8D7N Sunny Days, Starry Nights: America’s Rocky Mountains By Design (F8A)

Welcome to Billings! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for a welcome drink.

BILLINGS: Orientation tour of Billings. Drive to Yellowstone National Park.
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Guided sightseeing includes Lamar Valley, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Overnight stay inside the park with free time this evening.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: Sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park continues with visits to Old Faithful and Fountain Paint Pots. Scenic drive continues to West Yellowstone.
WEST YELLOWSTONE: Free time this afternoon.
BIG SKY: YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

CREATE: Secret Family Remedies
Experience the healing power of nature found hidden in Montana’s mountain plants and flowers. Join in a fascinating workshop at 320 Guest Ranch to learn to identify medicinal mountain flora, known for their medicinal qualities for centuries by generations of mountain folk here. You’ll forage for particular plants and learn how to infuse them into oils for use as a soothing topical salve. Take your own creation home with you to use for what ails ya!

TREK: The Little Dipper of Big Sky
Take a leisurely hike to Ousel Falls, which plummets nearly 40 feet before flowing through the heart of Big Sky. Named for the Ousel bird (aka American Dipper), the falls provide the perfect nesting place for this little trilling songbird of Big Sky. (Note: This nearly 2-mile hike follows well-groomed, gentle trails with frequent picnic and shaded rest areas. At 6,500 feet, be prepared for the effects of high altitude by bringing a personal water bottle and snacks.

SOAR: Mountain Climes
Take a ride on Big Sky's scenic chair lift for a bird's eye view of magnificent mountain views. Beginning at the Big Sky Mountain Village 7,500 feet above sea level, the scenic lift rises 1,600 vertical feet to an elevation of 9,000 feet. Enjoy the thrill of open-air multi-passenger chairs and join your local Naturalist Guide for a walk to learn about this remarkable region’s storied history and ecology.

BIG SKY: Scenic drive to Nevada City and Virginia City to visit two Western ghost towns.
NEVADA CITY: Guided walking tour of the historic ghost town and outdoor museum, followed by a shortline train ride to Virginia City. VIRGINIA CITY: Free time in this thriving historic ghost town.
MISSOULA: Guided orientation tour. Free time this evening

MISSOULA: Morning drive along Flathead Lake en route to Lake McDonald Village in Glacier National Park.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK: Free time this afternoon, followed by a scenic ride along the Going-to-the-Sun Road aboard a historic Red Jammer bus.
WHITEFISH: Free time this evening.

YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

FLOAT: Down the Lazy River
Enjoy a scenic float trip on a calm and peaceful stretch of the Flathead River in Glacier National Park. Relax amid stunning scenery with a friendly, interpretive river guide on a rafting excursion that is great for all ages who prefer a mellow ride over a whitewater rafting experience. Float through the Middle Fork section of the Flathead River, from West Glacier to Blankenship Bridge. Learn about the history, culture, and ecological conservation of Glacier National Park, as well as its fascinating flora and fauna of the Flathead River.

TASTE: Brews Crews Travel to the historic town of Kalispell for an orientation tour, followed by free time to explore the historic mountain town. Stroll through the local boutiques, restaurants, and galleries. Then, enjoy a warm welcome, a frosty glass, and cool companions while tasting cold brews in Kalispell. Take a guided walking tour to visit the area’s top breweries. Go behind the scenes for a “Beer 101” experience, and sample a great variety of great tastings at each stop! Clink glasses, see the sights, and please your palate with Montana microbrews.

DELVE: Roosevelt Slept Here
Travel to the historic town of Kalispell, founded by the builder and namesake of Conrad Mansion and Gardens. Take an orientation tour, followed by free time to explore the historic mountain town, founded by Charles E. Conrad. Stroll through the local boutiques, restaurants, and galleries before taking a guided tour of the historic Mansion and Gardens. Built in 1895, the 26-room Conrad Mansion offers a glimpse into the life of a Montana pioneer and the welcoming hospitality enjoyed by such guests as President Teddy Roosevelt.

WHITEFISH: Morning scenic drive to picturesque Sandpoint, Idaho.
SANDPOINT: Free time to explore the shops, pubs, and galleries. Scenic drive along the Pend Oreille River into Washington en route to Spokane.
SPOKANE: Guided sightseeing tour includes Manito Park Gardens, followed by free time and a farewell dinner this evening.

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning.