Newsletter J Upcoming Tour Previews
October 2014 BURKHALTER TOURS Greetings Travelers! like the warm days of J ust summer and early fall, you’ll no ce in these pages that our 2014 tours have pre y much disappeared. It’s all about the new year at this point, and we have lots of great things in store for you. This month, we’ve added a great tour of France, an adventure in the Galapagos Islands, a tour that really hits all the high points of Germany, our first Alaska tour for the new season, and another terrific river cruise that covers not one, but four rivers. Our 2014 day tours are also winding down, although we have a nice selec on of holiday-themed tours coming up. Next month, our last issue of the year will introduce some of our day tours coming up in 2015 (hint-lots of great Chicago theatre). We’re hoping to see you on a tour soon! Elaine and Kathy Globus Europe Thu, Oct 16, 6:30p Burkhalter Office Preview the new line-up for 2015 and get up to $1,000 per couple off! Avalon River Cruising Tue, Oct 21, 6:30p Find out how you can save up to $1,300 per couple on a 2015 cruise! Newsletter ● Upcoming Tour Previews ● Unless otherwise stated, all of our tour previews are held at our office at 6501 Mineral Point Road in Madison, beginning at 6:30p. RSVP’s are required. Please call 800/556-9286 or 608/833-1525 ext 260 or ext 261 or email: [email protected] The Best of Italy/Northern Italy Wed, Oct 22, 6:30p-Burkhalter Office A end and learn about the terrific Italy tours we are offering in 2015. For spring travelers who want a shorter tour, the April 13-21 tour of northern Italy, with an extended stay in the Lake Como area, fits the bill. The is also a great second tour if you’ve already done the “big” tour that covers all of Italy. For those of you who haven’t been there, the more comprehensive Best of Italy tour from September 26October 7 is probably just what you’re looking for. You’ll travel from Rome to Tuscany, Venice and Assisi before you come back around to the south to see Pompeii and Naples and to spend two glorious nights on the island of Capri! $500 airfare discount available! The Best of Spain and Portugal Thu, Oct 23, 6:30p-Burkhalter Office Ever wonder why so many European tours leave out Spain and Portugal? Perhaps it is the sheer size of Spain - it has the geographical diversity of several countries in one, and Portugal is quite a distance from the rest of Europe. This March 20-April 4 tour is your chance to immerse yourselves in two different cultures on a tour that covers both countries extensively. Find out why so many Europeans spend their vaca ons in Spain and Portugal. Whether it’s warm and beachy Costa del Sol or Algarve, historic ci es like Madrid or Lisbon, the vineyards of the Duoro or the citrus groves of Valencia, there is no shortage of things to do and see in the beau ful Iberian Peninsula! Extended Tours October 2014 - P 2 Barcelona, Spain BEST OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL DEATH VALLEY DISCOVERY Featuring five nights in Las Vegas! March 8-13, 2015 If you love Las Vegas, but want the op on of exploring beyond its fabulous strip, this may be the tour for you! Your evenings are free, but during the day, you have the op on of more free me or touring nearby sights like the fascina ng Hoover Dam, Death Valley Na onal Park-the largest na onal park south of Alaska, Zion Na onal Park-one of the na on’s oldest parks, and more. This is a very flexible tour-you get to choose! $1,616 from Chicago. ► $45 cash discount! March 20-April 4, 2015 This in-depth, 16-day tour travels from Spain’s elegant capital of Madrid to its 16th-century university town of Salamanca. Cross into Portugal to visit its port wine capital along the magnificent River Douro. See Fa ma’s Great Basilica, and walk inside the ancient walls of Obidos. Discover the historic capital of Lisbon and see its mighty Monument to the Discoveries. Cross back into España, visit the grave of Christopher Columbus and enjoy a fiery flamenco show. See the Rock of Gibraltar en route to the stunning Costa del Sol, along the Mediterranean Sea. Con nue up the coast past colorful orange groves to Valencia, and travel into Barcelona, an incredibly beau ful city that you’ll never want to leave. From $4,583 from Chicago. ► $160 offpay in full by Oct. 31! DISCOVER CUBA FLAVORS OF THE SOUTH March 10-16, 2015 - Hosted by Jeff Epping of Olbrich Botanical Gardens During this people-to-people cultural experience, you will tour Havana, home to the largest collec on of Spanish Colonial architecture in the Americas; visit the home and workshop of famous ar st, Jose Fuster; enjoy performances by a local dance troupe and choir members of the Cuban Music Ins tute; tour a rum factory and visit a tobacco farm; explore the scenic Vinales Valley; stop to see Hemingway’s Farm; and check out the San Jose CraM Market and Art Center to interact with local ar sts. Talk with a former Cuban pro baseball player and meet with an Old Style Car Club. $4,449 per person from Chicago. 2015 Value Tour - New Orleans, Lake Charles, Memphis March 21-28, 2015 A major theme of the next Value Tour will be highlighted meals featuring incredible southern cuisine. In addi on to touring in New Orleans, you’ll do a li le cooking (and ea ng) at the New Orleans School of Cooking, and visit the fascina ng Na onal WWII Museum, one of the best in the U.S. Admire the gorgeous historic homes in Lake Charles, explore the Creole Nature Trail, and visit the Mardi Gras Museum, where you will decorate a King Cake. Wrap it up in Memphis with a tour including Graceland, and enjoy the fantas c food at Alfred’s on Beale. $1,339 from Madison. ► Ask about available discounts! For more informa,on, call 800/556-9286 or 608/833-1525; Kathy ext 260; Elaine ext 261; [email protected] Extended Tours P 3 - October 2014 Fields at Appoma4ox, Virginia SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX Civil War Anniversary Series, Part 5 April 6-14, 2015 In the fiMh and final tour of this Civil War series, you will visit the sites where the final ba les of the Civil War were fought. From Washington, DC, travel south, stopping in Fredericksburg, site of the Civil War’s first urban combat in 1862, and Spotsylvania to learn about the two-week ba le there. In Richmond, visit several sites associated with the Confederacy and learn about the Ba le of Cold Harbor and the Siege of Petersburg, both of which led to Lee’s surrender at Appoma ox. Wrap it up with a visit to the small town where Lee met Grant to surrender on April 9, 1865. $1,898. ► Ask about available discounts! NORTHERN ITALY & LAKE COMO April 13-21, 2015 Discover the fascina ng ci es and incredibly beau ful scenery in the north of Italy - all while enjoying a seven -night stay in one fabulous hotel on Lake Como! Your group will tour Milan and see its cathedral, which is the fiMh largest in the world. You will visit Verona, where the pastel villas and cobbled streets inspired Shakespeare. Spend an en re day in fabulous Venice, a city sprawled over 117 islands. Visit nearby Lugano, Switzerland and enjoy spectacular views of the Alps as you ride the Monte Bre Cable Car. You will have two days that are en rely free for independent exploraon, or you can sign up for op onal tours. $4,498 from Chicago. ► $100 cash discount! Verde Canyon Railroad CASTLES OF THE RHINE April 6-14, 2015 Cruise from Amsterdam in the Netherlands along the Rhine River to Basel in Switzerland while enjoying the delighPul flowers and plants that the spring weather is bringing to life. The real lure of the Rhine is its fairytale castles and the charming small towns that line its banks. See the drama c Rhine Gorge, said to be the most beau ful stretch of the river. Get a taste of the Dutch, German, French and Swiss cultures you encounter as you cruise onboard your luxury ship. From $4,330 from Chicago. ► Space is very limited! GREAT TRAINS - GRAND CANYONS April 26-May 1, 2015 Enjoy five nights at a resort hotel in the beau ful and funky ar st community of Sedona, Arizona, set among the red-hued rocks of Oak Creek Canyon. From Williams, travel aboard the Grand Canyon Railway for a nostalgic two-hour journey to the South Rim of the awe-inspiring na onal park. From Clarkdale, the Verde Canyon Railroad will take you on a spectacular fourhour journey between two na onal forests, past crimson cliffs, over old-fashioned trestles, and through a 680-foot tunnel. Amazing! $2,499 from Chicago. For more informa,on, call 800/556-9286 or 608/833-1525; Kathy ext 260; Elaine ext 261; [email protected] Extended Tours October 2014 - P 4 Jekyll Island Club Liechtenstein castle SOUTHERN COASTAL JOURNEY FROM ROME TO LONDON May 6-13, 2015 Travel along America’s scenic southern coast to discover its historic ci es. Begin with two nights in charming Charleston, sure to be burs ng with colorful flowers at this me of year. Embark on a guided carriage tour in picturesque Beaufort before landing for two nights in Savannah, the Georgian city that Sherman declared “too beau ful to burn.” Watch for dolphins on a cruise from St. Simons Island to Jekyll Island, where you’ll spend two nights at the delighPul Jekyll Island Club. AMer a visit to St. Augus ne, your tour winds down in Orlando. $2,489 w/es-mated air from Chicago. May 16-29, 2015 Experience mul ple European cultures on this 14-day tour of six amazing countries. Begin in ancient Rome, con nuing through Italy to visit Pisa, Florence and Venice. Cross into Austria for an overnight in the Tyrol capital of Innsbruck. Make a short stop in Europe’s niest principality, Liechtenstein, before traveling into Switzerland for a two-night stay in lovely Lucerne. Next, travel into France, through its vineyards and fields of lavender, landing in Paris. Lastly, you will ferry across the English Channel and drive to royal London for two nights. $3,960 from Chicago. NEW! Caen Peace Memorial, Normandy Alnwick Castle, England FROM THE SHANNON TO THE THAMES May 12-25, 2015 If you’re Irish, ScoQsh or Bri sh, here’s your chance to see the homeland of your ancestors. Even if you’re just a hopeless Anglophile or royal-watcher, you are sure to enjoy seeing the best of both Ireland and Great Britain on this 14-day panoramic tour. Irish highlights include Limerick, Cliffs of Moher, Galway, a visit to a local farm, Adare, Ring of Kerry and Killarney, Blarney, Dublin, Giant’s Causeway and Belfast. Ferry to Great Britain and visit Edinburgh in Scotland, see Alnwick Castle, York, Leeds, StraPord-Upon-Avon, Bath, Stonehenge and London. $4,490 from Chicago. NORMANDY, BRITTANY AND FRANCE’S CHATEAU COUNTRY June 3-12, 2015 Paris is one of the most amazing and roman c ci es in the world, but France has so much more to offer, and you can experience it for yourself on this nine-day i nerary that begins and ends in the City of Light. Enjoy a stop in Rouen and the cathedral that so inspired Monet. Travel to Normandy and visit the Museum for Peace in Caen, see the famous beaches and pay your respects at the American Cemetery. Con nue through beau ful Bri any to the scenic Loire Valley and visit two of the most important castles in the area, including Chateau Chambord and Chenonceau. $4,499 from Chicago. ► Up to $100 off-book by 10/31! For more informa,on, call 800/556-9286 or 608/833-1525; Kathy ext 260; Elaine ext 261; [email protected] Extended Tours P 5 - October 2014 CRUISING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ALASKAN ADVENTURE June 13-20, 2015 As restric ons become ghter, opportuni es to visit the incredible Galapagos become fewer. If this des naon is on your bucket list, now is the me to go! You will spend a day in Ecuador’s historic Quito before flying to Baltra to board your cruise ship and begin your four-night tour of the islands. You’re likely to encounter slow and stately sea turtles, majes c marine iguanas, charming Galapagos penguins and curious sea lions, not to men on a host of marine birds, masked and blue-footed boobies, herons and more - truly an unforge able adventure. $5,425 from Chicago. June 22-July 5, 2015 If the Great Land is your dream, this 13-day journey will make it come true. You’ll start in Fairbanks, pan for gold and visit an Athabascan na ve village; travel by coach to Denali Na onal Park for a two-night stay featuring a fantas c wilderness excursion in search of wildlife; ride the magnificent McKinley Explorer train to Anchorage for an overnight; and travel to Seward past the spectacular scenery of Turnagain Arm. Your cruise then takes you to Glacier Bay, Haines and Skagway, the capital of Juneau, and Ketchikan, winding up in Vancouver. From $3,918 from Chicago. Medieval Rothenberg HIGHLIGHTS OF GERMANY June 14-25 2015 If you’re looking for a comprehensive tour of Germany, this 12-day tour has something for everyone. Enjoy a day cruise along the castle-crested hills of the Rhine River and a journey on board a Eurocity Train to the once-divided Berlin. Visit historic ci es like Cologne, with its gothic, twin-towered cathedral; Leipzig, and its Thomaskirche where J.S. Bach once worked; the university town of Heidelberg; or Nuremberg, known for children’s toys and gingerbread. Traverse the Romanc Road to see medieval Rothenburg and the Bavarian capital of Munich. Visit the Passion Play town of Oberammergau and learn all about the cuckoo clocks of the Black Forest. $4,055 from Chicago. ► Lower price! CENTRAL EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE July 13-25, 2015 Cruise along four fantas c European rivers - the Moselle, the Rhine, the Main and the Danube - and see some of the con nent’s oldest and most beau ful ci es. Spend two nights in Prague and stroll the cobblestone streets around Wenceslaus Square. Sail from Nuremburg, Germany and visit centuries-old towns like Bamberg, Wurzburg and Miltenberg along the Danube and Main Rivers, through the Rhine Gorge and past the spa town of Boppard, and into the Moselle Valley reaching Remich, where you will disembark, and later, catch a high-speed train to Paris for a two-night stay in the City of Light. From $5,999 w/es-mated air from Chicago. For more informa,on, call 800/556-9286 or 608/833-1525; Kathy ext 260; Elaine ext 261; [email protected] Extended Tours October 2014 - P 6 About Our Tour Listings Individual brochures including reserva on forms, complete i neraries and all terms and condi ons, are available for each of the extended tours listed in this newsle er. Call or email to request a copy. Or, if you receive the newsle er electronically, you may simply click on the tour tle to go directly to the brochure for that tour. Unless otherwise stated, the prices shown are complete per person based on double occupancy, including accommoda ons, admissions, some meals, taxes and fees, and the cost of transporta on by air , motorcoach , train or ship . Burkhalter Travel Agency Locations Any of our terrific tours may also be booked through our equally terrific travel agents-call one today! West Madison: 800/556-9286 or 608/833-5200 6501 Mineral Point Rd Madison 53705 East Madison: 800/414-7166 or 608/241-7500 615A N Sherman Ave Madison 53704 Fitchburg: 888/522-4269 or 608/441-0151 3050 Cahill Main, Fitchburg 53711 Oregon: 800/537-0419 or 608/835-8474 763 N Main, Oregon 53575 Stoughton/Chalet Travel: 800/733-6970 or 608/873-8133 226 S Forrest St, Stoughton 53589 Baraboo: 800/660-8359 or 608/356-4999 141 Third Ave, Baraboo 53913 Brookfield/Olson Travel: 800/847-5921 or 262/782-0110 17550 W Bluemound Rd Suite 202 Brookfield 53045 Dubuque/Travel Headquarters: 800/383-0563 or 563/588-3456 2095 John F Kennedy Rd Suite 1 Dubuque, IA 52002 These tours are “on request,” which means the group space we were holding has or is about to be recalled. Call now to check availability! CRUISING HAWAII February 19-28, 2015 Imagine warm breezes, the scent of colorful bougainvillea, and the sound of graceful ocean waves crashing against an almond sandy beach. You can experience this paradise for the senses when you visit the Hawaiian islands. And, you can take away all the hassles of island hopping by seeing Hawaii from onboard your luxurious NCL cruise ship. This 10-day trip includes two pre-nights in ocean-view accommoda ons in Honolulu so you have plenty of me to explore “the gathering place,” including Pearl Harbor, before the start of your cruise. From just $3,470 from Chicago. CRUISING THE ADRIATIC SEA May 1-9, 2015-Small-Ship Adventure Travel onboard an in mate 38person sailing ship and cruise along one of the world’s most magnificent coastlines. Weave between Croa a’s beau ful islands with gorgeous beaches and historic towns. Your small vessel is able to navigate ports, harbors and inlets that bigger ships could never manage. All meals (including local beer and wines) and sightseeing are included. Begin in Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adria c,” stop in the city of Split, where you can wander along its seaside promenade, and more!$3,749-$3,949 from Chicago. More 2015 Tours Here are some of the tours we are s-ll preparing for next year: • July: Best of Scandinavia, Alaska’s Best • August: Mari mes of Canada, Legendary Danube, Alaska and the Yukon, Bonnie Scotland (with the Military Ta oo) • September: Door County Getaway, Best of Italy, In Search of Downton Abbey (Britain), Gardens of New York (Olbrich) • October: Bohemian Dream, Colors of New England, Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Cruising the Yangtze, New York Weekend • November: Southern California-Queen Mary For more informa,on, call 800/556-9286 or 608/833-1525; Kathy ext 260; Elaine ext 261; [email protected] OneOne-Day Tours P 7 - October 2014 Autumn Adventure in Green Bay + NE Wisconsin Sat, Oct 11, 2014 - $111 (L) Visit Pulaski’s historic church and enjoy Polish cookies. Stop at a local greenhouse to take in the fall color and décor before having lunch at the beau ful Woodfire Lodge. You’ll also stop at a local orchard and shop for autumn-themed giMs at Taylor Creek in Green Bay. The Lion King Milwaukee Theatre Sat, Nov 15, 2014 $145 This meless classic is the fourth longest-running produc on in Broadway history and a family favorite. Simba’s colorful comingof-age story is enhanced by Julie Taymor’s groundbreaking staging and puppetry! Autumn FesDval CraE Fair Villa Park, IL Fri, Nov 21, 2014-$54 This popular craM market features 500+ skilled ar sans and craMspeople from 30 states. There are no commercial vendors, only handcraMed, American-made items. Book early if you want this one! (L)-Lunch included. A Christmas Story Fox CiDes PAC, Appleton Sat, Nov 22, 2014 - $135 This Broadway musical version of Ralphie’s hilarious story is sure to entertain you and everyone in your family. The show is produced in part by Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in the movie! Clauson Family’s Christmas on the Farm Coloma, WI Thu, Dec 4, 2014 - $89 (L) Visit the Clauson Family’s Historic Barn Theatre for lunch and an aMernoon of unforge able holiday entertainment. The high-energy cast of talented kids and grown-ups will knock your socks off! Holiday Wonderland Express, Chicago Botanic Garden Tue, Dec 9, 2014 - $143 (L) Join members of Olbrich Botanical Gardens and embark on a magical adventure to this spectacular winter wonderland! During the holiday season, the Garden features 750,000 lights, along with a fantas c miniature train display that meanders through 80 mini-replicas of favorite Chicago landmarks. Includes a fun wreath-making demonstra on and holiday lunch buffet. 2014 Holiday Shopping in Chicagoland A en on Chicago shoppers: This year you have two op ons! On Friday, December 12, op on #1 will take you to Rosemont, where you can shop at the new Fashion Outlets Mall, peruse for giMs at the Woodfield Mall or a end the Interna onal Gem and Jewelry Show at the conven on center. Your coach will have a regular route between these three places, so you can go from one to the next if you wish. On Saturday, December 13, op on #2 is our regular downtown Chicago tour, with rota ng drop-offs near Water Tower Place on North Michigan, and near Macy’s and the Christkindl Market in the Loop. Both tours are priced at just $48 per person. For more informa,on, call 800/556-9286 or 608/833-1525; Kathy ext 260; Elaine ext 261; [email protected] PRESORT STD U.S. Postage Paid Madison, WI Permit No. 1968 BURKHALTER TOURS 6501 Mineral Point Rd Madison, WI 53705 608/833-1525 or 800/556-9286 Elaine Grenzow, ext 261 [email protected] Kathy Brinkman, ext 260 [email protected] You may also find our Burkhalter Travel page on Facebook or follow us on Twi4er @BurkhalterTrvl! Autumn is a second spring when every leaf's a flower. - Albert Camus October 2014 NewsleIer Burkhalter Tours At-A-Glance Extended Tours Branson Holiday Sunshine State Getaway Mekong River Cruise Tropical Costa Rica Cruising Hawaii Alaska’s Iditarod Death Valley/Vegas Tanzania Discover Cuba w/Olbrich Best of Spain/Portugal ● Flavors of the South Civil War: Appoma ox Castles of the Rhine Northern Italy/Lake Como ● Great Trains/Grand Canyons Cruising the Adria c Southern Coastal Journey Shannon to the Thames From Rome to London Normandy, Bri any Cruising the Galapagos Highlights of Germany Nov 05-09 on request Nov 06-13 on request Jan 11-24 ‘15 on request Feb 16-24 sold out Feb 19-28 on request Mar 02-09 on request Mar 08-13 Mar 08-19 Mar 10-16 Mar 20-Apr 04 Mar 21-28 Apr 06-14 Apr 06-14 Apr 13-21 Apr 26-May 01 May 01-09 on request May 06-13 May 12-25 May 16-29 Jun 03-12 new Jun 13-20 new Jun 14-25 new Alaskan Adventure Best of Scandinavia Central European Experience Alaska’s Best Legendary Danube Canada’s Mari mes Alaska + The Yukon Bonnie Scotland Best of Italy Gardens of New York (Olbrich) Jun 22-Jul 05 new Jul 10-19 Jul 13-25 Jul 19-29 new Aug 03-14 Aug 03-13 Aug 04-15 Aug 05-12 Sep 26-Oct 07 Sep 27-Oct 01 One-Day Tours Autumn Adventure in NE WI Amazing Grace Camelot The Lion King Autumn Fes val CraM Fair A Christmas Story Clauson Family Christmas Chicago Botanic Garden Chicago Shopping-Rosemont Chicago Shopping-Downtown Oct 11 Oct 25 sold out Nov 06 sold out Nov 15 Nov 21 Nov 22 Dec 04 Dec 09 Dec 12 Dec 13 ● Tour Preview This Month
© Copyright 2024