Travel South

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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.

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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 – 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.

52 unique group destinations. This could get interesting.

Looking for new group travel ideas? We’ve got 52 of ’em. The Arkansas State Parks system has something for everyone – archeology, adventure, history, mountains, rivers and lakes – even the only diamond site in the world where you can dig for diamonds and keep what you find!

Historic Mather Lodge, Petit Jean State Park > Check out our 52 Arkansas State Parks today.

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Spa City.

Hot Springs is famous for natural thermal spas and historic Bathhouse Row. But with the South’s newest gaming center, stunning woodland gardens, delicious dining and more – you can call us whatever you like. Visit hotsprings.org or call 1-800-922-6478 for your Group Tour Planner now.

Play City.

Bloom City. LGT/11

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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

camera shy.

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on location: south ❖

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Commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial!

888.493.7386 newport-news.org

Plus Williamsburg & Virginia Beach

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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YYou ou w on’t w a n t tto om i ss tthis h i s nnew e w eexhibit xhibit won’t want miss examining instrumentalist and recording artist, Chet Atkins. Learn how he influenced generations of country country,, rock, and jazz guitarists with a smooth finger -picking style finger-picking that earned him the nickname “Mr .” “Mr.. Guitar Guitar.”

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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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Call 866-511-7742 or visit www.visitsandysprings.org Karen Weese

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Sandy Springs has gone mobile! Check us out on your mobile device at www.visitsandysprings.mobi. Text ATLevents to 62447 to receive special offers and updates from Sandy Springs.

lity Sandy Springs Hospita & Tourism - CVB and Welcome Center @SandySprings_HT

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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36 April 2011

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Experience the splendor of

SOUTH CAROLINA’S LOWCOUNTRY

COMFORT INN SOUTH FOREST BEACH 800.522.3224 843.842.6662 comforthiltonhead.com DISCOVER TOURS 888.842.9217 843.726.9217 Discover-Tours.com HOLIDAY INN OCEANFRONT 800.423.9897 843.785.5126 hihiltonhead.com

Engage your group with itineraries for exploring the history, nature, cuisine and culture of Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and Daufuskie Island. Gullah Heritage • Civil War • Lowcountry Cuisine • Arts & Crafts • Shopping & Dining Kayaking for the Novice • Sea Island Turtle Nesting Easy to reach day trips feature Savannah, Beaufort and Charleston. Learn more at HiltonHeadIsland.org

SHELTER COVE HARBOUR & MARINA SHOPS/DINING 843.686.9098 palmettodunes.com THE WESTIN HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESORT & SPA 800.WESTIN.1 843.681.4000 westinhiltonheadisland.com

Contact Brenda Ciapanna, Sales Manager, Visitor & Convention Bureau, grouptour@hiltonheadisland.org, 800.523.3373 ext. 368

Where W here time is notby a clock. measured Where W here you bring luggage but lose baggage.

Where every visit creates lasting memories Motorcoach travelers know that Pigeon Forge is the perfect place to make memories. Could be because there’s so much to see and do here… shopping, shows, Dollywood® or the majestic beauty of our Smoky Mountains. Or it could be that warm welcome they receive, kind of like visiting an old friend. Whatever the reason, they know that every visit creates memories that will last a lifetime.

PigeonForgeTours.com 1-800-285-7557

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

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