Compare The Gifts of Niagara: From the Falls to the Underground Railroad by Road Scholar vs National Parks Family Journey: Yellowstone and Grand Teton by G Adventures

Day 1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, Class
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: FINAL SCHEDULE DETAILS FOR ENTIRE WEEK ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING UPON SPEAKERS' AVAILABILITY. Detailed schedule with starting times will be provided when you register on-site. Feel free to call us in advance if you need specific details in advance of your arrival that are not reflected within this booklet (716-754-7376, Ext. 1).

Afternoon: Check-in from 1:00 to 4:45 pm. Earlier check-ins available with advance notice. Once on the Stella Niagara campus, be sure to use the "Center of Renewal Entrance" and NOT the "Main Entrance". The Center of Renewal entrance is a porch with black railings, plenty of signs in the windows, and it is the last building on the right after the "Main Entrance".

Dinner: 5:00 pm Dinner at Center of Renewal

Evening: 6:15 pm | Formal welcome and orientation session to introduce you to the program highlights this week. 7:30 pm | Welcome wine-and-cheese social

Day 2
Cave of the Winds, Native Americans, Underground Railroad
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L,D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Begin our first full day with a better understanding of Native Americans in Western New York history. Join us on the Cave of the Winds walking tour right up to the edge of Niagara Falls ... from the bottom up! Learn about the Underground Railroad from various perspectives, including a group discussion on key topic areas.

Breakfast: 8:00 am | Breakfast at Center of Renewal

Morning: This morning we will focus on the important role of Native Americans in the history of the Niagara Frontier, as presented by a member of the Cayuga Nation.

Lunch: 12:00 pm | Lunch

Afternoon: Experience the power of Niagara Falls as you might never imagine, up close and personal. Guests on the Cave of the Winds Niagara Falls tour follow wooden walkways along Niagara River nearby the torrents of Niagara Falls. Enjoy Niagara Falls as never before at Cave of the Winds Niagara! (In case of unexpected extended weeks of cold weather causing excessive build-ups of snow & ice, the walkways might be closed to the public. In this unlikely event, we will substitute another enjoyable activity.)

Dinner: 5:00 pm | Dinner at Center of Renewal

Evening: This evening we will learn about the impact of the Underground Railroad and the Niagara Frontier during the Civil War. The group will also be invited to share in discussion questions appropriate to the topic.

Day 3
Niagara Falls, Boat Ride, Illumination of the Falls
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L,D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Morning lecture on Niagara Falls State Park. Afternoon boat ride up to the Falls. Evening illumination of the Falls. VALID PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED TO CROSS THE BORDER THIS EVENING!

Breakfast: 8:00 am Breakfast at Center of Renewal

Morning: Morning lecture with Carol Rogers, knowledgeable educator from Niagara Falls State Park who will discuss Niagara Falls geography and natural history. Also explore what Niagara Falls is like in the wintertime and discover if the Falls have ever frozen over.

Lunch: 12:00 pm Lunch at the Center of Renewal.

Afternoon: 1:15 pm | Enjoy a field trip and ride on the "Maid of the Mist" boat (pending seasonal availability and weather restrictions) and other nearby sights ... a breathtaking afternoon experience!

Dinner: Dinner in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada

Evening: BRING YOUR PASSPORT to view panoramic Niagara Falls from the Canadian side of the Falls this evening. We'll stay in Canada long enough to experience the nighttime colorful illumination of the Falls before returning to the USA.

Day 4
Canada: Skylon Tower, Botanical Gardens, and Butterflies!
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Enjoy lunch atop the Skylon Tower, and an afternoon at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory. VALID, GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED TO CROSS THE BORDER TO

Day!

Breakfast: 8:00 am | Breakfast at Center of Renewal

Morning: Board the bus for Canada trip. IMPORTANT! BRING VALID PASSPORT AND JACKET or SWEATER FOR TRIP TO CANADA (it gets cool near the Falls at night). We'll be in Canada all day through early evening when we will then return to the USA, not before. Feel free to bring a pillow from your room in case you want to take a nap on the bus; just remember to return it to your room after the bus trip ends later this evening.

Lunch: Enjoy a special dinner-type lunch served in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Skylon Tower overlooking Niagara Falls -- breathtaking views and a wonderful meal, too! Skylon Tower's world-famous dining simply must be experienced. Their award-winning continental cuisine is presented in an elegant setting 775 ft. above the Falls. Experience once-in-a-lifetime views of Niagara Falls and the Great Gorge. Lunch includes admission to the Skylon Tower Ride-to-the-Top and the Indoor/Outdoor Observation Decks after lunch.

Afternoon: Continue our visit on the Canadian side of the Falls and Ontario, Canada with an afternoon at the 100-acre Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, maintained by the School of Horticulture, and the fascinating Butterfly Conservatory. This magical attraction features over 2,000 colorful tropical butterflies floating freely among lush, exotic blossoms and greenery. Paths wind through the rainforest setting, past a pond and waterfall and the Emergence window, where butterflies leave their pupae and prepare to take their first flight. Relax at your own pace with this self-guided walking tour.

Dinner: Casual lunch-type dinner on your own along the way.

Evening: As we prepare to cross the border back into the USA, enjoy our early evening ride along the scenic 14-mile drive, featuring floral displays and other sights.

Day 5
H2O power, Old Fort Niagara, Native American history
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L,D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Learn about how Niagara Falls affects massive amount of hydroelectric power. Learn about Niagara Frontier history from the 1600s on at Old Fort Niagara.

Breakfast: 8:00 am | Breakfast at Center of Renewal

Morning: This morning we'll board the bus for a field trip to New York State Power Authority to learn about hydroelectric power in the Niagara Frontier. Enjoy a fabulous view of the Niagara Gorge and Lower Niagara River from the deck of the Power Authority.

Lunch: 12:00 pm | Lunch

Afternoon: After lunch, we'll visit Old Fort Niagara in the nearby Village of Youngstown. There, we'll explore highlights of Native American history, the 1600s-1700s, the War of 1812, and much more.

Dinner: 5:00 pm Dinner

Evening: Open evening

Day 6
Final Learning Session, Lunch, Independent Departures
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L
Activity note: See how much you learned via the fun game, "All You've Wanted to Know about Niagara Falls" complete with prizes. Check out from your room by 10:00 AM, enjoy lunch, and prepare for a relaxing trip home or to your next destination. Thank you for joining us!

Breakfast: 8:00 am Breakfast at Center of Renewal

Morning: Free time until 10:00 am to finish packing and checking out from room. 10:15-11:45 am | Final learning session and fun competition exercise: "All You've Wanted to Know about Niagara Falls", facilitated by adult learning facilitator and Center of Renewal executive director Nancy P. Askins, PhD. Enjoy this session structured as an enjoyable end-of-week learning game complete with prizes for the highest scores, with insightful fun for all.

Lunch: 12:00 pm | Lunch at Center; program officially ends after lunch. Have a safe trip home, and thank you for enjoying our Niagara Falls area Road Scholar lifelong learning adventure!

Day 1 Jackson

Arrive in time to meet your fellow travelers for a welcome gathering this evening. Your arrival transfer is included.

Day 2 Jackson/Grand Teton National Park

Spend the day exploring the spectacular peaks and valleys of Grand Teton National Park, beginning in the Moose historic district, where early log-cabin homesteads help tell the stories of the bold fur trappers, mountain men, and female entrepreneurs who settled the region. At the park's Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, young travelers begin their junior ranger journey. Later, grab an oar for a rafting expedition down the Snake River. As you gently float along, spot mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose in the surrounding woodlands and meadows. Enjoy a delicious lunch after your river adventure.

Day 3 Grand Teton National Park

Board a boat for the ride across Jenny Lake; then set out on a hike in Cascade Canyon—carved by retreating glaciers some 15,000 years ago—and continue to Hidden Falls, plummeting almost a hundred feet into the gorge. This afternoon, opt for a hike around Jackson Lake. Young explorers will also have the opportunity to complete their junior ranger activities and claim their Grand Teton badge!

Day 4 Grand Teton National Park/Yellowstone National Park

On a morning drive, we’ll cross the Continental Divide and travel into the vast caldera of the Yellowstone supervolcano—a volcano capable of a massive eruptions, which Yellowstone has experienced three times in just over two million years. View wisps of steam rising from geothermal hotspots throughout the park—home to about half of the world’s geysers. Visit the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center to begin a new junior ranger journey, and gather to watch the famed geyser erupt on the clock. Stroll boardwalks winding between the bubbling and gurgling hot springs and geysers of the Upper Geyser Basin, and peer into the spectacular rainbow-hued Grand Prismatic Spring, where thermophilic bacteria generate incredible shades of yellow, blue, and red.

Please note, the long drive days listed on days 4-7 include multiple stops and are inclusive of all activities described in the day itinerary.

Day 5 Yellowstone National Park

Venture out in search of astonishing geological activity and amazing creatures in the Yellowstone wilderness—established as the world’s first national park in 1872. Hike in the spectacular Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and see the rushing river and falls; then in the lush Hayden Valley, marvel at the bubbling Mud Volcano and the turbulent waters of the acidic Sulphur Caldron. Further your discoveries at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center where you will encounter bear habitats, gray wolves, river otters, and have the opportunity to observe, understand and ultimately appreciate these magnificent animals.You’ll also have the chance to explore the historic town of Mammoth Hot Springs, home to Yellowstone National Park headquarters; and stop at Roosevelt Lodge, once a tent camp for trappers and explorers. Set out on safari through the sweeping Lamar Valley—known as the “Serengeti of North America” for its high concentration of wildlife, including bison, elk, and elusive wolves and grizzly bears.

There is so much to see and do in Yellowstone National Park and the wildlife is a big part. Based on animal sightings and park ranger feedback, we give our CEOs the opportunity to adjust the order of highlights explored in the park. The activities above will be delivered across day 5 and 6 of this tour.

Day 6 Yellowstone National Park

Venture out in search of astonishing geological activity and amazing creatures in the Yellowstone wilderness—established as the world’s first national park in 1872. Hike in the spectacular Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and see the rushing river and falls; then in the lush Hayden Valley, marvel at the bubbling Mud Volcano and the turbulent waters of the acidic Sulphur Caldron. Further your discoveries at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center where you will encounter bear habitats, gray wolves, river otters, and have the opportunity to observe, understand and ultimately appreciate these magnificent animals.You’ll also have the chance to explore the historic town of Mammoth Hot Springs, home to Yellowstone National Park headquarters; and stop at Roosevelt Lodge, once a tent camp for trappers and explorers. Set out on safari through the sweeping Lamar Valley—known as the “Serengeti of North America” for its high concentration of wildlife, including bison, elk, and elusive wolves and grizzly bears.

There is so much to see and do in Yellowstone National Park and the wildlife is a big part. Based on animal sightings and park ranger feedback, we give our CEOs the opportunity to adjust the order of highlights explored in the park. The activities above will be delivered across day 5 and 6 of this tour.

Day 7 Yellowstone National Park

Enjoy a final day exploring one of America’s most beloved national parks. Descend a wooden boardwalk into the vast Norris Geyser Basin, dotted with colorful pools and steaming fumaroles; then stop by the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center for lunch, where young travelers can claim a Yellowstone junior ranger badge.

Day 8 Yellowstone National Park/Jackson

Head back to Jackson early this morning where tour ends in downtown Jackson.

When arranging your flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration. Please note that your outgoing flight from Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) must depart no earlier than 14:00 (2pm) on Day 8. The group will be brought to downtown Jackson. You must make your own way to the airport from there as only permitted airport vehicles can do airport drop offs.