2007 ITINERARY
Day 1 – Jackson, Wyoming
Welcome to GrandLuxe. Fly into Jackson,
Wyoming—often called “Jackson Hole”—and meet your fellow
travelers at a special Welcome Dinner. Spend the night
at a Jackson/Teton Village area deluxe hotel. (D)
Day 2 – Grand
Teton National Park
Be awe-inspired by dramatic mountains that reach straight
for the sky. Centuries ago, Native Americans hunted the
great elk herds that gathered here. Pine forests and
delicate strands of aspen decorate the valley at the
base of the serrated Teton Mountains. This morning, explore
this range, perhaps the most abrupt and breathtaking
in America, with Grand Teton towering 13,770 feet. You’ll
explore Jenny Lake—majestic, yet tranquil, a favorite
site for photographers and sightseers—and the Church
of the Transfiguration, a rustic log chapel. For an additional
cost, add on an optional excursion that begins with an
early breakfast, followed by a gentle, scenic float trip
on the Snake River before reuniting with the group. Spend
time enjoying the collection at the National Museum of
Wildlife Art, which overlooks the elk refuge. After
a full day of touring, your hotel provides dinner and
overnight accommodations. (B,L,D)
Day 3 – Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The world’s first national park is filled with
wildlife and natural wonders. More than
10,000 boiling springs, mud pots, and geysers—including
Old Faithful—are testimony to the geothermal activity
rising unusually close to the earth’s surface. The two
million acres of protected land at Yellowstone National
Park are inhabited by bears, bald eagles, and herds of
bison and elk. Guides lead you to West Thumb Geyser Basin,
one of the smallest—yet one of the most scenic—geyser
basins in Yellowstone. You’ll also visit Fountain Paint
Pots and Old Faithful, where you’ll stop for lunch. For
an additional cost, add on a 3-mile
hike to a backcountry geyser and learn even more
about Yellowstone’s thermal features. Later, transfer
to the train for dinner and the first night on board
the train as we travel to Helena. (B,L,D)
Day 4 – Helena, Montana
Experience Montana’s rich history and scenery. The
state capital offers a sense of Montana’s history as
you tour the city and its landmarks. Dedicated in 1902,
the capitol building houses commemorative western artwork,
including Charles M. Russell’s largest painting. At the
Montana Historical Society Museum, explore permanent
exhibits on this territory and its native cultures. Return
to the train for lunch, then head for Holter Lake, a
reservoir on the Missouri River, and board a boat for
a cruise to Gates of the Mountain—1,200-foot cliffs that
create the illusion of gates opening to the mountains.
Named by Lewis and Clark during their Corps of Discovery
expedition, the limestone cliffs also contain ancient
petroglyphs. Enjoy beautiful scenery as we leave Helena
and ride the rails towards Glacier National Park. (B,L,D)
Day 5 – Glacier National Park, Montana
A million acres of beauty. Glacier
National Park encompasses more than a million acres of
cedar, hemlock, fir, and pine forests; green alpine meadows;
and hundreds of lakes. Its diverse habitats are home
to over 70 species of mammals and over 260 species of
birds. You’ll tour this spectacular wonderland via the
Going to the Sun Road, a 52-mile highway that splits
the park east and west. Crossing the Continental Divide
at 6,646-foot Logan Pass, the Going to the Sun Road gives
you an ideal vantage point to observe virtually every
type of terrain in the park, from the forested lower
valleys dotted with glacial lakes to the windswept alpine
tundra at the pass. Back on board the train, enjoy dinner
as we continue west to Coeur d’Alene. (B,L,D)
Day 6 – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Wake to breakfast onboard
as we head towards Coeur d’Alene. This gorgeous
lakefront resort town has a ruggedly beautiful setting.
Named “sharp-hearted” by French traders in respect for
the tough trading practices of local Indian tribes, the
city has become one of the Northwest’s most popular vacation
spots. After breakfast on the train, set out for a tour
of the local area, featuring lunch on the lake. Watch
for moose, bald eagles, and other wildlife. (B,L,D)
Day 7 – Columbia River Gorge or Cascades
Ride the rails. Enjoy a full
day of running on the train as one beautiful sight after
another unfolds outside your window. We will either travel
through Washington’s Cascade Mountains or through the
Columbia River Gorge. The stunning Columbia River
Gorge is a spectacular 80-mile long river canyon that
cuts the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain
Range, with a depth of up to 4,000 feet. One of the day’s
highlights is sure to be afternoon tea featuring pastries
made on board the train. Overnight on the train as we
head to Mt. Rainier. (B,L,D)
Day 8 – Mt. Rainier National Park
Take the Road to Paradise. Today
the train parks at the base of 14,410-foot Mt. Rainier,
the third highest mountain in the Lower 48. Here you’ll
board a motorcoach and take the Road to Paradise, one
of the park’s main lookouts, which offers an unparalleled
view of Mt. Rainier’s summit. As you walk through the
park, be on the lookout for more than 200 varieties of
wildflowers. Back on board the train, enjoy a farewell
dinner en route to Seattle. (B,L,D)
Day 9 – Seattle,
Washington
Your GrandLuxe rail journey
comes to a close. We arrive in Seattle’s historic
King Street Station this morning. Stay on in Seattle
for additional sightseeing—including the Space Needle,
Pike Place Market, and ferries to nearby islands—or
head directly to the airport for flights home. (B)
Optional Tour packages
Enjoy one of our optional extensions or additional
hotel nights before or after your journey. Contact
our reservations office for more details.
