Springtime in the Hoosier & Bluegrass States

• Itinerary
• Prices & Information
• Gallery
• Weather

Day 1 – Home to Bloomington, IL

We begin our springtime tour headed south to the beautiful states of Indiana and Kentucky. So it’s over the river and through Wisconsin we go today. Our first stop is at a favorite R&J Restaurant for lunch. We’ll continue this afternoon, getting to know our fellow travelers on our luxury motorcoach!

Included Meals: Lunch

Hotel: Comfort Suites 

Day 2 – Bloomington to Rockville, IN

After our included hot breakfast we travel on to Rockville, IN, a very historic town with brick streets, an old jail, and great photo opportunities at the majestic old courthouse on town square. You will have a chance to shop the 5 & 10 dime store where you can find anything and everything – this place is totally incredible! We will check out the tourist information building at the old 1883 train depot. Included lunch is a feel-at-home experience at a local favorite, Rock Run Café & Bakery. After we are sufficiently fed, we travel the back roads to Bridgeton. We are honored to be given a tour of the oldest & longest continuously working mill from the family that started it in 1823 and rebuilt it in 1870. The mill sits beside the most famous and most visited covered bridge in the USA – breathtaking! Bridgeton has the distinction of being the “covered bridge capital of the world,” located in Parke County, Indiana. Parke County is home to 31 covered bridges of which we will visit several of them before our travels take us to the Turkey Run State Park. Our home tonight will be the Turkey Run Inn. We dine this evening in their warm and cozy dining room and have time to explore and enjoy the area before turning in.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Turkey Run Inn

Day 3 – Rockville to West Baden Springs, IN

After enjoying a great hot breakfast, take a little time to enjoy the beauty of the park before we board our coach head out for the day. Our first stop is Gasthof, a neat little Amish Village where we will feast at an included Amish noon lunch buffet. We spend some time at the flea market and just strolling this beautiful area. Departing Gasthof, we will be eagerly awaiting our next destination: The West Baden Springs Hotel! This world famous resort will be our home for the night. You will be in awe at what you see! Considered to be the 8th wonder of the world, it was built in 1902 and is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks. Its atrium was the largest free span dome until the Houston Astrodome was built. There is no other word to adequately describe it but: AWESOME! Our evening dinner will be a treat as we dine in splendor and grandeur at the restaurant in the resort. You will have time on your own to scout out this lavish resort.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: West Baden Springs Hotel

Day 4 – West Baden Springs to Louisville, KY

We board our coach feeling like kings & queens after our included hot breakfast. We journey through the rolling and wooded green hills of springtime in southern Indiana to Louisville, KY. As we arrive at 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 hopefully 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.” Eat lunch at the track before enjoying a couple of races. How much of a wagering expert are you today? Then we will check into our hotel for the night, the Historic Galt House. While the structure is new after a large renovation, the history dates back to before the Civil War. Tonight we are dinner guests aboard the “Spirit of Jefferson” as we cruise the Ohio River.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Galt House 

Day 5 – Louisville to Lexington, KY

Maybe you’ll want to be an early riser today and take a walk along the banks of the Ohio before breakfast…or maybe you’ll want to sleep in! Either way, get ready for another great day! We travel down the road a piece and stop at the Jim Beam Bourbon Distillery for a tour and tasting this morning. 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.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Hampton Inn

Day 6 – Lexington to Mt Vernon, 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. Did someone mention chocolate? Well if you didn’t you should have, because we are making a stop at Kentucky Chocolates for a tour and some opportunities to enjoy some of this fine food group! 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, “Renfro Valley Barn Dance” at the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: National Heritage Inn 

Day 7 – Mt Vernon to Bowling Green, KY

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’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. This afternoon we will travel to Bowling Green, the birthplace of the iconic Chevrolet Corvette, and visit the Corvette Museum. We’ll hope the sinkhole hasn’t swallowed up all of the vintage corvettes as we spend some time learning about the history of this sporty automobile. After we check into our hotel we will enjoy dinner at a great local restaurant!

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Drury Inn, Bowling Green (2 nights) 

Day 8 – Bowling Green

After breakfast this morning, we tour the Corvette Assembly plant right here in Bowling Green. We’ll watch as they assembly a couple of these new model “vettes!” After our tour we travel on the Duncan Hines Scenic Byway to 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 experience the wonder, mystery, and beauty of this natural phenomenon – this makes for a memorable afternoon! It’s back to our hotel where you can enjoy the manager’s “Kickback” reception or dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Manager’s Reception 

Day 9 – 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 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’s 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 make a stop at the National Quilt Museum and view these wonderful works of art before our check in at the Drury Hotel and a free evening.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Manager’s Reception

Hotel: Drury Inn 

Day 10 – 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 “Sound of Music” at the Circa 21 Playhouse. A night of good food, entertainment, and laughter awaits us!

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Hotel: Radisson 

Day 11 – 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 sights and sounds of “Springtime in the Hoosier and Bluegrass States.”

Included Meals: Breakfast