We are the industry leader in developing, promoting and selling travel products and services in the United states. Because of this, we offer the most innovative and unique products available, establishing TourMappers as the premier wholesaler of specialized travel product in the United States.
In keeping with TourMappers’ credo, we have developed American Experiences.
The scheduled group departures featured in American Experiences showcase the culture, the individuality, the flavors and even the idiosyncrasies of America – all while visiting magnificent sites along the way.
Country Music and Dancehalls, Bar-B-Que and the Blues, Craft Breweries and Lobsterbakes, - these are just some of the American traditions celebrated on our tours.
It’s not just a tour, it’s an Experience!
View our American Experiences Online Brochure
PACIFIC NORTHWEST PEAKS & POURS
8 Days/ 7 Nights
2022 Departures: June 18, September 10
Seattle • Seaside • Eugene • Bend • Portland
Sightseeing to include:
Experiences to include:
click here for PACIFIC NORTHWEST PEAKS & POURS complete itinerary details
BREW ENGLAND; BEACHES, BLUFFS & BEER
7 Days/ 6 Nights
2022 Departures: September 24, October 15
Boston • Ogunquit • Gorham • Stowe
Sightseeing to include:
Experiences to include:
click here for BREW ENGLAND; BEACHES, BLUFFS & BEER complete itinerary details
GREAT LAKES EXPLORER: CLASSIC AMERICANA
9 Days / 8 Nights
2022 Departures: June 11, September 3
Chicago • Traverse City • Mackinac Island • Marquette • Milwaukee
Sightseeing to include:
Experiences to include:
click here for GREAT LAKES EXPLORER: CLASSIC AMERICANA complete itinerary details
A TASTE OF TEXAS & THE TWO-STEP
8 Days / 7 Nights
2022 Departures: May 20, August 12, October 21
Fort Worth • Austin • San Antonio • Houston
Sightseeing to include:
Experiences to include:
click here for A TASTE OF TEXAS & THE TWO-STEP complete itinerary details
Per room cost | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Double/Single* | |
Jun 18 | $3395/$4680 | |
Sept 10 | $3082/$4130 |
This evening, mingle with other group members at a meet and greet reception hosted by our guide, a beer aficionado and destination specialist. We’ll be given an introduction to our 8-day exploration of the Pacific Northwest’s unrivaled beauty; spectacular waterfalls and lakes, magnificent mountains and volcanic monuments, young, vibrant cities—and some of the most imaginative craft beers in the country.
This morning we’ll tour Seattle, an unpretentious port city populated with natural and cultural amenities that epitomize the attraction of the Northwest. Visit its colorful neighborhoods and iconic attractions such as historic Pioneer Square, and the Space Needle.
This afternoon will be for tastings. Pike Place Market is as much a part of Seattle’s identity as the evergreens, the mountains and the water. Past or present members of the Pike Place Market community will guide you through the market ensuring you receive special treatment. Meet the Market’s lively characters and hear their memorable stories. See fish fly, cheese being made, the “original” Starbucks store, and savor tastings at no less than 7 food stalls.
You’ll find loads of restaurants this evening serving regional cuisine paired with specially selected brews. Seattle dishes are heavily influenced by Asian and Native American traditions and typically feature locally-caught seafood.
A scenic drive through the state of Washington ends on Oregon’s northern shore. Take a walk along the dramatic shoreline to see rock formations like Haystack Rock, one of Oregon’s most recognizable landmarks, rising 235 feet from the edge of the shoreline. Cannon Beach also offers the quintessential small beach town experience. You will have time to wander the picturesque sidewalks and courtyards to discover art galleries, specialty shops and public art.
This morning you will depart for Eugene, home to the University of Oregon and a prominent arts community. After a short walking tour, you will stop in an area of Eugene aligned with local breweries, all part of Eugene’s Ale Trail. Ultra pure water from the McKenzie River and an emphasis on local and regional ingredients from hops to grains make these local beers bold and flavorful. Relax at your hotel before enjoying the local atmosphere this evening.
Today you will travel to Crater Lake National Park. Created by a collapsed volcano after a violent eruption more than 7,000 years ago, scientists marvel at its purity. Fed only by rain and snow, it is the deepest lake in the US at nearly 600m. Stand in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting. National Park Rangers are on site and can tell you about the Park’s origins and special features. Then take a leisurely hiker filled with breathtaking views and photo opportunities.
Our drive continues south to Bend, known for its richly diverse cultural landscape, award-winning dining and boutique shopping,
En route to Portland, take in the beauty of two major Pacific Northwest rivers: the Columbia and Hood Rivers. You will visit Columbia River Gorge and experience the power and beauty of nature up close at Multnomah Falls, a 611-foot-tall (186m) roaring, awe-inspiring cascade of icy water. You will then stop at some of the many breweries in this area. Imaginative flavors are created here using local malts, hops and fresh fruit in its beers.
Portland sits on the Columbia and Willamette rivers in the shadow of snow-capped Mount Hood. Check in to your Portland hotel before enjoying some of the city’s restaurants.
A morning tour of Portland and its iconic gardens orients you to the city. In the afternoon, you’ll be able to explore the city more thoroughly on your choice of tours: join a bicycle tour that will take you to breweries featuring local classics as well as innovative and fresh flavors, or enjoy a walking tour to some of the downtown area’s most unique restaurants, food emporiums and food trucks, all while experiencing the City of Roses’ eclectic mix of neighborhoods.
Before returning to Seattle, you will visit Snoqualmie Falls, a 268-foot (82 m) waterfall It is one of Washington's most popular scenic attractions, but is perhaps best known internationally for its appearance in the cult television series Twin Peaks.
Enjoy a group brunch at the historic Salish Lodge, overlooking the Falls, before departing for the airport. Salish Lodge is known far and wide for their brunch. It’s not to be missed!
June 18
Sept 10
Seattle | The Edgewater |
Seaside | Kathryn River Front Inn |
Eugene | Graduate Hotel |
Bend | Campfire Hotel |
Portland | The Heathman Hotel |
*Similar hotels may be substituted on specific dates
Per room cost | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Double/Single* | |
Sept 24 | $3710/$4918 | |
Oct 15 | $3710/$4918 |
Check-in to hotel and this evening mingle with other group members at a meet and greet reception hosted by our guide, a beer aficionado and destination specialist. We’ll be given an introduction to our 8-day exploration of New England. From the historic streets of Boston, to the breathtaking beauty of Maine’s rocky coastline and the awe-inspiring mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, and we’ll taste the holy grails of craft beer in each region.
This morning you will take an orientation tour of Boston’s historic Freedom Trail, the architecturally significant Back Bay and the bustling waterfront. Boston continues to be an important center of commerce, technology and the arts for both the region and the country.
You then head north to Portsmouth, a port city with cobblestoned streets, a downtown filled with charming shops and varied restaurants, significant examples of Colonial, Georgian and Federal style houses, and brewers who continue New England’s rich beer-making history. And, like a true New Englander, the beers brewed here are approachable, dependable and impervious to trends. After a tour and tastings you will continue along the coast to Ogunquit, a popular beach resort whose name means “beautiful place by the sea”.
Upon arrival, settle in to your comfortable hotel, just steps from the village center and white sand beach, perfect for a late afternoon walk.
You will start the day with a walk along the Marginal Way, a mile-long paved foot path along the rocky coast with picture-perfect views worthy of any photography book.
Upon reaching Perkins Cove, board a lobster boat for a one-hour cruise to see traps hauled and lobsters caught by authentic Maine lobstermen. The captain will provide a detailed explanation of the lobster fishery and the many scenic points of interest along the way.
This afternoon you will visit Kennebunkport. Travel back in time to when Kennebunkport was a thriving shipbuilding town. Stroll Maine Street, weave your way through side streets, hear the stories and see the homes of artisans of the late 18th century on this walking tour highlighting 200+ years of Kennebunkport’s history.
Travel to Portland where historical homes and maritime museums chronicle the emergence of the area from a trading and fishing settlement into one of the nation's most active seaports. Today, with a population of 200,000, this old port city with a young vibe has been ranked among the top craft beer and artisanal food cities in the country. A leisurely-paced walking tour will take you to several Old Port and neighboring artisanal shops, restaurants and pubs where you will sample a delectable mix of classic, Maine-inspired, up-and-coming, fancy foods and beverages. Meet and greet culinary artisans along the way, learn what inspires them and how they got their start!
Then travel through the lakes region and onto Gorham, in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
Depart for The Flume Gorge, a natural gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty. Walk along the 2-mile loop with walls of Conway granite rising to a height of 70 to 90 feet. You will marvel at the vistas as you travel along the Kancamagus Highway, a 34 mile long two-lane road considered one of the most scenic drives in the region. It has been designated a National Scenic Byway by the US Department of Transportation. Spend time in North Conway enjoying tax-free shopping before returning to Gorham.
Today you will cross over the border into Vermont, regularly ranked near the top of the list as having the most number of breweries per capita in the country. Spend time strolling through Stowe, a charming resort town at the base of Mt. Mansfield.
This evening, enjoy a final night dinner at the Von Trapp Bierhall, located on the grounds of the Trapp Family Lodge, where the Trapp Family Singers made their American home. Their story was immortalized in the movie “ The Sound of Music”
Today make a short stop in Woodstock, named “the prettiest small town in America” by Yankee Magazine before returning to Boston.
Arrive Boston late afternoon and transfer to Logan International Airport or to a downtown Boston hotel.
September 24
October 15
Boston | Fairmont Copley Plaza |
Ogunquit | The Colonial Inn |
Gorham | The Glen House |
Stowe | Trapp Family Lodge |
*Similar hotels may be substituted on specific dates
Per room cost | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Double/Single* | |
June 11 | $4408/$6010 | |
Sept 3 | $4408/$6010 |
Check in to your hotel. This evening, mingle with other group members at a meet and greet reception hosted by your Tour Manager, a destination specialist. You will be given an introduction to your 9-day exploration of the Great Lakes.
Chicago, situated on Lake Michigan, is among the largest cities in the U.S. It’s famed around the world for many things, including its bold architecture, its blues musicians and clubs, deep-dish pizza - and Al Capone.
There is no better way to tour Chi-town, as it is called, than on the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Architectural River Cruise. From the 100-yr old Art Deco, Neo-Classical and Gothic Towers to some of the tallest modern-day sky scrapers, you will have access to all angles while the local, highly-trained docent points out architectural highlights along the way.
This afternoon join a walking tour and learn the basics of Chicago’s sinful history, all the way from the city’s first vice district to Capone, Prohibition and the Mob. Explore the basics of different beer styles and beer’s influence on criminal enterprises, especially during Prohibition. You will taste several Midwestern craft beers from lagers to porters.
Tonight, Kingston Mines is on the menu. Founded in 1968, Kingston Mines is the largest and oldest continuously operating blues club in Chicago. Its two stages have been graced by the likes of Magic Slim, Billy Branch, Junior Wells, and scores of other musical greats. We’ll listen to some of Chicago’s best live music – and remember their motto: “Hear Blues – Drink Booze – Talk Loud – You’re Among Friends!” ™ You may want to eat before we go, or save your appetite for the southern style fare you can get onsite from Doc’s Rib Joint.
You will not need your passport to enter this Holland, on the shore of Lake Michigan. The Dutch heritage is plain to see in the traditional Dutch architecture and ambiance. Stroll the quaint downtown and enjoy its galleries, shops and eateries.
Continue to Traverse City where you will stay for the next two nights. The downtown exudes retro charm with plenty of fresh farm to table restaurants and big-city entertainment with a small-town feel. You may want to take in a show, the opera or live jazz.
108mi/173km)
This morning, you will visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Travel along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive to the Lake Michigan Overlook, a steep 450 feet above the lake level. There you will find world-class vistas not thought possible. After a stop for lunch in the charming lake village of Glen Arbor, tour the Leelanau Peninsula, This small peninsula is home to 25 wineries located within diverse microclimates, uniquely suited for a variety of wine grapes. You will discover breathtaking views, stylish wines, and passionate winemakers with eclectic backgrounds that include fourth-generation farmers, doctors in horticulture, corporate businessmen and entrepreneurs. Return to Travers City for the evening.
An early morning departure takes you to Mackinaw City, where the vehicle will be left behind and you will board the ferry to Mackinac Island. This Victorian-style island, covering only 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) in land area, is located on Lake Huron at the eastern end of the Straits of Mackinac, between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The entire island is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is well known for its ban on all motor vehicles and the wide variety of architectural styles. Bicycles and horse-drawn carriages are the only modes of transportation here.
This afternoon, as part of the included touring, you can explore Mackinac Island your way.
You can pick up a bicycle – or adult tricycle – and gear, along with trail maps guiding you on various routes throughout the island. Take the perimeter route to loop around Mackinac Island’s shoreline. The flat, smooth asphalt road places you right between dramatic forestry and the rocky shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron with majestic views of their deep blue waters.
For the more adventurous, take the “immersive experience” tour to see Mackinac Island’s points of interest such as Skull Cave, the Grand Golf Course, Arch Rock, Governor's Residence and Fort Mackinac.
Or you may want to sit back and relax on a guided horse-drawn carriage instead, seeing many of the island’s sites with stops along the way.
The morning is free to stroll through the village, do a bit of shopping, or load up on Mackinac Island fudge. Known as the fudge capital of the world, Mackinac Island produces about 5 tons daily in season.
Depart Mackinac Island early afternoon for the mainland. Then travel north to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Marquette. Relax in your hotel before venturing out for dinner in the center of this lively college community.
Heading south today, you will stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin’s oldest settlement. View the city's architecture and historic homes and the waterways that define the region.
This morning we’ll tour past the beautiful mansions along Lake Michigan with numerous photo opportunities at the city’s most unique landmarks, as well as several stops where you can interact with locals and experience the city as they do. We’ll take in City Hall, the Milwaukee Art Museum, North Point Lighthouse, Miller Park, the Historic Third Ward, and much more.
After lunch continue to Milwaukee. The city boasts the beautiful Milwaukee Riverwalk and Milwaukee Art Museum, with its architecturally impressive addition shaped like a floating cross, with wings opening and closing from a central base.
Tonight you will visit Milwaukee's most unique downtown food destination, the Milwaukee Public Market. Bursting with unique, high quality selections of artisan and ethnic products and freshly-prepared foods, you will have a wide variety of dinner options from its independent merchants. Enjoy your selection in the Public Market’s Palm Garden.
This morning you will tour past the elegant mansions along Lake Michigan with numerous photo opportunities at the city’s most unique landmarks, as well as several stops where you can interact with locals and experience the city as they do. You will take in City Hall, the Milwaukee Art Museum, North Point Lighthouse, Miller Park, the Historic Third Ward and much more.
After lunch, visit the Harley Davidson Museum. “It’s the best of American design and culture – seasoned with freedom and rebellion, showcased in a landmark building.” Exhibits tell the stories of the extraordinary people, products, history and culture of Harley-Davidson and, for some of you, this is the moment you've been waiting for. That's right, go right ahead and swing your leg over one of the many motorcycles that inhabit the gallery.
Depart Milwaukee this morning for Oak Park, once the home of Frank Lloyd Wright where he designed and built some of his earliest buildings. Unity Temple and Wright's own former home and studio are among the many Wright buildings still preserved in the village. Tour the Wright home and see the birthplace of Ernest Hemingway. There will be time for lunch in the village before heading to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
June 11
September 3
Chicago | Gale Chicago |
Traverse City | Indigo Hotel |
Mackinac Island | Island House Hotel |
Marquette | Landmark Inn |
Milwaukee | Saint Kate—The Arts Hotel |
*Similar hotels may be substituted on specific dates
Per room cost | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Double/Single* | |
May 20 | $3778/$5195 | |
Aug 12 | $3368/$4476 | |
Oct 21 | $3405/$4540 |
Group members who are not on the pre-tour will arrive today.
This evening, mingle with other group members at a meet and greet reception hosted by our guide, a destination specialist. We’ll be introduced to our 8-day exploration of Texas at a nearby Saloon in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
This morning we’ll take an orientation tour of Dallas, a city that offers a unique blend of Southwestern warmth, cosmopolitan flair, old west charm and modern sophistication. We’ll visit the Sixth-Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, The Museum, located within the former Texas School Book Depository building, chronicles the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. After visiting the museum, we’ll travel the route of the Presidential Motorcade and follow the timeline of Lee Harvey Oswald as that fatal day in November 1963 unfolded.
In the afternoon, we return to the Stockyards in time to watch the late afternoon cattle drive. There’ll be time for dinner before gathering to attend the Stockyards Championship Rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum. Afterwards you may choose to cap off the night at Billy Bob’s for a drink, listening to country music, and dancing the Texas Two-Step, or try riding a mechanical bull!
Depart Fort Worth for Beaumont Ranch. This western ranch reflects Texas in the 1880s when cowboys were driving their herds along the Chisolm Trail - where it now stands. Beaumont Ranch offers outdoor adventure activities to guests, and it is a working cattle ranch with herds of Longhorn Cattle and horses.
Here, you can experience ranch life when you choose from a variety of activities; take a horseback trail ride, learn how to rope cattle, or shoot sporting clays.
Continue to Austin, the capital of Texas, better known these days as the Live Music Capital of the World and a mecca for foodies. Tonight, tickle your taste buds with a taste of Texas Bar-B-Que and local craft beer at one of the city’s iconic smokehouses.
Begin the day with an orientation tour of downtown Austin to see such sites as the University of Texas, the Capital building, and 360 Bridge. Head to ACL Live at the Moody Theater, the permanent home of the PBS program. Austin City Limits is the longest running music series in American television history and the only TV series to be awarded the National Medal of Arts. The pilot episode in 1974 featured Willie Nelson.
We’ll stop for lunch at one of Austin’s famous Food Truck parks. Started in the early ‘90s it has blossomed into a citywide movement. All over town, chefs are eschewing sit-down establishments and serving inexpensive, unpretentious cuisine whipped up in the back of refurbished Airstreams and concession trailers.
The tour continues through Austin’s Hill Country before time to visit SoCo, a vibrant neighborhood that oozes homespun character and boasts the story of Austin’s yesteryear in its boutiques, eateries, galleries and music venues.
No trip to Austin is complete without a visit to the Continental Club. This retro Austin vestige opened in 1957 is a mecca for roots, rockabilly, country and swing music. A classic neon sign hangs above the entrance, and custom hot rods line South Congress Avenue in front of the dimly lit club, which both Rolling Stone and Playboy magazine named one of the Best Clubs in America.
A drive through the Texas hill country brings us to Fredericksburg, a charming town that proudly embraces its extensive German heritage. Walk the town's streets and pass gothic-style churches with pointed archways and vaulted ceilings, restaurants serving savory schnitzels and tall pints of dunkelweizen, and the sweet smell of German pastries emanating from historic bakeries.
The scenic rolling hills that surround the town are home to approximately 45 wineries. We’ll follow along the Fredericksburg Wine Road and make stops to taste some of the region’s delicious merlots or fruity zinfandels.
We’ll arrive in San Antonio late afternoon. This evening we’ll take an early evening narrated riverboat cruise, stopping for dinner along the Riverwalk.
In the 18th century, Spanish priests established five Catholic missions along the San Antonio River. Today, the five missions represent the largest concentration of Spanish colonial missions in North America and have been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
There’ll be free time this afternoon to explore more of the Riverwalk and surrounding area before we drive out to Gruene National Historic District to experience” bona fide Texas”. The centerpiece of this sleepy, former ghost town is Gruene Hall, the oldest dance hall in Texas. There’s nothing false or gentrified about Gruene Hall.
The old wooden floors creak and give a little when you dance, and flaps are lifted on the side of the building to create instant natural air conditioning. Here, it’s about listening to the live music and trying the two-step if so inclined.
Upon arrival in Houston, we’ll visit Space Center Houston, the gateway to NASA’s Johnson Space Center where we’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at space exploration. The Johnson Space Center is the home of Mission Control where human space missions and the operations of the International Space Station are monitored. A variety of astronauts prepare and train for missions here.
Northeast of Downtown sits a section of historic neighborhoods that date back to the late 1800s. Residents once flocked to the Heights to escape the big city, but today it's the hipsters and young couples that are drawn to this area's rich and character-filled architecture, mom and pop-type shops and funky restaurants.
We’ll enjoy an included final night dinner surrounded by century-old bungalows and unique architectural accents. The area offers an eclectic mix of ice houses, pubs and eateries and we’ll try some of the area’s best local Southern Comfort Foods.
Those ending their tour in Houston will be transferred to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Depart for New Orleans. En route, we’ll stop for lunch in Lake Charles before arriving New Orleans late afternoon.
Passengers may conclude tour in Houston, or travel by coach to New Orleans. (no additional charge)
May 20
August 12
October 21
Fort Worth | Hyatt Place Fort Worth Historic Stockyards |
Austin/Domain | Lonestar Court |
San Antonio | Hotel Valencia |
Houston | Hotel Indigo |
*Similar hotels may be substituted on specific dates
All Departures are guaranteed. If no bookings are made for a tour at 90 days prior to departure, the tour will be canceled.
Reservations require a deposit of $1,000 per room at the time of booking. At this time, an invoice will be sent for the remaining balance, payable by 90 days prior to tour departure. If full payment is not received at 90 days before departure, space will be released and deposit forfeited.
Deposits are fully refundable up to 91 days prior to departure. After that time, the following penalties will be in effect:
90-61 days prior to departure | Deposit is non-refundable |
60-46 days prior to departure | 50% of total booking is non-refundable |
45 days or less | 100% of total booking is non-refundable |
Passengers wishing to change the date of their tour to another scheduled departure will be assessed the same penalties as listed above for the cancelled tour.
TourMappers North America, LLC acts solely as agent in arranging for hotels, meals, transportation, sightseeing attractions and all other services. TourMappers assumes no liability for injury, damage, delay or accident due to the fault of any other company or person or for conditions beyond their control. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary as conditions may warrant and if necessary, substitute accommodations or attractions with those of equal or greater value.
American Experiences are guaranteed, however, TourMappers reserves the right to cancel any departure due to unforeseen circumstances including but not limited to acts of nature, war, civil unrest, labor disputes or anything that would interfere with carrying out the program safely and/or in its entirety. TourMappers cannot be held responsible for any changes to passenger arrangements as a result of unforeseen circumstances.