A Western Adventure
A Geography Professor's tour of Utah's
other Canyons:
Arches National Park - Canyonlands - Moab - Capital
Reef - Bryce Canyon and the Indian Ruins of Navajo Country
7 Days - Departs
Monday, June 7, 2010
This trip
has it all! Experience the magnificence of
the West on a tour that includes a visit to Utah's spectacular canyons.
Tour Arches National Park , the world's largest
concentration of natural arches, and Canyonlands,
with countless canyons, mesas and breathtaking views of the Colorado and Green
Rivers. On this seven-day trip we’ll see these wonders and have great
time while we are at it. Your comfort is assured on our deluxe motor coach
along with our friendly tour director, a former geography college professor, who
will help make the trip most interesting and informative.
Extra included Bonus: Cowboy style dinner on the Colorado River and 1.5 hour
Float Trip of Canyonlands by Night.
Travel Day to Arizona
Welcome
aboard our deluxe motor coach as we begin our journey through the California
desert to the pine forested high country of Arizona.
Our tour director, a former college geography professor, will be on board
throughout the tour to provide narration about the physical geography and
geology of the areas we travel. Rest and refreshment stops will be
scheduled every two to three hours during the travel day. We will overnight in Flagstaff at the Radisson's Woodlands
Hotel. Dinner this evening will be on your own with choices at
either the Woodlands Cafe or Sushi and Tappan style cuisine at the Sakura Restaurant.
Petrified Forest, Indian Ruins at Canyon de Chelly National Monument
The great
American Southwest is our vista today as we journey through Arizona to
view the brilliantly colored logs at the Petrified Forest,
and the badlands of the Painted Desert. We stop at an
authentic Navajo trading post. The Hubbell Trading Post is the oldest operated
authentic trading post on the Navajo nation. Then continue to Chinle and the historic adobe-style Thunderbird Lodge,
the only hotel within Canyon de Chelly National
Park. The cafeteria at the lodge offers a diverse menu which
includes traditional Navajo dishes, and a gift
shop featuring beautiful Navajo jewelry and artifacts.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument - Moab,
Utah
Day 3 - Wednesday, June 9
Cliffs of
red sandstone form the canyon the Navajo call “Tseyi”
in Canyon de Chelly National
Monument. We learn more about this fascinating country on our
three hour tour conducted by an experienced
Navajo guide,. Here we explore this dramatic site where five periods of Native
American culture, dating from 2,500 B.C. to present day,
are represented. Traveling on six wheel drive vehicles, we will see red sandstone walls that rise from 30 to
1,000 feet and with pictographs painted from the earliest Indian
occupation with our guide explaining the significance of these man-made
structures. We stop for photographs at the Indian ruins, Navajo farms and rock
art. After lunch on your own, we depart Chinle
and journey north along the trails of the ancient Anasazi
Indian culture to Utah. Check in to Moab’s Ramada Inn for a two night stay and,
time permitting, board our coach to view
the Canyonlands at Sunset. Canyonlands is a huge national park that includes some of
the most elaborate, remote, and scenic vistas in the continental U.S.
Arches and Canyonlands National
Parks, Moab
Day 4 - Thursday, June 10
Experience
the grandeur of the West as we spend the day
touring two of Southern Utah spectacular canyons. The
red rock wonder of Arches National Park will fill you with awe. Our
geography professor will provide you with an
in-depth visit to a park that features the world‘s largest concentration
of natural arches - sublime spans of stone that seem to defy gravity and
nature. Some are delicate ribbons curving upward and twisting back to
earth others are openings chiseled into massive mountains of otherwise solid
rock. Next we are off to Canyonlands National Park. Here two mighty rivers,
the Colorado and Green River, have carved
deep canyons in the heart of this rugged remote area. Afternoon
optional float trip on the Colorado River.
Capitol Reef, Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Day 5 - Friday, Tuesday, June 11,
Includes Dinner
We depart
Moab and on our journey east, we stop to enjoy
the scenic beauty of Capitol Reef. Here you will find a
diversity of landscape - red rock formations, pristine meadows, alpine
forests, as well as lush green valleys and early Mormon
settlements. After a luncheon stop, we continue traveling with views of
the mesas and multi-colored cliffs of the Grand
Staircase -Escalante National Monument. Late afternoon arrival at Best
Western Ruby's Inn, located in the spectacular red rock country of Bryce Canyon
with its sheer walls, and monoliths - carved the past millions of years
ago. Then meet your traveling companions
for an evening of western fun and entertainment. We
board our coach for a visit to the small town of Tropic to enjoy
some home town cooking of steak, barbecue beans, corn bread and salad. Kick up
your heels and join in for some line dancing, under the stars, before returning
to our hotel.
Bryce Canyon
National Park, St. George, “Broadway in the Desert “
Day 6 - Saturday,
June 12, Includes Dinner
The morning
is ours to bask in the delicate beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park. The
park includes some of Earth’s most colorful rocks, sculpted by erosion, with
pillars called “hoodoos.” After checking out of Ruby’s
Inn, we head south for St. George and the Best
Western Abby’s Inn. Time to relax or swim in the hotel
pool before meeting your traveling companions for our farewell dinner and final
night’s entertainment. Board your coach for travel to nearby Tuacahn Amphitheater set amid a stunning red rock backdrop
deep in a canyon. With a 90-foot stage and a 2,000 seat amphitheater, Tuacahn is the home of “Broadway in the
Desert,” featuring musicals with elaborate sets and costumes. Here
we enjoy dinner in the outdoor plaza followed by a performance of the
award winning “Cats.“
Travel Home - St.
George, Utah, to Southern California
Day 7 - Sunday,
June 13, Includes Breakfast
Enjoy a
delicious breakfast at the hotel before departing Utah. Rest and
refreshment stops about every two hours with approximate arrival in
Ventura, Glendale, and Mission Viejo 5:00 to
6:30 PM
From $1,250 double occupancy or
$1,550 single occupancy
Tour Price includes:
·
Deluxe Motor Coach tour
·
Services of a professional Tour Director
·
Luggage Handling throughout (One Bag per person)
·
6 Nights Hotel Accommodations as listed or similar
·
Four Meals (2 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners)
·
National Monument and Park entrance fees
·
Canyon de Chelly tour in
small vehicles
·
Sightseeing throughout
·
Tickets for Tuachan theatre
performance “Cats”
DEPARTURES AND PARKING:
Park and
Ride near La Canada Flintridge. To be confirmed. This is the closest departure
point for those in the San Fernando Valley.
Orange
County at Saddleback College, Mission Viejo Lot #1, enter
on Avery Boulevard. Parking permits may be purchased from dispenser.
Ventura - The Museum of Ventura County. Ventura
location (will advise)
Contact Information, for Reservations or
Questions
Los Angeles
Valley College Extension 818-947-4072 x4071
Register
on-line at www.lavc.edu/extension/
Saddleback
College Community Education 949-582-4646
Museum of Ventura
County 805-641-1876 X305 or membership@venturamuseum.org
For
additional information or to reserve a space on the tour
Contact: Loretta at 805-641-3131, lorettadubois@gmail.com
Loretta DuBois, California Discovery Tours
1015 Belfast Lane
Ventura, CA 93001
Payment Due Date:
Reservations
may be held without deposit by contacting Loretta Dubois. For full final tour
payment, please refer to the group itinerary, college program or museum
newsletter.
Cancellations:
Refunds for
cancellations (less a processing fee) will be given if you space can be resold.
For trip cancellation and emergency medical insurance, see the information on
website travel insurance.
Clothing:
Casual
clothes and comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Days may be warm but
evenings and the motor coach travel will be cool and may warrant a jacket.
Don't forget a camera and plenty of film or memory cards for the outstanding
scenery you will see. A flashlight for evening strolls and binoculars add a
great dimension to sightseeing!
Wheelchairs and Health Issues - Please
Read Carefully:
The 2-story
lodges may not have elevators, please advise us if you prefer a first floor at
these hotels. Many of the tours require participation in excursions that
can, by their nature, be physically demanding. Higher elevations, walking
tours, traveling a long distance on a motor coach with limited access to your
luggage, in addition to being exposed to weather changes, are a few experiences
you may encounter on tours. Medical attention may be several hours to a day
away in case of emergency. Thus you should only participate in these outings if
you are free of any physical disability that would limit your participation. If
you have any doubt about your ability to safely participate in the activities
you should consult your physician and notify us of medical concerns prior or
within three days of confirming this tour reservation.
On this tour, the group will be traveling by
motor coach for a full day, with stops every two to three hours for
refreshments. Some facilities can accommodate wheelchairs and the
hotel telephone numbers are listed on our itinerary for your reference.
It is important that you notify us immediately if you will be using a
wheelchair or require any special assistance and we can advise you accordingly.
Participants needing assistance must have an attendant companion to take full
responsibility for them and must provide their own collapsible wheelchair.
Responsibility:
Loretta
DuBois, California Discovery Tours, (Loretta DuBois Tours), Museum of
Ventura County, community colleges and tour directors act strictly as agents
for travel arrangements and are not responsible for any damages a customer may
suffer due to the negligence of any individual entrusted with service. We shall
not be held liable for personal injury, property damages or delays due to
mechanical difficulties, weather conditions or any circumstances beyond our
control.