My Old Kentucky Home

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EXPANDED! Three additional days have been added to this tour to bring you even more sights, experiences, and discoveries! Fun awaits in the Blue Grass State!

Day 1 – Home to Bloomington, IL

We leave today on a great trail ride over the river and through Wisconsin for our first night’s stop in Bloomington, IL. Our day will be filled with anticipation as we look ahead to this great springtime trip. A leisure evening prepares us for the excitement of tomorrow.

Included Meals: Lunch

Hotel: Hawthorne Suites

Day 2 – Bloomington, IL to Louisville, KY

We’ll start the engine of our Luxury Motorcoach and drive down the road towards Indianapolis, home of the “Indy 500.” We’ll enter the infield of the “Brickyard” for a tour around the track as well as spend time in their museum, where the history of this great sporting event will come to life. We then head south, stopping for lunch and later this afternoon another stop for a special treat at Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor, taking us back in time to a great era in our history. Be entertained by their world famous Welte Orchestrion as you savor your ice cream. Then it’s over the Ohio River and into Louisville, KY. We’ll check into our hotel before traveling to the “Derby Dinner Playhouse” for tonight’s musical comedy production of “9 to 5.” We’ll share some laughs and a great time together.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Hawthorne Suites

Day 3 – Louisville to Lexington, KY

As we drive the short distance to Churchill Downs this morning you can almost hear the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home.” The state song is sung before every Kentucky Derby. As we tour this historic racetrack, we’ll walk out from the grandstand under the historic twin spires and get a glimpse of a championship thoroughbred going through its morning exercise on the track. Then time in the museum will give us an idea of what it takes to be a Derby Champion and win the “Roses.” But, our day has just gotten started! We travel down the road a piece and stop at the Jim Beam Bourbon Distillery for a tour and tasting. Then into historic Bardstown for lunch at the Old Talbott Tavern, built in the late 1700s. This tavern hosted people like Abraham Lincoln and Daniel Boone and if you look close enough you may see the bullet holes left by Jesse James. This afternoon we stop at “My Old Kentucky Home” State Park for a tour of the Federal Hill Mansion. This beautiful home is said to have inspired Stephen Foster to write his immortal song, “My Old Kentucky Home.” A walk on the grounds of this mansion, built around 1800, will inspire you as well! We’ll then travel across the bluegrass area of Kentucky towards Lexington. We’ll enjoy the white fencing of the horse farms and the rolling hills as we near our stop for the night, the Hampton Inn.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Hampton Inn South

Day 4 – Lexington to London, KY

After breakfast we meet our step-on guide at the beautiful Keeneland Racetrack where we begin our morning tour of the Thoroughbred Horse industry in Kentucky. We’ll learn about the history of horse racing and get up close and personal with some beautiful horses on a local horse farm. A highlight of the morning will be a stop at the Kentucky Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center. Here you will learn how injured horses are nursed back to health and sometimes to championship race condition again. After our tour we will spend time at Keeneland Racetrack for lunch and to watch a couple of races scheduled for today. Down the road a piece is Renfro Valley where country music got its start in Kentucky. After we check into our hotel we’ll enjoy an evening meal and the musical production, “Tribute to Legends” at the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Hampton Inn North, London, KY

Day 5 – London

As we motor into the beautiful hills of Kentucky, we’ll imagine the history that is a part of this area near the Cumberland Trail. We will board the Big South Fork Scenic Rail for a ride through the Daniel Boone National Forest and make a stop at an old coal miners camp. We’ll enjoy lunch together before our return trip. Later we’ll travel to Cumberland Falls State Park and take in the breathtaking views of Cumberland Falls, the “Niagara of the South.” The beauty of springtime in the hills of Kentucky will make this day a special one for all. After an included dinner, we’re off to the Renfro Entertainment Center for the Saturday night “Barndance.” This is a great variety show that will get us stomping our feet and clapping our hands.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 – London to Bowling Green, KY

We will travel through more of Kentucky’s beautiful countryside today as we make our way west. First stop is at the Mill Springs Battlefield near Nancy, KY. In January of 1862 the Union wins this battle that many believed preserved Kentucky for the Union. Our drive through the countryside continues as we travel towards Bowling Green and make a stop this afternoon at the National Corvette Museum. You will enjoy the fun and nostalgia of all things here that are “Corvette!” Dinner tonight is at a local favorite restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Drury Inn

Day 7 – Bowling Green

This morning it’s “off to work we go!” Well, it will be work for the assembly line workers as we get a glimpse of how the Chevy Corvette is manufactured at the modern Chevrolet Corvette Assembly Plant. Just down the Duncan Hines Scenic Byway is Mammoth Cave National Park, where the mysteries of the underworld are waiting for our exploration. We’ll take an easy walk into one of the caves to enjoy the wonder of “Moonlight Dome” and the “Frozen Niagara” rock formation. The mystery and beauty of this cave will make this a memorable afternoon!

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Drury Inn

Day 8 – Bowling Green to Paducah, KY

Our travels today take us first to the Jefferson Davis Historic Monument, located on the site of the birth of this Confederate president. We’ll learn about Davis at the on-site museum before we continue our travels through the “Land Between the Lakes” recreation area. We’ll stop for lunch in the Village of Grand River at “Patti’s 1880” settlement. After lunch and some browsing we continue into Paducah. This town built at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, is rich in history and arts. We’ll take some time getting to know this community before our check in at the Drury Hotel and a free evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Drury Inn

Day 9 – Paducah to Moline, IL

We cross over the Ohio River this morning and into Illinois. As we travel the highways, we’ll watch the earth come to life this spring day as we’re heading towards Moline, IL. Our hotel this evening is located on the banks of the Mississippi River. We’ll enjoy the production of “Church Basement Ladies: A mighty fortress is our basement” at the Circa 21 Playhouse. A night of good food, entertainment, and laughter awaits us!

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Radisson

Day 10 – Moline to Home

We begin our morning with a trip across the street from our hotel to the John Deere Pavilion. Here you’ll enjoy information about John Deere and their place in the agricultural history of our country. Then we’ll make our way home, remembering the sites and sounds of “Our Old Kentucky Home” tour.

Included Meals: Breakfast