a bucket list for United Methodist tourism

Interior of the New Room, the first Methodist Chapel - released to the public domain 

United Methodist Communications has published a bucket list for Methodists, seven sites every United Methodist should see. I have listed those seven attractions as well as the closest hotels where we can offer extra value amenities.

1. England — The New Room (pictured above), located in Bristol, England, is Methodism's first meeting house. Stay at the Royal Crescent Hotel in the city center of Bath where we can provide Virtuoso amenities.

In London, make plans to see Wesley's Chapel and House, and in Epworth you can tour the Epworth Old Rectory where John and Charles Wesley grew up. Our closest partner hotel to Wesley's Chapel is Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square where you can enjoy Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities.

2. Philadelphia — St. George's United Methodist Church is the oldest house of Methodist worship in continuous use in America. Its congregation has been meeting at that location since 1767, the church building itself dating from 1769. Francis Asbury preached his first American sermon here in 1771. The closest Virtuoso hotel is the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, just six miles distant.

3. Ocean Grove— God's Square Mile at the Jersey Shore. A camp meeting was founded here in 1869, and thousands come during the summer to worship at the 6,000 seat Great Auditorium whose pipe organ has 11,000 pipes. Though no luxury hotels are found in Ocean Grove, consider the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in neighboring Asbury Park.

4. Washington, DC — the United Methodist Center is the only building on Capitol Hill not belonging to the government. Visitors can take self-guided weekday tours and attend worship each Wednesday at noon. The Mandarin Oriental Washington DC is less than two miles away.

5. Nashville — the Upper Room Chapel attracts visitors to the global home of United Methodist ministries focused on spiritual development. Worship is held each Wednesday morning, and admission to the museum is free. The Hutton Hotel is just a half mile away.

6. Zimbabwe - Africa University, in operation since 1992, the university's mission is to mold students from dozens of African nations into educated leaders for the church and for the world. The closest Virtuoso hotel is a safari lodge, Singita Pamushana Lodge.

7. Baldwin, Louisiana - Sager Brown Depot is the distribution center for relief supplies and the hub for UMCOR missions. Tours are available by appointment, and you can see and touch relief kits that are on their way to aid disaster victims around the world. There are four Virtuoso hotels in New Orleans, about two hours to the east. Best months to visit are between November and April.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.