Departing SATURDAY august 10 for 8 days / 7 nights 

Join us on this wonderful brand new tour and lets skip town and leave the Rally behind!!  This is a small premium Group Tour in our Mercedes Sprinter - maximum 8 people!!  We will visit -

• Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum in Hannibal, MO
• The Ark Encounter, Williamstown, KY
• St Louis Riverboat Cruise, MO
• Herbert Hoover Presidential Library, Iowa City, IA
• The Butterfly House and Aquarium, Sioux Falls SD

DAY TO DAY ITINEARY

Day 1 - Saturday 10^th August – Spearfish, Sturgis & Rapid City to Dakota Dunes – (455 miles)
We leave Spearfish at 7.30am with pickups in Sturgis and Rapid City.  (Please have someone drop you off there as parking will present a problem).and we then head east on I-90 making comfort and meal stops along the way. Our journey will include a brief stop at ‘Dignity’. The statue depicts a colossal Native American woman holding aloft a star quilt. It was built of steel by sculptor Dale Lamphere,
We overnight at Dakota Dunes just north of Sioux City.
Overnight Dakota Dunes, SD  – Welcome dinner included                      

Day 2 – Sunday 11^th August - Dakota Dunes to Hannibal, MO (7am) - (435 miles)
After an early breakfast we depart the hotel and journey to the town of Hannibal, MO which is the boyhood home of Mark Twain. Here we explore the buildings and museum of this American humorist, novelist, and travel writer. Today he is best remembered as the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885). Twain is widely considered one of the greatest American writers of all time.
Overnight Hanibal, MO – Breakfast included

Day 3 – Monday 12^th August - Hannibal to Williamstown, KY – (457 miles)
Today we head for Williamstown, KY which is just a few miles from the "Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter… we arrive late afternoon (add 1 hour to Eastern Time)
Overnight Williamstown area – Breakfast included

Day 4 – Tuesday 13^th August - The Creation Museum & The Ark Encounter
After breakfast we leave the hotel and the Creation Museum... The state-of-the-art Creation Museum allows you to venture through biblical history, stunning exhibits, botanical gardens, planetarium, zoo, zip line adventure course, and much more. This 75,000-square-foot facility has welcomed millions of guests since opening in Petersburg, Kentucky. After your lunch break we continue to the Ark Encounter… Looking up at the massive structure and incredible workmanship of the hull is only the beginning of your encounter with the Ark. Their commitment to historical accuracy and artistic excellence continues inside on three decks full of beautifully crafted teaching exhibits that will inspire you to think differently about the biblical account of Noah’s Ark. 
Return to hotel – Breakfast included.

Day 5 - Wednesday 14^th August – Williamstown area to St Louis, MO – (364 miles)                                Our drive today takes us west to St Louis, MO. During the course of the day we return to Central time so our arrival time will be mid-afternoon. At 6pm we leave the hotel and head to the boarding area for the Mississippi River Cruise… Boarding begins at 7pm and we depart the dock at 7.30pm. (Your meals have been ordered to your requests a few weeks ago…)  The cruise features live music, a chef-inspired menu and captivating views of the St. Louis skyline. Your 2 hour allows time for dinner and a relaxing evening on the water. Take a stroll around the top deck to see the city from brand new angles as it lights up the night sky. Return to hotel for overnight.
Overnight St Louis area – Breakfast and Supper included.

Day 6 - Thursday 15^th August - St Louis to Iowa City (West Branch) – (317 miles)
Today we leave the hotel and head in a northerly direction to West Branch / Iowa City, IA.
Here we find the Presidential Library and Museum of Herbert Hoover… Herbert Hoover, mining engineer, humanitarian, statesman, and 31st President of the United States, was born August 10, 1874 in a simple two-room cottage in West Branch, Iowa. His Quaker family had helped settle the town, and their principles of honesty, hard work, simplicity, and generosity guided Hoover throughout his life of service to the nation and the world.  Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), America’s 31st president, took office in 1929, the year the U.S. economy plummeted into the Great Depression. Although his predecessors’ policies undoubtedly contributed to the crisis, which lasted over a decade, Hoover bore much of the blame in the minds of the American people. As the Depression deepened, Hoover failed to recognize the severity of the situation or leverage the power of the federal government to squarely address it. A successful mining engineer before entering politics, the Iowa-born president was widely viewed as callous and insensitive toward the suffering of millions of desperate Americans. As a result, Hoover was soundly defeated in the 1932 presidential election by Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Overnight Iowa City Area – Breakfast included

Day 7 - Friday 16^th August - Iowa City to Sioux Falls, SD – (185 miles)
Today we leave the hotel and drive to Sioux Falls, SD. Today, something special as we explore Brilliant butterflies. And Exotic sea creatures. (No swatting please)  A year-round tropical environment where you can Immerse yourself in the wonders of the natural world in the Butterfly House & Aquarium. Discover animal and plant life from every corner of the globe as you kick back, relax and enjoy this lush rainforest in the center of Sioux Falls. After our farewell supper a special treat awaits!!!
Overnight Sioux Falls, SD – Breakfast & Farewell Supper included

Day 8 - Saturday 17^th August – Sioux Falls to Home – (353 miles)
Please have your bags in the lobby by 8.30am for a 9am departure from the hotel. Heading west, we make comfort and meal breaks along the way with an estimated arrival of mid-afternoon.
Breakfast included.

Weather averages:

Itinerary at a Glance

Starts: Saturday 10th August 2024
Ends: Saturday 17th August 2024

What's Included

• Fully escorted / all transportation in our Mercedes Sprinter Vehicle
• 7 Breakfasts - 3 Suppers
• The Creation Museum
• The Arc Encounter
• St Louis Riverboat Cruise
• Herbert Hoover Library
• Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum
• Butterfly House and Aquarium
• All Taxes

Pricing

• Price: $3,495pp (double occupancy)
• Single Supplement: add $845 

Tour Brochure

• Itinerary (PDF)

How to Book

• Deposit of $1,000pp due at time of booking
• June 4th 2024 - Final Balance Due 
• Booking Form

What You'll Need

• A camera is a must
• Binoculars would be a great idea
• Photo ID is always recommended