All Aboard!! As you depart Kansas City’s Union Station aboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenic views of the rolling Missouri countryside, then on to the Illinois farm fields racing by. On board, you will experience the comfort and relaxation of train travel.  With the locomotive's air horn whistling often, our train races through the suburbs brining us ever closer to the "Windy City", Chicago.  You can unpack your bags for a three night at the beautiful Holiday Inn Select.  Enjoy a fully narrated driving tour of the city.  Your guide will point out historic and significant sights. Drive along the lake for a breath-taking view of the skyline and Lake Michigan. Discover why Chicago is called the Windy City and why its river flows backwards. You will see fabulous outdoor art, the stunning Millennium Park, the Magnificent Mile, Buckingham Fountain and much more.  Then cruise along the lakefront for a unique look at Chicago’s magnificent skyline.  McKinzie Tours is offering the option of attending a matinee performance of BILLY ELLIOT the Musical, the new show that has captured Broadway’s heart and swept the 2009 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL! Billy Elliot is a funny, heart-warming and feel-good celebration of one young boy's dream to become a ballet dancer and triumph over adversity. For those who would prefer free time for shopping and browsing on Chicago's Magnificent Mile, or perhaps visiting the Art Institute, Field Museum, or the Shedd Aquarium, we will provide a shuttle. Discover the unsurpassed beauty and distinctive charm of Chicago's North Shore. We’ll take time to explore some of the area's hidden treasures and oldest communities, some dating back to the mid-1800s.  Visit to the renowned Chicago Botanic Garden.  Then it’s on to the historic town of Long Grove, a charming little village settled in the 1800’s.  Hidden among the trees and countryside landscape are over 80 unique shops, featuring pottery, crafts, artwork, jewelry, cafes, and more, all housed in historic structures. Tour the Cuneo Mansion with its opulent Venetian-style architecture.  Have you always wondered what the hand signals mean, or how the traders keep track of all the action in the “pits”? You will learn the answers to these questions and others during your visit the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group, located in a landmark Art Deco building in the heart of the Loop.  Enjoy a bountiful gourmet buffet lunch in the Sellar’s Mart where traders eat in their colored jackets after a session in the pits.

**Billy Elliot tickets are optional, please add $102 per person to deposit amount