OPTIONAL TOURS
Optional Activities are quoted in US Dollars and full prepayment is required at time of reservation. Minimum number of participants are required for each tour. If the minimum number is not met, the tours will be cancelled and refunds will be processed.
CONFERENCE OPTIONS
Pre-Conference Full Day Tour – Stowe, Vermont
Wednesday, July 9th from 9:00am-4:00pm – Cost is $290 USD
Depart in the morning with a knowledgeable local guide for one of Vermont’s most quintessential towns, Stowe. Enjoy a full day of Green Mountains, history, and edible treats! Warm up your vocal cords as you may spontaneously start singing “The Hills are Alive” when you visit the famed Trapp Family Lodge. The Lodge is more than just a hotel; it’s a family home with years and years of history in its walls. Explore the property, learn about the family’s extensive history, and go behind the scenes with a guided tour with a meet and greet by Maria von Trapp’s grandchildren. Afterwards, explore the property and take in the stunning views! Your included lunch will be provided at the Trapp Family Brewery, offering a traditional Austrian platter. On your way back to Burlington, stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill, where you can purchase locally crafted products such as Cabot Cheese, Long Trail season brew, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and fresh cider doughnuts.
Price Includes:
- Roundtrip luxurious motor coach from the Hotel Champlain Burlington
- Local, professional step on guide service
- Itinerary and inclusions as listed, including Lunch
- Gratuity for bus tour guide and bus driver
- All taxes
- Minimum 50 persons/Maximum 55 persons
Price Excludes:
- Optional Experiences/Activities
- Snacks, water, and personal items
Pre-Conference Half-Day Tour - Shelburne Farms
Wednesday, July 9th from 12:00pm-4:00pm – Cost is $75 USD
Shelburne Farms’ historic campus along the shores of Lake Champlain is a 1,400-acre diversified working farm located on the unceded, traditional, and contemporary homelands of the Winooskik band of the Abenaki. At the Farm Store & Welcome Center, grab a Visitor Guide, ask questions, and pick up some products from the farm and other Vermont producers such as cheddar cheese made right on the property from the milk of their Brown Swiss cows, maple syrup, meat, and organic veggies and fruit from their Market Garden. Explore meadows, pastures, forests, the Inn flower gardens, and the lakeshore across ten miles of walking trails. Enjoy beautiful views east to Camel's Hump and the Green Mountains and stunning views to the Inn, Lake Champlain, and Adirondack Mountains from the top of Lone Tree Hill. During your visit, have lunch on your own.
Price Includes:
- Roundtrip luxurious motor coach from the Hotel Champlain Burlington
- Self-guided tours
- Itinerary and inclusions as listed
- Gratuity for bus driver
- All taxes
- Minimum 50 persons/Maximum 55 persons
Price Excludes:
- Optional Experiences/Activities
- Snacks, water, and personal items
Pre-Conference Dinner Cruise On Lake Champlain
Wednesday, July 9th from 5:30pm-9:00pm – Cost is $105 USD
Welcome aboard The Spirit of Ethan Allen – “Lake Champlain’s Largest Cruise Ship and Floating Restaurant!” Enjoy panoramic views of the lake and Vermont mountains while enjoying delicious food. The Spirit of Ethan Allen is berthed a short walk from the hotel; there is also a parking area located 250 feet from the ship. The ship does not have elevators.
Price Includes:
- Private group buffet dinner
- All taxes and service charges
- Minimum 75 persons/Maximum 115 persons
Price Excludes:
- Alcoholic drinks
- Transportation to ship
“The Granite Capital of the World”
Thursday, July 10th from 12:30pm–4:30pm – Cost is $150 USD
On this guided tour through the Green Mountains, your first stop is in Barre, the “Granite Capital of the World.” Here you will visit the world’s largest and most modern granite manufacturing plant. Witness workers in the world’s largest deep-hole quarry and learn how granite is processed and used. At the end of your tour there will be time to visit the showroom and lovely, on-site gift shop. Depart Rock of Ages and travel down the hill to Hope Cemetery, known for the superb granite craftsmanship on its memorials and tombstones. Hope Cemetery was established in 1895, and then consisted of 53 acres. It was designed and planned by the renowned landscape architect, Edward P. Adams. By 1895, skilled artisans from around the world, especially Italy, had been flocking to Barre to become a part of the booming granite industry. It is estimated that one-third of all memorials and tombstones in the United States came from Barre. Hope Cemetery has since grown in size to 65 acres with more than 10,000 tombstones and memorials located inside, all made from “Barre Grey” granite. The cemetery has been referred to as a “museum of granite sculpture.”
Price Includes:
- Roundtrip luxurious motor coach from the Hotel Champlain Burlington
- Local, professional step on guide service
- Itinerary and inclusions as listed
- Gratuity for bus tour guide and bus driver
- All taxes
- Minimum 50 persons/Maximum 55 persons
Price Excludes:
- Optional Experiences/Activities
- Snacks, water, and personal items
Vermont Air National Guard Base
Thursday, July 10th from 12:00pm-3:00pm – Cost is $35 USD
The Vermont Air National Guard is the proud home of the 158th Fighter Wing, co-located at Burlington International Airport. Federally recognized in August of 1946 with the 134th Fighter Squadron, the Green Mountain Boys began their first flying mission with the F-47 and historically became the first Air National Guard unit to base the F-35A Lightning II, the most advanced and capable weapon system in the U.S. Air Force. On this tour of the base, you may have the opportunity to see this jet take off (depending on the flight schedule), visit static displays, and talk with pilots and maintenance experts. NOTE: Basic background checks are required for this tour. Registrants will be asked to provide identification information several weeks prior to the tour. US Citizens will be required to provide valid/non-expired Driver's License information or US Passport information. All other nationalities will be required to provide valid/non-expired Passport information.
Price Includes:
- Roundtrip motor coach from the Hotel Champlain Burlington
- Gratuity for bus driver
- Hospitality will be providing light snack and bottled water
- Minimum 50 persons/Maximum 55 persons
Shelburne Museum
Friday, July 11th from 12:30pm-4:00pm – Cost is $135 USD
This tour leads you into the Town of Shelburne, chartered in 1763, and home to the Shelburne Museum where you will discover treasures from America’s past. The Shelburne Museum is described as one of the world’s great museums of American folk art, artifacts and architecture. The Museum’s founder, Electra Havemeyer Webb, was a pioneer collector of Americana and American folk art. Explore 37 exhibit buildings, stroll through 45 scenic acres, and discover 80,000 pieces of Americana including the most important collection of wildfowl decoys in the world, an outstanding collection of quilts, coverlets and hooked rugs and over 200 horse drawn vehicles. See the 220-foot side-wheel steamboat, the Ticonderoga that is a National Historic Landmark. During your visit, have lunch on your own at the Museum’s on-site concession.
Price Includes:
- Roundtrip luxurious motor coach from the Hotel Champlain Burlington
- Self-guided tours
- Itinerary and inclusions as listed
- Gratuity for bus driver
- All taxes
- Minimum 50 persons/Maximum 55 persons
Price Excludes:
- Optional Experiences/Activities
- Snacks, water, and personal items
BETA Technologies
Friday, July 11th from 1:30pm-4:00pm – Cost is $35 USD
Join this exclusive tour of BETA Technologies, a pioneering leader in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. During this immersive experience, you’ll witness firsthand how BETA has rapidly transformed the future of aviation with their 100% electrically powered aircraft. Get up close with the innovative technologies that power these groundbreaking aircraft as you learn about the inception of BETA’s eVTOL vision, from the spark of an idea to the rigorous design process. Discover how BETA’s commitment to sustainable aviation has driven unprecedented advancements in both safety and performance, all in record time. Your visit will include a look at the cutting-edge testing labs, interactive displays showcasing key design elements, and an insightful discussion on the future of eVTOL technology with BETA experts.
Price Includes:
- Roundtrip motor coach from the Hotel Champlain Burlington
- Gratuity for bus driver
- Hospitality will be providing light snack and bottled water
- Minimum 50 persons/Maximum 55 persons
ON YOUR OWN
Church Street Marketplace
www.churchstreetmarketplace.com
Stroll this outdoor pedestrian mall offering an eclectic mix of shops, galleries and eateries.
Located .4 miles from the hotel.
Community Sailing Center
505 Lake Street
www.communitysailingcenter.org
Explore the lake in a rental canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Located .6 miles from the hotel.
ECHO Science Center
Visit this science and nature museum on the lakefront. Located .2 miles from the hotel.
Local Motion Bike Rentals
1 Steele Street
www.localmotion.org
Rent a bike to explore the many biking trails in Burlington and along the lakeshore.
Located .5 miles from the hotel.
Waterfront Park
10 College Street
Walk, jog, or bike through this large regional park located along the shore of Lake Champlain, enjoying the views across the lake with the Adirondack Mountains in the background.
Located .3 miles from the hotel.
Notice to Travelers
AKA Travel Team (AKA) makes an honest effort to properly describe the overall amount of activity or exertion necessary to participate in a given tour. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY of the traveler to READ the itinerary, and to decide if he/she is capable of physically handling the activities. If there are any questions, they should be directed to AKA Travel Team at: (210) 610-0606 or email: 99s@akatravelteam.com.
AKA will not be held responsible, nor reduce the activity level of the tour, should a traveler be unable to participate or keep up. Travelers who do not take part in a paid activity or do not complete an activity will not be reimbursed. Activities are not suitable for anyone with disabilities that would prevent them from meeting the minimum requirements as described above.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Injuries:
Notch Above Tours and the 99s must be notified of all injuries. If required, the guide will assist the emergency personnel. If this injury requires hospitalization, an ambulance will be called to transport to a local hospital. If possible, the guide will arrange to have the coach pick-up from the hospital on the way home. If a longer stay is required at the hospital, they will generally ask to have an adult stay behind with the injured person. The guide will assist to arrange hotel accommodation and transport home (if required). However, the individual is responsible for all expenses that may be incurred due to the injury.
Liability:
The trip participants acknowledge that Notch Above Tours (NAT) and AKA Travel Team (AKA) acts as an intermediary and agent of various suppliers. NAT/AKA agree to use its best efforts to ensure that all arrangements contracted for are provided by its suppliers. NAT/AKA shall not be liable for any delay, inconvenience, loss of employment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, damage, loss, damage or delay of baggage or other property, or otherwise, resulting from; the act, omission or negligence of NAT/AKA or its suppliers, affiliates, agents, employees or any other person; acts of god, sickness, theft, labor disputes, mechanical breakdown, government actions, weather, or any other cause beyond the direct control of NAT/AKA or its suppliers.
Right to Refuse:
Notch Above Tours reserves the right, upon reasonable grounds, to refuse any passenger at any part of the tour service.
