2014
JAN./FEB. VOL. 35, NO. 4 9,081 Active Members • 46,149 Members Since 1979
Early Bird is Getting the Di$count and More As the country’s economy rebounds, so does the demand for travel. We are seeing many of our most popular destinations sell out well in advance of departure. Check the back page for a list of tours already sold out (you are ALWAYS welcome to call and place your name on a waitlist for possible cancellations) and those with very limited space. By making that your first stop, you’ll know if you need to get on the phone immediately, or can wait a day or two to call in for your favorite extended trip. Remember, the best price is always available to those who register early and take advantage of the Early Payment Di$count. For day trips, we always recommend early reservations. Your payment won’t be required until you receive your confirmation.
Many day trips sell out within a few days of newsletter release. We apologize if your first choice is not available when you call. We do our best to add departures on popular trips whenever possible. It was a busy holiday season at Sports Leisure. Groups saw the lights at Shore Acres on Christmas night in Coos Bay, enjoyed spectacular weather at the Rose Parade and once again overindulged at Harris Ranch on New Year’s Eve. A brave few stayed up until midnight on board the USS Midway in San Diego, our Mystery Tour visited Mayberry… actually Mt. Airy, NC, home of Andy Griffith
and snow fell while our gang was at Butchart Gardens, creating a Christmas wonderland. Poor Blueberry had one too many in Burbank on New Year’s Eve, it appears. We may have to cut him off a bit earlier in the future!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Just One Man’s Opinion..................................... 2 Guest Column....................................................... 3 The Customers Always Write....................... 4-5 The Human Side................................................... 6 Casino Trips and Baseball.................................. 7 Day Trips............................................................8-10 The Barber Pole..................................................11 New Vacations & Getaways..................... 12-16 Tour Calendar............................................... 17-23 Teasers...................................................................19 Coupons and Tour Updates...........Back Cover HHHHHHHHHHHH Editor........................................... Mark Hoffmann Executive Editor .........................Kevin Murphy Staff Writers................... P. Hansen, R. Goodge, S. Angeletti & C. Whitehead, D. Anderson Contributing Photographer.........C. Galloway
Some of our gang with Ranger Fred at MacKerricker State Park on the Mendocino trip last fall. Sports Leisure offers you lots of ways to experience the sounds, sights and creatures of the ocean, including Monterey (March), Bodega Bay (April), Harmony/Hearst Castle (April), Pismo Beach (May), Cape Cod (June). See the Tour Calendar inside for details.
9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 • Sacramento, CA 95827 • (916) 361-2051 • Toll-Free (800) 951-5556 • www. sportsleisure.com • CA Travel #2011549-40
Just One Man’s Opinion Of Krispy Kremes, Travel Guys, Old Buddies and Really, Really Cold Outside SUCCESS STORIES—A SpECIAl AdvERTISIng SECTIOn
It was a lazy Sunday afternoon between Christmas and New Years. Seven guys were seated around a poker table in the Sports Leisure Vacations’ Great Room, engaged in a high stakes battle worthy of a TV broadcast, tens of thousands of dollars riding on every hand… OK, perhaps that’s a bit of a stretch. The part about the poker game at Sports Leisure is true. Except that the limit in this 41-year old tradition is 50 cents. It was originally a quarter, but some capitalist in the group SportS LeiSure VacationS lobbied for an increase years ago and got it. He’s tried it again, but gets shouted down each time he brings it up. You see, winning money has little to do with our poker games. They started when we were juniors and seniors at Mira Loma High School. The first game was in the spring of 1972, during an Easter vacation ping-pong marathon. Our little gang hasn’t changed much over the years, and no one new has been invited to join our group for more than 20 years. Maybe some of you have a group of friends like this one. We get together 2-3 times a year and mostly retell old stories and laugh a lot. A lot. We play “traditional” poker games like “Kings and Little Ones,” “Dr. Pepper,” “Midnight Baseball,” “Piles,” “Guts” and a host of others. Once in a while, a dealer calls something relatively normal, like deuces wild, and gets roundly abused. We have crazy nicknames. I’m Slug. Actually, it’s become “Slugmann,” sorta like “Hoffmann.” They decided slug was appropriate for me because I was slow and low to the ground. There are other reasons, but they can’t be repeated here. Terms of endearment, of course. Bug and Baby Bug, D. Rose, Blowfish (which has nothing to do with blowing on anything or the unusual 9812 old Winery place, Sacramento, ca 95827 (916) 361-2051 www.sportsleisure.com • travelguysradio.com
After working in the Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District, Mark Hoffmann founded Sports Leisure Vacations out of his Fulton Avenue apartment in 1979. Though Mark admits to ‘just sort of happening into it”, he found his niche in the retail tour business, enabling folks to achieve their travel dreams. Given the fact that Mark and his staff strive to exceed customer wants, they’ve been most successful in serving a niche of mature travelers, often those who need a little extra consideration. Sports Leisure Vacations assembles and operates custom tours and vacations of one to fifteen days in length, and can accommodate a wide variety of travel interests. Check out the website to see an amazing array of travel options. The company culture has centered around refusing to put profits ahead of service, and a mantra: “We love our travelers and they love us back.” It’s working- not only is the company thriving in its 32nd year, but community support and acknowledgement have resulted, including a prestigious award for contributions to the Arts from the Sacramento Arts and Business Council. For twenty years Sports Leisure has been an underwriter of KVIE Public Television. VP Clayton Whitehead has served on the KVIE Board and Mark was president of the National Tour Association in 2000. Mark and Tom Romano host the Travel Guys on KFBK, Sundays 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
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fish, we just made it up), just to name a few more. Some guys have card games named after them. Forty-one years. Most of us still live in Sacramento. We are all still alive and relatively healthy. Pretty amazing, don’t you think? We went to high school together, grew up and grew old together, I suspect we will bury each other. I don’t know why I’m sharing this, except if you ever drive by our office one weekend afternoon or evening and see a light on, know it’s a bunch of old guys, not drinking nearly as much as they used to, talking about colonoscopy appointments, arthritis and grandchildren. The subjects have changed, the faces are a bit weathered, but they are the same. If there is anything in my life I am grateful for, it’s those poker games and the guys who come with them. Everyone should be so lucky.
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After this most recent road trip, I’m pretty sure I never want to experience the Eskimo culture. Today, in Lexington, Kentucky the high temperature was 1. Not 11 or 51, but 1. That was before the 20 mph wind chill, which brought it down to -22. I don’t know if you have ever felt -22 on your skin. I hadn’t. All I can say is bone-chilling cold like you’ve never imagined. And that was walking from the restaurant to the car. Thank goodness the folks around here know how to drive in this stuff. On to New York City, to work on our spring trip. Since it’s supposed to break 40 there, I’m thinking of buying sun screen…
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Before Lexington, my previous stop on this odyssey was in Atlanta. Some people think a small piece of “heaven” can be found at the Field of Dreams movie site in Iowa. But I’m here to tell you the people of Atlanta have their own piece. Just off Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta sits the largest Krispy Kreme donut store you have ever imagined. Even the “hot now” sign is bigger than any I have ever seen. Those little suckers are sooo bad for you, and soooo sweet. But, it’s ok to have one. Just to make sure you remember how sweet they are and that you shouldn’t have two.
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
A year ago November, The Travel Guys Radio Show, broadcast on KFBK AM & FM for two years, went on hiatus. The reason: impossible to create a weekly radio show while I was serving as National Tour Association Chairman. That job ends in February, and the station was eager to have co-host Tom Romano and I back on the air. So on Sunday, January 19th, The Travel Guys will return. The show will air every Sunday, from 3-4pm on KFBK, 1530 on the AM dial and 93.1 on the FM. Our first show will feature an interview with Chris Galloway, talking about our trip to Cuba (which will have just returned). Travel writer Ed Perkins is also part of the first show (Ed was a regular guest with us and has been writing about how the average guy can win the travel game for many years). Some of you will be reading this after the 19th, and future shows will feature all sorts of fun contests and travel information you can use. Sports Leisure destinations will be featured. Most of all, it’s two old radio guys having fun on Sunday afternoon. You are cordially invited to join us. Once in a while, every week, whatever your schedule allows. Visit the radio show website at www.travelguysradio.com. And so it goes. See you on the radio…
Mark Hoffmann, CTP Owner/Founder Mark Your Calendar: Some important dates to remember are our Spring Open House & BBQ, held at the Sports Leisure offices, Friday & Saturday, April 11 & 12. The second date is our 35th Anniversary Party & Show, slated for Saturday, May 17th, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion downtown at 2pm. Details on how you can register for both of these events will be available in your next newsletter (first half of March) and available online at www.sportsleisure.com on March 5th.
Guest Column
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due to weather resulted in several people with a hotel not too far from the airport, with having to stay an extra night. A few people which we had done business previously, to had to stay two nights! get a favorable rate for our passengers who The underlying reason for these had to pay for their own overnight stay. complications is that airplanes are flying Using a hotel with a nice restaurant and more full today than ever before. They have fully-stocked bar certainly made the extra to. Just a few short years ago airlines made night go by more quickly! money when the planes were 70-80% full Long story short, Merrill Mixer and May based on the cost of oil (jet fuel). Today, Wong worked with the hotel to make sure airlines need that figure up around 85%we had rooms ready for our arrival. Michael 90% as jet fuel accounts for about one-third Downer worked tirelessly with the airline of an airline’s operating costs. to accommodate everyone on new flights. So instead of more flights at convenient Donnie Anderson worked with Carey times throughout the day to get you to Transportation to make sure everyone had your destination, there are fewer flights car service to get them home and even so the airlines can maximize their “loads,” met passengers at the airport who were i.e. the number of passengers its flies. And returning without a Tour Director. Our instead of larger mainline aircraft, over friends at All West Coachlines found a coach half of the country’s domestic fleet is now and driver to meet those who arrived in made up of regional jets that seat less than San Francisco. 100 passengers. Long story short, more And yes, a lot of this work is done people on more planes means little space after hours; during family time, meal to accommodate a group of 40 passengers time, weekends, etc. our team members who were cancelled off another flight, are willing to sacrifice to make sure any which is why it can take many flights, and inconveniences for you are minimized to the the occasional overnight, to get everyone best of their abilities. home. Long story short, the next time you pass But there is one factor of consistency we someone curled up in the corner of an have in our corner: When a cancelled flight airport with their arms around their carryor a misconnect occurs, Sports Leisure’s staff on, remember you have friends at Sports in Sacramento is ready to spring into action Leisure that are dedicated to make emergency hotel bookings, new to getting you to your OTOGRA PH P flight arrangements, etc. We also have lots of destination and back friends in the travel business who can help home again. us out when needed: at hotels, motorcoach companies, and yes, even the airlines realize that getting a large group of senior citizens home from a long tour is often a good public relations move. During our group’s extended stay in Michigan, we were able to negotiate with our motorcoach company to hold on to the coach for another day. We also Donna Sutton brings us this month’s Blueberry Photographic Society winning made arrangements photo, taken during High Tea at the Empress Hotel on Christmas in Victoria Y
Long Story Short by Kevin Murphy, General Manager Ed. Note: Clayton Whitehead is on sabbatical. Clayton Place will return in the next newsletter. This past year was a not always a fun year for air travel. If there is any consistency in air travel it’s that air travel can be inconsistent. Just ask the CEO of any major airline. Or ask one of our Tour Directors! As Scott Angeletti settled into his airplane seat in Jackson Hole, WY, ready to head home with our Winter in Yellowstone group this past year, his cell phone rang. It was one of the tour members still in the boarding area saying the gate agent had stopped boarding passengers because the regional jet the group was flying on was “overweight.” Scott quickly deplaned, much to the objection of the lead flight attendant, and learned that not all of the group would be permitted to fly. Long story short, Scott and several passengers had to take a van to Salt Lake City and stay overnight to catch a flight home the next day. The rest of the group headed home without a Tour Director. I faced a similar situation with our Michigan & Mackinac Island group in September. A few hours before heading home, I received a text message from United Airlines: our first flight had been cancelled due to bad weather in another city in a different time zone. How to rebook 34 passengers together? Long story short, you can’t. The group was split into four different itineraries: some went to Denver, some went to Washington DC. Many (including the group traveling with yours truly) ended up in San Francisco on Delta Airlines after bad weather caused misconnections. One group went to Houston first by way of Shreveport, Louisiana after a nasty headwind slowed progress and the plane had to stop and refuel. A trip home from Branson in November faced the same trouble as a cancelled flight
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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The Customers Always Write Dear Sports Leisure… I must say a huge “thank you” to all of the travelers on the Sedona-Grand Canyon trip this past November 2013. When my unexpected fall resulting in a fractured left humerus – the care I received was surprisingly great. A very, very special concern from my fellow travelers was fantastic. Deciding on joining our group in returning to Sacramento was the right choice. Thanks to Scott, many phone calls later – he took such thorough care of all procedures resulting in my getting home. When you write in our newsletter that we are “family” it is real. There is so much to say about this experience. BIG WARM WISHES to our Bus Driver, the folks that purchased and had everyone sign the gorgeous Grand Canyon calendar, the sympathy from everyone, and follow-up calls from Scott to see how I’m doing. This will be a long healing process but no surgery, just an arm sling and drugs for pain. I wish for you a blessed Christmas and New Year. Love, Beverly Gikas, Fellow traveler on earth & elsewhere! Hi Mark: I often think I will send a note about a trip but seldom do. So I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the SF Christmas Lights trip. I have done a similar visit on my own in the past but am glad I got to go on this trip. It was great visiting the different hotels and Ghirardelli Square that were decorated for Christmas. I thoroughly enjoyed the guide Madelon, and her wide knowledge and history of all of the places we went or drove past. She helped make the trip fun and memorable. Cheers! Jan Bachich Hi, Kevin! Daughter Cheryl and I are still reliving over and over the wonderful Canada Coast to Coast trip with you. My husband and I had done a lot of traveling, but somehow this trip stands out as one of, if not the best trips of all. Perhaps enjoying the company of my
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fun-loving daughter was part of the reason. But a lot of it has to do with your perfect leadership throughout the trip. What an experience – trains, planes, and automobiles (coaches)! Thank you for sending the group picture to us, what a great bunch we were! Looking forward to more great trips with Sports Leisure, blessings for the holidays, Joanne Ott Mark: I was shocked to see the obit in the Bee about Stan Gordon. We had become good friends and he and Diana had sort of taken me under their wing since Barbara has gone and we have spent much time together on the last four trips that we have traveled together. Having both grown up in New York City, we appreciated each other’s humor, and I will miss him terribly. I was glad to see your warm article in the new Traveler – it echoes my sentiments exactly. Alan Roth Dear Mark, Your expertise and insights shared in Bend/Central Oregon were very much appreciated by us all. Thank you for making us your first stop-rain, snow or shine (smile) and I hope you enjoyed the rest of the tour. With Appreciation, Kristine, Central Oregon Visitors Association Lieber Mark: Grüssen aus New Ulm! (Greetings from New Ulm) It certainly was a pleasure listening to your presentation, and talking with you afterward, at the chamber luncheon today. Come visit again soon, and bring a few busloads of tourists with you. We’ve got plenty of gemütlichkeit to go around. Alles Gute, George L. Glotzbach New Ulm, Minnesota Ed. Note: My NTA Chairman duties took me to two of my favorite small towns Bend, OR and New Ulm, MN.
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
Mark: I am sorry to have to inform you of the death of one of your long-time members – Connie Garcia. Connie died this summer at the age of 89. She, along with her husband, Mike Garcia, were among the very first to join you when you started Sports Leisure. She remembered when your mom baked cookies and acted as hostess on your Reno/So. Lake Tahoe trips. Connie was a long-time dear friend of mine. I shall miss her, as will anyone who ever knew her. She was quite a woman and brightened everyone’s day with her smile and good nature. I do not travel anymore as my age and my health just do not allow for trips. Connie and I rarely missed the Reno trips and always enjoyed them – with Joey and Chuck especially. Wish I could still use your services. Sincerely, Marilyn Frost Dear Mark and Kevin, My husband Lloyd and my mom, Helen and I have enjoyed every trip we have taken until today! Mom and I went to Spenger’s Fish Grotto in Berkeley and we were most disappointed with the food that was in the buffet!! The salmon was so dry it was almost impossible to get your fork in it to break it apart to eat, the eggs benedict were dried out, over half of my slice of ham was fat and the tri-tip didn’t have any taste. When we went back to our table I looked at the menu again and when I saw the price of $35.95 per person I was really upset to think we paid that much for this food. I also know that when you have a group they like to seat you in a room together; BUT, we were taken to the very back of the restaurant, passed at least two other rooms that were much closer to the buffet for those of us with canes and walkers. When we left, the other two rooms were still empty and there were only three tables used in the main dining area. Again, you have never heard a complaint of any kind from us and we have been on several trips with you over the past 3-5 years; but this was just too much not to let
you know about the food that was paid for. Sincerely, Fran Johns and Helen Shuck Ed. Note: Kevin went back to Spenger’s after we received many similar complaints and was able to get a bit of a refund for our gang. Too bad how far this landmark restaurant has fallen. Clayton, The tour of Arkansas and Oklahoma was one of the best SLV’s trips that we have taken. We talk about it frequently and Mike has made up an Arkansas album. Thank you for making, with your expertise, Arkansas so memorable. Best wishes, Corrine and Mike Laing To Whom It May Concern; Our last Wednesday’s trip to Reno for the “Ice Fantasy” show was different than usual. The bus ‘blew’ a radiator hose just out of Auburn. Greg, our driver, had noticed a couple of All West busses headed to Sacramento. He called in and was able to get one of those busses to turn around
and switch with us. Joey, our tour guide, organized our transfer extremely well. Upon arrival at the Silver Legacy Casino, Joey again organized the delivery of our room keys, buffet and show tickets very efficiently. As a result we were able to go to our rooms with sufficient time to do whatever we needed to do and still make the 5:30p scheduled meal time. Greg and Joey worked together to make what could have been a very bad situation into a ‘no problem’ one. I compliment them both! Sincerely, Paul (Jim) Darghty Dear Mark and Clayton, On behalf of the Arts & Business Council of Sacramento, we would like to thank you for being a Director Level Sponsor at the Prelude to the Season on September 24, 2013. We appreciate Sports Leisure Vacations’ support to make the event a true celebration and welcome your continued involvement in the organization. Sincerely, Michelle Alexander Executive Director Arts & Business Council
The Travel Guys Radio Show
Travel News, favorite
Contests, updates on your Sports Leisure destinations,
Cultural Arts and
FUN!
Dear Sports Leisure, We had such a wonderful trip with Scott to Sedona and the Grand Canyon that we’re renewing our membership as lifetime members. We look forward to many more wonderful trips with Sports Leisure. Jim and Sue Bickford Dear Sports Leisure and Pat, Thank you for the photos of us on the Seine River trip. We had a great time and thank you for making it possible. Let’s do it again! Beverly and Larry Mullnix Dear Mr. Whitehead and Friends at Sports Leisure Vacations, Thank you for your generosity to Mustard Seed. Contributions like yours allow us to provide a safe, warm and welcoming place for children to thrive. Many of our kids have had tough years and seen the holidays pass without gifts or celebration. This year we will be able to give each of them a hardy bag of gifts and a full meal for all of their families. We wish you happy holidays and thank you again for your incredible support. Casey Knittel, Assistant Director If you have a comment, suggestion or tour idea, we invite you to drop us a line. Due to space limitations, not all letters can be printed (others may be edited). Mail to:
Sundays at 3:00 PM
KFBK, AM 1530, FM 93.1
Sports Leisure Vacations Attn: Mark/Clayton 9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95827
Visit our website and sign up to win great “member only” prizes on the air www.travelguysradio.com
Dear Mr. Hoffmann, A belated yet sincere “Thank You!” I was a guest along with James McCormack of Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra at one of your tables at Change of Art. Thank you for your kind hospitality and your unfailing support of the arts in our community! Yours sincerely, Amanda Johnson
Tom Romano and Mark
Hoffmann
Or e-mail Mark or Clayton at: markslt@aol.com clayton.whitehead@sportsleisure.com Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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The Human Side Learn, Laugh, Reflect From Leo Buscaglia… The late author and lecturer once talked of stories about children, who he loved. Here are some of his favorites… 1. A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” 2. Teacher Debbie Moon’s first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted. A little girl said, “I know all about adoption, I was adopted.” “What does it mean to be adopted,?” asked another child. “It means,” said the girl, “that you grew in your mommy’s heart instead of her tummy!” 3. On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. “We’re behind 14 to nothing,” he answered with a smile. “Really,” I said. “I have to say you don’t look very discouraged.” “Discouraged,?” the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. “Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet.” 4. An eye witness account from New York City , on a cold day in December, some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the young boy and said, “My, but you’re in such deep thought staring in that window!” “I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,” was the boy’s reply. The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the
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little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks, placing a pair upon the boy’s feet, she purchased for him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, “No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.” As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her: “Are you God’s wife?”
Poem of the year The computer swallowed Grandma, Yes, honestly it’s true! She pressed “control” and “enter” And disappeared from view. It devoured her completely, The thought just makes me squirm. She must have caught a virus Or been eaten by a worm. I’ve searched through the recycle bin And files of every kind; I’ve even used the Internet, But nothing did I find. In desperation, I asked Mr. Google My searches to refine. The reply from him was negative, Not a thing was found “online.” So, if inside your “Inbox,” My Grandma you should see, Please “Copy, Scan’” and “Paste” her, And send her back to me.
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
Proud members of the
A High School Teacher’s List of Wisdom 1. If you’re staying more than one night, unpack. 2. Expect the seat in front of you to recline. Prepare accordingly. 3. If a street performer makes you stop walking, you owe him a buck. 4. Always use “we” when referring to your home team or your government. 5. You only get one chance to notice a new haircut. 6. Never park in front of a bar. 7. Keep a picture of your first fish, first car, and first boy/girlfriend. 8. Never lie to your doctor. 9. The best way to show thanks is to wear it. Even if it’s only once. 10. Don’t fill up on bread, no matter how good. 11. A handshake beats an autograph. 12. Don’t linger in the doorway. In or out. 13. If you choose to go in drag, don’t sell yourself short. 14. If you want to know what makes you unique, sit for a caricature. 15. Be mindful of what comes between you and the Earth. Always buy good shoes, tires, and sheets. 16. When traveling, keep your wits about you. 17. Invest in good luggage. 18. The opposite sex likes people who shower. 19. When you marry someone, remember you marry their entire family. 20. Carry your mother’s bags. She carried you for nine months.
Lost and Found If you are missing any cherished possessions and think you may have left them behind on a day trip or longer tour, please call the office or send an email to may@sportsleisure.com. All unclaimed items will be donated to local charities on January 31.
Casino Trips and Ballpark Express Take the Snow Train to Reno
All aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr for the Sierra Nevada 2 Days • March 18-19 Our winter train trips through the Sierras to Reno on board Amtrak’s California Zephyr continue to be popular! Last year, four groups experienced a High Sierra winter wonderland as the train wound through the mountains, enjoying magnificent winter vistas. The train departs Sacramento at 11am and arrives in Reno around 4pm. Snow-capped mountains and gorgeous views of Donner Lake from high above its southern shore are memories you’ll retain always. The package includes rail passage on Amtrak’s California Zephyr to Reno, a boxed lunch, hotel accommodations at the Silver Legacy Casino/Resort, casino bonuses, and return transportation on board SuperCoach III. 250/275 Gold Passport Points. $245 p.p./dbl.occ., $265 single. Add door-to-door service for $80 p.p.
“Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show”
Eldorado Hotel Casino in Reno 2 Days • April 8-9 This creative Broadway production is written around 38 of Johnny Cash’s most famous songs. They tell stories about a hard life lived in the heartland, about love of partner, family, home, land and God. You’ll hear all the familiar songs like “Ring of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” and “I’ve Been Everywhere,” plus many more. This musical doesn’t feature an actor portraying Johnny Cash but celebrates the lives and stories he sang about in his songs. Stay overnight in Reno at the Silver Legacy Casino/Resort with bonuses of $5 in casino free play and a $3 food voucher (subject to change). Return to Sacramento the following day after an optional morning stop at The Nugget Casino in nearby Sparks with an additional casino bonus. 250 Gold Passport Points. $225 p.p./dbl.occ, $245 single (with show), $185 p.p./dbl. occ, $205 single (without show)
“I Love Lucy” Live On Stage
Pioneer Center for the Arts in Reno 2 Days • May 11-12 It’s 1952 and you are a member of a live studio audience awaiting the filming of two hilarious and very familiar I Love Lucy episodes complete with an entertaining host that will enlighten you with the behind-the-scenes filming process, hi-fidelity technology and this brand new thing called “television.” The episodes begin and we are transported back to the Ricardo’s New York apartment and the famed Tropicana Nightclub with your favorite foursome – Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel. It’s Mother’s Day so grab your mom and treat her to an evening of laughter and memories she will not soon forget. Stay overnight in Reno at the Silver Legacy Casino/Resort with bonuses of $5 in casino free play and a $3 food voucher (subject to change). Return to Sacramento the following day after an optional morning stop at The Nugget Casino in nearby Sparks with an additional casino bonus. 250 Gold Passport Points. $229 p.p./dbl.occ, $249 single (with show), $189 p.p./dbl.occ, $209 single (without show)
The 2014 Ballpark Express For 35 years, the BEST way to get to the ballparks in Oakland and San Francisco has been with Sports Leisure Vacations. Our original Ballpark Express allows you to travel to games in comfort without the traffic, tolls, gas, food stops, etc. Refreshments are served on board the motorcoach on your way to and from each game. You’ll enjoy Field Level seating for all A’s games and your choice of Field Level or View Level (3rd Deck) seating for most Giants games. Please request your seating area when making your reservations.
World Champion San Francisco Giants Thurs., Apr. 17
Giants vs. Dodgers
12:45pm $107/$97
Wed., May 14
Giants vs. Braves
12:45pm $108/$97
Wed., May 28
Giants vs. Cubs
12:45pm $107/$97
Sun., June 8
Giants vs. Mets
1:05pm
$138/$125*
Sun., July 27
Giants vs. Dodgers
1:05pm
$138/$127
Wed., July 30
Giants vs. Pirates
12:45pm $128/$97
Sun., Aug. 17
Giants vs. Phillies
1:05pm
Thurs., Aug. 28
Giants vs. Rockies
12:45pm $123/$109
Sun., Sept. 14
Giants vs. Dodgers
1:05pm
$145/$109
Sun., Sept. 28 Fan Appreciation Day
Giants vs. Padres
1:05pm
$123/$109
$146**
*Includes ferry service from Vallejo to AT&T Park **Field Level Seating Only
Oakland Athletics Thurs., May 29
Athletics vs. Tigers
12:35pm $132*
Sun., Jun. 15 (Father’s Day)
Athletics vs. Yankees
1:05pm
Wed., Sept. 24 Fan Appreciation Day
Athletics vs. Angels
12:35pm $102
$105
*Take Amtrak to the game A’s & Giants Doubleheader with Fireworks! Thursday, July 3 Enjoy TWO Major League games on the same day as the Giants take on the Cardinals at AT&T Park (12:45pm) and the A’s face the Blue Jays at the Coliseum (6:05pm) with early 4th of July Fireworks. Field level seats for the A’s game with your choice of Field Level or View Level (3rd Deck) seating for the Giants game. $146 (Field), $133 (View/Field)
The Champagne Express to Tahoe Monday, March 10 or Thursday, April 10 Our monthly trips to Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Casino on the South Shore include a 6-hour stay with a slot credit of $20 and a free buffet or $7 food credit. You must belong to Harvey’s Total Rewards Program to receive the bonuses. $45 Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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Day Trips and Theatre Outings Jim Stafford & Moe Bandy in Concert Crest Theater, Sacramento Friday, February 14 Join us for an evening of fun, music and laughs as two of Branson’s favorite entertainers come to Sacramento! Jim Stafford keeps crowds in stitches with his unique brand of “country comedy.” From his well-known songs like “Spiders & Snakes” and “My Girl Bill,” Jim will have you rolling in the aisles. Moe Bandy’s hits include “It Was Always So Easy,” “It’s a Cheating Situation,” and “You Haven’t Heard the Last of Me.” See both country legends at Sacramento’s own Crest Theatre with orchestra seating for the 7pm show. We’ll offer a full tour with motorcoach transportation and dinner at Mimi’s Cafe or you can buy tickets direct from us if you would like to see the show on your own. $155, including dinner/transportation or $60, tickets only
Chinese New Year’s in San Francisco Saturday, February 22 or March 1 Our annual tour takes you to Buddha’s Universal Church in San Francisco in celebration of Chinese New Year and traditional Chinese theatre. Presented in both English and Cantonese, “A Tangled Web We Weave” continues the story of a devious mother and daughter concocting to ruin the wedding plans of the sweet and lovely heroine, White Peony. With music, song, dance, colorful costumes, and the playful monkeys, the charming production and included family-style Chinese lunch at Cathay House Restaurant in Chinatown make for a delightful day in the city. Limited space on both departures. $105
Take the Train with Brunch Sunday, February 23 A new departure! Travel to Berkeley on board SuperCoach III with mimosas served at your seat. A Buffet Brunch is served at Hs Lordship’s Restaurant on the bay at the Berkeley Marina featuring fresh seafood,
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cooked-to-order omelets and carved meats in addition to other hot entrees. Return to Sacramento aboard Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor. Leave Sacramento around 8:30am and be back around 3pm. A short day out but very tasty! $139
tourist join the hunt while trying to avoid the mysterious innkeeper. Sunday Dinner is included at Mimi’s Café in Natomas following the 2pm matinee. $116
San Francisco’s Scenic Seagull
San Mateo Event Center Thursday, March 20 Welcome spring with a visit to the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show with its wonderland of displays and exhibits to inspire ideas for your own home and garden. Experience full-scale gardens, seminars by master gardeners and landscapers, and stroll the vast marketplace filled with flowers, plants, tools, gifts, and anything you would need for a do-it-yourself project. Lunch is on your own from a variety of on-site food vendors. $94
Tuesday, February 25 Follow the iconic blue seagull signs through the neighborhoods of San Francisco with our resident host and guide Craig Smith. These signs were originally designed to highlight the important sights for visitors to the 1939 Golden Gate Expo and Fair. Today you will enjoy a nostalgic spin about town and down along The Great Highway. Lunch is included at The Beach Chalet, located on the Great Highway, right across from the ocean. $147
SF Symphony Plays Berlioz Davies Symphony Hall, SF Sunday, March 9 Praised for her “comprehensive musicianship and instrumental mastery,” fiery virtuoso Julia Fischer joins Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony in Prokofiev’s devilishly inventive First Violin Concerto. The Symphonie Fantastique, Hector Berlioz’s vividly programmatic Episode in an Artist’s Life, follows. It remains a trailblazing feat of orchestration – a dazzling opportunity to hear the symphony fire on all cylinders. Lunch precedes the 2pm matinee at No. 9 Fisherman’s Wharf. $168
Second Best Bed Woodland Opera House Sunday, March 16 A neurotic and nerdy Midwestern grad student and her celebrity-obsessed buddy arrive at a remote English B&B seeking a long-lost Shakespeare play and the key to its whereabouts – the famous “secondbest bed” the Bard left to his wife. Soon, a curmudgeonly professor, a glamorous has-been actress, and a busybody L.A.
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
San Francisco Flower & Garden Show
Endive & Cookies Wednesday, March 26 Visit the largest grower of endive in America and learn about this exotic Central Valley vegetable that is a delicacy in salads and entrees. After an included lunch in Woodbridge, visit Spaan’s Cookie Company, home to the Spaan Family tradition of baked goodies using only the finest ingredients. You’ll have the chance to taste and purchase some of the family’s traditional favorites on this lovely day out in the Delta. $115
A Day at the Races Thursday, March 27 Our always popular Day at the Races includes a buffet lunch and seating in the enclosed Turf Club at Golden Gate Fields by beautiful San Francisco Bay in Berkeley. Enjoy the races from a comfortable table with betting windows conveniently nearby and television monitors throughout the dining room. We’ll arrive to get settled before post time and the first race. $105
office hours:
8:00am – 4:30pm MON. thru FRI. Closed weekends & major holidays CLOSED TUES. 12:00pm – 1:15pm
An Evening with Liza Minnelli Davies Symphony Hall, SF Friday, March 28 Stage and screen legend Liza Minnelli will perform with her septet singing favorite American standards including two of her signature songs, “New York, New York” and “Cabaret.” Winner of four Tony Awards, an Oscar, a Grammy, two Golden Globe Awards, and an Emmy, Liza is a consummate performer who will share music and stories during this rare live performance. Dinner precedes the show at No. 9 Fishermen’s Wharf. Center orchestra seating for the 8pm evening performance. $247
A Castle in Wine Country Monday, March 31 Treat yourself to a taste of Tuscany! Tour Calistoga’s top-ranked attraction, Castello di Amorosa, an authentic 13th-century Tuscan castle. View the hand-painted Great Hall, dungeon, chapel, cellars and caves on a 60-minute leisurely walking tour followed by a seated 45-minute tasting of five premium wines paired with 3 handmade Belgian chocolates. A delicious pasta lunch and gelato are included at Napa’s Ristorante Allegria. $152
Sacred Stones, Wine and Olives Featuring the Abbey of New Clairvaux Tuesday, April 1 Visit the grounds at the Abbey of New Clairvaux and view the gorgeous ceiling created from the stones of the Spanist 12thCentury Santa Maria de Oliva Chapter House. Learn about the connection of William Randolph Hearst and Leland Stanford to this quiet abbey located in Vina in the North Valley. Lunch and a tour are included at the Lucero Olive Oil Mill in nearby Corning. $113
Mamma Mia! Orpheum Theater, SF Wednesday, April 2 This musical tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her
mother’s past back to the island they last visited 20 years before. The story-telling magic of ABBA’s timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, and every night everyone’s having the time of their lives! A light lunch is served en route to the 2pm matinee with orchestra seating. A no-host stop for dinner after the show will be made at Pier 39/ Fisherman’s Wharf. $135
Steppin’ Out with My Baby: The Songs of Irving Berlin The Gallo Center, Modesto Sunday, April 13 Cabaret star Lee Lessack and singeractress Linda Purl (“The Office,” “Matlock”) put on a sparkling performance of Irving Berlin’s top hits including “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Always,” “What’ll I Do,” “Blue Skies,” “They Say It’s Wonderful,” – and of course, “God Bless America” among many others in this lovely celebration of the greatest American songwriter. Champagne Brunch at Surla’s precedes the 3pm matinee with orchestra seating. $145
A Date for Lunch in Volcano Featuring the historic Volcano Union Inn Monday, April 14 Join us for lunch in the small Sierra foothills community of Volcano at the historic Union Inn. Built in 1880 by four French Canadians, the inn was first a boarding house for miners. Learn more about the history of the area while dining on fresh, flavorful and seasonable entrees prepared with local ingredients. Pause at Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park to view its incredible collection of Miwok baskets. $123
Spring in San Francisco Tuesday, April 15 Celebrate the beauty of spring with a visit to the San Francisco Flower Market to savor the scents, sights, and shopping for plants and flowers to brighten your own home for the Easter holiday. Then on to the Union Square area to visit Macy’s with its annual flower show of events and lavish displays decorating the store and display windows.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy with free time for more shopping, browsing, and lunch on your own before returning home. $95
Women Fully Clothed The Gallo Center, Modesto Wednesday, April 16 This critically-acclaimed theatrical comedy features four brilliant talents: Robin Duke (“Saturday Night Live”), Jayne Eastwood (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”), Kathryn Greenwood (“Whose Line Is It Anyway”) and Teresa Pavlinek (“The Jane Show”). Whether exploring mother-daughter relationships, cross-border shopping, or craft shows, these women deliver uproarious sketches and razor sharp songs. A perfect night out with your girlfriends! Dinner at Surla’s in Modesto will precede the 8pm show with orchestra seating. $135
Wildflowers and Roses At the beautiful Eleven Roses Ranch Friday, April 18 In April there is an explosion of flowers in the little valley that is the 1895 homestead of Eleven Roses Ranch near Clear Lake. Meet Anne Garner who will share some stories about her heritage and her connection to the ranch. A wagon ride through the valley accompanies a chuckwagon BBQ. There is also time to walk around and take some pictures of the flowers and ranch animals or just sit and enjoy the beautiful setting with your friends. Stop briefly at Granzella’s in Williams before returning home. $121
San Francisco’s Cherry Blossom Festival Saturday, April 19 The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco’s Japantown is said to be the second largest festival outside of Washington, DC to celebrate the blooming of cherry blossoms. In San Francisco there will be food booths, cultural performances, martial arts demonstrations, live bands and more. You will have ample time to enjoy the festival and lunch on your own from the onsite vendors or local restaurants. $85
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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Easter in the Delta
Asparagus Festival
Champagne Brunch at the Ryde Hotel Sunday, April 20 No need to travel far to enjoy an awesome holiday Champagne Brunch. Just a short Sunday drive away, in our own “backyard,” is the historic Ryde Hotel, perched above the Sacramento River south of Walnut Grove and voted one of the “Top 5 Spots for Brunch in the Sacramento Area.” Enjoy a wide variety of tasty, gourmet items and your ever-full glass of champagne! Enjoy the spring scenery of the Delta to and from brunch on this short outing. $128
Friday, April 25 Celebrating its 28th anniversary, the Stockton Asparagus Festival is a regional party honoring that strange green stalk of a vegetable! The festival takes place along the waterfront in Stockton and includes cooking demonstrations, a farmers market, arts and crafts, and, of course, lots of opportunities to eat asparagus: asparagus ice cream anyone? Stroll the festival grounds and enjoy lunch from any one of the many vendors. Pause at the Stockton Cambodian Buddist Temple and discover its 90 larger-than-life hand-painted statues, as featured on Huell Howser’s “Road Trip.” $88
“Intimate Impressionism” Legion of Honor in San Francisco Tuesday, April 22 On loan from The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Intimate Impressionism provides the opportunity to enjoy an exhibit of illustrious Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings close to home. The collection of approximately 70 pieces showcases a variety of landscapes, seascapes, still life’s, interiors, and portraits by artists including Eugene Boudin, Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Camilie Pissarro, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, and Edouard Vuillard. An optional shuttle will be available for visit to the de Young Museum to explore its permanent collection and exhibits. Lunch is on your own at either of the museum cafes. $98
Spring on the Rails Wednesday, April 23 Take a beautiful setting and match it with the romance of the rails and what do you have? A great spring outing! Climb aboard the Sierra Railroad in Oakdale and enjoy a day among the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A three-course lunch is served on board with an ever-changing view right outside your window! Before heading home, stop at the Oakdale Cheese Factory for a few goodies. $135
Robert Irvine Live The Gallo Center, Modesto Saturday, April 26 With more than 25 years in the culinary profession, acclaimed chef and restaurateur Robert Irvine has cooked his way around the world. Irvine currently shares his experience on The Food Network as host of the ratings record-breaking “Restaurant: Impossible.” Chef Irvine brings the excitement of “Dinner: Impossible” to the Gallo Center stage. Dinner at Canal Street Grille precedes the 8pm show with orchestra seating. $153
A Second Helping: The Church Basement Ladies Sequel Fallon Theatre, Sonora Wednesday, April 30 You loved the down-to earth charm, humor and hilarious antics of our favorite flock of Lutheran ladies from rural Minnesota. A Second Helping picks up the story in 1969 as Vietnam War protests swell and women everywhere demand equal pay for equal work. Meanwhile, the finely-tuned ladies running the church basement kitchen face changes of their own, from the elderly matriarch to the young mom-to-be, these women find strength in each other as they
The Stockton REMEMBER MEAL CHOICES
When you receive your itinerary/confirmation for a trip, check to see if a meal choice is needed and take a minute to make your selection by calling our office or returning your choice with your payment. Thank you.
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Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
deal with the joys and upheavals from below the House of God! Lunch at Christopher’s in Sonora precedes the 2pm performance. $123
Getting Around San Francisco Thursday, May 1 Begin with SuperCoach III service to the East Bay to meet our buddy BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). A short time later emerge from under the bay in downtown San Francisco. A cable car will whisk you over the hills to Fisherman’s Wharf for an included lunch at the venerable Franciscan Restaurant. After some time to explore the wharf, board the Vallejo Ferry for a cruise across San Francisco Bay where SuperCoach III will be waiting to return you home. $142
Miss Saigon Nevada Theatre, Nevada City Sunday, May 4 From the creators of Les Misérables, Miss Saigon is based on Giacomo Puccini’s classic opera, Madame Butterfly. In the turmoil of the Vietnam War in the 1970’s, an American soldier and a Vietnamese girl fall in love, only to be separated during the fall of Saigon. Their struggles to find each other over the ensuing years end in tragedy for her and a fighting chance for the child he never knew he had. Community Asian Theatre of the Sierras (CATS) presents its annual performance at the historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City. Lunch is included prior to the 2pm matinee. $128
Dolphin in the Delta Tuesday, May 27 Drive to Antioch to board the River Dolphin for a 2-hour narrated adventure exploring the cultural and natural history of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Witness firsthand the levees, wetlands, and bird life and learn what it was like when first discovered by European explorers and how it has changed in the last 200 years. Disembark at Rio Vista for lunch at Lucy’s. A visit to the Dutra Museum of Dredging will be made prior to returning to Sacramento. $154
The Barber Pole, or Once Over Lightly New Arden Area Bus Stop After much searching and a number of meetings, we were not making a great deal of progress finding a new north area bus stop. We couldn’t find a place we felt was safe for our travelers at night around Arden Fair, in a paid or unpaid location. Then came the call from TC Member Carol Ann Barr. She had a connection and within 48 hours, a solution was available. Effective immediately, the Arden area stop has moved to the corner of Arden and Watt (ironically, this was the first location of our north area pick-ups, over 30 years ago). The bus will pick up the in Rite Aid Drug Store parking lot. Staff will give you the exact location when you call for reservations. This will lengthen the route by 5-7 minutes, because this stop is further from the freeway. Whether or not you are impacted depends on the direction you are traveling. This new location provides us a stop a lot closer to the Arden Park and Del Dayo neighborhoods, along with moving us a bit closer to our Rancho Cordova friends. Thanks to Carol Ann for her help. A gentle reminder that a good Travel Club Member does not share our pick-up locations with other groups. Because of the difficulty in finding parking lots we have permission to use, we ask that you not suggest our locations (any of them) to other groups to use. To be honest, we have permission, they don’t. At the Madison and I-80 location, the bus no longer pulls into the parking lot. It stops on Date Ave., adjacent to the parking area we use.
office hours: 8:00am – 4:30pm MON. thru FRI. Closed weekends & major holidays CLOSED TUES. 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Seven Things You Should Never Eat or Drink Before Flying by Caroline Morse, SmarterTravel Staff What you eat before you board can make a big impact on how you feel once you’re in the air (and even how you feel once you land). Leave these dining disasters off your pre-flight checklist and avoid the dreaded “jet bloat,” being the stinky seatmate, and other in-flight horrors. Fried or Fast Food Tempted by those ubiquitous airport fast-food restaurants? You should know that digestion is even harder for your body at 35,000 feet. Add that to the trouble the human digestive system already has processing saturated fats, and you’ve got a recipe for heartburn or an upset stomach. Scientists have also found that eating saturated fat can constrict blood flow, which could increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Alcohol Okay, it’s not a food, but you should still avoid this beverage. That beer or vodka tonic may hit the spot, but it’s also dehydrating. Unfortunately, the air we breathe in planes isn’t humidified, which also causes flyers to become dehydrated. Throw alcohol into the mix and you may be more relaxed, but you’ll come off the flight feeling parched and miserable. And keep in mind that alcohol has a bigger effect on your body at higher altitudes! Cruciferous Vegetables Did you know that after takeoff, the air pressure in the cabin decreases, causing the cabin air to expand by around 30 percent? This can cause swallowed air and gases in the stomach and small intestine to expand, leading to an uncomfortable, bloated feeling. Minimize the effect by
staying away from broccoli, cauliflower, and other cruciferous vegetables that can increase bloating. Carbonated Beverages Carbonated beverages, like soda and beer, are also major contributors to bloating. Picture the bubbles you’re swallowing as tiny balloons that will end up in your stomach—and then rapidly expand when the air pressure changes. Not comfortable! Legumes (Beans!) Beans have a bad rap for being another major gas culprit. Many types of beans and other legumes naturally contain indigestible complex sugars that can lead to onboard bloating. Garlic Garlic is delicious, but it sure does linger on your breath – and in your body odor. Garlic contains sulfuric compounds that are absorbed into your bloodstream and lungs. This means you’re literally exhaling that garlic smell (even if you’ve brushed your teeth), and it’s seeping out of your pores. So for the sake of your seatmates, skip the garlic pasta before boarding. Airplane-Provided Water It’s important to stay hydrated while flying, but you’re better off BYOW (Bringing Your Own Water) rather than grabbing a free drink from the beverage cart. Although beverage carts might give you “bottled” water from a large bottle, that bottle could have been refilled using the tank water. Reprinted in part from the SmarterTravel website. See more of Carolyn’s work at www.SmarterTravel.com.
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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New Vacations and Getaways The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
The Sound of Music in the Cascades
Featuring luxury in a mountain setting 2 Days • June 1-2 1. Depart from one of our convenient stops aboard SuperCoach III. Pause in Truckee for a hosted brunch and free time to browse the unique shops before arriving at your mountain retreat. The Ritz-Carlton is situated mid-mountain on the Northstar Resort. Experience luxury unlike any other mountain retreat. Upon entering the grand lobby you will see the 55 foot-high granite fireplace and 25 foot-high windows which provide views of the surrounding forest. Enjoy an optional, private art and architecture tour and discover the unique design elements and highlights of the more distinctive works of art throughout the resort. Your accommodations include in-room fireplaces, floor-to-ceiling windows and private walk-out balconies with extraordinary views of the mountains and Martis Valley. Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe (BR) 2. After a late checkout that allows you to further enjoy the resort, travel along the west shore of Lake Tahoe to Homewood and the Tahoe Maritime Museum, whose exterior is reminiscent of an old boathouse well-suited to its Lake Tahoe surroundings. Lunch is hosted before returning to Sacramento. (L) The tour includes roundtrip transportation aboard SuperCoach III, accommodations, all attractions listed, two meals (1BR,1L), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 450/550 Gold Passport Points $440 p.p./dbl.occ., $535 single $ave $10 until February 4 Add door-to-door service for $80 p.p.
4 Days • August 4-7 This summer getaway has a little bit of everything: professional theatre, stunning outdoor views, a train through the beautiful countryside, and the old world charm of Bavaria without a long plane ride. 1. Begin your day with door-to-door service to the airport. A few hours later, lunch is included on the waterfront in Seattle at Cutters Bayhouse. Just adjacent to the restaurant is famous Pike Place Market where you will have a short time to shop or perhaps just watch the flying fish! In the late afternoon, board Amtrak’s Empire Builder for a short journey into the majestic mountains of Washington. Enjoy dinner at your leisure on board and watch the scenery dance by your window. At the heart of the state you’ll find the small community of Leavenworth, Washington’s own Little Bavaria. Bavarian Lodge – 3 nights (L) 2. Cashmere is the home of Liberty Orchards, makers of “Applets and Cottlets,” the fruit and nut confections. Tour the factory this morning before paying a visit to Cashmere’s Pioneer Village and Museum. Back in Leavenworth, enjoy lunch at your leisure and an optional walking tour of historic downtown and learn how
Leavenworth broke with its industrial past to remake itself as a Bavarian Village. Dinner is included at King Ludwig’s German Restaurant, served family-style, before the popular musical The Sound of Music. Performed outdoors with the mountains of the Wenatchee Forest in the background, you’ll feel like you’re in the hills of Switzerland with the Von Trappe Family! (B,D) 3. Wenatchee, the largest town in central Washington, is home to Rocky Reach Dam and the Columbia River Museum. Explore the museum and the dam’s adjacent powerhouse. After an included lunch, visit Ohme Gardens. Situated on top of a large bluff overlooking the Columbia River, the nine-acre gardens features beautiful water features and alpine floral and fauna. Tonight, an indoor staged performance of the Tony Award-wining Broadway Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. (B,L) 4. Bid farewell to Leavenworth and begin your journey westward toward Seattle by motorcoach. Pause for lunch before visiting the Boeing Museum of Flight. More than just the story of a local airplane company made good, explore the historic collection of 85 aircraft and learn how far manned flight has come in just 100 years. A return flight from Seattle returns you home in the evening. (B,L)
Does Your Group or Organization need a Speaker? Let Mark or Clayton share humorous travel stories and tips for avoiding hassles on the road. Door prizes and complimentary Travel Club Memberships are provided. Call the office to reserve your date! The Swiss Alps come to life before your eyes in Leavenworth
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Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
The tour includes roundtrip air, deluxe motorcoach transportation, passage aboard Amtrak’s Empire Builder, accommodations, all attractions and shows listed, seven meals (3B,3L,1D), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. Prices Available after February 14 Call now to be placed on the Priority Notification List.
Horsing Around in Mendocino 4 Days • August 10-13 It may be chilly outside now but it’s time to start thinking ahead to the hot days of summer and a cool escape to the Mendocino Coast. After a long absence, we’ll return to the final home of a thoroughbred champion and spend two lovely evenings in Ft. Bragg, perched high above Noyo Harbor. 1. Carey Transportation delivers you to the Sports Leisure office to meet SuperCoach III. Heading northwest, pause for Sunday Brunch at the Flamingo Conference Resort in Santa Rosa. In nearby Ukiah, discover the precious works of art at the Grace Hudson Museum. Overnight in Ukiah. Hampton Inn (BR,D) 2. Discover Ridgewood Ranch on a guided tour this morning. The final home and resting place of the famous racehorse Seabiscuit, you’ll learn the interesting tale of how he ended up retiring in this neck of the woods. After lunch, find yourself on the cool California coast with a stop at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens. Your home for the next two nights is perched above Noyo Harbor in Ft. Bragg. Dinner tonight is included on the harbor. Harbor Lite Lodge – 3 nights (B,L,D) 3. After a light breakfast, included each morning at your hotel, discover the lighthouse at Point Cabrillo on a docentguided tour. Lunch is included in the village of Mendocino at popular Café Beaujolais, known for its delicious regional cuisine. Time for browsing the quaint shops follows or choose to visit MacKerricher State Park for a ranger-guided tour of the boardwalk to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean or relax back at your hotel. This evening, another great meal awaits. (B,L,D)
4. All aboard the Skunk Train! The view from the restored rail cars of the California Western Railroad is pretty much unchanged since the route opened 127 years ago: towering trees, deer drinking from the Noyo River, an isolated fisherman’s cabin peeking from the forest. A steam engine delivers you half-way, to North Spur, where a BBQ tri-tip lunch is waiting. For the rest of the journey to Willits, experience the railroad’s enclosed motor-car, which travels on the tracks. SuperCoach III will be waiting at the other end to deliver you home to Sacramento, arriving in the late afternoon. (B,L) The tour includes roundtrip transportation aboard SuperCoach III, accommodations, all attractions listed, all meals (3B,1BR,3L,3D), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 1300/1500 Gold Passport Points $1300 p.p./dbl.occ., $1465 single $ave $25 until February 4
Laguna Beach & The Pageant of the Masters 3 Days • August 24-26 1. Depart this morning for Southern California. Your first stop is Long Beach and the historic vessel Queen Mary, moored in Long Beach Harbor, for its lavish Champagne Brunch followed by a tour of the exhibit “Diana: Legacy of a Princess.” The exhibition chronicles Diana’s private and royal life from her days as a student to her engagement, historic wedding, and reign as Princess of Wales. Following the tour, depart for Newport Beach and check-in at your hotel for the next two evenings. With full-service amenities and restaurants within walking distance, it provides a comfortable and pleasant stay. Marriott Newport Beach Hotel & Spa – 2 nights (BR) 2. This morning a short drive takes you to the small town of Orange for a docentguided tour. On the National Register of Historic Places, “Old Towne Orange” showcases over 50 different architectural styles of homes and buildings constructed from 1888 to 1940. Return to the hotel in the early afternoon for time to relax before discovering the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. Dinner is
included at Tivoli Terrace Restaurant before the pageant which begins at 8:30pm. Presented in an outdoor theatre, reserved orchestra seating provides comfortable and excellent viewing. This year’s theme The Art Detective will surprise and amaze with lifesize recreations of famous art works from all around the world in three dimensions with live persons. Words fail to explain the pageant; you have to see it to believe it! (D) 3. Return to Laguna Beach this morning for an included lunch and speaker from the Pageant of the Masters who will provide insight and answers to all your questions about the memorable event you experienced. An afternoon flight returns you home in the early evening. (L) The tour includes door-to-door airport transportation, roundtrip air to/from Southern California, deluxe motorcoach transportation, accommodations, all attractions listed, 3 meals (1BR,1L,1D), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 1300/1450 Gold Passport Points $1285 p.p./dbl.occ., $1430 single $ave $30 until February 4
Italy, That’s Amore! 11 Days • September 14-24 • Venice: Discover the Piazza San Marco, Doge’s Palace, and Bridge of Sighs • Pisa: See The Duomo, the Baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower • Rome: Explore the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain • Vatican City: Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel • Experience the cities and towns of Padua, Cinque Terre, Siena, Florence and Assisi • A gondola ride in Venice, a train ride through the Italian countryside to Cinque Terre • An English-speaking guide and Sports Leisure Tour Director • 19 Meals: 9 full breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 6 dinners • Roundtrip airfare to Venice/from Rome • Deluxe motorcoach service throughout the tour • Door-to-door airport service
Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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• 5900/6700 Gold Passport Points 1. Carey Transportation picks you up at home and transfers you to the airport for your overnight flight to Venice on United Airlines. 2. Arrive in Venice this morning and meet your local guide for a visit to St. Anthony’s Basilica in nearby Padua. Afterwards, enjoy a light lunch at a local restaurant. Your hotel for the next two nights is located between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, wonderfully situated in the heart of Venice, on one of its many islands and reached by water taxi! A Welcome Dinner is served in the dining room this evening. Starhotel Splendid Venice – 2 nights (L,D) 3. After breakfast, depart for a guided tour of Venice, including a walking tour of Piazza San Marco, a visit to the Doge’s Palace, and walking across the Bridge of Sighs, which connects to the Piombi Prisons. Take a short sightseeing voyage on the city’s famous gondolas and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The remainder of the afternoon is free for exploring on our own and shopping. Your local guide will point you in the right direction. (FB,L) 4. A final breakfast at your hotel and you are on your way to Montecatini. En route, pause for a visit to Pisa, including stops at the entrance to the Duomo, the Baptistery
and the cemetery where you will view the famous Leaning Tower. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening. Grand Hotel Nizza et Suisse – 4 nights (FB,D) 5. Montecatini serves as the perfect hub for several daytrips from your hotel. Following breakfast, board a train for a delightful ride to the picturesque Cinque Terre. Translated as “Five Lands,” the area is in the Italian Riviera region of Liguria, where five villages are nestled on a rugged portion of the coastline. You’ll visit Manarolo, Corniglia and Rio Maggiore and have the chance to walk along the famous Via dell’Amore, or “The Lovers Walk.” Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and return to Montecatini by train. (FB,L) 6. After breakfast enjoy a full-day guided sightseeing tour of Florence, the capital of the region of Tuscany. Recognized as the birthplace of the Renaissance, enjoy a walking tour of the historic city center and a visit to the famous Academia Museum, site of Michelangelo’s monumental statue David. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure to explore Florence on your own or discover the Uffizi Gallery, considered by some to be the world’s most important Renaissance art museum (add’l cost). (FB,D) 7. Depart for Siena, driving southwest through the heart of Italian wine country,
over the rolling hills of Chianti. Once in Siena, your guide will lead you to Piazza del Campo, through the narrow streets, past medieval towers and walls. You’ll soon discover why the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the notable highlights will be your visit to San Domenico, which holds the relics of St. Catherine. Free time is allowed for independent sightseeing, shopping and browsing. (FB,D) 8. Depart for Rome this morning by way of Assisi to view St. Francis’ Cathedral and have some free time to browse the city. Upon arrival in “The Eternal City,” check into your hotel, decorated with period furniture, exquisite fabrics and original oil paintings, with dinner following. Hotel Quirinale – 3 nights (FB,D) 9. Discover both ancient and modern Rome on a day of sightseeing. In the morning, your “Ancient Rome” guided tour features the most famous monuments and sites of Ancient Rome including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. In the afternoon, following lunch at a local restaurant, continue on for a tour of Modern Rome. (FB,L) 10. After breakfast, pay a call on the new Pope with a visit to the Vatican, a country unto itself in the heart of Rome. Visit St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Raise your eyes to see Michelangelo’s Creation and the famous Last Judgment. Lunch is on your own with time for shopping and exploring the area of the Spanish Steps. Tonight it’s time for a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (FB,D) 11. After breakfast, travel to the airport for your return flight home. (FB) $5855 p.p./dbl.occ., $6695 single $ave $150 until February 4
Girl’s Get-Away: A Pacific Coastal Cruise
Sipping wine with Clayton on Rome’s storied Spanish Steps
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Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
Vancouver, BC to San Diego on Holland America’s ms Zaandam 6 Days • October 4-9 Get your girlfriends onboard for a getaway that includes all the things you love to do: world-class shopping, great dining and some pampering at sea on a four night cruise on Holland America’s ms Zaadam! Our
itinerary was made for the ladies but men are welcome to come along! Our door-to-door service will deliver you to the airport for a mid-morning flight to Vancouver, BC. Overnight at the Blue Horizon Hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver’s shopping district on Robson Street. The rest of the day and next morning is yours to spend as you wish – with shopping, sidewalk cafes, restaurants and nighttime entertainment all at your doorstep – or you can choose to explore Vancouver and Stanley Park on an optional guided tour. Before embarking on your 4-night cruise enjoy the amazing “Sunday Market Brunch” at the Pan Pacific Hotel’s Café Pacifica, with breath-taking views of the harbor where Holland America’s beautiful ms Zaandam will be docked. Designed to carry fewer guests while providing more space for maximum comfort, the ms Zaandam is a prize in the mid-size ship category. Offering spacious public areas and plush accommodations, many staterooms have private verandahs. Your one port of call will be in Victoria where you may decide to walk the waterfront or take an excursion to Butchart Gardens. Other shore excursions will be available and announced closer to departure date. During your two full days at sea, what will you do? Dancing, lounging, relaxing, spa treatments, and wining and dining with your friends, of course! Upon arrival in sunny San Diego, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. The tour includes door-to-door airport service, roundtrip air to Vancouver/from San Diego, airport transfers, accommodations, 12 meals (4FB, 1BR, 3L, 4D), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. Prices start at $1395 p.p./dbl.occ., $1610 single (inside cabin) $1510 p.p./dbl.occ., $1795 single (outside cabin) $ave $25 until February 4 Proud members of the
Carlsbad Caverns National Park & the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Aerial Tramway to enjoy the view and lunch on top at the High Finance Restaurant. Head back to the fiesta tonight for “Glowdeo,” a static display of illumination by the Special Shape balloons. We have upgraded your experience for each event to the Chase Lounge, which offers private seating. (FB,L,D) 6. This morning is the “Mass Ascensions,” a launch of all the participating balloons. You will be awestruck by the spectacular beauty of over 600 hot air balloons filling the big blue New Mexico sky (weather permitting, high winds could cancel any event). Enjoy lunch and some free time in Albuquerque’s Old Town then visit the Turquoise Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of this attractive gemstone. (FB,L) 7. Enjoy a docent-led tour of the Abruzzo International Balloon Museum before your afternoon flight home. (FB,L) The tour includes door-to-door airport service, roundtrip air to El Paso and from Albuquerque, deluxe motorcoach transportation, accommodations, all attractions listed, 15 meals (6FB,6L,3D), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 2800/3200 Gold Passport Points $2765 p.p./dbl.occ., $3190 single $ave $75 until February 4
Featuring Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport America 7 Days • October 6-12 1. Fly to El Paso and enjoy a hosted lunch before checking into your hotel. Hilton Garden Inn (L) 2. Carlsbad Caverns is often called the “8th Wonder of the World.” Descend (by elevator) 830 feet and view the gigantic subterranean chambers and fantastic cave formations. Your accommodations are nearby. Holiday Inn Express (FB) 3. White Sands National Monument is another of the world’s great natural wonders. With a park ranger, explore the breathtaking wave-like dunes of snow-white gypsum that stretch for 275 square miles and learn how the park’s animals have adapted in this harsh desert climate. Your hotel this evening is located in the quaint city of Las Cruces. Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces (FB,L,D) 4. Spaceport America offers visitors an insider’s view of the world’s first purposebuilt commercial spaceport. Once inside the secured area, gaze upon the iconic design of the Terminal Hangar Facility, see launch sites and gain an understanding of the inner workings of a complex specifically designed and built for space travel, commerce and exploration. In the afternoon arrive in Albuquerque, home of the International Balloon Fiesta. Marriott Hotel – 3 nights (FB,L,D) 5. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, with over 600 hot air balloons, is the largest ballooning event and the most photographed event on earth. Attend several of the fiesta’s scheduled activities during the next few days. The first is the morning “Special Shape Rodeo” balloons launch. Later, travel on The afterhours evening glow is one of the best events at the Albuquerque the famous Sandia Peak International Balloon Fiesta Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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Vietnam, Cambodia and the Riches of the Mekong Featuring a cruise on the m/v AmaLotus 16 Days • November 25 – December 10
H Highlights H • 2 nights hotel accommodation in Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), including daily buffet breakfast • Overnight stay on board a traditional wooden Junk in Ha Long Bay • 3 nights stay in Siem Reap, including daily buffet breakfast • 7 nights deluxe cruise accommodation in an outside stateroom • Life enriching tours and excursions • Fine dining with all meals included during your cruise including unlimited wine with lunch and dinner on board • Complimentary house-brand spirits, beer, soft drinks during cruise • Onboard special highlights including folklore dances and music performances, culture discussion forums, theme dinners • Roundtrip air to Hanoi, from Saigon • Door-to-door service, all transfers included • Visas for entry into Cambodia & Vietnam • The services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director • Gold Passport Points based on cruise cabin category Your journey begins in Vietnam’s bustling capital, Hanoi, followed by an excursion to breathtaking Ha Long Bay for an overnight sojourn. A short flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, brings you to the gateway of the ancient Khmer empire. Spend three days touring the temples of Angkor Archeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before embarking your Mekong cruise on Tonle Sap Lake. Visit rural villages, historic pagodas, floating markets and a Buddhist monastery along the way. Overnight in Phnom Phen, capital of Cambodia. Conclude your cruise in lively Ho Chi Minh City, where you will enjoy a two-night stay. Please note: The number of days of this tour may be adjusted depending on the final confirmed air schedule and the travel over the international dateline. Prices start at $7699 p.p./dbl.occ., $9799 single* (depending on cabin category) $ave $200 until February 4 A valid passport is required for this tour. *Prices based on airfare of $1350 per person. The price may be adjusted depending on international fuel surcharges.
DAY
CITY
ACTIVITY
1
Hanoi
Hotel check-in
2
Hanoi
City tour and rickshaw ride Water puppet show
3
Hanoi
Transfer to Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay
Bay excursion Overnight cruise onboard traditional wooden junk
4
Ha Long Bay
Transfer to airport Flight to Siem Reap
5
Siem Reap
Hotel check-in
Siem Reap
Angkor Thom and Banteay Srei Visit English-language school
6
Siem Reap
Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm Temple
7
Siem Reap
Check in for cruise
Kampong Cham
EMBARKATION Welcome Dinner
8 9
10
Wat Hanchey
Wat Hanchey tour
Ankgor Ban
Kampong Cham tour
Ankgor Ban
Angkor Ban tour
Chong Koh
Silk-weaving village visit
Phnom Penh
Free evening
Phnom Penh
City tour Afternoon Killing Fields excursion
11
Border Crossing
Border crossing from Cambodia to Vietnam
12
Tan Chau
Visit to local craftsmen’s workshops Trishaw ride
13
Sa Dec
Local boat ride to Sa Dec Village Visit to local market, museum and temple
Xeo Quyt
Xeo Quyt excursion
Cai Be
Local boat ride to floating market Visit rice paper and candy-making workshop
14
Ho Chi Minh City
DISEMBARKATION My Tho Port Transfer to the city City tour
Explore the mystic waterways of Southeast Asia aboard the intimate m/v AmaLotus
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Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
15
Ho Chi Minh City
Free time
16
Ho Chi Minh City
Return flight home
The Tour Calendar (Previously Announced Tours) 7 Days
Mar. 2-8
Death Valley and PalmSprings
Visit Manzanar Nat’l Historic Site and Joshua Tree Nat’l Park; tour Scotty’s Castle, with visits to Ubehebe Crater, Zabriske’s Point, and Badwater Salt Flats; enjoy a luncheon at the historic Furnace Creek Inn; attend one of the final performances of the Fabulous Palm Spring Follies, featuring Maureen McGovern; 12 Meals: 1 breakfast, 3 full breakfasts, 6 lunches, 2 dinners; door-to-door service, roundtrip travel on SuperCoach III, 2200/2550 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $2160 p.p./dbl.occ., $2505 single 3 Days
Mar. 6-8
Off to the Races at Santa Anita
A brand new trip featuring a never-before available tour of the Tournament of Roses House and the Rose Bowl itself. Spend a day at the races – breakfast, admission, program, Turf Club seating and lunch, all included (you have to pick your own winners) 2 nights at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Pasadena, the historic Graber Olive House in Ontario, tour the Tournament House & Wrigley Gardens, guided tour of the Rose Bowl, V.I.P. Tour of Warner Bros. Studios, lunch at the famous Tam O’Shanter. 4 meals: 3 lunches, 1 dinner; airfare Ontario/Burbank, home pick-up, 1200/1300 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Chris Galloway, $1155 p.p./dbl.occ., $1260 single 3 Days
Mar. 7-9
Oregon Chocolate Festival
The Ashland Springs Hotel hosts the 10th annual Chocolate Festival in March. Once again, you are invited to join us on this pilgrimage to indulge in everything chocolate. You will have not one, but TWO days to enjoy the sweet festivities! Stay two nights at the Plaza Inn in Ashland (the best accommodations in town), a Chocolate Lover’s Dinner and the chance to buy all kinds of chocolate at the festival. 900/1050 Gold Passport Points. $895 p.p./dbl.occ., $1040 single, this tour will not be offered in 2015 7 Days
Mar. 9-15
New Orleans and Natchez
New Orleans, known as “NOLA” to locals, welcomes you with open arms! This city is known for her food and drink, and you’ll taste a hearty sampling of both at the Court of Two Sisters, Pat O’Brien’s and the famed Café du Monde. You’ll even attend a dinner class at the New Orleans School of Cooking to learn how to recreate the flavors back home. Two nights each in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Natchez and Lafayette; guided scenic tours highlighting the best of each destination; attend the Natchez Spring Pilgrimage; visit Houmas House, Evangeline State Historic Site and Avery Island; 14 fabulous meals: Daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 4 dinners; roundtrip air to/from New Orleans; door-to-door airport service; 2950/3300 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead, $2935 p.p./dbl.occ., $3295 single
Dashing through the snow on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight
2 Days
Mar. 18-19
Take the Snow Train to Reno
The train departs Sacramento at 11am and arrives in Reno around 4pm. Spend the night at the newly remodeled Silver Legacy Casino/ Resort and return by coach the following afternoon (optional morning visit to The Nugget in Sparks). The package includes rail passage on Amtrak’s California Zephyr to Reno, a boxed lunch, hotel accommodations, casino bonuses, and return transportation on board SuperCoach III. 250/275 Gold Passport Points, $245 p.p./ dbl.occ., $265 single, add door-to-door service for $80 p.p. 11 Days Mar. 20-30
Route 66 – Oklahoma City to Santa Monica
Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Tucumcari, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Gallup, Winslow, Oatman, Laughlin, Needles, San Bernardino, it’s the ultimate off-the-beaten track journey, a trip down part of Route 66. Meet Route 66 legends like Harley & Annabelle, “The Mediocre Music Makers,” and Angel Delgadillo, “The Barber of Seligman;” dine at the legendary Big Texan, in the Turquoise Room at La Posada, and at The Lobster on Santa Monica Pier, three classic dining experiences – 20 meals included: 2 breakfasts, 4 full buffet breakfasts, 8 lunches and 6 dinners. Stay in first-class and “roadie” hotels and motels along the way; sleep in a tee-pee. Visit the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest Nat’l Park and Pecos Nat’l Monument. Tour the Acoma Sky Pueblo and meet the people along the old highway. More than anything, this is a “meet the people” tour. Roundtrip airfare, the services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director, door-to-door airport service and 3500/4000 Gold Passport Points. Come meet the people, see the sights and discover The Main Street of America. $3470 p.p./dbl.occ., $3965 single
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sportsleisure Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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3 Days
Mar. 23-25
Wild About Monterey and Half Moon Bay
2 Days
Apr. 6-7
A Window In Time Mystery Overnighter
Featuring deluxe accommodations at the Clement Monterey Intercontinental Hotel right on Cannery Row. Guided tour of 17-Mile Drive, lunch and optional wine tasting in the beautiful Carmel Valley. Explore Monterey Bay Aquarium and discover Wild Things Animal Ranch. Door-to-door service to and from the Sports Leisure office, 3 lunches, 1000/1150 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, $965 p.p./dbl.occ., $1135 single
Stay close to home, yet travel a world away. Awaken your senses with mysterious sights and sounds, marvelous foods and sensational scents. Whether traveling by land or by sea, you’ll encouter something old, something small, something big and something tall. Includes accommodations, 3 meals, 550/650 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: Merrill Mixer, $565 p.p./dbl.occ., $640 single, add door-to-door service for $80 p.p.
5 Days
12 Days Apr. 16-27
Mar. 30 – Apr. 3
Tubac and Tucson: History, Art and Nature
Full of unique attractions, mouthwatering meals and wonderful accommodations. Brunch at the Scottsdale Conference Resort (the best), 2 nights at the historic Tubac Resort, 2 nights at the stunning Westin La Paloma. Visits to Tubac Presidio State Park, the Titan Missile Museum, the Sonora Desert Museum and Mission San Xavier del Bac. See the unique Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. 8 meals: 4 full breakfasts, 1 brunch, 3 lunches; roundtrip airfare, door-to-door service, 2000/2200 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, $1955 p.p./dbl.occ., $2170 single 8 Days
Apr. 2-9
The REAL Hawaii – Maui and Molokai are Calling
Seats are going quickly on this masterpiece of a travel experience. Sure, you’ve been to Hawaii lots of times. But you’ve never seen and done most of this, including a day trip to Molokai. Enjoy non-stop Alaska Airlines flights to/from Maui; 7 nights accommodations at the Royal Lahaina, a classic hotel that has returned to its place as an icon on the Kaanapali coast – guaranteed upgraded oceanview rooms with balconies for all. 14 meals, including gourmet dining and a full buffet breakfast every morning – 7 full breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners. Enjoy unique cultural adventures on the island – the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm, the Maui Ocean Center & Aquarium, Hawaiian plant and medicinals talk in Old Lahaina, a farm-to-fork lunch in the high country, ancient Chinese Temples. There’s a day trip to Molokai by ferry, with a return by private plane – incl. a guided tour of the island, the Father Damien story and lunch. Entertainment includes a traditional luau at the Royal Lahaina, Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar show and U’lalena, a look at Hawaiian history in song and dance. Even a free day to add optional tours (price of tours additional) as you wish. 3850/4600 Gold Passport Points, Tour Directors: Mark and Chris, $3825 p.p./dbl.occ., $4595 single 3 Days
Apr. 3-5
Harmony & The Sea, Hearst Castle
Overnight Harris Ranch, overnight San Simeon. Travel the WEST side of the valley on Hwy 33. Tour and browse the goodies at Stewart & Jasper’s Orchards, visit Harmony’s wine-cask chapel, stop at Camp Roberts for an inside look, evening tour of Hearst Castle. 5 meals, travel on SuperCoach III, door-to-door service, 1000/1150 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $970 p.p./ dbl.occ., $1110 single
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Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
Easter Holiday in Spain
Only limited space remains on our first-ever trip to Spain. Spend 2 nights each in the culturally rich cities of Madrid, Almagro, Seville, Granada, and Barcelona. Visit the sophisticated cities of Toledo and Córdoba and the cliff-perched town of Ronda. Experience the pageantry of a traditional Spanish Easter while staying in a 15thcentury monastery. Travel with Sports Leisure Tour Director Patti Thayer, assisted daily by local, Spanish-speaking guides. Tour a winery and have a tasting at a bodega in the renowned wine region of Valdepeñas, view masterpieces of the greatest Spanish artists and the architectural genius of Gaudí, enjoy flamenco music and dance at its finest in Seville and learn about the history of Spanish bullfighting at Spain’s first professional bullring, now a museum. Stay in 4-star (European-rated), modern hotels near the city centers with daily breakfast, 5 lunches, 2 dinners – with wine included at lunch and dinner. Roundtrip airfare Sacramento to Madrid, Barcelona to Sacramento, door-to-door airport service, and 6600/7500 Gold Passport Points. $6595 p.p./dbl.occ., $7485 single, this vacation requires a valid passport! Prices based on estimated airfare of $1262 p.p. The cost of tour may adjust after airfare, fuel surcharges and exchange rates are confirmed. 2 Days
Apr. 27-28
Back to Bodega Bay
Brunch at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa, overnight Bodega Bay Lodge, visit Armstrong Redwoods, lunch at the Union Hotel in Occidental, concert by William Florian. 3 meals, SuperCoach III transportation, 550/650 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $540 p.p./dbl.occ., $610 single, add door-todoor service for $80 p.p. 4 Days
May 5-8
On the (Pismo) Beach
Enjoy oceanview accommodations at the Sea Crest Resort, attend the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, take part in a private trolley ride and tour of the Point San Luis Lighthouse and the Morro Bay Natural History Museum. Visit the Central Coast Lavender Farm. 8 meals: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner; door-to-door service, transportation on SuperCoach III, 1200/1400 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, $1195 p.p./dbl.occ., $1390 single
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6 Days
May 7-12
New York City: Broadway, Brooklyn and The Bronx
Just added: Tickets to “The Bridges of Madison County,” a new musical. Featuring a symphony concert at Carnegie Hall and 5 nights at the Millennium Times Square, a spectacular location convenient to theaters and attractions. Brooklyn’s “Sounds, Sights and Slices” – Tony takes you on a tour from Coney Island to the bridge (yeah, dat bridge) stopping for pizza and dessert. The Bronx – Colman (your guide) is a real New Yorker and he’ll take you on a trip to the real Little Italy, with lunch, dessert and pasta shopping. Optional Tours (admissions included): Bronx Botanical Gardens or Zoo, and the new Yankee Stadium. The new 9/11 Memorial, tickets to a symphony concert at Carnegie Hall and a Broadway show. 6 meals: 3 lunches, 3 dinners; roundtrip airfare, door-to-door airport service, 3200/3700 Gold Passport Points. Special note: While we welcome all travelers, realistically, this trip requires some walking in the neighborhoods. If you cannot easily walk 3-4 city blocks without difficulty, we would not recommend this itinerary for you. Tour Directors: Mark and Chris, $3185 p.p./ dbl.occ., $3695 single 3 Days
May 21-23
Off on Another Mission (or two)!
Discover six of California’s historic missions (San Francisco de Solano in Sonoma, San Rafael Arcangel, San Antonio de Padua, Soledad, Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista). Enjoy 2 nights accommodations at The Dream Inn Santa Cruz, right on the beach. Dinner at Sports Leisure favorite Shadowbrook Restaurant, lunch at the secluded and peaceful Mission San Antonio (4 meals: 3 lunches, 1 dinner), travel aboard SuperCoach III, door-to-door service, 1050/1200 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Chris Galloway, $1010 p.p./dbl. occ., $1160 single, limited space 7 Days
June 7-13
The Ferries, Islands and Towns of Old Cape Cod
Visit Martha’s Vineyard, plus two nights in both Provincetown and on Nantucket Island. Our favorite time to visit Cape Cod is late spring, before the summer crowds and the humidity that comes with them. Fewer people, early in the season = a better experience. Ferry rides from Boston to Provincetown, Hyannis to Martha’s Vineyard, then on to Nantucket, Nantucket to Hyannis. Overnight Boston, 2 nights Provincetown on the Cape, overnight Hyannis, 2 nights Nantucket. Guided tours in Provincetown (Cape Cod National Seashore), on Nantucket, and 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. Free time to browse shops and galleries. 12 meals: breakfast each morning, 1 lunch, 5 dinners, including a lobster feast. Door-to-door airport service, airfare, 3400/3800 Gold Passport Points. Tour Directors: Mark and Chris, $3390 p.p./dbl. occ., $3795 single
Teasers
Have an interest in one or more of these trips? Let us know and you’ll be placed on the Priority Notification List! Get advance notice to register early and take advantage of our Early Payment Discounts, not to mention picking out your favorite seat on the motorcoach portions of the tour!
A’s/Giants Roadtrip 5 or 6 Days • August 8-12 or 13 The Giants and the A’s are playing the Kansas City Royals backto-back in August and we’re thinking about going. Kansas City is a GREAT baseball town. Kaufmann Field is a great place to see a game and KC is home to the Negro Leagues Museum. We’ll also squeeze in visits to the Jazz Museum, World War I Museum and the Steamboat Arabia Museum. Maybe even a side trip to Independence find Harry Truman. Length of tour determined by game times.
Chris’ Country: Off to the Carolinas October 2014 There’s a lot more to the Carolinas than just the coast! Head home with Chris Galloway and travel to Asheville, NC and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The fall colors put New England to shame (damn Yankees). Visit George Vanderbilt’s magnificent Biltmore Estate, the Hearst Castle of the east. Enjoy elegant dining and down-home country cooking. South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia is full of Civil War history and Chris’ hometown of Spartanburg is known for its high quality moonshine. If you thought you’ve seen it all, the answer is, you haven’t! Let’s get goin’! Mama’s waitin’!
All Around California by Rail 6 Days • October 2014 We’re returning back to our original California rail adventure with two nights in San Diego. Ride Amtrak’s San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner (twice), Capitol Corridor and experience the luxury of a by-gone era on board a private car from Los Angeles to San Jose, coupled to the Coast Starlight, with all meals served on board. Explore Los Angeles’ Union Station on a docent-guided tour, enjoy lunch at Traxx Restaurant and the Pacific Dining Car in LA, tour San Diego with your choice of attractions in Balboa Park, and spend a wonderful evening in San Jose at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel with Sunday Brunch at the Hayes Mansion. Overnight in Bakersfield, Los Angeles and San Jose with two nights in San Diego.
Olympic National Park October 2014 A fall getaway to the Olympic Peninsula takes you into one of the grandest rainforests in the Pacific Northwest. This four-day tour includes two nights at the Lake Quinault Lodge, situated on the lake, surrounded by mossy cedars. Enjoy walking through the dense trees and ferns in the Hoh Rainforest, visiting Kalaloch Beach and other sites of beauty throughout the park. Air to/from Seattle. Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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15 Days June 12-26
Scandinavia and St. Petersburg aboard Holland America’s ms Eurodam
Explore the capital cities of the Baltic Sea with a visit to historic St. Petersburg, Russia. (Remember how you said you were going to Russia someday?) 12 days of cruising aboard Holland America’s ms Eurodam, 2 nights pre-cruise stay in Copenhagen with city tour and time to explore. Overnight stays on board ship in St. Petersburg & Stockholm: two days to uncover the treasurers of each. Explore the cities of Tallinn, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Berlin and Hamburg. Deluxe accommodations on board ship with entertainment and all meals included. Optional shore excursions (extra cost) arranged for you by Sports Leisure Staff. Roundtrip airfare to/from Copenhagen, door-to-door airport service, Gold Passport Points dependent on cabin pricing. Prices based on cabin category, starting at $5550 p.p./dbl.occ. (inside), $6030 p.p./dbl.occ. (outside). Single prices upon request. This vacation requires a valid passport! Prices also based on estimated airfare of $1585 p.p. The cost of tour may adjust after airfare, fuel surcharges and exchange rates are confirmed. 6 Days
June 17-22
U.S. 50 and 93 – America’s Loneliest Highways
Journey across Nevada by train; then by coach along two very quiet and scenic legendary highways. Ride through the Sierra from Sacramento to Winnemucca. Authentic Basque-style lunch in Elko; see the original airfield of the Enola Gay, the WWII atomic bomber, in Wendover. Visit McGill Drugs, frozen in time from 40 years ago, ride the Ghost Train of Old Ely, visit a bordello and meet the girls… optional, of course. Tour Eureka & Austin, tiny historical outposts on the highway. Brunch at the Forest Buffet at Harrah’s Tahoe, 14 included meals. Door-to-door service, 1550/1750 Gold Passport Points. Tour Directors: Mark and Ryan Quinn, $1505 p.p./dbl. occ., $1750 single, $20 EPD*
Intimate coves and harbors shelter boats of all shapes and sizes along the coasts of Maine & The Maritimes like here in Peggy’s Cove
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Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
9 Days
June 18-26
The Black Hills, Cody and Yellowstone National Park
Featuring Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park, along with Yellowstone, this really is one of our premier National Park tours. Experience the beauty of South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana. Three western treasures, a combination of mountains, plains, unique cultures and history. Two days of sightseeing in the Black Hills including both day and night visits to the patriotic Mt. Rushmore; ride a jeep through Custer State Park, where the deer, antelope, bison and other wildlife play. Stand on top of the fingertip of Crazy Horse Memorial (a memorable opportunity, to be taken to the top of Crazy Horse, no other company offers this exclusive). From the base of Devils Tower, behold the magnificence of this awesome monolith; visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. Take a boat ride through the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, 2 days of sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park featuring time at Old Faithful Geyser, Hayden Valley, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Mammoth Hot Springs. 14 meals: 2 breakfasts, 5 full breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner; roundtrip airfare to Rapid City/from Billings, door-to-door airport service, 4150/4750 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $4130 p.p./dbl. occ., $4740 single, $50 EPD* 5 Days
July 3-7
Crater Lake and the Umpqua National Scenic Byway
Featuring natural scenic wonder and your opportunity to see a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Guided rim tour of Crater Lake National Park with lunch at Crater Lake Lodge. Travel the Umpqua Scenic Byway; up close animal encounters at Wildlife Safari; Hellgate Jet Boat tour. Optional (extra cost) show at Ashland’s Oregon Shakespeare Festival. 9 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 3 lunches, 2 dinners. Travel in comfort on SuperCoach III, door-to-door service, 1500/1650 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, $1490 p.p./dbl.occ., $1645 single 11 Days July 11-21
Maine and The Maritimes
A magnificent, small group journey to some of North America’s most incredible scenic places in three Canadian provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia). Explore the history of Maine and Atlantic Canada with tours of Bar Harbor, Saint John, Prince Edward Island, and Halifax. Discover the natural beauty of Acadia National Park, Fundy National Park, Reversing Falls, the Cabot Trail, and the Cape Breton Highlands. Enjoy tea at Campobello, summer home of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt. Learn about Alexander Graham Bell at his historic site in the Cape Breton Highlands. Two-night stays in Bar Harbor, Baddeck, Charlottetown, and Halifax, overnights in Manchester and Saint John. 17 meals: 3 breakfasts, 7 full breakfasts, 1 box lunch, 1 lunch, 5 dinners; roundtrip airfare to Manchester, NH/from Halifax, NS; door-to-door airport service, 5850/6850 Gold Passport Points. Not cheap, but worth every penny. $5850 p.p./dbl.occ., $6850 single This vacation requires a valid passport! $100 EPD*
5 Days
July 14-18
Oregon – Covered Bridges and The Coast
Dine on a covered bridge, ride a dune buggy, enjoy the views from your oceanfront room on the coast. Two nights Cottage Grove at the Village Green Resort – 25 miles south of Eugene, on 14 acres of themed gardens; 2 nights Elizabeth Street Inn, Newport. Dine on a covered bridge – lunch on a landmark; ride a carousel in Salem and visit a Carousel Museum in Albany. Lots of “foodie fun” – Chocolate Decadence, a pizza party, dinner in the Oregon Aquarium, a cooking demo that becomes lunch in Lincoln City. Ride a dune buggy on the coast – choice of scenic or adventurous route; explore old towns in Florence & Newport; cocktail cruise on Newport Harbor. New! Visit Toledo, an artistcommunity just inland from Newport, railroad museum, farmer’s market, BBQ lunch. 11 meals, airfare, door-to-door airport service, 1700/1900 Gold Passport Points. Tour Directors: Mark and Chris,$1685 p.p./dbl.occ., $1895 single 6 Days
July 17-22
Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks
This has become one of Scott’s trademark tours. Travel famous Going-To-The-Sun Road through Glacier National Park, then cross into Canada to Waterton Lakes International Peace Park. This tour always sells out early because it only accommodates 25, and already, space is limited. Three scenic lake cruises, overnight at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Canada, 2 nights at St. Mary’s Bear Lodge at Glacier Park, 2 nights at Grouse Mountain Lodge near Kalispell. 8 meals: 3 full breakfasts, 4 lunches,1 dinner; airfare, door-to-door airport service, 3250/3800 Gold Passport Points. This vacation requires a valid passport! $3205 p.p./dbl.occ., $3755 single 11 Days July 25 – Aug. 4
Bonnie Scotland
Join us on a comprehensive tour around Scotland with a spotlight on off-the-beaten-path destinations from the wee isles of Orkney, Iona and Skye to the vast, barren Highlands. The trip ends with two nights in the Capital City for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This small-group tour is limited to only 25 participants. Presently only 2 single-occupancy reservations remain, though doubles can get on the waiting list! 6000/6550 Gold Passport Points. $5990 p.p./dbl.occ., $6550 single. Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead.
Explore the beautiful Oregon Coast by dune buggie
6 Days
July 29 – Aug. 3
Planes, Trains and Fireworks!
Explore the best of the Pacific Northwest by rail from Portland to Vancouver, BC. Travel twice on Amtrak’s Cascade between Portland and Tacoma and Everett and Vancouver, BC. Wind through beautiful mountains between Whistler and Vancouver on board the Whistler Mountaineer. Choose your option in Tacoma: Museum of Glass or the new LeMay Auto Museum. Discover the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, explore Stanley Park with a tour and lunch at the Fish House. Overnight in Tacoma, 2 nights each in Everett and Vancouver, BC. 8 meals: 2 full breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner; Roundtrip airfare to Portland, return Seattle; Door-to-door airport service. 2750/3050 Gold Passport Points. This vacation requires a valid passport! Tour Director: Chris Galloway, $2735 p.p./dbl.occ., $3045 single, $25 EPD* 7 Days
Aug. 9-15
Off the Beaten Track in Oregon and Idaho
Lifeseeing in Baker City, Joseph, McCall and Hells Canyon. Stay 2 nights at the historic Geiser Grand Hotel, tour a bronze foundry, experience a gondola ride and a jet boat on the Snake River, enjoy a cruise on Payette Lake. 14 meals: 6 full breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners; roundtrip airfare to/from Boise; door-to-door airport service, 2500/2800 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, $2490 p.p./dbl.occ., $2790 single, $25 EPD* 7 Days
Sept. 8-14
The International Selkirk Loop
The Selkirk Loop is a 280-mile international scenic drive encircling the Selkirk Mountains of eastern Washington, northern Idaho and southeastern British Columbia. The entire loop nearly follows alongside a river or lakeshore, with vast views of the valleys and mountains one minute, intimate water scenes or dense forest the next. Many of the communities featured on this very unique tour have populations of fewer than 500 inhabitants. Multiple-night stays in waterview rooms: 2 nights in Bonners Ferry, ID and three nights in Nelson, BC. Walk through history aboard the SS Moyie, a restored sternwheeler nestled along the banks of Kootenay Lake. Learn about the culture of the Doukhobors at Castlegar; visit the small communities of Crawford Bay, Rossland and Ymir with their fascinating places in Selkirk history. Enjoy a night of contemporary luxury at the Davenport Towers, and the elegant Sunday Brunch at the Davenport Hotel. Door-to-door airport service; roundtrip airfare to/from Spokane, WA; 12 meals: 5 full breakfasts, 1 brunch, 6 lunches; 2950/3400 Gold Passport Points. This vacation requires a valid passport! Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $2950 p.p./dbl. occ., $3390 single, $25 EPD*
For the complete day-by-day itinerary of any extended tour, go to www.sportsleisure.com. Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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6 Days
Sept. 10-15 Ferries and Towns of Puget Sound
5 different rides on Washington’s Marine Highway, the ferry system of Puget Sound, featuring a trip through (and visit to) the San Juan Islands. Visit the villages and towns of Bainbridge, Poulsbo, Port Townsend, Coupeville, Friday Harbor, and Langley as you make your way around the sound. Guided sightseeing on Whidbey Island, including the Naval Air Station. Guided tour of San Juan Island with lunch at Roche Harbor. 11 meals: 2 full breakfasts, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners; roundtrip airfare; seaplane flight to or from Seattle/Rosario; door-to-door airport service, 3000/3250 Gold Passport Points. $2990 p.p./dbl.occ., $3240 single 8 Days
Sept. 19-26 Rails Around Colorado
Three scenic trains rides: The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad and the Durango & Silverton Railroad. Great Sand Dunes National Park, curator reception at the Durango Train Museum, 2 nights at the luxurious Zermatt Resort, lunch at the Robert Redford’s Sundance Resort. 14 meals: 7 full breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner; roundtrip airfare to Albuquerque, from Salt Lake City; door-to-door airport service; 3400/3800 Gold Passport Points. $3400 p.p./dbl.occ., $3800 single 4 Days
Sept. 24-27 Riding on the City of New Orleans
Enjoy private train accommodations from The Crescent City to Chicago. The Pullman Car Company pioneered luxury rail travel by creating the first sleeping cars which could truly be called “firstclass.” Today, Pullman Rail Journeys revives the iconic spirit of American rail travel with its carefully restored Pullman Rail Cars. In an effort to be as historically accurate as possible, each classic Pullman Car has undergone a painstakingly detailed restoration and upholds the Pullman tradition of style, ambience and craftsmanship. With your private cars attached to Amtrak’s City of New Orleans, you’ll travel overnight in comfort. Accommodations on the train are in cars generally set for double occupancy with upper and lower berths. All cars operated by the Pullman Company are unique and exact cabin assignments and layouts will not be available until two weeks prior to departure. All cars have windows, electrical outlets, individual lighting controls and Wi-Fi is available depending on the location of the train. Overnight rail accommodations on board private restored Pullman Cars from New Orleans to Chicago. Overnight in the French Quarter of New Orleans and one night in Chicago. City Tours of New Orleans & Chicago. Discover the historic community/company town of Pullman, IL. 6 meals: 3 full breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners; roundtrip airfare to New Orleans, from Chicago; door-to-door airport service; 2600/3100 Gold Passport Points. $2579 p.p./dbl.occ., $3070 single, $25 EPD*
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Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
7 Days
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4
La Belle Québec
Québec’s geography, history and its culture have shaped its bold and unique identity. The pedestrian village of Mont-Tremblant, nestled in the middle of the Laurentian Mountains, is the perfect combination of European ambiance and Québécois hospitality. The beauty continues as you spend two nights in the Walled City of Québec City. Then it’s on to Tadoussac for whale watching and a night in the Charlevoix Region. Spend the final night in vibrant Montréal, a world-class city unlike any other in North America. Explore both cosmopolitan and old Montréal by guided tour; spend 2 nights within the walls of Old Québec City; minke whale watching and fjord cruise. Six nights deluxe accommodations; lunch at the Château Frontenac, dinner at the Canadian Sugar Shack; 12 meals: 6 full breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners. Door-todoor airport service; roundtrip airfare, Sacramento/Montréal; services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director and a local bilingual Tour Guide; 3800/4300 Gold Passport Points. This vacation requires a valid passport! $3785 p.p./dbl.occ., $4290 single, $50 EPD* 9 Days
Oct. 3-11
Steamboatin’ on the Upper Mississippi
It’s a new day for the majestic American Queen as evidenced by all the inclusions. Non-alcoholic beverages are available and complimentary all day long. Beer and wine is included with dinner, and multiple dining choices are now offered from full-service to buffet. Onboard, an all-American staff assures no language barriers. Portside, “steamcoaches” follow the Queen down the river to facilitate your complimentary shore excursions. Upgraded, smallgroup excursions are available at most ports for an enhanced experience. (Optional, add’l cost.) Your onboard Riverlorian will have all the details during daily talks introducing each port of call. 7-night cruise aboard the American Queen with ports of call in Red Wing, La Crosse, Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington and Hannibal. All basic shore excursions included; showboat-style entertainment and dancing nightly; daily talks by Riverlorian. Pre-cruise overnight in St. Paul; 21 meals: 8 full breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners (beer and wine included with onboard dinners; complimentary bottled water, sodas and special coffees). Door-to-door airport service, roundtrip airfare to Minneapolis/from St. Louis, Gold Passport Points based on cabin category. Prices based on cabin category, starting at $4230 p.p./dbl.occ. (inside), $4980 p.p./dbl.occ. (outside). Single prices upon request. Recommended onboard gratuity is $16.50 p.p./day. $50 EPD*
office hours:
8:00am – 4:30pm MON. thru FRI. Closed weekends & major holidays CLOSED TUES. 12:00pm – 1:15pm
9 Days
Oct. 28 – Nov. 5
Mexico’s Copper Canyon
Ride the legendary railroad into one of North America’s most scenic canyons. Fly to El Paso,overnight, then cross into Mexico at Juarez. Stay In Creel, meet the Mennonites, see sand dunes and pecan orchards. Two nights El Fuerte, with two day rides on the train. Visit the marketplaces, see the waterfalls, float on the El Fuerte River if you wish. Enjoy a colorful Ballet Folklorico, meet the Tarahumara Indians, tour the home of Pancho Villa. Return via Chihuahua and El Paso. includees 21 meals, all tours and attractions, airfare, home pick-up, 3100/3400 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $3100 p.p./dbl.occ., $3355 single, $50 EPD* 14 Days Nov. 8-21
The Magic of Israel and Jordan
Discover a land of contrasts: modern cities, sunny beaches, colorful deserts and lush oases. Home to the earliest settlements of human history. A land of Biblical tales, Islamic conquests, remarkable architecture and archaeological treasures. Spend 4 nights in the 6,000 year-old city of Jerusalem, 2 nights in the modern Mediterranean city of Tel Aviv, 3 nights in the Galilee, 2 nights on the shores of the Dead Sea, and 1 night in Aqaba. Descend to the lowest point on earth; float in the mineral rich, buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. Ascend by cable car to walk the ruins of Masada, King Herod’s fortress palace. Wander the artist’s colony town of Safed (Tsfat), named by CNN as one of the “Ten Most Beautiful Cities of the World.” Explore the Golan Heights by jeep, Israel’s most beautiful region, discover the pink sandstone city of Petra, one of the new Wonders of the World; stay in 4 and 5-star modern hotels with daily full breakfast and dinner. Roundtrip airfare from San Francisco to Tel Aviv, door-to-door service, airport transfers, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach, services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director and local, Englishspeaking tour guides throughout the tour, 6150/7300 Gold Passport Points. This vacation requires a valid passport! Tour Director: Merrill Mixer, $6150 p.p./dbl.occ., $7290 single, prices based on estimated airfare of $1400 p.p. The cost of tour may adjust after airfare, fuel surcharges and exchange rates are confirmed. $100 EPD*
Travel by train in the daylight hours exploring Mexico’s stunning Copper Canyon
Things to Know Before You Go: Airfare: On all trips where air travel is indicated, airfares are included in the listed prices. Home Pick-up: Our exclusive home pick-up is included on all trips listed here of three days or longer. Carey Limousines and their partners provide transportation to/from the airport, Sacramento’s Amtrak station or the Sports Leisure Vacations office. Meals: Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for a break down of the included breakfasts, brunches, lunches and dinners. *Early Registration/Payment Discounts: Trips with a note like this after the price “$40 EPD*,” indicates there is a discount available for Early Registration and Payment. Please refer to the back page of the newsletter for more details on Early Registration/Payment Discounts. The Fine Print: Our Special Tour & Vacation Notes brochure contains the answers to many often-asked questions. A copy is sent with your reservations. Sports Leisure online: You are invited to visit our website at www.sportsleisure.com for more information on any tour listed here, or call our office and we will be happy to send you a detailed itinerary.
A Teaser for sportsleisure.com You may have noticed we’ve been putting quite a bit of effort into making sportsleisure.com THE place to go for up-to-date news on what we’re up to, where we’re going, and where we’d like to take you next. This isn’t an accident, we assure you. We’ve known for quite some time the process of booking trips with us over the phone or through email can often seem a bit cumbersome, particularly for those of you who like to stay current with technology. (For those of you who don’t, or still appreciate the personal touch of speaking to us one-on-one, don’t worry: we won’t be pulling the rug out SLV’s Director of All Things from under you – you’ll always reach a Tech, Ryan Quinn friendly voice if you call during office hours or find a comfy chair if you drop by. The Sports Leisure you know and love is here to stay!) For your self-described “techies” out there, we’re working on further improvements to the website to give it a little more pizzazz and functionality. Over the next year, we’ll be rolling out exciting new features to the site like online bookings and payment processing - just to name a few! So keep your eyes on sportsleisure.com, and if you haven’t already, make sure you sign up for updates at blog.sportsleisure.com. Questions? Shoot them off to ryan@sportsleisure.com! Sports Leisure Vacations / January–February 2014
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PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Sacramento, CA PERMIT NO. 517
LLC
9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95827 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
EARLY PAYMENT Di$count Coupon Early Registration/Payment Di$counts listed here expire on Tuesday, February 4; or may be withdrawn when 50% of the available space has been reserved. To receive the discount, you must pay in full within ten days of registration. If you accept this option, the monies paid, including the cost of Cancellation Protection, are returned to you in full if you cancel more than 60 days prior to departure for US and Canadian tours or 75 days prior for International tours, regardless of the reason for cancellation. Within the time limits noted above, restrictions on refunds apply. See the Special Vacation Notes & Information brochure for complete details. June – The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe – $ave $10 June – The Black Hills, Cody, & Yellowstone – $ave $50
VALUABLE Coupon
$ave $10–$40 per person on Cancellation Protection Valid only when used with the adjacent coupon on the tours listed. Your savings depend on the price of your tour. $ave $10 on tours priced from $451-$800, $ave $20 on tours priced from $801-$2250, $ave $30 on tours priced from $2251-$3500, $ave $40 on tours priced at $3501 or more. The regular cost of this protection is $15-$295, depending on the tour price. To receive the above discounts, you must pay in full within ten days of registration and purchase the protection at the time you pay for your tour. Within 60/75 days of departure (see adjoining coupon), coverage is limited to verified medical emergencies. Please refer to the Special Vacation Notes & Information brochure for details, or call our office.
TOUR UPDATE…
July – Maine & The Maritimes – $ave $100
A brief list of tours which are sold out, or have only a limited amount of space (10 or fewer seats, number in parenthesis) remaining. Day trips are not listed.
July – Planes, Trains & Fireworks – $ave $25
Sold-Out Tours (waiting list available)
June – U.S. 50 & 93-America’s Loneliest Highways – $ave $20
Aug. – The Sound of Music in the Cascades – $ave $35 Aug. – Horsing Around in Mendocino – $ave $25 Aug. – Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters – $ave $30 Aug. – Off the Beaten Track in Oregon & Idaho – $ave $25 Sept. – The International Selkirk Loop – $ave $25 Sept. – La Belle Quebec – $ave $50 Sept. – Riding on the City of New Orleans – $ave $25 Sept. – Italy, That’s Amore! – $ave $150 Oct. – A Girl’s Getaway: A Pacific Coastal Cruise – $ave $25 Oct. – Carlsbad & The Albuquerque Balloon Festival – $ave $75 Oct. – Mexico’s Copper Canyon– $ave $50 Oct. – Steamboatin’ on the Upper Mississippi – $ave $50 Oct. – The Magic of Israel & Jordan – $ave $100 Nov. – Vietnam, Cambodia & Riches of the Mekong – $ave $200
Winter in Yellowstone Winter at the Ahwahnee Take the Snow Train to Reno (Feb. 11 & Mar. 13) The Colorful Carolina Coast Palm Springs Getaway A Big Mystery Tour 13 Countries Without a Passport Mystery Washington DC & Williamsburg San Antonio: Deep in the Heart Bonnie Scotland
Limited Space (10 or fewer seats) Death Valley & Palm Springs (10) NOLA & Natchez (7) Spring Training in Arizona (2) The Real Hawaii: Maui & Molokai (4) Easter Holiday in Spain (7) NYC: Brooklyn, Broadway & Beyond (8) Off on Another Mission (or two)! (10) Ferries, Islands & Towns of Cape Cod (2) Glacier & Waterton National Parks (6)