The concept of Niche Touring began while Jane Ruth was running her restaurant in Lederach, Pennsylvania. Her passion for food, love of travel, and experience in "hosting" guests in her restaurant for 18 years made it an easy transition.

Jane traveled extensively through Europe during her final year of college, and for four years following a period of teaching for the American International School in Vienna, Austria. In 1982, Jane moved to Zurich, Switzerland and entertained lots of friends and family, showing them "inside the culture" of the Swiss. Once back in the States, Jane married, and in 1989 opened her restaurant, just up the road from their home. Bitten by the travel bug, she still managed to get away, traveling back to Europe and to Central America, another favorite spot and new to the Niche Touring Menu.

Even the arrival of three children didn't diminish the family's love of going. Jane's husband, Jay, convinced her to see Croatia, a place he learned to love while teaching at the University of Warsaw in Poland. Jay had traveled the Adriatic Coast, then the former Yugoslavia, on his motorcycle, declaring it to be some of the most spectacular scenery he'd ever seen. In 2000, Jane and her whole family decided to take a trip there, and spent several weeks, starting at the top of the country and slowly winding their way down the coast. The trip was so remarkable the family went again and again.

Customers at the restaurant got to hear Jane's travel stories of Croatia, and a few asked if she'd create a tour so they could go along. Jane invited Gail Alderfer, her long time friend and hostess at the restaurant, to make the trip with her and help set up a guided tour, taking their mother's along as "trial guests." They had such a great time that they kept talking about returning one day, which Gail's mother finally did with her husband on the last tour in mid September.

Since the inception, Jane and Gail have shown many folks the lure of this Mediterranean country, and look forward to many more good times with new Travelers!