Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11
Touring southward through the lovely Shenandoah Valley will bring us to our lodging for the evening in Virginia. Tomorrow, Tennessee country will provide the scenery enroute to Nashville and our home for the evening. After a tour of the famous Opryland Hotel, we will board the General Jackson for an evening dinner cruise with entertainment. CB, D

Monday, October 12
Our morning adventure will be a Hay Wagon Tour of Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch, with museum and working farm. This afternoon we will tour Graceland, home of Elvis Presley, plus an inside visit to his private jet, Lisa Marie II and the car museum. Lodging this evening will be at the Drury Inn.

Tuesday, October 13
Crossing the mighty Mississippi River, the fertile flat lands, and then winding through the Ozark Mountains with its beautiful foliage, will bring us to Mountain View, Arkansas, and the Ozark Folk Center. Watch authentic Hill craftspeople at work and listen to the music, history and customs of a still existing mountain folk. Departing the Ozark Folk Center by mid-afternoon we will travel to Eureka Springs, Arkansas where we will check into our lodging and get dinner before attending the Great Passion Play, the live reenactment of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ by a cast of 200. CB

Wednesday, October 14
After checking out of our hotel we will visit Christ of the Ozarks, a seven story statue whose outspread arms, measuring 65 feet across, give the appearance of a mammoth cross. We’ll depart for Branson for lunch on our own before attending a matinee as well as an evening performance from Branson’s wide selection of country-music theatres. CB, D

Thursday, October 15
Favored by its location on Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo, Branson is one of Missouri’s largest resort areas. This morning we will visit Silver Dollar City, a replica of an Ozark Pioneer Settlement where more than 30 traditional crafts are demonstrated and country entertainment is featured. (A craft festival is held at Silver Dollar City each year throughout October.) Dinner will be at McFarlain’s Family Restaurant followed by an evening show. CB, D

Friday, October 16
Today we will visit the lovely restored waterfront area of St. Louis, the Gateway to the West. We enjoy a guided tour of St. Louis before dinner at the Spaghetti Factory, and then we will continue to our lodging in Mount Vernon, Illinois. CB, D

Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18
This afternoon we will experience the thrill of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs where we will have a tour (weather permitting) plus visit the Derby Museum housing three floors of Derby displays and memorabilia. Our lodging this evening will be in Grove City, Ohio. CB, L Tomorrow, our arrival home will be early evening. CB

Tour Protection: $50 per person