An ideal stop for colonial tours, the Old South Meeting House is a beautiful structure built in 1729. It was originally purposed to house the Puritan Church. However during the winter of 1773 it hosted a gathering of more than five thousand angry colonists. They came to debate the tea tax and the Boston Tea Party occurred as a result. Today, a museum occupies the building and is open year round. People young and old come to watch reenactments of the Boston Tea Party debates, view artifacts and interactive exhibits, participate in scavenger hunts, and hear daily lectures about the history of the Old South.

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During the Great Depression many families were struggling, including the Mattox Family. Come see the innovative ways they dealt with the hardships of the devastating time in U.S. history such as:making bird houses from squash and insulating the walls of the home with newspapers to help keep warm during the winter months. This home was built in 1879 in Bryan County, Georgia by former slaves, Andrew Mattox and Charlott Morel. Amos, the son of Andrew and Charlott, did his best to support his family by working numerous odd jobs. He was a farmer, preacher, barber, and shoemaker.

See the house that was built as a memorial by Henry Ford to one of the most renowned African-Americans in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. A fellow innovator, George Washington Carver lived his life dedicated to helping African-Americans who were from humble backgrounds. He himself was born while under slavery in Missouri in 1865 and orphaned early in life. Carver did not let his discouraging start in life bring him down. Throughout his life he did odd jobs to support himself through school. He went on to graduate from Iowa State College and became an educator at Tuskegee Institute.

The Civil Rights Walk of Fame was made to honor our brave warriors of justice during the Civil Rights Era. The warriors, who struggled and fought to show that everyone should be equal, should be remembered and honored. The Walk has been made possible by embedding the footprints of role models during the Civil Rights. Mahatma “Great Soul” Gandhi had the same idea as Martin Luther King Jr. They both shared the gift of nonviolence to others. The Gandhi statue is memorable because Mahatma gave his life, organized, and stimulated 400 million people for independence.

This tour is a great addition especially for group tours focused on architectural design. Chicago is known for setting the bar high when it comes to building design. The influence of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of its famous former residents and an architect pivotal in that industry’s history, no doubt contributed to that reputation. You can learn all about his time in Chicago when you tour his home and studio and see how he experimented with different materials and design. You’ll be fascinated by Wright’s design philosophy, how it influenced American architecture, and how artistry influences the functionality of design.

Groups of globetrotters planning a grand East Coast holiday will be happy to find to find a trip to this popular Maryland sun and sand center – the pride of the good people of Ocean City – on their itinerary; its spotless boardwalks and ten miles of clean, warm beach unfailingly attract hordes of visitors in search of the quintessential Eastern Seaboard experience. Shell-seekers, sand-castle architects, sun worshippers, Frisbee addicts, people watchers, bookworms and beach bums and bunnies will all enjoy the pristine slice of miles of white sand and find plenty of room to toss their towels, plunk down their water bottles and cast off their cares. The Boardwalk, one of the finest in the Country and officially known as Atlantic Avenue, is an unbelievable kaleidoscope of well-loved eateries, fabulous shopping and entertainment, fairway amusement and even lodging; bicycles, horses and skates/blades are welcome – rent your wheels and get a great work out while burning off those inevitable yummy splurges of Maryland crab cakes and legs, Delmarva Fried Chicken, Thrasher’s Fries, luscious salt water taffy, rich, creamy fudge and ice cream and more! Sleepy Ol’ Sol will eventually kick off his flipflops and tuck into bed, but local activities are unending and fill the night air with the sweetly nostalgic sounds and scents of an Ocean City Summer: free concerts, bonfires and movies beneath the stars extend your lazy, hazy Ocean Beach day. A nice surprise? Beach access is absolutely free, open to the public from six a.m. to ten p.m.

Escape artists plotting an East Coast getaway won’t want to bypass this time-honored area tradition, established way back in 1918! Ripley’s Believe it or Not boasts not one, but three amazing attractions in Ocean City – all part of the same frighteningly fun and funky experience visitors have come to expect from this legendary purveyor of all things weird, wild, wacky and wonderful. The Ripley’s Odditorium features twelve themed galleries in 10,000 square feet on two floors – over 500 exhibits dead certain to tickle your fancy and trip that terror trigger! Wander the works; you’ll encounter authentic shrunken heads and cannibal skulls, the world’s rarest egg, the “original” chicken with its head cut off – he lived for 18 months before passing to the other side of the road – and unfortunately awkward two-headed animals as you explore this hallowed hall of the mind-blowing and macabre. A turn through Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze lets you lose – and find – and lose – wait; find – yourself in a labyrinth of mirrors and flashing LED lights – the better to confuse you; reward yourself for escaping with your sanity intact with something sinfully sweet from the Candy Factory located just inside the Maze. Feeling extra-evasive and energetic? Navigate larger-than-life-sized interactive optical illusions – and Odditorium’s truly weird staff – or dive into a pulsating web of brilliant green lasers, dodging over and darting under at lightning speed without breaking a single beam to reach the end of the gauntlet! Grab your group and get ready to experience serious sensory overload in the wide world of weirdness that is Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Ocean City!

Groups embarking on East Coast hiatus won’t want to miss this legendary destination, one of America’s last fully functioning barrier island ecosytems. Assateague Island’s beloved beaches, wildlife, dunes, wetlands and marsh islands are administered by three official park agencies to provide for recreational use and enjoyment consistent with the perpetuation and maintenance of the seashore’s natural environment; the island is eternally uninhabited – a gloriously untouched haven – with the northern tip a Maryland state park, and the remainder of the Maryland section the beautiful Assateague Island National Seashore, world famous for the colorful bands of wild ponies that have roamed the area for hundreds of years, enchanting visitors with their sometimes fleeting, always delightful presence. A wildlife watcher’s and nature lover’s paradise, the island hosts a wide variety of flora and fauna – including over 320 species of birds who nest and rest there – affording them vital support and peaceful refuge amongst its 41,000+ acres of windswept beaches, waters and woods – the perfect year-round venue for your Maryland travel group’s favorite outdoor activities. Jump on an ATV or kick off your shoes and explore the dunes, bike endless windswept trails, comb the vast expanses of inviting, white sand for priceless treasures, clam, fish or crab for your dinner, arrange a custom sunset cruise or pony-spotting trip, or hop in your own kayak and paddle through the unspoiled splendor of miles of scenic waterways. Be sure to visit the candy-striped lighthouse located on the Virginia portion of the island – one of the most impressive historic landmarks on the Eastern Seaboard!

During your group visit to Daytona Beach Florida, you may want to explore the Marine Science Center. There are fascinating exhibits and interactive displays. They also offer group tours as part of the experience. You can also enjoy the boardwalk and other nature trails as well take in the view from the observation tower. There is a fascinating exhibit gallery at the Marine Science Center where you will find interactive displays and many interesting animals. One of the exhibits is the Bird Observation Tower which is where your group will have the opportunity to take in the view of the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse and several birds in the sky. The group will observe birds such as terns, osprey, pelicans, bald eagles, and herons. Another interesting exhibit is known as Turtle Terrace which is where visitors will observe injured sea turtles as they are receiving specialized care. There is posted information which explains each turtles, identification and diagnosis. The group can take part in a variety of adult programs throughout the year where you will learn about the various animals and their different habitats. There are programs such as Shark Biology, the Introduction to Birds, and Squid Dissection. They take place a few times a month and include lectures and lab activities. The group will also have the opportunity to look at birds in the Mary Keller Seabird Rehabilitation Sanctuary. It was named after Mary Keller who has been dedicated to treating sick and injured birds for 30 years. When a bird is healthy, they are released into their natural habitat however; some of them become ambassadors for their species and are featured in educational programs. The sanctuary opened in June of 2004.

While your group is visiting Daytona Beach you may want to stop by the Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory in the downtown area. During the visit, you will have the opportunity to take a tour of the factory. During the tour, the group will look through cottage windows and take in the view of experienced candy makers making chocolate the old-fashioned way. The tour is 20 minutes in length. At the conclusion of the tour, your group will receive a free sample of chocolate. The Angell and Phelps Chocolate Factory is known for its delectable gourmet chocolate treats. For example, you can purchase a Daytona Beach Logo bar. This delicious item comes in your choice of milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate. There are other souvenirs such as a Chocolate Gator, a Chocolate Dolphin, a Chocolate Starfish, a Chocolate Turtle, and a Chocolate Foot. The factory sells an assortment of chocolate covered fruit and other delicious sweets. You will find items such as Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Chocolate Messages, Boxed Chocolates, and Gourmet Snack Candy. The Chocolate Messages can be customized for a friends and family. They also have an assortment of Thank You Chocolates. For those in your group that do not have a sweet tooth, non-chocolate items such as chips and pretzels, can also be purchased. Your adult group will enjoy visiting this sweet attraction and learning how chocolate treats are made.