Route 23 Blog

By: John Henry

Detroit Prohibition and Brewery History Narrated Bus Tour:
Brewing and the prohibition movement has a long history in Detroit. Small breweries popped up during the mid-1800s to support immigrants settling in the area. Prohibition came to Detroit in the early 1900’s. Gangs starting bringing over illegal booze from Canada via the Detroit River and the race to keep the Detroit area residents “wet” was on. Once prohibition was repealed, a dozen breweries opened back up in the city. Consolidation occurred over the following decades until only Stroh Brewery remained. Local brewing triumphantly returned again in the 1990’s. Today Detroit is full of local breweries producing an amazing variety of beer. Join the Detroit Beer Book author and Motor City Brew Tours founder Steve Johnson for a narrated bus tour. We will visit former brewery and prohibition era sites in downtown Detroit. Steve will share stories about pre, during and post prohibition era history of the city. Lunch at Traffic Jam & Snug Restaurant and Brewery is also included in this tour.

Available: Year Around**
**Saturday trips must be planned at least 3 months in advance

Pricing Starting at: $75.00 Per Person

Trip Includes:
– Round trip motor coach transportation to Detroit, MI
– Lunch at Traffic Jam and Snug Restaurant and Brewery
– 3 Hour Narrated Brewery History and Prohibition by Stephen Johnson

This memorable tour is sure to entertain any history and beer enthusiast. Make sure to call Route 23 at 810-577-8929 to set your date. Call today for a quote on this amazing tour opportunity. If you have a weekday group or are in the Metro Detroit area, please make sure to ask about discount pricing.

Featuring: Queen Esther Show at Sights and Sounds Theater
4 Days / 3 Nights

Available: 2020
(Call 810-577-8929 for your group availability!)

Starting at: $769.00 Double **
**Based on 35 people + 1 comp
($994 Single, $669 Triple, $619 Quad)

Fundraiser = Keep $150.00 per person over 36 paid. Make up to $3000.00 on a full 56 passenger bus!

About the Tour:
Enjoy Queen Esther’s captivating tale of beauty and bravery live on stage at Sights and Sounds Theatre.  Get in the holiday mood with the Christmas Show Deck the Halls at the American Music Theatre.  Take in the Total Amish Experience at Lancaster (Theater, Amish Home and School, and an Amish Farmlands Tour).  Taste delicious Chocolate in Hershey, PA.  Visit the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum and learn more about the history of clocks and watches at the National Watch and Clock Museum.  This Lancaster bus trip is a unique combination of amazing entertainment and unique cultural experiences!

Trip Includes:
– R/T motor coach transportation to Lancaster, PA
– 4 Night accommodations at the Hampton Inn and Suites (3 Nights in Lancaster)
– 6  meals (3 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, and 2 Dinners)
– Visit and Lunch on own at Kitchen Kettle Village
– Visit and Lunch on own at Hershey’s Chocolate World
– Tickets to see Queen Esther at Sights and Sounds Theater
– Tickets to see Deck the Halls at American Music Theater
– The Total Amish Experience (Jacob’s Choice Theater Production, Amish School House, and Amish Farmlands Step on Guided Tour)
– Tour the National Watch and Clock Museum
– Tour of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
– Baggage Handling 
– Taxes and Tips 

Not Included:
– Bus Driver Gratuity
– Travel Insurance *
*We recommend visiting travelinsurance.com to protect your trip from unforeseen circumstances.

This is an amazing bus trip opportunity for groups. If you’re a church group, you can use this tour to help you raise money for missions or maybe for your youth group. We have family friendly pricing for families if they want to do three or four people in a room. If you have questions or would like to set up this trip, please call Route 23 at 810-577-8929.

At Route 23, we’re always looking at new ways to make travel easy. WeTravel is a new start up that will do just that. We can set up your trip reservations and all you have to do is get people to sign up for the trip. You can even pay Route 23 with this app. How does it work you say?

– Easily collect participant information for things like casino manifests, rooming lists, and menu selection.
– Collect and Refund Payments Easily
– Export Excel Spreadsheets Easily
– Create Automatic Payment Plans
– Free Transfers to any US Bank

To Use or Try Out the WeTravel App: https://www.wetravel.com/

The Detroit Auto Show moves from its traditional date in cold January … to sunny June!  While remaining at its traditional home at the Cobo Center, the show will include an additional 1 million square feet into Hart Plaza.  The move to the summer season also means a host of new attractions like outdoor entertainment and exclusive ride-and-drive opportunities at the 2020 show. This year’s Auto Show is going to be a great way to kick off the Summer!  Call Route 23 for a quote today at 810-577-8929.

Price Starting At: $60.00 Per Person*
*Based on a minimum 30 people
*Make it a fundraiser and make up to $1170.00!

Trip Available: June 13th – 20th, 2020

Trip Includes:
– Round trip motor coach transportation to Detroit, MI
– Admission to the the Auto Show
– Free time in the Greektown District

It’s that time of year again. Now is the time to get your 2020 Detroit Tigers group order in.The Tigers are ramping up for another season. There’s plenty of new faces on this Tigers roster as they are trying to turn the corner from their 2019 campaign. Baseball is America’s past time and there never been a better time to celebrate than in 2020!

This year the pricing is less and booking a trip is easier than ever before. We take care of the tickets and the bus and you just focus on signing people up for the trip. Once you order a trip, we’ll email you the flyer to help you promote the trip to your group. The pricing is simplified to 6 Tiers of pricing. Just give us your date and seating location and we’ll do the rest.

If you’re interested in making the trip a fundraiser that is an option as well. Your group can make up to $1040.00 on a full 56 passenger bus. If you rather take a larger group and save money then we’re doing a $10.00 discount on groups of 45 to 56 people. Just let us know if you want to do the fundraiser option or the large group option. If you are a smaller group, we have an option for a smaller bus. Call Route 23 at 810-577-8929 for email us at john@route23tours.com.

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE TIGERS SCHEDULE AND PRICING GUIDE.

Published By: John Henry

Tibbits Opera House, built in 1882, is the second oldest operating theatre in Michigan. Designed by Detroit architect, Mortimer Smith, the stand-alone opera house with its exquisite French Second Empire façade was far more impressive than other theatres of the era. The fact it survives and continues to operate as a theatre is a testament to the quality of theatre they have.

Every Summer, Tibbits Opera House brings in quality Broadway Actors for their Summer Series. The 2020 Season is sure to be a huge hit. This year they’ll have Ain’t Misbehavin’, Annie, Man of La Mancha, and A Comedy of Tenors. We like to pair the show with a meal at Turkeyville in Marshall on the way down.

Prices Starting at: $99.00 Per Person (for each show)

Ain’t Misbehavin’
Showing June 18th and 24th at 2:00 PM**
**Weekend Evening Performances also available

About the Show:
Relive the intoxicating, swingin’ music of Fats Waller and the Golden Age of the Cotton Club. Winner of the 1978 Tony Award for Best Musical, this delightful and energetic musical revue provides great insight into the vibrant time in American history and music. The joint will be jumpin’ as the versatile cast struts, strums and sings the songs that Fats made famous in a career that ranged from uptown clubs to downtown Tin Pan Alley to Hollywood and concert stages in the US, Canada, and Europe.

Annie
Showing July 2nd and 8th at 2:00 PM**
**Weekend Evening Performances also available

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Anie charms everyone’s heart despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Set during The Great Depression, the feisty young Annie endures “a had knock life” in the miserable orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, she spends a fairytale Christmas with billionaire Oliver Warbucksm befriends President FDR, searches for her parents, and foils Miss Hannigans evil plans to take advantage of Annie’s new life.

Man of La Mancha
Showing July 23rd and 29th at 2:00 PM**
**Weekend Evening Performances also available

One of the most produced musicals, based on Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. While awaiting a hearing with the Inquisition, Cervantes presents a play as his defense in a mock trial for the prisoners. In it, he plays Alhonso Quiana, a man who has set his own reality aside and become Don Quixote De La Mancha. Assisted by his “squirem” Sancho Panza, Quixote attempts to avoid his mortal enemy, the Enchanter, and woo the serving wench and prostitute, Aldonza, who he takes to be the lady Dulcinea.

A Comedy of Tenors
Showing August 6th and 12th at 2:00 PM**
**Weekend Evening Performances also available

One hotel suite, four tenors, two wives, three girlfriends, and a soccer stadium filled with screaming fans. What could possibly go wrong? It’s 1930s Paris and the stage is set for the concert of the century – as long as producer Henry Saunders can keep Italian superstar Tito Merelli and his hot-blooded wife, Maira, from causing runaway chaos. Prepare for an uproarious ride, full of mistaken identities, bedroom hijinks, and madcap delight. 

By: John Henry

The Purple Rose Theatre has been offered as a destination by Route 23 since we started. It’s one of our most popular theatre destinations. Located in Chelsea, MI it’s a quaint theatre with a lot of heart. It was founded by Chelsea’s own Jeff Daniels in 1991. It allows artists to perform to their best and most creative potential. It’s a theater in the round makes it all the better to make these production all the more personal. We pair all of our performances with a meal at The Common Grille in Downtown Chelsea. Call Route 23 for a quote today at 810-577-8929.

Roadsigns
A World Premiere by Jeff Daniels

January 16 – March 14, 2020*
*Matinees Available Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday)
*Evening Performances Available: Thursday – Saturday)

Roadsigns is a beautiful, lyrical new play by Jeff Daniels. The play follows Lance, a young poet, as he embarks on a journey to find the way to himself. This nostalgic tale is filled with rich characters who dwell on the outskirts of life, each following a dream or hoping to bump into one. 

Paint Night
A World Premiere by Carey Crim

April 2 – May 30, 2020*
*Matinees Available Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday)
*Evening Performances Available: Thursday – Saturday)

Five long-time best friends, in great need of a girls’ night out, gather for a bachelorette paint-and-sip night at their local art studio. As the wine and paint flow freely, secrets and long-held tensions come to the surface. Attempting to make contact with their inner artists, they confront buried truths about themselves and their relationships, proving that life, like art, rarely turns out exactly as planned.

A Walk Around the Table
A World Premiere and Directed By: Lauren Knox

June 18 – August 9, 2020*
*Matinees Available Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday)
*Evening Performances Available: Thursday – Saturday)

A romantic comedy about the trials and triumphs of finding true love. Alternating between the past and present, Nonna recounts to her panic-stricken, bride-to-be granddaughter, her own precarious days of courtship. Through humor, mystery, scheming, and pain, we see that while life was different in the old days, when it comes to love, some things will never change.

By: John Henry

Route 23 Tours does a lot of bus trips and fundraiser trips. The most popular by far is Greektown Casino. We do approximately 250 trips to Greektown Casino annually. Groups can either do our regular bus trip or they can choose to do the casino fundraiser option. I hear back from many groups and the reason they like Greektown Casino so much is there’s a lot to do besides just the gaming. This is where Greektown Casino separates itself from the other casinos in the State.

Route 23 Tours offers a regular bus trip option and a bus trip fundraiser option. The regular bus trip option are for group looking to go at the best possible price. We offer bus trip options as as $25.00 per person (Minimum 40 people). You can get a trip for whatever group size you want. The larger the group size the lesser the price. It can be tailored in a way that best fits your group. We can do group sizes as small as 25 people as well. This is a great bargain as Greektown Casino offers $15 in free play and $5 in food credit.

The other option we offer and the most common one is the Bus Trip Fundraiser option. Groups that are trying to raise money can make up to $1305 on a full 56 passenger bus by doing the fundraiser option. Many of our groups do additional fundraisers on the bus like raffles, 50/50, and other games. Some even sell drinks and food on the bus. One of our groups raised around $2500 on just one one bus doing all the things just mentioned. This is the best fundraiser around.

What makes Greektown Casino stand out is the location. The Greektown district is home to unique restaurants, bars, and night life. They have restaurants like Pegasus Taverna and Fishbones. They have great bars like Pappy’s Sports Bar and Exodus Rooftop Lounge. Then the nightlife. You can check out the Detroit Escape Room or walk to St. Andrew’s Hall. Greektown is also within walking distance to both Ford Field and Comerica Park. This is the number one reason groups choose Greektown Casino.

When you book a trip with Route 23 Tours you don’t have to worry about a thing. We have you covered. We take care of all the reservations with the casino, and the bus logistics. We even create custom flyer and tickets to help you sell the trip to your group. If this is something you are interested in, please call me at 810-577-8929. I would love to work with you!

For more information on the Greektown Casino Trip and Fundraiser, please CLICK HERE

About the Trip:

Enjoy a trip to Caesars Windsor Casino.  This is a deluxe casino property and with the value of the US dollar vs the CAN dollar you can get more bang for your buck.  Not only will you get $15.00 back in CAN free play, but this casino offers something Michigan Casinos don’t currently offer.  They have Game Picks.  You can place wagers on all North American sports from Hockey to Football.  Check out the special below…

Bus Tour Option: 

Prices Starting At:
$28.00 Per Person (Sunday – Thursday)
$33.00 Per Person (Fridays & Saturdays)
*Pricing based on a minimum 35 people + 1 comp for group leader (free trip).

Bus Fundraiser Option:

Prices Starting At:
$35.00 Per Person (Sunday – Thursday)
*Keep $35.00 per person over 28 paid.  Make up to $980.00 on a full 56 passenger bus!

$40.00 Per Person (Fridays & Saturdays)
*Keep $40.00 per person over 28 paid.  Make up to $1120.00 on a full 56 passenger bus!

Trip Includes:
– Round trip motor coach transportation to Windsor, ON
– 5 Hours of gaming a Caesars Windsor
– Get back $15.00 in Free Play (Canadian)

**Prices can vary depending upon departure location.
**April – June trips will all be based on Friday and Saturday pricing. 

CITIZENSHIP
This tour will be going into Canada. US and Canadian passengers are required to present proof of citizenship. The following forms are acceptable:
1 – PASSPORT – Must be a valid passport.
2 – PASSPORT CARD – Valid for international travel by land or by sea. 
3 – ENHANCED DRIVERS LICENSE- Valid for international travel by land or by sea. 
4 – CERTIFICATE OF NATURALIZATION accompanied by a valid passport. Aliens need valid passport and valid US Re-Entry Permit.

Check out our Bus Trip Fundraiser HERE

Check out our 2020 Tours HERE

Published By: John Henry

Bus and Ticket as low as $54.00 Per Person

Route 23 has a great deal for you Lions fans. Now it’s a bulk deal of at least 50 tickets, but the pricing for a bus and tickets is as low as $54.00 Per Person. Below are the details…

Tampa Buccaneers vs Detroit Lions at Ford Field
Date: 12/15/19 at 1:00 PM

Pride Plan:

Lower Level Option: As Low As $84.00 Per Person
– 100 Lower Level Tickets
– Round trip motor coach transportation
– Lions giveaway item for each of your guests
– 4 Pregame Field Passes

Deposit Amount Needed To Book = $5900.00

Upper Level Option: As Low As $54.00 Per Person
– 100 Upper Level Tickets
– Round trip motor coach transportation
– Lions giveaway item for each of your guests

Deposit Amount Needed to Book = $2900.00

Roar Plan:

Lower Level Option: As Low As $84.00 Per Person
– 50 Lower Level Tickets
– Round trip motor coach transportation
– Lions giveaway item for each of your guests
– 2 Pregame VIP Passes

Deposit Amount Needed To Book = $2950.00

Upper Level Option: As Low As $54.00 Per Person
– 50 Upper Level Tickets
– Round trip motor coach transportation
– Lions giveaway item for each of your guests

Deposit Amount Needed to Book = $1450.00