Compare Signature City St. Louis by Road Scholar vs California Panorama by Omega Tours

Day 1
Welcome and Program Orientation
St Louis, MO D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: You may check in to hotel anytime after 3 pm. Meet group in Room 134 at 4:15.

Afternoon: Meet in Room 134 at 4:15 p.m.to register with program staff and get your welcome packet containing your up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. Program orientation: 4:15 p.m. If you arrive late, please check with your group leader. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate; program activities and schedules may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: We are encouraged to pick up a free beverage (beer, wine, some mixed drinks, or soft drink) from the Drury Plaza Hotel’s happy hour also called “Kick-Back” (5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) which includes complimentary appetizers. We will enjoy a pre-selected, plated dinner from Lombardo’s at 6:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Hotel. Coffee, tea and water are included.

Evening: Readjourn in hotel, room 134 immediately following dinner for a short lecture on the founding of St. Louis and the St. Louis fur trade. The rest of the evening is at leisure to settle in and relax.

Day 2
Neighborhood Tours/Architecture/Culture/Cathedral Basilica
St Louis, MO B,L,D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Considerable standing and walking in neighborhoods and Cathedral Basilica.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Meet in Room 134 at 8:00 am where guide, Melanie Harvey will outline and describe the day's journey. Once we board the bus, our first stop will be the historic Old Courthouse, site of the Dred Scott Trial. We will experience a bus tour with Melanie of various St. Louis landmarks and ethnic neighborhoods both then and now; Union Station, City Museum, City Garden, Soulard Market and its historic neighborhood, St. Louis Arsenal, Lemp Mansion & Brewery, DeMenil Mansion, a walking tour of Lafayette Square neighborhood with its grand "Painted Ladies" and unique neighborhood park. Experience some of the old neighborhoods as you learn the importance of German, Irish and Italian immigrants and their significance on the development of St. Louis. Study the various architectural influences on the Midwest.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch on the "Hill", and maybe even try your hand at Bocce Ball at Milo's Bocce Garden. After lunch, enjoy an authentic Italian Gelato or an Italian pastry at nearby shops for dessert.

Afternoon: Field study on the St. Louis Hill. This unique neighborhood/area remains primarily an Italian-American neighborhood. It was established in the late 19th century when immigrants were attracted by jobs in nearby plants created to exploit the local clay for brick making. Baseball greats Yogi Berra and broadcaster Joe Garagiola Sr. grew up on the Hill, along with other sports notables. Field trip to the new St. Louis Cathedral Basilica where the largest collection of mosaics in the world is housed in one place. Study the architectural design of Romanesque and Byzantine styles, where east meets west.

Dinner: We are encouraged to pick up a free beverage (beer, wine, some mixed drinks, or soft drink) from the Drury Plaza Hotel’s happy hour also called “Kick-Back” (5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) which includes complimentary appetizers. Feel free to bring them to our catered dinner in Room 134 of the hotel.

Evening: Meet me at the fair! Enjoy a presentation on the sights, sounds, and discoveries of the 1904 World's Fair, held in St. Louis.

Day 3
Gateway Arch/National Blues Museum/MO Botanical Garden
St Louis, MO B,L,D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Walking down a paved sidewalk required to reach arch. Step or ramp available to Arch entrance. To reach the top and return, you must be able to manage at least 96 steps, divided into six flights, and may need to stand for 30-–60 minutes. No seating or restrooms are located at the top of the Arch. Participants can choose to walk extensively at the Botanical Garden or sit on one of the many benches and just enjoy the view.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Meet in Room 134 of the hotel at 8:00 am, where we will begin the morning viewing "Monument to the Dream", a documentary about the monumental engineering feat that was required to erect the Gateway Arch. Board the bus to visit our National Monument, the Gateway Arch, built as a tribute to Thomas Jefferson and all those pioneers for who St. Louis was the Gateway to the West. As we arrive, stop in the Old Cathedral, site of the oldest Catholic parish west of the Mississippi, and location of the baptism of Sacagawea's son. Once at the Arch, you may choose to travel to the top of this 630 foot high stainless steel structure for amazing views of the Gateway City, the Mighty Mississippi, and neighboring Illinois.

Lunch: Experience a boxed lunch of St. Louis style BBQ from “Sugar Fire” while listening to a performance of Blues/Jazz music.

Afternoon: After lunch we will continue on into the National Blues Museum, the only museum that is exclusively dedicated to the national and international story of Blues music and how it has greatly influenced the American culture here in the United States. Listen with interactive technology and view artifact exhibits to experience its long and tradition-rich history that has continued to speak to listeners throughout the years and all walks of life. A docent will lead us through the museum and then we will have some time to view the exhibits on our own. Our next stop will take us on a field study of Henry Shaw's dream, the Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover why it is one of the top three botanical gardens in the United States. Explore the garden, Climatron, and more at your leisure. Tram rides are available for $4/person (cash only). Trams depart on the hour and pick up at each stop one hour later. Be aware of last tram pick-up time.

Dinner: Enjoy the Irish presence in St. Louis tonight at McGurk's Irish Restaurant and Pub, choose from a selected menu. Coffee, tea & soft drinks are included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Anheuser Busch Museum Tour
St Louis, MO B,L Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles and getting on and off a bus. Walking and standing for up to 1 ½ hours at the Anheuser Busch Museum Tour.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: This morning we will start the day with an Anheuser Busch Beer Museum Tour. We will learn about the long and colorful history of the company, view the fabulous and impressive architecture of three National Historic Landmarks, we will visit the Stables where we get an up close view of the beautiful and famous Clydesdale horses, visit the Brew House, and the historic Old Lyon Schoolhouse Building which is home to a modern museum of nearly 400 unique historical items from the Anheuser-Busch archives. We will have a brief presentation of the brewing process, receive a commemorative glass and a complimentary beer sample.

Lunch: Experience a peek inside an old wiring manufacturing warehouse that has been renovated to house “Sqwires” restaurant. Named because it is located in Lafayette Square and is housed in a previous wiring manufacturing building. A plated lunch previously picked from a selected menu will be served including coffee, tea, and water.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration. You may want to walk to Union Station to view the beautiful architecture that once housed the largest railroad station in the United States. Or take a walk to the Old Post Office or newly-renovated Public Library. Other suggestions will be available from the group leader.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The Drury Kick-Back is also available for us to enjoy.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Campbell House Museum/Forest Park-History & Art Museum
St Louis, MO B,L,D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Getting on and off a bus. Steps and standing required at the Campbell House. Moderate walking and some standing at the History Museum and Art Museum.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: We will head out by bus to step back in time at the Campbell House Museum. This museum opened in 1943, transferring directly from family ownership to the museum. This preserved not only the Campbell's house but also their collection of original furniture, fixtures, paintings, objects, and thousands of pages of family documents. Included in these documents is a unique album of 60 photographs of the interior of the house from 1885. It looks much the same today as it did in these photographs.

Lunch: Today we will lunch at a true St. Louis icon and enjoy food native to the St. Louis area. You may even get to enjoy a special St. Louis treat!

Afternoon: After lunch explore Forest Park, site of the 1904 World's Fair, and one of the largest urban parks in the country, surpassing Central Park by 500 acres. We will visit the Missouri History Museum. The original building was built with proceeds from the profits of the 1904 World’s Fair. It was built to commemorate Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. We will learn about St. Louis’s Crime Story. Although St. Louis is rarely mentioned in regards to gang history or the mob underworld, St. Louis offers a history of its own filled with exciting stories and colorful characters. We will tour the underworld of the past, meet these notorious mobsters, learning about their street battles and shady deals. Find out how law enforcement attempted to clean up the city’s gangster underbelly. We will then be free to tour the Museum on our own. Our next stop will be the St. Louis Art Museum. We will be met by docents who will show you the Museum’s highlights and then give you time to explore on your own. Schedule is flexible -- if you prefer to spend all of your time at one museum, we can accommodate that.

Dinner: We’ll savor a delightful farewell dinner while experiencing the German influence on St. Louis cuisine at the Feasting Fox Restaurant to celebrate our week of fun. A buffet dinner will be served. Coffee, tea, and water are included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Program Conclusion and Departures
St Louis, MO B
Activity note: Hotel Check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Check out and prepare for departure. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all you journeys!

DAY 1: LOS ANGELES ARRIVAL

Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport and transfer independently to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, Los Angeles, or similar

DAY 2: LOS ANGELES > MOJAVE DESERT > LAS VEGAS

Meet your Tour Director and depart for Las Vegas, the glittering “Entertainment Capital of the World,” for non-stop fun, gambling, and world-class entertainment. Your tour stops at the iconic Las Vegas Welcome Sign where you may wish to capture your photo memory of Las Vegas.

Accommodation at the Luxor Las Vegas, Las Vegas, or similar

DAY 3: LAS VEGAS > DEATH VALLEY > MAMMOTH LAKES/FRESNO

Having enjoyed glamorous Las Vegas, it will be a sharp contrast this afternoon to enter the quiet and extreme environment of Death Valley. Stop at Zabriskie Point and Furnace Creek Ranch/Visitors Center before continuing across the valley and ascending the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the alpine resort town of Mammoth Lakes. The area gained prominence as a gold mining town in the 19th century and today is renowned for its superior skiing terrain and staggeringly beautiful mountain vistas.

Important note: Winter Routing The Tioga Pass may be closed due to weather or road conditions, in which case you will overnight in Fresno or Visalia and a visit to Mammoth Lakes will not be possible (winter routing applies to all departures between October and May under normal snow conditions).

Accommodation at the Mammoth Mountain Inn, Mammoth Lakes, or Piccadilly Inn, Fresno

DAY 4: MAMMOTH/FRESNO > YOSEMITE > MODESTO

Your journey today brings you to the Tioga Pass (please see important note on day 3) into the scenic wonderland of Yosemite National Park. Here, you will experience the valley floor and its splendors including the glacial-shaped granite formations of El Capitan, Half Dome, the magnificent Bridal Falls, and Yosemite Falls. Overnight in Modesto.

Accommodation at the Doubletree by Hilton Modesto, Modesto, or similar

DAY 5: MODESTO > SAN FRANCISCO

Depart early this morning to arrive in San Francisco, one of the most beloved cities in America. Enjoy a comprehensive sightseeing tour before arriving at your hotel. This evening take a memorable City by Night Tour (optional).

Accommodation at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco, or similar

DAY 6: SAN FRANCISCO (NAPA VALLEY OPTIONAL)

Day at leisure! Your Tour Director is on hand to assist with making your plans for the day: perhaps a cable car ride to Fisherman’s Wharf where one may enjoy a “Taste of San Francisco”: local seafood, famous sourdough bread, or decadent Ghiradelli’s Chocolate. Or take a stroll by Sea Lions’ Marina to watch them frolic.

Be sure to gaze across the bay to Alcatraz Island where “America’s Most Wanted” such as Al Capone and ”Machine Gun” Kelly were incarcerated. Or visit Union Square for a shopping stop at Macy’s Department Store. You also may choose to embark on a wine-tasting tour to Napa Valley, world-renowned for its fine wineries and beautiful scenery (optional).

Accommodation at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square, San Francisco, or similar

DAY 7: SAN FRANCISCO > MONTEREY/ CARMEL > CENTRAL COAST

Depart San Francisco this morning for the drive to the Monterey Peninsula, known for its magnificent homes and lovely beaches. In Monterey, visit Fisherman’s Wharf and famous Cannery Row Then tour charming Carmel-by-the-Sea, noted for its quaint houses, upscale art galleries, and unique stores. In the afternoon your tour continues through Paso Robles, home of fine wineries. Overnight in a quaint Central California Coast town.

Accommodation at the Radisson Santa Maria, Central Coast, or similar

DAY 8: CENTRAL COAST > SANTA BARBARA > SANTA MONICA > LOS ANGELES DEPARTURE

Journey south through the Santa Ynez Valley into Santa Barbara where palm-lined walkways border white sandy beaches. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, an orientation tour commences to include Hollywood, portions of Beverly Hills, and Century City before arriving in Santa Monica, home to the finish line of Historic Route 66, where you may enjoy an optional lunch on the pier before departure or arriving at your hotel.