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Join walkers from around the USA in 2011 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of volkssport in the USA at the 17th Biennial Convention of the American Volkssport Association in Des Moines, Iowa. The clubs in Iowa have pulled out all the stops to prepare a fun and memorable walking jamboree and we are excited to invite you to participate!
This travel program is designed specifically with avid volkswalkers in mind. We start and finish in Minneapolis-St. Paul, and walk in 7 upper Midwest states and 6 state capitals, including 5 Convention walks. In addition to walks, you can look forward to a taste of American history at Fort Abraham Lincoln in Bismarck (last station of General George Custer before Little Bighorn), and several intersections with the Lewis & Clark Expedition in North and South Dakota and Iowa. Two dinner cruises are included, one on the Missouri River from Bismarck and one on the Mississippi River from Davenport. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a fun, fast-paced exploration of a part of America the Beautiful we rarely visit. We hope you can join us!
How to Register
To save yourself a spot on this Adventure, contact us to register with a $500 payment as soon as possible. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis! Click here for more registration details.
AVA Convention & Capitals 2011
DAY 1: JUNE 15: HOMETOWN - ST. PAUL, MN
Travelers arrive today into the Minneapolis-St. Paul area anticipating two weeks of walking, fun, and fellowship as we explore the history, culture, and scenery of the upper Midwest states en route to the 17th Biennial Convention of the American Volkssport Association in Des Moines, Iowa. Make sure to arrive by late afternoon today in order to join us for a Get Acquainted orientation at our hotel (See Adventure Advice memo for details).
DAY 2: JUNE 16: ST. PAUL – FARGO, ND (B)
St. Paul, MN Capital Walk – 10 km, rated 1
Our first walk highlights Minnesota’s capital city of St. Paul. Two walk routes are available from the same starting point, one featuring the capitol and cathedral, and another featuring the Mississippi River and the campuses of three colleges. Following the walk, we continue west across Minnesota to our destination just across the border in Fargo.
DAY 3: JUNE 17: FARGO – BISMARCK, ND (BD)
We continue west this morning to Bismarck, capital of North Dakota. Our only day without a walk offers instead an afternoon just outside of Bismarck at Fort Abraham Lincoln, the last military post of General Custer before his ignominious end at Little Bighorn. We visit neighboring On-A-Slant Village to gain insight into the ways of the Mandan tribe who hosted the Lewis & Clark Expedition during their first winter en route to the Pacific. Evening plans include a dinner cruise along the Missouri River on the Lewis & Clark Riverboat.
DAY 4: JUNE 18: BISMARCK – PIERRE, SD (B)
Bismarck, ND Capital Walk – 10 km, rated 1
A memorable day begins with a walk through the parks, greenways, and neighborhoods of Bismarck, including an atypically designed state capitol tagged “the Skyscraper on the Prairie” and the excellent North Dakota Heritage Museum. From Bismarck, we turn south into neighboring South Dakota, where we spend the night in the capital city of Pierre.
DAY 5: JUNE 19: PIERRE – SIOUX CITY, IA (B)
Pierre, SD Capital Walk – 10 km, rated 1+
Two trails are available this morning in Pierre; one takes in the impressive capitol, historic sections of town, and the Missouri River. The other route crosses the Missouri to LaFramboise Island, an area where the Corps had a tense encounter with the antagonistic Teton Sioux. The afternoon drive takes us to Mitchell, South Dakota to see the iconic Corn Palace, then across the border into Iowa.
DAY 6: JUNE 20: SIOUX CITY – NEBRASKA CITY, NE (B)
Sioux City, IA Walk – 10 km, rated 1
Today’s first activity is a walk starting from the Sergeant Floyd Riverboat Museum in Sioux City. Sergeant Floyd was the Lewis & Clark Expedition’s only casualty; though Floyd’s premature death was tragic, the low fatality rate was one of the most remarkable statistics of the journey. En route to our hotel, we stop at Lewis & Clark State Park to see a replica of the Expedition’s keelboat and talk to one of the entertaining interpretive guides. Tonight’s hotel is the expansive Adirondack-styled Lied Lodge & Conference Center, established by the National Arbor Day Foundation on a lovely tree-studded acreage across the border in Nebraska City.
DAY 7: JUNE 21: NEBRASKA CITY – DES MOINES, IA (B)
Lincoln, NE Capital Walk – 10 km, rated 1
Our capital walk in the Cornhusker State takes us through the campus of the University of Nebraska, residential areas, and past the capitol building of Lincoln. Later, our motorcoach takes us into the Hawkeye State to Des Moines, where we’ll rub shoulders with walkers from all over the USA at tonight’s Meet and Greet opening (optional) to the 17th Biennial Convention of the American Volkssport Association. Meet & Greet Estimated price: $45
DAY 8: JUNE 22: ACTIVITIES FROM DES MOINES (B)
Winterset, IA Convention Walk – 6 km, rated 1; 10 km, rated 2
Winterset, site of our first Convention walk, is located in Madison County, famous as the birthplace of John Wayne and its six covered bridges that spawned the popular movie, The Bridges of Madison County. We return to the Marriot Hotel in Des Moines (the official Convention hotel) for the second of four nights in a row. Join us tonight for a fun, no-host dinner at The Machine Shed Restaurant, whose slogan reads “Dedicated to the American Farmer”.
DAY 9: JUNE 23: ACTIVITIES FROM DES MOINES (B)
Ames, IA Convention Walk – no distance/routing info available
Located in the heart of Iowa, Ames is the home of Iowa State University and the site of today’s Convention walk. This evening’s Fun Social (optional) offers a picnic at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, complete with a three-piece chicken dinner, pie, and an old-fashioned barn dance. Estimated price: $35
DAY 10: JUNE 24: ACTIVITIES FROM DES MOINES (B)
Des Moines, IA Convention Walk – 6 km, rated 1; 12 km, rated 2
Our fifth capital walk takes us through the streets and parks of Des Moines. Afternoon activities related to Convention workshops will be announced closer to Convention. Tonight’s social activity is the Convention Friday Birthday Party (optional), celebrating 35 years of volkssport in the USA. Estimated price: $50
DAY 11: JUNE 25: DES MOINES – DAVENPORT, IA (BD)
Cedar Rapids, IA Convention Walk – 5 km, rated 1; 11 km, rated 1
Cedar Rapids is known for its thousands of acres of parkland interconnected with trails. We explore some of these acres, plus areas still recovering from the devastating floods of 2008, on today’s Convention walk. Rather than return to Des Moines, after the walk, we continue east to Davenport and the last Convention social event – a fun cruise on the Mississippi River!
DAY 12: JUNE 26: DAVENPORT – MADISON, WI (B)
Rock Island, IL Convention Walk – 5 km, rated 1; 10 km, rated 1
The final Convention event is a two-state walk starting at the beautiful Botanical Gardens in one of the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. The trail then takes us over the Mississippi River to visit Arsenal Island and Davenport, Iowa. Following our last Convention walk, we say goodbye to AVA walking pals and turn our coach northeast towards the state of Michigan. Our home tonight is the capital city of Madison, Wisconsin.
DAY 13: JUNE 27: MADISON – ST. PAUL, MN (BL)
Madison, WI Capital Walk – 10 km, rated 1+
The capital of Wisconsin offers a lovely walk that features the state capitol, the University of Wisconsin campus, and placid panoramas of the Madison Lakes. Heading north, we look forward to a Farewell Lunch at a fun local restaurant in Baraboo, former headquarters and winter home of the Ringling Brothers circus. After lunch, our final stretch of highway takes us across the Mississippi, and on to Minneapolis for the final night of the Adventure.
DAY 14: JUNE 28: DEPART FROM ST. PAUL (B)
We bid farewell to walking friends, new and old, and return home, having participated in the 17th AVA Convention and walked 11 walks in 6 states of the upper Midwest. Congratulations volkswalkers on 35 years of great walks! Here’s hoping for at least 35 more!
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What's Included
AVA Convention & Capitals 2011
June 15–28, 2011 l 14 Days l $2950*
Including
- Airport to hotel group transfers on first and last day**
- All land travel as outlined, including transportation to Convention walks aboard our air-conditioned bus†
- Superior tourist-class (3-star or better) hotel accommodations
- 16 meals: all breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 2 dinners as listed in itinerary (BLD)
- 6 AVA-sanctioned walks (see below for Convention walk details)†
- Fees for walking credit
- WAI guide service throughout
- Tips for the coach driver
- Single Supplements are available: $675
- Entrance fees/admission to:
- Fort Abraham Lincoln – Bismarck, North Dakota
- Lewis & Clark Riverboat dinner cruise – Bismarck, North Dakota
- North Dakota Heritage Museum – Bismarck, North Dakota
- Corn Palace – Mitchell, South Dakota
- Sergeant Charles Floyd Riverboat Museum – Sioux Falls, Iowa
- Lewis & Clark State Park – Onawa, Iowa
- Mississippi River Dinner Cruise – Davenport, Iowa
- More fun stops than we can list!
Optional Excursions
- Convention Meet & Greet Social Function (Day 7)
- Convention Fun Social at Iowa State Fairgrounds (Day 9)
- Convention Banquet (Day 10)
*Discounted pricing available for larger group
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- $2700 with 30 travelers or more
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- $2550 with 35 travelers or more
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**Details of transfers provided are listed in Adventure Advice memo sent upon receipt of tour registration.
†NOTE: We arrive in Des Moines on June 21 in time for the Tuesday Meet & Greet, and offer participation in all Convention walks and activities from then on - June 22 to 26. We will not attend Convention walks offered on June 19, 20, and 21.
Because travelers will have different objectives and participation levels during Convention, registration for the Convention Walks is NOT included in the Adventure price. We will contact you with the Convention registration booklet when it is available and coach you on filling it out. Choices will be necessary in the following areas: walk credit; walk awards; social activities/dinners; workshops and lunches; transportation (not applicable since WAI will provide transportation to walks and activities). To simplify the process, we will then ask you to return the registration form and payment and will submit them to AVA as a group.
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Registration Details
To reserve your spot on this adventure, please mail the Registration Form along with a $500 per person deposit, or call in with your credit card. Make checks payable to Walking Adventures International. VISA, MasterCard, and Discover also accepted.
The General Tour Conditions contain important information you should read before you register.
Mail payments to:
Walking Adventures International
PO Box 871000
Vancouver WA 98687-1000
USA
Travel Insurance
Walking Adventures has negotiated with an insurance carrier to provide travel insurance in the form of a Preferred Benefits™ policy. We are pleased to make this package available and believe that it will provide travelers with an important element of security at a reasonable price.
Why We Walk
Why We Walk
Walking and travel are a natural combination! For over 20 years, our Walking Adventures International team has been offering walking programs around the world, and we’ve found that walking and motorcoach travel is the best way to tour. Our coach takes you efficiently from point to point with little wasted time, but walking lets you get off the bus, stretch your legs, and explore the "must see" highlights and off-the-beaten-track wonders. For more on Why We Walk, click here.
Volkssport
Some travelers like to keep track of their walks with a system known as volkssport. Click here if you’d like to know more about volkssport.
General Questions
And follow this link for more details on topics like: WAI’s approach to airfare, the number of people accepted on a tour, and finding a roommate!
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