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This tour departs:  Ames, IA

AQS in Nashville & Memphis

A Quilter’s Song of Arts & Crafts

August 18-24

 

 

 

Tentative Pickups:  Ankeny, W Des Moines, as

requested south on I35 Hwy 71 and Springfield, MO

· Country Western Hall of Fame

· Nashville City Tour

· Belle Meade Plantation

· Quilt Stores

· Hancocks of Paducah

· AQS quilt show

· Grand Ole Opry

· Loveless Café

· Graceland Tour

We were at the first AQS show in Nashville 2000. It was a grand event held at the Opryland Hotel—a destination by itself! The inside of this venue is hard to describe - I don’t think there is anything like it anywhere with 9-acres of indoor gardens, a 44 ft waterfall, fountain shows and tours on the Delta Flatboats on their indoor river!  Not to be outdone by the surroundings, the quilt show offers a full array of quilts, exhibits, cash prizes and over 300 vendors.  Let’s just say there won’t be a dull moment! Nashville is home to the Grand Ole Opry, for the Country Western lover.  Memphis is just down the road and where we find Graceland. That’s just scratching the surface of what we’ll find on this fun week of adventure!
Text Box: Day Five, Fri: Today the choice is yours, you can return to the Expo or join us as we visit a well stocked fabric store (I’ve heard it’s up to the ceiling!) Then later a stop at Belle Meade Plantation. Our evening meal will be at the famous Loveless Café. Tonight we get together to visit the Grand Ole Opry—you never know who’s playing!

Tour includes: Motorcoach transportation, 6 nights lodging, 5 cont breakfasts, entrance to  Graceland, Hall of Fame, Tennessee  Museum, Meade Plantation 2 group meals, city tour, escorts,  and all tips and gratuities

$250.00 deposit holds your seat

Reservations taken right up to departure date or until bus is full.

Final payment due 45 days prior to departure.

See cancellation policy on signup sheet. 

 

Final itinerary sent 21 days prior to tour.
Text Box: Day Four, Thurs: Today the bus will take you to the door of the Expo. You’ll have all day to enjoy the quilt show.

Day Two, Tues:  Our sites are set on Memphis, with a stop on our way at the Marshall Dry Goods Store.  This is both a retail store and a wholesale fabric supplier. Sounds like a fun place to investigate!  We should arrive at Graceland early afternoon for our platinum tour which is a self-guided audio tour that includes the mansion, the     airplanes, the automotive museum, Elvis after Dark and the Sincerely Elvis exhibit.  Don’t forget to try one of the 3 restaurants found in the Plaza. It’s easy to see why this is Tennessee’s most visited attraction.  Sit back, as we travel to Nashville, our home for the next 4 nights.
Text Box: Day One, Monday: Today we make our way to southern Missouri with some planned stops. Our first, is at a favorite quilt store in the Kansas City area. We’ll take time to grab a bite to eat before we head on down the road. Springfield is where we find our 2nd quilt stop today. Our hotel will be in the West Plains area. Text Box: Day three, Wed: Today we get the lay of the land with the help of a step-on-guide. She promised to mix it up and give us inside stories as we go by homes of the rich and famous! We end the tour at the Country Western Hall of Fame and Museum, an impressive building outside and an inspiration inside. Later we visit the Tennessee State Museum with a rotating textile gallery of quilts and woven coverlets, a working loom, historic costumes and a wonderful gift store with hand crafted items. For the woodworker, they have a special exhibit —contemporary Tennessee art furniture. Tonight, we visit Opry Mills shopping complex with unique stores—even a Cabelas. Text Box: Day Six, Sat: We are just a hop, skip and a jump away from Paducah, Quilt City. I don’t think our bus can drive by without stopping at Hancocks! Then its’ on to a fun food destination as we make our way back to Springfield. Text Box: Day Seven, Sun: Today we take time to smell the flowers at Powell Gardens. A tour is arranged and our lunch will be served at Café Thyme. This 915 acre gardener’s retreat has a butterfly garden, Chpungu exhibit, a new fountain garden, and yes they knew we were coming - a quilt garden! This is a great stop on our route home.