Join our naturalist for a most unusual tour.  We will journey to the Columbus Zoo to enjoy a delicious breakfast before viewing an exceptional habitat exhibit – the manatees.  The massive aquarium within Manatee Coast, built to house up to five full-grown manatees, offers you a view of live mangroves growing along the shore.  As you descend the gentle slope along this 190,000 gallon indoor habitat, you will come face to face with the manatees’ underwater living space.  The facility is able to closely manipulate environmental parameters which provides an ideal setting for research.

We will then journey to Cambridge, Ohio to visit the Wilds.  Tucked away in the scenic rolling hills and grasslands of Southeast Ohio is a treasure you won’t want to miss.  Imagine seeing Indian and southern white rhinos, scimitar-horned oryx, onagers, elands and Asian wild horses right here in Southeast Ohio.  You’ll see these and more when you take a guided safari of the Wilds.  Situated on acres of beautifully reclaimed, surface-mined land, the Wilds is a conservation, education and research facility dedicated to the preservation of endangered wildlife.  More than 23 different species of animals from Africa, Asia and North America roam freely in large, protected open-range habitats at the Wilds.  Your day will include a guided safari tour, a visit to the Johnson Centre, an interactive program about conservation, and a guided tour of the animal management facilities.  You will go behind the scenes to experience first-hand the important work of these facilities through visual aides and video presentations.

TOUR FEATURES:
Escorted tour with local Naturalist ∙ Admission ∙ Breakfast and lunch

Journey with Discovery Tours on a deluxe tour of Southern New England.  You will experience the beauty of New England in the fall.  This is a place rich in stories and history.  If the cities of New England could talk, think of the tales they would tell.  A nation was born here, and you are called upon to listen.  Southern New England inspires the imagination and will engage your soul.  Your tour will begin in Mystic, Connecticut where we will visit Mystic Seaport, displaying New England maritime life in 19 magnificent riverfront acres.  We will journey on to Newport, Rhode Island the playground of the rich and famous during the Gilded Age of America.  Experience the wealth, power and influence of the men and women who made Newport a center of grand society.  Our pace will slow a little when we visit Cape Cod and Nantucket Island.  You will visit this stunning island and have time to stroll along the waterfront and browse the shops of Main Street – your tour will take you past beautiful cottages, beaches and lighthouses.  History will come alive as we journey to Plymouth, Lexington, Concord and Boston, Massachusetts.  You will discover Boston with a sightseeing tour that showcases Beacon Hill, Old North Church and historical landmarks of this beautiful city.  You will enjoy a true taste of New England with a restaurant selection that will please your palate.

TOUR FEATURES:
Five nights deluxe lodging ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Ten meals (five breakfasts / five dinners) ∙ Admission, including Mystic Seaport, Newport mansion tour, Nantucket Island, Plymouth Plantation, Louis May Alcott home, JFK Presidential Library and a evening harbor cruise

For the Laurel Highlands of Southwest Pennsylvania, mother nature has been more than generous with terrain and attractions that invite adventure for the mind, body and soul.  We will journey to the Highlands and visit Nemacolin Castle, the historic home of the Bowman family.  Your tour begins at the frontier trading post, built in 1789.  The 22 rooms, furnished with antique furniture and household items, represent architectural trends and family living of the past two centuries.  Our journey continues with a tour of the Cochran House, a magnificently restored Victorian home as well as the Cochran Memorial United Methodist Church, reminiscent of a European Cathedral.  The home is beautiful and the stories of Mrs. Cochran and succeeding owners will interest and delight you.  We complete our day with a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpiece, Fallingwater.  Fallingwater is recognized as one of Wright's most acclaimed works.  It is a supreme example of Wright's concept of organic architecture, which promotes harmony between man and nature through design.  Wright embraced modern technology to achieve this, designing spaces for living that expressed architecturally the expansive freedom of the American frontier.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch

The Shaw Festival is the only theatre in the world that specializes exclusively in the plays of Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries (1856-1950); plays about the beginning of the modern world.  In 2000, the Shaw Festival expanded this mandate to include contemporary plays set during Shaw’s lifetime, as well as plays written during the period.  Presented in three distinct theatres (the Festival, the Court House and the Royal George) in the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Shaw’s work engages the imagination, illuminates the past and inspires debate about the future.  Live theatre, shopping, galleries, attractions, books, fashion, gifts, specialty foods and much more await you at the Shaw Festival.

TOUR FEATURES:
Lodging at the deluxe White Oaks Resort & Spa ∙ Luggage, handling, taxes and tips ∙ Two meals (one breakfast / one dinner) ∙ Admission, including theatre tickets at the Shaw Festival to An Inspector Calls and Getting Married ∙ Guided tour of the Niagara Parkway ∙ Duty Free Shop

We have a special fall cruise planned for you on the Gateway Clipper.  Take a scenic nine-hour cruise on the Ohio River while enjoying the lovely fall colors of the Ohio River Valley.  There will be two meals and a show-stopping revue, live musical entertainment, dancing and bingo.  Make your plans to sail with us on a voyage of color, beauty and fun.  We begin our cruise in Steubenville and disembark in Pittsburgh.

The Gateway Clipper Fleet is America's premier riverboat excursion operation and is the number one attraction in the city of Pittsburgh.  Cruises sail 365 days a year from their dock at historic Station Square, on the southern bank of the Monongahela River in downtown Pittsburgh.  Their five riverboats are fully equipped, staffed and climate-controlled for your comfort all year long (during the last 47 years, over 20 million passengers have sailed the three rivers on one of the Fleet's riverboats).

TOUR FEATURES:
Live musical entertainment ∙ Lunch and dinner

Join us for a fun day in Ohio wine country, exploring the beauty, history and many wineries of Ashtabula County.  We begin our day with a visit to Grand River Cellars; you will be treated to a tour, tasting and morning refreshments of fruited breads with wine jellies and whipped cinnamon butter.  We will continue to the Laurello Vineyards for lunch and wine tasting.  You will sit in the beautiful, renovated farm market and enjoy the rich aromas of Italy.  Tempt your taste buds with your choice of three homemade Italian sandwiches on honey wheat bread along with their famous broccoli salad.  On our way to the next vinter’s delight, you will see what Ashtabula County is famous for…covered bridges (they have 16).  We will stop for picture taking at the Harpersfield covered bridge which is 228 feet in length, spanning the Grand River.  Our wine tour will continue with stops at Ferrante’s Winery, the Virant Family Winery and the Old Firehouse Winery, where you will enjoy a delicious dinner while you enjoy the fresh lake breeze in Ashtabula County’s only lakefront winery.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch and dinner

The Riverside Inn is everyone's favorite.  One of the attractions of the Riverside Inn is its charm of yesterday.  This Cambridge Springs hostelry, situated on the picturesque banks of French Creek, has been in continuous operation since 1885.  It was built to accommodate wealthy patrons during the exciting ‘mineral water boom’ in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  For many years it seemed the brisk tourist trade of Cambridge Springs was gone forever.  It was an energetic group of people that thought otherwise, and a few years ago began to revive interest in the Inn.  They restored the Inn to its original beauty and offer a host of afternoon and dinner shows.  Join Discovery Tours and the Riverside Inn for an afternoon of excellent food and great entertainment:  the Medieval Feast - the Castle Riverside.

Leave your cares of today behind as you become a guest at the Castle Riverside and take a journey back to the age of knights and damsels, jesters and jousts.  Join in the fun as the knaves and wenches not only perform for you, but also serve a delicious feast…eaten without utensils.

TOUR FEATURES:
Riverside Inn ∙ Matinee ∙ Lunch

The difference between simply seeing Alaska and understanding Alaska is what Princess brings to life on your Alaska cruise.  Their on-board enrichment programs introduce you to the real Alaska for a personalized perspective of America's last frontier.

NATIONAL PARKS
When you consider that half of all U.S. national park land is in Alaska, you begin to understand the scope and diversity of this vast expanse.  Stretching across a staggering 13.2 million acres, Wrangell – St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest of Alaska’s National Parks, but its sister parks share the beauty and wonder.

RAIL SERVICE
Princess Rail Service travels through some of Alaska's most spectacular scenery.  You'll see it all from roomy railcars that feature large, domed windows, Alaskan cuisine and friendly staff.  Enjoy their new Denali Express and McKinley Express service that take you directly from your cruise ship to a Princess wilderness lodge, so you can enjoy more time at Denali Park.

WILDLIFE
While we prefer the warm, comfortable cruise ships and lodges, Alaska's diverse animal population finds the rugged outdoor conditions to be just right.  From the docile puffin to the majestic bald eagle, these fascinating creatures pique our curiosity and delight with their grandeur.

You are invited to attend our annual Alaskan cruise night.  Discovery Tours staff will be on-hand to answer your questions and present information on our 2009 Alaskan cruise destinations.  R.S.V.P. required.

LOCATION:
TBA

Our day will begin with a visit to one of Ohio’s best kept secrets:  the Toledo Museum of Art.  There are more than 30,000 works of art in the collection – this includes prints and drawings that display on a rotating basis.  There are several thousand works of art on permanent display in about 35 galleries.  The collection of the Toledo Museum of Art is considered one of the finest in the United States.  World-famous works of art are in every gallery.

Our day will be complete with a visit to the Victorian section of Fremont, Ohio.  An elegant, refined experience, set in the 1800s makes this a truly unique experience.  Before departing for home we will visit the Hayes Presidential Center.  The Center is home to the nation’s first Presidential library and museum with fascinating history about the Gilded Age.  We will also visit the stately 31-room Hayes mansion.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch

This hilarious comedy tells the tale of two widows, set up in a Las Vegas retirement condo by their well-meaning daughters.   Despite the ‘marvelous’ décor and the view of Wayne Newton’s mother’s house, the women begin to think that life has passed them by.  Then, out of the blue, they both meet and fall in love with Johnny.  He’s the perfect man.  He speaks Italian.  He loves to go dancing.  He sings opera and loves to cook.  But there is one problem – he’s a swindler.  Through it all, the women realize one important lesson:  ‘You’re never too old to do what you think you’re too old to do.’  Join Discovery Tours and the Riverside Inn for an afternoon of excellent food and great entertainment.

TOUR FEATURES:
Riverside Inn ∙ Matinee ∙ Lunch

Plan to visit the quaint village of Shippsawanee, Indiana – a shopper’s delight.  Come and experience a peaceful retreat in a cozy country inn, the Essenhaus.  Relax, sit back in an easy chair and soak up the quiet of the three story atrium decorated for the holidays.  Spend a night in one of the inn’s beautifully decorated rooms.  Dine and shop in an Amish restaurant and old-fashioned stores.  Your vacation will be complete with a visit to the Dillon House for lunch and Hayes Mansion in Fremont.

TOUR FEATURES:
One night lodging ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Three meals (one breakfast / one lunch / one dinner) ∙ Admission

Get into the holiday spirit and join us for a delightful tour; the perfect mix of shopping, historic mansions and good food.  Our shopping consists of stops at Reyers (the world’s largest shoe store with over 300 famous brands), Daffin’s Candies (the world’s largest candy store and home of the magnificent chocolate kingdom) and the Winner (the world’s largest off price fashion store).  The Winner offers fantastic prices on designer merchandise, with hundreds of designer-brands to choose from.

Our mansion tours will visit the Buhl Mansion and Tara.  The Buhl Mansion is a beautifully restored Victorian home turned into a bed and breakfast.  It also serves as a living gallery, displaying a wide variety of American, traditional decorative arts.  Tara is a beautiful recreation of the famous plantation in ‘Gone With The Wind.’  It is a Greek Revival style antebellum mansion built in 1854.  This wonderful depiction of majestic beauty is filled with antiques and memorabilia of days gone by.  Both homes will be decorated for the holidays.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Reyers ∙ Daffin’s Candies ∙ The Winner ∙ Lunch at Tara

Are you looking for a trip that will let you move at your own pace, shop a wide variety of locations and even sightsee a little?  Or enjoy the day on your own?  Join Discovery Tours for our holiday trip to Chicago!  World-class museums, cultural highlights and an evening of theatrical holiday entertainment in the theatre district await.  Of course, there is truly no equal to Chicago in shopping.  World-renowned retailers mix with Chicago originals for the ultimate in shopping delights.

TOUR FEATURES:
Two nights lodging in downtown Chicago ∙ Luggage handling, taxes and tips ∙ Five meals (two breakfasts / one lunch / two dinners) ∙ Admission, including the Field Museum, the Chicago Art Museum, a city tour and one ticket for a Christmas show

The weather outside may be frightful, but Summit County remains delightful with a cavalcade of holiday treats.  Our day begins with a visit to Harry London’s Chocolate Factory.  Chocolate lovers should not miss this heavenly landmark.  You will be able to purchase holiday gifts and candies for your friends and yourself.  Lunch will be at the Hartville Kitchen for a delicious meal and shopping experience.  We then journey to Akron to visit the Christmas Wonderland at Donzell’s Flower & Garden Center.  It features more than 100 permanent trees on display, including more than 30 themed trees decorated in original settings with animatronics.  Our day is complete with a visit to the magnificently decorated Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, which will twinkle with more than 400,000 lights.

TOUR FEATURES:
Admission ∙ Lunch

Join us on our annual trip to the Festival of Lights.  In 1985, a holiday tradition began at Oglebay and today that tradition is the Festival of Lights.  Every year, the Festival glows with one million lights on more than 300 acres over a six mile drive.  It’s America’s largest light show.  Over the years, elaborate and animated displays have joined the long-time favorites.  Each year several new displays are added and some are retired; assuring that the Festival of Lights remains new and exciting.

TOUR FEATURES:
Guided tour of the light display ∙ Winter Fantasy including Holiday Laser Show and the model train exhibit ∙ Glass Museum and artisan center ∙ Colonel Oglebay’s Mansion Museum (decorated for the holidays) ∙ Dinner

The boys from Forever Plaid return in an all-new holiday show that will delight you.  The show is filled with Christmas standards that have all been ‘Plaid-erized.’  Our boys are back to do their Christmas TV special.  At first they’re not sure why they’ve returned, but a phone call from the heavenly Rosemary Clooney lets them know that they’re needed to put a little harmony into a discordant world.  Sprinkled among the Christmas offerings are audience favorites like the riotous three minute and 11 second version of the Ed Sullivan Show – this time featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and the Vienna Boys Choir.  This is one holiday treat that is truly heaven sent.  Join Discovery Tours and the Riverside Inn for an afternoon of excellent food and great entertainment.

TOUR FEATURES:
Riverside Inn ∙ Evening performance ∙ Dinner

Bring family and friends to Severance Hall with Discovery Tours to hear traditional Christmas favorites by the Cleveland Orchestra and Choruses.  The evening culminates in a joyous celebration with a sing-along, accompanied by the Norton memorial organ.

TOUR FEATURES:
Severance Hall ∙ Main floor seating ∙ Evening performance ∙ Dinner

The tradition began in 1991 at Hartwood Acres in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Since then, the show has grown into one of the nation’s largest light shows attracting more than 600,000 visitors annually.  The Celebration of Lights now covers 3.2 miles of roadway and features over 400 displays.  Ten generators support over two million points of lights that shine on holiday theme figures from three to 45 feet in height.

TOUR FEATURES:
Tour of lighting display ∙ Phipps Conservatory (holiday display) ∙ University of Pittsburgh ethnic classrooms (holiday display) ∙ Dinner

The Christmas Music Spectacular is a two-hour production featuring a 170-voice festival choir, professional orchestra and a dance troupe in formal and Victorian costumes.  Pageantry will delight the audience with falling snow, Victorian carolers, marching toy soldiers, a 30-foot snow castle, bag pipers and thousands of sparkling lights.  Dazzling.  Ever new and changing.  Additions and changes are made every year to keep this outstanding show fresh and exciting.  Make it a holiday tradition with those you love and cherish.  The production is at the Akron Civic Theatre, showcasing a $20 million restoration.

TOUR FEATURES:
Akron Civic Theatre ∙ Main floor seating ∙ Matinee ∙ Lunch

You are invited to attend our 2009 annual open house.  Discovery Tours staff will be on hand to answer your questions and present information on all our 2009 travel destinations.  Learn about a range of motor coach tours in the U.S., and world wide itineraries for both escorted and independent vacation packages.  Choose from whirlwind tours of major cities to in-depth explorations of a region or country.  Enjoy special savings, refreshments and door prizes.  R.S.V.P. required.

LOCATION:
TBA