Our Great Western National Parks

September 3 - 19, 2011

(16 Nights, 17 Days)

Saturday, September 3, 2011:

 

Please come join Blue Ridge Tours and Gail Boswell, as we journey out for a new and exciting adventure to some of the West's great national parks. A tour that has never been done by Blue

Ridge Tours. We will be visiting often overlooked places like Durango, Colorado, Pierre, South Dakota, and Idaho Falls, Idaho.

 


The special highlights of our tour include visiting a few of our country's national parks such as Glacier National Park in Montana. We will also have a chance to visit the arches and canyon land in

Utah and many scenic areas of our beautiful western states.

 

Today we will travel to Louisville, Kentucky and tour the famed Horse Park, Churchill Downs, home to the Kentucky Derby.

 

Tonight we will overnight in Louisville, Kentucky.


 

 


Sunday, September 4, 2011:


 

Following breakfast, we will travel through St. Louis, Missouri as we make our way to our first two night stay in Kansas City, Missouri.

Tonight, enjoy a refreshing evening of drinks and food at our hotel.


 


 

Monday, September 5, 2011:


 

Following breakfast, we will meet our local Kansas City step-on tour guide for an interesting tour of the city known for its BBQ. It is also a city known for being in two states. Did you know that

Kansas City is located in both Missouri and Kansas?


 

Once our city tour has concluded, we will go for a unique visit to the famous Hallmark Card Visitors Center. Here we will learn the history behind the world renown greeting card maker from its

early beginning to the present. You will have the privilege to see how Hallmark makes their cards along with interactive displays and exhibits. This visit will be sure to take you back in time.


 

Afterwards, we will return to our hotel for food, refreshments, and a good night's rest.


 


 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011:


 

Following breakfast, we will make our way out into the nation's heartland. We will be traveling through Iowa and South Dakota taking in the unique farmland and cornfields. A brief stop at the

world famous Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, will be made so that your can take some photos. The Corn Palace is a building with stunning architectural qualities that everyone will enjoy.

The outside design of the building is truly amazing.


 

After our visit to the Corn Palace, we will head over to one of our nation's state capitals that is not on the “beaten path” ... Pierre, South Dakota. Once we have viewed the areas around the

capital, we will check into our hotel for the evening.


 

Overnight stay in Pierre, South Dakota.


 


 

Wednesday, September 7, 2011:


 

Today, after breakfast, we will travel westward into Wyoming. If time permits, we will visit the battle site of Little Big Horn where General George Custer and his men died.


 

We will then head even more northwest in the United States as we take in the Big Sky Country in Billings, Montana.


 

Overnight stay in Billings, Montana.


 

 

Thursday, September 8, 2011:


 

We now trek even more northward though cities like Bozeman, Butte, and Missoula, Montana. Take the time to enjoy the vast cattle farms and beautiful views that carry on for miles. Our last leg

takes us along the northern slopes of the Rocky Mountains onto a scenic backroad journey to the gateway of Glacier National Park in Kalispell, Montana. We will be staying here for two nights

so that we may enjoy the beauty that this part of the United States has to offer.


 

Two night stay in Kalispell, Montana.


 

 

Friday, September 9, 2011:


 

A full breakfast (included) awaits us as we prepare to meet our local step-on tour guide (Full Day). One of the highlights of visiting the Glacier National Park, besides seeing its beautiful views, is

the wildlife that roams the woods and trails. A bus ride on the “Red Jammer” bus up the famous “Going to the Sun” road. You will experience unforgettable, as well as breathtaking, views that

continuously extend after each curve of the road.


 

As we tour the park, visiting the mountain settings, our guide will discuss what life is like up in these parts of the United States and will go over some details about its rugged culture. After a

beautiful day of sightseeing, a delicious ranch style dinner and entertainment (included) awaits us.


 

A good night's rest is earned today.


 


 

Saturday, September 10, 2011:


 

Following a full breakfast (included), we will make our way southward and follow the eastern slopes of the Bitterroot Mountain Range through southern Montana.


 

We will cross into the Land of Potatoes, Idaho, and spend the night in Idaho Falls, Idaho.


 


 

Sunday, September 11, 2011:


 

Now for a long period of short driving days, more “off the bus”activities, and a slower pace of travel beginning with our drive to Utah. We will arrive late morning in Salt Lake City, Utah for

another two night stay.


 

Today we will meet our local step-on tour guide, for an exciting day of sightseeing. Our guide will take us to visit the Mormon Tabernacle and the renown Brigham Young University. We may

have the opportunity to witness an organ recital at the Mormon Tabernacle while visiting.


 

The famous Great Salt Lake will be seen either today or tomorrow.


 

Make sure you unpack and relax as we take in all the beauty Salt Lake City has to offer.


 


 

Monday, September 12, 2011:


 

Today you will be on your own. Take some time to shop downtown, do some laundry, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee while breathing in the fresh mountain air.


 

 

Tuesday, September 13, 2011:


 

Following breakfast, we will board our bus and travel a few hours across the state of Utah to our next two night stay in Moab, Utah, near the gateway to Arches National Park.


 

You will have the afternoon free to explore the western style town and rest before your full day of exploration at a few of our nation's national parks.


 


 

Wednesday, September 14, 2011:


 

Make sure you have plenty of film available today, because beauty will come at you fast and furious as we visit Arches National Park, home to 2,000 beautiful sandstone natural arches. Mother

Nature has created some unusual natural beauty that will be sure to leave you breathless.


 

Afterwards, our guide will take us to Canyonland National Park which is very different from Arches National Park. Canyonland National Park was once a beautiful landscape, located by the

Colorado River, that has eroded into canyons, mesas, and buttes. It may remind you a little bit of the Grand Canyon.


 

These two parks are often overlooked by their cousin parks, the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park, but one you will be glad to of had visited.


 

We will return to Moab, Utah for an evening of rest and tranquility.


 


 

Thursday, September 15, 2011:


 

Today, we will be traveling a few hours south along the Western slopes of the Rocky Mountains to Durango, Colorado. Here you will board the famous Durango-Silverton Railway. The train has

been in continuous use for over 128 years, carrying passengers on its vintage engine. Enjoy the scenery aboard this historical train as it chugs by the beautiful countryside. In 2009, the Durango-

Silverton Railway was voted one of the top 10 most exciting train rides in the United States by travel writers.


 

We will overnight in the quaint, rustic town of Durango, Colorado.


 


 

Friday, September 16, 2011:


 

After breakfast, we will travel o New Mexico and drive through the state capital of Santa Fe, known for its artistic and westernized Indian culture and architecture. Then it is on to the big state of

Texas where we will overnight in its panhandle city of Amarillo, Texas.


 

 

Maybe someone will be up to the challenge of eating at the Big Texan Steakhouse, home of the 72 oz. steak and side item. If you can eat their 72 oz. steak, then your meal is free! This restaurant

has been seen on television.


 


 

Saturday, September 17, 2011:


 

As we say goodbye to the cattle and cowboys of Texas, we will roll on into Oklahoma, home to working oil rigs, Indian culture, and so much more.


 

Once we have arrived to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, we will visit the memorial site of where the tragic Oklahoma City Federal Building bombing took place.


 

A delicious BBQ style dinner awaits us at the County Line BBQ. Their beef brisket and ribs are very tasty.


 

We will overnight in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.


 


 

Sunday, September 18, 2011:


 

Following breakfast, we will make our way east across the frontier land of Oklahoma and Arkansas. We will have a chance to see the state capital of Arkansas ... Little Rock. Then we will travel

across the Mississippi River into Memphis, Tennessee. We will drive by the Graceland Home to Elvis Presley so that you can capture a few photos of the “King's” mansion.


 

We will overnight in Memphis, Tennessee.


 


 

Monday, September 19, 2011:


 

After eating a full breakfast, we will load the bus and head home. It is hard to believe that our journey will come to an end as we make our way back to Greer, South Carolina. One can not

imagine the vast territory we have covered and seen until you look as a United States road atlas. Take the time to look at the path we have traveled and you will not believe how far north, west,

and south we have been. Along with the National Parks we will visit, this will truly be a memorable trip of a lifetime and one that not many travelers have the opportunity to take part in.


 


 


 

Tour Package Includes:

For further information please contact Gail Boswell at (864) 877-4369 or Blue Ridge Tours, Inc. at (864) 834-5604.


 

** A $100.00 deposit is required in order to reserve your seat. **

 

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