Aug 06

Sip Your Way Through Southern Minnesota

While researching different areas for things to do – we came across this great blog post from our friends at Explore Minnesota. Many travelers might not realize that Minnesota boasts over 34 wineries and 75 breweries. Grab your friends, hop on a motorcoach and sip your way through southern Minnesota. Your tastebuds will thank you for it!

Sip Your Way from Minnetonka to Waconia

By Grant Erler

The southwest corner of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area is well known for its many scenic lakes and attractions like the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. And in 2016, the Ryder Cup will come to Hazeltine National Golf Course in Chaska. But did you know this area is quickly becoming a hot spot for beer, wine and spirits connoisseurs?

Check out all eight establishments, located between Minnetonka to the east and Waconia to the west, and get a taste of the local libations.

Lucid Brewing

As one of the premier new breweries in Minnesota, Minnetonka-based Lucid Brewing is a great place to start your trek. Be sure to sign up for the Saturday tour on the brewery’s website to get a fascinating look at the brewing process and, of course, some free samples. Lucid is well known for its wonderfully hoppy Foto IPA, as well as the crisp and zesty Silo Belgian Saison.

Excelsior Brewing Company

Located in the historic town center, Excelsior Brewing Company has quickly become a local favorite. The taproom has a wonderfully friendly atmosphere and is a great place to relax with friends after a day out on the lake or strolling on Water Street. Try the full-bodied Bridge Jumper IPA.

Not far away is the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail, which runs from Hopkins to Victoria and also passes near Enki Brewing.

Enki Brewing

Located in the 100-year-old creamery building in Victoria, Enki’s taproom offers a cozy and inviting atmosphere in the winter and a relaxing patio in the warmer months. Enki has a full range of brews, from the citrusy Tail Feather IPA to the indulgently rich Cacao Porter.

Waconia Brewing Company

Just two blocks from the shores of Lake Waconia in the heart of the city’s vibrant downtown, you’ll find the latest addition to the southwest metro’s brewery scene. Waconia’s first brewery since 1890 offers a wide variety of taps including its flagships: Amber, Witbier, Kolsch and West Coast IPA, plus a rotating number of seasonal offerings.

Parley Lake Winery

Located among the rolling hills near Parley Lake, this winery offers a variety of wines including the ever-popular Frontenac Gris. The winery is right next to the Carver Park Reserve, which has a number of trails through the woods and prairies for hiking in the summer and cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter.

Schram Vineyards Winery & Brewery

Schram is the state’s first combination winery and brewery, located on a six-acre vineyard overlooking Reitz Lake, just southeast of Waconia. Enjoy a glass or bottle of wine or mead (honey wine), as well as the continuously rotating selection of beers in the tasting room. You can even try your hand at some bocce ball while you’re there

Sovereign Estates Winery

Situated on the north shore of Lake Waconia, along the popular Dakota Trail, Sovereign Estates features both indoor and outdoor tasting rooms, as well as an elegant bistro. The vineyard is on a south-sloping hill, offering beautiful views of the lake. A popular choice is the award-winning Talon Crest, a dry and fruity La Crescent white.

J. Carver Distillery

The Waconia-based distillery is named after Jonathan Carver, one of the first Europeans to explore and chart the area in 1766. Just like their namesake, the folks at J. Carver Distillery are exploring uncharted territory as they are set to become the first legal distillery to operate in the history of Carver County. Initially, they will produce gin and vodka and will eventually offer barrel-aged whiskey, bourbon, brandy and liqueurs.

Download a map of the “SW Minne Beer, Wine & Spirits Tour” and start your adventure, or learn more about the area from the SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on these communities, please visit:

Jun 24

Music City, USA

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Nashville, TN is one of the great American destinations and is a perfect stop for your next chartered bus tour. Contrary to popular opinion, Nashville is not just for country music fans. The name “Music City” was earned for the many varieties of music that one can enjoy during a visit. In addition, Nashville has long been known as one of the most affordable cities to visit in the country. So what makes Nashville such a great destination? Let’s start with a visit downtown.

Your charter coach can drop you off at the world famous Ryman Auditorium. Originally built as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, Ryman Auditorium was home for The Grand Ole Opry from 1943 – 1974. It is still used today for concerts and shows, but you can take a tour and see where history was made. Take a few minutes and stand on the stage where artists such as Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton made their Opry debuts. There are plenty of artifacts from the Opry on display throughout the auditorium. As you walk around you can really feel the history of this national landmark.

Just steps away from the Ryman is Broadway; however it’s nothing like the Broadway you’d find in New York City. This Broadway is a street where you can hear music from all manner of artists every night of the week. You can walk down the street and pass a seemingly endless line of restaurants, shops and bars where live music is always being played. No matter what your taste you are sure to find something to sit back and enjoy. Another must see place on Broadway is the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. This shop has been located at the same location since 1947 and still sells vinyl records. If you are a collector of vintage vinyl then you will definitely want to visit. And yes, they too will offer live music.

A couple of blocks away from Broadway you will find the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. All of the greats in the country music industry have been enshrined here with their own bronze plaques. You seriously do not need to be a fan of country music to appreciate the talents of the individuals honored here. The museum itself is filled with all sorts of memorabilia from the artists themselves and tells the history of country music.

You’re going to get pretty hungry wandering around downtown and there is no shortage of delicious places to eat and, of course, hear live music. Since you are in Nashville then you may want to partake in a bit of BBQ. There may be no better place than Rippy’s Ribs & BBQ. Rippy’s is only one block from Ryman Auditorium and they serve up some of the best BBQ in the city, if not the entire south. Try a slab of ribs with Rippy’s homemade BBQ sauce with a side of onion rings and coleslaw and you will think you were in hog heaven. Rippy’s can even organize a private party for you and your fellow bus travelers if you wish. You can enjoy live music in the main dining area, sports on flat screen TV’s in another or try the open air rooftop patio. Pulled pork, catfish, baked beans; you seriously cannot make a bad choice here.

Now that you have enjoyed downtown, let your bus take you to see the home of President Andrew Jackson; The Hermitage. Located just a short drive from downtown, The Hermitage is a fascinating place to visit. You can start your tour in the museum and then take a short stroll to the home where President and Mrs. Jackson resided. The tomb of Andrew and Rachel Jackson is located in the gardens by the home. Numerous log cabins make up the grounds and tour guides take you through the home and provide you with historical facts.

One of the best things about Nashville and the surrounding areas is that it is easily accessed by bus which will make your visit here all the more comfortable and enjoyable. Why fight for a place to park downtown when the bus can take you there and pick you up when you are done? Get the group together, get on the bus and head to Nashville this summer. You will have grand ole time.

Mar 24

Charleston, SC – Something For Everyone In The Group!

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The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page – Saint Augustine

So your group is ready to get together for charter bus tour this spring, but where should you go? You don’t want anything too hot and you certainly don’t want anything too cold which leaves Charleston, SC as the perfect destination.

Charleston is the oldest city in South Carolina and is certainly the most historic. The city’s residents pride themselves on their hospitality and welcome visitors with open arms. It is the kind of place where you will never meet a stranger.

Quite simply, the best place to start any visit to Charleston is with a carriage ride in the historic district. There are several good companies to go with, but I have found the Old South Carriage Company to be the best. The drivers are courteous and incredibly knowledgeable and will tell you more about the city than you ever expected. All tour companies get busy, so an early start is recommended. All carriage tours begin and end in downtown Charleston and due to the unique system the city uses to direct carriage traffic; no two tours are exactly the same. Just sit back, relax and let the horse do all the work as you see beautiful homes, gardens and places of worship in The Holy City. After your tour be sure to take a moment to pose for a photo with your horse.

While on your carriage tour you would have passed by several restaurants, most of which are beautiful homes that have been converted to dining establishments. One such place is Poogan’s Porch. Located on Queen Street in a Victorian home built in 1888, Poogan’s Porch has been serving delicious meals since 1976. The restaurant is named after a dog that used to visit all the porches in the neighborhood looking for table scraps and served as the official greeter until his death in 1979. As far as the food goes you may never want to leave. The buttermilk fried chicken is a big favorite and so is the Ribs & Mac, but to me there is nothing better than the Chicken & Waffles. Crispy chicken breasts served over waffles with blueberry Texas Pete maple syrup? Yes please! Best of all, Poogan’s offers group dining so you can keep your group together for a special brunch.

Take a stroll to the Charleston City Market for some unique shopping. There you will find just about anything you can imagine including antiques, toys, artwork and plenty of souvenirs. The market is quite large and has many vendors, but be sure and take a few moments to watch the ladies weave the Sweetgrass Baskets. Originally used on plantations to free dirt from rice, the baskets are now works of art and make a fantastic collectible from your trip. You will be amazed at the artistry of these baskets and as many times as I’ve seen them made, I still can’t figure out how they do it.

You could literally spend days exploring the beauty of the homes and gardens of Charleston’s historic district, but what if you want to get away and see some other things? Not far from downtown is Fort Sumter, the site where the Civil War began. Just take the ferry to the island and start your tour. You can stand right there on the site where the first shot was fired. If that is not enough history for you, take your group to Patriot’s Point where groups of all sizes are welcome. Tour the USS Yorktown, visit the Medal of Honors Museum or see vintage aircraft all in one place.

More history can be seen in the many plantations that surround Charleston. The Boone Hall Plantation, the McLeod Plantation and the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens are three of the best. All of them are great for tour groups and present a living history of the past. The Boone Hall Farms Market offers a variety of items including their famous jams and jellies plus they have a delightful café where you can enjoy what may be the best Chicken & Sausage Gumbo ever served. The signature sandwich at the café is Crab & Pimento Cheese Melt served with a fried green tomato on whole wheat bread.

If you’re looking for a great burger and a cold beer after that long day of sightseeing then stop in to one of the three locations of Sesame Burgers & Beer. Sesame serves up the best onion rings and hush puppies in all of Charleston, but the burgers are not to be missed. They have about a dozen burgers on the menu, but feel free to design your own delicious concoction. And for the vegetarian out there they serve up a black bean burger just for you.

The spring weather in Charleston cannot be beat. Take your group, hop on that charter bus and make your memories.

May 28

The Summer Road Trip.

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Nothing says summer more than a road trip. There is something about the good old American road trip that’s romantic to us. Perhaps it’s the memories of us as children, piled in the back of our parent’s station wagon with no seat belts on, and if/when it was your turn to sit backwards you felt like the king of the road! Perhaps you were traveling with a group of family or friends, each of you in your own vehicles, driving for hours and only getting to meet and visit at a road-side gas station during bathroom breaks while your Dads fueled their vehicles. After the break, you would hop into your own car, and wait to chat until the next break time.

Fast forward to 2014 where you don’t have to wait until someone has to gas up or relieve themselves to talk to each other. When you choose to use a motorcoach, instead of separate cars, everyone can travel together, the whole time! Not only do you save time and money, but you save wear and tear on your individual vehicles.

Today’s motorcoaches are designed with your group travel in mind. They have plush amenities, including Wi-Fi on board and outlets. No more running into the gas station and begging for an outlet to charge up your dead cell phone. No more using your data plan up on the first day of the trip. We have you covered!

Here is the best part: You tell us what you want to do, where you want to go and what you want to see, we do the rest. Motorcoach companies are well versed in travel and can help groups of all sizes get tickets, hotels and meals all lined up – and if they can’t, they know who can.

Summer is almost here, don’t wait to plan that fun group getaway, call your local motorcoach company and begin planning your epic summer vacation today! Go Motorcoach and leave the driving to us!

Mar 27

Let’s Eat!

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Everyone knows that besides choosing what destinations your group is travelling to, where and what to eat is just as important.

After deciding where you are going, visit that city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau for a listing of what restaurants are group friendly. They are a great resource and will have lots of suggestions and ideas of what to do and where to eat in their city.

Deciding on where you will dine, is just the beginning. The National Tourism Association suggests calling the restaurant’s manager and asking some of the following questions:

How much advance notice do you need for our group?
Is convenient tour bus loading/unloading available onsite?
Do you have room to park a charter bus?
Do you have special meal options specifically for large tour groups?
How will we be seated? Is there a banquet room on site?
Do you offer group discounts?
Do chaperones receive a free meal?
Do you require an advance deposit? If so, how much?
Is the deposit refundable?
What is your cancellation and refund policy?

With the answers to these questions, it will be easy to plan your group’s meal! Now all you need to do is sit down, relax and enjoy the meal!

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