Music fans heading to the the river city blues birthplace of Memphis will be thrilled to find a stop at this historic institution – a shining tribute to decades of struggle, upheaval, change and triumph that inspired people everywhere to re-think the way they listened – at the top of their itinerary.  Visitors to this popular attraction located on legendary Beale Street on the corner of Highway 61 at the world-famous FedExForum sports complex and across from Gibson Guitar are introduced to the fearless musical pioneers who overcame daunting racial and socio-economic barriers to craft the music that would ultimately shape a city and shake the world to its core. The Rock ‘n’ Soul  Museum, developed in unique cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution, tenders guests a personalized Blues City music experience they won’t soon forget, with a convenient digital audio tour showcasing more than five hours of  music – more than 100 songs –  and fascinating information accompanying guests at their own pace through seven galleries jam-packed with musical instruments and artifacts and surprising treasures, serving up a comprehensive cross-section of the rich history of that unmistakable, unforgettable sweet Delta sound. Summarily? The Memphis Rock and Roll museum delivers a toothsome “biography” of the transformation of a gritty southern city mentioned in more songs than any other on EARTH  – to a music mecca and the heart of the rock and soul industry – the whole story – through its amazing series of exhibits and presentations. Ready to listen? Step inside.

Fans of Gibson’s legendary instruments won’t want to miss an opportunity to check out the Beale Street Showcase in Memphis. When this small company started crafting mandolins in 1894, it likely had no idea the impact it would make on the music world. Today, Gibson is the foremost builder of electric guitars and is best known for their Les Paul and Chet Atkin models, and of course, B.B. King’s Lucille, which ultimately became the guitar of choice for artists like Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Peter Frampton, and John Lennon and George Harrison. Entertaining and informative forty-five minute tours consist of an intimate viewing ( from behind trusty safety goggles ) of the facility as Gibson’s skilled Luthiers craft some of the finest guitars in the world, affording lucky guests an opportunity to witness the entire intricate process of their creation, from binding and neck-fitting to painting, buffing and tuning; these artists turn out the iconic musical instruments that have inspired and shaped some of the most important musical careers in history. Tour tickets can be purchased inside the Gibson Retail Shop, located one block south of Beale Street, directly across from the FedEx Forum and The Westin Hotel; reservations are recommended. Be sure to set aside a little extra time to visit the Gibson Factory Store, where you can pick up a souvenir of your visit, daydream a little, get your hands on and test drive a fabulous selection of special guitars – and maybe even wind up with that Les Paul you’ve been dreaming of!

Groups looking toward an unforgettable Memphis holiday will definitely want to plant a visit to Davies Manor Plantation – Century Farm, National Wildlife Federation-certified Backyard Habitat, and site of the oldest family home in Shelby County, Tennessee. The extensively-restored 1807 two story white oak chink and log plantation home rests on a lovely wooded piece of what was once a thriving 2000 acre operation, along with an assortment of wonderful outbuildings including a small cabin at one time occupied by Moses Frazier, a slave who toiled at Davies Manor for 50 years; prior to the Civil War, the Tennessee plantation supported approximately 23 enslaved African Americans. Tours begin with a short familiarization video and take guests through the log home and around the grounds and a series of carefully planned demonstration gardens and interpretive exhibits, providing an informative and realistic cross section of Colonial plantation/farm life while highlighting the inevitable changes to the estate that resulted from multi-generational occupancy. Careful excavation of a small “mound” in the front yard of Davies Manor revealed a few very small potsherds from the Woodland Indian Period; this is not surprising due to the presence of an Indian trail that wanders from Stage Road through the property and over Anderton Springs. The well-preserved structures and their rough-hewn contents are a testament to the true rigors of life on a typical southern plantation, and visits afford guests a priceless opportunity to trace the Davies family history through most of the 19th century and on to the present day with its challenges of maintaining and preserving the historic property for future generations.

Groups of History and Art aficionados exploring the crème de la crème of Kansas City won’t want to miss a tour of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – a world-class institution “where the power of art engages the spirit of community.” This fine museum and world-renowned example of neoclassical architecture is dedicated to enhancing the enjoyment and understanding of the visual arts and cultures they represent and strives, through careful presentation of its comprehensive collections of more than 33,500 works, to bring visitors a rich and ever-evolving experience as they view its myriad exhibits and wander the verdant 22 acre sculpture park showcasing 33 important modern pieces. While the Nelson-Atkins is widely celebrated for its extensive collection of Asian art, especially that of Imperial China, their European painting collection is highly prized and contains celebrated works by masters Monet, Rubens, van Gogh, Rembrandt, Titian and Degas. A suite of American Indian Art galleries honoring the artistic achievement of Native Peoples from across America houses an amazing and diverse body of works from pre-contact to the present and includes includes pottery, basketry, quill and beadwork, textiles, painting and sculpture and an exciting – and growing – contemporary collection, while the ancient art assemblage at Nelson-Atkins is of the highest quality, brilliantly representing a 4000-year cross section of the great civilization of the Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome. Guests will find every visit to the museum offers new and exciting discoveries; a stimulating range of current and upcoming exhibitions such as Across the Indian Country: Photographs by Alexander Gardner, 1867-68, The Plains Indians: Artists of Earth and Sky, Rodin: Sculptures from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, Living with the Spirits: Decorating Homes in Traditional China, Edgar Degas Pastels and Presence & Absence: New Works by Tom Price bring the Museum’s many exceptional collections of art together with magnificent works from world-renowned art institutions and outstanding private collections in a breathtaking, thought-provoking visual feast.

Groups exploring the birthplace of the blues won’t want to miss a fabulous and FUN Memphis area tradition – which started at the Peabody Hotel back in 1933 when Frank Schutt, general manager of the hotel, returned from a weekend hunting trip in Arkansas. A group of his best hunting buddies, likely having enjoyed a bit too much Jack Daniels, thought depositing a trio of their live decoys – three small English ducks – (later replaced with five Mallards) in the hotel’s luxurious Italian fountain would be an appropriate homecoming welcome; the public’s reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. Eventually the ducks would fall under the tutelage of a former circus animal trainer and a routine was perfected, with the current “duck team” residing in “The Duck Palace” on the hotel roof – living the “Life of Riley,” duck-style. Daily, at 11 am, the Peabody Duck March commences, and the ducks are led by the Duckmaster into the elevator and down a red carpet to the beautiful travertine marble fountain in the lobby to the tune of John Philip Sousa’s King Cotton March; the crowds of guests and admiring spectators go wild! The beloved show is reversed, nightly, at five pm, when the mallards return from a hard day of play in the fountain to their Palace atop the hotel. A freshly trained team of five is brought in every three months, with the previous group retired and returned to the farm they hatched on to live out their days. The Peabody Ducks have become quite the sensation and regularly enjoy the escort of honorary celebrity Duckmasters including Patrick Swayze, Larry King, Paula Deen, Emeril Lagasse and Kevin Bacon.

Founded on McLemore Avenue as Satellite Records in 1957, Memphis-based Stax records went bankrupt in 1976; the legendary studio and label that signed phenomenal American singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout Otis Redding and released his first single and debut album was sold and allowed to deteriorate to the point it was torn down in 1989. Today, Stax Museum of American Soul Music is an exact replica of the original Satellite/Stax Studio – a wonderful 17,000-square-foot museum opened in 2003, showcasing more than 2,000 videos, films, photographs, original instruments, stage costumes, interactive displays, and other Stax – related artifacts, with featured exhibits including an authentic 101-year-old Mississippi Delta church, the Soul Train dance floor, Isaac Hayes’ 1972 gold-trimmed, peacock-blue Cadillac El Dorado; and a gallery of special exhibits that change five times per year. As one of a mere handful of museums in the world dedicated to soul music, Stax not only celebrates the rich legacy of Stax Records and its artists such as Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and Albert King but features other soul music labels such as Motown, Atlantic Records, and Muscle Shoals, as well, and thrilled visitors are treated to fantastic vintage video footage of greats Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, Ike & Tina Turner, and others. Groups on Blues City getaway visiting Stax will likely feel the call to partake of some authentic Memphis-style eats to round out a classic experience; a few great places are conveniently situated nearby , including the Four Way Restaurant, a cherished “Soulsville, USA” institution and icon where civil rights leaders, political figures, industry bigwigs , folks from the neighborhood and hungry tourists, alike, have enjoyed the original home style menu of favorites like salmon patties, fried or baked catfish and chicken, yams, okra, greens, fried green tomatoes, homemade turkey and dressing, pinto beans, sweet potato pie, lemon meringue pie and peach cobbler for almost 75 years!

Groups of die-hard amusement and waterpark fans on Kansas City excursion looking for a rockin’ good time don’t have to argue about who goes where first! At everyone’s favorite Worlds of Fun / Oceans of Fun, a fantastic combined amusement/waterpark experience, guests can have it ALL; the only waiting will be in line for the rides- and a fast lane pass zips you right through! This 235-acre mega-universe of mild-to-wild , wet-and-wacky rides, special attractions, good, old-fashioned midway fare – including family-style bbq – and buckets of live entertainment serves up more fun than you can shake a stick at – “one park, one price-twice the thrills!” Test your mettle on rides like Detonator, RipCord, Thunder Hawk, all-new Steel Hawk and Mamba, or kick it family-style on Finnish Fling, Viking Voyager, Worlds of Fun Railroad and Grand Carousel – but be advised: little ones are VIPS at Planet Snoopy! Dinosaurs Alive is guaranteed to scare the stuffin’ out of you while Oceans of Fun’s Castaway Cove Adult Pool/swim-up bar, Diamond Head, Crocodile Isle, Monsoon, Predator’s Plunge and Shark’s Revenge – the list goes on – will ensure you plenty of chill time in and around the water; celebrate the 4th breathtaking fireworks shows at 10 pm Friday and Saturday nights. The World is your oyster at Worlds of Fun / Oceans of Fun in Kansas City – slide all day and ride all night – there are even cabins and cottages with all the amenities available to make your group’s playdate as convenient as possible – why waste time navigating traffic when you can wake up, freshen up and hit the parks ‘til bedtime? What could be better than THAT!?

While your adult group is in Kansas City, you may want to visit the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank. The group will have the opportunity to take a tour of the facility during the visit. You can explore interactive exhibits, the Truman Coin Collection, the Cash Vault, a Gold Bar, and the Vault Store. Your group can take a self-guided tour of the location at your own pace. Museum staff is available to answer any questions. They also offer guided tours if you desire. During the experience, visitors will have the opportunity to see the interactive exhibits, millions of dollars in the region’s largest cash vault, design your own digital currency, and have a photo taken as a souvenir. The tour is one hour in length and is fun for visitors of all ages. The interactive exhibits are both interesting and educational. When you explore the exhibits, you can do things such as step into the shoes of a bank examiner, try to spot a counterfeit bill, and see what 40 million dollars looks like. The exhibits are designed to explain banking, the economy, and how the Fed works. The Gold Bar at the Money Museum weighs 387.29 troy ounces and was cast at the San Francisco Mint in 1959. The bar is worth approximately 400,000 dollars today. There is a screen near the display that calculates the bar’s value based on the changing market price of gold. You will have the opportunity to see if you can lift the solid gold bar as part of the experience.

Is your group looking for a family-friendly attraction in the Kansas City area to visit? If so, you should spend a day getting soaked at Schlitterbahn Waterpark! You will find fun attractions along with souvenirs and quality cuisine at the location. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the experience. Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark has several rides and slides for visitors to enjoy. You will find rides such as the Bahnzai Pipeline, the Black Knight Tube Slide, Boogie Bahn, the Cyclone, Storm Blaster, and the new slide known as the Verruckt. The Veruckt is the tallest water slide in the world! During the ride, three members of the group will be blasted up a massive hill and then sent down a gut wrenching 50-foot drop! The Black Knight Tube Slide is a fully enclosed coiled slide. Guests will ride in the dark on this particular attraction. Storm Blaster is an uphill Master Blaster roller coaster. This is an exhilarating attraction that takes thrill to a new level. Riders will ascend to the top of a launch tower and are then sent down a three-story plunge. At this point, you will travel up through a series of peaks and dips before you enter the twisting tunnel that leads to the final splash. Schlitterbahn offers visitors a zip line attraction which is known as the Soaring Eagle ZipLine. One or two thrill seekers will be in a two seat chair lift. During the experience, you will be pulled swiftly backward to the ride’s peak 100 feet above Schlitterbahn’s rivers and slides. Riders will enjoy the breathtaking view of the park from the top of Schlitterbahn: Kansas City’s tallest ride.

The 360 Chicago observatory is the go-to destination for anyone who wants to experience the best views the city has to offer. This is an architectural wonder and played a large part in the development of what we know as the modern day Chicago. This building is called 360 Chicago for its breathtaking 360 degree view of Chicago from the 94th floor observatory. This building was originally known as the John Hancock Observatory in 1969 when it was officially opened and the name was only recently changed to 360 Chicago. This building is the fourth largest building in Chicago and the view is spectacular. Even better, there is now a thrilling new feature called TILT. This allows a section of the floor to tilt out so you can get the best view possible of this amazing city. Give your travel group the fantastic chance to see the city as you never have before and may never again. Panorama touch screens offer 360 degree views of the Chicago Skyline as well as information on the city’s history, culture, architecture, and natural scenery. This availability gives visitors the chance to see the city even when the weather is non-permitting. Children and adults both are offered multi-media audio tours that give off fascinating facts and history. This is an experience that any tourist or traveler will enjoy. Seeing the city of Chicago from such a unique angle will be something your group will never forget, and the beauty of the tilt will be inspiring.