DAY 1 – Saturday – June 15, 2024 – Hannibal, MO  

 Welcome Aboard! This morning we’ll travel to the hometown of Mark Twain where we’ll enjoy an included lunch and a chance to sample their wine at the Cave Hollow Winery.  We’ll also enjoy a live performance “Mark Twain Live," at the Mark Twain Complex. Following lunch, we have included a Trolly Tour of Hannibal. See where Mark Twain grew up and learn how a young boy growing up in the small village of Hannibal went on to become one of the world’s most beloved authors. Hear about other fascinating figures from Hannibal; the Unsinkable Molly Brown, Jiminy Cricket, and more. Sites you’ll see along your tour are the Mark Twain Boyhood Home where Sam Clemens grew up and where the real adventures of "Tom Sawyer" took place in a lovely garden flanked by a stone wall built by the WPA. You will also see Huckleberry Finn House - where the real Huck Finn grew up. Also, Becky Thatcher house - home of Laura Hawkins, the inspiration for Becky. High atop a rocky knoll in Hannibal, Missouri, sits an enormous house; a house constructed solely to fulfill a man's dream. That man, lumber baron, John J. Cruikshank, Jr., wanted a house to richly display the finest woods and furnishings money could buy, yet one that would emanate warmth and a feeling of quiet dignity. In 1900, after two years of construction, his dream became a reality. He and his family moved into the Mansion and resided there until his death in 1924. Overnight in Hannibal, MO. (Lunch and Dinner Included)

DAY 2 - Sunday – June 16, 2024 – St Louis, MO

Following breakfast we travel to St. Louis, famously referred to as the Gateway City. The city is typically associated with its 630-foot stainless steel monument, the Gateway Arch, which stands on the banks of the Mississippi River to symbolize the westward expansion of the United States. Founded by the National Park Service in 1935 to commemorate Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a transcontinental United States, the Gateway Arch National Park (formerly known as the “Jefferson National Expansion Memorial”) stretches from the Old Courthouse to the steps overlooking the Mississippi River. In between, the Gateway Arch rises high, a bold monument to the pioneering spirit. Today, the Gateway Arch celebrates the diverse people who shaped the region and the country. The dreamer, Thomas Jefferson, negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, doubling the size of the United States. The explorers, Lewis and Clark nd their Shoshone guide Sacagawea, scouted the new territory and mapped a route to the Pacific Ocean. The challengers, Dred and Harriet Scott, filed suit at the Old Courthouse for their freedom from slavery, and St. Louis suffragette Virginia Minor sued for women’s right to vote. The artist, architect Eero Saarinen, designed the monument that honors them all. Here you will board the 4-minute tram ride to the top of the Arch. At the top, discover breathtaking views up to 30 miles in all directions. Next, we will enjoy a luncheon cruise on the Mississippi River.  The riverboat is one of the best views of St. Louis' working riverfront, the Gateway Arch and the city skyline. This afternoon, we visit Grant's Farm, the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family. The farm is home to more than 900 animals representing more than 100 species from six continents. Grant's Farm, operated by Anheuser-Busch, Inc., has been a St. Louis tradition for more than five decades. The farm takes its name from our 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant. In the 1850s, Grant founded and farmed a portion of the 281 acres. Today, this land is preserved as a living symbol of the Busch family's love for animals and Anheuser-Busch's commitment to wildlife conservation and preservation. Overnight is at the Drury Inn in St Louis. (Breakfast, Lunch and Kick-Back Reception Included)

DAY 3 - Monday – June 17, 2024 – St Louis, MO

Following breakfast our local guide will share the sites of St Louis with us. Stops will be made at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. The Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis Completed in 1914, this stunning cathedral was designed to meet the grandeur of European cathedrals. It is known for its' beautiful interior mosaics, which took nearly 80 years to create using more than 41 million pieces of glass tesserae. The Cathedral is known for having one of the largest mosaic collections in the Western Hemisphere. Enjoy the beauty and wonder of this structure dubbed by locals as the "New Cathedral."

Swiss-American, Inc.

Did you know that hundreds of feet below the ground in Missouri, there are hundreds of thousands of pounds of American cheese. Deep in converted limestone mines, caves kept perfectly at 36 degrees Fahrenheit store stockpiles of government-owned cheese comprising the country's 1.4 billion pounds of surplus cheese. Cheese engages all the senses, and Swiss-American believes that an amazing specialty food deserves an equally compelling label. Swiss-American educates the public on the unique conditions that make the world’s best cheeses, starting with in-store packaging, informative displays, and engaging promotions. Focused on innovation, sustainability, and quality, Swiss-American, Inc. has been marketing domestic and imported cheeses, as well as other specialty foods for more than 70 years.  A nationwide distributor of hundreds of well-known brands, Swiss-American believes enjoying food is a celebration of our shared humanity. It is their privilege to help elevate those experiences with their cheese.

Anheuser-Busch

Nestled in the historic Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis, this largest and oldest brewery site was selected based on its access to the Mississippi River, the large presence of German immigrants in the 1800’s, and the natural cave formations that were used to store beer prior to artificial refrigeration. You will realize the vision that became one of the largest and oldest breweries in the nation. From the history-rich architecture - including three National Historic Landmarks - to cutting-edge brewing technology, you will witness first-hand the heritage and timeless tradition Anheuser-Busch employs to brew beer.  Explore the Anheuser-Busch brewery and learn why their beer is second to none. Ever dream about meeting a Clydesdale? This is your chance to get up-close and personal with the World-Renowned Budweiser Clydesdales. (Breakfast, Lunch and Kick-Back Reception Included)

DAY 4 - Tuesday – June 18, 2024 – St Louis, MO – Home

Following breakfast we make one more stop at the Saint Louis Zoo, built on the grounds of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (St. Louis World’s Fair) of 1904. About 3 million people visit the St Louis Zoo each year.  The Saint Louis Zoo provides first-rate care to over

16,000 animals at the Zoo, while also supporting wildlife around the world.  The days seem to go so fast and before we know it’s time to head back home with wonderful memories of our Cheese Churches and Cheers Tour. (Breakfast Included)