|
CVB Tour Guide
The Group Tour Guide offers you a review of all the things to do and see in McPherson. The CVB staff is ready to offer their expertise in setting up a tour that meets your group’s needs. “We don’t just plan tours; we create a memorable experience for your group.” McPherson tour itineraries include:
Celebrating the Arts - ½ Day
Prairie Wheels - ½ Day
Scottish Festival - 1 Day
Foundations of the Past - 1 Day
Journey on the Trail - 1 Day
Ladies Day in McPherson - 1 Day
Agriculture - 1 to 2 Days
Industry - 1 to 2 Days
Past and Prairie - 2 Days
The number of people on some of these tours are limited because of space available. We are very flexible and can make different arrangements for each of these tours.
Group Tour Assistance
CELEBRATING THE ARTS
½ Day Tour
 The Gallery: see a display of local artist’s work for sale. Artwork includes photography, blown glass, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, printing and weaving.
McPherson College-Friendship Hall: view art pieces of all media provided by students, teachers or selected artists.
Community Art: hear the stories of the art pieces throughout our community. (Step on guide available)
McPherson Museum: view the unique and interesting changing exhibits which may include Victorian wedding gowns, period clothing, doll collections, and more.
 Performing Arts: arrangements can be made to see a play or musical performance scheduled throughout the year at McPherson College, Central Christian College and McPherson Community Theatre.
City of McPherson Pipe Band: thrill to the sounds of the bagpipers or listen to a piper play requested tunes.
PRAIRIE WHEELS (Transportation Tour)
½ Day Tour
 Antique Auto Restoration: visit the nationally renowned antique auto restoration program at McPherson College emphasizing hands on skills and historical research.
Find out more...
Driving or Walking Tour of Historical McPherson: a glimpse of historical homes and buildings in one of the oldest and most beautiful areas of our town. (Step on guide available.)
Stop by Main Street Deli and order a specialty sandwich or soup in a bread bowl and end your lunch with a bakery treat made from scratch each day. (Other restaurants available for lunch.)
Scottish Festival
Annual Festival held the fourth weekend of September
Scottish Festival in Lakeside Park: see Heavy Athletics, Highland Dance and Bag Pipe Competitions. The “headliner” is Alex Beaton, the most popular and successful Scottish folk singer in North America. Other singers and entertainers, along with food and Scottish vendors, are among the choices.
Lunch: Scottish or American food is available at the festival or arrangements can be made to eat at one of our local restaurants.
Admission: Groups of 10-20: $9.00 per ticket and one complimentary ticket
Groups of 20 or more: $9.00 per ticket and two complimentary tickets
Hours: Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. is a Clan gathering at the Band Shell in Lakeside Park. This event is free and open to the public to give a preview of the festival’s entertainers.
Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
*Dinner and overnight arrangements can be made.
FOUNDATIONS OF THE PAST
One Day Historical Tour
Walking or Driving Tour of Historical McPherson: a glimpse of the historic homes in one of the oldest and most beautiful areas of our town. (Step on guide available.)
Old Muffin Factory: A replica of an old general store featuring their own line of bakery mixes and Kansas-made products.
 Opera House Tour: National Register of Historic Places- a three story Eclectic/Victorian style architecture showpiece built in 1888. (Currently under renovation) Donations accepted.
Find out more...
Main Street Deli: lunch at a restaurant with turn of the century decor which includes historical photos of the area. (Other restaurants available for lunch)
McPherson College: tour the campus founded in 1887 and visit their nationally renowned Antique Auto Restoration Program. Donations accepted.
 Vaniman Home: an elegant 1920’s home furnished in period style furniture plus many other diverse displays of natural and cultural history. Donations accepted.
Find out more...
Antique Stores: shop and purchase an antique piece as a memento of this historical tour.
Amics: catered dinner served in a fun and relaxed Mediterranean ambience.
Depart for home... knowing you journeyed back in history or stay overnight in one of McPherson’s fine motels.
A PRAIRIE JOURNEY ON THE TRAIL - Santa Fe Trail
One Day Tour
Historic Marker on Highway 56: The only place in U.S. where Santa Fe Trail crosses the Chisholm Trail. The marker designates the intersection of the Chisholm cattle trail from Texas to Abilene with the Santa Fe Trail. Journey on to Buffalo Land.
 Maxwell Wildlife Refuge: Experience the prairie as it appeared in the early 1800’s when wagon trains traveled the Santa Fe Trail. Visit the Tour Center, Gift Shop, and see displays from pre-white man to early farmstead and wildlife.
Find out more...
Board a Modern Day “Covered Wagon”: Tour the refuge of over 2,800 acres of prairie with 200 head of bison roaming free, elk, and blooming wildflowers. (Fees: Adults - $8.00 • Children under 12 - $5.00)
Campfire Meal: Enjoy a Buffalo meal in the catalpa grove picnic area and listen to the old stories on the Santa Fe Travelers. (Tour and meal is $18.00 per person)
 Visit the Kaw Indian Peace Treaty Site (Historical Highway Marker): At this site on August 16, 1825, a peace treaty was signed between the chiefs of the Kansas, or Kaw Indians, and representatives of the U S Government.
Visit the “Queen of the Prairie” (National Historic Site): Culture was brought to the prairie by the eastern settlers. The Opera House was build in 1888. (Currently under restoration)
Enjoy a mid-afternoon break of drinks and goodies on the grounds of the Museum. Venture through the Vaniman Mansion and see pioneer farming equipment and belongings from the immigrant families who settled along the Santa Fe Trail in this area.
 McPherson Valley Wetlands: The Santa Fe travelers encountered the wetlands as they passed the marshes. See how the government has restored the wetlands and learn of their importance to today’s environment.
Arrangements can be made for dinner and an overnight stay in McPherson.
Evening Entertainment: listen to our McPherson Pipe Band bring a bit of the Scottish Highlands to the plains of Kansas.
Ladies Day In McPherson
One Day Tour
Opera House: experience the history of the 1888 three story, “Prairie Landmark”. During the Opera House’s prime time, it hosted big name entertainers and noteworthy events. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Donation)
 Old Muffin Factory: a 1900 sq. ft. retail showroom designed after an old fashioned general store, complete with hundreds of items, gourmet foods and mixes.
Lunch at Amics: offers a gourmet catering and a private dining experience while focusing on seasonal menus and Mediterranean cuisine. (Amics is a word found in Catalan, the language of Barcelona, Spain, meaning “friends”.)
Cook’s Nook: is a metropolitan shop with small town services. An unusual kitchen gadget demonstration presented by the store owner. Also an opportunity to purchase one of these gadgets.
 Vaniman Mansion: celebrate the exuberance of the 1920’s during the era of flappers, bathtub gin and the Charleston. Step back in time and enjoy a presentation on the “clothes and accessories of the 1920’s”. (Donation)
Shopping: there are many merchants waiting for you to visit their shops. The Gallery • Fruits of the Spirit • The Button Hole • and others
Find out more...
*For an enhanced Ladies Day Tour we can also arrange for “hands on” activities such as mini spa treatments, design and make your own bracelet and much more. We can help with ideas and arrangements to ensure your ladies group has a fun and relaxing day in McPherson... with souvenirs to boot!
INDUSTRY TOURS
One Day or Two Day Tour
Certainteed Corporation (Molded Products or Extrusion): PVC fence accessories, PVC irrigation; window fittings, cedar impression home siding
Krehbiel’s Specialty Meats: Value-added meat products, Kansas food products
Ferguson Productions: Plastic Products for wholesalers
Johns Manville: Fiberglass Insulation
Vanguard Piping Systems: Polyethylene (PEX) piping and accessories, HRF heating, water service/water well markets
Multi Community Diversified Services: Heat sealing, custom crates, survey stakes, pallets, small parts assembly, wood chip products, product assembly and packaging, rubber floor mats
Moridge Manufacturing: Grasshopper Lawnmowers
Industry tour arrangements can be made for one or two days. Dinner, entertainment, and an overnight stay will also be arranged.
AGRICULTURE TOURS
One Day or Two Day Tour
Lazy A Ranch Country Store: Country store features buffalo meat and products, various Kansas made food and craft items.
Carousel Live!: Participants have the opportunity to volunteer in an equine team building/problem solving experience.
Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch, Inc.: Turkey and Waterfowl farm and hatchery. These turkeys are the oldest strain of standard-bred turkeys in America and used as farm fresh Thanksgiving turkeys.
Smokey Valley Alpacas: Alpaca farm tour, pet and feed farm store offering alpaca and farm products.
Weelborg Farm: Race horse breeding and training farm. View the race horses, stables and training area.
UnderHill Farms: Working deer farm where you can also enjoy seeing elk, bird watching, nature trails, fishing and hunting. Offers a private dining room for up to 45 people. Also a Bed and Breakfast.
Agri-tour arrangements can be made for one or two days. Dinner, entertainment, and an overnight stay will also be arranged.
PAST AND PRAIRIE TOUR
Two Day Tour
DAY ONE
 Driving Tour of Historical McPherson: a glimpse of historical homes & buildings.
Opera House Tour: a National Historic Building built in 1888. (Donation)
Main Street Deli: enjoy their soup in a bread bowl for lunch.
Travel to Lindsborg’s Old Mill Museum: Flour mill built in1898 - National Register of Historic Places. (Fee-group rates)
Travel to Dugout: the most common type of temporary dwelling used by the pioneers.
Travel to Maxwell Wildlife Refuge: see the prairie up close, a 2,800 acre refuge with bison, elk and wildflowers.
Campfire Meal on the Prairie: taste a buffalo burger and more. (Tour & Meal - $18.00 per person)
Travel to McPherson... an overnight stay in one of McPherson’s fine motels.
DAY TWO
Complimentary Breakfast at motel
McPherson College: tour the campus and their nationally renowned Antique Auto Restoration Program.
 Travel to the Kansas Sampler: see a musical slide show of colorful photos of Kansas in a rural setting. (Show and Snack - $4.00 per person)
Travel to McPherson’s Main Street Deli: taste their home baked goods (other restaurants available.)
Vaniman Mansion Tour: an elegant 1920’s home furnished in period style furniture plus many other diverse displays of natural & cultural history. (Donation)
Shopping in Downtown McPherson: check out our unique stores - Cooks Nook • Fruits of the Spirit • Button Hole • Antique Shops • Old Muffin Factory
Depart for home... knowing you have experienced and sampled real prairie life.
Group Tour Assistance
The Convention and Visitors Bureau is here to help you plan, arrange and coordinate a tour for your group. To make your job easier, the CVB staff will ensure your group has a fun and pleasant experience. These basic services are offered to assist in your group’s visit. Please Contact the CVB for help with planning a tour.
Familiarization Tour: Arrangements can be made for site visits prior to a planned tour. The staff will schedule appointments and guide you through each location. A step-on guide is available for tours.
Tour Services: Customized itineraries are available. However, the CVB staff can create a tour according to your groups’ allotted time and interests. A knowledgeable step on guide can be provided to share the area’s history and show our attractions. Arrangements can be made for an official welcome or reception.
Entertainment: The CVB will assist in finding entertainment (singers, dancers, speakers or storytellers) if needed.
Hotel and Restaurant Selection: The CVB would be happy to make arrangements for an overnight and dinner at one of our motels and restaurants.
Information and Brochures: The CVB can provide your group with area brochures, maps, pens, pencils, and discount shopping coupons designed to fit your needs.
|
