A little deposit translates into big-time fun

Remember layaway and how convenient it was? Not to mention how much easier it was on the budget, being able to make a deposit and pay on an item gradually.

When I was in college and in the early days of my career, layaway was a saving grace as I tried to build a professional wardrobe. When my kids were little, I started putting toys on layaway long before Halloween so that a merry Christmas wouldn’t be such a financial burden. Being able to write a check when payday rolled around made life so much easier.

That’s one of the advantages of our multi-day tours – and we’ve got quite a few good ones with more to come. Make a deposit now to hold your reservation and you are guaranteed a seat on our bus. And a great tour.

If you haven’t viewed our multi-day tours lately, it’s worth a look.

This year’s lineup includes some bucket-list items like the Biltmore & Smoky Mountains, Yorktown Victory Parade, Salem/Boston and Forrest Gump’s Southern Trail.

But, keep in mind: Hotels have strict deadlines for these tours so if something catches your eye, book it as soon as possible.

Speaking of bucket lists, the Cog Railway is an experience that you just can’t miss. Lucky for you, we’ve included a stop at this engineering marvel on two trips this year – our Purple Lupine/Moose tour and the Trains of New England.

Wardrobe tip: If you’re scheduled for this month’s Purple Lupine/Moose tour in New Hampshire, dress in layers on Day 2 when you take the uphill ride on the historic Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington. Even though this tour is in June, the weather at the summit is unpredictable and it’s always considerably colder and windier than at the base station -- so bring warm clothes. It’s not unusual to need a winter jacket, hat and gloves at this time of the year.

The terrain beyond the boarding platform and visitor center is steep, rocky and can be difficult so sturdy footwear is recommended.