Compare Signature City St. Louis by Road Scholar vs America's Magnificent National Parks 2023 End Denver Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1
Welcome and Program Orientation
St Louis, MO D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: You may check in to hotel anytime after 3 pm. Meet group in Room 134 at 4:15.

Afternoon: Meet in Room 134 at 4:15 p.m.to register with program staff and get your welcome packet containing your up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. Program orientation: 4:15 p.m. If you arrive late, please check with your group leader. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate; program activities and schedules may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: We are encouraged to pick up a free beverage (beer, wine, some mixed drinks, or soft drink) from the Drury Plaza Hotel’s happy hour also called “Kick-Back” (5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) which includes complimentary appetizers. We will enjoy a pre-selected, plated dinner from Lombardo’s at 6:00 p.m. in the lower level of the Hotel. Coffee, tea and water are included.

Evening: Readjourn in hotel, room 134 immediately following dinner for a short lecture on the founding of St. Louis and the St. Louis fur trade. The rest of the evening is at leisure to settle in and relax.

Day 2
Neighborhood Tours/Architecture/Culture/Cathedral Basilica
St Louis, MO B,L,D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Considerable standing and walking in neighborhoods and Cathedral Basilica.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Meet in Room 134 at 8:00 am where guide, Melanie Harvey will outline and describe the day's journey. Once we board the bus, our first stop will be the historic Old Courthouse, site of the Dred Scott Trial. We will experience a bus tour with Melanie of various St. Louis landmarks and ethnic neighborhoods both then and now; Union Station, City Museum, City Garden, Soulard Market and its historic neighborhood, St. Louis Arsenal, Lemp Mansion & Brewery, DeMenil Mansion, a walking tour of Lafayette Square neighborhood with its grand "Painted Ladies" and unique neighborhood park. Experience some of the old neighborhoods as you learn the importance of German, Irish and Italian immigrants and their significance on the development of St. Louis. Study the various architectural influences on the Midwest.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch on the "Hill", and maybe even try your hand at Bocce Ball at Milo's Bocce Garden. After lunch, enjoy an authentic Italian Gelato or an Italian pastry at nearby shops for dessert.

Afternoon: Field study on the St. Louis Hill. This unique neighborhood/area remains primarily an Italian-American neighborhood. It was established in the late 19th century when immigrants were attracted by jobs in nearby plants created to exploit the local clay for brick making. Baseball greats Yogi Berra and broadcaster Joe Garagiola Sr. grew up on the Hill, along with other sports notables. Field trip to the new St. Louis Cathedral Basilica where the largest collection of mosaics in the world is housed in one place. Study the architectural design of Romanesque and Byzantine styles, where east meets west.

Dinner: We are encouraged to pick up a free beverage (beer, wine, some mixed drinks, or soft drink) from the Drury Plaza Hotel’s happy hour also called “Kick-Back” (5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) which includes complimentary appetizers. Feel free to bring them to our catered dinner in Room 134 of the hotel.

Evening: Meet me at the fair! Enjoy a presentation on the sights, sounds, and discoveries of the 1904 World's Fair, held in St. Louis.

Day 3
Gateway Arch/National Blues Museum/MO Botanical Garden
St Louis, MO B,L,D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Walking down a paved sidewalk required to reach arch. Step or ramp available to Arch entrance. To reach the top and return, you must be able to manage at least 96 steps, divided into six flights, and may need to stand for 30-–60 minutes. No seating or restrooms are located at the top of the Arch. Participants can choose to walk extensively at the Botanical Garden or sit on one of the many benches and just enjoy the view.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at hotel.

Morning: Meet in Room 134 of the hotel at 8:00 am, where we will begin the morning viewing "Monument to the Dream", a documentary about the monumental engineering feat that was required to erect the Gateway Arch. Board the bus to visit our National Monument, the Gateway Arch, built as a tribute to Thomas Jefferson and all those pioneers for who St. Louis was the Gateway to the West. As we arrive, stop in the Old Cathedral, site of the oldest Catholic parish west of the Mississippi, and location of the baptism of Sacagawea's son. Once at the Arch, you may choose to travel to the top of this 630 foot high stainless steel structure for amazing views of the Gateway City, the Mighty Mississippi, and neighboring Illinois.

Lunch: Experience a boxed lunch of St. Louis style BBQ from “Sugar Fire” while listening to a performance of Blues/Jazz music.

Afternoon: After lunch we will continue on into the National Blues Museum, the only museum that is exclusively dedicated to the national and international story of Blues music and how it has greatly influenced the American culture here in the United States. Listen with interactive technology and view artifact exhibits to experience its long and tradition-rich history that has continued to speak to listeners throughout the years and all walks of life. A docent will lead us through the museum and then we will have some time to view the exhibits on our own. Our next stop will take us on a field study of Henry Shaw's dream, the Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover why it is one of the top three botanical gardens in the United States. Explore the garden, Climatron, and more at your leisure. Tram rides are available for $4/person (cash only). Trams depart on the hour and pick up at each stop one hour later. Be aware of last tram pick-up time.

Dinner: Enjoy the Irish presence in St. Louis tonight at McGurk's Irish Restaurant and Pub, choose from a selected menu. Coffee, tea & soft drinks are included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Anheuser Busch Museum Tour
St Louis, MO B,L Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles and getting on and off a bus. Walking and standing for up to 1 ½ hours at the Anheuser Busch Museum Tour.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: This morning we will start the day with an Anheuser Busch Beer Museum Tour. We will learn about the long and colorful history of the company, view the fabulous and impressive architecture of three National Historic Landmarks, we will visit the Stables where we get an up close view of the beautiful and famous Clydesdale horses, visit the Brew House, and the historic Old Lyon Schoolhouse Building which is home to a modern museum of nearly 400 unique historical items from the Anheuser-Busch archives. We will have a brief presentation of the brewing process, receive a commemorative glass and a complimentary beer sample.

Lunch: Experience a peek inside an old wiring manufacturing warehouse that has been renovated to house “Sqwires” restaurant. Named because it is located in Lafayette Square and is housed in a previous wiring manufacturing building. A plated lunch previously picked from a selected menu will be served including coffee, tea, and water.

Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration. You may want to walk to Union Station to view the beautiful architecture that once housed the largest railroad station in the United States. Or take a walk to the Old Post Office or newly-renovated Public Library. Other suggestions will be available from the group leader.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The Drury Kick-Back is also available for us to enjoy.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 5
Campbell House Museum/Forest Park-History & Art Museum
St Louis, MO B,L,D Drury Inn St. Louis at Union Station
Activity note: Getting on and off a bus. Steps and standing required at the Campbell House. Moderate walking and some standing at the History Museum and Art Museum.

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: We will head out by bus to step back in time at the Campbell House Museum. This museum opened in 1943, transferring directly from family ownership to the museum. This preserved not only the Campbell's house but also their collection of original furniture, fixtures, paintings, objects, and thousands of pages of family documents. Included in these documents is a unique album of 60 photographs of the interior of the house from 1885. It looks much the same today as it did in these photographs.

Lunch: Today we will lunch at a true St. Louis icon and enjoy food native to the St. Louis area. You may even get to enjoy a special St. Louis treat!

Afternoon: After lunch explore Forest Park, site of the 1904 World's Fair, and one of the largest urban parks in the country, surpassing Central Park by 500 acres. We will visit the Missouri History Museum. The original building was built with proceeds from the profits of the 1904 World’s Fair. It was built to commemorate Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase. We will learn about St. Louis’s Crime Story. Although St. Louis is rarely mentioned in regards to gang history or the mob underworld, St. Louis offers a history of its own filled with exciting stories and colorful characters. We will tour the underworld of the past, meet these notorious mobsters, learning about their street battles and shady deals. Find out how law enforcement attempted to clean up the city’s gangster underbelly. We will then be free to tour the Museum on our own. Our next stop will be the St. Louis Art Museum. We will be met by docents who will show you the Museum’s highlights and then give you time to explore on your own. Schedule is flexible -- if you prefer to spend all of your time at one museum, we can accommodate that.

Dinner: We’ll savor a delightful farewell dinner while experiencing the German influence on St. Louis cuisine at the Feasting Fox Restaurant to celebrate our week of fun. A buffet dinner will be served. Coffee, tea, and water are included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 6
Program Conclusion and Departures
St Louis, MO B
Activity note: Hotel Check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Check out and prepare for departure. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all you journeys!

Day 1: Arrive in Phoenix and Travel to Scottsdale

Welcome to Arizona, famous for its scenic road trips, towering Monument Valley, and of course the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Your airport transfer will whisk you to your hotel in Scottsdale where you can enjoy the facilities and grounds of this striking desert oasis. Why not head out and explore Old Scottsdale, a vibrant and unique urban downtown area that introduces you the best of the state? Here, you’ll be surrounded by retro wooden buildings, rodeo inspired artwork and a selection of local stores, all radiating a classic Southwestern flair. At 18:00, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner at Zuzu, where you will have the opportunity to mingle and get to know one another.

Day 2: Sedona and the Wonders of the Mighty Grand Canyon

Travel through world-renowned Red Country along the Red Rock Scenic Byway, one of only 20 designated All-American Roads nationwide. Explore bohemian Sedona with its shops and galleries, or simply take in the exceptional beauty of Red Rock Country before you make your way to the Grand Canyon. Follow Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Byway through Coconino National Forest, a breathtaking stretch of road recognized by Rand McNally as one of the Top Five Most Scenic Drives in America. On arrival, you can take an optional flightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon. Whether you prefer a helicopter or a fixed-wing plane, you'll enjoy magnificent scenery with aerial views from above. Meet your Local Expert Canyon Tim at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to discover its wonders. You'll learn all about the origins of the five-million-year-old canyon, its rock formations and the human impact on this natural masterpiece. He'll also talk to you about the local flora and fauna, and where you might be able to spot them.

Day 3: Monument Valley and Lake Powell

Early risers will take advantage of the lodge location to witness one of Mother Nature's grandest shows on earth: a sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Travel along the South Rim Desert View Drive, skirting the South Rim of the canyon. We will stop at Desert View Point to see the historic Watchtower built by Mary Colter in the Puebloan style, the Colorado River turning north and the Painted Desert extending towards Navajo and Hopi Indian lands. Make Travel Matter as we will be supporting the Grand Canyon Conservancy and making a donation to support the development of the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Head to the Cameron Trading Post, on of the oldest and most historic general stores in Arizona. Enter Monument Valley Tribal Park, where you'll join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet your Navajo Local Experts and board all-terrain vehicles with open sides for a private, off-the-beaten path exploration of this magical valley. Learn about Navajo history, culture and heritage from your expert as you travel deeper into the natural wonders of this unique landscape. Enjoy a Navajo cookout amid the giant buttes and mesas of this unique landscape. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your lakefront resort.

Day 4: Leisurely Lake Powell Relaxed Start

Today is entirely yours to do as you please. Partake in one of our popular optional experiences, explore on your own, or simply relax by the resort swimming pool with views of Lake Powell. As an optional activity this morning, let yourself be tempted by a gentle float trip down the Colorado River. Calmly float down the Colorado, past some of the most awe-inspiring sites, like the iconic Horseshoe Bend and Petroglyph Beach. In the evening, enjoy dinner with wine at the Red Heritage as you get the opportunity to watch local dancers talented in colorful powwow dancing, flute playing, and live drum music and enjoy a traditional dinner at this Navajo owned Native American Performing Arts Theater.

Day 5: Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks

Journey across a wide-open landscape punctuated by colorful sandstone cliffs, sagebrush-covered flats, and high ridges dotted with piñon pine and juniper. Travel through Bryce Canyon Country on a portion of the Scenic Highway 89, recognized by National Geographic as the No. 1 Driver's Drive in the world. You will be struck by the beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park, an otherworldly landscape of red rock pillars known as hoodoos, pink cliffs, and endless vistas. Follow the Rim Trail from Surprise Point to Bryce Point. Stops will be made at the major viewpoints and there will be time for a leisurely walk along Sunset Point or a more physical hike down the canyon. Either way, you will be spellbound by the beauty and majesty of this dramatic natural landscape.

Day 6: Zion National Park Relaxed Start

After a leisurely breakfast and a Relaxed Start, we will tour the canyon aboard a privately chartered open-air vehicle, with live commentary from a Local Expert to show you the many scenic highlights of the canyon such as the weeping rock, the hanging garden and the fauna and flora of the park.Then choose between a Travel Director guided hike to the Emerald Pools for beautiful scenery of the canyon, waterfalls and green pools surrounded by red sandstone or visit the Zion Nature Center at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center. The afternoon is free after that. In the evening enjoy a Celebration Dinner hosted at the lodge, and a last chance to share travel memories with your new friends.

Day 7: Salt Lake City

This morning you make your way out of Zion National Park and will transfer to Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah. Your hotel is short walk away from Temple Square, which is the headquarters of the Mormon church. In the evening join for a dinner with wine at the hotel.

Day 8: Jackson and the Tetons

Before leaving Salt Lake City, take in the State Capitol building. Drive along the scenic Logan Canyon, over the Wasatch Mountain Range, and up to the Bear Lake Summit. Stop for lunch at Garden City, Utah while enjoying views of the beautiful turquoise waters of Bear Lake. You will then head north across the Oregon Trail to historic Jackson. Have your cameras ready for the famous elk antlers the central square, while eager shoppers will find a number of charming traditional boutique galleries to browse. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure, with your hotel located only a short walk away from Jackson's Town Square.

Day 9: Yellowstone National Park

Wake up to a mountainous view like no other and witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 6,562 feet (2,000 metres) from the valley floor. This morning, you have the opportunity to partake in an optional scenic float down the Snake River (signed waiver required) inside Grand Teton National Park. In keeping with today’s rustic country charm, you’ll enter Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. Known for its unique geothermal activity, spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife, you’ll experience Wyoming in all its glory. Keep an eye out for black bears or wolves. Tonight you’ll stay in the National Park Lodges, allowing you to experience the park after hours, in its natural habitat.

Day 10: Geysers and Colourful Mudpots Relaxed Start

Savour the surreal surroundings of Yellowstone with a relaxed start. Walk among the rainbow tinted hot springs and watch the erupting geysers as you take in the history of the park on an informative stroll with your Travel Director. Catch the renowned colourful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 metres) into the air. In the afternoon, enjoy the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone as you take in stunning natural wonders. While driving through Hayden Valley, famous for its wildlife, keep an eye out for wolves, bears, elk and hundreds of bison. The rest of the evening is at leisure for you to relax.

Day 11: The Ranch at Ucross Relaxed Start

Set off on your travels through the stark Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains, leading you to the Wild West Town of Cody. Channel your inner showman and learn more about America’s great Western legends at the Buffalo Bill Centre, known for its Western art collection, firearms, and natural history. Travel through the Bighorn National Forest to the Ranch at UCross. Take in the rustic charm as you're hosted at a traditional Wyoming Family ranch. Start off the evening with a cocktail hour in the historic Ranch House bar. After a home-cooked dinner, enjoy a fire pit with live entertainment, including country, folk and bluegrass music.

Day 12: Devils Tower into the Black Hills

Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride (8) accompanied by a Ranch Hand. If playing cowboy isn’t your thing, perhaps go fishing or merely relax and take in your beautiful surroundings, the choice is yours. Make your way to Devils Tower, an astounding geological feature that protrudes out of the surrounding Black Hills. This symbolic landmark is considered sacred to the Lakota and other tribes. Experience Spearfish Canyon, a favoured spot among wildlife enthusiasts and one famous for its elvish woodland beauty. The limestone palisades of this creek-carved gorge are more ancient than the Grand Canyon itself.

Day 13: Custer and the Wild, Wild West

A day for those looking to explore the Wild West, try to spotting the fastest mammal in North America, the pronghorn antelope as you cross the great high plains to the Black Hills of South Dakota. We visit Badlands National Park in South Dakota, 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. Without a doubt, a hidden gem in the national park system, the unique beauty of the Badlands landscape is like no other. Sightseers as well as scholarly scientists are attracted to the area for its astounding beauty and the opportunity to peek into an ancient world. Continue on to Custer State Park, renowned for its beautiful landscape and abundant wildlife.

Day 14: Mountain Monuments of the Black Hills Relaxed Start

Travel to the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Here, carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt overlook the landscape. Next, head  to Crazy Horse Memorial, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the culture, tradition and living heritage of the North American Indians. An exclusive Insight Experience awaits as you are taken up to stand face-to-face with this impressive sculpture. At 641 feet (195 metres) long and 563 feet (172 metres) tall the piece takes the record for the world’s largest mountain carving.Join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Celebration Dinner with wine, as you reflect on your adventure across the wide-open spaces of America's national parks.

Day 15: Depart Denver

Travel south from Custer State Park where your trip ends on arrival in Denver. A transfer is available to Denver International Airport. Airport arrival in Denver will be at 16:30 or choose to extend your stay in Downtown Denver.