Day 1
FLIGHT TO DENVER • DINNER:
This morning we are transported to the Charlotte Airport for our flight to Denver.
Upon our arrival we meet our Christian Tours motorcoach and driver. We’ll be transported to our area hotel. Tonight we get better acquainted as we enjoy dinner together. (D)
Day 2
CHEYENNE • FORT LARAMIE • RAPID CITY:
Today we
travel north through vast tracts of ranchland and through
Cheyenne, Wyoming’s capital city. We pay a visit to Fort Laramie
National Historic Site, a major stop along the Oregon Trail. Much
of the history of the old west began right here. We continue
north to Rapid City where we spend the next two nights.
Day 3
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK • WALL DRUG • MOUNT RUSHMORE • CRAZY HORSE • DINNER:
First on this morning’s agenda is Badlands National Park, a multicolored wasteland of weirdly formed gullies, canyons, ridges, and spires.
Our next stop is at famous Wall Drug, where the Hustead family
made their fortune by advertising free ice water to tourists since 1936. We will have time to have lunch on our own while here in this little western town. A scenic drive this afternoon takes us to Mount Rushmore, without a doubt one of America’s
most photographed National Memorials. Here the faces of
four great presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and
Roosevelt, were carved in honored glory by Gutzum Borglum
and his staff on the side of this 6,000-foot mountain. Our route
takes us to Crazy Horse, the dream of another sculptor, Korczak
Ziolkowski. We enjoy dinner together this evening. (D)
Day 4
BIG HORN MOUNTAINS • BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER • CODY:
This morning we leave Rapid City and make our way back into Wyoming. Later we pass through the
Bighorn Mountains, the scene of many fierce battles between
U.S. Cavalry and the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow Indians, before
continuing to Cody. Cody is a fun town, filled with history, named for the dashing frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody. This afternoon we visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which is home to the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Museum of the Plains Indian, the Cody Firearms Museum, and the Whitney Gallery of Western Art.
Day 5
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK • JACKSON HOLE:
Today
we travel through another of the nation’s most beautiful National Parks, Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. This is a world all of its own, with hot springs, geysers, boiling
pots, plunging waterfalls, multicolored canyons, mud volcanoes,
rivers and streams, mountains, forests, and countless species
of plant and animal life. Of course, we’ll see the most famous sight in the park, Old Faithful. Our destination for the day is the true western town of Jackson, WY. Jackson keeps its wild west spirit alive with swinging door saloons and shoot-outs on Main Street.
Day 6
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK • CHAPEL OF TRANSFIGURATION • FREE TIME IN JACKSON • DINNER:
This morning we’ll visit Grand Teton National Park and see the Chapel of the Transfiguration. You’ll be inspired by the distinctive snow-covered peaks of the Tetons that line our path as we travel. In the afternoon we’ll have free time in Jackson. This evening we enjoy dinner together. (D)
Day 7
BEAR LAKE • GREAT SALT LAKE:
This morning we pass through the town of Afton, where 3,000 elk horns form the arch over Main Street. We enter the southern tip of Idaho
and make a picture stop along the shores of Bear Lake. Before
we reach the city, we visit the incredible Great Salt Lake. With
the exception of the Dead Sea, the Great Salt Lake is the saltiest body of water on earth. Upon arrival we check into our hotel for a two-night stay in the Salt Lake City area.
Day 8
SALT LAKE CITY TOUR • PARK CITY • DINNER:
On this
morning’s sightseeing tour we visit many of the historical
monuments that tell us the story of the Mormon pioneers. See Temple Square, with its imposing Temple and Tabernacle,
and stop at the “This is the Place” monument, which commemorates the words uttered by Brigham Young when he first found this site. Completing our tour, we drive past the State Capitol Building and the University of Utah. This afternoon, we visit Park City, where the 2002 Olympic Events
were held. Dinner is included today. (D)
Day 9
BRYCE CANYON • SPRINGDALE:
This morning we leave
Salt Lake City behind and travel to Bryce Canyon National
Park. It took nature thousands of years to carve these beautiful
formations. 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 Kanab for our overnight.
Day 10
ZION CANYON • LAKE POWELL CRUISE • DINNER:
Some of the most enormous rock formations are found
at Zion National Park. At the visitors center we’ll board a tram
for our tour into the canyon where we find ourselves surrounded
by massive rock formations. These formations, described as
temples, cathedrals and thrones, rise to great heights, the
highest reaching 8,726 feet. This afternoon we enjoy a cruise
on the sparkling blue waters of Lake Powell, where the dazzling
water offers stark contrast to the brown desert that surrounds
us. This is a cruise we are sure you’ll never forget. The perfect
way to end an enjoyable day is waiting for us with dinner at
the Lake Powell Lodge. We overnight in Page. (D)
Day 11
GRAND CANYON:
Have your camera at the ready
today as we’re in for some of the most spectacular
scenery in America. We travel through spectacular red cliffs,
stands of aspen, cedar and oak, and abundant wildflowers
to reach the South Rim, Grand Canyon, which is 7000 feet
above sea level. Here, the canyon is a 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 overnight here at the Grand Canyon.
Day 12
OAK CREEK CANYON • SEDONA • DINNER:
This
morning we travel through spectacular Oak Creek
Canyon, where the rock formations constantly change color
and shape as we head south. We’re off to the artist colony of
Sedona for our overnight. You’ll have time for shopping in
downtown before an included dinner this evening. (D)
Day 13
PHOENIX •
HOME:
This
morning we are
transferred to the
Phoenix Airport for
our flight home.
