Tours

Following is a list of tours available Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required for all tours, and it is recommended they be made prior to the convention.

Use the FMCA online tour registration set up by metroConnections, the tours provider, or download the Tour Registration Form (PDF 43K).

At the convention, a representative from metroConnections will be available to take reservations, on a space-available basis, at the tours desk in the FMCA Information Center.

All tours are subject to change. Tours may be cancelled due to fewer than minimum passengers registered at the cutoff date. metroConnections reserves the right to cancel a tour due to inclement weather conditions. If metroConnections cancels a tour, all money will be refunded for that tour. Tour reservations are non-refundable once purchased unless metroConnections cancels the tour.

Discover Germany in Minnesota

When thousands of visitors tell them each year that you’ve got an “exquisite little city,” a “beautiful, friendly city” and that “New Ulm is a wonderful place, you can’t blame them for being proud of their town!

Often called the “City of Charm and Tradition,” New Ulm is home to 13,500 people in the heart of the scenic Minnesota River valley and boasts a thriving, diverse economy with a healthy mix of retail, manufacturing, and industry. The exceptional medical and school systems are complemented by numerous city parks, festivals, and cultural events that make life wonderful for both citizens and visitors alike.

New Ulm is famous for its authentic German heritage and all the festivals, monuments, attractions, shopping, and many cultural events.

Our first stop will be at the New Ulm Visitor Center for a “Welcome Reception” of mini-apple strudel, coffee, and lemonade. Following the reception, a tour guide will board the coach with us to provide a guided city tour to include the sites of the Hermann Monument, Dakota Conflict sites, the cathedral and other locations related to New Ulm’s German heritage.

Lunch will be authentic German delights: Chicken Schnitzel served with spaetzels, gravy, red cabbage, bread, apple strudel, and coffee. After lunch there will be some time to check out the shopping.

A visit to New Ulm isn’t complete without a stop to the August Schell Brewery. This grand site, built in 1860, is called the “most beautiful brewery in the United States.” It features the wonderful mansion (not open to the public), extensive flower gardens, wandering peacock, a small deer preserve, and of course the brewery tour. After the tour, we will begin our journey back to St. Paul.

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach transportation, uniformed metroConnections tour escort, complete lunch, brewery tour, applicable taxes, and meal gratuities.

Price: $79 per adult
Minimum: 35 Passengers
Tour duration: 8 hours
 

Tour #1

Monday, July 14

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Mall of America

Spend the day at the Mall of America. Anyone who thinks the Mall of America is just a big mall probably thinks that the Grand Canyon is just a big hole in the ground. The Mall of America is the largest fully enclosed mall in the nation, hosting more visitors annually than Disney World and the Grand Canyon combined.

Designed as a city within a city, the nation’s premier shopping and entertainment destination has more than 4.2 million square feet of space and 4.3 miles of storefront footage, making it a must-see attraction. The Mall of America consists of four “avenues” placed in a square around the centerpiece, an indoor theme park. Each of the avenues provides a distinctive shopping experience. At the “intersection” for each of the avenues you will find one of the four anchor stores: Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom’s and Sears. There are restaurants, bistros, and cafes galore, with food to suit every palate and budget. And of course there are more than 500 retail outlets, including many of the most prestigious stores in the world and some of the most unique specialty shops.

In one afternoon you can ride on a roller coaster in Nickelodeon Universe, explore the bottom of the ocean (Underwater Adventures), drive 200 mph without getting a speeding ticket (NASCAR Silicon Motor Speedway), get married (Chapel of Love), and still have time to shop.

Includes: Deluxe motor coach transfer, metroConnections staff to assist with boarding, and all applicable taxes.

Price: $15 per adult
Minimum: 35 Passengers
Tour duration: 5 hours
 

Tour #2

Monday, July 14

9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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Minnesota’s Antique Treasures

Sit back and relax while we travel aboard a deluxe motorcoach to several wonderful antique shops with something for everyone. Our first stop will be Arts & Architecture, which has been featured on HGTV’s “Trash To Treasures” program, where they salvage valuable architectural elements such as mantels, wrought-iron gate entrances, windows, light fixtures, columns, and other decorative items. Next we stop by City Salvage which is proud to offer some to the finest and most unique antique items from the 19th and 20th centuries. The retail store has three floors and more than 15,000 square feet of architectural antique and artifacts.

Our final store today has been a destination for fine antiques for a quarter century. Located in the “Warehouse District” of Minneapolis, this multi-dealer shop features a wide selection of antique furnishings and accessories.

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach transportation with driver, uniformed metroConnections escort, fuel surcharge, all arrangements and vehicle signage.

Price: $21per adult
Minimum: 35 passengers
Tour duration: 4 hours
 

Tour #3

Wednesday, July 16

1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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Stillwater: Birthplace of Minnesota

Located on the St. Croix River, Stillwater lays claim as Minnesota’s oldest town and the birthplace of the Minnesota Territory in 1849. Stillwater is steeped in history, architectural gems, and beautiful natural surroundings. The residents are close enough to the Twin Cities to be practical, yet far enough away to feel like country living.

For more than 50 years, lumbermen dominated the St. Croix River with lumber camps, mills, log rafts, and steamboats making Stillwater the Queen City of the river. The hills of Stillwater provided escape from the industrial and commercial riverfront; this is where the lumbermen, bankers, riverboat men, and mill workers built homes for their families. The diversity of the population created diversity in home architecture: Queen Anne, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Stick Style, Shingle Style, Neoclassicism, Bungalow, Italianate, Craftsman, and Prairie.

Our tour guide will provide a riding tour of this enchanting old river town and take us behind the scenes of Stillwater’s history. Anecdotes and incidents from bygone years will illuminate the lives of immigrants and entrepreneurs as we view mansions built by wealthy lumber barons, beautiful old churches on the “Street of Spires,” landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places, and the beautiful St. Croix River.

Next, we’ll enjoy the sights along the scenic St. Croix River as we board a replica of an 1890s paddlewheel riverboat, The Andiamo. A delicious buffet lunch also will be served on board: deli meats and cheeses, breads, assorted salads, fresh fruit, a warm entrée that varies daily, cookies, and coffee.

There will be time after lunch to enjoy the variety and quality of shopping on Stillwater’s historic streets. Boutiques, specialty shops, antiques, and art galleries offer abundance for the discriminating shopper. On your strolling shopping experience, discover original works of art, jewelry, pottery, eclectic gifts/crafts, books, gourmet utensils, clothing, home furnishings, and wine. We recommend not missing our favorite spot, Savories, on main street for your free cookie or brownie!

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach transportation, metroConnections uniformed tour guide, riding tour of Stillwater, boat cruise with lunch, time to explore Stillwater on your own, all applicable taxes and meal gratuities.

Price: $59 per adult
Minimum: 35 Passengers
Tour duration: 6 hours
 

Tour #4	Tuesday, July 15	10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tour #5	Thursday, July 17	10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Twin Cities Highlights Tour

Today we will experience a sampling of what makes the Twin Cities fantastic. During the three-hour tour, our guide will provide commentary on the downtowns of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the surrounding areas.

Minneapolis is filled with exciting attractions, events, restaurants, clubs, shopping, culture, sports, recreation, and entertainment that is unsurpassed in the Midwest. The excitement will start when we first glimpse the Minneapolis skyline, an ever-changing scene of contemporary skyscrapers in a dazzling variety of colors, shapes, and sizes that heralds the city’s dynamic growth and vibrant, thriving lifestyle. While in Minneapolis we will explore the famous Nicollet Mall, Skyway network, Block “E,” theater district, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, Milwaukee Train Depot, Orchestra Hall, the television home of Mary Tyler Moore, and St. Anthony Falls, the birthplace of Minneapolis.

A short stop will be made at Minnehaha Falls to see Minnesota’s oldest tourist attraction. This is where the 22 mile Minnehaha Creek, which flows from Lake Minnetonka through the western suburbs of Minneapolis and into the city, dives over the falls and into the Mississippi River. The 53 foot falls have been immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Song of Hiawatha” and are visited by thousands of tourists and locals every year.

Our next destination is St. Paul, Minnesota’s charming historic capital city. Magnificent Art Deco and Victorian reminders of the past nestle next to sleek skyscrapers, giving this Capital City an Old World charm. While in St. Paul we will explore Rice Park, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Landmark Center, Children’s Museum, Mickey’s Diner, The Fitzgerald Theater, Minnesota History Center, and the Minnesota State Capitol, considered the second most beautiful capitol building in the United States. We will see the magnificent Cathedral of St. Paul, the fourth-largest cathedral in the United States with seating for 3,000 people. Built in the Classical Renaissance style of architecture, the cathedral dome is modeled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

We will drive along Summit Avenue, one of the longest stretches of virtually uninterrupted Victorian architecture in the United States. This monumental boulevard of homes, churches, synagogues, and schools attracts tourists and natives alike who stroll past its architectural curiosities and landmarks. Streets such as Summit Avenue were not uncommon in the 19th century, but in most American cities, these thoroughfares have completely lost their character to progress, except in St. Paul. Some homes to note along Summit Avenue are the James J. Hill House, the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the Governor’s Mansion.

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach transportation, metroConnections uniformed tour guide, three hour tour and all applicable taxes.

Price: $24 per adult
Minimum: 35 passengers
Tour duration: 3 hours
 

Tour #6	Monday, July 14	12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tour #7	Wednesday, July 16	2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Tour #8	Thursday, July 17	9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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Saint Paul’s Notorious Past

Baby Face Nelson, Machine Gun Kelly, Creepy Karpis, and Ma Barker are familiar names in America during Prohibition. St. Paul was a favorite hang-out for these criminals and more.

Thanks to the O’Connor System, brothers Richard O’Connor (head of the Democratic Party in St. Paul) and John O’Connor (Chief of Police in St. Paul), criminals were “invited” to St. Paul. The brothers had three rules:

1) Check in with “The Fixer” when they arrive into town.
2) Payment made to the O’Connor brothers through “The Fixer.”
3) Agree not to commit any crimes in St. Paul.

In exchange for these three simple rules, the criminals could live, shop, and go to the best restaurants in St. Paul without being bothered by the police. It was said, if you were looking for a criminal, either look in jail or in the city of St. Paul. Gangsters were glamorized in the newspaper and the detective story magazines due to the Depression and Prohibition.

St. Paul was more than a quiet, picturesque river town and today our guide will show you the other side of this city. Stops will be made along the route at the Landmark Center and Wabasha Street Caves. We will drive by the location where one local gangster blew up a rival, where Dillinger had a shoot-out with St. Paul police, and visit the former most-exclusive speakeasy in the area!

The Landmark Center was once the site of famous gangster trials (J. Edgar Hoover personally escorted public enemy #1, Al Karpis, through the doors for his trial), and the restored federal courts building still commands respect. This grand edifice has been honored with numerous awards for its architectural genius.

In the 1800s, a mushroom-growing business was established in the Wabasha Street Caves. In the 1930s, a nightclub and restaurant was opened; and if you listen carefully, you can still hear bands such as the Dorsey Brothers and Cab Calloway playing in the stage area with the adjoining dance floor. There is also a fireplace area with gangster bullet holes in the marble mantle to remind us of a rowdier era. St. Paul served as a cooling-off area for gangsters, and you’ll even see a “Gangster Gallery” to show off some of the Caves’ more notorious past visitors.

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach transfer, metroConnections uniformed tour guide, all admissions, and all applicable taxes.

Price: $29 per adult
Minimum: 35 passengers
Tour duration: 3 hours
 

Tour #9

Tuesday, July 15

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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Mississippi Riverboat Cruise

While the steamboat era is a page in American history, it is a page that can be re-read as we board an authentic sternwheeler – the pride of the 19th century – for a cruise on the mighty Mississippi River. The swish of the paddlewheel and the blast of the whistle will delight the group as they enjoy the sights along the river.

We’ll head down the same river used by Native Americans, settlers and travelers to Fort Snelling State Park, located at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The Dakota called this place Ha-Ha Mdo-Te which translates to junction of two rivers and from which the town of Mendota got its name.

We will enjoy a complete buffet lunch to include mixed greens with mandarin oranges and citrus vinaigrette; grilled chicken breast with dried cherry sauce; roasted garlic potato puree; a vegetable sautéed with fresh herbs and shaved parmesan; dinner rolls with butter; raspberry swirled cheesecake; coffee, regular and decaf; and iced tea with lemon. While enjoying lunch we will be entertained by a Dixieland band.

We will relive those glorious days when America was young. A time when the building of a nation and the establishment of the states was directly influenced by the great inland waterways. It will truly be a day with a “Steamboatin’ state of mind!”

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach, Mississippi riverboat cruise, complete buffet lunch, Dixieland band, metroConnections uniformed escort, all applicable taxes and meal gratuities.

Price: $69 per adult
Minimum: 100 passengers
Tour duration: 4 hours
 

Tour #10

Wednesday, July 16

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Historic Minnesota

Our tour begins in St. Paul, Minnesota’s charming historic capital city. Magnificent Art Deco and Victorian reminders of the past nestle next to sleek skyscrapers, giving this capital city an Old World charm.

We will drive along Summit Avenue, one of the longest stretches of virtually uninterrupted Victorian architecture in the United States. This monumental boulevard of homes, churches, synagogues, and schools attracts tourists and natives alike who stroll past its architectural curiosities and landmarks. Some homes to note along Summit Avenue are the James J. Hill House, the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the Governor’s Mansion.

We will visit the Alexander Ramsey House in the Irvine Park area. This Second-Empire Victorian home has been carefully restored and furnished with original family pieces by the Minnesota Historical Society. Tours of the house are conducted by guides dressed in period costumes.

Our last stop is the James J. Hill House. Completed in 1891, this red sandstone house symbolized success. Hill was the man behind the success of the Great Northern Railway and it remained the great adventure of his life. Hill oversaw the planning, construction, and furnishing of the house. The home served as the center for public and private lives of the Hill family for more than 30 years.

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach transportation, metroConnections uniformed tour guide, Alexander Ramsey House tour, and admission to James J. Hill House.

Price: $39 per adult
Minimum: 35 passengers
Tour duration: 3 hours
 

Tour #11

Tuesday, July 15

1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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Metropolitan Quilting Madness

Our first stop had the honor and distinction of being one of the top 10 quilt shops from Better Homes and Garden in 2001. Bear Patch Quilting Co. in White Bear Lake is stocked with more than 5,100 bolts of fabric – you will be sure to find something special for your next project.

Our next stop is Charlotte's Quilting which carries more than 2500 bolts of fabrics and numerous patterns and notions. Their friendly staff is available to assist you and to share in your accomplishments. Our customers love our kits so we make kits available for sale for most of our samples.

Our final stop is the famed Lowell Inn to enjoy a delicious lunch: tossed greens with choice of dressing, quiche Lorraine with fruit cup, coffee, tea, and soda. Since 1927 this famous "Mt. Vernon of the Midwest" has been a hotel known to serve the very finest food. For years, the old three-story frame hotel was frequented by important personalities in the business, political, and social life of Stillwater and Minnesota.

Includes: Deluxe motorcoach transportation, uniformed metroConnections escort, complete lunch, all arrangements, fuel surcharge, vehicle signage, all applicable taxes, and meal gratuities.

Price: $47 per adult
Minimum: 35 passengers
Tour duration: 4 1/2 hours
 

Tour #12

Wednesday, July 16

8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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