Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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Nature's Finest TRAFALGAR'S NATIONAL PARKS TOUR MEANS NO MORE EXCUSES FOR NEVER HAVING VISITED THE WEST'S MOST MAGNIFICENT NATURAL WONDERS. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRZYSZTOF WIKTOR (ZION); DARREN J. BRADLEY (ARCHES) Neither locals or tourists can help but be struck by the stark contrast 14,000 feet into bright blue skies. The next several days are spent exploring between Vegas's man-made attractions and the West's natural wonders, the state, including Yellowstone National Park. The activities can be as especially those on full display across the region's vast tracts of protected strenuous as hiking for miles or as leisurely as floating down the Snake wilderness. "It's kind of fun to juxtapose the bright lights and the craziness River or taking a short excursion to see bubbling hot springs, mud paint of Las Vegas against the national parks," says Trafalgar travel director Joel pots, or the geyser Old Faithful, with its steaming water rocketing more P. Smith, who has led tours of the area for more than a decade. "This tour than 100 feet into the air. The expedition continues north through Cody, Wyoming, home of shows you the two extremes." Trafalgar offers the most convenient way to experience an incredible Buffalo Bill Cody, and into Montana. Trafalgar prepares special events seven states—and at least seven national parks—with its 14-day Scenic along the way, like day seven's "Be My Guest" dinner of down-home cookParks Explorer package, which appeals to both foreign travelers itching to ing hosted by a harmonica-playing local cowboy who spins yarns of life in see the Wild West from a Vegas base and locals who have never gotten Big Sky Country. On day eight, the group stops at Little Bighorn, the site of Custer's around to visiting the scenic wonders in their backyard. Trafalgar travel director Carolyn Sorgenfrei, a Vegas resident, refers to the two-week get- Last Stand. The next three days deliver South Dakota's Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial, with an optional excursion to Badlands away as a "sample platter" because it offers "a little taste of everything." Sorgenfrei isn't kidding. The first day is reserved for hitting the slots, National Park. Then it's time to begin meandering back toward Las Vegas, shows, lounges, and everything else Vegas has in its arsenal of temptations. as the tour scales Colorado's awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains and descends For locals (and there are many), a first-night welcome reception provides a into Arches National Park, outside Moab, Utah. The last couple of days deliver just as much punch, with Mesa Verde fun way to get to know your travel companions. Guests then board a luxNational Park's ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings and ury motor coach, kick back, and embark on their Western Monument Valley's towering sandstone buttes. adventure. Driving through the enormous, diverse Great Trafalgar's 14-day The journey comes to a dramatic close with an optional Basin, the tour stops first at Southern Utah's Zion National Park Scenic Parks Explorer sunrise hike of one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural and Bryce Canyon National Park, which Smith calls "one of Package includes 20 World—the majestic Grand Canyon. Then historic Route the most beautiful places in the world." meals. From $3,250 66 delivers weary vacationers back to the energizing On day four it's off to Wyoming and the first unforgettable per person. 866-544sights and sounds of Vegas. V glimpses of Grand Teton's massive peak, which juts almost 4434; trafalgar.com 102 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM 098-103_V_Feat_Travel_Sum13.indd 102 6/17/13 10:23 AM