Our National Parks July 11 - 25, 2009 |
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Thoughts of the “wild, wild west” capture the imaginations of people worldwide. This spectacular trip across 15 states through the American west spotlights the beauty and splendor of our National Parks. |
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| Day 1: ST. LOUIS, MO / THE ARCHES: Excitement mounts as our tour begins. Our motorcoach crosses the mighty Mississippi and travels across Arkansas into St. Louis for a tour of the arch, “the Gateway to the West,” and our first overnight. |
Day 2: KANSAS CITY, MO / SIOUX FALLS, SD: As the wheels on the motorcoach turn round and round, the scenery changes like a kaleidoscope of breathtaking colors and scenery. Today, the hills and valleys turn into flat open country with fertile soil, tall grass, and huge farms - evidence that we have entered the country’s bread basket. (DCB)
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Day 3: MITCHELL, SD / CORN PALACE / BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK / WALL DRUG STORE / RAPID CITY, SD: Corn Palace is simply amazing with its beautiful murals created with corn, grains, and grasses! A boxed lunch is included. We continue through Badlands National Park, a multicolored wilderness of gullies, canyons, and ridges, on our way to the legendary Wall Drug Store. Now is your chance to try a buffalo burger! We overnight in Rapid City. (L, DCB)
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Day 4: BLACK HILLS NATIONAL PARK / MOUNT RUSHMORE / CRAZY HORSE / TOUR DEADWOOD, SD: Mount Rushmore is located in Black Hills National Park. This tour would not be complete without pictures of the four great presidents’ faces carved on this 6,000-foot mountain. Then we will visit Crazy Horse Monument. After completion, this monument will honor Chief Crazy Horse and all American Indians, and will be the largest statue in the world. Later, we will have a blast exploring the old west town of Deadwood. Enjoy a guided tour , browse the streets and shops, witness a gun fight and have a hearty meal in one of the many restaurants. (DCB)
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Day 5: DEADWOOD, SD / BIG HORN NATIONAL PARK / BEAR LODGE RESORT / DINNER / BURGESS JUNCTION, WY: Have your camera ready for more breathtaking scenery. Nestled on top of the beautiful Big Horn Mountains is Bear Lodge Resort in Burgess Junction, and our home for the night. Here, you will enjoy a true mountain experience - winding streams, bountiful wildlife, and mountain vistas that rank with the most beautiful in North America! Meal vouchers are included for dinner at Moose Crossings Restaurant. (D, DCB) | Day 6: CODY, WY / BUFFALO BILL MUSEUM / OVERNIGHT IN YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK / OLD FAITHFUL / 20 YELLOWSTONE DOLLARS: See awesome scenery as we descend Big Horn Mountain. In Cody we visit Buffalo Bill Museum, where the story of the American cowboy, dude ranching, and western conversation is told. Continuing on, we arrive in Yellowstone National Park. We will stay overnight in one of the Yellowstone lodgings and you will each receive 20 Yellowstone Dollars to be used toward the purchase of meals or in the gift shops. You will witness the eruption of Old Faithful this evening. (BB, 20 Yellowstone Dollars) | Day 7: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK / CHUCK WAGON DINNER / BAR J RANCH / JACKSON, WY: Our park guide will show us many Yellowstone highlights on our tour. We’ll see canyons, buffalo and other wild animals, mud paint pots, and lots of beautiful scenery as our guide explains the mysteries of these natural wonders. This afternoon we continue to Jackson, WY, located in the Jackson Hole valley region. Enjoy shopping in the old-west town. Tonight we can dress in our cowboy duds and go to a chuck-wagon dinner and a great show the Bar J Ranch! (D)
| Day 8: SALT LAKE CITY, UT / TEMPLE SQUARE : As we follow the Snake River it winds down the valley from Jackson. Mounds of potatoes, ready for shipping, lets us know we have arrived in Idaho. In Salt Lake City we will tour the famed Temple Square, home of the Morman Tabernacle. | Day 9: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK / PAGE, AZ: Bryce Canyon is distinctive due to its geological structures, called hoodoos formed from wind, water, and ice erosion. The red, orange and white colors of the rocks provide spectacular views. We stay two nights in Page. (DCB)
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Day 10: GLEN CANYON DAM TOUR / LAKE POWELL / LUNCH @ RAINBOW ROOM / FREE AFTERNOON / PAGE, AZ: Page is home of the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. The dam forms Lake Powell, a 186-mile dazzling blue oasis in the middle of the desert. After a tour of Glen Canyon Dam, we will enjoy lunch at Rainbow Room. You will have several options for scenic adventures this afternoon by boat, 4-wheel drive, or by jeep. Or you may enjoy a leisurely afternoon shopping and enjoying the natural beauty of this resort area. (DCB, L) | Day 11: GRAND CANYON / DINNER @ BLACK BART’S / FLAGSTAFF, AZ: For as long as there has been film, photographers have felt challenged to capture the beauty and grandeur of the Grand Canyon. The canyon is 217 miles long, 10 miles wide and one mile deep with whole mountain ranges rising from its depths. Take an optional helicopter ride into the Canyon. After a day at the canyon we enjoy a special dinner at Black Bart’s. We overnight in Flagstaff. (DCB, D)
| Day 12: PAINTED DESERT / PETRIFIED FOREST / ALBUQUERQUE, NM: In the Petrified Forest we’ll see the most spectacular displays of petrified wood in the world. The Painted Desert derives its name from the multi-hued badlands that cover the park. It extends from the Grand Canyon to the Petrified Forest. We overnight in Albuquerque. (BB) | Day 13: AMARILLO, TX / PALO DURO CANYON / DINNER / THE PLAY “TEXAS”: We continue east to Amarillo. This evening, it is entertainment Texas style with a BIG barbecue dinner in the BIG outdoors. Then, we’ll enjoy the play “TEXAS,” set within the ancient walls of Palo Dura Canyon at the base of a 600-foot cliff. (DCB, D)
| Day 14: OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL & MUSEUM / FORT SMITH, AR / FAREWELL DINNER: Mid-day we visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, site of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building to pay our respects. We continue to Ft. Smith where we’ll enjoy an evening of reminiscing at our farewell dinner. (DCB, D) | Day 15: HOME: We’re on our way home with great memories and new friends. Today we reflect on the kaleidoscope of ever changing scenes, natural wonders and rainbow of colors; our unbelievable western adventure is soon over, but never forgotten! (BB) | **Options: You can sign-up after our National Parks tour begins. Helicopter Ride into the Grand Canyon (Day 11)
20 Meals Included: 2 Lunches, 5 Dinners, 20 Yellowstone Dollars, 2 Breakfast Buffets, 10 Deluxe Continental Breakfasts Package Includes: Round-trip deluxe motorcoach transportation, 14 nights lodging, all meals and attractions listed in all caps and bold print, taxes, gratuities on included meals, tour director, luggage handling. Not included: Gratuities for local guides, tour director, and motorcoach driver.
Deposit: $250 Per Person |
