Planes, Cars & Buggies

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This new R&J tour is filled with variety! There will be truly unique stops, history, fun, Amish experiences…and of course we’ll encounter Planes, Cars & Buggies! 

 Carlisle Inn 

Our own Amish Country oasis awaits as we spend three nights at the Carlisle Inn in Walnut Creek, Ohio! Filled with simple comforts, remarkable hilltop views, and warm hospitality, the Carlisle Inn is the perfect retreat to unwind and relax! 

Day 1 – Home to Peoria, IL 

Today we are off on our grand Planes, Cars & Buggies adventure! We’ll check into our hotel in Peoria for the night. 

Hotel: Stoney Creek Hotel 

Day 2 – Peoria to Richmond, IN 

This morning we have a short drive to the historic Virginia Theatre in Champaign. Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic, Roger Ebert, made this theatre famous with his reviews of movies that were about to hit the big screen with his “Two Thumbs Up” trademark. Onward we go for an included lunch, then we’re off to Indiana’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Be sure to have good walking shoes for this 14,000 sq. ft. museum visit. It will take some time to navigate to see all the memorabilia from some of the greatest players & coaches from Indiana like John Wooden, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson and much more. Afterwards we will check into our hotel. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Hotel: Hampton Inn 

Day 3 – Richmond to Columbus, OH 

After our included breakfast we will stop at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The NMUSAF is the oldest and largest military museum in the world! It contains more than 360 aircrafts and covers over 17 acres. We will not be able to cover the whole facility so we encourage you to do some homework ahead of time to make sure you are able to see the areas that are important to you. We will stay for three hours and that includes time for lunch at one of the museum’s cafes. Then we depart for the Honda Heritage Center to learn about this innovative mobility company’s successes over the last half century through an array of historical, current, & future products. This self-guided tour will be one to remember! Next we will visit the Jack Nicklaus Museum nestled in The Ohio State University in Columbus. “The Golden Bear” won 18 major championships and is considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time. After visiting this 12,000 sq. ft. museum, it’s time to decide if Jack really is the “GOAT.” 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Manager’s Reception 

Hotel: Drury Inn (2 Nights) 

Day 4 – Columbus 

We start today with a 2.5 hour city tour of Columbus and finish at the North Market for lunch. The North Market, an authentic public market, is home to dozens of unique, independent merchants, farmers, and makers who deliver personal and personable service every day of the week. Then we visit the top-rated Franklin Park Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. There will be plenty to see in this lush paradise, and we may be able to take in one of their educational programs or see the glassblowing demonstration held daily from 11-2. Next we will pay tribute to all of our Veterans as we visit the newly constructed National Veterans Memorial & Museum. This $82 million dollar museum was opened in October of 2018. “The time has come…to give a voice to ALL of America’s Veterans. To hear their stories. To honor their service. To remember their sacrifice. Our freedom is their legacy.” We will return to our hotel for a little rest before we go to another top-rated restaurant in Columbus, Mozart’s Cafe. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Day 5 – Columbus to Walnut Creek, OH 

Today is packed with unique stops, starting with a factory tour of the American Whistle Corporation. The AWC is the only manufacturer of metal whistles in the world. Our tour of this one-of-a-kind facilitiy includes several 30 ton presses, state-of-the-art soldering tables, and we will see how the ball fits inside the whistle. Next a tour of Anthony Thomas Chocolates is calling us. We are just in time for some great Christmas gifts if temptation doesn’t interfere before you get back home! The German Village in Columbus is home to Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, it’s run by the fourth generation of the Schmidt family who originally started Schmidt Meat Packing House in 1886. We will have a delicious German buffet with a scrumptious cream puff. Then we browse the Book Loft, one of the largest independent bookstores that stretches a block long and has 32 rooms. We should all be able to find a book to our liking! The Ohio Fire & Learning Center is our last stop in Columbus. With their collection of hand-drawn, horse-drawn, and motorized fire apparatus, we can retrace the steps of firefighters and learn about their day to day lives in the engine house. The No. 16 Engine House should be a good review on fire safety, a great place of history, and should recognize the work of a firefighter. Tonight we head to Walnut Creek for a three night stay at the lovely Carlisle Inn. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Hotel: Carlisle Inn (3 Nights) 

Day 6 – Walnut Creek 

We will spend the next two days with a local guide learning all about the Amish and Mennonite of Holmes County. We will have stops at the fascinating Warther Museum, which is dedicated to Ernest “Mooney” Warther, the World’s Master Carver of 64 true-to-scale steam locomotives. A Christmas Tree Festival plus a catered luncheon is included at the museum. We won’t forget this remarkable place! Then we head to the Star Theatre for the production of “The Christmas Tree Ship.” Inspired by a true story of one woman’s unsinkable determination to continue her late husband’s mission of bringing Christmas trees from upper Michigan, through the rough waters of Lake Michigan, to their underprivileged, Chicago community. Next we continue to view the World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock before stopping for treats at the Walnut Creek Cheese, and then the Dan Order Amish Artisan where will see beautiful quilts and soy candles. What a grand, fun day! 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Day 7 – Walnut Creek 

After breakfast our step-on guide joins us again today. Our first stop is an “Amish mini-Walmart,” Ruby’s Amish Dry Goods Store. We planned our trip to include the unique experience of attending an Amish auction where the Amish and English congregate. Items like livestock, hay, eggs, baked goods, flowers and much more are available by auction. We then visit a buggy maker where $11,000 might get you a handmade buggy! Lehman’s Hardware is a must – with 35,000 sq. ft. and an endless supply of non-electric goods, there’s a little something for everyone! We can’t forget about visiting a basket maker, a cheese factory that uses only Amish artisan milk from small Amish farms, and some free time to shop the Village of Berlin. Our day concludes with a special dinner served right in an Amish home! 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner 

Day 8 – Walnut Creek to Aurora, IL 

We start our journey home today and will enjoy a farewell dinner tonight at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Naperville, IL. 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

Hotel: Hampton Inn 

Day 9 – Aurora to Home 

Today as we travel the rest of the way home, we will reminisce about our grand Planes, Cars & Buggies tour! 

Included Meals: Breakfast