by Collin Brunner B.S.H.E.S.’10, Annual Member

Life members Rick and Marilyn Markell recently visited the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House while on a campus visit with their son and grandson. The Markells are avid travelers and have been supporters of the Razorbacks on Tour program for many years. They shared some of their favorite memories with Collin Brunner, assistant director of revenue management.

What were some of your favorite destinations when traveling with Razorbacks on Tour?

We’ve enjoyed so many trips over the years. Some of our favorites include tours of England’s Lake District, Waterways of Russia, and Wonders of the Mediterranean. Rick loves anything England. We also had a great time on several of the domestic tours to California, the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. It is surprising how easy and comfortable traveling by train or bus can be.

What makes Razorbacks on Tour travel unique or memorable?

Something special has been our connection to the different tour hosts over the years. We’ve traveled with a former chancellor, a Fay Jones School of Architecture professor, and several different alumni association staff members. We also appreciate the opportunity to travel with Arkansas alumni across the country. Several of our trips included private dining experiences or cocktail receptions just for our Arkansas group.

Have you traveled post-COVID?

We just returned from a cruise to the Great Lakes in October with Gohagan & Company. The cruise embarked from Milwaukee with stops on all five Great Lakes. We had some weather issues toward the end of the week but enjoyed our time overall.

What are a few destinations you’d like to see added to Razorbacks on Tour?

Rick and I have always wanted to cruise the Rhine River and visit the Cologne Cathedral in Germany. We haven’t ever been to Ireland or Wales. They are both on our list. Rick enjoys playing golf. He would like to play one round of golf at one of the famous courses in Scotland like St. Andrews. Venice, Italy, is another city we’d like to see before too long. We also look forward to seeing what domestic trips Razorbacks on Tour has in 2023 and 2024.