The Traveler

Welcome to the second edition of something new from Sports Leisure Vacations, the "In Between Newsletter."  

This is our way of updating you on our offerings between publishing our full newsletter (3 times a year now) or catalog (once a year).  Our web site is updated daily, but this gives you an opportunity to see what is available in a format that is quick, easy, and informal.  It’s also very up to date, because changes can be made right up until the day it is sent to you by email or regular post.

It is with great pleasure that we wish you all a joyous start to the new year with the latest edition of The Traveler. We hope you, your families and friends enjoy a happy and prosperous 2025!

Welcome to something new from Sports Leisure Vacations, the "In Between Newsletter." 

After going "all electronic" with our newsletter last year, we recently realized something. In the change, we left a lot of people behind. Either they didn't see the e-newsletter in their mailbox, or the settings on their computer sent the newsletter to spam, or....who knows. But at the recent Preview Day, comments from those in attendance made us aware of the problem. (Because we MAILED the newsletter announcing Preview Day, everyone got it, which is how we became aware of the challenge.) This publication is being emailed to all on our email list, then mailed by US Postal Service to those who asked (and paid for) hard copies of all newsletters.  

Changes in the Newsletter Going Forward
The next full newsletter will arrive in your e-mailbox AND by regular mail, about January 20th. We will publish quarterly full newsletters and email and regular mail them to all on our list. In Between those full newsletters, we will send out a blast like this one, with important updates and even some new trips. Those will be email only, with the exception of the 300 or so who paid $10 a year to get their newsletter by regular mail. If you have questions, send me a note (Markslt@aol.com) or inquire of our staff.

This will increase our communications from 6 to 8 times a year without a dramatic increase in cost and keep our members better informed. 4 regular printed newsletters (actually 3 and the annual catalog). It isn't perfect, but we think a step in the right direction. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.  

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The Travel Guys Radio Show - Saturdays at 11am on KFBK, or by podcast

For the past 17 years, Tom Romano and I have hosted a weekend travel show on the radio, KFBK, 1530AM, 93.1 FM. It can be heard at 11am Saturday mornings. The live show is turned into a podcast and is available to be listened to at your leisure. You can find the podcast at https://www.sportsleisure.com. While it is a general interest program, we occasionally talk about Sports Leisure trips.

Starting Saturday, December 7th, there will be a Sports Leisure update every week, at 11:33am, after the news break at the bottom of the hour. The purpose of the "Sports Leisure Minute" is to give you updates on trips. Perhaps something has been added to a tour, or a news announcement has prompted us to create a new tour. We hope you will tune in live or on the podcast to stay current with your favorite travel company.

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Thank you for your support. Tour Preview Day overwhelmed us, but in the days since, we have placed over 160 people from wait list to the trip or trips of their choice. The point here is, put your name on the wait list. Sometimes we add an additional date (Wonder Valley/Redwoods/Kings Canyon, Laguna Pageant and San Juan Islands are three examples of tours where a second departure has been added in 2025.)

See you on the road or on the radio on Saturday mornings.

Mark

It is with great pride and pleasure that we bring you the latest edition of The Traveler.

It is with great pride and pleasure that we bring you the latest edition of The Traveler.

It is with great pride and pleasure that we bring you the latest edition of The Traveler including your invitation to Spring Preview Day.  The date of June 8 just happens to coincide with Sports Leisure’s 45^th anniversary.  We hope you will join us for the celebration!  RSVP required – read about it on page 1.

New Vacations begin on page 11 featuring in-state trips to Mammoth, Mono Lake, Bodie and Hollywood, along with holiday adventures featuring Hearst Castle, Cambria, Solvang, Santa Barbara and The Ritz on Half Moon Bay.  Cruise fans will want to jump aboard the extremely well-priced repositioning cruise on Holland America’s Zaandam.  Our ever-popular Key West trip is also herein, heading out in January 2025.

Looking for holiday season travel a bit farther from home?  Consider our annual journey to Thanksgiving in New York featuring two Broadway shows and the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.  A more homespun holiday experience is yours in the Appalachian Mountains with visits to Asheville, Dollywood and Nashville.

You’ll find pages of new Daycations with a spotlight on live theatre in the region through September.  We’re especially excited about a trip to Richmond focusing on the contribution of women during WWII.  All hail Rosie the Riveter!

Wishing you and yours a happy springtime. We look forward to seeing you on the road, rails and water soon. Your next vacation is only a phone call away!

Below you will find the newsletter for the first quarter of 2024.  There are a ton of new trips, both daycations and extended tours.  There is almost nothing left from the tour catalog, except Canada and very limited space on two overseas trips.

If you are on the list for the Mekong Delta Cruise, Michael will be contacting you in the next few days.  He just got the airfare confirmed. 

Teaser updates from the catalog: The Canadian Rockies trip has been put off until 2025.  Prices are totally ridiculous.  Hollywood, with the Hollywood Bowl,, studio visits and a live taping, will be announced in the April newsletter.  Switzerland, Tuscany and Costa Rica look like 2025, although Costa Rica might pop up early in 2025.  We decided not to do the Portland Rose Festival.  Our longtime contact was let go and we have to find new connections. 

Enjoy the newsletter.  Thank you for being a part of the Sports Leisure travel family.

Reservations are now being accepted for Tour Preview Day. This is the day when our annual Tour Catalog is released. Because some tours fill very quickly, smart travelers try and get an advance copy at Preview Day.

It is with great pride and pleasure that we bring you the latest edition of The Traveler . . . just in time to make your holiday plans. Looking for a gift for a friend or loved one (or even yourself)? How about a vacation!  We have gift certificates available in any denomination. We’ll admit our bias, but this truly is a pretty cool gift! No need to drive to the mall or even our office. We can “wrap up” this gift for you in one short telephone call.

If you’re seeking the perfect way to ring in the holiday season please consider our trip to Thanksgiving in New York featuring two Broadway shows and the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Those wishing to stay a bit closer to home are very welcome aboard the Thanksgiving Train to Reno. There’s no need to go to Europe for Christmas Markets and homespun old-fashioned experiences. Check out our trip to Gettysburg, Hershey and Bethlehem in the Pennsylvania hills. Looking for a bit more mystery and intrigue in your life? The 22nd Annual Christmas Lights Mystery Tour may be just the thing for you.

You’ll find a number of new Daycations in these pages with a spotlight on live theatre throughout the region through the end of November. Many more holiday-themed daytrips will be presented in our next publication.

Wishing you and yours a happy summertime. We look forward to seeing you on the road, rails and water soon. Your next vacation is only a phone call away!

Linked here is the latest e-edition of The Traveler. Inside its pages are an update on space for previously announced tours, a host of new trips, and updated day trips. If you see anything of interest, our office is open 9am-3:30pm, M-F. 

We accidentally left our baseball trips out of the copy.  They are listed here:

Thurs., Apr. 27 - St. L. Cardinals - $145
Sun., June 11 - Chicago Cubs - $141
Wed., July 26 - Oakland A's - $141 (night game)
Sun., July 30 - Boston Red Sox - $160
Sun., Aug. 13 - Texas Rangers (Managed by Bruce Boche) - $141
Sat., Sept. 30 & Sun., Oct. 1 - LA Dodgers - $635 p.p./dbl.occ., $755 single
(Includes lodging at the Hyatt Regency downtown, breakfast and 2 game tickets)