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Historic Lands, Landmarks, and Locomotives
At-A-Glance
Trip Dates:
August 16, 2013 through August 24, 2013
NPCA Member Price
From $2,249 per person double occupancy; $600 single supplement.
Deposit
$250 per person
Contact ParkScapes at 800.628.7275 or travel@npca.org
August 16-24, 2013
Limited availabilty remains on this late summer journey and alternate departures are available.
Join this Cultural Heritage tour as you traverse through the Colorado Rockies—replete with the majestic landscapes, historic hotels, and renowned rail excursions. The national parks within Colorado feature mountainous splendor of alpine lakes, towering peaks, rolling meadows, and captivating wildlife at Rocky Mountain National Park; 500-foot deep, sheer-walled, sandstone canyons at Colorado National Monument; and pre-Columbian cliffdwellings at Mesa Verde National Park.
Along the way, we will ride four historic trains through breathtaking viewsheds. We’ll ride aboard the great engineering feat of the Georgetown Loop Railroad and the famous Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad through southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. We’ll journey across the unique Hanging Bridge along the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, and we’ll complete the train experience with the world’s highest cog railroad at Pike’s Peak.
For details about this trip, download the brochure (pdf)
Trip Details:
Tour Highlights
Historic Lands
Experience the beauty of Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park, Pikes Peak National Historic Landmark, and Garden of Gods Recreation Area.
Historic Landmarks
Visit the prominent Stanley Hotel, a century old landmark and inspiration for Stephen King’s novel The Shining, and Durango’s Strater Hotel, with its elaborate American Victorian architectural features.
TopTour Details
Arrive/Depart
Denver, CO/Colorado Springs, CO
Length of Tour
9 days/8 nights
Pace
Easy and at your own pace. This tour requires average physical activity; you should be in good health, able to climb stairs and walk reasonable distances over uneven grounds.
Price Includes
All accommodations, meals as noted, ground transportation, park entrance fees, and professional guide services.
Price Does Not Include
Round-trip airfare, gratuities for guides and tour manager, costs for options, alcoholic beverages, or personal expenses.
Payments/Cancellations
Space is confirmed by calling the NPCA at 800.628.7275. A $250 per person deposit is due at registration. Final payment will be invoiced separately and is due 90 days prior to departure. Cancellation notice must be submitted in writing and is effective upon date of receipt. Cancellation Charges for this tour: After your seat reduction date has passed, a non-refundable deposit will be retained. For Cancellation between 60-16 days prior to departure: cancellation fee of 30% of total price. For cancellation between 15-1 days prior to departure: cancellation fee of 50% of total price. For cancellation on the day of departure and after:
100% of total price.
Travel Insurance
To protect yourself from the loss of deposit and cancellation fees, you are encouraged to purchase travel insurance. If you need assistance, NPCA recommends contacting Travel Insurance Services.
TopDaily Itinerary
August 16: Arrivals in Denver, Colorado
Individual arrivals to Denver, Colorado, and then meet the group for a welcome orientation and dinner. Overnight accommodations at Red Lion Denver Southeast. (D)
August 17: Rocky Mountain National Park
Travel to the resort village of Estes Park, famous for its Stanley Hotel—the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining novel. Next stop is Rocky Mountain National Park to discover the true meaning of “panoramic” as you experience incredible views. We traverse the famed Trail Ridge Road, which forms the highest continuous highway in America. This celebrated “Roof of the Rockies” offers views of massive peaks and rugged canyons as you cross the continental divide. Red Lion Denver Southeast (B)
August 18: Georgetown Loop Railroad
Travel through the Rocky Mountains on a scenic and historic train ride aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Completed in 1884 as a means to transport silver in and out of the region, this narrow gauge railroad is an engineering marvel and features several horseshoe curves and bridges including the Devil’s Gate High Bridge. A lunch stop is made in Vail’s picturesque village, lined with chalets, outdoor cafes, and intriguing shops and galleries. Doubletree Hotel Grand Junction (B)
August 19: Colorado National Monument
Visit one of the grand landscapes of the American West—Colorado National Monument. Travel along the Rim Rock to see a colorful panorama of deep, sheer-sided canyons and high rock towers. Later, journey to Colorado’s wine country to learn about one of the region’s finest vineyards and sample the fruits of its labors. Doubletree Hotel Grand Junction (B, D)
August 20: Durango & Silverton Railroad
Drive south to the small mining town of Silverton, a national historic landmark. Hidden high in the San Juan Mountains, this town offers spectacular scenery, Victorian charm, and historic architecture built between 1882- 1910. Then it’s “all aboard” the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad; this 1881 coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive was built to haul silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains…but you’ll soon realize it is the view that is truly precious. Durango Strater Hotel (B)
August 21: Mesa Verde National Park
An incredible day awaits at Mesa Verde National Park which preserves the one-thousand-year culture of the remarkable Anasazi Indians. Visit the fascinating Spruce Tree Cliff Dwellings to see two of the largest cliff dwellings built between AD 1211-1278 by ancestors of the Pueblos. This evening, enjoy an Old West adventure filled with traditional cowboy food and entertainment. Durango Strater Hotel (B, D)
August 22: Royal Gorge Railroad
Travel east across southern Colorado to Canon City’s Royal Gorge Railroad. Board the train for a 24-mile ride beneath the highest suspension bridge in the world, the Royal Gorge Bridge, which spans the gorge 1,053 feet above the railroad tracks. This is some of the most spectacular scenery you will ever see. Colorado Springs Marriott (B)
August 23: Pike's Peak Cog Railway
Depart for Manitou Springs, home of Pike’s Peak, the legendary symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush. Embark on Pike’s Peak Cog Railway, the world’s highest cog railroad, for an 8.9 mile journey to the top of Pike’s Peak (approx. 14,110 ft.). During the journey you will see magnificent views and perhaps animals in their native habitat. Later, travel to the Garden of the Gods – on the National Register for Historic Places – to view the towering sandstone formations and a wonderful view of Pike’s Peak. Colorado Springs Marriott (B, D)
August 24: Departures from Colorado Springs
Your tour ends in Colorado Springs (B)
TopPricing Details
NPCA Member Price
From $2,249 per person double occupancy; $600 single supplement.
Deposit
$250 per person
TopMap
Travel Partner
TopLodging Info
Doubletree Hotel Grand Junction
TopBooking Info
To contact NPCA's ParkScapes program for questions or reservations please call 800-628-7275 or email travel@npca.org. You may also book directly online.
