Adirondack Adventures

If you’re a tour planner looking for a unique destination with a small town feeling and big city attractions, all amongst a panoramic Adirondack backdrop, look no further! We invite you to make your next group tour unforgettable in the Lake George Area in NY’s Adirondacks.

Situated in Upstate New York, just 50 miles north Albany, the Lake George Area is easily accessible and a direct drive from New York City, Boston and Montreal, making it a perfect destination for an extended stay or a welcome stopover on a long trip.

Upon arrival, you’ll find the Lake George Area offers convenience. Attractions and entertainment are all centrally located and your group will have easy access to activities such as shopping, lake cruises, soft adventure cultural attractions and the best sightseeing vistas ever. And with a multitude of lodging and dining facilities to choose from, planning your stay is a breeze! From Adirondack themed lodges and island resorts to lakeside eateries and quaint cafes, our diversity guarantees your tour will be the highlight of the year!

We wrap it all up with exceptional Group Tour Services. The Warren County Tourism Department looks forward to exceeding your expectation at each step of the planning process. Our representatives will take the time to understand your plans and provide you with the best possible resources and services to assist you. Let us help you get your plans underway! We have an unforgettable tour experience reserved just for your group in the Lake George Area in NY’s Adirondacks.

For additional information & planning assistance:

Tanya Brand
Group Tour Promoter

Warren County Tourism Dept.
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
Tel: 800-365-1050x M890 or 518-761-6575
Fax: 518-761-6368
Email: brandt@co.warren.ny.us
VisitLakeGeorge.com

Delaware Dazzles Groups During the Holidays

Historic attractions decked out in Christmas finery make the season bright.

The state of Delaware turns into a Christmas fantasyland as the holidays grow near. Besides inspirational special exhibits and awesome floral displays, group visitors can enjoy handbell concerts, pipe organ recitals, caroling and a host of delightful seasonal activities.

Here is the schedule for holiday happenings in the Brandywine Valley at the Historic du Pont estates and gardens that are popular with group visitors:

• Nemours Mansion & Gardens, commissioned by Alfred I. DuPont in 1909 and modeled on Le Petit Trianon, features world-renowned paintings, antiques, tapestries, sculpture and the finest formal French gardens in North America. From Nov. 12-Dec. 31, Nemours Mansion & Gardens will be dressed to the hilt during the holiday season.

• “Yuletide at Winterthur” can be experienced Nov. 19, 2011-Jan. 8, 2012 at Winterthur Museum, Gardens & Library, Henry Francis du Pont’s 175-room mansion featuring a distinctive collection of American decorative arts. Paint, Pattern & People: Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1725-1850 can be enjoyed through Jan. 8. This major exhibition at Winterthur explores the stunning and diverse furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania and delves into the lives of the people who made, owned or collected it. The exhibit features almost 200 objects—furniture, fraktur, needlework and paintings—and is supported by special tours of the Pennsylvanian rooms in the mansion. It also explores the area’s rich cultural heritage fostered by William Penn’s policy of religious tolerance.

• Longwood Gardens celebrates the holidays during “A Longwood Gardens Christmas” from Nov. 24, 2011-Jan. 8, 2012. Pierre Samuel du Pont’s 1,050-acre horticultural estate with four acres under glass welcomes group visitors by offering discount admission rates to groups of 15 or more. The Group Visits office provides a separate reception area, ticketing window and restroom facility for group guests. Outside the Group Visits office is free parking for 20 motorcoaches as well as a bus driver’s lounge. Complimentary admission is offered to the motorcoach driver and escort in a group of 15 or more. Because of its popularity, admission to “A Longwood Gardens Christmas” is by timed ticket only, with tickets issued for specific dates and times. Best times to visit the display are weekdays and prior to Dec. 24.

• “Christmas at Hagley” takes place Nov. 25, 2011-Jan. 7, 2012, at Hagley Museum and Library, the ancestral home of the du Pont family in Delaware and site of the original gunpowder mills that spawned the DuPont Company.

• “A Brandywine Christmas” at the Brandywine River Museum begins Nov. 25 and can be seen through Dec. 31, 2011. The museum, internationally known for its collection of works by three generations of Wyeths—N.C., Andrew, and Jamie—and tours of the nearby house and studio where N.C. Wyeth created most of his famous works of art, features special exhibitions throughout the year, including “A Brandywine Christmas” with an extensive O-gauge model railroad and trees decorated with its famous “critter” ornaments.

The Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington, home to a world-renowned collection of American art and illustration as well as the largest collection of British Pre-Raphaelite art outside the U.K., provides guided themed tours and hands-on activities of Victorian-era crafts in its art studios. A sparkling wine, cheese and chocolate fondue reception is available for groups.

A must-see exhibit at the museum during the holiday season is Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered, which opens on Nov. 12. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Pyle’s death (1853-1911). In his honor, the museum will provide a comprehensive look at the work of one of America’s foremost illustrators. Pyle is best known for illustrations in Treasure Island and The Last of the Mohicans.

The elegant Hotel du Pont is a landmark four-star property that was designed by Pierre S. DuPont in the early 20th century. Cocktail receptions, cooking demonstrations and six-course gourmet dinners prepared by the hotel’s executive chef are available for groups.

Odessa
Historic Houses of Odessa’s Holiday Celebration runs from Nov. 17-Dec. 31. Stroll the tree-lined streets and tour historic colonial buildings of this charming 18th century village. Enjoy a cooking demonstration to learn how the dessert Apple Charlotte was made before modern appliances. Lunch can be served in one of the colonial homes. Cantwell’s Tavern in the Brick Hotel in Historic Odessa is scheduled to open May 1. It will seat 60-plus on the first floor and 50 on the second floor.

New Castle
The New Castle Historical Society’s three museums tell distinct stories about the town’s past from its 17th century founding. Old New Castle on the Delaware features Old World charm within its brick paths and cobblestone streets, town green and quaint shopping district. Guided tours for groups include an overview of the history of the houses, their residents and collections in the museums.

Celebrate the holidays at the Amstel and Dutch houses from Nov. 25-Dec. 30. The Amstel House will be decorated for a colonial holiday celebration, showing off a “dessert board” of the period and featuring 18th century customs during Gov. Nicholas Van Dyke’s residency. At the Dutch House, experience a celebration of St. Nicholas’ Eve, a tribute to the legend of St. Nicholas, Dutch patron saint. From Nov. 26-Dec. 30, “A Civil War Christmas” provides a look at the icons of this holiday during the Victorian period at The Old Library Museum.

Stockings to fill
Delaware is the home of tax-free shopping. Christiana Mall is Greater Wilmington’s largest mall with more than 130 stores including a newly opened Nordstrom’s. Museum shops provide the perfect place to find those one-of-a-kind gifts. Quaint shopping areas include Centreville, Greenville, Hockessin and Newark.

For more information, contact Delaware Tourism, 866-284-7483, visitdelaware.com; and Greater Wilmington CVB, 800-489-6664, visitwilmingtonde.com

For more Wilmington-area travel ideas, log on to http://leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=23599.

Touring Helena, Montana

Located in the foothills of the Montana Rockies, the bustling capital of Helena features numerous parks, museums, an active arts community and outdoor activities. Starting as a rowdy mining town in 1864 with the discovery of gold in Last Chance Gulch, it soon became the banking and political center of the Montana territory.

Last Chance Gulch now runs under Main Street, a four-block-long pedestrian mall with ornate, brick-and-granite buildings. Interspersed with the shops are boutiques, restaurants, pubs and areas for kids to play. A highlight is Lasso the Moon, a classic toy shop with unique toys not carried by mass-market stores. For a peek into the past, explore Reeder’s Alley, a collection of miner houses and shops built in the 1870s.

The Montana Historical Society Museum is a library, archive and museum. It houses the Montana Homeland Gallery, outlining the history of Montana going back 11,000 years; the Mackay Gallery of Russell Art, a permanent display of Charles Russell paintings; and the Northeast and Haynes galleries.

Montana’s State Capitol, built in the late 1800s, recently underwent extensive renovations. Sitting on 14 acres, the building is decorated in the French Renaissance style with frescoes, a stained-glass dome and murals. It also features flower gardens that are a designated state park.

The Cathedral of St. Helena, completed in 1924, features twin 230-foot spires, Bavarian stained-glass windows, hand-carved oak pews and hand-forged bronze light fixtures.

A great way to see the sights is via the Last Chance Tours Train, a train engine on wheels that winds through Helena.

One of the premier art galleries in Montana is the Holter Museum of Art. Holding 10 to 14 shows each year in its 7,200 square feet, it specializes in contemporary art of the Northwest region.

The Great Northern Carousel, open 363 days a year, gives a Montana twist to a typical carousel. Hand-carved bison, grizzly bears, dinosaurs, otters and bighorn sheep define this unique carousel.

A trip to Helena is not complete without enjoying the activities from its setting at the foot of the Rockies. Mount Helena City Park is a 628-acre park around Mount Helena, whose peak reaches 5,468 feet. The park has nine hiking trails. The easiest trail, 1906 Trail, follows the base of the limestone cliffs past Devil’s Kitchen to the summit of Mount Helena.

Helena provides easy access to numerous lakes such as the Canyon Ferry Lake, Hauser Lake and Lake Helena, as well as the Missouri River. Gates of the Mountains Boat Tours features a 105-minute tour on the Missouri; the company is so named for the towering rock formations around every bend. Fishing, water sports and boating are also available.

Rising to prominence in the Gold Rush, Helena’s rich history and beautiful setting are the ingredients for a perfect trip. (406-447-1530, www.gohelena.com)

—By Heather Lee

South Rail-Cruise

As alternatives to motorcoach travel, river cruises and scenic rail excursions can brighten any group tour itinerary in the South. Bonus features like meals and entertainment often combine to create a venue that can stand alone as a day-trip destination or highlight any day or evening of a longer tour.

This state-by-state guide, supplementing the options described in the June issue of Leisure Group Travel Magazine, is not intended as a comprehensive list of every available train trip or river ride, but highlights some that are particularly popular with groups.

Let’s look at some cruise opportunities in the South:

ALABAMA

The Southern Belle is moored at Bellingrath Gardens & Home near Mobile and does eco-tours down the Fowl River in an estuary environment among homes and estates. The Southern Belle is a 150-passenger vessel with an enclosed lower deck that is heated or cooled for your comfort. The Kingfisher is a 20-passenger, open-air vessel that is ideal for cruising and exploring the river environment. Both vessels are available for charter.

KENTUCKY

The Belle of Louisville, a magnificent steamboat docked in downtown Louisville’s Waterfront Park, is in its 96th year. With a capacity of 750 from April to October and 300 during the winter months, the Belle has a newly air-conditioned and heated ballroom deck, concession stand and bar, dance floor, full onboard sound system, indoor and outdoor seating, and a handicap lift that can take passengers to ballroom deck. She also has a working calliope. Sightseeing cruises along the Ohio River, not to mention lunch, dinner and special events cruises, are available.

LOUISIANA

Ÿ  The Creole Queen, an authentic paddlewheeler in New Orleans, is a luxurious vessel featuring three private dining rooms and lunch or dinner cruises with jazz music down the Mississippi River.

ŸSteamboat Natchez, billed as “the last authentic steamboat sailing the Mighty Mississippi,” features both lunch and dinner cruises with jazz music. Moored along New Orleans’ scenic Riverwalk (as is the Creole Queen), the boat offers group rates and an opportunity to arrange specially-priced packages that include New Orleans city tours.

MISSISSIPPI

Barrier islands cruising is available through at least 33 different charter companies that take groups out to Mississippi’s barrier islands, with dolphin and bird watching a popular activity. Daily ferry service is available from Biloxi to West Ship Island and Fort Massachusetts (circa 1858), part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. The island, about 10 miles offshore from Gulfport/Biloxi, offers quality beaches and clear Gulf waters for swimming, shelling, sunbathing and bird watching.

NORTH CAROLINA

Cape Fear Riverboats offers cruises along the Cape Fear River in Wilmington.

Outer Banks cruises. A vast variety of shrimping, crabbing, sunset dolphin watching and coastal sightseeing cruises are available along North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Spirit of Carolina provides sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises in and around Charleston. Docked across the river in Mt. Pleasant, it also operates sightseeing cruises to Fort Sumter, a major Civil War site.

TENNESSEE

The Knoxville Star sails the Tennessee River through downtown Knoxville. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and party cruises can be customized for groups, and live entertainment is often provided by a country comedy gospel group.

The Southern Belle Riverboat, departing downtown Chattanooga’s Ross Landing, sails the Tennessee River, offering both lunch and dinner excursions and fall foliage and other specialty cruises. A build-your-own-sandwich buffet at lunch and a prime rib buffet at dinner are complemented by live entertainment. Live narration regales passengers with river lore and history.

The mighty Mississippi is home Memphis Riverboats (Island Queen, Memphis Queen II, Memphis Queen III, Memphis Showboat), a fleet that provides sightseeing cruises and can customize meal functions and entertainment for groups.

VIRGINIA

Spirit of Norfolk departs from Waterside Festival Marketplace in downtown Norfolk. The excursion covers the Elizabeth River waterfront with spectacular skyline views of the mighty ships of the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet.

And from river to rail:

ALABAMA

North Alabama Scenic Railroad offers 10-mile roundtrips over a section of the historic Huntsville Branch of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway.  Located on the eastern outskirts of Huntsville, the complex features a train museum, and holiday-themed excursions are offered throughout the year.

GEORGIA

ŸBlue Ridge Scenic Railway. The centerpiece of a utopian village nestled in the beautiful North Georgia mountains is the historic (more than 100 years old) Blue Ridge Scenic Railway depot, where the train begins its 26-mile roundtrip journey through historic Murphy Junction along the Toccoa River. Each trip stops in McCaysville, Ga. and allows passengers to disembark and explore the town and its sister village of Copper Hill, Tenn.

KENTUCKY

Big South Fork Scenic Railway chugs along the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway on a 16-mile roundtrip into the Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. This trip is full of scenic vistas, lush vegetation and mountain streams as it descends 600 feet into the gorge before stopping at Blue Heron Coal Mining Camp, a NPS outdoor interpretive site. Your ticket also includes admission to the McCreary County Museum in Stearns. The K&T Special departs April through October. Roundtrips vary from 3 to 3½ hours.

Kentucky Railway offers train robberies, mystery theater excursions and a special “Bells & Whistles” tour package for groups. Based in the tiny village of New Haven (near Bardstown), the L&N 152 anchors an extensive railway museum and transports passengers through the scenic Rolling Fork River Valley. Meal packages are available.

SOUTH CAROLINA

South Carolina Railway Museum offers rides along five miles of the old Rocton, Rion and Western Railway. As the official railroad museum of South Carolina, the SCRM has accumulated many pieces of rolling stock by way of gift from the Charleston chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. The equipment includes various types of freight and passenger cars as well as a steam locomotive that once belonged to the Hampton and Branchville Railroad. More equipment has been acquired including cabooses, freight cars and diesel engines.

TENNESSEE

Tennessee Central Railway departs from downtown Nashville for the village of Watertown, approximately one hour away, for a full-year’s schedule of special events held there, including the Mile-Long Yard Sale and holiday-themed events. The newest excursions go a bit farther—to the Cumberland Plateau communities of Cookeville and Monterey. The museum headquarters is located in the former Tennessee Central Railway master mechanic’s office at 220 Willow Street near downtown Nashville. The building houses offices, a library and a collection of railroad material, including the largest collection of Tennessee Central Railway artifacts to be found anywhere.

—By Melinda Hughey

 

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