Day 1 Peru, IL

We board our deluxe motor coach for a tour to Kentucky and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, whose name is derived from the Cherokee Indian term Shaconage, which means “Place of Blue Smoke.”

Day 2 Louisville, KY

Today we’ll make our way to Kentucky, the Bluegrass State. Upon arrival to Lexington, we will visit the Frazier History Museum, the starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. We’ll get an overview of the history of Bourbon and learn why it’s so vital to Kentucky. After our tour, we’ll do a Bourbon Tasting. Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant. After dinner we’ll visit the annual Jack O’Lantern Spectacular. Walk along a winding path in Iroquiois Park seeing more than 5,000 artistically carved pumpkins in themed settings. (B, D)

Day 3 Bardstown, KY

Our morning bring us to Louisville where we enjoy a fun filled morning at the Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs. We experience the thrill of the race known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports” and explore hands-on exhibits. You can also mount a horse in an actual starting gate, view the film “The Greatest Race,” and visit the museum’s thoroughbred, Deputy Joe. Lunch is included before we head to Bardstown, which has been named one of the most beautiful small towns in America. Our first stop in Bardstown is My Old Kentucky Home, a 200 year old mansion and plantation of the Rowan family named for Stephen Foster’s song, “My Old Kentucky Home, Goodnight!” Our guide will give us a tour of the mansion while wearing the latest in 1850s antebellum fashion. We’ll end our tour with a warm apple cider and ginger snap cookies in the historic kitchen and carriage house. Tonight, enjoy an included dinner at the historic Talbot Tavern. Built in 1779, the Tavern has been called the oldest western stagecoach stop in America. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Asheville, NC

Our day begins at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, home to the third largest Shaker community in the U.S. We tour the historic village and learn about the Shakers along with the history of Pleasesant Hill. Afterwards sit down for an included lunch here. There will be some time to explore before we depart for Asheville, where we spend the night. (B, L)

Day 5 Bryson City, NC

Before departing Asheville today, we tour the fabulous Biltmore Estate, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. See magnificent 16th century tapestries, a library with 10,000 volumes, a banquet hall with a 70 foot ceiling, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, bowling alley and one of the finest gardens in our country. We make our way to Bryson City and board the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad. Travel through the quiet countryside passing by the famous movie set of “The Fugitive” starring Harrison Ford. There will be a stop in Dilsboro to check out the shops, restaurants and brewery. The train will return us back to Bryson City, our home for the evening. (B)

Day 6 Pigeon Forge, TN

Our adventure continues this morning as we travel through Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a local guide. As we travel the scenic mountain road around the famous “Loop” by way of the high-rising Chimney Tops. At the top of the mountain we will stop at Newfound Gap which marks the Tennessee/North Carolina State line. At an elevation of 5,048 feet, Newfound Gap is the lowest drivable pass through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We end our tour in Gatlinburg, where you’ll have some freetime to shop, explore and have lunch. Then it’s time to taste some moonshine! We’ll tour and do a tasting at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery. We continue to Pigeon Forge, where we’ll spend the next two nights. Dinner is included this evening at Applewood Farmhouse before we attend the Comedy Barn show. Featuring comedians, jugglers, ventriloquists, barnyard animals, live music, and more! You’ll laugh until you can’t laugh any more. (B, D)

Day 7 Pigeon Forge, TN

This morning we head out on a Foothills of the Smokys Tour (Eastside). Our guide will show us around Sevierville, the 8th oldest town in Tennessee, where you will visit the Dolly Parton statue and learn of its unique history. Then travel to nearby Chestnut Hill to visit Bush’s Beans Visitor Center which is housed in the family’s original General Store that dates back to 1897. Enjoy a delicious southern-style lunch at Bush’s Family Cafe. Our afternoon will be spent at Dollywood, Dolly Parton’s Theme  Park of the Smoky Mountains! The mountain crafts are quaint and the shows are entertaining. We’ll be there during the Harvest Festival which features the Great Pumpkin Luminights. A dinner voucher is included at Dollywood. (B, L, D)

Day 8 Lexington, KY

We begin our day with the second part of our Foothills of the Smokys (Westside) tour on the newest section of the Foothills Parkway. Ride through beautiful Wears Valley through to Townsend, Tennessee for a quick stop, then ride through Walland and hit the Foothills Parkway. Along the route, there are the most incredible views of the valley below. After dropping our guide off in Pigeon Forge, we’ll get back on the road and head north to Lexington. A stop will be made at Cumberland Falls, known as ‘Niagara of the South.”  Water pours over the rocks in a 125 foot wide curtain and plunges 68 feet into the boulder strewn gorge below. In Lexington, we will tour the Mary Todd Lincoln House, the family home of the wife of 16th president Abraham Lincoln. (B)

Day 9 Janesville, WI

This morning we will visit Kentucky Horse Park. Get the chance to meet Thoroughbred legends at the Hall of Champions, see interesting breeds at the Parade of Breeds Show, tour the barn and see the blacksmith facility. We’ll trek towards home this afternoon, traveling as far as Janesville, Wisconsin. (B)

Day 10 Home

We return to Minnesota today and hum all along the way-our old favorites and the new songs we learned on our tour to the “Place of Blue Smoke.” (B)