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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN SD & EUROPE TOURS
This YouTube playlist will also help you learn more about each destination.
Just $1995 per person double occupancy or $2695 for your own room!
Your Tour Team
Your Tour Team
Your tour team is happy to serve you. Our goals are
to communicate clearly and set appropriate expectations
to keep you connected to Christ through daily devotions
to help you connect with others through shared experiences
to help you stay safe and healthy to the greatest extent possible
L-R: Steve Balza - Director
Pastor Emeritus Wayne Laitinen - Chaplain
Carol Laitinen - Assistant Director
Janine Enter - Social Coordinator
We are hiring! If you are a registered attendee who is physically capable and willing to serve on our baggage crew (loading and unloading bags at the hotels), a $50 cash envelope will be provided in your tour folder. We are also hoping to find a gifted photographer. Qualifications include having a nice camera, a willingness to take pics of our people in fun places, and technical skills to digitally share the shots with Steve. A $100 gift card will be provided upon completion of the tasks. Contact Steve Balza if you are interested in either opportunity
Bonuses
Bonuses
Each passenger will receive a neck lanyard name tag (with small storage pouch), a luggage tag, a drawstring backpack (great as a daypack), a pen, a small notepad, a folder for your daily maps/devotion packet/etc., and an audio headset (loaner) so that you can hear our various guides speaking directly into your ear at the volume of your choice. We also supply bottled water throughout the trip along with some occasional sweet or savory snacks.
Price, Inclusions, & Cancellation Policies
Price, Inclusions, & Cancellation Policies
Your tour cost is based primarily on occupancy (number of people in your hotel room). Those sharing a room with another traveler (double occupancy) have a base cost of $1995, while those choosing to have a private room start at $2695. If you join the tour on April 2 and end on April 9 (no group hotel in Milwaukee on April 1 or 9), you get a $200 reduction (single occupancy) or $100 reduction (double occupancy). Stack-able $20 discounts are also available to OWLS members, those who previously traveled on a Father's World or MLC Alumni tour, early birds who register before November 15, and those who pay in full upon notification that they are confirmed passengers.
Items that aren’t included in your tour cost
Gratuities for hotel attendants. $1-3 per cleaning is common.
Gratuities for the bus driver/s. $2 per person per day is suggested and typically it is given at the end of the tour.
Gratuities and costs for non-included meals. The group meal costs and gratuities are covered. Tipping the breakfast attendant at the hotels is not typical, but certainly allowed.
Gratuities for the tour team are appreciated but not expected.
Alcohol or beverages other than what is part of the group meal. Typically, water, iced tea, lemonade, or coffee are included.
Optional activities or excursions that you may select.
A deposit of $250 per person is due within 7 days of being notified that you are a confirmed passenger. The remaining balance is due by February 29, 2024. Once confirmed, cancellations will receive refunds according to the schedule below:
Cancellation Date Penalty
Deposit through February 28 $50
After February 29 $1000
If a waitlist exists and a replacement traveler is found, only a $50 penalty will be assessed.
Tour operators are no longer allowed to “package” travel insurance into a trip cost. It has to be extra and optional. Typically, it isn’t as critical for domestic trips since your health insurance is valid and the amount of potential loss is not as significant. That said, if you feel that there is a good chance that you will need to cancel your plans somewhat late (within 45 days of departure), it may be wise to purchase Trip Cancellation insurance from a local or online insurance agent. There are many reputable companies. Forbes has a nice summary of Travel Insurance options and what each type of insurance covers.
How to Register and Pay
How to Register and Pay
To sign up, simply click on the buttons that say Register Here throughout this website (including just below). If you have trouble or need assistance, you can leave a message for Steve Balza at 507-217-1731 and he will call you back and assist you in getting registered. Information you will need to register includes:
Your full current name and name preferred for name tag
Your contact information…phone, email address, mailing address
Your preferred date (April 1 or 2) and pickup/drop off location/time
April 1 Options: MLC, New Ulm; Peace, North Mankato; Ascension, Rochester; Luther HS, Onalaska; Eastside, Madison
April 2 Option: Living Word, West Allis
Those planning to fly into Milwaukee MKE should select April 1 and Milwaukee. A shuttle will pick you up and transport you to our hotel.
You will also be transported back to Milwaukee MKE on Wednesday, April 10.
Your choice of Single Occupancy ($2695 base cost) or Double Occupancy ($1995 base cost)
Your date of birth and the W/ELS church where you are a member
The name, relationship to you, and phone number for your Emergency Contact (cannot be someone on the tour with you).
Any severe allergies or dietary restrictions we should be aware of for group meals.
Check is the only form of payment being accepted for this tour. A deposit of $250 per person is due within 7 days of being notified that you are a confirmed passenger. The remaining balance is due February 1, 2024. Checks should be made payable to Father's World Tours and sent to:
Father's World Tours
214 S Highland Ave.
New Ulm, MN 56073
Accommodation and Transportation
Accommodation and Transportation
We are blessed to be staying in very upscale yet down to earth locations (two nights at French Lick Springs Resort, French Lick, IN; two nights at Drury Inn, Mason, OH; two nights at Carlisle Inn, Sugarcreek, OH; and one night at Blue Gate Garden Inn, Shipshewana, IN. Those joining us before our arrival in Milwaukee will stay at Embassy Suites in Brookfield on April 1 and at Drury Plaza, Milwaukee on April 9. All include daily breakfast. With the exception of our stay at the French Lick Resort, porterage is not provide so your bags will be set outside the bus each time we unload and you will be responsible to roll them to and from your room. Clicking on the names under the hotel will take you to the Google Reviews (images and guest ratings/comments) for each property. All rate very highly (4.2 or higher on a scale of 5) and we are in for a treat!
With multiple pickup/drop off points, you'll enjoy complimentary parking and a deluxe motorcoach shuttle from New Ulm, Mankato, Rochester, Onalaska, Tomah, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, and NW Indiana. You also have the option to fly into Milwaukee MKE on April 1 and out on April 10. The Milwaukee hotel offers a complimentary shuttle. Throughout the trip, we will travel by deluxe Thielen motorcoach. Passenger are allowed to bring one full size rolling suitcase (no weight capacity) and one on board bag (backpack, shoulder bag, etc.)
Thielen Deluxe Motorcoach
Meals, Weather, & Walking
Meals, Weather, & Walking
All told, about half (15) of your meals are included in the tour package. For the remaining meals, we typically stop in locations where multiple options are offered. Bottled water is provided whenever possible/practical The B, L, and D lettering after the daily summaries indicate which meals we plan to provide each day.
It's no secret that mid-spring in the midwest can be unpredictable. As seen in the graphic, temps in IN and OH should range from about 40-60. Neither snow nor 70 are out of the question so we encourage you to check out the long-range forecast for the area as you pack and prepare accordingly.
We rate this tour a 4 on a mobility scale of 1-10. You will need to board and deboard the bus (about 4 stairs) multiple times each day that we are on land. Some of our planned stops involve a decent amount of walking. We encourage everyone to know their own limitations and, if necessary, consider sitting out an activity or two if need be. If you are not currently walking on a daily basis, we strongly encourage you to start doing so.
Daily Plans
Daily Plans
You'll be provided a printed copy of the detailed daily itinerary at the start of (or just before) the tour. The summaries below (though subject to change) will give you a good idea of what we have planned. We always note that this will be Plan A, but ultimately God's plan (Plan G) is what will be the reality and we trust that it will be best. Click on the links to learn more about a destination. The B,L,D after each day indicates the meals that we plan to include that day. This YouTube playlist will also help you learn more about each destination.
Mon, Apr 1. Lord willing, today we begin our journey along a route that is well-traveled by many W/ELS wanderers. We’ll start out at MLC in New Ulm at 8:00 and head east (making use of the new Hwy 14 expansion). Ten-minute stops to load passengers (and offer restroom breaks) will be available at Peace, North Mankato (8:40); Ascension, Rochester (10:15), Luther HS, Onalaska (12:30P), and Eastside, Madison (2:45P). A lunch break is planned for the noon hour in Onalaska and a brief stop will be made at Luther Prep in Watertown. Our destination this evening is Embassy Suites in Brookfield, WI. We plan to arrive in time to enjoy both their complimentary evening reception (drinks and hors d’ouvres) as well as some fruit salad and nuggets from Chick Fil A. Those planning to start with us in Milwaukee but would like to stay at the hotels on April 1 and 9 should plan to be at Embassy Suites by 4:30 if possible. Those flying into Milwaukee should speak with Steve Balza to arrange your transportation to the hotel. Fun fact: The answering machine was invented in Milwaukee by two enterprising engineers (not Lenny and Squiggy). D
Tue, Apr 2. Those joining us this morning will meet us at Living Hope, West Allis at 8:30. From there, we venture south through Illinois and into the Hoosier State. We will lose one hour today as we pass from Central to Eastern time in southern Indiana. A lunch stop is planned in the Lafayette area, but the remainder of our day will be focused on getting to the French Lick Resort, the lovely, historic location where we will enjoy a 2-night stay. Fun facts: In the early 1900s, the hotel had a Negro league baseball team and during WW2, French Lick was the spring training site for the Chicago Cubs and White Sox. In the 1920s and into the 1930s, the resort became known for its recreational sports, most notably golf, but the French Lick area also had a reputation for illegal gambling. We’ll learn much more about it and enjoy its many amenities on our free day! B
Wed, Apr 3. Today we enjoy a much slower pace after two fairly long travel days. A city tour offers a nice overview of the quaint community of French Lick and its surprising past. Each group member will receive a $50 resort credit to use as they see fit. Enjoy a meal in one of their fine restaurants. Schedule a message, Join a historic tour of the hotel and its sister property, the West Baden Springs.Hotel. Bowl a game or two or perhaps take a dip in the pool. Those are just some of the indoor options. Time and weather permitting, outdoor options include horseback riding, pickle ball, hiking trails, and disc golf. One day certainly won’t suffice to experience all of the amenities and activities. Fun facts: Basketball legend Larry Bird (affectionately known as The Hick from French Lick) is the community's beloved native son. B
Thu, Apr 4. Per its mission statement, Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are most well known for their two theme park attractions, The Creation Museum (which we will visit today) and The Ark Encounter, tomorrow’s focus. It’s a little less than a 3-hour trip from French Lick to Petersburg, KY (Creation Museum home), and we will make a Walmart restroom run en route. A full afternoon at the museum (including time in the lush gardens, 4D theater, 7 C’s of History, and planetarium) will have us ready to relax with drinks and a mini-dinner at Drury Inn in Mason, OH.Fun fact: A camel’s defense is offensive. When threatened, they project a combination of saliva and vomit. Be nice to them. B, D
Fri, Apr 5. It’s midtour today and time to take in what is truly a HUGE highlight - the Ark Encounter. On our way to that massive structure, we’ll visit a stupendous sanctuary in close-by Covington, KY - the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. Stained glass and ribbed vaults and flying buttresses, oh my! You’ll love this stunning sample of a Gothic Cathedral with its emphasis on height and light, drawing our minds and hearts heavenward in contemplation of God’s greatness. God’s greatness and grace will continue to be clear as we view the world’s largest wooden structure, the Ark. Lunch will be onsite at Emzara’s Buffet…come hungry! Additional onsite attractions include Ararat Ridge Zoo (get up close and cozy with a kangaroo) and presentations in the Answers Center by featured speakers such as AIG founder, Ken Ham. Tonight we again enjoy complimentary mini meal and drinks at the Drury Inn. For those who wish to supplement that, multiple restaurants are adjacent. Fun fact: Emus (which you will see at the Ark) are the only bird with calf muscles. Those muscles help them run at speeds of up to 35 mph. Zoom zoom. B,L,D
Sat, Apr 6. Heading east to Amish country, we will take time to visit one of America’s top state parks - Hocking Hills, home to some stunning waterfalls, cliffs, and “overhang caves”. We can expect several thousand friends to be joining us on a Saturday in June, but weather permitting, we will give you a glimpse of why this park is so popular. At least one of our “hikes” will be accessible, whereas the other may be only for the more sure-footed among us. Upon arrival in Sugarcreek, you’ll find the Carlisle Inn “complex” (which includes a restaurant, general store, and theater in addition to the hotel) to provide a clean, comfortable, convenient, and warm welcome. We’ll enjoy dinner at Dutch Valley before retiring for the evening. An optional Beatles Tribute show next door may be available for anyone interested. Fun fact: Ohio has the 2nd largest Amish population (behind PA) with c. 84,000 (up from 34,000 in 1992). B,D
Sun, Apr 7. WELS worship and fellowship are always highlights of Father’s World Tours. We’ll start the day with our faith family at Our Savior, Strongsville. After a post-service potluck, we make our way into Cuyahoga Valley National Park. A stop at the Visitor Center will orient us to what’s there. A scenic drive and a train ride will help us cover the bulk of the park and, weather permitting, we’ll have the opportunity to explore more via a walking trail and a towpath or two. Fun fact: There are 943 known species of plants within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. B,L
Mon, Apr 8. Eclipse Day. Expect massive numbers of skygazers to be making their way to Central OH and other places along the path of totality. We’ll start the day at the Warther Museum where you’ll view the incredible artistry and mechanical genius of Mooney Warther. Then it’s on to Mansfield where we will view Biblewalk and its wax figures of those who played a significant role in the Reformation along with characters from Old and New Testament history. After viewing the crucifixion scene where God turned His back on His Son and the sun refused to shine, we’ll head outside to take in 3-4 minutes of midday (3:11-3:15) darkness (visual simulator). Eclipse glasses will be provided. The next time a total eclipse will be viewable from the continental U.S. will be Aug 23, 2044. Once the eclipse is past, we’ll head northwest to another Amish center and the Blue Gate Inn in Shipshewana, IN. Fun fact: The sun’s diameter is approximately 400 times larger than that of the moon. It also lies roughly 400 times farther away. This means that to us, both the solar and lunar disks appear to be the same size. B
Tue, Apr 9. We'll start the day in Indiana Amish country with a visit to the Menno-hof museum, where Anabaptist history and culture is explored and explained. You'll then enjoy a quick spin around town in an Amish buggy, then stroll the streets and shop for souvenirs or sweet treats/lunch eats. Then it's off to South Bend, IN for a brief tour of the renowned University of Notre Dame. Finally, we skirt the Windy City on our way back to Milwaukee where the tour officially concludes. We'll drop off the April 2-9 group at Living Hope, West Allis at 5:00. Those who stay with us overnight will enjoy deluxe accommodations along with a mini-dinner and drinks at Drury Plaza (5:30) in downtown Milwaukee. Fun fact: Total cost to attend a year at Notre Dame averages $76,883. The median financial aid package is about $42,000. B,D
Wed, Apr 10. After a delightful breakfast at Drury Plaza (and perhaps an early morning stroll along the Milwaukee Riverwalk), we’ll make a stop/drop for any passengers who parked at Living Hope, West Allis again at 9:15. From there, it’s westward with a reverse repeat of our April 1 journey. A lunch stop in Onalaska should still allow for an arrival back in New Ulm prior to the dinner hour. Current dropoff schedule is as follows: Eastside, Madison (10:30A); Luther HS, Onalaska (12:45); Ascension, Rochester (2:50); Peace, North Mankato (4:30); MLC, New Ulm (5:15). Fun fact: With 900,000 attendees and 1,000 performances over 11 days, Milwaukee’s Summerfest is the world’s largest music festival. B
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