Santa Fe
WEST Go West into Wide Open Spaces he Western horizon is filled with incredible sights and contrasts. At all points of the compass you find the scenery spectacular, the history colorful. The people, representing a diverse blend of cultures, arrived in search of adventure, riches and new roots.
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There is no set path to exploring the West. You can follow migration routes of birds, butterflies and whales, or retrace historic footsteps of Native Americans, Lewis & Clark, conquistadors, Spanish missionaries or Northern fur traders. More contemporary routes may lead to Hollywood filming sites or culinary adventures that savor the latest trends in food and wine. The West’s vibrant arts scene appeals to groups who appreciate museums, theater and music. The West’s traditions are celebrated in every town. Each area has a distinctive personality as seen in its architecture, foods, lifestyles and festivals. From powwows and rodeos to Route 66 celebrations, don’t be surprised by the range of reasons Westerners embrace when organizing a festive gathering. Perhaps the most cherished and distinctive activity is to experience the vast wilderness areas with their protected wildlife habitats and awesome landscapes. Names like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Death Valley and Mount Rainier offer just a hint of the hundreds of millions of acres of public lands waiting to be explored. Groups enjoy the diversity of Arizona, from the desert to the mountains, from cosmopolitan cities to Native American lands. And don’t forget the Grand Canyon. New Mexico, a blend of
Spanish, Native and Anglo cultures, has an artistic legacy dating to ancient times. Texas landscapes range from vast plains to coastal communities to big cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.
Arizona Colorado abounds with mountain resorts that provide recreational opportunities year-round. The state’s tourist railway lines are one of its great symbolic links between the past and present. No trip to Colorado is complete without a visit to Denver, the Mile High City. Wyoming, the Cowboy State, conLeisureGroupTravel.com
Houston
jures up romantic images of the great frontier ranches, rodeos, railroads and majestic plains. It is home to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and Devils Tower. Cheyenne, its capital, is best known for Cheyenne Frontier Days, a summer celebration of all things Western, and boasts attractions like Terry Bison Ranch, the Wyoming State Capitol/State Museum, Nelson Museum of the West and the world’s largest steam locomotive. Montana also claims part of Yellowstone and encompasses Glacier National Park in its northwest corner, near the Canadian border. Tours in vintage buses, sightseeing cruises and whitewater float trips are just some of the choices at Glacier. Idaho is also a great place for rafting adventures, picturesque lakes and mountain vistas. Utah has its share of natural splendor, especially in Red Rocks Country, home of Bryce Canyon, Arches, Zion and Capitol Reef national parks. In neighboring Nevada, try your luck at casinos in gaming meccas like Las Vegas, Laughlin and Reno. In the Pacific Northwest, Washington and Oregon are blessed with stunning coastlines, mountain ranges and vineyard-studded slopes. Learn about the apple industry in Washington’s Wenatchee Valley or enjoy the laidback lifestyle in Seattle, famous for its coffeehouses, bustling harborfront and skyline punctuated by the Space Needle. California beckons with dreams of LeisureGroupTravel.com
cruising down coastal highways, romping around Disneyland, sampling wines in the Napa and Sonoma valleys, and visiting national parks like Yosemite and Sequoia. Urban excitement awaits in San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego. Welcome to the West…see, experience, enjoy and celebrate every step of your journey. LGT
SATISFY YOUR SOUL IN A CITY WHERE THE CULTURE IS HIGH-VOLUME AND THE ATTITUDE IS LOW-KEY. WHERE THE STORY OF OUR ROCK-AND-ROLL ROOTS BLENDS HARMONIOUSLY WITH A CLASSIC CULTURAL SCENE. THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART & THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER. CAPTIVATING & CASUAL. BOLD & BEAUTIFUL.
V I SI T OKC .C OM
Rock history exhibit “Another Hot Oklahoma Night!” rocks into the Oklahoma History Center through fall 2010!
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Savor the Flavor of the Wenatchee Valley
Wenatchee, Washington
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Ice Age Floods Geological Trail…discover the cataclysmic ice age floods remnants • Miss Veedol…working historic replica plane that completed the first transpacific flight • Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center… showcasing regional history • Ohme Gardens…nine acres of lush alpine greenery • Rocky Reach Dam…renewable energy, museum, fish ladder
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: East Wenatchee & Wenatchee, WA Follow the 30 or 164-mile Ice Age Floods Geological Trail and view remnants left by the cataclysmic floodwaters as it raged through the Valley 17,000 years ago. Explore Downtown Wenatchee and choose fun activities such as a walking tour of the outdoor Art on the Avenues sculptures, shopping in downtown antique stores and specialty shops, or enjoying ice cream at the historic Owl Soda Fountain. Stroll across the RiverWalk Crossing into Riverfront Park and the Apple Capital Loop Trail or take a walking tour of the downtown historical buildings and signs. Enjoy wine tasting and dinner at Chateau Faire le Pont Winery, a state-of-the-art gravity flow winery that creates world-class, ultra-premium wines from locally grown grapes and is housed in a superbly restored 1920s fruit warehouse.
DAY 2: East Wenatchee & Wenatchee, WA The Bridge of Friendship Japanese Garden is a partnership between the Sister Cities of Misawa, Japan, East Wenatchee and Wenatchee. The garden features a reflecting pool, pagoda and authentic Japanese artifacts. Visit the “Miss Veedol” Hangar where history comes alive! Hear the spine-tingling story of Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon’s struggle to complete the first non-stop transpacific flight and get a firsthand look at a working replica of the plane that made the flight in 1931. Enjoy wine tasting and lunch at Saint Laurent Winery, where the winery and its unique European landscaped gardens overlook the Wenatchee Valley. The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center features four floors of regional historical exhibits and is home to six of the
original Clovis tools discovered in the valley in 1987. Stroll through Ohme Gardens’ nine acres of lush alpine beauty, sit beside a tumbling waterfall or wander along cool and serene rock walkways with stunning views of the Columbia River and the Wenatchee Valley. The 42-acre Tiny’s Organic Farm in East Wenatchee grows a wide variety of vegetables and fruits with names like Arctic Snow nectarines, Indian blood peaches and DapplDandy pluots (a hybrid between a plum and an apricot).
DAY 3: Wenatchee & Cashmere, WA “Look a Salmon in the eye” in the fish viewing room or explore the Museum of the Columbia and the Gallery of Electricity. Outside Rocky Reach Dam marvel at the giant water pipe that transports juvenile salmon around the face of the dam and deposits them downstream into the Columbia River. Stop by Stemilt’s Bountiful Fruit for a crisp juicy apple or other in-season fruits. The WA Apple Commission Visitor Center is full of historic photos, interactive displays and an informative video about the apple industry. Reserve your seat at the Town Toyota Center for a memorable concert, thrilling hockey game, wild sports action or spectacular family entertainment. This multi-purpose arena offers it all. The Aplets and Cotlets Factory Tour incorporates savory Washington apples, ripe apricots and crunchy English walnuts into Aplets and Cotlets Candy, top sellers since 1920! Apple Annie’s Antique Mall has 70,000 sq. ft. of antique treasures to tempt you and Studebaker’s 50’s Diner cooks up nostalgia with a 100% Angus Beef burger, crispy fries and oodles of memorabilia.
CONTACT: Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Marcia Janke • www.wenatcheevalley.org 5 S. Wenatchee Avenue, Suite 100, Wenatchee, WA 98801 Phone: 509-663-3723 or 800-572-7753 • Email: Marcia@wenatcheevalley.org
➤ Ice Age Floods Geological Trail ➤ Culture along the Columbia River
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Gators, Gardens, Gushers & Great Food
Beaumont, Texas
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Gator Country Adventure Park – see and touch live alligators, dine on authentic Cajun cuisine • Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center was just named among the 10 Greenest EcoProjects in the World • Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum – watch world’s only replica gusher blow 100 feet in the sky, just like in 1901 • Spindletop Steakhouse – Take a culinary tour in Beaumont’s historic downtown
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Treat yourself to a scrumptious breakfast at Rao’s Bakery & Coffee Cafe, where you’ll find freshly brewed coffee and piping hot croissants and breakfast burritos.
After a busy day, relax at Spindletop Steakhouse on historic Crockett Street, where the tantalizing menu items will have your mouth watering.
Take a short drive over to Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, where you’ll step back in time to witness Beaumont’s rich oil heritage as you watch the world’s only working replica gusher blow water hundreds of feet into Beaumont’s blue sky. Follow the history of the "Cradle of the Petroleum Age" with a tour of the Texas Energy Museum and experience the fascinating world of oil exploration and refining!
DAY 3:
Round out your tour of Downtown Beaumont with a trip to a couple of our other intriguing museums: the Art Museum of Southeast Texas and the Fire Museum of Texas. Don’t forget dinner at the legendary Crockett Street Entertainment District!
DAY 2:
Start the day by reconnecting with nature at the Big Thicket National Preserve as you slice through the waters of Village Creek in a canoe. Enjoy great Texas BBQ at Willy Ray’s, where you’ll find an array of enticing sides to go along with their famous BBQ. Be inspired at St. Anthony's Cathedral Basilica, one of Beaumont’s many unique and historic places of worship on the Beaumont Faith Trail. Feed your adventurous spirit at Gator Country—Texas’ only alligator theme park. Have a hands-on experience by helping feed LIVE gators and take home a picture to prove it! View educational demonstrations and see the jaw dropping half-ton alligator, lovingly named “Big Al.” End your day on a high note by grooving to the music of a local bayou band and feasting on Gator Country’s famous Cajun cuisine.
Rekindle your sense of wonder at Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center, located just minutes from Beaumont. Observe nesting birds in Shangri La’s Ruby Lake through a state-of-the-art bird blind. Explore more than 300 species of plants in one of the most Earth-friendly projects in the world. See history come alive in any of our three historic homes: the John Jay French House, the Chambers House and the McFaddin-Ward House.
CONTACT: Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Elizabeth Eddins, Director of Tourism • www.beaumontcvb.com 505 Willow St., Beaumont, TX 77701 Phone: 866-822-0245 • Email: eeddins@ci.beaumont.tx.us
➤ The Faith Trail ➤ Nature Trail
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Grapevine – Vintage Texas
Grapevine, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Wine tastings • Convenient location in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth region • An excursion aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad • Artisan demonstrations, including glass blowing • Excursions to the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and Southfork Ranch
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Grapevine Let us introduce your group to Grapevine’s history and heritage at the Grapevine Cotton Belt Railroad, Historic District and Historical Museum. Here, you will also experience artisan demonstrations such as glassblowing at Vetro Glass Blowing Gallery & Studio. Next, shop and sightsee in beautifully restored ca. 1900 buildings in Historic Downtown Grapevine, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Shops and boutiques offer unique treasures and one-of-a-kind finds. Enjoy public art, like the “Coming Home,” “The Sidewalk Judge” and the “Nightwatchman,” that celebrate characters and events that shaped Grapevine’s spirit. Lunch can be enjoyed on their own at any number of family-owned eateries in Historic Downtown Grapevine. This afternoon, follow the Grapevine Wine Trail! Tour several of the winery tasting rooms and learn about grape growing and winemaking in Texas as you savor the flavor of Texas wines! Dinner may be arranged at a winery, complete with entertainment, or at any one of a variety of steakhouses and group-friendly restaurants. For additional entertainment, try your skills with the Gaylord Texan Resort’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater. [B,D]
DAY 2: Grapevine / Fort Worth Start your day with mega-shopping at Grapevine Mills mall. Grapevine Mills offers “shoppertainment” with over 200 stores, amusement centers and themed restaurants. This afternoon, ride the rails of nostalgia when you experience the Grapevine Vintage Railroad! The train operates a seasonal schedule round-trip excursion from Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards. At the Fort Worth Stockyards, see a Texas Longhorn cattle drive, shop Stockyards Station and visit
the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame before your return trip to Grapevine. Dinner tonight may be arranged at a variety of Grapevine restaurants. After dinner, enjoy world class musical performances at the Grapevine Opry! Every Saturday night experience the finest country music revue and special theme evenings at the Historic Palace Theatre on Main Street in Grapevine. [B,D]
DAY 3: Dallas Your day starts with a visit to The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, also known as the JFK Memorial Museum. Most people remember exactly where they were the fateful day John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas. At this museum you can view minute-by-minute accounts of what happened on that tragic day. Next stop, the Dallas Museum of Art, offering a collection that includes American masterpieces, contemporary art, European and impressionist art, and special temporary exhibits on display throughout the year. Lunch can be arranged for your group at the Dallas Museum of Art. This afternoon, head over to the Dallas Arboretum, a 66-acre arboretum and botanical garden showcasing perennial fragrant gardens, towering trees and lush lawns. Cap off your visit to Dallas with a visit to Southfork Ranch, also known as the home of J.R. Ewing and his family on the hit television series “Dallas.” Here your group will receive a guided tour of this famous ranch, followed by an evening chuckwagon supper. [B,L,D]
CONTACT: Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Grapevine Tourism Department • www.GrapevineTexasUSA.com One Liberty Park Plaza, Grapevine, TX 76051 Phone: 817-410-3184 • Email: Tourism@GrapevineTexasUSA.com
➤ Grapevine Wine Trail ➤ Christmas Capital of Texas
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Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Angel Fire, Red River, Chama, Farmington, Gallup, New Mexico
Northern New Mexico ➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Old Town Albuquerque • Sandia Peak Tramway • Taos Pueblo • Cumbres-Toltec Railroad • Palace of the Governors, Santa Fe
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: AM: Explore the shops, galleries and museums of Old Town, the original heart of Albuquerque. Then visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which tells the story of the 19 pueblos of New Mexico. PM: The National Hispanic Cultural Center features a visual arts museum, restaurant and gift shop. Visit the Albuquerque Aquarium and adjacent Rio Grande Botanic Garden. Ride 2.7 miles to the top of 10,400-foot Sandia Peak on the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world’s longest single-span tramway. Dinner and overnight in Albuquerque.
PM: Depart Taos for Angel Fire, site of the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial. In Red River board the Red River Chair Lift Rides. Dinner and overnight in Red River.
DAY 5: Depart Red River for Chama. Enjoy a 64-mile scenic mountain ride on the Cumbres-Toltec Railroad. Dinner and overnight in Farmington.
DAY 2:
DAY 6:
AM: Depart Albuquerque for Santa Fe. Travel off Interstate 25 and visit area pueblos, such as Cochiti, Sandia, Santo Domingo and Zia Pueblo. PM: Visit the 1610 Palace of the Governors, the nation’s oldest building still in continuous use. Now a Southwestern history museum, it faces the famous Santa Fe Plaza. Near the Plaza is the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. At Loretto Chapel see the “Miraculous Staircase” and learn the legend of its construction. Dinner and overnight in Santa Fe.
AM: At the Farmington Gateway Museum, see exhibits on the Four Corners area and the area’s oil and gas industry. Depart Farmington for Bloomfield and Salmon Ruins/Heritage Park. Aztec Ruins National Monument is a 450-room ancestral pueblo dating from the 1100s. PM: Depart Bloomfield for Chaco National Historical Park, a center of Anasazi culture from A.D. 900-1100. Dinner and overnight in Gallup.
DAY 7: DAY 3: AM: Depart Santa Fe for Los Alamos, the scientific community that played a major role in the development of the atomic bomb. Bandelier National Monument features hundreds of Anasazi ruins. PM: Depart Los Alamos for Chimayo. Santuario de Chimayo is a sacred site believed to have miraculous healing powers. Dinner in Chimayo or Taos; overnight in Taos.
AM: Gallup’s Red Rock Museum showcases Native American culture and art. The Gallup Cultural Center features everything from sand painting to Historic Route 66. At the Navajo Code Talkers Room, learn about Navajo Marines who played a major role in World War II. PM: Depart Gallup for Grants. View ancient petroglyphs at El Morro National Monument. Take a jacket into Bandera Ice Crater Caves. Dinner and overnight in Grants.
DAY 4:
DAY 8:
AM: The artist colony of Taos offers a blend of Native American, Spanish and American cultures. View works by local artists at the Harwood Museum of Art, Millicent Rogers Museum and Taos Art Museum. Visit Taos Pueblo, inhabited for over 1,000 years.
AM: Tour the New Mexico Mining Museum. Then visit Acoma Pueblo/Sky City, continuously inhabited for 2,000 years. PM: Depart Acoma for Albuquerque. Stop at Petroglyph National Monument.
CONTACT: New Mexico Tourism Department
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Mark M. Trujillo, North America Tour Trade Director • www.newmexico.org 491 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Phone: 505-827-5832 or 505-690-0999 • Email: Mark.Trujillo@state.nm.us
Visit GroupTravelDirectory.com for more Northern New Mexico itinerary ideas
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Tucson Highlights
Tucson, Arizona
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Saguaro National Park • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum • Old Tucson Studios • Sabino Canyon • DeGrazia Gallery • Pima Air & Space Museum
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY This itinerary showcases some of the finest attractions that the metropolitan Tucson area has to offer. Enjoy our stunning desert setting at Saguaro National Park, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Sabino Canyon. Relive the excitement of many old Western movies at Old Tucson Studios. Discover our creative side at DeGrazia Gallery and learn about our military history at Pima Air & Space Museum. As you’ll discover, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Tucson!
DAY 1: Take a drive-through tour of Saguaro National Park West and get a breathtaking view of thousands of saguaros, the giants of the desert. Break for lunch and a tour at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which tells the unique story of the Sonoran Desert region. More than 300 species of live animals and 1,400 species of plants indigenous to the Sonoran Desert are exhibited in naturalistic habitats. Stop at Old Tucson Studios, the famous movie location and theme park. Take a step back in time and enjoy watching a simulated gunfight and saloon show. Or visit the International Wildlife Museum, a worldclass natural history museum, where you get a close-up view of more than 400 different species of preserved insects, mammals and birds from around the world. The museum features a variety of hands-on exhibits and interactive displays for all ages. For the evening, dine at one of Tucson's many steakhouses; some even offer authentic Western entertainment.
oasis. The narrated ground-tram ride lasts 45 minutes and travels through some of the most camera-worthy scenery in the Tucson area. Head west to DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, built to showcase the unique Southwestern art of Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia. The gallery is a unique adobe construction with beautiful decorative features and contains rooms exhibiting DeGrazia originals on subjects such as Padre Kino, Cabeza de Vaca and Yaqui Easter. Break for lunch at La Encantada and experience an upscale outdoor specialty shopping center that celebrates the splendor of Old World Spanish traditions alongside modern sophistication. It features plazas, fine dining, and the trendiest national and local retailers. Drive south to the Pima Air & Space Museum, where more than 250 aircraft are on display, representative of America's aviation history. This impressive aircraft collection ranges from the first (a replica of the Wright flyer) to the ultimate flying machine, the famous SR-71A Blackbird. Dine at a Tucson Originals restaurant, an organization of many of Tucson's best independent fine dining, casual and neighborhood restaurants preserving Tucson's culinary sense of place by encouraging the support of local establishments.
DAY 2: Enjoy the views at Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, a true desert
CONTACT: Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ April Bourie, Tourism Sales Manager • www.visittucson.org 100 S. Church St., Tucson, AZ 85701 Phone: 520-770-2159 • Email: abourie@visitTucson.org
➤ A Birder's Paradise ➤ Stellar Views; Astronomy
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Cheyenne Full Day Itinerary
Cheyenne, Wyoming
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Historic Attractions • Trolley Tour • Bison Ranch • Western Shopping • Western Entertainment
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Go downtown to the newly restored Cheyenne Depot. A National Historic Landmark, the depot has been restored to its original glory and is once again a center of activity in the community. Tour the art deco lobby and visit the Cheyenne Depot Museum, which chronicles the railroad and its relationship to Cheyenne. In the depot, purchase tickets for the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley (307-778-3133), which provides a 90-minute overview of the community, its history, and attractions. The tour includes stops at various attractions, allowing riders to disembark for the attraction, and then reboard the next trolley 90 minutes later. Stops include the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum (307-778-7290), Nelson Museum of the West (307-635-7670), Wyoming State Museum (307-777-7022), Historic Governors’ Mansion (307-7777878), Wyoming Capitol and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (307637-6458). (Trolley drivers are available as step-on guides for motorcoaches.)
(1.2 million lbs.) It was designed especially for the rugged Cheyenne to Ogden, Utah run. End your day watching the Western skits and escapades of the Cheyenne Gunslingers at 6:00 pm in downtown Cheyenne (JuneJuly). Then enjoy the Bit-O-Wyo Horsebarn Dinner Theater in the beautiful mountains west of town (May-Aug). Or catch the Old-Fashioned Melodrama (307-638-6543) at the Historic Atlas Theater, where you can cheer the hero and hiss the villain (July).
Upon returning to downtown, spend some time at a couple of true Western stores. Try the Wrangler (307-634-3048) for jeans, boots, hats, and other Western apparel or Wyoming Home (307-638-2222) for its unique Western furniture and artwork. Or catch a ride on the free downtown carriage rides. Head south nine miles to the Terry Bison Ranch (307-634-4171) for a horseback ride or a train ride into the middle of the bison herd that calls the ranch home. Back in town, be sure to check out Big Boy 4004, the world’s largest steam locomotive
CONTACT: Cheyenne Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Darren Rudloff • www.cheyenne.org 1 Depot Sq., 121 W. 15th St., Ste. 202, Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: 800-426-5009 or 307-778-3133 • Email: darren@cheyenne.org
➤ Frontier Days ➤ Downtown Cheyenne
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Travel The Mission Trail
El Paso, Texas
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS
• El Paso Mission Trail • El Meson de Onate • Licon Dairy • Tigua Cultural Center and Museum • Award-winning Cattleman’s Steakhouse
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: El Paso Mission Trail: Start your day by exploring the Mission Trail and discover the oldest continually active missions in the United States. Located in El Paso’s Mission Valley, this trail is rich in history dating back 400 years. The Ysleta and Socorro Missions and the San Elizario Chapel remain as living testaments to the faith of our Spanish and Native American ancestors. Los Portales Museum and Information Center: Along the Mission Trail, just across from the San Elizario Chapel, the museum and information center are operated by the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society. Exhibits focus on the rich and colorful historical legacies of San Elizario, including the “First Thanksgiving,” Spanish presidio, San Elizario Salt War of 1877 and El Paso’s first county seat. Lunch at El Meson de Onate: Just a skip and a hop from the Socorro Mission, El Meson de Onate provides an unforgettable experience that complements the cultural Mission Trail. This local favorite will surpass your expectations with its Comida Corrida (fast food). Favorites range from Sopa de Fideo and Pico de Gallo, and don’t miss the famous Red Enchiladas. Licon Dairy: Only four miles down Socorro Road and famous for its asadero cheese, this working dairy is certainly a crowd pleaser! It boasts a very unusual petting zoo that includes exotic animals such as camels, goats, zebras and parrots. For some added fun, fish for catfish in the dairy’s pond.
Tigua Cultural Center and Museum: Founded in 1682, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo has over 300 years of history in El Paso’s Mission Valley. Situated across from the Ysleta Mission, the Tigua Indian Cultural Center promotes and educates the public on the Tigua culture. The Center’s museum displays tribal artifacts, showcases tribal history and provides visual displays and media regarding the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. The Center is also home to several gift shops featuring Tigua handcrafted pottery, jewelry and fine art. On Saturdays and Sundays the tribal youth dance group performs tribal social dances. Special events include bread breaking and powwows. Dinner at Cattleman’s Steakhouse: Visit this legendary Texas steakhouse on a real working ranch. Enjoy a Western atmosphere, miles of desert scenery and spectacular sunsets. This unique establishment provides visitors with a truly remarkable experience that includes snake pits, an Indian Maze, a lake walk, buffalo, longhorns, and much more. And did we forget to mention, the steaks are the best in Texas!
CONTACT: El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Leesy McCorgary, Tourism Sales Manager • www.visitelpaso.com One Civic Center Plaza, El Paso, TX 79901 Phone: 800-351-6024 or 915-534-0600 • Email: lmccorgary@elpasocvb.com
➤ The Great Outdoors ➤ Downtown Museum Tour
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Best of the Northwest History and Scenery
Vancouver, Washington
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area • Fort Vancouver National Historic Site • Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument • Lewis & Clark Trail to the Pacific Ocean • Mount Rainier National Park
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Northwest History in Vancouver, WA Take a guided tour of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, established in 1825 as the headquarters of the British-based Hudson’s Bay Company fur trading network in the Pacific Northwest. Visit Pearson Air Museum, located at one of the oldest continually operating airfields in the United States, to learn about aviation history and view airplanes from pre-WWII. Tour Officers Row and the George C. Marshall House, built in 1886 for the commander of Vancouver Barracks and named for its famous resident who resided there from 1936 to 1938.
DAY 2: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Take a free tour of the famous Pendleton Woolen Mill to see firsthand the state-of-the-art dye house and the spinning, weaving, and finishing of the distinctive Indian motif blankets. At the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center, view over 11,000 square feet of exhibits that interpret the area’s cultural and natural history. Cross the Columbia River into Oregon and take a scenic river cruise on the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler, a triple-decker paddle wheeler, for 360-degree views of the magnificent Columbia Gorge. Then tour the Bonneville Dam with historical exhibits and an underwater fish viewing station. Stop and explore Multnomah Falls, the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States. Enjoy shopping at the Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets, where you will find an exciting collection of over 45 designer and name-brand outlet stores offering group discounts.
DAY 3: Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Tour Mount St. Helens and learn about the May 18, 1980 eruption that forever changed the landscape of this famous mountain. This worldclass natural attraction offers year-round scenic and wildlife viewing
as well as educational visitor centers to help visitors comprehend the dramatic events of 1980 and the recovery that has followed.
DAY 4: Lewis & Clark Trail and the Pacific Ocean You’ll find pristine beaches and spectacular scenery on the Pacific Coast, which is only a 90-minute drive from Vancouver. On the way, visit Cathlapotle Plankhouse, a full-scale replica of a Native American cedar plankhouse at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, home to many species of spring and fall migrating birds. Stretch your legs at the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for White-Tailed Deer. Viewing platforms allow you to see deer and elk species first described for science by Lewis & Clark. Take a tour of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment State Park with exhibits interpreting Lewis & Clark’s experience at the mouth of the Columbia River. In the seaside town of Long Beach, spend a few hours exploring the International Kite Museum, Marshall’s Free Museum, Cranberry Museum and the historic town of Oysterville.
DAY 5: Your Choice Of Northwest Destinations Travel north to Mount Rainier National Park and view outstanding examples of old growth forests and sub-alpine meadows. Take in the Longmire Museum and Jackson Visitor Center in Paradise. Or head south to Portland, Oregon, which offers many unique visitor attractions, including the Oregon Zoo, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and Portland Classical Chinese Garden.
CONTACT: Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Debbie Picard • www.SouthwestWashington.com 101 East 8th St., Suite 240, Vancouver, WA 98660 Phone: 877-600-0800 • Email: dpicard@SouthwestWashington.com
➤ Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Loop Tour ➤ Southwest Washington Heritage and Wine Trail
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Brenham/Washington County: Blue Bell, Bluebonnets and the Birthplace of Texas
Brenham, Burton, Chappell Hill, Independence, Washington, Texas
➤➤ HIGHLIGHTS • The “Birthplace of Texas”—Washington-on the-Brazos State Historic Site • Eat the best ice cream in the country – Blue Bell Creameries • Spectacular spring wildflowers – bluebonnets and more • Antique Rose Emporium, Ellison’s Greenhouses, Chappell Hill Lavender Farm, Burton Cotton Gin & Museum, wineries • Halfway between Austin and Houston on Highway 290
➤➤ DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Brenham Roam the charming shops and boutiques on the historic downtown square of Brenham. After working up a bit of an appetite, choose from unique soup & sandwich shops to home-style, American grill or fusion food…. the choice is yours. Before leaving downtown, make sure and check out the Brenham Heritage Museum and Fire Museum. Next, head to Blue Bell Creameries for an incredible tour and end up with a scoop in the ice cream parlor. Tour a working greenhouse at Ellison’s Greenhouses. The plants change with the seasons, so there is always something new to see. Book a tour at one of our two local wineries, Pleasant Hill Winery or Windy Winery.
DAY 2: Brenham & Chappell Hill Begin the day with a tour of Brenham’s mansions, the Giddings-Wilkin House and the Giddings Stone Mansion. Head for lunch in Chappell Hill at Bever’s Restaurant and save room for pie! Enjoy a tour of the Chappell Hill Museum and the historic churches. Hit the road and head to the Chappell Hill Lavender Farm. Returning to Brenham, stop by and visit the Monastery of St. Clare’s Miniature Horse Farm. Make sure and plan to see a production at Brenham’s Unity Theatre after dinner.
DAY 3: Washington-on the-Brazos & Independence
of Texas as the war ravaged the Texans defending the Alamo. The nearly-300-acre park has a state-of-the-art Visitor Center, the replica of Independence Hall, the Star of the Republic Museum and the Barrington Living History Farm, which transports you to the plantation of the last president of the Republic, Anson Jones. Pack a lunch for the park or stop at the quaint R Place near the park’s entrance. Meander to the village of Independence. See the Seward Plantation, owned by the same family for over 160 years. Tour the Independence Baptist Church & Museum and Old Baylor Park and the John P. Coles home. Walk the lush eight-acre retail gardens of Antique Rose Emporium.
DAY 4: Burton & Round Top Tour the Burton Cotton Gin & Museum and remember when Cotton Was King! This cotton gin is the only one of its kind in the nation. See the Wehring Home and Shoe Shop before heading to the square in Round Top for a bite to eat at Royer’s Cafe and shop at the Copper Shade Tree Art Gallery in Bybee Square. Don’t miss the International Festival Institute. The concert hall is reminiscent of its European counterparts. Weekend concerts are not to be missed! Get your cowboy fix at Nueces Canyon Ranch for a BBQ dinner and a cutting horse exhibition and hayride.
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is known as the “Birthplace of Texas.” Fifty-nine courageous men signed the Declaration of Independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836, creating the Republic
CONTACT: Brenham/Washington County Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Seneca McAdams • www.BrenhamTexas.com 314 S. Austin St., Brenham, TX 77833 Phone: 888-BRENHAM • Email: Seneca@brenhamtexas.com
➤ Brenham, Presidents and Blue Bell
84 June 2009
special section
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