Compare Signature City Kansas City by Road Scholar vs Hawaii: Ocean and Islands Adventure by Discover Corps

Day 1
Check-In, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location: Kansas City, MO Meal: D Hotel: Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza Hotel
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: 3:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where the Orientation session will take place. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet dinner with choices of entrée plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Orientation: The Group Leader, a knowledgeable museum educator, will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will have breakfast each day in the hotel, lunches and dinners in the hotel and restaurants around the city. We will pre-select some meals. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Day 2
Kansas City History, Jazz Scene History, Truman Presentation
Location: Kansas City, MO Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza Hotel

Activity note: Walking approximately 1 mile; transportation back to hotel available if needed.

Breakfast: At the hotel, choose what you like from the breakfast buffet that includes choices such as eggs, pancakes or French toast, fruit, milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll be joined by a local educator who will give us an overview presentation on Kansas City and Missouri, providing the foundation for our program activities.

Lunch: We’ll walk to a nearby restaurant in Country Club Plaza and order from a select menu.

Afternoon: We’ll set out on a walking field trip with a local historian to explore and learn about the history, public art, and Spanish-inspired architecture of the Country Club Plaza area, a 15-block retail, dining, and entertainment district. We’ll also learn about J. C. Nichols, the visionary developer who in 1922 transformed a swampy section of Brush Creek Valley into America’s first suburban shopping district. Returning to the hotel, we’ll have a presentation/reenactment of a famous historical figure from Kansas City's past. Participants always love the respect for the past, compassion, and attention to detail shown in this presentation of a memorable character.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a buffet dinner with choices of entrée plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: We’ll be joined by a musician who is part of the Kansas City Jazz scene who will tell us about what’s happening and perform for us.

Day 3
Union Station, KC BBQ, Jazz Museum, Negro League Baseball
Location: Kansas City, MO Meal: B,L Hotel: Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza Hotel

Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile; some stairs.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: This morning we’ll travel to historic Union Station for an expert led exploration of this fabulous building. Part of the reason Kansas City became known as Paris of the Plains was its free and easy nightlife in the early 20th century. But it was also thanks to significant cultural institutions and majestic architecture such as Union Station, opened in 1914. The architect, Jarvis Hunt, was a prominent member of the “City Beautiful” movement focused on urban beautification. The station is a wonderful example of the Beaux-Arts style and was the second-largest train station in the country when it opened. At its peak in World War II, Union Station served more than a million passengers but deteriorated over the decades as train travel declined. A restoration movement began in the 1980s and reached fruition with the 1999 re-opening of a rejuvenated, multi-purpose community facility. Today it is not only a monument to travel, but also a home for culture, education, and entertainment. We will meet a local historian who will lead a Black History field trip. We’ll learn about topics from slavery in the heart of America to the Underground Railroad, war time sacrifices of African Americans, the beginning of the Civil Rights movement, and the renowned 18th and Vine Historic District that was a business and cultural hub for local people as well as visiting notables such as Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Langston Hughes, Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, Satchel Paige, Charlie Parker, Jackie Robinson, Mary Lou Williams, Lester Young, and many more.

Lunch: At a local BBQ restaurant, we’ll meet the Pit Master, get a behind the scenes look at the world of Kansas City BBQ, and enjoy a tasty lunch featuring restaurant specialties.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll visit the historic 18th and Vine District, a cradle of jazz, and two of the city’s most praised museums side by side in one facility: the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. The American Jazz Museum is the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to preserving and promoting jazz music while also celebrating jazz greats such as Charlie Parker — born and raised in Kansas City — and providing performance opportunities for up and coming performers. In addition to music, the 18th and Vine District was the thriving home of other aspects of black life and culture. The Negro National League was founded here in 1920. Jackie Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs before going to the big leagues. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum preserves the legacy of that era, its players, and the rich history of African-American baseball. We'll end our afternoon with a visit to the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden. A 2 acre botanical garden filled with over 7,000 plants, pools, limestone walls and brick walkways. The garden features over 5 different designs and is maintained by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Powell Gardens.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, World War I Museum, Jazz Club
Location: Kansas City, MO Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza Hotel

Activity note: Walking and standing at field trip sites.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll take a field trip with our Group Leader to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art that resulted from the legacies of two public spirited citizens who believed in the necessity of cultural resources for the city and the power of art to stimulate the human spirit. The original building, a neo-Classical masterpiece, was called a “temple of art” when it opened in 1933. Much of the permanent collection was purchased for bargain prices during the Great Depression. Highlights include European paintings, Asian art and antique Chinese furniture, American painting, Native American art, and an outdoor sculpture park. The modern addition opened in 2007. While the design was controversial, the finished structures were highly praised. The New York Times architecture critic wrote: “For the art world, the addition, known as the Bloch Building, should reaffirm that art and architecture can happily coexist. The rest of us can draw comfort from the fact that public works of our own day and age can equal or surpass the grand achievements of past generations.”

Lunch: At the museum café, we’ll have what we pre-selected.

Afternoon: This afternoon's field trip includes an expert-led exploration at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. The memorial that opened in 1926 is a 217-foot tall tower framed by stone sphinxes representing Memory and the Future. At its dedication, President Calvin Coolidge said, “It has not been raised to commemorate war and victory, but rather the results of war and victory which are embodied in peace and liberty…” The museum opened in 2007. Visitors enter over a field of 9,000 simulated poppies, each representing 1,000 dead soldiers. Exhibits trace the development of European conflicts that resulted in the war and the role of the U.S. in helping bring the war to an end.

Dinner: At a popular Kansas City restaurant with choices of entrée plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Thomas Hart Benton, Arabia Steamboat, Truman Library
Location: Kansas City, MO Meal: B,L,D Hotel: Holiday Inn Country Club Plaza Hotel

Activity note: Walking and standing at field trip sites; some uneven ground.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll travel to the home and studio of Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975), one of America’s most popular artists for several decades before World War II. At the age of 18, he enrolled in the Art Institute of Chicago, then went to Paris where he met and admired the great Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. He returned to America and served at the Norfolk Naval Base during World War I, where he was influenced by the Navy’s requirement for artistic realism. His family’s roots in Missouri gave him an intense appreciation of life and culture in the Midwest. Benton’s great murals made him a champion of the artistic movement known as Regionalism. He was also an outspoken opponent of fascism, foreign and domestic. He is remembered foremost for his images of ordinary people and daily life. We’ll have an insider’s look at his home and studio, untouched since his death, and learn about his life, work, and influence on other American artists. Moving on to Independence, Missouri, we’ll reach the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, where a staff member will portray Truman — the last of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four Vice Presidents, sworn in as President when FDR died on April 12, 1945. He was reelected in 1948 when pollsters expected him to lose. As President, he made the decision to drop the atomic bomb, oversaw the end of World War II , implemented the Marshall Plan and NATO, expanded Social Security, proposed national health insurance, supported civil rights, and recognized the State of Israel. He also waged an undeclared war in Korea. After retiring to private life, he was known as Mr. Citizen for his active life of writing, lecturing, and founding his library.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Independence, we’ll have a pre-selected lunch with soft drinks and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll visit the spectacular Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts for a field trip led by a member of the staff. We’ll explore the city’s dramatic, eye-catching arts center designed by Moshe Safdie that opened in 2011. The Kansas City Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City are resident companies that perform in the 1,800-seat Muriel Kauffman Theatre and 1,600-seat Helzberg Hall. We’ll marvel at the beauty of the building and learn how the performance halls were designed to enhance the acoustic and visual experience.

Dinner: At a popular Kansas City restaurant and jazz club with live music, we’ll have our farewell dinner and enjoy the performance on stage. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure following our final session in the morning.

Day 6
KC Jazz, Program Concludes

Location: Kansas City, MO Meal: B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 PM

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll be joined by a Jazz historian to learn more about what has been called America’s indigenous art form, how it developed in Kansas City, and enjoy some music. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1: Arrive in Honolulu and Meet the Group

Meals: Dinner

Upon arrival in Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, you’ll be be met at the airport and taken to your hotel just steps from the world famous Waikiki beaches. After a relaxing welcome dinner together, we’ll get to know one another and discuss the schedule for the week ahead.

Day 2: Journey to Oahu’s North Shore & Experience the Aloha Spirit

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll set out for Hawaii’s iconic North Shore, famous for its big waves and stunning landscapes. Spend the morning in the historic Waimea Valley with a local organization helping to preserve the valley’s cultural heritage and rainforests. Assist with a reforestation initiative, swim in waterfalls, and see why the ancient Hawaiians deemed the valley sacred centuries ago. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Na Mea Kupono, an eco-farm that is home to Hawaii’s staple crop, taro. We’ll be hosted by this local family for a Hawaiin-style paina, or gathering, for our dinner as we learn more about their role in farming on the island.

Day 3: Climb Diamond Head & Sail out to Sea on a Catamaran

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Hawaii’s South Shore is crowned by the now extinct Diamond Head volcano. We’ll take a hike this morning to the top of the rim to get a panoramic view of Waikiki from above. For those who opt not to hike, we’ll have the option to visit the Bishop Museum, home of the royal Kamehameha family and now housing an array of artifacts covering Hawaii’s vast Polynesian heritage. After lunch in Waikiki, we’ll hit the sea on a catamaran ride over the turquoise Pacific waters.

Day 4: Fly to Maui & Explore the Tropical‘Iao Valley State Park

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Enjoy a free morning to explore Waikiki. Head to the beach for a surf lesson with the Waikiki beach boys, check out the area’s cafes and shops or simply relax on white sand beaches only steps from your hotel. We’ll take a short mid-day flight across the Hawaiian archipelago to the Valley Isle of Maui. After landing, we’ll head over to the towering emerald peaks of the ‘Iao Valley on Central Maui for a guided hike of the state park. A location revered by the ancient Hawaiians, the valley also served as the site of one of Hawaii’s most important battles as King Kamehameha I tried to unite the islands in the 1700’s. Later in the evening, unwind at our Kaanapali beachfront hotel.

Day 5: Snorkel off Lana’i & Lend a Hand Protecting Sea Turtles

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We’ll have an early breakfast before cruising to the scenic coastline of Lana'i island with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Spend the morning with breakfast on the boat (expect large boat with other travelers) and then 1.5 hours of snorkeling. Scout for wild dolphins, including acrobatic spinner dolphins, friendly bottlenose dolphins, and curious spotted dolphins. Conservationists from the Foundation will narrate your journey and take about everything from whale migration to plastics in the ocean to reef health.

We’ll return to Maui and, after lunch, spend our first afternoon volunteering alongside the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. Home to one of Hawaii’s largest sea turtle rescues and land based coral nurseries, we’ll join their staff on beach and marine debris cleanu , specifically collecting coral fragments. Take these pieces of coral back to the research center and aid in cutting them into smaller pieces to be grown at the center for a period of 8 months - something that would take the reef 20 years to regenerate! This coral is eventually placed back into the reef to bring back areas that are dead or dying.

Day 6: Maui Ocean Center Volunteering & Farewell Luau

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll spend another morning helping the conservation team at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. On Maui and other Hawaiian islands, sea turtles are being threatened as their habitat is increasingly depleted. Green turtle populations are being impacted by events such as the 2018 hurricane that washed out the most important nesting beach for this species in the entire archipelago. We’ll continue to lend a hand on our projects while learning about some of the initiatives in place to preserve the fragile ecosystem both on land and underwater, including going out with the team to find turtles and tag them for research purposes.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll head back to the hotel where you’ll have some free time to enjoy the beach, swim in the ocean or venture into the coastal town of Lahaina. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner together along with a traditional island luau.

Day 7: Depart Maui or Continue on for the Post-Trip Extension

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check-out of your rooms. The rest of the day is free to relax at the beach or explore nearby Lahaina until your flight home, or continue on to our optional post-trip extension along the gorgeous road to Hana.