First Lutheran Church
Ark Encounter and Creation Museum Coach Bus Trip
June 5th-10th, 2023
Jump on board the coach bus on June 5th to start our travels to Kentucky where we will tour the Noah’s Ark that is full-size and built to scale as told in the Bible. Spanning 510 feet long, 85 feet wide and 51 feet high. This is a family friendly trip for any age to enjoy.
Our journey will start by leaving First Lutheran Church at 8:00 Am June 5th. We will venture down to Burr Ridge a suburb of Chicago and spend the night at the Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge. The evening will be on your own as there are several restaurants within walking distance of the hotel or grab a bite at the hotel. After dinner, spend some time relaxing in the pool or hot tub.
Tuesday we will arrive at the Creation Museum around 1:00 in the afternoon making sure to grab lunch before arriving. The afternoon will be spent venturing through biblical history, stunning exhibits, botanical gardens, planetarium, and more. We will end the night checking into our hotel at Springhill Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Airport South. The rest of the evening will be on your own, enjoying time in the pool or relaxing in your room.
Wednesday is all about the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical gardens. Breakfast is provided at the hotel and lunch will be on your own at the Zoo. If time allows we will head over to the Loveland Castle for a tour. There will be walking down to the castle as the bus is unable to get there with the steep hill. For more inforation on the Castle visit lovelandcastle.com The evening will end with a dinner riverboat cruise from BB Riverboat on the Ohio River.
Thursday will be spent at the Ark Encounter where lunch will be on your own there. The history of the Bible vividly comes to life at the world-class Ark Encounter. The many exhibits will teach about the Flood, Noah, and the animals. Take a break and enjoy time in the family playground, built for kids of all abilities. Ararat Ridge Zoo has biblical teaching on the animal kingdom. The evening will be on your own or head over to Turfway Park to watch a live horse race and enjoy dinner.
On Friday morning after an early breakfast we will venture our way back north stopping in Wisconsin Dells for the evening. Here we will have access to four indoor and four outdoor water parks for all ages. If you are not up for water slides, enjoy the many restaurants on site or take a walk on their walking path.
Arriving back to First Lutheran Church midafternoon Saturday, June 10th stopping for lunch on our way home.
The cost varies depending on age, but you can expect to pay around $2,000 for two adults or $2,650 for a family of four. Any youth attending without their parents can expect to pay $650 per child. Please note that not all meals are included in the prices listed above. Cost includes room and board, transportation, all entry fees into parks and museums, and Stargazers Planetarium viewing.
A deposit of $150 per person or $500 per family is due at the time of registration to hold your spot. Registrations are due no later than April 10th. The deposit is non-refundable unless we are able to fill your spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is included in the cost? Transportation, hotels, a few meals, and entry into Ark Encounter, Creation Museum, Cincinnati Zoo, Loveland Castle, Stargazers Planetarium, BB Dinner Cruise.
- What is not included in the cost? Most lunches and dinners are on your own.
- What does transportation look like? We are taking a coach bus that has large comfortable seats, a bathroom, luggage storage underneath, and two tv screens.
- Will we drive staight thru? No, we will stop every 2-2 1/2 hours to get up walk around or have lunch.
- Will there be time to do what I want? In the evenings there will be time for you to socialize with whom you'd like or spend time by yourself. There are several restaurants near the hotels we will be staying at.
- What ages can attend? Any age may go. Youth that are wanting to attend without their parent needs to talk with Jessica Pellinen first.
- I have friends and family that want to attend and they are not members of First Lutheran, can they go? Absolutely! We welcome the first 56 people that want to go.