The Meadowlark Travelers' holiday-themed getaway last week included one ark, two eye-catching light displays, three entrees at a private, catered dinner, and more decorated trees than we could count. Twenty-six residents and Passport members, as well as friends and family members joined Monte Spiller, Resident Services Leader, and Becky Fitzgerald, Development Director, on a six-day tour with meal, hotel, and/or attraction stops in six states: Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. 

State-of-the-art exhibits at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky prompted questions and conversation. Visiting the Creation Museum in the late afternoon and early evening gave us the opportunity to walk in a dazzling garden of lights. 

During our stay in Louisville at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel, we enjoyed an entertaining presentation from the hotel's historian and an unexpected, private tour led by the hotel's security guard, who had a key and a story for every room. Since 1905, the Seelbach has welcomed 11 U.S. presidents, and has attracted a wide array of famous folks, including author F. Scott Fitzgerald, notorious gangster Al Capone, and singers Billy Joel and Elvis Presley.

In Santa Claus, Ind., where Christmas is celebrated all year, we shopped at the small town's Christmas Store, and toured Santa Claus Museum and Village. At a historic post office there, a few Travelers entered a room where a team of volunteer Santa's Elves were answering letters to St. Nick. One of the elves that day was 92-year-old Pat Koch, who founded the museum and whose late father, Jim Yellig, was known as the "Real Santa from Santa Claus." He spent 54 years hearing the wishes of children and appearing in Christmas parades across the nation. Many of the museum items are from Koch's personal collection.

The Meadowlark Travelers program was started in 2004 by Fitzgerald, during her time as Resident Services Leader, and by former Meadowlark employee and current Passport member Donna McCallum. December's Holiday Getaway was the 22nd adventure led by Meadowlark staff. If you have a destination suggestion, please contact Spiller or Fitzgerald.