“The people, the tour guides, and the itinerary were top notch! We were well cared for all the way.” Lynda – Bovey, MN (Heart of Christmas 2024 Traveler)
Day 1 – Home to Bloomington, IL
Journey with R&J to Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee as we take in The Heart of Christmas! Our first overnight will be in Bloomington, IL, with lunch on your own along the way. We will gather together for an included dinner this evening as we get to know one another.
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: DoubleTree
Day 2 – Bloomington to Louisville, KY
After an included breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Louisville, KY. A unique afternoon is in store as our motorcoach drives below ground at Mega Cavern’s, allowing us to experience the only underground holiday light show in the world! “Lights Under Louisville” includes more than 40 themed displays, multiple projection areas, over 900 lit characters, exciting themes, two laser locations, multiple light tunnels, holiday music, over 6,500,000 points of light, and the only domestic holographic Santa. As we motor along, we’ll be immersed in a megadose of Christmas cheer! Then over to our Drury Suites hotel to check in and freshen up before we’re guests at the Derby Dinner Playhouse for a tasty buffet dinner followed by “Elf the Musical.” We will have plenty of laughs as we travel with Buddy on his journey to find his identity and in doing so, we are warmed with the true meaning of Christmas.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Drury Inn & Suites
Day 3 – Louisville to Pigeon Forge, TN
We’ll start our day with breakfast at the hotel. Then our first stop is the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory where we will see how these famous baseball bats are made, along with the history of bat making. Whether you are a baseball fan or not, you will be amazed by this experience! Then we depart with comfort stops & lunch on your own along the way. The scenery is great as we travel to Pigeon Forge, a quaint little city nestled on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We’ll check into the Inn at Christmas Place, a unique Christmas-themed hotel, for the next three nights. This special inn, all festively decorated, features picturesque Bavarian architecture, lushly landscaped gardens, and beauitfully appointed accommodations. Tonight we’re guests for Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede, where we’ll find a true fantasy land, complete with twinkling lights, evergreens, poinsettias, old-fashioned holiday costumes, Christmas music, and 32 magnificent horses. The elves from the North and South Poles will compete in some friendly competitions while serving up a festive, four-course feast for us to enjoy! Then the true meaning of Christmas comes alive right before our very eyes as three kings ride atop camels on their way to Bethlehem. This live nativity scene is both dramatic and spectacular, especially with the stunning beauty of angels amazing us!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Inn at Christmas Place (3 Nights)
Day 4 – Pigeon Forge
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and relax at our wonderful hotel. Then be sure to have your walking shoes on as mid-morning we will head to Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s Appalachian-themed park. From the award-winning shows and elaborate holiday decorations to the twinkling lights and Christmas-themed menus, we’ll find that Dollywood captures the essence of Christmas. We’ll spend the rest of the day at Dollywood, giving you time to take in all the festivities. As it gets dark and all the Christmas lights come on, it truly is a magical Christmas experience!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 – Pigeon Forge
Again enjoy a leisurely breakfast and morning before you can walk across the street to the Incredible Christmas Place, the largest permanent Christmas retailer in the American south. Enjoy shopping time at this classy, premier destination selling all things Christmas! You’ll also be able to get lunch on your own at the Christmas Place. Later this afternoon we’re guests at the Titanic Museum for a special guided tour – our guide will even be dressed in character! Upon arrival, each of us will receive a boarding pass of an actual crew or passenger member, and at the end we’ll learn our passenger’s fate. Plus we’ll have the opportunity to shovel “coal” in the Titanic’s boiler room, touch an iceberg, feel 28 ̊ water, walk the exact replica of the Grand Staircase, & more! Then we’ll experience a private Christmas dinner aboard the Titanic. Afterwards we are headed to the Country Tonite Theatre for their fantastic Pigeon Forge Christmas Show. The magic of Christmas abounds as the talented renditions of Christmas favorites combined with beautiful choreography, brightly decorated holiday sets, and colorful costumes bring the enchantment of Christmas to the stage.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Pigeon Forge to French Lick, IN
Have one last breakfast at the Inn at Christmas Place and bid the Smoky Mountains goodbye as we’re traveling up to French Lick today. Along the way, a plated lunch will be served at Boone Tavern and we’ll also make a special stop at Old Friends Living History Farm. They provide a safe haven & permanent retirement to Thoroughbreds whose racing & breeding careers have come to an end. We’ll enjoy meeting these legends during our guided tour. We travel on to the Hoosier National Forest where nestled among the hills resides a classic American destination – French Lick Resort, comprised of two AAA Four-Diamond nationally historic hotels! With excitement, we check into one of them: the West Baden Springs Hotel, our world famous home for the night. We’ll be awestruck by this magnificent property! 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. With a glowing 40 ft Christmas tree in the atrium, there is no word to describe it but: AWESOME! Consider taking a walk on the trails over to the French Lick Springs Hotel (the sister property) and around the resort grounds and see some of the half-million lights that add to the winter wonderland. Christmas Village is a must-see during the 50 Days of Lights with its North Poles scenes and one of the Midwest’s largest real gingerbread houses! A delicious buffet dinner is served this evening at the French Lick Springs Hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: West Baden Springs Hotel
Day 7 – French Lick to Delavan, WI
We start our day off with breakfast at Cafe Sinclair’s, which is located in West Baden Springs Hotel’s original, elegant dining room. Today is a travel day as we make our way to Delavan, WI. After checking into our hotel, a scrumptious dinner and a special concert awaits at the Rosewood Dinner Theatre. “Christmas Remembered” carries on a cherished Wisconsin Tradition, celebrating well-loved hymns, carols, and holiday songs. Each musical arrangement is performed with professional sound, colorful theatrical lighting and imaginative video – White Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting, O Holy Night, Jingle Bell Rock, Little Drummer Boy, Sleigh Ride and more.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Comfort Suites
Day 8 – Delavan to Home
Breakfast is served before we travel the rest of the way home, with an included lunch along the way at Northwoods Brew Pub. Through new friendships and holiday experiences, together we have found The Heart of Christmas!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information
Motorcoach Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
15 Meals, Hotels and activities & events as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach
11/12/2025 11/19/2025
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
* West Baden Springs Hotel at Christmastime
* 3 Nights in Pigeon Forge at Inn at Christmas Place
* Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede
* Visit Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas
* Titanic Museum
* Pigeon Forge Christmas Show at Country Tonite
* Old Friends Living History Farm
* Louisville Mega Cavern’s Lights Under Louisville Driving Tour
* Louisville Slugger Museum
* “Elf the Musical” at Derby Dinner Playhouse
* “Christmas Remembered” at Rosewood with Dinner
