Itinerary Louisiana trip - October 5-19
BRING YOUR PASSPORTS | We strongly recommend you have travel insurance.
Note: Due to health and allergic concerns, we are a scent FREE Bus kindly be mindful of this.
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You need to call and confirm your chosen location for boarding the bus.
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​Times and locations for boarding the bus.
Henderson & McLeod (Tim Hortons Restaurant) 7:15am
Ste. Annes & Fermor (Salisbury restaurant) 7:30am
2155 Pembina Hwy (Safeway) 8am
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Pack light jackets, a hat, sunglasses, a camera, any necessary medication, and comfortable walking shoes. The average temperature in Baton Rouge is around 70 degrees, dropping to 60 in the evenings. New Orleans will be warmer at 75 degrees, but keep in mind that weather can be unpredictable.
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Please note: All arrival times are approximate; however, we cannot guarantee specific timings due to variables such as customs clearance and unpredictable traffic conditions.
During our travel days, we will make stops for washroom breaks and leg stretching.
Further details for each day, whether a travel or event day, will be provided on the bus.
If you are unable to print the itinerary or have it on your phones, hard copies will be available on the bus for distribution.
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October 5, Day 1, we depart from Winnipeg and stop at Emerson Duty Free.
After clearing customs, we proceed to pre-order at Duty Free America for our return to Canada.
We take a 45-minute lunch break at Fargo West Acres Mall.
We will arrive at the Hampton Inn in Oakdale, Minnesota, for our first night's stay at 5:30 PM. The evening is free for personal activities. Breakfast is included and will be available from 6 AM.
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October 6, Day 2: Board the bus at 8 AM. Today is a travel day filled with beautiful scenery and entertaining games on the bus as we make our way to our hotel in Champaign, IL. Our lunch break will be at a favorite stop for many, The Cracker Barrel Restaurant and Country Store.
We will arrive at our hotel, The Drury Inn & Suites, at 5 PM. Tonight, you can enjoy the Drury Inn's 'Kick Back' menu, which includes beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks, and a variety of food options buffet-style, ensuring there's something for everyone. This is available from 5:30 to 7 PM (included). The evening is free for you to enjoy as you wish, and breakfast is included.
October 7, Day 3, board the bus at 8 am. Our journey today takes us into Missouri, where we'll enjoy a distinctive lunch experience (at your own expense) at the renowned Lamberts Restaurant, home of the "Throwed Rolls," around noon. Afterward, we'll depart for West Memphis, arriving at the Southland Casino Hotel Resort by 4:30 pm for a one-night stay. The evening is free for you to enjoy as you please.
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You will receive $25.00 in Free Slot Play from the Southland Casino Resort. There are multiple dining options available for supper, and all meals, including breakfast, are not included; the breakfast restaurant, Seasons Café, opens at 5 am.
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October 8, Day 4: Board the bus at 8:30 am. Today, we'll journey through Mississippi with a lunch stop en route, arriving in Baton Rouge for a three-night stay.
We'll arrive at 5 pm at L'auberge Casino Resort Hotel, which offers views of the Mississippi River. The evening is free for you to enjoy. Accommodations are provided for October 8, 9, and 10.
Included is a $20 food voucher valid during our stay, redeemable for any meal at the Sports Book Restaurant, which opens at 7 am.
Visit the Players Club with your ID to take advantage of new member promotions.
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October 9, Day 5, board the bus at 8:30 AM for a full day of fun tours. Remember to bring a hat, sunglasses, a possible light jacket, and comfortable shoes. We will arrive at Avery Island to tour the Tabasco Factory and Grounds, followed by a traditional Louisiana lunch (included).
After lunch, we will proceed to McGee's for an amazing Swamp Tour and Adventure. We will return to our hotel between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM. The evening will be at your leisure.
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October 10, Day 6, board the bus at 9:15 AM. Today, we'll travel along the historic Old River Road to Houmas Plantation for a tour, where you'll experience a historic plantation house and its gardens.
After departing, we'll return to Baton Rouge to explore "The Old State Capitol." You'll have some time to enjoy lunch on your own before the tour starts. Following the tour, we'll head to the "Mall of Louisiana" for some free time to shop. As the largest mall in Louisiana, it features the world's third-largest indoor carousel. Let's tap into our youthful spirit and take a ride.
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October 11, Day 7, we board the bus at 9:00 am and travel once more along Old River Road to our first destination, Oak Alley Plantation. From its 28 majestic oaks to its expansive spaces, the landscape of Oak Alley narrates the tale of a plantation's evolution. Where a Pecan Grove once flourished, now stand wide pastures. A formal garden from the 1920s silently guards the remnants of an 1830s kitchen beneath its surface. (This is my favorite plantation.)
After completing the tours, we indulge in a beautifully prepared buffet lunch at 1 pm (included).
Departing from Oak Alley Plantation, we make our way to New Orleans, checking into the Drury Inns & Suites at 4 pm for a four-night stay. Each day includes breakfast as well as access to the 5:30-7 pm Kick Back Menu, featuring buffet-style foods and drinks. For those who prefer, "The Kitchen and Bar" restaurant in the lobby is available for your dining pleasure. The evening is yours to enjoy and explore.
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October 12 , Day 8 is a free day for you to explore on your own; Our bus will not be available today. Information regarding distances from our hotel, places of interest, and additional details about local bus services and pass you may purchase will be provided.
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October 13, day 9 - Outing Day: Today, we relish a delightful Sunday Jazz Cruise & Brunch (included) on the Steamboat Natchez. We'll board the bus at 10 am, which allows us time to settle in. Following the cruise, we'll have an enjoyable visit to the Mardi Gras World Float Museum.
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October 14, Day 10: Today, we embark on a city tour with a local step-on guide, boarding the bus at 9 am sharp. This three-hour journey will encompass the Garden District, a cemetery tour, sculpture gardens, and more, promising an exhilarating morning. The tour concludes at the French Market, where you'll have time to enjoy lunch on your own. After, we'll enter the French Quarter for our visit to The Mardi Gras Museum of Costume, where you'll witness stunning and distinctive costumes and have the opportunity to dress up, creating fun and memorable photo opportunities. Following the tour, you may either return to our hotel for a brief respite and explore the Kick Back menu, or choose to spend your final evening in New Orleans reveling in the French Quarter.
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October 15, Day 11: Board the bus at 8:30 AM. Today, we bid farewell to the incredible city of New Orleans and the captivating state of Louisiana. However, the adventure continues as we journey to Memphis for a two-night stay at the Southland Casino Resort, with check-in at 4 PM. Enjoy the evening at your leisure.
On October 16, Day 12, board the bus at 9:30 AM. Today, we embark on a private Mojo tour of downtown Memphis, capturing the city's highlights in a distinctive manner. Following the Mojo tour, we'll visit the Pyramid (Bass Pro Shop), where the observation deck offers unparalleled views of Memphis (deck ticket included). Lunch is at your discretion; we suggest the "Lookout Restaurant" at the Pyramid or Wahlburger on the main floor. Post-lunch, we explore America's Soul of Music at Stax Museum and Sun Studios, the small yet historic studio that fostered the ambitions of legends like Howlin’ Wolf, Rufus Thomas, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
Dinner is scheduled for 5:30 PM, featuring some of Memphis' finest flavors (included). We'll conclude our evening with a few hours on Beale Street, Tennessee’s top tourist attraction and America’s most iconic street, known as the Home of the Blues. There's always lively activity on Beale Street. Afterwards, we return to the hotel.
October 17, Day 13: Board the bus at 9 am. Today, we bid farewell to Memphis as we begin our journey home. We'll return to the Drury Inn and Suites in Champaign, IL—the same location as on our way down. Check-in is at 5 pm. Enjoy the evening Kick Back Menu (included), along with breakfast.
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October 18, Day 14: Board the bus at 8:30 am. Today, we return to St. Paul Oakdale for our final evening of the trip. Anytyme Travel is hosting a farewell supper/gathering in the hotel meeting room. More information regarding the time and location will be provided on the bus.
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October 19, Day 15: Board the bus at 8:30 am. Today, we head back to Winnipeg, making regular stops for lunch and leg stretches, including a stop in the Grand Forks Target parking lot to shop Target or late lunch at 1 of 3 options, leaving Grand Forks we pick up Duty-Free items ordered on departure day, Clear Customs, returning to Winnipeg around 6pm do not make arrangements to early as traffic could delay us once we clear custom would be the time to call if you need to be picked up by someone.
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We hope you will carry wonderful memories of this trip, and we look forward to welcoming you on future journeys.
Please remember when packing your suitcases: DO NOT pack your passport inside your suitcase, as you will need it to clear customs at Emerson.
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Luggage Instructions: For the initial three travel days, we suggest packing a smaller suitcase to be placed in the bus cargo, we mark for overnight use and take out each evening. This approach avoids the need to remove all luggage nightly, streamlining the process. However, you may opt to bring a single large suitcase for daily access if preferred. This is merely a recommendation for your convenience. Please limit luggage to two suitcases per person.
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Cooler Guidelines: Should you wish to bring a cooler, it must fit under your bus seat. For coolers containing ice, a hard case is mandatory to prevent water leakage onto the floor and other passengers' belongings.
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Bus Activities: We will play games of fun and chance during travel times. Please bring $12 in a combination of loonies, toonies, or $5 bills. Collection and distribution for various planned games will occur once we are out of town.
Due to insufficient interest, we will not provide transportation to Graceland. The costs are significant, and although we have inquired with Graceland about the possibility of a shuttle service from our hotel, they have informed us that they do not offer any transportation services or the option to purchase tickets except directly at the facility. As previously mentioned, a minimum number of participants would be necessary to cover the distance, time, and additional bus expenses.
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Hotel Phone Numbers and Names
Hampton Inn & Suite – Oakdale 1-651-739-7436
Drury Inn & Suite -Champaign 1-217-398-0030
Southland Casino Hotel- West Memphis 1-870-735-3670
L’auberge Casino Resort Baton Rouge- 1-225-224-4114
Drury Inns & Suites- New Orleans- 1-504-529-7800
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