Good morning! I'm back from Travel South and I hope you enjoyed Jeff's return to the world of InSite. Thanks to him and to Brigitte, who makes this newsletter look so pretty every week, for picking up my slack while I was down in Myrtle Beach!

The four of us who went down for the show had a fantastic time (waking up to the sound of the ocean didn't hurt either thanks to the guys at Caravelle Resort!). And I hope that, if you didn't attend the show this year, you're eager to hear what's new in the South.

In that vein, we have a goodie for you today. Usually, we publish the Travel South piece in April's Leisure Group Travel but I couldn't wait, so we have put a "sneak peek" on GroupTravelBlog.com so that you can check out all the new happenings south of the Mason-Dixon line.

As always, if you did attend the show, make sure you check out the blog as well and tell your fellow readers about your trip! I'd love to read your stories.

Bye, y'all!

From 1699 to 1780 Williamsburg was the capital of England's oldest, largest and most populous colony and the seat of power in the new nation's most influential state. Named in honor of William III, King of England, and designed by Royal Gov. Francis Nicholson, Williamsburg is one of the country's oldest planned communities.

Encompassing 301 acres, Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area programming portrays 18th-century Williamsburg on the eve of the American Revolution. Throughout the city, an engaging mix of sights, sounds and activities help guests reconnect with America's past and become active participants in 18th-century life.

There are few places in the world where so many birds, many of them unique or rare, can be seen in such a small area. For that reason, bird watchers from around the world flock year round to Trinidad & Tobago to catch a glimpse of the islands' more than 460 diverse species. From that large number, 22 types are exclusive to Tobago while 260 species can only be seen in Trinidad.

Because the islands were once joined to South America, they enjoy a wide range of landscapes, from mountains, savannas and deciduous woods to rainforests and both fresh- and saltwater marshes. In addition, the country is on the migratory route for many species of birds, making it a natural aviary.

The golden dome atop Colorado's State Capitol and its snow-capped mountain backdrop are dramatic symbols of the state, past and present. In current terms, the images represent its modern and vibrant cities, famed mountain resorts and Colorado's spectacular scenic vistas.

Colorado's network of railway lines is another of the state's symbolic links between the past and present. Railroads were the main delivery link to mining areas and now they are popular year-round tourist attractions.

Unique to Colorado is the number and diversity of rail experiences available to travelers, not only in the type of equipment operated but also in the landscapes they travel through.

Some prospects are better than others. In fact, some prospects are wonderful to deal with while others are a complete waste of your time.

Your starting point in spending more time with better prospects is for you to define clearly for yourself the attributes of an excellent prospect. Then your job is to find as many of them as possible.

Part of the charm of a state the size of Connecticut is that it offers so much variety both in landscape and places to visit in such a compact area. That means that your group can enjoy visiting its many sights, rather than spending hours sitting on the bus. At just 70 miles north to south and 110 miles from the NY state line to Rhode Island, Connecticut is the nation's third smallest state, but has more to offer than most states many times its size.

Connecticut boasts five tourism regions, and each one offers something distinctly different.

See what's new and exciting in the world of group travel from riding through the streets of San Diego, Miami and San Francisco in a three wheel Go-cart designed with a GPS system to investigating the mysteries of the human anatomy and physiology of the human body with the Body Worlds 2 exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Ride the new aerial tram in Portland to get a breathtaking view of the area and easy access to area attractions or visit the Dred Scott exhibit in St. Louis to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Dred Scott case.

This issue's Gate 38 is full of new innovative and exciting things to do on your group outing.

I was all ears when my host at a dinner party began sharing stories about his driveway service. He mentioned how he and his doctor golf cronies spend much of their Saturday morning golf game sharing war stories about how their service providers are screwing life up for them. From lawn services to baby-sitters. From yelling matches to small claims court. Bottom line: "They ain't happy."

Even though I don't belong to a golf club, I don't hire baby sitters, and my driveway is a functional piece of asphalt, I do consult with service providers who feel that the competition is getting too severe for them. Bottom line: "Get over it. There are people who need you."

As a general rule, service stinks today and the lousy service one receives is over-priced. This is the gospel according a bunch of wealthy New Jersey "swells" who are in need for people they can trust.

Everybody knows that Nebraska is mostly wheat fields with a few packing houses thrown in, right? Or maybe an area to travel through on I-80, just as the pioneers traveled the state's Mormon, California and Oregon Trails.

Would you be surprised that the state's group travel planner runs 285 pages and contains 28 different itineraries? Let's take a look at the state's top attractions. Unlike the pioneers, we're going to travel from west to east.

As Vice President of Theatre Direct/Showtix, it is Carl's primary responsibility to see that every visitor to New York City includes a Broadway show on their itinerary. Carl has the good fortune of traveling all over the US and the world, working with tour operators, travel agents, educators, and group leaders to get Broadway included in their programs.

Carl began his career in the hospitality industry as a front desk clerk while earning a degree in communication at The University of Texas at Austin. After five years in Los Angeles, he came to New York City in 1995 and joined Theatre Direct in 1999. He is originally from Houston.

Carl is very active in the industry and is currently serving on the boards of directors for the National Tour Association and the Student and Youth Travel Association.