Volume 2 Issue 3

ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Opportunities like The Grand Excursion Steamboat Flotilla and The Lewis & Clark Bicentennial come along. They allow us to relive a part of the history that made this nation so great. Will you be able to say, “I was there?” Read all about these and other events in Explore Minnesota, the AAA Magazine or request a number of books currently available at the Library. Join us and explore “off the beaten path” in the Mill City Series, book a festival or two or ride on Pioneer’s beautiful Vanhool Motorcoaches as they traverse Midwest Scenic Byways & State Parks “Traveling by Design.”

Grand Excursion 2004 celebrates the renaissance of the upper Mississippi River region and builds upon the original Grand Excursion of 1854, a celebration and journey that brought world-wide attention to what was then America’s wild, western frontier. Throughout 2004, the 50 plus communities along 400 miles of the upper Mississippi invite the world to celebrations, educational events, enhanced recreation opportunities, and cultural programs. The signature event of Grand Excursion 2004 is the Grand Flotilla, the largest steamboat flotilla in 100 years, that will journey through four states, from the Quad Cities to the Twin Cities from June 25 – July 5, 2004. Please Note: Reservation deadlines have been extended at this time for our reserved Riverboat seating. Reservations need to be made A.S.A.P.

Grand Excursion I
Fri. & Sat. July 2&3, 2004
$199 qd $209 tpl $219 dbl $259 sgl

                                          * River Place Guided Walk
                                          * Mississippi River Exhibits
                                          * “The Grand to Great Tour”
                                          * 6 hour Cruise on the Celebration Belle Riverboat in the Grand 
                                             Flotilla entry to the Twin Cities
                                          * Taste of Minnesota

Grand Excursion II
Sat. & Sun. July 3 & 4, 2004
$189 qd $199 tpl $209 dbl $249 sgl

                                          * Mississippi River Exhibits
                                          * Reserved river seating for the entry of the Grand Flotilla 
                                             Riverboats
                                          * Grand Excursion Musical Review
                                          * “The Grand to Great Tour”
                                          * 2 hour Lunch Cruise on the Spirit of Peoria Riverboat
                                          * Taste of Minnesota

Grand Excursion III
Sun. July 4, 2004 $89

                                          * Grand Excursion Musical Review
                                          * Harbor Cruise on the Julia Belle Swain Riverboat
                                          * Taste of Minnesota

Madison County Quilt Quest & Shop Hop
Thurs. & Fri. May 13-14, 2004
$139 qd $149 tpl $159 dbl $199 sgl

                                         * Tour Bridges of Madison County
                                         * Fons & Porter Quilt Supply Store
                                                      * Fons & Porter- featured speakers at dinner
                                                      * Prairie Star Quilts – in top 10 US Quilt Shops
                                                                       Deadline: 4-28-04

     This afternoon, just outside Winterset, we’ll stop at Howell’s Dried Floral Farm housed in a 1910 barn. Erin’s Rose Gift Shop consumes the first floor. When we arrive in Winterset we’ll be meeting our step-on-guide who will join us for a 1 ½ hour tour of the famous covered bridges of Madison County.
     At five o’clock we’ll enjoy dinner and a unique time with Fons & Porter, the hosts of America’s number one quilting television program and editors of the Love of Quilting. They will be the featured speakers and will be answering questions following their presentation.
      After dinner we’ll have time for a leisurely visit to The Historical Complex with its wonderful Collection of Antique Quilts. On day two we’ll be the first shoppers of the day at Fons & Porter’s Quilt Supply in Winterset. They are opening early just for us! Our shop hop will then continue to Elk Horn, Iowa, home of Prairie Star Quilts, ranked among the top ten “Best Quilt Shops” by Better Homes & Gardens.

Call the Prairie Star Quilt Guild at 507-728-8489 to spend June 12th at the State Quilt Show!

Lewis & Clark Bicentennial - Omaha, NE
Sat. - Mon. July 31 - Aug. 2
                                       * Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
                                       * I-Max Theater “Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West”
                                       * Boxed lunch cruise aboard the River City Star on the Missouri River
                                       * Fort Atkinson State Historical Park “Living History Day”
                                       * Loess Hills Scenic Byway

Don’t Miss It!
 Gardeners’ Delight
MN Landscape Arboretum in Chaska
 Sat. April 10, 2004 $39

                                                     * 2004 Plant Information Fair
                                                     * FREE half-hour classes from 10am-3pm
                                                     * Plant experts available to answer gardening questions and 
                                                        to share information
                                                     * Flower pot lunch

Reliving History
Let’s tour with Martin County Historical Society!
Tues. May 11 Only $39

                                             * MN History Center
                                             * Science Museum’s Omni Theater “Lewis & Clark: Great 
                                                Journey West”

Mill City Series
50th & France Historic Neighborhood
Sat. April 24, 2004 $39

                                     * Blocks of Boutiques/charming streets
                                     * Fashion Avenue – best upscale used clothing store in Minnesota
                                     * Crate & Barrel
                                     * Pottery Barn

Uptown Art Festival
Sat. Aug. 7
 Leave the Parking to us!

Riverfront District
Fall Foliage
Sun. Oct. 3

                                    * Fall color cruise on Harriet Bishop Riverboat
                                    * Optional Guided walking tour

Tulip Festival
Orange City, Iowa
 Sat. May 22, 2004 $61

                       * Guided Tulip Tour
                       * Dutch cuisine lunch
                       * Reserved seating for the Street Fest, Street Scrubbing and 
                          Volksparade
                       * Free time
                                                         Deadline: 5-14-04

Danish Tivoli Fest
Fri. & Sat. May 28 & 29, 2004
$132 qd $140 tpl $152 dbl $193 sgl

We’ll start our exploration of ethnic groups with a visit to the German Hausbarn, (house and barn in one building) brought into the US from Germany. This evening we’ll experience the Danish heritage with a traditional Danish Feast in a historic Danish Church. Day two we’ll be on our way to the Danish Tivoli Festival in Elk Horn where we’ll be touring their Danish Windmill, built in Denmark in 1848, dismantled, shipped to Elk Horn, and reconstructed. It’s America’s only authentic working Danish windmill. The rest of the day will be yours to experience the Scandinavian traditions and Danish heritage at the Tivoli Festival.

                                        * German Hausbarn
                                        * Western Skies Scenic Byway
                                        * Danish Feast in Heritage Danish Church
                                        * Danish Tivoli Festival in Elk Horn, IA
                                                                Deadline: 4-14-04

Grant Wood Scenic Byway & Festival
Sat & Sun, June 12 & 13, 2004

The Grant Wood Scenic Byway in Eastern Iowa allows us to experience the world of one of America’s most notable artists. Grant Wood painted the people and the landscape of the state that he loved. One of his most famous paintings is American Gothic depicting a stoic farmer next to his daughter with a pitchfork in hand. After making the loop on the scenic byway we’ll end up in Maquoketa, a small town filled with main street charm, antique treasures, art galleries, historic homes and friendly folk. After breakfast on own, we’ll depart for Anamosa, Grant Wood’s home, and home of the 32nd Grant Wood Art Festival, honoring its native son. His artwork depicts the genuine human character of the Midwest. “A true art expression,” he wrote, “must grow up from the soil itself.” After leaving the Festival we’ll be stopping in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to view many of Grant Wood’s original paintings at the Museum of Art and also to see the large stained glass window, Veterans of All Wars Memorial Window, which Wood designed for the Veterans’ Memorial Building.

                                       * Step-on guided tour of Grant Wood Scenic Byway
                                       * Tabor Home Vineyards
                                       * Potter’s Mill
                                       * Grant Wood Art Festival
                                       * Veterans of All Wars Memorial Window
                                                     Deadline: 5-28-04

Flint Hills International Children’s Festival
Grandparent/Grandchild or Parent/Child
Sat. June 5

                    * New Shanghai Circus - Ordway
                                               * World Party in Rive Park Inc. free stage 
                                                  performance, activity tents, professional sand 
                                                  artists, 15 ton Sand Castle, Food vendors

Itasca State Park
Concordia Language Village’s International Day (golf option)
Aug. 12-14

Traveling off the Beaten Path

Three Picturesque Scenic Byways - Autumn Colors Redwing & Lanesboro
Sun. Mon. Oct. 10 & 11

                                 * MN & WI Great River Roads
                                 * Historic Bluff Country
                                 * Fall Arts Fest
                                 * Woodcarvers’ Show
                                 * Accommodations: Treasure Island

Hjemkomst Festival - Moorhead, MN
Sat. & Sun., June 26 & 27, 2004
qd $149, tpl $159, dbl $169, sgl $209

                       * Scandinavian Festival
                             * Viking Shop Hjemkomst
                             * Ethnic entertainment
                             * Genealogy Research Center
                                             * Norwegian Stave Church
                                             * S.S. Ruby Pontoon
                                             * Runestone Museum
                                             Deadline: May 26, 2004

Q&A

Why Do I have to make my tour reservation so early? Due to cancellation deadlines for hotels or reserved seating such as riverboats or theaters, PTT must decide if a tour is a go or not based upon the number of paid passengers registered with our Travel Club Marketing Partners listed above. Unfortunately enough calls are being received after tour deadlines that many tours would have been a go. Help us out!