Join Us for an Inspiring Multi-Day Motorcoach Journey
The Bluegrass State offers a mix of amazing museums, scenic spaces, and equine excellence. We'll take in the two Answers in Genesis attractions (Creation Museum/Ark Encounter), walk across an arch (Natural Bridge), visit the Niagara of the South (Cumberland Falls), take a trip to the tracks (Keeneland/Churchill Downs), take a detour to a distillery (Jim Beam), and spend some time in lovely Louisville.
Travel in Comfort and Style with Convenient Parking and Pickup
Travel aboard a deluxe Thielen motorcoach equipped with modern features such as reclining seats, an AV system, onboard restroom, personal lighting/air vents, and cup holders. Complimentary water and occasional snacks will be provided throughout the trip. Options to park your vehicle and board the bus will be available in New Ulm, Mankato, Rochester, La Crosse, Madison, and Brookfield.
7-Night Option from Milwaukee
You have the option to start your tour at Embassy Suites, Brookfield (free parking) at 7:30AM on Sat, April 18 and conclude at the same spot around 5:00PM on Sat, April 25. Those opting to forego the transportation, meals, and hotels on those 2 days will receive a reduced rate ($2100 Double, $2600 Single vs $2300 Double, $2950 Single).
ALL-INCLUSIVE MEALS!
Your tour package includes EVERY meal beginning with lunch on Fri, April 17 and concluding with lunch on Sun, April 26. We intend to provide 2 "mystery meals" along they way as well. The hotels also provide complimentary beverages each evening. Daily bread will not be lacking in any way!
Faith & Fellowship
As with all Father’s World Tours, the journey includes daily devotions on board the bus and weekend WELS worship opportunities. These moments provide spiritual connection and reflection throughout our time together. Our tentative plan is to attend Sunday services at Amazing Grace, Florence, KY (4/19), and Eastside, Madison, WI (4/26).
Comfortable & Convenient Home Base Hotels
Enjoy hand-picked exceptional accommodations known for their comfort, hospitality, and guest satisfaction. All properties include breakfastonsite and offer amenities to ensure a restful stay. Embassy Suites, Brookfield (4/17 & 4/25) will be home for our first and final nights. Their evening Happy Hour, spacious suites, and inviting foyer will be a perfect place to get to know one another and say goodbye. Drury Plaza, Florence, KY (4/18, 4/19) is less than 2 years old, centrally located for our Northern KY adventures, and well equipped to provide us bountiful breakfasts and exceptional evening "Kickback" meals. Staybridge Suites, Lexington, KY East (4/20, 4/21, 4/22) offers complimentary breakfast, dinner, and use of their washers/dryers. That should be handy for those of us seeking a mid-tour wash. Drury Inn, Louisville, KY East continues the pattern of high quality and extensive food provision (both breakfast and dinner).
Minimum/Maximum
A minimum of 32 registered travelers is required by March 1 for the tour to operate. A maximum of 52 can attend. We fully expect this to be a very popular tour.
Please Note: A minimum number of registered travelers is required for the tour to operate. Final confirmation details and deadlines will be communicated at the time of booking.
The tour is open to WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod) members of all ages. Members are welcome to bring a non-member spouse or friend along.
We rate this tour as a 5 of 10 on the Mobility Scale. This means that to fully enjoy this tour, you should have at least average mobility. You will need to get on and off the bus (several steps) multiple times each day. Hiking is not required, but nearly every venue requires some level of walking/standing. Some (horse farm, etc.) require walking on an unpaved and sometimes uneven surface and standing for a fair amount of time.
We are thankful to have the OWLS (Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors) as our marketing partner/tour sponsor. A portion of Father's World Tours proceeds goes to support this worthy group. Dues paying members who register as such will receive $20 in gift cards on Day 1 of the trip. Be sure to note your OWLS membership on the registration form.
Waitlist Policy
If registrations exceed capacity, a waitlist will be maintained. In past years, a high percentage of individuals on the waitlist were accommodated due to cancellations.
Payment Schedule
A $300 deposit is due upon registration to secure your spot. Two additional payments (each covering half of the remaining balance) will be due on February 16 and March 18. Please note that the payments will be automatically withdrawn on those dates from the form of payment (echeck or credit card) you used for the deposit unless you change or cancel it. An email reminder will be sent a few days prior to that payment coming out.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds are offered on a sliding scale based on your cancellation date. If a waitlist exists and a replacement traveler is found, only a $50 administrative fee will apply regardless of when the cancellation occurs. See the schedule below.
Cancel prior to December 31...$50 cancellation fee applies.
Cancel between January 1-31, 2026...$250 cancellation fee applies.
Cancel between February 1-28...$500 cancellation fee applies
Cancel between March 1-31...$1000 cancellation fee applies
Cancel after March 31...$1500 cancellation fee applies
Travel Insurance
Father's World Tours is not offering travel insurance. For those interested in protecting their trip investment in case of unforeseen illness or emergency, travel Insurance (optional for this trip) may be purchased through a vendor of your choosing.
Tour Communications
Confirmed passengers will receive an email with basic trip details around March 1. A final communication will be emailed around April 1. It will include a passenger list, packing suggestions, a “final” itinerary, parking/pickup instructions, etc. Passengers will be asked to download the free Whatsapp cell phone application so that we can share pictures and communicate easily and effectively to the group throughout the tour.
We are blessed to have amazing accommodations throughout the trip.
Deluxe Thielen motorcoach complete with restroom, AV system, shades, and limited wifi. The driver gratuity is also factored into your tour package.
Admission costs for attractions and any gratuities for local guides are covered.
ALL meals from lunch on 4/17 through lunch on 4/26 are included. Complimentary snacks and bottled water are provided throughout the trip. Complimentary beverages are provided at the hotels each night.
Tips/appreciation for hotel attendants and non-included meal servers are recommended. Gratuities for the chaplain, director, and assistant are appreciated but not expected. No "plate" will be passed.
No pre or post tour hotel arrangements have been made. ETD from New Ulm on 4/17 is 8:00AM with a return ETA on 4/25 at 7:00PM.
Today we make our way from New Ulm (8:00) to Mankato (8:30), Rachester (10:10), La Crosse (11:45 lunch...12:50 pickup), Madison (3:10), and Brookfield (4:45) where Embassy Suites will serve as our first night home. A 5:30 reception (free drinks and snacks) precedes our plan for a Friday night fish fry.Times and locations are likely to change slightly before the final schedule is posted. ETDs above are estimates.
An early out (ETD is 7:45) should Lord willing, put us in Kentucky by late afternoon. There we'll enjoy 3 hours at the Creation Museum. It isn't sufficient time to full explore and enjoy it and we apologize. Nevertheless, we'll provide a plan to ensure that you hit the highlights (including the 4D Theater, 7 C's of History, Fearfully & Wonderfully Made exhibit, etc. After the museum closes, we will enjoy dinner and check in at our hotel (Drury Plaza, Florence) for a 2-night stay.
We'll enjoy a little later start after a long journey the previous day. Amazing Grace in Florence, KY will host us for worship. From there, it's on to Covington to marvel at its incredible Cathedral. Newport on the Levee is our afternoon destination for a Bavanan style lunch at Hofbrauhaus, and a BB Riverboat cruise on the Ohio River Drury Plaza's Kickback will serve as our evening meal. Lord willing, we'll conclude today with a "getting to know you" mixer..
We'll arrive at the opening bell and spend the better part of 7 hours exploring this incredible replica. Don't worry! There are plenty of places to sit and take a break, including the included 1500-seat Emzara's Kitchen, one of the largest restaurants in the U.S. Lectures and presentations frequently occur in the 2500-seat Answers Center. A suggested plan will be provided for first timers who may not know where to start at the massive structure. We'll head out around 4:00 and check into Staybridge Suites in Lexington for another complimentary meal/reception and the first of a 3-night stay.
Kentucky's incredible state parks will be on display today. We'll hit the top two parks in the sysytem as we marvel at God's handiwork seen at the 68' high, 125' wide "Niagara of the South" - Cumberland Falls. After a myster lunch, it's off to Natural Bridge State Park where we will ascend a mini-mountain, walk across and under a super cool sandstone arch. Back at Staybridge Suites, the onsite manager's reception should leave enough evening left for game night or use of the complimentary laundry machines.
The Bluegrass State does a lot of things very well, but thoroughbred breeding and racing is perhaps their pride and joy. Todah, we will have an opportunity to learn about ahd get up close and personal with the animals and the industry. Our morning destination is a state park dedicated to educating the public about these incredible creatures. A quick lunch and we're off to the races! Our reserved seats under the grandstand (protected from the weather) will give you a birds eye view of all the action on the track at Keeneland. Our final Staybridge Suites night includes another manager's reception dinner and drinks.
If the equine industry isn't king in Kentucky, then the bourbon industry would be. We'll start our day with a visit to a retirement home...for horses. It's essentially the equivalent of MLB's Cooperstown Hall of Fame if the Hall of Famers lived there at the museum. Derby winners and other notable horses live the high life at Old Friends. Then, it's on to Jim Beam for lunch and a tour of a distillery (tasting optional). Tonight, we check into Drury Inn, Louisville East and partake of another "Kickback" dinner and drinks deal.
Our horsin' around comes to an end after a visit to the crown jewel of the horse racing world - Churchill Downs. We'll make our way through the museum, tour the track. and take a look at a 360 degree film that places us in the heart of a horse race. A mint julep and a mystery lunch precedes an afternoon downtown checking out the Louisville Slugger factory. One final Drury Kickback, then it's time to pack.
Today we leave the Bluegrass State and time travel north and west back to Wisconsin and the Central time zone. En route, we'll tour Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana and learn about the past, present, and future of our country's agriculture industry. A Chick-Fil-A dinner awaits those who are still with us when we settle in for our final night back at Embassy Suites in Brookfield.
Lord willing, we'll join our faith family at Eastside, Madison for their late service before grabbing lunch at nearby Portillo's. Dropoffs continue as we progress north and west. Current ETA for each destination is as follows: Brookfield (9:00), Madison (10:15), La Crosse (3:00), Rochester (4:30), Mankato (6:15), NU (7:00).
