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Nature and art come together at ‘Chihuly: Celebrating Nature’ at Franklin Park Conservatory

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Dale Chilhuly’s
Dale Chilhuly’s "Sunset Tower," Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Columbus, Ohio Credit: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Beginning June 1, Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will be awash in vibrant color as “Chihuly: Celebrating Nature,” presented by Nationwide and Davis Foundation, takes visitors on a journey through the breathtaking work of glass artist Dale Chihuly. The exhibition will present the conservatory’s own collection of the artist’s work in full. There will also be temporary installations never before seen at the conservatory, throughout the botanical gardens and courtyards.

Chihuly has played a significant role in the conservatory’s history. In 2003, the conservatory’s future was uncertain before it became the second botanical garden to ever host a Chihuly exhibition. “Chihuly at the Conservatory” resulted in record-shattering attendance and helped to position the institution as a gem of central Ohio. In a stunning move of support, a private nonprofit group, Friends of the Conservatory, purchased most of the Chihuly exhibition. This significant gift further established the young conservatory’s role as a cultural leader in its community.

Since the 2003 milestone acquisition of Chihuly’s artwork, the conservatory’s full collection has only been on partial display, apart from an exhibition in 2009. “Chihuly: Celebrating Nature” will be featured at the conservatory from June 1 through March 29, 2020.

For more information on “Chihuly: Celebrating Nature,” visit fpconservatory.org or follow the conservatory on FacebookTwitter or Instagram.

About Franklin Park Conservatory

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens offers world-class horticulture, art and nature-based exhibitions and educational programs for all ages. Situated on 40 acres on the eastern side of Franklin Park, the conservatory features the historic 1895 John F. Wolfe Palm House; 83,000 square feet of glasshouses; botanical gardens including the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden; and meeting and event spaces. The conservatory owns the largest collection of glass artwork by Dale Chihuly in a botanical garden. It is home to internationally recognized light artist James Turrell’s Light Raiment II, which illuminates the John F. Wolfe Palm House every evening from dusk until dawn.

About Dale Chihuly

Dale Chihuly is an American artist noted for revolutionizing the studio glass movement and elevating perceptions of the glass medium. Known for ambitious architectural installations in cities, museums and gardens, Chihuly uses a variety of media to realize his creative vision, including glass, paint, charcoal, neon, ice and Polyvitro. Chihuly’s work is on view in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. Those museums include Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Corning Museum of Glass. Major exhibitions include Chihuly Over Venice (1995-96), Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem (1999), de Young Museum in San Francisco (2008), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (2011), Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond (2012), Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, Canada (2013), Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada (2016) and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas (2017.) In addition, Chihuly Garden and Glass, a long-term exhibition located at the Seattle Center, opened in 2012. For more information, visit chihuly.com, Facebook.com/chihuly and @ChihulyStudio.    

The MAX brings Mississippi legends to life

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Students can dive into Mississippi’s creative legacy at The Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) in Meridian, Mississippi. The MAX celebrates the big artists and legends that call Mississippi home, and students can explore the creative processes behind each of the artist’s work through interactive exhibits.

“Art is a universal language and this museum covers an expansive list of art forms and mediums,” said Paula Chance, director of marketing at The MAX. “Students who come to The MAX will be exposed to art forms they would never have experienced. Perhaps they will find the inspiration to become the future Hall of Fame inductees. Most visitors enjoy the ‘Juke Joint’ exhibit, where they can compose their own band with Mississippi music artists who wouldn’t ever have played on the same stage at the same time.”

Community Gallery at The MAX in Meridian, Mississippi
Community Gallery, The MAX, Meridian, Miss.
Credit: The MAX

In the Hall of Fame, students can experience the impact Mississippians have on the arts and entertainment world in a 360-degree exhibit. The Hall of Fame is The MAX’s centerpiece; it stands two stories tall in the rotunda. 

Some legends in the Hall of Fame include: Elvis Presley, B.B. King, Oprah Winfrey, Jimmy Buffett, Willie Morris, William Faulkner, George Ohr, Muddy Waters and Jimmie Rodgers.

“Of course, the exhibits alone are more than enough for school groups to sink their teeth into, but there are some other programs to help school groups engage deeper in the exhibits,” Chance said. “For example, student groups can enjoy scavenger hunts, Make + Take Workshops and special in-school curricula. Scavenger hunts help groups find interesting facts about the artists in The MAX that they might have overlooked otherwise. Make + Take Workshops allow the student groups to have hands-on experiences that explore the different art forms represented in The MAX.”

Hall of Fame rotunda at The MAX in Meridian, Mississippi
Hall of Fame rotunda, The MAX, Meridian, Miss.
Credit: The MAX

The MAX’s Walk of Fame begins at the Mississippi State University Riley Center and ends at The MAX’s entrance, with famous names like Walter Anderson, Morgan Freeman, Marty Stuart, John Grisham and Sela Ward leading the path. 

Chance suggests booking groups at least two weeks in advance.

For more information, call 601-581-1550 or visit msarts.org.

Eating Europe expands to Lisbon

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Eating Europe Lisbon guests outside Tasquinha Canto do Fado. Credit: Eating Europe
Eating Europe Lisbon guests outside Tasquinha Canto do Fado. Credit: Eating Europe

Award-winning tour operator Eating Europe is going from strength to strength. After successfully launching in Haarlem (outside of Amsterdam) earlier this year, the company’s next new offering will be in another one of Europe’s culinary hot spots: Lisbon, Portugal. The four-hour long experience through Mouraria, the city’s medieval quarter, begins May 24.

“Eating Europe has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a one tour, one guide operation in Rome back in 2011,” said Kenny Dunn, managing director. “We’ve seen tremendous growth, especially in the last couple of years, and are thrilled to now be able to offer our clients an opportunity to experience a taste of local life in Lisbon too. With modern restaurants offering new-wave Portuguese dishes, old-style family-run establishments serving the classics and plenty of colorful bars and food markets, Lisbon is a perfect foodie destination, and we can’t wait to help our guests discover what makes the city’s cuisine and culture so very rich.”

Eating Europe tour, Cantinho do Aziz, Lisbon Credit: Eating Europe Lisbon
Eating Europe tour, Cantinho do Aziz, Lisbon
Credit: Eating Europe

During the “Eats, Street Art and Undiscovered Lisbon – A Walk Through Baixa & Mouraria,” guests will enjoy six culinary tastings from typical street food to comfort treats like the peixinhos da horta (deep fried green beans), Portuguese classics accompanied by wines from different regions in Portugal and a beer from one of the country’s former African colonies. The gastronomic journey begins in Lisbon’s historic heart, the Baixa district, before it continues to Mouraria, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city and survivor of the 1755 earthquake. True to its signature theme, to take travelers off-the-beaten-track, the new Eating Europe experience introduces guests to a restaurant resembling a hidden Moorish palace, a fado (mournful form of music born in Lisbon) house and the pastry shop voted to have the best pastel de nata (custard tart) in town.

Tours run daily from 1–5 p.m. For more information about Eating Europe Lisbon, visit
eatingeurope.com/lisbon/undiscovered-lisbonfood-tour/ .

Alabama itinerary: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

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Gulf Shores, Alabama
Gulf Shores, Ala. Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

Alabama’s Gulf Coast is filled to the brim with rich history, Southern hospitality, natural beauty and plenty of sunshine. In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, groups can sink their feet into sugar-white sand beaches, splash in the aqua waters and taste some of the most authentic and freshest seafood around.

“The Alabama Gulf Coast gives groups plenty of things to do on and off the beach, particularly nature-focused adventures,” said Beth Gendler, vice president of sales for Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. “With a 28-mile trail system in Gulf State Park, waterways ideal for fishing and sightseeing as well as an outstanding food and beverage scene, we encourage groups to embrace our coastal culture.”

ASK
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism
800-745-7263
gulfshores.com

SIP

Big Beach Brewing Company in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Big Beach Brewing Company, Gulf Shores, Ala.
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

What started as a hobby for owners Julie and Jim Shamburger, Big Beach Brewing Company quickly outgrew its small basement operation, and it now boasts a taproom with 12 taps featuring craft beer and homemade lemonade. Try the Hundred Daze IPA, Rod’s Reel Cream Ale or Dixie’s Heart Irish Red Ale.

DINE

King Neptune’s Seafood Restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama
King Neptune’s Seafood Restaurant, Gulf Shores, Ala.
Credit: GTM/Elly DeVries

Unassuming on the outside, King Neptune’s Seafood Restaurant is a family-run eatery serving up some of the best royal red shrimp, fresh fish and oysters found anywhere along the Gulf. King Neptune’s has been featured on TV shows including Bobby Flay’s Food Nation, and The Travel Channel’s Travel Deep in the South.

SAVOR

Rum Sisters in Orange Beach, Alabama
Rum Sisters, Orange Beach, Ala.
Credit: GTM/Elly DeVries

Specializing in unique, alcohol-infused cakes, Rum Sisters is a gourmet bakery using top-shelf bourbon and rum and quality ingredients. Considered “sisters by rum,” Elizabeth Jones and Kelly Canale joined forces in 2014 to form Rum Sisters, which instantly took off. Stop in and try the Drunken Monkey or Twisted Sista.

CELEBRATE

The Hangout in Gulf Shores, Alabama
The Hangout, Gulf Shores, Ala.
Credit: Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism

The Hangout Oyster Cook-Off & Craft Beer Weekend, held annually in November, showcases the talents and tastes of the best chefs from the Southeast for a decadent afternoon of oysters and spirits on the beach in Gulf Shores. Sample inspired oyster dishes from dozens of restaurants serving Rockefeller, Gulf Coast Cajun and raw oysters. 

Statue of Liberty Museum opens

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A view of the Statue of Liberty Museum on May 16, 2019, in New York City. Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation
A view of the Statue of Liberty Museum on May 16, 2019, in New York City. Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation

NEW YORK — The Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island opened to the public May 16 following a dedication ceremony presented by The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. and the National Park Service.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Chairman of the Board Albert Bellas and President and CEO Stephen Briganti, as well as campaign chairperson Diane von Furstenberg delivered remarks at the ceremony, which also included performances from Broadway stars and the Manhattan Girls Chorus.

A view of the Statue of Liberty from the Statue of Liberty Museum on May 16, 2019, in New York City. Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation
A view of the Statue of Liberty from the Statue of Liberty Museum
on May 16, 2019, in New York City.
Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation

“America needs this museum and what it represents now more than ever,” said de Blasio. “Immigration defines us, and New York is the ultimate city of immigrants. The Statue of Liberty represents our core values — we embrace diversity, support our neighbors, and believe everyone should have a fair shot to live the American dream.”

“Today, we share in the American people’s gratitude for this remarkable contribution to the legacy of the Statue of Liberty, and for ensuring her story will continue to be told to this and future generations,” said John Piltzecker, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

“Starting today, every visitor who comes to Liberty Island will have the opportunity to have a full museum experience, to learn about Lady Liberty’s history and how she still shines as a beacon of hope for all people around the world,” said Briganti.

The 26,000-square-foot museum features three gallery spaces. Each one is meant to inspire visitors and educate them about the Statue of Liberty in interactive and thought-provoking ways. The experience culminates with an up-close view of the statue’s original torch, held high for nearly 100 years. Rescued from the elements and replaced in 1986, the torch is the most powerful artifact visitors encounter as they reach the end of the museum experience. The museum merges landscape and building, and the roof is planted with native meadow grasses. The roof offers visitors sweeping, panoramic views of Lady Liberty, lower Manhattan, and all of New York Harbor. Access to the museum is free with the purchase of a Statue Cruises ferry ticket to Liberty and Ellis Islands.

The new Statue of Liberty Museum is part of a $100 million Liberty Island-wide beautification effort. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation funded the project. Architecture firm FXCollaborative designed the museum. Experience design firm ESI created the exhibits. Phelps Construction Group built the structure. SBI Consultants served as the owner’s representative coordinating activities among all stakeholders.

“While the Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable icons in the world, few people ever get to climb to its crown or get to see Lady Liberty’s face up close,” said Edwin Schlossberg, founder and principal designer of ESI Design. “Our goal for the design of the museum experience is to immerse visitors in not just the grandeur and sweeping history of the Statue, but also in the very idea of liberty itself so that they leave with a deeper understanding of what it means to them and the active role required to uphold it.”

Statue Cruises are the official transportation method to reach Liberty Island.

For more information about the Statue of Liberty Museum or visiting Liberty Island go to statueoflibertymuseum.org and follow the foundation on social media at Facebook.com/StatueEllisFdn, Twitter @StatueEllisFdn, and Instagram @StatueEllisFdn.

Virginia itinerary: Explore The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News

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Credit: The Mariners’ Museum and Park
The Mariners’ Museum and Park

In 1937, Archer Huntington met a community need in founding The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, Virginia — a city built to support the local shipbuilding industry. Steeped in a culture teeming with maritime connections, The Mariners’ Museum and Park strives to connect visitors to the water, because through the water, we are all connected to each other. 

Throughout the 90,000 square feet of exhibitions, the museum houses priceless artifacts, each telling a fascinating story. Exhibitions including the USS Monitor Center, miniature ship models, America’s Cup racing catamarans, and naval warfare and history, pull visitors in while they discover how people are connected to the water.

Whether visiting for an afternoon or a few days, the museum and park has more than enough to entertain, educate, and enthrall groups.


Tour of The Mariners’ Museum

Creidt: The Mariners’ Museum and Park

Either take in the highlights through a guided tour with one of our knowledgeable docents, or have the group create its own adventure. Select from pre-set themed tours or request a customized tour for the group. A minimum of 1½ hours is recommended for a guided tour to see all the museum has to offer.


Beyond the Galleries Presentation

Credit: The Mariners’ Museum and Park

Only 2 percent of the museum’s vast collection of more than 35,000 artifacts is on display, which means there is a lot to see behind the scenes. Collections Management staff will pick a variety of artifacts that interest the group during this special presentation, which may even take place in a workshop space. Depending on the objects, the group may be able to touch or hold them, and visitors will definitely be able to take pictures.


Explorers Theater 3D Movie

Credit: The Mariners’ Museum and Park

Experience thrilling 3D films and other feature films covering a wide range of maritime topics in this high definition theater. Private showings for larger groups are available! There are two films showing daily, and each typically run about 40 minutes. Whether you enjoy beautiful ocean scenery or an action filled experience of how we’re all connected by the water, these films are great for all groups. 


Boxed lunches or a themed meal

Credit: The Mariners’ Museum and Park

Order boxed lunches or a themed meal (inspired from different times in history or different cultures) from local restaurants with a variety of menu options. Groups can enjoy their lunch in museum banquet space. Groups can even order to-go if they’re looking to hit the road. Add on a costumed interpreter to liven up the lunch experience and interact with history in a new way.

ASK
The Mariners’ Museum and Park
757-591-7754
marinersmuseum.org/groups

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park adds Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden

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Marino Marini, Horse and Rider, 1952-1953 Credit: Cathy Carver Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden
Marino Marini, Horse and Rider, 1952-1953 Credit: Cathy Carver

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, one of the nation’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, is proud to announce the opening of the Stuart and Barbara Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden.

Located on top of the recently completed 22,000-square-foot Covenant Learning Center, this unique space is unlike any other garden or rooftop in West Michigan. The Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden is part of the Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love expansion project and furthers Meijer Gardens’ mission of promoting the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment and the arts.

Alexander Calder, Sky Hooks, 1962 Credit: Lee Stalsworth Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden
Alexander Calder, Sky Hooks, 1962
Credit: Lee Stalsworth

“The Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden is a completely new garden experience. It will have an urban garden look and feel with stunning views of the wetlands,” said David Hooker, president and CEO. “Our gratitude to the Padnos family is deep and sincere. They have supported a very broad range of cultural projects in West Michigan and beyond and we are honored to have a signature sculpture garden named in their honor. Stuart Padnos was an accomplished sculptor and we are fortunate to have several pieces of his work in our permanent collection. It is most fitting that this new garden carries the Padnos name.”

Central to the experience on the rooftop garden is the blending of horticultural elements and sculpture, including the siting of four long-term loans from the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. Significant modern and contemporary sculpture from Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, Marino Marini and David Smith will be on view.

The works by Calder, Moore and Marini represent different periods in the life and work of these artists than the existing works in the permanent collection. David Smith’s work is new to Meijer Gardens. An American abstract expressionist sculptor and painter, Smith is best known for creating large, abstract steel geometric sculptures and was a great influence on the post-World War II Minimal art movement. This loan was made possible due to Meijer Gardens’ ongoing relationship with the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden dating back to a long-term loan of Alexander Calder’s Two Discs in 2007. The Hirshhorn is currently undergoing its first redesign in more than 40 years, led by renowned architect and artist Hiroshi Sugimoto.

This new rooftop garden consists of a clean, modern design that creates a distinctly urban space that highlights vistas to the wetlands and boardwalk areas that mark the eastern border of the Meijer Gardens campus. The garden has been designed to be a beautiful, flexible space for events, weddings, gatherings and everyday enjoyment. The area is visible from the interior sculpture gallery space and the sculptures displayed will rotate over time depending on the sculpture exhibitions occurring inside. The horticultural elements of the garden have been designed to provide four seasons of interest. The Padnos Rooftop Sculpture Garden offers many environmental benefits, including moderating temperature changes in the Covenant Learning Center, stormwater management and offering a diverse habitat for birds, butterflies and insects.

“Meijer Gardens has done an incredible job of fusing Lena Meijer’s love of gardening with Fred Meijer’s passion for sculpture into an amazing institution. Stuart and Barbara Padnos also shared in those passions. It is a special delight for our family to be able to honor them by contributing to this wonderful addition,” said Jeff Padnos. “Our family is truly thrilled to be part of this wonderful example of what we can accomplish with vision and collaboration.” 

The $115 million Welcoming the World: Honoring a Legacy of Love expansion project underway at Meijer Gardens is addressing facility needs that came from significant growth over the institution’s 24-year history. New areas across the campus will allow Meijer Gardens to expand annual horticulture exhibitions, provide more galleries for sculpture exhibitions and art storage facilities, add room for guests to move about safely and easily, host more events, add educational offerings and create additional space that is LEED-certified and architecturally significant. The project is also adding parking capacity and improving vehicle flow.

5 safety tips for every student group

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A tour company’s rapport with student groups speaks to its top: student safety. Green Light Group Tours specializes in performance group travel for bands, choirs, orchestras, theater classes and dance teams. In addition, the company leads travel for those with less luggage, like 8th-grade class trips. Apryl Black of Green Light Group Tours suggests the following safety tips for all student travel leaders.

Credit: Green Light Group Tours

1. Head count

Any time the bus is loaded or the group enters a subway, it’s imperative to count heads and move the group together. A simple head count can be more efficient than calling roll or having students call out their assigned number. When enjoying free time, consider splitting the students into small groups with an assigned chaperone so they can explore more freely. 

2. Hire a professional

A tour operator will use their years of experience to book a hotel in a safe neighborhood, a reliable bus company, a student-friendly show, and other activities and meals that are safe and group-appropriate. Ask to have a tour manager on the trip; this person will be there 24 hours per day, act as a knowledgeable friend and enhance the experience — ensuring the trip runs smoothly and as planned.

3. Stay rested

A well-rested traveler is a happy and healthy traveler. Allow the tour operator to book a nighttime hotel security guard who will monitor the hallways and make sure your students stay safe and in their rooms. This will also allow the adults on your trip to rest easy and be pleasant travelers come morning.

4. Collect health information

Hire a tour operator who collects medical information like allergies, and who purchases a traveler’s insurance policy on your behalf. They can submit all allergies to the  restaurants on the itinerary, so students stay safe and well-fed. And, should anyone need medical attention during the trip, they have the paperwork to authorize medical care and the insurance policy that will help with medical expenses. 

Also, encourage travelers to drink water. Dehydration is the No. 1 reason travelers become ill, yet it’s 100 percent preventable. Carry several cases of water underneath the bus.

5. Communicate

Keep students in the know by making sure they all have a detailed itinerary. One idea is to put the information on a lanyard around their neck. Utilize a texting service like Remind or WhatsApp to confirm departure times, meeting points and to communicate with travelers who may have questions along the way.

Read more about Green Light Group Tours.

Nature’s wonders: Outdoor tours leave lasting impressions

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Credit: iStock

From painted deserts with towering buttes to spacious skies full of waterfowl, some of the most memorable tours contain natural phenomena just as awe-inspiring as the natural beauty. Pack hiking shoes and cameras for photos among majestic caverns, rolling grasslands and some of the world’s best biodiversity. Rest assured — these nature tours leave the Earth unharmed and more loved.


Creole Nature Trail
Louisiana

Credit: Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Creole Nature Trail is one of only 43 All-American Road scenic byways in the United States, allowing groups to reconnect with nature.

“Over 400 bird species are spotted on the trail each year, along with the largest population of American alligators — and it is all natural with no cages and no feeding times, as mother nature made it,” said Anne Taber Klenke, tourism director for Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The marshlands of south Louisiana are not only incredibly beautiful; they are home to the ecosystem which supplies our amazing seafood and should be actively protected.”

Although there are no set tours, the Convention & Visitors Bureau can provide step-on guides and customized itineraries. A complimentary personal tour guide app auto-plays audio and video content based on GPS triggering.


Garden of the Gods
Colorado Springs, Colorado

A registered National Natural Landmark, Garden of the Gods offers dramatic views, 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations and brilliant blue skies. Groups learn how the red rocks got there with a new Geo-Trekker theater experience, shown every 20 minutes.

Groups also may book a step-on guide or a guided walk brimming with tailored information. While eating in the cafe, visitors delight in one of the most-photographed Colorado landscapes. Each visitor may order individually off the menu or box lunches can be prearranged.


Haleakalā National Park
Maui, Hawaii

For more than 150 years, visitors to Maui have ascended Haleakalā to experience enchanting views. Groups also can awaken with Haleakalā National Park during a breathtaking sunrise tour, offered by several local companies. With a professionally trained guide during early morning hours, groups traverse winding mountain roads up to the highest peak on the island to see fiery colors illuminate the clouds. Several tour companies add on an island-style breakfast.


Luray Caverns
Luray, Virginia

The largest series of caverns in the eastern United States, Luray Caverns offers daily guided tours along lit, paved walkways. Groups are led through cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10-stories high and towering stone formations. Visits can include food packages with access to the Gem Sluice, Garden Maze and Rope Adventure Park.


Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
Anahuac, Texas

The 37,000-acre Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge cuts through ancient flood plains, creating vast expanses of coastal marsh and prairie bordering Galveston Bay. Management protects the marsh for migrating, wintering and breeding waterfowl, shorebirds and waterbirds. Neotropical migratory songbirds migrating across the Gulf of Mexico find crucial nesting areas at the refuge.

“It’s peaceful, beautiful and exciting, as you never know what you are going to see,” said Stephanie Martinez, outdoor recreation planner for Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuges Complex. “It is one of the best places in the world to view birds.”

Martinez said staff and volunteers are always happy to provide complimentary tours for groups of 15 or more if booked in advance. If a tour company charges for its own refuge tours, they must contact the manager for a special-use permit.


Springs Preserve
Las Vegas, Nevada

Sustainability is at the core of Spring’s Preserve missions, and in the middle of Las Vegas, the site offers 180 acres of natural adventure, and sustainable design and architecture. Group tours are available by request.

Stand face-to-face with Nevada’s state fossil, step inside a stalactite cave, trek along trails that meander through a wetland habitat and learn about “green living.” The preserve is built around the city’s original water source, the Las Vegas Springs.

“As humans, we are tied to nature; it sustains us,” said Pietra Sardelli, group sales supervisor for Springs Preserve. “Learning about your environment and how to protect it is imperative. In the desert, even more so.

“It is easy to look at the desert and just see dirt, but learning to look closer, to see the delicate plants with an unequalled will to survive — that is something. To learn about the importance of clean water and the power it holds is vital for our future. What happens in nature is a clear indicator of what we are doing to our environment.”


Blue Spring State Park
Orange City, Florida

In 1970, two years before Blue Spring State Park was established, researchers tracked 14 manatees along the St. Johns River. By 2005, after years of manatee protection efforts, the numbers exceeded 200. And last year, the numbers skyrocketed to a record 485 manatees. Visitors are encouraged to call the park before a visit for the latest manatee count.

Groups can see the park’s wonders during a hike on the 4½-mile Pine Island Trail. Visitors also may rent canoes or kayaks, or take a two-hour, narrated Nature and Ecological Cruise with St. Johns River Cruises. For land-lovers, the company also offers Guided Wilderness Escape Segway tours.


Coming soon: Pacific Flyway Center
Fairfield, California

In Northern California’s Suisun Marsh, the highly anticipated Pacific Flyway Center will serve as a major interpretive and educational facility to introduce groups to the wonders of the Pacific Flyway. Construction is expected to begin this year, but no specific timeline is set. The flyway stretches for 10,000 miles, from the Artic to Patagonia. Each year, more than 1 billion birds travel the flyway during their annual migrations.

Courageous footsteps: Georgia’s new trail highlights civil rights sites across the state

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Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia
Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta, Ga. Credit: Georgia Department of Economic Development

My first trip to Georgia took me on a civil rights journey that no textbook can fully emulate. Yes, I learned about the civil rights movement in school, but following the footsteps of notable civil rights leaders was a moving experience unlike anything I’ve done before. 

Georgia’s Footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Trail highlights 28 sites across the state that tell the stories of how civil rights leaders advanced social justice and shifted the course of history. The trail includes a portion of the official U.S. Civil Rights Trail, which stretches across 15 states and the District of Columbia.

Warm welcome

My group’s first night in Atlanta took us to Paschal’s — a legendary soul food restaurant famous for its fried chicken and being a meeting place for many major politicians, business people, entertainers and even Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights movement.

Marshall Slack, who has worked at Paschal’s since he was 9 years old, shared bits of civil rights history and Dr. King anecdotes during our dinner; it was eye-opening to speak with someone who knew Dr. King personally. King’s favorite meal? Fried chicken and collard greens.

On April 4, 2018, the 50th anniversary of King’s assassination, it was only fitting the weather was dreary, with rain drizzling down from dark clouds above Dr. King’s tomb. We were in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, just outside Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birth Home in Atlanta, Georgia
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birth Home, Atlanta, Ga.
Credit: GTM/Kelsey Smith

The park consists of King’s birth home; Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King and his father preached; and his resting place at The King Center. Inside the visitor center, video exhibits echoed along curved walls full of facts and details about the civil rights movement and King’s fight for equality.

As I made my way through the gallery (tissue in hand), I followed the sound of King’s voice: “Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.”

Dr. King delivered his foreshadowing “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech on April 3, 1968 — just one day before his assassination.

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop.”

Songs of freedom

In Albany, we visited the Albany Civil Rights Institute, which is located next to the restored 1906 Mount Zion First Baptist Church. We explored exhibits detailing the civil rights struggle through oral histories, photographs, documents and artifacts.

Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia
Mount Zion First Baptist Church, Albany, Ga.
Credit: Todd Stone

After our guided tour, we went next door to the church and met Rutha Mae Harris, a founding member of The Freedom Singers, a civil rights-inspired quartet originating out of Albany State College.

After Harris began singing, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. She asked us all to sing with her, which included a rendition of “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Turn Me ‘Round.” Harris sang more songs and shared personal stories; groups can see the Freedom Singers perform at the church every second Saturday of the month.

Fighting for social change

After riding on the motorcoach for three days, we made it to our final destination: Savannah. The radiant sunlight and warm, coastal air welcomed us with open arms as we stepped off the bus and into the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum.

The museum’s director, Vaughnette Goode-Walker, greeted us at the door and quickly jumped into the story of Ralph Mark Gilbert. Gilbert served as the president of the local NAACP chapter from 1942–1950 and secured recognition for over 40 chapters throughout Georgia, making him the father of the civil rights movement in Savannah.

Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum in Savannah, Georgia
Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Savannah, Ga.
Credit: Geoff Johnson

We explored exhibits chronicling the civil rights struggle of Georgia’s oldest African-American community, from slavery to the present, before wrapping up our trip.

Five full days, hundreds of miles, plenty of laughter and, of course, never-ending plates of authentic soul food, all added up to a remarkable trip. But what I took away the most from my time in Georgia were the stories of the people who lived and provoked change during the civil rights movement.

Georgia’s new trail gives groups the unique opportunity to hear these stories firsthand, inspiring them to continue the same fight for equality today.

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Georgia Department of Economic Development
404-962-4175
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