THE 2017 PEO REGISTRATION WEB SITE IS NOW CLOSED.

ALTHOUGH THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER HAS PASSED, THERE MAY BE A FEW TOURS WITH OPEN SEATS. TO CHECK AVAILABLITY AND REGISTER FOR ANY REMAINING TOURS, YOU WILL NEED TO VISIT THE PEO TOUR DESK LOCATED NEAR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR STREET ENTRANCE TO THE CHARLOTTE CONVENTION CENTER STARTING ON TUESDAY, SEPT. 26. 

REMAINING TOURS WILL BE FILLED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS AND NO ORDERS WILL BE TAKED OVER THE PHONE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT TO CHARLOTTE THIS WEEK!

WELCOME to the P.E.O. group tour registration website. We are offering a wide variety of tours that will allow you to experience Southern Hospitality at its best! Most tours offered are both experiential and educational. In addition to tours available throughout the conference, pre and post-conference tours are offered along with several unique dinner options for your Friday free night!

Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited for all tours. We recommend registering early to ensure a spot on the tour(s) you would like to experience. Tour options are:

FLIGHT TO FANCY IN THE BIBLE BELT TOUR

North Carolina is well known for its beautiful landscape, for being “First in Flight” and for being the home of world renowned evangelical Christian Billy Graham. This tour will allow you to marvel at each aspect of NC history first hand.

You’ll visit Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, named one of the nation’s 20 Great Gardens in HGTV’s popular book, Flower Gardening. Part nature preserve, part showcase for the best of Southern horticulture, there are over 110 acres in cultivation for guests to enjoy.You’ll also visit the Carolinas Aviation Museum – home to the “Miracle on The Hudson” Airplane featured in the major motion picture “Sully” starring Tom Hanks. Enjoy the vast collection of aircraft covering years of NC aviation history including the Wright Brothers first flight! You’ll then tour the Billy Graham Library museum. Known for his Crusades, Graham has made Gallup’s list of most admired men and women 55 times since 1955 -- more than any other individual in the world. Visit this evangelical Christian’s library/museum and his childhood home. See firsthand how he attained global influence, and just how respected he has been by world leaders and celebrities of all types for more than six decades.

Cost - $72 per person
Includes transportation, guide, museum admissions, a 60-minute guided tour of Gardens and time in the gift shops.
Handicap Accessible,  Limited Walking         
Offered: Wednesday & Saturday 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

A DAY WITH THE QUEEN TOUR
Climb aboard, sit back and enjoy your official welcome to “The Queen City.” This two-hour tour of Charlotte will take place in the comfort of an air-conditioned luxury motorcoach. Our professional tour guide will educate you about Charlotte's early history and its fascinating involvement in the birth of this nation. You will get to experience the gleaming, vibrant Center City as your guide points out fascinating works of arts, architecture, public parks, museums and entertainment venues.

You will experience some of the most visually stunning aspects of Charlotte’s historic neighborhoods, their mansions, landmarks and gardens, including the historical Duke Mansion and VanLandingham Estate. You will also get a look at some of the area’s Treasured Trees – very old trees in the Charlotte area that are documented as the largest known of their species or the only of their kind in the state.

You will then visit the Levine Museum of the New South. The New South means people, places and a period of time–from 1865 to today.  This interactive museum provides the nation with the most comprehensive interpretation of post-Civil War southern society featuring men, women and children, black and white, rich and poor, long-time residents and newcomers who have shaped the South since the Civil War.

Cost - $45 per person
Includes transportation, a two-hour city tour with a Charlotte City specialty guide and Levine Museum admission.
Handicap Accessible, Limited Walking   
Offered: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Thursday 8:30 a.m. - Noon

A QUICK LAP IN NASCAR VALLEY TOUR
On the Charlotte Motor Speedway “Feel the Thrill” Tour you’ll experience the 24-degree banking in the turns and areas of the legendary superspeedway that are not accessible to fans on race days. You will also get to see the NASCAR garages located in the infield, travel the two infield road courses, ride down pit road and stop for a picture in Victory Lane.

The Sam Bass Art Gallery will allow you to peruse the works of the most accomplished artist and graphic designer in NASCAR.  Since 1987, he has created race team graphics for corporate America’s leading sponsors, NASCAR team owners and drivers. He is the first officially licensed artist of NASCAR.  His love of music makes his guitar collection almost as impressive as his racing collection having designed guitars for many stars including Keith Urban.

One of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) is the home to the Sprint Cup teams of record-tying seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., NASCAR winning driver Kasey Kahne and current rookie-of-the-year Chase Elliott. Tour the museum and team store and check out the race team shops to get a good feel for the fascinating world of racing and the many drivers who came through the HMS stables.

Cost - $75 per person
Includes transportation, guide, lunch, guided tour of Charlotte Motor Speedway, admissions and time in gift shops.
Handicap Accessible, Moderate Walking  Offered: Thursday   9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

DUKE MANSION DELIGHTS TOUR - SOLD OUT
The group will have an elegant lunch at the Duke Mansion, one of Charlotte’s most prized historical sites.  Its setting is a page from history, a gracious estate made famous by its former owner, James Buchanan Duke.  From the moment you enter the Grand Hall, walk across the original marble floors and see the beautiful gardens through the French doors, you know that you have entered a special place.

After lunch, guests will tour the gardens and grounds while the room is being reset with nothing other than chocolates and wine! Guests will be treated to a delightful approach to experiencing their dessert and wine pairings. We’ll bring in a two-time National Bread and Pastry Champion who will take wines that are chosen in advance and custom crafts chocolates to perfectly pair with the wine. 

Imagine this; each guest samples four (4) wines.  Our dessert specialist will specifically hand-craft two chocolates for each wine to perfectly match the flavor profile of the particular wine, and he will lead the group through the tasting for a truly unique, innovative, and educational experience.

Cost - $126
Includes transportation, guide, elegant lunch, self-guided tour, a flight of 4 wines and 8 hand crafted chocolates with an award-winning pastry chef-led chocolate/wine tasting.
Handicap Accessible, Limited Walking     
Offered – Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

ELITE CULINARY EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL TOUR 
Uptown Charlotte has a new regime of highly trained and talented Chefs as well as master culinary artisans getting national exposure. They have worked in 5-star establishments and have been featured at award-winning dinners, acclaimed Food & Wine Festivals, Food Network, and representing Charlotte cuisine & North Carolina ingredients all over the country.  These same Chefs are creating masterful cuisine not only through amazing techniques, but also by utilizing the bounty of high quality flavorful ingredients via a resurgence of the area farmers and local culinary artisans.

On this Behind-the-Scenes Walking Food Tour we will go in-depth with executive chefs and their teams to learn their backgrounds, the restaurant’s history, see cooking demonstrations, tour some kitchens, get wine pairing, craft beer, and mixology education, and sample the chef’s creative specialties. Chefs and restaurant owners will explain the influence of Southern Heritage in their menus.  Many of their recipes are Southern family traditions, others are created by what a local farm can provide that week, and some are a modern twist on Southern cuisine.  

Cost - $84
Walking tour that includes 4-5 behind-the-scenes culinary experiences with a culinary-specialty guide
Not Handicap Accessible, Extensive Walking   
Offered:  Thursday 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.   

CRAFT 'BREW HAHA' TOUR
Charlotte is fast on the heels of other North Carolina craft beer producing cities, producing some of the finest craft beer in the state. On this specialty tour, we will focus on one or two of Charlotte’s craft brewery districts. Breweries of the NoDa Arts District include NODA Brewery, Birdsong, Free Range, Heist, and Growlers Pour House and Woman-owned Bold Missy Brewery. Charlotte’s Southend is home to Old Mecklenburg Brewery, Lenny Boy, Triple C, Sycamore, and the Unknown Brewery. On this tour, you will learn from brewers about their craft and get behind-the-scenes to find out how that mash gets in your glass at three unique local breweries.

Cost - $75 per person
Includes transportation, craft brewery specialty guide, 2-3 brewery stops, tour and tastings totaling approx. 3.5 pints per person.
Handicap Accessible, Moderate Walking

FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER OPTIONS:

DINNER THEATER AT NARROWAY PRODUCTIONS 'NOT JUST ANOTHER LOVE STORY'
Nostalgic and Patriotic! Laugh and cry with America's greatest generation and remember the days of World War II. From an exciting collection of 40's favorites to a stirring patriotic medley, this “Not Just Another Love Story” dinner show is both nostalgic and inspirational. Based on the biblical account of Hosea told during the days of World War II. Dinner includes “Momma's Down-Home Cookin'” Menu including: Southern fried chicken breast, Mashed potatoes with brown gravy, Buttery corn on the cob, Fresh-baked biscuit with strawberry preserves, All-American apple pie with sour cream topping, Sweet Iced Tea or Water. Alcohol is not available at this venue.

Cost - $75 per person
Includes transportation, guide, dinner menu as described above, theater show.
Handicap Accessible, Limited Walking  
Offered: Friday 5:45 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

TREEHOUSE VINEYARDS
Many visitors don’t often think of Vineyards and Wineries when they think of North Carolina. But did you know that before prohibition, North Carolina was the largest wine producing state in the United States? That’s why we suggest trying a local winery during your stay in the Carolinas.

Treehouse Vineyards is a family-owned-and-operated winery just outside of Charlotte that also happens to have a treehouse you can live in for a night or two, or one that’s perfect for “date night.” But the best part is that treehouses are not the only offering. Treehouse Vineyards is just that -- vineyards with a winery in an amazing setting. This beautiful property is extremely versatile and is a spectacular place to host social and corporate events located just about an hour outside of Charlotte.  

The P.E.O. Friday night dinner at Treehouse Vineyards will include a private, educational tasting of 6 wines and guests will be able to keep their Treehouse Vineyards tasting glass. A band will entertain guests on the patio of the covered pavilion where you will enjoy a dinner buffet. Guests can also tour the “date night” treehouse, challenge each other to a game of corn hole, explore the grounds or just relax on a porch swing. The dinner menu will offer a choice of 2 entrees, 2-3 sides, salad and bread and one drink ticket for a glass of wine.

Cost - $99 per person
Includes transportation, guide, dinner buffet, wine tasting plus ticket for one glass of wine, band entertainment, access to grounds and “date-night” treehouse, fire pits and outdoor games. Handicap Accessible, Limited Walking.
Friday, September   6 p.m. – 11 p.m.

POST-CONFERENCE ASHEVILLE VIA THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS TOUR 
We’re off to explore some of the most scenic territory in the country. First we will stop at the historic resort town of Blowing Rock, NC with time to explore the many fine boutique shops, art galleries, and restaurants. After lunch, we’ll head out to Asheville via the Blue Ridge Parkway, taking in the breathtaking mountain scenery and spectacular overlooks of one of the “most scenic drives in America”. This drive takes us close to the Stunning Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, and the engineering marvel of the Linn Cove Viaduct – the most complex segment bridge in the world elevated on the side of Grandfather Mountain.

The morning will be spent at George Vanderbilt’s extraordinary Biltmore Estate and gardens, nestled on 8,000 acres in the mountains of Asheville including a tour of the mansion and self-guided tours of Antler Hill Village—featuring the Winery, The Biltmore Legacy, Village Green, and Farm. You will enjoy a fabulous lunch at one of the estate’s fine restaurants. Guests spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring the lively downtown area of Asheville with its incredible shops, galleries, culinary delights, restaurants, and entertaining street performers.

*Cost - Double $ 579    Triple $ 539    Quad $ 519     Single $ 729

*If booking double, triple or quad occupancy rooms through this website, the first occupant will register for all occupants and will provide one credit card payment for the total due for all occupants. If online registration in this manner does not accommodate your preference for payment, registration can be done by mailing in registration forms and providing checks, money orders or credit card information. Please email info@charlottedestination.com or call 704-375-1815 for more information. 

Includes roundtrip transportation from the Charlotte Convention Center in a deluxe, late model, air-conditioned Prevost motorcoach along with a courteous and professional driver, tour director for the duration of the tour, 2 night’s quality hotel accommodations, 2 Breakfasts & 2 Lunches. 

All motor coaches are handicap accessible and the majority of scheduled stops are also handicap accessible. However, a few activities may not be accessible and some activities may require moderate or extensive walking.

Offered: Depart Oct. 1 at 8 a.m., Return Oct. 3 at approx. 5:30 p.m.

POST-CONFERENCE CHARLESTON 'BEST OF THE OLD SOUTH' TOUR
Historic Charleston, Magnolia Gardens, Drayton Hall, City Market, Charleston City Tour

We’re off to Charleston for a visit to the “Old South.”  After lunch, we arrive for a tour of Magnolia Gardens.  Later, we check into our hotel in Charleston for a two-night stay before heading to dinner. You will receive a warm P.E.O. welcome with southern hospitality at its best (details to follow)!

In the morning, we will visit Drayton Hall, the only plantation house on the Ashley River to survive the Revolutionary & Civil Wars intact.  Its Georgian-Palladian architecture represents the oldest surviving example of its kind in the American South.  Enjoy lunch and shopping at the old City Market in downtown Charleston.  This afternoon, we meet our local guide for a tour of historic Charleston, which will include preserved and restored homes, a visit to the Battery with some of the settlement’s earliest fortifications, and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, with a graveyard dating back to 1752.  Tonight, we will try out another local restaurant for our evening meal.

The next morning guests will have free time to explore on their own. The group will then meet up for lunch before heading back to Charlotte for a late-afternoon return.

*Cost -  Double $ 799   Triple $ 739    Quad $ 704    Single $ 1,029

*If booking double, triple or quad occupancy rooms through this website, the first occupant will register for all occupants and will provide one credit card payment for the total due for all occupants. If online registration in this manner does not accommodate your preference for payment, registration can be done by mailing in registration forms and providing checks, money orders or credit card information. Please email info@charlottedestination.com or call 704-375-1815 for more information. 

Includes all of the above with roundtrip transportation from Charlotte in a deluxe, late model, air-conditioned Prevost motorcoach along with a courteous and professional driver, tour director for the duration of the tour, 2-night’s quality hotel accommodations, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2 dinners

All motor coaches are handicap accessible and the majority of scheduled stops are also handicap accessible. However, a few activities may not be accessible and some activities may require moderate or extensive walking.

Offered: Depart Oct. 1, 8 a.m.  Return Oct. 3 at approx. 5:30 p.m.

2017 P.E.O. Tour Program Terms & Conditions:

Registration Deadline: The deadline for booking reservations is Tuesday, August 8, 2015. However, tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and could fill prior to the deadline. We recommend booking tour(s) as early as possible.

CDG may extend the deadline for tours that have not sold out and that are not restricted by tour venue deadlines. If extended, online registration may remain open for select tours and may be offered on site during the convention at the Charlotte Convention Center. CDG will evaluate each tour on a case-by-case basis to determine if it will extend the registration deadline.

Tour Prices: Tour prices are all inclusive of transportation, admission fees, guides and all associated costs, fees, taxes and gratuities for all elements outlined in each tour description.

Check In: Tours will be depart from the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (MLK) side of the Convention Center. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. A CDG guide will meet you at the motor coach which will be staged just outside the entrance/exit of the Convention Center on MLK and check you in.

Tickets: Email confirmations will serve as tour tickets.

Credit Card: Payments for the P.E.O. Sisterhood 2017 International Convention Tours and Activities will be processed by "LynkEdge, Inc.” on behalf of P.E.O. Sisterhood. The charge will appear on your credit card statement as "LynkEdge, Inc.” (dba The Charlotte Destination Group).

Cancellation: There will be no refunds for cancellations made by registrants after August 8, 2017. Cancellations made on or before August 8 are subject to a $5 cancellation fee.

Tours will be cancelled if minimums are not met. CDG reserves the right to cancel tours based on venue availability, unforeseen circumstances or for reasons out of CDG’s control. Should the tour be cancelled due to lack of participation, you will be given the opportunity to select another tour or receive a full refund.

Lost or Damaged Articles, etc.: CDG is not liable for lost or stolen articles, attendee injury, medical emergencies or any force majeure circumstance.

For questions regarding tours, please contact The Charlotte Destination Group at 704-375-1815 or info@charlottedestination.com.

ENJOY YOUR TOURS!