If you are a fan of breath-taking scenery, a tour of some of America’s national parks is an absolute must. You can take a tour of some of some of the finest national parks in Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado and Arizona.
The tour begins in Las Vegas and heads to the Grand Canyon on the first day. The Grand Canyon is a mile deep and 10 miles wide and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. You can stay at a hotel located near the rim of the canyon, which gives some amazing views. You can also book a helicopter flight over the canyon.
The tour goes on to Monument Valley and Moab Arches National Park, which contains over 2000 sandstone arches. You are now in Colorado’s wine country where you can enjoy a wine tasting before heading to Denver for your overnight stop.
Next on to Custer State Park, which is the second-largest state park in the US. It totals some 73,000 acres and offers an incredible array of wildlife such as mountain goats, bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mountain lions, wild turkeys, elk, bison, and pronghorn antelope. You will stay at the historic State Game Lodge, which was the summer home for President Calvin Coolidge. You will also visit Mount Rushmore and see the Crazy Horse Memorial. Your holiday continues with a visit to Deadwood, home of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Then it’s on to Cody to visit the Buffalo Bill Centre.
Next up, is a visit to Yellowstone National Park, which was established in 1872 and was the world’s first national park. The weather can be very unpredictable here, and your routing may have to be adjusted. The wildlife in Yellowstone National Park includes bighorn sheep, bears, moose, elk, bison, otters, beaver, and foxes. You will see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful Geyser.
After a couple of days in Yellowstone National Park, it’s on again to Grand Teton National Park, which attracts over 4 million visitors every year. You will see the beautiful glacier-fed Jenny Lake, and you can wander along the shore before continuing to Jackson. Here you can enjoy a drink at one of the swing-door saloons, or shop for the perfect cowboy hat.
Next, it is on to Salt Lake City, which has great downtown shopping, restaurants, and other attractions. The following day you go to Bryce Canyon National Park, which is a great place for stargazing. It is well away from the glare of any city lights, and on some nights over 7,500 stars are visible.
The following day you will visit the Zion National Park and see fantastic rock structures and incredible scenery. Then finally it is back to Las Vegas for a special farewell dinner from your tour director.
The food on a trip like this is very often based on cowboy food, and because of the plentiful supply of wild game, it is always on the menu. In addition, there are bar foods like bison burgers, and you may find sophisticated dishes such as elk medallions served with a berry source. At the more upmarket restaurants, you will also find that there are French and Asian influences on the menu. Fish such as trout are extremely popular, especially in Wyoming.
The best time to go on a trip like this is in the summer and autumn. The weather can get very windy in Wyoming, and the nights can get cold even in the summer time because of the high altitude. A tour of these national parks and monuments is certainly the holiday of a lifetime.
