Slv newsletter mayjune2015 web

9,753 Active Members • 47,413 Members Since 1979

Spring Fling at KVIE Over 300 Travel Club Members and their guests attended our Spring Fling Holiday Preview Day on Saturday, April 18th at the KVIE Studios. In addition to a 90-minute program highlighting about two dozen new holiday tours and selected fall vacations; guests were treated to Boudin’s Clam Chowder, Peking Restaurant’s Spring Rolls and Key Lime Pie from the Key West Pie Co. (which was shipped in dry ice across the country to the event).

The presentation included some cute video presentations from Clayton and Kevin, then introduced new and favorite holiday destinations. New tours for this year include A Chicago Sinatra Christmas, and Sinatra’s Palm Springs, both giving you the opportunity to celebrate Ol’ Blue Eyes’ 100th birthday this December. Just before Thanksgiving, you can celebrate a

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Just One Man’s Opinion............................2 Clayton Place............................................3 The Customers Always Write....................4 The Human Side.......................................5 Casino Trips and Baseball........................6 Day Trips................................................7-9 The Barber Pole......................................10 New Vacations & Getaways...............11-19 Teasers....................................................10 Tour Calendar.....................................21-23 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

May/June | VOL. 36 | NO. 5

recreation of the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims in Plymouth, MA. These and many more can be found inside.

One tour is already sold out, our annual Christmas Mystery Tour. We have still listed it, and you can call our office and ask to be placed on the waitlist if you would like to join us. There are bound to be some openings between now and the departure date of December 2nd.

Special thanks to our partners at KVIE, who shared their community room and other facilities. We truly appreciate their assistance.

2015

cruise and vacation facts, with less fluff. Still fun, but (more) information packed.

HHHHHHHH

Save the date… our annual Tour Preview Day, when our 2016 Catalog will be revealed, is slated for Saturday, October 3rd, at the Red Lion Inn (formerly the Radisson Hotel/ Woodlake Inn). We will accept reservations for the fall show beginning July 13th.

Admission for the Fall Show is $10, with all proceeds donated to charity.

Based on comments from last year’s attendees, there will be more breakout sessions and a heavier emphasis on tour,

General Manager Kevin Murphy participated in the Tourism Cares for America Service Day in Leesburg, Virginia. The project supported Journey Through Hallowed Ground, an organization tasked with planting over 600,000 trees – each representing a soldier who died during the Civil War. Each tree will have an electronic tag telling the story of a soldier. The research is being conducted by junior high and high schools all over America. As of this year, the first 5,000 trees have been planted.

Jessie Tucker and Bob Veliky sort part of the small mountain of school supplies donated by Spring Fling attendees. Sports Leisure Travelers responded to our request to help local foster children in a big way, with the estimated of value of the two-carloads of suppliers at over $2,000. You made a lot of kids’ lives just a little better. Gifts were collected

by Stanford Youth Solutions.

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 by Mark Hoffmann What Makes Sports Leisure’s Tours Different?

this way of thinking isn’t so bad. Why not travel throughout your life instead of waiting until retirement? Who says you need a big bank account before you take your first trip?

Travel, with the advent of reasonably priced airfares, has come within the reach of a greater percentage of the population, and they are “positioning” travel differently in their lives than previous generations. I personally love this approach, because I’ve always felt, deep in my heart, as humans our best chance for sharing the planet comes from getting to know each other and how we all live. Only then will there be an understanding and respect for everyone and their cultures, for the things that make each of us unique creatures/characters.

But our new traveler wasn’t finished, because she also wanted a little direction…

SUCCESS STORIES—A SpECIAl AdvERTISIng SECTIOn

At the recent Spring/Holiday Preview Day at the KVIE Studios, one of our newest travelers asked a question.

“What makes your trips different from all the others I see advertised? Some of those companies have been around for many years.”

I thought for a minute. I could see from the look in her eyes, I needed the right answer here. “Each one of our trips is unique,” I told her. “This year’s Key West tour will be just a VacationS bit different than lastSportS year’s.LeiSure We’ll listen, read the evaluations, add our own input and tweak the itinerary to try and make the experience just a little bit better. Ours are not ‘cookiecutter’ tours,” I said, “and we’ve been around 106 for a few years ourselves.”

A big smile came over her face, as it was obvious my answer was the one she was hoping for. “I just want to find a company and a group of people to travel with who are friendly and fun to be with, but I want to go places and do things, not just sit and watch.

I’m don’t feel old, I’m just older. Does that make sense?”

Absolutely does. She represents the newest type of traveler. Influenced more than a little by younger people, who have decided en mass, that collecting life experiences by traveling is a far better plan than collecting “stuff.” The Millennials aren’t as interested in accumulating “stuff” now and doing “things” later. They are flipping the order. They have decided life is better lived by seeing the planet along the journey and not waiting until later. They are inclined to take the vacation that offers a travel or life experience, and put off buying the new car, or just using Uber to ride-share and not own an automobile.

It’s a very different, and interesting approach, one which is starting to rub off on their parents and grandparents (in many cases, that would be you), who are deciding 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.

j a n ua r y 2 0 11 s a c m a g . c o m

2

…and How Do You Choose the Right Trip?

That was her second question. “I’m 64 and while I’m not disabled, I do have a bit of a hitch in my giddy-up,” she continued.

“I can walk a few blocks or a short distance without problem, but sometimes I find myself needing to sit down. Will that be an issue? I don’t want to hold other people up.”

Boy, I thought, this lady really knows the right questions to ask. “You will be fine on most of our tours,” I related. “When we have a trip that will have more walking than usual, or goes places with uneven surfaces, nonADA compliant historical sites and things like that, we tell you, right in the copy for the trip.” I then pointed out one such example in our catalog, the Spring New York vacation package. New York really isn’t a place for walkers or folks with serious mobility issues, and there are a few other destinations we offer that are like that. We want you to choose the right vacation.

Of course, we can only inform/warn you about the tours which require a higher level of physical activity. Frequently, we get travelers who ignore the warnings, and take the “Sports Leisure will take care of me” approach. (And while I won’t generally tell someone they cannot take a particular trip,

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

I will strongly suggest on occasion, based on what I know about the itinerary, you might not be making the best choice.)

Ramona suggested after a recent allcoach excursion from Sacramento that some of the people on the trip should have headed that very advice. “I had many who didn’t even get off the bus at some attractions, and that creates its own set of challenges,” Ramona shared with me, and asked me to address the issue on these pages. “I told them there was walking, right in the copy, but yet some complained there was too much walking, even when it was only a block or two.” I promised Ramona I would broach the subject, and so I’m writing about it here.

Our newest traveler and I finished our little talk, as she proclaimed she was going to sign up to go to Kentucky with Clayton for her first big trip. I told her she had chosen exactly what she told me she wanted, a unique tour with many great learning/life experiences. I told her I was looking forward to talking to her after her big adventure and she promised to share her post-trip thoughts with me. I reminded her how important that was to us, that sharing after the trip. That’s what makes the next trip a little different, and perhaps a little better, than the previous one.”

HHHHHHHH

The takeaway from this is simple. Not every trip is for every traveler. As we age and our bodies don’t allow us the level of activity we enjoyed recently, it’s important to plan your travels based on your ability level. This is the reason we offer everything from two week international vacations overseas to day trips to nearby festivals and attractions. There is something in our portfolio for everyone.

Our ability to assist you is limited on the road, and we always suggest that travelers with disabilities bring someone with them to make their travels more comfortable.

If you ever have any questions regarding this topic, I welcome your call.

And so it goes…

Mark Hoffmann, CTP, President

Clayton Place The Sounds of Christmas in early December is built around two very special concert events in two of our country’s most “Christmassy” cities. Begin in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania – officially designated “Christmas City USA” – where you will stay at the luxurious 4-diamond Sands Resort. There you’ll enjoy a concert by Tony Orlando. A consummate showman, Tony’s renditions of holiday classics as well as his memorable hits are sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

While there, tour the beautifully decorated Colonial communities of Bethlehem and nearby Nazareth and visit the Martin Guitar and Crayola Crayon factories. Next, you’re off to our nation’s Capital City, Washington, DC, where you will take your seat at the Kennedy Center for an evening with the National Symphony Pops Orchestra and the Von Trapp Family Singers. Sightseeing will include a nighttime lights tour and visits to our National Christmas Tree, the Smithsonian Institution and Mt. Vernon.

It may be heating up here, but your Sports Leisure staff is already looking ahead to the end of the year and festive vacations guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

Please join us!

“Your Tour Guy,”

Clayton Whitehead, CTP Vice President

Upon leaving Z’s, Clayton weighed just a bit more than when he arrived!

UEBERR Y BL

OTOGRA PH P C SOCIET HI

Brown Chapel AME Church was the starting point of the famous March to Montgomery in March of 1965

The answer is simple – plenty! Rest assured everything presented last month can be found within these pages. You’ll notice most of our new tours have a holiday twist.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s trips were featured. Some are returning favorites like Thanksgiving in New York and the Tournament of Roses Parade. But today I want to make sure you don’t overlook a couple new itineraries we’re super excited about!

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be a Pilgrim and participate in the events that would become our modern-day Thanksgiving celebration? If so, check out A Pilgrim Thanksgiving in Plymouth. You’ll fly to Boston, then drive to Plymouth where you’ll be transported back in time to the 17th Century. Over the next two days, visit Plymouth Rock, climb aboard the Mayflower II, watch the holiday parade, walk into 1620 at The Historic Village and best of all, enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with living history interpreters and visitors from all over the world at Plimoth Plantation, a faithful recreation of the original settlement.

On the drive back to Boston, explore other Thanksgiving traditions as you visit a real cranberry bog, then jump a century ahead at Lexington and Concord where the first shots of the Revolution were fired. This is an all-American Thanksgiving if there ever was one!

Y

Hello Fellow Travelers!

Did you miss Spring Fling on April 18? Don’t feel bad if your answer is “yes” for I missed it, too. I was winging my way to Sweet Home Alabama that day. The tour certainly offered wonderful down-home cookin’ (Z’s AMAZING soul food in Birmingham immediately comes to mind), rich history and beautiful gardens teeming with flowers – everything you would expect from springtime in the South. But it also provided us with experiences of a much more serious nature. As mentioned, we visited Birmingham along with Montgomery, Tuskegee and Selma, places where painful, bloody, even deadly chapters in our nation’s Civil Rights Movement were written 50 years ago. By many measures, African-Americans, or perhaps more accurately stated our fellow Americans, have come a long way.

But certainly issues still persist. Add other minorities and undocumented immigrants to the melting pot, and we’re left with a stew no one quite seems to know how long to simmer, when to serve or where. I am again reminded of travel’s ability to educate and enlighten, to expand our national and world views, and to introduce us to people of different regions and cultures. Whether the experiences are pure pleasure (like having my third helping of catfish at Z’s) or challenge us to our very core (like walking over the crest of the Edmund Pettus Bridge not knowing what would be on the other side), I’m glad we had them. We are more because of them. We would be less if they had not happened.

The question most ask regarding an event like Spring Fling is, “What’s new?”

New BPS member Beverly Williams gives us this month’s winning photo of Blueberry tip-toeing through “Tulip Time Along the Rhine”

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

3

The Customers Always Write Dear Mark, Thank you for your hospitality at yesterday’s spring celebration. I attended the smaller afternoon gathering and enjoyed the opportunity to chat informally with several of your staff. SLV clearly illustrates that a business can do well while also doing good! Sincerely, Jean Wu Mark, Thank you so much for your generous donation to the Belmont Nevada Courthouse.

We had a great time providing the tour to the courthouse and town, and enjoyed meeting all the guests you brought to our area. We hope to see you again on one of your future trips.

Rick & Donna Motis, Friends of the Belmont Courthouse Ed. Note: This was one of the stops on our Nevada Ghost Towns tour, and we will definitely visit Belmont on our return trip next year!

Dear Mark & Clayton, It has been many years since my first trip with Sports Leisure Vacations in 1984 but I never will forget some of the special places we visited and the wonderful time we had with you.

The one I remember most clearly was the “Mystery Trip” to Lake Chelan in Washington when you, Mark, dressed up as Honolulu Helen in a grass skirt and coconuts! We enjoyed a delicious luau and took an excursion to Leavenworth and stayed a few nights at that quaint little Swiss village where the restaurant owner blew his alpenhorn to call folks to dinner.

Of course I’ll never forget the trip when I broke my leg and the bus driver arranged the back seat so that I could elevate my leg. I believe it was the Expo in 1986 with a cruise to Alaska.

I appreciate having such great stories to tell others, we really had some fun. I just want to say “Thanks for the memories”. Your Friend, Millie Yancey

4

Ed. Note: I love notes like this one. Millie, it’s so nice to hear from you. Millie and her traveling companion, the late Tommy Mahan, were two of our first “frequent travelers.”

Creating memories is what life is all about.

Thank you for your note and for sharing a few blasts from the past. Hope things are well up in Newcastle.

Mark, Pismo Beach was Stan’s and my favorite place – we even had stayed at the Sea Crest long ago. The trip back there brought back a lot of happy memories! Scott made it very enjoyable – and of course Greg’s driving techniques & safety made it great! See ya, Diana Gordon

The Last Limerick There was an old woman named Eva. She often got traveling ‘feva’.

She walked very slow, never ever fast.

The fact is: she always came in last.

So, SLV, its time for her to leave “ya”.

Mark, I saw these articles in my American Cowboy Magazine and I know you are always looking for new places to travel.

Elaine Lederer, a fellow traveler Ed. Note: Wow, an entire envelope full of destination ideas. Thank you so much. We are always looking for new places to go.

Please keep sending those articles and on line links, they are all appreciated.

Many thanks for wonderful travel memories. Great destinations, knowledgeable and caring tour guides and congenial travel companions. Best wishes for your future, love, Eva T. Ed. Note: One of our dearest traveling companions, Eva Trebilcock, has sent in her “retirement” letter, in a format we all love her for, a limerick. There comes a time, sadly, when the body just doesn’t want to go any further on the road. That’s what all those memories are saved up for.

Eva, you are one of the most wonderful people to have ever boarded a Sports Leisure bus. I am certain I speak for everyone here when I say we will miss you. I hope you will come and say hi at a Preview Day, or just stop by the office when you are out and about with someone. You may not be an active traveler any longer, but you will always be our friend.

Dear Chris, Thank you so much for sizing up our predicament so fast and changing us to a ground floor room on the Yosemite trip! We are also writing Greg to thank him for his help as well. Til we meet again, Greg and Sandra Sanchez

Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sportsleisure

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

Dear Sports Leisure Vacations, Thank you so much for the beautiful bouquet. It is really lovely. My time here is quite painful and kind of boring. But, at least, I can now sit. Also, I can write passably. I was really looking forward to the Missions trip and the Seattle trip but can, at least, get my money back. I may have to take most of my trips watching TV for a while. I wish you all great luck in the future and hope I can go on a few more short trips later. Sincerely, Loraine Messecar Ed. Note: You are most welcome Lorriane.

We miss you. Get healed and come see us.

Promise?

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: Sports Leisure Vacations Attn: Mark/Clayton 9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95827 Or e-mail Mark or Clayton at: markslt@aol.com clayton.whitehead@sportsleisure.com

The Human Side Learn, Laugh, Reflect Spanish, Is “Computer” Feminine Or Masculine?

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

“House” for instance, is feminine: “la casa.”

“Pencil,” however, is masculine: “el lapiz.”

A student asked, “What gender is ‘computer’?”

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether “computer” should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.

The men’s group decided that “computer” should definitely be of the feminine gender (“la computadora”), because: • No one but their creator understands their internal logic • The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else; • Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and…

• As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.

(THIS GETS BETTER!) • The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine (“el computador”), because: • In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on; • They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves; • They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and • As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have gotten a better model.

The women won.

States Trivia – Part I (What States Are Famous For) ALABAMA: Was the first state to have 9-1-1, started 1968.

ALASKA: One out of every 64 people has a pilot’s license.

ARIZONA: Is the only state in the continental U. S. that does not follow Daylight Savings Time.

ARKANSAS: Has the only active diamond mine in the U.S. COLORADO: In 1976 it became the only state to turn down the Olympics.

CONNECTICUT: The Frisbee was invented at Yale University.

FLORIDA: At 874.3 square miles, Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. GEORGIA: It was here, in 1886, that pharmacist John Pemberton made the first vat of Coca-Cola.

HAWAII: Hawaiians live, on average, five years longer than residents of any other state.

IDAHO: TV was invented in Rigby, Idaho, in 1922.

INDIANA: Home to Santa Claus, Indiana, which gets a half million letters for Santa every year by mail and internet.

IOWA: Winnebago R.V.s get their name from Winnebago County. Also, it is the only state name that begins with 2 vowels.

KANSAS: Liberal, Kansas has an exact replica of the house in “The Wizard of Oz.” KENTUCKY: Has more than $6 billion in gold underneath Fort Knox.

LOUISIANA: Has parishes instead of counties because they were originally Spanish church units.

MAINE: It is so large that it covers as many square miles as the other five New England states combined.

MARYLAND: The Ouija board was created in Baltimore in 1892.

MASSACHUSETTS: The Fig Newton is named after Newton, Massachusetts.

MINNESOTA: Bloomington’s Mall of America is so big, that if you spent 10 minutes in each store, you’d be there almost four days.

NORTH DAKOTA: Rigby, North Dakota, is the exact geographic center of North America

Drop That Mouse

Scare In the Air

Baltimore has had its share of problems lately and this week they added another.

An employee of the Department of Public Works was fired when it was discovered that in two weeks on the job, the man watched 39 hours of porn on his office computer.

One day he spent 7 hours of his 8-hour shift watching porn. This man has a problem, but it should be pointed out that he never missed a day of work in his two weeks on the job!

A recent Ryanair flight from Spain to London took off without any toilet paper in the bathrooms. They simply forgot to restock and discovered mid-flight that there was no TP. Passengers were encouraged to save their napkins for repurposing or simply to “hold it.”

Passengers were asked upon arrival if they would ever fly Ryanair and one responded, “Depends.”

We appraise and/or buy old coins Just about everyone has a jar of old coins sitting collections, big and small, into cash. Mark was a coin and is interested in expanding his collection. Call for your coins appraised and/or purchased. Find out what 916-361-2051 and ask for Bob or Mark.

around. Turn those coin dealer in his previous life an appointment to have your treasures are worth!

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

5

Casino Trips and Baseball The 2015 Ballpark Express For over 35 years, the BEST way to get to the major league 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 most A’s games and your choice of Field Level or View Level (3rd Deck) seating for Giants games. Please request your seating area at the time of your reservation.

World Champion San Francisco Giants

Oakland Athletics

Wed., July 8

Giants vs. Mets

12:45pm $134/$118

Sat., Jun. 27

A’s vs. Royals

1:05pm

$109

Sat., July 25

Giants vs. Athletics

1:05pm

$155/$139

A’s vs. Mariners

6:05pm

$109

Sun., July 26

Giants vs. Athletics

1:05pm

$155/$139

Fri., July 3 (Fireworks Night)

Wed., Aug. 12

Giants vs. Astros

12:45pm $131/$119*

Wed., Aug. 19

A’s vs. Dodgers

12:35pm $109

Sat., Aug. 15

Giants vs. Nationals

7:05pm

$155/$139

Sat., Sept. 26

A’s vs. Giants

1:05pm

$120

Sun., Aug. 30

Giants vs. Cardinals

1:05pm

$159/$119

Sun., Sept. 27

A’s vs. Giants

1:05pm

$118*

Sun., Sept. 20

Giants vs. D-Backs

1:05pm

$115/$103

Thurs., Oct. 1

Giants vs. Dodgers

12:45pm $134/$118

*Plaza Level Seating (2nd Deck) for this game.

*Includes ferry service from Vallejo to AT&T Park / Field Level Sold Out

Sat., Sept. 26

A’s vs. Giants

1:05pm

$120

Sun., Sept. 27

A’s vs. Giants

1:05pm

$118*

*Plaza Level Seating (2nd Deck) for this game.

SAVE THE DATE Sports Leisure’s Annual Tour Preview Day is going to be a little later this year! So mark your calendars now for Saturday, October 3. We’ll be premiering our 2016 tour catalog, chock full of exciting destinations offered next year. Please note: after a long absence, we’ll be returning to the Red Lion Hotel (formerly the Radisson, formerly the Woodlake Inn) off Highway 160 at Canterbury Road.

More information, including show times, will be announced in the July/August edition of The Traveler! RSVP starting July 13.

The Champagne Express to Tahoe Thurs., June 18, Wed., July 15 or Thurs., August 13 Our popular Champagne Express to Harvey’s at Lake Tahoe continues. Your 6-hour stay includes a $20 slot credit and $7 food credit. You must be a member of Harvey’s Total Rewards Program to receive the bonus! $45

The Travel Guys Radio Show

Travel News, updates on your favorite Sports Leisure destinations, Contests,

Cultural Arts and FUN!

EVERY Sunday 3:00-4:00 PM

6

Tom Romano and Ma

rk Hoffmann

KFBK, AM 1530, FM 93.1

Listen on these dates and discover more about these destinations with in-depth interviews...

Visit our website and sign up to win great “member only” prizes on the air www.travelguysradio.com

May 31 – Glacier & Waterton National Parks June 7 – Exploring Vancouver Island June 21 – Michigan & Mackinac Island, A Great Gatsby Celebration July 12 – Kentucky, Bluegrass & Bourbon

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

Day Trips & Theatre Outings The Book of Mormon Orpheum Theatre, SF Sunday, June 14 Our last departure with very limited space!

From South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone The Book of Mormon, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, is returning to the Orpheum Theater for a limited engagement. The religious satirical musical follows the misadventures of two Mormon missionaries in Uganda. Orchestra seating for the 6:30pm show with an early, no-host dinner stop at Pier 39 prior. Please note: this show contains VERY explicit language with adult themes. $190

The Marriage of Figaro San Francisco Opera House Sunday, June 21 One of Mozart’s most loved operas, The Marriage of Figaro is a tender comedy which tells the story of a countess and her servant who unite forces to teach her husband to change his philandering ways.

Graceful, witty, and warm, it is the ultimate in ensemble opera and delights with its arias and melodious score. Your choice of seating is in the side sections of the Orchestra or in the Dress Circle of the first balcony for the 2pm matinee. Be advised that Dress Circle involves steep stairs without the availability of handrails. A stop is included in Union Square for no-host lunch prior to the 2pm matinee. Orchestra – $242, Dress Circle – $185

the cultural landmarks and secrets of San Francisco’s hippie movement. For two hours, you’re a part of the Beatnik generation in Haight-Ashbury, Chinatown and other iconic neighborhoods of San Francisco. There’s time for an early brunch/lunch on your own in Union Square before the start of the tour.

Due to limited capacity on The Magic Bus, a limited number of seats are available. $135

romantic and touching this award-winning musical classic is as American as apple pie, featuring the wonderful songs “Trouble in River City,” “’Til There Was You” and, of course, the memorable “76 Trombones!”

Lunch is included before the 2pm show at Christopher’s in Sonora. $140

San Francisco Your Way

Tuesday, July 14 In commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of The Panama-Pacific International Expo of 1915, the city of San Francisco is celebrating with a series of special events and exhibits throughout the year. With Craig Smith as our guide, visit the Palace of Fine Arts, which has remained the iconic symbol of the Expo. Recently restored and reopened, a film and exhibits are on display and Craig will also provide tour of the surrounding lagoon and gardens. In the afternoon, visit The California Historical Society to view a collection of artifacts, diorama, and films from the Expo & Fair that showcased San Francisco’s recovery from earthquake and fire. Now a favorite destination for visitors, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Lunch is included at the Presidio Golf Course Clubhouse mid-day. $124

Tuesday, June 23 Explore the “City by the Bay” at your pace and on your terms! Our coach will offer stops at Union Square and Pier 39/Fisherman’s Wharf. Enjoy lunch at your favorite restaurant along the wharf, explore the historic vessels at the Hyde Street Pier, the San Francisco Maritime Museum or maybe get a little shopping done for that late June wedding or graduation. Have it your way! $85

The Music Man Fallon House Theatre, Columbia Saturday, July 11 Follow the antics of the fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band – despite the fact that he doesn’t know a thing about music! Funny, warm,

Centennial Celebration in San Francisco

Ride The Magic Bus Tuesday, June 23 The Magic Bus takes you on a multi-media sightseeing tour of The City. With your hippie hostess guide, travel through time and space back to the Summer of Love, sharing

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 or emailing our office or returning your choice with your payment. Thank you.

Rediscover the magic of the Panama-Pacific Expo at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

7

The Kitchen Kut-Up’s Spreckels Performing Arts Center, Rohnert Park Thursday, July 16 Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Kitchen Kut-Up’s have grown to a roster of 45 active senior adults performing song and dance routines with a live orchestra for their adoring audiences. This year’s theme is “Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance.” An early lunch is served at Olive Garden prior to the 1pm matinee performance with orchestra seating. $127

The de Young Museum “Inside & Out” Tuesday, July 21 Today’s visit to the de Young Museum includes not only the exhibits within, but a tour of the building and architecture “inside & out.” Forced to close in 2000 due to structural damage by the earthquake, the present de Young opened in October 2005. With docent guides, learn about the planning, design, materials, and architecture that make it the sixth-most-visited museum in North America. With its scenic setting, permanent collection, and popular special exhibits, it attracts both locals and visitors to the city. A special exhibit by esteemed British artist J.M.W.Turner is also on display at the de Young. Known for his effects of lighting, the exhibit of more than sixty 19th-Century oil and watercolor paintings can be visited with a surcharge at the door. Following the tour, the afternoon is yours to enjoy the other exhibits on your own or shuttle to the Legion of Honor for its collection. Lunch is at your leisure at either of the museum cafés. $99

Matilda Orpheum Theater, SF Wednesday, July 22 or August 5 or Saturday, July 18 The Tony Award-winning Matilda is the story of an extraordinary little girl who immerses herself into books and dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, colorful costumes, onstage magic and over-the-top comic performances make this a fabulous

8

musical outing for theatergoers of any age.

Our Wednesday trips include a snack box onboard the motorcoach, the show with orchestra seating, and dinner on-your-own after the show on Pier 39 before returning to Sacramento. Saturday trips include lunch on-your-own in Union Square, the show with orchestra seating, and return to Sacramento directly after the performance. Wednesday – $160, Saturday – $180

Gilroy Garlic Festival Friday, July 24 Many have asked for a daytrip to Gilroy for its annual Garlic Festival. Here’s your chance to try everything under the sun made with garlic, maybe even ice cream! Arrive when the gates open at 10am (7am departure from Sacramento) to beat the summer heat.

Stop at Casa de Fruta for fresh fruits and vegetables on your way home, arriving back between 4pm and 5pm. $95

Alcatraz: “The Rock” Tuesday, July 28 The sights and sounds of Alcatraz come alive during your visit to “The Rock.” Cross over the Golden Gate Bridge and travel to Pier 39 for lunch at one of the area’s oldest restaurants, the Fog Harbor Restaurant. Our cruise departs for Alcatraz mid-afternoon with time on the island for exploring on your own with the included audio tour. Return to Sacramento following your visit. $143

Along Tahoe’s South Shore Thursday, July 30 A sellout every summer, our annual trip to escape the heat of the valley to enjoy the cooler weather up at “The Lake” is back.

Start with a luncheon cruise on board the paddlewheeler MS Dixie II as she plies the waters of the southern edge of Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay. From the water, we step back in time with a visit to the Baldwin Museum and Pope Mansion at the Tallac Historic Site. See how the “other half” lived at their summer “cabins” on the lake. $151

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

Proud members of the

Beach Blanket Babylon Club Fugazi, San Francisco Sunday, August 9 There’s nothing quite Beach Blanket Babylon. San Francisco’s longest-running staged comedy show poke fun at everyone – politicians, celebrities and other folks in the public eye. The songs are hilarious, the dancing wonderful, and the hats are really, really big! Reserved seats are upstairs (no elevator) in this historic theatre in the center balcony. Enjoy an included lunch at Sports Leisure Favorite Viva Italian Restaurant. $158

The Life of Bees Oakland Museum of California Thursday, August 20 The new exhibition, Bees: Tiny Insect, Big Impact, now on display in the Gallery of California Natural Sciences, takes a look at the wildly diverse and intricate world of one of the most important creatures of the natural environment. An insect much in the news of late! Explore the exhibit as well as the galleries of California Art and History.

Lunch is on your own at the Blue Oaks Café, located at the museum. Stop at the Vacaville Fruit Company on your return to Sacramento. $96

HMS Pinafore or The Lass that Loved a Sailor Bankhead Theatre, Livermore Sunday, August 23 Celebrating its 62nd Anniversary in style, the Lamplighters of San Francisco bring Gilbert & Sullivan’s first blockbuster hit to the stage. Board one of England’s great Navy ships where the beautiful Josephine must choose between marrying Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty – with all of the wealth, prestige and power his title affords – or the “simple sailor, lowly born” who has won her heart. Gilbert devised the plot to make fun of patriotism, social class snobbery and incompetence in high places, and over 130 years later we can still laugh!

Lunch is included at Poppy Ridge en route to the 2pm matinee. $152

SF Rocket Boats or Bay Aquarium An exciting new adventure awaits!

Wednesday, August 26 Experience the San Francisco Bay in an entirely new way! Strap yourself into the Rocketboat, the fastest and most nimble watercraft on the bay. For 30 minutes, you’ll be flying across the Bay and jammin’ to a great rock and roll soundtrack. You may get wet; and this experience is not for everyone as there is a medical disclaimer! Not your style? Then visit the SF Bay Aquarium.

Make your choice at the time of reservation.

Lunch is included for all at the Fog Harbor Restaurant on Pier 39. $138

Roll with the Baker Tuesday, September 1 Boudin’s Museum and Bakery tour invites you to witness “history in the baking.” Stroll through Boudin’s collection of historic and interactive exhibits during a docent-led tour while observing the bakers in action from the museum’s floor-to-ceiling window walls and glass-walled cat-walk. Get your hands in the dough and create your own masterpiece.

After an included lunch at Bistro Boudin, spend some time on Pier 39; shop, browse or spend some time at the Sea Lion Center learning about these boisterous mammals and the challenges facing them. $132

Phantom of the Opera Orpheum Theater, SF Wednesday, September 2, 16 or 23 or Saturday, August 22, 29 or September 5 Based on the novel by Gaston Leroux, this spectacular NEW production by Cameron Macintosh of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical is coming to San Francisco. The much-beloved story of the Phantom’s unrequited love for his protégée Christine is now even more beautiful and dramatic under Mr. Macintosh’s direction; new staging, new costumes, new lighting and, of course, new special effects, even for the legendary chandelier! Our Wednesday trips include a snack box served onboard the motorcoach, the show with orchestra seating, and dinner on-your-own at Pier 39 before returning to Sacramento. Saturday trips include lunch on-your-own in Union Square, the show with orchestra seating, and a return to Sacramento directly after the show. Very limited space on some dates!

Wednesday – $171, Saturday – $185

with one of the docents, to stroll through the ancient sequoias, and dine “al fresco” among the giants with an included boxed picnic lunch. $98

Treasure Island & The Exposition Tuesday, September 15 The Golden Gate International Exposition at Treasure Island (1939-1940) was a celebration of the newly built Golden Gate and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridges.

Created for the site of the World’s Fair, Craig Smith will be our guide as we tour and learn the history of the island and buildings, the transition to naval base after the Fair, and the current activities and proposed use of the property. Enjoy an included three-course lunch at the U.S. Job Corp Culinary Center located on the Island before finishing the day at San Francisco City College to see the famous Diego Rivera Mural created for the Expo, an expansive and moving work by this iconic and renowned Mexican artist. $113

A Day at Safari West

Picnic in the Big Trees Featuring Calaveras State Park Thursday, September 3 A Sports Leisure summertime favorite.

Travel into the cooler temperatures of the mountains on this trip and enjoy the beauty of the majestic big trees of Calaveras State Park. You will have time for a “stump” talk

Friday, September 18 Nestled in the foothills of Sonoma County, lies a unique 400-acre animal preserve for animals from around the world including giraffes, rhinoceros, lemurs, and monkeys.

Safari West has an ongoing mission of wildlife preservation through breeding, education, and public interaction. Your adventure begins with lunch, followed by a 45-minute ride on a guided tram tour. A 45-minute guided walk through the aviaries and small animal compound completes your visit. $168

San Francisco and The Ducks

Learn how to quack like a duck in San Francisco

Thursday, September 24 A new way to see the sights in the City by the Bay! Hop on a “Duck,” a large amphibious vehicle, for a fun ride through the streets of San Francisco and then ride right into the water at China Basin for a view of the Bay Bridge from the waterfront. You get the best of land and bay with this fun tour of our favorite city. Lunch is included prior to the 90 minute ride at the Fog Harbor restaurant on Pier 39. $148 Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

9

The Barber Pole, or Once Over Lightly We use this page to communicate important messages, to update you to changes in company policies or just alert you to things we consider to be of importance.

the season, because the A’s allow us to pay for tickets after the season starts.

Limousine Credit Increased

Recently, on one of our trips, two of our assisted passengers did not make their connecting flight. The reason: The airline’s system for “handing” off the travelers within the airport. That is, taking them to a point, then making them wait for a second staffer to complete the trip. When the second person doesn’t show up in time, a flight can be missed (and was).

Previously, we thought travelers handed off to airport employees would be “bullet proof.” They would never leave passengers in the care of their own system, would they?

They would. In fact, in researching the story for The Travel Guys Radio Show, we found that airlines are regularly fined for exactly this sort of behavior. So what is a traveler who needs assistance to do?

1. Know your departure gate and time. Be prepared to advocate for yourself along the way.

2. Every passenger needing assistance should have a cell phone. It should be charged and turned on in the airport.

3. You always have your Tour Director’s cell phone number on your copy of the timed itinerary. Immediately make him or her aware of your situation if you are delayed “in transit” via phone.

4. Passengers requesting assistance from the airline in an airport have voluntarily separated from the group. If you follow the wisdom here, we will do everything we can to help on our end, but we cannot be responsible for passengers delayed in transit by the airline.

In the situation described, with a lot of detective work and a little luck, we were able to track down our passengers. Clayton and Mark met them at the airport when they arrived home the next night. The story had a happy ending. But then, less than two weeks later, the same thing nearly happened again to another group of passengers. Mark found a gate agent with the willingness to make certain the plane didn’t leave until all of our travelers were on board.

For those who choose not to use our door-to-door service on trips of three days or more, we offer a credit. Effective July 1, that credit will increase to $75 per person.

Special Hotel Rate for Travelers Joining us from Outlying Areas If you live outside Sacramento, we have a great option for you to consider for the night before departure, or the night you return. You can get a great rate at the Best Western Sutter House downtown. You can leave your vehicle there and there is no charge for parking. The room rate (based on availability) is only $89. Carey Transportation will pick you up at the BW and bring you to the airport and return you after your trip.

Easy cheesy. Call our office for details on how you can add this service.

Why did I get a bill for all my Giants Baseball trips in April?

Two reassons. Each year, we order and pay for our Giants tickets in November.

We wrote check this year for over $14,000.

It’s the only way we can get the “best available seats.” The money for the tickets has flowed out of our bank account before we even offer the games for sale to you. This has gone on for the last five years, since the first World Series Championship.

There is another factor. Two years ago, after the second championship, the team had a bad year. Many people, having not paid for their tickets, decide to cancel when we billed them, a month or two before the trip date. That left us holding the bag and a lot of money was lost.

If you wanted to go to a Giants game on your own, and you wanted decent seats, you would have to buy the tickets many months in advance. Since we pay for the tickets before the season starts, it seems fair to us to send the bills out at the beginning of the season. It should be noted that A’s games were not billed at the beginning of

10

Important Information for Those Needing Assistance in Airports

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

Now we know the system is very flawed.

We have filed two formal complaints with the Department of Transportation and have taken some steps to try and get the airline’s attention. While these situations occurred with United, a number of major carriers (including Delta and Southwest), have been fined in recent years for similar issues.

Further updates will follow. This is important!

Full Disclosure: Supercoach and Other Transportaton SuperCoach III is the third customdesigned motorcoach offered to us by our partners at All West Coachlines. Part of the customization includes many features not commonly found on motorcoaches, including 50% more leg room, tray tables and seat back pouches, a refrigerator and microwave to allow us to serve you a broader range of refreshments, and other little special touches. Most coaches do not offer these amenities.

From time to time, we have more than one trip out on the same day. Because there is only one SuperCoach, it can only be on one tour. From time to time, SuperCoach must be kept in the shop for regular maintenance, or has a mechanical problem that can’t be resolved overnight and is not available for a trip. In addition, some of the highways and roads we travel on do not allow 45-foot motorcoaches (the length of Superocach).

On those trips (Bodega Bay, Fort Bragg, Big Sur are a few examples), we must use a 40-foot coach without those amenities you have grown used to.

We offer this notice in the interest of full disclosure. While we attempt to notify you in the itinerary when we know ahead of time that SuperCoach will not be used, we cannot ever guarantee a particular coach will be used on a certain tour.

On some tours, we may use taxis, vans, a mini-coach or other forms of transportation.

In those instances, the seating arrangement may vary from a standard coach and your assigned seats may not be available. If you have any questions about the mode of transportation to be utilized on any trip, inquire at the time of registration and we are happy to fill you in.

New Vacations & Getaways A Mystery Entertainment Overnighter 2 Days • August 1-2 The focal point of this quick overnighter is an evening of outdoor entertainment at a winery under the stars (not in the Napa Valley). We can’t give away the theme of the evening, but it is absolutely adult-themed and features a small town symphony and a headline performer some Sports Leisure Travelers might know. Throw in Sunday Brunch, a casual, fun dinner at the concert, plus lunch and time to browse a quaint downtown we don’t generally visit and you have a great summer getaway.

It’s very casual, from accommodations to entertainment. (Due to uneven terrain, outdoor seating at the concert and nonADA venue(s) in itinerary, we cannot accommodate walkers on this tour. It is also not recommended for those with serious mobility issues.) 600/700 G.P.P. $595 p.p./dbl.occ., $675 single

Santa Cruzin’ and The Follies The Diamond Anniversary of the Santa Cruz Follies 3 days • September 16-18 Come along as we head to the beach and take in the Santa Cruz Follies’ 60th Anniversary Show, Those Were The Days.

Stay two nights at the Hilton Hotel in Scott’s Valley, where breakfast is included each morning. Enjoy lunch at the ever popular Porter’s Restaurant at the Poppy Ridge Golf Club in Livermore and dinner at the Crow’s Nest in Santa Cruz, just a few of the 6 meals included.

In addition to the show, you will visit Roaring Camp Railroad and take a steam train into the redwoods of Bear Mountain and enjoy a hearty BBQ lunch. We’ll even throw in some free time at the beach!

This tour includes door-to-door service, deluxe motorcoach transportation, accommodations, 6 meals (2FB,3L,1D), the Follies show and the services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director. 950/1100 Gold Passport Points

$930 p.p./dbl.occ., $1080 single $ave $25 until June 16

All the Way to Asia Featuring the final voyage of Holland America’s ms Statendam 33 Days • September 21 – October 24 Holland America’s iconic ship, the ms Statendam, will make her final voyage under the line’s flag later this year. She has hosted many Sports Leisure groups during her many voyages, including our

recent Panama Canal crossing in January.

When our travelers were invited by the crew to join them for one last sailing, they asked us to look into it. In September, her final voyage will be from Seattle to Singapore.

The unique, 30-day voyage includes stops on islands not often visited by cruise ships – Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Guam, the Philippines and Malaysia. This is a great opportunity to cross these ports off your bucket list, and also your last chance to enjoy Holland America’s legendary service

Day

Date

Port

1

21 Sep 2015

Seattle, Washington, US

2

22 Sep 2015

Vancouver, B.C., CA

3

23 Sep 2015

At Sea

4

24 Sep 2015

At Sea

5

25 Sep 2015

At Sea

6

26 Sep 2015

At Sea

7

27 Sep 2015

At Sea

8

28 Sep 2015

At Sea

Arrive

Depart 04:00 PM

07:00 AM

04:00 PM

9

29 Sep 2015

Nawiliwili Kauai, Hawaii, US

07:00 AM

03:00 PM

10

30 Sep 2015

Hilo, Hawaii, US

08:00 AM

06:00 PM

11

01 Oct 2015

Honolulu, Hawaii, US

07:00 AM

06:00 PM

12

02 Oct 2015

At Sea

10:00 AM

03:00 PM

08:00 AM

05:00 PM

13

03 Oct 2015

At Sea

14

04 Oct 2015

Cross International Dateline CO

15

06 Oct 2015

At Sea

16

07 Oct 2015

Majuro, Marshall Islands

17

08 Oct 2015

At Sea

18

09 Oct 2015

At Sea

19

10 Oct 2015

Chuuk, Micronesia TR

20

11 Oct 2015

At Sea

21

12 Oct 2015

Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

08:00 AM

05:00 PM

08:00 AM

04:00 PM

10:00 AM

08:00 PM

22

13 Oct 2015

Guam (US Territory), Guam

23

14 Oct 2015

At Sea

24

15 Oct 2015

At Sea

25

16 Oct 2015

At Sea

26

17 Oct 2015

Puerto Princesa, Philippines

27

18 Oct 2015

At Sea

28

19 Oct 2015

Kota Kinabalu, Sabahlaem, Malaysia

07:00 AM

04:00 PM

29

20 Oct 2015

Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

10:00 AM

06:00 PM

30

21 Oct 2015

At Sea

31

22 Oct 2015

Singapore

32

23 Oct 2015

Singapore – Local Touring

33

24 Oct 2015

Fly Home

07:00 AM

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

11

aboard this classic, 1,260-passenger ship.

Grandly proportioned and recently enhanced, ms Statendam offers an onboard experience defined by spacious comfort, and the latest features and amenities.

Staterooms offer a generous amount of personal space and many feature commanding ocean views with private verandahs.

Recent enhancements include remodeled public spaces, updated lounges and an exciting new entertainment destination called Mix featuring three distinctly themed bars. Together they provide the ultimate place to socialize and be entertained.

Exhibiting a theme of historical Dutch life and exploration, Statendam features more than $2 million worth of art and rare artifacts beautifully displayed throughout the ship.

The Van Gogh Theater is a work of art in itself, commemorating Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings “The Starry Night” and “Irises.” At the heart of Statendam a three-story atrium showcases an elaborate 26-foot-high sculpture titled “Fountain of the Siren.” Luxuriously appointed and uniquely refined, Holland America Line’s Statendam ensures you the ultimate onboard experience with her graceful combination of classic cruise ship features, state-of-the-art amenities, and sophisticated ambiance.

A list of optional shore excursions offered en route to Singapore from Seattle will be shared prior to departure.

At the conclusion of your month-long voyage, enjoy a two night stay in Singapore with local touring before returning home.

The tour includes door-to-door service, air to Seattle/from Singapore, a two-night post cruise package in Singapore, and all meals aboard ship. Gold Passport Points based on cabin.

Inside Cabins priced from $5950 p.p./dbl.occ., $7950single Outside Cabins priced from $6250 p.p./dbl.occ., $8445 single $ave $200 until June 16 This vacation requires a passport valid through April 2016

The Autumn Days of Mendocino 4 Days • October 13-16 Summer is barely upon us but already we are thinking about the glorious fall days along the coast. October is the best time to visit Mendocino County. This fall vacation includes the spectacular Mendocino Botanical Gardens, the home of Seabiscuit, and a ride on the historic Skunk Train; and time to enjoy the fresh ocean air with two nights at Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg.

1. Carey Transportation delivers you to the Sports Leisure office to meet your fellow travelers. After stopping for lunch along the way, continue heading northwest along picturesque Hwy. 101. In Ukiah, discover the works of early California artist, Grace

Explore California’s Coastal Redwoods aboard the famous Skunk Train

12

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

Hudson. Overnight in Ukiah. Hampton Inn (L,D) 2. Explore 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 – 2 nights (B,L,D) 3. After a light breakfast, included at your hotel each morning, discover the lighthouse at Point Cabrillo. A docent guided tour of the grounds, light keeper’s home, and the lighthouse itself is an interesting look at a lifestyle now long gone. Back in the village of Mendocino, enjoy an included lunch then decide how to spend your afternoon.

Perhaps you’ll join your Tour Director for a stroll along the boardwalk at MacKerricher State Park to the bluffs overlooking the ocean; stay in Mendocino for a little browsing and retail therapy; or return to your hotel for a quiet afternoon overlooking the harbor.

This evening, another great meal featuring local cuisine awaits. (B,L,D) 4. “All Aboard!” The view from the restored rail cars of the famed Skunk Train is pretty much unchanged since the route opened over 125 years ago: towering trees, deer drinking from the Noyo River, an isolated fisherman’s cabin peeking from the forest.

A restored diesel engine delivers you to Northspur, the halfway point, 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. You coach will be waiting in Willits to deliver you home to Sacramento in the late afternoon. (B,L) This tour includes roundtrip transportation, accommodations, all attractions and meals (3B,4L,3D) as listed in the itinerary; along with the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 1400/1550 Gold Passport Points. $1365 p.p./dbl.occ., $1540 single $ave $40 until June 16

Food & Fun in Hawaii – Kauai & The Big Island 4 nights each island, with an optional 2-night Oahu package available 9 Days • November 11-19 Mark and Chris have created another “you’ve never done this” tour to the beautiful islands of Hawaii. This edition features 4 nights each on Kauai and The Big Island of Hawaii.

If you are a returning visitor to the islands, you will find this trip packed with unique attractions, activities and adventures. If this is your first trip to Hawaii, our itinerary will give you bragging rights among your friends because of the incredible experiences that are a part of your itinerary. Go flightseeing twice in private aircraft, taste local foods and meet local people. Our Hawaii tours are unlike any other. If you want a cookie-cutter tour, you’ll have to go with someone else.

Sports Leisure Hawaii tours are the things dreams are made of. (You may also add 2 nights in Oahu at the beginning, featuring the new Pearl Harbor, Doris Duke’s Shangri La and the new Pearl Harbor memorial).

1. Unless you choose the two-night pretour on Oahu (see next page), your vacation in paradise starts with a flight to Honolulu and a connecting flight to the island of Kauai. Arrive mid-afternoon and transfer to your hotel. A welcome reception/finger food dinner awaits. Courtyard Coconut Beach – 4 nights (D) 2. Your first exclusive experience is this morning – flightseeing over the Na Pali Coast in a private plane, home of the spectacular sheer cliffs on the west side of the island that can only be seen from the air. Your flight also takes you over Waimea Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Lunch is at the luxurious St. Regis Hotel in Princeville.

(FB,L) 3. Our all-day, exclusive Tastes of Kauai Tour. It includes stops at Aunty Liliko’i’s, home of award-winning passion fruit products. We’ll give you a chance to get a famous red dirt souvenir shirt and enjoy lunch at a local barbecue. In the afternoon, visit Kauai Cookie Co., The Salty Wahine (gourmet salts) and Kauai Coffee. Gifts, samples and/or special discounts await you at every stop. (FB,L)

Explore Waimea Canyon and the spectacular Na Pali Coast of Kauai by private plane

4. The Steelgrass Chocolate Farm is one of our favorite attractions in the islands.

During your visit, you’ll learn how chocolate is grown, get to taste and rate 11 different gourmet chocolates from around the world, plus learn about (and taste) many delicious Hawaiian fruits. Your afternoon is free at the resort and tonight we take you out to a local landmark for dinner, the Plantation Gardens at Poipu Beach. (FB,D) 5. Sunday Brunch at Gaylord’s is an island tradition you will enjoy this morning, then we hop our flight for Kona on the Big Island. Your hotel is right in the heart of the village of Kailua-Kona, with a variety of shops and restaurants within an easy walk of your accommodations. Courtyard King Kamehameha Hotel – 4 nights (BR) 6. Coffee is one of the Kona Coast’s most famous exports. Today, we take you on a coffee adventure, to include visiting a coffee farm, an educational lecture, a tasting and lunch. This is not a commercial tour, it is a customized program, just for our visitors.

There is a block of free time before dinner tonight at the Kona Inn, a local favorite for nearly 40 years. (FB,D) 7. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a fascinating place. It’s true “living history,” as Kilauea volcano is active on a daily basis.

Today, the second of your flightseeing adventures, as you fly over Kilauea in a private plane. The flights will be staggered

throughout the morning and afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours to explore the village. (FB,L) 8. Jim Reddecopp is the owner of the Hawaiian Vanilla Company and a longtime friend of Sports Leisure Vacations. Today, we’ll visit Jim’s vanilla farm, his family and his home on the north end of the big island.

We’ll learn about the delicate vanilla flowers and how they are pollinated. A truly gourmet lunch is served, incorporating vanilla into many of the recipes (including vanilla lemonade, which is simply delicious). On the return trip to Kona, stop at Parker Ranch, home of the Hawaiian cowboy, to hear the story of the history of the “paniolo.” Down in Waikoloa, we’ll treat you to dinner at the local Ruth Chris Steakhouse before heading back down the coast to Kona. (FB,L,D) 9. Before departure, one more unique adventure awaits, the chance to bond with a seahorse. At the Ocean Rider Seahorse Ranch, you’ll learn how they are raised and even “meet” a seahorse up close and personal. Then we head to the airport for our return flight via Honolulu. (FB) The package includes door-to-door service, roundtrip airfare, all attractions listed, and 16 meals (7FB,1BR,4L,4D).

4800/5600 Gold Passport Points. $4765 p.p./dbl.occ., $5570 single $ave $150 until June 16

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

13

Oahu, A Special Extension to your Vacation An attraction-packed option to consider 2 Days • November 9-10 Leave Sacramento two days ahead of the main group and fly non-stop to Oahu. Stay in a Waikiki Beach Hotel, close to the water and many attractions. On arrival, transfer to downtown Honolulu and the Waikiki district. Dine at Chuck’s Steak House, a longtime Hawaii favorite which was once a Sacramento landmark. (The arrival afternoon is at leisure.)

Day two begins with a trip to the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor. Your visit includes the traditional ride to the Arizona Memorial by boat, plus time to explore the many new exhibits on the expanded grounds. The new memorial provides a much better tribute.

After a casual lunch, history unfolds at the Iolani Palace. Built in 1879, it was the royal residence of the Kalakaua Dynasty and is probably the state’s most historic building.

Right next door is the capitol, and while it doesn’t lend itself well to tours, we will make a photo and information stop.

The third morning is actually the day the main group leaves Sacramento. Because of the time difference, we can make great use of our day after check out from the hotel. Board the shuttle bus for the ride to Doris Duke’s mansion outside downtown, Shangri La. Shangri La “…isn’t the product

of any one person, but of a number of architects and decorators from all over the world, finally put together by me.”

Includes airfares, two additional meals (1L,1D), two nights Waikiki accommodations (hotel TBA) and all attractions listed above.

800/1100 Gold Passport Points. $795 p.p./dbl.occ., $1015 single $ave $25 until June 16

A Pilgrim Thanksgiving in Plymouth 5 Days • November 20-24 Something fun and different for the holiday season. Relive the first Thanksgiving with a pilgrimage to Plymouth, Massachusetts. It’s living history and you are right in the middle of it. A parade, a traditional feast and, best of all, you are back home in time for the actual holiday.

1. Depart Sacramento early morning, connect in Houston and arrive in Boston at 6pm. After a quick dinner, travel by coach to Plymouth (about an hour). Hampton Inn – 3 nights (D) 2. The Saturday morning celebration festivities begin on Plymouth’s historic waterfront with an opening ceremony and great entertainment. Then hold on for America’s only historically accurate chronological parade! A photo stop will be made at Plymouth Rock before boarding the Mayflower II. Finish the day with a tour of Plimoth Plantation’s English village

A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner is served at Plimoth Plantation

14

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

where the inhabitants believe they live in the 1600s! We’ll enjoy our THANKSGIVING DINNER at the plantation, a living museum that shows the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th Century by English colonists, some of whom later became known as Pilgrims. (B,D) 3. Step through the Portal to the Past and into America`s hometown historic village, where you can explore four centuries of American history. Filled with authentic camps and scenarios, the Historic Village is brought to life through dedicated living historians and their careful portrayals of the people of each period. The Historic Village interpreters will inform and entertain – and serve as guides as you personally travel among the centuries. Begin your journey in the 17th Century with Native Peoples and European settlers, and learn to separate fact from fiction about the gathering of 1621 which some call “Thanksgiving” and others consider a dark day. From 18th-century militia men readying to take on the King of England, to 19th-century Civil War battalions to 20th-century suffragettes, you’ll meet the real historical figures. (B,D) 4. After breakfast check out of your hotel and visit one of the local cranberry bogs to see how these popular berries are harvested and processed. Lexington (Birthplace of American Liberty) is our next stop. At the visitors center, located across from the Battle Green, is the famous Minute Man Statue. Next journey to Concord and visit the historic Old North Bridge, where “the shot heard ’round the world” occurred in 1775.

It was here where the start of the American War of Independence took place. Many notable citizens lived here, including writers Waldo Emerson, Nathanial Hawthorne and Louisa Alcott, author of “Little Women.” Visit Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where all three are buried. Check into the Embassy Suites Hotel this evening, followed by dinner. (B,D) 5. Grab an early breakfast and head for the nearby airport. Depart at 8:25am, arriving home, via Chicago, at around 2:30pm. (FB) The package includes door-to-door service, roundtrip airfare, all attractions listed, and 8 meals (3B,1FB,4D). Tour Director: Chris Galloway. 2650/2950 Gold Passport Points.

$2610 p.p./dbl.occ., $2920 single $ave $100 until June 16

Thanksgiving in New York Visit the Big Apple at the most wonderful time of the year!

6 Days • November 22-27 H Highlights H • 5 nights at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Times Square • Tickets to 2 hit Broadway shows, An American in Paris and one of your choosing • Radio City Music Hall Rockettes Christmas Spectacular • Theatre talk with nationally-syndicated critic Peter Filichia • City driving tours with expert local guides • Visit Liberty and Ellis Islands • Tour the 911 Memorial Museum and see Radio City Music Hall behind-the-scenes • View the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade • 4 memorable meals featuring a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner cruise • Roundtrip airfare to/from New York’s LaGuardia • Door-to-door airport service • 3700/4400 Gold Passport Points 1. As Thanksgiving ushers in the Christmas season, you’ll be in the middle of it all as you check-in to New York’s best address, the Marriott Marquis, located directly on Times Square. Marriott Marquis – 5 nights 2. Joined by our entertaining and informative local guide, sightseeing today takes you Downtown where New York was founded as New Amsterdam by Dutch settlers in 1625 with stops at Battery Park, Trinity Church, Federal Hall, Wall Street and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. In the evening you’ll have the option of seeing the longest-running musical in theatre history, The Fantastics, preformed “Off-Broadway” just north of Times Square. (L) 3. Uptown is highlighted on today’s guided tour, with a drive through Harlem and stops at Central Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Rockefeller Center. Lunch is served nearby at the popular Capital Grille. Here you’ll be joined by syndicated theatre critic Peter Filichia to learn what’s hot and what’s not on the Great White Way. Tonight, your

first taste of Broadway with the latest movieturned-Broadway-musical An American in Paris. Elegant costumes, classic dancing and a musical score by George and Ira Gershwin make for a night of theatre you’ll never forget! (L) 4. Join your Tour Director for a morning adventure to Liberty and Ellis Islands by subway and ferry. The afternoon is yours for personal exploration. How about a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or shopping on famed Fifth Avenue? The family-style Italian dinner at Carmine’s is a New York tradition, followed by a performance of the Broadway show of your choice. You tell us the show – play or musical, on or off-Broadway – you wish to see and we’ll take care of the rest.

Check out the possibilities now at www. broadway.com. (D) 5. It’s the exciting Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Join the anxious throngs on the streets or watch on television in the comfort of your room. The parade route is along 6th Avenue only one block from the hotel. In the afternoon, journey to Radio City Music Hall for the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. A Thanksgiving dinner cruise follows aboard the elegant glass-roofed Bateaux New York featuring excellent food and great sightseeing as the stars come out over the Big Apple. (D) 6. A morning behind-the-scenes tour at Radio City Music Hall is followed by the short trip to LaGuardia Airport as your Thanksgiving in New York comes to a close. $3695 p.p./dbl.occ., $4370 single $ave $100 until June 16 Add The Fantastics for an additional $50 per person (estimate)

14th Annual Christmas Mystery Tour 6 Days • December 2-7 As often happens with our very popular holiday mystery tours, this year’s tour sold out very quickly following our Spring Fling Holiday Preview Day. While space is currently unavailable, we are taking names for the waitlist. If you are interested in joining us this year, please contact our office.

Mystery Tours always feature great food.

Heck, even the Rockefellers would be

impressed with this dinner. A lavish Sunday Brunch you say? Breakfast with a view?

Fancy accommodations? Well, of course!

(The hotel pattern is 3 nights, 1 night, 1 night.) Oh, and the chocolate is free. Who doesn’t like FREE chocolate at Christmas time?

The package includes door-to-door service, roundtrip air, a bunch of attractions you know very little about and 10 meals (4FB,1BR,2L,3D). Tour Directors: Mark and Chris. 2750/3050 Gold Passport Points $2750 p.p./dbl.occ., $3040 single

A Chicago Christmas Entertainment Spectacular Featuring Frank Sinatra’s 100th Birthday 5 Days • December 10-14 Frankie always considered Chicago “his kind of town.” You are cordially invited to celebrate Ol’ Blue Eyes’ 100th birthday (were he still with us) in style. Stay four nights at the Palmer House Hilton, one of Frank’s favorite places.

There’s a host of Christmas activities, but it’s the entertainment that really shines.

Besides a great dinner party to celebrate Frank’s birthday (complete with a Sinatra look-alike singing your favorite tunes), you’ll enjoy two Broadway shows.

First, it’s Beautiful, the Tony-award winner about the life of composer/vocalist Carole King. If you loved Jersey Boys and Mamma Mia!, we think you’ll be crazy about Beautiful. Lots of wonderful music from the 60’s and 70’s and a fantastic story about an incredible singer and songwriter.

Also featured is Gotta Dance, a musical making its pre-Broadway stop in Chicago.

You will, in fact, see the very first preview production of the show, directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, a Tonywinner in his own right. The show includes some original music by the late Marvin Hamlisch in a story line about an all-senior dance team. Uplifting and fun, it’s certain to be a hit in New York. You’ll see it first!

We mentioned Christmas activities and there are many. See the remarkable display of international Christmas Trees at the Museum of Science and Industry. There’s 75 in all, so bring your camera. On arrival evening, there’s an optional Christmas

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

15

lights tour. You’ll enjoy lunch in the famous Walnut Room at Macy’s (formerly Marshall Field’s) and take time to browse an authentic German-style Christmas Market, just blocks from your hotel. Stop for treats at the famous Magnolia Bakery or shop for gifts on the Magnificent Mile! There’s even an authentic Polish dinner in a charmingly beautiful local restaurant, and a luxurious holiday tea at the Drake Hotel, a Chicago landmark.

All this along with 9 meals and your airfare are included. Tour Director(s): Chris and/or Mark. 2600/2750 Gold Passport Points. $2555 p.p./dbl.occ., $2735 single $ave $60 until June 16

Sinatra’s Palm Springs 4 Days • December 3-6 H Highlights H • An exclusive, private tour of Frank Sinatra’s Palm Springs home, The Twin Palms Estate • Step back in time with an evening dinner show, featuring the music of Sinatra and his “Rat Pack” friends at “Frank’s Place” • Tour the grounds and dine at the historic Mission Inn, a historic landmark hotel located in Riverside • Learn many entertaining and educational stories as you tour through “the desert” past more than 50 celebrity homes • Attend a performance of the “Ten Tenors,” at the McCallum Theatre • Spend 3 nights at the Palm Springs Hyatt hotel, located on South Palm Canyon Dr. • Roundtrip airfare & door-to-door service • 3 meals (2L,1D) • 1850/2100 Gold Passport Points Frank Sinatra, is perhaps one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th Century. “’Ol Blue Eyes” had a singing and acting career that spanned 5 decades… from singing the swing jazz of Harry James, to crooning love songs through the 1990’s.

Sinatra was one of the bestselling artists of all time; and a handsome leading man on the silver screen. During this visit to Palm Springs, we’ll visit his private desert home, step back in time with a dinner show with “Frank” performing some of his favorites, and we’ll take a tour about town past some of the homes of his contemporaries.

16

1. Arrive into Ontario Airport after an early morning flight. This afternoon, we have arranged for an exclusive and private peek into Sinatra’s Palm Springs home, Twin Palms Estate. This evening visit the weekly Village Fest, featuring live music, arts & crafts, and local food vendors, right outside the door of you hotel. Palm Springs Hyatt – 3 nights (L) 2. A leisurely breakfast awaits you this morning, and then it is time for one of the famed “Celebrity Tours.” Your guide today will have you laughing at the stories and antics of the rich and famous in Palm Springs. Drive by homes both modest and outrageous as you tour the playground of the Hollywood elite. This afternoon, spend some time on Palm Canyon Drive or perhaps you would like to learn about the very early history of Palm Springs with a visit to the Village Green Heritage Center? Tonight, we go out to “Frank’s Place” in Indian Wells for a dinner show featuring Frank DiSalvo as Sinatra. A fabulous entertainer as well as singer, Frank captures the essence of Sinatra and his Rat Pack cronies, as he performs many of the era’s favorite tunes throughout your dinner experience. (D) 3. After two late evenings you may want to enjoy leisure time at your hotel this morning, or perhaps you would like to travel up to the top of Mt. San Jacinto on the Palm Springs Aerial Tram. The choice is yours! (A $15 credit is available if you opt out of the tram ride at the time of booking.) This afternoon, the Ten Tenors present Home for the Holidays, a concert featuring your favorite holiday songs, some Aussie classics, and other hits you’ve come to love as only the Ten Tenors can deliver. Back at your hotel, the Village of Palm Springs’ annual Festival of Lights parade passes right by your front door. Enjoy the festivities from the comfort of the hotel, or from the patio of one of the area’s restaurants.

4. An afternoon flight from Ontario leaves you with plenty of time to visit the historic Mission Inn. While no one admits to Sinatra every having stayed or performed here, many of his contemporaries were regulars at this beautiful “cottage hotel.” Today the Mission Inn is considered one of the largest

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

Mission Revival-style buildings in the United States. Enjoy a tour of the beautiful gardens followed by an early lunch prior to your return flight home. (L) $1849 p.p./dbl.occ., $2065 single $ave $40 until June 16

The Ritz & Fairmont at Christmastime Featuring Sunday Brunch at the Hayes Mansion and a Christmas visit to Filoli 3 Days • December 5-7 1. Carey Transportation picks you up from your home and delivers you to the Sports Leisure Vacations office where you will board SuperCoach III. Make a special Christmas visit to Filoli; recognized as one of the finest remaining country estates of the early 20th Century. Experience the excitement of Filoli’s spectacular nine–day Holiday Traditions event. Shop the Holiday Boutique, with its wide range of unique holiday gifts. Tonight, settle in to the luxurious and elegant Fairmont Hotel in San Jose a Sports Leisure favorite! Directly across the street you’ll find Christmas in the Park, a local celebration of the holiday with decorated, themed trees and scenes.

2. An award-wining Champagne Sunday Brunch is hosted at the popular Dolce Hayes Mansion before heading to the coast and the charming town of Half Moon Bay. Enjoy free time to explore before checking into your hotel, which resembles a grand European country estate set on a rocky bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, all decked out for Christmas. The amenities of the Ritz Carlton Resort at Half Moon Bay include a coastal trail, gas fire pits overlooking the ocean, a fitness center, indoor pool, hot tub and sauna. Spa services are available for additional costs. (BR) 3. Enjoy a free morning at the resort this morning and a hosted lunch before heading back home where the cars from Carey will be waiting to take you home. (L) This package includes door-to-door service, deluxe motorcoach transportation, all attractions listed above, and 2 meals (1FB,1L). 1000/1250 Gold Passport Points $995 p.p./dbl.occ., $1225 single $ave $25 until June 16

Luxury in La Jolla for the Holidays 4 Days • December 5-8 For several years, Sports Leisure Travelers have enjoyed a trip to the village of La Jolla in early November. This time around, the trip will be offered in early December, allowing us to include a few holiday twists.

Stay three nights at the Embassy Suites Hotel in La Jolla. Enjoy a cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and complimentary adult beverages and snacks each evening.

Your days are filled with fun and fine dining.

There’s a neighborhood tour of Little Italy, complete with food tastings. Enjoy Sunday Brunch at the Hotel del Coronado and be treated to a historical tour of the island. We’ll show you around La Jolla and give you a chance to pick up some nice Christmas gifts. One evening, holiday entertainment is featured (TBA). Door-to-door airport service, airfare to/from San Diego, accommodations, 7 meals, and more all included! 1600/1800 Gold Passport Points. $1570 p.p./dbl.occ., $1785 single $ave $40 until June 16

The Sounds of Christmas Concerts, lights and more in two allAmerican cities are guaranteed to put you in the spirit!

6 Days • December 6-11 H Highlights H • 3 nights at the Sands Resort in “Christmas City USA” • 2 nights in Washington, DC – Sheraton Pentagon City • Concerts by Tony Orlando, the National Symphony Pops Orchestra and the Von Trapp Family Singers • Explore Bethlehem’s rich Moravian heritage • Tour the Crayola Crayon Experience and Martin Guitar Factory • Visit Mt. Vernon for a glimpse at a Colonial Christmas • See the lights of the Capitol City including the National Christmas Tree • 11 meals: 3 continentals, 2 full breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinner • Roundtrip air to Philadelphia/from Reagan National • Door-to-door airport service

• 2700/3000 Gold Passport Points 1. Fly to Philadelphia, then it’s just over an hour’s drive to Christmas City USA, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The new Sands Resort is over-the-top, featuring luxurious rooms, world-class restaurants and shopping, and casino action if you dare. Each guest will receive $80 in free slot play and daily light breakfast as your first Christmas gift! Dinner in the lavish Steelworks Buffet brings your travel day to a scrumptious end.

(D) Sands Resort – 3 nights.

2. Explore the neighborhood with a local guide and learn of Bethlehem’s founding by the Moravians – a German Protestant sect – in 1741. Colonial architecture and stately churches define the downtown area, with many of the buildings playing host to quaint shops, galleries and cafes.

You’ll soon understand why “Christmas City USA” attracts over one million visitors each December! In the afternoon, travel to nearby Nazareth and tour the factory that makes America’s most celebrated guitar, C.F. Martin & Company. (B,L) 3. Only a few miles away is Easton, home of the Crayola Experience. Learn the history of the world’s most famous crayon in the city where they are made. Maybe you’ll create a masterpiece of your own? Back at the Sands, master showman Tony “tie-a-yellowribbon-‘round-the-old-oak-tree” Orlando takes the stage for an afternoon of holiday

musical favorites as well as his familiar hits. For tonight’s dinner you can return to the buffet or enjoy a credit at another of the Sands’ wonderful eateries, two of which carry Emeril’s name. (B,D) 4. Off to our nation’s Capital City, Washington, DC. This evening you’ll see our federal buildings and monuments beautifully illuminated on our exclusive “DC After Dark” tour, including a stop at the National Christmas Tree. Sheraton Pentagon City – 2 nights (B,L) 5. A morning mini-tour will acquaint you with the National Mall and its impressive collection of federal buildings, museums and monuments. Time follows to visit the Smithsonian or National Museums of your choice. Tonight, the curtain rises at the Kennedy Center in a special Christmas concert by the National Symphony Pops Orchestra joined by the vocal talents of the Von Trapp Family Singers – four of Maria and the Baron Von Trapp’s great-grandchildren!

(FB,D) 6. A morning trip to Mt. Vernon will introduce you to the way America’s first First Family celebrated in the 18th century, followed by a traditional holiday feast served in the inn. Then you’re airport-bound with your flight home departing from Washington Reagan National Airport. (FB,L) $2685 p.p./dbl.occ., $3000 single $ave $100 until June 16

Fabulous entertainment and, of course, beautiful lights await you on The Sounds of Christmas Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

17

A California Classical Christmas in Riverside Featuring dining at the historic Mission Inn and some historical steps back in time 4 Days • December 23-26 Santa’s Elves have been hard at work to create a holiday package that is sure to delight everyone. This one requires a short plane flight to Southern California, where you’ll stay three nights in a beautiful Marriott Hotel. (We opted for three nights because it will allow us to depart and return at more “human” times.)

A fun day in Ontario awaits our arrival, as you visit the candy store known for inventing the famous “ribbon candy” so popular around the holidays. Graber’s Olives is also another popular holiday stop. It’s Christmas and the gifts are yours at each stop today!

The beautiful lights of the Mission Inn are known around the region. We’ll take a walk/drive to enjoy them, just three blocks away. There’s an evening of Christmas-style entertainment and a visit to nearby Palm Springs also included. We’ve even included some most unusual stops that are a part of Route 66 lore.

Of course, Santa’s elves will have a Christmas Party with our “legendary” white elephant gift exchange and other holiday fun. Don’t have anyone to spend Christmas

The holiday lights of the historic Mission Inn are well known

18

with this year? Spend it with Sports Leisure!

We always have a great time and no one is home alone.

The package includes door-to-door airport service, airfare, accommodations, 9 meals, and lots of holiday cheer! Santa’s Elves: TBA (hey, elves are busy that time of year). 1600/1800 Gold Passport Points. $1590 p.p./dbl.occ., $1795 single $ave $25 until June 16

The Spectacular Tournament of Roses Parade Overnighter!

Featuring the 127th Tournament of Roses Parade 2 Days • December 31 – January 1, 2016 Here’s your chance to check-off one of those items on your bucket list! Experience the nation’s premier New Year’s Day event, the Tournament of Roses Parade, with an overnight visit to Southern California.

1. Carey Transportation provides you with door-to-door service to the airport for your quick one hour flight. Enjoy a very special buffet luncheon in the shadow of a former presidential jet at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley and learn a little more about our 40th president. Join your Tour Director for an “East Coast Toast” at 9pm tonight as parade day comes early tomorrow! Holiday Inn Burbank Media Center (L) 2. The 127th Tournament of Roses Parade kicks off at 8am and your reserved seats are right along Colorado Boulevard.

This year’s theme is “Find Your Adventure.”

The floats, bands and other entrants from all over the Western Hemisphere will be playing to that theme. Following the parade, lunch is served en route to the airport where you will meet your flight for the return trip home. (B,L) This tour includes door-to-door service, roundtrip air, deluxe accommodations, 3 meals, reserved seating for the Tournament of Roses Parade along with a seat cushion and parade program, all attractions listed in the above itinerary, and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director.

1100/1200 Gold Passport Points $1095 p.p./dbl.occ., $1195 single $ave $35 until June 16

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

Key West, Miami and The Everglades Featuring Key Largo and 4 nights in Key West 7 Days • January 22-28, 2016 H Highlights H • Visit Florida Everglades National Park, experience an air boat ride and meet an alligator or two up close • History abounds in Key West – visit the Hemingway Home, The Aquarium, Truman’s “Little White House” and tour the island aboard the famous Old Town Trolley • New in 2016 – Lunch on Sunset Key, a private ferry ride from Key West • Day cruise on an authentic clipper ship (optional), Butterfly and Nature Conservatory • Cabaret Dinner Show at La Te Da; lunch at Hemingway’s Sloppy Joe’s, a local landmark; A Taste of Key West Tour (Key Lime Pie, Conch Fritters, Cuban Sandwiches, more) • 4 nights in Key West at the Crowne Plaza La Concha, in the heart of town on Duval Street • Overnight Fort Lauderdale – Miami city tour featuring South Beach and Coral Gables; overnight in Key Largo • Visit and tour The Turtle Hospital in the Keys • 13 meals: 2 breakfasts, 4 full breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners • Door-to-door airport service; Roundtrip airfare to Fort Lauderdale, return from Key West • 3900/4650 Gold Passport Points Key West is a pedestrian-friendly destination, and because of that, we walk to many attractions. For that reason, we do not recommend this tour for travelers with serious mobility issues.

1. Arrive in Fort Lauderdale and enjoy dinner at a popular South American-style steakhouse. Holiday Inn Express (D) 2. A morning visit to the Everglades to ride an air boat and meet some alligators.

office hours: 8:00am – 4:30pm MON. thru FRI. Closed weekends & major holidays CLOSED TUES. 12:00pm – 1:15pm

City tour of Miami Beach and Coral Gables, ending the day in Key Largo. Great sunset views tonight before dinner. Hampton Inn (B,D) 3. Learn about marine wildlife at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon, then travel on to Key West, with a fun souvenir adventure on arrival. Crowne Plaza La Concha – 4 nights (B,L,D) 4-6. Enjoy a wide variety of Key West dining and sightseeing experiences. See the highlights box for details. From the drag show at La Te Da to the amazing Butterfly Conservatory, you’ll have time for sights and time to explore on your own. (3FB,L,2D) 7. Depart Key West in mid-morning, connecting in Atlanta and Los Angeles arriving in Sacramento about 6:30pm. (FB) $3890 p.p./dbl.occ., $4620 single $ave $125 until June 16

Winter on the Rails Discover Rocky Mountain splendor on board the California Zephyr 5 Days • February 26 – March 1, 2016 H Highlights H • Discover Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry & the rair community of Pullman, our country’s newest historic national monument • Tour the north and south sides of Chicago on a unique history tour • Stay 2 nights at the historic Hilton Hotel Chicago • Explore 7 states in style and comfort aboard Amtrak’s California Zephyr • 10 meals: 4 full breakfasts, 4 lunches 2 dinners • Airfare to Chicago • Door-to-door service • Gold Passport Points based on compartment This year’s sold-out tour meant a chance to bring it back for 2016 and, based on comments from those who participated, a second night in the heart of Chicago at the historic Hilton Hotel. When you step aboard the California Zephyr, you have a choice in accommodations (and the opportunity to save a little money). Compartments on board are deluxe bedrooms with an enclosed private bathroom/shower. Or you can choose a roomette, a smaller accommodation with shared bath and

Discover the home of Ernest Hemingway in Key West

shower rooms. Both compartment types can accommodate two people, but the roomette is a much smaller space. Questions about Amtrak? Please contact Kevin or Michael in our office.

1. Door-to-door service delivers you to the airport for your flight to Chicago. Arrive in time for a late lunch. Your accommodations are right on Michigan Avenue. Hilton Hotel Chicago – 2 nights (L) 2. Explore the city this morning on a tour with an emphasis on the “colorful” history of 1920’s Chicago. Learn about the gangsters and the decadence of Chicago at the height of the roaring twenties. After lunch, discover Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, home of the Pioneer Zephyr, the train which ran between Chicago and Denver in the 1930’s. A short guided tour uncovers each of the cars. Other exhibits on display include a real-life German submarine from World War II, the recreation of a coal mine, and the museum’s excellent collection of model trains on 1,400 feet of track. (FB,L) 3. The history of rail comes alive in the small community of Pullman. Founded as an idyllic company town by George Pullman, its history of birth, near death, and rebirth is a fascinating one as you will learn from a guide who lives in the community. Amtrak’s California Zephyr departs Union Station at 2pm, bound for the Golden State. Your car will have an attendant to assist you and, as a First Class traveler, all meals are included

in the dining car. On board the California Zephyr – 2 nights (FB,D) 4. Your overnight journey covered over 1,000 miles from Illinois through America’s Great Plains into Colorado. Arrive in Denver at breakfast time and then begin the climb over the majestic Rocky Mountains. Maybe you’ll want to find a seat in the dome car?

The winter scenery is spectacular all the way into Utah. Pass through Salt Lake City at 11pm and cross the Nevada desert during the night. (FB,L,D) 5. You’re in the home stretch now, scaling Donner Summit and arriving in Sacramento after 2pm. Of course, our fleet of vehicles is waiting to return you to your home safely.

(FB,L) $2310 p.p./dbl.occ., $3350 single (bedroom) $1705 p.p./dbl.occ., $2085 single (roomette) $ave $75 until June 16

Look What We’re Doing…

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook. com/sportsleisure. We post pictures of recent trips and sometimes trips that are currently on the road… so you may see a fellow Sports Leisure traveler while they are actually on vacation. How awesome is that?

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

19

Teasers The destinations listed below are on our radar for future tours. If you have an interest in one or more, please contact our office and ask to be placed on the Priority Notification List. If we organize a tour to the destination, you will be one of the first contacted to sign up!

The World Figure Skating Championships 5-6 Days • Spring 2016 The World Figure Skating Championships are coming to Boston in late March and you’re invited! We have a very large group of loyal figure skating fans and need to know if you’d like to travel back east for a look at the best skaters in the world. We would include several events as well as some local touring around Boston as the skating schedule allows.

Alaska’s Aurora Borealis March 2016 Alaskan guides will show you the beauty of America’s Last Frontier in the winter on this custom adventure. Highlights in the anchorage area include Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Prince William Sound’s Blackstone Bay glacier cruise. We head north and dog sled with Dallas Seavey, the 2012, 2014 and 2015 Iditarod Champion.

Take the Alaska railroad to Fairbanks for a VIP tour at the Ice Art Championship. Your accommodations are superior; Alyeska Resort, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Fairbanks Springhill Suites. We are here to see the aurora borealis. There is a possibility to see the lights each night if the skies are clear and dark. We make a special trip north of Fairbanks to a remote lodge for viewing. This tour will have a maximum of 20 people and will require warm clothes and snow boots, (rentals will be available). Call and place your name on the waitlist.

American car, meet artists and civic leaders spurring societal changes, savor Havana’s exploding restaurant scene, and dance to lively Latin Jazz. After two successful tours escorted by Chris, this may be one of SLV’s last visits for a while! ¡Vamos!

Wildlife Viewing in British Columbia Grizzly Bears, birds and wilderness gourmet meals 8-9 Days • Summer 2016 Stay in a fully self-contained floating lodge situated at an outstanding wildlife viewing location along the inside channel of the Georgia Strait. Daily excursions and education talks enhance your wildlife viewing. This trip is limited by lodging and mobility requirements.

Rocky Mountain High!

4 Days • Summer 2016 Rocky Mountain National Park celebrates 100 years! Stay three nights in Estes Park at The Stanley Hotel (named for the man who created the Stanley Steamer), reach the snow covered summit of Longs Peak, shop Boulder’s Pearl Street and visit Celestial Seasonings’ Tea Factory. Enjoy great dining, beautiful views and fresh mountain air!

Mexico: Puebla and Oaxaca The land of Mole, textiles and Talavera ceramics 10 Days • Fall 2016 After two years of exploring Mexico’s Copper Canyon by rail, Travel Club members have asked for more of our neighbor to the south. Join Ramona for another excursion into the heartland of Mexico. This time we will focus on the foods and artistry in addition to the cultural history of these two colonial cities.

Cuba is Calling!

Australia & New Zealand

10 Days • Spring 2016 Visit Cuba now! Big changes are taking place on the small island and the magic may soon disappear. Cruise in a classic

14 Days • Fall 2016 or Spring 2017 We have visited these countries several times. Sometimes together, sometimes apart. Our last visit was a full exploration

20

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

of both the north and south islands of New Zealand. Should we offer just Australia this time? Or maybe both countries? The natural scenery of New Zealand and the culture and history of Australia make it a hard choice.

Let us know your preference when you place your name on the Priority Notification List!

Disneyland’s Diamond Anniversary The famous theme park (and Mark) celebrate 60 years 3 Days • November 1-3 or 2-4 While we offer this trip as a teaser here, we are certain it will become a tour by the July newsletter. Turns out the park with the mouse and the boss here at Sports Leisure are both turning 60 this year. In fact, Disneyland opened just a month after the old fart… we mean great boss, was born.

So join us as we head to SoCal for two nights in a wonderful hotel and plenty of time to explore the parks. Airfare and home pick-up will be included, along with dinner at the Anaheim White House and a few other fun treats. If you first discovered Disneyland as a kid, come and rediscover it with us.

There are lots of special events to celebrate the 60th anniversary, and you can learn more online at https://disneyland.disney. go.com/events-tours/60-years-diamondanniversary-celebration/. Nothing could be better than a return to Disneyland, unless of course, you have never been there in the first place. Get your name on the list and we’ll get you the information just as soon as it becomes available.

“Teaser” Update!

In our last newsletter we “teased” our tours Undiscovered Hawaii, Chicago Christmas Spectacular, Sinatra’s Palm Springs, and a month-long cruise aboard Holland America’s ms Statendam to Asia.

Based on your overwhelming response, these are now advertised tours and details can be found inside this issue of The Traveler.

The Tour Calendar (Previously Announced) 6 Days

June 25-30

Yellowstone & The Grand Tetons – Geysers, Rivers and Peaks

Spend two full days exploring Yellowstone, including Mammoth Hot Springs, Old Faithful, the Geyser Basin and Yellowstone Falls.

Discover Montana’s ghost town, Virginia City, and neighboring Nevada City (sounds a bit like California). Enjoy a cruise on Jenny Lake in the shadow of the Tetons. Wildlife abounds, and while we can’t guarantee sightings, we do arrange our schedule to try and maximize those opportunities. A great trip, focused on the two parks. If you love the outdoors, this is one adventure you should put on your list. 8 meals (1B,4FB,2L,1D), airfare to Bozeman/from Jackson Hole, door-to-door service, 3350/3850 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: Ramona Goodge. $3315 p.p./dbl.occ., $3840 single 5 Days

July 3-7

Crater Lake and the Umpqua National Scenic Byway

Scott Angeletti hosts this comprehensive tour of southern Oregon.

Travel to Klamath Falls, then visit Crater Lake National Park. The “viewing” season is short, only about three months long, but it’s spectacular. Next stop is Roseburg, home of Wildlife Safari, an outdoor animal park, and a hometown 4th of July celebration. In Grants Pass, the highlight is a jet boat trip on the scenic Rogue River. Historic Jacksonville is the last stop. Site of a gold rush, there’s a great story there. 10 meals (4B,4L,2D), door-to-door service, Supercoach III transportation, 1600/1800 Gold Passport Points. This tour will not be offered in 2016. $1560 p.p./dbl.occ., $1755 single

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.

3 Days

July 8-10

Seattle’s Best

Join Chris Galloway on a getaway to the Emerald City. Stay two nights at the beautiful Mayflower Hotel, enjoy a tasting tour of famous Pike Place Market, ride the historic monorail (left from the 60’s World’s Fair), visit Dale Chihuly’s Garden & Glass, enjoy waterfront dining on Puget Sound. Tour the Underground City, part of Seattle’s early years. Perhaps you’d enjoy seeing the Broadway show Wicked; it’s in town during your stay (optional attraction, additional cost, advance ticket purchase needed). There’s a coffee and bakery tour (how appropriate for the home of Starbucks) and views of the spectacular homes on Lake Washington. 4 meals, airfare, door-to-door service, 1700/1900 Gold Passport Points. $1685 p.p./dbl.occ., $1895 single 6 Days

July 13-18

Oregon – Covered Bridges and The Coast

First offered last year, this itinerary was a huge hit and it’s filling up quickly. Based on feedback, we expanded the trip by a day, adding an extra night in Newport. Fly to Portland, dine in Salem, then visit a unique carousel-making facility in Albany. A true behind-the-scenes experience. Accommodations feature 2 nights in Cottage Grove at the Village Green Resort, and 3 nights in Newport at the Elizabeth Street Inn (ocean views from every room). Attractions include a Victorian costume shop, a chocolate store, a cruise on Newport Harbor and a private dinner at the Oregon Aquarium, a visit to the tiny hamlet of Toledo, the Hatfield Marine Science Center and even a trip to Lincoln City, where you are treated to glass blowing and a culinary demonstration which becomes your lunch! Tillamook is the last stop (if you don’t count the berry farm – bring some really wonderful berries home with you), for some cheese tasting and lunch. 14 meals (5B,6L,3D), door-to-door service, airfare, 2000/2250 Gold Passport Points, Tour Directors: Mark and Chris. $1970 p.p./dbl.occ., $2250 single 6 Days

July 15-20

Jammin’ Through Glacier and Waterton National Parks

Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks are part of the Rockies.

It’s a region that will be impacted by a warming climate, as the glaciers are melting at a record rate. Now is the time to go and see this magnificent scenery, to travel Going to the Sun Road. Fly to Kalispell. Spend 2 nights at a beautiful lodge, then head into the parks. The legendary “jammer” touring cars take you through Glacier to Waterton Lakes in Canada. Overnight at the Prince of Wales Hotel before re-crossing the border and staying 2 nights at St. Mary’s Bear Lodge, giving you additional time to explore and enjoy the mountain scenery. 3 short scenic lake cruises are a part of your itinerary. 8 meals (3FB,4L,1D), door-to-door service, airfare to/from Kalispell, 3250/3800 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: Scott Angeletti. $3205 p.p./dbl.occ., $3755 single, this vacation requires a passport valid through January 2016.

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

21

6 Days

Aug. 25-30

The Tapestry of Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is more than just Victoria. In fact, this itinerary does not provide more than a glimpse of that magnificent city, and instead shows you the rest of the island. Fly to Vancouver and catch the ferry to Nanaimo. After an overnight, head for the west coast of the island and the town of Tofino.

See the unspoiled beauty of the Rocky Mountains of Canada in perfect comfort

8 Days

July 23-30

The Canadian Rockies by Luxury Rail

Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Rated the most scenic train ride in North America, the two days you spend on the Rocky Mountaineer will take you from Vancouver, into the spectacular Rocky Mountains. See lots from the train, then enjoy a land package featuring Banff, Lake Louise and the Columbia Icefields. Fly to Vancouver, overnight, then ride the rails for two days (overnight off the train in Kamloops), next is 2 nights in magnificent Jasper and a night each in Banff and Lake Louise (at the Chateau). The Rockies are not an inexpensive destination in the summer, but this package has many upscale features. Seats on the Rocky Mountaineer are in Silver Leaf class (one higher class is available for upgrade, but in our opinion, this selection offers the best quality and value for the dollar). Fly home from Calgary. 10 meals, door-to-door service, 6000/7150 Gold Passport Points. $5990 p.p./dbl.occ., $7140 single, $75 EPD*, this vacation requires a passport valid through January 2016.

4 Days

July 25-28

Summer in Victoria

3 nights at the Chateau Victoria, spacious accommodations in a terrific location on the Inner Harbor in downtown Victoria. Lunch overlooking the water at Pike Place Market, fast ferry Seattle/Victoria, sightseeing includes High Tea at The Empress, a city tour and a visit to famous Butchart Gardens. Return flight from Victoria. 5 meals, airfare/ferry tickets, 1800/2050 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Chris Galloway. $1795 p.p./dbl.occ., $2045 single, $25 EPD*, this vacation requires a passport valid through January 2016.

3 Days

Aug. 23-25

Laguna Pageant of the Masters

New added departure. Famous works of art displayed by human tableau, on a huge stage and you have the best seats in the house. Be immersed in California’s premier cultural event. Fly to/ from Orange County, stay two nights at the Newport Marriott. Enjoy a Hornblower Brunch Cruise on Newport Harbor, enjoy dinner on the pageant grounds, be entertained by a pageant speaker at breakfast the following morning. 3 meals, airfare, 1350/1550 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Patricia Hansen. $1345 p.p./dbl. occ., $1515 single

22

Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

The paved road has only gone to Tofino for 40 years, so it’s an unspoiled region. Stay 2 nights at the Tin Wis Resort. Visit old growth forests, beautiful gardens and visit a local tea room. Back on the east side, travel the Comox and Cowichan Valleys, on to Chemainus and Duncan, home of magnificent murals and totem poles respectively. Depart from Sidney, but first, there’s time for a two hour tour of Victoria, so first-time visitors can see the city (note: the tour does not stop at Butchart Gardens due to time limitations).

9 meals (5FB,4L), door-to-door service, 3250/3650 Gold Passport Points, airfare to Vancouver/from Victoria. $3245 p.p./dbl.occ., $3620 single, this vacation requires a passport valid through February 2016.

6 Days

Sept. 9-14

The Redwoods of the North Coast & The Rogue River Jet Boats

Head for the California coast near Eureka, to “meet” the Coastal Redwoods. Then travel on into Oregon for the opportunity to ride the jet boats that deliver the mail to remote locations on the Rogue River. Walk through ancient redwood groves, enjoy ocean view accommodations for 2 nights in Oregon (Brookings), travel the famous “Avenue of the Giants” and ride through Redwood National Park. Stroll the Sundial Bridge in Redding. The package includes 13 meals, door-to-door service and 2100/2450 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Ramona Goodge. $2080 p.p./dbl.occ., $2405 single, $20 EPD* 6 Days

Sept. 10-15

Ferries and Towns of Puget Sound

Year after year, this is one of our most popular itineraries. Our featured Pacific Northwest tour got a new look last year, as we moved from the San Juan Islands for 2 nights to Anacortes, and the beautifully modernized Majestic Hotel. We still go flightseeing in the San Juan Islands and visit all the wonderful little towns along our route. In order, from Poulsbo to Port Townsend, on Whidby Island from Coupeville to Langley, on to La Conner, Anacortes and Friday and Roche Harbors in the San Juan Islands. This really is the perfect tour, visiting and shopping in small towns, a leisurely pace, often hitting some of the best weather of the year in Puget Sound, and without the summer crowds.

Overnight in Poulsbo, 2 nights on Whidbey Island, 2 nights at the Majestic Hotel in Anacortes. 11 meals (2FB,3B,3L,3D), door-to-door service, airfare to/from Seattle, 3100/3350 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director(s): Mark and/or Chris. Important notes about the ferry boats: Many of the boats have elevators for passengers, but some offer stairs as the only way to access the passenger deck. If you have mobility issues, please discuss them with staff before registering. $3080 p.p./dbl.occ., $3320 single

7 Days

Sept. 12-18

Great Gatsby at the Grand on Mackinac Island

Over the years, hundreds of Sports Leisure travelers have explored Mackinac Island on our trips. It’s a popular destination.

This year, it’s available with two unqiue twists. You have the chance to participate or be a spectator in the Great Gatsby Weekend.

Full of fun and activities, it will highlight your trip. The second is the chance to stay at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac. It is one of the classic accommodations in the country. You’ll stay 3 nights and have plenty of time to enjoy your lush surroundings, plus all the activities of the special Gatsby Weekend. The perfect “period” setting for this magnificent and historic hotel.

The itinerary also features overnights in Bay City, Frankenmuth and Dearborn. Visit the Henry Ford Museum (like a miniature Smithsonian) and Greenfield Village, plus Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland and a great dinner at the Bavarian Inn Lodge. 12 meals (6FB,1L,5D) plus two bonus “teas,” door-to-door service, airfare to/ from Detroit, 3450/3900 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Kevin Murphy. $3430 p.p./dbl.occ., $3830 single 8 Days

Sept. 30 Oct. 7

– Fall Foliage in New England, featuring Vermont & The Berkshires

There’s nothing like the autumn colors in New England. While hitting it perfectly is no guarantee, our trip arrives at the traditional peak of the season. We pay a little more for these dates, but you get the prime foliage week. Fly to Burlington, and spend 2 nights at the Jay Peak Resort in the mountains. Visit Stowe, and the Von Trapp family lodge. Tour Ben & Jerry’s original ice cream factory, cruise Lake Champlain, tour Hildene, once the home of Robert Todd Lincoln, and hear the magnificently restored pipe organ.

Stay 3 nights at the Basin Harbor Resort, enjoy a hands-on experience at the New England Culinary Institute, have fun at the Maple Museum (learn how they “tap” the trees). End with two nights at the historic Red Lion Inn in The Berkshires (not the west coast chain, an independent historic property). Visit the Rockwell Museum before your travels come to a close. The package includes 14 meals, airfare (to Burlington, return from Albany, NY), door-to-door service and 3900/4450 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Ramona Goodge. $3855 p.p./dbl.occ., $4430 single 4 Days

Oct. 4-7

Catalina Island Getaway

Our annual visit to Cataling Island, off the Long Beach coast, features a 3 night stay at the Pavilion Lodge. It offers a great location and nice accommodations. By going in early October during the week, you miss the crowds and still get great weather.

Fly to LA, enjoy Sunday Brunch on the historic Queen Mary, then take the fast ferry (little over an hour) to Catalina. Lots of sightseeing highlights your stay on the island. 6 meals, 3 tours on Catalina, airfare and 1600/1800 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: TBA. $1595 p.p./dbl.occ., $1830 single, $20 EPD*

6 Days

Oct. 9-14

Wild & Wonderful West Virginia

Deluxe, luxurious accommodations, with 2 nights at the renowned Greenbrier Resort and 3 nights at The Resort at Glade Springs.

Explore Hatfield and McCoy country with a historical expert (yes, there really are Hatfields and McCoys). There’s a daring adventure in the New River Gorge, a tour of the state capitol, a visit to a moonshine still and a look at the world of coal mining. Door-todoor service, 13 meals, roundtrip airfare to/from Charleston, WV. 3250/3700 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead. $3240 p.p./dbl.occ., $3690 single, $75 EPD* 6 Days

Oct. 18-23

Bluegrass & Bourbon

Go behind-the-scenes in Kentucky Horse Country. Lexington is where Derby winners are bred. Stay 3 nights at the Embassy Suites, visit farms and other sites important to the Kentucky equine industry. Spend a day at Keeneland and watch future Derby winners begin the Run for the Roses while you wager on the results.

In Louisville, tour Churchill Downs and watch baseball bats being made at the Louisville Slugger Museum. Door-to-door service, 10 meals, airfare, 2850/3200 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead. $2840 p.p./dbl.occ., $3190 single, $60 EPD* 10 Days

Oct. 20-29

Mexico’s Copper Canyon by Rail

Join Ramona on a trip to view one of the biggest canyons in the world. Fly to El Paso, travel to Chihuahua, Creel, El Fuerte, the Copper Canyon (2 nights on the rim), Cuauhtemoc and Nuevo Casas Grandes. See the complete itinerary online or call for a copy. Door-to-door service, 26 meals, airfare, 3600/3850 Gold Passport Points. $3555 p.p./dbl.occ., $3810 single, $50 EPD*, this vacation requires a passport valid through April 2016.

5 Days

Oct. 24-28

Rails Around Oregon

A brand new tour featuring 5 train rides, a visit to Mt. St. Helens, a ride through the scenic Columbia River Gorge and more. It has been very popular and is filling quickly! Fly roundtrip to/from Portland, 3 Amtrak rides (Empire Builder, the Cascade and Coast Starlight), Mt. Hood Railroad, Oregon Pacific Railroad, 9 meals, 2000/2300 Gold Passport Points. Complete itinerary available online, or a hard copy will be sent on request. $1995 p.p./dbl.occ., $2295 single 6 Days

Nov. 8-13

Tonopah, Laughlin & Las Vegas

by SuperCoach

We have returned to the route through Tonopah, because of the reopening of the historic Mizpah Hotel there. Our spring Ghost Towns Tour stayed there, and besides being haunted, it’s a wonderful old property. It has some room-type limitations, and some guests may be housed at the nearby Best Western (which just finished a complete upgrade, very nice, some of our Ghost Tour guests stayed there). You’ll enjoy dinner in the dining room and perhaps even meet a ghost or two…

A night in Tonopah, two nights in Laughlin, two nights in Las Vegas (Treasure Island Hotel/Casino), return motorcoach back to Sacramento. The complete itinerary can be viewed online.

6 meals, 1400/1600 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: Joey Querio. $1390 p.p./dbl.occ., $1595 single Sports Leisure Vacations / May – June 2015

23

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, June 16, 2015; 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.

Sept. – Redwoods on the North Coast – $ave $20 Sep. – Santa Cruzin’ & The Follies – $ave $25 Sep. – All the Way to Asia – $ave $200 Oct. – The Autumn Days of Mendocino – $ave $40 Oct. – Catalina Island Getaway – $ave $20 Oct. – Mexico’s Copper Canyon by Rail – $ave $50 Oct. – Wild & Wonderful West Virginia – $ave $75 Oct. – Bluegrass & Bourbon – $ave $60 Nov. – Food & Fun in Hawaii – $ave $150 Nov. – Food & Fun in Hawaii (Oahu extension) – $ave $25 Nov. – A Pilgrim Thanksgiving in Plymouth – $ave $100 Nov. – Thanksgiving in NYC – $ave $100 Dec. – Sinatra’s Palm Springs – $ave $40 Dec. – The Ritz and Fairmont at Christmas – $ave $25 Dec. – Luxury in La Jolla for the Holidays – $ave $40 Dec. – The Sounds of Christmas – $ave $100 Dec. – A California Classical Christmas in Riverside – $ave $25 Dec. – The Spectacular Rose Parade Overnighter – $ave $35 Dec. – Chicago Christmas Spectacular – $ave $60 Jan. – Key West, Miami & The Everglades – $ave $ave $125 Feb. – Winter on the Rails – $ave $75

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 double-occupancy price of the 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… 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.

Sold-Out Tours (waiting list available) Alaska By Land & By Sea Oregon Gardens Portland Rose Festival Ferries, Islands & Towns of Old Cape Cod Boston to Bar Harbor Downton Abbey Olympic Peninsula Laguna Pageant (8/16) National Treasurers of the West When You Wish Upon A Star Mystery Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Christmas Lights Mystery

Limited Space (10 or fewer seats) Yellowstone & Grand Tetons (6) Crater Lake (7) Seattle’s Best (6) Jammin’ Through Glacier & Waterton (8) Canadian Rockies by Luxury Train (8) Summer in Victoria (2) Ferries & Towns of Puget Sound (5) Rails Around Oregon (9)