heather lee
WEST
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Scenic Western Adventures On its run through Northern Arizona, the Grand Canyon Railway features Western-style entertainment.
railway or waterway excursion is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty, splendor and history of the West. From the mountains to the Pacific coast, opportunities abound for visitors to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. Be sure to have a camera in hand to capture the one-of-a-kind views that these tours provide. The Coast Starlight, traveling daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, offers one of Amtrak’s most scenic rides. Views on the 1,377-mile route range from the snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta to forests, valleys and Pacific Ocean shoreline. Amenities include multiple dining options, complimentary Internet access and an onboard theater. Another popular Amtrak train is the California Zephyr, which negotiates Colorado’s Rocky Mountains on its run between Chicago and San Francisco. West of Denver, the train crosses the Continental Divide, making numerous switchbacks as it gains altitude and goes through 29 tunnels. Then the train glides through the Gore and Glenwood canyons, sheer rock walls towering above the Colorado River, where rafters tackle the wild rapids. The Zephyr then heads across the Utah desert to Salt Lake City and on across the Nevada desert to the High Sierras and California’s famed Donner Pass. (amtrak.com).
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The Grand Canyon Railway departs from Williams, Ariz., on its way to one of America’s most popular national parks. During the 2¼-hour trip from the 1908 Williams Depot to the canyon’s South Rim, strolling musicians and Wild West characters keep passengers entertained as they traverse 65 miles of Northern Arizona’s pine forests, grassy plains and canyons. Commonly seen wildlife includes elk, mule deer and pronghorn. (thetrain.com) Gourmet dining defines Napa Valley Wine Train’s three-hour champagne brunch, lunch and dinner excursions. The 36-mile trips pass 26 wineries between Napa and the quaint village of St. Helena in one of the world’s most famous wine valleys. In an area equally renowned for its cuisine, the train’s chefs prepare seasonal menus highlighted by the freshest and highest quality ingredients in the train’s two kitchens. Guests are welcome to watch chefs work through windows located three feet away from the grill fire. The elegant 1917 Pullman dining car is accented with etched glass, polished brass, fine fabrics and rich mahogany paneling. (winetrain.com) Cruise boats on Lake Tahoe provide an excellent opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery. The Tahoe Queen provides a tour on the lake’s only authentic Mississippi paddlewheeler boat. Departing from Ski Run Marina, the Tahoe Queen offers daytime scenic cruises and sunset dinner dance cruises. (boattahoe.com) San Diego Harbor Tours provides an array of boat cruises on the San Diego Bay. Options include whale watching cruises, lunch or dinner cruises and a 13-mile tour of the North or South Bay. One-hour sightseeing cruises on the North Bay glide by sea lions basking on buoys and bait barges; pelicans, sea gulls and double-crested cormorants; ships and aircraft at the naval air station; a Navy submarine LeisureGroupTravel.com
base; and Point Loma Lighthouse, strategically located where the bay meets the Pacific. (sandiegotours.us) Argosy Cruises offer one-hour harbor excursions that provide an ideal orientation to Seattle. Besides panoramic views of the downtown skyline, passengers get close-up looks at gantry cranes loading and unloading container ships. Snow-capped mountains loom in the
distance, providing great backdrops for the freighters, ferry boats and pleasure boats crisscrossing Elliott Bay. (argosycruises.com) LGT
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE To read about additional scenic train adventures in the West, go online and log on to lesiuregrouptravel.com/?p=23758.
Brighter
Where heaven and earth meet, so can you. Incredible convention and meeting facilities are only the beginning of your experience at Inn of the Mountain Gods. From full casino action and award-winning dining to championship golf and unparalleled mountain scenery, even your keynote speaker will be speechless. > 273 luxury rooms and suites > 40,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space
> Championship golf course* > Fine and casual dining > Full casino
> Ski Apache* > Fishing* > Horseback riding*
InnoftheMountainGods.com 1-800-545-6040 | Mescalero, NM near Ruidoso Booking Info: jokazhe@innofthemountaingods.com FULL CASINO | CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF *Weather permitting. Must be 21 or older to enter casino. The Mescalero Apache Tribe promotes responsible gaming. For assistance, please call 1-800- GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537).
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