Courier August/September Courier | Page 42

COMPASS Great Lakes COMPILED BY BOB ROUSE Cruise into The Henry Ford Because of The Henry Ford’s enormous size (250 acres), scope (300 years of history) and content (26 million artifacts), you might take on the Dearborn, Michigan, attraction in manageable sections: Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation Highlights include the Kennedy HENRY limousine, the Lincoln rocking chair and the Rosa Parks bus. Guests can see the aircraft exhibit, step inside the circular Dymaxion House and explore the 600-ton Allegheny Locomotive. A Model T ride in Greenfield Village Greenfield Village Check out the lab where Thomas Edison had his lightbulb moment, visit the Wright brothers’ workshop and take a ride in a real Model T. Ford Rouge Factory Tour Absorb the awe-inspiring scale of the factory floor where the Ford F-150 is built. “The best value for our tour operators is the ‘All-American Package,’ which includes admission to the museum, village and factory tour,” says Vickie Evans, senior account representative. “You also get unlimited rides on the Model T, steam locomotive, horse-drawn carriage and 1913 carousel.” For more information, contact Evans at [email protected] or visit thehenryford.org. The folks in Eagan, Minnesota, have their eyes on 2018. In March, the Minnesota Vikings will open a new headquarters, training facility and outdoor sta- dium in their city. “We’re very excited for this development to be right here in Eagan,” says Denise Olsen of the Eagan CVB. “The Vikings have never had a hall of fame, and that will be part of the new facility. Our goal is that groups will be able to tour it year-round.” The stadium and headquarters are part of a larger project that will eventually include hotels, shopping and an entertainment complex. Eagan is already on the map for shoppers. Its Twin Cities Premium Outlets is adding new stores, and the city is a 15-minute drive from the Mall of America, an NTA member. “We love groups,” Olsen says. “And when you stay in Eagan, every person in the group gets a great Eagan gift bag with coupons and fun stuff.” For more info (and fun stuff), contact Olsen at [email protected] or visit eaganmn.com. John G. Shedd Aquarium Getting on board in Chicago Three Chicago attractions are sailing along with the nautical theme for this issue’s museum feature on page 23, but they are docked here instead. Chicago Architecture Foundation Inspiring guests to discover why design matters, CAF showcases the build- ings, neighborhoods and river that make the city famous. The organization’s 85 tours are conducted by bus, bike and L train; on foot and on Segway; and yes, by boat. Contact Deb Rodak at [email protected]. John G. Shedd Aquarium At the largest indoor aquarium in the world, visitors can see more than 8,000 aquatic animals, including beluga whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins in the Oceanarium, warm-water species in the Caribbean Reef and dozens of denizens in “Wild Reef: Sharks at Shedd.” Contact Brad Martin at [email protected]. The Vikings’ TCO Stadium in Eagan The Museum of Science and Industry 40 August/September 2017 With 14 acres to explore, guests can enter a working coal mine, walk in- side a 30-foot tornado and sync heartbeats with a 13-foot heart. Daily programming includes costumed interpretation, science demonstrations and learning labs. And what’s watery? U-505, the only German submarine in the U.S. Contact Amy Tometich at [email protected]. Vikings to invade Eagan