Day Trips
ERC Day Trips Walking Levels
Each day trip will be foot marked.
(WL1) Level 1 – Minimal Walking: Short distances with frequent rest stops
(WL2) Level 2 – Moderate Walking: About 1–2 miles at a leisurely pace, with a few rest stops
(WL3) Level 3 – Extended Walking: Several miles with limited rest stops
Check out our ERC day trips by month. Please note that registration is required for all trips and some registration close dates will be several weeks in advance of the trip date.
Battleground Kansas: LeCompton’s Civil War Reenactment
Step back into the fiery days of Bleeding Kansas, where politics, passion, and conflict shaped a nation. Experience history brought to life as John Brown, Jim Lane, and Colonel Henry Titus appear in an immersive Civil War-era reenactment. Explore Constitution Hall, the Territorial Capital Museum, and the Democratic Headquarters to uncover LeCompton’s pivotal role in America’s path to freedom. (WL2)
Date: Friday, February 27
Registration Close Date: Monday, February 16
Click to register for Battleground Kansas
Depart ERC: 9:30am
Estimated Return Time: 4:00pm
Fee: $59 (Includes transportation, tours, reenactment, and church lunch)
Location: LeCompton, KS
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 20/22
New Dinner Theatre and Restaurant - 2 Dates Available!
Elton & Elvis — “The Concert That Should Have Been”
When a London mother brought home an Elvis record, it sparked the passion that turned Reginald Dwight into Elton John. Celebrate two musical legends and the songs that moved millions in this unforgettable tribute performance! (WL1)
Date 1: Wednesday, March 4
Registration Close Date: Monday, February 2
Click to register for Dinner Theatre March 4
Date 2: Wednesday, April 8
Registration Close Date: Monday, March 2
Click to register for Dinner Theatre April 8
Depart ERC: 9:30am
Estimated Return: 4:30pm
Fee: $78 (Includes transportation, show ticket, buffet lunch, and dessert)
Location: Overland Park, KS
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 20/22
Breakfast Bunch: Blarney Breakfast and Parade Ride
Wear your green and join the fun this St. Patrick’s Day! Start with a hearty breakfast before decorating the ERC bus in true Irish style. Then hop aboard and ride with us in the Emporia St. Patrick’s Day Parade! After the festivities, enjoy the lively tunes of the Town Royal bagpipers or head back to the Rec for a cheerful finish to the day. (WL1)
Date: Saturday, March 14
Registration Close Date: Monday, March 9
Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Fee: $5 (Includes continental breakfast and parade ride)
Location: ERC Community Room
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 10/22
Caffeine, Culture & Classic KC
Wake up your senses and discover Kansas City’s perfect blend of flavor, art, and nostalgia! Begin with a behind-the-scenes tour at The Roasterie, where you’ll see how KC’s finest coffee is crafted and sample a fresh brew. Next, enjoy a classic lunch at Winstead’s, home of the famous steakburger and skyscraper milkshake. End the day surrounded by creativity at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, exploring world-class exhibits and those iconic shuttlecocks! (WL3)
Date: Thursday, March 26
Registration Close Date: Thursday, March 12
Click to register for Classic KC
Depart ERC: 8:30am
Estimated Return Time: 5:30pm
Fee: $65 (Includes transportation and tours)
Lunch is guest responsibility.
Location: Kansas City
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 20/22
New Dinner Theatre and Restaurant
Elton & Elvis — “The Concert That Should Have Been”
When a London mother brought home an Elvis record, it sparked the passion that turned Reginald Dwight into Elton John. Celebrate two musical legends and the songs that moved millions in this unforgettable tribute performance! (WL1)
Date 2: Wednesday, April 8
Registration Close Date: Monday, March 2
Click to register for the Dinner Theatre
Depart ERC: 9:30am
Estimated Return: 4:30pm
Fee: $78 (Includes transportation, show ticket, buffet lunch, and dessert)
Location: Overland Park, KS
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 20/22
A Blooming Good Time in Wichita
Celebrate spring with a cheerful escape to Wichita! Begin with lunch at the Doo-Dah Diner, a local favorite featured on The Food Network for its fun twist on comfort food. Then, enjoy a guided tour through the breathtaking Botanica Gardens, showcasing over 70,000 tulips in full bloom. End the afternoon with a ride on the charming Klausmeyer Carousel—the perfect finish to a blooming good day! (WL2)
Date: Friday, April 10
Registration Close Date: Monday, March 30
Click to register for Blooming Wichita
Depart ERC: 10:00am
Estimated Return Time: 5:00pm
Fee: $65 (Includes transportation, tulip tour, and carousel ride)
Lunch is guest responsibility.
Location: Wichita, KS
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 20/22
Kansas City Underworld: Gangsters, Whiskey & History
Step into the roaring 1920s and uncover Kansas City’s “wide-open” prohibition era! Hear stories of mobsters, whiskey, and the man who ruled it all—Tom Pendergast. Enjoy a guided gangster tour through KC’s historic streets, lunch at The Wise Guy, and an exclusive tasting at Tom’s Town Distillery, named for the city boss who made it all happen. This trip pairs perfectly with our May book club pick, The Mob and the Machine. (WL2)
Date: Saturday, April 25
Registration Close Date: Friday, April 10
Click to register for the KC Underworld
Depart ERC: 7:45am
Estimated Return Time: 6:00pm
Fee: $115 (Includes transportation and tours)
Lunch is guest responsibility.
Location: Kansas City
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 20/20
New Dinner Theatre and Restaurant - 2 Dates Available!
“Cactus Flower”
When a successful, charming dentist seems to have it all, he discovers he’s terrified of commitment! To keep his freedom, he spins a tangle of outrageous lies for his girlfriends. But when his schemes begin to unravel, he enlists his prickly nurse to pose as his wife amid the deception, he unexpectedly falls for a delightful “cactus flower” hiding right under his nose. Hilarious misunderstandings and tender moments bloom in this classic romantic comedy. (WL1)
Date: Wednesday, May 6
Registration Close Date: Wednesday, April 1
Click to register for the Dinner Theatre May 6
Date: Wednesday, June 10
Registration Close Date: Friday, May 1
Click to register for the Dinner Theatre June 10
Depart ERC: 9:30am
Estimated Return: 4:30pm
Fee: $78 (Includes transportation, show ticket, buffet lunch, and dessert)
Location: Overland Park, KS
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 20/22
Blooms & Bites in Council Grove
This time, we’re heading to Neosho Gardens—a sprawling greenhouse bursting with color! Stroll through rows of vibrant blooms and discover what makes this Kansas grower a hidden gem. Then, enjoy lunch at the iconic Hays House, one of the oldest restaurants west of the Mississippi. Savor Kansas cooking in a historic setting that’s been welcoming travelers since 1857. (WL2)
Date: Tuesday, May 12
Registration Close Date: Friday, May 1
Click to register for Blooms in CG
Depart ERC: 10:45am
Estimated Return Time: 3:30pm
Fee: $24 (Includes transportation and tour) Lunch is guest responsibility.
Location: Council Grove, KS
Age: Adult
Min/Max: 14/22