Make Your Bus Trip Better with a Book

March 16, 2018Posted in Bus ToursWritten by Christine Durling2 Comments

While traveling around the country as a Tour Director on many of Starr’s bus vacations, I am always thrilled when I stumble upon historical fiction titles dealing with people, cultures, and events that showcase the places we are visiting. Sometimes, I find a book while on tour as I did in Chicago. I purchased “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson in the gift shop of the Willis Building—the second tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It is a great read detailing the building of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair while unraveling a sinister killer luring young victims to his hotel.

Book recommendations from friends, tourism folks and fellow travelers rank high on my reading list. So, I couldn’t pass up reading “Follow the River” by James Alexander Thom after our local guide in West Virginia presented me her paperback copy on our last day in town. A real page turner chronicling the capture of Mary Draper Ingles by the Shawnee Indians and her 1,000 mile journey on foot back to her family. Having read multiple books by Sue Monk Kidd, I was happy to pick up “The Invention of Wings” when I found out the plot centers in Charleston, SC—one of Starr’s best-selling bus tours! It takes place at the beginning of the 19th Century when a young slave girl is given to a young wealthy girl as a birthday present. Although their birthrights were significantly different, their loyalty propels them towards liberation and empowerment. Then there is “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” by John Berendt. This novel was on the New York Times Best Sellers List longer than any other non-fiction narrative. The true story is traced to Savannah, GA. Starr passengers, while on a trolley tour, will stop in front of the infamous house where the murder of a well-known male prostitute took place. Passengers can also see the famous Bird Girl Statue featured on the cover of the book and premiered in the movie of the same name at the Telfair Museum.

While doing my research for the Cross Country tour, there were two books that caught my attention. I was intrigued by “The 19th Wife” by David Ebershoff. Expelled from the Mormon Church as an outcast after separating from Brigham Young, the Church’s leader, Ann Eliza Young, his 19th wife begins a crusade exposing polygamy in the United States. While visiting Salt Lake City Utah, Starr passengers can stroll Temple Square, the entrance to the Church of the Latter Day Saints—the Mormon Church. “Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline takes the reader from Maine to Minnesota on trains carrying thousands of orphaned children from 1854-1929. The premise of such a journey was to have children adopted into loving homes needing help on farms during the Westward Expansion. Unfortunately, many children were adopted into a life of servitude and endured many hardships.

As this new travel season approaches, I am on the hunt for additional historical fiction titles that will expand my knowledge as well as enhance our bus tour guests’ travel experiences. So, if you have any book suggestions for our upcoming Starr bus tours going to Dublin, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; or Block Island, Rhode Island, I’d love to add them to my reading list! See you on the road and don’t forget to bring your favorite book with you on the bus!

Christine Durling,
Starr Tour Director

Hey Baby Boomers! How about a 2nd Career as a Charter Bus Driver?

February 23, 2018Posted in Bus Charters, Bus Tours, Motorcoach jobs, MotorcoachesWritten by Sandy BorowskyLeave a comment

According to Investopedia, Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are heading into retirement in droves (about 10,000 a day, in fact). But what does retirement mean anymore? How many of you have celebrated the retirement of a friend, relative or coworker just to find out they have gone back to work? We can retire from one career and start another in a very smooth fashion. Here at Starr we hire lots of retirees on staff as Bus Drivers. We have retired Police Officers, Teachers, Firefighters, and many Veterans. Driving a charter bus offers a lot of the perks that workers facing retirement seem to desire, such as flexible hours, a change of pace and scenery, and the opportunity to learn new skills. Folks who have held sedentary jobs often enjoy being “on the move” for a change; workers tied to one locale during their career may appreciate visiting new places; those who’ve worked alone—like accountants, lab technicians, or computer programmers—may enjoy the opportunity to meet and converse with many new people every trip.

Everyone knows Americans are living longer than ever so that means our ideas around retirement and needs going into retirement are changing. Although the U.S. Census Bureau data shows that the average retirement age in the United States is about age 63, many don’t retire until Age 70. And then there are those in good health, like Starr’s owner Alan Glickman, who are 75 and still going strong! The longer we work, the easier it is to afford a comfortable retirement. Longer lives and rising health care costs have made retirement more expensive at the same time that stagnant wages and the decline of the traditional pension have made it harder to save enough. Putting off retirement until later can mean less worry once you get there. Then you can relax and truly enjoy your golden years.

Bloomberg tells us that U.S. seniors are employed at the highest rates in 55 years which means that more and more Americans are spending their golden years on the job due to a number of factors. Many are healthier and living longer than previous generations. Some need the income, while others decide not to fully retire because they enjoy their jobs or just want to stay active.

While age discrimination is a very real consideration for older job seekers, a few gray hairs can actually be a plus for aspiring bus drivers. Passengers might equate age with experience, authority, and sound judgment and they would be right. A little life experience can go a long way on the open road. For a generation pondering how to transition into the next phase of life, a stint as a bus driver might be the ticket.

Starr makes the transition into a new career as a motorcoach operator as easy as possible. First, we offer a full scholarship to qualified candidates to help get you the necessary CDL license you’ll need to operate one of our buses. Next, we offer a flexible schedule, premiere medical benefits, and full and part time options. Oh, and we also offer a $10,000 hiring bonus for full time drivers, and $2,500 for part time drivers, just to sweeten the deal even further.

Our drivers travel up and down the east coast and as far west as Michigan, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee. You work as a team with knowledgeable Tour Directors, and get to know many of our amazing passengers and groups – many of which have been traveling with Starr for years! If the idea of being paid to travel, see our great country, and meet some great people interests you, why not consider turning your retirement into an adventure and join our team? We’d love to have you!

Visit Starr’s employment opportunities and see current open positions by clicking the icon below:

The Color and Wonder of PHS’s Most Popular Event

February 9, 2018Posted in Bus Tours, Day TripsWritten by Melanie2 Comments

Everyone seems to brighten at the sight and smell of flowers. With the dark winter months and the chilly cold air, there is nothing like a nice batch of springtime to make winter go by much faster. Take a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show, where you can wander through gorgeous gardens during the time of year when you need it the most. Whether you are a gardening fanatic, or don’t have a green thumb in your body, anyone can appreciate the wonder of the Philadelphia Flower Show! Even for those who can’t tell a sunflower from a succulent, the show is the perfect way for people to escape the dreary cold weather outside and immerse themselves in a wonderland of flowers and gardening.

The Philadelphia Flower Show was started in 1829 by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. In fact, it is the world’s longest running and largest indoor flower show! Every year, the show wows audiences with the newest plant varieties, gorgeous garden and design concepts, as well as organic and sustainable practices. This year The Flower Show will celebrate the beauty and life-sustaining interplay of horticulture and water with the theme “Wonders of Water.” “America’s leading floral and garden designers will create tropical jungles, temperate forests, native woodlands and arid landscapes, showcasing the astounding plants that thrive in each environment, from exquisite orchids and flowering vines to luminescent desert blooms.” Each year, horticulturalists from around the world compete in world-renowned competitions in horticulture and artistic floral arranging, gardening presentations, and demonstrations centered around the chosen theme. The competition is fierce, and the Flower Show judges have a nearly impossible job: selecting which exhibits are most deserving of a blue ribbon! The judges pay attention to quality of design, horticulture, plantsmanship, visitor experience, and many other uniquely demonstrated qualities. Who knows? Maybe on your trip you’ll spot a winner!

The Philadelphia Flower Show is held annually at the Philadelphia Convention Center and is a beloved tradition that attracts 250,000 visitors from around the world each year! With all of this fame comes a great amount of responsibility; before the end of the flower show, horticulturalists are already tending to flowers that will be next year’s potential stars. Then, designers and artists spend the year collaborating and designing the eye-catching displays that will fill the Convention Center with color at next year’s show. Years of dedication and hard work have earned The Philadelphia Flower Show the honor of being named the best event in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association.

The Philadelphia Flower Show is a wonderful and “must see” horticultural experience and Starr makes it easy for you to get there! Take a trip on one of our luxury coaches and walk through rows of roses and promenades of peonies as you escape the cold to a wonderland of flowers. It’s the perfect fix for those with spring fever, and is great to hold you over until you sprout up seedlings of your own. After you’ve basked in the colorful glory, you’ll stop for a delicious dinner at Aldo Lamberti’s Positano Coast before sitting back to relax on your way home. The only thing you’ll have to think about are the amazing displays you’ve just seen! Take in the Philadelphia Flower Show with Starr, and book your tickets now!

Have you experienced the Philadelphia Flower Show? What are your favorite memories?

Photos Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

New Year’s Bucket List Resolutions for the Young at Heart – Virginia Beach: Under the Boardwalk

January 26, 2018Posted in Bus Tours, DestinationsWritten by Shana DattilioLeave a comment

Even though the weather is cold, it’s never too early to start thinking about having fun in the sun. This week, we explore our Virginia Beach: Under the Boardwalk vacation in our final installment of our New Year’s Bucket List Resolutions for the Young at Heart series. With your New Year’s Bucket List Resolutions in mind, get ready to plan an amazing trip to Virginia Beach and join Starr for this large group celebration with three straight nights of music near the Virginia Beach boardwalk featuring the festive beach songs of the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Your vacation by bus begins with a sightseeing tour of the waterfront city of Norfolk, home of the world’s largest naval base. Your bus tour will highlight the port city’s colorful 400-year history as you ride through the historic district. “The history of Greater Norfolk coincides with the birth of our nation, and throughout the region, evidence of this important past can be enjoyed today.” Next up, experience the MacArthur Memorial, a museum and research center which is dedicated and committed to preserve and showcase the life and times of five-star General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur. “In 1961 General MacArthur executed a deed of gift in which he gave the City of Norfolk all his trophies, medals, prizes, decorations, uniforms, flags, swords, battle souvenirs, personal papers, documents, records and other personal memorabilia. The city restored the historic 1850 city hall to house this collection.” The memorial offers an extensive glimpse into our nation’s history through its outstanding collection which traces his life and achievements as well as the story of the millions of American men and women who served in the Armed Forces from the Civil War through the Korean War. Take a look at the past, and feel thankful for our future through this fascinating look back at some of the bravest American men and women. The General and his beloved wife, Jean, are entombed in the rotunda of the memorial. You’ll enjoy some free time on your own to have lunch in the Waterside District, Norfolk’s premier dining and entertainment district where you can dine, shop and gaze out at the beautiful water, before visiting Nauticus, an exciting science and technology center exploring the power of the sea and home of the Battleship Wisconsin, one of the largest battleships ever built. Before returning to the hotel, we’ll stop by Doumar’s, a leader in the world of ice cream since 1907 and home of the first ice cream cone machine. Doumar’s has always made homemade waffle cones, and they even use the same recipe and machine that Abe Doumar made in 1907! Bridge the past and the present as you take a lick of a delicious and historic treat. Tonight, don your flip flops and brightly colored Aloha shirts for an “Evening in Margaritaville,” filled with live music, dancing, and a Caribbean-style meal as you kick up your feet with one of the best Jimmy Buffet Tribute bands in America, Changes in Latitudes. You’ll love this festive themed party, with a show band, a shag dance floor, and a cash bar with margaritas!

Changes in Latitudes Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band

The fun doesn’t stop there. Rise and shine the next morning for a sightseeing tour of Virginia Beach showing us beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean as we learn all about this resort city. Next, we’ll fly back to the past and explore the Military Aviation Museum. This fabulous museum holds one of the world’s largest private collections of World War I and World War II era military aircraft. Each of them are restored in beautiful condition, and they look like they could fly away at any moment. In fact, many of them can, as most of the planes are air worthy, and are flown in demonstrations and air shows throughout the year. Later this evening, get ready for a concert by Charlie Thomas’ Drifters! The men in this vocal group are members of The Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, The Vocal Group Hall of Fame and The Songwriters Hall of Fame; they also have 13 Billboard Hot 100 Hits! Hear songs such as “Under the Boardwalk,” “This Magic Moment,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “Stand By Me,” and “Fools Fall in Love.” This is a big musical concert on a full theatrical stage with Broadway quality sound and lights so get ready for a fantastic night!

Enjoy a relaxing morning, then board the Spirit of Norfolk for a luncheon as you travel along the Elizabeth River for great views of the waterfront and the mighty Atlantic Fleet at Norfolk Naval Base. You’ll love the casual yet festive atmosphere as you dance along to DJ entertainment, listen to their live narration, relax or enjoy interactive games on their skyline deck! Later this evening, it’s time to don those flip flops and floral shirts again for a big Beach Boys Boardwalk Bash! This themed party is a California blend of dinner and dancing that starts the night right. Hear the great tribute band, Still Surfin’, play the best of the Beach Boys including “California Girls,” “Surfer Girl,” “Little Deuce Coup,” and “I Get Around.”

Treat yourself to a relaxing and enlightening trip, and achieve your new year’s resolution. Be yourself and find yourself through the sounds and sights of the past. Relax your body through beautiful music, and your mind through enlightening historical landmarks. This trip is a cultural masterpiece, from the music to museums, and is truly a vacation for the senses, and one of the best ways to start off your new year.

Join us in October for celebration after celebration in beautiful Virginia Beach!

New Year’s Bucket List Resolutions for the Young at Heart – Charming Ports of the South

January 19, 2018Posted in Bus Tours, DestinationsWritten by Shana DattilioLeave a comment

We continue our Bucket List Resolutions for the Young at Heart series with our Charming Ports of the South tour. If experiencing the charming south has always been a dream of yours, then this Bucket List destination is for you! Featuring St. Augustine, Jekyll Island, St. Simon’s Island, and beautiful Savannah, this bus tour offers a wonderful taste of some of the south’s most beautiful port cities.

After making your way down south on Starr’s comfortable motorcoach with expanded legroom, your experience begins with two overnights on the picturesque and tranquil Jekyll Island. What was once a private retreat for families with names like Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Morgan, is now one of the largest preservation projects in the southeast; earning state park status in 1948 from the governor and Georgia state legislature. Discover miles of wide-open beaches and live oaks draped in Spanish moss on a tram tour of the historic district including a tour of two of the many mansion-sized “cottages” that still stand today. After the tour, you will have an opportunity to visit the museum exhibits and view a video presentation that reveals the fascinating story of Jekyll Island-from its earliest inhabitants, across its fabled Club Era, to its wondrous restoration programs today. This afternoon, you’ll visit St. Simons Island, voted America’s #1 Favorite Beach Town by Travel + Leisure Magazine in 2014. Enjoy a two hour tour that includes a view of Fort Frederica – built in 1736, a stop at Christ Church where John & Charles Wesley held church services and where author Eugenia Price is buried. You’ll also see the fabulous “Avenue of Oaks” on former Retreat Plantation, and enjoy free time at the village as well as a visit to the St. Simons Lighthouse. Full of history and southern hospitality, St. Simons Island has a distinctive charm with an unhurried pace and abundant natural beauty. Later this evening, you’ll enjoy dinner at the famed and historic Jekyll Island Club, which opened its doors in 1888 and was once one of the most opulent structures in the south, serving as a centerpiece of the social lives of the nation’s rich and famous. Today, this beautiful resort is still a fabulous destination.

The next morning, you’ll board the bus to heard over to the lovely Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, representing the history and culture of Georgia’s rice coast. The plantation and its inhabitants were part of the genteel low country society that developed during the antebellum period. During your visit, you’ll view a brief film on the plantation’s history, and then enjoy a guided tour that features the home as the last heir, Ophelia Dent, kept it with family heirlooms, 18th and 19th century furniture, and Cantonese China on display. After your tour, you’ll travel to St. Augustine, Florida – the nation’s oldest city. You’ll have some free time for lunch on own on St. George Street, one of several quaint and walkable streets in the historic district, before checking in to your St. Augustine hotel for two nights. This evening, enjoy dinner and a performance of “The Lives and Wives of Harry Flagler” a theatrical portrayal of the Flagler legacy and the man that brought commerce to St. Augustine.

Your next day is filled with fascinating history as you explore St. Augustine on an extensive sightseeing tour by bus that highlights over 430 years of history. Discover the roots of the Timucuan Indians that were native to the North Florida coast and their contributions to the Spanish settlers. Then, embark on a walking tour of the Mission of Nombre de Dios, the landing site of Pedro Menendez, founder of St. Augustine. After, experience more of the history of Harry Flagler on the Legacy Tour of Flagler College, the former Hotel Ponce de Leon that was one of the most exclusive resorts of its day. Last, visit the Lightner Museum featuring one of the finest collections of turn of the century art. Afterwards, quench your thirst at a wine tasting at San Sebastian Winery – tour included! You’ll finish your fun-filled day with dinner at a local restaurant.

As you begin your journey back north, you’ll stop in Savannah for an overnight stay beginning with a trolley tour. Enjoy hop-on/hop-off privileges as your trolley tour takes you throughout the historic district and your driver regales you with fascinating history and entertaining stories as you drive past beautiful buildings under the canopy of huge live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. You’ll also pay a visit to the Massie Heritage Center to learn even more about the history of Savannah, its city plan and beautiful architecture, and the people who have lived here for centuries. After a day of guided sightseeing and time to explore on your own, you’ll understand why Savannah is “the town Sherman refused to burn.”

As you finish your journey back home, memories of beautiful nature scenes, picturesque towns, and fascinating history will make you realize that you have truly been charmed by these wonderful southern ports.

This is a bus tour you won’t want to miss. Click here to join us in October!

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