Select Traveler July August 2020

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

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TASTE THESE TRAILS

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INDIANA’S THE ANSWER

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VIBRANT VIRGINIA BEACH

Architecture

conveys a sense of

PLACE

ECEA S E U RLQS H O W A MT R AV E

JULY/AUGUST 2020

W.C. Handy Festival, The Shoals Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores

U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville

Selma Interpretive Center, Selma

Whether it’s Muscle Shoals music or learning about the natural world in Gulf Shores, the past and future of space exploration in Huntsville, or the Civil Rights Movement in Selma, we can supply you with itineraries for several Group Tours. Trouble is...deciding which tour to take first. We’ll keep adding to the list, you just keep coming for new adventures. www.alabama.travel To learn how your group can experience Alabama, contact Rosemary Judkins at rosemary.judkins@tourism.alabama.gov or 334-242-4493.

Columbus is a city that’s made for sharing. Tour the stirring National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Explore Adventure Cove, the brand-new sea lion exhibit at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Live it up at Schmidt’s Restaurant und Sausage Haus in iconic German Village. Our partners city-wide have taken the Live Forward Pledge to make health a priority so your group’s visit can be as safe as it is memorable. ExperienceColumbus.com/tours

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

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VOL.28 NO.4

JULY/AUGUST 2020

PRESERVING THE PAST:

CITIES WITH HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE

contents

toolbox:

CREATIVE IDEAS

conference checking in: SAFETY

CAROLYN COBB

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MAC T. LACY CHARLES A. PRESLEY BRIAN JEWELL ELIZA MYERS HERBERT SPARROW DONIA SIMMONS ASHLEY RICKS CHRISTINE CLOUGH RENA BAER KELLY TYNER KYLE ANDERSON CAROLINE DAVIS MELISSA RILEY

ON THE COVER: Architecture inspires two artists in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Photo by Ken Wiedemann.

PHOTO TECH

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KYLE ANDERSON

888.253.0455

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING SALES

K YLE@ GROUPTR AVELLE ADER.COM

Founder and Publisher Partner VP & Executive Editor Associate Editor Senior Writer Creative Director Graphic Designer/Circulation Manager Copy Editor Proofreader VP, Sales and Marketing Director of Advertising Sales Sales and Marketing Assistant Accounting Manager

20 trails hoosier 24

FOOD & SPIRIT

cruising marketing: UPDATE

By Kathryn Rafter, courtesy Cape Cod COC

H O S P I TA L I T Y

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SELECT TRAVELER

Select Traveler, the Magazine for Bank, Alumni and Chamber Travel Planners, is published bimonthly by The Group Travel Leader, Inc., 301 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507 and is distributed free of charge to qualified travel program directors throughout the United States. All other travel suppliers, including tour operators, destinations, attractions, transportation companies, hotels, restaurants and other travel-related companies, may subscribe to Select Traveler by sending a check for $49 for one year to: Select Traveler, Circulation Department, 301 East High Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507. 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.

NAME OR ADDRESS CHANGES: If your copy of Select Traveler should be mailed to another manager in your organization, or if you personally know another travel director who is not receiving Select Traveler, please send your correction to: Select Traveler, 301 East High St., Lexington, Kentucky 40507, or call (859) 253-0455.

perspective P U B L I S H E R ’ S

“W

ish you were here.”

I guess great thoughts become cliches for a reason. We’ve embarked on a travel recovery campaign around that iconic travel phrase because, quite frankly, we couldn’t come up with anything new that better

captured the sentiments of our industry today.

As travel planners, you may wish your travelers were with you right now in some fa-

vorite destination. As destinations, your worldwide travel hosts simply wish you and your travelers were with them right now. And among your most stalwart travelers, there may be some who are somewhere fun as you read this, wishing all their travel friends were with them.

“Wish you were here” is a magical phrase that communicates love, absence, longing, hopefulness and friendship. We even find ourselves saying it at times to someone who has passed away. There is never a need to analyze the sentiment behind “wish you were here.”

In just a few days, we will gather at the Select Traveler Conference in Wichita, Kansas. I have no doubt that there will be many familiar faces with us to celebrate the invigorating properties of travel. I’ve already heard that from some of you. But there will also be those we will not see.

To them, in advance, on behalf of my associates and our eager hosts in Wichita, let me simply say, “Wish you were here.”

Email me anytime with your thoughts at maclacy@grouptravelleader.com.

Mac Lacy

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WHEN YOU’RE READY TO RALLY,

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T R A V E L

T O O L B O X

now is an innovative planner’s time to shine

BY BRIA N JE W E LL

I

f there were ever a time for creativity in travel, this is it.

This year has brought challenges that nobody could have anticipated.

But challenging moments can be catalysts for innovation. And innovative thinking is going to be crucial for travel groups in 2020 and 2021.

As destinations around the country continue to drop restrictions and open up to visitors, many travel enthusiasts are eager to hit the road again. For groups, though, social distancing poses some unique logistical hurdles. They’re not insurmountable, but navigating these challenges will require some new ideas.

If you’re ready to start your travel program again soon, here are some ideas that will help you plan memorable trips without compromising on health and safety.

Your travelers might enjoy some of these new ideas so much that you make them a permanent part of your travel habits.

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HIDDEN TREA SURES Under normal circumstances, big cities and popular attractions are at the top of many people’s travel wish lists. But in this season, crowded spots are probably the last places you and your travelers want to go. That makes this a good opportunity to take your group down the backroads, visiting out-of-the-way attractions and smaller destinations. You’re likely to find fascinating experiences and hidden treasures that are new to you and will make for great travel memories.

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OUTDOOR EXPLORATION From a health point of view, the safest place for people to be together is probably outdoors. So why not plan trips that are focused on natural attractions? America’s national and state parks present a wealth of opportunities for exploration, often within a short drive of home. Some of these parks also have accommodation and dining options so your group can spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time riding a motorcoach from one location to the next.

SMALL GROUPS There was a time when operating a successful trip meant having a motorcoach with 50 people. Group sizes have been trending smaller for about a decade, though, and the current climate will likely accelerate this change. Your potential travelers probably don’t want to be packed tightly in a coach with people they don’t know well.

So, for the time being, why not design your trips to work well with smaller groups of 10 to 25? You may have to price the trips differently, but smaller groups can provide more intimate experiences, in addition to safer environments.

RESORT VACATIONS If your group enjoys traveling together and is eager for a getaway, consider taking them for a long weekend at a resort destination. A resort trip minimizes the time spent on transportation and allows travelers freedom to enjoy the property’s amenities at their leisure. Most resorts are ideally designed for social distancing. And since accommodations, activities and dining are all run by the same management, you can count on a uniform approach to health, safety and cleaning throughout the experience.

ALTERNATIVE DINING With social distancing requirements and occupancy restrictions in place, many restaurants may have a hard time accommodating large groups the way they typically would. And if you’re trying to maintain some distance between your travelers, gathering everyone around a table in a dining room probably isn’t a good plan. Instead, look for alternative dining experiences. Rather than eating in a restaurant, consider packaging a meal into an attraction visit or look for places to eat outdoors. Venues like event barns also make good options, as do food truck parks.

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C O N F E R E N C E

connection

JOE CAPPUZZELLO

RELAX, RECOVER AND RALLY COME SHARE IDEAS AT THE SELECT TRAVELER CONFERENCE

BY DAN DICKSON

W

hen the 2020 Select Traveler Conference convenes in August, delegates can be confident that their health and safety are top priority.

The meeting, which will run in conjunction with the Going On Faith Conference, is scheduled for August 19-21 in Wichita, Kansas. The two conferences were combined when the Select Traveler Conference, scheduled for last March in Cheyenne, Wyoming, had to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Going On Faith half of this combined conference will draw faith-based group travel planners. The Select Traveler portion will bring together group travel planners who represent banks, chambers of commerce and college travel programs.

Both groups are looking for fresh ideas about where to take their travelers. The planners meet with destination providers from all over the country.

“As far as new covid-19 cases in Kansas are concerned, if they keep trending as they have been lately, then we will have progressed in a very positive way,” said Joe Cappuzzello, CEO of The Group Travel Family, which selects conference cities and facilities and manages the conferences.

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The delegates will do the bulk of their work in one large marketplace inside the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center in a space called Convention Hall. It has 32,000 square feet of space. Local health standards allow the event to have up to 400 people inside the hall, a number with which conference organizers say they can easily work.

The convention center’s website contains an official statement about the ongoing issue: “Century II is committed to the health, safety and well-being of our community. Masks are required for all staff and are recommended for visitors and occupancy will be limited based on social distancing guidelines,” it reads.

The marketplace space will be divided in two: One side will be reserved for Select Traveler appointments, and the other side, for Going On Faith appointments. “And both sides will be expected to adhere to all local and state guidelines,” said Cappuzzello. “We are following all of their plans.”

Select Traveler, which normally holds three marketplace sessions, will offer two this time, the same as the Going On Faith delegates. The 2021 Select Traveler and Going On Faith Conferences will be separate, as usual.

“We are waiting to hear what rules will be in force for events

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Wichita, Kansas, welcomes delegates to the 2020 Select Traveler Conference in August.

Piatto is a Wichita favorite that serves Neapolitan-style pizza.

All photos courtesy Visit Witchita

“SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR NO. 1 CONCERN, IT IS ALWAYS PARAMOUNT. IT IS SOMETHING WE WORK ON EVERY DAY.” — JOE CAPPUZZELLO

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that we expect to have in the adjoining Wichita Hyatt Regency Hotel ballrooms, such as our meal functions,” said Cappuzzello. Once those particular standards are set, the meal wait staff will make sure all tables and settings are properly sanitized and delegates are spaced apart for correct social distancing.

“Safety has always been our No. 1 concern,” said Cappuzzello. “It is always paramount. It is something we work on every day.”

The conference planners are working closely with staffs from the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center and the Hyatt Regency Hotel, which are connected, and also with the folks from Visit Wichita, the local convention and visitors bureau.

The Hyatt Regency, for example, is the official delegate hotel, and some of the conference events will take place there. The Hyatt Corporation has established what it calls its Global Care and Cle nliness Commitment, which focuses on the safety and well-being of its guests.

The program includes frequent cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants on all high-touch surfaces in areas such as guest rooms, lobbies, meeting and event spaces, restaurants, public restrooms and elevators. Enhanced food safety will be applied in all meeting and event rooms, in all restaurants and with room service. Hand sanitizer stations will be prominently placed throughout the hotel.

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VISIT WICHITA Opening Night Entertainment Second Night Dinner and Entertainment Sightseeing Tours Airport Shuttles Host City

VOLGA DREAM CRUISES Buyer Breakout Session

Grace Hill Winery Keeper of the Plains

S I G H T S E E I N G

OPPORTUNITIES

O

rdinarily, the Select Traveler Conference does not arrange sightseeing trips since it schedules three marketplace sessions. But this time, because there are only two sessions, attendees will have time to join their Going On Faith colleagues for fun tours around Wichita. The city of Wichita is reopening facilities, businesses, attractions and programs in phases as the effects of the pandemic lessen. The city’s website says reopening preparations are going on all over town. “Employees are working hard to prepare buildings and programs and to institute robust health and safety processes,” the website says.

Local tourism officials look forward to showing off Wichita with several sightseeing tours, which will be a welcome break for delegates after all their hard work in the marketplaces. “Visit Wichita agreed

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to open sightseeing to all delegates from Select Traveler and Going On Faith,” said Cappuzzello. “It will be a chance for them to showcase Wichita to even more people, and we’re excited about that.”

Visit Wichita is working on organizing several tours for conference delegates.

They will likely include opportunities to see the World War II-era B-29 Superfortress aircraft known as Doc. This flying museum gives a peek into Wichita’s vital role in aviation and wartime history. History is an appealing pursuit in Wichita.

The 44-foot tall steel sculpture called “Keeper of the Plains” has a special spot where the Big and Little Arkansas rivers meet near downtown, and Native Americans believe that this area is a sacred place.

The Old Cowtown Museum is an openair 23-acre series of buildings that depicts life on the plains. It is near the famed Ch-

isholm Trail, on which cowboys drove cattle to the railheads in the late 1800s. The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum exhibits artifacts that depict the area’s history, including Native Americans, cowboys and aviation.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park is an amazing animal attraction that is a joy to visit.

Whatever is planned for the tours, delegates will enjoy.

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checking in CAROLYN COBB PLANTERS BANK PASSPORT 50 PROGRAM DIRECTOR

W I T H

C A R O L Y N

C O B B

PLANTERS BANK HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY

Planters Bank is a community bank founded in 1996. Its assets total $1.2 billion, with 12 branches in western Kentucky and Tennessee. The Planters Bank Passport 50 Club offers travel opportunities for customers ages 50 and over who have an active checking account. The club has 675 members.

Born: Hopkinsville, Kentucky Education: Cobb has an associate’s degree in secretarial skills from Murray State University and graduated from the School of Bank Marketing in Boulder, Colorado Employment: Cobb started her banking career in 1965 as a loan secretary.

In 1994, she started a senior loyalty program that included travel. In 2008, she switched to Planters Bank.

Family: Her husband of 54 years owns a real estate firm.

Hobbies: Cobb enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading and flower gardening.

The Planters Bank Passport 50 Club pose before dining in Alaska.

BY ELIZA MYERS

I

n 2007, Carolyn Cobb thought she knew what the future held. She planned to retire, since her current bank was ending its travel program.

Instead, she got a phone call that changed everything.

“The president of the Planters Bank contacted me the last few months I was working, saying she would love to have me start a travel program at Planters,” said Cobb, program director for the Planters Bank Passport 50. “I told her I needed some time off.”

After a year of taking it easy, Cobb took up the offer to resurrect her travel career at Planters Bank. Luckily, she had 13 years of successful group travel planning experience from which to pull.

This year, Cobb celebrates 25 years of organizing bank travel, including 12 years full of travel adventures and friends made at Planters Bank.

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DA I R Y FA R M DR E A MI NG

Cobb grew up on a dairy farm with few opportunities to leave town, let alone explore the world.

“Because the cows had to be milked twice a day, I never traveled,” said Cobb. “The highlight of my summer was going to 4-H Camp and showing cattle at the state fair. I always said I wanted to travel.”

After college, Cobb took a job at the local bank. She started traveling domestically with her husband on vacations. Even then, Cobb arranged everything.

“I would plan the trip, and my husband would just say, ‘Tell me where we’re going and hand me the map.’ He is a stay-at-home hubby,” said Cobb. “He is happy for me to be able to travel and is always happy when I return. It has worked out perfectly for our marriage of 54 years. He gets to stay home, sell real estate and golf while I travel

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all over the world. He is very happy he doesn’t have to take me on vacations anymore.”

In 1993, Cobb was asked to start a bank senior loyalty program that included travel. By then, she had been promoted to vice president of marketing but felt unsure about planning group travel. She attended The School of Bank Marketing in Boulder to learn more about bank travel programs.

In 1994, Cobb ventured out with a group for the first time to Nashville, Tennessee. Larger trips followed, and soon Cobb was leading a thriving travel program.

She attended the first Select Traveler Conference — then called Bank Travel Conference — in 1995 to gain more insight.

“The networking with my peers is one of the most helpful parts about the conference,” said Cobb. “I also get a lot of new travel ideas.

I like to find out what the other travel directors are doing and how they are handling issues that come up.”

R ESTART

Once the bank was bought by a corporation that didn’t support loyalty travel programs, Cobb thought her group travel days were done. But joining Planters Bank part time in 2008 brought new opportunities for fun.

The Passport 50 Club also hosts events in town, such as a Halloween dinner and card party where participants dress up and play cards games. Cobb plans two big trips a year, one domestic and one international, as well as several day trips, for her more than 650 members.

“We do quite a few daytrips,” said Cobb. “The members are about 70 years old, with a lot of ladies. We’ve formed so many friendships.

They wouldn’t be able to go anywhere without this program. They don’t like to travel overnight. We are fortunate we have a lot of interesting places in Kentucky and Tennessee we can visit in a day and come back.”

Cobb uses feedback from her customers to plan a variety of tours that will work for her members. For example, her baby boomer customers want more free time, so Cobb has learned to build in more time to relax.

ready to get out. They are going to do whatever. We’re working on details like having hand sanitizer around and ensuring that the tour managers and drivers wear masks and gloves.”

Even with the pandemic setback, Cobb finds joy in her job and doesn’t plan to quit anytime soon.

“I’ve been very fortunate that both my bank presidents have been very supportive of the program,” said Cobb. “I’ve met some wonderful people on these tours. At some point I’ll have to retire, but I’m not ready quite yet. There are too many places I still need to go.”

T R A V E L

tips

• Always use a reputable tour company for your extended trips. Encourage your travelers to always purchase the offered cancellation waiver insurance.

• Offer a variety of trips for your customers, such as domestic, international and daytrips. Use feedback from your travelers for new destination ideas.

• Always try to roll with the punches.

#1 Scenic Train Ride!

C OVID IN TER R U P T I O N S

Like everyone else in travel, Cobb is trying to figure out her strategy for dealing with recent COVID-19 travel restrictions. She plans to try some motorcoach trips this year with some safety procedures in place.

“We are going to be taking temperatures when they get on the motorcoach,” said Cobb. “There is no way to do social distancing, but I think we will have to require masks. I’m not sure how that’s all going to work.”

Her group’s first trip after the pandemic will be a daytrip to Grand Rivers, Kentucky, in midJuly. The itinerary is simple: a meal and a play.

“The restaurant is opened with a third of the seating capacity. The theater is trying to figure out if they will be open. But no one has canceled.

There are so many unknowns.”

A September trip to Canyon Country in Utah is also still planned.

“I’ve had to cancel so many things this year,” she said. “But I’m learning that my customers are

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P L A N N E R S

T A L K

B A C K

how is your travel program handling the current travel environment?

KELLY PETICOLAS

PRINCIPIA LIFELONG LEARNING ELSAH, ILLINOIS “I am working very closely with my travel providers right now. I sent out a survey to our travelers to learn more about their comfort level with travel at this time. They are looking for domestic travel opportunities. We just postponed our South of France/Barcelona program, which was to take place in late July.

France is scheduled to reopen July 11, without restrictions or mandatory quarantine, but I had several travelers who were not comfortable going. However, the response to my announcement of our intended trip to Kenya, for a safari in July 2022, is huge. I have a long interest list for that particular trip.”

Travel ☼ Thoughtfully Designed ☼ ☼ Delightfully Executed ☼

LAURIE STATUS

CENTRAL BANK OF SEDALIA SEDALIA, MISSOURI “This definitely has not been an ideal travel season, but I hope in the next several months that things will start to change. Some of my trips for this year, of course, have been canceled. I’m just waiting to see what happens with the other ones that are planned for the end of this year. I try to stay connected with my travelers with phone calls, emails and just sending a note every once in a while to let them know I’m still here for them and that there is hope for travel again in the future.”

TAMMY MCCULLARS

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA “With this being a university, we have many avenues for communicating and are taking advantage of all that with our travelers. We have had four international trips canceled so far this year and have doubts about an Egypt tour in November. Besides individual outreach to my travelers on these tours, we have, on a broader scale, sent updates on how COVID-19 is affecting travel and Appalachian State University.”

MADDIE STOJANOVIC

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FORT SMITH

888-55-TRIPS

www.gotripsinc.com 16 selecttraveler.com

FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS “Prestige Platinum has introduced both a e-newsletter and Facebook page in the last calendar year that we have since benefited from greatly. We were in search of a quicker means of communication to reach our customers in times where things seem to change by the day and were glad that we have optimized our social media presence.”

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shuffled

DECKS The American Queen Steamboat Company plans to welcome passengers in July.

Courtesy American Queen Steamboat Company

CRUISE COMPANIES JUGGLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND

BY JILL GLEESON

L

ife in the age of pandemic hasn’t been easy for anyone, but as U.S. residents take the first steps out of quarantine, there’s hope we can return sooner rather than later to some semblance of normalcy. That holds true in the group river cruise industry, too, as companies like the American Queen Steamboat Company, Emerald Waterways and Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours get ready to hit the water again. Their staffs have been hard at work in the past few months of shutdown, not only managing cancellations for groups — and taking brand-new bookings — but figuring out how to gear back up, including what new safety procedures to implement.

American Queen is getting some of its plush paddle-wheelers back out on the rivers soon, with what the company’s president, Ares Michaelides, called “a phased-in approach on two of the four ships.”

“It’s like a light switch that is on a dimmer,” he said. “We can’t just switch it back on.”

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The American Empress, which follows in the wake of Lewis and Clark’s explorations of the Columbia and Snake rivers, will return July 6. On the Mississippi, the American Duchess will set sail for the first time since the shutdown on July 20. Michaelides said the company’s other two vessels, the brand-new American Countess and the American Queen — the largest steamboat ever made — will not sail until at least mid-July.

Emerald and Scenic’s voyages on the waterways of Europe have been postponed until the end of August, according to Ann Chamberlin, vice president of sales for the USA Scenic Group, which oversees both cruise companies.

“Our first priority is to take care of our current guests who are booked on a suspended sailing,” she said. “That’s No. 1 — to make sure we’ve accommodated them on a future sailing and to find out what their future plans might look like and what they’re comfortable doing.”

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Tour

SOUTHEAST INDIANA

American Countess

Ready When You Are If you’ve visited us in the past, or plan to visit us in the future, thank you.

Baked salmon from the American Duchess

When you’re back on the road again, remember, we are ready with history and hands-on fun adventures!

Courtesy American Queen Steamboat Company

Hillforest Victorian House Museum

McCabe’s Greenhouse

Aurora and Lawrenceburg OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

1

Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

Louisville

Lexington

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

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com 800-322-8198

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Courtesy American Queen Steamboat Company

The USA Scenic Group, which is planning to operate its full itinerary into 2021 and beyond, is offering a 110% future travel credit, across brands, through 2022 or into 2023, depending on the date of the canceled cruise. At the end of this time, if group passengers have not yet rebooked the cruise, they are eligible for a full refund. American Queen is also providing refunds, as well as a future-cruise credit worth 125% of the value paid that group travelers can apply to sailings through 2021.

“We’re giving them flexibility,” Michaelides said of customers who hold tickets for canceled cruises. “We’re not pushing anyone. You have a percentage of the people that say, ‘Time out. I want to put my travel on hold for a second.’ Then there’s the other spectrum that is comfortable and wants to sail right away on this date, on this ship. And then there’s the majority in between that say, ‘Thank you. We appreciate your flexibility; give me a little time to see how the dust settles, and I’ll get back in touch with you to figure out what I’m going to do.’ But if someone calls now with reservations, we are taking bookings.”

ADVENTURE READY

Scenic is also taking new bookings for the ships that carry the company’s name and for Emerald Waterways. A lot of those bookings are coming from this country.

“The net new bookings are highest in the United States,” Chamberlin said. “So that shows us that people want to travel; they want to get out; they’re planning, they’re dreaming, and they’ll be ready to go when we’re ready to resume operations.”

But jockeying new group reservations with rebooking group passengers who were on canceled voyages may not be easy, according to Anne Davis, president of Cruises and Tours Worldwide.

“It’s interesting because, before the pandemic, the cruise lines were selling 2021 cruises,” said Davis, whose company sells exclusively to group leaders. “A lot of us had already blocked out group space. So now, when one of our 2020 groups wants to move to 2021, a lot of that space is already gone. We’re hunting around for suitable replacements for them.

“We had to cancel every spring and summer trip that we had,” she said. “Our last cruise

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that went out was February 25, and I think it will be just about the exact same date next year before our next cruise goes out. We did 73 trips last year, and we had more than that on the books for this year.

We had a great first quarter, which is helping us get through the first several months of the pandemic. So we’re basically canceling trips; but almost all of our group leaders have asked us to reschedule them for next year. We expect that if we can get through this pandemic, that we will have a really busy year next year.”

A Scenic cruise ship in Budapest

SAFETY FIRST

A view from the American Empress Courtesy American Queen Steamboat Company

Courtesy Scenic Group USA

Kayaking on an Emerald Waterways cruise

While Davis works to reschedule her groups, cruise lines are figuring out ways to keep their group passengers as safe as possible from the virus. American Queen has even partnered with Ochsner Health, a New Orleans-based regional medical facility, to come up with a new set of policies. They include temperature screenings at check-in, COVID-19 testing for crew, increased cleaning of high-touch areas and reducing the seating capacity of the dining room and entertainment venues. Scenic, which faces the added challenge of maintaining compliance with the safety regulations in the various foreign countries where they dock, has yet to announce its own measures.

“The industry is resilient,” Michaelides said, when asked what he thinks the future holds for group river cruising. “We have a lot of smart people in the cruise industry. We’re going to come back, but it will be a slow, phased-in approach. You can’t put all the ships back on at the same time. I think if you take the training of the crew one-by-one, with all the new protocols, that will get the confidence level back. And slowly, we’ll get back into what at least is a new norm.”

Courtesy Scenic Group USA

Family Space Camp is an all-inclusive

weekend camp program for families with children ages 7 and up. This exhilarating world-renowned adventure allows parents and children to train like astronauts and take part in simulated missions to space.

Call 1-800-637-7223 today to plan your journey!

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TRAILS to savor

Soul Kitchen Music Hall in Mobile, Alabama, is a tasty stop along the Alabama BBQ Trail.

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By Art Meripol, courtesy Alabama Tourism Dev.

CULINARY STOPS COULD THRIVE IN COMING MONTHS

BY ELIZA MYERS

A

heaping plate of gumbo is a joyride for the senses.

Since smell and taste are closely tied to memories, feasting on gumbo along Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Food Trail can also become an enduring travel memory.

Tourism offices want visitors to easily access these memorable dining experiences, which is why many states promote food and spirit trails. Groups can follow these trails to enjoy crabs in Maryland, barbecue in Alabama and cheese in Wisconsin at restaurants that use local recipes and ingredients.

Planners can ensure plenty of delicious and unforgettable meals along these six food and spirit trails.

LOUISIANA’S CAJUN BAYOU FOOD TRAIL

Love equals food in Louisiana. Here, families gather regularly to eat and share recipes passed down through the generations.

Groups can enjoy similar dishes along the Cajun Bayou Food Trail.

The state’s abundant fresh seafood and cultural history created the distinctive Cajun cuisine popular especially in the “bayou” area south of New Orleans in Lafourche Parish.

Officially launched in 2018, the trail highlights restaurants and food vendors that celebrate the heritage of the area with local ingredients and a distinctive spin on the concept of Cajun cuisine.

Cajun cuisine can be adapted easily, since the culinary style draws influences from the cultures of French, African, Spanish and Native Americans who lived in the area. The resulting Cajun dishes combine various cooking seasonings and techniques with local meat and Gulf of Mexico seafood.

Groups can try gumbo with chicken, sausage, shrimp and even alligator. Some local chefs pour on the spice; others use it sparingly.

Some restaurants serve gumbo with rice, and others top it with potato salad. Visitors are advised to pack stretchy pants and try it all.

Among the best restaurants for groups on the trail is Spahr’s Seafood in Des Allemands. For more than 50 years, the restaurant has specialized in local cuisine, such as catfish chips and shellfish pasta with cream sauce.

Groups can also try more casual po’boy eateries such as the Eat Fit Bayou, which offers healthier Cajun meals that still retain the region’s familiar taste. Other favorite stops include a visit to the Bourgeois Meat Market, which opened in 1891 and retains its popularity for its jerky and boudin, a Cajun version of sausage.

LACAJUNBAYOU.COM/FOODTRAIL

MARYLAND’S CRAB AND OYSTER TRAIL

Maryland’s famous blue crab doesn’t just come steamed. Venues along Maryland’s Crab and Oyster Trail serve the regional specialty in crab cakes, omelets, pizza, quesadillas and hamburgers. In one form or

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another, crab dishes feature prominently on many Maryland menus.

The Chesapeake Bay’s plentiful seafood has fed the area since Maryland’s indigenous people lived there. Capt. John Smith remarked on the bay’s seafood bounty when he arrived in 1607, which influenced future immigration to the area.

Oysters now rivals crab in the region because of a flourishing oyster farming industry. Groups can dine on these delicacies while also learning about the state’s seafaring heritage. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels details the local fishing industry with interactive exhibits and the world’s largest collection of Chesapeake Bay boats.

At Captain James Landing in Baltimore, groups can eat in a restaurant shaped like a merchant vessel. The seafood restaurant serves up fun, steamed crabs and waterfront seating.

Another restaurant that welcomes groups is Phillip’s in Ocean City. The restaurant began as a crab shack in the late 1950s and has since grown into an international business.

VISITMARYLAND.ORG

OHIO’S ICE CREAM TRAIL

Happiness comes on a waffle cone in Ohio. The state’s long love affair with ice cream is now accessible to groups on Ohio’s Ice Cream Trail.

With 2,200 dairy farms, Ohio’s obsession with the creamy dessert came about naturally. Many of the state’s ice cream parlors have also found wider success, such as the iconic Graeter’s Ice Cream chain that opened its doors in Cincinnati in 1870.

Started in 2018, Ohio’s Ice Cream Trail showcases 20 local, familyowned and nationally recognized ice cream shops across the state.

Groups can add some sweet fun to their tours by stopping at some of these shops, such as Sweet Moses in Cleveland, which offers a 10 Scoop Terminal Tower that takes several people to finish.

The Mill at Velvet Ice Cream in Utica churns out the dessert in front of guests during a factory tour. After learning about the company’s history, which goes back to its 1914 opening, participants can choose from various flavors including Velvet’s Buckeye Classic.

At Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs, visitors can meet the cows that supply the milk for ice cream. The farm and restaurant offers a petting area for goats and cows, as well as light-hearted games of mini-golf at Udders and Putters.

TRAILS.OHIO.ORG/ICE-CREAM

ALABAMA’S BBQ TRAIL

Asking where to find the best barbecue in Alabama opens a Pandora’s box of controversy. People all over the state proudly proclaim that their county has the tastiest barbecue, and they are happy to argue with each other about it.

Why the disagreement? Travel across the state, and the barbecue flavors change.

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The food is tied to the state’s identity, which inspired Alabama Tourism to launch the Year of Alabama Barbecue in 2015. The yearlong campaign included a website, a smartphone app and a documentary film that chronicled the history of Alabama barbecue. The Alabama BBQ Trail app continues to give quick access to the history and favorite dishes of more than 72 barbecue restaurants in 52 cities across the state.

The age-old art of slow-cooking meat became a way for the working class to bring flavor and tenderness to even the most inexpensive cuts of meat. Though each region of the state favors different methods, one emblematic type of Alabama barbecue is a white sauce of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar and lemon juice.

The white sauce was initially created in Decatur, Alabama, by Robert Gibson at Big Bob Gibson’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant in 1925.

Groups can visit this innovative restaurant that still wins prestigious barbecue competitions. Chef Chris Lilly, great-grandson-in-law of the original Bob Gibson, is recognized as one of the top barbecue chefs in the nation and has written several barbecue books.

Golden Rule Bar-B-Q in Irondale, Alabama, is one of the oldest restaurants in the state. Opened in 1891, the restaurant was managed by the Williams family for more than 80 years. After the family sold it, the restaurant expanded throughout the state.

Though Alabama offers several historic restaurants, including the 1946 Lannie’s Bar-B-Que Spot in Selma, groups that feast only on the classic joints miss out. Saw’s BBQ in Birmingham may be only a decade old, but it has gained a huge local and national reputation.

Lannie’s Bar-B-Que Spot in Selma

By Art Meripol, courtesy Alabama Tourism Dev.

ALABAMA.TRAVEL/APPS/ALABAMA-BBQ

OREGON’S WINE TRAIL

your Adventure Begins at visitkansasCitykS.com 800.264.1563

With more than 500 tasting rooms throughout Oregon, groups don’t have to search long to find a winery. They can simply look for the ones most convenient to their tour. Oregon’s Wine Trail highlights the state’s 19 American Viticultural Areas with wine-tasting routes ready for any journey.

The wine varieties can satisfy any enthusiast, with rieslings, pinot noirs, syrahs, cabernets and dessert wines the most common. Though Oregon is the third-largest wine-grape-producing state, it remains focused on small-batch artisan wine. This makes tours more personal, with the winemakers frequently giving tours themselves or standing behind the counter pouring samples.

Often, groups can sample small-batch vintages only available in the wineries’ tasting rooms.

Cool-climate wine varieties, such as pinot noir especially, thrive in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. One of the state’s most popular wine regions, Willamette Valley showcases a high concentration of world-renowned wine producers. Oregon offers other region-focused wine trails in Mount Hood, Portland, southern Oregon and the Walla Walla Valley.

At Phelps Creek Vineyard in Hood River, groups can experience a boutique winery focused on producing pinot noir and Dijon clone chardonnay. At 1,100 feet in elevation, the winery offers stunning views, French winemaking techniques and tours with artisan cheese selections.

OREGONWINE.ORG

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Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams

WISCONSIN CHEESE TOUR

A Maryland blue crab

Courtesy TourismOhio

Courtesy Maryland Office of Tourism

A Willamette Valley vineyard

Wisconsin cheese curds

Cheese curds are so beloved in Wisconsin that people sometimes wonder why they aren’t popular in other places. But since cheese curds are best eaten within hours of production, they typically only appear in places that have cheese production facilities.

Since 1.27 million Wisconsin cows churn out 25% of all cheese produced in the United States, Wisconsin and cheese curds are a perfect match. Groups can find fresh curds, award-winning cheeses and interactive cheese-themed tours on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism’s Wisconsin Cheese Tour.

Though cheese production happens throughout the state, Green County is known as the Cheese Capital of the U.S. The National Historic Cheesemaking Center outlines hundreds of years of Wisconsin cheesemaking and invites guests to tour a restored cheesemaking factory.

Nearby, Wisconsin’s oldest cheese shop, Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern, serves unusual and delicious cheese sandwiches.

Locals and bold cheese connoisseurs order Limburger with a side of mint.

For a historic stop, Widmer’s Cheese Cellars in Theresa, Wisconsin, features a renowned third-generation maker of Brick cheese.

Master cheesemaker Joe Widmer meticulously follows methods passed down from his grandfather.

Other places in Wisconsin where groups can sample wide selections of cheese are the Beechwood Cheese Factory in Adell, the Wisconsin Cheese Mart in Milwaukee and Fromagination in Madison.

Fromagination even offers a way for visitors to incorporate cheese into their daily lives with cheese cooking classes.

TRAVELWISCONSIN.COM

Courtesy Travel Wisconsin

By Janis Miglavs, courtesy Willamette Valley Wineries Assoc.

PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM

One of California’s most beautiful and unique destinations!

Ask about our docent-led group tours - Two restaurants available with tour group options For information on “FBI: From Al Capone to Al Qaeda” & “Vikings: Beyond The Legend,” visit ReaganLibrary.com

Tour Through Air Force One 27000 J U LY / A U G U S T

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View a Full Scale Replica of the Oval Office

Touch an Authentic Piece of the Berlin Wall

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S T A T E

o f

M I N D

just the thing INDIANA’S WHOLESOME APPEAL IS PLAYING WELL

I

ndiana treasures imagination.

Everywhere you go in Indiana, you see signs of the state’s creativity, with art havens in Brown County, a famous art museum in Indianapolis and quilt gardens in Elkhart County.

The state’s creativity isn’t limited to art but is also put to use rethinking ways to connect with travelers.

Groups can enjoy take-home crafts in Dearborn County or eat dinner with an Amish family in Elkhart County.

Indiana’s hospitality and authentic charm can prove enticing for groups eager to start traveling again. Group leaders can create a well-rounded tour mixing urban and rural attractions that will delight travelers in the Hoosier State.

BY ELIZA MYERS

Fort Wayne offers a walkable downtown and several group-friendly attractions.

DEARBORN COUNTY

Groups leave Dearborn County with fond memories and several new skills. In southeast Indiana, this destination’s attractions offer plenty of interactive opportunities that often result in self-made souvenirs.

Participants can learn how to paint a silk scarf at SIAG Gallery and Studios. The gallery not only showcases local fine art, photography and sculptures from local artists but also invites groups to tap into their own creativity with several projects, ranging from finger painting to decorating a gourd birdhouse.

Fudge and flowers go together at McCabe’s Greenhouse and Floral. The family-owned garden center invites guests to sample its homemade gourmet fudge while shopping for flowers. Groups can also participate in the center’s many hands-on floral classes, such as Plant a Hanging Door Basket, Create a Japanese Kokedama and Plant a Pollinator Pot. “Our small-town communities offer many special off-thebeaten-path experiences,” said Sally McWilliams, group sales for the Dearborn County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“It’s always fun to welcome a new group and hear their re-

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actions. Group tour passengers are typically well-traveled, and they’re often surprised to have their expectations exceeded in an unfamiliar area.”

The Hillforest Victorian House Museum welcomes groups with costumed docents. The 1855 Italian Renaissance mansion shows off industrialist Thomas Gaff’s family home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Groups can book exclusive teas or the Twilight Tour Progressive Mansions Dinner. The event includes dinner and a tour at Hillforest, followed by a curator’s tour and dessert at the Veraestau Historic Site.

Groups can feed some cuddly alpacas at the Mount Tabor Alpaca Farm. The farm gives behind-the-scenes tours to teach visitors about the cuddly animals. The farm’s shop shows off alpaca’s soft fiber with yarn, gloves, scarfs and socks for sale. visitsoutheastindiana.com

FT. WAYNE

I NDI AN APO LI S

DEAR B O R N CO UNTY B R O WN CO UN TY

INDIANAPOLIS

McCabe’s Greenhouse and Floral in Dearborn County Courtesy Visit Fort Wayne

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Courtesy Dearborn County CVB

With the friendliness of a small town and the attractions of a major city, Indianapolis is a vibrant place to explore. The central Indiana city boasts a thriving food scene, with several James Beard-recognized chefs. Artists, brewers and locally owned shops also breathe fresh life into the city.

Artistic expression abounds at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the surrounding Newfields campus. The museum displays an extensive collection of American impressionist paintings, ancient Greek pottery and works by Rembrandt, El Greco and Caravaggio. Towering interactive sculptures stand right outside in the adjoining 100-

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acre Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park. Newfields also contains the original Robert Indiana “LOVE” sculpture for an iconic Indianapolis photo op.

Groups can picture themselves taking the lead in the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The famous racetrack hosts the largest single-day sporting event in the world. When racing Elkhart County isn’t in session, groups can take a ride around the track, visit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum or play 18 holes at the Brown County State Park Brickyard Crossing.

Italian-imported gondolas might not seem typical of Indiana, but they glide down the city’s White River every summer.

Old World Gondoliers’ staff serenade passengers for a little Italian romance during their tour.

Groups can also rent paddleboats and kayaks at the White River State Park, a 25-acre site in the center of Indianapolis.

Another unexpected gem in Indianapolis is The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art , one of only two museums east of the Mississippi River that showcase both Native American and Western art. The museum highlights visual arts, paintings and sculptures collected by businessman and philanthropist Harrison Eiteljorg. visitindy.com

BROWN COUNTY

When American impressionist painter T.C. Steele and his wife, Selma, discovered Brown County in south-central Indiana in the early 1900s, he called it a “village in amber.” The area’s hills were bare due to clear-cutting, and the roads were treacherous from erosion.

The scene didn’t seem a recipe for artistic success. But Selma’s knack for gardening and Steele’s plein air paintings attracted a community of other artists to the area.

Today, Brown County is known as an art and nature haven. Brown County State Park draws the most visitors each autumn to see the park’s rolling hills of fall foliage. The largest park in the state, Brown County State Park protects nearly 16,000 acres of densely wooded acres.

Groups can opt for scenic drives, guided hikes or horseback rides to soak up the beauty.

The park’s lodge offers 88 rooms and an onsite restaurant.

The nearby town of Nashville supports an

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Courtesy Elkhart County CVB

Courtesy Indiana Office of Tourism Dev.

Indianapolis’ LOVE sculpture

Courtesy Visit Indy

Old World Gondoliers in Indianapolis

Courtesy Visit Indy

art community with locally owned shops and artists’ studios. The walkable village includes the 1926 Brown County Art Gallery, the Brown County Art Guild and the Brown County Craft Gallery, a co-op that shows and sells work from about 40 area artisans.

Groups can also visit the T.C. Steele State Historic Site to see the garden designs that inspired the artist. Guests can set up their own easels and attempt a plein air painting of the re-created gardens themselves. The site offers a new visitors center and tours of the home and studio.

For evening entertainment, visitors can watch a performance at the Brown County Playhouse. The 425-seat theater produces a diverse lineup of live theater, concerts, movies and special events. browncounty.com

ELKHART COUNTY/ INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL PARK

Close to the northwestern corner of Indiana, groups can try new ways to connect with a historic culture. Elkhart County’s sizable Amish population welcomes travelers eager to know more about Amish heritage, crafts and cuisine.

“We have a number of Amish-themed activities for groups,” said Terry Mark, director of communications and public relations for the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You can take a buggy ride through the countryside or visit with Amish families in their homes. You can watch an Amish food or craft demonstration. You can meet with Amish people who are making everything from wooden baskets to rugs. You can really immerse yourself in the Amish lifestyle.”

These authentic experiences allow groups to feel personally connected to the Elkhart County Amish. One experience, called Asking Amish, allows visitors to visit an Amish home, have a cup of coffee and ask questions about the Amish lifestyle.

The county also offers popular Amish attractions, such as Das Dutchman Essenhaus; Indiana’s largest restaurant, it serves Amish-style cuisine, such as roast beef, ham noodles and other homecooked specialties. Groups can also ride buggies, shop for handcrafted items, stay overnight and watch a theatrical performance at the site.

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The Barns at Nappanee, formerly called Amish Acres, reopened in May as a farm-totable restaurant. The attraction still holds tours at the historic Amish property of a blacksmith shop and a one-room schoolhouse.

Groups also love the annual Quilt Garden displays that run in the summer through September 15. Participants treat the quilt-patterned gardens as a scavenger hunt.

Traveling an hour west of Elkhart County brings groups to one of the America’s newest parks: Indiana Dunes National Park. The 15,000-acre park preserves stunning landscapes of lakeshore dunes, forests, marshes and wetlands. Visitors can relax by the wild beaches with views of the nearby massive sand mounds that reach nearly 200 feet high. visitelkhartcounty.com

Hands-On Fun

Elkhart County

Get Your Craft On!

FORT WAYNE

When planning a trip to Fort Wayne, groups often like to time their visits with the annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale in April. An hour and a half southeast of Elkhart County, Fort Wayne initially attracts guests with the sale’s 40-60%off deals, then keeps them coming back for its variety of entertainment opportunities.

“The annual Vera Bradley Outlet Sale is consistently the top group tour attraction in Fort Wayne,” said Brittany Stephenson, group sales coordinator for Visit Fort Wayne. “The outlet sale offers a Charter Club experience to bus tours that enables them to enjoy VIP treatment, special waiting rooms and free gifts.”

Fort Wayne’s first boutique hotel, designed by the Vera Bradley co-founder, is set to open in 2021. The downtown hotel will feature 124 rooms, a rooftop bar and a marquee restaurant.

Groups enjoy the city’s walkable downtown that allows tours to pack several sites into one day. Known as the City of Restaurants, Fort Wayne offers delicious cuisine around every corner. Public art, river views and local shops give the city a lively vibe.

The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory treats the eyes to colorful blooms year-round in three glass-enclosed gardens.

The site’s showcase garden changes quarterly, with a butterfly exhibit in the spring. Groups can also wander through a desert garden and a tropical garden with a two-story waterfall.

Regional works from Indiana artists, as well as a wide range of other American art, line the walls of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. After exploring inside, groups can enjoy the outdoor sculpture garden, dine at the cafe or try a hands-on craft. visitfortwayne.com

Courtesy Elkhart County CVB

Fort Wayne’s Embassy Theatre

Courtesy Visit Fort Wayne

Request Your FREE Planner Call 1-800-322-8198 or order it online at:

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com/planner OHIO Indianapolis

INDIANA

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Cincinnati

KENTUCKY

A wall mural in Fort Wayne

Louisville

Lexington

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

www.TOURSoutheastIndiana.com Courtesy Visit Fort Wayne

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

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

We loved it!”

– Triumph Community Bank Travel Club, East Moline, IL

800-322-8198

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BEACH B A L L

Built in 1792, Cape Henry Lighthouse is a lesson in American history.

Courtesy Virginia Beach CVB

YOU’LL NEVER RUN OUT OF THINGS TO DO IN VIRGINIA BEACH

BY TOM ADKINSON

miles and has 126 farms whose products show up at an excellent farmers market, where your group can enjoy a Virginia ham biscuit, freshly churned ice cream and homemade candy.

“It surprises people how diverse Virginia Beach is,” said Jim Coggin, tourism sales manager for the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They know about our beautiful three-mile-long beachfront, but they don’t necessarily know about our history, our eco-activities or our culinary offerings.”

beach town is a beach town is a beach town. Surf, sand, fried seafood and perhaps some sunburn for good measure. That’s plenty, right?

Definitely not when thinking of Virginia Beach, Virginia. The state’s most populous city, with 450,000 or so, boasts a community with enough diversions and activities to warrant repeat visits.

You can even get a perspective on the beachfront, urban and rural components of this multifaceted city from a 1941 open-cockpit Stearman biplane. Virginia Beach spreads out across almost 500 square

One marker on the city’s timeline came in 1607. That April, a group of European settlers made landfall at what is now First Landing State Park on Cape Henry, which they named for the Prince of Wales. They soon moved west and established Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the Americas.

The history lesson continues nearby at the Cape Henry Lighthouse, America’s first federally funded public works project. The lighthouse, built in 1792 with Aquia Creek sandstone from the same

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quarry that helped build the White House and the U.S. Capitol, was authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton. The 90-foot tower operated for more than a century, and you can climb to the top. A much taller black-and-white lighthouse a short distance away is not open for climbing.

“From the top of the older tower, you can see where the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay come together, and on a clear day, you can see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel,” Coggin said.

Military Aviation Museum flight demonstration

IN THE AIR

Jump ahead more than 100 years to find one of Virginia Beach’s surprises, the Military Aviation Museum and its fleet of aircraft from World War I and World War II, one of the largest private collections of its type in the world. There are numerous ways to appreciate these historic aircraft, most of which are airworthy.

More than 65 airplanes are displayed in five hangars. Among them are a Curtiss P-40 — of Flying Tiger fame — a P-51 Mustang, a B-25 bomber, a PBY Catalina flying boat, a Curtiss Jenny, a Sopwith Strutter and even a bright red Fokker DR1 triplane of the type the Red Baron flew in World War I. Groups can arrange for a boxed lunch served amid the aircraft and visit with pilots and mechanics and even a Rosie the Riveter character to learn the airplanes’ stories. Among the museum’s facilities are the Goxhill Tower — a relocated World War II British control tower — and a reconstructed Luftwaffe hangar.

“Some groups enjoy arranging a flight for two in a Stearman biplane or a replica 1931 WACO biplane,” said Mitchell Welch, director of operations. “The group will have a contest or a drawing to determine who gets to fly. On the ground or in the air, we offer an unusual taste of Virginia Beach very close to the beachfront.”

Welch describes three major airshows each year where groups are welcome. A May event focuses on World War II planes; a Father’s Day event includes a symphony orchestra’s performance; and an October event with the novel name of Biplanes and Brews highlights a 1918 Curtiss Jenny, a 1917 Thomas Moore Scout and Virginia craft beer.

A catered oyster picnic

Courtesy Military Aviation Museum

ON DRY LAND

A landside activity is near the Military Aviation Museum when you continue exploring this natural corner of Virginia Beach. It is the onetwo punch of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park that together offer almost 14,000 acres of pure nature.

One way to explore is a Blue Goose Tram tour: Groups of up to 27 can book a trip that starts in the wildlife refuge, goes to the state park’s visitor center and continues to the Wash Woods historic site.

Shallow waters at False Cape often fooled ship captains in the 1800s when False Cape was mistaken for Cape Henry, causing many shipwrecks. A long-lasting community of survivors grew over time, and their story is told at Wash Woods.

The refuge and park offer easy trails, boardwalks, beach access and opportunities to see terrestrial wildlife such as deer, raccoons, otters and many species of birds. There are egrets, herons and migrating waterfowl such as tundra swans in the wetlands; hawks, songbirds and even eagles in maritime forests; and shorebirds aplenty along the beach. Amazingly, you can see high-rise hotels in the distance from some perspectives.

ON THE WATER

A wreath-making workshop with Cultural Tourism DC

Looking across the water, there’s always a desire to get on it, and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center addresses just that with dolphin- and whale-watching trips aboard the Atlantic Explorer.

“Virginia Beach has a significant dolphin nursery, so we see dolphins almost all year,” said Matt Klepeisz, the aquarium’s public relations manager. “Being near them, watching newborns and seeing them interact is an experience difficult to describe. Observing from a boat is very different from seeing them from the beach.”

The 90-minute trips are great for groups. The boat goes by the Cape Henry Lighthouse and offers a good view of the beachfront. It’s a special treat when you can see the city on one side of the boat and a humpback, minke or fin whale on the other. Whale sightings usually are from December through early March.

Courtesy Virginia Beach CVB

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On land, the aquarium displays thousands of animals representing hundreds of species, even exotics such as komodo dragons and Malaysian crocodiles. However, learning about what’s right offshore can be even more intriguing. One major display focuses on the Norfolk Canyon, one of 13 major canyons on the Eastern Seaboard, where the ocean bottom descends to more than 5,000 feet.

Among the aquarium’s 2021 expectations is completing restoration of a multiuse building that will include an otter exhibit and a substantial exhibit of jellies. Aquarium staffers are propagating various species of jellies to relocate to their new home. Pure trivia: All jellyfish are jellies, but not all jellies are jellyfish.

AT THE TABLE

Jellyfish aside, seafood is the order of the day in Virginia Beach. Two waterside restaurants for groups to consider are Rockafeller’s — yes, spinach makes oysters Rockafeller a vegetable serving — and Waterman’s Surfside Grille, where a notable item is crabby fries — French-fried potatoes that are covered in crabmeat from Maryland’s Eastern Shore and cheddar jack cheese and then broiled.

On the libation front, an Orange Crush is the city’s signature cocktail, and Waterman’s is ground zero for this 16-ounce concoction of fresh orange juice, orange-infused vodka, triple sec and Sprite. Waterman’s bartenders serve almost a half-million Orange Crushes a year.

www.visitvirginiabeach.com

Snapping a sea turtle photo

A sting ray at the Virginia Aquarium

Photos courtesy Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center

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CAPTURE THE MOMENT

BRING YOUR GROUP TOUR TO LIFE. Where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Chesapeake Bay, our coastal city offers uncommon access to nature’s wonders and hands-on experiences for your group to share.

Plan your group’s Live the Life Adventure at VisitVirginiaBeach.com/GroupTour.

known

F O R

LIGHTNER MUSEUM

HISTORIC CRESCENT HOTEL

ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

Courtesy FloridasHistoricCoast.com

IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE that the oldest city in the United States is blessed with magnificent historic architecture.

However, St. Augustine, which was settled by the Spanish in 1565, didn’t fare well for its first 150 years. Repeatedly sacked by pirates, it was burned to the ground by British troops in 1702.

The only surviving structure was the Castillo de San Marcos, built between 1672 and 1695. Today, groups can tour the fort, which is a national monument.

Group leaders won’t want their groups to linger there too long, however. With a historic district ranging over 144 square blocks, St. Augustine offers a dizzying array of classic building styles.

“The city has had the foresight to make sure our architecture stayed authentic,” said Barbara Golden, communications manager for the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau. “So, between the Spanish Colonial and Spanish Renaissance architecture, and the architecture of the British and Victorian eras, it’s all very representative of the people who lived here and the times of the city.”

Golden suggests group leaders reach out to operators like Ancient City Tours, Tour St. Augustine, and St. Augustine Land and Sea Tours, who can put together an itinerary stopping at beloved architectural gems like the Gilded Age palaces built by oil magnate Henry Flagler.

Courtesy Eureka Springs CAPC

THERE ARE OTHER TOWNS FOUNDED on natural springs throughout the United States, but there may be none so lovely as Eureka Springs. Filled with Victorian architecture, it has earned a historic designation that covers almost everything within city limits.

“The city was founded in 1879, so everything was built in the late 1800s,” said Gina Rambo, interim executive director of the Eureka Springs City Advertising and Promotion Commission. “A lot of the older houses on the historic registry have gingerbread, which is all the little detailing. They used pinks and greens and yellows and blues at that time, too, so those different contrasting colors also make it really pretty.”

According to Architectural Digest, which noted that Eureka Springs is believed to have “the largest collection of unspoiled Victorian houses in the central United States,” the town birthed its own singular style of architecture. “Eureka Victorian encompasses elements of Queen Anne, Stick, Gothic Revival, Craftsman and Neoclassical,” the publication wrote, including elements like turned spindles and intricately arranged roof shingles.

Leaders may want to arrange a tour for their groups on the town’s open-air tram. Tours are led mostly by longtime residents who can wax poetic about their favorite historic homes.

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ARCHITECTURE DOWNTOWN DEADWOOD

OLDE COLONIAL COURTHOUSE

DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA Courtesy South Dakota Tourism

AS FANS OF THE TELEVISION SHOW KNOW, Deadwood really was the wild, wild West, and that makes for some fascinating history — and historical architecture.

“The entire community is on the National Historic Register,” said Lee Harstad, executive director of the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. “It was founded in 1876 on what I like to say was gold, guns and gals. When gold was discovered in the creeks here, tens of thousands of people came to make their fortune. Not all of them did. Some of them didn’t leave the town.

They’re still buried here.”

Unfortunately, that first wave of prospectors and businesspeople built wooden structures, which were subsequently destroyed in fires and mudslides. By the late 1800s, the residents of Deadwood were constructing something more lasting: the beautiful brick Victorian edifices that still line the city streets. Among the most magnificent examples of the town’s Victorian architecture is the Queen Anne-style Adams House, built by a prosperous grocer in 1892. It’s open for group tours.

Other historic Deadwood buildings that groups shouldn’t miss include the Italianate-Victorian Bullock Hotel, built by former marshal Seth Bullock beginning in 1894, and the Fairmont Hotel, which features a distinctive Victorian turret.

DEADWOOD.COM

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BY JILL GLEESON

CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS

By William DeSousa-Mauk, courtesy Cape Cod COC

THOUGH MOST OF CAPE COD is lined with historic structures, there are some locations leaders will want to be sure to visit with their group. Among them are harbor towns like Provincetown, Chatham, Barnstable, Hyannis and Falmouth, as well as Sandwich, which boomed during Cape Cod’s important maritime industrial period. Along with Chatham’s Old Village, Sandwich is a good place to see iconic Cape Cod-style homes dating from the 1700s.

But there’s more to architecture on the Cape than the house design named for it. Beginning in about 1820, as the sea made men fortunes, Greek Revival-style buildings became popular. Meant to mimic a Greek temple, this stately type of architecture reached its zenith on the Cape with the Barnstable County Courthouse. In the late 1800s, as Cape Cod evolved into a tourist destination, Victorian-style buildings came into vogue. Groups can also find maritime structures of varying vintages, including one-of-a-kind lighthouses, scattered along the coast.

“You can see a Cape Cod-style house from the 1700s just down the road from Victorian and Greek Revival homes,” said Sarah Korjeff, historic preservation specialist with the Cape Cod Commission, when asked why groups should pay a visit to the Cape. “The number of villages that have a tight concentration of historic buildings of all different architectural styles makes it really interesting.”

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marketing Y O U R

P R O G R A M

GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY IS

BY ELIZA MYERS

I

n a tour, group leaders often juggle a hundred different priorities. While overseeing a punctual, fun and wellprepared tour, few have time to orchestrate a travel photo shoot.

That’s where technology comes in. In the past couple of decades, photo technology has advanced so far that even novices can quickly snap postcard-worthy images. With a little knowhow and practice, you can bring home quality photos that you can use in tour promotional materials, e-newsletters and social media.

Especially during the current pandemic, photography is an important way to connect people to the world. As people dream about their future travel plans, you can take the time to learn how to incorporate more technology into your photography.

When regular travel resumes, you will be ready to snap a picture that makes viewers long to join in on your next adventure.

STARTING AT ZERO

If potential travelers know that you personally took a photo, they will know it’s authentic, not a doctored promotional tool.

To start taking more of your own photos on the road, first learn the fundamentals of composition. Even the most basic cameras can produce artistic photos using the right technique.

The three basics of photography composition are stability, light and the rule of thirds. For stability, try to rest your hand on something stationary or carry a lightweight travel tripod. Mobile tripods for smartphones allow for hands-free images and are barely bigger than your phone.

When considering lighting, try to take most of your outdoor photos in the morning or evening to avoid the midday harsh light.

The rule of thirds is used by professional photographers to place the photo subject along the left or right side of the frame rather than in the center, to make the image more visually interesting. An easy way to keep this in mind is to turn on your camera or phone’s grid feature, which displays the grid of thirds on your screen.

These tips just scratch the surface of photography. Take the time to educate yourself on more in-depth techniques by researching online. The internet is full of travel photography tips from online articles to YouTube videos to online degrees in photography. After learning these tips, practice them before your next trip to make them more of a habit.

PHONE OR CAMERA?

Once you understand some photography basics, you must first decide whether to take your group’s travel photos with your

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phone or a camera. Both can work well, depending on your photography goals.

First, find out the resolution of your phone’s camera. Unless you are printing out images bigger than 8 by 10 inches or viewing them on a big screen, you probably won’t need more than 12 megapixels. This is a great size for sharing images to social media or for basic prints, though you won’t be able to crop and edit as much as you would with a higher resolution camera, which can get up to 50 megapixels.

If you want more editing capabilities or need the images in print brochures, point-and-shoot cameras can take fantastic images and still fit in your pocket. Research some quality point-andshoot cameras online to find some fully automated options that will allow you to quickly snap an image without messing with complicated settings.

If you want to dive deeper into photography as a hobby, plenty of digital single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras market to beginner photographers. These heftier cameras allow you to switch out lenses if you need to zoom in on wildlife or capture wide-angle scenic images. With larger image sensors and higher resolution, digital SLRs take professional-quality shots.

With online tutorials, you can practice with these cameras to quickly find the right lighting settings in almost every situation. Newer models even have built-in Wi-Fi that offers similar instant-sharing conveniences to smartphones.

However, these cameras still take more time to master and are heavier to lug around on a tour. If you are looking primarily for convenience, consider learning how to enhance your phone’s photo capabilities before committing to a more expensive camera.

OUTFITTING YOUR PHONE

Not that long ago, people could usually tell if someone used their phone to take a picture due to the poor lighting and grainy quality. With advanced technology, affordable phones can now produce appealing images with ease.

To maximize your phone camera’s capabilities, keep a lens cloth handy while on trips. There is no amount of editing that will fix a dirty lens. To give your photos a more professional look, purchase an attachable lens for your phone at the fraction of a cost of the digital SLR camera lenses. From telephoto lenses to anamorphic lenses that take wider landscapes, these attachable lenses widen the range of phone photography possibilities.

Since most phone flashes cast ugly shadows, one of the only ways to improve lighting for a phone camera is with an app. The

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NOT ABOUT SELFIES Pro HDR X app uses a process called high-dynamic range imaging, or HDR, to capture multiple shots of the same scene with different lighting settings. The app then blends them into a single image with deeper color hues and bright highlights.

After taking the photo, Photoshop, Movavi Photo Editor and other editing apps offer intuitive features for those that want onetouch photo enhancements. Group leaders should also carefully consider what photo-sharing app they want to use that will allow them to easily send links of their photos to the members of the tour.

Dropbox, Flickr and Google Photos are some of the most used for sharing, saving and organizing. These sites allow you to show off your perfectly framed, well-lit travel photos so your members will eagerly sign up for the next group outing.

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MARQUEE 2020/2021

Select Traveler magazine asked these great companies and destinations to share their Marquee travel ideas for the coming year with our readers. Find the right one for your group today!

37 TOUR & CRUISE 38 DESTINATIONS 43 ATTRACTIONS ECEA S E U RQH O W MT RAAV E L S

TRAVEL SHOWCASE

M A R Q U E E T O U R A N D C R U I S E C O M PA N I E S

U.S. TOURS

THE MOST INNOVATIVE GROUP TOUR PLANNER IN AMERICA U.S. Tours manages programs for several different organizations, we can manage all of your travel too.

One call for all your travel needs.

U.S. TOURS

The travel industry’s most diverse Tour Company providing several lines of group travel products. 3-Time winner of American Bus Association’s Most Innovative Operator award.

U.S. TOURS AMERICA

America is our original focus, we customize travel to all 50 States, featuring North American Destinations and enhanced by “Spectacular American Events.”

Contact: Tish@USTours.Biz

VOYAGES BY U.S. TOURS

Voyages can handle your entire cruise package, including airfare, transfers, pre and post-cruise lodging, and more. One call for all.

Contact Kim@USTours.Biz

SELECT WORLD TRAVEL

A collection of international products from the world’s best tour companies.

We sell tours based on quality, not price.

Contact: Sharon@USTours.biz

TOUR TENNESSEE

A recent addition, Tour Tennessee is the largest Receptive Operator in that State.

We sell the Smoky Mountains, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis.

Contact: Bob@USTours.Biz U.S. TOURS 304-485-8687 • ustours.biz Contact: Bob Cline • bob@ustours.biz M A R Q U E E

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TRAVEL — THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED — DELIGHTFULLY EXECUTED Looking for something special? Look no further than TRIPS! From domestic tours and cruises to Europe and beyond, TRIPS always puts that special spin on each and every departure. It’s the TRIPS way!

QUINTESSENTIAL CAPE COD!

TRIPS

You haven’t done Cape Cod until you’ve done it the TRIPS way! Find out why it’s the all-time favorite tour of group leaders. Lobster clambake on the dunes, Nantucket, wine tasting & Martha’s Vineyard!

ULTIMATE BRITISH ISLES CRUISE/TOUR

From London and Buckingham Palace to well-known and lesser known ports of call, this 14-day / 12-night cruise tour is a hit! England, Scotland and Ireland!

TRIPS 888-55-TRIPS gotripsinc.com • mikki@gotripsinc.com Mikki Walker

TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE

M A R Q U E E D E S T I N AT I O N S

Enjoy the most beautiful parade in America and an insiders peek into Hollywood! Of course, we also throw a fun-filled New Year’s Eve party to round out your perfect trip to Southern California.

EUREKA SPRINGS, A

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“NOTHING MAKES YOU HAPPIER THAN WALKING UP A RAINBOW!” People say the most curious things when they visit us here in Eureka Springs. Come visit our quirky corner of Arkansas and find out why.

HEART OF EUREKA SPRINGS

Historic downtown is an attraction in itself. A shopper’s paradise with more than 100 unique shops, eateries and galleries. No “chain stores” here! Browse and explore to your heart’s content.

INTRIGUE THEATER EUREKA SPRINGS TOURISM/CAPC 479-253-7333 • eurekasprings.org Karen Pryor, CTIS • karen@eurekasprings.org

Sean-Paul takes his audience back to a time of intrigue and the golden age of magic. His performance as a Victorian-era illusionist is inspired by the likes of Thurston, Alexander and Houdini.

GREAT PASSION PLAY

Dozens of live animals and more than 170 Biblical costumed actors bring this thrilling epic drama to life. America’s #1 Attended Outdoor Drama.

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Courtesy Kentucky Bourbon Trail

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ALABAMA

SWEET HOME ALABAMA POWERFUL AND MEANINGFUL GROUP TOURS Today’s travelers desire experiences that speak to the core of their individuality. Let me help you create tours that resonate with your groups and result in sales for your company.

BEACH AND BAY GET - AWAYS ARE MADE FOR GROUPS

Gulf Shore’s sunset cruises and strolls along sugar white sand; Mobile’s Mardi Gras Park, historic downtown; and Dauphin Island’s globally important bird migrations all make for relaxed outdoor tours.

ON SACRED GROUND - RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT

In Alabama group tours can see where Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. made history while also visiting America’s only memorial to racial terror and learning about Dr. King’s letter from Birmingham Jail.

SOUL OF THE SOUTH - MUSIC EXPERIENCE GROUPS LOVE

Groups can visit Muscle Shoals recording studios, experience gospel in our churches and sing “Sweet Home Alabama” in our fun and unique music halls.

BIGGEST, BEST AND TOP ATTRACTIONS

Showcase your groups the world’s largest space museum, motorcycle collection, see America’s mounds that were once our largest prehistoric community and tour America’s Amazon - the Mobile Delta.

ALABAMA’S U.S. NATIONAL PARK SITES

Skip the crowded west and tour Alabama’s U.S. National Park sites for nature and history: Little River Canyon, Russell Cave, Horseshoe Bend, Tuskegee Airmen, Birmingham Civil Rights, and Freedom Riders.

ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT 334-242-4169 • alabama.travel Contact: Rosemary Judkins • rosemary.judkins@tourism.alabama.gov

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M A R Q U E E D E S T I N AT I O N S

ATLANTIC CITY, N E W

J E R S E Y

OUR BOARDWALK, YOUR STORY Experience the excitement in a city with no limits.

Tax-free shopping, world-class dining, stimulating nightlife and action-packed gaming in one spectacular destination.

BOARDWALK

Historic, wooden and seven miles long; Stroll the wooden way by foot, bicycle, the legendary rolling chair or watch the tram car please!

STEEL PIER

The Steel Pier will channel your inner youth with amusement rides you’ve loved as a kid and a chance to win that big stuffed animal you’ve dreamed about.

BEACH

Bask in the glowing sun, take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean or stroll along the white sandy beach to find the perfect seashell. At the famous and FREE beaches of Atlantic City, adventure awaits.

ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE

The majestic Absecon Lighthouse stands at 171 feet tall and boasts as New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse. Climb until you can’t climb anymore because the 228 steps are worth the views at the top.

LITTLE WATER DISTILLERY

Little Water Distillery is Atlantic City’s first and only craft distillery to produce whiskey, rum, vodka and gin. With tours and tastings, it’s the perfect site to find your new beloved spirit.

TOUR ATLANTIC CITY 609-318-6097 • touratlanticcity.com Contact: Heather Colache • hcolache@meetac.com

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COLUMBUS, O H I O

LIVE TO TOUR LIKE A PRO Bring your group to Columbus and you’ll find a city full of unique neighborhoods, experiential tours, great food, friendly people and dedicated travel professionals.

GAHANNA

Gahanna offers an eclectic mix of stellar restaurants, one-of-a-kid shops, one of the Midwest’s best Blues and Jazz festivals and is Ohio’s Herb Capital.

WORTHINGTON

Founded in 1803 by New England settlers, the historic village of Worthington, just 15 minutes north of downtown, boasts restaurants, shopping, experiential classes, parks and entertainment.

DUBLIN

Home to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Dublin Irish Festival, Dublin offers charming boutiques and import shops and Bridge Park, their newest entertainment development.

GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS

Just two miles from downtown, Grandview Heights is a trendy, walkable neighborhood brimming with award-winning restaurants, sidewalk cafes, distilleries and oneof-a-kind boutiques.

WESTERVILLE

This city within a park offers a wide range of year-round attractions and events. Walk along the brick streets and visit the vibrant mix of shops in Westerville.

EXPERIENCE COLUMBUS 614-222-6136 • experiencecolumbus.com/tour-planners/group-tours/ Contact: Roger Dudley • rdudley@experiencecolumbus.com

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VIRGINIA BEACH, V

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TAKE IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN VIRGINIA BEACH Welcoming groups to live the life is a long-practiced tradition in Virginia Beach, giving visitors a chance to experience the genuine hospitality of a city with a lot to share.

CAPE HENRY LIGHTHOUSE

The first lighthouse authorized by the U.S. government, dating from 1792. Today, the lighthouse is open to the public and a breathtaking view of both the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

DOLPHIN TOURS & CHARTERS

The best way to experience dolphins in Virginia Beach is to get out on the water with them. Head to the harbor at Rudee Inlet, where the seafaring options are endless.

BACK BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE

The Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a 9,108-acre refuge. On site are scenic trails, a visitor contact station, and, with advance scheduling, group educational opportunities.

FALSE CAPE STATE PARK

Featuring six miles of unspoiled beaches in an ocean-to-freshwater bay habitat, False Cape State Park also includes dunes, woodland, farm fields, salt marsh, maritime forest and wooded swamps.

THE MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM

The Military Aviation Museum is home to one of the largest private collections of World War I and II era military aircraft in the world. Some being the last flight-ready aircraft of their time.

VISIT VIRGINIA BEACH 757-385-4700 • visitvirginiabeach.com/group-tour Contact: Jim Coggin, CTIS, CSTP • jcoggin@visitvirginiabeach.com

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PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

M A R Q U E E AT T R AC T I O N S

THE RONALD REAGAN

THE MOST UNIQUE TRAVEL

DESTINATION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

T

he Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is one of Southern California’s most unique and beautiful destinations. Step aboard and tour through his actual Air Force One which flew Ronald Reagan and six other U.S. Presidents. View an exact replica of the White House Oval Office. Touch an authentic piece of the Berlin Wall. Reflect at President and Mrs. Reagan’s memorial site. Stroll through the grounds, including replicas of the White House Rose Garden and South Lawn.

Two restaurants with tour meal packages and Docent-led tour group packages are also available. Inquire about our new COVID related policies and procedures.

THE RONALD REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Simi Valley, California • 805-522-2977 reaganlibrary.com Melissa Giller • info@reaganfoundation.org

SPACE CAMP

FBI: FROM AL CAPONE TO AL QAEDA

All new special exhibition Nov 2020 - May 2021 on the history of the FBI including top cases and artifacts from 9/11, Unabomber, Bonnie & Clyde, Boston Sniper, Oklahoma Shooting, and many more.

AT THE

U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER

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BOOK YOUR SPACE CAMP ADVENTURE TODAY!

uit up for a mission to the International Space Station or train for a landing on the moon! Space Camp is the ultimate educational experience that illuminates real world applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The program includes simulated mission training, rocket construction, and learning the history and future of space exploration in one of the world’s largest spacecraft collections. Trainees experience astronaut training simulators such as the 1/6th gravity chair and the manned maneuvering unit.

On site meals and lodging are included. Visit www.spacecamp.com to book your child’s Space Camp adventure today!

SPACE CAMP AT THE U.S. SPACE & ROCKET CENTER Huntsville, Alabama • 800-637-7223 spacecamp.com Sara Vowell • sarav@spacecamp.com

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ULTIMATE FIELD TRIP FOR STUDENT GROUPS!

Give your students an out of this world experience with our Ultimate Field Trip! Showing the dramatic history spanning from early space flight to the Shuttle program, email Sara to book and personalize your students’ experience!

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REDISCOVER ATLANTIC CITY

The Story Continues Entertainment and excitement await in Atlantic City, including our world-famous Boardwalk, the ultimate in tax-free shopping, award-winning dining, live entertainment, and great attractions, like the Absecon Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey. Experience an exciting getaway and create a lifetime of memories in Atlantic City.

Atlantic City Expert Heather Colache is available at 609-318-6097 or hcolache@meetac.com to make sure you enjoy Atlantic City as it was meant to be experienced. Call today to book your Atlantic City Experience.

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

TourAtlanticCity.com