Southern Charm

Today we departed Wisconsin for the charming south. With our "sweeties" by our side (today is Sweetest Day) we find alot of familiar faces aboard the coach. Nancy Birkholz impresses the group by knowing everyone's names by lunch today:) WOW! See, traveling with us is like a family reunion...we love our repeat travelers. Dinner was at Mary's Restaurant in Herrin, IL. A fantastic place that even Hal loved. Well it's time to do bed check and make sure my folks are turned in for the night. The ladies are all excited for Graceland tomorrow. Elvis, I hope you are ready for them...

Tracy

Canada Here We Come!

Today I packed all the goodies for our Nova Scotia tour that departs this Saturday, August 1st. I am getting excited to get on the road and tour the fabulous Maritime Provinces once again. 17 days filled with sunshine, coastline, and NO waistline!! With all the snacks I just packed (thank goodness for Costco) we definitely won't be worried about a pound or two.... But before Saturday we must visit the Fireside tomorrow and the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday (hope last nights whooping won't repeat itself). I made it through the day ALMOST without anyone rubbing in another candle on the birthday cake. Thanks Linda and Barb...you sure know how to make a girl feel OLD. Well gotta go...Jim is planning a nice dinner I'm sure.

Yours in travel

Tracy

Grand Opening!!

WOW did our travelers come out in full force on June 23rd! The day was a HUGE success even though temperatures climbed into the 90's. Yes, I know that was the first and last day of summer here in Wisconsin. But no complaints about the warm weather...just the fact that we ran out of hot dogs. No way could we predict over 350 of you would come and visit, let alone for lunch. But we managed to feed everyone and the best part of the day was that we pulled off the BIRTHDAY surprise for Gloria. We got the birthday banner hung, grandchildren flown home, and her siblings here on time. What a feat. Jerry Voelker came down from Green Bay and provided our guests with wonderful polka music while several took to the dance floor (or garage floor ) for an afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship. Now that we are settled in our new "home" has provided us with an enormous amount of exposure. Tours are filling up and new people stopping in everyday. Thank you to all our travelers who came out for the celebration and if you couldn't make it, stop in anytime...Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30. Call first and we'll put the coffee on!



Your partner in travel,

Tracy

A DAY WITH DAD

To honor fathers everywhere, we're offering a Father's Day special to our travelers. Dads bring your children and children bring your dads on any summer trip during the months of June, July, or August and receive a $5 per person per day discount on any NEW reservation!! Don't forget to mention this blog when you make your reservation...save money while you make memories with dad:)

Month of May

Don't forget we have several great one day outings for the Month of May. And if you book two or more you get $3 off each trip! Mary Poppins in Chicago on May 6th still has a few seats, Mother's Day Mystery on May 11th promises to be filled with fun and surprises, Andre Rieu on May 22nd along with a Musical Mystery the same day. Lots of great things so check our website out.

Don't forget our Grand Opening on Tuesday, June 23rd!! Entertainment and refreshments.

Tracy

We are in!!

Well we are all moved in. The girls and I had our training session on the new phone system yesterday at the new building and we are all set to take your calls. I must admit that the move went pretty smooth with the exception of our loss of internet temporarily. So if you have been emailing me please be patient. I am going to reward someone just for reading my blog. Tomorrow if you call our new number (920) 528.7600 (Wednesday April 15th) and you ask to speak to Tracy if you give me the password EXTENSION 304 and you are the 11th caller, you can claim your prize!! Remember you must speak to Tracy and the password is Extension 304. Don't forget to mark your calendar for our Grand Opening at our new facility on Tuesday, June 23rd from 8:30a - 4:30p (office hours). We look forward to greeting each and every one of our travelers. Well back to work.

Tracy

Yuck

Boy am I glad we came back from sunny Key West to enjoy the great springtime here in Wisconsin. We left Florida with 82 degree temperatures and today reads about 37 degrees at the office. Boy, I sure hope the sun shines soon. Now that I am back at it we are moving the final boxes to our new location. The "big" move should be complete April 15th with no interruption to you are valued customers.

Wow where did the time go!!

Sorry,

I have been so busy with all the wonderful attractions we have visited while in the Florida Keys that I haven't had a minute to write. Weather has been great...78 to 82 degrees every day and we've visited the Theatre of the Sea in Islamorada, the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Key West with all its attractions including the conch train and so much more. Next year you'll have to come along and experience a mystery fly tour!! Ask Evie about the "beans & franks" and Dee about her "new pool friend". A great group filled with laughter and lots of fun!!

March Madness Mystery

For those of you who have been following our group on our fly mystery trip, we arrived in Fort Lauderdale, FL, yesterday. The weather was absolutely beautiful for our Jungle Cruise last night, and every meal has been finger-lickin' good. Next stop on our warm getaway journey is the Florida Keys. It's 78 degrees with not a cloud in the sky - what's it like in Wisconsin?

Leaving gloomy Wisconsin

This is why I look forward to getting away on our March Madness Mystery...

Spring has arrived!

Leave it to your oldest child to remind you to keep up on your blog. Thanks Ryan, at least I know he is reading it while on the road. Most of you know my oldest son Ryan who graduated from UW-Oshkosh a year ago last December and joined our office staff for about 6 months. (You can reference our website and click the staff tab for more information). He was responsible for our website, photo pages, and this, my blog. I really do miss having the young minds in our office - sorry Joy and Helen but between Ryan and Miccah we really were up to date with technology. Ryan is now following in my footsteps (well, sorta) and spending his days traveling the southeastern part of the United States with his new job. His grandma (Gloria) hopes he puts down roots somewhere warm so she can spend winters with him.

The weather is getting nicer and we are excited about our move in date of April 15th. Our grand opening is scheduled for June 23rd so mark your calendars! Gloria and I moved desks last weekend with the help of my younger son Tyler. The guys (John & Jim) are in Texas for 9 days so we are going it alone.

Think Spring and join us for an outing soon! Remember that with your Best of Times Club card you receive a stamp for each tour taken!!

Yours in Travel
Tracy

Things are coming along

Yes, another Sunday afternoon spent in the office (soon to be just the lower level). We are on schedule for our BIG office move the first week of April. Not looking forward to phone number changes and address updates, but the new facility will be great for our office staff. More room, more exposure and more travelers!! We will be announcing our grand opening in our next newsletter due out April 1st. Tours are going well so turn off the media and think positive...spring is just around the corner and it is time to get out and about. Lots of new one day tours will be coming and space still available on the Thunder Over Louisville and Holland Tulip Time.

Tracy

The Weekend Is Here!

It's 5:15p on Friday and I am looking forward to the weekend. We have the German "Mardi Gras" known as the Fasching in Johnsonville on Sunday afternoon. It is always a nice afternoon with good food, fun and music. So sorry to hear that Rosemary Wolf of Richfield passed away this week. I will try to make the wake tomorrow morning. Ken and his family are in our prayers. Just book a couple of things. Brewer games, Wrigley Field, and theater trips coming up so log on....Well gotta go - I think after a long week the Friday fish fry is calling my name.

Tracy

Finally!

The sun is shining and the thermometer reads ABOVE freezing! Wow didn't think I'd ever see this day. The pile of snow is melting pretty rapidly and our travelers are raring to get out and about. It's saturday morning and with all the extra time spent at the new building I decided to get some things done in the office this morning - but the phones have been busy with reservations so I am plugging along. It is good to have the phones ring in February, a typically slow month in the travel industry. I have a group in Jamaica as we speak (and I am so mad I decided NOT to go along) and others staying closer to home spending the day at The Fireside Theater tomorrow. Now that the bitter cold weather has disappeared (at least for now) come along and get out with friends for a day "planned with you in mind".

Plugging Away

The last few days have been filled with plumbers, locksmiths, electricians and computer people. We are slowly seeing progress at the new home of Personalized Tours & Coaches. A lot of work but after twenty years in business we decided it was time to move above ground (literally speaking) and depart from the basement offices we have loved so much in the past years. I will miss the convenience of having a home office just a few steps from my living space and knowing I can "run" to the office in no time at all even in my pj's. Adding to our staff means needing more space and room to grow - we'll keep you updated...move in date isn't until spring.

The hot spot to travel this spring is Madison to watch the Badger Band Spring Concert. Both our coaches are full and looking forward to another great show. Daniel O'Donnell is coming back to Milwaukee so lots of excitement among our fans - space still available August 18th.

Gotta go to work - more later.

Tracy

January in Wisconsin

This week I spent everyday in a different community hosting a travel preview of our 2009 tour lineup. I didn't have to sell very hard - just looking out the window at all the snow (no longer white and pretty) made us all wish we had gone elsewhere for the month of January. So for those who need time planning, we invite you to "wrap up" your Christmas early this year and plan on escaping to Arizona for a few weeks next in January / February! Travel in the Midwest seems to be going strong and if our convention last week is any indication of things to come, we'll be on the road again, even more than in 2008). It was nice to see everyone at the travel shows and relive all the fun we had last year, from the Carolinas to New England and all points in between. Some of you racked up over 10,000 miles on Personalized Coaches - WOW!! How are your New Year's resolutions going?? So far so good, I have blogged twice this week. More later, keep traveling and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Tracy

Finally Back!

Hello Everyone:
Wow have I been busy! I apologize that my blog has been neglected since the first entry. Summer came and I have been on the road enjoying my travels from coast to coast. Autumn was a blur and the holiday season was filled with the Rockettes, trips to Branson, and a luxurious stay at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. I made a New Year's resolution to blog twice a week so hold me to it. We have added to our staff and look forward to a wonderful 2009! We have lots of great destinations planned so hopefully you will be apart of our gang this year. When it comes to the economy; if you don't read the paper you are uninformed, and if you read the paper you are misinformed. So keep the faith and let's roll!