Itinerary Details
Sunny Days, Starry Nights: America's Rocky Mountains By Design
Day 1 ARRIVE IN BILLINGS Welcome to Billings! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
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Day 2 BILLINGS–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Where the Wild Things Are
BILLINGS Orientation tour of Billings. Drive to Yellowstone National Park.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Guided sightseeing includes Mammoth Hot Springs, the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and more. Overnight stay inside the park with free time this evening. (B,D)
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Day 3 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK–WEST YELLOWSTONE–BIG SKY YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK Sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park continues with visits to Old Faithful and Fountain Paint Pots. Scenic drive continues to West Yellowstone.
WEST YELLOWSTONE Free time this afternoon.
BIG SKY YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice.
SOAR: Mountain Climes
Take a ride on Big Sky's scenic chair lift for a bird's eye view of magnificent mountain views. Beginning at the Big Sky Mountain Village 7,500 feet above sea level, the scenic lift rises 1,600 vertical feet to an elevation of 9,000 feet. Enjoy the thrill of open-air multi-passenger chairs and join your local Naturalist Guide for a walk to learn about this remarkable region's storied history and ecology.
TREK: The Little Dipper of Big Sky
Take a leisurely hike to Ousel Falls, which plummets nearly 40 feet before flowing through the heart of Big Sky. Named for the Ousel bird (aka American Dipper), the falls provide the perfect nesting place for this little trilling songbird of Big Sky. (Note: This nearly 2-mile hike follows well-groomed, gentle trails with frequent picnic and shaded rest areas. At 6,500 feet, be prepared for the effects of high altitude by bringing a personal water bottle and snacks).
CREATE: Secret Family Remedies
Experience the healing power of nature found hidden in Montana's mountain plants and flowers. Join in a fascinating workshop at 320 Guest Ranch to learn to identify medicinal mountain flora, known for their medicinal qualities for centuries by generations of mountain folk here. You'll forage for particular plants and learn how to infuse them into oils for use as a soothing topical salve. Take your own creation home with you to use for what ails ya!
(B)
YELLOWSTONE-NATIONAL-PARK-OLD-FAITHFUL-ERUPTING.jpgDay 4 BIG SKY–NEVADA CITY–VIRGINIA CITY–MISSOULA BIG SKY Scenic drive to Nevada City and Virginia City to visit two Western ghost towns.
NEVADA CITY Guided walking tour of the historic ghost town and outdoor museum.
VIRGINIA CITY Free time in this once rich mining town turned thriving historic ghost town.
MISSOULA Guided city tour. Free time this evening to find locally-caught trout for dinner on an outdoor patio, explore the Missoula craft beer scene, or enjoy entertainment at a wine bar. (B)
VIRGINIA-CITY.jpgDay 5 MISSOULA–WHITEFISH MISSOULA Morning drive along Flathead Lake en route to Whitefish.
WHITEFISH YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice. Free time this evening.
DELVE: Roosevelt Slept Here
Visit Kalispell's 1895 Conrad Mansion for a glimpse into the life of its founding namesake and the hospitality enjoyed by such guests as President Teddy Roosevelt.
FLOAT: Down the Lazy River
Enjoy a scenic float trip as you paddle along with your guide on a calm and peaceful stretch of the Flathead River in Glacier National Park.
TASTE: Brews Crews
Travel to the historic town of Kalispell for an orientation tour, free time to explore the historic mountain town and behind-the-scenes Beer 101 experience and tasting.
(B)
FLATHEAD-LAKE.jpgDay 6 WHITEFISH EXCURSION TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK GLACIER NATIONAL PARK Drive to Lake McDonald Village for a scenic ride along the Going-to-the-Sun Road aboard a historic Red Jammer bus. After crossing 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass, enter a wonderland of alpine scenery, where jagged mountain peaks, deep-green forests, pristine lakes, and meadows dominate the landscape. Return to Whitefish in the afternoon.
WHITEFISH Free time this evening. (B)
GLACIER-NATIONAL-PARK.jpgDay 7 WHITEFISH–SANDPOINT–SPOKANE WHITEFISH Morning scenic drive to picturesque Sandpoint, Idaho.
SANDPOINT Free time to explore the shops, pubs, and galleries. Scenic drive along the Pend Oreille River into Washington en route to Spokane.
SPOKANE Guided sightseeing tour includes Manito Park Gardens, followed by free time and a farewell dinner this evening. (B,D)
SANDPOINT.jpgDay 8 SPOKANE Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. You may also choose to extend your time in Spokane and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase.
(B)
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