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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A Musical Journey to...
Nashville, Tennessee

September 9-15, 2020

$ 1579 Per Person Double / $ 1449 Per Person for Triples and Quad  / $1989 Single Occupancy
* This Nashville Tour was modified to the new dates of September 9-15, 2020
The Grand Ol' Opry at the Opry House . The Historic Ryman Theater
Ray Steven's CabaRay Dinner Show .  Opryland Hotel Tour and Shopping . 
Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B.
Johnny Cash Museum  .  George Jones Museum . 

Progressive Dinner at THREE Southern Antebellum Plantations
(James K Polk Home, Rippavilla Plantation & Elm Springs).
Time to Explore at your leisure the Famous 2nd Avenue
(Wildhorse Saloon and Tootsie's )
               
With live music of every genre being performed any night of the week, more than 180 recording studios, and some 5,000 working musicians, Nashville is known the world over as Music City. Music put Nashville on the map and we'll visit the many Nashville Icons while there. We'll stay 4 nights at the Drury Suites, allowing you time to unpack, unwind and play!!!  We invite you to join us on this spring musical journey into the heart of Tennessee! We’ll save a seat a seat for you!
 
                                    In Addition to All Events Listed Above, Your Tour Also Includes:
·      Round-Trip Deluxe Motor Coach Transportation from Northeast & Central Minnesota
·      Six Nights Lodging with FOUR in Nashville                                                                                        
            4 Nights at the Drury Inn and Round Trip Overnights in Elgin, IL @ Country Inn & Suites
·      Area Tour of Nashville, Tennessee and an Orientation Walking Tour of the Opryland Hotel & Shopping
·      Nine Meals;  6 Breakfasts and 3 dinners
·      Luggage Handling, All Taxes, Tips for Porters & Included Meals, Fully Escorted by a Happy Trails Rep
Registration Form
Day 1 Sept 9 -Wednesday                 Travel to Elgin, Illinois            445  miles from Duluth /  450  miles from Sartell
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Trobec Bus Company is our charter company. They offer deluxe motor coaches with reclining seats, huge windows, restroom on board, window shades, foot and arm rests, TV, CD and DVD player, sound system, #110 outlets, WiFi, cup holders and seat belts.
 
  5:30 am-Gr Rapids Super Eight ;   6:15 am- Hibbing Park Hotel;  6:30 am-Chisholm Iron Man Statue; 
  7:00 am-Eveleth Super Eight  8:00 am- 9:00 am - Duluth Perkins (Miller Hill Mall)– Breakfast break, paying on own. 
  8:45 am- Duluth Perkins Miller Hill Mall    Bus departs from Duluth at 9:00 am and continues our journey southeast
  9:30 am- Superior Perkins Restaurant       
Trobec Bus Company will provide a shuttle transfer for our folks from Central Minnesota to Eau Clair, Wisconsin to meet the rest of the group for lunch.  You'll arrive around 12 pm, where you will meet the rest of Happy Trails travelers, have lunch, then continue your journey to Nashville.
  7:15 am- Baxter Walmart;  7:45 am- Little Falls Walmart; 8:15 am- Rice Holiday Station;  8:30 am- Sartell AmericInn
10:30 am- Woodbury Walmart
                       
*If a boarding venue has less than four people and is "off" the main route, we may ask that you meet the coach along the route.
           
12:00 pm- All will meet in Eau Clair at the Oakwood Mall – This is a great venue to grab a quick lunch before we continue on.
 
  1:00 pm- Re-board the coach. Other stops will be made as the day goes along ~ Enjoy your day getting acquainted with fellow travelers.
                  A comfort stop will be made in the mid-day in Portage, Wisconsin - Willow Brook Rest Area
  6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to our hotel to Elgin, Illinois.
            Hotel: Country Inn by Carlson  2270 Point Blvd, Elgin, Illinois                  
                  This property has an indoor pool, coffeemakers, irons & ironing boards in the rooms as well as hair dryers. They also offer                      a very good breakfast in the morning/ nearby is a great restaurant for dinner “Jimmy’s Char House” .
 

Day 2 - Sept 10 -Thursday               Travel to Nashville, Tennessee                              500  miles from Elgin, Illinois
6:30 am- Breakfast begins and is served in the breakfast room.  6:30 am- Set your luggage outside your doors at this same time.
7:30 am- Board the coach and we'll travel to Nashville today.
                  This is another day dedicated to traveling south. So set your seats back, enjoy the company of fellow travelers on board, stops will be   made every 2 ½ - 3 hours for meals and restroom stops.  As we cross the Illinois/ Indiana border, we’ll be on eastern-time zone. Then       we'll weave back into central time zone once we get into Kentucky.
12:00 pm- (EDT) Estimated ~ Our lunch stop will be made (paying on own).  Specifics will be announced on board.
  1:30 pm- (or earlier if everyone is ready to go) Continue our journey to Nashville.  (Another 290 miles / 4 1/2 hours)  Back on  CDT.
                  A comfort stop will be made along our journey~
   5:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Nashville, Tennessee.         
                                     
Hotel: The Drury Inn (near the Airport) , 555 Donelson Pike,  Nashville, TN   
                  This property is located about 7 minutes from the Grand Ol' Opry. They also offer cocktails/ appetizers every evening from                             
5-7 pm, free  Wi-Fi, breakfast, two beds in the rooms, all non-smoking property, an elevator and coffeemakers in the rooms.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Breakfast Included                                                                                                         
Day 3 - Sept 11  -Friday                Nashville Area City Tour and the Ryman Auditiorium and Ray Stevens CabaRay
6:30-8:45 am- Enjoy a full breakfast this morning (Included).
9:00 am- Be on board the coach for our Nashville Area City Tour, lunch and more!
            We'll be hosted around Nashville and exposed to the best of Music City! Learn about the Athens of the South, gather interesting                   facts about Nashville's history, industry and famous people. Tour sites include drive through the Nashville downtown area,  drive                 by  the State Capitol, Fort Nashborough, Riverfront Park, Centennial Park & the Parthenon, Music    Row's Recording Studios, the                 Governor's Mansion, Vanderbilt University, Belmont College  and many other points of interest.   (Lunch break will be at your leisure             in downtown Nashville as per your own appetite and paying on your own).
2:00 pm-  Our next stop is the historic Ryman Theater.  for a self-guided tour on this National   Historic Landmark. The Ryman is the is              the most famous home of the Grand Ol' Opry  from 1943-1974, its history as Nashville's premier theater and central gathering place              started even before construction was completed in 1892. You'll discover the divine inspiration behind the building's                                       construction  as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in the 1880's in the welcome video.  You soon learn how the Ryman became the                       "Carnegie Hall of  South", "Mother Church of Country Music" and the "Birthplace of Bluegrass".                                                   
3:30 pm- Return to the hotel for a bit of time to freshen up and rest before our dinner                  show  tonight.
5:30 pm- Board the coach and a short distance to the Ray Steven's Theater.
6:00 pm - Legendary music and comedy icon Ray Stevens performs at his CabaRay                  Showroom. Be sure to take in the showroom walls decorate as an homage to                    the  producers, musicians, songwriters and artists who made Nashville "Music                   City".  Take some to admire the trophy show cases which contain memorabilia from             Ray's storied career.
9:00 pm- The Opry concludes .... for some, you may want to extend your time downtown            and take a cab back. We can help assist you with that. Breakfast & Dinner Included
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Day 4 - Sept 12 -Saturday    Country Music Hall of Fame; RCA's Studio B, Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ol' Opry
6:30 - 8:15 am- Enjoy breakfast at the hotel prior to exploring more on Nashville.         
8:30 am- The motor coach departs for historic downtown Nashville where we'll experience another great day in Music City!
        We'll begin our day with a personally guided tour of historic RCA Studio B, Home of 1,000 hits, where music legends recorded                      timeless songs. You'll be inspired as you stand right where Elvis himself stood to recorded over 200 songs!
10:00 am- Our next appointment is at the Country Music Hall of Fame where you'll hear rare recordings of country's legendary                    performers, see behind-the-scenes films by today's stars, along with costumes, instruments and personal treasures from country                music's past and present. This museum is AMAZING! Even if you’ve done this museum before, most of our groups enjoy seeing it               again and there are always new exhibits featured.     
12:00 pm- We'll wind our way over to the  Opryland Hotel and we'll enjoy an orientation tour before spending the next  few hours                     exploring at our leisure. This property hosts restaurants, shopping and recreational activities underneath signature glass atriums.                It is situated on 9 acres of lush indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls. You can't come to Nashville and miss a visit to the Opryland         Hotel.
3:30 pm- We'll board the coach and travel to our hotel for time to freshen up and get ready          for tonight's dinner and show.
5:00 pm- Arrive to the Santa Fe Cattle Company. All the food is made from scratch            with hand-cut steaks, fresh yeast rolls and and homemade sauces. You'll love your              dining  experience tonight.
6:15 pm- We'll board the coach and travel to the Opry House for the Grand Ol’                   Opry.  
         We'll strive to be a little early as they have a wonderful museum and shop that                     you may enjoy visiting before the show. Also, oftentimes, they'll have amazing                     musicians performing on the grounds just outside the Opry House. We’ll know                     about a week before our arrival who the celebrities will be at the Opry.  Stay tuned.                                                                                                           Breakfast and Dinner Included
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Day 5 - Sept 13 -Sunday  Johnny Cash Museum,  George Jones Museum & Progressive Dinner at Antebellum Plantations
6:30-8:35 am- Enjoy a breakfast this morning at the hotel before another full day of adventure in Music CIty!
            Today, we'll begin with red-bricked Johnny Cash Museum,  displaying pictures and memorabilia from the life of music icon.                            We'll experience his legacy up close and personal. Once we depart from that museum, we'll visit the next one - George Jones                        Museum, another icon with more than 40 top songs on the Billboard Chart. His influence is heard every day through the biggest                   country music artists.  Watch performances listen to some of his many hits and immerse ourselves in George's powerful story.
12:00 pm- We'll spend the afternoon on 2nd Avenue in downtown Nashville where we'll have time to grab a bite to eat and do a bit   of                     shopping or visiting a few of Nashville's favorite tourist stops. We'll guide you to the Wild Horse Saloon, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge and Trader Joes!  You'll be downtown for about 3 hours.
4:00 pm- From our downtown location, we'll board the coach and begin our Progressive Antebellum Dinner.
          We'll start with a tour of the ancestral home of the 11th President of the United States, Jame K. Polk. You'll be intrigued  with just                  what impact this little known President had on the landscape of our country. We'll tour the home, detached kitchen, and gardens, as            well as a slide show, museum exhibits and gift shop. Then we'll enjoy tasty appetizers in the courtyard or the primitive kitchen on                the  grounds. (Assorted cheeses, pimento cheese, crackers, mini-quiches, fruit tea or water.)
 
5:00 pm- We'll depart and travel to our next venue... The Rippavilla Plantation. Your buffet dinner will be served in the beautiful                     double parlor of this grand home. You meal will include baked ham, fried chicken, green beans, corn pudding, sweet potatoes, rolls,             iced tea, coffee or water.  This magnificent antebellum mansion was built  in the 1850's by Major Nathaniel Chearirs, this home is                    noted for it's beauty, history, and romantic love story which broke a long family tradition. This was the site of an important breakfast           of  the Confederate Generals on the morning of the Battle of Franklin.  In addition to enjoying a beautiful home and it's furnishings,               there is an exhibit of Civil War items and family pictures to enjoy.
 
7:15 pm- Depart for Elm Springs. We'll top of the evening at Elm Springs , built in 1838 by James Dick, a wealthy businessman                           from New Orleans, for his sister Sarah who was the wife of Christopher Todd.  It is now the International headquarters of  the Sons of           the Confederate Veterans.  Your group will enjoy a tour of this brick Greek revival home.  The gift shop  features a wide variety of                   southern heritage items available nowhere else in the area.  Along with your tour, you will enjoy an assortment of southern desserts,           coffee, and water.
                                                                                                                                                                                Breakfast and dinner is Included
 
Day 6 - Sept 14- Monday  Saying Good-Bye to Nashville, Tennessee ~ Welcome Back to Elgin, Illinois   (500 Miles)
6:30 am- 8:30 pm-Enjoy breakfast this morning while your luggage is being picked up by the porters.
 
7:30 am- Have your luggage ready for the porters.
 
8:30 am- Board the coach for our journey homeward.  
        We'll make stops along the way ~ Set your seats back and enjoy the scenery and the company of fellow travelers.  Our lunch stop                 venue and city will be announced on board the coach today.
7:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Elgin.
        Hotel: Country Inn by Carlson       2270 Point Blvd, Elgin, Illinois                  
        Evening activities & dinner are at your leisure tonight.                                                                                              Breakfast is Included
 
Day 7 - Sept 15 - Tuesday  Homeward Bound With Many Fond Memories . 445  miles to Duluth /  450  miles to Sartell
 6:00 - 8:00 am- A Hot breakfast is served at the hotel.  Help yourselves.
 
 7:00 am- Set your luggage outside your doors this morning. 
 
8:00 am- The bus departs for home.               
            We’ll travel 285 miles to Eau Clair (Oakwood Mall)  (4 ½ hours). Here we’ll meet our Trobec driver.
 
 1:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Eau Clair, Wisconsin – Oakdale Mall. Lunch break will be here.
 
 1:45 pm- We’ll depart Eau Clair after our lunch.
          At this time we’ll also say good-bye to our west-central friends as here is where they will meet their shuttle ride. We’ll also say                     good-bye to our Trobec driver as he/she will drive them home. (This shortens the day considerably also allowing our driver to stay                within legal driving hours).
 
Our friends from Central Minnesota will arrive home around 6:30 pm to Baxter;7:00 to Little Falls; 7:30 to Rice; 8 pm to Sartell.
Our friends from the Duluth / Superior area will arrive home between 4:30 - 5:00 pm. 
Our friends from the Iron Range Cities - 6:15 pm to Eveleth; 6:45 pm to Chisholm; 7:00 pm to Hibbing; 7:45 pm to Grand Rapids
                                                                                                                                                                                          Breakfast is Included
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Things to Know before you go on your Nashville, Tennessee Tour
Payments  Schedule / Cancellations: Deposit of $125 per person due when registering. No reservation is considered solid without a deposit paid. The deposit is fully refundable with cancelations made prior to August 1, 2020. Final payment is due August 1, 2020. No refunds with cancellations made after August 1, 2020. Travel Insurance is highly recommended.
 
How to Dress:
Pack light. Wear casual clothing, comfortable shoes & a lined jacket. Pack sunscreen & an umbrella. Every place we visit is very relaxed. However, if you wish to dress up, feel welcome to do so.
 
Luggage: Pack one suitcase each. This suitcase is delivered each night to your rooms by the porter - including tips. You may also bring a carry-on bag on board the coach. Carry-on bags are handled by yourself. Do not make them heavier than what you can carry. Pack a swimming suit if you enjoy the pool, bring a camera, a raincoat, & an umbrella...just in case! It is wise to pack an alarm clock, too, as sometimes a glitch occurs for wake-up calls from the front desk. 
 
Hotels: The hotels are very nice throughout the entire tour. Many have indoor/ outdoor pools, coffeemakers, irons, ironing boards and fitness centers.    The property in Nashville is nearby the Opryland Hotel and offers shuttles every hour on the  hour to the Opryland Hotel and the Nashville Airport.
 
The Coach: You can expect to ride in style on deluxe 48-55 passenger motorcoach with reclining seats, big windows, restroom, TV’s & VCR & DVD.  We stop every 2 - 3 hours for breaks.  Wi-Fi is also availble and #110 outlets on board.
 
Special Needs: Be sure to let us know of any special needs...such as diet, walking, stairs, allergies or motion sickness, etc…. Please refrain from using strong colognes or perfumes while on board the coach. So many folks have allergies and we want everyone comfortable while traveling. If you use a cane, wheel chair or motorized scooter- bring it!
 
Seat Rotation: Several years ago we stopped rotating seats. If you have a special medical need that requires you to sit toward the front, please let us know. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis according to registration. You might be surprised to know that many people often request the back of the coach. Just as many have no preferrence either way. Note: Oftentimes, we reserve seats in advance of the tour, which allows our clients the comfort in knowing they are seated next to their travel companion.
 
Meals:  There are many nice meals included in this tour. We feel each property offers nice breakfast items with a wide variety to pick from. If you have any special dietary needs, you may have to supplement these by bringing along a small cooler and packing some food items in it. The hotels tell me they are limited in accommodating specific dietary requests (Glueten / Lactose Intollerant Diets).  We’ll do our best to direct you to restaurants or deli’s that may offer items that may have what you need.
 
Tipping: The tour includes tips for luggage handling, meals and step-on-guides while touring on this Nashville tour.  Tips are not included for your driver & on board travel host. This is traditionally done at the end of the tour and oftentimes done individually.
 
Schedule Changes: 
We reserve the right to adjust this schedule for the benefit of all traveling. Sometimes changes occur beyond our control. If a change occurs, we’ll replace it something of equal value. We have no control over any of the attractions listed in this flyer.  Other than a few date and time adjustments for some of the attractions, few changes have been made so far. We will try to keep you informed of anything major if they should happen.
Travel Protection Insurance: Travel protection insurance is available to folks for many different types of emergencies that may result in a personal cancellation on this tour. It not only offers financial security but also “peace of mind”.  It appears that most of our customers have insured their tour. If you have not and would like more information, kindly give us a call.
 
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.
Happy Trail Tours | PO Box 432 |Forbes MN 55738 | (218) 744-4159 | toll free (800) 635-7779 | Email us 
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