Father’s Day Baseball Lovers Tour of the Heartland! June 12-19, 2024

We recommend flying into Chicago Midway Airport.

Arrive on your own schedule and take the complimentary Airport Shuttle to Doubletree Chicago Alsip.

Depart for Ozinga Field where our group will have access to a private suite and enjoy an included buffet style dinner as we take in a baseball game as the Windy City Thunderbolts face off against the Evansville Otters.

Enjoy a guided behind the scenes tour at historic Wrigley Field to learn the legend and lore of America’s 2nd oldest ballpark exploring all corners of the stadium and even walk on the field!

You’ll then have lunchtime and early afternoon to enjoy at your leisure along the Magnificent Mile before embarking on Chicago’s famous and awe-inspiring architectural river cruise!

It’s then back to Wrigley Field for a night you’ll never forget at the Pirates vs. Cubs baseball game.

Today we’re going to be visiting one of the nation’s most famous artisans for crafting wooden bats, America’s own Homewood Bats!

After a fascinating factory tour and chance to try out their bats, it’s off to lunch to try one of Chicago’s famous deep dish pizzas at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria before departing for Davenport, IA.

On our way towards Iowa, tractor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to stop at the grand-daddy of them all, the John Deere Pavilion, a landmark that serves as the official visitors center for John Deere Tractors.

We will check-in at the Holiday Inn Express Rock Island and then head out for a night on the town to the Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse for dinner and Mamma Mia! The Musical.

Breakfast at the Hotel, Depart for Des Moines
Visit IOWA 80 - The World's Largest Truck Stop as featured on YouTube and The Travel Channel, and explore their legendary antique truck museum featuring some of the world’s most historic models of construction equipment, agricultural processing equipment, delivery trucks, and more!

We’ll be making a stop at one of the Midwest’s favorite lunch buffet restaurants and arrive in Des Moines later in the afternoon where we will check-in to the Holiday Inn Express Downtown for two nights.

After some free time to freshen up, we’ll be headed to Principal Park for some AAA baseball action as the Iowa Cubs face the Pittsburgh Pirate affiliate the Indianapolis Indians! A picnic dinner buffet is even included.

Breakfast at the Hotel, Sleep in or join us for the Sunday worship service at Eternity Church, one of Des Moines largest non-denominational churches. We will then pickup back at the hotel before departing for Omaha and the College World Series! Lunch will be in Council Bluffs, IA where you will have your choice of multiple restaurants. We will then have a guided bus tour of Omaha, home to famous investor and billionaire Warren Buffett. Learn about all of his favorite spots and what makes Omaha home to some of the best meat in the world. College baseball fans will also enjoy driving around the stadium during the actual College World Series getting to hear the lore and soak in the camaraderie without facing the crowds on foot.

Then it’s a great time to take a walk on the pedestrian bridge over the Missouri where you can literally get your photo straddling both Iowa and Nebraska during sunset! As dusk falls, we’ll return to Des Moines for some well deserved rest.

Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel, checkout, and then we will head to the DMARC Food Pantry for a service project packing food for the food impoverished! This will be a special time that you won’t forget as you learn about this organization’s mission and vision for affecting the region and the world!

Founded in 1952, DMARC leads interfaith dialogue and cooperation, responds to meet basic human needs and is at the forefront of community action and advocacy in Greater Des Moines for nearly six decades.

Depart for the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, IA and dine on a delicious boxed lunch en route while we watch the movie to refresh our memories of the film. You are about to step back in time and visit the farmhouse where Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) meets his heroes from the past. You will have the opportunity to play on the Field of Dreams, so make sure to pack your glove! We will also have a special guest join us who is not available to the public!

Next we will depart Field of Dreams for nearby Galena, IL also a movie location from the film. After we check-in to the Stoney Creek Inn, we will be joined by a local tour guide to give you your bearings and launch you off to explore the delightful downtown and do dinner on your own.

Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel
Then it’s off for a quick guided bus tour of Galena including the home of famous resident and President Ulysses S. Grant. This afternoon we have a special treat for you as we head to Rockford, IL and The Machine Shed restaurant for an included lunch!

“There’s no crying in baseball!” After lunch we will visit the Rockford Peaches Exhibit (the ladies baseball team made famous in the film "A League of Their Own" starring Tom Hanks) and we will have a guided tour by a costumed history expert who will take us through the Midway Village Museum’s Pioneer Village where kids of all ages will have fun seeing what it was like to grow up in the Midwest during the Victorian Era, visiting fully furnished buildings such as the one-room schoolhouse, the general store, hospital, newspaper office, and even a real firehouse, all bringing learning to life!

After a quick photo stop at the Rockford Peaches Stadium we will hop on our steeds, put on our armor, and head to Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament for our included farewell dinner and show! After the show we will arrive back in Chicago at the Doubletree Chicago Alsip where you can dream of all the great adventures you had on your trip before departing for home the next day.

Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel and head for the airport at your convenience. (Our bus will do one run to Midway Airport mid-morning, and the remainder of the guests can utilize the complimentary airport shuttle based on their flight time.)