/%E2%80%A22012_AroundTheWorld_WEB by Ryan Quinn

Around the Corner…

Around the World! LLC

Our 2012 Dream Book Salutes the World Next Door – Canada

We’re all in this together… Greetings from Mark and Clayton

n the immortal words of Dolly Gallagher Levi, “Money is like manure. It isn’t worth anything unless you spread it around.” Can’t you just hear Carol Channing saying it? We couldn’t agree more. But of course, it isn’t our money we’re spreading – it’s yours! We’ll admit it. Sports Leisure Vacations will cost you a bit more. We know you see the value in every program you purchase. It comes to you in ways both large and small, from our consistently using the best hotels, offering you upgraded menus at restaurants, our always trying to give you the very best experience at each attraction we visit, and how about the wonderful ride and service offered aboard SuperCoach III! The professionalism and expertise displayed by our staff, both in the office and on the road, is a source of pride. These things come at a cost

– a cost greater than those paid by the average tour group. But then, our vacations are far from average. So are our travelers! We hope you also see your money at work here in Sacramento, the community we are proud to call home. Below we accept our first Emmy Award from David Lowe, President and General Manager of KVIE, on behalf of every member of the Sports Leisure family. Last year, we used your money to underwrite the production of “The Golden Game: The Minor Leagues,” which aired throughout the region as a compliment to the highly-anticipated Ken Burns’ special, Baseball: The 10th Inning. Our program took the 2011 Emmy for Outstanding Achievement: Sports Program. That’s something to be proud of! What you see as advertise ments in local Playbills at Music Circus and Broadway Sacramento performances actually represent our huge financial commitment to support live, professional theatre in the Capital City. Yes, that’s your money, too. We spend it because we know you love the stage as much as we do. We see you in the audience. We read your names in the Donor’s Circle listings.

Whenever and wherever you see Sports Leisure Vacations on a program, invitation, poster or T-shirt, rest assured your money is hard at work making the greater Sacramento area the wonderful place it is to live, work and play. Look for your dollars at Arts & Business Council events, at Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra concerts, at the annual Rancho Cordova Police Activities League Holiday Fun Run, and at silent auctions all over town throughout the year. Though unpublicized, you’ll also find your money and donations (keep the soap and shampoo coming!) at work at Loaves & Fishes, the Mustard Seed School, Francis House and other outlets who strive to serve the disenfranchised of our community day in and day out. Good people having fun and making a difference since 1979. That’s Sports Leisure Vacations!

Mark Hoffmann, CTP Founder

Clayton Whitehead, CTP Vice President

The people behind the vacations Introducing the office staff…

ou know and love our road staff – the greatest Tour Directors in the industry. Here are a few faces you don’t see quite as often. Our office staff is a hard-working group who takes reservations, plans tours, handles our financial affairs, oversees general operations and manages all our group air, train and cruise arrangements. These are the friendly voices that greet you when you call in, record your special requests, process your payments and assure you will enjoy smooth sailing throughout your vacation. Whereas we’re certainly happy to serve you by telephone or (for a growing number of customers) online, you are always cordially invited to visit us in our office for the utmost in personal service. You’ll find us in the Old Mills Winery Office Park at 9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1, Sacramento, CA 95827. We’re open Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm. Note we are occasionally closed on Tuesdays from noon until 1:30pm for a staff meeting. We look forward to serving you! General Manager Kevin Murphy (L) and Travel Agent Michael Downer checking the books. “There are only 44 seats on SuperCoach III. There has to be an empty one or Joey will have to stand all the way to Timbuktu! Count ’em again.”

Controller Bob Veliky (seated) is assisted by Bookkeeper Richard Smith, a dynamite duo for nearly 20 years! They count the money and keep us all in balance.

The belles of the front office: Cassie Berube (seated), Patricia Hansen (L), Donnie Anderson and Annie Foley – taking reservations and planning tours with a smile.

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Table of OCTOBER 2011

Catalina Island Getaway...................................................................6 Dreaming of Santa Cruz...................................................................6 Rails, Trails and Music of West Virginia...........................................7 The REAL Hawaii – Kauai, Oahu, The Big Island............................7 Rockets, Balloons & Billy the Kid....................................................6 The Ultimate Red Rock Country Adventure....................................6

NOVEMBER

Thanksgiving in New York...............................................................8 Tonopah, Laughlin and Las Vegas by SuperCoach III........................8

DECEMBER

Kick up your heels with Santa and his lovely elves at the Palm Springs Follies, page 9

The Capital, Kennedy, Rockefeller, Rockettes, Boston Pops Christmas Concert Celebration..................................................10 Holiday Entertainment in the Foothills............................................5 Holiday Lights of the Desert............................................................9 Take the Train to the Rose Parade...................................................11

JANUARY 2012

Key West, Miami and The Everglades.............................................12 Southeast Asia on Holland America’s Floating Hotel......................16 US Figure Skating Championships in San Jose.................................5

FEBRUARY

Costa Rica, Pura Vida....................................................................25 Foodie Fun in Sonoma Overnighter...............................................23 Kia Ora, New Zealand!..................................................................14 Take the Snow Train to Reno.........................................................19 Winter at the Ahwahnee.................................................................19

MARCH

Honor the valor shown on “a day that will live in infamy” at Pearl Harbor, page 7

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Take the Snow Train to Reno.........................................................19 The Colorful Carolina Coast..........................................................21 Monterey, Big Sur and Point Lobos................................................24

Contents The Oregon Chocolate Festival.......................................................22 Putting on the Ritz in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.................20 Spring Training in Arizona with the Giants and A’s.........................40 Winter in the Canyonlands of Utah and Arizona............................18

APRIL

The Castle, The Ocean and The Inn...............................................31 The Coast Starlight.........................................................................30 The National Road, The Road That Built the Nation.....................26 On the (Pismo) Beach....................................................................32 San Antonio: Deep in the Heart.....................................................28

MAY

Canada Coast to Coast by Rail.......................................................36 The Kentucky Derby......................................................................34 Over the Rivers and Through the Woods – A Mystery Tour...........33 Off to Sisters, It’s Just Around the Bend.........................................46 Winding Through Weaverville........................................................52

Join these happy “swingers” on numerous California coastal adventures, pages 6, 24, 31, 32 & 41

JUNE

Alaska’s Denali National Park.........................................................48 Baseball and Broadway – Take 2.....................................................40 Mt. Rushmore, The Black Hills, Crazy Horse, The Dakotas...........53 Everything’s Coming Up Roses......................................................50 Ferries, Islands and Towns of Old Cape Cod..................................42 US Olympic Gymnastic Trials........................................................68 Roses and Rose-Colored Glass in Victoria and Tacoma...................51 Strawberries, Beaches and Flower Fields.........................................41 Take the Train to Truckee and Virginia City...................................58 Wendover and the Bonneville Salt Flats..........................................38

JULY

The Calgary Stampede Centennial..................................................56 The Call of the Wild Mystery.........................................................33 Laguna Pageant of the Masters.......................................................59 (Continued on page 4)

The best barbecue in America is found at Slick’s, “just around the bend” in Sisters, Oregon, page 46 Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Table of Contents AUGUST

Atlantic Canada and the Magdalen Islands.....................................60 Planes and Trains of the Pacific Northwest.....................................44

SEPTEMBER

Fall in Love with Colorado and Utah.............................................64 Jammin’ Through Montana’s Glacier National Park........................54 New England Fall Foliage Sampler.................................................62

OCTOBER

Autumn in Branson........................................................................68 Living. History. Nuts. A Mystery Tour...........................................33 Mammouth Lakes and the Ghost Towns of Nevada.......................69 Oktoberfest and Thanksgiving in Canada.......................................66 World-renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s hometown –Tacoma, Washington – is all about glass, page 51

JANUARY 2013

Key West, Miami and The Everglades.............................................12

ODDS & ENDS

Holland America Line Cruises........................................................17 The Fine Print................................................................................72 Membership Has Its Benefits..........................................................70 Mystery Tours................................................................................33 Tour Teasers...................................................................................68

MAP KEY 6

One-Night Stay

2-3 Multiple-Night Stay Visit/Drive Through Our Western National Parks, such as Glacier seen here, glisten with perfection on pages 18, 48, 53, 54 & 64

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

National Park

Air

Mountain

Boat

Motorcoach

Train

Designed and printed by Imagesetter • Christine Knight • (916) 416-6229

Holiday Theatre and Figure Skating Too late to classify… Holiday Entertainment in the Foothills Featuring two new Christmas shows

2 Days • December 3-4

Kick off the Christmas season at the Fallon House Theatre with the sounds of The Winter Wonderettes and a new take on an old favorite, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol at the East Sonora Theatre. Both shows are productions of the talented Sierra Repertory Theatre Company. 1. Travel in comfort aboard SuperCoach III to Sonora for the holiday season. Browse the unique stores along historic Main Street for those perfect Christmas gifts following a late lunch at Christopher’s Ristorante Italiano. Your overnight accommodations are at the Best Western Sonora Oaks. For tonight’s evening performance, the popular girl group, The Marvelous Wonderettes, are back for a special holiday show! This seasonal sequel finds the girls returning to their hometown for Betty Jean’s company Christmas party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls must use their singing talent and creative ingenuity, plus some great holiday tunes, to save the celebration. Featuring all your caroling favorites, you’ll be in the holiday spirit in no time! (L) 2. Enjoy a leisurely morning before visiting the Union Hill Inn, a small bed and breakfast that has quickly become a Sports Leisure favorite for Sunday Brunch. The innkeeper, Barbara, loves Christmas and her place will be decked out with trees, garland and tiny lights for the season. And

oh the food! Those who have dined with her previously know she always creates something special for us! Following brunch, it’s time to enjoy a matinee performance: Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol. The flip side of the classic Christmas tale, Jacob Marley’s story begins in the afterlife where his business partner Scrooge once again determines his future. Along with several other colorful characters, Marley is brought to life with humor and heartfelt emotion. Return to Sacramento immediately after the show. (BR) The tour includes deluxe transportation on SuperCoach III, overnight accommodations, tickets to two theatre performances, 2 meals and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 450/500 Gold Passport Points $430 p.p./dbl.occ., $480 single

U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose

close to the ice and perhaps have fewer steps to negotiate inside the arena itself. The events we have included are the Championship Free Dance, Championship Mens and Ladies Free Skates, and the Championship Pairs Free Skate. The events are spread across four sessions. In addition, our exclusive “Meet the Coach” program will be back. At a private function, you’ll meet a skating coach and hear some real behind-the-scenes scoops. We are hopeful of getting a junior skater to make an appearance also. Of course, there’s a little sightseeing, some fine dining, and the good company of your Sports Leisure friends. The package includes door-to-door service, one-way transportation on Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor, with a gourmet box lunch, and returning service on SuperCoach III, tickets to the above mentioned skating events, our special “Meet the Coach” program, sightseeing in San Jose, 5 meals (2FB,1BL,1L,1D), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 1300/1450 Gold Passport Points $1295 p.p./dbl.occ., $1425 single

Featuring the Championship finals weekend

3 Days • January 27-29

We are pleased to announce this exclusive package for the 2012 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose at the HP Pavillion. Our package offers some exclusive features, including accommodations at the Embassy Suites in nearby Milpitas with cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and the Manager’s Reception each evening. As with previous events, we have secured seats in the upper part of the lower level of the arena. This means you avoid the colder temperatures Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Great trips departing in the coming weeks, register quickly, space is limited…

• One hour flightseeing over Canyonlands Nat’l Park, jet boat tour on the Colorado River • Enjoy the spectacular view of Canyonlands National Park from Dead Horse State Park • Door-to-door service; airfare; 13 meals: 6 full

Rockets, Balloons & Billy the Kid

Catalina Island Getaway

Featuring the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and the

4 Days • October 9-12

Virgin Spaceport America

Our annual escape to the island “26 miles across the sea” features an old friend who has completed a makeover! The Pavilion Lodge is now the Pavilion Hotel after being closed for several months to undergo a top to bottom renovation. With Sunday Brunch on the Queen Mary as your “Bon Voyage” party, you head 26 miles across the sea to Santa Catalina Island. Stay three nights at the Pavilion Hotel right next to the beach. In early October, the weather is perfect and the summer crowds are history. Sightseeing tours on the island are included, along with lunch at a Lawry’s Restaurant before your return flight home. The perfect short getaway, with our Catalina expert RoseMarie Holt as your Tour Director. Six meals, airfare, home pick-up included. 1450/1650 Gold Passport Points $1420 p.p./dbl.occ., $1650single

7 Days • October 2-8 HIGHLIGHTS • 3 balloon events: Special Shape Rodeo, “Glowdeo,” and Mass Ascension, upgraded seating in the Chaser Lounge • White Sands Nat’l Monument; tour the town of Lincoln, made famous by Billy the Kid • Sandia Tram with lunch at High Finance • Round trip air to El Paso/from Albuquerque, door-to-door airport transportation, 15 Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 3 dinners • 2400/2700 Gold Passport Points

Experience the excitement of balloons in flight, learn the history of Billy the Kid and discover the White Sands of New Mexico. Scott Angeletti leads you on this magical tour of the Albuquerque area featuring all multiple night stays. Two nights Las Cruces, two nights Ruidoso and two nights in Albuquerque. $2395 p.p./dbl.occ., $2670 single

The Ultimate Red Rock Country Adventure Featuring two scenic destinations

7 Days • October 11-17 HIGHLIGHTS • 3 nights at the Gateway Canyons Resort outside Grand Junction, CO; 3 nights on the banks of the Colorado River in Moab, UT at the Red Cliff Lodge • Visit red rock monuments: 97 year-old Calamity Camp, see the historic Hanging Flume, explore the Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum • Tour Arches National Park

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners • 2550/2950 Gold Passport Points

Scott Angeletti and Mark Hoffmann have both covered their share of this country in their respective careers in tourism. They’ve been to many places and there are a special few that fit a notch above the rest. Along the Colorado and Utah border region are some magnificent Red Rocks. This unique itinerary, not offered by any other tour company anywhere, combines Mark’s favorite, Gateway Canyon, and Scott’s favorite, Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, to create an amazing collage of color and scenic wonder. This is one of the finest vacations our company has ever offered. If you come along, you’ll see for yourself… $2530 p.p./dbl.occ., $2920 single

Dreaming of Santa Cruz Featuring the new Dream Inn

3 Days • October 16-18

The Dream Inn in Santa Cruz has been a longtime landmark. Perched on the water’s edge, it has been the setting for many a memorable visit, without any doubt. Now, the old gal has a new look and we are going to Santa Cruz and spending two nights in her company. Stroll the wharf and the famous boardwalk, learn a little about California history, ride a train into the redwoods and dine at the popular Shadowbrook Restaurant. Four meals, home pick-up, and Tour Director Donnie Anderson round out the important details for your getaway. 1000/1150 Gold Passport Points $990 p.p./dbl.occ., $1150 single

The REAL Hawaii – Kauai, Oahu, The Big Island See the REAL attractions, meet the people, learn about the land 10 Days • October 29 – November 7

een to Hawaii before? Thinking of returning, if only you could see and do something different? Look at this itinerary; nearly every attraction and activity is something unique. Ever tour a chocolate farm? You will on Kauai. Want to learn how vanilla is produced? You will. How about holding a tiny live sea horse in your hands? Yep, it’s part of our adventure. There’s a chance to learn more about where the president of these United States grew up and even a goofy Halloween celebration. (Who put Mark in charge of a Halloween Party?)

Marriott Resorts are featured, all having received extensive renovations, and are in tip-top shape. You even have the option to upgrade your rooms to ocean view for just a few dollars more. But even if you don’t, you’ll enjoy beautiful Marriott quality accommodations. See the tour highlights in the adjoining right-hand column. For the complete day-by-day itinerary, call our office or visit us online at www.sportsleisure.com.

Greenbrier Resort, overnights in Baltimore, Cumberland and Winchester • Ride the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, the Cheat Mountain Salamander and the Durbin Rocket • 3 live musical shows at Elkins Railyard during a 2-night stay • Visit Ft. McHenry & Babe Ruth’s Birthplace; drive the “Country Roads” of West Virginia

eautiful fall colors, three train rides, entertainment, all at “West Virginia” prices that give you the opportunity to explore a state you might have overlooked. In addition, there’s a visit to the wonderful five-star Greenbrier Resort, an American institution. If you’ve never been there, you simply must pay a visit. She’s been fancied up all spiffy and new, still maintaining her old Southern charm. Come with Clayton and experience the rugged beauty of West Virginia. Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead; 3050/3300 Gold Passport Points

& Skyline Drive; Museum of American Frontier Culture & Luray Caverns • 16 meals: Daily breakfast and dinner, plus

Kauai (3 nights), Waikiki (3 nights), Kona Coast (2); Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (1 night) • Kauai – Days 1-3: Tour a chocolate farm, scenic drive to Princeville, lunch at the new St. Regis Hotel overlooking the ocean, guided tram tour of a spectacular botanical garden, Halloween Party, farm-to-fork dinner • Honolulu – Days 4-6: Eco Spinner Dolphin Cruise, tour historic Iolani Palace, see the State Capitol, tour Doris Duke’s Shangri-la home, visit the beautiful new Pearl Harbor • The President’s Hawaii: A unique tour highlighting some of the hangouts

Featuring a two-night stay at the fabulous Greenbrier Resort 8 Days • October 19-26

• 2 nights at the newly renovated 5-diamond

• Stay in luxurious Marriott Resort Hotels:

Memorial, dinner at Chuck’s Steakhouse

$3995 p.p./dbl.occ., $4770 single

Rails, Trails and Music of West Virginia HIGHLIGHTS

HIGHLIGHTS

of a young Barrack Obama, visit the neighborhood where he grew up and other landmarks, enjoy a “plate lunch” and a “shaved ice” dessert • Big Island of Hawaii – Days 7-9: Tour Ocean Rider Sea Horse Farm, great burgers at Drysdale’s, King Kamehameha History Tour featuring sacred sites of Hawaii’s first king, Sunday Brunch in a real Hawaiian “diner,” tours of a mushroom farm, a tea farm and only commercial vanilla farm in the USA, Sports Leisure exclusives • Includes all tours and attractions as listed • A Sports Leisure Tour Director and a lei greeting in the islands • Door-to-door transportation • Round trip airfare and inter-island hops on Hawaiian Airlines • 15 meals: 4 full breakfasts, 7 lunches,

$3025 p.p./dbl.occ., $3275 single

4 dinners • 4000/4800 Gold Passport Points

2 lunches; round trip air to Baltimore/from Dulles; door-to-door airport transportation Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Thanksgiving in New York Visit the Big Apple at the most wonderful time of the year! 6 Days • November 20-25

ur New York City trips are among our most popular, with both new and

returning travelers. Why? No one does New York like Sports Leisure does. We even let you pick one of your own shows! Our guides and speakers will add an extra element of fun and education to your visit. Clayton has been to NYC many times as a Tour Director, and can truly show you the best way to make the most of your time in the city.

HIGHLIGHTS • 5 nights at the Westin Times Square • Tickets to two hit Broadway shows (Tony Award Winning Best Revival Anything Goes, plus you select a show), and the option of one Off-Broadway show, The Fantastics (additional charge) • Radio City Music Hall’s Rockettes Christmas Spectacular • 5 memorable meals featuring dinner at Sardi’s and a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner cruise • Theatre talk with nationally-syndicated critic

If you have an interest in joining us this November, won’t you check out the day-by-day itinerary on time at www.sportsleisure.com, or call our office and we’ll mail you a copy of the schedule? The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, the excitement of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise past the Statue of Liberty and some of the best accommodations in New York, right off Times Square.

Tonopah, Laughlin and Las Vegas by SuperCoach III 6 Days • November 5-10

1. Our fleet of Carey vehicles will pick you up at your home. Depart our office for the south shore of Lake Tahoe where you will enjoy the popular Forest Buffet at Harrah’s. Continue your travels down Hwy 395, criss-crossing between California and Nevada. Your final destination for the day is Tonopah. Ramada Inn (BR)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

2. Head south to Beatty for a hosted lunch at the Stagecoach Hotel. After a rest stop in Las Vegas, arrive in Laughlin in late afternoon. Golden Nugget – 2 nights (B,L) 3. Travel the Colorado River by jet boat to Lake Havasu, home of the famous London Bridge. View breathtaking Topock Gorge,

Peter Filichia; city driving tours with an expert local guide; visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island • Round trip airfare to/from New York • Door-to-door airport service • Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead • 3650/4000 Gold Passport Points

$3605 p.p./dbl.occ., $3995 single Add The Fantastics for an additional $50 per person

accessible only by the river, featuring volcanic rock faces, enchanting emerald waters, ancient Indian petroglyphs, and desert wild life. Enjoy a hosted lunch and some free time in Lake Havasu before returning to Laughlin. (L) 4. Head back to Las Vegas this morning, visiting the Neon Museum, which has over 150 signs in its collection. During your guided tour you will find the most treasured and famous signs of Las Vegas’ past. Enjoy a city tour of Las Vegas as you travel the length of the strip to your centrally (Continued on page 9)

Holiday Lights of the Desert Featuring a Christmas show with John Davidson and the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies 3 Days • December 14-16 1. Be picked up from your home by Carey Transportation and taken to the airport for your mid-morning flight directly to Palm Springs. From the airport, it’s a 20-minute drive to the tram at the base of the mountain. But we didn’t come to stay at the base. Time for a trip to the top of Mt. San Jacinto. The view from the gondolas of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway are spectacular, with windows all around and the rotating floor providing you with a 360-degree view of the valley as you travel up the mountainside. You may even see a dusting of snow on the mountain! Enjoy an elegant luncheon in the Peaks Dining Room. Next stop is your hotel, a very nice Hilton, just two blocks from the heart of Palm Springs and convenient to all the boutiques and restaurants along Palm Canyon Drive. This evening, a short drive to Palm Desert takes you to the Living Desert, home of “Wildlights,” a holiday festival featuring over 750,000 twinkling lights. Enjoy a tram ride through the animal park and the holiday atmosphere complete with a Candy

Cane Lane, Santa’s Village and Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen before returning to your hotel for the evening. Hilton Hotel Palm Springs – 2 nights (L)

HIGHLIGHTS • Ride the tram through “Wildlights” a holiday lights festival at the Living Desert • Laugh and sing along during a special

2. You may decide to enjoy the leisurely pace of the desert this morning or do a bit of shopping along Palm Canyon Drive. Return to the hotel in time for lunch before the afternoon matinee performance of the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies. The “long-legged lovelies and follies gents” (55 to 85 years young) will be kicking up their heels to the music of the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and Christmas carols. They will be joined this holiday season by the exciting singer and entertainer, John Davidson. You can enjoy the entire show from your premier center orchestra seating. After the show walk across the street for a fine dinner at the Kaiser Grill, a Sports Leisure favorite. This evening, enjoy the Palm Springs “Street Fest,” as a variety of vendors set up shop on Palm Canyon Drive and the street is closed to traffic. A perfect place to pick up last minute Christmas gifts. (D)

holiday performance of the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, featuring John Davidson • Ascend Mt. San Jacinto aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, enjoy lunch at the top of the mountain • Relax for 2 nights at the conveniently located Hilton Hotel • Round trip airfare, Sacramento/Palm Springs • 2 Meals: 1 lunch, 1 dinner • Door-to-door transportation • 1100/1200 Gold Passport Points

3. Continue the leisurely pace of the desert this morning. Your noon flight from the Palm Springs airport (just up the street) returns you to Sacramento at 1:45pm. $1065 p.p./dbl.occ., $1170 single

Tonopah, Laughlin and Las Vegas – continued from page 8 located hotel where custom European furniture, rich fabrics and warm decorations give your room a distinctive French feel. Paris Las Vegas – 2 nights (L) 5. Today is yours to explore some of the amazing hotels that surround you. The Bellagio, with its spectacular fountains show,

is directly across the street and Caesars Palace, with its famous “Forum Shops,” is next door. 6. Depart Las Vegas this morning for the trip back to Sacramento. There will be rest and meal stops en route via Mojave, Bakersfield and Fresno. Carey vehicles will be waiting at the Sports Leisure office! (L)

This tour includes door-to-door transfers, motorcoach transportation, accommodations, all meals and attractions as listed in the itinerary and the services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director (Joey Querio). 1250/1400 Gold Passport Points $1230 p.p./dbl.occ., $1395 single Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

The Capital, Kennedy, Rockefeller, Rockettes, Boston Pops Christmas Concert Celebration 7 Days • December 8-14

ever before has there been a line-up like this one. Fly to Washington, DC, where you spend three nights in an Embassy Suites hotel in the city. For two nights, you’ll enjoy a variety of guided and self-chosen sights, and each evening we’ll treat you to

dinner and a lovely holiday celebration. Visit George Washington’s Mt. Vernon for a colonial-style Christmas. See the Nation’s Christmas Tree and enjoy a Christmas Pops Concert at the Kennedy Center, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra’s Pops group and the Canadian Tenors, four gifted young men with diverse vocal styles, undeniable charm, and international solo success.

HIGHLIGHTS • Tickets to holiday concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Radio City Music Hall (The Rockettes) in New York and the Boston Pops Holiday Show at the Symphony Hall in Boston • Ride the Acela express train from Washington to New York • 9 meals, deluxe accommodations

Your second stop is New York City and we’ll get there via the Acela Express Train from Washington. It’s a brief stay, just overnight at the beautiful Westin Times Square, but long enough to see the tree at Rockefeller Center and the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall. Your third and final stop is Boston, the home of the Boston Pops Orchestra, which offers a holiday concert each year that can only be described as memorable. Your two night stay at the Embassy Suites includes some time for holiday shopping, a little sightseeing and the Pops concert. Join Mark and Chris for this wonderful trip along the east coast at holiday time. $2950 p.p./dbl.occ., $3380 single

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

• Round trip airfare Sacramento to Washington/from Boston • Door-to-door airport service • 2950/3400 Gold Passport Points

CT PA

New York City

Philadelphia

NJ MD

DE 1-3

Washington, DC

5-6

Boston

RI Providence

Take the Train to the Rose Parade Travel to Southern California in the luxurious comfort of your own private railcar 4 Days • December 30 – January 2

he most comfortable rail excursion you have ever taken is waiting to deliver you to the nation’s premier New Year’s Day event, the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade. Experience personal attentive service aboard your private railcar, The Silver Lariat escorted by Amtrak’s Coast Starlight, as the farms of the coastal valley give way to the stunning Southern California coastline. For the complete day-by-day itinerary, please go online at www.sportsleisure.com, and click on the “California” button near the top of the page. The Rose Parade itinerary is the last one in the section. Or please contact our office.

Colorado Boulevard for the big parade. When it’s over, grab lunch and head for the airport for your return flight. This tour includes rail transportation to Southern California and return airfare, deluxe accommodations, 9 meals (1 box breakfast for parade day, 3 full breakfasts, 1 brunch with Queen Mary option only, 3 lunches, 2 dinners), reserved seating for the Tournament of Roses Parade, all attractions listed in the above itinerary, and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 2050/2250 Gold Passport Points $2012 p.p./dbl.occ., $2212 single

This is a most unique way to go to the Tournament of Roses Parade, riding in a restored rail car, with service you won’t believe, along with all you can eat and drink during the day-long journey to Van Nuys. You’re accommodations in Southern California are at the Long Beach Hyatt for three nights. There’s a wonderful New Year’s Eve Party for you to enjoy, because this year’s parade takes place on January 2nd (long time tradition, no parade on Sunday). Ride a gondola at Naples Island, enjoy lunch on the Santa Monica pier at one of Sports Leisure’s favorite restaurants, The Lobster. Sunday Brunch on the Queen Mary (and the Aquarium of the Pacific) or spend a day at Disneyland, it’s your choice. Of course, you have reserved bleacher seats on

LLC

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Key West, Miami and The Everglades Featuring Key Largo and four nights in Key West 7 Days • January 21-27 • Also January 2013 (dates TBA)

ey West is a place you can visit over and over. Warm weather (even in January the average high is 76, the average low 66) is the norm. Because of the intimate nature of this tour, it is limited to just 25 travelers and sells out early every year. If you can’t join us for the 2012 trip, a $100 deposit will hold your 2013 space until May of 2012, when the exact dates and prices are announced. Should you make the deposit and decide not to join us, the $100 is fully refundable. 1. Arrive in Miami in the late afternoon after your flights from Sacramento via Minneapolis on Delta Airlines. At a local Brazilian steakhouse enjoy a unique dinner with an international twist before retiring for the evening. Courtyard by Marriott Miami West (D)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

2. Our morning city tour delivers you to Florida Everglades National Park. Learn about this delicate and fragile environment, then board an air boat for a short everglades experience. Back in Miami, there’s time for lunch on your own, followed by a tour of famous South Beach, Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. It’s an hour to Key Largo, made famous in story and song. Enjoy dinner tonight at The Fish House, a local favorite. Hampton Inn Key Largo (B,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • Visit Florida Everglades National Park and experience an air boat ride • History abounds in Key West – visit the Hemingway Home, The Aquarium, Truman’s “Little White House” and the Shipwreck Museum, tour the island aboard the famous Old Town Trolley • Day cruise on an authentic clipper ship (optional), Butterfly and Nature

3. Begin the day with a ride on the glass bottom boat that plies the largest living coral reef off our coast(s). Next, it’s on down the Intracoastal Highway we go, the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Arrive in Key West, the literal end of the highway, in late afternoon. Tonight, a glorious welcome dinner on the top floor of your hotel, the “Top of the Conch,” perhaps one of the most famous sunset watching spots in these United States. You’re in a wonderful location on historic Duval Street, with shops and restaurants on both sides. Key West is a very pedestrian friendly city and we walk to several attractions that are within two or three blocks of our hotel. Crowne Plaza La Concha – 4 nights (B,D)

Conservatory visit • Cabaret Dinner Show at La Te Da, lunch at Sloppy Joe’s, dinner atop the La Concha Hotel – weather permitting, spectacular sunset views; all Key West Landmarks • 4 nights in Key West at the Crowne Plaza La Concha, in the heart of town on historic Duval Street • Overnight in Miami – city tour featuring South Beach and Coral Gables • Overnight in Key Largo – glass bottom boat cruise • 13 meals: 2 breakfasts, 4 full breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners • Door-to-door transportation • Round trip airfare Sacramento/Miami, return Key West/Sacramento • Tour Director: Mark Hoffmann • 3400/3750 Gold Passport Points Proud Members of the

4-6. From Hemingway to Tennessee Williams to Robert Frost, many famous artisans have called the Keys home. Dozens of ships were wrecked on its reefs. Visit the homes of two famous Americans, Harry Truman and Ernest Hemingway. Tour the area aboard the famous Old Town Trolley, stop in search of buried treasure at the Shipwreck Museum and visit the “Little White House,” frequented by presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Truman. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory and the Key West Aquarium. Cruise along the shores of the island on an authentic Clipper Ship (you can opt out of this activity and receive a refund if you aren’t a “water” person). Walk to dozens of the shops, restaurants and attractions from your hotel.

tradition you’ll never forget. Breakfast is included each morning at your hotel. (3FB,2L,2D) 7. It’s time to leave our island paradise and head for home. Our return flight leaves directly from Key West and connects via Atlanta and Los Angeles on Delta Airlines. (FB) 2012 – $3375 p.p./dbl.occ., $3750 single* 2013 prices will be available May 1, 2012

*Prices listed are for 2012 (we expect about a 3% price increase for 2013). If you are registering for the 2013 departure, pay a $100 per person deposit upon registration. No further payment is due until May 1, 2012, when you’ll have payment options, including the Early Registration Discount or the right to cancel and receive your deposit back.

Who doesn’t like to eat on vacation? How about lunch where the Sloppy Joe was invented, or a midday meal in one of the funkiest “joints” you’ll ever wander into? There’s a great Italian dinner, and a dinner and cabaret show in the Key West

Everglades Nat’l Park

Miami

Coral Gables

Key Largo

3-6

Key West Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Kia Ora, New Zealand! Featuring the best of the North and South Islands 19 Days • February 19 – March 8

ia Ora is the way New Zealanders say “G’Day.” In the Maori language it literally means “Be Well” or “Be Healthy.” It’s easy to find health in such a beautifully natural country. This will be Sports Leisure’s first exclusive visit to New Zealand and we are taking it all in at a moderate pace with four two-night stays along the way. 1-2. Begin your journey with door-to-door service and transfer via SuperCoach III to San Francisco International Airport. Board your Air New Zealand flight and cross the international dateline (losing a day) en route.

4. Explore the country’s largest city on the South Island with a city tour. Marvel at the spectacular mountain ranges including Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s highest peak. The opportunity is available to enjoy optional flightseeing over the Southern Alps before travelling to Omarama. Heritage Gateway Hotel (FB,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • Explore history at the Olveston House, Larnach Castle and the New Zealand National Museum • Beauty abounds at Glenfalloch Woodland Gardens, Paradise Valley Springs, and on cruises on Millford Sound and Lake

5. Discover Lake Benmore, before following the Waitaki River to Oamaru. In Dunedin, a wellpreserved Victorian city, visit Olveston House. Tonight it’s a Scottish evening of bagpipes, great food, and a special Haggis Ceremony. Mercure Leisure Lodge (FB,D)

Wakatipu • Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and experience a TranzAlpine Rail Journey • Skyline Gondola and Luge Rides • City sights tour of Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland • Airfare to Christchurch/from Auckland from

3. After a quick connection in Auckland, continue to Christchurch and meet your local guide. Heartland Hotel Cotswold (D)

6. Travel along the Otago Peninsula to Larnach Castle where you hear of its tragic and scandalous history on a guided tour. Visit Glenfalloch Woodland Gardens and view the superb collection of flowers, followed by morning tea. Travel through Balclutha and Gore to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland and your overnight stay. A visit to the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves is optional this evening. Distinction Luxmore Hotel (FB,D) 7. A fascinating drive to Milford Sound delivers you to a cruise on this magnificent fjord. See spectacular Bowen Falls

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

San Francisco • First class hotel accommodations including (4) two-night stays • 30 meals: (16FB,1L,13D) including 4 specialty dinners: Maori Hangi and Concert in Rotorua, Haggis Ceremony in Dunedin, Walter Peak Homestead in Queenstown, and a special Farewell Dinner in Auckland • Door-to-door service from your home • Services of a local guide and Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead • 5700/6800 Gold Passport Points

and towering Mitre Peak as you enjoy a picnic lunch. Your hotel for the next two nights is in Queenstown, overlooking Lake Wakatipu. Mercure Queenstown Resort – 2 nights (FB,L) 8. Explore Queenstown at your leisure today. Optional activities include a jet boat ride,

a heritage tour to Skippers Canyon, or the helicopter ride of a lifetime. This evening, board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw and cruise across the lake to Walter Peak Station for dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead. (FB,D) 9. Arrowtown, an old gold mining village, is home to the Lakes District Museum. En route to the mighty West Coast, see the snowcapped peaks of the Southern Alps as you travel to Fox Glacier. Time is available to experience another optional scenic flight over this spectacular area. Heartland Hotel Glacier Country (FB,D) 10. Continue into Arthur’s Pass and board The TranzAlpine, renowned as one of the great train journeys of the world. View rivers and valleys as you travel through the Waimakariri Basin, over massive viaducts and through the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains to the elegant city of Christchurch. Sudima Hotel Christchurch (FB,D) 11. The fishing village of Kaikoura and Marlborough County are famous for their spectacular scenery and their food and wine. In Picton, board the Interislander Ferry for your journey through the Marlborough Sounds and across Cook Strait to Wellington. Hotel Ibis Wellington – 2 nights (FB,D) 12. Discover the fascinating history and culture in New Zealand’s capital of Wellington. A highlight will be a guided tour of Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum, with exhibits that embrace both Maori and European views of the land, environment, and people. Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore the city. (FB) 13. Leaving Wellington, view the snowcapped

peaks of Mt. Ruapehu and Mt. Tongariro as you travel to Lake Taupo. Visit the spectacular Huka Falls then travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to the geothermal wonders of Rotorua. Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua – 2 nights (FB,D)

18. As you near the end of your New Zealand holiday, enjoy a day at leisure in this cosmopolitan city. Discover Auckland’s War Memorial, tour the botanical gardens, or see the city from high atop Auckland’s SkyTower. Your guide will be able to assist you. (FB)

14. Today begins with a gondola ride to Skyrides Restaurant where breakfast and spectacular views are offered. At the Agrodome, see performing sheep, a shearing display, and sheep dog trial. Of course, there is time to see the boiling mud pools and the awesome geysers that Rotorua is famous for. Tonight a Maori Hangi and Concert. (FB,D)

19. Transfer to the airport for your flight home after a memorable New Zealand holiday. Arrive back in California in the late afternoon on the same day you depart New Zealand. (FB)

15. In Paihia, situated in the heart of the beautiful Bay of Islands, enjoy a guided tour of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, location of the signing of the treaty between the Maori tribes and the British. Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge – 2 nights (FB,D) 16. A luxury catamaran delivers you to Cape Brett and the famous Hole in the Rock. Keep an eye out for dolphins before returning to Paihia for a free afternoon. (FB,D) 17. Depart the Bay of Islands this morning and travel to Matakohe. Enjoy a visit and informative talk at the Kauri Museum before continuing to Auckland for a city sights tour. Copthorne Hotel Auckland City – 2 nights (FB,D)

$5739 p.p./dbl.occ., $6769 single This vacation requires a valid passport! 15-16

Bay of Islands

NEW ZEALAND Auckland 17-18

North Island

South Island

Picton

Rotorua 13-14

11-12

Wellington

Arthur’s Pass Fox Glacier 9

3&10

Mt. Cook 4

Queenstown 6

Te Anau

Christchurch

Omarama

7-8

1-2

Dunedin

First two nights on the plane to Christchurch (cross the international dateline)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Southeast Asia on Holland America’s Floating Hotel Dragons, Beaches and Buddhas 19 Days (14 Day Cruise, plus 2 Nights Singapore) • January 20 – February 7

ports Leisure invites you to join us for our third Asia Tour in January 2012. Visit five countries during your 14-day voyage in style and luxury aboard Holland America’s floating hotel, the ms Zaandam. With stops in ten different ports, you will experience the vibrancy of Southeast Asian culture with a wide array of optional daytime shore excursions. Zoom through the streets of Bangkok in a tuk-tuk (covered three-wheeled motorcycle taxi), relax in the serenity of the Vietnamese countryside, or simply enjoy carefree days sailing the open seas. It’s your vacation and your experience to create. Whichever you choose, each evening you will return to the comfort of your cabin and the excellent service that Holland America is known for. The balanced itinerary is well-suited to the adventurous, mature, active traveler. Air

travel, bus transfer to SFO and a two-night post-cruise stay in Singapore makes a total of 19 days. Bring your sense of adventure and let’s safely journey to exotic lands to make lifelong memories! Best of all, you’ll travel with our own experienced Asian Traveler, Chris Galloway. He’ll help you navigate some of the cultural and airport challenges. Your visit to these exotic locales is made more comfortable by the fact that you have your own floating hotel, with Holland America-style service.

Inside cabin: $4945 p.p./dbl.occ., $5950 single Ports of call (in order): Embark in Hong Kong Outside cabin: (full day to explore), China; Halong Bay, $5095 p.p./dbl.occ., $6290 single Nha Treng and Phu My (for Ho Chi Minh This vacation requires a valid passport! City), Vietnam; Sanya, China; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Laem Chabang Halong Bay (for Bangkok), Ko Samui, Hong Kong ASIA Thailand; Singapore. The Sihanoukville Sanya package includes door-to-door (Kampong Som) transfers, round trip airfare to Laem Chabang Hong Kong/from Singapore, (Bangkok) Nha Trang a two-night post-cruise stay Ko Samui with sightseeing in Singapore, Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City) and 14 nights onboard the ms Zaandam, with all meals Singapore included.

Call our office for the complete

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

cruise brochure. Prices, including airfare and the pre and post-cruise package begin as listed below.

Experience the world with first-class service aboard the fine ships of the Holland America Line

ver dream of cruising to exotic lands? Unpacking once and letting your wellappointed cruise ship deliver you seamlessly from port to exciting port? Let the experts at Sports Leisure Vacations make your arrangements! While Sports Leisure prides itself on creating unique vacations for our growing travel family, we understand we don’t go everywhere our loyal customers want to go. Each year many long-time Sports Leisure travelers trust our experienced and competent staff to make their reservations for them. Interested in a cruise of several weeks or perhaps even a round-the-world adventure? We can help your dream become reality.

SHIP

DESTINATION

ms Osterdam

8 day Alaska sailings round trip from Seattle

10 day Canada/New England sailing from New York to Québec City

ms Eurodam

September 14, 2012

Rates from $1599.00 inside, $1749.00 outside, $2399.00 veranda ms Osterdam

14 day round trip Hawaii sailing from San Diego

March 17, 2012

Rates from $1699.00 inside, $1899.00 outside, $2599.00 veranda 17 day Panama Canal cruise from San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale

ms Zuiderdam

October 2, 2012

Rates from $1899.00 inside, $2199.00 outside, $2799.00 veranda 24 day Transpacific sailing from Vancouver to Sydney, Australia

September 26, 2012

Rates from $2599.00 inside, $3099.00 outside, $5799.00 veranda suite ms Prinsendam

26 day Grand Mediterranean voyage from Venice to Ft. Lauderdale

April 17, 2012

Rates from $5049.00 inside, $5799.00 outside, $10,599.00 veranda suite ms Rotterdam

30 day Incan Empires sailing round trip from San Diego to South America as far Lima, Peru

February 3, 2012

Rates from $3259.00 inside, $3499.00 outside, $4999.00 veranda suite ms Amsterdam

22 day world cruise segment from Singapore to Athens March 19, 2012

Rates from $4499.00 inside, $4999.00 outside, $7999.00 veranda suite ms Ryndam

In addition to unique sailings, Sports Leisure also keeps track of cruise specials like those listed on this page. If you want to learn more about these departures, or any of Holland America’s other itineraries, please do not hesitate to contact our office for more information.

May 6 – Sept. 23, 2012

Rates depend on sailing date but early May and late September rates begin with inside cabins from $699.00, outside cabins from $899.00, and verandas from $1249.00

ms Volendam

Why Holland America? Simply because we believe in the product. The line’s 15 mid-sized ships are small enough not to be floating cities at sea but large enough to offer a host of exciting amenities and experiences. As part of its ongoing Signature of Excellence program, Holland America continues to add enhancements and new features to its fleet, including dramatic new public areas and stateroom upgrades, as well as expanding its onboard enrichment program. All Holland America ships feature exquisite dining and beautiful artwork throughout the ship.

SAILING DATE

35 day crossing to Spain and Canaries voyage from Tampa to London

April 1, 2012

Rates from $3749.00 inside, $4549.00 outside, $7499.00 veranda suite ms Noordam

14 day Spanish Odyssey from Rome to Ft. Lauderdale

October 22, 2012

Rates from $1399.00 inside, $1599.00 outside, $1899.00 veranda suite All cabins based on double occupancy, government taxes not included. Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Winter in the Canyonlands of Utah and Arizona Take a sleigh ride in Bryce Canyon 6 Days • March 10-15 1. Fly non-stop on Southwest Airlines to Las Vegas. Lunch is hosted before an afternoon drive to Springdale, Utah. Your hotel is well situated in the middle of town with incredible red rock views. Zion Park Inn (L) 2. Start the day by viewing the brilliant IMAX movie Treasures of the Gods. Travel into Zion Canyon viewing the park’s towering red rock monoliths as you travel along the Virgin River that created its beautiful valley. Lunch is hosted at the Zion Lodge before the afternoon’s scenic drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. We’ll make several stops for photos along the way before checking into the area’s finest hotel, featuring beautiful over-sized rooms. Bryce Canyon Grand – 2 nights (FB,L) 3. Winter is one of the most colorful times of the year at Bryce Canyon National Park. The air is crisp and pure, and you can see for miles. A

memorable experience will be had on a sleigh ride out to the rim of the canyon. We’ll then tour by coach, making stops at several overlooks, viewing the large collections of bizarre sandstone formations called “Hoo Doo’s.” There will even be an option (extra cost, weather permitting) to go flight seeing over the park. (FB,L)

Your afternoon tour is an exclusive, offered only by special arrangement. Visit the Bright Angel history room telling the story of Fred Harvey and his Harvey Girls. Stop at Mary Jane Colter’s architectural marvel known as Lookout Studio. Take a behind the scenes tour and view the Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

• Experience the pristine outdoors and snow-covered red rocks • Explore Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks • Included sleigh ride at Bryce Canyon • Private tour along the rim and hosted lunch

4. Travel to the Grand Canyon today, with lunch hosted en route at Lake Powell. This afternoon you enter one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, Grand Canyon National Park. The Desert View Watchtower, constructed in 1932, is a replica of a prehistoric 70 foot Indian tower and commands a magnificent view of the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. Watch one of the most popular IMAX movies, Grand Canyon, The Hidden Secrets, before checking into your deluxe accommodations just outside the park in the town of Tusayan. Grand Canyon Squire Inn – 2 nights (FB,L) 5. This morning take a private guided tour along the rim of the Grand Canyon to Hermits Rest. Capture the colors of the canyon during your photo stops along the way. Enjoy lunch at the historic El Tovar Hotel before the afternoon’s private guided tour of the village.

HIGHLIGHTS

at the historic El Tovar at the Grand Canyon • VIP guided tour of the Grand Canyon Village historic sites • Day visit to Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon • Deluxe accommodations • 12 included meals: 5 full breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner • Round trip airfare to Las Vegas, back from Phoenix • Door-to-door airport service • Tour Director: Scott Angeletti • 1800/2050Gold Passport Points

fascinating art exhibits of the Kolb Studio which clings to the edge of Grand Canyon. Back at the hotel this evening a final night dinner allows us to toast our adventures together! (FB,L,D) 6. Travel the scenic Oak Creek Canyon on your way to Sedona, Arizona. Lunch is hosted with at the Mexican-style village of Tlaquepaque nestled beneath the shade of the sycamores on the banks of beautiful Oak Creek. Fly back to Sacramento this evening from Phoenix. (FB,L) $1780 p.p./dbl.occ., $2020 single

Winter at the Ahwahnee Featuring an overnight stay at the historic lodge in Yosemite National Park 2 Days • February 26-27

his trip is all about the Ahwahnee Hotel… enjoy the elegant brunch in the grand dining room, have a docent guided historic tour of the public areas, and stay one night in the recently redecorated rooms of this grand dame of National Park hotels. And if you are fortunate, Mother Nature will dust the valley in a beautiful fresh coat of fluffy snow during the night so you will wake up to sparkling white blanket on the meadows.

1. Depart Sacramento by SuperCoach III and travel in comfort through the Central Valley to Yosemite National Park and your home for the evening, the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. Opened in 1926 and designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, who also designed Zion Lodge and

Bryce Canyon Lodge, the Ahwahnee provides gorgeous views of Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls. Enjoy Sunday Brunch in the Ahwahnee Dining Room, with its 34 foot high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows, surrounded by beautifully designed stained glass. After brunch, a guided historic tour of the public areas deepens your appreciation for the architecture and interior design of this grand structure. Relax with a cup of tea in the Grand Lounge while awaiting check-in at 5pm. The evening is yours to enjoy the surroundings. Ahwahnee Hotel (BR)

and enjoy the spectacular views as you explore from one end of the valley to another from the comfort of a heated coach with a local guide this morning. Lunch and one more chance to pick up a souvenir from the shops of Yosemite Village follow before returning to Sacramento. This package includes: Motorcoach transpor tation, accommodations, 1 brunch, gratuities for the guides and docents, baggage handling gratuities, and all tours and attractions as listed. Tour Director: Ramona Goodge. 700/800 Gold Passport Points $655 p.p./dbl.occ., $765 single

2. Exploring the valley during this season is very different than during other times of the year. Learn more about winter in Yosemite

Take the Snow Train to Reno All Aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr for the Sierra Nevada 2 Days • February 16–17 or March 22-23

ast year two sold-out groups experienced our Snow Train tour to Reno onboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr. The train departs Sacramento at 11am and arrives in Reno around 4pm. The scenery should be beautiful with snow-capped mountains and gorgeous views of Donner Lake from high above its southern shore. 1. SuperCoach III picks you up from one of our four convenient departure points and delivers you to Sacramento’s historic rail station. Don’t worry about your luggage – it will travel

onboard the motorcoach! Once aboard the train, enjoy relaxing views from your reserved seat or from the domed observation car. A box lunch is included for you to take with you so you won’t miss a thing! In Reno, enjoy dinner at your leisure and gamble the night away. Casino bonuses are included but subject to change. Silver Legacy Casino/Resort (BL)

can also stay downtown – the choice is yours. In the early afternoon, return to Sacramento onboard SuperCoach III.

2. An optional stop at the Nugget in Sparks on the second day will be offered and includes an additional casino bonus if you participate. You

$229 p.p./dbl.occ., $249 single

The package includes the California Zephyr to Reno, a boxed lunch, accommodations, casino bonuses, and return transportation on SuperCoach III. 250 Gold Passport Points

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Putting on the Ritz in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast America’s most exclusive accommodations and finest food are calling you to the coast! 6 Days • March 11-16 1. Following what many call “the storm of the century,” New Orleans is back, better than ever and ready to welcome you with open arms. And what a welcome it will be as your coach pulls up in front of the city’s finest accommodations, the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Two hotels in one, we’ll be staying in the casual and comfortable Iberville Suites, offering a separate parlor and bedroom for your pleasure. Dinner tonight is served at the famed Court of Two Sisters, hidden away in the heart of the Quarter. Iberville Suites by Ritz Carlton – 3 nights (D) 2. The morning opens with a true New Orleans tradition: Breakfast at Brennan’s. Save room for

the Bananas Foster, a dish invented here. Take a walking tour of the famous “French” Quarter (pictured) which is actually Spanish, just one of the many curiosities the city holds, then you’ll have free time to continue your exploration on your own. (B)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

• 3 nights in the French Quarter at the Iberville Suites by Ritz Carlton • 2 nights oceanfront at the luxurious Beau Rivage in Biloxi • Scenic New Orleans driving and French

3. The morning is free to do as much or little as you please. In the afternoon, take a driving tour of the city, including areas destroyed and reborn in Katrina’s wake. In the evening, learn the secrets of great Cajun and Creole chefs at the New Orleans School of Cooking. (B,D)

Quarter walking tours • Visit Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Shrine • Tour the new Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art • Sunset cruise on the Gulf of Mexico • 10 fabulous meals including Court of Two Sisters and Brennan’s, 3 breakfasts, 2 full breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners

4. A morning drive to Biloxi, Mississippi culminates with a visit to Beauvoir, the retirement home of the one and only president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis; a shrine though battered, proved too strong and proud to fall to Katrina’s fury. The rebuilt Davis Presidential Library is schedule to be open in time for your visit. Your exclusive oceanfront accommodations and exciting casino action await. Good Luck! Beau Rivage – 2 nights (B,D) 5. This coastal community counts among its most colorful citizens the avant guard artist George Ohr, known as “The Mad Potter of Biloxi.” Along with pal Jerry O’Keefe, they established an artistic tradition on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the mid-20th century that’s never been duplicated. Learn more about them, their art and times in the newly reconstructed OhrO’Keefe Museum of Art. Or perhaps simply enjoying the Beau’s lavish spa is more your speed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Door-to-door airport transportation • Round trip airfare Sacramento/New Orleans • Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead • 2400/2650 Gold Passport Points

The choice is yours. In the late afternoon, enjoy libations aboard a sunset sailing cruise before your Farewell Dinner, serving up the bounty of the Gulf. We’re talking shrimp and oysters, y’all! (FB,D) 6. A visit to nearby Stone County, Mississippi proved to be the hit of our 2010 tour. Visit the state’s only certified goat farm, make a pottery dish, visit a true “nut house” and have lunch hosted by area storytellers to learn the rich heritage of the region. A drive back to Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans brings your adventure to a close. (FB,L) $2370 p.p./dbl.occ., $2610 single

The Colorful Carolina Coast Meander the beautiful Southern Atlantic coastline from Norfolk to Jacksonville 10 Days • March 20-29 1. Travel east to Norfolk, your gateway to the Carolina coast. Hilton Hotel 2. Drive along one of America’s most unique and scenic geological features, the Outer Banks. Your stops include the birthplace of flight, Kitty Hawk National Monument, and the great Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Dinner provided by the “church ladies” at St. John’s is a special treat. Comfort Inn of Buxton (FB,L,D) 3. A picnic lunch aboard the ferry through Pamlico Sound highlights this day of travel en route to New Bern, Carolina’s Royal Capital City, where you’ll tour Lord Tryon’s Palace before checking into your riverside hotel. New Bern Hilton Hotel (B,L)

VA Norfolk 1

NC SC

Buxton New Bern

Ferry

Wilmington 4-5

6-7 8-9

Myrtle Beach

Charleston

Savannah Jekyll Island

Jacksonville

4-5. Say hello to Wilmington with a visit to the Battleship USS North Carolina for a tour and lunch. Myrtle Beach awaits where your home is an oceanfront condominium with a million dollar view. Dinner and a performance at one of the Strand’s live musical theaters end your second day. Beach Cove Resort – 2 nights (FB,L,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • Visit North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Kitty Hawk, Wilmington, USS North Carolina and Tyron Palace • See South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens, Charleston and Ft. Sumter • Enjoy Georgia’s first city, Savannah, and

6. Brookgreen Gardens, the nation’s largest outdoor sculpture display, is your host for a beautiful morning. Continue to Charleston for a harbor cruise to Ft. Sumter National Monument where the first shots of the Civil War were fired in 1861. Your hotel is on famed Meeting Street. Mills House Hotel – 2 nights (D)

historic Jekyll Island • 2-night stays oceanfront on Myrtle Beach and in Charleston and Savannah’s Historic Districts • Overnights in Norfolk, Buxton (Outer Banks) and New Bern • 17 meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 full breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

7. Begin the day with a city tour by horse and carriage. Following lunch at the City Market, join Clayton for a stroll to the Battery, take in a museum or repose in your historic accommodations where Robert E. Lee stayed in 1863! (FB,L) 8. Next, it’s off to the shining city of Savannah. Following hotel check-in, embark on a progressive dinner with libations and appetizers passed on a river cruise, a traditional “Low Country Boil” served on Tybee Island for dinner and a visit to “Clayton Place” for Toot’s famous prune cake dessert. Staybridge Suites Hotel – 2 nights (FB,D) 9. A morning trolley tour passes sites related to Savannah’s rich past and present. In the evening,

• Round trip air to Norfolk/from Jacksonville • Door-to-door airport service • Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead • 3350/3650 Gold Passport Points

a mouth-watering dinner of real Southern cooking at Mrs. Wilkes’ Boarding House is followed by a rousing display of music, dance and comedy at the historic Savannah Theatre. (B,D) 10. Depart for Jekyll Island, hideaway of the rich and famous a century ago. Dine in the historic Millionaire’s Village, then head to Jacksonville for your return flight to Sacramento. (B,L) $3350 p.p./dbl.occ., $3645 single

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

The Oregon Chocolate Festival Featuring an elegant Chocolate Maker’s Dinner 3 Days • March 2-4

ast year a group of chocolate lover’s traveled to Ashland, Oregon on a trip Sports Leisure offered for the very first time. We have to say the trip was a “chocolaty” success. There was chocolate in each course at the elegant Chocolate Maker’s Dinner and at the Vendors Showcase, plenty of chocolate samples…did you know they pair chocolate and pepper in a chocolate bar? And if you aren’t satisfied with just eating chocolate, you can get a chocolate facial mask or chocolate infused soap. It was all there. So much chocolate, so little time!

1. Chocolate lovers start their sweet journey with our door-to-door service delivering you to the Sports Leisure office to meet SuperCoach III. Midway to Ashland, pause in Redding for lunch at The Olive Garden. Arrive in Ashland and check into your hotel for the night, The Plaza Inn & Suites. You’ll have time to freshen up before going to the Ashland Springs Hotel, your Chocolate Festival headquarters and host of the Chocolate Maker’s Dinner. This elegant dinner kicks off the festival. Each of the three courses will have chocolate as an ingredient and will be explained by the chef de jour. Plaza Inn & Suites (L,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • Experience the Oregon Chocolate Festival in Ashland including the Annual Chocolate Makers Dinner and the Festival Vendor Showcase • Discover the restored Art Deco-style Cascade Theatre in Redding and its annual “A Touch of Piano” concert • Comfortable transportation aboard SuperCoach III • Door-to-door airport transportation • 5 meals: 1 breakfast, 1 brunch, 1 lunch, 2 dinners • 900/1000 Gold Passport Points

2. Enjoy a leisurely morning, with perhaps a walk around downtown Ashland to browse the unique shops, then head back to the Ashland Springs Hotel for the Chocolate Festival Showcase. Over 30 vendors from around the state will showcase their specialties and offer samples and information about their creations. You’ll have plenty of time to sample and browse. Following the showcase, we reluctantly leave the land of chocolate and head for Redding in the afternoon. A reception awaits us after we check in to the Red Lion Inn. Dinner tonight is at Cattlemens Restaurant followed by a unique performance, “A Touch of Classical Piano,” at the recently restored Cascade Theater. The annual program

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

will feature a performance of Beethoven’s Appassionata Sonata, a work by Franz Liszt, and the U.S. premiere of a new composition by local composer Duane Hampton. Red Lion Inn (B,D) 3. Sunday Brunch is hosted at a local favorite, CR Gibbs American Grill in Redding. Pause at one of California’s architectural wonders, the Sundial Bridge, prior to leaving town. Take some time to walk across this masterpiece designed by Santiago Calatrava. It’s remarkable. Make your way back to Sacramento pausing at Granzella’s. Pick up an ice cream cone, or a sandwich to hold you over until dinner, along with local products from all over Northern California to take home. Arrive in Sacramento in the late afternoon. (BR) $888 p.p./dbl.occ., $979 single

Foodie Fun In Sonoma Overnighter Featuring a couple of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” as seen on The Food Network Channel 2 Days • February 23-24

e asked, and you responded… overwhelmingly! So come on all you self-proclaimed “foodies” – let’s go to Santa Rosa and get seriously fun about our food. On this overnight trip it’s all about the food. You are going to learn about food in a cooking demonstration and definitely get to taste some incredible food at places you may or may not have seen on TV and, at the end of your foodie journey, stop for dessert at a shop that makes gourmet cupcakes. Can you think of better way to end your trip – except maybe with a food fight? 1. Your culinary journey begins as you depart Sacramento by SuperCoach III from one of our convenient pickup locations. After a quick stop in Napa, continue to Healdsburg to Relish Culinary Adventures. Experience “Lunch & Learn” – a three-course cooking demonstration by a local chef that gives you the opportunity to taste the food as it is being prepared while interacting with the chef. Following lunch explore downtown Healdsburg before heading south to Santa Rosa. Freshen up at your hotel before dinner tonight at Johnny Garlic’s Restaurant. Before restaurant owner Guy Fieri became a Food Network star, he opened this restaurant (and another in Windsor). Hilton Sonoma Wine Country (L,D)

as much as you want as we’ve got lots of storage onboard SuperCoach III. We’ll even have a spare cooler or two. The Schellville Grill in Sonoma hosts lunch today. This restaurant was featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” hosted by Guy Fieri. After lunch, head back to Sacramento but not before stopping for dessert in Napa. How does a gourmet cupcake from Kara’s Cupcakes in Napa sound? Cupcakes are gaining in popularity and the owner at this shop was a contender on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” Return to Sacramento in the late afternoon. (L)

HIGHLIGHTS • “Lunch & Learn” at Relish Culinary Adventures • Explore Healdsburg & The Sonoma Farmers Market • Dinner at Guy Fieri’s first restaurant, Johnny Garlic’s, and lunch at the Schellville Grill • Satisfy your sweet tooth at Kara’s Cupcakes • Overnight at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country • 3 meals: 2 lunches, 1 dinner • Deluxe motorcoach transportation on SuperCoach III

$465 p.p./dbl.occ., $505 single

• 500/550 Gold Passport Points

2. Arise to breakfast at your leisure this morning. Were you inspired by yesterday’s cooking demonstration? You’ll probably find what you need to make your own special dish at our next stop, the Sonoma Farmers Market. Bring home Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Monterey, Big Sur and Point Lobos Featuring two nights at the Clement Monterey Intercontinental on Cannery Row 3 Days • March 25-27 1. Begin with door-to-door service and transporationn aboard SuperCoach III bound for the coast. Lunch is included before checking into your luxurious hotel this afternoon on Cannery Row in Monterey. Enjoy a special evening by the bay with a private reception after hours with hors d’oevers and the ultimate insider’s view of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Your private guide takes you on a very special behind-the-scenes tour passing through the “Employees Only” doors that you’ve always wished you could open. Behind the scenes, you’ll see where they care for animals and where new arrivals are kept. You’ll learn about exciting research projects being conducted at the aquarium and how food is prepared for over 10,000 animals. You’ll also get a glimpse of exhibits from the other side of the window! Clement Monterey Intercontinental – 2 nights (L) 2. Today enthusiastic naturalist and historian Gael Gallagher acquaints you with Monterey before traveling along Highway 1 a magnificent segment of the California coastline that stretches from the crest of the Santa Lucia Mountains to the mesmerizing Pacific Ocean. Exceptionally scenic stops and captivating commentary compliments this journey that will also visit Point Lobos State Natural Reserve – believed by many to be the “greatest meeting of land and water in the world.” Lunch is included in Big Sur with the late afternoon and evening at your leisure back in Monterey. Admission to the aquarium is included this day for those who would like to return. (L)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

3. Travel north along the coast this morning stopping at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse. At 115 feet, it is one of the highest in the country. Lunch is hosted in the quaint village of Half Moon Bay with free time to stroll through town before arriving back at the Sports Leisure office where you will be met by Carey Transportation and returned home. (L)

HIGHLIGHTS • Private reception and after hours behind-the-scenes tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium • Guided tour with guide extraordinaire Gael Gallagher to Point Lobos and Big Sur • Lunch and free time in Half Moon Bay • Door-to-door service

$1015 p.p./dbl.occ., $1200 single

• Travel in comfort on SuperCoach III • 3 included lunches • 1050/1200 Gold Passport Points

Costa Rica, Pura Vida Drink in Costa Rica’s “pure life” on this exciting adventure from the mountains to the sea 9 Days • February 20-28 1. Arrive in San José where you will be greeted by your Costa Rican driver and Englishspeaking guide. Enjoy an overnight stay at the Marriott Hotel, located in a 17th-century colonial hacienda. 2. Witness spectacular views of Poás Volcano at the most-visited National Park in Costa Rica. Continue your journey to Sarachí, famous for its local arts and crafts. A traditional lunch precedes arrival at your exclusive resort home, located at the base of Arenal Volcano. On a clear night, you can see the spectacular lava flow high above. Arenal Nayara Resort – 3 nights (FB,L)

the rainforest to the observatory. The more adventurous can choose the Sky Trek, a “zip line” that offers a safe and easy ride through the canopy from platform to platform. Take a guided tour of the resort’s wildlife preserve, soak in the naturally heated springs and enjoy an extravagant buffet dinner. (FB,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 nights San José, 3 nights Arenal, 3 nights Manuel Antonio • Visit Poás and Arenal Volcanos • Walk on the famous Hanging Bridges • Glide above the rainforest in an aerial tram or try the Sky Trek “zip line”

5. Drive along the scenic Pan American Highway to Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific coast, and check in to your deluxe hotel with a tropical view. El Parador Hotel – 3 nights (FB)

• Hike Manuel Antonio National Park to observe monkeys, reptiles and birds • Navigate the wonders of the mangrove system by boat • 14 meals: Daily breakfast, 4 lunches,

3. Embark on a relaxing trek on the famous Hanging Bridges to experience the rainforest from three perspectives: The ground, treetops and sky. Lunch is served at La Mansion, a gourmet restaurant on Lake Arenal. (FB,L)

6. Explore Manuel Antonio Park and observe sloths, birds and reptiles; admire orchids, butterflies and tropical trees, all in a breathtaking ocean-side setting. The park is home to three of the four monkey species in Costa Rica, and you’ll have ample opportunities to photograph them up-close. (FB,L)

4. Experience the most spectacular views of Arenal from the Sky Tram, a ride through

7. Navigate the wonders of the mangrove ecosystem on the relaxing estuary cruise. This

COSTA RICA Arenal Volcano National Park 2-4 1&8

Manuel Antonio 5-7 National Park

San José

2 dinners • Round trip airfare San Francisco/San José • Door-to-door airport transportation • Services of Sports Leisure Tour Director Patty Thayer assisted by a certified naturalist guide throughout • 3900/4700 Gold Passport Points

tour provides an ideal opportunity to observe herons, kingfishers and white-faced monkeys. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. (FB,L) 8. Return to San José for a guided walking tour of the city center and Latin-American market. Your hotel for the night and Farewell Dinner host is the elegant Grano de Oro. (FB,D) 9. Depart the hotel in the morning for the return flight to San Francisco. (FB) $3880 p.p./dbl.occ., $4680 single This vacation requires a valid passport! Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

The National Road, The Road That Built the Nation Travel America’s first interstate highway, built for the horse and buggy 10 Days • April 24 – May 3

efore automobiles came into existence, Americans traveled their country by horse, or if you were lucky, horse and buggy. Or you rode a boat down the river. Or you walked.

way to Vandalia, Illinois, giving settlers the opportunity to go over the Allegheny Mountains to the frontier of the west (which would have been Ohio territory in those days).

Museum & Babe Ruth Birthplace at Camden Yards. Others may prefer to tour The National Aquarium, on the Inner Harbor. Lunch is at your leisure in the Inner Harbor area.

President Thomas Jefferson recognized that if the fledgling country was to grow, it would have to move west. He authorized the first federal road. It was to run from Cumberland, Maryland, all the

Authorized by Congress in 1806, the road was the vision of Jefferson’s Secretary of the Treasury, Albert Gallatin. Construction began in Cumberland in 1811, and within two decades over 200,000 people traveled the road annually. Ironically, it was the coming of the railroad that meant the temporary demise of the National Road. Trains moved faster. It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that the horseless carriage peaked our interest towards independent highway travel. The National Road was reborn. Named the Old National Pike, then US 40 and now partly covered by the interstate, it remains America’s original westward road.

As we work our way back to Ellicott City, we follow part of the Old National Pike. The National Road began in Cumberland. This is a “spur” if you will, a connector to the original road. History begins to unfold, and back in Ellicott City, you visit the B & O Railroad Musuem. This is the oldest surviving railroad station in the country, completed in 1830. (FB)

Now you can retrace the tracks of America’s first westbound travelers, on this living history lesson from Baltimore to St. Louis. This is a truly American adventure, a look at the people and the places of our great land. 1. Fly to Baltimore this morning, arriving in early evening. Our destination is near the airport and dinner will be waiting. Turf Valley Resort – 2 nights (D) 2. While our Classic Highway tours tend to skirt big cities, we need to pay homage to Baltimore this morning. We’ll offer a choice of activities. Baseball fans will want to visit the Sports Legends

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

3. Our travels begin in earnest today, as we head for the official starting point of the National Road. The Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick explains how the horror of war actually advanced the cause of modern medicine. A visit to the local history museum gives you an idea of how people lived in the 1820’s, when the road was in its heyday. Lunch is an ethnic dining experience, at a Bavarian-style eatery. In Hagerstown, visit The Hager House, built by the town’s founder in 1739 over two springs to insure a stable water supply. The day’s final destination is Rocky Gap State Park, just east of Cumberland. Rocky Gap Lodge (FB,L) 4. The National Road officially began in Cumberland, and its first title was, “The Cumberland Road.” Cumberland had been a strategic location during the French and Indian War and sat on the north branch of the Potomac River. Today, you pass through Cumberland and

Frostburg, and you are officially on The National Road. We are joined by a National Road historian for the day as we journey through Uniontown (founded July 4, 1776), the birthplace of General George Marshall of World War II fame. Learn about the Underground Railroad, see an original “S” bridge and photograph one of the many Madonna of the Trail statues. Hilton Garden Inn Southpointe (FB,L) 5. The road passes through West Virginia for only 13 miles. Wheeling is the major city and its featured attraction is the majestic 1,010 foot long suspension bridge built in 1849. It’s location on the Ohio River made it a critical commerce point for the National Road. Into Ohio to New Concord, the hometown of a true American hero, John Glenn. Tour his home, decorated in a 1940’s-style. In nearby Zanesville (not named after Zane Grey), you’ll visit The National Road Museum, before heading on to Columbus. Marriott Hotel – 2 nights (FB,L)

9. The population of the state of Illinois more than doubled between 1830 and 1840, because of The National Road. It was built to move people west, and west they came. Today, you’ll see the official end of the road in Vandalia, have a chance to photograph the world’s largest catsup bottle, stand atop an ancient Indian mound and drive through a covered bridge. The day ends in St. Louis, just over the Missouri River from Illinois. Your historic journey on The National Road, 824 miles of it, comes to an end. Your hotel is in the shadow of the Gateway Arch downtown. Drury Plaza Hotel (FB,L)

6. A great Sunday Brunch, the Ohio History Center, the Jack Nicklaus Museum, the home of writer James Thurber and an entire neighborhood of spectacular old homes are on today’s agenda. Founded in 1812, Columbus is a true National Road city. (FB,BR,D) 7. It’s a two-hour drive to the town of Greenville. A number of years ago, a Sports Leisure Mystery Tour came here to tour the Kitchenaid manufacturing plant. The tour and accompanying activities were such a hit, we’ve always wanted to return. Today, we’re back in the home of Kitchenaid. You’ll even get to make your own dessert in their test kitchens! And just for the record, no The National Road didn’t pass by Kitchenaid. Dayton Homewood Suites by Hilton (FB,L)

10. Lunch is in historic St. Charles, the point at which two explorers from another time, hired and encouraged by the same man who authorized The National Road, embarked on a remarkable journey. St. Charles was the official starting point for the journey of Lewis and Clark, and we’ll dine in a restaurant bearing their name, before heading to the airport for our flight. (FB) 3550/4050 Gold Passport Points

8. Across Indiana today, following the route of US 40 and The National Road, we pass through dozens of small towns. Lots of photo stops, including a beautiful courthouse in Greenfield, original road in Dunreith and a great story about President Martin Van Buren in Plainfield. Welcome to America’s Heartland. Hilton Garden Inn – Terre Haute (FB,L)

$3510 p.p./dbl.occ., $4020 single

Washington

IN IL Vandalia 9

Greenville

Indianapolis 8

5-6 7

Dayton Terre Haute

Marshall

Zanesville Columbus

Uniontown 3

Cumberland

Frederick Baltimore

1-2

Ellicott City

St. Louis

MO Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

San Antonio: Deep in the Heart An “unpack-once” tour featuring the best little city in Texas 5 Days • April 15-19 1. Deep in the heart of the Lone Star State is a city that is part American, part Mexican and definitely all Texan, San Antonio. Your morning air departure from Sacramento lands in the early afternoon. Perhaps you’d like to do a bit of personal exploration of your historic hotel – don’t miss the rooftop pool – before the Drury’s complimentary “Kickback,” including adult beverages and snacks, served daily at 5:30pm. Be sure to leave room for your Welcome Fiesta Dinner and a dazzling musical performance of country and western favorites at San Antonio Rose Live in the historic Aztec Theatre. Drury Plaza Hotel – 4 nights (D)

2. Joined by a local guide, Sissie Henges, take a driving tour of San Antonio and out into the countryside along the El Camino Real to see the historic Franciscan missions that first brought the Spanish into the area. Later in the day, visit the most famous of these missions, San Antonio de Valero, or what we know today as The Alamo (below right). Next door, you’ll see an IMAX production, Alamo – The Price of Freedom, a film that puts the famous battle into perspective. If you’ve wrestled up an appetite, tonight’s dinner, served river-side at the Texas Land and Cattle Company, is sure to please. We’re talking steak, y’all. (FB,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • 4 nights in the historic Drury Plaza Hotel located along the Riverwalk • City tour featuring The Alamo • Riverwalk tour and luncheon cruise • San Antonio Rose Live, Institute of Texan Cultures, IMAX Theater • Daytrip to Fredricksburg to see the National Museum of the Pacific War • 9 meals: Daily breakfast, 3 lunches, 2 dinners • Round trip air to/from San Antonio • Door-to-door airport transportation • Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead • 1800/2050 Gold Passport Points

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

3. The Drury Plaza is conveniently located right on the city’s unique Riverwalk (pictured on previous page) which you’ll explore on a guided walking tour, then aboard a river taxi cruise upon which lunch will be served. The afternoon is left at your leisure. There’s so much to do, see, eat and drink in this vibrant city. You’ll have no trouble filling your time. Perhaps you’ll join your Tour Director for one of his famous Optional Expeditions. Just don’t expect to return until the cows come home! (FB,L) 4. With luck, the blue bonnets should be in full bloom as you depart San Antonio for Fredricksburg, located deep in the heart of Texas Hill Country, about an hour to the north. There you’ll visit the National Museum of the Pacific War, so placed because this was the hometown

of Five Star Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, who at the height of World War II, commanded more than two million men, 20,000 planes and 5,000 ships. As you complete your touring, drift out and enjoy Fredrickburg’s beautifully restored historic downtown. A German lunch pays tribute to the community’s original settlers. The Wild Seed Farm is a must-see stop on the way back to San Antonio. (FB,L) 5. The state’s dramatic history is displayed nowhere better than at the Institute of Texan Cultures, a combination art gallery and museum that tells the story of this great state, past, present and future. Say goodbye to San Antonio, but

not before lunch at the famous Mi Tierra Café y Panaderia, an institution since 1941, located in the vibrant Mexican Market Square. Grab that perfect souvenir before heading to the airport for your flight back to Sacramento, departing in the late afternoon. (FB,L) $1780 p.p./dbl.occ., $2020 single

REMINDER: Home pick-up on all trips of three days or longer. Our home pick-up service is included in the greater Sacramento area on all extended tours, departing by air, rail or motorcoach.

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

The Coast Starlight Featuring the popular rail journey from Southern California to Puget Sound 4 Days • April 22-25

ong a favorite with Sports Leisure travelers, this short vacation getaway stars Amtrak’s Coast Starlight. With overnight stays at both ends of the rail adventure, this is an easy-paced, relaxed itinerary that reminds travelers of the romance of the rails. Due to limited overnight accommodations onboard the train, this tour is limited to 25 passengers. 1. Downtown Los Angeles is your destination following a morning flight to Southern California. Enjoy a lunch at the historic Pacific Dining Car, an LA favorite. A private tour of

Union Station with the Los Angeles Conservancy winds up the afternoon. Your accommodations for the evening are in nearby Pasadena with several restaurants close by to choose from. Courtyard by Marriott Pasadena (L)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

• Ride the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Tacoma • Deluxe sleeping cabins and all onboard meals included

2. Return to Union Station this morning where the Coast Starlight awaits your arrival. Soon, you will be underway on the 35 hour, 1300 mile journey. Enjoy lunch and dinner served in the dining car as you travel north along the Pacific Coast to Santa Barbara, then turn inland to the fertile Central Valley. Between meals, enjoy the scenery and the company of other riders in the observation car, catch a movie or play a game of cards in the dome car. By the time the train Seattle reaches Sacramento Tacoma 3 WA around midnight, you’ll be tucked away in your OR private sleeping quarters, which feature a shower, vanity, toilet 2 Night 2 and upper/ on board the Coast Starlight lower berths. Coast Starlight Sacramento (L,D) 3. Rise and shine near the Oregon border. As the train continues through the Willamette Valley, you’ll

HIGHLIGHTS

Los Angeles

• Historic Union Station Tour • Seattle City Tour and lunch at Cutters Bayhouse • Visit famous Pike Place Market • Accommodations in Los Angeles, Tacoma and onboard the Coast Starlight • 7 meals: 1 breakfast, 4 lunches, 2 dinners • Round trip air to Burbank/from Seattle • Door-to-door airport service • 2000/2600 Gold Passport Points

be surrounded by vineyards in this renowned wine-producing region. Pass through the capital city of Salem, followed by Portland, then cross the mighty Columbia River. Traverse the state of Washington as the sun begins to set until your evening arrival in Tacoma at the southern end of Puget Sound. Hotel Murano (B,L,D) 4. Discover Seattle on a guided tour that includes a stop at the iconic Space Needle. View the city from high atop the observation deck. Lunch is a real treat on the water at Cutters Bayhouse. After a brief amount of time to explore nearby Pike Place market, your mid-afternoon flight will return you to Sacramento. (L) $1970 p.p./dbl.occ., $2590 single

The Castle, The Ocean and The Inn Featuring Hearst Castle and the Apple Farm Inn 4 Days • April 18-21 1. Begin your spring vacation to the coast with door-to-door service to the Sports Leisure office to meet your fellow travelers. Once onboard SuperCoach III, travel over Pacheco Pass to Salinas for lunch at New Awakenings, a wonderful downtown eatery. At the National Steinbeck Center, learn more about its namesake author and the stories that were a reflection of our nation during his lifetime. Continue on to San Luis Obispo and one of the most delightful inns you have ever experienced. With a grand staircase and beautiful furnishings, the Apple Farm Inn is an exquisite place to stay. A wine and cheese reception greets you upon arrival. Apple Farm Inn – 2 nights (L) 2. Take in the views of the ocean today from Avila Beach, a quiet little town on San Luis Obispo Bay. Lunch is included at the Old Custom House, a waterfront favorite of the

locals. Return to the Apple Farm mid-afternoon in time for the wine and cheese reception or relax in your beautifully-appointed room. This evening, catch the local trolley for a ride about town and follow the aroma… barbecued ribs, freshly picked produce, arts and crafts, and live entertainment… it’s San Luis Obispo’s Farmers Market. Rated as one of the best in the state, this marketplace is lots of fun for locals and visitors alike. The area is closed to all thru traffic to make room for this lively weekly event. (L)

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 nights at Sport Leisure’s favorite hotel, the Apple Farm Inn • Overnight oceanfront in San Simeon • Hearst Castle tours by day and by night • National Steinbeck Center • Visit Avila Beach, Cambria, Paso Robles • 4 lunches • Door-to-door transportation • Round trip transportation aboard SuperCoach III

3. Journey back in time as you visit magnificent Hearst Castle, the home of larger-than-life publisher William Randolph Hearst. The daytime tour includes the main guest house, the dining room, and the grounds. Lunch is included in the town of Cambria before checking into the Best Western Cavalier, situated on the bluffs above the Pacific in San Simeon. Tonight return to Hearst Castle for the popular evening tour. Featuring docents dressed in period costume, you will feel like you are one of Hearst’s own guests in the 1930’s. While both tours require walking up and down over 300 steps throughout the tours, it’s an awesome experience you won’t soon forget. (For those who have done the daytime tour before, you may choose to spend the morning browsing in Cambria. Let us know when you make your reservations and receive a credit of $20.) Best Western Cavalier (L)

• 1100/1300 Gold Passport Points

4. Today leave the central coast, traveling through the Santa Lucia Mountains to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the Paso Robles region. Paso Robles is transitioning from ranching to grape growing and vineyards are sprouting up everywhere. Enjoy lunch in Paso Robles before returning to Sacramento. Heading home through the Salinas Valley, America’s “salad bowl,” your final stop is Casa de Fruita, a true shopper’s paradise. Bring home fresh fruits and veggies along with some of its delicious edibles. Arrive in Sacramento in the early evening. (L) $1085 p.p./dbl.occ., $1295 single

Visit us on the web at: www.sportsleisure.com Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

On the (Pismo) Beach Featuring the 8th annual “Taste of Pismo” 4 Days • April 27-30 1. You’re picked up at your home this morning and driven to the Sports Leisure office where SuperCoach III is waiting to take you in comfort to Pismo Beach. Lunch is hosted in Salinas before arriving in Pismo Beach. Settle into your deluxe room with an ocean view and a patio or balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Sea Crest Resort – 3 nights (L,D) 2. This morning tour Pismo Beach with a local historian with free time following to visit the shops downtown or take a walk on the beach. This afternoon attend one of Pismo’s most

popular events, “A Taste of Pismo,” an exclusive celebration of local restaurants and wineries which showcase their best. If you do not want to partake in wine tasting you may receive a $25 credit. (L)

HIGHLIGHTS • Wonderful ocean view accommodations • Taste local foods and beverages at the annual “Taste of Pismo” • Attend the Great American Melodrama in

3. Travel to nearby Avila Beach where lunch is hosted and free time allowed to visit the quaint shops or walk its lovely beach. Tonight, kick up your heels at The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville Theatre in Oceano where you can “boo” the villain and “cheer” the hero to your heart’s content! (L)

Oceano • Tour of Pismo Beach with a local historian • Visit picturesque Avila Beach • 5 meals: 4 lunches, 1 dinner • Door-to-door transportation • Round trip transportation on SuperCoach III • 1200/1450 Gold Passport Points

4. It’s time to leave your beach retreat and head for the valley. The Central Coast Lavender Farm has a special program to offer, showing you how lavender oil is distilled and lavender candles are made. Lunch is hosted in Paso Robles with a stop at popular Casa de Fruta on the way home to pick up a few fresh foods for home. Arrive in Sacramento in the late afternoon. (L) $1195 p.p./dbl.occ., $1445 single

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

2012 Mystery Tours... Spring, Summer and Fall Always visiting our favorite destinations, we just can’t tell you where! Over the Rivers and Through the Woods – A Mystery Tour

The Call of the Wild Mystery

The latest from your resident Southern gentleman

5 Days • July 19-23

6 Days • May 17-22

Scott put this tour together. Many know his passion for the Southwest, but since it’s July (too hot), that will definitely not be the destination for this very unique trip. In fact, the average temperatures in these parts are quite pleasant.

Join Clayton on an adventure to one of his favorite places on the planet, yet one where he’s never taken a Sports Leisure group in the past. The destination may be off the beaten path, but it’s definitely on the main channel. Visit FOUR states, cross THREE rivers, stay in TWO hotels (one for 3 nights/2 in the other) and have yourself ONE heck of a great time. You’ll meet “super men”… a president, a vice president, a famous sailor, a colonel and a man who absolutely, positively refuses to keep his pants on – but I bet you’ll like his cape. Super women, too! You’ll learn art comes from the heart, and you may even find your own creative bone. This tour is like a patchwork quilt – it includes a little bit of every thing. Maybe you’d like to add a stitch? So make a bowl and fill it! Fill a glass and raise it! Then go down to the lake and make a big splash! Breakfast is included daily, along with 3 lunches and 3 dinners. The dates assure great springtime weather. Sign up today. Would you really want to go “over the rivers and through the woods” with anyone else? 2400/2600 Gold Passport Points $2360 p.p./dbl.occ., $2565 single Proud Members of the

Calling all nature lovers!

Here are a few clues: You may feel like a bird or maybe a fish? Perhaps you’ll be barking up the wrong tree? Listening to the soothing sounds of your magnificent surroundings will take you to new heights! Be sure to stand back and take it all in as this relaxing and exhilarating trip is itself a work of art. One thing is for sure: You will fall deeply in love with this suite tour. The package includes door-to-door service, airfare, accommodations, and 9 meals. Won’t you join Scott in July? 1750/1900 Gold Passport Points $1705 p.p./dbl.occ., $1885 single

Living. History. Nuts. A Mystery Tour

Hi, I’m Lily the Llama…

… and I live at the Ponderosa Lodge in Sisters, Oregon. Last May, a group of Sports Leisure travelers came here on one of those Mystery Tours. I’ve never seen so much carrying on in my life; horse racing and marshmallow roasting and eating. Those people never miss a feeding, that’s for sure! No wonder those Mystery Tours are so popular. You think they’d let a llama go? I could carry my own luggage…

7 Days • October 3-9

spent a week tracing the route, meeting unique characters (understatement) and have created a trip that’s almost like a fairy tale. (Wait, is that a clue?) Heck, one day as much of this itinerary is underground as is in the light of day.

Mark invites you to join him on this most unique adventure. As is obvious by the title, this trip is a little different. You could find yourself locked up behind bars, spirited away to another world, or just in a little town that is way different from any others for miles and miles. You know Mark loves to see “what’s over there, off the freeway.” This is one of those trips. Mark and Ryan

The package includes 17 meals (every feeding except one lunch is already priced in), your airfare to this place no one has ever heard of and of course, we’ll pick you up at home. Living. History. Nuts. No kidding. 2400/2650 Gold Passport Points $2365 p.p./dbl.occ., $2615 single

If you’re living, like history and are a bit nuts, you’ve found your tour

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

The Kentucky Derby Witness “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” and mark it off your “bucket list” 6 Days • May 3-8 1. Northern Kentucky International Airport near Cincinnati is your gateway to the Bluegrass State. Arrive in Lexington in time for the Manager’s Cocktail Reception. Dinner follows in the hotel, a beautiful and award-winning property situated in a rural area in the heart of horse country. Embassy Suites – 5 nights (D) 2. A morning drive to Shelbyville spotlights Undulata, one of the finest Saddlebred Horse farms in the country. You’ll witness the morning workouts from the comfort of an indoor arena. Lunch is served at famous Claudia Sanders Dinner House. (The Colonel’s wife could cook,

too!) Then you’re off to the Capital City of Frankfort to see the Kentucky State Capitol, Liberty Hall and the sweet stop known as the Rebecca Ruth Candy Kitchen. The bourbon balls are divine! (FB,L)

HIGHLIGHTS • 5 nights at the pastoral Embassy Suites Hotel, Lexington • Attend the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby

3. Depart after breakfast for Louisville and the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby. Don’t forget your hat! The Derby is only one of 12 races run at Churchill Downs today. You’ll be there for most of them. There is roughly one race every 45 minutes to an hour. Between races you eat, drink, socialize and dish everyone else’s hat! Derby post time is in the early evening.

• Tour Lexington in the heart of Bluegrass Country and Frankfort, Kentucky’s Capital City • Visit Undulata, Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland, My Old Kentucky Home, Maker’s Mark Distillery, Kentucky Derby Museum and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Nation Historic Site • 10 meals: 5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners and the famous nightly Manager’s Reception • Round trip airfare to Cincinnati/from Louisville • Door-to-door airport transportation • Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead • 3250/3700 Gold Passport Points

Your seats are located on the fourth turn in the Grandstand Terrace – First floor, Section 126 or 127. Following the long but exciting day, head back to Lexington to count your winnings. (FB) 4. A tour of the Lexington area includes a visit to Keeneland to view the morning workout. As you drive along miles of pristine pastures, barns and white painted fences, you’ll understand why this is the heart and soul of the American equine industry. Your tour ends at the Kentucky Horse Park, a beautiful state park dedicated to

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

all things horse. Don’t miss the Parade of Breeds and Hall of Champions. Dinner serves up a heaping helping of Southern cooking. (FB,D) 5. It’s time for a roadtrip! First, visit Bardstown and My Old Kentucky Home State Park. Stephen Foster wrote Kentucky’s state song while visiting his cousins here in 1852. Tour the stately Georgian mansion and lovely grounds, then you’re off to a rural area outside Hodgenville to visit the site where Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809. No trip to Kentucky would be complete without a stop at a bourbon distillery, and you’re seeing the best – Maker’s Mark near Loretto, a National Historic Landmark. After cocktails, you’ve earned a good dinner, and you’ll get it at the famed Columbia Steakhouse, a Kentucky landmark for over 60 years. (FB,D) 6. Following breakfast, return to “Derby Town” to visit the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs, followed by a Hot Brown lunch – a Louisville tradition. Finally, learn about an essential ingredient of “America’s favorite pastime” (next to horse racing, that is) with a stop by the Louisville Slugger Plant & Museum. Return to Sacramento from Louisville. (FB,L)

$3215 p.p./dbl.occ., $3675 single

North Kentucky Internatonal Airport

Frankfort Shelbyville 1-5

Louisville

Bardstown Hodgenville

Lexington

Loretto

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Canada Coast to Coast by Rail Featuring three rail experiences across Canada onboard VIA Rail 10 Days • May 14-23 1. Meet your driver from Carey Transportation at your door and meet SuperCoach III for the drive to San Francisco airport. Fly to Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving in the late evening. Delta Barrington Hotel – 2 nights 2. Enjoy a morning to catch up with your new time zone (Halifax is four hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time). After lunch at your leisure, experience a tour of this modern city with its small town hospitality. Visit the waterfront, historic downtown, and pause at the well-known Citadel National Historic Site. Tonight, the city welcomes you with open arms with dinner near the waterfront. (D) 3. Peggy’s Cove is one of Canada’s most visited destinations. The quaint fishing village is home to one of the most photographed lighthouses

in the world and just a short distance from Halifax. You’ll have time for a little shopping before meeting your first train, VIA Rail’s Ocean, which departs at noon. While meals are not included in your fare this time of year, you will still experience the service and hospitality of Easterly Class. Couples will enjoy private sleeping quarters, which feature upper/lower berths while single travelers will occupy a roomette, a smaller accommodation. The dining car serves a menu that features local foods. Overnight onboard The Ocean

HIGHLIGHTS • First-class train accommodations aboard VIA Rail as you travel throughout the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta & British Columbia • Halifax: 2 nights at the Delta Barrington Hotel, city sightseeing including Citadel Hill and picturesque Peggy’s Cove • Montreál: Overnight at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, sightseeing by coach with a visit to Vieux Montreál (Old Montreál), the

4. Stepping out on to the street from the rail station in Montreál this morning you may believe you are in a city in Europe. A morning tour highlights the old and new of this beautiful metropolis, including the Basilica of Notre Dame and a visit to Vieux Montreál (Old Montreál)

Basilica of Notre Dame, and a cruise on the St. Lawrence River • Toronto: Overnight at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, city tour, lunch at Casa Loma and dinner at the CN Tower • Vancouver: City sightseeing tour, lunch in Stanley Park at the Fish House Restaurant • 16 meals: 4 full breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners • Round trip airfare to Halifax/from Vancouver • Door-to-door airport service • 5400/5800 Gold Passport Points

with an opportunity to do a little shopping. Following lunch, a cruise along the St. Lawrence River is another great vantage point from which to view the city. Your accommodations for the evening are in a former Canadian Pacific hotel, built by the famous railroad, located atop the train station. The evening is yours to explore this walkable city or simply relax in your hotel room. Fairmont Queen Elizabeth (L)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

5. Strolling back to the train station, begin your next rail experience aboard VIA Rail’s Corridor train, departing midmorning. Traveling in VIA 1 Class from Montreál to Toronto, you will enjoy a gourmet meal complete with wine served at your seat. Arrive in Toronto in the middle of the afternoon, checking in to your hotel for the next evening, the historic Fairmont Royal York. Also a former Canadian Pacific hotel, it’s connected directly to the train station. The balance of the afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy. Fairmont Royal York Hotel (L) 6. Another free morning is yours to explore your immediate surroundings. Meet your Tour Director in the late morning and journey to Casa Loma, a medieval castle built in by a Canadian financier in the early 20th-century. Lunch is served at the castle along with a guided tour. Later meet a step-on guide for an enjoyable tour of this cosmopolitan city. Dinner tonight is a “tall order,” served high above the city at the CN Tower. As the world’s largest tower, it was voted one of the seven wonders of the modern world by the American Society of Engineers. Following dinner, spend some time exploring BRITISH COLUMBIA

the tower, including the observation deck with its infamous glass floor, and then make the short drive back to the train station to meet your final train, VIA Rail’s Train #1, The Canadian, scheduled for a 10pm departure. Your sleeping car attendant will have your cabin ready for you. On board The Canadian – 4 nights (L,D)

10. Your long journey from coast to coast across Canada comes to an end today with a morning arrival in Vancouver. Enjoy a brief city sightseeing tour with lunch at The Fish House in Stanley Park. Your mid-afternoon flight from Vancouver returns you to Sacramento in the early evening. (FB,L)

7-9. Your final days in Canada will be spent surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the western and central provinces as you pass through the lakes and rivers of Ontario, the prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the tall mountain peaks of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia en route to Vancouver, the western terminus of the Great Canadian Pacific Railway, originally completed in 1885. While onboard the train, you will enjoy VIA Rail’s famed Silver and Blue Service. All meals are included onboard in the Dining Car and you will have access to the Park Car, with its sightseeing dome, and the Bullet Lounge. VIA Rail’s onboard service staff will be on hand during every mile of the journey to prepare your room and assist with meal reservations. (3FB,3L,3D)

$5380 p.p./dbl.occ., $5790 single This vacation requires a valid passport!

ALBERTA

MANITOBA

Edmonton Saskatoon

QUEBEC

ONTARIO

Vancouver

Halifax

1-2

SASKATCHEWAN

Jasper Nat’l Park / Canadian Rockies

Winnipeg

Montreál 3 6-9

Night 3 aboard the Ocean

Toronto

Nights 6-9 aboard the Canadian Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Wendover and the Bonneville Salt Flats A new destination with an incredible variety of attractions 5 Days • June 3-7

ast summer, when we stopped over in Wendover for the night on our trip down the Lincoln Highway, we decided there might be more there than just some slot machines there. Situated just inside the Nevada border from Utah it has all the vices you’d expect of Nevada along with a number of fascinating surprises you wouldn’t expect. The Wendover area is full of natural beauty, interesting sites to see. Join Sports Leisures Vacations exclusive stepon guide and naturalist Bryan Yadon (below), to explore the plentiful ecology, geology, history, biology and wildlife of the area. The itinerary features a jeep tour of the Bonneville Salt Flats, Leppy Hills, Pilot, Toano, and the

Goshute ranges. We’ll visit the Enola Gay hangar on a tour of the Wendover Army Air Field. Also included is a museum visit to enjoy educational displays that feature historical photographs, models, and memorabilia helping to convey the instrumental role Wendover Airbase played during the World War II era.

HIGHLIGHTS • Ride the California Zephyr, Sacramento to Elko • Historical tour of Elko • Visit the Western Folklife Center • Drive on the Bonneville Salt Flats, part of an off-road jeep tour that’s perfect for all ages • See the hanger used by the Enola Gay, one

1. All aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr as we head to the Cowboy town of Elko, Nevada. Enjoy a gourmet box lunch onboard as the scenery of the majestic Sierras gives way to the high deserts of Northern Nevada. Dinner is at your leisure onboard the train, available in the dining car or in the cafe. The Zephyr departs

of the planes used to drop the atomic bomb on Japan • Explore the California Trail Interpretive Center • Winnemucca Buckaroo Hall of Fame • University of Reno’s Fire Science Center • 6 meals: 4 lunches, 2 buffet dinners • Door-to-door service • 1200/1350 Gold Passport Points

Sacramento at 11:00am, and is scheduled to arrive in Elko at 9:30pm. SuperCoach III will be waiting to take you to the Red Lion Hotel & Casino. Your bags are already in your room! (L) 2. Small town museums can be hit or miss. We think we’ve found a “hit” at the Northeastern Nevada Museum. Constructed in 1967, the award-winning museum offers visitors a look into the rich history of the region. A collection of Will James art is featured and recent fossil finds in the region suggest mastodons roamed the area more than a few years ago. Sherman Station is a recreated 1875 homestead that has been relocated to Elko. We’ll stop and take a look. This afternoon enjoy an order-off-the-

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

menu Basque lunch at the famous Star Hotel Restaurant. Then we will make our way across the desert to the lights of Wendover, to the finest hotel in the region. Montego Bay Resort and Casino – 2 nights (L,D) 3. Spend the Day with naturalist guide Bryan Yadon on a jeep tour learning about the Bonneville Salt Flats, and taking in the natural wonder of the area. There’s a visit to the Wendover Air Base to see the Enola Gay hangar, as well as a stop at the museum where exhibits will bring to life the important role this once thriving military town played during World War II. The second part of the day is spent exploring the canyons of the Peppy Hills on a jeep tour. This unique sightseeing opportunity will take you to places others will never experience. The tours are designed to comfortably take clients of all ages through these beautiful areas. Learn about geological and human history and see many historical sites. (D)

4. After breakfast we depart for Winnemucca, with a stop en route at the brand new California Trail Historical Interpretive Center. Next destination is the University of Reno’s Fire Science Academy, which trains firefighters from all over the West in combating many different kinds of fires. We’ll hope for a “burn day” and a chance to see the students in action! Lunch is included prior to the tour. Winnemucca Inn and Casino (L) 5. Winnemucca is a Cowboy Town in every sense of the word. The infamous Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were said to have left their mark on Winnemucca when they purportedly celebrated their robbery of the First National Bank by sending the bank president a studio portrait of themselves. Hear the story and see their mug shots at the Winnemucca Buckaroo Hall of Fame. Enjoy Lunch in Reno at a different, non-casino eatery and then we will continue back to Sacramento where Carey Limousines will deliver you to your front doorstep. (L) $1190 p.p./dbl.occ., $1330 single

Winnemucca 4

Reno Sacramento

Elko 1

2-3

West Wendover

Bonneville Salt Flats

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Spring Training in Arizona with the Giants and A’s Featuring five games under the warm Arizona sun 5 Days • March 17-21

egister now to join us in March, when the Giants and A’s begin to prepare for the 2012 season. Our high-rise hotel is centrally located near the A’s and Giants stadiums in Phoenix and Scottsdale. The itinerary features all your old favorites; Sunday Brunch, dinner at Rustler’s Rooste and our baseball banquet and roundtable. Lots of opportunities to talk baseball. Is this heaven? No, and it’s not Iowa

either. It’s Spring Training in the Cactus League in Arizona. If you’re a baseball fan and have never been, it’s your time! Limited to 25 baseball fans.

HIGHLIGHTS • 4 nights Phoenix Crowne Plaza Hotel • 7 meals: Daily buffet breakfast, Sunday

$1910 p.p./dbl.occ., $2095 single

Brunch at the Scottsdale Conference Resort, 2 dinners (including Rustler’s Rooste) • 5 ballgames – schedule TBA (Preference is given to Giants and/or A’s games) • “Topics of Today” baseball roundtable with ex-major leaguer Lou Klimchock • Baseball Banquet with guest speaker Vida Blue, 200-game winner with the Giants and A’s • Added attractions as the baseball schedule allows • Round trip airfare, door-to-door service • 1950/2100 Gold Passport Points

Visit us on the web at: www.sportsleisure.com

Baseball and Broadway – Take 2 Celebrate our two favorite pastimes in two favorite cities: Chicago and St. Louis

Late May/Early June 2012

In the 2011 catalog, we teased an idea Mark and Clayton had been percolating on for years – a tour featuring a baseball game in two of America’s great sports cities. Additionally, we’d include a Broadway show in St. Louis’ grand Fox Theatre and one in Chicago’s equally impressive theatre district. We proposed the trip late in the baseball season, understanding the schedules for four unique institutions would have to jibe perfectly for the trip to happen. Perhaps needless to say, the schedules did not jibe. We’ll try again early in the 2012 baseball season. If this sounds interesting to you, please call and place your name on the Priority Notification List. If you did this last year, there’s no need to call again.

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Strawberries, Beaches and Flower Fields Featuring Santa Barbara, the Lompoc Flower Festival and Solvang 5 Days • June 22-26 this evening is the beautiful and historic Santa Maria Inn. (L)

HIGHLIGHTS • Visit Santa Barbara’s landmarks, the

ere’s a summer getaway to the central coast celebrating the best this region has to offer: Beaches, fresh produce, and colorful flowers. Toss in a little history, some community pride, lots of local talent and it is sure to be a great time. Travel in comfort with your fellow Sports Leisure companions and Tour Director, and enjoy the camaraderie. You know the food will be great! Come on…join in the festivities! 1. Begin your vacation to the coast with exclusive door-to-door service to the Sports Leisure office and meet your fellow travelers. Once onboard SuperCoach III, travel down through the bountiful Salinas Valley to Santa Maria. Famous for tri-tips and “Santa Maria BBQ” this quiet community is also home to beautiful flowers and abundant fields of produce. Your hotel

2. Throughout the coastal area, flowers abound and Lompoc celebrates today with an annual parade. Enjoy community pride as everyone in town gets into the spirit of flowers on this day. Following lunch at the Hitching Post in the small community of Casmalia, (population 138), you’ll spend the day learning more about the flowers and strawberries that are grown in the area. Maybe you’ll even have a chance to go out and try your hand at picking a few berries for yourself! As the day draws to a close, find yourself near the historic pier on the beach in Ventura and settle into your room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel – 2 nights. (L) 3. Enjoy a guided tour in and around Santa Barbara this morning. Highlights include the often photographed and filmed Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Old Santa Barbara Mission; known to many as the Queen of the Missions. This afternoon enjoy some free time for browsing along Stearn’s Wharf or catch the electric shuttle up to State Street for some shopping on the El Paseo. Or take a quiet stroll along the beachfront….the afternoon is yours to enjoy. (L) 4. Drive throughout the gorgeous Santa Ynez Mountains this morning to the quaint village of Solvang, an early Danish settlement, which has faithfully maintained the flavor of Denmark. Browse the shops and try several of the delicious

Courthouse and historic Mission • 2 nights at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Ventura Beach • Solvang, a delightful Danish community, with bakeries and unique boutiques galore • Lompoc’s Annual Flower Festival Parade celebrating the community’s floral heritage • San Luis Obispo’s Apple Farm Inn and Oceano’s Great American Melodrama • Door-to-door transportation • Transportation on SuperCoach III • 5 meals: 4 lunches, 1 dinner • 1350/1550 Gold Passport Points

pastries before continuing up the coast to San Luis Obispo. Your accommodations this evening are at the Apple Farm Inn, a Sports Leisure favorite. With fresh cookies offered in the evening, it feels like you are staying at grandma’s house. Tonight, enjoy the antics and laughter at the Great American Melodrama in Oceano as your time along the coast draws to a close. Apple Farm Inn (D) 5. Travel north today leaving the rich fertile valleys of San Luis Obispo and Salinas as you cross over Pacheo Pass. Lunch is a taste of the fresh bounty from the valley before continuing to Sacramento, arriving in the early evening. (L) $1320 p.p./dbl.occ., $1545 single

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Ferries, Islands and Towns of Old Cape Cod Stay in Provincetown and on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard 7 Days • June 2-8

or the first time ever, we offer you the opportunity to stay on these two legendary islands. Travel by ferry to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and end your journey with the trip on the fast ferry to Boston Harbor for your return flight. Indeed, a week-long adventure that is all about the ferries, islands and towns of Old Cape Cod. 1. Carey Transportation picks you up at your home very early this morning and whisks you to the airport for your cross country flights,

arriving in Providence in early evening. Dinner is waiting upon your arrival. Hilton Garden Inn Providence Airport (D)

HIGHLIGHTS • Ferry rides from Hyannis to Nantucket, Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard and

2. Your first old Cape Cod seaport stop is New Bedford, home to Whaling National Historical Park. The park’s museum explains how this small city was literally the center of the ship trading universe many years ago. Arrive in Hyannis in time for the afternoon ferry ride to Nantucket. Dinner is served on the island. Nantucket Inn (FB,D)

Provincetown to Boston • Overnight Providence, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Hyannis, 2 nights Provincetown on the Cape • Guided tours in Provincetown (Cape Cod Nat’l Seashore), Nantucket and Edgartown (Martha’s Vineyard) • Visit Chatham, home of many a sea captain – see the John F. Kennedy Museum and the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame in Hyannis • New Bedford Whaling Museum Nat’l Park • Free time to browse shops and galleries • 12 meals: 2 breakfasts, 4 full breakfasts, 1 lunches and 5 dinners, including a lobster feast • Home pick-up, SLV Tour Director • Gold Passport Points TBA

3. Enjoy the grounds of the hotel this morning, part of your upscale island paradise. A guided tour offers some of the island’s history (the first settlers arrived in 1659), and you’ll have time to browse the shops and get lunch in one of the quaint pubs before your mid-afternoon ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Once again, you have charming overnight accommodations (left) with shops and restaurants right outside your door. Gather with the group this evening for dinner to share your island experiences. Kelley House Inn (FB,D)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

4. We’ve scheduled a tour of the island to acquaint you with its fascinating history. The Old Whaling Church and the beautiful row of Victorians are just two of the highlights. You have time to explore the villages of Edgartown and Oak Bluffs before we return to the mainland in late afternoon for dinner. Hyannis Hotel (FB,D) 5. Today is a day to get to know the Cape. Start at the John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis, which is also home to the Cape Cod Baseball Museum, a treat for fans of our national pastime. Did you know that nearly half of the players in the major leagues today played in the summer leagues in Cape Cod at some point in their early baseball careers?

7. Arise this morning and take one last look at your Cape Cod retreat. It’s time to board the high speed ferry for the ride across the water to Boston, and ultimately to Logan Airport, for the trip back to Sacramento, arriving in late evening. Hope you’ve enjoyed your history and sailing lesson, part of a memorable Cape Cod vacation. (B) Call today to have your name added to the Priority Notification List!

In Chatham, browse the shops and learn about the unique weather factors that make this one of the stormiest spots on the planet. End the day in Provincetown, your final Cape Cod destination. Your accommodations are oceanfront, at a lovely boutique hotel, with a restaurant next door and “downtown” a five-minute walk away. Surfside Hotel – 2 nights (FB,D) 6. A guided tour of Provincetown this morning will acquaint you with the history and sea-lore of this small ocean side community. This is literally the “end” of the United States, and serves as the end of the road for a fabled highway, US 6, which begins in Bishop, CA, and works its way to Provincetown. Travel over the sand dunes – yes, the sand dunes – to discover a whole new scenic world! An optional visit to the Well Fleet Audubon is offered this afternoon (small additional admission cost). Dine at a popular local spot for lunch, dinner is at your leisure. (B,L) Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Planes and Trains of the Pacific Northwest Featuring rail and aviation adventures in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia 6 Days • August 16-21

ummertime is magical in the Pacific Northwest. Exploring one of our country’s last frontiers, still made wild by the forests and mighty Pacific Ocean, is particularly special by rail. Discover another way to travel aboard Amtrak’s Cascade from Vancouver, Washington to Seattle and then on to Vancouver, British Columbia. 1. After your mid-morning arrival in Portland, journey southwest to the town of McMinnville. The town is the home of the Evergreen Aviation Museum and Howard Hughes’ infamous Spruce Goose. Built of birch, not spruce, due to wartime rationing of aluminum, you’ll see the plane in its restored glory after flying only once. Return to Portland and cross the Columbia River where you will find your accommodations for the evening. The Heathman Lodge (L)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

2. Rise early today to meet your first train, Amtrak’s Cascade (below). Equipped with European cars manufactured by Talgo, your morning will be spent traveling in comfort as you pass through the shadows of Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. Arrive in Seattle a short while later and enjoy lunch on the water at Cutters Bayhouse. Just next door, spend some time browsing and shopping at famous Pike Place Market. Your hotel is in the heart of the city, tucked between the Space Needle and Queen Anne Hill. Paramount Hotel – 2 nights (L)

HIGHLIGHTS • Ride Amtrak’s Cascade (twice), and the Whistler Mountaineer • Visit the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum and see Howard Hughes’ famous Spruce Goose • Tour Boeing’s Widebody Jet Manufacturing Plant, Future of Flight Aviation Center, Restoration Center & Museum of Flight • Explore British Columbia’s Western Railway Heritage Park, home of the Royal Hudson • Lodging in Vancouver, WA (1 night), Seattle,

3. This morning journey north to Everett, home of the Boeing Widebody Manufacturing Plant and the Future of Flight Aviation Center. You’ll see 747’s being assembled before your eyes and have time to see exhibits that highlight Boeing’s newest aircraft, the 787. Lunch is a treat as you dine at the foot of the Mukilteo ferry dock at Ivar’s, a Pacific Northwest tradition. Back in Everett, observe historic aircraft being meticulously restored at the Boeing Restoration Center. The planes you’ll see later on the tour at the Boeing Museum of Flight began their journey here. Back in Seattle, take in the view from atop Seattle’s famous

WA (2 nights), and Vancouver, BC (2 nights) • 10 meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 full breakfast, 5 lunches, 2 dinners • Round trip air to Portland/from Seattle • Deluxe motorcoach transportation • Door-to-door airport service • 2750/3200 Gold Passport Points

Space Needle with a visit to the observation deck before an included dinner on Queen Anne Hill. (B,L,D) 4. Rejoin the Cascade this morning for its final leg from Seattle through Northwestern Washington and across the border to Vancouver, British Columbia. Arrive just in time for lunch in Stanley Park at The Fish House. For the next two evenings, enjoy fine Canadian hospitality at your hotel, nearby one of the finest indoor markets in Vancouver. This evening, stay in or join your Tour Director for a trip across the water for dinner in Downtown Vancouver

aboard the Sea Bus. Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier – 2 nights (B,L) 5. The Whistler Mountaineer is truly a wonderful rail experience and continues to garner high marks from all who come aboard her. Enjoy a full breakfast service at your seat as you wind your way north along the waters of Howe Sound and the Coastal Mountains from Vancouver to Whistler. After some time in the village, return to Vancouver by motorcoach pausing in the small town of Squamish, home to the Western Railway Heritage Park and the recently restored Royal Hudson Steam Engine. A farewell dinner in downtown Vancouver brings the day to a close. (FB,D)

aircraft from throughout the past century. Ever wanted to stroll the aisle on a Concorde or a former Air Force One? Here’s your chance! For your final flying experience, your flight home awaits at SEA-TAC Airport to return you to Sacramento. (L) $2750 p.p./dbl.occ., $3185 single

This vacation requires a valid passport!

BRITISH COLUMBIA

6. Say goodbye to Canada as you cross the border back into the good ol’ USA, stopping for lunch en route and a visit to the Boeing Museum of Flight. Similar to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington DC, view restored

Whistler 4-5

Vancouver

2-3

Seatle

WA 1

McMinnville

Vancouver

Portland

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Off to Sisters, It’s Just Around the Bend Last year’s “Mountain Mystery Tour” returns for an encore in Oregon 4 Days • May 29 – June 1

ast year’s Mystery Tour was so popular, we are bringing it back as a regular tour. This affordable getaway comes just before the summer crowds. Sisters is a low mountain community in the Cascades, southwest of Portland. If you love the great outdoors and want to see and learn about the beauty of Oregon, this is your trip. 1. Depart Sacramento at 8am this morning, arriving in Portland at 9:30am. Heading south, our first stop is in Salem. Our favorite restaurant for lunch is McGrath’s Fish House downtown, boasting a wide variety of seafood and nonseafood entrees and some great chowder. Then we are off into the mountains. Our route takes us through Willamette National Forest, past Detroit Reservoir to the small village of Sisters. Nestled in the saddle between a host

of mountain peaks, it’s big enough to have everything we need without fighting crowds.

HIGHLIGHTS • 3 nights accommodations at the Best

Arrival night is special. Slick’s Q, an awardwinning barbecue joint in town, caters our dinner at the Best Western. The property is on spacious grounds, with llamas in the big pen out front (feed them if you like), and wild deer at the back fence every morning and evening. But back to dinner. It features Slick’s great barbecue meats and fixin’s. Trust us, you haven’t had barbecue this good since you left Oklahoma!

Western Ponderosa Lodge in Sisters – llamas, deer, horse racing (of sorts) – all right outside your door • Low mountains sightseeing tour – spectacular waterfalls and the birth of a river • 9 meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches (including beautiful Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood), 2 dinners • High Dessert Museum in Bend – special

As an added attraction this evening, in honor of the Triple Crown, we offer “horse racing” with actual wagering. Here’s your chance to pay for your trip! It’s fun, it’s goofy and you might make a buck or two. Best Western Ponderosa Lodge – 3 nights (L,D)

wildlife program • Scenic route to Sisters via Hwy 22, scenic return via Hwy 97 & 26 • Round trip air to/from Portland • Door-to-door service • 1350/1500 Gold Passport Points

Portland Mt. Hood Salem

1-3

Sisters

Bend

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Madras

2. A day of sightseeing in the mountains with an expert naturalist guide takes you to the headwaters of the Metolius River, one of central Oregon’s most spectacular waterways. As we travel along mountain highways, our guide makes the geology and history of the area come to life. After lunch at a mountain lodge, we travel over the crest of the Cascades to Sahalie Falls. Short walks bring you to outstanding outlooks and viewing points for both natural attractions. There are some neat little shops in town and we’ll give you the opportunity to explore them this afternoon. Back at the lodge, weather permitting, croquet is set up on the lawn for your enjoyment. This evening, choose from dinner in town (shuttle provided) or select something from the large deli across from the lodge. It’s your choice. (B,L) 3. Just down the mountain from your home in Sisters is central Oregon’s largest community,

Bend. It’s literally the commerce center of the state and it boasts one of the best small town museums in the country. Our visit to the High Desert Museum includes a private tour of the exhibits and a special wildlife program. Lunch is at your leisure in the café on the campus.

the mountain. Just driving through this region is a sightseers delight. Arrive at the airport in Portland in time for your early evening flight home. (B,L) $1335 p.p./dbl.occ., $1465 single

Returning to Sisters in the afternoon, we stop off at a huge quilting shop. While there, you get to create your very own unique postcard, then off to the post office to send your souvenir to someone special, or even to yourself. Dinner tonight is at Three Creeks, a popular local eatery, with a choice of entrees. Dessert is at the local ice cream shop. (B,L,D) 4. Time to make our way home. A different route gives you the opportunity to see more of Oregon’s high country. Through Redmond and Madras we go, climbing back into the mountains to the Timberline Lodge at Mount Hood. This famed establishment is at the base of

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Alaska’s Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula Featurng Alaska’s finest resorts and The Alaska Railroad 7 Days • June 13-19 1. Depart Sacramento for Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. Your hotel accommodations are in the heart of downtown. Tonight, gather for a welcome dinner and meet your local Alaskan guide. Hilton Hotel (D) 2. The Parks Highway is truly one of the most beautiful thoroughfares in North America. View heavy birch forests and the spectacular Knik and Matanuska Rivers while watching for wildlife. En route to Denali National Park, visit Happy Trails Kennel, the home of four time Iditarod winner, Martin Buser. Start your visit with a video that will take you from Anchorage to

Nome. Martin narrates and tells stories from his 28 years of racing as well as a great deal of Iditarod history. A dog sled demonstration will follow along with the chance to meet these amazing animals. In the afternoon, keep careful watch for a glimpse of majestic Mt. McKinley or black bears along the banks of the Susitna River. Your accommodations for the next two nights are in a beautiful building of log construction, river rock fireplaces and vaulted ceilings. The lodge is perched at the edge of a bluff with spectacular views of the Denali wilderness, the Nenana River Canyon, and Denali National Park. This evening enjoy a visit to the Sheldon Center for a talk entitled “Welcome to the Sub Arctic.” Grand Denali Lodge – 2 nights (FB) 3. Today travel deep into Denali National Park. With abundant wildlife and home to Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,320 feet, you’ll discover why many consider this to be our nation’s finest national park. Experience the Tundra Wilderness Tour and search the

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 unique train excursions, Denali to Talkeetna & Seward to Girdwood • Excellent wildlife viewing opportunities • 2 nights the Alyeska Lodge • 2 nights Grand Denali Hotel • Tundra Tour in Denali National Park • Explore the Alaska Sealife Center • Visit Kenai Fjords National Parks Exit Glacier • Happy Trails Kennel dog sled presentation • A local Alaskan guide and a Sports Leisure tour director • 8 meals: 6 full breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner • Round trip airfare to/from Anchorage • Door-to-door service • 3800/4550 Gold Passport Points

pristine backwoods for bear, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep. Travel through low valleys and high mountain passes. Along its route, beautiful landscapes can be seen at every turn, and there are many opportunities to view Mt. McKinley if the clouds cooperate. (FB,L) 4. Spend the morning at your leisure and explore on your own. Boarding the world-famous Alaska Railroad you’ll discover a whole new way to see the Alaskan landscape. Featuring large picture windows and comfortable seating for your scenic journey, you’ll head south to Talkeetna. It’s here they offer some of the best fixed-wing flightseeing in Alaska. Optional scenic flights (additional cost) will be offered based on weather. Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge (FB)

5. Girdwood is home to the Alyeska Lodge, nestled in a lush valley surrounded by mountain peaks. It is Alaska’s premier year-round resort destination. Enjoy a trip on the resort’s aerial tram; a seven-minute scenic ride from the hotel to the 2,300 ft top of Mt. Alyeska. From the tram, you can see miles in all directions with views of the Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers, and endless peaks deep into the Chugach Mountain range. Don’t forget to look down! Moose and bear sightings are common, too! At the upper tram terminal, there is an observation deck providing even more breath-taking panoramic views along with the Glacier Express Restaurant. Alyeska Lodge – 2 nights (FB)

6. This morning travel to the coastal community of Seward for a visit to the Alaska Sealife Center, set on the shores of Resurrection Bay. The center performs research, education and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Visitors to this “window on the sea” have close encounters with puffins, octopusses, sea lions and other sealife while peeking over the shoulders of ocean scientists studying Alaska’s rich seas and diverse sea life. This afternoon visit Exit Glacier, the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park accessible by road. From the nature center, a network of short trails provides close access with different views of this active glacier. It is a perfect place to witness how glaciers reshape a landscape. This evening travel back to Girdwood with another trip onboard the Alaska Railroad on what many believe is its most scenic route. (FB) 7. Say farewell to Alaska and travel back to Anchorage for a city tour with time on own to explore before your return flight back to Sacramento. (FB)

AK Denali Nat’l Park

Grand Denali Lodge

$3790 p.p./dbl.occ., $4510 single

2-3

Mt. McKinley

Anchorage Kenai Fjords Nat’l Park

Talkeetna

1 5-6

Girdwood Seward

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Everything’s Coming Up Roses See the Portland Rose Festival in all her colorful splendor from your indoor seating 3 Days • June 8-10 1. Take a morning flight to Portland and begin with a city tour and lunch, followed by an extended visit to the International Rose Test Gardens, in full bloom for your visit. The Embassy Suites, Portland International awaits your afternoon arrival for a two-night stay with its nightly Manager’s Cocktail Reception and morning cooked-to-order breakfast. In the evening, the Conchords Chorale takes the stage to sing you down Memory Lane with a concert of favorite movie tunes at the Hollywood Theatre. (L) 2. The Portland Rose Festival’s signature event is the Grand Floral Parade (pictured), preceded

by the coronation of the Festival Queen. Due to Portland’s unpredictable weather, the parade is routed through Memorial Coliseum. That’s where your seats are – always warm and dry, with a snack bar, restrooms and other “creature comforts” only steps away. Following, you’re off to the riverfront for some free time along the Festival Midway. Dinner served aboard a Willamette River yacht winds up your Rose Festival experience. (FB,D) 3. Depart for the “Emerald City” of Seattle via the Cascade, one of Amtrak’s most scenic routes. Lunch is served at the sound-view Cutters Bayhouse, located next door to Pike Place Market. After a bit of time for shopping

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 nights in Portland during the 105th annual Rose Festival • See the Grand Floral Parade from indoor seating • Attend Conchords Chorale concert; visit the International Rose Test Gardens • Scenic ride along the coast and Cascade Mountains by train • 5 meals: Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner • Round trip air to Portland/from Seattle • Door-to-door airport transportation • 1300/1400 Gold Passport Points

(perhaps you’ll bring home a “flying fish”) return home via Seattle/Tacoma Airport. (FB,L)

$1255 p.p./dbl.occ., $1380 single

Does Your Social Club or Group Need a Speaker? Mark and Clayton are available to speak to your group of 20 or more. We can provide an entertaining 20-40 minute speech featuring stories from the road, tips on how to maximize your travel dollars, avoid getting taken, and even provide a nice door prize. In addition, every member of your group will be offered a no-obligation 6-month FREE trial Travel Club Membership. Kindly make your request as early as possible. Let us provide the entertainment for your next meeting. Call our office today!

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Roses and Rose-Colored Glass in Victoria and Tacoma This two-nation vacation features the best of the Pacific Northwest 4 Days • June 10-13 1. A morning flight to Seattle arrives in time to meet friends on “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” for lunch at the Puget Sound-view Cutters Bayhouse, located next door to Pike Place Market. You’ll board the Victoria Clipper for a cruise across the Straits of Georgia to the picturesque capital of British Columbia, Victoria. Chateau Victoria – 2 nights (L)

Everything’s Coming Up Roses in Portland, Victoria and Tacoma 6 Days • June 8-13

Everything in both itineraries is included! 2500/2850 Gold Passport Points $2499 p.p./dbl.occ., $2825 single

Victoria

3-4

Port Angeles Seattle

Sequim 5

Tacoma

Portland

1-2

WA Vancouver

2. A comprehensive city tour spotlights the beauty and history of the oh-so-British city as it should be seen: By double-decker bus, of course. You will lunch on a selection of delectable morsels at the century-old Empress Hotel’s elegant High Tea. In the afternoon, Butchart Gardens (pictured) is yours to discover. Explore Victoria tonight. How about dinner in an English-style pub? The fish and chips here can’t be beat! (FB,HT)

HIGHLIGHTS • Cruise aboard the Victoria Clipper • 2 nights in Victoria, British Columbia • Touring by double-decker bus and a visit to Butchart Gardens • High Tea at the Empress Hotel • Overnight at the elegant Hotel Murano in Tacoma • See Dale Chihuly glasswork at the Tacoma Museum of Glass

3. A morning ferry to Port Angeles returns you to Washington’s pristine Olympic Peninsula. Visit Sequim, the Lavender Capital of the World, to explore the shops and cafes of scenic downtown. You’ll experience the cottage industry firsthand at the Sunshine Lavender Farm. Then on to Tacoma for a final night and dinner in your elegant hotel’s restaurant, Bite. A museum in itself, don’t miss the Murano’s incredible art displays throughout the public areas on every floor. Hotel Murano (FB,D)

• 6 meals: 1 breakfast, 2 full breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 high tea, 1 dinner • Round trip air to/from Seattle/Tacoma • Door-to-door airport transportation • 1800/2000 Gold Passport Points

4. After breakfast, head to the Museum of Glass for a guided tour of native-son Dale Chihuly’s breathtaking art glass and sculptures, including his famous Bridge of Glass. An afternoon flight from Seattle/Tacoma International Airport returns you to Sacramento and your awaiting ride home. (B) $1765 p.p./dbl.occ., $1975 single This vacation requires a valid passport!

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Winding Through Weaverville A brand new adventure in Trinity County, along with a bit of history on old Highway 99 3 Days • May 9-11

here aren’t many places in California that haven’t been checked out by Sports Leisure Travelers over the years, but we think (with the help of Public Television’s Huell Howser) we’ve found one; the historic town of Weaverville, nestled in the Trinity Alps, along the river of the same name.

For the sake of variety, we’ll travel old Highway 99, through Chico to Red Bluff, on the way up the valley; then head straight home on the interstate. Come and discover a rich part of California’s past in Trinity County.

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 nights accommodations at the Weaverville Victorian Inn • Visit the Joss House, a unique historical Chinese Temple

1. Our fleet of Carey cars delivers you to our office this morning for our 8:30am departure. Today’s route goes up Hightway 99 to Chico. Along the way, we pass towns like Gridley, Biggs and Durham. We’ve all traveled this road, but what do we know about these places? Today, you’ll learn the stories. Lunch is at the popular Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. There’s also a stop at the Sundial Bridge in Redding, before arriving in Weaverville in late afternoon. It’s the heart of springtime in the Central Valley and the flowers are in bloom, the crops are planted, the circle of life begins anew. Weaverville Victorian Inn – 2 nights (L,D)

• Go behind-the-scenes at a working sawmill • Walk through the historic “ghost” mining town of Shasta City and stand on Redding’s Sun Dial Bridge • Explore the unique Highland Art Center in Weaverville, dinner at the Trinity Country Club • Lunch at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico • Narrated travel on old Hwy 99 to Red Bluff • Explore the Trinity Alps • All meals included, 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners • Door-to-door airport transportation • 800/900 Gold Passport Points

2. There’s lots to do in the town Weaverville. The center point is the Old Joss House. Constructed in 1874, it was donated to the state park system in 1956. These temples were the center of culture for Chinese immigrants. Only a few are remaining. The Highland Art Center is where you’ll discover eclectic art of all kinds. Weaverville has it’s own community forest. Would you enjoy a brief walk to learn how it’s managed? The local Trinity

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Museum is a wealth of information. We’ll even take you to an old sawmill and for a short drive into the Trinity Alps. Dine at the Trinity Country Club this evening. (B,L,D) 3. On the return trip, we’ll stop in at Shasta City, an old mining camp dating back to 1861. Lunch in Redding, then back down the interstate (sometimes it can’t be avoided) to Sacramento, arriving ahead of the afternoon traffic. (B,L) $785 p.p./dbl.occ., $870 single

Mt. Rushmore, The Black Hills, Crazy Horse, The Dakotas Help us choose the next itinerary for this popular destination – four great options 7-9 Days • June 2012

he Black Hills of South Dakota, home of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monuments, is one of our most popular destinations. We didn’t go there in 2011 and don’t have a trip scheduled yet for 2012. So we thought we’d ask you which itinerary sounds the best from the four listed. When you’ve looked them over and decided which one(s) you like best, call our office and we’ll record your interest. In the November newsletter, we’ll announce the trip, which would likely be in June of next year. Vote for your favorite(s) and watch for the results.

South Dakota w/Sioux Falls • 7 Days

Just the Black Hills • 7 days

The Corn Palace in Mitchell is an often requested attraction, but it’s on the east side of the state and Rushmore is on the west, so we’ll cross the plains on this all South Dakota adventure. This is Mark’s favorite.

Ramona says this is the best trip she’s ever done to the area. Days were long because of the night activities, yet the pace was easy and relaxed.

1 Fly in to Sioux Falls, overnight 2 Day in Mitchell (Corn Palace), overnight Pierre 3 Badlands Nat’l Park/Wall, Rapid City – 2 nights 4 Deadwood and Spearfish, Black Hills 5 Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park, Palmer Gulch Lodge – 2 nights 6 Crazy Horse, Night show at Mt. Rushmore

1 Fly into Rapid City, 3 nights 2 Badlands Nat’l Park/Wall 3 Devils Tower Nat’l Mon./Deadwood 4 Rushmore and Custer State Park, Palmer Gulch – 3 nights 5 Crazy Horse and Spearfish 6 Mammoth Site and Rushmore show at Night 7 Fly out of Rapid City

7 Fly out of Rapid City Black Hills and Yellowstone • 9 days

This itinerary features both North and South Dakota, along with Teddy Roosevelt Nat’l Park and the Medora Musical, a historical outdoor play. This one is Ramona’s choice.

This is your favorite (the best selling itinerary) through the years. Stay in the park at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel. Pricey for sure, but special. We can also stay in West Yellowstone for a bit less. Not as sexy, but more to do in the evenings.

1 Fly into Rapid City, overnight Spearfish

1 Fly into Rapid City, Palmer Gulch 3 nights

2 Devils Tower Nat’l Mon., Medora, ND – 2 nights

2 Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park

3 Medora/T. Roosevelt Nat’l Park 4 Rhames/Bowman, Rapid City – 2 nights

4 Devils Tower and Cody Rodeo, overnight Cody

5 Badlands Nat’l Park/Wall

5 Yellowstone Park arrival, 3 nights

The Dakota Territories • 8 Days

6 Rushmore/Custer St. Pk, Palmer Gulch – 2 nights 7 Crazy Horse, Night show at Rushmore 8 Fly home out of Rapid City

3 Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore evening show

6 Upper Loop of Yellowstone 7 Lower Loop of Yellowstone 8 Depart Yellowstone, fly home from Billings or Bozeman 9 Fly home Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Jammin’ Through Montana’s Glacier National Park Rocky Mountain Lodges, a two-nation vacation 6 Days • September 6-11 1. Depart Sacramento for Kalispell, Montana. A short thirty minute drive north brings you to the resort town of Whitefish and your accommodations. Experience true Montana hospitality, surrounded by the rustic luxury of an upscale western lodge. Grouse Mountain Lodge – 2 nights (L)

Summit House followed by a visit to the nature center which features the region’s flora, fauna, geology, fire ecology, and history. Floral window boxes, hand-carved wooden signs, covered sidewalks, painted murals, and old-time building facades set the tone for a lovely afternoon back in town. (FB,L)

2. A gondola ride to the top of Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort gives you a new perspective on the region known as “Big Sky Country.” The summit offers fabulous views of the Flathead Valley and the peaks of Glacier National Park (pictured). Enjoy lunch in the

3. You’d be hard pressed to find a more scenic drive in the lower 48 states than Going-to-theSun Road in Glacier National Park. A wilderness of lakes, towering peaks, and remnants of glaciers abound. Travel to the hand-hewn, grand Lake McDonald Lodge to board a Red Jammer

HIGHLIGHTS • Travel Going-To-The-Sun Road through Glacier National Park • Overnight at the Prince of Wales Hotel • 2 nights at Many Glacier Hotel • 2 nights at Grouse Mountain Lodge • 3 scenic boat cruises • The music of David Walburn • 10 meals: 5 full breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner • Round trip airfare Sacramento/Kalispell • Door-to-door service • Tour Director: Scott Angeletti • 2700/3100 Passport Points

ALBERTA Waterton Lakes Nat’l Park

Prince of Wales Hotel Glacier Nat’l Park

Many Glacier Hotel Whitefish

4-5

1-2

Kalispell

East Glacier Going To The Sun Road

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Bus for the 52 mile journey (right). Cross the border into Canada (a passport is required) to Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta. Your accommodations tonight are in the stately hotel named after Prince Edward, which was built in 1927 to resemble a French or Swiss chalet crowned with a 30-foot bell tower. Prince of Wales Hotel (FB,L) 4. Step aboard a classic vessel and cruise into the history of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. The boat features indoor and outdoor seating to maximize your enjoyment of the most spectacular scenery the Rocky Mountains have to offer. View majestic towering cliffs, unique geological formations, beautiful waterfalls, snow-clad mountain peaks and the international border. Return to the U.S. and your accommodations situated on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake in the heart of Glacier National Park. This evening enjoy a special musical performance by Montana singer-songwriter David Walburn. With his guitar, harmonica and original songs, David will tell stories about the early explorers of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery, local Native Americans, and the frontiersmen of Montana. Many Glacier Hotel – 2 nights (FB) 5. Glide across beautiful alpine lakes nestled among the peaks within the International Peace Park. Discover a spectacular side of these national parks not visible from the road. The captain will share with you his knowledge and love for this incredibly special place. See and feel the grandeur that makes Glacier National Park “The Crown of the Continent.” Board Chief Two Guns for a cruise on Swiftcurrent Lake, then take a short walk over the hill to Lake Josephine. Here the Morning Eagle awaits your arrival for a

cruise on this pristine lake. For those that like to walk there is a guided national park ranger hike to Grinnell Lake. Tonight get together with your fellow traveling companions for a final meal together and toast your adventure to Montana. (FB,D)

6. After breakfast, travel to Kalispell for a hosted lunch before arriving at the airport for your flight home to Sacramento. (FB,L) $2680 p.p./dbl.occ., $3085 single This vacation requires a valid passport!

Out-of-towners have a new address in Sacramento: The Best Western Sutter House Hotel Travel Club members living outside the greater Sacramento area have a new hotel home when staging for early-morning tour departures, the Best Western Sutter House Hotel! Conveniently located in downtown Sacramento, the hotel is just a few blocks off I-5. As you may have noticed, the Best Western chain is undergoing some changes. Their premier properties are being rebranded with the word PLUS added to the sign, meaning they offer the very best in location, service and amenities. Is the Sutter House a PLUS? You betcha! The hotel is located at 1100 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 on the corner of 11th and H. The phone number is (916) 441-1314. Ask for our good friend Doris Gray, Director of Sales, to get the special Sports Leisure rate of $85 per night plus tax. You can leave your car in their parking lot for the duration of your tour at no additional cost. Our friendly drivers from Carey Transportation will be happy to pick you up from and return you to the hotel’s 24-hour staffed lobby. You might consider staying a second night at trip’s end, especially if the return is late or if you live far away. The special rate requires advance reservations. Call Doris at (916) 441-1314 to confirm your stay! Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

The Calgary Stampede Centennial A century of entertainment and still going strong 5 Days • July 9-13 1. Depart Sacramento and travel to Calgary, Alberta for the 2012 edition of The Calgary Stampede. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy dinner at Buzzards Restaurant with some great cowboy cuisine. Your accommodations for the next four nights will be in the heart of Calgary. International Hotel – 4 nights (D) 2. Awake to an included breakfast and enjoy a guided tour of Calgary. Your first stop is Canada Olympic Park, home of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. See the Ice House, the Ski Jump Tower, and the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. Nestled on 127 acres of pristine parkland in the heart of Calgary, Heritage Park tells the vital story of the settlement of Western

Canada and its impact on the cultural fabric of the west. Next, venture into the interactive Gasoline Alley Museum, home to a world-class collection of one-of-a-kind antique vehicles and memorabilia. This afternoon, make your way to The Calgary Stampede for your first rodeo event. (FB)

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 days celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the World-Famous Calgary Stampede • 4 nights in one hotel – unpack once • Calgary city tour • Visit Canada Olympic Park • Experience Drumheller, dinosaur capital of

3. The Calgary Stampede hosts you for breakfast this morning with its world-famous pancakes! A full day at the Stampede grounds gives you time to explore its many displays and exhibits, enjoy the entertainment and free stage shows at the corral, and experience a free skyride over Stampede Park. Lunch and dinner are at your leisure. Your admission also includes the afternoon rodeo and evening Grandstand

the world or Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho National Park • Round trip airfare, Sacramento/Calgary • Door-to-door airport service • 4 meals: 3 full breakfasts, 1 dinner • 3100/3600 Gold Passport Points

Show. During the day, regular shuttle service is provided between the Stampede grounds and your hotel should you want to take time out for an afternoon siesta. (FB) 4. Today you have a decision to make: Dinosaurs or the beauty of the Canadian Rockies? Drumheller is the Dinosaur Capital of the World. In the heart of the Canadian badlands in southern Alberta, the Drumheller Valley is home to rolling fields which suddenly give way to steep, dry coulees ridged with the strata of hundreds of years of erosion by time, wind and water. Visit the Royal Tyrell Museum, Canada’s only museum dedicated to the science of paleontology. Return to Calgary for the remainder of the afternoon and evening and once again experience the Calgary Stampede. (Continued on page 57)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Extend your Canadian Vacation with the ultimate journey through the Canadian Rockies with visits to Banff, Jasper, Vancouver, and Victoria!

nterested in spending more time in the Canadian Rockies? Extend your Calgary Stampede experience and explore not only the magnificent mountains to the west, but enjoy a one-of-a-kindrail adventure and the best of British Columbia! The additional ten days begins where your Stampede trip leaves off with an additional night in Calgary. You’re then off to Banff where a sightseeing tour introduces you to Cascade Gardens and beautiful Bow Falls. Explore Lake Louise, Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park and Emerald Lake with the chance of seeing wildlife around every corner. Experience the Columbia Icefields with a ride on the Ice Explorer for a close up look at Athabasca Glacier. In the quaint mountain town of Jasper, enjoy a gentle ride up Whistler Mountain on the Jasper Tram and enjoy breakfast at the top. A gentle walk down Maligne Canyon to visit Maligne Lake is included.

Board the Rocky Mountaineer, with deluxe daytime rail travel in Red Leaf Service (Gold Leaf, extra cost) through the Rockies to Whistler. Highlights include the shorelines of Anderson Lake, sweeping views of Fraser Canyon, and the crossing of Deep Creek Bridge. After an overnight in the town of Quesnel, reboard the train for views of the Rocky Mountain Trench, Mount Robson, and Yellowhead Pass before arriving in Whistler. Travel by motorcoach to North Vancouver and board the BC Ferry to Vancouver Island for a stay in Victoria with a visit to Butchart Gardens. There will be time to walk along the harbor, visit the parliament buildings or shop at nearby quaint stores. Back on the mainland, delight in a city tour of Vancouver that includes Stanley Park and visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge. For prices and a complete itinerary, please contact our office.

The Calgary Stampede Centennial Your other option is a full-day, guided excursion exploring many of the natural attractions of Banff, Lake Louise, and Yoho National Park. Journey along the Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon and take a short walk along the canyon to the magnificent Lower Falls. Visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise and cross the Great Divide to the Spiral Railway Tunnels.

– Continued from page 56

Wander around the paths at Takakkaw Falls, the second highest waterfall in Canada, before returning to Calgary. There is an additional charge of $75 per person if you choose this option. 5. Following breakfast at the hotel, hunt around for that perfect last minute souvenir and return

to Calgary Airport for your early afternoon flight home or explore the Canadian Rockies in detail, along with the Best of British Columbia, on our extension offered above on this page. (FB) $3085 p.p./dbl.occ., $3545 single This vacation requires a valid passport! Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Take the Train to Truckee and Virginia City Featuring two summer rail adventures across the High Sierra and through the Comstock Lode 3 Days • June 15-17

he thrill of the whistle. The call of “All Aboard!” The soothing motion of a rocking passenger car. Nothing compares to travel by train. And nothing compares to the scenic beauty of the Sierra Nevada as viewed from aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr. Experience two rail adventures on this short Father’s Day weekend summer getaway to Truckee, Lake Tahoe and Virginia City including a ride on the Virginia-Truckee Railroad from Carson City to Virginia City.

1. Begin with included transfers from your home to Sacramento’s historic rail station. Meet the California Zephyr at the platform for its 11am departure. While the train is headed for Chicago, you’ll be aboard just long enough to enjoy the most scenic portions of the route: The majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains through Donner Pass. A box lunch is included for you to

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

enjoy from your comfortable coach seat or from the domed observation car. Arrive in Truckee in mid-afternoon with time to enjoy the shops of its historic downtown. After checking into your hotel, dinner is included at one of Truckee’s popular restaurants, Zano’s Italian Ristorante. Hampton Inn (L,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • Ride in comfort aboard the California Zephyr from Sacramento to Truckee • Experience the golden age of steam aboard the Virginia-Truckee Railroad • Explore the Nevada State Railroad Museum and the town of Virginia City on a private

2. The Gatekeeper’s Museum is an undiscovered jewel in nearby Tahoe City, on the northwest corner of Lake Tahoe. A reconstruction of the original Gatekeeper’s Cabin, the “gate” refers to the adjacent dam which allows water to flow from the lake into the Truckee River, the only outlet for Lake Tahoe. The museum also features many historic artifacts from the region along with one of the most complete collections of Native American baskets in North America. Lunch at Jake’s on the Lake is always a treat and so is a visit to the Nevada State Railroad Museum in nearby Carson City. In the late afternoon, board a historic steam engine for the final 28 mile journey high into the Comstock Lode to Virginia City. Be on the lookout for wild mustangs and find a hand to hold through 566 foot-long Tunnel #2. Enjoy time in the evening for browsing the eclectic shops of Virginia City and for having dinner at your leisure before turning in for the evening. Silverland Inn (B,L)

tour • Travel in comfort on SuperCoach III in between trains and back to Sacramento • 6 meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 1 box lunch, 1 lunch, 1 dinner • Door-to-door service • 850/950 Gold Passport Points

3. At its height, Virginia City had over 30,000 inhabitants, more than 100 saloons, and the only elevator between San Francisco and Chicago. Mark Twain and Bret Harte lived here and wrote about the news, both real and sometimes embellished, as reporters for Nevada’s first newspaper – the Territorial Enterprise. Learn about the characters and history of the town that lived and prospered with the Comstock Lode. In the early afternoon, enjoy Father’s Day Brunch at the Forest Buffet, high atop Harrah’s Hotel/ Casino Resort on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. Arrive back at the Sports Leisure office in the late afternoon where the vehicles from Carey Transportation will be waiting to return you home. (B,BR) $825 p.p./dbl.occ., $935 single

People, Places and Memories

Candid moments from the road, memories of the people we’ve met and the places we’ve been

Mary Jo Streng poses with vocalist Debbie Boone in Branson

Our friend Wally Cuchine holds court at the Eureka Opera House on the Lincoln Highway

Sports Leisure travelers make unique souvenirs in Sisters, Oregon

Diana and Stan Gordon take a break on a nature trail

Anna Marie Malone makes friends with a llama at Ponderosa Lodge in the Cascades Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Atlantic Canada and the Magdalen Islands Featuring a three-night cruise from the Magdalen Islands to Montreál 11 Days • August 14-24

tlantic Canada and Québec. Major metropolises and cosmopolitan cities. Historic towns and small villages. The ocean, the lighthouses, and the ferries. Maybe you’ve visited before and you wanted more? Here is a new itinerary that few have experienced. A small group of islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence serves as the halfway point to a marvelous exploration of this region. An exploration by coach, ferry and ship. 1. Begin your adventure with door-to-door service to the Sports Leisure office to meet SuperCoach III, which delivers you to San Francisco International Airport. Arrive in Halifax in the late evening and transfer to your downtown hotel for a two night stay. Cambridge Suites Hotel – 2 nights 2. Arise this morning and enjoy a tour of this historic port city. Explore the waterfront,

downtown, and St. Paul’s Church. You will also visit the Halifax Citadel, a fortress perched on a hill overlooking the city, and take a stroll through the Halifax Public Gardens. The afternoon is free for lunch at your leisure and to further explore the city. Tonight visit Keith’s Brewery as it was in 1863, with actors in period costume, and a traditional Pub Dinner. (B,D)

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

• Nova Scotia: Explore Historic Halifax and experience a traditional pub dinner. • Prince Edward Island: Charlottetown and the home of Anne of Green Gables • Cap-aux-Meules: “Cave and Cliffs” boat tour, Museum of the Sea, Aquarium of the Islands

3. Travel from Halifax to Caribou and board the ferry for your 75-minute crossing of the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island. In Charlottetown, history comes alive as you stroll the historic district with a costumed guide. Visit Founders’ Hall, a tribute to Charlottetown’s important role in Canadian history as “The Birthplace of Confederation,” where you learn the story of Canada from its inception in 1864 up until modern day. Arrive at your downtown hotel in the late afternoon. Rodd Charlottetown Hotel – 2 nights (B,D) 4. Enjoy some free time this morning to relax or explore on your own. This afternoon, set off to explore this beautiful island. See the red sandstone cliffs, white beaches, gently sloping sand dunes and green fields of Prince Edward Island National Park. Lucy Maud Montgomery

HIGHLIGHTS

• 3 nights aboard the ferry cruise ship CTMA Vacancier with ports of call in Québec at Chandler, Pércé, and Québec City • 18 meals: 2 breakfasts, 8 full breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners • Round trip airfare San Francisco to Halifax/ from Montreál • Door-to-door airport service • 6350/7300 Gold Passport Points

describes this impressive scenery in her Anne of Green Gables series. Visit the home of “Green Gables” and Prince Edward Island Preserves for some tasty treats. Tonight enjoy a delicious lobster dinner. (FB,D) 5. From Charlottetown, journey to Souris where you board another ferry to the magical Magdalen Islands. Relax during your five-hour journey across the Gulf of St. Lawrence to this unique part of Québec. Spend three nights in the small island town of Cap-aux-Meules. Chateau Madelinot – 3 nights (FB) 6. Enjoy a “Caves and Cliffs” boat tour where you will learn about the history, geology, and birds

of the region, along with storytelling from your local tour guide. Stop at Dune-du-Sud where red cliffs sculpted by the sea shelter this beautiful red sand beach. A visit to Verrerie La Méduse is an unforgettable experience. Interpretive panels explain the glassblowing process and, from a viewing area, the artisans can be seen at their craft. (FB,L) 7. During your visit to the Museum of the Sea, learn the importance of the gulf waters to the Madelinots’ way of life through displays and artifacts. At the Aquarium of the Islands, come to observe and even touch wonderful live marine creatures and see harp seals. Also visit La Grave, once a favorite meeting spot for fishing and commerce, it’s now home to many artisans and craftspeople. (FB) 8. Sleep in a little this morning and spend some time in the town of Cap aux Meules to explore on your own. This afternoon, visit the Smoked Herring Museum and stop to see Fatima,

the shell church, before boarding the CTMA Vacancier for the next part of your adventure (below). The “ferry-cruise ship” offers a host of amenities including a reading room, exercise room, interpretation center, movie theatre, several lounges, a restaurant for breakfast and lunch daily as well as a separate dining room for dinner. There is also an observation deck and convenience store onboard. Your comfortable exterior view cabin has either two twin beds or a double bed depending on occupancy. Each cabin has private facilities. CTMA Vacancier – 3 nights (FB) 9. Wake up in the heart of the Gaspesie Region, renowned for its beautiful coastal scenery. An excursion to the town of Pércé and nearby Pércé Rock is a wonderful introduction to this unique region. In the afternoon, sail near Bonaventure Island – a sanctuary for gannets, puffins, guillemots and cormorants. Many species of whale are often seen in the waters along the

Gaspé Coast. Select shore excursions are offered each day during your cruise (additional cost). Descriptions will be provided in advance of your departure. (FB,L,D) 10. Your journey continues along the mighty St. Lawrence River as you sail past the Beaupre Coast, L’Ile d’Orleans, and Montmorency Falls amongst many other well-known locations. Arrive in Québec City around 12 noon. The only walled city in North America, explore the cobblestone streets at your own pace or purchase an optional guided tour for an additional cost. The ship departs later this evening. (FB,L,D) 11. Your Canadian adventure comes to an end with an early morning arrival in Montreál. Transfer to the airport for your return flight home in the early afternoon. (FB) $6310 p.p./dbl.occ., $7260 single This vacation requires a valid passport!

QUÉBEC

Magdalen Islands

Québec City Montreál

Cap-aux-Meules

Percé

5-7

Chandler Prince Edward Island

Charlotttetown

3-4

Souris Caribou

1-2

Halifax

NOVA SCOTIA 8-10

Nights 8-10 aboard the CMTA Vacancier Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

New England Fall Foliage Sampler Visit Vermont and New Hampshire at their colorful best – a taste of Maine, too! 7 Days • September 29 – October 5, 2012 1. Arrive by air into Manchester, New Hampshire. Following a Welcome Dinner at a popular local restaurant, your accommodations are close by. Radisson Hotel (D) 2. As you head toward the Vermont border, you’ll visit the King Arthur Flour Mill and the quaint village of Hanover, home of the Ivy League’s Dartmouth College. Spectacular views will be yours at Quechee Gorge, Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon. Reach the shores of Lake Champlain in the afternoon and step back in time. Two nights at the Basin Harbor Resort are designed to calm your nerves and sooth your senses. Cabin

rooms are old-fashioned, yet fully equipped with all the modern amenities, save one: There’s no television! So take a walk along the lake. Swim in the outdoor, heated pool. Check out the Fitness Center. Or save your energy for a hosted Happy Hour preceding your gourmet dinner served in the resort’s dining room. (FB,D)

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 nights each at the famed Basin Harbor and Red Jacket Resorts • A night each in Manchester and Portsmouth, New Hampshire • Cruise Lake Champlain, Squam Lake and the rugged Maine coast

3. After breakfast, meet owners Bob and Penny for a history talk about the century-plus old resort, then walk down to the lakeshore and board your vessel for a narrated cruise. Explore a few of the incredibly well-preserved 1800’s wooden shipwrecks that lie on the bottom of

• Travel the scenic Kangamagus Highway and Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway • Visit Quechee Gorge and Shelburne Farms • 12 meals: 6 full breakfasts and 6 dinners including the Conway Scenic Dinner Train and a real New England lobster and clambake • Round trip air between Sacramento and Manchester • Door-to-door transportation • 3150/3550 Gold Passport Points

Lake Champlain. Cruise staff will deploy an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and by viewing screens onboard the boat, you will be part of the exploration of the wreck from the surface. Next, visit Shelburne Farms, a nationally acclaimed 1,400 acre historic site with some of the most spectacular lake and mountain scenery anywhere. The guided tour features historic 19th-century buildings and the Farm’s magnificent agricultural landscape designed by the creator of Central Park. A prize herd of brown Swiss cows provides milk for the farm’s gourmet Farmhouse Cheddar Cheese. Have a taste while visiting the cheese-making operations in the barn. After dinner back at the resort,

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

enjoy entertainment by a local musician and storyteller. (FB,D)

5. With a local guide, travel the famed Kangamagus Highway, a particularly scenic byway, to Franconia Notch State Park. There you’ll take the aerial tram to the top of Cannon Mountain for more spectacular views. The movie On Golden Pond was filmed nearby on Squam Lake. Enjoy an afternoon cruise and listen for the loons. Your place is set for an elegant meal on the Conway Scenic Dinner Train in the evening. (FB,D)

4. Travel to Montpelier, the nation’s smallest capital town, and visit The Morse Farm, a 7th generation working maple sugaring farm. After learning the process in the barn theater, head inside the gift shop for the tummy pleasing Vermont tradition of Sugar on Snow – candied maple syrup served with… any guesses? Pickles! It’s the perfect combination of sweet and sour. The drive to North Conway and your top-ofthe-world resort (pictured on previous page) is among the most scenic of the journey and includes a photo stop at Mt. Washington. After a welcome reception and dinner, join a local naturalist for the Raven’s Wildlife Program, covering the fauna found in the area. Red Jacket Mountain View Hotel – 2 nights (FB,D)

Dinner, a traditional New England lobster and clambake. Sheraton Harborside Hotel (FB,D) 7. Spend the morning exploring Portsmouth, then return to Manchester for your westbound flight home. (FB) $3135 p.p./dbl.occ., $3525 single

6. Your taste of Maine consists of a visit to historic Kennebunkport, summer home of the Bush Family. You’ll see their and other grand seaside “cottages” on a driving tour of the area, then take a harbor cruise to learn about the lobster industry. You just might meet your dinner! Your last night is spent in Portsmouth and includes, as your Farewell

NH ME Burlington Montpellier

N. Conway 6-7

2-3

Kennebunkport

Basin Harbor

Hanover 6

Manchester

Portsmouth

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Fall in Love with Colorado and Utah Featuring first-class service on the Durango and Silverton Railroad 8 Days • September 22-29, 2012 1. Depart Sacramento this morning for Albuquerque. Lunch is hosted en route to Durango. Located in the southwest corner of Colorado near the Four Corners area, Durango is nestled in the Animas River Valley and surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. Your accommodations are on the banks of the beautiful Animas River. Doubletree Hotel – 2 nights (L) 2. Take a docent-guided walking tour of the historic district, home to award-winning restaurants, art galleries and eclectic shops. You will enjoy ample time to wander around town before gathering at the train station museum for a private wine and cheese reception with the curator, followed by free time to explore the museum. The 12,000 square foot museum houses an impressive variety of exhibits including an 800-square foot model railroad depicting the

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Denver & Rio Grande Railroad as it operated in the 1950s. There are also exhibits galore for railroading buffs with large selections of railroad tools, displays, photographs, paintings and a 1916 American La France fire engine. The evening is at your leisure. (FB)

HIGHLIGHTS • 2 nights at the Zermatt resort • Lunch at Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort • Visit the Colorado mountain towns of Durango and Ouray • Explore Dinosaur National Monument

3. The route to Silverton aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad creates an unforgettable journey along the spectacular Animas River. The route boasts some of Colorado’s most striking canyon scenery. You will be traveling first class, enjoying oversized seats that offer extra legroom in a glass-roofed observation car, offering unparalleled overhead views of the soaring canyon walls. Free time is planned in Silverton, a former silver mining camp, now a designated National Historic Landmark District. Overnight in Ouray, a small intimate community nestled in some of the most rugged and towering peaks of the Rockies. Set at the narrow head of a valley and surrounded on three sides with 13,000 foot snowcapped peaks, Ouray has been eloquently nicknamed the “Switzerland of America.” Remarkably, two-thirds of the original Victorian structures, both private and commercial, are still occupied, and have been lovingly restored in order to preserve their turn-of-thecentury charm. Ouray Chalet Inn (FB)

• Round trip air to Albuquerque/from Salt Lake City • Door-to-door airport transportation • 12 meals: 7 full breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner • Tour Director: Scott Angeletti • 3050/3400 Gold Passport Points

4. Historically, Palisade peaches have been famous for their quality, flavor and sweetness for over 100 years. There are famous stories about these delicious fruits being served at the White House, on Cunard ocean liners, and at Buckingham Palace. In 2009, Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia spent time visiting and touring High Country Orchards. Follow in their footsteps and learn all about the special microclimate which makes these unique gifts of nature possible. Afterwards, get up close and personal to an alpaca at a nearby ranch! After lunch check into your Victorianstyle hotel, a gem nestled within 20 acres of vineyards. Take a seat on the porch with wicker furniture and rocking chairs for superior views of the mountains, orchards, and vineyards. Wine Country Inn (FB,D) 5. Vernal is a special place in Utah and in the

western United States. So much time is revealed here. Within an 80-mile radius, evidence of the entire Earth’s history is visible. At its center is the Utah Field House of Natural History which sits amidst some of the most spectacular geologic and paleontologic resources on earth. This vast wealth draws scientists from all over the world for research and collection. After your docentguided tour, check into your hotel for the evening. SpringHill Suites (FB,L) 6. Dinosaur National Monument’s Cliff Face inside the brand new Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center is scheduled to open in October 2011. There you will discover some 1,500 dinosaur bones embedded in the side of a mountain. The prehistoric animals once roamed in great numbers here, their stories captured in the rock around you. Drive the scenic Tour of the Tilted Rocks, which features petroglyph and pictograph panels, along with excellent views of geologic features, formations and the Green River. This afternoon travel to the Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah. The resort lies at the base of the 13,000 foot high Wasatch Mountains named after the open flat valley at the base of the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland. The resort is known for award-winning dining and luxurious spa treatments amid an atmosphere of a charming Swiss alpine village complete with a European bakery, indoor-outdoor swimming and geothermal hot pots. Zermatt Resort – 2 nights (FB,L) 7. Enjoy the fall foliage as we drive through colorful Provo Canyon. Lunch is hosted at Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort. The resort itself stands at the base of Utah’s 12,000-foot Mount Timpanogos. Take a scenic lift ride for a truly memorable experience that offers a panoramic

view of the mountains as you glide to the top of Ray’s Summit. Venture off on a designated trail or just sit and enjoy the mountain’s tranquil beauty. The afternoon is at your leisure so you may enjoy all the amenities of the spectacular Zermatt Resort. (FB,L) 8. Stop in nearby Park City, which was put on the world map as one of Utah’s host cities for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. During the height of its mining history, the mountains surrounding Park City yielded $400 million in silver and created 23 millionaires. Today Park City is a unique blend of the old and new. Many buildings along the

town’s Main Street are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take some time to explore the many shops and have lunch at your leisure before heading to Salt Lake City and your afternoon flight to Sacramento. (FB) $3020 p.p./dbl.occ., $3400 single

Salt Lake City Park City Midway

6-7

Dinosaur Nat’l Monument

Vernal Sundance Resort

Palisades

CO 3

Ouray Silverton

1-2

Durango

NM Albuquerque Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Oktoberfest and Thanksgiving in Canada A wonderful new tour featuring a Canadian holiday and a brief visit to Niagara Falls 7 Days • October 4-10, 2012

wonderfully creative new tour that brings together two traditional celebrations, Oktoberfest and Thanksgiving, along with a stop at Niagara Falls. You see, in Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 2nd Monday in October (Columbus Day in the states). It also happens to be fall color season, with the leaves depending of course on the weather. But we just couldn’t resist this exciting “just-north-of-theborder” triple-combination.

HIGHLIGHTS • Oktoberfest in Kitchener, Ontario – Beer Barrel Races, music, ethnic food and crafts are for sale • Visit a quaint Canadian village, St. Jacobs, the home of Canada’s longest serving Prime Minister – see his home, decorated for the Thanksgiving Holiday • Reserved seats for the largest Thanksgiving Day Parade in Canada, bands, floats and of

1. Depart Sacramento on a morning flight, arriving in Buffalo in late afternoon. Dinner is always a priority after a long day of travel. Hotel TBA (D)

course “Onkel Hans” (we’ll get back to you on who that is) • Thanksgiving Day feast, Canadian-style • 2 nights fallsview rooms at the Embassy Suites Niagara Falls – a million dollar view of one of the great wonders of the world is right outside your window; sightseeing day included • 12 meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 full breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners • Airfare (Sacramento/Buffalo) and door-to-door pick-up are included • 2900/3350 Gold Passport Points

2. Many come to Buffalo, but most move on quickly. Before we cross the border today, we’ll be joined by a local guide, who will provide a bit of history and narration about what “The Queen City” has to offer. First settled in 1758, it was intended to be called “New Amsterdam” and patterned after Washington, DC, but the residents had different ideas. These hardy folks have been independent ever since. Buffalo has a rich and storied past.

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Afternoon travels take us around Niagara Falls into the interior of Ontario, to the villages of Kitchener-Waterloo. First settled around 1800 by Germans from Pennsylvania, this region has never forgotten its roots. Jacob’s Country Inn – 3 nights (FB,L) 3. A busy and fun-filled day awaits. Mid-morning finds us at the 31st Annual Great Barrel Race, as teams of contestants challenge each other. Next we head to the Oktoberfest Bavarian Village to partake in the festivities and entertainment. Souvenirs can be found inside the Oktoberfest building, the Lions tent across the street has free admission with music. The Kitchener Market, with its many ethnic stalls, is open this morning. This evening we have a taste of Gemuetlichkeit at one of the many Festhalle parties, to enjoy “Ein Prosit,” dancing and entertainment. This is a traditional Oktoberfest, with music, dancing and food everywhere! You are a part of the largest Bavarian festival in North America. (B,D) 4. If you’d like to attend church services early this Sunday morning, options are available. Our tour day takes us to a Mennonite community in the nearby countryside. The colors of fall should be abundant, and we’ll spend a little time learning about a different way of life. Lunch is at your leisure in the village of St. Jacob’s. A Canadian history lesson carries the afternoon, as you tour the home of William Lyon MacKenzie King, the longest serving Prime Minister in the country’s history (with the name to go with it). (B,D) 5. The largest Thanksgiving Day Parade in Canada unfolds before you this morning. You’ll

even meet “Onkel Hans,” the official mascot (pictured). A traditional Thanksgiving Day meal awaits after the parade, followed by a scenic drive to Niagara Falls. Your rooms for the next two nights have a “million-dollar view,” a beautiful look at one of the world’s most famous waterfalls. Embassy Suites Niagara Falls – 2 nights (B,L)

of nature has moved many miles, and why it’s moving no more. At day’s end, enjoy the tonguein-cheek show Oh Canada Eh?, celebrating what it means to be Canadian. (FB,D) 7. Arise at leisure and enjoy as much sightseeing as the flight schedule will allow before heading to the airport to retrace your way home. (FB)

$2885 p.p./dbl.occ., $3340 single 6. The festivities are behind us, but there’s plenty This vacation requires a valid passport! to see and do in and around Niagara Falls. A side trip to Niagaraon-the-Lake introduces ONTARIO you to a charming little community known for its quaint shops. Join Kitchener NY us as we go behind the 2-3 4-5 1 thundering waterfall, Buffalo Niagara Falls, ON then cruise below it.

We’ll even dine looking at the falls. Learn the story of how this incredible phenomenon Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Tour Teasers!

Help us plan your next great vacation…

isted on these pages are some of the destinations we are considering for the coming years. Please call and place your name(s) on the Priority Notification List for any tour that strikes your fancy. Lists are used to determine if there is enough interest to create the tour. If we decide to offer it, you may be polled to learn more of your preferences. We guarantee you’ll be notified about the tour when it is priced and ready to sell in advance of any other advertising. Do you like those front seats on the motorcoach? This is the best way to get your reservation in ahead of the crowds. Put your name on the Priority Notification List today!

Autumn in Branson Mid October 2012

Fly Frontier Airlines from Sacramento with a stop in Denver arriving into Branson’s brand new airport, saving you several hours of driving from other gateway cities. Check in to your hotel located in the middle of Branson Landing. The Landing sits on the banks of Lake Taneycomo with a friendly pedestrian area of shops and restaurants. Only steps away is Branson’s Old Town with its quaint shops, including Dick’s Five & Dime. Your accommodations for five nights are at The Hilton Promenade. See approximately eight shows, enjoy a local guided sightseeing tour, and eat at the top restaurants in town; 10 meals in total. Door-to-door transportation and round trip airfare to and from Branson are included along with the services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director.

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

We are currently waiting for headliner shows to be scheduled in Branson for Fall 2012. We don’t have exact dates or pricing at this time. If you would like to be notified as soon as we have firm dates please call and have your name put on the Priority Notification List.

Monument. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the finest examples of columnar basalt. Ride the gondola to the top of the famous ski resort for awesome views of the Central Sierra. Discover the small town pride behind the Central Nevada Museum and the Tonopah Historic Mining Park. Stay at the Village at Mammoth Lakes and the new Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah. Several meals and round trip transportation aboard SuperCoach III. Call to place your name on the Priority Notification List.

Mammoth Lakes and the Ghost Towns of Nevada

St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland

5 days • Mid October 2012

March 2013

Enjoy the popular Forest Buffet at Harrah’s en route to the volcanic region of Mammoth Lakes. Explore Bodie, the roughest and toughest of all the mining towns in the west, now preserved as a state park. Visit Devils Postpile National

Three times in our collective memory, we’ve visited Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day, its most sacred and rollicking of days, most recently in 2009. Twice we had great weather. Once it rained every day… but then it always rains in Ireland.

How else would it be so pretty and green? We think it’s about time we did it again. The trip would be 8-10 days in length. Dublin is your host for the holiday, complete with a parade that truly must be seen to be believed. Afterwards, visited sites could include Waterford, Blarney, Killarney, Galway and the Ring of Kerry. Those are our favorite Irish destinations. What are yours?

US Olympic Gymnastic Trials 3 Days • June 30 – July 2, 2012

Fresh on the heels of the US Figure Skating Championships, San Jose’s HP Pavilion hosts the US Gymnastics Team’s Olympic Trials at the end of June. Just a few short weeks later, those that make the cut at this event will be competing on the world stage at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Stay two nights in San Jose, attend the Men’s & Women’s All-Around Finals with reserved seating in the lower bowl of the arena, and take in a few of the local sights including a city tour and Sunday Brunch at the Dolce Hayes Mansion. Includes door-to-door transfers, round trip transportation on SuperCoach III and the service of a Sports Leisure Vacations

Tour Director. Call and place your name on the Priority Notification List today!

Laguna Pageant of the Masters 3 Days • Summer 2012

The Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters is one of the cultural highlights of the year in Southern California. At each performance, actors on stage recreate famous works of art in three dimensions. It’s impossible to do justice to the event in a description here but trust us when we say you will be amazed by the lifelike presentation. Our annual trip always includes a guided tour of the grounds with dinner prior to the performance and usually a meal with a guest speaker from the pageant who shares inside information about the event and answers your questions. Past itineraries have included visits to special exhibits at local museums like the Getty Center and Getty Villa, performances at the Hollywood Bowl, the Disney Concert Hall and other similar venues. Our dates and complete itinerary for 2012 should be confirmed in January or February. Call our office and place your name on the Priority Notification List.

War was effectively over. Both academic and fun, our tour intertwines fact and fiction and includes popular characters from movies and literature. For example, a highlight will be a plantation party with none other than Scarlett and Rhett as your hosts! You’ll also get a taste of the “real thing” as our tour coincides with the 150th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Chickamauga near Chattanooga, a Southern victory! (When you travel with Clayton, the South ALWAYS wins!)

Tracing Sherman’s March September 2013

It’s the 150th anniversary of The War Between the States. What better time to offer another departure of “Tracing Sherman’s March?” This tour follows the route of Union forces from Chattanooga to Savannah that included the burning of Atlanta, an event that proved catastrophic to the Southern Cause. When Atlanta fell, the Civil Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Membership Has Its Benefits

Here’s a brief history of the Travel Club and your benefits as a valued member…

hether you’ve been a member of the Sports Leisure Travel Club for years or are a recent addition to the ranks, read on to learn more about this dynamic organization and your place in it. Sports Leisure Travel was “born” on June 8, 1979. Our first member (whose name is sadly lost to time) was assigned membership #1, the second #2 and so on. When a member leaves our ranks, their number is retired. To date, we’ve enjoyed the company and patronage of over 44,000 travelers! The ability to register for a tour was not then and is not now limited to members only. But most travelers choose to maintain membership in the Travel Club and enjoy the many benefits, which include… Mailing List (USPS and E-mail) – Only

Coorespondence – Members of the Sports Leisure Travel Club receive our annual catalogue and newsletter, The Sports Leisure Traveler, published every 8 to 10 weeks throughout the year. That means you get the news about all our great vacations and getaways long before they are announced to the general public through Playbill, KVIE’s On Six, newspapers and radio. If you prefer e-mail, we are delighted to send you a notification when a new publication is available online at www.sportsleisure.com. Member Discounts – The nominal dues of $10 per year (or $30 for lifetime membership; $50 for couples) are offset by discounts on every Sports Leisure trip. The discounts are $5 on multi-day trips, $2 on overnighters and $1 on day trips. Bonus Reward Programs – Our “members only” Bonus Reward Programs are designed to benefit all Travel Club Members, and especially our frequent travelers. Travel Club Gold represents our highest tier of membership, awarding the best and most valuable bonuses to our frequent travelers. You become “Gold” upon filling your Registration Card showing 20 days of travel in any combination. You then begin to accrue Gold Club Points,

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

roughly one for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for discounts on Sports Leisure travel as well as Holloway Travel Outfitters gift certificates with a maximum reward of $2,500. Additionally, member discounts outlined above are doubled for Travel Club Gold members: $10, $4 and $2 respectively. Travel Club Gold members who remain frequent travelers (defined as a minimum of 8 days of travel per calendar year) enjoy the additional benefit of receiving The Sports Leisure Traveler via First Class mail. Day Trippers are those members who love oneday outings. Present your blue card at the end of every day trip for a validation. Six validations equal $10 off any Sports Leisure trip. If you are new to Sports Leisure Vacations, you are likely enjoying a free 6-month trial membership. When this expires, we’ll send you a friendly reminder that it’s time to renew Do you have a friend interested in group travel? Kindly give us their name and number. We’ll happily extend a free trial membership to them based on your recommendation. If you have questions regarding the Sports Leisure Travel Club of any of our Bonus Rewards Programs, please call the office at 916-361-2051 or toll-free at 800-951-5556 or visit us online at www.sportsleisure.com.

The Sports Leisure Difference…

Answers to these frequently asked questions will tell you more about our company and help you enjoy your vacation to the fullest!

A $50 per person credit is available for outof-town travelers to whom this service isn’t available, and for those locally who choose to meet us at the airport, train station or the Sports Leisure Vacations office (as applicable).

Since 1979, our travelers have found Sports Leisure Vacations to be a cut above. Every component of every adventure – motorcoaches, lodging, dining and attractions – are carefully chosen to offer you the best combination of quality, location and value. That’s the Sports Leisure Difference. Our business is making your travel dreams come true, and we take that responsibility seriously. Should you need further clarification or information, kindly visit us on the web at www.sportsleisure.com, or call the office, 916-361-2051 or toll-free 800-951-5556. We are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm to serve you. Note we are closed on Tuesdays from noon to 1:30pm for a staff weekly meeting.

On overnight and day trips, motorcoaches depart from convenient neighborhood pick-up points throughout the greater Sacramento and Roseville areas. Door-to-door service is available for a fee on day trips and overnighters. Call the office for details and rates.

Can you explain “door-to-door service?” What’s that?

What’s all this I hear about a “super bus”?

Sports Leisure began offering door-to-door service in 1992. This means we will pick you up and return you to your home on all vacations of three days or longer. Provided by Carey Transportation of Sacramento, this service may involve a limousine, sedan, SUV or other special vehicle.

Actually, it’s not a bus, but a coach – and not just any coach, but SuperCoach III. Our special coach was reconfigured to seat just 44 travelers (instead of the 56 it was designed for), providing extra leg-room for all. Then we added tray tables and foot rests for your additional comfort. In the rear, a fully-operative galley features a refrigerator, oven, built-in coffee makers and potable running water for the enjoyment of hot and cold snacks. Put one of All West Coachlines’ professional drivers

Door-to-door service is included within these boundaries: Davis on the west, Galt on the south, Auburn and Placerville on the east, Woodland to the north. For locations outside this area (Stockton, Yuba City/Marysville, Grass Valley, Winters, Vacaville, Fairfield, Pollock Pines, and Colfax are some examples), the service is available for an additional charge.

Another option for those who live in outlying areas is to overnight in Sacramento. We can offer a special reduced rate at the Best Western Sutter House Hotel. You can leave your car in their lot and enjoy door-to-door service to and from the hotel. Call 916-441-1314 and ask for Doris Gray, Director of Sales, and tell her you want the special Sports Leisure Vacations rate.

behind the wheel, and you’re riding on the finest transportation available anywhere in North America. SuperCoach III is used on most day trips, overnighters and some long-distance trips. You have assigned motorcoach seats on your tours. What’s that about?

By popular demand, we do not rotate seats as many companies do. You are free to select the seating of your choice at the point of reservation. Single travelers are sometimes required to take available single seats to leave remaining seat pairs for those traveling with a friend or spouse. Can I find you on the web?

You bet! The address is www.sportsleisure.com. There you’ll find all our recent publications, pod-casts of our KFBK radio show, “The Travel Guys” (or listen live on Sundays at 2pm at 1530 on the AM dial), valuable information on upcoming tours and events, and more. About the only thing you can’t do online is make tour reservations. Please allow us to give you personal service by calling the office.

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

The Fine Print Things to know before you go…

I have dietary restrictions. Is this going to be a problem?

If you have mild dietary restrictions or are a vegetarian, it is important you notify our office at the time of registration. It’s your responsibility to read your Tour Reservation Confirmation carefully and make certain your restrictions have been noted. As you can certainly understand, it is quite difficult for your Tour Director to accommodate those who wait until they are actually traveling to inform us of their special needs. If you have severe dietary restrictions, you may find this type of travel is not for you.

Can I make other special requests?

You are invited to make special requests regarding the airline and hotel(s) serving your vacation at the point of reservation. As you can imagine, the more notice we have, the better our ability to accommodate. Requests might include specific airline seating, the need for wheelchair assistance at airports, and at hotels, a smoking room, king bed and/or handicapaccessible room. Please note we automatically request a non-smoking room for everyone in the group, and one with two beds for those traveling double occupancy unless you tell us otherwise. Handicap accessible rooms are limited. We ask that you only make this request if your condition demands it. There could be another traveler who needs it more than you. How does your company deal with “chronic complainers?”

One or two can ruin a trip for all. Sports Leisure Vacations reserves the right not to accept or retain anyone whose lack of personal hygiene or poor general behavior, in the opinion of the Tour Director, impedes the operation of the tour and/or affects the rights of other travelers. A refund of unused tour services is the limit of our liability if a person is required to leave the tour for the reasons stated above. Said passenger(s) will be responsible for any additional costs to return to the city of origin. We want to learn, discover and have fun together. Our groups are often complimented on their positive attitude by tourism professionals and

Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

other travelers who encounter us on the road. Life is too short for making yourself and others around you miserable due to little things which are bound to occur. Travel is by nature an inexact science. Problem travelers will kindly be asked to go elsewhere. What if I become ill and cannot travel? Do you offer cancellation protection?

Cancellation Protection is available on every departure. It must be purchased at the time you make your initial tour payment. We strongly recommend you consider this optional protection. Please refer to the Special Vacation Notes and Information brochure for details. This coverage may not be available to travelers who have cancelled more than two tours in a 12-month period or who make their reservation less than one month prior to the departure date. I have some trouble walking long distances. Will I be able to participate and enjoy the trip?

In order to get full value from a travel experience, it is important to be in good mental and physical health. Walking and some step-climbing are necessary to participate in the normal activities of our vacations. While we can do almost everything for you on a Sports Leisure vacation, the Tour Director cannot provide sustained attention to individual clients. Please be advised we visit many cultural sites on tour, not all of which meet A.D.A. requirements due to their historic status.

Having said that, let us assure you that people with mobility restrictions are welcome on our vacations. Many of our travelers are over 70 (or even 80 or 90), something we keep in mind when planning our itineraries. In our office, the Tour Planner for each departure knows the itinerary well and would be happy to consult with you personally should you have questions regarding the amount of walking, elevations, etc., on a particular trip. What about airport security restrictions? They seem to change all the time.

Most travelers agree checking-in and going through security with an experienced Sports Leisure Tour Director is generally a fairly simple process. The Transportation Security Administration is now requiring you provide us your full name and birthdate as it appears on your government-issued identification for all vacations involving air travel. Complete passport information is additionally required in advance for international travel. Up-todate security information can be found on the internet at www.tsa.gov. How much baggage can I bring? And what about those baggage charges the airlines are imposing?

On vacations of four days or less, you are allowed one checked bag. On domestic trips of five days or more, Sports Leisure allows you two pieces of checked luggage, regardless of the mode of transportation. U.S. airlines restrict you to one carry-on bag and one small personal item (identified as a purse, briefcase, laptop or coat). Carry-on bags are the responsibility of the traveler at all times. International vacations may limit you to one bag, regardless of the length

of the trip. Occasionally, other restrictions may apply (Key West trips, for example, allow only one checked bag due to weight restrictions).

Can a friend from another city sign up for a Sports Leisure vacation, or join me for a meal or visit at one of our destinations?

With the exception of Southwest Airlines, all U.S. air carriers we currently use charge for checked bags. As this is written, the six largest carriers in the U.S. have five different baggage charge policies, so rules and restrictions may vary from trip to trip. If you are traveling from Sacramento, the cost of your first bag is included in the tour price. If you are joining us from another city, consult our staff to learn if the first bag cost has been included in your fare. Should you wish to bring a second checked bag, please be prepared to pay your Tour Director or the airline at check-in. Our office can advise you of second bag charges, or you may reference the airline’s website.

Yes! We can arrange travel for friends or relatives to meet our groups from any city in the world. (We currently have over 900 Travel Club members who live outside the Sacramento area.) If you have friends or relatives who would like to travel with you, have them call us toll free at 800-951-5556. With advance notice, we are also happy to welcome your friends or relatives who may live along the tour route and may wish to join us for a meal or attraction.

Each checked bag has a strict weight limit of 40 or 50 pounds (depending on the trip). Bags weighing more will incur additional fees and/or be rejected. This policy applies throughout the tour. Many “wheelie” bags and oversized carry-ons that fit in airline overhead bins cannot be accommodated within the cabin of the motorcoach. In such cases, you will be asked to check them coach side with your Tour Director. They will be tagged and available coach side at each overnight stop. Are my payments protected when I pay for my vacation in advance?

Your deposits and final payments are protected in accordance with the State of California Seller of Travel Law (#2011549-40). In addition, Sports Leisure Vacations is a member of the Northeast California Better Business Bureau and sports an A+ rating.

Can I extend my vacation to visit friends or relatives?

The answer is almost always yes, particularly if you register and make your request at least 45 days prior to departure. There could be additional charges for flight deviations, but generally they are small. Many travelers take advantage of this service to visit friends or relatives, or explore a destination in greater detail on their own. Have Passport rules changed?

Passports are required for all travel outside the U.S., including Canada and Mexico. If you are of foreign citizenship, we highly recommend you check with your country’s embassy and follow its instructions to make certain your travel will be legal and seamless. U.S. citizens in need of a passport can pick up an application at any Post Office. Please allow 8-10 weeks for processing. Complimentary passport photos are available to Travel Club members from Jon Holloway and our friends at Holloway Travel Outfitters, 916-486-9170. Photo on back cover: Shirley Thornton and Nita Webster on the 2011 Mystery Tour to Sisters, Oregon. Sports Leisure 2012 Dream Book

Nothing like a good friend with great timing…

LLC

9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 • Sacramento, CA 95827 • (916) 361-2051 • Toll-Free (800) 951-5556 www.sportsleisure.com • California Seller of Travel #2011549-40