Back in the 1960s, the remaining  19th century Ghirardelli chocolate factory building was vacant and slated for imminent destruction when the chocolate manufacturing business transferred out of town; a group of concerned San Franciscans stepped up, rescuing the grand old complex and creating within the factory walls a unique collection of over 40 exclusive, of-the-day shops and fine restaurants; their project opened officially to the public in 1964. Today, visitors to the fabled Fisherman’s Wharf area in the City by the Bay can still partake of a bit of that restored Old World ambiance with a stop at the lovingly restored landmark; all are treated to delightful squares of  Ghirardelli chocolate as they enter this beloved attraction where the intoxicatingly nostalgic perfume of warm waffle cone fills the air! Browse fabulously eclectic boutiques and upscale shops;  grab a twirly, red vinyl stool and  burger, shake and fries or treat yourselves to a classic local repast of expertly-prepared fresh seafood; a fantastic variety of choices offer tantalizing treats and first rate, locally-sourced fare. Absolutely convinced nothing but a huge, ooey –gooey whipped cream, cherry and colored sprinkle-topped hot fudge sundae served up in a tall, frosty old-fashioned parfait glass will do? This is the place-savvy travelers flock to the factory for the old-fashioned ice cream, alone. If ice cream isn’t on your menu, why not select a yummy bakery treat-or two- from the ice cream shop to nosh while you sip your choice of any of their famously delicious specialty drinks and enjoy breathtaking views of Alcatraz and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge? While you’re there, be sure to snap up an assortment of chocolates to stash for later!

What’s not to love about a simple, relatively quick yet comprehensive, self-guided fun tour…of a Potato Chip Factory offering delicious free sample bags? Over 250,000 visitors a year visit The Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory to learn the salty history and witness firsthand the step-by-step creation of these *Ridiculously Good Potato Chips!* The Chip Factory’s journey to potato chip fame and fortune had its humble beginnings back in 1980 when the dream of two small Cape Cod business owners turned into reality once they opened shop in a small storefront in Hyannis to sell the fantastic homestyle chips they’d cooked in their kitchen for years. The hearty crunch of the fabulous snacks cooked in small batches in real custom kettles soon became a mad crave amongst the locals and visitors alike-news spread like wildfire as tourists returned home with bags of the delightfully tasty and naturally noisy treats to share with family and friends. It wasn’t long before the chip business outgrew the cozy storefront, and a world-wide love affair with Cape Cod Potato Chips began! The Chip Factory Tour is now one of the area’s top attractions and details, from farm field to table, how these out of this world chips are made! Open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, tours are FREE…and if complimentary sample bags aren’t enough, the gift shop and store offers visitors the opportunity to broadcast their chip love with tees, beach totes or chairs, mugs, fun buckets, coolers and tons of other must-have CCPC branded merchandise- as well as as many additional bags of chips as you can carry!

Accessible only by air or sea, this beloved-yet-exclusive hotspot, vacation colony and host of the yearly “Jawsfest” is located just six miles off scenic Cape Cod; once your travel group steps off the steamship ferry they will have no trouble discovering many things to love about the captivatingly beautiful 100-square-mile New England island! In addition to the substantial peak-season crowd, many high profile residents and affluent East Coast families call the six fabulously unique towns of the Vineyard home; it’s not difficult to see why: a temperate year-round climate offers multi-seasonal getaway opportunities and ensures Martha’s Vineyard, the gem of the Atlantic, remains one of the most popular of New England’s destinations. In the off season, the picturesque island and its wind-swept, sandy shores and landscapes lie peacefully accessible; the droves of summer sun, sand, surf and seafood seekers are home raking leaves or busying themselves with the details of returning to school. There is no bad time to visit! Grab a bicycle or scooter, call a cab or hop a bus and explore her quaintly quintessential seaside villages full of gingerbread cottages and stately Greek revival architecture, all steeped in a rich fishing and whaling history. Lace up your comfy shoes and hike miles of gorgeous beaches and trails; explore iconic old lighthouses, wander magnificent wildlife havens or just shop to your heart’s content – fun to fancy boutiques, shops and markets abound! The Vineyard’s charming cafes, fantastic restaurants, cozy theatres, welcoming bed and breakfasts, and elegant inns all afford you and your group the opportunity for a perfect East Coast Island getaway.

It’s a lazy, salt-hazy Cape afternoon; you’ve got big plans tomorrow so tonight will be a low-key kind of evening. Your travel group has bellied up to the table at your new favorite outdoor cafe, and you’ve just emptied your huge bowl of chowder, popped the last stray oyster cracker into your mouth and talk has turned to dessert. Then it dawns on you, your favorite, cozy sweatpants for later are miles away, back home-folded but forgotten-along with that crisp, new paperback you grabbed for your trip-on your bed! You freeze, for a moment, clenching your crumpled napkin, crinkling your straw paper and flicking at a crumb: What to do? Where does one go on Cape Cod for…sweatpants? Everyone forgets things in the excitement of packing; but you are not without options! Walk off that delightfully late lunch and track down something to satisfy that sweet tooth at the Cape Cod Mall, a regional favorite of locals and visitors alike! Conveniently located in the heart of the Hyannis retail district, and just the right size to offer a little of everything you’d expect from a stop at your favorite mega-center but in a slightly downsized resort-town venue! Browse Barnes and Noble for another beach-blanket read and a little you-time; duck into the cinema for a flick and let your food settle. You’ll find plenty of your of old favorites in addition to anchor store Macy’s: Marshalls, Hot Topic, Sephora, J. Crew, Hollister, Victoria’s Secret, Forever 21, Gap, Banana Republic, Pac Sun, Wet Seal, AE Outfitters-the mall is home to nearly 100 shops and eateries-all open 10 am to 9 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am to 6 pm Sundays-plenty of fabulously familiar places to locate those sweats and a few other things you might want for your seaside adventure getaway! Careful-you could easily find yourself staying until dinnertime! No worries! Full service cafes and restaurants, in addition to a 400-seat food court will cater to all craves: Time for Thai? Missing Mexican? Prefer pizza? You’ll find it all-at Cape Cod Mall!

For the baseball fans in your travel bunch, particularly Cubs fans, they can’t pass up a major opportunity for the fabulous Wrigley Field second in age just to Boston’s Fenway Park. Remember the well known minutes of Babe Ruth’s profession, Sammy Sosa’s homer record, and even… the ski hop occasions from the press box to the home plate. Wrigley Field has seen everything. The main ballpark permitting fans to keep foul balls takes you for a look away from public view and even on the field throughout your tour incorporating the field’s almost exceptionally old presence. Complete with roof situates, a customary hand-turned scoreboard and the soul of each baseball fan in the nation transmitting from the cheap seats to the playing field, this ballpark has significantly more to encounter past The Inviting Limits when you leave the wall for lunch in Wrigleyville.

With names like Bulls Ridge, Falls Village, St. Johns Ledges and Pine Swamp how can a hike through the Appalachian Mountains be anything less than natural? As always, the trail is maintained with the utmost care to preserve its beauty and natural habitat and ecosystem. Many of the hikes are 4 – 10 miles, which for most hikers can be done in one day. Be sure to slow down and enjoy flora and fauna. So many incredible wildflowers bloom in the deep darkness of the forest and few take the opportunity to search it out. The Wood Anemone can be seen in abundance throughout much of the trail. These naturalized plants can’t be purchased anywhere so enjoy them on the hike. What a treasure.

All who travel the wilderness of the A.T are encouraged to clean up after any who violate the code of the trail; keep it natural and keep it wilderness. Trash left behind should be disposed of. When nature calls hikers should step off the trail and bury all waste so the essence of the A.T. is never disturbed or destroyed. When planning a hike across the A.T. check out the many helpful websites before traveling to educate self prior to the trip. Volunteer efforts are generally coordinated by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) organization. Feel free to contact them for information when planning your trip.

There are 300 miles of beautiful wooded nature in the North Carolina Appalachian Trails. The trails of the Deep South offer sights and sounds that won’t be found elsewhere. Bicknell’s Thrush is a rare bird that is found along the trail. Even though visitors may not see the elusive bird, they will certainly hear its flute like call. Other animals that groups may see along on the way are moose, deer, bear, feral ponies, beavers and porcupines. Bears are becoming quite a nuisance along much of the Appalachian Trail. Check websites specific to each state to see what precautions should be taken to avoid a run-in with potentially dangerous wildlife. The trail’s highest altitude is on Clingman’s Dome, the 6,643 foot mountain in theGreat Smoky Mountains National Park. The views are spectacular. In the upper elevations the trees are spruce, firs and evergreens with short, dark needles. Since conifers dominate the highest mountains in the southern Appalachians, the forests are similar to those found in Maine. Clearing and maintaining the trail is a service project that is appreciated by all who hike and love nature.

There are activities planned almost every day or weekly by groups and organizations who love the Appalachian Trail and work to keep it as natural and seemingly untouched as possible. The GATC or Georgia Appalachian Trail Club has many opportunities for individuals and groups to be involved in cleaning, clearing and restoring the trail. The GATC works hand in hand with the conservation department and preservationists so future generations can enjoy the same hiking that we do now. Your group can enjoy a hike up Lookout Mountain (Skuyuka Springs) and on to the top of Sunset Rock for a great view of the Tennessee River. Take a 4.5 mile hike in a nature preserve and end in Gwinnet for lunch or shopping at a local mall. For those who want to volunteer, plan a day on R-Ranch Trail doing trail maintenance in the morning, then join with the other workers for a picnic lunch. Cool off with a seven-mile float. Take a swim from a rock in the middle of the river, have lunch on an oh-so-private sandy beach, and paddle your kayak along with your guide. Georgia has some of the best hiking and scenic views on the Appalachian Trail.

Unique as the famous country singer’s name, Dolly Parton, Dollywood theme park is a one-of-a-kind Smoky Mountain Family Adventure! These beautiful 125 acres are nestled in the lush foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, near Gatlinburg, Dollywood and create one of the most popular group vacation destinations in Tennessee. Enjoy thrill-seeking Dollywood amusement park rides including the award-winning wooden roller coaster The Thunderhead™-the wildest ride in the woods. This family and group vacation fun at Dollywood features several family attractions. Dollywood’s live entertainment showcases the best in the country with bluegrass, mountain and gospel music and more than a dozen stage shows. Master craftsmen demonstrate centuries-old crafts, including blacksmithing, glass blowing and wood carving that are a lot of fun to watch.  They will leave you amazed at how they skillfully create a work of art.

Groups on Show Me State getaway will want to pencil in a dedicated play day at this world-famous Branson theme park, painstakingly modeled after an 1800s Missouri town. Silver Dollar City has been serving up its special brand of fabulous home-style entertainment for the whole family since 1960; today, with more than thirty thrilling rides and attractions, dozens of quaint shops and scores of top-notch artisans hawking traditional crafts and goods, you’re sure to find something to tickle your fancy at every turn! Whether you take in one of 40 live, daily shows , enjoy your pick of more than 100 intriguing crafting demonstrations, shop to your heart’s content or find your thrill on one of the park’s rootin’, tootin’ roller coasters, everyone in your group is sure to have the time of their lives at Silver Dollar City! Younguns will enjoy Half Dollar Holler, and Grand Exposition features ten family-friendly traditional rides; be sure to explore landmark Marvel Cave! For a fully immersive experience, plan to stay in a rustic Wilderness cabin, your home away from home in the Silver Dollar City campground, where “adventure comes to rest.” Get your boots off and your cool on at Whitewater, Branson’s world-class water park featuring two million gallons of wet and wild attractions sure to please even the pickiest of waterdogs; Red, White and Bloom fireworks ensure the perfect ending to a spectacular splash-fest. Popular festivals & special events like Bluegrass and BBQ, Star Spangled Summer and the National Harvest and Cowboy Festival continue to draw and delight guests year-round. When all that playin’ and prospectin’ has you hungry as a skinny possum in a loaded larder, plenty of mouth-watering Show-Me-State favorites promise to quiet that tummy grumble, Silver Dollar City-style.