Tour Retreat
October 14-17, 2013
Our Leaders ~ Schedule ~ Registration Information
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Our Leaders
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Ed and Eddie Bontrager
Ed and Eddie were the pastoral couple at the Huntington Mennonite Church in Newport News for 10 years, and now live in Harrisonburg, VA. Their combined experience in leading 35 overseas tours as well as local bus trips makes them the ideal leaders with whom to explore the Virginia Peninsula. They have two wonderful daughters and sons-in-law along with four delightful grandchildren! For information about other TravelVenture Tours check out their website.
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Schedule
Monday, October 14
Arrive at the Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center (WCRC) at 3:00 p.m. or later. After a fine dinner we will have a get-acquainted time, and then we will be lodged at Oakwood Lodge, which has 24 hotel-style rooms with private facilities.
Tuesday, October 15
After a hearty breakfast served by the staff at WCRC, we will head for Colonial Williamsburg, only a few miles away. This historic area has been restored to its 18th-century glory where we can experience the lives of the people that lived there so long ago. This historic location is visited by thousands of people from all over the world every year. We will have a morning guided tour.
There are a number of good taverns and restaurants to choose from for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon there will be free time to see the many different features of this historic location, including some reenactments of 1700s life and activities. Nearby are first-class shopping opportunities.
In the late afternoon we will go back to WCRC, where there will be some down time before our scrumptious dinner in the Magnolia Center. The staff at WCRC will be treating us to some enjoyable camp activities including a hayride and hymn sing after dinner.
Wednesday, October 16
Today we will go through Newport News and Hampton, heading over and through the James River bridge-tunnel to Norfolk. First we will pass by the Warwick River Mennonite Church located in the Denbigh area where the Mennonites colonized in 1897. Continuing toward Norfolk we will pass Mennowood Retirement Community, and Providence Mennonite Church. The Yoder Barn will also be on our way. Ed Bontrager will highlight the history and present activities of Mennonites in this area. Huntington Mennonite Church is a stone’s throw from Interstate 64 – this is where Ed and Edie spent ten years in a pastoral role.
We will then direct our sights to the “Spirit of Norfolk” for our exciting lunch cruise. As we cruise leisurely on we will observe the sights of the harbor, enjoy a great lunch buffet and good entertainment. This will truly be a memorable experience!
After the cruise we will go to the Norfolk Botanical Garden which comprises 115 acres of colorful landscapes, unusual flowers and the Bicentennial Rose Garden. A narrated tram tour will help us cover this vast array of beauty; we will also have time to stroll around on our own.
Thursday, October 17
Following another great breakfast, we will pack up our things and then head to the Yorktown Victory Center where through a special tour and displays we will witness the end of Colonial America. It was in October, 1781 that the decisive military campaign of the American Revolution culminated here. The British surrendered to combined American and French forces under the command of George Washington. This historic location also provides a glimpse of home life on a typical Tidewater Virginia farm following the Revolution.
There will be free time following our guided tour to eat lunch at one of the local restaurants and continue enjoying the grounds and other displays.
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Registration Information
Register on-line or mail in this printable registration form.
A $50 non-refundable deposit is required with registration.
Prices are on registration forms. Price varies based on lodging choice. Single occupancy rooms will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Register by August 1 and receive a $20 discount!
Contact us about special commuter rates.
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