Join Discovery Tours on an exploration of the Lake Erie shoreline in Pennsylvania and New York.  First, you will enjoy the 14-mile ride through Presque Isle State Park, a national natural landmark.  You’ll see dunes, lagoons, monuments and plenty of water fowl, with a stop at the Presque Isle lighthouse.  Built in 1872, it was the second lighthouse built on Lake Erie.  The light is maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard and is a private residence.  Your next stop on the peninsula is the Perry Monument and the 100-passenger covered, open-air Lady Kate tour boat for an hour and a half narrated cruise of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie.  A boxed lunch will be served during your cruise.

The Land lighthouse was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes, built in 1813 and reconstructed in 1867.  The light is no longer in use, but does provide great photo opportunities of Lake Erie from the cliff top.  Say good-bye to Pennsylvania and travel along New York’s Route 5, the Seaway Trail.  Situated on the Barcelona Harbor, you will see the first and only natural gas lit lighthouse in the world, the 1829 Barcelona lighthouse.  Though dim during the day, the light was once described as ‘when viewed from the lake at night, the whole town represented one complete, constant and unwavering blaze.’

Your last stop is a tour of the Dunkirk historical lighthouse and Veteran’s Museum.  Those who wish may climb to the top of the tower and see for miles (flat shoes are required).

TOUR FEATURES:
Presque Isle State Park ∙ Lady Kate boat tour ∙ Dunkirk Historical Lighthouse and Veteran’s Museum ∙ Boxed lunch

Journey with us to Zanesville, one of Ohio's first cities.  In the 1790s a settlement was established at the convergence of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers as Colonel Ebenezer Zane blazed Zane's Trace, the original pioneer trail into the old Northwest Territory.  This community offers one-of-a-kind attractions that will intrigue and entertain you.

In Southeast Ohio, pottery started as a raw material.  Clay was taken from the ground by pioneers and farmers and used to make practical household items.  It grew into an entire industry with skilled craftsmen handcrafting and painting attractive dinnerware, delicate art, sturdy stoneware crocks and decorative ceramic tiles.  Pottery is still made today in Muskingum County and Southeast Ohio, using many of the same hand-crafted methods of their forefathers.

Your tour will take you to the Hartstone Pottery for a behind-the-scenes look at their production facility and a visit to their one-of-a-kind outlet store.  Next we stop at the Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio and Gallery and the Zanesville Art Center with 15 galleries of American, European and Asian art.  Your day will be complete with a cruise on the Muskingum River aboard the Lorena Sternwheeler.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission, including Hartstone Pottery, Alan Cottrill Sculpture Studio and the Zanesville Art Center∙ Lorena Sternwheeler cruise ∙ Lunch

How did four blue-collar kids become one of the greatest successes in pop music history?   Find out at Broadway’s runaway smash-hit, Jersey Boys.  The Tony Award-winning Musical of the Year takes you up the charts, across the country and behind the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  Experience electrifying performances of the golden greats that took these guys all the way to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  The New York Times says, “The crowd goes wild!”

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

Join Discovery Tours as we travel to this New York resort, an enchanting place that is on the National Historical Landmarks list.  The Chautauqua home tour takes place every two years.  Our guests will tour the beautiful Victorian homes as property owners graciously open their doors to the public only for this day.  Before departing for home we will have dinner at the beautiful Athenaeum Hotel.  Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime event in historical Chautauqua.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission, including home tickets ∙ Dinner

Meadow Brook Hall and Gardens was built on a site carefully chosen for its beautiful countryside of rolling hills, gentle brooks, vast meadows and native woodlands.  It was the hub of the estate that included 1,400 acres, numerous farm buildings, recreational facilities, several residences and 13 formal gardens.

Historic landscapes are important cultural resources that are part of our national heritage.  They represent a physical record of the history of a property and reflect a period account of design trends and styles, social history and the lifestyles of the owners.  The landscaping at Meadow Brook Hall beautifully exemplifies an artistic movement that combined wealth, architecture, art and nature.  Your tour will also include one of the most magnificent historic homes in America – Meadow Brook Hall with over 100 rooms, 24 fireplaces and priceless furnishings.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch

New York City represents one of the great global centers of international finance, politics, communication, music, fashion and culture, and is among the world's most important and influential cities.  The city is home to a nearly unrivaled collection of world-class museums, galleries, performance venues, media outlets, corporations and the hundreds of international consulates associated with the United Nations.  New York City's Theater District is contained within a thin strip of Manhattan, from 53rd to 42nd streets, between 6th and 8th Avenues, called the Great White Way.  There are approximately 36 theaters crammed into this small area of the city, most of which host world famous productions nightly.

Join Discovery Tours in a salute to the capital of the world – New York City. We have planned a deluxe tour you can design your own way.  You pick the play you would like to see, and you decide if you would like to join us on one of our many informative city tours.

TOUR FEATURES:
Two nights deluxe lodging at the Crown Plaza on Broadway / One night lodging at the Country Cupboard in Lewisburg, PA ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Three meals (one continental breakfast and one dinner) ∙ Ticket to a Broadway show (your choice) ∙ Admission, including: Observation deck and Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, Liberty and Ellis Island, narrated harbor cruise, the Cloisters and Kykuit (Rockefeller estate) ∙ City tour with a local historian (emphasizing the Cleveland connection with the Rockefeller family)

Tecumseh!, the ultimate outdoor dramatic experience, was voted one of the ‘Top 100 Events of North America’ by the American Bus Association.  Witness the epic life story of the legendary Shawnee leader as he struggles to defend his sacred homeland in the Ohio country during the late 1700s.  The huge outdoor stage of the Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre affords the audience a unique viewing experience.  Sheer spectacle surrounds you with a herd of galloping horses, live military action and the most dazzling battle sequences offered on the American stage.  Quality production elements, such as the play’s hauntingly beautiful Native American musical score recorded exclusively by the London Symphony Orchestra, continue to thrill audiences of all ages.  Prior to the drama we will enjoy an exciting ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour as cast members serve as your tour guides.

TOUR FEATURES:
One night lodging ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Two meals (one breakfast / one dinner) ∙ Admission, including the Hopewell National Historic Park

Join Discovery Tours for a summer escape to the Lake Erie islands.  We will begin our tour by travelling by Jet Express to South Bass Island. The village of Put-in-Bay is the most popular stop.  The island is often referred to as the ‘Key West of southern Lake Erie.  ’Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, including Perry's Monument which commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie is also located on South Bass Island.  While on the island, you will enjoy a narrated tram tour of Put-in-Bay and see the famous lighthouse that was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We then journey to Kelleys Island. Nearly 3,000-acres, Kelleys Island is the largest of the American islands.  The most famous glacial grooves in the United States are found at Glacial Grooves State Park – evidence of the powerful erosion forces that shaped thousands of square miles of our landscape.  Kelleys is also the site of Inscription Rock: 32 feet long and 21 feet wide.  Inscription Rock is a pictographic history of the Erie Indian tribe.  The Eries, who gave their name to the lake, were wiped out on Kelleys Island in the 18th century by the mighty Iroquois nation.  The charm of Kelleys Island is easily explored by foot.  The south shore maintains much of the original island architecture.  Discovery is yours along the State Park and Nature Preserve trails.  Time will be given on each island for self-exploration.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission, including the Jet Express, two tram rides, the Perry Peace Monument and a winery tour ∙ Lunch

CRAFTING BY THE LAKE / ANNUAL ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL
Saturday, August 9, 2008 / Chautauqua, NY

Join us for a relaxing day at Lake Chautauqua, New York.  The Chautauqua Institute is a summer center promoting the arts, education, spirituality and recreation.  As we enter these majestic grounds we will be greeted by a local guide with an orientation and historic overview of the resort.  Lunch will be at the beautiful Athenaeum Hotel.  You will have leisure and shopping time before and after lunch.  Spend the rest of the day strolling these beautiful grounds or viewing the Annual Craft Show with over 60 local and national vendors.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch

Mamma Mia! is the ultimate feel-good show that has audiences coming back again and again to relive the thrill.  Now it’s your turn to have the time of your life at this smash-hit musical that combines ABBA’s greatest hits, including ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Take a Chance on Me’ with an enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship.  Whether it’s your first visit or your 15th see the show that has the whole world coming back for more.  Every time feels like the first time at ‘Mamma Mia!’

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

The most scenic rail tour in the East, this is an exciting combination of very unique and different train rides, all connecting seamlessly into one itinerary.  It’s a wild and wonderful ride through the Cheat Mountain wilderness, a rugged region of West Virginia, consisting of deep forests, wildlife, and whitewater.  Our first day will include stops at the Mountain Made Artisan Center and Blackwater Falls State Park before check-in at Canaan Valley Resort.

Our morning will start with a presentation of the History of American Music at the American Music Theatre.  Next we will begin the first leg of our southbound rail adventure – a 44-mile morning ride on the New Tygart Flyer.  Your will travel deep into the wilderness where black bear, bobcat, deer and other wildlife are seen regularly.  Our final train journey will be on the Durbin Rocket, a steam locomotive pulling an open air viewing car on a 10-mile ride beside the Greenbrier River.  At the conclusion of this train tour we will enjoy dinner in the vintage 1902 Durbin Depot.
We complete our West Virginia adventure with a visit to the West Virginia Wildlife Center.  The Wildlife Center is a modern zoological facility displaying native and introduced state wildlife.  Woodland wildlife can be viewed along a wheelchair-accessible 1.25 mile interpretative trail through a mature hardwood forest.

TOUR FEATURES:
Two nights lodging ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Five meals (two breakfasts / one lunch / two dinners) ∙ Admission, including two train rides, West Virginia Wildlife Center, the American Music Theatre and the Mountain-Made Artisan Center

Join us in a visit to the Vatican Splendors exhibit at the Western Reserve Historical Society.  Vatican Splendors from Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Swiss Guard will present unique objects illustrating the Vatican’s impact on history and culture through 2,000 years.  The timing of the exhibition commemorates the 500th anniversary of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the founding of the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel ceiling and the establishment of the Papal Swiss Guard.  The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections that illustrate the evolution of the church and its papacy beginning with Saint Peter through the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI, with special emphasis on the founding 500 years ago of the Renaissance (current) Saint Peter’s Basilica. The objects are presented to enhance the visitor’s understanding of their historical and artistic significance.  Your trip will be enhanced by visiting Lakeview Cemetery and Little Italy in Cleveland emphasizing the relationship of Italian culture to the Vatican.  We will visit the Italian Historical Museum and explore this historic neighborhood, including Holy Rosary Church.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch

THE PERFECT WEDDING (RIVERSIDE INN)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 / Cambridge Springs, PA

The Riverside Inn is everyone's favorite.  One of the attractions of the Riverside Inn is its charm of yesterday.  Join Discovery Tours and the Riverside Inn for an afternoon of excellent food and great entertainment as you’re invited to The Perfect Wedding.  The morning after his stag party, Bill wakes up in a hotel room with a strange woman in his bed.  He doesn’t know how she got there, can’t remember what they’ve done, and doesn’t know her name…but she seems to like him.  He needs to sort things out fast because his wedding is only hours away; his best man is knocking on his door; and not far behind is his future wife.  The girl, now hiding in the bathroom, will have to pass herself off as the maid (which might have worked if the actual maid hadn’t appeared).  The best man is persuaded to say she is his girlfriend, but gets confused and introduces the real maid as his date instead.  By the time the mother of the bride and the best man’s actual girlfriend arrive chaos reigns. The Perfect Wedding is the perfect summertime farce.

TOUR FEATURES:
Riverside Inn ∙ Matinee ∙ Lunch

Spend a lazy summer day traveling the lovely country roads of Ohio.  Our journey will take us to Quailcrest Farm, a magical place in the country.  It has an extensive variety of herbs, perennials, roses, flowering shrubs and scented geraniums under a 12,000 square foot greenhouse.  Next we will stop at Buchanan Place, a 12-room Victorian farmhouse filled with gifts and collectibles.  A stop at Simply Smucker’s will familiarize you with the past, brimming with all your old favorites.  You’ll find gift baskets, great gift ideas and delicious products to sample.  A visit to the new Cat’s Meow Village will also be included.  You’ll hear the story of the company, explore the Mew-seum and make your own Cat’s Meow piece to take home.  You will have time to browse through the village store before departing.  Next we will visit the P. Graham Dunn retail gallery where you can watch the craftspeople operate the wood-carving and laser-engraving machines at the shop.  Your day will be complete with a stop at Buehler’s, where you will be greeted and led to the cooking school where you will find refreshments followed by a cooking demonstration and samples.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch

Join Discovery Tours and the Chautauqua Institute in closing their 2008 season with Bill Cosby.  Dinner included at the historic Athenaeum Hotel.  Call for more details and reservations.

Located in the heart of Southeast Ohio’s most forested region, Hocking Hills State Park offers unblemished natural beauty.  It is truly one of Ohio’s most picturesque areas.  You will marvel at the breathtaking scenery.  Any season is the time to visit this pristine area with its forested hills, rural pastoral scenes, high vistas and exceptional views.

Our naturalist will begin the adventure at Ash Cave (the largest recess cave in Ohio, displaying a 90 foot waterfall).  The walk to the cave is an easy ¼ mile hike on a handicap accessible trail. Our afternoon will find us in the Conkles Hollow area – a state nature preserve.  Our guide will lead us along a trail beneath the stately hemlocks and giant hardwoods.  Conkles Hollow is the deepest gorge in Ohio, created over a million years ago.  High cliffs create the sides of the gorge, while fragile and unique plants bloom along the trail on the valley floor (the trail is about ¾ of mile in length).  We will complete our day with a visit to Old Man’s Cave – the most popular site in the Hocking Hills area.  Other stops include Cantwell Cliffs, the Rock House and Lake Logan.

TOUR FEATURES:
Escorted tour with local naturalist ∙ Two nights lodging ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Five meals (two breakfasts / one lunch / two dinners) ∙ Admission, including the Nelsonville Art Festival and the Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad ∙ Small group – numbers limited

Prepare yourself for a most unusual tour, starting with Cranberry Island, a prehistoric bog floating in Buckeye Lake.  This special nature preserve will be explored by pontoon boat.  We will also visit Ohio's Dawes Arboretum, founded in 1929.  It includes 1,160 acres of plant collections and natural areas that offer a unique educational experience in any season.  The many walkways at the arboretum will take you through a Japanese garden and a cypress swamp, as well as a variety of shrub and tree areas.  Your naturalist will take you to Flint Ridge where you will experience a museum and quarry tour, as well as a Native American interpretation of how flint was used in daily life.  Before departing for home we will visit Ye Olde Mill, home of Velvet Ice Cream, where you will take a factory tour and sample an ice cream cone in their 1800s ice cream parlor.

TOUR FEATURES:
Escorted tour with local naturalist ∙ Admission ∙ Lunch

Join us for a tour of Marietta, where history resides.  With the majestic Ohio River as a backdrop, we invite you to escape, discover and enjoy this historic river town.  We begin our day with a city tour – from its dynamic waterfront to its Victorian homes, its Indian burial mounds to its historic shopping districts.  You will cruise the Ohio River on the Valley Gem and experience a bygone era.  We will visit the Ohio River Museum and the Castle; glimpse the gracious lifestyle of 19th century Marietta in this outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture.  This is a one day tour that will soon become your favorite.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Dinner

Join us for a tour of Marietta, where history resides.  With the majestic Ohio River as a backdrop, we invite you to escape, discover and enjoy this historic river town.  We begin our day with a city tour – from its dynamic waterfront to its Victorian homes, its Indian burial mounds to its historic shopping districts.  You will cruise the Ohio River on the Valley Gem and experience a bygone era.  We will visit the Ohio River Museum and the Castle; glimpse the gracious lifestyle of 19th century Marietta in this outstanding example of Gothic Revival architecture.  This is a one day tour that will soon become your favorite.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Dinner

If you love to be entertained, then you will enjoy our tour to Branson.  Nestled among beautiful Ozark Lakes, Branson is one of the top destinations in the country.  Over seven million visitors a year are attracted to what's become known as the ‘Ozark Disneyland’ with thirty-plus music venues (almost all of a country bent), a few theme parks and lots of good old family fun.  This tour includes extravagant shows and musical productions featuring pop, country, comedy and a touch of classical and Broadway.  Join us to discover why Branson is continually voted a top destination in the United States.

TOUR FEATURES:
Direct air from Cleveland to St. Louis on Continental Airlines ∙ Ground transportation in Branson ∙ Three nights lodging ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Six meals (three breakfasts / three dinners) ∙ Show admission, including the Showboat Branson Belle, Yakov Smirnoff, Shoji Tabuchi, the Festival of American Celebration (Silver Dollar City), Bill Medley, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Twelve Irish Tenors ∙ Branson city tour with the College of the Ozarks ∙ $250 non-refundable deposit required

Join Discovery Tours and the Riverside Inn for an evening of excellent food and great entertainment as you’re invited to Peeved.  From the writers who brought you Christmas Wishes comes a hilarious new musical that pokes fun at those little things that make us bummed, bugged, burned, frazzled, perturbed, rubbed the wrong way…and just plain peeved!  Cell phones…blond jokes…phone operators who don’t speak English…it’s all fair game.

TOUR FEATURES:
Riverside Inn ∙ Evening performance ∙ Dinner

Niagara Falls is a unique destination any time of the year, but autumn is special.  Autumn paints the Niagara River gorge like a canvas, as the fall foliage turns rich with breathtaking colors.  Niagara hosts millions of travelers annually from around the world.  It is an environmental treasure, one of the seven natural wonders of the world – an unmatched setting, day or night.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission, including Maid of the Mist, Niagara Power Vista and Cave of the Winds ∙ Goat Island ∙ Three Sisters Island ∙ Lunch

The tradition of Southern hospitality has welcomed travelers to the Greenbrier since 1778.  The lush 6,500 acre mountain estate delights the senses with an abundance of flowers, trees and breathtaking views.  Nature’s beauty is on display as endless forest canopies are painted in breathtaking splendor – making anytime the perfect time to stroll the stately grounds.  Spectacular interiors define timeless elegance.  You will enjoy historical presentations, tours of magnificent grounds, interiors and more than 50 other activities including a gallery of distinctive shops.  Luxury.  Charm.  History.  Tradition.  These are part of the Greenbrier experience.

TOUR FEATURES:
Two nights deluxe lodging (award winning 5-star accommodations) ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Four meals (two breakfasts / two dinners) ∙ Admission, including the resort and bunker tour, afternoon tea and featured films each evening