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APRIL 2012 

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COVER STORY 

VOL.22, NO. 2 • APRIL 2012 

c o n t e n t s 

COVER STORY 

52 Broadway Boom by randy mink 

new york city stages offer groups a spring and summer calendar 

filled with cutting-edge fare and much-anticipated revivals. 

FEATURES 

18 The Essential Costa Rican Nature Experience 

by lance harrell 

21 Switzerland Attracts Religious Travel Groups 

by don heimburger 

26 Southern Mansions by dave bodle 

36 Music in the Mountains by manny vega 

40 Minnesota Milestones by randy mink 

46 Curtain Call in Pennsylvania by coley nelson 

50 10 Top Iconic Sights of New York City by randy mink 

55 Historic Homes & Gardens of California 

by marty sarbey de souto 

52 

COLUMNS 

6 On My Mind 

by jeff gayduk 

8 On Tour 

by marty sarbey de souto 

10 On Reunions 

by edith wagner 

12 On the Record 

58 On Marketing 

by dave bodle 

ON THE COVER: 

Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana 

(Jeremy Daniel, Richard Termine Costume: 

Alan Hranitelj ©2011 Cirque du Soleil) 

21 

SWITZERLAND

ON LOCATION 

NUMBER 

CRUNCHING 

While normally behind 

the scenes heading up 

Leisure Group Travel’s 

art department, 

Production Director 

Rob Wyszkowski spread 

his wings on a recent trip 

to the Grand Canyon. 

6,400 

Windows in the 

Empire State Building 

WHAT’S ONLINE 

EXTRA, EXTRA, 

READ ALL ABOUT IT! 

many articles in leisure group travel 

feature an “Online Exclusive” tab 

directing readers to a story that appears 

only on our website. these “extras” expand 

on the subject in print or cover other 

destinations in the same region. we always 

have much more to tell you than space 

allows, so watch for “Online Exclusive” 

icons and log on to LeisureGroupTravel.com. 

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7 

Active volcanoes 

in Costa Rica 

41 

Fireplaces in 

Hearst Castle 

70,000 

Population of 

St. Gallen, Switzerland 

13,770 

Height in feet of 

the Grand Teton 

1886 

Year the Statue of 

Liberty was dedicated 

Switzerland Tourism Photos 

32 

Boeing 747s that could fit 

inside Mall of America

on my mind ❖ jeff gayduk 

On My Mind 

It’s Showtime! 

❖ jeff gayduk 

Vol. 22, No. 2 April 2012 

Editorial & Advertising Office 

621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 

Willowbrook, IL 60527 

P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 

info@ptmgroups.com 

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk 

jeff@ptmgroups.com 

Managing Editor – Randy Mink 

randy@ptmgroups.com 

Welcome to the annual theater 

issue of Leisure Group Travel, our 

showcase of live entertainment across 

the United States. 

You can’t cover theater and not 

include New York! As Randy Mink 

articulates in “Broadway Boom” (pg. 52), 

from Spider-Man to Blue Man, there’s 

lots new on the Big Apple theater scene. 

Traveling west on I-78 opens up a 

whole world of theatrical possibilities in 

Pennsylvania – dinner shows, big-time 

concert halls and historical venues. 

Newcomer Coley Nelson covers eight 

must-see theaters in “Curtain Call,” 

page 46. 

This issue also has a strong international 

flair, with two of my favorite destinations 

– Costa Rica (Lance Harrell, 

pg. 18) and Switzerland (Don Heimburger, 

pg. 21). Though separated by 5,800 

miles, the commonality between the two 

is their natural beauty and commitment 

to environmental tourism. 

We are always trying to make 

Leisure Group Travel the most readable 

publication in the group travel market. 

We continue to roll out design and 

content changes to further your reading 

enjoyment. Wider columns, bigger 

pictures and a more readable font are 

just a few recent enhancements. These 

are done within the context of a trade 

magazine as we strive to focus on the 

written word, understanding it’s the most 

important element of a good magazine. 

I have seen other magazines take redesigns 

to excess by removing complete 

editorial sections for ginormous photos. 

That’s awesome…if you’re Vogue, but 

readers tell us that they like this magazine 

for the great travel ideas our editorial 

team digs up, not extra large pictures of 

seafood. 

onlIne – AlWAyS GroWInG 

At press-time we are flipping the switch 

on the latest version of our uber-cool 

directory search engine, GroupTravel- 

Directory.com. Version 5 takes the art 

of search to a new level where you can 

plan a complete group vacation online. 

The site is comprehensive without being 

daunting. Big maps help you zero in on 

geographic regions. Easy search bars 

help refine look-ups. Browse videos, 

photo galleries and supplier deals in a 

new “Groups Wanted” section. 

Our new TourItineraries.com website 

is growing nicely. Already with 250+ fresh 

itineraries for your group, by summer’s 

publishing of this magazine’s fifth annual 

Itinerary Planning Guide we’ll have over 

500 posted. 

Not to be outdone, our flagship 

website, LeisureGroupTravel.com, will 

debut a new look in May. It’s the most 

visited magazine site in group travel 

according to Compete.com, driving 2.5 

times as many visitors per month as our 

nearest competitor. 

We’ve been doing online “right” for a 

long time. I’m proud of our accomplishments, 

and what’s to come. 

Enjoy the show! 

Jeffrey Gayduk, Publisher 

jeff@ptmgroups.com 

Senior Editor – Dave Bodle 

dave@ptmgroups.com 

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski 

rob@ptmgroups.com 

Regional Business Development Managers 

Illinois – Jim McCurdy 

P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 

jim@ptmgroups.com 

Northeast & 

Eastern Midwest/Canada – Harry Peck 

P 330.830.4880 • F 630.794.0652 

harry@ptmgroups.com 

Mid Atlantic – Ellen Klesta 

P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 

ellen@ptmgroups.com 

Southeast/West Coast – Cheryl Rash 

P 563.613.3068 • F 815.225.5274 

cheryl@ptmgroups.com 

Southern – Dolores Ridout 

P/F 281.762.9546 

dolores@ptmgroups.com 

Florida & Caribbean – Evelyn Stetler 

P 321.235.6002 • F 321.235.6094 

evelyn@ptmgroups.com 

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ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that 

listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos, 

slides or manuscripts. 

Leisure Group Travel (ISSN-1531-1406) is published 

bi-monthly by Premier Tourism Marketing, Inc. 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406, 

Willowbrook, IL 60527. The magazine is distributed free of charge to 

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All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any 

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6 April 2012 LeisureGroupTravel.com

On Tour 

❖ marty sarbey de souto, ctc 

isn’t it time for a Cruise 

Close to home 

Many of us think of a cruise as a 

romantic trip to somewhere far away 

and exotic – or at least different from 

what we see and do at home in our 

daily lives. Our travelers may be 

dreaming of the day they can board a 

sea-going cruise ship to historic ports 

of the Mediterranean or the colorful 

islands of the Caribbean. But perhaps 

just thinking of traveling so far from 

home, or being so distanced from 

family and friends or the safety of 

known surroundings, may make them 

push this trip to the back burner in 

order of priorities in their lives. 

Yet, perhaps you could bring the 

cruise experience to these same 

close-to-home folks if you lured them 

into their first such trip on a North 

American river or coastal trip. Once 

they have that first cruise under their 

belts, they’re more likely to travel on 

future cruises with you, looking back 

on that first happy experience. And, 

for those who have led a life that 

included past cruises, but now in their 

senior years may be less active or 

less affluent, a closer-to-home cruise 

may be just the ticket. 

WatER, WatER EVERyWhERE 

But where can you send them and 

with which companies There are a 

number of opportunities you may wish 

to explore – many of them are what 

we often call “small ship cruising.” 

The first might be Blount Small Ship 

Cruises (formerly known as American 

Canadian Caribbean Line). The new 

name is a tribute to founder Captain 

Luther Blount, whose daughter now 

wears the title of president proudly. 

The company is known for small, 

informal, yacht-like cruising on U.Sregistered 

and U.S.-crewed ships that 

carry 66-98 passengers. The itineraries 

are particularly appealing to active, 

mature travelers. Its founder designed 

ships with a retractable pilot house to 

allow for passage under low bridges, 

and many of its ships feature low 

ramps in the bow to allow one to walk 

right off the vessel onto the beach. 

The company’s unique itineraries 

include the Erie Canal, a 10-day trip 

along the East Coast called “Cultures 

and Traditions – Charleston to the 

Chesapeake” and three itineraries 

on the Mississippi. Also of interest is 

a New York-to-Toronto trip, cruising 

the Hudson, St. Lawrence Seaway, 

Thousand Islands and on to Quebec 

and Montreal. (blountsmallshipadventures.com) 

DiXiELanD anD aLL that JaZZ 

Another possibility is the Great 

American Steamboat Company’s 

paddlewheeler, the 436-passenger 

American Queen. April 2012 is the longawaited 

comeback of this, the third 

“Queen” of the former Delta Queen 

Steamboat Company. She will ply the 

Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee rivers, 

with special fall foliage cruises slated 

for September into mid-November and 

winter journeys between Memphis and 

New Orleans. Itineraries range from 

three to 10 nights. Antebellum decor 

and showboat-style entertainment will 

be featured, including Dixieland jazz, 

swing and Big Band music. (greatamericansteamboatcompany.com) 

American Cruise Lines offers trips 

that emphasize American history and 

culture. The Queen of the West is 

running seven-night trips on the 

Columbia and Snake rivers through 

Washington and Oregon following in 

the steps of Lewis and Clark’s expedition. 

Another itinerary, called “New 

Hook travelers on a domestic cruise and 

they’ll go farther next time 

England Islands,” sails out of Providence, 

R.I. and visits Nantucket, 

Martha’s Vineyard, Newport and more. 

“Great Rivers of Florida” includes 

Ocala National Forest, St. Augustine 

and Amelia Island, ending in Jacksonville. 

(americancruiselines.com) 

Of course, one shouldn’t forget our 

own states of Alaska and Hawaii to 

round out the mix of endless possibilities 

right here at home. So whether 

you select ships big or small, sedate 

or rollicking good fun, East or West, 

our country has a panoply of options – 

right in our own back yard. 

Marty is a Certified Travel Counselor who 

designs and leads tours. Her travel industry 

consulting and educational firm is Sarbey 

Associates (sarbeyassociates.com). 


On Reunions 

❖ edith wagner 

What are Reunions, Anyway 

EvERyonE hAs An idEA about what very creative so they’ve not had to 

reunions are. But since those ideas cancel or postpone reunions. They 

spring mainly from personal experience, understand some of their members 

everyone’s ideas are different. 

have difficulty affording a reunion so 

When I was developing Reunions they make many adjustments. They 

magazine as a product (over 24 years cut the number of reunion days. They 

ago), I’d posit my idea to anyone who go camping instead of staying in hotels. 

would listen. At the time it was focused They have a picnic closer to home 

to a great extent upon adoption/birthparent 

reunions, which most said was activities that cost but more that are 

instead of traveling. They have fewer 

of no interest to them. But without free or low-cost. But they all add the 

missing a beat, they’d say, “But let me codicil that they look forward to a time 

tell you about my reunions”…which when they can add the extras back in. 

included family, class, military and Overall, reunions are still important 

Often reunions are the only places where 

cousins see one another 

other reunions. It was that last list enough that most make the sacrifice to 

that really got my attention and once I plan them and to be present. 

began to review all their ideas, focus Reunions continue to be the way 

of the magazine began to take a 180- most people stay in touch with what 

degree turn toward the kind of reunions was important in their lives (school 

people really were interested in. 

friends, military buddies) and what 

is important to stay connected to 

REUnions ARE iMPoRTAnT 

(families). 

Reunions, everyone said, were not Reunions maintain connections to 

just important but “very” important. We the past and, for family reunions, to 

revisited the question immediately after the future. In an American society 

9/11 and lately during the economic whose mobility is sometimes at warp 

crisis because both seemed able to speed, reunions serve the very important 

purpose of sustaining connec- 

negatively affect reunions. But the 

“very” importance of reunions was tions. For many families the reunion is 

maintained in both instances with a where cousins meet and bond. Early 

slightly different point of view. After on I learned about a grandmother 

9/11 the response was that “terrorists who, at the funeral of her husband, 

are not going to stop our reunion!” realized her grandchildren did not 

When, more recently, the economy know one another. So she, of course, 

has been the issue, it affects individuals started a family reunion. Often reunions 

who have problems affording the are the only places cousins see one 

reunion but does not affect reunion another. And if the tradition starts early 

events. Reunion planners have gotten enough, they are eager to attend to 

reconnect with important relatives. 

Mention of funerals is important in 

the formation of reunions because they 

are often the occasion when family 

members look around the room in 

earnest and see a generation dying 

and other generations not connected. 

Ask anyone how their family reunion 

started and a very high percentage will 

answer that someone at a funeral suggested 

meeting during happier times. 

There is the strong undertone that they 

are also honoring those who are gone. 

REUnions ARE FUn! 

The reunion planner is a magician 

who, over a year or two, develops a 

party that can last from a couple 

hours to a long weekend or even 

weeks. Well-planned 

reunions include 

access to fun and 

games that many 

Reunion organizers 

will find valuable 

ideas in the 12th 

edition of Reunions 

Workbook, a stepby-step 

guide published 

by Premier 

Tourism Marketing 

as a planning supplement to Reunions 

magazine. Subjects range from choosing a 

date and location to budgeting and setting 

up committees. Also covered are accommodations, 

meals, activities and fundraising. 

To order Reunions Workbook ($9.95), 

log on to groupuniversity.com. 

members enjoy together and reunion 

after reunion. And many reunions 

occur every year because for some 

families reunion time is the only time 

they get together. And they cherish it. 

Edith Wagner is founder and editor of 

Reunions magazine. Visit reunionsmag.com 

for reunion planning ideas and to request a 

free sample copy of the magazine. 


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on the record ❖ 

On The Record 

How Can Special Events 

Bolster Tour Itineraries 

FOLLOWING ARE ANSWERS 

from Leisure Group Travel readers 

who responded to the question: 

How have you successfully 

integrated special events into your 

tours What big national events, 

city festivals or small-town fairs 

have captivated your groups 

Tall Stacks, Customized 

Ohio Travel Treasures has utilized 

big events as a backdrop to tours. 

We have found that creating special 

events within a national event is 

something that we can control. 

An example would be Tall Stacks 

in Cincinnati. Even though the 

event itself is a draw, with all the 

steamboats and their billowing 

smokestacks, it is just one component 

that we put into a customized 

itinerary. We bring in major shows, 

charter our own boats and have 

even had groups watch a major artist 

DAWN DORNES DIDIER HENSSEN KAY COLLINS 

create Tall Stacks prints (which each 

group member receives as a remembrance 

gift). We can control 

the deposits on our own events and 

not have to follow the non-groupfriendly 

deposits and final payments 

that the bigger event demands. 

On a smaller city scale, we take a 

look at the event and then decide if it 

is tour group-worthy. An example is 

an ABA Top 100 event in Ferdinand, 

Ind. This is an authentic Christkindlmarkt 

and offers group members a 

chance to experience a taste of Germany. 

On this event we partnered 

with the local CVB (DuBois County) 

and were able to procure a dinner 

function in the local monastery prior 

to opening-night events. This has 

been a huge hit with the group tour 

market since it is something that has 

never been done before. It takes a 

little creativity to make a huge impact 

and that is what Ohio Travel Treasures 

is noted for—taking something 

On a smaller city scale, we take a look at the 

event and then decide if it is tour group-worthy. 

known and then adding a little 

sparkle and controllable features. 

Diane Sphar, President 

Ohio Travel Treasures LLC, Cincinnati, OH 

Specializing in Events Travel 

For the past six years, Free 

Spirit Vacations has been moving 

in a new direction—namely, including 

special events in most if not all 

itineraries. Selected events may 

be big, stand-alone festivals and 

parades (like Albuquerque Balloon 

Fiesta or Tournament of Roses 

Parade) or a combination of several 

smaller events such as a holiday 

vacation to Arizona. Almost every 

community has activities taking 

place in December, and by combining 

several of the best, such as the 

Lake Havasu Boat Parade of Lights, 

Red Rock Fantasy in Sedona and 

Zoo Lights in Phoenix, a statewide 

five-day itinerary becomes attractive. 

Free Spirit Vacations and Events 

also partners with destinations to 

create new special events especially 

for tour operators. These are events 

planned by a tour operator for tour 

operators who have a loyal customer 

base and need to provide reasons 

for repeat guests to return to a 

destination. Events are fresh and 

add flavor, value, novelty and 

excitement to existing itineraries 

and previously-visited destinations. 

Several such events include 

Mesquite’s BransonFest Out West 

(Mesquite, NV), HOPEFest (Palm 

Springs area) and From Nashville 

to Memphis Festival (Nashville). 

Sue Arko 

Free Spirit Vacations & Events, Gilbert, AZ 


Coast to Coast 

We have used the French Quarter 

Festival in New Orleans, Albuquerque 

Balloon Fiesta and Tournament of 

Roses Parade in Pasadena with 

great success over the years. And, 

while we’ve never actually attended 

because of the huge crowds, the 

Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center 

in New York always happens when 

I have groups in Manhattan for 

Shoppers’ Week each December. 

We always go after the crowds 

have dispersed to oooh and ahhhh 

at this national holiday icon and 

almost always pause for a group 

picture at the tree. This year, for 

the first time ever, we are taking a 

group to the Portland (Oregon) 

Rose Festival in June, a tour that 

sold out immediately! 

Not only do we take the pain out of 

On a more local/regional level, we have 

successfully incorporated many of the 

festivals offered in our own back yard into 

consistently sold-out day trips. 

crowd navigation, we make sure to ate good sales. We’ve sold them 

include any special “extras,” such as straight-up but have also offered 

admission to the group hospitality many of them as Mystery trips. 

tent at the Balloon Fiesta and 

Some of our favorites (and most 

premium seating and admission to highly rated) that we enthusiastically 

the float decorating/building at the recommend are those in Historic 

Rose Parade. 

Downtown Franklin (especially the 

On a more local/regional level, Main Street and Dickens of a Christmas 

festivals), the CMA Festival 

we have successfully incorporated 

many of the festivals offered in our (formerly Fan Fair) in Nashville, 

own back yard into consistently National Cornbread Festival in 

sold-out day trips. Tennessee is South Pittsburgh, Apple Festival in 

abundantly blessed with these Erwin, Appalachian Folk Festival 

estivals and they never fail to gener- 

in Norris, Country Ham Festival in 

LeisureGroupTravel.com April 2012 13


Spring Hill, Mule Day in Columbia, 

Host of Christmas Past Festival in 

Fayetteville, Memphis in May, Jack 

Daniels Barbeque in Lynchburg, 

National Storytelling Festival in 

Jonesborough, and the WinterFest 

Lights Holiday Festival in Sevierville, 

Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. 

Each of these events has enhanced 

local itineraries and been 

used as the end-destination. My 

client club coordinators love them 

because they can easily turn everyone 

loose to explore and enjoy lunch 

on their own, which keeps costs 

down. Plus, these festival-based itineraries 

have stood the test of time 

by attracting multiple coaches for us 

and repeat visits by our groups over 

the years. 

Melinda Hughey 

The RH Factor, Pulaski, TN 

Festivals are perfect for us and easy to set 

up. Most of them are a minimal fee so we can 

sell tours affordably, plus you can just drop 

them at the festival and they’re on their own. 

From Wine to Cheese 

I incorporate many events 

large and small into our tour itineraries. 

We travel to the Finger Lakes 

Wine Festival, July 4 celebrations 

in New York, Lake George and 

Boston, Hampton Beach Seafood 

Festival and Vermont Quilt Festival 

every year. This year we are featuring 

Opsail 2012 on July 1 in 

Boston, doing a harbor cruise to 

see the Tall Ships. We go to the 

Hudson Valley Food Festival and 

the Garlic Festival. New this year 

we will be going to the Cheese 

Makers Festival in Vermont and the 

War of 1812 Weekend in Plattsburgh, 

N.Y. 

Festivals are perfect for us and 

easy to set up. Most of them are a 

minimal fee so we can sell tours 

affordably, plus you can just drop 

them at the festival and they’re on 

their own. 

Donna Schien, Tour Coordinator 

Wade Tours, Schenectady, NY 

Chicago’s North Shore is home to many 

world-class attractions and is 20 minutes from 

downtown Chicago. You’ll find many dining 

and lodging options perfect for groups. 

For personalized assistance and to make group 

reservations, contact us today. 

Caryn Shulman 

847.763.0011 Ext. 25 · cshulman@cnscvb.com 

TREAT YOUR GROUP to the beauty 

of the Chicago Botanic Garden, 

complete with a tram ride. 

Combine with other area attractions: 

• Ravinia Festival 

• Illinois Holocaust Museum 

• Bahá’í House of Worship 

• Charles Gates Dawes House 

• Fabulous Cooking Schools 

• Guided Architecture Tours 

groups.visitchicagonorthshore.com 




Ethnic Milwaukee 

Milwaukee hosts several annual 

ethnic festivals at Henry Maier 

Festival Park on the lakefront that 

bring in many groups. Festivals such 

as German Fest, Festa Italiana and 

Irish Fest will become part of a 

group’s itinerary. We then focus 

on the influence those particular 

ethnicities had on Milwaukee for the 

rest of the tour. For instance, during 

German Fest we’ll provide a city tour 

explaining the influence the German 

immigrants had on the city, visit a 

Bavarian-style brewery, a German 

Catholic church, perhaps the home 

of Captain Frederick Pabst and shop 

at Usinger’s Sausage. The visitors 

learn about the history and enjoy 

the modern day pride of the ethnic 

groups who make up Milwaukee. 

At the festivals they enjoy music, 

dancing, cultural exhibits, and, of 

course, food and drink. 

Kay Collins 

KBC Tour Company, Milwaukee, WI 

Quebec’s Winter Bash 

The Quebec Carnival was a huge 

success with our groups this year, 

with everyone taking advantage of 

the secure destination that is Quebec 

City, so close to all the Northeastern 

states. Snow gear were on for a few 

days of concentrated winter fun! With 

French-Canadian culture, exhibits, 

wondrous sights and activities, 

Le Carnaval de Quebec is the winter 

place to be. 

Didier Henssen 

Prométour, Montreal, Quebec 

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Balloons and Blooms 

We are presenting the “Trains 

and Canyons of the Southwest 

featuring the Albuquerque Balloon 

Fiesta” in October and the annual 

Fiesta is a big draw for this tour. In 

2010 we sold over 80 seats as we 

featured the Passion Play in our 

“Alpine Country and the Oberammergau 

Passion Play” tour. The “Tulip 

Time River Cruise” featured the 

local tulip festival in May and was 

definitely the most exciting part of 

the trip. These are all great ways to 

sell a tour, and there are so many 

more of these types of events offered, 

so take advantage of them 

and use them to sell your tours. 

L. Kay Estep, GO Club Coordinator 

F & M Trust Company, Chambersburg, PA 

Mid-Atlantic Festivals 

We have had great success with 

integrating special events into our 


tours for 2012. The Star-Spangled 

Sailabration in Baltimore in June 

has been a huge hit among our preformed 

groups. We offered several 

options for the groups to include 

with the special events going on 

that week—Spirit Cruise, Maryland 

Historical Society, Ft. McHenry—to 

name a few. Our groups are very 

excited about being a part of such a 

wonderful celebration! 

Another special event we targeted 

is the Folklife Festival in Washington, 

D.C. This has become a perfect 

tie-in with many of the wonderful 

attractions in the D.C. area and fits 

well with the wide variety of groups 

we work with. 

The annual Azalea Festival and 

International Tattoo in Norfolk has 

been a long-time favorite among 

our groups. It’s another wonderful 

destination with a large variety of 

attractions, restaurants and tours to 

choose from. 

We also have had great success 

with the Annual ICE Attraction at the 

Gaylord National Resort in National 

Harbor, Md. This amazing attraction 

has drawn many of our groups (young 

and old) to experience Christmas on 

the Potomac. Last but not least is the 

annual Pella (Iowa) Tulip Time Festival. 

We have had a great response 

to this wonderful package filled with 

beautiful tulips, Dutch attire, parades, 

food and fun. 

Integrating these types of special 

events into our tours has made tour 

planning so much easier. Half the 

work is already done for us, and 

promoting the event is a breeze with 

the help of the CVB or organization 

sponsoring the event. 

Dawn Dornes, Group Tour Coordinator 

Elite Coach, Ephrata, PA 

IN THE JUNE ISSUE 

of Leisure Group Travel, our 

On the Record column will look at 

online marketing. Please send us 

your response to this question: 

How are you using online tools— 

websites, email, social networking— 

to grow your business 

Along with your comments, 

please include your name, company 

name and location. Also for 

publication, send a high-resolution 

photo of yourself. A selection of 

responses will be printed in the 

June 2012 issue. Thanks in advance 

for your valuable opinions. 

Send to: Randy Mink, 

randy@ptmgroups.com 

Group events are all about enjoying each 

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on location: central america ❖ lance harrell 

Costa 

The 

essenTial 

Scenic beauty and exotic wildlife await 

tour groups in this eco-tourism hotspot 

nestled in the cradle of the Central American subcontinent and 

caressed by the waters of both the Pacific Ocean and 

Caribbean Sea lies one of the world’s last great ecological 

treasure troves, Costa Rica. 

Touted as one of the greenest places on Earth, this former 

banana republic now prides itself on being a thriving ecotourism 

destination with over 25 percent of its landmass protected 

in national parks and preserves, more than any other 

country. 

The lush rainforest sweeps down to idyllic beaches at Manuel Antonio National Park, a slice of paradise bordering the Pacific Ocean. 

Let’s look at some of the highlights: 

Tortuguero National Park 

Sprawling along the northern Caribbean coast, Tortuguero 

National Park is one of Costa Rica’s true natural wonders. With 

an endless network of canals, the park is sometimes referred 

to as the “Venice of Costa Rica.” Its name actually means 

“Turtle Region,” and turtles are exactly what you will find. 

The park encompasses the nesting grounds of four species 

of giant sea turtle, which evidence suggests have been using 

the area for this purpose since as early as the 1500s. Green, 

hawksbill, loggerhead and giant leatherback turtles use the 

more than 21 miles of beach to lay their eggs, and guided tours 

can be arranged to watch both the depositing of eggs and 

emergence of baby turtles from their sandy womb. 

Although the turtles are the star of the show here, groups 

can also explore the lowland rain forest, swamp forest, 

beaches and lagoons that cover the park. 

Due to the remoteness of the region, which is only accessible 

by boat or air, and the limited number of available 

accommodations, it is recommended that your group use a 

tour operator to handle the trip and that you set aside at least 

two nights to avoid being rushed. 

Manuel Antonio National Park 

Arriving in Manuel Antonio is like stepping into a postcard of 

paradise. The verdant forests, bleach-white beaches and 

abundant fauna of Costa’s smallest park seduce you into a 

state of tranquil bliss. 

This national park is one of only two places where you can 

see all four species of Costa Rican monkey (howler, spider, 

squirrel and white-faced capuchin). Even outside the park 

proper, it’s not uncommon to see them frolicking along the high 

ropes that have been strung across the roads to provide them 

safe passage. 

In addition to our primate cousins, inside the park you 

are likely to see sloths, crabs, red-eyed green tree frogs, 

bats, countless butterflies and numerous bird species. When 

you’ve had your fill of terrestrial wildlife watching, enjoy the 

sea kayaking, snorkeling, swimming, surfing and canopy tours 

that abound in the area. 


Rican 

naTuRe expeRienCe 

The jungles of Costa Rica’s national parks abound with toucans, sloths, red-eyed green tree frogs and other intriguing creatures. 

Chirripo National Park 

Those who desire to take their travels to new heights flock 

to the Talamanca Mountain Range in southern Costa Rica, 

where Chirripo National Park boasts the tallest peak in the 

country. Both the Caribbean and Pacific are visible on a clear 

day from the summit. 

Near the trailhead outside the park are lodges where you 

will sleep before starting the 5 a.m. hike. The number of 

people allowed in the park at one time is limited, so be sure to 

secure your passes several months in advance, especially if 

your group is large. 

The hike itself can be grueling, but it is far from impossible 

even for the amateur hiker. You’ll ascend approximately 7,000 

feet along the nine miles of trail, reaching the lodge where you 

will spend the night before climbing the final 1,500 feet to the 

12,532-foot summit. 

While an experienced hiker can reach the peak and return 

in a day, I recommend taking a slower pace and spending at 

least one night at the lodge so as not to miss the other sites, 

including secondary trails and one-of-a-kind sunsets. You are 

also likely to encounter tapir, white-lipped peccary, puma, 

jaguar, ocelot, jaguarondi, rabbit, coyote and a variety of frogs 

and other small amphibians. Among the birds in the region 

are the dazzling quetzal, black-faced solitaire, hummingbirds, 

flycatchers, wood creepers and warblers. 

Corcovado National Park 

Occupying nearly half of the Osa Peninsula along the southern 

Pacific Coast, Corcovado National Park is considered one 

of the most isolated places on the planet and contains the 

largest continuous expanse of virgin lowland rainforest in 

Central America. If you can stand up to the nearly 250 inches 

of annual rainfall and oppressive heat and humidity, you will be 

able to count the experience among the greatest of your life. 

Home to an unbelievable abundance of fauna, including 

more than 150 species of mammals, 120 species of amphibians 

and reptiles, and 380 species of birds, the park is within 

day-trip reach of Cano Island Biological Reserve. 

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve 

Long before you reach the end of the steep and winding 

dirt road that approaches the town of Monteverde, you will 

understand the origins of its name, which translates into 

“Green Mountain.” 

The area was originally settled by Quakers from the United 

States in 1951. Recognizing the need to preserve the rare 

cloud forest that blankets the mountaintop, they set aside a 

large tract of adjacent land that eventually became Monteverde 

Biological Cloud Forest Reserve in 1972. 

Shrouded in the misty air of the reserve’s 25,688 acres is 

hidden an unbelievable diversity of life, with more than 2,500 


on location: central america ❖ 

Obtain International visitor guides and itineraries and contact groupfriendly 

suppliers directly at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info 

plant species, of which 400 are orchid species, plus 400 

different bird species and over 100 species of mammals. 

Cahuita National Park 

If you are looking for a true Caribbean experience, Cahuita’s 

reggae rhythms, blue-green waters and tranquil pace will 

not leave you wanting. This small, charming town has been a 

mecca for the hippie and backpacker crowd for years, due 

in no small part to Cahuita National Park, which abuts its southern 

end. 

The park encompasses a 55,000-acre marine park that 

includes a magnificent coral reef, one of the largest in the 

Caribbean. Snorkeling and diving in the park are tightly controlled, 

but you will have no trouble finding a licensed guide 

that can take you to a few of the more hard-to-find areas. 

However, if swimming with the resplendent blue parrotfish 

or angelfish is not your cup of seawater, then take a stroll along 

the four-mile trail that skirts the coastline and stake out an 

isolated spot on the endless white sand beach. While soaking 

up the sun and listening to the waves gently lapping against the 

sand, do not be surprised to encounter the occasional sloth, 

monkey or iguana that has come to share the experience. 

Monteverde Cloud Forest 

has six hanging bridges. 

Costa Rica offers groups a variety ecological travel options, 

but the experiences in the country are by no means limited to 

that arena. Costa Rica also has many language learning, cultural 

exchange, volunteerism, adventure tourism and luxury 

experiences available as well. For more information on all of 

these options, keep an eye out at LeisureGroupTravel.com for 

our upcoming series of Site InSpections on Costa Rica. LGT

witzerland 

AttrActs religious trAvel groups 

St. Gallen, a town of ecclesiastical treasures and 

Old World charm, observes a special anniversary 

By Don Heimburger

Faith travel groups have a particularly 

enticing reason to venture to 

Switzerland in 2012. 

That’s because one of the country’s 

most important faith destinations is celebrating 

1,400 years of religious tradition. 

St. Gallen’s Jubilee this year looks 

back on more than a millennium of religious 

heritage and will feature an array 

of festivities to mark the occasion. 

ST. GALLEN ON DISPLAY IN 2012 

St. Gallen, population 70,000, is 

Switzerland Tourism Photos 

close to Lake Constance and nearby 

Mt.Säntis and is a gateway to the towering 

Appenzell Alps. It is the capital 

city of the canton of the same name. 

An economic center and railway hub 

for Eastern Switzerland, St. Gallen is 

internationally renowned for its textile industry, 

which dates to the 15th century. 

The town’s most famous landmark is 

its Baroque cathedral and the Abbey 

Library, which houses thousands of precious 

historical documents, some handwritten 

and some more than 1,000 years 

old. The library, open for tours, is one of 

the most important monastic libraries in 

the world and has been designated a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its collection 

of books reveals the development 

of European culture and documents the 

Abbey of St. Gall from the 8th century to 

the monastery’s dissolution in 1805. 

During its first few centuries, the 

abbey grew rapidly, becoming a flourishing 

spiritual and cultural center, famous 

for its writings and the illumination 

of manuscripts. A number of the abbey’s 

Weinstein Castle vineyards, 

St. Gallen Rhine Valley 

creative monks made important contributions 

to the cultural history of Europe. 

Between 1758 and 1767, abbots 

Cölestin Gugger von Staudach and Beda 

Angehrn commissioned building of the 

library’s magnificent Baroque hall, which 

was decorated and furnished by master 

craftsmen from the Lake Constance 

region. The hall is considered to be one 

of the finest of its kind. 

The Abbey Llibrary contains 150,000 

volumes, but its true treasure lies in the 

manuscript collection. Roughly 2,000 

manuscripts are archived, and some 

400 are more than 1,000 years old. 

Particularly significant are the Irish- 

Celtic manuscripts. Although many of 

them were lost, the collection is one of 

the most important in the world. Also 

invaluable is the Latin-German dictionary 

that originated in 790; it is the oldest 

German book known to exist. 

History shows that around 612 AD 

an Irish monk from Belfast named 

Gallus built a hermitage and a house of 

prayer in the Steinbach Valley here. It is 

said that Saint Gallus, upon first walking 

through the area toward Rome with 

other monks, became ill and was left on 

the shores of nearby Lake Constance 

to recuperate. When Gallus was better, 

he came to a clearing near the Steinbach 

River, and approached by a hungry 

bear, offered the bear some food. 

In return, the bear brought Gallus wood 

for a fire, and Gallus took that as a sign 

he should build a church, which was the 

Monastery of St. Gallus. Today, many 

icons of the monk and the bear can be 

located in town. 

View towards Mt. Kronberg 

and Mt. Saentis, Canton Appenzell

A Baroque jewel: The magnificent hall 

of St. Gallen’s Abbey Library 

Gallus’ Irish ancestry forms an important 

part of this tradition, which has been 

handed down through generations, says 

St. Gallen Tourism Director Boris 

Tschirky. “The 2012 Gallus Anniversary 

will draw on this. The bond with Ireland 

has always been an important part of the 

remembrance of Gallus; within the 

framework of the anniversary, this bond 

is both maintained and deepened.” 

JUBILEE EVENTS 

Between April and October, the 

region of St. Gallen will celebrate with 

tours, theater performances, a variety of 

outings, art exhibitions and culinary 

specialties in city-center restaurants. 

“The 2012 Gallus Anniversary is 

intended to astonish, delight and touch 

people, to encourage them to reflect 

and to inspire them,” St. Gallen Mayor 

Thomas Scheitlin says. 

The main focus of Jubilee 2012 will 

be in the Abbey District, a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site, and the surrounding 

Old Town. A newly-created Visitors 

Center will make the Abbey District 

more welcoming, and new signage will 

make it easier to navigate. 

An opening-day ceremony in the 

Cathedral and inauguration of the 

Visitors Center, opening of residents’ 

homes in the Abbey District for small 

events, a culinary market, street artists 

and musicians in more than 22 locations, 

and a festival in the Old Town will be part 

of the anniversary celebration. The 

Abbey Library will display manuscripts 

and prints that document life in the area.

a Call to 

adventure 

Lucerne to host annual meeting 

of adventure travel specialists 

If your group is like a lot of adventure travelers, 

cutting-edge sports and stimulating 

outdoor activities are the name of the game. 

Switzerland has been at the forefront of 

exciting travel quests for decades. With 

glaciers, lush forests and nature parks, 

extensive hiking paths and mountain huts, 

resplendent lakes and rushing streams, this 

eye-popping country rates high on the 

adventure charts. 

In addition to the many adventure 

activities, the Swiss Alps’ jagged peaks, 

gushing waterfalls and postcard-worthy 

alpine villages are a visual delight. 

The diversity of climates, moreover, 

gives outdoor lovers a wealth of choices. 

In one day you can go from snow-capped 

summits to lakes lined with palm trees in 

the Italian-speaking Ticino region, known 

for its Mediterranean lifestyle. 

The list of activities for the serious 

adventurer is long. You can go parasailing 

on the many exquisite lakes, or mountain 

climbing or hiking in the regions of Lucerne, 

Zermatt or the Bernese Oberland, all 

spectacularly beautiful areas. You can go 

boating, hang gliding, kayaking or sailing 

in the central part of the country, or snowboarding, 

skiing, swimming or bicycling in 

the Jura Mountains. These mountains are 

dotted with caves—some of the largest in 

Switzerland—and covered with forests and 

unique geological formations. The area also 

has the longest hiking season of any of 

the country’s mountain regions, so it’s 

great for a spring or fall trip. 

Numerous groups come to Switzerland 

each year to inhale the fresh air, test their 

endurance and soak in the sights. You can 

go from level plateaus to mid-range 

mountains to on-top-of-the-world views 

in a short period of time. An interconnected, 

well-planned transportation system, from 

trains and cable cars to chairlifts and 

funiculars, can easily handle groups who 

want to get to their jumping-off point 

quickly and easily. Conveniently, major cities 

are in close proximity to mountain resorts. 

At the end of an active day you’ll find 

some of the best cheese (like Vacherin 

Mont d’O), chocolates and hospitality 

awaiting you at the many hotels, bed and 

breakfasts, and pensions. To carb-up for 

the next day’s adventure, Swiss fondue, 

raclette and rosti dishes await the hungry 

adventurer, along with a good glass of 

wine or beer. And the Swiss are known 

also for their excellent spa facilities that 

treat the weary traveler after a long, 

hard day. 

It’s no wonder then that the Adventure 

Travel Trade Association has scheduled its 

ninth annual Adventure Travel World Summit 

for Oct. 8-11 at the Culture and Congress 

Center in Lucerne. As many as 600 adventure 

tourism professionals from more than 50 

nations will gather in this supreme adventure 

travel destination. 

As Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years 

from now you will be more disappointed 

by the things you didn’t do than by the 

ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, 

sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the 

trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. 

Discover.” 

Switzerland is ready for the adventurer 

in all of us. From rails to sails to trails, from 

hikes to bikes, from skiing to snowshoeing, 

this small country is the essence of big 

adventure. 

ZURICH AND LUCERNE 

For many groups, Zurich’s airport 

will be the gateway to Switzerland. 

Christianity in Zurich, home of the Swiss 

Reformation, began in the 4th century. 

Zurich made a significant mark in 

Christian history in the 16th century 

when the city council voted to become a 

Protestant city. Catching a train or other 

convenient transportation from Zurich to 

other historical faith sites is easy. 

Lucerne, one hour by train from 

Zurich, traces its roots to the St. Leodegar 

monastery, a small 8th century 

Benedictine cloister on the Reuss 

River. For centuries people and goods 

have passed this way to and from the 

Gotthard Pass, and pilgrims have 

followed St. Jacob’s Way to Santiago 

through Lucerne. The stretch between 

Schwarzenburg and Fribourg includes 

the 600-year-old Frybourgstrass, a 

path that leads through forests and 

over streams, past castle ruins, 

chapels and shrines. 

Lucerne is the springboard for trips 

to numerous lakeside communities and 

attractions, all accessible via Lake 

Lucerne Navigation Company’s 20 

boats. Since 1837 these boats have 

been a vital link in the area’s transportation 

system, carrying passengers 

in style and offering delicious meals 

and snacks on board. The boats are 

available for group charters. 

Lucerne-area attractions accessible 

by lake boats, trains or buses include: 

• 6,995-foot-high Mt. Pilatus, home 

of the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, 

where you can get a 360-degree 

view of Switzerland. A day excursion to 

the “Dragon Mountain” can include a 

spectacular ride down by aerial cableway 

and panorama gondola. 

• Mt. Rigi, “Queen of the Mountains,” 

offers breathtaking views of the Swiss 

Alps, 13 lakes and views as far away 

as Germany and France. The railway 

to the top features old-fashioned 


Lucerne’s trademark covered bridge on Lake Lucerne 

steam trains, which can be chartered. 

Numerous hiking paths thread the 

mountainside. 

SO MANY OPTIONS 

Switzerland offers many other faith 

travel options, such as a monastery or 

abbey stay; the convent of St. Muestair 

offers an overnight in a mountain hut. 

The Abbey of Einsiedeln, an hour east 

of Lucerne, is the home of the Black 

Madonna and has attracted the devout 

for 1,000 years. 

In the Jura region west of Lucerne is 

the Anabaptist Trail where Anabaptists 

fled in the 17th century. Here you can 

visit secret meeting places with early 

The world’s steepest 

cogwheel railway 

climbs to the top 

of Mt. Pilatus. 

inscriptions, an Anabaptists Bridge and 

even the Anabaptists Archives with 

unpublished documents. 

The Museum of the Reformation is a 

must-see in Geneva. The building once 

served as an apartment complex for 

Huguenot refugees; it in turn is built on 

the ruins of St. Peter’s cloister. Some of 

the oldest French language Bibles in the 

world, plus Calvin’s biblical commentaries, 

are found here, as are caricatures 

and pamphlets used to argue Protestant 

or Catholic perspectives. 

Switzerland provides numerous religious 

travel possibilities, and the main 

question will be: When does your group 

want to go 

For information on the 2012 Gallus 

Anniversary and heritage tourism in 

Switzerland, visit gallusjubilaeum.ch or 

myswitzerland.com/heritage. 

GETTING AROUND SWITZERLAND 

Faith-based travel planners have a 

number of good reasons to bring their 

groups to St. Gallen and other historic 

Swiss religious sites: 

Zurich’s location in the heart of 

Europe makes it a convenient entry 

point (70 airlines fly into the airport). The 

Zurich airport has been named on numerous 

occasions as “Europe’s Leading 

Airport.” Zurich offers easy access to a 

number of Swiss attractions and other 

countries. 

The Swiss travel system is one of 

the most advanced in the world, from 

swift cross-country trains, to buses that 

connect major cities with rural areas, to 

lake boats, aerial cableways and mountain 

railways that further make travel so 

convenient in this country of eight million 

people. Surprisingly, 97% of the Swiss 

people live within two miles walking 

distance of public transportation. A Swiss 

Pass entitles groups to unlimited travel 

on numerous modes of transport and 

offers free entrance to 450 museums (including 

the Abbey Library in St. Gallen). 

The Swiss, while having four official 

languages (German, French, Italian and 

Romansch), for the most part also speak 

English. LGT 


on location: south ❖ dave bodle 

SOUTHERN 

Maymont, an example 

of Gilded Age opulence 

in Richmond, Va., 

boasts 33 rooms. 

MANSIONS 

Plantations, cabins and other 

homes steeped in history 

enhance itineraries in the 

11 Travel South states 

Savoring a taste of Old England 

during Summer City Fest at 

Agecroft Hall in Richmond, Va. 

The South’s mountain ranges, endless plains, abundant 

harbors and magnificent rivers can all tell stories of our 

nation’s history. However, if walls in the historic homes 

could talk, what wonderful tales they might spin. From palatial 

plantations to humble cabins, so much of our culture can be 

seen and experienced. Each home is unique for its residents, 

its use and its place in our past. 

VIRGINIA 

Virginia’s presidential homes or its James River Plantations 

may come to mind first, but just off I-95 in Richmond two special 

houses welcome groups. 

A visit to Agecroft Hall is a step into 15th century Europe. 

Built in England during the late 1600s, Agecroft was the home 

to the distinguished Langley and Dauntesey families. Upon 

falling into disrepair it was purchased at auction in 1925 by 

Richmonder Thomas C. Williams. He had it dismantled, crated, 

shipped across the Atlantic and reassembled in a Richmond 

neighborhood known as Windsor Farms. With authentic pieces 

from as early as 1485 to 1660, the Tudor estate brims with history. 

(agecrofthall.com) 

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often termed 

America’s Gilded Age, vast fortunes were amassed. Maymont, 

its 100 acres and 25 outbuildings are a testimony to the wealth 

of James Dooley and his wife Sallie. The Dooleys’ gift of May- 


Where every visit creates 

lasting memories 

Motorcoach travelers know that Pigeon Forge is the perfect place to make 

memories. Could be because there’s so much to see and do here … shopping, 

shows, Dollywood ® or the majestic beauty of our Smoky Mountains. Or it could 

be that warm welcome they receive, kind of like visiting an old friend. Whatever 

the reason, they know that every visit creates memories that will last a lifetime. 

PigeonForgeTours.com 

1-800-285-7557 


on location: south ❖ 

mont to the City of Richmond is a tribute to their generosity. 

Watch for the 24th annual Maymont Flower & Garden Show, a 

spectacular event held in early February at the Richmond Convention 

Center. (maymont.org) 

WEST VIRGINIA 

Today so much of West Virginia’s appeal is tied to its spectacular 

mountains and outdoor recreation. Early settlers, 

though, farmed a rich, fertile land and played an important role 

in the Civil War. 

In Philippi you’ll find Adaland Mansion and Historic Barn. 

The barn was built in 1850 and the brick mansion followed in 

1870. The original owners farmed, and emancipated slaves 

from the farm worked on the construction of the house. In June 

of 1861 the first land battle of the Civil War was fought in 

Philippi. (adaland.org) 

Although the most famous battles of the Civil War took 

place in other states, West Virginia experienced its share of 

tragedy. The Dr. Robert B. McNutt House was the only building 

left standing in Princeton after the town was burned during 

the Civil War. It was used as headquarters for Lt. Col. Rutherford 

B. Hayes and Sgt. William McKinley, who both went on to 

become U.S. presidents. (pmccc.com/mcnutt_history.htm) 

NORTH CAROLINA 

From the coast to the mountains the historic homes of North 

Carolina reveal much about our culture and spirit. Two in particular 

play to our creativity. 

Affiliated with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, the 

Reynolda House Museum of American Art is the restored 

19th century country home of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company 

founder. In addition to works by Mary Cassatt, Fredric 

Church, Jacob Lawrence and Georgia O’Keeffe, the museum 

features changing exhibits. (reynoldahouse.org) 

The memory and literary insights of author Carl Sandburg 

are on display at Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, 

located in Connemare (near Asheville and Henderson). The 

National Park Service is the steward of this first historic site to 

honor an American poet. Sandburg, an Illinois native, moved 

there in 1945. More than one third of his works were penned in 

this peaceful, 262-acre farm setting. (nps.gov/carl) 

SOUTH CAROLINA 

With Charleston’s colorful Rainbow Battery, the magnificent 

rice plantations and the Upstate homes from the colonial 

era, South Carolina is a treasure chest of history. South Carolinians, 

an ingenious people, have put many of those great 

homes to work. 

The Franklin B. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum 

in Myrtle Beach serves residents and visitors of Horry 

and Georgetown counties. In 1924 textile mogul Eugene Cannon 

built a large wood-frame, oceanfront cottage in what is 

today Myrtle Beach. Twenty years later the house was sold to 

another textile titan, Colonel Elliot White Springs. By 1975 the 

house was being surrounded by high-rise condominium buildings 

and the family traded the villa for a new home. Through 

generous donations and community effort, the home by 1997 

had been moved to its present location and established as a 

wonderful art museum with expansive ocean views. (myrtlebeachartmuseum.org) 

Just off I-95 in Yemassee sits the Frampton House, serving 

as the Lowcountry Visitors Center and Museum. The house 

was part of the original King’s Grant to the Frampton family in 

the 1700s, but in 1865 the house was burned by General Sherman’s 

troops. Rebuilt in 1868 in today’s location, the house 

saw major renovations in 1930. In 1993 Wymann Boozer donated 

the Frampton House for creation of the visitors center. 

(southcarolinalowcountry.com) 

GEORGIA 

Few Southern states have cities matching the cosmopolitan 

sizzle of Atlanta, but we often forget that Georgia is also a window 

to our past. 

Located on the Georgia College campus in Milledgeville, 

the Old Governor’s Mansion was completed in 1839. 

As the residence of Georgia’s chief executives from 1839- 

1868, the National Historic Landmark showcases the 

antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Slavery, the 

difficulty of the social order and gender positions all shaped 

the history of the building. On Nov. 22, 1864, Gen. William 

T. Sherman claimed the mansion during his March to the 

Sea. (gcsu.edu/mansion) 

The Isaiah Davenport House in Savannah portrays an 

appealing story of the American Dream both then and now. 

The tale begins with a young New England carpenter 

achieving success in his adopted city. A demonstration of 

his building skills, Davenport’s fine home, noted “for the 

simplicity of the exterior and the charm of the interior,” 

housed his family and the enslaved people that worked for 

him. In the mid-19th century the house passed out of the 

Davenports’ hands and became a dilapidated tenement by 

the mid-20th century. The work of seven Savannah women 

coming together in 1955 saved the house and led to the 

founding of the Historic Savannah Foundation. (davenporthousemuseum.org) 


The art of COUNTRY, BLUES 

and ROCK ’N’ ROLL. 

Blues in Helena-West Helena 

Entertainers Hall of Fame, Pine Bluff 

Go on tour around The Natural State – cruise the Rock ’N’ Roll 

Highway to visit the places where legends were made, explore 

the musical birthplaces of the Delta, and pay respect to the 

greats in the Entertainers Hall of Fame. 

 

ArkansasGroupTravel.com 

or call 1-800-872-1259 

Johnny Cash Music Festival, Jonesboro 

unique visits 

DeGray Lake Resort State Park 

888-AT-PARKS • ArkansasStateParks.com

Make the high point of Arkansas 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 

March 3 – September 16, 2012 

The St. Louis Cardinals 

“Play Ball” will feature decades of memorabilia from one of our country’s 

most storied franchises, the St. Louis Cardinals. This exhibition will feature 

over 100 items such as the World Series trophies from 2006 and 2011 and 

championship rings. 

For A Limited Time Only! 

 

 

 

 

being a baseball fan. 

On loan from St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum


KENTUCKY 

With the Civil War Sesquicentennial being commemorated 

through 2015, it’s a good time to ponder Kentucky’s place in 

that history. Although a Southern state that accepted slavery, 

Kentucky refused to secede from the Union. Curiously, the 

presidents of both the USA and Confederacy were born in Kentucky, 

less than 100 miles apart. 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in 

Hodgenville focuses on Lincoln’s early childhood from his 1809 

birth and portrays our 16th president’s humble beginnings. Situated 

on 116 acres of Thomas Lincoln’s Sinking Spring Farm, 

the birthplace features an early 19th century Kentucky cabin 

symbolizing the one in which Lincoln was born. The cabin is 

enshrined within the Memorial Building, the first building to 

honor Abraham Lincoln. Events surrounding Lincoln’s time in 

Kentucky helped mold his formative years. A land dispute 

forced the family to move north when Lincoln was seven years 

old. (nps.gov/abli) 

Jefferson Davis Monument State Historic Site in Fairview 

is a Kentucky state park preserving the 1808 birthplace of the 

president of the Confederate States of America. The birthplace 

home is no longer, but in 1924 construction of a magnificent 

monument was completed. At the age of 3 young Jefferson and 

his family moved to a Mississippi plantation, but by age 7 he 

was attending schools back in Kentucky. Born just a year and 

100 miles apart, Lincoln and Davis both strived to preserve the 

Union. However, after South Carolina’s secession the latter felt 

compelled to resign from the U.S. House of Representatives 

and return to his Mississippi home. Soon after he was named 

president of the CSA. (kentuckytourism.com) 

TENNESSEE 

Although many travelers are familiar with Elvis Presley’s 

Graceland and Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, some are discovering 

Tennessee’s less heralded historic homes. 

The James K. Polk Ancestral Home in downtown Columbia 

is the only surviving home of the 11th U.S. president (outside 

the White House, of course). Built in 1816, it displays original 

belongings of President and Mrs. Polk. The Polk family moved 

from North Carolina to Tennessee when James was 10. Polk 

was focused on politics his whole life and began his career in 

1823 in the Tennessee House of Representatives. In 1844 the 

Democrats were having difficulty nominating a candidate and finally 

nominated Polk on the ninth ballot. He narrowly defeated 

Henry Clay. During his term the United States extended its territory 

from the Atlantic to the Pacific. (jameskpolk.com) 

Called the “Boyhood Hero of the Confederacy,” Sam Davis 

served in various combat roles in the Confederate Army during 

the Civil War. As a courier, he was captured in November 1863, 

and upon suspicion of espionage and failure to divulge information, 

the Union Army executed him after a captivity of only seven 

days. He died on his 21st birthday. Davis’ story, a rallying point for 

the Southern cause in the closing days of the Confederacy, is revealed 

at the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna. Southern clergy 

often spoke of him in Christ-like terms. (samdavishome.org) 

ARKANSAS 

There are hundreds of ways to explore the beauty of 

Arkansas. Part of that scenic attractiveness is the wealth of 

magnificent Victorian-era homes. 

The Victorian era, which corresponds with the reign of 

Queen Victoria in England from 1837 to 1901, was noted for its 

attention to high morals and modesty—with a few exceptions. 

The prominent apple green-and-cream structure in Fort Smith, 

Miss Laura’s, was a bordello in its earlier days. Originally built 

as the luxurious Riverfront Hotel just before the 1900s, the 

city’s premier bawdyhouse now serves as the town’s Visitor 

Center. Completely restored, Miss Laura’s is the only former 

house of prostitution listed on the National Register of Historic 

Places. (fortsmith.org) 

On a more genteel note, the entire town of Eureka Springs 

is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Eureka 

Springs Historic District. The city has steep winding streets filled 

with Victorian-style cottages and manors. Built in Carthage in 

1891, the Queen Anne Mansion was dismantled, moved to 

Eureka Springs and reconstructed 100 years later. German and 

Italian artisans carved classic Victorian oak and cherry fireplace 

mantels as well as pocket doors. With more than $400,000 of 

antique furnishings, it is considered an elegant place for weddings 

and receptions. (thequeenannemansion.com) 

ALABAMA 

To the pleasure of many travelers this is the “Year of Alabama 

Food.” Although groups are similar to armies and move 

on their stomachs, you will need to take a break from the table 

and explore an historic home. We’ll have you back for dinner. 

On July 4, 1881 the Tuskegee Normal School was established 

by the State of Alabama to educate newly freed slaves. 

At the age of 26, Booker T. Washington became the first principal 

of the newly formed school. His home, The Oaks, was built 

in 1899 using bricks made by students. At the time it was the 

only residence in the county with running water and electricity. 

Today the home (with original furnishings) is part of Tuskegee 

Institute National Historic Site, located on the campus of 

Tuskegee University. The National Park Service site also includes 

the George Washington Carver Museum. (nps.gov/tuin) 


Play 

Well 

With Others 

On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, just east of New Orleans, 

you’ll find a Tour Operator’s dream. A place of natural 

beauty, boasting 62 miles of coastline graced by 

centuries-old live oaks. Add the excitement of 11 casino 

resorts and you’ve got a real winner! 

Go to www.gulfcoast.org for all the information you 

need to plan your next tour, including sample itineraries, 

step-on guides, and tour friendly restaurants and 

lodging properties. 

Let our sales staff take care of everything, so you can play! 

Play Your Way! 

Convention & Visitors Bureau 

www.gulfcoast.org 

Call: Janet Harrington, Manager Leisure Sales 

Group Travel at 888-467-4853 (Ext. 228) 

Email: janeth@gulfcoast.org 

Biloxi Historic Tours/Biloxi Tour Train 

Contact: Carla Beaugez 

Phone: 228-374-8687 

Email: info@biloxitourtrain.com 

Welcome to Biloxi. Celebrating 51 years, we 

invite all aboard for this genuine adventure 

through Biloxi’s cultural history! The original 

Biloxi tour is like no other and guests love 

it! Relive our colorful past and learn of our 

spirit as only Carla can share them. Come 

for history, for the fun, or just to enjoy the 

ride! 

Salute and Lookout Steakhouse 

Contact: Rob Stinson 

Phone: 228-343-1755 

Email: RRS1@cableone.net 

Whatever you need, you’ll find at Salute 

and Lookout Steakhouse. Busloads of 

hungry tourists can dine on the same 

cuisine as Mississippi’s locals. Whether 

your mouth waters for authentic Chicken 

Parmesan from Salute or Lookout’s Shrimp 

& Grits you can all sit down together to an 

affordable meal served by the Gulf Coast’s 

finest staff. 

Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant Biloxi 

Contact: Talia Simms 

Email: taliacsimms@gmail.com 

Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant Biloxi 

is scheduled to open Summer 2012. The 

resort will have a 26,000 sq. ft. casino, a 

signature Margaritaville restaurant, a buffet 

uniquely themed and a multi-purpose 

events center. The marina will have 

complete facilities for 12 vessels and tie-up 

space for an additional 30-40 boats. 

South Beach Biloxi Hotel & Suites 

Contact: Sherry Queen 

Phone: 228-388-2627 

Email: squeen@sbbiloxihotel.com 

Welcome to Biloxi’s only beachfront hotel 

located on the sandy shores of the Gulf 

Coast. Close to Casino Row and popular 

Biloxi attractions, South Beach Biloxi Hotel 

& Suites is a one-of-a-kind, ultra luxury, allsuite 

hotel. Expect the best in guest suite 

amenities, the best in scenic views, and personalized 

service beyond your imagination. 

Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum 

Contact: Robin K. David 

Phone: 228-435-6320 

Email: schooner@maritimemuseum.org 

Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi 

Contact: Fallon McClain 

Phone: 228-546-3111 

Website: www.fourpointsbiloxi.com 

Silver Slipper Casino 

Contact: Aissa Wiggins 

Phone: 1-866-SLIPPER 

Email: a.wiggins@silverslipper-ms.com 

Edgewater Mall 

Contact: Michelle Rogers 

Phone: 228-388-3424 

Email: mrogers@edgewatermall.com 

Take a step back in time! Sail the twomasted 

Biloxi Oyster Schooners! Full-day, 

Half-day, 2.5-hour charters and Walk-on 

sails. Pier complex is available for special 

events, reunions and weddings. Visit our 

museum located at Edgewater Mall, Biloxi 

for one of a kind artifacts. 

Work or play, stay the way you like at the all 

new Four Points by Sheraton, Biloxi Beach 

Boulevard. Relax in one of 195 stylish 

rooms featuring beautiful gulf views and 

“four comfort” beds. From our Terrace you 

can relax by our saltwater pool overlooking 

the Gulf, or enjoy GT’s Restaurant & Bar. 

Four Points has you covered. 

30,000 sq. ft. of non-stop gaming action 

with exciting new promotions and the best 

Southern Hospitality on the Gulf Coast! 

Group packages available: 1-866-Slipper, 

228-469-2712 or a.wiggins@silverslipperms.com. 

Website: www.silverslipper-ms. 

com. 

Great stores. Great style. Great all-weather 

shopping. It’s all in the largest enclosed mall 

on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. You’ll find 

us on the beach and you’ll find everything 

you love!


ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: For a sampling of great Southern 

festivals, see the article at http://leisuregrouptravel.com/p=26866. 

In 1820 Alabama became the nation’s 22nd state, and in Tuscumbia 

a simple home was built and became known as Ivy 

Green. Just east of the main home is the annex that became 

Helen Keller’s birthplace. Later it became her residence along 

with teacher Anne Sullivan, “The Miracle Worker.” The moving 

story tells how a child living in darkness overcame blindness and 

deafness. Helen Keller went on to become an extraordinary 

woman, bringing courage and inspiration to millions. Decorated 

with much of the family’s original furniture, the home and museum 

display mementos, books and gifts accumulated during 

Keller’s lifetime of travel and lectures. (helenkellerbirthplace.org) 

MISSISSIPPI 

Mississippi’s collection of historic homes is impressive. 

From antebellum mansions and the home of a Nobel Prize 

winner to the simple birthplace of “The King of Rock n’ Roll,” 

Mississippi’s famous houses graciously welcome visitors. 

Located between West Point and Columbus, Waverley Mansion 

is considered one of America’s astonishing homes. Visitors 

with an architectural interest marvel at its self-supporting, curved 

staircases and octagonal cupola. The mid-19th century grandeur 

of Waverley sat in ruins for years until purchased by Mr. and Mrs. 

Robert Snow in 1962. (wpnet.org/waverley_mansion.htm) 

Prior to the Civil War, when “cotton was king,” Natchez 

boasted more millionaires per capita than New York City. Today 

many of their palatial mansions are open for tours. Lyman 

Harding, a Massachusetts transplant, acquired considerable 

wealth in Natchez and had a young cabinetmaker, Levi Weeks, 

design and build a plantation home. Auburn Museum & Historic 

Home, the first built in Natchez utilizing an actual architectural 

plan and a model for buildings that followed, features 

an entirely unsupported spiral staircase. (auburnmuseum.org) 

LOUISIANA 

Louisiana portrays fullness for life in its food, music, culture 

and recreation. The constant thread, though, is the state’s 

incredible history as viewed though its antebellum plantations. 

On the Great River Road near Vacherie, Oak Alley Plantation’s 

magnificent, quarter-mile mile passageway formed by 300- 

year-old live oaks exemplifies what many picture as the “Old 

South.” The site for the plantation had its beginnings in the early 

1700s when a French or Spanish settler planted the oaks that 

would become the alley. The real history begins in 1836 when 

Valcour Aime sold the plantation to J. T. Roman, his brother-inlaw 

and dear friend. Construction on the 

home began in 1837; its elegance reflected 

the epitome of Creole society. Following the 

Civil War and Reconstruction, the family was 

forced to sell. Hard times continued and eventually 

the property was boarded. In 1925 Andrew 

and Josephine Stewart, the last resident 

owners, purchased the plantation. Recognizing 

its significance, Mrs. Stewart established 

a non-profit foundation to keep the legacy 

alive after her death. (oakalleyplantation.com) 

Laura: A Creole Plantation, a short drive 

form Oak Alley, shares a similar story of Creole 

culture. A sugar farming complex, Laura 

Plantation at one time encompassed more 

than 12,000 acres. It had its beginnings when 

Guillaume Duparc, a French naval veteran 

petitioned Thomas Jefferson for land. It was 

granted and in return Jefferson received Duparc’s 

loyalty to the new United States. Construction 

of the home began in 1804. From 

the 1820s to the 1840s Laura Plantation saw 

unprecedented profits due to the high demand 

for sugar and cotton. The Civil War and 

its aftermath saw the demise of Laura Plantation. 

(lauraplantation.com) LGT 



on location: west ❖ manny vega 

Music in the 

Mountains 

Groups in Wyoming enjoy high-brow culture at high altitudes 

Soon after the midsummer mark, musicians from all over the country flock to 

Teton Village, Wyoming, an oasis of civilization amidst multiple national parks 

and forests. Known as Jackson Hole, this valley houses the municipalities of 

Jackson as well as Teton Village, the home of the Grand Teton Music Festival. 

The Grand Teton Music Festival hosts orchestra and chamber concerts in the summer 

festival and a short concert series in the winter. During the festival over 200 orchestra 

musicians from all over the country assemble in Jackson Hole to make music together. 

Many of them come from prestigious orchestras such as the Los Angeles Chamber 

Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic. Some musicians 

have been coming back every summer for over 25 years. 

In addition to the impressive roster of musicians, the festival’s concert facility, Walk 

Festival Hall, has been praised by both listeners and performers for its superior 

acoustics and friendly atmosphere. Built in 1974, the hall has comfortable, amphitheaterstyle 

seating with clear sightlines, a professional sound system, and enough space to 

accommodate on-stage receptions and banquets. The hall had a grand re-opening 

in 2007 after a 10-month, $4.85-million project to maintain its acoustics. The hall also 

received additional soundproofing as well as functional and aesthetic upgrades. 

If having renowned performers and an excellent concert hall were not enough, the 


Donald Runnicles directs the Grand 

Teton Music Festival Orchestra as it 

performs a Mahler symphony during 

a 50th anniversary performance. 

The Festival’s Music in the Hole event on the 

Fourth of July draws 8,000 people. 

Grand Teton Music Festival is also proud to have Music Director Donald Runnicles 

leading the charge. 

“The festival is very lucky to have him as its music director,” says Mike Swanson, 

co-director of marketing. “He oversees everything dealing with artistic direction including 

programming, musician and guest artist selection, and all commercial releases.” 

Originally from Scotland, Runnicles has achieved international fame in the fine music 

industry and is consistently acclaimed as a conductor of opera and symphonic music. 

“He is a renowned opera conductor and has been slowly introducing this genre to 

Jackson Hole,” says Swanson. “We are the only place that offers The Met: Live in HD in 

Wyoming, and this summer he will be leading the Festival Orchestra in excerpts from 

Wagner’s most famous opera, Die Walküre, with three guest vocalists.” 

Along with the work he does with the GTMF, Runnicles is also the general music 

director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony 

and principal guest conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 

The Grand Teton Music Festival is an active member of the Jackson Hole community 

and spreads the joy of music through educational programs as well as performances. 

The festival puts on various programs that expose young adults to classical music. As 

part of its community outreach, the GTMF offers pre-concert talks, open rehearsals and 


on location: west ❖ 

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Read about the Buffalo Bill Historical Center 

in Cody, Wyoming at http://leisuregrouptravel.com/p=26819 

the option to download music from 

past seasons. 

The Grand Teton Music Festival 

has come a long way since its humble 

beginnings in 1962. The festival was 

originally produced by the Fine Arts 

Guild as part of the Jackson Hole Fine 

Arts Festival. Local volunteers gave 

time, money and energy to put it all together. 

The first few seasons included 

dance, film, visual art and music; venues 

included gyms, lodges and lawns. 

The festival moved to Teton Village 

in 1967, when it was given a rent-free 

site for a concert tent, but it soon became 

clear the program would need 

a permanent hall and a full-time music 

director. In 1968 the festival hired Ling 

Tung, a prominent violinist turned conductor, 

as music director, and Walk 

Festival Hall was built six years later. 

Last year the festival observed its 50th 

anniversary with special dedications 

and celebrations. 

The festival’s summer season begins 

in July and runs well into August 

with events scheduled most days of 

the week. The festival offers many 

discounts and special deals. Groups 

of 12 or more to a single concert receive 

a 20% discount off single-ticket 

prices. The festival also offers dinner-and-concert 

packages. 

When not attending festival performances, 

visitors to the Jackson 

Hole area will find plenty to do. The 

festival is located in the heart of Teton 

Village and within walking distance of 

lodging, restaurants and shops. 

Those interested in the history 

of fur trapping, mountaineering and 

Obtain Wyoming visitor guides and itineraries 

and contact group-friendly suppliers directly 

at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info 

The festival orchestra at Walk Festival Hall 

pioneer settlements in the West can 

visit the Jackson Hole Museum in 

Jackson. Guided walking tours of the 

GRAND TETON MUSIC FESTIVAL historic downtown area are available. 

The town square, accented with wooden sidewalks and elk 

antler arches, abounds with retail activity. The Jackson Hole 

Playhouse, a block from the square, offers dinner theater fare. 

This summer’s production is The Ballad of Cat Ballou. 

The National Museum of Wildlife Art boasts more than 

3,000 paintings, sculptures and photos of wildlife. For upclose 

views of the real thing, groups can embark on half, fulland 

multi-day trips with companies like Wildlife Expeditions. 

Guided by wildlife biologists, eight-passenger safari-style vehicles 

explore Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. 

JULY 4 – AUGUST 18, 2012 

Grand Teton Music Festival has developed a reputation as 

one of the nation’s most important summer music festivals. 

Located in Teton Village at the base of Rendezvous 

The gate to Grand Teton National Park, open year round, 

is right outside Teton Village; admission is valid in both Grand 

Teton and Yellowstone. Grand Teton itself has over 200 

miles of trails, game fishing, mountain climbing, horseback 

Mountain, concerts in Walk Festival Hall allow 

riding, wagon rides, and boat and canoe rentals. Yellowstone, 

visitors to hike all day and enjoy a world-class 

the world’s first national park, features the iconic hot water 

concert at night. Dress is casual and groups are welcome! 

geysers and other geological wonders. It is about two hours 

Tues: Free Chamber Music 

Wed: Spotlight Concerts—Various Genres 

north of Teton Village. 

For the best in serious music and mountain majesty, 

Thur: Musicians’ Choice Chamber Music 

groups should give serious consideration to a rhapsodic 

Fri/Sat: Festival Orchestra Concerts with Special Guests 

adventure in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. 

20% GROUP DISCOUNT FOR 12 OR MORE! 

 

For information on the Grand Teton Music Festival, call 

307-733-1128 or log on to gtmf.org. LGT 



on location: midwest ❖ randy mink 

It’s hard to believe that Mall of America is 20 years old this 

year. To many of us, the mega-mall seems just as fresh as 

when it opened in 1992. Twenty years is a real milestone. 

A look at some other tourist favorites in Minnesota also reveals 

milestones worth observing. Here are some of the most 

noteworthy: 

SPAM at 75. The Southern Minnesota town of Austin, 

home of the Hormel Foods meat-packing plant, will be in a 

festive frame of mind this year as it celebrates 75 years of the 

SPAM brand. Much of the hoopla will be across the street 

from the factory at the free-admission SPAM Museum, and 

Hormel will stage a community festival in July. In animated TV 

MINNESOTA 

MILESTONES 

Group-friendly 

attractions throughout 

the state mark 

special anniversaries 

in 2012 

The Pepsi Orange Streak careens 

through Nickelodeon Universe, the 

amusement park in Bloomington’s 

Mall of America, now in its 20th year. 


commercials you’ll see the brand’s first spokescharacter, 

Sir Can-A-Lot, as he crusades to “rescue the world from 

routine meals.” 

Manufactured in Austin since 1937, SPAM consists of pork 

shoulder, ham trimmings and spices, all cooked and neatly 

packaged in that familiar blue-and-yellow pull-tab can. In 1989 

SPAM discontinued the attached key for twisting off the lid, one 

of many facts a museum visitor learns from a self-guided tour 

or a “SPAMbassador” guide (often a retired Hormel employee). 

And did you know that Hawaii residents are the most ardent 

SPAM fans, annually consuming 11 cans per capita 

The SPAM Museum is a wonderland of memorabilia, from 

radio jingles and TV commercials to a Monty Python tribute 

and a letter from General Dwight Eisenhower recognizing the 

importance of SPAM to his troops during World War II. On a 

make-believe production line, you can don a white butcher coat 

and race against the clock. A 15-minute video chronicles the 

history of SPAM. 

The gift shop sells all SPAM varieties, including ones that 

might not be in your local store, plus cookbooks, oven mitts, T- 

shirts, mouse pads and other SPAM logo items. The Wall of 

SPAM at the museum entrance, a great photo backdrop, contains 

3,390 empty cans. (spam.com) 

Minnesota History Center at 20. This great repository of 

all things Minnesota had its grand opening in 1992, the same 

year as Mall of America. An impressive building located near 

the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, the museum captures 

the essence of the state in interactive displays and videos. 

Popular permanent exhibits include Minnesota’s Greatest 

Generation, a look at those who grew up during the Depression, 

came of age during World War II and participated in the post-war 

boom. Visitors view classic film clips in a 1930s-style movie theater, 

get behind the counter of a soda fountain from the era, 

watch a re-creation of a WWII combat flight and join a Rosie the 

Riveter-style assembly line packing ammunition shells. 

A temporary exhibit on Depression-era art that adorned 

public buildings showcases 56 paintings produced under the 

auspices of the federal government’s Public Works of Art Project 

for unemployed artists. Organized by the Smithsonian’s 

American Art Museum, 1934: A New Deal for Artists runs from 

June 2 to Sept. 30. 

Don’t miss the museum’s Weather Permitting exhibit, which 

covers ice fishing, snow shoveling, skiing and dog sledding; a 

six-minute show, complete with howling winds, sounds of 

breaking glass and recollections of victims, recreates living 

through a tornado. (minnesotahistorycenter.org) 

Mall of America at 20. After 20 years, the nation’s largest 

retail and entertainment complex under one roof still reigns 

supreme as one of the Midwest’s blockbuster attractions. Last 

year was a record-setter for the Bloomington mall, which reported 

a sales increase of 10 percent and welcomed 26 new 

tenants; traffic rose by 3.5 percent. Renovations in the area 

being vacated by long-time anchor Bloomingdale’s and more 

new stores are on tap for 2012, not to mention a full slate of 

20th anniversary events. 

The mall’s Nickelodeon Universe, America’s largest indoor 

amusement park, welcomes two new rides that will up the 

scream quotient. On Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shell 

Shock, guests are able to control their seat, which can rotate 

wildly like a plane propeller or a gentle teeter-totter, making 

no two ride experiences the same. The ride is based on the 

new animated television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 

which will premier later this year on Nickelodeon. Other MOA 

fun options include SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium, Moose 


on location: midwest ❖ 

Spoonbridge and Cherry, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden 

Source of the Mississippi River, Itasca State Park 

Explore Minnesota Tourism Photos 

Mountain Adventure Golf and a 14-screen movie theater. 

Mall of America, located 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis 

and St. Paul, features 520-plus shops that annually 

draw more than 42 million visitors, including some four million 

international guests. The mall’s Phase II plan calls for up an 

additional 5.6 million square feet, with high-end hotel, retail and 

medical facilities, including a Radisson Blu hotel opening in 

2013. (mallofamerica.com) 

Walker Art Center at 85. Established in 1927, the Walker 

Art Center became the first public art gallery in the Upper Midwest 

and began its focus on contemporary art in the 1940s. A 

major expansion opened in 2005, and today the Walker is one 

of the nation’s five most-visited modern/contemporary art museums 

in the U.S. Besides featuring the works of major 20th 

and 21st century artists, the museum is revered for the vitality 

of its performing arts, film and education programs. 

A vital force for bringing new visitors into the Walker has 

been the adjacent Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which 

opened in 1988. Its centerpiece is Claes Oldenburg and Coosje 

van Brugen’s Spoonbridge and Cherry, a whimsical symbol of 

the Twin Cities. Together the garden and Walker Art Center attract 

more than 600,000 visitors a year. (walkerart.org) 

MSP Airport’s Terminal 1-Lindbergh at 50. Minneapolis- 

St. Paul (MSP) International Airport has come a long way since 

opening in 1962 with 24 aircraft gates on two concourses, or 

“piers.” Today it has 117 gates on seven concourses. Airlines 

carried about 33 million passengers to and from MSP last year, 

compared to fewer than 2 million in 1962. On average, some 

80,000 people a day now fly through Terminal 1-Lindbergh. 

Of the seven airlines that served MSP when the terminal 

opened, only United Airlines still exists. The others – Braniff, 

Eastern, North Central, Northwest, Ozark and Western – succumbed 

to acquisition, merger or liquidation. MSP became a 

major hub in 1986 with the merger of the two largest carriers at 

the airport, Northwest and Republic, creating the world’s fourth 

largest airline. Although Delta Air Lines didn’t begin serving the 

Twin Cities until 1984, it became the dominant carrier in 2008 

when it acquired Northwest Airlines. 

Because it was the only active terminal at MSP when it 

opened for business in 1962, Terminal 1-Lindbergh wasn’t actually 

named until 1985, when it was rededicated to famous 

Minnesota aviator Charles A. Lindbergh. Naming the terminal 

had become necessary with the introduction of a second terminal 

in 1986, the Hubert H. Humphrey International Charter 

Terminal. A numeric designator was added to both terminal 

names in 2010 in an effort to win approval from state and federal 

highway officials for signs directing drivers to the correct 

terminal for their airline. (mspairport.com) 


Fun: ® 

Family : Mall of America 

has the widest variety of entertainment tainment options under one roof, 

including the largest indoor Nickelodeon ® 

theme park – Nickelodeon Universe. ® 

World-Class Shopping: : 520 stores all in one location with no sales tax on clothing and shoes! 

For more information, contact Millie Philipp in Mall of America Tourism at 

952.883.8843, mphilipp@mallofamerica.com or visit www.mallofamerica.com 

Photo: Mario Testino 

Diana: 

A Celebration 

February 4 - June 10, 2012 

An award-winning 

exhibition 

celebrating the 

life and work of Diana, Princess s of Wales. 

Mall of America, Level 4 

/MallofAmerica 

@MallofAmerica

on location: midwest ❖ 

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, a Bemidji must-see 

Hjemkomst replica Viking ship in Moorhead, Minnesota 

Explore Minnesota Tourism Photos 

Paul Bunyan and Babe at 75. On the shores of Lake Bemidji 

in downtown Bemidji, the Bemidji Tourist Information Center 

greets guests with the colorful statues of Paul Bunyan and 

Babe the Blue Ox, a photo opportunity if there ever was one. 

Reflecting the state’s northwoods heritage, the iconic cultural 

figures have awed millions of vacationers since 1937 

and were added to the National Register of Historic Places 

in 1988. Made of steel, cement and wood, the giant, painted 

statues (designed on a three-to-one scale) are touched up 

each year before the summer tourism season begins. Four 

blocks west of the mythical lumberjack and his ox is the Bemidji 

Woolen Mills outlet store, which brims with the warm 

clothes it’s made for loggers and outdoorsmen since 1920. 

The fourth-generation family company makes the signature 

cotton sweater vests worn by Republican presidential candidate 

Rick Santorum. (visitbemidji.com/bemidji/paulbabe.html) 

Discovery of Mississippi River Headwaters, 180th anniversary. 

For decades European explorers were on the quest 

to find the headwaters of the Mississippi River, the “Father of 

Waters.” It was not until 1832 that Anishinabe Indian guide Ozawindib 

led British explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to the 

source of the river at Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota. The 

source was disputed until the late 1800s when land surveyor 

Jacob Brower proved the source and led efforts to preserve the 

remaining pine forest at the site through creation of Minnesota’s 

first state park, Itasca State Park, in 1891. 

Today tourists make pilgrimages to the Mississippi River 

Headquarters site, where the mighty river begins as a humble 

stream flowing out of Lake Itasca on its 2,552-mile journey 

to the Gulf of Mexico. A trail leads from the Mary Gibbs Headwaters 

Visitor Center to the Headwaters Post, a tree trunk 

sign that signifies the river’s source. Some people wade 

across; others negotiate the neatly placed stepping stones. 

(http://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/itasca/narrative.html) 

Hjemkomst Viking Ship Voyage 30th Reunion. The 

Hjemkomst, a replica Viking ship, was built by local history 

teacher Robert Asp and his family to prove the Vikings could 

have sailed to the center of the North American continent. The 

77-foot ship and its story, including a documentary movie about 

the harrowing 1982 journey from Duluth, Minn. to Bergen, Norway, 

are on display at Hjemkomst Center, in Moorhead. 

At a 30th reunion celebration on July 21, the captain and 

crew will discuss their historic voyage. The museum on that 

day launches a special exhibit on the event that will run 

through 2012. A platform allows visitors to look down into the 

massive oak vessel with 32 sets of oars. Also on the grounds 

is a full-scale replica of a 12th century Norwegian stave church. 

(hjemkomstcenter.com) LGT 


72(;3/25(,10,11(627$ 

9,6,7:::75$9(/75$'((;3/25(0,11(627$&20 

FREE Admission 

16,500 square feet 

® 

of SPAM . 

Whoa. 

Classic 

FREE 

Admission! 

SPAM ® 

Museum 

Monday-Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM 

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CLOSED: New Year’s Day, 

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Christmas Eve, Christmas Day 

Mall of America shoppers enjoy extra savings as 

Minnesota does not charge sales tax on clothing. 

1101 N. Main St., Austin, MN 55912 

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on location: northeast ❖ coley nelson 

Curtain 

Call 

Classics like Hamlet take 

the stage every summer 

at the Pennsylvania 

Shakespeare Festival. 

Dinner shows, 

historic theaters and 

big-time concert venues 

provide special evening 

options, setting the 

stage for can’t-miss 

itineraries 

In 

Pennsylvania 

Lee A. Butz 

When it comes to Pennsylvania, most visitors 

think immediately about the historic sites of 

Gettysburg or Philadelphia or the chocolate-flavored 

attractions Hershey has to offer, but groups 

should not rule out the Keystone State as a hotspot for entertainment. 

With curtains rising in theaters across the state 

for musicals, concerts and dinner shows, tour planners have 

countless opportunities to add some razzle-dazzle to their 

itineraries. National headliners, classic Broadway hits, religious 

dramas and the grandeur of old-time architecture spark 

interest among travelers of all ages. 

The American Music Theatre in Lancaster features a variety 

of original shows and touring concerts in its 1,600-seat 

venue. Since opening in 1997, the theater has welcomed 

Grammy, CMA, Tony and Oscar winners to its stage. Upcoming 

shows include Country Classics (May 2-June 30), Frankie 

Valli and The Four Seasons (May 17) and The 50’s Dance 

Party (July 13). (800-648-4102, amtshows.com) 

Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster is the nation’s largest 

faith-based live theater group and hosts nearly 800,000 visi- 


Choices range from concerts at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh to shows like 9 to 5 The Musical at Lancaster’s Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre. 

tors each year between its Lancaster and Branson, Mo. 

locations. On its impressive 300-foot wrap-around stage, the 

company has performed shows such as Daniel and the Lion’s 

Den, In the Beginning, Ruth and Voices of Christmas. Jonah, 

the current production, will be running through December. The 

story of Jonah features larger-than-life props and an inspiring 

musical score. Behind-the-scenes tours of the theater are 

available through October. (800-377-1277, sight-sound.com) 

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster opened its 

curtains in 1987 and has been performing classic Broadway 

shows like A Chorus Line and Cats ever since. The menu 

varies depending on the show but includes a buffet of traditional 

American cuisine featuring items such as prime rib, 

turkey breast and a plethora of desserts. The 2012 season includes 

9 to 5 The Musical (through April 28), Annie Get Your 

Gun (May 3-June 17), Legally Blonde the Musical (June 21- 

Aug. 4), A Second Helping: Church Basement Ladies 2 (Sept. 

27-Nov. 10) and A Swingin’ Christmas (Nov. 15-Dec. 23). (717- 

898-1546, dutchapple.com) 

Hershey Theatre in Hershey is a must-see for theater 

goers and chocolate lovers in the “Sweetest Place on Earth.” 

Completed in 1933, the theater is rich in history and beautifully 

designed. The lobby’s Italian lava rock floors, marble walls and 

art-covered ceiling enhance the stunning architecture. The 

Venice-themed auditorium presents shows like Memphis (April 

10-15), Mamma Mia (June 26-July 1) and Beauty and the 

Beast (July 24-29). Go behind the scenes on the “Spotlight 

Tour” to see the dazzling improvements completed in its recent 

restoration. (717-534-3405, hersheytheatre.com) 

Heinz Hall, home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, 

accommodates nearly half a million visitors per year. The 

building, originally completed in 1927 as a movie theater 

called Loew’s Penn, was renovated and dedicated as Heinz 

Hall in 1971. Today the theater is used for symphony concerts, 

pops concerts, touring Broadway shows and children’s shows. 

Its dramatic architecture, sparkling chandeliers and gold-leaf 

decoration make it a historical gem. Tours are available by appointment 

for groups of 10 or more. (412-392-4900, pittsburghsymphony.org) 

Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater and Innovation Studios together 

make up the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts 

in Philadelphia. What began as two separate projects under 

the direction of the Philadelphia Orchestra and former Mayor 

Ed Rendell merged to create a vision for a center hosting orchestra 

concerts, ballets and theater productions. To celebrate 

its 10th anniversary, the Kimmel Center has added several 

Groups can take a behind-the-scenes tour at historic Hershey Theatre and enjoy biblical epics at Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster.

on location: northeast ❖ 

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Hershey Gardens in ChocolateTown U.S.A. is celebrating 

its 75th anniversary. Read about it at http://leisuregrouptravel.comp=26723. 

new features including dinner and a show. Groups can dine 

on-site and enjoy cuisine catered by renowned chef Wolfgang 

Puck. (215-790-5800, kimmelcenter.org) 

A theater company from DeSales University performs the 

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival on the campus in Center 

Valley each year. The summer festival runs from the end of 

May to the beginning of August and produces Shakespeare 

shows plus mainstream musical theater productions and children’s 

shows. Productions this season include: Snow White 

and the Seven Dwarfs (June 1-Aug. 4), Sweeney Todd (June 

Lancaster’s Sight & Sound presents the best in Christian theater. 

Book Group Tickets NOW for the 2012–2013 Season. 

Giselle 

Balanchine / Wheeldon / Tharp 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Carnival of the Animals with Ballo Della Regina 

and Stravinsky Violin Concerto 

Forsythe & Kylián 

Call today for the BEST seats at the BEST price! 

215.587.6921 or abackman@paballet.org 

13-July 1) and Much Ado about Nothing (July 11-Aug. 5). 

Performances take place in one of the two indoor theaters, 

but the company recommends your group come early to enjoy 

fresh air and music on the green. (610-282-9455, pashakespeare.org) 

Nestled in the mountaintops of the Poconos resort town 

of Jim Thorpe, Penn’s Peak is an ideal spot for all types of 

concerts. The venue overlooks the Appalachian Mountains, 

and on-site Roadie’s restaurant serves classic American 

cuisine. Musical groups coming to Penn’s Peak this season 

include Beatlemania Now (May 3-4), the Harry James 

Orchestra (May 23-24), The Diamonds (June 6-7) and The 

Swing Dolls (October 23-24). The venue hosts luncheon 

shows, evening concerts and special themed nights for concert-goers. 

(866-605-7325, pennspeak.com) 

The Station Dinner Theatre, originally a 1922 train car, is 

located in Erie. It is home of the original Canterbury Festival, 

the longest-running medieval dinner theater in the country 

and features a wide array of musical comedies themed 

around Wild West, Roaring ’20s and ’50s 

Jukebox Hop. Performances for 2012 

include: The Chicago Speakeasy (May), 

Not Now, Darling! (June) and The Carol 

Burnett Show (July). (814-864-2022, 

canterburyfeast.com) 

Whether the audience ends up laughing, 

crying or singing along, Pennsylvania’s 

theater scene is sure to impress your 

group. LGT 

Obtain Pennsylvania visitor guides and itineraries 




0Top 

Iconic Sights of New York City 

New York City abounds with all kinds of 

nooks and crannies that entice the 

curious. From offbeat museums, 

unusual tours and vestpocket parks to ethnic 

enclaves and neighborhood pizza joints, the 

streets of Manhattan, Brooklyn and other 

boroughs beckon the inquisitive wayfarer with 

hidden gems. For the city lover, New York is an 

endless feast, a place with countless pleasures, 

enough to last a lifetime. 

But if you’re taking a group of fledging travelers 

to the Big Apple, you have to concentrate on 

the obvious—those iconic, must-see sights 

known around the world, locales that are part of 

our national vocabulary, the stuff of travel posters 

and calendars. There’s nothing like that initial 

glimpse of the Statue of Liberty or plugging in to 

the electricity of Times Square for the first time. 

Here we offer a sampling of popular sights 

that define New York City for the wide-eyed 

tourist. 

By Randy Mink 

EMPIRE 

STATE 

BUILDING 

The mighty 102-story 

landmark reigns supreme on 

the Manhattan skyline 81 

years after its completion. 

Enjoy 360-degree views from 

the outdoor promenade of 

the 86th floor observatory. 

(esbnyc.com) 

RADIO CITY 

MUSIC HALL 

The 6,200-seat Art Deco theater 

is the home of the high-kicking 

Rockettes and The Christmas 

Spectacular. Take the one-hour 

“Stage Door Tour” for a behindthe-scenes 

peek of the 1932 

landmark. (radiocity.com) 


GRAND CENTRAL 

TERMINAL 

A beehive of activity in midtown 

Manhattan for almost a century, 

the world’s largest train station 

is one of New York’s grandest 

public spaces. Self-guided 

audio tours are available. 

(grandcentralterminal.com) 

NATIONAL 

SEPTEMBER11 

MEMORIAL 

An eight-acre expanse of trees 

and water, New York’s newest 

must-see occupies the site of 

the World Trade Center towers 

that collapsed after the terrorist 

attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. 

(national911memorial.org) 

TIMES 

SQUARE 

CENTRAL 

PARK 

The throbbing pulse of New 

York is most evident amid the 

sea of electric billboards here 

at the “Crossroads of the 

World.” To many visitors, 

Times Square is New York. 

(timessquarenyc.org) 

A cherished resource, this 

escape hatch in the middle 

of Manhattan encompasses 

more than 800 acres of woods, 

lawns and meandering paths. 

Walk, bike, hop a horse 

carriage or rent a rowboat. 

(centralparknyc.org) 

ROCKEFELLER 

CENTER 

CONEY 

ISLAND 

Take the NBC Studios tour, watch 

The Today Show from Rockefeller 

Plaza and ascend 70 floors to 

Top of the Rock in the 70-story 

GE Building. Magical winter highlights: 

the Christmas tree and ice 

rink. (rockefellercenter.com) 

Soak in beach, boardwalk and 

amusement park nostalgia at 

this Brooklyn crowd-pleaser. 

Enjoy classic rides like the 

Cyclone coaster and Wonder 

Wheel. Have a hot dog at the 

original Nathan’s Famous. 

(lunaparknyc.com, 

wonderwheel.com, 

nathansfamous.com) 

STATUE 

OF LIBERTY 

BROOKLYN 

BRIDGE 

A beacon of freedom for 

generations of immigrants who 

arrived in New York Harbor, this 

colossal figure remains a symbol 

not only of New York but of 

America. Liberty Island ferries 

depart from Lower Manhattan’s 

Battery Park. (nps.gov.stli) 

A walk across this 19th 

century engineering marvel 

spanning the East River is a 

quintessential New York 

experience affording views of 

harbor traffic, Liberty Island 

and Manhattan’s financial 

district. 


on location: northeast ❖ randy mink 

As warmer weather hits the streets of little old New York, 

the Broadway theater scene promises to be red-hot, offering 

tour groups a dizzying array of choices. 

This spring, in fact, will be “the busiest season I ever could 

have imagined,” said Dennis Martin, director, group sales programs, 

Broadway.com/Groups. “When one show closes, no 

more than a day and half goes by before another moves in.” 

Martin said not a single theater—Broadway has 40 of 

’em—will be empty by the end of April, the deadline for shows 

to open if they want to be considered for a Tony Award this 

June. At least seven new musicals, plus revivals and some 

exciting plays with big-name stars, are in the mix. 

Martin says the musicals to watch are: 

Jesus Christ Superstar. The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s 

new interpretation of the classic rock opera by Andrew 

Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, one of the most popular musicals 

of all time, just opened at the Neil Simon Theatre. 

Evita. A new production of Webber and Rice’s legendary 

show won critical acclaim when it premiered in London in 2006. 

Superstar Ricky Martin and its London original star, Argentine 

actress Elena Roger, head up a cast that includes Tony Award 

winner Michael Cerveris. The first-ever Broadway revival of Evita 

From cutting-edge 

productions to 

revivals of old 

favorites, New York 

City stages offer 

groups a tempting 

spring and summer 

calendar 

BROADWAYBOOM 

52 April 2012 

Spider-Man Turn Off the 

Dark, a mind-blowing 

theatrical adventure, 

continues to create buzz 

on Broadway. 

LeisureGroupTravel.com

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: See the article on Manhattan’s budget-friendly 

Apple Core Hotels at http://leisuregrouptravel.com/p=26095. 

All 40 Broadway 

theaters, most 

of them on streets 

off Times Square, 

will have tenants 

this spring. 

Angela Lansbury, Candice Bergen and Eric McCormack of television’s 

Will and Grace. 

Other Martin recommendations opening in April are End of 

the Rainbow, a drama with music about the final months of 

Judy Garland, and for younger audiences, Peter and the Starcatcher, 

a prequel to the tale of Peter Pan. 

Disney Theatrical Group’s The Lion King, the seventh 

longest-running musical in Broadway history, opened in 

opens April 5 at the Marquis Theatre. 

Ghost The Musical. Bruce Joel Rubin 

has adapted his Academy Award-winning 

original screenplay for the stage. The score 

includes the iconic song “Unchained 

Melody,” performed in the 1990 film by The 

Righteous Brothers. The new musical opens 

April 23 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. 

Nice Work If You Can Get It. Two-time 

Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick 

(The Producers) and three-time Tony nominee 

Kelli O’Hara (South Pacific) star in 

this brand-new Gershwin musical comedy, 

a song-and-dance spectacular set in the 

Roaring ’20s. Songs include “But Not for 

Me,” “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and 

“I’ve Got a Crush on You.” It opens April 24 

at the Imperial Theatre. 

Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, Priscilla 

Queen of the Desert and Sister Act—hot 

new musicals that opened last spring—continue 

to pack in the crowds, Martin said. 

How to Succeed in Business Without Really 

Trying, which debuted last spring with 

Daniel Radcliffe (of Harry Potter fame), now 

stars Nick Jonas (of the Jonas Brothers) and 

Beau Bridges. 

The must-see new comedy, Martin said, 

is One Man, Two Guvnors. The National 

Theatre of Great Britain’s production, laced 

with low-brow British humor, is “wet-yourpants 

funny.” It opens April 18 at the Music 

Box Theatre. 

Revivals of three classic plays also are 

creating Broadway buzz, according to Martin. 

They are Death of a Salesman, starring 

Philip Seymour Hoffman; A Streetcar Named 

Desire; and Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, a 

political drama starring James Earl Jones, 


Hot tickets this summer: Cirque du Soleil’s surreal Zarkana at Radio City Music Hall and the wild musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert. 

Jeremy Daniel, Richard Termine Costume: 

Alan Hranitelj ©2011 Cirque du Soleil 

on location: northeast ❖ 

November of 1997 and is still going strong. Only Phantom of 

the Opera, which opened in 1988, and Chicago (1996) have 

been on Broadway longer than The Lion King. Other long-running 

current shows: Mamma Mia (2001), Wicked (2003) and 

Jersey Boys (2005). Disney’s Mary Poppins, now in its sixth 

year, also continues to be a group favorite. 

One of New York’s hottest tickets this summer will be Cirque 

du Soleil’s Zarkana. Running from June 6 through Sept. 2, the 

acrobatic spectacle returns to Radio City Music Hall after a triumphant 

2011 premiere season that drew more than 500,000 

people. With a cast of 75 international artists, the rock opera 

blends circus arts with the surreal to create a world where 

physical virtuosity rubs shoulders with the bizarre, a slightly 

twisted fantasy universe where, little by little, chaos and craziness 

give way to festivity and love. 

The story follows Zark, a magician who has lost his powers—and 

the love of his life—in an abandoned theater populated 

by a motley collection of off-the-wall characters and 

incomparable acrobats. He runs into the Mutants, four sirens 

as sinister as they are fabulous, who are determined to divert 

him from his quest. Zarkana has been playing Moscow’s Kremlin 

State Palace Theatre and moves to Las Vegas this fall. 

Blue Man Group, the long-running Off- 

Broadway hit, continues to dazzle groups 

at New York’s Astor Palace Theatre and 

just introduced new material in March. New 

passages include Blue Men interacting with 

“GiPads,” a perceptive look at contemporary 

communication vehicles, and a pulsating 

new finale featuring an original music 

score. Much of the new content is from the 

company’s larger-scale productions, 

adapted for use in the intimate venues. 

“We like to call it ‘alternative Broadway’— 

a synthesis of our intimate Off-Broadway 

roots with the spectacle we created for our 

larger shows,” said Chris Wink, who cofounded 

Blue Man Group with Phil Stanton 

and Matt Goldman. 

Stanton said, “Many of our audience’s 

favorite passages, including ‘Paint Drumming’ 

and ‘Gum Balls/Marshmallows’, will 

continue to be a part of the production. And 

yes, the first few rows still will need to wear 

ponchos.” LGT 

NEW YORK BOSTON CHICAGO LAS VEGAS ORLANDO NATIONAL TOUR 

1.800.BLUEMAN BLUEMAN.COM 

Appearing exclusively at sea onboard 

Obtain New York visitor guides and itineraries 




on location: west ❖ marty sarbey de souto, ctc 

California may be known for lots of things—Hollywood 

and the movies, the Gold Rush, Golden Gate Bridge, 

beaches and breathtaking Pacific views, Silicon Valley, the intellectual 

centers of Stanford and Berkeley, and much more. 

But perhaps it is not as well known as it should be for its wealth 

of historic homes and gardens. These sites reflect the rich history 

of the state and unique tastes of former owners, whether 

they were community leaders, gold prospectors or an occasional 

bordello madam. 

Let’s take a look at a handful of the many possible visits that 

could be included in the next itinerary you develop to California. 

It might be a garden here or an unusual home there, sprinkled 

in a standard tour. Or, it could be a specialty tour featuring 

a number of homes and gardens for your local garden club or 

women’s group looking for an entire trip designed around this 

focus. Here are a few of the many possibilities: 

FILOLI, Woodside. If you remember the ‘80s, you may remember 

this house as the Carrington Mansion in the popular 

TV series Dynasty. Home for nearly 20 years to William Bowers 

Bourn II, owner of one of California’s richest gold mines, the estate 

got its name by combining the first two letters from his credo: 

“Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.” 

Located about 25 miles south of San Francisco, it’s set in 16 

acres of formal gardens surrounded by a 654-acre estate. The 

gardens were laid out in 1917-1922 by horticulturist Isabella 

Worn, who designed the plantings and fixed the original color 

scheme, supervising the garden’s maintenance for 35 years. 

Following the death of the Bourns in 1936, it was bought by 

Matson Navigation heir Lurline Matson Roth. Her contribution 

was the impressive collection of camellias, rhododendrons 

and azaleas as well as the screened-in teahouse and serene 

swimming pool. 

Homes& 

Historic 

Gardens 

of california 

Architectural gems spotlight the Golden State’s glorious past 

Formal gardens grace 

Filoli, south of San Francisco. 

Inset photo: Hearst Castle 

at San Simeon.

on location: west ❖ 

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Check out the attractions in Orange 

County, Calif. Log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.comp=26672. 

A visit might be paired with other sites south of San Francisco 

such as Stanford University in Palo Alto or even further 

south to the Carmel/Monterey area. (filoli.org) 

MARSTON HOUSE MUSEUM AND GARDENS, San Diego. 

This house is known as one of California’s best examples of 

the Arts and Crafts movement, built in 1905 for local civic leaders 

George and Anne Marston. The movement denoted a style 

of architecture, interior design and decorative arts prevalent in 

the period 1910-1925. 

Inspired by the writings of John Ruskin, the Arts and 

Crafts movement expressed a reaction to the mechanization 

of the Industrial Revolution with its speedy assembly line 

construction. It idealized the craftsman taking pride in his 

personal handiwork and often featured rooms and furniture 

deliberately rustic, unfinished and referred to as “cottagey.” 

Surface texture was admired in ordinary materials such as 

stone and tiles. The house is surrounded by five acres of 

rolling lawns, manicured formal gardens and rustic canyon 

gardens. (marstonhouse.org) 

McELROY OCTAGON HOUSE, San 

Francisco. A unique eight-sided, cupolatopped 

house dating back to 1861, it’s one 

of 68 octagon houses built in the United 

States before the Civil War and included 

on the U.S. National Register of Historic 

Places. Those who chose to build a 

house in this shape believed that living in 

an octagonal home resulted in a longer, 

healthier life. 

Now a museum under the auspices of 

the National Society of Colonial Dames of 

America, it contains a variety of documents 

from Colonial and early American history, 

including one signed by 54 of the 56 

signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

It also showcases decorative arts from the 

Colonial and Federal periods. (Phone: 415- 

441-7512) 

KIMBERLY CREST HOUSE AND 

GARDENS, Redlands. Built in 1897, this is 

a three-story French chateau-style Victorian 

mansion. John Kimberly, co-founder of Kimberly-Clark 

paper company, purchased the 

home to escape Wisconsin winters. The 

surrounding gardens were created in 1909, 

complete with statuary and koi ponds, are 

examples of the Italian style, so popular at 

the turn of the 20th century. 

The home has a French Revival parlor 

with gilt furniture and silk damask wall coverings. 

Lily ponds feature radiant koi as well 

as vivid red, pink and yellow lilies. 

Kimberly’s daughter challenged the city 

to raise the funds to purchase 39 acres surrounding 

the property and turned it into a 

botanical park, which she bequeathed as 

today’s Prospect Park. (kimberlycrest.org) 


Rooms like the library at Hearst Castle and kitchen of the Marston House in San Diego offer intimate peeks into the California’s past. 

California Travel and Tourism Commission/Blaise 

HEARST CASTLE, San Simeon. If the phrase “A man’s 

home is his castle” ever had meaning, Hearst Castle must be the 

ultimate example in the United States. And 36 million visitors 

since it first opened to the public in 1958 will attest to its grandeur 

and unique contribution to America’s house and garden scene. 

Located high on a hill overlooking the Pacific midway between 

San Francisco and Los Angeles, it was the brainchild of 

publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst and the work of 

prolific Berkeley architect Julia Morgan. 

The Hearst Castle project developed over years as Hearst’s 

palace where he and his mistress, Marion Davies, entertained 

vacationing guests such as Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill 

and a young John F. Kennedy. The hillside complex includes 41 

fireplaces, 25 grand guestrooms, 25 upstairs suites, 25 cottages 

and kitchens, a 4,000-book library and entire 

rooms of artwork from European castles. But 

the centers of attraction are the two stunning 

swimming pools: the outdoor Neptune pool 

and indoor tiled Roman pool decorated with 

eight statues of Roman gods. 

First-time visitors are well advised to take 

the “Grand Rooms Museum Tour” as it has 

the least stairs to climb up and down (106). 

There are three other tours including an unusual 

evening tour offered at times. Tour 

planners should be sure to check with management 

regarding walking and steps. 

(hearstcastle.org) 

LACHRYMA MONTIS, Sonoma State 

Historic Park. This was the home of General 

Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, commander of 

the northern Mexico frontier, founder of the 

Pueblo of Sonoma and a member of the first 

Constitutional Convention of California. 

Built in 1850-51, it was known as Chiucuyem 

(Crying Mountain) by the local Indians, 

which Vallejo renamed to the rough 

Latin equivalent “Tears of the Mountain.” Its 

name was derived from the springs that 

now are the source of Sonoma’s water 

supply. The two-story wood frame home, built in historic 

Carpenter Gothic Victorian style, features twin porches, 

dormer windows, a marble fireplace and European crystal 

chandeliers. 

A visit may be combined into an interesting day with a tasting 

at one or more of Sonoma’s well-known wineries and time 

to browse the attractive shops surrounding the downtown 

plaza. Also include a visit to the Mission San Francisco Solano 

de Sonoma, the last and most northern of the 21 Franciscan 

missions, located on the northeast corner of the plaza. A second 

day could be added to include Jack London country, nearby 

Napa with its tony restaurants and perhaps adjoining Yountville 

and St. Helena for elegant shopping. (parks.ca.gov/page_id 

=22773) LGT 

Sande Lollis 


On Marketing 

Enhance Your Business 

With the Newest Technology 

This columN iN ThE February 

2012 issue kicked off the New Year 

with a few simple, cost-effective, technology-based 

travel marketing ideas. 

It was determined a good website is 

essential if you’re going to keep up with 

today’s tech-savvy traveler. Realizing 

that web search engines like fresh, 

new content it was determined regular 

additions to your site are indispensable. 

And thoughts were shared on how to 

have your website visitors interact 

through video views and e-newsletter 

sign-ups. 

There certainly was a ton of good 

business done “back in the day” with 

catalogs, flyers and brochures. Continue 

those tried-and-proven methods 

if they are working for you. However, 

keep the toolbox unlocked and look at 

Spring Ahead to Our 

JUNE ISSUE 

• Washington State 

• North Dakota 

• Washington, DC 

• West Virginia 

• Montana 

• Iowa 

• Delaware 

• Sightseeing Cruises 

• Scenic Railroads 

• Canada/South Pacific 

• Group Itinerary Planning Guide 

See our page-flip edition & past issues at 

LeisureGroupTravel.com 

We can help showcase your business 

to groups. Call us 630.794.0696 or 

advertising@ptmgroups.com 

the newer technology. Some will work 

handsomely with what you are already 

doing. Here are a few to consider: 

1marry your marketing materials 

and QR codes. Here’s a great 

way to combine the new with the tried 

and true. QR codes are those little 

squares with all the squiggly black 

designs. It’s barcode technology and 

can easily be added to any marketing 

piece. Most printers, graphic designers 

and video producers can handle the 

task. Potential clients with a smartphone 

can scan the code and link to 

your web page with offer details, an 

informative video or a testimonial. That 

web page can provide considerably 

more information than a single-sheet 

flyer. Of course, the video has that 

wonderful ability to demonstrate. 

2 

mobile marketing is coming to 

tour & travel. There’s more to 

mobile marketing than presenting a QR 

Code and driving customer/prospect 

traffic to an online spot of your choice. 

The United States is moving towards 

having as many mobile phone subscriptions 

as there is population. In most 

major cities there are more households 

without landlines than there are with 

the traditional telephone service. The 

opportunities in the travel business are 

endless. Consider Bluetooth proximity 

marketing. Suppliers at a tradeshow/ 

marketplace blast a message to all 

Bluetooth-enabled phones promoting 

a special at their booth or seminar. At 

that same marketplace a tour operator 

looking to partner with another operator 

may send out that very message. 

❖ dave bodle 

3 

leverage suppliers wisely. 

One of the biggest assets that 

tour operators can add to their toolbox 

is a supplier that can help market a 

tour to their destination. The majority 

of CVBs and tourism offices will have 

footage that they can edit to fit just 

about any possible visit to their area. 

That’s exactly what you’ll need on 

the QR Code-to-website video link. Of 

course, one of the best assets a supplier 

can have in the marketing toolbox 

is just such a video. Photographs 

will always have a place, but video is 

becoming increasingly important. 

You can sense my excitement for 

the new technology and how it will 

impact the tour & travel segment. I’m 

all about partnerships and programs 

that blend the proven with something 

new that will enhance results. New 

technology offers just such an opportunity. 

On the other hand, some of the 

new technology-based opportunities 

simply do not work for me and I wonder 

about their return on investment. If 

you’re not a writer, why waste your 

time maintaining a blog What good is 

Twitter if you’re limited to a set number 

of characters Who hasn’t lost interest 

in Facebook and the absolute drivel 

that’s mixed with a few posts of 

substance 

The simplest way of looking at the 

new marketing technologies is remembering 

who brought you to the dance, 

but realizing a look around the dance 

hall really doesn’t hurt. 

Contact Dave at 843-712-1140 

or email dbodle@sc.rr.com. 


I L L I N O I S 

I N D I A N A 

A R K A N S A S 

P E N N S Y L V A N I A 

W Y O M I N G 

T E N N E S S E E 

ndta.us 

TheaTers are lisTed alphabeTically by sTaTe

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