A Lone Star Christmas

Day 1

Day 1: Monday, November 27, 2023
Join us this morning from the available departure location of your choice, meet your friendly onboard Trailways host and driver, then settle in as we head for the Lone Star state! Enjoy rest and refresh breaks along the way today, as needed, as well as a stop for lunch, on your own.
Arrive at the Drury Inn & Suites in Joplin, Missouri for your overnight stay. Have dinner, on your own, at one of the adjacent restaurants to the hotel if you would like more than the included Kickback Reception. The Kickback offers a variety of hot and cold foods along with beverages including sodas, some beers, wines and cocktails.

Day 2

Day 2: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
After having breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Tishomingo, Oklahoma to tour the Chickasaw Council House and Museum. Located on the Capitol Square in downtown Tishomingo, the museum holds one of the largest collections of Chickasaw art, artifacts and archive materials. Experience the first Chickasaw Council House built in Indian Territory, artifacts tracing the history and culture of the Chickasaw people and contemporary Chickasaw artwork. Explore the great history and culture of the Chickasaw and learn more about the Chickasaw people who helped shape our nation. Enjoy an included holiday themed lunch while visiting the museum today.
After lunch, depart for Grapevine, Texas. We begin our visit to the Christmas Capital of Texas with a visit to the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau to tour the Hometown Christmas exhibit and holiday train display. After, enjoy a brief driving tour of Historic Downtown Grapevine with your Grapevine guide and a stop at Grapevine Main Station/Harvest Hall for an Observation tower tour before arriving at our Hilton Garden Inn hotel. The remainder of the evening will be free, on your own, to enjoy dinner in downtown Grapevine, do some exploring, and revel in all the Christmas displays. The street will be decorated with millions of twinkling lights and synchronized light displays with music.

Day 3

Day 3: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Have breakfast at the hotel this morning before departing for Waco. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour of Waco as well as a “Fixer Upper” tour. With a local guide, explore some of the neighborhoods, houses, shops, landmarks and structures featured on the HGTV show “Fixer Upper” with Chip and Joanna Gaines. Along with the towering silos of Magnolia, you’ll also uncover the secrets of Cameron Park, traverse gorgeous neighborhoods and learn about Waco’s rich history and its recent restoration.
Once the tour is over, you’ll have free time to explore and shop the Magnolia Silos and Market area on your own and have lunch at one of the food trucks, Magnolia Table or another local eatery. Hop on the Silo District & LaSalle District trolleys (they are free) and shop til you drop! River Square Center is home to Spice Village that features many different vendors and restaurants. Enjoy an included private dinner in Waco this evening.

Day 4

Day 4: Thursday, November 30, 2023
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before heading over to the Historic Nash Farm. Grapevine’s agrarian traditions are preserved as Nash Farm, which includes the original 1869 farmhouse, historic barn and other structures. The farm raises heritage breed livestock including Gulf Coast Sheep, turkeys, chickens and grows heirloom field crops and produce. After enjoying a tour and learning about the history of this farm by experiencing it firsthand, we’ll depart for the Gaylord Texas Resort.
While at the Gaylord, you’ll enjoy a tour of this beautiful resort and take in the 2023 ICE Exhibit “The Polar Express!” Grab one of their signature, blue parkas and step into a wonderland carved by expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice. Experience the Polar Express with larger-than-life sculptures and even plunge down slides made entirely of ice!
Lunch will be included at the Willhoite’s Restaurant today. Willhoite’s is one of the most unique restaurants in Texas, but it is also one of the oldest and most historical buildings in Grapevine. Built in 1914, the building first served as a dry goods store and was used for a time as a theater. In 1919, it was transformed into the first automotive garage in Grapevine. Where diners eat now may have been the wash rack, oil storage area, or beside the indoor kerosene pump, but the history of Willhoite’s Garage is a part of Willhoite’s Restaurant; a part that the owner has restored as authentically as possible.
After lunch, enjoy a visit to Vetro Glassblowing Studio. Vetro is a nationally recognized, active glassblowing studio and fine art gallery. They offer an extensive variety of professionally crafted glass art, ranging from hand-made sculptures to small glass art gifts. You’ll have the opportunity to assist in creating your own, unique art glass.
Later this afternoon, enjoy free time and shopping in Grapevine’s Christmas Village and Historic Downtown District. Experience Victorian Christmas spirit with your Grapevine Christmas Passport by visiting Historic Grapevine and participating in unique activities like stamping a brass gift tag, making a wooden Christmas ornament or bookmark. (The passport does not include the cost of activities.) Enjoy magnificent holiday window displays and Christmas music as you explore Grapevine’s Historic Downtown District, complete with local boutiques and gift shops, galleries and live artisans, winery tasting rooms, cafes, chocolate shops and more! This is a great place to check off that Christmas shopping list!
Dinner this evening will be at the Texas Star Dinner Theater – home of the award-winning Lone Star Murder Mysteries! It is the only theater in the Dallas/Fort Worth area designed as a murder mystery dinner theater.
Take a light-hearted trip back to the Wild West where five professionally trained actors perform an original, full scripted 90-minute comedy murder mystery around seated guests providing a fun opportunity for the characters to interact with guests. After Act II, guests interrogate the suspects as teams to put them on the trail of the killer. For murder mystery aficionados, they provide intrigue and challenge to their investigative skills. For those who just want to have dinner with some fun – they provide more hilarity than you can imagine!

Day 5

Day 5: Friday, December 1, 2023
After breakfast this morning, we enjoy one last stop in Grapevine to explore Grapevine’s Settlement to City Museums. Settlement to City Museums is a collection of 19th century structures representing Grapevine’s unique history. Experience skills and trades of early Grapevine through the printing press at the Keeling House, Donald School House and the Texas Cotton Gin Museum. While here, you’ll also create your own vintage holiday card on a 19th century printing press!
After the museum, we depart for Pawhuska, Oklahoma for a visit to Ree Drummond’s Mercantile. The Pioneer Woman Mercantile is a restaurant, bakery and store! Ree and Ladd Drummond spent years renovating the hundred-year-old Osage Mercantile building on Main Street so that they could welcome visitors and give them a slice of small town hospitality. “The Merc” has gorgeous goods, comfort foods, fresh-made pastries, delicious coffee, and plenty of fun to dish out. While visiting today, we’ll enjoy an early dinner from the Pioneer Woman’s Restaurant.
We’ll overnight at the Drury Inn & Suites in Joplin, Missouri tonight where you’ll have the remainder of the evening free, on your own.

Day 6

Day 6: Saturday, December 2, 2023
Enjoy one last breakfast with your fellow Trailway Travelers this morning before we set out for Fulton, MO. Once we arrive, enjoy an included lunch at Bek’s. Beks is located in the historic Brick District of Downtown Fulton, known for its (you guessed it!) historic brick-paved streets and buildings. The history doesn’t stop at the door – their buildings are historic, too. Housed in two buildings on the historic registry designed by famous Missouri architect Morris Frederick Bell, the main building was once a dry goods store owned and operated by M.F. Bell’s very own son-in-law.
After an amazing lunch, we’ll have free time to shop the Fulton Christmas Market at the Train Depot. The market touts itself as “just the ticket for a heartwarming holiday shopping experience.” You can shop handmade products, as well as gifts and vintage items at the market. (Note: If operating in 2023.)
Return home this evening in the Christmas Spirit with wonderful memories made while on this Lone Star Christmas tour!

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner