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Come along on our More than the Smoky Mountains tour! This Brand-New tour has numerous unique tour experiences that you will not find in any other tour company itinerary. Twenty-Three attractions & experiences, Twenty meals, Ten overnights including FOUR nights at Dollywood's DreamMore Resort!  We think you'll agree it's been worth the wait for this tour. Beer, Bourbon & Bears....Oh My!

Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Sit back, relax and enjoy our travel day to Sioux Falls and Albert Lea, Minnesota for breaks, then to our first stop at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa for a guided tour of this iconic landmark.  We’ll step onto the hardwood floor, surrounded by scenes of yesterday, where the Surf faithful have listened to the sounds of rock ‘n roll since 1933 but is best known for being the last concert venue for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. Boxed meal included. Our overnight will be at the Drury Inn Coralville Iowa City, Iowa.  The hotel offers a pool & fitness center.  Perkins & Arby’s located next door. Departure from Aberdeen at 7:30 a.m.
   

​Thursday, August 24, 2023
Let's start our day with a delicious breakfast buffet before we begin continue East to St. Louis for our Day Fresh Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour. Take a closer look at the brewing methods as we learn about the life of an Anheuser-Busch beer from seed to sip.  After a visit to the Clydesdale Paddock & Stables, the tour moves thru the Beechwood Aging Cellars, the historic Brewhouse & the packaging facility.  Guests 21 + will receive their own Day Fresh Beer! We’ll continue on with a dinner break enroute on your own before we arrive at our home for the next 2 nights, the Drury Inn & Suites Louisville East. Indoor and outdoor pool, whirlpool & fitness center available.                                                                                                                                Friday, August 25, 2023
​Eat a hearty Drury Breakfast as we have a fun and educational day on tap!  Kentucky Artisan Distillery is a very unique place in the distillery world. KAD is a distiller and bottler, and serves as the home for Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon, which means that a large amount of the brand’s distilling, bottling, and aging happens onsite.  We will be treated to a guided tour to learn all about Bourbon, Barrels & more.  Bourbon tasting included!  Experience a closer look at the inner workings of an operational Thoroughbred Nursery! Guides will share with us the Hermitage Farm’s illustrious history in the equine industry.  Learn about the early life of Thoroughbred racehorses as we explore the grounds. See historic carriages and meet retired horses who have competed around the world.  A Farm to Table Picnic lunch buffet will be included at Barn8.  We’ll return to Louisville for our afternoon at the Frazier History Museum. This “where the world meets Kentucky” museum has an extensive collection of historical items, famous weaponry, a Bourbon exhibit, Lewis & Clark Experience, and more.  Museum is self-guided.  Tonight, we will enjoy a dinner buffet before we experience the sensational musical about the bespectacled, 1950’s, rock n’roll icon, Buddy Holly in the “The Buddy Holly Story” at the Derby Dinner Playhouse.  Performance includes over 20 of his greatest hits like “That’ll Be the Day”, “It’s So Easy to Fall in Love”, and “Peggy Sue” along with songs from Ritchie Valens & The Big Bopper.  Show is based on the real life story of Buddy Holly & Rated PG-13. Overnight at the Drury Inn & Suites Louisville East.  

Saturday, August 26, 2023
After breakfast, see history in the making at the The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.  The Hillerich family has been making bats for over 125 years and you will see how over 3,000 bats are made every day.  You’ll learn about forests and mills where every Louisville Slugger bat begins and walk thru the heart of the factory production line for a behind-the-scenes on the bat making process.  Get ready to smell the wood and hear the sound of wood chips soaring. Visit the bat vault, hold Babe Ruth’s bat & much more history in the newly renovated museum.   And We’re Off...for fun and excitement with a visit to the Kentucky Derby Museum. Experience the most dynamic and unique celebration known worldwide as the "Greatest Two Minutes in Sports™".  Enjoy a self-guided museum visit of two floors of permanent, specialty and interactive visits, then you’ll see for yourself world-famous Churchill Downs Racetrack! Walk the Grandstands where thousands of people roar with excitement on Derby day. Kentucky Lunch Buffet included.  It’s good-bye Louisville as we continue east to the Great Smoky Mountains.  Along the way, we’ll visit
Buc-ee’s for a travel plaza experience like no other.  You have to see it to believe it. From the largest & cleanest restrooms to fresh brisket and everything in between, you will become a Buc-ee fan for sure! Overnight at the Drury Inn & Suites Knoxville, TN.  Hotel has pool & hot tub.  Famous Dave’s and Chiptole Mexican Grill next door for dinner options if the brisket didn't tempt you at Buc-ee's.


Sunday, August 27, 2023
After enjoying breakfast at the Drury, we head to the Mountains...the Smoky Mountains that is!  Our step-on guide will join us at the Sugarlands Visitors Center before we enjoy a drive into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the most biologically diverse place on earth.  We’ll travel to the Smokies’ high country and along the way see spectacular views, hear amazing stories about these mountains, its people & make some stops along the way to take it all in.  Newfound Gap will allow you to "hike" a few steps on the actual Appalachian Trail.  Remember pictures for proof you “Hit the AT”. Gatlinburg’s main drag is unique, so enjoy your time this afternoon to shop and dine as you wish.  Tonight enjoy Feudin’, Feastin’ & Fun as we become part of the longest running feud in history at the Hatfields & McCoys Dinner Show.   Whether you’re city-folk or country cuzins, you’ll love the singin’ & dancin’, jaw dropping stunts & comedy along with all the vittles you can eat, served family style.   Our home for the next 4 nights is at the beautiful Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort, located 3 miles from Dollywood Theme Park.   Free Wi-Fi, mini fridges, coffee makers plus a gym, a salon & spa and indoor & outdoor pools are just the beginning of this fabulous resort.

Monday, August 28, 2023
Start your day off with the breakfast buffet in the Song & Hearth: A Southern Eatery at the DreamMore (DM) before making your way to the complimentary DreamMore trolley, which will shuttle you to Dollywood to the spend the day as you wish. The Park is open 10 am-6 pm.  Dollywood Theme Park is an incredible experience.  Spanning 160 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains, the park offers more than 50 world-class rides, high-energy entertainment, dining options, and the Dollywood Express Train.  Don’t let rides scare you away as there are numerous live music shows such as the Dollywood's resident Gospel legends, The Kingdom Heirs, Harmonies of the Heart (featuring members of Dolly’s family)plus animal shows, great shopping, food and much more fun! Come and go as you please via the shuttle throughout the day as long as you keep your shuttle voucher handy. Just be sure to be on the final shuttle back to the DM!  Dinner tonight will be at your leisure at the Song & Hearth dinner buffet served 5 pm to 9 pm at the DM.    

Tuesday, August 29, 2023
Enjoy breakfast buffet at the DM and we’re off to explore some unique places not offered by other tour companies.  Cades Cove is known as the Peaceful Side of the Smokies and the roads are too "quaint" for us to take our coach on them. So we will take a seat on the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center mini coaches with their drivers/guides as we connect with the spirit and history of Townsend, Cades Cove, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Visits to historical sites will be made and be sure to watch for wildlife sightings. It truly is a visit to God's Country!  Back in Townsend, we will enjoy a buffet lunch at The Abbey before we go to the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Amphitheatre for a Montam Tours exclusive: Just the “Bear” facts bear talk shared by the Appalachian Bear Rescue. ABR cares for orphaned & injured black bear cubs for return to their natural wild habitat.  No bears allowed at our talk!  The GSMHC has exhibits within two indoor museum galleries & 17 historic Appalachian structures.   Back to Pigeon Forge to the Applebarn Cider Mill & General Store to visit the candy shop, winery, cider bar, creamery, Christmas & Candle shop before we enjoy dinner at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant.  Savor the included apple fritters & Applewood Juleop! Unique & so good!  Country Tonite will have us enjoying music from old country favorites & gospel, modern hits & patriotic songs with the best singers, dancers, musicians and hilarious comedy in the business. We’re in for a great night!

Wednesday, August 30, 2023
We’ll enjoy a bit of a leisurely morning before we are off to the Old Mill area for on your own time to browse the quaint shops, dine or if you are still full from breakfast, enjoy an ice cream at the Old Mill Creamery.  Be sure to witness the working water wheel at the mill! This afternoon, enjoy browsing at 3 Bears General Store, a 40,000 sq. ft store-if they don’t have it, you don’t need it-store plus you can see and feed LIVE Bears.  Just a few doors down, visit the Country Barn Gift Shop for other great things.  Our shopping will conclude with a visit to Lid’l Dolly’s Factory store where quilts and “frilly” little girl dresses & accessories are made on-site. If you have a little Miss in your life, you will not know when to quit buying! The Island is where you can enjoy dinner on your own before our evening at the Comedy Barn.  The Comedy Barn Theater offers clean comedy with comedians, jugglers, ventriloquists, barnyard animals, live 
music, and more! You’ll laugh until you can’t laugh anymore.


Thursday, August 31, 2023
One final DM breakfast buffet and we’re starting our way back towards South Dakota.  Claudia Sanders Dinner House is a true American restaurant founded by Colonel Sanders and his wife Claudia.  We will savor a delicious fried chicken (what else!) plus more lunch buffet.  Our overnight will be at the Drury Inn & Suites in Mt. Vernon, IL where you can enjoy the 5:30 kickback complimentary dinner.  
  
Friday, September 1, 2023
Enjoy breakfast before we depart & travel thru Illinois and across Missouri.  We’ll check into the Drury Inn & Suites Kansas City Independence, Blue Springs, MO before enjoy dinner and a show at the New Theatre & Restaurant.  New Theatre & Restaurant is the largest and most successful theatre restaurant in the U.S.  We will enjoy Dreamgirls musical which is based on the show business aspirations of R & B acts as The Supremes, The Shirelles & others, this musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago called “The Dream”, who become music superstars in the turbulent 1960’s.  Starring Shon Ruffin.
  
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Enjoy one last breakfast buffet before we begin our trip towards home.  We will travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa for lunch on your own and take a brief stop at the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls before departing for Aberdeen. Memories made in the mountains stay in our hearts forever!  
  

:Tour Dates: Wednesday, August 23-Saturday, September 2, 2023

Tour Package Price 
$2,950 - Two to Four Passengers Sharing a Hotel Room
$3,900 - Single Passenger


More than the Smoky Mountains Tour Experiences:
Surf Ballroom Guided Tour, Clear Lake, IA
Anheuser Bush Day Fresh Guided Brewery Tour, St. Louis, MO
Guided Tour Kentucky Artisian Distillery, Crestwood, KY
Guided tour of Hermitage Horse Farm, Goshen, KY
Self-guided time at Frasier History Museum, Louisville, KY
The Buddy Holly Story at the Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville, IN
Guided/self-guide tour Louisville Slugger Factory & Museum, Louisville, KY
Guided/self guided tour at Kentucky Derby Museum & Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
Buc-ees Travel Center, Richmond, KY.  Two separate visits!
Step-on guided tour of Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Gatlinburg, TN
On own time in Gatlinburg, TN
Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show, Pigeon Forge, TN.  All You Can Eat, family style
All Day Dollywood Theme Park w/ shuttle pass, Pigeon Forge, TN.  Your Day Your Way
Cades Cove mini-coach tour with guide/driver, Townsend, TN.  Evan gets a break!
Appalachian Bear Rescue "Just the Bear Facts" Bear Talk, Townsend, TN
Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center Museum & Village Townsend, TN 
On own time Apple Barn, Cider Mill, Creamery, Winery, Candy House, Christmas & Candle Shop
Country Tonite Music Show, Pigeon Forge, TN
On own time The Old Mill shops, Pigeon Forge, TN
On own time 3 Bears General Store, Country Barn Gift Shop & Lid’l Dolly’s Factory, Pigeon Forge, TN
On own time The Island, Pigeon Forge, TN
Comedy Barn Show, Pigeon Forge, TN
New Theatre & Restaurant DREAMGIRLS the musical, Overland Park, KS

 
Overnight accommodations at:
1 Night Drury Inn & Suites, Coralville, IA
2 Nights Drury Inn & Suites Louisville East, Louisville, KY
1 Night Drury Inn & Suites Knoxville, TN
4 Nights Dollywood DreamMore Resort, Pigeon Forge, TN
1 Night Drury Inn & Suites, Mt. Vernon, IL
1 Night Drury Inn & Suites Kansas City Independence, Blue Springs, MO


Included Meals:
1 on coach donuts, juice coffee morning of departure from Aberdeen
10 Deluxe hot breakfast buffets

Surf Ballroom Box Dinner, Clear Lake, IA
Picnic Lunch Buffet at Barn8, Goshen, KY
Dinner Buffet at Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville, TN
Kentucky Lunch Buffet at the Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville, KY
Hatfield & McCoy Family Style Dinner, Pigeon Forge, TN
Song & Hearth Dinner Buffet at DreamMore Resort, Pigeon Forge, TN
Lunch Buffet at The Abbey, Townsend, TN
Applewood Farmhouse Dinner, Gold Menu,  Pigeon Forge, TN
Lunch Buffet at Claudia Sander’s Dinner House, Shelbyville, KY
Drury Inn 5:30 kickback light Dinner, Mt. Vernon, IL
Dinner Buffet at New Theatre & Restaurant, Overland Park, KS


Round trip motor-coach transportation
Tour escorts

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Payment
A $1,500 per person deposit is due within 7 days of receipt of confirmation invoice. If payment is not received within 7 days, your name may be removed from the reservation list without notice.  VISA, MasterCard, or Discover are accepted.  Final payment is due July 24, 2023.

Cancellations

Cancellations made July 7 or after will receive no refund.  Tour package is transferable to any party, without penalty, provided original tour passenger finds own replacement.  No cash refunds will be given.  Any refunds that may be due will be in the form of a future tour voucher.

Travel Protection
Montam Tours offers Travelex Travel Insurance available for purchase. Price for individual plans are age based.  Travel Select rate*:
Ages 10-35=
$144
Ages 36-50= $153
Ages 51-55= $185
Ages 56-60=$214
Ages 61-65= $256
Ages 66-70= $313
Ages 71-75=$392
Ages 76-80=$513
Ages 81-85=$693
 Ages 86+= $1,074
Plans must be purchased within 15 days of initial trip deposit to cover pre-existing conditions.  Travel insurance can be purchased prior to departure. Other plans available.  Please inquire.  Currently no travel insurance policies cover COVID-19.  * Rates subject to change without notice.


**Itinerary/accommodations/meals may be changed as deemed necessary prior to final departure date.  Any changes will be reflected in final tour documents mailed approximately 10 days prior to departure.  A minimum number of passengers are required before this tour can operate.
View and Print PDF Itinerary
Reservations
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Drury Inn & Suites Iowa City Coralville, IA
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Drury Inn & Suites, Louisville East, Louisville, KY
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Drury Inn & Suites Knoxville, TN
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Dollywood's DreamMore Resort, Pigeon Forge, TN
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Drury Inn & Suites, Mt. Vernon, IL
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Drury Inn & Suites, Overland Park, KS
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Step back in time at the historic Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa for a tour & box dinner. As the last concert venue for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, the Surf is the bedrock of where the sound and attitude of rock and roll changed forever."
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Day Fresh Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour St. Louis, MO
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Filling Barrels of Bourbon Kentucky Artisian Distillery, Crestwood, KY
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Guided tour of Hermitage Horse Farm, Goshen, KY
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Frazier History Museum, Louisville, KY
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Dinner & The Buddy Holly Story at the Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville, IN
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Guided & Self-guided tour The Louisville Slugger & Factory, Louisville, KY
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Kentucky Derby Museum & Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY
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Buc-ee's Travel Center Crossville, TN & Richmond, KY
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Sugarland's Visitor Center, Gatlinburg, TN
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Visit the Appalachian Trail, Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN
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Free time in Gatlinburg, TN
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Be sure to visit The Crazy Mason in Gatlinburg for ice cream sundae's you have to see to believe!
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Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show, Pigeon Forge, TN
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All You Can Eat Vittles at the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Show, Pigeon Forge, TN
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Ride the Dollywood Express during your day spent at Dollywood. Enjoy live music shows, theme park rides, fun food & shopping opportunities.
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We'll visit many historic places during our guided tour in Cades Cove. Most other tour companies do not include Cades Cove in their visit but you will absolutely love the peaceful side of the Smokies.
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Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Townsend, TN
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"Just the Bear" Facts Bear Talk by ABR at the GSMHC. Bears not included!
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A working apple farm featuring a general store, a winery, candy factory, & Christmas Shop open year round in the Smoky Mountains.
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Delicious Apple Fritters & Apple Juleop's included with our dinner at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant, Pigeon Forge, TN
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We'll enjoy music from old country favorites & gospel, modern hits & patriotic songs with some of the best singers, dancers, musicians and hilarious comedians in the business at Country Tonite in Pigeon Forge, TN
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Country Tonite Show Pigeon Forge, TN
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The Old Mill, Pigeon Forge, TN
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Lid'l Dolly's has a large selection of quilts & accessories along with frilly little girl's dresses, all made on site. Pigeon Forge, TN
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Enjoy The Island for shopping & dining as you wish. Pigeon Forge, TN
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The Island Ferris Wheel
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We'll laugh until we cry at The Comedy Barn Theater. Pigeon Forge, TN
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You won't believe the crazy antics of those who reside at The Comedy Barn!
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Claudia Sanders Dinner House Fried Chicken Lunch Buffet, Shelbyville, TN
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Dinner & musical Dreamgirls at the New Theatre & Restaurant, Overland Park, KS
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