Aren’t we all seeking our own personal Arcadia in some way or other?

The European Renaissance idea of an earthly paradise has understandably captivated the minds and creative impulses of some of the world’s most talented artists.

Paul Gaughin, Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse all sought to bring their own vivid interpretations to light, each inspired by his own unique vision.

The works of these masters are to be explored in the upcoming exhibition “Gaughin, Cézanne, Matisse: Visions of Arcadia,” which runs June 20–September 3 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Gaughin’s Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going (1898), Cézanne’s The Large Bathers (1906) and Matisse’s Bathers by a River (1909–17) all will be on display.

The exhibition only is being shown in Philadelphia. It also includes pieces by Albert Gleizes, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Pablo Picasso and Paul Signac that tap into the French tradition of grand public paintings.

This is but one of the latest intriguing offerings organized by this grand institution, which welcomes early 1 million visitors annually.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s main building features 200 galleries. It’s home to more than 227,000 objects spanning the creative achievements of the Western world since the first century A.D. and those of Asia since the third millennium B.C.

It also boasts encyclopedic holdings of costume and textiles as well as prints, drawings and photographs displayed in rotation.

The museum’s American art galleries capture three centuries of painting, furniture, sculpture and decorative arts. Portraits, landscapes and figure paintings by 18th- and 19th-century masters as well as Colonial and Federal furniture and silver comprise some of the galleries’ works.

Many of the objects on view in the museum’s galleries rotate periodically.

Other upcoming exhibitions include “Secret Garden,” which runs through July and unites works in fiber by Ted Hallman, Sheila Hicks and Jim Hodges; “Craft Spoken Here,” on display until August 12 and featuring about 50 objects ranging from large sculptural works to small pieces of jewelry representing multiple cultures; and “The Art of German Stoneware,” which can be seen until August 5 and highlights the 1600s heyday of the German art form.

Private group tours are available for both student and adult groups. Students can experience guided tours with dining packages prepared by Granite Hill or one of Philadelphia’s landmark restaurants. Possible themes for tours include architecture, museum highlights, Picasso, American collections, women in art, saints and sinners and portraiture, among others.

NORFOLK, Va. – The Virginia Arts Festival exemplifies the state at its finest, celebrating top talent and the level of patriotism for which the area is famous.

The 2012 festival runs through June, offering a blend of world-class concerts, drama, dance, jazz and much more to cities around Hampton Roads. Festivities converge with OpSail, the first commemorative international tall ship sailing event locally since 2000.

Groups will find more than 1,000 area hotel rooms and discounted rates for groups of 15 and more. Adult group rates represent savings of up to 15 percent and student group prices are 50 percent off full ticket prices unless otherwise noted. Discounts are not offered for Al Pacino: One Night Only or jazz musician Chris Botti’s trumpet performance.

Among the most anticipated events is the Virginia International Tattoo, a two-hour celebration of goodwill and generosity of spirit including performances of hundreds of musicians and dancers from around the world.

The spectacular show, known for its big finale, is 7:30 p.m. April 27 and 28 and 2:30 p.m. April 29 at Scope Arena in Norfolk.

This year’s show commemorates the national celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the National Anthem. The Tattoo includes performers from many countries including Canada, Albania, Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands, Scotland and New Zealand.

East minute of the show took about 500 hours to prepare, said Scott Jackson, general manager and producer of the Virginia International Tattoo.

“It stands out in the year 2012 as unlike anything else,” he said.

The Tattoo Hullabaloo two hours before each performance allows people to interact with performers, sample food and drink beer.

For a complete lineup of events, visit www.vafest.org. Some highlights are:

• American Ballet Theatre’s Giselle with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. April 20 and 21 and 2:30 p.m. April 22 at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk.

• Norfolk NATO Festival, which honors the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its 28 member nations, is April 25–28.

• Virginia Beer Festival, featuring beers from around the world, including Norfolk’s own O’Connor Brewing Company, is 2 to 6 p.m. May 19.

• Trumpet player Chris Botti performs at is 7:30 p.m. May 20 at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach.

• Mahler’s 8th Symphony, with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, is 8 p.m. May 26 at William and Mary Hall in Williamsburg.

• Al Pacino: One Night Only, during which Pacino shares takes from his experiences with theater and film and readings from his favorite roles is 8 p.m. June 28 at Chrysler Hall.

Tall Ships will arrive to commemorate the War of 1812 and the Star Spangled Banner for OpSail June 2–12 in Norfolk. The non-profit event has celebrated patriotic American milestones in New York Harbor in 1976, 1986, 1992 and 2000.

Save the date for the 2013 events, including the Virginia Chocolate Festival, March 23; The Birmingham Royal Ballet, April 19–21; Virginia International Tattoo, April 25–28; Virginia Beer Fest, May 18–19; and Rite of Spring, May 29.

For more information, visit www.vafest.org; or contact Dianna Starkey, tourism and group sales director at (757) 282-2787 or dstarkey@vafest.org.

GULFPORT, Miss. — A new $30 million science and space educational center opened today on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, celebrating the intertwining of science, space exploration and fun.

Infinity Science Center, affiliated with NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center, is designed to challenge and educate visitors of all ages on the role of science and math in exploration across history. Infinity also showcases Stennis Space Center’s part in the United States’ space programs — from the Saturn V rocket for the Apollo manned lunar landing program to space shuttles and more.

Infinity is located at Exit 2 on Interstate 10 just east of the Mississippi-Louisiana state line. Infinity is Mississippi’s second science museum, joining Jackson’s Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in the mission of bringing science to residents and visitors alike.

“It is exciting that Infinity is now a reality,” Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said in a statement. “This state-of-the-art facility will ignite the imaginations of children and adults alike and will educate residents and visitors about Mississippi’s important contributions to space exploration.

"All who helped bring this spectacular addition to our Mississippi Gulf Coast are to be commended.”

Upon entering Infinity, visitors are greeted by Apollo 13 astronaut — and Mississippi Gulf Coast native — Fred Haise in a special welcome video.

The first floor features Great Nations Dare to Explore, a 4,000-square-foot maze that has visitors work their way from early Egypt to a future of colonies on Mars and moon research stations.

At Science Express, visitors can see how Stennis Space Center and its many agencies contribute to scientific progress on Earth with displays such as an El Niño buoy and a digital atlas with real-time data. Next, Science on a Sphere uses animated images to showcase adventures to the sun, moon, Mars or Jupiter as well as highlights of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The second floor takes visitors to the Space Gallery, which traces the history and achievements of NASA through America’s various space programs — Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Space Shuttle. In addition to space suits and shuttle rocket engine components, a focal point of this area is a full-size laboratory module of the international space station, featuring a video tour guided by former NASA astronaut Scott Altman.

An outdoor exhibit area rounds out the experience at Infinity. Here, visitors can get up close to a space shuttle main engine, a tsunami buoy and weather collection buoy developed and used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Data Buoy Center at Stennis.

Additional engines are to be added to the outdoor exhibit throughout the remainder of this year.

Infinity Science Center includes a gift shop and a restaurant offering food selections from eight different local Mississippi Gulf Coast restaurants each day and serves as the official visitor’s center and starting point for bus tours for NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center.

Admission to Infinity includes discount pricing  for groups and school programs. 

“Infinity tremendously enhances the image of Mississippi,” said Haise, who has worked tirelessly on Infinity. “The goal for Infinity is to engage and educate, to spur that sense of wonder and curiosity that took Christopher Columbus across the ocean and put me in a rocket to the moon!”

Infinity also offers a NASA Educator Resource Center through the NASA Education Office at Stennis, providing free educational materials and professional development workshops for educators.

Infinity has contracted with Hancock County Chamber of Commerce to run day-to-day operations of the 68,000-square foot facility in close partnership with NASA Stennis Space Center. The facility has 30,000 square feet of total gallery space, some of which is available for conferences and special event use.

For more information on Infinity at NASA Stennis Space Center, visit www.visitinfinity.com.

For more information on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, visit www.visitmscoast.org.

DALLAS — Everything is bigger in Texas — even the Broadway theater, as groups that enjoy Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) for the first time soon discover.

DSM is rolling with its 2012 season, having wrapped up performances of Bring it On: The Musical in February and The Night Rock & Roll Began in March.

Next in the lineup is La Cage Aux Folles, the 2010 Tony Award-winning musical starring George Hamilton that kicks off April 10 and runs through April 22.

DSM offers year-round performances for audiences of all ages, and has a heart for community outreach and education while enriching the cultural landscape of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Shows are held at Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas.

Group incentives include 10 to 20 percent off tickets for most shows, with groups generally considered to be 15 or more people. Group members may sit in different price levels and still receive discounts. Availability is on a show-by-show basis. Orders may be added to up to 72 hours prior to performances.

Dining at the Music Hall in Fair Park is available at a discount of 15 percent off for groups of 15 or more. The dining room offers a full buffet with full customer service.

The other shows rounding out DSM’s 2012 season are:

            —Rain, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert featuring the full range of the rock band’s discography live on stage

            —Memphis, based on the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tenn., that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love

            —Mamma Mia!, Catherine Johnson’s sunny, funny tale that unfolds on a Greek island paradise as seen by more than 50 million people worldwide

            —Peter Pan, the two-time Emmy Award-winning and two-time Tony Award-nominated production filled with timeless magical moments and a captivating hook

            —The Addams Family, which brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley and Lurch to the big stage

            For more group information, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org or call (214) 426-4768.

MIAMI – Ever meet face-to-face with a stingray or swim in a school of tropical fish?

Miami Seaquarium now offers Sea Trek Reef Encounter, a helmet-diving experience that allows guests to become one with the park's reef aquarium, while moving in ethereal slow motion in a near zero gravity diving system. 

Sea Trekking, developed by Sub Sea Systems, Inc., can be experienced by non-divers, ages 10 and older. No certification or swimming skills are necessary. In the center’s 300,000-gallon Reef Aquarium, participants may Sea Trek as deep as 15 feet underwater. 

Miami Seaquarium General Manager Andrew Hertz said guests get an up-close experience with the vast assortment of tropical fish and marine life species.

"This is a one-of-a-kind experience here in South Florida. If you can walk and breathe, then you can Sea Trek,” he said.

The Sea Trek Helmet Diving System is controlled by a compressor system that takes in air, compresses it, sends it through a series of filtration components and on to a control console and manifold to regulate the air flow to participants. Unlike deep sea diving, the participant's entire head stays dry throughout the entire experience. 

The Sea Trek Reef Encounter at Miami Seaquarium is approximately 90 minutes including an orientation session. Cost is $99 plus tax per participant. The program fee includes same day admission to the park. Discounts for the Sea Trek are available to participants in the park's dolphin interaction programs. For more information, call (305) 365-2501.

EVANSVILLE, Ind.-- A  dock on the Ohio River in Evansville is the homeport for LST 325, an authentic World War II warship that is open year-round for group tours.

LSTs — the letters stand for Landing Ship, Tank — were World War II-era amphibious vessels designed to land battle-ready tanks, troops, and supplies directly on an enemy’s shores.

LST 325 is the last of the 328-foot, 1,625-ton vessels still in operation. It saw service in the Italy invasions of Sicily and a later landing at Salerno, and the Normandy, France invasion in June 1944.

The ship was transferred to the Greek Navy in 1964 and used until 1999.

The USS LST Ship Memorial Inc. acquired LST 325 in 2000, and a crew of LST veterans took the vessel on a 6,500-mile voyage from the Greek island of Crete to Mobile, Ala.

In 2005, the ship arrived at its new homeport in Evansville.

Historical significance

The U.S. Navy announced in February 1942 that it would build a shipyard in Evansville to construct LSTs. Eight months later, the Evansville Shipyard launched its first LST. The shipyard was originally designed to produce four ships a month, but it ended up averaging a ship every three to four days and was the largest producer of LSTs in the U.S. LST 325 was launched in Philadelphia, but it is docked just up the Ohio River from the 45-acre site where the Evansville Shipyard was located.

During WWII, LSTs played a key role in the European invasions and the island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific. As many as 13 tanks could be carried in the lower deck and 30 to 40 trucks would be loaded on the top deck. With a flat bottom and ballast tanks, LSTs could be beached to offload cargo through the large bow doors. LSTs were also used in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

USS LST Ship Memorial strives to educate its visitors about the role of the LST and to preserve the memory of these ships and the men who died in battle.

Many of the tours of LST 325 are led by military veterans, and the tours are moving experiences as veterans, their families, and other visitors hear and share stores of courage, camaraderie, hardship, and valor.

Operators should allow 30 minutes for the guided tour. The dock and ramp are disabled accessible, allowing wheelchairs access to the ship’s main deck.

Motorcoach parking is available. Reservations are required for groups and for group rates.

At times, LST 325 is on tour, so tour planners should contact The USS LST Ship Memorial in advance.

For more information contact the The USS LST Ship Memorial Inc. at  (812) 435-8678. Or visit its website:  www.lstmemorial.org.

BRANSON, Mo.—A lot blew through Branson this year, including a February EF-2 tornado. But, as the group travel hotspot plans for its 100th anniversary next week, industry professionals want to make sure everyone knows Branson is open for business.

If anything, weathering the storm made the small Ozark Mountain town stronger than ever, said Steve Hartley, co-owner of Dick’s Five and Dime, a Branson landmark for 50-years.

“The media made it look like there was total devastation, which was very far from the truth,” said Hartley whose phone and e-mail has been tied up with messages from customers and Branson visitors wanting to make sure everyone is okay.

“Our focus now is telling everyone thank you for your concerns, but come to Branson if you want to support us.

“We’re going to keep moving ahead and put out the product people want,” he added. We don’t stand still in Branson.”

Starting Sunday Branson will move into 100 days celebration for its centennial. Major attractions include the opening of the Centennial History Museum on April 1.

April 1 also marks the launch of “See the Word in Branson,” in which area businesses showcase international destinations. Through May 6, business will use costumes, decorations, landscapes and other features to show off faraway lands. Included in the event is a two-day music festival April 25 and 26.

America’s largest international festival, World-Fest, will return to Branson’s theme park Silver Dollar City April 12–May 6, presenting top entertainers from all over the world. Acts include Viva Italia showcasing operatic tenor Aaron Caruso and The Mariachi Divas, a Grammy-Award winning all female musical ensemble that features voices from Mexico, Cuba, Samoa, Argentina, Colombia, Honduras and more. Music and dance from Hawaii, Peru, Kenya and Russia will also be on display at World-Fest.

Sight and Sound Theater will debut Joseph on April 14, with several amazing dream sequences including Joseph in his colorful coat “flying over the audience.”

April 14 also marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Branson’s Titanic museum will host “A Night to Remember.” The special, commemorative candlelight ceremony will feature choral groups and the lighting of the Titanic Eternal Flame. Distress fire rockets will be launched, bringing a solemn end to the once-in-a-lifetime event.

The next day, on April 15th, visitors and locals alike will be awed by Branson's Birthday Spectacular concert. With a moniker like “The Show of the Century” and an entertainment lineup ranging from Jim Stafford, Yakov Smirnoff, The Presley’s, The Baldknobbers, Foggy River Boys, Shoji Tabuchi, The Lennon Sisters and others, the event is not to be missed. Group ticket sales are available in limited quantities. Proceeds will be donated to victims of Branson’s recent tornado and support the new Centennial Museum. Contact the RFD-TV The Theater for more information.

May 17–19 will be the 52nd annual Plumb Nellie Days Arts and Crafts Festival in downtown. In addition to shopping for homemade treasures, visitors can also attend the Friday night street dance and live band on May 18.

Branson’s 100th Fest and Street Dance will be on Saturday, July 7.

In the past 100-years, Branson, a town of just 10,000, has evolved and grown in many ways, said Visitor’s Bureau president and CEO Ross Summers. Once a small fishing and farming settlement, today it is Missouri’s top tourist destination, welcoming 8 million visitors a year.

It boasts countless recreational activities including a zipline, miles of hiking and biking, three lakes, 12 championship golf courses, a historic downtown and dozens of museums and attractions. The region’s 50 theaters play more than 100 live shows packed with music, comedy, acrobatics, magic and more. To accommodate its travelers, starting April 16, AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, announced daily non-stop flights from Branson to Chicago and Houston.

While many things have changed in Branson, many things have also stayed the same, Summers added. For a century, Branson has held true to the values of its settlers. A welcoming spirit, tenacity to make it through tough times and a deep foundation of faith, paired with a heritage of craftsmanship and music, make Branson what it is today, he said.

“That’s the one thing we have always taken pride in," Summers added. "Branson wasn’t invented. It grew up almost by accident through a lot of hard work and belief in the American dream.”

For more information about Branson’s centennial celebration visit its100th anniversary website at: www.brason100.org. Or, contact the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau at 1-877-BRANSON.

You can also learn more about Branson’s rich history in the upcoming issue of Northeastern Group Tour Magazine, scheduled for release May 1.

FOREST, Va.—It’s been 25 years since Thomas Jefferson’s Virginian personal retreat, Poplar Forest, first was opened to the public.

Never before was anyone other than confidants, Jefferson scholars and architectural historians privy to this fascinating window into the mind and private life of the third U.S. president and primary Declaration of Independence author.

That changed in 1986 when Poplar Forest opened its doors to all, then it embarked on an extensive restoration project in the 1990s.

Interior structural restoration — including new oak floor joists, polished oak floors and conservation of 14 fireplaces and hearths — was completed by 2001. Walls and ceilings followed, and the most recent work focuses on making neo-classical moldings for walls, ceilings and fireplaces.

Some differences to the original plan are necessary. There were no railings on the original decks, but safety codes now require them.

The house shows that Jefferson was something of a math geek. Aside from the fact that Poplar Forest was the first octagonal home in the U.S., the interior space is divided into four elongated octagons surrounding a perfect cube, measuring 20 feet in all directions. The skylight opening is 16 feet long, with 32 panes of glass. Four symmetrical chimneys were designed for 15 fireplaces.

According to Poplar Forest experts, the house was so tailored to Jefferson’s unique tastes and idiosyncrasies that subsequent owners found it difficult to live there. The design is seen as a fusion of ancient and modern elements, inspired by the classicism of Palladio with French touches, including floor-to-ceiling windows, alcove beds, polished floors and an indoor privy.

Jefferson considered Poplar Forest to be “the most valuable of my possessions.” It also was a working plantation, and raised hogs, cattle and sheep for internal consumption. Its cash crops were tobacco and wheat.

The Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, the nonprofit organization behind preservation and restoring the home, has reclaimed 671 acres of Jefferson’s one-time 4,819 acres of original landscape, which he inherited from his father in law in 1773. Redevelopment of central Virginia farmland is responsible for the loss of property.

About 25,000 visit Poplar Forest annually. Monticello, the National D-Day Memorial, Peaks of Otter and the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park are popular stops among those who also check out Poplar Forest.

The estate is open to the public seven days a week, March 15 through December 15. Group tours are available year-round by appointment.Special rates are extended to groups of 20 people or more. For more information visit www.poplarforest.org or call (434) 525-1806.

OTTAWA, Kan.—History  lovers will find plenty of interesting attractions and fun things to do in Kansas as they learn about its past.

Explore the 34th state’s rich frontier history, from railways and depots that helped blaze a trail to the new frontier, to museums and cultural centers.

Franklin County, just southwest of Kansas City, Kan., on Interstate 35, offers heritage aplenty.

Its largest city, Ottawa, once was known as the Dairy Capital of Kansas. The county seat has come a long way from its roots as a company town founded in 1865.

A Victorian downtown, designed by architect George Washburn, still draws the attention of history buffs and art lovers.

While in Ottawa, be sure to check out the Old Depot Museum, a two-story passenger depot built in 1888. A model railroad layout, a Victorian parlor, general store, military room and more are waiting to be explored. Visitors can also explore the life of John Brown, a militant abolitionist who was hanged in 1859 after a failed attempt to raid the federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry.

From the parking lot of the Old Depot Museum, visitors can take a walking tour of Ottawa and take in a little street corner history. Eight interactive kiosks located around town tell the story of Ottawa’s past, from Santa Fe Annie to the legend of the Marais des Cygnes River.

At First and Main streets, learn about the laundry boiler that became airborne and launched itself across the street, killing a passerby.

In addition to the rail and walking tours, visitors can choose to explore any or all of the four driving tours of Franklin County, each one featuring local historical landmarks and points of interest.

Round out the visit with a stop at Dietrich Cabin, built in 1859 by Jacob and Catherine Dietrich, which stands as a tribute to the courageous couple who braved the hardships of prairie life as they sought to make their living on the new frontier.  

Cabin hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. during the summer.

The Midland Railway in Baldwin City, originally constructed in 1867, travels through scenic eastern Kansas farmland and woods past historic sites recalling William Clarke Quantrill’s flight following his infamous raid on Lawrence. Groups can opt for an 11-mile roundtrip to Norwood or a 22-mile roundtrip to Ottawa aboard authentically restored locomotives.

For more information visit the Franklin County Convention and Visitors Bureau's  website at www.visitottawakansas.com. Or, telephone the office at (785) 242-1411.

SALT LAKE CITY — Forget Fifth Avenue.

A new best place to get your shop on is Utah.

City Creek Center opens March 22 in Salt Lake City.

Located in the heart of downtown just blocks from I-15 and I-80 and a 10-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport, the 700,000-square-foot City Creek Center is poised to be one of the largest, sustainably designed mixed-use developments in the U.S.

An hour from 11 ski resorts, City Creek Center will be a unique dual purpose shopping and dining destination, said Tracie Cayford, deputy director at the Utah Office of Tourism.

“We’re very excited,” she said. “It’s not only revitalized our downtown area, but it is located across the street from our number one tourist destination: Historic Temple Square, which attracts five million visitors a year.”

Anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom, City Creek Center will show off Utah’s natural beauty as well as several marquee stores that are new to the state, Cayford said.

Tiffany & Co., Tumi, Swarovski, Papyrus, and Michael Kors are among more than 90 stores and restaurants planned for the center, owned by Salt Lake City-based The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and managed by Taubman Centers, Inc.

The site boasts a fully-retractable glass roof and floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

 “No expense has been spared in the development,” Cayford said. “If you stand out in the center of the mall the views of the mountains, Temple Square, and downtown Salt Lake City are amazing.”

Nature inspired art can be found throughout City Creek Center, including glass etchings, sand blasted animal tracks, sculptures and paintings.

City Creek Center also has a pedestrian sky bridge and 1,200-feet of flowing water. The central walkway features a re-creation of the South Fork of City Creek, a waterway that once coursed through downtown Salt Lake City and was a water source for early farmers.

“City Creek used to be at street level in pioneer day and now has been brought back to the surface,” Cayford said.

Two 18-foot waterfalls and three unique fountains — designed by the same company that designed the fountains at Las Vegas’ Bellagio — compliment the display.

 “Shopping is one of the top activities that group travelers like to participate in when they visit an area,” Cayford said.

 “We’ve always had good shopping, but now we’ll have great shopping.”

Details on the new City Creek Center shopping and dining development can be found online at www.shopcitycreekcenter.com; or call (801) 238-5320.

For more information about Utah travel, visit the Office of Tourism’s new website at www.visitutah.com; or call (800) 200-1160.

COTTONWOOD FALLS, Kan. — “A glorious nothing.”

That’s how National Geographic writer Verlyn Klinkenborg describes Kansas’ tall grass prairie. With its open sky and unending horizon, each year come springtime the prairie boasts a seemingly endless expanse of green.

Named by the Kansas Sampler Foundation as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas, the Tallgrass National Preserve in Cotton Falls gives visitors a front row view to the place poet Walt Whitman once described as “the limitless, lonesome prairie,” one of the rarest, most endangered ecosystems in the world.

Once covering 170 million acres of North America, today less than 4 percent of the prairie remains, most in the Kansas Flint Hills region.

“People have this image of Kansas being as flat as a pancake, but in this part there are rolling hills and rocky soil,” said park superintendent Wendy Lauritzen.

Visitors can watch the sunset and the moonrise at the same time, she said. “The horizon-to-horizon view is just magnificent.”

Summer brings a host of tourist activities to the 11,000-acre preserve. Starting at the end of April, visitors are offered free bus tours of the site, which includes hiking, stargazing, cattle, bison and a historic 1881 ranch.

Advance arrangements for large groups is recommended.

April 9 through April 14 is a wonderful week to come because of the Prairie Fire Festival in Cotton Falls, Lauritzen said. Every year, park staff and local ranchers start the prairie on fire, using controlled burning to prevent trees from taking over the delicate ecosystem. 

“It’s quite pretty. There are all these ribbons of red flames in the distance,” she said.

Within a week of the charring, the grasses and wildflowers start to grow. Come fall, visitors can find themselves up to their ears in grass, Lauritzen said.

Rich in historical importance to the development of the west, the Preserve and the surrounding area, give visitors a vast offering of opportunities to anticipate how early settlers felt.

Located two miles north of Strong City in the eastern portion of the state, the nearby Flint Hills National Scenic Byway allows visitors to explore parts of the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails, the Pony Express and the Underground Railroad.

Travel along the byway through Manhattan, Council Grove, Strong City, Cottonwood Falls and Cassoday for panoramic views of the prairie, its ranches and historic farmsteads.

Visit art galleries, antique shops and small cowboy town museums along the way.

Plan a trip between May 31 and June 2, and see the famous Flint Hills Rodeo.

Perfect for group travel with its outdoor terraces, gardens, classrooms and meeting space, Manhattan’s new Flint Hills Discovery Center will open doors to visitors April 14.

The $24.5 million dollar Center offers interactive exhibits to guests so they can explore the cultural and scientific history of the last stand of tall grass in North America.

Construction of the 35,000-square-foot building began in the summer of 2009 with a promise to inspire and educate visitors to the uniqueness of the area.  

“It really breaks my heart when people feel like Kansas is something to be endured on their way somewhere else,” said Jeannie Johnson, of Kansas Flint Hills Tours.

Johnson customizes trips and organizes farm stays for groups of 25 or less, providing them with an authentic rural Kansas experience. 

Often times travelling on the area’s gravel roads, she brings visitors to see historic stone bridges, barns, country churches, railroad sites and local agriculture strongholds.   

“People stay only on the Interstate and they think they get to see some of Flint Hills, but they don’t get to see the real Flint Hills,” said Johnson, who lives on a farm that has been in her family since 1927.

"People don’t realize all the neat things and small communities there are along the way.”

For more information about travel in the Flint Hills area, contact the Flint Hills Tourism Coalition at (866) 660-2622 or Kansas Flint Hills Tours at (785) 564-1450.

For details on the Tallgrass National Preserve, reach park staff at (620) 273-8494.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Get outside and get to Knoxville.

That’s what Tennessee’s tourism professionals are saying.

Opening in mid-April, the city’s new Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center will give tourists and travel planners the resources they need to create the low cost adrenaline-pumping, nature-loving, fun-filled trips today’s travelers want.

The two-story center will serve as a regional recreational hub, offering group outings and programs as well as providing maps and information on outdoor adventure in eastern Tennessee.

Set to be located in the city-owned Gateway Pavilion Building at Volunteer Landing, the Center is convenient to downtown Knoxville, the University of Tennessee and I-40.

 “We have great opportunities here for recreation in beautiful natural settings just minutes from downtown,” Mayor Madeline Rogero said in a statement.

“This effort will help promote those and encourage everyone to get out and enjoy them.”

The center is just minutes away from mountain biking and hiking trails, a climbing wall and Knoxville’s greenway walkways that line the banks of the Tennessee River, said Laura Jones, manager of Knoxville-based River Sports Outfitters, one of the partners in the project.

Just 40-miles away, Knoxville is also a gateway to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.

“You can be out in the wilderness in no time,” she said. “You don’t even need to drive.”

Hosting outdoor excursions for 29-year, River Sports Outfitters plans to operate the Center’s rental and retail operations. Its first floor shop will rent boats, paddleboards and bikes. Equipment from premium outdoor brands like Patagonia, The North Face, Smart Wool and Mountain Hardware will also be available for purchase.

“The outdoor industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S.,” said Jones.

The opening of the Center will allow River Sports Outfitters to expand its partnerships with hotels and group planners, offering even more trip opportunities for tourists of all ages and abilities, she said.

The Center’s second floor will host rental space for public events and activities and the offices of Legacy Parks Foundation, a non-profit focused on expanding east Tennessee’s green space, and the project’s third partner.

The opening of Outdoor Knoxville Adventure Center is part of the city’s three-pronged initiative to capitalize on the region’s recreational assets. 

Plans are also in the works to reinvigorate the website OutdoorKnoxvill.com and to host a three-day festival, highlighting the area’s adventure fun.

OutdoorKnoxville.Com serves as an online portal for information about the region’s recreational activities, venues and events.

The interactive website, provided by Legacy Park and maintained by Tennessee guidebook writer, Elle Colquitt, will help visitors easily plan trips and tours of east Tennessee.

Outdoor KnoxFest, scheduled Aug. 24 to 26, features races, runs, rides, hikes, boating and climbing. The three-day festival hopes to promote the variety of outdoor recreational offerings available throughout the region.

“It’s fun,” said Jones of the city’s interest in promoting adventure travel. “It’s beautiful to see the different parts of the U.S. that are unique in natural beauty. It’s one of my favorite things.”

For more information on adventure trip planning in eastern Tennessee, contact Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation at (865) 523-7263; or call River Sports Outfitters at (865)523-0066.