Canyonlands and Las Vegas

We depart from the Charlotte- Douglas International Airport this morning on our flight to Phoenix, Arizona. Upon arriving in Phoenix, we’re met by our deluxe motorcoach and begin our journey. The sights along the way will be breathtaking! Watch for the awe-inspiring red rock formations as we make our way north to the beautiful town of Sedona, where we’ll spend our first night. Sedona is located in the high southwestern desert at the southern end of Oak Creek Canyon. In addition to being a popular site location for western films and commercials, it is also a center for contemporary and traditional arts. Dinner is included this evening. (D)

From Sedona, we travel through Oak Creek Canyon making picture stops along the way and shopping with some of the Indian vendors. We travel through Flagstaff and the Kaibab National Forest to the Grand Canyon. We travel through spectacular red cliffs, stands of aspen, cedar and oak, and abundant wildflowers to reach the South Rim, which is 7000 feet above sea level. Here, the canyon is a flat mile to the bottom. One of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world, Grand Canyon is unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers to visitors on the rim. Enjoy the sights of this natural wonder with its exceptional views and photo opportunities!

We leave the Grand Canyon this morning traveling through the heart of Navajo Indian country. We pass through Monument Valley. This area provides perhaps the most enduring and definitive images of the American West. The isolated red mesas and buttes surrounded by empty, sandy desert have been filmed and photographed countless times over the years for movies, advertisements & holiday brochures. Because of this, the area may seem quite familiar. Our accommodations are in Moab for two nights. Tonight we enjoy a delicious western-style dinner with magnificent views of the Colorado River and the red rock cliffs. (D)

Today we visit one of the jewels of the southwest, Arches National Park, a rugged area containing the largest number of natural stone arches in the country. The arches were formed by the weathering of openings in vertical slabs of sandstone. This timeless, natural grouping of giant stone arches, pinnacles, spires, fins and windows was once the bed of an ancient sea. The power of erosion has laid bare the skeletal structure of the earth at this fascinating location. Canyonlands National Park is the largest national park in Utah. We witness breathtaking views divided by massive canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers. We're back at the hotel for a relaxing evening enjoying our beautiful surroundings.

We drive through the San Rafael Desert to Capitol Reef National Park. Here we see narrow canyons, ridges, arches, spires and domes. The monument is so named because of the resemblance of the many whitish sandstone domes to the US Capitol building; the “Reef” refers to the high uplifted ridge running north-south along the fold which presented a considerable barrier to early settlers. Our scenic drive continues through the Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, which covers 1.7 million mostly roadless acres and was established in September, 1996, by presidential decree. We overnight near Bryce Canyon, with dinner included. (D)

Today we tour Bryce Canyon National Park, which includes some of the earth’s most colorful rock formations, fantastic wind and water sculpted “hoodoos” tinted by various oxides which give red, yellow, brown and lavender hues. After our tour and ample time for picture-taking, we proceed to Zion National Park and the amazing Zion Canyon. Desert terrain and huge, sculpted rock formations coexist with waterfalls and hanging gardens in this spectacular gorge carved through strangely colored sandstone, shale and limestone. Later we depart for fabulous Las Vegas, the “fun capital” of the world, for a two night stay. After our arrival, you are free to take in the dazzling action, live shows and top-name entertainment.

Nevada’s largest city, Las Vegas, is a razzle-dazzle city of lights, hotels, night clubs, and casinos. Today is free for you to do as you wish. Take in some of the shows with headline entertainers or just try to see as many of the spectacular Casino-Hotel sights for which this city is noted as possible. You may choose to take an optional tour with us to Hoover Dam. (Cost: $55 per person) After 60 years it still stands as a world-renowned structure and is rated as one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders.

Our vacation of wonders, both natural and manmade, comes to an end today. Our flight leaves from Las Vegas and arrives back in Charlotte this afternoon.