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Chicago to Golden Gate
Chicago to Golden Gate
Overview
Experience the charm and splendor of America’s treasures from the Midwest to the South Coast on a road trip that spans 14 action-packed days. Discover the natural wonders surrounding the Mississippi and the allure of rural Wyoming as you go west from Chicago. See the earth in action by traveling to Yellowstone National Park. With your local guide, you will see a lot of famous locations. You will have a fantastic time discovering the local mountain culture in the Mormon state of Utah and the Teton Mountains. After traveling through several intriguing national sites, such as the Grand Canyon, stop at the Route 66 landmark Seligman. Immerse yourself in the city spirit of Las Vegas, as an endless evening of gaming and partying awaits you. See Santa Barbara and, at last, chic San Francisco before bidding farewell.
Why you will love this trip?
- Experience the finest of the western United States on this 14-day journey led by knowledgeable local guides.
- Make the most of your free afternoon in Chicago by discovering the world cuisine served at the upscale eateries and renowned architectural scene of the city.
- Mark Badlands and Mount Rushmore off your list of the Midwest’s natural and partially man-made wonders.
- Discover the iconic landscapes, culinary traditions, and cultural practices of the Midwest by spending evenings in quiet communities like Cody and Rapid City, against the brilliant backdrop of the Wyoming highlands.
- With your camera at the ready, take in the breathtaking scenery as the burning hoodoos of Bryce Canyon give you chills.
- As you travel toward the city of neon lights and never-ending entertainment, Las Vegas, you can become a part of the lengthy and colorful history of Route 66.
- As you travel up the West Coast from Los Angeles to the Golden City of San Francisco, you will experience a variety of attractions, including Hollywood luxury, calming beachside moods, and Spanish Colonial heritage.
TRIP ITINERARY
Day 1: Greetings from Chicago!
Thank you for visiting Chicago! Join your tour guide and your group for a casual welcome at the hotel in the evening. In the interim, feel free to explore Chicago’s well-known downtown like a local or take a nap in preparation for our amazing journey!
Day 2: Take a Tour of Chicago
Take a quick tour of the city’s top attractions, such as Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, and Lake Shore Drive, to start the day. The remainder of the day is your own to spend exploring Chicago, dubbed the “Windy City,” at your leisure. Admire without restraint the inspiring artwork in one of the city’s renowned museums or the intriguingly striking architecture of downtown Chicago.
Day 3: Cross the Mississippi River to go to Sioux Falls from Chicago.
Tour the Midwest’s farms, which are home to many dairy farms and acres of corn and wheat. After riding through Iowa and over the massive Mississippi River, we arrive at the same spot on the banks of the Missouri River that the Lewis and Clark Expedition did two centuries ago. For a much-needed break, we travel to Sioux Falls.
Day 4: Tours of Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Badlands National Park, and Mount Rushmore
Proceed towards the west and enter Badlands National Park after passing through South Dakota’s expansive and verdant plains. Amazingly colorful natural rock formations can be found throughout this once-home to buffalo and antelope. The Black Hills, which are considered holy by Native Americans and are the location of the well-known Mount Rushmore, are the next stop on our journey. Once we’ve had our fill of the breathtaking vistas, we head to Rapid City for the night.
Day 5: Explore Rapid City, Bighorn Mountains, and Cody
We keep traveling in the direction of the magnificent state of Wyoming, commonly referred to as the “Equality State,” which is made up of twelve mountain ranges mixed in with wide deserts and undulating grasslands. We will sleep in preparation for tomorrow’s exciting day in Cody. Should inclement weather or unfavorable road conditions in Yellowstone prevent us from staying overnight in Cody, we will spend the night in Billings, Livingston, Montana.
Day 6: Travel to Yellowstone National Park through Cody.
Travel beyond the Wyoming highlands to reach Yellowstone, the nation’s first national park! Take an in-depth tour of this vast geothermal wonderland, complete with waterfalls, geysers, canyons, vibrant fauna, and more, by traveling with your knowledgeable guide! The magnificent falls of Yellowstone Canyon, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Lake, and the stunning Hayden Valley are just a few of the amazing features.
Day 7: Tour of Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Salt Lake City
As long as the weather permits, we will go through Grand Teton National Park today to see the stunning 4,000-meter-tall mountain peaks and the native fauna. Go to the Snake River Outlook and try your hand at photographing the breathtaking scenery that became well-known because to Ansel Adam’s famous monochrome photograph. After arriving in Utah, which is well-known for its Mormon population, take a quick tour of Salt Lake City, the state capital. View how one of the nation’s best-planned cities was constructed by Mormon adherents of Brigham Young. Before spending the night at our hotel, we tour the Tabernacle, the State Capital building, and famous Temple Square. Would you like to enjoy sweeping views of Temple Square with dinner at the Rooftop Restaurant, which is optional?
Day 8: Make your way to Bryce Canyon National Park via Salt Lake City
Set out to explore the breathtaking Bryce Canyon, where your guide will lead you through a multicolored world of eye-dazzling sandstone pinnacles and spires known as “hoodoos.” If the weather permits, spend this evening stargazing at the breathtaking constellations and glittering stars in the night sky.
Day 9: Leave Bryce Canyon and travel to Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, and Lake Powell.
We ride on beyond Bryce Canyon to the breathtaking Lake Powell, where red-rock canyon walls soar above azure waters. The second-biggest artificial lake in America, Lake Powell, was created when the Colorado River was dammed. The renowned Grand Canyon National Park, one of the world’s seven major natural wonders, will be our next destination. It is known for its breathtaking scenery. To really enjoy and appreciate this mile-deep canyon with all of its meandering Colorado River, soaring spires, plummeting gorges, and extinct volcanoes, pause at the canyon’s rim. Riding down Historic Route 66 through Flagstaff will be our desired destination for the day’s sights.
Day 10: Travel from Flagstaff to Seligman/Route 66, which leads to Las Vegas.
Cheers to Las Vegas! We departed early in the morning in the direction of Las Vegas, the glittering “Entertainment Capital of the World.” We will travel through the real town of Seligman along the well-known Route 66, which appears to have frozen in time sixty years ago. Explore the legendary Las Vegas Strip at your leisure for the remainder of the day.
Day 11: Take a tour of Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, the Mojave Desert, and Las Vegas
Enjoy views of the picturesque Mojave Desert with its distinctive Joshua trees arranged against the backdrop of mountains as you ride towards Los Angeles on the western coast. After you arrive in Los Angeles, head to our hotel by joining your guide for a tour of the “City of Angels,” which includes stops at well-known locations including Hollywood, the Sunset Strip, and portions of Beverly Hills.
Day 12: Travel to Los Angeles
You have the day to spend how you like! The biggest theme park and film studio in the world, Universal Studios, is a recommended full-day excursion! Take in some of the exhilarating feature rides at the Studios or get an inside look at the movie sets to learn about the behind-the-scenes operations of classic movies.
Day 13: Travel to Santa Barbara and the Central Coast after leaving Los Angeles
We travel north via Santa Barbara, one of California’s most popular vacation destinations, after leaving Los Angeles in the morning. Take in vistas of broad white sand beaches bordered by streets dotted with palm trees. The city is well-known for its Spanish ancestry and missions. We will stop at a renowned California lifeguard tower along the route, especially the one made famous by the television show “Baywatch.” We travel further up the Central Coast to Santa Maria in order to get a restful night’s sleep.
Day 14: Last day of travel: Central Coast, Carmel/Monterey, San Francisco
We travel even farther north to Carmel, which is home to renowned actor and director Clint Eastwood and has galleries and cottages straight out of a fairy tale. Feel free to peruse the stores and galleries within the well-known artists’ community. We stop at Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey as we continue north. Take a stroll along the Pier to Cannery Row, which is well-known because of the classic book by John Steinbeck. We reach San Francisco, sometimes known as the “Golden City,” after traveling through the verdant valleys of Castroville and Santa Clara. Here, we shall bid our newfound friends farewell and our journey come to a conclusion.
Tour Inclusions
- 4 and 3 star hotels & inns, superior lodges
- 5 Breakfasts
- A/C coach or mini-bus
- Complimentary hotel and coach Wi-Fi ( where available )
- Services of experienced G1 Travel local guides licenced by the Ministry of Tourism
- Organised orientation walks at some of the towns visited
What is NOT included?
- Any flights not mentioned above
- Travel Insurance
- Meals not stated above
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips and gestures
- Entrance fees to the sights and museums
- Optional activities
- Other services not stated in the itinerary
Does this look like fun? Book tickets today!
"G1 Travel made our vacation absolutely incredible! From seamless booking to personalized recommendations, every detail was well taken care of. The team's dedication to customer satisfaction truly sets them apart. We can't wait to plan our next adventure with G1 Travel!"
Doug Martin
UK
"What stood out the most with G1 Travel was the personalized attention we received. They took the time to understand our preferences, and as a result, our trip felt tailor-made just for us. G1 Travel turned our dream vacation into a reality!"
David
USA
