2011 APRIL LGT CVR2CVRFF by Premier Travel Media

APRIL 2011

A Premier Tourism Marketing publication www.leisuregrouptravel.com

contents Vol. 21, No.2

April 2011

COVER STORY

COVER STORY 20 MELODIES OF BROADWAY New musicals and old favorites await New York-bound groups by randy mink

Gettysburg by randy mink

Chocolate Dreams by randy mink

Gardens of New York State by alyssa cherwak

Civil War Sesquicentennial by dave bodle

New Reasons to Travel South by dave bodle

Indiana’s Quilt Gardens by randy mink

Minnesota Theater Sampler by emily k. weber

Kansas Looks Back by nancy wolens

California Show Gardens by sue arko

Yosemite & Mariposa County

Wyoming Ranch Getaways by heather lee

On My Mind by jeff gayduk

On Tour by marty sarbey de souto

On Reunions by edith wagner

On Civil War by jenny mcconnell

On Marketing by dave bodle

DEPARTMENTS 6 50 62

Meet Our Writers On Our Radar: MIDWEST On the Record

CALIFORNIA

ON THE COVER: Mary Poppins on Broadway (Photo by Deen van Meer, courtesy Disney Theatrical Group)

©e Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

COLUMNS

©Disney/CML. Photo by Joan Marcus

FEATURES

on my mind ❖

On My Mind jeff gayduk

❖ jeff gayduk

Good Intentions

Vol. 21, No. 2 April 2011 Editorial & Advertising Office

621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk jeff@ptmgroups.com

Managing Editor – Randy Mink randy@ptmgroups.com Senior Editor – John Kloster john@ptmgroups.com

THERE’S A GENERAL consensus in the industry that business is on the upswing. I hear this in talking with group travel organizers, DMOs and tour service providers alike. After a few dismal years for most, that’s good news all around. I’d like to know how things are in your neck of the woods. That’s the intention of our 2011 Group Intentions Survey, which accompanies this publication. This easy-to-complete-and-return form asks a dozen questions about your business, where you’re going and generally how you’re getting there. It’s our goal to amass a collection of data that helps us guide our editorial content in the years ahead. We think we have a pulse on the industry, but you’re the boots on the ground, so to speak. Tell us where you’re going – we’ll help you get there! To sweeten the pot, we are giving away a Garmin portable GPS device to one lucky reader who returns the Group Intentions survey by June 1. Winners will be announced in the August edition of Leisure Group Travel. CONTINUING EDUCATION ONLINE We continue to set the standard for online development in the group travel industry with our latest round of website launches and enhancements. LeisureGroupTravel.com underwent an entire overhaul last year, with additional features added early this year including a fresh new look, with easier navigation to over 12,400 pages of content. It’s the largest library of resources in the market!

4 April 2011

Also, brand new for 2011 is a mobile version of LeisureGroupTravel.com, another industry first! Not to be outshone, two of our resource websites have undergone major redevelopment for 2011. GroupUniversity.com includes over a dozen how-to guides, niche market publications and the second edition of Marty de Souto’s How to Plan, Operate and Lead Successful Tours ($29.95). This is a site to sharpen your knowledge base on all facets of the business. OurTravelProtector.com, Leisure Group Travel’s sponsored travel insurance site, has also gone through an extensive makeover. This site provides affordable group and individual travel insurance protection where you set your own net rate. Still to come in 2011, GroupTravelDirectory.com 3.0 – the latest version of our popular directory search engine site, made #1 by group travel planners for its ease of use in locating destinations, attractions, hotels and tour companies. Watch for the new edition in May! Please take a few minutes to complete and return your Group Intentions survey and next time you’re online – whether at your desktop or on the road – visit our family of websites. Happy traveling,

Senior Editor – Elana Andersen elana@ptmgroups.com

Senior Editor – Dave Bodle dave@ptmgroups.com

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

Director of Sales

Theresa O’Rourke P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 theresa@ptmgroups.com

Regional Sales Managers Illinois – Jim McCurdy

P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 jim@ptmgroups.com

Northeast & Eastern Midwest/Canada – Amy Janssens P 630.294.0318 • F 630.794.0652 amy@ptmgroups.com

Mid Atlantic – Ellen Klesta

P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 ellen@ptmgroups.com

Southeast/West Coast – Cheryl Rash

P 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274 cheryl@ptmgroups.com

Southern – Dolores Ridout P/F 281.762.9546 dolores@ptmgroups.com Florida & Caribbean – Prof Inc. P 813.286.8299 • F 813.287.0651 jimg@ptmgroups.com The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, slides or manuscripts.

Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is published bi-monthly by Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to qualified tour operators, travel agents, group leaders, bank travel clubs and other travel organizations. Other travel-related suppliers may subscribe at the reduced rate of $12.00 per year. The regular subscription price for all others is $18.00 per year. Single copies are $4.95 each.

Send Address Change to:

Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 609, Palos Heights, IL 60463

Jeff Gayduk, Publisher jeff@ptmgroups.com

publication

Schynige-Platte cogwheel railway

Train travel in Switzerland. Switzerland’s public transportation network is second to none. It’s fast, efficient, frequent and connects even the most remote places. Explore Switzerland with a single ticket for trains, busses and boats: the Swiss Pass. Lucerne - in the heart of Switzerland. Lucerne has it all: the great transport museum, the first and the steepest cogwheel railways, a narrow-gauge panoramic train, and historic steamships on Lake Lucerne. Thanks to its attractions, its souvenir and watch shops, the impressive mountainous panorama and the nearby excursion mountains of the Rigi and Mt. Pilatus, the town is a destination for many travel groups on their journey through the Lake Lucerne Region. A train buff‘s paradise! Engadin St. Moritz UNESCO World Heritage site. The UNESCO World Heritage recognition of the high-altitude engineering wonderland through Switzerland’s Engadin Valley honors one of the most spectacular, technically innovative and harmonious narrowgauge railways. Since the extension of the road system through these passes,

the construction of the Rhaetian Railway and the Bernina Express, which reaches as far as Veltlin, Upper Engadin has been accessible to the entire world - and people from all over the world love this valley, which delights visitors with its incomparable nature at all times of the year. Sunstar Hotels - Alpine Emotions. Sunstar, founded in 1969, is the only genuinely Swiss Hotel Group, with nine first-class hotels nestled in the Alps and offering a total of over 1,670 beds in 915 rooms. Arosa, Davos, Flims, Klosters, Lenzerheide, Grindelwald, Zermatt and Wengen are the best-known resorts. Whether you come for a walking or winter sports vacation, to visit a spa center or to attend a meeting or other special event – at Sunstar Hotels, guests with varied interests will feel at home and enjoy “Alpine emotions”.

For information on Switzerland, please visit MySwitzerland.com/steam For bookings, call Rail Source International: 1-800-551-2085

On the Write Side

NUMBER CRUNCHING

Meet the Contributors to This Issue see page 10 edith wagner

emily k.

Founder and editor of Reunions magazine, Edith is the editor in chief of Premier Tourism Marketing’s Reunions Workbook, the leading guide for reunion planners. Read Edith’s page 10 column on ways to find and increase reunion group business.

A communications major at Lake Forest College in north suburban Chicago, our editorial intern recently studied abroad in New Zealand and the Netherlands, feeding her passion for travel and learning about other cultures. Emily has been a member of her college cross country team and spent summers working at a YMCA camp in Wisconsin. Enjoy her “Minnesota Theater Sampler” on page 44.

marty

8 sarbey de souto see page

weber

dave

see page

A sought after speaker and seminar facilitator, Dave operates David’s Tour Connections, a receptive tour operator that serves Myrtle Beach, the Carolinas and Virginia and offers outgoing tours as well. A former publisher of travel trade publications, he heads up our Southern editorial coverage. Enjoy Dave’s features on pages 26 and 29 and his marketing column on page 66.

randy

sue

see page

mink

alyssa

see page

arko

see page

cherwak

Alyssa, an editorial intern, is a senior majoring in English at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she is a writer for the Chicago Flame newspaper. Her interests include fishing, trying new foods and traveling. She has traveled to many U.S. cities, but her most memorable trip was to Guatemala. Enjoy Alyssa’s New York State gardens article on page 24.

Thinking of Elana Andersen Elana Andersen has been a stable force on Leisure Group Travel’s editorial team since 2002. Her knowledge of the Western group travel market is unrivaled, and we’re proud that she’s written more stories for the publication than any other writer. Early this year after a night out with friends, Elana suffered a stroke. She’s currently home in Scotts Valley, Calif., rehabbing and spending time with family and friends. We wish her a speedy recovery and our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family in this recovery period. Elana can be reached directly at elana@got.net.

20,000 Amish living in Northern Indiana

13.4 Length of Manhattan Island in miles

bodle

Our long-time columnist is the author of the e-book How to Plan, Operate and Lead Successful Group Tours. A native of Cleveland, she lives in El Cerrito, Calif., with her husband, Jose Souto-Martinez of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her hobbies are dancing, gardening, reading, writing and traveling. Enjoy Marty’s column on page 8.

Leisure Group’s Travel managing editor is happiest when he’s touring New York City, which he visited last Christmas. Randy also enjoyed his next out-of-theoffice escape, a Pennsylvania trip that included Hershey, Chocolatetown USA. See his articles on pages 15, 19, 20 and 42.

6 April 2011

see page

A resident of Gilbert, Ariz., Sue is owner of Free Spirit Vacations and Events and co-owner of Red Hot Celebrations and Travel Alliance Partners. She also is an active member of the National Tour Association. The highlight of her life is when she is able to travel with her 16-year-old daughter, Jacey. Enjoy Sue’s “California Show Gardens” feature on page 54.

heather

see page

1861 The year Kansas entered the Union as the 34th state

90 Minutes between Hershey and Washington, DC

1,200 Varieties of roses at Huntington Botanical Gardens

lee

A senior at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., our editorial intern is majoring in English and history. Last fall she attended Oxford University in England, where she pursued her interest in soccer with the Oxford University Women’s Association Football Club. Enjoy Heather’s Wyoming ranch feature on page 59.

Become a fan of ours on Facebook and we’ll keep you informed of the latest news in the industry by sending you Facebook updates when news breaks. Simply search for “Group Travel” and look for the Premier Tourism Marketing logo! Leisure Group Travel is also joining the Twitter craze. Go to Twitter.com/LeisureGroup to get the latest “tweets” from the Leisure Group Travel staff.

272 Words in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address

620,000 Men who died in the Civil War

LeisureGroupTravel.com

On Tour

❖ marty sarbey de souto, ctc

Keeping Tour Members in the Loop WE OFTEN TEND TO THINK that once someone has enrolled in one of our tours, that’s it. Nothing else to do until we send out final documents and then departure day when we all meet and off we go. Not so. You need to keep in touch with trip participants at various intervals to keep their interest and excitement high and to keep a tight umbilical cord between you and them. You don’t want them canceling out of your trip because something more interesting appeared on their horizon. And you want to keep them informed so they may learn to be better travelers and not drive you crazy calling with questions every few days. So, when do we contact them, what do we send them, and what additional information do we give them? ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MAILING Once someone has enrolled, I send them an acknowledgement of their booking – not just a cold computer receipt but a gracious letter welcoming them to the trip (the receipt can be attached if you wish). I enclose my first information bulletin preparing them for the trip. Since the initial brochure or flyer you’ve used to solicit their enrollment can’t possibly include all the pretrip information they need, this postenrollment bulletin picks up where the initial publicity material left off. Some of the topics I like to cover are anticipated weather, clothing and packing suggestions, and baggage limitations. If it’s an international trip, a must would be requirements such as passports, inoculations and visas (if required). Foreign currency and suggestions for handling monies en route are also important for 8 April 2011

international trips. I also touch on health issues and, of course, travel insurance. The subject of cameras and photography, seat rotation on motorcoaches, and en route medications are also worth mentioning. I like to suggest a couple of books they might like to read (or movies they might like to revisit) to give them background information on areas they’ll be visiting. Right now I’m planning a fall 2011 trip to Berlin and Eastern Germany so I’ve suggested some of the old Cold War spy stories such as the John le Carré’s 1965 The Spy Who Came In From The Cold with Richard Burton.

throughout the entire trip with a prize to the tour member who could come up with the most words wherein British English differed from American English – they came up with over 100 and still counting. ON YOUR RETURN Your participants also deserve a return-home mailing, welcoming them back to the “real world” of bill payments, medical appointments, family squabbles and other less glamorous parts of life. Give them something to remember with pleasure their time

You don’t want them canceling out of your trip because something more interesting appeared on their horizon. Some trip organizers like to do something more elaborate (and costly) such as sending a special T-shirt or flight bag (of course, these have to be priced into your trip budget from the outset). EN ROUTE MAILING If there’s a fairly long flight involved at the outset of your trip, I like to give them some fun handout en route. It could be a puzzle you dream up or a vocabulary lesson of common phrases or words they’ll be likely to encounter at their destination. Do your travelers to New Orleans really know what beignets are or do visitors to San Francisco know that Nob Hill and its old mansions represent wealthy homes of the so-called “robber barons” who built the first transcontinental railroad? On a trip to England last year, I ran a contest

with you: a photo, a souvenir, news of an upcoming reunion or just a welcome home letter. And a questionnaire to complete and let you know how they felt about the tour. (Be sure to put a place on this form for them to refer friends to you). Do keep them on a mailing list to receive advance notice of your next tour so they feel they’ve been given special treatment. All a lot of extra work? Perhaps. Worth it? You betcha. Marty is founder of the travel industry program at Berkeley (Calif.) City College, where she taught all aspects of group travel for 32 years. She is a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) and continues to design and lead tours as well as provide consulting services.You may reach her at josemarty@ yahoo.com. For information on her book How To Plan, Operate, and Lead Successful Group Tours, click on Premier Tourism Marketing's educational website, groupuniversity.com.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Over 500 Locations Service, Value, Variety Free meals for your driver and group leader • Ample free motor coach parking • All-inclusive nationwide pricing • Food that’s ready for a quick, hassle-free stop • A wide variety of foods to accommodate specific diet choices Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner

Reservations made easy. Visit www.buffet.com/leisuregroup email: groupsales@buffetsinc.com or call 866-840-6654

On Reunions

❖ edith wagner

Where Are All the Reunions? ANY BUSINESS INTERESTED IN serving or selling to reunions wonders how to find them. And that was certainly our question 21 years ago when we started trying to find reunions to share our magazine (Reunions) with. As it turns out, however, it was a matter of how to make reunions find us. Because what we learned was reunions can be anywhere, organized by anyone, and there is nothing that distinguishes the people from anyone else. In other words, there was no one convenient place to find reunions.

reunion, are going to a reunion or know someone who is planning a reunion so that you can inform them of your services. That, of course, is about as slow a way as you can do it but probably the most accurate. Branching out, I’d suggest you include reunions on the list of kinds of groups you serve. It will give reunion organizers ideas. Use every church, school and club bulletin you can find to offer tour services to reunion groups. Share several itineraries that might interest reunion groups as examples. Plant the seeds.

To reach reunion organizers, include reunions on the list of kinds of groups you serve Reunion organizers typically are very devoted to their group, but there’s no way you can tell that without asking. Most reunion organizers do not simply blurt it out, nor do they wear T-shirts that say “I organize my family reunion.” Although on the subject of T-shirts, you can easily tell it’s a reunion group if they’re all wearing one of those kazillions of family reunion shirts that are ubiquitous in summer. You’ll have a pretty good clue that in that crowd there is a leader, a decision maker and someone you’d like to talk to. Okay, so we’ve established that the business of finding reunions is tricky because there’s no way to really identify a reunion organizer unless you ask. And how do you do that without walking up to everyone you encounter, and asking! To start your very own collection of reunions, start close to home. Ask anyone, where appropriate, if they have a 10 April 2011

WHERE DO YOUR OPPORTUNITIES LIE? Tours for many reunions are essential, but how those tours are constructed can take many different shapes. And, of course, come in many sizes. As do all reunions. Starting with the most parochial are tours of places that are of importance to the family or reunion group. These tours are usually facilitated based upon a list provided by the organizer or a representative of the reunion or sometimes by a local historical society. Often historians or genealogists act as step-on guides for the tour. Most reunions are interested in tours of the local attractions where they are meeting. They could choose an established tour or declare specific things they want to see or visit. Taking tours a little further afield is not unusual for some reunions. I wrote a story recently about reunions

in Norfolk, Virginia, where several military reunions added days to tour Williamsburg and Jamestown while they were in the area. Before the start of the recession, I was learning about more and more reunions hiring motorcoaches. One summer weekend I stayed in a suburban Detroit business park hotel filled with reunions. (Smart hotel: business travelers all week, reunions on the weekend.) There were at least half a dozen buses from all over the country. During the reunion the coaches took members to picnics and on local tours or ferried them to malls, casinos and the zoo. Indicative of a good reunion, most of the members were dragging their exhausted selves onto the bus Sunday morning hugging their pillows and clearly expecting to catch up on sleep on the trip home. Reunion organizers will find valuable ideas in the 11th edition of Reunions Workbook, a step by-step planning guide published by Premier Tourism Marketing. Subjects range from choosing a date and location to budgeting and setting up committees. Also covered are accommodations, meals, themes, activities and fundraising. To order Reunions Workbook ($9.95), log on to groupuniversity.com.

THERE IS A LIST AFTER ALL Reunions magazine’s website does have a list of upcoming reunions. There might well be a group listed that is waiting to hear from you! Edith Wagner is founder and editor of Reunions magazine. Visit reunionsmag.com for more info, request a free sample of the magazine and become a fan on Facebook.

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Arizona

Florida

Indiana

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre Mesa, AZ 85205 (888) 504-7256 www.broadwaypalmwest.com

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Theatre Orlando, FL 32819 (407) 363-1985 www.sleuths.com

Kansas

Arkansas

Illinois

Arizona Broadway Theatre Peoria, AZ 85382 (623) 776-8400 x109 www.azbroadwaytheatre.com

Murry’s Dinner Playhouse Little Rock, AR 72204 (501) 562-3131 www.murrysdinnerplayhouse.com

California

Candlelight Pavilion Claremont, CA 91711 (909) 626-3296 x12 www.candlelightpavilion.com Welk Resort Theatre Escondido, CA 92026 (760) 749-3182 x22139 www.welkresort.com

ndta.us

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre Ft. Myers, FL 33907 (239) 278-4422 www.broadwaypalm.com

Circa ‘21 Dinner Theatre Rock Island, IL 61201 (309) 786-2667 x303 www.circa21com Conklin’s Barn II Dinner Theatre Goodfield, IL 61742 (309) 965-2545 www.barn2.com Tommy Gun’s Garage Chicago, IL 60616 (800) 461-0178 www.tommygunsgarage.com

Derby Dinner Playhouse Clarksville, IN 47129 (812) 288-2632 x128 www.derbydinner.com Crown Uptown Theatre Wichita, KS 67218 (316) 681-1566 www.crownuptown.com

New Jersey

Hunterdon Hills Playhouse Hampton, NJ 8827 (908) 730-8007 www.hhplayhouse.com

North Carolina

Barn Dinner Theatre Greensboro, NC 27409 (336) 292-2211 x3022 www.barndinner.com

Pennsylvania

Allenberry Playhouse Boiling Springs, PA 17007 (717) 258-3211 www.allenberry.com

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre Lancaster, PA 17601 (717) 459-5221 www.dutchapple.com

Tennessee

Chaffin’s Barn Nashville, TN 37221 (800) 282-2276 x11 www.dinnertheatre.com

Freedom Chapel Dinner Theatre Christiana, PA 17509 (610) 593-7013 www.freedomchapeldinnertheatre.com

Virginia

Rainbow Dinner Theatre Paradise, PA 17562 (800) 292-4301 www.rainbowdinnertheatre.com

Wisconsin

Riverside Inn Dinner Theatre Cambridge Springs, PA 16403 (800) 964-5173 www.theriversideinn.com Station Dinner Theatre Erie, PA 16509 (866) 848-2022 www.canterburyfeast.com Pines Dinner Theatre Allentown, PA 18104 (610) 433-2333 www.pinesdinnertheatre.com

Mystery Dinner Playhouse Richmond, VA 23223 (888) 471-4802 www.mysterydinner.com Armory Dinner Theater Janesville, WI 53547 (608) 531-0186 www.janesvillearmory.com Fireside Dinner Theatre Ft. Atkinson, WI 53538 (800) 477-9505 www.firesidetheatre.com

Wyoming

Jackson Hole Playhouse Jackson, WY 83001 (307) 733-6994 www.jhplayhouse.com

TheaTers are lisTed alphabeTically by sTaTe

A R I Z O N A

A R K A N S A S

F L O R I D A

I L L I N O I S

ndta.us

TheaTers are lisTed alphabeTically by sTaTe

I L L I N O I S

I N D I A N A

P E N N S Y L VA N I A

T E N N E S S E E

• look to NdTa members for the best in dinner theatre entertainment

• representing the very W Y O M I N G

best in broadway Musicals, children’s Theatre, Mysteries, and comedy

ndta.us ndta.us

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On The Front

❖ jenny mcconnell

Making the Civil War Come Alive for Your Troops THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY of the American Civil War will generate a renewed interest in our nation’s history, and domestic and foreign travelers alike will plan trips to Civil War sites throughout the United States. For group travel planners, there is an array of opportunities for all ages, backgrounds and levels of interest and knowledge. Numerous states, towns and historic sites are planning expanded programs, new attractions and events to commemorate this important anniversary.

develop an understanding of Civil War history, but the bulk of passengers can’t wait to see where it all happened. It’s important as well to research the variety of ways to visit a battlefield. In Gettysburg, Pa., for example, bus tours are popular, but groups can also tour the battlefield on horseback or on foot. Small groups can even ride Segway personal transporters. While standard Civil War visits are built around museums, tours and other attractions, group travel planners can also increase the value of their trips with

Planning trips around events are good ways to attract people who may or may not have been to Civil War sites previously. Travel planners interested in developing Civil War or history-themed trips should first take the time to note important dates throughout the fouryear Civil War. This will enable trips to be built around anniversaries and the events associated with those times, including battle re-enactments, special tours and performances. A Civil War site such as Manassas, Va., for example, is likely to be planning more events and activities on its anniversary than at other times during the Civil War commemoration. While it may not necessarily be the first stop, a battlefield should be the centerpiece of any Civil War trip. Visitors are eager to step foot on the hallowed ground where history was made. Museums and visitors centers are great starting locations for visitors to 14 April 2011

personalized appearances by Civil War period presenters, special tours of artifacts normally not on display, or group or individual photos in period costume. When it comes to authentic experiences, don’t stop at entertainment. Historically accurate restaurants and, depending on the size of the group, Civil War-era lodging are great ways to engage visitors during their entire stay. Guests can literally get a taste of Civil War life and get a hands-on experience throughout their entire trip. Planning trips around events are good ways to attract people who may or may not have been to Civil War sites previously. Events such as re-enactments, living history camps, music festivals or even small-scale programs are great ways to enrich a visit to a historic site.

It’s worth the time to research opportunities beyond the destination’s “big draw.” Extraordinary museums are often tucked away and offer unique experiences focusing on civilians and lesser-known heroes, or follow themes such as Civil War medicine, faith or African-American experiences. When it comes to museums, be sure to craft an itinerary that blends both self-guided and narrated sites. Too much of either can bore or be too overwhelming for your passengers. While guided tours are often the most engaging, many visitors enjoy some “down time” to peruse the artifacts at their own leisurely pace. Depending on the level of interest, it might be wise to include more than one Civil War site. Each tells a distinct story and offers different experiences. Many of the sites are already connected through partnerships such as the Journey Through Hallowed Ground or Civil War Trails. The best place to start is with the local visitors bureaus. Staffs there can help direct you to the best places to begin as well as sharing with you some of those hidden gems that can be overlooked by group travel planners. The 150th anniversary is a great opportunity for both Civil War destinations and tour planners. Students, seniors and everyone in between will be looking for ways to be a part of this national observance.

Jenny McConnell is the director of sales of the Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau. Contact: 800-337-5015, jenny@gettysburg.travel.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: northeast ❖

randy mink

This small Pennsylvania town with a big name in the history books prepares for the Civil War sesquicentennial “What I personally love the most is taking a step back, finding my favorite place on the battlefield and just setting back on a rock and taking in the beauty of the battlefield. Even though so much death and destruction took place here, there is such a peace that resonates at Gettysburg.” — A frequent traveler to Gettysburg A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee crowns the Virginia Memorial.

All Photos Courtesy of Gettysburg CVB

LeisureGroupTravel.com

April 2011 15

on location: northeast ❖ As the nation prepares to kick off a five-year commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, this is a perfect time for Americans to reflect on the epic conflict that pitted state against state, friend against friend. Gettysburg, where the war’s greatest battle raged, will take center stage in that observance. A visit to the battlefield and other sites brings home the tragedies endured from 1861-1865 and puts into focus the monumental struggle between North and South. Had it not been for the heroic feats on this Southern Pennsylvania farm land the first three days of July in 1863, America would be a different country. A Union victory that marked the beginning of the end for Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Confederate Army, the Battle of Gettysburg is regarded as the turning point of the Civil War. The largest battle ever fought on American soil saw more than 51,000 soldiers killed, wounded or captured. Geared for group travel, the town of 8,100 annually welcomes three million tourists and hosts 15,000 motorcoaches. Travel planners can choose from a wide range of tours, museums, and group-

A rousing re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg takes place every July.

friendly hotels and restaurants. Organizers also can arrange for living history interpreters, like Gen. Ulysses S. and Mrs. Grant, to come on the coach or give a presentation. Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, adjacent to the battlefield, is the focal point of tourism and obvious place to start. Opened in April of 2008, the state-ofthe-art facility offers 21st century amenities for the nearly two million who visit Gettysburg National Military Park every year. In addition to 12 exhibit galleries filled with videos and interactive stations, the Visitor Center presents “A

Unlimited Inspiration Commemorate the Civil War 150th with us P L A N BATTLEFIELD TOURS DON’T MISS THE C YCLORAMA , F ILM & M USEUM E XPERIENCE . Visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site. | Visit the David Wills House in Downtown Gettysburg.g. Shop in the Museum Bookstore. | Enjoy Civil War-era food in the Refreshment Saloon. Join the Friends of Gettysburg–help us preserve this hallowed ground.

GGETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTER 1195 Baltimore Pike | Gettysburg, PA 17325 | Tickets: 877-874-2478 reservations@gettysburgfoundation.org | www.gettysburgfoundation.org 16 April 2011

New Birth of Freedom,” a 22-minute film narrated by Morgan Freeman that immerses viewers in the sights, sounds and emotions of the battle and its aftermath. Following the film, guests take an escalator to the Gettysburg Cyclorama, a colossal circular oil painting that gives them the illusion of standing in the middle of Pickett’s Charge, a battle tableau complete with marching troops, men fighting with bayonets, cannon smoke, and ground littered with canteens, shoes, broken wheels, and dead soldiers and horses. A sound-and-light show with narration enhances the 360degree experience. At 377 feet by 42 feet, the Gettysburg Cyclorama, created by French artists in 1883-1884 and fresh from a five-year, $12-million restoration completed in 2008, is the largest painting in the U.S. The three-dimensional diorama and a sky that disappears into an overhead canopy—features that had been missing for more than 40 years— have been recreated. Licensed battlefield guides at the Visitor Center can board a group’s motorcoach for a two-hour tour. The center has a dedicated group entrance and classroom space. A bus drivers lounge is

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE See Randy Mink’s article on the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pa., a 45-minute drive from Gettysburg. Log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=22794.

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located in the coach parking lot. With more than 1,300 monuments and memorials, Gettysburg National Military Park boasts one of the world’s largest collections of outdoor sculptures. The towering Pennsylvania Monument is the largest and most complex. One memorial recalls the 272 words spoken by President Lincoln at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery four months after the battle. His eloquent two-minute speech on Nov. 19, 1863, is today known as the Gettysburg Address (“that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not

coln put the finishing touches on the speech. Restored to its 1863 appearance, the house (privately owned for decades) showcases the bedroom where Lincoln slept on the night before the Gettysburg Address and Wills’ office. Exhibits interpret the battle’s aftermath and Wills’ efforts to set aside battlefield land for a cemetery for the Union dead. The home was the center of the immense clean-up process after the July 1-3 battle and was used to care for the wounded. Downtown abounds with other museums and historic houses, not to mention Civil War-themed shops and restaurants. Steps from the David Wills House are the Cannon Ball Old Tyme

Groups can hire a guide for a two-hour tour of the Gettysburg battlefield.

perish from the earth.”) This cemetery in Gettysburg National Military Park, a final resting place for veterans through the Vietnam War, was officially closed in 1972, but plots remain for dependents of those interred. For insight into Lincoln’s immortal address, tour the David Wills House, a National Park Service-owned museum in downtown Gettysburg. Opened in 2009, the attorney’s home is where LinObtain Pennsylvania visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info LeisureGroupTravel.com

Malt Shop and McClellan’s Tavern, a restaurant in the historic Gettysburg Hotel. Named after Union Gen. George McClellan, the tavern serves the Confederate Burger, Custer’s Melt and other sandwiches named for Civil War generals. The Tavern in back of the Farnsworth House Inn remembers the war with props and costumes from the Hollywood movie Gettysburg and runs it continuously on the TV. Built in 1810, the B&B inn bears 100 bullet holes from the battle. Group dinner buffets are available. Wait staff in colonial garb and candlelit rooms lend charm to the 1776 Dobbin House Tavern, the oldest build-

on location: northeast ❖ ing in Gettysburg. Many of the rooms, including the casual Springhouse Tavern in the basement, have fireplaces. The same atmosphere pervades the attached banquet room where large groups (up to 150) enjoy buffet meals. Gettysburg antique shops deal in Civil War bullets, cannon balls, weapons, uniform buttons and other memorabilia, while gift shops sell everything from toy guns and swords to soldier caps, flags,

GETTYSBURG GROUP RESERVATIONS “One Call Does It All!”

A Premier Receptive Tour Operator with customized services for groups of all ages, sizes and interest.

Call (800) 447-8788 www.GettysburgGroupReservations.com

Lincoln throw pillows, stovepipe hats, and Blue and Gray teddy bears. The American Civil War Wax Museum presents the North vs. South rivalry through life-size dioramas. Scenes spotlight events like the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Lincoln assassination and Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. Visitors also learn about the Underground Railroad, black troops in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry and Clara Barton, the “Angel of the Battlefields,” whose efforts led to the founding of the American Red Cross. A visit concludes in the Battle Room, where flashing lights, sound effects and narration enhance a film and large diorama. After the battle, an animatronic Abraham Lincoln rises from the floor to deliver the Gettysburg Address and a choir sings the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Weekly living history encampments take place from April through October. Several Gettysburg sites provide townspeople’s perspectives on the war. The Jennie Wade House Museum, for example, tells the story of a 20year-old woman hit by a stray bullet, the only civilian killed during the battle. Other attractions include Shriver House Museum, Gettysburg Diorama, Lincoln Train Station Museum, Soldiers National Museum, and Hall of Presidents & First Ladies. For visitors, “night life” in Gettysburg often means a ghost tour. Several companies offer candlelight walks

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18 April 2011

The superb museum at Gettysburg National Military Park is a must.

that offer glimpses into the past through the spirits that are said to linger here. Many TV documentaries have featured Gettysburg, reputed to be one of the most haunted towns in the world. The town’s Civil War 150th anniversary celebration will include special observances, expanded programs and tours, and large battle re-enactments. The annual July 1-3 re-enactment, an ABA Top 100 Event this year, presents continuous living history each day, including military camps, medical demonstrations, ladies fashions, a period worship service and live Civil War music. One highlight of the five-year commemoration will be the 2013 opening of the Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary’s Schmucker Hall, a building that served as a Union lookout on July 1 and a field hospital. The new museum will tell the story of the battle’s first day and faith and medicine in the Civil War. This year and the next few will be the ideal time to bring your troops to Gettysburg, hallowed ground that not only saw unimaginable horrors but acts of compassion and words of hope for healing a divided nation. For information on group travel, contact Jenny McConnell, Gettysburg CVB, 800-337-5015, jenny@gettysburg.travel; gettysburggrouptours.travel. LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: northeast ❖

randy mink

Happy product characters afford great photo ops at Hershey attractions.

cabulary words includes “woodsy,” “buttery,” “fruity” and other flavor notes. To the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” graduates are handed a Hershey’s University diploma and fullsize chocolate bar. Be sure to save lots of time for Chocolate World’s shop, which borders a “rainforest” of palms, banana plants and cacao trees under a glass roof. The store offers an overwhelming variety of bags and boxes of Hershey brands, including Reese’s, Kit Kat and Almond Joy. Pick up a Hershey’s or Reese’s logo pillow, plush product characters, cocoa bath products or the World’s Largest Kiss (44.8 ounces). There’s even a Tshirt whose chocolate scent is supposed to last seven washings. The food court

Chocolate Dreams Groups with a sweet tooth will find bliss in Hershey, Pennsylvania

hocolate World…a tourist attraction whose very name sends my taste buds into ecstasy. Where else could I design my own candy bar and walk out the door holding a master’s degree in chocolate tasting? And, oh, the mega-gift shop—I was like a kid in, well, a candy store. The town of Hershey, established in the early 1900s, was built on chocolate. You’re reminded of its industrial heritage as you cruise down Chocolate and Cocoa avenues, where the street lights are shaped like Hershey’s Kisses. At Hershey’s Chocolate World the place to start is the Great American Chocolate Tour, a free, 10-minute ride through the company’s milk chocolatemaking magic. A virtual factory tour, the narrated tram trip follows the process from sorting cocoa beans to packaging candy. Along the way, you’ll meet singing LeisureGroupTravel.com

cows. Hershey uses 250,000 gallons of milk daily from thousands of cows on hundreds of area farms. Upon leaving the ride, everyone gets a product sample. Hershey’s Create Your Own Candy Bar ($9.95) is another Chocolate World experience. You won’t get your hands dirty, but you’ll have to sanitize them and don an apron and hairnet as you play factory worker. You design the candy bar and personalized wrapper by touching a computer screen, then walk along the assembly line to see it made. The half-hour Chocolate Tasting Adventure takes place in a classroom, where a lady in a white lab coat lectures from a podium and cuts away to videos of the wacky Dr. Livingston McNib collecting cacao pods in the rainforest. Students sample five chocolate products and try to pick up nuances in taste, appearance and smell. The list of vo-

See how candy is made on the virtual factory tour at Chocolate World.

has countless lunch choices, plus irresistible chocolaty baked goods. At The Hershey Story, The Museum on Chocolate Avenue, groups can make candy in the Chocolate Lab, taste hot chocolate from around the world and learn the rags-to-riches story of entrepreneur and philanthropist Milton Hershey. Other options in Hershey include tours of the historic Hershey Hotel and Hershey Theatre, thrill rides at Hersheypark, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park and Hershey Gardens. Contact: Hershey Groups, 877323-6903; hersheygroups.com. LGT April 2011 19

MELODIES OF

BroADwAy Priscilla: Quee

Sister Act

The Lion King 20 April 2011

n of the Desert

Radio City Music Hall, a short walk from the bright lights of Broadway, offers a behind-the-scenes tour of the Art Deco landmark in Rockefeller Center.

Spider-Man LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: northeast ❖

Radio City Music Hall Photo Courtesy of MSG Entertainment

t may not have the magic of Mary Poppins, lavish trappings of The Lion King or notoriety of Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, but a little OffBroadway production can satisfy one’s craving for New York theater as much as a splashy musical. I was reminded of that recently when my night on the town took place in an intimate basement theater under Sofia’s Restaurant on 46th Street, just steps from the bright lights of Times Square and blockbuster shows. The quirky, twoperson comedy, Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating & Marriage, kept us chuckling throughout and included audience participation. The prim and proper Miss Abigail, a sought-after relationship expert whose advice for couples harks back to the 1950s, is played by Eve Plumb, who portrayed Jan Brady for five seasons on TV’s The Brady Bunch. Though Miss Abigail holds court in the heart of New York’s Broadway theater district, it is considered OffBroadway, a term that refers to theaters with 100-499 seats. Not that the casual theater-goer always knows the difference, says Jody Bell of BroadwaySpace.com, the group sales division of Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, producer of Miss Abigail. Some Broadway hits, once their numbers start to dwindle, move to smaller Off-Broadway theaters to save on production costs, she explained, pointing to Avenue Q as a current example. Bell said Miss Abigail is popular with senior groups, as is the hit Broadway musical Million Dollar Quartet, a look back at rock ’n’ roll stars Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins on the day in 1956 when they gathered in a Memphis recording studio. For this spring, she notes a moviesturned-musicals trend, citing Sister Act, Catch Me If You Can and Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, all of which opened or LeisureGroupTravel.com

randy mink

began previews in March. With a total of six new musicals, “we’re seeing one of the busiest springs in recent memory,” said Dennis Martin, director, group sales programs, Broadway.com/Groups. “They’re selling every single seat.” As Broadway ticket sales continue strong, each of Broadway’s 40 theaters has been occupied, Martin said. “When one show closes, another one moves in.” According to The Broadway League, Broadway attendance for the 2010 calendar year totaled 12.11 million, an increase over the previous year’s 11.88 million. Attendance for the 2009-2010 Broadway season topped that of the 10 professional New York and New Jersey sports teams combined. Martin notes that Whoopi Goldberg (who starred in the movie Sister Act) is a producer of the Broadway version, and Bette Midler is one of Priscilla’s producers. Catch Me If You Can, based on the Tom Hanks/Leonardo DiCaprio film about a real-life con artist, was created by the team behind Hairspray. Wonderland, a new spin on the classic story of Alice and her Looking Glass world, opens April 17. This fresh take features a modern-day woman who goes on a life-changing adventure far below the streets of New York City. Spider-Man, which garnered tons of publicity when actors got seriously injured in acrobatic stunts during early performances, continues to be a hot seller, Bell said, admitting that “we were swarmed with requests” (for tickets) the day after the first accident. “It’s like a rollercoaster—people enjoy the adrenaline…Everyone asks me about it.” Music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge of U2 enhance the story of the Marvel comic book hero, the most expensive Broadway show ever produced. (Spider-Man officially is still in previews, but at press time the latest word

is that it will finally open June 14 following significant revisions. The show goes on a three-week hiatus starting April 19.) “The revival to see,” Martin said, is How to Succeed in Business (Without Really Trying) starring Daniel Radcliffe (of Harry Potter fame) and five-time Emmy Award winner John Larroquette (Night Court, The Practice). They make their Broadway musical debuts in this 50th anniversary revival, which opened March 27. Another new revival: Cole Porter’s Anything Goes with Joel Grey and Sutton Foster, featuring songs like “I Get a Kick out of You,” “You’re the Top,” “It’s De-Lovely” and the title tune. A revival of Godspell is coming this fall, and “everyone is anticipating the opening of that one,” Bell said. Student travelers have played a major part in the ongoing success of Mary Poppins and The Lion King, says Bryan Dockett, vice president national sales, Disney Theatrical Group. “The student/youth market is the core of our group business.” He said, “The youth market has been a constant for us and has stayed strong even during the whole recession” because parents are willing to spend the money on school trips. “They want their kids to have that experience and don’t want them to miss out on it.” Besides seeing the show, student groups can take advantage of Disneycreated study guides that tie in the content of Mary Poppins and The Lion King with geography and other classroom subjects. Also for school groups, 90-minute theater workshops focus on dance, music and how the whole show comes together. Student and other groups that book a performance of Mary Poppins can get a tour of the New Amsterdam Theatre, another add-on offered by Disney Theatrical. Dockett said the tour, ofApril 2011 21

THE RIDE, a new Manhattan tour option, presents its own live entertainment.

fered when the theater presented The Lion King (which moved in 2006 to the Minskoff Theatre), was recently reintroduced after a hiatus. The tour explores the history of Broadway theater and the Disney-City of New York partnership that in 1996 re-launched the New Amsterdam and played a key role in cleaning up 42nd Street, which, back in the early 1990s, was tawdry and “not a place to bring tourists,” Dockett said. The Lion King, the seventh longest running musical in Broadway history, opened in November of 1997. Still going strong, the colorful show just enjoyed its best year in the last 13, Dockett said, and Mary Poppins had its second best box office since opening in November of 2006. Only Phantom of the Opera, which opened in 1988, and Chicago (1996) have been on Broadway longer than The Lion King. Other long-running current shows: Mamma Mia (2001), Wicked (2003) and Jersey Boys (2005). The newest form of entertainment in town is a traveling, 49-seat theater called THE RIDE. On super-sized, custom vehicles outfitted like a theater, with sideways-facing stadium seating, tour passengers roll through Midtown Manhattan on a 75minute journey that combines commentary with sidewalk performances (designed just for THE RIDE) by dancers, singers, rappers and comedi22 April 2011

ans. The 4.5-mile tour starts at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Group tickets are $55. (experiencetheride.com) TV fans flock to Rockefeller Plaza for behind-the-scenes tours of NBC Studios in the GE Building, location of the TV series 30 Rock. Guests walk into studios used by such shows as Dr. Oz, Football Night in America, NBC Nightly News and Saturday Night Live. Every tour member has a chance to pose behind an anchor desk in a mock

Marc Bryan-Brown

on location: northeast ❖

or The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, they can get an eyeful of this Art Deco jewel on the one-hour “Stage Door Tour,” another behind-the-scenes offering at Rockefeller Center. A highlight is meeting a Radio City Rockette and posing with the leggy dancer for a picture. Walking through back corridors, tour members see posters of past concert performers (from Bette Midler to Steve Wonder) and movies that premiered at this larger-than-life theater dating from 1932. For 45 years it packaged first-run movies with the Rockettes and other live acts until that format lost appeal. Radio City was in danger of being demolished after permanently closing in 1978. Today this landmark glistens from a restoration project that started in 1999. More than one million people walk through its doors during The Christmas Spectacular’s eight-week engagement—that’s twice as many as the biggest Broadway show draws all year. (radiocity.com) This summer Radio City’s cavernous, 6,000-seat auditorium hosts Zarkana, a Cirque du Soleil acrobatic spectacle that runs from June 9 through Sept. 4. The story plunges Zark, a magician on a quest to find his lost powers, into a bizarre world inhabited by surreal creatures. Top of the Rock, the GE Building’s three-level observatory, is yet another Rockefeller Center mustsee. Views of the skyscraper-studded skyline and the vast expanse of Central Park unfold from open-air terraces on floors 68, 69 and 70. In the distance the Statue of Liberty stands sentinel in New York Harbor. (topoftherocknyc.com) Top of the Rock is an attraction covered by New York CityPASS. Valid for nine days, the convenient ticket ($79 for adults) lets pass holders skip the lines and pays for itself if you see only five of the six attractions.

Radio City Music Hall hosts concerts and the annual Christmas Spectacular.

studio, and two people can volunteer to read the news or do the weather. The tour starts in the NBC Studios Store, a good place to shop for souvenirs of current TV hits like 30 Rock and The Office, plus old favorites like Seinfeld and Friends. (nbcstudiotour.com) If your group doesn’t catch a concert

Continued on page 25

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THE WONDER OF BROADWAY. THE MAGIC OF . ★★★★!

” A perfect ect piece of musical sical theater.” r.”

In New York City • On Tour Across North America

–NY Post

New York City | Las Vegas On Tour Across North America

SPECIAL GROUP ADD-ONS!

©Disney

DISCOVER THE PRIDE OF NEW YORK

Make your New York Broadway experience even more magical with historic New Amsterdam Theatre tours. Call 800-439-9000 to speak to a Disney Theatrical Sales Group Specialist.

For a sneak peek, visit

on location: northeast ❖

alyssa cherwak

Discovering the Gardens of New York State Horticultural wonderlands enchant groups that appreciate a green thumb ew York is a state widely known for bustling city life, but it also has many beautiful botanic gardens that offer an escape from the urban frenzy. Located throughout the Empire State are gardens that embrace horticulture from all over the world. Here are just a few examples: Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden in Staten Island offers group travelers a garden experience mixed with history, museums and theaters. The gardens reflect different time periods and cultures. The Chinese Scholar Garden, a visitor favorite, embodies Chinese art and philosophy through an arrangement of shrubbery, rocks and ponds. Designed after the Villa Gamberaia in Florence is the Tuscan Garden, where topiaries, formal water elements and a vineyard give tourists a glance into Italian culture. Throughout the year Snug Harbor hosts various events and concerts. (718-448-2500, snug-harbor.org) New York Botanical Gardens was named by the New York Times a “New York Masterpiece.” Located in the Bronx, NYBG is recognized as a classical botanical garden where plants are studied and exhibited. Its 250 acres contain over one million plants in 50 gardens, including one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the U.S. The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden displays over 600 species of roses, which are in bloom six months out of the year. Groups visiting NYBG in spring will enjoy the lilacs and tulips. Apart from flowers, guests can also explore the native forest, comprised of trees up to 200 years old, along the Bronx River. (718-817-8700, nybg.org) Brooklyn Botanic Garden features a dozen gardens and several conservatories, including the aquatic house and a bonsai

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Read about some of the best attractions and restaurants in New York’s Broadway theater district. Log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=23019

24 April 2011

Beauty in the Bronx: New York Botanical Gardens

museum. Entering the garden from the east entrance, groups will be immersed in the Osborne Garden’s spectrum of colors provided by such flowers as azaleas, rhododendrons and wisteria. Those visiting in April and May get to experience the cherry trees in full bloom. (718-623-7200, bbg.org) Occupying the former estate of William Robertson Coe, an insurance entrepreneur and philanthropist, is the Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park. Located

New York Botanical Gardens is one of the Bronx’s hidden treasures.

in Long Island’s Oyster Bay, the park’s 409 acres consist of greenhouses, gardens and miles of hiking trails. The Rhododendron Collection features over a 1,000 types of vintage and modern species. The Main Greenhouse seasonally showcases poinsettias, Easter lilies and chrysanthemums. Also open to visitors is Coe Hall, the Coe family home featuring an Elizabethan-style interior. (516-922-9200, plantingfields.org) The three-tiered Formal Italian Gardens at Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site in Hyde Park are a restoration of the gardens built in the 1930s. The top level consists of annual plants, the middle of perennials and pool gardens and the lower level, built by gardening enthusiast Frederick Vanderbilt, features a variety of rose species. In mid-spring, native trees such as dogwoods and redbuds are in bloom. Guests

can enjoy views of the Hudson River and tour the Vanderbilt Mansion. (845-229-9115, 2.marist.edu/fwvga) Also in Hyde Park is the Rose Garden at Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site. Featuring 28 types of roses, the garden is the burial site of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. Groups can explore the grounds and rose gardens or tour the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. Guests are also invited to visit FDR’s Top Cottage, the building he purchased as a retreat from presidential pressures. (800-337-8474, nps.gov/hofr) In the Finger Lakes region of New York, in the town of Canandaigua, is Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park. Open from May through October the park consists of nine formal gardens, each representing different cultures and historical eras. Included are Japanese, rose and Italian gardens, plus a 20-acre arboretum and a greenhouse. Built in 1887, the Sonnenberg mansion is one of the few remaining Queen Anne-style manors in the country. (585-394-4922, sonnenberg.org) The flora at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens is dispersed between the Palm Dome and nine greenhouses. The Palm Dome is a tri-domed Victorian conservatory that was built in the 1890s and houses such visitor favorites as the orchid room and begonia room. Also in the garden is the South Park Arboretum, where a collection of tree species is showcased. (716-827-584, buffalogardens.com) These New York gardens give flower lovers a chance to experience a kaleidoscope of colors, sights and smells from a vast array of vegetation. Each garden offers tour groups a unique perspective on the world of horticulture. LGT Obtain New York visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info LeisureGroupTravel.com

Continued from page 22

Participating sights include the Empire State Building Observatory, American Museum of Natural History (including a space show in Hayden Planetarium), Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Modern Art (just a few blocks from Rockefeller Center). In addition, CityPASS users can choose from either the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ferry or Circle Line sightseeing cruise, and either Top of the Rock or the Guggenheim Museum. (citypass.com) Besides theaters and bright lights, Times Square abounds with fun stores and high-octane tourist attractions like Madame Tussauds New York and Ripleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Believe It or Not! Shop for baseball souvenirs at the Yankee Clubhouse or indulge your sweet tooth at the M&M and Hershey stores. Keep your camera out at the Toys R Us mega-store, with its indoor Ferris wheel, toy demonstrations, and Empire State Building made with 180,000 Lego blocks. Times Square and Midtown Manhattan, as any tour organizer knows, packs in more than any group could possibly see in a week, much less a few days. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no business like show business, and no place like New York, the heartbeat of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theater scene. LGT

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April 2011 25

on location: south ❖

Days of

Blue and Gray

dave bodle n spring 1861 our nation and its territories entered a four-year conflict that would become the bloodiest war in our history. Regardless of your views on the causes of the Civil War—slavery, state’s rights or a combination of both—it remains our country’s darkest moment. The American Civil War took its toll on the lives of our citizens, destroying families and often pitching brother against brother. Approximately 620,000, or 13 percent of the nation’s men, perished in battle or from disease. Countless others were disabled and eventually died from their wounds. The cost of the Civil War in terms of human life exceeds the total of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican American

War, Spanish American War, World War One, World War Two, Korean War and Vietnam War. This year our nation will examine the 150th anniversary of this tragic event’s beginning and continue the observance for four more years. Virtually every state and American territory were involved in the Civil War. However, with a few notable exceptions (Gettysburg and Antietam), most of the battles were fought on Confederate soil. To varying degrees, every Southern state will commemorate the war’s sesquicentennial. Virginia will begin its observance in July 2011 by remembering the first major battle, the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run. Richmond, Fredericksburg and the

In northwestern Georgia, the oldest Civil War national military park recalls the 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, the last major Confederate victory.

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development

A drummer boy receives instruction at Shiloh battlefield in Tennessee.

Southern states and tour organizers are gearing up for the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Georgia Department of Economic Development

26 April 2011

LeisureGroupTravel.com

Georgia Department of Economic Development

Explore POW issues at Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia.

Shenandoah Valley all played a significant role in the conflict and have events planned. West Virginia begins marking major events culminating in the 1863 formation of the only state created as a direct result of the war. A new and expanded North Carolina Civil War Trails map has just been released. Included are the final steps of Sherman’s March and General George Stoneman’s raiders’ “Cold Mountain” territory activities. Sherman also left his destructive mark on Columbia, S.C. The state capital was severely punished for those first shots fired at Fort Sumter in Charleston. Plantations along the coast and the Rice Museum in Georgetown depict why slave labor was necessary to the South’s agrarian economy. The Blue and Gray Trail takes visitors through northwest Georgia from Chattanooga to Atlanta and some of the most dramatic events of the Civil War. Here you’ll find the route for “The Great Locomotive Chase” of 1862 and the site of the second largest battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Chickamauga. In Arkansas the Hindman Hall Museum at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is scheduled to open this summer after extensive renovations. When the Confederates withdrew from the 1862 Battle of Prairie Grove, it was clear that Missouri and northwest Arkansas would remain in Union hands. LeisureGroupTravel.com

Though a slave state, Kentucky declined to secede from the Union. Both the Confederate and Union armies considered Kentucky a must-have. Kentucky was the birthplace of both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. Tennessee, like an umbrella, protected the Deep South states. Any invasion of Georgia, Mississippi or Alabama had to

go through Tennessee. Second only to Virginia in the number of battles fought within her borders, Tennessee is rich in Civil War history. One of the turning points of the Civil War was the siege and eventual loss of Vicksburg, Miss. With the South divided, no longer were blockade runners able to get supplies west of the Mississippi River to Confederate forces. Corinth has the Civil War Interpretive Center and the Contraband Camp, both unlike any other Civil War attraction. Although not the scene of any significant military action, Alabama contributed more than 120,000 men to Confederate service—almost all of the state’s white males capable of bearing arms. The Union blockade of Mobile Bay was devastating to both Alabama and the Confederate cause. For many tour operators, offering Civil War themed product may be challenging. Here are a few thoughts to

April 2011 27

on location: south ❖

their traditional offerings. There is so much information available about the American Civil War. How to wade get us started: The first step is deterthrough that input and determine mine if your clients are full-fledged what’s group-friendly is the question. history junkies or just interested in This writer’s recommendation is to learning a little more about this imporrely on professionals who have been tant chapter in American history. Is a there, done that and already have the Tmulti-day tour (campaign) the way to shirt. I suggest using a receptive operago, or are we simply looking for a stop tor or tour operator that is well versed on the way? in the American Civil War. They’ve alRegarding the latter, it’s my thought ready put a product together to add a piece of Civil War hisand can customize with ease. tory to every itinerary, where an They’ll know if a re-enactment appropriate attraction exists. A at a battlefield is group-friendly. trip to Nashville might include They’ve worked with the storya visit to the Tennessee State tellers who portray period charMuseum and its impressive acters. display and explanation of the For years Stars and Stripes Battle of Nashville. Likewise, a Tours has been providing onetour to the Atlanta area would to three-day tours of Gettysinclude a visit to the Atlanta burg. The itinerary is fine-tuned Cyclorama & Civil War Muand proven. From Abraham seum. Of course, a visit to VirWest Virginia Department of Commerce/Steve Shaluta Lincoln delivering the Gettysginia should absolutely include John Brown Wax Museum in Harpers Ferry burg Address to a soldier hosta stop in Richmond and the chronicles the life of the famous abolitionist. ing your campfire dinner and Virginia Historical Society. sharing his feelings, you can be assured seums, attractions and events. The place Through Dec. 30, 2011, An American your customers will have a memorable to start is the state tourism offices. Turning Point: The Civil War in Virexperience. Many have websites dedicated to the ginia will be on display. Civil War Tours will help plan and Civil War Sesquicentennial. Local Introducing a Civil War character to develop your tour and offer suggestions DMOs can to provide specific profiles your group can be both informative and on how to fill your coach. It is the only on attractions and events in their area. entertaining. In West Virginia, Rick company endorsed by the Civil War For groups whose interest is piqued Garland does a great Gen. J.E.B. Stuart Trails in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryby events of historical significance, a as a step-on guide. In Gainesville, Ga., land, North Carolina, West Virginia multi-day Civil War experience is cerJoe Whitaker does group tours to sites and Kentucky. tainly a worthy product. The challenge associated with Gen. James Longstreet. “We’ll do so much more than simply for tour operators is developing and reThe Ben Lomond House in Manassas, take you to a museum or battlefield,” fining a tour that has not been a part of Va., a Confederate hospital during the said Cathy Strite, president of Civil War Tours. “Groups want to participate in the experience.” Personal visits from period characters, special dinners at museums and sites, and guides with a deep knowledge all contribute to a successful tour. Planning for the 150th anniversary commemoration began in early 2009. Many exhibits and events are taking place as you read this article. Now is the time to provide your clients with the American Civil War experience. LGT 28 April 2011

First Battle of Manassas, will provide doctors and nurses to share their experiences. Joseph McGill of the Charleston, S.C. office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has slept in numerous slave quarters to bring to light the plight of African-Americans prior to the Civil War. His story is fascinating. Virtually every Southern state is rich with sites that mark both large and small battles and trails filled with mu-

LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: south ❖

dave bodle

New Reasons to Travel South Consider all the new possibilities for enhancing your tours in the Southern states

Check out Atlanta’s World of Coca-Cola, the reborn Gaylord Opryland and Myrtle Beach’s SkyWheel and Pirates Voyage.

rom Ferris wheels high above and coal mines down below to history, art, culture and of course Elvis and Dolly, there’s no place like the South. With so many things to see and do in the 11 Travel South states, you’ll probably need to extend your group’s stay. State by state, here are just a few fresh options for 2011: ALABAMA For the eighth time Alabama Tourism has introduced a themed campaign that covers the entire year. No campaign could be more appropriate LeisureGroupTravel.com

than the one that celebrates Year of Alabama Music. A brochure entitled “100 Places to Hear Live Music in Alabama,” a website dedicated to all things music, contests and events highlight what’s shaping up to be a memorable 2011. More than 200 live music venues and 17 attractions are listed in the “100 Places” brochure. Log on to yearofalabamamusic.com for the venues that welcome groups. Plan your tour around attractions like the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Dothan’s Music Murals, Alabama Fan Club

and Museum, Hank Williams Museum and Nat King Cole’s Home. Alabama Tourism director Lee Sentell said few things bring out the passion, interest and devotion in people like music. “Music provides a strong emotional experience for most. Alabama is excited to showcase our variety of music, musical events and destinations.” ARKANSAS The Clinton Presidential Center and Library in Little Rock will host a Smithsonian traveling exhibition showApril 2011 29

Garvan Woodland Gardens, Hot Springs

New penguin exhibit at Little Rock Zoo

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Eureka Springs

Safari by school bus. Take a trip to the wild side â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from exciting zoological exhibits to wildlife refuges and magical botanical gardens. Find out more by visiting our website or calling the tollfree number for itinerary ideas. Get more information at

ArkansasGroupTravel.com or by calling 1-800-872-1259

See video on phone with QR reader.

52 weeks in the year.

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on location: south ❖ casing Elvis Presley on the threshhold of stardom, Elvis at 21, June 4-Aug. 21, 2011. While in town catch the new African penguins exhibit at the Little Rock Zoo. View the penguins from above and below the water. Kids have a special crawl-through tunnel for an upclose view. A visit to the state’s first legal distiller, Rock Town Distillery, may loosen up your group just enough to take the new Haunted Tours of Little Rock excursion. In the Delta area at Jonesboro look for the new $1.9-million, 20,000square-foot Plantation Park Music Theater. The venue holds 1,200 with another 500-seat balcony addition planned. Country, gospel and bluegrass music are featured every Saturday evening. In the Northwest section of the state

the Osage Creek Performing Arts Center plans to open in summer 2011. The 16,000-capacity music venue will host five to seven major concerts and festivals/events in season. Expected to open this spring is the renovated Walmart Visitor Center in Bentonville. The approximate 20 percent square footage increase will include a new 32-seat theater, new artifacts, touch tables and the Spark Shop and Cafe. GEORGIA In Atlanta, The World of CocaCola will be adding 3,525 square feet of exhibit space. The expansion will allow more items to be displayed and create a plaza for private functions and events. In cooperation with AT&T the Georgia Aquarium will be adding a

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major dolphin exhibit. Opening in early April, Dolphin Tales will be the largest expansion for the world’s largest aquarium. The new addition will include a viewing gallery, 25-foot-long underwater viewing window, interactive displays and a live theatrical show with dolphins and actors. KENTUCKY For many years coal fueled homes and businesses in this nation, and in Eastern Kentucky coal was king. In Lynch, visitors to Portal 31, an old mine recently opened as an attraction, can experience a day in the life of a fictional coal miner as they ride a rail car into the underground chambers where immigrants from Italy and the British Isles mined 130 tons of coal. Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, makers of “the world’s finest bourbon,” has opened a new section of its visitor center. Just south of Louisville, this state-of-the-art facility highlights the company’s history and offers a tasting of the top-selling spirit. The multi-million-dollar “Visitors Experience” includes new displays of photos and historical documents and a distillery tour. The center’s three-year renovation project will be completed in 2012. MEGA Cavern is Louisville’s newest tourist adventure. Tram tours highlight the history and splendor of the natural cave, a constant 60 degrees. The cavern’s “Lights Under Louisville” holiday display placed ninth in Best Christmas Light Shows compiled by the website America’s Best & Top 10. Positioned as “8 Blocks of Villany,” the Newport Gangster Tour shares the seedy side of what was at one time called “Sin City.” Time Magazine noted its “gaudy brand of gambling and prostitution,” and

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Bobby Kennedy in his run for president promised “he’d clean that place up” if he won. Tales of the crime figures and movie stars who made their way to this notorious destination make an entertaining history lesson. Private tours are available year round. LOUISIANA Considered to be the definitive hurricane exhibition, Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond is a 6,700square-foot interactive multimedia exhibition at the Louisiana State Museum in New Orleans. To aid visitors in understanding Katrina’s impact on Louisiana, the Gulf Coast and the nation, the exhibition combines contemporary accounts, historical contexts, immersive environments and in-depth scientific exploration. St. Landry Parish in South-Central Louisiana has a new, state-of-the-art

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222 5th A Ave. ve. South s Downtown Nashville, TN Countryy Music Hall of FFame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, oundation, Inc., a section 501(c)(3) 01(c)(3) non-profit educational organization chartered c by the state of Tennessee ennessee in 1964. 1

34 April 2011

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on location: south ❖ visitors center. It is one of the first centers in the South to focus on sustainability and green construction. Building materials salvaged during construction will be used by local artists to create art to be exhibited in the center. Also in St. Landry Parish, the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail will open this fall. Groups with a taste for the outdoors will see lush native plants and wildlife along the way. MISSISSIPPI Mississippi will honor the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders and Freedom Summer 1961, a pivotal part of the civil rights movement. Official activities begin May 22. More than 125 original Freedom Riders are slated to participate. Two of the state’s most famous native sons, bluesman Robert Johnson and playwright Tennessee Williams,

The new Mint Museum Uptown has brightened Charlotte’s cultural scene.

will observe centennial birthdays this year. Throughout the state and primarily in the Mississippi Delta region, Johnson’s May 8 birthday will be celebrated. Clarksdale will host the annual Mississippi Delta Tennessee Williams Festival Oct. 14-15.

NORTH CAROLINA Charlotte will be welcoming the long overdue arrival of US Airways Flight 1549, the plane that made the “miracle” landing on New York’s Hudson River. The famous aircraft will find a home at the Carolinas Aviation Museum.

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Where the GP S Where iss always set to fun. 38 April 2011

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In Wilmington the Riverfront Convention Center has opened and is within walking distance of hotels, restaurants and shopping. The center is located across the river from the Battleship North Carolina. Commissioned in 1941, she took part in every Pacific naval offensive, earning 15 battle stars. The memorial to WWII veterans will celebrate her golden anniversary with year-long activities. Art is a common thread in three major North Carolina cities. In Raleigh, N.C. Museum of Art’s East Building has reopened with American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell. The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts has debuted in Winston-Salem, featuring visual art, music, theater, film and dance. Charlotte’s new Mint Museum Uptown brings the Mint Museum of Art and Mint Museum of Craft + Design under one roof, doubling the permanent collection. The Charlotte institution celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. SOUTH CAROLINA In Myrtle Beach a new Ferris wheel will rise 18 stories above the new boardwalk. Starting in May, riders on SkyWheel Myrtle Beach will enjoy great views from enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas. Legends In Concert has moved to Broadway at the Beach adjacent to Planet Hollywood. A brand new show, Stars in Concert at Celebration Music Theatre, now occupies the former Legends building in Surfside Beach. WonderWorks will make its South Carolina debut this spring at Broadway at the Beach. After 19 years country music star Dolly Parton is going pirate. Completely renovating the Dixie Stampede, she opens her new Pirates Voyage dinner show this spring. The South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston opens its new 4-D Theatre this year, allowing visitors to get closer to the wind, waves and water. Magnolia Plantation has preserved LeisureGroupTravel.com

and restored four original slave cabins, each reflecting a different period of African experience on the plantation. Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens has opened a new exhibit telling the African-American story through a range of audio-visual presentations. A new Mast General Store is coming to the heart of downtown Columbia, joining a vibrant gallery and music scene in South Carolina’s capital. The city’s Nickelodeon independent movie theater has moved into

the old Fox Theatre. South of the Border in Dillon has opened a new Reptile Lagoon, billed as the “largest indoor reptile exhibit in the United States.” The City of Gaffney has a new visitor center and art gallery in the circa-1913 former post office building. In Greenwood the Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site is now open and shares the story of a son of a sharecropper who went on to become the longtime president of Morehouse College in Atlanta.

A friendly city that’ll really get your wheels turning. In Norfolk, there’s always something to celebrate. With hundreds of waterfront festivals, the fun never stops. To plan your itinerary, visit us online or contact Melissa Hopper, Associate Director of Tour & Travel.

v isitnorfolktoday.c om | 1-800-368-3097

on location: south ❖ TENNESSEE In Memphis this year, Elvis Presley’s Graceland unveils The Roots of Elvis, highlighting Elvis’ early years and the influences that shaped him, and Elvis in the News, which explores how Elvis challenged the boundaries of expression. One of Tennessee’s oldest homes, the Nell House, has been relocated and restored at Casey Jones Village in Jackson. Citizens of Trenton gathered on

Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland gleams anew after renovations prompted by damage from last year’s flood.

the roof to watch the Civil War battle of Trenton unfold. Groups are still welcome for special events and tours. Also opening this year is the 100-year-old, fully restored Brown’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church. The newly restored and renovated Gaylord Opryland reopened only 195 40 April 2011

days after Nashville’s May 2010 flood. New restaurants and redesigned lobbies, guest rooms and suites await travelers. The show must go on and in true fashion the Grand Ole Opry never missed a performance during its restoration. Completion will be in time to re-enter the Opry House for the show’s 85th birthday celebration in October. In White Creek the Fontanel Mansion & Farm, former home of Barbara Mandrell, is now open. Following the receipt of the 2010 Applause Award, the most prestigious award in the theme park industry, Dollywood will debut the $5.5-million Barnstormer ride in 2011. The recently opened Ole Smokey Distillery offers free tours and moonshine for sale. One of the most significant archaeological sites east of the Mississippi River, Gray Fossil Site and Museum in Johnson City, is undergoing a $2-million expansion. The already interactive museum will feature two outdoor classrooms, a wet lab and cafe in its 7,000-square-foot addition. Throughout 2011 the Tennessee Valley Railroad in Chattanooga will be offering special events and allday excursions celebrating its 50th anniversary. VIRGINIA In the western region of the state, Shenandoah National Park and its main artery, Skyline Drive, will be celebrating their 75th anniversary. Speaking of anniversaries, the Citie of Henricus, just south of Richmond, will be celebrating its 400th. Established in 1611, Henricus was the second successful English settlement in the New World. Special programs will be presented throughout 2011.

In Williamsburg, Busch Gardens will be adding its tallest ride yet. Mach Tower will lift up to 30 riders 246 feet, rotate the platform 360 degrees and then drop at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour. With almost 180 wineries already, Virginia will add three more in 2011. Glass House Winery, a boutique winery, is part of the popular Monticello Wine Trail. Granite Heights Vineyard (near Warrenton) will produce jams and honey along with wine. Saude Creek Winery near Williamsburg sits on the site of a colonial tavern. George Washington is said to have quenched his thirst there. We’re not sure if he spent the night. WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia invites you to bring your appetite in 2011. After dinner, plan to visit Morgantown’s new event center and home to the West Virginia Public Theatre. Durbin & Greenbrier Railroad has added a gourmet dinner service aboard the Mountain Explorer Dinner Train. Trips depart Elkin for a scenic fivehour adventure on selected dates from June through October. Tamarack (The Best of West Virginia) has added culinary demonstrations from the worldrenowned chefs from The Greenbrier. For more than 100 years The Blennerhassett, a member of Historic Hotels of America, has been welcoming guests to its Parkersburg front door. Now the grand hotel is extending the delights of its culinary school to group travelers. The Culinary School at The Blennerhassett Hotel provides numerous options for all skill levels. With so many places to explore and new things to do, no wonder the South is such a premier destination for groups. For information on each of the 11 Travel South states, go to travelsouth.com. LGT LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: midwest ❖ dyllic Main Street communities filled with craft and gift shops....heaping helpings of fried chicken and freshbaked bread....Clip-clopping horse buggies clattering down country roads where Amish farm families have lived the simple life for generations. Northern Indiana’s Amish Country seems to be custom-made for group tours, offering hearty meals, fun shopping and loads of nostalgia. But since 2008 the patchwork of small towns has been stitching together another crowdpleaser—the Quilt Gardens Tour. Designated an American Bus Association Top 100 Event for the third year in a row, the driving tour is one of a kind. Though the Quilt Gardens Tour spotlights a wide variety of gardens, it’s hardly your garden variety tour. There’s nothing like it anywhere else. From Memorial Day to Oct. 1, seven communities will be showing off 18 all new gardens patterned after Amish and contemporary quilt designs. The patchwork quilt, perhaps more than anything else, symbolizes Amish craftsmanship. In addition to large gardens featuring a total of 100,000-plus blooms, the tour features 18 super-sized quilt murals at 12 locations, many at garden sites. It follows Elkhart County’s 90-mile, selfguided Heritage Trail Driving Tour. “The Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail is a boon for tour operators looking to reach new audiences—people who may never have considered taking a group tour, people who share a common interest,” said Sonya Nash, CTP, travel trade manager of the Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It’s not the cookie cutter group experience. It’s a

randy mink

Quilts in

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE See Randy Mink’s article on four of Indiana Amish Country’s best heritage attractions. Log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=22875.

42 April 2011

Color-splashed displays of floral artistry blanket Northern Indiana’s Amish Country The quilt garden is a special treat for shoppers at the Old Bag Factory in Goshen (above), a former factory filled with antique, art and craft shops.

platform for like-minded people to come together and have a terrific time pursuing their passion for hobbies such as gardening, quilting or photography. And just as the gardens are all different, the Quilt Gardens experience allows each tour to be different from the rest, tailored to meet special wants.” The Quilt Gardens Tour has sparked tourism in this part of Indiana, a rural area only two hours east of Chicago and not far from the Michigan border. Karleen Richter, of Elkhart-based Down the Road Tours, says the flower displays have brought buses into communities like Wakarusa, where groups not only see the quilt garden and mural but also visit the old-fashioned dime and hardware stores. Now in its fourth year, the Quilt Gardens Tour continues to blossom as communities recognize its pulling power.

Hand-painted outdoor murals are part of the Quilt Gardens Tour.

Richter said, “More people are getting on the bandwagon—they know it’s bringing people in the door.” Richter’s Down the Road Tours is a receptive operator that offers tours and step-on service. Tour members get out LeisureGroupTravel.com

and walk to the gardens or just admire them from the bus. In order for travelers to view the patterns, gardens must be planted on a slant, not flat. These official quilt gardens must meet other standards set by a committee, which approves all designs. Gardens have to be a minimum size, accessible to the public and be maintained all season.

who developed a thornless rose, boasts structures and plantings from the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. In Shipshewana, Menno-Hof, a barn-like museum that tells the story of the Amish and Mennonites, features a quilt garden and mural. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays from May through October, tour groups can explore the

The flowers, all annuals that start from seed at local nurseries, range from petunias and zinnias to marigolds and dahlias; 80 percent of the space must be live plant material. Volunteers are responsible for planting and upkeep. Admission to all gardens is free. Richter said the gardens “are looking really pretty by the end of June,” with the peak period late July and early August. Her guides tell the story of each garden’s design and who planted it. A sign at the garden has the same information. Most of the gardens are located at points of tourist interest, such as Amish Acres in Nappanee, an historic Amish farmstead with exhibits, a theater, shops and a restaurant. Another is in Middlebury at Das Dutchman Essenhaus dining/shopping/lodging complex, where The Quilt Shop offers hands-on classes for tour groups. Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Indiana’s largest family-style restaurant, serves all-you-can-eat, Amish-style feasts and has a must-visit bakery. Krider Garden in Middlebury, started by a man

Shipshewana Flea Market, the Midwest’s largest flea market. At the Old Bag Factory in Goshen, a bag factory turned artisan shopping mecca, groups visit the log cabin shop of Quilt Designs, where Dave and Shirley Shenk can give a talk on the art of quilting. Shirley designs the adjacent quilt garden and mural. The new “Whirlwind Flag” quilt garden at the Elkhart County Courthouse in downtown Goshen gives

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Tour members admire the quilt garden in downtown Elkhart’s Central Park.

groups a chance to browse along Main Street and pop into shops and cafes. Across from the courthouse, a red-andwhite-striped awning marks the Olympia Soda Shop, an old-fashioned soda fountain complete with counter and straight-backed wooden booths. Attractions with quilt gardens in the city of Elkhart include Ruthmere, a 1910 mansion, and Wellfleet Botanic Gardens, a landscaped city park on the site of a former water treatment plant. Linton’s Enchanted Gardens is a garden shop with a quilt garden and themed display gardens. Classes in landscaping, garden care and flower arranging are available for groups. In Bristol groups can see the new “Flower Basket” quilt garden at the Elkhart County Historical Museum, then tour the museum, have a catered box lunch, and enjoy the “Stitches of Devotion” hands-on quilt program and a presentation by professional storytellers. The Elkhart County CVB has suggested quilt- and garden-themed itineraries for groups. The three-night “Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail” features gardens and murals, shopping stops, meetings with quilt experts, quilting and pretzel-making lessons, a theater performance and dinner with a cooking class on an Amish farm. Offering a palette of colors and palate-pleasing meals, Northern Indiana’s Amish Country is as cozy and comforting as snuggling under a country quilt. For tour planners, bringing groups there can easily become a pattern. For information, contact the Elkhart County CVB, 800-262-8161, quiltgardenstour.com or amishcountrytours.org. Email: sonya@amishcountry.org. LGT Obtain Indiana visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info April 2011 43

on location: midwest â?&#x2013;

emily k. weber

M INNESOTA THEATER SAMPLER

In addition to natural splendor, the state offers groups a thriving arts scene

The cast of Steve Martinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Picasso at the Lapin Agile makes a toast at the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, Minnesota.

hen visiting Minnesota, groups have the opportunity to experience some of the finest singing, dance and theater productions in the country. Minneapolis-Saint Paul boasts more theater seats per capita than any other U.S. city outside New York. The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis is a Tony Award winner that has received recognition for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The nationally acclaimed repertory theater made

44 April 2011

its debut in 1963. In 2006 a new stateof-the-art building was constructed along the Mississippi River housing three different theaters with cumulative seating for 1,999 guests. Unique features include a thrust stage, a blackbox studio and a 178-foot cantilevered bridge. Private backstage tours are available for groups of 15 people or more. Tours with an architecture focus can be booked. Live performances this season include Heaven, Arms and the Man, Arsenic and Old Lace, In the Red

and Brown Water, How Do They Do That: God and Orla Fallon. (612-3772224, guthrietheater.org). The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul opened in 1985 after serving purely as an opera house for five years. Today it offers a wide array of events. Spring 2011 shows include the percussive dance extravaganza Stomp and a performance by the Beijing Modern Dance Company. (651-224-4222, ordway.org). The Orpheum Theatre in MinLeisureGroupTravel.com

The Guthrie Theater is one of Minneapolisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cultural gems.

neapolis, dating from 1921, was originally a vaudeville house called the Hennepin. Some of the first performers included the Marx Brothers, who drew more than 70,000 guests. In 1927 the Orpheum was transformed into a cinema house and in 1959 it began to bring in Broadway touring productions. The 2,600-seat theater underwent extensive renovations in 1993 and is recognized for its ornate design. The interior, done in deep Victorian colors, is highlighted by a 2,000pound chandelier made from brass and Italian crystal. 2011 productions include Madagascar Live!, Jersey Boys, Wicked, Rock of Ages, Billy Elliot and Hair. (612-339-7007, hennepintheatretrust.org). The State Theatre in Minneapolis was considered the most technologically advanced theater in the United States when it opened in 1921. Until 1973, the theater was primarily used as a movie house and in 1989 it was purchased by

TO E X P LO R E

Create unforgettable Minnesota experiences! Walk across the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Gaze out over shimmering Lake Superior. Drive, hike or bike on numerous trails along lush river bluffs, native prairies, and 20+ Scenic Byways. Pick a festival for music, food, and fun! Discover professional theaters, star-studded concerts, art galleries and museums. For itinerary ideas visit exploreminnesota.com, traveltrade.exploreminnesota.com or call 1-888-VISIT-MN (1-888-847-4866). THEREâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;S MORE TO EXPLORE IN MINNESOTA

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April 2011 45

on location: midwest ❖ the Minneapolis Community Development Agency, which sparked a twoyear renovation. The State Theatre hosts Broadway productions such as Avenue Q and Sweeney Todd. (612-3397007, hennepintheatretrust.org). Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in Chanhassen, a Twin Cities suburb, is a three-theater venue that allows people to take part in a quality dining experience while enjoying popular mainstream productions. It is the largest professional dinner theater in the nation and the largest privately owned restaurant in Minnesota. More than 200 plays have been produced and shown in front of more than 10 mil-

lion guests since 1968. 2011 shows include Jesus Christ Superstar, I Do! I Do! and Hairspray. (952-934-1525 or 800362-3515, chanhassentheatres.com). Commonweal Theatre Company in Lanesboro hosts six productions from April until December that range from classic to contemporary and newly developed productions. Because of the community’s significant Scandinavian population, Commonweal consciously produces works by Henrik Ibsen, a popular 19th century Norwegian playwright. Spring 2011 performances include An Enemy of the People and Sylvia with summer performances including Little Shop of Horrors and To Kill a Mockingbird. (800-657-7025, commonwealtheatre.org).

Obtain Minnesota visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

Great River Shakespeare Festival at Winona State University will take place from June 22 through July 31, 2011 and showcase Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as well as Henry IV, Part 1 and an American musical favorite, The Fantastics. (507-4747900, grsf.org). Whether your groups are headed to the Twin Cities or beyond, they’ll find plenty of reasons to applaud the entertainment included in their itinerary. LGT

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE For more Minnesota theater options, see the article at http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=22871. Also see the Minnesota Gardens feature at http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=22980

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on location: midwest ❖

n Jan. 29, Kansas celebrated 150 years of statehood. It was that day in 1861 when Kansas entered the Union as the 34th state. By this time the territory had already been through the trials and tribulations of Bleeding Kansas, a course of violent incidents involving anti-slavery activists and pro-slavery advocates. At issue was whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state; the violence foreshadowed the Civil War. Throughout 2011 Kansas will hold a myriad of sesquicentennial events to honor its statehood. In addition, the Sunflower State will remember its struggles and triumphs during the Civil War because 2011 also is the sesquicentennial of the start of the four-year conflict that ripped apart a nation. Following is just a sampling of historical sites and events that may enhance group itineraries: Civil War on the Western Frontier, Lawrence, Aug. 12-21: Every year Lawrence hosts Civil War on the Western Frontier, a series of events held around the anniversary of Quantrill’s Raid. On Aug. 21, 1863, as the conflict over slavery continued, Confederate guerrilla William Quantrill and his raiders attacked Lawrence, killing hundreds and destroying the city. After the raid, Lawrence residents came together to bury their dead and rebuild the city. This year Lawrence will again commemorate its Civil War history through presentations, lectures and exhibits throughout Lawrence and Douglas County. The Lawrence Visitor Center presents “Lawrence: Free State Fortress,” a 25-minute docudrama about Lawrence’s part in Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War. (785-865-4499, visitlawrence.com)

nancy wolens

Kansas

Looks Back

Civil War days in Kansas come alive during reenactments at Fort Scott. 48 April 2011

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Obtain Kansas visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

John Brown Museum, Osawatomie: At the John Brown Museum visitors can tour the cabin of Rev. Samuel Adair and his wife Florella, half-sister of abolitionist John Brown. The cabin was a station on the Underground Railroad as well as John Brown’s headquarters. It’s furnished with Adair family belongings and has an assortment of Civil War weapons and items that tell the story of pioneer life and the 1856 Battle of Osawatomie. The cabin survived the battle, one of the largest battles in a series of events known as Bleeding Kansas. The battle matched John Brown and his army against John Reid’s pro-slavery militia. On Sept. 1718 the museum will host the Freedom Festival, a historical event with firstperson narratives, a reenactment of the Battle of Osawatomie, period craft demonstrations, modern military displays and live music. (913-755-4384, kshs.org/portal_john_brown) Black Jack Battlefield Park, Wellsville: On June 2, 1856 anti-slavery activist John Brown led his mercenaries to attack a pro-slavery militia along the Santa Fe Trail in the Kansas Territory. This combat is known as the

Fort Scott National Historic Site preserves frontier military history.

Battle of Black Jack. Black Jack Battlefield Park offers tours that examine the territory bordering the battlefield as well as the function of the Santa Fe Trail. In honor of Kansas’ 150 years of statehood the park will stage a battle reenactment on June 2-4. (785-883-2106, blackjackbattlefield.org) Kansas Museum of History, Topeka: One of the main exhibits focuses on the Civil War. Artifacts include John Brown’s pike, the actual knife-like weapon John Brown used in his fight against slavery, and the original sword and equipment from James Gillpatrick Blunt, free-state advocate and brigadier general in the Civil War. In the special exhibits gallery this year, the 150 Things I Love About Kansas will feature 150 objects, images and documents that salute the state’s rich history over the past century and a half. (785-272-8681, kshs.org/portal_museum) Constitution Hall, Lecompton:

Visitors will be enlightened about the political struggles Kansas had in the 1850s. One of the more momentous occasions occurred in 1857 when the Lecompton Constitutional Government assembled in a second floor room and drafted a pro-slavery constitution as free-state and anti-slavery activists rallied outside the building. Guests can see the Lecompton Constitution and peruse various exhibits on the Kansas territorial government as well as free-state and pro-slavery factions. (785-887-6520, kshs.org/portal_constitution_hall) Mine Creek Battlefield, Pleasanton: On Oct. 25, 1864, about 2,800 Union troops invaded and overthrew about 8,000 Confederates along the banks of Mine Creek. This was one of the largest artillery battles in the Civil War. Visitors can walk the 2.6-mile trail through the battlefield and then peruse exhibits. (913-352-8899, kshs.org/portal_mine_creek) Fort Scott National Historic Site, Fort Scott: Established by the U.S. Army from 1842-1853, Fort Scott is yet another attraction where visitors are immersed in the history of Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War. The site hosts living history presentations and reenactments of military training activities. (620-223-0310, nps.gov/fosc) LGT

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Civil War itineraries in Kansas might include Black Jack Battlefield Park. LeisureGroupTravel.com

Read Nancy Wolens’ article on Kansas’ Frontier Military Scenic Byway. Log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=22834.

April 2011 49

Planners organizing group tours will find many new itinerary brighteners in the region

Midwest on our radar

Take a look at what’s happening in the Midwest: ILLINOIS The Field Museum in Chicago presents Whales: Giants of the Deep, an exhibition running from May 20, 2011, through Jan. 16, 2012. It will feature fully articulated whale skeletons, hands-on activities, videos, and the latest findings in whale biology and evolution. Organized by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the exhibition will show how whales have influenced the indigenous peoples of the South Pacific. On display will be a pataka taonga (storehouse of treasures) carved with whale-like images and filled with adornments and weapons made of whale bone and teeth from places such as New Zealand and Fiji. (888-343-5385, fieldmuseum.org) By fall of 2012, “The Block,” a

50 April 2011

Field Museum visitors will see a replica of a blue whale’s heart.

downtown Peoria construction site once occupied by a Sears store, will be a parklike cultural campus anchored by the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar Experience. The latter attraction

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will present a high-tech, interactive look at the past, present and future of Peoriabased Caterpillar, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. The Peoria Riverfront Museum will feature regional history and art exhibits, the Illinois River Encounter gallery, a 3-D IMAX theater and planetarium. A partner in the project is Peoria’s Lakeview Museum, the largest private museum in Illinois outside of Chicago and one of fewer than 50 U.S. museums specializing in both the arts and sciences. Other partners include the African American Hall of Fame Museum and Illinois High School Association, which is developing a center that will explore student and team achievements around the state. (buildtheblock.org, peoria.org)

prison at night. Before it closed, MSP, which opened in 1836, was the oldest continually operating penitentiary west of the Mississippi. It housed inmates such as heavyweight champion Sonny Liston, who learned to box during his time in the big house, notorious gangster “Pretty Boy” Floyd and James Earl Ray. Tours include the gas chamber where 40 men and women were executed, the buried cells, several housing units and the upper yard. In 1967 the

Missouri State Penitentiary was named the “bloodiest 47 acres in America” by Time magazine because of the high number of serious assaults on the grounds between 1963-1964. (866998-6998, missouripentours.com) OHIO The first phase of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, the first full-service casino in Ohio, will open in early 2012 in the historic Higbee department store build-

KANSAS The booming Village West area in Kansas City, Kan. will welcome its first casino in early 2012. A joint venture between Kansas Speedway and Penn National Gaming, the initial phase of the new Hollywood Casino Kansas Speedway at Turn 2 will include a 100,000-square-foot gaming floor with 2,300 slot machines and 86 table games. Additional phases include a 300-room hotel, a spa, convention center and an entertainment district. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will be located at the intersection of I-435 and I-70, next to Legends, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Cabela’s. (hollywoodcasinokansas.com) MISSOURI The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau is expanding the tour program at Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) to include twilight, specialty history, photography and ghost tours, in addition to the two-hour historic tour and a four-hour in-depth tour. Participants on twilight tours will be given a lantern in order to navigate the LeisureGroupTravel.com

April 2011 51

on our radar: midwest ❖ 30 MINUTES NORTH OF CHICAGO YOU’LL BE 150 YEARS BACK IN TIME.

Civil War Days at The Grove

Candle Light Civil War Camp Tours

JULY 23 & 24, 2011

JULY 2011

Step back and re-live scenes from the War between the States at this annual historical re-enactment. Scenes and activities may include: • Authentic Union and Confederate encampments • Ladies’ Bath House • Blue vs. Gray skirmishes at 2 p.m. each day • Visit the field hospital • Refreshments at the Camp KitchenShop at the Suttler’s for Civil War era articles • Meet President Lincoln, General Grant and Jefferson Davis

Experience first hand what life was like in a Civil War camp as our Civil War re-enactors take you on a candle light tour of the Confederate and Union Camps during our Civil War Living History Days.

Pre-registration required. The Grove National Historic Landmark 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview, IL 60025 (847) 299-6096

Overnight Accommodations at the Wyndham Glenview Suites (847) 803-9800 special rate $89

www.visitchicagonorthshore.com

52 April 2011

ing on Public Square at Tower City Center, adjacent to the city’s entertainment district. The $350-million temporary casino precedes a $600-million permanent casino, expected to be completed in 2013. The Phase II casino will overlook the Cuyahoga River. The temporary casino, occupying four floors, will feature about 2,100 slot machines, 65 table games and a World Series of Poker room, plus a food court, buffet restaurant and bar with entertainment. Casinos in Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus are expected to open later in 2012. Ohio voters in 2009 approved a constitutional amendment authorizing casinos in the state’s four largest cities. (horsehoe.com) The first phase of the Greater Cleveland Aquarium will open this fall in the historic Powerhouse on the west bank of the Flats in downtown Cleveland. It will feature an 800,000gallon main tank with a 250-foot-long

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Providing an evocative setting for visitors, the traveling exhibition will combine film footage of the garden and music with such features as water, wind and birdsong. The Milwaukee Museum of Art’s “Summer of China” celebration will include additional exhibitions of Chinese art. (414-224-3842, mam.org) The Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee is going deep into its archives this summer to present Collection X: Weird Wild Wonders of

the Harley-Davidson Museum, which will run June 11 through Aug. 21. The exhibit will showcase an array of treasures from the H-D archives, from secret prototypes and fantastic folk-art creations to “what were they thinking?” contraptions. Visitors will see hundreds of items that include one-of-a-kind vehicles, clothing, artwork, photos, and some of the rarest and weirdest of collectibles. (877-436-8738, h-dmuseum.com)

The Milwaukee Art Museum features rare Chinese treasures this summer.

viewing tunnel, plus 10 exhibition areas, including one exhibit inside a 60-foot-high chimney. The $33-million attraction will be the first aquarium development in the U.S. by New Zealand’s Marinescape, the world’s leading developer of walk-through aquariums. Design work for a $40million second phase has begun and includes a series of glass atriums along the Cuyahoga River with exhibits on rivers and oceans of the world. (greaterclevelandaquarium.com) WISCONSIN The Milwaukee Museum of Art this summer will present the exhibition The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, a collection of more than 90 artifacts from the Qianlong Garden in Beijing. It begins June 11 and runs through Sept. 11. The Qianlong Garden, a walled, two-acre jewel in the immense Forbidden City complex, was built in the 18th century as part of the Qianlong Emperor’s 12-acre retreat. Most of the murals, wall coverings, paintings, furniture, jades, cloisonné and other objects—to be on display at only three museums worldwide—have never been seen by the public. When they return to Beijing, they not likely will leave the country again. LeisureGroupTravel.com

IENCE. ER P EX D ZE SI ER P SU P. U O R G ZE SI ANY

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April 2011 53

on location: west ❖

sue arko

Brett Shoaf/Artistic Visuals

Lushly landscaped Balboa Park, in the heart of San Diego, abounds with specialty gardens and cultural attractions.

54 April 2011

for the Mid-Winter Exhibition of 1894. On four acres densely packed with water features, groups experience an intense awakening of the senses with the sounds

he warm Mediterranean climate, lingering fog and maritime breezes are perfect for plant growth from all around the world. Tour groups searching for outdoor garden experiences, from native to creative, will find what they are looking for in California. Beginning in the northern part of the state, San Francisco is the home of Golden Gate Park, encompassing more than 1,000 acres. It is larger than New York City’s Central Park and borders the Pacific Ocean. Like Central Park, it is an expansive, approachable and welcome escape from the traffic and congestion of the city. Among park attractions, the Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco Botanical Garden and Conservatory of Flowers are favorites of tour groups. The Japanese Tea Garden, the oldest public Japanese gardens in California, was created by Baron Makoto Hagiwara

In early spring, wisteria frames The Huntington’s Japanese Garden.

of an azalea-covered waterfall, sights of decorative lanterns and statues, and sweet smell of wisteria and other fragrant blooms. A kaleidoscope of colors and scents welcomes visitors to the San Francisco Botanical Garden (formerly known as Strybing Arboretum). Displaying more than 7,500 varieties of flora from around the world, the 55-acre garden is divided into four sections. The Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park is the oldest remaining municipal wooden conservatory in the United States. It features exoticlooking blooms, a tropical area, a water lily garden and a rotating collection of potted plants. The distinctive Victorian architecture and colorful history have earned the conservatory a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, located in the LeisureGroupTravel.com

the Rose Garden. The Chinese Gardens guided tour visits the traditional Suzhou-style garden featuring a 1.5acre lake, seven pavilions, a canyon waterfall and five hand-carved stone bridges set against a wooded backdrop of mature oak, pines, camellias, bamboo and blossoming plum trees. The San Diego area’s mild Mediterranean climate makes it possible to grow more different kinds of plants than almost anywhere else in the United

Pay tribute to the Bard at The Huntington’s Shakespeare Garden.

heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita in the city of Arcadia, is home to plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species. Additionally, it houses outdoor historical landmarks representative of California’s history. A narrated tram tour travels through five botanical sections: Africa, Australia, The Americas, The Asiatic and Historic Circle. Visitors travel from Madagascar Spiny Forest, a collection of succulents with twisted trunks punctuated with needles, to a soaring vista on Tallac Knoll, displaying the beauty of the arboretum’s collection of over 18,000 plants. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is an oasis of art and culture set amidst 150 acres of breathtaking gardens with 14,000 varieties of trees and plants showcased in more than a dozen principal garden areas, including Japanese, Rose, Shakespeare, Camellia, Jungle, Palm and Chinese. Like a French Impressionist painting, the gardens, lawns, arbors and pathways evoke a feeling of tranquility. It houses the largest public collection of camellias and azaleas in the world in addition to more than 1,200 varieties of roses in LeisureGroupTravel.com

States. The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, a springtime extravaganza, contain thousands of ranunculus plants covering the hillside above the Pacific shoreline, separated into ribbon-like bands of color. Guided tours explain the planting process and growing cycle and describe the variety of flowers grown. Picture paths allow groups to walk into the fields and take breathtakingly colorful photos. Favorite features include the American Flag of Flowers, a brilliant

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April 2011 55

on location: west ❖ American flag comprised of red, white and blue anemone flowers planted on the hillside, and the Sweet Pea Maze, a living maze of fragrant and colorful sweet pea blossoms. Located in the heart of San Diego, Balboa Park is renowned for the lush landscaping and lovely gardens that offer a magnificent backdrop for its cultural attractions. The park contains more than

ADVERTORIAL eight gardens, including the Alcazar Garden, award-winning rose garden, Japanese Friendship Garden, desert garden and historic Botanical Building. These are only a sampling of the numerous gardens, farms and flower shows that make for great inclusions on any group tour itinerary. Something is always blooming in California. Come and let your senses run free. LGT

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FABULOUS PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES

he Fabulous Palm Springs Follies celebrates the music, dance and comedy of the 1940s, ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, with one amazing difference: Every member of the Follies cast is from 57 to 81 years “young.” The Follies has been seen by nearly three million patrons and is presented every November through mid-May in the historic Plaza Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. Each Follies edition is entirely new and features a rotating roster of renowned guest stars and variety acts. The Follies’ 21st season opens with television and film star John Davidson (Nov. 2-Dec. 31, 2011). The heart and soul of the Follies are the 16 ladies and gentlemen of the chorus, who have spent their entire careers performing in television, film, Las Vegas showrooms and upon the Broadway stage. They have now returned to the thing they enjoy most: singing and dancing for Follies audiences. Riff Markowitz, with his blend of cutting-edge satire and Old World savoir faire, is your personal guide through FolliesLand.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: west ❖ estled among natural monuments, vineyards and historic Gold Rush landmarks, Mariposa County is more than just California’s gateway to Yosemite National Park. Alive with possibilities for group travelers, it’s a worldclass destination for all seasons, with picture-postcard scenery, friendly locals, charming foothill communities and, of course, great outdoor recreation. Spring comes early in Mariposa County and is an ideal time for group trips. There is nothing quite like watching Yosemite’s winter wonderland trans-

form into the sights and sounds of spring. With three of the tallest waterfalls in North America and wildflowers unlike any others, Mariposa County beckons groups to witness the springtime splendor. Besides unmatchable scenery, the area offers endless activities, from hiking, golfing and rafting to fishing, cycling and horseback riding. To see what Mariposa County has to offer, you really need a week to 10 days to take it all in. But groups can see and

do a lot on a three-day/two-night spring itinerary that begins at lunchtime in historic downtown Mariposa, where the Butterfly Cafe is highly recommended. (Mariposa, named for the Spanish word for butterfly, is gearing up for the annual Mariposa Butterfly Festival April 29May 1.) After lunch, head over to must-see museums like the California State Mining and Mineral Museum, the Gold Rush History Center, Mariposa County Historical Courthouse and the Old Jail House. (This is a good time

classic

CaliforniA Mariposa County, home of Yosemite, abounds with group-friendly delights in the heart of the Golden State Rafting on the Merced River is popular with groups. There are many outfitters to choose from.

All Photos Courtesy of DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.

LeisureGroupTravel.com

April 2011 57

A stop at Tunnel View captures the majesty of Yosemite National Park.

on location: west ❖ for the driver to drop luggage at your hotel.) Once you’ve explored the rich history of Mariposa, a perfect next stop is Casto Oaks Fine Wine & Art, where you can enjoy beautiful artwork while sampling wines. Before dinner, work in some time for shopping in downtown’s antique shops, art galleries and boutiques. Restaurants offer everything from casual fare to fine dining with wine pairing from a local winery. By day two, it’s time for the wonders of Yosemite National Park. Groups enjoy the drive along scenic Highway 140, “The All Season Motorcoach Highway,” that follows the Merced River, known for its Class 3 and 4 whitewater rafting

in late spring and summer. You’ll soon arrive at the Yosemite Valley floor. As winter recedes, the park comes to life in dramatic fashion. Roaring waterfalls are at their peak. After taking a two-hour narrated valley tour, enjoy a buffet lunch served at the Garden Terrace at Yosemite Lodge. After lunch, visit the Ansel Adams Gallery, the Indian Museum, the Yosemite Cemetery, Indian Cultural Exhibit, Historical Post Office, and save time for souvenir shopping. Then check into Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, a splendid lodging choice for enjoying the full impact of the waterfalls. After breakfast at your hotel on day three, save time to shop and stroll before boarding your motorcoach and depart the Yosemite Valley on the Highway 41

Yosemite’s Wawona Golf Course is the only golf course in a national park. 58 April 2011

corridor. Stop by Inspiration Point (also known as Tunnel View) for a stunning vista. Also stop by Wawona Pioneer History Center and look for deer grazing on the only golf course in a national park. Once outside the park, stop by Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. It’s all aboard for a one-hour narrated steam train excursion over rails used for logging at the turn of the 20th century. An outdoor barbecue awaits your return to the station. The Sugar Pine Railroad is only minutes away from Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, an upscale resort perfect for group conferences, reunions, weddings and retreats. You just may want to stop there and take in a massage at the all new Ascent, the Spa at Tenaya Lodge. Groups lucky enough to spend three days immersed in the history and splendor of Yosemite and Mariposa County will come away feeling they have seen the best of California. For more information, contact the Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau at 866-425-3366; homeofyosemite.com. LGT Obtain California visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info LeisureGroupTravel.com

on location: west ❖

heather lee

f looking for a memorable place to book a family reunion, look no further than Wyoming’s dude ranches. The opportunities are endless. Featuring abundant grasslands, spectacular mountains, canyons and deserts, Wyoming’s natural beauty is pictureperfect and world-renowned. The state is home to two national parks and two national monuments that draw tourists by the millions. Yellowstone National Park is known around the world for its

hot springs, geyser activity and glacial ice forms. Grand Teton National Park boasts the jagged Teton Range Mountains with some peaks soaring over a mile and a half. Devils Tower National Monument is a stump-shaped rock formation that rises 1,280 feet. Fossil Butte National Monument features brightly colored fossil beds at the base of a bluff that rises more than 7,500 feet above sea level. Along with these noted landmarks are countless national forests and rivers

that provide settings for the dude ranches in Wyoming. “It’s all about history, hats, horses and hospitality. Experience the West in true cowboy country.” That’s the slogan for the Wyoming Dude Ranchers Association, founded in 1926. Dude ranches, also known as guest ranches, are typically family-owned and -operated. They provide tourists the opportunity to experience life in the West. Horseback riding, fishing, hiking and cattle driving

Wyoming Dude Ranch Getaways Western-style fun awaits buckaroos of all ages on family reunions in the Cowboy State Saddle up for adventure at a family-friendly Wyoming ranch retreat. Wyoming Oﬃce of Tourism

LeisureGroupTravel.com

April 2011 59

on location: west ❖ are a few of the activities available to suit every age range at a reunion. No two Wyoming dude ranches are the same. One ranch that specializes in family reunions is Medicine Bow Lodge and Guest Ranch, located 22 miles from Saratoga. Medicine Bow sits at approximately 8,500 feet in the Snowy Range of the Rocky Mountains in Medicine Bow National Forest. A newly refurbished lodge features vintage log walls, a stone fireplace and seating for as many as 30, with spaces for games and entertainment. Cabins are also available.

Medicine Bow also has events planned every night. Sunday night is game night, Tuesday dance night, Wednesday a cookout, Thursday entertainment night, Friday a rodeo and Saturday night a sunset ride. Activities for children include building with clay and access to a kiln that allows them to take their projects home. Saratoga, a 25-minute drive from the lodge, provides golf, fly fishing, museums, spas and shopping in a quaint town. (800409-5439, medbowlodge.com) Another ranch known for its children’s program is Red Rock Ranch. Located just outside Jackson Hole, the Red Rock provides an ideal atmosphere

The jagged peaks of the Teton Range enthrall guests at Lost Creek Ranch.

The wide range of activities at Medicine Bow Lodge means no one will be left out. As owner Debbie Bishop explains, “One of the wonderful amenities at our ranch is that we can cater to what our families desire during their stay with us. A typical day for family reunions would start off with a breakfast buffet in the dining room. Then they would have the choice of horseback riding, hiking, fishing, relaxing in a hammock or sitting with loved ones as they reminisce about the growing-up years.”

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Go online and see the article on the group-friendly attractions of Cheyenne, the capital of Wyoming. Log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=23107.

60 April 2011

for families. Available for groups of 28-30, the entire ranch can be booked to provide a reunion with its own private paradise. Schedules are customized for each group, with such activities as hiking, fishing, swimming and horseback riding. Guided hiking programs spotlight the scenic landscape with views of the Teton Mountain range. A conference center is available for gatherings and events. Red Rock boasts a 70% return guest ratio, with 90% of its guests being families. (307-733-6288, theredrockranch.com) The Hideout Lodge and Resort sits on 300,000 acres of land near Shell. While not offering traditional kids’ programs, the Hideout has other special-

ties and takes pride in its lodging and culinary excellence. The Hideout offers a vast array of livestock and diversity of terrain, as it is one of the biggest and oldest ranches in the area. Open year round, the Hideout offers winter activities such as riding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. Summer diversions include trap shooting, 4x4 riding, fly fishing and a local dinosaur dig site. (800-354-8637, thehideout.com) If booking a large group, try Bill Cody Ranch in northwestern Wyoming. Located 30 minutes west of Cody and 30 minutes east of Yellowstone, the ranch includes 16 cabins, a family chalet, executive log homes and a main lodge capable of handling groups of 60-70 people. Open mid-May through September, Bill Cody Ranch has 85 horses that are available for two-hour, four-hour or all-day rides. All cabins have TVs and are decorated with modern, Western furnishings. (800-6152934, billcodyranch.com) Another ranch that caters to large groups is Lost Creek Ranch Lodge and Spa. It is located between Grand Teton National Park and BridgerTeton National Forest near Jackson Hole. The ranch is capable of accommodating groups up to 55. Horseback riding, trips to Grand Teton National Park, a spa, weight room, and yoga and pilates classes are available. (307-7333435, lostcreek.com) The range of activities at Wyoming dude ranches will suit every interest at a family reunion. From horseback riding to hiking, dude ranches provide memories that will last a lifetime. Waking up every morning to the sun rising behind the mountains, groups will remember their Wyoming vacation forever. LGT Obtain Wyoming visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info LeisureGroupTravel.com

on the record ❖

On The Record Readers Offer Tips on Garden and Theater Tours FOLLOWING ARE ANSWERS from Leisure Group Travel readers who responded to the query: Tell us about your best garden or theater tours. What makes them special and what perks do you add in to make them different? There are many garden walks in Chicago and its suburbs. The most enjoyable for my group was initiated via The Garden Conservancy (www.gardenconservancy.org). When you contact them, you will pay a small fee for their catalog detailing garden walks throughout the U.S. After doing this, I selected the date and area we preferred. When you know how many you will have participating, you send a check for that number, and tickets will be issued. We visited two gardens in the morning and had lunch in a lovely restaurant located in close proximity of the two gardens we were visiting in the afternoon. One owner, located on a high hill above Lake Michigan, had a beautiful screened porch where he served us coffee/tea and cookies – absolutely beautiful! It is most interesting to learn how the owners became so interested in gardening and nature. Each garden was different with totally different atmospheres. One location had a mansion-like home with swimming pool, a lovely arbor, extensive patio, etc. The garden included the swimming pool in its layout of flowers, trees, bushes, etc. Awesome! I highly recommend garden walks – even the slow walkers have a good time. Esther M. Scott Assistant Vice President Hinsdale Bank & Trust Hinsdale, IL 62 April 2011

alissa Preston

MicHael lundquist

Some of the best gardens can be visited in the southeastern United States. At the Globus family of brands we have crafted several custom programs that visit these majestic gardens and famous estates. We start our 9-day “Gardens of the Old South” tour in Atlanta, with visits to Martin Luther King’s home and the Swan House, an elegant, classically styled mansion built in 1928. One visit to these lavish gardens will take your breath away. These gardens feature a pair of cloverleaf pools, cascading fountains, a terraced lawn and roses tumbling over a stone retaining wall. The Swan House garden is one of the most photographed sites in Atlanta. The next site visited is Biltmore Estate, near Asheville, N.C. If you love gardens, you will marvel at the 80 varieties of roses in the Rose Gardens, 50,000 tulip bulbs in the English Walled Garden, 1,000 poinsettias that decorate Biltmore House every Christmas and the most complete collection of wild azaleas in the United States. In Charleston, S.C., there are visits to Magnolia and Middleton Place plantations, where trails through the gardens will transport you to a forgotten era. The colorful azaleas, camellias,

Ginny Howell

roses, fragrant Carolina jasmines and wisteria mingle with the majestic oak trees. Spanish moss hangs from each tree to complete the magical Old South imagery. The tour ends in Savannah, where we enjoy the gardens in the city squares and famous private homes complete with their own gardens. A trip to the Southeast is a must for anybody who enjoys gardens and good times. Michael Lundquist National Group Sales Manager Globus family of brands Littleton, CO We have a fabulous new tour that combines the romance and ease of train travel on a deluxe “hotel on wheels” plus the exciting world of opera, ballet and choral music in Russia and Ukraine. Among the special touches: the artists will come on board to meet with the guests and demonstrate on board in addition to the performances. One special musical performance will be monks in a monastery singing. Eleanor Flagler Hardy President The Society of International Railway Travelers Louisville, KY LeisureGroupTravel.com

Both the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and BalletMet offer unique VIP experiences. Before a CJO concert, groups get a backstage tour of the gilded historic Southern Theatre before meeting the band’s personable artistic director, Byron Stripling, the former lead trumpeter and soloist for the Count Basie Orchestra. After the show, you can go on stage to meet the entire band and get your copy of the CJO’s “The Colors of Jazz” CD autographed. BalletMet also allows groups exclusive backstage access to meet their dancers and see their intricate sets and costumes up close. If your group isn’t visiting during a show, they can watch the dancers rehearse and get a hands-on look at the costume shop, before taking a low-impact dance/stretch class led by the BalletMet Academy faculty. Columbus’ hands-on garden experiences are unique, too. Franklin Park Conservatory lets you pick herbs from

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April 2011 63

on the record ❖ their new community garden campus to create your own wood-fired pizza. You cook it yourself outside in their Live Fire Cooking Theater. One of Columbus’ suburbs, Gahanna, is known as the Herb Capital of Ohio. They offer all kinds of fun hands-on classes that let you do everything from making one-of-a-kind herbal blends to herb-infused vinegar. Alissa Preston Tourism Sales Manager Experience Columbus Columbus, OH I have done tours for garden clubs usually coming from Ohio to the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. We have planned stops at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Charlotte, where lunch has been arranged along with a speaker who will talk about any garden subject that the group is interested in. This was especially popular with Massillon, Ohio-area groups as the stained-glass roof in the entrance came Space to Work. from the Baptist Church Room to Relax. in Massillon. The people at Daniel Stowe are very easy to work with and the gardens are beautiful. Even on a morning when it was sleeting, the pansies didn’t care; they still Galveston is the place for family and military showed their beautiful reunions, educational field trips and seminars. faces. This particular The Victorian Condo Hotel Resort and Conference Center is a favorite destination for those planning reunions, church and garden group continued school events. on to Charleston, where Our staff has the expertise to meet your expectations for meeting we had a Master Garfacilities and to provide options for your groups’ outings to the Island’s world-class attractions. dener take them to a Over 10,000 square feet of of indoor and outdoor meetings areas, number of the private for groups of 12 to 300. gardens in Charleston. They then had lunch at Middleton Place Plantation, where another 6300 Seawall • Galveston • TX • victoriancondo.com garden expert talked to Director of Sales & Catering • Jennifer Kirk jkirk@viccondo.com • 800.231.6363 ext. 2231 them about the Middlewww.facebook.com/galvestonvictorian ton gardens, which date 64 April 2011

back to the 1800s . We hosted the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs on Jekyll Island. They brought two motorcoaches and while one toured the Jekyll Island Historic District, the other toured the district with the in-house horticulturist, Cliff Gowran. Cliff gives them a tour highlighting the historic plantings in the district. They had high tea at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel hosted by Ginny Howell Tours. Tea was served in Ginny’s private collection of tea cups, tea pots and assorted handmade doilies. One of the ladies from the local garden club came and talked with the group. They continued on to Savannah, where each group was treated to a tour of Hidden Gardens. They were then taken to Massy School to see the original layout of the city. This group ended in Charleston at Middleton Place for lunch. The Middleton horticulturist welcomed the group and talked about the upkeep of the garden and the flowers, which are planted for year-round beauty. Ginny Howell Ginny Howell Tours Jekyll Island GA

IN THE JUNE ISSUE of Leisure Group Travel, our On the Record column will look at online marketing. Please send us your response to this question: How are you using online tools— websites, email, social networking —to grow your business? Along with your comments, please include your name, company name and location. Also for publication, send a high-resolution photo of yourself. A selection of responses will be printed in the June 2011 issue. Thanks in advance for your valuable opinions. Send to: Randy Mink, randy@ptmgroups.com LeisureGroupTravel.com

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April 2011 65

On Marketing

❖ dave bodle

Are Social Media Fears Founded ? I’VE DREADED THIS MOMENT. I knew it couldn’t be avoided. I knew it wouldn’t be easy. However, today’s subject has become part of our social culture and now permeates the business world. Although most of you know considerably more about social media, I’m ready to tackle the subject. Let’s be straightforward. I am not a social media fan for business. I just don’t get how it works for my interest. As a writer am I supposed to post on my Facebook page everything that’s published? I guess that makes some sense, but everyone I care about (that’s you!) is already reading my stuff. How about my little tour & receptive business? Should David’s Tour Connections have a Facebook page? Probably that’s a good idea, but where do I get friends/fans? My website that’s under

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66 April 2011

construction? Maybe I can put a Facebook link there when it’s completed. I know how to drive traffic to my website, so maybe the interested viewers will link to my Facebook page. Then there’s Bodle Communications. This small company helps both tour & travel and golf suppliers package and promote their products to the appropriate markets. Surely, there’s a place for social media in this venture as well. You can see where I’m going. I have a vague sense of social media’s value, but I’m just not ready to race full steam ahead. My guess is that you might be feeling the same way about your business. One of the challenges with understanding social media is it constantly changes. An article titled “Social media here now, gone tomorrow” by Julie Hatfield in SATW Traveler December 2009/ January 2010 issue was not announcing the demise of social media. Ms. Hatfield was simply stating that social media is changing and evolving everyday. Even with all that change there are a few basic principles regarding social media. More than 85 percent of Americans who use social media sites say a company should be present and interact with its customers via social media. This September 2008 information from Opinion Research also reports that more than 40 percent of those surveyed said companies should use social media to solve customer problems and solicit product and services feedback. On the other hand, in a Knowledge Networks report from May 2009 there appears that social network users do not have a strong association with business sites and their own purchase decisions. Although 83 percent of the Internet

population (ages 13-54) participates in social media, less than 6 percent look to social media sites for purchasing decision guidance. Throughout this article I’ve used the terms social media and Facebook almost interchangeably. Surely, social media encompasses Facebook, but it also includes SMS/TXT, Twitter, blog sites and many others. They all share one common element. At the risk of oversimplification all social media are web-logs, short for blogs. So, what does that mean? Although still less than 100 percent sold on social media for business, I’m willing to give it serious consideration for my business. First, I’m going to have my 15-year-old grandson help me set up Facebook accounts for each of my small business ventures. Next, I’m going to treat each like a blog and dedicate a minimum of 45 minutes each week to post content. I’m going to keep a notebook handy to record blog subjects and ideas. I’m going to post comments on other industry blogs hoping to stay connected. Social media can be challenging, especially as our time becomes more and more restricted. We all are assuming more and more responsibilities in our businesses. However, one thing I know and fully accept is that more than 80 percent of marketers in 2011 will be using social media, up from 42 percent in 2008. In 2010 more than 82 percent of these marketers were increasing their social media budgets. Obviously, these people know more than I do. Maybe it’s time for me to test the waters. Contact Dave at 843-712-1140 or email dbodle@sc.rr.com.

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