Trip Planner 2017-18 Trip Planner For Group Leaders | Page 44

Sightseeing EXPLORE ON WHEELS AND WINGS Sightseeing excursions for groups take on many forms beyond boat and train tours. Travelers can enjoy guided bicycle tours, trolley trips, flightseeing journeys, jeep adventures and gondola rides from the following NTA members: Blazing Saddles helps travelers get some exercise and take in the sights of San Francisco and New York City. Groups can go on guided excursions covering popular spots such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Central Park, or rent standard or electric bikes for self-guided rides in both cities. Blazing Saddles Bike Rental & Tours NTA Contact: Lauren Sailor San Francisco and New York City blazingsaddles.com Sightseeing cruise companies provide travelers with a unique perspective on their destination, from special interests such as history and architecture, to nature and wildlife. Here are a few of the many boat tours operated by NTA members: San Juan Cruises Blazing Saddles Bike Rental & Tours Emerald City Trolley Tours NTA Contact: Todd Paulsen Seattle emeraldcitytrolley.com Palm Springs Aerial Tramway NTA Contact: Nancy Nichols Palm Springs, California pstramway.com One of Seattle’s newest travel companies, Emerald City Trolley Tours, provides a unique way for visitors to explore the city. Its two rides—the scenic Downtown Seattle Trolley Tour and the Overlook & Locks Trolley Tour— include narration on neighborhoods and top sights throughout the city. Visitors can take a 10-minute tram ride from the Palm Springs valley to Mountain Station— elevation 8,516 feet—where they can enjoy two restaurants, an observation deck, a museum and hiking trails. During the 2.5-mile trip up, they can see Mt. San Jacinto State Park and the cliffs of Chino Canyon. Maverick Aviation Group NTA Contact: Dan Flores Las Vegas maverickhelicopter.com Pink Jeep Tours NTA Contact: Leslie McLean Sedona, Arizona pinkjeep.com Since 1995, Maverick has been offering helicopter tours of Las Vegas. Groups can enjoy flightseeing rides that showcase Hoover Dam and the neon lights along the Vegas Strip or red rock canyons in Nevada and Arizona. The company also offers departures from Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, and Maui, Hawaii. Pink Jeep welcomes guests for on- and off- road adventures in the U.S. Southwest. The company’s guided jeep expeditions depart from Las Vegas and two Arizona spots— Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Combo tours include helicopter rides over the canyon and boat trips on the Colorado River. since 1997 Christian Journeys in Greece Live a unique spiritual moments following the steps of Saint Paul in Greece. Visit the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist and the Grotto of the Apocalypse. Send your inquiry to: [email protected] 42 BOAT TOURS OFFER SPLENDID SCENERY IN SPADES NTA Trip Planner for Group Leaders Chicago Architecture Foundation Inspiring guests to discover why design matters, CAF cruises showcase the buildings, neighborhoods and river that make the city famous. The organization’s cruises are among its 85 excursion options. Others are conducted by bus, bike and L train, and on foot and Segway. architecture.org Desert Belle Cruises has been taking passengers on 90-minute sightseeing cruises of Arizona’s Saguaro Lake for more than 50 years. The company’s narrated excursions showcase the wildlife, including bighorn sheep, bald eagles and blue herons, all against a backdrop of stunning rock walls and mountains. The Desert Belle is available for private charters and also has climate-controlled areas for those hot Arizona days. desertbelle.com Ride the Ducks of Seattle operates a set of amphibious, World War II-era transports for its tours around Seattle. Guests will roll past the city’s landmarks and some of its quirkier nooks, and then they’ll splash down into the water for panoramic views of the city’s houseboats, skyline and Gas Works Park. The company has partnered with restaurants such as Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Buca di Beppo, Gordon Biersch and the Hard Rock Cafe to create combination packages. ridetheducksofseattle.com San Juan Cruises has showcased the mighty orcas that inhabit the waters off the coast of Bellingham, Washington, to travelers as part of its sightseeing tours since 1987. In addition to its regular whale-watching excursions, San Juan Cruises offers the Bellingham Bay BREWers Cruise. Three rotating Northwest breweries bring along some of their best brews, and people also can sample regional snacks and hors d’oeuvres. whales.com Experience |