Day Trips and Tours
The City offers a variety of day trips and tours throughout the year. Escorted trips include motorcoach transportation, admission to the scheduled activities and planned stops at restaurants or enroute snacks (dining may or may not be included in the fee). Some tours are narrated. All tours meet in the west parking lot at City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd. Following is a list of upcoming motorcoach tours that the Rec-Plex has scheduled. For more information on current tours, call 636.939.2386, ext. 1400, or visit Rec-Connect and sign up now.
Upcoming Day Trips & Tours:
2012
ANGELS AND DEMONS
Tuesday, March 20
$70/person
If you don't think St. Louis has its share of angels and demons, then you need to be on today's trip. Guide Linda Koenig will share stories of local haunting, unusual happenings, miracles, and even a real-life exorcism. We'll learn the history of some superstitions, familiar sayings and customs on this super-natural day. Stops will be at the Shrine of St. Joseph, St. John the Apostle, the College Church, the Pink Sisters, and Bellefontaine and Calvary Cemetery and lunch at the Bissell Mansion.
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PADUCAH QUILT TOUR
Thursday, April 26
$65/person
Join us for a motor coach trip to Paducah, Kentucky to visit the 27th annual AQS Quilt Show. Come and be inspired by hundreds of exquisitely crafted traditional and art quilts. Shop until you drop visiting vendors that have the latest quilt making equipment, supplies, quilts, notions and curiosities. Spend the entire day on your own, moving at your own pace through Paducah Expo Center, Julian Carroll Convention Center and the new AQS Pavilion. Food vendors are on site, or catch a bite to eat at one of the quaint restaurants located in downtown Paducah. Let us do the driving while you read, nap or visit with others! The bus will leave the west side of City Hall at 5:30 a.m. and return by 10:30 p.m. we’ll make one stop each way for a break and snack. Fee includes transportation, gratuity, a program and admission to the show. Lots of walking! Meals are not provided.
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AMISH QUILT FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 28
$82/person Arthur's
annual Quilt Fest is not just Amish. We’ll also see quilts made by
local residents and their ancestors. We can spend whatever time we want
at the quilt show, and then stroll along Arthur's main street for a
little shopping. For quilters, THE STITCH and SEW shop is a must. Other
shops in the two-block downtown offer a variety of goods.
We'll
take a guided tour of Amish country. As we drive, we'll watch for
buggies on the roads, clothes on the line, home gardens, and Amish
farmers in the fields. Beachy's Amish Grocery is the place to stock up
on spices, jams, noodles, cheese, and bulk food items to take home. The
in-store bakery has fresh baked goodies every day. Check out the store
skylights and other ways the Amish avoid using electricity. We’ll have
a meal in an Amish home. Our meal will consist of salad, bread and
homemade jam, potatoes and gravy, chicken, vegetables and drink. The lady of the house will allow us to visit each
room in her beautiful home. She will share with us her kitchen
appliances, lights, and variety of other conveniences that are
different from those most of us use. Check out the quilt on the beds,
and also the one in the frame. Our host will also explain about church
services held in Amish homes. We’ll conclude our visit to the Amish
Quilt Day by visiting Melrose Quilts.
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WARM SPRINGS CLYDESDALE RANCH AND BOONVILLE
Monday, May 21
$80/person
Enjoy a wonderful hour and a half visiting with the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales at their new breeding farm near Boonville, MO. At the Warm Springs Ranch we’ll learn all about the horses, and get close and friendly with the young colts. This is an exceptional educational and warm experience. The Boonville Methodist Church ladies will treat us to a delicious lunch. We’ll take a guided tour of Boonville Civil War sites, visit the old jail, and learn about the important Battle of Boonville. We’ll enjoy a favorite I 70 stop, Crane's Country Store, to shop for jams and to treat yourself to ice cream.
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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE AND ECKERTS
Thursday, June 21 CANCELED! See new tour added Sept. 15.
$69/person
Visit Scott Air Force Base, near Belleville, IL. Scott AFB occupies nearly 4000 acres and is home to almost 10,000 military and civilian personnel. The base serves as the center of the US Air Force Mobility Command. We’ll be given an interesting tour of the base, after which we’ll enjoy lunch at the Scott Officers' Club. We'll spend the afternoon visiting Eckert's Country Store and Farms. We'll be treated to a lively cooking demonstration, and then an interesting container gardening demonstration. Afterwards, there will be plenty of time to shop for baked goods, jams and other treats in the store, and beautiful plants in the garden center. Hopefully we'll be at Eckert's at the height of the fresh strawberry, asparagus and rhubarb season. It's always the season for ice cream at Eckert's ice cream stand.
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FAIR ST. LOUIS 
July 4
$72/person
Join us for easy access to all the festivities at Fair St. Louis. Indulge in a special dinner buffet in the "cool comforts" of the Crowne Plaza - St. Louis Hotel. Adults 21 & older have the opportunity to visit Lumiere Place casino from 2-4 p.m. and then join the rest of the group. Play games such as bingo and trivia when you want to "cool your heels" inside! Cap off the evening with dessert while enjoying the fireworks. This is a non-narrated tour. Walking is required if you plan to visit the Fair. (Twenty-guest minimum required for Lumiere Place.)
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THE CIVIL WAR COMES TO THE ST. LOUIS AREA
Tuesday, July 24
$75/person
Missouri ranked third in the number of Civil War battles and skirmishes, behind Virginia and Tennessee. Learn about Missouri's Civil War history, and view many artifacts at the exceptional Civil War special exhibit at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park. Enjoy a visit to the Hanley House in Clayton. This beautifully restored big farmhouse was once home to the family that owned much of what is now Clayton, MO. Some good Civil War stories here. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the DeMenil Mansion. The DeMenils were Confederate sympathizers, located just across the street from the Union Arsenal. Drive by Lyon Park to view the two monuments to General Nathaniel Lyon followed by a visit to Whitehaven, home for a time to Ulysses and Julia Dent Grant.
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ROUTE 66 AND THE CARLINVILLE SEARS HOUSES 
Tuesday, Aug. 7
$65/person
Enjoy a trip along one of the finest remaining stretches of historic Route 66, between Staunton and Litchfield, IL. Each year thousands of visitors from all over the world drive this route, stopping to visit some of the sites in the "real" American heartland. We’ll experience the drive and sites of that same piece of "The Mother Road." First stop at Henry's Rabbit Ranch to see Rich's collection of Route 66 artifacts. He has a real rabbits and Volkswagen Rabbits there. Next we'll stop at Country Classic Cars to stroll through some of the hundred of classic cars for sale. Some cars date back to 1910. We’ll visit the Mother Jones Monument in Mt. Olive, and learn about her efforts on behalf of the miners around the 20th Century. We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by the Carlinville united Methodist Church ladies. Carlinville is home to one of the largest collection of Sears Roebuck houses in the US. Laurie Flori, who has written a beautiful book about the houses, will take us on a driving tour of the houses, and welcome us into her own Sears home.
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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE AIR SHOW, ECKERTS & CAHOKIA MOUNDS
Sat., Sept. 15 • 8:45 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
$40/person
Enjoy the bi-annual Scott Air Force Base Air Show. Thrill to the US Air Force Thunderbirds performance at this major
US military air show. Examine several US military aircraft close-up, visit with the pilots and tour inside some of the aircraft. Enjoy lunch on your own at any of the many food stands. Bring a folding chair, if you intend to watch some of the show while sitting.
Enjoy a stop at Eckert's Country Store for some early fall apple shopping, and to treat yourself at their ice cream stand.
We'll visit the excellent interpretive center and grounds at Cahokia Mounds, one of the very few World Heritage sites in America. The Mississippians built nearly 140 mounds on this site. 63 remain, including Monk's Mound, over 100 feet tall.
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SMASH, SCHNITZEL AND S'MORE
Thursday, Sept. 20
$75/person
Enjoy a most interesting tour of the Bussen Quarries, Inc. In business since 1882 near the Jefferson Barrack Bridge, Bussen is one of the largest crushed stone producers in the Midwest. Mark Bussen will drive us through the quarries, and will also show us their barge terminal on the river, and some of the 140,000 square feet of climate controlled underground storage facilities. We’ll visit the Monroe County Museum in Waterloo IL, and the historic Bellefontaine home and property. Enjoy a delicious meal at the Dreamland Palace in Foster pond, IL. We’ll take a drive through old and new Valmeyer on our way to the quaint German town of Maeystown. This National Historic Register town, nestled among three creeks, sports a restored historic mill, bridge, church, inns and more.
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HISTORIC NAUVOO, IL
Monday, Oct. 22
$65/person
We will visit LDS Visitors' Center and enjoy the beautiful sculpture garden. Take a narrated wagon ride through the countryside to the Mississippi River overlook and back. Bonnie Trapp will cater lunch. We’ll spend the next two hours touring one of America's finest historic preservation sites. Nauvoo was the religious, governmental, and cultural center on the LDS (Mormon) Church from 1839 to 1846. Settled by Joseph Smith and his followers. Nauvoo is situated in a beautiful setting on the Mississippi river.
The historic sites have been authentically restored. We’ll view the restored temple, and will pay visits to the blacksmith shop, brickyard, Browning Gun Shop, Bakery, print shop, post office, general store and Joseph Smith home. Each site has expert guides who tell wonderful stories about life in Nauvoo in the mid 1800's. Pay a brief visit to Baxter Winery, the oldest winery in IL. View early winemaking equipment and sample some of the winery's excellent wines.
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HOLIDAY TEA WITH SIR WINSTON
Thursday, Nov. 8
$65/person
We will stop along the way vat the I70 Kingdom City rest stop to view the bronze Missouri Fire Fighters' Memorial, identical to the one donated to New York City after Sept 11 terrorist attack. Lunch will be buffet selection at Westminster College, Fulton. Visit the 12th Century church, redesigned by Christopher Wren in 1677, left in ruin by a German bomb during WWII. Rebuilt on the campus of Westminster College in Fulton, it serves as a reminder of Winston Churchill's visit to the college and his prophetic "Iron Curtain" speech. Under church we’ll visit the museum, which today is filled with priceless treasury of artifacts and information relating to life and times of Sir Winston Churchill. We’ll also see the sculpture celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall, created from eight massive sections of the actual Berlin Wall. As a special treat, we'll be invited to attend the Memorial's Victorian Christmas Celebration and Kettledrum Tea.
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AMBASSADORS OF HARMONY AND OUR LADY OF SNOWS 
Sunday, Dec.9
$95/person
Ambassador of Harmony Holiday Concert at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. The St. Charles based Ambassador of Harmony won the International Chorus Championship in California, achieving the highest score ever recorded. The 157-member barbershop harmony style group has an extensive a cappella repertoire, including contemporary, Broadway, gospel, folk, and light Jazz. We’ll have lunch at the "Way of Lights Buffet" at The Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows near Belleville, IL. then visit the Christmas Tree exhibit and the large gift shop. Aftwards, we’ll tour the Shrine's millions of holiday lights in “The Way of Lights” display.
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HISTORIC HOLIDAY HOMES AND LIGHTS 
Wednesday, Dec. 12
$80/person
Our first visit is to the magnificent Greek Revival home known as Mudd's Grove in Kirkwood. Decorated for the holiday. Next we’ll tour the exquisite holiday decorate Sappington House. Built in 1808, by Thomas Sappington for his bride. In Webster Groves we’ll visit Hawken House. Built in 1857 with slave labor, the Federal style home was the first home in Missouri to receive federal funds for restoration. Enjoy a delicious dinner at the historic Soulard's Restaurant. Drive through St. Louis County's biggest and best holiday lights display...Tilles Park. Enjoy a driving tour of the holiday-lighted St. Louis Market Street, the Anheuser Busch Brewery and Lafayette Square.
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For more information on current tours call 636.939.2386, ext. 1400, or visit Rec-Connect and sign up now.