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WICHITA, KANSAS
s
Horseshoe
Casino
FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015
Premium Arrow Tour Bus
City of
BEGIN!
Honolulu
YOUR VACATION
HERE!
Mardi Gras Parade
Snorkeling
Ft Worth
Stockyards
L’Auberge Hotel
It’s Mardi Gras in New Orleans, “The Big Easy”,
and you’re right in the middle of the revelers! It
has been called the “greatest free party on earth”
and you’ve been invited! See at least four
parades, with hundreds of floats. Catch the beads
and enjoy the excitement!
Oak Alley
Gardens
In addition to the excitement of Mardi Gras,
experience the history of the Antebellum South
with a tour of Oak Alley Plantation, and the history
of the Wild West at the Ft. Worth Stockyards and
the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center.
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FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015
Mardi
Gras
Mask
BONUS!
Fun & Games
on the Bus
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
WES
VIRGIN
Trip Includes:
► Baton Rouge, LA & the
L’Auberge Casino & Hotel
► New Orleans City Tour
► French Quarter & Bourbon
Street
► Historic Trolleys
► Grandstand Seating for Fat
Tuesday Parades
► Oak Alley Plantation
► Bossier City, LA & Horseshoe
Casino
► Ft. Worth, TX Stockyards &
Billy Bob’s Over Texas
► Six Meals and All Hotels
► Refreshments on the Bus
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Wichita
KANSAS
Duncan
OKLAHOMA
MISSOURI
KENTUCKY
TENNESSEE
ARKANSAS
S
CA
Little Rock
MISSISSIPPI
Ft. Worth
TEXAS
ALABAMA
Bossier City
GEORGIA
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge
Oak Alley
New Orleans
Gulf of Mexico
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
FLOR
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
History of Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, and is the last day for
Catholics to indulge (or overindulge) before Ash Wednesday,
the beginning of Lent. The holiday has been celebrated in
Europe since the Middle Ages. In New Orleans, the holiday
can be traced to 1699, before the city even existed, when
two French explorers set up camp on the Mississippi River.
The location changed several times as the location of the
French Capital changed (New Orleans, to Mobile, Alabama,
to Biloxi, Mississippi) before settling back in New Orleans.
Masked balls, a highly-anticipated part of New Orleans
Mardi Gras, were banned while the Spanish ruled Louisiana,
and weren’t reinstated until 1823.
Beaded Tree
CHOICES!
Which parades
will you watch?
Mardi Gras Revelers
The first parades started with a group of costumed revelers
in 1837. In 1857 the first krewes were formed. These
krewes established several Mardi Gras traditions by forming
secret Carnival societies, choosing a mythological namesake, themed parades, and tableau balls.
The King of Carnival Rex (created by krewe Rex Organization) made his first appearance in 1872 and soon became
the international symbol of Mardi Gras. Rex presented the
first organized daytime parade, the Carnival colors (purple,
green and gold), its flag, and the anthem “If Ever I Cease to
Love”.
The krewe of Proteus debuted in 1882 with a glittering
parade themed on Egyptian Mythology. The original marching band club, The Jefferson City Buzzards, was formed in
1890. Other important groups include the Original Illinois
Club (the first black group) started in 1894; and Les Mysterieuses (the first female group) was founded in 1896; Zulu in
1916 (one of the most beloved) who has its own King whose
been known to mock Rex.
Mardi Gras krewes today developed from private social clubs
with restrictive membership policies. Since all of these
parade organizations are completely funded by their members, New Orleanians call it the “Greatest Free Show on
Earth”!
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Page 3
Bacchus
Parade
History in Mardi Gras
Challenges in the first half of the 20th century included
World Wars, Prohibition and the Great Depression. However,
the celebrations continued to grow and received international publicity when the Duke and Duchess of Windsor attended
the 1950 Cromus Ball, where they bowed to the make-believe monarch Rex.
In the late 1960’s a new krewe, Bacchus, wanted to make
Mardi Gras more accessible to visitors. They brought in the
largest floats in Carnival history, and instead of the traditional, invitation-only ball, tried a supper dance to which tickets
could be purchased.
For more than 300 years of Mardi Gras history in New
Orleans, krewes, traditions and events updated, changed,
corrected, improved, and have created a Carnival that is one
of the largest and most exciting in the world!
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Devastation from Hurricane Katrina caused many people to
wonder about the future of New Orleans and its Mardi Gras
celebration, but local krewes pushed the city government
forward with the 2006 event. Many of the men and women
who worked on parade floats were significantly affected by
the storms’ aftermath, in many cases having lost most or all
of their possessions. When they repaired the floats that year
(many of which had been underwater), some krewes chose
to incorporate the flood lines into the design.
Children’s
Parade
Ladders
FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Mardi Gras Facts
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
King Cake
Mardi Gras Spirit
Mardi Gras Clean-up
But Mardi Gras isn’t limited to Fat Tuesday. The season starts on
January 6, which is known as Twelfth Night. Other interesting facts
you might want to know:
► The weekend of Mardi Gras, the population of New Orleans more
than doubles.
► Orleans Parish has laws prohibiting any form of commercial
advertising on Carnival parades, and there is no “sponsor” for
Mardi Gras (exceptions being that some krewes may have
merchandise like posters that are themed for each year).
► Collecting beads started in the late 19th century with glass beads
made in Czechoslovakia. Now, the limited edition beads,
doubloons and plush toys that are created by the krewes are high
in demand. Among them are LED and fiber optic beads. Even
more special are the glass beads that have made a return to the
festivities.
► King Cakes will contain a bean or small plastic baby, and is used
to make decisions, including who will buy the next cake, or even
who will be the queen of the next ball.
► One of the most famous and sought after throws is the Zulu
Coconut (also known as the Golden Nugget and the Mardi Gras
Coconut). The coconuts are painted to look like famous black
Zulu faces, and are now handed out instead of being thrown
(thanks to a law passed in 1988 known as the “Coconut Bill”).
► At the stroke of midnight on Fat Tuesday, mounted officers,
known as the NOPD Parade, clear Bourbon Street announcing the
end of Mardi Gras and commencing with Ash Wednesday.
► Flambeaux carriers were originally slaves and free men of color
who would light the way with heavy torches so that people could
better see the elaborate floats and festivities. Crowds would toss
coins for them, a custom that continues, as many will demonstrate the art of fire throwing.
► Mardi Gras Indian costumes are unforgettable! In the past,
Native-Americans found it difficult to be accepted into a krewe, so
they started their own tradition of costume making and parading.
The costumes are hand-made creations of intricate bead work
and dramatic images, which rank among the nation’s best folk
art. Worn just once, the costumes take an entire year to create
(some weighing as much as 150 lbs)!
► Mardi Gras success is often measured by the amount of trash
collected on Ash (Trash) Wednesday. However, the age of recycling has reduced the amount of garbage collected and skews
the numbers.
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
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Little Rock
Skyline
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FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015
Little Rock, Arkansas
Depart Wichita with a special send off to get you in the
mood for the Mardi Gras festivities! Learn about everyone on the bus with lots of games and fun on your way
to Little Rock, Arkansas.
Little Rock is the capital and largest city in the state of
Arkansas with a population of almost 200,000 people.
Located near the center of the state, Little Rock derives
its name from a small rock formation on the south bank
of the Arkansas River called la Petite Roche (French for
“the little rock”). The rock was used by early river traffic
as a landmark and became a well-known river crossing.
Mississippi River
In the morning, we’re on the road again, following the
Mississippi River, with your extra careful bus driver! He’ll
escort you safely through the speed traps of Pine Bluff,
Arkansas! As you drive near the Vicksburg National
Military Park, Cindy will give the day’s history lesson!
Don’t forget to watch for alligators (alligators are seen
all through the Mississippi River in both Mississippi and
Louisiana)!
Little Rock
River Market
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Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Baton Rouge Skyline
L’Auberge
Casino & Hotel
TRY YOUR
HAND AT
BLACKJACK
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
The capital city is located upon Istrouma
Bluff, the first bluff upriver from the
Mississippi River Delta, which protects the
city from flooding and hurricanes. We
drive by the capitol building, which was
the tallest building in the South when it
was built.
Tonight, stay at the L’Auberge Casino &
Hotel. Located just a few miles south of
downtown Baton Rouge, the beautiful
hotel offers several tasty dining options
and thrilling gaming opportunities!
Rooftop Pool
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
L’Auberge Lobby
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Page 7
New Orleans, Louisiana
Take a little time Monday afternoon to wander the
streets and absorb the culture. We have some maps
for you to reference that include locations you might
want to see, and restaurants you might want to try.
Ask Jim & Cindy for additional suggestions.
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Lundi Gras (Fat Monday)
We arrive in New Orleans about mid-morning where
we pick up a local guide who will show us the sights,
including a tour of one of the city’s famous cemeteries. After the tour, you will check into the fabulous
Riverside Hilton Hotel! This is a luxury hotel located
right in the middle of the Mardi Gras action!
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FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015
TRY A
HURRICANE!
The rest of Monday afternoon and evening is on your
own. We suggest you get together in small groups as
the streets will be busy and keeping a large group
together is very challenging. One of our favorite stops
every year is Mulate’s Cajun Restaurant and Dance
Hall.
If seeing four parades during the day tomorrow isn’t
enough, there are two parades tonight! Wear clothing
that is comfortable and can be layered, as the weather will go from warm during the day to cold at night.
And don’t be shy – wear a costume! It’s all about
having fun!
Parade Krewes on Monday
Proteus 5:15 pm
Proteus is the second oldest krewe in Carnival history, and the first to parade over three centuries. From
its first procession, Proteus has presented elaborate
parades and tableau balls. Some parade floats still
use their original chassis from the early 1800’s.
Orpheus 6:00 pm
Orpheus takes its name from the musically-inclined
son of Zeus and Calliope, and has a musical heritage
(including founding member Harry Connick Jr.). Their
first parade in 1994 established them as a superkrewe as they rolled with 700 riders. The parade has
grown to 1200 riders and they were the first to use
fiber optic lighting, and feature celebrities.
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Elks Orleans Truck Parade
Bourbon Street
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans History
La Nouvelle-Orleans was founded May 7, 1718. This
unique city is known for its cross-cultural heritage, its
unique cuisine, and as the birthplace of jazz.
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
The French colony was ceded to the Spanish Empire in
1796 and remained under Spanish control until 1801.
Nearly all of the surviving 18th century architecture
(namely the French Quarter) dates from this period.
During the 19th century, the city grew rapidly with a
mix of Americans, French, Creoles, Irish, Germans and
Africans.
New Orleans dwarfed the population of other cities in
the antebellum South. The large city, combined with
its principal port, made New Orleans a major slave
hub. Despite its dealings with slave trade, New Orleans also had the largest and most prosperous community of free persons of color in the nation, who were
often educated and middle-class property owners.
St. Charles
Street Car
Garden District
New Orleans
Skyline
During the American Civil War, the Union captured
New Orleans early; the city was spared the destruction
suffered by many other cities of the American South.
New Orleans continued to be the largest city in the
South until the 1950’s when Houston, Dallas and
Atlanta surpassed it. In the 1960’s the country
watched as the first black child, six-year-old Ruby
Bridges integrated the Williams Frantz Elementary
School in the city’s Ninth Ward, heralding a new era of
desegregation.
During the 20th century, the city expanded by using a
system of drains and pumps to utilize the surrounding
swamp for urban development. During this same time
frame, both natural and human-induced settling
caused the ground of many areas of the city to drop
several feet below sea level. Levees and flood walls
were utilized to help contain water during large
storms, until they failed after Hurricane Katrina. This
failure led to over 80% of the city being flooded. While
challenges from the flooding still exist, the city’s
population has almost returned to pre-Katrina levels
and major tourist events and other forms of revenue
have returned to the city.
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Page 9
New Orleans, Louisiana
Cemeteries
Only in New Orleans would cemeteries become a major
tourist attraction. Because much of the city is built on old
swampland, crypts and mausoleums are needed to keep
the dead where they are buried. With their elaborate
sculptures and decorative artwork, the larger cemeteries
resemble villages and are often called “Cities of the
Dead”.
French Quarter
Vieux Carré is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New
Orleans, and the district as a whole is a National Historic
Landmark. Several fires in the late 18th century destroyed
most of the Quarter’s old French colonial architecture,
leaving the colony’s new Spanish overlords to rebuild
according to current tastes. New fire codes mandated that
structures be physically adjacent and close to the curb to
create firewalls. Wood siding was replaced with stucco and
French peaked roofs were replaced with tiles. Colorful
walls and roofs with elaborate ironwork balconies and
galleries was the nouveau style. The neighborhood
remains a cultural hub of the city.
Bourbon Street
The tourist draw of Bourbon Street is the eight-block
section of the road in the French Quarter, from Canal
Street to Pauger Street. Bourbon Street was named in
honor of the House of Bourbon, the ruling French Royal
Family at the time of the city’s founding. While mostly
quiet during the day, at night it comes alive with many
nightclubs, restaurants, souvenir shops, strip clubs and
gay bars.
Streetcars
New Orleans has three active streetcar lines, the St.
Charles, the Riverfront and the Canal Street. The St.
Charles Line is the oldest continuously operating streetcar
line in America and each car is designated a historic
landmark.
St. Louis Cemetery
Beignets
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Café du Monde
The original French Market coffee stand opened in 1862
and is open 24 hours a day. Stop in for fresh beignets tasty, square, French-style doughnuts that are lavishly
covered with powdered sugar.
French Quarter
FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015
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Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Oak Alley Plantation
We hope you had a great time in New Orleans!
We check out at 8:00 am, but if you didn’t get
enough sleep (or any), you can catch a few z’s
on the bus!
Oak Alley Plantation
See the “Grande Dame of the Great River
Road”, one of the most spectacular antebellum homes in the South where a quarter-mile
canopy of giant live oak trees, forms an
impressive avenue leading to the Greek-revival
style home. After a tour of the home, there will
be a Cajun buffet. Then, enjoy a mint julep as
you tour the grounds!
Oak
Alley
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
Horseshoe
Casino & Hotel
Bossier City, Louisiana
Horseshoe Casino Hotel
Lay your head in Bossier City, a suburb of
Shreveport, Louisiana. Topping the city’s
skyline, this luxury hotel offers suite-only
rooms. Enjoy a fabulous buffet for dinner!
In the casino, see $1,000,000 on the
wall! If you choose to gamble, there are
over 1,500 slots and more than 60
gaming tables.
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Page 11
Ft Worth, Texas
HAVE YOUR
PHOTO
TAKEN
ON A BULL
We hope you’ve been playing hard! We’ll even let you
sleep in a little this morning!
Ft. Worth
Hotel
We drive through Dallas to Ft Worth, Texas, and
check into the Hyatt Place in the historic Stockyards
District. Wander the streets of the old stockyards-turned-retail stores and see the twice-daily
cattle drive. Grab some dinner before going to Billy
Bob’s Texas for country dancing! You won’t want to
miss experiencing the largest honky tonk in the
world! The Texas-sized dance floor has 32 bar
stations and can host over 6,000 people. Arrive
early for a line-dance lesson!
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
Cattle Drive
Over the last 150 years, what began as an army outpost has become a sophisticated, cultural city that
celebrates is authentic Western heritage.
Stockyards
Ft. Worth became a legendary stop along the Chisholm Trail, the path by which millions of head of
cattle were driven to market. The Texas Pacific Railway caused a new boom in transforming the Ft.
Worth Stockyards into a major hub. With the boom came the building of a large collection of bars,
dance halls, and bawdy houses. The area was known as Hell’s Half Acre, and was the largest area of
vice south of Dodge City, Kansas. Ranching and cattle are still large industries in and around Ft. Worth.
Billy Bob’s Texas
Originally an open-air barn for cattle, it was enclosed in 1936 and contained 1,257 animal stalls and a
1,200 seat auction ring (now the bull riding arena). The slope that is now perfect for concerts was
originally used to allow easy cleaning for the cattle pens. During World War II, it was converted to an
airplane factory. In the 1950’s, it became a department store where the clerks wore roller skates to
make their jobs easier. This 127,000 square foot entertainment complex hosts major concerts and
events like Live Pro Bull Riding!
Page 12
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
LAUGH
OUT
LOUD
Chisholm Trail
Heritage Center
Duncan, Oklahoma
We are turning toward home, but before
we get there we will stop at the Chisholm
Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, OK.
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Chisholm Trail Heritage Center
The Chisholm Trail was named for Jesse
Chisholm who built trading posts in Oklahoma before the Civil War. After the war,
cattle drivers would collect Texas cattle
and drive them to railheads in Abilene,
Kansas along the trading route that was
started by Jesse Chisholm. The cattle
would then be sold back East where their
value was higher (in Texas they were worth
$4/hd, in the North and East they were
$40/hd). There are several shows, and an
interactive area for you to learn the history
of the cattle trails. Enjoy old fashioned
hospitality and a tasty chuck wagon lunch
before we continue on to Wichita!
FEBRUARY 14-20, 2015
Enjoy good music, unique food and
unusual people! We know you will
have a fabulous time on this trip!
On the Trail Monument
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Page 13
YOU WIN!
LLC
WICHITA, KANSAS
WHEN YOU TRAVEL WITH
JIM & CINDY!
Pricing
$1399
Prices per person, based on double occupancy.
Please note: In these fast paced times with currency values,
fuel prices and other expenses constantly changing, we
reserve the right to change trip prices and itineraries. We try
to include all of your costs, but sometimes we have surprise
expenses charged to us that we cannot absorb.
Deposit is Required
with Reservation
$200 per person
x ____ persons
Trip Insurance
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A travel insurance plan
is purchased by Jim and
Cindy’s Tours on behalf
of our passengers for
trips which are four (4) days or longer.
This insurance plan provides trip
cancellation and interruption insurance, as well as additional benefits, as
covered in the policy. A complete
description of coverage is provided to
our customers when the reservation
and deposit is received by Jim and
Cindy’s Tours.
=$ __________ Deposit Paid
MARCH 14-20, 2015
Email: info@jctours.com │ www.jctours.com │ Tel: 316-838-0795 │ 3227 N. Tee Time │ Wichita, KS 67205
Page 11