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Real America News
Volume E6, Issue 1, Summer 2010
Sponsored By:
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In this issue:
Nuts & Bolts 2010...Benelux
In early June the news in the Benelux was dominated by two issues: elections in both the Netherlands and Belgium and the world cup Soccer in South Africa, the latter being the most important issue, at least in the Netherlands. The attitude of the Dutch, claiming to be independent people and being proud of their individuality, vanishes completely while the country is turning orange (including its inhabitants). Suddenly people are talking of “we”, being our National team and the rest of the country. As long as “we” win, the Dutch will keep on considering themselves “one team, one nation”, the moment we lose, we will go back to being unique individuals.
The travel behavior of the Dutch reflects the same individuality. People are looking for their own unique experience. If you look at travel to the USA, the share of tour packages continues to decrease. Published itineraries are used only as an example, but are hardly booked anymore. Even if people travel to the same destination as their friends, the experience should be different and tailor made. Tour operators that are not equipped to offer tailor made travel are strongly losing market share, in favor of the ones that did anticipate this trend.
This individualism is also shown in the attitude of the travelers who think they have the knowledge themselves. Who needs a travel agent? We have the internet, so we book our own flights, cars, hotels and find everything else in Google. Of course that is the other extreme of the story, but the fact is that direct sellers who are easy accessible through the internet keep on growing.
Official booking figures for the first half of the year only show a small recovery. Arrival statistics however, gave us a different view. Recovery is going faster than the figures are reflecting.
The recession is over, but both countries are having difficult times. Besides the Southern European countries causing the fall of the Euro, both countries have no current government, so no important decisions can be made. The outcome of the Dutch elections shows a divided country, votes are equally spread from left to right wing parties, predicting little hope for a quick formation of a new government. Even if a new government is formed, it probably will not be a strong unanimous one, so the future still is uncertain and stability is far away.
In Belgium the result of the elections is not much better. This country always has been divided by language; they are now facing the challenge of forming a government with a French speaking Prime Minister, working with a large party that doesn’t even want the country to exist!
Still, for the Dutch and Belgians, traveling is the ultimate way to express individuality; it has been and will be in their blood to travel. Much more than a recession is needed to keep them from traveling.
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News from the States:
Montana
LEWIS AND CLARK CAVERNS STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER
Whitehall, MT – Gold West Country 
www.fwp.mt.gov/parks
Montana’s first and most well-known state park is home to a new Visitor Center in May 2010. Located inside the park gate off Montana 2, the Center uses interpretive displays covering the geology, the ecosystems - both inside and outside the cave – and recreation opportunities throughout the park. The park, one of the most highly decorated limestone caverns in the Northwest, is also home to over 10 miles of hiking and biking trails, weekly interpretive programs, a campground, rental cabins and tepee and now, the visitor center. The park is open year-round for hiking and camping, while the underground 2-mile tours are available May 1 – September 30. For more information, directions or brochure explore www.fwp.mt.gov/parks.
BLACKFEET TRAIL TOUR
Browning – Glacier Country
www.blackfeetcountry.com
The Blackfeet Trail Tour takes travelers on a 70-mile route (on mostly paved roads) to 15 historical sites that reflect the rich and varied history of the Blackfeet people. Starting on the Marias River north of Heart Butte, the Trail’s markers explain the historical significance and offer a glimpse into the west of long ago. The route also provides vistas over the 1.5 million acres along the Rocky Mountain Front that the Blackfeet tribe calls home. For a map and details on the Trail, go to http://www.blackfeetcountry.com/blackfeettrailtour.html
THREE BEAR LODGE
West Yellowstone, MT – Yellowstone Country
www.threebearlodge.com
The “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” suites, king and queen suites and standard rooms and the historic 1932 Three Bear Lodge and Motel are now open. In 2008, a major fire devastated the hotel, but after 18 months of reconstruction, reclamation and rebuilding, this popular and unique motel is serving visitors with all budgets to West Yellowstone and beyond. Handmade guest room furniture, a massive volcanic rock, a log and beam exterior and reclaimed wood now decorate the lobby and common areas invite you to stay; while the Three Bear Restaurant and Lounge, hot tubs and summer swimming pool encourage you to relax after a day of play. For more information or to make a reservation, go online to www.threebearlodge.com.
NEW TRIBAL EXHIBITS AT ST. MARY VISITOR IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Glacier Country
www.nps.gov/glac
On July 1, 2010, the St. Mary Visitor Center opens five new permanent exhibits that will focus on the Native and tribal perspectives of Glacier National Park. Cultural experts from four tribes – Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai and Pend d’Oreille – provided an authentic and a true tribal view on issues related to land, plants, animals, mountains and history of the area to develop the exhibits. These perspectives became the foundation for the “Welcome,” “Bittersweet Meanings,” “Backbone of the World,” “The Wisdom in Spoken Words” and “Animal Lessons” panels, that explain, expand or embrace the roles of the tribes historical and present relationship with the park. In addition to these exhibits, an interactive 3-D topographic map, lobby interpretive exhibits and indoor tepee for oral histories are part of the Visitor Center’s new additions. Located on the east side of Glacier on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, the Center’s exhibits can be viewed daily mid-June – Labor Day.
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Idaho
Whitewater Park in Cascade - http://www.kellyswhitewaterpark.com/about.html
The first of its kind in Idaho, Kelly's Whitewater Park attracts canoers, kayakers, rafters and tubers for competitions or just to play. The park stretches 1,800 feet down the Payette River as it flows past the site of the old Boise-Cascade Mill. KWP is named in honor of Kristina Pickard's late sister Kelly Brennan and will feature five water features that will be a play park for kayakers, tubers, rafters, and canoeists of all ages and experience levels.
In addition, the park is home to a 2,660 square-foot welcome center that over looks the river and mountains. It is a gallery like setting that showcases the history of settlers, ranching, railroad, mining, timber industry and finally recreational background of Valley County. The river is a public waterway and will remain as such with the addition of the park, which means no access fees! Please see the KWP website link above for more information.
International Basque Festival in Boise - http://jaialdi.com/wordpress
Jaialdi was first celebrated in 1987 as a one-time event to celebrate the old and new, local and international aspects of Basque culture. Jaialdi ’87 attracted 30,000 enthusiastic visitors from all over the world. The festivities included a parade, symposium, Mass, street dance, sports exhibitions, cultural performances, souvenir booths, and food and drink.
In 1990, the governor of Idaho requested that the Basque community hold another Jaialdi as part of the state’s 100th anniversary celebrations. The 1990 Jaialdi took the same format, but with a few minor changes and improvements. The 1990 festival was so successful that the current every-five-years format was established. Jaialdi is always held during the last weekend of July, which coincides with the Boise Basque community’s celebration saint, San Inazio de Loyola.
The goal of Jaialdi is to celebrate Basque culture through dance, song, music, education, food and more. Jaialdi is an easy word to remember and say: It describes a week of gathering and taking part in a memorable time.
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South Dakota
Opening Dates Online
You know the season is beginning to heat up when BHB&L members begin asking for our Opening Dates calendar. That's our comprehensive list of Black Hills attractions that provides the name, location, phone number, and most importantly, when the attraction is open for business. Right now, you can access that list at our website: www.blackhillsbadlands.com. And our next Pine Tree Telegraph, which will arrive in your mailbox by mid-April, will feature the Opening Dates calendar as its centerfold. So, download a copy from our website or use the Pine Tree centerfold to provide this useful information to your visitors and employees.
Our E-Guide is Awesome
Webmaster Greg Valladolid has been pretty much chained to his computer this past month or so working on one of his most important annual projects - turning our Black Hills section of the South Dakota Vacation Guide into an awesome online engine ready to drive visitors into the Black Hills. Thus, it was with great excitement that he announced that all the links were hot, all the pages were turning and all the information was completely accessible for the 2010 Vacation E-Guide. Check out the WOW factor yourself by clicking on the E-Guide icon at www.blackhillsbadlands.com
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Wyoming
Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Audio Tours
The GaperGuide, created and distributed by a Jackson Hole company, is a self-driving audio tour of both Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. This dashboard-mounted unit plugs into your cigarette lighter and provides interesting information and insider tips while you drive. The tour is based entirely on where you want to go and proceeds at your pace. For more information and rental rates visit www.gaperguide.com or call 307-733-4626.
Georoamer Yellowstone, an iPhone GPS Audio Tour, talks and guides you through the park while you are driving. Just relax, drive, listen, and enjoy America’s first national park. Journal and share your experiences. App features include in-park audio tours with more than 125 locations narrated by experts, locations detailed with map text, latitude, longitude, and audio, plus much more. Visit www.georoameryellowstone.com for specifics.
Teton Raptor Center “Where education and conservation take flight.”
Teton Raptor Center is a non-profit raptor rehabilitation and education center in Wilson, Wyoming. Teton Raptor Center is open for tours and available for unique private event programming, including live raptor displays and flight demonstrations, where hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles take center stage. Learn about the raptors’ habitat, hunting methods, falconry, and conservation issues. For more information visit www.tetonraptorcenter.org or call 307-203-2551.
Old Faithful Visitor Center Grand Opening
A 26,000 square foot visitor center, near the world famous Old Faithful Geyser, will celebrate its Grand Opening on August 25, 2010. It will feature new exhibits and host new programs  to help visitors understand and appreciate geysers, hot springs, and other hydrothermal features in Yellowstone. Certification of the facility as a high-performance, environmentally friendly “green” building is being sought. More information can be found at www.nps.gov/yell.
Wyoming Flights from Los Angeles (LAX) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
United Airlines now offers a summer flight to Jackson from Los Angeles (LAX), in addition to the already successful winter flight, which operates mid December through mid March. The daily summer flight began in June and will run through August 23, 2010. For more information call 307-733-4005 or visit www.jacksonholewy.com.
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Gateway City News:
Denver
Denver Bike Sharing: B-Cycle:
Bike sharing is a new way of getting around. Pick up a bike at any conveniently located bike sharing stations and drop it off when you're done. It's simple, clean and affordable. Bikes stations are located in convenient spots downtown near hotels, on the 16th Street Mall, by museums, at the Colorado Convention Center, in parks and at shopping centers. http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/sports-recreation/denver-bike-sharing or http://www.denver.bcycle.com/
Fifty Free Summer Activities in Denver: 
Denver’s Blockbuster 2010 Summer is packed with free things to see and do, from fun festivals and outdoor movies to scenic drives and quaint mountain towns http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/50-free-summer-activities
DENVER SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVALS 2010 Guide:
Denver's growing roster of summer music festivals, jam-packed with big-name headliners and the Mile High City's best local bands, are a music-lover's dream come true. http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/museum-art/denver-music-festivals
King Tut Denver Dates Expanded:
During the exhibition’s exclusive Rocky Mountain appearance at the Denver Art Museum (DAM), visitors will be able to explore the splendor of the pharaohs through more than 100 spectacular objects spanning 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history. Because of strong interest in the exhibition, the dates have been expanded. King Tut will open to the public on June 29, remaining on view until January 9, 2011.http://www.denver.org/metro/media/press-blog?bid=132
Denver Beer Fest:
VISIT DENVER to Sponsor Second Denver Beer Fest in September: To celebrate Denver’s claim as one of the world’s great beer cities, VISIT DENVER is presenting the second annual Denver Beer Fest (www.DenverBeerFest.com), which will take place September 10-19, 2010. The 10-day celebration of beer-centric experiences will include beer tastings at restaurants, beer-paired dinners, “meet the brewer” nights, beer tappings, brewery tours and a variety of entertaining beer events. Denver Beer Fest is a celebration of all things beer leading up to America’s most prestigious beer festival and competition, the Brewers Association’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF), held September 16-18. Denver Beer Fest also includes the first weekend of Oktoberfest on Larimer Street, a Mile High tradition for more than 40 years.
Minneapolis/St. Paul/Bloomington
Bike Sharing Program
Minneapolis joins more than 170 cities worldwide with its recent addition of a bike sharing program. Nice Ride Minnesota is currently the nation’s largest bike sharing system. Launched on June 10th, the first phase offers 1,000 bikes in 75 kiosks located throughout Minneapolis. This comes on the heels of Minneapolis recently being named America’s most bike friendly city by Bicycling Magazine
For $5 USD daily, a rider can make as many trips as they like to different bike stations around town, and the first 30 minutes is always free. The bicycles will be available from April to November. Other cities are considering or planning to follow suit, including Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, and Chicago. Minneapolis has the second largest number of bike commuters, with 4,500 daily. By the end of 2010, the city of Minneapolis will be adding an additional 40 miles of bikeways, paths and improvements to the already 123 miles of trails and designated bike lanes already in place throughout the city.
For more information please contact Beth Satrang, Meet Minneapolis at bsatrang@minneapolis.org or 612.767.8112
MSP Airport Ranks High
Last month, a J.D. Powers and Associates reported that the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport came in tied for second place with Denver in a customer survey. The report measured customer satisfaction on six levels, including accessibility, the check-in and baggage check processes and food and retail services available. Customers thought most highly of the cleanliness of restrooms, the level of comfort around the gates, the ease of parking and dropping off in front of the terminals and the airport's signage and directions.
Sun Country Airlines launched a new route between London Stansted and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on June 11. This daily service utilizes a 162 -passenger Boeing 737-800. One-way fares start at $295/200 GPB. Sun Country has teamed up with Mall of America, Bloomington CVB and Radisson Hotel Bloomington to offer special packages with significant savings on shopping, attractions and accommodations. Learn more at www.suncountry.co.uk .
Delta Air Lines Inc. will expand its international service out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The Atlanta-based carrier will add new nonstop service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Mexico City International Airport, pending foreign government approval. It also will boost the frequency of its nonstop flight between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Paris-Charles De Gaulle Airport from seasonal to year-round service. And Delta's nonstop service between Minneapolis-St. Paul and London-Heathrow will grow from from five days each week to daily service in winter 2010. For more details go to www.delta.com
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Partner News:
Cheyenne
American Airlines will be servicing Cheyenne with two nonstop jet service flights to their Dallas/Fort Worth hub beginning July 15th of this year. The routes will be serviced by 44 seat Embraer ERJ-140 jets. Dallas offers big hub service with over 170 domestic and international city connections with less than a two hour flight layover for Cheyenne flyers. Excellent connections will be provided with early morning and late layover options for maximum scheduling flexibility. More information available at http://www.flycheyenne.net/.
Visit Cheyenne, the convention and visitors bureau, has jumped into "advergaming" - using a computer game to promote Cheyenne, Wyoming - as a new strategy for tourism marketing. As social media participation skyrockets, Visit Cheyenne developed the rodeo game to spread a fun Cheyenne message virally and to reach new customers - primarily the young - who may not be responding to more traditional marketing efforts. The game challenges players to ride a bull through three Cheyenne scenes of increasing difficulty culminating with the player performing at the world famous Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. The game is loaded on more than 360 gaming websites throughout the world, on Facebook (http://apps.facebook.com/cheyennerodeo/), and on Visit Cheyenne's website, www.cheyenne.org. The initial response to the game has been encouraging. According to Google Analytics, more than 800,000 unique players have played the game a total of 1.8 million times since February 1. In addition, the game features an "About Cheyenne" button which links directly to the Cheyenne tourism website (www.cheyenne.org).
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Rapid City
City of Presidents
Visitors to historic downtown Rapid City are greeted by the City of Presidents, a series of life-size bronze statues of our nation’s past presidents along the city’s streets and sidewalks. Whether you’re enjoying downtown shopping, dining or other attractions, you can enjoy these sculptures free.
The City of Presidents project began in 2000 to honor the legacy of the American presidency. Each year, four presidential sculptures are added in downtown Rapid City – two presidents from the early years of the presidency and two from more recent administrations. Each of the sculptures is privately funded, and the pattern of placement was chosen to maintain a coherent structure and eliminate any sense of favoritism or political gain. The project will end in the fall of 2010.
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Mall of America
Mall of America Welcomes New Stores for Peak Summer Travel Season
Mall of America® in Bloomington, Minnesota welcomes 12 new stores for the summer travel season. The new retailers include top designers like (women) Betsey Johnson, (men) HUGO Boss and (children) 77Kids by American Eagle. The new stores complement 50 other retailers that opened at Mall of America the last two years and the Mall’s other 520 shops. “Mall of America continues to set the tone as the leading U.S. shopping and retail center,” said Doug Killian, tourism director. “Sales through the first five months of 2010 are up almost 10 percent and the Mall continues to attract more than 40 million annual visitors from throughout the world. Mall of America offers an amazing variety of designer fashions and visitors enjoy no sales tax on clothing and shoes. Our selection of electronics, accessories and jewelry are unsurpassed also.”
In addition to over 500 stores, Mall of America offers 50 restaurants, over 400 free events annually including many Hollywood celebrity appearances and family attractions galore. Nickelodeon Universe® in the center of the Mall is the largest U.S. indoor amusement park featuring 27 exciting rides. Enjoy many other attractions also including Underwater Adventures® Aquarium, A.C.E.S. Flight Simulators, American Girl®, Rick Bronson’s House of Comedy, Silicon Motor Speedway, MagiQuest®, Theatres at Mall of America™, LEGO®, Amazing Mirror Maze, The Flying Dutchman Ghostly Gangplank, Moose Mountain Adventure Golf and Butterfly Bay.
Over 35 hotels in Bloomington are located within 10 minutes of Mall of America and offer courtesy shuttle service to/from the Mall and MSP International Airport. For attractive hotel packages, visit www.moaspecialoffers.com
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