Chapel of the Cross We’re glad you are interested in the 2013 MLC Alumni Tour to the beautiful Southwest region of our country. The MLC Alumni Association is proud to sponsor the tour and is committed to providing affordable, enjoyable, and educational tours for alumni and WELS members. Roger Sievert has twice traveled with the group. California Sea Lions You’ll be in close quarters with some wonderful folks for nearly two weeks. Together, we’ll grow in our knowledge of the world God created, our appreciation for the grace and goodness He’s shown us in His Son, and our love for the faith family He’s provided. Daily devotions, inclusion of local WELS pastors, and ample opportunities to share encouragement are key elements of this tour. Vicar Chris Ewings shares a devotion at Arlington Cemetery We’re blessed to have MLC Geography professor Earl Heidtke as our guide. As such, he’ll provide expert insight into the various places we visit and give you opportunity to reflect on what you’ve seen. Steve Balza will once again serve as tour manager with the goal of ensuring your safety, comfort, and enjoyment. Prof. Earl Heidtke Sun Country MSP-SAN Steve Balza San Diego International All Aboard America Coach Southwest PHX-MSP We’re happy to offer round-trip air from Minneapolis for just $350. Those who wish can provide their own transportation to our San Diego start point and from our Phoenix return location. Comfort is king with All Aboard America, one of the Southwest’s premier motor-coach providers. Complete with on-board restroom, portable microphone, DVD player, reclining seats, and reading lights, you’ll travel in safety and in style. Destination – San Diego June 10-12 Hotel del Coronado We’ll spend 2.5 days touring “America’s Finest City”. With a year-round moderate climate, gorgeous coastal and mountain scenery, 18th century Spanish settlement history, a massive military presence, and major attractions, it’s easy to see how San Diego gets its nickname. Significant sites on our itinerary include: * Coronado Bridge * Hotel del Coronado * USS Midway Museum * Old Town * Point Loma (Cabrillo Monument, Ft Rosecrans) * La Jolla / Mt Soledad * Torrey Pines * Balboa Park * San Diego Zoo * Petco Park * Seaport Village Mt. Soledad San Diego Zoo USS Midway Museum Coronado Bridge Point Loma Lighthouse Destination – Solvang June 13-14 El Matador Beach From San Diego, we’ll head up the Pacific coast making visits to various sites along the route before arriving at the lovely Danish village of Solvang. After a quiet night, we’ll enjoy a leisurely morning before heading down to the “City of Angels”. Planned stops include: * Santa Monica Pier * Getty Villa * Point Dume * Santa Barbara * Solvang * Mission Santa Ines * Rideau Vineyard * Quicksilver Ranch * El Matador Beach * Getty Center Quicksilver Ranch Mission Santa Ines Rideau Vineyard Getty Villa Destination – Los Angeles June 15-16 Walk of Fame We’re fortunate to have local step-on guides joining us in both San Diego and Los Angeles. Our LA guide will lead us through the “2nd City” highlighting the following destinations: * Downtown * Griffith Observatory * Hollywood Sign View * Grauman’s Theatre * Walk of Fame * Farmer’s Market * Beverly Hills * Venice Canals In addition, we’ll enjoy worshipping with our WELS family before we head out for Las Vegas. Griffith Park & Observatory Downtown – Disney Concert Hall Grauman Theatre Hollywood Beverly Hills Destination – Las Vegas June 17-18 Venetian Gondolas Our time in Vegas will offer travelers the option to simply relax at our resort (which includes a fabulous pool, ten+ restaurants, a movie theatre, bowling alley, and a casino) or run out with the guides to visit local attractions such as: * Hoover Dam * Mt. Charleston * Bellagio Fountains * New York, New York * The Mirage Volcano * The Venetian Gondolas * Fremont Street * Paris Hotel Some may choose to take in a show or use the resort’s free shuttle to explore on their own. All will enjoy one trip down “the strip” to see the lights and sights of America’s brightest street. Mirage Volcano New York Hotel Paris Hotel Hoover Dam Mt. Charleston Destination – Arizona Grandeur June 19-21 Our final days will be spent marveling at the beautiful canyons and rock formations God has formed for us in Arizona. * Sunset Crater Volcano * Grand Canyon * Oak Creek Canyon * Sedona Airport Mesa * Cathedral Rock * Chapel of the Cross * Montezuma’s Castle * The Fountain Our final night will be a relaxing evening in Scottsdale. An optional morning run-out tour of some Phoenix area highlights will be offered before our afternoon return flight. Fountain Hills Cathedral Rock, Sedona Sunset Crater Volcano Grand Canyon Sunset Montezuma’s Castle We’ll be staying in nice, high-quality 2-3 star hotels that receive excellent consumer ratings and offer value, safety, convenience, and comfortable accommodation. Breakfast is also included for nine of eleven nights. San Diego, CA June 10, 11, 12 – Kings Inn, San Diego June 13 – Svendsgaard Lodge, Solvang June 14, 15 – Comfort Inn, Hawthorne/LA June 16, 17 – The Orleans, Las Vegas June 18, 19 – Days Hotel, Flagstaff June 20 – Hospitality Suites, Scottsdale Click on the hotel name to see more info and read reviews. Solvang, CA Los Angeles, CA Las Vegas, NV Scottsdale, AZ Flagstaff, AZ Costs, Deposit, and Payment Information Space is limited and the tour is expected to sell out. Rates are based on occupancy (single means one person in a room, double is two, etc.) Those electing triple or quad occupancy must identify their roommates upon registration. Those traveling as a single but interested in having a same gender roommate assigned to them may indicate that on the registration form. Prices include all admission fees, guide fees, gratuities, hotels, daily motor coach transport, and taxes. Nine breakfasts are also provided. “With flight” includes non-stop air from Minneapolis to San Diego and back from Phoenix. It also includes up to two checked bags and a Park ‘n Ride service from a Twin Cities area WELS church. Regular Rates (Feb 1 or later) With Flight No Flight Single $1700 $1350 Double $1300 $950 Triple $1225 $875 Quad $1150 $800 Early birds who register prior to Feb 1 receive $25 off! A $200/person deposit is due at time of registration. The fee is refundable until Feb 15. Final payment is due Mar 15. Contact Steve Balza at 507-217-1731 or alumni@mlc-wels.edu if you have questions or click here to register. 2013 MLC Alumni Tour Registration Form Instructions. Please fill out one copy of this form for each attendee. Since many of you will be flying with us, we need to collect personal information such as your full name, gender, and date of birth exactly as it is found on your photo identification. Only your name, city, and state will be shared with fellow travelers unless you elect to provide additional information. Contact Info (please fill in as found on your photo identification) Title: ____ First: __________ Middle: _________ Last: ___________ Mailing Address : _________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: ________ Zip: __________ Cell Phone: __________________ Other Phone: _________________ Email Address: _____________________________________________ Date of Birth (mm/dd/yy): ______________ Gender: ____________ MLC Affiliation (please check all that apply) ___ Alumni (MLC, DMLC, NWC) ___ WELS Member ___ Current MLC student ___ OWLS Member ___ Other: _________________________ Flight Preference (please check Yes or No) Will you be joining us on the group flights from Minneapolis to San Diego on June 10 and Phoenix to Minneapolis on June 21? Non-stop flight times are subject to change but currently are scheduled for : June 10…2:45 pm to 4:27 pm June 21...12:00 Noon to 5:05 pm All times are local. $350 cost includes park & shuttle option in Minneapolis, two checked bags, and one carry-on for each flight. ___ Yes, book me on the flight. ___ No, I will find my own transportation. Frequent Flier Information (Optional. If you are a flying with us and would like mileage credit for our Sun Country or Southwest flights, please add your frequent flier number below.) Sun Country __________________ Southwest ____________________ Rooming Preference (please select one) ___ A) Single. I would like my own room. Base cost = $1350. ___ B) Double. I would like to share my room with another traveler and will name that person in the next question. Base cost = $950. ___ C) Double. I am travelling alone and would like to be assigned a roommate of the same gender. Base cost = $950. ___ D) Triple. I would like to share my room with two other travelers and will name them in the next question. Base cost = $875. ___ E) Quad. I would like to share my room with three other travelers and will name them in the next question. Base cost = $800. Please list names of other travelers you wish to room with (if applicable). ____________ _____________ ___________ For those selecting option B above, please note whether you prefer one or two beds in your room. Those selecting C, D, or E will have two beds. ___ We prefer one bed. ___ We prefer two beds. ___ Either is fine. All room assignments will be non-smoking. Several of the hotels also have in-room refrigerators and microwaves . If you have special needs (accessibility, dietary, etc.) that you’d like us to share with the hotels or restaurants where we stop, please advise below. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Submit Please sign, detach, and send this form, along with a $200/person deposit check made out to MLCAA, to MLC Alumni Tour c/o Steve Balza 1995 Luther Court New Ulm, MN 56073 Once we have received your form, we will contact you to collect additional information and share further details including optional activities. None require additional payment but some do require advance reservation. Signature: _________________________ Date: ___________________