The most comprehensive tour of the American West offered by any travel company in the world. Featuring visits to Glacier National Park, the rugged Pacific Coast by ship, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest, Bryce and Zion National Parks, the Canyonlands and the Arches just to name a few.

Naturally, we have included two great trains ride, aboard the Empire Builder to Glacier National Park and the famed California Zephyr, through the Colorado Rockies offering our guests a visual feast at the start, and end, of this tour. And, for a unique twist on seeing the Pacific Coast, we have included a short 'mini-cruise' from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California aboard the very nice ms Norwegian Pearl, a marvelous way to travel south, with stops in scenic Astoria, Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River and in San Francisco, en route to Los Angeles. Not only is any holiday that features sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge twice a fine idea, but with the ship in the middle of the tour, guests have the ability to relax with new friends, enjoy breakfast in bed, lunch on deck, dinners in a choice of 11 restaurants and much more, making this a most sensible way to travel to Southern California.

The VIEW Hotel at Monument Valley overlooks a vista so spectacular and breathtaking that the Navajo tribes that own and operate the hotel regard the entire Monument Valley as sacred. Every room offers a stunning view with an ever changing color palette of the Valley that defies description. Amazingly, Monument Valley is just one of the remarkable sights showcased on our 'America the Beautiful' holiday and we have literally combined the trips of a lifetime into one relaxed, leisurely paced exploration of the American West that includes Glacier National Park, the Pacific Coast, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and Bryce and Zion National Parks, to name just a few. As you would expect, we have included excellent hotels, an easy-going pace, complete comprehensive sightseeing throughout and fine dining. While we are in some of the most ruggedly beautiful places anywhere in the world, comfort is not forgotten and in addition to the spectacular brand-new VIEW Hotel in Monument Valley, our guests also enjoy the amazing Red Cliff Lodge, situated on the Colorado River, in Moab, Utah for two-nights, an ideal base for our journeys through Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

In addition to the greatest sights in the American West and inclusions like a boat cruise on lovely Lake McDonald at Glacier National Park and travel aboard the storied Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (where we stay overnight, enjoying breakfast in the elegant dining room of the El Tovar Hotel!), this program has a professional tour manager from start to finish and we have crafted it so that guests may begin their holiday in either Chicago, Seattle, Portland or San Francisco/Oakland for maximum convenience. This tour will operate one-time only and prompt reservations are strongly encouraged. We invite you to join us.

• Highlights and Inclusions
• View Itinerary
• Tour Images

Call 877-929-7245 for rail fares and schedules from your city to and from Chicago.

• Train travel from Chicago/Midwest points, Seattle or Portland to Glacier National and the start of our holiday aboard the Empire Builder train, a short overnight trip. Train travel aboard the California Zephyr to Chicago, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco/Oakland from Utah is also included at the end of the tour, also an overnight journey.
• All hotel accommodations throughout including tax and luggage handling.
• Complete sightseeing throughout as indicated including the Grand Canyon Railway.
• Lavish amenities throughout such as special cocktail parties on the ship, a grand breakfast at the El Tovar Hotel and more.
• Most meals with 13 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners. Additional meals on the train are included if you upgrade to sleeping accommodations.
• Five-night Pacific Coastal cruise from Vancouver to Los Angeles via Astoria and San Francisco aboard the Norwegian Pearl in cabin category chosen. All meals & entertainment aboard ship are included.
• A professional tour manager from start to finish

Day 1: Empire Builder - Chicago Illinois
Guests depart Chicago & Midwest points or Seattle/Portland this afternoon aboard the Empire Builder train bound for Glacier National Park.

Day 2: Glacier Park Montana
As you pass through eight states enroute to Flagstaff, you’ll feel the same excitement the pioneers felt as they headed west. Follow the Santa Fe Trail through New Mexico and Arizona with huge windows offering panoramic views of the spectacular landscape. Enjoy a brief, trainside walk in Albuquerque at mid afternoon. Continue on the train to Flagstaff, Arizona, scheduled to arrive just before 9 p.m. Upon arrival, transfer to the nearby, distinctive Radisson Woodlands for the night. (B)

Day 3: Glacier Park Montana
Today we tour the spectacular 'Going to the Sun' Highway in the famed red open-air 'jammer buses' followed by an afternoon cruise on shimmering Lake McDonald, you will want to have your camera handy. Overnight at Glacier Park Lodge. (D)

Day 4: Empire Builder
This morning we visit Swiss-chalet inspired Many Glacier Lodge and Two Medicine Valley and Lake with the afternoon free before boarding the Empire Builder train, bound for the West Coast. (B)

Day 5: Vancouver - Norwegian Pearl
Morning finds us traveling along the rushing Skykomish River in the Cascade Mountains before we disembark in Everett, WA for the short scenic drive north to Vancouver where the Norwegian Pearl awaits. We are aboard in time for lunch and at 5pm, the whistle blows and we set sail for California, passing under the majestic Lions Gate Bridge. (L, D)

Day 6: Astoria Oregon
Picturesque Astoria, Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River and the westernmost point visited by Lewis & Clark welcomes us this morning and there is a fine museum and great seafood restaurants in this quaint town. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Norwegian Pearl
All day at sea off the coast of Oregon and Northern California with time to see a movie, enjoy the spa, lunch on deck with new friends or simply catching up with that new book. (B, L, D)

Day 8: San Francisco
Few ports are as much fun to sail into as San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz as markers and we have all day to explore 'Everybody's Favorite City' with time to ride the cable car, visit Chinatown or shop in stylish Union Square. Fisherman's Wharf is just a five minute walk from our pier. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Norwegian Pearl
A final day at sea off the coast of California to sleep in, go for a swim, have a whirl in the casino and to enjoy sea travel as we steam south. (B, L, D)

Day 10: The Southwest Chief
We dock in Los Angeles this morning and after breakfast, have a visit to nearby Long Beach with its renowned Aquarium before traveling north to enchanting Santa Monica where there is time to visit the famous Pier and sightsee. In early evening, we board the Southwest Chief train, bound for Arizona. (B, D)

Day 11: Winslow Arizona
We disembark in Winslow this morning for a day that many of our passengers rate among the highlights of all of their travel: a spectacular tour of the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert, in-depth with acclaimed naturalist Billy Ochs. Later today, we arrive in Williams for an overnight stay at the Grand Canyon Hotel. (D)

Day 12: The Grand Canyon
All Aboard! This morning, we depart on the Grand Canyon Railway for the scenic ride north to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon where, upon arrival, a sightseeing tour of the South Rim has been included. We have left the evening at leisure allowing you to witness the awe-inspiring sunset from any one of many vantage points. Overnight is spent at the South Rim at the Maswik Hotel. (B)

Day 13: Monument Valley
We start the most glorious day of the trip with breakfast in the main dining room of the El Tovar Hotel, overlooking the Canyon (with the best French Toast in the Southwest!) and then drive to Monument Valley, seen in countless Western films and simply stunning. Our hotel, the new VIEW Hotel is equally stunning and guests stand transfixed by the view from their balcony. (B, L)

Day 14: Bryce & Zion National Parks
Wondrous views are on tap today as we travel to Bryce Canyon National Park, famed for its strange orange and red rock formations called 'Hoodoos' that are formed by erosion over the centuries and just when you think scenery could not become any better, we pass into Zion National Park with its red and white sandstone cliffs. While subjective, we believe Zion to be among the top ten national parks anywhere in the world and you may well agree. Overnight is spent in quaint Kanab, Utah. (B, L)

Day 15: Canyonlands National Parks
By now, everyone has come to expect another panorama that is simply breathtaking and today does not disappoint, Capitol Reef National Park, a seldom-visited jewel that is one of our favorites with its dramatic, almost surreal sandstone formations. And yet, even more grandeur is waiting down the road, the magnificent Red Cliffs Resort, nestled alongside the Colorado River. We enjoy two nights in this magical setting and it is, perhaps the perfect ending to our holiday. (B)

Day 16: Arches & Canyonlands National Parks
Today is a tour de force with visits to both of these great National Parks. Arches, with the greatest density of natural arches in the world, over 2100 formations in varying colors and Canyonlands, with its colorful landscape eroded into countless canyon, buttes and mesas. The Colorado River and its tributaries divide the park into four districts: The Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves. To end a perfect day on a perfect note, tonight is our special Farewell dinner at Red Cliff. (B, D)

Day 17: The California Zephyr
It is perhaps appropriate that today also features awe-inspiring scenery, a daytime passage through the Colorado Rockies aboard the California Zephyr. The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad proudly billed this route as 'The Mainline through the Rockies' and we travel through the heart of Rockies, traversing Glenwood Canyon, Moffat Tunnel and the Front Range on an epic ride east to Denver. Overnight on board. (B)

Day 18: Farewell
Guests traveling to Chicago and Midwest points cross the Mississippi River after breakfast this morning and arrive at Chicago Union Station this afternoon where easy connections can be made for most other points. Guests bound for California and the West Coast travel through the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range this morning, passing Reno and Donner Lake before afternoon arrivals in Sacramento, Oakland and San Francisco.

   

   

   

 2009 Departure Date:

• September 17 - October 4

 Rates:

Accommodations	Tour Price
Superior Veranda Suite	$3,995
Verandah Suite	$3,795
Superior Oceanview	$3,695
Verandah Stateroom	$2,395
Oceanveiw Statrooms	$3,595
Inside Stateroom	$3,495
Economy Stateroom	$3,395