Little Rock, Arkansas
Kimberly Torres, director of tourism sales for the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, has a knack for innovative and imaginative tour planning. “That’s what we hear when attending trade shows — they want different, off the beaten path,” said Torres.
Many cities heavily promote locally owned restaurants in “foodie districts” and the farm-to-table movement. But Torres also likes to bring groups into private homes for special meals. “They get to mingle with residents and see the inside of historic homes. I make sure the homeowners are characters, adding to the entertainment and ambiance.”
Villa Marre, built in 1881, was used for the exterior shot of the “Sugarbaker House” on television’s “Designing Women.” Another unusual place for a meal is the antebellum Marlsgate Plantation. A third home to visit is the beautiful Casa de Destino, which is modern and meticulously adorned by its owner, who is both a landscape architect and an interior decorator.
Other tour items for packaging include fishing excursions on the Arkansas River with a fish fry afterward. Some visit the Museum of Discovery for fun and wacky science experiments performed by Kevin Delaney, who has appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Another idea is a stop at the ESSE Purse Museum. One of only three such museums in the world, it presents the women of the 20th century as defined by their purses and their contents.
Crossing the Arkansas River via the Big Dam Bridge is an ideal group activity. It’s the longest pedestrian-bicycle bridge in North America. Travelers with a taste for sweets will enjoy Beemis Bee and Tree Farm, where they’ll interact with honey-making bees and taste their delicious product, some of it flavored with apple, cinnamon or passion fruit.
Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana
The 40-square-block Charpentier National Historic Register District is a go-to place in Lake Charles for motorcoach groups. Some of the Lake Charles Southwest Louisiana Convention and Visitor Bureau’s partners have opened their private homes in the district to visitors.
Lake Charles was not part of the original Louisiana Purchase and came into the fold some 30 years later. The town was known then as a rogue’s paradise. There are a lot of pirate Jean Lafitte stories and history to share with groups.
“We do a large amount of motorcoach business, and we customize itineraries based on what the group is looking for,” said Anne Klenke, adventure tour director for the CVB.
The region is also a youth sports mecca and draws hundreds of teams and their families into town for competitions. Those groups need things to do in their off-hours, and that helps boost tourism. “There are lots of great restaurants for them,” said Klenke. “We’re near the Gulf of Mexico, so we have incredible, fresh seafood.”
The Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu has the largest collection of Mardi Gras costumes in the world. Visitors can even try some on; a great photo opportunity. Groups can get a private look at the making of the famed Mardi Gras king cakes, the colorfully decorated confection. Groups can decorate their own cakes and taste the finished product.
The area’s Creole Nature Trail is a designated All-American Road and a National Scenic Byway. Motorcoach groups that tour it spot many alligators and bird species in the wild.
Charlottesville, Virginia
In Charlottesville, Virginia, the Charlottesville and Albemarle County Convention and Visitors Bureau decided to ramp up its trip offerings by partnering with a company called Cville Tours. Cville offers a portfolio of high-end experiences for travel groups.
“They vary from making your own blend of wine as a group to going on a horseback-riding winery tour to having a chocolate-making experience with a fine chocolatier here in town,” said the CVB’s Brigitte Warner. Craft beer and cider tours are also popular, and Charlottesville offers them, too.
History tours are in heavy demand. Central Virginia’s most famous native son is Thomas Jefferson. Tours include his Monticello homestead, the church where he worshiped and the University of Virginia, founded in part by Jefferson. Virginia was a key state in the Civil War, and there are tours available of many Civil War sites around the Charlottesville area.
Food tours include an “iron chef” experience, where participants jump in and prepare food in a competition with fellow travelers. Another tour is a behind-the-scenes look at how experts prepare barbecue and slow-cook it to perfection.
“The Cville Tours owner is a phenomenal guy with tons of experience in the hospitality field, and he has contacts all over the area,” said Warner.
