Northern Adventure

True to its name, escape for 2 weeks to some of the USA’s hottest destinations & experience what this amazing country has to offer. 

Start in Chicago & roll through America’s Midwest on your way to Sioux Falls. Salute Presidents past at Mt Rushmore, buckle up for a rodeo in Cody, then get back to nature on a hike through a National Park. Take it up a notch at the end as you rub shoulders with Vegas' high rollers & spot an Elvis or two! This tour really is a unique mix of things to see & do in the good ol’ USofA.

 

Itinerary

1  CHICAGO TO MADISON  
Meet up with your fellow travelers and Tour Manager in happening Chicago before we continue on into the USA’s heartland and across the plains of Wisconsin. Next stop: Milwaukee. It’s home to the nation’s largest beer brewers and to Harley-Davidson. Learn about the city’s famous brew in a behind the scenes look with our Local Guide at the Miller Brewery. Later, we pull into Madison, a friendly college town. If you’re up for a night out, grab a few buddies and hang out among the lively student population on State Street, where there’s a choice of taverns, local specialty breweries, comedy clubs and bars.

2  MADISON TO SIOUX FALLS  
Cross the Midwest and pretty Minnesota farmlands before hitting the wild and stunning state of South Dakota. We travel across the county’s biggest prairies and enter a region once dominated by the Sioux Tribes – the only Native American Nation to defeat the US army. Arrive in Sioux Falls and get the background behind the city’s name with a visit to Falls Park, where many tribes originally established their homes.

3  SIOUX FALLS TO MT. RUSHMORE  
Watch the amazing natural sites of South Dakota go by as we journey through Badlands National Park, past a surreal, lunar landscape of rugged-edged cliffs, sharp spires and crevices. With a stop here there’s time to walk the easy-going Fossil trail, take it all in and see fossils found within the park that are on display.

4  MT. RUSHMORE  
Today is all about South Dakota’s Black Hills - sacred land to the Sioux and patriotic hot spot for Americans. We visit iconic Mt Rushmore and see the 18 m (60ft) stony faces of four former US presidents. It took over 14 years to carve Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington and Roosevelt into the rock. You’ll be blown away by the massive monument of the famous Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse. Standing at 563 feet tall and carved out of rock, this work in progress is amazing. 

5  MT. RUSHMORE TO CODY  
Cut into Wyoming’s cowboy country and travel across historic routes that the legendary Pony Express (postal service on horseback) used to follow and see where the pioneers lived. Stop off at the Devil’s Tower, a massive natural monument formed by volcanic activity. Then it’s on to Cody. With pick-up trucks, dusty streets, lots of cattle and legendary beginnings, this ‘rodeo capital of the world’ still has its Wild West charm. 

6  YELLOWSTONE  
Start the day off with a white-water rafting optional on the river if the conditions are right - and have a go with the paddle in a fun ride. Then we’re up for some of the USA’s most awe-inspiring scenery as we head to Yellowstone, the world’s first national park. The result of a massive volcanic eruption, the park is a breathtaking spectacle of nature.

7  CODY TO JACKSON HOLE  
Explore the crown jewel of America's national parks. It's a masterpiece of wilderness, wildlife & natural wonders. Set you sights on the towering spires of the Teton Range & arrive in the chic, yet western-styled ski & boarding town, Jackson Hole.

8  JACKSON HOLE TO PARK CITY  
Enjoy the scenic drive through Idaho before arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah where you'll visit Temple Square and see the impressive six-spire Temple & Mormon Tabernacle.

9  SALT LAKE CITY TO KANAB VIA BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK  
Kick start the day with an optional hot-air balloon ride over pretty Park City, which holds the annual Sundance Film Festival. Enjoy sweeping vistas over the state of Utah and get another angle on the impressive Wasatch Mountains, which divide the lush eastern and arid western halves of the state. We hit another national park known for its hoodoos (thin rock spires streaked in whites, yellows and oranges), Bryce National Park. Take in the strange shapes, vivid colors and rugged rocks that rise up as we hike a trail in the park. Later, pull into small-town Kanab, gateway to several national parks. It might look familiar, as over 150 old westerns were filmed here.

10  GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK  
Today, we discover the mind-blowing landscape of the Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most recognizable natural wonders and pride of Arizona. A day here means time to take in the immensity and spine-tingling beauty of the scene-stealing canyon – you won’t be able to stop looking at it! Hike along the rim for full-blown vistas of the dramatic scenery. See some of the oldest exposed rocks on earth, take in the depths of the abyss and soak up the wildness of the area. There are trails for all levels of hiking, so take it up a notch or cruise along at your own pace.

11  KANAB TO LAS VEGAS VIA ZION NATIONAL PARK  
It’s a change of scene today when we cut back into Utah and visit Zion National Park – with loads of greenery, waterfalls and colorful cliffs, it’s a far cry from the dry parks and rock formations we’ve seen so far. Get ready to arrive in larger-than-life Las Vegas – a man-made entertainment oasis smack in the middle of the desert. Often dubbed Sin City, it’s all about glitz, neon lights, and excess. See the bright lights of this city and its world-famous casinos in a first taste of Vegas kitsch as the group heads down the main drag, the “Strip”, and your Tour Manager fills you in on the story behind Vegas. Then cruise downtown to Freemont Street and experience a slice of the spectacular at a light and laser show in a massive pedestrian mall.

12-13  LAS VEGAS  
With a free day, you’ve got time to get a real feel for this outrageous town, so keep an eye out for Elvis impersonators and fast-paced chapel weddings! 

14  LAS VEGAS TO LOS ANGELES  
Leaving behind Las Vegas, we journey through the vast Mojave Desert, with its iconic Joshua trees, into Southern California. Our tour ends once we arrive in Los Angeles, where it’s time to say goodbye to your new friends.