LEWISTOWN — Karen Galbraith and Nancy Kauffman have gone north of the border and gone a little bit country when traveling to destinations for the Mifflin County Historical Society’s bus trips over the years.

Since 2013, the two Mifflin County women have taken nearly 20 trips up and down the east coast. From Maine and Montreal to Savannah, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., they’ve bussed to some magical places.

Tours have even gone westward to Cincinnati and suburban Detroit. These excursions are a far cry from their first adventure – a day trip to Philadelphia.

“We got a little braver and started offering longer trips,” Galbraith recalled. “Most years we offered two trips a year and sometimes even three.”

Galbraith and Kauffman organize every facet of the trips, working with bus companies and travel agents to piece them together. Some are more customized than others.

They also attend trade shows to come up with ideas for new destinations.

“The planning isn’t that fun because you’re worrying about dates,” Kauffman said. “I think it’s really the people that make it all come together.”

Kauffman agreed, saying keeping the costs down is also important to keep the buses full. “We try to make it as affordable as we can. I think something that people appreciate is that everything is included, even the tips are included.”

This year, three destinations are on the schedule for the Mifflin County Historical Society’s trips: a six-day trip to the Bluegrass State, Kentucky; country Christmas visit to Nashville, Tenn.; and military-themed tour of Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.

Visit to Kentucky

Scheduled from Monday, Sept. 15 through Saturday, Sept. 20, the Mifflin County Historical Society’s six-day, five-night trip to Kentucky includes such highlights as a visit to Old Friends, a living history museum of horse racing. It’s the current home of more than 200 retired thoroughbreds, including many notable champions, such as Silver Charm, War Emblem and Game on Dude.

“We like a combination of a bunch of different things,” Galbraith explained. “We’ve got horse farms and horse racing, which a lot of people might like. And we’re touring wineries and distilleries. This is one that we haven’t done at all.”

Other stops on the trip include a tour of Rebecca Ruth Candies, My Old Kentucky Home and Culinary Biscuit Tour, Heaven Hill Bourbon and Heritage Center, Louisville Slugger Museum, Kentucky Derby Museum, dinner at the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and much more.

“Kentucky is a place a lot of people haven’t gone,” Kauffman added. “We put a lot of pieces and parts together to come up with this trip.”

Prices for the Kentucky trip are $2,435 for single and $1,925 for double members; and $2,455 for single and $1,945 for double non-members.

Nashville Christmas

If country music is your vibe then spending six days and five nights in Nashville might be your thang, from Sunday, Nov. 30, through Friday, Dec. 5.

Highlights of the Nashville Christmas include: three-night stay at the legendary Opryland Hotel; Brightest Star Fountain Light Show and Christmas dinner at prestigious Opryland Hotel; Ice, a new exhibit of carving sculptures and 3-D holiday-themed displays; Gen. Jackson Riverboat luncheon cruise; ride on the Delta Flatboat; Grand Ole Opry show; and tours of Country Music Hall of Fame and Ryman Auditorium and more.

“We’ve never gone to Nashville at Christmas,” Kauffman said. “We’ve gone on fall trips, which were wonderful.

“We’re not country music fans, but they can make you believers,” Kauffman added.

Prices for the Nashville trip are $2,140 for single and $1,562 for double members; and $2,160 for single and $1,582 for double non-members.

Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.

Three days, and two nights in Maryland feature a tour of the United States Naval Academy and lunch as the Naval Academy Club; step on guided tour of Annapolis with a walking tour of the Maryland State House; Phillips seafood dinner; step on tour of Baltimore and historic Fort McHenry; Museum of Industry; Toby’s Dinner Theatre; Baltimore Sightseeing Cruise; Tour of U.S.S. Constellation; and National Aquarium.

The trip is booked for Tuesday, June 17, 2025, through Thursday, June 19, 2025.

“Annapolis has a lot to offer in that area,” Kauffman said. “We’ve gone to West Point, N.Y., a couple of times, and people really enjoyed hearing about it and seeing it.

“There’s a lot of good history and it’s tourist-friendly,” Kauffman added.

Plus, it’s only a three-day tour, while some tour goers prefer. “It’s one of the shorter ones and it’s not that far away,” Galbraith explained.

Prices for the Baltimore and Annapolis trip are $1,090 for single and $885 for double members; and $1,110 for single and $905 for double non-members.

The prices for the trips include transportation and baggage handling, lodging, admission and entrance fees to attractions, tour guides and bus driver gratuities and many meals.

Reservations should be made by Nov. 20, 2024, and must be accompanied by a 50 percent deposit. The dates for final payments vary, depending on the destination. Trip insurance is also available upon request.

With the holidays approaching, the two said that trip certificates are a popular gift. “I think people appreciate that,” Galbraith said. “They’re always an option.”

For more information, contact Galbraith at (717) 250-5152 or gkg@pa.net or Kauffman at (717) 994-4663 or npkauffman457@gmail.com.