GoChicago Tour Travel Log
Midland to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Friday, June 15
This was the first day of our GoChicago Tour! We had so much fun today.
We drove for four hours to the Hall’s lake house. Most of us slept on the way up there, but some of us listened to music, but it was fairly quiet.
When we got to the house, they had hamburgers and hotdogs waiting for us, and they were delicious!
After we ate lunch we went swimming, sat in the Jacuzzi, laid out and tanned or played board games inside. Then they surprised us with brownie sundaes!
After taking many pictures of the group with the grownups cameras, we were off to Wichita Falls. We played fun games on the way down. We ate dinner at the mall, although some off us shopped too. After that we went all the way to Norman, Oklahoma to stay the night. I think all of us are going to have a good night's sleep!
Amanda Gray, 10th Grade
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Saturday, June 16, 11:00 AM
Today we traveled from Norman, Oklahoma to Oklahoma City to see the National Memorial and Museum, a memorial in remembrance of the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
This was an unforgettable experience!
There was a huge, beautiful Elm Tree called "The Survivor Tree." It was called this because, even though it was terribly burned from the bombing, it still healed and once again became a beautiful tree that will never be forgotten. After we toured the museum we had our first performance. It went pretty well.
We then ate lunch at a local mall and we were on the road again to Springfield, Missouri for dinner. We then drove three more hours to St. Louis, Missouri, where we will sing tomorrow morning.
Becca Williams, Grade 12
Webster Hills United Methodist Church
Webster Groves, Missouri
Sunday, June 17, 8:30 & 10:40 AM
Today we went to Webster Hills United Methodist Church.
We sang at the 8:30 Traditional Service, and 10:40 at the Contemporary Service.
This was our second performance stop of the tour. After the services the church served us a tasty meal of Papa John's Pizza.
Then we drove to the hotel for four hours of free time to swim, watch television, or sleep. At 6:00 PM we went to dinner.
The seniors, Mrs. Clark and Dr. Vozzella went to the Millennium Hotel Revolving Rooftop Restaurant to celebrate their graduation.
The other members of the group ate at The Old Spaghetti Factory.
Following dinner we went back to the hotel to get some rest for our early day tomorrow.
Katherine Brown, Grade 7
River City Music Days
St. Louis Gateway Arch
St. Louis, Missouri
Monday, June 18, 12:00 PM
Today we went to the St. Louis Arch. We went up into the top of the arch and looked below to the city and Mississippi River through the thirty-six windows at the top of the arch.
After our time at the top of the arch we sang at the bottom of the arch for the River City Music Days. After we sang we were given a very large and beautiful trophy for participating. We then went on a Mississippi River boat cruise on the Tom Sawyer paddle boat and ate a boxed lunch.
After the cruise we loaded the bus and went to Union Station for shopping and dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.
We then got on the bus and returned to our hotel for our last evening in St. Louis. It was an awesome day!
Rachel Strope, Grade 10
St. Louis to Chicago
Attend the Broadway Musical Wicked
Tuesday, June 19
Today we drove from St. Louis, Missouri to Chicago. We had an hour of quiet time at the beginning. Later that evening we attended Wicked (before the Wizard of Oz) at Broadway in Chicago. When we arrived at the hotel we checked in and ate lunch.
We departed the hotel at 4 o’clock and headed for dinner at Giordano’s. After dinner we walked to the theatre and saw the filming of a Batman sequel.
Wicked was literally “wicked” cool. It was so awesome, kind of sad but full of new twists. We then headed to the hotel for a night's rest.
Tiffany Simon, Grade 8
Chicago Sightseeing
Wednesday, June 20
Today we had a wonderful tour of downtown Chicago. We rode around town on a double-decker bus while learning about many famous sights and the many movies that were filmed in Chicago.
After the tour we went to the John Hancock Center. We went to the observation deck on the 94th floor and viewed the monster-of-a-town from a bird’s eye view.
We then split into two groups: Group one walked the magnificent mile shopping district and the other group went on the bus to see the Chicago sports arenas. We first went to the old and historic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, winner of the 2005 World Series (which should have been the Astros).
Later that day we went to Navy Pier. Navy Pier is on Lake Michigan. To end the day we took a boat ride to enjoy the most beautiful display of fireworks I have enjoyed on Lake Michigan. Today was a great day and we anticipate many more during the final portion of our tour.
Robert Hicks, Grade 11
Chicago Temple United Methodist Church
Sky Chapel
Chicago, Illinois
Thursday, June 21, 5:15 PM
Today we went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, there were many cool animals.
Then, we went to the Shedd Aquarium. After that we had a fun time hanging out by the lake. We laid in the sun and played games.
Then we went to Chicago Temple First United Methodist Church to sing at the Thursday evening prayer service in the Sky Chapel. It was very cool.
We concluded our day by going to the Rainforest Café. There we enjoyed dinner, mechanical animals, special effects, and chocolate “Volcanoe’s,” a dessert topped with a flare. It was an awesome day!
Kelsey Cunningham, Grade 9
Chicago Site Seeing & Dinner Cruise
Friday, June 22
Today was a great day in Chicago, the Windy City. We started out with a great breakfast at the LaQuinta Inn; afterwards we drove to the Field Museum. They had some great exhibits such as Sue the T-Rex, Ancient Egypt and many other astonishing displays.
We then walked to the Millennium Park and dined on some great Chicago Hot Dogs. While in Millennium Park we were able to hear a rehearsal for an up-coming concert at the giant music pavilion, a reflective bean (a large sculpture shaped like a bean made of a smooth reflective surface), and a cool water fall that had changing human faces created by lights behind the fountain. After our morning out we returned to the hotel for rest and relaxation before leaving for our evening dinner cruise at 8:00 PM.
We danced the night away! We also found out that Christian McKinney is a wicked cool dancer.
Now we are on our way back to the hotel for a good night's rest for our long journey to Springfield, Missouri tomorrow. The chili dogs are hot, and good night!
Michael Smith, 2007 High School Graduate
Chicago to Springfield, Missouri
Saturday, June 23
Today we drove, drove, and drove some more from Chicago to Springfield, Missouri. We even drove more.
Once we arrived we went to our rooms to unpack. Then we had a pizza dinner in the lobby. We then guessed who our Mystery Mate for the tour was.
Then the seniors did a cool thing. They made these paper plates that said the funniest things we did on tour and gave them to us and the adults. It was pretty funny.
Then we went swimming in the pool before bed. It was a long day.
Kolby Cunningham, Grade 9
Campbell United Methodist Church
Springfield, Missouri
Sunday, June 24, 8:20, 9:30 & 10:50 AM
We woke up early again and had to dress-up for church.
After singing three church services we boarded the bus and had quiet time till 2:45 PM.
We stopped in Oklahoma City for dinner. We changed bus drivers and were on the road again.
Ashley Simon, Grade 10
First United Methodist Church
Midland, Texas
Monday, June 25, 5:30 PM
Tour Finale - We had an awesome tour, from Midland to Oklahoma City to St. Louis to Chicago to Springfield, Missouri and back to Midland. We made many lasting memories throughout the tour. It’s sad that the fun has come to an end. The Arch and Museums and Hancock-Tower were awe inspiring, as was singing in the Sky Chapel of the First United Methodist Church of Chicago. The cruise down the Mighty Mississippi was so cool, the fireworks and dinner cruises in Lake Michigan was unbelievable.
Throughout the tour we grew closer, especially to each other and also to God. This choir trip was an absolute blast and I encourage everyone to join. The ministry and the relationships we have developed have drawn us closer to God.
Thanks to Dr. V our fearless leader and Ms. Kaufman, Dr. Gray, Mrs. Clark, Mr. & Mrs. Mouser, Mrs. Cox and all the other sponsors and leaders that helped us throughout the year in order to spread God’s Word through song, and plan our tour. Without them our Music Ministry (Celebration Singers) would not be possible.
Robert Hicks, Grade 11
