Exciting Travel Adventures on the Horizon: Wallace State Alumni Association Unveils 2025 Plans!

Wallace State Alumni Association Reveals Travel Plans for 2025

Jan 10, 2025Gail Crutchfield

A candlelight tour of the Biltmore House is included in the itinerary of the Holiday Tour organized by the Wallace State Community College Alumni Association Travel program.

Hanceville, Ala. — The Wallace State Community College Alumni Association has announced its travel plans for 2025. Trips are scheduled for Branson, Mo., Hot Springs, Ark., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Asheville, N.C., and Nashville, Tenn., along with a day excursion to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery. All excursions are accessible to the public.

2025 Ozarks Tour – Hot Springs and Eureka Springs, Ark. And Branson, Mo.

A five-day, four-night journey from May 12-16 will guide attendees first to the Diamond Lakes area in Hot Springs, Ark., featuring a trolley tour of Hot Springs and Bathhouse Row. Afterwards, they will proceed to Branson, Mo., for two nights, participating in performances such as the Haygoods, Hot Rods and High Heels, the Uptown Café, and “DAVID,” presented at the Sights and Sound Theatre. The group will then journey to Eureka Springs for a tram tour of the historic community, followed by an overnight stay in North Little Rock before returning home the following day.

Attractions on the agenda during the journey include the Garvan Woodland Gardens, Top of the Rock, Lost Canyon Cave, Ancient Ozarks History Museum, and the historic Crescent Hotel.

Costs per person are estimated to vary from $1,214 to $1,714 depending on occupancy and Alumni Association membership status. To sign up, visit www.wsccalumni.org/ozarks. The registration cutoff is March 26.

Opry’s 100th Anniversary – Nashville, Tenn.

A three-day, two-night excursion to Nashville, Tenn., will mark the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry. Guests will stay at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel from July 14-16 and will have the chance to enjoy a Lyrical Legends Songwriter Performance and Dinner, main floor seating at a Grand Ole Opry show complete with a backstage tour, an exclusive dinner event featuring a special guest appearance by an Opry artist, and more.

Costs per person will range from $878 to $1,265 depending on occupancy and membership classification. To register, visit www.alumni.org/opry25. The registration deadline is May 1.

Wizard of Oz – Montgomery, Ala.

A day excursion on July 30 to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery will transport guests along the iconic yellow brick road to witness a stage performance of “The Wizard of Oz.” The adventure includes a Southern buffet lunch at Plantation House Restaurant along with prime Zone A seating for the show.

The cost per individual is $149. Visit www.alumni.org/oz to sign up. The registration cutoff is July 1.

2025 Holiday Tour – Pigeon Forge, Tenn. and Asheville, N.C.

The Alumni Association is set to explore Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Asheville, N.C., from Dec. 2-5 for a holiday tour featuring a variety of entertainment options including a candlelight tour of the renowned Biltmore House.

The tour will kick off in Pigeon Forge, where the attendees will enjoy shows at the Country Tonite Theatre, a “Remembering Red” Skelton tribute, and the ARRAY Variety Show, alongside meals at Carino’s Italian Grill, Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant, and Puckett’s Restaurant.

While in Asheville, the group will dine at Grove Park Inn before touring the hotel and viewing the displays from the National Gingerbread House contest. That evening, dinner will be hosted at the Biltmore Estate, followed by an audio-guided candlelight tour of the Biltmore House.

Therates per individual vary from $884 to $1,260 depending on occupancy and membership standing.
To enroll, navigate to www.alumni.org/holiday25. The registration deadline is Oct. 15.

Wallace State Alumni Rayce and McCoy Cleghorn perform at Country Tonite in Pigeon Forge.

The travel program welcomes everyone. Wallace State Alumni Association members enjoy
a $100 reduction on fees for overnight excursions. Alumni membership costs $30 annually and
is accessible to all. Membership dues help fund student scholarships.

For further details regarding the Alumni Association’s travel program, check out www.wsccalumni.org/travel, where you can discover information about each trip and book seats, or reach out to LaDonna
Allen at 256.352.8071 or [email protected].

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About Wallace State

Wallace State Community College (Ala.), a constituent of the Alabama Community College
System, stands as a comprehensive community institution in north central Alabama presenting over
200 choices in academic, health, and technical fields of study leading to an
associate degree, certificate, or transfer, alongside workforce-credit training and
adult education. As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, recognized nationally by the
Aspen Institute as a finalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,
ranked by Southern Business and Development among the Top 3 institutions in the South
for workforce development, designated a Center of Excellence by the National League for
Nursing and the National Security Administration, acknowledged as the Top Online Community College
in Alabama, a Military Friendly Institution, and noted as an All-Steinway School, Wallace State
is a remarkable environment for students to achieve their educational and career aspirations. Courses
are available online and on-campus, during the day, evening, and weekends, with multiple start
dates each year. Explore Wallace State’s picturesque main campus situated on 300-acres
in Hanceville, Ala., our satellite venue in downtown Oneonta, Ala., connect with us online
at www.wallacestate.edu, or call 256.352.8000.