Historic Downtown Grapevine is located near Dallas, Texas. This destination is fun for your adult group to visit. It is a preserved historic area and contains many interesting locations. These include: winery tasting rooms, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, the Palace Arts Center, the Grapevine Glockenspiel Clock Tower, shops, live entertainment venues, restaurants, and amazing Art Galleries. If you are looking for a great place to shop look no further because the Historic downtown Grapevine has everything you desire. Featured shops include the following: Shic Boutique, The Corner Store, Crowned By Grace, Dr. Sue’s Chocolates, the Grapevine Market, Carma Handicrafts, Main Street Station, the Gypsy Muse Studio, Rugs Floors And More, and the Texas General Store. The Grapevine Mills Mall is also in the area. Are you looking for quality cuisine? The group will find several locations at the destination. Restaurants include: Cozymel’s Coastal Mex, Aces Lobby Bar, Alex’s Greek Café, Asian Top, Big Daddy’s Ship Store, the Baja Grill, the Big Fish Seafood Grill & Bar, The Bistro, and Bob’s Steak & Chop House. There are several events and festivals to enjoy during the year. Events include: GrapeFest, Main Street Days, and Christmas Capitol of Texas. Come with your adult tour and visit this one-of-a-kind historic location.

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Dallas Tours

Ghost Tours of Dallas is located in Dallas, Texas. Your group will be scared to the core as you participate in this haunting experience. There is a walking tour offered for adult groups. During the walking tour, the group will be guided by a professional. You will travel to downtown Dallas’ West End Historic District. The duration of the event is 90-minutes. Visitors will learn about the legends, myths, and “ghastly deeds” that lie beneath the twists and turns of the district’s “dark history.” The group will have the opportunity to explore one of Dallas’ oldest haunted buildings. Ghost Tours of Dallas offers a Fright & Bite dinner package prior to the group tour. They have partnered with Hellen’s Southern Kitchen which is located in the West End Historic District as well. Menu options include the following: Ellen’s House Salad, Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken Fried Chicken, Fresh steak, Breaded Chicken breast, a Pork Chop, Farm-Raised Catfish, Ellen’s Classic Meatloaf, and Ellen’s homemade desserts. Beverages include: brewed coffee, iced tea, and soft drinks. Come experience this scary haunted tour with your group!

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Dallas Tours

The Galleria Mall and Ice skating center is located in Dallas, Texas. The location contains hundreds of stores, restaurants, and an ice skating rink inside the mall. They offer public sessions and groups of all sizes are welcome. This is a unique experience for visitors to enjoy. Do you want to shop until you drop? The Galleria has plenty of stores and shops for the group to explore. Featured stores include the following: Aerie, Aldo Accessories, American Eagle Outfitters, Ann Taylor, Charlotte Russ, Earthbound Trading Company, Field of Dreams, Martin Lawrence Galleries, the American Girl Boutique, Batchendorf’s, Brookstone, Teavana, and Texas Treasures. Are you looking for Delicious food? If so, the Galleria has several restaurants. Featured dining options include the following: the American Girl Bistro, Candy Land, Charley’s Grilled Subs, Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries, Genghis Grill, Grand Lux Café, Jamba Juice, Nordstrom Marketplace Café, and Panda Express. Come with your group and enjoy shopping and the entertainment at this one-of-a-kind mall!

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Dallas Tours

That effervescent tingle of instant gratification – the indescribable thrill of sweet acquisition accompanying the scoring of a great “souvenir” – from the standard “been there” t-shirt or ballcap, kitschy collectible, pound of great coffee or interesting objet d’art to take away with you – to the choosing of a few perfect postcards earmarked for timely dispatch to loved ones eagerly awaiting news via postmark – is an essential component of any successful vacation, almost as vital as great food and suitable entertainment to the restorative mission of your group’s time away. Of course, venue is nearly everything when you’re enjoying your destination, as it becomes an everlasting part of the memory once you’re home and unpacked – you will remember the sights, sounds and smells of a place long after you’ve forgotten names and dates; the laughter of seabirds stirred into a happy whiff of hand-pulled salt water taffy riding the warm bay breeze fills your head as you smile at that shotglass twinkling away in the cupboard. And food…something about a favorite bite enjoyed while traveling makes it that much better, regardless of what it may be; fresh scenery and local color and culture are often the very best foils to even the simplest fare. With this in mind, groups on Gulf Coast holiday in search of the “very best” of Galveston won’t want to miss a visit to the Strand Historic District – five fabulously foot-friendly blocks of cozy cafes, good to great restaurants, charmingly “touristy” gift shops, lovely galleries, landmark museums, local businesses and must-see points of interest housed in beautiful Victorian era buildings, many of which survived the great hurricane of 1900, regarded as the worst natural disaster in US history. Once known as the Wall Street of the Southwest, the Strand is the vibrant heart of the Downtown District and a stroll through this historic area, away from the characteristic hubbub of crowded, peak-season beaches is a quintessential part of any Galveston getaway. Once you’ve wandered and done a little requisite shopping, be sure to visit the Galveston Railroad Museum, the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum and star harbor attraction, the Tall Ship Elissa. (Don’t forget to check out the giant chess set in Saengerfest Park!) Bay Watch Cruises promise venturesome types 45 minutes of guaranteed dolphin spotting; popular family attraction “Pirates, Legends of the Gulf Coast” lets you hang with the last of the buccaneers! Surrounded by so many appetizing options, you’re bound to get hungry, so grab a hearty cuppa steamy gumbo or sit down to a fresh gulf seafood fiesta, but do save room for dessert – pop by La King’s and order up a sundae or the best malt in town; talk about instant gratification! Don’t forget some of their unbelievable salt water taffy.

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Galveston Tours

Groups exploring historic Galveston won’t want to miss out on a classic harbor tour/dolphin watch excursion! A variety of pleasurable, masterfully-narrated customizable outings aboard stable, comfortable, well-captained vessels treat guests to unparalleled views of Galveston Harbor and the Bay; expect a captivating history lesson as well as delightful up-close and personal encounters with energetic dolphins, cruise ships, industrious shrimp and fishing boats and curious, vocal seabirds on your tour. Enjoy fantastic views of popular attractions and landmarks like the grand 1877 Tall Ship Elissa, the Daystar Drilling Museum, Fisherman’s Wharf and Seawolf Park; see hard-working barges and colossal tankers navigating the open waters. Ah, that sea air!

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Galveston Tours

Visitors to the historic port of Galveston will not want to miss a trip to the Texas Seaport Museum on Pier 21 – where they will find floating historic landmark Elissa, a fantastic three-masted, iron-hulled sailing ship built in 1877 in Aberdeen, Scotland by Alexander Hall & Company. Stately Elissa has been designated one of America’s Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation; she is, once more, fully functional and sails annually during sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors may board and walk her well-scrubbed decks and imagine themselves fearless sailors on endless voyage across wide seas as well as hear the tale of her miraculous rescue from a Greek scrapyard and subsequent, meticulous restoration in the museum theatre adjacent the grand vessel.

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Galveston Tours

The Cleveland Play House is located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1915. It was America’s first professional theater company. The Play House produces comedies, drama, and musicals throughout the year. There have been several big names that have performed at the theater. These individuals include: Hal Holbrook, Tom Hanks, and Ed Asner. The Play House is more than a theater. Adult acting classes are offered. There is also a Children’s program called “Curtain Pullers” that was founded in 1933. The building houses several different theaters. Visitors can view art exhibits located in the rotunda lobby of the building. Featured theaters include: Bolton Theatre, Drury Theatre, Brooks Theatre, and the Baxter Theatre. The Play House also hosts a festival. It is called the Ground Theater Festival. The event showcases new theatrical works. Visitors will see a variety of new work from nationally acclaimed recognized artists. The Play House produces a centerpiece production. Come enjoy a performance with your group today!

Visitors to the Meramec Valley, just an hour away from the St. Louis Arch, may be surprised to know The Show Me State is also known as The Cave State, boasting almost 6400 surveyed caves scattered throughout its rolling green hills, winding rivers and lush, fertile valleys. Four are open for public exploration, and Meramec Caverns, discovered in 1720 by French Explorer Phillip Renault, is the largest of the commercial cave attractions in the state. Open to guests year round, the Caverns offer a fun, affordable vacation excursion for visitors of all ages, and well-trained rangers can accommodate groups of any size. Mile-and-a-half tours of the amazing cave complex depart every thirty minutes or so and take approximately an hour and twenty minutes to complete. Learn how the ancient Wine Table (the World’s rarest cave structure) was formed completely under water and marvel at rare and stunning mineral formations in an array of mind-blowing colors and surreal shapes and sizes as you explore this miraculous natural wonder! Exclusive 80-minute tours invite you to trip the light fantastic ( hand-held lantern light, that is) through the caverns; be prepared to encounter a gracious host of historical characters along the way – an Osage Indian, a Civil War soldier, and the infamous Jesse James regale guests with fascinating folklore and tales of courage and high adventure, and even provide a little intriguing cavern history – no secrets spilled here! When all your spelunking has you hankerin’ for some yummy vittles, the Caverns’ on-site restaurant promises hearty Classic American fare certain to satisfy as well as 28 flavors of ice cream to top it all off; a fully-stocked gift shop tenders truly perfect souvenirs of your amazing Meramec Caverns adventure!

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > St. Louis Tours

Groups on Sunshine State escape enjoying beautiful, historic St. Augustine will want to stroll the oldest street in the Oldest City; a whimsical, wonderful melting pot of quintessential “Colonial Florida” flavor awaits visitors to this popular – albeit touristy – main thoroughfare, lined up and down both sides with wonderful galleries, intriguing museums and colorful and eclectic shops tendering everything from excellent coffee and delectable sweets to treasures, trinkets and luxury treatments. Fabulous eateries serving up diverse menus of casual to world class fare, amazing bakeries and historic “tabernas” and pubs tempt you in out of the Florida sun at every turn. Hoof it and wing it – or hop a trolley and see the stars of St. George Street; drop by the Oldest Schoolhouse, tour the Old Jail, duck into Gator Bob’s Trading Post or spend an hour or two exploring the Colonial Quarter; everywhere you go you’ll delight to the sounds of talented street performers, vendors and costumed characters hawking their tricks, trades and wares mingled with the laughter of happy wanderers trickling in and out of storefronts and ogling notable points of interest. It helps to know a little of the area history before embarking on your St. George Street excursion, so brush up a bit before grabbing your group and heading downtown; you’ll enjoy the updated historic architecture and the authentic cobblestone beneath your flipflopped feet that much more! Take that traditional tapas break, then head over to figure out your family crest. (No cars allowed in this designated “walking mall.”)

Credit St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches CVB

Groups on Sunshine State excursion exploring historic St. Augustine area landmarks and points of interest won’t want to miss this well-preserved part of the Florida National Park System, a somewhat small and primitive yet crucial monument commemorating the Spanish phase of Colonial American history. For centuries, Coastal Florida was a major field of conflict as European nations fought for control in the New World and tiny coquina-stone Fort Matanzas, a seven – man, five – cannon structure with a 1500 gallon fresh water cistern built into the rear of the gundeck fiercely guarded Matanzas Inlet, the “back door” to the “Oldest City” of St. Augustine. Although the Fort was originally built on just two acres of land, time, tides and the hand of man have contributed to the island’s growth to nearly 200 acres, today known as Rattlesnake Island. This fascinating landmark is accessible only by ferry and complimentary park service – guided character tours are offered on the hour, acquainting you with the pristine natural surroundings while bringing Fort Matanzas’ important history to life. Imagine yourself a soldier assigned to this fortified watchtower; close your eyes, and listen to what this very early part of our Nation’s history has to tell you.