Highlights of the American West featuring Yellowstone National Park

Upon arrival in Salt Lake City, we will check into our hotel for the evening. After settling in, we will enjoy a welcome dinner. (D)

Enjoy a Salt Lake City guided tour featuring the unique downtown area, State Capital, Temple Square, and the This is the Place Monument, where Brigham Young envisioned the building of the Mormon City. Later relax and enjoy the drive north into Idaho before arriving in West Yellowstone, Montana. We will check into the Best Western Desert Inn, our stay for two nights. (B)

What a day! We embark on a wildlife safari and tour of Yellowstone National Park. A local guide joins us on our day of touring to give a “safari experience” for the best opportunities to view some of the park’s astounding array of wildlife such as elk, bears, wolves, moose, sheep, and bison. The amazing park also features over 10,000 hot springs, thundering waterfalls, geysers, and endless forests. The day features incredible scenery as we drive through the park and a stop at Yellowstone Lake. Of course, the day is not complete without a visit to the park’s most famous attraction, Old Faithful Geyser which shoots a plume of steam skyward about every 90 minutes. Enjoy time to wander, shop or have a bite to eat in this area. (B)

This morning, enjoy a visit to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, and the chance to see and learn about the world of these incredible animals. Located in West Yellowstone, the animals at the center are unable to survive in the wild and serve as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. Later, we head south toward Jackson, WY, making a stop along the way at the National Museum of Wildlife Art where we will tour 14 galleries filled with paintings, sculptures, and other artwork. The museum sits on a cliff overlooking the National Elk Refuge, the building seems to come from the earth itself, capturing the natural beauty of the surroundings making it a stunning photo op. The art represented here ranges from early Native  American communities to contemporary artists devoted to nature. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Jackson, WY for a two-night stay at the beautiful Lodge at Jackson Hole. In Jackson, the storefronts aren’t replicas and the purple mountains aren’t something  you sing about…it epitomizes the ideal version of the American West. (B)

Today, after breakfast, enjoy a visit to the spectacular Grand Teton National Park. Towering more than a mile above the valley of Jackson Hole, the Teton Mountain Range is one of the youngest ranges on the continent rising 14,000 feet and supporting a dozen mountain glaciers. Enjoy a scenic Jenny Lake Cruise, the popular lake is located at the base of the Cathedral group, the main Teton peaks. During our cruise we will learn about the history, geology, flora and fauna of the area, and have ample photo opportunities. Return to Jackson where this evening we will enjoy a dinner and entertainment with Bar T5 Covered Wagon and Cookout. (B, D)

Today’s destination is Park City, Utah. Framed by the craggy Wasatch Mountain Range, Park City, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics is one of the most beautiful mountain resort areas in North America. Visit the Utah Olympic Park and enjoy a movie that features the Game’s highlights. Don’t miss a visit to the museum that is filled with memorabilia from the Olympic Games. In the city center, enjoy a stroll down Main Street filled with over 64 historic buildings, charming shops, galleries, and boutiques. Once a basecamp of a silver mining town, this historic Main Street has come to represent the soul of one of the most popular mountain towns in the American West. Tonight, we will enjoy a farewell dinner after checking into the DoubleTree Park City. (B, D)

Today, depart anytime filled with wonderful memories of Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and the unspoiled expanse of the American West. (B)