SLV_Newsletter_NovDec11_WEB

9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 • Sacramento, CA 95827 • (916) 361-2051 • Toll-Free (800) 951-5556 • www. sportsleisure.com • CA Travel #2011549-40

VOL. 33, NO. 2 8,619 Active Members 44,291 Members Since 1979 NOV./DEC., 2011

We share a few shots from all over with you this month. The fall season is always our busiest. The summer crowds are gone from many destinations, and the pace is a little slower. Our family of travelers seems to enjoy this time of year.

In the last two months, we went from Cape Cod to Warsaw to Hawaii. Five travelers tried the zip line experience on Catalina Island (that one we didn’t capture on camera), a group helped smoke out the Mendocino madman (well, they found him just after our group left, so we’ll take the credit) and another rediscovered the Dream Inn on the Santa Cruz coast.

You don’t always have to go a long ways in search of adventure, sometimes it’s just around the corner. Check the Tour Calendar summary in the back of this newsletter, then use your catalog to see the day-by-day itinerary, go to www.sportsleisure.com or call our office for a printed copy by mail of the trips you are interested in.

A number of the trips announced at Preview Day are already at sold out status. Clayton’s two southern excursions to the Gulf and Carolina Coasts respectively, are full. As are Foodie Fun and the Kentucky Derby. The point is, if you see something you like, don’t wait too long. Sports Leisure Travelers are, well, traveling!

Bill and Beverly Sjurson on the USS Arizona Memorial on The REAL Hawaii. In the background is the USS Missouri, all part of the refreshed Valor in the Pacific Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Bill is a proud WWII Army veteran.

Poland and Prague featured Malbork Castle, outside Gdańsk, Poland, one of the largest castles on the continent.

The tour begins at Ocean Rider Sea Horse Farm, another stop on our recently concluded REAL Hawaii tour, on the Kona Aquaculture Park near Kailua.

“People ask me what I do in the winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

—Rogers Hornsby

2 Sports Leisure Vacations / November –December 2011

Just One Man’s OpinionWisdom I didn’t Need and a

Little Help from a TigerWe all make mistakes in life. Probably

more than a few. Think back to your younger days. Did you ask the right boy/girl to the prom? Go to the right college? Move to the right city? Take the right job? Those are all pretty major decisions, many of which impact the direction

of our lives.Then there are the secondary decisions.

Let’s call them “optionals.” Optionals are the decisions you either make or you put off for a while. Maybe you delay buying something, or committing to a relationship, or going somewhere, either because you truly can’t decide, or perhaps because you are a procrastinator. This writer fits that last description.

It was because of my incredible ability to procrastinate that I found myself in the dentist’s chair, at the age of 56, waiting to have two wisdom teeth removed. Accordingly to Wikipedia, about a third of the population doesn’t develop wisdom teeth. Never did find out why they call them “wisdom” teeth. Whoever said ignorance is bliss was perhaps referring to this particular situation.

The one-third are lucky. Many of the rest have horror stories of teeth that came in sideways or caused other problems. (Isn’t it strange how, when you tell people you are having wisdom teeth out, they want to “share” their near death experience with you? I mean seriously friends, why would I want to hear about your horrible experience, right before I go into surgery?) Dentistry has come a long ways in recent years, so extracting two teeth isn’t as serious as it used to be. Unless you are a 56-year old man who has avoided this moment at all costs. Because when it comes to the dentist, I am a coward. I admit it. I had avoided/procrastinated for many

years, knowing there were two teeth in my mouth that would someday perhaps have to be removed. Of course, by waiting all this time, I had changed a routine surgery into one which offered way more opportunity for complication.

I’m happy to report, all went well. No complications during the surgery or after, although I’m learning another lesson that comes with age. You don’t heal as quickly at 56 as you do at 36. Maybe some of you have noticed this…

Clayton and Chris, along with the rest of the staff, provided sympathy, transportation for their drugged leader and general encouragement. You couldn’t have asked for better treatment. The folks at Dr. (Louis) Gallia’s office were wonderful. After the surgery, I returned home to recover. That’s where a got a little help from a tiger. Actually, “The” Tiger.

Perhaps you’ve heard about our adopted cat Tiger. She lives two doors down, which is nice, because we travel a lot and Tiger wouldn’t be as well cared for if we were her parents. Tiger stops by most evenings for a few minutes to say hi, get brushed, mooch a little and bring smiles at the end of a long day at the office or a trip on the road. Sometimes, she’s even at the garage door when I’m leaving for the airport at 3:30am. She’s a Maine Coon, sort of orange in color, except when the sun has bleached her coat like it has at the end of the summer. Now her fur is sort of a light beige, as her winter coat begins to arrive and the cycle begins anew.

Tiger came to visit after we returned from the dentist. You know how animals are, they tend to sense when things are not the way they are supposed to be. Dogs are particularly good at this. Sitting at the foot of your bed and all. But not cats. Cats are supposed to be above all that sentimental stuff. Not Tiger. Thank goodness.

For the next five days, Tiger was a regular “guest.” She was there every time I opened the door, and in the evening, when the back screen door was open, she laid on the porch. I’m certian it was so she could respond

quicker if I needed her. Don’t you think? She followed me everywhere I went in the house, talked to me constantly and gave me that “I know you don’t feel good and I wish I could make it better” look. During the day, she lounged on the front lawn, within earshot. She even spent time on my bed, something she had never done before.

When I was a kid, we were lucky enough to have pets. A couple of cats and a very special little collie terrier named Patches, who was indeed a boy’s best friend. (His picture is on my desk to this day.) I know many reading this essay will agree that while people are wonderful, there are times when an animal provides that little something extra, just at the time when you need it most. Many of you consider your pets to be members of the family. While technically Tiger isn’t a part of our family, she has a friend for life in me. Perhaps she already knew that.

Parting words of wisdom to those who know someone who thinks they can outlast Father Time and keep those wisdom teeth in your mouth – you are asking for trouble, especially if you don’t have some really good friends and a cat named Tiger in your neighborhood.

And that, is Just One Man’s Opinion. And so it goes…

Mark Hoffmann, CTPOwner/Founder

PS – A discussion about a variety of things that have come up while traveling this summer and fall can be found on page 12. The original story of Rudolph, the famous reindeer, is told in story and in truth, on page 7.

106 january 2011 sacmag.com

SportS LeiSure VacationS9812 old Winery place, Sacramento, ca 95827(916) 361-2051www.sportsleisure.com • travelguysradio.com

After working in the Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District, Mark Hoffmann founded Sports Leisure Vacations out of his Fulton Avenue apartment in 1979. Though Mark admits to ‘just sort of happening into it”, he found his niche in the retail tour business, enabling folks to achieve their travel dreams. Given the fact that Mark and his staff strive to exceed customer wants, they’ve been most successful in serving a niche of mature travelers, often those who need a little extra consideration. Sports Leisure Vacations assembles and operates custom tours and vacations of one to fifteen days in length, and can accommodate a wide variety of travel interests. Check out the website to see an amazing array of travel options. The company culture has centered around refusing to put profits ahead of service, and a mantra: “We love our travelers and they love us back.” It’s working- not only is the company thriving in its 32nd year, but community support and acknowledgement have resulted, including a prestigious award for contribu-tions to the Arts from the Sacramento Arts and Business Council. For twenty years Sports Leisure has been an underwriter of KVIE Public Television. VP Clayton Whitehead has served on the KVIE Board and Mark was president of the National Tour Association in 2000. Mark and Tom Romano host the Travel Guys on KFBK, Sundays 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

SUCCESS STORIES—A SpECIAl AdvERTISIng SECTIOn

Sports Leisure Vacations / November–December 2011 3

Clayton PlaceTrue Confessions

I often tell people I’m not the “sports” in Sports Leisure and that the only two minutes of sports I willingly watch per year is the Kentucky Derby. (Lest you think this is a pitch for my May trip to Louisville, it is not. At present, only one seat remains!)

I lied.I have a rather closeted affinity for two

other sports, and both are coming to our area in the months ahead! After flying all over North America in the past couple decades to see various national and world competitions, the US Figure Skating Championships are coming to us in 2012! Well, almost. Actually, it’s San Jose who will play host to this much-anticipated event. If you were told our bus was sold out, you heard correctly. But did you know we added a second departure? We now have availability for you and your friends on this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

The dates are January 27-29. Accommo-dations are at the popular Embassy Suites Hotel in Milpitas. Can you say all-suite property with cooked-to-order breakfast and evening cocktails? I bet you can! To shake things up a bit, you’ll travel to San Jose by train and return by coach, affording you two very different views of the valley and south bay. Local sightseeing and five meals are included. Of course, we know it’s the skaters you really want to see. How about this line-up:

Tickets are included for the Championship Free Dance, Championship Men’s and Lady’s Free Skates, and the Championship Pairs Free Skate. In addition, you’ll get to meet a junior skater and coach at a private function where you’ll learn the secrets of the craft.

My confession was for two sports, so I better come clean. When I was a student at the University of Georgia in the early 80s, the marching band practiced next to the Coliseum. Everyone was blinded by football in those days (Hershel Walker, Heisman Trophy winner who led the Bulldogs to a National Championship, was in my class), but I’ll never forget the day I

first witnessed our gymnastics team doing a routine. A broken air conditioner in the Coliseum had driven them outside for their rehearsal. When our practice ended, I went over and watched more closely. It was a performance the likes of which I’d never seen before. I became an instant fan and started attending their meets and exhibitions whenever possible. With all due respect to the better known football Bulldogs who have only been National Champs one time in the past century, the Gym Dogs have won the title 10 times in the 25 year history of the program.

Therefore, I am thrilled to learn San Jose has been selected to host another awesome sporting event and we’re already standing in line for tickets. In late June, the US Olympic Gymnastic Trials will be in our backyard. At press time, we’re still assembling details and prices—you’ll find a short write-up on the tour in these pages. Give that a read. If it sounds interesting, then call and have your name placed on the Priority Notification List. In this way, you’ll get the first opportunity to sign up when all the details are finalized. At the end of the Trials, the men’s and women’s US team will be chosen for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Will one of our men or women take the Gold in London? You just may be a witness to history in the making this summer in San Jose!

Doing my part to keep the sports in Sports Leisure . . .

“Your Tour Guy,”

Clayton Whitehead, CTPVice President

Postscript: Despite 11 years in marching band in high school and college, I never came to understand or appreciate football. Maybe someday…

The Travel AND Entertainment Guys

Be a Smarter Traveler…with Tom and Mark every Sunday from2:00-3:00pm

News Talk KFBK AM 1530www.travelguysradio.com

Brought to you by:

Tom Romano and Mark Hoffmann

LLC


The Customers Always WriteHi Kevin,

The zip line adventure on Catalina was amazing. It gave the thrilling, adrenaline rush my first zip line experience at the San Diego Zoo’s Safari Park lacked. There are 5 separate runs on Catalina as you come down the mountain through Descanso Canyon. The harness is made of straps. The trolley is pretty small and rides on two cables, one on top of the other. They have you get into the “cannonball” position to gain speed, then the “starfish” position to create more wind resistance when you need to slow down. That first step off the platform is really scary. In fact, I could not dry the sweat from my palms for the whole 2 hours as 9 of us did the 5 lines one by one. Now that I’ve had the sort of thrilling experience I was looking for, I don’t feel the need to zip again. Thanks for arranging it. That’s one more thing off the bucket list!Lea Goyne

Ed. Note: You get the impression that Lea is a youngster from the letter she wrote and the adventure she took. She’s a typical SL Traveler. Heck, you might get me on one of those things someday. More on the Catalina trip below…

Dear Mark and Clayton,I want to take a moment to heap praise

upon your trip coordinator RoseMarie, who guided her group thru the complex Catalina/Avalon trip in October.

We discovered upon arrival at the new hotel that rooms in the 100 series were on the second floor, so she had some quick shuffling to do to get folks where they needed to be. For our individual tours, she often had to be in two places at once, making sure folks had all left the hotel, and yet making sure they had all arrived at the various departure locations, often two blocks away, on time. She can run very fast, and it was impressive.

Her greatest challenge was the final day, when the side doors on the bus would not open so that we could transfer our luggage from the ferry. This made us nearly an hour

late for our lunch reservation. As we waited for the mechanic, she calmly contacted the restaurant and kept them up to date on our progress and made sure they held our reservation.

We made it to the airport on time, and she jumped off the bus to coordinated our quick exit. After the flight, she proceeded with the back-breaking job of pulling the suitcases off the turn-style! A delightful trip, and an amazing tour guide.Sonya Cox

Ed. Note: As a longtime SL Traveler, Sonya knows how things are supposed to work. While there were a few challenges (Lord, that is the understatement of the season, in relation to all trips), RoseMarie was obviously on top of her game. A job well done. Thank you Sonya and Lea.

Good Morning,Preview Day was one of the best. The

reunion with travel friends is always fun. The entertainment was great. Seeing a little of “Oh Canada Eh?” brought back memories of our visit to Niagara Falls a couple of years ago when we saw it there. It was such a funny show. We talked to a couple of the actors that were here. The introduction of the staff was hilarious. We were happy to see Ramona receive the scholarship. We love traveling with her. She is so relaxed taking care of business but yet fun. Just wanted to say we enjoyed our morning and THANK YOU. We’ll be seeing you soon.Chester and Barbara Pallach

Ed. Note: Over 600 joined us at the Marriott for our annual Tour Preview Day in late August. We are already at work on next year’s program, trying to make it interesting and different than past events.

Mark,Just returned from Billy Elliot yesterday –

outstanding trip! Both our driver and hostess were most informative and attentive to our needs. Your coach was so roomy and very clean, and directions were very clear about when and where we’d be picked up after

lunch and after the show. Drop off/pick up places were close and convenient for those with mobility problems. My one suggestion: please ask women NOT to wear perfumes! How to enforce that? You can’t, of course. My allergies resulted in a miserable headache most of the trip, but that’s not your fault. Maybe they could just ‘douse’ themselves after they get off the bus????? Otherwise, a great outing! Thanks.Leanne Mitchell

Mark,You wrote a wonderful tribute to Elizabeth

Monk and her 32 year history with SLV. Not only was she an active traveler with great stories, a living history book regarding WWII and the Civil War as you have written--she was also one of the founding members of the Sacramento Community Concert Association (SCCA) 58 years ago! She remained a member of the SCCA Board of Directors until her death. As you know, many SCCA subscribers are also SLV travelers. Elizabeth would be happy to know that the SCCA will honor her in the 2011-12 Season.Elaine Myer, (SCCA President)

Dear Mark and Clayton,I am so grateful for all the cards and notes

you sent to my mother, Elizabeth, when she was unable to travel this last year. She loved them. But she really loved traveling with your group, sometimes alone and sometimes with me. Her favorite tours were the ‘road’ ones—Route 66 and Old Highway 50. The Christmas Lights trips were much fun as were any mid-west trips. She was especially proud of her post 100-year-old trip to Alaska on the ferry. Thank you for giving her the gift of pleasure! Thanks for coming to the memorial.Sincerely, Pat Ronten

Hi Mark,I wanted to tell you that I absolutely loved

the View Level seats we had for the ballgame in San Francisco. There were unobstructed views of the whole field, I could even second


If you have a comment, suggestion or tour idea, we invite you to drop us a line. Due to space limitations, not all letters can be printed (others may be edited). Mail to:

SportS LeiSure VaCationSAttn: Mark/Clayton

9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1 Sacramento, CA 95827

or e-mail Mark or Clayton at: [email protected]

[email protected]

guess the umpire on some of the pitches on the corners, we had shade almost all afternoon, and were sheltered from a pretty brisk wind that was making the flags overhead crackle. OK, so it’s a little further than before, but positively worth the trip. And there were different food booths, so new avenues of ballpark food to explore. Please keep this option! Hope to see you soon.Donna Jennings

Mark,Just wanted you to know how much

my husband Craig and I enjoyed the day trip to Nevada City in July. The lunch at the historic Northern Queen was fantastic and the grounds were lovely around the hotel. I would love to return there for a meal any time. And what a performance the Sierra Stages put on. The actors were all so professional. Please, could we do a trip like this again soon? I would rate the performance right up there with Sonora and the plays they put on. Thank you.Marcia Stout

Mark,We’d like to thank you and your staff for a

great Preview Day. We appreciate all of the hard work that goes into making this type of event a success. Having attended a “Oh Canada, Eh” performance with Patricia on a Niagara Falls tour it was fun seeing members of the troupe perform again. We were very pleased to find a “Colorado” trip in your Dream Book – today we booked it and are hopeful that our Virginia friends will join us. Many thanks for so many great tours!Dick and Marie McClellan

Dear Friend of the Livermore Heritage Guild,

On behalf of the members and the Board of Directors of the Livermore Heritage Guild, I thank you for your very generous gift. Your check for $150 date July 11, 2011 in support of the Garage Museum Fund is greatly appreciated.

Livermore Heritage Guild is very grateful for your commitment and support.Sincerely, Teresa Tran, Treasurer

Dear Mark,I want to thank you for all the nice things

you have done to help me. I want you to know that Michael and Donnie got my airline tickets extended and also had a van pick me up at the airport when I got home. There isn’t words to say and thank Chris for all he did for me on our trip to Leavenworth. It was another wonderful trip. He is a great young man.Sincerely, Janet McMannis

Ed. Note: Due to illness, Janet couldn’t return home with the group at the end of the tour. So we worked to make sure things worked out for her so she could get home when she was well. That’s part of what you buy when you travel with Sports Leisure. Service is not out of style here.

Mark,Had a wonderful time on our four day

trip to Chicago. I can’t thank you enough for all the good things you have done for me. But – the greatest – getting a wheelchair for me at Notre Dame. Also – many thanks for “wheeling” me around the campus and stadium. This goes for Chris also.

Am late with the evaluation. Just spent a 3-day weekend in Monterey celebrating my 82nd. Many thanks again.Love, Billie McCarty

Ed. Note: Billie was part of a special trip with Kelly Brothers to Notre Dame. Thunderstorms had the stadium evacuated twice, and it was certainly a memorable day. Through it all, we had a great time. Nothing like being on the road with good friends.

Dear Mark,The enclosed newspaper article appeared

in The New Britain Herald (Connecticut). My wife Cathy and I read it with smiles on our faces, reminiscing about how we had met Angel Delgadillo last October during our tour of Route 66 with Sports Leisure Vacations.

We have told our relatives and friends about the wonderful time we had with you and the many interesting places we visited and the entertaining people we met on the Road. They were amazed at all we saw during the eight-state ride in your very comfortable

and well-equipped tour bus. Cathy and I have had some wonderful tours of the western national parks and monuments, but your Route 66 tour was one of the best trips we will ever take.

Last year, when we told our grandchildren we were going to travel on Route 66, they wanted to know if we were going to Radiator Springs. While on the trip, they were excited to learn that we met some of the CARS movie characters. We showed them a picture of the original “TowMater.”

After the trip, I decided to read “Grapes of Wrath,” as well as several other John Steinbeck stories. We also got the movie at our local library. David Wickline’s book “Images of 66” is on our coffee table.

We hope to travel with Sports Leisure Vacations again sometime soon. We will always remember how you made our trip so interesting and entertaining, and the care and consideration you, Chris and Greg had for the entire group of travelers. Unlike some other tour companies, there were no “surprises,” inconveniences, or extra-cost “options.” The Route 66 tour was worth every penny.Yours truly, Cathy and Tom Puglisi

Ed. Note: Cathy and Tom are from the east coast and came to our tour from one of TAP (Travel Alliance Partners) members. I’m glad the tour left wonderful memories and I thank you for your kind comments.

Special thanks to Virginia Nye, for the lovely poem she penned to celebrate both her travels and 80 years on this planet.Mark


Just A Good Clean Laugh Attending a wedding for the first time, a

little girl whispered to her mother, “Why is the bride dressed in white?”

The mother replied, “Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.”

The child thought about this for a moment then said, “So why is the groom wearing black?”

H H H H H H H HA little girl, dressed in her Sunday best,

was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, “Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late! Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late!” While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began to pray, “Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late… but please don’t shove me either!”

H H H H H H H HA police recruit was asked during the

exam, “What would you do if you had to

arrest your own Mother?” He answered, “Call for backup.”

H H H H H H H HA Sunday school teacher was discussing

the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.

After explaining the commandment to “Honor thy father and thy mother,” she asked, “Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?” Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, “Thou shall not kill.”

H H H H H H H HAt Sunday school they were teaching

how God created everything, including human beings.

Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs.

Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, And she said, “Johnny, what is the matter?”

Little Johnny responded, “I have pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife.”

Remembering Our Friends in the Circle of Life…

Songwriter Harry Chapin once wrote, “All my life’s a circle, sunrise and sundown, the moon rolls through the night, ‘til the daybreak comes around.” It was the late folk singer’s way of describing “the circle of life.” This list represents a “circle of life” for the founder of Sports Leisure Vacations, Mark Hoffmann.

Norman Root was Mark’s scoutmaster when he was a youngster. Norm worked for the State of California when Mark’s mother was his stenographer (there’s a word you don’t hear any longer) for several years. Fast forward several decades. Mark owns a tour company that operates trips on historic highways. When he tracks down the name of the president of the California Chapter of the Lincoln Highway, it was his old scoutmaster, his mother’s boss, Norman Root. Norm passed away recently after a brain illness.

With each newsletter, we pause to remember members of our travel family who have passed on. If you are aware of a member who deserves to be mentioned here, please drop us a note. Fond final farewell to each person on this list. All were loyal Sports Leisure Travelers. We will miss them all.Ruth Bryne Norman Root Frank Frances Larry McCarronMario Luna Bob Harlan Imogene Bremmer Della Mae MooreRonald Lipsmeyer Dodie Wanner Shirley Wolfe Murphy’s

Lesser-Known Laws• Light travels faster than sound. This is

why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

• Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

• The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there’s a 90% probability you’ll get it wrong.

• If you lined up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try to pass them, five or six at a time, on a hill, in the fog.

• The things that come to those who wait will be the things left by those who got there first.

• Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

• Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.

• The shin bone is a device for finding furniture in a dark room.

• A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

• Think about it... when you go into court, you are putting yourself in the hands of 12 people who weren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty.

In September, Richard and Joan Smith celebrated 65 years of marriage. This photo was taken after their wedding in 1946. Richard, at 91, still works 2-3 days at week at Sports Leisure. Aren’t they a sharp looking couple? Congratulations!

The Human Side Learn, Laugh, Reflect


The “True” Story of RudolphA man named Bob May, depressed

and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night. His 4-year-old daughter, Barbara, sat on his lap quietly sobbing. Bob’s wife, Evelyn, was very sick and he knew her illness was terminal.

Little Barbara couldn’t understand why her mommy could never come home. Barbara looked up into her dad’s eyes and asked, “Why isn’t my Mommy just like everybody else’s Mommy?” Bob’s jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger.

It had been the story of Bob’s life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small in stature when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he’d rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in.

Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at MONTGOMERY WARD during the terrible Great Depression. Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived. Evelyn’s bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums.

Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938. Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn’t even afford to buy a Christmas gift.

But if he couldn’t buy a gift, he was determined a make one – and so he made a storybook! Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal’s story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope.

The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, who had a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn’t end there.

The General Manager of Montgomery Ward heard about the little storybook and he

offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the book. Wards went on to print, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and distribute it to the children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946, Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher asked to purchase the rights from Wards, to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights of ownership back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn’t end there either.

Bob’s brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of “White Christmas.”

The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and again. Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn’t so bad. In fact, being different can really be a blessing. A special Thanksgiving and Christmas to all, especially those who have ever been “different.”

The Rest of the StoryThis heart-warming holiday story is

delightful to read. But is it true? Indeed, our fact-checking shows that by and large, it is. Read on…

Rudolph came to life when the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward company asked one of their copywriters, 34-year-old Robert L. May, to come up with a Christmas story they could give away in booklet form to shoppers as a promotional gimmick. May, drawing in part on the tale of The Ugly Duckling and his own background (he was often taunted as a child for being shy, small, and slight), settled on the idea of an underdog ostracized by the reindeer community because of his a glowing red nose.

Although May’s 4-year old daughter Barbara was thrilled with the story, May’s boss was worried that a story featuring a red nose image associated with drinking was unsuitable for a Christmas tale. May responded by taking Denver Gillen, a friend from Montgomery Ward’s art department, to the Lincoln Park Zoo to sketch some deer. Gillen’s illustrations of a red-nosed reindeer overcame the hesitancy of May’s superiors, and the Rudolph story was approved.

Six million copies had been distributed by the end of 1946. The post-war demand for licensing the Rudolph character was tremendous, but since May had created the story as an employee of Montgomery Ward, they held the copyright and he received no royalties. Deeply in debt from the medical bills resulting from his wife’s terminal illness (she died about the time May created Rudolph), May persuaded Montgomery Ward’s corporate president, Sewell Avery, to turn the copyright over to him in January 1947, and with the rights to his creation in hand, May’s financial security was assured.

Bob May quit his copywriting job in 1951 and spent seven years managing his creation before returning to Montgomery Ward, where he worked until his retirement in 1971. He died in 1976, comfortable in the life his reindeer creation had provided for him. That, dear friends, is the legend and the truth about Rudolph. Sometimes, they line up pretty well. Merry Christmas.


Casino Trips and TeasersPeter Pan at the Eldorado

November 27-28Peter Pan is the mischievous hero

of J.M. Barrie’s 1904 play Peter Pan. Peter is “the boy who never grew up,” a fantastical figure who visits the bedroom of the Darling children and flies them to Neverland. Join the cast for holiday caroling upon conclusion of the performance. Stay at the Silver Legacy and receive $5 slot play and a $3 food credit. An optional casino stop at John Ascuaga’s Nugget includes an additional $5 in slot play. 200/225 Gold Passport Points. $189 p.p/dbl.occ., $209 single

Casino Mystery Overnighter2 Days • April 24-25

You just never know where you are going to end up on a Sports Leisure Mystery tour. Of course, this is a casino trip so you know there will be dealers and one-armed bandits along the way. Here’s a few clues to get you thinking about your destination: It’s April but there is always chance of a freeze. First names are important but we should all have a nickname. We’ll party until the cows come home, or maybe we’ll just head over to their place. Everyone’s got a brand, put this one is really tasteful. The tour will include motorcoach transportation on SuperCoach III, overnight accommodations, one lunch, casino bonuses (subject to change), and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. 300/350 Gold Passport Points $299 p.p./dbl.occ., $349 single

The Champagne Express to Tahoe

Wed., Feb. 10 or Thur., Mar. 15Our monthly trip to Harvey’s Lake Tahoe

Casino on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe includes a 6-hour stay with a slot credit of $20 and a free buffet or $7 food credit. You must belong to Harvey’s Total Rewards program to receive the bonuses. $40

Tour Teasers!Help us plan your next great vacation…

Please call and place your name(s) on the Priority Notification List for any tour that interests you. You’ll be notified about the tour when it is priced and ready to sell in advance of any other advertising. This is the best way to get your reservation in ahead of the crowds. Put your name on the Priority Notification List today!

Girlfriends Getaway with a Local Broadcast Celebrity3 Days • Spring 2012

On the heels of our successful Chicago Sports Weekend hosted by Kelly Brothers, we are working to put together another celebrity trip, this one more for the ladies of all ages. San Diego, Seattle, Phoenix… just a few possibilities. We’d love your ideas and suggestions when you call. Perhaps a little pampering, maybe a facial or a massage, or a lovely evening of dinner and theater. Maybe ALL of those things. Sound like fun? Ladies only on this one…

Wave at the Oregon Coast4 or 5 Days • September 21-24/25

Come with Mark to visit one of his favorite destinations. Stay at the Elizabeth Street Inn, where every room offers a full-on view of the ocean. A spectacular flat beach is a very short walk away. The Oregon Aquarium and Hatfield Marine Science Center have been featured, along with a Marine Discovery Cruise on the bay near Newport. NOAA is now based there, so this is a chance to not only enjoy the ocean, but learn about it too. Sunday Brunch with a view included. Absolutely one of the best trips every year, and this is the best time to go. Maybe we’ll stop and see the Spruce Goose, and we always include a lighthouse or two.

Mammoth Lakes and the Ghost Towns of Nevada5 days • Mid October 2012

Explore Bodie, the roughest and toughest

of all the mining towns in the west, now preserved as a state park. Visit Devils Postpile National Monument. The formation is a rare sight in the geologic world and ranks as one of the finest examples of columnar basalt. Ride the gondola to the top of the famous ski resort for awesome views of the Central Sierra. Discover the small town pride behind the Central Nevada Museum and the Tonopah Historic Mining Park. Stay at the Village at Mammoth Lakes and the newly restored Mizpah Hotel in Tonopah. Different from any trip ever offered to this region of California and Nevada.

St. Patrick’s Day in IrelandMarch 2013

Three times in our collective memory, we’ve visited Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day, its most sacred and rollicking of days. The trip would be 8-10 days in length. Dublin is your host for the holiday, complete with a parade that truly must be seen to be believed. Afterwards, visited sites could include Waterford, Blarney, Killarney, Galway and the Ring of Kerry. Those are our favorite Irish destinations. What are yours?

US Olympic Gymnastic Trials4 Days • June 28 – July 1

Fresh on the heels of the US Figure Skating Championships (see page 16), San Jose hosts the US Gymnastics Team’s Olympic Trials. Just a few short weeks later, those that make the cut at this event will be competing on the world stage at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Stay three nights in San Jose/Milpitas (Embassy Suites), attend 4 championship events, with reserved seating in the lower bowl of the arena, and take in a few of the local sights including a city tour and Sunday Brunch at the Dolce Hayes Mansion. Includes door-to-door transfers, round trip transportation on SuperCoach III and the service of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. Pricing should be available around Dec. 1st and we are limited to 42 participants (SuperCoach).


The Bonanza King of San FranciscoFeaturing Ralston Hall & the Palace HotelFriday, December 2

As one of the wealthiest financiers of his day, and founder of the Bank of California, William Ralston is often called the man “who built San Francisco.” Join our favorite San Francisco guide, Craig Smith, and visit the Ralston home and learn about its subsequent name changes throughout its history. Dine in the opulent Garden Court at the Palace Hotel, dressed for the holidays, and visit the Bank of California Museum. $152

Jacob Marley’s Christmas CarolEast Sonora TheaterSunday, December 4

An old miser, an overworked and underpaid father with a young family to support, and four ghosts that give new meaning to the term “holiday spirit.” These marvelous characters, created from the mind of master storyteller Charles Dickens, come to life every holiday season in many different forms. But here’s a new twist: the marvelous holiday story told from the perspective of the ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge’s former partner, Jacob Marley. The show is preceded by a special holiday Sunday Brunch at one of our favorite bed & breakfast’s, The Union Hill Inn, with everything decorated for the holidays. $132

Christmas Shopping in the CityTuesday, December 6

Our first departure sold out and this one is already half-filled! This is our annual trip to downtown San Francisco to browse, shop, or just enjoy the bright and festive window displays and in-store decorations! Lunch is on-your-own in Union Square with an optional afternoon shuttle to Pier 39/Fishermens Wharf before returning home to Sacramento. $75

San Francisco Symphony Plays TchaikovskyDavies Symphony Hall, SFSunday, January 8

We have had many requests to attend a performance of the renowned San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under the baton of principal conductor Michael Tilson-Thomas. Here’s a wonderful opportunity to attend with “MTT” conducting Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony, nicknamed Winter Daydreams. Additional pieces include Liszt’s Prometheus and Ligeti’s Violin Concerto performed by guest artist violinist Christian Tetzlaff. Seating is in the orchestra section. Enjoy lunch at Sports Leisure favorite Viva Italian Restaurant prior to the 2pm performance at Davies Symphony Hall. $142

The Contemporary & The ModernFeaturing Houdini at the Contemporary Jewish Museum of SFTuesday, January 10

Within a block of each other in San Francisco are two of the West Coast’s most eclectic and unique museums. At the Contemporary Jewish Museum, a wonderful exhibit on the life and times of magician and escape artist Harry Houdini features original items belonging to the master, including a replica of his famous water torture chamber, historic posters, photos, and silent films. The SF Museum of Modern Art is celebrating 50 years of Bay Area artists and the photography of Francesca Woodman along with its permanent exhibits. Enjoy lunch at your leisure at either of the museum cafés. $95

An Evening with Lily TomlinGallo Center, ModestoSaturday, January 14

Lily Tomlin continues to venture across an ever-widening range of media, starring in television, theater, motion pictures, animation, and video. Throughout her extraordinary entertainment career, she has

won six Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and two Peabody Awards, among many others. Spend an evening with one of America’s best-loved comediennes as she reflects back on her time with Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, her movies like “9 to 5,” and all of her favorite roles. An included dinner precedes the 8pm show at the Canal Street Grill. $168

Jack JonesRrazz Room in SFWednesday, January 18

Legendary singer Jack Jones makes his Rrazz Room debut in San Francisco! A favorite of such contemporaries as Judy Garland, Mel Torme, and Frank Sinatra, Jack released his first of many hits in the 1960’s including “Lollipops & Roses,” “Wives and Lovers,” “What I Did for Love,” and the Grammy nominated “Impossible Dream” which paved the way for a musical career spanning over five decades and encompassing more than sixty albums. The 8pm show is presented inside the intimate Rrazz Room of the Hotel Nikko. Dinner is included at the Sports Leisure favorite Franciscan Restaurant at Fisherman’s Wharf. $160

Judy Collins in ConcertGallo Center, ModestoWednesday, February 1

Judy Collins has thrilled audiences worldwide for more than 50 years with her unique blend of interpretative folksongs and contemporary themes. She received a Grammy Award for her best known song, “Both Sides, Now” and her versions of “Turn, Turn, Turn,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Send in the Clowns” are amongst the best. Said the New York Times: “…her unblemished icicle voice evokes the kind of ethereal, far-sighted reflection that is her special artistic territory.” Enjoy an evening of Judy’s favorite songs along with an included dinner at the Canal Street Grill before the 7pm performance. $139

Day Trips and Theatre Outings


My Fair LadyGallo Center, ModestoSunday, February 5

Lerner and Loewe’s adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion springs to life at the Gallo Center. It’s the story of Eliza Doolittle, a poor cockney flower girl who completes a swan-like transformation into a lady with the help of Professor Henry Higgins. Featuring songs like “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “With a Little Bit of Luck,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” and countless others, it’s a grand afternoon of musical theatre. An early lunch precedes the 2pm matinee at the Canal Street Grill. $165

A Tribute to Glenn Miller & Tex BenekeGallo Center, ModestoFriday, February 10

Enjoy an evening of Big Band Music the way it is supposed to be heard – live! The Tex Beneke Orchestra, the Four Aces, the Modernaires with Paula Kelly, Jr., and Cassie Miller perform the timeless Big Band hits of yesteryear including “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Serenade in Blue,” “Kalamazoo,” “Stranger in Paradise,” “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing,” and many, many more! Dinner is included prior to the 7pm show at the Canal Street Grill. $151

Sherlock Holmes: The Final AdventureWoodland Opera HouseSunday, February 12

The world’s greatest detective has seemingly reached the end of his remarkable career when a case presents itself that is too tempting to ignore: The King of Bohemia is about to be blackmailed by a notorious photograph and the woman at the heart of this crime is a famous opera singer. With his trusted companion Doctor Watson, Sherlock Holmes pursues first the case, and in doing so, marches right into the lair of his longtime adversary, Professor Moriarty. Based on the 1899 play by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it’s a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Enjoy an included lunch at Tazzina Bistro in Woodland prior to the 2pm matinee. $115

Valentines Day with Lorna LuftGallo Center, ModestoTuesday, February 14

A Valentine’s Day treat! The daughter of Judy Garland melds one of the world‘s most familiar songbooks with poignant personal memories in this multi-media presentation. Beginning with an appearance on her mother’s television special in 1963, Lorna has starred in countless stage performances from “Promises, Promises,” to “Grease” to “Gypsy” to “White Christmas.” Dinner is included before the 7pm show. $142

Chinese New Year in SFSaturday, February 18

This always popular tour takes you to Buddha’s Universal Church in San Francisco in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Presented in both English and Cantonese, this year’s production of Professor Ming’s Mansion follows the life of a prominent physician whose compassion and genero-sity to the poor inspire all around him. With music, song and dance, and colorful costumes, this is a wonderful day out in the city that sells out quickly each year. Lunch is included at the historic Cathay House Restaurant in Chinatown. $99

102 Years of BroadwayMarin Civic Center, San RafaelSunday, February 19

Direct from the Big Apple, this show returns with a dazzling cast of five Broadway stars, accompanied by an all-star New York band. This acclaimed musical revenue recreates the greatest moments from the finest Broadway shows of the past century, featuring the actual stars of musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, CATS, Jesus Christ Superstar and Jekyll & Hyde. Lunch is included at the Hilltop 1892 Restaurant before the 3pm matinee. $149

San Francisco’s Scenic SeagullFeaturing lunch at the Cliff HouseTuesday, February 21

Follow the iconic blue seagull signs through the neighborhoods of San Francisco

with our resident host and guide Craig Smith. These signs were originally designed to highlight the important sights for visitors to the 1939 Golden Gate Expo and Fair. Today you will enjoy a nostalgic spin about town and down along The Great Highway. Lunch is included in The Bistro Café at the Cliff House, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. $136

Fly Away for LunchWednesday, February 29

You won’t have to pack a suitcase for this “fly-away” tour of the recently opened Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport. The spectacular addition features soaring architecture, spacious atriums, and terrazzo floors. Of course, the real stars are the fanciful works of public art throughout the terminal. Discover these works with a docent-guided tour provided by the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and enjoy lunch overlooking the Sacramento River at the Rio City Café. $106

Marvin HamlischGallo Center, ModestoThursday, March 1

Marvin Hamlisch’s life in music is notable for its great versatility as well as substance. As a composer, he has won virtually every major award that exists: three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, three Golden Globes, and a Pulitzer Prize for the groundbreaking A Chorus Line. Writer of music from The Sting, The Way We Were, and Ice Castles, it’s an evening of memorable music and stories. Enjoy dinner at the Canal Street Grill prior to the 7pm show. $151

You Have a Date for Lunch… for the ChildrenMonday, March 5

This new local daytrip was suggested by a Travel Club member who is also a member of the Shriners. Providing specialized care for children free of charge, Sacramento’s Shriners Children’s Hospital is a star in the region’s healthcare industry. Explore the hospital on a private tour. The tour is free but we’ll be making a donation anyway! Following the tour, what better place to have lunch than the Casa Garden Restaurant?


Managed by the Los Niños Service League, all gratuities benefit the Sacramento Children’s Home. All proceeds from the trip will be given to the two charties. $90

Turlock’s Carnegie Arts CenterFeaturing the works of Yvonne PorcellaWednesday, March 7

Like a phoenix rising from the fire, the Turlock Carnegie Arts Center has risen from the 2005 fire that closed its doors, bigger and brighter than ever. New director and curator, Rebecca Phillips Abbott, joins the Center from the National Museum of Women in the Arts where she was the former director. Yvonne Porcella is a Valley resident who works in mixed media, fiber and quilting. Recognized as both an author and lecturer in addition to an accomplished artist Yvonne’s works are on display at The Smithsonian as well as here for this limited show. Lunch is included in Turlock at Vito’s after your visit to the Arts Center. $104

Jonathan Winters & FriendsGallo Center, ModestoSunday, March 11

It all started with a lost wristwatch. Having no money to replace it, Jonathan Winters’ wife convinced him to enter a talent contest where first prize was a new wristwatch. The rest is history. Winters has starred on television and in such classic movie comedies as “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World.” He will be joined onstage at the Gallo Center by comedian/singer/impressionist Paul Boland, comedian Pete Barbutti, a favorite of Johnny Carson, and the singing and dancing Gold Diggers. This show may include strong language and is intended for mature audiences. Dinner is included at the Canal Street Grill prior to the 7pm show. $151

GypsyEast Sonora TheaterWednesday, March 14

The exciting era of vaudeville and burlesque come alive in this classic musical fable centering on the early life of entertainer

Gypsy Rose Lee. Presented by Sierra Repertory Theatre, it’s a moving theatrical experience centered on the thorny, but ultimately redemptive relationship between a mother and daughter. The score is jam-packed with iconic songs like “Let Me Entertain You,” “Everything’s Coming up Roses,” and “Together Wherever We Go.” Filled with humor, pathos and some of the most enduring characters ever to grace a stage, Gypsy is considered by many critics to be the greatest American musical ever written. Lunch is included at a new restaurant in Jamestown, the Willow Creek Steakhouse. $121

The Celtic TenorsMarin Civic Center, San RafaelSunday, March 18

Come Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend in style! Ireland’s most successful crossover artists, the tenors have pioneered a new style of performance, melding together elements of classical, folk and pop. They have performed around the world to sold-out concert halls and have released a string of successful albums. Performing popular standards, classic ballads and pub favorites, all with the gift of story, The Celtic Tenors bring the Emerald Island to all who still call Ireland home. Enjoy lunch before the 3pm matinee at the Hilltop 1892 Restaurant. $149

San Francisco Flower & Garden ShowSan Mateo Event CenterWednesday, March 21

This annual event is a Sports Leisure favorite. Travel with us to see this world-class show where the flowers and plants for the more than 20 display gardens come from up and down the west coast. Marvel at the wares offered by dozens of vendors selling garden-related goods, attend free seminars or just simply stop and enjoy the colors and beauty surrounding you. Lunch is at your leisure at the Event Center. $90

South PacificWoodland Opera HouseSaturday, March 24

“Once you have found her, never let her go.” Rogers and Hammerstein’s timeless classic comes to the stage at the Woodland Opera House. The popular musical follows two couples on a South Pacific island during World War II, including a dashing French ex-patriot and US Navy nurse and a Marine Corps officer and local island girl. Exploring the theme of racial prejudice, the story follows the couples with a score featuring such classics as “There Is Nothing Like a Dame,” “Bali Ha’i,” and “I’m Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair.” Lunch is included at Tazzina Bistro in Woodland. $115

Maharajah: The Splendor of India’s Royal CourtsAsian Art Museum, SFWednesday, March 28

The Asian Art Museum is the first venue in the US for this exciting exhibit which explores the extraordinary culture of princely India. Showcasing rich and varied objects that reflect royal life, the exhibit features paintings, jewelry and jeweled objects, tapestries, dress, metalwork and furniture. Museum docents will guide you on a private tour followed by time to explore the permanent collections and enjoy lunch at your leisure. $94

Follow That Guy!A Date For Lunch OutingFriday, March 30

We knew we were on to something when our first Foodie Fun overnight tour sold out faster than you can shake a corn dog at. This time we go for the day to nearby Winters to the Putah Creek Inn for lunch. Begin the outing with a short walking tour of historic downtown and wine-tasting at one of the local shops. Try our restaurant-of-the-day, which was also featured on The Food Network’s® Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Help us decide whether it will be a new Sports Leisure favorite. Pause at Pedrick Produce in Davis, where they have an assortment of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and sweets, on the way home. $104

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Over the summer season, a variety of interesting situations occurred while on tour/vacation with groups on the road. We’d like to take this opportunity to discuss some of the things that have been brought to our attention by staff and travelers alike. Together, we make our travels even better.

AirlinesThe airlines are making a mess out

the entire tourism industry. Their lack of customer service or even the slightest concern for travelers is past ridiculous. Yet because they apparently answer to no one except themselves, we simply interpret the rules and try to play within them the best we can.

Frequent Flyer CreditsSouthwest is leading the pack by not

offering frequent flyer credits of any kind on group tickets. This despite the fact that group tickets are no longer the bargain they were at one time. The answer: Perhaps purchasing tickets as reservations are made. We are considering it. But be aware that this is trend is spreading. Air New Zealand quoted us a fare for the New Zealand trip that did not include miles in their program (which is the same group United is in). While we have pointed this out in the “fine print,” it was truly a rarity before. Now it’s becoming commonplace. If you wish to know if your trip offers frequent flyer miles, please inquire when you register. We often get you a fare that is worth more than the miles you gave up.

We Never A Miss A Feeding…One of the things people enjoy most

about travel is sampling local cuisine. It’s certainly a big part of any Sports Leisure tour. We work very hard to get you a variety of menus, on site choices whenever possible and even choice of menu when it’s practical.

Lately, we have noticed several of you have developed a bad habit. You wait until you get to the restaurant, then inform the server that you can’t or don’t want to eat the items offered, and try to get a special meal.

Others have noticed this and the problem is spreading. Now many people seem to think they can get whatever they want, regardless of what was arranged in advance. There are several problems with this approach. It slows down the entire process for the group. It doesn’t make friends in the kitchen and if you just innocently “change” your selection on site, you could be eating someone else’s lunch/dinner, who probably followed the rules and is totally innocent.

Here’s the scoop: You have to meet us halfway. When meal choices are offered in advance, please call them in promptly. If you arrive at the restaurant and are uncertain about your choice, just ask your tour director. He/she will have the original requests. If you have any dietary restrictions, you must make us aware of them when you register. It is simply unfair to spring “I’m a vegan vegetarian,” or “I don’t eat dairy,” when the group is sitting down to eat. Here’s a reality: Some dietary restrictions are not compatible with group travel. We will do our best to accommodate you, but the reality is, if your diet is too restricted this type of travel may not be the best choice for you.

We are Here to Help, But Not Every Day

We are happy to discuss your tour with you at any time. But please understand that clients who call every day (sometimes more than once) to ask frivolous questions may be asked to consolidate their calls. We are here to help, and we pride ourselves on outstanding service. Thank you.

Perfumes & ColognesEveryone likes to smell nice. Personally,

I’ve never been big on colognes and after shaves. Take a bath, do a good job, you’ll smell clean for a reasonable amount of time. Some people like to highlight their personal scent with perfume. A tiny dab is often wonderful. More than that is often an issue for other travelers. Best solution: Skip the extra smelly stuff when getting on a bus with other folks. It’s just a courtesy to your fellow travelers.

Credit CardsA number of people are choosing to write

their credit card numbers on the invoices we send out and then mail them to our office so we can process the payments. We remind everyone that sending sensitive information through the mail like credit card numbers is not encouraged! Please call our office directly if you wish to have payments placed on a credit card.

Upgrading Your TicketIf you are traveling by air, you can almost

always use your frequent flyer miles to upgrade your ticket. This is subject to availability. Our staff is happy to help you with any upgrades. On United, and soon on Delta, part of the economy cabin offers a little extra legroom. These seats are generally $30-$40 per segment. For those who wish a little extra room, you can often purchase these upgrades on a space available basis. Ask when you register if you are interested.

For many years, our company policy was that the tour director could not upgrade their ticket. My staff has requested several times that they be allowed to use their own miles or credits to upgrade if they wish. As long as it isn’t costing you or me anything extra, it’s time to allow the tour directors the same privileges. If you see your tour director sitting in a premium section, know that it is an earned reward due to the heavy amount of travel they do. At no time is an upgraded staff ticket ever an additional cost to you.

Perhaps the point of this essay is that group travel is not for everyone. It offers the security of traveling with a group, the comraderie of others and the advantage of having an entire staff of people working on your behalf should there be any surprises. The down side is, you have to go where the group goes when they go, you have to bathe regularly and wear clean clothes. Don’t misunderstand, none of these items is a huge hinderance by itself, but if we all work together to address some of the items mentioned here, we will be a much happier travel family.

The Barber Pole, or Once Over Lightly


Walking With WaltExploring the Life and Legacy of Walt Disney3 Days • May 15-17

Walt Disney gave the world many gifts – a legacy of theme parks, films, and animation. Discover the life and times of this great man with visits to Walt’s Hollywood and a special tour of Disneyland with lunch inside the park.

1. Enjoy airport service from your home provided by Carey Transportation. Fly to Southern California and meet your guide for the day, Stephen Schochet, who literally wrote the book on Hollywood along with an audio book about Walt Disney. Stephen will take us by some of Walt’s old haunts with an included lunch at the Tam O’Shanter Restaurant. Walt and his animators ate at the Tam so often, they referred to it as the studio commissary. Spend the next two evenings at the new Red Lion Hotel in Anaheim. Breakfast is included at the hotel each day. Red Lion Hotel Anaheim – 2 nights (L)

2. Disneyland recently celebrated its 56th Anniversary. Walt’s gift to the world, the park has seen many changes in those years but still retains his ever-evolving spirit. Begin your day with a historical look back at the park and learn about the vision, challenges and hard work that went into creating Disneyland on a private tour. Hear Walt talk about Disneyland in his own words and visit his apartment overlooking Main Street. Lunch is included at the famous Blue Bayou Restaurant adjacent to the water of the Pirates of the Caribbean. The afternoon is free to explore Disneyland on your own or do some shopping in Downtown Disney with shuttle service provided throughout the afternoon back to your hotel. (B,L)

3. Today you have a choice to make. True “Disneyphiles” will want to return to the Disneyland Resort to discover the “new” park – Disney’s California Adventure. Opened in 2001, the park celebrates all that is special about California and is host to the new evening show, “Disney’s World of Color.” There is an additional cost of $35 per person for those visiting the second park.

For those wanting a break from the Disney fun, enjoy a visit to the Bowers Museum in nearby Santa Ana along with lunch at PJ’s Abbey, a restored church turned restaurant. Fly home in the early evening to Sacramento. (B,L-included for those not returning to the Disney Parks)

The tour includes door to door transpor-tation, roundtrip air, accommodations, all attractions as listed (second day at Disney Parks add’l charge), meals as listed and deluxe motorcoach service and the services of a Sports Leisure Vacations Tour Director. Gold Passport Points 1500/1600

$1475 p.p./dbl.occ., $1590 single$ave $25 until December 1

The Dakotas: Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Theodore Roosevelt National ParkFeaturing the best of North and South Dakota, the West!9 Days • June 20 – 28

H Highlights H• Visit the National Shrine of Democracy,

Mt. Rushmore, during the day and for the poignant evening lighting ceremony

• Explore awesome Badlands National Park and Theodore Roosevelt National Park

• Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of the Medora Musical before the show, a pitchfork fondue dinner, and The Medora Musical, a tribute to patriotism and the Wild West

• Ride to the top of Crazy Horse Mountain and learn about the monumental project that is being created right now

• Jeeps carry you into heart of the range where buffalo really do roam free in Custer State Park

• 18 meals: 5 breakfasts, 3 full breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners

• Door-to-door airport transportation• Round trip air Sacramento/Bismarck;

Denver/Sacramento• 3600/3950 Gold Passport Points

Imagine that somewhere along the Missouri River there is a spot where Teddy Roosevelt, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Sacagawea, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and even George Custer have all walked. That spot would be in the Dakota Territories. While no one can actually pinpoint that specific spot, the trail of each of these historic people follows the Missouri River through North Dakota and so does your journey as you go West! See this magical land through their eyes.

1. An early morning flight from Sacramento through Denver arrives into Bismarck, ND in the early afternoon in time for a late lunch and a bit of sightseeing. Fort Abraham Lincoln was Lt. Col. George Custer’s last assignment before he rode off into history. You’ll have a chance to get a glimpse into his home life as well as into the life of the Mandans and Hidatsas, the Native Americans of North Dakota with a visit to Bismarck’s historic sites. Holiday Inn Express (L)

2. & 3. The rolling plains the of Western Dakotas call to you during the next two days as you continue your travels along the banks of the Missouri River towards Medora, the little town Teddy Roosevelt called home for a short period in his life. “I never

New Vacations and Getaways

Mt. Rushmore is just one of the many highlights on The Dakotas in June


would have been president, if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota.” Spend two days in this small town along the Little Missouri River hearing all sorts of stories about Teddy Roosevelt, the Marquis de Mores, and some of the other colorful characters who brought this area to life. Enjoy a ride through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a pitchfork fondue (yep, they really do cook your steak to order using a pitchfork!), a visit to the Chateau de Mores, and a great performance of the Medora Musical. You’ll find out why T. R. loved North Dakota so much and how it changed his life, affecting his ideas on conservation, politics and business. AmericInn Medora – 2 nights (2B,2L,D)

4. Travel south today through the grasslands and small communities of western Dakotas. It is in these areas where the state bird, the pheasant, outnumbers the people yet everywhere you stop you are sure to be greeted with true hospitality. In Bowman, pause at the Pioneer Trail Museum and in Spearfish discover the Matthew Opera House. An early dinner at the Bay Leaf Café concludes the day. County Inn Suites Rapid City – 2 nights (B,L,D)

5. Today it is off to Mako Sica, or Badlands National Park, a spectacular land of awesome wonder, of nature in action; an otherworldly land of soft clays and sandstones carved by wind and water. You are on your own for lunch in Wall, home of Wall Drug, once a small pharmacy offering a free cup of ice water to weary travelers. Today, Wall Drug is a multi-complex of restaurants, museums, and shops….and yes, they still offer the free ice water! Return to Rapid City for dinner with your fellow fun-loving adventurers. (B,D)

6. Learn about the extraordinary sculptor who carved Mount Rushmore with a morning visit to the Rushmore-Borglum Museum. Dine with the Presidents at the “Shrine to Democracy” and get your daytime photos. Take a walk along the base, visit the sculptor’s studio, and later board open-air jeeps for a ride through Custer State Park in search of buffalo that still roam free in the hills. Cap your day with dinner at the State Game Lodge, summer White House to two

US Presidents. Our accommodations for the next few nights, situated in the shadow of Harney Peak, have just the right amount of rustic charm for the remainder of our Black Hills adventure. Palmer Gulch Lodge – 2 nights (B,D)

7. Visit a monumental carving project still in the works today, The Crazy Horse Memorial. You will have an opportunity to go to the very top of this carving and stand on the “forehead” for an incredible view of the Black Hills. Once back down on common ground, visit the museum, art gallery and artisan tables to discover beautiful Native American arts and crafts. This afternoon, enjoy quiet Hill City with some time on your own for shopping and dinner at your leisure. This evening we return to Mount Rushmore for the very poignant night program and lighting of the mountain. (FB)

8. The journey continues southward as we move down through the lower region of the Black Hills towards Wyoming today. Stop in Hot Springs at the Mammoth Site, where more than 26,000 years ago large Columbian and Woolly Mammoths were stuck in situ in a sinkhole. This amazing discovery in 1974 created quite a buzz in the scientific world. The visitors center enables you to view first hand this working paleontological site. Continue into Wyoming, arriving into Fort Laramie in the late afternoon. Hilton Garden Inn (FB,L)

9. Explore Fort Laramie, the settlement located at the “Crossroads of a nation moving west.” This pivotal fort played a major role in the settlement of the west as pioneers moved along the Oregon Trail and throughout The Black Hills during the gold rush days. Your western adventure comes to a conclusion as we leave Wyoming and turn into Colorado for the last segment of our trip. Your flight from Denver arrives in Sacramento in the evening. (FB,L)


Big Trees in the Wild!Featuring the Redwoods of Northern California4 Days • September 16-19

H Highlights H• Travel along the Avenue of the Giants

with a local guide and historian• Walk through the ancient groves in

Prairie Creek State Park, Redwood National and State Parks, Humboldt State Park

• Visit Arcata’s unique urban marsh teeming with waterfowl

• 7 meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner• Door to door transportation• Transportation on SuperCoach III• 1200/1400 Gold Passport Points

For several years now Ramona has been talking about the big and wild trees of Prairie Creek State Park. Every chance she gets, she reads about the life that can be found high above the ground in the masses of the Sequoia Sempervirens, or coastal redwoods; and each time a tour travels up Highway 101 she wants to spend time walking through the trees. So this is the trip for those of you who want to spend some time out walking in the trees; and looking up into the heights for the mysteries captured there.

1. Carey Transportation brings you to the Sports Leisure office to meet the SuperCoach III and your fellow adventurers. Your journey north begins with a stop in Santa Rosa at the Luther Burbank House and Gardens for a tour of this horticulturist’s workshop. After lunch continue north to Garberville, where your hotel is nestled within the mighty Sequoias, the giant trees that seem to live forever. Dinner is included tonight at the historic Benbow Inn. BW Humboldt House Inn (L,D)

2. The Avenue of Giants weaves it way north for 33 miles through some of the grandest groves of redwoods and other trees in California. Local guide and historian Ray Hillman will be along to share the stories of the people who helped preserved these trees, and perhaps tell a tall tale or two. Spend the day wandering among these giants, stopping at the visitors center to learn about Charles Kellogg, the naturalist known as the “bird singer,” and some of the

office hours:8:00am – 4:30pm MON. thru FRI.

Closed weekends & major holidaysCLOSED TUES. 12:00pm – 1:15pm


other wonders of the redwood forest. At the end of the day, arrive in Eureka. Eureka Red Lion – 2 nights (B,L)

3. Continue north today along Highway 101, winding in and out of both state and national park lands creating a patchwork of old growth forests along the coastline. Learn the stories of these preserved groves, why some are state, others federal, and the names behind the conservation efforts. Pause in Prairie Creek State Park for a walk through the ancient Sequoias, Sitka Spruces and Western Hemlocks. Return to Arcata in the late afternoon, visiting the unique urban marsh and waterfowl habit that has been a model for other cities to replicate. A dinner with your fellow adventurers tops off a day in the out-of-doors as you share your stories of travel and wonder. (B,D)

4. Your travels home today bring you through the area of Clear Lake, stopping in Upper Lake for lunch. One last stop at a Sports Leisure favorite Granzella’s means we are getting close to Sacramento, arriving at the office in early evening. (B,L)

$1175 p.p./dbl.occ, $1365 single$ave $40 until December 1

Fall in YosemiteFeaturing the Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point3 Days • October 21-23

H Highlights H• Stay in the park with rooms at Yosemite

Lodge, convenient to Yosemite Falls, the Village, and all Valley sites

• Enjoy lunch at three National Historic Landmarks: the Groveland Hotel, the Ahwahnee Hotel and the Wawona Hotel

• Learn about the history and geology during a guided full day tour of Yosemite highlighting Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Half Dome, and the Merced River

• 3 meals: 1 brunch, 2 lunches• Door to door transportation• Transportation on SuperCoach III• 1150/1400 Gold Passport Points

This vacation is the ultimate grand tour to Yosemite National Park combining a fall drive through the Sierra Foothills laced with autumnal colors, a tram ride in the majestic stand of sequoias at the Mariposa Grove, a

journey to the heights of Yosemite at Glacier Point, and brunch at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. Top this all off with a two night stay in the valley at Yosemite Lodge and this is one of our best trips to the park in years. Whether it is your first time or hundredth time to Yosemite, join us as we return to California’s favorite national park, for the beauty of autumn...or maybe just relax and enjoy the quiet beauty of the starlit evening sky.

1. Carey Transportation will bring you to the office to meet your fellow travelers and SuperCoach III. Travel in comfort through the Central Valley to Yosemite National Park and your home for the next two evenings. Enjoy Sunday Brunch in the Ahwahnee Hotel Dining Room with its 34 foot high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows, surrounded by beautifully designed stained glass. After brunch, a guided historic tour of the public areas of the hotel deepens your appreciation for the architecture and interior designers of this grand structure. Enjoy an evening on your own, perhaps taking in a ranger talk, or walk to nearby Yosemite Falls. The park operates a free shuttle service which is a great way to familiarize yourself with the layout of the valley and village and the area surrounding your accommodations. (A note about the rooms: park rooms are standard motel rooms, with limited amenities or services, and there are no elevators for second floor rooms. Please request a ground floor if necessary at the time of your reservation.) Yosemite Lodge – 2 nights (BR)

2. A guided grand tour of Yosemite Valley highlights the history and geology of the park with stops along

the way for you to snap photos of Half Dome, Bridal Veil Falls and El Capitan. This all day tour includes Glacier Point and the Mariposa Grove (weather permitting). From the heights of Glacier Point, look down on the Ahwahnee Meadow from the site of the original “Firefall.” At the Mariposa Grove, ride a tram through the ancient Sequoia trees that have stood for centuries while history was being made at their feet. Once a pioneering stage stop, the Victorian-style Wawona Hotel serves as your host for lunch before returning to the valley in the late afternoon. (L)

3. A leisurely start today with time to enjoy the morning in the valley before making your way out of the park along the historic Big Oak Flat Route (Rt. 120). Lunch today is included in Groveland, just outside the park, as you continue your way home through the foothills and Central Valley this afternoon towards Sacramento, arriving in the early evening. (L)


Put yourself in this picture, at the entrance to spectacular Yosemite Valley

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The Tour Calendar (Previously Announced Tours)

3 Days Dec. 10-12 Pre-Christmas Celebrations at The Davenport Hotel, Spokane

2 nights in the historic Davenport, 3 meals included. Sunday Brunch, Old World Market, story of the Davenport tour, door-to-door service, neighborhood lights drive, Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $1280 p.p./dbl.occ, $1430 single

3 Days Dec. 14-16 Holiday Lights of the Desert

Featuring a Christmas show with John Davidson and the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies, see “Wild Lights” holiday light festival at the Living Desert Museum, lunch on top of the tram, round trip air directly to/from Palm Springs, 2 meals, door-to-door service, Tour Director: Ramona Goodge, $1065 p.p./dbl.occ., $1170 single

7 Days Jan. 21-27 or Jan. 2013 (Dates: TBA)

Key West, Miami, & The Everglades

Four nights in beautiful Key West. Visit the Hemingway Home, the aquarium, Truman’s Little White House, & the Shipwreck Museum. Dinner show at La Te Da, authentic clipper ship cruise (optional), Butterfly & Nature Conservancy visit. Overnight in Miami with air boat ride in the Everglades and overnight in Key Largo with glass-bottom boat ride. City tour including Coral Gables and South Beach. Roundtrip air, 13 meals, door-to-door service, Tour Director: Mark Hoffmann. 3400/3750 Gold Passport Points. $3375 p.p./dbl.occ., $3750 single. Dates/prices for 2013 tour TBA. Call now to be placed on the Priority Notification List.

3 Days Jan. 27-29 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in San Jose

2 nights Embassy Suites Milpitas, tickets to 4 major finals events, Men’s, Women’s, Free Skate and Pairs. Travel by Amtrak/Supercoach (one direction on each). Our special “Meet the Coach” program, sightseeing in San Jose, 5 meals (2FB,1BL,1L,1D), door-to-door service. 1300/1450 Gold Passport Points, $1295 p.p./dbl.occ., $1425 single

2 Days Feb. 16-17 or Mar. 22-23

Take the Snow Train to Reno

The package includes the California Zephyr through the snow-covered Sierra to Reno, a boxed lunch, accommodations at the Silver Legecy, casino bonuses, and return transportation on SuperCoach III, $229 p.p./dbl.occ., $249 single

18 Days Feb.19 – Mar. 7

Kia Ora in New Zealand

Sports Leisure’s first exclusive visit to New Zealand! Explore at a moderate pace with four two-night stays along the way. Explore history at the Olveston House, Larnach Castle and the New Zealand National Museum in Te Papa. Beauty abounds at Glenfalloch Woodland Gardens, Paradise Valley Springs, and on cruises on Millford Sound and Lake Wakatipu. Visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and experience a TranzAlpine Rail Journey and Skyline Gondola and luge rides. City sights tour of Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland. Includes air to Christchurch/from Auckland from San Francisco, first class hotel accommodations, 29 meals (15FB, 1L, 13D) including 4 specialty dinners: Maori Hangi and Concert in Rotorua, Haggis Ceremony in Dunedin, Walter Peak Homestead in Queenstown, and a special Farewell Dinner in Auckland. Plus door-to-door service, Tour Director: Clayton Whitehead, $5599 p.p./dbl.occ., $6549 single, very limited space available

9 Days Feb. 20-28 Costa Rica, Pure Vida (Pure Life)

Limited space available if you call today. Maximum of 20 in this group. 2 nights San Jose, 3 nights Arenal, 3 nights Manual Antonio, visit Poas and Arenal Volcanos, walk on the famous hanging bridge, optional zip line experience, 14 meals included. Tour Director: Patty Thayer, $3880 p.p./dbl.occ., $4660 single

Things to Know Before You Go:Airfare: On all trips where air travel is indicated, airfares are included in the listed prices.

Home Pick-up: Our exclusive home pick-up is included on all trips listed here. Carey Limousines and their partners provide transportation to/from the airport or the Sports Leisure Vacations office.

Meals: Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for a break down of the included breakfasts, brunches, lunches and dinners.

**Early Registration/Payment Discounts: Trips with a note like this after the price “$40 EPD**,” indicates there is a discount available for Early Registration and Payment. Please refer to the back page of the newsletter for more details on Early Registration/Payment Discounts.

The Fine Print: Our Special Tour & Vacation Notes brochure contains the answers to many often-asked questions. A copy is sent with your reservations.

Sports Leisure on-line: You are invited to visit our website at www.sportsleisure.com for more information on any tour listed here, or call our office and we will be happy to send you a detailed itinerary.


3 Days Mar. 2-4 The Oregon Chocolate Festival in Ashland

Experience the Oregon Chocolate Festival in Ashland, including the Annual Chocolate Makers Dinner and the Festival Vendor Showcase. Discover the restored Art Deco-style Cascade Theatre in Redding and its annual “A Touch of Piano” concert. Comfortable transportation aboard SuperCoach III, door-to-door transportation, 5 meals, 2 nights Plaza Inn Ashland, overnight Redding. 900/1000 Gold Passport Points, $888 p.p./dbl.occ., $979 single, $10 EPD**

Donnie Anderson, the Tour Director for last year’s (and this coming year’s) Ashland Chocolate Festival in March, compiled this list of perfectly legitimate reasons (like you needed them) to go with her to Ashland next March. Grab a girlfriend or two or just yourself, and come along. Chocolate everywhere, what could possibly be wrong with that? Call Donnie at the office and get yourself signed up for this really important study course...

Ten reasons why you should go on the Chocolate Festival In Ashland trip in March.

10. No flying involved.

9. You often wondered what a chocolate coma felt like.

8. You’ve been looking for a way to get back at your doctor.

7. A hotel full of chocolate vendors with SAMPLES.

6. You’ve never been to Ashland and always wanted to go.

5. You are a Road Warrior.

4. The three course Chocolate Makers (elegant) Dinner.

3. You’ve been looking for a short, inexpensive, no-fly trip.

2. You heard it was an aphrodisiac.

1. Happy wife, happy life.

6 Days Mar. 10-15 Winter in the Canyonlands of Utah & Arizona

Explore Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks, included sleigh ride at Bryce Canyon, private tour along the rim and hosted lunch at the historic El Tovar at the Grand Canyon, VIP guided tour of the Grand Canyon Village historic sites, day visit to Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon, deluxe accommodations, 12 included meals: 5 full breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner. Round trip airfare to Las Vegas, back from Phoenix, door-to-door airport service, Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, $1780 p.p./dbl.occ., $2020 single

5 Days Mar. 17-21 Spring Training in Arizona with the Giants & A’s

4 nights at the Phoenix Crowne Plaza Hotel, breakfast daily, Sunday Brunch, 2 dinners (7 meals), baseball game daily (Giants or A’s, call for schedule), Baseball Banquet with Guest Speaker Vida Blue (scheduled to speak), Baseball Roundtable with former-major leaguer Lou Klimchock, airfare, door-to-door service, a baseball fan’s dream come true. Tour Director: Mark Hoffmann. 1950/2100 Gold Passport Points, $1910 p.p./dbl.occ., $2095 single, $40 EPD**

3 Days Mar. 23-25 Monterey, Big Sur and Point Lobos

Featuring two nights at the Clement Monterey Intercontinental on Cannery Row, a private reception and behind-the-scenes tour at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, guided tour of Point Lobos and Big Sur, lunch and free-time in Half Moon Bay. 3 lunches, 2 nights Monterey Intercontinental Hotel (one of the finest we use anywhere in the country), door-to-door service. 1050/1200 Gold Passport Points. $1015 p.p./dbl.occ., $1200 single, $10 EPD**

5 Days Apr. 15-19 San Antonio, Deep in the Heart

Only limited space is available on this remarkably popular tour. Clayton serves as your Tour Director as you “unpack only once” while spending 4 nights at the Drury Inn along the Riverwalk (a cruise/tour and luncheon on the Riverwalk are included), city tour featuring The Alamo, San Antonio Rose Live, day trip to Fredericksburg (Nat’l Museum of the Pacific War), 9 meals, airfare, door-to-door service, $1780 p.p./dbl.occ., $2020 single

4 Days Apr. 18-21 The Castle, The Ocean & The Inn

Featuring two nights at The Apple Farm Inn, overnight oceanfront in San Simeon, Heart Castle tours by day and exclusive night tour, National Steinbeck Center, San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market, lunch in Cambria (4 lunches incl.), door-to-door service, SuperCoach III. One of our original tours, still one of the most popular. 1100/1300 Gold Passport Points $1085 p.p./dbl.occ., $1295 single, $20 EPD**

4 Days Apr. 22-25 Ride the Coast Starlight

Fly to Los Angeles, overnight, then board the Coast Starlight for the 36-hour ride to Tacoma. Deluxe sleeping cabins and onboard meals includeed, tour historic Union Station in LA, lunch at Cutter’s Bay House and city tour in Seattle, 7 meals, air to Burbank, return from Seattle, door-to-door service. 2000/2600 Gold Passport Points. $1970 p.p./dbl.occ., $2590 single, $40 EPD**

10 Days Apr. 24 –May 3

The National Road, The Road That Built The Nation, Baltimore to St. Louis

Commissioned by Thomas Jefferson, this was our nation’s first commercial road. Travel it now, encompassing colonial history, the westward movement, a variety of unique and unusual attractions, from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright to the home of John Glenn, there’s a little bit of everything on this unique highway. Tour Kitchenaide and watch products made, see the world’s largest catsup bottle, 18 meals, airfare, door-to-door service. A special journey, limited to 25 travelers. $3510 p.p./dbl.occ., $4020 single, $75 EPD**

4 Days April 27-30 On The (Pismo) Beach

3 nights ocean view accommodations at the Sea Crest Resort, sample local wines, foods and beverages at a “Taste of Pismo,” (admission tickets included), attend the Great American Melodrama in Oceano, visit Picturesque Avila Beach, lavender farm tour, Casa de Fruita shopping stop, 5 meals, door-to-door service. 1200/1450 Gold Passport Points. $1195 p.p./dbl.occ., $1445 single. $20 EPD**


3 Days May 9-11 Winding Through Weaverville

A brand new adventure in Trinity County, a quick getaway to an off-the-beaten-track community, along with a bit of history on old Highway 99 through the northern Sacramento Valley. 2 nights at the Weaverville Victorian Inn, visit the Joss House, a unique historical Chinese Temple. Tour a working sawmill, see the “ghost” mining town of Shasta City and stand on the Sun Dial Bridge, visit the Highland Art Center, dine at the Trinity Country Club. Lunch in Chico, Hwy 99 history tour, all meals included (7), door-to-door transportation. $785 p.p./dbl.occ., $870 single, $10 EPD**

6 Days May 17-22 Over The Rivers and Through the Woods, A Mystery Tour

Join Clayton as you visit FOUR states, cross THREE rivers, stay in TWO hotels (one for 3 nights/2 in the other) and have yourself ONE heck of a great time. You’ll meet “super men”… a president, a vice president, a famous sailor, a colonel and a man who absolutely, positively refuses to keep his pants on – but I bet you’ll like his cape. Super women, too! Breakfast is included daily, along with 3 lunches and 3 dinners. Limited space available, reserve now. 2400/2600 Gold Passport Points, $2360 p.p./dbl.occ., $2565 single

4 Days May 29 – June 1

Off to Sisters, It’s Just Around the Bend

A mystery tour returns for a “known” encore. This is a wonderful, close-to-home trip requiring only a short plane flight to Portland. Then you’re off into the Cascades, spending 3 nights at the Ponderosa Lodge, with deer, and llamas, and marshmallow roasting and barbecue – and that’s just at the lodge. Low mountain sightseeing features waterfalls, the headwaters of a river and other natural beauties. Great value, 9 meals, airfare and door-to-door service incl. 1350/1500 Gold Passport Points. $1335 p.p./dbl.occ., $1665 single, $25 EPD**

5 Days June 3-7 Wendover & The Bonneville Salt Flats

Ride Amtrak from Sacramento to Elko on Day 1. Discover the history of the city on a morning tour, then travel by coach to Wendover. This middle of the desert destination is known for it’s just-across-the-Utah-border casinos, but is also home to history. The Enola Gay, one of the planes used to bomb Japan, was built here. The California Trail Interpretive Center, the famed Bonneville Salt Flats, the University of Reno’s Fire Science Center, are all attractions on this itinerary. Plus, there’s a guided off road drive into the desert. 6 meals, door-to-door service, discover a new destination without flying. 1200/1350 Gold Passport Points. Tour Director: Chris Galloway, $1190 p.p./dbl.occ., $1330 single, $25 EPD**

3 Days June 8-10 Everything’s Coming Up Roses in Portland

See the Portland Rose Festival Parade from inside the Rose Garden Arena. 2 nights Embassy Suites Hotel, visit the International Rose Test Gardens, choral concert, ride through the Cascades to Seattle on Amtrak. 5 meals, airfare, door-to-door service. 1300/1400 Gold Passport Points. $1255 p.p./dbl.occ., $1380 single , $10 EPD**

4 Days June 10-13 Gardens in Victoria & Glass in Tacoma

This two-nation vacation features the best of the Pacific Northwest. Fly to Seattle, enjoy lunch and Pike Place Market, then ferry by catamaran to Victoria. 2 nights at the Chateau Victoria, double-decker bus tour, High Tea at the Empress Hotel, overnight at the art-filled Hotel Murano in Tacoma, tour of Dale Chihuly Museum of Glass. 6 meals, airfare, door-to-door service. 1800/2000 Gold Passport Points. $1765 p.p./dbl.occ., $1975 single, valid passport required, $25 EPD**

6 Days June 8-13 Roses in Portland, Gardens in Victoria & Glass in Tacoma

Everything in both itineraries for Portland and Victoria is included. 2500/2850 Gold Passport Points. $2499 p.p./dbl.occ., $2825 single, valid passport required, $40 EPD**

7 Days June 13-19 Alaska’s Denali National Park & The Kenai Peninsula

2 unique train excursions – Denali to Talkeetna and Seward to Girdwood; 2 nights at the spectacular Alyeska Lodge, 2 nights Grand Denali Hotel, Tundra Tour in Denali Park, view glaciers, learn about dog sledders, 8 meals, airfare, door-to-door service. 3800/4550 Gold Passport Points, Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, $3790 p.p./dbl.occ., $4510 single, $50 EPD**

3 Days June 15-17 Take the Train to Truckee & Virginia City

Experience the golden age of steam aboard the Virginia-Truckee Railroad, ride Amtrak from Sacramento to Truckee on the California Zeyphr, travel between train rides on SuperCoach III, 6 meals, overnights in Truckee and Virginia CIty (B&B optional upgrade in Virginia City, extra charge), 6 meals, door-to-door service. 850/950 Gold Passport Points. $825 p.p./dbl.occ., $935 single, $20 EPD**

5 Days June 22-26 Strawberries, Beaches and Flower Fields

Featuring Santa Barbara, the Lompoc Flower Festival and Solvang. Visit historic Santa Barbara landmarks, including the courthouse and the mission. 2 nights at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, Lompoc’s annual Flower Festival Parade, overnight at the Apple Farm, old time melodrama, 5 meals. 1350/1500 Gold Passport Points. $1320 p.p./dbl.occ., $1490 single, $20 EPD**

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5 Days July 9-13 The Calgary Stampede Centennial

Spend 2 days celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the World-Famous Calgary Stampede, 4 nights in one hotel – unpack once, Calgary city tour, visit Canada Olympic Park; Day trip option: Experience Drumheller, dinosaur capital of the world or Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho National Park. Round trip airfare, Sacramento/Calgary, door-to-door airport service, 4 meals. 3100/3600 Gold Passport Points. $3085 p.p./dbl.occ., $3545 single, valid passport required, $60 EPD**

5 Days July 19-23 The Call of the Wild Mystery Tour

Calling all nature lovers! Scott Angeletti put this tour together. Knowing his passion for the southwest, you’d think this trip might be headed there. But the southwest in the summer? Maybe not. Scott says the temperatures are mild in this destination in the summer. Here are a few clues: You may feel like a bird or maybe a fish? Perhaps you’ll be barking up the wrong tree? Listening to the soothing sounds of your magnificent surroundings will take you to new heights! Be sure to stand back and take it all in as this relaxing and exhilarating trip is itself a work of art. One thing is for sure: You will fall deeply in love with this suite tour. The package includes door-to-door 1750/1900 Gold Passport Points. $1705 p.p./dbl.occ., $1885 single

6 Days Aug. 16-21 Planes & Trains of the Pacific Northwest

Featuring rail and aviation adventures in Oregon, Washington & British Columbia. Ride Amtrak’s Cascade (twice) and the Whistler Mountaineer. See the Spruce Goose and the Space Museum at Evergreen Aviation. Tour Boeing’s wide-body jet plant and the Musuem of Flight. Two nights Seattle, 2 nights Vancouver (BC), 1 night Vancouver (WA), 10 meals, airfare, door-to-door service. 2750/3000 Gold Passport Points, $2750 p.p./dbl.occ., $3185 single, $60 EPD**

6 Days Sept. 6-11 Jammin’ Through Montana’s Glacier National Park

Travel Going-To-The-Sun Road through Glacier National Park, overnight at the Prince of Wales Hotel, 2 nights at Many Glacier Hotel, 2 nights at Grouse Mountain Lodge – Whitefish, 3 scenic boat cruises, the music of David Walburn, 10 meals, airfare from Sacramento/Kalispell, door-to-door service, Tour Director: Scott Angeletti, 2700/3100 Passport Points. $2780 p.p./dbl.occ., $3185 single, passport required, $75 EPD**

8 Days Sept. 22-29 Fall in Love with Colorado & Utah

Featuring first class service on the Durango-Silverton RR. 2 nights at the Zermatt Resort, visit Durango and Ouray – Colorado mountain villages, lunch at Robert Redford’s Sundance Retreat, Dinosaur Nat’l Monument, round trip air to Albuquerque/return from Salt Lake City, door-to-door service, 12 meals. 3050/3400 Gold Passport Points. $3020 p.p./dbl.occ., $3400 single, $60 EPD**

7 Days Sept. 29 – Oct. 5

New England Fall Foliage Sampler

Visit Vermont and New Hampshire at their colorful best – a taste of Maine, too! Cruise Lake Champlain, see the leaves on the Kangamagus Highway, visit Quechee Gorge and Shelburne Farm. 12 meals, airfare Sacramento/Manchester, door-to-door service. 3150/3550 Gold Passport Points. $3125 p.p./dbl.occ., $3525 single, $50 EPD**

7 Days October 3-9 Living! History! Nuts! A Mystery Tour

Mystery Tour-takers, here’s something a little different. Mark invites you to join him for a unique itinerary. It’s for the living, who love history and are a little nuts. Or maybe it’s for Living history nuts. He hasn’t decided. You could find yourself locked up behind bars, spirited away to another world, or just in a little town that is way different from any others for miles and miles. You know Mark loves to see “what’s over there, off the freeway.” This is one of those trips. The package includes 17 meals (every feeding except one lunch is already priced in), your airfare to this place no one has ever heard of and of course, we’ll pick you up at home. Living. History. Nuts. No kidding. 2400/2650 Gold Passport Points, $2365 p.p./dbl.occ., $2615 single, $60 EPD**

7 Days Oct. 4-10 Oktoberfest & Thanksgiving in Canada

A wonderful new tour featuring a Canadian holiday and a brief visit to Niagara Falls. Oktoberfet in Kitchner, Ontario – with beer barrel racing, music, foods and crafts. Visit quaint Canadian villages, enjoy a different sort of Thanksgiving Parade (reserved seating), 2 nights fallsview rooms at Niagara Falls in the Embassy Suites. 12 meals, airfare Sacramento/Buffalo. 2900/3350 Gold Passport Points, $2885 p.p./dbl.occ., $3340 single, valid passport required, $40 EPD**

Hannelore Sangmaster and tour director Clayton Whitehead demonstrate favorite calisthenics to energize (or at least entertain) travelers during an extended layover at Salt Lake City International Airport.

9812 Old Winery Place, Suite 1Sacramento, CA 95827

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PRST STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSacramento, CAPERMIT NO. 517

$ave $10–$40 per person on Cancellation ProtectionValid only when used with the adjacent coupon on the tours

listed. Your savings depend on the price of your tour. $ave $10 on tours priced from $451-$800, $ave $20 on tours priced from $801-$2250, $ave $30 on tours priced from $2251-$3500, $ave $40 on tours priced at $3501 or more. The regular cost of this protection is $15-$295, depending on the tour price. To receive the above discounts, you must pay in full within ten days of registration and purchase the protection at the time you pay for your tour. Within 60/75 days of departure (see Early Payment Di$count Coupon on page 23), coverage is limited to verified medical emergencies. Please refer to the Special Vacation Notes & Information brochure for details, or call our office.

VALUABLE COUPON

TOUR UPDATE…A brief list of tours which are sold out, or have only a limited amount of space (10 or fewer seats, number in parenthesis) remaining. Day trips are not listed.

Sold-Out Tours (waiting list available)

Capital, Rockettes, Pops Christmas Winter at the Ahawahnee

Small Town Christmas Mystery Puttin’ on the Ritz in New Orleans

Foodie Fun in Sonoma Christmas at the Davenport Hotel

Colorful Carolina Coast An Apple Farm Christmas

Take the Train to the Rose Parade The Kentucky Derby

Limited Space (10 or fewer seats)Key West, Miami & The Everglades – January 2012 (4)

Kia Ora New Zealand (4)

Colorful Cost Rica (3)

Winter in the Canyonlands of Utah & Arizona (10)

San Antonio: Deep in the Heart (1)

Alaska’s Denali Park & Kenai Peninsula (7)

Call of the Wild Mystery (10)

Over the River & Through the Woods (1)

LLC

Early Registration/Payment Di$counts listed here expire on December 1, 2011. To receive the discount, you must pay in full within ten days of registration. If you accept this option, the monies paid, including the cost of Cancellation Protection, are returned to you in full if you cancel more than 60 days prior to departure for US and Canadian tours or 75 days prior for International tours, regardless of the reason for cancellation. Within the time limits noted above, restrictions on refunds apply. See the Special Vacation Notes & Information brochure for complete details.

Mar. – Monterey, Big Sur & Point Lobos – $ave $10Mar. – The Oregon Chocolate Festival – $ave $10

Mar. – Spring Training in Arizona – $ave $40Apr. – The Castle, the Ocean & the Inn – $ave $20

Apr. – The Coast Starlight – $ave $40Apr. – The National Road – $ave $75

Apr. – On the (Pismo Beach) – $ave $20May – Off to Sisters, Just Around the Bend – $ave $25

May – Winding Through Weaverville – $ave $10May – Walking with Walt – $ave 25

May – Casino Mystery Overnighter – $ave $20June – The Dakotas – $ave $100

Jun. – AK’s Denali Nat’l Park & Kenai Peninsula – $ave $50Jun. – Portland Rose Festival – $ave $10

Jun. – Roses & Rose-Colored Glass in Victoria – $ave $25Jun. – Everything Roses in Portland & Victoria – $ave $40Jun. – Strawberries, Beaches & Flower Fields – $ave $20

Jun. – Take the Train to Truckee & Virginia City – $ave $20Jun. – Wendover & The Bonneville Salt Flats – $ave $25

July – The Calgary Stampede Centennial – $ave $60Aug. – Planes & Trains of the Pacific Northwest – $ave $60

Sept. – Fall in Love with Colorado & Utah – $ave $60Sept. – Big Trees in the Wild, Avenue of the Giants – $ave $40Sept. – Jammin’ Through MT’s Glacier Nat’l Park – $ave $75

Sept. – New England Fall Foliage Sampler – $ave $50Oct. – Living. History. Nuts. A Mystery Tour – $ave $60

Oct. – Oktoberfest & Thanksgiving in Canada – $ave $40Oct. – Fall in Yosemite – $ave $35

EARLY PAYMENT DI$COUNT COUPON

SLV_Newsletter_NovDec11_WEB

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