Happy Trails Tours
Happy Trail Tours
PO Box 432, Forbes, Minnesota 55738
email: [email protected]
(218) 744-4159

Toll Free at 1-800-635-7779
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Branson's Ozark Mountain Christmas​

November 16-22, 2020

Branson's Ozark Mountain Christmas

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November 16-22, 2020

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Your SEVEN Day Branson Holiday Tour Includes the Following Attractions:
  • Trobec Motor Coach Transportation:
                                    Northeast MN Boarding: Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Chisholm, Virginia, Eveleth, Duluth & Cloquet & North Branch
                                    Central Minnesota Boarding: Sartell, Little Falls, Rice & Baxter           Twin Cities Area: Coon Rapids, and Burnsville
  • SIX Nights Lodging: Two in Des Moines @ the Drury Inn (Pre Night & Post Night) & Four Nights @ Radisson Hotel on Hwy 76
  • SEVEN Shows & Many More Attractions:  Andy Williams Christmas                                  Spectacular    (Hosted by David Osmond &  Starring the Lennon Sisters);                              Danny  O Donnell; The Balknobbers,: Jim Stafford: The Christmas Wonderland                    Show; Branson Scenic RR to  Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Option between                            visiting Old Downtown or the New Aquarium; an Ozark Mountain Area Tour &                        Russell Stove Shop
  • 14 Meals:  Seven Breakfasts, Four Dinners; One Lunch; and Two Cocktail Hot                                  Appetizer Buffets at the Drury Inn in Des Moines.
    Luggage Handling, Taxes, Tips & Fully Guided with a Happy Trails Host
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Deposits and Final Payment Due Date: $125 per person deposit is due with each reservation and is non-refundable after August 15, 2020. Final balance due: October 1, 2020.   Cancellations: Money returned with cancellations between August 15-October 1, 2020 are contingent upon what Happy Trails Tours can retrieve back from hotels, charters, theaters, restaurants, etc. No refunds with cancellations made after October 1, 2020.  Reservations are transferable. Final Documents: Final documents are expected to arrive in late October with specifics on boarding location and hour. 
 
Happy Trails Disclaimer: Happy Trails Tours acts only as an agent for the various independent suppliers that provide hotel accommodations, transportation, theater, or other services connected with this tour.  Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Happy Trails Tours, INC and their respective employees, agents, representatives accept no liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or any other default of any company or person in performing these services.  Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws or other causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of country in which they are provided.  Happy Trails Tours INC is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours/trips arranged by Happy Trails Tours. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects.
registration
 
Nov 16th - Monday - Day 1
This tour includes boarding in towns throughout the state of MN with our bus charter company, Trobecs of St Stephens, MN.
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Northeast Minnesota:              _____5:15 am -Grand Rapids SUPER EIGHT -1702 S Pokegama   _____6:00 am- Hibbing PARK HOTEL
                                                      _____6:30 am- Virginia VILLAGE INN - 1500 13th ST                           _____6:45 am- Eveleth SUPER EIGHT
                                    7:45-8:45- Arrive to Duluth Perkins Miller Hill Mall Restaurant for breakfast, paying on own.
                                                      _____8:30 am- Duluth PERKINS MILLER HILL MALL  Perkins Miller Hill Mall   
                                                                                          The coach departs at 8:45 am from Duluth.                           
                                                      _____9:15 am- Cloquet  PERKINS   64 L Jack HWY 33
Central Minnesota:                         ____  8:45 am - Baxter- WALMART-McDonalds @ 7295 Glory Road - # 218-829-5510
                                                        ____10:00 am - Sartell, AMERICINN - 19 Le Sauk Drive - # 320-259-0877
                                    Our friends from Central MN will meet the Happy Trails group in Burnsville.
 
___11:30 am - Meet at Burnsville Mall - APPLEBEES Entrance-This is an estimated arrival time for shuttle & coach to arrive to the mall.  
                   (This stop offers a good variety of restaurants to choose from...Panera Bread, Food Court on lower level, Applebees and more.)
 1:00 pm- Re-board the coach and continue on to Des Moines, Iowa.
 2:30 pm- A mid-afternoon coffee and comfort stop will be made at the MN / IA boarder at the "Top of Iowa"
                  We'll stay here about 1/2 hour and then we'll continue on our way.
 5:45 pm- Estimated arrival to:  Drury Inn  5505 Mills Civic Parkway, Des Moines, IA                           # 515-457-9500            
                  Tonight is at your leisure. Again....the hotel offers hot & cold buffet between 5:30-7:00 pm with complimentary cocktails. There are also                   restaurants within walking distance. This property is beautiful! It offers coffeemakers in the rooms, hairdryer, irons & boards, free hot and                      cold beverages in the lobby, indoor / outdoor heated pool and a fitness center.                                                   Light Dinner Included

                                                                      Nov 17th - Tuesday- Day 2
6:30 am- Full breakfast included, at the hotel before we depart for Branson.   6:30 am- Set your luggage outside your door for the porter.
7:30 am- The coach departs Des Moines for Branson, MO.  A mid-morning stop will made as well as a lunch stop en-route. 
                  This day is dedicated to traveling south to Branson, Missouri. We'll make comfort stops every 2 1/2 - 3 hours.
3:30 pm- Estimated arrival to: The Radisson Hotel Branson - 120 South Wildwood Dr., Branson, MO  65616      # 417-335-5767
                  We’ll settle into this wonderful property for the next four nights. It offers a wonderful restaurant on site, pool and whirlpool, free Wi-Fi and               two beds in the rooms along with a coffee maker, irons and ironing boards and hairdryer.
6:00 pm- A nice Dinner is included tonight is at our hotel, included. Menu is yet to be announced.
7:15 pm- Begin our way by motor coach for tonight's show.
7:30 pm-Settle into your seats on the main floor to see the Jim Stafford Show. 
                  You are certain to enjoy Jim Stafford's award-winning comedy show in Branson, MO that is filled to the brim with his love of comedy and                 music. You've probably heard Jim's hits of great classic country that include Cow Patti, Spiders & Snakes, and My Girl Bill. The show will   be something you have never seen before. This wonderful show isn't filled with just comedy, Jim also plays musicals instruments such as the classical guitar that will leave you stunned with his amazing performance. You'll be blown away at his ability to pluck and strum the strings of his wonderful instruments.                                                                                                                                   Breakfast / Dinner Included
 
                                                                  Nov 18th- Wednesday - Day 3
7:00 - 8:45 am Enjoy Breakfast served at the hotel.
9:00 am-11 am - Board the coach and we'll make our way through the Ozark Mountains with our good friend and tour guide, Omar Gibson.
                 Our tour will include a stop Point Royal overlook, Lake Taney Como and a drive over the dam along with stories and the history of                                beautiful Ozark Mountains. We'll also make time for a drive through the College of the Ozarks making time to pick up one of their                                  delicious home-made Fruitcakes. 
11:30 am- Our tour will end at the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks. This is where you will have your lunch.
               The menu is fabulous sit down meal of duet plate of roasted pork loin and chicken breast with vegetable, starch, dessert and beverage. (All                  homemade by the students.
1:15 pm- After lunch, we'll wind our way to our next theater.
                  We have reserved seats for the Dutton Family Christmas Show. They were NBC's "America's Got Talent" Finalists... You are in for a     treat! This family is so talented that they've become known as "Branson's Premier Music Variety Show".
5:30 pm- Dinner is all set for Shorty Smalls! You will have several options to select from. We may take your orders in advance. TBA
8:00 pm- Take your seats for the Christmas Wonderland Show.
                 Branson’s Christmas Wonderland – No yuletide trip to Branson would be complete without seeing Branson’s Christmas Wonderland, one                    of Branson’s largest holiday productions. A sparkling cast of singers and dancers takes you on an unforgettable an magical sleigh ride to a                  grand Christmas extravaganza                                                                                                                             Breakfast / Dinner Included
 
                                                               Nov 19th- Thursday - Day 4
  7:00 -9:00 am- Breakfast is served at the Inn.  Help yourselves.
                                                      This morning..... you have a choice on how to spend your morning.
  • You may take the Morning at Your Leisure.... sleep in or just relax. It's a busy Branson tour, so a little down time may a good fit for you.
  • You may visit Old Downtown Branson - do a bit of shopping and visit Dicks Five and Dime! A tourist's favorite store!!!
  • 9:00 - 11:00 am- You may join us as we visit the Aquarium at the Boardwalk at an additional fee @ an extra $25 per person.
                   Mark your registration form IF this is something you would like to do.  We'll add the extra $25 on to your final invoice. 
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11:15 am- Travel to the Branson Craft Mall where we'll get lunch, paying on our own and time to do a bit of shopping. (They have lots of cool crafts)
   1:00 pm- Travel to the Welk Theater.
   2:00 pm- Take your seats for the Danny O Donnell show!  
                   Danny is back and his show is better than ever! It has always been wonderful, but our group couldn't believe how fabulous it was last                          year. He brings with him, Mary Duff. Together, they will bring you a magnificent show.   
  5:30 pm- Dinner at the Fall Creek Steak House .Everyone always asks us ... "What is the name of the restaurant that throws the dinner rolls?"  
                 Our reply is "Fall Creek Steakhouse"! Well that is where our dinner is tonight. Get ready to catch those delicious rolls on the fly.  You'll                           have 4 entree's to select from at the time of seating.

   6:45 pm- Let's board the coach and travel to the next theater.
   7:15 pm- Arrive to the Baldknobber Theater to see Branson's all time favorite show....The Baldknobbers @ 8 pm.
                  Here is one of the original Branson groups that's sure to get your feet taping and hands clapping! You doesn't love a good hillbilly show?
                                                                                                                                                                                  Breakfast and Dinner are included

                                                                     Nov 20th-Friday - Day 5
  7:00 -9:00 am- Breakfast is served at the Inn.  Help yourselves.
                  Board the coach and travel for another great day of music and fun in Branson!
10:00 am - Take your seats for the Yakov Smirnoff Show!
            Yakov Smirnoff, the Famous Russian Comedian, returns to Branson for limited show dates in 2020! Fresh from touring the world and with                    plenty of new material from politics Yakov says, "It's time to Make America Laugh Again!" (And he's not 'Putin' you on!). Celebrate America                  with Yakov. When Yakov says, "What A Country!" You'll feel like standing and cheering for the Red, White, and Blue! Yakov delivers huge                    laughs and funny lines while sharing unique insights into life in these United States, goes "From Red to Redneck", gives a heart-felt salute to              Lady Liberty, and more. The show also includes a celebration of New Year's Eve and Christmas Russian style.
12:30 pm- We'll have lunch, paying on own prior to boarding the Branson Scenic RR for our afternoon scenic drive through the Ozark Mountains.      2:00 pm- Enjoy a 40-mile round trip excursion through the Ozark foothills. Relax and get away from it all. Listen to narrated stories about the history                 of the railroad, its communities and each piece of equipment in the consist.
5:30 pm- Enjoy a nice Buffet Dinner at the Grand Buffet Restaurant , included.
             This is an amazing buffet with hundreds of items to choose from. There's something for everyone.
7:00 pm- Reboard the coach and wind our way to Andy William's  Moon River Theater
8:00 pm- Take your seats for the  "Ozark Mountain Christmas Show" Starring The Lennon Sisters and hosted by David Osmond.  
               For the 27th season, the legacy continues, starring The Lennon Sisters and Illusionist, Rick Thomas. Great variety, singers, dancers,                           prancing reindeer, the Moon River Orchestra, and maybe even old St. Nick himself…all performing your favorite holiday songs.
                                                                                                                                                                                             Breakfast / Dinner Included
 
                                                                       Nov 21st -Saturday- Day 6
7:30 am- 8:30 am - Enjoy Breakfast.   7:30 am - Set your luggage outside your door for the porter.
8:30 am- We'll say good-bye to Branson, MO.
            We’ll make stops along the way as we wind our way northward toward Des Moines -back to the beautiful Drury Inn.
6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Drury Inn  5505 Mills Civic Parkway, Des Moines, IA   # 515-457-9500 
           Tonight is at your leisure. Again....the hotel offers hot & cold buffet between 5:30-7:00 pm with complimentary cocktails. There are also                         restaurants within walking distance. This property is beautiful! It offers coffeemakers in the rooms, hairdryer, irons & boards, free hot and                     cold beverages in the lobby, indoor / outdoor heated pool and a fitness center.                                           Breakfast / Light Dinner Included
 
                                                                                         Nov 22nd -Sunday - Day 7
 7:00 - 8:00 am- Enjoy a full hot Breakfast at the Drury Inn-               7 am - Set your luggage outside your door for the porter.
  8:00 am- Board the coach and we'll begin our journey back to the Minnesota Northland.
                  On our way.... we'll make a stop at the Russell Stover’s Candy Outlet Store. “Life really is like a box of chocolates”. 
                  Estimated arrivals to the various towns are as follows;
 1:00 PM- Arrive to Burnsville Mall - Get our lunch here while they switch everything over to the other coach. 
                                    IRON RANGE GROUP WILL BE SWITHCING COACHES in Burnsville
  2:00 pm- Estimated departure time from Burnsville.
                  Estimated arrivals to the various towns are as follows;
                  1:30 pm-  Burnsville Mall - Applebees  /  4:00 pm- Sartell; 4:45 pm - Little Falls; 5:15 pm- Baxter
                  5:00 pm - Duluth; 7:00 pm-Eveleth; 7:15 pm- Virginia; 7:45 pm-Hibbing; 8:30 pm Grand Rapids                           Breakfast Included
                 
                                 Things to Know Before You Go on Branson Tour - November 16-22, 2020
The Coach/ Escort & Driver: The bus is being chartered through TROBEC BUS CO. The coach has 56 comfortable seats that recline. The bus also has a restroom on board, TV sets with a VCR/DVD player, microphone, and adjustable foot rests. We love to play movies on board, tell stories, play a few games and have snacks! (We love treats!)  Folks are welcome to bring snacks on board, too.  We stop every 2-3 hours.
How to Pack: The tour is completely casual. Dress comfortably with good walking shoes. Pack along a fall/winter jacket. Pack a camera and/or video camera. Still shots are allowed in the theaters…but videos of any kind are not.
Seat Rotation:   We do not rotate seats.. We used to try to preset seating but it's getting more and more difficult to promise any particular seat. Please let us know in advance if you have any special needs and we'll do our best to accommodate ~ But cannot promise.
Hotels /Smoking/ Non-smoking: The hotels where we are staying are very nice. Read your day-by-days to learn the specifics on each property. All the rooms are non-smoking. Most hotel properties are all non-smoking. Please don’t smoke in them. Penalty charges WILL apply. We stop every 2 ½ -3 hours for quick breaks, comfort stops or meals along the way.
Special Needs / Perfumes/ Fragrances: Kindly refrain from using strong perfumes/ fragrant colognes while traveling on this tour. So many folks have allergies to the chemicals in them and may become sick while traveling. Thank you very much for this consideration.  Please let us know if you any special needs such as; allergies, motion sickness, medical concerns, or physical disabilities that may affect walking or climbing stairs. We have several hotel rooms in Branson that offer handicapped bars in the bathroom, roll in shower and two beds. Let us know if you need one. They are reserved on a first-come, first served basis. Unfortunately, we cannot promise these rooms.
Tipping: Tips for included meals, luggage handling and city tour guide is included in this package. Tips for your bus driver and Happy Trails Tour guide is not included and may be done at your own discretion at the end of the tour.
Weather: The weather should be warm and very nice, however, we‘ve seen it SNOW in Branson this time of year (Though that‘s rare…we’ve also seen it get as hot as 80 degrees!)  Normal temps are between 55-65. With the high elevation, we recommend layering your clothing since mornings and evening can be cool and afternoons can be warmer.
Weather Conditions: In 2007 when we were on a Branson Christmas tour, a blizzard swept through the Midwest and paralyzed the entire region from Kansas City to Northern Minnesota. It caused us to have to spend one more night in Branson (where it was 65 degrees and sunny!). The following day, we traveled home with only wet roads to contend with and everyone stayed safe. We tell you about this because it can happen again. (Hopefully it won’t). One more piece of information….You are financially responsible for the added expense if this should happen. Actually, we had a wonderful “extra” day in Branson and everyone was happy. We took in another show, ate at another nice restaurant but most of all…we were safe and warm.
NOTE: Travel Insurance helped pick up the cost of this added expense for our travelers who purchased the insurance.
Changes on your Itinerary: We reserve the right to adjust this schedule for the benefit of all traveling.  Thank you for your understanding. If a change of hotel, restaurant or an attraction occurs, we’ll try to replace it with one of equal value or better if at all possible. As always… we’ll inform you of any changes as we learn of them, themselves.
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is available to help defray monies lost due to illness, family emergencies, trip interruption, due to cancellation. It can offer peace of mind and financial security and protect your tour investment.  Call our office for further information.
Happy Trail Tours | PO Box 432 |Forbes MN 55738 | (218) 744-4159 | toll free (800) 635-7779 | Email us 
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