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NATIONAL
PARKS OF THE WEST
8
days, 7 nights
Overnight
at the Eldorado Hotel – Welcome cocktail
reception and private dinner – 7 dinners
with complimentary wine – 6 lunches – 7
full American breakfasts and optional continental
breakfasts – Non-alcoholic beverages – Professionally
guided tours of Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion,
Yellowstone, and Grand Teton National Parks – Overnight
stay at Zion and Yellowstone park lodges – Comprehensive
lecture series – Live piano music nightly – Deluxe
rail accommodations for 4 nights – Personal
service by rail car attendant – Farewell
cocktail reception
OPTIONAL TOURS – Bandelier
National Monument Walking Tour – Snake River Scenic Float Trip
DAY
1 – Arrive In Santa Fe, New Mexico
After
independent arrivals at the hotel, we meet for our
private welcome reception and dinner. We take this
opportunity to introduce the train staff and other
guests who will be joining us on our journey. This
evening we overnight at the Eldorado Hotel. (D)
DAY
2 – Sante Fe/Board The American Orient
Express
After
breakfast in the hotel, we depart for a guided walking
tour of the old plaza. Lunch is served at La
Casa Sena with leisure time afterward to browse and
shop at local galleries and museums. We then
transfer by motorcoach to Albuquerque where we board
the American Orient Express. This evening,
dinner is served on board as we traverse the beautiful
landscape of New Mexico en route to our next destination,
Grand Canyon National Park. (B,L,D)
return
to top
DAY 3 – Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
We
awake at the steps of Grand Canyon National Park this morning. With
its unfathomable dimensions – 277 miles long and 18 miles
wide – this geologic wonder is perhaps the nation’s
most spectacular. We spend the morning at the South Rim,
where the constant play of light and shadow profoundly changes
the colors of the plateaus and mesas within the chasm. Neatly
a mile below, the Colorado River continues its slow work, deepening
the canyon a fraction of an inch every year. We return to
the train to enjoy dinner and overnight on board en route to Cedar
City. (B,L,D)
DAY
4 – Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
This
morning we enjoy breakfast and lunch on the train as
we travel to our next destination. Upon arriving
in Cedar City, we board motorcoaches with our overnight
bags to explore Bryce Canyon National Park. Paiute
Indians described this jagged strip along the edge
of the Paunsaugunt Plateau as “red rocks standing
like statues of men” Eons of rain and wind
sculpted this sandstone environment into a maze of
spires and arches. Layered in red, rose, orange
and lavender, the stone landscape is elemental and
alien – almost Gothic in its drama. We
tour Bryce Canyon by coach, stopping for short hikes
and stunning views along the way. In the evening,
we enjoy dinner and overnight at the Zion Park Inn. (B,L,D)
DAY
5 – Zion National Park
After
breakfast in the hotel, we board motorcoaches and transfer
to Zion National Park. Millions of years of unrelenting
erosion have formed this primeval wonderland of red
sandstone buttes, domes and sheer canyon walls. The “heavenly
city of God,” or Zion, was named by early settlers,
and park visitors still find the label appropriate. We
explore the park on a scenic drive following a winding
river, with frequent stops along the way and options
to hike groomed trails. Back on board the train,
we enjoy dinner and overnight en route to Saint Anthony. (B,L,D)
return
to top
DAY 6 – Yellowstone National Park, Utah
This
morning we enjoy breakfast on board the train and with our overnight
bags, depart on motorcoaches to view the astounding sights of Yellowstone
National Park. The park protects more than two million acres
of wilderness – a glimpse of the West from centuries past. Miles
below the park’s surface, water and molten rock converge,
creating over 10,000 boiling springs, mud pots and geysers. After
a full day of exploring, we gather for dinner and overnight in
a nearby lodge. (B,L,D)
DAY
7 – Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
After
breakfast in the lodge, we board motorcoaches and set
out to the Teton Mountain Range – perhaps the
most abrupt and breathtaking in America, with Grand
Teton Mountain rising to 13,770 feet. At the
foot of these mountains lie Jackson and Jenny Lakes – these
mirror lakes are majestic, yet tranquil, a favorite
site for photographers and sightseers. Centuries
ago, native Americans hunted the great elk herds that
gathered at the foot of the range. Today, we
spend the day exploring this spectacular region, stopping
for lunch at the Museum of Wildlife Art which overlooks
an elk refuge. This evening, we transfer back
to the train to enjoy our farewell cocktail reception
and dinner. We overnight on board en route to
Salt Lake City. (B,L,D)
DAY
8 – Salt Lake City, Utah
The American
Orient Express journey ends here after breakfast. Stay
on in Salt Lake City for additional sightseeing or
make individual arrangements to return home. (B)
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