6 Days/5 Nights

Big Sky Country

Wide open spaces and friendly faces—that's Big Sky Country! It's an enchanting land of majestic mountains, cascading waterfalls and vast meadows stretching to the far horizon. For magnificent sights and more, join us on this heart-lifting adventure to the Tetons, Yellowstone and the wide-open spaces all around.

Tour Highlights

• Enjoy a day in Yellowstone with an expert guide.
• Gaze at Yellowstone's awesome thundering Lower Falls and the Grand Teton Mountains.
• Visit a Montana ranch and get a big-hearted "howdy" from modern-day cowboys.
• Savor a special lunch prepared just for you and enjoy some toe-tappin' entertainment as you visit with the folks in Dillon.

Itinerary

Day 1—Salt Lake City: You'll meet your new traveling friends at an informal evening get-together at our hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Welcome Reception included.

Day 2—Salt Lake City/Cache Valley: We begin near Willard at Pettingill’s Fruit Market, a favorite with local folks. The Pettingills will welcome us and treat us to some fresh fruit before showing us their unique irrigation system. We’ll travel north and pass along Bear Lake, a large scenic lake often called “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its intense turquoise blue water.

After a stop in Montpelier for a ­delicious lunch, we'll travel to the Teton Mountains and the historic town of Jackson, Wyoming. Enjoy the fun shops, good restaurants and beautiful mountains all around. Meals included: B, L.

Day 3—Jackson/Grand Teton/Yellowstone: Explore Jackson on your own or join an Optional Excursion to see the area up close.

Option—Wildlife Expedition: Get your camera ready! You can explore Teton Mountain backcountry on a "photo ­safari." See breathtaking scenery as you look for elk, moose, mountain sheep and more stunning wildlife. Price: $125 per person. (Does not include cost of park pass.)

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Option—Snake River Float Trip: Board a large raft for a relaxing 2-hour float trip down the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park. Marvel at the colossal mountains and watch for wildlife—you may spot a bald eagle! Price: $63 per person.

After your excursion, we’ll travel into stunning Yellowstone National Park and arrive in time for you to take a walk or relax and get ready to see the park tomorrow. Meal included: B.

Day 4—Yellowstone: An expert guide will join us to tour Yellowstone National Park. See snowcapped mountains, peaceful meadows, mud pots, hot springs and far-ranging forests. Feel the power of the thundering Lower Falls. Marvel at the golden walls of Yellowstone's Grand Canyon!

Elk and buffalo are common along the roads and you might spot a bighorn sheep, a gray wolf or a grizzly bear! Our home tonight is West Yellowstone. Meals included: B, L.

Day 5—Virginia City/Dillon: We'll travel past deep-blue Lake Hebgen and into the Madison Mountains. We'll pass through the Gold Rush towns of Virginia City and Nevada City on our way to Dillon where we'll meet some friendly folks.

In Dillon, Ray Marxer waits at the old cast iron cauldron to explain how cowboys took "one-bite-at-a-time" fondue to a hearty new level. Ray will be cookin' up your steak for our "pitchfork fondue" lunch, and the friendly folks from the local 4-H Club will provide the "fixin's" to complete the meal. 

The Dillon Junior Fiddlers will play toe-tappin' music and sheep rancher Aggie Helle will share information on her woolly enterprise. After lunch, Ray and Sue Marxer will show us around the Matador Ranch. You'll get a real feel of what they mean when they refer to "wide-open spaces"

We'll wind our way back across the Continental Divide and into the Snake River Valley to Idaho Falls. Our hotel is next door to the city's 1,000-foot-long cascade. Meals included: B, L.

Day 6—Idaho Falls/American Falls/Salt Lake City: Southern Idaho is home to the famous Idaho potato! At American Falls, you'll meet Pat Rowe and learn about farming under the Big Sky—we'll hear about the processing and storage of potatoes, see the potato cellars on the Rowe Family Farm and learn about the ­development of irrigation in the area. Enjoy one of our favorite meals on any tour when we lunch at Esther Giesbrecht's Fairview Inn.

Then it's back to Salt Lake City to head for home with great memories. Meals included: B, L.

Accommodations

• Day 1: Salt Lake Plaza Hotel, Salt Lake City
• Day 2: 49'er Inn, Jackson
• Day 3: Yellowstone Park Lodge, Yellowstone National Park
• Day 4: ClubHouse Inn, West Yellowstone
• Day 5: Shilo Inn, Idaho Falls