What do Elizabethan pirates, Spanish missionaries, gunslingers, cowboys and Indians, the Barbary Coast and rambunctious settlers have in common with majestic peaks, dramatic coastlines and vast expanses of desert?
They are all the unique elements that make up the Far West of the United States.
The region’s history extends much farther back then the rapid westward expansion that followed California’s 1849 gold rush. The U.S.’s first World Heritage Site, Mesa Verde preserves American Indian dwellings and artifacts that date back more than 1,700 years. Sir Francis Drake named the coast north of San Francisco Bay “Nova Albion” (New England) in 1579. The Spanish missions that run the length of California from San Diego to Sonoma have stood for more than 200 years. The people who gave birth to Washington State’s Kennewick Man found their way to North America from Southern Asia more than 9,300 years ago.
Nature’s beauty continues to lure travelers to this land. Its range is breathtaking, from the Rocky Mountains’ soaring peaks (and four national parks) to the Colorado Plateau’s raging, canyon-creating rivers (and seven national parks), to the spectacular Pacific coastline – sandy and pleasant in the south; treacherous and rocky in the north (with three national parks on the coast; nine more inland within 200 miles of the ocean).
Relax among the beauties of nature, relive history or dive right into adventure: This month’s Tour Host review covers each of those options.
Off the Beaten Path offers more than 50 trips covering themes as diverse as history and culture, wildlife and nature, fly fishing and hiking trips, providing both curious and active travelers a chance to get out and spend time close to the earth. Follow the trail of Lewis and Clark, experience Montana’s Blackfoot Country, the Four Corners or have an up-close look at nature in the wild with one of OBT's 20 national park trips. Because of its diverse offerings, both guided and custom journeys, and its range of thematic offerings, we've selected Off The Beaten Path as our Pick of the Month.
Trains Unlimited, Tours provides a variety of trips from which to experience the grandeur of the Rockies. Restored train cars take travelers back to a more leisurely paced era. Trains Unlimited provides experiences ranging from viewing the Rockies from the specially designed dome cars of Canada’s Rocky Mountain Railroad, or exploring America’s most scenic long-distance train route on Amtrak’s “California Zephyr.” Smaller railroads provide glimpses into remote parts of the West, such as the cog railroad that chugs up Pike’s Peak in Colorado (the world’s highest cog railway), or the “Provo Canyon Limited,” a steam-powered train that heads back into some of the finest scenery of Utah’s Wasatch Range. (These trains offer a detailed glimpse into the history of railroading. For a descriptive view of some of these routes, read The Ultimate Summer Train Trip.)
For a closer view of the land, Hondoo Rivers & Trails offers a variety of single-day excursions and multi-night trail rides on the Colorado Plateau. These trips focus on Indian history and archeological sights in the region, especially the vast array of ancient rock art.
For a living history experience of the “Old West”, The Teton Wagon Train & Horse Adventure, a memorable three-night covered wagon camping trip in the Targhee National Forest. Jackson Hole, a must-see town nestled south of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, is the base for this adventure. Children of all ages will be delighted with trail rides, wild animals and cowboys’ campfire tales. (Many years ago my Mom took me on just such a trip, and I remember it to this day.)
If National Parks are your passion, travel with the National Parks and Conservation Association. Each year the association researches and create new trips focusing on our nation’s natural treasures. Whether you prefer the rivers and islands of the Pacific Northwest, the dramatic desert of Texas’s Big Bend country, Alaska’s glaciers or Maine’s rocky seacoast, the NPCA shows you the natural wonders that make the U.S. so geographically diverse.
The Glacier Institute, located in Montana’s Glacier National Park, is a fantastic way for children and adults alike to study nature in an outdoor classroom. Offering day programs for youths, adults and families, and weeklong live-in youth programs, the Glacier Institute is the perfect add-on for families visiting the area’s spectacular peaks.
For outdoor enthusiasts, The World Outdoors (Adventure) offers hiking and multi-sport holidays throughout the western U.S. Combine one of its glacier hikes with an educational program offered by the Glacier Institute and you have a fantastic mind-and-body holiday. The World Outdoors offers a wide range of scheduled departures throughout the West, as well as a few trips to South America and elsewhere. Special departures for families and singles are also scheduled, and custom designed trips are easily arranged.
Austin Lehman Adventures also caters to the active market. Multi-sport packages include horseback riding, paddling, skiing, hiking and biking. Its main focus is the Rocky Mountain region, but it also offers a few trips to the Southwest and Northwest, including Washington’s San Juan Islands.
There are a million reasons to visit the western states. The region’s rugged coastlines, fertile valleys, vast deserts, great forests and world-renowned cities are the stuff of American legend.
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