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Day 1: Bay Area - Elko
Visit the California State Capital - Sacramento. Founded in 1849, Sacramento was
at the heart of the gold rush, Pony Express and first continental railroad. In
the afternoon head through the famous Donner Pass and enter Nevada - nicknamed
the Silver State. Overnight stay in Elko.
Day 2: Elko - Twin Falls - Jackson Hole - Grand Teton
National Park-Yellowstone National Park
Depart Elko in the morning and pass through Twin Falls - Idaho, as views of the
Snake River gorge highlight this area. Continue to the state of Wyoming and
visit the western town of Jackson Hole. Arches made of elk antlers decorate the
central plaza in this town with plenty of shops and restaurants around the area.
In the afternoon visit Grand Teton National Park. The tallest peak rises to
13,770 feet. Twelve of the peaks in Teton reach above 12,000 feet and support a
dozen mountain glaciers. Overnight in stay West Yellowstone.
Day 3: Yellowstone National Park - Sheridan
Visit Yellowstone National Park, the first and oldest National Park in the
United States. Highlights include: Yellowstone Canyon, Mud Volcano, Mammoth
Springs, Hot Springs, and Geysers- the most famous being 'Old Faithful'. There
are also various wildlife that inhabits the Park from bison, elk, moose, and
bear. Overnight stay in Sheridan.
Day 4: Sheridan - Devil's Tower - Mt. Rushmore - Casper
Depart Sheridan in the morning and visit Devil's Tower National Monument. ¡®Bear
Lodge¡¯ was the Native American name for the Tower. This 865 foot column- a
remnant of a volcanic eruption was renamed in 1875 by a scientific team escorted
by Col. Richard I. Dodge. Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial located in
South Dakota in the afternoon. The memorial was dedicated to President's George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Overnight
stay in Casper.
Day 5: Casper - Oregon Trail - Independence Rock - Devil's
Gate - Echo Canyon - Temple Square - Kennecott Copper Mine - Salt Lake City
Head southwest from Casper to Salt Lake City. Visit the once traveled Oregon
Trail. The trail represents the only corridor to the West. 1843 was known as
'The great migration' and over the next 25 years more than a half million people
went west on the Trail. The highlights of the trail includes: the historical
landmarks of Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, Echo Canyon, and Emigration
Canyon. Visit the Temple Square in Salt Lake City and the Kennecott Copper Mine
in the afternoon. Overnight stay in Salt Lake City.
Day 6: Salt Lake City - Great Salt Lake - Great Salt
Desert
Visit the Great Salt Desert in the morning. The saline lake covers an
area of around 1,700 square miles, but is subject to substantial fluctuations.
The lake has very high salinity because it has no outlet to the sea. Three
feeder rivers deposit around 1.1 million tons of minerals in it each year.
However, the high salinity of the lake makes it uninhabitable for all but a few
species. Arrive in the Reno, Nevada in the afternoon. The city is the birthplace
of the gaming corporation Harrah's Entertainment. Overnight stay in Reno.
Day 7: Reno - Lake Tahoe - Bay Area
Depart Reno in the morning and visit Lake Tahoe. As one of the deepest
lakes in the United States, this freshwater lake is located between Nevada and
California with two-thirds of its border in California. Perhaps join an optional
cruise to visit this extraordinary lake. Head back to the Bay Area in the
afternoon.
Departure Date: May 9 - October, Every Saturday
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