Optional Tours
The Rally 2010 Optional Tours
Click here to print optional tour reservation form.
TOUR A: A DAY IN THE BLUE GRASS – Sold Out
Your tour of the Bluegrass will begin with a “behind the scenes” tour of the Thoroughbred Center. The Thoroughbred Center is nestled among the most lavish horse farms in Lexington, home to hundreds of Thoroughbred racehorses. You will enjoy an up close guided tour of this beautifully landscaped 240 acre working facility. Experience a typical day in the life of a racehorse by viewing them trackside, in their paddocks or in a historic barn. You will have a chance to see experienced exercise riders conditioning the horses on one of the two training tracks. Learn the secrets for keeping these magnificent animals trained for racing. After a delicious lunch you will board your coach for the short drive to the Kentucky Horse Park – the only facility of its type in the nation, bringing the history of equine breeds from around the world to the famous Bluegrass region. This 1,032 acre working horse farm features more than 30 breeds performing in the Parade of Breeds show, actual racing greats stabled in the Hall of Champions and a spectacular film presentation, “Thou Shall Fly without Wings”. You’ll move about the park on foot or by horse-drawn carriage or surrey ride, visiting the blacksmith, harness maker, International Museum of the Horse, Calumet Farm Trophy Exhibit and a fine gift shop. The last stop on this tour is at the Woodford Reserve Distillery. The Woodford Reserve distillery crafts the finest hand-made Bourbon available today. The natural process used today to make the Bourbon remains virtually unchanged from the process used by Elijah Pepper in 1812. During your visit you’ll come to understand the colorful history behind Bourbon whiskey. You’ll also learn about whiskey making and the people who began the rich tradition in Kentucky. A stop in the gift shop, which specializes in Kentucky made products, is a must.
Tour duration: 10.5 hrs.
Departs: 7/21/10 – 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Price per person: $89.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, admission fees, and lunch.)
TOUR B: SHAKER VILLAGE AT PLEASANT HILL
History awaits deep in Bluegrass Country at Pleasant Hill, founded in 1805 by the Shakers, a celibate religious communal sect who believed in simplicity and separation from the world. Today, the 2,700-acre National Landmark beckons “outsiders” to 27 meticulously restored buildings, craft demonstrations and Shaker furniture exhibits. The Shakers chose a peaceful way of life. They were celibate, believed in equality of race and sex and freedom from prejudice. A practical and innovative people, they were known for their labor- saving inventions. The best known of these is the flat broom. A quest for simplicity and perfection is reflected in their fine design and craftsmanship and the term “Shaker-made” has become a hallmark of excellence around the world. A bountiful lunch will be served in the Trustee House, and then your guide to this world of the past will complete your perfect day by escorting you to a program of Shaker Music in the Meeting House.
Tour duration: 7 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/21/10 – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Tour #2 – 7/22/10 – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Price per person: $76.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, admission fees, and lunch.)
TOUR C: LOUISVILLE STONEWARE, KINGFISH LUNCH, CONRAD CALDWELL HOUSE
Since the early beginnings, Louisville Stoneware has been dedicated to the craft of transforming clay into enduring, functional art forms. Working with the basic elements of earth, water, air and fire, skilled artisans create timelessly beautiful dinnerware, bakeware, serving pieces and collectibles that can be enjoyed and cherished for generations. Your tour will take you from the clay to the finished product. You will have time to shop in their beautiful retail space. After a delicious buffet lunch at Kingfish you will visit the Conrad Caldwell House located in Old Louisville. This magnificent Richardsonian Mansion on St. James Court is also known as “Conrad’s Castle.” It is one of the most stunning Old Louisville’s houses and defines Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. The house was built for Theophilus Conrad, a Frenchman (Alsace) who made his fortune in the tanning business. The original construction price was $75,000. Walk around it and enjoy its gargoyles, swags, massive arches and fleur-de-lis. The Caldwell family purchased it in 1905 after Mr. Conrad’s death. They lived there for 35 years. It next served as the Rose Anna Hughes Presbyterian Retirement Home for 40 years. The St. James Court Historic Foundation purchased the home in 1987, restored it, and now operates the museum. Inside you will find breathtaking woodwork, stained glass and fixtures.
Tour duration: 6 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/21/10 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Price per person: $70.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, admission fees and lunch)
TOUR E: BELLE OF LOUISVILLE & GLASS WORKS
The Steamer Belle of Louisville, a National Historic Landmark serves as the western anchor of Louisville’s award winning Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. With the playing of her calliope, the Belle, now in her 93rd year, continues to beckon one and all to join her on a journey back to the time when she carried passengers and goods to ports all along the beautiful Ohio River. The majestic Ohio River, the major link between the bustling cities of the East Coast and the mighty Mississippi River, was greatly instrumental in shaping the future of the city of Louisville and to this day still captures the imagination of all who visit. After your cruise on the Ohio you will visit Glassworks located in the renovated Snead building on West Market Street. The first two floors house a number of studios for the design and creation of decorative Art Glass and Architectural Glass. You will watch the resident artists: glass blowers, flame workers, cutters and designers create magnificent pieces of art. The Glassworks gallery offers and extensive selection of glass objects including paperweights, jewelry and goblets.
Tour duration: 7 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/24/10 – 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Sold Out
Tour #2 – 7/25/10 – 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Price per person: $74.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, cruise fees, and lunch.)
TOUR F: HIDDEN HILL AND HUBER FARMS – Sold Out
Hidden Hill Nursery & Sculpture Garden is a unique mini-arboretum, sculpture gallery and unusual plant nursery in Southern Indiana. They offer whimsy, fun, an outdoor model train, great benches and fountains, exotic trees and shrubs and lots of solitude in a rural setting. The tours are always fun and educational. They’ve added more features to the garden; lots of garden art and dozens of new and hard-to-find flowers, trees and shrubs. Bob Hill, garden creator, retired columnist and writer will be your guide. You will enjoy a lovely boxed lunch at Hidden Hill surrounded by this wonderful garden.
After a short ride “REAL FOOD” is waiting for you at Joe Huber’s Family Restaurant! You won’t find food freshly prepared like this except maybe at your mother’s or grandmother’s table! The menu includes Country Fried Chicken, Huber Honey Ham, Fried Biscuits with Apple Butter, Chicken and Dumplings, a variety of Fresh Vegetables, and Homemade Pies and Cobblers. Everything is made fresh from scratch! The spacious dining room overlooks the lake, flower gardens and Mini Farm/Playground. After lunch you will have time to visit the Farmers Market and gift shop.
Tour duration: 6 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/22/10 – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Price per person: $55.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, admission fees, lunch.)
TOUR G: LOUISVILLE HIGHLIGHTS
The famed twin spires of Churchill Downs will greet your arrival at the famous Kentucky Derby Museum where you will experience fascinating hands on Kentucky Derby exhibits and the spectacular 360-degree multi-image show depicting the panorama of Derby Day! Next your knowledgeable guide will take you on a walking tour of the track, don’t forget to stop at the barn to visit with the resident thoroughbred and his miniature stable mate. The next stop on this tour is at one of Louisville’s favorite restaurants – Marks Feed Store. You will enjoy a wonderful BBQ lunch in their private second floor room. Your last stop on this tour is at Louisville Slugger Museum where you will step up to the plate and experience the sensation of a 90mph pitch whizzing under your chin. Hear replays and see videos of great moments in baseball history. Step into the dugout and sit next to life-sized figures of Hall of Famers. Browse through bats swung by Pete Browning, Mickey Mantle and Ken Griffey, Jr. Push a button and watch videos on 60 in screens of sluggers of the 1950’s and stars of the 20’s. Take a walk into a Northern white ash “forest” and find out how the wood is cut, processed and ends up a billets for the Louisville Slugger Bats. When you’ve had your fill of the museum, take the plant tour and hear the hum of the whirling lathes and smell the scorched wood as the Louisville Slugger logo is burned on.
Tour duration: 6 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/23/10 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Sold Out
Tour #1 – 7/23/10 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Price per person: $74.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, admission fees, and lunch.)
TOUR H: TOUR OF CHAMPIONS –BACKSIDE TOUR OF CHURCHILL DOWNS – Sold Out
The early morning mist welcomes you to a part of racing that is not usually seen by the fan. As the horses breeze by on their morning workouts, your guide will explain the training process that transforms a young horse into a racing legend. You’ll rub elbows with trainers, jockeys and exercise riders as you enjoy a delicious country style breakfast in the track kitchen. A walk through the shed rows allows you to see a Thoroughbred up close and personal. You may even get a tip “right from the horses’ mouth”. The next stop on this tour is at the Kentucky Derby Museum where you will experience fascinating hands on Kentucky Derby exhibits and the spectacular 360-degree multi-image show depicting the panorama of Derby Day! A visit to the Derby Museum Gift shop will surely prompt you to purchase the perfect item to remember your tour.
Tour duration: 4 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/22/10 – 6:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. – Sold Out
Price per person: $62.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, admission fees, and breakfast.)
TOUR I: BARDSTOWN AND THE BOURBON HERITAGE CENTER
To relive the romance and legends of our Commonwealth’s earliest history, a trip to gracious BARDSTOWN is an absolute must. There really is such a place as “My Old Kentucky Home” and you will tour the actual Georgian style mansion that inspired Stephen Foster’s immortal ballad. Federal Hill, built around 1818, places you in a gentler era resplendent with Southern belles, formal gardens and carriage houses. Lunch which is included in the tour price will be at Historic Talbott Tavern, one of the oldest continually running businesses in the Commonwealth. After lunch you will tour the Bourbon Heritage Center. Declared America’s Native Spirit by a 1964 act of Congress, Bourbon has always been the heart and soul of Heaven Hill Distilleries. Heaven Hill was originally established as a Bourbon distiller in 1934, and today the world’s second largest holding of aging Kentucky Bourbon sleeps peacefully in our 40 open rickwarehouses situated throughout Nelson County, the heart of Bourbon Country. By law, Bourbon must be made up of at least 51% corn and be aged a minimum of two years in a new charred white oak barrel, standards that were pioneered by early Bourbon makers such as Evan Williams and Rev. Elijah Craig. You are invited to view a 20 minute film on the history of Bourbon, take a behind the scenes tour of a Bourbon-aging rickhouse and taste two of Heaven Hill Distilleries premium brands.
Tour duration: 6 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/22/10 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tour #2 – 7/23/10 – 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Price per person: $70.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, admission fees, and lunch.)
TOUR J: HISTORIC LOUISVILLE
Take a leisurely trip back in time when you drive through the nationally renowned preservation districts of West Main Street and Old Louisville. You’ll travel by coach through Victorian neighborhoods to view, from your coach, the University of Louisville, the J.B. Speed Art Museum and the home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs. A stop at two of Louisville’s beautiful historic homes is next, where you will visit Farmington a Federal style house and gardens designed after plans by Thomas Jefferson and visited by Abraham Lincoln and Locust Grove, a Georgian Style plantation, the last home of General George Rogers Clark the Revolutionary War hero and founder of Louisville.
Tour duration: 4 hrs.
Departs: Tour #1 – 7/23/10 – 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Price per person: $56.00
(Tour includes: Transportation, tour guide, and admission fees.)
