The Weeden House Museum is located in Huntsville, Alabama. The location was named after Maria Howard Weeden. She was a talented artist and poet. She made portraits and published at least four books during her life. She was born in July, 1846. The Weeden House Museum opened in 1981. The house was originally built in the year 1819. Visitors will find amazing architecture and learn about the life of Maria Weeden. The location contains several works by Weeden. It was the home to some early settlers of Huntsville. William Weeden purchased the property in 1845. The location also contains a beautiful garden. Maria’s mother loved to plant flowers. They include the following: heliotrope, peonies, lemon verbena, pinks, and hollyhocks. She enjoyed roses and took special care of the beautiful flowers. Maria captured their essence through her paintings and poetry. The museum contains period furniture and the portraits done by Maria Weeden. The group can take a tour of the house and the grounds. The staff members are helpful and will answer any questions. When your group arrives, you will visit in the parlor on the period furnishings. The tour is self-guided and includes the garden and surrounding area for your curiosity. Maria Weeden was near-sighted, and she used a brush with three horsehairs and helped support the family by selling her paintings. The family owned several slaves. In 1892, she attended the World’s Fair. When you look at her work, you will find unrivaled beauty and perfectly honed artistic talent. Come with your adult group and visit this amazing historic house and museum!

North Alabama’s leading visual arts center fills its seven galleries with a variety of traveling exhibitions and the work of nationally and regionally acclaimed artists. The nationally accredited museum also presents shows from its own 2,300 piece permanent collection. Named as one of the state’s “Top 10” destinations by the Alabama Tourism Department, the Huntsville Museum of Art has gained a reputation throughout the South for bringing high-caliber touring exhibitions to the region.

Taking a tour with a trained docent enhances the museum experience. A docent encourages groups to ask and answer questions about the art on view. Docents provide a great deal of background about the artist, the works, and the artistic movement to which the art belongs. By helping the group to observe, compare, and interpret, the docent provides groups the tools to evaluate art on their own.  Groups of ten or more may schedule a docent led tour with two weeks notice.

Burrit on the Mountain is located in Huntsville, Alabama. The site contains a mansion and a museum. There are educational programs for your student group to explore. The museum contains interesting exhibits. There are other events and activities that take place during the year. Children’s Educational Programs are a valuable way to learn about Burritt on the Mountain. Featured programs include Step Back in Time, Junior Pioneer, and other educational events. The location also offers field trips for students as well. Options include: Burritt’s Barnyard Buddies, Community Past & Present, Packhorse Librarian, and Native Americans of North Alabama. Burritt on the Mountain offers group tours. Featured options include self-guided tours and guided tours. During the guided tour, the group will learn from the staff members about the houses and animals. You will participate in hands-on activities and enjoy nature at the same time. The location has other interesting areas. These vary between nature trails, the Burritt Barnyard, and Historic Park. The group can hike on the Nature Trails where you will find historic coal mines and limestone rock formations. During your visit to Historic Park, you will encounter interpreters dressed in period costumes of the 19th century. They recreate farm life from that era. Your group can participate in demonstrations and hands-on activities. The park contains six log houses as well as other restored buildings. Featured structures include the Balch House, the Chandler House, Gardener Cabin, Old Madison Church, the Smith-Williams House, The Corn Crib, and The Schoolhouse. The interpreters conduct guided tours of the park. Bring your student group to visit this one-of-a-kind entertaining and historical attraction!

The Botanical Garden is located in Huntsville, Alabama. The location features several exhibits. Your adult group can take a tour of the beautiful landscape. There are several tour options to consider. Featured tours include the following: self-guided tours, docent guided tours, and Galaxy of Lights walking tours. During the docent-led tour, your group will be guided through the gardens. The group will learn about the location including the history. These tours can include a boxed lunch at the conclusion. The lunch includes the following items: a chicken salad or turkey sandwich, chips, pasta salad, lettuce, tomato, a cookie and a bottle of water. There are a variety of fascinating exhibits for the group to observe. Featured exhibits include the following: the Garden Railway, the Plant Collections, and the Wade Wharton Exhibit. The Garden Railway exhibit is the most popular display visited. The display consists of a European Village. Features include: a church, fire station, a restaurant, a waterfall, 2 ponds with fish, forests, a bog area, and a farm. The Botanical Garden also offers adult classes. Featured programs include the following: Landscape for Life, Fall Bird MIGRATION, Japanese Garden Design, Plant ID Walk, and Youtopia Lunch and Learn. The Landscape for life classes show the group how to work with nature in the garden no matter where you live. Topics include: the role of water in a sustainable garden, successful practices and the role of plant life in a sustainable garden, and practices and materials used to have a successful garden. Come visit with your adult group and enjoy the natural beauty of this amazing landscape!

Marshall develops space transportation and propulsion technologies, manages Space Shuttle propulsion elements and science aboard the International Space Station and pursues scientific breakthroughs in space that will improve human life here on Earth. These programs are available on a limited schedule and are subject to cancellation based on national security alerts. 

 

Activities include: 

International Space Station Payload Operations Integration Center
The Payload Operations Integration Center is responsible for NASA’s on board science operations for the International Space Station (ISS), and is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Payload Operations Center communicates with the astronauts on board the ISS on a daily basis and can remotely operate on board science and technology experiments. There is a viewing area at Marshall where group tours can observe the control room operations.

Heritage Gallery
The Heritage Gallery is a museum to learn about the history of Marshall. The gallery displays models, artwork, and multi-media productions to illustrate contributions the Center has made to the U.S. Space Programs. The gallery includes a full-size replica of the Lunar Rover Vehicle that Marshall developed for astronauts who travelled to the moon. The Gallery also focuses on the role Marshall will have in the nation’s future space programs.

During your adult group visit to Cleveland, you should spend a day getting soaked at Geauga Wildwater Kingdom. They have several thrilling slides for those who want to experience the heart-stopping exhilaration! There are also wave pools and other family-friendly rides for those who want a more relaxing experience. Visitors of all ages will have an awesome time getting drenched at the Wildwater Kingdom. The group may dare to experience the action-packed slides and attractions at the park. You will find rides such as Liquid Lightning, Riptide Run, Splash Landing, Thunder Falls, and Coral Cove. Liquid Lightning is an attraction for four people to enjoy. During the ride, the group will climb into a raft and take the 60-foot plunge. You will fly down an enclosed slide into an enormous funnel and spiral into a soak-tacular finale. Thunder Falls is a ride that presents a challenge to the riders. If you dare, you can climb to the top of the 100-foot tower. Once you are at the top, guests can take the plunge down one of three enclosed body slides or four inner tube slides. The group will twist and turn down Ohio’s tallest water slide and finally splash into a refreshing pool at the bottom. During your visit to the park, you may work up an appetite and want some delectable food or a cold drink. There are several restaurants to enjoy as part of the experience. One of the locations is known as the Happy Harbor Café. Their menu contains items such as a Grilled Chicken Sandwich Platter, a Bacon Cheeseburger Platter, and the Aurora Club Platter. Another eating establishment is Pizza Pier where the group can eat Cheese Pizza, Breadsticks, Boneless Wings, and a Giant Pickle on a Stick.

While your group is visiting Cleveland, you may want to take one of the cruises on the largest excursion ship which is known as the Good Time III. They offer a variety of cruises that are both fun and relaxing. Visitors will have the opportunity to take in the beautiful view of the area on two of the decks of the ship. There are daytime cruises and a couple offered in the evening as well. Your group can take one of the Public Luncheon Narrated Cruises which are two hours in length. One option is the Hot Buffet-Style Lunch and Narrated Cruise. During the experience, visitors will enjoy an amazing meal and observe several fascinating sites. There are menu items such as chicken breast with apricot sauce, vegetable lasagna, whole green bean and carrot medley, rolls with butter, and coffee or tea. There are also box lunch options available. One of them is the Club Sandwich Box Lunch Cruise. The group will enjoy food such as a turkey breast on a Kaiser roll, potato salad, and a brownie dessert. Your group may be interested in taking one of the dance cruises on the Good Time III. There is one option which is known as the Dance Cruise. While you are on the excursion, visitors will have the opportunity to dance under the stars to their favorite music. Guests will see the Lighted Bridges of the Cuyahoga River. There are three bars that offer beverages and the group can purchase snacks and sandwiches from the ship’s galley. Another choice is the Dinner Dance Cruise which is for adults only. Your group will enjoy a delicious meal and entertainment. The third and fourth decks offer breathtaking views for you to observe.

Your adult group may be looking for a place to shop and dine in Cleveland. If so, you should explore the Tower City Center. Visitors can browse a variety of stores, enjoy delectable cuisine, and take in the amazing view of the city from observation decks. There are also entertainment attractions for you to experience during the visit. If shopping is something you love, the Tower City Center is the perfect place to find tons of merchandise. You will find stores such as American Greetings, Bath and Body Works, Champs Sports, Creative Tees, Designer Perfumes, Fashion Ave. and Footlocker. At Champs Sports you can buy shoes, jackets, and other memorabilia. American Greetings has gifts, collectables, and novelty items for you to purchase. The group can dine at several restaurants within the Tower City Center. You will find establishments such as Hard Rock Café, Charley’s Grilled Subs, Houlihan’s Restaurant and Bar, Kelly’s Cajun Grill, Morton’s the Steakhouse, and The Silver Grill. Houlihan’s Restaurant and Bar serves American food and it is a casual place to dine. Charley’s Grilled Subs has a variety of sandwiches and homemade fries. They also offer freshly squeezed lemonade. The group can take a tour of the observation deck. You will have the opportunity to observe breathtaking views of the city. The tours take place on Saturday and Sunday. If you are interested in watching a movie, Tower Cinemas 11 is the place to visit. They have 11 screens and show a variety of films. The group can also attend special events during the year when you visit the Tower City Center.

During your group trip to Cleveland, you should take time to visit the Western Reserve Historical Society. Visitors will have the opportunity to see various collections and fascinating galleries. You will learn about life during the 19th century through a variety of artifacts. The group will have the opportunity to explore several locations at the Western Reserve Historical Society as part of the experience. You will encounter places such as the Hale Farm and Village, the History Center, and historic properties. The Hale Farm and Village is a place where the group will see what daily life was like during the 19th century. The area has dozens of historic structures, farm animals, heritage gardens, cooking demonstrations, and demonstrations of early American craft and trades. The group can also take time to see the outdoor Living History Museum. The History Center contains several interesting collections and facilities for your group to examine. You will find the Crawford Auto Aviation Collection, the Research Library, and the Bingham-Hanna and Hay-McKinney House. The Crawford Auto Aviation Collection shows the automobile at different stages of development, both on a national and regional level. You will find artifacts such as antique automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, boats, aircraft, and three carriages and sleighs. The Research Library is a collection of published resources for you to explore. You will find 250,000 books, 25,000 newspapers, several maps, sheet music, broadsides, and unpublished manuscripts. There is a new exhibit which is called In Grand Style. It contains historic garments and accessories that give visitors a glimpse of privileged Cleveland. The collection spans from the 1870s to the early 1930s.

When your adult group is planning a trip to Cleveland, you should visit the NASA Glenn Research Center as part of your experience. The location is where NASA tests and develops cutting-edge technologies in the areas of aeronautics, aerospace, and space. Your group can take a tour of the Research Facilities and learn how things are done. Your group tour will be 45 minutes in length. During the tour, visitors will have the opportunity to explore several areas of the Research Center. You will see areas such as the Electric Propulsion Laboratory, the Supersonic Wind Tunnel, the Large Hanger with the NASA Logo, the Dome of Silence and Glenn’s Portal to the Space Station. Your group will also learn about communicating in deep space as part of the experience. Specifically, you will learn about the fascinating ways NASA scientists are developing systems and devices which allow us to be able to communicate to and from deep space quickly.
The NASA Glenn Research Center was established in 1941. The location was originally known as the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. In 1999, the name was changed to honor John H. Glenn who was the first American to orbit earth. During the early 1960s, John Glenn pioneered the use of liquid hydrogen for rocket aircraft propulsion which allowed the United States to win the race to the moon. The altitude Wind Tunnel was constructed in 1944. NASA engineers and scientists have made major technology contributions which have expanded horizons and opened frontiers in aviation and space exploration for over 60 years.