Wenatchee, East Wenatchee and Cashmere, WA
THE VALLEY VIEW HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Heirloom Cuisine…a personal culinary adventure ➤ Ice Age Floods Geological Trail…discover the
flood remnants ➤ Area Wineries…offering ice wines to rich reds ➤ Ohme Gardens…nine acres of lush alpine greenery ➤ Rocky Reach Dam…renewable energy
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: East Wenatchee & Wenatchee, WA Follow the 30- or 164-mile Ice Age Floods Geological Trail and view remnants left by the cataclysmic floodwaters as it raged through the Valley 17,000 years ago. Explore Downtown Wenatchee and have some fun. Join a self-guided walking tour of the outdoor Art on the Avenues sculptures, go shopping in antique stores and specialty shops or enjoy ice cream in the historic Owl Soda Fountain. Stroll across the RiverWalk Crossing into Riverfront Park and the Apple Capital Loop Trail or follow the walking tour of the downtown historical buildings and signs. Enjoy wine tasting and dinner at Chateau Faire le Pont Winery, a state-of-the-art gravity flow winery that creates world-class, ultra-premium wines from locally grown grapes and is housed in a superbly restored 1920s fruit warehouse.
DAY 2: East Wenatchee & Wenatchee, WA The Bridge of Friendship Japanese Garden is a partnership between the Sister Cities of Misawa, Japan, East Wenatchee and Wenatchee. The garden features a reflecting pool, pagoda, and authentic Japanese artifacts. Visit the “Miss Veedol” hanger where history comes alive! Hear the spine-tingling story of Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon’s struggle to complete the first non-stop transpacific flight and get a first-hand look at a working replica of the plane that made the flight in 1931. Enjoy wine tasting and lunch at Saint Laurent Winery where the winery and its unique European landscaped gardens overlook the Wenatchee Valley. The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center features four floors of the region’s historical treasures and is home to six of the original Clovis Tools discovered in the valley in 1987. Stroll through Ohme Gardens’ nine acres of lush alpine beauty; sit beside a tumbling
waterfall or wander along cool and serene rock walkways with stunning views of the Columbia River and Wenatchee Valley. Tour Tiny’s 42-acre Organic Farm in East Wenatchee and learn about the variety of fruits and vegetables with names like Arctic Snow nectarines, Indian Blood peaches and DapplDandy pluots (a hybrid between a plum and an apricot).
DAY 3: Wenatchee & Cashmere, WA At Rocky Reach Dam, “Look a Salmon in the Eye” in the fish viewing room or explore the Museum of the Columbia and the Gallery of Electricity. Outside marvel at the giant water pipe that transports juvenile salmon around the face of the dam and deposits them downstream into the Columbia River. Stop by Stemilt’s Bountiful Fruit for a crisp juicy apple or other in-season fruits. The WA Apple Commission Visitor Center is full of historic photos, interactive displays and an informative video about the apple industry. Reserve your seat at the Town Toyota Center for a memorable concert, thrilling hockey game, wild sports action or spectacular family entertainment. The Aplets and Cotlets Factory Tour incorporates savory Washington apples, ripe apricots and crunchy English walnuts into Aplets and Cotlets Candy— top sellers since 1920! The Discover Heirloom Cuisine program at the Cashmere Cider Mill will offer you an experience like no other. Join working chefs and food artisans in a hands-on cooking class or an adventure excursion to an artisan producer, local farm, market, orchard or vineyard.
CONTACT: Wenatchee Valley Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Marcia Janke • www.wenatcheevalley.org 5 S. Wenatchee Ave., Suite 100, Wenatchee, WA 98801 Phone: 509-663-3723/800-572-7753 • Email: marcia@wenatcheevalley.org
➤ Savor Wenatchee ➤ Flowers and Gardens
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THE BEST OF SNOHOMISH COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Everett, Lynnwood, Mukilteo and Tulalip, Washington
HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Boeing Tour at the Future of Flight Aviation Center ➤ Flying Heritage Collection and Historic Flight aviation
collections ➤ Lombardi’s Neighborhood Italian Restaurant wine pairing
and cooking demonstration ➤ Nature-based tour components – river rafting, kayaking
and bird watching ➤ Shopping galore! Outlets, malls and antique shopping in
quaint villages and urban centers
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 3: Foothills of the Cascade Mountains DAY 1: Everett 11:00 am – 3:00 pm: Experience a half-day estuary tour of the Everett Everglades! Over 350 species of migratory birds pass through the largest wetland near an urban center on the West Coast. Try kayaking for the best experiences! After your day paddling, pamper yourself with a delectable meal with “Get Sauced Safely” - Cooking Italian with Washington Wines at Lombardi’s Neighborhood Italian. Learn the secrets of preparing five versatile sauces. Each sauce is demonstrated, served and paired with a wine from Washington State.
DAY 2: Mukilteo, Everett and Bothell 9:00 am – 11:00 am: Experience the Boeing Tour and Future of Flight Aviation Center. Witness the marvel of commercial jet aviation including a factory tour to see the assembly of the 747, 777 and the new 787 Dreamliner. 11:30 am – 1:00 pm: Lunch nearby in Mukilteo while watching the ferry come and go from the adjacent dock. Or head to the Edmonds waterfront to enjoy the view of the marina and the Olympic Peninsula while dining. 1:30 – 3:00 pm: Tour the Flying Heritage Collection or Historic Flight Foundation to see vintage military aircraft from the early 20th century restored to a degree of authenticity never before attempted. Schedule your tour during the fly dates to see these treasurers in flight! 3:30 – 5:30 pm: Wander Bothell Country Village; 45 specialty shops and restaurants housed in cozy farm-style buildings. Antiques, a fullservice day spa, wine tasting, restaurants and more.
(One to six hours depending on desired experience.) River rafting in the Northwest is a spectacular experience. The Skykomish River surrounds you with thundering waterfalls, awesome granite gorges, mountain landscapes and old-growth forests. Fall, winter, spring and summer trips…white water to scenic float trips.
DAY 4: Lynnwood, Snohomish and Tulalip 10:00 am – 11:30 am: At Alderwood, reacquaint yourself with a favorite store like Macy's, Nordstrom or Coach, then check out The Village's one-of-a-kind shops and upscale retailers. If outlets are more to your liking, visit Seattle Premium Outlets in Tulalip for haute couture fashions at unbelievable discounts. 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm: On the National Register of Historic Places for its business and residential districts, Snohomish is the “Antique Capital of the Pacific Northwest.” Stop by a riverfront cafe for lunch, then stroll along historic streets and shop where over 350 antique dealers sell their treasures. 4:00 pm – overnight: For evening entertainment, try your luck at Tulalip Resort Casino! Casino games, slot machines and live entertainment will keep you busy after you dine at one of the restaurants on site, from Tulalip Bay, a fine dining restaurant, to The Eagles buffet for a more casual dining experience. If you’re planning a winter itinerary, the holiday magic of the Lights of Christmas awaits you in December. Dazzling light displays, the holiday sounds of Victorian carolers, live music, stunning nativity scenes, gifts and crafts, storytelling and more makes the Lights of Christmas the perfect holiday idea for you. Enjoy a dinner theater or dessert matinee, or extend your experience with an overnight stay.
CONTACT: Snohomish County Tourism Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Amy Spain • www.snohomish.org 909 SE Everett Mall Way, C300, Everett, WA 98208 Phone: 425-348-5802 or 888-338-0976 • Email: amy@snohomish.org
➤ Snohomish County Arts, Culture and Heritage ➤ Snohomish County Farms, Flowers and Festivals
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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.
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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
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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).
June 2011 81
AMARILLO: WHAT YOU EXPECT OF TEXAS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!
Amarillo, Texas
HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Palo Duro Canyon State Park – 2nd largest canyon
in the U.S. and a magnificent scenic attraction ➤ TEXAS – Outdoor musical drama performed each
summer in the amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon ➤ Cadillac Ranch – 10 Cadillacs buried nose-first ➤ American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum –
beautiful artifacts, interactive exhibits and touching history of a true American horse breed ➤ Route 66 – The Texas portion of the fabled road runs
directly through Amarillo
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Start off your afternoon in Amarillo by visiting one of our unique museums. The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum is dedicated to showcasing the American Quarter Horse and the Western lifestyle. The Amarillo Museum of Art provides quality visual arts through collections, temporary exhibitions representing a variety of media and periods, educational programming, preservation and research. The Kwahadi Museum of the American Indian will offer a glimpse into the cultures of the people of the Pueblos and Plains. The museum displays fine paintings, bronzes and fine old beadwork. For dinner, consider the world-famous Big Texan Steak Ranch! Their steaks are carefully aged for maximum flavor, and the aroma from the grill will have your mouth watering as soon as you enter the huge dining room. You just might be up for their 72-oz. Steak Dinner Challenge. It’s FREE, if it and all the trimmings are eaten within one hour, that is (otherwise it’s $72)!
DAY 2: Get a home cookin’ good breakfast at Calico County Restaurant before heading out for kicks on Route 66; visit the Amarillo portion of the road, 6th Avenue, with its many stores and eateries. On to Vega, with a pit stop to check out the old restored Magnolia Gas Station, which dates back to the early 1920s. Ride on to Adrian for your lunchstop at Midpoint Cafe in the exact middle of Route 66 between both
coasts. Don’t forget a slice of their famous Ugly Crust Pie! On the way back to Amarillo don’t forget to stop at the Cadillac Ranch. Keeping with tradition, bring a couple cans of spray paint to release your inner artist onto any of the 10 Cadillacs buried nose-first in a field.
DAY 3: Get over to River Breaks Ranch for a hearty Western meal. Your visit starts with a ride on a covered wagon. Now that ya’ll are in the Western spirit, visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park for breathtaking views and adventures with guided tours, horse rentals, wildlife exhibits and more! June 5 through August 15 head down to the Pioneer Amphitheater. Fill up with a pre-show dinner, catered by the Big Texan. Enjoy a performance of the renowned outdoor musical TEXAS, a family-friendly show bringing to life the stories, struggles and triumphs of the settlers of the Texas Panhandle in the 1800s with a generous helping of good ol' Texas humor.
CONTACT: Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council ➤ Jutta Matalka, CTP, TDM • www.visitamarillotx.com 1000 S. Polk, Amarillo, TX 79101 Phone: 806-342-2012 • Email: jutta@visitamarillotx.com 82 June 2011
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ELK CITY: A PERFECT POSTCARD VISIT
Elk City, Oklahoma
HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Discover Route 66, the “Mother Road” ➤ National Route 66 Museum Complex (Transportation
Museum/Farm & Ranch Museum/Blacksmith Museum/ Old Town Museum) ➤ Ackley Park (Centennial Carousel, Choctaw Miniature Train,
Old Town Putt-Putt Golf) ➤ Washita Battlefield Historic Site ➤ Black Kettle National Grasslands
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY
After your visit to the National Route 66 Museum Complex, you will enjoy a visit strolling Elk City’s historic downtown filled with unique shops with one-of-a-kind finds. Along the way we’ll even stop for pictures on the adorable Centennial Carousel located in Ackley Park.
Welcome to Great Plains Country! DAY 1: Step into yesteryear as you tour the official National Route 66 Museum Complex in Elk City, Oklahoma. Inside, the road motif takes visitors to all eight states along the “Mother Road” from Illinois to California. Photographs, vintage autos and recorded personal accounts vividly re-create the heyday of this historical route. As visitors tour the Transportation Museum they discover an interactive trip through the history of transportation. From sitting in the front seat of a 1959 Cadillac as you drive down Route 66 to climbing on the 1917 Reo Fire Truck as you ring the bill, kids of all ages will enjoy this museum in motion. Early Oklahoma pioneer life is depicted as visitors wander through this grand two-story Victorian house. The upper level is devoted to the early cowboy and rodeo way of life. As visitors continue on to the Blacksmith Museum, they can view how blacksmiths created objects from iron or steel by forging metal using a multitude of tools.
And then it’s a quick stop to marvel at the famous Parker Drilling Rig, home to Parker Rig No. 201, once the biggest inland rig in the world and brought to Elk City in the summer of 1981. Then it’s on to Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in nearby Cheyenne. Hiking trails meander through the battlefield, and rangers are on hand for tours and interpretive talks. Adjacent to the battlefield, Black Kettle National Grasslands has miles of road through open prairie. Wildlife is abundant, so watch out!
DAY 2: Today, after kicking off your morning with hot coffee and a delicious chuckwagon breakfast at the Flying W Guest Ranch, enjoy discovering the archeological excavation of the buffalo kill sites and learn details about the life of the Plains Indians. The sites reveal the tools and cooking materials used by the early Plains Indians, including spear points, cutting knives, scraping tools, and other instruments and cooking items used to prepare meat and hides.
Moving on to the Farm & Ranch Museum, visitors discover a vast collection of tools that were used in early farm and ranch life in western Oklahoma. The windmill collection, tractors, tractor seat collection, broom corn thrasher and barb wire collections are among some of the exhibits found in this museum.
Tonight you will rest easy at one of Elk City’s hotel properties after dining at a trendy grill with a diverse menu, including fish, steaks and Italian cuisine.
While touring the National Route 66 Museum Complex, visitors will not want to miss the Whited Grist Mill, the beautiful Opera House, Cowtown Watering Hole, Memorial Chapel or the Paul Jones Drug Store, where you can still buy stick candy and soda pop that comes in a bottle!
Sleep in and then enjoy a relaxing lunch at Country Dove Gifts & Tea Room, a two-story Victorian home where daily specials are scrumptious and desserts are world-renowned! It’s a fabulous way to complete your visit to Elk City.
DAY 3:
CONTACT: Elk City Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Tawana Thomas, Director • www.visitelkcity.com P.O. Box 972/1016 E. Airport Industrial Rd., Elk City, OK 73648 Phone: 580-225-0207 • Email: thomast@elkcity.com
➤ Elk City Fall Festival ➤ Elk City Christmas in the Park Weekend
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OKLAHOMA!: “NEVER MET A MAN I DIDN’T LIKE”
Bartlesville, Claremore and Ponca City, Oklahoma
HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Stroll through the life and times of Will Rogers ➤ Dinner amid the world’s largest private arms collection ➤ Price Tower, Frank Lloyd Wright’s only realized skyscraper ➤ Woolaroc, Frank Phillips’ wildlife preserve and summer estate ➤ Dine in style at America’s Castle, the Marland Mansion ➤ Hear the poignant story of Chief Standing Bear
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Claremore A visit to Oklahoma wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the birthplace of the man who “Never met a man he didn’t like.” Will Rogers’ Oologah ranch home, sits atop a hill overlooking Oologah Lake, you can imagine “little Will” ropin’ anything that moved. A short drive south, across the rolling plains to Claremore, you’ll arrive at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, dedicated to the life of Oklahoma’s favorite son. Your guide brings to life multiple galleries featuring various stages of Will’s professional career, from calf-roper to revered columnist. You may want to linger longer in the gallery detailing his final day. A reception is planned to welcome you to the museum. Dinner will be served amid the world’s largest private arms collection, accumulated by Will’s fellow Oklahoman, J.M. Davis. Also on display are steins, WWI posters and if you search a bit, you’ll discover a few “strange” items at the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum. On to our “bed-down” location for the evening.
DAY 2: Bartlesville It’s a short drive to Bartlesville, where oil was first discovered in Oklahoma and the area features this historic event. This is where Frank Phillips (Phillips Petroleum) amassed his fortune. While visiting the Frank Phillips Home, you’ll hear grand stories of his life during early statehood. One of the most striking structures in Oklahoma is “the tree that escaped the forest,” the Price Tower skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, another must-see. From here travel the rolling hills to Woolaroc, the expansive wildlife and summer retreat of Frank Phillips. The grounds and collection are so extensive you’ll want to break for lunch and regain your visual strength. The Phillips story continues as you visit the Phillips Petroleum Company Museum, a state-of-the-art museum chronicling the transformation of a small-town business into a global energy enterprise. Dinner this evening features a special Native American style show at the Bartlesville Area History Museum. Then it’s “lights out” for the night.
DAY 3: Ponca City Arrive at the Pioneer Woman Museum and meet Madame Opal, your guide for a tell-all experience in Ponca City – a city that exudes the Roaring Twenties. Prepare yourself for a home you’d never expect to find. The Marland Mansion is four stories and a mere 48,000 sq. ft. of sculptured stone, Waterford crystal and gold leaf, and known as the “Palace on the Prairie” and featured on America’s Castles. Lydie and E.W. Marland, the last residents in the home, will join you for your noon meal. A bit of fresh air is in store at the Standing Bear Native American Museum and Park. The poignant story is best shared while sitting at the foot of the bronze, larger-than-life Standing Bear statue. Your final evening and it’s 1924 all over again at the Poncan Theater. Vaudeville Dave along with a troupe of entertainers will see that your closing night in Oklahoma is one to remember. “Sweet Oklahoma dreams” tonight.
CONTACT: Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Tanya Andrews • www.visitclaremore.org 419 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore, OK 74017 Phone: 877-341-8688 • Email: cvb@claremore.org
➤ Visit Group TravelDirectory.com for more NE Oklahoma and individual city itinerary ideas
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CHEYENNE FULL DAY ITINERARY
Cheyenne, Wyoming
HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Historic Attractions ➤ Trolley Tour ➤ Bison Ranch ➤ Western Shopping ➤ Western Entertainment
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Go downtown to the newly restored Cheyenne Depot. A National Historic Landmark, the depot has been restored to its original glory and is once again a center of activity in the community. Tour the art deco lobby and visit the Cheyenne Depot Museum, which chronicles the railroad and its relationship to Cheyenne. In the depot, purchase tickets for the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley (307-778-3133), which provides a 90-minute overview of the community, its history, and attractions. The tour includes stops at various attractions, allowing riders to disembark for the attraction, and then reboard the next trolley 90 minutes later. Stops include the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum (307-778-7290), Nelson Museum of the West (307-635-7670), Wyoming State Museum (307-777-7022), Historic Governors’ Mansion (307-7777878), Wyoming Capitol and Cheyenne Botanic Gardens (307637-6458). (Trolley drivers are available as step-on guides for motorcoaches.)
(1.2 million lbs.) It was designed especially for the rugged Cheyenne to Ogden, Utah run. End your day watching the Western skits and escapades of the Cheyenne Gunslingers at 6:00 pm in downtown Cheyenne (JuneJuly). Then enjoy the Bit-O-Wyo Horsebarn Dinner Theater in the beautiful mountains west of town (May-Aug). Or catch the Old-Fashioned Melodrama (307-638-6543) at the Historic Atlas Theater, where you can cheer the hero and hiss the villain (July).
Upon returning to downtown, spend some time at a couple of true Western stores. Try the Wrangler (307-634-3048) for jeans, boots, hats, and other Western apparel or Wyoming Home (307-638-2222) for its unique Western furniture and artwork. Or catch a ride on the free downtown carriage rides. Head south nine miles to the Terry Bison Ranch (307-634-4171) for a horseback ride or a train ride into the middle of the bison herd that calls the ranch home. Back in town, be sure to check out Big Boy 4004, the world’s largest steam locomotive
CONTACT: Visit Cheyenne
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Darren Rudloff • www.cheyenne.org 1 Depot Sq., 121 W. 15th St., Ste. 202, Cheyenne, WY 82001 Phone: 800-426-5009 or 307-778-3133 • Email: darren@cheyenne.org
➤ Frontier Days ➤ Downtown Cheyenne
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ULTIMATE GOLD RUSH TOUR
Sacramento, California
HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Old Sacramento: historic buildings, museums
and shopping ➤ Sutter’s Fort – one of the most important Gold Rush
locations ➤ Enjoy the scenic beauty of Lake Tahoe ➤ Marshall Gold Discovery State Park – the exact spot where
the Gold Rush started ➤ Yosemite National Park – as stunning as it was 150 years ago
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: Sacramento After the discovery of gold, Sacramento developed quickly as the commerce center of the region. You’ll enjoy the Old Sacramento waterfront district where prospectors once stocked up on mining supplies and blew their riches in the saloons. Today, the wooden boardwalks and historic buildings are filled with museums, restaurants and an assortment of shopping options. Old Sacramento is anchored by California State Railroad Museum at the western end of the Transcontinental Railroad. Step inside and see the original Golden Spike, locomotives and railroad cars from throughout the history of the rails. You’ll also visit the California State Capitol building and its historic grounds. Sacramento has been the capital of California since 1854 and the building dates back to the 1860s. Sutter’s Fort is one of the most important locations tied to the Gold Rush. This is where John Sutter originally set up shop to provide rest and accommodations to weary pioneers (famously, the Donner Party). The Gold Rush is also responsible for creating the earliest forms of California cuisine. Some of the finest chefs of the time worked their way west to cater to the wealthy businessmen and lucky prospectors of the region. This evening you’ll be treated like the “Big 4” railroad barons as you dine at Mulvaney’s Building & Loan, which focuses on the fresh produce of our rich agricultural region.
DAY 2: Sacramento, Truckee, North Lake Tahoe Trace the footsteps of the 49ers as you depart Sacramento for the foothills. In the town of Truckee, you’ll enjoy shopping, restaurants and more Donner Party history as you visit the Emigrant Trail Museum at Donner Memorial State Park. This is the infamous spot where the
Donners were trapped in an unexpectedly early snowstorm in the autumn of 1846. From there, you’ll travel to Crystal Bay on the border between California and Nevada, where you’ll enjoy the scenic beauty of Lake Tahoe and the casinos of Nevada.
DAY 3: Coloma, Sutter Creek A trip to Coloma takes you to Marshall Gold Discovery State Park and the exact spot where the Gold Rush started. This is the home to Sutter’s Mill, where James Marshall first saw that glimmer in the river back in 1848. Drive through the picturesque rolling foothills to the town of Sutter Creek to get a true gold mining experience. At Sutter Gold Mine you’ll enjoy a mine tour and take your shot at panning for gems and gold. The foothills of Amador County are a well-known wine producing region and home to over 50 wineries. This evening you’ll get your first sip of regional flavors as you head to Plymouth for dinner at Taste Restaurant.
DAY 4: Sonora, Yosemite, Sacramento The time of the Gold Rush was also the time that preservationists began the push to protect the natural beauty of our land. Today, a trip to Yosemite is just as stunning as it was 150 years ago. Spend the afternoon exploring this natural wonder and imagine what early pioneers must have thought as they crossed the Sierra Nevada Range and stumbled upon this majestic place. Then it’s back to Sacramento for one final dinner with your peers aboard the Sacramento Hornblower river cruise ship. In the days before automobiles, travel on the Sacramento River between San Francisco and Sacramento was a popular option and tonight you’ll get to experience it for yourself as part of your closing night festivities.
CONTACT: Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Terry Selk, Director of Tourism • www.discovergold.org 1608 I St., Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-808-8989/800-292-2334 • Email: leldred@cityofsacramento.org
➤ Ultimate Northern California ➤ Northern California Wine Tour
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FIRE & ICE - VOLCANOES & GLACIERS
Alaska & Hawaii
HIGHLIGHTS ➤ Denali National Park ➤ The Alaska Railroad ➤ Anchorage & Honolulu ➤ Pearl Harbor & the Arizona Memorial ➤ Volcanoes National Park
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY DAY 1: DAY 7:
Fly to Anchorage; overnight.
DAY 2: Today is a guided tour to Denali National Park. En route you will pass through heavy birch forests and the spectacular Knik and Matanuska River Valleys. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife. Two nights Denali.
DAY 3: Today is the Tundra Wilderness Tour, a search through the Denali wilderness for bear, moose, caribou and Dall sheep. It’s a full-day narrated bus trip on Denali Park Road, offering you great wildlifewatching opportunities.
DAY 4: Enjoy a morning of leisure with options for individual exploration in the park. Then an afternoon ride on the world-famous Alaska Railroad. This trip of a lifetime follows the Susitna River, where you might see black bear fishing. Two nights Anchorage.
DAY 5: Today is a narrated tour of Anchorage and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. A renowned cultural center and museum, it is a place where all people can expand their understanding of Alaska's first people. You will feel their heartbeat, hear their stories, explore their history and villages, and discover a cultural heritage that is living and thriving today. Tonight is an Alaskan family-style buffet and a visit to Wildberry Chocolates factory
DAY 6: The Alaska portion ends with a shuttle to the Anchorage Airport and a flight to Honolulu, where you are met with a traditional flower lei and escorted to your hotel.
This morning you visit Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial first, then enjoy a narrated tour of Honolulu including the National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), Washington Place (the Governor’s Mansion), the State Capitol, Chinatown, Iolani Palace and King Kamehameha Statue. This afternoon you have free time to explore the shops on Kalakaua Avenue and stroll on the world’s most famous beach, Waikiki. But tonight...be ready to hula. The evening features a real Hawaiian luau with Polynesian drinks, traditional Hawaiian food and live island music.
DAY 8: The narrated Grand Circle Island tour is a breathtaking 120-mile trip around Oahu. It visits Hawaii’s most famous landmarks: Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Pali Lookout, Dole Pineapple Plantation and North Shore.
DAY 9: This morning you fly to the Big Island, Hawaii. Here this afternoon you can explore Kona Town. King Kamehameha’s place of worship was here as is the site of the first Christian church built in Hawaii. Dinner tonight is at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.
DAY 10: On a full-day Best of the Big Island Tour, you’ll witness impressive and diverse natural wonders, from volcanoes to tropical forests, black sand beaches and the spectacular Kealakekua Bay Overlook. But Volcanoes National Park is the biggest highlight. You’ll learn about Hawaii’s active volcanoes and see lava tubes and flows. You’ll hear about this island’s seven ecological zones and native Hawaiian culture. It’s a full day of excitement.
DAY 11: Flights for home
CONTACT: US TOURS
OTHER ITINERARIES AVAILABLE:
➤ Bob Cline • www.USTours.Biz 2819 Murdoch Ave., Parkersburg, WV 26101 Phone: 304-485-8687 • Email: Bob@USTours.Biz
➤ Hawaii Three-I ➤ Alaska National Parks & Wildlife Tour
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