Day 1 – Home to Omaha, NE
Welcome aboard to Christmas Around the World! Our destination is Omaha, Nebraska where we will experience Christmas traditions and foods from around the world. It will be exciting to see how many of our own heritages we’ll be immersed in! After lunch on our own along the way, our first Christmas Around the World experience will be this afternoon with Christmas in Lithuania at the Lithuanian Bakery! This is an inspirational visit to Lithuania through the eyes of the owners as we hear how their family escaped Germany in WWII and moved to Omaha to start a bakery business. We’ll taste some of the bakery’s famous breads and enjoy their signature dessert, which takes three days to make. Then we check into our special accommodations for the next three nights, The Magnolia Hotel. Located in downtown Omaha, The Magnolia was formerly the Aquila Court Building, built in 1923 to mimic the Bargello, a palace in Florence, Italy! After settling into our rooms, it’s time for Christmas in Germany at the German American Society. Enjoy dancing, singing and food! We’ll listen to traditional German holiday favorites by the Men’s Choir and experience the German dancers as they perform various holiday dances from various regions of Germany. Our evening will end with a sing-a-long of the song “Silent Night.”
Hotel: The Magnolia Hotel (3 Nights)
Included Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Omaha
Breakfast prepares us for a full day of Christmas Around the World. Our first stop is Christmas in Ireland at Boys Town, where we’ll enjoy a guided driving tour, the hall of history, and Father Flanagan’s house all decorated for the holidays according to Irish Christmas traditions. Our time in Ireland continues as we head to the Brazen Head Restaurant for lunch. Walking in, we’ll feel its Irish roots as the interior woodwork was imported from a pub in Ireland. Next up is Christmas in Scotland at the Joslyn Castle. Built in 1903, this historic 30-room stone mansion resembles a traditional Scottish castle. During our tour, we’ll enjoy hearing the fascinating story of George & Sarah Joslyn. Afterwards we’ll experience the beauty of Christmas at the Lauritzen Gardens, where we’ll view a tree consisting of 700 poinsettias and miniature trains traveling across a display that includes replicas of famous Omaha landmarks. We’ll end our day with Christmas in Greece at St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church. We’ll enjoy a fascinating tour of this Byzantine-style church and it’s traditions. A tasty dinner is included downstairs along with a holiday program explaining how Christmas is celebrated in Greece. We’ll also listen to Christmas carols in Greek! What a special, cultural day we’ve shared!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 – Omaha
After breakfast, we’ll head out on a full morning, guided tour of Omaha. A few of the highlights will be Lewis & Clark Landing, Gold Coast District, Blackstone Hotel, St. Cecilia’s Spanish Cathedral, Omaha Community Playhouse, Fertile Ground Mural, Hollywood Candy, Pioneer Courage Park, and more. Then it’s Christmas in Omaha at the historic Old Market District. There will be time on your own here to grab a bite to eat. Enjoy the area’s turn-of-the-century charm, listen to street musicians, and perhaps you’ll wish to take a horse-drawn carriage ride. This afternoon it’s Christmas at Union Station as we explore the Durham Museum, traveling back in time at this 1930’s train depot. After returning to our lovely hotel for a chance to freshen up, it’s Christmas in the South at Big Mama’s! This old-fashioned southern meal will be one fine Christmas dinner! Then we head to the Omaha Community Playhouse for Dicken’s classic tale, “A Christmas Carol.”
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – Omaha to Home
After one last breakfast, we’re guests for Christmas in Ukraine at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Our Ukrainian speaker Olesia will give a fantastic presentation about Ukrainian linens and their connection to their history, customs, and traditions. She’ll also share about her childhood as a slave laborer for the Germany Army during WWII as well as how Christmas in celebrated in Ukraine. Then we depart for home, with lunch on our own along the way. We’ll enjoy sharing with each other our own heritages & Christmas traditions as we have one final Christmas Around the World: Christmas on R&J Coach!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information
Motorcoach Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
7 Meals, Hotel & Activities as stated, Luxury Motorcoach
12/12/2024 12/15/2024
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
* Christmas Around the World Experiences including Lithuania, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, Greece & Ukraine
* Christmas at Lauritzen Gardens
* Omaha Guided City Tour
* Old Market District
* Christmas at Union Station - Durham Museum
* Big Mama’s Christmas in the South Dinner
* “A Christmas Carol” at the Omaha Community Playhouse
