Caribbean Cuise '08

This vacation started off on a very early and very cold and snowy start! We loaded the van around 3:00 am to head off to the airport. Lucky for us we were heading somewhere warm! We flew from Minneapolis to Miami where we were set to disembark on our cruise ship. We were welcomed aboard with a "Bon Voyage Celebration". Everyone started dancing and we kept our feet moving for as long as we could! Around dinner time we headed down to the main dining room. We enjoyed our first meal on the ship in the fancy dining room.

During our trip we visited 3 ports of call: Nassau, Bahamas, Half Moon Cay, and Grand Turks. We did so many fun things while we were on these islands that it is hard to mention them all! Some of the favorites from the group were: lunch at Senor Frogs and Margaritaville, a glass bottom boat tour, shopping at island shops, and enjoying the sun on the sandy beaches!! While aboard this ship we attended several very entertaining Vegas style shows. A favorite of the group was the Jerry Spring style "Love and Marriage" show. We all laughed at how comical the stories were! Our final day aboard the ship everyone enjoyed relaxing and hanging around this ship. We ate lots of great food and enjoyed some wonderful entertainment. We were up bright and early on our final day of vacation and ready to head north. Everyone agreed this was one of the most exciting and fun filled trips they had been on and can't wait to go again!

Alaskan Cruise '08

This was the trip of a lifetime for many of our vacationers. Not only did we take a tour of of Alaska, we did it aboard a cruise ship. Our group flew into Seattle, Washington where we boarded our Norwegian Cruise ship called the "Norwegian Star". We were amazed at the size of the ship when we first drove up and couldn't believe something that big could float. Once we came on board, we got orientated and explored the different levels of the ship.

We spent our first full day at sea. We enjoyed swimming and hot-tubbing, watched an ice carving demonstration, and enjoyed an evening show of dancing and singing from the Broadway play "Cats". Some other entertainment that we watched aboard our trip included Murray the Magician, the ship's version of "Family Feud", the "White Hot" dance party where we could only wear white, and so many more shows.

Our first land stop was to Ketchikan. We did some sightseeing and of course, a lot of shopping. Our next day was spent in the port of Juno which is surrounded by beautiful mountains. We explored the town and did a little more shopping. We stopped at a famous fudge shop and enjoyed delicious samples. The whole group spent some time taking photos of the amazing scenery. This was a short stop because we were off again to view the Sawyer Glacier next. We enjoyed the sights from the deck of the ship and even spotted a few Orca Whales and three brown bears. We arrived at the glacier and were surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and huge ice chunks. Skagway was our next city to visit. While there, we took the White Pass Railroad which was a 3 1/2 hour train ride in the mountains. We went through tunnels and over bridges and even passed a pool of salmon jumping, waterfalls, and hanging glaciers. When we returned to Skagway, we did a little more sightseeing of the town and bought more souvenirs. The next day we went to Prince Rupert, British Columbia. On our way we spotted a group of 15 Orca Whales and even dolphins. The scenery was breathtaking.

Besides all the unforgettable sights we saw, we have to mention the food! We ate so much during this trip and we give the restaurants aboard the ship four stars, which included our favorite formal dining restaurant called Versailles. We also spent a little time in the casino on the ship as well as the Spinnaker Lounge and the Carousel Lounge where all the chairs were shaped like horses. Everyone agreed that this was the most amazing vacation we had ever been on and want to visit again!

Las Vegas, NV '08

We arrived in Las Vegas with our eyes wide open and full of excitement. As we were landing, we got a great view from the air of the hotels on the strip. We checked into our hotel called Circus, Circus and were amazed because it really looked like one. On our trip, we visited so many amazing hotels that it is hard to name them all. We really liked the hotel called New York, New York because it was a replica of the 'Big Apple". It even had a cool rollercoaster that some of us braved. Some other stops we made were to The Mirage, Imperial Palace, and Harrah's. Then we toured Caesar's Palace and viewed a show of Zeus and the Greek God's that were statues that came to life. Next it was onto the "Sirens of Treasure Island" show at Treasure Island hotel, the Dancing Waterfalls at the Bellagio, and MGM Grand where we got to see the live lion habitat. In the evening, we took some time out to see the "Legends in Concerts" show which featured famous impersonators such as the Blues Brothers, Jay Leno, and Elvis. We spent another full day on a tour to the Hoover Dam which has been said to be one of the greatest architectural works since the great pyramids. Amongst all the sights, we found time to eat at incredible buffets with a wide variety of foods as well as famous restaurants such as Planet Hollywood and the Harley Davidson Cafe. As we proved on this vacation, Las Vegas is truly "the city that never sleeps".

Milwaukee, WI '08

This was a jammed packed vacation to the lakefront city of Milwaukee. The group was on the go the whole time because there was so much to see. Upon our arrival we took a walking tour of the area and strolled the lakefront shores that had breath-taking views. We all spent some time taking pictures and then stopped to enjoy a live band that played jazz music where some of us even danced. Our first big destination was to the Milwaukee Zoo, which is the second largest in the nation. Everyone loved the zoo and we all had different favorites when it came to the animals. We then took a sailboat ride on Lake Michigan aboard the "Sea Dog Sailing Ship" which was enormous. We did a sunset cruise and the views of the lake were spectacular. We were all speechless after that cruise. Our next adventure was to the Harley Davidson factory and museum where we all got to sit on fancy motorcycles. Then we were onto the Miller Brewing Factory tour. We were fascinated by the tour and couldn't believe the machines and the process it takes to can beer. Our next stop was to Discovery World and viewed amazing aquariums with many fish and a replica of the Great Lakes. On our last day we visited the Milwaukee County Public Museum where we saw amazing architecture, animals, and traditions of different countries. We then went to the Imax theatre to watch a film on the "Mysteries of the Great Lakes". Our last stop of the vacation was to the Milwaukee Art Museum. As I started out saying, this vacation was jammed packed with events and we didn't slow down for a minute. The group did find time to eat though and most said the highlights were the sailboat ride and Milwaukee County Zoo event.

Treasure Island/Red Wing, MN '08

The group spent a relaxing three day vacation along the Mississippi River Valley at Treasure Island Resort and Casino which is located near Red Wing, MN. The drive to our destination was incredibly beautiful and we even spotted a bald eagle flying above the cliffs. When we arrived at our hotel, everyone was excited to try their luck at gambling. Most of our group played slot machines and some even got lucky and left with more than they came with. We ate at a variety of restaurants but everyone's favorite was the huge casino buffet. We did some sightseeing of the town and harbor area. Everyone thought it was so cool to walk down by the water and view all the big sail boats. We also spent some time at the Pottery Place Museum which is an old pottery factory that has been turned into a shopping and knick knack mall as well as mini-museum. On our last day, we took a trip down river to Lake City. This is another beautiful city located right on Lake Pepin/Mississippi River. We ate at Skyline on Lake Pepin restaurant which was right on the water, then boarded an authentic paddleboat called "Pearl of the Lake" for a ride up and down the river. This was a highlight for all. The group got along great and definitely had time to relax on this fun vacation!

Omaha, NE '08

This growing riverfront city has many attractions to offer. Our group toured the Old Market district which is full of fun shops, restaurants and even has different musicians and talents that perform on the sidewalks. We ate at delicious restaurants yet our favorite was our visit to Dave and Buster's, which is more than a restaurant, it is like a huge arcade for adults. We all played numerous interactive video games and had a blast trying all the different games it had to offer. Our group also went for a cool sight-seeing boat ride on the Missouri River which overlooked the city. Then we toured the historic Joslyn Castle which is an old world century castle. The house was amazing and the grounds were even better with beautiful gardens and greenery. The group's favorite part of our vacation was visiting the Henry Doorly Zoo which has over 972 different species on display. Everyone got a kick out of the monkey exhibits and loved watching them swing around. We were always on the go but found time to relax at our hotel and spent some time in the pool and hot tub. Everyone had a blast!

Camp Confidence, MN '08

This shorter three day trip was jammed packed with fun outdoor activities. Camp Confidence is located near Brainerd on Gull Lake and the drive is spectacular. As we arrived we were greated with a personal counselor who was with us the entire trip. We settled into our own cabin and then headed out fishing on a pontoon boat right away. We had some luck fishing but everyone had a blast because we all got to drive the pontoon. The camp also has a petting zoo and we got to pet a variety of animals each day including rabbits, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and even a calf. The highlight of our trip came when we all attempted to climb "Smitty's Revenge". It is a huge tree and it is an accomplishment just to get to the top of the ladder. Two members of our group even made it to the very top of the tree. Another fun activity we did was to take a boat ride aboard a glass bottom boat. The water was so clear that we could see lots of plant-life and even spotted a couple of fish. The last attraction we went on was the huge slide. We all sat on potato sacks and zoomed down screaming with delight. Besides all the activities, everyone's favorite event was roasting marshmellows by the fire in the evening and sharing stories. Everyone bonded on the vacation and we all came home with more friends than when we left.

Wisconsin Dells, WI '08

This was a trip to Wisconsin Dells like no other. Due to heavy rains, much of the area was flooded and we viewed fields that were turned into lakes on our drive to our destination. Once our group arrived, we were shocked to see what was left of Lake Delton (where the famous Tommy Bartlett show takes place) which was almost dry due to the dam breaking because of excessive water. Not all was lost though and we still had a blast. The group did some Mini-Golfing at Pirates Cove, took a tour of the area aboard the Duck Boats (which go on land and water), swam at Noah's Arc Waterpark, and visited the Wildlife Exhibit. We ate at some interesting restaurants but decided that Paul Bunyon's Cookout was the best. We even spent one day of our vacation and drove to the unique destination of the "House on a Rock". This is an incredible place that has interesting displays such as a magic chair, a room of dolls, a carousal, and even a platform that you walk out on and it overlooks an amazing cliff. Everyone enjoyed the trip despite the flooding conditions and new that it only added to our memories.

Disney World, FL '08

Disney World is a magical place where we can all act like kids. When we arrived in Florida the weather was beautiful. We checked into Disney's Pop Century Resort which is themed with Disney characters everywhere and even has a pool shaped like Mickey Mouse. Our group had unlimited passes to the four main theme parks on the vacation which included Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, and Disney Hollywood Studios. Each day we toured the parks, met all the Disney Characters and went on amazing rides. There are so many fabulous shows that it is hard to name favorites but some popular ones with our group were "the Lion King", "Finding Nemo" and "Beauty and the Beast". The group went on numerous rides like Space Mountain, It's a Small World, Tomorrowland, and the Kali River Rapids. The group was also thrilled with the 4-D Theaters and loved the "Bug's Life Show" at Animal Kingdom. There were fun evening events such as the Spectra Magic parade with all the floats lit up with lights and the fireworks display at Magic Kingdom which topped off the vacation. Everyone had a blast and came home with numerous Disney Souvenirs to remember our trip by. As they say, dreams really do come true at Disney.

Branson, MO '08

Branson is our number one requested destination by LEEP participants and we can't blame them, there is something for everyone in Branson! The group went to numerous shows including "Broadway" which showcased numerous famous plays from Broadway, and "The Legends in Concert" which had impersonators of famous musicians such as Buddy Holly, Marilyn Monroe, the Blues Brothers, and even Elvis. Another famous attraction that we did was riding the "Duck Boats". They drive on land and then turn into boats on the water. Some of our travelers even got to drive and quack their duck whistles which was a highlight for many. The group then went to the Silver Dollar City where they snacked on carnival food and shopped for souvenirs. Another famous stop that they made was a trip to the "Chuck Wagon Dinner Show". While there they ate an incredible display of food, enjoyed the "Sons of the Pioneers" western band, and saw a lumberjack show. On their last full day they went to the Brett Family Singers and were treated like celebrities with front row seats and back stage passes to meet all the singers. In the evening the group went to the Dixie Stampede variety show which featured entertainers who juggled fire and spun 12 plates at once. The main show included horses, songs, and even a friendly competition between the two sides of the arena. This vacation was jammed packed with numerous shows, incredible meals, and shopping. No wonder it is everyone's favorite!

Fort Myers, Florida '08

This was the perfect spring break vacation for all our Minnesota Twins Fans. LEEP had a group of 12 gentlemen fly to Fort Myers, Florida to partake in the Minnesota Twins Training Camp festivities. The group had a blast and went to three pre-season scrimmages as well as had the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the Twins players. They all got autographs, photos, and souvenirs. When they weren't at the stadium, they were touring the beautiful scenery of Fort Myers and walking along the amazing beaches. They ate at well known restaurants such as Joe's Crab Shack, did some shopping downtown and toured the Fort Myers Historical Museum. They also went on a boat cruise and saw numerous dolphins that were so close, they felt like they could touch them. Everyone had a blast and said it was a great "guys get-away".

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

The LEEP group was ready to leave this cold Minnesota winter weather and was excited to board our airplane to visit the crystal blue water and white sands of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. We landed in Cancun and took our scenic ride down the Maya Riveria to view miles of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We arrived in Playa del Carmen and were shocked at how beautiful our all-inclusive resort was. We were greated with champagne glasses of orange juice while we checked in. There were numerous pools, scenic overlooks, restaurants and bars. Buffets were available all around the hotel grounds and we sure did our fair share of eating. The food was awesome and there was a huge variety to please all our different tastes.

On our vacation, we did so many exciting activities. Our first stop was to get our feet wet in the ocean. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and sand, while we all took a dip in the salt water. The water was the most amazing, turquiose blue! We explored the oceanside while sipping on strawberry smoothies. We also spent some time at the pools where we enjoyed Mexican music and played pool volleyball. On another day, we took a shore excursion to Xcaret which is a huge ecopark. We snorkeled through underwater caves and down a secluded river. The tropical fish were absolutely amazing and we were so close to them that we could reach out and touch them. We also toured parts of the park to view the manatees, sea turtles, flamingos, and more. Then we took a walking tour through the jungle and finished the day off with a boat tour out to the reef. On our fourth day, we did some authenitic Mexican shopping at their markets. Everyone did some bartering and ended up with great souvenirs. We then boarded a ferry and took a ride over to the island of Cozumel and did more shopping and sightseeing. Mexico is one of the most beautiful and amazing places in this world and we all decided that we want to visit again!