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About this trip
North Shore Nature at its Best
Join us for a quick early-autumn trip to the majestic Minnesota North Shore. Check out the basic itinerary below and mark your calendar to be part of this small-group adventure. Spots are limited—secure your spot today.
Comfortable & Convenient Accommodations
Unpack once and enjoy a 3-night stay at the Americinn, Duluth. Comfort and convenience collide at Americinn with amenities such as an indoor pool, complimentary breakfast, along with a great location next door to shops, restaurants, and our lovely WELS church.
Faith & Fellowship
As with all Father’s World Tours, daily devotions and WELS worship are part of the plan. These moments ensure that we remain connected to the Word even while we are away.
Travel in Comfort and Style
This small-group tour features transportation in premium Mercedes Sprinter vans, offering a smooth and comfortable ride. Please note that boarding will involve stepping in and out of the vehicle several times each day. A stepstool is provided to ensure ease of access. At least one seat will be left open in each row to promote a more spacious and relaxing experience.
Meals & Inclusions
All accommodations and attraction admissions are included. Your tour package also includes three continental breakfasts at the hotels, two lunches, one dinner and the services of our driver/guides.
Minimum/Maximum
A minimum of 10 registered travelers is required by August 1 for the tour to operate. A maximum of 16 can attend.
Basic Itinerary
Tuesday, September 2.
Our North Shore adventure begins with a 9:30 departure from New Ulm. Our first stop?Bloomington Lutheran Church (9350 Portland Ave S), where free parking and convenient pickup are available. For those flying in, we also offer pickup at the MSP airport or a nearby hotel.
Our first destination? A visit to the legendary Mall of America! Enjoy time to explore, shop, and grab lunch at your leisure before we continue our journey to Duluth. Upon arrival, take in sweeping panoramic views of the city and the sparkling shoreline of Lake Superior from Enger Tower. Then unwind with a walk through the charming Leif Erikson Park and Rose Garden. Wrap up the day with a delicious dinner in iconic Canal Park beside the beloved Aerial Lift Bridge—a Superior setting to kick off our adventure.
Wednesday, September 3. Today's loop shoots us inland to Ely, MN, where you’ll marvel at the Superior National Forest's incredible wildlife diversity. Visits to the North American Bear Center (including lunch onsite) and the International Wolf Center help us gain insight and appreciation for these often misunderstood (BIG BAD) creatures. Our return route loops us to the north shore with a stop at the gorgeous Gooseberry Falls. Conclude the day with Chick-Fil-A dinner, delicious dessert (Betty's Pies), and possibly WELS worship (TBD).
Thursday, September 4. Experience more of Minnesota’s natural beauty and historic charm on a North Shore drive day trip all the way up to the Canadian border with several short stops along the way. Snap a shot of the stunning Split Rock Lighthouse, traverse a trail at Temperance River State Park, savor lunch and dinner along the Superior shore in the picturesque village of Grand Marais. Sneak a peak of the colorful ceiling and fabulous fireplace at Naniboujou lodge, delight in a distant view of Isle Royale, and cap off the day with a stroll on a paved path up to the state's highest falls at Grand Portage State Park.
Friday, September 5. The final leg of our adventure winds us south with a brief stop at the Jay Cooke State Park's swinging bridge before swinging in to Tobie's for a classic Minnesota lunch and another delectable dessert. Dropoffs are again offered at an MSP area hotel or Bloomington Lutheran Church (roughly 3P) with a 5P ETA in New Ulm.
Eligibility and Mobility
The tour is open to all members of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod).
We rate this tour as a 4 of 10 on the Mobility Scale. This means that to fully enjoy this tour, you should be at or just below average mobility. You will need to get on and off the bus (several steps) multiple times each day. Hiking is not required, but nearly every venue requires some level of walking/standing.
Discounts, Payments, and Cancellations
We are thankful to have the OWLS (Organization of WELS Lutheran Seniors) as our marketing partner/tour sponsor. A portion of Father's World Tours proceeds goes to support this worthwhile group. Dues paying members who register as such will receive a $10 gift card on Day 1 of the trip. Be sure to note your OWLS membership on the registration form. Planning to join us for both back to back Weekend in the Ozarks (Aug 29-Sep 1) and the MN Wildlife and Waterfalls (Sep 2-5) tours? Use Discount Code COMBO50 to enjoy $50 per person off this tour.
Waitlist Policy
If registrations exceed capacity, a waitlist will be maintained. In past years, a high percentage of individuals on the waitlist were accommodated due to cancellations.
Payment Schedule
A $250 deposit is due upon registration to secure your spot. A final payment of the remaining balance is due on August 1. Please note that the payments will be automatically withdrawn on August 1 from the account you used for the deposit unless you change or cancel it. An email reminder will be sent a few days prior to that payment coming out.
Cancellation Policy
Refunds are offered on a sliding scale based on your cancellation date. If a waitlist exists and a replacement traveler is found, only a $50 administrative fee will apply regardless of when the cancellation occurs. See the schedule below.
Cancel prior to July 31...$50 cancellation fee applies.
Cancel between August 1-14...$250 cancellation fee applies.
Cancel between August 15 or later...$450 cancellation fee applies.
Travel Insurance
For those interested in protecting their trip investment in case of unforeseen illness or emergency, travel Insurance (optional for this trip) may be purchased through a vendor of your choosing.
Tour Communications
Confirmed passengers will receive an email with basic trip details on August 3. A final communication will be sent (via USPS and email) on August 18. It will include a passenger list, packing suggestions, a “final” itinerary, parking/pickup instructions, etc. Passengers will be asked to download the free Whatsapp cell phone application so that we can communicate easily and effectively to the group throughout the tour.
Pre and Post Tour Hotel Block
Those who would like to book a night in Bloomington/MSP area for Monday, September 1 may do so in our special Father's World Tours block at Best Western Plus, 2101 S Broadway St, New Ulm or a TBD hotel in Bloominton (details coming soon). Complimentary breakfast is included. Click the links below (coming soon) to make your reservation by August 1. Rooms in our block not claimed at that point will be released.
Click here by August 1 to book Fairfield Inn, Bloomington for Monday, September 1 ($97+tax)
Free parking will be available for the duration of the trip at the boarding site at Martin Luther College in New Ulm. The vans will load by the Chapel of the Christ on Tuesday, September 1 around 9:30 AM and return on Friday, September 5 around 5:00 PM.
What’s included
- AccommodationWe are blessed to have comfortable and convenient accommodations with all three nights at the Americinn, Duluth.
- Van TransportationPremium Mercedes Sprinter "high roof" vans will be driven by your hosts, Steve Balza and Chris Hardtke. Each contains 12 seats, full stand-up interior headroom, and plentiful storage
- AttractionsAll admission costs for attractions are covered
- Included MealsBreakfast is included daily, along with two lunches and one dinner. Remaining meals are on your own. Complimentary snacks and bottled water are provided throughout the trip.
What’s not included
- Some MealsTuesday's lunch at Mall of America and dinner in Canal Park are on your own. You'll also be on your own for Thursday's lunch and dinner in Grand Marais.
- Some GratuitiesTips/appreciation for hotel attendants and non-included meal servers are recommended. Gratuities for the directors/drivers are appreciated but not expected. No "plate" will be passed.
- Pre/Post AccommodationIf desired, see the paragraph above for details and links to book a room in Bloomington or New Ulm for September 1.
Available Packages
The tour package includes a room for 2 travelers (double occupancy) where both wish to register and pay together with one form of payment. Ground transportation, attraction admissions, gratuities for included meals, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, and the services of your driver/guides are also included.
A $250 per person deposit is due at registration. Please note that your form of payment options include E-check (routing and account number...no fee) or credit card (2.9% additional fee). You may pay the entire amount if you choose. If not, the remaining balance will be automatically withdrawn from your preferred form of payment on August 1. You'll receive an email reminder before the payment due date. You are welcome to update your payment method at any time.
The tour package includes a room shared by 2 travelers (double occupancy) where each wishes to register and pay separately. Ground transportation, attraction admissions, gratuities for included meals, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, and the services of your driver/guides are also included.
A $250 per person deposit is due at registration. Please note that your form of payment options include E-check (routing and account number...no fee) or credit card (2.9% additional fee). You may pay the entire amount if you choose. If not, the remaining balance will be automatically withdrawn from your preferred form of payment on August 1. You'll receive an email reminder before the payment due date. You are welcome to update your payment method at any time.
The package includes private accommodations (single occupancy) where you will have your own room for all 3 nights. Ground transportation, attraction admissions, gratuities for included meals, 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, and the services of your driver/guides are also included.
A $250 per person deposit is due at registration. Please note that your form of payment options include E-check (routing and account number...no fee) or credit card (2.9% additional fee). You may pay the entire amount if you choose. If not, the remaining balance will be automatically withdrawn from your preferred form of payment on August 1. You'll receive an email reminder before the payment due date. You are welcome to update your payment method at any time.