Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks--Ken Burns American Journeys --------- August 28-September 4, 2024

DAY 1 Welcome to Wyoming and the Tetons

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Jackson Lake Lodge. A transfer is included from Jackson Hole Airport to the Jackson Lake Lodge inside Grand Teton National Park.

Welcome to Wyoming's iconic western landscape of vast grasslands and towering mountain ranges, the historic town of Jackson, and majestic Grand Teton National Park with its jagged peaks, glaciers, lakes, and dense forest. Join us for tonight's welcome reception and dinner at your scenic lakeside resort in the heart of the national park.

MEALS: Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Jackson Lake Lodge

DAY 2 Snake River rafting, Mormon Row & Jackson

Today, view some of North America's most spectacular mountain scenery – and keep an eye peeled for wildlife ranging from moose and elk to beavers and bald eagles – during a ten-mile float trip* along the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park; there's no better vantage point than your raft on the river from which to gape at (or photograph) the majestic peaks of the Tetons. Then pay a brief visit to the park's Mormon Row Historic District, whose preservation is being supported by a major grant from Tauck. A homesteaders' settlement dating back to 1890 located in an undeveloped area of the park, Mormon Row is home to a number of weathered historic structures – including the iconic T.A. Moulton barn, an unofficial symbol of the park – that (along with their dramatic Teton Range backdrop) attract photographers from around the world, and convey the sense that you've traveled back in time. Continue on to the historic and trendy Western town of Jackson, gateway to the Tetons and the Jackson Hole region, for an afternoon spent as you please. Enjoy dinner at your inside-the-park lodge tonight.

MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Jackson Lake Lodge

Day 3- Yellowstone National Park

This morning, you may want to peruse American Indian artwork and artifacts on display at the Colter Bay visitor center before heading out of Grand Teton National Park and traveling to Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the world's first national park, known for its unique geothermal activity. Arrive at your historic lodge, the Old Faithful Inn, in time for lunch – it's just steps away from Old Faithful Geyser, shooting up to 184 feet in the air approximately every 90 minutes. Learn more about this phenomenon and check out the Upper Geyser Basin (which includes Old Faithful and many more) on an excursion this afternoon in the park; enjoy dinner at your leisure at your classic inside the-park lodging close to Old Faithful itself.

MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Old Faithful Inn

DAY 4 Yellowstone's Grand Canyon and more

With 10,000 hot springs, thundering waterfalls, two-thirds of all geysers in the world and endless forests, Yellowstone inspires awe. Explore its geologic wonders – including hundreds of geysers, brilliantly colored hot springs, steaming fumaroles and more – that early 19th-century skeptics found too astounding to be believed as you follow the Lower Grand Loop Road to Fountain Paint Pot's collection of colorful, bubbling mud pots. Then view the dramatic Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, carved by the churning waters of the Yellowstone River. Make your way through Hayden Valley before arriving for an overnight at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Cabins, where you'll settle in and have dinner this evening.

MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Lake Yellowstone Hotel

DAY 5 Discovering the West in Buffalo Bill's Cody

Leaving the mountains for the open grazing land of western Wyoming, arrive in the quintessential 1890s town of Cody, named for its famous founder, William "Buffalo Bill" Cody – buffalo hunter, army scout, Wild West Show entrepreneur, and tireless inventor of tall tales. For an authentic picture of the art and culture of the Wild West – and the life and legend of Mr. Cody himself – visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five museums that will immerse you in American Western culture and mythology: the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Draper Museum of Natural History, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Plains Indian Museum and the Buffalo Bill Museum. More western fun beckons during an overnight stay in Cody this evening, as you attend the world-famous Cody Nite Rodeo (seasonal, June through August), a fixture here since 1938.

MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: Holiday Inn® Cody at Buffalo Bill Village

DAY 6 The Bighorns & a double helping of ranch life

Upon departing Cody this morning, traverse the Bighorn Mountains with their breathtaking vistas of rugged canyons, sparkling waterfalls, miles of grassland, and colorful vegetation en route to a double dose of authentic Wyoming ranch life. First, feel the spirit of the West during an authentic ranch experience – including a cookhouse lunch, then your choice of a horseback ride*, a horse whisperer or a roping demonstration – at the TA Guest Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming. Set in the heart of "cowboy country," TA Ranch was the site of a famous siege and shootout during the infamous "Johnson County War" in 1892; you can still see the old gunshot holes in the ranch's original horse barn. Later, continue on to an overnight and dinner at your leisure at a different Wyoming ranch, the Ranch at Ucross.

MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: The Ranch at Ucross

DAY 7 Crazy Horse & Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills

Travel into the Black Hills of South Dakota today, where you'll have lunch and visit the in-progress Crazy Horse Memorial. Work on the colossal rock sculpture has been ongoing for more than 50 years; it will be the largest stone carving in the world when completed. Continue on to one of America's bestknown icons – Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where the faces of former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are carved into granite bluffs; learn about the monument's creation. Later, arrive in Rapid City, where you'll share favorite highlights of this most unforgettable of Yellowstone tours at tonight's farewell reception and dinner.

MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

ACCOMMODATION: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites

DAY 8 Journey home

Tour ends: Rapid City, South Dakota. Fly home anytime; a transfer from The Rushmore Hotel & Suites to Rapid City Regional Airport is included. Flight departure times vary; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.

MEALS: Breakfast

National Parks

Yellowstone National Park:

• Location: Located primarily in the U.S. states of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho.

• Highlights: Yellowstone is known for its geothermal features, including the famous Old Faithful geyser. The park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bison, elk, grizzly bears, and wolves. You can explore colorful hot springs, geysers, canyons, and waterfalls. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Yellowstone Lake are popular attractions.

• Activities: Hiking, wildlife viewing, camping, fishing, and boating. There are also numerous visitor centers and museums to explore.

• Best Time to Visit: Late spring to early fall, with summer being the peak tourist season. Some roads and facilities may be closed in winter.

Grand Teton National Park:

• Location: Located in northwestern Wyoming, just south of Yellowstone National Park.

• Highlights: Grand Teton National Park is known for its stunning mountain scenery, including the rugged Teton Range. Activities in the park include hiking, mountaineering, and wildlife viewing. Jenny Lake, Jackson Lake, and the Snake River are popular spots for recreation.

• Activities: Hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, mountaineering, boating, and fishing. The park is also famous for its abundant elk population.

• Best Time to Visit: Summer and early fall are the most popular times, as the snow has melted from the higher elevations. Fall offers beautiful foliage.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial:

• Location: Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA.

• Highlights: Mount Rushmore features the iconic sculpture of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore. The Avenue of Flags and the Sculptor's Studio are other points of interest.

• Activities: Visitors can explore the museum, attend ranger-led programs, and hike the Presidential Trail for a closer view of the sculptures. There are also evening lighting ceremonies during the summer.

• Best Time to Visit: Mount Rushmore is open year-round, but the most popular times to visit are during the summer months when the weather is pleasant. However, the fall and spring can offer quieter visits with beautiful foliage and fewer crowds.

These three destinations offer a wide range of outdoor activities, natural beauty, and historical significance. Whether you're interested in exploring geothermal wonders, enjoying mountain landscapes, or experiencing American history, these locations have something for every traveler.

Hotels

Jackson Lake Lodge

It's hard to sit still here. Everywhere you look, wilderness beckons. See the spectacular Tetons rising out of the sky above the Snake River from the huge picture windows 60 feet tall in the main lodge. Gaze across the shimmering lake and spy glimpses of wildlife ambling near the shore as you sit down to eat in the Mural Room. Or peer through your handy binoculars – a must for "up-close" viewing of mountain slopes dotted with wildflowers – while you are enjoying the only swimming pool in Grand Teton National Park. Set in the heart of the park, the Lodge offers all kinds of outdoor activities, including horseback riding, float trips and boat excursions. So when you're not off exploring pos card perfect sights near the Lodge like Jenny Lake and the wildlife-rich Snake River with Tauck, you're free to enjoy your stay as you like.

Old Faithful Inn

In 1987 the Old Faithful Inn was designated a National Historic Landmark because it was "the first building in a National Park constructed in an architectural style harmonious with the grandeur of the surrounding landscape." Its seven-story-high log lobby is unique in American architecture. Created with gnarled logs and rough-sawn wood from the Northern Pacific Railroad, it has a sense of place as identifiable as the park itself. But that's not the only thing special about this 100+-year-old hotel. It is also steps from the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser, where you can count on the clockwork timing of its plume of steam that soars skyward every hour. When you are not outside marveling at this natural wonder, you can enjoy the Inn's immense lobby and huge stone fireplace, comfortable rooms and a great restaurant.

Lake Yellowstone Hotel

Originally built in 1891, the stately Lake Yellowstone Hotel is the oldest historic hotel in remote Yellowstone National Park. The hotel, which is situated on the shores of lovely Lake Yellowstone, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its graceful, refined ambiance recalls the 1920s. The views from the hotel dining room out over the lake are magnificent, as are the vistas from the tranquil sunroom.

Holiday Inn® Cody at Buffalo Bill Village

Did you know that more than 93% of all American travelers have stayed in a Holiday Inn? That's because they know they can find friendly services, comfortable accommodations, and welcome amenities at this well-known hotel chain. The Holiday Inn® Cody at Buffalo Bill Village is no exception. It's just blocks away from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and close to the Cody Nite Rodeo and Dan Miller's Music Revue, offering you one of the best locations in this historic "Old West" town. There's an outdoor swimming pool and a small fitness facility when you're ready to wind down after a busy day and an onsite laundromat available to guests. The Bottoms Up Lounge is a great place to relax after a busy day.

The Ranch at Ucross

No trip to the great American West would be complete without a visit to a real dude ranch. Days start with a cowboy breakfast spread, and end with a dinner buffet that has everything from grilled trout to Wyoming beef and tender chicken – with an apple pie that can't be beat. Lodging accommodations vary and feature views of horses grazing in the back pasture, or sage-covered hills well suited for a trail ride. There are so many activities here you'll never run out of things to do. You can choose to ride a horse or splash in the pool. Play tennis, soccer or challenge your traveling companions to a game of horseshoes. Board games make indoor time fun too. And believe it or not, there is one TV at the ranch but according to the ranch hands, there's hardly ever a kid in front of it!

The Rushmore Hotel & Suites

Ideally located in Rapid City's historic downtown district just steps away from popular entertainment options, shopping areas and businesses, The Rushmore Hotel & Suites offers warm hospitality, an inviting atmosphere, sustainable initiatives, locally inspired cuisine, value added complimentary services and outstanding customer service, making it the place to stay in the Black Hills. Spacious, newly renovated guest rooms feature new 40-inch, 1080p, high-definition, flat screen TV's, ondemand movies, executive desks with ergonomic chairs and coffee makers. The hotel offers a heated indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, Fitness Center and Business Center. The Enigma restaurant is known for its appealing menu infused with local charm and its popular mystery dinners, while the 445 Lounge offers 65 delicious martinis.

Double Occupancy               $6490.00

Single Occupancy                $8178.00

Deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of booking.

Final Payment due by: June 29, 2024

Price includes:

17 meals (7 breakfast, 3 lunches, 7 dinners)

Airport and train transfers as noted, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees and porterage.

Tauck Travel Protection Plan

Guest Protection per person: 349.00

Protect your travel investment with one of Tauck's travel protection plans. When you purchase Tauck's Guest (land journeys), Cruise, Train and Event Protection plans you will help protect you and your family against certain unexpected circumstances and emergencies – before, during and after your long-awaited trip. Enjoy peace of mind for unexpected circumstances you could encounter.

There are many benefits to Tauck's Travel Protection plans: 

• Money-back Refund – while many tour operators are moving to "future travel credits" that aren't redeemable for cash, Tauck continues to provide money-back refunds based on the original form of payment. 
  
  
• Cancel for Any Reason – When you buy our protection plans the cancellation benefit goes beyond our insurance partners covered reasons. The Tauck Cancellation Waiver allows you to cancel your trip for any reason and receive up to 100% of the cost paid for land tours and up to 50% for cruises, train trips and events. See details below.
  
  
• Fees and Premiums Not Based on Age – Unlike other travel protection plans, there are no forms to fill out and the cost of your plan is not based on your age or other personal information.

Complete program terms, conditions and exclusions can be found in the documents featured in the links at the bottom of this page. When choosing Tauck's travel protection, Trip Cancellation benefits are effective the day of the plan purchase.

Tauck Travel Protection plans include the following:

Worldwide Emergency Assistance - When you travel with Tauck you are never alone. A Tauck dedicated 24-hour emergency assistance hotline for Tauck guests for medical and other travel–related problems. Services provided in partnership with Carefree Travel.

Tauck Travel Protection plans can cover losses caused by COVID-19 – COVID-19 is treated the same as any other illness in Tauck's Travel Protection plans. If you contract COVID-19 after you purchase Tauck's Travel Protection plan and cannot travel by your planned departure date, Trip Cancellation benefits may apply. Trip Delay benefits may apply if COVID-19 causes you to be quarantined*.

With the uncertainty of COVID-19, some countries have implemented insurance coverage requirements to enter their countries, yet not all insurance providers provide COVID-19 travel protection. To respond to these concerns, plan benefits for trip delay and medical coverages have been increased.

Trip Interruption – if you must interrupt your trip for covered reasons, Tauck's plans provide reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.

Medical Expenses – reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip.

Baggage / Personal Effects Protection – provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.

Travel Delay – provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid Tauck travel arrangements and reasonable expenses for meals, taxi fares, essential telephone calls, local transportation and lodging, if you are delayed by a common carrier, quarantined*, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the travel protection documents.

Trip Cancellation – if you need to cancel your trip for any covered reason, prior to the scheduled departure date, these plans provide reimbursement for reasons that include sickness or injury to yourself, an immediate family member, or your traveling companion. The Tauck Guest Protection plan reimburses unused, prepaid, non-refundable airfare up to your total air ticket cost. The Tauck Cruise/Event/Train Protection plans reimburse unused, prepaid, non-refundable payments or deposits for your trip up to your total trip cost. 

The Tauck Cancellation Waiver goes beyond the reasons for cancellation as covered by our insurance partner and will reduce or eliminate the regular cancellation fees when you cancel for any reason, provided you  notify Tauck of your cancellation prior to the departure of your trip:

• Tauck's Guest Protection Plan for land journeys provides 100% protection of your tour price paid – and you can cancel up until the day before departure with a full refund of the money paid to Tauck. 
  
  
• Tauck's Cruise Protection Plan refunds your full cruise price paid when cancellation occurs 120 days before departure; with a loss of 25% of the cruise price 119 – 60 days before departure; and with a loss of 50% of the cruise price 59 - 1 day before departure. 
  
  
• All refunds provide money back to the original form of payment. Certain terms and conditions apply.

Airfare costs may be covered under the Trip Cancellation benefits provided by our insurance partner and noted above.

Please Note – Plans can be purchased up until final payment for your trip and the cost is refundable for 10 days after the purchase of the plan.  After the 10-day grace period, the cost of the plan is nonrefundable regardless of the reason for cancellation. To be eligible for the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver, plans must be purchased within 10 days of the date your initial payments or deposits for your trip is received and you are medically able and not disabled from travel at the time your plan is purchased. Note to New York residents: You are not required to purchase the Travel Insurance benefits in order to purchase the non-insurance Cancellation Waiver provided by Tauck. If you would like to purchase the Cancellation Waiver only, please contact Tauck directly. Prices vary per tour; see specific tour pages in our brochures or on tauck.com for pricing.

*Quarantined means You or Your Traveling Companion, Family Member, or Travel Partner are forced into strict medical isolation by a recognized government authority, their authorized deputies, medical examiners or Physician to prevent the spread of the disease due to You or Your Traveling Companion, Family Member, or Travel Partner either having, or being suspected of having a contagious disease, infection or contamination while traveling outside of his/her country of Primary Residence.

For specifics of each of our protection plans, click on the below: 

Tauck Domestic Guest Protection (US and Canada Land Tours)

To obtain your state-specific plan documentation that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the plan, visit https://www.affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPDOM

This content contains highlights of the plans, which include travel insurance coverages underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company under form series T7000 et.al, T210 et. al. and TP-401 et. al. The Crum & Forster group of companies is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best 2020. C&F and Crum & Forster are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. The plans also contain non-insurance Cancellation Waiver(s) provided by Tauck and non-insurance Travel Assistance Services provided by CareFree Travel AssistanceTM. Coverages may vary and not all coverage is available in all jurisdictions. Insurance coverages are subject to the terms, limitations and exclusions in the plan, including an exclusion for pre-existing conditions. In most states, your travel retailer is not a licensed insurance producer/agent and is not qualified or authorized to answer technical questions about the terms, benefits, exclusions, and conditions of the insurance offered or to evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance coverage. Your travel retailer may be compensated for the purchase of a plan and may provide general information about the plans offered, including a description of the coverage and price. The purchase of travel insurance is not required in order to purchase any other product or service from your travel retailer. CA DOI toll free number: 800-927-4357. The cost of your plan is for the entire plan, which consists of both insurance and non-insurance components. Individuals looking to obtain additional information regarding the features and pricing of each travel plan component, please contact Aon Affinity. Aon Affinity is the brand name for the brokerage and program administration operations of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. (TX 13695); (AR 100106022); in CA & MN, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency, Inc. (CA 0795465); in OK, AIS Affinity Insurance Services, Inc.; in CA, Aon Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. (CA 0G94493), Aon Direct Insurance Administrators and Berkely Insurance Agency and in NY, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency. Aon Affinity | 900 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530 | 1.866.808.7352 | travelprotect@aon.com

Coming Soon

Many travelers prefer arriving at their destination a day before their journey begins, or often extend a stay at the end of their trip. As a service, Travel Designs will make hotel reservations before and after your journey. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis, and the cost is added to your tour cost. 

Pre-Nights--Jackson Lake Lodge

It's hard to sit still here. Everywhere you look, wilderness beckons. See the spectacular Tetons rising out of the sky above the Snake River from the huge picture windows 60 feet tall in the main lodge. Gaze across the shimmering lake and spy glimpses of wildlife ambling near the shore as you sit down to eat in the Mural Room. Or peer through your handy binoculars – a must for "up-close" viewing of mountain slopes dotted with wildflowers – while you are enjoying the only swimming pool in Grand Teton National Park. Set in the heart of the park, the Lodge offers all kinds of outdoor activities, including horseback riding, float trips and boat excursions. So when you're not off exploring post card perfect sights near the Lodge like Jenny Lake and the wildlife-rich Snake River with Tauck, you're free to enjoy your stay as you like.

Post-Nights--The Rushmore Hotel & Suites

Ideally located in Rapid City's historic downtown district just steps away from popular entertainment options, shopping areas and businesses, The Rushmore Hotel & Suites offers warm hospitality, an inviting atmosphere, sustainable initiatives, locally inspired cuisine, value added complimentary services and outstanding customer service, making it the place to stay in the Black Hills. Spacious, newly renovated guest rooms feature new 40-inch, 1080p, high-definition, flat screen TV's, on demand movies, executive desks with ergonomic chairs and coffee makers. The hotel offers a heated indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, Fitness Center and Business Center. The Enigma restaurant is known for its appealing menu infused with local charm and its popular mystery dinners, while the 445 Lounge offers 65 delicious martinis.

Make Reservation