9 DAYS • 11 MEALS

Looming mountains, natural wonders, and historic mining towns – the American West offers travel treasures for adventurers of all kinds!

Westward, Ho!
Over nine thrilling days, you will experience it all, from rugged frontier towns of the Old West to spectacular vistas in some of the country’s most beautiful National Parks. It’s a unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of the pioneering spirit that led a nation westward.

Man-made Wonders
From the glory of God’s country to the wonders of modern engineering, our trip also includes a tour of awe-inspiring, man-made monuments. In Salt Lake City, we catch a glimpse of the neo-gothic Salt Lake Temple, the iconic representation of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Built between 1853 and 1893, the temple is a stunning example of artistry, and lends an ethereal tone of serenity to the surrounding Temple Square.

Cowboys and Gunslingers
Grab your ten-gallon hat and reach for your six-gun, because we step back in time to experience life on the frontier.

Start with historic Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where you’ll stroll the wooden plank sidewalks of downtown and catch a glimpse of gunplay every night in the town square. Cowboy traditions come alive during the summer months, when latter-day cowpunchers strut their stuff at the Jackson Hole Rodeo. After Labor Day, we’ll enjoy a show at the Jackson Hole Playhouse.

While staying in Jackson, enjoy the “purple mountain majesties” of the Grand Tetons as we drift along on a scenic float trip down the beautiful Snake River. We may glimpse wildlife along the way; our route includes the National Elk Refuge, with its population of approximately 5,000 wintering elk as well as the largest bison herd in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Wyoming is also home to a legendary figure of the Old West, Buffalo Bill Cody. From his early days working on the wagon trains and riding for the Pony Express to his exploits as an expert tracker, sharpshooter and showman, Cody embodied the ideal of the American plains. At the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, you will meet this Western hero, as well as Annie Oakley, Sitting Bull, and Texas Jack. Immerse yourself in the frontier life of yesteryear in Deadwood, South Dakota. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1967, Deadwood preserves the history and lore of the rough-and-ready West from the city’s beginnings as a lawless mining town.
Walk the same streets as Wild Bill Hickok (who met his maker at the end of a pistol in one of Deadwood’s many saloons) and Calamity Jane, and see the town’s stately Victorians, restored gambling palaces, and “old-tyme” watering holes. Our tour also includes a trip to Boot Hill, the last resting place of Deadwood’s famous and not-so-famous denizens.

Breathtaking Natural Beauty
While gold and cattle-ranching lured 19th-century settlers to the frontier, the area’s natural beauty has kept visitors returning ever since – and we have many opportunities to witness these outdoor spectacles.

Our tour includes a two-night stay in Yellowstone, the oldest U.S. national park. The park’s geothermal wonders – including the world-famous geyser, Old Faithful – offer a dramatic showcase for Mother Nature at her most powerful. We also take in the glorious vistas of the park’s Grand Canyon, a natural structure that took shape more than 10,000 years ago.

We also enjoy seeing the Black Hills of South Dakota, with its sturdy pines and towering precipices, and the awe-inspiring heights of Wyoming’s Devils Tower. A looming presence, this natural monolith inspired countless Indian legends (we’ll learn more than a few!) and took its place in American film history in Stephen Spielberg’s classic film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

We close our tour with one of the most inspiring sites in the American landscape, Mt. Rushmore. The towering visages of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt have provided a stirring memorial to the country’s greatest leaders since they were completed in 1941. We also stop at the imposing sculpture of the Crazy Horse Memorial, a work in progress that serves as tribute to the Native Americans who originally lived in these beautiful hills.

Hotel Accommodations
Day One – Embassy Suites, Salt Lake City, Utah
Days Two and Three – Antler Inn or The Point Hotel & Suites, Jackson, Wyoming
Days Four and Five – Yellowstone National Park Lodges,
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Day Six – Holiday Inn, Sheridan, Wyoming
Days Seven and Eight – Radisson Hotel, Rapid City, South Dakota