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Train through Alaska June 2022

Ann’s Adventures has been doing group travel across Michigan, the United States, and the world for eleven plus years.  We specialize in making you feel like part of our family, you will feel right at home with us.

We are a family owned MICHIGAN based company. We have always been and remain committed to the economic success of our local economies. Ann’s Adventures focuses on group travel as a way to provide folks an opportunity to travel a planned itinerary with others who enjoy the same destinations.

With our experience, knowledge, and contacts, we have the expertise to create unique, interesting and budget-friendly group tours. Each will be planned around cultural, historical, sports or musical themes that you can identify with.

Thank you for your suggestions and ideas. I am a firm believer that traveling provides social, educational, physical, mental, spiritual and nutritional needs that all of us should experience to enhance our lives. I know you have all enriched my life. Thank-you!

Cabra Castle Ireland May 2022

 

We do business DIFFERENTLY.  You will work directly with the owner throughout the entire process.  Ann will listen to your needs to help you book the right group trip for you and your family and friends.

Ann’s Adventures is committed to creating safe, high-quality, affordable tours, and memories to last a lifetime.

 

 

 

Ann’s Thoughts and Comments… 

Please check out the information farther down on this page regarding your ID for traveling both in the country and internationally. As things continue to change, we need to keep aware and be prepared! Let me know if you have questions!

Thanks go to all those who come and help with the monthly newsletter. It takes a lot of people to get these newsletters folded, taped and labeled. I sure could not do it without your help!

Thanks to all of you who continue to spread the word about Ann’s Adventures. Your support has helped to build this company each year. We continue to grow. We now have about 4,000 people in our data base. I am delighted that so many people are enjoying traveling to so many different places. This is an amazing adventure for me as I continue to meet new people and go new places!

 

   

 

                       “In life, it’s not where you go, but who you travel with.”     ~Charles Schultz

 

 

 

                            FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024

 

2023 ended with a couple of exciting trips… The Christmas Mystery Trip was to Butler County, Ohio which is located
between Dayton and Cincinnati. We enjoyed a dinner at the Golden Lamb which is 220 years old. We had a donut experience with the Donut Dude and everyone decorated their own donut. A visit to EnterTRAINment was enjoyable from the behind the scenes tour to the largest indoor train display in the US to the Marbleous Marble Collection. There was something for everyone!. We finished up our time there with a pizza party for lunch. At Petals and Wicks, everyone got to experience adding scents to their own candle. A visit to BeauVerre Studios helped us learn about the stained glass process. Dinner at Mz Jade’s Soul Food filled us up for dinner and then we did two drive-thru Christmas Light displays before returning to our hotel. The third day we visited a large Antique Mall and an Ice Cream / Chocolate Shop on the way home. An exciting three days to leave your troubles behind and relax!

The next trip to wind up the year was heading to California for the Rose Bowl Parade. How nice that Michigan was prominently featured with all of us wearing our Michigan attire! New Years Eve we had a party complete with noise makers and hats. 

Of course, this means we started the New Year in California and enjoyed beautiful weather for the parade. Shortly after arriving back in Michigan, I headed to Nashville for the Annual ABA Marketplace. This annual conference is a wonderful resource for Tour Operators as we have appointments scheduled every six minutes for us over three days. I met with hotels, restaurants, museums, cities, farms, and so many destinations that want me to bring you to visit. I met with over 160 vendors and my head is still spinning from all the information I was able to bring back with me.

This update has several new trips as well as new ideas that I am working on for this year and next year as well. I was able to get a lot of ideas for our Route 66 trip in 2026. If you attend the Travel Networking meeting in February, I will be discussing other ideas and answering questions you may have about our travels.

I am grateful for the many kind expressions Rebecca and I received when my mom passed away in mid-December. She was 92 and lived every moment of her life with joy and music in her soul. She raised 9 kids and took care of many more (too numerous to count). She had 24 grandchildren and the 44th great grandchild was born 2 1⁄2 hours before she died. There are 3 more great grandchildren in production.

I am looking forward to a busy year ahead and enjoying planning trips that I hope you will enjoy! Everyone can’t go
everywhere which is why I try to offer a wide variety. Pick and choose the trips that sound like fun to you. Then once in a while try something new! You might surprise yourself! This is why a mystery trip is so popular…
                                                 

                                                   Ann

 

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

 

Travel Club Networking Meeting

The next Travel Club Networking meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 7th at 10:00 a.m. at the office. All are
welcome to attend. I am excited about many of our upcoming trips and will be happy to answer any questions.
Travel Club Networking Meetings are held three times a year to allow people to provide ideas for future trips, meet
with other travelers and get first-hand information about upcoming trips. They are in February, June and October.
This is also a great meeting to attend to learn about travel tips and why I do the trips like I do. Come and be a part of
the discussions. There are many great destinations.

 

Breakfast Club 

The Breakfast Club meets the first Friday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the Bob Evans in Birch Run. It is a great
opportunity to get together with friends, ask questions of Ann, or make suggestions for future trips. No reservations
are needed, just come and join us! Upcoming dates are February 2; March 1; April 5; and May 3rd, 2024.

 

Romeos!  Calling all men!  Come and join us!

This group of men gather monthly to enjoy lunch, laughter and good conversation. Romeo’s stands for Rowdy Old Men Eating Out! No dues, no committees, just eat out every month with other guys to provide input on whatever is of interest to anyone. All men are welcome!

The luncheons will be on Thursdays, December 21 at Joe’s Garage on Vienna Rd near Elms Rd; January 18 at
Leo’s in Clio and February 15 at Liberty in Flushing. We meet at 11:30 a.m.

This group was started as a response to the women’s Red Hat Society. The women have a poem, “When I am an Old
Woman, I Shall Wear Purple!” There is also a poem called “When I am an Old Man, I Shall Wear Plaid!” So, an active group of guys attended the first meeting and the Romeo’s were officially started. The Romeo’s wear plaid shirts and meet for lunch!

 

What is cancellation protection?

Cancellation Protection is a specified amount of money for overnight trips that is due with your deposit and protects all monies (except the cost of the cancellation protection) in the event of cancellation for any reason, anytime prior to departure. It is not insurance but does provide protection for the cost of your trip if you need to cancel. If your trip is interrupted, the cancellation protection would cover the unused portion of your trip.
Insurance is available and is included when we go overseas. Collette Trips include insurance and that would cover much more while we are in another country.

 

Become a STAR!

I offer a special program for frequent travelers. You can become a “STAR” which stands for Special Travel Adventure Rate!  For only $36.00 per year you can become a STAR! As a result, every trip you sign up for will be $6.00 less in cost.  Therefore,  if you travel at least 6 times in a year,  you will have made your money back and for every trip after that you come out ahead!

 

TSA – Transportation Security Administration
Acceptable Forms of ID

1 – REAL Michigan Driver’s License –
Michigan is enacting a federally acceptable form of ID.
This will be in effect by May 7, 2025. The REAL ID will be required for flying within the United States, entry into certain federal properties, entering nuclear facilities and military bases. The Real ID Michigan Driver’s license has a star in the upper right hand corner.

2Enhanced Michigan Driver’s License is already compliant and allows entry into the US by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean without a passport. The Enhanced Michigan Driver’s License has an American flag on the license just right of your picture. The newer ones also have a star in the upper right hand corner.

3Passport – is acceptable ID for any type of air flight to go anywhere. It is also acceptable for entry into certain federal facilities and entering nuclear facilities and military bases. It cannot be used as a driver’s license. To fly into the US from anywhere – including Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, you must have a passport.
Please check your driver’s license and your passport for their expiration dates.

 

Regarding Passports...

Passports are available at the Clio Post Office by appointment. Call 810-686-0810 to schedule your
appointment. You need your birth certificate with a raised seal to apply for one. They are good for ten years. The post office can take your picture or you can get a passport photo taken at another location such as Walgreen’s or Rite Aid. If you live in another city, check your local post office for their passport hours. They may vary from post office to post office. We also have passport application forms available in the office.

 

Going south?…  Going North?…  Please take note!!

The post office does not forward bulk mail. If you want to receive the newsletter and are heading south for any length of time, please let me know. You can receive the newsletter via email – then you can get it wherever you are, give me a winter address and let me know how long you will be gone or have the newsletter stopped. You can call and resume it in the spring. Newsletters are returned to me as undeliverable if you have your mail forwarded. This is costly. When a newsletter is returned, we remove the person from the mailing list until we hear from them.

 

W…ings for Travel

Preparations for a trip of any duration takes time.  I am encouraging everyone to think about preparing yourselves as well as your clothes, what to pack,  and what should be in your carryon!  Time to spread your wings!

1.  Waking:  Every trip requires an early start.  Begin setting your alarm a little earlier each day a couple weeks before the trip.  Then it won’t be such a shock to your system to suddenly be getting up so early every day.

2.  Walking:  If you not a person who walks regularly,  begin!!  Don’t try and start with a mile or two right away.  Try walking ten minutes a day then 20,  then 30.  It is amazing how much easier the trip will be for you if walking is not a shock to your system.  You will definitely have more fun!

3.  Watering:  Drink more water!  This is good for you even when not traveling.  However,  when we travel it is crucial that you not become dehydrated.  Keeping your body hydrated will help you to be healthier and your system to work more efficiently.

Get your own W…ings ready for travel!  

 

Travel Certificates Make Great Gifts

Looking for the perfect gift?   Travel Certificates are available in any amount! They can be used for any Ann’s Adventures Trip! There is no expiration date! Tell your kids you want the gift of Travel! These make great gifts for retirement, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or other special events such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day!

 

Driver Tips

For all day trips, the driver tip is included in the cost of the trip. On overnight trips, we do pass an envelope for the driver. 

 

Making A Payment

Payments can be made in cash, checks or money orders.  I can take credit cards however,  there will be a 3% charge added onto the payment if you decide to use a credit card.  Checks should be made out to Ann’s Adventures.  When sending checks,  please write on the memo line what trip the check is for.  It helps me get your payment posted to the right trip more quickly.  If you would like a receipt,  you should include a self addressed stamped envelope.  There will be a $15.00 charge for any checks returned for insufficient funds.

 

Do I need to send a deposit?

A deposit assures your seat on a trip.  When you call to put your name on the trip list,  that lets me know how many people are interested.  Your deposit (or full payment) assures you of a seat.  Sometimes there are more names on the interest list than there are actual seats available.  When the maximum number of seats with money deposited are full,  the rest becomes the wait list.  The bottom line is…  If you really want to go,  you should put down a deposit.  For day trips,  a $20.00 deposit will hold your seat.  For extended trips,  the deposit amount is listed at the top of the article.  The remaining balance for all trips is due 1 month prior to the trip unless specifically noted.

 

Can I get a refund?

Refunds will be given only if there is a wait list and I am able to fill your place prior to departure. Partial refunds may be given if I am able to recover the costs of prepaid tickets, meals, etc. Cancellations and no-shows on the day of the trip will not be entitled to a refund. Refund checks are issued AFTER the trip is completed and can take a few months to process.
We often have to wait for refunds to come to us from the hotels, activities, etc. Thank you for understanding.
Refund checks are issued to the person who paid for the trip. If your friend paid for your trip and you cancel, the refund is sent to the person who signed you up to go. In order for my books to match, the money refunded must match the person who paid it.

 

Medical forms

Is your medical form up to date?  A medical form ensures that I can give medical professionals correct information about your health in the event of a medical emergency. If something happens, they need to know your birthdate and list of current medications. If you need to update your form, I always carry extra on the trips. You can ask me for a form or call and I can email one to you. You can always pick one up when you are in the office.

 

Dietary Restrictions

If you have a special dietary need, I need to know this in advance of the trip. When meals are catered for a group of 50, caterers plan for the number of meals ordered and often do not have additional options ready on the spot. If you vary from the original menu, there may be an additional charge.

 

Stay Hydrated
Always carry a refillable water bottle with you on every trip. Staying hydrated is important for your health! We make
restroom stops every two hours so you can use facilities and stretch your legs!

 

Shirts for sale!

The grey t-shirts say “Not all who wander is lost”  and is on a section of a Michigan map surrounding Clio.  The cost of the grey t-shirt is $12.00 for S, M. There are also polo shirts (with a collar) in red or royal blue.  They are  monogrammed with “Ann’s Adventures” and the cost is $15.00 for the M, L & XL.  The 2XL is $16.00.  (1 left)  Check them out the next time you are in the office !!  A limited number of sizes are available.