America's legendary West beckons with the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park's breathtaking scenery. Get in on all the non-stop action in Las Vegas. Experience history as it comes alive in Sacramento, the majesty of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Salt Lake's Mormon Temple and Tabernacle. Join us for unforgettable journey aboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief, California Zephyr and comfortable motorcoaches as you explore America's vast, wondrous terrain through panoramic windows. Returning to Chicago, climb through Donner Pass, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Rockies before you cross the Great Plains. Join us as wheat fields, ranches, cacti, mountains and deserts appear before your eyes, creating indelible memories that will stay with you forever.

View Dates and Prices Images & Route Map Tour Highlights and Inclusions View Itinerary

• One-way overnight transportation aboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief
• One-way overnight transportation aboard Amtrak's California Zephyr
• Transportation by deluxe motorocoach
• Hotel accommodations for 11 nights.
• 18 meals
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Sightseeing and scenic excursions (admission to all attractions included in tour price)
• Baggage handling
• Taxes and service charges

Scenic highlights include:

• Santa Fe Trail
• Grand Canyon
• Las Vegas Strip
• Fremont Street
• Yosemite National Park
• Telegraph Hill
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Muir Woods
• Mormon Temple
• Mormon Tabernacle
• Brigham Young’s Monument
• Colorado Rockies

Day 1 - En Route - Welcome Aboard!
Meet your tour director in the Metropolitan Lounge of Chicago's Union Station. Board the Southwest Chief at 2:45 pm for a departure time of 3:15 pm and start dreaming about your "Wild West" adventure. Relax in your reclining coach seat with leg rest. Or upgrade to a sleeping car, which includes all meals, for an additional charge. (D)

Day 2 - Scenic Wonders En Route to Flagstaff
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 9:00 pm Upon arrival, transfer to the nearby Holiday Inn Express for a two-night stay. (B, L, D)

Day 3 - The Grand Canyon - A Powerful and Inspiring Landscape along the Colorado River
Today, experience one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Enjoy a continental breakfast at your hotel, then travel by deluxe motor coach to the Grand Canyon. Immense in size, America's most famous natural attraction stirs the soul with colorful strata of rock as well as showcases a powerful record of history. You'll get a chance to view the Canyon from several observation areas with a knowledgeable guide. At the Watchtower, see vistas of the Colorado River, the Canyon, the Painted Desert and Kaibab National Forest. (B, D)

Day 4 - En Route/Las Vegas, Entertainment Capital of the World
Board your deluxe motor coach and travel northwest 250 miles to fabulous Las Vegas. Late this afternoon, you'll arrive in Las Vegas, the magnificent oasis in the desert. Your home for the next two nights will be at the Tropicana Hotel, centrally-located on the Strip. Enjoy the evening on your own. Will you take in a world-renowned show, hit the jackpot in the casino or dine in the restaurant of an award-winning chef? (B)

Day 5 - Las Vegas - The Pulsating Strip and Fremont Street
Join us for a tour of three spectacular hotels in Las Vegas. With the afternoon at leisure, you can shop, relax by the pool or continue hotel-hopping. Tonight, you'll experience the original Las Vegas, now known as "downtown," which still rivals the strip as a popular destination. The Fremont Street Experience features an impressive $70-million canopy of light and sound that envelopes the historic hotels and casinos along four city blocks. Then, have free time to explore the fabulous downtown casinos and restaurants. (B)

Day 6 - En Route/Merced - California, Here We Come!
Depart Las Vegas on your deluxe motorcoach, stopping in Barstow, California, for lunch on your own. Arrive in Bakersfield in time to catch a 3:45 p.m. San Joaquin train to Merced, California, a modern, double-decker train. Around 7:00 p.m., you'll arrive in Merced, gateway to Yosemite and transfer to the Hampton Inn, your hotel for this evening. Join us for dinner at the Branding Iron. (D)

Day 7 - Yosemite National Park - Massive Granite Monoliths and Giant Sequoias
Enjoy continental breakfast in your hotel and then board your motorcoach for what is destined to be a spectacular day. Ride the scenic 82-mile journey into the park and experience El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome, the park's most visited attractions. This afternoon, take a two-hour narrated sightseeing tour of this World Heritage Site as the Yosemite experience comes alive with natural beauty and a strong sense of American history. Later this afternoon, we'll continue on to Sacramento, California's capital city with a stop for dinner, included. Arrive mid-evening and transfer to the Holiday Inn Sacramento for the next two nights. (B, D)

Day 8 - Sacramento - Gateway to Gold Country
Have the day to explore one of Sacramento's many delightful attractions. Relive the California Gold Rush in historic Old Sacramento or shop to your heart's content in the mega-shopping mall, both within walking distance. History and train buffs will want to visit the fascinating California State Railroad Museum with its 21 restored locomotives and train cars or the majestic State Capitol Building. (B)

Day 9 - En Route/San Francisco - The Golden City by the Bay
This morning you depart Sacramento via motor coach for San Francisco. Stopping for lunch on your own, we'll arrive into the world-famous "City by the Bay" at noon. This afternoon, you're sure to leave your heart in San Francisco with a 3 1/2 hour sightseeing tour, including Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, Jackson Square, Telegraph Hill, the Presidio and Fisherman's Wharf. Your home for the next two nights is the Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf. The afternoon tour will end at Fisherman's Wharf, where you can enjoy dinner at one of its famous seafood restaurants on the water and return to the hotel on your own. (B)

Day 10 - San Francisco - Muir Woods
Today we cross the famous Golden Gate Bridge on our way to Muir Woods and its magnificent 800 year old, 250 foot tall redwood trees. Before returning to San Francisco, we will stop in the village of Sausalito with its Mediterranean style. Enjoy dinner on your own in San Francisco this evening. (B)

Day 11 - En Route/Elko, Nevada - Site of the Ruby Mountains
This morning, you have an early departure for the Amtrak station in Emeryville to board the California Zephyr. A comfortable reclining coach seat with leg rest is included. Have lunch and dinner in the dining car today or lighter fare is available in the Sightseer Lounge car. Be sure to visit the Sightseer Lounge for spectacular views of the changing scenery. Traveling eastward, we leave the lush green landscape and palm trees of California and enter the rugged terrain, dotted with pine trees of the high Sierra Nevada Mountains. Pass through the famous Donner Pass this afternoon and arrive in Elko, Nevada for transfer to the Red Lion, your hotel for the night.

Day 12 - En Route/Price, Utah via Salt Lake City
After a hot breakfast in your hotel, board your comfortable motor coach for the trip to Price, Utah. On the way, we'll tour Salt Lake City, Utah to see the Mormon Temple, Tabernacle, Brigham Young's Monument and private burial ground, Beehive House, Lion House, Eagle Gate, University of Utah, Fort Douglas and Trolley Square. Enjoy lunch and dinner on your own at one of Salt Lake's many ethnic restaurants. Arrive in Price, Utah, in the early evening and spend the night at the Holiday Inn. (B)

Day 13 - En Route/Colorado Rockies
After breakfast, you'll board Amtrak's California Zephyr in Helper, Utah for your return trip to Chicago. The train departs at 7:57 a.m. and a comfortable, reclining coach seat with leg rest is included. Private Roomette Bedroom and upgraded Bedrooms are available at an additional cost. Snacks, beverages, and sandwiches are available in the Lounge car throughout the day. Make sure you view the spectacular scenery from the Sightseer Lounge car as we make our way toward Denver, climbing through the awesome Rockies toward the Continental Divide. We'll encounter the famous, five-mile long Moffat Tunnel and, literally, go under the Continental Divide, before passing through Denver. (B, L, D)

Day 14 - En Route to Chicago, Welcome Home!
The California Zephyr will roll across Iowa and Illinois and arrive in Chicago at mid afternoon. You'll return to Chicago filled with wonderful memories of your golden adventure out West! Post night stays in Chicago are strongly recommended to prevent missed connections. (B, L)

Holiday Inn Express: Located near the Grand Canyon, this comfortable 155-room hotel features an indoor/outdoor pool and game room.

Tropicana: Newly renovated with an exciting South Beach motif, the hotel, resort and casino includes best-in-class accommodations, the casino, several new restaurants, bars, a new poker room, a new race and sports book and the recently debuted Glow®, A Mandara Spa and fitness center, which fuses the modern and beach-chic lifestyle with beauty and wellness experiences.

Hampton Inn: The 83-room Hampton Inn in Merced features a fitness room, pool, and business center as well as baggage storage and coin laundry services.

Holiday Inn Sacramento: Located across the street from "Old Sacramento," the hotel features a business center, fitness center, and outdoor pool as well as a restaurant and lobby bar.

Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf: Ideally located mere blocks from world-class shopping and the art and theatre districts and within walking distance of Pier 39, this 585-room hotel features a heated outdoor pool and sundeck, fitness center, business center, complimentary wireless internet and a bar and grill.

The Red Lion: Guests have access to a fitness center, seasonal pool, business center, wireless Internet, and gift shop. There are two dining options and a premier casino on-site with 350 slots, table games, live Keno, Sports Book, and poker room.

Holiday Inn: This comfortable hotel offers numerous amenities for guests including a health and fitness center, indoor pool, business center, and rooms with high-speed Internet access. There is one restaurant on-site.