Select Traveler November December 2021

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

select T R A V E L E R

ONSITE IN ALABAMA | OHIO BLOCKBUSTERS | HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS

CHEYENNE, WYOMING

CHEYENNE

calls travel planners

WEST

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

Kentucky horse experiences are far more than views from a racetrack railing.

Give your group the “meet and greet” they will talk about for years.

DISCOVER THE SCENIC DIFFERENCE TOGETHER Our fleet of river cruise and ocean ships are the perfect choice for small groups, from as few as 10 guests, up to 228 guests. Travelers are increasingly looking for small ship experiences for an intimate holiday that is fully customizable to their group’s needs.

From the wonders of Europe’s iconic rivers, to the pristine oceans in the Polar regions, the Americas, the Mediterranean Islands and beyond, our carefully crafted itineraries create the perfect selection of cruises for your group to choose from, whether you’re a family celebrating a special occasion, colleagues enjoying a corporate event, or a group leader traveling with friends and group members.

All groups earn Tour Conductor credits and receive exclusive group bonus benefits To learn more, contact our Groups Team at 888.996.3246 or visit scenicusa.com

THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS

select T R A V E L E R

VOL.29 NO.5

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

Courtesy Visit Cheyenne

contents planners:

TALK BACK

7

4

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

checking in:

ON THE COVER: Ancient rock formations rise 500 feet at Vedauwoo Recreation Area near Cheyenne. Photo courtesy Visit Cheyenne

toolbox: conference going places:

DENISE REVISITING JONES VALUE

PREVIEW

SOLO EXPERIENCES

8 10 12 32 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

16 Alabama 24 Ohio ONSITE IN

FAVORITES

28 holidays

KNOWN FOR:

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.

{

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

}

perspective P U B L I S H E R ’ S

G

rab your group and go.

Group travel has withstood the effects of a two-year interruption as

well as any segment of the industry. Europe has reopened to vaccinated travelers, and the United States recently reopened its borders to vaccinated travelers from abroad as well.

Anticipating those developments, we undertook a national research project with our

partners at Bandwagon, a major tourism research and public relations firm, to try and set the benchmarks for group travel as it returned. I’d like to share a few findings with the readers of Select Traveler magazine.

• Despite the effects of COVID-19, the average respondent will plan 20 trips this year.

• The largest age demographic in group travel remains those 60 and above, but 32% of all group travelers have not yet turned 60. The future is as bright as ever.

• Although the motorcoach remains the key means of travel generally, 31% of all planners’ trips in 2021 included flights. This speaks to the global reach of group travel.

• Lead time for marketing a trip has decreased in 2021 to about 200 days.

Technology and social media will continue to shorten the time required to fill a trip.

• The most popular marketing method for planners remains word-of-mouth.

For groups especially, the ability to sell a trip through relationships has never been greater.

Share the good news with your travelers, and we’ll see you in March at the Select Traveler Conference.

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

Mac Lacy 6

selecttraveler.com

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

P L A N N E R S

T A L K

B A C K

what is a memorable gift you have given your travelers?

CINDY CULLINS BROWN

DESTINATION CLUB RELYANCE BANK PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS On one economy coach tour at Christmas, we gave everyone a gift basket with snacks, bottles of water and a few trinkets. They all were surprised and loved it. On our Pacific Northwest tour in October, we gave everyone a lightweight water-resistant jacket.

DAWN CARVER

D AND D FABULOUS TOURS YORKVILLE, ILLINOIS On a trip to Canada, we got everyone personalized jackets. They came in and had their jacket fitted, and their name was embroidered on it. I also gave nice rain ponchos when we went to Niagara Falls.

LYNDA STENSENG

FIRST NATIONAL BANK BEMIDJI BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA We have given people shirts, personalized snack bags, journals and travel essential kits. Free coffee and doughnut gift cards are popular too.

DENISE JONES

SC TRAVEL ONLINE COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA On cruises, I gave them on-board credits. I tried to do lots of little things that made their trip more enjoyable.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

7

checking in W I T H

D E N I S E

J O N E S

DENISE JONES

SC TRAVEL ONLINE COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA SC Travel Online started with some of Denise Jones’ church members and has grown over 17 years to family members, friends, their friends and people she met on the road. The customer base consists of 400-500 people.

Education: B.S. in business finance from the University of South Carolina Employment: About 25 years of banking and accounting with private and government organizations, followed by 17 years in travel Hobbies: Gardening, spending time at her beach house, doing rehab projects and walking Family: Married to husband David for 48 years; a son and a daughter; five grandchildren (ages 5 to 16)

SC Travel Online trip highlights, clockwise from top left: A Hawaiian luau; rafting in the Canadian Rockies; spring in the Netherlands

BY ASHLEY TAYLOR

I

t’s no wonder people enjoy traveling with Denies Jones.

A longtime travel planner, Jones greets everyone she meets with her lovely Southern charm. Her enthusiasm for travel is contagious, and she talks about past trips with the kind of passion that would serve any travel planner well.

Jones began her career in the banking industry, where she worked as a finance director. She retired after about 25 years. However, like many retirees, she enjoyed travel and stayed busy.

About the time of retirement, Denise’s daughter was working for US Airways, which gave the two access to the carrier’s entire route network. They traveled together to Europe and several other destinations.

“Our first trip to Europe was London because it was an Englishspeaking country,” Jones said. “We began to travel to other countries,

8

selecttraveler.com

and we were always able to find someone who knew English. As you travel, you become more and more confident.”

That confidence would soon come in handy.

A C HA NC E E NC OUNT E R

After a short time in retirement, Jones had a chance encounter with a friend who had become a travel agent. The friend told her all about the perks of the job and encouraged her to think about getting involved in the travel business too.

“It intrigued me,” Jones said. She knew she had a love of travel and a lot of experience, so she planned a few trips for some friends. Word of her travel-planning prowess soon spread.

“Someone at Sunday school approached me,” she said. “They asked me to get a group trip together for the Sunday school class. So, I did

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

it! The trip was successful, and after the trip, everyone asked me ‘what’s next?’ So, that’s where it began. I started planning trips for the group.”

Now 17 years later, this venture has blossomed into a travel business called SC Travel Online. Jones has taken her groups on trips around the world, including throughout Europe and to many parts of Asia.

“I love to see people travel, and I like to travel,” she said. “I love to see my travel babies — people who started traveling with me and now are confident to travel on their own.”

LOOKIN G AH E A D

Today, SC Travel Online reaches people in many states, including places as far as Alabama, Texas and Pennsylvania. Jones communicates through email and hosts two travel meetings a year at her church. She plans to take a group to Eastern Europe this September with Mayflower Cruises and Tours, followed by a trip to Iceland in November. She is looking forward to traveling with her group again and is incredibly excited to show them the northern lights in Iceland.

When she’s not traveling, Jones can often be found spending time with her family. She and her husband of 48 years have two grown children and five grandchildren. Her daughter owns an event venue that offers event planning and is available for rental, and Jones spends her free time helping her daughter there.

Jones and her husband are quickly approaching their 50th anniversary and are planning a trip to Dubai and South Africa in December 2022 to celebrate.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

D E S T I N AT I O N

faves

1. Easter Island — “We were on Princess Repositioning Cruise from Tahiti to Fort Lauderdale. One of our stops was Easter Island, where were able to see the Mo‘ai [monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island in eastern Polynesia between the years 1250 and 1500]. Only about 100,000 people visit Easter Island a year, so it was a real treat.”

2. Amsterdam — “I just love to visit the city, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, tour the canals, ride a bike and especially visit Keukenhof Gardens in the spring. Love it every time I go.”

3. Italy — “I love to travel to Italy!”

selecttraveler.com

9

T R A V E L

T O O L B O X

sell the values intrinsic to group travel

BY BRIA N JE W E LL

I

t’s time to reintroduce the world to the value of group travel.

The entire travel industry took a beating during the COVID-19 pandemic. But for group travel, the squeeze was especially tight. Many people were nervous to join a trip with people outside their households, and many destinations and attractions were leery of welcoming any more than six or 10 people at a time.

For vaccinated people, though, traveling in groups isn’t risky. But that doesn’t mean that the public at large has a new understanding of how safe tours are or how valuable they can be.

For them to relearn those things, we’ll have to teach them. That means communicating the unique value proposition of group travel in ways that will resonate with travelers in 2022 and beyond.

Here are five key value propositions in group tourism, as well as some insights about how you should communicate them to your current and future customers.

10

selecttraveler.com

EXPERTISE By definition, visiting a new place requires venturing into unfamiliar territory. And unfamiliarity makes people feel vulnerable and insecure. That’s why travelers so often look for experts to guide them through the places they want to go.

As a group travel planner, you’re in a position to offer the expertise your customers crave. Let them know you have visited the places you’re about to take them, or tell them about how many years your tour operator partners have been working in a certain destination. Assure them that you’re meticulously planning the best possible experience for them.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

RELIABILITY Many would-be travelers are held back by the fear of a nightmare scenario: being stranded in an unfamiliar place without any clear direction for how to get back home. As a group travel planner, you can offer customers confidence that you and your team will be immediately available to help them if something goes awry before or during their travels. Tell travelers how long you have been involved in tourism, and give them examples of how you have helped others navigate safely through unexpected challenges.

SAFETY Group travel is a remarkably safe endeavor. In a normal year, millions of Americans travel in groups, with remarkably few accidents, crimes or safety incidents. Your travelers should be confident that they’re safer traveling with you than traveling alone. You’ve inspected the safety records of the companies you contract for transportation.

You’ll take them to places where they can wander and explore without being harassed. The restaurants you take them to will provide delicious food prepared with health and safety in mind. They don’t have to worry about getting home in one piece.

EXCLUSIVITY Groups today get to do a lot of things regular travelers don’t. Any individual or family can buy tickets to a Broadway show, for instance; but only groups can arrange to have a meet-and-greet or a song-and-dance workshop with cast members. As a group travel planner, you should make sure there are exclusive benefits built into every trip you package.

The special nature of the experiences you offer customers should be front and center in all your messaging and marketing materials. Emphasize that all your travelers are treated like VIPs and that they’ll come home with bragging rights.

COMMUNITY Hitting the road with old friends — and making new ones — has always been one of the most appealing aspects of group trips. After prolonged isolation, it’s now especially relevant. Tours can provide excellent opportunities for friends or like-minded organization members to deepen their relationships. Your marketing materials, newsletters and social media posts should emphasize that your travelers have fun together. Use images that show people together having a blast — not just couples on a beach but also diverse groups of girlfriends or intergenerational groups enjoying the places you visit.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

11

C O N F E R E N C E

connection

WIDE OPEN SPACES

WELCOME YOU TO CHEYENNE

All photos courtesy Visit Cheyenne

BY DAN DICKSON

T

here’s a city in the western U.S. that embraces its frontier past while living very much in the present.

Cheyenne, Wyoming, is a delightful and surprising place to visit. With a population of 65,000, Cheyenne is in the southeast corner of the state, just 90 miles north of Denver and its massive airport.

“We’re on a lot of people’s bucket lists,” said Jim Walter, vice president of sales and marketing for Visit Cheyenne. “We’re a capital city, and some people like to check off visits to state capitals around the country. We have an absolutely beautiful, restored state capitol building, as well as amazing state, railroad and niche museums, such as one that tells the 125-year history of our Frontier Days celebration.”

Group travel planners who attend the next Select Traveler Conference will gather in Cheyenne March 28-30, 2022. The conference will be at the historic Little America Hotel and Resort, the largest convention hotel in Wyoming.

There are loads of other hotels and motels — 2,375 rooms — in the area, plus Airbnbs, inns and bed-and-breakfasts from which to choose with prices in all ranges.

12

selecttraveler.com

The Select Traveler planners lead travel groups for banks, chambers of commerce, and college and other alumni groups.

Walter is happy they’re coming.

“We’ve always succeeded with the leisure travel market when it comes to visiting Cheyenne,” he said.

HISTORY EVERYWHERE

Cheyenne’s compact downtown is easy to navigate by coach or on foot. Another way is to hop on the easy-to-spot green and red Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley for a tour with lively, knowledgeable guides. There are many public spaces, restored historic buildings and murals to see on tours that emphasize history. Other trolley tours have ghost or Christmas themes and can be booked for any group.

Cheyenne is not a large city, but it is certainly a city of museums. The Cheyenne Depot Museum is inside the gorgeous, restored train depot. The Nelson Museum of the West, the Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne Frontier Day’s Old West Museum and the charming Cowgirls of the West Museum are

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

Cheyenne highlights, left to right: Sunrise at Vedauwoo Recreation Area; Black Tooth Brewing Company; Cheyenne Frontier Days

all good choices. The historic Governors Museum is also an interesting place to wander.

Tourists love to stop and have a picture snapped with one of 25 colorful, artist-decorated, eight-foot-tall cowboy boots located all around town. Groups sometimes stage scavenger hunts. The boots commemorate Wyoming history. One pair depicts the railroads extending their tracks from Cheyenne up and across the Rocky Mountains. Another honors Wyoming becoming the first state to give women the right to vote.

RODEOS AND BISON

Cheyenne Frontier Days, the largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration in the United States, is held every year in late July. But a group coming to Cheyenne at other times of the year can arrange to enjoy a custom mini rodeo of their own.

The DeLancey Family, who are residents, can put together a custom two-hour performance of cowboys and cowgirls doing team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, pole bending and goat tying. Don’t know what all that is? Audience members will

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

13

C O N F E R E N C E

connection “WE HAVE AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, RESTORED STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, AS WELL AS

Cheyenne Depot Museum

AMAZING STATE, RAILROAD AND NICHE MUSEUMS, SUCH AS ONE THAT TELLS THE 125-YEAR HISTORY OF OUR FRONTIER DAYS CELEBRATION.” — JIM WALTER, VISIT CHEYENNE

catch on fast and enjoy the excitement. A special cowboy dinner for the group can also be arranged to coincide with the rodeo.

At one time in the American West, millions of bison and buffalo roamed the plains. Cheyenne re-creates some of those experiences at the 27,000-acre Terry Bison Ranch. People hop on a custom-built train while a guide describes life on the plains in the 1800s. The train glides into a herd of bison, and riders see them up close, take selfies with them and touch and feed the beasts. There are many other types of ranch experiences for groups, among them dinner in the Senator’s Steakhouse and a meal served aboard a train out on the plains.

EVEN MORE TO DO

There are dozens of options to keep visitors entertained if they want to get outside around Cheyenne. The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens is a lovely place to stroll, with nine acres and three greenhouses, one with a koi pond.

A beautiful state park between Cheyenne and Laramie is named for the late Curt Gowdy, a Wyoming native sportscaster. It has seven distinct sections of landscapes. There are three reservoirs, which means excellent fishing opportunities. Boating, hiking and horseback riding are also popular.

The railroad was a key factor in the founding of Cheyenne.

The Union Pacific Railroad track layers chose this area to begin their ascent over the Rocky Mountains, and the city sprang up overnight on the plains. So it’s natural that there are fascinating train relics to see. One is Big Boy 414, the largest steam locomotive in the world. It stands 16 feet tall and 132 feet long and has an engine that weights 1.2 million pounds and can fit three 40-foot school buses inside of it. It is quite a sight. Another cool locomotive is Engine 1242, known as Ol’ Sadie. It is Wyoming’s oldest steam engine.

Downtown Cheyenne is a wonderful place to walk, eat and shop. The restaurant district is fun and growing, and the area has four breweries and two distilleries. Many folks love to shop for Western boots, clothes, home furnishings and art in several interesting shops downtown.

The CVB’s Walter believes that Cheyenne is an easy sell to groups if their planners try it out first. “They will get to see some of the things that they can then turn around and sell to the people they represent,” said Walter. “We always enjoy having travel planners experience us firsthand.”

14

selecttraveler.com

Locally smoked brisket

Historic train engine Cheyenne Big Boots

Terry Bison Ranch

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens

A historic trolley tour

Enjoying a local bar

By Kate McElwee

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

15

ALABAMA

FAM

FAM participants visited the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, where some of the greatest hits of the 20th century were recorded.

“Wow, what a great experience! I had heard of things Birmingham has to offer, and this experience enhances my knowledge even more.”

— JOANN WASHINGTON JW TRAVEL AGENCY

16

selecttraveler.com

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

A luthier at Lowe Mill in Huntsville

ONSITE IN ALABAMA

Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church

Little River Canyon National Park

“SWEET HOME ALABAMA” IS MORE THAN JUST A SONG.

That’s what nine tour operators and travel planner readers of The Group Travel Leader discovered during a five-day familiarization tour of the state hosted by the Alabama Tourism Department. This tour introduced them to people and places that changed the world, from civil rights heroes in Birmingham to recording artists in Muscle Shoals and rocket scientists in Huntsville. Along the way, they discovered the state’s natural beauty, art and notable historic places.

Follow along on this itinerary to begin planning an Alabama exploration for your travelers.

ALL PHOTOS BY BRIAN JEWELL

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

17

“I loved the campfire with Kelly roasting marshmallows, and the sing-along, dinner and the waterfalls.”

— DEBORA ERVIN C&C UNLIMITED TRAVEL

The UAB football field at Protective Stadium

Snacks in a Protective Stadium suite

• • • •

Da y 1 ARRIVAL IN BIRMINGHAM PROTECTIVE STADIUM TOUR BIRMINGHAM DRIVING TOUR TOUR AND DINNER AT VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUM

Travel planners began their trip by arriving in Birmingham by air, car and train. After gathering at the Hilton Birmingham at UAB, the group ventured out to explore the city. Their first stop was at the brand-new Protective Stadium, home of the University of Alabama Blazers football team, for a reception and tour. Next, an “experience giver,” Alabama’s term for a step-on guide, led the group on a driving tour to see some of the city’s highlights. The tour ended at Vulcan Park and Museum, where travel planners enjoyed amazing sunset views of the city, as well as a museum tour and a delicious dinner catered by a local chef.

PROTECTIVE STADIUM The University of Alabama at Birmingham played its first home game at the new $175 million Protective Stadium in October. The FAM group got a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium, including a look inside locker rooms and a walk on the field, just weeks before opening day. The stadium will also play host to the opening and closing ceremonies of the World Games, which are coming to Birmingham in 2022.

Vulcan at night

Touring Protective Stadium

18

selecttraveler.com

Bread pudding in Birmingham

VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUM In 1904, the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce created a 56-foot-tall cast-iron statue of Vulcan to highlight the area’s heritage in the iron and steel industry. Today, that statue stands on a 125-foot pedestal in a hilltop park overlooking the city. The group visited the park at sunset for beautiful views of the monument and the city below, and enjoyed a museum tour showcasing the city’s history. They also had a delicious catered dinner at the museum.

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

Da y 2

• BREAKFAST AND TOUR AT 16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH • BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE • KELLY INGRAM PARK • ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME • LUNCH AT PIZITZ FOOD HALL • DEPART FOR MUSCLE SHOALS • MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIO • DINNER AT RICATONI’S Birmingham’s Historic 16th Street Baptist Church

The second day of the trip started with a treat: a catered breakfast at 16th Street Baptist Church, one of Birmingham’s most important civil rights landmarks. Next, a Black historian led the group on a tour of the church, as well as tours of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Kelly Ingram Park, which was the site of highly publicized demonstrations during the civil rights movement. Next, the group got a quick preopening tour of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and enjoyed lunch at Pizitz Food Hall, a market in a historic retail building. From there, the group left Birmingham and headed to Muscle Shoals, where they toured the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and then proceeded to their accommodations at the luxurious Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa.

Breakfast at 16th Street Baptist Church

16TH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH In 1963, the bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church killed four Black girls and became a flashpoint in the civil rights movement. Today, the church is still home to an active congregation, as well as a museum detailing the attack and the events it set in motion. The tour group enjoyed an exclusive catered breakfast in the church basement, followed by a tour of the historic sanctuary that highlighted its art and architecture in addition to its civil rights history.

Birmingham Civil Rights Museum

BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE So many important events in the civil rights movement took place in Birmingham that the city constructed the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute right across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church.

With interactive displays and historic artifacts, the museum helps visitors understand the injustices of segregation and the heroic efforts of those who worked to end it. Highlights include a Freedom Rides bus and the jail cell from which Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”

Exploring Birmingham’s civil rights district

A historic presentation at 16th Street Baptist Church

Martin Luther King’s jail cell on display at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute A segregation exhibit in Birmingham

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

19

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

Stories of segregation

Kelly Ingram Park

KELLY INGRAM PARK During the civil rights movement, powerful protests took place in Kelly Ingram Park, across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church.

Today, the park is home to a number of sculptures that depict the brutality of opposition to the civil rights movement and the overcoming spirit of those who persisted in the cause. The group toured the park, and they had a chance encounter with Sarah Collins Rudolph, a survivor of the 1963 church bombing.

ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME Built in 1935, the Carver Theater was at the center of Black entertainment in Birmingham for much of the 20th century. Fresh off a renovation, the 471-seat theater continues to offer performances. Beginning this spring, it will also be home to the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, which will showcase Alabama musicians who made important contributions to the evolution of jazz. The group got a behind-the-scenes tour of the theater and a sneak peek at some of the museum exhibit areas.

MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIO In 1969, a quartet of talented session musicians known as the Swampers left their positions at a nearby studio and started the Muscle Shoals Sounds Studio in an unassuming roadside building in Sheffield.

High-profile artists from around the world, including Cher, The Rolling Stones and Lynard Skynard, recorded more than 75 gold albums there over nine years. Today, visitors can tour the studio, which is set up almost exactly as it was during the Swampers’ heyday.

Da y 3

Memorabilia at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

Meeting a bombing survivor at 16th Street Baptist Church

A performance area at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

20

selecttraveler.com

• • • • • • • •

FAME STUDIOS ALABAMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME LUNCH AT ODETTE DEPART FOR HUNTSVILLE U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN LOWE MILL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DINNER AT RHYTHM ON MONROE

The third day brought more music history, first at FAME Studios and then at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The group enjoyed lunch at the charming Odette in downtown Florence before departing for Huntsville. Upon arrival there, they toured the iconic U.S. Space and Rocket Center, then proceeded to visit the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment complex. To end the day, Huntsville treated the group to a spectacular sunset reception on the rooftop at downtown restaurant Rhythm on Monroe,

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

followed by dinner in the main dining room. Guests overnighted at the Drury Inn and Suites.

FAME Studios

FAME STUDIOS The original Muscle Shoals recording studio, first called Florence Alabama Music Enterprise, is now better known as FAME Studios.

Opened in 1962, this studio put Muscle Shoals on the map and was the site of seminal recordings by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, the Allman Brothers Band and many more. Today, groups can tour the working studios to see how music is recorded there and hear the stories of legends who created hits in those rooms.

ALABAMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME The Alabama Music Hall of Fame pays homage not just to the Muscle Shoals sound but also to the wide range of artists, songwriters and producers who have ties to the state. Among the many inductees are Hank Williams, Nat King Cole and Lionel Richie. The museum has instruments, stage costumes and other artifacts from dozens of Alabama music legends. Visitors can walk through a tour bus used by the country band Alabama or record their own versions of popular songs in the on-site studio.

U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER Much of the rocket science that led to the success of America’s space program was done by Werner Von Braun and a team of engineers in Huntsville. Today, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center helps visitors understand the scale of this program and the objects they created. The centerpiece of the museum is a Saturn V rocket that was used for testing the systems that would send astronauts to the moon. Groups can participate in interactive elements of the center’s popular Space Camp program.

HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN Not far from the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville Botanical Garden is a 112-acre jewel. Displays throughout the garden change with the seasons, and there are a variety of special exhibits and events throughout the year. A conservatory also serves as a butterfly garden during warm-weather months. The FAM group learned about the garden’s Galaxy of Lights, a holiday program rated among the top group travel events in North America, and enjoyed some free time to explore the garden.

Recording a song at the hall of fame

Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Art on display at Huntsville’s Lowe Mill

U.S. Space and Rocket Center

LOWE MILL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT A cotton and textile mill built in 1900 now serves as Huntsville’s hub for all things artistic. Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment is home to more than 200 artist studios and galleries. Visitors can browse the galleries, meet the artists, watch them work and buy pieces from them directly. In addition to the studios, there are a number of restaurants on-site, as well as a specialty tea shop, a brewery, a distillery, a chocolatier and other food vendors.

Huntsville Botanical Garden

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

21

Harrison Brothers Hardware

Rooftop dining at Rhythm on Monroe in Huntsville

• HISTORIC HUNTSVILLE DRIVING TOUR • HUNTSVILLE MUSEUM OF ART • TOUR AND LUNCH AT BURRITT

ON THE MOUNTAIN • DEPART FOR DEKALB COUNTY • LITTLE RIVER CANYON

NATIONAL PRESERVE • DINNER AND CAMPFIRE

AT DESOTO STATE PARK

A historic cash register at Harrison Brothers Hardware

Browsing Harrison Brothers Hardware

Huntsville Museum of Art’s glass exhibit

Burritt on the Mountain

Touring the Huntsville Museum of Art

22

Da y 4

selecttraveler.com

The fourth morning of the FAM began with a driving tour that included the gorgeous homes of Huntsville’s Twickenham Historic District and ended with a shopping and refreshment stop at Harrison Brothers Hardware, a general store and gift shop. Next, the group explored the galleries at the Huntsville Museum of Art before ascending to Burritt on the Mountain, a house museum and historic village on a peak just outside town. From there, the group departed Huntsville for DeKalb County and Lookout Mountain, where the visitors were amazed by the waterfalls and scenery of Little River Canyon National Preserve. Next, they checked into the lodge at DeSoto State Park, where they enjoyed a delicious Southern dinner, followed by a campfire experience with s’mores and live music by a local performer.

HISTORIC HUNTSVILLE DRIVING TOUR Huntsville has a rich and varied history, and the FAM group spent some time getting to know more about it on a driving tour with an entertaining Huntsville experience giver. Along the way, they saw the site where Alabama’s constitution was signed, the historic depot where Civil War soldiers were held as prisoners of war and dozens of beautiful homes, some dating to the 1820s, in the Twickenham Historic District. The tour ended with a visit to Harrison Brothers Hardware, an 1879 store on the downtown square that is now a charming gift shop.

HUNTSVILLE MUSEUM OF ART For more than 52 years, the Huntsville Museum of Art has been the city’s repository for fine artworks. The museum has more than

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

3,000 works in its collection and showcases them in its 75,000 square feet of gallery space. Many of the museum’s exhibits are themed and change throughout the year. Whenever they visit, though, groups can explore a gallery of recently purchased artworks and admire pieces of innovative American studio glass.

BURRITT ON THE MOUNTAIN In 1938, an eccentric doctor named William Burritt built a selfdesigned mansion on 167 acres atop Round Top Mountain overlooking Huntsville. Today the home is open as a museum that showcases Burritt’s unique design sensibilities and the stories of his life there.

Today, 12 acres surrounding the home serve as a historic park, which includes a village of cabins and other structures from the early 1800s.

The FAM group explored the village and enjoyed a basket lunch in the replica 1800s Rosenwald School House.

LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONAL PRESERVE After driving into remote DeKalb county, the group spent an afternoon exploring the natural beauty of the Little River Canyon National Preserve. At more than 15,000 acres, the preserve protects a river canyon atop Lookout Mountain. Among the highlights is DeSoto Falls, a 45-foot waterfall nestled inside a canyon that is 550 feet deep in some places. A tour of the preserve included plenty of opportunities to stroll through the forest and admire the other waterfalls and rock formations.

Da y 5

Enjoying the view over Little River Canyon

Desoto State Park

A re-created schoolhouse at Burritt on the Mountain

A campfire experience at DeSoto State Park

A campfire serenade

• DESOTO STATE PARK • DEPART FOR HOME

On the final day of the tour, the group enjoyed another delicious meal at the DeSoto State Park Lodge, then explored the park and points of interest in nearby communities. Then, they began the drive back to Birmingham to begin their trips home, with memories of Sweet Home Alabama fresh in their minds.

Little River Canyon National Preserve

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

WITH THE GROUP TRAVEL LEADER

ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT

ROSEMARY JUDKINS 334-242-4493 ROSEMARY.JUDKINS@TOURISM.ALABAMA.GOV

ALABAMA.TRAVEL

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

23

S T A T E

o f

M I N D

five buckeye favorites

OHIO OFFERS A VARIETY OF GREAT DESTINATIONS

BY ELIZABETH HEY

O

hio’s diversity stretches from one end of the state to another. Soaring cliffs, waterfalls and sandy beaches mix with world-class museums and entertainment. From the shores of Lake Erie to spectacular state parks and big-city vibes, the Buckeye State is sure to roll out a genuine Midwestern welcome.

Here are five destinations to consider next time you plan a group trip to Ohio.

COLUMBUS

Columbus boasts history, art and outdoor attractions.

Near downtown, quaint German Village looks much as it did 100 years ago. Brick cottages sit on limestone foundations graced by window boxes and slate roofs. At the Meeting House, a short video recounts the village’s history before groups take a guided neighborhood tour. The Book Loft, the nation’s largest independent bookstore, sells thousands of tomes displayed in 32 themed rooms.

Culture abounds in Ohio’s largest city. The Ohio Theatre is home to the Columbus Symphony, BalletMet and Broadway shows. Theater tours feature the legendary Mighty Morgan, one of the world’s few theater pipe organs still in its original home.

With no two shops alike, the Short North Arts District boasts some of the city’s best art galleries and coffee bars.

The Pizzuti Collection of the Columbus Museum of Art, a gift to the city from one of the world’s top 100 collectors, is housed in the architecturally rich Travelers insurance company building. The collection rotates exhibitions and hosts artist talks and special events.

“Quinci Emporium in the Short North Arts district is owned by an Italian culinary diva, and it’s part cook store and part event venue,” said spokesperson Amy Weirick.

“Wine tastings, cooking demos and all sorts of classes will make you feel like you’ve made a trip to Italy.”

24

selecttraveler.com

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

CLEVELAN D

LAK E ER I E S HO R ES & I S LANDS

AK R O N

CANTO N

DAY T ON CO LUM B US

South of the city, Hocking Hills State Park comprises 10,000 acres of unbroken forest punctuated by soaring rock faces, craggy caves and rushing waterfalls. Besides the picturesque hiking trails, groups can zip line, take an ecology or geology tour and rappel. Wide-ranging group-friendly activities, including horseback riding, astronomy experiences at John Glenn Astronomy Park and nighttime moth safaris at Butterfly Ridge, are available. experiencecolumbus.com

CLEVELAND

As Ohio’s second-largest city, Cleveland boasts world-class art, culture, sports and rock ’n’ roll. Next February, the city hosts the NBA All-Star Game, which will commemorate the NBA’s 75th anniversary. Another highlight, Front International 2022 will feature local, Midwest and international artists during a triennial contemporary art event, held July 16 through October 2. The festival incorporates street art, museum displays and interactive exhibits in unexpected places and can serve as an informal art scavenger hunt.

The 21-foot-tall “Judy’s Hand” sculpture stands in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland.

A Columbus mural Courtesy ThisIsCleveland.com Courtesy Experience Columbus

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

25

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum offers the immersive “Power of Rock Experience,” which features original footage from induction ceremonies that have been held every year since 1985.

“It’s like a concert experience, and you feel the sound,” said Nick Urig, senior manager of public relations for Destination Cleveland. “In the last few years, they’ve added ‘The Garage,’ with playable instruments like Fender guitars and drum sets, and video screens that offer lessons with an instructor so that people can actually play after they’ve looked at all the artist memorabilia.”

On the lakefront, groups can hop aboard the Nautica Queen or the Goodtime III and view downtown’s waterfront skyline on a lunch or dinner cruise with the option of live music. Edgewater Beach, located several miles from downtown, has a beach house and a bar and grill. At The Foundry, large indoor tanks allow groups to learn or try out their rowing skills. More experienced rowers can head to the Cuyahoga River on a customizable trip. According to Urig, it’s a fun group activity and the perfect place to try out the sport of rowing in a controlled environment. thisiscleveland.com

Columbus’ Quinci Emporium Courtesy Experience Columbus

A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit in Cleveland

Courtesy ThisIsCleveland.com

A Wright Brothers landmark in Dayton

Canton’s Gervasi Vineyards

AKRON & CANTON

Akron brims with culturally rich attractions. The Stan Hywet Mansion, home to one of Goodyear’s co-founders, is an architectural beauty filled with treasures from around the globe.

The nationally recognized Akron Art Museum has a 5,000-object collection that consists primarily of modern art. Across the street, Summit Artspace hosts artists-in-residence and gallery space. On more than 800 acres, the Blossom Music Center is the area’s premier destination for outdoor concerts.

Akron is surrounded by lush Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and groups can hop aboard the

26

selecttraveler.com

Courtesy Tourism Ohio

Courtesy Visit Canton

Sunset on Lake Erie

popular Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for breakfast, dinner or wine tastings on the only passenger train that travels through the heart of a national park. The Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail bisects Akron’s downtown.

Seasonal concerts and ice skating take place at several of the locks.

Museums in nearby Canton include the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where visitors can watch Super Bowl replays and see the Hunt/Casterline Pro Football Hall of Fame Card Collection.

The Maps Air Museum features 47 types of aircraft, such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon. And the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum preserves the history of his presidency.

“Beside the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium offers behindthe-scenes tours when an event is booked at the museum or the stadium,” said Tonja Marshall, vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Canton. “The stadium’s nontraditional event spaces include the locker room or their sky terrace, which is actually the press box rooftop.”

Within city limits, the Tuscaninspired Gervasi Vineyard produces 100,000 bottles annually.

Three restaurants offer private group dining, including The Bistro, which is housed in an 1820s barn. The Marketplace sells local art, top-of-the-line jewelry and gifts. Groups can add on an indepth pairing tour, a cooking class or a tour of the on-site distillery. visitakron-summit.org visitcanton.com

LAKE ERIE SHORES AND ISLANDS

Courtesy Lake Erie Shores and Islands

Ohio’s Lake Erie makes island-style getaways a Midwestern reality from the moment your group steps onto Put-InBay, nicknamed the Key West of the Midwest. The island bustles with restaurants, bars and shops. At the dock, a tour train will pick up your group, and golf cart rentals are available. On one

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

end of the island, the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie in its extensive visitor center. As the nation’s thirdtallest monument, it rises 352 feet, and its observation deck affords panoramic views.

On laid-back Kelleys Island, nature takes center stage. The island’s North Shore Loop Trail skirts a rocky shoreline and half-moon sandy beach. Foodies will gravitate to several wineries, and the second-generationowned Village Pump serves traditional fried perch sandwiches and brandy Alexanders. Both islands offer fishing charters, watercrafting and kayaking outings, biking and hiking.

“Just a short drive to the ferries in Sandusky, Sawmill Creek Resort was purchased by Cedar Point and has undergone a complete renovation with plans to reopen next year,” said Amanda Smith Rasnick, director of group accounts for the Lake Erie Shores and Islands Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The resort has its own marina, private beach and an impressive Tom Fazio golf course.”

On the Lake Erie peninsula, Cedar Point Amusement Park has entertained guests since the late 1800s. Many of the park’s 70 rides are great for families.

Known as the roller coaster capital of the world, the park features 18 coasters, including the 120-mile-per-hour Top Thrill Dragster. Any time of day, the complementary one-mile sand beach welcomes guests who want to unwind. For a laid-back afternoon or evening, the awardwinning Firelands Winery, the state’s largest producing and distributing winery, hosts tours and tastings in an upstairs room that accommodates large groups. shoresandislands.com

Perch tacos at a Kelleys Island restaurant Courtesy Lake Erie Shores and Islands

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton

Courtesy Dayton CVB

Canton’s Pro Football Hall of Fame

Italian Cheesecake in Columbus Courtesy Experience Columbus

Courtesy Visit Canton

DAYTON

On the Great Miami River in downtown Dayton, Riverscape MetroPark offers paved trails among reflection pools and

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

“The Garage” at Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Courtesy ThisIsCleveland.com

2 0 2 1

flower-filled gardens. It’s a hub for Dayton’s outdoor concerts and numerous festivals, such as the Dayton Celtic Festival and the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

During the summer at downtown’s Levitt Pavilion, just six blocks away, free outdoor concerts take the stage from Thursday through Sunday.

Dayton is considered the birthplace of aviation, and several area museums focus on aviation and aerospace. The National Museum of the United States Air Force ranks as the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum. Personalized group tours and scavenger hunts, photo ops, special movie showings and “Dinner Under the Wings” are options. Indoor and outdoor exhibits display more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles, plus the museum houses a 3-D theater, the National Aviation Hall of Fame and simulators that deliver virtual reality rides.

Surprising to many, the Wright brothers engineered their flying machines at what is now the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.

The park’s multiple sites include the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, the Wright Cycle Company and the Huffman Prairie Flying Field Interpretative Center. The Wright Brothers National Museum has more Wright artifacts than any other place in the world, including the original 1905 Wright Flyer III that Orville donated, the only plane in the nation designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Wright family mansion, Hawthorn Hill, can also be toured.

“If you’re an aviation enthusiast, it’s like standing on hallowed ground,” said Bev Rose, director of marketing for the Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Next to the field where the Wright brothers learned to fly is the tarmac for Huffman Air Force Base, so it’s a full circle story of aviation.” daytoncvb.com

selecttraveler.com

27

known

B

Y

F O R

HOLIDAYS BRANSON LANDING

THE

TIME

NOVEMBER

ROLLS AROUND EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE ARE PRIMED TO

BE HAPPY AND CELEBRATORY, AND HOLIDAY TRAVEL CAN SATISFY THAT URGE. FOR GROUP TRAVELERS, THE HOLIDAYS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND EVEN STRANGERS AND CELEBRATE.

BRANSON, MISSOURI

SOCIETY HAS BEEN THROUGH A ROUGH COUPLE OF YEARS, AND AS WE PEER INTO 2022, TRAVEL PLANNERS CAN HELP CUSTOMERS ANTICIPATE HAPPY TIMES IN FUTURE WINTERS. HERE ARE FIVE DESTINATIONS TO CONSIDER FOR HOLIDAY TOURS. REMEMBER TO STOCK UP ON SANTA HATS AND STOCKING STUFFERS BECAUSE EVERYONE ENJOYS RECEIVING PRESENTS.

Courtesy Explore Branson

BRANSON, ALWAYS KNOWN FOR PUTTING ON A SHOW, goes all out at Christmas, lighting up the Ozarks and bringing Christmas joy to the heartland. You can get a perspective on almost everything from the towering 40-gondola Branson Ferris Wheel, which gleams with special lights and music, and even in non-holiday times sports 144,000 LED lights. Groups can get a special visit from an actor portraying George Ferris, namesake and inventor of the Ferris wheel.

You’ll quickly notice that Christmas trees are everywhere in Branson, which is why it enjoys being called America’s Christmas Tree City. Thousands of trees decorate the town, and there are 1,000 more at the region’s biggest attraction, Silver Dollar City, where the seasonal celebration is called An Old Time Christmas.

Inside the park are 6.5 million lights and an 80-foot-tall tree.

As you would expect, music abounds in Branson. Silver Dollar City’s biggest is a Broadway-style show called “Home for Christmas,” but that’s only the start: Approximately 40 other theaters also deliver holiday shows and music. You can get a show and a three-course meal aboard the Showboat Branson Belle, a 700-passenger paddle-wheeler that lets you enjoy the Ozark scenery while cruising on Table Rock Lake.

EXPLOREBRANSON.COM

28

selecttraveler.com

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

BY TOM ADKINSON

O R N A M E N T S O N S I X T H AV E N U E

C H R I S T M A S AT T H E H A G L E Y M U S E U M

NEW YORK CITY

BRANDYWINE VALLEY Courtesy NYC & Co.

SOME OF AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS HOLIDAY SIGHTS events make New York City buzz with special excitement every winter.

What’s amazing — and useful for tour planners — is that those events only scratch the surface of what’s available.

“There are so many reasons to visit New York City during the holiday season,” said John Marshall, NYC and Company’s director of tourism market development. “From our blockbuster annual events like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop to unique attractions and cultural experiences across all five boroughs, there is an endless roster of programming to enjoy in NYC during the most festive time of the year.”

Three outdoor holiday markets — the Union Square Holiday Market, the Holiday Shops at Winter Village at Bryant Park and the Columbus Circle Holiday Market — help create a celebratory mood, and you can shop indoors if you want at the Grand Central Holiday Fair in Grand Central Terminal. Outdoor and indoor ice skating rinks delight active groups — check out the one at Bryant Park for a change from Rockefeller Center — and glowing lantern festivals create fairyland scenes at the Snug Harbor Botanical Garden on Staten Island and the Queens County Farm Museum.

In New York, the list of options starting in November and spilling into January does seem endless.

Courtesy Greater Wilmington CVB

FARTHER UP THE EAST COAST IS A HISTORY-ORIENTED, two-state holiday destination in the Brandywine Valley. You have a variety of attractions and events with which to build a holiday itinerary in Wilmington, Delaware, and across the river in Pennsylvania.

The Delaware Antiques Show, a weeklong event in Wilmington in early November, can set the stage. It features 60 of the nation’s top antiques dealers in a program organized by the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. Winterthur, the grand mansion of Henry Francis du Pont, itself offers special holiday-accented tours.

From Thanksgiving through Epiphany, Longwood Gardens bustles with its Longwood Christmas event. More than a half-million lights sparkle in the garden, and the conservatory is full of color. A special treat is singing carols to music from an Aeolian organ with 10,010 pipes, the largest ever built in a residential setting.

Two types of Christmas trains can work into an itinerary. On the small side is the Brandywine Railroad O-gauge model train display at the Brandywine River Museum of Art. Its track through the miniaturized countryside is nearly 2,000 feet long. For a real train ride, check out the Wilmington and Western Railroad for its Holiday Lights Express, which is pulled by either an antique steam locomotive or a historic diesel locomotive.

VISITWILMINGTONDE.COM

NYCGO.COM

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

29

G R A P E V I N E V I N TA G E R A I L R O A D

“THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS TO VISIT NEW YORK CITY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. OUR BLOCKBUSTER ANNUAL EVENTS [ INCLUDE ] THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR, THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE AND THE NEW YEAR’S EVE BALL DROP.” — JOHN MARSHALL, N YC A N D C O M PA N Y

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS Courtesy Grapevine CVB

“IF IT’S TRUE, IT AIN’T BRAGGING” very well could apply to Grapevine, Texas, which crowns itself the Christmas Capital of Texas. No other town can make that claim because Grapevine’s promoters have trademarked the phrase and because it would be difficult to wrestle that moniker away anyway, considering that the little city has a list of 1,400 Christmas events spread throughout 40 days.

It doesn’t hurt, of course, that Grapevine’s nicely preserved historic Main Street is ready-made for holiday decorations and that the city’s businesses include the 1,511-room Gaylord Texan Resort, the 605-room Great Wolf Lodge and the massive Grapevine Mills shopping mall, all three of which take their own Christmas extravaganzas to the hilt. Millions of holiday lights compete with the stars at night, which themselves are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth.

Railroads played a significant role in Grapevine’s development, and the city keeps that tradition alive all year with commuter and excursion trains. The Grapevine Vintage Railroad grandly decorates itself for the North Pole Express, primarily for families with children, and the Christmas Wine Trains, primarily for adults. The Christmas Wine Trains are a hot commodity every year, so plan accordingly; the experience includes savory bites, dessert and two glasses of wine from a Grapevine winery.

If you miss the train, check out the beautifully restored Palace Theatre, a landmark built in 1940, for a variety of holiday productions and a series of classic Christmas movies. Remember ZuZu Bailey’s joyful line, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”

GRAPEVINETEXASUSA.COM

30

selecttraveler.com

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

THE CAROLINA OPRY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA

THE HOLIDAYS IN MYRTLE BEACH come with a bonus: pleasant ocean breezes and perhaps a surfside walk. However, onstage entertainment is the biggest holiday attraction, according to Sandy Haines, group tour sales manager at Visit Myrtle Beach.

“We’re best known for our seven live theaters,” Haines said, noting that they range from 100 to 2,000 seats and offer a wide variety of holiday-themed shows. Among the big venues are the Alabama Theatre, the Carolina Opry, the Broadway Theater and the Pirates Voyage Dinner and Show. You might wonder how Pirates Voyage blends “Yo, ho, ho” with “Ho, ho, ho,” but that plot twist comes when the pirates put a swashbuckling spin on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

Another event and dining combination is available on the Barefoot Queen, a riverboat that cruises on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Whether you are inside or outside in the Carolina sunshine on the top deck, a riverboat trip is a definite change of pace.

A distinctively South Carolina Christmas event is the Nights of a Thousand Candles celebration at Brookgreen Gardens. This famous sculpture garden takes on a different feeling amid the glow of 2,800 hand-lit candles and thousands of sparkling lights. Listen to carolers, enjoy holiday music, and stroll the pathways.

VISITMYRTLEBEACH.COM

Courtesy Visit Myrtle Beach

Explore Chester County

Tour America’s Garden Capital, home to Longwood Gardens. Discover the region’s rich history of artistry at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, and enjoy group tastings at craft breweries and wineries. Spend the night and receive complimetary welcome gifts for your group.

Learn More at BrandywineValley.com/Groups

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

Courtney Babcock Director of Sales Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau (484) 840-7213 Courtney@BrandywineValley.com Meet in Chester County

selecttraveler.com

31

going places W I T H

A S H L E Y

TAY L O R

A LITTLE SOLO TIME ON TOUR CAN ENHANCE A TRIP

I

s it possible to have great solo travel experiences in the midst of a group trip?

Put yourself in the shoes of a new customer in your travel organization. She’s signed up for her first group tour. She’ll be traveling with a large group of people for a week. She’s excited about the sights she will see and interested in meeting new people. But she assumes the best parts of the solo travel experience won’t be available on this trip.

Is she right?

Traveling in a group has many benefits. There’s security in numbers. Passengers can relax without worry because they have someone to drive them everywhere and to manage the trip details.

And if you do your job as a travel planner, you can still make sure they have some fulfilling time alone.

For travelers to have a few moments on their own during group travel is important. It allows them to pursue independent experiences and leaves them feeling refreshed. Solo time helps travelers appreciate their packaged trips even more.

Many times, though, travelers who crave individual experiences on group tours aren’t sure how to get them. That’s where you come in. As an experienced travel leader, you can help guide your customers to the kinds of on-their-own adventures they’re seeking.

Here are some key pieces of advice you can give your group members to help them maximize solo experiences on the road.

You might even find these tricks useful for enjoying some free time on the road yourself.

1) READ BETWEEN THE ITINERARY LINES.

When you first get a group tour itinerary, you probably gloss over it, and it all looks great. It has the significant attractions you wanted to see. But little things you wanted to do, like grabbing a coffee and watching the sun rise or stopping in a local bakery for a pastry, aren’t on the itinerary, right? Actually, they are — they’re just hidden between the lines. Read that itinerary again, and this time don’t gloss over it. Check for all the mo-

32

selecttraveler.com

ments where there’s a bit of extra time, free time or, as many travel companies put it, “on your own” time. Know your itinerary well and be aware of when you’ll have the best opportunity to slip away and pursue your own interests.

2) SCOUT LOCATIONS IN ADVANCE.

When you know you’re going to have free time, research the locations in advance and know when you’ll need to take action to have your solo experience. If day three has you exploring a town on your own for a couple of hours, decide in advance which bakery you will visit. Research how to get to a bakery in time for that delicious cream horn you’ve been dreaming about. Check a map or get directions online before you depart for your trip. Planning your independent time ensures that you’ll have the solo experiences you want.

3) OBSERVE THE GROUND RULES.

You’re now on your trip. You know your itinerary and have an action plan to maximize your solo experience. You’re ready to go, right? Wait: It’s important to remember some ground rules when traveling in a group: Be flexible, notify your tour director of your plan, and make sure you have enough time to get back to the meeting point on schedule. Flexibility is especially important. If your group is running behind, you may have to try a different bakery closer to the drop-off point to avoid being late. Be prepared to accept itinerary changes, and adjust your plans accordingly. Don’t allow changing details to get in the way of your solo experience.

4) SET IT AND FORGET IT.

You’ve made it to the bakery. You’re sitting outside eating your pastry at a table built for two, but you’re having trouble enjoying it because you’re worried about returning on time. You keep looking at your watch, thinking “Maybe I should get back.”

Before the hands of time steal your joy, change strategies. Set the alarm on your phone before grabbing that pastry. Make sure you know what time you need to leave to get back to the meeting

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

ashley taylor Ashley Taylor is a longtime bank and travel club planner. She lives in Ironton, Ohio, with her two daughters.

point on time. If you know this before buying your pastry, it will help you enjoy yourself without worrying or watching the clock.

5) SAVOR THE FREEDOM.

Ashley Taylor has found opportunities for solo exploration during group trips to some of Europe’s most popular destinations.

Now, with all the legwork behind you, it’s time to enjoy the pastry or whatever solo experience you want to have. Sometimes, that simply means exploring the neighborhood. Just remember to allow yourself plenty of time to get back to the meeting point.

And keep your trip leader’s phone number on hand in case an unexpected problem arises.

Having solo moments during jammed-packed group tours will give you and your travelers long-lasting memories and help enhance the overall travel experience.

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: Dive with the Coral Restoration Foundation, as they replant and restore coral reefs in the Florida Keys.

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

selecttraveler.com

33

W H E R E

w e ’ v e

B E E N

First National Bank of Bemidji BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA TRIP: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta TOUR OPERATOR: Landmark Tours DATE: October 2019 First National Bank of Bemidji took a group of members on a journey through New Mexico to experience the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and other popular sites in the Land of Enchantment. Along the way, they visited Albuquerque’s Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and got a great view from the Sandia Peak Tramway. The group also stopped in Santa Fe to tour the historic town plaza.

“The main purpose of the trip was to see the famous Albuquerque hot air balloon festival. The balloon festival has hundreds of balloons from around the world. It is a breathtaking sight.”

— LYNDA STENSENG, RETIRED BUT STILL RUNNING TRAVEL CLUB TRIPS

Relyance Bank Destination Club PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS TRIP: Western Caribbean Cruise TOUR OPERATOR: Island in the Sun Cruises & Tours Inc. DATE: March 2020 Relyance Bank Destination Club took a Western Caribbean cruise aboard the Norwegian Dawn in February and March 2020. They flew into Tampa for a pre-cruise night and toured Ybor City the next day before boarding the cruise ship. Once underway, they visited Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize and Honduras.

“At Harvest Caye Belize, most of our group took the morning tour to Mango Creek and Independence Village to get a detailed history of how the villages began and developed. The afternoon everyone soaked in the beautiful sunshine and beauty on Norwegian’s private island.”

— CINDY CULLINS BROWN, DESTINATIONS CLUB DIRECTOR 34

selecttraveler.com

N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R

2 0 2 1

RECONNECT. REJOICE. RETURN TO EUROPE.

Allow us to indulge your every whim aboard the newest, most innovative and award-winning ships on Europe’s legendary rivers. We’ll treat you to exquisite locally-sourced cuisine, hikes to hilltop castles and bike rides through the scenic countryside.

Prepare your passport and get ready to venture beyond your backyard. Join us for exclusive experiences that bring you closer to the world – and the people you’ve missed.

EARN ONE CRUISE TOUR CONDUCTOR CREDIT FOR EVERY 9 FULL FARE BERTHS RESERVED Credit Applies to the 10th Berth

For more info, please call (304) 485-8687 to speak to a member of our sales team or email sharon@ustours.biz

REDISCOVER ATLANTIC CITY

The Story Continues Excitement awaits in Atlantic City, including miles of sandy beaches, our world-famous Boardwalk and the thrilling Steel Pier. Enjoy tax-free shopping, award-winning dining, live entertainment and other great attractions.

Here you can experience the ultimate getaway and create a lifetime of memories.

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

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

TourAtlanticCity.com