Select Traveler March April 2022

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

select T R A V E L E R

MARITIME FAVORITES | SOUTHERN CITIES AND TOWNS | FINGER LAKE OUTDOORS

MARCH/APRIL 2022

um Ed

nd

lma ge, Se Brid s u t Pet

U.S. Space

& Ro

cket

Cen ter ,H un tsv il l e F AM

o s,

Gul f Sh

i tud gS

ore sB ea ch

din or ec ER cle S Mus

hoals

Cook Museum of Natural Science, Decatur

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, Montgomery

Whether it’s learning about the natural world in Decatur and Gulf Shores, the past and future of space exploration in Huntsville, visiting sights where Rock ‘n Roll hits were made, or the history of the Civil Rights Movement, 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.

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

select T R A V E L E R

VOL.30 NO.2

MARCH/APRIL 2022

TEXAS

METROPLEX Courtesy Visit Fort Worth

contents publisher’s checking in: perspective BOB CLINE

6 MAC T. LACY CHARLES A. PRESLEY BRIAN JEWELL HERBERT SPARROW DONIA SIMMONS ASHLEY RICKS CHRISTINE CLOUGH RENA BAER KELLY TYNER KYLE ANDERSON SARAH SECHRIST

4

toolbox: ROAD RULES

ON THE COVER: OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH UKRAINE AND ITS PEOPLE.

theme: going places:

MARITIME

TIPPING

ATTRACTIONS

8 10 12

34

KYLE ANDERSON

888.253.0455

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING SALES

K YLE@ GROUPTR AVELLE ADER.COM

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

selecttraveler.com

22 24 26

FINGER LAKE

finds

KNOWN FOR:

wine

southern

T R AV E L G U I D E

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.

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

perspective P U B L I S H E R ’ S

I

’ll be finding two volunteer moderators for our buyer breakouts in Cheyenne next week. Occasionally, I have delegates decline the opportunity to run these peer group meetings but not often. There are reasons for that.

Our buyers at the Select Traveler Conference are, in fact, a pretty select

group. With few exceptions, they are energetic, goal driven and outgoing. Many

have organized and led groups of travelers for years if not decades. Most are women, although some are men.

What’s most interesting is we often pair up two travel planners who have never met and have no experience working together. They invariably create a process that brings small groups to meaningful conclusions about a wide variety of issues.

This year’s breakouts will touch on themes like restarting travel programs and navigating new processes for taking groups across the country and, it is hoped, outside the country as well. We’ll get a feel for how many of these groups are facing headwinds from upper management about taking their members outside the U.S. What a crippling blow this group has encountered during the past two years. These are planners who have crossed the planet any number of times with excited travelers in tow.

I hope you are planning to be with us for the conference. There is strength in numbers, and we have much to do in the months ahead. Let’s commit again to traveling together and traveling often.

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

Mac Lacy 6

selecttraveler.com

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

checking in BOB CLINE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT

U.S. TOURS VIENNA, WEST VIRGINIA

W I T H

B O B

C L I N E

A U.S. Tours group enjoys an excursion on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad in New Mexico.

U.S. Tours opened in 1996 when Bob Cline left the retail travel business where he worked and started out on his own as a wholesale tour operator. Today, the business has 20 employees, half of whom work remotely and are scattered across the continent. U.S. Tours sells customized and private label tours for various bus companies, bank clubs and other pre-formed travel groups.

Born: Williamstown, West Virginia Education: “At the beach” Employment: Four years bartending in private East Coast clubs, several years in restaurant management, and 20 years in charter bus and retail tour sales. Founded U.S. Tours in 1996.

Family: Adult daughter and 6-yearold grandson; partner Carol Torricelli Hobbies: “I don’t have much time for hobbies as a small businessman.”

BY REBECCA TREON

W

hen Bob Cline decided college wasn’t his cup of tea in the late 1970s, he worked seasonally at private clubs along the Maryland and Florida coasts as what he describes as an “itinerant bartender.”

Growing up in Williamstown, West Virginia, whose population was under 3,000, Cline was eager to escape smalltown life.

“It was dirt roads, bikes and BB guns, and I didn’t care much for it,” said Cline. “So I spent three years traveling up and down the beach, summer to winter, bartending in some very nice clubs.”

He later moved into working in restaurants and took a managerial position until he started a family, when he decided the long hours of restaurant management weren’t conducive to life as a parent. He answered a call from an employment company and got a job producing

8

selecttraveler.com

tours at a charter bus company, where he stayed for 20 years before starting his own business with a colleague. Though he was the first person they hired that wasn’t a bus driver, by the time he left the company, he oversaw five other people working in his department.

When the company was acquired and he didn’t have any chemistry with the new owners, he set out on his own.

“I don’t know if I ever caught the travel bug, but I caught a job,” said Cline. “When my associate and I opened U.S. Tours in 1996, we operated retail and wholesale travel for the first couple of years; and as things grew, we hired a sales rep, we acquired an advertising agency, then, over the years, a travel agency and a couple of tour companies, a receptive company in Tennessee and an FIT ticket sales outlet.

We’ve built up quite an organization with an awful lot of industry veterans working for us.”

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

U.S. Tours started selling wholesale travel packages across the country, and at the end of its first year, it had customers in four states. By the end of the second year, that number had increased to 10 — and it continued to grow.

“We came out and opened a catalog and put it on the street, and within the month, we were in business,” Cline said.

Some of his staff have been working in the travel industry for more than 40 years, and none of them have been in it for fewer than six.

“The biggest contributing factor to any growth is the people that you’re with, and I’ve always hired the best and most experienced people I could find,” Cline said.

Cline may claim he just runs a small business, but U.S. Tours’ award-winning track record reveals passion behind each trip. Its innovative approach to affinity travel has built a business of supplying travelers with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and has given them a decades-long track record of success.

country’s leading stars in an intimate setting. Guests share not only music but also meals with the descendants of country’s most famous musicians.

“You get a peek into the lives of those folks,” said Cline. “Rather than learn about only famous places, we learn about where a song was written and all about the building. We will dine at restaurants that have a memorable atmosphere, where the staff is singing or you help somehow with the cooking. It’s an added bonus, what the Cajuns like to call the 13th doughnut.”

Bob Cline and partner Carol Torricelli on a cruise

Cline enjoying a relaxing moment on the road

DREAMING BIG

U.S. Tours is known for its creative travel packages. What makes the company special is its attention to detail, little parts of the trip that tie a theme together. For example, when the staff found out it was possible to rent out Graceland, they developed an entire trip around the theme of Elvis’ popular classic “Blue Christmas.” Guests get to experience a private tour of the estate as it was when the Presley family lived there, along with a holiday dinner show and a tour of the high points of Memphis music history. But Cline doesn’t want to take all the credit.

“I don’t know how I come up with some of the ideas — we envision it, and we’ve got a good staff that works with us, so we try to look for different and unusual events in a place, and we’re able to put them together and give people unique experiences they can’t find anywhere else,” he said. “There will be a spark, and we will talk it out among the people in the office. We want to give people a peek into people’s lives or into events.”

It all starts with someone dreaming up a trip idea and everyone pitching in to contribute elements that make the trip something special. Cline cites the Kentucky Derby tour, which frequently sells out, as an example.

“We don’t just take you to the Derby,” he said. “We’ll add on a class on how to make a perfect mint julep, do a bourbon tasting, have a couple of simulcast races where guests can make bets with play money, take a riverboat tour and visit a horse farm before the event itself.

We want to give you the feeling of the Derby.”

SPINNING A TALE

Though Cline says it was simply chance — and needing a day job — that led him to work in the travel industry, he is a storyteller of sorts.

“I never had a dream of running a travel company or anything like that,” he said. “It was just circumstance, and the business growing just occurred along the way. But the feedback from our travelers is typically very good. My special events team knows exactly what to do. What our tours do is follow a theme and build a story.”

Tours start with the spark of one idea but are built to incorporate a whole slew of experiences, like the company’s popular Music of the Million Dollar Quartet tour. The trip hits both Memphis and Nashville and visits important landmarks that inspired the lives and music of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

Other tours the company has done include the Grandkids of Country Music, a sold-out tour that features the grandchildren of

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

D E S T I N AT I O N

faves

1. Cruising — “I enjoy cruising. There’s nothing like sunrise on the ocean, and any ocean will do.”

2. Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Parkway — “On long weekends over two summers, Carol and I meandered the length of Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway. We had no destination, no schedule; we let each moment lead us.”

3. Black Hills — “Most of my travel has been business related, attending hundreds of trade shows, but one very memorable moment was 12 years ago in the Black Hills, in the back of a Jeep, in a buffalo herd, when I met Carol.”

selecttraveler.com

9

T R A V E L

T O O L B O X

new rules of the road

T

BY BRIA N JE W E LL

he rules of the road have changed.

If you’ve traveled at all in the past 12 months, you’re probably aware that things aren’t what they used to be. The pandemic and the chaos it created have caused widespread challenges throughout the tourism and hospitality industries. And although government-imposed restrictions seem to be disappearing by the day, other factors such as labor shortages and rising consumer prices are continuing to reshape the travel landscape.

If you’re planning to ramp up your group travel program to full force this year, you would do well to take these headwinds into account. Here are five rules of the road to keep in mind as you plan group trips for 2022 and beyond.

OFFER A G UA R A NT EE Before the pandemic, few people thought much about what would happen to the money they prepaid for their vacations if the trip didn’t go. Today, though, that eventuality is on everybody’s mind. As a tour leader, you need to help people put those concerns to rest. When working with tour companies or cruise lines, have them provide cancellation terms to you in writing, and try to work with reputable organizations that are bonded against service interruptions. Then extend your own cancellation and credit guarantees to your customers so they know their money is safe with you and your partners.

10

selecttraveler.com

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

MAKE INS UR ANC E MA NDAT O RY Travel insurance has always been a smart purchase, but in light of the mass cancellations of the pandemic, insurance has become essential. Public health conditions and government policies can dramatically affect your group’s travel plans, and travelers who get sick during a trip may be subject to drastic quarantining requirements. The best way to protect your travelers from financial fallout is to package a travel insurance policy with every trip you sell. Look for insurance that will pay out if your trip is canceled by an operator, as well as if a traveler has to miss a trip or quarantine during a trip for health reasons.

P REPAR E FOR TES TING Testing for COVID-19 has become a fixture of the travel landscape and may continue to be involved in international travel for some time. You need to make sure you and your tour provider are aware of any testing requirements that will come up during your trip. Make sure a testing stop is built into your itinerary if need be. Another good idea is to stock up on at-home test kits and bring them on your trips. Offer one to anybody who starts feeling under the weather while on the road.

PLAN MO R E T I ME Pre-pandemic group tour itineraries were often packed with activities, and tour organizers prided themselves on delivering experiences with minimal wait times.

Today, however, practically every service business in the country is short-staffed.

This means that restaurant service, hotel check-in and attraction ticketing are likely to be slower than in the past. And new staff, with less experience, may not deliver the level of customer service tour groups are used to. Savvy travel planners should adjust to this reality by slowing down their itineraries and adjusting traveler expectations for the time being.

IN CRE A S E THE B UDG ET You’ve noticed it at the grocery store and the gas pump — everything in life is getting more expensive — and fast. With annual inflation close to 10%, prices for goods and services are rising more quickly than usual.

Larger tour companies that locked in contracts with providers last year may be protected from those rising prices but only temporarily. Sooner or later, inflation and the labor shortage are going to make every trip more expensive. You can get ahead of the problem by raising your prices now and budgeting more money for variable costs that could go up between now and when your trip departs.

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

selecttraveler.com

11

back

ONBOARD

The Charles W. Morgan, a 19th century whaling ship, is one of numerous historic sailing vessels visitors can see at Mystic Seaport Museum.

Courtesy Mystic Seaport Museum

historic ships are anchored and ready to welcome your group

BY ROBIN ROENKER

T

here’s just something about a boat. Stepping aboard one, whether it’s 200 years old or 80, transports you to another place: a world of voyagers, long-ago cargo shippers or fishers, or brave sailors and submariners.

Across the U.S., maritime attractions celebrate and preserve the proud history of American shipping and sailing, often offering opportunities for visitors to tour, explore and even stay overnight on some of the most historic ships in the country.

Make plans to set sail toward one of these iconic maritime attractions, where your group can experience the magic and mystique of ships that have mastered the seas.

MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT

The Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut, is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels: the Charles W. Morgan, an 1841 whaleship; the L.A. Dunton, a 1921 fishing schooner; the Emma C. Berry, a fishing sailboat built in 1866; and the Sabino, a 1908 steamboat. All but the Berry allow visitors aboard for self-guided exploratory tours.

The attraction is also home to an expansive indoor museum space as well as a re-created 19th-century seaport village, assembled from authentic 1800s shops and businesses that were transported to Mystic from locations across New England. There, interpreters illustrate trades such as ship carving and harpoon-making that would have existed in an early American seaport.

Additionally, the on-site shipyard is home to a collection of more than 500 boats, “everything from large whaling ships to kayaks and canoes,” said Dan McFadden, director of communications for the Mystic Seaport Museum. Many of these vessels are available as rentals so visitors can explore their talents at seafaring themselves. “You can sign out a rowboat or a sailboat and be your own captain on the Mystic River,” McFadden said.

The site also features an active ship-preservation operation, so even land-loving visitors can get a glimpse of professional shipwrights as they repair historic vessels to their former sailing glory.

MYSTICSEAPORT.ORG

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

HISTORIC SHIPS IN BALTIMORE BALTIMORE

The USS Constellation, built in 1854 as the last sail-only warship designed by the U.S. Navy, sits prominently in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. But it is not the only historic vessel displayed there.

Visitors with tickets to the Historic Ships in Baltimore attraction can tour not only the USS Constellation but also the World War II-era submarine the USS Torsk; the 1930s-era U.S Coast Guard Cutter 37; and the Lightship 116 Chesapeake, a 1930s-era vessel that provided ship guiding services in areas where a lighthouse was not feasible.

Groups of at least 20 can book overnight programs where visitors sleep either in hammocks aboard the USS Constellation or in authentic submarine berths or ship bunks on the USS Torsk or the Coast Guard Cutter 37. Attendees are treated to a “historical snack” — think crew-appropriate stew and hardtack — and guided activities throughout the evening that expand on the ship’s history and maritime role.

Even if you don’t opt for an overnight visit, daytime hands-on group tours that allow visitors to participate in historical maritime activities are available.

“Our slogan is ‘hands-on learning,’” said Brian Auer, the site’s operations director. “Rather than coming to a traditional historic site where you might watch the blacksmith do some work, if you come aboard the USS Constellation, you’re going to get to participate in, for example, lowering the anchor or taking part in a drill to learn how the cannons operated or how the sails were turned.”

HISTORICSHIPS.ORG

JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT SHIPS JAMESTOWN, VIRGINIA

At the Jamestown Settlement, a living-history museum of 17thcentury Virginia history and culture in Jamestown, Virginia, guests can climb aboard authentic re-creations of the three settlement ships — the Susan Constant, the Goodspeed and the Discovery — that delivered the first permanent English colonists to Virginia in 1607.

“Although our ships are re-created ships, they are still working vessels,” said Kaia Moseley, the ships’ interpretive supervisor at Jamestown Settlement. “So while they are not 400-year-old ships, they are real ships that are floating and can sail — and sometimes do sail.”

selecttraveler.com

13

USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park Courtesy USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

Raising a sail on the Godspeed at Jamestown Settlement Courtesy JYF

Near the ships’ pier, costumed historical interpreters are posted at various stations to “interact with visitors, offer opportunities for hands-on activities and answer questions, allowing visitors to compare and contrast various aspects of maritime history, from technology to life on board the ships,” Moseley said.

Guests can climb into the ships’ bunks, participate in staff-led cargo-loading maneuvers and learn about the ships’ steering and navigation mechanisms. Many visitors are surprised at the size of the vessels: “Almost everyone expects them to be larger than they are,” Moseley said.

After exploring the ships, visitors can enjoy the rest of the Jamestown Settlement attraction, which includes a replica fort that depicts the 1610-14 time frame and immersive gallery exhibits that spotlight the lives of America’s first English colonists and the Powhatan Indians who were already living in the area.

At various stations through the settlement, historical interpreters are on hand to demonstrate toolmaking and musketry techniques as well as period cooking methods, among other aspects of early Colonial life.

JYFMUSEUMS.ORG

USS ALABAMA BATTLESHIP MEMORIAL PARK MOBILE, ALABAMA

Visitors to the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile, Alabama, can tour the expansive outer deck and inner compartments of the USS Alabama, a WWII warship that earned nine battle stars and helped lead the American fleet into Tokyo Bay at the close of the war.

Dubbed the “Heroine of the Pacific,” the USS Alabama took part

14

selecttraveler.com

On the bridge of the USS Alabama

Mystic Seaport Courtesy Mystic Seaport Museum

Courtesy USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

in campaigns near Guam, the Philippines and Okinawa, among other locations.

Today, visitors to the ship can immerse themselves in newly expanded exhibits that strive to tell what life was like on board for her sailors.

“What a lot of people don’t understand is that battleships were really floating cities,” said Rhonda Davis, the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park’s director of sales and marketing. “The sailors had their battle stations, but they also had workstations. Perhaps they were working at the butcher shop or were cooks in the galley.

They may have been assigned to the blacksmith shop or the machinists’ shop or were barbers or tailors.”

Newly installed exhibits in public walkways on the ship showcase recently rediscovered archival photos, helping tell the lived experience of the ship’s crew as they went about their daily lives at sea.

“What we do is really try to tell the story of the crewmen in all aspects of their time on the ship,” Davis said. “It’s allowing us to tell the history of the ship in a much more three-dimensional way.”

While at the site, visitors should also make time to explore the nearby WWII-era USS Drum, a National Historic Landmark ship and the oldest American submarine on public display anywhere in the world.

USSALABAMA.COM

USS MIDWAY MUSEUM SAN DIEGO

In San Diego, the USS Midway Museum is a must-stop for maritime and military aviation fans. The USS Midway stands as the longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, and today it is home to more than 30 restored aircraft and nearly 10 acres of exhibits and displays.

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

An Independence Day celebration at the USS Midway Museum Courtesy USS Midway Museum

Historic Ships in Baltimore

Exploring the USS Cobia a the Wisconsin Maritime Museum Courtesy Wisconsin Maritime Museum

Courtesy Historic Ships in Baltimore

The aircraft, housed on the ship’s main deck, and the interior hangar exhibits span decades of U.S. military aviation history, from WWII through the Korean and Vietnam wars to modern-day jets and helicopters.

Self-guided audio tours are available, as are docent-led, guided group tours for up to 60 people. The onboard film “Voices of Midway” tells the story of the historic WWII battle for which the ship is named.

Visitors can also get a sense of life for the crew on the USS Midway by trying out the bunks to discover what it might have been like to sleep under the busy flight deck.

The newly renovated on-site cafe located off the hangar deck offers grab-and-go salads and sandwiches, making it easy for groups to incorporate lunch into their overall experience.

A group selfie at the USS Midway Museum

MIDWAY.ORG

WISCONSIN MARITIME MUSEUM MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc highlights the state’s rich maritime heritage, the region’s Great Lakes shipping history and the city’s role as a key WWII submarine builder. The USS Cobia, a National Historic Landmark, is on display there and has been restored to its original 1945 configuration.

A guided tour of the submarine, which served six Pacific patrols during WWII, is available, as is a self-guided audio tour. Though the USS Cobia wasn’t built in Manitowoc, it is similar in style to the 28 WWII-era submarines that were built in the city.

“Everything [on the USS Cobia] looks the same as it would have during the war,” said Emily Shedal, development coordinator for the

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Courtesy USS Midway Museum

Wisconsin Maritime Museum. “The tour starts in the forward torpedo room, then takes you through the officers’ country into the control room, then to the mess hall and where the crew would sleep, and finally, through the engine rooms and the aft torpedo room.”

The museum offers special, private group tours, including a threehour Nook and Cranny behind-the-scenes tour of the USS Cobia, as well as a special Sub BnB overnight stay experience for groups of up to 65 attendees.

“You get the submarine to yourself, you can watch a submarinethemed movie in the theater, and then you sleep on board,” Shedal said. “It’s been a really popular option.”

WISCONSINMARITIME.ORG

selecttraveler.com

15

S T A T E

o f

M I N D

Dallas dazzles

IT’S TIME TO REVISIT ONE OF AMERICA’S GREAT METROPLEXES

BY KEVIN OSBOURN

D

allas evokes larger-than-life personalities from J.R. Ewing to John F. Kennedy. It’s Cowboys, Six Flags, music and fun all rolled into one.

But the Big D is much more than that. The city attracts more than 27 million travelers each year from all over the world to enjoy a dazzling array of museums, gardens and entertainment choices, including cosmopolitan arts.

With more than 12,000 restaurants, over 200 golf courses and six professional teams, everything’s bigger and, as Texans like to say, better there.

The metropolitan area embodies both triumph and tragedy, from the excitement of AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, to Dealey Plaza, site of the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy. It boasts a massive urban arts district and excellent access by air.

And those are just a few reasons Dallas may be the perfect fit for a 2022 trip.

“Dallas is not what people think,” said Stephanie Faulk, director of marketing and communications for Visit Dallas.

“It’s very cosmopolitan and sophisticated.”

Here are some sites in Dallas and the surrounding areas that your group will want to see next time you visit the metroplex

16

selecttraveler.com

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

GR APEVI NE DALL A S

FO R T WO R TH

AR LI NGTO N

TEXAS

Billy Bob’s Texas, a Fort Worth honky tonk

Courtesy Visit Fort Worth

Dallas residents and visitors enjoy midday sunshine in the city’s downtown arts district.

Courtesy Visit Dallas

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Celebrating GrapeFest in Grapevine

Courtesy Grapevine CVB

selecttraveler.com

17

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

CELEBRATED ATTRACTIONS

Longtime fans of the TV show “Dallas” can travel north from downtown toward Lavon Lake for a firsthand look at Southfork Ranch.

Fans of the fictional Ewing family can see the ranch’s white plank fences and the porch where J.R., Bobby, Jock, Miss Ellie and family shared food and feuds. They can also stroll the driveway where the Ewings hosted their grand Texas barbecues.

In the heart of town lies one of the city’s most charming neighborhoods — the Bishop Arts District — a mix of restaurants, bars, shops, art galleries and entertainment venues.

Another massive arts hub is the 68-acre Dallas Arts District, which includes the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Crow Museum of Asian Art, the Dallas World Aquarium, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Reunion Tower observation deck.

Following a 68-second ride up, Reunion Tower provides a breathtaking view of the area. There is also dining in the revolving Five Sixty restaurant, named for the 560-foot height of the tower.

There are many other options for both youth and the young-at-heart, including the Dallas Zoo, horse racing at Lone Star Park and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

A neighborhood called Deep Ellum pulses with live jazz and blues, restaurants and art. Known also as Deep Elm, the neighborhood was originally settled by freed slaves after the Civil War. Much of the city echoes with stories from the past. The Dallas history district offers tours centered on Kennedy’s assassination, and the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza provides photos and exhibits about JFK’s death.

There are also tours covering Bonnie and Clyde, the Dallas couple made famous by their multiyear national crime spree during the Great Depression.

An array of choices delight sports fans. In addition to Cowboys football, five other pro teams call the metro area home: the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Wings for basketball, the Dallas Stars for hockey and the Texas Rangers for baseball, along with FC Dallas for soccer.

If sports are not of interest, then the stunning blooms of spring might be. A sensational array of color is on display through April 10 at the Arboretum’s Dallas Blooms, which Southern Living calls one of the best shows in the South for spring colors.

Groups planning a fall trip can enjoy the State Fair of Texas, which runs for three weeks in September and October. It is the largest and longest-running state fair in the nation.

Other Dallas neighborhoods worth checking out include Uptown, the Design District and Lower Greenville.

18

selecttraveler.com

Courtesy Visit Dallas

Street musicians in Dallas

Dallas’ Reunion Tower

By Kristen Collie, courtesy Visit Dallas

Courtesy Visit Dallas

Making wine in Grapevine

Courtesy Graevine CVB

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Grapevine’s Hop and Sting Brewing Co.

CATTLE DRIVES AND MUSEUMS IN FORT WORTH

West of Dallas, groups flock to Stockyards National Historic District to watch a longhorn cattle drive on the original brick streets of Fort Worth. Visitors can see the longhorns from an observation deck and get up close with drovers for drives that take place twice a day.

Visitors also enjoy strolling the Stockyards shops to buy antiques, Western wear, home decor and delicious food. There are also historic walking tours, a Cowtown Cattlepen Maze and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

On the outskirts of Fort Worth, visitors can tour working ranches such as the Wildcatter Ranch Resort and the Beaumont Ranch.

Like other areas in metro Dallas, there is much to enjoy in addition to Texas cattle culture.

Families can watch baby elephant Brazos and thousands of other exotic critters at the Fort Worth Zoo. Fort Worth also has a wide range of museums, including the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the National Cowgirl Museum and the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum. Tranquil spaces can be found at the waterfall and ponds at the Fort Worth Japanese Garden.

By Kevin Brown, courtesy Grapevine CVB

Main Street Fest in Grapevine

Courtesy Grapevine CVB

Dallas’ Deep Ellum neighborhood

By Michael Bires, courtesy Visit Dallas

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Grapevine Vintage Railroad

Courtesy Grapevine CVB

WINE FESTIVALS AND FUN IN GRAPEVINE

Grapevine got its name from the local wild mustang grape, and the city lives up to its name. Each September, the city promotes the best wines in Texas during GrapeFest. With Texas home to hundreds of wineries, there is plenty to celebrate.

And GrapeFest is just one of several festivals held in Grapevine each year. Another notable celebration focused on family fun is the Main Street Fest held each May. For a hands-on experience of the region’s pioneer past, visitors can go to places like historic Nash Farm.

For guests wanting an unforgettable Christmas getaway, Grapevine prides itself on the 40 days of celebration that take place at the end of each year.

“If you haven’t been here during the holiday season, come,” said Daniel Horsch, director of marketing for the Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Every shop is adorned with lights and decorations. It’s authentic and charming.”

At the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, visitors can ride on 1920s-era Victorian coaches traveling the historic Cotton Belt Route to the stockyards in Fort Worth.

The array of restaurants in downtown Grapevine features everything from fine dining to sandwich shops to the scrumptious chili at Tolbert’s.

selecttraveler.com

19

“People come in here, get dropped off for lunch,” Horsch said. “They fill their bellies, and then they fill their backs, going to clothing stores and many boutiques.”

At the railroad, there are lesser-known gems like the Vetro Glassblowing Studio, and there are many popular Grapevine wineries such as Umbra, Messina Hof and the Bingham Family Vineyards. There is also a Hop and String Brewing Co., which makes small batch, craft ales and lagers.

One family favorite is the Grapevine Mills shopping and entertainment complex, which has an aquarium with a tunnel where sea life swims above the guests.

For an escape to nature, Grapevine features its own botanical garden and nearly 70 miles of trails for hiking and biking. Favorite hikes include the Oak Grove Trail, the Parr Park Trail and the Horseshoe Trails.

Courtesy Visit Indy

SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN ARLINGTON

At Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, groups can take tours of the massive domed structure and go behind the scenes in several areas used by players. Visitors can also see its art museum and art displays throughout the stadium and hear stories about the history of the famous football franchise from Roger Staubach to the present.

Near the stadium, Six Flags Over Texas offers the Goliath roller coaster and many other rides, shows, food and fun. It has a separate water park called Hurricane Harbor.

To enjoy nature, River Legacy Park provides an oasis of bike trails and beauty that hugs the curves of Trinity River, and the planetarium at the University of Texas at Arlington features a 60-foot projection system and a detailed night sky tour.

One of the biggest attractions is going out to the ballgame at Globe Life Field, the new stadium to which the Rangers moved in 2020. Due to the stadium’s layout and design, it’s known as a hitter-friendly park, and if it rains, there are no worries. The team can simply close the stadium’s retractable roof.

Next to Globe Life Field, sports fans can watch their favorite sports on big screens at Texas Live, a new dining and entertainment complex. Nearby is the future home of the National Medal of Honor Museum, scheduled to open in 2024.

Before games, fans often stop by an Arlington hot spot with restaurants and craft drinks called Urban Union.

If bowling is a passion, Arlington is the place to be. It is home to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, with exhibits that explain the sport’s history and stories about the greats of the game.

One unusual tour attraction is Top O’ Hill Terrace. Its colorful history as a speakeasy during Prohibition made it known as “Vegas before Vegas.” Bonnie and Clyde went there, and during police raids, patrons could exit the old casino through a concrete tunnel.

“It’s the memories you make that stay with you forever,” said Decima Mullen, vice president of marketing and public relations for the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “Arlington allows you to escape your everyday, to play or relax with experiences you just can’t get anywhere else.”

20

selecttraveler.com

Flamingos at Dallas World Aquarium

An Arlington art tour

Arlington’s Top O’ Hill Terrace Courtesy Arlington CVB

Courtesy Arlington CVB

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Courtesy Visit Dallas

Public art in Arlington Courtesy Arlington CVB

AT&T Stadium in Arlington Courtesy Arlington CVB

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

selecttraveler.com

21

UPSTATE A ND

O U T D O O R S

Visitors explore the Alley Art Project at the Rockwell Museum in Corning.

By Stu Gallaghe, courtesy Steuben Co. TB

NEW YORK’S FINGER LAKES MAKE A PERFECT GROUP GETAWAY

W

BY ELIZABETH HEY ine is only the beginning of the fun in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region.

Eleven glacial lakes lie within a triangle in a fertile area with a rich agricultural heritage. Food and wine are the region’s tourism backbone, but its bounty includes museums, theater and outdoor activities.

Beautiful Canandaigua Lake touts the New York Kitchen and abundant outdoor diversions. The delightful town of Corning with its world-renowned glass museum, lies 24 miles from Y-shaped Keuka Lake. Further east, Owasco Lake’s noteworthy history features

22

selecttraveler.com

Harriet Tubman. A series of events this year will commemorate the 200th anniversary of her birth.

CANANDAIGUA LAKE

Called the Chosen Spot in the Seneca language, the bucolic town of Canandaigua lies on the shores of Canandaigua Lake. Delightful Main Street is lined with boutiques, antique shops and restaurants.

Newly built, the Lake House on Canandaigua invites guests to relax in Adirondack chairs lining the waterfront and gather around fire pits, all with spectacular lake views. From the property, it’s a short walk to the New York Kitchen, where hands-on cooking classes and food demonstrations promise tantalizing menus and in-depth wine education classes. In the tasting room, wine flights feature New York’s grape varietals and growing regions.

The new Craft Beverage Trail includes 37 breweries, wineries and cideries spread among four counties. Highlights include Brews and Brats at Arbor Hill with outdoor seating, plus its next-door Arbor Hill Winery. Young Lion touts a generous outdoor patio and upstairs

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

event space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. Sager Beer Works schedules themed food events paired with its beers.

“They all support each other, so if you go to a brewery and you’re not a beer fan, they offer wine and cider from another place and make sure everyone’s tastes are covered,” said Finger Lakes Visitors Connection president and CEO Valerie Knoblauch. “Each place has focused on their ambiance, and most offer additional experiences such as outdoor games, music and karaoke.”

Lincoln Hill Farms, just outside of town, buzzes with events almost every weekend that feature live music, food trucks, local wine and beer tastings. Adirondack chairs situated throughout the fields and around the pond make a wonderful place to relax while listening to live bands. Goat yoga and yard games can be arranged.

The Bristol Mountain Winter Resort has long been known for downhill skiing, snowboarding and miles of groomed cross-country trails. In warmer months, its summit offers Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures.

Seven aerial segments are interwoven into the forest canopy where groups can navigate zip lines, a ropes course and aerial bridges.

KEUKA LAKE

In the early 1900s, Corning was nicknamed the Crystal City because of the large number of glass and glass products produced there. As the world’s largest glass museum, the Corning Museum of Glass is one New York state’s top attractions. Its schedule includes hot glass demos by master glassmakers and make-your-own-glass sessions. The Innovation Center features glass-breaking, fiber-optic and flame-working demonstrations.

“They have one of the largest museum shops in the country, with different sections for jewelry and collectibles including vases, paperweights, glass sculptures, ornaments, and local and global table-

Tableware at Mackenzie Childs

Corning Museum of Glass

Courtesy Visit Cayuga Co.

Courtesy Corning Museum of Glass

Canandaigua Lake

ware,” said Dave DeGolyer, communications manager for the Steuben County Tourism Bureau.

Corning’s Gaffer District, less than half a mile from the museum, beckons with more than 100 boutiques, galleries, art studios and restaurants.

Market Street features five blocks of historic buildings with a diverse range of architectural styles, some dating to the 1800s. The self-guided Buildings Alive! walking tour showcases the district’s architecture.

Upstate New York’s only Smithsonian Affiliate, the Rockwell Museum, occupies the restored City Hall. Its collection includes world-class Western artists such as Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell and Albert Bierstadt, as well as contemporary Native American art and artifacts. The museum participates in the Alley Art Project, where local students work with artists to create murals inspired by museum art, which brighten the alleys and buildings throughout Corning.

“A free shuttle takes visitors from the glass museum across the Chemung River to the Rockwell Museum and to Market Street,” said DeGolyer. “It only has those three stops on a 15-minute loop, so it’s very convenient.”

Corning’s Chocolate Trail boasts 31 stops, all in the Gaffer District.

Truffles, chocolate martinis, locally made chocolates, tableside s’mores in an upscale restaurant and hot cocoa are highlights. According to DeGolyer, the tour app describes each stop on the pay-as-you-go trail.

OWASCO LAKE

History buffs can visit the town of Auburn’s Equal Rights Heritage Center where exhibits, speeches and interactive maps tell the story of the equal rights movements in New York state. Next door, the Seward House Museum was the home of Secretary of State William H. Seward during the Lincoln and Johnson presidencies.

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s birth.

Her home for her last 50 years has become the focal point of her story. Annual events commemorate her March 12 birthday and March 10 death. Additional celebrations this year will include an exhibition of the travel sculpture The Journey to Freedom during July and August. More events surrounding the 200th anniversary will be listed at harriettubman.com.

“The National Park Service offers interpretative tours of Fort Hill Cemetery, where Tubman is buried,” said Karen Kuhl, executive director for Visit Cayuga County. “Visiting Harriet Tubman’s grave connects people with her.”

MacKenzie-Childs, a luxury home goods brand famous for distinctive black-and-white-checkered patterns, offers tours of its restored farmhouse filled with table settings, accessories and whimsical handpainted furniture. On-site, the outlet store sells its products. A 15-minute behind-the-scenes film details the creative process.

Cayuga County’s Sweet Treat Trail features approximately 20 stops. The Strawberry Fields Hydroponic Farm invites visitors to harvest their own berries and buy jam and jellies. Owen Orchards’ farm store sells delicious apple cider doughnuts and apple cider; groups can use the barn for activities.

“We have five trail partners on Auburn’s Main Street, and gift cards can be issued so that people can spend time on their own to sample or eat lunch,” said Kuhl.

The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and Rev Theatre Company, located 10 minutes from Auburn on Owasco Lake, offers high-quality shows performed in a round theater that formerly housed a merrygo-round. The season runs from early June to mid-October. Nearby restaurants make dining convenient before or after the show.

fingerlakestravelny.com

Courtesy Finger Lakes Visitors Connection

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

selecttraveler.com

23

known

F O R

WINE

A N A PA VA L L E Y V I N E YA R D S U N S E T

NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

By Brittany Pederson, courtesy Visit Napa Valley

CALIFORNIA’S NAPA VALLEY is only about 30 miles long yet has more than 400 wineries open to the public, most of them family owned. Its climate and topography are ideal for cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, the two varietals for which Napa Valley is best known.

“People think of Napa Valley as a summer and fall destination, but it’s great to visit during the season between seasons — the late winter and spring months,” said Linsey Gallagher, president and CEO of Visit Napa Valley. “One of the best ways to experience it is a hot air balloon ride. Visitors also love to experience the Napa Valley Wine Train — it’s a great way to see the valley on one of their historic train cars.”

Cycling the Napa Valley Vine Trail is also popular. In spring, the region is blanketed in Instagram-worthy mustard flowers, and wineries have mustard-centric activities. Groups will want to visit Stag’s Leap, known for participating in the Judgment of Paris in 1976; Cakebread Cellars, which offers farm-to-table culinary experiences; V. Sattui, a historic winery with an artisan deli; and the William Hill Estate Winery, whose tasting room overlooks the 140-acre vineyard estate and is a lovely spot to watch the sunset.

VISITNAPAVALLEY.COM

A N I A G A R A W I N E TA S T I N G

NIAGARA PENINSULA, ONTARIO Courtesy Wine Marketing Assoc. of Ontario

JUST OVER THE U.S./CANADA border, the Niagara Peninsula is located at the isthmus of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and has 10 subappellations and two regional appellations. Combining glacial soils, a cool climate from the winds of the Niagara Escarpment and the largest freshwater lakes in the world, the region creates wines with distinctive characteristics. Close to 2 million cases are produced from the roughly 13,600-acre area. Varieties include riesling, chardonnay, gamay noir, pinot noir and cabernet franc.

“Ontario’s wine country welcomes over 3 million visitors per year, and it’s one of the most established wine tourism regions in the world, with the infrastructure to support and accommodate large groups,” said Magdalena Kaiser, director of public relations for the Wine Marketing Association of Ontario. “There are over 90 VQA [Vintners Quality Alliance, the Ontario wine appellation authority] wineries located in the Niagara Peninsula, and visitors can indulge in innovative cuisine, connect with nature on numerous hiking trails, take in a show or cycle their way through wine country.”

Winery groups will want to explore the Hare Wine Company, a family-owned winery known for its ice wine, situated on 10 acres in the Four Mile subappellation; Megalomaniac Wines, the highest-altitude vineyard in the Niagara region, located on the Niagara Escarpment and producing bold wines; and Château des Charmes, founded in 1978 by a fifth-generation French winemaker.

WINECOUNTRYONTARIO.CA

24

selecttraveler.com

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

BY REBECCA TREON

A V I N E YA R D I N S A I N T EMILION, BORDEAUX

BORDEAUX, FRANCE

S T O L L E R FA M I LY E S TAT E IN THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY

WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON

By Vincent Bengold, courtesy Bordeaux Tourisme

LOCATED IN SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE near the border of Spain and the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux is a region famed for its wine the world over. Its 280,000 acres of vineyards produce millions of cases of wine each year, making it the country’s largest wine-producing region. The region is home to almost 5,000 wineries, and roughly 1,000 of those are open to the public. Bordeaux is known for its merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot, semillon and sauvignon blanc.

“We have plenty of things to do and see in a small region, from St. Emilion vineyard and its medieval village that is a UNESCO world heritage site to famous winemaker estates like Château Margaux,” said Sophie Gaillard, communication and wine tourism director at Bordeaux Tourisme. “You can have anything from a luxury experience at a chateau to lunch at a small estate with the growers themselves.”

There are many ways to experience the Bordeaux wine country, but some standouts include conquering an escape room game at a centuries-old chateau, harvesting grapes before enjoying lunch with the winemaker and cycling through sun-dappled vineyards, stopping to sip wine on local terraces.

Bordeaux is home to some of the most famous wineries in the world: Château Margaux, Château d’Yquem, Château Haut-Brion, Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Lafite-Rothschild.

Courtesy Willamette Valley Wine

NESTLED IN A 150-MILE-LONG SWATH of the Pacific Northwest, the Willamette Valley comprises 10 subregions with more than 700 wineries. An hour from the ocean, the region enjoys a maritime climate that makes distinctive wines; the area is noted for its pinot noir and chardonnay in styles ranging from rose to sparkling.

“What characterizes the valley is that it feels very personal, even though you’re talking about a pretty large geographic region,” said Kayt Mathers, Willamette Valley Wine representative. “Wineries are welcoming, with opportunities to get into the vineyard and learn the process of growing grapes and making wine, rather than just going to a tasting room.”

The Willamette Valley offers other creative ways to tour wine country, like saddling up with Equestrian Wine Tours, getting a bird’s-eye view from a hot air balloon or being pampered among vineyards at the Allison Inn and Spa. Groups won’t want to miss the Stoller Family Estate, founded in 1943 on 400 contiguous acres in Dayton in the Dundee Hills and known for its culinary program; Adelsheim, a sustainable winery in Newburg, one of the valley’s founding wineries; and Ken Wright Cellars, housed in a restored historic train depot in Carlton.

WILLAMETTEVALLEY.ORG

BORDEAUX-TOURISME-CO.UK

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

selecttraveler.com

25

DOWNTOWN

DOWN SOUTH HERE ARE SIX SOUTHERN CITIES GROUPS LOVE

Courtesy Gervasi Vineyard

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Groups can discover numerous attractions around Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.

Courtesy Atlanta CVB

T

Courtesy Visit Raleigh

he cities of the South are brimming with exciting travel experiences.

Major metropolitan destinations throughout the South have cultural, historical and culinary attractions to rival those in any other part of the country. Group travelers interested in the Civil War, the civil rights movement, early American history and some of the best group-friendly attractions in the country should make a point of visiting these six large Southern cities.

A dinosaur exhibit at North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Raleigh’s North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Courtesy Visit Raleigh

26

selecttraveler.com

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

Raleigh is known as the Smithsonian of the South because of its abundance of world-class museums, including the North Carolina Museum of Art, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

Visitors to the City of Raleigh Museum can take a Historic Fayetteville Street walking tour, which highlights the architecture, social history, people and places that make up Raleigh’s Fayetteville Street district and historic landmarks. The Historic Raleigh Trolley is a narrated tour that runs March through December to Mordecai Historic Park, Bicentennial Plaza, the Joel Lane Museum House, Fayetteville Street and the City Market.

Black Main Street is another must-visit. The area was developed in the 1910s and 1920s as an African American commercial district.

Groups can learn about the history, see the sidewalk art and visit some of Raleigh’s thriving modern-day Black businesses.

Raleigh has plentiful shopping and more than 1,200 restaurants, including those run by James Beard Award-recognized chefs. Groups can take gourmet food and drink tours of the city through Taste Carolina. Beer lovers must visit the Raleigh Beer Garden, a Guinness World Record holder for most beer on tap and largest selection of beer on draught in the world.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

Although it’s a large urban destination, many people don’t realize that Birmingham has beautiful natural surroundings. The city sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and offers plenty of walking trails and green spaces. Pair the area’s natural beauty with its temperate year-round climate, robust music scene and famous barbecue for a wonderful group destination.

No visit to Birmingham would be complete without sampling some of its civil rights history. The first stop should be at the Civil Rights Institute, where groups can see artifacts from the civil rights movement, including the door from the jail cell in Birmingham Jail where Martin Luther King Jr. was incarcerated, and read about and listen to first-person accounts from those times. The self-guided multimedia experience lasts about an hour and a half.

Across the street, groups can take a cellphone tour of Kelly Ingram Park, which has numerous civil rights monuments. The park is also the start of the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail, a list of markers that goes through the city’s civil rights district.

The 16th Street Baptist Church became a flashpoint of the civil rights movement after it was bombed by white supremacists in 1963, killing four young Black girls. Groups can take a guided tour of the church and museum to learn of the events that led to the bombing.

BIRMINGHAMAL.ORG

VISITRALEIGH.COM

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

Called the Birthplace of Rock ’n’ Roll, Memphis has become a pilgrimage site for fans of Elvis Presley, rock ’n’ roll and the blues. The city is home to Presley’s 14-acre estate, Graceland, and the Elvis Presley’s Memphis entertainment complex, which is across the street from the famous singer’s home. The complex features Presley’s vintage collection of automobiles and airplanes; Elvis: The Entertainer Career Museum; and two restaurants named after his parents.

Sun Studio is where rock was born when pioneering music producer Sam Phillips took a risk by blending musical styles and is a mustsee Memphis destination. B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf recorded there before Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is close to downtown in an area known as Soulsville USA. It is the site of the original Stax Records and houses more than 2,000 artifacts that celebrate the musical contributions of some of the greatest artists in the world. Beale Street is home to several blues clubs where groups can relax and enjoy the music.

Groups can schedule a scenic riverboat cruise or a guided kayaking adventure on the Mississippi River, take a docent- or staff-led tour of the exhibitions and collections at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens or visit the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham

MEMPHISTRAVEL.COM

Courtesy Greater Birmingham CVB

Visiting Graceland in Memphis

Courtesy Jackson Hole Mountain resort

By Alex Shansky, courtesy Memphis CVB

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Memphis’ National Civil Rights Museum

Courtesy Brand USA

selecttraveler.com

27

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

Goodwood Museum and Gardens in Tallahassee Courtesy Visit Tallahassee

Situated within the Florida panhandle, Tallahassee is not what most visitors expect for a capital city. Tallahassee is surrounded by rolling hills and stately live oaks. The city and surrounding area has over 700 miles of hiking, biking, paddling and equestrian trails to enjoy. More adventurous groups will want to visit the Tallahassee Museum, where they can zoom through the city’s dense canopy and cypress swamp on the museum’s Tree-to-Tree Adventure zip line and obstacle course. Wakulla Springs is home to the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world, ringed by an ancient cypress swamp.

Groups can take a guided riverboat tour of the springs, catching a glimpse of alligators, turtles, manatees, deer and birds.

History lovers will want to explore the Florida Historic Capitol Museum, Tallahassee’s Capitol Complex and Florida’s History Museum. The city is also home to the Meek-Eaton Black Archives, Research Center and Museum at Florida A&M University, which has one of the largest collections of African American artifacts in the Southeast.

The Bradfordville Blues Club is Florida’s first site on the Mississippi Blues Trail. It is a famous one-room juke joint that showcases different blues acts every Friday and Saturday evening. Sports fans will enjoy the Seminole Experience, a 90-minute walking tour through some of Florida State University’s most historic athletic complexes.

VISITTALLAHASSEE.COM

ATLANTA

Atlanta is a favorite destination of group travelers because of its world-class attractions and its deep civil rights history. The Georgia Aquarium showcases more animals than any other aquarium in the country. Groups can book a Behind the Seas tour, which offers a backstage look at the aquarium’s most popular exhibits.

Nearby, World of Coca-Cola is a favorite of group travelers because it combines science, history, a 3-D theater, a Coca-Cola store and a tasting room where people can sample Coke products from around the world.

Another popular attraction, Centennial Olympic Park, was built as part of the 1996 Olympic Games. Groups can take an audio tour of the park, exploring its history, amazing fountains, live music and food. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights and Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park are a big draw for anyone interested in the civil rights movement. Zoo Atlanta, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame and the Atlanta Botanical Garden offer groups a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is a mixture of science and history museum, with indoor and outdoor exhibits. Visitors can see re-creations of the tallest dinosaurs in the world, watch a movie at the Giant Screen Theater or go outside and enjoy the WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, 75 acres of outdoor exhibits, walking trails, a canopy walk and native wildlife.

DISCOVERATLANTA.COM

28

selecttraveler.com

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

Charleston is considered one of the most European cities in the country. Founded in 1670, it retains much of its historic architecture and charm. It still has a vibrant historic district, with 3,800 buildings on the national historic register, but it is also a culinary destination, offering a rich blend of cuisine influenced by the area’s Native America and European residents and enslaved Africans.

The city is a major golf and beach destination. Groups can take a harbor or dining cruise or visit one of the area’s many plantations. The Boone Hall Plantation is famous for its Avenue of Oaks. Groups can take a covered wagon tour of the property, take a guided house tour, learn about Black history in the property’s nine original slave dwellings and watch live presentations about Gullah culture.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park is a top attraction in the area. Guests learn about Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, at the Fort Sumter Visitor Education Center at Liberty Square. The building is on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where thousands of enslaved Africans were brought to the U.S. Groups can also take a ferry out to the fort and take a guided tour of Fort Moultrie, which served as Charleston Harbor’s first line of defense against disease and foreign invasion.

CHARLESTONCVB.COM

Historic downtown Charleston

HUNTSVILLE IS A GO FOR RE-ENTRY Our Mission Is Living Life to the Fullest.

Courtesy ExploreCharleston.com

National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta

Home to the world’s largest space museum and U.S. Space Camp, “Rocket City” reignites America’s ingenuity and lively spirit. Featuring a vibrant arts and entertainment district, plus a vast number of natural attractions and cuisine offerings, Huntsville, Alabama, is the perfect destination for those who want to see and do it all. ( 8 0 0 ) 8 4 3 - 0 4 6 8 | H U N T S V I LLE. OR G

Courtesy Atlanta CVB

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

selecttraveler.com

29

THINK

SMALL

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

THESE SOUTHERN TOWNS WILL WIN YOUR HEART

Bentonville offers groups small-town charm and significant cultural attractions.

Courtesy Visit Bentonville

Houma’s Chauvin Sculpture Tower

S

mall Southern towns have big appeal for group travelers.

The South is full of quaint destinations with historic and walkable downtowns, outdoor recreation opportunities, historic sites and museums, and a nice selection of locally owned shops, restaurants, breweries and distilleries. Plan to visit some of these places next time your group travels to the South.

Outdoor dining in Parkersburg Courtesy Houma Area CVB

30

selecttraveler.com

Courtesy Parkersburg CVB

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

HOUMA, LOUISIANA

About 46 miles from New Orleans, Houma, in Terrebonne Parish, is best known for hosting one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations in Louisiana, with more than a dozen parades full of colorful floats, marching bands and great throws. The town is in the middle of bayou country, with moss-draped cypress trees, swamps and waterways.

Annie Miller’s Swamp Tour takes groups into the marshes and swamps around Houma, getting them close views of bayou alligators and other wildlife. Just south of Houma, groups can tour the Chauvin Sculpture Garden, a folk art destination filled with more than 100 lifesize concrete and brick religious-themed sculptures created by artist Kenny Hill.

Houma’s storied Bayou Terrebonne Distillery was founded by Lily Lirette, the town’s first Mardi Gras Queen and a moonshiner during Prohibition. Her great-grandsons continue the legacy today, offering tastings and an in-depth tour of the whiskey-making process. Groups can visit several plantations in the area, including Ardoyne Plantation, a Victorian Gothic sugarcane plantation that is still owned by the family that built it. Outdoor lovers can take a guided cultural tour, meeting alligator hunters, fur trappers and net-makers, or charter a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico.

HOUMATRAVEL.COM

BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS

Bentonville, Arkansas, is considered the Disneyland of mountain biking. Riders come from all over the world to tackle its more than 40 miles of beautiful mountain biking trails that connect to a 150-mile regional trail network. Bentonville is also known for its world-class attractions, among them the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which includes the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Bachman Wilson House. The home was brought to Arkansas from its original New Jersey location and is a major draw for groups. The art museum itself is like no other, nestled in a natural ravine as to incorporate the natural world in its exhibits. Groups can visit a Chihuly exhibit, one of Robert Indiana’s Love sculptures and other steel abstracts in the middle of the Ozark woods.

The Momentary is a contemporary art space for visual, performing and culinary art experiences that was built in a decommissioned cheese factory in downtown Bentonville. Groups will enjoy wandering through its indoor art galleries and outdoor art installations, as well as watching performances and grabbing a bite to eat. General admission is free.

The Scott Family Amazeum is a science, technology and engineering museum with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities that are fun for all ages. And groups can learn about the founding of Walmart, which is headquartered in Bentonville, at the Walmart Museum.

VISITBENTONVILLE.COM

PARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA

Parkersburg, West Virginia, overlooks the Ohio River and has a rich history dating back to the late 1700s. Visiting groups should begin their tours at the Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park and Museum, which is on a small island in the Ohio River. Visitors get to the island via an old-fashioned stern-wheel riverboat. Once there, they can take a docent-led tour of the reconstructed mansion, which tells the story of America’s westward expansion along the Ohio River and the home’s association with Aaron Burr; walk the grounds; or take a horse-drawn carriage ride.

The Julia Ann Square Historic District preserves 126 homes built between 1850 and 1910 and is the largest historic district of its kind in West Virginia. Groups can grab a walking tour guide of the area’s historic homes at the visitors center.

Henderson Hall is a well-preserved historic home. Completed in 1859, the mansion was the home of the Henderson family, who counted the Founding Fathers as acquaintances and played a role in thwarting Burr’s treasonous exploits. Visitors to the home can see the original land grant, signed by Gov. Patrick Henry of Virginia in 1785, hanging on the wall.

Parkersburg is gaining a reputation as a regional mountain-biking destination, with 225 miles of challenging single-track trails within a 50mile radius of town.

Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park and Museum

GREATERPARKERSBURG.COM

Courtesy Parkersburg CVB

Public art in Bentonville

A bayou tour in Houma

Courtesy Jackson Hole Mountain resort Courtesy Visit Bentonville

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

Courtesy Houma Area CVB

selecttraveler.com

31

LEESBURG, VIRGINIA

Leesburg is in Loudoun County, Virginia, which is home to Washington Dulles International Airport and only 25 miles from Washington.

The destination not only has beautiful brick-lined streets, breweries, boutique shops and restaurants, it is also the gateway to Virginia’s wine country.

Founded in 1758, Leesburg was named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was the home of former Gen. George C. Marshall, who served as secretary of state and secretary of defense under Harry Truman. Groups can tour his home, Dodona Manor, which sits on 3.8 acres of gardens on the eastern end of Leesburg’s historic district, and learn about how he drafted the Marshall Plan, which laid out how the U.S. would help Europe recover after World War II. Downtown Leesburg is an arts and cultural district with live music, public art installations and a Robert Indiana Love sculpture that was created from recycled bicycle parts.

Leesburg’s lifestyle district, Village at Leesburg, has a bowling alley, a movie theater and The Conche, a chocolate-themed restaurant that offers group chocolate and cocktail mixology classes.

Morven Park, with the iconic Davis Mansion and Winmill Carriage Museum, and the Oatlands Historic House and Gardens are also mustsees. Wine lovers will enjoy a visit to Zephaniah Farm Vineyard and Casanel Vineyards and Winery.

Fine dining in Covington

VISITLOUDOUN.ORG

Courtesy NKY CVB

KENTUCKY

SCOTT COUNTY

WARD HALL

TOYOTA

MEETNKY.COM

Just 30 miles from the Ark Encounter with..

INTERSTATE

COVINGTON, KENTUCKY

Covington, Kentucky, is right across the river from Cincinnati and considers itself the edge of the South. Not only is the town a great jumping-off point to see everything Cincinnati has to offer, but it offers a wide variety of culinary experiences and street art and enough stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to please even the most dedicated connoisseur.

There are 10 bourbon trail stops in the area, including restaurants, bars and the Second Sights Spirits’ Distillery and Lounge, which offers tours that share how the distillery crafts its Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon, rums and other unique spirits.

Every tour includes samples. Groups wanting to enjoy the scenery along the Ohio River can take a dinner or scenic tour on BB Riverboats.

Mainstrasse Village is a 19th-century German neighborhood that is home to unique shops, galleries, restaurants, the 100-foot-tall Carroll Chimes Bell Tower and the Goose Girl Fountain. Groups KENTUCKY HORSE PARK can sample bourbon at Bourbon Haus 1841, enjoy a farm-to-table dinner at Bouquet Restaurant and visit Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar, which features more than 600 whiskeys and 450 bourbons. Food tours and historic walking tours are available.

The riverfront offers beautiful views of the Roebling Bridge, which connects Covington to Cincinnati. Groups can take the Riverfront Floodwall Mural Tour, which highlights the 18 large murals along the flood wall of the Roebling Bridge.

18 Hotels + over 80 Restaurants Right Off 64 + 75 www.GeorgetownKy.com/groups | 844.863.8600

32

selecttraveler.com

INTERSTATE

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI

Oxford, Mississippi, is probably best known as the home of Ole Miss, the main campus of the University of Mississippi. Because of its university roots, Oxford has a diverse population and a deep sense of history and tradition.

The city is also well known for its distinctive double-decker buses, historic vehicles imported from England. Groups can board the buses for tours of Oxford and Ole Miss.

Oxford’s historic downtown square is full of locally owned businesses; Neilson’s Department Store, the oldest department store in the South; and Square Books, an independent bookstore that has been in the square for 40 years and is a destination in its own right.

In recent years, the store opened three additional bookstores in Oxford focused on rare books, lifestyle books and children’s books.

The popularity of these bookstores would have pleased Oxford’s most famous resident, Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner.

Group visitors will want to tour Faulkner’s home, Rowan Oak, which is owned and operated by Ole Miss. Everything in the home is as it was when he lived there. A mile-long path through the woods connects the home to the university museum, which is free to visit.

The football program at Ole Miss brings in 50,000 fans for every home game and offers the Holy Grail of tailgating. The Double Decker Arts Festival in April is a huge draw, with free concerts and 150 art and food vendors.

VISITOXFORDMS.COM

The Square in Oxford

Courtesy Visit Oxford

Horseback riding in Leesburg’s Morven Park

©Laura Grier

By Neal Alfano, courtesy Visit Loudon

Tri-Parish Itinerary

SOUL OF THE SOUTH

On the multi-day itinerary, groups will learn about the stories and traditions that honor the contributions and untold history of Louisiana’s Native, Creole, and African Americans. The route begins on the Louisiana Northshore and features destinations in the tri-parish region of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana River Parishes, and Jefferson Parish.

selecttraveler.com #L ANorthshore • LouisianaNorthshore.com/SSL A

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

33

going places W I T H

A S H L E Y

TAY L O R

WHO SHOULD YOU TIP ON YOUR NEXT TRIP?

T

he trip you have been anticipating for months is only a few days away.

You’ve started buying and packing items for the trip.

But there’s a question lingering in your mind: Who will you need to tip on your trip?

We are all guilty of glossing over details of our predeparture documents, but there is a lot of important information in those booklets. And more often than not, those documents have sections about tipping.

It’s important to remember that many people you will encounter during your trip rely on tips as a part of their income.

So here’s a good, though not exhaustive, list of people you should be prepared to tip on a group tour.

Share them with your travelers in advance of a trip so that nobody has to guess about tipping etiquette.

TOUR DIRECTORS

Tour directors or program directors should be at the top of your tipping list. Tour and program directors are responsible for keeping the tour on time, ensuring everything goes smoothly, fixing problems that arise and keeping the guests smiling. They work ahead by contacting your next stop and communicating with everyone you encounter on your trip. When you retire to your room at the end of the day, your tour directors still have to prepare for tomorrow.

Tour directors get very little sleep and often work on several issues behind the scenes. In my experience, the average traveler encounters two problems on any given trip. These problems could be big or small, but they do occur. Now take that average and multiply it by the number of people traveling with you. Tour directors work constantly on solving your problems, even when you can’t see them. They’re fixing issues behind the scenes so you can have an enjoyable trip.

With a job that big, your tour directors deserve a lot of grace.

They also deserve a lot of tips.

34

selecttraveler.com

DRIVERS

Remember the drivers! Good motorcoach drivers are essential. Drivers don’t just hop on the coach and drive.

They take extra care in your safety and the route they choose each day. Drivers maintain their coaches, help with our baggage and assist with entering and exiting the vehicle. They chart and keep notes of the miles and hours, communicate with the office and are always the last to the table at dinner. They’re also the last to their hotel rooms at the end of the day.

Your drivers encounter many parking limitations and other restrictions that may keep them from enjoying your group’s activities. So keep in mind those long traveling days, and think about how often you see bus drivers eat. When you arrive at a hotel, drivers wait until all the luggage is unloaded, fuel and clean the bus, make necessary notes and possibly contact the office before going to their rooms to eat.

Drivers deserve their tips and then some.

STEP-ON GUIDES

Many cities or national parks have step-on guides. These are knowledgeable locals that will join you on your coach to give an in-depth tour of the place you’re visiting, and they make the trip easier for your driver and tour director. Step-on guides often earn minimal daily fees and rely heavily on guests’ tips for their income.

Not all step-on guides will be your favorite personality type.

They sometimes have a dry sense of humor or are very factual.

They have spent years developing their expertise, so don’t forget to tip them.

OTHER SERVICE WORKERS

I often get the question: Do I need to tip anyone at the hotel or the airport? A rule to remember is that anyone who touches your luggage gets tipped. Tip anyone assisting with your luggage. If you use valet parking and are meeting the group at the hotel, you

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

ashley taylor Ashley Taylor is a longtime bank and travel club planner.

She lives in Ironton, Ohio, with her two daughters.

should tip the valet. Housekeeping staff and cabin stewards should also be kept in mind.

Do I tip my waitstaff when traveling in a group? Many meals and tips are often included in the tour cost. But you will need to tip if you are dining on your own or paying for your meal. If it’s unclear whether you should tip, ask your tour director.

Though there are many people to tip when you travel, keep in mind that group tours often include tipping in the cost of your trip. Remember to read your travel information and to pay close attention to the tipping section. If you’re still not sure what to do, ask your group travel company before departure so you can provide clear instructions for your group.

Ashley Taylor always budgets for generous tips as she leads groups to destinations around the world.

PUT MEANING

Travel with Purpose Across North America.

As travelers, we all want rich, authentic, and meaningful travel experiences. As travel professionals, we want to ensure we use travel as a force for good. Through the

ON THE MAP.

Meaningful Travel Map of North America, visitors can connect to locally owned social and environmental impact experiences and opportunities, unique and hands-on cultural experiences, products, and services.

www.meaningfultravelplatform.org/main/map Pictured: Take a cooking class with The League of Kitchens, to build cross-cultural connection and access to traditional cuisine.

M A R C H / A P R I L

2 0 2 2

selecttraveler.com

35

{

Celebrate the gifts of land and sea with epic Virginia Beach adventures the entire group can enjoy safely. With 400 square miles of wide open space, revel in hands-on experiences and unique access to a group tour that’s as safe as it is memorable.

VISITVIRGINIABEACH.COM/GROUPTOUR

}