As we celebrate 100 years of enriching travel, we want to take this opportunity to thank our guests who have made it all possible with their loyalty and kind referrals to friends and family. Your stories continue to inspire us to raise the bar in everything we do, and reflect so much of the shared joys and friendships we are blessed to experience with you on our travels together. In recognition of our gratitude, we are turning the spotlight on our patrons, showcasing your journeys with us over the years.<\/h5>\n
\nNovember: The McKillops from Australia<\/h2>\n\u201cA world of favorite memories\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u201cA world of favorite memories\u201d<\/h4>\n
Australians love to travel\u2014far and wide, passionately and enthusiastically. No matter where you go in the world, however remote, chances are you\u2019ll meet an Australian or two on an extended holiday. I certainly have. Studies often cite Australians as some of the world\u2019s most prolific travelers, driven by generous leave policies, a natural curiosity, and an eagerness to forge new friendships wherever they roam.<\/p>\n
But what, I wondered, drew long-time guests Peter and Helen McKillop to choose Tauck\u2014half a world away\u2014as their preferred travel company? \u201cOur travel advisor first recommended Tauck to us,\u201d Peter said, noting the value, convenience, and hassle-free experiences they were seeking. \u201cIn the last 25 years, we\u2019ve taken 28 Tauck trips\u2014five of them back-to-back.\u201d They\u2019ve sampled other companies over the years, but Tauck continually rose to the top.
\u201cTauck is a better value, and we enjoy all the unique experiences and pleasant surprises they include. We love the companionship of traveling in small groups, and the knowledge, personality, and experience of your guides is exceptional. If you want a stress-free, well-organized vacation anywhere in the world with a highly experienced company, Tauck is your company.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhat they especially appreciate is the sense of care and comfort. They say they always feel safe traveling with Tauck. The seamless organization of each itinerary\u2014and the thoughtful communication throughout\u2014gives them a peace of mind they consider invaluable. These, they emphasized, are the benefits of traveling with a leader in the industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to see and experience what the world has to offer,\u201d they said, \u201cand Tauck is the best way to do that.\u201d When I asked if they had a favorite trip, I already suspected the answer would be complicated. Passionate travelers often carry a treasury of moments\u2014each trip capable of becoming \u201cthe favorite\u201d when recalled in conversation. And so it was with the McKillops.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
They described seeing cherry blossoms in full bloom in Kyoto, Japan\u2014ancient temples and serene gardens awash in delicate pink. The blossoms, symbolic of life\u2019s fleeting beauty and the renewal of spring, created an atmosphere that felt both celebratory and immersive. A perfect metaphor, really, for travel memories that stay with us long after the journey ends.<\/p>\n
They spoke of having cocktails on the rooftop balcony of the Kempinski Hotel overlooking Red Square in Moscow\u2014an unforgettable view enhanced by friendships formed on tour. \u201cMost of our fellow travelers live in the USA,\u201d Peter noted. \u201cWith the tyranny of distance between us, we keep in touch through email.\u201d<\/p>\n
They recalled a sunset cruise along the Seine River in Paris under a glowing full moon, the kind of romantic tableau only Paris can create. There was the breathtaking panoramic view from the top of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. And an after-hours tour of the Sistine Chapel\u2014quiet, reverent, and profoundly moving\u2014 that took their breath away.<\/p>\n Other scenes remain vivid in their minds: the dreamlike limestone peaks of Guilin in China, the surreal red cliffs of Zion National Park, and the gilded mansions and forested islands they admired during a Thousand Islands cruise. Each one lingers like a technicolor postcard that refuses to fade. Memories of special moments on our travels have a way of coming to life again during conversations like ours, recalling times and places that continue to live on no matter how long ago we experienced them.<\/p>\n And where are the McKillops off to next?<\/p>\n They have two trips booked for next April and May, through the Netherlands and Belgium\u2014timed perfectly for the blooming of thousands of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils. A floral spectacle, no doubt, that will earn its place among the many journeys they\u2019ll remember for years to come.<\/p>\n When Travel Advisor Marybeth Hillier first traveled with Tauck back in 2008, something clicked. She knew from that moment on that was how she wanted to travel, and with whom.<\/p>\n \u201cTraveling with Tauck felt different,\u201d she told us. \u201cIt felt like family. And when you travel with a family company, you don\u2019t just book a trip\u2026 you become part of the family too.\u201d<\/p>\n She continued. \u201cThere\u2019s a heart to Tauck that you just don\u2019t find with other escorted travel companies. I\u2019m passionate about Tauck \u2013 not just because I sell it, but because I choose to travel with them myself. It\u2019s where I bring my own family. And that says everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Marybeth has joined us on over 21 trips since her first travel experience with us 17 years ago. Since then, she has crisscrossed Europe on our land journeys, navigated its great rivers aboard our riverboats and experienced our Tauck Bridges family adventures with her children and grandchildren in tow. She travels with both friends and family, as well as clients, delighted to share what she calls the best way to discover the world. Last year she went to Morocco with some of her clients, now friends, people she first introduced to Tauck years ago. She mentioned that her friends have now taken more than ten Tauck trips and are traveling to Botswana next year with new friends they made on their trip to Morocco. That small group trip to Morocco was special, Marybeth told me. It was full of unforgettable experiences, and many new friendships were formed along the way.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the magic of Tauck. The pervasive sense of family you feel on a Tauck trip that continues to live on through guests who make lasting connections with their fellow travelers. Tauck makes you comfortable from the moment you connect with them, assuring that you feel included and cared for wherever in the world you travel.<\/p>\n She recalled an experience in Morocco that demonstrated Tauck\u2019s commitment to the care and safety of their guests. They set out to explore one of the city\u2019s bustling medinas, where it can be difficult to navigate the labyrinthine alleys and lively atmosphere. Thanks to Tauck said, they were accompanied by extra guides who not only ensured their comfort, but who brought them to a little caf\u00e9 where they could enjoy a surprise refreshment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were in this wonderful, exotic land. When we went through the Medina, Tauck made sure we were accompanied by an additional guide to walk with us through the Medina, which was very busy and a bit chaotic with lots of people, but here was this very capable gentleman with us. It was a small group and he walked head of us, pointing out steps to us so we wouldn\u2019t trip. Our tour director was in the back, making sure that everything is flowing smoothly. Halfway through this particular Medina, we stop for soup and drinks in some little restaurant. It was a treat that we weren\u2019t aware of ahead of time. It couldn\u2019t have been better. It\u2019s just perfect the way that Tauck thinks of this and put things together. They include unexpected experiences that make the trip even more special,\u201d she enthused.<\/p>\n \u201cJust when you think you\u2019ve been there and done that, Tauck creates some other way to see the world,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n While admittedly difficult to choose a favorite trip \u2013 \u201cit\u2019s always the one I\u2019m on,\u201d she said \u2013 one of her favorite stories goes back to the baseball-themed event Tauck offered in Cooperstown several years ago, where documentary filmmaker Ken Burns was at the heart of the program. It started to rain, disrupting their al fresco dinner.<\/p>\n \u201cWe moved inside to a ballroom, the bar opened, music started playing, and I found myself at a table with Ken. The mood was a little low, so I turned to him and said, \u2018I think we should do a conga line.\u2019 And we did. Ken, my husband, me \u2014 weaving through the room, picking people up as we went. It changed the energy of the night. And, as it turns out, Steve Spivak, VP of Sales and Marketing for Tauck, saw a video someone filmed that evening and invited me to join the Tauck Advisory Board. It was the beginning of a long and wonderful relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n One of our first Advisory Board members and invited back as a member again in honor of our 100th anniversary, one of the things Marybeth loves most about her participation is that Tauck listens \u2013 to their guests, to their travel advisors, to their staff. For example, after traveling solo on a river cruise when her husband couldn\u2019t join her, she suggested a simple way to help solo travelers identify one another so they could get together for a coffee, a drink, dinner. It\u2019s a great way to make people traveling alone feel more welcome and comfortable. That openness and desire to always listen and raise the bar for their guests truly makes a difference she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve also seen how Tauck handles the unexpected. When the unexpected happens, you can expect another amazing experience to take its place. With Tauck, there\u2019s never a \u201cPlan B,\u201d only another \u201cPlan A.\u201d<\/p>\n On her Danube river cruise a few years ago, low water in Vienna forced a change of plans because the ship couldn\u2019t continue to travel on the river. Instead of experiencing stress and disappointment, they found themselves with a great opportunity to spend a few extra days to explore Vienna. Tauck handed out cash for eventualities, set up shuttles, arranged excursions, and turned a logistical hurdle into a highlight.<\/p>\n \u201cI said to everyone traveling with me, \u2018well, how glorious is this? We thought we only had one day in Vienna, and now we get to do all of these extra things.\u2019 And I think everybody on the ship felt that. We even ended up at the symphony \u2014 an experience I\u2019ll never forget. The next day we took a coach to Bratislava because we couldn\u2019t cruise there. Tauck set up a beautiful luncheon at the Carlton Hotel. We all had a great meal. We enjoyed our tour excursion, and then we came back by coach. We drove to Budapest at the end of the trip. We still had a wonderful day at the end in Budapest, it was just we did not cruise from Vienna to Budapest. Tauck has been doing land journeys like no one else for 100 years so you better believe everything was perfect. That\u2019s what sets them apart: behind every trip is a team anticipating every possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n As a travel advisor I was curious about how she introduces Tauck to new clients. She didn\u2019t hesitate with her heartfelt reply.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen new clients come to me and ask what makes Tauck different, I keep it simple:<\/p>\n \u2018You just show up. I \u2014 and Tauck \u2014 handle everything else.<\/p>\n No stress. No planning. No worrying about who buys the first or next champagne at the bar. Every detail is included and taken care of, door to door. But it\u2019s more than convenience. People who choose Tauck tend to be curious, like-minded travelers. They want meaningful experiences, and they want to share them. My clients make lifelong friends on these journeys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll never forget our Tauck Bridges trip to Kenya and Tanzania \u2014 a multigenerational journey with grandparents, parents, teens, and young travelers. On the first night, our Tauck Director seated the young travelers together. By day two, they were inseparable \u2014 laughing, exploring, bonding. They\u2019re not treated as \u2018kids\u2019 \u2013 Tauck considers them young travelers. And while the adults marveled at the wildlife, the cultural interactions and new discoveries, the young travelers were having their own unforgettable moments. At the end of that trip, all the grandfathers gathered for a photo together \u2014 new friends for life.\u201d<\/p>\n Not everyone interested in travel wants to take a fully escorted tour right away, but Marybeth is a pro at describing all the benefits of traveling with Tauck to those who want to the freedom to explore on their own.<\/p>\n When it comes to cost, she reminds her clients that booking a trip independently can cost as much as Tauck once you factor in everything \u2014 except you don\u2019t get the same quality or care. She learned that the hard way when she tried another river cruise line.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s just say: there were hidden fees, no tour directors, extra costs for excursions\u2026 and a lot of frustration. That experience only deepened my appreciation for Tauck.\u201d<\/p>\n As a travel advisor, she is privy to even more rewarding experiences, telling me that once she books a client with Tauck, it\u2019s an annuity. They just want to keep coming back to Tauck whenever they travel.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my position, my job is to make people happy and Tauck never fails to make that job easy. We are all happy when it comes to Tauck.<\/p>\n We pressed her for one more question before our conversation ended. \u201cCould she share a special moment that has stayed with her from any one of her 21+ trips.\u201d She didn\u2019t hesitate with her answer.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter all these years, my favorite moment on any Tauck trip is still the same. It\u2019s that instant when you step off a long international flight and see a Tauck representative waiting for you. It\u2019s the most wonderful, comforting feeling,\u201d I always tell people, \u201cBecause from that moment on, you know you\u2019re taken care of.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n When Becky and John Strong decided to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary, they chose an extraordinary path\u2014renewing their vows in Venice while on an incredible tour of Northern Italy with Tauck. The couple, who had previously traveled with another tour company, quickly discovered the Tauck difference.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was absolutely no comparison,\u201d Becky emphasized, adding that their wonderful and knowledgeable travel agent, Terri Stanfield, recommended that they travel with Tauck.<\/p>\n From luxurious hotels to personalized experiences, Tauck transformed their trip into a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Highlights of their journey included a vow renewal ceremony in an English-speaking Presbyterian church in Venice, complete with a photographer and a surprise hotel suite decorated with roses, balloons and \u201can extra bottle of bubbly.\u201d A private evening concert just for Tauck was a special delight, and dinner that night was equally memorable with the entire group toasting the happy couple with champagne and best wishes.<\/p>\n Their local guide, Alexa, went above and beyond throughout their trip, the Strongs told me, ensuring every moment was special\u2014even accommodating their brother Jim\u2019s walking restrictions with care and attention.<\/p>\n \u201cThe entire trip was exquisite and filled with beautiful countryside, food and the finest hotels Italy has to offer. We did Bellissima Northern Italy, and our local guide, Alexa, we just fell in love with her. She just did a fabulous job, because she grew up there. All the guides on our trip were local, and in addition to all the information about the places we saw, they shared their personal experiences, and introduced us to their friends and family.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary in Venice, choosing St. George\u2019s, the only English-speaking Protestant church in Venice, as the perfect\u00a0place to renew our vows. John\u2019s brother, who was the best man when we got married, joined us on the trip and for the ceremony so that was special too. Chaplain Lucinda Laird performed our vows on a beautiful Friday afternoon, followed by photos throughout the area. It was a dream come true and we are so thankful to Tauck for helping us create memories we will cherish forever.\u201d<\/p>\n While it\u2019s impossible to top that, the Strongs told me that the culinary experiences on their trip were also a highlight, adding \u201cWe\u2019re quite the food fanatics.\u201d <\/p>\n A pasta-making class in Bologna not only taught Becky techniques for making bread and pasta with Italian flour that is naturally low in gluten but also provided a deeply personal connection to Italian culture. Their Italian heritage made the trip even more meaningful and deeply personal, with John\u2019s family roots adding depth to their exploration.<\/p>\n John\u2019s mother was 100% Italian. His grandfather emigrated to the US back in 1901. While John had never visited his family\u2019s home country, this trip inspired connections that made them feel like locals.<\/p>\n \u201cEver since I was introduced to baking, Italian style, I have genuine Italian flour shipped to our home on a regular basis. I now make all my own bread and pasta. The little Italian grandma we met with Tauck taught me how to do all this, and it\u2019s fabulous. It changed my life,\u201d she said, with her husband nodding his agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cI made a beautiful book of our trip,\u201d said Becky, recounting their boat ride on Lake Como and the beautiful villas they saw, tasting balsamic vinegar in Modena, enjoying a wine tasting in Orvieto and more. They enjoyed seeing how parmesan is made and the men in our group really liked visiting the Ferrari Museum. The pace was well-balanced, she recalled, commenting on the multi-night stays that enabled them to spend their free time doing what food connoisseurs like to do: seeking out those charming little trattorias for a great local meal and great wine.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks to our small group trip with Tauck, we discovered Italy\u2019s hidden gems and must-see sites as insiders. We like doing the small groups. It\u2019s a lot more personal.\u201d<\/p>\n For the Strongs, Tauck isn\u2019t just a travel company\u2014it\u2019s a gateway to creating lasting memories. Their advice? \u201cEmbrace the journey, trust the local guides, and be prepared for extraordinary experiences.<\/p>\n \u00a0As they look forward to future trips to Southern Italy and Sicily, one thing is clear: their love story continues to be written, one remarkable journey at a time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n I had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Brad Lindsey as he was packing for his Tauck trip to Switzerland: Europe\u2019s Crown Jewel, his 45th Tauck trip to date, with three more in the hopper for next year. A noted neurologist who was first bitten by the travel bug during a month-long rotation in Edinburgh, Scotland, when he was a medical student, he has since visited all 50 states, all 50 state capitals, 41 European countries and all seven continents. And he\u2019s not done yet.<\/p>\n For Brad, travel is more than just seeing a destination. It\u2019s about the experiences he has in the places he explores \u2013 visiting the Sistine Chapel and viewing Michelangelo\u2019s ceiling fresco, after hours, with just 15 fellow travelers; meeting a Prince and Princess in Belgrade; an intimate concert in a pianist\u2019s home in Florence, driving a Morgan sports car and seeing Katherine Parr\u2019s tomb on his most recent trip to England & the West Country<\/em>, courtesy of Tauck, reveling in discoveries that capture his imagination, and ultimately inspire more travel.<\/p>\n \u201cI booked my first Tauck tour in 2009 on the recommendation of my travel agent. Back then I was in the process of traveling to all 50 states,\u201d he told me. \u201cI booked Tauck\u2019s Kentucky Derby event, not because of the race, but because I hadn\u2019t been to Kentucky yet.\u00a0 Though I loved the Derby!\u201d<\/p>\n It was the same for his first trip to Michigan with Tauck, a trip he enjoyed so much that he brought his mother and sister back on a repeat trip so they could experience Michigan too. More trips followed, with Brad booking 4 or 5 trips a year, some as a solo traveler, some with his family and friends, and others with travelers he met on his Tauck trips.<\/p>\n \u201cI love meeting people of all ages, and it\u2019s been interesting seeing the variation of people on the different tours. When I did the Gal\u00e1pagos, for example, it was definitely a younger crowd for the most part. There were other doctors besides myself on the trip with their girlfriends and such. I met Janice, a police officer from California, who became my hiking buddy, and her buddy, Maureen, was my swimming and snorkeling buddy. Janice and I became so close that we traveled on Tauck\u2019s Jewish Heritage tour to Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna & Prague.<\/em> That was such a powerful, very educational tour. Now, we did opt out of a walking tour because I wanted to see Da Vinci\u2019s Lady with the Ermine<\/em>, which was hanging at Wawel Castle. One of the local guides who had access took us there on a private excursion, just for us,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI love the special experiences and extra touches Tauck includes. I learn so much from the amazing Tauck Directors and guides whose insights are always very informative,\u201d he said, \u201cBut when there is something I really want to do that is not on the tour, I enjoy venturing out on my own to experience it, such as tracking down the paintings of artist Frederick Sandys.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Tauck doesn\u2019t travel to a place I want to go, I try to do it on my own, Tauck style. I have become bolder at it because of Tauck. Traveling with them, I realized that more things were possible, and I have the opportunity to do them because of Tauck. Here\u2019s a good example from my recent tour to England and the West Country. I had always wanted to see Shakespeare. Well, here I was in London with a pre night stay, thanks to Tauck. So I decided to go the Globe and see a Shakespeare performance.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTauck has inspired me to experience things I had always wanted to and turn it into a trip. I pick nice hotels in cities I want to visit, and then sort of tailor the trip between those hotels. Or I craft a trip around an inspiration I have, like the Sandys paintings I went to see in person, or a Hard Rock property I haven\u2019t been to, another \u2018collection\u2019 of mine.<\/p>\n He booked a Tauck cruise to Iceland because the Amazing Race<\/em> was filmed there, enjoying his visit to the Blue Lagoon which was featured on the show.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my first time overseas since Edinburgh,\u201d he explained, \u201cand I was fascinated by it. It just opened me up. It made me realize that I can go anywhere. I went with Tauck to New Zealand for my birthday when I was 40 and that was huge. I came to Wellington a couple of days early and did my own Lord of the Rings<\/em> tour.\u201d<\/p>\n He joined us on The Art of Living, Barcelona to Paris<\/em>, finding it \u201cso expansive. We covered a lot of ground and history. I loved that tour,\u201d he told me. The local guides he met on Tauck trips to Greece and Italy \u201cwere full of wonderful information, even giving us personal recommendations on places the locals visit.\u201d He had a blast with his best friend on The Best of Ireland,<\/em> citing the gregarious friendly people they met. \u201cWe arrived for our tour early so we could go to the National Leprechaun Museum and the Hard Rock,\u201d he shared, adding that \u201cIreland is one of the most courteous countries I\u2019ve ever visited.\u201d He had the \u201cbest food ever\u201d in Morocco, a birthday trip he booked because of the James Bond movie, The Living Daylights<\/em>, that was filmed there. Essence of Japan<\/em> and his trip to Norway were \u201cfabulous.\u201d He loved Antarctica<\/em> and hopes Tauck offers another Arctic trip to Svalbard in the future. \u201cI would love to see the musk ox. I would love to just be in the Arctic after being in Antarctica; that would be a huge bucket list trip. I still have all my gear from the Antarctica trip so I am ready to go!\u201d<\/p>\n He took his mother on Hidden Gems of New England to see the foliage, on our Belgium & Holland<\/em> river cruise to enjoy the tulips, and on England, Scotland and Wales<\/em> to show her his old haunts in Edinburgh when he was doing his rotation there. He cruised the Danube on Budapest to the Black Sea<\/em> to indulge his fascination with Dracula, delighted in discovering the mythological and historical delights of Scandinavia<\/em>, and is taking his friend Missy on Tuscany & Umbria<\/em>, a tour she chose as a gift from him.<\/p>\n He met two ladies from California on Tauck\u2019s former Culturious Tuscany and Cinque Terre<\/em> tour who share his love of travel. They enjoyed it so much that they traveled together on Provence <\/em>and celebrated their January birthdays on our Panama Canal & Costa Rica<\/em> cruise. \u201cThat was an awesome, small ship cruise,\u201d Brad recalled.<\/p>\n Where in the world is he going next?<\/p>\n \u201cI booked Tauck Bridges Mystical Peru<\/em> because it is a more active way to explore Peru. I am going on A Week In\u2026 Piedmont<\/em>, where I am looking forward to seeing Turin with Tauck. I plan to arrive in Italy early so I can see the living chess game in Marostica, near Venice, where they play a living chess match every two years. It is based on a legend that dates back to the 15th century,\u201d he said, having learned about it from a Tauck brochure listing a Culturious tour to Venice and Verona years ago.<\/p>\n \u201cI keep all my old Tauck brochures and reminisce about all the awesome tours I took over the years. I use them to get new ideas about more places to go,\u201d he explained, adding that our brochures for him are like \u201clooking through a Christmas catalog. I read them all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want to do Singapore and Bali, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. The only Africa I\u2019ve done is Morocco, but I have signed up for the Zambia tour, because I did a book report many, many moons ago about Dr. Livingstone. I grew up with mutual Omaha\u2019s Wild Kingdom so I want to go on safari.\u201d An avid photographer, he wants to zoom in and take pictures of leopards, lions and Cape buffalos. Egypt is on the list for Africa too, as are Namibia and the Botswana.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRomantic Germany is on my radar for a future Oberammergau performance, Brittany and the Loire Valley are slated for their historic sights, and I have to schedule in Northern India & Nepal<\/em> for the adventure of it,\u201d he added. \u201cI do hope Tauck opens up more Italy tours in new regions as well, because Italy, to me, is the addiction. I have taken 12 or 13 tours there and want to do more.\u201d<\/p>\n As we ended our conversation, I wished him a safe trip to Switzerland, with many happy new experiences.<\/p>\n \u201cI have planned one of my little side excursions when I arrive there,\u201d he told me. \u201cI\u2019m going to deviate from Lugano on our free day and drive over to Milan to eat at Hard Rock because they have one now.\u201d<\/p>\n So, where in the world is Dr. Brad Lindsey? The real question may be: where isn\u2019t he headed?<\/p>\n One of our oldest Tauck guests, Shirley Dorn, will be celebrating her 102nd<\/sup> birthday this August, as we continue toasting the centennial anniversary of our first Tauck trips in New England and Canada back in 1925. Like us, Shirley has spent a lifetime exploring the world, pursuing a love of travel that never gets old. I had the pleasure of speaking with her recently, taking special delight in the memories she shared about her trips around the world, including her 8+ Tauck adventures that remain as fresh and fun as they were when she experienced them, testimony to their enduring magic. \u201cThose were the happiest years of my life,\u201d she told me.<\/p>\n As we talked, it became more and more apparent that those memories have truly kept her young at heart. She began our conversation by stating that she received two Tauck brochures recently, and kindly asked that she be removed from our mailing list. The reason for her surprising request brought tears to my eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t tell you how excited I am just thinking about traveling, but when I got your gorgeous, beautiful catalog, I actually would cry. It depresses me that I can\u2019t do this anymore. And I try to talk to myself and say, be so happy for what you did do. And I am, I\u2019m very grateful to have traveled the world. I only wish I were younger so I could travel forever.\u201d<\/p>\n Having been to all seven continents, she was a treasure trove of stories, happily shared and eternally cherished.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been on about eight or nine Tauck trips. I think the first trip I took was about 25 or 26 years ago. I went alone. In fact, I\u2019ve always traveled alone. My first trip with Tauck was to the Canadian Rockies. I flew to Seattle, and from there, the tour started in Vancouver, and it was wonderful. And then, I think about two years after that, or one year, I began taking the river boat cruises, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. My first riverboat cruise was on the Danube, and I believe the last one was Prague.\u201d<\/p>\n She can\u2019t travel on oceans she told me because of seasickness and bouts of vertigo. But she always found river cruising \u201cdelightful,\u201d noting that she could see land from both sides of the boat, and didn\u2019t feel any motion. She preferred booking cabins on the lower deck, finding them more affordable and always enjoyable.<\/p>\n \u201cI booked my trips about a year in advance to make sure I got my desired accommodations\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cMy last trip was your 28 day Grand European riverboat cruise that took me across the continent. Now, many of those cities I had already been in, but I wanted to take a longer trip, and that was what I did. That was when I was 90.\u201d<\/p>\n What did she like most about traveling with Tauck, I asked.<\/p>\n \u201cI enjoy the personal attention. I felt very comfortable being by myself and I\u2019ve taken other cruises and I made wonderful friendships. I never felt uncomfortable being a lone traveler. Everyone was very friendly to me, and I have to tell you that it got to the point the last cruise I took, I think, was from Prague, and we were given the option of having dinner the last night in a local restaurant or on the boat or something. I know there was a choice too. And believe it or not, I had people asking for me.\u201d<\/p>\n As a solo traveler, she told me she was not one \u201cto cling to one couple and have them think, Oh, here she is again. No, I know enough not to make a pest to myself.\u201d We both shared a laugh about that wise piece of advice, as she reminisced about that last cruise.<\/p>\n She lost her camera on that trip \u2013 and with it all the photographs she had taken along the way \u2013 she recalled. Relieved to have purchased cruise protection, she filed a claim to cover her loss, remarking that she couldn\u2019t get over how fast the insurance company reimbursed her.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a couple from Atlanta, Georgia, traveling on the ship,\u201d she said, adding that she really hadn\u2019t had any prior contact with them. \u201cHe was a retired doctor, and word got around that my camera was stolen. He came over to me before the trip ended and took down my name and address. After I returned home, he sent me a video of the cruise, a movie really, that looked so professional I couldn\u2019t get over it. It started out with a marquee and the cast, and I wasn\u2019t in one picture, but it was beautiful. I also got one from a couple on one of my Tauck trips from Alaska. I didn\u2019t have a camera so they sent me copies of their photos. The woman was native to Wisconsin, and she would come back to visit once or twice a year. She would fly to Chicago and drive to Wisconsin, and she always stopped to see me.\u201d<\/p>\n The people Shirley met on her trips with us hold a special place in her memories.<\/p>\n \u201cI also met people from New Zealand. I just love that. I get excited even thinking about it. To me the pleasure, aside from the sightseeing and the history, is the people who are from all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy, thrilled that I did what I did when I did and I\u2019m a wonderful spokesman for Tauck. Oh, I tell everyone, if you\u2019re going to take a trip, do it with Tauck.\u201d<\/p>\n I shared how referrals like hers were an important part of the history and growth of our 100-year-old company, and were testimony to the way we feel about valued guests like her.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCoincidentally, I was on a cruise when it was your 75th anniversary \u2013 and I still have the candy dish you gifted to us displayed in my living room,\u201d she said. \u201cI always book a cruise during my birthday, because I liked to travel in September or the end of August. Tauck gave me a beautiful scarf for my birthday, a gift I still cherish today. No matter when I traveled with your company, I was always treated lovely, with \u2018an anything you want\u2019 attitude.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI never met anyone on your ships who wasn\u2019t wonderful. Anything you needed was there for you. I should be on the payroll as marketing, because I\u2019m always touting Tauck. But please\u2026 tell your company not to send me catalogs anymore.\u201d It was a small request\u2014but it carried the weight of something much larger. I promised her I would, my heart catching in the quiet that followed. Because that moment, more than anything, captured what makes travel unforgettable: not just the places we go, but how deeply they stay with us. Long after the luggage is unpacked and the brochures stop arriving, the memories remain\u2014vivid, cherished, and undimmed by time. They grow more luminous with each retelling, proof that the journey never really ends.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a work of art or a photograph, a picture truly does speak a thousand words. The beauty of a picture lies in its ability to convey emotion, transcend time and connect generations. It\u2019s how it makes you feel, how it captures a memory you don\u2019t want to forget and how sharing it makes the experience timeless.<\/p>\n Tauck guest Suzanna Parker, an art student at the University of Michigan, and her father, a professional photographer, not only visually captured images of their three-generation trip to Northern Spain in May, they also brought the journey to life through their creative lenses \u2013 Suzanna with watercolor sketches of village plazas, paradors and daily life, and her father with striking photographs that framed the soul of each stop. Together, their art became a shared family album unlike any other\u2014one that tells the story of connection, culture, and discovery across generations.<\/p>\n Her dad\u2019s photos inspired Suzanna\u2019s love of art, she told me, adding that they often trade off their hobbies.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll teach me something, and then I\u2019ll teach him something. When I saw the pictures he was taking on our trip, I told him that his photography was inspiring me and I decided that I needed to get a sketchbook. We were in Barcelona, right at the beginning of the trip. I found an art store, bought a sketchbook, and some watercolors, and just started painting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we were walking around the different places we visited, he would take a picture of something that looked nice. So I\u2019d take a photo too, and then paint it. It was really fun to look at his photographs and compare our work.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For the artist\u2019s eye, travel is a boundless muse, enticing with changing light, vivid local color, and captivating moments that speak volumes about daily life, past and present. Suzanna remarked how beautiful the sights they saw were and how all of the old buildings caught her attention.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really inspired by the architecture and the history. It\u2019s so old and feels really different than what I am used to seeing at home. I wanted to document that.\u201d<\/p>\n Painting as she traveled from place to place \u00ad\u00ad\u2013 she created at least one painting a day \u2013 was a fun, stress-free way to keep her art practice going, she said, explaining that she really enjoyed creating art for herself, at her own pace, instead of rushing through a class assignment.<\/p>\n The architecture in Barcelona is\u00a0a stunning blend of history and imagination, ranging from Gothic to Modernism.<\/strong> One the city\u2019s most famous native sons, architect Antoni Gaudi\u2019s work struck a chord with this aspiring artist, who \u201cloves Art Nouveau and curvy, whimsical buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n Having been to Barcelona myself and similarly wowed by the medieval artistry in Barri Gotic and Gaudi\u2019s fantastical spaces, I had to ask which of the city\u2019s architectural sights captured her attention the most.<\/p>\n \u201cLa Sagrada Familia was the most amazing cathedral I have ever seen. I started to paint it but it was so detailed that I didn\u2019t get to finish it,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n That\u2019s so funny, I thought, because Gaudi didn\u2019t finish his work either, now going on 140 years since he started it 1882. Cathedrals in Europe are nothing if not masterpieces of opulence and design, where soaring spires, gilded altars, and intricate stonework converge to elevate the spirit and astonish the eye and many took centuries to complete. Luckily, that\u2019s not the case for traveling artists like Suzanna, who was able to finish her art on the fly.<\/p>\n After they left Barcelona, they headed to the small town of Zaragosa, where Suzanna continued her watercolor renditions. Her painting of the famous pillared cathedral, one of two in the town, serves as a pictorial reminder of the charming square where it is located. So too do the street scenes she painted in the Basque country of San Sebastian and the French village of St. Jean du Luc, the rural farm locals she loved in Cangas de Onis, and the ancient paradors and the modern hotel she stayed in, including the Parador de Leon and Marques de Riscal, capturing the architecture and ambiance in pastel colors that reflected the serenity of their settings.<\/p>\n While every day brought her a new inspiration, it was her time with her grandfather in the historic city of Santiago de Compostela that manifested multiple pieces of art \u2013 including a painted snapshot of local performers in the square and the little shell that many visiting pilgrims have on their backpacks \u2013 along with a lifetime of precious memories.<\/p>\n Her grandfather, an 8-time Tauck guest, took Suzanna and her family on their trip to Spain, one of three multigenerational Tauck adventures they shared together.<\/p>\n \u201cMy grandpa was so funny when we arrived in Santiago de Compostela. He was determined to walk the three-mile pilgrimage route along the Camino de Santiago. So I did it with him at a pretty slow pace, but we made it,\u201d she said, with palpable pride and admiration for her beloved grandfather in her voice.<\/p>\n Curious about her favorite overall trip experience, I wondered if it was traveling with her family she enjoyed the most, immersing in the Spanish culture through the activities she experienced or actually following her passion by documenting her journey in works of art. \u00a0<\/p>\n Not surprisingly, she responded from her heart. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so hard to choose; all of it was so incredible. I loved learning about the history of Spain, it was just so cool and our Tauck Director Mitchell had so many fun facts about it. He really did his research about his tour and I loved hearing about his own experiences being there,\u201d she told me, enthusiastically adding that he commissioned her to do a painting of Santiago de Camino for him.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I think that the quality time I spent with my family, especially with my grandpa, was the best part of the trip. He lives in Kansas, so we don\u2019t get to see him as often as I wish. It was really special to spend two weeks traveling with him. I am so fortunate to be able to travel when I\u2019m young. That\u2019s something that my grandpa was really adamant about. He told me that he\u2019s just really happy that he could give me this experience as a young person because he believes that being able to travel and learn things are among the most valuable experiences you can have.\u201d <\/p>\n As is sharing them with the people you love like Suzanna did, which, in my opinion, is travel\u2019s winning trifecta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Collectively, Marilyn Lehew\u2019s family has taken 134 Tauck trips. Marilyn has joined us on 34 trips to date, with many more, including our new Norway cruise, peaking her interest. She always travels with family, she told me when we spoke, her mom being her first roommate on the 20+ adventures they shared together over the years. Her sisters Shirley and Bonnie would come along as well, often with a teacher friend, and their husbands in tow. Together they\u2019ve made the memories of a lifetime all over the world, cherishing special moments and stories that bring them together again and again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cTwo of my favorite trips were ones I experienced with my sister Shirley and her husband Bob,\u201d she shared during our recent conversation, offering her fond perspective of her family\u2019s history with travel. \u201cWe had just left England and were on our way to the battlefields at Normandy. My brother-in-law lost a cousin there during the war and he was anxious to pay his respects at his gravesite in the American Cemetery. He mentioned this to our Tauck Director when we first arrived in France, explaining that he would like to visit his cousin\u2019s grave in Normandy while we were there. I remember watching them leave on this special mission as the rest of us returned to the boat after visiting the D-Day beaches. Our Tauck Director personally escorted Bob to the cemetery, making his long-awaited wish come true.\u201d<\/p>\n One story inspired another as we talked, testament to the staying power of enriching travel experiences. Eager to hear more, I listened as Shirley continued with another one of her favorite travel moments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were traveling in Japan, arriving one day early with Tauck\u2019s Gift of Time. Just after World War II ended, Bob was stationed in a small town in Japan, about 50 miles from Tokyo. While he was there, he would play baseball with the local kids, one of whom he had hoped to see again. We took a taxi to the town where Bob\u2019s memories lived on, stopping at a little restaurant for lunch. Bob brought out his old photographs from 1946 and showed them to the people in the restaurant. They could not believe his pictures. He told them about the boy he had played baseball with every day, who, at the time was about 14 or 15 years old. Bob remembered his name and shared it with them in hopes someone knew of him or his family. It didn\u2019t ring a bell with the people at the restaurant, but the restaurant staff offered to look the name up in the local telephone book. Just a few minutes later, a taxi pulled up to the restaurant, and out walked the boy Bob played baseball with. Turns out he is a taxi driver in that town and now, 60 years later, the two old friends had the opportunity to meet again.\u201d<\/p>\n As travelers ourselves at Tauck, we always talk about the lasting connections you can make through travel, whether it\u2019s a place you dream of seeing again, culinary treats you\u2019ll never forget or memories of the people you meet along the way. Shirley, who has been to all seven continents, would like to see the Taj Mahal again.<\/p>\n \u201cI brought a piece of the Taj Mahal home with me,\u201d explained Shirley, who told me she bought a memento of this monument to love when she visited India decades ago. \u201cIt\u2019s made of white marble and has gemstones in it. Each time I look at it, I marvel at it.\u201d<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t that wonderful, I thought to myself. That\u2019s what travel does. The sights you see have a way of becoming places in the heart that transport you back to your visit. It\u2019s part of the magic of travel, and for avid travelers like Shirley and her family, it reminds them of the times they shared on their trips together.<\/p>\n Marilyn recalled the last \u201cwonderful\u201d trip she and her sisters experienced with their late mother, Ruth. They were on one of the six Ponant cruises they took with Tauck and they became fast friends with the ship\u2019s captain, Captain Lemaire. Capt. Lemaire invited them to his cabin for a glass of wine or champagne. He would always ask Ruth to dance with him. Her mother was truly delighted, she told me.<\/p>\n \u201cMy sister Shirley, \u2018the knitter,\u2019 would knit clothing for the Captain\u2019s children and Capt. Lemaire would send thank you notes. His son later became a Captain on the same ships,\u201d she recalled, adding that Shirley has made a book of the 41 Tauck trips she has taken. \u201cShirley would knit washcloths and give them away saying \u2018Wash your dishes with these and think of me!\u2019 Many of Tauck\u2019s Tour Directors were gifted these washcloths.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cOne time we sailed along the Italian coast and we were in the southern part of Italy. There was an art village on top of a great big hill,\u201d she said. She was talking about Ravello, I mused, recalling my own blissful memories of my visit there. \u00a0\u201cI bought several pieces of art there \u2013 ceramics only 1.5-2.5 inches tall with goats. Some of the ship crew brought back some special cheese from there \u2013 mozzarella di buffalo \u2013 and served it that evening back aboard our Ponant ship. It exploded with flavor!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Her recent trips have been closer to home. One of the last trips she took with her both of her sisters was Yosemite and Sequoia: John Muir\u2019s California<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI brought three baby Sequoias home with me,\u201d she shared, literally keeping her memories of that trip alive and growing. \u201cYou have to keep them planted in the pot for at least two years,\u201d she explained and plans to plant them in her hometown of Franklin this year.<\/p>\n A devoted gardener, Marilyn was headed out to her garden after our conversation. I had more questions, of course, wanting to relive her journeys \u2013 and a few of mine \u2013 through the tales she told. But she had a question for me before we said good bye.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHave you ever been to Nashville?\u201d she asked. \u201cWe live in Franklin, just 24 miles south of Nashville. It\u2019s a historic town, with a key Civil War battlefield, the bloodiest of the war, I believe, and many storied buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n I had not visited Nashville yet, but what she said next inspired me to put her hometown of Franklin on my bucket list.<\/p>\n Turns out, Marilyn and her husband Calvin save historic buildings, keeping their legacy alive for future generations. They have purchased, resurrected and preserved the town\u2019s old factory and many of its centuries-old buildings, opening restaurants and businesses that have helped the town and its enduring history thrive as a must-see destination.<\/p>\n Speaking with her about her family and their Tauck trips together was a gift that underscored the impact travel has on our guests. Learning about the philanthropic and historic legacy she and her husband have created on behalf of their own community had an equally important and palpable impact on me, making our Tauck connection more priceless still.<\/p>\n Mike and Eloise Murphy are adventurers at heart. Avid travelers, they have explored the world together for decades, favoring cruises over land journeys and wildlife over museum tours. Before they knew about Tauck, they sailed to their chosen destinations aboard big ocean liners that were less customer-focused than they liked. They turned to Tauck after their travel agent recommended they take a look at our trips. Their first Tauck trip, Kenya & Tanzania: A Classic Safari<\/em> hooked them on Tauck, becoming their all-time favorite Tauck travel experience and keeping them captivated enough to experience this same journey four times.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really liked the itinerary and saw a great variety of animals every time we went. The whole trip runs very well, and we\u2019ve always liked the people that we met there. Plus, the tour directors have always been very good,\u201d Mike told me, adding that they traveled to Africa with Tauck every two years for 10 years, joining us on Botswana, South Africa & Zambia<\/em> as well. \u201cWe like all the locations we visited as well. I personally think the Mount Kenya Safari Club is one of my favorite places on the planet. It\u2019s just a great place to kick back for a couple days. We normally go horseback riding there, and they used to have some dogs there that liked to go on walks with us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was definitely a different experience every time we went, even though we traveled to Africa more or less at the same time of year, in the June and July timeframe. The weather at that time of year is good, and the bugs you hear about are relatively minimum,\u201d he shared.\u00a0<\/p>\n Except if you wear black, I learned, like one young man on one of his safaris did, attracting all the flies to him with his dark shirt, sparing the rest of the group from contending with them. Mike, a retired \u201cfly boy\u201d (pilot) himself, nicknamed him \u201cfly,\u201d a name the young man happily claimed, further enhancing the camaraderie that\u2019s inherent on safari.<\/p>\n Listening to his stories transported me back to my own safari experience. I share Mike\u2019s feelings about Africa and its wonders, admittedly envious of his many return trips, and still dreaming of reliving my time in Kenya. Not only was I mesmerized by the animals we encountered, napping lion families, cheetahs on the hunt, gentle giraffes, trumpeting elephants, barking zebras and more, I was equally moved by the Maasai, whose always smiling faces belied the challenges of life in the bush.<\/p>\n \u201cWe visited a local primary school on our last safari with Tauck. The children sang and danced and put on quite a show for us. They were pretty amazing. My wife, Eloise, and I were so touched that we gifted them a donation. Others in our group followed suit, anteing up a total of $930 that went towards the purchase of a truckload of school supplies, soccer equipment and the like. That felt really good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll never say never, but it\u2019s a pretty long way to go from California. We will, however, travel with Tauck again and are taking the Iceland <\/em>cruise in June, our 17th<\/sup> Tauck tour. We like the way Tauck takes care of all the details,\u201d Mike told me, sharing that \u201cTauck fits our desires perfectly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Aside from their Africa safaris, cruises, both riverboat and small ship, are their favorite ways to travel. They have sailed with us to the far reaches of the world in Antarctica, their 2nd<\/sup> favorite destination by the way, and cruised with us aboard Treasures of the Aegean<\/em>, Treasures of Spain and Portugal<\/em>, and The Blue Danube<\/em> among others, often traveling with like-minded friends they met while sharing their mutual love of travel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n As we were ending our conversation, Mike told me that he watched the video we have online about The Tauck Story<\/em>. He was surprised and delighted to see the old photo of the Wigwam Restaurant that Arthur, Sr. took his first guests to on our trips along the back country roads of New England in the 1920s.<\/p>\n \u201cMy family used to go there too when I was a young child. I even have of a photo of my sister and me, at 5 years old, standing in the front of the Wigwam. Sure brought back a lot of fond memories,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n Memories like Mike\u2019s are so much a part of the magic of travel and one of the reasons why we often long to revisit those places that touch our heart. We\u2019re beyond thrilled that Mike and Eloise have made their way back to some of their favorite places with us making more lasting memories along the way.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to fall in love with travel. Whether you embarked on a road trip through the bucolic landscapes of New England like Linda and Chris John did on their first Tauck trip or traveled to Italy on a dream vacation in 2008, where priceless experiences played out in a pageantry of treasures difficult to replicate anywhere, the memories you make can be truly life changing.\u00a0<\/p>\n I had the delightful opportunity to chat with Linda after returning from my own unforgettable week in Florence with Tauck, sharing stories about palaces and people that are the stuff of real-life fairy tales. Hers is a love story worthy of the movies, scripted with big screen settings, a talented cast of characters, history-making scenes, surprising acts and moments of breathtaking suspense that keep you totally engaged in the outcome.<\/p>\n As she tells it, \u201cMy long-time boyfriend, Chris, and I went on Tauck\u2019s Classic Italy<\/em> tour in 2008.\u00a0 We were just about to start building a house together, so I wanted a good vacation before we started the long process.\u00a0 When we were in Florence, our tour director, Jennifer, told us about a medieval theater show and dinner that took place at a beautiful palace. Chris signed us up right away. When the show started, one of the staff picked him to participate in one of their shows.\u00a0As he appeared on stage dressed as a king, another staff member pulled me on stage, unwillingly I might add, to be part of the act.\u00a0 That\u2019s when Chris proposed to me, whipping out a ring as he did so.\u00a0I remember thinking the ring looked real, so I stood there for a few minutes wondering if this was part of the show or a real proposal.\u00a0I took so long to answer that Chris finally said \u2018you don\u2019t have to answer now.\u2019 But I did and said yes. Later, Chris shared that he had gotten the ring through all the metal detectors at the various airports, Had it not, he said the \u00a0proposal would have happened in the airport instead of Italy.\u00a0Since our 15-year anniversary is coming up at the end of the year, we are hoping to go on another Tauck tour since this is where it started.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cTraveling with Tauck is great way to experience all that is special about the destinations you explore\u201d she told me, citing the good food, the great hotels, and the caring Tauck Directors and bus drivers who make each trip memorable. Now that she and her husband have completed building the dream home they started after returning from Classic Italy<\/em> years ago, they plan on joining us on more trips. On their wish list is our Treasures of the<\/em> Mediterranean and Legendary Scottish Isles<\/em> cruises and Costa Rica<\/em>, but not before they return to Italy where their amazing proposal took place.<\/p>\n I was thrilled to learn that the happy couple is booked on Bellissima Northern Italy <\/em>this year, <\/em>where they will visit Milan, the Italian Lakes, Bologna, Venice and more, with a two-night stay in Verona, where Romeo and Juliet declared their undying devotion to one another. Which seems a most fitting journey for this modern-day tale of eternal love, don\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n A popular hit created on the heels of World War I when US soldiers were returning home from Europe, \u201cHow you gonna keep \u2018em down on the farm after they\u2019ve seen Paree?\u201d could well apply to the Siegle sisters, longtime guests who have, to date, logged in 63 Tauck trips.<\/p>\n Farm girls born and raised in Iowa, their first Tauck trip took them, coincidentally enough, to Paris. Their family, hardworking farmers all, did not have time to travel when the girls were growing up, given the daily chores that kept them busy at home. Once they started traveling with us, nothing could keep them down on the farm for long.<\/p>\n \u201cWe heard about Tauck from two widowed ladies we knew from church. We thought if they like it and it\u2019s good enough for them, then it\u2019s good enough for us.\u201d<\/p>\n That recommendation turned into a lifelong love affair with travel for the sisters, the more adventurous the better I learned after chatting with them, with small ship cruises among their very favorites. Among the many voyages they have enjoyed with us, they braved the cold on our cruise to Antarctica where they warmed up to the penguins and marine life they encountered. They circumnavigated the land of fire and ice with us in Iceland, gamely soaking in the thermal delights of the Blue Lagoon. They explored the Norwegian fjords and the Scottish Isles aboard our \u201clovely\u201d Ponant ship; indulged in the Treasures of the Mediterranean<\/em> and the Aegean on idyllic cruises they\u2019ll long remember; transited the Panama Canal and met the Guna people in the remote San Blas Islands; and discovered the exotic sights of the Arabian Peninsula and the antiquities of Egypt with wide-eyed wonder. Most recently, they joined us aboard Cruising the Great Lakes: Chicago to Toronto<\/em>, revisiting places they explored with us on Michigan\u2019s Lakes & Mackinac Island<\/em> back in 2006.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Whether by land or sea, Phyllis and Arlene choose Tauck because of the great care they receive and peace of mind they experience, noting \u201chow thankful we have been for the trust and security we always feel.\u201d But it\u2019s our uniquely interesting itineraries \u2013 polar bears in Manitoba, lions, rhinos, giraffes and more in Africa; giant tortoises, playful seals and blue-footed boobies in the Gal\u00e1pagos; Yellowstone in winter \u2013 and exclusive cultural experiences they can only have with Tauck, that kept them coming back for more. \u201cEach journey enriched our lives and far surpassed our fondest dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGratitude is essential to living a full and happy life which certainly applies to travel. Each and every Tauck tour is a metaphor for life. We feel extremely and bountifully blessed to have found and appreciated Tauck tours and family. What the precious privilege of cultivating a lifetime of joy, beauty and spiritual growth that have been the paradigm of our life. A sincere thanks to Tauck.\u201d<\/p>\n With loyal guests like Arlene and Phyllis, whose stories and memories are truly steeped in the attitude of gratitude and in the magic of travel, the pleasure is all ours.<\/p>\n A dedicated solo traveler, Sue Werner has saved 70 group pictures from her Tauck trips, dating from 2019 all the way back to 1987 when she traveled with us on Southern Charms: Savannah, Hilton Head & Charleston<\/em>. Sue, who likes a good party just as much as we do, has also attended just about all of Tauck\u2019s events, joining us more than once on annual events like the Kentucky Derby, Run for the Roses<\/em>; our New Year\u2019s Eve gala, A Celebration of Roses<\/em> in Hollywood and the Jazz Event<\/em> in New Orleans. While she doesn\u2019t have group photos of those experiences, \u201cyou can\u2019t easily fit everyone into one picture,\u201d she has lasting memories of the good times she shared with everyone in attendance.<\/p>\n With so many trips under her belt, I wondered how she chose them and if she had a preference for a mode of travel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI like it all. I enjoy the river boats, but I like the land tours too and especially enjoy the comfortable motor coaches Tauck uses. Usually, I just choose a destination, knowing that no matter where Tauck goes or how we travel, Tauck is going to take care of me.\u201d<\/p>\n Wherever she chooses to explore with us, the draw for Sue is a well-rounded mix of culture, scenery and wildlife. South Africa, An Elegant Adventure <\/em>appeals to her and is on her bucket list as are Essence of South America<\/em> and Essence of Japan<\/em>. She also has been dreaming about Grand Australia & New Zealand<\/em>, something she hopes to do in the future. The Christmas Market cruises are favorites and she has put both the Belgium and France holiday cruises on her wish list.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n She is not done traveling with Tauck yet, even though she joked that she will have to live until she is 150 to take all of Tauck tours she is interested in! What keeps her coming back is what Arthur Tauck Sr. had in mind 100 years ago when he founded the company.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u201cAll I want is a congenial party. We shall be just one happy party, properly chaperoned, out for a real good time\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe trips are a lot of fun. Tauck does an amazing job. They put a lot of thought and effort into them, and you have nothing to worry about. They take care of things that you wouldn\u2019t even think about, and then you\u2019re just free to experience the destination, free to enjoy it and do what you want. They have a nice even balance of tour time and free time on every trip.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As we celebrate 100 years of enriching travel, we want to take this opportunity to thank our guests who have made it all possible with their loyalty and kind referrals to friends and family. Your stories continue to inspire us to raise the bar in everything we do, and reflect so much of the shared […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":323634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[150866],"tags":[3767,5491,47139,150867,542],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-323633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tauck-100","tag-blog","tag-month","tag-patron","tag-taucker","tag-travel"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_3767-rotated.jpg\")
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\nOctober: Marybeth Hillier<\/h2>\n
\u201cOnce You Travel with Tauck, You\u2019re Family\u201d<\/h4>\n
Building Lifelong Travel Friendships<\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Siracusa.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paris-and-the-Seine-with-son-and-grandson.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Cooking-Class-in-Puglia.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nWhen Plans Change, Tauck Shines<\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Rengensburg.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Sari-and-Turban-in-India.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Holy-men-in-Katmandu.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\u201cYou Just Show Up\u201d<\/h5>\n
Family Journeys that Spark Joy<\/h5>\n
Meeting Every Traveler Where They Are<\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Paris-and-the-Rhone-with-daughter-and-granddaughter.jpg\")
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\nSeptember: Becky and John Strong<\/h2>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s amore. A love story 35 years strong\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_0020-1024x683.jpeg\")
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\nAugust: Dr. Brad Lindsey<\/h2>\n
\u201cWhere in the world is he going next?\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DSC00585-1024x819.jpg\")
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\nJuly: Shirley Dorn<\/h2>\n
\u201cThe journey never really ends\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/RM_JTC_Mount_Robson_HERO_NH_2016-9_EDIT_SKY_TREES-988x1024.jpg\")
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\nJune: Suzanna Parker<\/h2>\n
\u201cFor the artist\u2019s eye, travel is a boundless muse\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Dad-and-I-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/San-Sabastian_Reference-768x1024.jpg\")
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\nMay: Marilyn Lehew and Family<\/h2>\n
\u201c\u2026memories of a lifetime all over the world\u2026\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Alaska-Ship-1-1024x743.jpg\")
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\nApril: Mike and Eloise Murphy<\/h2>\n
\u00a0\u201cAdventurers at heart\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Murphy1-1024x683.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nWill you be going back to Africa with Tauck again, I asked?\u00a0<\/h5>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Murphy2-scaled.jpg\")
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\nMarch: Linda & Chris John<\/h2>\n
\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s easy to fall in love with travel.\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/LCJohn_ring-1024x852.jpg\")
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\nFebruary: The Siegle Sisters<\/h2>\n
\u00a0\u201cHow you gonna keep \u2018em down on the farm after they\u2019ve seen Paree?\u201d<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/SiegleSisters_Castle_Serenade_LaSeudUrgell-1024x757.jpg\")
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\nJanuary: Sue Werner<\/h2>\n
70 Tauck trips and counting\u2026<\/h4>\n
![\"Grand](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/SueWerner_GrandCanyon1992-1024x750.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Galapagos\"](\"https:\/\/blog.tauck.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/SueWerner_Galapagos2011-1024x627.jpg\")
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