Thu, May 8: Depart Indianapolis by motorcoach for Holland, Michigan. Upon arrival, visit Nelis Dutch Village, where you’ll step back in time to explore and admire Dutch culture and heritage as well as enjoy a delicious lunch at the Hungry Dutchman Cafe. Following lunch, stop in at nearby Veldheer Tulip Farm, showcasing more than four million tulips, plus thousands of daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses in the spring. There is also a wooden shoe factory and a Delftware production facility where you can watch the world-famous Dutch pottery being molded, fired, hand-decorated, and glazed. Check into your accommodations in the heart of downtown Holland to get settled. This evening is free to do some sightseeing and enjoy dinner at one of the many incredible restaurants in town. (Meal: Lunch)

Fri, May 9: Following breakfast at the hotel take a tour of the Holland area with a costumed guide and learn the history of this famous town and its Tulip Time Festival. Colorful stops along the way provide many photo opportunities. Enjoy a themed lunch hosted by the Tulip Time organization featuring entertainment by the famous Dutch Dancers of Holland, this is a great way to experience a bit of authentic Dutch culture. Then explore the Tulip Immersion Garden, a display of over 65,000 tulips created by world renowned Dutch horticulturist Ibo Gülsen that tells the story of how the Tulip Time Festival came to be a part of the local heritage. This evening, you’ll have included tickets to one of the Tulip Time Festival events*. (B,L) 

Sat, May 10: This morning visit Windmill Island Gardens, featuring a 250-year-old working Dutch windmill, De Zwaan (“graceful bird”), which towers over the 36-acre property of manicured gardens, dikes, canals, and more than 150,000 tulips. The gardens are also the home of an antique Dutch carousel and the Posthouse Museum, an exact replica of a 14th-century wayside inn. Then take a moment to browse a unique display of over 100 expertly crafted quilts at the Tulip Time Quilt Show. Back downtown, enjoy free time to explore the Marktplaats (“Marketplace”) with food, arts and crafts, or poke around in the downtown area shops around the hotel. Tonight, dinner at a local favorite restaurant awaits. (B,D)

Sun, May 11: Say goodbye to the beautiful town of Holland and head for Grand Rapids, Michigan to discover the famed, 185-acre campus of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Take a narrated tram tour through the exquisite sculpture garden showcasing art from sculptors of the late 19^th century to the present. Enjoy lunch and time on your own to stroll through the indoor and outdoor gardens including 15,000 square feet of tropical flora, carnivorous plants, Victorian era flowers, and seasonal flowers. Meander through quiet walkways and meadows while enjoying the shade garden and relish the tranquility while perusing the 8-acres of the Japanese garden. Return to Indianapolis in the late afternoon. (B,L)

* Full calendar of Tulip Time Festival events will be released in November 2024.