Courier March 2010 : Page 63
MEET THE MEMBERS “We constantly surprise our guests with our museum, whether they are Republicans or Democrats, and all those in between.” —Carol Cohea Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Simi Valley, California THERE ONLY ARE 12 PRESIDEN- tial libraries in the nation, and Carol Cohea, volunteer and visitor services supervisor for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, is proud to represent the one honor- ing America’s 40th president. “People from all over the nation and the world come to the Reagan Library,” Cohea said. “The library plays host to regular citizens and statesmen, and I never know who I’m going to meet on any given day. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and mountains to look at each day.” Visitors to the Simi Valley, Califor- nia-based attraction can climb aboard an actual Air Force One, step into a full-scale replica of the White House Oval Office and stroll the manicured grounds, which include replicas of the White House rose garden and south lawn. The Reagan Library also is home to President Reagan’s final rest- ing place. Opening this month and running through April 14, 2011, the venue will feature the “Inside the White House: A Special Exhibit.” The miniature rep- lica will give visitors an intimate look into the White House from the Lincoln bedroom to the Oval Office to tiny, working televisions and hand-carved chairs, tables and crystal chande- liers. In conjunction with the exhibit, the library will be offering a special “Miniature Tea and Tour” program for groups, which includes tea, snacks and a docent-led tour. For more information, contact Carol Cohea, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, +1.805.577.4066, www.reaganlibrary. com, member since 2006. Celebration River Cruises Moline, Illinois SERVING THE CUSTOMER AND having a dedicated team have been the hallmarks of Celebration River Cruises during its 27 years of doing business on the Mississippi. “We have a great team, and that’s so important,” said Susan Yarolem, tour and travel manager. “When I greet my groups and they board the Celebration Belle, I have no worries. Our freshly prepared food, entertainment and team are fabulous—seeing our guests’ smiling faces as they depart says it all.” The company offers a variety of cruise options, which range from four- hour, themed cruises to two-day, over- night packages. “Our themed cruises are very popular,” Yarolem said. “We offer themes of big band, classic oldies, Broadway show tunes, Dixieland and Oktoberfest. With our different themes and destinations, groups can keep coming back and have a different experience each time.” In June, Celebration will offer cruises to St. Louis, and in October, it will introduce a new fall foliage trip from Dubuque, Iowa, to Praire du Chien, Wisconsin. Its all-day cruise between the Quad Cites and Dubuque continues to be one of the company’s top-selling options. “You can’t go wrong with any of our cruises, they’re all great,” Yarolem said. “Just remember you must come hungry. On our all-day cruise, we provide three full meals and an afternoon snack, plus live entertainment, activities and captain’s narration along the way.” For more information, con- “With our different themes and destina- tions, groups can keep coming back and have a different experience each time.” —Susan Yarolem tact Susan Yarolem, Celebration River Cruises, +1.309.764.1952, ext. 204, www.celebrationbelle.com, member since 2008. www.NTAonline.com 63
Meet The Members
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Simi Valley, California THERE ONLY ARE 12 PRESIDENtial libraries in the nation, and Carol Cohea, volunteer and visitor services supervisor for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, is proud to represent the one honoring America’s 40th president. “People from all over the nation and the world come to the Reagan Library,” Cohea said. “The library plays host to regular citizens and statesmen, and I never know who I’m going to meet on any given day. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and mountains to look at each day.” Visitors to the Simi Valley, California- based attraction can climb aboard an actual Air Force One, step into a full-scale replica of the White House Oval Office and stroll the manicured Grounds, which include replicas of the White House rose garden and south lawn. The Reagan Library also is home to President Reagan’s final resting place.
Opening this month and running through April 14, 2011, the venue will feature the “Inside the White House: A Special Exhibit.” The miniature replica will give visitors an intimate look into the White House from the Lincoln bedroom to the Oval Office to tiny, working televisions and hand-carved chairs, tables and crystal chandeliers.
In conjunction with the exhibit, the library will be offering a special “Miniature Tea and Tour” program for groups, which includes tea, snacks and a docent-led tour.
For more information, contact Carol Cohea, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, +1.805.577.4066, www.reaganlibrary. com, member since 2006.Celebration River Cruises Moline, Illinois SERVING THE CUSTOMER AND having a dedicated team have been the hallmarks of Celebration River Cruises during its 27 years of doing business on the Mississippi. “We have a great team, and that’s so important,” said Susan Yarolem, tour and travel manager. “When I greet my groups and they board the Celebration Belle, I have no worries. Our freshly prepared food, entertainment and team are fabulous—seeing our guests’ smiling faces as they depart says it all.” The company offers a variety of cruise options, which range from fourhour, themed cruises to two-day, overnight packages. “Our themed cruises are very popular,” Yarolem said. “We offer themes of big band, classic oldies, Broadway show tunes, Dixieland and Oktoberfest. With our different themes and destinations, groups can keep coming back and have a different experience each time.” In June, Celebration will offer cruises to St. Louis, and in October, it will introduce a new fall foliage trip from Dubuque, Iowa, to Praire du Chien, Wisconsin. Its all-day cruise between the Quad Cites and Dubuque continues to be one of the company’s top-selling options. “You can’t go wrong with any of our cruises, they’re all great,” Yarolem said. “Just remember you must come hungry. On our all-day cruise, we provide three full meals and an afternoon snack, plus live entertainment, activities and captain’s narration along the way.” For more information, contact Susan Yarolem, Celebration River Cruises, +1.309.764.1952, ext. 204, www.celebrationbelle.com, member since 2008.
BASED ON ITS LOCATION ALONG the New Brunswick coast, NTA tour operator member Freedom Tours knows its way around the cruise market.
According to President Ellen Tucker, the company’s sightseeing tours for the big cruise ships that dock in Saint John have become one of its main offerings. “Our shore excursions are a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase, if only for a few hours, the beauty of our province,” Tucker said.
“We have found that, thanks to the great job our guides do, many passengers decide to return for a longer visit to New Brunswick and the Maritimes.” Tucker said cruising also played a role in one of Freedom Tours unexpected successes last year—a cruise from Saint John to New York City that included a few days of Big Apple sightseeing and then the return trip on a motorcoach. “We were surprised at the overwhelming popularity of this cruise and tour,” she said. “We had to keep requesting more space from the cruise line because we sold five times the number we had originally booked.” Another growth market for Freedom Tours is religious-based packages to Europe and the Middle East. Many of these are 10- to 14-day itineraries that range from the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play to “The Vatican, Assisi & Southern Italy,” “Journey Through the Holy Land” in Turkey and “Jordan & Egypt in the Bible.” For more information, contact Ellen Tucker, Freedom Tours, +1.506.632.1012, www.freedomtours. com, member since 1998.
Freedom Tours Saint John, New Brunswick Terra Nova Turismo Londrina, Brazil WHILE TRAVELERS VISITING Brazil in the coming years for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games will focus on the country’s athletic fields, it is the fields on Brazil’s many farms that are of more concern to the staff at Terra Nova Turismo.
The Brazilian tour operator specializes in agricultural tours from its base in Londrina, a city in the southern part of the country whose rich, crimson soil fuels its farm-centered economy. “Our agricultural tours are more than just a regular tour,” said Emanuel Ribeiro, Terra Nova Turismo’s operations manager. “Every day on these tours is a discovery day.
We give our customers the chance to explore the countryside, learn about our agriculture industry and to meet with real people.” On the five-day “Paraná Agricultural Study Tour,” travelers learn more about some of the main products area farmers grow and raise, such as sugar cane, dairy, grains and beef cattle.
The itinerary includes a boat ride in the waters near Iguassu Falls, which is one of the world’s largest waterfalls.
Terra Nova also offers customized tours based on specific agricultural niches, such as grain farms and beef cattle production.
Ribeiro said that the company’s agricultural focus has helped it branch out into other areas. “After many years in the travel business, we have transferred our agricultural experience to other types of travel, such as ecological and cultural tours.” For more information, contact Emanuel Ribeiro, Terra Nova Turismo, +55.43.3323.8745, www.tntagri tours.com, member since 2008.
Publication List
