Central Iowa and Pella Tulip Festival

Arriving at the Amana Colonies in mid-afternoon, our guided tour will include several stops explaining the history of the Amana Colonies, one of America’s longest-lived Communal societies. Some visitors arrive expecting to find an Amish community but the Amana Colonies have never been Amish. While you’re here, learn the history, visit the stores, sample their products and possibly see their craftsmen at work. Dinner will be at the Ox Yoke Inn, a historic landmark built in 1856, where German and American food is served family style. Overnight in the town of Coralville. (D)

After breakfast at the hotel, we journey on to Winterset, Iowa, birthplace of John Wayne. Following refreshments provided by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, we begin touring the covered bridges made famous by the movie “Bridges of Madison County.” Madison County is the Covered Bridge Capital of Iowa and six of the original nineteen bridges remain. Lunch today will be provided by a local church and then we spend time at the John Wayne Museum and Birthplace. We see the tiny, four-room birthplace and the award-winning museum, the only one in the world dedicated to the Hollywood legend. Overnight will be in West Des Moines. (B, L)

Today we spend the entire day at the Pella Tulip Festival. Start the day with a narrated tour of Pella. A guide will point out Pella’s many highlights as you travel past tulip gardens and historical landmarks. The Pella Historical Village includes the Wyatt Earp House, the Werkplaats, the Dutch bakery and more than 28,000 tulips planted throughout the village. See the Vermeer Windmill, at 126 feet, the largest working windmill in the United States. We have reserved grandstand tickets for this afternoon's parade show featuring Dutch dancing and singing, a Dutch Costume Culture Show, presentation of the Tulip Queen and her court and the famous street scrubbing. We also tour the 23-room Dutch mansion of Dominie H.P. Scholte, the founder of Pella. Located behind the house are 35,000 tulips in the Scholte Gardens. Dinner will be a Dutch Dinner at Central College. Overnight in Ottumwa, IA. (B, D)

Following breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Hannibal, MO, “America’s Hometown.” After lunch, we will visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home, Becky Thatcher House, Huck Finn House and Mark Twain Museum. Dinner will be at the Hannibal Country Club and afterwards, we will experience a unique performance of Mark Twain Himself with Richard Garey. The stage actor brings Mark Twain to life with a show full of humor and irreverent wisdom. (B, D)

After breakfast, we visit the Mark Twain Cave. You will have the same exciting experience as Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher did exploring this remarkable cave so many years ago. A guide will escort you on the 55-minute circular tour. For those who do not wish to go into the cave, there are places to sit, a sandwich shop and a winery onsite. Next we’re off to Rockcliffe Mansion, a massive, historic house museum overlooking the Mississippi River, where Mark Twain addressed Hannibal’s society during his last visit in 1902. Before departing for home, enjoy a dockside lunch and then cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat to see this famous river town from the boat bearing this famous name. (B, L)