Take a break from all of life's stresses and treat yourself to spending a day at several truly magnificent mansions - Terrace Hill and the Salisbury House and Gardens! A breakfast snack will be served during the morning drive. Terrace Hill is home to Iowa's governor and is a Victorian Classic. It has 18,000 square feet and sits on a hill with beautiful gardens overlooking downtown Des Moines. The mansion was built by Iowa's first millionaire and the home became a National Historic Landmark in 2003. You will receive a guided tour this morning of this landmark. Afterwards, you'll visit Historic Valley Junction. From treasures to trinkets, shopping in Valley Junction offers the friendly atmosphere of neighborhood shops highlighted by unique stores found only in the Fifth Street area of West Des Moines. The shops feature art galleries, antiques, specialty boutiques, and one of a kind jewelry. Your taste buds will be satisfied by popular restaurants and eateries in the area during the noon hour. Lunch is on your own. The next stop is to the Salisbury House & Gardens. You'll receive a guided tour throughout this exquisitely decorated historic manor. It was built in the 1920's by Carl Weeks, a wealthy cosmetics company owner. The house was constructed with many materials from England and intended to look as if it were from 16th century England and is Tudor, Gothic, and Carolean in its style. Inspired by the King's House in Salisbury, England the house has over 42 rooms and measures just over 22,000 square feet. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The listing covers a nine acre area with lovely gardens on site. Today the house contains nearly 10,000 historic items collected by the Weeks family. It Includes a rare books collection in the library with many rare first editions with documents signed by Abraham Lincoln, John Hancock and Jefferson Davis, just to name a few. You will have the opportunity to get a snack or do a little more shopping at Jordan Creek Mall on the return trip home. It is a popular destination for the delicacies offered by restaurants situated in the mall. Or kick back and relax with a fruit smoothie at the mall's Lake District including a lake spread over 3.5 acres. The lake is surrounded by pedestrian walkways with comfortable outdoor seating and pleasant stereo music piped in from numerous mini outdoor speakers. Jordan Creek features a double story enclosed shopping center and an open-air lifestyle village. Cost paid to MCC includes bus transportation, Terrace Hill tour, and Salisbury House & Gardens tour. Bring ($2) for the breakfast snack which will be collected as you board the bus. Meals and shopping are not included. Our deluxe motor coach departs promptly at 7:30a.m. from Metro's Sarpy Center, 9110 Giles Road (park and meet the bus at the northeast parking lot). We return approximately 8:30p.m.. *Sorry no discount. Refunds will not be allowed within 7 days of the trip. Trip leader: Kevin Kowskie Requirement: moderate walking.