Sept 19 – 30, 2016 $2599 p/p dbl.  $3139 p/p sg.

This Taste of America Tour, features Chicago to St. Louis Highlights & highlights of route 66 and following Mr. Lincoln.  12  day – 11 night.  READ MORE

Day 1 Monday September 19 [BB]  [D]

 

We depart Hemet by motorcoach to the airport and fly non stop to Chicago, Illinois.  After we land, you'll board your spacious, video & restroom equipped motorcoach as we head to our Chicago area hotel located on one of the alignments of old Route 66,  Once so important that John Steinbeck nicknamed it "The Mother Road," US Route 66 connected Chicago to Los Angeles. Built in 1926 Route 66 crossed more than 2,400 miles through eight states.  Now Route 66 connects its travelers to the past.  Those that travel the famous road can catch a glimpse of the culture & history it once celebrated. [we will follow some of it to St. Louis, Missouri]  This evening we will have a hosted Chicago style dinner.

Day 2: Tuesday September 20 [ECB]  [D]  

Explore Chicago, old and new. From famous spaces to historic places discover the wonders of the Windy City as a step-on-guide shows you Chicago’s most fascinating places. During your tour of Chicago, your step-on-guide will give you detailed information on some of Chicago’s most incredible landmarks. Delve into the history behind Chicago’s buildings that date back to the late 1800’s. You will see the renowned sculptures, beautiful parks and iconic places that make Chicago the center of Illinois.

After breakfast Spend a day in Chicago on a tour tailor-made for our group with stop at some of the highlights. Our knowledgeable & enthusiastic guide will be our host on this journey through Chicago & it’s neighborhoods , uncovering much of Chicago's history & legendary locales. Drive along the lake for a breath-taking view of the city skyline & Lake Michigan. See Navy Pier, Chicago’s top attraction, & landmark buildings designed by prominent architects. Discover why Chicago is called the Windy City & why its river flows backwards. See fabulous outdoor art, stunning Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, Buckingham Fountain & the landmark Water Tower that survived the Great Fire. You will hear the stories of Chicago’s colorful past & be surprised by the exciting, diverse & beautiful city of today – a true American city.   Then we stop at The Money Museum which traces the history of the Federal Reserve Bank & also displays currency used in the past  The exhibits include a giant glass cube stuffed with one million $1 bills & a counterfeit display differentiating real bills from fakes. Learn why we call $1000 a ‘grand’, & snap a  photo clutching a briefcase-stuffed with a million-dollar. You’ll also get a free bag of shredded currency to take home.  Tonight our hosted dinner is at White Fence Farms where you can view their antique collation including cars. Following dinner Denny Diamond & the Family Jewels will delight us by performing a fun & energetic tribute to singer/songwriters, Neil Diamond.

Day 3: Wednesday September 21 [ECB]  [D]

 

We start today with a visit to Pullman State Historic Site, one of Chicago's 77 defined community areas. Historic Pullman was built in the 1880s by George Pullman as workers' housing for employees of his railroad car company, the Pullman Palace Car Company. The Historic Pullman Visitor Center is where we begin with a video & introduction the are step on guide. Then our step on guide will enlighten us about the area, with a stop at the church & other buildings  in this vibrant neighborhood that allows you to walk back into history & immerse yourself in the town while learning about this unique chapter in history.   Then uncover some of sciences greatest mysteries at one of the largest science museums in the Western Hemisphere, the Museum of Science and Industry, tour a World War II sub, catch a big-screen film and more! Spark your imagination and indulge your curiosity in the Museum's engaging exhibits.  From the beloved Coal Mine to the latest temporary exhibit, you'll be exposed to bold science & interactive learning experiences in an eye-opening, awe-inspiring environment.   Welcome To Tommy Gun's Garage Dinner Theater & Chicago's Roaring Twenties.  Tommy Gun's Garage is an Audience Interactive Speakeasy that offers a musical comedy review wit da gangsters, da flappers and YOU!!!!! (uh, audience participation).  After a delicious sit-down dinner, join Vito, Gloves, & da gangsters & da flappers for non-stop comedy & dangerous fun.

 Day 4: Thursday September 22 [ECB]  [D] 

Start your morning at Willis Tower [former Sears Towers]  it is not only America's tallest building, but most desirable … the Tower is also home to the highest visitor observatory in America.  Offering spectacular views spanning up to four states, a one-stop Chicago experience full of interactive exhibits and…The Ledge, a glass balcony extending four feet outside the 103rd floor of Willis Tower! [for those that dare.]   —  Time for lunch and shopping @ The Water Tower Place Shopping Center, now a 74 story building on the Magnificent Mile, has over 125 shops and restaurants, glass elevators, &  fountains..    Next experience the best of Chicago aboard a Mercury cruise. Take in the Chicago River & Lake Michigan Skyline on a relaxing boat ride. Including the Chicago River locks.  –. Hear lively narration & stories of Chicago's rich history.  After Dinner, you’ll return to your hotel to rest for the next fun-filled day.

Day 5: Friday September 23 [ECB] [L]  [D]

We begin our tour  on Route 66, the Main Street of America.  Your escort will point out & tell you about many routes 66 historical sites.  Heading south to Pontiac, Illinois. There we will visit 3 museum all in the same building.  Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum,  Route 66 Museum , The International Walldog Mural &  Sign Art Museum,   Livingston County War Museum.   Then the Pontiac Jolly Trolley will take us to see the Murals on Main Street & other highlight of Pontiac.   A hosted lunch at the famous Edinger’s Filling Station. Next stop Dongbai International Airbrush Art School . He also instructs students in his unique UV Invisible Art style.  We head to the Pontiac & Oakland Automobile Museum to see one of the world's greatest collections of Pontiac & Oakland automobile brand items & more.   Bloomington, Illinois is the hometown, & the only town where BEER NUTS Brand Snacks are made.  The store shows a video tour of the plant, tells the history & fills you in on all you ever wanted to know & more about BEER NUTS Brand Snacks. Then it is onto our Hotel in Bloomington/ Normal where we spend the night.

Day 6: Saturday September 24 [ECB] [L]   [D]

David Davis Mansion State Historic Site, was built in 1872 for U.S. Supreme Court Judge David Davis, Abraham Lincoln's campaign manager. The home is considered a fine example of mid-Victorian residential architecture; such features as indoor plumbing and a cast-iron cooking stove were considered luxuries. Original furnishings and other period pieces are enhanced by handsome woodwork and hand-painted ceilings    We continue south bound to Shirley, IL.  You'll take a guided tour through this majestic Civil War Era home & go back in time to the days when the Funk Family traveled on horseback & made their living farming with horses. The largest one-man rock collection in the world can be found at the Funk Prairie Home Museum at Shirley, Illinois From every corner of the earth, & even from the moon, come specimens that you'll remember forever.   Onward to Funks Grove.  The grove for which the settlement is named, Funk's Grove, is a National Natural Landmark. Sugar Grove Nature Center,  features interpretive environmental exhibits, sensory displays, live animals & a wildlife viewing area. We will also visit other area highlights.  Relax this evening at our hotel in Springfield.

Day 7: Sunday September 25 [ECB]  [D]  

 

Springfield, the iconic heart of America, the capital of Illinois, and the hometown of Abraham Lincoln, is filled with treasures, 

authentic experiences & nostalgia for days gone by.  Our Springfield Illinois tour will include many Lincoln Historical Landmarks. The Lincoln Presidential Museum, Lincoln Home, Lincoln Tomb.  Also the Illinois State Capitol & WWII, Korean & Vietnam War Memorials. The Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon are surrounded by gardens & a reflecting pool.  It’s magnificent bell tower in Washington Park is one of the few open to the public.  A spectacular view of the city awaits when we take the elevator to one of the two observation decks.  We will stay for the Carillon concert.

Day 8: Monday September 26 [ECB]  [D]

This morning we depart Springfield for St. Louis. Traveling the route you will be seeing some of it sites in the small towns along the Illinois route.. First stop. Anheuser-Busch Brewery which open in 1852. While on the  tour, you will observe the entire 7-Step Brewing Process & also see the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales at the historic stables built in 1885. These majestic giants have become a symbol for quality and excellence & have appeared in some of the most memorable Super Bowl commercials over the years, representing an iconic part of Anheuser-Busch history. The Biergarten is a truly unique space that offers a charming view of an urban landscape as you kick back for a no host lunch from their full menu.    —   St. Louis City Tours will show us all the highlights. — Get acquainted with the popular sights and local favorites that St. Louis has to offer during our fully narrated city tour with our local step on guide.  Then on to our hotel The Drury our home for the next four nights, where we have dinner..  

 

Day 9: Tuesday September 27 [ECB] [D]

The St. Louis majestic Old Courthouse has remained over the past 150 years as one of St. Louis' most prominent architectural landmarks & is now the visitors' center for the Gateway Arch. We will take a Ranger led tours of the Old Courthouse. Then  The Gateway Arch, 630 feet of  gleaming stainless steel has a tram that will carry us to an observation deck at the top of the arch. The Journey to the Top tram ride takes you on a trip through history en route to the small observation room at the top of the Arch.  After lunch take a ride down the Mississippi River on a 19th century replica steamboat.  Gateway Riverboat Cruises depart from the base of the Gateway Arch for a narrated 1-hour trip on the Mississippi River.  St. Louis Union Station, once the largest and busiest passenger rail terminal in the world, is now one of America’s great historic destinations. Today, this 120 year-old National Historic Landmark of unmatched beauty and elegance is home to a Hotel –. The Grand Hall, with its sweeping archways, fresco and gold leaf detailing, mosaics and art glass windows, is the crown jewel of Union Station.  Renovated & restored in 2014, the Grand Hall now features an award-winning 3D mapping immersive experience for us to see, as is brought to life on its majestic ceiling.  Tonight, enjoy a St. Louis style Dinner before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Day 10: Wednesday September 28 [ECB]   [D]

Today we return to the park.  Saint Louis Art Museum sits atop Art Hill at One Fine Arts Dr., within Forest Park. Built to house the Palace of Fine Arts pavilion at the 1904 World's Fair, this Beaux Arts-style building was designed by famed architect Cass Gilbert.   —- The Saint Louis Art Museum has an encyclopedic collection of more than 33,000 works.

The Missouri History Museum founded in 1866 in Forest Park showcasing Missouri history. It has on going exhibits and Visitors to Seeking St. Louis will explore the past and its impact upon the present and the future. .Another is  The 1904 World's Fair: Looking Back at Looking Forward.  Special exhibit is  — Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis.  Moving on we explore the Splendor of one of America's Most Magnificent Theater’s!  The Fox Theatre opened in 1929 as one of the crown jewels in William Fox's motion picture empire. One of the most distinguished movie palace of the era at a cost of six million dollars.   We will also visit Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, A St. Louis tradition on Old Route 66 since 1929. Known for specialty "concrete" shakes, so thick you can turn them upside down.  After Dinner, you’ll return to your hotel to rest for the next fun-filled day.

Day 11: Thursday September 29 [ECB]  [D]

Today, heading south we will visit the Jesse James Wax Museum, a genuine "Show Me" showcase {did Jesse die in 1882 or 1951.  Then the  guided Meramec Caravan Tour and will reveal some of Jesse James secrets, not to mention some of mother natures' secrets. On to the BLACK MADONNA SHRINE AND GROTTOS — Hand-built by a single Franciscan monk, this peaceful shrine is named for Our Lady of Czestochowa, known as the Black Madonna. Constructed of Missouri tiff rock, the shrine contains mosaics and rock sculptures.

 Then on to our hotel where we have dinner.

Day 12: Friday September 30 [ECB]  [D]

Today, after a Extended Continental Breakfast, you will depart for home… a perfect time to chat with your friends about all the fun things you’ve done, the great sights you’ve seen, and where your next group trip will take you!  Now that you have experienced this part of America  on a fun-filled vacation we fly back to California. When we arrive we will transfer from the Airport to our awaiting bus to Hemet.