Hills, which follow the east bank of the Mississippi River, St. Francisville has ecosystems and wildlife that aren’t found anywhere else in the state. John James Audubon spent much of his time in Louisiana between 1821 and 1837 and completed more than 100 plates there for his book “The Birds of America.” He also completed 32 paintings at St. Francisville’s Oakley Plantation, where he stayed for four months. Groups can tour the plantation, now the Audubon State Historic Site, or the nearby Rosedown Plantation State Historic Site, which has the best preserved and documented antebellum gardens in the country.

There are four other plantation homes groups can tour in the parish, as well as the Port Hudson Battlefield. To get out on the river, take a kayak tour on Bayou Sarah, once a thriving shipping port between Natchez and New Orleans before 1860, or Cat Island Swamp, home to a 2,500-year-old cypress tree.

STFR ANCISVILLE.NET

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TR ANSCENDENT TR AVEL

FAITH-BASED SITES TOUCH A ND TEACH YOUR FOLLOWERS

Kentucky’s Ark Encounter is a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark as described in the Bible.

BY ELIZABETH HEY

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PHOTOS COURTESY ARK ENCOUNTER

ertain destinations enrich the spiritual lives of travelers. As the country opens back up, these places will inspire and encourage as they transcend the ordinary and explore the world of faith.

Jesus’ miracles are depicted through high-tech special effects in the production of “Jesus” at the Sight and Sound Theatre. God’s provision and faithfulness intertwines the story of Noah at the Ark Encounter, where the re-created ark ranks as the world’s largest timber-frame structure.

A legacy of outreach inspires all who visit the Billy Graham Library. Scripture comes alive with 42 bronze sculptures and landscaping that resembles the Holy Land at the Shrine of Christ’s Passion. And groups that opt to travel internationally can be baptized at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which looks as it did more than 2,000 years ago when Jesus was baptized on-site in the Jordan River.

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Arrarat Ridge Zoo at the Ark Encounter

Towering support timbers inside the ark

ARK ENCOUNTER WILLIAMSTOWN, KENTUCKY

“We want to usher people back in history 4,300 years ago so they leave the modern world behind as they take the shuttle ride up to the ark.

Each year, more than 1 million people visit the Ark Encounter.” ­— M A R K L O OY

Built according to the dimensions given in Scripture — 510 feet long by 85 feet wide and 51 feet high — the Ark Encounter wows visitors. It is located just off Interstate 75, halfway between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington, Kentucky, and a four-minute shuttle ride takes guests from the parking lot to the massive boat.

“We want to usher people back in history 4,300 years ago so they leave the modern world behind as they take the shuttle ride up to the ark,” said Mark Looy, co-founder and chief communications officer. “Each year, more than 1 million people visit the Ark Encounter.”

Amish craftspeople constructed the ark primarily from standing dead timber. Three levels of historically accurate exhibits and videos explore how the animals and Noah’s family thrived for 40 days and nights inside the ship. Exhibits also explore the ice age and the origins of different people groups. Behind the ark, the Ararat Ridge Zoo houses animals, some that are brought on board for special events. Other activities include a petting zoo and animal encounter shows.

Opened last summer, the $3 million virtual reality “Truth Traveler” takes visitors back to biblical times.

Audience members wear state-of-the-art virtual-reality headsets. Special-effect seats add an element of realism as Noah and his crew build the ark, the animals enter the ship and waters flood the earth. In addition, lectures and Christian entertainment take place in the 2,500-seat auditorium, highlighted by a 70-foot-long, state-of-the-art LED screen.

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S I G H T A N D S O U N D T H E AT R E BRANSON, MISSOURI Tumultuous waves on the Sea of Galilee, the rolling hills where Jesus preached and Jesus’ crucifixion scene take on extra authenticity with state-of-the-art technology at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson, Missouri. The effects are created by a new million-dollar LED screen that measures 40 feet tall by 100 feet wide and serves as the stage backdrop for “Jesus.” The talented cast of nearly 50 professional actors share the stage with some 55 animals, from live birds to camels, and Roman soldiers riding horses that prance up the aisles.

The Sight and Sound Theatre started in Pennsylvania in 1976 and opened in Branson in 2009. Each show features an original score that takes approximately three and a half years to create from conception to production. “Jesus” continues this year through December 31. In 2022, it will run mid-March through October 31. From early November through year’s end, “Miracle of Christ” will be performed.

Future shows include the stories of Esther and David.

“Each production is a fictional account of a factual event,” said Mike Pittman, the company’s business development manager. “The producers study Scripture and look at what’s going on behind the scenes that we might not even know about. The family that runs Sight and Sound sees it as a ministry and a mission, with the proceeds going back into the next production.”

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“Jesus” at Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson

Shrine of Christ’s Passion COURTESY SHRINE OF CHRIST’S PASSION

S H R I N E O F C H R I S T ’ S PA S S I O N ST. JOHN, INDIANA Scripture comes alive at the nondenominational Shrine of Christ’s Passion in St. John, Indiana. The half-mile winding Prayer Trail features 40 life-size bronze sculptures of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection amid manicured gardens, listening stations and music. “Moses at Mount Sinai” takes visitors back to biblical times through music, voice-over, lighting and sound effects. The Sanctity of Life shrine and memorial garden contains a life-size bronze sculpture of Christ agonizing over the death of an unborn child.

The Gift Shoppe stocks religious gifts, artwork, fine jewelry and accessories. It’s a great place to relax, with two fireplaces, hand-painted ceiling murals, an art gallery and a library with cozy leather chairs where guests can check out the large selection of inspirational books. A winding staircase leads to the mezzanine that displays and sells Christmas collectibles and Nativity sets by Fontanini.

Also, on the upper level, a new banquet and conference room seats up to 54 people. Outside, the terrace can seat 80 people for a catered hot lunch or box lunch. Groups are also welcome to bring sack lunches.

“We have 40 to 50 volunteer tour guides who take groups on walking tours or who drive club cars that hold between five and seven passengers,” said general manager Paul Anderson. “Our newest project will be finished in the fall and will be a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, with a small chapel and plaza that will look like you’re in Mexico City.”

S H R I N E O FC H R I S T S PA S S I O N .O R G

PHOTOS COURTESY SIGHT & SOUND THEATRES

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It was supposed to be a small meeting inside a church. No government could stop what happened next.

When freedom began to shine through cracks in the Iron Curtain in 1985, massive crowds packed town squares and cathedrals across communist Romania to hear Billy Graham. Discover what captured the heart of a nation starving for truth. Experience the Billy Graham Library.

It’s part movie, part exhibit, and

totally inspiring .

©2021 BGEA

A ministry of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

B I L LY G R A H A M L I B R A R Y CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA On 20 beautifully landscaped acres, several miles from where Billy Graham grew up, the Billy Graham Library honors this well-known American evangelist. The Journey of Faith tour features the brick Colonial house where Graham lived from age 9 through college. Reconstructed on campus, it contains family memorabilia, some original furnishings and decor representative of the era.

“We want people to leave with a sense of peace and to be encouraged by Billy Graham’s legacy and how God used him as he evangelized around the world,” said communications manager Tanya Mazingo.

Ruth’s Attic Bookstore stocks gifts, Bibles and Christian classics, including books written by family members. A portion of Graham’s personal books, approximately 3,700 titles from his private library, are displayed in the bookstore. His entire collection encompasses more than 12,000 books. For lunch or snacks, the Graham Brothers Dairy Bar seats 140 people amidst whimsical decor and family photos. Also on-site, the Memorial Prayer Garden is the burial site for Graham and his wife, Ruth Bell Graham, as well as members of the original crusade team.

Events include dinners, military appreciation days and special exhibits. Always popular, the monthlong Christmas at the Library will be held November 29 through December 23. The celebration incorporates a living Nativity, storytelling, horse-drawn carriage rides, a Christmas dinner and caroling.

“We want people to leave with a sense of peace and to be encouraged by Billy Graham’s legacy and how God used him as he evangelized around the world.” ­— TA N YA M A Z I N G O

B I L LYG R A H A M L I B R A RY.O R G

Billy Graham birthplace on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library

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Tour America’s Oldest City

Nestled along the coastline of Northeast Florida, you’ll find St. Augustine, Florida, where we’ve been welcoming explorers since 1565.

Our curated travel itineraries span 450 years and are designed to help you make the most of your group’s interests. Highlights include:

Conde Nast Traveler

Named one of the 20 Prettiest Towns in America

• Birthplace of African American History “Discovery to Civil Rights” • Five Centuries of Architecture and History • Unspoiled Cultural Landscapes and Beaches Our group friendly restaurants feature the cultural influences of Spanish, Minorcan and traditional Southern cuisine, while our accommodations fit every taste and budget from historic inns and chain hotels to luxury oceanfront resorts. Parking for motor coaches and buses is conveniently located in St. Augustine’s Historic Downtown.

Learn more at historiccoastculture.com National Geographic Top 20 Best of the World

Contact Christina Parrish Stone Executive Director, St. Johns Cultural Council grouptravel@historiccoastculture.com

B E TH A N Y B E YO N D TH E J O R DA N JORDAN Recognized as a sacred place since A.D. 4, Bethany Beyond the Jordan preserves the spot believed to be where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. The landscape looks much as it did 2,000 years ago. The site lies on the east bank of the Jordan River just north of the Dead Sea. Groups can organize a baptism service at two places along the river. In addition, a baptism pool is available with water supplied directly from the Jordan River. To avoid any cultural offense, visitors are requested to wear clothing that covers their arms and legs.

Ancient structures still attest to the spiritual importance that pilgrims have placed on this location throughout the centuries. Visitors can see ruins of Roman and Byzantine churches and chapels, a monastery, caves that hermits might have used and ancient baptismal pools. Two caves, or cells, were discovered dug into the upper layers of the cliffs on the river’s eastern side. Some buildings have been restored using archaeological fragments.

Beyond its primary significance, the site is associated with the life and ascension of Elijah and Elisha. Elijah’s Hill is said to be where Elijah ascended to heaven in the ninth century B.C. On the western side of Elijah’s Hill lies the cave where John lived for nearly 20 years and where Jesus was known to have visited him.

A Bethany Beyond the Jordan baptism

Exploring the historic site at Bethany Beyond the Jordan

B A P T I S M S I T E .C O M PHOTOS BY BRIAN JEWELL

IN SETTING THE STAGE FOR YOUR NEXT GROUP ADVENTURE There’s a reason Branson has consistently been voted a top group travel destination; we take vacationing together seriously.

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Lenni Neimeyer, CTIS, CSTP | lneimeyer@bransoncvb.com | 417-243-2105

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DE S T I NAT IONS

Today’s Catch FRESH SEAFOOD STARS IN THESE WATERFRONT FAVORITES

Fresh oysters at Cobalt in Orange Beach

I

BY BRIAN JEWELL

s there anything better than enjoying fresh seafood in the place where it was caught?

Many popular tourism destinations large and small are situated on waterfronts. Oceans, lakes, rivers and bays offer abundant activity options and beautiful scenery. But for many travelers, the jewel in their crown is fresh, local seafood.

Seafood is available in restaurants all across the country; however, frozen fish just doesn’t measure up to a fresh catch.

Some destinations have become so well known for their signature seafood dishes that eating them is practically a requirement for visitors.

Here are seven waterfront destinations around the United States that have become famous for their fresh seafood, along with recommendations from local travel experts for restaurants that are especially receptive to groups.

Gu l f Shores, A la ba m a

Sitting on the small tip of Alabama that touches the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores and nearby Orange Beach are famous for sugar-white sands, emerald waters and beachfront resorts. It’s also a great place to enjoy fresh Gulf seafood.

FRESH CATCH: Locals swear by Gulf oysters, which are harvested just offshore. Die-hard seafood fans eat them raw on the halfshell, but they’re also delicious in chargrilled or fried preparations.

WHERE TO GET IT: Cobalt, an Orange Beach restaurant that overlooks the back bays by Perdido Pass, is a popular spot for groups, with indoor and outdoor dining areas and a variety of Gulf oyster dishes.

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COURTESY GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH TOURISM

A nchora ge, A la sk a

In southcentral Alaska on the Cook Inlet, Anchorage is the state’s largest city and its primary jumping-off point for adventures in Denali National Park and other stunning outdoor areas.

FRESH CATCH: Wild pacific salmon return to Alaskan waters each year to spawn, making it easier to catch them in Alaska than almost anywhere else. Many locals stock their freezers year-round with fish they catch during salmon season.

WHERE TO GET IT: Restaurants throughout Anchorage and other Alaskan destinations feature fresh salmon on their menus. A great option for groups is the Glacier Brewhouse, which features the state’s only alder woodfired rotisserie. In addition to fresh salmon, it serves Alaskan halibut and peanut butter pie.

Blue crab on the Eastern Shore

Fresh Alaskan salmon COURTESY VISIT ANCHORAGE

BY HEATHER EDWARDS, COURTESY WICOMICO CO. PRT

A Portland lobster roll

Luke’s Lobster in Portland

A N C H O R AG E . N E T

BY KRISTIN ALANA, COURTESY VISIT PORTLAND

Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are a favorite Alabama destination for ocean lovers and seafood fans alike.

BY KRISTIN ALANA, COURTESY VISIT PORTLAND

Por t la nd , Ma i ne

Among the most beautiful seaside settings in New England, Portland is famous for its Atlantic Ocean scenery and six historic lighthouses. The city is a frequent destination on fall foliage tours through the region.

FRESH CATCH: It would be a shame to leave Portland without indulging in fresh Maine lobster. Often served whole with drawn butter and a bib, lobster can also be found in many other dishes. If cracking open a lobster sounds like too much work, try an iconic lobster roll instead.

WHERE TO GET IT: Luke’s Lobster sits on Portland Pier, a working waterfront overlooking Casco Bay. The restaurant specializes in traceable, sustainable seafood from local waters. Travelers can opt for the full lobster experience or enjoy classic seafood chowders and bisques.

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Ma r yla nd’s Ea st er n Shore

The meandering arms and inlets of the Chesapeake Bay define most of Maryland’s waterfront. But on the state’s Eastern Shore, visitors can enjoy ocean scenery, as well as fresh seafood harvested from the Atlantic.

FRESH CATCH: Maryland is famous for its blue crab, which is found in abundance in the waters around the Eastern Shore. Perhaps the most popular way to enjoy this specialty is in the form of crab cakes, which are ubiquitous in the area. But crab makes its way into many other dishes as well.

WHERE TO GET IT: The Red Roost Crabhouse and Restaurant in Wicomico County offers all-you-can-eat crab and other seafood specialties. It’s located in a former chicken house and offers a shuttle to a nearby dock bar that features waterfront libations.

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A Paducah floodwall mural

Bay f ield , Wi scon si n

The town of Bayfield sits on the shores of Lake Superior in the northernmost reaches of Wisconsin. The charming destination is also the gateway to Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, which features 12 towering rock islands complete with rocky cliffs and sea caves.

FRESH CATCH: Like many lakefront destinations, the Bayfield area has lots of fresh trout. A more local specialty, though, is lake whitefish, known for its firm meat and mild flavor. Fish and chips are found in many area restaurants, but there are many other preparations of whitefish to try as well.

WHERE TO GET IT: Each restaurant in Bayfield offers a different interpretation on whitefish, including tacos, whitefish livers and blackened whitefish Cobb salad. A great bet for groups is the Pier Plaza, which offers the area’s best traditional fish fry, as well as braided, baked whitefish and a lake trout special.

B AY F I E L D.O R G

Hou m a , L ou i sia n a

About 55 miles southwest of New Orleans, the city of Houma is the headquarters of an area known as Bayou Country. With more than 2,500 square miles of swamps and marshes, it makes a great destination for exploring Louisiana’s wetlands and indulging in its famous Cajun and creole cuisine.

FRESH CATCH: Though shrimp is enjoyed in restaurants around the country, you won’t find it fresher than in Houma, where it is harvested from nearby waters by local fishing fleets. There are

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COURTESY PADUCAH CVB

Waterfront in Houma

Fresh shrimp in Houma PHOTOS COURTESY HOUMA TERREBONNE CVB

many ways to prepare shrimp, but anything blackened with Cajun seasoning is a sure bet in the bayou.

WHERE TO GET IT: There are numerous Cajun seafood restaurants around Houma. But for a distinctive experience, groups should take an expedition with Down the Bayou Shrimp Tours, during which they can explore the marsh with working shrimp fishermen. The adventure ends at Kim’s Sugar Shack, where guests can enjoy fresh shrimp in an outdoor pavilion.

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REMEMBER!

Pa duc a h , Kentuck y

OC Sunrise

Groups come to Ocean City, Maryland to have fun.

But they leave with memories that will last a lifetime.

Whether you’re hosting an event, reunion or getaway of any kind, it’s the perfect place to relax, reconnect and rejuvenate. Hope to see you soon!

• • •

• •

Our FREE 10-mile beach and award-winning boardwalk Open-air festivals featuring music, arts and crafts and lots of vendors

Fun outdoor activities like golfing, fishing, paddle boarding, tennis, boating, kayaking, surfing, and more!

Wild Horses

Convenient, drive-to destination centrally located along the East Coast

Shopping, wildlife, and historical museums

Sitting at the confluence of the Ohio and Tennessee rivers, Paducah revels in its waterfront heritage. A series of floodwall murals tell the stories of Paducah’s history and its relationship with the rivers. The destination is also noted for its diverse arts scene and has been named a UNESCO Creative City.

FRESH CATCH: In Paducah and much of western Kentucky, when locals want fresh fish, they order catfish, which is abundant in the area.

The traditional preparation is breaded and fried with tartar sauce, though chefs around the region offer their own interpretations.

WHERE TO GET IT: Catfish Kitchen in nearby Benton is a western Kentucky institution and would be a good fit for a small group. If your motorcoach is closer to full, Doe’s Eat Place in Paducah offers catfish specials and has a private group dining area.

PA D U C A H .T R AV E L

CALL NORMA DOBROWOLSKI

800.626.2326

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