Home to dazzling casinos, glitzy wedding chapels and incredible dining experiences, there’s no better way to kick off your US national parks value tour than in Sin City! Meet up with your Travel Director for a glimpse of what’s to come, then, get right into the bright lights and fun-filled streets however you choose, with a walk through Downtown, head to 'The Strip'...or both! Vegas is your ultimate playground.
Whether you’re a lover of great scenery or classic roadside attractions, iconic Route 66 has got you covered. Today’s destination? The Grand Canyon, one of the world's seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take in all the epic vistas of this 2-billion-year-old marvel of nature. Want to make your visit extra special? Why not treat yourself to a once in a lifetime helicopter ride over the North and South Rim? Awestruck, you'll then visit the Grand Canyon Village before arriving in Flagstaff, a laid-back outpost on Route 66.
How to kick off a day of adventure on your US national parks value tour? With an iconic breakfast at Charly's Pub & Grill located in one of the oldest hotels in Flagstaff. Next up: Monument Valley, a symbol of the wild west with its rusty red spindles and buttes reaching 36 meters into the air. Dive into the local history and geology teaming up with a local Navajo guide for a Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Guided Tour, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
Ahhh, Zion. Famous for its red and white cliffs, canyons and wildflower meadows, buttes, mesas and natural arches. Walk the many hiking trails, take in the sights of the Virgin River and have your camera ready to capture the unique geological formations. Enjoy lunch at Zion Park Lodge before heading out to Bryce Canyon. Choose to join a chuckwagon dinner at Ebenezer's dinner and show or rest up anticipating adventures in this stunning national park tomorrow.
Multicoloured 'hoodoos' and large amphitheatres, this can only be Bryce Canyon National Park. Stand in awe at the open areas whipped into shape by centuries of wind and rain. Walk along one of the juniper lined trails to the rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. From colorful scenery to colorful cities, Salt Lake City is your next stop on your US national parks value tour. With an evening full of possibilities, why not head to the downtown area for a stop in one of its tempting restaurants, coffeehouses and laidback bars?
This morning in Utah's small town feeling capital city, drive by Temple Square, the city's most famous sight. Hey, Wyoming! Where snow-covered mountain ranges seem to rise and fall before your eyes. Arrive in the city of Alpine where three rivers converge against the backdrop of the Tetons. Settle into your hotel this evening situated along the banks of Snake River. Play a round of tennis, stretch out in the indoor heated swimming pool, or enjoy the scenic mountain views of Alpine.
Today on your US national parks tour, you won’t be able to take your eyes away from the window as you follow the Snake River through the forest and mountains before arriving at Grand Teton National Park. A stroll around Jackson Town Square gets you a lay of the land and admiring the famous elk antlers that signal the gateway to the park.
Hot springs, bubbling mud pots, vast canyons and lush forests as far as the eye can see are yours to behold at Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife seekers, get ready for a treat! Grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk all roam free here. Take your time exploring as you tick off the key sites including the biggest crowd pleaser of them all, Old Faithful, named for its dependable eruption every 44 to 125 minutes.
One day at Yellowstone surely isn’t enough, and this morning on your US national parks value tour will take you to Mammoth Hot Springs. Said to look like a cave turned inside out, the soft limestone of this area needs to be seen to be believed. Be dazzled by the gradation of colors and levels before you tick off another hot spot: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This 19-mile-long canyon bedazzles in shades of yellow, red, white and pink. You'll then head on to the frontier town of Cody, a lively place with saloons that will keep the high energy of the day going into the night.
Big mountains, big lakes and big stretches of uninterrupted skyline... it’s no wonder Montana has earned the nickname ‘Big Sky Country.' On a free morning in Wyoming, discover the area your way with a Choice Experience visit to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Next stop, travel across the plains of Wyoming before reaching your destination for the night. In Buffalo, your evening is free to explore the city your way.
The Black Hills region is a mix of canyons and peaks that bridge the Wyoming and South Dakota border. See how it got its nickname from the dark ponderosa pines that cover the hillsides on your way to Crazy Horse monument which has been under construction for over 70 years. Discover more Native American history on your US national parks value tour by paying a visit to the nearby Indian Museum of North America. Tonight, choose to get your first glimpse of Mount Rushmore, learning more about the nation's patriotic past, present and future with a National Park ranger.
Sure to be a highlight: Mount Rushmore. As the largest statue-monument in the world, the stony faces of four of America's presidents carved 18 meters tall into the granite hillside loom large -- bigger and more detailed than you could have imagined. Don't miss you chance to join Badlands National Park Sightseeing, learning about the 99,000 hectares that make up the unique geology.
As your US national parks value tour comes to an end today, you'll no doubt be reflecting on the phenomenal sights and experiences you've had over the past 12 days. Departure will be at leisure. (At the time of booking, you have the option to end your tour in Rapid City or Denver.)
