On The Gunsmoke Trail

Arrive in Kansas City today and transfer to your hotel. Meet your Tour Manager in the lobby at 5:00 p.m. for a welcome dinner with your traveling companions. Meal: D

Your journey along the “Gunsmoke Trail” in Kansas begins in Abilene, named “Best Small Town to Visit” by Smithsonian Magazine, and hometown to the nation’s 34th president of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Visit his presidential library and boyhood home to learn about the lives of the Eisenhowers, their accomplishments and impact on the nation. You will also tour the 1905 Georgian-style Seelye Mansion, considered one of the finest mansions in the state. Meals: B, L

In the 1870s, traveling by train to Abilene was common. Today, you can relive the experience of Abilene’s wild and wooly days aboard the Abilene & Smokey Valley Railroad. Ride the rails on a 100-year-old steam engine and learn how the iron horse helped open the West. Just two days ride by horse is Historic Fort Hays. This home of the 7th U.S. Cavalry, Fort Hays was commanded by Lt. Colonel George A. Custer. Explore four of the original structures including officers’ quarters. Dinner tonight is at Hickok’s Steakhouse, serving up a hearty meal of which Wild Bill himself would be proud. Meals: B, D

Discover the history along the streets of old Hays City on the bricks of downtown. Bronze plaques tell the stories of the former saloons and general stores once found here. Also see the murals depicting historic old West icons. Then pay a visit to Boot Hill Cemetery before heading off to Dodge City. Here, a local guide conducts a narrated tour as you follow in the footsteps of Marshal Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty. See the authentic site of the Long Branch Saloon, the infamous “deadline” and Front Street. Then, sidle up to the bar at Boot Hill Distillery and wash off the trail dust. Meals: B, L

Today the streets of Dodge City resonate with history and tales where the iconic Gunsmoke characters were born. Construction of the Santa Fe Depot was completed in 1898 and was the state’s largest depot. Today, visit the depot as it appeared in the 1920s. Visit the Mueller-Schmidt Stone House which sits atop a hill and built entirely of limestone. Enjoy free time for shopping in Dodge City before sitting down to a country-style dinner in the Occident Saloon. Then, enjoy the Long Branch Variety Show featuring Miss Kitty with her can-can dancers and a cast of colorful characters. Meals: B, D

This morning, it’s time to “Get out of Dodge” and mosey on over to Wichita, just a three-day ride by wagon. At the Mid-America All-Indian Museum you will discover the history of the Plains Indians through their culture, art, music and food. At the Old Cowtown Museum, all aspects of frontier life during the late 1860s and 1870s are on display. Enjoy time at the hotel to freshen before enjoying dinner and live show at the Mosley Street Melodrama. You can sigh for the dainty heroine, cheer the stalwart hero and boo the dastardly villain. Meals: B, D

At the Great Plains Nature Center experience the beauty and uniqueness of the wildlife of the Great Plains. In Kansas City, visit the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Experience the world’s most comprehensive collection of WWI memorabilia. Enjoy your box lunch in the Over There Café at the museum. At the Hallmark Visitor Center, learn how a teenager from Nebraska created an iconic company. Meals: B, L

The day begins at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. Learn about the life and times of this extraordinary man whose list of world-shaping decisions is extremely long. Tour the National Frontier Trails Museum, a history museum and interpretive center dedicated to telling the rich history of America’s principle, pioneering trails, including the Oregon, Santa Fe and California trails. At the unique Arabia Steamboat Museum see the artifacts salvaged from the Arabia, a steamboat that sank in the Missouri River in 1856. Tonight, enjoy an authentic Kansas City BBQ dinner. Meals: B, D

This morning your tour ends with a group transfer to the Kansas City International Airport for flights out after 11:00 a.m. Meal: B