North Carolina 4 M’s

Mountains, Mansions, Music & Mayberry USA

April 13-20, 2026

 

     Marvel at the gorgeous views and landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina where you’ll visit the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home, and Mt. Airy, NC, the real-life Mayberry, home of Andy Griffith, tour Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana and so much more with Laura and Gary Block, April 13-20, eight days and seven nights.  Great food, beautiful views and toe-tapping tunes await you on this one-of-a-kind exploration

Day One - Monday

     Our North Star Coach departs from Little Falls early in the morning.  You’ll get an itinerary in the mail before the trip! We’ll pick up in Royalton, Rice, St. Cloud, the Twin Cities or any other locations on our route. Dinner is included tonight at Weber Grill Restaurant in Schaumberg, Illinois.  Yes, it’s the same Weber who manufactures outdoor grills!  Our destination hotel is the Doubletree by Hilton in Schaumberg.      

Day Two - Tuesday

     The day begins with an included breakfast at the hotel. It’s a day of traveling as we cover 500 miles today. Dinner is included tonight at Torres Mexican Steakhouse.  Following dinner, we’ll check in to the Hampton Inn, Williamsburg, Kentucky. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, so an evening of relaxation will be appreciated.   

Day Three - Wednesday

     We’ll start off the day with breakfast at the hotel. This morning, we travel to Asheville and arrive at Antler Hill Village. Time to explore and have lunch on your own.  A vibrant hub of activity that connects the estate’s past and present with shopping, a winery, a farmyard and an Outdoor Adventure Center.  Relax with a glass of handcrafted wine at Biltmore Winery.  Enjoy your complimentary wine tasting at the Tasting Room.  Visit the beautifully designed indoor/outdoor Wine Bar for charcuterie and locally-made truffles.  This is the most visited winery in the US so you may want to do this upon arrival.  This afternoon we visit the Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home, featuring 250 rooms, built by George Vanderbilt and seated on a vast 8,000-acre estate nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The home is as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago.  Your self-guided house visit spans three floors and the basement of the luxurious family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt.  Explore the stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests, and employees through displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art, furniture and more. Later this afternoon we’ll embark on a narrated guided tour of Asheville with Gray Line Trolley Tours.  During the tour, you’ll board a charming vintage-style trolley and be guided through the streets of Asheville by a knowledgeable tour guide. The trolley follows a designated route that covers many of Asheville’s top attractions and landmarks.  Dinner is included at Peck’s Tavern a little later this evening, but remember we’re on Eastern Time now.  Before becoming a hotspot for local beer and great food, this building had a more secretive past.  During Prohibition, its basement served as a major moonshine distribution hub, using the lumber business as a front.  Liquor was moved secretly via a side loading dock and an underground tunnel under Eagle Street, keeping the operation hidden for 12 years.  Later this evening, we’ll check into the Hampton Inn Asheville Biltmore for our overnight stay.

Day Four – Thursday     

     Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out and departing.  We have a 75-mile drive before we arrive and discover Grandfather Mountain in Linville, NC featuring a mile-high swinging bridge, museum and picnic areas.  With its towering elevation and rugged terrain, Grandfather Mountain offers a diverse array of outdoor and indoor experiences for adventurers of all levels.  Hiking enthusiasts can explore an extensive network of trails, each leading to unique viewpoints, pristine waterfalls and lush alpine forests.  Experience the well-maintained paths, split and sphinx rock formations or walk across America’s highest suspension footbridge.  Enjoy lunch on your own at Mildred’s Grill inside the Wilson Center while at Grandfather Mountain. We depart and travel to Shelton Vineyards, a vineyard located in Dobson, NC.  Of over 95 North Carolina wineries, Shelton Vineyards is the largest family-owned estate winery in North Carolina.  Located in the Yadkin Valley near Mt Airy, the estate is 406 acres and shares a similar climate and growing season to that of some of the best wine growing regions in Europe.  Get a tour and tasting that includes five pours of different wines. The included dinner tonight is at 13 Bones Restaurant in Mt. Airy. The name 13 Bones comes from their specialty, baby back ribs.  In order to be a full rack, there must be 13 bones! After dinner, we’ll check in to the Hampton Inn Mt. Airy.  

Day Five – Friday

     Breakfast is at the hotel this morning and then we start exploring Mt. Airy and meet at Wally’s Service Station and climb aboard a real Mayberry squad car! Take a ride down Main Street and check out all the sites like Barney’s Café, Floyd’s Barber Shop, Snappy Lunch and then swing by Andy Griffith’s original homeplace.  You’ll cruise by other Mayberry attractions like the Andy Griffith Playhouse, The Old Jail and the Visitors Center.  Get your photo in front of the squad car – a photo that says Mayberry like nowhere else. Four passengers fit in each car. Enjoy lunch on your own while exploring beautiful downtown Mt. Airy.  There’s Barney’s Café, Miss Angel’s Heavenly pies for an excellent sweet treat and Leon’s Burger Express.  We’ll meet a local guide at the Historic Earle Theatre.  Take a self-guided tour at the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall at the theatre which is the home to the WPAQ Merry-Go-Round, the second longest continuously running live radio broadcast in the nation, second only to the Grand Ole Opry. Enjoy an Old-Time Music Experience with a local musician. It’s a very short walk to our next stop, the Andy Griffith Museum, dedicated to the life and career of American actor, television producer and singer Andy Griffith.  The museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, is located right here in Andy’s hometown of Mt. Airy.  An included dinner will be tonight at Dodge City Steakhouse, an American eatery in a laid-back setting.  This year would have been Andy Griffith’s 100th birthday and we’ll celebrate with a cake tonight.  It’s back to the Hampton Inn for a relaxing evening.

Day Six - Saturday

    The day starts with breakfast at the hotel as we prepare for another day of traveling.  Our destination is Indiana where dinner is included tonight at the Golden Corral Buffet.  After dinner, we’ll arrive and check in to the Drury Inn in Lafayette, IN.

Day Seven – Sunday   

It’s an included breakfast at the hotel to start the day. We will have a shuttle for those who would like to attend 9:00 Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.  Following Mass, we’ll depart at noon from the hotel and travel to the Farmhouse Restaurant in Fair Oaks, Indiana for an included lunch. Located at Fair Oaks Farm, the restaurant is an unparalleled hospitality experience whose hallmarks include exceptional food with fresh ingredients. This afternoon we’ll take a self-guided tour of The Dairy Adventure at Fair Oaks Farms.  This includes admission to the Dairy Adventure Center, Mooville, Birthing Barn and Crop Adventure. It's back on the coach as we head to Rockford, Illinois for an included farewell dinner at the Machine Shed Restaurant where their food is farm fresh and made from scratch.  Tonight, we’ll check into the Hampton Inn by Hilton in Rockford.

Day Eight – Monday

Breakfast at the hotel and then check out and prepare to head home.  Lunch is included at the iconic Norske Nook in Osseo, Wisconsin, famous for Norwegian and American specialties and their award-winning pies.

What a fabulous trip this has been as we spend our last day on the road with a great group of people.    

 

This is a one-of-a-kind eight day/seven nights getaway at a great price that includes thirteen meals, two lunches, five dinners, six breakfasts and great attractions. We would love it if you joined us April 13–20 for “North Carolina 4M’s – Mountains, Mansions, Music and Mayberry”.       

 

 

Cost:        $2,199 Double occupancy per person, $2029 per person triple occupancy

$1929 per person quad occupancy & $2799 single occupancy

 

$500 non-refundable deposit per person will reserve your spot and must be mailed within 3 days of signing up, unless previous arrangements have been made. Deposit is refundable if tour is canceled or if a replacement is found when you cancel.  Balance is due March 1, 2026. An itinerary with all pertinent information and times, along with luggage tags and emergency forms will be mailed a couple of weeks before the trip!         

   

Ø  Comfortable North Star Coaches motor coach transportation

Ø  Experienced and friendly driver

Ø  Thirteen meals are included

Ø  Antler Hill Village, Asheville, NC

Ø  Biltmore Estate Tour – America’s largest home

Ø  Narrated trolley tour of Asheville

Ø  Grandfather Mountain – featuring a mile-high swinging bridge and unique views

Ø  Shelton Vineyards – One of the largest on the East Coast

Ø  Mayberry squad car tour in Andy Griffith’s hometown

Ø  Old-Time Music Experience at Heritage Hall in Mt. Airy

Ø  Andy Griffith Museum & Andy’s100th birthday celebration

Ø  Fair Oaks Farms tour in Indiana

Ø  Optional Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception

Ø  Two nights lodging at Hampton Inn by Hilton, Mt. Airy, NC

Ø  One night lodging at Double Tree by Hilton, Schaumburg, IL

Ø  One night lodging at Hampton Inn, Williamsburg, KY

Ø  One night lodging at Drury Inn, Lafayette, IN

Ø  One night lodging at Hampton Inn, Asheville, NC

Ø  One night lodging at Hampton Inn, Rockford, IL

Ø  Shopping opportunities

Ø  Luggage handling at most hotels

Ø  Refreshments and snacks on coach

Ø  Fun - Games - Prizes

Ø  Hosted by Laura & Gary Block

 

 

 

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Transportation and lodging hosted by Gary Block Tours is arranged with independent firms.  Bookings for entertainment are arranged through independent hotels, theatres and other entertainment venues.  We take great pride in our selection of reliable firms.  However, we do not control these independent firms.  Sometimes shows or celebrity appearances are changed or cancelled without notice.  We cannot be responsible for claims or losses arising out of injury, Covid, accident, death, loss of enjoyment, frustration or inconvenience that arises from the act or omission of any independent firm supplying services to Gary Block Tours, or for mechanical breakdowns, governmental actions, acts of God, strikes or acts of war beyond our control.  We cannot be responsible for the consequences of your failure to follow instructions, including but not limited to check in, check out and baggage handling.  If events or reservations are cancelled or changed, we will make every effort to provide a comparable substitute tour experience. 

Deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled or we’re able to replace you. I have read and understand the Cancellation and Refund Policy notice. All participants of this trip must sign below.

 

Return with payment to:  Gary Block Tours, 112 SE 4th Street, Little Falls, MN  56345

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North Carolina 4 M’s

 

Trip Notes: Lots of day trips coming up in March, including “Guys & Dolls” at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre on March 11th.  March 12th it’s The Grassroots at the Paramount and lunch at Coyote Moon.  The Grassroots had 29 singles that charted – 13 Gold – along with two gold LP’s and one platinum album.  Their hits include “Midnight Confessions”, “Sooner or Later”, “Let’s Live For Today”, “Temptation Eyes” and many more.  On March 19th, it’s The Lettermen at the Paramount who have had 18 gold records and a myriad of hits including “When I Fall In Love”, “Put Your Head on My Shoulder”, “Goin’ Out of My Head” and many more.  Lunch will be at Coyote Moon.  And then on March 28th it’s “Late Night Catechism” at the Paramount.  Uproariously funny, Sister teaches class to a roomful of “students”.

Walk to Mary with Fr. Aaron Nett is coming up in May and the Woodbury Garage Sales trip is May 7th.  Get your name on that list. We’ll be celebrating the 75th anniversary of “I Love Lucy” in Lucille Ball’s hometown in Pennsylvania in June, Nashville in the Fall and Branson for the holidays in November. So many wonderful trips arriving in 2026!