Arrival & Hotel Check-in, Program Registration, Pre-Dinner Wine Social, Orientation, Program Overview

Afternoon: HOTEL CHECK-IN: From 3:00 PM. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar desk in the lobby after 4:00 PM to register with the program staff and pick up your arrival packet that we'll review during orientation this evening.

Please be aware that local circumstances could require adjusting the schedule and/or program elements. In the event of changes, we will notify you as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding.

WINE SOCIAL: We'll gather in our private meeting room before dinner for a wine social to begin getting to know one another in a convivial atmosphere.

Dinner: Enjoy a plated dinner in an elegant, inviting atmosphere. Meals feature traditional American and California cuisine.

Evening: ORIENTATION: Back in our meeting room, we'll have introductions and then review the up-to-date schedule, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, any other administrative issues, and answer your questions.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW: Your study guide will provide an overview of the parks you’ll be exploring during this exciting new program. From mountain to desert, you’ll gain insights into the spectacular national parks of the West as we visit seven world-famous gems of American wilderness: Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion national parks.

Lodging: Doubletree Hotel San Francisco Airport

Meals Included: Dinner

Transfer to Yosemite National Park, Field Trip in the Park, Hotel Check-in, Evening Program: A Geologic Wonder

Breakfast: Enjoy a full breakfast buffet in the hotel dining room.

Morning: TRANSFER TO YOSEMITE: As we board our motorcoach, you’ll be anticipating an extraordinary experience ahead. People have been drawn to the place we now call Yosemite for tens of thousands of years. Wrote famed naturalist John Muir, “It is by far the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter.” The transfer should take approximately 4.5 hours.

Lunch: We'll stop en route for lunch at a popular local café in Mariposa, California.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: We begin with an introduction to America’s beloved Yosemite National Park, established in 1890 and designated a World Heritage Site in 1984.

Yosemite is known for its majestic granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Two designated “Wild & Scenic Rivers” — the Tuolumne and Merced — begin in the park and flow west to the Central Valley. Yosemite Falls, one of the world's tallest, is actually made up of three separate falls: Upper Yosemite Falls (1,430 feet), the middle cascades (675 feet), and Lower Yosemite Falls (320 feet).

We’ll meet our local guide at the Tunnel View, and travel on to Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, Sentinel Bridge, and Lower Yosemite Falls, learning about various aspects of natural and human history as we go.

At the conclusion of our first field trip, we'll take the motorcoach to check in at Yosemite Lodge, the property closest to Yosemite Falls. The main complex was redesigned with an emphasis on glass and wood detailing to blend harmoniously with its surroundings. Landscaping of indigenous trees, shrubs and wildflowers further reflect the natural beauty of Yosemite Valley.

Dinner: The Yosemite Food Court offers an extensive buffet with various stations serving pastas and pizza, grilled items, salads, fruits, vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrées, desserts, and beverages.

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: Our study guide leads a fascinating examination of the park’s natural wonders, addressing aspects of park history, geology, ecology, natural and cultural history including the Native Americans of Yosemite.

Lodging: Yosemite Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Yosemite National Park, Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Half Dome, El Capitan, Waterfalls, Ahwahnee Hotel Historic Landmark, Evening Presentation: A Talk with “John Muir”

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Yosemite Food Court.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Entering Yosemite Valley, we pass through Wawona Tunnel and come out to see one the park’s most photographed views, looking east into the Valley towards El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Falls. We’ll stop at sites along the way to take in and learn more about this magnificent place. To round out the Yosemite experience, we’ll ride 30 miles (about an hour) from the Valley to the where the road ends at Glacier Point. This overlook has a commanding view of the Valley, Half Dome, and the High Sierra. There is a short walk to the viewpoint. Many say Glacier Point has the most spectacular views of anywhere in the park.

Lunch: We’ll have lunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel, a National Historic Landmark and one of the most impressive National Park lodges, in the very heart of the Park. The crown jewel of Yosemite dining, the award-winning Ahwahnee dining room is both magnificent and intimate. The 34-foot-high beamed ceiling with large sugar pine trestles complement granite pillars, floor-to-ceiling windows. The lunch menu typically offers options for soup, salad, sandwiches, pasta, entrées, sides, fresh cut fruit, and beverages.

Afternoon: EXCURSION: This afternoon we'll have a walking excursion through the renowned Ahwahnee Hotel to understand why it is a designated National Historic Landmark. Completed in 1927, the hotel was built in a rustic style with American Indian motif. Historic paintings of Yosemite, stunning stained-glass windows, and woven tapestries grace the walls of The Great Lounge and Dining Room. Walk back or the park shuttle may be available to take you to the Yosemite Lodge after the excursion.

FREE TIME: You’ll have some free time to explore on your own. Multiple opportunities are available! Don't forget to check out the Ansel Adams Gallery!

Dinner: Dinner in the Food Court, with its many options. Share your favorite highlights of the day with new friends.

Evening: PRESENTATION: We’ll be joined this evening by none other than “John Muir” who will share perspectives on his life and his love for this special Park.

Lodging: Yosemite Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer to Sequoia National Park, Giant Forest Museum, Walk Big Trees Trail, Giant Sequoia Ecology, Check in to Hotel

Breakfast: Breakfast is in the Yosemite Food Court.

Morning: TRANSFER TO SEQUOIA: We’ll board our motorcoach and say goodbye to Yosemite, turning our sights towards Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. These two parks lie side by side in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of the San Joaquin Valley. The landscape testifies to natural beauty and diversity with huge mountains, rugged foothills, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees.

The transfer should take approximately 4 hours.

Lunch: We’ll stop for a quick lunch at Bear Mountain Pizza between Fresno and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Sequoia National Park. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Giant Forest Museum for a basic introduction to the primary features of the Giant Forest including its sequoias, meadows, and human history. Then we’ll walk the 2/3 mile Big Trees Trail (paved/boardwalked) that circles Round Meadow, a large grassy clearing usually filled with wildflowers in spring and summer, and lined by several very large sequoia. You’ll learn about giant sequoia ecology and recent studies suggesting that natural forces should be allowed to operate freely throughout the groves, enabling the giant sequoia ecosystem to be perpetuated much as it was in millennia preceding human arrival on the scene.

At the conclusion of the field trip, we’ll drive to Wonder Valley Ranch Resort and check in.

Dinner: Dinner in the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort. The chef likes to use fresh seasonal ingredients for a changing menu of salads, entrées, meat, fish, pasta dishes and vegetarian options, and desserts.

Evening: FREE EVENING: It's been a full day so this evening is free to explore the Resort, get to know new friends, or just relax.

Lodging: Wonder Valley Ranch Resort & Conference Center

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kings Canyon National Park, General Grant Tree, Overnight Rest Stop En Route to Joshua Tree National Park

Note: After departing Kings Canyon for Joshua Tree National Park, we stop to break up the drive with an overnight in Victorville, California.

Breakfast: Breakfast is in the lovely Wonder Valley Ranch Resort.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Kings Canyon National Park. A portion of what is now Kings Canyon was originally set aside in 1890 as General Grant National Park, later absorbed into the new and larger Kings Canyon National Park. The story of how this park came into existence is fascinating. Photos by Ansel Adams, hired by then Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes, helped lead to Congress creating the park in 1940. Managed together by the National Park Service, Sequoia and Kings Canyon total over 863,700 acres.

We’ll begin at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center in Grant Grove Village before walking to the General Grant Grove that preserves giant sequoias including the famous General Grant Tree, second largest in the world and estimated to be more than 1,600 years old. The trail is gently-graded and paved, looping one-third of a mile through the sequoia grove.

Our natural history specialist will guide us during our Kings Canyon exploration, delving into the history of the establishment of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, the re-establishment of fire in the parks and the logging history of the Giant Sequoias.

At the conclusion of the field trip, we’ll board the motorcoach and continue our journey of discovery en route to Joshua Tree National Park.

Lunch: We’ll stop for lunch at the Hometown Buffet. While there's always something new to try at Hometown Buffet, you'll also find a delicious line-up of freshly prepared comfort foods. Or create your own salad…but don't forget to leave room for dessert!

Afternoon: TRANSFER: It’s a long drive from Kings Canyon National Park to Joshua Tree National Park, so for your comfort we have planned an overnight in Victorville, California, in the heart of the high desert. After checking into the hotel and having dinner and a good night's rest, we'll resume our journey to Joshua Tree tomorrow.

Dinner: Dinner is in the Great American Grill at the hotel.

Evening: FREE EVENING: Take a dip in the hotel pool, use the fitness room, try your hand at bowling or miniature golf in the entertainment center adjacent to hotel, or relax.

Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer to Joshua Tree National Park, Park Field Trip with Trail Walks, Evening Program: Astronomy of the Desert Night Sky

Breakfast: Enjoy a freshly prepared breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: TRANSFER: We depart for Joshua Tree National Park.

Lunch: We’ll stop for lunch at the Crossroads Cafe, a popular café that showcases the work of local artists.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Joshua Tree National Park. Originally designated as a national monument, it became a national park in 1994 when Congress passed the California Desert Protection Act. The park is named for the native Joshua Tree, a member of the Yucca family.

Entering the Park at Joshua Tree Visitor Center, gain an overview of the Park as you travel along park roads. We’ll then walk along trails (paved or hard-packed sand) to see and learn about this special place shaped by forces such as strong winds, torrents of rain, and climatic extremes.

Specific stops will be determined by temperatures but we hope to visit Keys View, the highest trail in the Park accessible by a paved road. Count on a brisk breeze (and bring your windbreaker). We'll walk along a paved quarter-mile loop with (weather permitting) scenic overlooks of valley, mountain and desert from its elevation of 5,185 feet.

At the conclusion of the field trip, we’ll drive to Twentynine Palms, California. Local lore says it was so called by gold miners because of 29 palm trees surrounding an oasis. We’ll check in to our hotel.

Dinner: We'll head out to dinner at the 29 Palms Inn, an outstanding restaurant noted for its homemade breads, fruits and vegetables picked fresh from the Inn’s own garden.

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: We'll step out into the high desert to explore the universe surrounding us and have an expert-led look at the astronomy of the desert night sky using sight, binoculars, and telescopes (provided).

Lodging: Hotel 29 Palms Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Joshua Tree National Park, Mohave & Colorado Deserts, Trail Walks, Cholla Cactus Garden, Transfer to Grand Canyon National Park, Sunset Excursion

Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast in the hotel's breakfast bar.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Joshua Tree National Park. Enter the Park at the Oasis Visitor Center where we'll learn about the transition between the Mojave and Colorado deserts from our expert guide from the Desert Institute. Because the Park straddles the two deserts, an unusual variety of plants are found within its boundaries.

Travel along the road to the Cottonwood Visitor Center, stopping for walks along trails (to be determined by temperatures at the time). Our route may include the Cholla Cactus Garden, an easy quarter-mile sandy loop trail. Learn about the cholla cactus (commonly called teddy bear cholla...but don't be deceived...it certainly can sting) and the ocotillo (desert flora) amongst others.

At the conclusion of the field trip, we’ll depart via motorcoach for Grand Canyon National Park, stopping en route in Parker, Arizona.

Lunch: We'll have lunch at the Calico Restaurant in Kingman, AZ where we'll enjoy sandwiches and an opportunity to stretch our legs.

Afternoon: TRANSFER: The coach continues along the Colorado River. Our local instructional specialist joins us in Williams, Arizona where we take a rest break at the Visitor Center in this old Route 66 town. We have climbed up onto the Colorado Plateau, home to Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks and left Basin and Range country behind us. From Williams it is one hour to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon where we plan to arrive in time for sunset and time to take in the majesty laid out before us prior to check in at a Grand Canyon Lodge. Our check in time late afternoon/early evening will be determined by the sun!

Dinner: Dinner will be at a National Park Lodge cafeteria where choices abound.

Evening: Following dinner and depending upon the time of sunset at the South Rim (and NPS schedules) we may have the opportunity to take in an evening ranger program at the Shrine of the Ages auditorium. Breathe in the scent of the stately ponderosa pines and the fresh air. You have climbed to 7000’ in elevation.

Lodging: South Rim Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Lodge cafeteria with coupons provided to select your preferred choices.

Morning: The morning begins with an opportunity to take in a Grand Canyon Sunrise on your own (ask your Group Leader for logistics on how / when to access the rim from your lodging). Travel to the rim of the canyon for a presentation by your naturalist on Grand Canyon geology to gain an understanding and appreciation of the geologic forces that created this wonder of the world. Often referred to as "the greatest open book of earth's history," the Grand Canyon provides opportunities for scientific inquiry equal to its inherently spiritual qualities. Then travel to historic Grand Canyon Village for a walking tour and optional short hike down the fabled Bright Angel Trail (maximum distance guided hike 2/3 mile with up to 200’ elevation change).

Lunch: We'll have lunch as a group at the Maswik Lodge cafeteria.

Afternoon: This afternoon is left open for you to explore the Grand Canyon at your own pace. Travel further afield using the park’s free shuttle bus system to visit Hermit’s Rest and view the scenic viewpoints along the park’s Hermit Rest Route. Amble along other parts of the rim trail to photograph, journal, contemplate or meditate while you gaze upon this world wonder. Other hiking options include: South Kaibab Trail, further down the Bright Angel Trail and Hermit Trail. Take more time at the park’s visitor center, Kolb Studio or Verkamp’s Curio Shop (now a visitor center focusing on human history of the park). There are also ranger-led programs which you may be able to take advantage of during this afternoon. And perhaps a California condor will fly over your head while you are enjoying an ice cream cone outside the Bright Angel Lodge Fountain. Your Group Leader and RS Grand Canyon guide can offer suggestions to make the most of your free afternoon in one of our country’s most treasured national parks.

Dinner: This evening we will reunite on the rim of the Canyon for either a catered dinner or at one of the Canyon’s finer restaurants. Enjoy trading stories of your day’s exploration of the Canyon while the sun sets, painting the walls of the canyon in hues of reds and gold as the stars begin to appear.

Evening: Enjoy a relaxing evening strolling on the rim after dinner (take your flashlight!), gazing at the sky and stars in some of the darkest skies in the country or turning in early in anticipation of what tomorrow may bring.

Lodging: South Rim Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Desert View Watchtower, Marble Canyon, Navajo Steel Arch Bridge over Colorado River, Vermilion Cliffs, Learning About Bryce Canyon National Park

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Lodge cafeteria with coupons provided to select your preferred choices.

Morning: After departing the lodge shortly after breakfast, we’ll travel for 30 minutes along the scenic South Rim to the Desert View Watchtower, built in 1932 as a replica of a prehistoric Indian watch tower. This iconic structure commands a magnificent view of the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark, the tower was designed by architect Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter in collaboration with Hopi artisans and notable Hopi artist Fred Kabotie, whose murals adorn the interior. Leaving Desert View and Grand Canyon National Park we will make a brief stop at the historic Cameron Trading Post where we’ll say good-bye to our Grand Canyon guide. Then we’ll travel the western edge of the Navajo Nation, through part of the Painted Desert with the beautiful Vermilion Cliffs alongside as we approach Marble Canyon.

Lunch: We’ll enjoy box lunches during our stop at the historic Navajo Bridge where we hope to see California condors soaring or perching.

Afternoon: TRANSFER: One of the most beautiful stretches we will travel lies before you. We ride down from the 7,000-foot elevation of the South Rim to the Colorado River at a 3,600-foot elevation in Marble Canyon. We now say goodbye to our Arizona instructional specialist.

EXCURSION: We’ll stop briefly to walk across Navajo Steel Arch Bridge that spans the 500-foot walls of Marble Canyon. The views will take your breath away as you gaze down at the river below and the towering 800-foot walls of the surrounding Vermilion Cliffs.

We head into Utah for the beauty of "Color Country" en route to Bryce Canyon National Park where we pick up our next instructional lecturer. We'll be staying at a hotel just outside the Park and will check in upon arrival.

Dinner: Dinner is in the dining room of our Inn just outside the Park.

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: Our study leader will discuss the unique geology of Bryce Canyon National Park. As the National Park Service notes, “What is Bryce Canyon? Words confound when nothing comparable exists. A cave without a ceiling? A forest of stone? Even 'canyon' is misleading since Bryce is carved by freeze-thaw cycles, not a river.”

Lodging: Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bryce Canyon Field Trip, Sunrise Point Early Morning Walk, Canyon Hikes, Rainbow Point & Yovimpa Point

Breakfast: Breakfast in the hotel dining room.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: We begin with an expert-led, early morning hike to Sunrise Point for views of incredible formations with evocative names such as Boat Mesa, the Sinking Ship, Pink Cliffs of the Aquarius Plateau, and the hoodoos of Fairyland Canyon. “Hoodoos” are tall, thin spires of multi-colored rock, formed into peculiar shapes by erosion and found more at Bryce than anywhere else in the world. They can range in size from the height of an average person to higher than a 10-storey building.

We continue hiking down into the canyon along the so-called Queen’s Trail. If you use your imagination, the many hoodoos may look like a garden, presided over by the “Queen Victoria” hoodoo that gives the trail its name. Those who prefer a less strenuous outing can view Bryce from above, walking the rim.

Lunch: We'll have box lunches in the canyon.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Continue after lunch to view and learn more about the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. We’ll explore Rainbow Point, where the Park stretches out before you back to the north, and the expansive view of Yovimpa Point to really appreciate the sequence of rock layers called the Grand Staircase. Different sections or steps in the Grand Staircase are named for the dominant color of rock. You’ll come away with a better understanding of the geologic forces in Bryce’s landscapes and an enhanced appreciation of its almost surreal beauty.

Dinner: We’ll eat out at a popular “barn” and grill for a delicious Western dinner accompanied by cowboy music.

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: Our western entertainment will continue into the evening.

Lodging: Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Transfer to Zion National Park, Zion Human History Museum, Hike to Emerald Pools, Evening Program: Zion's Geology, Natural & Human History

Breakfast: Breakfast at Bryce Grand Hotel.

Morning: TRANSFER: We'll travel along Highway 89 into the East Entrance of Zion National Park, stopping to view the horizonal layers and vertical cracks of Checkerboard Mesa. This landmark is so called because the massive hill towering 900 feet above the highway is colorful, criss-crossed, and resembles (somewhat) a gigantic checkerboard. We continue through the Zion Tunnel and down the switchbacks.

Lunch: We'll stop for lunch at a restaurant in Springdale, a small community surrounded by the towering cliffs of Zion National Park.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Zion National Park in southwestern Utah comprises some of America’s most scenic canyon country, characterized by high plateaus, deep sandstone canyons and cliffs ranging in color from ivory to red, and dramatic rock towers and mesas. This showcase of natural history vividly presents the effects of geologic processes, while traces of early human activity have almost disappeared.

After lunch, we take go to the Zion Human History Museum for a short multi-media presentation providing an overview of the Park. Aftewards, we’ll make a short hike along the Emerald Pools trails to see the pools themselves — named for their green tint from algae — that characterize this delightful, secluded oasis.

Travel then to the Zion Park Inn to check in before dinner.

Dinner: At the entrance to the Park in Springdale, we'll have dinner at Switchback. They feature artfully prepared dishes with enticing flavors of the American West, France and Italy!

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: An expert will capture the essence of Zion National Park in a presentation that will include it's extraordinary geology, and may include elements of its Anasazi history, the building of the Zion Tunnel and the plants and animals resident there, as determined by your questions and interests.

Lodging: Best Western Zion Park Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Zion National Park, Weeping Rock, Temple of Sinawava, Hike Zion Narrows, IMAX "Treasure of the Gods," Birds of Prey Presentation

Breakfast: Breakfast at Zion Park Inn.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: We’ll take a shuttle to explore some of the most significant sites in the Park. Weeping Rock really appears to weep due to water migrating through sandstone and shale until seeping out onto the surface. The Temple of Sinawava was named for the coyote-spirit of the Paiute Indians and hosts small wildlife such as birds, frogs, gophers, and lizards.

We’ll hike along the Virgin River, an easy 2 mile round trip hike on paved trails, to the spectacular Zion Narrows gorge for views of the towering, vertical rock sides of the canyon. The Narrows were carved by the river in ancient times and are today characterized by soaring walls, sandstone grottos, natural springs, and hanging gardens.

Adventure awaits you as the hike ends at the entrance of the Narrows, and you have the option to hike up the river a few hundred yards to get a feel for being inside a slot canyon. The only way up is "IN" the river! You can choose to either embark on this quite difficult hike (as you can't see the river bottom and are walking on slippery rocks and boulders), or to explore the rest of the river. A little rest time is of course an option as well.

Lunch: Enjoy a box lunch in the beauty of the Park.

Afternoon: FREE TIME: The afternoon is free for you to explore the Park on your own. You may want to revisit the Park visitor centers and bookstores that offer a wealth of interpretive resources. The Zion shuttle makes your exploration simple to and from the hotel.

View "Treasure of the Gods" in Zion's IMAX Theater— an original giant-screen motion picture by Academy Award Winning Director Keith Merrill. Experience the myth, magic, and drama of Zion Canyon’s history and legends, with scenes from southwest National Parks and Native American lands.

Dinner: Dinner will be in a local favorite restaurant in Springdale.

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: Our expert from the Southwest Wildlife Foundation will amaze you with his "Birds of Prey" presentation with live birds.

Lodging: Best Western Zion Park Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at Zion Park Inn.

Morning: TRANSFER: After hotel check-out, we say farewell to these iconic National Parks of the West and board our motorcoach for the transfer to for Las Vegas.

ARRIVAL IN LAS VEGAS: We'll arrive by 10:00 AM local time. Our drop off point will be the McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. If you are planning to fly out of Las Vegas, be sure to book your flight departing AFTER 12:00 PM.

We trust you have enjoyed this exciting new "Exploring North America" learning adventure and will join us for other rewarding Road Scholar programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals Included: Breakfast