Highlights include Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Georgetown Loop Railroad, Vail, Grand Junction, Durango & Silverton Railroad, |Durango, Mesa Verde National Park, Royal Gorge Railroad, Colorado Springs, Pike's Peak Cog Railway, Garden of the Gods and more.|
Itinerary:
Day #1 Denver, Colorado - Tour Begins - Traverse the Colorado Rockies with us as you journey through the beauty of nature with Alpine lakes, towering peaks and rolling meadows at every turn. Your tour begins in the “Mile High City” of Denver, Colorado.
Day #2 Denver - Boulder - Estes Park - Rocky Mountain National Park - Denver - Travel to the resort village of Estes Park, famous for its Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for Stephen King's novel The Shining. Enjoy leisure time to meander among its unique shops and fine galleries. Next stop is Rocky Mountain National Park where you'll discover the true meaning of “panoramic” as you experience incredible views. Then, travel across the famed Trail Ridge Road* which forms the highest continuous highway in America reaching heights of 12,183 feet. This celebrated “Roof of the Rockies” offers views of massive peaks, rugged canyons and thundering waterfalls as you cross the continental divide.
Day #3 Denver - Georgetown - Grand Junction - Travel through the Rocky Mountains on a scenic and historic train ride aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Completed in 1884 as a means to transport silver in and out of the region, this spectacular stretch of narrow gauge railroad is an engineering marvel and features several horseshoe curves and bridges including the Devil’s Gate High Bridge. A lunch stop will be made at the picturesque Alpine village of Vail. Lined with chalets, outdoor cafes and intriguing shops and galleries, Vail is one the finest resort destinations in the world. Later, arrive in Grand Junction, your home for the next two evenings.
Day #4 Grand Junction - Colorado National Monument - Grand Junction - Today, visit one of the grand landscapes of the American West - Colorado National Monument. Travel along the Rim Rock to see a colorful panorama of deep, sheer-sided canyons and high rock towers. Later, journey to Colorado’s wine country to learn about one of the region’s finest vineyards and sample the fruits of its labors. Tonight’s winemaker’s dinner at a lovely vineyard will be an exceptional experience where you can relax and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers.
Day #5 Grand Junction - Silverton - Durango - Today, drive south to the small mining town of Silverton, a national historic landmark. Hidden high in the San Juan Mountains, this town offers spectacular scenery, Victorian charm and historic architecture built between 1882 and 1910. Then it's “all aboard” the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This 1881 coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive was built to haul silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains…but you will soon realize it is the view that is truly precious.
Day #6 Durango - Mesa Verde National Park - Durango - An incredible day awaits at Mesa Verde National Park which preserves the one thousand year culture of the remarkable Anasazi Indians. Visit the fascinating Spruce Tree Cliff Dwellings to see two of the largest cliff dwellings built between AD 1211 and 1278 by ancestors of the Pueblos. This evening, enjoy an Old West adventure filled with traditional cowboy food and entertainment**.
Day #7 Durango - Canon City - Colorado Springs - Travel east across southern Colorado to Canon City’s Royal Gorge Railroad. Board the train for a 24-mile ride beneath the highest suspension bridge in the world, the Royal Gorge Bridge, which spans the gorge 1,053 feet above the railroad tracks. This is some of the most spectacular scenery you will ever see.
Day #8 Colorado Springs - Manitou Springs - Colorado Springs - Depart for Manitou Springs, home of Pike's Peak, the legendary symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush. Embark on Pike's Peak Cog Railway, the world's highest cog railroad, for an 8.9 mile journey to the top of Pike's Peak (approx. 14,110 ft.). During the journey you will see magnificent views and perhaps animals in their native habitat. Later, travel to the Garden of the Gods, on the National Register for Historic Places, to view the towering sandstone formations and a wonderful view of Pike's Peak. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner to celebrate a trip filled with scenic delights and railway adventures.
Day #9 Colorado Springs - Tour Ends - Your tour ends in Colorado Springs.