August 11 – 20, 2009 10 Days $1,298.00
Enjoy nature’s beauty hands on, not just a drive by. We have added
lots of extras to this trip to really experience the local areas and the
beautiful creations of the southwest.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Palo Duro Canyon-TEXAS Musical • Zion National Park
• Old Town Albuquerque • Bryce Canyon Natl. Park
• Sandia Tram –Albuquerque • Lake Powell Cruise
• Petrified Forest National Park • Monument Valley
• Grand Canyon National Park • Arches National Park
Day 1: As we board the coach, we are eagerly awaiting to see some of the
natural beauties of our country. By evening we will be into the first of our
many
canyons, the Palo Duro Canyon, in Canyon, TX. We will enjoy the open-air
theater for the impressive outdoor musical drama “TEXAS” plus an included
dinner. Overnight in Canyon.
Day 2: This morning will find us heading west on I-40 across some barren
areas. Shortly after lunch we will be in Old Town Albuquerque, visiting the old
church and the shops in the old square. After checking into our motel, we’ll be
ready for our trip to the heights of the world’s longest aerial tramway for a
most
breath-taking panoramic view of the valley below. It’s up Sandia Peak.
Day 3: Continuing west, we will enter the Painted Desert, where we will
stop at the visitors’ center and then continue our drive into the Petrified
Forest seeing remains of many years ago. What an amazing area! Before long
we will be in Flagstaff checking into our motel. If there’s time and weather
permits, we’ll take a most scenic drive down into and through Oak Creek
Canyon to the town of Sedona, before retiring for the evening.
Day 4: This is our day to see “The Big One”, the awe inspiring Grand
Canyon!! Following a stop at the visitors’ center, we’ll catch the shuttle,
which
will take us to many stops for lots of great views. You will be free for the day
to roam the area, ride the shuttle, and view the canyon from different points.
Leaving the canyon, we will have a short drive to Cameron, AZ for our night
at the Grand Canyon Hotel located at the Cameron Trading Post. A day of
true beauty.
Day 5: By afternoon we will be arriving in St. George, UT to check into our
motel. This evening, we are in for a treat, as we make our way into the
wondrous Tuacahn Canyon and to the outdoor amphitheater for a live
theater production on the greatest outdoor stage with the stunning desert as
the backdrop. Overnight will be in St. George.
Day 6: This morning we make our way into Zion National Park. At the
entrance we will view Zion Canyon on a screen six stories high. Then we are
ready for our drive through this unbelievable, stately granite area. You’ll
enjoy
the “one way” narrow tunnel through which our coach will maneuver.
Overnight will be at Bryce, UT.
Day 7: At Bryce Canyon, it appears that God draped frosting over the tops
of all the peaks, as they stand tall in the morning sun. Minerals in the soil
give
red, yellow, brown, and lavender tints to these amazing pillars. Back into
Arizona this afternoon for a canyon tour by boat!! This narrated two-hour
cruise on Lake Powell will take us into Antelope Canyon. Instead of sandy
beaches, Lake Powell has a shoreline of canyon walls. We will retire in Page,
AZ, after a busy day.
Day 8: Leaving Page this morning we travel to Monument Valley. In order to
get the full effect of the monuments in the Valley; we will board local 4x4
vehicles
along with a local guide for our ride into the valley, viewing nature’s natural
monuments on this, the nation’s largest Indian Reservation. They will serve us
lunch with a native flair. Before evening we will be back into Utah at Moab.
Day 9: Today we experience the Arches National Park with a local guide to
see up close the dynamic landforms that gradually change through time.
Heading for home, following along the Colorado River on I-70 through the
Glenwood Canyon – we’ll be in awe once again at the sheer canyon walls.
Overnight will be in Denver area.
Day 10: Out of the valleys, out of the canyons, and out of the mountains,
we will sense a security in the familiar flat lands that we love. We’ll enjoy
reminiscing about God’s great creation which we have just experienced as we
head home by way of I-70.