Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Chicago
Our Six National Parks tour members will meet the Tour Director in Chicago’s Union Station. The Willis Tower, one of the tallest building in the United States, is close by. Other Chicago attractions are a brief cab ride away.
Early afternoon we’ll board the Southwest Chief. Relax in your comfortable reclining coach seat with leg rest. Roomettes or Bedrooms are available at an additional cost. All dining car meals are included. Enjoy a full-course dinner in the dining car.
You will want to spend time in the Sightseer Lounge where the glass windows rise from floor level to the ceiling. It is a great place to view the passing scenery.
Meal(s): D
Day 2: En Route / Flagstaff
During the night we traveled across the state of Kansas. We will be near the Colorado border when you awaken. Today you will experience the excitement of the Santa Fe Trail as we cross New Mexico and Arizona. You will have time for a train side walk when we arrive in Albuquerque at mid afternoon. Our arrival into Flagstaff is scheduled for 8:46 p.m. Upon arrival we’ll transfer the short distance to the Comfort Inn.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 3: The Grand Canyon
After a Continental breakfast, we’ll travel by deluxe motorcoach to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is one of the world’s outstanding spectacles. In form, size, flowing color and geological significance, it is unsurpassed.
We will view the Canyon from several observation areas. We will stop at Mather Point and Grand View.
At mid afternoon we’ll continue on to Lee’s Ferry. Lee’s Ferry is at the lower mouth of Glen Canyon. You will have crossed the Colorado River on the Navajo Bridge, viewing Marble Canyon which is the beginning of the Grand Canyon. We’ll visit the Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon. Our final destination for the day is the Lake Powell area in Page, AZ where we’ll spend the night. We’ll have an included dinner in the popular Rainbow Room.
Meal(s): CB & D
Day 4: Zion National Park / Bryce Canyon National Park
Following an included breakfast, we’ll continue to another of the West’s treasures, Zion National Park. You’ll find desert terrain and huge, sculpted rock formations coexisting with waterfalls and hanging gardens. The gigantic stone masses of the West Temple and the Watchman guard the southern entrance to the park. From a multicolored stairway, the red-brown Watchman looms 2555 feet above the canyon floor. The 7810-foot West Temple is one of the most prominent formations in the southern section.
Just north of the southern entrance is the beginning of Zion Canyon, a spectacular gorge being carved through strangely-colored sandstone and shale by the Virgin River. About a half-mile deep and a half-mile wide at its mouth, the canyon narrows to about 300 feet at the Temple of Sinawava, the narrowest portion of the canyon accessible by car and about eight miles from the park entrance. We will take the tram ride in Zion.
Following our time at Zion National Park, we’ll transfer the short distance to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon includes some of Earth’s most colorful rocks, which have been sculpted by erosion into pillars called “hoodoos” and other fantastic forms. Iron oxides give red, yellow, and brown tints to the limestone, while manganese oxides lend a lavender hue.
Bryce is not a true canyon, but is a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved in the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau by tributaries of the Paria River. We’ll travel with a local guide on a 37-mile round trip on a road that follows the high rim to many major vantage points, such as Inspiration Point, Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Bryce Point, Paria View, the Natural Bridge and Rainbow Point.
We’ll spend the night at the Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel. You’ll find the Inn to be a fascinating destination with many attractions. Dinner is included at the Cowboy’s Buffet and Steak Room.
Meal(s): B & D
Day 5: En Route / Salt Lake City
This morning, after a full breakfast at our hotel, we will board our comfortable motorcoach for the trip to Salt Lake City, Utah.
On arrival we’ll check into the Radisson Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City.
You’re free this evening to rest and relax or to explore the many attractions in this exciting city.
Meal(s): B
Day 6: Salt Lake City
Today we’ll enjoy a tour of this delightful city.
During our Salt Lake City tour you’ll see the Mormon Temple, Tabernacle, Brigham Young’s Monument and private burial ground, Beehive House, Lion House, Eagle Gate, University of Utah, Fort Douglas and Trolley Square.
Our Salt Lake City host will take us to a series of major Salt Lake City attractions. They include the Utah Olympic Park, the Great Salt Lake and Tracy Aviary.
There will be “on-your-own” lunch and dinner opportunities available.
Day 7: En Route Jackson Hole
Today we will continue on to the ranching and resort center of Jackson, Wyoming. Our comfortable lodging is at the Best Western Lodge at Jackson Hole.
Tonight our group will travel a few miles outside the city for a chuck wagon dinner. A Western musical group will entertain us.
Meal(s): D
Day 8: Grand Teton Range
Enjoy a full breakfast in your hotel this morning. No mountain skyline is more impressive than that of the Grand Teton Range. Peaks rise abruptly with no foothills. We’ll visit the Chapel of Transfiguration, a rustic log church with fantastic views of the Tetons. Lunch is included at the Jackson Lake Lodge. At the Colter Bay Visitor Center we view Plains Indian art and exhibits and learn more about Grand Teton National Park.
Later, we continue into Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone was established in 1872 as America’s first national park. This is the world’s most extensive region of geothermal activity. Thousands of hot springs dot the thermal basins. Old Faithful is the most famous geyser in the world.
We will spend three nights at the Best Western Desert Inn, West Yellowstone. There are a variety of evening activities available including the Playbill Theatre (Broadway-style musicals and dramas), an IMAX Theater featuring a 45-minute presentation about the Yellowstone Park area and the Yellowstone Historic Center.
Meal(s): B & L
Day 9: Yellowstone
A Continental breakfast is included each morning in our hotel. Today we begin to explore Yellowstone National Park, a two-million acre national jewel. We’ll journey through Madison Junction, Norris Geyser Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction, and Tower Falls. Following an “on-your-own” lunch, we’ll continue on to Artist Point, Inspiration Point, and the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. We’ll return to our hotel by late afternoon.
Meal(s): CB
Day 10: Yellowstone
We’ll begin our second day of awesome Yellowstone National Park experiences. A scenic drive takes us through the Hayden Valley, a region of lush forest meadows. Look for bison and other wildlife!
Have a camera ready to capture awesome views. Old Faithful Geyser and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone are highlights of the day. We’ll also view the paint-pots, which are bubbling hot springs mixed with clay. We return to our West Yellowstone Hotel for a final night. Dinner is included.
Meal(s):CB & D
Day 11: En Route / Glacier National Park
This is a travel day as we continue north to Whitefish, Montana. A number of stops will be made at scenic sites. You’ll thrill to the beauty and vastness of this magnificent state. We’ll arrive in Whitefish late this afternoon. Our home for the next two nights will be the Grouse Mountain Lodge.
Meal(s): CB
Day 12: Glacier National Park
We’ll depart on an all-day tour of one of America’s most beautiful attractions. Our group will travel over the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Highway. Acclaimed as one of the outstanding scenic roadways of the world, the drive affords magnificent views of the mountain scenery. Dense forests, picturesque lakes, brilliant flowers and abundant wildlife enhance the awesome views. We’ll stop for a leisurely “on-your-own” lunch at Lake McDonald Lodge and return to our lodge in Whitefish by late afternoon. The Tour Director will host a farewell dinner this evening.
Meal(s): CB & D
Day 13: En Route
We’ll transfer to the Whitefish Amtrak Station in time for the 7:46 a.m. departure of the Empire Builder for Chicago. Get settled in and then head for the Sightseer Lounge car. During the day we’ll cross the remote flatlands of eastern Montana and western North Dakota.
Meal(s): CB, L & D
Day 14: En Route / Chicago
Breakfast and lunch on the train are included. We depart from Minneapolis - St. Paul at 7:40 a.m. and head south along the west bank of the Mississippi River. The train winds between the river bank and high bluffs. The Empire Builder is scheduled to arrive in Chicago’s Union Station later this afternoon.
Many of our tour members will conclude their fabulous America by Rail vacation by transferring to other Amtrak trains bound for home cities. Some will spend the night in Chicago and continue home by air tomorrow.
Meal(s): B & L