Itinerary Details
Parks & Canyons Spectacular
Day 1 ARRIVE IN RAPID CITY Welcome to Rapid City! At 6 pm, join your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BLACK HILLS From the four faces carved high on the granite peak of Mount Rushmore to the rocky spires of granite, the Black Hills exemplify the American West and its native history with a rugged beauty and wild serenity you’ll not soon forget.
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Day 2 RAPID CITY. EXCURSION TO CRAZY HORSE & MOUNT RUSHMORE MEMORIALS Stone-Faced Patriots After an orientation tour of Rapid City, visit Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
MONUMENTAL HISTORY Visit the dramatic depiction of Chief Crazy Horse at the massive memorial built in honor of the fearless Lakota Chief – forever remembered for the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which features the monumental likenesses of four U.S. presidents—Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt—carved on the face of a mountain. Take a stroll along the Presidential Trail for more intimate views of this moving monument.
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Day 3 RAPID CITY–DEADWOOD–SHERIDAN, WYOMING Sheriffs & Sharpshooters This morning, enjoy a scenic drive through Black Hills National Forest and experience the area’s fascinating history on a guided tour of Deadwood. Continue through the Black Hills to the cattle town of Sheridan at the foot of the Bighorn Mountains. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local family-run restaurant featuring true Rocky Mountain hospitality. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE The legendary town of Deadwood is home to the ghosts of the Wild West, where bold frontiersmen and optimistic gold miners set down stakes in this untamed mining town. Hear the rip-roaring stories of legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Potato Creek Johnny while exploring the streets where shoot-outs and sheriffs ruled the day.
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Day 4 SHERIDAN–LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT–CODYBuffalo Bill & Brave Warriors Journey this morning into Southern Montana to visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Continue your scenic drive through the Bighorn Mountains, arriving in Cody – named for its native son, Buffalo Bill Cody. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY HISTORY Visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the site commemorating one of America’s most famous battles. Tour the battlegrounds where Custer was defeated by approximately 7,000 Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors and visit the museum.
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Day 5 CODY–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKLegends of the Wild West This morning, visit the Buffalo Bill Center of The West, a comprehensive museum of historic weapons and Western art. Then, continue through Shoshone National Forest to Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the world’s first national park, where wild animals roam freely in vast meadows and forest. Enjoy several photo stops along the way to your hotel. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Cavalry scout, Pony Express rider, ranch hand, wagon train driver, city planner, railroad contractor, bison hunter, fur trapper, gold prospector, Native American advocate, feminist, and inventor of modern Show Business, William Cody’s legend rides on as a symbol of the unbridled possibilities of the early American West. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s horsemanship and sharpshooting skills gained notice by the U.S. Army and his Wild West shows endeared him to the elite audiences of Europe.
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Day 6 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKThe Living Earth Spend the day exploring Yellowstone. Travel along Grand Loop Road to Fountain Paint Pot to see the bubbling mud. See the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone for magnificent views of the Canyon and the spectacular Lower Falls—almost twice as high as Niagara Falls! Next, stop at Mammoth Hot Springs and take a short trail walk through steaming limestone terraces. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Designated as a national park by law 150 years ago, President Ulysses S. Grant worked to preserve and protect the wild landscapes, native heritage, spectacular wildlife, and extraordinary geologic and ecological phenomena that make this Rocky Mountain paradise a treasure today and for future generations to treasure. From geysers to grizzlies and great bison, you will be forever changed by the natural wonder witnessed in any of the 2.2 million acres of pristine wilderness.
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Day 7 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK–GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK–JACKSONGlacial Giants Journey south into breathtaking Grand Teton National Park. Visit beautiful glacier-fed Jenny Lake at the foot of the rugged spires for a delightful walk along the shore. Enjoy freshly made [LF] huckleberry ice cream while enjoying spectacular surroundings. Continue to the all-Western town of Jackson. Don your favorite Western attire for a fun night out at [LF] Bar T-5 Chuckwagon Cookout and Wild West show. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Out West, life’s simple pleasures never go out of style…like fresh Huckleberry ice cream served in the great outdoors of Jenny Lake. Another Local Favorite to experience the Wild West is aboard a horse-drawn covered wagon ride through the forest to Cache Creek Canyon. Enjoy an authentic Bar T-5 Chuckwagon Cookout and Wild West Show, while dining on slow-cooked chicken from a traditional Dutch oven, along with other delicious western specialties.
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Day 8 JACKSON Peak Experiences Spend a full free day exploring this spectacular Rocky Mountain town beneath the Grand Tetons. (B)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Jackson with an optional guided rafting float trip along the Snake River, stroll along the downtown boardwalks and enjoy a drink at one of the local saloons, take an aerial tram ride for summit hiking trails and scenic overlooks, or behold the beauty at one of the many local art galleries in the culture-rich Town Square.
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Day 9 JACKSON–SALT LAKE CITY, UTAHThis is the Place Today’s journey continues alongside some of Wyoming’s most beautiful mountain ranges into Utah, home to five national parks. Arrive in Salt Lake City and enjoy a sightseeing tour of the capital city highlights before arriving at your hotel. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT The capital city of Utah was first established in 1847 by early pioneer settlers led by Brigham Young, who exclaimed, “This is the right place,” upon seeing its vistas and verdant landscapes. Today, Salt Lake City remains the heart of the Mormon faith, as well as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, skiers, and a diverse population of ideas and lifestyles.
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Day 10 SALT LAKE CITY–BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARKRock Stars Today, travel through sagebrush landscape to Bryce Canyon National Park. The balance of the day is at your leisure. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Explore Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos, fantastically sculpted rock formations that resemble castle towers, cathedral spires, and squatting goblins. As the light changes throughout the day, the natural amphitheaters and canyons glow between distinct oranges, reds, and yellows creating a striking background for photographic masterpieces. Spend the day hiking into the park’s natural amphitheaters, photographing the changing light on the hoodoos, or searching for one of the dozens of species that call this unique place home.
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Day 11 BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK–ZION NATIONAL PARK– LAKE POWELLStones that Touch the Sky After breakfast, say goodbye to the hoodoos and descend into a stunning ½-mile-deep canyon for Zion National Park. Enjoy a boxed picnic lunch on the front lawn of Zion Lodge with free time to explore. Continue into Arizona and the town of Page, nestled on the shores of Lake Powell. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATIONAL PARK PERFECTION Meaning a place of peace and refuge known to nourish the soul, Zion’s sandstone walls rise thousands of feet above the valleys and cliffs high above the canyon floor’s lush greenery and snaking Virgin River. Here, Native people and pioneers first gazed skyward at soaring cliffs of cream, pink, and red piercing the brilliant blue sky.
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Day 12 LAKE POWELL–PAINTED DESERT–GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARKLife is Grand This morning, you may wish to join our optional flight over Monument Valley for a bird’s-eye view of the red-sandstone monoliths, made famous by many Western movies and TV shows. Afterward, cross the Painted Desert with its ever-changing colors, and catch your first glimpse of the world-famous Grand Canyon National Park. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Grand Canyon National Park spans 278 miles of the Colorado River on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes. Marvel at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World as you experience the dramatic views across one of the most spectacular examples of landscapes carved by water and wind found anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Afternoon arrival allows free time to explore the canyon rim on your own. Be sure to take an evening stroll to savor the magnificent sunset.
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Day 13 GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK–LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Route 66 to Vegas! After a bit of free time this morning, travel on a stretch of legendary Route 66 to Las Vegas, one of America’s most famous cities. Enjoy a sightseeing tour en route to your hotel, located in the heart of the “Strip” for easy access to all the mega-casinos, delightful dining choices and classic Vegas attractions. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. (B,D)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, take our optional flightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon, before driving to Las Vegas. Enjoy free time to stroll the bright lights of the Strip, maybe throw a few dice, try your hand at the slot machines or treat yourself to a show or nightcap with a memorable view. Your Tour Director has all the tips you need to experience Vegas in style. Check your GlobusGO mobile app for maps and dining suggestions as well!
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Day 14 LAS VEGASSafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in las Vegas? Additional nights are available for purchase. (B)
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