2023 NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL BAND EUROPE CONCERT TOUR
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
(Last Up-dated February 15, 2023)
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2023 TO TUESDAY, JULY 04, 2023
Please note that the following day-by-day outline describes the Student Itinerary. Although the Adult Bus Itinerary will be similar, the hotel locations may differ. An itinerary, specific to the Adult Bus, will be sent with the Adult Bus Trip Documents Packet. Transportation will always be provided for passengers on the Adult Bus who wish to attend the concert performances.
Day 1 – TUESDAY, JUNE 20 – USA/EUROPE…OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO EUROPE. Meet at the Northview High School to board the buses for the transfer to your U.S departure airport. Check-in and go through security prior to your flight.
Day 2 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 – HOLLAND…ARRIVAL AT THE AMSTERDAM AIRPORT AND TRANSFER TO YOUR HOTEL. Morning arrival at Amsterdam Airport. After instruments and luggage are loaded, board your motor coach for a short transfer into Amsterdam. This colorful and lively capital city awaits you. Tour the canals and bridges of Amsterdam in a glass top boat. The 17th-century houses with their gabled roofs are a photographer’s delight and you will be amazed by the number of bicycles. (Note: due to timing of flights, the Adult bus participants will enjoy their Amsterdam boat ride on their last morning of the trip, before transferring to Amsterdam Airport for the return flight.) Following time for lunch, travel through the Dutch Lowlands, much of which are below sea level. The canals, dikes, bridges and windmills seen along the way create your first impressions of The Netherlands (often referred to as Holland). A two-night stay will introduce you to Dutch “gezelligheid,” a friendly, cozy feeling. After check-in, enjoy some free time to get acclimated before dinner at your accommodations in Holland.
Day 3 – THURSDAY, JUNE 22 – HOLLAND…ARNHEM AND DEVENTER. Start the day with a relaxed visit to the Arnhem Open Air Museum, which offers examples of historic homes, bridges, and shops. As you transfer to the town of Deventer, prepare to be captivated by the picturesque streets lined with medieval architecture and friendly cafés. You will have the opportunity to try Dutch pancakes for lunch and explore the intriguing alleys leading out from the main square. This afternoon, the Northview High School Band will perform their first concert on the main square of Deventer. After the concert, return to your Holland accommodations for an included dinner.
Day 4 – FRIDAY, JUNE 23 – GERMANY…RHINE RIVER AND
HEIDELBERG. Today you will cross the border from Holland into Germany and travel on the Autobahn (Expressway) to the Rhine River
village of Boppard. After an independent lunch, drive along the Rhine River, one of Western Europe’s most important waterways, with scenes of hillside vineyards and medieval fortress ruins. At Sankt Goar you can see the legendary Loreley Rock, which is the subject of boatmen folklore about a bewitching siren. Leave the Rhine River and continue to Heidelberg, situated on the Neckar River and dominated by its red sandstone castle. Enjoy views of the city and the river from the hilltop castle. Dinner tonight is independent to allow you more time to explore the Old Town before check-in at your Heidelberg area accommodations.
Day 5 – SATURDAY, JUNE 24 – GERMANY … ROTHENBURG. Transfer along the northern section of the Romantic Road to medieval Rothenburg. As you walk into the center of this storybook village, you are sure to be enchanted by the intact city walls, cobblestone streets, historic inns, and quaint shop fronts. You may wish to climb up to the ‘Rathaus’ Bell Tower for a birds-eye view of the city. Perhaps one of the many bakeries will tempt you to try a local treat. Visit one of the unique museums, stroll through the peaceful Castle Gardens, or browse the magical displays in the year-round Christmas shop. The Northview High School Band will perform a concert on the Rothenburg Market Square. After the concert, travel an hour south to your accommodations for tonight.
Day 6 – SUNDAY, JUNE 25 – GERMANY/AUSTRIA…VISIT DACHAU. Travel through the heart of Germany to arrive in Dachau for a somber afternoon visit to the former concentration camp. Those who prefer may remain in the Visitors Center at the entrance. An audio guide provides the flexibility to view your choice of exhibits at your own pace. In the afternoon, stunning alpine scenery welcomes you into the Salzburg province of Austria. Spend the next three nights among the natural beauty of mountain fed rivers and flower-laden meadows.
Day 7 – MONDAY, JUNE 26 – AUSTRIA/GERMANY/AUSTRIA… SALT MINES AND SALZBURG. Another memorable experience starts the day at the Salt Mines in Berchtesgaden. Donned in mine worker’s garb, cap and all, descend deep into the mountain interior by way of a customized rail system. After an explanation of how the salt is extracted, take a thrilling ride down the giant slides. The rest of the day is devoted to Salzburg. Dominated by the imposing hilltop fortress and bisected by the Salzach River, this baroque city abounds with elegant buildings, fountains, squares and gardens. During free time here, you will enjoy strolling through Salzburg’s famous shopping streets with highly ornate, wrought iron signs on their storefronts. The Northview High School Band will perform a concert in the Mirabell Gardens. Scenes from “The Sound of Music” were filmed on these beautifully manicured grounds.
Day 8 – TUESDAY, JUNE 27 – AUSTRIA/GERMANY/AUSTRIA… EAGLE’S NEST, KÖNIG SEE AND INNSBRUCK AREA. What a way to wake up, surrounded by the splendor of the Austrian Alps! Take a short ride to the Eagle’s Nest, Adolf Hitler’s hideaway during WWII. The views into both Germany and Austria from the 6000-foot-high Eagle’s Nest are said to be the most outstanding in the Alps. After a scenic lunch stop, in the idyllic setting of the König See (King’s Lake) continue through the scenic Tyrolean Alps to the capital of Tyrol, Innsbruck. You will spend the next three nights in a mountain village near Innsbruck.
Day 9 – WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 – GERMANY/AUSTRIA…ALPINE
COASTER AND BAVARIAN CASTLES. This is a day full of magnificent scenery, beginning with the Olympic Ski Jump. Innsbruck is a two-time host to the winter Olympics in 1964 as well as 1976; and athletes still practice here year-round. Make a photo stop at Neuschwanstein Castle, the model for the Walt Disney World castle. You will visit the interior of either Hohenschwangau Castle or Linderhof Palace. Neuschwanstein and Linderhof were creations of “Mad” King Ludwig II of Bavaria who was known to build elaborate castles with the state’s money. Hohenschwangau was one of his childhood homes. To top off this exciting day, attend a Tyrolean Folklore Show, presenting traditional dancing, yodeling, and unique musical instruments.
Day 10 – THURSDAY, JUNE 29 – AUSTRIA…INNSBRUCK. Start today with the excitement of the Hoch Imst Alpine Coaster. Take a chair lift up to where individual toboggans equipped with manual brake controls follow a winding rail during a breathtaking ride as you coast down the mountain. Transfer to the Old Town of Innsbruck with free time for lunch and exploration. One of the cities most iconic sights is the Golden Roof Balcony, built during the rule of Emperor Maximilian I so he could watch entertainment in the square below. The Northview High School Band will perform in Innsbruck in the late afternoon.
Day 11 – FRIDAY, JUNE 30 – AUSTRIA/SWITZERLAND… RHINE FALLS & SWISS ALPS. By way of the Arlberg Tunnel, an engineering masterpiece, travel into Switzerland. In the late afternoon, stop in Schaffhausen to admire the powerful Rhine Falls during an included boat ride. You will spend the next two nights amid the lakes and mountains of the Swiss Alps, surrounded by scenic photo opportunities and glorious views.
Day 12 – SATURDAY, JULY 01 – SWITZERLAND… MOUNT STANSERHORN AND LUCERNE. This day focuses on an unforgettable excursion to the top of Mount Stanserhorn, located on the edge of gorgeous Lake Lucerne. From the village of Stans take a cogwheel train and then a cable car up the 6000-foot mountain for incredible views. Take in the panoramas from the viewing platforms, while relaxing at the restaurant, or during an exhilarating hike. In the afternoon, visit the lovely town of Lucerne to walk the covered bridge and shop for delicious Swiss chocolate. The Northview High School Band will perform as part of the annual Summer Music Festival in the village of Stans this evening.
Day 13 – SUNDAY, JULY 02 – FRANCE/GERMANY…STRASBOURG. After an early breakfast, travel north past Basel, strategically situated at the point where Switzerland, Germany and France meet. Crossing the border into France, the mountains give way to hilltop settlements, rustic vineyards and beautiful forests in the Alsace Region and Vosges Mountain Range. An extended stop in the city of Strasbourg will provide opportunities to test your French language skills, purchase a baguette for lunch, and walk through the historic district of La Petite France. The cherished centerpiece is Strasbourg’s own Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the outstanding examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture. After lunch return to Germany to spend the night in Trier.
Day 14 – MONDAY, JULY 03 – GERMANY/HOLLAND…MAASTRICHT, MARGRATEN AND NORTHERN HOLLAND. Before leaving Trier, make a photo stop at the Porta Nigra, the Roman city gate from the 2nd century. Traveling north, return to Holland. After lunch in the architecturally pleasing center of Maastricht, stop at the Margraten Netherlands American Cemetery, where the graves of 8,301 U.S. servicemen reflect on the sacrifices of WWII. Continue to your hotel located near Amsterdam Airport. Following dinner, it is time to pack up the instruments and get ready for tomorrow’s return flight home.
Day 15 – TUESDAY, JULY 04 – HOLLAND/USA…TRANSFER TO AMSTERDAM AIRPORT. Early this morning, transfer to Amsterdam Airport to check in for your flight. Return home a richer person, having gained special life-long memories.