The Gospel Road (FULL-Call for waitlist!)

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A first of its kind for R & J Tours.
We promise it will be a great inspirational journey!

Day 1 – Home to Bloomington, IL
We began our tour Monday, traveling all day, with stops for coffee
breaks and lunch. We arrive in Bloomington for our first overnight.
Accommodations: Comfort Inn & Suites – Bloomington, IL
Day 2 – Bloomington to Anderson, IN
Our journey continues “Down the Gospel Road” winding our way
to Anderson, Indiana. Anderson is the home of Anderson University
and proudly claimed by R&J’s very own Ralph Engel as his alma
mater. Ralph is just one of the many famous personalities that hail
from its halls!Other distinguished alumni include Sandi Patty, Steven
Curtis Chapman, Bill & Gloria Gaither, Doug Oldham, Steve Green
as well as Mort Crim, Chuck Colson, and former Dodgers’ pitcher
Carl Erskine. Anderson is also the home of the long time national
radio broadcast, the Christian Brotherhood Hour. Ralph is arranging
an inside tour of this iconic institution that has had such an historic
impact on declaring the Gospel. This evening a welcome dinner
awaits at “The Edge,” a beautiful dining experience overlooking the
Edgewood Golf Course. We will be entertained by a great senior
couple who perform gospel music concerts all over Central Indiana.
It will be our first vocal introduction on our Gospel Road tour. Don’t
be leery, they feature Gaither style music, just the type of music we
enjoy. Our home for the next two nights is the beautiful Holiday
Express Inn in Anderson.
Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner
Accommodations: Holiday Inn Express, Anderson, IN (2 nights)
Day 3 – Anderson
We arise early enough to enjoy a great hot breakfast before we are
on our way to the Gaither Family Resources in Alexandria, Indiana,
home to well-known gospel music greats Bill & Gloria Gaither. Here
we are privileged to have an inside tour of their historic studios (site
of the very first Homecoming video), as well as the headquarters
of Gaither Music. Plus a guided tour of Alexandria, Bill & Gloria’s
hometown, complete with stories of Bill’s boyhood days, is truly
fascinating. Our journey takes us back to the Gaither Center to enjoy
a home cooked chicken dinner and all the trimmings in their very
own restaurant, “The Common Place.” We will again be treated
to dinner music by a Homecoming favorite, gospel artist and song
writer Woody Wright. Woody’s songs have been recorded by almost
every artist in gospel music. This will be an amazing treat you’ll long
remember. We’ll visit the fantastic gift shop after lunch as well as
Gaither Family Resources, where every Homecoming video ever
recorded and the largest collection of gospel music CD’s you’ve ever
seen, are available for purchase. Don’t forget your credit card!Dinner
this evening is on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 – Anderson to Louisville, KY
After enjoying our included hot breakfast, we head for Louisville,
Kentucky, to attend the all-time great National Quartet Convention.
We have arranged for reserved seating for the evening concert as
well as the afternoon showcase of gospel quartets and new groups
trying to make it big. The National Quartet Convention, held at
Freedom Hall, is gospel music’s largest and most well-known annual
event. Lunch and dinner today are on your own to choose from the
multitude of the convention’s dining opportunities available. We
spend our evening together at the Hampton Inn in Louisville, KY, an
award winning hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hampton Inn, NE Louisville, KY
Day 5 – Louisville to Renfro Valley, KY
After enjoying another good hot breakfast at the Hampton, we will
make our way to the famous Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky,
where we will “Prepare To Believe.” This incredible 70,000 sq
ft museum brings the pages of the Bible to life. You will be on your
own for noon lunch at the Museum’s very own Noah’s Café. Leaving
the museum, we travel across the pastoral rolling hills of Kentucky,
famously known as “horse country,” to Mt. Vernon and the Renfro
Valley, the Music Capitol of Kentucky. Dinner this evening is southern
style at The Lodge in the Village, entertainment is the “Legends
of Music” at The Barn Theater, and our homey hotel is the National
Heritage Inn – just a stroll down the road. What a day!
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: National Heritage Inn, Renfro Valley, KY
Day 6 – Renfro Valley to Pigeon Forge, TN
Enjoy the deluxe 25 item breakfast bar before heading off to our
wonderful “packed full of events” day. We arrive at the Museum
of Appalachia in Clinton, Tennessee. This is a wonderfully relaxing
expanse of property featuring many old buildings and displays of
the long ago days of country music. We enjoy lunch on the grounds
and ample time to explore this one of a kind museum. It’s a great
spot!Then we journey on to Pigeon Forge. We are dinner show
guests at the Smith Family Theatre, a well-known spot and frequently
attended. They feature a large “buffet of vittles” known as the very
best in the Tennessee Smoky Mountains. When we are full to the
brim and ready for a rest, we head to The Inn at Christmas Place, a
simply divine place to spend the night. Here we will experience old
world charm, elegance, and hospitality second to none in the Smoky
Mountains.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch voucher, Dinner Theatre
Accommodations: The Inn at Christmas Place, Pigeon Forge, TN

Day 7 – Pigeon Forge to Asheville, NC
After breakfast in our surreal surroundings, we will journey to the
famous Smoky Mountain Cowboy Church for a morning church service
like no other. Following the service we have a genuine Smoky
Mountains Sunday dinner at the Applewood Farm Restaurant with all
the traditional fixin’s!Our Sunday afternoon drive is a classic through
the Smoky Mountains. Our excitement is escalating as we anticipate
arriving at the Billy Graham Training Center, “The Cove.” This incredibly
majestic retreat center is nestled in the mountains of Western
North Carolina near Asheville and is just amazing!We will enjoy
walking the wooded area and then be treated to a delightful evening
dinner before meeting for a time of devotion and inspiration led by
the gospel quartet “Calvary’s Touch.” We take our rest at Shepherd’s
Inn where you will truly love the rich heritage and deep spiritual
experience of this “God Spot.”
Meals: Breakfast, Sunday Lunch, Evening Dinner
Accommodations: Shepherd’s Inn, The Cove, Asheville, NC
Day 8 – Asheville to Charlotte, NC
Following our nice hot breakfast we journey just a few short miles
away to the world famous Biltmore Estates. This mansion and gardens
built in 1895 is on the National Historic Register and at 179,000
square feet and 250 rooms, is the largest private home in the US. You
will have time to tour the mansion, enjoy the Biltmore Gardens, and
have lunch at the Estates. Then we are off winding our way through
the NC mountains to the famous Billy Graham Library in Charlotte.
Our home for the next two nights is the lovely Homewood Suites by
Hilton, in Charlotte, just a stone’s throw from the Library.
Meals: Breakfast, Manager’s Evening Reception at Homewood
Accommodations: Homewood Suites, Charlotte, NC (2 nights)
Day 9 – Charlotte
Our wonderful full breakfast buffet at Homewood Suites is the best
and we love it. What is in store for us today can only be imagined!
The trip and tour at the Billy Graham Library tops the all-time high
for spiritual blessings!Retrace Billy Graham’s dynamic journey
through stunning multi-media presentations, interactive kiosks,
photos, and memorabilia all done with state-of-the-art technology.
When you are finished you will absolutely realize it’s not about the
man “Billy Graham” but about his “God fearing dedication to his
Lord & Savior.” After touring the Library, his boyhood home, and
Ruth’s (his dear wife) gravesite, we will gather together to have lunch
at the Dairy Bar Café right in the Library. After a full day at the Library
we will head back to Homewood Suites, “our home away from
home,” with the Manager’s evening reception included.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Manager’s Evening Reception
Accommodations: Homewood Suites
Day 10 – Charlotte to Wilmot, OH
Today is a delightful travel day through the western mountain regions of North Carolina, Virginia, & West Virginia to Amish Country of Ohio – a totally different experience for us to take in. Our home for this evening will be at the Amish Door Inn, the gateway to Amish Country. It’s a great escape and a very easy going lifestyle. Discover on your own the Village of Amish Door. Dine on your own this evening at the village restaurant and enjoy the elegant Victorian Inn and a relaxing free evening in the countryside.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: The Inn at Amish Door, Wilmot, OH (2 nights)
Day 11 – Wilmot
A full day in Amish Country is planned when we will start the day at
9:00am, boarding our coach & ready to depart with our local guide.
The Village of Kidron is our first stop. It features an outdoor flea
market in addition to farmers bringing animals to the weekly auction
with horse drawn wagons. It’s a great shutterbug opportunity. You
will also have time to shop at the popular Lehman’s Hardware, over
2 acres under one roof of non-electrical household and hardware
items. A special lunch is included for us in a private Amish home
with each person receiving a free Amish gift. Next is shopping at the
Walnut Creek Bulk Foods & Candies Store, an unforgettable experience.
Tonight we dine at the Amish Door and enjoy our very own
gospel concert by “The Declaration Trio.”
Meals: Breakfast, Amish Home Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Inn at Amish Door
Day 12 – Wilmot to Shipshewana, IN
After our included breakfast, we take a short drive to the Smucker’s
Home Store and Café. “With a name like Smucker’s, it has to be
good!” Lunch will be on your own as we travel the Ohio and Indiana
countryside to our stop for the night, the Amish Country Inn in Shipshewana,
Indiana. Our final Gospel Road concert will be a dinner
and show at the incredible Blue Gate Theatre featuring the musical
sounds of “The Browns” and the hilarious humor of “Wilburn & Wilburn.” An incredible evening awaits you with some of the very best up & coming gospel musicians and Christian comedians.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Amish Country Inn, Shipshewana, IN
Day 13 – Shipshewana to Madison, WI
Following breakfast and some time in the Shipshewana area, we
travel to our home for the evening, spending our last night on the
Gospel Road.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hampton Inn, Madison, WI
Day 14 – Madison to Home
Arrive home today with fantastic memories of The Gospel Road!
Meals: Breakfast