5 Itineraries to Experience North America’s Wide-Open Spaces
Summer’s here and with it, the urge to explore, discover, and get away from it all. Make the most of this time and hit the road to experience some of the most beautiful places in the world….right here in our backyard!
Planning a road trip can be daunting, which is why I’ve outlined a few itineraries to inspire you to imagine the possibilities. Below you will find five trips that can be enjoyed by simply hopping in the car:
The National Parks of the Southwest
Northern California Food & Adventure
The Wonders of Coastal New England
From The Badlands to Yellowstone
Journey Through Colorado & New Mexico
Ready to go? Get in touch to hit the road!
SOUTHWEST NATIONAL PARKS ODYSSEY
Venture into a wonderland of red rock spires, buttes and domes on a luxurious odyssey through The Southwest’s national parks– arguably some of America’s most unique and captivating landscapes.
Routing: Sedona – Grand Canyon NP – Page – Zion NP – Bryce Canyon NP – Capitol Reef NP – Moab – Canyonlands NP – Arches NP – Grand Junction
Start Your Trip From: Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City
DAY 1: SEDONA
Arrive in Phoenix and drive directly to Sedona- a center for natural beauty and the arts– drawing inspiration from the cultures of Native American tribes. Spend the afternoon taking advantage of your resort’s amenities or embarking on a backcountry tour with a local guide who will introduce you to sacred places that will provide a true recharge to your spirit.
DAYS 2-3: GRAND CANYON NATL. PARK & LAKE POWELL Go behind the barricades at Grand Canyon National Park to explore less-visited vistas and trails with your private guide. After lunch at the historic Hotel El Tovar, board a helicopter for a private flight over the canyon. From here, make your way to Page, Arizona, where you will explore slot canyons with a Navajo guide and embark on a private boat charter on Lake Powell’s pristine, glassy waters. Explore some of the lake’s countless side canyons and partake in exhilarating water sports such as tubing, water-skiing and wakeboarding.
DAYS 4-6: ZION, BRYCE CANYON & CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARKS
Continue to Zion, where you will experience off-the-grid canyoneering and naturalist hikes. Over the next two days hike the Zion landscape and rappel down narrow canyons as you learn canyoneering techniques from your guides. Proceed to Bryce Canyon for sightseeing and a picnic lunch amongst a grove of ancient pine trees. Then, traverse one of the nation’s most beautiful scenic byways en route to Capitol Reef National Park, where you may partake in self- guided hiking. Arrive in Moab in the early evening.
DAYS 7-8: CANYONLANDS & ARCHES NATIONAL PARKS
Board a motorized whitewater boat to run the mighty rapids of the Colorado River through Canyonlands National Park. Along the way, enjoy breaks for swimming, hiking and sunbathing. At the take-out point, enjoy a short scenic flight back to Moab. Spend the following day exploring Arches with your local guide. Scope out unusual geological formations and fossilized dinosaur tracks as you enjoy breathtaking vistas of the surrounding red-rock terrain.
DAY 9: DEPARTURE
After breakfast today, make your way to Grand Junction Regional Airport, where you will either begin the drive home, or drop off your rental car in time for your flight. Safe travels!
CALIFORNIA ECO & CULINARY DISCOVERY
Discover “NorCal” on this family-friendly adventure that features opportunities for outdoor adventure in Sonoma, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and the Monterey Peninsula.
Routing: San Francisco – Sonoma Coast – Lake Tahoe – Yosemite National Park – The Monterey Peninsula – Big Sur State Park
Start Your Trip From: Fresno, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose
DAYS 1-2: THE SONOMA COAST
Departing from San Francisco, cross the Golden Gate Bridge en route to the Sonoma Coast. After getting settled at your hotel, meet a local guide for a private hike through Sonoma County’s backcountry. Follow an enchanting trail and learn about redwood trees that anchor this unique ecosystem before making your way to a scenic cliffside overlook.
DAYS 3-4: LAKE TAHOE
Leave the coast behind as you proceed inland through California’s central valley to the picture-perfect shores of Lake Tahoe. Explore Tahoe’s crystal-clear waters on a private kayak tour where you’ll enjoy lunch on a relaxed beach as you soak up the sunshine. Drawing on your guide’s insider knowledge, visit hidden beaches and secluded coves during your private eco-tour.
DAYS 5-6: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Trace a scenic route to Yosemite. Explore this iconic park with a local conservationist and private driver while enjoying a route customized to your physical abilities and interests. Gaze at majestic cliffs, giant sequoia trees and tumbling waterfalls as your guide explains the region’s geography, wildlife, and ecology.
DAYS 7-9: MONTEREY & BIG SUR ECO-TOURING
Depart Yosemite, and proceed to the breathtaking Monterey Peninsula, where you can drive along its scenic byway for postcard-worthy photos of the jaw-dropping coastline. Eat your way through the charming village of Carmel- by-the-Sea with a local foodie guide. On the following days, take a private before-hours tour of the fabulous Monterey Bay Aquarium, then join a marine naturalist for thrilling whale watching adventure by zodiac watercraft. On your final day, visit Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park for a scenic hiking tour that will reveal old-growth redwoods, mountain streams, and rugged ocean coves.
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, begin the drive home, or make your way to a regional airport for your flight. Safe travels!
THE WONDERS OF COASTAL NEW ENGLAND
Enjoy the evolution of coastal New England, from Rhode Island’s exclusive mansions and towns to Acadia National Park’s rugged and wild coast.
Routing: Coastal Rhode Island – Cape Cod – Ogunquit – Bar Harbor
Start Your Trip From: Boston, Hartford, Montreal, New Haven, New York
DAYS 1-3: COASTAL RHODE ISLAND
Welcome to New England! Check into your seaside resort and enjoy time at leisure to relax on the beach before your adventures begin! Visit Newport and board a vintage motor yacht, complete with a raw bar and lobster lunch. Admire stately mansions from the water or sail around little-known Jamestown for a true insider tour.
DAYS 4-5: CAPE COD
Cross the border into Massachusetts and make your way to Cape Cod, famed for its pristine beaches, quaint villages and delectable seafood. Check into your seaside resort and enjoy some time to discover the Cape at your own pace. You may elect to head out on an off-road dunes tour, embark on a whale watching excursion or join a local foodie guide for a tasting tour of this bountiful region’s gourmet delicacies.
DAYS 6-7: SOUTHERN MAINE
Work your way north kicking off the Maine leg of your road trip as you proceed to Ogunquit. Wabanaki for “beautiful place by the sea,” Ogunquit has attracted beachgoers and artists alike for centuries. Enjoy time at leisure, then in the evening, board a private lobstering vessel for a hands-on lobstering experience. Try your hand at baiting traps, hauling up catches and handling live lobsters as you learn about the lobster industry’s role in the cultural fabric of Maine.
DAYS 8-9: ACADIA & BAR HARBOR
Continue heading north as the landscape gives way to the natural splendor of Acadia National Park. Arrive in Bar Harbor in the late morning– in time to grab lunch- then delight in an aerial survey of Acadia aboard an authentic 1930’s biplane. See if you can spot all seven of the nearby lighthouses
from the air! Spend your final day on a guided tour of Acadia National Park with a naturalist guide. Explore the Park’s natural treasures, including pristine woodlands and rocky beaches as you keep an eye out for the local resident wildlife.
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
After breakfast today, you will either begin the drive home or make your way to Portland International Jetport in time for your flight. Safe travels!
THE BADLANDS TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Visit iconic national parks and monuments as you explore living history and the wild ecosystems of the American West.
Routing: Mount Rushmore – Buffalo – Cody – Yellowstone NP – Grand Teton NP – Jackson Hole
Start Your Trip From: Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City
DAYS 1-2: MOUNT RUSHMORE & THE BADLANDS
Welcome to South Dakota! Kick off your trip with a sunset tour of Badlands National Park which will reveal the area’s rich geological history and wildlife. From here, visit Mt. Rushmore where you will examine the granite faces of presidents past as you enjoy a helicopter tour at the presidents’ eye level. Later enjoy scouting for prairie dogs and bison on a tour through Custer State Park to the Crazy Horse Memorial, a sculpture commemorating the region’s indigenous communities.
DAYS 3-4: WYOMING’S WILD FRONTIER HISTORY
Wind your way through South Dakota’s otherworldly Black Hills before arriving in Buffalo, Wyoming, to spend the night in a historic frontier inn that once hosted the likes of Theodore Roosevelt, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Take in sweeping views of the rugged Bighorn Range as you proceed to Cody, Wyoming, an authentic frontier town named after the Wild West legend, William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Join a museum curator for a VIP tour of the Buffalo Bill Center of The West to gain an insightful perspective on this region’s colorful history.
DAYS 5-7: YELLOWSTONE NP
Make your way to Yellowstone National Park and meet your naturalist driver guide for a private tour of the park’s upper loop. Enjoy plentiful opportunities to hike through secluded canyons, discover backcountry geysers, and spot Yellowstone’s vibrant wildlife in its natural habitat. The next day head out to tour Yellowstone’s lower loop and visit landmarks such as Old Faithful and Yellowstone Lake.
DAYS 8-9: GRAND TETONS & SNAKE RIVER FLOAT
From Yellowstone, proceed to Jackson Hole and gear up for spectacular mountain views and world-class wildlife viewing on a safari in Grand Teton National Park. On your tour, look for herds of bison and pronghorn that live in the region’s valleys and canyons. On your last day, embark on a Snake River float but if you feel more adventurous, you may opt for a whitewater rafting trip instead! Back on shore, gather for a gourmet picnic lunch in a private river camp set amidst a grove of tranquil cottonwood trees before heading back to your resort for your final night in Wyoming.
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, begin the drive home, or make your way to Jackson Hole Airport in time for your flight. Safe travels!
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH: COLORADO & NEW MEXICO
Compare and contrast these two diverse states as you explore New Mexico’s award-winning cuisine and vibrant art scene and Colorado’s cowboy lifestyle amidst herds of bison.
Routing: Denver – Colorado Springs – Raton – Taos – Santa Fe
Start Your Trip From: Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Salt Lake City
DAYS 1-3: DENVER & COLORADO SPRINGS
Welcome to Denver! After an evening of relaxation in the Mile High City, make your way to Colorado Springs, where you will stay at a luxurious all-inclusive wilderness resort set amongst the alpine splendor of Pike National Forest. Enjoy a private guided horseback trail ride through the surrounding woodlands, as well as a variety of exhilarating activities available on property, including fly fishing, zip-lining and hiking.
DAYS 4-6: NEW MEXICO EXCLUSIVE RANCH
Head south as you cross into New Mexico for a stay at an exclusive private guest ranch. Historic yet freshly renovated, the ranch’s nearly 600,000 acres of diverse terrain offer endless possibilities for outdoor exploration and adventure.
Admire the ranch’s resident herds of elk, bison and pronghorn antelope as you partake in fishing, shooting and hiking experiences.
DAYS 7-9: TAOS & SANTA FE
On the drive to Santa Fe, explore indigenous culture in the Pueblo village of Taos. The oldest continuously inhabited community in the USA, Taos is best known for its iconic multi-storied adobe complexes. Arrive in Santa Fe that night and the following day, join a local art expert for an engaging tour of Santa Fe’s world-class art scene. On your Santa Fe arts tour soak in the timeless works of Georgia O’Keefe, chat with local artists at their galleries in the Railyard District and tour elegant adobe homes on Canyon Road. In the evening, prepare traditional Native American fare in a private cooking lesson with a local culinary author and chef, then savor the fruits of your labor with an exquisite meal.
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
After breakfast today, you will either begin the drive home or make your way to Albuquerque International Sunport in time for your flight. Safe travels!