ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
POP CULTURE/HIP & HAPPENING
HIGHLIGHTS
■ Boardwalk pleasures
■ Celebrity chefs
■ Casino action
■ Fabulous shopping
■ World-class spas
■ Miss America DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Rose Walk Afternoon: Since its inception in the 1800s, Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. High-energy restaurants, DAY ■ Haunted Tales the world-famous Atlantic City Boardwalk exciting entertainment and an array of shops come 1 has been the epicenter of entertainment together at The Quarter at Tropicana, a retail center and people-watching. Stroll the wooden that brings to life the streets of Old Havana through a way and enjoy your favorite Boardwalk foods. You’ll find sprawling three-story streetscape. the entrances to Central Pier, Steel Pier and Garden Pier scattered along its more than four miles. A seemingly If you prefer salt scrubs to shoe sales, spend an indulgent endless array of restaurants, shops, casinos and attractions morning at one of Atlantic City’s world-class spas. make it impossible to be bored on Boardwalk. From inviting spaces modeled after Roman baths to the modern day masterpieces, Atlantic City is home to some But occasionally the weather has a different plan. When of the East Coast’s most exceptional spa experiences. walking the boards is not the best option, you can always step inside your favorite casino. Or catch a matinee at Afternoon: If you’re enchanted by the Miss America the IMAX Theater at The Quarter at Tropicana. Featuring crown, don’t miss the Miss America Rose Walk, a large-format films, it offers the latest Hollywood block- collection of bronze plaques featuring Miss America busters, major concerts and sporting events. quotes embedded in the sidewalk along Michigan Avenue. The focal point is a bronze statue of Bert Parks, Evening: As a pop culture devotee, you’re probably host of the Miss America competition from 1955 to 1980. hungry for more than just great food. Luckily, several Visitors can take advantage of a photo opportunity by of today’s hottest celebrity chefs have opened up posing under the crown in the statue’s outstretched terrifically trendy restaurants in Atlantic City. From Bobby hands as a motion sensor triggers the pageant’s traditional Flay to Wolfgang Puck, finding a famous name is not a theme song, “There She Is, Miss America,” through an problem. After dinner, Boardwalk Hall is the place to enhanced digital sound system. find the superstars. From the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Lady Gaga, they’ve played in the arena. You’ll find Located on the Boardwalk, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! more incredible entertainment in the casino showrooms. Museum is a fascinating look into the bizarre. Also on the OTHER Boardwalk, you’ll find Haunted Tales offers tales of the Morning: Celebrated as one of the East Jersey Devil, pirates and more. Then take the coffin ride ITINERARIES DAY Coast’s best shopping destinations, Atlantic and experience the sensation of being buried alive. Only ■ Adrenaline Rush 2 City offers upscale retailers, brand-name a few are brave enough to make it through the entire ride. – Extreme AC outlets, unique boutiques and everything in between, and it’s tax-free on clothes and shoes! At Tanger Outlets – The Walk, you can spend the CONTACT: Atlantic City CVA day bagging bargains from more than 100 stores like ➤ Heather Colache Michael Kors, Coach, Kenneth Cole, H&M and DKNY. www.doatlanticcity.com 2314 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401 The Pier Shops at Caesars deliver an upscale shopping Phone: 609-449-7151 experience with designer stores from Gucci, Burberry, Email: [email protected]
84 June 2014 special section LeisureGroupTravel.com
BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, NIAGARA FALLS, LOCKPORT, ANGELICA, ELLICOTTVILLE, SENECA FALLS & CANANDAIGUA LAKE, NY; AND NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, ON
NIAGARA FALLS & WESTERN NEW YORK
HIGHLIGHTS DAY Seneca ■ View famed Falls/Ellicottville Niagara Falls from 4 Step back in time in both sides of the charming, lakeside border Geneva, boasting the “Prettiest Street in America.” Then, a local Mennonite ■ Cruise the Farm family gives a personal tour of magnificent Erie their home-grown produce operation. Canal, Finger Lakes At picturesque Bully Hill Vineyard, and Niagara Falls enjoy lunch, wine-tasting and an on three uniquely exclusive behind-the-scenes tour. different ships In Angelica’s quaint town circle, experience the old-time sport of ■ Visit the home- Roque, which is a version of Croquet. town of Lucille Ball and recall the Ellicottville/Amherst beloved comedian DAY In the hometown of at the Lucy-Desi legendary comedian Museum 5 DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY Lucille Ball, visit the ■ Experience museum that pays tribute to her career with vintage upstate's agricultural DAY Buffalo memorabilia and famed sets from the beloved 1950s diversity, from Enjoy a get-acquainted reception in this sitcom, I Love Lucy. After lunch, travel to Amish Mennonite family 1 friendly city on Lake Erie. Country to visit the family-run Hostetler Quilt & Gift farms to major Shop and a fascinating sawmill that operates without Buffalo/Rochester electricity. Later, we’ll be “abuzz” with amusement at dairy, vineyard and DAY equestrian sites In historic Lockport, see dazzling stained the Original American Kazoo Company–North 2 glass windows made by world-renowned America’s only metal kazoo factory. ■ Explore scenic Tiffany craftsmen at First Presbyterian and historic Niagara Church. Next, enjoy a ferry cruise on the iconic Amherst/Niagara on DAY on the Lake—the Erie Canal, the 363-mile engineering marvel that the Lake, Ontario “Loveliest Town in helped establish New York as an international center of 6 Niagara Falls has mesmerized visitors for Ontario” commerce. We’ll “lock through” enormous locks that centuries. The 282-foot-tall ledge above raise and lower ships, allowing them to pass from Lake Niagara Gorge offers stunning views of both Horseshoe ■ Visit the Women’s Erie to the Atlantic. Later, we’ll see one of the world’s and American Falls. Afterward, don your “rain poncho” Rights National longest HO-scale model train and diorama exhibits at and cruise through the spray of Niagara’s cascading waters Historic Park and Medina Railroad Museum. We cap the day with a tasty, aboard the famous Maid of the Mist. We lunch at the lunch at North colorful stop at pristine Hurd Orchards and flower farm. oldest golf course in North America, overlooking the America’s oldest shores of Lake Ontario. Then, enjoy free time and a golf course narrated riding tour of historic Niagara-on-the-Lake, often DAY Rochester/Seneca Falls Travel among rolling hills to tiny called the loveliest town in Ontario. You’ll never forget ■ Crafts sites 3 Honeoye Falls, where you’ll be moved the view from our world-renowned AAA four-diamond including Medina by how the William and Mildred Levine hotel, just 200 yards from the brink of Niagara Falls! Railroad Museum, Ranch EquiCenter is enriching the lives of people Original American with developmental disabilities through teaching Buffalo DAY Kazoo Company, them horsemanship. Afterward, enjoy a relaxing cruise Return home, overflowing with wonderful more around Canandaigua Lake, one of the country’s 7 memories of Niagara Falls, Erie Canal and wealthiest regions, aboard the authentic paddlewheeler, western New York. OTHER Canandaigua Lady. Later, visit one of the region’s largest, ITINERARIES most technologically advanced farms. Then, experience the beginning of the Women’s Movement at the Women’s CONTACT: Country Travel DISCOVERIES ■ West Virginia's ➤ Steven Uelner Mountain Railroads Rights National Historic Park. Overnight at the European- style Hotel Clarence in Seneca Falls, the friendly, small www.countrytraveldiscoveries.com/groups ■ Germany, Switzerland 13500 Watertown Plank Road, Suite 107, Elm Grove, WI 53122 town believed to have inspired “Bedford Falls” from It’s & Austria Phone: 855-744-8747 a Wonderful Life. Email: [email protected]
86 June 2014 special section LeisureGroupTravel.com COASTAL MARYLAND
OCEAN CITY
HIGHLIGHTS
■ 10 miles of sparkling Atlantic Coast beach
■ Famous Assateague Island wild ponies
■ Rural heritage at its best
■ Excitement of the award-winning OC Boardwalk
■ Experience about coastal bays and wildlife in the area. Have lunch in crab cake and DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY nearby Berlin and enjoy the quaint specialty shops before Smith Island cake heading back to Ocean City for a stroll on the boards or delicacies When you tour the Ocean City region, you relaxation at the hotel. DAY will enjoy excellent accommodations and Schedule a stop at one of the local wineries on the 1 the sea air! Situated beside the roaring way back or choose a round of golf for the afternoon. The Atlantic Ocean, our 10-mile Boardwalk is Ocean City area offers extensive golfing choices. just the place for long walks, a few reflective moments beside the ocean or a fun dinner with friends at one Tonight might be the perfect evening for a traditional of the Boardwalk eateries. Or enjoy dining out on the Eastern Shore crab feast or even fine Italian dining. town—Ocean City offers everything from boardwalk fries Ocean City offers great choices for both, and everything in and cotton candy to the finest in elegant dining with between, many with oceanfront or bayside dining. classically trained chefs. Perhaps you have even arrived during one of Ocean City’s award-winning festivals or Travel to the historic fishing town of Crisfield, DAY special events. There is always much to do in Ocean City! where you can board tours to Smith or 3 Tangier Islands in the Chesapeake Bay. On Today, visit the Life Saving Station Museum land, experience a lunch where you can DAY at the end of the Ocean City Boardwalk that enjoy crab cake, and see how crabs are steamed, picked 2 has the absolute best view of Assateague and prepared as you await the delectable Chesapeake and the Ocean City Inlet waters. Learn about region delicacy. the “lore of the sea” and the forerunner of today’s Coast Guard in the surf men that pulled fishermen to land Smith Island Cakes have been named Maryland’s official with ropes and sheer strength. From here, you might dessert. This multi-layer confection has become a famous OTHER glimpse the famous wild ponies of Assateague that entice favorite at meals and you can see how they are made and ITINERARIES visitors from around the world. Visit Assateague National assembled. Talk with Smith Island native bakers and get a Seashore Park and the lovely new visitor center to learn glimpse of how life was when the waters teemed with ■ Seaside Adventures seafood and production and shucking houses were big business! ■ Relaxation at the Beach CONTACT: Ocean City MD Dept. of Tourism/CVB ➤ Norma Dobrowolski www.ococean.com 4001 Coastal Hwy., Ocean City MD 21842 Phone: 800-626-2326 Email: [email protected]
LeisureGroupTravel.com special section June 2014 87