Discover the energy and history of America’s most iconic cities on this 11-day adventure through New York, Chicago, and the heartland in between. From powerful landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Memorial to unique stops such as Bicycle Heaven, Hershey’s Chocolate Lab, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, each day brings something memorable. Guests will enjoy a balance of big-city excitement, scenic countryside travel, and special museum visits along the way. It’s a warm, engaging tour perfect for travelers who enjoy culture, history, and unforgettable stories.
• Sept 1 – Sept 11, 2026
We’re traveling from Missouri to Terre Haute, IN today. It’s a laid-back travel day, perfect for napping, snacking, or swapping stories with your seatmate as we roll through the heartland.
Today we head to Indianapolis where we’ll visit the Indiana War Memorial, a museum filled with American military history from the Revolutionary War to now. Then it’s off to Zanesville, OH, where we’ll have dinner in the German Village before settling in at our hotel.
Still have that old bike from days gone by? Today we stop at Bicycle Heaven in Pittsburgh, PA. There we’ll see over 4,000 vintage to new bicycles, plus a collection of memorabilia and theme bikes. We’ll also visit Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, one of the nation’s oldest Victorian greenhouses. This afternoon, we’ll drive to the “Sweetest Place on Earth”—Hershey, PA.
This morning we’ll tour the Hershey Museum, The Chocolate Lab, and make our own candy bar. Afterwards, we’ll head to Philadelphia, PA for a tour of this historic city.
New York City currently houses 8.4 million people distributed over a land area of 305 square miles. We’ll spend the next two days on a guided tour seeing and doing as much as we can in this amazing city! We’ll see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and go to the top of One World Trade Center. We’ll go into Central Park for a short while but spend quite a bit of time at the 9/11 Memorial. We’ll also drive through Times Square, Rockefeller Center, where they film the Today Show, see Madison Square Garden, Wall Street, and Broadway. So much to do and see… these two days are packed with excitement!
We say goodbye to NY and cruise through beautiful Pennsylvania to our hotel in Clearfield. Along the way, we will stop at a winery for a little sampling of the wares.
We’re headed to Toledo, OH. Along the way we’ll stop in Cleveland to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, which is dedicated to the celebration and preservation of rock and roll music from the 50s through today.
Chicago is big and bold. You’ll have the option to tour the city via double-decker bus or the downtown area on a riverboat. We’ll visit the famous Navy Pier for their shops and dinner. We’ll spend tonight just outside Chicago.
This morning we’ll visit the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum in Pontiac, IL. You’ll see several icons of Route 66 and a lot of military history. We’ll take a group picture in front of the world’s largest Route 66 mural. This afternoon, we tour the Caterpillar Museum in Peoria, IL. This is a special place for anybody who’s ever operated heavy machinery.
As we make our way back to Missouri, we carry memories from the bright lights of New York City, the bold skyline of Chicago, and the legendary sounds of Rock & Roll. It’s been a whirlwind journey of iconic cities, rich history, and unforgettable music—but there’s no place like home.
These cross country trips are designed so that you can see and do a lot of things in a relatively short time. We use custom built full size touring coaches which are designed to accommodate 22 passengers very comfortably with a lot of special amenities. Some of these amenities include card tables for the avid players, a kitchen, wi-fi, 110 volt outlets, and a couch in the back. Just being able to get up and walk around or lie down and take a nap is a great advantage. We also prepare hot lunches on board and carry our own tables and chairs so we can have picnics at some of the most beautiful places in America. The idea is to create a “family” atmosphere which is easy to do with so few people on each tour. These are not ordinary bus trips.
On all the trips, except those with special exclusions, we have vans pick up passengers within 130 travel miles of Rolla and then meet up with the motorcoach to head out toward the destination (see next section for more details). Each day we will typically see or do one thing in the morning and then another in the afternoon. Since there is so much to see and do, we usually depart by 8:00 am and arrive at our destination city around 6:00 pm that evening. Dinner is on your own; however, we will drive to a neighborhood restaurant if there’s not one very near the hotel. On the last day, we arrive back in Missouri in the late afternoon. If we picked you up, we will take you back home, and everyone else will go to Rolla to get their car.
The price of each trip includes the motorcoach, lodging, hotel breakfasts, lunches and the cost of all venues shown. It also includes the shuttle to and from your home if you live within 130 travel miles from Rolla (if there are several people at the same location, this 130 mile criteria will be extended). Everyone living outside the 130 miles receive a $100 discount. If you live inside 130 miles and choose to drive to Rolla, you will receive a $50 discount.
The price is based on two persons per room. If four people share a room, the price will be reduced by the cost of the saved room divided by four. If you would like your own room, please call our office for a quote. To reserve a seat, you must send a $200 deposit per person. The remainder is due 45 days prior to the trip. The price does not include gratuity for the driver and hostess.
If you cancel more than 45 days prior to the beginning of the trip, you will receive back all but a $50 per person processing fee and any credit card fees that may apply. If you cancel between 45 and 15 days prior, you will receive a 50% refund. If we are able to fill the spot you vacated, you will receive back all of your money except credit card and processing fees. If you have to cancel less than 15 days prior or have to leave during the trip, you will receive a refund of any hotel costs and venues we are able to cancel. If you want a cancellation waiver to cover the potential loss if you have to cancel inside of 45 days, the cost is $100 per person (or $75 for the 5/6 day tours). Our cancellation waiver provides no coverage once the trip begins. If you have previously been on 5 or more of our tours, you will receive the cancellation waiver at no cost.
**Itineraries and arranged sightseeing are subject to change at any time due to circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to operate tours as planned, but alterations may occur after the itinerary has been published.**