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8
DAYS • 12 MEALS
Experience
all the majesty of the mountains, extraordinary 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! Re-create 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 in this warm, welcoming city, giving you ample time to
explore through a guided tour.
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
Days One – Doubletree Hotel Southeast, 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 |