Isn’t it about time for you to have a family vacation where your family can enjoy each other’s company, have fun experiences, and discover new places while all the details are handled by someone else? If so, you’ll enjoy this Globus family vacation through the Wild, Wild West. Tour highlights include time in Jackson, Wyoming, where you’ll set out on a river adventure beneath the towering peaks of the Grand Tetons. Also spend time in Yellowstone National Park and witness the eruption of Old Faithful Geyser. Be on the lookout for wildlife, including herds of bison, elk, pronghorn, many species of birds, and so much more. In Hot Springs, visit the world’s largest mammoth site, where a sinkhole formed 26,000 years ago, and walk the edges of the sinkhole for an up-close view of the many fossils found here.Imagine the look on your family members’ faces as they see Mount Rushmore for the first time. Located in a beautiful setting, the area offers not only this amazing monument, but also trails to explore, spectacular wildlife, beautiful trees, and interesting geological features. You’ll even have an opportunity to travel by open-air Jeep into the backcountry for a buffalo safari in search of bison, elk, and deer. You’ll step back in nature and feel the sense of peace as you and your family experience this once-in-a-lifetime vacation together.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Salt Lake City. Welcome to Salt Lake City, founded by Brigham Young in 1847. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow traveling companions for a WELCOME PARTY & DINNER to kick off your Wild, Wild West vacation. (D)
Day #2 Cowboys & Indians! Depart the Great Salt Lake Basin, head into the Wasatch Mountains, and continue into Wyoming, where you follow the Snake River to the all-Western town of Jackson! Spend time this afternoon in the Town Square, where you can see an old-fashioned shoot-out, shop for souvenirs, or sidle up to one of the real saddle barstools at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar for a bite to eat. Later this afternoon, see what Lewis and Clark experienced when they were looking for the Oregon Trail as you board a horse-drawn COVERED WAGON and ride into Cache Creek Canyon. Keep an eye out for the Indians who live in the area, as you never know who you may encounter on the trail. Your wranglers will lead you to camp in time for chow and a hardy [LF] CHUCK WAGON COOKOUT followed by a Wild West show. (B,D)
Day #3 Float Down the Snake River. Get ready for a wet and wild RIVER ADVENTURE today! Set out on a comfortable raft that whisks you past the towering peaks of the majestic Grand Tetons. Your experienced Local Guide will point out interesting native plants and animals. Later, the afternoon is free in Jackson to explore the shops and museums of historic downtown. This evening, maybe stroll along the old-time boardwalks downtown and enjoy supper at one of the swing-door saloons. (B)
Day #4 See the Geysers & Wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. Head north through GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK to YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, the world’s first national park. Stand in the steam and feel the spray as legendary Old Faithful Geyser erupts, as it has been doing consistently for more than 100 years. Next, take a scenic drive up the road, stopping at the Fountain Paint Pot area to see four geothermal features in action: fumaroles, geysers, hot springs, and a bubbling mud pot. Rejoin Grand Loop Road and stop to marvel at Lower Yellowstone Falls—almost twice as high as Niagara. (B,D)NOTE:The routing and areas visited within Yellowstone are subject to favorable weather and/or road conditions. When conditions are unfavorable, the routing may be adjusted accordingly.
Day #5 Explore the Heart of Yellowstone. Time today to further explore Yellowstone. Perhaps stroll along Firehole River to one of the park’s backcountry geysers, visit remote bubbling mud pots, trek up a mountain pass with breathtaking scenic views, or hike through wildflower-filled meadows along a cool, sparkling creek. Be ready for fun and adventure as you immerse yourself in the natural wonders of Yellowstone’s wilderness. (B)
Day #6 Experience a Real Western Rodeo. Watch for wildlife today as you travel east out of Yellowstone and head for Cody, named after dashing Buffalo Bill Cody. Visit the BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER, which tells the history of the American cowboy, dude ranching, Western conservation, and frontier entrepreneurship. This evening, enjoy reserved grandstand tickets at the CODY RODEO. Here in the “Rodeo Capital of the World,” witness America’s original sport with fearless bull riders, high-flying broncs, brawny steer wrestlers, and daredevil rodeo clowns—action that’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat! (B)
Day #7 Step Back in Time to the Dinosaur Ages. Enjoy this morning’s scenic drive through the Bighorn Mountains on your way to Hot Springs, where you will step back in time to the Ice Age when giant Mammoth walked these lands. Visit the world’s largest MAMMOTH SITE, where a sinkhole formed 26,000 years ago. Looking like a watering hole, Ice Age animals were lured to the pond by the warm water and pond vegetation, but they quickly learned there was no escaping the steep shale banks. Eventually, the sink hole closed up, burying the remains until a chance discovery in 1974. Today you can walk the edges of the sinkhole and get a close-up view of the fossils found here, including Columbian and woolly mammoths, giant short-faced bears, llamas, wolves, and fish. Learn about the preservation, research, and interpretation of this site—and even see scientists at work in a paleontology laboratory. Continue into Custer State Park, your home for the next two nights. (B)SPECIAL FEATURE: We overnight at the Historic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park. This gracious lodge is set in a beautiful mountain valley, surrounded by a ponderosa pine forest. The State Game Lodge served as the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was built in 1920 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Day #8 Spend a Monumental Day at Crazy Horse & Mount Rushmore. See CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, created in honor of the fearless Sioux Indian chief, and MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL, featuring the monumental likenesses of four U.S. Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. Tonight your Tour Director hosts a special SEND-OFF CELEBRATION DINNER. Begin by traveling by open-air Jeep into the backcountry for a [LF] BUFFALO SAFARI in search of the herds of bison, elk, and deer that thrive here. Your adventure takes you into a secluded canyon for an outdoor STEAKFRY, complete with all the fixin’s and some boot-scootin’ entertainment—the perfect finale for your Wild West family vacation! (B,D)
Day #9 Custer State Park–Rapid City. Head to Rapid City Airport for guests with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after Noon. The motorcoach then continues into Rapid City, where the tour ends. (B)
