The Group Travel Leader June 2018

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Loretta Lynn was known for her music first and foremost, but the singer was also a capable artisan in other ways, crafting her own stage wear. Witness the 1956 Model 99 Singer Lynn used to sew her early costumes, and experience Loretta Lynn: Blue Kentucky Girl, an exhibit chronicling the story of the Coal Miner’s Daughter—a Country Music Hall of Fame member who always stayed true to herself.

VISIT TODAY. THIS EXPERIENCE IS TAILOR-MADE FOR YOUR GROUP.

#PressPlayRecord • @CountryMusicHOF • 800.852.6437 CountryMusicHallofFame.org/Groups • Downtown Nashville

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

GIBBS GARDENS Ball Ground

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

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DEPARTMENTS COLUMNS 6 EDITOR’S MARKS

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table ofCONTENTS VOL 27 | ISSUE 6

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

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SPECIAL SECTION

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

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FOLLOW THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI FROM NORTH

NEWS

TO SOUTH AND EXPLORE R I V E R F R O N T D E S T I N AT I O N S

8 FA M I LY M AT T E R S

A L O N G T H E WAY.

10 I N D U S T R Y N E W S 14 C O N F E R E N C E S C E N E

Patriotic Parades

O N THE COVE R

A rising moon appears above a native teepee in Standing Rock, North Dakota. Photo by Chris Miele

FEATURES

THESE CELEBRATIONS PUT AMERICAN PRIDE ON DISPLAY.

New in

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NASHVILLE Discover exciting new developments in Music City and nearby communities.

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SPOTLIGHT

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WEST VIRGINIA

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LIVE THEATER GUIDE

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

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

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ELIZA MYERS CHRISTINE CLOUGH SAVANNAH OSBOURN ASHLEY RICKS KELLY TYNER STACEY BOWMAN

Online Editor Copy Editor Staff Writer Circulation Manager Director of Sales & Marketing Advertising Sales Director

888.253.0455

KELLY@GROUPTR AVELLEADER.COM

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

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

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Shop around.

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Then you belong at NTA’s Travel Exchange. You’ll discover product from every U.S. state, all across Canada and 30+ countries worldwide—all under one roof.

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“I walked away with business for 2018 and very positive interest in 2019 and 2020.”

—Satisfied Supplier Joy Tevis

“These contacts become critical in the long-term development of our success.”

—Blissful Buyer Ashley Landers

Registration now open at NTAonline.com/convention

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ast May, I wrote a column in this magazine with some advice for tour operators and travel planners about acting professionally during familiarization (FAM) tours and professional events. Some readers in the travel industry have since asked for a follow-up article that would address FAM tours from their point of view.

In 15 years of travel journalism, I’ve been on more FAM tours and press trips than I can count, and I’ve even assisted in hosting a handful of them. This has given me a lot of chances to gather insights and observe best practices.

So, if you are responsible for planning FAMs for a CVB, tourism board, state travel office or tour company, read on. These tips are for you.

1) DON’T OVERFILL THE ITINERARY. When you have a group of travel influencers in town for a few days, you’re going to be tempted to pack your itinerary and keep the group busy from dawn to dusk to showcase every attraction and activity you have to offer. But you must resist that temptation. Tour participants who don’t have a chance to rest or check in at the office will quickly come to resent the overly ambitious schedule, and resentment is the last feeling you want to foster in your guests. When planning activities on a FAM, less is almost always more.

2) DON’T PLAY POLITICS. There are some things about a trip like this that are inherently political. Your community partners will be paying attention to which attractions you visit, where you eat and what hotels you stay, and if someone feels like they were unfairly left out, you’ll probably hear about it. This is often the main reason itineraries become

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overloaded. But tour planners and travel writers can sense when we’re being used as pawns in a political game, and we don’t enjoy it. If a stakeholder pressures you to do something that isn’t best for your guests, politely decline, and explain your reasons.

3) FOLLOW A THEME. One of the best ways to avoid overscheduling and diffuse political pressure on FAMs is to build your itineraries around a specific theme. Instead of trying to hit every highlight of an area, focus on one aspect, such as culinary experiences, historic sites or student attractions. This gives you an easy way to weed out stops that don’t fit your theme without offending anybody. And it makes the trip easier for your tour planner or travel writer guests, who are probably already looking for themes to use in their travel packages and articles.

4) LIMIT PRESENTATIONS. A good FAM tour is a dynamic, interactive affair that leaves lots of opportunities for collaboration and relationship building. These things happen best in casual conversation, and inserting a formal presentation into the mix only gets in the way. If you need to make remarks, do so quickly and casually, then offer details only as people ask for them. The same principle applies to hotel tours — there are few things more boring than being dragged from one guest room to another, so reserve tours only for people who specifically ask for them.

5) KEEP ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONAL. After-hours entertainment can be a valuable relationship-building tool on FAM tours, but it’s not for everyone. Some people love nightlife, but others can’t wait to wind down alone at the end of the day. As a rule of thumb, any activity that takes place after dinner or before breakfast should be strictly optional. Be quick to invite people to join you for after-hours socializing and gracious if they choose to decline.

You invest a lot of time, effort and resources into your FAM tours, following these principles will help you maximize your positive returns.

JUNE 2018

TOGETHER

SHOWCASE YOUR EVENT FOR GROUPS! Group travelers love festivals and events, and we want to help you reach thousands of potential visitors for your community’s best celebrations.

We’re featuring a story about America’s best group events in our Buyer’s Guide, which will run in September, and we want to hear from you.

You can nominate an event in your state or city. Nominations are absolutely free and will be used for informational purposes only. The deadline for nominations is July 1.

TO NOMINATE YOUR EVENT VISIT: W W W. G R O U P T R AV E L L E A D E R . C O M / B U Y E R S - G U I D E - E V E N T S /

888.253.0455

FAMILY MATTERS

DELEGATES GIVE A ATCONFERENCE HIGH MARKS IN ST. CH ARLES SALEM, Ohio — The travel industry is discovering the value of group travel within the African-American community and seems to also agree that attending the African American Travel Conference (AATConference) not only offers a great return on investment but also is a lot of fun.

AATConference is the leading gathering of travel leaders in the African-American community and brings them together with travel industry representatives interested in this group market. AATConference is in its 18th year and was recently held in St. Charles, Illinois.

The conference had a record attendance of over 350 delegates, with 28 states represented and a total group buying power exceeding $35 million.

Travel industry delegates rated the conference as one of the best events in the industry: • 88.9 percent of delegates said the conference met or exceeded their overall expectations.

• 81.5 percent of delegates rated the marketplace and appointments as very satisfying.

• 96.2 percent of delegates rated the conference as extremely or very enjoyable.

•92.1 percent of delegates plan to attend the 2019 AATConference.

“I give credit to the AATConference travel planners for these off-the-chart ratings,” said

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Joe Cappuzzello, president of AATConference.

“They are so real and welcoming of new relationships and ideas.”

Travel industry members who have not yet discovered the African-American group market should look at the survey results from this year’s travel industry delegates, which indicate there may be an untapped group marketplace at AATConference that is not only profitable but also enjoyable.

For information on AATC, call 800-6280993 or visit www.aatconline.com.

AATCONFERENCE FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT AND NETWORKING.

EIGHTEEN YEARS OF INFLUENCE “I had a lot of travel planner friends in the African-American community and simply invited them to get together,” said Charlie Presley, founder of AATConference, in looking back. From that simple beginning almost 20 years ago, a power in group travel emerged.

Today, the AATConference delegates attending this year’s meeting will purchase more than $35 million of travel.

That impact on the group travel industry is because of the influence travel planners have in their communities.

“I do more than plan travel for my members,” said Pixi Witherspoon of Chicago. “I know them, and they trust me when they travel.”

This year’s AATC was hosted by the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau and was held at Pheasant Run Resort.

Delegates were treated to sightseeing tours and were told of the group offerings of Pheasant Run Resort. Just west of Chicago in the scenic Fox Valley, St. Charles serves as a group destination for hub-and-spoke tours. “I discovered a new destination in my backyard,” Witherspoon said.

The travel industry was well represented at the conference, from destination delegates to cruise line employees. The Shrine of Christ’s Passion sponsored a breakfast where delegates learned of the attraction’s unique offerings.

The shrine is located in northwest Indiana only one hour outside Chicago.

Cruising was a big topic of conversation, and MSC Cruises gained visibility with groups by hosting a luncheon that featured its group-oriented sailings. Sixty-two percent of AATC groups enjoy cruising on a regular basis.

To discover why your group should plan a trip to St. Charles, contact the Greater St. Charles CVB at 800-777-4373, or visit www. visitstcharles.com. For more about group offerings at Pheasant Run Resort, call 630584-6300 or visit www.pheasantrun.com.

JUNE 2018

GROUP TR AVEL FAMILY AT TENDS SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST (SXSW) SALEM, Ohio — Travel leaders, bloggers, hustlers, gigs and bears — oh my! The face of group travel is changing as new generations of travel influencers enter the market with advanced avenues of gaining travel followings. This is great news for the travel industry.

The Group Travel Family monitors the movement of the travel industry and has led the sector for over 30 years, delivering development tools to travel leaders and the tourism industry alike. Charlie and Kathleen Presley recently attended the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, as part of The Group Travel Family research and development outreach.

“We were there with 80,000 of our closest friends,” Charlie Presley said with a smile. “Attending SXSW allows The Group Travel Family to advance technology and expose the travel industry to new ideas outside its norm.”

For example, because of contacts made by Presley at SXSW a few years ago, he delivered the first Remote Presence Technology to a travel conference. The robot allowed a DMO in Pennsylvania to keep appointments with travel planners at a conference in California.

This year’s attendance to SXSW brought a new awakening to group travel: awareness and development of a new breed of travel leader. These travel leaders are younger, hipper and more open-minded and, generally, have no clue they are travel planners because, like most of us, they have simply fallen into leading travel by mistake.

“I attended a meeting at SXSW of Women With Side Hustles and discovered that many were leading friends and family on planned travel, just like group leaders, travel planners and all the old names we have used for it,” Presley said. “Most of this group of 60 women considered the travel activity as a side hustle and were engaged in the activity not to make money, but because they enjoyed the pleasure that it provided their friends and family.”

Presley also engaged a meeting of people who considered their work in organizing travel for their friends as a travel gig. One person volunteers to plan a trip, a bunch of friends follow, and tourism dollars are generated.

Travel bloggers were the third new set of group leaders Presley encountered, and while they are a slightly different animal, they also were attempting to influence groups of people to travel.

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INDUSTRY NEWS INDIANAPOLIS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OPENS INTERACTIVE SPORTS AREA INDIANAPOLIS — The $38 million Sports Legends Experience, where children and adults can immerse themselves in a variety of sports environments from golf to football, opened in March at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum.

The seasonal seven-acre outdoor area features 12 sports experience zones, ranging from a recreated Indianapolis Motor Speedway where families can race pedal cars to a Pete Dyedesigned putting golf course whose holes are replicas of his designs from around the world.

There are small football, baseball and soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and a street hockey area.

At the center is a 60-foot-all sports tree with a spiral staircase and elevator. Various platforms allow visitors to sit in sports equipment and look out over the rest of the park. The outside of the tree has sports objects carved into it.

Bronze sculptures honor iconic sports legends

with Indiana connections, including Larry Bird, Pete and Alice Dye, A.J. Foyt, Reggie Miller, Wayne Gretzky, Oscar Robertson, Wilma Rudolph and Reggie Wayne.

A half-acre indoor area features exhibits dealing with the world of sport and the history of basketball, along with the National Art Museum of Sports.

W W W.CH I LDR E NSMUSEU M.ORG

THE NEW SPORTS LEGENDS EXPERIENCE AT THE INDIANAPOLIS CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FEATURES INTERACTIVE SPORTS AREAS AND EXHIBITS OF ARTWORK DEPICTING POPULAR SPORTS FIGURES.

Photos courtesy Indianapolis Children’s Museum

DISTINCTIVELY DESIGNED MARKEL CENTER OPENS AT VCU

MUSIC CITY SOUNDS A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT HERE.

cheekwood.org

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RICHMOND, Virginia — The new $41 million Markel Center, home for the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) at Virginia Commonwealth University, opened April 21 with “Declaration,” an exhibition exploring themes of protest and social injustice with a mix of projects in a variety of media.

The 41,000-square-foot center includes a 33-foothigh central atrium, a state-of-the-art 240-seat auditorium, classrooms, fabrication workshop, cafe bar and sculpture garden in addition to its gallery space, one of which also includes 33-foot-high walls.

The distinctive Steven Holl design is a mix of fritted glass and pre-weathered zinc with strategically placed windows and skylights to provide plenty of interior natural light.

The four green roofs planted with native vegetation will absorb stormwater and increase insulation.

Located at the intersection or Richmond’s historic Belvidere and Broad streets, the ICA will provide a striking new gateway to the city, with dual entrances opening to the city’s arts district on one side and university’s Monroe Park campus on the other side.

WWW.ICA.VCU.EDU

JUNE 2018

SEAT TLE SPACE NEEDLE RENOVATION TO PROVIDE MORE SEAMLESS VIEW SEATTLE — The iconic Seattle Space Needle is finishing up a major renovation that will the latest in construction technology and materials to provide a more open, barrier-free view of the city and the surrounding Puget Sound from the 605-foot-tall structure.

The new views, 35 percent more expansive than allowed by the original technology when the Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fair, are made possible with the installation of 48 floor-to-ceiling glass panels, each measuring 11 feet high, seven feet wide and 2.5 feet thick, that replace safety cages that created breaks in the view.

The open-air observation deck will include attached glass benches that tilt to give a downward view and allow visitors to feel as if they are dangling their feet over Seattle.

Inside, a circular stairway of steel, wood and glass will connect the upper observation level to a lower level that features the world’s first and only glass rotating floor observation deck and lounge.

The Space Needle will also feature a state-of-theart ADA lift for the mobility impaired.

THE RENOVATED OBSERVATION DECK AT THE SEATTLE SPACE NEEDLE PROVIDES OPEN, BARRIER-FREE VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.

Courtesy Seattle Space Needle

WWW.SEEWHATSUP.SPACE

Courtesy VCU

THE NEW $41 MILLION MARKEL CENTER AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY IS HOME TO THE INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART.

Georgia‘s Courtesy VCU GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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Changing

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

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t NTA’s Travel Exchange conference last December in St. Louis, I was among those participants who were shocked to hear what National Park Service (NPS) bureaucrats had in mind to raise added revenue from the group tour industry.

The proposal that NPS discussed was somewhat complex, but it essentially assessed a fee of $300 each year for a commercial tour company to take a motorcoach into a National Park site and a $5-per-person management fee, plus a lot of what appears to be unnecessary paperwork.

Under this proposal, tour operators will be treated differently than individual park visitors. Even visiting a free park unit — more than two-thirds of the 417 total — will cost operators $300 for a “Commercial Use Authorization” (CUA) in addition to $5 per head, a total of $550 for a full coach of 50 guests at an ostensibly free site; operators will also have to process a lot of paperwork before a park visit and again at the end of the year.

Many of us at that meeting argued vociferously that the proposed new regulations as constituted would be nothing short of disaster. Yet, if I am reading correctly the new NPS requirements announced on April 12 for implementation October 1, 2019, the NPS now seems to be implementing what it initially proposed with few changes; it seems the input it requested from our industry was ignored.

It also appears that these D.C. administrators have not thought through all the details and that they are about to shoot themselves in the proverbial foot. Why those who provide tour services to older travelers and students who can’t drive their own cars into a free park unit should have to pay $11, based on a 50-passenger group, to $15, based on a group of 30, per person, including the cost of a management fee to report the visit to a federal official is beyond comprehension. And I’ve never seen a policy better designed to encourage cheating.

I’ll stick by my original assessment that if this program is implemented as written, many smaller operators will be driven out of running tours to the parks and will be forced to purchase their park-oriented programs from large companies like Tauck, Globus, Trafalgar, Mayflower, etc., that offer dozens of departures and

NEW NPS CHARGES UNFAIR TO TOUR OPERATORS 12

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have the automated data-processing equipment and software to allow them to deal efficiently with the new paperwork.

Furthermore, even to “fee” park sites — since the $300 CUA assessment is apparently the same whether an operator brings one or 100 departures — it could work out to only $3 per tour for large companies while smaller organizations will have to pay much more proportionately. For example, one of my consulting clients annually offers a single departure of a Southwest National Parks itinerary that visits 11 NPS sites along the way. Before it sells one guest on the tour in the future, it will be required to fork over $3,300 for nonrefundable CUA permits, then pay currently unspecified per-passenger park entrance fees upon arrival. Then there is the $5-per-guest management fee accompanying the mandatory CUA utilization report at the end of each operating season, although “for operations in parks that collect an entrance fee, NPS will deduct a $5 per client CUA management fee from entrance fees paid by road-based commercial tour CUA holders.” Can anyone make sense of that?

Incidentally, individual travelers who show up in their cars and contribute to park traffic nightmares will be subject to only a $5 increase for a sevenday vehicle pass at most fee sites. Remember when more enlightened NPS officials realized that one motorcoach replaces 20, 25 or more automobiles?

Farewell, common sense.

NEW REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED

BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WOULD MAKE IT EXPENSIVE FOR TOUR GROUPS TO VISIT EVEN “FREE” PARK SITES, SUCH AS THE CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT IN ARIZONA.

By Bob Hoelscher

JUNE 2018

EXPERT

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MELANIE JACKSON

RON A L D RE A G A N PRE SIDEN T I A L L IBR A R Y A ND MU SEUM

RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM Courtesy Reagan Foundation

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

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elanie Jackson didn’t expect to meet a former president of the United States on a Sunday morning. But an unforseen encounter in the 1990s set off a chain of events that would lead her into a career she loves.

“It was my first day handing out brochures as a new member of my church,” Jackson said. “Little did I know that at 10:55, President Reagan would arrive. He was very humble and didn’t want to attract attention. But he arrived with the Secret Service in three SUVs. So I told him and Mrs. Reagan that it was such a privilege to have him there, and he said, ‘My dear, it is my privilege.’”

This encounter proved the first of many that Jackson would have with the president at her church in Southern California. Over time, she got to know the Reagans and would often sit with them during services. She developed a great admiration for the president and eventually found an interest in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, which is near her home in Simi Valley, California.

“I volunteered to be a docent there for the centennial of the president’s birth,” Jackson said. “But they had so many big events planned, including a renovation, that I was hired into the development department and worked on marketing and membership. I’ve been here since August of 2010.”

Jackson grew up in Illinois — Reagan’s home state — but had spent much of her early career as a marketer in the Los Angeles area. Now, she draws on those skills, as well as her passion for history and for the Reagan story, to promote and share the presidential library and museum with visitors.

“This is the most unique destination in Southern California,” she said.

“We have an exact replica of the Oval Office from when Reagan was president, with the Western-themed decor that he chose. We have an interactive exhibit with digitized forms of Reagan’s handwritten diaries, which he wrote in daily. And we have Air Force One, a 707 that President Reagan flew on.”

Jackson loves helping groups set up memorable experiences at the museum, including three-course luncheons underneath the wings of Air Force One. She said Reagan’s story and legacy resonate with tour groups.

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SALES TIP FROM MELANIE “ It ’s a l l ab out t he p er s on a l re l at ionsh ips . We g et a lot of rep e at people br ing ing busloads a f ter busloads. We do phy sica l ma i l i ng s because even somet h ing simple l ike a postca rd rem inds t hem about us.”

“They’re truly inspired when they visit and have a sense of national pride, patriotism and civility,” she said. “He was a traditionalist, a statesman, a great communicator and a real hero.”

Jackson meets travel planners at numerous travel industry events, including the Going On Faith Conference, Select Traveler Conference and American Bus Association Marketplace. And when she’s not reaching out to tour operators and group leaders, she’s collaborating with partners at local hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and tourism alliances to help promote tourism to the entire region.

From a surprise encounter at church, Jackson has found a professional community that brings her a lot of satisfaction.

“It’s definitely a personal pride to be here,” she said. “I’m very happy to work with who I work with. We have 400 highly educated docents, and there’s a high standard here. We reflect Reagan’s legacy.”

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CONFERENCE SCENE

COLLETTE CELEBRATES A CENTURY IN TRAVEL EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT JACLYN LEIBL-COTE CUTS THE ANNIVERSARY CAKE SURROUNDED BY OTHER SULLLIVAN FAMILY MEMBERS.

A COLLETTE GROUP ON TOUR IN 1968

Collette, one of the best-known travel brands in America, takes a few days each year to host a trip with its Presidents Club members as a reward for their loyalty. Typically, the company introduces a featured destination, like Ireland or, in 2019, a European river cruise.

This year, for its 100th anniversary, Collette showcased its home in Providence and Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and Joe Cappuzzello and I went as guests.

President and CEO Dan Sullivan Jr. was there for most events, including a tour of the company’s sprawling headquarters in Pawtucket, where 353 employees of its 607-member workforce have their offices. Collette was founded

by Jack Collette, who owned it from 1918 until 1962, when he sold it to Dan Sullivan Sr. The Sullivan family has owned and run the company ever since.

Sullivan family members have always held key positions in management of the company, but there are nonfamily executives as well, people like executive vice president Paula Twidale, who just completed two years as chair of the United States Tour Operators Association, and Bob Colucci, who presented Collette’s financial information as its executive vice president and CFO. I was impressed by the nature of the content Collette offered the clients on the trip. It became apparent early on that this gathering was more than a sales seminar. Presentations included in-depth discussions of Collette’s approach to technology, financial accountability, airline relationships and social responsibility. Collette treated these guests like industry partners, not order takers.

Twidale led off by asking attendees, “Who is chipping away at your business? You must realize that Google, Priceline and Expedia have become competitors of yours.” Then she exhorted them to be bold.

PRESIDENT AND CEO DAN SULLIVAN, JR. SHARES A LAUGH WITH PRESIDENT’S CLUB MEMBERS.

A CONTEMPORARY COLLETTE GROUP ENJOYS A TRIP TO BOTSWANA. Courtesy NTA

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Photos courtesy Collette

JUNE 2018

“It’s time for many of you to venture out,” she said. “Consider places like Vietnam, Morocco and Jordan.”

I spoke with Dan Sullivan Jr. and referenced the noncommercial approach to the weekend’s agenda.

“There are many reasons a company lasts 100 years,” he said. “Sales is only one. We want these clients to know we are financially sound and that our approach has never changed. My father went into hotels 50 years ago and contracted for rooms himself. Today, we still do that. We have our people on the ground all over the world. We do the work ourselves.”

Two breakout sessions were run by family members Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, executive vice president of product and tour management, and Diana Ditto, director of product design, who discussed Collette’s Explorations division.

“We love the option of choosing between bike riding or walking,” a client told Leibl-Cote.

“That’s become very popular with our groups.”

“Great, let’s talk about pacing,” said Leibl-Cote.

“Younger people don’t want to get up and start until 9 a.m. or so,” said a client. “The older ones are ready to go by 7:30, so that’s a balancing act.”

“Our older travelers are starting to like free time,” said another, “but they want a list of options beforehand so they can plan for it.”

Ditto’s observations about Collette’s Explorations trips spoke to the future.

“We’ve moved from a maximum of 24 to 19,” she said. “These are active versus passive trips. We emphasize gastronomy, quality over quantity and use native transportation, things like subways, trains, tuk-tuks and camels.

“We sleep on the Erin Islands in Ireland,” she said. “We chase sunrises and sunsets. We visit the salt flats in Bolivia and women’s cooperatives in Jordan; we ride Vespas in Tuscany and do Switzerland entirely by rail. In Morocco, we get to the hotel by camel because there’s no other way. We mush to breakfast in Finland and eat street food in Vietnam.”

Social events, sightseeing in historic Newport and a gala dinner enlivened the weekend, but it was the give-and-take between Collette and its customers that impressed me.

Sullivan summed up this year’s message to these Presidents Club members succinctly: “We think the future is about choices on tour,” he said. “We have to facilitate choices for people in destinations today. They want that freedom. That’s where the industry’s headed.”

W W W.GOCOL L E T T E .COM

GIVE BETTER Join forces with 160+ member companies and 13,000+ travel professionals to amplify your giving and marketing, and inspire your employees.

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Ad space generously donated.

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In just one day, more than 300 volunteers from 80 companies donated nearly $50,000 in volunteer labor hours to national and state parks in New York and New Jersey.

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S I D E WA L K

Celebrations Courtesy Music Celebrations International

by BRIAN JEWELL

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Courtesy City of Chicago

here’s nothing more American than celebrating heroes.

On Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the Fourth of July, Americans gather in cities big and small to throw parades honoring people who have sacrificed for freedom. From charming local affairs to massive events with hundreds of thousands of spectators, these patriotic parades make great ways for travelers to revel in the best of Americana.

If your group enjoys flag-waving salutes and festive outdoor celebrations, consider integrating one of these patriotic parades into your travel plans.

TOP: SOLDIERS CARRY A LARGE AMERICAN FLAG IN THE CHICAGO MEMORIAL DAY PARADE. MIDDLE LEFT: NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BOTTOM LEFT: MEMORIAL DAY IN GETTYSBURG

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JUNE 2018 Courtesy Gettysburg CVB

AT T H E S E PA R A D E S , T H E F U N C O M E S I N WAV E S BRISTOL FOURTH OF JULY Bristol, Rhode Island The Revolutionary War had only been over for two years when a church in Bristol, Rhode Island, held its first “Patriotic Exercises” to honor and celebrate the war’s veterans in 1785. That began a tradition that has continued ever since, making Bristol Fourth of July the longest-running Independence Day celebration in the country. The highlight is the Military, Civic and Firemen’s Parade that follows a two-and-a-halfmile route downtown. The parade features marchers, bands and floats and is attended by as many as 50,000 spectators. Other events surrounding the holiday include a concert series, a drum-and-bugle-corps competition and vintage baseball games.

NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE Washington, D.C. Washington is a popular destination for patriotic travelers year-round, but the city’s celebrations around the Fourth of July take things to the next level. Hundreds of thousands of spectators attend the National Independence Day Parade on Constitution Avenue. The parade is hosted by the National Park service and features a wide array of participants, including invited marching bands, fife and drum corps, floats, military units, giant balloons, horses and a variety of national dignitaries and celebrity participants. Groups that come for the parade can also enjoy concerts throughout the city, as well as the free Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Memorial Day is all about remembering men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country, and there may be no more poignant place to do so than Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 1863, a massive Civil War battle raged through the city’s streets and surrounding countryside, and the address that Abraham Lincoln gave at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery became one of the most famous speeches in history. On Memorial Day, a commission of local veterans holds a parade and ceremony. Though the parade isn’t large, it is one of the oldest Memorial Day parades in the country, having celebrated its 150th anniversary last year.

NATIONA L V ETERANS DAY PARADE Birmingham, Alabama Americans had celebrated the end of World War I on Armistice Day each November since 1919. But in 1947, a World War II veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, began a campaign to reclassify Veterans Day as a day to honor veterans of all foreign wars.

Birmingham celebrates its place as the “birthplace of Veterans Day” each year with the National Veterans Day Parade. Some 80,000 spectators come to watch this parade, which concludes with fireworks over the city’s famous Vulcan statue. Other elements of the celebration include a veterans memorial service and a world peace luncheon.

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PATRIOTISM ON PARADE IN BRISTOL

A HISTORIC JULY FOURTH CELEBRATION IN BRISTOL

GETTYSBURG’S MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Courtesy Gettysburg CVB

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By Nat Squarito, courtesy Bristol Fourth of July Celebration

By Nat Squarito, courtesy Bristol Fourth of July Celebration

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W ELC OME HOME V ETERANS CELEBRATION Clarksville, Tennessee As home to the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, Clarksville, Tennessee, has patriotism in spades.

Each September, the city comes together to celebrate its history of service and patriotic spirit at the Welcome Home Veterans Celebration. Taking place over National POW/MIA Remembrance Day, the three-day celebration honors veterans of all the armed forces. Festivities include a formal remembrance ceremony, musical and comedy entertainment and a Welcome Home parade. Groups get reserved seats at the parade, and group members who served in the armed forces are invited to march in the procession. This year’s celebration will take place September 12-16.

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CLARKSVILLE’S WELCOME HOME VETERANS CELEBRATION

CELEBRATING VETERANS IN CLARKSVILLE

Courtesy Clarksville-Montgomery Co. CVB

COMMERCE CITY MEMORIAL DAY PARADE Commerce City, Colorado A suburb on the north side of Denver, Commerce City, Colorado, isn’t famous for much. But each May, it hosts the state’s largest Memorial Day Parade in its historic downtown district. The parade takes place over two hours and follows a mile-and-a-half route.

More than 100 local and state organizations participate in the parade. Visitors can see marching bands, military units, decorated floats and antique cars.

This year will mark the city’s 54th annual Memorial Day parade. Groups can easily include a morning at the parade as part of their tours in the Denver area.

W W W.C3GOV.COM

Courtesy Clarksville-Montgomery Co. CVB

Courtesy Auburn Veterans Day Parade HISTORIC INTERPRETERS IN AUBURN’S PARADE

SOLDIERS MARCHING IN THE AUBURN VETERANS DAY PARADE

Courtesy Auburn Veterans Day Parade

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The American landscape is so many things. It’s vast expanses of sky and VETERANS DAY PARADE AND OBSERVANCE Auburn, Washington Auburn, Washington, is a small waterfront town on the Puget Sound between Seattle and Tacoma. But it hosts one of the larger Veterans Day events in the United States. The parade takes place in the town’s charming main street area and usually attracts more than 8,000 spectators. More than 200 entities participate in the parade, including high school marching bands, veterans units, honor guards and military vehicles. The parade is accompanied by a variety of community events, including a remembrance ceremony, a marching band competition, a luncheon and a “curb competition,” in which homes and businesses decorate their exteriors with patriotic flair.

INCLUDED

ROUNDTRIP HOMETOWN TO AIRPORT

TRANSFERS

endless seas of blue. It’s red rock deserts, fertile fields and boundless beaches.

It’s horizons, hillsides and plains. It’s neon-lit cities that glow all night. It rises up to greet you with all of its wonderful grandeur and presents you with the sights that have shaped the American experience since the very beginning. It’s overwhelming and awesome. It’s bold and diverse. It’s America the Beautiful.

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HOUSTON SA LUTES AMERICAN HEROES Houston Houston has a lot of active military members and veterans, and the city has long been known for throwing one of the most lavish Veterans Day parades in the country. But in 2017, for the first time in decades, the parade was canceled because of Hurricane Harvey.

The city still held its Houston Salutes American Heroes celebration with a road race and ceremonies, and organizers have promised that the full-scale parade will return this year. About 10,000 guests usually attend the parade. The event also holds a job, resource and health fair for veterans.

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A FAMILY AT THE AUBURN VETERANS DAY PARADE

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Courtesy Auburn Veterans Day Parade

YEARS OF

EXPERIENCE Bryce Canyon National Park AUBURN VETERANS DAY PARADE Courtesy Auburn Veterans Day Parade GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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V ETERANS HOMEC OMING W EEK Branson, Missouri Veterans are honored every day in Branson, Missouri, the entertainment capital of the Midwest.

Nearly all the city’s dozens of music and comedy shows feature a patriotic segment with special recognition of veterans in attendance. So it only makes sense that the community goes all out for Veterans Day. Branson features so many festivities that the city has organized a series of events called Veterans Homecoming Week. Though the main attraction is the parade on Veterans Day, groups should plan to come several days earlier to enjoy limited-engagement entertainment in the local theaters, as well as memorial services, a military film festival and various reunions.

By Alexander Adams, courtesy Choose Chicago A PARADE DURING VETERANS HOMECOMING WEEK IN BRANSON

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- CB&S Bank Shining Stars, Russellville, AL

“Windows of Aurora” Hillforest Victorian House Museum

CHICAGO’ S MEMORIA L DAY PARADE Chicago Chicago first held a Memorial Day parade in 1870 and has celebrated the holiday ever since. Locals claim that the parade has grown larger and better every year, with as many as 6,000 marchers in the procession on South Street. Spectators see representatives from every branch of the armed services, as well as the junior ROTC, and get up-close looks at some seriously impressive military machinery. The parade is preceded by a wreath-laying ceremony at Daley Plaza and features special recognition of Gold Star families that have lost a loved one in war.

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Courtesy Explore Branson

CHICAGO MEMORIAL DAY PARADE Courtesy City of Chicago

VETERANS DAY IN BRANSON

OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

1

Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

Louisville

Lexington

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

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com

Courtesy Explore Branson

800-322-8198

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Scand inavia n Herita ge Park, Minot

Josh Duhamel

MUST-SEE You can see a lot of culture on TV and in the movies. And then, you can go out and live it. Actor Josh Duhamel enjoys getting out of character and visiting his home state of North Dakota for some authentic, on-location experiences.

Take in events like North America's largest Scandinavian festival or an international powwow with your travel groups. Visit us online to plan your next tour itinerary.

LegendaryND.com

NORTH DAKOTA

STATE SPOTLIGHT

GR AND FORKS

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here’s plenty

new in North Dakota.

Known for

its expansive

plains and rugged terrain, North Dakota

offers history, adventure and scenery to visiting groups. But the state’s appeal isn’t all based on the past: In cities and towns

from the eastern border to the western

badlands, new attractions and activities are giving travelers reasons to return.

In Bismarck, the state capital, visi-

tors can marvel at the size of an aquatic

dinosaur that once lived in the area at a new museum exhibition. There are more

dinosaurs to discover at a new museum

in Dickinson, about 100 miles away.

And further west, in Medora, Theodore

Roosevelt National Park is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, with plenty of

ways for groups to enjoy the area’s heritage.

In the eastern part of the state, sports

fans can tour one of the country’s pre-

eminent hockey arenas at the University

of North Dakota in Grand Forks or explore an emerging art scene in the town of Wahpeton.

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All photos courtesy ND Tourism

CELEBRATING TEDDY This is an exciting year in Medora, the North Dakota town that Theodore Roosevelt made famous. Roosevelt spent time in the Dakota territories as a young man in the 1880s, and the experience left a lasting impression on him. Medora is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary throughout 2018.

The park is known for its spectacular scenery, with 70,000 acres of canyons and wildlife. Near the main visitors center, groups can visit the Maltese Cross Cabin, where Roosevelt stayed during his time working as a cowboy in Medora. The visitor center also has a gift shop, a museum and a theater.

Groups visiting the park almost always stay for “Medora Musical,” a revue-style outdoor show that highlights the area’s Western heritage in an amphitheater overlooking the North Dakota Badlands.

Many also include a pitchfork fondue, complete with steak and sarsaparilla. At the nearby Chateau de Mores State Historical Site, visitors can now enjoy new activities such as a gospel brunch, street performances and musical entertainment.

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ARTS AND ANIMALS A historic building in downtown Wahpeton, on the Minnesota border in the southeastern corner of the state, took on new life in 2011 when area residents repurposed it to open the Red Door Art Gallery and Museum. The museum showcases work by local, regional and national artists and hosts groups for a variety of hands-on art classes.

Recently, the Wahpeton Visitor Center moved into the Red Door Gallery, giving groups visiting town a great way to learn about the area and enjoy its art, all free of charge. The museum will also serve as headquarters for the city’s sesquicentennial celebration in 2019.

After stopping at the museum, groups visiting Wahpeton should plan to spend some time at the Chahinkapa Zoo. Home to more than 200 animals from six continents, the zoo is known for its conservation-focused orangutan habitat. The zoo offers behind-thescenes tours and orangutan encounters for groups and is preparing for the arrival of two white rhinos.

DINO DEBUT In Bismarck, visitors will find a hub of cultural activities and institutions. The most prominent is the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, a free museum that tells the story of the natural and human history of the area spanning millennia.

Making news at the museum this spring was the debut of a new dinosaur fossil that was unveiled in late April. The exhibit is a 10-foot-long partial cast of a plesiosaur, a long-necked marine reptile that lived in North Dakota during the dinosaur age. The exhibit also includes an authentic vertebrate specimen and a wall mural that depicts the world the plesiosaur inhabited.

In addition to the dinosaur and other geological artifacts, groups will find three more galleries that highlight the innovations of the area’s early native people, life on the North Dakota frontier and the state’s contributions to World War I. There’s also a museum store and a coffee shop.

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DICKINSON MUSEUM Groups traveling along Interstate 94 between Bismarck and Medora might want to take a break to spend time in Dickinson, where a new museum has been attracting lots of attention.

The Badlands Dinosaur Museum opened last year at the Dickinson Museum Center to showcase the state’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils. Exhibits include a complete triceratops skull, six full dinosaur skeletons and some new fossils discovered by paleontologists in 2016. Visitors can also see the laboratory where fossils are cleaned, categorized and prepared for public exhibit.

The dinosaur museum is part of the Dickinson Museum Center, home to numerous educational and cultural institutions. The Joachim Museum exhibits art and historical items of regional significance, and Pioneer Machinery Hall has numerous historic farm and agricultural machines on display. Groups also enjoy touring the historic buildings at 12-acre Prairie Outpost Park, a 12-acre park.

These buildings include a historic church and a railroad coal car.

HOCKEY AND MORE With its legendarily long winters, North Dakota is a hockey hot spot. Hockey is perhaps the most popular sport throughout the state and certainly the most popular in Grand Forks, which sits on the state’s eastern border.

Grand Forks is home to the University of North Dakota and its national-champion men’s hockey team. The team plays at the Ralph, a $104 million state-of-the-art arena that is often counted among the finest hockey facilities in the world. Groups of sports fans can attend a hockey match there, and the university now also offers behind-the-scenes tours that highlight the center’s amenities and the processes used to create and maintain the ice.

Grand Forks offers a number of other activity options for groups.

In addition to weekly events in the downtown area, visitors will enjoy a visit to the Japanese Garden at Sertoma Park, as well as tours and tastings at Widman’s Chocolates, owned by a local family for four generations.

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FROM

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Eclectic

GROUPS VISITING NASHVILLE NOW HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN EVER FOR LIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCES. Courtesy Nashville CVC

A PIE AT GOO GOO SHOP AND DESSERT BAR DOWNTOWN

INSIDE THE STUDIO WITH IMAGINE RECORDINGS Courtesy Goo Goo Cluster

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Courtesy Nashville CVC

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THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW REASONS TO VISIT

N AS HVI LLE J

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

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GOO GOO SHOP Courtesy Goo Goo Cluster A RENDERING OF THE FIFTH AND BROADWAY COMPLEX, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION DOWNTOWN

Courtesy Nashville CVC

T

he hits just keep on coming in Music City USA. Nashville, Tennessee, steadily rose to fame throughout the 20th century as the capital of the country music industry and the home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Marquee attractions such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Opryland Hotel made the city a popular destination for tourists from around the region. But in the past decade, a new string of high-profile openings and sizzling media attention, including the hit TV drama “Nashville,” have made Music City more popular than ever.

Today, groups have many reasons to include the Nashville area in their travel plans. In addition to the longtime favorite attractions, the city has a bevy of new experiences waiting to give visitors unprecedented access to the area’s music, art and history. And in the surrounding suburbs, groups can enjoy a slower pace of life and authentic charm that provides a relaxing counterpoint to the excitement of Nashville.

D OW NTOW N DEV ELOPMENTS Much of Nashville’s tourism scene is based in the downtown district, which is home to several major attractions and many of the honky-tonk music clubs packed with visitors night after night to hear up-and-coming performers. The growth of interest in downtown has outpaced the growth of the area’s hotel inventory, with the increased demand sending downtown room rates sky high.

But help is on the way in the form of numerous new hotel projects in the city center.

“There’s a projected 14,000 hotel rooms in development in our area currently,” said LouAnna Henton, senior tourism sales manager for the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation.

“A lot of that development is in the downtown area. Between now and the end of the year, there are five properties expected to open in downtown.”

Those hotels include a 500-room JW Marriott opening this summer. Groups may be particularly interested in a new Drury Plaza that will open on Third Avenue in 2020.

“We expect to see some relief in room prices coming down,” Henton said. “That’s great for our tour and travel market. It’s going to give them some access to downtown that they haven’t had in several years.”

Whether they stay downtown or not, groups spending time there will be able to enjoy a variety of new attractions. On the site of the old Nashville Convention Center, a new multiuse development called Fifth and Broadway is expected to open in 2019 with retail stores and a food hall that features local companies. The development will also be the home of the new National Museum of African American Music.

CANDY AND C OMEDY If you grew up in the South, you’ve probably encountered the Goo Cluster. This round candy bar was created in Nashville and is made with

Artwork by Donia Simmons GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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A STUDIO EXPERIENCE WITH IMAGINE RECORDINGS

RAY STEVENS CABARAY SHOWROOM

Courtesy Nashville CVC

d r o f r e h t u R r e v o Disc STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD ANTEBELLUM HOME TOURS VIBRANT DOWNTOWN DISTRICT CULTURAL ARTS VENUES AGRITOURISM EXPERIENCES MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVALS NISSAN PLANT TOURS MORE THAN 4,200 HOTEL ROOMS OVER 300 RESTAURANTS FREE COUNTY-WIDE PARKING

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Courtesy Nashville CVC

marshmallow, nougat, peanuts and chocolate. The company recently opened the Goo Shop and Dessert Bar downtown, where groups can learn about the candy’s history and have a variety of sweet culinary experiences.

“They have started chocolate classes for groups,” Henton said. “They can do in-depth experiences with chocolate and wine, or learn about the history of Goo Goo in Nashville and then make their own Goo Clusters to take with them.”

Another new attraction gets groups outside of the busy downtown district and into a Las Vegas-style showroom for some music and laughs from country comedy legend Ray Stevens.

“Ray Stevens has opened a new venue, the Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom,” Henton said. “He performs Thursday through Saturday; then they have guest entertainment for a Sunday brunch. They have a piano bar that groups really enjoy before the show.”

After cocktails and entertainment in the piano bar, visitors proceed into the main auditorium, which features 700 seats and numerous wraparound VIP booths, for dinner. The entertainers go the extra mile to make an evening there feel like a special occasion.

“After the show is over, they send everyone back

JUNE 2018

to the piano bar,” Henton said. “Sometimes Ray comes out and mingles with everyone there at the end of the show.”

INSIDE MUSIC ROW For decades, Nashville’s music industry was driven by the people who worked in the recording studios and record label offices in a part of town called Music Row. And though many visitors saw it from the windows of a bus during a city tour, there were few opportunities for them to see the inner works of the industry. But several new programs now offer groups unprecedented access to Music Row. “Some of our receptive tour operators are offering Music Row studio tours,” Henton said. “There’s a list of about 20 different studios participating in this.

Groups can visit three to five studios in one day.”

Tour organizers can’t guarantee which studios will be featured on each tour because they are still all active recording locations. But the particulars don’t matter much because all the studios have been used by music superstars to record hit songs that visitors will immediately recognize.

For an even more immersive experience, groups can schedule a session with Imagine Recordings, which does live recording sessions for visitors at Sound Stage Studios, where artists such as George Strait, Miranda Lambert and Kenny Chesney have recorded.

“They bring in a singer-songwriter, and the group sits in on an active recording

ONE OF NUMEROUS SUMNER COUNTY HISTORIC HOMES Courtesy Sumner Co. CVB

SEE THE BEST OF NASHVILLE Catch the new stars, superstars, and legends of country music at the world longest running radio show, the Grand Ole Opry. Shows every Friday & Saturday, plus Tuesdays March through December.

Tour the Opry House and go behind the scenes of the show that made country music famous. Tours available daily.

Tour the Ryman, known as The Mother Church of Country Music. The history of this National Historic Landmark comes to life as never before with the state-of-the-art Soul of Nashville pre-tour experience and new multi-media exhibits. Tours available daily.

If your group is itchin’ to have a little fun, come experience downtown Nashville’s newest entertainment and dining destination!

Inspired by Blake Shelton’s hit song of the same name, Ole Red features four floors of fun, including dedicated event space and a rooftop with the best views of the city.

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Artwork by David Brown 615.882.5439

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SANDY JUSTICE

MIKE MOLLOY

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CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

TOURING REESE BROS. MULE FARM IN SUMNER COUNTY Courtesy www.visitnorfolktoday.com Courtesy Sumner Co. CVB

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session,” Henton said. “They have five or six seats inside the studio where the vocalists are, so guests can put on headphones and listen while the recording is going on. Then a few of the group members go into the control room to watch the producers, and the rest of the group watches from a theater-style setup outside. Then they take a break and everyone switches places.”

A similar experience is available from a company called Nashville Studio Tour, which is run

by Meghan Linsey, a former runner-up on “The Voice.” Linsey and a local music producer help groups write and record a song and perform some of their favorite songs.

URBAN MEETS RURA L Just to the northeast of Nashville proper, Sumner County is home to a collection of smaller communities and wide-open farmland. The area is famous as the longtime home of Johnny and June Carter Cash, and offers travelers a mix of music experiences and small-town history.

“We’re basically where urban meets rural,” said Barry Young, executive director of the Tourism Bureau of Sumner County. “There’s all sorts of music in the country. One of the things we have recently discovered is a place in our smallest community, Westmorland, called Grandpa’s Opry.

It’s old-time country music and hymns in a small, authentic setting. We took a couple of tour groups there a few weeks ago, and they absolutely loved it.”

The homespun experience features a handful of performers singing two or three songs each.

Regular performances take place the third Saturday night of each month, but the tourism bureau can arrange exclusive performances for tour groups on any day of the week.

Another fascinating stop for groups is All Access Coach Leasing, a company that refurbishes and outfits tour buses with top-of-the-line amenities and fixtures for musicians and traveling celebrities. The company offers free group tours.

“During tours, they show you a bus that has been totally gutted and one that is about halfway finished,” Young said. “Then you get to go on one that has been completely finished. A group there last week got to go on Eric Church’s bus.”

Other Sumner County tour options include visits to the Reese Brothers Mule Farm and the opportunity to attend a taping of “Mike Huckabee Today” at TBN Studios.

JUNE 2018

It’s personal

A

few months before the birth of our daughter in 2014, my wife, Laura, and I took a “babymoon” trip to Nashville to enjoy one last weekend of freedom before becoming parents. We took it slow, sleeping in late and enjoying brunch at a local hot spot, then spent Saturday afternoon at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

Cheekwood was built by the heirs to the Maxwell House fortune in 1928. Today, the Georgian mansion and the surrounding 55-acre gardens are open to the public as an art museum that showcases work by American artists. Both the home and the gardens are used to display art. Indoors, visitors will find paintings by American masters. Outdoors, a 1.25-mile sculpture trail features several large modern statues surrounded by trees and Tennessee wildflowers. Botanical gardens at the estate include a Japanese garden, a water garden, a color garden and other beautiful natural areas.

It was quiet there that afternoon, which was fine with us. It felt like we had the entire mansion to ourselves, strolling slowly through the rooms admiring the art and the architecture. Laura loved it; she said she felt like she was in an episode of “Downton Abbey.”

I’ve traveled to Nashville many times in my career and created many memories. But that afternoon at Cheekwood is one of the sweetest.

A RUTHERFORD COUNTY HORSE FARM Courtesy Rutherford Co. CVB

HOMESTYLE COOKING AT MILLER’S GROCERY

— BRIAN JEWELL

Courtesy Rutherford Co. CVB

WELCOME BACK TO AUTHENTIC MINUTES FROM NASHVILLE MIKE HUCKABEE

Free group tickets for Huckabee’s studio audience

HISTORIC CRAGFONT

Visit Historic Cragfont, built in 1802 by General James Winchester

REESE BROS. MULES

Meet Tennessee mules and hear their worldwide travel stories

@VisitSumnerTN

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VisitSumnerTN.com • info@VisitSumnerTN.com • 2310 Nashville Pike • Gallatin, TN 37066 • 888•301•7886 T HE

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A MOONSHINE BARREL AT SHORT MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY Courtesy Rutherford Co. CVB

MO ONSHINE AND APPLE PIE South of Sumner County, Rutherford County is known for Stones River National Battlefield, which was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. But in addition to learning about the area’s history, visitors can enjoy some memorable visits to places preserving local traditions.

In Woodbury, Short Mountain Distillery was estabNASHVILLE CONVENTION & lished several years V I S I T O R S C O R P. ago to bring the area’s native spirits — W W W.V ISI TMUSICCI T Y.COM — to visitors.

“It’s a true slice of Tennessee rural RUTHERFORD COUNT Y life,” said Donna CONVENTION & VISITORS Klempnow, direcBURE AU tor of sales for the Rutherford County — W W W. R E ADYSE T RU THER FOR D.COM — Convention and Visitors Bureau.

TOURISM BOARD OF “They have old SUMNER COUNT Y moonshiners out there to tell the sto— W W W.V ISI TSUM N ERT N.COM — ries of their jaded pasts, and they’re pretty entertaining.

They talk about how moonshine was made using the local stone mill grain. They take you down to the spring where they create the moonshine mash. ® And they have a brand-new, working distillery where they make things like apple pie moonshine.”

Groups can enjoy spending a leisurely afternoon tasting moonshine and enjoying the scenery from the distillery’s front porch. The company also has an on-site restaurant that features food cooked with moonshine and can offer mixology classes for tour groups.

For another taste of authentic Tennessee culture, Klempnow loves taking groups to have a GROUP meal at Miller’s Grocery in the town of Christiana.

RATES “At one time, it was a working grocery store,” AVAILABLE she said. “Now, it’s a stretch back to the ’50s, with shabby-chic decor. They have some fabulous food, NOW OPEN and the greatest thing is that they bake different 12 NEW EXHIBITS AND ATTRACTIONS AT THE ALL-NEW ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX desserts every day just like your grandmother would and put them out on little plates on a big table. As soon as you order, you’ll want to go pick up your dessert so that the person next to you doesn’t get your favorite.”

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GRACELAND.COM/GROUPS • 800-238-2010 © EPE. Graceland and its marks are trademarks of EPE. All Rights Reserved. Elvis Presley™ © 2017 ABG EPE IP LLC

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n a world of iPads, Google and 3D printing, understanding the history of rural West Virginia Appalachians can prove challenging. The determined people who initially carved out a life in the craggy peaks and valleys of the Mountain State represent a culture far removed from many aspects of modern life.

Groups can immerse themselves in this rich culture not only through informative museum exhibits but also through their senses as they taste traditional whiskey, walk through the mountains, smell a coal mine or use their hands in woodworking projects.

In Logan County, visitors can admire the mountains famous for the location of the Hatfield and McCoy feud; the area has numerous trails and cultural attractions. For a sense of daily life in Appalachia, guests can tour the experiential Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and the Heritage Farm and Museum. West Virginia also celebrates

All photos courtesy WV Tourism Office ADVENTUROUS GROUPS CAN TAKE UTV TOURS THROUGH THE HATFIELD AND MCCOY REGION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

its ties to moonshine and whiskey at distilleries such as Smooth Ambler Spirits.

Groups exploring these West Virginia heritage attractions will leave with a greater admiration for those who lived and died in the stunning mountain landscape.

H AT F I E L D A N D M C C OY M O U N TA I N S Though it is common for families to fall out with other families, the hatred between the Hatfield and the McCoy families intensified to such heights that even a century later, the feud stands among the most famous episodes in Appalachian history. The Hatfields of West Virginia lived in Logan County, which preserves this infamous connection in parks, museums and other attractions.

The local Hatfield and McCoy Convention and Visitors Bureau offers self-guided driving tours of the places related to the feud, including the gravesite of patriarch William Anderson

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HERITAGE FARM AND MUSEUM

SMOOTH AMBER SPIRITS

“Devil Anse” Hatfield. Not eight miles from the gravesite in Gilbert, Hatfield’s great-great-granddaughter co-owns and operates the Hatfield and McCoy Moonshine Distillery. Since family members were known bootleggers during the time of the feud, the distillery uses a recipe handed down from generations known as the Drink of the Devil moonshine.

Exhibits on the feud are inside the Matewan Depot Replica Museum in Matewan alongside artifacts from the area’s connection to trains, coal and the Matewan Massacre. Groups can also tour another museum with local information at Chief Logan State Park.

The 4,000-acre park spotlights the natural wonders of the area with a museum, a wildlife center, an amphitheater and hiking trails. After a hike, visitors can listen to some traditional mountain music every Friday and Saturday night at the park during Pickin’ in the Park. An old horse stable converted into a music venue houses the various country, gospel and bluegrass bands.

For groups seeking an adventurous outdoor experience, Scarlet Flame Side-X-Side Adventures takes small groups on UTV trail tours with fast and slow rides through dirt along the area’s many off-road trails.

WEST VIRGINIA. BY RAIL. Six trains. Three depots. Elkins - Cass Scenic Railroad - Durbin

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BECKLEY EXHIBITION COAL MINE

H E R I TA G E FA R M A N D MUSEUM Artisans at the Heritage Farm and Museum preserve the knowledge of 19th- and early-20thcentury Appalachia by re-creating crafts authentic to the area’s past, among them broom-making, weaving, blacksmithing and woodworking. Classes by these artisans allow groups to resurrect these passed-down traditions themselves.

The open-air living-history museum focuses on Appalachian history and culture with 15 log structures, re-enactor weekends, hiking trails and more than 25,000 square feet of artifacts in seven museums. Each museum chronicles an aspect of the mountain culture: technology at the Progress Museum, retail at the Country Store Museum and jobs at the Heritage Museum. Inside the museums, guests can examine a glassblowing furnace and walk into a barbershop.

Outside, visitors can meander through various reconstructed buildings that not only look like their past counterparts but also function similarly. For example, the blacksmith shop displays a working forge, while the Bread Oven building contains a working wood-fire masonry oven.

Groups can also see an early-20th-century oneroom schoolhouse, an operational sawmill and a working potter’s kiln. Even more people and activities fill the park on the first Saturday of the month from May to December. These Way Back Weekends each center around different themes, such as old-time music and Christmas markets.

JUNE 2018

BECKLEY E XHIBITION C OA L MIN E A walk through a once-used coal mine brings to life the dark, closed quarters where many coal miners spent most of their days at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. The early-20th-century coal camp originally started shipping coal in 1906.

After shutting down operations in 1953, the city of Beckley reopened the site as the first historic site entirely dedicated to educating the public about coal mining in 1962.

The preserved coal mine offers daily tours by veteran miners who give firsthand accounts of what daily mining life was like in the past and what it is like today. Groups ride in a 35-person railcar along 3,000 feet of restored passageways that stay a chilly 58 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.

After the tour, groups can learn more about the life of a miner outside the tunnels at the Coal Camp, where there is a restored coal house, a miner’s shanty, a church and a school. A walk through the buildings reveals how the coal company owned the entire community and how working families used the company-owned businesses for everything from groceries to medical aid.

Adjacent to the mine, the Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia serves groups of all ages with three rotating interactive exhibits. Tour groups can also view constellations at the museum’s planetarium. Behind the museum stands the Mountain Homestead. This look at the Appalachian frontier consists of eight reconstructed historic buildings, among them the barn, the blacksmith and the general store.

A TASTING AT SMOOTH AMBER SPIRITS

WEST VIRGINIA TOURISM — WWW.WVTOURISM.COM —

SMOOTH AMBLER SPIRITS From selling brake pads in North Carolina to crafting traditional West Virginia whiskey, John Little, CEO and master distiller of Smooth Ambler Spirits boasts a variety of jobs on his resume. Little had long wanted to start a business that showcased the best of West Virginia, so in 2016, he opened Smooth Ambler Spirits to honor Appalachian craftsmanship by creating artisan spirits.

The distillery uses local grain and barrel aging to create high-end liquors. Little and his staff experimented with flavors by adding notes of dried fruit, butter rum and various bourbons. The resulting bold yet balanced flavor has garnered the distillery several awards, including a gold medal at the World Whiskey Awards.

Forty-five-minute tours illustrate the process from whiskey grain to glass. Groups explore the production floor, the mash tank and the barreling process.

After the tour, guests get a complimentary taste of the finished product.

Experience

Adventure ure

Nestled in the heart of Jefferson County, Ranson is a community where excitement awaits!

Just an hour’s drive from the nation’s capital, our serenity and amenities burst with Blue Ridge Mountain charm.

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Ranson Convention & Visitors Bureau 216 N. Mildred St.

304.724.3862 | ransonwv.us

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INSTANT CLASSICS

BROADWAY TAPS INTO POP-CULTURE CH AR ACTERS

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ENCHANTING TODDLERS, ADULTS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN CAN PROVE QUITE THE CHALLENGE. BROADWAY DOESN’T MISS A BEAT AS MOVIES CHERISHED BY BOTH YOUNG AND OLD HIT THE STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND CL ASSICS STAGE REVIVALS. IT SEEMS THE L ATEST DISNEY MOVIE ADAPTATION, “FROZEN,” IS A SURE-FIRE HIT WITH ITS ALREADY BELOVED MUSIC AND CHAR ACTERS. “MEAN GIRLS” FEATURES NEW MUSIC THAT WAS ADDED TO THE POPUL AR TEEN COMEDY MOVIE. MEANWHILE, THE MUCH ANTICIPATED “MY FAIR L ADY” RETURNS TO BROADWAY WITH ITS TIMELESS SONGS AND DANCE NUMBERS. GROUPS WILL LOV E THE TOE-TAPPING SONGS AND FA MILI A R FACES OF THESE RECENTLY DEBUTED BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS.

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A MUSICAL ADAPTATION OF DISNEY’S BLOCKBUSTER ANIMATED MOVIE “FROZEN” HAS FINALLY ARRIVED ON BROADWAY.

“F ROZ E N ”

By Deen van Meer, courtesy Disney Theatrical Group

“MY FAIR LADY” HAS RETURNED TO BROADWAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS.

Since almost every girl under 10 can belt out “Let It Go” from “Frozen,” the demand for this incredibly popular Disney-movie-turned-Broadway-play has only grown. The highest-grossing animated movie of all time, “Frozen” is loosely based on the Hans Christian Andersen story “The Snow Queen.”

To adapt the musical phenomenon to Broadway, the original creative team behind the film reunited to shift scenes and add 12 new songs to the already popular hits. Two of the new songs already receiving attention are “Monster” and “Hygge.”

The story focuses on two sisters at odds over a magical secret that leaves one trying to harness her powers and the other trying to reunite the family. “‘Frozen’ has been nominated for a number of Tonys this season,” said Stephanie Lee, president of Broadway.com. “Groups know if they buy into a Disney musical, the level of quality entertainment is top notch. The score is beautiful.”

By Joan Marcus, courtesy My Fair Lady

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JUNE 2018

“ M E A N GI R L S” Teen comedies don’t normally appear on Broadway lineups, but “Mean Girls” isn’t an ordinary teen comedy. Comedy writer Tina Fey of “30 Rock” wrote the 2004 film that grew into an often-quoted, beloved film.

Fey’s songwriter husband Jeff Richmond (“30 Rock”), lyricist Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”) and director Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon”) worked together to convert the cheeky movie into a Broadway musical. After a sold-out run in Washington, D.C., “Mean Girls” debuted on Broadway in March. “’Mean Girls’ has been nominated for 12 Tonys, including Best Musical,” said Lee. “Audiences love it. The songs are fun and memorable. It’s a lighthearted show that’s funny and very poignant at times with a great message of acceptance.”

Groups can watch this “fetch” adaptation that follows teenager Cady’s transfer from a home school in the African savanna to a high school in suburban Illinois.

“ M Y FA I R L A DY ” Broadway musical fans usually reference “My Fair Lady” among their all-time favorite works partly because of its memorable score “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “On the Street Where You Live.” When the 1956 production debuted, it won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

“We find that a lot of groups that have booked it are either an older group that wants to relive it or our younger audiences who never had the opportunity to see the original,” said Lee. “It is a superb revival production.”

For the first time in 25 years, “My Fair Lady” returned to Broadway in March. The story revolves around a Cockney flower seller transformed into a genteel lady. Eliza Doolittle’s character has taken many forms over the years from the original George Bernard Shaw play, the Broadway musical and the treasured 1964 film starring Audrey Hepburn.

TINA FEY’S “MEAN GIRLS” WAS NOMINATED FOR 12 TONYS, INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL.

By Mary Ellen Matthews, courtesy Mean Girls

MORE BROADWAY BUZZ Most Americans would find it difficult to find many people who are unfamiliar with the name Harry Potter. The British wizard boy who inspired seven books, even more movies and a formidably large fan base debuted on Broadway in March.

Based on an original story by author J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” premiered in June 2016 at the Palace Theatre in London, where it sold out immediately. However, despite the general popularity, only groups with die-hard fans will want to attempt purchasing tickets. Group tickets difficult to purchase, and the show is so long it must be watched in two parts.

Instead, a co-writer of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” Jack Thorne, has released another smash hit expected to appear on Broadway this fall. “’King Kong’ is throwing its arms open to groups,” said Lee. “It will thrill audiences. Kong is an enormous puppet that needs 11 or 12 puppeteers to work it. I don’t think there has been anything quite on this scale before.”

Another play receiving rave reviews from all ages is “Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical.” Nominated for 12 Tony Awards, the musical has delighted all ages, regardless of whether they ever watched the cartoon that inspired the production.

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REGIONAL FARE

T H E SE T O W NS DR AW BIG -L E A G U E T A L E N T

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WHAT DO PAUL NEWMAN, JAMES EARL JONES AND MORGAN FREEMAN ALL HAVE IN COMMON? ALL THREE ACTORS PERFORMED AT SOME OF AMERICA’S TOP REGIONAL THEATERS. WORLD PREMIERES LIKE “THE COLOR PURPLE,” “DEAR EVAN HANSEN” AND “COME FROM AWAY” DIDN’T DEBUT IN IN THE BIG APPLE OR EVEN CHICAGO, BUT AT THESE SMALLER, POPUL AR REGIONAL THEATERS. THOUGH A NIGHT AT THE THEATER MIGHT NOT COME TO MIND WHEN PL ANNING TRIPS TO DALL AS OR WASHINGTON, THE BROADWAYREADY PRODUCTIONS CREATED AT THESE REGIONAL THEATERS WILL IMPRESS ANY GROUP LOOKING FOR TOP-QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT.

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CL E V E L A N D PL A Y HOUSE CLEVELAND ATLANTA’S ALLIANCE THEATER PRODUCED THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “TUCK EVERLASTING.”

By Greg Mooney, courtesy Alliance Theatre

THE CLEVELAND PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS ORIGINAL PRODUCTIONS BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP.

Courtesy Cleveland Playhouse

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Before theaters popped up in every major city, the Cleveland Play House opened in 1915 as America’s first professional regional theater. The Northeast Ohio theater received the 2015 Regional Theatre Tony Award on its 100th year of operation for its long history of over 1,600 productions.

More than 100 American or world premieres occurred at the downtown Cleveland theater. Paul Newman, Alan Alda and Margaret Hamilton launched their careers at the Cleveland Play House, which continues to draw talented actors and staff.

In Playhouse Square, the heart of Cleveland’s theater district, Play House performances are held at three venues, including the Allen Theatre. The regional theater regularly accommodates touring groups for its performances, with packages available for events held before or after the show. The group sales department regularly plans group sit-down dinners, appetizer events and overnight stays in the Theatre District.

Typically, the company offers a seven-show series from fall to late spring.

More than 12 million audience members have attended the Play House’s contemporary dramas, comedies and musicals. The theater company builds all shows from the ground up in Cleveland.

Youth groups often enjoy attending a discounted Student Matinee performance that features activities aimed at education before and after the show.

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JUNE 2018

A R E N A ST AGE WASHINGTON Theater buffs have long felt esteem for Washington’s Arena Stage.

That esteem was first illustrated when presenters announced the theater as the recipient of the first Regional Tony Award in 1976. Founded in 1950, the theater company is one of the country’s first nonprofit theaters.

Another distinction for Arena Stage occurred in 1968 when “The Great White Hope,” starring James Earl Jones, became the first regional theater production to continue on to Broadway. The play won both a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize for drama.

The theater has developed 22 Broadway productions, including “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Sweat” and “Next to Normal.” Performances highlight aspects of American life, with a mix of classic productions and original work. Kevin Kline, Jon Voight and several other actors have performed for the company.

Arena Stage holds performances at three venues at the Mead Center for American Theater. Each space offers accessible seating and assistivelistening technology. Groups can enjoy special perks, such as discounted tickets, postshow discussions and behind-the-scenes opportunities.

Staff can arrange exclusive dinner receptions with on-site catering from Richard’s Place, located inside the Mead Center. Patrons can also easily dine a five-minute walk away at the newly opened District Wharf shopping center.

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A L L I A NC E T H E AT R E ATLANTA Since its founding in 1968, the Atlanta-based Alliance Theatre has grown into the largest regional theater in the Southeast region. The theater company boasts 100 original productions that launched many well-received Broadway productions, among them “Tuck Everlasting,” “Aida” and “Bring It On: The Musical.”

Aspiring playwrights first found a haven in the Alliance Theatre in the 1970s under the artistic directorship of Fred Chappell. Tennessee Williams’ “Tiger Tail” appeared onstage for the first time at the Alliance in 1978.

Celebrated actors such as Richard Dreyfuss and Morgan Freeman also sought out the theater company.

The leadership of Kenny Leon in 1988 added more of a focus on AfricanAmerican works. That tradition continues today with recently premiered works including “The Color Purple” and “Sister Act: The Musical.” The Alliance Theatre won the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2007.

Groups can join the company’s 165,000 annual patrons with discounted rates, priority seating and behind-the-scenes access. Before Play and After Words discussions feature intimate conversations with cast, staff and creative teams for a more informed look at the work behind an Alliance Theatre production.

W W W. A L L I A N C E T H E AT R E . O R G

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“A RAISIN IN THE SUN” PREMIERED AT WASHINGTON’S ARENA STAGE.

By C. Stanley, courtesy Arena Stage

GU T H R I E T H E AT E R MINNEAPOLIS What began as Sir Tyrone Guthrie’s frustrations with the commercialization of Broadway evolved into the founding of the Guthrie Theater in 1963. The Guthrie Theater’s professional classical productions became immediately heralded after “The House of Atreus” toured New York City and Los Angeles soon after opening.

From a minimal staff in charge of four summer productions, the Guthrie Theater now operates year-round with a staff of more than 500 people. In the 1980s, the theater opened the Guthrie Lab to foster new work and performance techniques. They received the Regional Theatre Tony Award in 1982.

The 2006 theater building is part of the entertainment, as the theater offers tours of the $125 million building. On the banks of the Mississippi River, the 285,000-square-foot facility is made up of three theaters. Groups can discover the groundbreaking technology used in its construction on the 75-minute Architecture Tour.

Other behind-the-scenes experiences occur during the 45-minute Backstage Tour and on the Costume Rentals Tour of the company’s collection of more than 50,000 stage costumes.

W W W. G U T H R I E T H E AT E R . O R G

MINNEAPOLIS’ GUTHRIE THEATER SITS ON THE BANKS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

By Gallop Studios, courtesy Guthrie Theater

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L A JOL L A PL A Y HOUSE LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA

AN AUDIENCE ENJOYS “HAIR” IN THE ROUND AT DALLAS THEATER CENTER.

By Karen Almond, courtesy Dallas Theater Center

For groups looking to catch the next Broadway hit before it even reaches New York, the La Jolla Playhouse’s track record makes it one of the most likely places to try. The regional theater has produced 32 Broadway plays, which have won a total of 38 Tony Awards.

Some of the current hit musicals like “Come From Away,” “Escape to Margaritaville” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical” debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse. Because of its reputation for nurturing new works, the company regularly collaborates with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights and famous actors. Nearly all productions, whether reimagined classics or contemporary works, are built, designed and rehearsed on-site.

Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer founded the nonprofit theater company in 1947. Since then, the regional theater has hosted 75 world premieres and received more than 300 awards for theater work, among them a 1993 Regional Theatre Tony Award.

Though the theater company looked doomed after 25 years of inactivity, director Des McAnuff revived the company in 1983. His leadership soon established La Jolla as a testing ground for future Broadway productions.

Groups receive discount rates and educational experiences at Talkback Tuesdays and Discovery Sundays events. Add-ons also include on-site dining, food truck fare at Foodie Fridays and preshow music at Sonic Saturdays.

W W W. L A J O L L A P L AY H O U S E . O R G

DA L L A S T H E AT E R C E N T E R DALLAS

Proudly serving history

& heritage by the fluid ounce.

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And don’t be fooled by the fresh air, limestone creeks, and tranquility. Because Bardstown isn’t in the middle of nowhere; it’s the center of the bourbon universe.

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Approximately 200 Dallas citizens and five professional actors performed Shakespeare together to blur the lines of professional and novice art for the Dallas Theater Center’s Public Works Dallas. Their experimental first performance in 2017 of “The Tempest” received acclaim for its wild musical numbers and huge cast, which even included Dallas’ mayor.

This type of innovation helped garner the center the coveted Regional Theatre Tony Award in 2017. Founded in 1959, the Dallas Theater Center has reinvented itself many times up to its current production lineup of experimental interpretations of classics, world premieres and educational programs.

The company recently developed premieres of works like “Giant,” “Fly by Night” and “Fortress of Solitude,” which all ended up on Off-Broadway. Productions run at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, and the Kalita Humphreys Theater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright W W W. DA L L A S T H E AT E R -

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STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ PLIES THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN NEW ORLEANS.

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

By Paul Broussard, courtesy New Orleans CVB

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For centuries, the Mississippi River has been an artery of American life. It’s where North meets South, where East meets West. It has carried the nation’s lifeblood of industry, commerce and culture. Beyond barge traffic and fishing boats, the mighty Mississippi has shaped the people who live on its banks and deltas, and allowed their musical styles and food traditions to travel to areas up and down the river.

From the northernmost port to the Gulf of Mexico, these cities along the Mississippi embody the everlasting yet everchanging nature of the river.

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A VIEW OF ST. PAUL’S HIGH BRIDGE IN AUTUMN Courtesy Visit Saint Paul KAYAKING IN LA CROSSE ST. PAUL

Courtesy Explore La Crosse

LIVE MUSIC ON THE LA CROSSE RIVERFRONT Courtesy Visit Saint Paul

S T. PAU L , M I N N E S O T A

FOOTHILLS BREWING IN WINSTON-SALEM

When people think of the Mississippi River, “they don’t often think about the Twin Cities like they think about New Orleans or St. Louis,” said Nick Cusick, marketing and media relations manager for Visit Saint Paul. “But St. Paul in general could be considered the Mississippi River capital.”

St. Paul is home to the northernmost port on the Mississippi River and has more river shoreline than any other city. It’s also the largest contributor to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, which protects a 72-mile, 54,000-acre corridor of green space along the river.

“All these factors add up that we represent the Mississippi River as well as any destination,” Cusick said.

Both sides of downtown St. Paul’s riverfront are lined with greenways and parks that visitors can explore on foot, on rented bikes or on a Segway tour.

On the south bank, Padelford Riverboats has its dock at Harriet Island Regional Park and runs public sightseeing cruises and private charters on its three-boat fleet that includes a 160-passenger stern-wheeler, a 300-person side-wheeler and a 300-capacity party barge.

Groups can get closer to the water during guided urban kayaking tours with the Minnesota Adventure Co. The outfitter meets groups at Harriet Island and buses them to Fort Snelling

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Courtesy Explore La Crosse

State Park, where they kayak down the Minnesota River to the Mississippi River “and right to the St. Paul skyline,” he said.

At the Science Museum of Minnesota, guests can take in river views from a balcony overlooking the Mississippi and learn more about it at the museum’s Mississippi River exhibit.

Just off the museum lobby, the free Mississippi River Visitors Center offers videos and interactive exhibits.

Many downtown hotels are near the river, and some, such as the Hampton Inn and Suites and the Hyatt Place, which is housed in the city’s historic custom house building, offer river views. Both hotels opened in 2016.

Red River Kitchen is a food truck that operates a seasonal restaurant in City House, a historic, riverfront grain elevator where diners can watch river traffic pass by.

W W W.V ISI T S A I N T PAU L .COM

L A CROSSE, WISCONSIN

La Crosse, Wisconsin, is both a river city and a college town, two factors that shape and define the city’s identity. La Crosse is the largest city along Wisconsin’s stretch of the Great River Road, which follows the curves of the Mississippi River and gives travelers “amazing views,” especially in the fall, said Ben Morgan, director of group sales and sports services for Explore La Crosse.

JUNE 2018

INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVITIES AT THE QUAD CITIES’ SCHWIEBERT RIVERFRONT PARK

By Quinn Kirkpatrick, courtesy Quad Cities CVB

aks, canoes and paddleboards from Island Outdoors. The Days Inn and Conference Center sits on French Island, and the AmericInn by Wyndham fronts the Black River, which separates La Crosse from the island. The Radisson Hotel La Crosse, the city’s convention center hotel, sits on the banks of the Mississippi.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus isn’t far from the river, and groups can explore downtown with La Crosse Segway Tours or see the city during a historic trolley tour that departs from Riverside Park. Groups also love checking out antique cars at Dahl Auto Museum and new and vintage instruments at Dave’s Guitar Shop.

W W W. E X PLOR EL ACROSSE .COM

QUA D C I T I E S , IOWA / I L L I NOIS

SUNSET OVER THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN THE QUAD CITIES

By Gayle Harper, courtesy Quad Cities CVB

The city fronts a stretch of the river that is tangled with peninsulas, islands and sandbars.

The historic Riverside Park in downtown opened in 1911 and serves as a community gathering place, a docking station for riverboats and the grounds for festivals and events. The park is also home to the Riverside International Friendship Gardens, a collection of gardens representing landscapes from around the globe.

The La Crosse Queen docks at Riverside Park, and the 149-passenger paddle wheeler runs daily sightseeing cruises, as well as regular dinner and brunch outings. The company will also customize river excursions for groups, with options such as wine tastings with fine dining or pizza-and-beer cruises, Morgan said.

The annual Riverfest takes place in Riverside Park and features food, entertainment and rivercentric events, such as water-skiing shows, over-the-river fireworks and the River Vault, a pole-vaulting competition right at the river’s edge.

French Island is a hub for water activities, and groups can rent kayGROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

“When we ask people why they’re coming to the Quad Cities, the Mississippi River is still the No. 1 reason we get,” said Jessica Waytenick, public relations and marketing manager for the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They’re coming to be on the river, to be near the river, to see the river.”

The Quad Cities straddle the Mississippi with Davenport and Bettendorf on the Iowa side and the cities of Moline, East Moline and Rock Island on the Illinois side.

In recent years, the river cities have welcomed new investment, including the Element Moline hotel in downtown

BOOK YOUR GROUP NOW!

mohistory.org/group-visits or 314.361.9017

November 9, 2019–April 18, 2021

Forest Park • St. Louis • mohistory.org

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ARSENAL LOCK AND DAM IN THE QUAD CITIES AREA

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A RIVERBOAT IN ST. LOUIS

Courtesy Quad Cities CVB

Courtesy Explore St. Louis

Moline. A new, dual-branded Hyatt House/Hyatt Place is slated to open in late summer on East Moline’s riverfront as part of an $80 million mixed-use development.

In Bettendorf, the 500-plus-room Isle Casino Hotel recently built a brand-new casino between its two towers, one of which completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2015. The new land-based casino replaced the former riverboat casino, only 223 feet from the river. In addition to gaming, the casino hotel has a “robust event calendar” with concerts and events like chef-led cooking classes, Waytenick said.

Arsenal Island is an active U.S. Army facility and popular tourist destination. There, the Mississippi River Visitors Center sits on a lock and dam, so guests can learn about the system as they watch barge traffic pass through. Groups can also tour the Rock Island Arsenal Museum and the 1833 Col. Davenport House.

Celebration River Cruises offers sightseeing trips and themed cruises aboard its 750-passenger paddle-wheel riverboat, the Celebration Belle. The Riverboat Twilight also

offers 90-minute sightseeing cruises, as well as one- and twoday excursions from LeClaire to Dubuque, where guests stay overnight at the Grand Harbor Resort.

The open-air Channel Cat Water Taxi ferries passengers across the river to various landings in Davenport, Bettendorf and Moline, and one $8 ticket is good for an entire day of hop-on/hop-off access.

The new Bix Beiderbecke Museum in downtown Davenport shares the life of the famous 1920s jazz musician. The free museum is on the lower level of River Music Experience, a live-music venue where groups can either catch a concert at night or arrange for a daytime presentation of “Roots Music,” a special program about the music that traveled up and down the Mississippi River.

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S T. L OU I S

The National Park Service built St. Louis’ famous Gateway Arch on the edge of the Mississippi River in the 1960s as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States. Now, more than 50 years later, Gateway Arch National Park is putting the final touches on a multiyear, $380 million renovation and reimagining “that completely changed the visitor experience to St. Louis,” said Tony Paraino, director of communications for Explore St. Louis.

The massive project redid about 100 acres of parkland — and added 11 more — at the arch’s base, built an outdoor natural amphitheater and improved pedestrian connections, including a land bridge over Interstate 44, so visitors can walk from the river’s edge into downtown without having to cross a single street.

On July 3, officials will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completely revamped museum beneath the arch, now known as Museum at the Gateway Arch. The expanded museum features new exhibits, including one dedicated to the riverfront, a diorama that depicts St. Louis’ steamboat-era, when the city was a jumping-off point for settlers headed west. The project also included a new west entrance, a visitor center, ticketing, security, loading zones and parking.

JUNE 2018

ST. LOUIS’ UNION STATION HOTEL

CITY MUSEUM IN ST. LOUIS

By McElroy Fine Art Photography, courtesy Explore St. Louis

Courtesy Explore St. Louis

“It’s basically an overhaul,” said Renee Eichelberger, director of leisure travel sales for Explore St. Louis. “They did not change the exterior structure of the arch, but everything else.”

Riverboats at Gateway Arch offers views of the arch and downtown skyline from the water during one-hour sightseeing tours, skyline dinner cruises and special-event excursions.

In downtown, the Soldiers Memorial is undergoing a $30 million renovation that will be complete in November. At Union Station, visitors can sip a cocktail in the Grand Hall beneath a laser light show. The historic train station also houses a hotel and will house the new St. Louis Aquarium when it opens next year.

Local and visitors alike go crazy for the City Museum, which is part experimental art museum, part playhouse. The City Museum features a 10-story slide, re-created Missouri caves, a rooftop Ferris wheel and a yellow school bus hanging from the side of the building.

but this has broadened our identity to the Great Outdoors,” he said.

The Big River Crossing is a new feature on one of the Mississippi River’s oldest bridges. The new pedestrian and bike path opened in 2016 using what was originally the carriage lane of the Harahan railroad truss bridge. Now, visitors can walk or bike across the river and stop in the middle to straddle the Tennessee-Arkansas state line.

Just a short stroll from the blues clubs of Beale Street, Beale Street Landing sits on the Mississippi riverfront and offers a modern transition from land to water. The Landing, which opened in 2014, features a grass roof that connects to Tom Lee Park, a riverside restaurant and the dock where Memphis Riverboats departs for 90-minute sightseeing tours and dinner cruises.

In April, the city held a ribbon-cutting for the relaunch of the historic Main Street trolley line, which has been closed for an overhaul of the entire trolley system.

H T T PS:// E X PLOR EST LOU IS .COM

W W W. ME MPH IST R AV EL .COM

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

Everyone knows Memphis for blues, barbecue and Beale Street. But the city is a major metropolitan destination on the Mississippi, and the city is embracing its riverfront with new development and attractions.

Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid is one of the newest and most unusual riverfront options. The former 20,000-seat arena is now Bass Pro’s 535,000-square-foot retail and entertainment superstore. In addition to Bass Pro Shops, the Pyramid houses a bowling alley, pistol and archery ranges, an interactive wetlands education museum and Big Cypress Lodge, a 103room wilderness hotel.

One of the signature features is the 28-story freestanding elevator that zooms to the Lookout, a restaurant and bar at the apex, with a central aquarium and glass observation decks that “offer the most amazing, sweeping panoramic views of the Mississippi and three states,” said Kevin Kern, vice president of communications for Memphis Tourism.

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enclosed deck at Magnolia Grill to watch the passing boats.

The Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel sits on the river, and the Natchez Grand Hotel sits on the bluffs overlooking the river in the heart of historic downtown.

Redneck Adventures will take groups out on pontoon boats or motorboats to go catfish-grabbing, bird-watching, alligatorspotting and even skeet-shooting, and owner Jimmy Allgood “is a character,” Combs said. “He is a great storyteller.”

During a kayak or canoe excursion with Quapaw Canoe Co., a guide can lead paddlers past towering bluffs and dense forests to a sandbar for lunch or dinner.

A HISTORIC SALOON IN NATCHEZ Courtesy Visit Natchez

W W W.V ISI T NAT CHEZ .ORG

NEW ORLE A NS

NEW ORLEANS’ CRESCENT CITY CONNECTION BRIDGE

By Zack Smith, courtesy New Orleans CVB

NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

The Mississippi River is the “heart and soul” of Natchez, Mississippi, said Jennifer Ogden Combs, executive director of Visit Natchez. Natchez is the oldest city on the river, predating New Orleans by two years, “which people can’t believe.”

Part of the reason for the city’s longevity is that Natchez doesn’t sit on the river so much as it sits above it — 200 feet above it. When the river floods, locals are high and dry on the towering bluffs. That, combined with the fact that the Mississippi has never shifted its course at Natchez, has made the city a continuous river hub since its founding in 1716.

“There’s something about this little town; it’s little in size, but mighty in terms of offerings and sophistication and history,” Combs said.

With over 300 years of history, Natchez is a mecca for history buffs. Twice-annual pilgrimages in the spring and fall open the doors of dozens of antebellum homes for public tours.

While the upper-crust and merchant class called the top of the bluff home, Natchez’s Under-the-Hill historic riverfront district at the base of the bluff was notorious for ruffians, gamblers and ladies of the night. Today, groups can get a taste of that history at the famed Under the Hill Saloon, one of the oldest bars on the river and one that Mark Twain patronized. Guests can also sit at the outdoor bar at the Camp or eat on the glass46

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New Orleans is where the mighty Mississippi finishes its marathon run to the Gulf of Mexico. One of the city’s many nicknames, Crescent City, is thought to come from the river’s dramatic crescent-shaped bend where the French Quarter fronts the river. Groups can ride the riverfront streetcar from Crescent Park or stroll along the Moonwalk Riverfront Park for views of the river on one side and Washington Artillery Park, Jackson Square and the iconic St. Louis Cathedral on the other.

Just off the riverbanks, the New Orleans Jazz Museum is housed in the Old U.S. Mint, and the nearby French Market is an open-air market with handmade crafts and local products that’s popular for groups to peruse, said Rachel Funel, an account executive with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Visitors can follow the Moonwalk to the dock where the Creole Queen paddle wheeler and Steamboat Natchez launch for narrated tours and dinner cruises. The Creole Queen includes a stop at Chalmette Battlefield, where rangers lead daily talks about the War of 1812’s Battle of New Orleans.

At Woldenberg Park, groups have a shorter, less expensive option to get on the river. The Canal Street Ferry takes passengers across to Algiers Point, where they’ll find preserved historic cottages and 19th-century charm. Visitors can stop at cafes and pubs, stroll the Jazz Walk of Fame along the levee and take a self-guided walking tour.

South of Woldenberg Park, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas includes an exhibit about the river just outside its doors. The Mississippi River exhibit includes an overlook of the river itself and features native wildlife such as catfish, sturgeon, paddlefish and a rare white alligator.

The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk follows along the Mississippi River, and both the shopping and the views “are phenomenal,” Funel said. Along with big-brand outlets, the food court balconies overlook the river, and “a lot of people go there just to sit and watch the boats go by,” she said.

In the Warehouse District, Mardi Gras World is a popular spot for groups; the complex sits on the riverfront. The company builds and houses elaborate Mardi Gras parade floats, and visitors can see them “up close and personal if you can’t make it during Mardi Gras,” Funel said. They can also meet the artists who create the floats.

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sound-off

STAFF

WH AT ’S YO U R FAVO R I T E WAY TO S PE N D T H E F O U R T H O F J U LY?

“Our family starts the day off at the local neighborhood Fourth of July parade and picnic at the park. The rest of the day is spent with family or friends eating hot dogs, hamburgers and homemade ice cream.

The day ends with a trip to see the local fireworks show. We love a good, oldfashioned family Fourth of July.”

— Donia Simmons, CREATIVE DIRECTOR

“Summer is always a busy time, and I’m often out of town during Fourth of July week, so just having the opportunity to spend the day with family is a real blessing.”

— Savannah Osbourn, STAFF WRITER

“The Fourth of July is meant to be celebrated by the water for my family. We usually hang out at the lake, but this year, it will be toes in the sand with fireworks over the ocean.”

— Stacey Bowman, DIRECTOR, ADVERTISING SALES

“I leave the house early each Fourth of July morning to run the Bluegrass 10,000, a 10k road race through a charming historic district in downtown Lexington. I’m usually home by 9:00 a.m. and enjoy a leisurely day before heading to a cookout. Since I have toddlers at home, staying out late for fireworks shows hasn’t been an option in recent years. But as long as I get to run that race downtown, it feels like Independence Day to me.”

— Brian Jewell, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

“The best way to celebrate the Fourth in my book is getting together with family, smoking a rack of ribs and eating some banana pudding. Sparklers are an added bonus.”

— Ashley Ricks, CIRCULATION MANAGER

“All the dads in my childhood neighborhood used to make a trip to Indiana to buy more than $5,000 worth of fireworks each year. We would have a huge block party for the Fourth of July, and it was always my favorite thing to do until the cops shut them down because the show was too big and they didn’t have a permit. Now I just like cooking out and going somewhere to watch fireworks.”

— Kyle Anderson, SALES ASSISTANT

“Finally an easy question.

We avoid any travel conflicts over July Fourth weekend so that we can relax on Lake Barkley in western Kentucky. We enjoy friends and family in, on and around the water. Eddy Creek Marina creates an outstanding fireworks event over the weekend, and dozens of boats arrive early in the morning to grab great viewing spots. The entire weekend is a red, white and blue blast.”

— Mac Lacy, PUBLISHER

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

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

BRIANJ@GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM 50

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As the most inclusive river cruise line, group travel with Scenic is perfect for you and your clients. By including all shore excursions in our cruise fare, your group can choose what interests them most… without a thought of the cost. By including all drinks in our cruise fare, your group can toast the day’s experiences… without a thought of the cost. A personal butler, all meals, all tipping & gratuities, up to 6 dining venues, e-bikes for the more active travelers, airport transfers… the list of Scenic’s Signature inclusions is long… The difference is Scenic.

Working together to ensure a successful Group • One free TC for 9 or 11 guests depending upon itinerary & sail date

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To contact the Scenic groups department call 1.844.279.6124 | scenicusa.com Terms and conditions: Up to $1,500 per person based on sail date. Port charges and taxes are included in pricing. The deposit required is $500 per person and is due at the time of booking. Full payment is required minimum 90 days prior to departure. 2019 itineraries, hotels and inclusions are subject to change. For full details on our Groups program contact scenicusa.com. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours | One Financial Center, 4th Floor | Boston, MA 02111 AD CODE: May18_SC194