SLV_2013Catalog_pg32-BackCover_WEB-1

32 Sports Leisure Vacations

10. Explore Barcelona on a guided tour of the Cathedral, the Picasso Museum and the ancient Gothic Quarter. In the evening, enjoy a special dinner at one of Barcelona’s finest restaurants. (FB,D)

11. Depart Barcelona for the return flight to Sacramento as memories of springtime in Spain inhabit your dreams. (FB)

$5900 p.p./dbl.occ., $6405 singleThis vacation requires a valid passport!

*Due to timing and schedules, Nevada travelers are invited to come to Sacramento on April 29, stay in a local hotel, and depart with the group on April 30. Additional cost. Details upon request.

• 2 nights each in Madrid, Seville, Granada and Barcelona

• Overnight in Almagro• Visit the beautiful cities of Toledo, Rhonda

and Córdoba during the Festival of Flowers

• Discover the artistic genius of Gaudí and Picasso

• Experience the traditional song and dance of flamenco

• Rest well in 4-star, modern hotels near the city centers

• 14 Meals: Daily breakfast and 5 special dinners

• Roundtrip airfare to Madrid/from Barcelona• Door-to-door airport transfers• Services of Sports Leisure Tour Director

Patty Thayer assisted by a Spanish guide throughout

• 5900/6450 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

1-2. Depart Sacramento* on an early morning flight, arriving in Madrid, Spain’s vibrant capital, the next day. There you’ll be greeted by your English-speaking local guide. Enjoy an afternoon tour of the Prado Museum, one of the finest art museums in the world. Hotel Vincci Soma – 2 nights (D)

3. Explore the historical Old Quarter of Madrid, including the ornate Royal Palace and the vast Plaza Mayor. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to enjoy the many shops and scrumptious restaurants in this historical city. Tapas, anyone? (FB)

4. Depart Madrid for medieval Toledo, one of Spain’s artistic highlights. Continue to the village of Almagro in La Mancha and spend the night in a restored convent. Parador de Almagro (FB,D)

5. On the way to Seville, visit the ancient capital of the Roman and Moorish empires, Córdoba. Tour the magnificent Mezquita and the historic Jewish Quarter. Around every corner, view courtyards brimming with blooms as Córdoba celebrates the Festival of Flowers. Hotel Becquer – 2 nights (FB)

6. This morning, explore Seville on a guided tour. Visit the Cathedral, third largest in the world, the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Tour the Moorish Alcazar and the Barrio Santa Cruz. This evening, enjoy dinner and a performance of flamenco, Spain’s unique form of song and dance. (FB,D)

7. Travel to the cliff-top town of Ronda overlooking spectacular Tajo Gorge. Tour the historic bullring, the first professional ring in Spain. Continue on to fabled Granada, nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Sierras. Hotel Carmen – 2 nights (FB)

8. A morning guided tour of the world famous Alhambra, the exquisite Moorish palace, is followed by a visit to the Royal Chapel, final resting place of the Catholic monarchs Isabelle and Ferdinand. (FB,D)

9. Take a morning flight to Barcelona, one of Europe’s most visually stunning cities. Enjoy a guided tour of Antoni Gaudí architecture, renowned as Spain’s most imaginative architect. Hotel St. Moritz – 2 nights (FB)

Springtime in SpainWhere the sun shines, the flowers bloom and the scent of oranges fills the air

11 Days • April 30 – May 10

Seville

Ronda

Granada

BarcelonaMadrid

Toledo

AlmagroCordoba

SPAIN

5-6

4

2-3 9-10

7-8

1 First nightis on theplane toMadrid

Colorful culture abounds in Spain

332013 Dream Book

• 7 nights cruising the Seine between The City of Light and the beaches of the Normandy Coast

• 2 nights at the Hotel Pullman Montparnasse, 4-star accommodations in Paris, with a city tour and visit to the D’Orsay Museum

• Explore the towns and villages of the Seine River including Vernon, Giverny, Rouen, Conflans, Les Andelys, and a choice of historic Caen or the beaches of Normandy and the poignant cemetery at St. Laurent

• Deluxe accommodations on board the AMA Waterway’s AmaLegro

• All meals and shore excursions included on board ship

• Door-to-door airport service• Roundtrip air SFO/Paris• Gold Passport Points dependent on cabin

category

HIGHLIGHTS

The ships of AMA Waterways have been cruising the rivers of Europe over ten years. In 2013, the m/v AmaLegro begins an exciting new itinerary featuring the River Seine between Paris and the Normandy Coast. Join Sports Leisure for this incredible experience to one of the most picturesque regions of the world.

Begin your journey through northern France in Paris, the “City of Light,” where you will embark your cruise. Visit the village of Giverny, where Monet lived for 43 years. Explore Honfleur, a charming French harbor town made famous from artist’s paintings. Stroll through Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy, followed by an unforgettable excursion to the famous Normandy beaches. Visit the charming town of Les Andelys, home of the impressive Château Gaillard. Conclude your journey with sights and sounds of Paris including the D’Orsay Museum.

Exploring the Seine from Paris to NormandyExplore the picturesque Seine River from aboard the exceptional m/v AmaLegro

11 Days • October 17-27, 2013

Caudebec

Honfluer

Vernon

Les Andelys

Seine River

FRANCE

Giverny

Auvers-Sur-Oise

ParisRouen

1 Night 1 on your flighten route to Paris

Nights 2-8 on boardthe m/v AmaLegro

2-8

9-10

About the m/v AmaLegro:• All outside staterooms with French Balconies or Fixed Windows with 170 sf• All staterooms have AmaWaterways’ exclusive Infotainment system, including

complimentary Internet access, first run Hollywood movies and music library• Flat-screen Televisions with local and satellite

channels• In room safe, hair dryer, ample closet space and

direct dial telephone• Hotel-style white on white, plush bedding and

terry bathrobes• Complimentary bottled water replenished daily• Individually controlled air-conditioning• Main Lounge with bar, piano and dance floor

with nightly entertainment• Spacious Junior Suites are 255 square feet with

French balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows

with an enhanced sitting area with couch, mini bar and large bathroom with separate bathtub

• Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the vessel

• Gourmet dining in the AmaLegro restaurant brings you sophisticated and outstanding cuisine with delightful, attentive service

• Whirlpool and walking track, fitness room and sauna, with bicycles available for exploring ports of call on your own

Prices start at$5650 p.p./dbl.occ., $6985 single*

This vacation requires a valid passport!*Prices based on estimated airfare of $1200 p.p.

Price of tour may adjust after air is confirmed.

Day Destination Activities

1 Overnight flight to France

2 Paris EMBARKATION

Welcome Cocktail and Dinner

3 Vernon Morning scenic cruising

Giverny Excursion to Monet’s house

OR Chateau de Bizy

4 Rouen Walking tour

5 Rouen Full day excursion to Normandy Beaches

OR Caen and Pays D’Auge excursion

6 Rouen Honfleur excursion

OR Routes des Abbeyes tour of Jumieges and St. Wandrille

7 Les Andelys Scenic cruising

Walking tour of Château Gaillard

8 Conflans Château Malmaison

OR Artist Walk tour of Auvers-sur-Oise Van Gogh

9 Paris DISEMBARKATION

Musee d’Orsay visit

Hotel check-in

10 Paris Free day with optional tours available

11 Paris Airport transfer


1-2. Fly from San Francisco to Frankfurt, then travel by motorcoach to the medieval city of Heidelberg, nestled along the Neckar River. Heidelberg boasts the Philosophenweg, said to be the loveliest promenade in Germany. After lunch, continue to the walled city of Rothenburg. Located on a peninsula high above the Tauber River, it is your home for the next two nights. A savory Welcome Dinner awaits your arrival. Hotel Eisenhut – 2 nights (D)

3. After a well-deserved night’s rest, take a walking tour of the medieval city of Rothenburg with a local guide. See the 15th-century St. Jacob Kirche, the famous Town Hall with its decorated 17th-century clock, the Castle Gardens and Gallows Alley. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own. (FB,D)

4. Journey down the “Romantic Road” through gingerbread villages and lush farming country. Your first stop is the fairytale hamlet of Dinkelsbuhl. Also a walled city, Dinkelsbuhl boasts many paintings and decorations on the ancient buildings. Don’t miss the scenic Hezelhaus courtyard or Gaulweiher Pond just outside the wall. Soon the Bavarian Alps come into view as you near Oberammergau, full of flowers and painted houses! Hotel TBA (FB,D)

5. Bavaria’s “Mad King Ludwig” nearly bankrupted his empire by building three fantasy castles. You’ll visit one today, Linderhof Castle, then continue on to Innsbruck for just a taste of Austria. View the famed “golden roof” and visit the Swarovsky Crystal Store where the merchandise will dazzle your eyes. Continue along the Inn Valley through terrain brimming with dazzling mountain scenery, tunnels and far-reaching vistas. Your final destination is St. Moritz, often called the most fashionable resort in the world. Hotel Schweizerhof – 2 nights (FB,D)

6. The day is yours to explore glitzy St. Moritz. If relaxing in the village is your ticket, you’ll find the shops just outside the hotel are plentiful and the surrounding scenery spectacular. You might choose to take an Optional Expedition (additional cost) aboard the gondola for a panoramic view of the many lakes in this pristine valley. Tonight, dine on the terrace overlooking the twinkling lights of St. Moritz. (FB,D)

7. All aboard the Glacier Express for a thrilling day of sight-seeing from the perspective only this unique train offers. Keep your camera handy as you traverse

Backroads of the AlpsA multimodal adventure through Bavarian Germany and Alpine Switzerland

12 Days • August 10-21

nearly 300 bridges across chasms and rivers, and pass through 80-plus tunnels on this wonder of railroad engineering. Bring a lunch or plan to dine on the train en route. After the lengthy Furka Pass tunnel, arrive in Oberwald in the late afternoon. Then travel by motorcoach over the spectacular Grimsel Pass to Meringen, Brienz, Interlaken and finally Lauterbrunnen. There, you’ll transfer to a cog train for a short climb to the picturesque village of Wengen, perched on a mountain shelf (4200’) at the base of the peaks Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Expect each night there to be quiet and peaceful for no motor vehicles are allowed; only cows and their soft, ringing bells. Hotel Silberhorn – 4 nights (FB,D)

8. Declare your independence from the world’s frantic pace! Board the cog train for an excursion to the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Explore the glacial valley by Postal Transport (bus) past charming Swiss houses bedecked with flower boxes. See Staubach Falls, gracefully plummeting from the high cliffs, and Trummelbach Falls where ten glacially-fed waterfalls have carved out a chasm in the mountain! From here, continue up the valley to Stechelberg and take the cable car to the quaint village of Murren, overlooking the valley far below. Here you have free time, or you can take an Optional Expedition (additional charge) on the cable car up to the Schilthorn,

• Travel by plane, railroad, gondola, cog train, cable car, postal transport, ferry steamer, funicular and motorcoach

• 4-night stay in the car-less village of Wengen

• 2-night stays in Rothenburg and St. Moritz• Overnights in Oberammergau and Zurich • History and breathtaking scenic beauty at

literally every turn• 20 meals include daily breakfast and

dinner• Roundtrip air from San Francisco to

Frankfurt/from Zurich• Home pickup and SuperCoach III to

San Francisco• Enjoy the services of German speaking

Ingrid Kokinda and Tour Director Clayton Whitehead throughout

• 6600/7200 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

Frankfurt

Schilthorn

GERMANY

SWITZERLAND

Rothenburg

Oberammergau

Innsbruck

St. Moritz

First

WegenMurrenLauterbrunnen

InterlakenLucerne

Zurich

Jungfraujoch

7-10 5-6

2-3

11 AUSTRIAOberwald

4

1 First night is onthe plane to Frankfurt

352013 Dream Book

where a revolving observation point and restaurant offer a view of the top of the world. Return to dinner in Wengen via funicular and cog train. (FB,D)

9. Depart Wengen this morning on the cog train bound for Interlaken where shoppers have all morning to explore the mile-long business district. Woolens, lace, watches and eiderdowns (goose down blankets) are all in abundance. The non-shoppers will travel to the mountain plateau called the Schynegge Platte, home of the outdoor Wildflower Museum. Reunite and board the ferry steamer across Lake Brienz past beautiful villas and waterfalls. Once in the town of Brienz, you may visit the Jobin Wood Carving School and Shop, or take a scenic ride on the Rothorn Steam Train for a bird’s-eye view of the lakes and mountains. Return home by Swiss Rail to Lauterbrunnen, then by cog train to Wengen. (FB,D)

10. Those who wish to explore the heights of the Jungfraujoch are invited on a morning Optional Expedition (additional cost). Travel by cog train to a height of 11,133 feet through a tunnel built in the mountain Eiger. The snow-covered mountains and the Alesch glacier are a breathtaking sight. The group will reunite in Kleine Scheidegg at the base of the Jungfrau later in the morning for an adventure to the village of Grindelwald via cog train. Keep your camera handy as you sail to First on the world’s longest cable car. Bring a picnic or buy lunch at the top where the views are stunning. In the mid-afternoon, return to Wengen via the Mannlichenbahn cable car, a jumbo car that holds 50 people with ease. (FB,D)

11. After breakfast, take the cog train from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen for the last time, then head to Lucerne by motorcoach. Upon arrival, you’ll have free time to shop in Old Town and eat lunch. The city is best seen by strolling along the river, which affords sights like the Kapellbrucke Covered Bridge, built in 1333 and decorated with scenes from Swiss history, and the Lowendenkmal (Lion Monument), a huge lion carved into the face of a rock and dedicated to Swiss mercenaries who gave their all for their country. On to Zurich where a Farewell Dinner awaits at your final hotel. Hotel Allegra Zurich (FB,D)

12. Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your return flight to SFO. (FB)

$6595 p.p./dbl.occ., $7195 single*This vacation requires a valid passport!

*Prices based on estimated airfare of $1400 p.p.

Price of tour may adjust after air is confirmed.

Hawaii (continued from page 30)

used to be and visiting there for a day is fascinating. A throwback to 50 years ago. Return to Maui by ferry at day’s end (90 minute trip each way). (FB,L)

Note: If ferry boats are not your thing, or you’ve been to Molokai before (Really?), you can opt out of this activity and spend the day on Maui at leisure. Ask our staff for details when you register.

6. A morning visit to Lahaina helps you understand the history of this old whaling port. After the tour, enjoy a hands on activity (it’s a surprise) and lunch in town. Return to the hotel with us, or stay in town and return later by trolley.

It’s your choice. (FB,L)

7. Your last day on the island is free to cross that very last thing off your “to do” list. Let us help you plan a spectacular finale. Speaking of tonight, a festive luau at the hotel gives you one last shot of Hawaiian food, music and history. (FB,D)

8. Our return flight leaves the island at 11am, with a 7:30am departure from your hotel. Land in Sacramento at 7pm and your car from Carey Transportation

The fairytale village of Rothenburg

All dressed up and nowhere to go

The view from our hotel in Wengen

The pig arrives at the luau… yum!

is waiting! Hope you enjoyed this slightly different look at the REAL Hawaii.

$3495 p.p./dbl.occ., $4180 single


Memorial Day in Washington, DC & GettysburgOur nation’s capital and the Pennsylvania countryside are yours to explore

7 Days • May 23-29

• 4 nights in our Capital City• 2 nights in Gettysburg • Tour Washington, DC by day and night• Visit Arlington National Cemetery, the US

Capitol and the National Cathedral• Explore the Smithsonian Institution and

National Museums on the Mall• See National Monuments including

Lincoln, Jefferson, WWII, Vietnam, Korea and more

• Gettysburg’s Memorial Day Parade, Battlefield tour and Cyclorama

• 12 meals: 6 full breakfasts, 2 lunches (one served on a Potomac River cruise), 4 dinners

• Roundtrip airfare to Washington/from Baltimore

• Door-to-door airport• Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead• 2750/3000 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

Hotel and Conference Center – 2 nights (FB,L)

6. A full day to explore the events of July 1-3, 1863, a battle that changed the tide of the Civil War, broke the Southern spirit and assured victory to the North. You’ll tour the giant battlefield with a certified guide, visit the new National Park Visitors Center and Museum, and witness the historic Cyclorama, a century-old circular painting that literally puts you in the center of the battle. An authentic tavern dinner ends the day. Keep watch for special guests on these hallowed grounds. (FB,D)

7. American history abounds in Baltimore, home of Ft. McHenry and the original Star Spangled Banner about which Francis Scott Key penned the poem during the War of 1812 that would go on to become the lyrics of our National Anthem. After lunch on the Inner Harbor, visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Whew! That’s the long name of America’s very first cathedral. Return air is from Baltimore/Washington International. (FB)

$2735 p.p./dbl.occ., $2965 singleThe new National Park Visitors Center welcomes you to Gettysburg Battlefield

1. Take a morning flight bound for Washington’s Reagan National Airport. From this in-town airport, it’s only moments to your hotel and a casual dinner – a welcomed relief after a long day of travel! Hyatt Hotel Arlington – 4 nights (D)

2. Embark on a comprehensive city tour with our local guide extraordinaire, Sandra Sheksin. She will spin tales of Washington’s dynamic past and present while orienting you to the Mall (important for later in the itinerary when you have free time for Smithsonian and National Museums). In addition to a guided visit to the United States Capitol and its new visitors center, you’ll see countless national monuments (including the new memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr.), impressive governmental buildings both historic and new (your tax dollars at work!), and the expansive parks and public spaces that make Washington, DC the striking city she is. Lunch is a special treat at midday, served on a Potomac River cruise aboard the Spirit Line. (FB,L)

3. A morning visit to Arlington National Cemetery includes a narrated tram tour with stops at the Tomb of the Unknowns for the Changing of the Guard ceremony and the home of General & Mrs. Robert E. Lee – no, that’s not a mausoleum on the hill! Begin your exploration of the Smithsonian Institution this afternoon, regrouping in the evening for dinner. Following your meal, Sandra rejoins the group for “D.C. After Dark” featuring our beautifully illuminated monuments and public buildings at night. (FB,D)

4. Sleep in or take a ride along Embassy Row to Georgetown, site of the National Cathedral. The organ is spectacular during the morning service, and the stained glass, breathtaking. All are invited to participate fully in the service. In the afternoon, a second chance to visit the Smithsonian or National Museums along the Mall with shuttle service back to the hotel when you’re ready to call it a day. Tonight, say goodbye to Washington, DC with dinner at Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown, a Sports Leisure favorite. (FB,D)

5. Arrive in Gettysburg in time for the annual Memorial Day Parade as it courses its way down Main Street, followed by a moving ceremony at the National Cemetery where history was made “four score and seven years ago.” Your hotel pays tribute to the president and first lady who selected this as their retirement home. Eisenhower

372013 Dream Book

Canyonlands of Utah and ArizonaFeaturing Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Moab

8 Days • May 15-22

Parks. Enjoy free time in town before checking into the best accommodations in the area, located on the Colorado River with towering red cliffs surrounding you. Watch the red rock change colors with the setting sun; ah… it’s Scott’s favorite place. Red Cliffs Lodge – 2 nights (FB,L)

6. Arches National Park has over 2,000 cataloged arches (the greatest concentration in the world). During your guided tour you will be able to walk up to and through several arches. Now it is time to get on the river with a two hour narrated jet boat tour that cruises the calm section of the river. (FB,L)

• Lakeview rooms at the Lake Powell Resort• Walk through spectacular Antelope

Canyon• Experience a boat tour on Lake Powell

and an “off-road” tour in Monument Valley• Stay two nights at Red Cliffs Resort on the

banks of the Colorado River in Moab• Tour Arches National Park• Jet boat tour on the Colorado River• Enjoy the spectacular view of

Canyonlands Nat’l Park from Dead Horse State Park

• Guided tour of the Thanksgiving Point Gardens

• Door-to-door airport transportation• 13 Meals: 5 full breakfasts, 8 lunches • 2850/3250 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

AZ

UT

Moab

GouldingsPage

Flagstaff

Lake PowellResort

Pheonix

ThanksgivinPoint

Sakt Lake City

4

7

1

5-6

MonumentValley

Lake Powell

2-3

ArchesNat’l Park

1. Fly direct to Phoenix on Southwest Airlines. Travel north, climbing onto the Colorado Plateau, and arrive in the town of Flagstaff. Drury Inn Flagstaff (L)

2. The Navajo Bridge represents one of only seven land crossings of the Colorado River for 750 miles. The historic pedestrian bridge provides visitors with a breathtaking view of the river 467 feet below. After an optional walk across the bridge and stops at a few unique rock formations, make your way to Lake Powell and your lakeview accommodations where everyone has a patio or balcony. The property also has two outdoor pools, a restaurant, and boat tours that depart right from the resort. Lake Powell Resort – 2 nights (FB,L)

3. Explore parts of Lake Powell by land and water. Experience a spectacular natural attraction: Antelope Canyon, a deeply-sculpted swirling sandstone canyon, one of the most beautiful of all natural formations. Upon walking into the canyon you are immediately in awe by the massive red walls with varying intensities of light playing on them. It is a photographer’s dream! After lunch, travel by boat on a three hour cruise and tour viewing the canyon with its dramatic steep, red sandstone walls rising from the water. (L)

4. Monument Valley provides perhaps the most enduring images of the American West. This afternoon you are secluded on an off-road tour to let you discover the backcountry that once served as real-life backdrops for countless western movies. At your hotel visit Goulding’s Trading Post Museum, a showcase of varied artifacts and a glimpse into a bygone era. The “Movie Room” was originally built as the mess hall for the crew of The Harvey Girls; today it is filled with movie stills and other items from the Golden Age of movies. Always playing in the Movie Room is a classic John Ford–John Wayne film. This evening relax on your own private balcony and savor the spectacular views of Monument Valley. Goulding’s Lodge (L)

5. This morning travel to an off-the-beaten-track spot and pause for a few unique photos before arriving in Moab, situated next to Canyonlands and Arches National

Two of the over two thousand rock formations that give Arches National Park its name

– Continued on page 39


• First-class train accommodations aboard VIA Rail as you travel across the continent

• Halifax: 2 nights at the Delta Barrington Hotel, city sightseeing including Citadel Hill

• Montréal: Overnight at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, visit Vieux Montréal (Old Montréal) and the Basilica of Notre Dame

• Niagara Falls: 2 nights at the Embassy Suites, Maid of the Mist Cruise

• Toronto: Dinner at the CN Tower, high atop the city

• Visit picturesque Peggy’s Cove & quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake

• 19 meals: 6 full breakfasts, 8 lunches, 5 dinners

• Roundtrip airfare to Halifax/from Seattle• Door-to-door airport service• 5700/6150 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Transfer to the airport (Sacramento/Reno or SFO: TBA). Fly to Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving in the late evening. Delta Barrington Hotel – 2 nights

2. Enjoy a free morning to catch up with your new time zone. After lunch at your leisure, experience a tour of this modern city with its small town hospitality. Visit the waterfront, historic downtown, and pause at well-known Citadel National Historic Site. Dinner is included near the waterfront. (D)

3. Explore Peggy’s Cove, a quaint fishing village, before meeting your first train, VIA Rail’s Ocean. While meals are not included in the cabin price at this time of year, you will still experience the service and hospitality of Easterly Class. Couples will enjoy private sleeping quarters, which feature upper/lower berths while single travelers will occupy a roomette, a smaller accommodation. The dining car serves a menu that features local foods. Overnight on board The Ocean

4. Bienvenue à Montréal! A morning tour highlights the old and new of this beautiful metropolis, including the Basilica of Notre Dame and a visit to Vieux Montreál (Old Montreál) with an opportunity to do a little shopping. After lunch the afternoon and evening are yours to explore this walkable city or simply relax at your hotel, a former Canadian Pacific hotel built by the famous railroad, located atop the rail station. Fairmont Queen Elizabeth (L)

5. Strolling back down to the train station, begin your next rail experience aboard VIA Rail’s Corridor train. Traveling in VIA 1 Class from Montréal to Toronto, enjoy a gourmet meal complete with wine served at your seat. Arrive in Toronto in the mid-afternoon and journey to Niagara Falls by motorcoach. You’re accommodations feature fallsview rooms, a full cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and a Manager’s Reception every night. Embassy Suites Hotel – 2 nights (L)

Canada Coast to Coast by RailFeaturing three rail experiences across Canada on board VIA Rail

11 Days • October 16-26, 2013

6. Explore Niagara Falls from above, behind and below. A cruise on the Maid of the Mist takes you within a short distance of the deafening falls. At the Welcome Center, enjoy an optional walk behind the falls before experiencing lunch at the Skylon Tower, offering a 360-degree rotating view of the falls during your meal. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore the area. Your Tour Director will provide you with several options. (FB,L)

7. The morning allows you additional time to relax. Lunch is included in the village of Niagara-on-the-Lake with time to discover this historic gem on your own. Back in Toronto, dinner is a “tall order,” served high above the city at the

Sleek, vintage cars make The Ocean a nostalgic ride to remember Comfortable, cozy cabins on The Canadian

392013 Dream Book

Vancouver

4

Jasper Nat’l Park / Canadian Rockies

ALBERTA

Halifax

Toronto

MontréalWinnipeg

Saskatoon Edmonton

BRITISHCOLUMBIA MANITOBA

ONTARIO QUÉBEC

SASKATCHEWAN

3 Night 3 aboardthe Ocean

7-10 Nights 7-10 aboard the Canadian

1-2

NiagaraFalls

5-6

WA

Seattle

CN Tower. Spend some time exploring the tower’s observation deck, with its infamous glass floor, and then make the short drive back to the train station to meet your final train, VIA Rail’s Train #1, The Canadian, scheduled for a 10pm departure. Your sleeping car attendant will have your cabin ready for you. On board The Canadian – 4 nights (FB,D)

8-10. Your final days in Canada will be spent surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the western and central provinces as you pass through the lakes and rivers of Ontario, the prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and the tall mountain peaks of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia en route to Vancouver. While on board the train, you will enjoy VIA Rail’s famed Silver and Blue Service. All meals are included on board in the Dining Car and you will have access to the Park Car, with its sightseeing dome, and the Bullet

Lounge. VIA Rail’s on board service staff will be on hand during every mile of the journey to prepare your room and assist with meal reservations. (3FB,3L,3D)

11. Your long journey from coast to coast across Canada comes to an end today with a morning arrival in Vancouver. A motorcoach delivers you to Seattle, pausing for lunch and a tour of the Boeing Museum of Flight. Arrive home in the late evening. (FB,L)


Canyonlands (continued from page 37)

7. Start the day with one of the most beautiful vistas in the west at Dead Horse Point State Park. At 1,500 feet above the Colorado River, the views are awesome! Enjoy a scenic drive north through the Wasatch Mountains to Lehi, the home of Thanksgiving Point. SpringHill Suites Marriott (FB,L)

8. Thanksgiving Point offers a surprising combination of attractions, one of which is 55 acres of beautiful themed gardens. The individual gardens are organized like the rooms of an immense estate, with thousands of trees, shrubs and grasses serving as living barriers

between spaces, creating a sense of wonder as you pass from “room” to “room.” Within the grounds, there are 15 separate themed gardens. Another of the town’s attractions is The Museum of Ancient Life, which has the distinction of being the world’s largest display of mounted dinosaurs. Fly home from Salt Lake City, this afternoon. (FB,L)


The breathtaking vistas of Monument Valley

The Maid of the Mist at the edge of the falls


• An American history lesson, from Jesse James to Buffalo Bill – see the landmarks, even the wagon ruts of the early explorers

• Leisurely itinerary – two night stays in Independence and Santa Fe

• See the remains of the internment camp of Amache, near Granada, CO, and hear the story of how Japanese Americans dealt with being uprooted from their homes and businesses at a time of war

• Guided tour of Dodge City, explore the Boot Hill Cemetery, the 1881 Home of Stone, meet “Doc” Holliday

• Dine in historic landmarks like the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, NM and the Hays House, circa 1858, in Council Grove, KS; “Welcome Pioneers” Luncheon at the National Frontiers Trails Center in Independence, MO

• History comes to life in Pioneer Bluffs, where you’ll meet “The Schoolteacher and The Scout,” a true piece of living history, and Dodge City where “Doc” Holliday is waiting for you

• Visit Pecos National Historical Park, where the ruins of a pueblo stand

• 16 meals, airfare, home pick-up, the services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director and 2800/3050 Gold Passport Points to our frequent travelers

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Fly to Kansas City, arriving just after noon. In Independence, at the National Frontier Trails Center, a hearty welcome luncheon is waiting to get you into the spirit of the trip. He wasn’t a part of Santa Fe Trail history, but certainly he is Independence’s favorite son; meet Harry Truman, who will fill you in on the history of his adopted hometown. Then, climb aboard a covered wagon (What could be more appropriate?) and enjoy a tour of town. (L)

Your first accommodations are right next door to a Hereford House Restaurant, a Kansas City area tradition. You’ll dine there tomorrow evening. Hilton Garden Inn – 2 nights

2. The Santa Fe Trail began in the small (today) rural communities of Franklin, Boonville and Boone’s Lick. On September 1, 1821, this is where William Becknell, “The Father of the Santa Fe Trail,” created the eastern terminus of the trail by striking out on a trip west. In 1826, Kit Carson, at the age of 16, hitched up with a wagon train and went off to discover the world. Return to Independence this afternoon on the old road, which parallels the Santa Fe Trail. Dinner tonight at the Hereford House. (FB,L,D)

3. Out on the trail in earnest today. We’ll make a picture stop in Westport, just south of downtown Kansas City, then head out US 56, the highway that follows the old trail. Pause for lunch at the Hays House in Council Grove, the oldest restaurant in Kansas. This is another “organizing point,” where wagon trails gathered for the trip across the prairie. In nearby Pioneer Bluffs, an exclusive living history program introduces you to “The Scout and the Schoolteacher,” who in turn will acquaint you with life on the plains in the mid-1800’s, when the Santa Fe Trail was at its peak. Finish the day in Emporia. Holiday Inn Express (FB,L)

4. On the way to Great Bend this morning, there’s an opportunity to get some photos to paint a picture of your travels. The Barton County Museum in town is a wealth of history and you’ll meet a real character there. Afternoon travels take you to Larned

Exploring the Santa Fe TrailAmerica’s commerce road in the early 1800’s moved people and goods west

9 Days • April 30 – May 8

and the Fort Larned Historical Site (NPS). The fort itself is a most interesting story, because it never had walls. How did the soldiers protect themselves? Best Western Angus Inn – Great Bend (B,L)

5. Everyone has heard of Dodge City. While some of the story has been lost to glitzy reproductions, the history is still there. Investigate the Fort Dodge site, and visit Boot Hill Cemetery. Meet “Doc” Holliday, who will tell you about some of the folks who stopped in these parts. Some of them never left. Accommodations at a brand new hotel tonight, with a nice casino next door for those who enjoy an occasional game of chance, another vivid part of the Old West. Hampton Inn (FB,L)

6. Our longest travel day, in terms of miles, at 290 in parts of two states. Outside Garden City, there are some very visible wagon ruts in the prairie. Let’s stop for a photo. At the Granada, Colorado townsite, we come across The eclectic shops in Madrid welcome you on the Turquoise Trail near Santa Fe

412013 Dream Book

an interesting piece of history that has nothing to do with the trail. It was here that the internment camp known as Amache, or the Granada War Relocation Center existed. The layout of the site is still very visible. Over 7,300 Japanese Americans lived here at one point, most of them from California.

There are two Santa Fe Trail routes into New Mexico, the mountain (high) route we are on; and the Cimarron (low) tall grass route. Bent’s Old Fort is worth a stop for a look at life on the trail. La Quinta Trinidad (B,L,D)

7. Our last day on the trail, arriving in Santa Fe at day’s end. En route, we stop in Cimarron for lunch at the St. James Hotel, a true highway classic (trust us on this one). In Rayado, find

one of the biggest Boy Scout High Adventure Camps in the country. Over 950,000 scouts have visited here since it opened in 1938. Let’s take a look. Las Vegas Plaza is a true look back at old New Mexico, so another short stop is in order. Call it a refreshment break. For the sake of time, double back to our final landmark (Pecos Nat’l Historic Park) on the old trail tomorrow, allowing us to arrive in Santa Fe around 5pm. Dinner is at your leisure tonight. Hilton Hotel Santa Fe Historic Plaza – 2 nights (B,L)

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8. When the Santa Fe Trail’s first travelers arrived in their final destination, their small cache of goods was quickly sold for a nearly 1500% profit. Needless to say, more merchants and travelers were soon to follow. Today, get a quick tour of town, then have time to explore on your own. The plaza is wonderful, the museums exquisite and the architecture will remind you of traditionally adobe.

Travel back to Pecos Nat’l Historical Park today, to see the ruins of the pueblo which once stood there. Where did the natives go? And why? Dine together tonight, sampling New Mexican cuisine. (D)

9.Your flight home departs in mid-afternoon, so take advantage of the extra time to take the famous Turquoise Trail to Albuquerque. In the hamlet of Madrid, you will find an eclectic collection of shops, galleries and eateries. Thank you for being a part of another incredible American history lesson on the road.


Hitch your wagon and come along

Making (wagon) tracks

Dine at the St. James Hotels in Cimarron

Does Your Group or Organization need a Speaker?Let Mark or Clayton share humorous travel stories and tips for avoiding hassles on the road. Door prizes and complimentary Travel Club Memberships are provided.

Call the office to reserve your date today!


• 4 nights inside Chicago’s “L” at the Palmer House Hilton

• 2 nights at the St. Louis Drury Plaza• Tickets to The Book of Mormon and

Second City• St. Louis’ Budweiser, Fox Theatre and

Gateway Arch• Choose it Yourself Chicago tours and

attractions• 10 meals: 2 full breakfasts, 1 brunch,

3 lunches, 4 dinners• Roundtrip airfare to St. Louis/from

Chicago, Amtrak between cities• Door-to-door airport service• Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead• 2850/3150 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

1. You’re off to St. Louis where dinner awaits in Missouri’s frontier Capital City, St. Charles. Accommodations are provided in historic elegance in the shadow of the Gateway Arch. Drury Plaza Hotel – 2 nights (D)

2. A full day to explore the wonders of St. Louis beginning with a visit to the home of the King of Beers and perhaps more notably, the Clydesdale stables, at the Budweiser Brewery. A behind-the-scenes tour and luncheon awaits at the fabulous Fox Theatre, one of our country’s grandest movie houses. Then head to “The Hill,” home of baseball great Yogi Berra, for an afternoon of all-American sights, sounds and flavors. (FB,L,D)

3. A morning train takes you on a 6-hour journey through the heartland to the Windy City of Chicago. Upon arrival, a short tour inside the “L,” otherwise known as downtown, will give you an orientation to this destination with countless possibilities. Potter Palmer’s famed guesthouse is your accommodation, boasting the best location in the city. Tonight, sink your teeth into be best prime rib in the country! Palmer House Hotel by Hilton – 4 nights (FB,D)

4. Remember the song that says Chicago is “my kind of town?” You’re invited to make it your kind of town on this visit. Today is guided tour day. Choose from a walking tour focused on architecture, gardens and public art; a bicycle tour along the lake and in the historic Grant Park neighborhood, a traditional driving tour outside the “L” or the hottest new way to travel, a tour by Segway. In the evening, enjoy the genius of the famed Second City comedy troop. (L)

5. Happy Mother’s Day! Honor the ladies with a gala brunch at the Palmer House. Afterwards, we’ve got the tickets you’ve been looking for: The Book of Mormon. We realize this show may not be for everyone. Other theatre options may be available upon advance request. (BR)

6. Chicago is a city of fabulous museums. Visit any two downtown facilities: Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium or the Art Institute.

Your Kind of Towns: Chicago & St. LouisTwo of America’s greatest cities, complete with several “Choose it Yourself” options

7 Days • May 8-14

Or spend the day on the Southside at the incredible Museum of Science and Industry. (You won’t be able to see it all!) It would be a sin to leave Chicago without an Italian feast, right? Rest assured, we’ve got you covered! (D)

7. Help put the “sports” in Sports Leisure on your last day with a morning tour of storied Wrigley Field, then lunch at Harry (“Holy Cow”) Caray’s, the designated Official Home Plate of the Chicago Cubs. (L)


The Fox Theatre in St. Louis is our nation’s grandest movie palace Tour Chicago your way, by Segway perhaps?

432013 Dream Book

• Explore the rail history of Chicago with a visit to the historic company town of Pullman, home of the Pullman Car Company

• Deluxe sleeper accommodations on board Amtrak’s Empire Builder for your 44-hour journey from Chicago to Seattle

• A day in Seattle, featuring lunch at Cutter’s Crabhouse & Pike Place Market

• Overnight in downtown Chicago at the historic Hilton Palmer House

• 8 meals included (2FB,4L,2D)• Door-to-door airport service• Fly to Chicago/return flight from Seattle• 2350/3000 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

West Glacier

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Minot

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St. Paul

Wisconsin Dells

Milwaukee

Chicago

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Seattle

Nights 2-3 aboard theEmpire Builder

Glacier Nat’l Park

Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful of Amtrak’s routes, perhaps second only to the Coast Stalight, the Empire Builder traverses a portion of the country visited by precious few and passes within a glimpse of Glacier National Park. Inquire to combine this rail trip with our Chicago/St. Louis tour for a special vacation.

1. Carey Transportation delivers you to the airport for your morning flight to Chicago. Enjoy a late lunch before checking into your historic accommodations for the evening, in the heart of downtown Chicago. Hilton Palmer House Hotel (L)

2. Visit the community of Pullman this morning, the historic company town of Pullman Railcars. A video introduces you the town built for the employees of George Pullman along with a personally guided tour of several remaining buildings. Your guide explains the efforts to preserve this interesting town of history. Lunch is a lot of fun at Harry Caray’s Restaurant, surrounded by mementos and memorabilia of the Chicago Cubs. Amtrak’s Empire Builder departs at 2pm from Union Station.

On board the train, you’ll have a private sleeper compartment with bathroom and shower facilities inside (on the smaller side, but there). Your car will have an attendant to assist you and, as a First Class traveler, your meals in the dining car are included in your fare along with complimentary wine and cheese tastings on board.

From Chicago, travel north through Wisconsin falling asleep to the rhythm of your sleeping car as you traverse Minnesota into the night. On board the Empire Builder – 2 nights (L,D)

Take the Empire Builder – Chicago to SeattleAn air/rail journey along one of one of Amtrak’s most scenic routes

4 Days • May 13-16

3. Rise and shine in North Dakota and enjoy breakfast as the towns of Minot, Stanley and Williston pass by your window. The vast northern plains stretch out before you as your train continues into Montana. Lakes, forests and glacier-carved valleys meet you as you approach Glacier National Park in the evening, the sun setting in between East and West Glacier. The panoramic windows in the Sightseer Lounge allow you to enjoy your surroundings. (FB,L,D)

4. As you awaken this morning, you’ll be approaching Puget Sound and your final destination of Seattle, arriving around 10am. Lunch along the waterfront and a visit to Pike Place Market conclude your rail adventure. (FB,L)


Experience the grandeur of the American West aboard the Empire Builder


steakhouse “where the locals eat.” (FB,D)

6. Following breakfast, return to “Derby Town” and learn about an essential ingredient of America’s favorite pastime (next to horse racing, that is) with a stop by the Louisville Slugger Plant & Museum. Lunch and departures from Louisville International Airport bring your vacation to a winning end. (FB,L)


The Kentucky DerbySee “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” and mark it off your bucket list

6 Days • May 1-6

• 5 nights at the pastoral Embassy Suites Hotel, Lexington

• Attend the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby

• Horse around in Lexington, the Bluegrass Country, Frankfort and Louisville

• Visit Undulata, Keeneland and Kentucky’s Derby Museum and Horse Park

• Reserved seating for the nighttime Pegasus Parade

• Tour the Louisville Slugger Plant & Museum and Buffalo Trace Distillery

• 11 meals: Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, 4 dinners and the popular nightly Manager’s Reception

• Roundtrip airfare to Cincinnati/from Louisville

• Door-to-door airport transportation• Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead• 3300/3800 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Northern Kentucky International Airport near Cincinnati is your gateway to the Bluegrass State. Arrive in Lexington in time for the Manager’s Cocktail Reception. Dinner follows in the hotel, a beautiful and award-winning property situated in a rural area in the heart of horse country. Embassy Suites – 5 nights (D)

2. A morning drive to Shelbyville spotlights Undulata, one of the finest Saddlebred Horse farms in the country. You’ll witness the morning workouts from the comfort of an indoor arena. Lunch is served at famous Claudia Sanders‘ Dinner House. (The Colonel’s wife could cook, too!) Then you’re off to Louisville where you’ll visit the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs, enjoy a picnic al fresco, then take your reserved seats for the spectacular nighttime Pegasus Parade. (FB,L,D)

3. A tour of the Lexington area includes a visit to Keeneland, famed racing and auction facility. As you drive along miles of pristine pastures and white painted fences, you’ll understand why this is the heart and soul of the American equine industry. Nearby Frankfort is the capital of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Tour the State House and stop by Rebecca Ruth Candy Factory to stock up on its famous Bourbon Balls. (FB,D)

4. Depart for Louisville mid-morning and the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. Don’t forget your hat! The Derby is only one of 12 races run at Churchill Downs today. You’ll be there for most of them. There is roughly one race every 45 minutes to an hour. Between races you eat, drink, socialize and dish everyone else’s hat! Derby post time is in the early evening. Your seats are located on the fourth turn in the Grandstand Terrace – first floor, Section 126 or 127. Upgraded seating may be available. Please inquire when you make your reservation. (FB)

5. It’s time to visit the Kentucky Horse Park, a beautiful state park dedicated to all things horse. Don’t miss the Parade of Breeds and Hall of Champions. No trip here would be complete without a stop at a bourbon distillery, and you’re seeing one of the best – Buffalo Trace. Your Farewell Dinner is hosted by a popular Lexington

…Oh those wonderful hats!Our seating on the fourth turn in Section 126 puts you close to the thundering action and…

452013 Dream Book

• Designated viewing area for the Buffalo Roundup

• Visit Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore, the Shrine to Democracy

• 3 nights lodging in one of Rapid City’s newest hotels

• 5 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner• Door-to-door airport service• Roundtrip airfare• 1650/1800 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

This is by far the most unique and specialized trip to the Black Hills ever offered by Sports Leisure Vacations. Feel the thunder and the heart pounding excitement at the 48th Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup as over 1,000 American Bison travel by your viewing area. A shorter, more compact visit to the Black Hills than some of our other itineraries, this is the perfect trip for someone who wants to revisit Mount Rushmore, and experience something new in a shorter amount of time.

1. With a mid-day arrival into Rapid City there is time to visit The Journey Museum, an incredible institution that brings together a wide range of sources to tell the story of not only the geology and history of the Black Hills, but also of the people and cultures who call these hills home. An opening video creates a wonderful beginning into the understanding of the Black Hills. Your hotel for the next three nights is among the newest in Rapid City. Hilton Garden Inn – 3 nights (L)

2. Visit the Crazy Horse Memorial this morning, a mountainside project dedicated to Native Americans. The site includes an arts and crafts center in addition to the museum and memorial. Even though sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski passed in 1982, work on the mountain continues in his spirit. It’s a poignant story, ready for you to discover. Nearby view another mountainside sculpture, Mount Rushmore, and visit the Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival. With over 150 vendors, you’ll find that unique artwork from South Dakota you have been looking for as the perfect souvenir of your trip. (FB)

3. Everyone is up bright and early this morning as we head down to Custer State Park for the roundup. The park personnel, along with additional cowhands, will do their best to drive the park’s herd of nearly 1,300 buffalo into the corrals. We’ll be located at one of the designated viewing areas along the way. Concessions and vendors are available but please note: The area is not developed with permanent restrooms or walkways and takes place rain or shine. This is open pasture and field which make walking difficult and challenging. Yet, it is the perfect way to experience this exciting

The Great Custer Buffalo Roundup Featuring Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore

4 Days • September 28 – October 1, 2013

day; to see and feel this tradition unfold before your eyes with limited modern infrastructure. The animals are placed into sorting pens where throughout the week they are tested and branded by park personnel before being released back into the park for the winter. (FB,D)

4. Rapid City is known as the City of Presidents, with its life-sized bronze statues of all our past leaders. Take a walk with the presidents this morning and enjoy the dancing fountains of Main Street Square before heading out to the airport for your afternoon flight home. (FB)


Behold this masterpiece in stone

Just a few of the hundreds of buffalo who call Custer State Park home


• Guided rim tour of Crater Lake National Park with lunch at Crater Lake Lodge

• Travel the Umpqua Scenic Byway• Up close animal encounters at Wildlife

Safari• Hellgate Jet Boat tour• Optional (extra cost) show at Ashland’s

Oregon Shakespeare Festival• 9 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 brunch,

3 lunches and 2 dinners• Travel in comfort on SuperCoach III• Door-to-door service• 1500/1700 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

1. A car from Carey Limousines’ fleet of vehicles meets you at your home and brings you to the Sports Leisure office. Board SuperCoach III and head north, pausing for lunch in Redding. Arrive in the late afternoon in Klamath Falls. Dinner and the evening are at your leisure. Shilo Inn (L)

2. A remnant of a fiery volcanic past, Crater Lake is one of the deepest and bluest lakes in America, with sheer surrounding cliffs almost 2,000 feet high! A ranger-guided tour around the rim of this ancient volcano today will acquaint you with its geological history. After lunch at the historic Crater Lake Lodge, travel the Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway, making several stops along the way. Your accommodations are located on the banks of the South Umpqua River where all rooms have a balcony or patio. Today is the 4th of July and there will be fireworks this evening at the city park; you can view them right from the comfort of your hotel. Holiday Inn Express Roseburg – 2 nights (B,L)

3. Wildlife Safari is a 600-acre drive-through park and village where you can have close encounters with animals from all over the world. Drive along a 4.5 mile route to view over 500 animals from Africa, Asia and the Americas in their natural habitat, roaming freely as they do in the wild. This afternoon there will be an optional stop for wine tasting at a local vineyard. (B,D)

4. There are few adventures as exciting as a 36-mile roundtrip jet boat ride through Hellgate Canyon. Stop down river at the OK Corral, an old homestead, for an all-you-can-eat country brunch presented on an open-air deck overlooking the beautiful Rogue River. View remarkable rock shapes carved by the river’s hydraulics, and a variety of native plants and animals, while your guide advises you on geological and historical points of interest. See the canyon where John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn filmed “Rooster Cogburn” and Matt Dillon plunged into the depths to escape a gang in hot pursuit in “Gunsmoke.” While your accommodations are in Medford, dinner is included in nearby Ashland with an optional (extra cost) performance at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Shows are currently TBA but

Crater Lake & the Umpqua National Scenic Byway Featuring natural scenic wonder and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

5 Days • July 3-7

you will be notified when the festival’s schedule is set for next year. SpringHill Suites Medford (BR,D)

5. Harry & David Country Village is located across from our hotel. There will be time this morning to make a visit before saying farewell to Oregon and head back into California. Stop for a hosted lunch before arriving home in the evening, your journey made just a little more comfortable by our exclusive SuperCoach III. (B,L)


2-3 Roseburg

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Klamath Falls

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All smiles… but is this before of after their ride through Hellsgate Canyon?

472013 Dream Book

• 2 nights in Seaside, Oregon, oceanview at the Shilo Inn; 2 nights in Long Beach, WA, oceanview at the new Adrift Inn

• Walk the famous oceanfront promenade in Seaside – it and the ocean are right at the property’s edge

• Browse the quaint shops in both Seaside and Long Beach

• Admission to the Seaside Aquarium• Lewis & Clark history – optional (included)

visit to Fort Clatsop near Seaside, and a stop at Cape Disappointment in Washington

• Tour historic Oysterville and see the Cranberry and World Kite Museums in Long Beach

• Great food – from a roadside seafood stop to fine dining restaurants, this package has it all

• 10 meals, r/t airfare to/from Portland, home pickup, services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director and 1400/1700 Gold Passport Points for our frequent travelers

HIGHLIGHTS

By The Seaside, On The Long BeachA visit to the Oregon-Washington Coast, featuring oceanview accommodations

5 Days • July 8-12

OystervilleLong Beach

Fort ClatsopSeaside

WA

OR

Camp 18 Portland

Smith’sBerry Farm

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fly one! Dinner is in town at the local bakery. (B,D)

5. Breakfast each morning is a lovely basket delivered to your door! It’s time to make our way back this morning. One more stop awaits. It’s summer, the berries are ripe and now you have a chance to pick some (or buy some no spray/already picked berries). We’ve allowed a short window and we’ll provide the containers to get them home. Arrive at the airport in time for our evening flight home. (B,L)


1. Depart for Portland, arriving mid-morning. You’re off on a scenic byway to the coast. Lunch is en route at The Berry Patch. (Think they might have some cobbler this time of year?) Arrive in Seaside in mid-afternoon. You’ll find the itinerary leisurely, so that you might enjoy your oceanfront hotel and the beautiful promenade which is perfect for walking near and far. Shilo Inn – 2 nights (L)

2. A complimentary, limited choice breakfast is included, or you may use your coupon as a credit toward any off-the-menu item you wish. The day’s activities include visits to the antique mall in the Old Town District and the Carousel Mall to peruse the goods for sale, a fun-filled lunch at a roadside seafood stand, and a ticket to the Seaside Aquarium. The Boardwalk Restaurant in your hotel is available for dinner, or there are numerous choices within walking distance. (B,L)

3. Choices abound this morning. Stay at the hotel and enjoy one last leisurely stroll on the promenade, or come with us to part one of the Lewis and Clark history lesson, Fort Clatsop. This is where the band of explorers spent the winter of 1805-06. If you’ve never seen one of America’s most historic sites, it’s worth your time. After a stop in Seaside, we head to lunch at Camp 18, a logging camp with a museum and a popular restaurant.

After lunch, it’s north to Astoria, over the bridge into Washington. The second half of the Lewis & Clark lesson is at Cape Disappointment. Hard to believe

they thought this location was worse than the one they ultimately decided on, but such were the navigational aids of the day. We arrive in Long Beach at our new, small town oceanfront lodge in mid-afternoon. Seaside is a decidedly tourist town, and this is a working man’s village, at the end of the road, so to speak. Two very different places to discover on one trip. Enjoy a meal with a view tonight. Adrift Inn – 2 nights (B,L,D)

4. Just north of town is Oysterville, a piece of local history. The town is mostly gone,

along with the oysters. You’ll learn the story and even meet a guy who grows cranberries for a living. The afternoon is free to enjoy browsing about town, or a walk on the… get ready for it… long beach. The Kite Museum is here to enjoy, and if the conditions are right, perhaps you’ll

Beautiful oversized rooms await you…

…at the Shilo Inn, Seaside

Mark receives the key to the city of Long Beach


Glacier and Waterton National ParksRocky Mountain lodges, a two-nation vacation

6 Days • July 11-16

5. Glide across beautiful alpine lakes and discover a spectacular side of Glacier National Park, not visible from the road. The boat captains today will share with you their love and knowledge of this incredibly special place. See and feel the grandeur that makes Glacier National Park “The Crown of the Continent.” Board the vessel Chief Two Guns for a cruise on Swiftcurrent Lake, then take a short walk over the hill to Lake Josephine. Here a second boat, the Morning Eagle, awaits your arrival for a cruise on this pristine lake. (FB,D)

6. After breakfast travel to Kalispell for a hosted lunch before transferring to the airport for your return flight home. (FB,L)


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• Travel Going-To-The-Sun Road through Glacier National Park

• Overnight at the Prince of Wales Hotel• Three scenic boat cruises• 2 nights at St Mary’s Bear Lodge• 2 nights at Grouse Mountain Lodge• 8 meals: 3 full breakfasts, 4 lunches,

1 dinner• Roundtrip airfare• Door-to-door service• 2850/3300 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Depart this morning for Kalispell, Montana. A short twenty minute drive north brings you to the resort town of Whitefish and your accommodations. Experience true Montana hospitality, surrounded by the rustic luxury of an upscale western lodge. Grouse Mountain Lodge – 2 nights (L)

2. A gondola ride to the top of Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort gives you a new perspective on the region known as “Big Sky Country.” The summit offers fabulous views of the Flathead Valley and the peaks of Glacier National Park. Enjoy lunch in the Summit House followed by a visit to the nature center which features the region’s flora, fauna, geology, fire ecology, and history. Floral window boxes, hand-carved wooden signs, covered sidewalks, and old-time building facades set the tone for a lovely afternoon back in town. (L)

3. You’d be hard pressed to find a more scenic drive in the lower 48 states than Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. A wilderness of lakes, towering peaks, and remnants of glaciers abound. Travel to the hand-hewn, grand Lake McDonald Lodge to board a Red Jammer Bus for a tour of the 52 mile Going-to-the-Sun Road. Cross the border into Canada (a passport is required) to Waterton Lakes National Park in southern Alberta. Your accommodations tonight are in the stately hotel named after Prince Edward, which was built in 1927 to resemble a French or Swiss chalet and crowned with a 30-foot bell tower. Prince of Wales Hotel (L)

4. Step aboard a classic vessel and cruise into the history of the International Peace Park. The boat features indoor and outdoor seating to maximize your enjoyment of the most spectacular mountain scenery the Rocky Mountains have to offer. View majestic towering cliffs, unique geological formations and snow-clad mountain peaks. Return to the U.S. and your accommodations situated just outside Glacier National Park. This evening enjoy a special musical performance by Montana singer-songwriter David Walburn. With his guitar, harmonica and original songs, David will tell stories about the early explorers of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery, local Native Americans and the frontiersmen of Montana. St. Mary’s Bear Lodge – 2 nights (FB)

Pulling into the dock at Goat Haunt, MT on Waterton Lake

492013 Dream Book

• Enjoy the old world charm of Bavaria, with Washington hospitality

• Drive through scenic North Cascades National Park

• Enjoy a performance at the Leavenworth Summer Theater Festival (show schedule will be announced in November)

• Overnight at the luxurious Sun Mountain Lodge

• Visit the Japanese Botanical Gardens of “U.W.,” Liberty Orchards “Home to Applets & Cottlets,” and Winthrop

• 7 meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner• Door-to-door airport service• Roundtrip airfare

HIGHLIGHTSLeavenworth and the CascadesSummer theatre and the beauty of the Cascades

5 Days • August 9-13

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North CascadesNat’l Park

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parks. Settle in this evening in the area of Snohomish and Everett, just outside of Seattle. Staybridge Suites (B,L)

5. Spend the day exploring the community of Snohomish and visiting the Japanese Gardens at the University of Washington. An afternoon flight from Seattle returns you home. (L)

Prices available after September 1

1. Upon your arrival in Seattle lunch is included at Cutter’s Crabhouse near the famous Pike Place Market. Spend a little time shopping or maybe just watch the flying fish! An afternoon drive into central Washington delivers you to the Bavarian-inspired community of Leavenworth in time for a quiet evening at leisure. Your hotel is one of the finest in town, a short walk from the heart of the village, with shopping, restaurants and Front Street Park, home of the town’s May Pole. Bavarian Lodge – 2 nights (L)

2. Leavenworth was a lumber town for many years. When the industry started drying up the town acted quickly out of economic necessity to transform itself into the Bavarian village you see today. New buildings, in the style of a village in the Alps, were constructed and new facades were built. The community embraced the changes and created the proud mountain community seen here today. Local touring this morning will acquaint you with more history as you explore the Wenatchee Valley. The small community of Cashmere is known as the home of Liberty Orchards, the makers of “Applets and Cottlets,” the fruit confections everyone loves during the holidays. Tour the factory and enjoy a few treats. Back in Leavenworth, lunch is at your leisure along with time for browsing the quaint shops of this unique little town. Tonight, a traditional Bavarian dinner served family-style is included before a performance of the Leavenworth Summer Theater Festival. (Please note: the theatre schedule will not be released until November.) (FB,D)

3. Say farewell to Leavenworth and head north towards the Methow Valley and the small western town of Winthrop. You will find the Old West alive on its colorful Main Street. After some time to explore, continue through the valley to Sun Mountain Lodge, perched atop the mountain, under the shadow of Mt. Robinson. Rated four-diamond by AAA, this is a fine mountain resort to spend the evening. Sun Mountain Lodge (FB)

4. Follow the sun as you travel east to west towards the coast, passing through some of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful scenery in North Cascades National Park. Formed by glaciers, the park still has 315 active glaciers within its boundaries. As

the highway traverses elevations of over 5,000 feet, you may catch glimpses of mountain goats, black bears, deer, and other wildlife, but you won’t see many people. This is one of our country’s most remote and least visited Shopping at Aplets & Cotlets is always a hitThe Bavarian Lodge in Leavenworth is a Sports Leisure favorite


• 3 nights at the Chateau Victoria, a terrific location in the heart of Victoria Harbor

• Tour Victoria by double-decker bus• Have high tea with the “Queen” at the

Empress Hotel• Enjoy an elegant luncheon at Butchart

Gardens• 2 nights in Vancouver with a city tour and

visits to Stanley Park & Granville Island• Dinner Cruise during the Festival of Light,

Vancouver’s Annual Fireworks Spectacular• Ride the ferry across Puget Sound • 6 meals: 1 high tea, 4 lunches, 1 dinner• Roundtrip air to/from Seattle• Door-to-door airport service• 2550/2850 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

Flowers & Fireworks in Victoria & VancouverFeaturing the best of British Columbia and the 23rd Annual Festival of Light

6 Days • July 30 – August 4

1. Fly to Seattle then head to Pike Place Market for an included lunch at Cutters Crabhouse with shopping at the market (time permitting). The Victoria Clipper, the fast catamaran, departs for Canada’s Vancouver Island in the mid-afternoon, arriving in Victoria by sunset. Chateau Victoria – 3 nights (L)

2. Tour the city in true English fashion – by double-decker bus, of course – ending with the quintessential Victorian experience, high tea at the historic Empress Hotel. They say tea here is “…fit for a queen,” and it’s true. You never know who might take the seat next to you! The afternoon is free for shopping, visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum, or enjoying a walk along the Inner Harbor. (HT)

3. A tour of the Royal Houses of Parliament precedes a visit to one of Canada’s most visited attractions. Started as a way to brighten up an old limestone quarry, at over 100 years old Butchart Gardens is better than ever. After lunch in the historic

Butchart family home, tour the gardens at your leisure, which should be absolutely breathtaking during your visit. Enjoy a final evening at leisure in Victoria. (L)

4. Travel north along the coast bound for Duncan and the Quw’utsun’ Native Heritage Center. Learn about Canada’s First Peoples and enjoy an authentic BBQ salmon lunch. In Nanaimo, meet the ferry that will deliver you to back to the mainland and your Vancouver hotel. It is located in the center of downtown, giving you easy access to explore this fascinating city. Blue Horizon Hotel – 2 nights (L)

5. Drive over the famous Lions Gate Bridge to Stanley Park and visit Granville Island

to browse its quaint shops and to enjoy lunch. The afternoon is yours to enjoy back at the hotel or make an optional visit to Grouse Mountain by way of the aerial

Seattle

Victoria

Vancouver

BRITISHCOLUMBIA

WA

1-3

Nanaimo4-5

tram that delivers you to an altitude of over 4,000 feet. Tonight, you have seats on board your cruise boat on English Bay as the 23rd Annual Festival of Light commences in the evening sky. The festival invites countries from all over the world to compete with fireworks and pyrotechnics above Vancouver Harbor. Dinner is included on board. (D)

6. Sleep in a little this morning before heading back across the border. Pause in Snohomish for a late lunch. Depart on an evening flight from Seattle. (L)


The fireworks of the 23rd Annual Festival of Light illuminates the night sky

Butchart Gardens is a timeless classic

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Washington. The destination for the night is back in the river city of Spokane, where your tower rooms await in all their contemporary elegance. Davenport Towers (FB,L)

7. Enjoy a fabulous champagne brunch served at the beautiful historic Davenport Hotel located just across the street. Your flight home departs in the afternoon. (BR)


• Multiple-night stays in waterview rooms: two nights in Bonners Ferry, ID and three nights in Nelson, BC

• Walk through history aboard the SS Moyie, a restored sternwheeler, nestled along the banks of Kootenay Lake

• Learn about the culture of the Doukhobors at Castlegar and the history of Japanese Canadians at the Nikkei Memorial Center in New Denver

• Visit the small communities of Crawford Bay, Rossland and Ymir with their fascinating place in Selkirk history

• Enjoy a night of contemporary luxury at the Davenport Hotel, with an elegant Sunday Brunch

• Door-todoor-transportation• Roundtrip airfare• 12 meals: 5 Breakfasts, 1 Brunch,

6 lunches• 2700/3000 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

WA BonnersFerrySpokane

Newport

Selk

irk M

ount

ains

New DenverKaslo

CrawfordBay

CrestonRossland

Castlegar

Nelson

6

1-2

BRITISH COLUMBIA

ID

Ymir

3-5

The International Selkirk LoopFeaturing a breathtaking beautiful drive through the Rocky Mountains

7 Days • August 26 – September 1

The Selkirk Loop is a 280-mile international scenic drive encircling the Selkirk Mountains of Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho and Southeastern British Columbia. Nearly the entire loop follows alongside a river or lakeshore, with vast views of the valleys and mountains one minute, intimate water scenes or dense forest the next. This is a bit off the beaten track! Many of the communities we will be visiting have a population of fewer than 500.

1. Arrive in Spokane and travel along the Spokane River to Post Falls, Idaho. Board the River Queen for a luncheon cruise on the Spokane River before continuing to Bonners Ferry, located in the Kootenai Valley. Best Western Plus Kootenai River Inn – 2 nights (L)

2. The Selkirks come into view today as you travel across the border into British Columbia. Spend the day in the Creston Valley, learning about the rich agricultural history, and enjoying fresh fruits from its orchards. Return to Bonners Ferry and a sunset ride out to the Kootenai Wildlife Preserve. (FB,L)

3. Visit with talented and unique artisans as you travel along the shore of Kootenay Lake. Tour a very clever bottle house and stop at an artisan village in Crawford Bay before arriving in Nelson. Your hotel is located on the shore of the Kootenay Lake’s West Arm, with a great waterfront parkway along the shoreline for a quiet walk. Prestige Lakeside Resort – 3 nights (FB,L)

4. In the picturesque community of Kaslo step aboard the beautifully restored SS Moyie for a walk through the region’s history. Continue around the loop with a visit to the Nikkei Memorial Internment Center in New Denver, returning to Nelson for an evening along the banks of the Kootenay. (FB,L)

5. A restored Doukhobors’ village, home to early Russian immigrants who settled in Castlegar, is your first stop today. Continue on to Rossland, called the Golden City, for lunch and a visit to the Le Roi Mine Museum. A stop in Ymir provides some afternoon hospitality. (FB,L)

6. Continue down the southwestern portion of the loop taking time for lunch and a visit to the community of Newport,

Past Sports Leisure travelers pause along the Selkirk Loop


1. A morning flight takes you to the heart of the Confederacy. Your historic accommodations in downtown Chattanooga have been pleasing travelers for a century. Sheraton Read House – 2 nights (D)

2. This is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Experience firsthand the amazing heroism of the gallant men in both blue and

gray at an authentic reenactment of the Battle of Chickamauga. This event will bring together hundreds of soldier-historians from across the country to offer you a glimpse into one of the war’s most important battles. Who will win? You’ll just have to come and see, though it can truly be said in war there are no winners. (FB,D)

3. The Atlanta Campaign was primarily a struggle to either control or destroy the railroad connecting Atlanta, the South’s primary supply center, with battlefields to the north. So it is fitting that you travel along the old rail lines today, pausing at points both strategic and scenic in Chattanooga and along the way. End in Marietta on Atlanta’s northwest side. DoubleTree Hotel – 2 nights (FB,L)

4. Your touring in and around Marietta and Cobb County includes visits to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and the Southern Museum, home of the General. There you will learn all about “The Great Locomotive Chase,” made popular by the Disney movie, an interesting railroad engagement early in the War Between the States. (FB,D)

5. Journey into the heart of that great Confederate stronghold which now serves as Georgia’s Capital City. Visit the Cyclorama, a century-old, three-dimensional presentation of the Battle of Atlanta has to be seen to be believed. Also housed there is the Texas of Locomotive Chase-fame. Then you’ll tour the Margaret Mitchell Museum, located in the home were her famous novel was composed, affectionately called “The Dump.” On to Atlanta’s southside, Clayton County, the setting of Gone With the Wind. Dinner at an authentic Antebellum-era home and a visit by two very special guests bring your evening to a close. Drury Inn (FB,D)

6. Travel to Milledgeville, the Civil War-era Capital of the state, for lunch and a tour of the old Governor’s Mansion. Your march to the sea ends as Sherman’s did – in Georgia’s first city, Savannah. DoubleTree Hotel Historic District – 2 nights (FB,L)

Tracing Sherman’s MarchAttend the 150th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Chickamauga

8 Days • September 20-27, 2013

Chattanooga

Marietta

TN

GA

AtlantaJonesboro

MilledgevilleSavannah 6-7

3-4

1-2

5

7. Tour the city Sherman refused to burn by trolley (in fact, he gave it to President Lincoln as a Christmas present in 1864) including a visit to the Green-Meldrum Home, Union headquarters during the occupation. In the late afternoon, travel to nearby Ft. Pulaski National Monument, an imposing fortification along the Georgia coast, where the first documented baseball game in US history took place in 1862. The team? Let’s just say they were definitely Yankees! (FB,D)

8. After lunch say goodbye to Dixie and look away to the West as your return flight takes you home. (FB,L)


• 2 nights each in Chattanooga, Marietta & Savannah

• 1 night in the land of Tara and GWTW-themed dinner

• Chickamauga, Kennesaw and Ft. Pulaski Nat’l Parks

• Atlanta’s Cyclorama and the Margaret Mitchell Museum

• Jonesboro’s Road to Tara Museum• Milledgeville, Georgia’s Antebellum capital• Savannah, President Lincoln’s Christmas

present in 1864• 15 meals: Daily breakfast, 3 lunches,

5 dinners• Roundtrip airfare to Chattanooga/from

Savannah• Door-to-door airport service• Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead• 3000/3400 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

“I do declare” you’ll meet Scarlett and Rhett live and in person

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2

Mackinaw City

MI

Traverse City

CadillacFrankenmuth

LakeMichigan

LakeHuron

6

Detriot

Mackinac Island

3-5

Grand Rapids Dearborn

1

Petoskey

1. Your first dinner and a good night’s sleep await you in Grand Rapids, your gateway to Michigan, the Great Lakes State. Hilton Hotel (D)

2. Before traveling to the shores of Lake Michigan, stop at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. While president for less than a term, Ford holds an important place in history. After lunch in the village of Cadillac, continue on the Traverse City and your lakefront home for the night. Cherry Tree Inn (FB,L,D)

3. At the Music House you’ll discover an incredible collection of mechanical instruments, antique phonographs and the centerpiece of the museum, a huge Belgian pipe organ, all in perfect working order. Push north this afternoon to Mackinaw City by way of lunch and a sweet treat in Petoskey, then board the ferry for the 20-minute ride to Mackinac Island. Prepare to fall in love at first sight with its historic buildings, quaint shoppes and “no motor vehicles allowed” policy. Your historic, all-suite, lakefront hotel is simply the best. Chippewa Hotel – 3 nights (FB,L)

4. Discover Mackinac Island on your morning horse-drawn wagon tour, including a stop at the Wings of Mackinac, a butterfly house. Lunch is served in truly grand style at the Grand Hotel, c. 1887, the location for the filming of “Somewhere in Time,” one of the great love stories of all time. (FB,L)

5. A second, leisurely day on the island gives you the opportunity to visit Colonial Fort Mackinac, built by the British in the 18th century, part of a strategic network of fortifications placed to protect the Straights of Mackinac and hold those pesky Americans and Frenchmen at bay. (It didn’t work!) How about an afternoon bike ride around the island before a lakeside dinner back at The Chip? (FB,D)

6. Take the ferry back to the mainland and travel south to the Bavarian village of Frankenmuth. Your local guide will lead you on a tour about town before checking into your beautiful hotel. A tasting of regional wines precedes the all-you-can-eat German dinner at the famous Bavarian Inn Restaurant. Bavarian Inn Lodge (FB,D)

Michigan & MackinacA Sports Leisure signature vacation featuring North America’s favorite island


7. The memory of one of America’s greatest industrialists lives on at the museum complex that bears his name. Expect a world-class collection of automobiles and so much more! The crowning attraction at The Henry Ford Museum is Greenfield Village, an assemblage of historical buildings from around the globe saved from demise, moved here and restored, including the Eagle Tavern where your Farewell Lunch is served in Colonial elegance. (FB,L)


• 3 nights lakeside on picturesque Mackinac Island

• Lunch at Mackinac’s famous Grand Hotel, tours by horse and carriage

• Overnight stays in Grand Rapids, Traverse City and the Bavarian village of Frankenmuth

• Visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids

• Tour the Music House, filled with one-of-a-kind musical instruments

• History abounds at The Henry Ford Museum’s Greenfield Village

• 14 meals: Daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

• Roundtrip airfare to Grand Rapids/from Detroit

• Door-to-door airport service• Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead• 2750/3100 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTS

Have lunch at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island which is just that… grand!


• 5 different rides on Washington’s Marine Highway, the ferry system of Puget Sound, featuring a trip through (and visit to) the San Juan Islands

• Visit the villages and towns of Bainbridge, Poulsbo, Port Townsend, Coupeville, Friday Harbor, and Langley as you make your way around the sound.

• Guided sightseeing on Whidbey Island, including the Naval Air Station

• Guided tour of San Juan Island with lunch at Roche Harbor

• 10 meals: 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

• Door-to-door airport service• Round trip airfare

HIGHLIGHTS

SAN JUAN ISLANDS

Port Townsend

WhidbeyIsland

WA

WASeattle

La Conner

AnacortesPUGET SOUND Oak

Harbor

Mukilteo

Rosario Resort

Friday Harbor

4-5

1

2-3

BainbridgeIsland

Coupeville

1. Fly into Seattle and visit Dale Chihuly’s new Garden of Glass. The indoor/outdoor facility the master glassblower recently opened has the art community talking! Ferry travel begins in the afternoon with a leisurely trip across the sound to Bainbridge Island. This 35 minute ride is one of the most scenic throughout the sound. Your accommodations are on this quiet island for the night. Island Country Inn (L)

2. Poulsbo offers just a touch and taste of Scandinavia. Visit an authentic Norwegian Bakery and browse the shops before heading on towards Port Townsend. You will be joined by a local guide for an insider’s peek at this seaport village before boarding the Keystone Ferry for Whidbey Island. A drive up the island brings you to Oak Harbor, your base for the next two days. Best Western Oak Harbor – 2 nights (B)

3. A guided tour of the island today includes the Naval Air Station and Ebey’s Landing National Historic site. Coupeville, a tiny village known for its historic waterfront district

is the perfect place for dinner this evening. (B,D)

4-5. Cross over the stunning Deception Pass Bridge this morning en route to Anacortes to catch the next ferry to the San Juan Islands. As you enter into this archipelago located in the northwest corner of the United States, with a birds-eye view of Canada next door, you are apt to see Orca Whales off the bow of the ferry; or Bald Eagles flying overhead. Glide through the picturesque San Juan Islands as the ferry makes its stops at the various islands. Throughout the next two days, enjoy an inter-island ferry ride, embark on a narrated tour of San Juan Island, and enjoy lunch at the beautiful inn overlooking Roche Harbor. You will also have time to take in the historic compact, and very walkable town, Friday Harbor,

Ferries & Towns of Puget SoundFeaturing Washington’s Marine Highway and the Rosario Resort


the hub of the islands. You can easily fill a delightful day strolling through art galleries, bookstores, and antique shops; visiting The Whale Museum, or meandering through the marina. Hotel TBA – 2 nights (2B,L) 6. The last day of this ferry and island hopping adventure retraces part of your route from the San Juans to Seattle. Enjoy lunch in Mukilteo, a tiny Puget Sound waterfront community with a wonderful lighthouse. An early evening flight brings you home. (B,L)

Prices available after September 1

…and so is riding the ferries around Puget Sound

Shopping is fun in Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands…

552013 Dream Book

OK

AK

Fort Smith

Little Rock

Hot Springs

Bentonville4-5

3

1-2

Tulsa

• 2 nights in Little Rock and Bentonville• Overnight in Fort Smith, home of Miss

Laura’s Social Club• A full day to explore the new Crystal

Bridges Museum of American Art• Tour the Clinton Presidential Library, Heifer

International and Sam Walton’s original Five and Dime

• Visit Hot Springs National Park and Will Roger’s Claremore, Oklahoma

• 11 meals: Daily breakfast, 2 lunches, 3 dinners

• Roundtrip air to Little Rock/from Tulsa• Door-to-door airport transportation• 2250/2550 Gold Passport Points

HIGHLIGHTSThe ABC’s in ArkansasDiscover Art, Bordellos, Clinton and more in The Natural State

6 Days • October 13-18, 2013

the corporate headquarters of Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. Embassy Suites – 2 nights (FB,L)

5. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is the most highly-anticipated addition to our nation’s art scene in the 21st Century and Walmart’s philanthropic gift to the world. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks. Take a guided tour, then have time on your own to explore the museum both inside and out. A gala dinner brings your tour to an end with artistic flair. (FB,D)

6. Say goodbye to Arkansas as you make your way to Tulsa by way of Claremore, Will Roger’s hometown. Will’s legacy survives here in lore and legend, as you’ll witness when you visit sites that keep his memory alive. You’ll be winging your way west by late afternoon. (FB,L)


Arkansas is a state filled with dramatic contrasts. Here presidents share the pew with hillbillies on Sunday morning. Here you’ll find more health spas than in Los Angeles. Here a multi-billion dollar corporation lies hidden behind a main street five-and-dime. And here you’ll discover the grandest new fine arts complex in the country. Join us as we discover The Natural State, Arkansas.

1. Wing your way to the Capital City of Little Rock. A welcome cocktain reception and down-home dinner set the tone for this tour spotlighting the best of Arkansas. Embassy Suites – 2 nights (D)

2. Begin the day in the museum that pays tribute to the 42nd Commander and Chief of the United States, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Sharing the campus, you’ll also tour and be inspired by the work of Heifer International, a leading international charity bringing sustainable agriculture to developing countries. A unique city tour will take you past sights where history was made while related news clips roll on the overhead monitors. In the evening, you’re invited to the Ole South with a visit to historic Marlsgate Plantation where dinner is served. (FB,D)

3. Natural geothermal water fueled the bath house craze that breathed Hot Springs into being. Today, the destination remains popular with history and health seekers alike. You can choose to “take the waters” at the Buckhorn or simply tour this national park town which includes the Bathhouse Museum where you can look, but not get wet. Off to Fort Smith, a decidedly Western town on the Arkansas frontier. Courtyard by Marriott (FB,D)

4. With “Miss” Laura as your hostess, visit “the best little whorehouse in Arkansas.” Really. You’ll be absolutely transfixed by her tails of sin and salvation in this rough-and-tumble town on the Texas border. Next up is Bentonville, the once-sleepy community where Sam Walton opened his Five and Dime in 1950. Today the city is

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is our nation’s newest fine arts venue


• 3 nights at the renowned Seven Springs Resort in the scenic (especially at this time of year) Laurel Highlands

• 2 nights in Indiana, hometown of Jimmy Stewart, a reunion from our 2011 Christmas Mystery Tour – tour the museum named for the town’s favorite son

• Visit the new Flight 93 Memorial, honoring the heroes of 9/11

• Lunch at the Latrobe Country Club, home of Arnold Palmer

• Visit the Amish village of Smicksburg for an Amish Wedding Feast

• Meet Punxsutawney Phil of Groundhog Day fame

• Photograph a covered bridge, see the autumn leaves and learn about the Whiskey Rebellion

• Shop in Ligonier, on the historic Lincoln Highway

• Includes airfare, 15 meals, the services of a Sports Leisure Tour Director, home pick-up

• 2550/2800 Gold Passport Points for our frequent travelers

HIGHLIGHTS

1. Fly to Pittsburgh today. Depart early morning and arrive about 4:30pm. We’ll whisk you off to your hotel and then quickly to dinner. Not fancy, but efficient. Hilton Garden Inn Southpointe (D)

2. The drive into the Laurel Highlands is a scenic one this morning, incorporating parts of the original Lincoln Highway. In Youngstown, enjoy lunch at the Latrobe Country club, owned by Arnold Palmer. The walls of the clubhouse are lined with memorabilia from one of America’s favorite sporting legends.

Our afternoon stop is at the new West Overton Museums, where a fascinating story unfolds. The 5-story Distillery Museum explains the story of the region from 1803-1880, when this was one of the thriving industrial areas in the country. The coal and coke era, the Whiskey Rebellion, it’s all here for you to discover. Check into your mountain resort in mid-afternoon. The colors of fall surround you. Soon the hillsides will be covered with snow, for now they are showing off the beauty of the changing of the seasons. Your accommodations are definitely upscale and upon arrival at 3pm, before check in, we’ll give you a coach tour of the resort so you can plan activities during your stay. (Did you see the zip line?) Seven Springs Resort – 3 nights (FB,L)

3. September 11, 2001 is a day ingrained into our minds forever. On that day, some very brave flyers on United Flight 93 made a brave decision which undoubtedly prevented an even bigger disaster. They paid the ultimate price for their act of courage. The story of the actions of these heroes, their lives and what happened that day is now explained at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville. This morning, we will visit the site and the small chapel which served as an informal memorial while the permanent one was finished. Both are part of the story. The vibrant colors of autumn provide the backdrop for this moment in the countryside, honoring true American heroes.

Fall Foliage with the Famous in PennsylvaniaIncluding the hometowns of Jimmy Stewart, Arnold Palmer and Stan Musial

7 Days • October 2-8, 2013

After lunch, we have another story to share. This is mining country, and one of the most amazing stories of rescue came right in this area, at the Quecreek Mine. Nine were saved while a nation watched, and the rescue capsule prototype was sent to Chile to help in the big rescue there in 2010. It is a uniquely human story, this time with a happier ending. Back to the resort for an evening at leisure. (FB,L)

4. The historic village of Ligonier is just a short scenic drive from the resort. If you wish, join us for a shopping and browsing trip this morning. The afternoon is at leisure at the resort. Join our World Championship Miniature Golf Tournament for cash and prizes, or choose from some of the other activities. The afternoon is free to do as you please at this beautiful property. Join us tonight for a pizza party. Your Tour Director will have details. (FB,L,D)

5. Leave your mountain paradise late this morning, after a wonderful Sunday brunch. Ninety minutes later, you arrive in Indiana. Not the state, the town. This A fall-colors shot of the original Seven Springs Resort. It’s a bit bigger now!

572013 Dream Book

1

5-6

Smicksburg Punxsutawney

Indiana

Youngstown

FL #93 Memorial

Seven SpringsResort

Pittsburgh

2-4

PA

is not just any town; it’s the hometown of the legendary actor, Jimmy Stewart. His father owned a hardware store on Main Street and there is a definite “Bedford Falls” feel about the place. As we can attest, having celebrated the “It’s a Wonderful Life” weekend in town two years ago, it’s a great place to visit. Explore the museum named for Mr. Stewart, learn how his most famous movie was put together, and take the hometown tour. Hampton Inn – 2 nights (BR,D)

6. Photograph a covered bridge, meet the Amish, get some free stuff, dine at an Amish Wedding Feast (just the feast, no wedding included…) and even…ready for this… meet Punxsutawney Phil, of Groundhog Day fame. Your tour loop takes you to Smicksburg and Punxsutawney. Learn the story of how the Groundhog Day

celebration you’ve seen on TV actually takes place (or better put, overwhelms)

this modest village. It’s a great small town day! Back in Indiana, dine at a local casual food institution, Eat ‘n Park (you would have thought they would call it Park and Eat, but who knows) and don’t miss the pie. Yum! (B,L,D)

7. The fun and fall colors must come to an end today. But first, learn the story of the Underground Railroad. How did men and women escaping the bonds of slavery make it to Canada to become “free?” They were helped by an assemblage of people who called themselves “The Underground Railroad.” Learn more about this different type of American hero. After lunch, we are off to the airport for our return flight home. (B,L)


Members of the Sports Leisure family are alwaysup to something fun on the road…

On our last visit to Jimmy Stewart’s hometown of Indiana, PA, we celebrated the “It’s a Wonderful Life” Festival with a visit by old Saint Nick


• Discover the inspiration(s) of Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon by exploring unique towns like New Ulm, Albany, Freeport, St. Cloud, and Holdingford

• Enjoy a live performance of A Prairie Home Companion, broadcast from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul

• A special Czech lunch and tour of St. Wenceslaus Church in New Prague

• Experience a performance of the famous Spamettes in Austin

• 12 meals: daily breakfast, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

• Door-to-door transportation• Roundtrip airfare• 2250/2900 Gold Passport Points• Tour Director: Mark Hoffmann

HIGHLIGHTS

You are invited to join us on this most special and unusual vacation. As fans of the legendary radio program A Prairie Home Companion know, host Garrison Keillor regularly updates listeners on the activities in his “hometown” of Lake Wobegon. Never mind that this mythical town doesn’t actually exist; it does in Garrison’s mind. Now you can go in search of a small town that doesn’t actually exist… or does it?

1. A 7am non-stop flight takes you directly to Minneapolis, arriving in time for lunch and the short drive to New Ulm, a community with a German heritage. Tonight, a special dinner is held in your honor with live entertainment. Holiday Inn (D)

2. A morning tour will give you a look at the town, before we head south to Austin. This is the home of Hormel Meats and the Hormel family stamp is all around town. Dine in the family mansion and enjoy a concert by The Spamettes, absolutely one of the most unique musical groups you’ll ever witness in your life. If this doesn’t make you laugh, nothing ever will! Hotel TBA (FB,L,D)

3. One more international community awaits, New Prague. Enjoy a Czech lunch and a tour of the St. Wenceslaus Church before heading on to St. Cloud. Garrison attended college in town and worked at the radio station. Could it be that the secrets to Lake Wobegon can be found here? Country Inn by Carlson (B,L)

4. The clues have been all over the landscape throughout our journey. Let’s play detective today, as we visit Albany, Freeport and Holdingford, to find the spirit of Lake Wobegon. Finish this amazing day in St. Paul. Doubletree Hotel – 2 nights (B,L)

Searching for Lake Wobegon, An American AdventureFeaturing a live broadcast of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prarie Home Companion”

6 Days • October 16-21, 2012 (Yes, this year!)

2

Albany

Freeport

Holdingford

St. Cloud

MN

St. Paul

Minneapolis

New Prague

Austin

New Ulm

3

1

4-5

5. This morning, be introduced to the history of St. Paul as you meet one of its more “historical” characters. Then there’s time to relax at your hotel before the late afternoon performance you’ve been waiting for at the historic Fitzgerald Theater. You are in the audience for a performance of one of the country’s longest-running live radio programs. Seating is on the main floor. After the show, enjoy a light dinner at a popular local eatery. (FB,L,D)

6. A 9am flight takes you home, arriving around noon. It will have been a journey you will long remember. Now it’s time to tell your friends all about your Search for Lake Wobegon and what you found along the way! (FB)


Lake Wobegon may not be real, but Garrison Keillor certainly is!

592013 Dream Book

Since 1979, our travelers have found Sports Leisure Vacations to be a cut above. Every component of every adventure – motorcoaches, lodging, dining and attractions – are carefully chosen to offer you the best combination of quality, location and value. That’s the Sports Leisure Difference. Our business is making your travel dreams come true, and we take that responsibility seriously. Should you need further clarification or information, kindly visit us on the web at www.sportsleisure.com, or call the office, 916-361-2051 or toll-free 800-951-5556. We are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to serve you. Note we are often closed on Tuesdays from noon to 1:30 p.m. for a staff meeting.

Can you explain “door-to-door service”? What’s that?Sports Leisure began offering door-to-door service in 1992. This means we will pick you up and return you to your home on all vacations of three days or longer. Provided by Carey Transportation of Sacramento and Executive Limousine of Reno, this service may involve a limousine, sedan, SUV or other special vehicle.

California door-to-door service is included within these boundaries: Davis on the west, Galt on the south, Auburn and Placerville on the east, Woodland to the north. Service is available for an additional charge for travelers living in Stockton, Yuba City/Marysville, Grass Valley, Winters, Vacaville, Fairfield, Pollock Pines and Colfax.

Nevada door-to-door service is provided to anyone living in the Reno/Sparks metropolitan area, and south to Carson City.

A $50 per person credit is available for out-of-town travelers to whom this service isn’t available, and for those locally who choose to meet us at the

The Sports Leisure Difference…Answers to these frequently asked questions will tell you more about our company and help you enjoy your vacation to the fullest!

airport, train station or departures from the Sports Leisure Vacations office.

Another option for those who live in outlying areas is to overnight in Sacramento. We have negotiated a special reduced rate at the Best Western PLUS Sutter House located downtown at 1100 H Street. You can leave your car in their lot while on vacation and enjoy door-to-door service to and from the hotel. Call 800-830-1314 and ask for Doris Gray at extension 266 to make a reservation.

On overnight and day trips, motorcoaches depart from convenient neighborhood pick-up points throughout the greater Sacramento and Roseville areas. Door-to-door service is available for a fee on day trips and overnighters. Call the office for details.

I hear you refer to customers as “members.” Do I have to join a club to travel with you?Absolutely not, though most travelers do elect to join the Sports Leisure Travel Club. Only through club membership will you receive our yearly catalogue,

The Sports Leisure Traveler, our bimonthly newsletter, and invitations to our special events. Additionally, only members can participate in our bonus rewards program, Travel Club Gold. A complimentary membership is offered to new and potential travelers upon request. After that, it’s only $10 per year. A lifetime membership is available for $30.

What’s all this I hear about a “super bus”?Actually, it’s not a bus, but a coach--and not just any coach, but SuperCoach III. Our Prevost H3-45 was factory-configured with 55 seats. In cooperation with our local partners in travel, All West Coachlines, the first thing we did was reconfigure the seating to accommodate 44 travelers, providing extra leg-room for all. Then we added tray tables and foot rests for your additional comfort. In the rear, a fully-operative galley features a refrigerator, oven, built-in coffee makers and potable running water for the enjoyment of hot and cold snacks. A state-of-the-art audio/visual system ties up the amenities package with style. Put one of All West’s professional drivers behind the wheel, and you’re riding on the finest motorcoach transportation available anywhere in North America. SuperCoach III is used on most day trips, overnighters and selected long-distance trips.

Come with us and get your kicks on Route 66


You have assigned motorcoach seating on your tours. What’s that about?By popular demand, we do not rotate seats as many companies do. You are free to select the seating of your choice at the point of reservation. Single travelers are sometimes required to take available single seats to leave remaining seat pairs for those traveling with a friend or spouse.

Can I find you on the web?You bet! The address is www.sportsleisure.com. There you’ll find all our recent publications, pod-casts of our KFBK radio show “The Travel & Entertainment Guys” (or listen live Sundays from 2-3 pm at 1530 AM/92.5 FM), valuable information on upcoming events and more. While online, consider joining our online notification service, By Invitation Only. We’ll inform you of time-sensitive opportunities that present themselves between regular newsletter cycles.

I have dietary restrictions. Is this going to be a problem?If you have mild dietary restrictions or are a vegetarian, it is important

you notify our office at the time of registration. It’s your responsibility to read your Tour Reservation Confirmation carefully and make certain your restrictions have been noted. As you can certainly understand, it is quite difficult for your Tour Director to accommodate those who wait until they are actually traveling to share their special needs. If you have severe dietary restrictions, you may find this type of travel is not for you.

Can I make other special requests?You are invited to make special requests of the airline and hotel(s) serving your vacation at the point of reservation. As you can imagine, the more notice we have, the better our ability to accommodate. Requests might include specific airline seating, the need for wheelchair assistance at airports, and at hotels, a smoking room, king bed and/or handicap-accessible room. Please note we automatically request a non-smoking room for everyone in the group, and one with two beds for those traveling double occupancy unless you tell us otherwise. Handicap accessible rooms are limited.

We ask that you only make this request if your condition demands it. There could be another traveler who needs it more than you.

What about airport security restrictions? They seem to change all the time.While it’s true that navigating through an airport in our country has become more challenging, our staff is up to date on the latest regulations in order to provide you timely advice and assistance. The Transportation Security Administration is now requiring that you provide us your birthday and full name as is appears on your government-issued identification for all vacations involving air travel. Complete

passport information is additionally required in advance for international travel. Up-to-date security information can be found on the internet at www.tsa.gov.

How much baggage can I bring? And what about those baggage charges the airlines are imposing?On vacations of four days or less, you are allowed one checked bag. On domestic trips of five days or more, Sports Leisure allows you two pieces of checked luggage, regardless of the mode of transportation. U.S. airlines restrict you to one carry-on bag and one small personal item (identified as a purse, briefcase, laptop or coat). Carry-on bags are the responsibility of the traveler at all times. International vacations may limit you to one bag, regardless of the length of the trip. Occasionally, other restrictions may apply. (Key West trips, for example, allow only one checked bag due to weight restrictions.)

With the exception of Southwest Airlines, all U.S. air carriers we currently use charge for all checked bags. As each airline has different policies regarding luggage and associated charges, you may expect rules and restrictions to vary from trip to trip. You have this promise: You will never pay to check your first bag on any flight on a U.S. airline. Should you wish to bring a second checked bag, please be prepared to pay your Tour Director or the airline at check-in. Our office can advise you of second bag charges, or you may reference the airline’s website.

Each checked bag has a strict weight limit of 40 or 50 pounds (depending on the trip). Bags weighing more will incur additional fees and/or be rejected. This policy applies throughout the tour. Many “wheelie” bags and oversized carry-ons that fit in airline overhead bins cannot be accommodated within the cabin of the motorcoach. In such cases, you will be asked to check them coachside with your Tour Director. They will be Sometimes our tours require a bit of climbing, but what a view

612013 Dream Book

tagged and available coachside at each overnight stop.

Are my payments protected when I pay for my vacation in advance?Your deposits and final payments are protected in accordance with the State of California Seller of Travel Law (#2011549-40). In addition, Sports Leisure Vacations is an A+ Accredited Member of the Northeast California Better Business Bureau.

Can a friend from another city sign up for a Sports Leisure vacation, or join me for a meal or visit at one of our destinations?Yes! We can arrange travel for friends or relatives to meet our groups from any city in the world. (We currently have over 900 Travel Club members who live outside the Sacramento area.) If you have friends or relatives who would like to travel with you, have them call us toll free at 800-951-5556. With advance notice, we are also happy to welcome your friends or relatives who may live along the tour route and may wish to join us for a meal or attraction.

Can I extend my vacation to visit friends or relatives?The answer is almost always yes, particularly if you register and make your request at least 45 days prior to departure. There could be additional charges for flight deviations, but generally they are small. Many travelers take advantage of this service to visit friends or relatives, or explore a destination in greater detail on their own.

I have some trouble walking long distances. Will I be able to participate and enjoy the trip?In order to get full value from a travel experience, it is important to be in good mental and physical health. Walking and some step-climbing are necessary to participate in the normal activities of our vacations. While we can do almost everything for you on a Sports Leisure vacation, the Tour Director cannot provide sustained attention to

individual clients. Please be advised that we visit many cultural sites on tour, not all of which meet A.D.A. requirements due to their historic status.

Having said that, let us assure you that people with mobility restrictions are welcome on our vacations. Many of our travelers are over 70 (or even 80 or 90), something we keep in mind when planning our itineraries. In our office, the Tour Planner for each departure knows the itinerary well and would be happy to consult with you personally should you have questions regarding the amount of walking, elevations, etc., on a particular trip.

What if I become ill and cannot travel? Do you offer cancellation protection?Cancellation Protection is available on every departure. It must be purchased at the time you make your initial tour payment. We strongly recommend you consider this optional protection. Please refer to the Special Vacation Notes and Information brochure for details. This coverage may not be available to travelers who have cancelled more than two tours in a 12-month period or who make their reservation less than one month prior to the departure date.

Have Passport rules changed?Passports are now required for all travel outside the U.S., including Canada and Mexico. If you are of foreign citizenship, we highly recommend you check with your country’s embassy and follow its instructions to make certain your travel will be legal and seamless. U.S. citizens in need of a passport can pick up an application at any Post Office. Please allow 8-10 weeks for processing. Complimentary passport photos are available to Travel Club members from Jon Holloway and our friends at Holloway Travel Outfitters, 1150 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento, (916) 486-9170.

How does your company deal with “chronic complainers?”One or two can ruin a trip for all. Sports Leisure Vacations reserves the right not to accept or retain anyone whose lack of personal hygiene or poor general behavior, in the opinion of the Tour Director, impedes the operation of the tour and/or affects the rights of other travelers. A refund of unused tour services is the limit of our liability if a person is required to leave the tour for the reasons stated above. Said passenger(s) will be responsible for any additional costs to return to the city of origin.

We want to learn, discover and have fun together. Our groups are often complimented on their positive attitude by tourism professionals and other travelers who encounter us on the road. Life is too short for making yourself and others around you miserable due to little things that are bound to occur. Travel is by nature an inexact science. Problem travelers will kindly be asked to travel elsewhere.

And that’s the Sports Leisure Difference…

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Have you joined the Blueberry Photographic Society yet?

9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 • Sacramento, California 95827 • (916) 361-2051 • Toll-Free (800) 951-5556www.sportsleisure.com • California Seller of Travel #2011549-40

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Sleep in wigwam, remember The Alamo, get your kicks on Route 66. Details inside…

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