8 Days • 12 Meals
Experience all the majesty of the mountains, extra- ordinary adventure and American history aboard the scenic trains of the Old West!
All Aboard – Your Coach is Waiting
Get ready for the trip of a lifetime...and an amazing adventure as you travel through Colorado, where the rich heritage of American railroading was built. Discover miles and miles of magnificent country, quaint old west mining towns and scenery that will simply take your breath away! Recreate the same journey that the gold miners did more than a hundred years ago. Marvel at the ingenious engineering of these incredible railroads that ascended steep mountaintops and wonder just how they were able to do it. It all comes to life on our Trains Across Colorado Tour!
Your Journey Begins in Denver...the Mile High City
Standing at the threshold between the Rocky Mountains and points west, Denver will envelop you with cosmopolitan charm. The tour begins and ends in this warm, welcoming city, giving you ample time to explore through a guided tour as well as on your own.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Voted one of the “Top Ten Most Exciting Train Journeys in the World,” the Durango & Silverton was founded by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1879. The line was constructed to haul ore from the San Juan Mountains, but passengers soon became awestruck at the mountainous views. Re-live the experience once again on board this spectacular journey. Spend two nights in Durango.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Next Stop 1880!
Built in 1880 as the San Juan Extension of the Denver & Rio Grande, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad remains one of the most spectacular examples of steam era mountain railroading in North America. While a hundred years ago, the steamer hauled precious metals, today the steam locomotives carry passengers looking for adventure over high trestles, through dark tunnels and along narrow mountain shelves.
Royal Gorge Scenic Railway
Billed as the “the most scenic train ride in North America,” you’ll pass under the Royal Gorge Bridge and along the raging Arkansas River. Will you spot bald eagles and red tailed hawks as they soar high above? Or the deer and sheep that roam in their natural surroundings? This fascinating 12-mile route follows the same trail as the old Denver and Rio Grande Western line.
Pikes Peak Cog Railway “Ride to the Clouds!”
Your first taste of the wide open spaces begins at the Garden of the Gods, a 1300-acre park with glorious natural terrain. Then we’ll board the Swiss-made Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railroad in the U.S., which stretches nine miles long as it vertically climbs to almost 8,000 feet. Story has it that Zalmon Simmons of The Simmons Mattress Company rode to the top of Pikes Peak on a mule and knew there had to be a better way. When someone suggested a railway, he provided the money to build it. Spend two nights in Colorado Springs.
Breathtaking National Parks
Colorado’s spectacular beauty is preserved in her national treasures, Colorado National Monument and Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado National Monument preserves one of the grand landscapes of the American West. Sheer-walled canyons, towering monoliths, colorful formations, desert bighorn sheep and soaring eagles reflect the environment and history of the plateau-and-canyon country. Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. Today, the park protects over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States, and UNESCO has designated Mesa Verde National Park as a World Cultural Heritage Park
All Aboard for Adventure!
Be a part of the spirit of the old west! Create new memories, enjoy new friendships and explore new discoveries in this once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunity!
Hotel Accommodations
Day One – DoubleTree Hotel, Denver, Colorado
Day Two – DoubleTree Hotel, Grand Junction, Colorado
Days Three and Four – Hampton Inn or Comfort Inn, Durango, Colorado
Day Five – Inn of the Rio Grande, Alamosa, Colorado
Days Six and Seven – Crowne Plaza or Drury Inn, Colorado Springs, Colorado |
Day by Day
• Services of a professional tour manager
• 12 Meals (4 dinners, 1 lunch and 7 breakfasts)
• Round trip airport transfers
• $40 in Mayflower Money
Day One
• Arrive in Denver with included transfers to your hotel
• Meet your fellow travelers at 6 p.m. for a get-acquainted dinner
Day Two
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Denver city tour
• Enjoy the charming ski village of Vail
• Dinner
Day Three
• Breakfast at your hotel
• See the grand landscapes of Colorado National Monument
• Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Day Four
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Guided tour of Mesa Verde National Park and the awesome Pueblo cliff dwellings
Day Five
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Ride through the Rockies aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad with lunch
• Dinner
Day Six
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Travel through historic Canon City
• Royal Gorge Scenic Railway
Day Seven
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Visit the U.S. Air Force Academy and its Cadet Chapel
• Garden of the Gods Park
• “Ride to the Clouds!” aboard the Pikes Peak Cog Railway
• Dinner
Day Eight
• Breakfast at your hotel
• Group transfer to Denver Airport for flights after 12 p.m.
2009 Departure Dates
June 14
July 8, 12, 15
August 2, 5, 9
September 2, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27
Per Person Rates
Twin $1,679
Single add $689
Triple deduct $14
Rooms for the night before the tour are available. Cost for a room in Denver is $159, tax included. |
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