Trip information

Board the motor coach for a leisurely day visiting the beautiful Reiman Gardens and Butterfly Wing.

Led by a docent we will visit the Garden Room, Hughes Conservatory along with the various gardens learning about this gem in the heart of Iowa.

Following the tour, we will depart to “Hickory Park”, a well-known restaurant in Ames ordering an included lunch from the menu.

Off to the downtown area, you will have free time to explore shops and a stop at the Ames History Museum featuring the legacies of nine black pioneers in Ames’ history.

Small exhibits about VEISHEA, Dairies, early Ames’ autos, Younkers Little Shop, groundbreaking women and more are on display.

For those of you that enjoy the art, close by is the Octagon Center for the Arts.

Just 90 miles away, experience history, the arts, shopping and local cuisine in Fort Dodge.

We will start with a visit at the Fort Museum beginning at the Opera House and enjoy a mid-morning snack and beverage. Listen to a trunk presentation by one of the staff and stroll the streets of the fort on your own. An impressive number of artifacts are on display in many of the buildings.

Next is a stop at the 110 -foot Grain Silo and see how this eye sore became an impressive work of art by an Australian artist completed in the winter!

This is amazing!

An included lunch at Tea Thyme is sure to please with multiple options. Choose between Madeleine’s Meatloaf, Chicken Salad Croissant, Soup in a Bread Bowl, and Supreme Salad. Include your meal choice with your payment.

After lunch, we will tour the Ringland-Smeltzer House, a beautiful historical home donated by a local resident. Hear about the family history and its benefits to Fort Dodge and beyond.

Entering the fall season, a stop at Community Orchard is a must. A tour of the grounds along with the process of grading, making cider, and marketing will be shared by staff. The shopping is amazing and offers items from t-shirts, salsas, home decorations, jams, and of course apples and cider. But the best is yet to come, a warm apple dumpling with ice cream complete this tour. Gluten free and low sugar options are available. Close by is the Veterans Memorial Park, a serene beautifully landscaped area dedicated to Veterans who have served in past wars.

A perfect way to take in the highlights of our neighbor in Iowa.

There is no need to travel far to visit impressive sites rich with history especially in our hometown of Mason City.

This tour is personally designed for those that want a closer look at the history and architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright in Mason City.

Doors will be open at 9:00 am at the Robert E. McCoy Architectural Interpretive Center located at 520 1st St. NE. Tours will begin at 9:30 am. Groups will be led by knowledgeable docents through the Center and the Stockman house.

At 11 am, we will board a bus and view the historic neighborhood of architecturally significant Prairie School Homes in Mason City and hear a brief background on each.

Our next stop will be the beautiful Markley Blythe and Restaurant in the Historic Park Inn Hotel to enjoy an included lunch in the unique atmosphere it has to offer.

After lunch, a tour of the Historic Park Inn and Wright’s City National Bank will be led by docents familiar with the history and architecture of the buildings.

A bus will return to the Center at 2:15 PM.

Limit of 30 Guests, so call soon to enjoy this all-inclusive personal tour.

The year is 1975 and the church ladies are back with their polyester pantsuits singing, dancing and laughing their way thru this hilarious new musical.

Pick up in Mason City, Clear Lake, Top of Iowa, & Trails in Albert Lea

Lunch includes Salisbury Steak Au Gratin Potatoes Side Salad & Watergate Salad Roll & Butter Fresh Baked Cookies Coffee, Lemonade or Water

Here is another neighboring community you have visited but now it has a bit of Holiday Cheer to it. Call your friends or family and enjoy a casual tour of Austin, MN and see what it has to offer.

Included in the tour is a visit to the Hormel Institute, a cancer research facility and a popular stop for tour buses. View scientists working in the labs and learn about the unique Cryo-EM lab.

Next our stop will be at the Hormel Historic Home for a delicious lunch and a tour of the home decorated for the holidays with themed Christmas trees in each room. Learn about the history of the Hormel Family, founder of Hormel Food Corp.

The Nativity House is a private collection of 100’s of Nativity sets featuring 40 different countries. Helen, the owner, was featured last year on the local news sharing her vast collection.

The Spam Museum, an entertaining museum full of facts and fun will be on the agenda. A perfect time to pick up some unique Christmas gifts, from T-Shirts to different flavored Spams not ordinarily found on the grocery shelves.