BLACKHILLS, YELLOWSTONE, TETONS, & MORE

08/18/2010 - 08/25/2010

 

HIGHLIGHTS:  Salt Lake City, Bear Lake, Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, Covered Wagon Dinner, Tours of Denver, Blackhills & Mt Rushmore, & lots more .. 13 Meals

DAY 1 ... Our group flies across America to Denver, Colorado. Our motorcoach and driver, DANA, will meet us at the airport and transfer the group downtown for a lunch break before we meet a local guide at 2pm for an interesting tour of "The Mile High City". Later in the afternoon, we check into our hotel with a Welcome Dinner. (D)

DAY 2 ... Our trail today takes us into Wyoming and on to the scenic state of South Dakota and the Old Western town of Deadwood. In this historic town of over 80 gambling halls, it was here that Wild Bill Hickok was killed and buried.  You will have time to stroll the town before dinner at the FOUR ACES, the best buffet in town serving prime rib. Later we will continue to Rapid City for 2 nights.  (B,D)  .

DAY 3 ...  Today is a grand experience as we meet our guide for a tour the Black Hills and the inspiring patriotic Mt. Rushmore.  We'll travel along the Needles Highway, turn round and round the Pig Tail Bridges, view wild burros and buffalo in Custer State Park, and visit the unfinished Crazy Horse Memorial. Lunch is at a quaint pioneer fort situated high on the ridges of the Black Hills.  We return to Rapid City for the night. Dinner is on your own.  (B,L)

DAY 4  ... Leaving the Black Hills and South Dakota behind, we enter the rugged "Cowboy State" of Wyoming, with antelope grazing peacefully along the roadside. Keep your eyes open to catch a view of Devils's Tower, an amazing rock formation rising 5112 feet above sea level, 1267 feet from local terrain Now the majestic Rocky Mountains loom before us as we travel into the "Big Sky" country of Montana. A special stop is made at Little Big Horn, the site of Custer's Last Stand before our overnight in Montana. (B)

DAY 5...Traveling in one of America's most beautiful states, the mountains of Montana serve as our backdrop. From Livingston, we travel the narrow winding highway that brings us to America's first National Park, Yellowstone. With a local guide we visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from Mammoth Hot Springs to raging Yellowstone Falls, twice as tall as Niagara!  With lunch in the park, our narrated tour highlights...the Fountain Paint Pots, numerous geysers, and of course, Old Faithful.  Continuing along the length of the "Hole" through spectacular Grand Teton National Park, with its jagged mountains rising straight up from the valley floor, we arrive in the resort village of Jackson, with ample time to browse the many shops surrounding the town square.  (B,L) 

DAY 6 ...  Jackson, Wyoming is shadowed by the Grand Tetons, some of the most spectacular mountains in America...rising straight up out of the valley floor. Enjoy the climate, the scenery, and the village of Jackson Hole.  Tonight a Covered Wagon Cookout is planned as we ride in wagons to a camp and open fire for a tasty western meal. (B,D)

DAY 7 ...  Our trail follows the course of the Snake River through serene valleys of farms, and we cross into Idaho. Riding beside the blue-green waters of Bear Lake, we'll make a stop for one of the famous Raspberry Shakes and lunch.  Crossing the rugged Wasatch Mountains like the pioneers before us, we begin to see the small Mormon villages dotting the hillsides. Later this afternoon, we arrive in beautiful Salt Lake City for a stop at Temple Square. Special Farewell Dinner tonight (B,D)

DAY 8 ... This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight home after a wonderful trip "Out West".(B)

 

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