Joliet’s Backyard

Day One
10:00 AM Welcome Reception/Interpretive Gallery in the Abbey
Upon arrival, be personally greeted in the Interpretive Gallery located in the Abbey on the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate. Following, time in the gallery, you will have the opportunity to view the Sanctuary of the Old Central Church.

11:30 AM The Abbey Theatre
Enjoy a homemade meal in elegant grandeur as you take your seat for a lunch matinee of one of our heartwarming productions.

3:00 PM Talk & Tour Victorian Gardens and Jacob Henry Mansion
As you make your way to the Jacob Henry Mansion, your senses will be treated to the sweet aroma and vibrant colors of the flowers that make up the Victorian Gardens. Calm yourself, as you sit in the Gazebo listening to the nearby fountain trickle its melodic tunes.

Then enter through the front doors of this 1873 National Historic Landmark. You will marvel at the craftsmanship and warmth of this old home. Each of it 40 rooms features old world fixtures and Victorian charm.

4:30 PM Depart for a Motorcoach Friendly Hotel Property

5:00 PM Check In at Hotel/Freshen Up for Dinner

6:30 PM Dinner at Local Restaurant

8:00 PM Return to hotel
Stay to enjoy the amenities of the hotel, or participate in gaming at one of Joliet’s two Vegas style casinos, Harrah’s or Argosy’s Empress.

Day Two
7:00 AM Continental Breakfast

8:30 AM Guided Tour of Joliet

• Friends of Community Public Art - Currently over 18 murals and mosaics are on display in the city of Joliet. Community public artists often work in teams and mentors younger artists
• Cathedral Area¬ – The Cathedral Area on Joliet’s west side is the product of the city’s rapid growth as an industrial center in Illinois during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Fortunes created by thriving industries of early Joliet made possible the elegant and gracious homes that comprise this historic area.
• Statesville and Joliet Prisons – Joliet Prison is best known for the backdrop of “The Blues Brothers.”
• Chicagoland Speedway and Rte. 66 Raceway – The Speedway boasts a 1.5 mile tri-oval track that hosts NASCAR every summer, while its sister raceway track is a state of the art ¼ mile drag strip.

10:00 AM Rialto Square Theatre
You will be treated to a tour of one of the ten most beautiful theatres in the world. The Rialto is a beautifully restored 1920’s Vaudeville theatre. As a special treat, you will be given an organ concert on the Barton Grande Theatre Organ

11:30 AM Lunch at Local Restaurant

1:00 PM Joliet Area Historical Museum
Enjoy a personal narrated guided tour of this state of the art museum featuring interactive exhibits that will walk you through many years of Joliet’s rich history. You will have time to browse through the Rte. 66 Welcome Center and possibly purchase that special souvenir.

2:30 PM Depart for home