Join Us for an Inspiring Multi-Day Motorcoach Journey

This deluxe motorcoach tour will originate in New Ulm, MN and offer parking/pickup opportunities across Southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Guests can opt for a slightly shorter tour from Milwaukee/Brookfield (September 19-26) if they prefer to start and end there. n. Highlights include visits to the Steel City of Pittsburgh, the UA Flight 93 Memorial, Civil War sights of Gettysburg (including a battlefield tour and Cyclorama viewing), samples of sweet treats in Hershey, Independence Hall history and cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, quick stops in Punxsatawney and State College, and much more. We'll also attend two musical theater productions featuring Old Testament featuring the accounts of Old Testament prophets (Joshua at Sight & Sound Theater of Lancaster, PA and Elijah at Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek, OH).

Comfortable & Convenient Accommodations
Enjoy hand-picked privately-owned hotels known for their comfort, hospitality, and guest satisfaction. All properties include breakfast and offer amenities to ensure a restful stay. Those joining us for the full tour will spend their first and final nights at the exceptional Embassy Suites in Brookfield, WI (Milwaukee western suburb). En route hotels include the Best Western Plus Boardman in Youngstown, OH; Holiday Inn Express, Pittsburgh, PA; and Inn at Amish Door, Wilmot, OH. The beautiful Best Western Premier, centrally located in Harrisburg, will serve as our home base for exploring eastern Pennsylvania.

Faith & Fellowship
As with all Father’s World Tours, the journey includes daily devotions and weekend WELS worship opportunities (Bethany, Gibsonia, PA and Eastside, Madison, WI). These opportunities provide spiritual connection and reflection throughout our time together. We are blessed to be led in our daily devotions by retired pastor/professor Jim Pope. Jim currently serves as the editor for Forward in Christ magazine, and has served us as chaplain several times in the past. His wife Cathy will also be joining us.

Travel in Comfort and Style
Travel aboard a deluxe Thielen motorcoach equipped with modern features such as reclining seats, an AV system, onboard restroom, personal lighting/air vents, and cup holders. Complimentary water and occasional snacks will be provided throughout the trip.

Meals & Inclusions
Your tour package includes daily breakfasts and approximately 10 additional meals. You will be responsible for about 8-10 additional meals.

Minimum/Maximum
A minimum of 32 registered travelers is required by July 31 for the tour to operate. A maximum of 50 can attend. We will open and maintain a waitlist if registration exceeds 50.

 The tour is open to all members of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) or ELS (Evangelical Lutheran Synod). W/ELS members are welcome to bring a non-W/ELS spouse or friend along as their roommate.

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.

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. Early Birds who register prior to June 15 will receive two $10 gift cards on Day 1 of the trip.

Payment Schedule
A $295 deposit is due upon registration to secure your spot. Form of payment options includes "e-check" (no fee) or credit card (2.9% fee). The remaining balance will be split into two equal payments due on July 1 and August 1. The payments will be automatically withdrawn on those dates 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. You can pay for the entire balance at any time if desired.

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 up until June 15...$50 cancellation fee applies.

Cancel between June 16-July 15...$250 cancellation fee applies.

Cancel between July 16-August 15...$500 cancellation fee applies.

Cancellations after August 15...$1000 cancellation fee applies.

Travel Insurance
Father's World Tours is not offering 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 in early August. A final email communication will be sent in early September. 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.

Complimentary parking is available at WELS churches and school along the route between New Ulm and Brookfield. We will depart from New Ulm around 7:45AM and pick up passengers in Mankato, Rochester, LaCrosse, and Madison if requested. Our ETA at Embassy Suites in Brookfield is about 4:30PM. The hotel provides free drinks and snacks each evening in its lovely lobby. A fish fry dinner on Sept 18 and a Portillos lunch on Sept 27 are included.

Our journey east from WI to PA involves a Saturday rolling on I-80 through IL, IN, and OH. We'll spend our first night in Youngstown, OH, before crossing into PA and enjoying WELS worship on Sunday morning just outside Pittsburgh. Our afternoon plan includes stops at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsatawney and the PSU Arboretum in State College. We arrive at Best Western Premier in Harrisburg to kick off our 4-night stay.

The heart of our tour includes day trips from our Harrisburg hotel to the state’s most significant sites. Monday’s route takes us first to Hershey (The Sweetest Place on Earth) for tours and tastings. Then it’s on to Gettysburg to explore the museum, experience the Cyclorama, and take a guided tour of the battlefield. Tuesday’s trip takes us to Philadelphia (The City of Brotherly Love). There we’ll learn about our nation’s founding at Independence Hall, enjoy a cheesesteak, and pause for a picture at the Liberty Bell. Wednesday, we work our way to Lancaster, PA for an overview of the Amish life. We’ll also tour a replica tabernacle, and take in an incredible production of “Joshua” at the renowned Sight and Sound.

As we head out from Harrisburg on Thursday, we’ll stop and honor the lives of those on United 93, then enjoy a step-on tour of Pittsburgh (The Steel City). Friday’s journey takes us into Ohio’s Amish Country, where we’ll experience “Elijah” at the Ohio Star Theater, along with an amazing smorgasbord dinner, some shopping, and a night at the lovely Inn at Amish Door in Wilmot, OH. Another Saturday is then spent rolling along the Midwest expressways on our way back to Milwaukee.