Author Archives

Our July/August Newsletter is now live

By: Ryan Quinn | Aug 12 2010 — No comments

Mark and some fellow travelers meet Yogi Berra, Clayton talks about new security measures with the TSA and Sports Leisure is preparing for this year’s Tour Preview Day!

Check it out for yourself over on our publications page, or rest assured your copy is in the mail!

Our 2010-11 Tour Preview Day is coming up on September 11th.  This year’s show will feature the Food & Folk Festival, tons of entertainment, and as always – your chance to get the coveted Tour Catalog before anyone else!

Space is limited, and tends to go quick, so be sure to reserve your spot over on our Registration page or by calling the office.

On the Lincoln Highway….and Stuck in the Mud!

By: Ryan Quinn | Apr 19 2010 — 2 comments

Some of you may not be familiar with the Lincoln Highway, I know I wasn’t until just a few weeks ago.  Indeed, of the nation’s historic highways, the Lincoln Highway is quite possibly one of the least well-known.  This is an unfortunate fact, especially considering the exciting stops, interesting people and wealth of history the follows America’s first trans-continental road.  Having just returned from a 4 day scouting trip of the Lincoln Highway, I wanted to take a moment and give you all a brief update on Sports Leisure’s upcoming Chicago-Cheyenne trip on the old road as well as some things I learned along the way.

As part of my preparation for the trip, I spent the two weeks prior reading up on some of the road’s history, most famous stops and best bathrooms (an important aspect of any adventure!).  What I learned was that this road was truly a labor of love for all those that helped make it possible.  Private donations kicked off the highway’s conception and its supporters spent months preparing the best route to take through the country using mostly already existing local dirt roads.  Far from what we’re used to seeing today, the Lincoln Highway meandered through town after town of small-time diners, farm land and local neighborhoods.  Even after the highway was finished, traveling it was no small feat.  The trip took a minimum of 30 days to finish and the first Lincoln Highway guide even suggested that you bring full camping gear for some stretches and to light signal fires in the event of an emergency so local townspeople could come to your aid!

Above all else, however, I learned that when you’re traveling America’s oldest roads, some things never change.  Traveling the old highway today is just as exciting as it ever was – though arguably in a different way – and maintaining it is still a labor of love.  Most of the small towns were bypassed long ago and largely left abandoned, but you can still see the highlights if you know where you’re going.  For example, you’ll absolutely love the Egyptian theater in Dekalb and the old Creston murals.  Exploring the corn fields in Nebraska for trail markers is an adventure, but be careful!  Our trip left us stranded in a foot of mud while we searched the plains for evidence of a wagon trail long since deserted.  You’ll have to see if you have better luck than us come June if you’re joining us as we explore the Lincoln Highway.  One more thing, if you happen to locate the mysterious footsteps in Ogden, I want to hear about it!

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Surprise “visitor” mars Open House for Hundreds

By: Ryan Quinn | Mar 25 2010 — No comments

Sports Leisure News Bureau

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The annual Open House celebration at the Sports Leisure offices was a huge success last weekend, despite a rather strange visitor who insisted on interrupting each of the ten sessions.  A combined crowd of nearly 300 attended and were kind enough to bring along requested donations of toilet paper and Easter toys.  Nearly 1,000 rolls of TP were donated to Loaves and Fishes and 133 toys, mostly Easter bunnies, were given to Officer Zach Hatch of the Rancho Cordova Police Department, for delivery to low-income children as Easter presents.

Sports Leisure staff was on hand to share a lively presentation lasting a little over an hour.  Guests were treated to a continental breakfast or light lunch, depending on their arrival time.  Sessions were limited to a maximum of 40 to allow a more personalized experience for travelers.

A quick update of previously announced tours was given, with Scott, Ramona, Kevin, Clayton, Patricia and Mark giving one minute snippets on selected trips.  After a special interest feature presentation that varied from session to session, the schedule of short new summer and fall trips was unveiled.  All the trips will be listed in the upcoming Sports Leisure newsletter, which will begin arriving in members’ mailboxes at the end of this week.  Readers of this blog can access the new newsletter on line at www.sportsleisure.com, click on the new newsletter section in the middle of the home page.

As previously mentioned, the only obstacle to the otherwise perfect presentations was a visit from a character that insisted on referring to herself as “Honolulu Helen.”  Decked out in a grass skirt, coconut shells and a variety of cheap and tacky leis, she barged (and that is the only nice way to say it) into the room each time the program reached The Real Hawaii tour, regaling the audience with the virtues of the Sports Leisure package. We were only able to snap this quick, blurry photo of “Helen” before she darted out the door, but eye-witnesses report that the blurriness is actually an improvement over reality.

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Vice-President Clayton Whitehead, when asked to comment on the carnage…I mean visitor, could only shake his head and say, “Why, why did she have to come here.  Ten times in three days.  It’s just a tragedy.  We should have hired security to prevent that type of thing”

Mr. Whitehead’s comments seemed to sum up the shocked reaction of others in attendance.  Helen was last seen boarding a Super Shuttle van headed for the airport.  Despite (Helped by?) her antics, the program was a success, with many of the new trips reporting heavy sales interest this past week.

New Overnight Vacations Available at SportsLeisure.com

By: Ryan Quinn | Jan 25 2010 — No comments

NEW!!!  The Osmond Brothers at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks * 2 Days – April 1st–2nd

The Osmond Brothers started their careers 50 years ago and have sold over 77 million records.  Don’t miss this rare appearance outside of The Osmond Theater in Branson, MO.  Your accommodations will be at the Nugget.  You will receive dinner before the show as well as a $5 cash bonus and a $3 food credit if including the show in your package.  There are no bonuses or dinner for those not including the show.  Before returning home the following day there will be a three hour stop at the Silver Legacy in Reno where you will receive a $5 cash bonus.  200 Gold Passport Points  $179 p.p./dbl.occ., $199 single

Check it out here…

NEW!!!  Lily Tomlin at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel/Casino * 2 Days – May 7th–8th

In 1969, Lily Tomlin joined the sketch comedy show Laugh-In.  Some characters from the show have been associated with her throughout her career, including the wisecracking, snorting telephone operator, Ernestine and the bratty five-year-old Edith Ann.  She has also starred in many movies and continues to entertain audiences with the stories of her life.  Lily performs in the Nugget’s Celebrity Showroom.  Your accommodations will also be at the Nugget where you will receive a $5 cash bonus as well as a $3 food credit. Before returning home the following day there will be a three hour stop at the Silver Legacy in Reno where you will receive a $5 cash bonus.  225/250 Gold Passport Points  $219 p.p./dbl.occ., $249 single

Check it out here…

The Traveler for Jan/Feb and Open House Registration

By: Ryan Quinn | Jan 12 2010 — 3 comments

Just a quick note to let you all know that our Jan/Feb newsletter is now available online. This issue features new vacations, day trips, customer letters and more.  You can check it out by clicking here or heading to sportsleisure.com and clicking on it from the homepage.

We’re also pleased to announce that for the first time ever, you are free to register for this year’s Sports Leisure Open House online.  To register, simply head to sportsleisure.com and click on the post-it note in the top-left hand corner.  You will then be free to select your session and reserve your spot.  You can also register by giving us a call at (916) 361-2051 after Friday.  Remember, online reservations are available now, phone reservations cannot be made until Friday.  This event is open to all Sports Leisure Travel Club members and their friends.

The Great Comment Giveaway

By: Ryan Quinn | Jan 12 2010 — No comments

We hope you all had a fantastic holiday season, and would like to welcome you to the new year with a contest here at sportsleisure.com!  We’re offering a $50.00 gift card to a local restaurant OF YOUR CHOICE to one lucky winner at the end of January.  All you need to do to enter your name in the contest is post a comment on any blog post we release this month.  Not sure how to do that? Don’t worry, we’ll explain it further below.

The rules are simple:  We’ll be posting various articles, travel discount opportunities, announcements and random musings here on our blog at various times throughout the month. To enter, all you need to do is:

  1. Read the entire post
  2. Think of a great comment
  3. Write it into the comments section below the article on our site.

For those of you reading via email, you’ll first need to click on the title of the post to write your comment.  Replying to the email won’t work, to qualify for the contest you’ll need to post your comment on the actual site. Your name can only be entered into the drawing once per blog post, but you are free to comment on all the posts to increase your chances!

So there you have it, our first ever online contest here at Sports Leisure Vacations.  Remember, you can’t play if you don’t comment, so be sure to sign up for email announcements whenever a new blog post is released. Click here to sign up for email updates now. Let us know what you think in the comments ;-)

My Very First Mystery Tour

By: Ryan Quinn | Dec 17 2009 — No comments

“One of the best Christmas mystery tours of all time,” said Mark at this years annual Sports Leisure Preview Day in Sacramento.  While I can’t vouch for that – this was my very first mystery tour with the company – I can say that it was without a doubt a memorable and worthy contender.

Our trip started with a light snow fall in the postcard-perfect town of Stockbridge, MA; the setting of one of Norman Rockwell’s most famous winter scenes.  With the exception of a few name changes and new paint jobs, the town is identical to Rockwell’s original interpretation.

Luxurious house tours, summer “cottages” in Newport (which rival any palace I’ve ever stepped foot in), incredible meals in unique locations (Prime rib over an open fire with live entertainment anyone?), and a stunning holiday performance by the Boston Pops make this itinerary a real gem.

This isn’t to say it was perfect, look for next year’s itinerary to be a day shorter with a little bit less food and a smoother pace to each day.  With a little refinement, we know this will prove to be a trip that is a part of the tour calendar year after year.

The Berkshires, Newport Beach and “Holiday Pops” performed by the legendary Boston Pops Orchestra; you really couldn’t ask for a better Christmas time excursion!

Below is a quick slideshow of our trip.  Enjoy!

Exclusive Sports Leisure Travel Club Special of the Month

By: Ryan Quinn | Aug 29 2009 — 2 comments

Each month, we’ll be using this blog to post a new exclusive discount for Travel Club members only!  This month’s coupon will get you $25.00 off The Fourth in Philly tour which can be found on page 51 of our new 2010 catalog.  Make sure to check back here regularly for the Travel Club Member Special of the Month. 

To redeem your coupon, grab your Sports Leisure Travel Club number and click here.


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