Today we depart Los Angeles at 7:00 am, passing through the San Bernardino Forest and the Mojave Desert on our way into Nevada. We continue on our road trip until we reach Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world. Once we arrive around 1:30, you are free to spend a few hours exploring America's entertainment capital, the star of the desert, at your leisure. (Don't worry! If you want more time in the city, we'll be back later in the tour.) In the evening, we will travel on into Utah, arriving at our hotel in the city of Beaver around 8:00pm. It's a long trip, but the rising hills and mountains, the miles and miles of brush vegetation and desert, and the interesting wildlife we'll see along the way will make it a fun adventure in America's Wild West.

This morning we will embark on a four hour drive to Arches National Park, known for the more than two thousand natural sandstone arches which it preserves as well as countless spires, sandstone "fins," and monoliths, all formed by a fascinating process of water and wind erosion. After our visit, we will drive for six hours into the state of Colorado and stay overnight in Denver.

In the morning we will continue on our journey through Wyoming, passing by the state capital and famous cowboy town of Cheyenne on our way to the Mt. Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota, where we will arrive in the mid-afternoon. Here we will gaze up at the famous sculpture of four renowned United States Presidents, Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt, whose likenesses are carved into the enormous stone face of the Black Hills. From here we will travel to the nearby Crazy Horse Memorial** to learn about and honor the courage of this Oglala Lakota warrior, an inspiring figure among Native Americans. We will also visit Bear Country,** a 250 acre wildlife park in the Black Hills where you can see many rare North American mammals close up! After our visit, we will travel to Spearfish, South Dakota, where we will stay for the night.

Today we will travel back into Wyoming on a 7.5 hour trip to Yellowstone National Park, enjoying the breathtaking view of mountains and plains along the way. After our arrival at the Park in the mid-afternoon, we will visit the Mammoth Hot Springs, a beautiful and fascinating complex of hot springs on a multicolored bed of limestone. We will also have the opportunity to see one of the world's largest petrified forests (whose wood has mineralized after being buried in ash and soil), and catch a glimmer of the beautiful Yellowstone Lake through the trees. We will stay overnight at a hotel in Yellowstone National Park.

 

Tours depart on 06/16, 06/20, 06/27, 07/04, 07/11, 07/18, 07/25, 08/01, 08/08, 08/11, 08/15, 08/18, 08/22, 08/25, 08/29, 09/01 will stay in Canyon Lodge - inside Yellowstone. All other departures will overnight in West Yellowstone Lodge - Yellowstone Park Inn & Suites.

Today we will continue to explore Yellowstone National Park, famous for its geothermal features, as well as forests and plains teeming with wildlife such as elk and buffalo. One of Yellowstone's most well known features, the Old Faithful Geyser, shoots boiling water as high as 185 feet in the air at an hourly interval. Don't forget to see the park's famous hot springs, created by the geothermal activity of the Yellowstone Caldera, or "Supervolcano." We will also have the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone as well as some of the park's immense waterfalls, like Yellowstone Falls and Silver Cord Cascade. After our tour we will travel from Yellowstone to the Grand Teton National Park to view this spectacular snow-topped mountain range. Continuing on our way into Odgen and spend the night in the city of Pocatello.

This morning, we will drive into the state of Utah to visit its capital, Salt Lake City, arriving around noon. After we visit the Utah State Capitol, some friendly Mormon guides will lead us on a tour of Temple Square, home to the Salt Lake Temple, the largest church built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Next we will view the Great Salt Lake,** the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, often called "America's Dead Sea." Afterwards we will travel to see the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine,** the deepest open-pit mine in the world, and then continue on into Nevada on our way to Las Vegas. Once we arrive, if you can break yourself away from the shopping, fine food, and casinos which the city is known for, join us on a night tour* where we will explore the city's night life and watch the best-selling Jubilee Show!*

In the morning, we will continue the tour to Chocolate Factory and Desert Cactus Garden. Depart for Los Angeles, on the way, we will stop at the Lenwood factory outlet mall where you can purchase famous brands at the lowest price possible. Arrive in Los Angeles in the evening.

This morning we will depart Los Angeles at 8:00am and drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway on the way to Solvang, a quaint little Danish town in the Santa Ynez Valley. From here we will continue north, arriving at noon in San Simeon for a visit to Hearst Castle,* a mansion built from 1919-1947 for the leading newspaper publisher William Hearst. The castle protects an extensive collection of artifacts from the Renaissance period, as well as lavish living and dining quarters and lush gardens. The gilt-lined Neptune and Roman Pools, fed by mountain water, are surrounded by Roman style pillars and statues. Visited by some of the world's most famous figures, including Hollywood stars, Hearst Castle embodies a fascinating combination of both history and opulent living. After spending two hours exploring the mansion and grounds, we will travel to tonight's hotel near San Francisco, arriving at 6:00pm.

Today we will take a tour of San Francisco, first visiting the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic international symbol of San Francisco. From there we will move on to Fisherman's Wharf, the historic base of San Francisco's fishing fleet, the enormous Oakland Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island, an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay. Finally, our tour of San Francisco would not be complete without a visit to the city's Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America. We will have the afternoon to explore, shop in the city, or visit relatives. Alternatively, you may participate in a more in-depth city tour,* which will take us to the Castro District (America's largest gay neighborhood), Saint Mary's Church, the Twin Peaks, and the San Francisco City Hall. After this, join us aboard a San Francisco Bay Cruise,* which will give a stunning view of the city from the water.

This morning, we will travel through miles of vineyards, orchards, and fertile farmland to arrive at noon at Yosemite National Park, world-renowned for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, glaciers, and Giant Sequoia groves. Breathtaking scenes like Bridalveil Fall, with its stream of water shooting over a high granite cliff to hover with a breath of mist below, and El Capitan, the immense stone monolith, will strike you with their sheer natural power. The Merced River, which meanders through Yosemite Valley, the enormous Half Dome granite formation, and Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in the United States, add to the spectacular natural wonders of the park. Concluding our tour, we will then head back to Los Angeles, arriving around 6:30 pm.

Itinerary may vary depending on the day of departure.