Itinerary

Day 1:
Mon. LAS VEGAS. Welcome to exciting Las Vegas, also known as “Sin City!” Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2:
Tue. LAS VEGAS–GRAND CANYON. Cross the desert and the old Mohave gold-strike country, passing through Williams, located on historic Route 66 and Kaibab National Forest, to arrive in the GRAND CANYON by mid-afternoon. Marvel at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World as you experience the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon. There is plenty of free time to wander along the canyon rim. You will overnight in Grand Canyon National Park.

Day 3:
Wed. GRAND CANYON–MONUMENT VALLEY. If you miss the sunset over the canyon, sunrise is just as impressive! There is time for an optional helicopter flightseeing tour of the Grand Canyon—definitely a thrill of a lifetime. Later, take a scenic drive across the Kaibab Plateau and through the amazing Painted Desert. Continue into Monument Valley, where the weathering action of wind and water has carved the famous sandstone spires and towers that rise hundreds of feet above the valley floor. You’ll stay overnight at historic Goulding’s Lodge with its panoramic views of the valley. Take a dip in the pool and admire the western sky, or explore the Goulding’s Museum and Trading Post, part of the set built for John Wayne’s film, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Monument Valley has been featured in scores of movies, from John Ford’s Stagecoach to Forest Gump. Take a walk back in time with this wonderful collection of movie memorabilia and Indian artifacts.

Day 4:
Thu. MONUMENT VALLEY–LAKE POWELL–PAGE. This morning, your JEEP TOUR is a memorable way to experience Monument Valley. Then head to Page and visit the GLEN CANYON DAM, holding back the waters of the Colorado River in Lake Powell, the U.S.’s second-largest man-made lake. In the afternoon, how about joining an optional Antelope Canyon cruise which takes you onto the lake and into the tight, winding canyons?

Day 5:
Fri. PAGE–BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK. Our optional early morning flight provides another unique perspective of Lake Powell. This beautiful sightseeing flight also includes Glen Canyon Dam, Wahweap Marina, Tower Butte, and Rainbow Bridge, the largest natural arch on earth. Then travel into Utah along the Grand Staircase to BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK. Bryce is famous for its unique geology; erosion has created bizarre shapes including slot canyons, windows, fins, and spires called “hoodoos.” Tinted with numerous colors, these rocks create a wondrous landscape. Make sure to have your camera and plenty of film with you today!

Day 6:
Sat. BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK–ZION NATIONAL PARK. Zion is an ancient Hebrew word meaning a place of refuge or sanctuary. Once a refuge for Mormon pioneers, ZION NATIONAL PARK''S striking landscapes of steep canyons and stone towers carved out by rushing streams over millions of years will mesmerize you. There is plenty of time to explore the park: take the park shuttle, see the Visitor’s Center and the museum, take a leisurely hike, do some birdwatching, or join a Park Ranger to learn more about the animals, geology, plants, and human history. You’ll stay overnight close to Zion National Park borders.

Day 7:
Sun. ZION NATIONAL PARK–LAS VEGAS. On our orientation tour of St. George, the most important Mormon community in southern Utah, we’ll make a photo stop at thefamous Mormon Temple. Mid-afternoon arrival at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas for guests with homebound fights. Please schedule flights after 3:30 p.m. The trip ends late this afternoon at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.

Dates & Prices

Orientation tour in St. George.

Itinerary

Day 1:
DENVER. Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2:
DENVER–CHEYENNE–BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA–KEYSTONE. Depart downtown Denver this morning and leave Colorado traveling north to Cheyenne. Next, see the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota and continue on to Custer. Late this afternoon, travel to see the renowned CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, a monument statue carved out of a mountain that pays respect to the great hero of the Native Americans, Chief Crazy Horse.

Day 3:
KEYSTONE–MOUNT RUSHMORE–DEADWOD–LEAD. Deep in the Black Hills, once Indian hunting country, behold the magnificent granite faces of MOUNT RUSHMORE, a giant monument to four American presidents— Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. Afterward, visit TATANKA , “The Story of the Bison,” and experience the richness of the Lakota people, a Plains Indian buffalo culture. Next it’s on to Deadwood, a lawless frontier town during the 1876 Gold Rush, where Jack McCall murdered Wild Bill Hickok during a poker game. Your overnight stay is in the old mining town of Lead, set at the head of Gold Gulch Run.

Day 4:
LEAD–CODY. On through the rich high country to Buffalo, where open-range cattle kings made war on the sheep ranchers in the 1890s. Drive by Sheridan at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains, the scene of many fierce battles between the U.S. Cavalry and the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow Indians. Overnight in Buffalo Bill’s frontier town of Cody.

Day 5:
CODY–YELOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Proceed through Shoshone National Forest to splendid YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Travel along Grand Loop Road to Artist Point on the south rim with magnificent views of Yellowstone Canyon and the stupendous Lower Falls. Next, see the geyser basins with bubbling mud paint pots and, finally, the consistent “blow” of Old Faithful, Yellowstone’s most famous geyser. O vernight in Yellowstone National Park.

Note: Departures April 17–May 16 and Sept. 25–Oct. 2 will stay at the Brandin’ Iron Inn in West Yellowstone.

Day 6:
YELOWSTONE–GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK –JACKSON. Head south into the magnificent summer and winter playground of GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, one of America’s last preserves of wild solitude. Its sawtoothed, 13,770-foot-high ridges are crested with snow most of the year. See beautiful glacier-fed Jenny Lake at the foot of the rugged spires for a stroll along the shore, before ending the day in all-western Jackson. This evening, why not complete your western experience by joining the barbecue cookout and Wild West show?

Day 7:
JACKSON. With its wooden sidewalks and swing-door saloons, Jackson is like a living film set. Time today for an optional excursion—a raft trip down the Snake River. You might catch a glimpse of a moose or a bald eagle!

Day 8:
JACKSON–SALT LAKE CITY. Today, we leave Jackson and drive to Salt Lake City for an overnight stay. Magnificently set on the edge of salt desert and surrounded by mountains and forests, this is the center of the Mormon religion where Brigham Young declared to his followers, “This is the place.” On the included sightseeing TOUR , you will see the best of the vibrant capital of Utah, including Temple Square with its impressive 6-spire temple, the adjacent tabernacle, and the Beehive House.

Day 9:
SALT LAKE CITY–BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK. Through sagebrush landscape to BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK with its 20 miles of breathtaking sandstone cliffs and ever-changing colors. View some of Earth’s most brilliant shades of rock, which have been sculpted by erosion into pillars called “hoodoos,” and other fantastic forms.

Day 10:
BRYCE CANYON–ZION NATIONAL PARK–PAGE. Travel to ZION NATIONAL PARK with its striking landscape carved out by rushing streams over a period of millions of years. Steep canyons, vertical stone towers, and verdant vegetation form the contrasting scenery of Zion, once a refuge for Mormon pioneers. Head east into Arizona to Page, nestled on the shores of Lake Powell.

Day 11:
PAGE–PAINTED DESERT–GRAND CANYON. Begin your morning with an optional scenic flight over Monument Valley. Fly over Lake Powell and across Navajo Indian lands before reaching the uniquely shaped monuments themselves. Then a scenic drive across the Painted Desert and through Kaibab National Forest. Arrive at the South Rim of GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK with free time to explore the canyon rim. Overnight in Grand Canyon National Park.

Day 12:
GRAND CANYON–LAS VEGAS. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, take our optional helicopter flightseeing excursion with incomparable views of flame-colored walls plunging 4,800 feet into the Colorado River. Leave the high country of Arizona and head for the modern phenomenon of Las Vegas, a fantastic city of feverish gambling, neon lights, and glamorous shows featuring some of the world’s top entertainers. A stop at McCarran International Airport for guests with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 5 p.m. The trip ends in Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace in the late afternoon.

Dates & Prices

In Salt Lake City.

Itinerary

Day 1:
Mon. DENVER. Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2:
Tue. DENVER –PIKES PEAK COG RAILWAY–COLORADO SPRINGS. Begin the day with a visit to the COLORADO RAILROAD MUSEUM. This “must-see” site for rail fans features more than 70 historic narrow and standard gauge locomotives and cars. Then, travel south to the town of Colorado Springs, located on the plains at the foot of Pikes Peak. The natural beauty of Colorado Springs is legendary. The view from the top of nearby Pikes Peak inspired Katharine Lee Bates to compose “America the Beautiful” more than 100 years ago. Visit the GARDEN OF THE GODS, a city park that is a garden of towering red rock formations. Next is a fabulous train ride on the PIKE’S PEAK COG RAILWAY, the world’s first diesel-electric cog locomotive and highest cog railroad. Travel along Ruxton Creek in Englemann Canyon, then over Four Mile Switch where you’ll get your first glimpse of Pikes Peak. At about the 5-mile point, the grade gets steep as you climb above timberline and reach the 14,110-foot summit of Pikes Peak.

Day 3:
Wed. COLORADO SPRINGS–CAÑON CITY–ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILWAY–ALAMOSA. This morning, journey to Cañon City and the Royal Gorge to experience the ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE & PARK. Spanning a quarter mile across is the world’s highest suspension bridge at 1,053 feet high. The panoramic vistas of the gorge are as mesmerizing as the Grand Canyon. See spectacular views of the Arkansas River and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the Aerial Tram ride. Then, all aboard the ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD. Travel on a diesel locomotive for 12 miles following the most spectacular section of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad through the gorge on tracks laid more than 120 years ago. Riders often spot wildlife such as eagles and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. The views are breathtaking, so bring your camera. Overnight in Alamosa, surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo range to the east and the San Juan Mountains to the west.

Day 4:
Thu. ALAMOSA–CUMBRES & TOLTEC RAILROAD–DURANGO. Today you travel on the CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD, America’s most authentic steam railroad built more than 120 years ago. Jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the 64-mile line connects Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, via 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass and is an archetypal remnant of the Denver & Rio Grande narrow-gauge railroad system that once stretched hundreds of miles throughout the Rocky Mountains. Travel through the beautiful San Juan Mountains on tracks that tamed the West. You’ll cross the Colorado-New Mexico border 11 times. The train stops in Osier, Colorado, for lunch. Disembark the train at Cumbres Pass and continue by motorcoach to Chama. Later, arrive in Durango, a town born in the gold rush and silver mining era and at times run by gunslingers. (L)

Day 5:
Fri. DURANGO. Excursion on the DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD. Board the narrow-gauge Durango-Silverton train this morning for a scenic ride through San Juan National Forest. Experience the adventure of traveling by a coal-fired, steampowered locomotive on the same tracks miners, cowboys, and settlers of the Old West took more than a century ago. The locomotives used to pull today’s train are 1923–25 vintage. This historic train has been in continuous operation for more than 123 years. The train hugs steep canyon walls as it winds its way through Rio de las Animas Canyon with vistas of snowcapped peaks. Free time in Silverton, once a major mining town, which owes its name to the bragging statement by an early miner, “We have no gold, but silver by the ton!”

Day 6:
Sat. DURANGO–MESA VERDE–MOAB. Visit the ruins of ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK. See Spruce Tree House, which dates from 1200 A.D. and is tucked under a sandstone cliff face. Spend time at the park’s museum, depicting the story of these people who mysteriously disappeared almost 700 years ago. Continue on to Moab, a small town on the Colorado River surrounded by red sandstone formations.

Day 7:
Sun. MOAB–GLENWOOD CANYON–VAIL . This morning, visit ARCHES NATIONAL PARK where you will see the world-famous “Delicate Arch.” Continue your journey through the massive 1,800-foot walls of Glenwood Canyon and then continue to the Vail Valley area, one of America’s most popular mountain resorts. Stroll through the pedestrian village and experience the unique shopping opportunities, or let one of the world-class chefs prepare a meal to delight your tastebuds. Overnight in the Vail area.

Day 8:
Mon. VAIL–ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK–DENVER. See Colorado’s largest natural lake, Grand Lake. Cross the Continental Divide and behold vistas of lush meadows, alpine glaciers, and thundering waterfalls. Take scenic Trail Ridge Road over magnificent mountain terrain, which attracted the likes of Kit Carson and his group of trappers to ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. A break at 12,000 feet provides fantastic alpine scenery. Next is a short stop in Estes Park before returning to Denver. Nestled in a high mountain valley at just above 7,500 feet elevation, Estes Park features hundreds of unique shops, galleries, and restaurants for you to enjoy. Free time this evening to enjoy one of America’s fastest growing cities. A bustling area centered around a milelong pedestrian promenade is lined with outdoor cafés and flower baskets. Dinner at one of the 300 restaurants and a horse-drawn carriage ride could be the perfect ending to the day.

Note: The drive through Rocky Mountain National Park is subject to favorable road and weather conditions.

Day 9:
Tue. DENVER. The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Denver International Airport.

Dates & Prices

In Boston.

Itinerary

Day 1:
Tue. SAN FRANCISCO. Welcome to the “City by the Bay!” Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2:
Wed. SAN FRANCISCO. A full day at leisure to explore the regularly voted “Best City in the USA.” San Francisco is a visual feast that offers something for every eye. A visit to Fisherman’s Wharf for shopping and dining could be of interest. Then there is Grant Street, the city’s oldest, running the length of Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury, which rekindles memories of Flower Power and the Beat Generation.

Day 3:
Thu. SAN FRANCISCO–WINE COUNTRY–EUREKA. Leave San Francisco and cross the bay over the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. Head north into the lush wine-growing valley of Sonoma. Enjoy a guided tour and WINE TASTING at one of the well-known wineries. Afterward, travel the AVENUE OF THE GIANTS. This world-famous scenic drive is a 31-mile portion of highway 101 with 51,222 acres of redwood groves. An evening arrival in Eureka, California’s premier lumber center, situated on scenic Humboldt Bay. On the way to your overnight hotel, see the grand Carson Mansion, once the home of a local lumber baron.

Day 4:
Fri. EUREKA–REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK–GOLD BEACH. Travel the coastal highway through REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK with its majestic sequoias. Enter Oregon and motor along the scenic coastal road to Gold Beach. This afternoon is a perfect time to relax and enjoy the scenic Rogue River while watching seals and birds at play.

Day 5:
Sat. GOLD BEACH–COOS BAY–NEWPORT. Today is all about scenic beauty at a leisurely pace. Take advantage of the sunrise that sets the forest sparkling before departing on a scenic drive to the seacoast town of Bandon-by-the-Sea. A sightseeing tour will show you its scenic beauty and charm. A photo stop at the Bandon Lighthouse, long the symbol of this coastal community. Continue north to the quaint town of Florence, one of Oregon’s most beautiful and charming cities along the coast. Time on your own to explore Historic Old Town, with its shops, boutiques, and coffee houses. From Florence, continue north through the SIUSLAW NATIONAL FOREST, past popular beach resorts, to one of Oregon’s favorite vacation spots—Newport on pretty Yaquina Bay. Late this afternoon, visit the OREGON COAST AQUARIUM.

Day 6:
Sun. NEWPORT–TILLAMOOK–PORTLAND. Follow the shoreline with
magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean. For a taste of the dramatic Oregon Coastline, we follow the Three Capes Scenic Route to Tillamook. One thing not to miss along the route is the reading of signs which tell you the brief story of the ghost community, now gone, that existed there 35 to 55 years ago. Our first stop is Cape Kiwanda to experience spectacular waves. Next, Cape Lookout State Park. The park was named for Cape Lookout, a rocky headland extending one and three-quarter miles into the ocean. From here, continue on to Three Arch Rocks to see hang gliders riding the winds until they finally land on the beach. Our last stop takes us to Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint situated on a headland 200 feet above the ocean. A “must- see” is the Cape Meares Lighthouse—at 38-feet high it is the shortest lighthouse in the state of Oregon. A break in Tillamook, a coastal town best known for its famous cheese and tasty saltwater taffy, before heading inland to Portland, Oregon’s largest city.

Day 7:
Mon. PORTLAND-SEATTLE. This morning, a sightseeing tour shows why Portland is better known as the “City of Roses,” with its numerous parks and beautiful flower gardens. Visit the largest rose garden in the U.S. WASHINGTON PARK INTERNATIONAL ROSE TEST GARDEN. Time on your own to explore the sunken rose garden, walk through lush paths and sweeping archways. Cross the majestic Columbia River and head north into Washington State to the VOLCANO VISITORS CENTER to learn of the dramatic eruption of Mount St. Helens. Then, if weather conditions are favorable, see the ice-clad dormant volcano Mount Rainier before reaching Seattle. This afternoon’s sightseeing includes the Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World’s Fair and the 605-foot-high Space Needle, and a stop at the colorful Pike Place Market.

Day 8:
Tue. SEATTLE. The day is free for you to explore the “Emerald City.” Perhaps take a sightseeing tour that soaks up the Asian flavor of the International District. Explore downtown where the possibilities are endless for shopping and dining. The Waterfront is Seattle’s gateway to the rest of the world. Take a ferry across Puget Sound or just relax and experience the spectacular views of Elliott Bay and enjoy fresh seafood. Tonight, join your fellow traveling companions for a fabulous waterfront meal and panoramic views from the observation deck of the Space Needle.

Day 9:
Wed. SEATTLE–FERRY CROSSING–VICTORIA. Cross the U.S.-Canadian border and board the ferry for a scenic ride through the Gulf Islands to Vancouver Island. Upon arrival, visit the world-famous BUTCHART GARDENS, 35-acres of showcase exhibits, including the English Rose Garden, the Italian Garden, Star Pond, and the Japanese Garden. This afternoon, see the sights of Victoria, British Columbia’s beautiful capital, including the Legislature Buildings, Bastion Square, Beacon Hill Park, Chinatown, and Thunderbird Park with its unusual collection of totem poles.

Day 10:
Thu. VICTORIA. A full free day. Be sure to check out some of the attractions this splendid city has to offer, including the Royal British Columbia Museum, afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel, the IMAX presentation at the National Geographic Theatre, whale watching on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and fine shopping along Government Street. Suggestion for this evening is an optional outing that includes a harbor cruise, followed by a delightful dinner at one of Victoria’s waterfront restaurants.

Day 11:
Fri. VICTORIA–NANAIMO–FERRY CROSSING–VANCOUVER. North this morning along the east coast of Vancouver Island to the charming village of Chemainus, Canada’s only permanent outdoor art gallery. Throughout the village you’ll see 32 larger-than-life-sized murals depicting the early settlement of pioneers in the area. At Nanaimo, board the ferry for the scenic crossing to Horseshoe Bay. Then it’s a short drive to Vancouver, Canada’s “Gem of the Pacific.” Sightseeing on the way to the hotel includes Stanley Park with its unique totem poles, as well as Gastown and Chinatown.

Day 12:
Sat. VANCOUVER. The trip ends this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Vancouver International Airport.

Dates & Prices

In Bandon-by-the-Sea, Portland, Seattle, and Victoria.