Early March is primetime in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. We are blessed to have five 800+ sf condos reserved for a full week at the lovely Legacy Golf Resort in sunny Phoenix. You'll enjoy 7 days of fun and fellowship in the sunny Southwest. 

This tour is unique in many ways. Just 5 rooms (max of 10 participant spots) are available, and we will be traveling by Mercedes Sprinter van. Participants will make their own arrangement to get to PHX or the resort on their own on March 1 with departure flights on March 8. Transfers from/to the airport to/from the resort are included in the tour fee.

Our primary goal will be to visit natural spaces and to marvel at God's handiwork. We'll enjoy the resort itself and the Phoenix metro as well. We will be taking three day trips to take in Tucson, Sedona, and the Superstition Mountains. 

As always, our spiritual meals will include daily devotion led by a WELS pastor as well as Sunday and Ash Wednesday worship at local WELS churches. While out and about, we'll enjoy memorable meals at The Farm, Organ Stop Pizza, and Rustler's Rooste. Grocery store runs will give us ample opportunity to stock our fully equipped condo kitchens

The Grapefruit League will be in session and fans of the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs will have an opportunity to see their teams in action. Like to hike? Opportunities for a few short scampers at South Mountain and Papago Park are sure to please. Our Phoenix metro plans also include the Desert  Botanical Garden, Scottsdale shopping and dining, Tempe Town/ASU, and a visit to the Arizona Lutheran Academy..

NOTE: IN ORDER FOR THIS TOUR TO OCCUR, WE WILL NEED ALL 5 AVAILABLE ROOMS BOOKED BY DEC 31.

 The tour is open to all members of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod).

We rate this tour as a 5 of 10 on the Mobility Scale. This means that to fully enjoy this tour, you should have average mobility. You will need to get in and out of a passenger van multiple times each day. Hiking is offered but not required. Nearly every venue requires some level of walking/standing.

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 worthwhile group. Dues paying members who register as such will receive a $10 gift card on Day 1 of the trip. Be sure to note your OWLS membership on the registration form. 

For this tour, we are initially confirming up to 10 passengers in the order in which they register.  If the registrations exceed that number, a waitlist will be maintained.  In past years, a high percentage of individuals on the waitlist were accommodated due to cancellations.  

This tour has a $125 deposit due upon registration with the remaining balance split in two payments due on November 1 and January 1. Please note that those payments will be automatically drawn from the account you used for the deposit on that date unless you change or cancel it. An email reminder will be sent a few days prior to that payment coming out.  Cancellations will receive refunds according to the schedule below:

• Cancel by October 31: Full refund minus $50.
• Cancel between November 1-December 31: $500 penalty applies
• After December 31: $1000 penalty applies
• If a waitlist exists and a replacement traveler is found, only a $50 penalty will be assessed regardless of cancellation date.

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 our recommended partner Trip Mate (link coming soon) or another vendor of your choosing.  

Confirmed passengers will receive a communication in early February that will provide a passenger list, packing suggestions, a “final” itinerary, parking/pickup instructions, etc.  

Welcome to the sunny Southwest. Upon arrival (ideally before 4), we will transport you to the Legacy Golf Resort and check you in to your condo for the first of your 7-night stay. Feel free to test out the pool, hot tub, or other resort amenities. Dinner, opening devotion, a mini-mixer, and a run to the local grocery store are the only plans for the day.

We'll begin our week with the Word of the Lord and with our fellow faith family members at Emanuel, Tempe. Our afternoon plan includes a picnic in Papago Park, a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden, and time to shop, stroll, and dine in sensational Scottsdale.

Today we day trip north to view the red rock formations in stunning Sedona. Planned stops include Chapel of the Holy Cross, an optional 1-mile hike to "Seven Sacred Pools", lunch/shopping downtown, and a visit to Montezuma's Castle National Monument where we will view a well-preserved cliff dwelling.

Today we'll slow down to enjoy the amenities of the beautiful Legacy Golf Resort. Options for those who want to get out and about include golf at the resort ($135 for 18 with your own clubs), a morning hike at nearby South Mountain, another grocery store run, lunch at The Farm, or an afternoon Spring Training Cubs vs Pirates split-squad game at Sloan Park. Tonight's dining options include the onsite restaurant or fine dining with a sunset view at Top of the Rock.

A day trip to the east takes us to Canyon Lake and the Superstition Mountains. A lunch visit to the tourist-trap Tortilla Flat Saloon precedes our Dolly Steamboat scenic wildlife cruise. Keep your eyes peeled for Bald Eagles and Mountain Goats. Making our way back west, we'll make two stops in Mesa for Ash Wednesday worship at Pilgrim Lutheran and dinner at Organ Stop Pizza.

Today is a second day of enjoying our resort amenities such as pickleball, pool/hot tub, shuffleboard, fitness center, and more (golf not available today). Additional options for those wanting to get out and about include a final market run, another AM South Mountain hike, a late afternoon tour of Arizona Lutheran Academy, and a Brewers vs A's evening ballgame at American Family Field of Phoenix. 

Our final day trip takes us south to Tucson where scenic drives (Mt Lemmon, Gates Pass), an amazing oasis (Aqua Caliente), a national park (Saguaro), "breakfast lunch", and some amazing cookies serve as our final day's highlights.  Our dinner plan includes an option to try Rattlesnake (or a steak) while enjoying a sunset from the hillside Rustler's Rooste. 

After a week of enjoying some sunshine, warm(er) weather, WELS worship, and amazing aspects of God's creation, we'll say goodbye to our new friends and head home. Schedule your flight out any time today and we will make sure to get you to PHX with at least 2 hours to spare.