Join MLC Alumni and fellow WELS members for a 13-day, 12-night guided tour
NYC Guided Tours, 911 Memorial, Statue of Liberty,
West Point, Lake Placid, Adirondack Park,
1000 Islands, Finger Lakes, Corning Museum of Glass,
Watkins Glen, Letchworth & Niagara Falls State Parks
June 15-27, 2019
$2500 double
$3300 singleIncludes round-trip flights from MSP, deluxe motor coach service, attraction admissions, guide fees, 12 hotel nights, and much more.
W/ELS members are invited to join the MLC Alumni Association for an affordable, enjoyable, and educational tour of the great Empire State. We’ll spend three nights in each of four distinct regions: New York City, the Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes, and Niagara Falls. Tour manager Steve Balza will do his best to keep us comfortable, safe, and on schedule. MLC professor Jim Pope will lead daily devotions and keep our souls well fed. We believe we’ve put together an itinerary that hits the highlights, includes some lesser-known gems, and allows some free time for you to relax and refresh—or explore some more!
UPDATE: As of December 8, the tour is SOLD OUT. A wait list has begun and you are still welcome to register. Contact Steve Balza with questions or to check your position on the wait list.
Single occupancy (one person/room) cost is $3300 and double occupancy (two persons/room) is $2500 per person. If you are traveling alone but would prefer having a same-gender roommate to split costs, please note that on your registration form, and we will do our best to accommodate.
Discounts: Deduct $400 if you are making your own flight arrangements. $20 discounts are available to previous travelers, seniors 62+, MLC students, anyone making full payment, and early birds who register online and accept e-communication.
Gratuities: Tips for our bus drivers, step-on guides, attraction guides, and group meal servers are included in your cost. Tips for hotel housekeepers, non-included meal servers, etc., are your responsibility.
Payments: Confirmed passengers must submit a $500 payment by January 8. A second payment of $1000 is due on February 15. The remaining balance is due March 31. All payments are fully refundable until March 31. Cancellations between April 1-30 will incur a $500 penalty. Cancellations between May 1-31 will incur a $1000 penalty. Cancellations after May 31 will incur a $2000 penalty. In each case, the penalty will be cut in half if a replacement traveler is found.
18 meals are included: 12 hotel breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 2 dinners. Remaining meals (about 18) will be on your own. Complimentary water and occasional bus snacks will be provided throughout the tour. (4/17 UPDATE: With our change to the Lake Placid hotel, we no longer have breakfast included at that location. Instead, we are adding additional meals elsewhere. You will now have included: 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 2 dinners. Those flying from MDW or MSP will have an additional breakfast included at their Chicago or Edina hotel on 6/15.)
Based on past tours, we expect the approximately 47 available spots to sell out quickly. Registration will open at noon on December 15. If necessary, a “lottery system” will be used to determine confirmed passengers. Remaining registrants will be placed on a waitlist. In the past, waitlist members who have been able to keep their schedule clear have frequently made it on board. Waitlisted registrants do not need to send any deposit or payment until they are confirmed passengers.
Lord willing, we will be entering Canada for one day during our Niagara stay. Currently, US citizens are required to have a valid passport, passport card, or NEXUS card to enter Canada and return to the United States. We strongly encourage—but do not require—passengers to obtain the necessary document. Without it, you will be on your own and unable to join us for our day in Ontario (lunch, theatre show, winery, etc.). On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being a high level of mobility required, we rate this tour a 6. All passengers will need to be able to get in and out of the bus (about 4 steps) on a regular basis. You will also be required to transport your bag between the bus and hotel rooms (with the exception of our NYC stay). Guided tours and museum visits will require a fair amount of walking, and free-time options in NYC would greatly benefit from use of the subway system. As always, we encourage travelers to know their own limitations.
Trip insurance is not offered for this tour. If desired, individuals may purchase a policy through a provider of their choice.
Contact tour manager Steve Balza (alumni@mlc-wels.edu or 507-217-1731).
“Start spreadin’ the news. I’m leavin’ today. I want to be a part of it—New York, New York!” Fairfield Inn Downtown will be our home as we take a bite of the Big Apple. It is ideally located in the shadow of the World Trade Center and 911 Museum—two blocks from Wall Street, five blocks from Battery Park, and adjacent to a subway station. We’ll land at LaGuardia Airport, then begin our journey with WELS 
worship, a group mixer, and dinner at nearby Sure Foundation. Other highlights include a step-on guided overview tour of Manhattan, optional walking tours of midtown and downtown, a ferry to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and your choice of a Yankees ballgame or a Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera. You’ll also have some free time to explore on your own.
The Adirondack Park in northeast New York encompasses one-third of the state’s land—over 6.1 million acres, 10 thousand lakes, and 30 thousand miles of rivers and streams. It is also a unique mix of private land (home to 132,000 people in 102 towns) and government-held property. The High Peaks Resort in Lake Placid will accommodate us for our time in this incredible region. Highlights 
will a guided tour of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic winter game sites, a visit to the Adirondack Experience museum, and a cruise on the Erie Canal. A dedicated mid-tour “rest day” will give us a chance to relax, shop, hike, or use the complimentary kayaks, SUPs, and pedal boats offered by our lakeside hotel.
The Best Western Plus/Liverpool will be home base for our central New York visit. The region gets its name from 11 long, narrow, glacial lakes surrounded by rolling hills and some incredible state parks. Pack your cameras, as we’ll enjoy many vistas of th
e lakes and visit several of those stunning state parks—including two that USA Today ranked among the top in the nation: Letchworth (#1) and Watkins Glen (#3). We’ll begin our Sunday with WELS worship and lunch at Cross of Christ, followed by a trip to Alexandria Bay on the Saint Lawrence River for a 
scenic cruise among the 1000 Islands. Other highlights include a visit to the highly acclaimed Corning Museum of Glass, a narrated cruise on Skaneateles Lake, and wine tasting at Sonnenberg Gardens.
In addition to the world-renowned falls, this region is known for its beautiful gardens, bountiful recreation opportunities, a robust wine industry, and a thriving theater scene. 
Sheraton by the Falls, adjacent to the Seneca Casino on the quieter New York side, is our final hotel. Perfectly located less than a mile from the falls, you’ll be able to enjoy an optional morning visit to the Maid of the Mist or Cave of the Winds.
