Purpose
The primary purpose of these tours is to give local residents (especially new residents) an opportunity to learn some details about their community that they would not normally come across in their daily lives.
Benefits
- Entertainment and education for the tourists
- An opportunity for the tour-guide to showcase their facility
- Brings different parts of the community together
- Develops an appreciation for all the activities within the community
- Introduces new residents to more people
Rules
- Tours are only available to members who have paid the annual membership fee of $10.00.
- Accept invitations to tours of interest: Ignore invitations not of interest.
- Accept an invitation to a tour by making a reservation for yourself and, if desired, another member.
- Signing up for a tour and later canceling is OK. Signing up for a tour and not showing up is not acceptable.
- After signing up, check the website to see if you made the cut for the tour (Green) or if you are on the waiting list (Red).(It may take a few hours before your name appears on the list.)
- You are responsible for getting to the tour as I do not arrange a bus or other transport.
- Maintain a positive, respectful and friendly attitude.
- Get to know your fellow tourists. Make friends!
- Make an effort to learn as much as possible about each facility and its occupants. Ask questions to help you understand how things work.
- Your fellow tourists are there to hear from the tour guide, not from you! It is not helpful to make statements like “We do things this other way in Wisconsin (Illinois or Ohio!)”
History of Tours
Our first tour was in October 2013 to Bush Beans in Dandridge. Since then we have completed over 500 tours to 110 different destinations within a two-hour drive of Crossville. (as of 10/13/2023)
Additional Information
Car-pooling: You are responsible for getting yourself to the facility in time for the tour. I do not provide a bus or arrange transport. Please make your own car-pooling arrangements with fellow tourists if possible. Some destinations have limited parking and anyway it is more sociable to carpool.
Invitations and Final Instructions: Typically we send out invitations ten days before the event so you can get the date on your calendar. We send out Final Instructions about three days before the event. These include meeting location and time and any special instructions such as “wear closed-toed shoes, “no cell phones allowed,” etc.”