Texas – The Lone Star Loop
NOVEMBER 10-23, 2024
From the remote mountains of Big Bend to the dense forests of the Piney Woods, and the warm waters of the Gulf Coast to the refreshing river of the Hill Country, Texas boasts an enticing array of landscapes to explore. As any longtime Texan will tell you, there is no better way to experience the vastness and diversity of the state than to let your tour planner show you “The Lone Star State.” Encompassing 254 counties and 268,597 square miles, the second-largest state in the country offers a seemingly endless number of routes and things to see and do. Opportunities for adventure abound; we will be inspired by the open road as we venture across Texas. Texas is home to five of the country’s 15 largest cities. The beauty of each - much like Texas as a whole - is their uniqueness. From the cattle drives in Fort Worth to the historic San Antonio Missions to one of the most culturally diverse urban areas in the country in Houston.
Highlights:
Will Rogers Memorial Museum
Oklahoma City Tour & National Monument
National Cowboy Museum
Fort Worth Stockyards & Cattle Drive
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame
Dr. Pepper Museum
The Alamo King Ranch Tour & Lunch
Corpus Christi Dolphin Watch Cruise
Offatts Bayou Boat Tour
Moody Gardens - Galveston Island
NASA Johnson Space Center
Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
Elvis Presley’s Graceland
San Antonio City Tour & Riverwalk
Memphis City Tour
East Texas Oil Museum
And So Much More!
DOUBLE: $3,299/EACH
SINGLE: $3,989/EACH
Day 2 - Monday November 11, 2024
Our route continues southwest through Missouri and into Oklahoma. After lunch, we tour the Will Rogers Memorial Museum near Tulsa. Dioramas highlight Rogers’ life and various stints as a rodeo performer, vaudeville sensation, columnist, author, and star of some 70 films. Next, we will drive into Tulsa and visit Oral Roberts University. From the observation deck atop the 200' glass and steel Prayer Tower the view of the campus and surrounding area is fabulous. We continue to Oklahoma City and our hotel for the evening.
Day 4 - Wednesday November 13, 2024
Rise and shine! It is time for our first full day of Texan fun. We begin our day with a guided tour of Dallas with a local expert. They will show us all the famous landmarks and share insightful stories about the city’s history. Dallas is known for its progressive architecture, giving its skyline a recognizable image, but it’s also surrounded by historic districts that have been transformed into entertainment, dining, and retail areas. After lunch, it’s on to the Sixth Floor Museum and Dealey Plaza. President John F. Kennedy’s life, death, and legacy are chronicled at the site of his assassination. From Dallas, we drive the short distance to the rugged cowtown of Ft. Worth and the Stockyards National Historic District. Galleries, restaurants, and shops occupy many of the preserved stockyard structures. Take a step back in time and watch as cowboys drive the famous longhorn cattle through the stockyards. Dinner and local entertainment will round out our night in Ft. Worth.
Day 6 - Friday November 15, 2024
Another day dawns in Texas as we board our coach and head to the capital of Texas - Austin. A local guide will take us on a tour of the city, and we will gather on the steps of the Texas State Capitol building for a photo. We will enjoy lunch before our next stop - The Alamo! See sites depicting the unique history and culture of the area. Enjoy an IMAX documentary about the location before our guided tour. Our hotel tonight is in San Antonio. Take the evening to explore the city and enjoy the Riverwalk.
Day 8 - Sunday November 17, 2024
We say “Adios” to San Antonio and go towards Corpus Christi. This morning, we explore King Ranch near Kingsville. The ranch covers 825,000 acres of protected habitat, is one of the largest privately-owned ranches, and is recorded in the National Register as the “Birthplace of American Ranching.” A BBQ luncheon is on the menu for this afternoon. Upon arrival in Corpus Christi, we have free time to check out the shops along the waterfront before we board a vessel for a dolphin watch cruise. Keep your eyes open for these delightful sea mammals, sea birds, and the stunning views of Lydia Ann Lighthouse.
Day 10 - November 19, 2024
This morning we meet a local guide for a tour of Houston, the 4th largest city in the US. Highlights include the Chase Tower, The Galleria, the museum district, elegant River Oaks, and more. Then we’re off to Galveston, a 19th-century Victorian community located on Galveston Island, a barrier island, 2 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. Our first stop is Moody Gardens which includes a 12-story aquarium containing marine life from several of earth’s oceans, and the Rainforest Pyramid containing streams, waterfalls, a Mayan colonnade, exotic plants, tropical fish, and birds of the rainforests of Africa, Asia, and South America. Then we will board the Colonel, a 3-deck paddlewheel boat for a sightseeing cruise of Offatts Bayou. We will head into downtown Galveston for some free time to browse through shops before returning to Houston.
Day 12 - November 21, 2024
This morning we drive through southwestern Arkansas to Little Rock and stop at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. We will also stop at the Arkansas State Capitol while in Little Rock - making this our third photo op at a state capitol during this tour! From Little Rock, we will travel near Memphis, TN for our overnight accommodations. Dinner and evening entertainment are included tonight.
Day 14 - November 23, 2024
Our trip to the Lone Star State comes to an end as we travel through Illinois, returning to Wisconsin with memories of the changing scenery and diverse cultures we found in Texas. So much great food, wonderful sights, and new friends made.
Day 1 - Sunday November 10, 2024
Today we will join our friends from Personalized Tours in St. Louis and prepare for our first overnight in Springfield, MO.
Day 3 - Tuesday November 12, 2024
The day begins with a tour of Oklahoma City as a local guide shows us the sights including the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The memorial was built in remembrance of the victims, survivors, and rescuers of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing on April 19, 1995. Next is the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. After lunch, a docent escorts us through this 32-acre memorial to our Western pioneers. It contains an extensive collection of art, historic artifacts, and exhibits about American Indian and pioneer life in a realistic setting. From Oklahoma City, our coach takes us South into Texas. We will stay in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for two nights. Dinner tonight is at the World’s Largest Honky Tonk - Billy Bob’s Texas!
Day 5 - Thursday November 14, 2024
Today it’s on to Waco, a crossroads of trade and travel located halfway between Dallas and Austin. A quick pit stop may include the Dr. Pepper Museum, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, or spend some time at the famous Magnolia Market hoping to see Chip or JoJo. Lunch will be at the historic Magnolia Table. A stop the Cowboy Hall of Fame will round out our day in Waco. The evening will be yours to continue exploring and find a local bite to eat for dinner.
Day 7 - Saturday November 16, 2024
First on our agenda today is a tour of San Antonio. Our local guide will show us the sites depicting the unique history and culture of this interesting city. A stop at the Tower of the Americas gives us an interesting perspective. This 750-foot observation desk is in southwest San Antonio and was once the tallest observation deck in America. For lunch, we head to the famous Buckhorn Saloon and Museum. We will take a tour of this unique dining location before sitting down for a classic Texan meal. The rest of the day is yours to explore!
Day 9 - Monday November 18, 2024
Houston is our destination today. Early afternoon finds us at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Space Center Houston, the official visitor center tells the story of America’s manned space flight program through historic artifacts, hands-on exhibits, live presentations, and behind-the-scenes tours. Try on a space helmet, touch a moon rock, climb aboard computer simulators to retrieve a satellite, land the space shuttle, and walk on the moon. Take the tram tour to Johnson Space Center and stop at Mission Control, the Space Shuttle Training Facility, and other NASA laboratories. Houston is our home for the next two nights.
Day 11 - November 20, 2024
Today we say goodbye to the Lone Star State and begin our northerly trek. In Kilgore, we will visit the East Texas Oil Museum. A photo stop will be made as we hit Texarkana. Our route takes us through Eastern, TX, to Hope, Arkansas, and our overnight accommodations.
Day 13 - November 22, 2024
This morning we drive through southwestern Arkansas to Little Rock and stop at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. We will also stop at the Arkansas State Capitol while in Little Rock - making this our third photo op at a state capitol during this tour! From Little Rock, we will travel near Memphis, TN for our overnight accommodations. Dinner and evening entertainment are included tonight.