| |
Day 1: Thursday, March 18 – New Orleans
is built on a swamp in the bend of the Mississippi River.
With the blend of French, Spanish, and African cultures, come a
melting pot of people and traditions. It is said that New Orleans
never rolls up the welcome mat and all we have to do is get there.
We will! Our first day of travel takes us east around
Minneapolis/St. Paul and south into Iowa. A noon lunch is included
in Albert Lea and tonight we have a pleasant evening in MT.
Pleasant. (L)
Day 2: Friday, March 19 – Anheuser-Busch
Tour! The scenery changes dramatically as our coach
rolls south through Iowa’s flat farming country into the large city
of St. Louis. After touring Anheuser Brewery, visiting the
hospitality room, and browsing in the gift shop, we travel to
Sikeston to check into the Drury Inn. (B) (L)
Day 3: Saturday, March 20 – Tour Graceland!
Memphis is where Rock N’ Roll took root and
grew. We’ll board a shuttle to Graceland, the home of the
king, Elvis Presley, here you’ll see the things that
Elvis cherished. Lunch is at the Chrome Grill next to
the Elvis Museum. After lunch there will be time to explore
on your own. A local guide will meet you for a show and tell ride
around the city. You’ll see downtown Memphis, Beale Street,
the “Home of the Blues,” Two statues of the Kings,
(Elvis & BB King) and much more. Returning to our coach,
we travel south across the border to our hotel in Horn Lake,
Mississippi. (B) (L)
Day 4: Sunday, March 21 – New Orleans &
Mardi Gras World! Today we continue south through
Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana. The scenery should be a blaze
of color with the redbud and dogwood trees in full bloom. You’ll see
the pink azalea bushes decorating the lawns, and the yellow flowers
hanging from the roadside kudzu. New Orleans brings visions of
parties, parades and gaudy costumes. Upon arriving to New
Orleans we visit the Mardi Gras World where it all
begins. You can try on costumes, see how floats are made and buy
some colorful beads. This evening we dine in the original
Mulate’s restaurant, listen to the lively music and you might
even give the Cajun two-step a twirl. Our accommodations are about
five blocks from the French Quarters. (B) (D)
Day 5:
Monday, March 22 – A full day touring New Orleans!
This morning you’ll travel the “path
of history” with a local guide and listen to the stories of
New Orleans, French Quarters, and Bourbon Street.
There is free time to eat and shop in Jackson Square or the French
Quarters, before boarding the “Natchez Steamboat”
for a two-hour cruise on the Mississippi River. One of the
top tourist attractions of Louisiana could be its food! Out of
the blend of French, Spanish, and African cultures, come a blend of
dishes that tickle your taste buds. We are going to learn about
Cajun Cooking (then dine on the lesson) at the New
Orleans School of Cooking. Early evening we return to our hotel,
the evening is free. (B) (D)
Day 6:
Tuesday, March 23 – Tour the back roads of Houma, Louisiana!
After traveling to the Cajun community of Houma, we pick
up a local guide for a tour into the swamps and marshes
of Louisiana. Our guide will remain with us all day telling us about
the sugar cane, oil industries, fishing
industry, (shrimp, oysters, crabs) erosion and much more.
Lunch is included with musical entertainment. This evening we return
to our hotel in New Orleans. (B) (L)
Day 7:
Wednesday, March 24 – Enjoy visiting Natchez, Mississippi!
This morning it is off to the gentler lifestyle of Natchez,
Mississippi. Here you are guided through antebellum homes,
treated to an evening meal at the Carriage House,
and a presentation of history through music at the Confederate
Pageant. (B) (D)
Day 8:
Thursday, March 25 – Tour the Vicksburg National Military Park
Leaving Natchez, our group travels to Vicksburg,
Mississippi, to tour the Vicksburg National Military Park. A
guide helps us visualize this battle which helped the Union soldiers
change the course of the Civil War. Later our coach winds its way
past cotton and rice fields, bayous, rivers, and catfish ponds to
our accommodations in Little Rock, Arkansas. (B)
Day 9:
Friday, March 26 – Attend the Pine Mountain Jubilee in Eureka
Springs! Leaving Little Rock the road gets smaller,
windier, and hillier, as we head into the beautiful Ozark
Mountains. By noon, we arrive to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where
a noon meal is included, before boarding a Trolley for an
afternoon tour. This evening we clap our hands and stomp at the
Pine Mountain Jubilee. Guitars and violins have been tuned for a
good ole’ country hoedown. (B) (L)
Day 10:
Saturday, March 27 – Tour the Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas
City!
Continuing toward home, we
make stops along the way. One stop is to visit the Arabia
Steamboat Museum. This 1856 Riverboat sunk with 200 tons of
cargo. A local family found this buried treasure and now they have
much of it on display in Kansas City, Missouri. This evening we stay
in St. Joseph, Missouri.
(B) (L)
Day 11:
Sunday, March 28 – Homeward Bound! The miles slip away
and this last day passes quickly. Before you know it we are back in
Kerkhoven and at the Rustad Bus Garage. Your favorite souvenir will
be memories of your vacation and the new friendships you have
formed. (B)
TOUR COST PER
PERSON
Single $2,100 - Double $1,650
- Triple
$1,550 - Quad $1,450
|
|
