Archive for November, 2009

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Interlude Tours: Your “Station” for Escorted Heritage Rail Vacations in 2010!

November 30, 2009

Interlude Tours: Fabulous Heritage Rail Vacations!

Our vacations that include vintage rail experiences grow in popularity with each passing day. This isn’t hard to understand: So many people are aficionados of the old rolling stock–with all its history and lore. Yet even those encountering the classic trains for the first time love the journeys, as they take place in such a wide variety of incredible landscapes!

2010 promises to be a banner year for our heritage rail tours! The following are our available tours, their dates, and the heritage rail experiences they include.

Vintage Trains of the Great Southwest
May 9-18, 2010 (10 days, 9 nights)

Colorado Trains & Fall Foliage
September 17-23, 2010 (7 days, 6 nights)

Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup
September 25-30, 2010 (6 days, 5 nights)

Trains Across New England
September 26 – October 3, 2010 (7 days, 6 nights )

Lots of choices! Please note: the vintage rail experiences are just one part of what what makes these tours so great. Please follow the links above and have a look at the itineraries–you’ll see what I mean! If you have any questions or if you’d like to book a tour, please give us a call!

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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Black Hills Central Railroad: Escorted Vacation to South Dakota from Indianapolis

November 29, 2009

Our vacations including heritage rail tours are extremely popular. Here is one in beautiful South Dakota!

Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup (click here for itinerary)
September 25-30, 2010 (6 days, 5 nights)

Previous blog post on this tour: Custer State Park and its annual buffalo roundup

*           *           *

A ride on the “1880 Steam Train” is a must if you are traveling to the Black Hills of South Dakota. The movie posted above is quite informative!

Also, according to the official website of the Black Hills Central Railroad,

Imagine yourself immersed in the staggering beauty of the Black Hills of Western South Dakota! Imagine you’re gliding over the rugged landscape aboard a vintage steam train, like those that helped settle the Great American West!

Located near Mt. Rushmore National Monument and Crazy Horse Memorial, the locomotive offers a western experience like no other. Feel the power. Hear the bellow of the engine and the whine of the whistle as it winds it’s way through the scenic hills between Hill City and Keystone… and back again.

Please also take a look at the very interesting interactive route map for this railroad!

This is quite an experience, based on a storied history. According to Wikipedia,

The Black Hills Central Railroad currently operates the 1880 Train on the former Keystone Branch of the Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) between Hill City, South Dakota and Keystone, South Dakota. This railroad line was originally built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad as a mining railroad for gold in the Black Hills. It reached Keystone on January 20, 1900 and was later used to haul equipment for carving nearby Mount Rushmore. In 1957, the Black Hills Central Railroad began operating a tourist passenger excursion train service on this line. The railroad restores early twentieth century-era locomotives and train cars and has been featured on television shows, such as the Gunsmoke episode “Snow Train.”

We welcome you to give this heritage rail experience and the entire fabulous tour a try! We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Embedded YouTube video from blackhillstravel.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: Escorted Vacation to New Mexico from Indianapolis

November 29, 2009

Interlude Tours: Escorted Vacation in Indianapolis to see the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico

If you have ever wanted to experience the glories of a balloon festival, we have an escorted vacation coming up that features the largest such event in the world!

Scenic New Mexico and Balloon Fiesta (click here for itinerary)
October 2-9, 2010 (8 days, 7 nights )

This tour features the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, which is a nine-day event and the largest balloon festival in the world with about 750 balloons decorating the serene New Mexico sky. According to Wikipedia,

The balloon fiesta began in 1972 as the highlight of a 50th birthday celebration for KOB Radio. Radio station manager Dick McKee asked Sid Cutter, the first person to own a hot air balloon in New Mexico, if he would fly his balloon as part of the festivities. McKee asked what the largest gathering of hot air balloons to date had been. 19 balloons in England, Cutter replied. Kratz asked “Can we get 19 here?” Cutter agreed to try. He got commitments from 21 pilots, but bad weather kept some of them from arriving in time. The first fiesta ended up as a gathering of 13 balloons on April 8, 1972. The next year Albuquerque hosted the first World Hot-Air Balloon Championships in February and the fiesta became an international event. The Balloon Fiesta has grown each year, and today is the largest balloon convention in the world. On any given day during the festival, up to 100,000 spectators may be on the launch field where they are provided the rare opportunity to observe inflation and take off procedures. Countless more people gather at landing sites all over the city to watch incoming balloons.

The official website of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta also has a lot of great information.

Here is a very cool video of the “mass ascension” event in the Fiesta, which you will see firsthand!

Imagine yourself in the wonderful Albuquerque air, enjoying that gorgeous view! Why not give it a try? We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Photo by Eric Ward; used with permission.
Embedded YouTube video from geoff0522.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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Cape Cod Central Railroad: Escorted Vacation to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, from Indianapolis

November 25, 2009

Interlude Tours: Escorted Vacation to Massachusetts from Indianapolis to Travel on the Cape Cod Central Railroad

As readers of this blog know, in 2010 we are offering several tours that feature travel on vintage trains. Here is another vacation sure to please the classic rail connoisseur.

Trains Across New England (click here for itinerary)
September 26 – October 3, 2010 (7 days, 6 nights )

The Cape Cod Central Railroad is one of five heritage railroads on which you’ll be traveling during your vacation. According to Wikipedia,

The Cape Cod Central Railroad has three locomotives, and generally uses two on each train in a pull-pull configuration due to a lack of convenient switching locations. ALCo RS-3M #1201, nicknamed “Lulubell,” was originally built in May 1951 for the New York Central Railroad as locomotive #8246. EMD GP-7 #1501, along with its sister engine #1502, was originally built in 1952 for the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay railroad.

The Barnstable (#101), Sandwich (#102), and Bourne (#103) cars are used for sightseeing tours, and are all former Long Island Railroad 2700 series commuter cars. The kitchen/generator car (#250) is used on dining trains, as all meals served are prepared on board the train. The Cape Codder (#200) lounge car is a vintage piece of equipment originally from the Illinois Central Railroad. Much of the interior is original, including a number of pieces of plate glass. The Sandy Neck (#201), Great Island (#202), and Race Point (#203) dining cars were all built in the early 1940s and have since been completely restored.

The official Cape Cod Central Railroad website describes the Scenic Fun Train, on which you’ll be riding, as follows:

All Aboard For Fun! Climb aboard the Cape Cod Central and feel the thrill as the whistle blows and your fun-filled adventure begins. The rhythm of the train and the spirit of the crew will whisk you away on an exhilarating two-hour journey by rail.

You’ll pass beautiful cranberry bogs, natural woodlands, lush marshes and more as you make your way between Hyannis and the Cape Cod Canal. On the Cape Cod Central, getting there is all the fun.

The official website also has a nice page of photos.

Your trip on the Cape Cod Central Railroad is just one small part of an amazing vacation! Why not give it a try? We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Photo by Mark; used with permission.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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Custer State Park: Escorted Vacation to South Dakota from Indianapolis

November 24, 2009

Interlude Tours: Escorted Vacation to Custer State Park in South Dakota from Indianapolis

We have quite an adventure planned for you, which includes amazing vistas and an up-close visit with American bison!

Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup (click here for itinerary)
September 25-30, 2010 (6 days, 5 nights)

Every year Custer State Park holds its Buffalo Roundup, during which the cowboys and cowgirls of the park gather all the park’s bison together for branding, sorting, and vaccinating. Here is a short video with 2008 Roundup highlights!

Quite a herd, isn’t it?

Custer State Park is quite a fascinating place. According to Wikipedia,

Custer State Park is a state park and wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, USA. The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres of hilly terrain and is home to a famous herd of 1,500 free roaming bison. Elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions, and feral burros also inhabit the park.

Also, according to the official park website,

The park boasts scenic drives such as the Needles Highway (SD 87), which twists and turns its way past towering rock formations and through narrow tunnels. At the end of one tunnel stands the Needles Eye, a granite spire with a slit only 3 to 4 feet wide but reaching 30 to 40 feet in the air.

Custer State Park is just one of the many amazing things you’ll enjoy on this escorted vacation! Why not give it a try? We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Top photo by Buaidh; bottom photo by Mrs. Mailseth; used with permission.
Embedded video from SouthDakotaTourism.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad: Escorted Vacation to Colorado from Indianapolis

November 23, 2009

Interlude Tours: Escorted Vacation to Colorado to ride on the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (Travel Originating in Indianapolis)

Tours that include travel on vintage railroads are a big favorite with our clients. The following is bound to please the lover of classic trains and gorgeous scenery.

Colorado Trains & Fall Foliage (click here for itinerary)
September 17-23, 2010 (7 days, 6 nights)

Please also see our post on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad, a ride on which is included in both “Colorado Trains and Fall Foliage” and “Vintage Trains of the Great Southwest“!

*           *           *

There is nothing quite like riding on a great old train through rugged Western terrain. On this amazing tour, you’ll enjoy that experience four different ways–on four different vintage railroads!

Including the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. According to Wikipedia,

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad (C&TS) is a narrow gauge heritage railroad running between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. The track was originally laid in 1880 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. The railway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Chama houses one of the most physically complete railroad yards in the country. The mainstay of the fleet, is the venerable K-36 fleet, turned out by Baldwin Locomotive Works in August 1925. The arguable “flagship” of the line is K-36, #487, which has seen the most service in the operation of the railroad.

According to the official website of the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad,

Most of the abandoned track was dismantled soon after the ICC’s decision, but through the combined efforts of an energetic and resourceful group of railway preservationists and local civic interests, the most scenic portion of the line was saved. In 1970, the states of Colorado and New Mexico jointly purchased the track and line-side structures from Antonito to Chama, nine steam locomotives, over 130 freight and work cars, and the Chama yard and maintenance facility, for $547,120. The C&TS began hauling tourists the next year.

The official site also include two very cool maps of the route and its highlights:

Chama to Osier
Osier to Antonito

This will truly be a journey of a lifetime–that includes four vintage rail journeys of a lifetime! So why not give it a try? We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Photo by Sally Pearce; used with permission.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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Takakkaw Falls: Escorted Vacation to British Columbia from Indianapolis

November 18, 2009

Interlude Tours: Escorted Vacation to See Takakkaw Falls in British Columbia (Travel Originating in Indianapolis)

We currently have several Canadian escorted vacations available, all of them exquisite, all of them offering breath-taking natural vistas. The following tour is a fine choice among them.

Best of the Great Canadian Rockies and British Columbia (click here for itinerary)
August 27-September 6, 2010 (11 days, 10 nights)

Post on Butchart Gardens (both “Great Canadian Rockies” and “Jewels of the Northwest” go to this same amazing destination!)

*           *           *

Takakkaw Falls is one of the amazing places you’ll see on this trip–and one of the great waterfalls of the world. According to Wikipedia,

Takakkaw Falls is a waterfall located in Yoho National Park, near Field, British Columbia, in Canada. Its highest point is 1,260 feet from its base, making it the second-highest officially measured waterfall in western Canada. “Takakkaw” is derived from the Cree word for “it is magnificent”. The falls are fed by the Daly Glacier which is part of the Waputik Icefield.

The official Parks Canada webpage about Yoho National Park says,

With a free-fall of 254 metres, Takakkaw Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in Canada.

Of course, this just one of the glories you’ll take in on this tour! It will truly be the trip of a lifetime, so why not give it a try? We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Photo by Fir0002; used with permission.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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San Antonio River Walk: Escorted Vacation from Indianapolis

November 10, 2009

Interlude Tours: Travel to the River Walk in San Antonio from Indianapolis

Interlude Tours: Travel to the River Walk in San Antonio from Indianapolis

When February comes and you are on this tour, how thankful you’ll be you’re in the warmth of Texas and not in the freezing cold of Indiana!

Texas Escape (click here for itinerary)
February 21-26, 2010 (6 days, 5 nights)

Read previous blog post on this tour about the Alamo

This tour is all about relaxation–it’s truly an escorted vacation without any pressure or rushing about. Your first hotel is the glorious Drury Inn, which gives you direct access to the River Walk–a relaxed location if ever there was one!

According to Wikipedia,

The San Antonio River Walk is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River. Lined by bars, shops and restaurants, the River Walk is an important part of the city’s urban fabric and a tourist attraction in its own right.

Today, the River Walk is an enormously successful special-case pedestrian street, one level down from the automobile street. The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting the major tourist draws from the Alamo to Rivercenter mall, to the Arneson River Theatre close to La Villita, to HemisFair Park, to the Tower Life Building, to the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Pearl Brewery.

On the first evening of your itinerary, you will have dinner at your hotel and then go for a barge cruise on the river! On the second day, you’ll enjoy a wonderful guided tour of the city of San Antonio. Then, in the evening, you’ll have free time in the city, perhaps taking a stroll on the River Walk and selecting a restaurant for dinner that appeals to you!

This experience of the River Walk is one of the little extras you’ll enjoy on this wonderful tour! Why not enjoy warmth and relaxation in the depths of winter? We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Photo by Kkmd; used with permission.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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Interlude Tours Invites You to Tea on November 18, 2009!

November 9, 2009

Dear Blog Readers,

I hope you’ve been enjoying our Indian Summer! It’s one of my favorite times of the year. It’s also a good time to plan your winter-spring travel. We have over 30 tours for you to choose from currently listed on our website… and we continue to add new tours on a regular basis. Make sure you take advantage of our early sign-up discounts!

To help you plan, we’re offering a showcase at Serendipity Tea Room in Carmel:

“Tea, Travel and Memorable Moments”

Wednesday, November 18, 2009
9:30-11:00 am (doors open 9:00 am)
Serendipity, 2 West Main, Carmel, 46032

No charge, but reservations requested: please call 317.913.0387 or email joann@interludetours.com.

Here’s our “itinerary” for our tea!

  • Enjoy tea and scones at elegant Serendipity, where you’ll be surrounded by antiques and history.
  • Preview 2010 tours by Interlude Tours.
  • Are you the ring-leader for your group of travel buddies? Find out how you can take advantage of special savings on your tour… even travel for free!
  • Learn ways to preserve “Memorable Moments” in your life. Paul North will show you how to create a colorful and artistic “map” that tells a story of your life’s highlights and creates an heirloom treasure forever.

For each friend you bring who has not traveled with Interlude, you will receive a $10 travel certificate as well as an entry in a special door prize drawing!

We look forward to having an interlude with you soon!

Jo Ann Carr, President
Interlude Tours

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Magdalen Islands: Escorted Vacation to Quebec from Indianapolis

November 7, 2009
Interlude Tours: Escorted Vacation to the Magdalen Islands from Indianapolis

Interlude Tours: Escorted Vacation to the Magdalen Islands from Indianapolis

In 2010, we will be embarking upon a tour of Canada in which you’ll experience the breathtaking beauty of the St. Lawrence Seaway and its islands.

Discover the Magdalen Islands and St. Lawrence River Cruise (click here for itinerary)
July 1-10, 2010 (10 days, 9 nights)

One of your many exciting destinations on this cruise is the Magdalen Islands. According to Wikipedia,

The Magdalen Islands (Îles de la Madeleine) form a small archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Though closer to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, the islands form part of the Canadian province of Quebec.

Interlude Tours: Escorted Tour to the Magdalen Islands from Indianapolis

Interlude Tours: Escorted Tour to the Magdalen Islands from Indianapolis

Until the 20th century, the islands were completely isolated during the winter, since the pack ice made the trip to the mainland impassable by boat. The inhabitants of the island could not even communicate with the mainland. In the winter of 1910, they sent an urgent request for help to the mainland by writing many letters and sealing them up inside a molasses barrel (or puncheon), which they set adrift. When this reached the shore, on Cape Breton Island, the government sent out an icebreaker to bring aid. The puncheon is now famous, and every tourist shop sells replicas.

The island has many kilometres of white sand beaches, along with steadily eroding sandstone cliffs. It is an excellent destination for bicycle camping, sea kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing.

Interlude Tours: Relaxing Magdalen Islands Vacation

Interlude Tours: Relaxing Magdalen Islands Vacation

Sounds like a pretty nice place, doesn’t it? You’ll have to purchase a souvenir puncheon while you’re there.

Here you’ll experience several tours of the of the glorious scenery by land and by boat. You will definitely be in relaxation mode! You’ll also tour a traditional glassblowing workshop, the Museum of the Sea, the Aquarium of the Islands, and much more. We also have a wonderful hotel selected for you: Auberge Madeli.

Of course, this journey is just one small part of your amazing itinerary, so why not give it a try? We welcome reservations from Indianapolis, where we are based, or from any location in the United States or Canada.

Photo 1 by Perry Mastrovito; photo 2 by Antaya; photo 3  by Danielle Langlois; used with permission.

–Matt
The Interlude Tours Blog Team

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