On Monday, September 8, 2025, 38 members of Let’s Travel began a road trip that lasted until Saturday evening, September 13.
Why would they do such a thing? Everyone on the bus was excited to participate because they all wanted to spend time at the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky.
On Monday the bus stopped long enough for lunch, supper and a few breaks before arriving in West Memphis for the night.
The day was full of activities to keep the travelers entertained. The first DVD everyone watched was “BatKid Begins.” This story related a true happening in San Francisco in 2015. The Make-a-Wish Foundation turned San Francisco into a make-believe “Gotham City” in order for a 5-year-old boy to become BatKid. The team did an amazing job while getting the cooperation of the mayor, the police chief and some very talented friends.
Several games of Bingo were played. Of course, there were prizes awarded to the winners.
Tuesday was another travel day. Prizes were once again distributed to the winners of each game of Bingo. The DVD for Tuesday was “The Making of the Ark.” The travelers were introduced to the individuals who began the project of first designing a museum that would take the visitors through early Genesis and the Creation. When the people involved continued the project, they realized they needed to build Noah’s Ark for the public to visit as well.
The second day of travel ended in Williamstown, Kentucky, the home of the Ark Encounter. The group stayed in Williamstown three nights.
On Wednesday, following a delicious breakfast at the hotel, it was time to travel about 40 miles north to the Creation Museum. In addition to the museum, the grounds contained several gardens, five bridges, a zoo, a butterfly house, and a conservatory.
Thursday was spent at the Ark Encounter. The Ark was built according to the instructions given to Noah and recorded in the Bible.
Translating the measurements into feet makes the Ark approximately 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet tall. In addition to walking on each of the three levels inside the Ark, visitors had other areas outside the Ark to explore. There was a zoo, beautiful lake, food stands plus a buffet, an Answers Center that offers movies, lectures and concerts throughout the day. In other words, a visitor can stay busy as many hours as they have to spend on site.
Two days were spent on the road going to northern Kentucky and two days were spent on the way home.
There were two DVDs on Friday. Each one shared a true story of a child visiting heaven during a traumatic experience. “Heaven is for Real” relates the experience of a young boy who visits heaven during surgery. The boy shares different parts of his visit to heaven with his mother and father and then finally everyone learns of his visit. He repeatedly says “No” when asked if a particular picture looks like Jesus. That is until he sees the painting by Akiane Kramarik. Akiana painted the Prince of Peace when she was 8 years old. The young boy said “Yes” that’s Him.
The second movie was “Miracles from Heaven.” This true story tells about a young girl who had an incurable digestive disease until she accidentally fell 30 feet inside an old, dead tree. While she was in the base of the tree and the rescue team was working to get her out, she spent time in heaven talking with Jesus. She wanted to stay in heaven because there she had no pain. Jesus told her He wanted her to go back and promised she would be well. She was.
Of course, there were stops along the way for food and breaks with snacks.
Saturday morning started with another delicious breakfast. Everyone was eager to get the trip started because they knew they would be home by bedtime. A traveler shared a DVD she had purchased of the Creation Museum. The narrator explained every part of the museum and the thought processes that went into the designing of facility. The DVD was a great overview and reminder of what the travelers had seen on Wednesday.
Here are those who participated in this road trip. They each probably have a story or two and maybe pictures to share with you of their experiences.
Don and Judy Boyd, Robert and Sharon Hawthorne, Debbie Waters from Buffalo; Charlene Ezell, Jerri McBay, Sandi Nitcholas, Gena Robinson, Eddie and Karen Smith from Fairfield; Cindy Hardy, Donna Lloyd from Huntsville; Cecelia Bell from Jacksonville; Jan Huffstutler, Jan Weaver from Kaufman; Sue Cannon from Madisonville; Debbie Burgess, Don and deLou Corbitt, Noah and Claudia New from Mexia; Courtney Hartnett from New Braunfels; Amy Kent from Oakwood; Dianna Dorman, Susan Harcrow, Trudy Huffman, Sheila Richards from Palestine; Donna Gipson from Rice; Deidra Russell from Richardson; Sharon Pritchard from Rockwall; John and Natalie Schmitz, Peggy Sessions from Streetman; Jo Ann Farrell, Brenda Hagen from Teague; Ray and Sherry Kent from Tyler.
2026 promises to be another busy year for members of Let’s Travel. If there is enough interest, there will be a day trip to Marble Falls to visit the Beloved Gallery in March of next year. The purpose of this trip will be to see the exhibit, “Akiane, the Early Years.” This exhibit includes the original Prince of Peace which Akiane painted when she was eight years old. Please use Google to learn about Akiane and her paintings.
There are two Collette tours on the calendar for next year. The first is scheduled for April 6-14. This tour is to celebrate our country’s 250th Anniversary. It includes Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and a few other exciting stops.
Then, in September of 2026 travelers will have the opportunity to visit more of California. This tour will begin in San Diego, work its way north and inland to walk through the trails beside the giant Sequoias. Those participating in this tour will arrive in San Diego one day ahead of the tour in order to spend time at the San Diego Zoo.
Depending on interest, there could be a Premier tour in October of 2026. This would include a visit to Mackinac Island followed by a visit to Niagara Falls.
Please contact Jerri McBay at 903-388-2243 if interested in learning more about any of these tours.
