Afternoon: Hotel check-in after 3:00pm. On site NAU Road Scholar program registration between 4:30 - 5:15 pm in the Conference Center meeting room. Do note that the distance from the lobby to rooms requires a short drive and for people without a vehicle, portage service is available from the resort.

Dinner: Dinner will be at the Cottonwoods Resort. Entrees will vary nightly and include a vegetarian option. Entrees include salad, assorted rolls & butter, light desert, and a non-alcoholic beverage.

Evening: Introductions and orientation in the hotel meeting room following dinner. Get to know your fellow participants, review the schedule, and get prepared for the action packed adventure you are about to embark on.

Lodging: Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Enjoy a continental breakfast at the resort, which includes: scrambled eggs, sliced fruit, whole grain breads, oatmeal or cereal, coffee,tea and juice.

Morning: After breakfast the bus departs for Flagstaff via Sedona. A brief, tantalizing photo stop will be made among Sedona's red rocks before driving through the geological wonderland of Oak Creek Canyon. Regional geography and natural history commentary will be provided on the bus by your naturalist guide.

Lunch: Lunch in Flagstaff at a local restaurant, Mandarin Buffet, where you will feast on Chinese specialties, including a choose-your-own-ingredients stir-fry station, noodle and rice dishes, a wide variety of vegetable dishes, salad bar, and dessert buffet.

Afternoon: After lunch you will travel past the San Francisco Peaks Volcanic Field and the site of Arizona's highest point, Humphreys Peak, elev. 12,633 feet. Mid-afternoon finds the group arriving at the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park and on to the brink of the world famous chasm. Participants will receive an introduction and overview of the canyon at a selected viewpoint, with additional time allotted to take in the grandeur and immensity of this natural wonder. Hotel check in between 4:00 and 5:00 PM.

Dinner: Dinner at your leisure at the Lodge's "Canyon Cafe". Many entree choices to choose from as well as soups, salads, sandwiches, Mexican specialties, and a variety of tasty desserts.

Evening: After dinner, shuttle or walk to the Shrine of Ages Auditorium or McKee Amphitheater (depending on the season) for an optional National Park Service ranger presentation. All topics relate to Grand Canyon themes and change nightly.

Lodging: South Rim Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Canyon Cafe. Many options to choose from including scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast, sausage, bacon, breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, fresh fruit, yogurt, juice,and coffee.

Morning: After breakfast the group will depart for a walking tour of the historic Grand Canyon Village. Your guide will discuss the many characters that help develop the rim facilities and point out famous village area landmarks including the Kolb Brothers Photo Studio and the buildings of Fred Harvey designer Mary Jane Colter - including the Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio and the Hopi House. To the east, visit the El Tovar Hotel, one of the great lodges in the National Park system. A discussion and a handout on free time options and activities for the upcoming afternoon will be included. An optional one hour walk on the famous Bright Angel Trail will be offered before lunch.

Lunch: Lunch at the Canyon Cafe. Choices include hot and cold sandwiches, salads, hot entrees, pasta dishes, and deserts.

Afternoon: After lunch, the afternoon is free to explore the South Rim and environs. Along with the park "Guide" newspaper and map, and a "free time options" handout participants can choose from a variety of activities and viewpoints.The historic Grand Canyon Village, Hermit's Rest West Rim shuttle, Yavapai Point, and rim walks are all popular activities. The group will employ the free park shuttle to access various points on the South Rim.

Dinner: Dinner at the Canyon Cafe.

Evening: Shuttle to Mather Point for a Grand Canyon sunset! Mather Point will offer late evening shadows and light in the canyon and sweeping rim views.

Lodging: South Rim Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Grand Canyon East Rim / Marble Canyon / Lee's Ferry / North Rim Lodge/Kaibab Plateau and Grand Canyon North Rim

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Canyon Cafe.

Morning: Board the bus after breakfast and begin an epic day filled with surreal landscapes and other worldly views en route to the North Rim. The journey begins along the Grand Canyon's "East Rim". The first stop will be at the Desert View overlook. Desert View has the best views of the Colorado River, and is the location of the famous Mary Jane Colter's Watchtower. After exiting the park we will enter the western edge of the Navajo Reservation and travel through the Painted Desert. We will cross the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. Lunch will be enjoyed at the base of the towering Vermilion Cliffs.

Lunch: Lunch at Marble Canyon Lodge. Make-your-own sandwich bar, with choices of meats, cheeses, salad and condiments.

Afternoon: After lunch travel to historic Lee's Ferry and the banks of the Colorado River where you will have the opportunity to dip a toe into the cold water, watch the rigging of boats preparing to go through the Grand Canyon, and join in discussions of western water issues. Continue along the base of the Vermilion Cliffs and rise onto the cool, verdant Kaibab Plateau, with its spruce, fir and aspen forest. Arrive and check in at the North Rim Lodge in the late afternoon. Accommodation Note: The Frontier Cabins on the North Rim are historic log cabins built in the 1930s. They enhance the rustic ambiance of the North Rim. Please be aware that the cabins are much smaller and more cozy than modern day lodgings.

Dinner: Dinner in the majestic dining room of North Rim, with magnificent views through huge picture windows. Entree choices include Roasted chicken, Prime Rib, Roasted Salmon Filet with Cilantro Drizzle or Whole Wheat Mushroom Pasta with bay spinach and Oven Roasted Tomatoes.

Evening: The Grand Canyon Lodge sits right on the rim of the canyon and is an easy walk from the cabins. Relax on one of the lodge patios. After dinner there is an optional National Park Service ranger presentation in the lodge auditorium. Topics are Grand Canyon related and change nightly.

Lodging: North Rim Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the Lodge, includes fresh fruit, hot items, such as French toast, eggs, hash browns, and bacon, granola, yogurt, breakfast pastires, coffe and juice.

Morning: Watch sunrise over the Grand Canyon if you'd like. After breakfast, group will join the ranger lead "Nature Walk" or other optional activities. Mid-morning the bus departs for Point Imperial, the highest viewpoint in the park at 8803 feet. This quintessential Grand Canyon view will tax the capabilities of your camera to capture it all. You naturalist guide will point out Grand Canyon and regional landmarks (some up to 100 miles away). Discussions may include regional geography, canyon trails, aircraft over flights and fire ecology to name a few. Picnic lunch on site.

Lunch: Box lunch inclucdes a deli-style sandwich, chips, fresh fruit and cookie or granola bar.

Afternoon: Bus back to the North Rim Lodge. An optional hike walk down North Kaibab Trail (with a 600 foot elevation loss and a distance of 3/4 miles one way) will be offered, or enjoy free time on the North Rim. Park ranger programs will also be available in the afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner in the majestic dining room of North Rim, with magnificent views through huge picture windows. Entree choices include Roasted chicken, Prime Rib, Roasted Salmon Filet with Cilantro Drizzle or Whole Wheat Mushroom Pasta with bay spinach and Oven Roasted Tomatoes.

Evening: After dinner enjoy an optional National Park Service ranger presentation in the lodge auditorium.

Lodging: North Rim Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the Lodge.

Morning: After breakfast, depart Grand Canyon and re-trace our steps with a stop at the historic Navajo Bridge. During our stop at the Navajo Bridge participants will be able to take a thrilling stroll across this now pedestrian bridge and marvel at the 500' chasm below and the muddy waters of the Colorado. Continue to the historic 1916 Cameron Trading Post. Native American arts and crafts galore will be available at Cameron Trading Post. Lunch on site.

Lunch: Lunch at Cameron Trading Post. In addition to standard lunch menu selections we will offer up and introduce you to the famous "Navajo Taco" - a light, crispy fry bread loaded with traditional taco toppings. It's a memorable experience!

Afternoon: After lunch in Cameron, travel to Flagstaff, through the Verde Valley, Cordes Junction and on to our Scottsdale hotel.

Dinner: Dinner will be at Macayo's Mexican Restaurant, a favorite of locals. Enjoy a festive, final night meal with your new found friends as you recount the events of the week.

Evening: Dinner will be followed by a program wrap-up session, including reflections and farewells.

Lodging: Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Enjoy a continental breakfast at the resort, which includes: scrambled eggs, sliced fruit, whole grain breads, oatmeal or cereal, coffee,tea and juice.

Morning: Super Shuttle departure to airport. (See information above).

Meals Included: Breakfast