TRAVELER THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS select escape to SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 BRANSON BRINGS IT IN MARCH | CHARMING ANNAPOLIS | BEACHSIDE GETAWAYS WISCONSIN’S waterfront towns
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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.
MAC T. LACY Founder and Publisher CHARLES A. PRESLEY Partner BRIAN JEWELL VP & Executive Editor HERBERT SPARROW Senior Writer DONIA SIMMONS Creative Director ASHLEY RICKS Graphic Designer/Circulation RENA BAER Copy Editor KYLE ANDERSON Director of Sales and Marketing BRYCE WILSON Advertising Account Manager SARAH SECHRIST Controller KYLE ANDERSON DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING 859.253.0455 KYLE@GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM 4 selecttraveler.com Western 8 10 12 34 checkingcontentsin: JILL ALLEN toolbox: TRAVEL TRENDS conference: GET TO KNOW BRANSON going places: TRAVEL SPEEDS 16 20 26 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 VOL.30 NO.5 select TRAVELER ON THE COVER: Travelers enjoy a canoe trip on a Wisconsin river. Photo by Aaron Black-Schmidt. COURTESY ISLAND OF HAWAII VB THE MAGAZINE FOR BANK, ALUMNI AND CHAMBER TRAVEL PLANNERS Global Beach Destinations ART MUSEUMS Waterfront WISCONSIN Sailing THROUGH ANNAPOLIS 34
Select Traveler, the Magazine for Bank, Alumni and Chamber Travel Planners, is published quarterly 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.
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decision-makers who represent primari ly banks, chambers of commerce, alumni organizations and tour companies that offer trips for those groups. We mail it in print to more than 4,000 of those and send it online to those who have re quested its digital version, plus several thousand additional travel buyers who have requested it.
affinity
Select Traveler has a concentrated readership of just over 5,000 key travel Mac Lacy — Publisher MATTERS
F rom time to time, I like to share information about the universe of travel buyers who read Select Traveler. As a reg ular reader of several magazines myself, I’m always interested to learn what I can about other readers of those magazines.
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Email me anytime with your thoughts at maclacy@grouptravelleader.com.
The graph here illustrates who those readers are and reflects this summer’s circulation update that eliminated pro grams that have consolidated or closed and added quite a few new programs that are museum-based. Many museums have travel programs for their most en gaged patrons and supporters. To those of you enjoy receiving Select Traveler and its practical ideas for managing travel groups, let me express our continued thanks for your engage ment with us and for the vital role you play in America’s travel industry.
BANKS 51.9% ALUMNI 19.2% CHAMBERS 12.8% TOUR OPS 9.8% MISCELLANEOUS (INCLUDES MUSEUMS) 6.4% AN INFLUENTIAL READERSHIP
Plan, promote and lead better trips with our new podcast, Gather & Go! GROUPTRAVELLEADERTHE The Changing Face of Group Travel with Contiki’s Ian Kynor Pioneering Travel Trends with Jaclyn Leibl-Cote of Collette Exploring Culture Through Travel with Cheryl Hargrove Understanding Faith-Based Travel with Eddie Lutz GROUPTRAVELLEADER.COM/PODCAST 859.253.0455 KYLE ANDERSON kyle@grouptravelleader.com BRYCE WILSON bryce@grouptravelleader.com For packagessponsorshipcontact:
Jill Allen enjoys sightseeing in Cabo San Lucas (left) and Memphis (right).
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FAMILY: Allen has two daughters.
Platte Valley Bank opened in 1996, and the Ambassador Club is for clients with bank holdings of $10,000 or more. The Ambassador Club offers numerous perks to participants, including the opportunity to participate in one annual domestic trip and one annual international trip, plus numerous opportunities for fun social activities throughout the year, like classes and movie nights.
Ambassador Club Director and Marketing Coordinator SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA (WITH LOCATIONS IN WYOMING AND COLORADO)
JILL ALLEN disciplinary major. As someone who loves to work with people and wanted to give back to the community, her focus was hu manPost-graduation,service.
BIRTHPLACE: Minatare, Nebraska EDUCATION: B.A. in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on human service from Chadron State College EMPLOYMENT HISTORY: Allen was the director of the Scottsbluff County Volunteer Center. She moved to Northfield Retirement Communities as their sales and marketing director. In 2019, she came on board at Platte Valley Bank, where she organizes travel and year-round events for their customers.
“It was the perfect job for me because I was raising children, and they’d come to work with me and learn the importance of helping others,” she said. “It was a very rewarding job for me. It’s a very humbling experience — sometimes you’re the only connection someone has to the world; they don’t see anybody else.”
checking in
BY REBECCA TREON
rowing up in rural Nebraska, Jill Allen’s travel opportuni ties were limited. She was raised on a farm in Minatare, where she attended a country school (a one-room schoolhouse, a style that re mains popular in Nebraska’s rural farm communities) and then attended high school in Scottsbluff. “We did almost zero travel when I was a child — only to Disney World once when I was 5 and again when I was in high school, and that was the extent of my experience,” said Allen. “That’s why this job became so appealing to me, because it has a travel option.” She got her associate degree in criminal justice and moved on to Chadron State College, where she created her own inter WITH JILL ALLEN
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HOBBIES: Allen loves exploring new places. She also loves to plan theme parties (her favor ites are Halloween and St. Patrick’s Day) with matching food, decor, costumes and games.
PLATTE VALLEY COMPANIES
Allen got married and had two daughters. “My kids have always been the best part of my life,” she said. She got a job at a nonprofit called Scottsbluff County Volunteer Center, which coordi nates Meals on Wheels and grocery delivery services for the elderly in the community.
3. The Dominican Republic: “Another big family trip was to the Dominican Republic — the beaches were absolutely amaz ing — perfect, beautiful sand, and another great family vacation.” faves DESTINATION
2. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: “My extended family has decided we want to spend more time together and travel, so Cabo was a big deal for us — it was a great time to bond, we made lots of fun stops and made lots of memories. Plus they had great drinks!”
Allen loves that she’s had the opportunity to bond with the travelers and have fun experiences with them, which is outside the norm for many banking relationships. Now that her daugh ters are older, she has also enjoyed taking the opportunity to travel more with her family as well.
Another facet of Allen’s job is that Platte Valley has given her her own talk show of sorts. While it’s used internally to dissect different finance-related topics or introduce a financial special ist to the entire staff and sent in a weekly email, Allen finds ways to make it fun and entertaining. “We will do ‘Thirsty Thursday,’ where I have to drink their favorite drink, even if I don’t like it, while they educate me on a certain topic,” said Allen. “We cover whatever we’re supposed to, and then I make them participate in interactive games. Some of the stuff can be kind of boring, so it’s my job to make it interest ing. The whole point is to put a name with a face and encourage others within the company to be able to approach them.”
Banking and Travel
After a decade, Allen moved to Northfield Retirement Commu nities, where she was the sales and marketing coordinator. This position, along with her previous role, made her a shoo-in for coordinating member travel later on.
Allen started at Platte Valley Companies as their Ambassa dor Club director and marketing coordinator in 2019. Clients of Platte Valley’s Ambassador Club have to be at least 50 years old with $10,000 or more on deposit. They are eligible to receive free checks plus a roster of other perks, such as the option to par ticipate in group travel and monthly special events like classes, themed parties and movie nights.
The Ambassador Club takes one international trip and one domestic trip each year, plus a handful of day trips or short overnights to nearby locales. Allen also coordinates various ac tivities at locations in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming. As an example, for the screening of the recently released “Elvis” movie, staff dressed in 1950s attire, including one who dressed as El vis and posed with attendees in a photo booth. They even hired an Elvis impersonator to belt out a few tunes before the movie. She also coordinates classes like “Spa-Tacular Recipes,” where clients create body scrubs they can use at home. Another recent class was how to create a unique charcuterie board with artfully arranged cheeses and meats.
“We are trying to think outside the box and create fun activ ities that encourage people to come out and participate,” said Allen. “Our trips are what we call ‘worry-free,’ because we book everything for them. They just show up, and we coordinate ev erything, and they feel secure that there’s plenty of support.”
‘Talk Show’ Host
1. Hilton Head, South Carolina: “The hospitality, the food, and the quaint
“What I love most is that I get to go on these trips and con nect with our customers,” said Allen. “We’re ready to fully travel again, and I’m excited about that. It’s just so much fun, and I’m just having a great time!”
“What enticed me about the job is that our bank gives back to the community to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dol lars, which impressed me as someone with a human services background,” said Allen. “I was also eager for the opportunity to travel, since I didn’t travel much growing up and then was busy with a nonprofit and raising children, and would love to travel with our club members.”
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“I love working with older people, so it was perfect for me,” she said. “I’d help them decide on the type of living situation that would be best for them and would plan fun activities like events and parties, and I really enjoyed that. The job at Platte Valley came up and I wasn’t even going to apply for it, but I had four different people reach out to me and say, ‘you are this job,’ and I decided to at least try!”
Allen seems to have found her niche — where her love of working with older people in a service and support role, her love for exploring and discovering new places and things, and her fun-loving, humorous approach to making everyday a celebra tion have all come together in one role she’s making her own — and she’s getting paid for it.
T
With a few exceptions, the traditional 50-passenger group tour may be a thing of the past. While the trend toward smaller groups was already developing before 2020, the pandemic accelerated the movement away from mass tourism experiences and toward more boutique tours. Insight ful travel planners have found that groups of just a few dozen offer more comfortable motorcoach seating, better relationship building and a higher quality travel experience. And some planners are finding they can charge more for trips of 10-15 passengers, offering exclusive amenities and VIP experiences not possible with larger groups. BY BRIAN JEWELL smaller groups embrace trendsthese
he world has changed, and travelers are changing with it. Keeping up with evolving traveler sentiment is a constant task for peo ple working in tourism. Generational shifts and cultural currents change custom ers’ taste and impact the kinds of experiences they’re looking for. In the past two years, though, world events have had an outsized impact on travel, and many tourism professionals are finding that customers’ personal priorities have changed more than usual. As a result, new travel trends are emerging, with an increased emphasis on personalization, diversity and social impact. Here are some things travelers are looking for in 2023 and beyond.
10 selecttraveler.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 TRAVEL TOOLBOX
When people travel on their own, they have complete autonomy. In creasingly, group customers are looking for more autonomy over their travel experiences too. Rigid full-time itineraries are falling out of style in favor of flexible plans that feature lots of free time for people to explore, relax and dine on their own. Savvy tour companies and planners have adjusted their operations to give passengers a variety of attraction and activity options — some included in the tour price and others that cost ex tra — allowing each guest to customize the trip that best suits their taste.
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more choices
Today’s travelers are more concerned about the footprints of their trips than ever before. And the idea of sustainability has grown beyond recycling and reusing to a reexamining of the ways travel impacts places and commu nities. This can include rejecting abusive animal practices; ending “cultural” encounters that are tacky or exploitive; and looking for ways to lessen the burden on destinations that are at risk of overtourism. Travel planners can help prioritize these values for their customers by asking their vendors and tour partners what commitments they’ve made to sustainability and seek ing out destinations that can accommodate their groups without risk to the local environment or communities. smarter sustainability
What’s the worst part of most group trips? Packing up your suit case each morning and checking into a new hotel each night. Tours that cover a lot of territory require many hotel changes, and that can be exhausting. Many travelers to day prefer trips that allow them to stay in the same city — and the same hotel — for several days at a time. Travel planners can accom plish this by narrowing the scope of their tours and employing huband-spoke itineraries that allow groups to visit several nearby cit ies without relocating every day. fewer hotels
As America reckons with difficult aspects of its past, tour ism leaders have begun to realize many travel experiences lack authentic diversity. Traditionally, travel companies have focused more on keeping guests comfortable than on expos ing them to a variety of cultures or supporting local entrepre neurs. That is beginning to change, as many organizations reassess the ways they do business and look for opportuni ties to highlight diverse voices in their tour products. Some are also seeking out hotels, restaurants, attractions and other tour components owned by people of color and other mar ginalized groups. deeper diversity
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CONFERENCE
Highway 76, famously known as “The Strip,” cuts right through the heart of the city and offers more than three miles of theaters offering dozens of shows and entertainment options. But shows are only the start of the fun in Branson. Also on the strip is Titanic Museum Attraction, a mas sive building shaped liked the famous ship that went down in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912. The museum celebrates the ship, its passengers and crew members with utmost re spect. It is a fascinating and touching place to visit. Many groups visiting the area spend some time at Sil ver Dollar City, an 1880s-themed amusement park that
toBransonconnectionPlansBringIt
— LENNI NEIMEYER, BRANSON/LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CVB BY DAN DICKSON
ituated in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, Bran son, Missouri, has been one of America’s most popular group travel destinations for generations.
JOIN YOUR FRIENDS IN MARCH AT SELECT TRAVELER CONFERENCE
“I have been attending various conferences staged by Group Travel Family for 25 years. Whenever they pick a city to host the conference, that city is highlighted as a very suitable place for planners to bring groups.”
BRANSON HOSTS
“I have been attending various conferences staged by Group Travel Family [conference organizer] for 25 years,” said Lenni Neimeyer, director of leisure group sales for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Con vention and Visitors Bureau. “Whenever they pick a city to host the conference, that city is highlighted as a very suitable place for planners to bring groups.
PHOTOS COURTESY BRANSON/LAKES AREA CVB
selecttraveler.com 13SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 is anything but old fashioned. The park features fast roll er coasters, treetop adventures (such as zip lining and mountain coasters) and a water park. There is also a vil lage full of craftsmen performing their trades. Many visitors take in the beauty, adventure, and vari ety of the Ozarks with gorgeous lakes and heavily wooded hills and valleys. Wineries are everywhere and a popular stop for tourists. Branson’s golf scene is rated among best in the Midwest. The Branson Scenic Railway is another fun way to see the sites. There are other rich museums and cultural centers to explore in Branson, as well as spas and resorts and hun dreds of boutiques, galleries and outlets that shoppers love. And sitting high above it all is the 150-foot-tall Bran son Ferris Wheel, ideal for taking in the whole scene.
Branson highlights, left to right: Indoor skydiving at Fritz’s Aerodium; ziplining at Shepherd’s Adventure Park; a dance performance at Shepherd of the Hills.
Branson will be on full display for travel planners to explore when the next Select Traveler Conference is pre sented March 27-29 at Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa and Convention Center. These upscale planners represent banks, chambers of commerce, and college and alumni travel clubs. They will see the area and decide whether their coveted travel groups should see the place for themselves.
BRANSON HISTORY Branson attracted national and international attention in 1907 with the publication of a novel about the Ozarks called “The Shepherd of the Hills.” People flocked to the area to see in person the kinds of people and locations depicted in the book. A local organization began an out door drama based on the book in 1960. Then a couple of live music shows sprang up. In 1967, the Presley family became the first to move their show, Presley’s Country Ju bilee, to the Highway 76 Strip. In 1983, organizers began bringing in acts like Jim Stafford, Tony Orlando, Louise Mandrell, Glen Campbell, Charley Pride, Mel Tillis, Roy Clark and many more top performers. In 1987, Boxcar Willie became the first inter nationally known entertainer to buy a theater and have a permanent show scheduled there. Eventually, more than 50 theaters would appear along the Strip where stars op erated venues with their names on them. “They kind of branded Branson in those days,” said Neimeyer. “I have been here since 1974, and it has been amazing to watch the transformation and growth.”
— LENNI NEIMEYER,
Hosting a Select Traveler Conference will expose trav el planners to the hundreds of things to do in Branson “which cannot help but bring us new business in the fu ture,” Neimeyer said.
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BRANSON/LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CVB
Ozark National Golf Course
BRANSON TODAY Today, Branson keeps up with modern musical trends by offering entertainment of all genres such as country and Bluegrass, hard and soft rock, oldies from different eras, Broadway-style shows, musical comedy, music originat ing from Ireland and Liverpool, England, birthplace of the Beatles and even patriotic music. There are also illusions and magic, as well as comedy to keep people laughing. Other interesting things to do in Branson include climb ing aboard the Showboat Branson Belle, which is a clas sic riverboat offering cruises, three-course meals and currently a two-hour live show called “Made in the USA,” which can be viewed from the three balconies of seating in the spacious theater. Outside, before and after the dinner and show, the deck provides beautiful views of Branson’s Table Rock Lake. A 95-acre complex called Branson Landing draws din ers, shoppers and folks who seek out entertainment in a pleasant atmosphere. A one-and-a-half-mile long board walk on the Taneycomo Lakefront is fun to stroll on. A vi brant town square is at the heart of Branson Landing and offers more than 100 retail shops. Nearby is a spectacular and choreographed water, light, fire and music feature. There is also a full calendar of events and festivals sched uled at Branson Landing. “They kind of branded Branson in those days. I have been here since 1974, and it has been amazing to watch the transformation and growth.”
BRANSON HOSPITALITY
“We are a destination of so many wonderful attractions, live music shows and outdoor adventures,” said Neimeyer. “But we are also a community that extends great hospital ity to our groups. You can talk to any of the planners who have been here, and they will verify that.”
Even a city with nonstop entertainment would not be worth the time and trouble if it did not know how to take care of its guests. Branson does.
Branson has a Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the famed mu seum of science, illusion, wax figures, artifacts, themed ar eas like a jungle and a graveyard with special effects that make this quirky place a delight. Right next door is a new attraction: Aquarium at the Boardwalk, where you can see the wonders of the sea and 7,200 individual sea creatures.
EXPLOREBRANSON.COM
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“Anthems of Rock” at King’s Castle Theatre A Branson animal encounter North Pole Adventure
MUSEUMRUSSELLC.M.COURTESY ARTWESTERNOFMUSEUMBRISCOECOURTESY MUSEUMRUSSELLC.M.COURTESY MUSEUMO’KEEFFEGEORGIACOURTESY MUSEUMBRINTONCOURTESY MUSEUMO’KEEFFEGEORGIACOURTESY MUSEUMBRINTONCOURTESY C.M. Russell Museum Inside the C.M. Russell Museum MUSEUMO’KEEFFEGEORGIACOURTESY Georgia O’Keeffe Museum A paintingO’KeeffeGeorgia The MuseumO’Keeffe exterior Briscoe Museum of Western Art A painting by Bill Gollings at Brinton Museum An BrintonsculptureoutdooratMuseum
Cowboys may be from the West, but some of the best spurs-and- boots art and artifacts live in the South — Cartersville, Georgia, to be precise. The Booth Western Art Museum was founded in 2003 by Western art collectors who call Cartersville home. Today, the Booth is the largest permanent exhi bition space for Western art in the country. Plus, a USA Today Best Of poll has named this Smithsonian Affiliate the top art museum in the country for the past three years. “Visitors have plenty to see and engage with, whether they come for one visit or multiple,” said Booth executive director Seth Hopkins. “In addition, we have a Presidential Gallery with a one-page letter by every president and a Civil War art gallery, plus bonus features you won’t find elsewhere.”
Western art museums serve to ex plore the complicated history of the land, people, struggles, dreams and legends that made the region an outsized part of the American ethos. These museums share the creations of a bygone era, illustrating that transformation through art. Many of these Western art museums make fan tastic stops for groups. Whether your group is fol lowing the trail of westward expansion or headed to the South, there is probably a great option close enough to consider.
THE BOOTH MUSEUM CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA
The American West endures in these museums BY KATI HYER
THE BOOTH MUSEUM TRAVEL FOCUS
Capturing an Era A n art form as uniquely American as jazz music, Western art has long sym bolized the American West worldwide.
The Booth’s permanent collection covers more than a dozen galleries comprising the work of nearly 400 artists. Visitors will find the works of
A few new offerings are on the horizon. “In fall 2022, we will open Greetings from Charlie, a rotating exhibition of his personal correspondence containing his signature illustrations,” Horton said. “Russell wasn’t known for his writing abilities, so he preferred to write short letters then supplement them with watercolors and pen and ink on his letterhead.”Inthesummer of 2023, the museum will open an exhibi tion on John L Clarke, a member of the Blackfeet tribe, ac complished woodcarver and friend of Russell. cmrussell.org
MUSEUMRUSSELLC.M.COURTESY
SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
Any Western art lover knows the name Charles M. Rus sell. “Kid” Russell was a master painter and sculptor whose works captured movement and life from the everyday camp fire dinner to major historical events in the West. Russell created more than 2,000 paintings of cowboys, Native Amer icans and landscapes, many of which are on display at the award-winning C.M. Russell Museum. The museum is a large complex, covering an entire city block. Visitors can wind their way through 16 exhibition galleries, educational programming spaces, a dedicated research center and an impressive outdoor sculpture garden. “The C.M. Russell Museum is an important destination for all Western art enthusiasts because it allows visitors to get a complete picture of Charles M. Russell,” Christi na Horton, C.M. Russell Museum communications officer said. “In addition to his wonderful artwork, the museum is home to his original artist studio as well as his home — both National Historic Landmarks. You can see where he worked and the artifacts he looked to for inspiration, then take a short drive out of town and see the landscapes that sparked his imagination.”
THE GEORGIA O’KEEFFE MUSEUM
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Destination, institution, inspiration — that’s the Brin ton Museum. Big Horn, Wyoming, is home to this Western art mainstay. “The Brington Museum draws people for its location in the foothills of the magnificent Bighorn Moun tains, the long history of the Plains Indian Peoples area,
Planning a trip to Santa Fe in 2024? The museum plans to welcome visitors to a new campus building and com munity greenspace then. Be on the lookout for new exhi bitions and programming. okeeffemuseum.org C.M. RUSSELL MUSEUM
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If you’re anywhere within a day’s trip to Santa Fe, make sure your group visits the transformative Georgia O’Keef fe NewMuseum.Mexico’s vast expanses and stark beauty first inspired Georgia O’Keeffe in 1917 when she was just 30. Encounters with the Land of Enchantment continued to influence O’Keef fe, solidifying her reputation as of one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. The Mother of American Modern ism spent the latter half of her life in and around Santa Fe, where her work expressed what she referred to as “the wide ness and wonder of the world as I live in it.”
THE BRINTON MUSEUM BIG HORN, WYOMING
legendary Western artists like “The Soldier Artist” Freder ic Remington of the famed Harper’s Weekly covers to con temporary masters like Andy Warhol. Three contemporary galleries host 10 to 12 exhibitions per year. Make the most of a visit to the Booth with tours and plan to dine onsite at the Booth’s Café for lunch. If your group is coming in October, check on the dates of the Southeastern Cowboy Festival and Symposium. The Native American danc ing, gunfight reenactments, art history lectures and Western marketplace during the symposium shouldn’t be missed. boothmuseum.org
At the museum, visitors will find more than 140 O’Keef fe oil paintings, nearly 700 drawings and hundreds of other creations dating from 1901 to 1984. The instantly recognizable O’Keeffe works at the museum include largescale depictions of flowers and other natural forms. In addition to exhibitions devoted entirely to O’Keeffe’s work, visitors may also view her art with works by her American modernist contemporaries. Explore her process, techniques and works in the mu seum in downtown Santa Fe, and augment your group’s understanding with a slew of workshops, guest lectures, conversations and art activities for children and adults of allRoundlevels.out a trip to the museum with a visit to O’Keeffe’s Abiquiú home and studio, about 60 miles northwest of Santa Fe. Private tours grant visitors access to additional spaces, just plan to call ahead to book.
C.M. Russell’s studio at his museum in Great Falls
“The Briscoe tells those stories through art and artifacts housed in a historical building on the banks of the San Antonio River Walk.” Travelers can expect to view an array of popular Tex as-influenced pieces in Western art history.
“The Brinton Museum puts on display the past, present and future of the American West,” McNabb said. “We do that through our historic Quarter Circle A Ranch, fine art and American Indian art collections.” Visitors can expect an impressive array of exhibits. Help your group members earn their spurs by participating in any of the many add-ons available including workshops and art demonstrations. For groups interested in hearing from experts, listen in on a lecture or walk with a do cent. Guided tours of the historic Ranch House and the Quarter Circle A Ranch outbuildings like the Little Goose Creek Lodge, the Brinton Barn, Milk House, Carriage House, Saddle Barn and Bunkhouse are available. Master Leather Artist James Jackson — a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellowship recipient — offers tours of the Leather Studio. Nearly a dozen new exhibitions are on the horizon for 2023. Expect to explore Western wildlife, Native American textiles, Lakota oral history shows with artists, musicians and poetry and more at the Brinton Museum.
MUSEUMBRINTONCOURTESYA painting on display at Wyoming’s Brinton Museum Visit Sikeston MO Comfortable stays Famous + local restaurants Wineries & much more! Historic Downtown District Unique Shops & historic sites Recreation trails & parks Stay for a day or the weekend! @visitsikestonmo Fall festivals & events Pumpkin Seasonalfarmattractions Explore Experience Enjoy
BRISCOE MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART
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“View Santa Anna’s sword, and saddles from Roy Rog ers, Pancho Villa and Buffalo Bill Cody, as well as artwork from today’s top contemporary artists alongside the fa thers of Western art,” Grant said. Planners will be happy to know The Briscoe Museum of Western Art can customize group tours. The museum’s 1.4acre campus includes 35 sculptures outside of the building, with many nestled in the McNutt Sculpture Garden, an oasis just steps away from the river. Groups planning to visit San Antonio can easily incorporate a visit or even spend a day at the“Plus,Briscoe.our Jack Guenter Pavilion is a fabulous event space,” Grant added. “If groups are visiting as part of a convention or larger celebration and need event space, the Briscoe’s Jack Guenther Pavilion is ideal.”
selecttraveler.com2022 and, of course, the museum’s collections of world-class art,” said Barbara McNabb, curator of exhibitions.
SAN ANTONIO The sleek and modern Briscoe Museum of West Art, right on the River Walk in San Antonio, is quick to assert the Lone Star claim to Western fame. “We always say ‘the West starts here’ and we mean it,” said Valerie Grant, public relations manager for the Briscoe Museum of Western Art. “But without San Antonio and South Texas, the West as we know it wouldn’t exist.”
thebrintonmuseum.org
The Brinton Museum hosts works by artistic maestros including Frederic Remington, Ed Borein, Joseph Hen ry Sharp, Charles M. Russell, Frank Tenney Johnson, Winold Reiss, Bill Gollings and other artists of the period.
In 2024, the Briscoe is planning to launch a new exhibit delving into the history of Tejano artwork and the Tejano influence on Western art. briscoemuseum.org
Waterfront resonate
Lakes and rivers
The Lake Michigan shoreline is a defining feature of Milwaukee.
in these favorite places Wisconsin COURTESY VISIT MILWAUKEE
STATE OF MIND BY RACHEL CRICK
“Door County is really kind of this sea side experience in the heart of the Mid west,” said Laura Bradley, director of marketing and sales at Destination Door County.Onesignature Door County experience for groups is a fish boil, which provides both dinner and a show. In this Scandina vian tradition, fresh-caught white fish, po tatoes, onions and salt are boiled in a pot over a fire, which is then doused with ker osene. After the pot boils over, the contents are served family-style. These fish boils are a staple of Door County and can be found in many of its communities. Another Door County classic for groups is a docent-guided tour of one of its historic lighthouses. Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, locat ed in Peninsula State Park, offers stunning views of Green Bay and the surrounding park, while Cana Island Lighthouse, per haps the island’s most famous lighthouse, is located near Bailey’s Harbor.
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From Door County in the north to Milwaukee in the south, these four waterfront Wisconsin destinations allow group travelers to experience it all, from relaxing beach getaways to urban meccas of entertainment and culture.
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Flanked by Green Bay on the western side and Lake Michigan on the eastern side, Door County is an 80-mile pen insula with 300 miles of shoreline for groups to explore. It’s known for its his toric lighthouses, cherry orchards and natural beauty. Each of its 19 distinct coastal communities offers a unique travel experience, providing an abun dance of attractions to choose from, not to mention the county’s five state parks and 53 Lake Michigan beaches. Door County is an outdoor lover’s paradise, perfect for those who crave adventure or those who want to relax by the shore.
BY DAN EGGERT, COURTESY DESTINATION DOOR COUNTY BY JON NIENHUIS, COURTESY DESTINATION DOOR COUNTY
In Sister Bay, Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant and Butik serves Swedish fare with an unusual aesthetic; groups will find goats grazing on the sod roof of the
hen people think of a beach destination, they aren’t likely to imagine a trip to Wisconsin. But eastern Wisconsin, bor dering Lake Michigan, is alive with beautiful waterfronts. Groups can meander along the waterways of Wisconsin for a wide array of sights and experiences, including picturesque coastal villages, otherworldly cathedrals and charming smalltown farms, all while still enjoying signature Wisconsin culture.
“It’s a really beautiful waterfront with an eclectic downtown, so you can really curate your group tour.”
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— NICK MEISNER, DISCOVER GREEN BAY
The host city of the Green Bay Packers is home to much more than the celebrated NFL team; this waterfront city has dozens of museums, displays of arts and culture, restaurants and opportunities for outdoor recreation.“It’sareally beautiful waterfront with an eclectic downtown, so you can really cu rate your group tour,” said Nick Meisner, vice president of digital marketing and communications at Discover Green Bay. For a tour of Green Bay from the wa ter, groups can take a river cruise on the Foxy Paddler, a 35-foot paddle boat. The cruise allows groups to bring their own beverages as they glide along the Fox Riv er through downtown and learn about all the city has to offer.
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22 selecttraveler.com building, a spectacle that has become a lo cal tradition and a must-see for travelers. Groups can ferry to Washington Island and take a tram tour of the island. They can see the clear blue waters and smooth stones of the picturesque Schoolhouse Beach, one of the few smooth-rock beach es in the world. Those visiting in July and August can see one of the largest lav ender fields in the Midwest in bloom at Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm, where they can also purchase goods made from the lavender in the fields. doorcounty.com
COURTESY FRAGRANT ISLE COURTESY DISCOVER GREEN BAY County lavender farm Green Bay’s Lambeau Field
The Neville Public Museum, a museum dedicated to preserving Wisconsin-related artifacts, features rotating exhibits about science, local history and art. Another big hit for groups is Green Bay’s National Rail
GREEN BAY
One of the top stops for groups in Green Bay is Lambeau Field. Here, groups can tour the stadium while learning about its history, from the player’s tunnel to the press box. Groups can also check out the Packers Hall of Fame to learn about and see memorabilia from some of the most legendary Packers.
COURTESY DISCOVER GREEN BAY BY JON NIENHUIS, COURTESY DESTINATION DOOR COUNTY BY JON NIENHUIS, COURTESY DESTINATION DOOR COUNTY BY JON NIENHUIS, COURTESY DESTINATION DOOR COUNTY Waitresses at a Door County Swedish restaurant DoorPreparingTraditionalWisconsinwhitefishaCountyfishboil Jason jring@manitowoc.infoRing920-686-3070 Manitowoc Area Visitor & Convention Bureau www.manitowoc.info COUNTYDOOR FONDMILWAUKEEGREENBAYDULAC
selecttraveler.com 23 road Museum, one of the largest railroad museums in the country. Here, restored historic trains are available for viewing. Along the lines of transportation, car enthusiasts will be delighted by the Au tomobile Gallery, a Cadillac dealership turned automobile museum where clas sic and modern cars are displayed in gal lery fashion. Visitors to the gallery can view more than 75 distinct automobiles at their own pace or with a guided tour. Green Bay is also known for its promi nent food and beverage scene. In addition to their signature drinks and delicious cui sine, many restaurants and breweries are famed for the atmosphere they offer guests. Titletown Brewing Company offers a roof top tasting room promising some of the best views in the city. The Turn Restaurant Lounge offers a variety of classic American dishes, live music and an interactive golf and gaming simulator sure to wow any group. For fine dining options, groups are welcome at Republic Chophouse, a steak house in the heart of downtown. greenbay.com
Located on the foot of Wisconsin’s larg est inland lake, Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac and the surrounding region give groups a laid-back and charming travel experience. The area’s hometown feel is accentuated by the many locally owned and operated businesses and attractions for groups to check out. It’s also centrally located between Green Bay and Milwau kee, making it an easy stop on any Wis consin travel itinerary.
Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairy land, and there are several stops in Fond du Lac that back this fact. The LaClare Creamery focuses on all-things goat. This family-owned creamery specializes in goat cheese and milk, sourcing their products entirely from nearby farms. Groups can take guided tours of the oneof-a-kind facility, meet the goats behind the cheese and sample the creamery’s products at its café. For a sweet treat, groups can head to the Kelley Country Creamery, another family-owned cream ery, whose hand-dipped ice cream was rated best in America by “Good Morning America.” Groups can sample one of the many homemade flavors while enjoying views of the ice cream being made. Fond du Lac also has a number of dis tilleries, breweries and wineries in the area that make excellent stops for groups.
For another casual dining scene, groups can head to the Milwaukee Public Market, its oldest food hall, which show
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The Milwaukee Museum of Art on the Lake Michigan shoreline
Lovers of art, architecture and culture will thrive in Milwaukee, where diversity and tradition come together. This met ropolitan city is the largest in Wisconsin and is known for its booming beer indus try and food scene, as well as the unique patchwork of architectural styles that populate the city.
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“It’s a pretty wide region of a lot of dif ferent venues, and there’s a lot of agri cultural businesses and a lot of fami ly-owned businesses,” said Liz Engh, director of group tour sales at Destina tion Lake Winnebago Region.
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Enjoying a Fond du Lac winery Ice cream in Fond du Lac
“We’re an incredibly diverse city, which just means some amazing cultural at tractions, and restaurants and activi ties that travelers just love,” said Claire Koenig, communications director at Visit Milwaukee.Oneofthe area’s most popular attrac tions for groups is the Milwaukee Art Museum, which features the largest art collection in Wisconsin. Groups can take docent-guided tours of the museum and view its vast collection of classic and con temporary art. Another one-of-a-kind Milwaukee attraction is the Harley-Da vidson Museum, which also houses a group-friendly restaurant. Here, groups can sample fried cheese curds, a Milwau kee delicacy, as they learn about the his tory of the American motorcycle company.
The Ledgerock Distillery grows its own corn and wheat to distill bourbon, vodka, gin and moonshine, and offers tours and tastings for groups. At Ziegler Winery, a family-owned winery on the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago just north of Fond du Lac, groups can learn about and taste the cold-hardy grape varieties.
Also on the eastern shore of the lake is Jim and Linda’s Lakeview Supper Club, which is renowned for its cocktails, prime rib and seafood. Here, groups can enjoy sunset views over the lake and a casual, friendly atmosphere with their meal.
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Nature enthusiasts won’t be disappoint ed by a trip to the Horicon Marsh, the larg est freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. The site is a national and state wild life refuge, and visitors to the marsh can catch glimpses of hundreds of species of birds. fdl.com
selecttraveler.com 25SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 cases the city’s diverse food scene and caters to any palate. As its nickname “Brew City” suggests, Milwaukee has no shortage of breweries for groups to tour. Lakefront Brewery, the second-oldest craft brewery in the area, offers a notoriously comedic tour of its facilities, as well as a beer hall, where groups can sample some of its famous beers and Wisconsin bar food staples. The city is also home to the Pabst Mansion, an architectural wonder and former home to the founder of Pabst Brewing Company. In addition to the mansion, groups fond of architecture and history will love the city’s many architectural marvels, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright Burnham Block of houses, two of which are available for tours. Other notable buildings for groups to spot are the Basilica of Saint Josaphat and the Joan of Arc Chapel. Milwaukee is situated on Lake Michi gan and is home to three rivers, provid ing plenty of waterways for groups to check out. One popular water attraction for groups is a guided river cruise on the Milwaukee River with the Milwaukee Boat Line, which offers sightseeing, his toric and cocktail cruises. visitmilwaukee.org
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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Burnham Block in Milwaukee
The Chesapeake Bay defines the personality of Annapolis.
Spend a bit of time in Annapolis, Maryland’s lovely little city tucked away on the Chesapeake Bay, and you’ll notice this: All roads lead to the water. Oh, perhaps not literally — sure, you can find streets within its boundaries that don’t. But the important ones, like Main Street, do. Annapolis’ founding fathers, who laid out the city in the 1600s, knew the brackish bay would be its lifeblood. The water helped give birth to Annapolis, kept it growing and thriving through its centuries of evolution, and to this day is largely responsible for its nearly endless appeal as a“Thedestination.wateris so much a part of who we are, it’s in our veins,” Susan Seifried, director of media and community re lations at Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. “There’s always a connection to the water.” Groups that venture within the city’s charming confines will discover a diverting array of attractions related to its en viable bayside locale, some tangentially, many directly.
Maritime Moments
IT’S TIME TO TAKE YOUR GROUP TO ANNAPOLIS
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Leaders who have visited the Annapolis Maritime Muse um and Park before 2021 will find much new to discover there since its reopening. Renovated to the tune of about $1 million and located in the beautiful former site of the last remaining oyster packing plant in the area, the institution now boasts a museum-wide permanent exhibition dubbed “Our Changing Waterfront.” Using top-notch interactive and immersive displays, it delves into three main topics: the Chesapeake’s health, oyster economy and Annapolis waters.
The Wilma Lee is a historic skipjack built in 1940 and refurbished by the Maritime Museum. The museum be gan booking cruises aboard it, including private charters for up to 35, just last year.
The ideal place for groups to begin their tour of the city, the Museum of Historic Annapolis opened its new threefloor permanent exhibition, “Annapolis: An American Sto ry” in March. It follows some four centuries of the city’s story, shining the spotlight on topics and events such as the American Revolution and the Civil Rights struggle.
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“Whether it’s a sailing cruise aboard the Wilma Lee or the Schooner Woodwind or a 40-minute cruise of the An napolis Harbor on the Harbor Queen, you can make a great day even better by just adding water,” Seifried said.
There’s only one United States Naval Academy, and it’s in Annapolis. As such, a stop there is a must for any group visiting the city. There are several special, themed tours available for groups of more than 15, like the 90-minute walking tour and the USNA Tour and Tea. The latter fea tures afternoon tea at the Naval Academy Club and visits to the Main Chapel and the crypt of John Paul Jones, the legendary Revolutionary War naval captain. “The chapel is spectacular,” Seifried said. “It has Tiffa ny windows, and they had to replace the dome, so it’s this shiny copper color instead of the traditional patina. It really changes the whole look of our skyline. The Yard — that’s what we call the academy campus — is in the Beaux Arts style. It was designed by the architect Ernest Flagg, so that’s also really interesting for people who are into architecture.”
The museum welcomes groups, giving them three pri vate tour topics to choose from: how the ecology of the bay has evolved and where it stands now; the process of oyster harvesting; and the town’s maritime history.
STULLKENMATTHEWBY Sailing on the bay
“Skipjacks are these beautiful working vessels that are kind of unique to the Chesapeake Bay,” Seifried said. “Watermen used them, and in their heyday there were more than 1,000 of them on the bay. Now there’s about 23, so the significance of having this skipjack provide cruises is tremendous.”
The water and its importance to Annapolis is detailed as well, beginning with Native peoples who were drawn to the site of the future city by the bounty the bay provided. It also includes a look at “Colonial days when the Annapolis sea port was very much a center of commerce,” Seifried said.
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ANNAPOLIS CRUISES
No trip to Annapolis would be complete without at least a little time spent on the bay. Luckily, the city provides a number of options for groups looking to experience the city’s prime pastime.
Showstoppers that groups will love exploring include two 500-gallon tanks that demonstrate how bay water has changed from the 17th century to today, as well as a nifty waterman hologram that groups will swear is a real person chatting about his life.
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Before groups board the motorcoach and head off to their next Annapolis adventure, they should drop by the U.S. Naval Academy Museum. The first floor is home to exhibits like the iconic “Don’t give up the ship” flag from the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. The second floor boasts one of the finest model ship collections in the world.
The building housing the museum is itself a treat: It dates back to 1790 when it was rebuilt by a German immigrant after the bakery on the lot burned down. Inside, groups can expect to see items as varied as a Colonial printing press, a 1950s lunch counter and models of boats made in the city during World War II. Special rates are available to motor coach tours, as well as themed, docent-led tours.
Meanwhile, the Woodwind I and II, two stunning 74-foot wooden schooners, offer public cruises and private char ters for up to 48. The Harbor Queen has been providing a variety of narrated public cruises for more than 45 years, but private charters are also available.
“They also have an interactive Harry Potter-style book that examines the bay’s watershed,” Seifried said, “and a 3D virtual reality boat where people can put on the eye pieces and join a sailing race, accompany a waterman on an oyster boat or explore the bay on kayak.”
“And then it explores the watermen and the working of the waters and our status now as America’s sailing capital.”
The Kentucky Derby is Louisville’s crowning jewel and a popular destination for affinity groups.
Swing for the Fences YOUR SPORTS BUFFS WILL LOVE LOUISVILLE
Forget bourbon (just for a moment) and consider another theme for a visit to Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city: sports.Avariety of iconic sports phrases have roots in Louisville. Consider “float like a but terfly, sting like a bee.” Or perhaps you’ve heard, “It’s outta here! Another home run!” or “the fastest two minutes in sports.” Those phrases come to life at the Muhammad Ali Center, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, and the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs. The Ali Center and the Louisville Slugger Museum are barely four blocks apart in the center of the city, and Churchill Downs is just 15 minutes away. Plan stops at all of these memorable sports attractions next time you bring a group to Louisville.
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BY TOM ADKINSON
Boxing thrust Muhammad Ali onto the world stage, but the Ali Center is far more than a tribute to one of the most impressive stories in sports history. The facility delivers a full accounting of Ali’s boxing career and then delves deeply into the life of a man whose humanitarianism, outreach and example touched millions.
A video projected on a Jumbotron-size screen begins in the lush Pennsylvania forest where all Louisville Slug gers are born as ash, maple or birch trees. A tree bound for Louisville is straight, healthy and about 65 feet tall.
The Ali Center illuminates Ali’s six core principles — con fidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect and spiritu ality. A walk through the center — accented by Ali’s famous quips and profound declarations — inspires admiration for Ali and prompts self-reflection. An especially touching exhibit is a curved video screen showing a courageous, Parkinson’s-affected Ali carrying the Olympic torch to open the 1996 Atlanta Games — 36 years and an impactful lifetime after winning Olympic gold in Rome.
Roughly 60 bats are hidden under the bark.
Extracting those bats is more complex than you might imagine. Major League Baseball players are quite precise about size, weight, grip and other factors. Some visit the factory to select the pieces of wood that will become their bats. Hall of Famer Ted Williams famously did that.
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An exhibit at the MuhammadCenterAli
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Consider Clay’s fate had his bike not been stolen, had he not met Martin and had he not developed his skill. No Olympic gold medal, no heavyweight championships, no resistance to war, no comfort for the afflicted in nations around the world.
Finding your next tour stop it easy. Just look for the building on Main Street with a 120-foot-tall baseball bat sculpture out front. It’s an exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth’s 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat. It is steel, of course, instead of wood, and it weighs 34 tons.
After a stirring biographical film provides an introduction, an exhibit about Ali’s “Red Bike Moment” illustrates how serendipity can change a life’s trajectory.
Your visit begins in a room populated with several lifesize statues of famous players, all wielding Louisville Sluggers. Stand right beside Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Ken Griffey Jr. and other superstars for keepsake photos.
Officer Joe Martin, who trained boxers, encouraged Clay to learn how to box first. He trained Clay for six years.
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The core of every tour is “The Greatest Race,” an 18-min ute film projected in high definition on an oval screen. Scenes pop all around you as you sit on a rotating stool in the middle of the theater. Quiet moments of horses in their stalls suddenly give way to the thunder of the Derby — and you’re sitting in the very middle of the track. After the movie, a guide leads you into the stands and to the track’s edge. The famous spires are just down the way, and it is easy to imagine the seats filled with ex pectant race fans. Less easy to imagine are thousands of people filling the infield. They depend on a massive video screen three times the size of an NBA basketball court to see any action, according to the tour guide.
When Ali was 12 — and then called Cassius Clay — a thief stole his new Schwinn bike. A tearful Clay reported the theft to a police officer and said he wanted to “whup” the thief.
Back in the museum, a substantial “Black Heritage in Racing” exhibit tells the poignant story of how Black jock eys and trainers were central to the Derby’s early years (12 Black jockeys rode Derby winners, but the last was in 1902), but they were mostly pushed aside by Jim Crow laws and attitudes.
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Once a season, players who swing Louisville Sluggers play with pink bats. It is a Mother’s Day initiative called “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer,” which has raised more than $1 million for cancer research since 2006. At the end of every tour, every visitor gets a miniature Louisville Slugger bat and the opportunity to visit a bat ting cage right there in the building and swing a real one. Plunk down $2 for 10 swings and hope that someone yells, “It’s outta here!”
The first Kentucky Derby was in 1875, and Churchill Downs is gearing up for the 150th race in 2024. A muse um and track tour before then will make the 150th “Run for the Roses” all the more notable to Louisville visitors.
SWINGING FOR THE FENCES
Almost no one remembers Pete Browning, but they do remember his nickname: the Louisville Slugger.
Plunking down $2 is key to another Louisville sports attraction, Churchill Downs. A $2 bet there can turn into a fistful of dollars if you pick the right horse at the betting window.Theyear’s biggest race day, of course, is the Kentucky Der by the first Saturday in May. Upward of 150,000 people pack this famed racetrack for “the fastest two minutes in sports.” Tours on non-Derby days, of course, are more relaxed and probably more informative. The Kentucky Derby Mu seum offers several, and even the basic one wraps you in excitement and immerses you in history.
Company legend says it made its first professional bat in 1884 for Pete Browning. Browning played on the Louis ville Eclipse baseball team, and the legend says Browning got three hits with that bat in his next game.
Yes, the factory where the famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats are made is in the heart of downtown Lou isville, and tours walk right through the production floor.
Hideaway OR Hotspot?
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N ot all beaches are created equal. While beach destinations of all kinds prove popular with visitors, some beckon selective travelers with their natural beau ty and luxurious vibe. They transport and soothe us. These places have it all — clear waters hugging strands of soft sand, abundant marine life and plentiful diversions sprinkled into the mix. Sunny palm-tree filled days morph into starry evenings occupied with sampling the best seafood and local cuisine. From laid-back Sanibel Island to vibrant San Diego and the lush island of Hawaii, travelers can find upscale beach destinations without bringing their passports. And groups that are ready to venture farther will revel in the sun-soaked Mediterranean beaches of Valencia, Spain, and Nice, France, both complemented by unforgettable European culture and history.
Sanibel Island, Florida
Who knew a tropical paradise could be so easily acces sible? Connecting Sanibel and Captiva Islands to Fort My ers, the Sanibel causeway stretches three miles over the Gulf of Mexico. Dubbed “the seashell capital of the world,” Sanibel catches the tides and currents just right along its 12 miles of shoreline, and walking its beaches gives ample opportunity to take home shells of all shapes and sizes. Besides its marvelous collection, the island’s Bailey-Mat thews National Shell Museum offers marine-biologist-led beach walks, lectures and special exhibitions. Pedaling some of the 25 miles of bike and walking paths that crisscross Sanibel makes it easy to explore the is land. For 130 years, the Sanibel Lighthouse has been part of the island’s culture. Coming or going, smaller groups can stop at the Lighthouse Café for breakfast or lunch. Fringed with mangrove trees, more than 60% of this barrier island is preserved for wildlife, including migra tory birds. Groups can start at the J.N. Ding Darling Na tional Wildlife Refuge visitor center, with its notably artsy restrooms, before the guided 90-minute tram tour on a four-mile loop. Wildlife viewing is also possible by guided kayak tours on the Great Calusa Blueway, which spans 190 miles of red mangrove-lined waterways in the Fort Myers area.
Your beach enthusiasts have a world of choices
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The Kona coast is among the most scenic beach destinations in Hawaii.
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Among its many and varied beaches, the white sands of Hapuna Beach consistently rank on international “top 10” lists of Hawaii’s best beaches due to good conditions for swimming, bodyboarding and snorkeling. In bays and coves, such as Keauhou Bay, paddleboarding its crys tal-clear waters delivers a bird’s-eye view of its underwa ter
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“Our beaches are spectacular experiences within them selves,” said Ross Birch, executive director of Island of Ha waii Visitors Bureau. “Although our island doesn’t have miles and miles of extended beaches, our beaches are secluded and highly rated compared to those around the world. We invite visitors to take the Pono Pledge prior to coming to our island because it outlines a mindful respect and safe inter action with our wildlife, nature and communities.”
La Jolla Shores’ mile-long crescent beach is favored by beachgoers of all ages, and nearby Birch Aquarium dis plays more than 60 exhibits. From Point Loma, sportfish ing trips catch sea bass, rockfish and barracuda. Notto-be-missed, tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument offer a sure bet to see starfish and sea anemones in their naturalSpanninghabitat.San Diego Bay, 200-foot-high San Diego-Coro nado Bridge delivers groups to Coronado Beach. Touted as California’s safest swimming beach, it boasts the icon ic Hotel del Coronado, featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like it Hot.” The beach itself, literally sparkles because of the mica found in its sand, while abundant shopping and restaurants line Coronado’s Orange Avenue.
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“Groups can also take day trips out of McCarthy’s Ma rina on adjacent Captiva Island,” said Ray Sarracino, communications director for Visit Fort Myers. “Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa and Boca Grande are all very different. Groups can eat lunch on Cabbage Key at a small inn that you can only access by boat. Cayo Costa State Park is a natural paradise, and Boca Grande has an Old Florida vibe with several restaurants, the historic Gasparilla Is land Lighthouse and a really beautiful beach.”
The Kona side of the island is known for excellent snor keling and diving. Breakfast and lunch snorkel cruise goers might spot spinner dolphins escorting the boat, Hawaiian green sea turtles, endangered Hawaiian monk seals lazing in the waves and abundant fish. Between late November and early May, humpback whales can be spot ted from land and sea.
Themarvels.Kona coast offers the best opportunity to encounter manta rays — the largest fish in the ocean with wing spans up to 20 feet or more. Nighttime snorkeling tours take people to specific sites where lights are used to at tract these giants that feed off plankton and put on quite a show as they glide and somersault through the water.
Florida’s Sanibel Island
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San Diego, California Stretching for 70 miles, the legendary coastline of San Diego beckons with myriad ways to enjoy surf and sand. Near downtown, Mission Bay Aquatic Park offers kayak ing, stand-up paddleboarding, water-skiing, kite surfing and everything in between for the novice and experienced enthusiast. Mission Bay Bike Path loops the water for 12 miles of easy pedaling; numerous bike rental shops can be found nearby. Always popular are San Diego Harbor dinner or wine sunset cruises and whale- or dolphin-watching trips that launch from Oceanside Harbor’s historic lighthouse. Guided kayak tours within the La Jolla Ecological Reserve explore natural sea caves, cliffs and marine life. Paddlers often glimpse harmless leopard sharks and dolphins.
The island of Hawaii’s breadth of outdoor adventure and its Kona coastline set it apart from other beach des tinations. Black sand beaches, excellent snorkeling, vol canoes, zip lining and more can be experienced in this sandy paradise, which is twice as large as all the other Hawaiian Islands combined.
“Our many beaches offer a diversity of activities includ ing sunbathing, kayaking and taking surfing classes,” said Edna Gutierrez, spokesperson for San Diego Tourism Au thority. “Coronado Beach makes a great day trip because groups can stroll the beach and shop nearby. The sunsets are breathtaking, and the hotel itself is a wonder.”
Just outside the city, Albufera Natural Park offers mag ical sunsets on Spain’s largest lagoon surrounded by pad dy fields and woods. Year-round, but especially in winter, the park provides shelter for up to 300 species of birds including flamingos. Boat rides in a handcrafted “albufer enc” last approximately 40 minutes.
Not-to-be-missed, Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences boasts futuristic structures that include a planetarium, oceanarium and an interactive museum. The oceanari um is the largest aquarium in Europe, showcasing some 45,000 marine creatures from 500 different species and the world’s primary marine ecosystems. Also noteworthy, the Gothic-style Cathedral of Valencia houses the Holy Chalice. Documentation and archaeological studies have led experts and the Catholic Church to believe this Holy Grail is the one used by Jesus in the Last Supper.
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The San Diego coastline Historic architectureFrenchinNice Beachside paella in Valencia
Situated in the heart of Spain’s Mediterranean coast, and a mere 95 minutes from Madrid via high-speed train, Valencia exudes Spanish culture and history. Here, an cient and modern, gothic and baroque architecture, palm trees and orange trees all seamlessly coexist. At the city’s La Malvarrosa beach, visitors can surf, windsurf, canoe or simply lounge. Groups can rent bikes and ride the boardwalk, which has been there since the early 1900s. Today, it’s bordered by hotels and restaurants, many of which serve paella.
Perched above the modern village of Eze, medieval Eze tucks shops and cafes into its winding cobblestone streets. Hiking upward, the Exotic Garden of Eze lies in the shad ow of ancient fortress ruins high above the sea. The vil lage’s Fragonard perfume factory offers a short tour, and its shop sells perfumes in sumptuous packaging.
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“The fishermen of nearby Albufera Natural Park were the first to create paella, and groups can have a paella meal near the boardwalk and beach,” said Patricia Wood Winn, spokesperson for the Tourist Office of Spain. “Or they can go to La Barraca de Toni Montoliu and watch pa ella being made over a traditional wood fire. Many restau rants also serve it, including La Pepica, the restaurant made famous by Hemingway.”
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Touting some of the best beaches in France, Nice hugs the Mediterranean Sea under lapis-blue skies. The Prom enade des Anglais’ sublime boardwalk lined with palm trees attracts water-lovers along the various beach es of this stunning bay. Understandably, Nice ranks as France’s No. 1 tourist destination just behind Paris. The city was under Italian rule until 1860, so its archi tecture and culture are still closely intertwined with Italy. Strolling its famous flower market with its many vendors, visitors can sample the local pancake-like treat, socca. With 19 museums — from photography to art and arche ology — groups can pick and choose from the highest concentration of museums after Paris. The noteworthy Marc Chagall National Museum showcases 17 paintings depicting Old Testament themes, supplemented by addi tional galleries. Foodies will find authentic nicoise restau rants throughout the city that display certification in their window, indicating the cuisine is traditional and use local products.Outside the city, day trips are devoted to small towns that hug cliffs above the sparkling sea. Picturesque Ville franche-sur-Mer, 15 minutes to the east, slopes down to the ocean. The peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is known as the playground of the wealthy. Here, rose-col ored Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild was built by one of Europe’s wealthiest women; an audio tour tells her story while visitors stroll art-filled rooms and gardens with pan oramic Mediterranean views.
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34 selecttraveler.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 WITH ASHLEY TAYLOR going places
Everyone wants to travel with people who are moving at their speed or who, at the very least, recognize and appre ciate their preferences and are willing to compromise. So it’s important for you to think about the speed of your trips and discuss it in advance with yourHeretravelers.arefour common travel speeds and tips on how to accommodate them on your group tours. ‘Let’s Go-Go’ Young (or young-at-heart) travelers who want to experi ence as much as possible often prefer “Let’s Go-Go,” the fastest travel speed. Exploring new cities and trying new things are at the top of their lists. Adventure tours may be the best for these types of travelers. But if you can’t offer all-adventure trips, consider offerings some adventurous options to keep them happy.
hat is your travel speed? Picking a destination is perhaps the most important part of planning a trip. But in addition to thinking about where you’re going, you should also consider the pace you and your travelers will enjoy once you get at their own speed. Choosing a tour that accommodates your customers’ travel speed is im portant for maximizing their enjoyment. If you chose a tour that doesn’t offer enough expe riences, moves too slowly or has too much or too little free time, you might end up with some unhappy clients.
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Travelers in the “Let’s Go-Go” stage really need like-mind ed travel companions who will join them on the fast-paced journeys and not hold them back. They seek to seize every moment because adventure is what they value most.
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‘Let’s Go’ After some time of fast-paced travel, many people reach a more moderate “Let’s Go” phase of life. Perhaps they have already traveled and experienced a lot, or maybe their per sonalities don’t put a premium on adven ture. Travelers at this stage can often find many travel companions and are well suit ed for most group tours. They also tend to be more flexible, happy to travel alongside “Let’s Go-Go” and “Let’s Slow-Go” com panions. Tour planners should take care, however, to make sure other people’s pref erences don’t overwhelm or bore travelers in this in-between category.
‘Let’s Slow-Go’ There are a variety of reasons why people might choose a “Let’s Slow-Go” approach to travel. Their personalities might lend themselves to more contem plative experiences, or physical limita tions may limit their ability to move as quickly as they once did. Whatever the reason, these travelers are typically looking for more leisurely trips and will likely not enjoy a fast-paced tour. Slow-go travelers require a slow pace and less walking. They often enjoy beaches, resorts or moun tain retreats. They still want to travel but need experiences that accommodate their slower pace. Trips Have a Sense of Pace
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Pictured: Take a cooking class with The League of Kitchens, to build cross-cultural connection and access to traditional cuisine.
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PUT MEANING ON THE MAP. www . meaningfultr avelpla tform.org/main/m ap Tr av el w ith Pur po se Ac ro ss N orth Am e ri ca . 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 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
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bio
Ashley Taylor is a longtime bank and travel club planner. She lives in Ashland, Kentucky, with her family of six. ‘The No-Go’ Eventually, most people reach a point where travel be comes very difficult. For those who love travel, there’s a temptation to continue traveling independently longer than they should. If you have travelers like this in your group, you need to be honest with them about the level of physical activity in your trips. If they have mobility issues, encourage them to consider bringing a family member to help them on the road or even hiring a travel companion. Make sure whoever travels with them can physically help them and is prioritizing their friend’s well-being over their ownKnowingexperiences.yourcustomers’ travel speeds is essential to ensuring a trip’s success. Communicating with your trav elers in advance before choosing your tour will give you a better understanding of what they are looking for in a trip and how you can help them have the best experiences possible.Remember, adding optional excursions on some tours can help “go-goers” taking things to the next level, while choosing a slower pace can give other travelers time for the relaxation they need.
Group travelers should find travel companions who like to travel at the same pace they do.
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