Select Traveler May June 2022

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

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CHEYENNE SHINES FOR STC

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HELLO HUNTSVILLE

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REINVENTING OKLAHOMA CITY

Fall for the

MIDWEST

this year

MAY/JUNE 2022

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.

Explore

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Pony Express

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Located on the scenic river bluffs of the vast “Mighty MO”, St. Joseph, Missouri is a notable American city with a fascinating heritage, born of the fur trade, nurtured by the “Westward Expansion”, and brimming with a spirit of adventure as the starting place of the Pony Express. Ole’ St. Joe is a city you and your group will never forget.

St. Joseph is home to 14 distinctive museums, 12 annual festivals, amazing architecture listed on the National Register of Historic Places and personalized itineraries custom made with home-town hospitality. Also enjoy goodie bags for groups and personal welcome from a St. Joseph representative.

JUST AROUND THE CORNER Located at the crossroads of Interstate 29 and MO Highway 36, and only 30 minutes from North Kansas City puts St. Joseph within easy driving distance of over 17 metropolitan areas.

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For tour ideas, contact: Gracia Pinzino, Group Sales Manager stjomo.com/grouptour | 800-785-0360 | gpinzino@stjomo.com

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THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

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VOL.30 NO.3

MAY/JUNE 2022

CULINARY FESTIVALS

By Simply Sam Photography, courtesy PEI Fall Flavors Festival

contents publisher’s checking in:

PERSPECTIVE

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

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FRAN RIETVELD

ON THE COVER: Gorgeous foliage makes Door County, Wisconsin, a popular Midwest destination during autumn. Photo by James Brey.

toolbox: conference going places: HOTEL BASICS

COVERAGE

BRING YOUR DAUGHTER

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 VP, Sales and Marketing Director of Advertising Sales Controller

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24 huntsville new in 28 HIGH-TECH

OKLAHOMA CITY

30

FA L L

IN THE

midwest

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.

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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.

perspective P U B L I S H E R ’ S

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he American traveler doesn’t give up easily. For two years, most followed precautions and made careful deliberations about whether to travel, but few decided their travel lives had changed forever. At no time have I been more aware of that than at our Select Traveler Conference, held March 2830 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

During our marketplace sessions, destination after destination came over to say how

engaged the travel planners were. More than a few said the enthusiasm in the room was the best they’d ever encountered at the conference. “Ready to go” was the phrase we heard repeatedly.

The results from our buyer breakout session bear that out. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers Jill Allen and Fran Rietveld, we discovered the following: • More than 80% of the buyers in attendance expect to lead from six to 15 or more group trips with their customers in 2023. Seventy-three percent expect to take that many trips this year.

• The “can’t miss” trips they identified are a collection of outdoor global favorites: Iceland and Africa rated highly for international trips; and Maine, Alaska and Mackinac Island scored well for U.S. trips, as did Western national parks.

• For those planners who have upper management sign off on travel, 81% said their management was “very supportive.”

• Perhaps most importantly, 97% of the planners in attendance described themselves not as “worn out” but as “ready to go.”

The enthusiasm and resilience of this select group of travel buyers is always invigorating to those of us who manage the conference and publish this magazine.

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

Mac Lacy 6

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WELCOME TO TO THE THE BIG BIG FRIENDLY: FRIENDLY: WELCOME 4 DAYS DAYS IN IN OKL OKLAHOMA AHOMA CIT CITY Y WELL WELL S SPENT PENT 4 Want to get to know the Big Friendly? Here’s a little taste from our 4-day itinerary! Start at First Americans Museum, where you’ll explore the rich histories of Oklahoma’s 39 tribes and dig into indigenous cuisine at Thirty Nine Restaurant. On Day 2, tour the buzzing Bricktown District & Canal — on foot or aboard a water taxi! Next, enjoy a sizzling steak at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, OKC’s oldest continuously operated restaurant. Finish up at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, America’s premier institution for Western art, history and culture.

Get the full itinerary and more inspiration for Oklahoma trips at TravelOK.com/Group.

checking in FRAN RIETVELD

W I T H

F R A N

R I E T V E L D

FIRST DAKOTA NATIONAL BANK

VICE PRESIDENT CUSTOMER

RELATIONSHIP MANAGER YANKTON, SOUTH DAKOTA The FirstPartners and Travel program has 4,588 active accounts with a balance of $217 million. The group organizes seven to eight trips a year.

Born: Huron, South Dakota Education: Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota: business and economics Employment: Rietveld worked 10 years at Marquette Bank in Sioux Falls.

Relocating to Mitchell, South Dakota, she took a position with First Dakota National Bank, where she has stayed for the past 20 years as the vice president of marketing.

Family: Rietveld has been married to her husband, Terry, for 32 years. She has an adult son and daughter and a baby granddaughter.

Hobbies: In addition to travel, Rietveld enjoys walking, boating, and reading with her (female) cat, Gus.

BY REBECCA TREON

F

ran Rietveld’s early career experiences prepared her for one of the most challenging times of her working life — taking over FirstPartners and Travel, the travel club of First Dakota National Bank right as the COVID pandemic took hold.

“I worked at Target headquarters in Minneapolis as a buyer, so I worked with companies like Procter and Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, all those types of big vendors,” said Rietveld. “Fast forward to 2020, I had been the VP of marketing for about 18 years, when the person running the First Partners and Travel program retired — in 2020 — and I took over the day-to-day details right as COVID hit.”

While Rietveld already oversaw the department, working directly with travelers at the time when traveling became impossible was a challenge. In fact, she was returning from a group trip to Alaska to

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Fran Rietveld, front center, hosts a group of FirstPartners and Travel customers on a trip to Waco, Texas.

see the Iditarod when airports began to close down in March 2020.

“We were coming home, and we were all a little worried because things were starting to close down. We didn’t know if we would get through the airports — it was like a morgue; it was so spooky, just mind-boggling — a real Twilight Zone feeling,” said Rietveld. “Of course the rest of the year and 2021 were pretty sparse for travel.

I had trips full and ready to go that we had to cancel and haven’t rescheduled, but I was planning and unplanning for two years.”

R E LAT I ONSHI P G OA LS

FirstPartners and Travel is a membership perk for the holders of First Dakota National Bank’s premier accounts, which require an aggregate balance over $25,000.

“We want people to have a relationship with the bank, not just have a checking account,” said Rietveld. “People hardly need to come

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to a bank in person anymore, so we want to educate people on taking ownership of their finances. I always ask, ‘Is your account working for you?’ and I mean, make the account actually do work for you, make your money do something that benefits you; and travel is a byproduct of that.”

While some banks have travel programs, Rietveld is looking to bring in new customers and increase brand loyalty by building relationships with customers, using travel as a marketing tool. Rietveld facilitates seminars; movie nights; outings to a community playhouse, pumpkin patches and other activities to get to know and strengthen the ties with customers.

“I really get to know them and their families and help them realize things that are on their bucket lists, and travel is an expanded relationship builder,” said Rietveld. “We only take about 25 people on our trips, and after every trip it’s like I have a new group of friends — everyone is hugging and there are goodbye tears.”

One of the nice things about FirstPartners and Travel is that unlike many banks that require travelers to be account holders, travel club members or pay an additional fee, their program invites clients first and then opens trips to non-members. This allows people who are account holders to invite family or friends who are not account holders with the bank.

“About 70% of them are already our customers,” said Rietveld.

“But of those who aren’t but travel with us, about half become our customers because of the relationship we built and how much they enjoyed the experience. We price everything two to a room; everything is all inclusive: airfare, transportation to and from the airport, transportation on the trip, the hotel, two meals a day, tickets to all the attractions, trip insurance and gratuity — when everything is covered then the cost of the trip is all you have to worry about.”

A DVEN TU RE AWA I T S

Rietveld plans each trip based on feedback she gets from her travelers.

“After each trip we take, I do a survey and ask what is on people’s bucket lists,” she said. “If I hear five times from people that they want to go Ireland, that’s a clue I need to book Ireland.”

But Rietveld doesn’t just book ho-hum trips. She considers and plans all sorts of unique details that make the trip an unforgettable adventure for participants.

“I include things in an itinerary that people can’t or won’t do on their own, like having a docent-guided tour at the museum,” says Rietveld. “People love to tell you about the things on their bucket lists, so if they have an intriguing destination, and I have heard enough times that people want to do it, then we book it and I start tailoring it.”

Among the most important details are giving travelers an authentic and noncommercialized experience where they truly are immersed in the community they travel in, getting to know locals and taking part in activities that make a locale special — a historical aspect, for example.

MA GIC M YS TE R Y T O U R

Among Rietveld’s favorite outings to plan are mystery tours.

Guests sign up for these one-day trips without knowing the destination and only find out where they’re headed after departure.

On one trip, they took guests to see “Come From Away,” the musical about the community of Gander in Newfoundland and Labrador that took in and fed and sheltered thousands of people stranded during the 9/11 attacks. They enjoy a cod lunch, take part in the “kiss

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the fish”’ ceremony that makes visitors honorary Newfoundlanders, and throw back a rum screecher (their customary drink) and enjoy traditional jam jams cookies.

“Our customers love a mystery trip — it takes only minutes for those trips to fill,” Rietveld said. “Thirty people will jump on a motorcoach and it’s a total surprise. We find these obscure things to do within a couple of hours’ drive — we play games with the sides of the bus playing against each other and drink beers from a local Mitchell brewery to celebrate the bank’s 150th anniversary. It’s a blast.”

A First Dakota State Bank group on Cape Cod.

D E S T I N AT I O N

faves

1. Mush! Mush! — “Attending the Iditarod has been one of my most memorable trips so far. The weather was warmer in Anchorage and Fairbanks than in South Dakota! The people and landscape were amazing. It’s a great experience that isn’t commercialized, so you can experience the human interaction of the communities.”

2. Old Cape Cod — “Cape Cod is a great adventure full of quaint communities. We love to find unique opportunities that our travelers would never be able to go on their own. We went to a cranberry bog and visited with the owners to learn about their establishment and process.”

3. Caribbean Style — “One of my favorite Caribbean Islands is St. Lucia. The topography, clear blue water and beautiful beaches are a wonderful escape from our South Dakota winters.”

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T R A V E L

T O O L B O X

the right hotel matters

B

BY BRIA N JE W E LL

ooking the right hotel can make a good trip great.

Affinity group travel planners make lots of important choices, from selecting destinations to choosing tour companies and picking the right time to travel. But these first-order decisions aren’t the only ones that can impact a traveler’s experience.

Group tour customers spend more time in hotels than any other place, and hotel accommodations represent a large part of any group tour.

With hotels accounting for so much time and money, it’s important to pick properties that will enhance the travel experience. Here’s an overview of the five main categories of hotels, along with tips about when to use each one.

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LIMITED SER V I C E There are more limited-service hotels in America than any other type. Known for convenience and affordability, these properties offer all the basics you need for an overnight stay — clean rooms, comfortable beds, bathroom amenities — with few extras, save a continental breakfast. Limited-service hotels can be useful but are rarely memorable. For high-end groups, they are best employed in transit, near airports or along highways. They typically offer attractive pricing, but overusing these types of hotels will make your trips seem cheap and may undercut the image of exclusivity your travel program is built on.

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EXPANDED SER V I C E Operating in the space between limited-service hotels and their full-service cousins, expanded service hotels have boomed in popularity over the past decade. While they generally don’t have amenities such as room service, valet parking or concierges, they usually offer expanded food-and-beverage options, including an onsite bar and higher-quality breakfast that isn’t necessarily included in the room rate. They’re also likely to have better internet service and upgraded fitness facilities. Although these properties are usually marketed to business travelers, they can be an ideal choice for group planners who want to make a good impression on clients while still keeping the lodging budget under control.

FULL S ER VIC E The classic full-service hotel offers everything that makes travel feel glamorous — attractive public spaces, onsite bars and restaurants, attentive staff and luxurious guestrooms. Often found in city centers or nearby popular attractions, these properties often become memorable parts of a group tour experience. You’ll usually pay more for these hotels (and get fewer included services), but the perks and proximity to popular places make the added expense worthwhile. Use these hotels when you’ve arrived at the destinations that are centerpieces of your itineraries.

You should also opt for full-service hotels when traveling to foreign countries.

R ESO R T S When you think of resorts, you probably picture luxurious accommodations surrounded by beautiful natural settings. Resorts are often destinations unto themselves, with numerous options for dining, entertainment and activities such as golf or spa outings.

Resorts are at the most expensive end of the price range, but they’ll also make the best impression on your travelers. If you’re visiting a famously scenic destination, including a couple nights in an upscale resort will make your travelers feel like VIPs. When you do, allow more free time than normal

PAR K LODG ES Many state and national parks around the country have their own

so your travelers can make the most of all the options on site.

lodging facilities inside the parks’ borders. The quality levels of these accommodations can vary widely: Some national park lodges are rather expensive, while many state park lodges are spartan in nature. And though they often lack in amenities, these lodges often have their own kind of charm. They also offer serene surroundings and immediate access to the parks. Staying a night in a park lodge can add character and variety to trips, especially if you give your travelers time to explore the outdoors.

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C O N F E R E N C E

connection

OPTIMISM ENERGIZED THE SELECT TRAVELER CONFERENCE

BY MAC LACY

M

ore than 60 upscale travel planners joined 90 domestic and international travel destinations at the 2022 Select Traveler Conference held March 28–30 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Travel planners representing banks, chambers of commerce, alumni associations and similar high-end affinity groups are invited to the annual event.

“We all know that travel industry gatherings of all types remain pressed to reach their pre-pandemic attendances,” said conference partner Charlie Presley of the Group Travel Family, “but what this group lacked in size it made up for in energy.

The delegates who attended were enthusiastic and were just happy to be face-to-face again. Mac and I heard from dozens of buyers and sellers alike that the enthusiasm for taking groups back out is overwhelming right now.”

“In our buyer breakout session, 83 percent of attendees ex-

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pected to operate from six to 15 major trips or more in the coming year,” said conference partner Mac Lacy, “and 93% said their travelers were ready to travel right now. We wanted to know what our planners’ frames of mind were coming out of the pandemic and if any felt ‘emotionally worn out.’ They all described themselves as ready to travel again, and 60% said they were ‘as good as new and ready to go.’”

Visit Cheyenne hosted an opening Western-style honkytonk evening event at Outlaw Saloon, where delegates dined on fresh-smoked brisket and enjoyed live music and line dancing. Jim Walter and Andi Jaspersen of Visit Cheyenne managed the city’s hospitality efforts and offered sightseeing tours of its state capital sites, breweries, museums, Terry Bison Ranch and more.

“I’m so glad you all have chosen to come to Cheyenne,” said Mayor Patrick Collins in his opening remarks. “We have thousands

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Photos by Dan Dickson

of hotel rooms available and hundreds more under construction.

I’m hoping you Select Traveler planners will help us fill them.”

“We booked this conference two years ago, and when COVID hit, we thought we’d all go home for a couple of weeks and then it would be over. It wasn’t,” said Walter, vice president of marketing for Visit Cheyenne. “We had to cancel at the last minute. But now we’re back, and it’s great that travel is picking up again. Thanks for coming.”

Other major sponsors for meals included travel companies and destinations like Collette, U.S. Tours, Trips and next year’s host, Explore Branson. Two conference marketplace sessions were offered, and most travel planners had 50 or more appointments over the two days.

The 2023 Select Traveler Conference takes place March 27–29 at the Chateau on the Lake resort in Branson, Missouri.

For registration details, visit selecttravelerconf.com.

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S P O N S O R S

CELEBRATE T R A V E L ’ S

R E T U R N

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he conference’s opening night dinner was a honky-tonk affair held at the Outlaw Saloon and presented by Visit Cheyenne. Featuring a delicious smoked brisket dinner and live band, the event was a perfect introduction to Wyoming’s revered capital city. A couple dozen delegates took line dancing lessons from a local dance instructor, and many more than that bellied up to the bar to enjoy a libation compliments of the host city.

The following day offered a full slate of sponsored meals and events, beginning with a breakfast hosted by West Virginia-based U.S. Tours and Sharon Kruszka.

“We’re back on track and ready to roll,” Kruszka told the gathering. “We’re promoting three distinct areas of travel. They are US Tours America, Select World Travel, and Voyages.

We can’t wait to speak with all of you about restarting your travel.”

Collette, the internationally known 104-year-old travel company that has long been a sponsor at Select Traveler, hosted lunch.

“Thanks for all your support through good times and bad,” said Jim Edwards of Collette.

“It’s been a tough two years. We refunded $170 million to customers. Those people would not have traveled with us again if they knew they couldn’t get their money back. People had confidence in us; we delivered and business is now booming.”

Dinner that evening showcased Branson, Missouri, host city for the 2023 Select Traveler Conference. The evening was filled with entertainment and drawings for prizes that delivered the Branson brand.

“The Group Travel Family has managed this conference for many years,” said Lenni Neimeyer of Explore Branson. “They’re recognized for putting together conferences that bring quality travel buyers to meet quality travel sellers. We’re excited to host this conference next year.”

Trips provided breakfast on the conference’s last day, and Damon Anderson spoke to the gathering.

“Going with Trips is like going with your family,” Anderson said. “All your clients become part of our family. You can always depend on us for excellent value and good service. That’s what we’ve built our reputation on for 30 years.”

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B REAK O U T

S E S S I ON

BUILDS CAMARADERIE A M O N G

BUYERS

T

he buyer breakout session in Cheyenne was ably managed by Jill Allen of Platte Valley Bank in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and Fran Rietveld of First Dakota National Bank in Yankton, South Dakota.

A longstanding staple of the conference’s opening day, the breakout session offered more than three dozen buyers the opportunity to discuss their travel programs, the effects of the pandemic, ideas for restarting their travel and other key topics. The session lasted almost two hours, and all attendees received the collective results of their conversations a couple of weeks later via email.

“This session starts the conference off on a high note,” said Select Traveler publisher Mac Lacy. “This is the only opportunity most of these planners have all year to sit down with peers and share ideas in a noncompetitive environment. They take the session seriously, but they also enjoy the camaraderie it engenders throughout the rest of the week. Hats off to Fran and Jill for their preparation as moderators.”

The highlights of the session were the planners’ shared optimism about traveling again with their groups in 2022 and 2023; their resolve to move past the pandemic emotionally and regain their can-do attitudes for traveling; and their collective identification of can’tmiss destinations for their groups, both domestic and international.

Throughout the session, the theme of offering personal attention to group travelers came up repeatedly.

“Know your community,” said Lori Jackson of LAJ Tours in Fairfield, Pennsylvania, during one discussion. “Most of our travelers live in our area, so we see them at the supermarket and everywhere else. We stay in touch with them without being in touch with them.”

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T H A N K S S E L E C T T R AV E L E R C O N F E R E N C E

FRESH ENERGY

FOR

WAS EVIDENT IN

TRAVEL

CHEYENNE

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ollowing a severe travel interruption that lasted more than two years, the optimism expressed by buyers and sellers alike was contagious in Cheyenne. The marketplace sessions were energetic, and destination representatives were pleased with the receptiveness they felt from these upscale travel planners.

Here are just a few comments from both: “I want to reconnect with the people I know here and start traveling again. I hope to keep doing this for another dozen years or more and continue my career while traveling to see the rest of the world.”

— DAWN CARVER, DAWN’S FABULOUS TOURS, AND LONGTIME BANK TRAVEL DIRECTOR YORKVILLE, ILLINOIS

“I like networking with people to find out what they do to spur interest in travel in their communities and getting new trip ideas from these vendors.”

— PEGGY FULLER, CITIZENS PROGRESSIVE BANK RAYVILLE, LOUISIANA “This is my first time to the show. I’ve got so many appointments and there is a lot of networking going on. I have new relationships for the future and so much information to bring back. If I book one tour, the ROI will be worth it.”

— IRENE HODGE, LAFAYETTE CVB LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA “It’s my first time to Select Traveler, and the quality of my appointments was outstanding. It’s been a nice conference as far as the food and entertainment go, too.”

— DONA WEBB, ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE AND PARK CANON CITY, COLORADO “We always seem to work with the same companies, so it’s nice to come and see what other companies offer. I want to connect with people like me who do the same things to learn about their trips.”

— JILL ALLEN, PLATTE VALLEY BANK SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA

TO THESE

SPONSORS VISIT CHEYENNE Host City EXPLORE BRANSON 2023 Host City COLLETTE Luncheon CHEROKEE NATION CULTURAL TOURISM Stepping Stones EF/GO AHEAD TOURS Name Badges PANAMA CITY BEACH CVB Sponsor FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION Sponsor GROUP TRAVEL GUY Showcase HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CVB Phone Chargers ISRAEL TOURISM Know Your Sponsors LINCOLN CVB Padfolios MAYFLOWER TOURS & CRUISES Showcase OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL Sponsor SELECT TRAVELER MAGAZINE Sponsor STAR DESTINATIONS Presentation TRAVEL + LEISURE Sponsor TRIPS Breakfast US TOURS Breakfast LITTLE AMERICA HOTEL Host Hotel DIAMOND TOURS Sponsor STEP AND REPEAT LA Sponsor

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GLOBAL gourmets

Food festivals are worldwide winners

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BY KATI HYER

othing connects you to the soul of a place like food. And when you delight in local flavors surrounded by the mountains, vistas, coasts and cultures where that food has been raised, grown or caught, the connection gets even stronger. So why not take advantage of the magic of food and place through festivals across the United States and around the world?

Try an international festival on Canada’s Food Island or down under in the bounty-rich coastal state of South Australia. Or sample distinctive American flavors in places such as the in the Land of Enchantment, the Barbecue Capital of Texas, or the fragrant and vibrant land of Aloha.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND FALL FLAVOURS FESTIVAL

Canada’s smallest province produces the nation’s largest amount of beef, mussels, clams, lobsters and potatoes. It’s no wonder small and mighty Prince Edward Island on the Atlantic coast is known as Canada’s Food Island. And for the past 15 years, PEI has invited guests to experience its culinary marvels at its Fall Flavours Festival.

Fall Flavours began as a single event in Prince Edward Island’s capital city, Charlottetown. Since then, the harvest festival has grown substantially. Today it celebrates the province’s mouth-watering delicacies for an entire month with events taking place across the island.

“September and early October are the best times to taste the flavors of PEI,” said Fall Flavours’ Leah Deveau. “That’s when our flavors come alive.”

Festival-goers will be wowed by menus created and executed by local legends and Food Network Canada celebrity chefs. And that’s not all attendees can expect: “2022’s is going to be the largest festival to date, with two dozen events from tip to tip of the island, with numerous culinary adventures,” Deveau said.

Each event showcases different chefs with different vendors and producers, and all 22 event types are unique. For example, Beef and Brew is a rolling station-style event with a dozen restaurateurs preparing a different beef dish. Some signature events are three-course meals and others are curated weekends or immersive food adventures. There’s also a live entertainment component.

“Want to learn to tong for oysters or bar clams? You can,” Deveau said. “Want to learn to make a lobster taco? This is the place.”

FALLFLAVOURS.CA Travelers can sample island flavors prepared by masterful chefs at the Hawai’i Food and Wine Festival.

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Courtesy Hawai’i Food and Wine Festival

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Prince Edward Island Fall Flavors Festival

NEW MEXICO WINE FESTIVAL

By Simply Sam Photography, courtesy PEI Fall Flavors Festival

A Prince Edward Island lobster dinner

By Simply Sam Photography, courtesy PEI Fall Flavors Festival

Exploring Canada’s Prince Edward Island

Looking for vibrant natural scenery and vivacious wine culture?

The New Mexico Wine Festival draws 25,000 visitors to the Land of Enchantment in a single weekend. Festivities take place twice a year, over Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, each with locations in both Albuquerque and Las Cruces.

“We first brought New Mexican wine directly to consumers 30 years ago in small events,” said Christopher Goblet of New Mexico Wine. “Today, the New Mexico Wine Festival is the largest wine festival in the Southwest.”

Attendees can samples from products from more than 20 wineries and 40 other food vendors, as well as taking in workshops, live music and local New Mexican handmade goods.

“Our demographic ranges from 21 to 65-plus,” Goblet said. “So the experience depends on the customer. We create activities that appeal to a diverse audience.”

Festival demonstrations range from classic food, cheese, chocolate and wine pairings to fun runs, yoga-with-wine classes and painting-with-pinot workshops.

Groups can take advantage of travel coordination assistance and discounted tickets. Be sure to make the best of the proximity to the state’s vineyards and wineries for day trips before and after the festival.

“The outdoors are beautiful in May and September,” Goblet said.

“We’ve got great hiking, biking and outdoor recreation, and of course, all of the bucolic scenery. With national parks around Albuquerque and places like Carlsbad and White Sands around Las Cruces, I like to say the north is wild and wine and the south is monuments and wine.”

NMWINE.COM

By Simply Sam Photography, courtesy PEI Fall Flavors Festival

New Mexico Wine Festival

Soaking up the sun at the New Mexico Wine Festival Courtesy New Mexico Wine Festival

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Courtesy New Mexico Wine Festival

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TEXAS MONTHLY BBQ FEST

This November, fragrant smoke will fill the skies above the Barbecue Capital of Texas, in the utterly delicious town of Lockhart. Texas Monthly BBQ Fest will bring together the state’s top pitmasters and barbecue lovers in an outsized, drool-worthy celebration of Texas barbecue.

Organizers promise a mouth-watering event that will make any ‘cue lover click their tongs with joy. “There’s no better festival when it comes to the best access to the very best barbecue in Texas,” said Daniel Vaughn of Texas Monthly.

Drawing thousands of hungry visitors, the festivities kick off with a day-long BBQ World’s Fair. The fair will spotlight the wide world of barbecue with demos showcasing the techniques behind the craft and the people and culture surrounding it.

“We’ll have producers, rub and sauce makers, barbecue smoker makers and all kinds of folks at the fair,” Vaughn said. “And of course people serving up great barbecue.” Expect pitmasters and taco vendors to please every palate on the Saturday of the festival.

On the Sunday of the event, BBQ Fest will offer attendees a taste of the best joints in the state. And while Texas barbecue is always woodfired and anchored by the Texan trinity — pork ribs, sliced brisket and sausage — guests may be surprised by the edgy takes that pitmasters serve up.

“Brisket birria ramen; we’ve got brisket curry with rice — there’s going to be a huge variety,” Vaughn said.

Event organizers created a single ticket format: all you can eat. “Eat all the barbecue you want, sample from any — or all — and go back twice!” Vaughn said with a laugh.

Groups should plan to stay in Austin or San Antonio, each a short drive from Lockhart.

A Texas barbecue team Courtesy Texas Monthly

A meat sampler at the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest Courtesy Texas Monthly

TEXASMONTHLY.COM

A pitmaster at the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest Courtesy Texas Monthly

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TASTING AUSTRALIA

A South Australia picnic

A Tasting Australia wine dinner

When it comes to travel experiences, you typically have to choose between quality and quantity — not so with epicurean dream festival, Tasting Australia.

The state of South Australia, the country’s fourth-largest, is known the world over for its friendly people, pristine environment and vibrant capital city, Adelaide. Since 1997, Tasting Australia has paired together some of the nation’s best chefs and beverage makers to showcase the stunning regions and food of South Australia. This 10-day program of epic proportions draws upward of 57,000 guests a year.

Festival co-director Karena Armstrong is eager for guests to delight in the vast array of thoughtful, immersive and one-of-a-kind festival experiences.

“Come for a drink and a meal in Town Square or take a short drive and discover the people and places behind your favorite wine,” Armstrong said. The Tasting Australia program offers events and opportunities that are rare and not always available outside of the festival. “It’s exciting to know this festival spans the state, truly sharing every flavor of South Australia.”

Attendees will be wowed by nearly 80 culinary and beverage masters, among them Michelin-star chefs, local legends, award-winning winemakers, iconic distillers and other tastemakers of the highest caliber. The food and beverage talent headlining Tasting Australia will lead guests through more than 250 planned program experiences.

“Tasting Australia invites its audiences to step out of the ordinary,” festival co-director Darren Robertson shared. “The program is more diverse than ever, delivering on its reputation for authenticity and adventure. We welcome chefs from around the country and the world for a truly special 10 days.”

Plan to choose between experiences like legends dinners, sensory experiences, picnics under the stars, multiple-course shared lunches, single-origin chocolate pairings, master classes, bus tours, grape-toglass barrel tastings and hyperlocal feasts.

Soak up the entire festival in Adelaide or feast your way through the state from the Limestone Coast to the Eyre Peninsula. Choose from pre-arranged group packages or plan your group’s itinerary à la carte online.

TASTINGAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

Fresh seafood on Australia’s Limestone Coast

Tasting Australia in the clouds

Photos courtesy Tasting Australia

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By Meaghan Coles

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Asheville Celebrating FoodHawaiian Tours often foodvisit Chorizo at a seaside resort

HAWAI’I FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

Take a bite of an exquisitely plated ceviche of spanner crab with buckwheat and yuzu created by chef Tetsuya Wakuda and you’ll taste the love of Hawaii. That’s the goal of the Hawai’i Food and Wine Festival — to share the love of the Land of Aloha’s food, environment and culture.

About 160 master chefs will gather in Honolulu to offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience Oahu, Maui and the Island of Hawaii through fantastic food.

“We’re highlighting and featuring the great bounty of products available on the islands,” said Denise Yamaguchi, CEO of the festival. “We’re promoting Hawaii’s sustainable future by featuring locally grown products through unique dishes created by world-renowned chefs.”

Once a small fundraiser dinner, today the festival is hailed as the Pacific’s premier food event by the likes of Fodor’s and the Travel Channel. Interested in toothsome morsels over three weeks on some of the planet’s most glorious beaches? If you needed a final reason to book that trip to the Aloha State, this is it.

“This year’s festival is an opportunity to celebrate the resiliency of our industry and the innovation shown by chefs and culinary professionals alike,” Yamaguchi said. “Being able to do so by bringing largerscale, in-person events back to life is the icing on the cake!”

HAWAIIFOODANDWINEFESTIVAL.COM

Chefs showcasing their creations at the Hawai’i Food and Wine Festival

Photos courtesy Hawai’i Food and Wine Festival

APPLY TODAY

FOR THE FAMS YOU’D LIKE TO ATTEND!

LOUISIANA

ALABAMA

Join us for a trip to Louisiana, October 1-5, 2022, where you’ll get to tour New Orleans and the surrounding communities.

Registration closes July 15 so register for the chance to attend this FAM and learn more about the region. grouptravelleader.com/LA-FAM

Join us this fall for a trip to Mobile, Montgomery, Monroeville and Tuskegee. A few of the tour highlights are: Africatown and USS ALABAMA Battleship in Mobile, Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Civil Rights Memorial & Center in Montgomery, and the Tuskegee History Center and Tuskegee Airmen Museum in Tuskegee. grouptravelleader.com/alabama-fam

OCTOBER 1-5

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OCTOBER 25-29

If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Tyner at:

888-253-0455 KELLY@GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM

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B L A S T

T O

T H E

PAST

BY TOM ADKINSON

Huntsville residents gather for a festival at Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment, a former textile factory that now serves as a cultural hub for the city.

Courtesy Huntsville CVB

A sign at Stovehouse

Pizza and beer at Campus No. 805

By Tom Adkinson

Courtesy Huntsville CVB

even high-tech huntsville knows old is cool

Lowe Mill scenes, clockwise from top: a factory water tower; gourmet candies; Tangled String Studios; hand-made mugs

H

untsville, the high-tech city with a penchant for space exploration and other futuristic pursuits, also has an admirable affinity for times gone by.

Proof is at three locations just west of downtown, and all three have their arms wide open for group tours.

Decades ago, one was a textile mill that became a shoe factory; another, a sprawling industrial site where stoves were built; and the third, a high school. Today, they are an artist colony, a mixed-use dining/entertainment/retail development, and a place that still feels like a high school but now houses breweries, restaurants and an axethrowing business.

LOWE MILL ART AND ENTERTAINMENT

Lowe Mill opened in 1901 and was Huntsville’s fifth textile mill. It went bankrupt in 1932, became warehouse space and then was revitalized as a shoe factory. Among other things, it made the majority of the jungle boots American soldiers wore in Vietnam. That industry faded, too, and warehousing took over again.

However, in 2001, the industrial site took on a completely different feel as Lowe Mill Art and Entertainment. Spread through multiple buildings are 150 studios for more than 200 artists. Visitors stroll at will, meet artists and are likely find treasures to take home.

There are painters, fashion designers, ceramic artists, jewelry makers, glassmakers, photographers, sculptors, printmakers, woodworkers and more. One ceramic studio has a two-hour class that is ideal as a group activity.

One of Lowe Mills’ most appealing spaces is Tangled String Studios. This is the business of Danny Davis, a space industry mechanical engineer who now makes beautiful guitars. You can watch him and others at work and perhaps listen to a performer on the studio’s small stage. Davis is far from a mass producer, and most of his work is custom ordered.

It’s also easy to count Lowe Mills’ food purveyors as artists. Rafael’s Table has pastas, sauces and oils. Pofta Burna International Cafe has both sweet and savory crepes (the Dracula crepe has roasted chicken, organic spinach, pesto and more). Pizzelle’s Confections has chocolates too pretty to resist.

A strategically timed group visit could include Lowe Mills outdoor market (Saturdays from May through late October) or a Concert on the Dock, featuring warm-weather performances by a variety of artists. The dock in this case is a loading dock, which is in the shadow of the mill’s relic water tower.

Photos By Tom Adkinson

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STOVEHOUSE

Stovehouse, another old-is-new destination, is only a mile away.

While Lowe Mill is conspicuously industrial in appearance, Stovehouse hints at its birth as the Martin Stamping and Stove Factory.

Old tanks and tumblers, a large compressor and enduring trusses sit among buildings with more modern exteriors.

Construction of the factory’s original building began about 1928, and the complex eventually grew to have 226,000 square feet in 31 contiguous buildings, according to Stovehouse chief operating officer, Jonathan Barnette.

While Martin made gas and electric heaters, Barnette said, “we created a backyard oasis in the city. We’re manufacturing leisure.”

A focal point at Stovehouse is an open space called the Leisure Lawn and Food Garden. Leisure comes from games such as bocce ball, foot billiards, cornhole and four-square. Food comes from a variety of outlets such as Komodo Ramen, Parm + Pepper (specialty sandwiches, pizza, salads), Bark and Barrel BBQ, Oscar Moon (ice cream) and the delightfully named Oh Crepe!

Community seating (indoor and outdoor) means groups can reunite after patronizing different food outlets, and they can be mobile with adult beverages while at Stovehouse. One source is Pour Me Another, and another is the Brewers Cooperative, a collaborative establishment of five big-name Alabama brands. It includes a 220-seat restaurant and 40 beer taps.

There is an outdoor stage for various entertainers, and private spaces that tour groups can secure.

“Groups could have one of the Stovehouse restaurants cater a meal, or they could visit restaurants on their own and then sit together in a reserved location,” Barnette said.

Stovehouse Plaza Courtesy Huntsville CVB

Dining al fresco at Stovehouse

Courtesy Huntsville CVB

A Stovehouse mural

Live music at Stovehouse

By Tom Adkinson

A brick oven at Campus No. 805

Courtesy Huntsville CVB

A hallway at Campus No. 805

By Tom Adkinson

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Courtesy Huntsville CVB

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CAMPUS NO. 805

Barely a three-block walk from Stovehouse is a third example of Huntsville’s adaptive reuse of old structures. You’ll hear it called Campus No. 805, Campus 805 or simply 805.

Regardless of what you call it, groups will experience a hefty sense of déja vu when they enter, because Campus No. 805 once was a middle school and a high school. Some hallways remain as they were when filled with teenagers: There still are decalcovered lockers, and some walls feature the ubiquitous beige paint used in so many schools.

What’s dramatically different is that the tagline for Campus No. 805 is “the South’s premier brewery and entertainment venue.”

Yes, step right in at the several buildings on campus to find Yellowhammer Brewing, Straight to Ale, Pints and Pixels (beer and video games), the Lone Goose Saloon, 3rd Circle Cellars (wine, cider, mead and tapas) and the Bar (16 taps and weekend live entertainment), among others.

Extending the “this isn’t like my high school” feeling are businesses such as the Huntsville Ballroom for dance instruction, Arcadia Tattoo, the Off Beat Coffee Studio (specialty coffee and vinyl records) and Ronnie’s Raygun (beer and pinball machines).

Even though real high school is a thing of the past for Campus No. 805, sports remain important. X-Golf Huntsville offers virtual golf (with the addition of a permanent 19th hole bar), and Civil Axe Throwing offers a bigger test of accuracy than shooting free throws on the basketball court ever did.

In keeping with Huntsville’s “old is new” concept, Lowe Mill, Stovehouse and Campus No. 805 are ready-made complements to the city’s biggest attraction — the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the world’s largest space museum.

When you think about it, there is no better adaptive reuse for a Space Shuttle or a 363-foot-long Saturn V rocket that can’t fly anymore than as centerpieces at Alabama’s most visited attraction.

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

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.

Straight to Ale Brewery

By Tom Adkinson

( 8 0 0 ) 8 4 3 - 0 4 6 8 | H U N T S V I LLE. OR G

Enjoying the outdoors at Campus No. 805 Courtesy Huntsville CVB

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Oklahoma City’s new First Americans Museum honors the 39 tribal nations found throughout the state.

MAPPING T H E

F U T U R E

All photos courtesy OKC CVB

TRAVELERS ARE DISCOVERING A DYNAMIC OKLAHOMA CITY

BY KEVIN OSBOURN

I

n a land long recognized for its Western heritage and “winds that come sweepin’ down the plain,” Oklahoma City has opened new attractions that have transformed the city into a cultural beacon sure to attract groups for years to come.

Oklahoma City is not just the state capital with cosmopolitan art and science museums. It is also home to several attractions that focus on Native American culture, the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, the Myriad Botanical Gardens, and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. In addition, the city has a startling number of fun new things to experience, such as the Riversport in-

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door skiing attraction and a new Softball Hall of Fame.

“We are known for our Western heritage and for being the horse show capital of the world,” said Sandy Price, vice president of Tourism for Visit Oklahoma City, “but we have expanded on that and reinvented ourselves.”

Thanks to the number of projects completed the past 20 years through its Metropolitan Area Projects Plan, Oklahoma City has become a great tour destination. MAPs, as it is known, added many attractions, including the Bricktown Ballpark, the Bricktown Canal, a trolley, a new convention center and a performing arts center. More projects are on the way.

Here are four to include on a group visit to Oklahoma City:

FIRST AMERICANS MUSEUM

After three decades of planning, Oklahoma City celebrated the opening of the 175,000-square-foot First Americans Museum last year. It educates visitors about the 39 tribal nations that came to Oklahoma from all parts of the country.

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With an all-native staff, the museum chronicles the tragic and beautiful stories about Native Americans’ homelands, their forced removal to Oklahoma and the tribes’ rich cultures through today.

Ten columns in the Hall of People represent the 10 miles that native people were required to walk each day during their forced removal to the Indian Territories. Many died along the way.

“It’s very powerful and talks about [how] when they got here, [they] were put in boarding schools, had to cut their hair and couldn’t speak their language,” Price said.

The museum’s architecture alone makes a visit worthwhile. A team of Cherokee artists built a massive arch sculpture that frames the entrance in light. An enormous earthen mound built from 500,000 cubic yards of dirt provides visitors a view of Oklahoma City.

There are three main exhibit galleries, including an 8,000-squarefoot exhibition of native clothing, textiles, tools and toys. There are also several theaters and restaurants featuring Native American food.

Dale Chihuly glasswork at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art

ROTHER SHRINE

Oklahoma City welcomes the opening of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine on November 4, 2022. Constructed in classic Spanish architecture, the shrine will be a place of prayer commemorating the life of the Rev. Stanley Rother, an Oklahoma native. He is the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified for sainthood by the Catholic Church and was martyred in 1981 during his ministry in Guatemala.

The $40 million shrine will include a 2,000-seat church, an education building, a chapel and an event space. It will be the largest Catholic Church in Oklahoma, but proponents predict the shrine will attract pilgrims of many faiths.

“They have been building it for a few years,” Price said. “I don’t think it will be a draw just for Catholics. It will draw people for prayer from all over the world.”

Rother was a soft-spoken man who was killed during Guatemala’s Civil War. Before his death, Rother learned the local Tz’utujil language and translated the New Testament for those he served. He taught parishioners to read and write, and started a hospital, school and radio station. Rother became a beloved champion of the Indigenous community. Although members of his church were kidnapped and killed, he continued to serve despite the risks.

Stanley Rother Shrine

Liichokoshkomo

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Oklahoma City Museum of Art

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LIICHOKOSHKOMO

Liichokoshkomo, the Chickasaw phrase for “let’s play,” is a 100,000-square-foot outdoor addition to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Visitors of all ages will enjoy walking among its cliff dwellings, tipis, a prairie sod house, trading post and train depot to learn about and interact with the history of the West.

The cliffside dwellings are life-size. Groups can see a Chickasaw council house, watch programs in the event center, enjoy waterfalls and look inside a covered wagon like the ones that the pioneers used.

Price said though the attraction seems more geared toward families with kids, adults and seniors also enjoy exploring the seven Indian dwellings and the Western town, Prosperity Junction. Visitors experience what Western life was like by grinding corn and weaving on a giant loom. Young and old alike can lasso a wooden steer, hear tales about the West from professional storytellers and learn how to pack a wagon for the long journey West.

OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) opens a redesigned Chihuly Studio glass exhibit June 18, featuring five decades of glass and painting. Called “The Collection at Twenty,” the exhibit features five decades of Dale Chihuly’s glass and painting and tells the story of Chihuly’s groundbreaking career as a glassblower and sculptor.

In addition to Chihuly museum favorites like “Reeds,” “Float Boat” and “Ikebana Boat,” the presentation will include Chihuly works never seen before in Oklahoma City.

OKCMOA is also the recipient of the Rose Family Glass Collection.

Highlights of the Rose collection will be introduced to visitors beginning Labor Day weekend. The collection will highlight the broader story of the Studio Glass movement that originated in America in the 1950s.

Jerry and Judy Rose began collecting their glass in 1977 and for 20 years added to it. In Seattle, they became friends with Chihuly and many other artists.

Their collection grew into one of the best private studio glass collections in the world with 179 works from 83 artists. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is the new public home for the collection thanks to the generosity of the Roses’ children.

visitokc.com

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FALL FINDS

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Autumn leaves blanket the woods around Stan Hywet in Akron.

ENJOY THE SEASON IN THESE MIDWESTERN MECCAS Courtesy Akron-Summit CVB

N

Red Wing’s Pottery Pond

ew England has a reputation for being the premiere place to view spectacular fall foliage, but don’t discount the Midwest.

From Minnesota to Missouri, Midwestern states have no shortage of scenic natural areas that come alive with color as the weather turns cooler. Here are 10 destinations group travelers should consider in the middle states that are well worth a visit any time of the year but are particularly mind-blowing in the autumn.

Courtesy Visit Red Wing

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad

Brown County State Park Courtesy Brown Co. CVB

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Courtesy Akron-Summit CVB

BROWN COUNTY, INDIANA

Visitors come from all across the country to visit Indiana’s largest state park, Brown County State Park. And while the park is beautiful year-round, the scenery is even more amazing in red, orange and yellow. The best leaf-peeping times are from the end of September to the first two weeks of November, although that can change depending on how cold and wet the area gets during the summer months.

The park sits on 16,000 acres and features nearly 20 miles of treelined roads. There are plenty of trails in the park for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding, as well as seven overlooks that are perfect for viewing the fall foliage. The park is only a three-minute drive from the village of Nashville, with its 200 shops, art galleries and restaurants.

Nearby Browning Mountain is a hidden gem in the county offering a 928-foot climb to the top, which is a great spot for seeing fall color. The village of Story was founded in 1851. The entire town has been turned into the Story Inn, with 14 rooms and cottages, a gourmet restaurant and bar in the former general store, and a barn that hosts live music and comedy shows.

BROWNCOUNTY.COM

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UPPER PENINSULA, MICHIGAN

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a nature-based destination that touches three of the Great Lakes: Huron, Michigan and Superior. The peninsula shares most of its rocky shoreline with the largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Superior, which has created porcupine mountains and over 300 waterfalls. That also makes it a perfect place to view the fall colors. The Upper Peninsula accounts for only 3% of the population of Michigan, meaning the bulk of the area’s 7 million acres is full of trees.

The key locations to see the changing of the leaves are Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park; Keweenaw Peninsula, which juts out into Lake Superior; Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; and Tahquamenon Falls State Park, which covers 50,000 acres and features numerous waterfalls along the Tahquamenon River. On the eastern end of the Upper Peninsula is Mackinac Island. Groups can book a Soo Locks boat tour from historic Sault Ste. Marie, giving guests a perfect view of the fall colors from the water. The locks connect Lake Superior and Lake Huron and are the busiest locks in the world. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on Whitefish Point on Lake Superior is another must-see group attraction.

UPTRAVEL.COM

Miners Castle on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

RED WING, MINNESOTA

Group travelers visiting Red Wing, Minnesota, can stay in town and play or take in the changing of the leaves along the Great River Road National Scenic Byway to Winona. The best time to view the fall colors is from the end of September to the second or third week of October. The Great River Road follows the Mississippi River from Minnesota all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico, passing through 10 states and hundreds of towns.

Red Wing visitors can hike Barn Bluff to take in the unparalleled views of the Mississippi River Valley in all its fall glory or drive up to Memorial Park, which sits on top of a bluff and offers expansive views of downtown Red Wing and the river valley to the north. Another way to enjoy the fall colors is to bike the Cannon Valley Trail from Red Wing to Cannon Falls. Red Wing hosts its Annual Fall Art Festival during the second week of October every year.

Hiking, biking, fishing or picnicking along the banks of the Mississippi offer additional ways to enjoy the red, orange and gold leaves of fall.

REDWING.ORG

BRANSON, MISSOURI

The entertainment capital of the Midwest is also a great place for leaf peeping. Just a few miles from the Branson, Missouri, entertainment district, Highway 165 is a 22-mile loop road that offers majestic views from the top of ridges, including of Table Rock Lake and Dam. The drive itself is a wonderful way to see the fall colors. The Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area offers nature trails, hiking and bird watching as well as a lookout tower. Groups don’t have to get out and hike to enjoy the bounty of what nature has to offer in this park as much of it is accessible by car and at a scenic overlook.

Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve is a must-visit when the leaves are changing. Branson Scenic Railway offers a 40-mile roundtrip excursion through the Ozarks’ foothills and tunnels and is a nice way to sit back and relax and take in the autumn colors.

More adventurous groups may want to zipline through Branson’s autumn foliage or ride the Runaway Mountain or Branson Coasters that begin at the top of a pinnacle and allow riders to race to the bottom through a maze of fall foliage.

EXPLOREBRANSON.COM

CUYAHOGA/AKRON, OHIO

Courtesy Upper Peninsula TRA

Fall in Branson’s Silver Dollar City

A Branson zipline tour in autumn Courtesy Branson CVB

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Courtesy Branson CVB

The fall foliage in the greater Akron, Ohio, area and nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park typically peaks in mid-October. The national park has deep forests, rolling hills and open farmlands with the Cuyahoga River running through the middle of it. Visitors can walk or ride along the Towpath Trail to follow the historic route of the Ohio River and Erie Canal. The Towpath originally was used by mules to pull canal boats and currently spans 90 miles across four counties.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad runs through the heart of the national park and is a nice, calm way to see the changing leaves. Groups can get comfortable on one of the railroad’s many historic railcars for a 90-minute leaf-peeping tour within the park and along the Ohio River and Erie Canalway. One stop on the railroad is Hale Farm and Village, a living history museum in the heart of the valley that features the farm’s original brick farm house and 34 historic structures.

In addition, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is a historic estate featuring a 65-room Tudor Revival manor house, a Gothic Revival conservatory, a gate lodge and about 70 acres of landscaped grounds and formal gardens.

VISITAKRON-SUMMIT.ORG

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Pere Marquette Park in Alton

Courtesy Alton Great Rivers & Routes

Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc

Indian Cave State Park in Nebraska

MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN

Manitowoc, Wisconsin, is on the shore of Lake Michigan. Foliage season usually encompasses the first three weeks of October, with the peak beginning around October 10 and lasting about a week.

For visitors who don’t want to get out of their vehicles, the best way to see the fall colors is to drive Highway 42 along the coast of Lake Michigan or Highway 151 as it comes into Manitowoc County.

Lower Cato Falls is a county park about eight miles west of the City of Manitowoc and features wooded hills, rock outcroppings and the Manitowoc River flowing through a narrow gorge, forming waterfalls. Groups can capture panoramic views of the river and falls from various scenic overlooks. Pinecrest Historical Village dates back hundreds of years and features historic homes and an old schoolhouse.

Visitors bask in fall’s brightest colors while learning more about the settlers who made the area their home.

Point Beach State Forest in Two Rivers, just outside Manitowoc, is another great leaf peeping location with white sand beaches, dunes and unspoiled coastline. It sits on 3,000 acres along the shores of Lake Michigan, with great views of the Rawley Point Lighthouse.

While groups are in the area, they should make sure to visit the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

MANITOWOC.INFO

ALTON, ILLINOIS

Courtesy Manitowoc Area VCB

Courtesy Nebraska Tourism

Alton, Illinois, is on the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, a 33-mile scenic stretch of the Great River Road from Hartford to Grafton at Pere Marquette State Park. The road follows the mighty Mississippi, but Alton is where the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois rivers converge. Peak colors have been getting later due to weather changes, but groups will start seeing the leaves change in early October, with the peak coming around the first week of November. Glorious trees line the limestone river bluffs, making a drive along the scenic byway a must for leaf peeping.

Pere Marquette State Park is the largest state park in Illinois with 8,000 acres. The Illinois River snakes through the park and visitors love to hike the scenic bluffs to enjoy panoramic views of the river and its backwaters. In Grafton, visitors can take a ride on the Grafton Sky Tour, open air chairlifts or enclosed gondolas that take guests from the riverfront up 300 feet to Aerie’s Resort, with its winery, restaurant and ziplines.

The Hakuna Matata excursion boat takes groups of 49 people on fall color tours on the Mississippi River out of Grafton Harbor.

RIVERSANDROUTES.COM

BROWNVILLE, NEBRASKA

Brownville, Nebraska, sits across the Missouri River from the state of Missouri and is about two hours north of Kansas City. Indian Cave State Park is about 10 miles south of town and is the best place to get out into nature and see

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Fall in Atchison

Dubuque’s Fenelon Place Elevator

Courtesy Visit Atchison

Courtesy Travel Dubuque

the changing leaves of the hardwood forest, shrubs and other native vegetation. October is the best time to see foliage, and history lovers will enjoy seeing a restored schoolhouse and general store from the old river town of St. Deroin on their visit.

The park sits on 300 acres and, surprisingly enough, doesn’t actually have a cave. Instead, the park features a large rock overhang on the river bluff where Native Americans used to gather. Visitors can still see some petroglyphs carved into the rock face. Groups also can take a scenic cruise on the Missouri River to see the fall colors. Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and Arboretum in Nebraska City is only 30 miles south of Brownville and is where the Morton family first devised Arbor Day. The property includes a mansion, arboretum, walking trails and 200 varieties of lilacs.

BROWNVILLE-NE.COM

DUBUQUE, IOWA

The second week of October is usually peak leaf-peeping season in Dubuque, Iowa.

Groups wanting to catch a glimpse should take a ride on the area’s famous Fenalon Place Elevator, a narrow-gauge funicular railway that takes passengers 189 feet up the side of a bluff for amazing views of the entire city. When the weather is clear, visitors can see all the way to Illinois and Wisconsin.

Another great location to see fall colors is Eagle Point Park, which overlooks the Mississippi River and Lock and Dam No. 11. It costs $5 for a motorcoach group to go up, and there’s a viewing area right above the lock and dam with stunning views of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. Mines of Spain Recreation Area and E.B. Lyons Interpretive and Nature Center are on 1,437 acres of beautiful woods and prairie just south of Dubuque. The area is full of walking and hiking trails and is a popular spot to view the changing leaves. Visitors can see the Horseshoe Bluff Interpretive Trail, the 15-acre wetland, creeks, forest, prairies, cropland, meadows and the Mississippi River from on high.

A cruise on the American Lady Yacht riverboat offers spectacular views of the changing leaves along the River.

TRAVELDUBUQUE.COM

ATCHISON, KANSAS

The best place to spot fall foliage near Atchison, Kansas, is on the Missouri River Bluffs, right across the Mo-Kan bridge heading into Missouri. Due to the changing weather patterns, it has become difficult to predict when the leaves will start changing color, but they usually begin in early to mid-October. Fall is a great time to visit Atchison because of its many fun seasonal festivals. The Muddy River Festival takes place on the Kansas side of the Missouri River. This year, the event is on September 24 and is a day-long event, featuring multiple bands. Oktoberfest takes place in Atchison’s downtown area on October 1, and the city offers its weekend Haunted Atchison Trolley Tours through historic downtown, September 23 to October 29.

International Forest of Friendship is an arboretum and memorial garden established in memory of aviation and space explorers from around the world. Planted alongside Warnock Lake, the trees represent the 50 states and 35 countries these explorers hailed from.

It’s a great spot to see the leaves changing color.

When groups have had their fill of foliage, Atchison has plenty to keep them entertained. Several historic homes offer tours, including the Amelia Earhart Birthplace.

Jason Ring jring@manitowoc.info 920-686-3070 Manitowoc Area Visitor & Convention Bureau www.manitowoc.info

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going places W I T H

A S H L E Y

TAY L O R

ENCOURAGE MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS TO TRAVEL TOGETHER

W

hen mothers and daughters travel together, special things can happen.

Mother-daughter trips can create lasting memories and incredible bonds. And as daughters grow into adults and become busy with their own lives, traveling together can help renew connections that are too often neglected.

As a travel planner, you can play a pivotal role in helping mothers and their adult daughters forge new connections on your trips. The key is for them to take small steps to make those experiences possible and pain-free When you, as a travel planner, receive the call that a traveler would like to take one of your trips with her daughter, you know there’s a chance it won’t work out well.

Many times, when mothers and daughters travel together, they don’t see eye to eye and don’t enjoy the trip as they should.

That’s where you come in. With a little bit of coaching, you can help ensure their trip will make memories that lasts forever and create a deeper bond. Here are some tips travel planners can share with mother-daughter duos to help facilitate that.

TIP #1: TALK IT THROUGH

In the weeks before your tour departs, call your daughter and talk about the trip. The two of you must take the time to discuss your expectations. If this isn’t your first time traveling with your group travel planner, take the time to tell your daughter about the routines and what it’s like traveling in a group. Group travel can be very different for someone who has not traveled this way, but if you explain it ahead of time, she will enjoy it to the fullest and appreciate the benefits of group travel.

Discuss the itinerary together, making notes of the scheduled free time, and look up things to do. Remember, your daughter might want to do something different than you, so prepare to be flexible. Remember to keep your daughter updated with any information about the trip. Make sure she feels included in the process. It also allows the two of you time to adjust your plans

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and expectations together.

You’re investing a lot in this trip with your daughter, so you should prioritize her experience as you go. You might have to set your interests aside for this one, depending on how much the two of you agree on how to spend your time on the road.

TIP #2: DEPART EARLY

It’s the morning of departure — time to get to your meeting point. Whether you’re rendezvousing with a bus or meeting your group at the airport, get there with plenty of time to spare. If your daughter isn’t an experienced traveler, she may not understand how important it is to allow plenty of time at the point of departure. Adult daughters often live fast-paced lives and can be accustomed to arriving just on time. Discuss the importance of being early for your trip. Let her know that check-in is necessary and that in the world of group travel arriving on time is considered late. Coming ahead of schedule will allow the two of you to begin the trip unrushed and with a soft start. The beginning of your trip often sets the tone for what’s to come.

TIP #3: STAY POSITIVE

Please keep in mind that unexpected things often happen on the road, so you shouldn’t allow them to get you in a negative mood. You might have to reset your attitude when problems arise. Staying positive will help you have a great experience with your daughter. Keep the negativity at home; she doesn’t want her time off work to be difficult. She needs to refresh on this trip and have a great time with her mother. Adult children often have few vacation days and want to make the most of their travels.

The best way to have a great trip together is to be flexible and roll with the circumstances.

TIP #4: SAVOR THE EXPERIENCE

Enjoy the special time away with your daughter — it has the possibility to change your relationship for the better. Everyone needs an escape from time to time, especially young women like your daugh-

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Ashley Taylor, pictured at right with her mother, facilitates successful mother-daughter experiences on her trips by helping them prepare and discuss their travel expectations in advance.

ter during busy times in life. Do your best to accommodate her interests and preferences. You took the step of inviting your daughter on this trip, recognizing it would be an experience you both would enjoy.

This trip could be exactly what she needs. Each night before bed, review your day and talk about the highlights. Recalling each day together helps you remember those moments for years to come.

Most importantly, allow each other to have fun. Mentally prepare before the trip and, if required, focus on peace and positivity each day.

Throughout your trip, put your phone away and take mental snapshots of your surroundings with your daughter These tips will help you as a planner prepare your mother-daughter travelers for travel experiences they will treasure for the rest of their lives.

PUT MEANING

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

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

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.

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