Our Hometown Tour

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Day 1 – Home to Willmar, MN

Join us as we transport you from your Twin Cities location to our wonderful hometown, Willmar. The coach will depart from your local pick-up spot and head off for rural Minnesota. We will arrive in Willmar and go directly to the Willmar Convention & Visitors Center where we will be greeted by a Willmar dignitary and enjoy brunch together. Our next stop will be at our brand new R&J office building where you will be treated to a tour by one of our friendly staff, and finish up with Willmar’s homemade scones and coffee. Just in case you didn’t know this piece of trivia, Willmar is known as the coffee capital of the world (per capita)! Our lunch break will take us to Persepolis in downtown Willmar. You will enjoy authentic Mediterranean cuisine offered right here in West Central Minnesota: Greek, Italian, and Persian served to us by Jon Emami, owner and head chef. Following lunch we will tour our interesting city of Willmar. Our final stop will be at Willmar’s nationally acclaimed chocolate factory, Mr. B’s Chocolates, where you will delight in the ‘melt in your mouth divine chocolate,” and a glass of wine from the shop next door. We will then travel to our hotel, the Holiday Inn Express for a little rest. Our evening meal will take place at The Oakes, a restaurant overlooking the golf course on one of our lakes. After our included meal, we will be guests at Willmar’s Barn Theater to be entertained by the production, Gypsy. After a full day, we will head back to our home away from home.

Included Meals: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (3 Nights) 

Day 2 – Willmar, Brooten, New London

After our included breakfast at the hotel we will “Strike Out” for small town Brooten and a most interesting tour of Max Bats, the bat company that furnishes the bats for our own Minnesota Twins as well as all the bats for our hometown hero, Jordan Smith, who is with the Cleveland Indians. As we journey back towards Willmar, lunch will be served at the Little Crow Country Club. We will then enjoy exploring New London’s unique, specialty shops, offering a fun variety of merchandise, before heading back to Willmar. We know you will be excited to spend the evening at the Northwoods League Stingers Ballpark in Willmar. You will be treated to a wonderful Bar-B-Q in the R&J Bullpen Suite at the ballpark. After the game our coach will return you to the Holiday Inn Express.

Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 – Willmar

We arise early so we can head over to the Firehouse for the Fireman’s Pancake Feed. Then we head over to our reserved seating at Willmar’s Grande Day Parade, an annual tradition that celebrates Willmarfest. Noon lunch will be on your own back at the hotel at the Green Mill. We will give you a little breather before boarding the coach for Willmar’s only Music Café, Jazz & Java. We will be entertained while dining by The Good Times Band, hosted by the in-house Music Co. We will then move out to the patio to enjoy fireworks over the lake. Spectacular sights we can promise you!

Included Meals: Pancake Feed Breakfast, Dinner 

Day 4 – Willmar to Home

We will hope for a beautiful morning, as we set sail on a brunch cruise on The Green Lake Cruise, a perfect opportunity to savor great moments in small town America. Maybe now that you know your way, you will come back soon! Our last stop will be at the Twine Ball Museum in Darwin where we will view the world’s largest twine ball rolled by one man. The only thing left now is to reminisce on your awesome visit to R&J Tours’ hometown, Willmar. You will then be delivered back home in comfort.

Included Meals: Brunch