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American Panorama
A Journey to America's Heartland Departure: Thursday, June 10, 2010 Other Multi-Day Tour - 6 Days / 5 Nights June 10 - 15, 2010 |
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Day #1 – Thurs., June 10th: 12:15 PM - Depart Champaign for Peoria pickup. 2:15 PM - Depart Peoria for Davenport, Iowa - our first stop along the way to Urbandale where we’ll overnight. 4:30 PM - We make our Dinner Stop* in Donahue, Iowa at Cinnamon Ridge Farms. This evening we’ll enjoy a delicious dinner made with everything that is grown here on Cinnamon Ridge Farms. We’ll also enjoy some entertainment while here. 7:00 PM - It’s time to climb aboard our coach for the 2-1/2 hour drive to our home for the next 3 nights – the Comfort Suites* in Urbandale, Iowa. 10:00 PM - Approximate arrival time at the hotel. Day #2 – Fri., June 11th: 7:30 AM - Continental Breakfast* is served at the hotel. 8:30 AM - A magical day awaits us as we depart for the "Bridges of Madison County" made famous in the book and movie. Words do not do adequate justice to the charm and visual appeal of these picturesque covered bridges. 9:30 AM - A local guide* will step on board to illustrate the bridges history and romantic lure. This tour is called the "Storybook Bridge Tour". 11:30 AM - Lunch* is served at the famous Northside Cafe (also seen in the movie) followed by a little time to stroll round the quaint city square and do a little shopping. 1:00 PM - Afternoon finds us at John Wayne’s Birthplace for a tour*. Step back in time and picture the life of a young mid-western boy and his family near the turn of the century. This modest four-room home has been restored to reflect its appearance in 1907, the year of Duke’s birth. An impressive collection of John Wayne memorabilia includes unique items such as the eye-patch worn in the movie True Grit, a hat worn in Rio Lobo, and a prop suitcase used in the film Stagecoach. 2:00 PM - Next we’ll visit the Historical Complex to tour* the Bevington Mansion and the Museum / out buildings. This is a self-guided tour so you can take your time in the area’s you’re interested. 3:00 PM - Our final stop in this area will be Howell’s Flower Farm for a tour*. We’ll enjoy a demonstration on the "flower drying process" while here. 4:00 PM - It’s time to depart back to the hotel where you’ll have time to freshen up prior to dinner & evening show. 6:00 PM - This evening we’ll enjoy dinner* at Cracker Barrel in Clive, Iowa. 7:00 PM - We’re off for Des Moines to the Des Moines Playhouse for an evening performance of "Don’t Dress for Dinner*". Bernard is planning a weekend with his chic, Parisian mistress. He has arranged for a cordon bleu cook to prepare gourmet delights, is packing his wife Jacqueline off to her mother’s, and has even invited his best friend, Robert, to provide the alibi. What could go wrong? Suppose Robert & Jacqueline are secret lovers. Suppose the cook is mistaken for the mistress, and the mistress is unable to cook. Be prepared for an evening of hilarious mistaken identity in this riotous farce of a romantic weekend gone awry. (8:00 – 10:00 PM) Day #3 – Sat., June 12th: 7:30 AM - Continental Breakfast* is served again this morning at the hotel. 8:45 AM This morning we’ll head next door to the Living History Farm*, a completely operational 19th Century Iowa farm town. You’ll have from 9:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. to enjoy this farm and have lunch on your own. 1:30 PM - Our coach awaits us as we depart for Boone, Iowa to board the historic Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad*. Don’t forget your camera since the highlight of our trip is a 200-foot tall trestle as we travel through the Des Moines River Valley. (4:00 – 5:45 PM ride). 6:00 PM - We head back to Urbandale where we’ll stop at an Iowa institution, the Iowa Machine Shed Restaurant for dinner*. This unique restaurant offers some of the best beef, ham & pork chops on earth with all the fixins’ & trimmins’ you can eat. (7:15 – 8:15 PM) Day #4 – Sun., June 13th: 7:00 AM - Continental Breakfast* is served before we check out. 8:00 AM This morning we depart for the lovely Amana Colonies*, a little piece of Germany right here in the American Heartland with homemade sauerbraten, steins of ice-cold beer and great handicrafts and woolen ware. We’ll enjoy about a 2 hour tour of "The Amana’s" with various stops along the way. Then at Noon we’ve reserved lunch* at the renowned Ox Yoke Inn. Following lunch you’ll have about 1 hour to get in a little shopping before we depart for Rock Island, Illinois. 2:15 PM - Our coach is waiting for the short ride to Rock Island, Illinois where we’ll be dropped off for dinner & a show this evening at Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse. 3:45 PM - Arriving at Circa 21, you’ll have time to freshen up and find your seats for an evening performance. Enjoy a Buffet Dinner* prior to the show. WHODUNIT?…THE MUSICAL features a wealthy spinster and her cockney maid as they visit a beautiful Connecticut summer home in 1931. When they arrive, all the help has quit, except for a very odd butler who tells them that something "strange" is going on. Before you can say whodunit there is a dead body in the middle of the living room…then another. WHODUNIT…The Musical is a tune-ful , hilarious romp that's part mystery, part drawing room farce and all musical comedy! (5:45 – 8:45 PM) 9:30 PM - Following the show we’ll check into our home for the night – The Isle of Capri* in Bettendorf, IA. Day #5 – Mon., June 14th: 7:30 AM - Full Breakfast Buffet* is served. 8:30 AM - We check out, board the coach and depart to pick up our Step-on Guide* for today. Today we’ll enjoy a tour* of the Rock Island Arsenal including the Lock & Dam, a tour* of John Deere Commons where you can enjoy lunch on your own, and a Studio Tour* of Isabel Bloom. (Tours will be from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) 3:30 PM - Next we’re off for Utica, Illinois – home to Starved Rock State Park. This area has been home to humans from as early as 8000 B.C. Hopewellian, Woodland & Mississippian Native American cultures thrived here. We’ll spend the night at the historic lodge built by the WPA in the 1930’s. It’s a genuine monument to the craftsmen and artisans of the period. 6:30 PM - Dinner* is served at the lodge this evening and then we’ll join the "Spirit of Peoria" group as they enjoy Mark Twain*. (Mark Twain is at 8:00 PM) Day #6 – Tues., June 15th: 7:30 AM - A cold continental breakfast* is served at the lodge (this is a very light meal since you’ll have a full lunch buffet on the boat.) 9:00 AM - We check in at the south boat ramp to prepare for departure. 9:15 AM - A light snack* is served on the Boiler Deck. 9:45 AM - We set sail from Starved Rock to Peoria aboard the riverboat, "Spirit of Peoria". She’s a genuine replica of the 19th Century riverboats so famously written about by Mark Twain. Decorated in "wedding cake" style with great food & entertainment, today’s cruise on the Illinois River will certainly enchant you. Very Light Breakfast & Full Lunch Buffet* are included today. 5:00 PM - Upon docking in Peoria, your Peoria Charter Coach will be waiting to take you home. 5:30 PM - Approximate arrival time back at Peoria Charter Coach. 7:30 PM - Approximate arrival time back in Champaign. Tour Includes: Deluxe Motorcoach Transportation, Professional Escorts, Hotel Accommodations, Luggage Handling, All Attractions & Meals in bold print and marked with an asterisk*. Choice of pickups for this tour are: Champaign – (former) Hobby Lobby Normal – Schnuck’s off Raab Road Morton – Field Shopping Center Peoria – PCC Plaza Waiting Room If you feel your Driver & Escort have done a good job, please feel free to tip them. We suggest $3 per customer per day for the driver & $3 per customer per day for the escort(s) on this trip. Hotels Days #1, #2 & #3 Comfort Inn & Suites 11167 Hickman Road Urbandale, IA 50322 (515) 276-1126 Day #4 Isle of Capri 1777 Isle Parkway Bettendorf, IA 52722 (800) 724-5825 Day #5 Starved Rock Lodge Rt 178 & 71 Utica, IL 61373 (800) 868-7925 Cost Per Person: Single: $1260.00 Double: $985.00 Triple: $880.00 Quad: $825.00 Please click Tour Policy |
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