Newly Added Bonus: “Ruth – The Story of Love, Loss & Redemption” at Biblical Times Dinner Theatre
“Truly felt the Lord was with us – teaching and bringing scripture more alive. A very moving experience!”
Marla & Don – Gospel Road Travelers
Day 1 – Home to Peoria, IL
As we begin our Gospel Road adventure, the journey will take us across the Iowa landscape and into Illinois. After we settle into the Stoney Creek Hotel, we are privileged to an incredible private gospel concert by The Kramer Family. Their specialty is many of the old hymns we all adore. The family performs at over 200 events a year and have shared the concert platform at the Gaither Fall Festival and the National Quartet Convention. Rachel Kramer has one of the most dynamic voices you’ve ever heard and was honored to sing at the National Prayer Breakfast personally invited by President George W. Bush and First Lady, Laura Bush. What a special treat!!
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Stoney Creek Hotel
Day 2 – Peoria to Covington, KY
Our journey today continues as we wind our way towards Covington, KY with a stop along the way at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY. Prepare to believe! This incredible 70,000 sq ft facility brings the pages of the Bible to life. You will have ample time to explore this one-of-a-kind faith experience before we head to our hotel for the evening and enjoy “A Taste of Kentucky” together as we get to know your travel companions!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Inn Riverfront (2 Nights)
Day 3 – Covington/Dry Ridge area
Following breakfast at our hotel, we begin our day with a guided tour of the Cincinnati and Newport areas. (Or you may choose to attend a church service on your own. Your tour director can help with some options.) During the tour, enjoy the sights of the “Queen City” and learn about the Garden of Eden with a seven mile view, the historic areas and even where many movies have been filmed, including Rain Man. Following our tour, we’ll head towards Dry Ridge, KY and the Ark Encounter! A recreation of Noah’s Ark, it is nearly one and a half football fields long and taller than a 4-story building. Be prepared to be blown away by this reconstruction of the Ark to its exact size and detail described in the Bible. We have dedicated the afternoon for you to enjoy lunch on your own and to explore what is now a world destination. Your faith will be reinforced. Leaving the Ark later this afternoon, we head back to Covington for a private boat cruise on the Ohio River, complete with gospel music entertainment. It will be an evening that will be sure to get your hands clapping and your feet tapping!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – Covington to Sugar Creek, OH
Today we’ll travel into Ohio Amish country to Sugar Creek, the “little Switzerland of Ohio,” where we’ll stay for the next two nights. Sugar Creek is a unique blend of Swiss heritage and Amish culture. It is also home to the world’s largest cuckoo clock. You’ll have some time to explore the quaint community before we meet up as a group again tonight for a special event! After a wonderful meal together, we’ll be swooned by the gospel sounds of the one and only Elvis! This special “Great is Thy Faithfulness” tribute concert is just for us and will include all the gospel greats of Elvis Presley! Enjoy as his gospel songs come back to life!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Carlisle Inn (2 Nights)
Day 5 – Sugar Creek area
This morning following a wonderful breakfast at the Carlisle Inn, you’ll have more time to explore the area before we head over to the Ohio Star Theater; first for an included buffet lunch, and then to sit back and enjoy the performance of “The Best of Me: A New Musical Comedy.” After one too many burnt batches of bread, two too many crooked quilts and a few more gardening glitches than a person can handle, Rachel Miller decides to step out of her comfort zone on the farm and see how ‘the other half’ lives. After all, she’s seen the Telemundo soap opera actresses on the TV at Walmart. How hard can this acting thing be?!?!? But after trading in the “Amish apple dumpling” for the “Big Apple,” Rachel finds out the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. In fact, there may not be any grass at all! We’ll laugh a lot and may even cry a little as we follow the Amish girl, a fading Broadway star, and a handsome stranger in their quest to find the best of themselves. After this great performance, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening on your own and maybe an early night in as we get ready to hit the road tomorrow to continue our gospel road journey!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 – Sugar Creek to Wytheville, VA
Today we travel out of Ohio Amish country and through the western mountain regions of West Virginia and Virginia to Wytheville; named after George Wythe, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. We’ll check into our hotel for the night and enjoy dinner and the evening on our own.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express
Day 7 – Wytheville to Charlotte, NC
After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head out early for the drive to Boone, NC, the headquarters of The Samaritan’s Purse. We’ll get a very informative inside look at Franklin Graham’s compassionate organization that strives to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of millions all over the world. Ever wondered where all those Christmas Shoe Boxes go? This will be an eye opening experience we will never forget! Following an included lunch, we’ll take the short drive further south to another critical branch of The Samaritan’s Purse. This is the distribution center where we witness the fascinating logistics of shipping these needed goods worldwide! Their Disaster Response Teams are also headquartered here. Marvel at the amazing planning and preparation involved in providing such a critical humanitarian service. What an educational and moving day! Then, you can sit back and relax for the next stretch of the journey to Charlotte for the night. Upon checking into the hotel, help yourself to the Manager’s Kickback Reception.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Manager’s Reception
Hotel: Drury Inn
Day 8 – Charlotte to Pigeon Forge, TN
Hope you rested well last night! Following breakfast at our hotel, we’ll take the short drive to the Billy Graham Library & Boyhood Home. What is in store for us today can only be imagined! 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 the man “Billy Graham” but about his “God fearing dedication to his Lord and Savior.” Included on the site is Billy’s boyhood home and the gravesites of Billy and Ruth Graham. People, by the tens of thousands, have been making pilgrimages from all over the world to witness this presentation of the Ministry of Billy Graham, his wife Ruth, and his team. For many, this is a life-altering experience. You will truly love the rich heritage and deep spiritual impact of this “God Spot.” From here, we’ll travel to Pigeon Forge and the National Quartet Convention (NQC). Take a nap on the coach if you’d like as we’ll have a late night tonight! The NQC was started in 1957, founded by JD Sumner and James Blackwood of the Blackwood Brothers. The convention features American Gospel quartets and Southern Gospel artists that perform non-stop concerts throughout the convention. After a great evening of Gospel Music we will return to our hotel where we will enjoy our beautiful rooms.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Music Road Inn (2 Nights)
Day 9 – Pigeon Forge
Following breakfast today, we’ll take a tour at the Titanic Museum, where we will receive a boarding pass of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member and discover their fate as we tour the ship. Built half-scale to the original ship, we can touch a real iceberg, walk the Grand Staircase and 3rd class walkways, reach our hands into 28° water and try to stand on the sloping decks. Tonight we’re guests at the Biblical Times Dinner Theatre for “Ruth – The Story of Love, Loss & Redemption!” Complete with a delicious dinner, live cast with state-of-the-art holographic & 3D technology, and a gospel-style concert during the show’s first act – this is the perfect addition to our Gospel Road journey!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 – Pigeon Forge to Nashville area
This morning we say goodbye to Pigeon Forge with anticipation of more excitement in Sumner County! We’ll make a couple of stops along the way and then pick up our step-on guide who will join us for the afternoon and evening. We’ve got a few stops throughout the day that are sure to get you stretching, clapping, and stomping your feet to the beat! We’ll enjoy music at a couple of different venues as we explore Sumner County, TN and partake in a Southern BBQ together tonight before turning in for a good night’s rest.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Hampton Inn
Day 11 – Nashville area to Bloomington, IL
Today is a long travel day, so fill up at breakfast before we begin our northward journey towards home. We’ll make a few stops along the way and gather tonight for a farewell dinner in Bloomington.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Holiday Inn
Day 12 – Bloomington to Home
We finish our last leg home today. There will be reminiscing of our special Gospel Road memories all the way back!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information
Motorcoach Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
22 Meals & 1 Manager’s Reception, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach
Tour Highlights
Dinner Concert with The Kramers
The Creation Museum
Guided Tour of Cincinnati/Newport areas
The Ark Encounter – Life Sized Noah’s Ark
Dinner Cruise on the Ohio River with Gospel Music
Charming Sugar Creek, OH & World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock
“Great is They Faithfulness” Elvis Tribute Concert
Ohio Star Theatre production of “The Best of Me: A New Musical Comedy”
Samaritan’s Purse World Headquarters (2 locations)
Billy Graham Library & Homestead in Charlotte, NC
National Quartet Convention
Titanic Museum
Music Venues in Sumner County with Southern BBQ
Newly Added Bonus: “Ruth - The Story of Love, Loss & Redemption” at Biblical Times Dinner Theatre