From Carolina blue skies to Hollywood lights, your teen will see more of our country’s natural and cultural wonders than most people will see in a lifetime. They’ll be given the chance to navigate new situations, manage their own schedules and budgets, and solve real-world problems under the guidance of experienced mentors.
Get excited, the journey is about to begin! To kick off our upcoming adventure, the counselors will lead all students in team building activities and get to know you games the afternoon before we depart. Later that night, students and their families are invited to a get-acquainted Departure Dinner to meet the other students’ parents and the Grand Western Tour team.Students will spend one last night with their parents before embarking on the road trip of a lifetime, so rest up!
And we’re off! First stop–a visit to the most famous and iconic racetrack in America! Our trip to Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum typically includes the exciting spectacle of watching a horse race in action. The trip continues on to a family farm in Indiana for a delicious, home-cooked dinner.
Our next stop is St. Louis, one of the oldest settlements in the Mississippi Valley. After viewing a movie chronicling the construction of the Gateway Arch, we’ll tour the famous archway and soak in the amazing views from the top. From St. Louis we head to Lawrence, Kansas for dinner and to spend the night. The perfect place for us to catch our breath after an eventful start to the trip.
We continue on to Colorado Springs, a resort city at the base of the Rocky Mountains known for its magnificent views and geological marvels. Our two action-packed days spent in Colorado Springs include a tour of the U.S. Air Force Academy, a visit to the Garden of the Gods, and a trip to the top of Pikes Peak, 14,110 feet above sea level.
Get pumped for a thrilling white-water rafting trip along the the Animas River. Experience Class III whitewater while learning about Durango’s rich history along the way. Enjoy a tour of Mesa Verde National Park and the preserved cliff dwellings of the Pueblo Indians who lived here for over 700 years.
The trip to Salt Lake City takes you by Canyonlands National Park and includes a visit to Arches National Park. In Salt Lake City, view the famous Great Salt Lake and Temple Square, the center of Mormon activities and Utah's most celebrated historical spot. Students will also have the opportunity to hear the famous Tabernacle Choir.
We’ll spend three nights at the Hansen Guest Ranch. Each day is packed with fun things to do. Highlights include a horseback ride, pickleball and our annual costumed volleyball tournament.
Get your cowboy hats ready for the Jackson Rodeo on our first night in this colorful resort town that serves as the southern entrance to the Grand Teton National Park. No trip to Jackson Hole is complete without a hike (or gondola ride) to the top of Snow King Mountain where you can enjoy panoramic views of the Grand Tetons. Students will have free time to explore this quaint town – a perfect spot for souvenir and t-shirt shopping — before enjoying a lively reenactment of frontier justice on the Jackson Town Square in what is the longest, continuously running shootout in the country!
Enjoy an all-day excursion traveling through Grand Teton National Park along the Snake River at the base of the majestic Grand Teton Mountains. We will explore legendary Yellowstone National Park, where you can view the lakes, the volcanic pools, and the geysers, including Old Faithful, of course. Be prepared to see buffalo, elk, wolves, and bears, if we’re lucky! You will also have time to explore West Yellowstone after our day in the Park.
Coeur D’Alene has become known as the Lakeside Playground of the Pacific Northwest in a stunning natural setting. Explore this quaint town while admiring the beautiful surroundings with your friends.
A drive through Montana, Idaho, and Washington leads us to bustling Seattle. The stop includes a visit to The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), the famous Pike Place Marketplace and the Space Needle. A tour of the city takes you to unique sites of Seattle. We will have dinner at Ivar's Salmon House, a beautiful cedar replica of the Northwest Indian Longhouse filled with native artifacts and historical photographs. The second night you can grab a dog at the game while we watch the Mariners play baseball in T-Mobile Park.
Enjoy the phenomenal views as we travel down the quintessential highway along the Pacific coastline of Oregon to Gold Beach. We will take a world class jet boat excursion on the Rogue River along the Southern Oregon Coast. We’ll also spend an evening enjoying a barbeque, karaoke, and dancing on a beautiful outside area overlooking the Rogue River and the Pacific Ocean. At the stop, we celebrate those students who have birthdays during our trip with an epic party.
The drive to San Fran includes a trip through the California Redwoods and a visit to the Grieg-French-Bell Grove. We’ll walk this scenic trail and take in the remarkable landscape that is often featured in movies and TV commercials before continuing through the wine valleys of Northern California and on to San Francisco. In San Francisco, we’ll spend two nights in the Fisherman's Wharf area, touring the city with a walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. Other highlights include a visit to Alcatraz Island, once America's premier maximum-security prison.
You will have time to explore this classic beach town located on California’s famous central coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles along Pacific Coast and 101 Highways. Swim in the ocean, stroll through the shops and restaurants or just enjoy a day of soaking up rays. After a day on the beach check out the quaint town of Arroyo Grande, California.
Along the way on our scenic drive to Anaheim, we will stop and have free time to enjoy the fabulous Hollywood Farmer's Market and Downtown Disney District. Get your cameras ready because we’ll also enjoy a guided tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and who knows what celebrities you might spot. The next day includes a full day and night in Disneyland, of course!
Our trip to San Diego includes a visit to the San Diego Zoo, one of the largest and most well-renowned zoological parks in the world. We’ll enjoy dinner on a beautiful beach in La Jolla and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Viva Las Vegas! Enjoy a popular magic show with lots of audience participation that has Las Vegas written all over it. After the show, we’ll walk down the strip and enjoy the city’s spectacular lights and sights from the fountains of the Bellagio to the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel.
One of the highlights of the tour is our visit to the Grand Canyon, one of the world's most remarkable, awe-inspiring spectacles. The canyon, more than one mile deep in certain spots, stretches from 4 to 14 miles from rim to rim, and is definitely something everyone should experience. After spending the day exploring the Grand Canyon, we’ll head to Sedona, Arizona, a charming resort town nestled among towering red rock monoliths that have served as the backdrop for many western movies. Have a blast riding in the Pink Jeeps, while enjoying a tour of Arizona’s diverse landscape. The trip takes you 1,500 feet above Sedona along the Mogollon Rim, where majestic red rock formations blaze the trail for scenic beauty and rugged exploration.
After Sedona, it’s off to a beautiful resort/spa for a little R&R in Tucson to enjoy some swimming, tennis, hiking, the fitness center, or simply gazing at the desert night stars.
Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world's great natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert, creating the world's largest gypsum dune field. Wax your sled and prepare to sled down these majestic dunes.
Swim, dive, or just relax watching the fish and turtles in the world’s largest spring fed swimming pool at this historic park in arid West Texas. We'll enjoy some famous Texas' BBQ after a day in the sun.
After our visit to San Antonio, you will surely remember The Alamo! An IMAX movie about the historical impact of The Alamo will set the stage for our visit to this notable site. Students will have free time to explore the San Antonio River Walk. We’ll spend the night in the famous haunted Menger Hotel, and enjoy a night of games at Dave & Busters.
Laissez les bon temps rouler! Our last stop is definitely a memorable one. Our visit to New Orleans includes a trip through the famous French Quarter to explore the city’s rich history and exquisite architecture. Dinner at Coterie Restaurant serves as the perfect ending to our trip to reminisce and laugh about all the amazing experiences we shared over the past several weeks. We’ll also stop by Cafe du Monde for some legendary beignets.
Our trip home includes a detour for lunch at one of Atlanta’s most iconic restaurants, The Varsity, which opened in 1912, is known as the world’s largest drive-in restaurants (be sure and try the famous ‘Frosted Orange’). After an unforgettable 33 days of action-packed excitement, the bus is expected to arrive in Greensboro between 8:00-8:30pm.
The Grand Western Tour gave our daughter the opportunity to step outside of her comfort zone and meet a whole new group of friends. We have spent a lot of time traveling as a family, but seeing the United States, with your peers, through a bus window, is something special!