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letter from

the publisher

56 South 33rd Avenue, #234 | St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301 320-259-1082 | 877-832-7267 | Fax: 763-201-7945 info@itinerariesmidwest.com | www.itinerariesmidwest.com Heather J. Lahren | PUBLISHER heather@itinerariesinc.com Kelly Surla | OPERATIONS MANAGER kelly@itinerariesinc.com Lynn Gottwalt | TRAFFIC MANAGER lynn@itinerariesinc.com Mackenzie Lahren | PROJECT COORDINATOR mackenzie@itinerariesinc.com Peggy Olson | ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Independent peggy@itinerariesinc.com Matt Lahren | BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT matt@itinerariesinc.com Jill Ressemann | MARKETING SUPPORT jill@itinerariesinc.com Chris Reber | WEB | chris@itinerariesinc.com Carinna K. Hard Bullemer | ART DIRECTOR HARD AT WORK Design, inc. | carinna@hardatworkdesign.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Heather Lahren, Kathleen Somers, Lynn Gottwalt, Jill Ressemann, Mackenzie Lahren, & Kelly Surla | ITINERARIES Inc. Britt Aamodt

Dear Planner, Gas up your motorcoach and explore the scenic byways and vistas of the Midwest! This issue is centered around the journey, not just the destination. Travel through hilly terrain, glimpse rare wildlife, pull over at a state or national park, behold shimmering shorelines and view historic buildings—these scenic drives have it all! This issue’s destination highlight is majestic South Dakota. Lined with meandering scenic routes, there are plenty of journeys to explore with your group. You’ll also learn how to “get your kicks” on Route 66 and view awe-inspiring sights from the Midwest’s 2,069-mile long Great River Road along the Mississippi. So take a journey. Whether it’s short and sweet like Missouri’s six-mile Stars and Stripes Cultural Byway or a weekend trip along Iowa’s 220-mile Loess Hills Scenic Byway, there is something to be appreciated and explored. Take the scenic route to your group destination this summer, and happy trails! Best Regards, Heather J. Lahren, CEO - Publisher

CENTRAL CANADA

Vicky Engelhaupt | South Dakota Dept of Tourism North dakota

U.P., MICHIGAN

table of contents

Proud Members of: Tour Minnesota Association (TMA) & American Bus Association (ABA) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ITINERARIES Inc. 56 South 33rd Avenue #234, St. Cloud, MN 56301

IOWA

ILLINOIS

featuring

Discover a deeper understanding of the indigenous cultures of the Midwest. Explore art, landscapes, tradition, museums, and monuments paying tribute to the country’s original inhabitants as well as the land that shaped the people.

MISSOURI

KANSAS

8 Take the Long Way Home: Beautiful Vistas & Spectacular Byways

illinois

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columns

tour highlight

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A Circle Tour of Lake Superior

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destination highlight

South Dakota – Great Faces. Great Places. profile Unusual Thrills at the Black Hills advertiser highlight Bend O’ The River Gang

kansas

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on the cover South Dakota’s Black Hills provide the backdrop for Mount Rushmore, near Rapid City, South Dakota, the world’s greatest mountain carving created by sculptors Gutzon and Lincoln Borglum. These 60-foot high faces, of President’s Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt look out over a setting of pine, spruce, birch, and aspen in the clear western air. Add this epic monument to your scenic route!

Native America and Cultural History Tours

SOUTH dakota

NEBRASKA

Coming Summer 2011!

WISCONSIN

spring 2011

7 We make every effort to be as accurate as possible, but assume no responsibility for errors or omissions found in this magazine or any other corporate publications produced by ITINERARIES Inc.

MINNESOTA

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wisconsin - - - - - - - - - - - 53 central canada

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p h o t o c re d i t s Cover image: Chad Coppess/South Dakota Tourism. Other images: Ancestors of Cornelius Dunham, Black Hills, Canal Park Lodge, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Door County WI, Fairmont CVB, Fargo CVB, Harrisburg Ill, Itasca State Park, Kansas, Mall of America, Mankato MN, Michigan, Minnesota Office of Tourism, Minnesota State Fair, Missouri, National Farm Toy Museum, Nebraska, North Dakota Tourism, Owatonna CVB, Plymouth Playhouse, Rapid City CVB, South Dakota Tourism, St Joseph MO CVB, St. James Hotel, Stillwater MN, Thunder Bay, Twin Cities Attraction Association, U.S. Navel Historical Center

Read ITINERARIES Midwest Online. Ads hotlinked to websites. www.itinerariesmidwest.com

tour highlight

A Circle Tour of Lake Superior Prepare yourself for a world-class touring experience that is truly Superior.

3 2 1

his distinct 1,300-mile circle tour by highway, around the world’s largest and most famous freshwater lake will absolutely amaze your senses. Lake Superior’s changing moods and awesome power will thrill and fascinate you. For years it’s been a great leisure trip for families, now tour operators and group travel planners are discovering the trip around magnificent Lake Superior, and groups are loving it! This is the place to go for the true relaxing sounds of nature and running water. There are outstanding nature parks, native arts and culture, shops, outdoor attractions, boat tours, hiking trails, historic rivers, sandy beaches, wonderful waterfalls and large lighthouses to visit. This beautiful international journey around Lake Superior will be touched by both Canadian and American cultures, maritime, native and fur-trading history. Its uniqueness and color is unsurpassed, particularly during the fall months when the air is clean and fresh and the foliage and forest colors are unbelievable in their rich yellows, oranges and reds. You will come home feeling refreshed from this journey. CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY ON A CIRCLE TOUR OF LAKE SUPERIOR AND FIND THE CORRESPONDING KEY TO THE MAP ABOVE.

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

1-877-832-7267

A CIRCLE TOUR OF LAKE SUPERIOR

Minnesota 1

AMERICINN SILVER BAY

Our prime location in Minnesota’s Superior North Shore region, plus our wonderful amenities make the AmericInn Lodge and Suites your best lodging choice while in the Silver Bay area. The AmericInn is located on scenic Route 61 just outside the village of Silver Bay, approximately one-half mile from Lake Superior and just minutes from the Superior National Forest and several showcase state parks. A variety of room types are available, including rooms and suites that offer whirlpools, fireplaces, balconies and

spectacular views of Lake Superior. We also feature two spacious meeting rooms for business meetings and social gatherings. 2

NORTH SHORE RESORTS

Lodge to Lodge Adventure Tours with Odyssey Resorts. Explore - as you tour the North Shore of Lake Superior. Four resorts to choose from, each with their own specialty restaurant. Dine, relax, seek adventure, and enjoy our luxurious lodging. Customized itineraries with multiple activity choices. Stay overnight at one of Odyssey’s resorts; enjoy complimentary activities at all four. One call plans it all. Barb Oswell, CTP, barbo@odysseydev.com, 218-728-8060 Ext 114.

w w w. i t i n e r a r i e s m i d w e s t . c o m

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

A CIRCLE TOUR OF LAKE SUPERIOR

Upper Peninsula

Canada

Over 80% of the south shore of Lake Superior touches Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The shoreline features cascading waterfalls, white sandy beaches and rugged sandstone cliffs. Quaint harbor towns and lighthouses dot the landscape and welcome visitors. Known as a “5-Star Wilderness,” the area is home to some of the finest Midwest wilderness parks including Isle Royale and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. www.UPtravel.com

Located on the shore of Lake Superior, at the head of the Great Lakes, Thunder Bay has always been a natural meeting place. The North West Company fur trading post, Fort William, established in the early 1800s, marked the first permanent settlement in the area. Come and relive the fur trade at Fort William Historical Park. There, costumed interpreters guide you through this exciting period in Canada’s history. Arrange for a Voyageur Feast, hosted by historic characters, for your group. Visit the Thunder Bay Art

UPPER PENINSULA TRAVEL & RECREATION ASSOCIATION 4

THUNDER BAY

Gallery’s world-renowned Permanent Collection of Aboriginal Art and experience a Woodland Art Workshop group package. View exhibitions, hear about spiritual totems, and create a painting in this unique artistic style. Natural attractions abound! Majestic Kakabeka Falls plunges more than 131 feet over sheer cliffs. View the falls from jutting platforms or trails along the gorge. Amethyst, glistening in its natural state, can be found at Amethyst Mine Panorama. Walking tours are offered to groups; afterwards “urban prospectors” can gather their own amethyst from this active working quarry. Canada’s longest foot suspension bridge and longest zipline await at Eagle Canyon Adventures. The suspension bridge is 600’ in length across the canyon from anchor to anchor, and an amazing 150 feet off the canyon floor at its lowest point. Bon appétit! Thunder Bay offers plenty of diverse dining options from fine dining to neighborhood restaurants. Then relax in first-class accommodations. Many hotels are group-friendly and work well with group travelers. 1-800-667-8386

For more information please contact the advertisers directly. Log onto Itineraries Midwest Online Itinerary Library, www.ItinerariesMidwest.com for more details.

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

1-877-832-7267

destination highlight

BY VICKY ENGELHAUPT

SOUTH DAKOTA

Great Faces. Great Places. S

outh Dakota is the land of infinite variety, full of Great Faces and Great Places. With national parks, Old West history, Native American culture and wide open spaces, there is something for everyone in South Dakota.

Korczak Ziolkowski began working on this tribute to Native Americans in 1948. His family continues to work on Crazy Horse, and when complete it will be the world’s largest mountain carving, standing 563 feet high and 641 feet long.

South Dakota is home to majestic Mount Rushmore National Memorial featuring faces of four great American Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Mount Rushmore sits just minutes away from hundreds of attractions in the Black Hills including many national and state parks like Custer State Park.

East of Rapid City on Interstate 90 is Wall Drug. It is known as the “Number One Roadside Attraction in America” displaying a Frontier Town, an animated T. rex, a world class collection of western art, 26 retail departments and a restaurant with the capability of seating 520 guests.

Get prepared for an adventure of a lifetime at Custer State Park where the wild roams free. Nearly 1,300 bison wander amongst dozens of other species of wildlife in this 71,000 acre park. The Buffalo Roundup is held each year in September, hosting thousands of visitors who watch the park staff and wranglers round up the buffalo into corrals to sort and manage the herd. The stories of western outlaws are plentiful in the rough, tough town of Deadwood. The characters of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Sheriff Seth Bullock come alive in this western town. The city continues to restore the once frontier town into a place where your groups can have fun. From Old West history museums, to reenactments of the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok, to trying your luck at gaming, there is something for everyone. Culture and history is abundant in South Dakota. Take Crazy Horse Memorial for example. This face emerged as a fifth face on a mountain in the Black Hills. Sculptor

The awe-inspiring Badlands National Park is a great stop for hiking, or spectacular views across 244,000 acres of breathtaking land. The Lakota named this place “mako sica,” meaning “land bad.” Purple, yellow, tan and gray, red and orange and white colors with wildlife scattered throughout the park will leave visitors stunned by the beauty of this foreign-looking land. In eastern South Dakota, explore Fort Sisseton State Historical Park boasting South Dakota’s frontier history, one of the best preserved army forts in the nation. De Smet is South Dakota’s “Little Town on the Prairie,” where author Laura Ingalls Wilder homesteaded. The community still celebrates Laura’s life by preserving historic Ingalls sites and hosting the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant every summer. Interstate 29, running north and south in eastern South Dakota, is known as a “cultural corridor.” Plan to stop at The Redlin Art Center in Watertown, the new Children’s Museum of South Dakota in Brookings, the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science in Sioux Falls and the

National Music Museum in Vermillion. Sioux Falls offers everything that a group needs for a memorable tour, including abundant shopping, unique restaurants and more than 4,200 hotel rooms. The sight of cascading waterfalls erupting from the prairie will leave visitors in awe at Falls Park. Art lovers can explore the year-round SculptureWalk downtown; and animal lovers can head over to the Great Plains Zoo nearby. South Dakota is also home to the World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell. The Corn Palace was built in 1892 as a way to celebrate the harvest. Each year, more than 3,000 bushels of corn, grain and native grasses are used to create the murals that decorate the exterior of the palace. Perhaps your groups are looking to kick back and relax while they’re here. Mapping out a wine trail across South Dakota will allow you to visit more than a dozen winery businesses, some offering wine tasting. You’ll find a variety of events and activities across South Dakota including, ethnic festivals, threshing shows, holiday parades, antique car shows, Western rodeos, Native American pow wows and the great outdoors, that will enlighten and entertain a host of audiences. Plan your group tour to South Dakota’s Great Places to create memories of a lifetime. The South Dakota Department of Tourism is ready to help you begin planning your trip to South Dakota. Contact Vicky Engelhaupt, Group Tour Representative, at 1-800-952-3625, or for more information visit our website at www.TourSDakota.com.

BY BRITT AAMODT

he route was called the Mother Road. It linked Chicago to Los Angeles, but the segment that snugged between these stationary endpoints was, by contrast, a raucous wayward path that dragged through parts of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and down through the southwest before collapsing in a luxuriant sunset at the West Coast terminus.

It was always sunny in California. At least that’s what the Midwestern farmers heard. They heard that California’s orange trees sunk under the weight of their fruit and that grapes plumped on the vine. They heard that stars glimmered in the heavens and walked the streets of Hollywood. So in the late 1920s and early 1930s, farm families hit the Mother Road in droves in search of the Promised Land: good soil, paid work, three square meals and a roof over their heads. This road was Route 66, one of America’s first highways, and the site of the great migration stirred up by the Depression-era Dust Bowl. John Steinbeck documented these rootless farmers in his novel The Grapes of Wrath. His characters journey west on the same Route 66 you hear about in songs: “Get your kicks on Route 66…” The route of American myth and legend. The Route 66 you and your tour group can still follow today with a little ingenuity and a few jogs left and right to bypass America’s roaring Interstate system. Interstates are great. Don’t get me wrong. They’re efficient and direct. But somehow they never quite capture the imagination, nor pack the scenic punch, the way America’s byways do. What are byways? Only the best option for getting from point A to point B when you’re slowing down to take in the grand vistas that dominate the American Midwest and stopping off to soak up culture in the whistle-stops along the way. Sounds a lot like a motorcoach tour, doesn’t it?

America’s Byway System Byways have always been around. They’ve always been the less direct and more picturesque track to Grandma’s house. Yet in 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation established the National Scenic Byways Program, officially recognizing a slew of picture-perfect byways across the fifty states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia—not just the windy path to Grandma’s lake cabin. Since 1992, the program has funded more than 2,800 byway projects, which are notable for their archaeological, cultural, historical, natural, recreational and/or scenic attractions. Not all byways bring your tour group toe to toe with waving oceans of prairie grass or the remnants of old growth forests. Some dazzle in neon signage. Others, like Route 66, trade on nostalgia and history, offering museums, roadside entertainments and landmarks from yesteryear. What’s more, because these byways are recognized as state and national attractions, they have the road-going tourist group in mind, providing convenient access to points of interest, ample parking, lodging, food and, above all, an exceptional traveling experience. Destination History The Native American Scenic Byway darts through South Dakota, with offshoots to North Dakota, for a window on the area’s rich past. The 305-mile stretch passes

through Lakota homelands and crosses four reservations—Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River, and Standing Rock. Museums and sacred sites commemorate

from Minnesota to Louisiana. Cave murals found in Wisconsin’s Trempealeau Mountain hint at prehistoric cultures that inhabited the river bluffs. Step off the

In Minnesota, the scenic byway enters Red Wing, home of Red Wing Shoes and Red Wing Pottery. Going further north, you can shake off the city and lap in a

“notable for their archaeological cultural historical natural recreational and/or scenic attractions. ” the Sioux Nation and provide histories from a Native American perspective. Along the way, encounter Meriwether Lewis and William Clark at the Standing Rock Lewis & Clark Nature Trail. The 19thcentury explorers spent months in the area, both on the trip west and then back again to report their findings to President Thomas Jefferson. Like them, you can trek into the wilds and collect impressions of the region’s abundant wildlife and plant life. Of course, you’ll have the benefit of cleared trails, interpretive signage, restrooms and a picnic shelter. Sacajawea, the Shoshone guide and interpreter who traveled with Lewis and Clark, is buried along the Standing Rock portion of the byway. Overlooking Oahe Reservoir is the Standing Rock Monument. The monument gets its name from a stone, which local legend holds to be the body of a petrified woman. The Great River Road is another avenue to Native American history. The byway hugs the Mississippi River

motorcoach at Effigy Mounds in Iowa to wander animalshaped earth mounds and then head for the interpretive center for films and exhibits on the people who built the sacred mounds. Missouri’s Trail of Tears State Park encompasses a segment of the infamous Trail of Tears undertaken by Native Americans who were ousted from their homes and relocated to reservations. Highway 61 Revisited You may not own a copy of Bob Dylan’s 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited, but you can savor the road on which it’s based. Highway 61 extends 1,400 miles from Minnesota to Louisiana. Part of it is folded into the Great River Road Byway. But its various segments incorporate a number of road-themed adventures. Like its western counterpart Route 66, Highway 61 is a trip down memory lane, preserving vintage gas stations, motor lodges and road-food hotspots. Movie buffs appreciate the 61 Drive In off Highway 61 in Maquoketa, Iowa, one of the last remaining drive-in theaters in America.

panoramic vista of Lake Superior. The small communities dotting the shore from Duluth to Canada are a trove of gift shops, overlooks, trails and good eats. Your group will devour Knife River’s Great Lakes Candy Store and its homemade sweets. Outside Grand Marais, the Gunflint Trail winds to a hilltop dairy, which sells small-batch milk, chocolate milk, creamy yogurt and dunk-worthy cookies from a refrigerated case. And beyond the cow barns is the gorgeous vista of downtown Grand Marais and Lake Superior. But you’ll have to ask locals for directions to Lakeview Dairy. Or else, ring up the local CVB. Because byways are governed by local groups, representing tourism, business, parks, recreation and other interests, you can tap into people “in the know.” People who can provide in-depth knowledge about their stretch of scenic highway, plus ideas for group tour itineraries, lodgings and enjoyable experiences that will take you off the beaten path and onto some of the Midwest’s spectacular byways.

profile

B Y K AT H L E E N S O M E R S

Unusual Thrills at the Black Hills

hat a great idea! Carve the facial likeness of four U.S. Presidents into a granite mountain and then invite vacationers from all over the world to come marvel. In fact, the idea was so successful, that the Mount Rushmore sculpture has become an instantly recognizable icon symbolizing America. It attracts approximately two million visitors each year. They come by the busload. This year, there is an added reason to bring your group, as Mount Rushmore celebrates its 70th anniversary.

When Doane Robinson, a South Dakota historian conceived the idea of Presidential faces in granite, and invited Gutzon Borglun to the Black Hills region of SD to begin the massive carving, he was thinking big. But he may not have imagined the big busses that would someday be wheeling their way towards his massive monument. Big busses, big attraction, and big fun can add up to big success for you. Here are some inside tips that will make the experience an even better one. The Black Hills offers the highest concentration of public parks, monuments and memorials in the world. The grandeur of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the mysterious rock of Badlands National Park, the buffalo herds of Custer State Park, the blasts at Crazy Horse Memorial and two of the longest caves in the world, plus some of the most beautiful scenic drives to be found, all deserve your attention. As Michelle Thomson, Tourism Director in Rapid City, South Dakota reminds us, these things are a huge draw to visitors. It’s central location to all Black Hills attractions makes Rapid City the perfect hub for your tour. Choose from a wide selection of group friendly hotels, great eateries, and various shopping and entertainment options. How would you like to have your picture taken with President John F. Kennedy? Well bring your camera, because the street corners of downtown Rapid City are dotted with life-sized bronze statues depicting many of our nation’s Presidents. Another surprise is coming Fall of 2011 when the new Main Street Square is scheduled to open. This pedestrian friendly area will offer art exhibits, lunchtime concert series, a Farmer’s Market, waterfall, fountain, shopping, entertainment and other events. It is expected to be quite a draw to the downtown area, one you will surely want to offer your group. Two of the most scenic routes in the Black Hills are nearly impossible for today’s large motorcoaches. A mountainous, curving, road known as Needles Highway, named after the high granite “needles” the route winds among, offers fantastic views. This narrow roadway passes through two low tunnels of sheer granite. Considered part of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, the 14-mile stretch of road is as treacherous as it is scenic. Another section of the Byway, named Iron Mountain Road, twists and climbs past Mount Rushmore and into Custer State Park. Known for its three pigtail bridges and single-lane-tunnels cut through granite to frame

Mount Rushmore, this very scenic route abounds with mountain goats, bison, and other wildlife. You’ll be happy to know your group does not have to miss this very exciting part of the Black Hills experience. Local tour companies offer options priced for a variety of budgets. From 12 passenger vans to an entire full day packaged tour, local tour companies know the colorful history of the area, as well as how to best showcase all the Black Hills has to offer. Darla Bass of Group Getaways in Tonganoxie, KS, has been bringing groups to the area for many years. She loves the added value a Rapid City tour service brings through their step on guides. Her tips? Begin with a call to the CVB. Twelve-passenger vans can be difficult for seniors when they have to stoop to access the back of the van. Splitting the group is not always optimal either. Flexibility is lost as your group will be required to stick to another’s itinerary. Still, the benefits far outweigh any downside. Your group will be treated to stories and local color that elevate the experience to something better than fun and far past memorable. One Stagecoach West driver pretended to get his coach stuck in the narrow tunnel, creating all kinds of fun for the passengers. Bass said of her group “They still talk about it today. It was the most fun of the entire day.” Herman Jones of Stagecoach West, also known as Mount Rushmore Tours, prides himself in hiring knowledgeable guides. He goes the extra mile in all he does. “Give them everything you promised and then something extra” he says. Stagecoach offers multiple levels of service, from experienced step on guides trained to give a good feel for the Byways, while keeping your motorcoach out of the tunnels, to a full day package tour, perfect when you need to give your driver a day off. Begin at Fort Hays with the 99¢ all-you-can-eat breakfast, and return after a full day of touring for the “Dances With Wolves” Film set and Chuckwagon Supper. Extras include free Model T Ford rides, and hands-on fun at the turn of the century complete town square. Clearly touring by motorcoach is more fun, and most relaxing.

Mile after Magnificent Mile.

illinois cities belleville, bloomington, champaign, chicago, dixon, east dubuque, galena, hanover, kewanee, la salle, marshall, moline, monee, mt carroll, mt morris, peoria, rochelle, rockford, savanna, springfield, st. charles, stockton, thomson

calendar of events

Garden of the Gods - Harrisburg

Ohio River Scenic Byway 188 miles, from New Haven on US-1 over US-146 and 37 to Cairo A 967-mile tri-state byway that travels through Indiana, Illinois & Ohio and is the only one in the nation to link together three national forests. Groups who seek a more relaxing pace, away from the crowded highways need to merge onto this byway, where they will find some of southern Illinois’ most picturesque scenery. It features many of nature’s architectural wonders. Such as the Garden of the Gods (pictured above) featuring 320 million year old sandstone rock formations, and inspiring views that will leave you with lasting memories. One end of the byway features the Confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The park is a beautiful place to watch the constant meeting of the two rivers that refuse to merge. This byway is a mecca of historical and architectural sites, festivals, fall foliage, beautiful scenery, and adventures... anything that interests your group at the time! (See route on map below)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in illinois… Great River Road – 550 miles, follows the flow of the Mississippi River as it curves along the western edge of the state. Travel through charming small towns all while enjoying the breathtaking views of the river and woodlands. Stop and visit numerous wineries, antique shops, and historic sites in the midst of nature and wildlife. Historic National Road Scenic Byway – 164 miles, travels from Marshall and the Wabash Valley to East St. Louis and the Mississippi River. Called the “road that built the nation” as it was the first highway in American history. Groups can view where Lincoln’s political career began, marvel at a giant catsup bottle, and enjoy the food, festivals and entertainment the numerous communities have to offer!

Illinois Route 3, 143 and 100. One of the most scenic stretches of roadway in the Midwest, cradled by the waters of the Mississippi River and magnificent limestone river bluffs. Follow the byway as it winds along the bends of the river through quaint river towns. Experience the rare finds tucked away where the great rivers meet.

from Chicago to East St. Louis. Route 66 is the “Mother Road.” Its total route is nearly 2500 miles across America. Unlike traditional highways that run north-south or east-west, Route 66 followed the trail blazed by American history itself. Today, the route is a continuum of one-of-a-kind connections to the old road… neon signs, filing stations, mom and pop diners and unique roadside attractions. – 33 miles, begins in Hartford and winds west and north via

may • Annual Iris Walk May 1-21, Wayne City 618-895-2022 • Red Carpet Corridor Festival May 7-8, Pontiac 800-835-2055 • Civil War Days May 21-22, Naperville 630-420-6010 • Flavors of Greece May 27-29, St. Charles 630-851-6106 • Barrington Art Festival May 28-29, Barrington 847-304-3400 june • Moweaqua Pow Wow Days June 2-5, Moweaqua 217-768-4821 • 2011 Southern Illinois Music Festival June 5-25, 618-453-2776 • Superman Celebration June 9-12, Metropolis 618-524-5025 • Pride of the Fox Riverfest June 10-12, St. Charles 630-444-7460 • Historic Cemetery Walk June 11-12, Galena 815-777-9129 • Great Galena Balloon Race June 17-19, Galena 877-464-2536 • Custer’s Last Stand Festival June 18-19, Evanston 847-328-2204 • Bourbonnais Friendship Festival 2011 June 22-26, Bourbonnais 815-933-4444 july • Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival July 1-3, Lisle 630-541-6095 • Thee Olde Time Farm Show July 1-3, Bourbonnais 815-933-4119 • Civil War Days July 9-10, Wauconda 847-968-3400 • North Shore Festival of Art July 23-24, Skokie 847-673-0240

Historic Route 66 – 436 miles, runs a southwesterly course

Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway

april • David Sedaris April 6, Waukegan 847-782-2366 • Sandburg Days Festival April 14-16, Galesburg 309-342-2361 • Long Grove Chocolate Festival April 29-May 1, Long Grove 847-634-0888 • Art Chicago April 29-May 2, Chicago 312-527-3701 • Lilac Time April 30-May 15, Lombard 630-953-6000

(Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

Featured Byway

directory & map Illinois Bureau of Tourism www.enjoyillinois.com . . . . 800-2CONNECT

Life Changing

iowa cities amana, ames, anamosa, balltown, bankston, bellevue, burlington, cedar rapids, clinton, council bluffs, decorah, davenport, des moines, dubuque, dyersville, guttenberg, independence, iowa city, maquoketa, mason city, mcgregor, sioux city, urbandale, waterloo

calendar of events april • Kiss Me Kate April 8-10, 15-17, Ames 800-288-7470 • Spring 2011 Iowa Wine Trail April 16-17, Marquette 563-873-2509 • Clay County Arts Festival April 29-30, Spencer 712-580-5035 • Annual Civil War Re-enactment April 29-May 1, Rand Park 800-383-1219 • Maifest April 30-May 2, Amana 800-579-2294 may • Tulip Time May 5-7, Pella 641-628-4311 • Farmers Carnival May 14-15, Urbandale 515-278-5286 • Orange City Tulip Festival May 19-21, Orange City 712-707-4510 • Uff Da Fest May 21-22, Mcgregor 563-873-2509 • North Iowa Band Festival May 27-28, Mason City 800-423-5724 • 4th Street Cruise May 28, Waterloo 319-291-2038 • Iowa Renaissance Festival May 28-30, Amana Colonies 800-579-2294 june • My Waterloo Days June 2-5, Waterloo 319-233-8431 • Summer Farm Toy Show June 3-4, National Farm Toy Museum 563-875-2727 • Iowa Arts Festival June 3-5, Dubuque 319-337-7944 • Glenn Miller Festival June 9-12, Clarinda 712-542-2461 • Lewis and Clark Festival June 10-12, Onawa 712-423-1801 • Hole in the Sock Gang Street Theater Shootout June 25, McGregor 800-896-0910 july • Iowa City Jazz Festival July 1-3, Iowa City 319-337-7944 • RoofTop Jazz & Blues July 2, Waterloo 319-291-4490 • Sac City Chautauqua Days July 2-4, Sac City 712-662-7316 • Coralville Fourth Fest July 3-4, Coralville 319-248-1700 • Tour de Brew July 16, Amana 319-622-3672 • Railroad Days July 16-17, Council Bluffs 712-329-8307 • RAGBRAI July 24-30, Des Moines 515-284-8282 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

Western Skies Scenic Byway 140 miles, from Stuart, travel north on County Road P28 This is Iowa’s longest state byway and travels east to west. The road heading into Audubon County sits high on a ridge top, giving far and wide views of the majestic valleys and farmsteads below. The Danish villages of Elk Horn and Kimballton provide groups with a view of authentic Danish windmills and widespread apple orchards. Pull over in Elk Horn to view the only authentic and functioning Danish windmill in the United States. Built in 1848 in Norre Snede, Denmark, this windmill was shipped to America in the 1970s in pieces. Over 300 local volunteers in Iowa helped to reconstruct this piece of history as a celebration of the country’s bicentennial. It is now one of Iowa’s most enjoyed tourist attractions. The Loess Hills of Harrison County are beautiful as well. Located on the Missouri River Valley, this hallmark piece of nature was formed by wind and glacial silt deposits over thousands of years. (See route on map, page 15)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in iowa… Driftless Area Scenic Byway – 100 miles, take County Road B38 from Postville. Combining hard-surfaced as well as gravel roads, this byway explores the pre-glacial landscape of Northeast Iowa. The route offers groups a variety of scenery including forests, hills, valleys, farms, and unique limestone outcroppings of the Mississippi River bluffs country. Historic Hills Scenic Byway – 85 miles, travels north of Blakesburg on T-61. Wind through a magnificent collection of state forests while enjoying the scenic beauty of Huckleberry Finn-style farm ponds. Trace history by following the westward trek of early Mormon pioneers, or see a bit of living history near the old town of Bloomfield, where Old Order Amish still travel by horse and buggy. Stop in one of the Amish shops and enjoy the taste of homemade baked goods, or experience the immaculate details of a hand made quilt.

Iowa Great River Road – 326 miles, traveling State Route IA 26 South. This byway is a mere portion of the complete scenic byway, which runs 2,069 miles from Minnesota to Louisiana. The limestone outcroppings of this stretch of land were carved from ancient glacial melt waters and offers homes to migrating geese, ducks and majestic bald eagles. Commercial and recreational watercraft can be found navigating this bustling area of the Mississippi as well. The unique towns located along the byway rely heavily on the river as a natural resource, just as they did during the country’s western expansion.

Loess Hills Scenic Byway – 220 miles intersection of State Hwy 12 and State Hwy 48, north of Akron, Iowa. The Loess (pronounced “luss”) Hills Scenic Byway was designated as a national byway in June of 2000. Its unique geological characteristics can be found in only one other place: China. The wind-formed glacial silt deposits make the landform incredibly rare and provide a home to several rare species of plants and animals.

Old O’Brien Glacial Trail Scenic Byway – 36 miles, begins on Iowa 10 at the intersection with County Road M-36, a few miles east of Peterson. The byway travels across Iowa’s Little Sioux River several times where one can view beautiful rolling hills as well as historic river valleys. This short and sweet journey offers not only natural beauty, but also manmade structures. Modern steel windmills reflect the sunlight in the distance providing energy for homes in the area. River Bluffs Scenic Byway – 109 miles, follow Hwy 18 from McGregor to Giard. Feeling loopy? This Byway lets you end where you begin. This “loop tour” is its own destination. View breathtaking bluffs, wooded hilltops, and the rollercoaster roads of northeast Iowa. Watch eagles soar free over the green pastures or explore a secluded cave by a hillside country stream. Hustling streams flow through the rugged bluffs and isolated caves, giving this route a peaceful nature.

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Masterpiece on the Mississippi! This sample itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year! 1 – 5:00 pm Welcome to Dubuque! Known as the “Masterpiece on the Mississippi,” Dubuque welcomes groups with open arms! Let one of their excellent tour services escort your group by trolley, bus or boat to see the history, natural beauty and exciting destinations in this lovely Midwest river town. Plus enjoy a little shopping in and around Dubuque. Offering unique stores with items ranging from lovely baby gifts to home décor, and keepsakes and jewels that please the eye. 5 – 6:00 pm Check into a local hotel. 6 – 7:30 pm Enjoy dinner at L. May Eatery. One of Dubuque’s shining stars! You’ll enjoy an excellent menu, with everything from seafood, steak, and famous pizza and wine recommendations that fit every meal. Note, closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays. 7:30 – 10:00 pm An outstanding performance awaits you at the Bell Tower Theater, Dubuque’s hometown theater. Located in an historic church, and producing quality performances since 2003. Their focus is to make you laugh, so all of their plays and musicals are comedies. The intimate 170-seat theater is newly renovated with large comfortable seats, lots of leg-room and great views of the stage from every seat. So grab a beer, a soda or a glass of wine at the concession stand and sit back and let them entertain you...Bell Tower style.

COUNCIL BLUFFS: Explore a New Destination for Public Art isit Council Bluffs, Iowa for small town charm mixed with big time public art. Between the Missouri River and the Loess Hills, you’ll find exciting contemporary art and landmarks for the history buff.

Arrive by Interstates 80/29 to see the towering Iowa gateway by Albert Paley over the South 24th Street Bridge. Make this your first of many calls to a free cell phone tour from Iowa West Public Art. Take Exit 1B to continue your art adventure at the Mid-America Center. Wander through five public art sites starting with Sunrise, William King’s pioneer couple, standing tall in gleaming aluminum. Around the corner, see Rhythm, a massive sculpture garden by Jun Kaneko. Expect the unexpected in bright, bold color – giant bronze heads, Kaneko’s signature ceramic dangoes and vivid tile walls. It’s just the place to stop and take it all in. A short walk away, look up to see the larger than life Molecule Man by Jonathan Borofsky.

The 3-D sculpture made of shiny aircraft aluminum is a hit with young and old alike. Dial up to hear how the giant figures came together. In historic downtown’s Bayliss Park, Brower Hatcher’s iconic fountain and pavilion, Wellspring and Oculus, welcome all. You’ll find a great place to relax here, bordered by a striking Veteran’s Memorial and Plaza. After lunch at a nearby café, stop at the Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial, known as the Black Angel, and the nearby Lincoln Monument. Then, follow your map a few blocks away to see Deborah Masuoka’s whimsical Haymarket Rabbits at Main and Pearl Streets. End your day with a must-see, east of Council Bluffs’ historic downtown. At Looft Hall on the Iowa Western Community College campus, see Council Bluff’s history in Grant Wood’s mural commissioned in 1926. For more information please call 800-2286878 or visit www.councilbluffsiowa.com.

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce, 800-798-4748.

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Sullivan brothers

A Taste of Waterloo This sample itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year!

9:45 – 11:30 am Arrive at the John Deere Tractor Assembly and see how the large green tractors are manufactured. The narrated trolley ride takes you through the complete process until the tractor rolls off the assembly line. Afterwards, shop in the gift shop “Deere Crossing.” Free tours are offered Monday – Friday at 8 am, 10 am, and 1 pm. 11:30 – 1:30 pm Dine at the world famous Galleria De Paco “Sistine Chapel Ceiling” Restaurant for lunch. The artist Paco Rosic created this

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

breathtaking masterpiece using 5,200 cans of Krylon spray paint as he lay on scaffolding for 4 months. Homemade breads, savory soups, and scrumptious desserts make this experience a dining delight! 1:30 – 5:00 pm Experience the Grout Museum District where you can “Touch, See, and Feel” the history. The “Engine of the Heartland” exhibit reviews the history of industry in our area. Waterloo was home to at least 10 automobile manufacturing companies in the early 1900’s, automobiles which included the Dart and the Maytag. Discover the evolution of Waterloo from a small county-seat town into a Midwestern industrial center. Machines of transportation and power are featured along with agri-production, food processing, farm implement manufacturing, and printing. The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors all veterans from the Civil War to present day with its mix of oral veteran histories, vintage military films, and interactive exhibits. Named after Waterloo’s WWII heroes, the Five Sullivan Brothers,

this experience puts you inside of a fighter plane, inside a tank, to atop the bow of a reconstructed USS Juneau; viewable and extended from the first floor to the museums second level. 5 – 6:00 pm Check-in to one of Iowa’s newest, luxurious hotels for the night. 6:00 pm Enjoy a gourmet 3-course dinner at the new ArtHouse Café, located inside the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Afterwards a few steps down the hallway is the Hope Martin Theatre home of the Waterloo Community Playhouse. Performances are scheduled every six weeks. There’s always a summer musical in July and a holiday production in December. For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, please contact your tour operator or Lonnie Elmore at Travel Waterloo, 800-728-8431 www.travelwaterloo.com/groups.

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National Farm Toy

MUSEUM estled among the fields of Dyersville, Iowa, the National Farm Toy Museum displays thousands of replicas, scale models and toys inspired by farm equipment throughout history. Due to the growing

Featured Byway ( page 12 )

directory & map accommodations Suburban Extended Stay . . . . . . . 888-233-0369 2491 Holiday Road – Coralville, IA 52241 319-325-0984 ottis.bunning@lodgehotels.com www.suburbanhotels.com Travelers will appreciate the modern convenience afforded in the free business center like a public computer with Internet access, and copy and fax service along with a full kitchen with every modern convenience in every room! Don’t forget about the outdoor gazebo for group gatherings.

. . . . 800-228-6878 Ext 109 7 North 6th Street – Council Bluffs, IA 51502 ccaniglia@councilbluffsiowa.com / www.councilbluffscvb.com We have an abundance of history, unique attractions, entertainment, and quality events and activities. Gaming, sporting events, museums, historical sites, nature, annual festivals, performing arts facilities, world-class dining, and comfortable lodging await your reservation.

attractions

Waterloo Convention Visitors Bureau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-728-8431

Grout Museum District

Waterloo . . 319-234-6357

National Farm Toy Museum . . . . 877-475-2727 1110 16th Avenue Ct SE – Dyersville, IA 52040 www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com The National Farm Toy Museum features thousands of toys and exhibits between its two floors. Tractors, implements, trucks, miniature farm dioramas, toy manufacturing information, and pedal tractors are on display around the museum!

awareness of farm-toy hobby enthusiasts, the museum was established in 1986 by the founders of the Ertl Company, the world’s largest farm toy manufacturer that is also headquartered in Dyersville. Groups can spend hours exploring the museum’s two floors, viewing trucks, tractors, miniature farm dioramas and other farming equipment. Also displayed are plaques honoring inductees into the National Farm Toy Hall of Fame and honoring the founders of the Ertl Company. Wall to wall there is something to be appreciated or learned. City folks will enjoy learning about farm life, while those who grew up in the country will love to reminisce. For details on scheduling a group tour please call 877-475-2727 or visit www.nationalfarmtoymuseum.com.

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convention & visitors bureaus and chambers

Waterloo Center for the Arts & Phelps Youth Pavilion Waterloo . . . . 319-234-6357

Council Bluffs CVB

500 Jefferson Street – Waterloo, IA 50701 lonnie@travelwaterloo.com / www.travelwaterloo.com Free trolley tours of John Deere Tractor Assembly, Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo, Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, Galleria de Paco “Sistine Chapel”, AG Tours, live theatre, creative itinerary planning, free step-on guide with overnight.

restaurants L. May Eatery

Dubuque . . . . . . . . . . 563-556-0505 1072 Main – Dubuque, IA 52001 / www.lmayeatery.com Discover the historic “1000 Block” of Main St. at L.May Eatery. Enjoy our warm comforting atmosphere over fresh salad, gourmet pizzas or upscale entrees. Finish your experience with one of our homemade desserts.

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

As Big As You Think

kansas cities abilene, bonner springs, chanute, council grove, dodge city, emporia, fort scott, hays, hutchinson, independence, junction city, kansas city, lawrence, leavenworth, liberal, lindsborg, manhattan, mcpherson, newton, pittsburg, russell, salina, topeka, washington, wichita

calendar of events april • Tulip Time April 10-26, Topeka 785-267-1156 • Spring Fling April 15-17, Ulysses 620-356-4700 • Messiah Festival of the Arts April 17-24, Lindsborg 888-227-2227 • Railroad Day Apr 23, Osawatomie 913-755-3025 • Pioneer Days April 23-24, Kiowa 620-825-4127 • Kansas Storytelling Festival April 29-30, Downs 785-454-3808 may • Iris Tours May 1-20, Toad Hollow 620-343-8655 • 14th Annual Sunflower Balloon Fest May 5-8, Anthony 620-842-5456 • Millfest May 7-8, Lindsborg 785-227-3595 • 39th Annual Square Fair Craft Festival May 7, Garnett 785-448-3826 • Denmark Heritage Day May 28, Denmark 785-524-5352 june • Old Shawnee Days June 2-5, Shawnee 913-361-5200 • Riverfest June 3-11, Wichita 877-WFI-FEST • Kansas: 150 Years of Statehood June 3-July 15, Topeka 785-273-5994 • Prairiesta June 9-12, Russell 785-483-4039 • St. Dionysios Greek Festival June 17-19, Overland Park 913-341-7373 • Midsummer’s Festival June 18, Lindsborg 888-227-2227 • Wild West Festival June 29-July 4, Hays 785-623-4476 july • 4th of July Celebration at Fort Leavenworth July 4, Fort Leavenworth 800-844-4114 • 78th Annual Fiesta Mexicana July 12-16, Topeka 785-232-5088 • Amelia Earhart Festival July 15-16, Atchison 800-234-1854 • Pickin’ on the Plains Bluegrass Festival July 15-17, Colby 800-611-8835 • “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” July 22-23 & 29-30, Lindsborg 888-227-2227 • Dodge City Days July 29-August 7, Dodge City 620-227-3319 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

directory & map Kansas Travel & Tourism Division Topeka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 785-296-2009

Kansas City Renaissance Festival Bonner Springs. . . . . . . . . . . 913-721-2110

Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway 42 miles, travel along US-160 from Medicine Lodge west to Coldwater The Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway is a beautiful rustic drive displaying an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers along the beautiful red Gypsum Hills. These “Red Hills” are phenomena unique to Kansas; the red comes from the iron in the soil that “rusts” when exposed to the air. Groups have the opportunity to see flat mesas, deep canyons, sharp high hills and caprock formations. The area also features naturally flowing springs and green cedar trees, all providing a rich array of color. Recreational and historic opportunities compliment the scenic experiences, as well as The Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty Pageant that occurs once every three years. The next pageant takes place September 23-25, 2011, it re-enacts the signing of the 1867 Peace Treaty between the US Government and the five Great Plains Indian tribes. This pageant rolls right out of the history books! (See route on map below)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in kansas… Alcove Spring – Blue Rapids A significant site along the Smokey Valley Scenic Byway – 60 miles, travels westOregon Trail, this area is rich in natural beauty, featuring native grasses, wildflowers, trees & other wildlife. There are nearly 5 miles of marked and mowed walking trails that will take your group along streams, hilly trails with fantastic views of the Blue River Valley, highland prairie land and some gorgeous vistas.

Flint Hills National Scenic Byway – 47 miles, travels on K-177 between Council Grove and Cassoday. Travel through the heart of Flint Hills, the nation’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie. Twist and soar through one of the few distinctive and lightly populated landscapes in America. See the historic Kaw Mission and Old Cowboy Jail, the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and take in the panoramic views of ranches allowing a look into early farm life. Enjoy historic restaurants, and antiques along the way too! Frontier Military Scenic Byway – 168 miles, travels the eastern border between Leavenworth & Oklahoma. This byway follows the old Frontier Military Trail, which abounds with history. The Byway tells the tales of the incidents leading to the Civil War and the stories of pro and anti-slavery. Enjoy recreational & nature opportunities on or near the byway.

Glacial Hills Scenic Byway – 63 miles, begins at the intersection of K-7 and K-92 in Leavenworth. Groups traveling this byway are following Lewis and Clark’s footsteps. It showcases some of the oldest communities in the state, unusual rocks left by receding glaciers, and don’t forget the overlook in White Cloud, offering views of four states: Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska & Iowa.

central Kansas through the Smoky Hill River Valley. Named for their “hazy” appearance at sunrise and sunset. It offers a showplace of native wildflowers and grasses through the seasons. Stop at the Cedar Bluff State Park and Reservoir, named for the 100-foot tall, cedar-covered limestone bluffs, a perfect place for wildlife and bird watching, a picnic or just general sightseeing.

Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway – 76 miles, travels around Cheyenne Bottoms & Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. This byway is a perfect gateway to a panoramic display of birds and wildlife. A local naturalist sums it up nicely, “There are 650 bird species in the United States, 417 in Kansas and 320 in Cheyenne Bottoms.” The local communities offer many opportunities to learn about the importance of this area and its history. Featured Byway

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minnesota cities albert lea, alexandria, austin, bemidji, bloomington, chanhassen, eagan, faribault, grand portage, harmony, minneapolis, morton, park rapids, plymouth, owatonna, roseville, saint paul, st. cloud, stillwater, willmar For a complete list of MN cities & events please visit www.itinerariesmidwest.com.

calendar of events

Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway 300 miles, a series of roads following the Minnesota River, between Browns Valley on the western border of the state, & Belle Plaine, southwest of Minneapolis Life still moves at an unhurried pace, neighbors wave at passing cars, and visitors are embraced with old-fashioned hospitality along this nationally designated route. It is a destination within itself! New Ulm’s German heritage is celebrated in its festivals, shops and restaurants. Mankato is the western access for the Sakatah Singing Hills Bike Trail. The downtown areas boast antique shops and mom-and-pop eateries. Bird lovers enjoy the numerous birding hotspots. Witness the historical sites of the Dakota Conflict where treaties were broken and nations fought against nations. Go geocaching along the byway and enjoy all of its natural beauty! Search the river of stories for your own experience and memory. (See route on map, page 40)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in minnesota… Glacial Ridge Trail Scenic Byway – 245 miles, several loops in the countryside between Willmar and Glenwood, with extensions to Alexandria and Sauk Centre. Numerous lakes are speckled among hills and ridges carved by glaciers long ago. There is no formal starting or ending point for this drive, so travelers can enjoy the different segments in a variety of ways to make the most of the natural scenery, historic sites, friendly towns and bike trails. Grand Rounds Scenic Byway – 53 miles, follows a loop of city and parkway roads in Minneapolis. Offering a little bit of everything: great scenery, historic sites, modern and contemporary art, outdoor recreation, and great shopping and dining, all within the heart of Minneapolis. Highlights include a wildflower garden, rose garden and a waterfall. Plus, views of the Minneapolis skyline are visible from just about every portion of the byway.

Great River Road Scenic Byway – 575 miles, a series of roads following the Mississippi River in northwest Minnesota, down through the Twin Cities, and along the southeast border of the state. It is the longest designated scenic drive in Minnesota. It runs along the Mississippi River, from the pristine headwaters of the Mississippi in Itasca State Park past verdant forests and the central lakes region, through Minneapolis and St. Paul, to the splendid bluffs of the southeastern border. Seven other scenic drives connect to this byway.

King of Trails Scenic Byway – 414 miles, Hwy. 75 near the western border of the state, running the entire length of

Minnesota. The route actually crosses the entire United States, beginning in Winnipeg, Canada and ending in Galveston, Texas. The route offers a remarkable journey of peaceful vistas, historical sites, quaint towns, festivals, and warm hospitality along the lakes, rivers and trails.

North Shore Scenic Byway – 154 miles, Hwy 61 along Lake Superior. This scenic drive along Lake Superior is as dramatic as a drive along the coastal seashore. There are hiking trails and overlooks your group can use to get an up close view of the area’s beauty and wilderness. Small shoreline towns offer restaurants serving local fish and produce as well as unique shops and art galleries. Skyline Parkway Scenic Byway – 36 miles, follows roads along a high ridge in Duluth. Overlooking Lake Superior and the harbor city of Duluth, the route offers travelers a rewarding bird’s-eye view of the harbor and the endless shoreline of Lake Superior. The Thompson Hill Travel Information Center provides driving directions.

Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway – 229 miles, across the top of Minnesota, between International Falls and the North Dakota border, mostly following Highway 11. Minnesota’s northernmost scenic drive travels from Voyageurs National Park along the Canadian border. The “Dancing Sky” refers to the aurora borealis, or northern lights, which frequently appear in the area thanks to its far-northern location and absence of bright city lights. Ideal byway for birders and wildflower lovers.

april • Ibsen Festival April 15-17, Lanesboro 800-657-7025 • Mankato Area International Festival April 17, Mankato 507-389-6841 • Earth Day Celebration April 23, Roseville 651-792-7012 • Duluth Dylan Fest April 23-28, Duluth 800-438-5884 • Granite City Train Show April 30, St. Cloud 320-255-0033 may • Festival of Nations May 5-8, Saint Paul 651-647-0191 • Cinco de Mayo Fiesta- Minnesota’s Spiciest Celebration! May 6-7, St Paul 651-222-6347 • Art-A-Whirl May 20-22, Minneapolis 612-788-1679 • OVO by Cirque du Soleil May 26-June 12, Mall of America 952-883-8843 june • West Central Dairy Days June 5-10, Willmar 320-231-8112 • Minnesota Inventors Congress Invention & Idea Show June 10-11, Redwood Falls 800-468-3681 • Lower Sioux Pow Wow June 10-12, Morton 800-657-7070 • Studio Hop June 18-19, Willmar 320-231-8560 • Red Wing Plein Air Arts Festival June 20-25, Red Wing 651-388-7569 • Willmar Fests June 20-26, Willmar 800-845-8747 • Rosefest Jun 20-Jul 4, Roseville 651-792-7000 • National Red Power Round Up June 23-25, Albert Lea 800-345-8414 july • Fourth of July Freedomfest, July 1-4, Austin 507-437-4563 • 31st Annual Music Festival July 4, Fairmont 507-235-5547 • Wilder Pageant July 8-23, Walnut Grove 888-859-3102 • Steele County Historical Society Extravaganza July 10, Owatonna 507-451-1420 • SonShine Music Festival July 13-16, Willmar 320-235-0119 • Bavarian Blast July 15-17, New Ulm 507-359-2222 • Minneapolis Aquatennial Festival July 15-23, Minneapolis 612-338-3807 • Lumberjack Days Festival July 21-24, Stillwater 651-430-2306 • Owatonna 5 Days of Fun July 27-31, Owatonna 507-451-7970 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

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Discover Stillwater This itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year. 9 – 10:00 am Arrive in Stillwater; grab a cup of coffee and journey back in time to the era of Victorian finery and turn-ofthe-century charm. Nestled in the wooded hills and bluffs of the beautiful St. Croix River, Stillwater is a treasure that time forgot. 10 –11:00 am Step aboard the Stillwater Trolley for a fully narrated tour of Minnesota’s oldest town. Learn about the history & folklore of Stillwater’s founders. Most of the tour is up in the hills where all the old mansions were built by the lumber barons between 1850 and 1915. Your old-time Trolley ride will also let you see the Historic Stillwater Lift Bridge, and beautiful views of the St. Croix River Valley. 11 – 12:00 pm Continue your look ‘back in time’ with a visit to the Stillwater Antiques Mall. They offer 60 plus unique dealers offering a “finer” selection of antiques and artworks, furniture, lighting, glass and china, pens and inkwells, clocks, watches, books, toys and sports collectibles, coins, prints and artwork. If you are searching for that hard to find item – you may have just found the spot! 12 – 1:30 pm Enjoy lunch on the patio of the Dock Café – a truly

unique, one-of-a-kind dining experience. Set along the shore of the St. Croix, your views look upriver to the historic Stillwater Lift Bridge and downriver to Lake St. Croix. The menu selections are divine and their special sourdough bread alone - is reason to come back again and again. 1:30 – 3:30 pm After your dockside meal, your group will take a unique ride on a Gondola in the St. Croix, with Gondola Romantica. The Gondola can hold 6 people, so you may have to enjoy your ‘cruise’ in shifts, depending on the size of your group. 3:30 pm Spend the remainder of your time in Stillwater

exploring its extensive array of boutiques and specialty shops. There is something for every taste in Minnesota’s first city! For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or the Stillwater & Oak Park Heights CVB, 651-351-1717 or www.discoverstillwater.com.

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SAINT PAUL’S Sandstone Bluffs ne of the first things early settlers noticed as they came upon what is now called Saint Paul, were the beautiful white sandstone bluffs. They are made from one of the purest veins of silica available, and thus ideal for making glass products (canning jars, beer bottles, and glass windows). This set off the “Great Silica Rush of 1849,” as groups of men began mining out the silica from the bluffs along the Mississippi. It was used for most of the glass in the region and was shipped as far north as Winnipeg, Canada.

Once the silica had been mined, great caverns remained that were used for cooling of fruits and vegetables to be sold at the local markets. The 52-degree constant temperature made for a free and convenient refrigeration source for perishable items. You can hear the complete history of the Sandstone Bluffs during the Historic Cave Tour of the Wabasha Street Caves (215 Wabasha Street South, Saint Paul, MN) done for the public Thursdays at 5 pm and Saturdays & Sundays at 11 am year ‘round. Groups can be arranged most days so please call the office. 651-292-1220. See you underground.

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Shoppes at Arbor Lakes

Minnesota Zoo

Valleyfair

Chanhassen Dinner Theatre

Shopping, Forests and Fun, Oh My! This sample itinerary is best Summer/Fall 2011.

day one 1 – 3:30 pm Start your tour at Albertville Premium Outlets. Find impressive savings at over 100 stores at the largest outlet center in Minnesota. 3:30 – 6:30 pm Depart Albertville for the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes. The Shoppes offer an exceptional collection of national retailers and one-of-a-kind boutiques, fine restaurants and casual eateries, all in a park-like setting. Enjoy dinner on your own. 6:30 pm After your day of shopping, you’ll enjoy your stay at the Riverwood Inn. Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River, Riverwood offers a perfect atmosphere for your group to relax after an eventful day.

day two 8 – 9:00 am Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and check-out. 9 – 11:30 am Your adventure begins with a stop at the Minnesota Zoo, featuring the new exhibit “Faces of the African Forest”, featuring penguins of the African Coast, Colobus monkeys, fruit bats, dwarf crocodiles, red river hogs and rock hyrax on the Zoo’s Tropics Trail. 11:30 – 3:45 pm No visit is complete without a visit to the Mall of America®. Explore over 520 stores and 50 restaurants, including four major department stores, Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Sears. While you’re there, take time to discover the new Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, the largest underground

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

aquarium in the world! 3:45 – 5:15 pm Board the coach for Roseville, “Perfectly Positioned” to Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Check into one of our nine hotels offering excellent group rates, lower hotel lodging tax and complimentary motorcoach parking. 5:15 – 10:00 pm Enjoy dinner and live theater at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, the nation’s largest professional dinner theater. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres has been a landmark in the Twin Cities theater community for over 40 years.

day three 8:30 – 9:15 am Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and check out. Before your departure, your group will receive a special send off, a complimentary rose from the Roseville Visitors Association. 9:15 – 3:00 pm Today’s destination is Valleyfair. Valleyfair is the largest amusement park in the upper Midwest, with more than 75 rides and attractions, live entertainment, a waterpark and a world-class wooden roller coaster. 3:00 pm Unwind from all your excitement at Valleyfair and relax as you head home. For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or the Twin Cities Attractions Association www.funminnesota.com or the advertisers on pages 22-25.

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GROUP LODGING That Delivers lanning a group getaway this summer? Maybe you need a great venue to host your next seminar or special event? Look no further than the Riverwood Inn or the Holiday Inn, both located in the Elk River area. They offer great dining hot opportunities and exciting indoor and outdoor activities to keep your group entertained, with convenient shopping just STOP minutes away at the Albertville Premium Outlets. Stay in the Elk River area for your next group outing!

The Riverwood Inn & Conference Center – Otsego, MN • Nestled on 34 acres along the banks of the Mississippi River • 35 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and just 3 miles from the Albertville Premium Outlets • 15 acres of riverside trails, parks, and gorgeous landscapes—great for hiking, biking, Bocce ball, horseshoes, croquet and cozy bonfires • 9 convenient golf courses located in close proximity to the Riverwood Inn • Great dining options at the Rivers Bar & Timothy’s Northwoods Catering • 12 meeting rooms, ideal for seminars, training, team building, retreats and special events • 60 luxurious guest rooms adorned with rustic charm & antique décor, some include a whirlpool & fireplace, while the two-story tower suites offer a panoramic view of the outdoor scenery as well as luxury & space • Well-equipped exercise room, indoor pool and whirlpool • An ideal destination for group getaways!

The Holiday Inn Minneapolis Northwest – Elk River, MN • Features the Wild Woods Indoor Water Park—the third largest indoor water park in the Twin Cities • Delicious dining at the Mississippi Valley Grill & Bar • Corporate clients within 10 miles of Cabela’s, Cargill, Graco, Scimed, Walmart, Target, and Great River Energy • 5,000-square foot meeting space with on-site catering • Heated underground parking garage • Albertville Premium Outlets and Ellingson Car Museum located just minutes away • Oversized guest rooms and family suites available • Well-equipped exercise room • Free high-speed wireless internet • Plenty of entertainment at the Gold Rush Arcade • An ideal destination for group getaways!

Make your reservation today at www.riverwoodinn.com

Make your reservation today at www.hielkriver.com

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Taste of BROADWAY

or a taste of Broadway, visit Chanhassen Dinner Theatres -- the largest fully professional dinner theatre in the nation. Over the past 42 years, Chanhassen has entertained more than ten million guests and is considered a premiere entertainment establishment offering warmth, charm and elegance to all who visit!

Playing through July 30, 2011 is JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Propelled by a vibrant score, this story will captivate audiences with its transcendent power. This is the theatrical masterpiece written by the legendary musical team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber who created such classics as Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. HAIRSPRAY, the big-haired Broadway musical opens August 6, 2011. “You Can’t Stop the Beat” with this musical extravaganza playing through the 2011 holiday season on the Main Stage. Now playing on the Fireside Stage through March 20, 2011 is the classic romantic marriage musical, I DO! I DO! Guests will thoroughly enjoy the classic which follows a couple from their wedding night through 50 years of marriage in a two-hour time span. Opening November 4, 2011 is PLAID TIDINGS, the special holiday edition of Forever Plaid! Everyone’s favorite Plaid Boys (Sparky, Smudge, Frankie and Jinx) have returned to Earth and are overtaken with the Christmas spirit! It will run through Dec 31st, to be followed by the original hit, FOREVER PLAID. In the Playhouse Theatre, come laugh along with STEVIE RAY’S COMEDY CABARET. Guests toss out suggestions to the comics, who create songs and sketches right on the spot. The comedy cabaret is featured year-round Friday and Saturday evenings. Guests relax and enjoy tableside service with entrees selected from a delicious menu. Specialty appetizers, cocktails and desserts are also available. The Los Angeles Times calls Chanhassen “one of the very best dinner theatres in the country.” AAA Magazine states, “any Twin Cities trip should include an evening at Chanhassen!” One third of Chanhassen’s annual business is comprised of travel/tour and business groups. Offering a variety of packages and discounts, guests are entertained at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre year ‘round. For reservations, go to ChanhassenDT.com or call (952) 934-1525 or (800) 362-3515. For groups of 15 or more, call (952) 934-1547 or toll-free (800) 355-6273.

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Landmark Center

Holiday Delights Perfectly Positioned to Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN. This sample itinerary is best December 2011!

day one 2 – 4:00 pm Begin your adventure with a behind the scenes tour of Bachman’s, one of the Twin Cities largest floral, gift and garden centers. 4 – 7:00 pm Enjoy an early dinner and check-in to your Roseville Accommodations. The bus will whisk you to downtown Minneapolis this evening for the Holidazzle Parade. View 250 characters in holiday lights as they go down Nicollet Mall in this holiday tradition. 7 – 10:00 pm After the parade, your group will head over to the Guthrie Theater for the delightful classical production of “A Christmas Carol.”

upscale lunch at the St. Paul Grill. 1 – 5:00 pm Visit the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory for their annual holiday flower show. Following up with some much needed holiday shopping time at Rosedale Center, with over 160 stores, including, Macy’s, JC Penney, Herberger’s, and the Plaza at Rosedale Center. 5 – 9:00 pm This evening, enjoy dinner and a theater performance you’ll never forget! See the wonderful holiday performance of “Hallelujah” at North Heights Lutheran Church. Come sing along with the cast of more than 300 and celebrate the gift of the holidays through music, drama, ice skating and dance. You won’t want to miss this joyous, holiday event!

day two

day three

9 – 11:00 am Enjoy breakfast and depart for the Alexander Ramsey House. Decorated for the holidays, it is one of the nation’s best-preserved Victorian-era homes. 11 – 1:00 pm Board the motorcoach for the Landmark Center and a tour of this beautiful 1902 building which originally served as a the Federal Court House and Post Office for the upper midwest. After your tour enjoy a delicious,

9 – 10:00 am Enjoy breakfast before checkout, and your group will be treated to a wonderful send-off with a complimentary rose for every guest, courtesy of the Roseville Visitors Association. 10 – 11:45 am A holiday tour wouldn’t be complete without a few sweets! Visit Sweet Chocolat and take time to sample a variety of chocolate and holiday goodies made by

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the Schmid family. 11:45 – 2:00 pm Next, your group heads to the kitchen at Cooks on Crocus Hill on Grand Avenue in Saint Paul. You’re in for a treat with a hands-on culinary experience combined with great food, camaraderie, teamwork and fun! For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, please contact your tour operator or the Roseville Visitors Association 877-980-3002.

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The Road That Leads You Around BLOOMINGTON, MN

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Student Field Trip to Mall of America® This sample itinerary can be customized anytime of the year!

ly or drive to Bloomington and check into one of 37 hotels, all located in the heart of Bloomington. Begin at Mall of the America® and experience the nation’s largest retail and entertainment complex. Shop all 520 stores around 4.3 miles on four levels. Visit Nickelodeon Universe®, LEGO, Sea Life™ Aquarium and American Girl. Grab a bite to eat at one of 50 restaurants inside the mall. If you walk all 4 floors of the mall, you will have walked over 2 miles.

Just east of the mall, groups will find the hidden treasure of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll or an active hike through this pristine nature sanctuary of 2,200 acres of floodplain forest, ponds, spring fed streams and marsh. The refuge has over 260 bird species, coyotes, bald eagles, badgers, and beavers residing in an urban setting. Take a self-guided tour through the Normandale Japanese Gardens. You will

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experience traditional Japanese Garden elements including bridges, stone lanterns, streams and waterfalls. Call ahead of time to schedule a guided tour for your group. Hop aboard the Hiawatha Line Light Rail transit to whisk you away to downtown Minneapolis on a sightseeing tour. The light rail makes 18 stops between Mall of America and the heart of downtown Minneapolis. The light rail will go by the MSP Airport and historic Fort Snelling, along with other scenic views along the way. Hop out and take a quick stroll down Nicollet Mall to see the downtown area.

9 – 10:00 AM Arrive at Mall of America for a business/marketing presentation where students learn about the history, the behind-the-scenes operations, expansion plans and career opportunities at the #1 tourist destination in the nation. 10 – 11:00 AM Enjoy the challenge of a Mallquest Scavenger hunt: teams explore all four corners of the mall to find the correct answers in this fun and informative group experience, including a Nickelodeon Universe® ride. The team with the highest point total wins! Each student receives a valuable MOA coupon book. 11 – 1:00 PM Free time for shopping and discounted rides at Nickelodeon Universe. Use an offer from your coupon book to get a quick bite and energy burst on the go. 1 – 2:00 PM Experience the Nickelodeon Universe physics program by determining the number of revolutions per hour of the Fairly Odd Coaster, water displacement of the Log Chute and other interesting and scientific exercises. 2 – 3:00 PM Purchase discounted group tickets for Sea Life Aquarium to observe the 5,000 + sea creatures living 14 feet underground and see how sharks are fed during a behind-the-scenes tour. Plan your trip anytime May 26-June 12th for the OVO by Cirque du Soleil. OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. For more information or to purchase tickets please visit mallofamerica.com, click on the ‘Events’ tab. ** Need overnight accommodations? Stay at one of the 37 hotels within 10 minutes of Mall of America and take free shuttles to/from the mall, plus convenient Light Rail Service between the Mall and downtown Minneapolis. Visit www.bloomingtonmn.org for hotel packages offering convenience, amenities and value. For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or the Mall of America, Romy Ecker at 952-883-8499, recker@mallofamerica.com.

To book this itinerary, visit our website at bloomingtonmn.org or contact the Sales Dept at 866-435-7425, sales@bloomingtonmn.org.

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rom 6 a.m. to midnight, there’s always something different to see all 12 days of the Great Minnesota Get-Together!

Morning is the best time to… • schedule a breakfast and welcome session for your group at the Blue Ribbon Picnic Area. • learn about renewable energy and sustainability at the award-winning Eco Experience. • experience the Miracle of Birth Center where lambs, calves and piglets are born.

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Mid-day is the best time to… • catch one of more than 75 acts on seven free entertainment stages. • check out nearly 70 rides from around the globe at Mighty Midway and Kidway. • browse through the shops at Heritage Square or the International Bazaar. Afternoon is the best time to… • meet Princess Kay and see the famous butterhead sculptures. • choose a snack from the menu of 350 foods, including more than 50 foods on-a-stick. • stroll through Minnesota’s largest juried art show in the Fine Arts Center.

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Plymouth PLAYHOUSE elebrating 36 years, Plymouth Playhouse is best known for producing new musical comedies. This intimate 211-seat theater is located in the Best Western Kelly Inn on the lower theater level below the Green Mill Restaurant.

Evening is the best time to… • go to extremes on Adventure Park’s rides. • see big-name entertainers at the newly-restored 1909 Grandstand. • watch the nightly fireworks spectacular.

Load your bus and bring your group to see The Church Basement Ladies in “A Mighty Fortress is Our Basement.” It’s a whole new show with even more crazy antics. You’ll be holding your sides from laughing so hard! Opens August 12, 2011, book your seats now!

For more information call 651-632-2689 or email groups@mnstatefair.org.

For more information call 763-383-1073 or visit www.plymouthplayhouse.com.

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Chester Charles II on Lake Itasca

Voyageur Adventures – Lake Itasca State Park This sample itinerary is best May thru October to coordinate with Lake Itasca Tours. Arrive in beautiful Itasca State Park, Minnesota’s oldest state park and the home of the Mississippi River’s Headwaters. The park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. If this park ‘sounds’ impressive so far, just wait until you get off the coach and experience it firsthand! This is only a sampling of what you can see and do here. 9 – 10:00 am Begin your adventure with the infamous ‘walk across the rocks’ where the Headwaters of the Mississippi River flow from its source at Lake Itasca. (Legend has it that those who step across the Mississippi River at its source will live a long

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and prosperous life). From Itasca, the river flows north to Lake Bemidji, then heads east through Cass Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish. The direction in which the stream flowed had everyone fooled. It’s hard to imagine the river flows north. 10 – 12:30 pm Make your way through towering stands of red and white pine to the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center and gift shop, named for the woman who risked her life to protect and save Itasca State Park’s magnificent pine forest from loggers. The Center provides space for exhibits, a gift shop, and a restaurant. Then move over to the Jacob V. Brower Visitors Center. This 13,000square-foot building offers a place to gather and discover all there is to see and do in the park. 12:30 – 1:30 pm Dine for lunch at the historically impressive Douglas Lodge (Mary Gibbs’ last act as commissioner was ordering the logs for Douglas Lodge). The view of the tranquil setting is second to none. The restaurant serves many wonderful entrees with a “Minnesota” flavor including walleye, wild rice and blueberry pancakes. 1:30 – 4:00 pm Come relax after lunch aboard the “Chester Charles II” on beautiful Lake Itasca. Their mission is to entertain and educate their guests about the unique history of the area’s early

inhabitants and its natural history. The tour follows the same route taken by Ozawindib in 1832 when he guided Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. The “Chester Charles II” is ready to take you on a tour from the Douglas Lodge Pier. 4 – 4:30 pm Leave Itasca State Park and travel approximately 30 minutes to Forestedge Winery for a tour & tasting. 4:30 pm This homegrown winery provides its visitors with a stroll along their nature trails, a pleasant wander through the gardens and a taste of the 11 varieties of wine. Their specialty wines are made from the fruits and berries that survive the northern winters. Remember to take some Forestedge wine home to share with friends and family, for a perfect end to a perfect day in Minnesota’s Northwest. Note about Lake Itasca Tours: They are perhaps the only tour boat in the state of Minnesota to be able to show their guests both the State Bird (the common Loon) and our National Bird (the Bald Eagle) on most tours. Many wildlife photographers have been aboard to take advantage of this unique opportunity. For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or Coborn’s Lake Itasca Tours 218.266.3660, www.lakeitascatours.com.

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Stay in DULUTH! lanning a group tour of the North Shore? The following hotels invite you to stay with them. All are centrally located among shopping, dining, and North Shore attractions. Best of all, they offer group rates!

Comfort Suites of Canal Park on Lake Superior • Group discounts available in spring, winter and late fall • Complimentary hot breakfast • Comp rooms for escorts with 15 rooms or more • Discounted drivers room • All suites come with microwave & fridge • Pool & whirlpool • Exercise room • 100% smoke-free property

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Hampton Inn of Canal Park on Lake Superior • Lakeside rooms and suites available • Complimentary hot breakfast • In-room microwave & fridge • Free high-speed internet • Free bus parking • Escort comps & driver discounts available spring and fall • Newly remodeled in Spring 2011 Canal Park Lodge, Canal Park’s newest lakeside hotel • Complimentary hot breakfast featuring Caribou Coffee • Pool & whirlpool • 24-hour exercise room • Free bus parking (plug-ins available) • Meeting room • 100% smoke-free property • Easy access to the Lake Walk Comfort Inn West, 2011 Platinum Hospitality Award Winner • Complimentary hot breakfast • Pool, whirlpool & sauna • Free WiFi • Group welcome receptions • Express check-ins • Luggage handling • Bus parking • Meeting room Check out www.StayinDuluth.com or call 1-888-766-7636 for flexible lodging options for large groups or for more information.

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Come to our Valley. Enjoy its warm embrace. The river flowing gently Through this quiet, peaceful place. Our Minnesota River Valley. Excerpt from poem “Come to our Valley” by Verne Enestvedt

Greater Mankato CVB / Anna Thill

800-657-4733 www.greatermankato.com

Microtel Inn & Suites

The Microtel Inn & Suites located in Mankato, Minnesota is a clean, comfortable hotel where you get more for your money. We look forward to welcoming you and your group today. The Springfield Microtel Inn & Suites on East Highway 14 welcomes you! Plan a visit to the Sod House on the Prairie; and Visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Museum! Check out the Petroglyphs, over 2,000 ancient American Indian carvings. Enjoy fine dining in Springfield, MN.

Pub 500

A place for gathering! Located in the heart of Mankato’s Entertainment District, Pub 500 is the perfect spot to gather with a small group around the fireplace, a busload in our semi-private dining area or large group around our bar. Enjoy genuine hearty fare and liberating libations. With a wide selection of beer, wine, drinks, entrees, appetizers and sandwiches you’ll find something to please everyone in the bunch!

WOW! Zone

The WOW! Zone is Southern Minnesota’s largest entertainment hot spot. We are privately owned and operated. With bowling, laser tag, mini golf, arcade/redemption center, and sports bar or restaurant dining there is something for everyone! Come visit us at 2030 Adams Street, Mankato. Open 11:00 am daily– (behind Hilltop HyVee). Host an event at the WOW! Zone, - something to do for all ages.

New Ulm CVB / Terry Sveine

888-463-9586 www.newulm.com

August Schell Brewing Company

Located in beautiful New Ulm, Minnesota; the August Schell Brewing Company is the second oldest family owned brewery in the country. Come tour the brewery, stroll through the beautiful gardens, visit our gift shop, and finish the day off in our hospitality room. With award winning beers of almost any style, you’re sure to have a great day here at Schell’s Brewery.

Veigel’s Kaiserhoff

Veigel’s Kaiserhoff has been a favorite destination with old world charm since 1938. We have banquet rooms available for all of your needs. The Kaiserhoff menu offers a wide variety of choices. The Kaiserhoff Ribs have always been a favorite. We also offer German specialties, seafood, steaks, sandwiches, salads, a children’s menu, and a full bar. Open daily with a full menu available.

Wanda Gag

The childhood home of Wanda Gag, author of the children’ s book “Millions of Cats,” was designed and built by her father, Anton, in 1894. The Queen Anne-style home has been completely restored and now houses an art collection of lithographs and paintings by Wanda Gag, Anton Gag, and Flavia Gag, the youngest of the talented Gag children. Open weekends and by appointment.

Redwood Falls Area Chamber & Tourism / Alyssa Adam

800-657-7070 www.redwoodfalls.org

Tatanka Bluffs

Explore Tatanka Bluffs…. in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley! Tatanka Bluffs provides a unique recreation destination; visitors come to learn about the natural and cultural history of Minnesota while simultaneously enjoying one of the state’s foremost natural treasures. From wineries and microbreweries, golf courses to historic tours and hiking trails, we offer activities the whole family can enjoy. Visit us at www.tatankabluffs.com.

Wilder Pageant

The Wilder Pageant is a family-oriented outdoor drama based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder in Walnut Grove. It is a live performance each night with all characters from the Walnut Grove area. Laura narrates the story, reflecting on her life in Walnut Grove in the 1870s. The hillside amphitheater has been developed for extensive lighting, sound, and special effects.

Veigel's Kaiserhoff “Home of those Famous Barbecued Ribs” German & American Food Family Friendly Atmosphere 221 North Minnesota Street - New Ulm, MN

507-359-2071 www.kaiserhoff.org For more information please contact the Greater Mankato CVB, New Ulm CVB or Redwood Falls Area Chamber & Tourism.

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Discover Fairmont, Inside and Out! This sample itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year. Red Rock Center for the Arts

Pioneer Museum

day one

Located amid a series of five lakes, Fairmont is a small town with big opportunities. Whether traveling to satisfy your arts and cultural needs, or wanting to explore the outdoors, the City of Lakes offers something for everyone.

12 – 3:00 pm Spend a hot summer day cooling off at the Fairmont Aquatic Park. With over 11,000 square feet of water surface, thrilling speed slides, diving boards, and a six-lane recreation pool, this facility offers hours of entertainment. Enjoy a tasty lunch at the Sweet Shop located right on the campus. Group rates are available! 3 – 5:00 pm Check into your hotel, freshen up, and spend some time relaxing before the evening’s events.

5 – 7:00 pm Dine out at one of Fairmont’s fine restaurants. How about a great meal at the Green Mill Restaurant? It’s located inside the Holiday Inn. 7 – 10:00 pm Spend the evening being entertained at the historic Fairmont Opera House. From musical tributes to your favorite artists, to instrumental concerts and comedy acts, the Fairmont Opera House has something for every music lover. Check their schedule in advance and find out who’s on stage the night of your group’s visit. 10:00 pm Return to your hotel for a good night’s sleep and pleasant thoughts of a fun-filled day!

day two 7 – 9:00 am Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for another exciting day in Fairmont! 9 – 11:00 am Board the bus for an official “City of Lakes” tour. View a vast collection of Native American relics at Martin County Historical Society’s Pioneer Museum. These items range in origin from the 19th century to the 1950s. Explore Fairmont’s Downtown Plaza abounding with specialty shops from jewelry stores to coffee cafés. 11 – 12:30 pm Enjoy a catered lunch at the Red Rock Center for the Arts. This red stone building was once a church and now is a great place for local artists to display their work. This little piece of history is a great final-stop on your trip to Fairmont. For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or the Fairmont Convention & Visitors Bureau 800-657-3280, www.VisitFairmontMN.com.

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“The Land Between the Lakes” This sample itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year. Albert Lea is a charming town with plenty of group activities. Nestled between Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake, the area makes a great summer destination.

day one 10 – 12:00 pm View Marion Ross and Eddie Cochran memorabilia at the Freeborn County Museum. The village depicts the lives of early settlers with 14 buildings that include a one-room school, general store, church and jail. They also offer Civil War history of the area. 12 – 2:00 pm Enjoy a relaxed lunch at the Pizza Ranch on Bridge Avenue. Their extensive pizza buffet offers something for everyone. It they don’t have a pizza you like, just let them know and they’ll make it for you! 2 – 4:00 pm Head downtown to Adam’s Originals, a unique, vintage shop with a huge selection of new and antique dolls. They also sell other collectibles & handcrafted pottery. 4 – 5:00 pm Check into one of the area’s many group-friendly hotels. 5 – 7:00 pm Dine at the Green Mill or The Trumble’s, a couple of Albert Lea’s group-friendly restaurants. From casual dining to ethnic cuisine, there is plenty to choose from!

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7 – 10:00 pm Enjoy quality entertainment at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. They offer a variety of performances throughout the year including concerts, tributes, musicals and comedy specials. Call for show schedules and details.

10 – 12:00 pm Take a group tour of the Minne-Soy-Ta Nice boutique and try your hand at candle-making. Fill a basket with lotions, soaps and candles while learning about the history and details of the store. Their products make great gifts to take home!

day two

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, please contact your tour operator or the Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau 800-345-8414, www.AlbertLeaTourism.org.

8 – 10:00 am Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and prepare for another fun day in Albert Lea!

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Shooting Star SCENIC BYWAY f the twenty-one scenic byways in Minnesota, the Shooting Star Scenic Byway is one of the first scenic byways established and the first State Wildflower Route.

O JUNE 18: 2nd Annual Family Fun Day in Austin, along with Summer Solstice Ecoblitz at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. On this day, 6 popular attractions in Austin will be open and invite families to come and make some memories, all at no cost! Each location will have some special events happening between the hours of 10am and 2pm, including the SPAM Museum, The Hormel Institute, Nature Center, Historic Paramount Theatre, Mower County Historical Society and the Hormel Historic Home. Call the CVB for details on this FREE offering that happens only once a year!

JULY 1-4: Austin’s Fourth of July “SPAM® TOWN USA Freedom Fest will include music and games at Bandshell Community Park, parade and fireworks, too! Stay for all the fun with the hog jog, bike race and fishing contest.

AUGUST 9-14: 127th Annual Mower County Fair. All Mower County Historical Society buildings will be open for free tours at 1pm daily during fair week. Visit www.mowercountyfair.com for details.

Travel 26 miles through Mower County Minnesota on State Highway 56 from I-90 to the Iowa border and you will see one of Minnesota’s last remaining segments of native prairie and oak savanna. Revisit the bountiful prairies that covered the land only 150 years ago and enjoy one of Minnesota’s State Parks, four historic towns, and several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Along the Shooting Star Scenic Byway you will experience the nearly pristine prairies and wildflowers; including the rare and delicate Shooting Star Flower, now believed to exist only in the areas along this byway. Be sure to stop at the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau or the Rose Pedaler Log Cabin & Gift Shop to get your “Wildflower of the Shooting Star Trail” booklet. This will help you identify the wildflowers and native plants along your drive, or as you bike along the Shooting Star Recreational Trail or hike through the Shooting Star State Natural Area. For more on the Shooting Star Scenic Byway and the Austin area, call the Austin CVB at 800-444-5713.

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An Experience your groups won’t forget. xperience the classic elegance of the St. James Hotel in Red Wing. Built in 1875, there are few places as gratifying as the St. James Hotel. There’s nearly no need to leave the building once you arrive.

Choose from 61 enchanting Victorian guestrooms, each of the guestrooms is distinctly unique. No two rooms are alike. The guestrooms feature high quality mattresses, handmade quilts and plush and warm robes amongst period-antique decor, offering you a luxurious trip back in time. Guests start each day with a newspaper at their door and complimentary coffee in the Historic Library.

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Enjoy the fabulous dining choices, from casual to gourmet, including an award winning wine list at The Port Restaurant. A variety of shopping options await just a few steps from your room. The St. James Courtyard showcases one-of-a-kind clothing stores and fine gifts. Book some time for pampering at the St. James Hotel spa, and let them create an all around memorable experience for you.

For more information (see ad on page 33) or to schedule your group please call 800-252-1875.

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Spring Splendor Visit the State School Orphanage Museum and enjoy the Spring Splendor with an evening of theatre in Owatonna, MN April 28-30 or May 5-7, 2011!

State School Orphanage Museum

day one 10 – 12:00 pm Arrive at the State School Orphanage Museum to learn the story of Minnesota’s orphans between 1886-1945. Enjoy a presentation as told by one of the children who lived at the orphanage for 11 years. 12 – 1:00 pm Enjoy a catered lunch at the beautiful Owatonna Arts Center, formerly the Orphanage’s dining hall. 1 – 1:45 pm Get out into the fresh air to tour the grounds of the State School Orphanage West Hills Campus. First make a stop at Cottage 11 – to explore an original cottage from the orphanage era and the history of the boys who lived there. Move on for a visit to the new gift shop. 1:45 – 3:30 pm Next, visit the four Outdoor Audio Tour Stations to understand the buildings and grounds as they existed then. This tour walks the visitor through the beautiful campus, the old root cellar, used to store food and vegetables in the early 1900’s, then onto the original and restored rock gardens that lead eventually to the Children’s Cemetery. 3:30 – 4:00 pm Grab an afternoon cup of coffee and a treat downtown at Costa’s Café & Chocolate Shop - featuring delicious hand-made/hand-dipped candies. Or swing into Russell Stover Candies for a sweet treat or cool dip of Bridgeman’s Ice Cream! 4 – 7:00 pm Head back to one of Owatonna’s group friendly lodging properties to freshen up for dinner and a show. 7:00 pm Take in the musical “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” at the Little Theater of Owatonna. Enjoy the riveting

w w w. i t i n e r a r i e s m i d w e s t . c o m

Lake Kohlmeier

tale of Molly Brown who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

day two 9 – 10:00 am Rise and shine and discover Owatonna’s Parks and Trails with a brisk walk through Kaplan’s Wood’s or enjoy the sights and sounds of Lake Kohlmeier. 10 – 12:00 pm Discover historic downtown in the National Farmer’s Bank, designed by world-renowned architect Louis

National Farmer’s Bank

Sullivan. The bank building is famous for its Prairie School architecture. 12:00 pm Grab lunch on the go before departing Owatonna for your next stop along a scenic byway in southern Minnesota! For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or Owatonna Tourism Department 800423-6466 or go to www.visitowatonna.org.

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

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Groups are Welcome in the Willmar Lakes Area This sample itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year! The Willmar Lakes Area has everything you need for a great trip. There are 360 surrounding lakes offering beaches, resorts, campgrounds and a wide variety of recreational activities. The area offers plenty of dining and lodging, as well as museums and year-round festivals. Discover the place “Where the Lakes Begin in West Central Minnesota.” Your group won’t be disappointed.

day one 11:30 – 1:00 pm Arrive at the Holiday Inn/Green Mill Restaurant for a warm Willmar Lakes welcome. The Green Mill offers great menu choices for a group lunch as well as separate group dining rooms. They also offer a catered “boxed lunch” for city tours. 1 – 4:00 pm Explore the proud history of the Kandiyohi County community at the Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center. Specializing in team building, their campus offers activities year-round and for all ages. Try your hand at the climbing wall or the Flying Squirrel Challenge Course. Work together

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

on a geo-caching mission, go bird watching, study agriculture and healthy eating, or take the group canoeing. There is a lot to learn about yourself and others at Prairie Woods! 4 – 5:00 pm Check into your hotel and freshen up for the evening. 5 – 7:00 pm Enjoy dinner with a view at The Oaks at Eagle Creek—overlooking Willmar and Swan Lakes, with a view of their championship golf course. The Oaks offers a great atmosphere for groups on a night out, serving up everything from pizza to salads to barbeque ribs and a wine list to complement any entrée. 7 – 10:00 pm Head to the New London Little Theater. Their venue includes theatrical productions, musical variety shows, concerts and an information entertainment night designed to nurture local budding musicians. Sit back and enjoy the show!

day two

Restaurant for an omelet or a warm Belgian waffle. 9:00 am – 12:00 pm You’re off to the J & L Bison Ranch where you can view the herd in their natural habitat. As educational as it is astonishing, there’s much to know and learn about this sacred animal. We’ll save the details for the tour. 12 – 1:00 pm Mr. B’s Chocolatier invites your group to taste their hand-made gourmet chocolates. Using only the finest ingredients—including Minnesota dairy cream, European style butter, wild strawberries and cherries from Italy and vanilla beans from Madagascar—Mr. B’s is a must-stop on your trip to Willmar. Pick up some treats to take home! For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or the Willmar Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau 800-845-8747, www.WillmarLakesArea.com.

7 – 9:00 am Enjoy breakfast at your hotel or head over to Perkins

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directory & map Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway

Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway

Great River Road

Featured Byway ( page 17 )

accommodations metro

Embassy Suites Minneapolis Airport

Holiday Inn MPLS NW Elk River . . 763-656-4400

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-1000

9200 Quaday Avenue NE – Otsego, MN 55330 jbluhm@hielkriver.com / www.hielkriver.com Minnesota’s favorite water park resort! Stay, Play, Shop and Experience local history all within a 5-mile radius! On the banks of the Mississippi River you’ll find local hospitality at its best beaconing you and your group. Four story waterslides, lazy river, and separate zero depth entry pool; fun for absolutely all ages!

Americas Best Value Inn & Suites Shakopee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-291-0622

Extended Stay America Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-884-1400

AmericInn of Shakopee

. . . . . . . . . 952-445-6775 4100 12th Avenue East – Shakopee, MN 55379 The perfect location to accommodate any group. Blocks of rooms can be reserved and special discounts may apply. A complimentary room for a Group Tour Operator is available with 20 paid rooms. Welcome receptions are available.

Cambria Suites Bloomington

Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-858-8475

Hampton Inn & Suites Alexandria. . . 320-763-3360 Homewood Suites By Hilton Hampton Inn & Suites Bloomington . 952-854-7600

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-0900

Hampton Inn By Hilton

Hotel 340 Saint Paul

. . . . . . . .952-854-0300

Comfort Inn Airport Bloomington

. . .952-854-3400

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .651-280-4120

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-835-6643

Hyatt Place Minneapolis Airport-South Country Inn & Suites at Mall of America

Hilton Garden Inn MPLS/Bloomington

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-5555

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-831-1012

Country Inn & Suites West

Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-831-9595

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-893-9500

Courtyard by Marriott MPLS/Bloomington

Hilton Minneapolis/Saint Paul Airport

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-876-0100

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-2100

Crowne Plaza Bloomington

Holiday Inn Bloomington Airport I-35W

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-831-8000

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-884-8211

Days Inn Bloomington West

Holiday Inn Express MPLS Airport/Mall Area

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-835-7400

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-1687

Embassy Suites Bloomington

Holiday Inn & Suites MPLS Airport

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-884-4811

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-9000

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-0700

La Quinta Inn Bloomington-MPLS Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-881-7311

La Quinta Inn & Suites Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-830-1300

Le Bourget Aero Suites Hotel Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-893-9999

Microtel Inn & Suites Bloomington . . 952-854-6600 Minneapolis Airport Marriott Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-7441

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

Park Plaza Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-831-3131 1-877-832-7267

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Quality Inn & Suites Bloomington . . . 952-854-5558

Comfort Inn – West

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-328-1931

. . . . . . . . . . . .218-628-1464 3900 West Superior Street – Duluth, MN 55807 gm.mn017@choicehotels.com 2011 Platinum Hospitality Award winner. Complimentary Hot Breakfast. Indoor Pool, Whirlpool & Sauna. Weeknight guest hospitality hour with apps and a cash bar. Great location near all area attractions at an affordable price.

Residence Inn MPLS/Bloomington

Comfort Suites Canal Park

Radisson Hotel Bloomington By MOA Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-8700

Ramada Mall of America

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-876-0900

Riverwood Inn & Conference Center

. . . . . . . . . . .612-708-8034 10990 95th Street NE – Otsego, MN 55362 mpaulson@lodgehotels.com / www.riverwoodinn.com Relationship driven, Riverwood Inn raises the bar on excellent group stays. Preferred rates/comps, driver/escort upgrades, welcome receptions, baggage handling, express check-in/out, complimentary breakfast. Amazing Riverwood Race group scavenger hunt. On the Mississippi, near Albertville Premium Outlets.

The Saint Paul Hotel

. . . . . . . . . . .651-292-9292 350 Market Street – Saint Paul, MN 55102 sales@saintpaulhotel.com / www.saintpaulhotel.com 254 professionally decorated guestrooms and suites. Each with minibar, safe, and high-speed internet access. Concierge, newspaper, laundry, valet, business center, and rooftop fitness center.

Sheraton Bloomington Hotel-MPLS South Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-835-7800

Sofitel Minneapolis Bloomington . . . . 952-835-1900

. . . . .218-727-1378 408 Canal Park Drive – Duluth, MN 55802 gm.mn031@choicehotels.com www.choicehotels.com/hotel/mn031 The Comfort Suites Canal Park is located on beautiful Lake Superior in Historic Canal Park. Enjoy dining, museums, shopping, and the boardwalk within walking distance. We will make your group tour successful and memorable.

Hampton Inn

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-426-7866 310 Canal Park Drive – Duluth, MN 55802 dulmn.hampton@hilton.com www.hampton.com/hi/duluth Relax in our sunroom and watch your ship come in! In Canal Park on Lake Superior and next to the lake walk, we are centrally located for shopping, dining and attractions. Newly remodeled in summer 2011.

The Lodge At Brainerd Lakes & Paul Bunyan Waterpark . . . . . .877-687-5634 6967 Lake Forest Rd – Baxter, MN 56425 218-822-5561 tania.sampson@lodgehotels.com www.lodgehotelsbrainerd.com Brainerd area’s newest upscale hotel and conference center is your Northwoods getaway. Home to the Paul Bunyan Indoor Waterpark, The Lodge Grill & Bar and 102 spacious guestrooms, so large we call them cabins!

Staybridge Suites Bloomington . . . . . . 952-831-7900 Super 8 Motel Bloomington . . . . . . . . . 952-888-8800 Travelodge

Alexandria Hampton Inn & Suites

Ext 114

600 30th Ave S – Moorhead, MN 56560 877-287-7100 Our two-story waterfall cascades into a tropical courtyard featuring an indoor 9-hole championship, miniature golf course, swimming pool, children’s pool, & whirlpool. We have a lounge, fitness center and free deluxe hot continental breakfast.

St. James Hotel

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-252-1875 406 Main Street – Red Wing, MN 55066 www.st-james-hotel.com Centrally located between the Twin Cities and Rochester and mere footsteps away from all scenic Red Wing has to offer, the St. James Hotel is the ideal headquarters for your tour group’s southeast Minnesota action.

Coborn’s Lake Itasca Tours Inc. 54725 Sunset St – Osage, MN 56570 . . . . 218-266-3660 Off Season phone: 218-573-2216 Naturalist narrated 2 hour tours to the Mississippi Headwaters aboard the 141 Pax “Chester Charles II”, on Lake Itasca. Unique opportunities for viewing and photographing wildlife. Snacks & beverages for sale. New in 2011: A local shuttle service available upon request.

Lutsen Mountain Lutsen. . . . . . . . . . . 218-406-1319 southern New Ulm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-354-5528

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers metro

Meet Minneapolis Minneapolis

. . . . . 888-676-6757

Roseville Visitors Association . .651-633-3002

attractions metro

American Swedish Institute

2100 N Snelling Avenue, Suite 59 877-980-3002 cdonovan@visitroseville.com www.visitroseville.com Roseville is perfectly positioned to everything the Twin Cities has to offer. Just 10 min. from Saint Paul & Minneapolis, our hotels offer lower hotel tax and free motorcoach parking. Complimentary planning service & FREE roses for group tours.

Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-870-3344

119 LeSauk Drive – Sartell, MN 56377 sartell.mn@americinn.com www.americinn.com/hotels/mn/sartell Stay at the hottest spot in the St. Cloud area, the AmericInn of Sartell, we’re on the border to everywhere. Experience a quiet night’s sleep with our soundguard guestrooms and wake up to our free enhanced continental breakfast.

Saint Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-227-1100

w w w. i t i n e r a r i e s m i d w e s t . c o m

northern

Springfield . . .507-723-8200

Padelford Packet Boat Company

. . . . . . . . . .800-777-8560

. . 612-667-4210 Sixth Street South and Marquette Avenue Skyway Level Minneapolis, MN 55402 wfmuseum.mn@wellsfargo.com www.wellsfargohistory.com Visit a fun, interactive museum on the skyway in downtown Minneapolis. See the glimmer of gold, send messages by telegraph, examine a historic stagecoach, and more! Guided tours available. Free and open to the public.

Wow!Zone Mankato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-625-2695

AmericInn of Sartell . . . . . . . . . . . .320-259-0877

Canal Park Lodge Duluth

Wells Fargo History Museum

Microtel Inn & Suites Mankato . . . . .507-388-2818

AmericInn Silver Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-254-1827 AmericInn Lodge & Suites & Event Center of Moorhead . . . 218-287-7100

215 Wabasha Street South – Saint Paul, MN 55107 www.wabashastreetcaves.com Down In History has exciting historic tours done by costumed characters. Historic Walking Cave Tours in Saint Paul and Stillwater. Motorcoach Gangster Tours, Irish Tours, Tacky Tours, Ghost & Graves Tours, & More! We make history fun!

Wanda Gag House New Ulm . . . . . . . . 507-359-2632

Microtel Inn & Suites

. . . . . . . . . . 800-Hampton 2705 S Broadway – Alexandria, MN 56308 320-763-3360 AXNMN_Hampton_Suites@hilton.com www.alexandriasuitesmn.hamptoninn.com Opened 2008. Free Hot Breakfast, Indoor Pool & Whirlpool, Fitness Center, Business Center, Suite Shop, Free Wired/wireless internet, Microwave & Refrigerator in all rooms, meeting room on site 10-50 people.

Wabasha Street Caves . . . . . . . . . . . 651-292-1220

southern

Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-854-3322

northern

Saint Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-647-9628

August Schell Brewing Company

North Shore Resorts by Odyssey Duluth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .218-728-8060

Twin City Model Railroad Museum

Running Aces Harness Park . . . 877-RUN-ACES 15201 Zurich Street NE – Columbus, MN 55025 www.runningacesharness.com Running Aces® Harness Park is a cutting-edge, 24 hour Las Vegas style card room and restaurant, with live summer harness racing and year-round Simulcast wagering on all horses. Blackjack, Texas Hold’em and more!

Saint Paul Convention . . . . . . . . . . .651-265-4906 & Visitors Authority 800-627-6101 ext. 4906 175 West Kellogg Blvd, Suite 502 – Saint Paul, MN 55102 mhernandez@visitsaintpaul.com www.saintpaulgroups.com A classic group tour destination. In addition to offering a variety of group-friendly activities, we provide unparalleled service for tour operators and group leaders. Take advantage of our group services such as itinerary planning and meet & greet programs.

Continued on next page ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

Explore Minnesota cvbs and chambers cont’d metro continued

Stillwater & Oak Park Heights CVB . . . . . . . .651-351-1717 PO Box 2025 – Stillwater, MN 55082 www.discoverstillwater.com Historic Stillwater, Minnesota is located along the banks of the scenic St. Croix River. Our many unique shops, restaurants, lodging establishments & attractions make a perfect group destination. Located within 30 min. of most major Twin Cities metro attractions.

Twin Cities Tourism Attractions Association

. . . . . . . .952-858-8493 PO Box 11858 – Saint Paul, MN 55111 info@funminnesota.com www.funminnesota.com TWIN CITIES OF MINNESOTA ATTRACTIONS. So much to do for every season! We list the best entertainment and hotels. Our information guide helps you plan for your clients and group tours. Metro area CVBs are listed.

southern

Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-373-2316 2566 Bridge Avenue – Albert Lea, MN 56007 800-345-8414 cvbdirector@albertlea.org www.albertleatourism.org Located 90 minutes from Mpls, where I-90 & I-35 intersect, featuring small town hospitality with big city amenities. Plus additional lakes & 38 city parks hosting various outdoor activities.

Austin CVB

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-437-4563 104 11th Ave NW Ste D – Austin, MN 55912 800-444-5713 visitor@austinmn.com www.austincvb.com SPAM Town, USA. Southern Minnesota Tourism at its best! Home of Fortune 500 Company Hormel Food Corporation. Tourists will be delighted with the SPAM Museum, Historic Hormel Home, Paramount Theatre, & other exciting attractions.

Explore Southern Minnesota Tourism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .888-868-7476 ext. 162 115 East Hickory #403 – Mankato, MN 56001 www.exploresouthernminnesota.com You’ll be surprised…at what you’ll find in southern Minnesota! With many scenic byways, festivals, parks & trails, historic sites, caves, bluffs, waterfalls & so much more, it makes a perfect destination for any group.

www.itinerariesmidwest.com

New Ulm CVB

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-233-4300 1 North Minnesota - PO box 862 – New Ulm, MN 56073 www.newulm.com 90 miles southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul we offer something for everyone, from one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants to important historical sites, and much more. Most importantly, it’s still a place where friends old and new are greeted with a warm welcome.

Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce

. . . . . . . . .507-451-7970 320 Hoffman Dr – Owatonna, MN 55060 800-423-6466 www.owatonna.org Located in south central MN, 45 minutes from Mpls/Saint Paul on I-35. Come “discover our faces & places” - filled with historical, recreational & cultural opportunities as well as nearly 700 guest rooms to accommodate any group.

Redwood Falls Area Chamber and Tourism

. . . . . . . . .507-637-2828 200 South Mill Street – Redwood Falls, MN 56283 www.redwoodfalls.org Redwood Falls is an area rich in history, heritage and scenic beauty, unique shopping opportunities, and an abundance of recreational and leisure activities. Come see for yourself!

Redwood Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .507-637-2828

Minnesota Renaissance Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-966-8215 1244 S Canterbury Road, Suite 306 952-445-7361 Shakopee, MN 55379 info@renaissancefest.com / www.renaissancefest.com Experience the 16th century with hundreds of costumed villagers and 12 stages of entertainment. More than 275 artisans sell and display handcrafted wares. Open Weekends August 20-October 2, 2011. Group discounts available.

Minnesota State Fair . . . . . . . . . . . 651-632-2689 1265 Snelling Avenue North – Saint Paul, MN 55108 www.mnstatefair.org The great Minnesota Get-Together. Local, national and internationally-known entertainers, horse show and rodeo performances, Mighty Midway and Kidway rides, competitions, exhibits, attractions and concessions.

Minnesota Timberwolves Minneapolis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612.337.DUNK

southern

restaurants

Willmar Lakes Area CVB . . .800-845-8747 Ext 79 2104 Highway 12 East – Willmar, MN 56201 www.willmarlakesarea.com Visit the Willmar Lakes Area. Only 2 hours west of Minneapolis/Saint Paul. 360 lakes, 36 parks, 81 holes of golf – and that’s just on the drive in! Let our staff help put together a getaway for your group.

metro

Cherokee Tavern Saint Paul . . . . . . . . 651-457-2729 El Burrito Mercado Restaurant Saint Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651-227-2192

southern

entertainment & theater metro

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. . . 952-934-1547 501 W 78th St – Chanhassen, MN 55317 800-355-6273 www.chanhassendt.com Since 1968 Chanhassen Dinner Theatres have been recognized for quality theatre entertainment & fine dining. The nation’s largest professional dinner theatre is AAA Magazine recommended, “Any Twin Cities visit should include an evening at Chanhassen!”

323 East Blue Earth, PO Box 976 – Fairmont, MN 56031 www.visitfairmontmn.com Fairmont the “City of Lakes” awaits your arrival. Located in southern Minnesota on Interstate 90 we have a range of lodging and dining options to fit your needs. Lakes, history, open spaces, discover Fairmont!

Minnesota Centennial Showboat

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

metro

Wilder Pageant Walnut Grove . . . . . . . 888-859-3102

History Theatre Saint Paul. . . . . . . . . . 651-292-4323

. . . . . . . .800-944-2670 100 Milwaukee Road, PO Box 348 – Lanesboro, MN 55949 www.lanesboro.com Partnering with Explore Mississippi Bluffs www.exploremississippibluffs.com Lanesboro, Minnesota is the premier arts and culture destination in the Midwest. Group Tours enjoy the theatre, arts center, winery, Molly the Trolley, and Amish Tours. Itinerary building, step on guides and customized programs.

festivals & events

Tatanka Bluffs Corridor

Fairmont Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-657-3280

Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce

Read ITINERARIES Midwest Online. Ads hotlinked to websites.

Pub 500 Mankato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507-625-6500 Veigel’s Kaiserhoff New Ulm . . . . . . . . 507-359-2071

shopping metro

Mall of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-883-8843 60 E Broadway – Bloomington, MN 55425 800-879-3555 mphilipp@mallofamerica.com / www.mallofamerica.com Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the nation, featuring 520 stores, 50 restaurants and attractions galore. Enjoy no sales tax on clothing and shoes. Valuable coupon books, Meet and Greet Service and other group travel services available.

Saint Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 612-625-4001

tour operators Plymouth Playhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763-553-1600 3313 Republic Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 55426 groupst@plymouthplayhouse.com www.plymouthplayhouse.com Celebrating 31 years of hits, Plymouth Playhouse is best known for producing comedies. This intimate 211-seat theater is located in the Best Western Kelly Inn on the lower level. Church Basement Ladies now playing to sold out audiences.

metro

Heartland Tours & Travel. . . . . . . . 800-368-4874 Metro 651-777-7170;

Rochester 507-288-1330

1825 North Broadway – Rochester, MN 55906 info@heartlandtoursandtravel.net www.heartlandtoursandtravel.net Our experienced staff can package a wide variety of 1-28 day tours to any destination. We can customize any tour to meet your needs. Call us today and let us plan “Escorted Tours You’re Going to Love!”

MetroConnections Minneapolis . . . . . 800-747-8687 1-877-832-7267

Close to home. Far from ordinary.

missouri cities branson, cape girardeau, charleston, columbia, crocker, eagleville, farmington, fort leonard wood, hannibal, hermann, kansas city, jefferson city, mansfield, rock port, springfield, st. louis, st. joseph, st. robert, west plains

calendar of events

Great River Road 215 miles, follow US 61 past Canton and La Grange Just as it was over a century ago, the Mississippi River is an integral part of Missouri’s economy and the Missouri Great River Road is a route with stories to tell and a history to preserve. This five to six hour drive offers access to shopping centers and restaurants in St. Louis, one of the few truly cosmopolitan destinations along the Great River Road. One of America’s favorite author’s, Mark Twain, is commemorated along the drive in the buildings and museums. Take a detour to Hannibal and tour the author’s boyhood home and discover what inspired his timeless novels. The old river town of Sainte Genevieve, just one hour south of St. Louis, offers peace and quiet to any traveler. The quaint streets provide a variety of specialty shops with an old-world quality. Whether exploring the bustling cities, or quiet river towns, this excursion is full of variety and rich with history. (See route on map, page 43)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in missouri… Glade Top Trail – 23 miles southeast off of SR 95 at Longrun Gary Snadon, who thought of the idea while on the observation and the junction with County Road 149. Located within the Mark Twain National Forest, this byway is considered one of the most picturesque areas in the state. Numerous scenic views highlight this excursion reaching to the Springfield Plateau to the northwest and the St. Francis and Boston Mountains of Northern Arkansas to the south. The trail also provides refuge to wildlife rarely found in the Ozarks, including the roadrunner, pygmy rattlesnake, the Bachman’s Sparrow, and collared lizard.

Historic Route 66 – 317 miles, running from St. Louis to Joplin at the Kansas state line. Explore what many claim to be the ultimate road trip. Route 66 became the ultimate road trip representing freedom of the open road and the excitement of traveling across the nation. Groups can experience the unique and exciting landmarks along the drive. From stretches of ghost towns, to vintage hotels, visiting unique antique shops and service stations, eat at local restaurants, or stop by the Route 66 State Park and explore its natural scenic beauty. Route 66 lives up to its nickname: The Mother Road.

Ozark Mountain Parkway – 28 miles - Route 65 north of Branson. This is an outstanding scenic drive with its views of the Ozark range, offering several opportunities to stop and explore. Enjoy the view from Inspiration Tower, located at Shepherd of the Hills. This 230-foot structure was inspired by

deck of the World Trade Center and decided that Branson, which its rich scenery, should have an observation tower as well. Come and discover why this piece of history is called “Branson’s Landmark on the Horizon.”

Sho-Me Santa Fe Trails – 20 miles, US 65 continuing westward on US 24. Formerly called Boones Lick Trail, this byway was once a common route for Native Americans, fur traders, trappers, and Civil War troops. This historic drive once guided covered wagons and stagecoaches during the country’s westward expansion in the 1800s. Come appreciate the beauty of the hills and bluffs of the Missouri River. View lush orchards and rich vineyards or stop at one of this byway’s irresistible fruit markets. This is a perfect springtime drive. Stars and Stripes Historical/Cultural Byway – 6 miles, State Highway 25 in Stoddard County. Citizens of Stoddard County have worked diligently to make this byway a prime sample of history for all to enjoy. Appreciate the Missouri Veterans’ Cemetery, paying tribute to American citizens who devoted their lives to preserving our democratic ancestry. History buffs will love the Stoddard County Archives, home to priceless documents dating all the way back to the Civil War era. The byway is named after the Stars and Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, the birthplace of the historic military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

april • Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival April 8-10, Cape Girardeau 800-777-0068 • Dogwood-Azalea Festival April 14-17, Charleston 573-683-6509 • World War II Weekend April 15-17, St. Louis 314-467-0741 • Lakota Sioux Dance Theatre April 21, Springfield 417-836-7678 • Camp Jackson Affair Reenactment April 29-May1, Lemay 314-544-6224 • Monty Python’s Spamalot April 29-30, Springfield 417-836-7678 may • Pella Iowa Trip May 4-5, St. Joseph 800-785-0360 • Mayfest 2011 May 6-7, Perryville 573-547-6062 • Silver Dollar City Bluegrass and BBQ Festival May 12-30, Branson 800-475-9370 • Faust Historic Village Open House May 21-22, June, 18-19, 25-26, July 23-24, 30-31, Chesterfield 314-615-8328 june • 5th Annual Springfield Shakespeare Festival June 2, Springfield 800-678-8767 • Moberly Railroad Days June 8-11, Moberly 660-263-6070 • Summer Fun Expo June 11, Trenton 660-359-6473 • Hillbilly Days June 16-19, Lebanon 417-532-4642 • Ozark Heritage Festival June 17-18, West Plains 417-255-7966 july • National Tom Sawyer Days July 1-4, Hannibal 573-221-3231 • Playright Festival July 15 & 17, Independence 800-748-7323 • 7th Annual KC Fringe Festival July 21-31, Kansas City 816-842-9999 • Missouri Renaissance Festival July 23-24, Neosho 918-244-1886 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

Close to home. Far from ordinary.

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Where the North fought the South And the East left for the West The city of St. Joseph represented the central hub of all the country’s major communication and commercial passage routes in the middle of the 1800s and during the Civil War. Of particular importance, it was the western terminus of the nation’s railroad system in 1861. Also, it was the eastern terminus of the Pony Express overland mail route to California which kept the communication lines open to the vast western regions of the country; which has been credited with helping pacify and keep California in the Union. Additionally, the city served as a major steamboat terminus linking the Missouri-Mississippi-Ohio River complex connecting river passage across the country. St. Joseph also became one of the major western migration departure points on the Oregon-California Trails and had a connecting link to the Santa Fe Trail. The town was known as the “Gateway to the West.” Lastly, it operated as the western terminus for the telegraph. All of these points made St. Joseph of immense strategic and geographic importance during the Civil War.

9 – 10:15 am The St. Joseph Museum is dedicated to the history of St. Joseph from pre-history to contemporary times. They have a host of exhibits on the medical aspects of the Civil War, from stories illustrating the conditions faced by soldiers and others who were injured in the fighting. Exhibits also feature the advances made in battlefield medical care since that time. 10:15 – 11:30 am Driving tour to include Fort Smith, remnants of a Civil War Fort in St. Joseph and Mt. Mora Cemetery, where several hundred Confederate and Union Soldiers are buried, including General M. Jeff Thompson aka “Swamp Fox.” 11:30 – 1:00 pm Lunch 1 – 2:30 pm Mount up and head to the “Stables” of the Pony Express Museum. The famous mail delivery service started within these very walls on April 3, 1860. Your guide will give a personalized tour of exhibits covering the creation, running and demise of the Pony Express. 2:30 – 4:00 pm Step back in time at the Patee House Museum and Jesse James Home. The Patee House was

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

the original hotel that housed the headquarters for The Pony Express in 1860 and was the finest hotel west of the Mississippi. Civil War “Formal Balls” were held in the Ballroom. Today, it offers a “hands-on” look at St. Joe’s history. Stroll down Old Main Street (every storefront has an item that does not fit the era – you have to find it!), climb aboard a steam engine and visit the little house where Jesse James was shot and killed. End your tour on the “Wild Thing Carousel”.

Pony Express Museum

For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please call your tour operator or the St. Joseph CVB, 800-785-0360.

1-877-832-7267

Close to home. Far from ordinary.

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PULASKI COUNTY Home of Fort hot Leonard Wood STOP

ulaski County is centrally located in the Ozarks along Interstate 44 between exits 169 and 145, offering unique attractions and adventures. Pulaski County is proud to be called home to Fort Leonard Wood, one of the largest active military installations in the United States. Hungry? Need an easy, convenient stop between destinations? Dine in a real cave, or choose from many of our nationally known franchises such as Ryan’s or Cracker Barrel.

directory & map convention & visitors bureaus and chambers Missouri Division of Tourism Jefferson City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-519-2100

Pulaski County

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .877-858-8687 137 Saint Robert Boulevard – Suite A Saint Robert, MO 65584 email@visitpulaskicounty.org / www.visitpulaskicounty.org Let the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau assist you in planning your overnight or daytrips to Pulaski County! Visit our online brochures for itineraries, driving tours and more!

St. Joseph CVB

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-785-0360 109 South 4th Street – St. Joseph, MO 64501 cvb@stjomo.com / www.stjomo.com/stjogrouptours.aspx An All-American city born of the fur trade and brimming with a spirit of adventure. Recently named America’s “Top Ten Western City” by the True West Magazine, we are a city abounding in 19th Century charm and timeless beauty.

Featured Byway ( page 41 )

Pulaski County is home to 27 hotels with over 1600 rooms; ranging from the small “mom and pop’s” along Historic Route 66 to major franchises. Several properties offer hospitality and evening socials. Get Your Kicks With our step-on guide for a tour of Historic Route 66. Stops include the Elbow Inn, Sugar Bowl Bluffs, Hooker Cut, Old Stagecoach Stop, Pulaski County Courthouse Museum. Step-on $100, Museums $50 min/$2pp.

Pulaski Museum

Patriotic Pride Guided windshield tours of the military post, three museums focusing on military history. Take your photo at Check Point Charlie, walk through tunnels of Vietnam, take aim with the M-16 Rifle simulator. Nine WWII buildings, exhibits of the segregation of the Army as well as a prisoner-of-war barrack. Admission: Free. Self-guided tours, 2-3 hours. Rustic Railroad Frisco Railroad Museum, photo opportunity with a caboose. Admission $2pp 1hr. Antique shopping along the way. River Adventure Gentle float trips along the Big Piney and Gasconade Rivers by way of canoes, kayaks, rafts or inner-tubes. Visitors Center Meet & Greet Our friendly staff will greet you with hot coffee and cookies, clean restrooms and complementary brochures. Itinerary & Bid Assistance Bureau staff offers complimentary assistance in developing and customizing an itinerary, co-coordinating attractions, restaurants and hotel bids. We invite you with a warm welcome to Pulaski County, Missouri! For more information please call 877-858-8687 or visit www.groupsinpulaski.org.

w w w. i t i n e r a r i e s m i d w e s t . c o m

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

Possibilities…endless

nebraska cities chadron, columbus, fremont, grand island, gretna, hastings, kearney, kimball, lincoln, mccook, minden, nebraska city, norfolk, north platte, omaha, royal, scottsbluff, sidney, valentine, york

calendar of events april • Nebraska Renaissance Faire April 30-May 1, 7-8, Bellevue 641-357-5177 • 1884 Days April 30, Valentine 800-658-4024 may • Honky Tonk BBQ Festival May 6-7, North Platte 308-532-4279 • International Migratory Bird Day May 7, Bellevue 402-731-3140 • La Vista Daze May 26-29, La Vista 402-331-4343 • 54th Annual Spring Flea Market May 28-30, Brownville 402-825-3731 june • Plainview Q125 Celebration June 2-5, Plainview 402-582-4928 • Taste of Omaha June 3-5, Omaha 402-346-8003 • The Sound of Music June 3-19, Omaha 402-345-4849 • Shell Creek Valley Days June 4-5, Newman Grove 402-371-2932 • Kaloch Celebration June 10-12, Verdigre 402-668-2236 • NEBRASKAland Days June 11-25, North Platte 308-532-7939 • Swedish Days June 17-19, Holdrege 308-995-6628 • 19th Annual Ash Hollow Historical Pageant June 17-18, Lewellen 308-778-5548 • Central Nebraska Ethnic Festival June 24-26, Grand Island 308-385-5444 july • Vietnam Traveling Wall July 1-4, Kearney 308-237-1000 • Crawford’s 125th Anniversary & Old West Trail Rodeo July 2-4, Crawford 308-430-0909 • Fur Trade Days July 8-10, Chadron 308-432-4957 • 18th Annual South Loup River Blue Festival July 8-9, Arnold 800-584-9336 • Riverside Music Festival July 9-10, Crete 402-826-2372 • 90th Annual Oregon Trails Days Celebration July 14-17, Gering 308-631-9976 • RiverFest 2011 July 15-16, Bellevue 402-898-3000 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

directory & map convention & visitors bureaus and chambers Nebraska Department of Economic Development Lincoln . . 877-NEBRASKA

Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway 272 miles, travels on Hwy 2 through the Sandhills from Grand Island to the railroad community of Alliance Named one of the ten most scenic routes in the nation. The name of this byway came from the Sandhill Cranes that descend on the shallow Platte River every spring migration and for the area’s 20,000 square miles of stabilized sand dunes that are the largest in the Western Hemisphere. This journey is defined by wide-open spaces and remarkable, panoramic views. Another element unique to this area is the Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey. This 90,000acre, pine-covered region includes the largest section of hand-planted forest in the world! Have some old-fashioned fun at an authentic soda fountain and the local drive-in. Or for a unique tour of the waterway, tanking is the ticket. This unusual activity involves a leisurely float down the river in a stock tank! Other options are Western heritage museums, American Indian artifacts, annual whooping crane migration, thoroughbred horse racing & much more! (See route below)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in nebraska… 385 – Gold Rush Byway – 158 miles, travels along US Highway 385 from the Nebraska/South Dakota state line to Nebraska/Colorado state line. This byway was well traveled in the 1800s, with people transporting gold bullion out of the Black Hills. Now you will find beautiful views over the rugged landscape. There are a variety of attractions including some unusual rock formations such as the Courthouse & Rail Rocks (were 2 of the first “road signs”) and Carhenge (replica of the world-famous Stonehenge constructed of old cars). Bridges to Buttes Byway – 197 miles, from Valentine west to Wyoming border on US Highway 20. See Nebraska in its rawest form, as the cunning and rolling sandhills change into remarkable and grand bluffs and buttes. Explore grasslands, see rare wildlife, canoe the Niobrara River, bike/hike along trails, archaeological digs, and view unique geologic formations. Such as the Toadstool Geologic Park and

take a self-guided trail brochure to explore the area. Also an unusual setting for a picnic!

Lewis & Clark Scenic Byway – 82 miles, from north of Omaha to South Sioux City on US Highway 75. Follow in the footsteps of the famous explorers, Meriwether Lewis & William Clark, through the cropland and magnificently wooded bluffs framing the Missouri River. Western history, American Indian culture, wineries, wildlife, and the first military post west of the Missouri River are some of the things to see or do along this byway.

Lincoln Highway Scenic & Historic Byway – 400 miles, travels along US Highway 30 from the eastern to western border. America’s first transcontinental highway between San Francisco and New York your group will catch a glimpse of the past with original brick pavers and road markers. Enjoy views of rich farmland and get a personal taste at the many farmers’ markets, roadside stands and wineries.

Featured Byway

Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway – 231 miles, Highway 12 from South Sioux City to Valentine. Outlaws, thieves, lynch mobs and lawmen traveled this route many years ago, hence the name of the Byway. Today, you’ll come across much friendlier characters of the past. Ride a covered wagon through elk & buffalo, savor home cooked meals & pies, discover old west & prairie town atmospheres, hear outlaw stories & much more!

Legendary

north dakota cities bismarck-mandan, bottineau, bowman, crosby, devils lake, dickinson, fargo/moorhead, garrison, grafton, grand forks, jamestown, langdon, medora, minot, rugby, valley city, wahpeton, west fargo, williston

calendar of events april • 53rd Annual Spring Art Show April 1-30, Mandan 701-751-0796

Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit Scenic Byway 14 miles long - beginning 15 miles south of Watford City from US Highway 85 and proceeding west to the Oxbow Overlook This byway provides the colorful North Dakota Badlands as a scenic backdrop with its sweeping vistas of one of the last remnants of wilderness in the Northern Great Plains. The scenic loop within the Park gives access to superb birdwatching, hiking, camping, backpacking and horseback riding. Your group can drink in exhilarating vistas from the Riverbend Overlook, which is a short walk from the parking lot. Roosevelt’s first ranch home, the Maltese Cross Cabin, is open for viewing at the South Unit Visitor Center. This park was named after President Roosevelt because he attributed much of his political motivation to the experiences he had in North Dakota parks. Regarding Roosevelt and this park, the National Park Service site says, “Here in the North Dakota badlands, where many of his personal concerns first gave rise to his later environmental efforts, Roosevelt is remembered with a national park that bears his name and honors the memory of this great conservationist. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is in the colorful North Dakota badlands and is home to a variety of plants and animals, including bison, prairie dogs, and elk.” (See route on map, page 46)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in north dakota… Chan SanSan Scenic Byway – 32 miles From Highway 46 to the intersection of County Line Road 13. Formerly known as the James River Valley Scenic Byway and Backway, takes travelers through a valley carved out over 12,000 years ago by glacial melt water. Rich in history, the name Chan SanSan is the Yanktonai Sioux name for the James River. Travelers today will find the rich history of those early people along with scenic beauty and multiple opportunities for recreation and wildlife viewing. Crow Flies High Butte – New Town, ND Enjoy this breathtaking view of Lake Sakakawea, Badlands bluffs and the foundations of the underwater town of Sanish. This site was a lookout used by William Clark when he was waiting to reunite with Meriwether Lewis.

Killdeer Mountain Four Bears Scenic Byway – 64 miles - ND Highway 22 north from Killdeer to the McKenzie County Line. Your group will travel from Manning to New Town; this byway reveals a fascinating scenic and historic journey. From the Killdeer Mountains to the deeply entrenched Little Missouri breaks and badlands, this byway provides a unique

and enchanting landscape in one of the most scenic areas of western North Dakota.

Sakakawea Scenic Byway – 23 miles - begins at Washburn, ND (north of Bismarck) and continues west along ND State Highway 200A. This byway highlights fantastic views of the Missouri River Valley, and some of the state’s outstanding destinations for visitors seeking information on Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. Your group will be able to follow the course of this great journey and discover the history and culture of the people who lived in the rolling hills and wooded valleys of the Missouri and Knife Rivers.

Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway – 63 miles branching out from Valley City on I-94 both to the north and to the south. In a state known for its flat horizons, a dip into a tree-speckled valley with a snaking river and winding roadway is a welcome variation. Discover Native American, Viking, and pioneer lore. Explore 27 interpretive sites that include historic sites, trails, bridges, antiques, birds, and starry nights. Quaint towns and farmsteads lend charm to your journey.

may • Turtle Mountain Birding Festival May 20-22, Bottineau 888-918-5623 • Skydance Sakakawea Kite Festival May 28-30, Garrison 701-337-5576 june • Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival June 1-5, Carrington 888-921-2473 • 57th Annual Birdwalk and 50th Annual Chuckwagon Breakfast June 5, Medora 701-623-4884 • Happy Harry’s Ribfest 2011 June 8-12, Fargo 701-241-9100 • Bully-The Play June 10, Medora 800-MEDORA-1 • Pitchfork Steak Fondue June 10-July 31, Medora 800-MEDORA-1 • Rhubarb Festival June 11, Grand Forks 701-775-4745 • Fargo’s Downtown Street Fair June 14-16, Fargo 701-241-1570 • 21st Annual Missouri River Bluegrass Festival June 17-18, Center 701-794-3731 • Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival June 24-26, Fargo 218-299-5452 july • Mandan Art in the Park Festival July 3-4, Mandan 701-223-5660 • White Cloud’s 15th Birthday and Tatanka Festival July 7-10, Jamestown 800-807-1511 • Fargo’s Downtown Street Fair July 14-16, Fargo 701-241-1570 • North Dakota State Fair July 22-30, Minot 701-857-7620 • Fiber Arts Festival July 23-24, West Fargo 701-282-2822 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

TRNP

Legendary

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Sweets & Swedes This sample itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year!

day one 10 – 11:00 am Start your adventure by soaring into the Fargo Air Museum, where you can enjoy a special display of WWII planes. This museum also features aviation history and memorabilia from North Dakota and the surrounding area. 11 – 12:00 pm Continue on to the 1927 Historic Fargo Theatre. Here you can enjoy a classic, silent or first-run film in this art-deco style theatre, accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ. 12 – 2:00 pm Pull in to see the Celebrity Walk of Fame at the Fargo-Moorhead Convention & Visitors Bureau. The walk features over 100 celebrity signatures, hand and footprints, permanently set in cement. See the footprints or handprints from George W. Bush to Barney, the purple dinosaur. Who’s shoes do you want to step into? Make sure to stop for lunch. 2 – 4:00 pm To complete your day, explore the MSUM Planetarium. Enjoy the view as the planetarium simulates the night

sky. It can show the sky from any location on the Earth, now, or thousands of years in the past or future. 4:00 pm Check into a local hotel, they have plenty to choose from and most are group friendly. The evening is on your own!

day two 9 – 12:00 pm Start your days adventure at the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, by reliving the journey of the Viking Ship “Hjemkomst” (Yem-komst), as it sailed from Minnesota to Norway. Learn about the voyage, including the storm 500 miles from New York that caused a crack in the hull nearly 14 feet long and almost led the crew to retreat back to North America. See how the crew lived during the 72-day voyage. While you’re there, walk through the Norwegian Stave Church, a replica of the Hopperstad Stave Church in Vik, Norway. 12 – 1:00 pm Next stop, Carol Widman’s Candy Store. Savor the many delicious homemade sweets, such as the local favorite — chocolate-covered potato chips called “chippers,” caramels, fudge, and much more. The original Widman tradition of handmade quality

candy spans four generations, originating in 1885 in Dubuque, IA, with William Widman I. Four generations have allowed the Widman family to develop a special quality of product and unique use of ingredients, including their “Chippers.” 1 – 2:00 pm Finally, you can’t leave without stopping in Hawley, MN for that favorite Norwegian potato treat. Carl’s Lefse Place will tantalize your taste “spuds” with its homemade lefse. For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group, please contact your tour operator or the Fargo Moorhead CVB, 800-235-7654 or visit www.fargomoorhead.org. Historic Fargo Theatre

directory & map accommodations

attractions

AmericInn Lodge & Suites & Event Center of Moorhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-287-7100 Ramada-Grand Dakota Lodge & Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-422-0949

Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Ctr.

532 15th St W – Dickinson, ND 58601 701-456-8410 barblupo@granddakotalodge.com www.granddakotalodge.com As the leading provider in the hospitality industry we look forward to continuing our long history of serving you at the Western Edge. Let us treat you to genuine hospitably… Western Hospitably!

Red River Zoo Fargo

Moorhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218-299-5511

Maple River Winery & Distillery Casselton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701-347-5900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701-277-9240

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers Fargo-Moorhead CVB Fargo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-235-7654

Featured Byway ( page 45 )

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

1-877-832-7267

Great Faces. Great Places.

south dakota cities aberdeen, belle fourche, beresford, bridger, brookings, chamberlain, crazy horse, deadwood, de smet, flandreau, garretson, keystone, lake city, mitchell, mobridge, platte, pierre, rapid city, roslyn, selby, sioux falls, sturgis, watertown, webster, yankton

calendar of events

Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway 70 miles, travel through the Black Hill’s National Forest on SD Hwy 87 and Iron Mountain Road (US Hwy 16A) This drive offers breathtaking views of some of the Black Hills’ most stunning scenery and will lead your group on a delightful adventure. Needles Highway features tunnels, hairpin curves and slender granite pinnacles and curves and winds through 14 miles of magnificent rock formations called ‘needles.’ One of the most prominent rock formations on the Highway is the Needles Eye, reaching 30 to 40 feet in the air with a 3 foot wide slit. Three granite tunnels on Iron Mountain Road perfectly frame the faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the distance. Also on the route are three pigtail bridges, built in the 1930s, which have a corkscrew shape. Come spend a day exploring the fabled Black Hills, where bison roam free and the Old West is very much alive. (See location on map, page 51)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in south dakota… Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway – 32 miles, travels and sacred sites commemorate the heritage of the Sioux on SD 240. This drive cuts through the middle of breathtaking formations of Badlands National Park. In addition to carved steep canyons and high cliffs, it is also home to the largest and most complete example of mixed-grass prairie preserved by the National Park Service. Scenic overlooks, with names like Seabed Jungle, Pinnacles and Prairie Wind, offer outstanding photo opportunities.

Mount Rushmore – Your group can have a great Black Hills excursion with the help of an experienced step-on guide. See Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and more. The epic sculpture of Mount Rushmore features the faces of four exalted American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. South Dakota’s Black Hills provide the perfect backdrop for the world's greatest mountain carving. These 60-foot high faces, 500 feet up, look out over a setting of pine, spruce, birch, and aspen in the clear western air. Native American Scenic Byway – 136 miles, travels between Pierre and Chamberlain. The byway stretches across the hills, bluffs and the expansive tallgrass plains of the Sioux people, who preserve the history of the shaping of the American West. Found alongside the Missouri River, dams created two scenic lakes on the river: Lake Francis and Lake Sharpe. As you pass through the green-gold hills of this byway, its many memorial markers, monuments, museums,

Nation and allows you to explore history from the Native American point of view.

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway – 20 miles, travels from Spearfish on US 85. Experience the nature, history, and adventure of the Black Hills. From a distance, the lightabsorbing Ponderosa pine makes the hill country of South Dakota seem dark, more black than green, giving the country the name of Black Hills. Prospectors still mine the gold beneath the surface. And as the byway cuts through the Black Hills, it melds all elements of the Black Hills legacy into a single experience. Spearfish Canyon features nearly vertical cliffs with stone in Neapolitan shades of brown, pink, and gray. The narrow 11th Hour Gulch has such high walls that it only gets one hour of sunlight per day, and by mid-fall a large pillar of ice already begins crystallizing.

Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway – 18 miles, travels on SD Highways 87 and 16A. Custer State Park is pure nature at its best. There are open grasslands and rolling hills speckled with pine. Many of the park's wildlife species occupy this area and are commonly seen. They include bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, deer, elk, coyote, prairie dog and numerous birds. Also, some of the park's wild "begging" burros live at the southernmost end of this road. This route follows the diverse landscape offering views of mountain foothills, prairie meadows and lush streambeds. The park is home to one of the world's largest publicly owned bison herds.

april • Annual Mobridge Area Art Show April 9-10, Mobridge 605-845-7639 • CubFest April 16-17, Rapid City 800-487-3223 ext 8489 • South Dakota Chocolate Festival April 30-May 1 2011, Spearfish 605-642-2989 may • Korczak Day May 3, Crazy Horse 605-673-4681 • Black Hills Film Festival May 12-15, Hill City 605-574-9454 • Brookings Kite & Bike Festival May 15, Brookings 605-688-5423 • Drifting Goose Rendezvous May 27-30, Mansfield 605-887-3645 • Legends in Light, Laser Light Show May 28-Oct 10, Crazy Horse 605-673-4681 june • The Original South Dakota State BBQ Championships June 3-4, Huron 800-487-6673 • Siouxland Renaissance Festival June 4-5, Sioux Falls 800-333-2072 • Volksmarch June 4-5, Crazy Horse 605-673-4681 • Black Hills Quilt Show June 10-12, Rapid City 800-487-3223 ext 8489 • Great Plains Hot Air Balloon Race June 11-12, Sioux Falls 800-333-2072 • “Arsenic and Old Lace” June 15-19, Brookings 605-688-6131 • Stampede Rodeo & Gift from Mother Earth Celebration June 17-19, Crazy Horse 605-673-4681 • West Boulevard Summer Festival June 18-19, Rapid City 800-487-3223 ext 8489 july • 4th of July Old Time Country Fair July 2-4, Custer 605-673-2443 • Independence Day Blast July 4, Crazy Horse 605-673-4681 • Hot Summer Nites July 13, Sioux Falls 800-333-2072 • JazzFest July 14-16, Sioux Falls 800-333-2072 • Hills Alive Music Festival July 16-17, Rapid City 800-487-3223 ext 8489 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

Great Faces. Great Places.

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Rapid City The Center of Your Perfect Tour This sample itinerary can be customized for anytime of the year! Centrally located to the wonders of the Black Hills, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial, Rapid City provides unique historic attractions and one-of-a-kind views, all for a low cost. With an abundance of accommodations, restaurants, activities, shopping and a great central location, Rapid City is the perfect hub for time spent touring the marvels of the Black Hills.

day one Morning: Mount Rushmore National Memorial The first stop of the day is Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Spend time in the Lincoln Borglum Museum at the Memorial to learn more about this amazing sculpture. Mid-Morning/Afternoon: Crazy Horse Memorial Enjoy the scenic drive to Crazy Horse Memorial. This ongoing mountain carving is the world’s largest and a majestic tribute to all Native American tribes across the country. Afternoon/Evening: Custer State Park This 71,000-acre vacation paradise is home to abundant wildlife, including one of the nation’s largest free roaming buffalo herds, making it common to encounter a “Buffalo Jam” while driving in the park. Night: Mount Rushmore National Memorial or Crazy Horse Memorial Be sure to head back to either Mount Rushmore or

Crazy Horse for their evening shows. During the summer season, Mount Rushmore holds a nightly patriotic lighting ceremony, while at Crazy Horse you can experience the laser light show, Legends in Light.

day two National Park and Monuments Morning: Badlands National Park This 224,000 acre park is full of jagged spires, eroded buttes and prehistoric fossils. The moon-like surfaces of the Badlands create a hiking challenge with breath-taking scenery. Drive the loop or get out of the car and enjoy a picnic at one of the scenic overlooks. Afternoon: Wall/Wall Drug Store After touring the Badlands, a popular stop is a worldfamous drug store in Wall, (Wall Drug). This tiny store, built in 1931, has boomed to become block-sized and internationally known. Evening: Downtown Rapid City/City of Presidents It may not be a national park or monument, but the City of Presidents in downtown Rapid City is a great way to end your Parks and Monument tour. These life-sized bronze statues will take you on a journey through American Presidential history. For more information or to customize this sample itinerary for your group please contact your tour operator or Rapid City CVB, 800-487-3223 or www.visitrapidcity.com.

High Plains WESTERN HERITAGE CENTER ounded in the 1970s by two local ranchers, the High Plains Western Heritage Center honors the old west pioneers of South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska with a furnished log cabin, rural

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schoolhouse and antique saddle and blacksmith shop. A small animal farm lets visitors interact with animals just as the settlers did, and a herd of bison and longhorn steers roam the surrounding pastures. Inside the center, visitors can watch education films in a spacious theatre and visit the transportation room, home to a stagecoach, chuckwagon, buggies and sleighs. Displays honor Native American lore, cowboy culture and the mining and forestry industries. The center’s bookstore and gift shop offer a piece of history to take home with Western literature, handcrafted jewelry, artwork and souvenirs. “Historical Campfire Series” and live monthly Cowboy Music & Poetry performances are offered throughout the year.

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

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Great Faces. Great Places.

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

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Great Faces. Great Legendary Places.

SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota’s Largest City

ioux Falls is a great place to spend time and really experience your surroundings. Plan your tour to include one of our spectacular events! Visit www.siouxfallsevents.com hot for more detailed event information. STOP The following is a sample of one of many itineraries available. Sioux Falls: Group Tours—Sample Itinerary Begin your tour at the city’s namesake. Along the Big Sioux River, Falls Park is 124 acres and is located near the downtown district. Each second, an average of 7,400 gallons of water drop 100 feet over the course of the falls. Falls Park features a visitor information center and gift shop and a five-story viewing tower offering a panoramic view of the park. See some of the first buildings built in SF: foundation of an 1887 Queen Bee Mill, replica of its turbine house, and Sioux Fall’s original hydroelectric plant. Head downtown to the Washington Pavilion. This former high school is constructed of Pink Quartzite Rock, quarried in Sioux Falls (tours of the quarry are available, call for details). The Washington Pavilion is a cultural, educational & entertainment center that houses four areas: 1. CineDome Theater: Large format theater showing adventure films every hour. 2. Visual Arts Center: Seven art galleries of national, regional and South Dakota art. 3. Performing Arts Center: Broadway tours,

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musicals, dance and more. 4. Science Discovery Center: Over 80 hands-on science exhibits.

Featured Byway ( page 47 )

Make your way to one of Sioux Falls’ restaurants for lunch. Stroll historic Phillips Avenue and enjoy the charm of locally owned unique shops, plus SculptureWalk, entertainment, and events. Visit the restored 1800 quartzite Old Courthouse Museum, home to three floors of information on the region’s history. Tour the Pettigrew Home & Museum, the home of South Dakota’s first Senator. Guided tours of the house are available for groups. Together, these two museums make up the “Siouxland Heritage Museums”. Visit the newly renovated St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The 1916-1919 Renaissance structure is one of South Dakota’s largest cathedrals. Tours available beginning in August 2011, please call ahead to schedule a guided tour. Have dinner at one of Sioux Falls’ dynamic restaurants! Options are endless with over 500 restaurants in the community! Or make your way to Strawbale Winery for wine tasting in a building constructed of straw bales! Call ahead to make arrangements for a catered meal! End your evening by attending the free, nightly Sound & Light Show at Falls Park. Listen to a historical narrative about the establishment and growth of Sioux Falls. The FREE show takes place each evening Memorial Day through Labor Day.

CRAZY HORSE: Giant Carving History in the Making

ver 1 million visitors a year can hear and feel history in the making at Crazy Horse Memorial, as they watch the world’s largest carving emerge. Lakota leaders asked sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to create the monument in South Dakota’s Black Hills to show “the red man has great heroes also.” The colossal sculpture will be 641 ft. long and 563 ft. high. Workers completed Crazy Horse’s 87½-foot-tall face in 1998, and are creating the 219-foot-high horse head.

This visitor complex features: • The “Dynamite & Dreams” movie about the Memorial and its inspiring people. The story also unfolds in “Legends in Light,” the laser-light program illuminating the mountain nightly. • Artifacts and contemporary art at the Indian Museum of North America. • American Indian artisans creating and selling works at the Native American Educational & Cultural Center. • The Ziolkowski family home and sculptor’s studio, filled with antiques, fine art and Korczak’s sculpture. • Laughing Water Restaurant, Snack Shop and gift shops with exclusive Crazy Horse souvenirs. Crazy Horse, located on U.S. Highway 16/385, is open everyday. Visit www.crazyhorsememorial.org, call 605-673-4681, e-mail memorial@crazyhorse.org or write: Crazy Horse Memorial, 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730-8900. w w w. i t i n e r a r i e s m i d w e s t . c o m

directory & map

accommodations Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, Event Center & Casino . . . . . . . . . .605-673-4681 1906 Deadwood Mountain Dr 877-907-GRAND(4726) Deadwood, SD 57732 / ssabo@deadwoodmountaingrand.com www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com The Black Hills’ premiere large-scale entertainment venue, housed in the completely refurbished 1906 Homestake Mining Company with a full restaurant, casino, entertainment complex and 98-room hotel, the Deadwood Mountain Grand is a great location for groups.

attractions Crazy Horse Memorial

. . . . . . . . . .605-673-4681 Crazy Horse, SD memorial@crazyhorse.org / www.crazyhorsememorial.org World’s largest mountain carving in progress, minutes from Mt. Rushmore on Hwy 16/385. Witness work on the mountain, museums, movies, sculptor’s log studio-home, nightly laser light show in season, restaurant and gift shop. Open year-round. 605-673-4681, www.crazyhorsememorial.org, memorial@crazyhorse.org.

High Plains Western Heritage Center . . . . . . . .605-642-9378 I-90 Exit 14 – Spearfish, SD 57783 info@westernheritagecenter.com www.westernheritagecenter.com Featuring western art, artifacts and Native American exhibits chronicling the heritage of 5 plains states. Outdoor displays include antique farm equipment, log cabin, one room schoolhouse, live longhorn steers and buffalo. Open year round

Tatanka Oyate Tours

Rapid City . . . .605-381-0992

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers Department of Tourism & State Development Pierre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-S-DAKOTA

Rapid City CVB

. . . . . . . .800-487-3223 ext 8489 444 Mt. Rushmore Road N – Rapid City, SD 57701 www.visitrapidcity.com Centrally located to the wonders of the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Rapid City, provides unique historic attractions and one-of-a-kind views all for a low cost. For more information go to VisitRapidCity.com.

Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .605-336-1620 200 N Phillips Ave Suite 102 800-333-2072 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 / cbuchheim@siouxfalls.com www.grouptours.siouxfallscvb.com Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city is located at the junction of I-90 and I-29… abundant shopping, local flavor restaurants, vibrant downtown, accommodating hotels and historic Falls Park! Need Assistance?? Tour Itineraries, step-on-guides-we’ve got it!

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

5-Star Wilderness®

upper peninsula cities calumet, curtis, crystal falls, escanaba, iron mountain, iron river, ironwood, gladstone, grand marais, houghton, marquette, menominee, munising, newberry, ontonagon, st. ignace, sault st marie, wakefield, watersmeet

calendar of events april • “Peter Pan” Apr 13-16, Marquette 906-227-2082 • St. Ignace Home Show & Spring Expo April 15-16, St. Ignace 906-643-6082 • 23rd Annual Spring Fling April 22-24, Paradise 906-492-3596 may • Migratory Bird Festival May 1, Copper Harbor 800-338-7982 • Western UP Women’s Expo May 7, White Pine 906-884-4886 • Mackinac Island Lilac Festival May 10-19, Mackinac Island 906-847-3783 • Taste of Home Cooking Show May 12, Escanaba 906-786-2021 • Lumberjack Breakfast May 28, Newberry 906-293-5777 june • Kruisin Klassics Fun Run June 3-4, Escanaba 906-786-3638 • Pine Mountain Music Festival June 13-July 17, Hancock 906-482-1542 • 5th Annual Hulbert Country Music Festival June 14-19, Hulbert 906-876-2341 • Seafood Fest Jun 16-18, Houghton 906-482-1700 • 15th Annual Antiques on the Bay Vintage & Antique Car Show June 17-18, St. Ignace 906-643-8087 • Great Lakes Rodeo June 18-19, Marquette 906-361-4572 • 4th Annual Garden Extravaganza June 25, Marquette 906-226-9904 july • Pasty Fest 2011 Jul 1-2, Calumet 906-337-6246 • The Great Tugboat Parade & Race July 1-2, Sault St. Marie 906-632-6868 • Negaunee Pioneer Days July 3-9, Negaunee 906-486-8084 • Rum Rebellion Days July 15-17, Iron River 888-879-4766 • 32nd Annual Hiawatha Music Festival July 22-24, Marquette 906-226-8575 • Blueberry Fest Jul 29, Marquette 906-228-9475 • Art on the Rocks July 30-31, Marquette 906-225-1952

Copper Country Trail 47 miles, traveling southwest to northeast along Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula Being host to the largest pure copper deposits in the world, this area is overflowing with geological wonders as well as history. Surrounded on three sides by Lake Superior, this byway offers great freshwater recreational activities as well as radiant views of flora and fauna along the shoreline. What would a trip to Copper Country be without a tour of the Delaware Copper Mine in Mohawk? Put on your hardhats and descend 110 feet into the earth and view veins of pure copper embedded in the walls. This attraction is astonishing while educational—a must-stop! (See location on map below)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in michigan… Bare Bluff Vista – A series of trails along the shoreline of waterfall-hiking trails, all under a mile in length. Nature the Keweenaw Peninsula in Copper Harbor. The landscape of Bare Bluff is the epitome of Upper Peninsula vistas. The shoreline is rocky, the forests are dense, and the view of Lake Superior can be seen from up to 500 feet high. View cascading streams, hear the waves crash against the rocks and catch a glimpse of an eagle flying high above. On clear days the Huron Mountains can be seen standing at attention 40 miles away!

Black River Scenic Byway – 11 miles along Highway 513 following a section of the Black River within the National Forest System. The beauty of the Black River Harbor is a gem to be treasured. At sunset the water surface is like glass. Enjoy the view from the weathered docks along the shoreline or while relaxing on a Lake Superior cruise. Side-trips along the byway offer great hiking opportunities including four

(Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

directory & map Michigan Renaissance Festival Holly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-601-4848

Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association Iron Mountain. . . . . . . . . . . www.uptravel.com

Featured Byway

enthusiasts can be found along the river’s wooded areas year-round, photographing wild animals and rare species of plants. Travelers along this byway have glimpsed fox, skunks, beavers and even black bears!

Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway – 20 miles, a segment of road along the Whitefish Bay National Forest following the Lake Superior Shoreline. Spend the weekend traveling the route or just an afternoon—either way there is plenty to do! Brimley State Park is a great place to start. It has some of the warmest waters of Lake Superior. The scenic drive takes you along the shoreline for awe-inspiring views of towering bluffs, sandy beaches, and shimmering waters. Take a detour a few miles off the byway to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise. Become educated on historical shipwrecks including the legend of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank to the bottom of Lake Superior in 1975 during a winter storm. Experienced, as well as ambitious, SCUBA divers have the opportunity to explore a “shipwreck graveyard” at the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.

Travel Wisconsin

wisconsin cities appleton, ashland, baraboo, bayfield, beloit, brookfield, chippewa falls, columbus, eau claire, elkhorn, fort atkinson, fond du lac, green bay, hudson, la crosse, lake geneva, madison, manitowoc, milwaukee, minocqua, menomonie, mishicot, mount horeb, oshkosh, platteville, prairie du chien, sparta, st. croix falls, stevens point, stoughton, sturgeon bay, sturtevant, superior, tomah, two rivers, watertown, waukesha, wausau, woodruff, wisconsin dells

calendar of events

Door County Coastal Byway 60 miles, Hwy 42/57 a series of roads looping along Wisconsin’s peninsula This drive is made extra special by the beautiful vistas on all sides. At any point on this route you can look out your window and see either Lake Michigan or the Niagara Escarpment Bluffs. Established in 2010, this byway may be young but it has so much to offer! Several lighthouses dot the coast and three state parks provide entertainment along the way. Towns and villages offer retail shops, galleries, live music and theatre, and cherry and apple orchards. Visit Peninsula State Park and hike the bluffs on the Eagle Trail, and catch a show at their summer theater. The Eagle Bluff Lighthouse located on Green Bay, offers guided tours from late May through October. View the light that has remained constant for 143 years, originally powered by a wicked oil lamp in 1868! The lighthouse is furnished with original pieces and is a unique adventure for groups. The scenery of this byway is one-of-a-kind and the opportunities are endless. This route really does have it all! (See location on map, page 57)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in wisconsin… Great Divide Highway – 29 miles. Travel east from Hayward on State Road 77. This is a prime drive for nature lovers, and what better time than when the weather’s great? This forest is home to black bears, bald eagles, whitetail deer and even timber wolves, so have your cameras ready for some rare shots! Along the way is the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hayward, a favorite stop among visitors. View over 1,000 antique motors and 300 mounted fish, some of which are of record-breaking size. This museum is a must-stop! Chequamegon Hardwoods Wildflower Walk Vista – This undisturbed area of second-growth hardwood forest is considered a State Natural Area by the Wisconsin DNR. See dozens of species of breathtaking wildflowers, the beauty of which you won’t find anywhere else. Smell the perfume of three different kinds of orchids: purple fringed, spotted coral and early coral root. Watch out for frogs or salamanders as you kneel down to view the nodding trillium, bloodroot, maidenhair ferns, and green adders-mouth. They are plentiful in springtime and a beautiful sight to see. Just don’t pick them—leave them intact for others to enjoy!

Great River Road – 249 miles, From Prescott take State Road 35. With the river on one side of the drive and sky-high bluffs on the other, this route gives travelers some incredible views. Many consider this byway the best drive in the Midwest as it travels through 33 river towns from Prescott to Kieler.

Nearly two-thirds of this road passes through protected natural areas, providing countless opportunities to nature watch. Several parks and recreation spots are located along the byway. Some say this is one of the best places in North America to spot bald eagles!

Heritage Drive – 15 miles, Junction of SR 32 and Forest Service Route 2157 N. Several Native American archaeological sites can be found along this drive as well as military routes dating back to the Civil War era. This route was originally used for transporting troops, ammunition and guns through the Nicolet National Forest. It was created in case the English invaded from Canada. Today the route is used as a relaxing scenic getaway. The freshwater lakes offer great fishing opportunities and the trails are terrific for hiking and picnics.

Lower Wisconsin River Road Scenic Byway – 100 miles, State Highway 60 from Lodi to Prairie du Chien. Explore what the Wisconsin River has to offer on this six-hour drive past river towns offering quaint shops and restaurants, while the river itself offers fishing, canoeing, hiking, and bird-watching. Battles during the Black Hawk War of 1832 were fought in this river valley. Travelers can watch for historical markers along the way that retell the story of Black Hawk’s escape. Stop and explore Tower Hill State Park, they offer camping, several hiking trails and a 175-foot sandstone cliff. This is a great drive for travelers who need a break from hectic civilization.

april • Dairy State Cheese and Beer Festival April 9, Kenosha 262-654-6200 • Lakota Sioux Dance Theater April 18, Appleton 920-730-3782 may • Apple Holler It’s a Bloomin Festival May 1-15, Sturtevant 800-238-3629 • Syttende Mai Folk Festival May 13-15, Stoughton 608-873-7912 • Wisconsin State Polka Festival May 13-15, Sullivan 920-474-4545 • Beloit ArtWalk May 20-21, Beloit 608-365-0150 • Wisconsin Micro-Brewers Beer Fest May 22, Chilton 920-849-2534 • Chocolate Festival May 27-30, Burlington 414-254-4813 • World’s Largest Brat Fest May 27-30, Madison 608-276-9797 june • Milwaukee Highland Games & Scottish Fest June 4, Wauwatosa 262-796-0807 • Eleva Broiler Festival June 3-5, Eleva 715-287-4422 • Prairie Villa Rendezvous June 16-19, Prairie du Chien 800-732-1673 • Fyr Bar Festival June 17-19, Ephraim 920-854-4989 • Southeastern Wisconsin Festival of Books June 17-18, Waukesha 262-547-1060 • Country Jam USA June 21-23, Eau Claire 888-523-3856 • Budweiser Dairyland Super National Truck and Tractor Pull June 23-26, Tomah 608-372-2081 july • Oneida Pow-Wow July 1-3, Oneida 920-496-5020 • Keeper of the Light at Big Top Chautauqua July 14-16, Bayfield 888-244-8368 • Festa Italiana July 21-24, Milwaukee 414-223-2193 • 2011 AirVenture July 25-31, Oshkosh 920-426-4800 • German Fest July 28-31, Milwaukee 414-464-9444 • Lumberjack World Championships July 29-31, Hayward 715-634-2484 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

Travel Legendary Wisconsin

Travel Wisconsin

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Eat – Laugh – Enjoy

verlooking the Chippewa River, this Eau Claire landmark presents one of the most stunning views in the valley. The Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre delights audiences of all ages with musicals and hilarious live productions. They are proud to bring the fun and magic of live theatre to the upper midwest, it’s the perfect outing for a Group or “just the two of you.” After experiencing the delicious Fanny Hill cuisine, the lights will dim and you will be treated to the best in live entertainment. With their unique combination of scenic beauty, award-winning dining and fantastic seasonal decorations, you will see why Fanny Hill has become western Wisconsin’s #1 tour destination. The dinner shows are always fast-paced, professionally produced and are guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s face. A visit to the Chippewa Valley isn’t complete without a visit to Fanny Hill..

2011 Dinner Theatre Schedule: Escanaba In Da Moonlight March 4-May 29 By Jeff Daniels / A hilarious comedy about five Yoopers (residents of Michigan’s U.P.) and their escapades at deer camp on the eve of hunting season. Rueben is in danger of becoming the oldest Yooper never to bag a buck. So the boys invoke some folk rituals to break the curse while still making time for a little beer and a couple of hands of Uecker. - You’ll be a whooper fer da Yoopers! Church Basement Ladies June 3-August 21 Script by Jim Stowell & Jessica Zuehlke, Music & Lyrics by Drew Jansen / A musical celebration of church basement kitchens and the women who work there. We see them handle a record breaking Christmas dinner, the funeral of a dear friend, a Hawaiian Easter Fund Raiser, and, of course, a steaming hot July wedding. Based on the best seller Growing Up Lutheran by Janet Martin and Suzann Nelson. - You’ll laugh until your side-dish hurts! Continued on next page

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FOX HILLS RESORT – Always In Season et in the scenic rolling countryside of Northeast Wisconsin in Manitowoc County, the Village of Mishicot offers visitors a friendly, small-town atmosphere for which Midwestern communities are famous, and takes pride in creating an environment that is relaxing and welcoming to visitors!

Located 30 miles SE of Green Bay, within the Village of Mishicot is one of Wisconsin’s largest vacation destinations, Fox Hills Resort. The Resort features 45 holes of golf, and is Manitowoc County’s hub for year round fun and entertainment. Fox Hills Resort also offers safe and comfortable lodging, swimming pools, fitness center, sauna and spa. You’ll want to eat at one of the Resort’s convenient dining options. Their Willowview Restaurant is a value priced restaurant, Benchwarmers Sports Bar serves up “ginormous” sandwiches and appetizers, daily food and beverage specials and weekend entertainment. And, the 19th Hole Bar and

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

Come to Fox Hills Re sort for the

2011 ITINERARIES MI Group Travel Show anDWEST d FAM on September 25-27, 2011. (see show ad on pag e 2)

Grill provides refreshments and sandwiches for a quick grab ‘n go option. Fox Hills Resort is eager to be your destination when planning your group tour of Northeast Wisconsin! Let them be the Hub in your tour of the area. With Green Bay to our North, Sheboygan to our South, Door County to our East and the Fox Cities to our West, Fox Hills is centrally located with convenient access from major roadways! Fox Hills Resort welcomes Motorcoach travelers with a special room rate, complimentary lodging for the Escort and the Driver (with 20 room minimum), step-on hostess to welcome your guests…luggage handling is also available. Plus, the Resort has over 15,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space for group functions. Call for more information 800-950-7615, ask for Liz at Ext 3621, www.foxhillsresort.com. 1-877-832-7267

Travel Legendary Wisconsin

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Unnecessary Farce August 26-October 30 By Paul Slade Smith / Two cops, three crooks, eight doors--GO! At a “no-tell motel,” an embezzling mayor meets his accountant. The police are there to catch the meeting on tape. Confusion reigns as to who’s in which room, who’s the tapee or taper, who’s got the loot, or why the accountant keeps taking off her clothes. And who’s the guy in the kilt with the bagpipes? - Very funny from start to finish! A Very RUDYful Christmas November 4-January 15, 2012 By Don Hodgins / It’s time for another visit with Rudy’s clan! They decide to have a holiday gathering at a northwoods lodge. Someone invites Rudy’s long estranged dad. It could get a little bumpy, but with the help of a Dr. Phil wannabe and a heavy dose of yuletide spirit… things will work out just fine. Yeah right!!! Yuletide cheer...Rudy style! For more information on Fanny Hill Victorian Inn & Dinner Theatre call 800-292-8026 or visit www.fannyhill.com.

w w w. i t i n e r a r i e s m i d w e s t . c o m

directory & map accommodations Fanny Hill Victorian Inn

. . . . . . . .800-292-8026 3919 Crescent Avenue – Eau Clarie, WI 715-836-8180 sales@fannyhill.com / www.fannyhill.com Situated high on a hill overlooking the picturesque Chippewa Rivers is one of Wisconsin’s biggest treasures, the enchanting Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre. Celebrating over 32 years of hilarious live theatre, award winning gourmet dining and first class service. It has earned the distinction of being one of Wisconsin’s premier group tour destinations.

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers Native American Tourism of Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .715-851-6648 PO Box 9 – Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538 / www.natow.org Our focus is to promote tourism featuring Native American heritage and culture. Tourism provides an excellent opportunity for tribes to diversify their economies, while telling the true story concerning their history and culture.

Fox Hills Resort . . . . . . .800-950-7615 Ext 3621 250 W Church St – Mishicot, WI 54228 / www.foxhillsresort.com Fox Hills Resort in Mishicot, Wisconsin features year round lodging, activities, meeting/banquet space, swimming pools, onsite Restaurant and Sports Bar with weekend entertainment, spa services and 45 holes of golf. Minutes from Green Bay.

Featured Byway ( page 53 )

The Lodge At Crooked Lake Hotel & Conference Center . . .877-THE-LODGE 24271 State Road 35 – Siren, WI 54872 715-349-2500 amanda@sirentel.net / www.mylodge.com Come experience The Lodge at Crooked Lake for a unique and memorable experience in Siren, Wisconsin. You’ll truly enjoy the Northwoods theme coupled with amazing modern amenities.

attractions Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .800-487-9522 1721 W Canal St – Milwaukee, WI 53233 www.cartercasino.com At Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel you’ll experience plenty of casino action 24/7! The casino offers 500 slot machines, 8 table games, bingo and much more!

ITINERARIES MIDWEST SPRING 2011

Keep Exploring

central canada cities manitoba

ashern, binscarth, brandon, dauphin, flin flon, grand rapids, portage la prairie, selkirk, steinbach, the pas, st. andrews, thompson, winnipeg ontario

atikokan, dryden, flanders, fort frances, kenora, longlac, sault ste. marie, sioux lookout thunder bay, vermilion bay

calendar of events may • In The Upper Room May 4-8, Winnipeg 800-667-4792 • WSO The Peking Acrobats May 13-15, Winnipeg 204-949-3999 • Kite Festival May 29, Thunder Bay 807-625-2110 june • Red River Exhibition June 17-26, Winnipeg 204-888-6990 • 45th Annual Manitoba Highland Gathering June 18, Warren 877-468-3752 • Jazz Winnipeg Festival June 23-July 3, Winnipeg 204-989-4656 • 29th Annual International Peace Festival Jun 24-26, International Peace Garden 888-432-6733 • Dauphin’s CountryFest June 30-July 3, Dauphin 800-361-7300 july • Canada Day Celebration July 1, Thunder Bay 807-625-2110 • Manitoba Holiday Festival of the Arts July 4-10, Neepawa 204-476-2927 • Winnipeg Folk Festival July 6-10, Winnipeg 204-231-0096 • The Great Rendezvous July 7-10, Thunder Bay 807-473-2333 • The Thunderfest Super Weekend July 8-10, Thunder Bay 807-625-2110 • Thunder Bay Blues Festival July 9-11, Thunder Bay 800-463-6817 • Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival July 13-24, Winnipeg 877-446-4500 • Thunder Bay Dragon Boat Festival July 15-16, Thunder Bay 807-768-4407 • World Lily Festival July 22-24, Neepawa 204-476-8811 • Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival July 29-31, Dauphin 204-622-4600 • Folklorama Jul 31-Aug 13, Winnipeg 800-665-0234 (Contact area CVBs for complete calendars)

Highway 61 37 miles, traveling northeast from Pigeon River in Minnesota to Thunder Bay in Ontario This is a stunning drive with a variety of different terrains. Stop at the Pigeon River Information Centre before setting out. Hike the short nature trail to High Falls and take in the majestic beauty of one of Ontario’s most dramatic waterfalls. As the route heads out of Pigeon River, you are greeted with the rising peaks of a long range of mountains nicknamed the “Nor’Westers.” The terrain becomes less rugged as the road approaches a stretch of farm communities flanked by large mesas along the highway. These flat-topped mountains have steep sides, but are relatively level on top. They are incredibly common between Pigeon River and Thunder Bay. As the journey nears its end, the highway winds below the peaks of Mount McKay, located on the Indian Reserve of the Fort William First Nation. A lookout is located 980 feet up where travelers can view far and wide vistas across the Thunder Bay area—an exciting end to a great road-trip! (See location on map below)

travel on more beautiful vistas & spectacular byways in central canada… The Interlake – A scenic region of Manitoba, tucked The journey offers plenty of recreational opportunities as well between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba, roughly 6,000 square miles in size. Because of its prime location, this expanse of land is brimming with natural beauty. From marshlands to sandy beaches, from dense hardwood forests to rocky limestone cliffs, this area offers a multitude of activities for anyone seeking outdoor excitement. Bird enthusiasts won’t want to miss a visit to Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre. Dine at a local museum, The Hitch ‘N’ Post Ranch museum. Enjoy a meal that was created with the utensils used by Canada’s original pioneers. Get waited on by folks in traditional country clothes, or designate someone to get arrested and thrown into their jail!

section of Canada’s Yellowhead Highway, a Trans-Canadian highway 1,840 miles in length. The journey begins at The Forks in downtown Winnipeg. Six thousand years ago this location was used as a meeting place for traders. Today it is one of the loveliest spots in Winnipeg and a great place to explore before driving the byway. Along the drive you’ll see vast expanses of golden prairie and agricultural lands. Nestled among the rolling hills and valleys are some quaint towns and communities.

Turtle Mountain – A stunning region of southwestern Manitoba, just north of the North Dakota border. Turtle Mountain

along the Ontario shore of Lake Superior, from Grand Portage to Sault Ste. Marie. This byway is made significant by its virtually unspoiled natural beauty, making it home to several provincial parks along the way. The highest mountains on Lake Superior are located along the Ontario shore as well as the longest stretches of wilderness (so be sure your tank is full!).

convention & visitors bureaus and chambers Tourism Thunder Bay. . 888-227-2227 Thunder Bay, Ontario www.visitthunderbay.com/grouptravel Winnipeg, Manitoba / www.tourismwinnipeg.com

Provincial Trunk Highway 16 – 170 miles. The Manitoba

Lake Superior Circle Tour: Ontario Leg – 460 miles is aptly named for the numerous painted turtles found sunning

directory & map

Tourism Winnipeg . . . . . 800-665-0204

as a small supply of waterfalls waiting to be discovered.

Highway 61

themselves around the area. While enjoying the summertime scenery in the park, try to spot a female laying eggs in the sandy soil. Aside from turtle-watching, the area offers sky-high vistas of the Manitoba prairies from up to 800 feet above ground. Go hiking or bicycling among the hardwood forests.

Designed by group travelers, grouplodgingmidwest.com is the premier online travel tool that gives you all the information you need to plan upper Midwest group travel stays. Enjoy peace of mind knowing you have the right contact names, numbers, maps, photos and little details that always make a difference.

Bookmark grouplodgingmidwest.com today and come back often for new hotels to check out.

find these “group-friendly” hotels online now: CORALVILLE/IOWA CITY

IOWA

Suburban Extended Stay Hotel ALEXANDRIA

MINNESOTA – Northern Hampton Inn BRAINERD

The Lodge DULUTH

Comfort Inn - West Comfort Suites Hampton Inn MOORHEAD

AmericInn Lodge & Suites SARTELL

AmericInn Lodge & Suites BLOOMINGTON

MINNESOTA – Twin Cities Metro

Cambria Suites Comfort Inn Airport Country Inn & Suites At Mall of America Country Inn & Suites West Courtyard by Marriott MPLS/Bloomington

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tions for Day n is accepting reser va tow in ow sh st we ne The play and Show buses! Stay, d an s ur To ht nig er Tours, Ov TAIN GRAND. DEADWOOD MOUN indulge at the new concer t in the Catch the latest hot le. ab ail av are es ag Pack gas-style casino, try your luck in the Ve enter tainment center, joy unparalleled s guestrooms and en iou ur lux the in ax rel ys you can’t wood Creek. Who sa ite Wh g kin oo erl ov cuisine have it all?

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heart nment venue in the m 2,500-seat enter tai od of historic Deadwo gance ering comfor table ele m 98-room hotel off and Rewards as-style casino and Gr m State-of-the-ar t, Veg garage m Covered parking e at with a creekside ter rac m Exceptional dining Slime Plant the at ils kta coc joy en Aught Six Grille Bar & Lounge

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1906 Deadwood Mountain Drive • Deadwood, SD 57732 • 877-907-GRAND (4726) • www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com

WHERE THE WEST IS STILL WILD

entertainment filled with local talent onstage.

The Deadwood Mountain Grand is in the heart of South Dakota’s Black Hills, where America’s last great gold rush attracted Western legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. The gold rush legacy remains, enhanced by rugged mountain scenery, outdoor recreation and some of the greatest national parks and monuments in the United States.

Outdoor recreation more your style? Try horseback riding or mountain biking along the 109-mile Mickelson Trail. Love the fresh powder of winter? Try some of the best snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in America, or experience downhill skiing at one of two nearby ski areas.

You can experience it all from the Deadwood Mountain Grand. Housed in a refurbished 1906 gold processing plant, the Deadwood Mountain Grand is in the middle of historic Deadwood’s brick-paved streets and vibrant atmosphere. ENTERTAINMENT & CONCERTS Treat yourself to first-class live entertainment in the Deadwood Mountain Grand’s 2,500-seat event center, with its world-class stage, sound and lighting systems, and some of the

Deadwood, South Dakota, is conveniently located near the center of the country. Interstate 90 is just a few minutes from Deadwood, and nearby air service provides access via major carriers with flights arriving regularly from Denver, Dallas, Minneapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas.

best acts in the U.S. performing live! Enjoy a fine dining experience at Aught Six Grille and the adjoining creekside patio. Then head over to the Slime Plant Bar & Lounge for a night of

CASINO Strike gold in the Deadwood Mountain Grand’s spacious casino, touting the latest in hot slots and exciting table games, such as Blackjack, Three-Card Poker, and Texas Hold ‘Em. HOTEL Perched on a mountain at the top of Deadwood’s legendary Main Street, the spacious luxury hotel will feature 98 rooms, including eight lavish suites with balconies. Guest amenities include a swimming pool and fitness room.

1906 Deadwood Mountain Drive • Deadwood, SD 57732 • 877-907-GRAND (4726) 605-559-0386 • ssabo@deadwoodmountaingrand.com • www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com

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Find Group-Friendly Hotels!

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Fill out and FAX this page to 763-201-7945 or subscribe online at www.itinerariesmidwest.com. Current subscribers: keep your FREE subscription to Itineraries Midwest Magazine, update your information and fax back. See reverse side for this unique way to discover more of the Midwest’s “hidden treasures” for your group itineraries!

get more information from our advertisers If you want more information on particular display advertisers, please indicate your selections below and fax to 763-201-7945. You can also access advertiser websites at www.itinerariesmidwest.com. MIDWEST: ❑ A Circle Tour of Lake Superior Participants: AmericInn Silver Bay, Lutsen Mountain, North Shore Resorts, Thunder Bay, UP

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Cherokee Tavern, El Burrito Mercado Restaurant, History Theater, Hotel 340, MetroConnections, MN Centennial Showboat, Padelford, Ramada MOA, Timberwolves, Twin Cities RR Museum

IOWA: ❑ Council Bluffs CVB ❑ L. May Eatery ❑ National Farm Toy Museum ❑ Waterloo CVB

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❑ High Plains Western Heritage Center ❑ Rapid City CVB ❑ Sioux Falls CVB ❑ Tatanka Oyate Tours WISCONSIN: ❑ Fanny Hill Dinner Theatre ❑ Fox Hills Resort ❑ NATOW

Canal Park Lodge, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn

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MISSOURI: ❑ Pulaski County Tourism Bureau ❑ St. Joseph NORTH DAKOTA: ❑ Fargo-Moorhead CVB SOUTH DAKOTA: ❑ Crazy Horse Memorial ❑ Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, Event Ctr & Casino

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free subscription form – fill out, fax back & maybe win a gift trip! Which of the following are you? ❑ Tour Operator/Agent ❑ Bank Club Director ❑ Teacher/Community Ed Planner ❑ Group Leader ❑ Corporate Travel Planner ❑ ___________ Select areas you like to tour: ❑ IA ❑ IL ❑ KS ❑ MN ❑ MO ❑ ND ❑ NE ❑ SD ❑ Upper Peninsula, MI ❑ WI ❑ Canada ❑ Lake Superior How many tours do you do a year? ❑ 1-2 ❑ 3-5 ❑ 6-9 ❑ 10+ I do: ❑ Daytrips ❑ Multi-Day Tours Current tour interests: ❑ Heritage/History/Museums ❑ Arts/Entertainment/Theater ❑ Casinos/Gaming ❑ Sports ❑ Soft Adventure/Nature ❑ Festivals/Events ❑ Industrial ❑ Agriculture ❑ Shopping/Antiquing ❑ Experiential/Hands-on ❑ Other __________________________________________________________ 5. I use ITINERARIES Magazine for planning tours. ❑ Yes ❑ No 6. I am interested in upcoming FAMs. Please send me information. ❑ Yes ❑ No 7. I use the internet for planning tours. ❑ Yes ❑ No 8. Send me info on Group Lodging Midwest Hotels. ❑ Yes ❑ No 9. I use the Itinerary Library on itinerariesmidwest.com for planning tours. ❑ Yes ❑ No 10. ❑ Please send me a link to the new Itineraries Midwest Online Magazine.

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The following 2 NEW Gift Trips are being given away in the Spring 2011 Issue of Itineraries Midwest Group Travel Magazine. As an active group travel planner, you are eligible to win one of these 1-2 person FAMs. Enter to win by using the form on the reverse side of this page. NOTE: If you’re reading this online, print out the accompanying subscription page, fill it out completely, and fax it to us at 763-201-7945.

2 New Gift Trips for 2 Lucky Travel Planners…2 NEW ADVENTURES! OVERNIGHT TOURS AND SHOW BUSES – South Dakota

OUR GROUP TOUR LODGING DELIVERS – Midwest

For center stage excitement bring your groups to the Black Hills’ premiere large-scale entertainment venue. Housed in the completely refurbished 1906 Homestake Mining Company with a full restaurant, casino, entertainment complex and 98-room hotel. Win an overnight package to learn what Deadwood Mountain Grand has to offer your groups. 877-907-GRAND (4726)

At LHR Hospitality Management and Lodge Hotels and Resorts, we’ve raised the bar on national Group Tour and FIT programs. Win a FREE night at one of our properties and see for yourself! Mark F.B. Paulson, Director – National Sales 877-980-3002 Go to www.lodgehotels.com.

Go to www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com. *Active group travel planners who complete and submit this page to ITINERARIES Inc., are eligible to win one of this issue’s advertiser-provided Gift Trips. Once awarded, it is the responsibility of the winner and advertiser to schedule and fulfill the Gift Trip on a date and in a manner convenient to both parties as space and time permits. Gift Trip is subject to availability. Some restrictions may apply. Unless otherwise indicated and agreed upon, it is the responsibility of the winner to provide their own transportation, food & beverage and spending money during any Gift Trip stay. ITINERARIES Inc. is not responsible for non-fulfillment or for any liability resulting from any Gift Trip.

Fill out the form on the reverse side and fax in today to win! - - - -

W I N N E R S

F R O M

I T M W

M A G A Z I N E

Stay & Play / Plymouth Playhouse, Minnesota Jean Faust Tours, LLC – Jean Faust Gallagher, Sedalia MO

F A L L / W I N T E R

Perfectly Positioned – Roseville, Minnesota Lachermeier Tours, Inc - Darrell Lachermeier

Join us in Mishicot, Wisconsin at Fox Hills Resort September 25-27, 2011 for the 2011 ITINERARIES MIDWEST Group Travel Show and FAM. Starting at $95.00 (single occupancy accommodation) for planners. Includes 2 nights accommodations, meals and area FAM. Register early to be included in a drawing for a FREE Nook Color

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Registration now open. Call 877-832-7267 or visit www.itinerariesmidwest.com.

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