Colorful Colorado: Peaks, Parks, and Panoramas

Welcome to Denver! At 6 pm, meet with your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink. ENHANCED FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE Denver has something for everyone! Discover one of the city’s great museums, stroll the pedestrian mall at 16th Street or visit a local brewery on the Denver Beer Trail! Your Tour Director has suggestions to make the most of your free time. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for maps, tips, and more.

Red Rocks and Mountain Tops Take an orientation tour of Denver, including the Colorado State Capitol, modeled after the Capitol Building in Washington DC. Visit Red Rocks Amphitheater, an iconic Colorado venue initially created by geologic events. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal project, Civilian Conservation Corps, constructed the amphitheater seating. Continue to Boulder for Flatiron views and an orientation tour. Enjoy lunch and leisure time to explore Pearl Street, a pedestrian walkway in the heart of downtown. Depart Boulder for Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE Recognized as the “Happiest City in the US,” Boulder boasts more than 300 days of sunshine. Home to University of Colorado Boulder, a tier-one research university also known for the strong Buffaloes football program, and The Sink, a timeless college hangout and the oldest restaurant in Boulder.

Rocky Mountain Highs Visit the Alpine Visitor Center and explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Continue to Grand Lake, Colorado’s largest natural lake, framed by magnificent mountain peaks. Travel to Vail, a charming mountain town nestled in the Colorado Rockies, for dinner at a local restaurant and a two-night stay. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT HALFWAY TO HEAVEN Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses a variety of mountain range environments with alpine lakes, majestic mountain peaks, and miles of meadows for the wildlife to call home. Cross the tundra of the Continental Divide as it runs through Rocky Mountain National Park on the Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuously paved road in America. Watch for a wealth of wildlife that call the Rockies home—including plentiful elk, moose, big horn sheep, marmots, and maybe a black bear!

Bavarian Beauty Visit the [LOCAL FAVORITE] Vail Nature Center and enjoy a light guided hike to explore the wildflowers, active beaver lodges, and local ecosystem. Continue to the Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall of Fame and learn the rich history of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore on your own. Consider strolling the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, try goat yoga, or enjoy an exhilarating ride on the Copper Mountain gondola and alpine slide. (B) ENHANCED FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE in Vail! Wander and wonder in the charming alpine village—a popular playground for year-round activities—from hiking to biking to skiing. Explore charming Lionshead & Vail Villages to enjoy art galleries, restaurants, and shops. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for maps and suggestions on where to dine and what to see! LOCAL FAVORITE WILDFLOWER WALKS Discover the woods, birds, and meadows at the Vail Nature Center. Walk along the Gore Creek and connect with nature while exploring the unique ecology, wildflowers, and wildlife in the heart of Vail.

Peaches and Vines Depart Vail for Grand Junction and the Colorado National Monument for red rock canyons and desert landscapes high on the Colorado Plateau. Here, the Rockies meet the American Southwest. Continue to Palisade and visit a family-owned peach orchard. The unique climate, altitude, and rich volcanic soil in the Palisade area are the perfect combination for growing peaches and grapes. Discover creative peach concoctions with a tour and tasting at [LOCAL FAVORITE] Peach Street Distillers, a creative spirits distillery. Enjoy an overnight stay at the Wine Country Inn for an authentic, local wine experience. (B) LOCAL FAVORITE COLORADO PROUD Enjoy the fruits of Palisade peach growers’ labors where a small-batch artisanal distillery uses Colorado grain and local fruit to create a variety of delicious spirits. Tour the production facility and explore the process and barrel aging techniques used to produce the award-winning spirits.

All Aboard! Depart Palisade for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Enjoy views in the quiet park of the gorge carved by the powerful Gunnison River. Continue to Silverton for a memorable ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Durango for a 2-night stay. Tonight, spend free time browsing the shops on Main Avenue or enjoy regional specialties at a local restaurant. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT EPIC RIDE Board the legendary Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad steam train as it hugs steep canyon walls to wind its way through Rio de las Animas Canyon. Arrive in Durango, a town born in the Gold Rush and silver-mining era.

Ancient Mystery Today, visit Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the Southern Ute Cultural Center & Museum and discover the culture and history of the Núuchi (Ute People). This afternoon, visit Ska Brewing Company in Durango for a tasting and to discover their sustainability initiatives. As one of the first craft breweries in the country to package beer in infinitely recyclable aluminum cans, they are committed to reducing waste and continue to create sustainability programs. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in downtown Durango. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT ANCIENT DWELLINGS See Spruce Tree House, one of Mesa Verde’s best-preserved cliff dwellings. Also, visit the museum that tells the story of the people who once thrived on this 8,000-foot ancient plateau (now Mesa Verde National Park). Stop at a great vantage point for pictures of Cliff Palace (one of the largest of the 700-year-old Anasazi dwellings).

Peak Perfection Depart Durango for Alamosa and visit Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Reaching 750 feet high across 30 square miles, the Great Sand Dunes of Southern Colorado amaze as the tallest sand dunes in North America. Surrounded by a backdrop of forest, mountains, and wild grassland, this natural wonder creates a visual masterpiece of natural beauty. Continue to Colorado Springs for a 2-night resort stay. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT ACCOMMODATION HIGHLIGHT Discover Rocky Mountain serenity at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, located in the foothills of the Rockies, for the ultimate mountain experience. Relax onsite with resort amenities including walking trails, indoor and outdoor pools, a private lake with watersports, golf, spa, and even pickleball courts!

Spend your day your way in Colorado Springs Explore more of Colorado Springs with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions. Visit stunning Garden of the Gods for a gentle nature walk to explore 300 million years of geological history amid its 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations. Marvel at the otherworldly beauty of this geological wonder against a Colorado “bluebird” sky above the snowcapped summit of Pikes Peak. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure at the resort. This evening, gather with your fellow travel companions and Tour Director for a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Schedule departing flights from Denver International Airport after 12:30 pm. Want to explore more of Denver? Extra nights are available for purchase. (B)