Colorado & The Rockies

Day 1

Welcome Aboard! Travel in comfort aboard our deluxe motor coach today as we make our way to "The Centennial State," Colorado. After checking into our hotel in Dayton, Ohio for the night, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, at your leisure. (D)

Day 2

After breakfast settle back, relax and enjoy the scenery on our drive through Illinois and crossing over the Mississippi River, to reach the "Gateway to the West," St. Louis, Missouri. Upon our arrival we will have free time to explore Union Station. The first train pulled into Union Station on September 1, 1894, and in a few short years, the Station would become one of the largest and busiest passenger rail terminals in the world. Today a National Historical Landmark, Union Station is a mixture of nostalgia and renovation. The Station's fabulous lobby retains the original elegant 65-foot vaulted ceiling and décor, which serves as a backdrop for this amazing festive marketplace with shops, restaurants and hotel. Lunch is on your own. Following lunch, a photo-stop at the Gateway Arch, located on the banks of the Mississippi River is included. Later, we depart for our overnight accommodations at the Drury Plaza Hotel in St. Charles, Missouri. Relax and indulge yourself in your first-class accommodations and the exceptional amenities that surround you at the hotel. Our hotel is located in the vibrant and energetic Streets of St. Charles area, mixed-use development known for exceptional dining, shopping, and entertainment. Explore the unique shops and enjoy some of the best restaurants in the St. Louis area for dinner. Dinner is on your own. (B)

Day 3

After breakfast we meet our step-on guide, and depart for a tour of St. Charles, Missouri, a colonial town nestled on the banks of the Missouri River. Founded in 1769, St. Charles is a quaint community that served as the state's first capital. Our period attire guide will make the history come alive, entertain us with historical facts, and offer a unique glimpse into St. Charles' early days. As you listen to our tour guide, you can imagine the frontiersmen, settlers and merchants who called St. Charles home. Following our tour, enjoy strolling along South Main Street, Missouri's oldest and largest historic district where more than 100 shops, restaurants and cafés make up this beautifully preserved historic district. You're sure to find just what you're looking for - as well as a few fun surprises! Following lunch on your own, we travel across western Missouri to reach our hotel for the night in Topeka, Kansas. A dinner stop will be made en route to Topeka. (B, D)

Day 4

After breakfast we depart for Abilene, Kansas. Upon our arrival, we will visit the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum. To provide you with the best possible tour experience we will first view a 25-minute orientation film in the Visitors Center. Next, we step inside Eisenhower's Boyhood Home and the Museum for a self-guided tour. There you will find exhibits covering every phase of the life of the 34th President. Also included is the Place of Meditation, which is the final resting place of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States, his wife Mamie, and their first-born son, Doud Dwight. Following our tour, we depart for our Colorado Springs, Colorado hotel. Our accommodations for the next two nights are at the Drury Inn & Suites, a perennial favorite of Gunther Tours travelers! A lunch stop will be made en route to Colorado Springs. (B, L)

Day 5

After breakfast we depart for the most visited attraction in the Pikes Peak Region - The Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center and Park. To provide you with the best possible tour experience we will first view a 14-minute movie on a huge screen, "How Did Those Red Rocks Get There?" Following the movie, we meet our step-on guide, and depart on a tour of the park. Learn the history of the Park and the Pikes Peak region of Colorado, the origin of the red sandstone rock formations, the beauty of the Park landscape and the story of its people. A box lunch is included. After lunch, we depart for Manitou Springs, Colorado for an exciting ride on the world's highest cog railway, the Pike's Peak Cog Railway. The train takes us to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado for spectacular panoramic views of the Great Plains to the east. You will leave with a new appreciation for the phrase "Rocky Mountain High!" Our next stop will be at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Located on an archaeological and natural history preserve at the foot of Pike's Peak, these authentic Anasazi cliff dwellings are preserved under a protective red sandstone overhang. Step back in time and explore the history and heritage of Native America culture. These structures built more than 700 years ago preserve historic Anasazi artifacts and allows you to investigate these Pueblo-style buildings and examine the pottery, tools, and weapons used by these ancient and mysterious people. Before returning to our hotel for a good night's rest, we conclude our touring day with a delicious dinner and entertainment at the Flying W Ranch. (B, L, D)

Day 6

Rise and shine to experience America's most spectacular rail journey aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. We start our day with a memorable scenic 2-hour ride through the Royal Gorge, which combines gorgeous scenery, great service, and includes a delicious breakfast, locally sourced and prepared fresh right on board the train. Since 1879, these tracks have followed the winding, tumbling Arkansas River deep within the soaring, 1,000-foot granite cliffs of Colorado's Royal Gorge. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt described this train ride as "the trip that bankrupts the English language!" Following our amazing adventure riding the rails and hugging the walls of the Royal Gorge we visit the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, "Colorado's Natural Wonder". This is a place that brings together the scenic beauty of the Grand Canyon and an incredible achievement of human engineering. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge has never been part of a road or state highway system. Construction started June 5, 1929, and was completed in less than 7 months. The Royal Gorge Bridge was built for people to take in the timeless beauty of this geological phenomenon. It is unlike any destination you'll ever experience! See the world's highest suspension bridge towering 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. Lunch is on your own. After enjoying some free time exploring the park, we continue on to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. See the tallest sand dunes in North America, which flank some of the continent's highest mountain peaks. Bring your camera for some spectacular photo opportunities! Next, we depart for our hotel for the night in Alamosa, Colorado. A dinner stop will be made en route to Alamosa. (B, D)

Day 7

After breakfast we depart for Mesa Verde National Park. Upon our arrival enjoy a delicious lunch, followed by a sightseeing tour with a local expert who will take you through the most famous ruin sites. Our guided tour offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. Today, Mesa Verde National 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. The final stop on our tour is at the Visitors Center where you can explore and view a large collection of ancient artifacts, and gain a deeper appreciation of the ancient Navajo culture. Later after checking into our hotel accommodations in Durango, Colorado, a fun-filled cowboy town, we conclude our day with free time to enjoy dinner on your own and relive the excitement of the Old West in downtown Durango. (B, L)

Day 8

After breakfast we climb aboard the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for a delightful 45-mile train excursion through the Colorado Rockies between Durango and Silverton. This 1881 coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive made its name hauling silver and gold ore from the San Juan Mountains, but you will soon realize it is the view that is its most precious asset! Enjoy the sound of the train whistle blowing as it chugs pass rugged peaks, alpine meadows, and crystal lakes while winding our way across the breathtaking canyons of the San Juan National Forest to the town of Silverton, Colorado, a former silver mining town and now a National Historic Landmark. Hidden high in the San Juan Mountains, this town blends spectacular scenery with Victorian charm and historic architecture. Upon arriving you will have free time to enjoy lunch on your own and find that perfect gift or souvenir for friends or family back home. Silverton has shops that specialize in Native American jewelry, antiques, sporting goods, local art, souvenirs, Christmas, trains, and much, much more! After enjoying free time exploring Silverton, settle back, relax, and enjoy our scenic drive across the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray, Colorado. Ouray is a small intimate community is nestled in some of the most rugged and towering peaks of the Rockies, and is eloquently nicknamed the "Switzerland of America". Bring your camera and take advantage of the spectacular photo opportunities! Next, we depart for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Big enough to be overwhelming, still intimate enough to feel the pulse of time, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park exposes you to some of the steepest cliffs, oldest rock, and craggiest spires in North America. No other canyon in North America combines the narrow opening, sheer walls, and startling depths offered by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Later checking into our hotel in Gunnison, Colorado for the night, we are treated to a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)

Day 9

After breakfast we depart for The Pioneer Museum for a self-guided tour. The Museum's collections truly represent the culture history and heritage of the people of Gunnison County. The museum grounds, its 18 buildings, the artifacts and memorabilia that make up the many displays, have been generously donated by museum members and friends of the historical society. Most of the items on display date back to the early settlers that came to Colorado and Gunnison County to make a life in the "middle of nowhere". After our tour we depart for Golden, Colorado. We will drive up to Lookout Mountain for a spectacular view of Denver's skyline and to visit the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave. We'll visit the grave of William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. By his request, Buffalo Bill was buried on Lookout Mountain in 1917, overlooking the Great Plains and the Rockies. The Museum illustrates the life, times, and legend of William F. Cody and includes exhibits about Buffalo Bill's life and the Wild West shows, Native American objects, and firearms. Later we depart for our Denver, Colorado hotel. Our accommodations for the next two nights are at the Drury Inn & Suites, a perennial favorite of Gunther Tours travelers! A dinner stop will be made en route to Denver. (B, D)

Day 10

After breakfast we depart for the Rocky Mountain National Park. Upon our arrival we meet our step-on guide, and depart for a tour of the Rocky Mountain National Park. From lush valleys to craggy peaks, this living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains, with elevations ranging from 8,000 feet in the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, provides visitors with countless breathtaking experiences, photo opportunities and adventures! A box lunch is included. After returning to our hotel you will have time to sit, relax and enjoy a Manager's Reception with free hot food & cold beverages for guests, including beer, wine and mixed drinks. (B, L, MR)

Day 11

After breakfast we travel across the plains of Kansas to reach our hotel for the night in Topeka, Kansas. Your on-board Gunther Tours Manager will help pass the time by playing games, showing a movie or two, and scheduling quiet time to relax and enjoy the scenery along the highway. A dinner stop will be made en route to Topeka. (B, D)

Day 12

After breakfast settle back, and relax in comfort aboard our deluxe motor coach and enjoy the scenery on our drive through Missouri, crossing over the Mississippi River, and traveling through Illinois into Indiana. Before checking into our hotel in Terre Haute, Indiana for the night, we are treated to a delicious dinner at Richards Farm, a classic American style restaurant in the sleepy town of Casey, Illinois. The restaurant offers you a unique dining experience in a picturesque 1930's barn setting. (B, D)

Day 13

After breakfast we will travel through "The Hoosier State," Indiana to our hotel in Coshocton, Ohio for the night. A stop at Warm Glow Candle Company in Centerville, Indiana will be made en route. A retail store offering its signature lumpy, bumpy candles with fabulous fragrances, home décor, spirits, and a nice café with food and restrooms, you are sure to find wonderful candles and much more! Tonight, we will celebrate in a beautiful, casual, private country setting at Shumaker Farms in West Lafayette, Ohio for a delicious farewell dinner and entertainment. (B, D)

Day 14

After breakfast we depart for Longhorn Ranch, a working Texas Longhorn cattle ranch located in the beautiful Appalachian Foothills of Barnesville, Ohio. Upon our arrival, be sure to have your camera ready when you climb aboard a ranch bus for a tour of the ranch. The rugged ranch bus will make its way across rough Appalachian foothill pastures and go where the cattle roam. The tour includes close up viewing of Texas Longhorn, BueLingo and African Watusi cattle herds. You may even have the opportunity to hand feed "cow candy" as they run around the ranch bus. Following our tour, we are treated to a cookout with burgers, corn-on-the-cob and all the fixings for a cookout at the ranch. Don't forget to visit the Longhorn Head to Tail Store to shop and pick up a souvenir. Later we depart for home having enjoyed the fellowship of friends old and new and taking with us many wonderful memories, pictures, post cards and souvenirs from our amazing 2023 Colorado & The Rockies tour! (B, L)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D =Dinner