Father's World Tours

01/15/2026

Today is the long-awaited opening of our Adventures in Alaska Cruisetour and we are filling fast (over 3/4 full)! At $4995, it provides a great bang for the buck and gives an outstanding overview of this vast and remote region. We are fortunate to have 20 cabins (max 40 folks) heading to the Last Frontier from July 20-Aug 4 (peak season for wildlife viewing)! Lord willing, we'll start in Seattle and spend a day seeing the sights of North Cascades National Park. We then venture across into Canada, get a quick view of Vancouver, and embark on the Island Princess for a 7-night "Voyage of the Glaciers" cruise through the Inside Passage. All meals (plus our excursions in Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway) are included prior to our arrival on the Alaska mainland The six night land tour portion includes all transportation and accommodation in Princess Wilderness Resort lodges - stunningly set alongside Wrangell-St Elias and Denali National Parks. During the land tour, meals and excursions are at your discretion and on your dime. You can customize that portion to the pace and price you prefer. An optional flight from Minneapolis MSP to Seattle SEA on July 20 with a return from Fairbanks FAI to Minneapolis MSP on August 4/5 is available for an additional $500. If/when the trip sells out, we will maintain a waitlist with the top names on the list having first option in the event of a cancellation. Open to WELS and ELS members of all ages, we are proud to partner with the OWLS (WELS Seniors) in offering this tour. Interested? Don't delay! Register today at https://bit.ly/AKTOUR26

12/18/2025

Theater lovers within driving distance of the Twin Cities or New Ulm/Nicollet/St Peter, here's another opportunity for WELS or ELS members to take in a professional production at a nice price. Father's World Tours is again partnering with the MLC Student Senate to offer tickets (and optional motorcoach transport) to Les Miserables (the world's most popular musical) at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis on Tuesday night, February 17. While they last, you can choose a ticket plus motorcoach bus trip (starting in New Ulm, Nicollet, or St Peter) for $85 or a ticket only option for $50. Check out the full trip details and register to join us today at https://bit.ly/mlclesmis26

09/11/2025

Still on the fence about joining our upcoming California Cruisin' tour (Dec 31-Jan 13)? Take a look at this YouTube playlist (https://bit.ly/26CA_CRUISIN) featuring short videos (most are 4 mins or less) that introduce you to our Royal Princess cruise ship (mini-suite balcony cabin and Princess Plus package) along with some of the many places we plan to visit. In addition to the top-notch attractions and scenic spaces, you'll enjoy daily devotions with retired Pastor Wayne Laitinen, opportunities for fellowship with other members of our WELS faith family, and a visit to California LHS. Booking closes on October 1 and we are currently 3/4 full. Don't miss your chance to ring in the New Year in sunny Southern CA and cruising along the Pacific coast.

This series of short videos provides a nice overview of the various places that, Lord willing, we plan to visit on our upcoming Dec 31-Jan 13, 2026 CA Cruisi...

09/09/2025

Our second adventure last week took us to Minnesota’s stunning North Shore for Wildlife and Waterfalls! God blessed our group with safe travels—and even held off the rain—so we could fully enjoy the beauty of Lake Superior. Highlights included Enger Tower, the Leif Erickson Rose Garden, Canal Park, and the Lakewalk in Duluth. At the North American Bear Center and International Wolf Center, we learned about the rich wildlife of the Superior National Forest. A scenic drive up the coast brought us to a black sand beach, Split Rock Lighthouse, and the breathtaking Grand Portage waterfall on the Canadian border—plus a memorable meal at the historic Naniboujou Lodge. On the way home, we treated ourselves to Tobie’s famous caramel rolls, pizza at Cossetta’s, and a photo stop at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Special thanks to Pastor Dallas Miller who led our daily devotions and Shepherd of the Hills, Duluth who graciously let us use their beautiful sanctuary.

09/07/2025

Last week we were blessed to travel with two amazing groups! God kept everyone healthy and safe as we explored together. Our first adventure was Weekend in the Ozarks—a trip packed with unforgettable experiences: Sight & Sound’s DAVID, the high-energy music of The Haygoods, and the moving Great Passion Play. We also visited Crystal Bridges Museum, Buc-ee’s, Lambert’s Café, and the Walmart Museum. Under the theme GOD SHOWS, we reflected on how God reveals His love through Word and Sacraments. Daily devotions were led by MLC Staff Ministry student Jack Pittenger. Pastor Ross Chartrand of Cornerstone Lutheran (Bentonville, AR) led our Sunday worship with communion in the breathtaking Mildred Cooper Glass Chapel. A huge thank-you to all who joined us! Want to be part of the next adventure? Join our mailing list and see what’s coming up at www.fathersworldtours.com

08/29/2025

Theater lovers, if you live within driving distance of the Twin Cities or New Ulm, this one's for you. Father's World Tours is excited to partner with the MLC Student Senate to offer Phantom of the Opera at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis on Sunday night, November 23. While they last, you can choose a ticket plus motorcoach bus trip (starting in New Ulm, Nicollet, St Peter, or Shakopee) for $80 or a ticket only option for $50. Check out the full trip details and register to join us today at

Join a combined group of Father's World Tours passengers and MLC students for an evening at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis where we will enjoy Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera.YouTube TrailerOptional Deluxe Motorcoach transportation (limited seats available) will depart from MLC in New...

08/16/2025

LAST CHANCE FOR AUTUMN IN NEW ENGLAND. Registration closes this Monday at midnight (Aug 18), but it's not too late to join us for our 12-night, 13-day journey to see the best of our nation's northeast. We'll spend two nights in each of the region's six states, touring its top attractions, tasting its delectable delicacies, and enjoying the early autumn air. Check out these images of some places we plan to see, peruse the tour website and YouTube playlist (linked in the comments below), and sign up today!

08/02/2025

DON’T MISS MINNESOTA WILDLIFE AND WATERFALLS
We’re just one month away from our September 2-5 small group trip to Duluth, Ely, and the North Shore, and we would love to have you along. Just a few spots remain for this small group van tour and registration closes tomorrow (Sunday, August 3) at midnight. View these snapshots of some sites we plan to see, then visit https://bit.ly/FWTMN25 to register today!

07/25/2025

Sight and Sound Theater (with locations in Branson, MO and Lancaster, PA) is dedicated to presenting the gospel via highly professional performances of biblical narratives. Currently, Noah is featured on the Lancaster stage while David is showing in Branson. Our Aug 29-Sep 1 WEEKEND IN THE OZARKS small-group trip (currently sold out) spends a day in Branson and includes seats for the show. Check out the "trailer" below and put your name on the Ozarks trip waitlist at https://bit.ly/FWTOZARKS25 today. HOT TIP: We plan to visit the Lancaster theater for their new Joshua production as part of our PRIMARILY PENNSYLVANIA tour in 2026!

Debuting live on stage in Branson, MO in 2025! https://www.sight-sound.com/shows/branson/david/2025Master Poet. Fearless Warrior. Anointed King. From still w...

07/23/2025

Introducing MINNESOTA WILDLIFE AND WATERFALLS! Are you looking for a quick and affordable late summer/early autumn escape? Consider this 4-day, 3-night journey north to the outstanding ecology of the Superior National Forest, and the spectacular scenery of Lake Superior's North Shore. Delightful Duluth serves as our home base for all 3 evenings. Lord willing, we''ll enjoy the comfortable tweener season temps typical there at that time (average hi is 70 and lo is 55). This small-group tour will travel via Mercedes Sprinter vans with pickup/parking options in New Ulm and Bloomington/MSP. Learn more and register today at

North Shore Nature at its BestJoin us for a quick early-autumn trip to the majestic Minnesota North Shore. Check out the basic itinerary below and mark your calendar to be part of this small-group adventure. Spots are limited—secure your spot today. Comfortable & Convenient AccommodationsUnpac...

07/20/2025

Enjoy this look back at our May 10-16 small group trip to experience the BEST OF THE BLACK HILLS. The 6-night journey from New Ulm included the classic tourist attractions (Mt Rushmore NM, Devils Tower NM, Badlands NP, Iron Mtn Rd, Custer State Park Wildlife Loop/Needles/Sylvan Lake, Deadwood, Wall Drug, Corn Palace) along with some lesser-known gems (Bear Country, Chapel in the Hills, Minuteman Missile Site). One surprisingly spectacular spot was the Spearfish Canyon, where we enjoyed 2 nights in the Spearfish Canyon Lodge. Worship with our WELS family at St Paul, Rapid City and wildlife viewing were bonus blessings. This fun-loving group enjoyed getting to know each other with evening games and time together in the hotel bar and lobby.

07/19/2025

Introducing CALIFORNIA CRUISIN'! Join us Dec 31-Jan 13 for a two-week trip to ring in the new year on the captivating Pacific Coast. The tour headliner is a 7-night Royal Princess cruise where we'll enjoy exceptional entertainment, bountiful buffets. stunning sunsets, mini-suite balcony cabins, a basic wifi and drink package, and included gratuities. It's an amazing value! Three ports along the Mexican Riviera (Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerta Vallarta) will give us glimpses of the region's history, ecology, and geology. Our 3-night pre-cruise stay at Embassy Suites/Valencia puts us in a perfect position for day trips to the Rose Parade, Reagan Library, Getty Center, and Queen Mary. Our 3-night post-cruise stay at Embassy Suites/Temecula puts us in a perfect position for days trips to Joshua Tree NP, Palm Springs, and San Diego. Daily devotions (led by our chaplain - Rev Wayne Laitinen) and WELS worship in Southern CA are fixtures of Father's World Tours. Learn more and register today at https://bit.ly/FWTCA26.

Set Sail With Us in the New YearJoin us for an extraordinary multi-day excursion that seamlessly blends the best of iconic Southern California sites with the stunning allure of the Mexican Riviera. Your adventure begins with a 3-day motorcoach tour of some lovely LA area attractions highlighted by t...