Tour Description

Your package includes deluxe transportation and accommodations, all listed tour fees, and 8 meals.

Christmas is such a magical time of year! We are going to travel around the world to learn the traditions of other countries, taste their food, enjoy their music and dancing, and shop in their Christmas Markets. Each country that we visit has so much beauty, steeped in tradition, that we will take home many memories of Christmas Around the World! The best part is that we don’t have to worry about our passports because we won’t need them to leave the good ole’ USA.

Day 1:

On the first day of our Christmas adventure, we won’t have far to go as we head north to St. Joseph, Missouri. We will then enjoy a tour of the Pony Express National Museum. A remarkable event in history occurred on April 3, 1860 at 7:15 PM: a lone rider left on horseback from the gates of one of the nation’s most historic landmarks, the Pikes Peak Stables in St. Joseph, Missouri. Relay riders continued the ride as one-by-one they traveled 2000 miles west to Sacramento, California. We will overnight here in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Day 2:

Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
A short drive to Omaha, Nebraska, we will begin all of the exciting Christmas Shows and Feasts from countries around the world that we will enjoy right here in Omaha, USA. We will begin with a local step-on-guide to learn all the interesting facts of the City of Omaha before having lunch, on your own, and do some unique shopping in the Old Market District. After lunch, we will visit “Christmas at Union Station” and the Durham Museum. Marvel at the huge Christmas tree that occupies the main hall. Also, each year ethnic groups in Omaha decorate mini holiday trees to represent their ethnic traditions. Enjoy as you explore the exhibits of the museum. We will check into our hotel for a two-night stay before departing for “Christmas in Germany”. More fun holiday program of dancing, singing and food! Listen to traditional German holiday favorites by the Men’s Choir. Shop for crafts & items imported from Germany, at the Christmas Market. Lodging for 2 evenings will be in Omaha.

Day 3:

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
We will have breakfast at our Hotel this morning with Ukrainian speaker, Olesia Reprichowski as she makes her presentation on “Linens & Traditions”. Olesia will bring various linens and explain their connection to Ukrainian history, customs and traditions. Then it’s off to an Irish Christmas at Father Flanagan’s House – Boys Town. We will have a guided tour of the hall of history, a tour of the chapel & Father Flanagan’s House decorated for the Holiday’s according to Irish Christmas Holiday traditions. Off to a concert “Holiday under Glass” with a boxed lunch at the Joslyn Art Museum. The museum is Nebraska’s largest art museum; an impressive pink granite building containing collections from antiquity to the 20th century. Next is a tour of Lauritzen Botanical Gardens and the Holiday Poinsettia Show. View a display of over 5000 beautiful poinsettias. Smell the fresh scent of pine as you walk around the central tree consisting of over 700 Poinsettias. Oh, sweet down time! We will take a rest period at our hotel before departing for ”Christmas in Greece”. Not only will we enjoy great Greek style food, but we will be able to tour the Byzantine Style Church and be amazed by the décor of gold and traditional icons. Members of the congregation will join our group for dinner and a presentation on how Christmas is celebrated in Greece including a Greek Dance Performance. We have one more exciting stop to make today as we sit down to enjoy a quality performance by the talented actors of the Omaha Playhouse presenting a “Christmas Carol” musical.

Day 4:

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Our first stop is the Lithuanian Bakery, well known for its wonderful pastries made from recipes of the old country. We take quick tour of “Gingerbread on Parade” at the Mormon Trail Center. Every year the members of the LDS Community create a variety of gingerbread houses – all sizes and themes. It’s always interesting to see what candy materials people use to decorate the houses. In case you are still hungry we will be having lunch at The Polish Home. We have a little time left before we have to depart Omaha so we are going to travel back in time to a candy shop of the 1950’s. The 1950’s Hollywood Candy Warehouse has a collection of 1950’s memorabilia from carnival rides to movie posters, 1950’s malt counter, movie theatre and candy making shop. We return to St. Joseph, Missouri for our lodging.

Day 5:

Meals: Breakfast
Even Christmas comes to an end – but not until you have consumed all the goodies and seen all the Christmas Shows and listened to the carolers. Our tour, too, must end but not until we were saturated with all the beauty of Christmas Around the World. We hope the memories you have made will last you through many Christmas seasons ahead. Making Memories Tours appreciates being able to be a part of ‘firing up’ your Christmas Spirit and we wish you a Very Merry Christmas and a prosperous, healthy New Year.