Group Tour

Group Tour
NORTHEASTERN
GROWING INTEREST
Agricultural tours yield farm-to-table experiences
Spring 2013
www.GroupTour.com
8 year-round
farmer’s
markets
+
St. Louis
Gateway
to the West
Vermont
Maple syrup
capital
Gettysburg
150th anniversary
Laval
Unexpected
delights
Puerto Rico
Isle of
Enchantment

Season Season Spring 2013 2013 • • GroupTour.com
2
Group Tour
NORTHEASTERN SPRING 2013 Vol. 26 No. 2
What’s inside
8
From the Editor
Producing on agritourism’s bounty
GROWING
Feature
16 INTEREST
Agricultural tours yield
farm-to-table experiences
9
O The Beaten Path
Their hearts are in Harlem
Neighborhood natives lead
New York heritage tours
10
Bulletin Board
15
What’s for Dinner?
Cooking on Penobscot Bay
Chef Annie Mahle prepares stylish
comfort foods aboard Schooner J. & E. Riggin
138
Worldview
Puerto Rico
Exploring the ‘Isle of Enchantment’
144
Travel Talk
Interacting with
Prince Edward Island
Finding experiential opportunities
in the group tour market
By Bill Kendrick
On our cover:
Barn: ©iStockphoto.com/akaplummer
Girl: ©iStockphoto.com/DOUGBERRY

Beautiful
Stay in Warwick, See Rhode Island!
Warwick, RI is a destination with a unique blend
of activities and lifestyles where visitors from
all walks of life are sure to find their niche.
From fine dining to local fare, horseback
riding to golfing, the arts to the arcades
and plenty of shopping in between,
there’s something for everyone.
Contact:
Susan Folco
401.738.2000 x 6404
susan.a.folco@warwickri.com
www.visitwarwickri.com
RHODE ISLAND
VisitWarWickri.com
For help in plannning your own
Beautiful Rhode Island tour, call 401-278-9150
Reader Service Card #561
Rhode Island
HOT PLATE
Choose from a world of flavors designed to please your
palate. Discover galleries, museums and performances that
provide a feast for the senses.
Cook up the perfect group tour in Providence.
PROVIDENCE THE CREATIVE CAPITAL
Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau
401.456.0241 | KFurtado@GoProvidence.com | www.GoProvidence.com
Discover Newport offers tour options and
experiences that provide the quintessential
New England experience.
• Rich Colonial and Gilded age history
• Walking tours, museums, and mansions
• Maritime legacy and harbor front activities
• One-of-a-kind shops and restaurants
• Celebrated architecture & cultural landmarks
Discover Newport
23 America’s Cup Avenue • Newport, R.I. 02840
800-326-6030 • 401-845-9119
Visit GoNewport.com to discover
the endless tour possibilities.
Contact: Alex Hurd, Tourism Sales Manager
alexh@GoNewport.com

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
4
What’s inside
Feature
22
Illinois
24 Itinerary — Seeking classic treasures
25 Oak Park
26 1950s Park Forest House Museum
27 Alton
Indiana
28 Itinerary — Centered in southern Indiana
29 Jackson County
32 Conner Prairie
33 Amish Acres
Iowa
34 Itinerary — A delightful day
35 Brucemore
36 Pella
Gateway to the West
Michigan
37 Itinerary — Superior delights
38 Detroit Institute of Arts
40 Gun Lake Casino
42 USS Silversides Submarine Museum
44 Chelsea Milling Company
46 The Croswell Opera House
48 Grand Hotel
49 Holland Museum and Tulip Time Festival
Arching about St. Louis
Great Lakes region
Minnesota
52 Itinerary — Great Lake explorations
53 Just a Jaunt in Alexandria
54 Cooks of Crocus Hill
Missouri
55 Itinerary — Central Missouri sampler
56 Branson Zipline Canopy Tours
57 Rolla
Ohio
58 Itinerary — Foodies and fashionistas
59 Dutchman Hospitality Group
60 Western Reserve Historical Society
66 Ohio History Center
Wisconsin
67 Itinerary — Boats, barns, vines and ale
68 National Historic Cheesemaking Center
69 Unique Wisconsin attractions
72 Milwaukee Public Museum
73 Monona Terrace

Feature
74
Connecticut
76 Itinerary — Connecticut River meanderings
77 Hill-Stead Museum
Maine
78 Itinerary — Wild Maine adventures
79 Portland Museum of Art
Massachusetts
80 Itinerary — Hubbing around
81 James Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
82 Boston Pops, Boston Symphony Orchestra
and Tanglewood
84 North Shore Music Theatre
86 The Berkshires — antiques
New Hampshire
87 Itinerary — Sappy experiences
88 America’s Stonehenge
88 North Country Center for the Arts
89 Inn at East Hill Farm
Rhode Island
90 Itinerary — Gluten-free eating
91 Matunuck Oyster Bar and Matunuck Oyster Farm
What’s inside
A sweet and sticky history
U.S. maple syrup capital takes pride
in its 100 percent pure and natural product
New England region
Vermont
92 Itinerary — Tasty highlights
93 Vermont quilting
94 Vermont Country Store
95 ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
91
February • March • April
5

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
6
What’s inside
Feature
96
Consecrated
land
Delaware
98 Itinerary — The du Ponts: Their legacy,
and the landscapes
99 Delaware festivals, fairs and special events
Maryland
100 Itinerary — Baltimore’s beginnings
101 Adkins Arboretum
102 The National Museum of Civil War Medicine
New Jersey
104 Itinerary — ‘Military Capital of the
American Revolution’
122
Gettysburg marks
150th anniversary of
battle and address with
yearlong commemoration
Mid-Atlantic region
105 Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
and Paterson Museum
106 Cape May birding
107 Thomas Edison National Historical Park
and The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park
108 Drumthwacket and New Jersey State House
New York
109 Itinerary — Soothing and scintillating
110 Madava Farms
112 The Hyde Collection
113 Metropolitan Museum of Art
114 Geva Theatre Center
115 Group Sales Box Offi ce/Broadway.com
Pennsylvania
116 Itinerary — Timeless treasures
117 Indiana County
118 City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
120 Greater Reading
122 Bucks County
124 University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms
Washington, D.C.
125 Itinerary — Civil War to civil rights
126 National Cherry Blossom Festival

Feature
128
Atlantic Canada
130 Itinerary — ‘Wooden ships and iron men’
131 Louisbourg
Ontario
132 Itinerary — Kingston’s rich culture
133 Shaw Festival
Quebec
135 Itinerary — Breathing in Montréal
136 Le Parcours Gourmand
137 Croisiéres AML
145 The Next Issue
146 Advertiser Index
131
Délicieux Laval
Montréal’s next-door neighbor
yields unexpected delights
What’s inside
Eastern Canada region
130
February • March • April
7

8
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Rick Martinez
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Producing on
agritourism’s bounty
FROM THE EDITOR
Full disclosure: I love farmers’ markets.
Really, I can’t get enough of them. Where I live in west Michigan, they are a yearround
target — particularly when my seasonal faves for vegetables and produce arrive
(note: asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, corn, pineapples and watermelon).
It was with great enthusiasm that I, please pardon the pun, dug into writing and
reporting this issue’s feature titled “Growing interests: Agricultural tours yield farmto-table
experiences.”
The reality is agritourism is more than visiting farms. It’s about the farm-to-table
experience, with such encounters and engagements found far and wide.
For groups wanting, perhaps, a simpler slice of agritourism, we point out eight
farmers’ market locales to visit in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada.
Other features in this issue are about Maine’s Schooner J.&E. Riggin (by Managing
Editor David Hoekman), Missouri’s St. Louis (by Senior Staff Writer Amanda
Black), New York’s Harlem Heritage Tours and Cultural Center (by Staff Writer Erin
Albanese), the 150th anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Civil War Battle of Gettysburg
(by Albanese), Quebéc’s Laval (by Black) and Vermont’s maple syrup (by Staff Writer
Lindsey Corso).
The Worldview international feature is about Puerto Rico. Titled “Puerto Rico
smooth: San Juan and beyond,” it shares about the food and frolic to be found on
the 110-by-35-mile U.S. territory. A note to Americans: No passports are needed
to visit.
This month’s “Travel Talk” guest column is about fi nding experiential opportunities
in the group market. It is written by Bill Kendrick, who operates Experience PEI
and Briarcliffe Inn Bed & Breakfast in Prince Edward Island along with his spouse,
Mary.
“Our defi nition of experience is learning by doing something with someone who
lives here,” Kendrick writes.
That sounds really good to me.
Connect with Group Tour Media on Facebook and Twitter
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Group Tour Magazine® USPS #016-239 is published four times per year in three different regionalized editions by Group Tour Media,
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Neal Shoemaker links his interest
in Harlem tourism back when a childhood
teacher told him to write an essay
on anything of interest.
He found a book on Harlem in the
library and fl ipping through the pages,
realized his hometown had a huge story
to tell.
“I recognized these buildings because
they were the buildings I lived in
and had lived in all my life,” he said.
The seed was planted.
Years later, Shoemaker, with basketball
in hand, was headed to the court. As
he waited to cross the street at the corner
of 116th Street — where Malcolm X once
stood — he joined a conversation with
Turkish visitors about the area’s history.
“They showed interest in what I had
to say,” he said.
An informal and impromptu tour ensued
with Shoemaker showing off Harlem’s
beloved eateries and historical sites.
He realized he was the perfect person
to show off Harlem. It was 1997, and the
area was poised to begin major restoration
efforts.
While keeping his job at Citibank at
fi rst, he started his tour company small,
with little overhead. It grew to include
many themes and options and opened
the Cultural Center.
Harlem Heritage Tours now has four
guides, all longtime Harlem residents.
The average size tour group is 15 to 25
people.
“When you walk on my tour, I know the
politicians, I know the movers and shakers,
I know the business owner and community
activists,” he said. “I try to make sure
all my guides know the importance of immersing
(groups) into the culture.”
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/sx70
Off the
Beaten Path
Their hearts are in Harlem
By Erin Albanese
Photo: Courtesy of Harlem Heritage Tours
Tour-goers on a Harlem Heritage tour stop for a little jazz.
Tour options include Harlem day
trips with themes including civil rights,
Harlem renaissance and Spanish Harlem.
Multimedia walking and bus tours integrate
walking the streets of Harlem with
audiovisual devices to be played at the site
where historic events occurred. Tours include
Harlem Movie/TV, Harlem Roots
of Hip Hop and Harlem Civil Rights.
Video and audio are presented
throughout the multimedia tours. The
civil rights tour, for example, brings the
pivotal era to life.
“You actually hear Malcolm X’s voice,
see the video of him standing where you
are standing. The whole idea is to make
the history pop off the page, to make it
feel like they are there,” he said.
“It’s my job to make them feel like it’s
happening again and to bring it to life.”
Shoemaker also offers Harlem Gospel
Walking Tours, which include a video
presentation at the Harlem Heritage
Tourism and Cultural Center explaining
the impact of religious leaders from the
area. The church service is followed by
a cultural walking tour showcasing the
Neighborhood natives lead
New York heritage
tours
impact that church has on community
in Harlem.
Music is a major part of the area’s
fabric, and it’s all about jazz on Harlem
Night Tours including Harlem Jazz/Music
Bar Hop and Jazz Nights in Harlem.
Hip Hop Tours include the Multimedia
Basketball/Hip Hop Walking
Tour and The Roots of Hip Hop Multimedia
Bus Tour.
The Spanish Harlem Walking Tour
explores the history and evolution of
salsa music and its innovators. The Multimedia
Bus Tour provides an in-depth
look at sites vibrant with Latino culture.
Shoemaker acquired a storefront for
the Cultural Center in 2006, and it became
fully operational in 2010. The center
hosts cultural programs, fi lm series
and community events.
“It’s all about supporting culture locally
and globally,” he said. “The idea is
to mix those two things.”
Community partners include Schomburg
Center for Research in Black Culture
and the Apollo Theatre
“Harlem has been revitalized to a tremendous
degree. It is not the Harlem of
old,” Shoemaker said.
Locals have also taken on a growing
interest in historic preservation, he said.
He’s witnessed many profound moments
during the tours: people brought
to tears by jazz melodies, and people
uniting over a common bond or the area’s
vibrancy.
“This is not just a tour; this is a lifeenhancing
experience,” Shoemaker said.•
Harlem Heritage Tours & Cultural Center
(212) 280-7888
www.harlemheritage.com
February • March • April
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Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
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Theodore Roosevelt’s Long Island home
undergoes $6.2 million in renovations
Work has started on a $6.2 million rehabilitation project on Sagamore
Hill, Theodore Roosevelt’s family home in Oyster Bay, N.Y. The three-year
project will give the home a comprehensive interior and exterior rehabilitation
of its architectural and structural elements, from its roof to the
foundation.
The visitor center, museum, outbuildings and nature trail will remain
open, and public programs will continue.
Several new programs include talks on the site as a working farm,
illustrated programs, self-guided cellular phone tours and an 18-minute
narrated video tour of the Roosevelt home which takes visitors room by
room through the house. (516) 922-4788, www.nps.gov/sahi
Holocaust Memorial Museum
marks 20th anniversary
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in
Washington, D.C., is planning 20th anniversary commemoration
events on the National Mall in Washington,
in four U.S. cities and in communities nationwide.
The museum’s anniversary theme, “Never Again. What
You Do Matters,” asks the U.S. to renew its pledge to
honor Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans and
challenges today’s generations to act on the lessons of the
Holocaust and fulfi ll the promise of “Never Again.”
On April 28–29, the National Tribute to Holocaust
Survivors and World War II Veterans in Washington, D.C.,
will bring together survivors, World War II veterans and
their families.
All events are free for Holocaust survivors and World
War II veterans, but registration is required.
At the National Tribute Dinner on April 28, the museum
will present its highest honor, the Elie Wiesel Award,
to two people: Wladyslaw Bartoszewski of Poland, on
behalf of all rescuers and in recognition of his actions
saving Jews during the Holocaust, and Susan Eisenhower,
granddaughter of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who will
accept the medal on behalf of all World War II veterans.
(866) 998-7466 , www.ushmm.org/neveragain
Photo: D.B. King
Rendez-vous Canada 2013 hits
Ottawa Convention Center in May
Dial in Ottawa for 2013, with Rendez-vous Canada
taking place in the Canadian capital May 12–15.
The Vancouver-based Canadian Tourism Commission
(CTC) organizes Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), Canada’s
go-to marketplace for the domestic and international
tourism industry.
The CTC estimates more than 1,500 delegates will
head for the Ottawa Convention Centre to do RVC business.
RVC provides a fast-paced and effi cient way for
international buyers to meet hundreds of Canadian tourism
businesses and services, as well as travel-trade media.
“Rendez-vous Canada is an excellent vehicle for raising
awareness of Canada as a distinctive destination to
international travellers,” said Charles McKee, CTC vicepresident,
International, in a statement. (613) 238-4080,
http://rendezvouscanada.travel/
Old State House marks 300 years
What is known today as the Old State House in Boston
is a place of revolutionary American history.
The Revolutionary-era museum, Boston’s oldest surviving
public structure, is marking its 300th anniversary.
Opened on May 5, 1713, the Old State House is celebrating
May 3-4 with a festival including music, activities,
lectures, re-enactors and food. In June, Great Britain’s
original copy of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the
French & Indian War, is to be on display.
The center of Boston civic life in the 18th century, it
was where Samuel Adams, John Hancock, John Adams
and others debated the future of the British colonies. It
was where fi ve men were killed in the Boston Massacre. It
was Massachusetts’ fi rst state house. In 1881, it was nearly
relocated to Chicago until the Bostonian Society saved it.
Group programs and tours are available. (617) 720-
1713, ext. 27, www.bostonhistory.org/?s=osh
Photo: National Park Service

Fields of Lupine Festival celebrates
20 years in New Hampshire
The Fields of Lupine Festival in Sugar Hill, N.H., is
marking its 20th year in June.
To honor the milestone, the festival is producing a
new display of photographers’ works highlighting its run.
The festival runs 17 days — June 1 to 16 — in the
greater Franconia Notch area.
(603) 823-5661, www.franconianotch.org
Paramount Theatre re-opens
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
The Paramount Theatre, located in Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, re-opened after 4½ years of renovations. Heavily
damaged by the fl ood of 2008, the theater was restored
with the $35 million project.
The half-block long Hall of Mirrors, the grand staircase
and architectural details have been restored. More
legroom was added and seats were widened to bring
capacity to just under 1,700.
After four seasons performing outside its home,
Orchestra Iowa made its return to the theater. (800)
WV.NEGTP 369-8863, Jan www.paramounttheatrecr.com
2013_Layout 5 12/12/12 11:30 AM Page 1
Group Tours Always Welcome
Open at 11am Daily
Plenty of Coach Parking
Traditional New England seafood at
its very best! Chicken, pasta, steaks and
other specialties for land-lubbers too!
BEST
ONION
RINGS
Convenient Locations
Throughout New England
For restaurant locations, menus and
additional information visit
www.weathervaneseafoods.com
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Spring Gatherings
This spring at a Holiday Inn Club Vacations® resort, discover a picture-perfect
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Baltimore Museum of Art
celebrates contemporary art
The Baltimore Museum of Art unveiled a new look
when it reopened the contemporary wing, completing
the fi rst phase of its $24.5 million renovation.
The new space features 16 refreshed and revitalized
galleries showcasing masterworks by Robert Rauschenberg
and Andy Warhol alongside more than a dozen new
acquisitions created by established and emerging artists
working today.
Highlights of the project also include a major architectural
intervention by artist Sarah Oppenheimer; three
new exhibitions; a new black box gallery for light, sound,
and moving image works; two new interactive galleries;
and the museum’s fi rst mobile art guide for the collection.
In addition to the new presentation of the contemporary
wing, the BMA’s $24.5 million renovation includes
the reinstallation of its American and African collections,
and improvements to the lobby to enhance the visitor
experience.
The project should be completed during the museum’s
100th anniversary in 2014. (443) 573-1703, www.artbma.
org
12-MRP-1112
February • March • April
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Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
12
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‘God, Country, Notre Dame’ exhibit chronicles
Hesburgh presidency
A new exhibit at the Center for History in South Bend, Ind., chronicles the
35 years that the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, was president of the University
of Notre Dame.
“God, Country, Notre Dame” is the inaugural exhibit of the newly-relocated
Ernestine M. Raclin Gallery of Notre Dame History. The exhibit uses
artifacts, photographs and two videos to tell the story of Hesburgh’s leadership
from 1952 to 1987 and the university’s growth during his tenure.
The exhibit is on view through Aug. 4.
The Center for History includes two historic houses and offers guided
group tours. (574) 235-9664, ext. 239, www.centerforhistory.org
Southwest Airlines expands with
Chicago-to-Branson, Mo., route
Southwest Airlines announced it is adding a 79th destination to its route
map with service to Branson, Mo., from Chicago beginning on March 9.
The Branson Airport, which opened in 2009, is 10 miles south of the
Branson Strip. The airport and 58,000-square foot terminal have the capacity
to handle more than 1 million enplanements annually. (877) 272-6766, www.
explorebranson.com
Choose Chicago takes charge for city’s tourism
Choose Chicago, the new offi cial tourism organization for Chicago, has
launched with a streamlined organizational structure, new international offi
ces and a renewed focus on attracting out-of-market visitors to Chicago.
The tourism organization
combines the
Chicago Convention
and Tourism Bureau
and the tourism portion
of Chicago Offi ce
of Tourism and Culture.
The reduction in overlapping
services and
costs is saving about $2
million a year, which
is being reinvested in
marketing and advertising
efforts.
One of the fi rst
orders of business for
Choose Chicago was
to improve the city’s
visitor centers. Teams
of tourism ambassadors
are outfi tted with iPads,
ready to assist tourists
on Michigan Avenue
outside the Cultural
Center and on North
Michigan Avenue outside the other visitor center at Chicago WaterWorks.
(312) 567-8500, www.choosechicago.com
Photo: Choose Chicago
Broad Art Museum
opens at Michigan
State University
The Eli and Edythe Broad Art
Museum opened late last year on the
campus of Michigan State University
(MSU) in East Lansing, Mich.
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning
architect Zaha Hadid, the museum’s
contemporary works are presented
within a historical context through access
to a study collection of more than
7,500 objects, ranging from the Greek
and Roman periods to modern art.
The museum is named in honor
of MSU alumnus Eli Broad and his
wife, Edythe, longtime supporters of
the university. They provided the lead
gift of $28 million for the museum.
During the dedication, MSU
President Lou Anna K. Simon announced
the museum offi cially met
its fundraising goal of $40 million.
Art museum tours are provided
for a variety of audiences. (517) 884-
3900, http://broadmuseum.msu.edu
DVD promotes
Lake George area
The Warren County Tourism
Department in Lake George, N.Y.,
has produced a new group tour DVD
to assist in promoting multi-day and
stopover visits to the Lake George
area in New York’s Adirondacks.
The one-minute video highlights
attractions, recreation, lodging facilities,
eateries and events and provides
suggestions for group planners, said
Tanya Brand, the group tour promoter
for the Warren County Tourism
Department. www.visitlakegeorge.
com, (800) 365-1050.
Photo: G.L. Kohuth/©2012 Michigan State
University Board of Trustees

Wisconsin 400 State Bike Trail celebrating 20th anniversary
The 22-mile long 400 State Bike Trail is marking 20 years
on June 8.
The anniversary is being feted with celebrations in the
fi ve Wisconsin towns — Reedsburg, LaValle, Wonewoc,
Union Center and Elroy.
Developed on an abandoned Chicago-Northwestern
Railroad right-of-way, the trail is named for the Chicago-
Toronto’s Edgewalk attraction
takes visitors on edge of CN Tower
If you’re scared of heights, take a deep breath before taking the Edgewalk
at CN Tower.
With guests dangling 1,168 feet above Toronto, it’s an experience to thrill
the senses and fray the nerves. The 1½-hour experience includes a 20- to
30-minute outdoor walk.
“It all started with the tower’s business development team. We asked, ‘What
can we do that’s different, exciting and attractive to all our markets?,’” said
Jack Robinson, CN Tower’s chief operating offi cer. “We knew there was a high
walk in New Zealand and another in China. Both of those are around 600
feet up, so how could we do the same at 1,200 feet? We pulled together a team
of architects, engineers and marketers and came up with the concept of the
EdgeWalk.”
Launched in August 2011 with an abbreviated run, it was open from May
2012 through Jan. 6, 2013, for its 2012 season. It opens for its third season in
April.
Participants must be at least 13 years old and weigh between 34 kilograms
(75 pounds) and 140 kilograms (310 pounds).
Group packages for a regular CN Tower visit can include the motion simulator
ride Himalamazon and dining. (855) 553-3833, (416) 601-3833, www.
edgewalkcntower.ca
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to-Minneapolis/St. Paul passenger train route that
covered 400 miles.
The four-season trail runs alongside portions of the
Client: Ontario Motor Coach Association prOjeCt: 2.25” W x 7.25” H ad
Baraboo River and includes a publiCAtiOn: parallel Group 7-mile tour Magazine horse trail
between Wonewoc and LaValle, said Bruce Duckworth,
the trail’s Reedsburg ©radonicrodgersdesign+marketing
coordinator. (800) 844-3507,
www.400statetrail.org
310 north queen street, suite 203, toronto, ontario, Canada M9C5K4
TEL: 416.695.0575 • 24/7 EMERGENCY TEL: 416.829.7236
EMAIL: 247EMERG@RAdoNICRodGERs.CoM
Photo: Courtesy of CN Tower
ConferenCe and MarketplaCe
better,
together
nov 3rd - nov 6th, 2013
Westin harbour Castle, toronto, ontario
the preMier event in Canada
for north aMeriCan paCkaged
group and fit travel.
• Business ContaCts
• 95% of delegates Booked Business
• tour Buyers and sellers from all
over north ameriCa
don’t Miss
oMCa 2013 in toronto
nov 3rd - nov 6th, 2013!
visit WWW.oMCa.CoM for details
416-229-6622
Reader Service Card #227
oMCA-GrpTrAd-12000_FNL.indd 1 sep 28, 2012 4:49 PM
February • March • April
13

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
14
How would you spend
an extra $100?
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/apcuk
Just complete the Reader Service Card and send it in.
you could win a
$100 prepaid
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You can also submit your card
online at www.grouptour.com/freeinfo
or fax it to 616-393-0085.
send it in
& win!
All valid Reader Service Cards
will be entered in a drawing
for a $100 prepaid gift card.
Cards must be received by March 15, 2013
to be entered in this issue’s drawing.

What’s for
Dinner?
Cooking on Penobscot Bay
Chef Annie Mahle prepares stylish comfort foods
aboard Schooner J. & E. Riggin
The Schooner J. & E. Riggin is a majestic
two-masted Maine windjammer
that sails out of Rockland, Maine.
The vessel serves authentic sailing adventure
from the end of May to the end
of October. It’s the ultimate slow food experience
in the middle of Penobscot Bay.
Chef Annie Mahle’s meals are one of
the reasons why people come back to sail,
year after year.
Aboard a 24-passenger wooden sailing
boat built in 1927, your group can
eat poached salmon and a chilled roasted
beet salad.
That is amazing considering Mahle is
cooking in a tiny galley. There’s no walkin
refrigerator, and the stove burns wood.
When the 120-foot schooner is sailing
on a three- to six-day cruise or charter,
there’s no running to the garden or the
market to get an ingredient that you forgot.
“Our motto is ‘If we don’t have it, we
don’t need it,’” Mahle said.
“If we forgot it, I have to fi gure out
how to do something else, which is fi ne.
I’ve gotten very adept at that.”
All the fresh foodstuffs are loaded just
before the schooner departs from Rockland.
Half the vegetables that come aboard
are from Mahle’s garden. The remainder
are from community-supported agriculture
shares, and the eggs come from the
family’s chickens.
“I’m not really planning the menu
until I see all of that produce in one place
and I’m able to feel it and touch it and
Photo: Schooner J. & E. Riggin
By David Hoekman
Photo: Schooner J. & E. Riggin
Chef Annie Mahle works in the small galley
of the Schooner J. & E. Riggin.
smell it,” Mahle said.
The menus depend on the ingredients
available and the weather.
On really hot summer days, she may
serve gazpacho and cold soups. When it’s
chilly out on the water, Mahle prepares
warm soup or a stew.
“I describe my food as swanky comfort
food,” she said.
On the evening on the fi rst day of a
trip, guests get poached salmon with a
mango-cilantro salsa, herb bread from the
oven, basmati rice and fresh vegetables.
Mahle views the galley’s wood stove
as a colleague.
“It is a vehicle for all kinds of fl avor,”
she said. “I don’t think of it as an ancient
behemoth that I butt heads with all the
time. It is my partner in building fl avor.”
Dessert the fi rst night of a trip could
be a berry dish, either a galette or a cobbler
or strawberry shortcake or strawberry-rhubarb
shortcake.
Berries are fi rst on the menu because
they are more perishable than the other
foods.
“I pack my refrigerator like an archaeological
dig,” Mahle said. “The stuff
that we are going to use fi rst is on top and
what we are going to use on the last day is
on the bottom.”
The schooner’s captains are Jon Finger,
Mahle’s husband, and Mahle. The couple’s
two girls sail with them and the crew.
Passengers are welcome to help pull
lines for the sails or chop vegetables in
the galley.
In addition to its regular trips, the
schooner can do charters for groups and
adjust to any specifi cations.
Finger and Mahle’s goal is to have
people feel nourished and fed. That’s not
just in a physical way, but also in a spiritual
or soulful way so they are relaxed and
rejuvenated when the cruise is fi nished.
“All of us deserve time when we’re
not doing 15 things. This is one of those
places,” Mahle said. “It’s timeless and
simple and real. It’s authentic.”•
Schooner J. & E. Riggin
(800) 869-0604
www.mainewindjammer.com
A lobster bake on an
island is one of the
highlights of a cruise
aboard the Schooner
J. & E. Riggin.
February • March • April April April
15

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
16
A pumpkin patch. An orchard. A
blueberry hill. A creamery. A cider mill.
A plant nursery. A tree farm. A winery.
A dairy farm.
Hayrides. Corn mazes. Roadside farm
stands. U-picks. Ag festivals. County fairs.
Crop tours. Vineyard tours.
Eco-tourism. Farm-to-table. Sustainable
agriculture.
Farmhouse stays. Dude ranches.
All fi t the bill under agricultural tourism
or agritourism.
There is nothing completely new
about this type of group travel, whether
staying on a farm or sampling the rural
offerings of agricultural properties or lifestyle
of the people who tend the crops and
livestock. It’s about experiences.
Groups have been visiting vineyards,
ranches and farms for decades. The farmto-table
movement has heightened that
awareness and desire.
Agritourism’s draw is about the land,
the lifestyles and the local approach. The
interactions and learning are about where
food comes from. It’s about the countryside,
fresh air and being up with what’s
down on the farm.
It’s a movement that has increased as
farmers, particularly those with family
operations, work on ways to keep their
farms operating. While many farms welcome
visiting groups, the goal is more
about fostering a deeper understanding
of farming process with hands-on experiences
and education, said Richard
Buck, who owns Guelph, Ontario-based
AgriToursCanada and has been providing
tour packages and programs for
groups since 1982.
Photo: Richard Walker
A historical interpreter shares hands-on
details with a visitor at The Farmers’ Museum
in Cooperstown, N.Y.
“There’s two different types of agritourism.
... Some of it is more for pure
farmers who want to learn from other
farmers, such as some who might want
to see farms in Ontario and then visit Niagara
Falls. The other is about (people)
who want to go out on a farm and learn
some things … about their food and how
it gets to them.”
It’s all about getting close-up, he said.
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/akaplummer
GROWING INTEREST
Agricultural tours yield farm-to-table experiences
By Rick Martinez
In Delaware, Delaware Agritourism
Association launched a harvest trail last
fall at 17 farms.
In southeast Ohio, the Athens County
Visitors Bureau and Appalachian Center
for Economic Networks have 130 partners
on the 30 Mile Meal, which promotes
local foods and highlights locally-grown
on restaurant menus.
In Ontario, Tourism Oxford has made
a concerted effort to tap into Oxford
County’s rural roots with homegrown
and homespun offerings geared toward
groups, tourism specialist Cathy Bingham
said.
Groups are drawn to such places because
of what agricultural experiences
lend. There is a magnetism in picking
fruits and vegetables, feeding animals and
navigating corn mazes.
About 10 percent of Americans and
about 5 percent of Canadians took part in
an agritourism activity while on an overnight
trip of one or more days, according
to the Travel Activity and Motivation
Survey (TAMS) done in 2006 by the Canadian
Tourism Commission. The same
report, the most recent available, showed
nearly a quarter of Americans said it was
their prime reason for taking the trip.
According to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, the
most recent done in 2007, there were

23,350 farms providing agritourism and
recreation services in the United States.
“Really, for the majority of our agritours,
they’re really looking to do
any number of things,” said Jennifer
Dentlinger, of Carroll, Iowa-based
Star Destinations, which offers ag tours
through its AgriExperiences program.
“It sort of goes in spurts with leisure
groups. For a long time, wineries were the
push. Now, it is something along the lines
of visiting greenhouses and nurseries and
farmers markets.”
Jaye Beeler is a Grand Rapids, Mich.,
food writer who spent more than a year
working with photographer Dianne Carol
Burdick on Tasting and Touring Michigan’s
Homegrown Food: A Culinary Roadtrip,
published last year by Arbutus Press
of Traverse City, Mich.
“The local food scene, of course, is
only one slice of that big agri-business pie.
It might be the most delicious slice,” Beeler
said. “Discover the homegrown food
culture. The way I see it, it’s a sumptuous
search worth celebrating three times a day
— when you eat.”
Milked adventures
Fair Oaks Farms is a quintessential
place to embrace dairy farming.
Located in northwest Indiana in Fair
Oaks near Winamac, Fair Oaks Farms offers
its Adventure Center, Birthing Barn
(with a 300-seat auditorium), Cheese
Factory with cafe and gift shop and products
including artisan cheeses, butter and
gourmet food baskets and Mooville playground.
This summer, Fair Oaks Farms is
opening Pig Adventure, a pig farm about
1½ miles from the Adventure Center,
marketing director Leslie Rusk.
Owned by five families — Bos, den
Dulk, McCloskey, Schakel and Van Ravenswaay
— Fair Oaks has nine working family
farms covering about 27,000 acres. It
has nearly 30,000 Holstein cows and ships
330,000 gallons of milk to packagers daily.
Fair Oaks offers group tours for parties
of 20 or more people with a discounted
rate and self-guided tours. The
Dairy Adventure group tour is three
hours, with a behind-the-scenes look at a
working dairy with 30 minutes for lunch.
The Pig Adventure is to offer separate
visits and tours with a combination fee
Photo: Fair Oaks Farms
Dairy cows feed while a tour bus takes visitors though a dairy barn at Fair Oaks Farms in Fair Oaks, Ind.
for Fair Oaks’ other offerings, Rusk said.
Tour reservations must be made in advance.
Lunches, milk and ice cream must
be ordered at least two weeks in advance
of a visit.
Dairy farming can be embraced on a
more intimate scale in Nashville, Mich.
Moo-ville Creamery offers two-hour
group tours from April to October and a
petting zoo, with its dairy store open yearround.
It is an outgrowth of Westvale-
VU Dairy Farm, an 80-head dairy farm
owned by Doug and Louisa Westendorp
for 15 years.
Photo: Seed Savers Exchange
Heritage Farm is a 890-acre
living museum in Decorah, Iowa.
Ag heritage
Agricultural heritage is feted and
chronicled in places big and small and rural,
suburban and urban.
Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage
Area in northeast Iowa, for instance,
covers 112 sites in 37 counties.
“There’s a lot of opportunities for
groups,” said Aaron Steinmann, marketing
and communications manager for Silos
& Smokestacks.
The area, one of 49 federally-designated
National Heritage Areas operated
by the National Park Service in the U.S.,
includes dairy farms, vineyards, tractor
assembly tours and museums.
Silos & Smokestacks just added
Strawberry Hill Farm & Garden, an 11acre
working dairy goat farm in Strawberry
Point that offers guided tours yearround,
and Dubuque Museum of Art,
which features the world’s largest collections
of artwork by Grant Wood and
Edward S. Curtis’ photogravures of the
North American Indian, Steinmann said.
Other heritage area sites include the
64-mile Barn Quilts of Grundy County
loop, showcasing 50 colorful quilt
blocks painted on the side of barns and
other buildings; Hansen’s Dairy, a Hudson
farm with seasonal activities including
milking cows, feeding calves and
making butter with tours and trolley
rides; Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch, which
offers wagon tours and special dinner
on its Fredericksburg spread; and John
Deere Co. Tractor Works in Waterloo.
Living History Farms in Urbandale
and Heritage Farm, the headquarters of
the Seed Savers Exchange, near Decorah,
also host historical ag experiences.
In New York state, farming heritage
gets celebrated in places like Cooperstown
and Glen Oaks.
The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown
includes a working farm circa 1845
at Village Crossroad, a living-history museum
with exhibits, craft demonstrations
and hands-on. Tours are also offered at
nearby Critz Farms, with maple syrup
making, apple and pumpkin picking, a
picnic area and a petting zoo.
In Glen Oaks, 17th-century farm
life is the focal point at historic 47-acre
Queens County Farm Museum, a working
farm with a greenhouse, fields, livestock,
hayrides, festivals and tours.
February • March • April
17

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
18
Photo: Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area
Park Farm Winery in Bankston, Iowa, uses grapes to produce red and white wines; educates about winemaking;
and offers self-guided vineyard tours. It is part of Silo & Smokestacks National Heritage Area.
Vineyard adventures
New Jersey is known as the Garden
State, and for good reason.
As the top U.S. state in the percentage
of farm revenue earned from agritourism,
more than 20 percent of New Jersey farms
offer agritourism, according to Rutgers
University. The New Jersey Department
of Agriculture promotes agritourism under
the Jersey Fresh banner.
Besides farmers’ markets dotting
the state, another New Jersey draw is its
more than 40 wineries — many with
group options.
Heritage Vineyards is an estate winery
and vineyards in Mullica Hill with a
tasting room, wine bar, tours and a walking
trail augmented by apple, cherry and
peach orchards and a seasonal pumpkin
patch. Since 1853, six generations of the
Heritage family have farmed fruits —
apples, peaches and grapes — on the
150-acre estate.
Cape May Winery & Vineyard has four
vineyards covering more than 150 acres
and growing 16 different grape varieties,
with group tastings and tours. Four Sisters
Winery at Matarazzo Farms in Belvidere
is a 250-acre working farm that hosts
cooking seminars, barefoot grape stomping
parties and pig roasts.
Sampling the goods
Agriculture, farming and food are keystones
to Nova Scotia’s heritage.
Places like Beaver Brook, Bridgewater,
Centreville, Grand Pré, Greenwich,
New Ross, Port Williams and Truro
share the local bounty. The Evangeline
Trail parallels the Bay of Fundy coast
in western Nova Scotia and is rife with
markets and farms.
Between the Bushes Restaurant in
Centreville is a rural eatery surrounded
by the more than 60-acre Blueberry Acres
high-bush blueberry fi elds. Between the
Bushes is big on its fi eld-to-fork program
feting Annapolis Valley producers, with
its own selections of Country Magic chutneys,
vinaigrettes, spreads and blueberry
juice. Owner Nova Agri Associates Ltd.
also operates a u-pick for Blueberry Acres.
Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich
has a year-round farm market and a
working farm with 175 acres of orchards
of apples, peaches, pears, plums and raspberries
along the banks of the Cornwallis
River and 80 acres of crops. Operated by
the Bishop family, Noggins dates to 1780
and also offers a dairy, feed store, 3-kilometer
(2-mile) trail, geocaching, seasonal
corn maze and its heirloom apple varieties
are used by Tideview Cider.
Ross Farm Museum in New Ross is a
fully operational mid-1800s farm operating
year-round with a Country Market
on Saturday from June to October and its
Pedlar’s Shop. Group tours with reservations
and self-guided tours are available,
with a recommended visit of 1½ to 3
hours.
In Ontario’s Oxford County, agriculture
is woven throughout.
Groups can take special tours of Oxford
County farms, shops, markets and
kitchens with Simple Food with Jed’s chef
Jed Lau.
Leaping Deer Adventure Farm & Market
Country Store in Ingersoll and Snyder’s
Family Farm in Bright offer tours
and special events. Jakeman’s Maple
Photo: Matthew Gates, Ross Farm Museum
Ross Farm Museum is a 19th-century living history
agricultural museum in New Ross, Nova Scotia.
Farm in Sweaburg and Oxford Honey
& Supplies near Burgessville are focused
on namesake products. There is artisan
cheese at Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese and
Dairy Capital Cheese Shoppe Deli & Café
in Woodstock. Tour and taste at Birtch
Farms Estate & Winery in Woodstock.
The works of self-taught Canadian agricultural
artist Ross Butler, who died in
1995 at the age of 88, are on display at
Ross Butler Studio in Woodstock.

Farm vacations
Bonnie Schubert operates Hummerhaven
Farmstead in Millerstown, Pa., one
of 18 properties that comprise Pennsylvania
Farm Vacations.
When she once told a guest about a
cow that had not been bred and was not
in milk production, they replied: “No
problem; my milk comes from bottles,
not cows.”
Schubert says: “We just try to add
some common sense to guests’ worldly
wisdom. We try to have fun and kindly
explain what life on a farm is all about.”
At Mountain Dale Farm in McClure,
Pa., the daily chores always include time
for questions.
“Frequently guests will say, ‘I have
learned more in the last hour than I have
learned in a long time,’” said Sally Hassinger,
Mountain Dale’s owner.
With nine cottages sleeping up to
14 people and four farmhouse rooms,
Mountain Dale Farm accommodates
groups.
Maple syrup
and cranberries
Vermont is known for its maple syrup.
Massachusetts is known for its cranberry
bogs. Big events help draw visiting
groups for both.
The Vermont Maple Open House
Weekend is an annual March event held
across Vermont, which has more than
2,000 maple producers and has a maple
season running from March to mid-
April. Coordinated by the Vermont Maple
Sugar Makers’ Association, this year’s
event is March 23 and 24 with syrup
making tours, horse-drawn wagon rides
and maple products.
In Wareham, Mass., the Cape Cod
Cranberry Growers’ Association co-sponsors
at Cranberry Harvest Celebration the
fi rst weekend in October at A.D. Makepeace
Co. The events include cranberry
bog tours, pony rides, cooking demonstrations
and juried crafters and artisans.
The 10th annual celebration is this year.•
A crew harvests cranberries
on Massachusetts’
Nantucket Island.
Syrup photo: ©iStockphoto.com/demypic
Agricultural Tour
Operators International
+61 2 6773 2714
www.atoi.org
AgriTours Canada
(877) 638-5742
(519) 826-4077
www.agritourscanada.com
Between the Bushes
Restaurant & Blueberry Acres
(902) 582-3648
www.betweenthebushes.ca
Brand USA
www.discoveramerica.com
Canadian Tourism Commission
www.canada.travel
Cranberry Harvest Celebration
(508) 322-4000
www.cranberryharvest.org
Delaware Agritourism
Association
www.delawareagritourism.org
Fair Oaks Farms
(877) 536-1194
(219) 394-2025
www.fofarms.com/en/visit_us
Garden State Wine Growers
Association
(609) 588-0085
www.newjerseywines.com
Michigan Agri-Tourism
Association
(866) 964-3628
www.michiganfarmfun.com
Moo-ville Creamery
(517) 852-9003
http://moo-ville.com
New York State
Division of Tourism
(800) 225-5696
www.iloveny.com
Photo: Michael Galvin
Noggins Corner
Farm Market
(902) 542-5515
www.nogginsfarm.ca
Nova Scotia Tourism
(902) 424-5037
www.novascotia.com/en
Pennsylvania Farm
Vacations
(888) 856-6622
www.pafarmstay.com
Ross Farm Museum
(877) 689-2210
(902) 689-2210
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/rfm/
Star Destinations
(800) 284-4440
(712) 792-9793
www.stardestinations.com
The Farmers’ Museum
(888) 547-1450
(607) 547-1450
www.farmersmuseum.org
The 30 Mile Meal/
Athens County
Visitors Bureau
(800) 878-9767
(740) 592-1819
www.athensohio.com/30mile
Tourism Oxford
(866) 801-7368
(519) 539-9800
www.tourismoxford.ca
Valley Tourism
www.valleytourism.ca
Vermont Maple Sugar
Makers’ Association
www.vermontmaple.org
Visit NJ Farms
www.visitnjfarms.org
February • March • April
19

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
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Ann Arbor, Mich.
e Ann Arbor Farmers’
Market has been planted
in the historic Kerrytown
district of Ann Arbor, Mich.,
since 1919. With more
than 140 vendors, it is open
Wednesdays and Saturdays
and features locally-grown
produce and plants and
specialty foods, arts, cra s
and other items. e market
o ers group orientations and
tours with advance notice,
said Sarah DeWitt, market
manager. On Sundays at the
same 315 Detroit St. location
is e Sunday Artisan
Market, which features more
than 60 artists and cra speople
from the last weekend in
April through the weekend
before Christmas. Kerrytown
Market & Shops, with
21 merchants, and Shops at
Market Place, are both adjacent
to Ann Arbor Farmers’
Market.
(734) 794-6255
www.a2gov.org/market
(734) 913-9622
http://artisanmarket.org
(734) 662-5008
www.kerrytown.com
www.kerrytown.org
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/DOUGBERRY
markets
Farmers’ markets are available far and wide in the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s a sampling of eight cities with year-round group-friendly urban markets that
o o er farm-produced goods and more in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada:
Madison, Wis.
Dane County Farmers’
Market on the Square has
been merging the urban and
rural o erings of Madison,
Wis., since 1972. Open
Saturdays on the grounds of
the Wisconsin State Capitol
from late April through
November, the market has
more than 160 vendors with
more than 300 throughout
the year taking part. Group
visits can include a 15- to
20-minute introduction-andquestion
session scheduled
in advance, Market Manager
Larry Johnson said. Dane
County Farmers’ Market also
has sites indoors at Madison
Senior Center on Saturdays
from January through
mid-April; in the 200 block
of Martin Luther King Jr.
Boulevard on Wednesdays
from late April through early
November; and indoors on
Saturdays at Monona Terrace
from mid-November
through December at
Monona Terrace.
Ann Arbor, Mich. Madison, Wis.
(608) 455-1999
http://dcfm.org
8 year-round
farmer’s
Boston
Also known as Quincy
Market, Fanueil Hall Marketplace
is located on Boston’s
historic waterfront near the
New England Aquarium and
City Hall. Founded in 1742
by Peter Fanueil as Boston’s
central marketplace for
crops and livestock, Fanueil
Hall includes 49 shops, 18
restaurants and pubs, 35
Colonnade eateries and 44
pushcart vendors in addition
to street performers and
a spot along the Freedom
Trail. Fanueil Hall o ers a
meal voucher program for
groups. With its central
downtown location, Fanueil
Hall hosts many special
programs, performances and
events year-round.
(617) 523-1300
www.faneuilhallmarketplace.com
Ottawa
ByWard Market in Ottawa
is a historic farmers’ market
and shopping district by
day, and is a gathering place
with nightclubs and restaurants
evenings. Located just
east of Parliament Hill, it
was established in 1826 by
Lt. Col. John By, who also
built the Rideau Canal. e
four-block area includes a
farmers’ market, artisans,
specialty food stores, cafes,
museums, shops, galleries
and gathering spaces. Considered
Ottawa’s top tourist
attraction, it has 260 stands
and 500 businesses that include
108 restaurants and 35
retail food establishments.
(613) 562-3325
www.byward-market.com

New York
While there are 54 Greenmarkets
farmers’ markets
in New York, Union Square
Greenmarket is its flagship.
Union Square is open every
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
and Saturday in Manhattan’s
Union Square Park
on Broadway at East 17th
Street. Started in 1976, the
market offers as many as
140 vendors offering fresh
fruits and vegetables, meats,
cheeses, artisan breads, jams,
pickles, flowers, plants, wine,
ciders, maple syrup and
more. Union Square Greenmarket
is directly affiliated
with GrowNYC’s Greenmarket
program of markets and
more than 230 family farms.
Weekly and special events
and activities including
cooking demonstrations are
available, said Cheryl Huber,
Greenmarket assistant director.
Many farmers selling at
the markets offer visitation
opportunities on their farms,
including pick-your-own,
tours, festivals and dinners,
she said.
(212) 788-7476
www.grownyc.org/unionsquare
greenmarket
(212) 788-7900
www.grownyc.org/ourmarket
Cleveland
North Union Farmers
Market’s flagship Shaker
Square Market in Cleveland
champions northeast Ohio
agricultural producers. Started
in 1995 and having more
than 150 vendors, Shaker
Square operates on Saturday
mornings from January
through March indoors and
April to December outdoors.
Group visits include specialized
tours and samplings,
said Donita Anderson, North
Union’s executive director.
The idea for the market was
that of Anderson, a biologist
and chef who was part
of a food co-op in Traverse
City, Mich. North Union also
operates markets at Cleveland
Clinic, Cleveland State
University, Chagrin Falls and
Crocker Park. There are 30
farmers’ markets operating
in greater Cleveland, according
to Local Food Cleveland.
Those include the yearround
Downtown Farmers’
Market outside on Public
Square from June through
October and indoors at Fifth
Street Arcades from November
to May.
(216) 751-7656
www.northunionfarmersmarket.org
(440) 821-0254
http://downtownclevelandmarket.
blogspot.com/
www.localfoodcleveland.org/
farmersmarkets
Philadelphia
Reading Terminal Market
is Philadelphia’s historic
farmers’ market. Located in
a complex of buildings in
Philadelphia Center City’s
Market East locale, it just
completed a renovations
project last summer. Established
in 1892 at 12th and
Arch streets, Reading Terminal
claims to be the oldest
continuously operating farmers’
market in the U.S. Open
seven days a week with more
than 100 vendors, the market
is wide-ranging in its array
of ethnic, Philadelphia and
traditional American fare.
The market features bakeries,
beverages, dairy, cheese,
farm stands, flowers, plants,
housewares, books, crafts,
gifts, meat, poultry, produce,
specialty foods, seafood,
restaurants and Pennsylvania
Dutch merchants. Sit-down
eateries are located throughout,
and three vendors are
descendants of their original
standholders. Operators like
Taste of Philly Food Tour
offer group tours of Reading
Terminal.
(215) 922-2317
www.readingterminalmarket.org
(215) 545-8007, ext. 3
www.tasteofphillyfoodtour.com
Indianapolis
Established in 1821,
Indianapolis City Market
has been located since 1886
in its current location across
from the Indianapolis-
Marion County City-County
Building on the east side
of downtown Indianapolis.
With 39 vendors, the market
offers eateries, artisan products,
authentic ethnic foods,
fresh locally-grown produce,
custom-designed jewelry,
coffees, teas, scented oils and
fresh flowers. City Market is
open Monday through Saturday,
and is closed Sundays.
Group activities include
vendor samplings, cooking
demonstration in the Clark
Appliance demo kitchen, a
home beer brewing class, a
scavenger hunt and special
25-minute guided tours of
its catacombs in conjunction
with Indiana Landmarks
Foundation, Executive Director
Stevi Stoesz said. The
City Market’s outdoor farmers’
market is Wednesdays
from May through October.
The companion Indy Winter
Farmers Market is 9 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. Saturdays from
November through April in
the City Market’s West Wing.
(317) 634-9266
www.indycm.com
www.indywinterfarmersmarket.org
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/vasiliki
February • March • April
21

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
22
GREAT lAkEs
The Gateway Arch, built in the 1960s, overlooks
the Mississippi River at the St. Louis skyline.
Go west, young man.
Nearly 150 years after author Horace
Greeley dispatched his sage advice, it still
holds merit.
There’s an undeniable allure about
hitching up the coach (or motorcoach)
and heading west of the Mississippi River.
Long before the fi rst bolt was tightened
on Gateway Arch, St. Louis became
the Gateway to the West.
As the only major settlement on the
Mississippi River outside of New Orleans
in the mid-18th century, the town started
as a French fur trading post in 1764.
From its beginnings, the city’s population
comprised a mix of people —
French, Spanish, Creole, Native American,
free African descendants and slaves
— all of whom contributed to the growth
of the area.
In 1804, St. Louis was the starting
By Amanda Black
Photo: Gateway Arch Riverfront
Dred Scott and his wife Harriett brought their case
for freedom to St. Louis’ courthouse.
The Museum of Westward Expansion
includes a sculpture of
President Thomas Jefferson.
Gateway to the West
Arching about St. Louis
point for the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Sent out by President Thomas Jefferson,
the duo and their team were charged
with exploring the lands of the Louisiana
Purchase. The crew, dubbed the Corps
of Discovery, took two years to explore
the vast territory between the Mississippi
River and the Pacifi c Ocean.
Two centuries later, St. Louis remains
a starting point for adventures. Many of
the city’s top attractions are clustered
near the Mississippi River in a district
called the Gateway Arch Riverfront.
The district refl ects a partnership
between the National Park Service, Jefferson
National Parks Association and
Metro Transit. It is home to the Jefferson
National Expansion Memorial, which
encompasses the Gateway Arch and other
interesting places to explore on and off
the Mississippi River.
“The Jefferson National Expansion
Photos: Gateway
Arch Riverfront

Memorial was established to commemorate the vision
of Thomas Jefferson and the achievements of
American pioneers who settled the land from St.
Louis to the Pacifi c Coast,” said Karen E. Bollinger,
sales and marketing director, Gateway Arch Riverfront.
“The arch stands where the westward adventure
began. It serves as a symbol for past and future generations.”
Designed by architect Eero Saarinen and structural
engineer Hannskarl Bandel, the Gateway Arch
stands 630 feet tall; it is the tallest manmade national
monument in the U.S., 75 feet taller than the Washington
Monument and 325 feet taller than the Statue
of Liberty.
With the tram ride to the top, visitors soak in
views and history. But that’s just the beginning.
“Many don’t realize what’s below the surface at
the Gateway Arch,” Bollinger said.
Here, groups will fi nd the Museum of Westward
Expansion, with galleries that span nearly 50,000
square feet and the Tucker and Odyssey theaters.
Two stores are located under the Arch: an 1800sstyle
Levee Mercantile that offers fresh baked goods,
old-time cookbooks and saltwater taffy, and Gateway
Arch Museum Store.
The museum store is operated by the Jefferson
National Parks Association.
The team of sales representatives at the Gateway
Arch Riverfront works with tour planners to book
visits. One complimentary admission is available on
every 20th booked and paid.
Group packages are customized according to
their time available and interests and can include
cruises sailing at lunch or dinner.
“Where else can you experience a national monument,
a national park, 200 years of history, an architectural
wonder, an exhilarating experience or a step
back in time on a riverboat cruise?” Bollinger said.
Photo: Gateway Arch Riverfront
“The Gateway Arch offers something for everyone.”
In front of the Grand Staircase of the Gateway
Arch lies Gateway Arch Riverboat Dock, home to
Arch View Café and a gift shop.
Departing from the dock, daily one-hour sightseeing
cruises include historical narration of the
Mississippi and offer photographed moments of
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and the city
landscape.
In the evening, the replica riverboats set sail on
the Skyline Dinner Cruise that includes a threecourse
meal and live music from the Dixie Land
Duo.
Shopping, music, holiday and other culinary
trips are also available throughout the cruise season.
In addition to a narrated riverboat ride on the
Mississippi are the Journey to the Top tram ride or a
movie along with other options.
For example, the trip might include a National
Park Service ranger-led tour of the Museum of
Westward Expansion, the Old Courthouse or a bike
tour, Bollinger said.
The Old Courthouse, part of the Jefferson National
Expansion Memorial, is important for its
connection to the suffrage history. Here, slaves Dred
and Harriett Scott fought for their freedom, and suffragette
Virginia Minor fought for her right to vote
along with other women.•
Gateway Arch Riverfront
(877) 982-1410
www.gatewayarch.com
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
(314) 655-1700
www.nps.gov/jeff
Jefferson National Parks Association
(314) 678-1500
www.jnpa.com
Reenactments, exhibits and tours reveal of
the history of St. Louis’ Old Courthouse.
Great
Lakes
Region
Illinois
24
Indiana
28
Iowa
34
Michigan
37
Minnesota
52
Missouri
55
Ohio
58
Wisconsin
67
23

Itinerary
GO
St. Charles
24
Illinois
SEE
Arcada Theatre
(630) 587-8400
www.thearcada.com
Fine Line
Creative Arts Center
(630) 584-9443
www.fi neline.org
King’s Mill Refi nishing
(630) 377-9191
www.kingsmillltd.net
EAT
Gabby’s Kitchen
(630) 549-0656
www.gabbyskitchen.com
The Filling Station
(630) 584-4414
www.fi lling-station.com
Nuova Italia
(630) 584-1888
www.nuovaitalia.net
Hotel Baker
(630) 584-2100
www.hotelbaker.com
ASK
Greater St. Charles
Convention and
Visitors Bureau
(800) 777-4373
www.visitstcharles.com
Seeking classic treasures
Head to St. Charles for antiquing adventures
St. Charles is a quintessential Midwest community
and is an antique-lovers paradise.
The city of 32,000 people, located 35 miles west
of downtown Chicago, holds many antique, art and
collectible shops.
It’s also possible to plan a tour during the monthly
Kane County Flea Market at the Kane County
Fairgrounds.
The fl ea market, which began in 1967, is held
from March to December on the fi rst Sunday of each
month and the preceding Saturday. In peak season,
the market draws more than 1,500 dealers.
This two-day itinerary was shared by Greater St.
Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Michelle
Cianferri, group sales manager.
DAY ONE
Arrive in downtown St. Charles for antique shopping
in a number of antique shops and boutiques
such as Antique Markets I & II.
Continue the antique hunt at the What Not
Shoppe and in the Century Corners Historic Shopping
District, which includes Warehouse Antiques
and Confectionary, Tapestries of Nature and more
stores.
Enjoy lunch at The Filling Station, a former Texaco
Oil station.
A step-on guide will board the motorcoach for a
driving tour.
Experience the unique history of St. Charles and
learn about the link between the invention of barbed
wire and the city. Discover the city’s past, present and
future with some surprises along the way including a
stop at the St. Charles Heritage Museum.
Next, take in a seminar at King’s Mill Refi nishing,
which does antique restorations, repair and refi nishing.
Visit Amazing Grace Antiques, a historic home
Photo: Greater St. Charles Area CVB
Town House Books and Cafe is an independent bookstore in St. Charles.
Photo: Greater St. Charles Area CVB
Century Corners is a historic shopping district in St. Charles.
fi lled with antiques.
Tour the Arcada Theatre, a former vaudeville
theatre that opened in 1926 and since has been restored.
Dinner is at Nuova Italia, housed in a former Roman
Catholic church built in 1851.
This evening, enjoy live theater at the 80-seat
Steel Beam Theatre (weekends only). Special performances
for groups can be arranged.
Another option is Fox Valley Repertory (Thursday
through Sunday evenings and matinees on select
Thursdays).
Located at Pheasant Run Resort, the professional
theater company showcases off-Broadway musicals,
interactive comedies and family shows. Overnight,
dinner and group packages are available at Pheasant
Run.
DAY TWO
Enjoy breakfast at Gabby’s Kitchen.
Visit Fine Line Creative Arts Center, which is
housed in a former barn.
Arrange a presentation, tour the galleries or take
a short course.
Tour the 1800s Fabyan Windmill. Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places, Fabyan Windmill
is an authentic, working Dutch windmill dating
from the 1850s. The fi ve-story, 68-foot windmill
is fully restored to operate by natural wind energy.
Tours are available year-round.
Enjoy a waterfront lunch and tour at the historic
Hotel Baker.
Built in 1928, Hotel Baker is a boutique hotel
with 53 guest rooms that overlooks the Fox River on
Main Street in downtown St. Charles.•

Oak Park’s
luminaries
Discover architect
Wright and writer
Hemingway
Two major 20th-century U.S. figures,
architect Frank Lloyd Wright and writer Ernest
Hemingway, got their start in Oak Park.
The village is 10 miles west of downtown
Chicago.
For the first 20 years of his career,
from 1889 to 1909, Wright had his home
and studio in Oak Park.
Here is where the young Wright’s architectural
philosophy, later known as
the Prairie Style, evolved.
Today, thanks to the Frank Lloyd
Wright Preservation Trust, trained interpreters
at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home
and Studio give groups insights into
Wright’s family life and architectural career
during guided interior tours. Wright
died in 1959 in Phoenix.
Groups should allow a minimum of
1¼ hours for a tour.
Photo: Visit Oak Park
Groups can tour the house in Oak Park where writer
Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899.
Hemingway was born July 21, 1899,
in a two-story Queen Anne-style house
in Oak Park. He lived in Oak Park for 20
years, the first five in the house.
Hemingway’s novel The Old Man and
the Sea received the Pulitzer Prize for fiction
in 1953; he received the Nobel Prize
in literature in 1954. Hemingway committed
suicide in Ketchum, Idaho, in 1961.
Groups can tour the restored home
and explore the origin of the writer’s life.
Ernest Hemingway Foundation of
Oak Park, which looks after the birthplace
and Ernest Hemingway Museum,
recommends tours begin at the museum.
The museum is housed in Oak Park
Arts Center, a short walk from the birthplace.
The museum is a self-guided experience,
and the foundation recommends
45 minutes to an hour to experience the
entire exhibit hall.•
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Ernest Hemingway
Birthplace and Museum
(708) 848-2222
www.ehfop.org
illinois
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
(312) 994-4040
http://gowright.org
Visit Oak Park
(888) 625-7275
www.visitoakpark.com
February • March • April
25

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
26
illinois
Down
memory
lane
1950s Park Forest
House Museum
traces suburbian life
Park Forest, located south of Chicago,
was born during the building boom after
World War II.
It was the fi rst fully planned, post-
World War II suburb. Schools, churches,
shopping centers and homes were incorporated
into its original plan.
Groups can step back in time at 1950s
Park Forest House Museum, which is operated
by Park Forest Historical Society.
The museum is an original rental
townhome and is furnished as it might
have been from 1948 to 1953. It commemorates
the fi rst residents of Park
Forest who moved to the community
during those years.
For instance, there’s a fl oor model
Admiral TV in the living room and metal
cabinets containing Fiestaware dishes in
the kitchen.
On a guided tour, volunteers explain
how Park Forest was planned and built
by American Community Builders. They
describe the contents of the house and social
and fashion trends in the early 1950s.
“Park Forest is called America’s original
G.I. town,” said Jerry Shnay, secretary
of the Park Forest Historical Society. “It
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The bedroom at 1950s Park Forest House Museum has a matched set of heavy blonde furniture.
was built specifi cally for returning World
War II veterans, who faced an immense
housing shortage.”
The 1950s Park Forest House Museum
started as a project for the village’s
50th anniversary in 1999, Shnay said.
The museum contains period clothing
in the closets, original telephones,
issues of the original newspaper, the village’s
fi rst telephone directory, Tinker-
Toys and the unit’s two hard-wired torchier
lamps.
“The museum is loaded with artifacts,”
Shnay said.
One bedroom room represents a
classroom in Forest Boulevard School,
the fi rst school set up by the developers
in a row of converted townhomes.
“They feel like they
went through a time
warp,” Museum Director
Jane Nicoll said of visitors.
“Their memories hit
them at every turn.”
Younger visitors see
how different life was in
the 1950s. Nicoll recently
explained to a Boy Scout
troop that the house had
only one TV, and it may
have been the only set on
the block.
The kitchen seems to
be the most iconic room,
with green stamps in the
Photo: Park Forest Historical Society
Photo: Park Forest Historical Society
drawers and period soda bottles, she said.
The museum is open on Wednesday
and Saturday. Groups can visit on other
days and must arrange tours by appointment.
Special group rates are available.
It’s also possible to take a walking or
driving tour of Park Forest’s mid-century
modern architecture.•
1950s Park Forest House Museum
(708) 481-4252
(708) 305-3308
www.parkforesthistory.org
Chicago Southland CVB
(888) 895-8223
www.tourchicagosouthland.com
The kitchen at 1950s Park Forest House Museum contains period implements.

Spectacular
structures
New tour examines
Alton area’s
architectural legacy
The Alton Regional Convention and
Visitors Bureau has just the tour for
groups that love history and architecture.
Architectural Adventures was developed
by Sissy McClain, the bureau’s group
sales manager.
The two-day tour highlights buildings
designed by architects Theodore
Link and Bernard Ralph Maybeck.
McClain said she put together a
Christmas tour in 2011 for a group that
wanted to do something special.
She included tours of the Hayner
Genealogy & Local History Library and
First Presbyterian Church in Alton.
“That tour was such a huge success; I
thought I would add Elsah and Principia
College,” McClain said. “It blossomed.”
Elsah, known as “the village where
time stood still,” is 12 miles north of Alton.
An experienced guide leads groups
through the village.
The tour continues high on the bluffs
above the Mississippi River at Principia
College, the only Christian Science college
in the world.
Maybeck, a San Francisco architect,
convinced college administrators that his
English village design would “express the
spirit of home, or peace, and of absolute
harmony with [its] physical surroundings.”
Link, best known for his design of
Union Station in St. Louis, designed the
Photo: Used with permission from The Principia
Architect Bernard Ralph Maybeck
designed Principia College in Elsah.
Jennie D. Hayner Memorial Library and
the First Presbyterian Church in Alton.
The library, which opened in 1891,
features what is known as Old English
Gothic-style architecture.
The building is still part of the public
library, containing the genealogy and
history collections.
At First Presbyterian Church, built in
1897, groups can review the architecture,
see the stained-glass windows and enjoy
illinois
a short organ concert.
McClain said many visitors who
tour the two buildings comment on the
woodwork.
“It is beautiful, just phenomenal,” she
said.•
Alton Regional Convention
and Visitors Bureau
(800) 258-6645
www.visitalton.com
Signature Meet & Greet service • Easy bookings
Shuttle service • Shopping packages
Call 800-847-9590 today to book your group’s Woodfield Mall visit.
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February • March • April
27

Itinerary
Indiana
GO
Ferdinand, Jasper,
West Baden Springs,
French Lick, Montgomery,
St. Meinrad, Lincoln City
and Santa Claus
SEE
Dr. Ted’s Musical Marvels
(812) 937-4250
www.drteds.com
Gasthof Amish Village
(812) 486-4900
www.gasthofamishvillage.
com
Lincoln Boyhood
National Memorial
(812) 937-4541
www.nps.gov/libo
Monastery Immaculate
Conception
(812) 367-1411
www.thedome.org
Saint Meinrad Archabbey
(812) 357-6611
www.saintmeinrad.edu
ASK
Dubois County
Visitors Center
(800) 968-4578
www.visitduboiscounty.com
28
Centered in southern Indiana
Re-connect and feel complete in Dubois County
Dubois County is a place for your group to get
its moorings.
Prepared by the Dubois County Visitors Center,
this three-day itinerary tours furniture makers,
places of faith and the boyhood home of a man who
helped hold a nation together.
DAY ONE
In Ferdinand, connect with a strong work ethic
by visiting Best Home Furnishings. See how a chair
is made from start to fi nish.
Settle down to a homemade brunch at the Harvest
Moon B&B.
Afterward, tour the domed church of Monastery
Immaculate Conception. Affectionately called “Castle
on the Hill,” it is a long-standing landmark in
Ferdinand. Home to one of the largest communities
of Roman Catholic Church-affi liated Benedictine
women in the United States, stop in at the monastery’s
For Heaven’s Sake gift shop.
Enlighten the day with happy sounds from around
the world at Dr. Ted’s Musical Marvels near Dale.
Browse through more than two dozen antique
and specialty shops at Huntingburg’s Historic 4th
Street Shopping District.
Stroll through Kimball International’s showroom
in Jasper for an inside glimpse of the highquality
wood products serving millions in the offi ce,
residential, hospitality and health care industries.
Gaze at the historic Romanesque style of St. Joseph
Roman Catholic Church in Jasper. The church
features mosaics with more than 50 million stones.
Enjoy a performance at Jasper Arts Center/
Krempp Art Gallery.
Savor a specially-prepared dinner while enjoying
authentic German entertainment at the Schnitzelbank,
an independent, locally owned restaurant.
DAY TWO
Tour West Baden Springs National Historic
Landmark, once dubbed the “Eighth
Wonder of the World.”
Visit French Lick Springs Resort and Casino,
which reopened after a $350 million restoration and
expansion.
Taste premium wines at French Lick Winery.
Have lunch at Beechwood Inn Dinner & Guest
House.
After, experience the serene lifestyle of the Amish.
In Montgomery, visit Gasthof Amish Village,
which features an Amish restaurant, bakery, hotel
and shops.
Continue the tour with stops at the Amish Collar
Shop, Raber’s Buggy Shop, Wagler’s Quilt Shop and
The Red Barn.
Finish with buffet-style dining at Gasthof Restaurant,
which serves Amish homemade food.
DAY THREE
Start the morning with a boat cruise on the Patoka
Voyager on Patoka Lake.
Enjoy the scenic views while traveling to St.
Meinrad and Saint Meinrad Archabbey, home to 135
Benedictine monks that offers beautiful architecture
as well as a peaceful retreat. Peruse Abbey Press Gift
Shop’s inspirational items.
At Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in Lincoln
City, learn about the boyhood years of U.S. President
Abraham Lincoln with a tour of the visitor’s center.
See the burial place of Lincoln’s mother and
stop at the living history farm where harvesting and
farming still take place on the same fi elds Lincoln
and his father once farmed. Lincoln was the nation’s
16th president, serving during the Civil War before
his assassination in April 1856.
Complete the tour with lunch at St. Nick’s Restaurant
in Santa Claus.•
Monastery Immaculate Conception
is a landmark in Ferdinand.
Photo: Dubois County Visitors Bureau

Country artisans
Get taste of agriculture and the arts in Jackson County
The small towns of Jackson County in
southern Indiana are surrounded by farms.
So it’s no wonder the Jackson County
Visitor Center offers an agricultural tour
for groups.
“This is an agriculture-based area,”
said Jane Hays, public relations manager
for the visitor center. “We call the agriculture
tour the living farms tour, and it’s
a tribute to the farmers.”
Hays said the visitor bureau personalizes
each agricultural tour, and she often
serves as a step-on guide.
Here’s a look at some of the attractions
that welcome groups:
Schneider’s Nursery in Seymour — The
largest nursery in southern Indiana raises
and sells landscaping and garden plants
both on the wholesale and retail levels.
Long Lane Farm in Brownstown —
This dairy farm has been in the Nierman
family for 150 years and specializes in
Brown Swiss cattle.
“You can see the original milking
parlor,” Hays said. “The Nierman family
members have a lot of knowledge about
the area.”
Driftwood State Fish Hatchery in
Vallonia — The hatchery raises about
270,000 bass, largemouth bass and catfi
sh a year in nine rearing ponds.
Farm markets — Hays said a couple
of farm markets in Vallonia, Tiemeyer’s
Farm Market and Kamman’s Farm Market,
are popular stops for group travelers.
“The soil in this area is conducive
to cantaloupes and watermelons,” Hays
said. “That’s what we’re known for.”
Tiemeyer’s, located near Starve Hollow
State Recreation Area, serves lunch.
Swifty Farms in Seymour — This is
the largest horse farm in Indiana and
considered to be the state’s premier
breeding operation.
South of I-74 & west of I-275,
20 minutes west of Cincinnati
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“Swifty Farms has had some pretty
successful horses in horse races,” Hays said.
“They do a very educational group tour.”
Hoosier Heartland Alpacas in Seymour
— Juvonda and Ed Jones raise
alpacas, operate a small gift shop and
Continued on page 30
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February • March • April
29

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
30
inDiAnA
Continued from page 29
welcome tour groups.
“Juvonda has taken her love of art
and alpacas and combined them,” Hays
said. “She knits and crochets items using
the yarn from their alpacas.”
Classic architecture — The tour
can include two covered bridges and
two round barns.
Medora Covered Bridge in Medora
was built in 1875 and restored in 2011.
“The bridge is the longest threespan
covered bridge in the United
States at 460 feet long,” Hays said. “It’s
hard to take a picture of it. It’s so long.”
The Shieldstown Covered Bridge
spans the East Fork of the White River
and was built in 1876, the last covered
bridge to be built in Jackson County.
Both covered bridges are open to pedestrians
only.
Hays said six counties in southern
Indiana have put together the Covered
Bridge Loop.
The 216-mile route features nine historic
covered bridges scattered over waterways
in Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur,
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Jackson, Jennings and Lawrence counties.
“The covered bridges are impressive
on their own but when you put them
all together, it’s a whole different thing,”
Hays said.
Photo: Jackson County Visitor Center
Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in Seymour is located in an 1851
brick mansion owned by singer and songwriter John Mellencamp.
A favorite son — Groups can visit the
Southern Indiana Center for the Arts in
Seymour to see rotating and permanent
art exhibits, including the paintings of
singer and songwriter John Mellencamp.
Mellencamp, who grew up in Seymour,
owns the house, an 1851 brick
Exhibit Open May 25
through Sept. 2, 2013
Call 317.234.1728
for details.
mansion. He leases the building to the
center for $1 for two years.
Hays said the center has a pottery
center and an antique printing museum,
and can offer pottery and printing demonstrations
or classes for groups.
Natural wonders — For wildlife enthusiasts
and photographers, there is
Mascatatuck National Wildlife Refuge.
The Chestnut Ridge Interpretive
Trail is an accessible one-quarter mile
trail adjacent to the visitor center.
The refuge has a step-on guide that
can accompany a tour through most
of the refuge, Hays said.
Military heritage — Open by appointment
is Freeman Army Air Field
Museum in Seymour.
Freeman Army Air Field was a
training base for pilots during World
War II.
The museum’s two buildings are both
World War II Link Trainer buildings.•
Jackson County Visitor Center
(888) 524-1914
www.jacksoncountyin.com
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Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
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inDiAnA
May 25-27
Memorial Day Festival
June 2 Salem Speedway
Scott County Visitors Commission
Scott Hoosier county Classic Truck IndIana
& Tractor Pull
May June 25-27
Stay here, June 8-9
Crothersville Memorial May Day 25-27 Red, Festival White
GO eVeryWhere!
Memorial & Blue Festival
Day Festival
Scott June County 2 Salem Indiana Speedway is a graceful
blend of small
Scott June County June May town
2 Visitors Salem 25-27 15-16 traditions on
Speedway Commission
the edge Lexington of big city 15-16
Old excitement.
Settlers
Hoosier Scott Lexington County Classic Visitors Truck Old Settlers
Nestled
Memorial
in the beautiful
Day Festival & Commission
Tractor Ohio Pull
Valley, Hoosier the Classic area offers Truck groups & Tractor an Pull
opportunity June June 2 June to Salem visit
16
8-9 Speedway attractions
in Southern Crothersville June Indiana -17
Heritage Garrison June
16 Red, 8-9
-17 as well
Scott White as
Heritage
County Weekend
Crothersville & Garrison
Visitors
Blue Festival Weekend
Commission
Northern Kentucky, while staying
Hoosier Classic Truck Red, & Tractor White
in a community Pull
& Blue
known
Festival
for its rich
history and welcoming spirit.
June 15-16 8-9
812-752-9211
Crothersville Lexington June Old Red,
15-16 Settlers White
www.greatscottindiana.com
& Blue Festival
Lexington Old Settlers
Reader Service Card #559
June 15-16 16 -17
Heritage Lexington June Garrison Old 16 Settlers -17 Weekend
Heritage Garrison Weekend
www.greatscottindiana.com
June Danville, 16 Indiana’s -17
www.greatscottindiana.com
Heritage THE Garrison MAYBERRY Weekend CAFE
www.greatscottindiana.com
Located on an historic
downtown square square
just west of
Indianapolis
www.greatscottindiana.com
Make
planning
your group trip as easy
as Aunt Bee’s pie.
Contact the HCCVB
to make your
reservation.
Hendricks County Convention & Visitors Bureau
800.321.9666 | Groups@TourHendricksCounty.com
TourHendricksCounty.com | TourHendricksCounty.com/blog
Twitter: @FastTrackToFun | Facebook.com/FastTrackToFun
Reader Service Card #428
Seeking freedom
Experience Underground Railroad
with Conner Prairie’s Follow the North Star
How much would you risk to gain
freedom?
If you were enslaved, would you run
away and hope rumors were true about
the Underground Railroad escape route?
If you were living a free life, would you
help others in their quest for that dream?
Groups can fi nd out how they would
react at Conner Prairie Interactive History
Park in Fishers by participating in
its Follow the North Star program.
Follow the North Star, a realistic Underground
Railroad simulation, runs the
evenings of April 12–13, 19–20 and 26–
27 and again in early to mid-November.
Participants take on the role of fugitive
slaves escaping from captivity in the
1830s. As they travel along the Underground
Railroad, they appreciate the encouragement
of a Quaker family willing
to help and provide shelter.
Follow the North Star provides an
immersive, real-life encounter of what it
was like to be enslaved and then a fugitive
in one of Indiana’s most compelling
periods of history, said Michelle Evans,
general manager for interpretation at
Conner Prairie.
“The goal is to educate people about
that period of Indiana history and the
Underground Railroad,” said Evans, who
helped develop the program.
The escape route for enslaved people
didn’t get the name Underground Railroad
until the 1840s, when railroads became
more prominent.
Photo: Conner Prairie
INDIANA’S MOST THRILLING
ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION!
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino features 2,000 of the best paying
slots and hottest e-table games, nine restaurants and lounges,
world-class entertainment and the richest horse racing in Indiana
- all just minutes North of Indianapolis.
Call (800) 526-7223, Ext. 4616 to book your event today!
Anderson, IN
(800) 526-7223
hoosierpark.com
Voted by Midwest Gaming & Travel Magazine in 2012. Must be 21 years or older. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-9-WITH-IT.
Reader Service Card #498
The Follow the North Star program at Conner Prairie in
Fishers immerses people in 1830s Indiana.
An immersive history program, participants
are on their own and must
make choices such as when to move.
“They are truly immersed in it,” Evans
said.
“Participants learn the hard way how
and where to hide, who to trust and who
to avoid. And they feel the terror as slave
hunters follow their tracks,” said Lynelle
Mellady, the public relations manager for
Conner Prairie.
Conner Prairie makes a point of
alerting prospective participants about
the program’s intense nature, Evans said.
Participants must be at least 12 years old.
Start times are staggered every 15
minutes throughout the evening and
programs last 90 minutes. Each group
includes 12 to 15 people.•
Conner Prairie
(317) 776-6006
www.connerprairie.org
465
ANDERSON
Indianapolis
69

For much of North America, the lifestyle
and culture of the Amish remains a
mystery.
It doesn’t need to stay that way.
Activities at Amish Acres in Nappanee
provide an authentic look at the
Old Order Amish.
The 80-acre farm is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Several documentary fi lms — Genesis
and Exodus — are available for viewing.
The movies tell the story of Amish history.
Groups can walk through the orchard
and past the kitchen garden and outbuildings
on the way to the 125-year-old
Amish homestead. The original house, a
two-room pioneer home — fi lled with
furnishings, a cook stove and kitchenware
— is still on the property. Here,
groups can learn more details about
Amish history and culture.
The main home is fi lled with the
simple amenities of Amish life: a family
Bible, kerosene lamps, a wood-burning
stove and a treadle sewing machine. The
house presents an authentic look at the
home life of the Amish.
The rest of the farm tour includes a
visit to the Schweitzer barn, which features
an 1874 wooden threshing machine,
and the wagon shed, which holds
several different examples of horsedrawn
transportation.
Nearby, groups can see the Chauncy
Thomas Blacksmith Shop. The ice house,
cider and grist mill and a one-room
schoolhouse are on the property also.
inDiAnA
River Adventure on the ‘Sunny Side’ of Louisville
Southern Indiana
Clark-Floyd Counties CVB
800-552-3842
The simple life
Explore Amish living in Nappanee
Photo: Amish Acres
Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres
presents eight shows a week.
A tractor-pulled wagon ride brings
groups through the farm’s woods.
Groups can enjoy the Threshers Dinner
in the Restaurant Barn.
The traditional home-cooked meal
includes ham and bean soup, freshly
baked hearth bread, locally made apple
butter, cider-baked hickory-smoked ham,
broasted country chicken and roast beef
(choose two meat entrees per table) vegetable,
mashed potatoes and dessert, including
shoofl y pie. Coffee, hot and iced
tea, milk and lemonade are available.
The dinner is named for the meals
served to hungry threshers after long
hours of working in the fi elds.
Amish Acres also holds musical theater
productions in the Round Barn Theatre,
the home of northern Indiana’s only
professional repertory musical theater
Book your custom tour of 400-million-year-old fossil beds and/or the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center
Reader Service Card #499
company.
The 2013 season opens April 10 with
Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second
Helping.
Also on the schedule are Nunsense A-
Men, 9 to 5 the musical, Seven Brides for
Seven Brothers, Arsenic and Old Lace and
The Wizard of Oz.
Plain and Fancy will be performed
from May 29 to Oct. 19.
Amish Acres is the national home of
Plain and Fancy, the 1955 Broadway musical
about Amish life and love. The show
has been produced here since 1986.
PastPort and Bonnets and Britches
are single-day packages. The Country
Package is ideal for overnight groups.•
Amish Acres
(800) 800-4942
www.amishacres.com
Reader Service Card #499
sunnysideoflouisville.org
Contact Jennifer Abbott, jabbott@sunnysideofl ouisville.org
February • March • April
33

Itinerary
Iowa
go
Newton
see
Iowa Speedway
(641) 791-8000
www.iowaspeedway.com
Maytag Dairy Farms
(800) 247-2458
www.maytagdairyfarms.
com
Newton Arboretum
& Botanical Gardens
(641) 791-3021
www.newtonarboretum.
com
eAt
Shay’s Tea Room
(641) 792-2970
www.shaystearoom.com
AsK
Newton CVB
(800) 798-0299
www.visitnewton.com
34
Newton, nestled in central
Iowa and right off Interstate
80, is known for
its cheese and speedway —
and sculptures.
For much of the 20th
century, the town was
known for its washing
machines as the home of
Maytag Corp. While the
company is no longer headquartered
in Iowa, the name
lives on in Newton.
On this one-day tour
of Newton, groups will encounter
many attractions
with the Maytag name,
including Maytag Dairy
Farms, Maytag Park, the
Fred Maytag Bowl and a
bronze statue of the Maytag
Repair Man.
A delightful day
Enjoy a taste of central Iowa in Newton
Morning
Begin with a visit to the Newton Arboretum &
Botanical Gardens, owned and operated by Project
Awake.
After exploring, gather with the group for a welcome
reception with coffee and rolls provided by the
Newton Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Next, head to Maytag Dairy Farms, producer of
blue cheese. Handmade and aged in Newton since
1941, its artisan-crafted cheeses are a favorite.
Watch a video that explains the process Maytag’s
process of making cheese and more about its history.
It’s the third and fourth generation of the Maytag
family running the operation.
Then, take a guided tour of the packaging center,
where every piece of blue cheese, cheddar, Edom or
other favorites are hand wrapped. A tasting experience
follows with time to shop.
Head to downtown Newton, where Jasper County
Courthouse anchors the town square. On a tour,
learn about its history, architecture and stained-glass
windows. Dedicated in April 1911, the courthouse is
in its second century.
After the tour, browse the local shops.
Lunch
Enjoy a mid-day meal at Shay’s Tea Room.
The Maytag Repair Man waited patiently
for this group on a scavenger hunt to find him.
Photo: Newton CVB
The tearoom is
owned and operated
by two sisters and
Newton natives: Nancy
Egnozzi and Susan
Grigsby. They moved
away as children, but
always enjoyed their
visits to Newton.
As adults, they returned
and purchased
Hunter Mansion. The
tearoom, decorated like
a cozy Victorian home,
serves quiches, finger
sandwiches, salads,
with hot beverages and
decadent desserts.
Afternoon
Explore the artistic
side of Newton.
Meet a step-on
guide for a sculpture tour.
The community boasts a collection of more than
70 installations of sculptures, murals and bas-relief
paintings.
The guided tour can be customized.
evening
Rev up those engines.
Head to the Iowa Speedway for an exclusive behind-the-scenes
tour including a visit to the suites,
the pit and media center. If your group’s driver is
up for it, motorcoaches are allowed to go for a spin
along the 7/8-mile track.
After the fun, stay for a catered dinner at Iowa
Speedway.
Retire to your Newton accommodations for a
night’s rest before headed home or to your next destination.
More to see
Additional tour options include the Iowa Sculpture
Festival, held every June, along with the Jasper
County Museum, Newton Daily News, Maytag Park
and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
Itineraries can be customized for groups, said
Linda Bacon, executive director of the Newton Convention
and Visitors Bureau.•

One of
a kind
Three families
left their mark
on Brucemore
The only National Trust for Historic
Preservation site in Iowa, Brucemore is a
treasure.
The Cedar Rapids estate is one of 27
sites designated by the national organization
to provide insight into different
aspects of U.S. heritage, said Tara Richards,
marketing & program director.
“Brucemore’s story helps shape the
understanding of the American Midwest
through the business and social leaders
who called the estate home,” she said.
“The National Trust provides national
awareness of Brucemore and brings in
visitors from across the country and
throughout the world.”
This elegant Queen Anne-style home
and 26-acre estate was bequeathed to the
preservation organization in 1981. Margaret
Douglas Hall envisioned that her
home would be both a historic site and a
community cultural center.
With guided tours, a visitor center
in the restored carriage house, extensive
gardens and gift shop to go along with a
full schedule of events, Brucemore more
than fulfi lls its mission.
Hall lived in the home with her husband,
Howard, adding on a modern
sense of style with plenty of whimsy.
Mrs. Hall arrived at the estate as
visitnewton.com
Photo: Courtesy of Brucemore
Reader Service Card #596
Guides lead groups through the grounds
and mansions of the Brucemore estate.
a child. Her father, George Douglas,
started a cereal company that eventually
became the Quaker Oats Company and
moved his young family into the home
in 1906.
As a Scottish immigrant, Douglas
wanted a name that reminded him of the
moors of Scotland, combined with his
middle name. They added to the estate,
crafting many of the gardens and outbuildings
still standing today.
The fi rst owners of the mansions,
the Sinclair family, also lived here with
young children beginning in the 1880s.
Guided tours showcase Cedar Rapids
history through a lens of the estate and
its resident families.
Special rates are available for groups
as long as they are scheduled at least two
weeks in advance.
The mansion is closed for tours on
Mondays and all of January and February.•
Brucemore
(319) 362-7375
www.brucemore.org
Let us customize your Newton
itinerary...give us a call:
1-800-798-0299
Tour
800-488-7572
ioWA
Read My Pins:
The Madeleine
Albright Collection
May 11-August 11
Located in Czech Village
www.NCSML.org
Cedar Rapids, IA
319.362.8500
Reader Service Card #523
Historic Scenic
in Northeast Iowa
Reader Service Card #599
Dragon and Sword; Designer Unknown (Turkey); Circa 2004 Photo by John Bigelow Taylor
February • March • April
35

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
36
ioWA
A touch of Holland in Iowa, Pella
comes into its glory in the springtime.
Like in the Netherlands, tulips color
the season, a delightful time to get out
and explore.
The town of 10,000, once the childhood
home of Wyatt Earp, was founded
by Dutch settlers in 1847.
More than 150 years later, the Dutch
influence continues to be seen in Pella.
The first weekend in May brings the
arrival of Pella Tulip Time, which is next
celebrated May 2, 3 and 4. The 78th edition
of the festival, presented by Pella
Historical Society, features fun, food,
and, of course, tulips.
Groups have a long list of activities to
enjoy between Thursday and Saturday,
including Dutch costume demonstrations,
authentic meals served by staff
Reader Service Card #600
Always in bloom
At Tulip Time and year-round, Pella celebrates
its links to the Netherlands and early settlers
Photo: Iowa Tourism
In early May, the community of Pella celebrates
Tulip Time, centered in its historical village.
in traditional costumes, candy-making
demonstrations and talks on how best to
plant tulips.
The truth is, Pella celebrates its Dutch
heritage every day, with Dutch-influenced
food, architecture and attractions.
The historical society’s restoration
project, Pella Historical Village, features
a collection of 24 buildings surrounding
red-brick walkways and tulip gardens.
Many of the buildings have been standing
there since they were built 150 years
ago. Others were moved to the site to join
the village.
Throughout the village, groups will
have the opportunity to explore the
buildings, exhibits and crafts demonstrations.
Earp’s boyhood home was restored to
a typical family home from the 1850s.
The residence is not far from the
Amsterdam School. When it started in
the 1870s, some students wore wooden
shoes and instruction took place partially
in Dutch.
Scholte House is even older, constructed
the winter of 1847–48. Built as
a promise to give a wife all the comforts
of their home in the Netherlands, the
house was occupied by descendants of
the Scholte family until 1979 when it became
a museum.
Pella also has a windmill.
Vermeer Mill and Interpretive Center
debuted in 2002. Standing 124 feet high,
it is the tallest working windmill in the
United States.
Though it was recently built, the
windmill is patterned after an 1850s
grain mill found in Gronigen, a province
of the Netherlands.
The mill, which is 100 percent windpowered,
is used to produce wheat flour
that gets used in local restaurants and
bakeries. The flour is also for sale at the
gift shop along with painted Delftware
and other Dutch-influenced treasures.
For visits to the historical village,
group rates are available for parties of
20 or more people. Guided tours can
be arranged of the village, windmill and
Scholte House.•
Pella Convention & Visitors Bureau
(888) 746-3882
www.pella.org
Pella Historical Village
(641) 628-4311
www.pellatuliptime.com
Photo: Iowa Tourism
The Vermeer Mill and Interpretive Center
opened in 2002; the mill’s design was inspired
by an 1850s windmill from The Netherlands.

Superior delights
Upper Peninsula is 5-star wilderness
Surrounded by three of the Great Lakes, Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula contains more than 80 percent
of the shoreline on the south shore of Lake
Superior and almost all of the north shore of Lake
Michigan.
To the east lies Lake Huron. In between are more
than 4,300 inland lakes, 12,000 miles of rivers and
streams and more than 200 waterfalls.
“Quaint harbor towns and lighthouses welcome
visitors and sandy beaches and rugged cliffs frame
the Great Lakes shoreline,” said Fred Huffman,
group tour coordinator for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Travel & Recreation Association.
“Maritime museums like the Shipwreck Museum
at Whitefi sh Point dot the landscape and boat
tours such as the Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tour
abound.
“The rich and colorful history of the region, coupled
with a scenic splendor still unspoiled, provides
something for everyone,” he said.
This itinerary was provided by Upper Peninsula
Travel & Recreation Association (UPTRA), and focuses
on the central Upper Peninsula.
DAY ONE
Visit East Ludington Gallery in Escanaba, with
more than 40 local artists and craftspeople on display.
Dinner is at Hereford & Hops Restaurant and
Brewpub in Escanaba. Diners can grill their own
steaks.
Head to Island Resort and Casino for gaming.
Overnight in the Escanaba area.
DAY TWO
After breakfast, travel to the Fayette Historic
Townsite on the Garden Peninsula.
Once a bustling industrial community and now part
of Fayette Historic State Park, Fayette manufactured
charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891. An interpreter
can lead a walking tour of the preserved village.
Enjoy box lunches from the Upper Crust Deli &
Cafe while en route to Munising Falls in Pictured
Rocks National Lakeshore.
A guide leads a tour at Fayette Historic Townsite.
Photo: David Hoekman
View Munising Falls and the interpretive center.
Travel to the Glass Bottom Boat Shipwreck Tours
in Munising. The narrated two-hour tour takes passengers
to three shipwrecks preserved by Lake Superior’s
frigid waters and past the East Channel Lighthouse.
After dinner at Dogpatch Restaurant or Sydney’s
Restaurant in downtown Munising, head to Kewadin
Casino in Christmas for gaming.
Overnight in Christmas or Munising.
DAY THREE
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Board Island Girl, the fast-moving vessel of Riptide
Ride that offers a 1½-hour boat ride featuring
majestic cliffs and 360-degree spins.
Travel to Marquette for lunch.
Take an afternoon Marquette sightseeing tour
that includes the city’s historic home and harbor
districts, downtown and Presque Isle Park.
Stop at Northern Michigan University to tour the
Superior Dome, the world’s largest wooden dome. It
is used for athletics and other events.
There’s free time for sightseeing and shopping in
historic downtown Marquette.
Dinner is in the Skyroom Restaurant in Landmark
Inn.
Spend the night in Marquette.
DAY FOUR
Tour Michigan Iron Industry Museum in
Negaunee.
Next, travel to Iron Mountain. Tour the World
War II Glider and Military Museum and the Cornish
Pump & Mining Museum and see the largest
steam-pumping engine ever built in North America.
Enjoy a pasty lunch with all the fi xings at the pavilion
a top Pine Mountain Ski Slide.
Pause for shopping at Midtown Mall in Iron
Mountain.
Travel to Iron Mountain Iron Mine in Vulcan.
The guided underground mine tour takes visitors
400 feet below the earth’s surface to see how mining
was done more than a century ago.•
Itinerary
Michigan
GO
Escanaba, Munising,
Marquette and
Iron Mountain
SEE
Fayette Historic Townsite
(906) 644-2603
www.michigan.gov/fayette
townsite
Glass Bottom Boat
Shipwreck Tours
(906) 387-4477
www.shipwrecktours.com
Iron Mountain Iron Mine
(906) 563-8077
www.ironmountainiron
mine.com
Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore
(906) 387-3700
www.nps.gov/piro
Riptide Ride
(906) 387-8888
www.riptideride.com
ASK
Upper Peninsula
Travel and Recreation
Association
(800) 562-7134
www.uptravel.com
Bays de Noc Convention
and Visitors Bureau
(906) 789-7862
www.travelbaysdenoc.com
Explore Munising
(906) 387-5710
www.exploremunising.com
Marquette Convention
and Visitors Bureau
(906) 228-7749
www.marquettecountry.org
37

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
38
M i CHi GAn
Reader Service Card #314
Artistic range
Detroit Institute of Arts’ 2013 exhibitions
highlight contemporary art
The Detroit Institute of Arts is home
to more than 60,000 works that comprise
a multicultural survey of human creativity
from ancient times through the 21st
century.
From the first Vincent Van Gogh
painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-
Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera’s worldrenowned
Detroit Industry murals
(1932–33), the Detroit Institute of Arts
collection is known for its quality, range
and depth, said
Pam Marcil,
public relations
director.
Detroit Institute
of Arts
(DIA) offers
customized art
tours for groups
and a dedicated
group entrance,
discounted
rates for groups
of 15 or more
and art-making
workshops.
DIA’s collection
of early
American silver,
which includes
work by Boston
silversmith and
patriot Paul Revere,
is now on
Photo: The Detroit Institute of Arts
display after 10 years in storage, thanks to
a grant from the Americana Foundation.
The new installation will include 59
of the most important examples of early
American silver at the DIA and two important
late 18th-century Chinese export
bowls.
“For more than 70 years, photographers
have found inspiration for their
work from the people, city streets and automobile
culture of Detroit,” Marcil said.
“Motor City Muse: Detroit Photographs,
Then and Now,” is an exhibition
of photographers who, through their
personal vision and photographic skill,
The Rivera Court at Detroit Institute of Arts holds
Diego Rivera’s famous murals on Detroit’s industry.
have captured subjects, past and present,
specific to Detroit, its changing landscape,
architecture and auto industry.
Included are more than 100 photographs
by Robert Frank, Henri Cartier-
Bresson, Dave Jordano, Karin Jobst, Detroiters
Nicola Kuperus, Russ Marshall
and Bill Rauhauser, along with members
of the Detroit School of Automotive
Photography.
“Motor City Muse” will be displayed
through June
16.
Shirin Neshat,
an Iranian
American artist
living in New
York, is known
for her video
installations
and art photography.
This
mid-career retrospective
of
Neshat’s work
includes eight
video installations
and two
series of art
photography.
Through visual
metaphor
and compelling
sound, Neshat
confronts
the complexities of identity, gender and
power to express her own vision embracing
the depth of Islamic tradition and
Western concepts of individuality and
liberty, Marcil said.
“Shirin Neshat” runs from April 7 to
July 7.
“Ellsworth Kelly: Prints” is the first
retrospective of the artist’s prolific printmaking
career since the late 1980s.
The exhibition, scheduled May 24
to Sept. 8, coincides with publication of
the updated catalogue raisonné of Kelly’s
work. As an overview of his printmaking
activity, it presents the consistency

characteristic of his interest in exploring
the effects of color and form through
now familiar curves, contrasts and grids
that became his preferred motifs.
The exhibition is to feature both
iconic moments and lesser-known masterpieces
from the past 150 years.
Visitors also can see a large array of
animation techniques in more than 100
film segments from across generations
and cultures. Included in the exhibition
WE
Gain a little perspective in the city that
inspired painter Diego Rivera to immortalize
manufacturing on a grand scale.
are animation’s great inventors, innovators
and artists, from Georges Méliès and
Chuck Jones to William Kentridge and
Tim Burton, in addition to studios such
as Walt Disney, Aardman, Studio Ghibli
and Pixar.
“Watch Me Move” is a ticketed exhibition,
and ticket prices are to be determined.
This immersive exhibition invites
visitors to discover animation — from
the familiar to the eccentric — through
twO mARvelOus musicAls
Feb. 13 - Mar. 10, 2013
Detroit April 9-21, Opera 2013 House • Fisher Theatre May 7-19, 2013 • Fisher Theatre
FOR gROup tickets AND iNFO cONtAct
groups@broadwayindetroit.com or 313-871-1132
Reader Service Card #388
For expert
assistance booking
your next student
or group tour
in The D,
please contact
Nikki Donald,
Sales Manager, at
(313) 202-1972 or
ndonald@
meetdetroit.com.
Learn more online
at meetdetroit.com
MICHIGAN
large-scale projections and intimate
viewing spaces.
As a complement to “Watch Me
Move,” the Detroit Film Theatre will offer
a selection of feature-length animation,
festival compilations and appearances by
animators during the exhibition.•
Detroit Institute of Arts
(313) 833-1292
www.dia.org
Great location... Excellent service...
Thousands of delighted guests.
Proudly serving the Group Tour market
in Detroit for over 25 years.
3000 Enterprise Dr., Allen Park, MI 48101 • 1.800.342.5802 • 313.271.1600 p/f
www.bestwesterngreenfield.com
Each Best Western hotel is independently owned and operated.
February • March • April
39

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
40
M i CHi GAn
Let it ride
Gun Lake Casino
offers plenty
of opportunities
to strike it rich
Gun Lake Casino is a hotspot to join
in on the bright and glittery ranks of
gaming.
The 78,000-square-foot casino, located
between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo
just off U.S. 131, is a $165 million
facility on 147 wooded acres featuring 28
table games, 1,500 slot machines, dining,
entertainment and a gift shop in Wayland
Township near Wayland, said Laura
Kaminski, the casino’s slot marketing coordinator.
Gun Lake Casino is owned by the
Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of
Photo: Station Casinos
Gun Lake Casino features 28 gaming tables
and 1,500 slot machines.
GROUP THERAPY
You’ll fall in love
Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula
UPtravel.com • 800-562-7134
Contact Fred Huffman
groups@uptravel.com
Photo: Station Casinos
Gun Lake Casino is located between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, just off Exit 61 on U.S. 131.
Pottawatomi Indians. The casino is operated
by the tribe’s management partner,
MPM Enterprises, LLC, which is owned
by an affiliate of Las Vegas-based Station
Casinos Inc., and private investors from
Michigan.
Amenities include the 225-seat Sandhill
Café, a 24-hour eatery with traditional
tribal recipes on its menu such
as bread, wild rice soup and potato-encrusted
Great Lake walleye. The restaurant
is named after the sandhill crane,
a migratory bird holding cultural and
spiritual significance for the tribe.
The 125-seat food court includes Villa
Fresh Italian Kitchen, Johnny Rockets,
Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery.
Stage 121 is a 40-seat lounge with
entertainment. Crossroads is a 24-seat
gathering area with video poker and slot
machines on the bar top. Appliques Gift
Shop sells Gun Lake souvenirs and tribal
artisan merchandise.
The casino offers packages to groups
with at least 25 people and a minimum
four-hour stay. Reservations and arrangements
must be made at least 72
hours in advance by telephone or online.
The casino’s design is contemporary,
inspired by the tribe’s culture and surrounding
landscape, Kaminski said. Materials
include batik and Jerusalem gold
limestone, with dark walnut wood finishes
also incorporating textured earth
tones, basket weave elements, copper and
beadwork.
“Gun Lake Casino exudes the feel of
an upscale lounge with the warm, comfortable
and inviting appeal of a living
room,” Kaminski said. Since opening in
February 2011, the casino has paid out
millions of dollars in jackpots. In addition,
it has distributed more than $27
million with the state, local governments
schools and others as part of its local
revenue-sharing agreement, said D.K.
Sprague, tribal chairman, in a statement.
The casino employs more than 800
people, and hired additional team members
since opening “to maintain the
highest level of guest service,” said Carter
Pavey, marketing director.•
Gun Lake Casino
(269) 792-7560
www.gunlakecasino.com
Lake of the Clouds
Reader Service Card #348
UP30331 Spring Group Tour7.25x2.25.indd 1 12/19/12 4:15 PM

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Make Gun Lake Casino the place for your next group outing!
For reservations, or more details call: 269.792.7560
I-96
I-94
US 131
Grand Rapids
Exit 61
Kalamazoo
gunlakecasino.com
The Jackpot Capital of Michigan
1123 129th Avenue • Wayland, MI 49348 • 269.792.7777
© 2012 Gun Lake Tribal Gaming Authority. All rights reserved. Like us on Facebook.com/GunLakeCasino
Reader Service Card #587
TM

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
42
MiCHiGAn
Dive!
Tour a World War II sub at USS Silversides Submarine Museum
Eight days after the Japanese attack
on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7,
1941, the USS Silversides was commissioned
into the U.S. Navy.
The decorated World War II submarine
is open for tours in Muskegon.
The 311-foot sub, moored on the
south side of the Muskegon Channel, is
the largest artifact of the USS Silversides
Submarine Museum.
“Of the remaining World War II submarines,
Silversides has the highest number
of decorations,” said Frank Marczak,
the museum’s executive director.
Silversides received 12 battle stars for
World War II service.
The sub’s mission was to stop raw
materials and supplies like oil, bauxite,
rubber, coal, food, and iron ore from
reaching Japan. It sank 23 major ships
and damaged 14 others.
Knowledgeable docents guide groups
through the submarine, Marczak said.
“Two of the sub’s four diesel engines
are able to be fi red up,” he said. “We can
do that for a group tour.”
On the tour, visitors see the sleeping
quarters, kitchen and torpedo tubes.
They get an idea of what it was like to
be a member of the sub’s 72-person crew.
“It is tight in there,” Marczak said. “It’s
a unique experience. The comment that
we get the most from visitors is, ‘How
could they have served in here?’ The tour
makes an impression.”
The 15,000-square-foot museum
holds exhibits on USS Silversides, World
Meet our Tour Specialist 1-800-250-9283 | visitmuskegon.org
War II, the Pearl Harbor attack, submarines,
the Cold War, marine technology
and Great Lakes shipping.
African Americans who have served
in the military, including the Tuskegee
Airmen, are recognized in an exhibit.
The museum is in the process of creating
an exhibit on the USS Flier, a World
War II submarine that hit a mine and
sank in the Balabac Strait separating the
Photo: David Hoekman
The USS Silversides, a World War II submarine,
is open for tours in Muskegon.
southern Philippines from Malaysia.
Grand Haven resident Alvin Jacobson
was one of eight submariners who survived.
He gathered as much information as
he could from naval records of the investigation
and put together charts of where
he believed the Flier was.
After Jacobson died in 2008, his fam-
GroupToursMatch.com
Find your venue. Find the perfect custom itinerary. Find Muskegon.
ily provided that information to YAP
Films.
In spring 2009, with the aid of the Jacobson
family, YAP Films located wreckage
of a submarine in the area that USS
Flier was lost at a depth of 330 feet.
Father-and-son divers Mike and Warren
Fletcher of the Smithsonian Channel
television show Dive Detectives captured
the fi rst views of the sunken submarine
in more than 64 years. With the fi lm, the
U.S. Navy determined the wreck was the
USS Flier.
Marczak hopes the exhibit will be
ready by the end of May.
A 72-seat theater at the museum
shows a 20-minute documentary about
U.S. involvement in World War II and
the role of U.S. Navy submarine service.
In 1993, the Prohibition-era U.S.
Coast Guard cutter McLane joined the
Silversides at the museum.
McLane is also open for tours.
Guided tours of the submarine and
cutter can be arranged for groups of 15
or more with notice of at least three days.
Marczak advises tour operators to allow
2 to 2½ hours for a visit to the museum
and the two vessels.
Groups interested in a meal at the
museum can work with the staff to arrange
a catered lunch in museum’s
Channel View Room.•
USS Silversides Submarine Museum
(231) 755-1230
www.silversidesmuseum.org
Reader Service Card #165 Reader Service Card #320

WHERE WINNERS COME TO PLAY
Want to offer your group a winning experience? Bring them to Michigan’s finest AAA Four-Diamond destination. 514
lavish guest rooms and suites. The nonstop action of Certified Hot slots and table games. The best high-stakes bingo
action in the Midwest. Delectable dining at our signature restaurants. Sizzling live entertainment and nightlife. It all
happens here at the one destination that truly has it all: Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.
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Take advantage of special pricing on day and overnight
motorcoach packages, and ask about our free matinee shows!
Call 877.2.EAGLE.2 ext. 55444 for more details.
Mt. Pleasant, MI
SoaringEagleCasino.com
Reader Service Card #489
EXPERIENCE MORE.

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
44
M i CHi GAn
Mixing up
in Jiffyville
Chelsea Milling
Company’s roots
run deep
For more than 120 years, the family
that owns Chelsea Milling Company has
been turning grain into flour.
The company’s well-known Jiffy line
of prepared baking mix products came
about in spring 1930.
That’s when Mabel White Holmes,
grandmother of current company president
and CEO Howdy S. Holmes, developed
and introduced the first Jiffy mix.
The company currently produces a
variety of Jiffy mixes at its Chelsea plant
— everything from brownies and cake
mixes to various flavors of muffins and
frosting.
Groups can learn how Jiffy mixes are
made when they take a free tour.
The hour-long tour incorporates a
video, a walk through the company’s
packaging plant and refreshments.
The refreshments, naturally, are Jiffy
mix products.
“The tour is educational,” Holmes said.
Reader Service Card #445
We’re More Fun Than Ever!
Little River offers the finest in casino action with exciting slot
machines and table games. Stay in one of our 292 rooms,
catch a great show in the event center, or experience wonderful
dining in any one of our 3 restaurants. For more information call
1-888-568-2244 ext. 3820 or visit us on the web at www.lrcr.com.
Reader Service Card #313
Photo: Chelsea Milling Company
Chelsea Milling Co. in Chelsea, the home of Jiffy mixes, has offered tours of its plant since the early 1960s.
“We’re proud of what we do. The tour is
the closest thing we do to advertising.
“It’s a way for people to see a manufacturing
facility in operation.”
The tours have been offered since the
early 1960s, with about 22,000 people
annually visiting, Holmes said.

Tours are Monday through Friday,
with reservations required.
While there’s no minimum group
size, the maximum group size is 120.
Large groups are divided into smaller
groups on tours. Visitors must wear protective
hair covering, which is provided.
Adult visitors who go on the tour receive
a gift bag with a recipe book, a blue
Jiffy figure and two boxes of Michiganmade
product.•
parades
guided tours
group meals
concerts
carnivals
fireworks
dutch market
dutch dancers
arts & crafts fair
MAY 4-11
2013
HOLLAND
MICHIGAN
www.
for group tour assistance visit
800.822.2770
and much more!
tuliptime.com/gtm
Chelsea Milling Company
(734) 475-1361
www.jiffymix.com
Ann Arbor Area Convention
and Visitors Bureau
(800) 888-9487
www.visitannarbor.org
The Felt Estate
You are invited to tour the Felt Mansion
and Gardens...for a moment back in time,
a journey to an era of tasteful re nement.
Call 616.335.8982 to arrange
a private tour for your group
www.feltmansion.org
6597 138th Ave. • Holland, Michigan 49423
Reader Service Card #184
Immerse
yourself
M i CHi GAn
Photo: Chelsea Milling Company
The free tour of Chelsea Milling Co. in Chelsea takes an hour.
in the
beauty...
Windmill
Island
Gardens
Come experience our:
• Authentic Dutch Windmill • Antique Dutch Carousel
• Amsterdam Street Organ • Delightful Dutch Shopping
• Tropical Conservatory • Farm Animals
• And Much More!
February • March • April
45

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
46
M i CHi GAn
On with
the shows
The Croswell
Opera House
focal point
for Adrian
Mackinac Island Group Tours
Starting at
$ 49 Per Person,
Includes Breakfast
Photo: The Croswell Opera House
IH Group Tour 5-11:Layout 1 3/8/11 The 11:08 Croswell AM Opera Page House 1in
Adrian opened in 1866.
• Private Ferry Dock • Elevator Service
• Cozy Guest Rooms • Wireless Internet
• 2 Restaurants Throughout Hotel
• All Rooms • Tour Escort
Air Conditioned Complimentary Stay
—Rates Include Our Full Breakfast Buffet—
Call Carol Halberg for Information
800-399-0403
theislandhouse.com
Experience the thrill of live theatre!
RECOMMENDED
ISLAND HOUSE HOTEL
Reader Service Card #594
June 14-23 August 2-11 September 20-29
Reader Service Card #586
The Croswell Opera House in Adrian
is Michigan’s oldest continually operating
theater.
Since 1866, the building at 129 E.
Maumee St. in downtown Adrian has
been a center and focal point for the performing
and fine arts.
The Croswell presents a Broadway
season from May through December and
special events from September through
April.
One of those special events is the
production Kitchen Witches, which runs
March 8 to 17. Arch-enemy television
chefs are tricked into appearing together
on a cooking show in the comedy, described
as Martha Stewart meets Jersey
Shore.
Dueling Pianos by 176 Keys is April
13.
A Honey Pot of Pooh Stories on May
11 is a collection of stories featuring A.E.
Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.
The opera house has hosted a variety
of entertainers and artists over the years.
Visiting performers have included
social reformer-orator Frederick Douglass,
civil rights leader-suffragette Susan
B. Anthony, musician-conductor John
Philip Sousa, caricaturist-editorial cartoonist
Thomas Nast and author-poet
James Whitcomb Riley.
Actor Edwin Thomas Booth played
Hamlet at The Croswell. He was the
brother of John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
in 1865 in Washington, D.C.
Artistic Director Jere Righter and
Creative Director John MacNaughton
can lead groups on a walking tour of
the opera house before or after shows,
Reader Service Card #117

Righter said.
“We have some great stories
to tell about the people
who have performed here,”
she said. “It’s a fun thing.”
In selecting shows, The
Croswell attempts to offer
a mix of newer productions
and shows with wide-ranging
appeal, such as jukeboxstyle
musicals and Richard
Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein
II-esque shows,
Righter said.
The opera house is
named for Charles M. Croswell,
an Adrian resident
and the governor of Michigan
from 1877 to 1881.
In 1863, Croswell, an
Adrian lawyer, purchased
For 1921 to 1967, The Croswell was a
the land and formed an association to movie theater.
build and manage a theater first known When it was nearing its demolition.
as Adrian Union Hall.
The Adrian Foundation saved the build-
By 1887, it was called The Croswell ing. The Croswell Opera House and Fine
Opera House.
Arts Association was developed to pre-
LVH-GLGT-Nov2013:LVH-GLGT-Summer08.qxp 9/25/12 4:23 PM Page 1
*
May 3 ~ June 6
Lake View Hotel is a proud member of:
June 7 ~ June 30
September 2 ~ October 24
July 1 ~ September 1
INSPIRED ADVENTURES BEGIN
ON MACKINAC ISLAND.
Looking for a tour destination where adventurous, historic attractions abound in a gorgeous,
natural setting? Then bring your groups to Mackinac Island’s beautiful Lake View Hotel. We
offer eighty-five newly upgraded guest rooms with premium bedding and 32” flat panel
TV’s, two restaurants, an indoor heated pool, shopping on site, plus a convenient downtown
location. Upon arrival, we’ll meet your group personally at the ferry dock, and ensure
every detail is coordinated to your exact requirements.
Rates start from just $49.50* per person including our
delicious continental breakfast. Call us toll free today
and schedule your group’s adventure!
Photo: The Croswell Opera House
The Croswell Opera House in Adrian offers a variety of shows.
(888) 645-4522
www.lake-view-hotel.com
groupsales@lakeviewhotel.us
Packaging available!
Group rates are per person, double occupancy Sunday~Thursday, subject to availability, based on groups of
10 rooms or more. Rates include deluxe accommodations and continental breakfast. Rates not available on
Holidays and Special Event dates. Lilac Parade Weekend ( June 14-16) rates from $90.00 double occupancy.
Baggage charge of $5.00 per person round trip is additional. Add 6% Michigan Sales Tax, 8% Hotel Service
Charge, and 2% Tourism Assessment Charge. Complimentary room for escort with 15 paid rooms.
Reader Service Card #197
M i CHi GAn
serve the historic building
and the theatrical and musical
arts performed in it.
The Croswell offers
discounts for groups of at
least 14 people, with larger
discounts for groups more
than 40.
Groups are met by a
Croswell volunteer who
greets them on the motorcoach,
distributes tickets
and escorts them to their
seats.
Free on-site bus parking
is available. Bus drivers and
tour group representatives
are admitted free.
The Croswell schedules
special event shows as far in
advance as possible to help
groups plan outings, Righter said.•
The Croswell Opera House
(517) 264-7469
www.croswell.org
Lake View Hotel will
greet you at the dock, and
provides luggage transfer
to/from the hotel, a lobby
welcome reception, free
morning coffee, and wi-fi
with computer access.
ALL ROOMS AIR-CONDITIONED
We Love Groups!
Since 1858
One Huron Street
Mackinac Island, Michigan 49757
February • March • April
47

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
48
MiCHiGAn
Majestic on Mackinac Island
Grand Hotel ages like fi ne wine
Mackinac Island
has long been a vacation
hotspot.
After the Civil War,
the island in the Straits
of Mackinac became a
popular resort destination
for Americans
who wanted to escape
the heat, noise and
grime of industrial
cities.
Cars are not allowed
on the island,
meaning visitors get
around by horse and
carriage, by bicycle or
on foot — just like 100 Photo: Grand Hotel
years ago.
A big part of the island’s
charm and ambience can be found
at Grand Hotel, which offi cially opens
for its 126th season on May 3 and closes
Oct. 28.
An early opening package starting
April 26 allows guests to enjoy the landmark
hotel for a full week before it offi
cially opens.
Group tours can experience Grand
Hotel’s inimitable charm and graciousness.
Some of Grand Hotel’s traditions refl
ect an earlier era: Afternoon Tea, croquet
on the Tea Garden lawn, an evening
dress code, live entertainment and ballroom
dancing.
Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is celebrating its 126th anniversary in 2013.
America’s summer place. A Michigan tradition.
An overnight stay includes a full breakfast and five-course dinner daily. Groups
can also visit for the day and enjoy our legendary Grand Luncheon Buffet with
an assortment of seafood, hot entrees, sliced meats, crisp salads, cheeses, fruits,
vegetables, and a dessert table with over 20 different selections, baked fresh
daily. To discuss opportunities for groups, call Julia Luckey at 517-349-4600.
GrandHotel.com/grouptours
The Grand Hotel preserves the best of
a bygone era and meets the sophisticated
needs of today’s group traveler, said Julia
Luckey-Ottenwess, the hotel’s director of
group tours.
The hotel’s 385 guest rooms are
uniquely decorated.
Overnight stays include a full breakfast
and fi ve-course dinner daily.
A highlight of Grand Hotel is the
Grand Luncheon Buffet, with an assortment
of seafood, hot entrees, sliced
meats, salads, cheeses, fruits, vegetables,
and a dessert table with more than 20 selections,
baked fresh daily.
The hotel’s special adult group rate
for the Grand Luncheon
Buffet and selfguided
tour is $37 per
person, exclusive of
tax and gratuity with
advance reservation.
One complimentary
ticket is provided
to groups with a minimum
of 30 adults,
paying the $37 rate.
Luckey-Ottenwess
assists tour planners
with booking ferry
service to and from
Mackinac Island and,
once on the island,
horse-drawn taxi
transfers to Grand
Hotel and a two-hour
horse-drawn island carriage tour.
Last year, Grand Hotel opened a new
horse stable in Surrey Hills, just across
from Wings of Mackinac Butterfl y Conservatory.
Groups can tour the stable, which
also holds 20 antique carriages from
Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island Carriage
Tours.
Allen Edwards, The Singer, performs
at Grand Hotel the evenings of Sept. 15
and 16.•
Grand Hotel
(517) 349-4600
www.grandhotel.com/grouptours
Reader Service Card #123
PP-GH-14793A.indd 1 12/21/12 1:45 PM

Flowers
and Dutch
spirit
Tulip Time Festival
and Holland Museum
paint community’s
portrait
The Tulip Time Festival, a rite of
spring in Holland, celebrates its 84th
year in 2013.
From May 4 to 11, group tours will
come to Holland to see three parades,
Dutch dancers, national and regional entertainment,
dinner shows, a Dutch market
and fireworks.
The stars of the show are the millions
of tulips throughout Holland.
New options give tour operators the
flexibility to tailor the experience for their
specific tour, said Susan Zalnis, marketing/group
sales manager for the festival.
Two new guided tour options are a
three-hour Ottawa Beach step-on lunch
tour and a Holland State Park 1½-hour
step-on tour. Both tours include Lake
Michigan.
The tours were added based on positive
feedback from group tour travelers
who got to see the lake when operators
conducted ad hoc tours to the lakefront,
Zalnis said.
Reader Service Card #366
Milllions of tulips bloom each spring in Holland.
M i CHi GAn
Photo: Windmill Island
“A lot of people who aren’t from the
Midwest and not familiar with the Great
Lakes are just amazed when they see Lake
Michigan,” she said. “We decided to add
something official.”
Also new is a culinary experience
menu.
Operators can create a unique Dutch
culinary experience for their groups by
selecting from customized meals, cooking
demonstrations, classes, chef lectures
and tours.
Continued on page 50
February • March • April
49

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
50
M i CHi GAn
Continued from page 49
“A lot of what we do at the festival
has to do with food,” she said. “So we
grouped together some culinary-related
experiences. People are looking for culinary
options.”
For instance, there’s an four-course
dinner that puts a spin on traditional
Dutch cuisine, a Dutch-themed food court
and a class to make banket (a traditional
Dutch pastry with an almond filling).
This year’s festival’s expanded range
of entertainment offers something for
every audience, said Gwen Auwerda, the
festival’s executive director.
“We’re offering everything from
country superstar Kenny Rogers to high
energy musical performances, contemporary
folk, improvisational theater,
comedy, magic, choral and jazz — shows
that offer something for audiences of all
ages,” Auwerda said.
New this year, the Dutch Celebration
dinner show begins with a culinary adventure
in the Dutch tradition followed
by a performance portraying times in
provincial Holland.
Performances are May 7 and 8. Tick-
Photo: Holland Museum
“Celebrating the Journey: Settlement to City, Objects Tell the Story”
is on view through May at the Holland Museum.
ets are available with or without dinner.
The festival office now sells tickets
for Windmill Island Gardens and Nelis’
Dutch Village, Zalnis said.
On view through May at Holland
Museum is the special exhibition “Celebrating
the Journey: Settlement to City,
Objects Tell the Story.” The exhibition is
about the people of Holland and the museums
that have held their treasures.
“Our 75th anniversary exhibition
contains objects that present the collected
memories of generations of a people
who can look back and see their contri-
Reader Service Card #538
butions on the road from settlement to
city,” said Kristina Wieghmink, the museum’s
marketing manager.
Holland Museum features permanent
exhibits on Holland’s history and
more than 400 years of Dutch history
in its Dutch Galleries. On the museum’s
lower level, the Archives and Research
Library houses the museum’s collection
of books, papers and photographs related
to Holland’s history.
The museum is part of Holland Historical
Trust, which also operates the
Cappon and Settlers houses. These house
museums present the restored living environments
of a common worker’s family
and that of Holland’s first mayor.
All three museums offer guided
group tours.•
Holland Museum
(616) 796-2080
www.hollandmuseum.org
Tulip Time Festival
(800) 822-2770
www.tuliptime.com/gtm

Reader Service Card #546

Itinerary
Minnesota
GO
Duluth and Two Harbors
SEE
Duluth Omnimax Theatre
(800) 628-8385
www.decc.org
Glensheen
(218) 726-8910
www.d.umn.edu/glen
Gooseberry Falls State Park
(218) 834-3855
www.dnr.state.mn.us
Great Lakes Aquarium
(218) 740-3474
www.glaquarium.org
Split Rock Lighthouse
(218) 226-6372
www.mnhs.org/places/
sites/srl
St. Louis County
Heritage and Arts Center
(218) 727-8025
www.duluthdepot.org
DO
North Shore
Scenic Railroad
(800) 423-1273
www.northshorescenic
railroad.org
ASK
Visit Duluth
(800) 438-5884
www.visitduluth.com
52
Great Lake explorations
Travel by water, rail and horsepower to enjoy a Superior visit
Sitting on the shore of Lake Superior, Duluth has
a long history as a port and the gateway to Minnesota’s
northwoods.
On this four-night, three-day tour created by Visit
Duluth, spend time discovering Duluth and Two
Harbors, its neighbor to the north.
DAY ONE
In the afternoon, arrive in Duluth and check into
your hotel.
Gather the group and head toward the shore.
Enjoy a dinner cruise aboard the Vista Star. Dine
on a buffet-style supper while cruising the Duluth
harbor.
DAY TWO
Photo: Duluth CVB
After breakfast,
gather the group
because it’s time to
explore Duluth.
An expert stepon
guides will
lead a two-hour
city tour. Besides
city history and
favorite sites, the
tour includes a
trip along Skyline
Drive and Enger
Parks and Gardens.
The tour is
available free when
arranged with Visit Duluth.
Next, tour Glensheen — the Great Lake Estate.
The 39-room historic mansion sits on 22 acres along
the shores of Lake Superior.
Enjoy lunch on your own in Canal Park. During
free time, stroll the Lakewalk and enjoy the views of
Lake Superior. Watch the ships as they enter the harbor
and then poke into the unique shops along the
waterfront.
Head to the Depot, now home to the St. Louis
County Heritage and Arts Center and a variety of
museums.
On the lower level, step into the world of train
travel at Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Then
stroll through Depot Square, which re-creates
downtown Duluth, circa 1910.
From there, the options are many without leaving
the Depot. Check out the exhibits at Lake Superior
Ojibwe Gallery or the Duluth Art Institute Galleries.
Peek into the past with the St. Louis County
Historical Society.
Duluth’s Lakewalk offers up-close views of the ships on Lake Superior.
Return to the hotel.
There’s plenty of afternoon free time.
If you’d like, arrange a carriage ride with Top Hat
Carriages along the Lakewalk.
Then, take a group tour of Great Lakes Aquarium,
with its focus freshwater life in and around Lake
Superior.
After dinner, cap off the evening with a presentation
at Duluth Omnimax Theatre in Duluth Entertainment
Convention Center.
DAY THREE
Begin with breakfast.
Board the North Shore Scenic Railroad for a
one-way ride along the shore of Lake Superior to
Two Harbors. Box
lunches are available
for the journey.
Your motorcoach
meets the
group at the train
depot in Two Harbors
and continues
the trip to Split
Rock Lighthouse.
Visit Duluth stepon
guides are
available to narrate
along the North
Shore for an additional
charge.
Now a site watched over by the Minnesota Historical
Society, the light has been a beacon since
1910. These days, the light is illuminated once a year
on Nov. 10 in honor of the lives lost when the Edmund
Fitzgerald was felled in Lake Superior by the
gales of November.
Step into the visitor center to watch the introductory
fi lm, browse the gift shop and see the exhibits.
Follow a guide to see the lighthouse up close. Those
who want can climb to the top of the lighthouse.
Chat with costumed interpreters to fi nd out what
was life was like at this remote outlet in the 1920s. A
short trail leads to a lakeside overlook.
Depart Split Rock and stop at Gooseberry Falls
State Park. Start at the visitor center for an interpretive
program and the exhibits. Then, see the waterfalls
and watch for birds.
Enjoy an evening meal in Duluth.
DAY FOUR
Depart northern Minnesota after breakfast.•

Alexandria
made
Just a Jaunt shows
off innovative places
A jaunt is a quick and enjoyable trip.
The central Minnesota town of Alexandria
is the perfect place for a jaunt.
Four Alexandria-area businesses offer
Just a Jaunt tour experiences: Carlos
Creek Wintery, Crooked Willow, Northland
Woolens and Tastefully Simple.
Northland Woolens produces mittens,
hats, recycled textiles and other
warm-weather gear.
On a tour, groups see how the products
are made and meet the crafters. But it’s the
shopping that is often the biggest hit.
“When you shop here, you get all the
cutting-edge stuff,” said Northland Woolens’
Maria Kohnhorst. “Sometimes our
newest stuff doesn’t make it out the door
because of the tours. If you want the cool-
Photo: Northland Woolens
Northland Woolens produces winter gear with style from
its factory in Nelson, just outside Alexandria.
est of the cool, you have to come here.”
Food company Tastefully Simple Inc.
uses home taste-testing parties.
A guide shows off the headquarters
on group tours, with samples along the
way, said Anna Gesell, public relations
coordinator.
Carlos Creek Winery offers tours and
tastings, along with seasonal festivals and
special events.
Custom experiences beyond the typi-
Reader Service Card #162
MinnEsoTA
cal tour and tasting can be arranged.
Crooked Willow is a renovated farm
that’s now a showcase for antiques and
home decor.
At each stop, tour participants can get a
passport stamp — available online at www.
justajuant.com — and mail it in to enter a
drawing. The annual contest awards one
person a gift basket worth $500.•
Carlos Creek Winery
(320) 846-5443
www.carloscreekwinery.com
Crooked Willow
(320) 859-3624
www.crookedwillow.net
Tastefully Simple
(320) 763-0695
www.tastefullysimple.com
Northland Woolens
(320) 762-2293
www.northlandwoolens.com
Just A Jaunt
www.justajaunt.com
It’s Easy to Enjoy Eagan Minnesota!
Up to $250 IN REBATES *
When Booking 20+ Rooms
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and Reception
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from Most Eagan Hotels
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Lodging
Tax – Only
3%!
Eagan Convention & Visitors Bureau
866-324-2620 • www.EaganMN.com
February • March • April
53

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
54
MinnEsoTA
• HOTEL RATE SEARCH
• CUSTOM FAM TOURS
• FREE MEET & GREETS
Good food meets good times
Whisk up some fun with Cooks of Crocus Hills
Whether comfortable in the kitchen
or a total novice, everyone who visits
Cooks of Crocus Hill has a culinary encounter.
While attention to good food seems
to be at a fevered pitch, Cooks of Crocus
Hills is no fl y-by-night operation. It’s
spent nearly 40 years sharing its culinary
chops.
“Cooks of Crocus Hill has three locations
in the Twin Cities,” said Susie Tucker,
director of culinary events and the
Life Recipe wellness program. “We host
group experiences at all of the locations.”
From its beginnings in 1973 on Grand
Avenue in St. Paul, Cooks of Crocus Hill
has seen many changes.
Currently, its three locations in St.
Paul, Edina and Stillwater are equipped
with the latest kitchens and cooking
gear. But these aren’t your average home
kitchens; they’re demonstration kitchens
just steps away from well-stocked retail
stores.
With a variety of packages available
to customize, groups can create an experience
that fi ts their schedule and plans.
“We’re open almost every day of
the year, and we get all kind of groups,”
Tucker said.
A favorite experience is the culinary
demonstration. These packages, which
last an average of an hour, include plenty
of time for audience questions and a
meal to enjoy.
“Demonstrations tend to be a way
for groups to build on a foundation they
CALL TODAY 800.627.6101
Photo: Cooks of Crocus Hill
already have, including a love of food,”
Tucker said.
More extensive packages are available
— with customized menus and activities
suited to a group’s schedule and price
points.
The schedule includes time to work
with the chef, learn how the meal is
made and get involved with the cooking.
There’s also time to ask questions and
shop the retail store.
“Menus depend on the group, how
adventurous they are, and how their
tours are themed,” she said.
One of the most popular menus focuses
on traditional Minnesota food
with savory fl avors.
Groups also have the opportunity to
Group lessons are a specialty at Cooks of Crocus Hill.
VisitSaintPaul.com/groups
create a meal from start to fi nish with an
interactive three-hour package.
“We start from the whole food and
work through to the fi nished recipes,”
she said.
The St. Paul location can accommodate
about 50 people at once, with 24 at
the other locations.
In Stillwater, many larger groups rotate
their culinary experiences with wine
tasting and trolley tours.
Tour planners should contact Cooks
of Crocus Hill at least a month in advance
to arrange visits, Tucker said.•
Cooks of Crocus Hill
(651) 288-7238
www.cooksofcrocushill.com
BEST
GETAWAY MPG
(memories per gallon)
MUNSINGER
CLEMENS GARDENS
ONE-OF-A-KIND
ST. CLOUD FIND
GraniteCountry.com | 800.264.2940 EXT. 129
Reader Service Card #534 Reader Service Card #504

Central Missouri sampler
Experience sights, sounds and tastes of Columbia,
Jeff erson City and neighbors
In central Missouri there’s much to do.
In three days, groups can soak in culture, natural
beauty and connect with history in Columbia, home
to the University of Missouri; the capital city of Jefferson
City; and vicinity.
The itinerary is created by Kansas City-based
Legacy Dimensions and the Missouri Division of
Tourism.
DAY ONE
Begin in Columbia.
Its Shelter Gardens consists
of fi ve acres containing
more than 300 varieties of
trees and shrubs and more
than 15,000 annuals and perennials,
along with a waterfall,
rock garden, garden for
the blind, Vietnam veterans’
memorial and replica oneroom
schoolhouse.
Head to the Historic
Francis Quadrangle on campus
of the University of Missouri,
nicknamed Mizzou.
Visit the site of historic
MU Columns and (believe
it or not) Thomas Jefferson’s
original tombstone.
Just a few steps away, half
the group visits the Museum
of Art & Archaeology, which
features works by European
and American painters. The other half visits the Museum
of Anthropology, which focuses on early settlement
in Missouri and Native American exhibits.
After 40 minutes, switch locations.
Arrive at Historic Missouri Theatre, central Missouri’s
only pre-Depression-era movie palace and
vaudeville stage. Built in 1928, the structure underwent
a complete renovation and restoration in 2008.
The Columbia Art League is now housed with
the Missouri Theatre, combining visual and performing
arts.
The group can lunch on their own at a variety
of Columbia’s downtown dining options, a group
lunch can be arranged or the Columbia CVB can
assist in scheduling lunch with a chef culinary demonstration.
Depart Columbia for Jefferson City.
Skip dessert in Columbia, so you can enjoy ice
cream at the Central Dairy. The local legend was established
in Columbia in 1920 by Dot Sappington.
Photo: Missouri Division of Tourism
Westminster College honors its connections to
Winston Churchill, who delivered the “Iron Curtain”
speech on its campus in 1946.
The Jefferson City branch opened in 1932.
The Missouri State Penitentiary, decommissioned
in 2004, is now open for hard-hat tours.
Overnight in Jefferson City.
DAY TWO
Visit the Missouri State Capitol.
Completed in 1917, the Capitol covers three acres
in downtown Jefferson City. Inside, fi nd the Missouri
State Museum. The 45-minute guided Capitol
tour is the best way to experience the historic and
decorative features.
Travel on to Fulton to the
National Churchill Memorial
& Library, located on the campus
of Westminster College.
The museum is comprised of
the Church of St. Mary the Virgin,
Aldermanbury, an English
Church designed by Sir Christopher
Wren in 1667, and the
undercroft museum with permanent
exhibits dedicated to
the life and works of Sir Winston
Churchill, who made his
“Iron Curtain” speech on the
Westminster Campus in 1946.
The grounds are also home
to a piece of the Berlin Wall.
You can also arrange for high
tea to be served to your group
for a fee.
Auto World Museum contains
exhibits and collections of vintage cars, and
auto memorabilia.
Return to Jefferson City for dinner and the overnight.
DAY THREE
After breakfast, depart Jefferson City for Hermann.
Nestled among the rolling hillsides of the Missouri
River and reminiscent of Germany’s Rhine
Valley, Hermann’s specialty tours can include shopping,
a village tour with music or a visit to Swiss
Meat and Sausage Company.
The arts and crafts of yesteryear are well-preserved
in Historic Hermann’s Museum at the German
School.
While in Hermann, enjoy lunch and wine tasting
at Stone Hill Winery. Its Vintage Restaurant on the
winery grounds is in a restored carriage house and
horse barn. Depart for home.•
Itinerary
Missouri
GO
Columbia, Fulton,
Jeff erson City
and Hermann
SEE
Auto World Museum
(573) 642-2080
www.autoworldmuseum.
com
Missouri State Museum
(573) 751-2854
www.mostateparks.com/
park/missouri-statemuseum
Missouri State Penitentiary
(866) 998-6998
www.missouripentours.com
Missouri Theatre
(573) 882-3781
www.motheatre.org
National Churchill
Museum
(573) 592-5369
www.churchillmemorial.org
Stonehill Winery
(800) 909-9463
www.stonehillwinery.com
ASK
Legacy Dimensions
(816) 444-0991
Missouri Division
of Tourism
(513) 751-1910
www.visitmo.com
55

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
56
MissoURi
On top of Wolfe Mountain
Soar to new heights with Branson Zipline Canopy Tours
Ziplining is for anyone.
One doesn’t need to be young — or
particularly brave — to zipline.
“It’s not often you have something for
all levels to participate in outdoor activities,”
said Emma Hamilton, general manager
of Branson Zipline Canopy Tours at
Wolfe Creek Preserve.
“It’s pretty awesome to see all ages out
there. We’ve had several groups with four
generations out at the same time.”
Nestled on the outer edge of Branson,
just north of the shows and theaters, sits
the eco-tour outfi tter.
Since the park opened in 2010, everyone
from elementary pupils to septuagenarians-plus
have strapped on safety
gear and experienced the Ozark scenery
from a new vantage point.
Photos: Branson Zipline Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve
To add some adventure to a tour, make a visit to Branson
Zipline Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve.
The experiences were designed to be
a low-impact eco-adventure experience
shared among multiple generations. The
one requirement is participants weigh
New for 2013!
Main Street Lake Cruises Liverpool Legends Outlaw Run | Silver Dollar City
Branson/Lakes Area CVB
between 70 and 275 pounds.
With several packages available,
groups can experience Branson’s natural
side whether they want to keep their feet
fi rmly planted on the ground or soar to
new heights.
The Ozarks Xplorer Canopy Tour, a
2½-hour guided adventure, begins with
a ride to the top of Wolfe Mountain via
a custom-built tram. Then, participants
experience the canopy through a series
of ziplines, walkways and bridges that
connect several platforms above the forest
fl oor.
The Blue Streak Fast Line provides
a thrilling experience quickly traversing
the property. Just as with the Ozarks
Xplorer, guests enjoy a tram ride before
streaking along the fastest and longest
zipline on-site.
The end of the experience is akin to
skydiving as you fall 70 feet before gently
slowing over the next 30 feet to a
complete stop. A rewind mechanism is
incorporated in the fan that powers the
system, providing subtle tensile strength
as the fall begins. The fan is driven by the
descending person’s mass without an external
power source.
“It’s a very fl uid experience,” Hamilton
said. “It gives you that experience of freefalling
with a smooth descent at the end.”
Many combine both experiences
with the three-hour Canopy Adventure
Combo. A fourth experience is more
grounded.
“For guests who want to keep their
FEATURING OVER 100 LIVE SHOWS • SILVER DOLLAR CITY • TITANIC MUSEUM ATTRACTION
THREE PRISTINE LAKES • BRANSON LANDING • FISHING • BOATING • MUSEUMS • SPAS • GOLF
ZIPLINES • OUTLET SHOPPING • DINING • RESORTS • HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Lenni Neimeyer, CTIS, CSTP Director of Leisure Group Sales
1-800-214-3661 • LNeimeyer@BransonCVB.com • ExploreBranson.com
Reader Service Card #641
Photos: Branson Zipline Canopy Tours at Wolfe Creek Preserve
Pinzgauer Swiss Army Troop Carriers have been retrofi tted
to bring visitors to the top of Wolfe Mountain.
feed on the ground, the Wolfe Creek Photo
Safari can do just that,” Hamilton said.
The 1½-hour guided walking tour
begins with a journey to the top of the
mountain aboard Pinzgauer Swiss Army
Troop Carriers. From there, shutterbugs
have time to see and photograph the
ziplines in action and the Ozark scenery.
While most packages are geared to
small groups, a group’s size is not a problem.
With customized packages, larger
groups can split up and enjoy different
parts of the park. Packages can be compressed
or lengthened depending on
schedules.
Meal service is also available.
The newly-added Prospector Pavilion
can hold up to 50 people for catered
meals or carry-ins.•
Branson Zipline Canopy Tours
at Wolfe Creek Preserve
(800) 717-0998
www.bransonzipline.com
Clay Cooper

Rolling into Rolla
Follow Route 66 to the center of Missouri mining
Natural resources abound in Rolla,
both above and below ground.
In this Ozark Mountains town, U.S.
66 rolls near rivers, forested hills and the
Mark Twain National Forest.
Rolla, located halfway between St.
Louis and Springfield, also is the centerpiece
of Missouri’s mining industry.
The Missouri University of Science
and Technology (S&T), Edward L. Clark
Museum of Missouri Geology and the
Missouri S&T Experimental Mine are all
located in Rolla.
Missouri S&T is home to some 6,800
students, with many of its classes taking
place in the Missouri S&T Experimental
Mine. The site provides practical experiences
for future engineers and others in
everything from surveying to groundwater
testing and drilling.
The complex, about 1½ miles away
from the main Missouri S&T campus,
consists of an underground mine, adjacent
quarry and classrooms and labs.
Groups can make arrangements through
Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce &
Visitor Center to see the mine up close.
A part of the university since 1914,
the mine is now a focal point for Missouri
S&T’s explosives engineering program,
a specialty of the mining engineering
department. The university offers a
master’s degree in explosives engineering,
the first formal program of its kind
in the U.S., along with a minor for undergraduate
students.
Once a year, the mine hosts a rescue
competition, which draws teams from
mining companies throughout the U.S.,
including the university’s home team.
In October, engineering students
transform the structure into a haunted
mine for a spooky trip underground.
Other times of the year, group tours
to the mine begin in the classroom with
a video and orientation. Then, members
of the group don a hardhat and head
underground. It is possible to add on an
explosives demonstration.
A nod to Stonehenge, crafted with
the aid of the university’s waterjet equipment,
is another uniquely Rolla experience.
The same technology also helped
create the university’s towering Millennium
Arch out of red granite.
The Campus Arts Committee leads
walking tours of the university, where
the Missouri S&T Minerals Museum and
Leach Theatre welcome group tours.
Also in Rolla, the Edward L. Clark
Museum of Missouri Geology presents
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geology and Land
Survey’s collection of minerals, fossils,
mammoth tusks and other treasures.
Other tour options include the Ozark
Actor’s Theater, Blue Bonnet Steam
Train, the nearby Fort Leonard Wood
Army base and wineries in St. James. C
Phelps County Historical Society is M
eager to introduce County Square, where
Y
three pre-Civil War structures stand, and
CM
Photo: Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
With the Missouri S&T Experimental Mine and more in Rolla, Missouri’s mining heritage is not forgotten.
MY
CY
CMY
K
T H E H I S T O R I C
M issoURi
to share stories of Missouri’s role in the
War Between the States.•
Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce
& Visitor Center
(888) 809-3817
www.visitrolla.com
Group Tour STL Co-op copy.pdf 1 12/10/2012 11:37:32 AM
Reader Service Card #225
H O M E & H E R I T A G E C E N T E R
L I N D E N W O O D U N I V E R S I T Y
His Legacy Lives On
1868 Highway F, Defiance, MO 63341
636-798-2005
www.danielboonehome.com
Group rates available with a reservation.
Reader Service Card #225
February • March • April
57

Itinerary
58
Ohio
GO
Butler County
SEE
Barn-n-Bunk
(513) 988-9211
www.barnnbunk.com
BeauVerre Riordan Stained
Glass Studios
(513) 425-7312
www.beauverre.net
Cincinnati Premium Outlets
(513) 539-0710
www.premiumoutlets.com/
outlets/outlet.asp?id=79
Frontgate Outlet Center
(513) 603-1444
www.frontgate.com
IKEA
(513) 779-7100
www.ikea.com/us/en/
store/west_chester
Jungle Jim’s
International Market
(513) 674-6023
www.junglejims.com
Streets of West Chester
(513) 759-6800
www.streetsofwestchester.
com
ASK
Butler County
Visitors Bureau
(888) 462-2282
(513) 860-4194, ext. 102
www.gettothebec.com
Foodies and fashionistas
Butler County serves up a shopping and dining haven
Butler County, located in
southwest Ohio, offers shopping
centers that range from
deal-driven outlets to country
barn shops.
And with a large selection
of dining establishments,
groups won’t go hungry.
Sandy Walther, sales
manager for group tour and
visitor services at the Butler
County Visitors Bureau,
provided this itinerary.
Walther can help tour operators
plan options for this
itinerary and has suggestions
for other itineraries.
DAY ONE
Start the morning with breakfast at IKEA in West
Chester. Then, shop your heart out at the Swedish
design home store, the only such one in Ohio.
With more than 10,000 exclusively designed
items, 48 room settings and a Swedish food market,
your group won’t leave empty handed.
Browse the unique shops and enjoy lunch at a selection
of more than eight restaurants at the Streets
of West Chester. Eateries include P.F. Chang’s, Panera
Bread, Champps Americana and more.
In the afternoon, visit Cincinnati Premium Outlets
in Monroe.
Do some bargain hunting through the 100 designer
and name-band outlet stores, including Michael
Kors, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and many more. Registered
group tours receive a free coupon book.
Evening— No trip to Butler County is complete
without a stop at Jungle Jim’s International Market,
a food lover’s paradise.
Photo: Butler County Visitors Bureau
BeauVerre Riordan Stained Glass Studios in Middleton
offers guided group tours.
Photo: Butler County Visitors Bureau
The IKEA store in West Chester has 48 room settings.
This superstore has more than an acre of produce
and 75,000 international grocery products. It’s truly
a shopper’s bonanza of unique and culturally diverse
food items from all over the world.
Discover thousands of specialty foods and imported
groceries: exotic spices, 150 olive oils, 1,000
hot sauces, 1,600 cheeses, a scratch bakery, 1½ acres
of fresh produce, organics, prime aged meat, exotic
game, live seafood, sushi, 10,000 wines, 1,000 beers,
cigar humidor, retro soda pop, candy, cookware, garden
and gifts.
The 4-acre store offers an interactive guest experience
complete with sights, sounds and mechanical
characters.
DAY TWO
In the morning, don’t miss a visit to Frontgate
Outlet Center, which houses modern and fashionable
designs for home, garden and traveling needs.
Frontgate’s brands include Ballard Designs, Garnet
Hill, Smith & Noble, The Territory Ahead and
TravelSmith.
For lunch, create a stylish table-scape, shop for
crafts and enjoy a country lunch in a turn-of-the
century barn at Barn-n-Bunk in Trenton.
A unique shopping spot for Amish specialties,
crafts, fl orals, candles and antiques, the retailer also
offers several hands-on tours and an ice cream shop.
In the afternoon, wind down your shopping at
BeauVerre Riordan Stained Glass Studios in downtown
Middletown.
The studio features two galleries of stained,
etched and art glass and rotating exhibits by regional
artists. Guided group tours are available by appointment
and can include a wine-and-cheese reception.•

An evening
option
Musical theater
returns to Ohio’s
Amish country
More of a good thing is coming to the
conference center at Carlisle Inn in Sugarcreek.
Live musical theater is returning to
Amish country in Ohio.
For 2013, Dutchman Hospitality Group
will offer 50 2 p.m. matinees and 81 7 p.m.
shows. The evening productions give groups
an entertainment option after dinner.
Last year, The Confession A Musical,
billed as an Amish love story, was presented
from June through mid-December.
The show will return for 2013, said
Vicki VanNatta, marketing manager for
Dutchman Hospitality Group.
“It’s a wonderful show,” VanNatta said.
“We have sold out repeatedly.”
The Confession A Musical is based on
the best-selling novels by Beverly Lewis.
Actors in the production are professionals,
VanNatta said.
“The do an exceptional job,” she said,
“And it’s done in the round in a 190-seat
theater. We have risers so everyone can see.”
This year The Confession will be presented
from June 4 to Aug. 17.
And a new show for 2013 is Half-
Stitched The Musical, to be presented from
Aug. 22 to Dec. 21.
In Half-Stitched, a new musical based
on a novel by author Wanda E. Brunstetter,
Reader Service Card #520
Photo: Dutchman Hospitality Group
the audience will sit alongside a group of
unlikely quilters in an Amish widow’s quilting
class and watch as they learn to piece
together their lives — one stitch at a time.
Discounts are available for groups of 20
or more. Meal and overnight packages can
be secured for groups in conjunction with
the shows.
Dutchman Hospitality Group, the company
that owns the Carlisle Inn, works hard
to share Amish and Mennonite heritage
through its inns, restaurants and shops.
The company, headquartered in Walnut
Creek, operates a series of restaurants,
inns and stores in central Ohio and Sarasota,
Fla.
From a 75-seat restaurant opened in
1969 in Walnut Creek, Dutchman Hospitality
Group has grown into a thriving
foodservice enterprise that serves nearly 2
million meals a year.
The operation now includes seven
restaurants, seven bakeries, six gift shops,
a food market, two inns and a wholesale
food distributor.
The company’s Sugarcreek campus is a
great experience for group tours, VanNatta
said.
We are pleased to present live
theater in Ohio’s Amish Country!
Enjoy a performance on your
next trip—come early to have
dinner and shop.
TICKETS & SCHEDULE
Call 855-344-7547
Playing at Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek
1357 Old Rte. 39 – Sugarcreek, OH
carlisleinns.com
Dutchman Hospital Group operates Carlisle Inn at Walnut Creek.
oHio
“A group can shop, enjoy a meal and
then go to the show in the evening,” she
said.
Family-style meals feature traditional
Amish comfort food such as real mashed
potatoes, roast beef that has cooked for
eight hours, chicken and ham.
The bakeries produce cinnamon rolls,
apple fritters and turnovers, bread and
nearly every kind of pie imaginable, including
peanut butter cream pie.
“Groups often head to the bakeries to
load up on pies and pastries to take home,”
VanNatta said.
The Dutch Valley Market in Sugarcreek
offers food items not generally found in
metropolitan areas. Some groups pre-order
large quantities and arrive with empty
coolers to transport the food back to their
homes.•
Carlisle Inn
(855) 344-7547
www.carlisleinns.com
the
Confession
BEVERLY LEWIS’ Hit Musical
Back by Popular Demand!
Returning to our stage Summer 2013
Reader Service Card #589
Dutchman Hospitality Group
(330) 893-2926
www.dhgroup.com
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER’S
The The Musical Musical
New Hit Musical!
Coming to our stage Fall 2013
February • March • April
59

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
60
oHio
Old and new
Western Reserve Historical Museum unwraps new galleries
The Western Reserve Historical Society’s
History Center is located in the
bustling University Circle neighborhood
of Cleveland.
The center, which began with two historic
houses, is itself buzzing with excitement
these days.
Scheduled to open this month are
renovated galleries holding the
Crawford Auto Aviation Collection.
Angie Lowry, sales manager for
the historical society, said the galleries
were closed for about a year.
They have been made somewhat
bigger, a new elevator added and
lighting improved.
A brand new museum store,
twice the size of the former store, is
also part of the project.
What is generating a lot of excitement,
Lowry said, is the all-glass
pavilion that has been added to a
corner of the Crawford Collection.
Coming to that space will be a
carousel from Euclid Beach, an amusement
park that operated in Cleveland
until 1969.
“The carousel will be rebuilt and actually
operational by the end of 2013,”
Lowry said.
Highlights of the “Setting the World
in Motion” exhibit in the Crawford galleries
are a Peerless automobile prototype
and a 1932 Wedell-Williams Model
44 racing airplane.
The Peerless Motor Company, head-
quartered in Cleveland, was one of many
automobile manufacturers in northeast
Ohio in the early 20th century.
The prototype model had an aluminum
body and was fi nished just before
the Great Depression.
“They had this great car but there was
no market for it,” Lowry said.
Illustration: Western Reserve Historical Society
“Setting the World in Motion” an exhibition at the Western
Reserve Historical Society’s history center in Cleveland
The airplane, the last surviving Model
44, participated in the national air races
that were held in Cleveland in the 1930s.
New galleries incorporate documents,
photos and costumes from all
parts of the society’s collection.
The Chisholm Halle Costume Wing
is one of the center’s jewels.
“We have an extensive, nationally recognized
costume collection,” Lowry said.
“Tying the Knot: Cleveland Wedding
Fashions, 1830 to 1980,” has been ex-
tended through the end of March.
The wing’s next exhibit, “Dior and
More,” opens in June and will showcase
the collection’s designs from the late 19th
and early 20th centuries.
Lowry said visiting the history center
helps orient group tour members to
northeast Ohio.
“We establish a sense of place
and tell the story of the region and
the people that lived here,” she said.
“We should be part of every stop in
Cleveland.”
The history center offers free
motorcoach parking and discounted
rates for groups. Guided tours are
available for an additional fee.
Lowry can work with groups on
lunch packages, and the history center
has hotel and museum partners.
The Bingham-Hanna House and
the Hay-McKinney House were built
in the early 1900s.
“We have beautiful gardens, too,”
Lowry said. “We do garden themed tours,
tours based on tea and on the lifestyle of
the families that lived in the houses and
their art.”
At the Hale Farm and Village, an outdoor
living history museum near Akron,
the historical society focuses on the Civil
War era.•
Western Reserve Historical Society
(216) 721-5722
www.wrhs.org
WESTERN
RESERVE
HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Cleveland , Ohio
Setting
World
Motion
EXHIBIT OPENS
at the WRHS History Center
February 2, 2013
www.wrhs.org 216.721.5722
Reader Service Card #430 Reader Service Card #373
the
in

what do you call A place with
something for everyone?
we call it columbus.
COSI has Group Tours
Down to a Science!
Group Amenities:
• Downtown Columbus location
• Discounts for groups of 12+
• Restaurant facilities and gift shop
• Special experiential tours and
workshops available
• Complimentary admission for
group driver and group escort
To Reserve:
888.819.2674
speters@mail.cosi.org
333 West Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215 cosi.org
COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM guests and members
now have the opportunity to see stingrays up close and to
touch these majestic creatures! Contact Roger Dudley at
(614) 645-3521 for 1/2 price reservations!
All New!
Reader Service Card #629
Columbus is fi lled with unforgettable
experiences your group is sure to love.
Learn dance moves from a ballerina.
Create wine from start to fi nish. Blow your
own glass ornament. It won’t be an ordinary
outing but what else would you expect from
a city that’s been marching to its own
drummer for over 200 years? Start
planning your Columbus visit today at
experiencecolumbus.com/tours
or by calling 800-354-2657.
GrpTourAd_12.13_Layout 1 12/13/12 10:23 AM Pa
IRISH I WAS
INDUBLIN
WITH 30 IRISH EXPERIENCES,
WE’LL MAKE YOUR GROUP
GREEN WITH ANTICIPATION.
VISIT IRISHISANATTITUDE.COM
CALL 800.245.8387
COLUMBUSZOO.ORG

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
62
Point your groups
in a new direction
Trumbull County
in northeastern Ohio
Begin by downloading our
Group Tour Planning Packet
ExploreTrumbullCounty.com
866.360.1552
Ohio State Reformatory
(Shawshank Prison)
Travel in Hollywood’s Footsteps
A must for all “Shawshank Redemption” fans!
Put yourself in the same locations as Andy and
Red with great photo opportunities.
• Explore 14 Hollywood filming locations
• Themed “Shawshank” dining and lodging
• Personal Step-on Guide
• “Shawshank” keepsakes
ShawshankTrail.com • 800.642.8282 x32 ask for Jodie
jpuster@mansfieldtourism.com
Licking County is located in Central Ohio, just 25 miles east of Columbus. Easily
accessible from Interstate 70, State Route 16, State Route 161 and State Route 13.
Licking County offers city conveniences combined with rural charm.
Call 800.589.8224 to plan your trip or visit EscapeToLickingCounty.com for a FREE travel magazine!
Reader Service Card #630
Convention &
Visitors Bureau

Reader Service Card #630
Visit Shop Stay Eat
Dickinson Cattle Co.
BELMONT
COUNTY
OHIO
Victorian Mansion
Museum
Unique
Hometown
Charm...
Genuine Texas
Longhorn Cattle
Museums
Beautiful Scenery
including Three
Scenic Byways
Outdoor
Country Music
Quilt Barns
Great Festivals
Friendly People!
800-356-5082
St. Clairsville, Ohio 43950
beltour@aol.com
For information and itineraries:
www.belmontcountytourism.org
February • March • April
63

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
64
Reader Service Card #630

Visit
Butler County
Ohio
Get to The BC,
just north of Cincinnati,
and experience one-of-a-kind
group tour adventures.
Only in The BC!
• The original Jungle Jim’s
International Market
• World famous EnterTRAINment Junction
• The region’s only IKEA
• Historic BeauVerre Riordan
Stained Glass Studio
• Breathtaking Pyramid Hill Sculpture
Park and Museum
To plan your next
group tour, call
888.462.2282
or visit
gettothebc.com/groups
Reader Service Card #630
A Toledo exclusive!
The Toledo Zoo presents
Wild Walkabout:
Wonders from Down Under
and the Toledo Museum of Art’s
Crossing Cultures
exhibit introduces you to Aboriginal art!
Discover more about this “Aus-some”
experience at doToledo.org!
February • March • April
65

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
66
o H io
Solving
history’s
mysteries
Ohio History Center
serves up history,
dinner and shows
Ohio History Center in Columbus
offers a variety of historical-themed
original dinner theater shows that can be
scheduled for lunch or dinner.
Available shows include Mayhem and
Mystery in the Museum, What’s That Lump
in My Bed? and Dickens of a Mystery.
Echoes in Time is a series of historical
character shows that makes a good lunch
stop.
Among the performances are Saints
Preserve Us!, The Irish in America; Pigs
An insider’s look at
A one-of-a-kind city. Our many unique
attractions,
Cleveland
Reader Service Card #630
behind-the-scenes
experiences and $2B in recent
visitor-related developments
can’t help but make your
Cleveland trip a one-of-a-
kind experience.
Unexpectedly
in the Streets; and Mr. Lincoln’s Cameraman,
An Evening with Matthew Brady.
Before or after any dinner theater show,
groups can view the exhibits covering
10,000 years of Ohio history at the center.
The site of the dinner theater shows is
the hotel in the adjacent Ohio Village, a
re-created Civil War-era village.•
Ohio History Center
(800) 686-6124
www.ohiohistory.org
www.positivelycleveland.com
Twitter: @PositivelyCleve
Jane Tougouma, Group Tour Sales Manager
Tel: 216.875.6607 | 800.321.1001
Email: jtougouma@positivelycleveland.com
Photos: © Larry E. Highbaugh, Jr., © Dale McDonaold, © Roger Mastroianni
and Courtesty of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Boats, barns, vines and ale
Discover the delights of La Crosse
On the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River,
La Crosse offers great views, but it’s not the only
thing to like. The town also offers the chance to connect
with history, good food and friendly locals. It’s
also the perfect base for exploring Wisconsin.
This three-day tour created by LaCrosse Area
Convention & Visitors Bureau is full of ideas to sample
the best of greater La Crosse.
DAY ONE
1:30 p.m. — Arrive in La Crosse and pick up your
step-on guide for your
River Town Discovery
Tour.
The tour includes
driving past grand and
historic homes built by
lumber barons and early
entrepreneurs. See prairie-styled
homes inspired
by the famous architect,
Frank Lloyd Wright.
A stop atop Granddad’s
Bluff offers a threestate
view of Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Iowa.
Stop at St. Rose Chapels
for a guided tour.
The interiors of the chapels
are an architectural
and artistic treasure.
Designed by European
architects, the structures
are Romanesque in style, with Corinthian pillars and
windows of Bavarian glass. Altars of Italian marble
are decorated with gold bronze, onyx pillars and inlaid
mosaics of Venetian glass and mother of pearl.
4 p.m. — Drop off your step-on guide and check
into the hotel.
5:15 p.m. — Depart for Riverside Park.
5:30 p.m. — Set sail on the Mississippi aboard
the La Crosse Queen authentic paddlewheeler for a
dinner cruise.
8 p.m. — Return to the hotel.
DAY TWO
8:30 a.m. — Depart for Cashton, the heart of
Amish country for a round barn tour. The area has
the largest Amish settlement in Wisconsin and at
one time had over two dozen round barns. Today 10
are standing.
On your tour, travel through some of the most
breathtaking scenery in the Midwest and visit one
or two round barns, depending on time allowance.
For views of the Mississippi River, head to Riverside Park
and set sail on the La Crosse Queen.
Learn about the story of Algie Shivers, son of
ex-slave Thomas Shivers. Algie was the most wellknown
round barn builder in the area. The Shivers
family was one of the families of the rural African
American settlement named Cheyenne Valley.
Noon — Depart Cashton for lunch in Westby, a
Norwegian town with a big velkommen sign. Enjoy
a home-cooked meal at Borgens Café and purchase
homemade desserts to take with you.
Save some time for some shopping in Westby
where you will fi nd Dregne’s Scandinavian gifts, and
across the way, the Uffda
shop. Stop and purchase
cheese at Westby
Coop Creamery.
2 p.m. — Depart
Westby for Vernon
Vineyards, where you
will fi nd a tasting room
in view of the upper
Newton Valley. The
tour includes a demonstration
and talk in
the wine-making area
and a walk in the vineyards.
4 p.m. — Depart
Vernon Vineyards and
return to hotel to re-
Photo: Emily Sullivan
fresh.
6 p.m. — Head for
dinner.
6:30 p.m. — Arrive
at Piggy’s for a dinner with cooking demonstration.
A special presentation is in store because chief chef
and owner Chris Roderique is to prepare dinner for
you Emeril Lagasse-style.
8 p.m. — Return to the hotel.
DAY THREE
7:30 a.m. — Depart and head out of La Crosse.
8:50 a.m. — Arrive at Villa Louis in Prairie du
Chien for a guided tour. Experience Victorian life
during the 19th century as you visit the estate of one
of Wisconsin’s most prosperous families. Villa Louis
is the world of upper-class Victorian America. Built
on the banks of the Mississippi River, the estate was
the country home of the Dousman family.
10:30 a.m. — Depart Villa Louis.
11:45 a.m. — Arrive in Potosi at Potosi Brewery
for lunch followed by a tour of the National Brewing
Museum.
2 p.m. — Depart Potosi for House on the Rock in
Spring Green or return home.•
Itinerary
Wisconsin
GO
Cashton, La Crosse,
Potosi, Prairie du Chien
and Westby
SEE
House on the Rock
(608) 935-3639
www.thehouseonthe
rock.com
La Crosse Queen
(608) 784-8523
www.lacrossequeen.com
Vernon Vineyards
(608) 634-6181
www.vernonvineyards.com
Villa Louis
(608) 326-2721
http://villalouis.wisconsin
history.org
EAT
Borgens Café
(608) 634-4003
www.borgenscafe.com
Piggy’s Restaurant
(608) 784-4877
www.piggys.com
Potosi Brewery
(608) 763-4002
www.potosibrewery.com
ASK
La Crosse Area CVB
(800) 658-9424
(608) 782-2366
www.explorelacrosse.com
67

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
68
W isC onsin
Cheese
country
National
Cheesemaking
Center shares
state’s dairy heritage
Reader Service Card #404
Photo: Green County Tourism
The National Historic Cheesemaking Center celebrates Wisconsin’s dairy industry roots.
In the days before refrigeration, it
made sense to put the creameries and
cheese-making operations close to the
dairies.
This was certainly the case in Green
County.
In the 1840s, immigrants from the Swiss
Canton of Glarus arrived, bringing with
them old-world cheesemaking acumen.
“At one time, we had cheese makers
on almost every corner,” said Donna
Douglas, director of the National Historic
Cheesemaking Center (NHCC),
the Monroe attraction focused on Wisconsin’s
favorite dairy product.
“Now, we’re down to 14. But they’ve
come a long way. They’re state-of-the-art.”
Many cheese factories are still located
in Monroe, including the only Limburger
creamery around.
On the grounds of the NHCC, the
Imobersteg Farmstead cheese factory
hasn’t made cheese for a century, but the
relocated wooden building is now a showcase
for the process of making Swiss cheese.
Dedicated in October 2010, master
cheesemakers worked all day, creating
the first wheel of Swiss made at the facility
in more than 100 years. Becoming a
master cheesemaker is not an easy task,
with it taking years of study and a Ph.D.level
degree to achieve the state.
The former factory is open for tours,
with master cheesemakers showcasing
their craft at times.
“The interest has been really tremendous
with having the dairy factory on
site,” Douglas said.
Beyond the factory, the majority of
the NHCC is located in a restored railroad
depot originally built in 1888 for the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad.
The depot, moved to the current site
in 1993, also houses the Green County
Welcome Center and the Milk House
Gift Shop. A Holstein cow statue named
Honeybelle resides on the front lawn,
and is wearing the overalls of a dairy
farmer.
The museum’s exhibits churn out
looks at the scope and history of Wisconsin
cheesemaking.
“We talk about the era that was and
will never be again,” Douglas said.
Groups with 10 or more members
should schedule tours in advance. The
NHCC is typically open April through
October, but groups can arrange for offseason
tours.
The NHCC also can provide step-on
guides for narrated Monroe and Green
County tours, with wineries, breweries,
Swiss heritage tours in New Glarus, quilt
barns and farms.
Many local cheese factories also offer
tours by arrangement.•
National Historic Cheesemaking Center
(608) 325-4636
www.nationalhistoriccheesemakingcenter.org
Green County Tourism
(888) 222-9111
www.greencounty.org

W isC onsin
Only in Wisconsin
Unique Badger State attractions are born from their founders’ passions
Whether it’s handyman tools, accordions,
angels or wood type, Wisconsinites
have a unique way of taking a hobby
and turning it into an exhibit hall. The
state is home to an eclectic mix of museums
that are the product of a passionate
person with a vision.
The handyman’s dream
The Wally Keller Museum in Mount
Horeb really hits the nail on the head
when it comes to unique.
Keller, a Mount Horeb folk artist and
sculptor, amassed a collection of more
than 3,000 hand tools dating back to the
1800s through the 1960s. Duluth Trading
Company owner Steve Schlecht recognized
the value in such a collection and
the story it told about the history and ingenuity
of America’s working man.
He put the tools on display at the
Duluth Trading Company flagship store.
The clothing and gear outfitter also has
a store in Port Washington and an outlet
in Belleville.
Music in the ear of the beholder
Walk into the World of Accordions
Museum in Superior and you’ll see how
these squeeze boxes have been transformed
throug the years.
Helmi Harrington is the living and
breathing force behind the World of Accordions.
At Harrington Arts Center in Superior,
she maintains the museum, repair
shop, technicians’ school and concert hall
focused solely on the accordion. Groups
can make special arrangements for tours,
mini-concerts and demonstrations.
Heaven sent
Every time a bell rings in the Angel
Museum of 11,000 angel figurines, one
can only imagine what happens.
A love affair with an Italian bisque
angel discovered in Florida by Joyce Berg
was the impetus that began the world’s
largest angel figurine collection in Beloit.
Housed in St. Paul Catholic Church,
the Berg Collection has nearly 14,000
angels in its collection — most of which
are on display. There’s also 600 African
American angels donated by Oprah
Winfrey.
Within walking distance of downtown
Beloit, the Angel Museum is open
from April through December and in the
off season by appointment.
Photo: Aaron Ogg
In the town of Two Rivers, the Hamilton Wood Type
Museum preserves the lost art of typesetting.
Just your type
The art form of wood type is having
a resurgence, with the Hamilton Wood
Type Museum in Two Rivers is the only
museum in the world dedicated to the
preservation, study and production of
printing and wood type.
When a private collector almost purchased
the equipment and patterns from
the original Hamilton Wood Type Company,
which was founded in Two Rivers
in 1880, Jim Van Lanen persuaded the
La Crosse Queen Cruises
Meal cruises feature double entreé selections
Handicap accessible
coMpliMentary escort and driver tickets
free MotorcoacH parking
608-784-8523
www.lacrossequeen.com
405 Veterans Memorial Dr., La Crosse, WI 54601
email: kathy@lacrossequeen.com
historical society to step in.
A museum was then created and now
houses 1.5 million pieces of wood type
and more than 1,000 styles and sizes of
patterns. Former Hamilton employees
are available to give guided tours.•
Angel Museum
(608) 362-9099
www.angelmuseum.org
Hamilton Wood Type Museum
(920) 794-6272
www.woodtype.org
Wally Keller Tool Museum
(608) 437-8655
www.duluthtrading.com
World of Accordions Museum
(715) 395-2787
www.accordionworld.org
explorelacrosse.com
Visit our
website or
call today
for a FREE
visitors &
activites
guide.
1-800-658-9424
Reader Service Card #204 Reader Service Card #204
February • March • April
69

EXPLORE MORE THAN 14 MILES OF
SEE THE WINGS RISE ON
THE NATION’S FIRST
SANTIAGO CALATRAVA
DESIGNED BUILDING.
MILWAUKEE
THIS is
Contact Wendy Dobrzynksi: wdobrzynski@milwaukee.org / 800-231-0903
Reader Service Card #396
Visit Wisconsin’s #1 Year-Round
Motorcoach Attraction
More than you’d ever expect!
Superb Musicals | Fine Dining
Spectacular Shops
Fabulous Service
www.firesidetheatre.com
Fort Atkinson, WI | 800-477-9505

Takin’ it to the Streets Tour
Relive Milwaukee’s Past and Savor its Present
Step into the past as you stroll through the Streets of Old Milwaukee
and European Village at MPM! After you learn about the turn-ofthe
century businesses that made Milwaukee the unique city that it
is today, you’ll “take it to the streets” and discover these local gems
in their present state. Spend a day or stay overnight – each tour is a
unique experience customized for your group.
To book a tour call (414) 278-6933
or email milllera@mpm.edu
Is your group
ready for a
glimpse into a life
LESS
ORDINARY?
• Group rates
• Complimentary Museum
tickets for your bus driver
and group leader or escort
• Free bus parking
• No deposit – payment due
upon arrival
• No cancellation fee
GET BOOKED
groups@h-dmuseum.com
414-287-2799
Milwaukee, WI
h-dmuseum.com
EXHIBITS | SHOP | RESTAURANTS
Reader Service Card #396
Milwaukee Public Museum • 800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI
BOOK YOUR
GROUP TODAY
BRING YOUR GROUP TO
DISCOVER WORLD-RENOWNED
ART AND STELLAR EXHIBITIONS!
grouptours@mam.org
414-224-3842
Color Rush: 75 Years of Color
Photography in America
feb 22–may 19, 2013
Art in Bloom:
A Tribute to Art and Flowers
april 11–14, 2013
30 Americans
june 14–sept 8, 2013

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
72
W isC onsin
Taking it to
the streets
Milwaukee Public
Museum serves as
base for city tours
The Milwaukee Public Museum has
a scope on human and natural history
with subject matter as diverse as the
course of human events.
Located in downtown Milwaukee, the
museum opened in 1884. It houses more
than 4½ million objects and hosts nearly
a half million visitors annually.
Its three floors of exhibits include
life-size dioramas, walk-through villages,
world cultures, dinosaurs, a rain
forest and a butterfly garden in addition
to Daniel M. Soref National Geographic
Dome Theater & Planetarium.
For groups with 15 or more members,
perks include special rates with further
discounts for students and seniors.
Tour planners should ahead for reservations
and tickets.
Groups also can add a show at the
Humphrey IMAX Dome Theater or the
planetarium.
Guided tours are available with at
least two weeks’ notice. Tours take about
an hour, said Jenni Tetzlaff, communications
specialist.
One tour takes to the streets. Available
for a day trip or an extended visit,
Taking It to the Streets includes time at
the museum and on the streets of Milwaukee.
The tour includes a guided stroll
through the Streets of Old Milwaukee
and European Village exhibits. Docents
detail the businesses of a century ago that
helped shaped the Milwaukee of today.
From there, the group leaves the museum
to experience other Milwaukee
places.
For example, Northpoint Lighthouse
is a restored treasure in Lake Park dating
to 1855. Old World Third Street is home
to Usinger Sausages, The Spice House
and Mader’s, a German restaurant and
local favorite.
George Watt’s and Son, a tea and china
shop, hosts groups for shopping and
lunch.
For overnight groups, the package
can include a stay, along with dinner and
cocktails at the Pfister Hotel.
our Amish neighbors, cranberries,
great attractions and
location on your
next adventure!
tomahwisconsin.com
800-948-6624
Reader Service Card #413
The Streets of Old Milwaukee exhibit shows what the city looked like a century ago.
WISCONSIN’S
CRANBERRY COUNTRY
Evening entertainment is easy to find
in Milwaukee. The Milwaukee Theater,
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and
BMO Harris Bradley Center all offer
group-friendly ticket packages.
Tour packages are customizable, Tetzlaff
said. All include a gift bag and offers
from participating partners.
Luncheons are another option at the
museum, with menus ranging from light
fare to buffets.•
Milwaukee Public Museum
(888) 700-9069
(414) 278-2728
www.mpm.edu
Photo: Milwaukee Public Museum
Photo: Courtesy of the Milwaukee Public Museum
The Pfister Hotel hosts groups for an overnight stay
for the Milwaukee Public Museum’s
Taking It to the Streets group tour package.

W isC onsin
Wright masterpiece
Monona Terrace in Madison was almost 60 years in the making
The story of Monona Terrace begins
in 1938, when architect Frank Lloyd
Wright unveiled his plans for a civic center
in downtown Madison.
The project, however, got bogged
down in political battles that polarized
Madison for nearly 60 years.
Monona Terrace Community and
Convention Center finally opened its
doors in 1997.
Wright’s plan, executed after his 1959
death by Taliesin Architects, was inspired
by two key elements of the Monona Terrace
site — the nearby Wisconsin Capitol
and the Lake Monona waterfront.
Photo: Skot Weidemann
A guide leads a tour at Monona Terrace in Madison.
Guided public tours and group tours
enhance a visit to the building.
Tour guides discuss the history of
Monona Terrace, almost 60 years in the
making, and how the building’s dramatic
open spaces, curvilinear forms and
breathtaking lake views express Wright’s
“organic” architecture.
Groups of less than 10 may join the
one-hour daily public tour at 1 p.m.
Admission is $3 per adult and $2 per
student.
Groups of 10 or more are requested
to fill out an online tour request form.
Guided group tours typically last 60
to 75 minutes, but the duration can be
tailored to meet a group’s interest.
Group fees are $3 per adult and $2
per student.
Bus parking is available by advance
reservation.
Fran Puleo, manager of community
and public relations, said most visitors
are taken by the way Wright connected
the building to the lake with many windows
and huge views.
“The rooftop garden is not to be missed
with the best views of the Madison skyline
and Capitol on one side and beautiful
Lake Monona on the other,” Puleo said.
When it comes to group fun, you’ll find out Wisconsin Dells
is more than just “The Waterpark Capital of the World! ® ” From
boat tours to dining, wineries, historic attractions and more,
Wisconsin Dells is the group tour destination that keeps on giving.
MeetInTheDells.com | groups@wisdells.com | (800) 223-3557
Reader Service Card #263
Lake Vista Café in the rooftop garden
is open in warm-weather months.•
Monona Terrace
(608) 261-4000
www.mononaterrace.com
February • March • April
73

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
74
nEW EnGlAnD
Groups can visit an old sugarhouse and taste
pure maple syrup at Maple Grove Farms
of Vermont in St. Johnsbury, Vt.
A stack of hot and fl uffy
pancakes right off the griddle.
A Belgian waffl e topped with
strawberries and whipped
cream. Delicious French toast
sprinkled with cinnamon and
powdered sugar.
What do all of these foods
have in common? You will always
fi nd them drizzled (or
maybe even drowning) in maple
syrup.
Maple syrup is a staple
breakfast food item, but its uses
extend far beyond this once-aday
meal. For more than three
centuries, people have been
using it as a natural sweetener
in teas, breads, stews, vegetables and as a
marinade glaze.
Vermont stands alone as the top producer
of the sweet syrup in the United
States. For 2012, Vermont produced 39
percent of the maple syrup in the U.S.
“We’ve got tremendous heritage in
Vermont when it comes to maple syrup,”
said Matt Gordon, executive director
of Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association.
“This is a multi-generational
industry. It’s an historical thing for us.”
U.S. maple syrup capital takes pride
in its 100 percent pure and natural product
Photo: PerceptiVT
By Lindsey Corso
A jug of pure Vermont maple syrup, with a pitcher of medium amber,
is ready for breakfast in a country farmhouse kitchen.
Landscape and climate play a big part
in the quality of the maple syrup. Vermont
has one of the highest concentrations
of natural, sugar maple trees. Additionally
its warm days and cold nights
during early spring make the state an ideal
place to produce maple syrup because
it is this climate that gets the sap fl owing.
European settlers learned the secret
of sugaring from the Native Americans
who used maple syrup as a sweetener
in their foods and drinks, as well as for
Photo: J. Stephen Conn
A sweet and sticky history
trade for other products they
needed.
Initially, settlers bored
holes in maple trees and used
wooden buckets to collect the
sap. Production methods have
been streamlined since the
Colonial days.
“The basic process is the
same,” Gordon explained.
“But the equipment itself is
just more technologically superior.”
Today, sap is collected by a
plastic tubing system that carries
it directly from the tree to
the evaporator house.
Vacuum pumps and preheaters
recycle heat lost in the steam.
Then reverse-osmosis machines take a
portion of water out of the sap before it
is boiled, increasing processing effi ciency.
After the sap is boiled, the syrup is fi ltered,
and then it is bottled and ready for
consumption — it takes approximately
40 gallons of sap to produce one gallon
of syrup.
Vermont maple syrup producers
make four grades of syrup: Grade A
Light Amber, Grade A Medium Amber,

Grade A Dark Amber and Grade B.
No grade is better than the other, Gordon said.
The different grades are based on the sap — primarily
when the sap is collected in the season.
The lighter grades have a mild, sweet maple fl avor.
Grade B has a very strong fl avor and is the best
for cooking.
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont in St. Johnsbury
is renowned for its pure grade A Dark Amber Syrup.
The company, founded in 1915 by Helen Gray and
Ethel McLaren, is the largest packer of syrup in the
United States and manufactures maple candies and
specialty dressings.
Visiting groups can explore the Sugar House Museum,
with artifacts used to gather sap. There are old taps
sugermakers used to use to get the sap as well as old sap
buckets. Groups can see an old evaporator as well.
“It helps show the old methods versus today’s
newer methods,” said Sonya Coons, product coordinator
for the gift shop.
Watch a video explaining the process of making
pure maple syrup and another video detailing company
history. The Cabin Gift Shop offers samplings
of all grades of all-natural syrup. There’s plenty of
shopping too; aside from the maple syrup products,
visitors will also fi nd a variety of products local to
the region, including, postcards, T-shirts, honey, different
preserves and even Vermont-made candles.
“Our product is consistent and people know our
name; that’s why they love coming here,” Coons said.
There are more than six dozen year-round maple
sugarhouses in operation in Vermont, according to
the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers’ Association.
Those spots include places like All Things Maple
— Mount Mansfi eld Maple Products in Colchester,
Audubon Vermont in Huntington, Boyden Valley
Winery & Farm in Cambridge, Cold Hollow Cider
Mill in Waterbury Center, Dakin Farm in Ferrisburgh,
Green’s Sugarhouse in Poultney, Morse Farm
Maple Sugarworks in Montpelier, Vermont Maple
Outlet in Jeffersonville and Vermont Trade Winds
Photo: PerceptiVT
Farm in Shoreham, among others.
The sugaring season for maple syrup is about
four to six weeks long, running from about March 1
through mid-April.
Two festivals during that stretch allow groups to
experience the art of syrup making up close.
The third weekend in March —March 23 and
24 this year — is the annual Vermont Maple Open
House Weekend, with sugarhouses across the state
open for tours and demonstrations.
The 47th annual Vermont Maple Festival is April
26, 27 and 28 in St. Albans. Enjoy a pancake breakfast,
sugarhouse tours, an antique show and maple contests
to fi nd the best sugar cakes, maple cream, maple
granulated sugar and pure maple fudge. Before leaving,
stop in the Vermont Maple Store is a must.
“There is nothing sweeter than visiting a local
sugarhouse,” said Roger Allbee, Vermont Secretary
of Agriculture, in a statement. “From the tree to the
table, you’ll see fi rsthand why Vermonters make the
fi nest maple syrup in the world.”
Some sugar makers offer tours and horse-drawn
wagon rides, and others will have tastings of 2013’s
new crop, sugar-on-snow and maple donuts.
No two sugar makers are the same, so it is recommended
you visit more than one.•
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
(800) 525-2540, ext. 5547
www.maplegrove.com
Vermont Maple Festival
(802) 524-5800
www.vtmaplefestival.org
Vermont Maple House Weekend
(800) 837-6668
www.vermontmaple.org
Vermont Maple
Sugar Makers’ Association
www.vermontmaple.org
Steam rising from the H. H. Howrigan sugarhouse
in Fairfi eld, Vt., signals that maple sap is boiling.
New
England
Region
Maine
Atlantic
Ocean
rmont
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
Connecticut
Connecticut
76
Maine
78
Massachusetts
80
New
Hampshire
87
Rhode Island
90
Vermont
92
February • March • April April
75

Itinerary
Connecticut
GO
Clinton, Colchester,
Coventry, East Haddam,
Essex, Haddam and
Higganum
SEE
Connecticut River Museum
(860) 767-8269
www.ctrivermuseum.org
Gillette Castle State Park
(860) 526-2336, ext. 101
www.ct.gov/dep/gillettecastle
Goodspeed Musicals
(860) 873-8668
www.goodspeed.org/
shows-tickets/group-sales
DO
Essex Steamboat
Train & Riverboat
(800) 377-3987
www.essexsteamtrain.com
Lady Katharine Cruises
(866) 867-4837
www.ladykatecruises.com
RiverQuest
(860) 662-0577
http://ctriverexpeditions.org
EAT
Brushmill by the Waterfall
(860) 526-9898
www.thebrushmill.com
Griswold Inn
(860) 767-1776
www.griswoldinn.com
ASK
Central Regional
Tourism District –
River Valley/Connecticut
(860) 787-9640
www.centerofct.com
76
Photo: Walking Geek/Creative Commons
The Connecticut River is a centerpiece as it meanders
through central Connecticut’s towns and cities
from the Massachusetts border to Long Island Sound.
This two-day itinerary, suggested by East Haddam-based
Goodspeed Musicals, shares adventures
and culture in and around the historic river.
DAY ONE
In the morning, tour Gillette Castle State Park in
East Haddam straddling Lyme.
Situated atop the most southerly hill in the Seven
Sisters chain, the 184-acre Seventh Sister estate
was built by actor, director and playwright William
Hooker Gillette. The centerpiece is its 24-room medieval-style
Gillette Castle with built-in couches, a
table trackway and wood carvings.
Park admission is free, but there is a fee for castle
tours. Tour reservations should be made at least two
weeks in advance, and up to four motorcoaches can
be accommodated weekdays. A visitors center and
picnic shelter are on site, and the park has trails for
strolling.
Next, head for Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry.
Group tours are available by appointment,
with Coventry Regional Farmers Market located on
the grounds.
The Georgian-style residence was home to Hale
and his family, built by his father, Richard, in 1776.
Nathan was a captain during the Revolutionary
War who was caught and hung as spy by the British
in September 1776. The 21-year-old’s famous last
words were: “I only regret that I have one life to lose
for my country.”
Have lunch at La Vita Gustosa or Gelston House
before an afternoon matinee presented by Goodspeed
Musicals at Goodspeed Opera House in East
Haddam. Goodspeed Musicals is marking its 50th
anniversary this year.
Spend the afternoon shopping in downtown Essex
or Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets in Clinton.
Have dinner at Griswold Inn in Essex, claiming
to be the oldest continually run tavern in the United
Connecticut River
meanderings
Travels near
East Haddam
The Connecticut River Museum fetes
the river’s heritage and history in Essex.
States. It was founded in the late 18th century by
three brothers and has been owned by six families
since. Its dining rooms can accommodate small and
large groups, and its menu is historically-inspired
with an extensive wine list.
DAY TWO
Start the morning at Connecticut River Museum
in Essex.
The museum’s exhibits detail the history of the
Connecticut River valley, with galleries, grounds
and a campus on Long Island Sound’s Essex Harbor.
Collections refl ect many of the interests of cofounder
Thomas A. Stevens, a collector and historian
who descended from ship captains and whose
interest was in mariners and local history.
Plan on one or two hours for guided or selfguided
tours, and add time for walking tours of Essex,
river expeditions and/or cruises on the schooner
Mary E or an EagleWatch boat tour. Group tour rates
require a minimum of 15 people and reservations.
Head to the Cooking Company or Country Market
in Haddam for lunch.
In the afternoon, consider a cruise aboard River-
Quest or Lady Katharine on the Connecticut River or
a combination trek on land and sea with the Essex
Steam Train and Riverboat.
Then, do shopping at the boutique stores and
shops in Chester. Or check out Sundial Gardens, an
oasis in Higganum created by herbalist and garden
designer Ragna Tischler-Goddard. With a gift shop
and tea service, Sundial Gardens features an 18thcentury
barn, specialty teas, tea accoutrements, tastings
and discussions.
If it’s the weekend, sample some wines at Priam
Vineyards, a farm winery in Colchester marking its
10th anniversary in April.
Have dinner at Brushmill by the Waterfall, which
is located in a former 19th-century brushworks factory
next to a waterfall on the Pattaconk River in Chester.
The traditional New England-style steakhouse is
operated by Angelo Giannopoulos and his sons.•

Paused in time
Alfred Atmore Pope was an American
industrialist and art collector from
Yorkshire, England, who settled in West
Danvers, Mass.
He became a serious collector of
paintings and other works of art beginning
in the late 1880s and over the next
two decades.
He acquired paintings by Édouard
Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas,
Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste
Renoir, as well as James McNeill Whistler
and Mary Cassatt. He became one of the
earliest American collectors of impressionist
paintings. Additionally, Pope and
his family accumulated collections of
furniture, sculpture, ceramics and silver,
including: Italian pottery, Persian rugs,
Japanese prints and Chinese porcelain.
All pieces were kept in their private
collection on display throughout Hill-
Stead, their Farmington estate in Connecticut.
Pope’s daughter, Theodate Pope Riddle,
inherited the estate upon his death.
When she passed away in 1964, her last
will and testament established Hill-Stead
as a museum — stating that both the
house and its contents remain intact, not
to be moved, lent, or sold.
Nineteen rooms of the 1901 Colonial
Revival-style house, which is situated on
152 acres, are open to the public. It has
remained as it was when the family lived
at the estate.
“There’s a lot of historic importance
at this place. There are pieces you can
only see here because they will never
travel,” said Sharon Stotz, manager of interpretation
at Hill-Stead Museum.
Highlights include major paintings
by Eugène Carrière, Cassatt, Degas, Manet,
Monet and McNeill Whistler, as well
The west facade of the Pope Riddle House and Carriage Porch
Hill-Stead Museum showcases
Pope-Riddle family’s private collection
as eight bronze sculptures by Antoine-
Louis Barye and three engravings by Albrecht
Dürer.
Several tour options are available for
groups of 10 or more.
The 50-minute guided tour is the
most popular, Stotz said. “It’s the basic
tour which is great for fi rst-time visitors
who want to know about the family stories
and the paintings.”
On the tour, walk through period
rooms of the 1901 Pope Riddle house;
view the Alfred Atmore Pope Collection,
comprising French impressionist paintings,
decorative arts, Japanese woodblock
prints, ceramics and furnishings;
and hear about the museum’s history,
architectural signifi cance and the lives of
Hill-Stead’s occupants.
Another tour option is to combine a
tour of the estate or its gardens and trails
with a focused theme, such as People,
Architecture and Art, Focus on Art, and
Focus on Architecture and Design.
A more in-depth two-hour platinum
tour is available for groups of 10 to 20 by
reservation only.
“I open small doors like the sewing
door and or liquor cabinet. And we go up
to the archives and look at letters from
Mary Cassatt, actual receipts of paintings
back when they were originally selling,
as well as art photographs by Gertrude
Käsebier,” Stotz said.
Spring, summer and fall are great
seasons to explore the estate’s one-acre
Sunken Garden, designed by landscape
design legend Beatrix Farrand, and its
wooded trails.•
Hill-Stead Museum
(860) 677-4787, ext. 140
www.hillstead.org/plan-tours.php
Photo: James Rosenthal
/centerofct
@tourismct
ConnECTiCUT
Your Journey Begins
18,000 Years Ago
at thE MashantuckEt PEquot MusEuM
• Life-size 16th c. Indian village
• 4 acres of interactive exhibits
• Guided tours
• Educational programs & craft workshops
• 18-story observation tower
• Libraries, gift shop, restaurant
Group rates, call Kathy at (860) 396-6839
Open Wednesday through Saturday,
9 am–5 pm, last admission at 4 pm.
110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT 06338
www.pequotmuseum.org
Reader Service Card #307
CenterofCT.com
CENTRAL REGIONAL TOURISM DISTRICT SERVING
!"Climb into a historic aircraft
!"Take a vintage steam train ride
!"Roam Mark Twain’s home
!"See where PEZ is made
!"Continue to be surprised
Plan your Central Connecticut
group tour at CenterofCT.com
or call 860.787.9640.
Scan this code
to view group
itineraries.
Reader Service Card #545
February • March • April
77

Itinerary
78
Maine
GO
Acadia National Park,
Bar Harbor, Boothbay,
Boothbay Harbor, Eastern
Egg Rock, Ellsworth, Gray,
Rockland and Scarborough
SEE
Acadia National Park
(207) 288-3338
www.nps.gov/acad
Birdsacre Stanwood
Wildlife Sanctuary
(207) 667-8460
www.birdsacre.com
Coastal Maine
Botanical Gardens
(207) 633-4333
www.mainegardens.org
Maine Wildlife Park
(207) 657-4977
www.maine.gov/ifw/
education/wildlifepark/
Project Puffi n Visitor Center
(877) 478-3346
http://projectpu n.
audubon.org/projectpu
n-visitor-center
DO
Cap’n Fish’s Whale Watch
& Scenic Boat Tours
(800) 636-3244
www.mainewhales.com
EAT
Bar Harbor Lobster Bakes
(207) 288-4055
www.barharborlobster
bakes.com/tours_red.html
Stewman’s Lobster Pound
(207) 288-0346
www.stewmanslobster
pound.com
ASK
Maine Offi ce of Tourism
(207) 624-9808
www.visitmaine.com
Wild Maine adventures
Sightseeing for moose, whales, puffi ns and other wildlife
Check out the wildlife of Maine.
We’re talking moose, puffi ns and whales here
with some lobster tossed in.
This four-day itinerary crafted by Maine Offi ce
of Tourism treks about in Acadia National Park and
Bar Harbor along the Atlantic Ocean.
DAY ONE
Spend the day touring Acadia National Park with
a naturalist from The Natural History Center.
Learn about local animals and plants while walking
on a historic carriage road. The motorcoach
makes a trip atop 1,532foot
Cadillac Mountain
and stops at Sieur de Monts
to tour the Wild Gardens
of Acadia, Abbe Museum
exhibits and the national
park’s Nature Center. Order
box lunches.
Dinner is at Looking
Glass, built on the site of
Mary Roberts Rinehart’s
Fairview estate destroyed in
a 1947 fi re and with views of
Frenchman’s Bay.
Overnight in Bar Harbor
or Ellsworth.
DAY TWO
Head to the Mount Desert
Oceanarium in Bar Harbor
for hands-on experiences
including touch tanks
and salt marsh tours that
provide insight into life in the tidal zone.
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/twildlife
This is also the site of a lobster hatchery, where
you can learn about the lifecycle of the lobster.
Enjoy free time in downtown Bar Harbor shopping.
Grab a bite to eat.
Spend the afternoon on a Boothbay Harbor
cruise with Cap’n Fish Whale Watch & Scenic Boat
Tours or another provider.
Dive into a traditional Maine lobster bake at
Stewman’s Lobster Pound or Bar Harbor Lobster
Bakes.
Overnight at one of many group-friendly properties
in Bar Harbor or Ellsworth.
DAY THREE
At Birdsacre Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary in
Ellsworth, see hawks and owls within the park-like
sanctuary.
Do some shopping and lunch on your own in
Project Puffi n began with an attempt to restore
puffi ns to Eastern Egg Rock in Muscongus Bay,
about six miles from Pemaquid Point.
downtown Rockland.
Meet up with the group in front of Project Puffi
n Visitor Center. The National Audubon Societyaffi
liated center is celebrating the successes of Project
Puffi n’s work in bringing puffi ns and other rare
seabirds back to their historic nesting islands.
In the afternoon, visit Coastal Maine Botanical
Gardens in Boothbay. The guided tour highlights
native plants, birds, butterfl ies and other insects.
Dinner is in Boothbay Harbor. Group-friendly
suggestions include Fisherman’s Wharf, Tugboat
Restaurant and Rocktide.
Overnight at your choice
of group-friendly hotels in
Boothbay Harbor, with options
including Tugboat Inn,
Boothbay Harbor Inn, Fisherman’s
Wharf Inn, Spruce
Point Inn and Flagship Inn.
DAY FOUR
See fi rsthand the National
Audubon Society’s success in
re-establishing a puffi n colony
on Eastern Egg Rock.
Cap’n Fish’s Puffi n Cruise
is accompanied by staff from
Project Puffi n. See seals, blue
heron, an occasional whale
and other wildlife.
Allow the group time to
scatter for lunch and shopping
in Boothbay Harbor.
Travel inland to western
Maine’s highlands. Check in
to your group’s hotel and have an early dinner before
heading out on a guided moose safari.
Moose are most active at dusk and dawn, so departure
times vary depending on when your group
is visiting.
Overnight and dinner is at Sunday River Resort.
DAY FIVE
Start the morning at Maine Wildlife Park in Gray.
While the park is home to animals that can no
longer survive on their own, this is a prime spot to
see wildlife that might have eluded your group along
the way: bald eagles, moose, foxes, bobcats, black
bears and mountain lions.
Have lunch in Gray at Cole Farms Family Restaurant.
En route back, stop at Len Libby Chocolates
in Scarborough. It is home to Lenny, the life-sized
chocolate moose.•

A place of
artistry
Portland Museum of
Art reopens Winslow
Homer Studio
It’s now possible to tour a significant location
in U.S. art history in Maine.
The Portland Museum of Art has reopened
the Winslow Homer Studio.
The studio, located 12 miles from the
museum at Prouts Neck, is where the artist
Winslow Homer lived and painted many
of his masterpieces from 1883 until his
death in 1910.
The renovated Winslow Homer Studio
celebrates the artist’s life, encourages scholarship
on Homer and educates audiences
to appreciate the artistic heritage of Homer
and Maine.
Tours of the studio, a National Historic
Landmark, began from the museum in
September.
Group tours of the studio will be available
after the first season of tours, said
Kristen Levesque, the museum’s director of
public relations.
“For the first time, visitors (are) able
to experience the studio as it was during
Homer’s time and discover the actual lo-
cation where he created his best-known
paintings,” museum director Mark H. C.
Bessire said. “The studio is truly a cultural
treasure.”
The museum purchased the studio
in 2006 from Charles Homer Willauer,
Homer’s great grand-nephew. A campaign
raised more than $10 million to support
the studio’s acquisition, preservation, interpretation
and endowment.
The museum has restored the building,
located on the rocky coast of Maine, to the
The Winslow Homer Studio relates the story of Homer’s career as an illustrator.
The Portland Museum of Art has reopened the Winslow Homer Studio in Prouts Neck.
Photo: Portland Museum of Art
MAinE
period when Homer lived there from 1883
to 1910.
The Portland Museum of Art has long
been a destination for scholars and admirers
of Homer’s work. Homer first exhibited
paintings at the museum in 1893, showing
the painting Signal of Distress.
In 1976, Charles Shipman Payson, a
philanthropist and summer resident of
Maine, gave a collection of 17 paintings
by Winslow Homer to the museum (four
oils and 13 watercolors), and $8 million to
build an addition to house the collection.
The collection contains more than
17,000 fine and decorative works of art
dating from the 18th century to the present.
Works by other artists such as Marsden
Hartley, Rockwell Kent, Louise Nevelson,
John Singer Sargent, Andrew Wyeth and
Marguerite Zorach showcase the unique
artistic heritage of Maine and the United
States. Major European movements, from
impressionism through surrealism, are
also represented.
The museum’s sculpture collection includes
a wide range of work.
Discounted rates are available for
groups of 10 or more with advance arrangements.•
Portland Museum of Art
(207) 775-6148
www.portlandmuseum.org
Photo: Portland Museum of Art
February • March • April
79

Itinerary
Massachusetts
GO
Boston, Cambridge,
Salem and Plymouth
SEE
Boston Duck Tours
(617) 267-3825
www.bostonducktours.com
Boston Harbor Islands
National Recreation Area
(617) 223-8666
www.bostonharborislands.
org
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
(617) 523-1300
www.faneuilhallmarkeplace.
com
Plimoth Plantation
(508) 746-1622, ext. 8358
www.plimoth.org/plan
your-visit/groups
The House of the
Seven Gables
(978) 744-0991
www.7gables.org
ASK
Greater Boston CVB
(617) 867-8203
www.bostonusa.com
Massachusetts O ce
of Travel and Tourism
(800) 227-6277
(617) 973-8511
www.massvacation.com
North of Boston CVB
(978) 465-5555
www.northofboston.org/
tour/tour.php
Plymouth County CVB
(800) 231-1620
(508) 747-0100
www.seeplymouth.com
80
Boston is a big
city, but its center
district can be covered
by foot within
a couple hours.
This four-day
itinerary highlights
greater Boston,
modestly nicknamed
“Hub of the
Universe.”
Hubbing around
Discovering greater Boston
DAY ONE
Stroll through
Boston Common and along the Freedom Trail.
Learn the story of Massachusetts’ 1783 ban on slavery
as told along the Black Heritage Trail. Meander
along the Boston Maritime History Trail.
Or take a tour by land-and-waterway on Boston
Duck Tours in Back Bay, with your group’s vehicle
an amphibious bus-boat.
In spring and summer, visit the Public Garden in
full bloom.
For lunch, visit Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Also
known as Quincy Market, the marketplace dating
to 1742 offers a cornucopia of cuisines and goods
among its 49 shops, 44 pushcarts, 13 restaurants and
35 food stalls. Festive street performers and other
entertainers are featured, as are special events yearround,
along with plentiful shopping options and
possibilities.
Then, how about spending the afternoon on one
of the Boston Harbor Islands? (Or maybe even the
day.)
Escape any day via a scenic ferry ride to either
Spectacle or Georges islands. Pack a picnic, relax on
a sandy beach and enjoy hikes through Boston Harbor
Islands National Recreation Area’s myriad trails.
Daily ferry service includes departures throughout
the day and return trips arriving at Long Wharf
downtown late afternoon and early evening.
For dinner, try some freshly-shucked shellfi sh at
Union Oyster House, the oldest continuously operating
restaurant in the United States.
DAY TWO
Spend the day across the Charles River in Cambridge,
home of Harvard University and Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
Stroll through Harvard Yard and see the Statue of
Three Lies. Nearby is Longfellow National Historical
Site, which served as Gen. George Washington’s
headquarters during the Revolutionary War. Or pay
a quick visit to Mount Auburn Cemetery, where
The Public Garden in Boston is abloom in spring and summer.
Bernard Malamud,
Winslow Homer
and Oliver Wendell
Holmes lie in rest.
Along Massachusetts
Avenue,
Cambridge is about
its squares.
Central Square
is home to delicious
diverse food
Photo: Greater Boston CVB
offerings — Indian,
Mexican, Ethiopian
and Mediterranean,
to name a few. Harvard Square is home to Harvard
University’s comprehensive Fogg Art Museum,
shopping and street performers.
DAY THREE
Head north to Salem.
Visit Salem Witch Museum, which tells the story
of the 20 unfortunate and innocent souls persecuted
and condemned to death during the Salem Witch
Trials of 1692.
Then, visit The House of the Seven Gables, a
17th-century mansion that is the oldest wooden
house in New England, built by a Salem sea captain
and merchant in 1668. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne
was a cousin of the home’s owners. Hawthorne’s
visits to the residence inspired his 1851 novel The
House of the Seven Gables.
Catch a matinee performance at the Griffen Theatre
of Something Wicked This Way Comes, an account
of the witch trials’ testimony and stories.
Walk Salem’s streets and see the McIntyre District,
with its grand homes sharing their maritime
stories.
Have dinner in Salem or Boston.
DAY FOUR
Head southeast to Plymouth, the historic town
where the Pilgrims landed in 1620.
To learn their stories, see Plymouth Rock in Pilgrim
Memorial State Park, the reproduction Mayfl
ower II and visit Pilgrim Hall Museum.
Nearby Plimoth Plantation is a re-creation of the
Pilgrims’ settlement from 1627. Its museum has a
detailed and authentic native home site sharing the
indigenous Wampanoags’ story.
Return to Boston, visiting its historic North End
to see Paul Revere’s house and the historic Old North
Church. Walk along the Freedom Trail before dinner
at a restaurant in Boston’s Little Italy.
Spend the night in Boston before heading home.•

MAssACHUs ETTs
Hooping it up
Netting history at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Springfield is where basketball was
invented; and more than a century later,
it is way more than just looking up at the
armpits of 7-foot-tall NBA centers.
Group tours focusing on sports destinations
can do no better than plan a visit
to where Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain,
George Mikan, Kareem Abdul-
Jabbar, Julius Erving, Jerry West, Oscar
Robertson and Bob Cousy are enshrined
along with more than 300 other men and
women players, coaches, contributors,
executives and teams.
The James Naismith Memorial Basketball
Hall of Fame, located on the picturesque
banks of the Connecticut River,
is situated in a spherical-shaped building.
It is an engaging and fitting shrine
to the game invented by it namesake, Dr.
James Naismith.
While teaching at the International
YMCA Training School in Springfield,
Naismith invented basketball. The game
was first played on Dec. 21, 1891.
Naismith, who later earned his medical
degree, founded the University of
Kansas men’s basketball program and
lived to see the game adopted as an
Olympic demonstration sport in 1904
and an official event at the Berlin Summer
Games in 1936. He also saw establishment
of the NCAA Division I Men’s
Basketball Tournament in 1939 shortly
before his death at the age of 78.
Although incorporated in 1959, the
hall had no actual physical structure until
1968 at nearby Springfield College. It
grew and evolved over the years until it
found its present home in 2002.
Embracing hoops heritage is what the
Basketball Hall of Fame is about. Located
in downtown Springfield, it promotes
and preserves the game at all its levels —
professional, college and high school —
under its hemisphere-shaped dome.
The Basketball Hall of Fame has more
than 40,000 square feet of the sport’s
history within its confines with interactive
exhibits, skills challenges, clinics,
shooting contests and artifacts. The hall
marked its 50th anniversary in 2009.
The hall leads its visitors from the top
Photo: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
Center Court is a focal point for the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield.
of building down, starting at the thirdfloor
Honors Ring to gain insight about
the 313 Hall of Famers enshrined since
1959; learning about basketball’s story on
Reader Service Card #575
the second floor; and having the chance
to take a shot on the ground-floor fullscale
Center Court.
This spring, the Basketball Hall
of Fame is opening the exhibit “First
Hoops,” a project showing images of the
original baskets and courts where players
first fell in love with the game. The
exhibit was created by the hall in partnership
with photographer Michael Paras,
marketing executive Richard Sanders
and Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman.
Group rates are for parties of 15 or
more people, with tour operator reservations
necessary at least a week in advance.•
James Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame
(413) 231-5513
www.hoophall.com/group-ticket-pricing
February • March • April
81

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
82
MAssACHUsETTs
Silver screen soundtrack
Boston Pops celebrates the music of Hollywood favorites in 2013
The 2013 Boston Pops season at Symphony
Hall will present a season-long tribute
to the world of movie music.
Movie music legend John Williams
served as Conductor of the Boston Pops
Orchestra through the 1980s and early
1990s; he retains the title as Laureate Con-
keith lockhart conductor
john williams conductor laureate
800-933-4255 · bostonpops.org
boston symphony orchestra
Now accepting Group
Reservations for Tanglewood
Summer 2013!
800-933-4255
tanglewood.org
ductor.
He has composed the music for more
than 100 fi lms, including a 40-year partnership
with Steven Spielberg that created
some of Hollywood’s most iconic music,
including Jaws, Jurassic Park and Indiana
Jones.
Now accepting Group
Reservations for Spring 2013!
Reader Service Card #508
season sponsor
summer 2013
For the programs focusing on the
season theme, Best of Hollywood Film
Music, audiences will hear their favorite
music from classic movies and today’s
soundtracks performed live, while the accompanying
movie clips are projected
onto a giant screen.
“Since virtually everyone loves movies
and movie music, I can’t think of a better
season theme to draw our loyal audience
and welcome newcomers to experience the
thrill of hearing this extraordinary music
performed … in the remarkable setting of
Symphony Hall,” Boston Pops Conductor
Keith Lockhart said.
The 20th conductor in the Boston Pops
history, Lockhart was 35 years old when he
started. Since, he has led more than 1,400
Boston Pops concerts.
His tenure has been marked by a dramatic
increase in touring, the orchestra’s
fi rst Grammy nominations, the fi rst major
network national broadcast (on CBS
TV) of the Fourth of July spectacular and
release of the Boston Pops’ fi rst self-produced
recordings.
Under Lockhart’s leadership, the Boston
Pops has commissioned several new
works, including The Dream Lives On, a
tribute to the Kennedy brothers, which
premiered in May 2010 during the 125th
anniversary season.
The spring season begins May 8, when
country star Vince Gill joins the Boston
Pops.
The season continues through June 15
with Fantasia In Concert, May 9–11; Pixar
in Concert, June 4–5; a tribute to Marvin
Hamlisch, May 14–15; and John Williams
directing, June 7, 8, 11 and 12.
The season also includes a number of
other concerts in a variety of genres, including
Broadway, the American Songbook
and ’60s soul.
After the spring season, both the Boston
Pops and Boston Symphony Orchestra
perform at Tanglewood in The Berkshires
in western Massachusetts. Both groups
play at the outdoor venue in Lenox for
the summer before returning to Boston in
September.
The 2013 Tanglewood season, which
runs June 23 to Sept. 1, offers a variety of

musical guests and programs that spotlight
the rich tradition of presenting summertime
concerts since 1937.
Groups with 25 or more members enjoy
discounted tickers for most concerts
for Boston Pops and Boston Symphony
Orchestra performances at both venues,
along with the best seats in the house and
fl exible payment plans.
Contact the Group Sales Offi ce for personalized
service to create your ideal visit.•
NY
sUbscribe insider’s tip : norman rockwell mUseUm
Learn more about
all Berkshire
County can offer
your group!
Sign up at http://
berkshires.
org/ticket-toride-newsletter
to receive
our quarterly
Group Planner
E-newsletter.
VT
CT RI
1 insider’s tip
Norman Rockwell Museum
9 Route 183, Stockbridge, MA
413-298-4100 x 221, nrm.org
NH
MASSACHUSETTS
36 mi/58 km
90 mi/145 km
135 mi/217 km
147 mi/237 km
258 mi/415 km
358 mi/576 km
Enjoy the world’s
largest collection
of original
Rockwell art &
his historic studio
(open seasonally).
Group discounts
and new group
tours! Beautiful grounds. Seasonal café.
Must-see destination. More at www.
nrm.org. Open year round.
NY
3. Berkshire Museum
39 South St./Rte 7, Pittsfield, MA
413-443-7171, berkshiremuseum.org
nY
ct
Vt
VT
massachUsetts
CT
Berkshires.org
2. Red Lion Inn
30 Main St, Stockbridge, MA
413-298-5545, redlioninn.com
Boston Pops
(800) 933-4255
www.bostonpops.org
Boston Symphony
Orchestra
(800) 933-4255
www.bso.org
Tanglewood
(617) 266-1492
www.tanglewood.org
Norman Rockwell
Museum ©1960 SEPS
MAssACHUsETTs
Explore at
berkshires.org
A plAnner’s Guide to the Berkshires
staY The Red Lion
Outstanding
Inn, on Norman NH Rockwell’s Main Street,
is central to attractions,
offering special group
rates, menus & free
Red Lion Inn
onsite coach parking.
Enjoy modern conveniences, nightly
entertainment, heated pool, gift shop, &
Country MASSACHUSETTS
Curtains store.
Visit At the Berkshire
Museum enjoy art,
history, and natural
science: explore the
aquarium, ‘Dino Dig,”
Hall of Innovation, Berkshire Museum
and more – exhibitions, RI activities and
attractions for all ages. Mon-Sat 10-5;
Sun noon-5. Discover
The Mount, Edith
Wharton’s Home.
Tour the house and
gardens, enjoy lunch on
the terrace, shop in the
The Mount bookstore, or just relax
and enjoy the surroundings. Customize
your tour. Open Daily, May-October.
Impressionist, American,
and Old Master paintings
in intimate galleries
are surrounded by 140
acres of woodlands and
The Clark
trails at The Clark. Visit
clarkart.edu to learn about group programs
and special exhibitions.
Jacob’s Pillow Dance
Festival, National
Historic Landmark and
“dance center of the
nation” (NY Times).
Photo credit: Dance Collage
350+ free and ticketed Collective at Jacob’s Pillow; photo
Christopher Duggan.
dance performances,
talks, tours, classes, exhibits, and dining. June
19-August 25, 2013.
New England’s oldest
public garden, Berkshire
Botanical Garden
inspires & educates
about horticulture
through 23 display beds,
Berkshire Botanical 3,000 regional plants,
significant trees, unique shrubs & exotic
botanical collections.
location information
4. The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home
2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA
413-551-5108, edithwharton.org
Proud Member of NTA
Photo: Stu Rosner
Reader Service Card #411
The Boston Pops performs at Boston’s Symphony Hall and Lenox’s Tanglewood.
5. The Clark
225 South St, Williamstown, MA
413-458-2303, clarkart.edu
6. Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
358 George Carter Rd, Becket, MA
413-243-9919, jacobspillow.org
7. Berkshire Botanical Garden
5 West Stockbridge Rd, Stockbridge, MA 01262
413-298-3926, berkshirebotanical.org
February • March • April
83

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
84
MAssACHUs ETTs
Shining
again
North Shore Music
Theatre brings
Broadway shows
to Beverly
A National Historic Landmark
Salem, Massachusetts
Group Tour Reservations: groups@7gables.org
P 978­744­0991 ext. 104 F 978­745­5391
North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly
was organized in 1954 as part of a
national circuit of summer stock theaters
designed to present (rather than
produce) touring packages of Broadway
successes and star-centered comedies.
Originally designed by Boston architect
Ralph LeBlanc, North Shore Music
Theatre (NSMT) was the first permanent
stage in the country to be designed
as arena-style.
NORTH
of
BOSTON
A STORy iN eveRy mile...
Visit us at
www.northofboston.org • www.escapesnorth.com
During the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s,
NSMT went through several periods of
growth and updates. It went from an
open, canvas-sided theater to a permanently
enclosed theater with heat and air.
Seating increased from 1,000 to 1,750.
All facilities including the lobby, box
office and back stage area were renovated;
even the quality levels of the productions,
actors, designers and directors
were reinvented, transforming NSMT
into the vibrant theater it now is.
By the 1990s, NSMT had evolved
from presenting musicals to producing
all musical theater productions inhouse.
Additionally, it had gained a national
and regional reputation for artistic
achievement.
Due to lack of finances, NSMT closed
in June 2009, but by February 2010 businessman
Bill Hanney had purchased it
and gave the theater new life.
“Most of our actors have Broadway
Photo: North Shore Music Theatre
This historic photo shows the North Shore Music Theatre.
Reader Service Card #406 Reader Service Card #506

show credentials or national tour credentials.
They are some of the fi nest
actors performing in the country and
throughout the world today,” said Karen
Nascembeni, NSMT director of corporate
and community relations.
NSMT produces fi ve Broadway musicals
annually from start to fi nish, as well
as A Christmas Carol each holiday season.
For the various productions, rehearsals
take place in New York City, as well
as Beverly.
“Some of the costumes are rented,
while others are created from scratch
in NSMT’S own costume department,”
Nascembeni said.
“Because we are a theater in the
round, we also produce our own sets and
props.”
Upcoming shows during 2013 include:
Bill Cosby (March 10), Wicked
Funny Comedy Tour (Apr. 27), The
Sound of Music (June 11–23), The Wizard
of Oz (July 16–28), Cats (Aug. 20–Sept.
1), La Cage Aux Folles (Sept. 24–Oct. 6),
Frank & Barbra, The Concert That Never
Planning a
group tour?
New itineraries, fun
experiences, educational
adventures and the latest
packages designed for
groups await you in
the Greater Merrimack
Valley. For more
information call 800-
215-9805; visit www.
merrimackvalley.org or
email sales@merrimack
valley.org.
Concord Museum
The gateway to historic
Concord is a museum in
the finest of American
traditions—home
to the 1775 Revere
lantern, Emerson’s study,
Thoreau’s Walden desk,
and more. Booking now
for 2014 special exhibit:
“April 19, 1775”
Open year round; bus
parking; museum shop.
More information at
www.concordmuseum.org
or call 978.369.9763,
x214
Was (Oct. 12), Miss Saigon (Nov. 5–17)
and A Christmas Carol (Dec. 6–22).
Discounted rates are available for
groups of 10 to 49 and for more than 50
tickets, Nascembeni said. Seating capacity
is 1,500.
The Backstage Bistro is decorated
with props from previous productions;
MAssACHUsETTs
North Shore Music Theatre’s Backstage Bistro offers an outdoor patio overlooking the garden area.
groups can rent it for private gatherings.
Or come a few hours before the curtain
goes up to enjoy a cocktail and snack
in one of the gazebos in the garden.•
North Shore Music Theatre
(978) 232-7200
www.nsmt.org
The Greater Merrimack Valley
Louisa May Alcott’s
Orchard House
The home of Louisa May
Alcott and her family –
where Little Women was
written and set in 1868
– offers guided tours,
educational programs,
and special events yearround.
Museum Shop & Concord
School of Philosophy
(c.1879) also available.
399 Lexington Road
Concord, MA 01742-3712
978-369-4118
www.louisamayalcott.org
Reader Service Card #126
Lowell National
Historical Park
At Lowell National
Historical Park, discover
Lowell’s industrial history
and its evolving cultural
legacies at massive
cotton textile mills, 5.6
miles of power canals,
operating gatehouses,
worker housing, and an
energetic historic downtown.
Turn-of-the-century
trolleys and boat tours
operate seasonally.
More information at
www.nps.gov/lowe
or call 978.970.5000.
Photo: Paul Lyden/North Shore Music Theatre
The UMass Lowell Inn
& Conference Center
The Hotel is located
in downtown Lowell,
within walking distance
to historical landmarks.
Lodging features 31
year-round, inn-style guest
rooms, and over 200
seasonal hotel rooms. Open
daily, 50 Warren restaurant
offers seasonal menus and
offers guests a fresh take
on classic cuisine.
50 Warren St, Lowell, MA
978-934-6917
Hotel Reservations:
877-886-5422
www.uml.edu/icc
February • March • April
85

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
86
MAssACHUsETTs
Antiquing
locale
Seeking fi nds in
The Berkshires
The Berkshires offers a variety of
activities, with historic sites, museums,
music venues, fi ne arts, hiking, mountains
and other group possibilities.
The western Massachusetts locale is
also home to some of the fi nest dealers
of antiques and collectibles in the United
States.
For antiques and art enthusiasts, The
Berkshires has been a destination for
more than a century. Pittsfi eld, Williamstown,
Great Barrington, Ashley Falls,
Lenox, Sheffi eld, South Egremont, Lee
and Stockbridge have been antiquing
draws for decades.
Berkshire County Antique and Art
Dealers Association has more than 40
The Extraordinary Oasis of Year Round Horticulture
Gardening 365
Gift Shop - Library - Twigs cafÉ
11 French Drive I Boylston I Massachusetts
508.869.6111 I www.towerhillbg.org I Exit 24 Off I-290
Photo: Tim Grafft/Massachusetts Offi ce of Travel & Tourism
Great Barrington is known for its antiques dealers and shops.
members in western Massachusetts and
parts of New York’s Hudson Valley and
northwestern Connecticut.
Gather your group and spend a day
or more discovering antique treasures at
the shops and dealers of The Berkshires.
Start off in Sheffi eld on Massachusetts 7.
Cupboards & Roses Swedish Antiques,
set in a post-and-beam barn,
specializes in painted furniture from
Sweden’s Gustavian and Neoclassical periods.
Painted Porch Country Antiques,
located in an 1815 colonial residence and
barn, has an English and French country
For more Group Tour Info, contact us
www.centralmass.org
Reader Service Card #324
focus. English and continental 18th- and
19th-century formal items are found at
Susan Silver Antiques, housed in a converted
post-and-beam building.
Travel north on Massachusetts 7 to
Great Barrington.
Look for Elise Abrams Antiques shop
features a collection of fi ne dining antiques.
Explore the indoor and outdoor
displays of French country and Asian antiques
and object for the home at Berkshire
Home & Antiques.
Head next to Lenox.
Stop in at Charles Flint Fine Art & Antiques,
with a collection of American and
European antiques. R.W. Wise Goldsmiths
Inc. is focused on fi ne and estate jewelry.•
Berkshire County Massachusetts
Antiques and Art Dealers Association
(413) 229-3070
www.bcaada.com
Berkshire Visitors Bureau
(413) 743-4500
www.berkshires.org/ business_category/
groups/

While many maple sugar houses are open yearround,
the prime time for maple syrup is in March.
The New Hampshire Maple Syrup Producers Association’s
18th annual Maple Weekend is March 23
and 24.
Last year, more than 110 sugar houses (where
maple tree sap is boiled to make maple syrup) across
the state took part.
Besides the sugar houses and maple products,
there are pancake breakfasts (and brunches and dinners),
petting farms and entertainment. Some sites
let folks help carry the buckets from the maple trees
to the sugar houses. Some sugar houses even do
things the traditional way, with horse-drawn wagons
or yokes to balance the
weight of full buckets
on shoulders.
It takes gallons and
gallons of sap to make
syrup. Watching a vat
of thousands of gallons
of maple sap bubbling
and steaming until it
starts getting thick is an
awesome experience.
North America is
the only place on the
planet that has sugar
maple trees. In northern
New England
— New Hampshire,
Vermont and Maine —
Sappy experiences
Maple sugar season produces syrupy tours
Photo: The Rocks Estate
one of out of every four trees is a sugar maple. The
Native Americans used maple in their food and had
a special feast for maple syrup in early spring.
This one-day itinerary in northern New Hampshire
embraces maple sugaring in its full splendor,
with some Granite State heritage included. Created
by New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism
Development, it starts in Bethlehem north of the
White Mountains.
MORNING
Breakfast means pancakes lathered with local
maple syrup at the hotel where the group arrived the
night before.
After, head to The Rocks Estate in Bethlehem to
see how maple syrup is made on its more than 1,400
acres.
The Rocks Estate is a Christmas tree farm and
is also home to the North Country Conservation &
Education Center for the Society for the Protection
of New Hampshire. The property is open to visitors
year-round, with structured and self-guided tours
The processes of maple sugaring are highlighted
on tours at The Rocks Estate near Bethlehem.
and programs; history, wildlife and experiential
learning opportunities; hands-on maple sugar tours
in late winter and early spring; and maintained trails.
Group tours last 45 to 90 minutes, and The Rocks
can accommodate up to three motorcoaches in a
group at once.
AFTERNOON
Head north to Berlin to visit Northern Forest
Heritage Park, a logging history museum and visitor
center in the heart of New Hampshire’s North
Country.
Located on the Androscoggin River, the park
interprets the history of the working forest and the
region’s multi-cultural
heritage with Brown
House Museum, a residence
for former sawmill
employees; a gift
shop; and river boat
tours from June to
October. Reservations
for groups are recommended.
Head down New
Hampshire 2 to Lancaster
to make a stop at
Fuller’s Sugarhouse.
Fuller’s Sugarhouse
taps more than 9,500
maple trees in four
sugar bushes in the
Lancaster area, producing 4,000 gallons of maple
syrup from 160,000 gallons of maple sap. Their
products include maple syrup, candies and gift baskets.
LATE AFTERNOON/EVENING
On the way back, head south and stop at Polly’s
Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill.
An 1830s vintage building on Hildex Farm, it was
turned into a tea room by Polly and Wilfred “Sugar
Bill” Dexter during the 1930s and has become a
mainstay.
Located just north of Franconia Notch State Park
and south of Littleton, Polly’s has a maple-embraced
menu. Pancakes, waffl es and French toast are among
the specialties served up by the second- and thirdgeneration
family running the place. Sandwiches,
quiche, baked beans, salads and homemade desserts
are also on the menu, along with maple syrup products,
pancake mixes, coffees, jams and other specialty
products bearing the Polly’s Pancake Parlor banner;
with Hildex Maple Sugar Farm still in operation.•
Itinerary
New Hampshire
GO
Bethlehem, Berlin,
Lancaster and Sugar Hill
SEE
Fuller’s Sugarhouse
(877) 788-2719
(603) 788-2719
www.fullerssugarhouse.
com
Northern Forest
Heritage Park
(603) 752-7202
www.northernforest
heritage.org
The Rocks Estate
(603) 444-6228
www.therocks.org/bus.php
EAT
Polly’s Pancake Parlor
(603) 823-8849
http://pollyspancakeparlor.
com
ASK
New Hampshire Division
of Travel and Tourism
Development
(603) 271-2665
www.visitnh.gov
New Hampshire Grand
(603) 788-2700
www.nhgrand.com
New Hampshire
Maple Sugar
Producers Association
(603) 225-3757
www.nhmapleproducers.
com/sugarhouses/index.
html
87

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
88
n EW HAMPs H i RE
Stars and
stones
Explore mysteries
of America’s
Stonehenge
in Salem
Ancient peoples closely followed the
stars without telescopes, erecting stone
structures around the world.
While details of America’s Stonehenge
have been lost to history, it is known the
large megalith stone-constructed site in
Salem was built by people with astronomical
knowledge.
America’s Stonehenge was, and still is,
used to determine solar and lunar events
with its accurate and astronomicallyaligned
calendar.
Archaeological excavations have uncovered
artifacts from prehistoric times
and more recent history, including stone
tools, pottery, scripts and writings from
ancient cultures in the maze of man-
New stage
Jean’s Playhouse
opens at North
Country Center
for the Arts
It’s a time of transition for the Lincoln’s
Papermill Theatre.
Its parent organization, the North
Country Center for the Arts, has added a
new theater: Jean’s Playhouse.
The original Papermill Theatre is still
hosting summer stock shows, and the
children’s theater continues.
“This past July, we opened our brandnew
space, a state-of-the-art theater,”
said Brett Lucas, who handles group
sales with the North Country Center for
the Arts. “It’s our first year being a yearround
theater.”
Jean’s Playhouse was named for longtime
supporter Jean Halleger. Her fam-
Photo: North Country Center for the Arts
Photo: Brian Howard
America’s Stonehenge in Salem offers self-guided tours.
made chambers in wooded outdoors.
The origin of America’s Stonehenge
is unknown, said Katherine Rabideau, a
spokeswoman for the site.
“There’s some evidence it may be European
because it functions in a way similar
to Stonehenge in England as an astronomical
calendar,” she said. “But there
is no definite evidence it’s European or
something else. We don’t know for sure.”
The visitors center theater offers a
10-minute presentation about the site.
Self-guided tours on a half-mile route
with detailed maps take about an hour,
North Country Center for the Arts opened
Jean’s Playhouse last summer in Lincoln.
ily was instrumental in turning Lincoln
from a logging town into a thriving tourism
center. It was her father, Sherman Adams,
who opened up the area for skiing.
A former logger himself, Adams
eventually served as New Hampshire
governor and was U.S. President Dwight
Eisenhower’s chief of staff.
In the 1960s, Adams strapped on
some snowshoes and discovered this area
but can be shortened.
The Oracle Chamber terminates at
the Sacrificial Table, a 4½-ton stone slab
believed to have been used for sacrifices.
The nature trail includes re-created
structures showing common structures
found in the northeastern U.S. until
European settlement. The astronomical
trail includes Moon Standstill Alignment
Wall and the Winter Solstice Sunset and
May Day monoliths.
Alpacas live on site. The visitors’ center
includes a gift shop.
Groups get reduced rates for parties
of 20 or more people and free admission
for the tour operator and driver. Reservations
are required.
Open year-round, America’s Stonehenge
celebrates the changing seasons
and astronomically significant events.
The summer solstice event draws about
1,000 people between sunrise and sunset.
In winter, group snowshoeing excursions
are an option. The site’s trails go through
105 acres of woodlands.•
America’s Stonehenge
(603) 893-8300
www.stonehengeusa.com
would be great for skiing. Today, Loon
Mountain is owned by Boyne Resorts
and boasts seven trails and two lifts for
nearly 70 acres of skiing and riding.
As Lincoln was making the transition
from logging town to tourism center,
many of its old buildings sat empty. One
of the mill buildings was transformed as
the home of the Papermill Theatre.
Jean’s Playhouse, the $2.6 million
project, includes space for the musical
and visual arts, as well as community
gatherings and events.
After a successful run of A Christmas
Carol this holiday season, North Country
Center for the Arts is hosting three more
productions in the spring and summer:
I Do I Do, followed by 39 Steps and The
Sound of Music.
For all three shows, group-friendly
packages are available, including dinner
and lunch packages with discounts.•
North Country Center for the Arts
(603) 745-2141
www.papermilltheatre.org

More than
lodgings
Inn at East Hill Farm
tills up adventures
Inn at East Hill Farm is more than lodgings
at the foot of 3,166-foot Mount Monadnock.
The Troy destination in western New
experience
LIVE FREE FREE and and
Cannon Mountain, Franconia
Hampshire is a working farm with yearround
activities such as milking cows and
horseback riding, a barnyard full of farm
animals and group options.
The 150-acre property has had farming
on it since the 1760s, its classic white
clapboard New England farmhouse inn
dating to 1834. The resort offers 65 units
in the inn and seven other lodgings accommodating
up to 140.
Inn at East Hill Farm hosts groups, retreats,
conferences, workshops, reunion
and dance weekends. It offers luncheons
WashingTon
Washing Washing WashingTTTon on on on
an anamazing amazing
adventure to the top
of New eNglaNd’s eN eNgla glaNd’s d’s highest peak!
• 3-hr. round trip on eco-friendly biodiesel or steam trains
• Courier’s Courier’s Favorite Scenic Railroad • On-board Audio Tour
• Free admission to the Observatory Museum at the summit
6 miles off Rt 302 , BRetton Woods, nH 03575
tHecog.com 603-278-5550 open ApR–dec
Reader Service Card #529
NEW HAMPSHIRE
and day visits that include arts, crafts and
other activities.
The resort’s amenities include trails,
indoor and outdoor pools, an indoor skating
rink, a pond with paddle and row boats
and hay and sleigh rides. •
Inn at East Hill Farm
(800) 242-6495
ww.east-hill-farm.com
Plan your group tour today at
visitnh.gov/group
February • March • April
89

Itinerary
Rhode Island
GO
Providence, Middletown,
Newport, Usquepaugh,
South Kingstown and
Cranston
EAT/DRINK
A&J Bakery
(401) 228-8696
www.aandjbakery.net
Matunuck Oyster Bar
(401) 783-4202
www.rhodyoysters.com
Pane e Vino Ristorante
& Enoteca
(401) 223-2230
www.panevino.net
Potenza Ristorante & Bar
(401) 273-2652
www.chefwalter.com/
WP-Potenza-ristorante.html
Sons of Liberty Spirits
Company
(401) 284-4006
www.solspirits.com
Sweet Berry Farm
(401) 847-3912
www.sweetberryfarmri.com
SEE
Kenyon’s Mill
(800) 753-6966
www.kenyonsgristmill.com
Newport Mansions
(401) 847-1000
www.newportmansions.org
ASK
Newport Gourmet Tours
(401) 787-4058
www.newportgourmettours.
com
Rhode Island
Tourism Division
(800) 556-2484
www.visitrhodeisland.com
90
Gluten-free eating
Rhode Island serves up recipes for celiac suff erers
Celiac sufferers: This one’s for you — a culinary
tour designed to allow relaxation and fun without
worrying about the ingredients found at restaurants.
In this gluten-free group tour, enjoy great food
and beautiful scenery coupled with sightseeing and
shopping led by Chef Michael Martini, owner of
Newport Gourmet Tours.
DAY ONE
Start with dinner after arrival and checking in at
your hotel.
Have an Italian
meal with pasta, wine
and dessert at Potenza
Ristorante & Bar
or Pane e Vino Ristorante
& Enoteca on
Providence’s Federal
Hill.
Potenza is owned
and operated by Walter
Potenza, who hails
from Gubbio, Italy.
Pane e Vino’s chef is
Joseph DeQuattro.
DAY TWO
Breakfast at the hotel features gluten-free baked
goods, just like it will the next two mornings.
Then, visit Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown.
Depending on time of year, Sweet Berry Farm is
a slice of paradise with berries, apples, peaches and
pumpkins. Stroll around the farm with owner Jan
Eckert. Try Susanna’s homemade ice cream and sorbet.
For lunch, enjoy wine tastings with a box lunch at
a vineyard. Box lunches are provided by Eva Ruth’s
Specialty Bakery. Both Newport Vineyards in Newport
and Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth are
close to Sweet Berry Farm, with spaces for groups to
sit and enjoy their vintages. If time permits, stop at
Eva Ruth’s Bakery.
Next, take a guided tour of the famous Newport
Mansions. See how the Vanderbilts lived while viewing
the architecture of The Breakers. Then, take a
guided tour of Newport, including the magnifi cent
10-mile Ocean Drive.
Do some shopping in Newport.
Return to your hotel before a gluten-free dinner
at a local restaurant.
DAY THREE
After breakfast, head for Kenyon’s Grist Mill in
Usquepaugh.
Kenyon’s operates on a site that has had a mill
since the 1600s, with the current mill dating to the
19th century.
Tour the mill and enjoy Johnny Cakes and coffee.
The mill processes wheat and rye in addition
to making pancake mixes. While Johnny Cakes are
made with stone ground corn meal (with no wheat
fl our), because of the milling process they may contain
traces of wheat or rye.
Have lunch at Matunuck Oyster Bar in South
Kingstown.
Try the Rhode
Island clam chowder
(a clear broth chowder
with potatoes,
onions and clams)
or littlenecks simmered
with chorizo,
white beans, garlic
and white wine, followed
by a Caesar
salad topped with
grilled chicken or
fried oysters (dusted
with corn meal) and
gluten-free croutons.
Also, learn how
oysters are farmed adjacent to the restaurant in
Potter’s Pond through a chat with oyster farmer extraordinaire
Perry Raso.
In the afternoon, do some vodka tasting at Sons
of Liberty Spirits Company.
Rhode Island’s newest distillery produces whiskey
and vodka, with its vodka being corn-based and
gluten-free. Groups of 10 or more can schedule private
tours.
Next, do a visit and tastings in Cranston at A&J
Bakery, which is gluten-and nut-free.
Return to the hotel, and dine at a local restaurant.
Photo: Courtesy of Pane e Vino Ristorante & Enoteca
Pane e Vino Ristorante & Enoteca serves up gluten-free delights.
DAY FOUR
After breakfast, tour Providence.
Get an overview of the Renaissance City, learning
about its roles during the American and Industrial
revolutions.
Drive past university and college campuses and
down Benefi t Street, Providence’s “Mile of History,”
featuring many colonial structures.
Next, tour the State House and John Brown
House. The State House is an architectural gem, and
docents from Johnson & Wales College lead guided
tours.
Finish with a gourmet tour of Providence restaurants
with gluten-free items.•
Reader Service Card #525

Marshy
madness
Matunuck Oyster Farm
provides knee-deep
explorations
Matunuck Oyster Farm is an immersive
experience.
For Perry Raso, it is to be expected.
Raso founded what was originally
called Ocean State Aqua Farm in 1992 in
the seaside community of East Matunuck
near South Kingstown.
Visiting groups that are wader- and
swimsuit-clad and on a pontoon boat traverse
through what is now a seven-acre
shellfi sh farm’s marshy saltwater area while
learning the history of cultivating oysters,
clams and scallops. The ecotours at the
farm include lessons in cultivating the
shellfi sh as well as the experience of discovering
the site.
Photo: Carol Smith
A group steps into their waders before heading out on a
tour of Matunuck Oyster Farm in East Matunuck.
The Breakers
Groups of any size take part in the programs,
which entail 90-minute tours of
the shellfi sh nursery system and a 10- to
15-minute walk to the farm through the
shallows of the Potter’s Pond estuary. Presentations
also can take place via a pontoon
boat or at the Matunuck Oyster Bar patio.
“I give groups an informative tour,”
Raso said. “We talk about the oysters that
are growing out there. There are millions
out there that grow from 1 millimeter to
full size.”
After the tour, groups can stay for lunch
or an oyster and champagne tasting session.
Raso said prices are competitive, the
food is high quality and arrangements are
fl exible.
Raso is an oysterman extraordinaire
who is an aquaculture educator with a
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aquaculture
from the University of Rhode Island.
Besides the farm on Succotash Road,
Raso also operates Matunuck Oyster Bar,
which boasts several oyster varieties including
Matunuck, Moonstone and Cuttyhunk
grown off its waterfront patio on Potter’s
Pond. Its oyster tastings is a distinctive
Little Rhody locavorism experience, with
Raso sharing his knowledge and fl air.
Matunuck Oyster Bar overlooks the
estuary and inlet that comprise Matunuck
Oyster Farm. Raso can often be seen
shucking oyster and helping prepare food
at the wildly popular restaurant.
He opened the restaurant four years
ago primarily because he wanted a commercial
dock on Potter’s Pond. While he
fi gured the restaurant would only be seasonal,
it ended up being a year-round establishment.
As Raso readily admits, he’s not a chef;
The
Newport N
Mansions
Come Alive
Hear the voices, memories and experiences of
generations of people who lived and worked in these
houses through a series of fascinating audio tours of
The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House & Rosecliff.
RHoDE islAnD
Perry Raso, an oysterman and restauranteur,
gathers oysters from Potter’s Pond in East Matunuck.
he’s an oyster farmer. Shellfi sh are his passion,
with his oysters found at Matunuck
Oyster Bar, other restaurants up and down
the East Coast and at farmers’ markets
across Rhode Island.
Potter’s Pond, where his juicy and briny
oysters are grown, is blessed by Atlantic
Ocean waters from Narragansett Bay
washing into it.
This is aquaculture farming at its best.
Rhode Island’s south shore salt ponds like
Potter’s are coastal lagoons, promoting fast
growth and excellent fl avors for the oysters
Raso cultivates because they benefi t from
high water quality.•
Matunuck Oyster Bar
(401) 783-4202
www.rhodyoysters.com
Matunuck Oyster Farm
(401) 932-4946
www.rhodyoysters.com/farm.html
23, 2013
RI
The
Newport
Flower
Show
Rosecliff
ABA’s Top
100 Events!
w w w . NewportMansions.or g • G roups@ NewportMansions.or g • 401-847-2251 • Newport, RI
Reader Service Card #321
Photo: Carol Smith
February • March • April
91

Itinerary
92
Vermont
GO
Plymouth Notch,
Woodstock, Randolph
Center, East Montpelier,
Montpelier, Waterbury
Center and Stowe
SEE
Ben & Jerry’s
(866) 258-6877
www.benjerry.com/
scoop-shops/factory-tours
Billings Farm & Museum
(802) 457-2355
www.billingsfarm.org
Bragg Farm Sugarhouse
& Gift Shop
(800) 376-5757
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
(800) 327-7537
www.coldhollow.com/page.
cfm/tours/groups.html
Frog City Cheese Co.
(802) 672-3650
www.frogcitycheese.com
Morse Farm Maple
Sugarworks
(800) 242-2740
www.morsefarm.com
Neighborly Farms of
Vermont
(888) 212-6898
www.neighborlyfarms.com
President Calvin Coolidge
State Historic Site
(802) 672-3773
www.historicsites.vermont.
gov/coolidge
ASK
Vermont Farms Association
(866) 348-3276
www.vtfarms.org
Vermont Tourism Network
(802) 262-2129
www.govtn.com
Tasty highlights
Farms, foods and fun
Embracing agritourism experiences in visiting
Vermont can make for some tasty highlights for
your tour group.
Sample and taste your way across north central
Vermont on this two-day itinerary primarily crafted
by the Vermont Farms Association.
DAY ONE
Head to Plymouth Cheese Factory, founded by
John Coolidge, President Calvin Coolidge’s father.
The original Plymouth Notch factory was built in
1890 by him, James Brown and three local farmers.
The operation
closed in 1934,
but was reopened
in 1962 by President
Coolidge’s
son, John.
Now operating
at the factory
on the President
Calvin Coolidge
State Historic
Site, Coolidge’s
boyhood home, is
Frog City Cheese
Co. The familyowned
and -operated
cheesemaker
operates a factory
and retail store.
Travel to
Woodstock to
explore Billings
Farm & Museum, which is adjacent to Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller
National Historical Park.
Billings offers group tours for parties of at least
10 people with advance reservations. Besides daily
programs, hands-on activities, seasonal events and
presentations, the site includes a working dairy farm
with a restored 1980 farmhouse, a museum with exhibits,
a gift shop and dairy bar.
After lunch, visit nearby Sugarbush Farm, a 550acre
Woodstock spread that combines cheesemaking
and maple sugaring.
The farm was purchased in 1945 by Jack and
Marion Ayres, the fi rst folks in Vermont to package
cheese in waxed bars to better protect it for
refrigeration. Larry and Betsy Luce, their two sons
and grandchildren now work the farm; Betsy is the
Ayres’ daughter. They tap the sap from more than
6,000 maple trees, making certain to share about
their maple syrup production with visiting groups.
Next up is Neighborly Farms of Vermont.
The 168-acre Randolph Center dairy farm makes
organic farmstead cheeses. Besides its herd of Holstein
cows, Neighborly Farms’ crops include maple
syrup.
Overnight in Montpelier.
DAY TWO
The Bragg family has been making maple syrup
for eight generations. Taste their efforts at Bragg
Farm Sugarhouse & Gift Shop in East Montpelier.
Open year-round, Bragg Farm offers tours along
with an ice cream
parlor, a gift shop
with maple syrup
products and
Vermont cheese,
trails and a nearby
covered bridge.
Then, visit
Morse Farm Maple
Sugarworks in
Montpelier.
The Morse
family’s forebears
helped settle central
Vermont and
learned how to
tap maple trees
from Native
Photo: Nicki Dugan
A Jersey cow gets petted by visitors at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock.
Americans. Morse
Farm’s maple syrup
and Vermont
cheeses are the
primary products found in its gift shop.
Stop in at Cold Hollow Cider Mill, which produces
apple cider in its vintage rack-and-cloth press
in Waterbury Center.
Its goods also include cider products, artisanal
cheeses, fudge, honey and baked items along with
maple syrup. Cold Hollow has a luncheonette and
offers self-guided tours.
Next, visit the famed Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
Factory in Waterbury Center for a guided tour and
tasting of their various ice cream fl avors.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfi eld turned a $5 correspondence
course on ice cream into a successful
business that is more than 35 years old. The story is
shared on guided factory tours. Snowshoe tours on
the campus are available from late December to late
March.
After the tour, head to Stowe for dinner and an
overnight before heading home.•

Part of
the fabric
Discover the
artisan layers
at quilting havens
Quilting in Vermont is layered into
the Green Mountain State’s artisan fabric.
The Vermont Quilt Festival is New
England’s oldest and largest quilt festival.
The 37th edition of the gathering is June
28 to 30 at Champlain Valley Exhibition
in Essex Junction.
The organizers point out the quilts
shown are old and new, modern and traditional.
The festival includes displays,
exhibits, workshops and classes.
But that’s just one event.
Quilters share their art and craftsmanship
year-round.
It is shared in shops like Yankee Pride
Quilts, an Essex Junction store with more
Vermont
Quilt Festival
June 28-30, 2013
Champlain Valley expo, essex JunCtion, Vt
Quilt Exhibits u Merchants Mall
Gallery Talks u Appraisals
Groups Welcome
New England’s
Oldest & Largest Quilt Event
www.vqf.org, email: info@vqf.org
Reader Service Card #111
Hey,
2.5 x why 2.5 did travel Smithsonian trade Magazine
name Brattleboro #11 on its
20 Best Towns in America list?
Well, why
not take a
bus to us
and find
out!
BRATTLEBOROCHAMBER.ORG
Reader Service Card #111
Photo: Eunice/Sleepyneko/
Creative Commons
Handcrafted pieces like these display the distinctive
craftsmanship found with Vermont quilts.
Vermont
PLAN YOUR NEXT TOUR TO VERMONT
GROUP TOUR MANUAL AND VERMONTTOURISMNETWORK.COM
Your one-stop resource for new Vermont destinations for every tour:
• Statewide destinations
• Agriculture, attractions, historic sites, lodging, restaurants, shopping,
special events, what’s new and unique experiences and more
• Group tours & FIT
Vermont Tour & Receptive Operators/Step On Guides:
Custom Tours: 888-422-2818, linda@customtoursinc.com
Finer Vermont Tours: 800-601-1857, finer@vermontel.net
Notch Above Tours: 802-881-0661, info@notchabovetours.com
Sugar Tours: 888-889-8681, vttours@sover.net
Charters: Premier Coach: 800-532-1811, info@premiercoach.net
vERMonT
in partnership with
For a FREE printed tour manual, call 802-262-2129 or email kballard@vtchamber.com
Reader Service Card #111
Quilting heritage is on display in
The Shelburne Museum, which features
more than 150,000 works exhibited in 39
exhibition buildings in Shelburne.
Groups of 15 or more enjoy discounted
rates and tour options. Three hours is
suggested for a visit.
Antique quilts can also be discovered
at The Bennington Museum in Bennington.
The museum offers custom, audio
and cell phone tours with at least a
week’s notice.•
than 5,000 bolts of fabric and offering a
Bennington Museum
(802) 447-1571
gallery, classes and special events; A Quil- www.benningtonmuseum.org
ters’ Garden, a Montpelier store with
classes and programs; Mad River Quilting,
a Waitfi eld shop which offers a biannual
Kwilt Kamp retreat; and Norton
House, A Quilter’s Paradise, a Wilming-
The Shelburne Museum
(802) 958-3346
http://shelburnemuseum.org/visit/
planning-your-visit/group-tours
ton shop located in a circa 1760 residence.
In spring is the Vermont Shop Hop,
a statewide quilting festival. The eighth
annual 1012 VTN event Print is March Ad:Layout 15–24 1this 11/1/12 year,
Vermont Quilt Festival
(802) 872-0034
www.vqf.org
10:16 AM Page 1
with 17 participating shops throughout Vermont Shop Hop
the state.
www.vermontshophop.com
February • March • April
93

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
94
vERMonT
Strolling down memory lane
Vermont Country Store focuses on selling
everyday items no longer available elsewhere
Vrest and Ellen Orton opened the Vermont
Country Store in Weston in 1946 to
complement the increasing catalog orders
they were receiving.
Today, it is among the oldest restored
rural country stores in the United States —
still owned and operated by fourth- and
fi fth-generation family members.
What makes the Vermont Country
Store so special is its dedication to being
“purveyors of practical and hard-to-fi nd
products” — the company’s unoffi cial tagline.
For groups, it’s also the very personal
experience that they receive — from the
store manager boarding the bus to welcome
them, to the attentive staff, to the
mixture of goodies they leave with in hand.
“The motorcoach traveler is an exact fi t
to the experience of our store because they
In 1946 we opened our store in Weston,
Vermont, and it still looks very much
the same today as it did then. We are
stocked to the rafters with thousands of
practical and hard-to-find goods.
Visit us in Weston on Route 100
and in Rockingham on Route 103,
exit 6 off of I-91.
802.824.3184 | Open 7 Days
www.VermontCountryStore.com
Enjoy a meal at The Bryant House Restaurant,
open 7 days, and Mildred’s Dairy Bar, open
seasonally. Located at our Weston Store.
Reader Service Card #111
WATCH ARTISANS
CARVE STONE
TRY OUR
SANDBLAST
ACTIVITY
Photo: Vermont Country Store
Vermont Country Store in Weston
sells an assortment of brands from the past.
remember a lot of our products,” said Bill
Ackerman, Vermont Country Store’s head
of retail.
“It’s like stepping back in time. We sell
things that are long gone from many places.
Groups walk around the store saying,
‘Oh, my God. I can’t believe they still make
this’ or ‘Oh, my God. I can’t believe they sell
this.’ They are taken back by the genuineness
and authenticity of the store. It feels
just like when they shopped as children.”
Vermont Country Store sells an assortment
of items: food, clothes, toys, holiday
and home decorations, personal care items
and cleaning products.
One of the oldest products sold in the
store, and one of the most popular, is Evening
in Paris perfume, which dates to the
late 1920s.
“Our good ole-fashioned pant stretchers
and wooden drying racks are very popular
among visitors,” he said. “We also have
TOUR
600-FT-DEEP
QUARRY
EXPERIENCE ROCK OF AGES
Please see website for culinary & other group tour packages
Toll free: 866-748-6877 tours.rockofages.com
Reader Service Card #111
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrifi c shampoo
that anyone around in the 1970s would
recognize.
“Another very popular spot is our candy
counter. Visitors get to scoop up all the
penny candy they want and weigh it themselves.
We have an incredible assortment of
licorice and chewing gum.”
The Vermont Country Store is known
for its large selection of Vermont-made
cheeses and pure maple syrup made from
local maple trees.
Many products sold at the store are ageless,
like the metal slinky, the wooden slingshot
or the classic game of checkers.
“Many people buy these things for their
grandchildren because they want them to
have the same experience they did when
they were kids,” Ackerman said.
For groups who want to grab a bite to
eat, Bryant House Restaurant is located at
the store. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner,
with comfort foods such as old-fashioned
chicken pot pie, pot roast, pies and
other desserts.
Vermont Country Store makes for a
perfect half-day visit, and groups should
allow about 2½ to 3 hours to enjoy a meal
and browse the store.
The surrounding area includes a historic
village with a mill, a waterfall and historic
homes.•
Vermont Country Store
(802) 824-3184
www.vermontcountrystore.com/store
Pure Vermont.
21,000 sq. ft. of meeting space
World-class culinary programs
18 beautiful acres
800-727-4295
The Essex Resort & Spa • Essex, VT • www.VtCulinaryResort.com
Reader Service Card #111

Below the
surface
Center explores
Lake Champlain
creatures and history
Located on the shores of Lake Champlain,
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science
Center dives into the study of life
in the lake from fi sh to amphibians, and
even a legendary sea creature.
ECHO stands for Ecology, Culture,
History and Opportunity for Stewardship
of the Lake Champlain Basin. The
Burlington center educates groups on
the 490-square-mile lake’s diverse ecosystem
bordering Vermont, New York
and Quebec.
Located on the historic Burlington
waterfront, “it’s a great opportunity to
learn about what’s right outside,” said
Meg Billado, guest services and group
bookings representative.
Groups visiting the 28,500-square
foot-facility, which celebrates its 10th anniversary
this year, discover 70 species native
to the lake and a timeline of the lake’s
geography, starting with its glacial history.
The center welcome 150,000 visitors
annually, who enjoy numerous interactive
exhibits and science education program.
A self-guided walking tour takes
about 90 minutes.
Demonstrations include animal feedings
and care. Animals include exotic frogs,
amphibian, reptiles and fi sh including
huge prehistoric-looking lake sturgeon.
Reader Service Card #111
Photo: Courtesy of The ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
The ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
represents life in the Lake Champlain watershed.
Temporary exhibits explore other
subject and change every six months.
“Strange Matter,” which runs Feb. 9
through May 12, examines everyday
products like DVDs, cell phones and
basketball backboards, unveiling strange
and unusual science.
Specifi cally designed programs for
various sized group include: “Formation
of the Lake Champlain Basin,” about the
formation of the basin over the last 1.5
billion years
Legend has it that there’s even a serpentine
sea creature residing in the lake.
“Champ: Believer or Skeptic” tells
of Champ, the legendary Lake Champlain
monster. Learn about the history
of Champ sightings and ways it has been
portrayed through drawings and photographs.
The Tour of ECHO package is a customized
tour of the lake’s creatures with
educational experts.
C
Another package, the Abenaki in our
M
Region, focuses on the Abenaki Native
American people including artifacts used Y
in their daily lives and the games that
Packaged & Custom Tours
(802) 475-2022 www.lcmm.org
Reader Service Card #111
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Presented by
This exhibition and its tour
are made possible by the
generous support of the
following sponsors.
vERMonT
provided valuable social opportunities.
ECHO is part of the Leahy Center
for Lake Champlain, a 2.2-acre environmental
campus with a group of organizations
working for public and academic
engagement in science, environmental
education, research and cultural history.
The campus also includes Rubenstein
Ecosystem Science Laboratory, Lake
Champlain Basin Program Resource
Room, Lake Champlain Sea Grant Watershed
Alliance, Lake Champlain Navy
Memorial and the University of Vermont
research vessel Melosira.
Other area group tour options include
the Spirit of Ethan Allen III cruise
ship, ferries, and the Church Street Marketplace.
Motorcoach and bus groups require
a minimum of 10 people. At least oneweek
advance registration is required.
Driver and up to two tour leaders are
complimentary.•
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
(877) 324-6386
www.echovermont.org
GroupTourMag_SM_2.25x4.75.pdf 1 12/5/2012 5:17:55 PM
FEBRUARY 9 - MAY 12, 2013
BURLINGTON, LINGTON, VERMONT ECHOVERMONT.ORG 877.324.6386
ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center
Reader Service Card #111
@ECHOvt
February • March • April
95

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
96
MiD-ATlAnTiC
Consecrated
land
Gettysburg marks 150th
anniversary of battle and address
with yearlong commemoration
Photo: Gettysburg CVB
By Erin Albanese
“The world will little note, nor long remember,
what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here.”
President Abraham Lincoln was only
half correct: the world both long noted
and remembered his legendary words
delivered in The Gettysburg Address on
Nov. 19, 1863, and the great Civil War
battle fought 4½ months before.
This year marks the 150th
anniversary of the Battle of
Gettysburg, in which Union
troops defeated the Confederacy.
The battle went down in
the history books as the turning
point of the Civil War. The
three-day battle, July 1–3, 1863,
in the small Pennsylvania town
resulted in the deaths of about
50,000 men. The Union defeated
the Confederacy, stopping
Confederate Gen. Robert
E. Lee’s invasion of the north.
Gettysburg is marking the
milestone with a full calendar
of events.
What better time for groups
to walk in the footsteps of history,
walk with Lincoln or take
Photo: Gettysburg CVB
part in reenactments?
“Gettysburg is a Civil War Mecca any
year. This anniversary is going to bring
a lot of attention and visitors to Gettysburg,”
said Carl Whitehill, media relations
manager for the Gettysburg Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
Gettysburg is the most visited battle-
The area of Gettysburg contains many reminders
of the battle that marked the end of the Civil War.
A President Abraham Lincoln
portrayer speaks at a Memorial Day
Ceremony in Gettysburg, Pa.
fi eld in the United States, with an average
of 3 million visitors annually for its Civil
War attractions. About 4 million are expected
to visit this year.
The area includes the town of Gettysburg,
with a population of about 8,000.
The Gettysburg National Military Park
consists of 6,000 acres surrounding the
town on three sides.
But while the anniversary
is a big deal, Whitehill said
groups enjoy visits any time
of year.
“The 150th is not just
about a couple days in July
and in November, it’s about
the whole year,” he said. “Gettysburg
offers an incredible
Civil War experience every day
of the year.
“You can have a group
come on a Monday in January
and absolutely have an unforgettable
experience in Gettysburg.”
Throughout the year, there
are living history encampments,
lectures, presentations,
dances and other events to
commemorate the historic
battle.

The heart of the anniversary, “Gettysburg 150:
Refl ection of History,” is June 28 to July 7, with historical
re-enactments, a living history encampment
and commemorations.
Highlights of the 150th Anniversary of The Gettysburg
Address on Nov. 16 include the Remembrance
Day Parade and Ceremony and the Remembrance
Day Illumination in Soldier’s National
Cemetery.
Dedication Day, the anniversary of The Gettysburg
Address, is Nov. 19.
“The Gettysburg Address is arguably as big as the
battle itself,” Whitehill said.
The address is commemorated with a national
ceremony every year. The two-hour Remembrance
Day parade includes a two-hour march with Union
and Confederate soldiers through town. Every November
the town welcomes thousands of people
around the world.
Tying in with anniversary events is the July 1
opening of the new Seminary Ridge Museum, highlighting
Civil War medicine, faith and race issues.
It is located in Schmucker Hall, known as “Old
Dorm,” which was constructed several years before
the war.
The museum will feature exhibits and artifacts
highlighting the stories of soldiers, nurses and the
“Old Dorm” residents forced to fl ee into the countryside
during the battle.
The building was where Union Gen. John Buford
scouted from the building’s cupola during the fi rst
day of battle. It was used as a Union and Confederate
hospital after the fi ghting.
The building is undergoing a $15 million renovation
on the campus of Lutheran Theological Seminary.
The museum is to occupy 20,000 square feet
on four fl oors of the 1832 National Historic Landmark,
and will include an orientation theater, gift
shop and revolving exhibition gallery.
The museum puts a centralized focus on a portion
of the war often skimmed over, Whitehill said.
“The main focus of the museum is the fi rst day’s
A group tours the Gettysburg Battlefi eld, where
approximately 50,000 men were killed during the Civil War.
battle. The fi rst day is always overlooked because the
other two were so dramatic,” he said.
The museum’s main exhibit — “Voices of Duty
and Devotion” — begins on the fourth fl oor with
the story of the fi ghting on Seminary Ridge. The
third fl oor focuses on Civil War medicine with highlights
of the makeshift hospital 150 years prior, and
the second fl oor features exhibits and artifacts that
explain the religious and race issues that impacted
the war and its beginnings.
Gettysburg visitors incorporate the museum and
visitor center and area museums into a tour.
The American Civil War Wax Museum offers a
self-guided tour of life-size dioramas. David Wills
House, where The Gettysburg Address was crafted, is
in downtown Gettysburg. General Lee’s Headquarters
Museum offers a private Civil War collection;
and special group tours can be arranged.
The authentic Jennie Wade House Museum
serves as a shrine to Wade, a heroic woman who was
the only civilian killed during the bloody battle.
Other group options include living history experiences,
tours and visits to Adam’s County Vineyard,
Gettysburg Wine and Fruit Trail, Hauser Estate Winery
and Reid’s Orchard and Winery.
The Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau
specializes in customized packages for groups.
An option is to arrange for a re-enactor, such as
a Lee portrayer. The Association of Licensed Battlefi
eld Tour guides are solid on Gettysburg history.•
Gettysburg Convention and Visitors Bureau
(717) 334-6274
www.gettysburg.travel
Gettysburg National Military Park
(717) 334-1124
www.nps.gov/gett
Seminary Ridge Museum
(717) 338-3030
www.seminaryridge.org
Photo: Gettysburg CVB
Mid-
Atlantic
New York
Pennsylvania
Region
New Jersey
Delaware
Maryland
Delaware
98
Maryland
100
Washington, D.C.
New Jersey
104
New York
109
February • March • April April
Atlantic
Ocean
Pennsylvania
116
Washington,
D.C.
125
97

Itinerary
Delaware
GO
Wilmington
See
Hagley Museum & Library
(302) 658-2400
www.hagley.org
Historic New Castle
(302) 322-2794
www.newcastlehistory.org
Longwood Gardens
(610) 388-1000
www.longwoodgardens.org
Mount Cuba Center
(302) 239-4244
www.mtcubacenter.org
Do
Nemours Mansion
& Gardens
(800) 651-6912
www.nemoursmansion.org
Winterthur Museum,
Gardens & Library
(800) 448-3883
www.winterthur.org
Ask
Greater Wilmington
Convention &
Visitors Bureau
(800) 489-6664
www.visitwilmingtonde.com
98
The du Ponts: Their legacy
and the landscapes
Learn how one family infl uenced Delaware
The du Pont family is a French-descended American
family whose fortune was founded on explosive
powders and textiles. Their gunpowder company
dominated Delaware’s development in the early 20th
century.
On this two-day tour across Wilmington, learn the
rich and extensive history of the du Pont family while
admiring beautiful architecture and landscapes connected
to their story.
DAY ONE
Start at Hagley Museum & Library where the du
Pont story in Delaware began.
Gather in the museum’s visitors center for a guided
tour. Take a narrated
shuttle ride through the
breathtakingly beautiful
230-acre property along
the banks of Brandywine
River where E.I du
Pont de Nemours settled
in 1802.
Learn how he began
harnessing the river’s
power to produce highquality
gunpowder and
see 19th-century technology
in action.
Tour Eleutherian
Mills, the ancestral
home of the du Pont
Photo: Greater Wilmington CVB
family. Experience the lifestyles of fi ve generations inside
the stately mansion.
Return to the visitors center, which hosts changing
exhibits and the interactive exhibit titled “DuPont
Science and Discovery.”
Enjoy lunch at a group-friendly restaurant, including
the Hagley’s Belin House or BBC Tavern & Grill.
Afterward, discover Historic New Castle.
Thanks to the efforts of preservationist Louise
du Pont Crowninshield, the last resident at Hagley’s
Eleutherian Mills and sister to Henry Francis du Pont
of Winterthur fame, the vibrant community remains
one of the most important colonial/federal villages in
the U.S.
Key stops in Historic New Castle include Amstel
House, Dutch House, Old Library, Immanuel
Church, Read House & Garden and the New Castle
Court House Museum.
End the day at Mount Cuba Center, a woodland
wildfl ower garden.
A statue of Diana the Huntress is set within a classically styled temple
at Nemours Mansion and Gardens.
The former home and estate of Lammot du Pont
Copeland is now a 650-acre horticultural center dedicated
to the study, preservation and cultivation of
fl ora and fauna native to the Piedmont region. Enjoy
formal gardens, open pastures, rolling landscapes,
winding woodland paths under canopies of towering
tulip trees and tranquil ponds.
DAY TWO
After breakfast, head to Winterthur Museum, Gardens
& Library.
Take the morning tram and enjoy a narrated ride
through gardens that span the rolling hills, streams,
meadows and forests of the 1,000-acre estate.
Then, take a themed
tour through the 175room
mansion where
Henry Francis du Pont’s
exceptional collection of
decorative arts and antiques
is on display.
For lunch, grab a bite
at Winterthur Cafeteria
or Buckley’s Tavern.
Next, stop at Longwood
Gardens.
Pierre Samuel du
Pont’s masterpiece is a
horticultural extravaganza.
Longwood features
more than 11,000
varieties of plants, shrubs and trees, 20 outdoor gardens,
fountain and fi reworks displays, four acres of
gardens under glass in the Conservatory and an Indoor
Children’s Garden.
The last stop on the tour is Nemours Mansion and
Gardens.
Modeled on Marie Antoinette’s Le Petit Trianon
and named after the ancestral home of the du Pont
family in France, Alfred I. du Pont’s mansion has been
returned to its turn-of-the century magnifi cence and
contains spectacular examples of paintings, sculpture,
tapestries and furniture, some of which date back to
the 15th century.
Arrive at the visitors center for the afternoon tour,
with a brief introductory fi lm.
Take a bus ride to the mansion for a guided tour.
After the tour, board the bus for a narrated tour of
the property or walk the grounds for 30 minutes. The
tour ends with a stop at the chauffeur’s garage, with
classic vehicles on display.•

Festive
events
Gatherings attract
adventure seekers,
music lovers,
foodies and more
The First State of Delaware is renowned
for its unique festivals, fairs and
special events.
In May, behold a fi ne show of azaleas
at Winterthur Museum, Gardens &
Library’s eight-acre Azalea Woods, H. F.
du Pont’s masterpiece of color, harmony
and naturalistic design in Wilmington.
Visit the Dover Days Festival, celebrating
the capital city’s rich history and
heritage. Commemorating its 80th anniversary
May 3 to 5, the jam-packed event
is host to more than 300 craft and food
vendors, parades, maypole dancing and
a plein air arts festival.
Celebrate horseshoe crabs and migrating
shorebirds during the Horseshoe
Crab and Shorebird Festival. Held May
28 at Milton Memorial Park and Prime
Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Milton,
birdwatchers can look for migrating
birds and endangered species.
At the end of May, thrill-seekers can
enjoy the fi rst of two NASCAR race
weekends held in Delaware at Dover
International Speedway. From May 31
through June 2, experience the excitement
of the race on the Monster Mile.
Usher in the summer with outdoor
music fests and cultural events.
From June 21 to 23, Firefl y Music Festival
returns to the 87-acre Woodlands
nestled within the Dover International
Speedway’s 840-acre campus. Last year
was the inaugural event.
Another favorite is the DuPont Clifford
Brown Jazz Festival, a free outdoor
music festival at Rodney Square in downtown
Wilmington. The weeklong event
(June 17–23) is a tribute to jazz legend
Clifford Brown, and features world-class
musicians.
On Sept. 14 and 15 is the Nanticoke
Indian Powwow, a cultural gathering in
Millsboro where native traditions are
The 2012 Firefl y Music Festival brought more than 30,000 people to Dover
and featured national headliners Jack White, The Black Keys and The Killers.
passed down from generation to generation.
Enjoy the native garb and fare, singing
chants, and the beat of the drum as the
dancers refl ect their tribal heritage in the
form of song and Native American dance.
In fall is tripleheader NASCAR races
at the Dover International Speedway,
from Sept. 27 to 29.
Throughout October, indulge the
senses.
Stop at the Delaware Wine and Beer
Festival, the Vendemmia da Vinci Harvest
of the Grapes Festival, the Bridgeville
Apple-Scrapple Festival, the Newark
Oktoberfest and Rehoboth Beach Sea
Witch Halloween & Fiddler’s Festival.
Music lovers are sure to enjoy the talent
at the annual Rehoboth Jazz Festival,
Oct. 17 to 20.
Come November, it’s the World
Championship Punkin Chunkin, a
three-day outdoor competition in Bridgeville
involving enormous homemade
contraptions and hurling pumpkins.
Visit Delaware’s winter wonderland
and see the dazzling display of 500,000
lights at the remarkable neighboring
Longwood Gardens.
Take pleasure in Christmas at Hagley
Museum & Library, Yuletide at Winterthur
and Christmas in Odessa. Experience
the traditions of Christmas past,
take in the splendor of decorated trees
and exquisite room and food displays and
enjoy walking tours of historic homes.•
Nemours
DElAWARE
Photo: Delaware Tourism Offi ce
Delaware Tourism Offi ce
(302) 672-6834
www.visitdelaware.com/group-tour
Experience the wonder of
a timeless classic.
©2012. The Nemours Foundation. Nemours is a registered trademark of the Nemours Foundation.
Plan your visit today, for reservations
and information:
www.nemoursmansion.org
1 (800) 651-6912
Alapocas Drive and Powder Mill Road
(Route 141), Wilmington, DE 19803
Reader Service Card #510
February • March • April
99

Itinerary
Maryland
GO
Baltimore
SEE
Baltimore Museum
of Industry
(410) 727-4808
www.thebmi.org
DO
Watermark Journey Cruises
(410) 268-7601, ext. 104
http://cruisesonthebay.com
EAT
Phillip’s Seafood Restaurant
(410) 685-6600 x39
www.phillipsseafood.com/
plan-your-event/Baltimore
ASK
Baltimore Area Convention
and Visitors Association
(877) 225-8466
www.baltimore.org
100
An Inner Harbor cruise is
a wonderful introduction
to Baltimore.
Since its founding in 1729, Baltimore has played a
crucial role in the heritage and founding of the United
States.
From important battles fought in the city during
the War of 1812 through the Civil War, to its important
role in maritime history, to the numerous signifi -
cant events that took place here during the civil rights
movement.
On this one-day tour in Baltimore, explore the
sites that played a pivotal role in the making of this
historic harbor city.
MORNING
After arriving in Baltimore, begin at Inner Harbor,
a historic seaport and landmark in Baltimore.
Step aboard the Annapolitan II. Its 45-minute narrated
cruise tours the Inner Harbor and tells Baltimore’s
maritime and industrial history.
Learn how Federal Hill was a site of a paint pigment
mining operation early in the colonial period
and how the hill was occupied by a thousand Union
troops under the command of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler
following the Baltimore riot of 1861.
Also discover how Fells Point became an important
shipbuilding and commercial center during the
1700s, and about the USS Constellation, the last sailonly
warship designed and built by the U.S. Navy.
Fort McHenry is another important site you’ll
cruise past. This was the fort that defended Baltimore
against the British invasion in the War of 1812, and is
the birthplace of the national anthem.
LUNCH
After cruising, sit down for a relaxing lunch at
Phillip’s Seafood Restaurant.
Located directly on the water, Phillip’s is situated
within the iconic renovated Power Plant industrial
building. Entrees are served with a cup of Phillip’s
vegetable crab soup, chef’s dessert of the day, rolls,
butter, coffee, tea and soft drinks.
Photo: Watermark Journey
Baltimore’s beginnings
Discover the important events that shaped the city
Each visitor will also get to pick two of the following
options: Phillip’s famous crab cake sandwich,
fried fl ounder sandwich, grilled chicken and tomato
sandwich or Caesar salad with wild Atlantic salmon.
Phillip’s offers several private and semi private
spaces for groups at its Inner Harbor eatery.
AFTERNOON
After lunch, meet your group back at the bus back
at the Visitor Center and head over to the Baltimore
Museum of Industry (BMI).
Baltimore has long been recognized as a major
industrial center and is home to the nation’s fi rst passenger
railway, oldest gas company and fi rst traffi c
light.
To honor this long history the BMI depicts the
working-class who are often over-looked: the workers,
small business owners, and others who built
Maryland’s history.
Located in an old cannery, BMI has exhibits on
various types of manufacturing and industry from
the early 20th century.
The galleries re-create parts of a cannery, a garment
loft from 1900, a machine shop from 1900, a print shop,
Dr. Bunting’s Pharmacy (where Noxzema was invented),
as well as exhibits on the Baltimore food industry
(including McCormick, Domino Sugar, Esskay).
The BMI is also home to the Baltimore, the oldest
surviving steam tugboat and a National Historic
Landmark.
Guided tours of the museum cover the four main
galleries and are an hour long.
In addition to the general museum tour, groups
can also request a one-hour specialized tour.
History Alive tours can include a belt-driven machine
shop, a blacksmith’s shop, an oyster cannery, a
print shop, a garment loft and a pharmacy.
Trip Down Memory Lane tours may include the
following galleries: Communications/Bendix, BGE
Home Store, Print, Transportation and Cannery.•

In a world that is always on, thanks to
the digital revolution putting everything
right at our fi ngertips, it can be easy to
forget about the surrounding beauty .
At Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely,
groups can unplug and connect with nature.
“Groups love coming here because
it brings out the need for nature to balance
ourselves,” said Ginna Tiernan,
adult program
coordinator at
the arboretum.
“It’s important
for serenity and
to reconnect
with the natural
world.”
Adkins Arboretum
is
situated on 400
acres with fi ve
miles of paths
through forests,
meadows and
wetlands. It features
more than
600 species of native shrubs, trees, wildfl
owers and grasses.
“We are unique because we don’t
bring in special trees or plants. We showcase
native nature, which is disappearing.
Part of our mission is land stewardship,”
Tiernan said.
The diverse habitat also makes it an
ideal birding site.
The arboretum is open year-round;
Natural wonderland
Adkins Arboretum connects with nature
its busiest months are May, June, September
and October.
“Migration season in spring and fall is
very popular with people,” Tiernan said.
“But it depends on interests. Last winter,
groups came out and snow-shoed here.”
Guided one-hour tours can be reserved
by groups of 10 or more. An arboretum
docent naturalist leads groups through
the bottomland forest along the Blockston
Branch, the
Tuckahoe Valley
Trail, the Tuckahoe
Creekside
path and South
Meadow and
Nancy’s Meadow.
These walks
can be more
specialized as
well, since many
of the docents
are experts in
Photo: Adkins Arboretum
Adkins Arboretum is situated on 400 acres
of forests, meadows and wetlands in Ridgely.
Photo credit: Go Ape!
various subjects.
Another
variation to the
guided walk is to
reserve the Nature and the Underground
Railroad program. The arboretum provides
information about the little-known
historical relationship that exists between
the natural world and the escape
route slaves took to fi nd their freedom.
A program for groups is the Soup and
Walk event. Offered every month, typically
on the third Saturday, it can be reserved
for any other day of the week with
Reader Service Card #399
Celebrating
MARYlAnD
advance notice and for groups of 15 or
more. It starts with a guided walk and
fi nishes with a healthy meal.•
Adkins Arboretum
(410) 634-2847, ext. 27
www.adkinsarboretum.org
America’s Heritage
A Place for all Seasons
www.carrollcountytourism.org
1-800-272-1933
Convenient to Gettysburg,
Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Reader Service Card #399
Take a walk on the wild side - or swing through
the wild side - of Montgomery County!
Try one of our treetop adventure courses with
ziplines, ropes and challenges at The Adventure
Park at Sandy Spring and Go Ape!
VISITMONTGOMERY.COM | 877-789-6904
February • March • April
101

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
102
MARYlAnD
From tragedy comes progress
The National Museum of Civil War Medicine examines
how battlefi eld medical practices shaped today
The American Civil War is
considered the bloodiest war
in United States history.
It is estimated there were
1.03 million casualties, including
roughly 750,000
military deaths in the Civil
War. That exceeds the total of
American fatalities in all U.S.
wars combined from the Revolutionary
t o Vietnam .
When the Civil War began
in 1861, there were no medical
procedures or practices to
deal with the disease and the
massive injuries caused by
industrial warfare.
One man, however,
changed the course of battlefi eld medicine
forever. Known as the “Father of
Make us your base for tours
to Baltimore, Washington,
DC and Gettysburg.
Great Attractions for Groups:
• Brand new state-of-the-art visitor center
• Group-friendly historic Downtown dining
• National Museum of Civil War Medicine
• Nat’l Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
• Antiques and eclectic boutique shopping
• Three historic covered bridges
Suggested Itineraries:
• Saints and Sinners Tour
• The Frederick Wine Trail
• Regional Civil War Sites
(1–3 days)
More info contact Becky Bickerton,
Sales Mgr at (800) 999-3613,
or visit www.frederickgroupplanner.org
Reader Service Card #195
Photo: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Most surgeries during the Civil War were amputations and took place in a fi eld hospital.
Modern Battlefi eld Medicine,” Dr. Jonathan
Letterman put into place procedures
and systems so effective they are
still used currently.
To remember and honor all the medical
advances during the Civil War, The
National Museum of Civil War Medicine
opened in 2000 in Frederick.
The museum covers 7,000 square feet
on two fl oors with more than 1,200 artifacts.
It features fi ve galleries focusing
on life in a U.S. Army camp, evacuation
of the wounded from the battlefront, a
fi eld dressing station, a fi eld hospital and
military hospital ward.
One of the largest issues was getting
wounded soldiers off battlefi elds quickly.
Reader Service Card #524
Letterman started the fi rst
ambulance corps, a modifi ed
wagon that carried trained
stretcher-bearers, kettles,
lanterns, beef stock, bed
sacks and medical supplies
to promptly rescue wounded
soldiers.
To tackle proper treatment
of the wounded, Letterman
instituted an evacuation system
that consisted of three stations:
a fi eld dressing station
on or next to the battlefi eld;
a fi eld hospital located close
by, usually in homes or barns
where emergency surgery
could be performed; and a
hospital away from the battlefi eld providing
facilities for long-term treatment.
“The story we tell is really about the
soldier’s experience,” said David Price,
the museum’s director of strategic initiatives.
“It is a story of care and healing,
courage and devotion amidst the death
and destruction of war. As well as a story
of major advances that changed medicine
forever.”
It takes about hour to walk through
the museum on a self-guided tour. Docents
are available and groups can arrange
for one in advance.
Highlights include the Camp Life gallery,
which features a lot of artifacts on
how soldiers passed time: cooking kits,

card and dice games.
“The only surviving Civil War surgeon’s
tent is in that gallery and is set up
like it would have been,” Price said. “That’s
the No. 1 favorite for most people.”
Another popular exhibit is the amputation
scene in the field hospital gallery.
“Our mission statement is, ‘divided
by conflict, united by compassion’ because
we’re telling such a human story;
civil war medicine touched every soldier.
What people realize when they visit
START EXPLORING TODAY!
aqua.org | 410-576-3833
is out of something so horrific, came
medical benefits that are still used today,”
Price said.
A popular add-on option for groups
is a visit to Pry House Field Hospital
Museum. It is 26 miles from the museum,
located in the historic Pry House on
the Antietam Battlefield, which served as
both Union Commander Gen. George
B. McClellan’s headquarters and Letterman’s
headquarters during the battle.
Groups can arrange for a step-on
FOLLOW US:
Why travel the globe?
It’s all at America’s Aquarium!
— Marco LeMonde
World’s Savviest Explorer
800.343.3468 x7090 | baltimore.org
121283_VISIT_7.25x2.25_Banner.indd 1 9/20/12 3:26 PM
Reader Service Card #477
guide to join them from the museum to
the Pry House Museum.•
The National Museum of Civil War Medicine
(301) 695-1864, ext. 17
www.civilwarmed.org/national-museumof-civil-war-medicine/visit-us
Pry House Field Hospital Museum
(301) 695-1864
www.civilwarmed.org/pry-house-fieldhospital-museum/visit-the-pry-house
ONE OF THE TOP TEN
SCIENCE CENTERS IN THE US
—PARENT’S MAGAZINE
Outer Space. Dinosaurs. The Human Body. Three levels
of hands-on fun in a please touch environment.
Planetarium presentations, IMAX films, and national
touring exhibitions round out your visit. Touch wonder.
MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER
at Baltimore’s inner harbor
Call for Group Rates 410.545.5962
601 Light Street, Baltimore MD 21230
www.marylandsciencecenter.org
February • March • April
103

Itinerary
New Jersey
GO
Morristown
SEE
Acorn Hall
(973) 267-3465
http://acornhall.org/
visit-us.html
Macculloch Hall Historical
Museum and Gardens
(973) 538-2404, ext. 10
www.maccullochhall.org
Morris Museum
(973) 971-3710
http://morrismuseum.org/
wordpress/group-tours
EAT
Pazzo Pazzo
(973) 898-6606
www.pazzopazzo.com
Blue Morel Restaurant
and Wine Bar
(973) 451-2619
www.bluemorel.com
ASK
Morris County
Tourism Bureau
(973) 631-5151
http://morristourism.org
104
Known as the “Military Capital of the American
Revolution,” Morristown was important because of
its strategic role in the United States’ battle for independence
from Great Britain in the late 18th century.
Morristown and Morris County remain rife with
sites of historical importance to this day.
With this one-day tour explore Morristown’s historic
sites and museums to gain insight into its revolutionary
place.
MORNING
Excite the mind and enhance your understanding
and enjoyment of the arts at Morris Museum.
Formerly the home of the Frelinghuysen family,
whose New Jersey
lineage dates back to
the 1700s, the museum
unveiled a new
exhibition titled “Musical
Machines & Living
Dolls: Mechanical
Musical Instruments
and Automata from
the Murtogh D. Guinness
Collection” in a
4,300-square-foot gallery.
Items on display in-
clude cylinder phonographs,
nickelodeons
and player pianos.
Other areas of the
‘Military Capital of the
American Revolution’
Morristown highlights heritage and history
Photo: Freeney
museum’s distinguished collection include costumes
and textiles, fi ne art, decorative art, dolls and toys,
natural science, geology, paleontology and anthropology.
Guided tours are available and can be customized
to meet specifi c interest or educational needs.
Free docent-led gallery tours on the galleries are
also available most Wednesdays and Thursdays.
LUNCH
Enjoy lunch in downtown Morristown, which has
more than 75 restaurants with international cuisine
options.
For fi ne dining, try Pazzo Pazzo — an Italian restaurant
and bar serving regional cuisine in a trendy
setting.
If you’re looking for something more casual, grab a
bite at Blue Morel Restaurant and Wine Bar. By combining
the seasonal ingredients from local, regional,
Macculloch Hall’s Thomas Nast exhibit illustrates the
six presidential campaigns from 1864 through 1884.
organic and sustainable farms, Blue Morel creates a
true farm-to-table experience serving New American
cuisine, sushi and a seafood raw bar.
AFTERNOON
Head to Acorn Hall and experience its mid-Victorian
splendor.
The residence is furnished primarily with pieces
from the Schermerhorn and Crane-Hone families,
supplemented with signifi cant objects from other
prominent families. Carpeting, wall covering and
decorative paint techniques remain as they were in
the 19th century.
Currently on display is “Over Here and Over
There: Morris County’s
Role in World War II,”
exploring the contributions
of Morris County
residents to World War
II.
Acorn Hall and the
Exhibit Galleries at
Acorn Hall are open for
one-hour group tours
by appointment. There
are also gardens and a
gift shop.
The last stop of your
group’s Morristown
tour is Macculloch Hall.
Built in 1810, the
Federal-style mansion
of more than 20 rooms was home to George Macculloch
(best remembered as the Father of the Morris
Canal) and fi ve generations of his descendants.
The museum features a collection of 18th- and
19th-century decorative and fi ne arts and is home to
the largest collection of works by political cartoonist
Thomas Nast.
End the day with a stroll behind Macculloch Hall
through gardens.
Groups of 10 are more must schedule a guided
tour of the museum and historic gardens in advance.
ETC.
For groups who wish to continue their tour, several
historic house museums are within a 10-minute drive
of Morristown: The Stickley Museum at Craftsman
Farms, The Willows at Fosterfi elds Living Historical
Farm, The Ford Mansion at Morristown National
Park, Schuyler-Hamilton House and Willow Hall.•

C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Powering
history
Paterson Great Falls
National Historical
Park helps
revitalize city
The newest U.S. national park preserves
the Passaic River’s Great Falls,
whose Paterson waters were once harvested
to power manufacturing during
the industrial revolution.
Since opening Nov. 7, 2011, as the
397th park operated by the National
Park Service, Great Falls has spurred interest
in Paterson, a city with a deep history
to accompany the 77-foot waterfall.
“For the fi rst time in a long time, especially
with the (arrival of the) National
Park Service, there’s a good feeling in
town,” said Robert Veronelli, curator of
Photo: National Park Service
The Great Falls of the Passaic River once fueled
the industries of the industrial revolution.
the Paterson Museum who is in his 17th
year. “There are bright things on our horizon.”
The museum is overseeing tours of
Paterson Great Falls National Historical
Park.
In addition to providing interpretive
services, the Paterson Museum encompasses
a main site and the Great Falls
Historic District Cultural Center.
At the main museum site, work is un-
SC_Chamber_GroupTourMag_7.25x4.75_FINAL.pdf 1 12/18/12 4:41 PM
Reader Service Card #562
nEW JERsEY
der way to update the mineral room and
refresh the exhibit dedicated to the Lenni
Lenape Native Americans who once lived
along the falls.
Groups in parties of up to 40 people
can arrange for guided tours with at least
three weeks’ notice.
The tours include a walk through the
exhibits, seeing selected artifacts and an
introductory video.
At the national park, docents lead
groups through the Great Falls Historic
District Cultural Center. Then, as long
as it’s not too icy or cold, tours continue
with a walk along the bridge crossing the
Great Falls, Veronelli said.
An outdoor interpretive exhibit at the
falls overlook is expected to open in late
summer.•
Paterson Museum
(973) 321-1260
www.patersonmuseum.com
Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
www.nps.gov/pagr
February • March • April
105

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
106
n EW JERs EY
Bird’s-eye view
Springtime flies in as peak migration season on Cape May Peninsula
For groups looking to embrace the
outdoors, Cape May boasts shoreline,
scenery and feathered wildlife.
Because of its configuration and location
on the southernmost tip of New
Jersey, Cape May Peninsula is a major
stopover spot for migrating shorebirds
and wading birds, including red knots,
ruddy turnstones, sanderlings and semipalmated
sandpipers
The birds’ arrival also coincides with
horseshoe crab spawning season.
From May to June during the full
moon high tides, millions of female
horseshoe crabs come ashore to lay more
than 100 tons of eggs.
The shorebirds arrive along the bay
right when female horseshoe crabs come
to shore to spawn. Much of the red knot
population gathers on Delaware Bay
beaches in May to stuff themselves on
the eggs before continuing their flight
Reader Service Card #511
Photo: HJHipster via Flickr/CreativeCommons
A tri-colored heron plies through water at Cape May
Point State Park in Cape May.
north. The concentrations of shorebirds
and breeding horseshoe crabs can be
seen along the bay from North Cape May
to Fortescue, Maurice River and other
points in Cumberland County.
Bird enthusiasts can also visit Cape
May Bird Observatory in Goshen.
Founded in 1975, the New Jersey
Audobon Society-operated observatory
conducts research, encourages conservation
and organizes educational and
recreational birding activities. It operates
the Center for Research and Education in
Cape May Court House and Northwood
Center in Cape May Point.
While Northwood Center has limited
hours, the Center for Research and Education
is open seven days a week.
Cape May Bird Observatory offers
programs and activities led by its naturalists
and staff.
Reader Service Card #189
Walks, boat tours and workshops are
offered through its School of Birding.
Walk tickets are available at a discount
for groups of 10 or more. The
workshops are year-round on topics including
photography and birding songs.
Additionally, there are specialty programs
and field trips focusing on species
identification and migration and tours
outside the Cape May area.
The 36th annual Cape MAYgration
Shorebird and Horseshoe Festival is May
16 to 19. Events include guided walks at
Belleplain State Forest in Woodbine,
Cape May Point State Park in Cape May
Point and Higbee Beach in Cape May;
birdwatching; boat tours; and workshops
and programs.•
Cape May Bird Observatory Center
for Education and Research
(609) 861-0700, ext. 11
Northwood Center
(609) 884-2736
www.birdcapemay.org
Cape MAYgration Shorebird
and Horseshoe Festival
(609) 884-2736
Cape May County Department of Tourism
(800) 227-2297
www.thejerseycape.com
Cumberland County Tourism and Recreation
(856) 453-2184
www.co.cumberland.nj.us/content/
171/9367.aspx

Plugging
into
Edison
West Orange,
Menlo Park
sites showcase
legendary inventor
Thomas Edison National Historical
Park preserves the inventor’s West Orange
laboratories and Glenmont Estate.
Out of the labs came the motion picture
camera, phonographs, sound recordings,
silent and sound movies and
the nickel-iron alkaline electric battery.
An Ohio native, he was an inventor
and businessman whose 1,093 patented
inventions included the electric light
bulb. He died in 1931 at the age of 84.
Visiting groups can explore the 21-
WHERE
EVERYTHING
CAN LEAD TO
ANYTHING.
STAY CONNECTED
nEW JERsEY
For information contact Heather Colache at 609.449.7151 or hcolache@accva.com
Reader Service Card #441
Photo: Ken Lund
The laboratory complex at Thomas Edison National Historical
Park in West Orange highlights the inventor’s heyday.
acre Llewellyn Park site. Inside the complex,
see the Invention Factory, a 20-minute
orientation fi lm; watch The Great
Train Robbery, a 1903 silent movie; visit
Maria, Edison’s movie studio; and check
out the three-story main lab known as
Building 5. Offered daily are ranger-led
tours, including one with a phonograph
demonstration.
Glenmont features a 29-room Queen
Anne-style mansion. Tours are by reser-
vation only Friday, Saturday and Sunday
morning. Edison bought the home in
1886 with his second wife, Mina Miller
Edison; he had six children.
The park’s recommendation is for
groups of 30 or less people. A fee is
charged and there are not group rates.
Edison’s fi rst lab was in what is now
Edison Township. The Thomas Edison
Center at Menlo Park fetes his early inventions,
with a museum and memorial
tower at the lab’s 36-acre former site in
Edison State Park. Efforts are under way
on park restorations, including plans for
a new museum.
Group visits to the museum, open
Thursday to Saturday, must be arranged
at least a week ahead. There is no charge,
but donations are suggested.•
Thomas Edison National Historical Park
(973) 736-0550, ext. 33
www.nps.gov/edis
The Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park
(732) 549-3299
www.menloparkmuseum.org
February • March • April
107

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
108
n EW JERs EY
Government in action
State House and governor’s mansion offer New Jersey insights
Government. Politics. Policies. Legislation.
Bills. Statutes.
The United States of America was
founded on these principles and they
continue to affect daily lives.
The state of New Jersey has been involved
with important events since the
Colonial era.
During the Revolutionary War, New
Jersey was one of the 13 colonies that
revolted against the British, and several
pivotal battles were fought on New Jersey
soil. Five New Jersey members of the
Continental Congress signed the Declaration
of Independence.
Today, groups can explore New Jersey
sites that are rich in history and remain
very much a part of present-day affairs.
The New Jersey State House, located
in Trenton, houses the New Jersey Senate,
New Jersey General Assembly, as well
as offices for the governor and lieutenant
governor and several state government
departments.
It is the second oldest state house in
continuous legislative use in the United
States.
Groups of 10 or more can reserve private
tours of the State House and must
be made one month in advance.
Docents escort visitors through the
building explaining its history, art and
architecture, as well as explaining about
the legislative process and the people
who work there.
A typical tour begins in the historic rotunda
space where guests learn about the
Photo: Jim Bowen
Built in 1792, the New Jersey State House is the second
oldest building in the U.S. in continuous legislative use.
Capitol’s evolution from a simple rubblestone
structure built in 1792 to the grand
architectural monument of today.
In the Governor’s Reception Room,
groups can find portraits of recent governors,
including Gov. Christopher J.
“Chris” Christie and the podium used
for signing legislation into law and making
public addresses.
Other stops include the Senate and
Assembly chamber galleries and the party
conference rooms.
Tours are about an hour in length,
but longer and more in-depth tours can
be requested.
Groups with special interests in art
and architecture may tour the adjacent
SCIENCE Adventures!
• Visit the NYC region’s largest hands-on science
center, located next to the Statue of Liberty
• Try 100’s of exciting hands-on exhibits about health,
energy, skyscrapers, communication, and more.
The fun never stops! Call 201-253-1310
222 Jersey City Boulevard Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ
Reader Service Card #598
State House Annex. The annex tour lasts
about an hour and is available only by
appointment.
The cafeteria offers a spot to grab a
bite, with a grill, deli and salad bar. Group
reservations are required for lunches.
Twenty minutes away in Princeton is
Drumthwacket, the official residence of
the governor of New Jersey.
Visiting groups are led through the
six public rooms that the governor uses
for meetings and receptions: the center
hall, dining room, parlor, music room,
library and governor’s study.
Additionally visitors can view the solarium,
which leads to Drumthwacket’s
gardens.
Visitors can walk through the gardens
and visit the Olden Farm House, the restored
farmhouse on the property home
to the gift shop and Drumthwacket
Foundation.
Groups of 15 or more can reserve
times on Wednesdays and should be
made at least a week in advance. While
tours are free, donations are suggested.•
Drumthwacket
(609) 683-0057, ext. 3
www.drumthwacket.org/visit.html
New Jersey State House
(609) 847-3150
www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/
visiting_guided.asp
New Jersey State House Cafeteria
(609) 777-4308
Avatar the Exhibition
February 16 - May 19

Soothing and scintillating
Saratoga Springs bursts with entertainment,
dining, spa and gaming options
A splendid group tour opportunity awaits in Saratoga
Springs, known for its horses, mineral springs,
restaurants and shopping.
Located minutes from Albany, it’s the perfect destination
for relaxing in the luxurious mineral baths or
fi nding excitement on the racetrack.
DAY ONE
Welcome to your Saratoga Springs hotel, where
Victorian history blends seamlessly with today’s comforts.
Begin with lunch.
After, your group’s step-on guide will lead a historic
tour of the city, encompassing the natural spring
waters, the who’s who of the city’s founders and socialites,
the unique architecture of some of more than
1,000 buildings on
the National Register
of Historic Places
and the horse
racing history and
culture that helped
shape the area.
Enjoy an evening
at Saratoga
Casino and Raceway,
where you
can try your luck
at games of chance,
enjoy a dinner,
watch harness racing
or enjoy a show
at Vapor Nightclub.
DAY TWO
After breakfast, hit the road.
Options are endless. Take a backstretch tour at the
Oklahoma track — the training track of the Saratoga
Race Course. Go on a trip through the Adirondacks,
ending at the Lake George Steamboat Company for
a narrated lunch cruise on Lake George. Visit a local
horse farm for a tour of where the horse racing life
cycle begins. Stop in at a retired thoroughbred farm to
meet and nuzzle with retired horse racing stars.
Stop at a Saratoga restaurant for lunch. Or grab
box lunches and enjoy a guided tour of Saratoga National
Historical Park’s Saratoga Battlefi eld — site
of the Battle of Saratoga and a turning point of the
Revolutionary War.
Top off the day with a visit to one of many museums,
such as Saratoga Automobile Museum, New
York State Military Museum, National Museum of
Racing and Hall of Fame or the National Museum of
Dance.
Begin the evening at Saratoga Winery with a tasting
of locally-made wines and the option to stay for a
meal and evening entertainment.
Rather head downtown for a night on your own?
Take advantage of the restaurants while browsing
locally-owned independent galleries, shops and boutiques.
DAY THREE
Enjoy a light breakfast.
The tour starts with a Victorian-style tea at the
Batcheller Mansion Inn with costumed character
guides.
Continue the Victorian theme with an indulgent
mineral bath, an
Photo: Stock Studios Photography/ www.stockstudiosphotography.com
authentic must-do
Saratoga experience.
Or how about
hopping a train?
After breakfast,
travel to the Saratoga
Springs Train
Station to board the
Saratoga & North
Creek Railroad. Enjoy
a ride to picturesque
Adirondack
Park — whether
to enjoy the spring
and summer
Saratoga has many local eateries offering an array of cuisine choices. blooms,the fall colors
or to take the
snow train to Gore Mountain — with several stops
and attractions on the way.
Your motorcoach meets your group in North
Creek for its trip home.
Depending on timing, your group might also try
these seasonal activities:
• Throughbred racing, with breakfast and a behind-the-scene
tour.
• A perfomance of the Philadelphia Orchestra and
New York City Ballet or rock, pop and country music
shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
• Festivals such as Victorian Streetwalk, Saratoga
ArtsFest, Chowderfest, Restaurant Week, Jazz
Fest, Saratoga Food and Wine Festival, All American
Fourth of July Celebration and First Night.
• Theater and musical productions throughout the
year.•
Itinerary
New York
GO
Saratoga Springs
SEE
Saratoga Casino
and Raceway
(518) 581-5750
http://saratogacasino.com
Saratoga Winery
(518) 584-9463
www.thesaratogawinery.com
Vapor Nightclub
(518) 581-57725
www.vapornightclub.com
DO
Lake George
Steamboat Company
(518) 668-5777
www.lakegeorgesteamboat.
com
Saratoga and
North Creek Railway
(518) 252-1035
www.sncrr.com
ASK
Saratoga Convention
and Tourism Bureau
(855) 424-6073
www.discoversaratoga.org
109

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
110
n EW Y o R k
Reader Service Card #151
Reader Service Card #281
Nature’s
sweetest
crop
Madava Farms
casts itself as
culinary destination
While Madava Farms is home to
Crown Maple Syrup, there’s a lot more
on the 800 acres than just maple trees.
“What we are doing is creating a culinary
and nature destination in the Hudson
Valley,” said Sherri Darocha, director
of tourism and programming. “(We aim
to produce) quite possibly the purest
syrup on Earth.”
Along with the forest of 25,000
century-old sugar and red maples, the
Dutchess County farm near Dover
Plains has a six-acre chef’s garden that
grows rare varieties of produce, trails
winding through a stunning setting and
the chance to taste, dine and learn about
syrup and maple sugar production.
Photo: Madava Farms/Crown Maple Syrup
Crown Maple Syrup is an organic maple syrup produced
and bottled at Madava Farms in Dover Plains.
Madava Farms, owned by Robb and
Lydia Turner, started syrup production
in 2010 and had its first maple harvest in
2011.
The chef garden was new in 2012, and
plans are to add an orchard this year with
several varieties of trees including apple,
pear and plum, Darocha said.
Sweet and pure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture-

Photo: Madava Farms/Crown Maple Syrup
A group mixes and awaits dinner after touring Madava Farms’ Crown Maple Syrup artisanal processing center.
certifi ed organic syrup is so pure because
it spends a very short time going from
tree to barrel. It is bottled on-site at the
27,000-square-foot sugar house soon after
it is taken from maple trees.
The goal is to elevate maple as a culinary
ingredient, Darocha said.
The process of making syrup is always
exciting because of the outcome,
she said. While always sweet, mapley and
delicious, a sophisticated palette can detect
different fl avors. Colors range from
light to dark amber.
“Every batch is going to have a different
taste,” Darocha said. “The exciting
thing about being a sugar maker is you
get to taste the effects of the environment
in the syrup immediately. … If you get a
dark amber on a Wednesday, it can taste
completely different than on a Thursday.”
Though many have theorized, she
said the reason for the different hues remains
unknown. Light amber tends to
have a more buttery taste; medium has
hints of almond and caramel and dark
has a robust fl avor.
“That’s a good part of the fun,” she
said. “Nature is going to give you something
different every day.”
An educational process
Tour groups learn about the environmental
conditions affecting the sweet
natural crop, the path from tree to sugar
house and are given a behind-the-scenes
look at the equipment. They then enjoy
a three-stage culinary maple tasting, including
pairing with other ingredients.
Groups can opt to include a farm-to-
table lunch at The Farm Stand, Madava’s
eclectic eatery and market, with their
tasting.
Each week’s menu features seasonal
ingredients from Madava’s rustic chef’s
garden and other local farm partners.
Madava also offers craft brews and wine.
The farm has 10 miles of trails, providing
picturesque views for active
groups.
Tours can be customized to include
many different options, including cook
demonstrations or outdoor garden explorations.
Madava is worthy of return trips, Darocha
said.
“There are so many avenues to explore,”
Darocha said.
It’s a place where groups will want to
come again and again.”•
Madava Farms
(845) 877-0640
www.crownmaple.com
BRONX
HISTORICAL TOURS
6 Hour Bus Tour to
Little Italy or Little Ireland
including Licensed Tour Guide,
Multi-Course Lunch at a
Neighborhood Restaurant
www.mcnytours.com
or call 1-877-333-3414
Special Price for Group Tours
Reader Service Card #525
MCNY 2.5 new.indd 1 9/24/2012 11:46:37 AM
tHE pEarl
travEl inn
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nEWton
nEW YoRk
Reader Service Card #525
When a choice
has to be
made,
EmpirE
HotEl Group
will make it
easy for your
group.
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Great locations
from uptown
to midtown...
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make the
right choice...
Call Empire Hotel Group Sales
212.695.7171
www.newyorkhotel.com
Reader Service Card #525
February • March • April
111

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
112
new york
O’Keeffe in Lake George
Exhibition showcases area’s influence on iconic painter’s works
While looking out at the terrain flourishing
with life, artist Georgia O’Keeffe is
said to have drawn inspiration from Lake
George.
Though she’s not typically associated
with the area, O’Keeffe and her husband,
Alfred Stieglitz, lived in the town of Lake
George part of the year from 1918 to the
1930s. The beauty of the area is reflected
in some very recognizable pieces, and it
was there she started her flower imagery.
“O’Keeffe found inspiration in the
region’s subject matter and respite in
the bucolic setting, enjoying long walks
through the wooded hillsides and hikes
up Prospect Mountain to take in the
spectacular view of the lake,” according
to a release from The Hyde Collection.
The Hyde Collection, based in Glens
Falls, is presenting “Modern Nature:
Georgia O’Keeffe and Lake George” from
June 14 to Sept. 15.
Photo: The Hyde Collection
The Hyde Collection will present works
by Georgia O’Keeffe in 2013.
“This exhibition is going to be very
important to the Hyde, probably the
most important we’ve had,” said Alice
Grether, director of marketing and communications
for The Hyde Collection.
The exhibit will consist of more than
50 oils, watercolors and pastels from var-
Reader Service Card #590
ious collections.
Visitors can also see a world-class collection
of artwork that spans 6,000 years.
The Hyde Collection opened in 1963 as
the legacy of collectors Charlotte Pruyn
Hyde and her husband, Louis Fiske Hyde.
The Hyde Collection includes 3,300
pieces that span the history of western
art. The permanent collection does not
include an O’Keeffe.
The general group fee for docent
tours is $6, and $8 during the O’Keeffe
exhibit. There is no charge for the driver
and escort.•
The Hyde Collection
(518) 792-1761, ext. 27
www.hydecollection.org
Visit Lake George
(800) 958-4748, ext 143
www.visitlakegeorge.com

The Met
at its best
Metropolitan
Museum of Art’s
reach covers
millennia
If it happens somewhere in the world
— somewhere in art history — it is represented
at the Met.
That is one of David Filipiak’s favorite
descriptions about the breadth of
what lies within the huge Metropolitan
Museum of Art, home to a permanent
collection of nearly 2 million pieces.
Its presence in New York City is immense.
The 2 million square-foot museum,
founded in 1870, stretches along
Fifth Avenue and Central Park between
80th and 84th streets, so there’s ample
space for the recent bump in visitors, said
Filipiak, tourism marketing manager.
The Met is always running a handful
of special exhibits simultaneously, more
than 30 per year.
However, the permanent collection
including art from all over the world, is
always breathtaking, awe-inspiring and
incredibly informational, he said.
“The permanent collection presents
the best of human creativity around the
world,” Filipiak said.
The collection spans more than 5,000
years, representing everything from ancient
Egyptian art to contemporary and
modern works.
The New American wing opened in
January, having been closed for renovations
for four years.
The collection of American art is
considered one of the fi nest and most
comprehensive in the world. One of the
most popular pieces is the 12½-by-21foot
Washington Crossing the Delaware,
by Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze.
Another always-popular attraction is
the ancient Egyptian wing, the Temple of
Dendur.
A new installation on the secondfl
oor balcony surrounding the Great
Hall features more than 300 examples
from the museum’s extensive collection
of Chinese ceramics.
There are several impressive current
and upcoming special exhibits.
“Matisse: In Search of True Painting,”
runs through March 17, showcasing 48
paintings by French artist Henri Matisse.
The museum’s new director-led audio
tour provides visitors the opportunity
to see the museum at their own pace.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art welcomes millions each year.
N e w Y o r k H a r b o r
Statue of Liberty
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reduced rateS on
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daiLy departureS froM South Street Seaport
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www.circlelinedowntown.com | 212.742.1969 | www.nywatertaxi.com
Reader Service Card #604
Photo: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The group rate for the audio tour is $4
per person.
Groups of 10 or more tour operators
receive special rates. Dining packages are
available.•
Metropolitan Museum of Art
(212) 570-3711
www.metmuseum.org
February • March • April
113

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
114
n EW Y o R k
Setting
the stage
Geva Theatre Center
sets bar as
Rochester’s leading
professional theater
A beautiful setting for a group gathering
and productions ranging from comical
to profound have helped set Geva
Theatre Center as Rochester’s leading
professional theater.
“We have been around for 40 years
and we are the most attended regional
theater in the state. We attract about
160,000 patrons each year,” said Dawn
Kellogg, communications manager.
The nonprofit Geva Theater Center
produces month-long plays and musicals
for the 552-seat Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage
theater and the 180-seat Ron and
Donna Fielding Nextstage.
“Our production values here are just
amazing,” she said.
Since 1997, Geva Theatre Center has
produced 15 world-premiere productions.
While any performance makes for a
great group experience, one to bet on annually
is A Christmas Carol, which runs
the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas,
Kellogg said.
Upcoming shows at the Mainstage
SEE OVER
101
SIGHTS!
3 HOUR, 2 HOUR
AND 75 MINUTE CRUISES
CLIMATE-CONTROLLED VESSELS
SAILS YEAR ROUND
888-354-9024 • CIRCLELINE42.COM
PIER 83, WEST 42ND ST. & 12TH AVE., NYC
Reader Service Card #120
Photo: Ken Huth
The Geva Theatre presents a spectacular line up each
year. A scene from the production of Sweeney Todd.
include The Book Club Play, Feb. 19–
March 24; and The Whipping Man, April
2–28.
From May 8 to June 2, William Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is
expected to draw lots of group interest.
The Nextstage, a more casual venue,
offers a lineup of contemporary shows.
The center, located in a 150-year-old
historic building originally built as an arsenal,
provides a great setting with ample
open space. It has also served as an influenza
hospital and the city’s main concert hall.
“It’s a great place to have a party,” Kellogg
said.
At Geva Theatre Center, parties of
10 or more can save up to 35 percent off
regular ticket pricing. Additional amenities
can include backstage tours, talkbacks
with the cast, a complimentary
ticket for group organizers, priority seating,
private reception options, and promotional
materials.•
Geva Theatre Center
(585) 232-1366
www.gevatheatre.org

Curtains are up on the 2013 Broadway
season in New York, with a host of
new musicals opening one after the other
like daisies popping up in spring.
A classic musical is making its Broadway
debut in Richard Rodgers’ and Oscar
Hammerstein II’s Cinderella. A theatrical
favorite, Laura Osnes leads the cast
in the title role. With an updated book
by Douglas Carter Beane, the musical
promises to be a hilarious and heartwarming
show for all.
The much anticipated London transfer
of the musical adaptation of Ronald
Dahl’s 1988 children’s novel, Matilda,
is set to make its way to Broadway this
spring. The story is about an extraordinary
little girl who changes the lives of
those around her, and the production
starts performances in early April.
Hands on a Hardbody is a new musical
based on the 1997 documentary of the
same name. The piece details 10 hardluck
Texans participating in a contest to
win a chance at the American dream and
a new lease on life. The production is to
begin performances in early March.
Harvey Firestien, Cyndi Lauper and Jerry
Mitchell make their returns to Broadway
as the creative team behind the new musical
Kinky Boots. The musical tells about a
young man who inherits his father’s struggling
shoe factory, and the unlikely friendship
helping him turn it around.
Motown, another new musical set to
begin in spring, charts Berry Gordy’s
journey from featherweight boxer to the
heavyweight music mogul who launched
the careers of Diana Ross & the Supremes,
Michael Jackson and The Jackson
5 and many others.
New musicals debuting
Spring is in the air as Broadway gears up
By Group Sales Box Offi ce/Broadway.com
The dark and dangerous love story
Jekyll & Hyde returns to Broadway in
early April, and stars Tony Award nominee
Costantine Maroulis and Grammy
Award nominee Deborah Cox.
There are plenty of other new shows
on the way to Broadway joining a stellar
line up that includes the revival of Annie;
sultry Chicago; nostalgic Jersey Boys;
Gershwin-fi lled Nice Work If You Can
Reader Service Card #473
Artwork: ©iStockphoto.com/edge69
Get It; upbeat Mamma Mia!; high-fl ying
Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark; Disney
hits Mary Poppins, Newsies and The Lion
King; Roundabout Theatre Company’s
The Mystery of Edwin Drood; and megahits
Once and The Book of Mormon.•
Group Sales Box Offi ce/Broadway.com
(800) 276-2392, ext. 2
www.broadway.com/groups
Artwork: ©iStockphoto.com/Veena Mari
February • March • April
115

Itinerary
Pennsylvania
GO
Laurel Highlands
SEE
Flight 93
National Memorial
(814) 893-6322
www.nps.gov/fl ni
Rockwood Mill Shoppes
and Opera House
(814) 926-4546
www.rockwoodmill
shoppes.com
Quecreek Mine Rescue Site
(814) 445-5090
www.9for9.org
Saint Vincent College
(724) 532-5030
www.stvincent.edu
Frank Lloyd Wright’s
Polymath Park Resort
(877) 833-7829
www.polymathpark.com
EAT
DiSalvo’s Station Restaurant
(724) 539-0500
www.disalvosrestaurant.com
Greendance, The Winery
at Sand Hill
(724) 547-6500
www.greendancewinery.
com
ASK
The Laurel Highlands
Visitors Center
(800) 333-5661, ext. 108
www.laurelhighlands.org
Spring Spring 2013 • • GroupTour.com
116
Timeless treasures
Laurel Highlands celebrates life’s gems and visionaries
There are few places one can travel to and fi nd special
offerings found nowhere else. That versatile place,
the Laurel Highlands, in the mountains and valleys
of southwestern Pennsylvania, is the perfect place to
experience treasures of yesteryear and today.
DAY ONE
Arrive in the afternoon.
Begin with lunch at Tree Tops Restaurant, located
several miles off the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Tree Tops is a family home converted to a restaurant
among the trees to refl ect architect Frank Lloyd
Wright’s infl uence at Polymath Park Resort.
The visionary here is Tom Papinchak. Even the
chairs at the restaurant
are of
Papinchak’s design
refl ecting Wright’s
infl uence.
Then, tour
some Wright-designed
homes. The
Duncan House is
the newest addition
to the collection
in the Laurel
Highlands. Transported
piece by
piece to the region,
the house is one of
Wright’s fi rst prefabricated
designs
Photo: Courtesy of The Laurel Highlands
The Flight 93 Memorial Chapel is located three miles from the Sept. 11, 2001,
crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville.
and was rebuilt near two houses on this same property,
designed by Wright’s apprentice, Peter Berndtson.
With Duncan House, you may also visit the Blum
and Balter houses.
Next, a sweet treat awaits at Greendance, The Winery
at Sand Hill. This is a double treat, as the Berry
Farm at Sand Hill prepares a special dessert of pie and
ice cream or home-baked goods. Enjoy a tasting at the
winery.
Dinner options depend on where you choose to
lodge. Options range from fabulous resorts to quaint
inns or those hotels you know so well.
DAY TWO
Arrive at Compass Inn Museum, where you will
embrace “history with a smile” using word origin
phrases. Experience life in the day of this historic
stagecoach stop along Route 30, the Lincoln Highway
Heritage Corridor.
Depart for Fort Ligonier to view young George
Washington’s original memoirs, portrait and gifted
saddle pistols.
Next, go to nearby Ramada Ligonier for a Colonial
feast, served with the best of hospitality. Costumed
staff and entertainment add to the delicious meal.
Stroll just a block and a half to more than 60 specialty
shops lining the streets of Historic Ligonier.
Embrace the atmosphere in the center of town, the
Bandshell on the Diamond. Walking-shopping maps
are available from the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce.
Take a look back to the days of the Titanic. The
Antiochian Village Heritage Museum offers the exhibit
“Titanic Exhibit: Unique and Untold Stories”
through Feb. 23, 2014.
At Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, visit the Fred
M. Rogers Center.
Rogers, who grew up
in Latrobe and died
in 2003 at the age of
75, was host of PBS-
TV’s Mister Rogers
Neighborhood.
The college’s Foster
and Muriel Mc-
Carl Coverlet Gallery
Collection of more
than 400 coverlets
includes “fi gured
and fancy” designs
seen nowhere else in
the United States and
gifted to the college.
All aboard for the
historic landmark train station restaurant, DiSalvo’s
Station Restaurant.
Return to your lodgings of choice.
DAY THREE
Arrive at a National Park Service site near Shanksville,
the Flight 93 National Memorial. Pay respects to
those who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.
Visit the Flight 93 Chapel and view the marble
obelisk monument dedicated to the United Airlines
Flight 93 crew in the Heroes Garden.
Eat lunch at one of several nearby restaurants before
visiting the Quecreek Mine Rescue Site, where in
July 2002 nine trapped miners were rescued. A new
welcome center holds artifacts including the actual
yellow rescue capsule and clothing from the miners.
Cap off the day at Rockwood Mill Shoppes and
Opera House. Meet visionary Judy Pletcher, who created
this little gem in the community’s former mill.
When refurbishing, she found the old opera house at
the back of the second fl oor where she now offers a
buffet dinner and entertainment.•

PEnnsYlvAniA
Simply wonderful
Indiana County gems span movie star museum, Amish and Christmas
In Indiana County, Jimmy Stewart
will forever declare: “It’s a wonderful
life.”
Located in the foothills of the Allegheny
Mountains, just an hour east of
Pittsburgh, Indiana County is the place
for destinations linked to the 1940s movie
star, to seek the perfect Christmas tree
and for a look into Amish life, said Penny
Perman, executive director of the Indiana
County Tourist Bureau.
Tours include the Meet Our Famous
Neighbor itinerary which takes groups
through the Jimmy Stewart Museum.
The tour also includes Stewart’s birthplace,
childhood home and the church
his family attended.
Groups often request a Jimmy Stewart
impersonator to join them for lunch
or to mingle during the tour.
Another tour option includes Smicksburg
Amish area, home to more than 300
Photo: Courtesy of Indiana County Tourist Bureau
Indiana County is known as the
Christmas tree capital of the world.
Amish families.
Our Amish Smile: A Day in Smicksburg
tour includes shopping at local
pottery and homemade craft shops; a
narrated Amish wedding feast including
food served Amish-style; a drive through
the community; a visit to largest winery
in the county, Windgate Vineyards and
Winery, and a stop at a Windgate An-
EXPERIENCE OUR SEASONAL SPLENDOR!
Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands is ready seasonally to
welcome your group tour! Embrace the beauty of our
landscape as well as the beautiful spirit of our people.
Contact Linda Mauzy, Group Sales Manager,
to start creating your meaningful journey.
724-238-5661 | 800-333-5661 x 108
Reader Service Card #544 Reader Service Card #130
tiques and Art Gallery.
Indiana County lays claim to being
The Christmas Tree Capital of the World,
because of its many tree farms.
The It’s a Wonderful Life tour is offered
year-round. In addition to the
Jimmy Stewart sites, it includes a visit to
Fleming’s Christmas Tree Farm, where
groups will choose the perfect tree and
later decorate it at a holiday party and
enjoy a traditional Christmas dinner.
“It’s Christmas all year here in Indiana
County, Pa.,” Perman said.
The most popular tour combines
plain and fancy. The Hollywood Glamour
and Amish Simplicity itinerary combines
the Stewart locales with the Amish
sites.•
Indiana County Tourist Bureau
(877) 746-3426
visitindianacountypa.org
www.grouptours.laurelhighlands.org
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Pennsylvania
Urban
bright
‘City of Murals’:
Arts program paints
up Philadelphia
GT-Co-Op-Feb-Mar-Apr-2013_Layout 1 1/7/13 11:45 AM Page 1
Experience one of
the nation’s greatest
cultural destinations
215-684-7863
philamuseum.org/groupvisits
With more than 3,500 outdoor murals
to be found across Philadelphia, visiting
groups are never far from public art.
The reason for that is the City of Philadelphia
Mural Arts Program.
Started in 1984 as a way to combat
graffiti and spun off as a separate entity
in 1997 under the leadership of current
executive director Jane Golden, the effort
is the largest such program in the U.S.
The Mural Arts Program creates between
50 and 100 indoor and outdoor
the the museum museum of of we we the the people
people
142 GS Group Tour Magazine Ad_Sept.2011_FNL.indd 1 9/15/11 10:35 AM
Step Step inside. inside. Be Be inspired.
inspired.
Book Today! 215.409.6800 or groupsales@constitutioncenter.org
INDEPENDENCE MALL | PHILADELPHIA | CONSTITUTIONCENTER.ORG
Reader Service Card #419
murals annually, helping transform
urban blight into urban bright in the
process. The program also shares about
those efforts through group tours, special
offerings and educational outreach.
These are not everyday murals, with
some being rolling art on vehicles. A
typical mural costs $25,000 to $30,000
to produce, said Jennifer McCreary, the
program’s communications director.
The most expensive done to date is
How Philly Moves, which cost $470,000.
discoverPHL.com
Coming Soon
THE 1968 EXHIBITION
June 14 – September 2, 2013

The mural is the largest created in the
U.S., covering about 85,000 square feet
on Philadelphia International Airport’s
parking garages and was done by local
artist Jacques-Jean “JJ” Tiziou.
Meanwhile, Dutch artists Jeroen
Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn did a yearlong
residency to muralize a commercial
corridor of Germantown Avenue in the
2500 to 2800 blocks at the intersection of
Lehigh Avenue in north Philadelphia.
Their eye-catching palettes for the
Reader Service Card #419
100-or-so-building project were patterns
of recurring vibrant primary and
secondary hues reflecting the neighborhood.
Done in conjunction with
Philadelphia Department of Commerce,
Philly Painting was dedicated in December,
McCreary said.
As the program hits its restoration
phase for some murals, it is finding people
not wanting their art changed, Mc-
Creary said. “With the neighborhood art,
… the community is taking a great deal
P E nnsY lvA niA
The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program offers
trolley tours to explore the city’s public art.
of ownership in what’s there,” she said.
Guides lead regularly- and specially-scheduled
trolley, walking, bicycle,
Segway and public transit tours, telling
how the murals were made and detailing
about them and their locales.
Most public tours are April through
November, with private and custom
tours offered year-round, McCreary said.
Mural Mile walking tours allow
strolling Center City’s Mural Mile with
or without a host to see the city through
its public art lens. The tours take 1½ to
2 hours, with self-guided treks possible
with a downloaded audio tour or on-site
audio touring, McCreary said.
Love Letter Train Tours take place
aboard Southeastern Pennsylvania
Transportation Authority trains with a
guide to see 50 renowned murals comprising
the Love Letter project.
The open-air trolley tours, for groups
of up to 25, visit different Philadelphia
neighborhoods each week.
Specialty tours includes the Ale and
Arts Adventure, with a stop at a microbrewery;
African American, including
ones this month to mark Black History
Month; and Murals & Meals, which include
lunch at a restaurant with special
presentations by the host chef.
Reservations for tours, which all have
fees, are necessary. Group bookings must
be made at least two weeks in advance,
McCreary said. •
City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
(215) 685-0754
www.muralarts.org
Photo: Rusty Kennedy for Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corp./
© City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program
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P E nnsY lvA niA
On track
Taking a ride in
greater Reading
Set in a valley surrounded by mountains
and the Schuylkill River, greater
Reading is the place to hit the trails, visit
an outlet shop or browse for antique
treasures.
Reader Service Card #552
Reader Service Card #226
The Berks County area is an affordable
home base for groups as a huband-spoke
location for day trips to Gettysburg,
Lancaster County and other
destinations.
“One of the things that is really wonderful
is our location,” said Lisa Haggerty,
marketing manager for the Greater
Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We are so close to three major metropolitan
areas: New York City; Wash-
ington, D.C.; and Philadelphia.”
Reading is known for The Pagoda,
which has sat atop Mount Penn for more
than a century.
The seven-story structure was built
to serve as a luxury resort, but never
opened as one. It was sold to the city for
$1 in 1911 and has served as a signature
landmark ever since. It now houses a
cafe, offers group tours and rentals and
hosts special events. The view extends all
the way to Philadelphia.
Another interesting structure is
Stokesay Castle, inspired by a 13th-century
English castle, offers fine dining, a
Knight’s Pub and events.
The Reading area also boasts opportunities
in the arts and popular heritage
festivities.
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts is
located in a former goggle and safety
glass manufacturing plant. More than
30 artists showcase exhibits in three galleries.
Visitors can see artists at work, art
shows and a glass-blowing studio and
watch a film in a 130-seat theatre.
Photo: Courtesy of Greater Reading CVB
The annual WWII Weekend recreates a village
at Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, in Reading.
World War II Weekend, the first weekend
in June, is a huge draw for visitors at
the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum who come
to see the recreated World War II village,
planes and air show.
Each year during the first week of
July, Greater Reading hosts the Kutztown
Folk Festival, a nine-day celebration of
Pennsylvania Dutch culture including

quilts, food and animals.
It lays claim to being the
oldest folk life festival in
America, with more than
60 festivals come and enjoyed.
Highlights include
the huge quilt sale, demonstrations
of traditional
crafts by 200 juried
American craftsmen,
folk-life demonstrations,
historic re-enactments,
antiques, traditional music
and dancing.
Koziar’s Christmas
Village also has a huge
draw when groups come
during the Christmas season to see the
indoor and outdoor displays and to visit
the old-fashioned bakery and yuletide
scenes.
Christmas Village began with William
M. Koziar decorating his home in
1948. Every year, he added a little more,
turning a home into a village.
The area is also known for its antique
Photo: Courtesy of Greater Reading CVB
People explore the subterranean wonderland of Crystal Cave.
stores.
Another draw is VF Outlet Center,
with brand name and designer outlet
stores. The center opened in 1970 on
the site of the former Berkshire Knitting
Mills, which once was the world’s largest
hosiery mill and became known as the
best place to buy Vanity Fair brand lingerie,
sleepwear and robes.
Reader Service Card #187
P E nnsY lvA niA
Other group tour options
include Crystal
Cave. Discovered in 1871,
the cave encases spectacular
stalactites, stalagmites
and formations. The
Boyertown Museum of
Historic Vehicles exhibits
antique and classic motor
and horse-drawn vehicles
built in southeastern
Pennsylvania.
The Sovereign Center,
home to the Reading
Royals’ East Coast Hockey
League team, hosts events
from music concerts and
touring Broadway productions
to sports.
Trails include the PA Dutch, Haunts
and Hedges, Bridges, Hex Barn Art and
Wine and Hops.•
Greater Reading Convention
and Visitors Bureau
(800) 443-6610
www.readingberkspa.com
February • March • April
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P E nnsY lvA niA
Getting
your Bucks
worth
County offers wide
range of options
Taste the wine and cuisine, explore
the shops and gain a sense of Pennsylvania
culture in Bucks County.
History, scenic beauty and some of
the country’s best wineries converge in
Bucks County, an area where exploration
can include everything from castles to
hip downtowns to sites tied to the birth
of the United States.
Located less than an hour north of
Philadelphia and less than two hours
from New York and Lancaster County,
Bucks County is dotted with lovely
towns rich in culture, art and outdoor
attractions, said Paul Bencivengo, Visit
Photo: Reflections by Ruth Photography
Group tours are available at Fonthill, which was built by archaeologist Henry Mercer.
Bucks County’s marketing and communications
director.
A charming place to start is Doylestown
complete with restaurants, history, architecture,
culture and quaint shopping.
Home to the Historic County Theater,
which opened in 1938 and still plays films
both old and new, the streets of Doylestown
are lined with shops and boutiques.
Exploring castles may seem like a European
experience, but it’s also possible
Discover where arts, culture and industrial history intersect.
in Doylestown. The Mercer Museum is
located in a six-story concrete castle featuring
50,000 artifacts representing 60
early American trades.
Henry Mercer, an archaeologist, artifact
collector, tile-maker and designer
who left a major mark on the community,
designed the castle.
Mercer designed two other poured
concrete structures: Fonthill, Mercer’s
home; and the Moravian Pottery and
Lehigh Valley is a perfect place for group tours. You’ll find plenty of unique venues including the industry-inspired Sands ®
Casino Resort Bethlehem
featuring a luxurious new hotel, an events center and plenty of entertainment and dining. About a minute away, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks provides an amazing year-round assortment of arts, entertainment and culture – everything from live shows to glass-blowing and more. Beyond
thriving venues, Lehigh Valley offers a wide range of affordable dining, lodging and fun-filled activities.
To request a free Group Tour Planner, call 1-800-MEET-HERE or visit DiscoverLehighValleyGroups.com.
Reader Service Card #198
The tour pauses for a
photo of Galway Bay.

Tile Works. A Mercer Mile package is
available for groups to tour all three.
Handmade tiles are still produced at
Moravian Tile Works, which is maintained
as a working history museum.
The James A. Michener Art Museum,
also in Doylestown, hosts rotating exhibits
of Impressionist artists from Pennsylvania.
Self-guided and docent-led tours
are available of the permanent collection,
special exhibits and outdoor sculpture.
Photo: Anthony Sinagoga Photography
The Mercer Museum contains artifacts in a six-story castle.
As far as U.S. history goes, Bucks
County has ties to the beginning.
The famous painting Washington
Crossing the Delaware, by Emanuel Leutze,
is based on the event that occurred
in what is now Washington Crossing
Historic Park, when Gen. George Washington
conducted a surprise attack on
the Hessians in 1776. A newly renovated
visitors center is joining the mix
For another historic angle, Pearl S.
Buck House, just outside Doylestown in
Hilltown Township, is the historic house
museum of the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizewinning
author Pearl S. Buck.
Situated on 68 acres, the national
historic landmark site features gardens,
walking trails, greenhouses, seasonal
exhibits, restored barn, gift shop and
Buck’s gravesite.
In Morrisville, Pennsbury Manor,
William Penn’s 17th-century country
estate, stands along the Delaware River.
The reconstructed, 43-acre plantation,
abounding with country life, offers special
programs, workshops and demonstrations
are offered throughout the year.
A unique shopping destination, Peddler’s
Village, in Lahaska, features nearly
70 quaint shops on 42 acres of landscaped
gardens and brick walkways.
Groups can enjoy an on-site spa, stay at
the cozy Golden Plough Inn and enjoy
many festivals.
Enjoy a chardonnay or sangria at
Chaddsford Winery at Peddlers Village,
which offers tastings of Pennsylvania regional
and seasonal wines.
To explore the area’s vintners further,
follow the Bucks County Wine Trail includes
Valley Vineyards, Crossing Vineyards
& Winery, New Hope Winery, Peace
Valley Winery, Rose Bank Winery, Rushland
Ridge Vineyards, Sand Castle Winery,
Unami Ridge and Wycombe Vineyards.
Brandywine Brandyw yw y ine
River Museum
brandywinemuseum.org
PHOTO CREDIT:
Rick Echelmeyer
delart.org
PEnnsYlvAniA
Discover the heart of Philadelphia’s countryside
featuring magnificent gardens, renowned museums,
unique tours and more!
hagley.org
www.BrandywineValley.travel
d
Reader Service Card #133
Bristol Riverside Theatre, in Bristol
Borough, located in a renovated movie
house; and Sellersville Theatre is a live
music and comedy venue in Sellersville.
The Bucks County Playhouse, in New
Hope, located in a former gristmill, has
welcomed many stars since 1939.
Bucks County Convention
and Visitors Bureau
(215) 639-0300
www.visitbuckscounty.com
longwoodgardens.org
QVCTours.com
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PEnnsYlvAniA
Immigrant
roots
University of
Pittsburgh
Nationality Rooms
refl ect city’s heritage
Reader Service Card #247
Reader Service Card #247
life’s greater in the
pocono
mountains
Walking through the Nationality
Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh is
like a trip across the globe.
And each country on the journey has
ties to west Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh was built by people representing
diverse nationalities, and their
heritages are refl ected in the 29 rooms
that exemplify the city’s roots.
Planning of the rooms, the brainchild
of John Gabbert Bowman, chancellor
after World War I, dates back to the late
1920s when the area had a rich population
of fi rst-generation immigrants.
Located on the fi rst and third fl oors in
the dramatic Gothic Revival tower on the
university’s main campus, the Cathedral of
Learning, each room is a result of private
committees representing the many ethnicities
that were instrumental in developing
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.
Rooms represent heritages including
Czechoslovakian, Italian, German, Hungarian,
Polish, Irish, Lithuanian, Romanian,
Swedish, Chinese, Greek, Scottish,
Yugoslav, English, French, Norwegian,
Russian, Syrian–Lebanese, Japanese, Armenian,
Early American, African Heritage,
Israel Heritage, Ukrainian and Welsh.
The Korean Room is scheduled to
open sometime in 2014, and explorations
are under way for an Iranian Room.
Rooms are designed with artifacts,
architecture, furniture and other items
to refl ect a certain period and aspects of
each nation’s culture. All serve at the same
time as classrooms for the university.
The fi rst rooms, German, Swedish,
Scottish, Austrian and Early American,
opened in 1938.
Jane-Ellen Robinet, editor of the Pitt
Chronicle, said it is a signifi cant under-
Call 800-722-9199 or visit
800Poconos.com/GroupTour
to plan your next getaway.
Photo: University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms
include the Turkish Room.
taking for a community group to open
a room.
“It’s a very thriving program in that
the room number continually grows and
there are a couple of community groups
that are working on even more rooms,”
she said.
Community groups raise anywhere
from $250,000 to $500,000, depending
on the room’s size and complexity.
University students serve as docents
for guided tours, offering information
on the rooms and the history of the
Cathedral of Learning is included. Selfguided
audio tours are also available.
The Christmas season, when each
room is decorated for the holiday according
to the seasonal customs of the
country it represents, is a very popular
time for tours.
Guided group tours are $4 per adult
and are available for groups of 10 or
more. Reservations must be made two
weeks in advance. Group tours booked
when school is in session can only visit
available rooms not in use for classes.•
University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms
(412) 624-6000
www.nationalityrooms.pitt.edu
Reader Service An early-morning Card #247 mist gives an eerie feel to the graveyard at Rock of Cashel.

Civil War to civil rights
D.C. off ers a journey from the war against slavery
to the fi ght to end segregation
As the capital of
the United States,
Washington, D.C.,
is a city that is rich
in history both past
and present. It is a
city that has seen
states engaged in a
civil war and a nation
demanding a
truly equal country.
On this threeday
tour of D.C.,
you will tour the
museum at Ford’s
Theatre to learn the
story behind Lincoln’s
fateful visit, stroll Georgetown, home to Union
and Confederate sympathizers during the war, and
visit the graves of presidents and civil rights leaders at
Arlington National Cemetery.
DAY ONE
Begin with breakfast at the Willard InterContinental,
where Lincoln stayed prior to his inauguration,
and where civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr. wrote his “I Have a Dream” speech.
Freedom Plaza, located opposite the hotel, honors
King’s legacy.
Walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to the National
Archives. Scan records of Civil War soldiers and learn
more about the establishment of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
It’s here that Alex Haley conducted the research
that led to his landmark work, Roots.
Groups of 15 people or fewer may reserve a regular
guided tour, and groups of 20 or more may schedule
a timed-entry visit.
From there, it’s a short walk to Ford’s Theatre.
Tour the museum that tells the story behind Lincoln’s
fateful visit in 1865, and listen in on a rangerled
interpretive program. Follow John Wilkes Booth’s
escape route near 9th and F Streets. Several daytime
programs are available to groups of 15 or more
Have dinner at a D.C. classic like The Occidental
or Old Ebbitt Grill, and then go to the Kennedy Center,
which memorializes president John F. Kennedy by
celebrating his passion for the arts. A minimum of
20 people is required for the group rate and a special
post-performance reception can be arranged.
End your day with a moonlight visit to the Lincoln
Memorial.
Photo: Kevin Burkett
The Lincoln Memorial includes a sculpture of President Abraham Lincoln
and inscriptions of two well-known speeches by the president.
DAY TWO
Start with a
morning visit to
Arlington National
Cemetery. View
the graves of John
F. Kennedy and
civil rights leader
Medgar Evers.
A memorial
to Confederate
Gen. Robert E. Lee
is located inside
his hilltop family
home, Arlington
House.
The cemetery’s
southern section
was once known as Freedmen’s Village and served as
a home for freed and fugitive slaves during and following
the war.
Afterward, stop at the National Museum of American
History. All tours are self-guided.
Next, head to the National Portrait Gallery and
Smithsonian American Art Museum for a light lunch
in the courtyard cafe. The two museums share a National
Historic Landmark building in downtown
Washington, D.C.
Take the Metro to the Arts District/U Street/Shaw
neighborhood. Near the U Street Metro station, discover
the African American Civil War Memorial, honoring
the members of the U.S. Colored Troops that
fought for freedom.
Duck in to Ben’s Chili Bowl for a chili half-smoke
and join the diverse crowds to take in the nightlife on
D.C.’s historic “Black Broadway.”
DAY THREE
After a warm, hearty breakfast, pay a visit to Cedar
Hill, the historic home of abolitionist, statesman and
Lincoln confi dante Frederick Douglass.
The nearby Anacostia Community Museum tells
the story of this fascinating neighborhood.
Spend the afternoon at President Lincoln’s Cottage,
the retreat where Lincoln spent the summers of
1862, 1863 and 1864. It is also where he penned pieces
of the Emancipation Proclamation.
For your last night, take an evening stroll through
Georgetown, D.C.’s oldest neighborhood. Georgetown
was home to both Union and Confederate sympathizers
during the Civil War. Stop for a bite to eat at
a sidewalk cafe or along the scenic waterfront.•
Itinerary
Washington, D.C.
Washington D.C.
GO
Washington, D.C.
SEE
Anacostia Community
Museum
(202) 633-4844
http://anacostia.si.edu
National Archives
(877) 559-6777
www.archives.gov/nae/visit/
reserved-visits.html
National Museum
of American History
(202) 633-1000
http://americanhistory.si.
edu/visit
National Portrait Gallery
(202) 633-1000
www.npg.si.edu
Smithsonian American Art
Museum
(202) 633-8550
http://americanart.si.edu/
visit/tours
DO
Ford’s Theatre
(202) 638-2367
www.fords.org/groups
Kennedy Center
(800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org
President Lincoln’s Cottage
(202) 829-0436
http://lincolncottage.org
ASK
Destination DC
(800) 422-8644
www.washington.org
125

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
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WAs H inGTon, D.C.
For the city of Washington
D.C., the blossoming cherry trees
symbolize spring’s arrival.
In March 1912, Tokyo Mayor
Yukio Ozaki donated 3,000 cherry
trees in an effort to enhance the
growing friendship between the
United States and Japan and to
celebrate the close relationships
between the two nations.
Today, the tradition carries on
through the National Cherry Blossom
Festival.
“Tokyo’s gift inspired the biggest
springtime celebration, so this
season is very celebratory,” said Danielle
Piacente, communications manager for
the festival. “Not only does it mark the
beginning of spring, but we are always
keeping in mind the idea of friendship.”
The three-week, four-weekend festival,
which runs March 20 through April
14, features events centered on traditional
and contemporary arts and culture,
natural beauty and community spirit.
While primary festivities take place in
and around D.C., other events take place
in neighboring Maryland and Virginia,
Piacente said.
The cherry blossom trees currently
grow in three National Park Service locations:
around the Tidal Basin in West
Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park
Cherry blossoms surround
the Jefferson Memorial
on the Tidal Basin
during the spring.
In full bloom
National Cherry Blossom Festival
fetes U.S. friendship with Japan
Photo: National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade features
vibrant costumes and blossom-inspired decor.
(Hains Point) and on the grounds of the
Washington Monument.
Groups can enjoy a picnic on the
grounds or take a free tour with a National
Park Service sranger and learn
about the history of the cherry blossom
trees and more.
Cherry blossom boat cruises, Japanese
art tours and guided city tours are
fun activities and offer a different perspective
on the festival. All are available
during the festival; most can be booked
through independent companies.
Hundreds of other activities and special
events are free, including the opening
ceremony, Blossom Kite Festival and
Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival.
Sakura Matsuri is a street festival
Photo: Terry Adams
celebration of Japanese culture.
Stretching six blocks, visitors can
watch modern and traditional Japanese
performances while perusing
the wares of more than three
dozen vendors, sampling traditional
Japanese foods and participating
in Saki tastings.
Another major highlight is the
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Parade on April 13, a Saturday.
Decorated floats, colorful helium
balloons, marching bands, clowns,
horses, antique cars and military
and celebrity performances entertain
spectators for two full hours.
Groups of 10 or more can purchase
tickets for the grandstand bleachers, located
along the parade route between 7th
and 9th streets or 15th and 17th streets.
For an additional fee, groups can purchase
Sakura Matsuri tickets along with
parade tickets.
Washington’s Cherry Picks program
was started last year.
“The restaurants all serve cherryinspired
dishes throughout the entire
festival. Last year, over 100 restaurants
participated,” Piacente said.•
National Cherry Blossom Festival
(202) 789-7056
www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

2011 & 2012
best outdoor
venue
Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C.
summer 2013 shows
on sale now!
Bill Cosby * Celtic Woman *
Rock of Ages * and ManY More!
www.wolftrap.org
Washington, D.C.
groupS Save! 703.255.1851
groupSaleS@wolftrap.org
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/Veni
Reader Service Card #137
OPENING APRIL 12, 2013
JFK
Two new exhibits and an original
documentary will mark the 50th
anniversary of the assassination of
President John F. Kennedy.
Newseum
Washington, D.C. ● newseum.org
202/292-6690
The Newseum
proudly recognizes
Altria Group as a
premier sponsor.
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/drnadig

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
128
EASTERN CANADA
Délicieux Laval
Montréal’s next-door neighbor yields unexpected delights
A 20-minute drive from Montréal, Laval
has so much more going for it than a
great location.
The third largest city in Québec and
Montreal’s most important suburb is a
place of contrasts, a destination known
for its unique attractions. No other place
has quite the same combination of experiences.
Laval mixes a small-town feel with an
urban vitality. Natural wonders lie within
minutes of cutting-edge attractions celebrating
space travel and biotechnology.
For group tours, these elements come
together in delightful ways as well. Without
traveling for hours or extending a lot
of energy, groups can experience a getaway
with no equal.
It’s not magic or alchemy. It is Laval.
“Last October, group travel professionals
gathered in Laval for Bienvenue
Québec, a very important annual gathering
of the tourism industry. During their
By Amanda Black
stay, they had the opportunity to experience
Laval’s tourist offerings,” said Hélène
Vézina, Tourisme Laval director of communications.
Photo: Sylvain Majeau
Laval’s Les Serres Sylvain Cléroux produces
bountiful blooms for Québec.
Photo: Tourisme Laval
Fresh orchids grow tall under the protected
glass of Laval’s Paradis des Orchidées.
“You can watch the video (http://
youtu.be/FbfULvxLjGM) of the famous
mob dance featuring a group of talented
people. All this proves without any doubt
that there is always ‘More to Explore in
Laval’,” she said.
From the fi rst blooms of spring, deep
into the fall, Laval is bursting with beautiful
blooms, so much so that the island
has earned the nickname as the Flower &
Garden Capital of Québec.
Several of Laval’s most colorful sites
are more than happy to welcome groups.
The greenhouses of Les Serres Sylvain
Cléroux produce more annual fl owers
than any other in Québec. From there,
groups can follow La Route des Fleurs to
fi nd even more delightful sites and visit
the exotic Paradis des Orchidées, where
more than 700 varieties of orchids grow.
When Montréal’s urban denizens
are looking for a chance to connect with
nature, many of them make their way to

Laval — an island bordered by two rivers, the Mille-
Îles and Des Prairies.
There are few better places for riverside fun than
Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. The park covers 42
kilometers (26 miles). Groups have many options at
the park overseen by Éco-Nature, which recently celebrated
its 25th anniversary.
Some 20 of the park’s islands are open to visitors,
where they can picnic and watch for wildlife. There’s
also a visitors center and special activity packages
available just for groups.
The waterways of Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles
also invite explorers. With relatively calm conditions,
even beginners can enjoy paddling. A fl eet of Rabaska
boats, which accommodate up to 10 people each,
could head on tours.
Guided tours are also available on land. A network
of experts and costumed interpreters, Le Réseau
ArtHist offers thematic tours and theater productions
walking through Laval’s 330 years of history.
Two of Laval’s newest attractions are one-of-akind
in the region.
SkyVenture Laval-Montréal replicates the feeling
of a free fall without needing to board a plane with
its indoor recirculating vertical wind tunnel. Experts
ensure everyone in the group is safe and ready to have
some fun. Special rates are available for groups, with
further discounts the more participants involved.
At Maeva Surf, the forces of gravity meet the
winds and waves, creating one fun experience. Like
SkyVenture, the fun takes places in a warm and safe
environment.
Similar to surfi ng, fl owboarding brings the waves
to a controlled environment. The unique sport is
good for novices, with a Maeva Surf guide teaching
the essentials.
Laval offers the chance to delve deeply into science
from an interesting perspective.
Blessed with an abundance of fresh water, Laval
is prime for explaining the importance of water in
everyday life. Centre d’Interprétation de L’Eau (Centre
for the Interpretation of Water) includes exhibits,
multimedia presentations and a new interpretive trail
A group paddling adventure is one cool way to
enjoy a visit to Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.
along the banks of the Mille-Îles River.
In 2013, the museum is adding a headset system
with an audioguide in French and English. Docentled
tours are also available. Groups also can request a
visit to the adjacent municipal water treatment plant.
With a focus on the biosciences, Musée Armand-
Frappier introduces the unseen world at the core of
life. The museum’s namesake was a leader in research
and contributed much to the fi ght against infectious
diseases like infl uenza and tuberculosis.
Ontario
Exhibits include the MicroZoo, which introduces
the species of micro-organisms organized from the
most useful to the most harmful. Another exhibit explains
how everyday products, from cheese and yogurt
to vaccines and antibiotics, are affected by organisms
too small to be seen by the naked eye.
The Cosmodôme museum revamped its spacethemed
exhibits in December 2011, adding interactive
elements that send visitors on virtual missions to
the stars.
To round out any itinerary, Laval offers plenty of
places to eat, shop and sleep.
Laval’s chefs turn locally grown produce into refi
ned meals, and its vintners craft exquisite wines.
Table 51 is at once a chic urban restaurant and a
comfortable eatery. Under the guidance of executive
chef Alex Rolland, menus feature the freshest Québec
cuisine; only shrimp and ice cream arrive at Table 51
frozen.
Laval’s cuisine and fresh produce also informs the
menus — and delights diners — at Les Menus~Plaisirs
Restaurant-Auberge. Both restaurants feature extensive
wine lists.
For overnight accommodations, Laval offers a full
range of choices, including apartment rentals and
small inns to international brands. Its hotels offer
three- and four-star accommodations at affordable
rates.•
Tourisme Laval
(877) 465-2825
www.tourismelaval.com/en/#/tab/evenements
Photo: ©www.levesquephoto.com
Québec
Eastern
Canada
Ontario
Region
Labrador
New
Brunswick
Newfoundland
Prince Edward Island
Atlantic
Ocean
Nova
Scotia
Atlantic
Canada
130
Ontario
132
Québec
135
Québec
129
129

Itinerary
Atlantic Canada
GO
Bonavista, Boat Harbour,
Grand Bank and Fortune in
Newfoundland & Labrador
and France’s Miquelon
and St. Pierre islands
SEE
Bonavista Lighthouse
Provincial Historic Site
(800) 563-6353
www.seethesites.ca/thesites/cape-bonavistalighthouse.aspx
Burin Heritage Association
(709) 891-3255
Historic Port Union
(709) 469-2207
www.historicportunion
.com/en
Livyers Lot Museum
(709) 443-2580 (in season)
(709) 443-2550 (o season)
Mockbeggar Plantation
Provincial Historic Site
(800) 563-6353
www.seethesites.ca/thesites/mockbeggarplantation.aspx
Provincial Seamen’s
Museum
(709) 832-1484 (in season)
www.therooms.ca/psm
Ryan Premises National
Historic Site
(709) 468-1600
www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/
nl/ryan/index.aspx
ASK
Newfoundland & Labrador
Tourism
(800) 563-6353
www.newfoundland
labrador.com
130
‘Wooden ships and iron men’
Seafaring trek in Newfoundland
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill may
not have been the fi rst to use the words “wooden ships
and iron men,” but he used them to describe the small
boat fi shermen of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Fishing remains a way of life on Canada’s Atlantic
Ocean coast.
On this three-day tour designed by Newfoundland
& Labrador Tourism, explore Bonavista and
Grand Bank and more than fi ve centuries of seafaring
heritage.
DAY ONE
Start in Bonavista at
Ryan Premises National
Historic Site.
Open from mid-May
to mid-October, Ryan
Premises is a multi-building
complex that once
housed a major fi sh trading
company. Fishing is
an international business,
and cod fi sh caught near
Bonavista in Newfoundland
and along the coast
of Labrador were cured,
packed and shipped to
markets in Europe, South
America and the Caribbean.
Ryan Premises covers
all of Atlantic Canada, including
inshore fi sheries,
seasonal fi sheries in Labrador,
international trade
Photo: David Ooms
and seal hunting in the Retail and Fish stores. The Salt
Storehouse showcases the evolution of traditional
outport furniture, with an outport being any place
outside the provincial capital of St. John’s. The Proprietor’s
House is an art gallery, the third fl oor of the
Fish Store is a theatrical space and there is a gift shop.
Close by in the harbor is a replica of the Matthew,
the ship which John Henry Cabot sailed here from
Bristol, England, in 1497.
Bonavista remains a fi shing port, with its buildings
dating mainly from the 19th century. East of town is
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site,
with exhibits on the often solitary life of lightkeepers.
In Bonavista, Mockbeggar Plantation Provincial
Historic Site explores the life of a 19th-century outport
merchant family.
A half hour south of Bonavista on Discovery Trail
Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site is located
near Bonavista, Newfoundland & Labrador.
Route 230 is Port Union, a historic town founded in
the early 20th century by William Coaker.
He spent most of his life trying to improve the
working conditions and lives of fi shermen. Coaker
helped introduce a form of collective bargaining,
and he set up his own company to compete with
local merchants. He entered politics during World
War I, but was never able to bring in the reforms he
thought were necessary. His house and former offi ces
of the Fishermen’s Protective
Union are open to the
public.
DAY TWO
Head south on Heritage
Run Route 210.
At Boat Harbour, Livyers
Lot Museum showcases
an early 20th- century
fi sherman’s home.
Boat Harbour has several
Queen Anne-style homes
with widow’s walks, railed
lookouts where women
could watch for their fi shermen
husbands.
The next stop is Burin,
where Burin Heritage Association’s
museums detail
the 1929 tsunami that devastated
the town.
At Provincial Seamen’s
Museum in Grand Bank,
fi nd a collection of models,
paintings and photos
of the boats used in the fi shery.
Dories, western boats and sailboats are on display
at the museum.
Grand Bank is synonymous with the Grand Banks
fi shery, continental shelves 100 to 200 meters under
water where fi sh such as cod were plentiful until recent
times.
DAY THREE
In summer, passenger boats take visitors from
Fortune, near Grand Banks, to the French enclaves of
the Miquelon and St. Pierre islands about 20 kilometers
(12½ miles) away.
The trip is typically for a day or two for most passengers
to the islands, which are territories of France.
On the return trip, Americans and other non-
Canadians must clear customs in Fortune.•

Photo: Nova Scotia Tourism
The former French colony of Île
Royale is marking a milestone this year
three centuries in the making.
Louisbourg 300 is a grand fête marking
the 300th anniversary of the founding
of Île Royale, which today is Nova Scotia’s
Cape Breton Island, and the establishment
of Louisbourg as its capital.
France gained Île Royale when the War
of Spanish Succession was settled with the
Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 and Great Britain
was given control of mainland Nova
Scotia. During nearly fi ve decades of
French colonial rule, Louisbourg, named
after King Louis XIV, was a signifi cant
trade center in New France and became a
mélange of cultures until France lost it to
the British in 1758.
Parks Canada is planning celebrations,
with Fortress of Louisbourg National
Historic Site hosting major events highlighting
its diverse history. The fortress
is the largest reconstructed 18th-century
French fortifi ed town in North America.
Marking three centuries
in Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Island’s Louisbourg fetes
former French colony of Île Royale
CultureFête is a cultural fair in Louisbourg
from July 25 to 28. The event is to
re-create the bustling, multi-cultural, harborside
market atmosphere from the 18th
century with food, music, dance, stories
and songs.
Photo: Canadian Tourism Commission
LouisRocks runs from June through
October, with the sounds of many types
of music ranging from baroque to contemporary
in performances at Fortress of
Louisbourg.
The Louisbourg Regatta is a harbor
Historical re-enactors recast events and activities from the 18th century, including the 1758 siege of
Louisbourg, at Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island.
ATLANTIC CANADA
festival from Aug. 5 to 11.
Other events are part of Louisbourg
Celebrates, including a full-course 18thcentury
dinner made with local ingredients
and select wines with dining in
period costumes and lessons in baroque
dance; and Cocoa Fête, with chocolate’s
rich and fl avorful history shared at the
Fortress.
The fortress offers guided tours during
its peak season along with private guided
services with advance notice, and motorcoaches
are welcome. It is open from Victoria
Day (May 20) through Thanksgiving
(Oct. 14), and its peak season is July 1
through Labour Day (Sept 2).•
Fortress Louisbourg Association
(902) 733-3548
www.fortressofl ouisbourg.ca
Louisbourg 300
(902) 733-3501
www.louisbourg300.com
Photo: Nova Scotia Tourism
February • March • April
131

ONTARIO
Itinerary
Ontario
GO
Kingston
SEE
Agnes Etherington
Art Center
(613) 533.2190
www.aeac.ca
Fort Henry
(800) 437-2233
www.forthenry.com
Kingston Grand Theatre
(613) 530-2050
http://kingstongrand.ca
Military Communications
and Electronics Museum
(613) 541-4675
www.c-and-e-museum.org
DO
Kingston Walks
(613) 547-2099
www.kingstonwalks.com
ASK
Tourism Kingston
(866) 665-3326
www.tourism.kingston
canada.com
132
Kingston’s rich culture
Spend the day exploring a city steeped in history
A cultural retrospectives tour of Kingston showcases
the city’s uniquely Canadian heritage.
This one-day itinerary from Tourism Kingston
will take your group back to the building of a nation
when Kingston was the
fi rst capital of the Upper
Canada.
MORNING
Begin the day by
hopping aboard the
Confederation Tour
Trolley for a 50-minute
voyage into Kingston’s
historic past. View the
beautiful Lake Ontario
waterfront and
witness highlights of
Kingston’s limestone
heritage.
On weekdays from
May to October, you
Photo: Courtesy of Tourism Kingston
can stop in at Kingston City Hall for a guided tour of
this heritage site of architectural and historical signifi
cance and explore one of the fi nest 19th-century
municipal buildings in Ontario.
Tour the Bellevue House, a national historic site.
Built in the 1840s, it is a fi ne example of the Italianate
villa style and commemorates the life of Canada’s
fi rst Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.
AFTERNOON
After enjoying
lunch, visit the Agnes
Etherington Art Centre.
Exciting in its variety
and depth, the
permanent collection
of the AEAC is one of
the most notable in
Canada. Numbering
13,000 works, it is the
third largest among Photo: Courtesy of Tourism Kingston
provincial art galleries
in the size of its holdings,
ranking after the
Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Another option is to enjoy a walking tour. Introduction
to Kingston 101 is meant to give a compact,
A sculpture stands in front of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre,
which contains a permanent art collection.
A group feasts on Barrack’s Banquet at Fort Henry.
inexpensive look at the past and present of Kingston.
It will acquaint your group with the city’s beginnings,
fortifi cations and the powerful infl uence of
the refugees from the American Revolution, their
homes, ideas and infl
uence on the structure
of Canada.
Get connected and
explore the Military
Communications Museum,
which provides
an interesting look at
the history and development
of Canadian
military communications
from 1867 to the
present.
Now step back in
time and tour historic
Fort Henry, a National
Historic Site.
This majestic citadel
is eastern Ontario’s largest and most vibrant
heritage attraction. Costumed interpreters will lead
groups through an illustrious history as displayed in
museum rooms fi lled with artifacts.
EVENING
Enjoy a feast not to be missed with dinner at
Barrack’s Banquet. Savor history through food as
soldier servants serve
to your group 19thcentury
delicacies fi t for
offi cers of the Queen’s
Royal military.
On Wednesday evenings
in July and August,
experience Fort
Henry’s Sunset Ceremonies.
Witness the
pomp and pageantry of
the world-famous Fort
Henry Guard as they
perform both military
and musical maneuvers
topped off with a fi reworks
fi nale.
Add a haunted walk through the fort afterward,
if you dare.
Another option is to take in an evening of live
music or theater at the Kingston Grand Theatre.•

Setting
the stage
Shaw Festival season
entertains with plays
by iconic dramatists
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/han0747
A JOURNEY TO OZ LIKE NO OTHER
FORMERLY THE CANON THEATRE
NOW ON SALE THROUGH AUGUST 2013!
GROUPS 20+ SAVE UP TO 20%
CALL: 416-593-4142 1-800-724-6420
“There are only two things necessary
to Salvation. Money and Gunpowder.”
Intrigued? The line comes from
George Bernard Shaw’s play Major Barbara.
It is one of the Irish playwright’s
many witty and provocative musings to
go down in theater history.
The Shaw Festival Theatre for decades
has worked to preserve the legacy of Shaw,
who penned Pygmalion and other cherished
works.
ONTARIO
Toronto offers an incredible variety of attractions to please every member of your group.
Castle tours, world-class theater, quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake, charming St. Jacobs Country,
water adventures, fascinating museums, tours of Toronto’s famous structures, and elegant
accommodations all combine to create the perfect experience.
www.SeeTorontoNow.com
Photo Illustration for Arcadia: Emily Cooper | Design: KeyGordon.com
Client: SHAW FESTIVAL Publication: Group Tour Magazine Insertion Date: Nov 2012 Issue
W
Size: e 3.75 x 2 Contact: BRUCE@KEYGORDON.COM | Key Gordon Communications
h
a
v
e
F
U
N
D
o
w
n
T
o
a
s
c
i
e
n
c
e
!
Reader Service Card #298
770 Don Mills Rd
Toronto, ON M3C 1T3 Canada
www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca
Located in picturesque Niagara-onthe-Lake,
the Shaw Festival originated in
1962 and is going into its 52nd season
with productions now staged on four theaters.
The 10 to 12 plays each season include
two or three Shaw plays, productions by
other playwrights of Shaw’s era and “contemporary
Shavians” — writers whose
work, like Shaw’s, continues to question
the status quo in new and different ways.
continued on page 134
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JACKIE MAXWELL
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO
2013 SEASON APRIL 3 - OCTOBER 27
10 PLAYS IN FOUR THEATRES
INCLUDING THE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL
GUYS AND DOLLS, LADY WINDERMERE’S FAN,
ENCHANTED APRIL AND THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.
The Ontario Science Centre is one of
Toronto’s most visited cultural attractions!
Explore hundreds of interactive exhibits,
Ontario’s only IMAX ® Dome Theatre, and
daily live demonstrations.
Contact Group Sales for details about our
special tour rates, group meal voucher
program, unique performance spaces,
FREE bus parking and more!
Call 1.888.696.1110 or email
group.sales@ontariosciencecentre.ca to
book your group today!
13
1.800.511.SHAW SHAWFEST.COM
Member of: ABA, Attractions Ontario, OMCA, SYTA, Tourism Toronto, QBOA
February • March • April April
133

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
134
ONTARIO
continued from page 133
“We really are considered Canada’s tions, which drew national and interna-
leading contemporary theater company,” tional acclaim.
said Odette Yazbeck, the festival’s public The company’s other theaters include
relations director.
the 327-seat Court House Theater, locat-
Playwright Brian Doherty started the ed where the Shaw Festival began in 1962.
festival, viewing the environs of Niagara Each year, The Shaw leases the Assembly
and Shaw’s works as the perfect match. It Room in the historic Court House from
quickly grew in popularity and the 869- the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and inseat
Festival Theatre officially opened in stalls a theater in the space.
Niagara-on-the-Lake by Queen Elizabeth The 328-seat Royal George Theatre
II blackHistory_TWEPIChathamKent_ad_rev_Layout in 1973 allowing for large-scale produc- was 1 12-12-21 built in 1915 2:04 as PM an Page intimate 1 vaudeville
Experience Ontario’s
Underground Railroad
The Southwestern Ontario Underground Railroad Tour ‘The Road That Led to Freedom’
enables you to step into the paths, cabins, parks, churches and terminals that freedom
seekers used in their perilous escape from slavery. Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent
were major entry points for the fugitive slaves seeking freedom in Canada.
Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site
www.uncletomscabin.org
Buxton National Historic Site & Museum
www.buxtonmuseum.com
Chatham-Kent Black Mecca Museum
www.ckblackhistoricalsociety.org
Sandwich First Baptist Church
www.sandwichbaptistchurch.ca
John Freeman Walls Historic Site
and Underground Railroad Museum
www.undergroundrailroadmuseum.com
North American Black Historical Museum
www.blackhistoricalmuseum.org
visitck.ca | 1-800-561-6125
UNDERGROUND RAILROAD PACKAGE – FEBRUARY 20-22, 2013
Call and book today! Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island and Chatham-Kent Tourism would like to
offer tour operators and group leaders the opportunity to visit our Underground Railroad sites.
Package includes admission to all sites, three meals and accommodations. This package is
only available on Feb. 20-22, 2013 on a first-come, first-served basis. For package itinerary
and to book your spot, contact Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island at: 1-800-265-3633.
Visit www.visitwindsoressex.com for more information.
Reader Service Card #528
Book by
Feb.15,
2013!
house and acquired by the Shaw Festival
in 1980.
The 200-seat Studio Theatre, which
doubles as a rehearsal hall, is located in
the newly constructed Donald and Elaine
Triggs Production Centre attached to the
Festival Theatre.
“The level of professionalism you will
see is second to none,” Yazbeck said.
Discounted rates are available for
groups of 15 or more. Options include
pre- and post-show chats, backstage
tours, workshops and presentations. Onsite
dining options include picnic and
buffet lunches.
Photo: Illustration by Emily Coopler
The Shaw Festival presents Guys and Dolls this season.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake experience
can also include visits to the wine region,
which includes 20 wineries, lodging options
from Victorian-era bed and breakfasts
to five-star hotels and myriad dining
options.
The 2013 season includes Frank Loesser’s
Guys and Dolls, April 12 to Oct. 12 and
Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windemere’s Fan, May
9 to Oct. 19.
The Royal George Theatre lineup includes
W. Somerset Maugham’s Our Betters
and Shaw’s Major Barbara.•
Shaw Festival
(800) 511-7429
www.shawfest.com

Breathing in Montréal
Enjoying life in relaxation mode
Montréal can be summed up with a single word:
Relaxing.
Take a moment. Breathe. Enjoy life à la Montréal.
This fi ve-day itinerary by Tourisme Montréal
shares the places and things that make Montréal a
special place.
DAY ONE
Start with a three-hour Montréal city tour in either
morning or afternoon if you arrive later.
End the day with a dinner cruise on the St. Lawrence
River with Bateau-Mouche or AML Cruises. Or
see the city from on high with a meal at Le Tour de
Ville, a revolving rooftop restaurant
in Delta Centre-Ville; or
at Le Castillon restaurant atop
Place Bonaventure with French
cuisine and nearby gardens.
DAY TWO
Discover the romance of another
era in Old Montréal and
the Old Port.
After breakfast in a cafe lingering
over croissants and café
au lait, visit Pointe-À-Callière
and the Montréal Museum of
Archaeology and History.
Bicycles and rollerblades are
available for rent; Montréal on
Wheels has bike tours; and Lachine
Rapids Jet Boating and
Rafting Tours operates from
May to October.
Photo: Tourisme Québec
In the afternoon at Place Jacques-Cartier, have
lunch.
Walk it off by strolling along Saint-Paul Street.
Browse in the stores; and stop at Bonsecours Market’s
art galleries, designer boutiques and First Nation craft
shops.
Visit Notre-Dame Basilica, Château Ramezay Museum,
Sir George-Étienne Cartier National Historic
Site or Notre Dame de Bon Secours Chapel. Or take a
guided walking tour of Old Montréal.
In the evening, try some French cuisine at Restaurant
Chez Queux, Verses Restaurant or Bonaparte.
Or try French food with some entertainment on the
side at Le Saint-Gabriel, Le Cabaret du Roy or Balcon
Café-Théâtre.
DAY THREE
Head to downtown Montréal, which vibrates to a
world beat.
The Stewart Museum fetes a 19th-century fort
on Île Sainte-Hélène in Montréal.
In the morning, explore the 33-kilometer (20mile)
Underground Pedestrian Network, linking
eight shopping centers. Or stroll above ground on
Sainte-Catherine Street, Montréal’s main shopping
promenade.
In the afternoon, lunch along Sainte-Catherine
Street West or at an underground food court.
Then, head to Sherbrooke Street and visit Montréal
Museum of Fine Arts, McCord Museum of Canadian
History, Musée d’Art Contemporain de Montréal
and/or the Canadian Centre for Architecture.
Spend the evening drinking in the nightlife found
on Crescent Street. Or head to Place des Arts for the
symphony, opera or ballet.
DAY FOUR
Enjoy breakfast at St.-Viateur
Bagel & Café or Café El Dorado
on Mont-Royal Avenue.
Then, head atop Mount Royal
and Mount Royal Park. Just off
it is Plateau Mont-Royal, with
happening bars, restaurants and
cafes. Find boutiques and avantgarde
theater companies.
After lunch, head to Parc
Olympique Quebéc, site of the
1976 Summer Olympics. Ride
the glassed-in funicular cable
car to the top of Olympic Park
Tower Observatory Montréal
Tower. Visit the Biodôme, Botanical
Garden, Insectarium
and the new Rio Tinto Alcan
Planetarium opening in spring 2013 at Space of Life
Montréal.
Enjoy dinner along Prince-Arthur Street.
DAY FIVE
Head to Parc Jean Drapeau, comprised of Sainte-
Hélène and Notre-Dame islands in the St. Lawrence
River.
Visit the Stewart Museum at the 19th-century Fort
Île Sainte-Hélène along with Environment Canada’s
Biosphère and Six Flag’s LaRonde amusement park.
In the afternoon, head for the Lachine Canal for
bicycling, boating, kayaking, whitewater rafting or
hiking. There are also shops and a couple of public
markets.
In the evening, visit Casino de Montréal on Île
Notre-Dame and its four restaurants, 3,000 slot machines
and 120 gaming tables. It is Canada’s largest
casino.•
ONTARIO
Itinerary
Québec
GO
Montréal
SEE
Casino de Montréal
(514) 392-2746
www.casinosduquebec.
com/montreal/en
Mount Royal Park
(514) 843-8240
www.themountroyal.
qc.ca/en
Notre Dame Basilica
of Montréal
(866) 842-2925
(514) 842-2925
www.notredamebasilica.
ca/en
Parc Olympique Québec
(877) 977-0919
(514) 252-4737
www.parcolympique.
qc.ca/en
Space of Life Montréal
(514) 868-3000 (Biodôme)
(514) 872-1400 (Botanical
Garden and Insectarium)
http://espacepourlavie.
ca/en
Stewart Museum
(514) 861-8701
www.stewart-museum.org
ASK
Tourisme Montréal
(514) 844-1575
www.tourisme-montreal.
org/travel-trade
Tourisme Québec
(877) 266-5687
www.bonjourquebec.com
135

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QUéBEC
Reader Service Card #595
Québec cuisine
Le Parcours Gourmand dishes out
in greater Québec City
Le Parcours Gourmand is an authentic
way to explore, embrace and imbibe Québec
cuisine.
The Gourmet Route in English, Le
Parcours Gourmand winds in and around
Québec City for about an hour’s drive in
either direction.
The cuisine the route highlights is
a blended mixture of French and other
cultural influences, with ice cider, microbrewed
beers, wines and cheeses among
the goodies to be
discovered.
“We have
restaurants and
breweries in the
urban region of
Québec City. We
also have apple
orchards and
wineries that are
real close to Québec
City,” said
Bruno-Clément
Boudreault, the
regional coordinator
for Le Parcours
Gourmand
and a local and
rural development
agent based in Côte-de-Beaupré.
Photo: Le Parcours Gourmand
For the 53 participating destinations,
the focus is on savoring foods and appreciating
artisans where they are from. The
farmers, producers, chefs, grocers and
craftspeople share their products and passions
in the regions of Portneuf, Jacques-
Cartier, Québec City, Île d’Orléans, Côtede-Beaupré,
Charlevoix and along the
Beaupré Coast.
Le Parcours Gourmand, which was
started in 2002, plans to offer group tours
for the first time this year, Boudreault
said. Operators can also arrange for custom
tours and itineraries.
The tours and itineraries mean picking
produce; eating tourtières; sipping
beers and wines; and connecting with
Québecois artisans. They are about tasting,
touching, smelling and hearing at
La Ferme Arthur Cauchon in Côte-de-Beaupré has a wide
variety of fruits, vegetables, jams and pies to choose from.
apiaries, canneries, chocolatiers, bakeries,
distillers, dairies, cider houses, farms,
butcher shops, smokehouses, restaurants
and wineries.
Sip a Québec vintage at an Old Québec
restaurant, try homemade jams and
preserves at La Conserverie du Quartier
or smell the fresh hearth-baked bread at
Le Fournil du Trait-Carré in Québec City.
Sample homemade cheeses at Les Fromages
de l’Isle d’Orléans or visit a wine
maker and stomp
grapes at Vignoble
Isle de Bacchus on
Île d’Orléans.
Feast on
smoked bison,
meat pie or
duck breast at
L’Auberge Baker
or explore the
Musée de l’Abeille
(or Honey Economuseum)
in Château-Richer.
Picnic in a
vineyard at Vignoble
Moulin
du Petit Pré in
Côte-de-Beaupré,
the historical birthplace of French North
America.
In August 2014, Le Parcours Gourmand
hopes to offer a field dinner, Boudreault
said.
For groups wanting to explore Québec
cuisine on a wider scale, the Montrealbased
Association de l’Agrotourisme et
du Tourisme Gourmand represents more
than 1,000 agritourism and food tourism
operators in the province.•
Le Parcours Gourmand
(418) 827-5256, ext. 205
www.parcoursgourmand.com
Association de l’Agrotourisme
et du Tourisme Gourmand
(514) 252-3138
www.terroiretsaveurs.com/en

QUéBEC
Grand excursions
Croisières AML celebrates 40 years of plying the waterways
When the voyageurs arrived in the
land that would some day become Québec,
they traveled by canoe and paddleboat.
Today’s travelers still follow these same
waterways, although they travel in a much
more comfortable manner.
For the last 40 years, Croisières AML
(AML Cruises in English) has helped
groups participate in the iconic Québecois
experience of traveling by water.
The family-owned enterprise operates
18 boats at eight different ports. Each
year, some 50,000 passengers enjoy guided
cruises; whale-watching excursions;
brunch, lunch and dinner cruises; and
special event sails.
“We have boats in Montréal and Québec
City, as well as two little villages separated
by a fjord, Baie-Sainte-Catherine
and L’Anse-Saint-Jean,” said Katie Lepage,
tourism development coordinator for
Croisières AML.
“Some boats seat up to 700 people and
our smaller boats seat 12 to 24.”
With so many options available, it can
be diffi cult to know where and when to
cruise. That’s where Lepage and her team
come in. They’re eager to work with tour
planners to fi nd an excursion that fi ts best
with the group’s interest and schedule.
The perks for groups are numerous,
including one complimentary cruise per
20 passengers, and escorts are always
comped.
Tour operators and travel agents enjoy
further discounts.
Snacks and beverage service are available
on many of the boats, and more
extensive meals also can be arranged for
many of the journeys.
According to Lapage, the Maritime Excursion
packages departing from Québec
City and Montréal are the most popular
with groups. For both journeys, the narration
is available in French and English.
Departing from Québec City, the
90-minute excursion along the St. Lawrence
River departs from the Chouinard
Pier. The cruise features a costumed guide
(and namesake of the vessel) Louis Jolliet,
who tells engaging tales as the Château
Photo: Croisières AML
The Louis Jolliet cruises the St. Lawrence River
beginning in Québec City.
Frontenac, the Montmorency Falls, Île
d’Orléans, the Côte-de-Beaupré and the
Laurentian Mountains come into view.
The Montréal sightseeing cruise takes
place aboard the Cavalier Maxim and departs
from the Quai King-Edward Pier.
Explorer Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve
leads this journey along 20 kilometers
of the St. Lawrence River. This trip is
60 minutes long from June to mid-Sep-
450 682-5522
1 877 465-2825
Reader Service Card #140
tember and 90 minutes the other times of
the season.
A whale-watching cruise is another
prime choice for groups.
Departing from the Quai de Baie-Ste-
Catherine Pier at the Marina de Tadoussac
Marina, the Zodiac Adventure cruises
are best suited for small groups ready for
a thrill. A naturalist captain will lead the
three-hour journey through the wild Saguenay
Fjord.
For a more casual whale-watching experience,
the Grand Fleuve sets sail from
the same pier. This leisurely three-hour
jaunt features on-board bilingual narration
from a naturalist who knows all
about the animals living on the Saguenay
Fjord.•
Croisières AML
(418) 692-2634
www.croisieresaml.com
Host of Bienvenue Québec 2012
Laval, an ideal
destination
for bus tour
Laval is a travel destination
that offers your tour groups
an uncommonly rich array of
activities, attractions, accommodations,
food, culture and
history. Laval is an easily accessible
destination thanks to
a network of major highways,
abundant free parking, and
close proximity to Montréal-
Trudeau airport. Its three and
four-star hotels provide great
value at an affordable price.
Whether for student or
adult groups Laval is a destination
where there’s more
to explore.
For more information
and video:
www.tourismelaval.com/groups
February • March • April
137

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138
WORLDVIEW Itinerary
Exploring the
Day One
Old San Juan
Start with an early breakfast before
heading to Old San Juan.
Among the places to visit while strolling
Old San Juan’s more than fi ve centuries
old blue cobblestoned streets are San
Juan National Historic Site’s San Cristobal
and San Felipe del Morro forts; Plaza del
Quinto Centenario, commemorating the
500th anniversary of the discovery of the
Americas; the mid-19th-century Ballajá
Barracks (Cuartel de Ballajá in Spanish),
housing the Museum of the Americas’
historical exhibits; and Cristo Street, with
Capilla del Cristo Chapel de la Salud, otherwise
known as Cristo Chapel, at its end.
At San Juan Cathedral, visit the tomb
of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León,
Photo: Puerto Rico Tourism
‘Isle of Enchantment’
Puerto Rico brackets the Atlantic
Ocean and Caribbean Sea, an island destination
which Spanish explorers once called
the “Isle of Enchantment.”
Measuring about 35 by 110 miles
with ranging landscapes, the island can be
explored in myriad ways. From San Juan,
it is about a 45-minute drive to Fajardo
on the island’s east, about 75 minutes to
Ponce on the south and about 1¾ hours
to Santurce on the west.
Puerto Rico Tourism Company designed
this fi ve-day group itinerary, which
doesn’t include travel days to Puerto Rico
before and after.
Camuy River Cave Park offers underground interiors
like this cavern reaching toward the sunlight.
Island plying in Puerto Rico
Arecibo Observatory is home to the
world’s largest radio telescope.
The Paseo del Morro trail follows
the masonry walls dating to the
1630s that surround Castillo de
San Felipe del Morro in San Juan’s
historic Old San Juan section.
Puerto Rico’s fi rst governor. Also visit
Paseo La Princesa (Princesa Promenade);
La Fortaleza, the governor’s mansion;
Plaza de Armas, the original town square;
Plaza Colón; and the new Bahía Urbana
promenade in front of the cruise piers.
Have lunch. A favorite local spot is
SoFo, or South Fortaleza Street, with many
restaurants specializing in Novo Latino
cuisine. Or try one of the small cafes dotting
the city.
Spend the afternoon shopping, especially
for arts and crafts on Fortaleza and
Cristo streets. Also explore the shops on
side streets in Old San Juan.
Take the San Juan-Cataño ferry to visit
the Casa Bacardi Visitors Center, home
to the Bacardi rum distillery. The transfer
and tour take about three hours.
El Yunque National Forest is a rainforest near
Rio Grande with many waterfalls within its confi nes.
Photo: Puerto Rico Tourism Photo: Arecibo Observatory/NASA
Photo: Puerto Rico Tourism

Day Two
El Yunque/Luquillo beaches
A visit to the 28,000-acre rainforest in El Yunque
National Forest near Rio Grande is a must.
A half hour from San Juan, a half-day visit can include
stops at El Portal Visitor Center to learn about
the ecosystem and research being done, La Coca
waterfall, Yukiyu Observation Tower and a short
hike into the forest. It’s easy to fi ll a day at El Yunque,
which is Spanish for “forest of clouds.”
Just fi ve minutes away, however, is Luquillo and
its beaches, including popular Balneairo Monserrate.
That means chances for afternoon swimming, sun
tanning and relaxing on the Atlantic.
There are roadside kiosks nearby, serving local
specialties such as fritters and traditional dishes like
arroz con gandules (rice and pigeon peas) fried fi sh,
roasted pork or a steak.
Day Three
Adventures
This is a day for adventures.
Travel to Caja de Muerto on Coffi n Island for
some kayaking and hiking with Acampa Nature
Adventure Tours. Or visit Toro Verde Adventure
Park and do some ziplining and other adventures in
Orocovis.
Either of those adventurous jaunts will take a
whole day.
If your group just wants a half day of exploration
with time to spare, try another adventure. Learn how
to kiteboard with 15 Knots Kiteboarding School,
which is located at The Beach House (near Café La
Plage) in San Juan’s Isla Verde neighborhood and
offers a 4½-hour course. Wow!
Surfi ng School & Water Sports offers surfi ng
lessons at different locations in San Juan and vicinity
for groups for novice and intermediate surfers, with a
half-hour lesson and one-hour surfboard rental.
Day Four
Camuy Caves/Arecibo Observatory
Start the day with underground explorations at
Camuy River Cave Park in Camuy.
The Camuy River runs through the park’s
caverns, located in northern Puerto Rico. It offers
spectacular subterranean interiors.
The Arecibo Observatory’s radio telescope, the
largest in the world, is about 20 minutes from Camuy.
On the return to San Juan, stop by Puerto Rico
Premium Outlets for shopping in its 90 stores, with
brands including Adidas, Perry Ellis, Gap, Guess,
Tommy Hilfi ger, Lacoste and Ann Taylor. Group
packages and discounts are available.
Day Five
Ponce
The trip from San Juan to Ponce, Puerto Rico’s
second largest city, takes about 75 minutes.
Ponce was built as a cultural center. Known as the
Pearl City because of its beauty and grandeur, it is
home to some of the island’s most stately mansions.
Places to be seen while touring Ponce include
Serrallés Castle and the nearby Cruceta del Vigía, an
outlook where sentries kept an eye out for incoming
ships; Ponce Firehouse, the city’s old fi re station
dating from the 19th century; Monserrate Cathedral;
and Plaza de las Delicias, the city square.
Have lunch at one of the restaurants on or near
Plaza de las Delicias.
Photo: Novostock
Plaza de Armas in Old San Juan
is a popular gathering spot in San Juan.
After lunch, visit Museo de Arte de Ponce (Ponce
Museum of Art). With works by Diego Rodríguez
de Silva y Velázquez, François-Auguste-René Rodin,
Peter Paul Rubens and Thomas Gainsborough, the
museum features more than 1,000 paintings and 400
sculptures. Figure on spending at least two hours.
In Barrio Portugues in Ponce is Tibes Indigenous
Ceremonial Center, which was once home to the
indigenous tribes of the Igneri and Tainos and is the
oldest Antillean native ceremony site uncovered in
Puerto Rico.
For the evening, consider visiting one of Puerto
Rico’s three bioluminescent bays. Visitors in San Juan
have two options, the Laguna Grande kayak excursion
at Las Croabas in Fajardo or a sunset cruise to
Mosquito Bay in Vieques. Several tour operators offer
trips to Laguna Grande.•
Itinerary
Puerto Rico
GO
Puerto Rico
SEE
Arecibo Observatory
www.naic.edu
Museum of the Americas
(787) 724-5052
www.prtc.net/~musame
Ponce Museum of Art
(787) 977-6277
www.museoarteponce.org
San Juan National
Historic Site
(787) 729-6960
www.nps.gov/saju
DO
Acampa Nature Adventure
Tours
(787) 706-0695
www.acampapr.com
Toro Verde
(787) 867-7020
www.toroverdepr.com
STAY
San Juan Marriott Resort
& Stellaris Casino
(888) 817-2033
(787) 722-7000, ext. 46
www.marriottsanjuan.com
ASK
Puerto Rico
Tourism Company
(800) 866-7827
www.seepuertorico.com
Puerto Rico
Convention Bureau
(800) 875-4675
www.meetpuertorico.com
Map: ©iStockphoto.com/gio_banfi
139

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WORLDVIEW Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
smooth
San Juan and beyond
Puerto Rico smooth is a relaxing reality,
something that can mean many
things on this island straddling the Atlantic
Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
It can mean trade wind-caressed
tropical beaches, with more than 300 of
them to be discovered.
It can mean the heritage of an island
whose fi rst governor in 1508 was none
other than Spanish explorer Juan Ponce
de León.
It can mean the distinctive food, with
pork, plantains, rice, potatoes, sugar
cane, coffee and rum among the prime
ingredients — not to mention seafood.
It can mean the ease for Americans of
getting to Puerto Rico, which has been
a U.S. commonwealth since 1952 and
doesn’t require a passport or visa for
United States residents to visit.
Puerto Rico smooth is about those
and more, with group travel and adventure
possibilities plentiful on the 110-by-
35-mile island.
A focal point is cosmopolitan San
Juan, with its historic Old San Juan section
and history and heritage dating to
By Rick Martinez
explorer Christopher Columbus’ claiming
of Puerto Rico for Spain in 1498.
Puerto Rico’s distinctive cultural diversity,
music, arts, cuisine and nightlife
refl ect its Caribbean roots and natural
settings.
Photo: Puerto Rico Tourism
Old San Juan is a historic locale
in San Juan that is a hub of activity
around the clock.
Photo: F. Arzola/Puerto Rico Tourism
The Castillo de San Felipe
del Morro in San Juan is
known simply as El Morro.
Island splendor
San Juan is the historic center of
Puerto Rico, and for good reason.
Dating to the 16th century, San Juan
has been an important strategic Caribbean
crossroads destination. Puerto Rico
was ceded by Spain to the U.S. after the
Spanish-American War in 1898.
Puerto Rico’s four centuries of Spanish
rule are a large part of its history
and heritage. The massive forts built by
the Spanish to deter European enemies
such as the British and the Dutch remain
readily evident — and are all part of the
San Juan National Historic Site under the
watch of the U.S. National Park Service.
Castillo de San Felipe del Morro, or
El Morro (Spanish for the Promontory),
was built in 1540 and took 2½ centuries
to complete. Located on a narrow point
overlooking San Juan Bay and the Atlantic
Ocean, it fell just once — in 1598 to
a British land attack led by the Earl of
Cumberland.
San Cristóbal was the second largest
fortress built by the colonial Spanish
in the Western Hemisphere. From the

citadel’s formidable walls, watch cruise
ships sail in and see its sister fort El
Morro just to the west.
La Fortaleza (which means The Fortress
in Spanish) was built starting in
1533, and was renovated in 1846 and
converted into what is the oldest
governor’s mansion in the
Western Hemisphere.
La Fortaleza and Old San
Juan National Historic Site are a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
But that’s just Spanish colonial
times.
Puerto Rico is a place of
19th-century haciendas and
plantations for the aristocracy,
where nature and explorations
beyond San Juan beckon.
Ponce is another Puerto
Rican portal to the past, with
the city’s highlights including
Plaza Las Delicias, Cathedral of
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Ponce
Firehouse and Fountain of the
Lions. Museo de Arte de Ponce
houses a collection of more
than 4,500 works.
El Yunque National Forest
is a rainforest near Rio Grande with cascading
waterfalls, tropical plants, exotic
birds and unique wildlife. Operated by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it
offers tours and El Portal Visitor’s Center
among its 28,000 acres with elevations of
up to 3,624 feet.
Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo in
central Puerto Rico features the William
E. Gordon Telescople, the world’s largest
single-dish radio telescope, and offers
tours and the Angel Ramos Foundation
Visitor Center.
Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park
covers 316 acres in Orcovis, with hanging
bridges such as La Bestia (Spanish for
the beast), a 4,745-foot-long zipline that
is 853 feet above the ground and mountain
biking trails.
Puerto Rico has three of the world’s five
bioluminescent bays, including Mosquito
Bay in Vieques, Las Croabas Lagoon in Fajardo
and La Parguera in Lajas. On moonless
nights, tiny organisms in the waters
create incredible glowing shows. Kayaking
through the bio bays at night is like watching
an underwater fireworks show.
However, Puerto Rico’s most popular
attraction may very well be its more than
300 beaches (or balnearios), with 270
miles of them along the Atlantic Ocean
and Caribbean Sea with tropical backdrops.
Condado Beach frames San Juan,
Photo: Mildred Reyes/National Park Service
The view of San Juan Harbor in San Juan,
as seen from San Juan National Historic Site.
and El Escambrón is found in the Puerto
de Tierra neighborhood. Other famed
beaches include Flamenco on Cubrera
Island; Sun Bay (or Sombé) on Vieques
Island; Carolina, just east of San Juan in
Carolina; Luquillo in Luquillo; Boquerón
in Cabo Rojo; and Seven Seas in Fajardo.
Tasting San Juan
Old San Juan covers seven square
blocks of San Juan.
The second oldest settlement in the
Western Hemisphere, Old San Juan is a
place that bore witness to the birth of the
New World.
The magic of Old San Juan
is cast by its narrow blue-tinged
cobblestone (or adoquines)
streets, Spanish colonial architecture,
Roman Catholic
churches and tropical hues
framed by the historic Spanishera
fortresses and their walled
protections.
For instance, La Catedral
de San Juan marks a congregation
dating to 1521. The current
building was started on in 1540,
and over time evolved into the
Gothic facade it now is. It is also
the burial place of Ponce de
León, who died while reputedly
still searching for the fountain
of youth in Florida.
Perhaps the best way to
embrace the atmosphere is in
a progressive fashion on a 2½hour
walking tour with Flavors of San
Juan Food & Culture Tours.
The tour company’s owner, Leslie Padró,
is a former journalist who worked
with CNN among other news media
outlets. She had moved from Atlanta to
San Juan to improve her Spanish, and
Photo: Rick Martinez
Capilla del Cristo Chapel de la Salud, otherwise known as Cristo Chapel, sits atop an ancient wall in Old San Juan.
February • March • April
141

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
142
Photo: Rick Martinez
Casa Bacardi Visitors Center in Cantaño outside San Juan details the
heritage and making of Bacardi Rum with tours and tastings.
stayed. Now married and with children,
she became enamored of the Puerto Rican
cuisine, culture and heritage she has
encountered. That was why she started
Flavors of San Juan.
“I think that any great food tour takes
people to culinary experiences they can’t
find on their own,” Padró said. “It can
leave you with a heightened appreciation
of the city and an improved and wellrounded
knowledge of its culture.”
She shares her discoveries on Flavors
of San Juan’s tours, stopping in and
sampling a bite and a plate at a time in
Old San Juan spots like Aromas Coffee
House, Spicy Caribbee of San Juan, Rosa
De Triana and St. Germain Bistro & Café.
Flavors of San Juan also offers La Placita
market tours, special events progressive
dinners, two- to four-hour cooking
classes and group and private tours with
a minimum of six people.
Cornucopia of cuisines
The food — native, local, Caribbean
and fusion — is an amazing and mouthwatering
mix.
The fruits and vegetables found on
the island are coupled in many dishes
with rice, pork, poultry, seafood and
beef.
A dish not to miss is mofongo,
mashed plantains made with garlic and
chicken broth topped by vegetables and
the almost obligatory complement of
rice, pork, poultry, seafood (crab, lobster
or shrimp) or beef.
Bistros like Jam, the Puerto Rican
Asian-inspired Budatai and La Concha
Renaissance San Juan Resort’s seafood-
Photo: Rick Martinez
St. Germain Bistro & Café in the Old San Juan
district of San Juan serves breakfast, lunch and
dinner with a Puerto Rican-influenced menu.
laden Perla are delectable dinner destinations.
Groups can find menus with mixes of
Caribbean, American, African, Spanish,
Taíno, Asian and Italian influences and
Puerto Rican flair prepared by ambitious
chefs pushing the criolla envelope.
Or have lunch on the upper-floor
The Bellavista veranda of the Sheraton
Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino while caressed
by a San Juan Bay breeze.
Try breakfast at San Juan Marriott
Resort’s La Vista Latin Grill & Bar, with
an Atlantic Ocean view and trade winds;
or for dinner the Red Coral Lounge,
with its Latin vibes, flavors and sounds.
However, this being Puerto Rico, one
must sample at least some Puerto Rican
rum because Puerto Rico is the Rum
Capital of the World.
The Bacardi (pronounced Bah-cardee)
rum distillery in Cantaño near San
Juan marked Bacardi’s 150th anniversary
last year.
Visiting groups can go on a free tour
of the Casa Bacardi Visitors Center.
The Bacardi tours — including a
trolley ride — are given every 20 minutes
in English and Spanish, take about
an hour and include tickets for two free
rum samples.
The tour guides, which include
bartenders, share the heritage and history
of the Bacardi family and company
from its humble Cuban roots with
founder Don Facundo Bacardi Massó
to the present-day Bahamas-based spirits
empire (which is considerable) and
details how rum is made and what it’s
good for (which is plenty). Allow about
three hours.
Casa Bacardi is the world’s largest
rum distillery, producing 100,000 gallons
of distilled rum daily year-round,
according to company officials.
There are three other rum distilleries
on the island besides Bacardi: Castillo
Serrales, which produces Don Q; Ron
del Barrilito; and Trigo Corp. Two dozen
rums under 11 brand names from
Puerto Rico are sold in the U.S., according
to Rums of Puerto Rico.
Meanwhile, it seems like everywhere
one goes, they get offered a Bacardiand-Coke
(or Pepsi, which is not embraced
by Bacardi officials) or a mojito,
piña colada or Cuba libre cocktail. This
is where piña coladas, by the way, got
their start.
Drinking up while drinking in Puerto
Rico is a popular pastime, for both
visitors and locals.

Focused on groups and group events
Puerto Rico is a destination that embraces
groups for leisure and incentive
travel, meetings and conventions.
The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
targets those markets, focusing on visitors
from North America, the Caribbean,
Latin America and Europe primarily. To
reach those people, it has moved personnel
and expanded its web presence (www.
meetpuertorico.com) to include microsites
in English, Spanish, Portuguese, German
and French, said Neil Mullanaphy,
the bureau’s acting president and CEO/
senior vice president of sales.
“Europeans feel comfortable here.
Latin Americans feel comfortable here,
… and North Americans, too,” he said,
adding that Puerto Rico’s tropical location
and bilingual locales (Spanish and
English are spoken here) are beneficial.
“Our currency, language and business
culture are the same” as the U.S. mainland.
Those comfort zones are coupled
with the facts that U.S. citizens don’t
need a passport to visit; and the prime
convention space is the seven-year-old,
580,000-square-foot, wave-shaped and
nautical-themed Puerto Rico Convention
Center Pedro Rosello, which is
flanked by the adjacent 503-room Sheraton
Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel
& Casino.
“Many times a year, we have three
events going on at once here,” said Margaret
Colon, the convention center’s
marketing and communications director.
“We have 400-plus events here annually.”
In addition, Puerto Rico’s lodging
sector is in growth mode, with the 525room
San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris
Casino, 416-room The Ritz-Carlton,
San Juan, 80-room San Juan Water and
Beach Club Hotel and 115-room Howard
Johnson Isla Verde all having completed
multi-million-dollar renovations
in San Juan. Among new hotels are the
114-room Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton
Reserve and 296-room Condado Vanderbilt.
Continuing to build on their quality
reputations are hotels such as El San Juan
Resort & Casino (a Hilton property), La
Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort (a
Marriott) and The Ritz Carlton San Juan.
Mullanaphy and others with the
Photo: Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
A group smiles in front of a fountain in Plaza de Armas
after touring Old San Juan in San Juan.
38-employee, 300-member bureau admit
it’s more than just Puerto Rico as
a business and leisure destination for
groups, meetings and conventions.
“Also, it’s what they can do as a group;
what they can do individually,” he said.
That means Puerto Rican explorations
away from convention spaces
(more than 1.3 million square feet)
and lodgings (more than 13,500 guestrooms),
taking advantage of the offerings
on the island.
Tourism in Puerto Rico comprises
about a third in groups and conventions,
a third in corporate gatherings and
a third in leisure, said Teresa Martinez,
the bureau’s marketing and communications
director.
Puerto Rico Convention Bureau has
sales offices in Miami, New York, Chicago
and Madrid.
Besides Puerto Rico Convention Bureau,
the commonwealth’s destinationmarketing
organization, Puerto Rico is
also represented by Puerto Rico Tourism
Company for the leisure travel market.
The Puerto Rico Convention Bureau
uses the motto “Puerto Rico Smooth”
as the foundation for its efforts to create
smooth gatherings and meetings.
Puerto Rico Tourism Company operates
with the slogan “Puerto Rico Does
It Better.”
Whether it’s smooth or doing
it better, it’s perfectly Puerto Rico.•
Puerto Rico
Convention Bureau
(800) 875-4675
www.meetpuertorico.com
Puerto Rico
Tourism Company
(800) 866-7827
www.seepuertorico.com
Arecibo Observatory
(787) 878-2612
www.naic.edu
Casa Bacardi Visitors Center
(787) 788-1500
http://casabacardi.org
www.bacardilimited.com/our-brands/
bacardi-rum
El Yunque National Forest
(787) 888-1880
www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque
Flavors of San Juan
Food & Culture Tours
(787) 964-2447
www.sanjuanfoodtours.com
San Juan Marriott Resort
& Stellaris Casino
(888) 817-2033
(787) 722-7000, ext. 46
www.marriottsanjuan.com
San Juan National
Historic Site
(787) 729-6960
www.nps.gov/saju
Toro Verde
(787) 867-7020
www.toroverdepr.com
February • March • April
143

Spring Spring 2013 • • GroupTour.com
GroupTour.com
144
Travel
Talk
Interacting with Prince Edward Island
Finding experiential opportunities in the group tour market
We only recently became
involved with the group
tour market after more than
seven years providing unique
experiential activities for the
family and independent travel
markets.
Frankly, my wife, Mary, and
I didn’t think group tours could
be experiential, believing that
having too many people would
take away from the intimacy of
our experiences.
However, in the past couple
years, we’ve recognized the opportunity
to enhance traditional guided
tours by adapting some of our experiential
products for larger numbers.
As innkeepers of Briarcliffe Inn Bed
& Breakfast for more than a decade, we
were faced with the same questions every
day from our guests: What do we do?
Where should we go today?
Prince Edward Island is known for its
magnifi cent beaches, succulent seafood
and, of course, Anne of Green Gables, the
children’s novel about Anne Shirley’s adventures
by Canadian author Lucy Maud
Montgomery published more than a
century ago. So, we would always suggest
a coastal drive, lobster supper and a visit
to Green Gables.
While there is much more to the
island, it was challenging to recommend
other things for our guests to do.
But as we talked to our guests, we
realized those who managed to interact
with islanders made a connection with
our beautiful island in Atlantic Canada.
The questions they asked clued us in
on what they found fascinating: What are
those guys doing in the little boats with
those long sticks in the water? What are
those plants growing in all the fi elds?
While we see oyster fi shing and potato
farming as commonplace, our guests see
them as unique.
Starting up Experience PEI was our
By Bill Kendrick
Photo: Tourism PEI/Marc Dagenais
Lobster boat tours in Charlottetown are an authentic way
to experience Prince Edward Island.
way to provide them with opportunities
to learn about the island way of life by
spending time with islanders.
Since, Experience PEI has become a
creator of hands-on interactive visitor
activities, providing more than 30 unique
and authentic island experiences.
Our defi nition of experience is learning
by doing something with someone
who lives here.
By their very nature, the experiences
make connections with providers who
are not traditional tour guides. They
aren’t scripted and rehearsed. They are
fi shers, farmers, artists and artisans
sharing their daily lives, knowledge and
skills with visitors.
To ensure intimacy, we developed our
experiences for small groups — two to
eight participants.
Our business model was based on
high value and low volume. We felt it
wouldn’t be possible to provide an authentic
experience for large groups, so we
stayed away from that market.
However, we couldn’t help but think
there had to be a way of creating experiential
group tours.
That opportunity came when Experience
PEI was approached by Aquila Tours
of Saint John, New Brunswick. It offered
shore excursions to cruise ships coming
into Charlottetown and was looking for
something other than a traditional
sightseeing tour.
So, we took our oyster fi shing
experience and worked with
our oyster fi shers to adapt it for
a group of 24.
Normally, we limited it to
six participants. But we fi gured
out a way to avoid it becoming
a passive demonstration
by maintaining the hands-on
aspect of the experience.
The large group got broke
down into smaller groups,
rotating them through the
experience’s different elements.
We now have about 10 experiential
tours offered as shore excursions for
groups of 24 to 50 passengers.
Our market is primarily higherend
cruise lines looking for something
unique. It’s not a product for every
cruise line. Some still want low price
and high volume, but we just had one
cruise line pick up five of our experiences
for 2013.
Our research indicates a growing
number of group tour companies want
to enhance their offerings with experiential
activities. They recognize many
want something more interactive than
provided by traditional tours. They want
to be actively involved in their destination
and to get their hands dirty.
Experience PEI is now pushing to
realize the true potential of the group
tour market. We look forward to sharing
our unique experiences with even more
visitors to Prince Edward Island.•
Bill and Mary Kendrick own and operate
Experience PEI and Briarcli e Inn
Bed & Breakfast in Bedeque, Prince
Edward Island.
Experience PEI
(866) 887-3238
www.experiencepei.ca

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MAGAZINE
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Group Tour Magazine? ■ YES! ■ No, thank you
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2. What type of tour planner are you? (choose only one)
■ Tour Operator ■ Group Leader ■ Travel Agent
■ Bank Travel Club ■ Educator/School Administrator
3. What is your primary job function? (choose only one)
■ Owner ■ Tour Organizer ■ Tour Marketing/Sales
■ Tour Escort ■ Other___________________________________
4. How many group trips in the United States and
Canada will you plan in the next year?
Day Trips: ■ None ■ 1–4 ■ 5–10 ■ 11–19 ■ 20+
Overnights: ■ None ■ 1–4 ■ 5–10 ■ 11–19 ■ 20+
5. Which types of groups do you plan trips for?
■ Retirees ■ Alumni Clubs ■ Student/Youth ■ Bank Travel Clubs
■ Church/Religious ■ Other ______________________________
6. Which types of trips do you plan?
■ Sports ■ Educational ■ Leisure ■ Music/Art ■ Shopping
■ Other _______________________________________________
7. Which regions do you plan trips to?
■ Northeast U.S./Canada ■ Southeast U.S. ■ Western U.S./Canada
■ International __________________________________________

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SOUTHEASTERN / Spring 2013
Gilded mansions
of a golden era
Extravagant estates and gardens
stand as monuments
to architectural excellence
6 historic hotels
Rhythm and ‘cue
Music and food sustain body and soul
in Arkansas Delta
Fresh catch
Giant Crab Seafood Restaurant
serves up giant tastes and giant smiles
Close encounters
Cajun tours show New Orleans’
wild side
Bravo, Barcelona!
Catalonia region bustles with
excitement and heritage all its own
Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/Grafi ssimo
February • March • April April April
145

Spring 2013 • GroupTour.com
146
Advertiser index
Advertiser .....................rsC# ....Pg. Advertiser .....................rsC# ....Pg. Advertiser .....................rsC# ....Pg.
American Treasure Tour ....................552 ......120
www.americantreasuretour.com
Atlantic City CVA ..............................441 ......107
www.atlanticcitynj.com
Baltimore Spirit Cruises ....................477 ......103
www.spiritcruisesbaltimore.com
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre ..........451 ........30
www.beefandboards.com
Belmont County Tourism Council ......630 ........63
www.belmontcountytourism.org
Belterra Casino Resort......................518 ........31
www.belterracasino.com
Berkshire Visitors Bureau .................411 ........83
www.berkshires.org
Best Western Greenfield Inn .............388 ........39
www.bestwestern.com/greenfieldinn
Boston Ballet ....................................575 ........81
www.bostonballet.org
Boston Pops Orchestra .....................508 ........82
www.bso.org
Branson / Lakes Area CVB .................641 ........56
www.explorebranson.com
Brattleboro Area COC .......................111 ........93
www.brattleborochamber.org
Broadway.com / Theatre Direct ........473 ......115
www.theaterdirect.com
Buffets Inc.........................................416 ......148
www.buffet.com
Butler County Visitors Bureau ..........630 ........65
www.destinationbutlercounty.com
Carroll County Office of Tourism ......399 ......101
www.carrollcountytourism.org
Central Massachusetts
Tourist Council .................................324 ........86
www.centralmass.org
Central Regional Tourism District .....545 ........77
www.visitctriver.com
Chester County’s
Brandywine Valley ...........................133 ......123
www.brandywinevalley.com
Chicago Southland CVB ....................603 ........26
www.visitchicagosouthland.com
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises .........120 ......114
www.circleline42.com
Clark-Floyd Counties CTB .................499 ........33
www.sunnysideoflouisville.org
Clayton County
Development Group ........................599 ........35
www.claytoncountyiowa.com
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium ...........629 ........61
www.columbuszoo.org
COSI Ohio’s Center
of Science & Industry ......................629 ........61
www.cosi.org
Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad ......630 ........64
www.cvsr.com
Dearborn County CVB .......................368 ........29
www.visitsoutheastindiana.com
Derby Dinner Playhouse ...................499 ........33
www.derbydinner.com
Destination Toledo CVB ....................630 ........65
www.dotoledo.org
Detroit Institute of Arts ....................314 ........38
www.dia.org
Detroit Metro CVB ............................388 ........39
www.visitdetroit.com
Detroit Zoological Society ................388 ........39
www.detroitzoo.org
Discover Lehigh Valley ......................198 ......122
www.lehighvalleypa.org
Dublin CVB ........................................629 ........61
www.irishisanattitude.com
Dutchman Hospitality
& Restaurants ..................................589 ........59
www.dhgroup.com
Eagan CVB ........................................162 ........53
www.eaganmn.com
Eagle Mountain House .....................529 ........89
www.eaglemt.com
ECHO Lake Aquarium
and Science Center ..........................111 ........95
www.echovermont.org
Empire Hotel Group ..........................525 ......111
www.newyorkhotel.com
Essex, Vermont’s Culinary
Resort & Spa ....................................111 ........94
www.innatessex.com
Experience Columbus .......................629 ........61
www.experiencecolumbus.com
Felt Mansion .....................................184 ........45
www.feltmansion.org
Fireside Theatre ................................396 ........70
www.firesidetheatre.com
Fisher Theatre ...................................388 ........39
www.broadwayindetroit.com
Foundation for the
National Archives ............................137 ......127
www.archives.gov
Franklin Institute Science Museum ..419 ......119
www.fi.edu
Franklin Park Conservatory ..............629 ........61
www.fpconservatory.org
Gahanna CVB ....................................629 ........61
www.visitgahanna.org
Grand Hotel ......................................123 ........48
www.grandhotel.com
Greater Licking County CVB .............630 ........62
www.lccvb.com
Greater Merrimack Valley CVB .........126 ........85
www.merrimackvalley.org
Greater Reading CVB ........................226 ......120
www.readingberkspa.com
Gun Lake Tribe Casino/MBPI, Inc.......587 ........41
www.gunlakecasino.com
Harley-Davidson Museum.................396 ........71
www.h-dmuseum.com
Hawthorne Hotel ..............................506 ........84
www.hawthornehotel.com
Hendricks County CVB ......................428 ........32
www.tourhendrickscounty.com
Historic Daniel Boone
Home & Heritage Center .................225 ........57
www.lindenwood.edu/boone
History Alive - Gordon College
Institute for Public History ..............406 ........84
www.gordon.edu/historyalive
Holiday Inn Club Vacations ...............536 ........11
www.holidayinnclub.com
Holland Area CVB .............................184 ........45
www.holland.org
Hollywood Casino & Hotel
- Indiana ..........................................554 ........29
www.hollywoodindiana.com
Hoosier Park Racing & Casino ..........498 ........32
www.hoosierpark.com
House of Seven Gables .....................406 ........84
www.7gables.org
Independence Seaport Museum .......419 ......118
www.phillyseaport.org
Indiana County Tourist Bureau .........544 ......117
www.visitindianacountypa.org
Indiana State Museum
& Historic Sites ................................592 ........30
www.indianamuseum.org
Island House .....................................594 ........46
www.theislandhouse.com
Island Transportation ........................430 ........60
www.put-in-bay-trans.com
Jackson County Visitor Center ..........551 ........30
www.jacksoncountyin.com
Jelly Belly Center ..............................396 ........70
www.jellybelly.com
Jungle Jim’s International Market ....520 ........59
www.junglejims.com
Kennedy Center ................................137 ......127
www.kennedy-center.org/groupsales
Kenosha Area CVB ............................404 ........68
www.kenoshacvb.com
Kewadin Casinos ..............................366 ........49
www.kewadin.com
La Crosse Area CVB ...........................204 ........69
www.explorelacrosse.com
La Crosse Queen Cruises ..................204 ........69
www.greatriver.com/laxqueen
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum ..111 ........95
www.lcmm.org
Lake Erie Shores & Islands ...............630 ........65
www.visitohio.com
Lake View Hotel ................................197 ........47
www.lake-view-hotel.com
Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau ......130 ......117
www.laurelhighlands.org
Liberty Science Center ......................598 ......108
www.lsc.org
Little River Casino Resort .................313 ........44
www.lrcr.com
Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau ........445 ........44
www.mackinawcity.com
Maid of the Mist Corporation ..........281 ......110
www.maidofthemist.com
Mansfield Richland County CVB .......630 ........62
www.mansfieldtourism.com
Marietta/Washington County CVB ....630 ........64
www.mariettaohio.org

Advertiser index
Advertiser .....................rsC# ....Pg. Advertiser .....................rsC# ....Pg. Advertiser .....................rsC# ....Pg.
Marion County CVB ..........................630 ........63
www.visitmarionohio.com
Marquette County CVB .....................538 ........50
www.marquettecountry.org
Maryland Science Center ..................477 ......103
www.mdsci.org
Mashantucket Pequot Museum
& Research Center ...........................307 ........77
www.pequotmuseum.org
MCNY Tours ......................................525 ......111
www.mcnytours.com
Miami County CVB ............................630 ........63
www.visitmiamicounty.org
Middlebury Inn .................................111 ........95
www.middleburyinn.com
Milwaukee Art Museum ...................396 ........71
www.museumtix.com
Milwaukee Public Museum ...............396 ........71
www.mpm.edu
Mirvish Productions ..........................298 ......133
www.mirvish.com
Montgomery County CVB .................399 ......101
www.visitmontgomery.com/
Mountain Club On Loon ....................529 ........89
www.mtnclub.com
Mt. Washington Cog Railway............529 ........89
www.thecog.com
Muskegon County CVB .....................165 ........42
www.visitmuskegon.org
National Aquarium in Baltimore .......477 ......103
www.aqua.org
National Constitution Center ...........419 ......118
www.constitutioncenter.org
National Czech & Slovak
Museum & Library ...........................523 ........35
www.ncsml.org
National Museum
of Civil War Medicine ......................524 ......102
www.civilwarmed.org
Nemours Mansion and Gardens .......510 ........99
www.nemoursmansion.org
New Hampshire Division
of Travel & Tourism ..........................529 ........89
www.visitnh.gov
New York Water Taxi/
Circle Line Downtown .....................604 ......113
www.nywatertaxi.com
New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania.........525 ......111
www.hotelpenn.com
Newport Mansions ...........................321 ........91
www.newportmansions.org
Newseum ..........................................137 ......127
www.newseum.org
Newton CVB .....................................596 ........35
www.visitnewton.com
North of Boston CVB ........................406 ........84
www.northofboston.org
North Shore Music Theatre ...............406 ........84
www.nsmt.org
Ohio Historical Society .....................629 ........61
www.ohiohistory.org/places/groups
Old Barracks Museum .......................419 ......119
www.barracks.org
OMCA
(Ontario Motorcoach Association) ....227 ........13
www.omca.com
Ontario Science Centre .....................298 ......133
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
Pella Convention & Visitors Bureau ..600 ........36
www.pella.org
Philadelphia CVB ..............................419 ......118
www.pcvb.org
Philadelphia Museum of Art ............419 ......118
www.philamuseum.org
Pocono Mountains CVB ....................247 ......124
www.800poconos.com
Positively Cleveland CVB ..................630 ........66
www.positivelycleveland.com
Real Racine County CVB ...................396 ........70
www.racine.org
Residence Inn by Marriott ................529 ........89
www.residenceinn.com/pwmcw
Resorts Atlantic City .........................511 ......106
www.resortsac.com
Rhode Island Tourism Division ..........561 ..........3
www.visitrhodeisland.com
Rock of Ages Visitors Center ............111 ........94
www.rockofages.com
Rolla Area COC .................................225 ........57
www.visitrolla.com
Saint Cloud Area CVB .......................504 ........54
www.granitecountry.com
Saint Joseph’s Oratory
of Mount-Royal................................595 ......136
www.saint-joseph.org
Sauder Village...................................630 ........64
www.saudervillage.org
Sault Ste Marie CVB .........................546 ........51
www.saultstemarie.com
Scott County Visitors Commission ....559 ........32
www.greatscottindiana.com
Shaw Festival Theatre ......................298 ......133
www.shawfest.com
Show Me Detroit Tours .....................388 ........39
www.showmedetroit.com
Skydeck Chicago...............................431 ........25
www.theskydeck.com
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort .........489 ........43
www.soaringeaglecasino.com
South Jersey Cultural Alliance ..........189 ......106
www.sjca.net
Stafford’s Hospitality Inc. .................320 ........42
www.staffords.com
Steubenville Visitor Center
- Historic Fort Steuben ....................630 ........64
www.visitsteubenville.com
Strawbery Banke Museum ................529 ........89
www.strawberybanke.org
Sussex County COC ...........................562 ......105
www.sussexskylands.org
The Croswell .....................................586 ........46
www.croswell.org
Thunder Bay Resort & Elk Touring ....117 ........46
www.thunderbayresort.com
Toby’s Dinner Theatre .......................477 ......103
www.tobysdinnertheatre.com
Tomah Area CVB ...............................413 ........72
www.tomahwisconsin.com
Tourism Council
of Frederick County .........................195 ......102
www.fredericktourism.org
Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island ....528 ......134
www.visitwindsor.com
Tourisme Laval ..................................140 ......137
www.tourismelaval.com
TourismOhio .....................................630 ........64
www.discoverohio.com
Trumbull County Tourism Bureau ......630 ........62
www.exploretrumbullcounty.com
Tudor Place Historic
House & Garden ..............................137 ......127
www.tudorplace.org
Tulip Time Festival, Inc......................184 ........45
www.tuliptime.com
Twin America ....................................590 ......112
www.twinamerica.com
UPTRA ..............................................348 ........40
www.uptravel.com
Valley Forge CVB ..............................187 ......121
www.valleyforge.org
Vermont Country Store .....................111 ........94
www.vermontcountrystore.com
Vermont Quilt Festival ......................111 ........93
www.vqf.org
Vermont Tourism Network ................111 ........93
www.vermonttourismnetwork.com
Visit Baltimore ..................................477 ......103
www.baltimore.org
VISIT Milwaukee ...............................396 ........70
www.milwaukee.org
Visit Saint Paul ..................................534 ........54
www.saintpaulgroups.com
Warren County
Department of Tourism ....................151 ......110
www.visitlakegeorge.com
Weathervane Seafood .....................449 ........11
www.weathervaneseafoods.com
Western Reserve Historical Society ..373 ........60
www.wrhs.org
Windmill Island Gardens ..................184 ........45
www.windmillisland.org
Wisconsin Dells VCB .........................263 ........73
www.wisdells.com
Wisconsin State Fair .........................396 ........71
www.wistatefair.com
Wolf Trap Foundation
for the Performing Arts ...................137 ......127
www.wolf-trap.org
Woodfi eld Shopping Center .............378 ........27
www.shopwoodfi eld.com
Ye Olde Mill/Velvet Ice Cream ..........629 ........61
www.velveticecream.com
February • March • April
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