Art Henry Tours

11/03/2023

Guide Spotlight!

Melanie Lokey!

I have been a guide in Nashville for 36 years. During that time, I also taught special needs students for 30 years, so I did tours on weekends and breaks. In 2018, I retired from teaching and have been doing tours exclusively since then. I’m a people person, so I enjoy meeting new people and sharing Nashville with them. Our city is rich in history, culture, and tradition, so I love sharing stories with our guests. I enjoy singing, cooking, baking, exercising, and spending time with my family and friends. Plan your trip to Nashville, and I’d be happy to be your guide.

When you book your trip to Nashville, Melanie might be your guide!! For more information about our Nashville trips, don't hesitate to get in touch with our team at Art Henry Tours.

11/01/2023

Group Spotlight!

Kline Tours!

Recently, we had one of our fantastic groups do our Branson itinerary. Kline Tours had the opportunity to visit almost everything that Branson had to offer. The group took in a few of the spectacular shows that Branson has, such as Clay Cooper's Country Express and the Pierce Arrow Quartet with songs from 4 decades. They got to explore the Dogwood Canyon and see the beautiful cascading waterfalls and gorgeous wildlife. The group took a side trip to Eureka Springs AR. Once there, they had the chance to take in the Holy Land Tour, and then see the Great Passion Play and take in the wonder and glory of the Greatest Story ever told. Back in Branson, Kline Tours took in more shows and got to see the outstanding country band of the Oak Ridge Boys. And with that, the group traveled back to St. Louis for some free time and journeyed back home.

If you would like more information about our Branson itinerary please reach out to our team at Art Henry and we will gladly help your group with their journey to explore the world.


photos courtesy of Kline Tours.

10/31/2023

Happy Halloween from our team at Art Henry Tours!

10/30/2023

Recently, our owner, James, participated in a charity golf tournament with his team. This was their 1st annual "Putting for the Pups." We were one of their proud sponsors of a hole for the tournament. The golf tournament was put on to help raise money and awareness for A Freedom Journey. A little bit about them: "We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing severely neglected, abused, and abandoned dogs. Committed to rehabilitating them, training them, and placing them in loving and forever homes. Part of our mission is to train eligible rescue dogs as service dogs to military veterans." Even though the team did not win, they had a fun time helping to bring awareness to a very special cause. A Freedom Journey

09/18/2023

Our next Spotlight Guide is:

Anita Anderson

Anita moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville in the mid-1990s to pursue a country music career. In the late 90s, she toured with country artist Patty Loveless as a background singer. These days, she continues to perform in the Nashville area, and she is a featured artist on an RFD-TV show called The Merlin Gene Show. In addition to singing, Anita enjoys spending time with her husband, her family, her friends, and her golden retriever, Abbie. She also loves being a tour guide where she has the opportunity to meet new people and talk about the history of Nashville and the history of country music.

Anita might be your guide if you take one of our Nashville tours. If you would like more information about our Nashville tours, please contact our team at Art Henry.

09/15/2023

We are sponsoring a hole-in-a-golf tournament benefiting a local dog rescue. Our fearless leader, James, is playing the tournament as well. Help us support this wonderful cause!

I want to take a moment to thank our newest sponsors who have signed up!! We truly appreciate your support and look forward to a wonderful event!

Oh Doggonit
The Nashville Sports Bark Club
Art Henry Tours
Helix SEO, Inc
Creech Ladders & Racks
CrossFit Combustion
Spring Hill Dental Center

09/11/2023

Recently, we received sad news in regard to one of our longtime guides Pat Eilert.

All of us at Art Henry Tours are saddened by the passing of our long-time tour guide and friend in Branson, Pat Eilert. Anyone who met Pat knows what an amazing woman she was, from her love of sewing and bowling to her generous spirit to how patriotic she was and how involved she was with the DAV Auxiliary in Branson. All the groups she guided over the years know how much fun Pat was, from decorating the coach they were on, doing giveaways, and sharing her love of Branson. Pat will be greatly missed by all.

https://www.komc.com/news-content/obituary/patricia-pat-kay-eilert/

09/06/2023

Itinerary Spotlight

Join us in traveling out west to Rapid City, South Dakota. Rapid City is named one of the best small towns to visit. They have much to offer for history buffs, outdoor adventurists, and shoppers.
On our itinerary, we do our best to hit all the highlights that Rapid City has to offer. Rapid City is close to many National Parks. One of the most popular parks to visit is Mt. Rushmore. The view of the past presidents carved into the side of a mountain is a majestic view. Another striking monument to visit is the Crazy Horse Memorial. It is the world's largest mountain carving to honor the North American Indian living culture. The next state park to visit is Custer State Park. This park is a wildlife reserve in the Black Hills of South Dakota. An additional park that the Rapid City area has to offer is the Badlands. The Badlands offer striking views of dramatic landscapes from steep canyons to towering spires.
For our shoppers, a stop at the Wall Drug wouldn't be amiss. Wall Drug is home to the "free ice water." It is a stop that will bring the joy out of anyone from homemade donuts to a 6-foot jackalope. The Downtown Rapid City has many shops and restaurants for visitors to explore.
If you would like to book this itinerary for your group, please contact our team at Art Henry for more information.

photos courtesy of visitrapidcity.com and crazyhorsememorial.com

08/30/2023

Group Spotlight!

Countryside Tours!

We recently had a fantastic group do our Branson Itinerary. Countryside Tours took a wonderful group of travelers from Michigan down to Branson, Missouri. They spent 7 days exploring Branson and some of Illinois. They got to eat dinner at the fun Jackie B. Goode's Uptown Café, a restaurant designed after 1950's diners. The group enjoyed many different shows, such as The Duttons, Doug Gabriel, Pierce Arrow, Clay Cooper's Country Express, and Dublin's Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies.
The group explored the Dogwood Canyon with a delicious buffet lunch. The scenery of the nature park was breathtaking, with views of waterfalls, lush greenery, and unique hand-built bridges.
On the trip back to Michigan, the group got into the Christmas spirit early with a stop at Hardy's Reindeer Ranch. A couple of the travelers even braved a chance to get a "reindeer kiss💋." And they later ate an authentic chuckwagon dinner after visiting the reindeer. And so ends the Countryside Tours trip to Branson and we had the best time planning this trip for them.
Countryside Tours, Inc.

If you would like more information about our Branson itinerary, please contact our team at Art Henry Tours.

08/24/2023

Exploring the world is a passion we provide for our groups here at Art Henry Tours. A destination that our groups love to visit and explore is Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a beautiful country with a fantastic culture and even more breathtaking sites in Central America. With our groups going to Costa Rica, there is a chance for our excellent guide, Michael, to be there to help show them around his beloved home.
Costa Rica has much to offer for our outdoor enthusiasts, from visiting natural hot springs to hikes through a volcano, going through the rainforest, and seeing native animals. Costa Rica has many waterfalls to explore and enjoy the sites and sounds of. Costa Rica has 763 miles of oceanfront property and beaches for people to explore and relax.
Our groups get the opportunity to shop for local and fresh ingredients and then have a local chef help them prepare and cook an authentic Costa Rican meal. There are many local shops to visit and buy a little souvenirs from. The groups have the chance to visit a local coffee plantation and see local artisans and their craftsmanship.
If you would like more information on our Costa Rica itinerary, please get in touch with our team at Art Henry Tours.

08/21/2023

Meet Our Guides!

The next guide we would like to introduce you to is Michael!

MEET MICHAEL (DEVIDTS)
Michael has been in tour guiding since the1960s during his college days at the University of New Orleans. He acted as host to a touring company of Kabuki performers (9 members strong, none speaking any English). This chance experience led him to appreciate the city of New Orleans in an amazing way. And it began his passion to make sure all who came to visit found that same excitement. At that time, tour guiding was an enhancement to his hotel management experience, eventually moving into tour planning for the Carriageway/World FairTours Company.
That's where he met James from Art Henry Tours.
Along the way, he puts his cooking/chef certification into play and begins teaching for The New Orleans School of Cooking. Combining his love of food, culture, and history into one neat package, he shares it all with those visitors to his wonderful city.
Now, a "half-timer" in New Orleans, he splits his time between The New Orleans School of Cooking and Art Henry Tours. The other half of the year, he’s in the wonderful country of Costa Rica where he escorts all of the Art Henry Tours! He provides similar experiences in Costa Rica, both in the culture of the Tico world and its foods.

Michael is an amazing asset to Art Henry Tours! You might have a chance to meet Michael either in New Orleans or Costa Rica on one of our trips that we can book for your group!

08/15/2023

Spotlight City!

Our August spotlight city is Charleston, SC. Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities in the South. Charleston has a very vibrant history and some of the most beautiful architecture. One of the best ways to see the city is by taking a carriage ride tour. The carriage ride takes you through the historic downtown seeing Rainbow Row, historic churches, gardens, and maybe a pineapple fountain. If you love shopping, a stop at Charleston City Market wouldn't be amiss. You can explore the shops and stands, and eat a nice lunch. For our history buffs, a cruise through Charleston Harbor and a stop at Fort Sumter would be an eye-opening experience when you can learn about the start of America's most bloody war. Charleston is also known for their plantations. One of the more popular ones to visit is Boone Hall. Boone Hall was the start of the driveways lined on either side with live oak trees. The Charleston Tea Garden is where America was able to grow tea for the first time. Charleston has so much more to offer from food to history explore.

If you would like to visit Charleston with your group, we have the ability to customize an itinerary to suit your group's needs or wants. Please contact our team at Art Henry for more information.

08/09/2023

At Art Henry, we are always exploring opportunities for new itineraries. Recently, our owners, James and Kay, spent 4 days exploring Buenos Aires, Argentina. They got to view the beautiful architecture of the buildings that Buenos Aires has to offer. And of course, you cannot go to Argentina without seeing and taking Tango lessons and viewing a show. Kay showed off her cooking skills and made empanadas that turned out delicious. They had the chance to visit some famous sites such as the Pink House and Eva Peron's tomb. The biggest adventure they took was a plane ride to the Iguazu National Park to see the wonderful Iguazu waterfalls at the Brazilian border. And before leaving to head back home, they visited the Winery Gamboa and partook in delicious local wine and a lunch full of delectable local cuisine.

If you are interested in this itinerary for your group, please reach out to James for more information at [email protected].

08/02/2023

Getting our kicks on Route 66!!

James and Laura were out on a scouting trip for our upcoming itinerary for Route 66. We are excited to be bringing a new itinerary to our groups for them to enjoy. We will keep you posted on when it is available to book!!

07/25/2023

Here is some news if you are planning to travel to Europe next year...

If you previously traveled to Europe without a visa, you will now need to apply for authorization before visiting.

07/25/2023

Meet Our Guides!!

We wouldn't be able to do what we do without our Guides.

Meet one of our Nashville Guides Carmen!

Carmen McNabb was born and raised in the Nashville area and has certainly seen her city change in many ways thru the years. As they say, she is a “jack of all trades, and master of none”, but has enjoyed being a Nashville city tour guide for 40 years. She loves sharing the many stories and history of her city with our visitors and looks forward to seeing you in Music City!!!

When you book one of our Nashville itineraries, there is a good chance you can meet our lovely Carmen. Please contact the team for more information.

🌍

07/20/2023

Christmas in July!

Our next stop on our Christmas in July itineraries is Asheville, NC. Asheville is a beautiful town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. They hold the Christmas spirit close to their heart. You can explore Antler Hill Village which is decorated with Christmas décor. A gorgeous place to visit while here is the Biltmore Estate. The Biltmore is magically decorated for Christmas inside and out. You can even enjoy their winery and eat dinner at the scrumptious Stable Café. The Biltmore also offers a candlelight tour of the house. Then you can cruise down to Flat Rock, NC for more Christmas fun. For our show enthusiasts, you can see "A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas" at the Playhouse.
For more information on our Asheville/Biltmore Itinerary, please reach out to our team at Art Henry. Please remember all of our itineraries are customizable to suit you and your group's needs.

07/13/2023

At Art Henry, we have access to the hottest tickets in town!!!! We can get tickets to concerts, award shows, sporting events, Broadway shows, Grand Ole Opry, and much more. Please contact our team at Art Henry for more information.

07/11/2023

It's summertime! Time to hit the beach! A destination to visit that has some of the best and most beautiful beaches is the Caribbean. There are so many different countries and islands to go to and explore. You can go the relaxing route by doing all-inclusive resorts, taking a cruise to multiple destinations, or the more adventurous route by getting off the beaten path. From the blue lagoon in Jamacia to old Spanish Forts in Puerto Rico, there is so much to explore and do. Every country has a different vibe and so many different foods to try and indulge in. If you are looking to explore the Caribbean please contact our team at Art Henry for more information.

07/06/2023

This is something to think about if you are planning to travel outside the US. Passports are taking longer than usual to complete.

The agency is getting about 400,000 passport applications every week.

07/06/2023

07/04/2023

Happy 4th of July!!

06/29/2023

Recently, we had the extraordinary Keith Anderson play a private concert for one of our Nashville groups. When booking one of our Nashville tours, we might be able to book a private concert for your group also. For more information, please contact James or Ruth Ann.

06/27/2023

06/22/2023

Photo courtesy of the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau

06/20/2023

06/18/2023

Happy Father's Day!

06/15/2023

STAFF SPOTLIGHT!

Meet Sara!

Sara is the new Marketing Manager for Art Henry Tours. She is part of the driving force behind our new social media accounts. She is coming back to the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for the last 10 years and working with her husband in his business. Sara lives in the Sunshine State near the most Magical Place on Earth. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she worked in an Accounting department at a car dealership and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Sara grew up traveling all over the U.S. and still loves to this day to travel. Her family loves to travel to the Caribbean. In her spare time, Sara gets crafty and loves to make and create items with her Cricut. She is happy to join Art Henry Tours in her role as marketing manager to help spread her creativity.

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06/13/2023

Landmark Spotlight!!

Mardi Gras World in New Orleans

If you happen to be in New Orleans when Mardi Gras isn't happening, you can still get the feeling of Mardi Gras by visiting Mardi Gras World.
Mardi Gras World started back in the '30s with a gentleman and his son Roy and Blaine Kern. Their first float was built on a mule-drawn carriage to be pulled in the parade. Blaine started his studio Kern Studios in 1947 and he became one of the leading parade designers and started working with many krewes.
Blaine traveled Europe and became inspired by the flamboyant and extravagant designs. He then brought back the concepts and started to integrate them into his floats. With this new style, he became known as Mr. Mardi Gras. After many requests for tours of his studio, in 1984, Mardi Gras World was created so that tourists were able to see how the floats were built.
Mardi Gras World is a must-see stop if you are visiting New Orleans. Mardi Gras World is one of the stops on our New Orleans itinerary. If you would like more information about this itinerary please contact us.

06/02/2023

Group Spotlight!!

AAA East Central

We love sending our groups to different parts of the country and world. Recently, we had a wonderful group do our Dallas/Ft. Worth Itinerary. The AAA East Central group flew into Dallas and then had dinner at the world's largest ho**ey tonk, Billy Bob's Texas. The group then got the chance to walk into cowboy history at the Historic Stockyards and even got to see a longhorn cattle drive. We even heard a rumor about an armadillo race that the group got to watch. The AAA group then toured downtown Dallas and made a special visit to the Circle R Ranch for a BBQ dinner and a good old-time wagon ride.
At Art Henry, we love to make sure our groups have an amazing time on whichever itinerary they pick. We want to ensure that they have the time of their lives on any of our itineraries. If you like more information on our Dallas/Ft. Worth Itinerary or any of other itineraries please contact James, RuthAnn, or Laura.