Getting to know Blue Ridge Tours Staff # 1 Bernie Lowry

Professional Photographer - Bernie Lowry

​So as we all know, we don’t always get to see everything that goes on behind the scenes of companies. However we would like to highlight a few because we have some amazing multi talented people here at Blue Ridge Tours, like Bernie Lowry. He is not only an amazing professional photographer that is also one of our top Tour Directors but he also makes our promotional marketing videos and presentations.
It takes hours upon hours to clip and edit these videos. Bernie pays attention to all of the details to promote Blue Ridge Tours professionally.
He also makes numerous collages and banners over the course of the tour season to gift on special occasions to some of the teachers. He does this on his own to add that special touch to the trips he takes. He spends allot of time on the trips taking photographs of the students, teachers and, chaperones enjoying themselves in order for them to relive the memories long after the trips are over. He takes great pride in his job at Blue Ridge Tours and is a very valuable asset to our team.
Bernie is also a retired police officer originally from Baltimore.
He served 42 years on the Baltimore City police force.
He goes the extra mile on every trip ensuring the safety of the students traveling with him.
Everyone that works with or knows Bernie loves him! The kids affectionately call him “Papa Smurf” he is a joy to be around and an invaluable member of our Blue Ridge Tours team. If you haven’t traveled with us before you don’t know what you’re missing out on. You will not only enjoy your trip because we handle everything for you but you will work with the type of quality employees that cannot be matched. Bernie is the perfect example of an employee that gives everything to his job.

The he story of how Bernie got the nickname “Papa Smurf”
“was on a trip to Columbia SC and I was introducing myself to the students and adults when a little girl sitting directly behind me said “sir if your face was blue you would look like PaPa Smurf” so from that trip forward as I introduce myself I tell them the story and give them the option to either call me Bernie or PaPa Smurf and of course they like the PaPa Smurf.”


We asked Bernie 10 Questions so you can get to know him better:

1. What is your favorite tour destination? Washington DC
2. What’s the best memory you have working with Blue Ridge Tours? When I was given the nickname Papa Smurf
3. What is your best travel tip? Just be yourself
4. What’s your favorite movie? Avatar
5. What’s your favorite dessert? Cheesecake
6. What kind of music do you like best?Oldies
7. What’s your favorite food? Seafood
8. What’s your favorite vacation spot? Ireland
9. How long have you worked at BRT? 3 years
10. What’s your favorite hobby? Photography