Rediscover the original.  Riverdance, the internationally acclaimed celebration of Irish music, song and dance that has touched the hearts of millions around the world, triumphantly returns to Akron.  ‘An explosion of sight and sound that simply takes your breath away,’ cheers the Chicago Tribune.  ‘A family evening unlike anything else!’ raves The London Times.  Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, there is no better time to share the magic of Riverdance with family and friends.

TOUR FEATURES:
EJ Thomas Hall ∙ Lower balcony seating ∙ Evening performance ∙ Dinner

Oprah Winfrey presents The Color Purple, a soul-stirring musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker.  It is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds her unique voice in the world.  Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, The Color Purple is a landmark theatrical event, a celebration of love, and a Broadway phenomenon.  With a joyous, Grammy-nominated score featuring jazz, gospel and blues, The Color Purple is capturing the hearts of young and old, and uniting audiences in a community of joy.

TOUR FEATURES:
Palace Theatre ∙ Main floor seating ∙ Evening performance ∙ Dinner

Join our Cleveland expert to make this a fun day of shopping and learning about Cleveland's ethnic diversity.  We will be visiting such places as Athens Imports (Greek), Gus Gallucci (Italian), Hansa Imports (German), the West Side Market, Farkas’ Bakery (Hungarian), Alladin’s (Lebanese), the Peterson Nut Company and Whole Foods, just to name a few.

TOUR FEATURES:
Guided tour with local Cleveland historian ∙ Lunch

Join Discovery Tours and travel to the beautiful Chautauqua region of New York State.  You will meet your guide and begin with antique appraisals.  The ‘junk’ you have in your attic, garage and basement or around the house probably isn’t junk…but how do you know?  What’s it worth?  Sip some coffee and learn all about ‘old stuff’ during an antique talk.  Find out how to recognize good costume jewelry, textiles, paper goods, old flower pots and much more just like the ‘Antiques Roadshow.’  Each person may bring a small item from home or a picture of a large item and have it appraised.  You will also discover auction bidding techniques and how not to get caught up in the frenzy.  You’ll participate in ‘Auctions For Fun.’  Lunch is at the historic White Inn, a charter member of the Duncan Hines family of fine restaurants.  After lunch, tour the guest rooms or shop at Randy’s Antiques.  His shop is filled to the brim with china, vintage clothing, furniture, jewelry and collectibles.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Antique appraisals ∙ Lunch

Join Discovery Tours on a springtime journey to the oldest and largest statewide house and garden tour event in the nation.  Sponsored by the Garden Club of Virginia, tours benefit the restoration of important historic grounds and gardens throughout the state of Virginia.  Your journey will take you to the beautiful cities of Richmond, Jamestown, Williamsburg and Winchester.  For those interested in horticulture, there will be formal gardens, walled gardens, cottage gardens, cutting gardens, annual and perennial gardens, herb gardens, water gardens and even secret gardens.  Travelers interested in architecture and interior decorating will see beautifully renovated historic properties, as well as stunning, contemporary residences, exceptional artwork and some of the country’s best collections of glass, china and American, European and Asian antiques.  Many houses have interesting family histories intertwined with the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and the Victorian era.

TOUR FEATURES:
Five nights deluxe lodging at the Woodlands of Williamsburg ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ 12 meals (five continental breakfasts / three lunches / four dinners) ∙ Admission, including the Ginter Gardens, Richmond city tour and house tickets, Jamestown Island, James River Plantation tour, Deluxe Colonial Williamsburg pass, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley and Gardens

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s internationally acclaimed hit, a brilliant musical-theater event, returns to the Stranahan stage for another unforgettable engagement.  It is the rags to riches tale of Eva Peron, first lady of Argentina and one of the most controversial and colorful figures of the 20th century, Evita’s dynamic staging has made it a Broadway classic.  ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’ returns with this magnificent show.

TOUR FEATURES:
Stranahan Theatre ∙ Main floor seating ∙ Matinee ∙ Lunch

One of the most unbelievable and spectacular sights in all Ohio is the riot of wildflowers at Poland Forest, near Youngstown, OH.  Poland Forest features some of the largest trees in the state, thousands of wild bluebells and other spring wildflowers.  The forest floor is awash with a carpet of bluebells, dabs of red and white trilliums and a haze of marsh marigolds; the artistry of nature in all its glory.  Following our stop at Poland Forest we will visit the beautiful Fellows Riverside Garden in Youngtown’s Mill Creek Park.  Wear old shoes and be prepared to walk (rain or shine) about one mile on a flat trail with one small hill.

TOUR FEATURES:
Escorted tour with local naturalist ∙ Boxed lunch

Cleveland's rich cultural heritage is apparent in her sacred landmarks.  These landmarks account for 1,800 buildings, reflecting more than 70 nationalities.  The sacred landmarks we have selected range from traditional to contemporary and vary from simple to spectacular.  Each of the churches we visit will have a significant history in addition to their beauty.  One of our stops will include Cleveland’s newest museum – the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.  With research support from the Western Reserve Historical Society, the museum has received national accolades.  We also will visit Lakeview Cemetery, Wade Chapel, St. Stephen Catholic Church, Zion United Church of Christ and Epworth United Methodist Church.

TOUR FEATURES:
Guided tour with local Cleveland historian ∙ Admission ∙ Lunch

The unique voices, character and wit of the Celtic Tenors – James Nelson, Mathew Gilsenan and Daryl Simpson – provide a show overflowing with vitality and variety from start to finish.  They have established themselves as the most successful classical crossover artists ever to have come out of Ireland.  They balance the show with a mixture of classical, traditional and pop compositions with their unique vocal perspective.  Don’t miss this opportunity to catch the Celtic Tenors in concert and experience their eclectic mix of classical, contemporary, folk, Irish and pop music with songs ranging from ‘You Raise me Up,’ ‘All Our Love’ and of course ‘Danny Boy.’

TOUR FEATURES:
Stranahan Theatre ∙ Main floor seating ∙ Matinee ∙ Lunch

Step back in time to historic Mackinac Island where history and recreation are yours to enjoy, and experience natural beauty unlike any other.  The minute you step off the ferry you will understand why Mackinac Island is a destination by itself.  Amazingly there are no cars here, just horse-drawn carriages.  There are also Victorian cottages and a historic village suspended in 19th century charm.  Peace and quiet are yours when you want them.  In addition you have the 59th Annual Lilac Festival, filled with activities, beauty and just plain fun.

TOUR FEATURES:
Three nights lodging at the elegant Lake View Hotel ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ three meals (one breakfast / one lunch at the Grand Hotel / one dinner) ∙ Transportation to the island (hydroplane boat) ∙ Carriage tour of the island ∙ Lilac Festival activities (from hiking to concerts) ∙ Shopping in Frankenmuth

Spend a summer day exploring one of America’s treasures.  Your visit will begin at Greenfield Village – considered to be the largest outdoor museum in America.  Nearly 100 historical buildings were moved to the property from their original locations and arranged in a ‘village’ setting.  The Village includes buildings from the 17th century to the present, many of which are staffed by costumed interpreters who conduct period tasks like farming, sewing and cooking.  The transportation system provides rides by steamboat, horse-drawn omnibus, steam locomotive, a 1931 Model AA bus (one of about 15 known to exist) and authentic Ford Model Ts.

Your visit wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Henry Ford Museum.  Named for its founder, the noted automobile industrialist Henry Ford and based on his desire to preserve items of historical significance and portray the Industrial Revolution, the property houses a vast array of famous homes, machinery, exhibits and Americana.  The 12-acre collection contains many rare exhibits including John F. Kennedy's limousine, Abraham Lincoln's chair from Ford's Theater, Thomas Edison's laboratory and the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop.  As Henry Ford once said of his museum, ‘I am collecting the history of our people as written into things their hands made and used.  When we are through, we shall have reproduced American life as lived, and that, I think, is the best way of preserving at least a part of our history and tradition.’

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission, including an all-day ride-pass on park transportation (Model T / Omnibus / Carriage / Carousel) ∙ Lunch

Join the Chautauqua Institute in opening their 2008 season with a special guest (TBA).  The Chautauqua Institute is a summer center promoting the arts, education, spirituality and recreation.  This lakeside victorian village, situated in a beautiful, secure setting, is a festival for the mind and body.  Gingerbread style cottages, quaint shops, fine dining, lodging, a library, a post office and charming gardens create an ambiance enjoyed by more than 180,000 people each summer.  As we enter these beautiful grounds we will be greeted by a local guide with an orientation and historic overview of the resort.  Dinner will be at the grand Athenaeum Hotel.  You will have leisure and shopping time before dinner.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission, including show ticket ∙ Dinner

Join Discovery Tours for a musical tour of Tennessee featuring Nashville and Memphis.  Set amid the gentle hills and fertile farmlands of central Tennessee, Nashville attracts six million people each year – a mixture of devoted fans and the just plain curious – to immerse themselves in country music.  Nashville has been the leading settlement in middle Tennessee since Fort Nashborough was established in 1779.  State capital since 1843, it is now the financial and insurance center of the mid-South, as well as a fast-growing manufacturing base.  Our visit will include a guided city tour, the Hermitage (home of Andrew Jackson), Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Belle Meade Plantation, a performance at the Grand Ole Opry and country dancing at the Wildhorse Saloon.

The cotton trading capital of the Delta, Memphis, perched above the Mississippi, is one of the great destinations of the South.  Visitors come from all over the world to celebrate the city that virtually invented blues, soul and rock 'n' roll, as well as to chow down in the unrivaled barbecue capital of the nation.  A visit to Memphis feels like an invitation to share in a genuine and enduring local culture.  Our visit will include a guided city tour, platinum tour at Graceland Mansion, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Palace a sightseeing cruise on a Mississippi riverboat, the Smithsonian’s Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum and a visit to the Peabody Hotel for the March of the Ducks.

We conclude our southern adventure with stop in Bardstown, Kentucky to tour the Stephen Foster home and an overnight in the horse capitol of the United States, Lexington.  You will partake in the Old Kentucky Night at the Horse Farm Park that includes admission and a barbeque dinner with cloggers.  Before departing for home we will visit Keeneland, Lexington’s most beautiful racetrack and stop at a breeding farm for a tour of the stallion division.

TOUR FEATURES:
Five nights lodging ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ 11 meals (five continental breakfasts / one lunch / five dinners) ∙ Admission, including the Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, the Hermitage, Graceland Mansion ∙ Cruise on the Mississippi ∙ B.B. King’s Blues Club and Palace ∙ Peabody Duck March ∙ Guided city tours ∙ Kentucky Horse Park ∙ Keeneland Race Track

Join us for the 49th annual Haus and Garten Tour in German Village.  The event showcases the tremendous accomplishments in historic preservation and urban renewal that have been achieved here.  Over 10 homes are open for your enjoyment.  You will have time to explore this exciting urban area and share the company of the owners of these homes.  You will also be able to stroll through the many prized gardens throughout the village.  German Village’s Haus and Garten Tour is an event filled with traditions and surprises, much like the neighborhood it showcases.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission, including home tickets ∙ Lunch