Cowboy Country

•   A taste of cowboy life at a Wyoming ranch – horseback riding, frog hunting at the trout pond, evening campfire and more

Day 1: Arrive Jackson, Wyoming
A transfer is included from the Jackson?Hole Airport to Jackson Lake Lodge for a two-night stay in the heart of Grand Teton National Park; your heart will be captured by your first sight of the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Tetons jutting skyward. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening at your home for the next two nights, Jackson Lake Lodge – an eco-friendly resort that is set right in the heart of the national park. Tonight you’ll learn about your upcoming adventures and meet your fellow travelers.
Overnight: Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Look for wildlife on a float trip on the Snake River
Get set for a gentle float trip* on the Snake River, designated a National Wild and Scenic River in 1974. You will be exploring the scenic part of the river today as your expert guide introduces you to this wildlife-rich ecosystem and helps you spot the animals that make their homes here, such as beaver, eagles, elk and even moose. Following lunch, join us as we explore postcard-perfect sights en route to the historic town of Jackson. One of the places is Jenny Lake, one of the prettiest places in Grand Teton National Park. You’ll know you’ve arrived by the elk antler arches... The remainder of the day is free for you to enjoy as you wish. Jackson is a beautiful town with a cowboy feel, wide open spaces, mountain views and lots of restaurants to choose from for dinner on your own tonight.
Overnight: Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Two nights inside Yellowstone National Park
Our nation’s national parks are a promise we made to ourselves to protect and preserve these natural treasures for the enjoyment of generations of visitors. You will have the unique opportunity on Cowboy Country this morning to volunteer with park experts on a very special service project, made possible by Tauck’s long-standing relationship with America’s national parks – we’ve been bringing travelers to the national parks since 1926, and our service project is an important part of Cowboy Country. Tauck received a special Presidential Award at the White House for our on-tour volunteer program in the summer of 2006, when the President personally thanked Tauck on behalf of our many guests for helping keep these places beautiful. Drive to Yellowstone National Park later this morning, where your inside-the-park accommodations are just steps away from Old Faithful Geyser – you will be able to watch it send its plume of steam skyward during your stay; it puts on its clockwork show just about every 90 minutes! Free time this afternoon offers you time to explore the area with your family on its walking trails that take you by the most amazing collections of geothermal wonders. Dine à la carte tonight at the lodge. It may be hard to imagine that the lodge was built in 1903 over the course of a single winter when snow and ice blanketed the sights you saw today!
Overnight: Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4: Explore America's oldest national park
Wake up to a world of natural wonders in the world’s very first national park, established in 1872. Spend portions of the day with local experts from the Yellowstone Association Institute, one of the nation’s outstanding wilderness schools, who share stories about the park’s history and wildlife on a full day sightseeing trip. Yellowstone National Park protects five threatened or endangered species, including the gray wolf, the whooping crane, the lynx, the bald eagle, and the grizzly bear, but more than 61 different mammals live here. In fact, Yellowstone National Park has the largest concentration of wildlife in the lower 48 states. You may happen upon elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer and sheep during your explorations so keep an eye out for the locals today! Enjoy a picnic lunch in the great outdoors, and hear special insights about the “restless” geology of the park, from thundering waterfalls to gurgling mud pots and volcanic calderas. With 10,000 hot springs, two-thirds of all geysers in the world, and lush forests, it’s easy to understand the passionate preservation and conservation efforts of so many who came before, and so many today, to protect this land for future generations. Dinner is at your leisure back at the lodge this evening.
Overnight: Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5: Visit Cody, "Rodeo Capital of the World"
Take a last look at the scenic beauty of the park this morning as you drive to a quintessential cowboy town in Wyoming where the Old West lives on. Renowned as the “rodeo capital of the world,” historic Cody was founded by frontiersman William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody in 1896. Learn more about his amazing life and legacy at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center – you’ll be among the first visitors to the new Buffalo Bill Museum opening May of 2012. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is much more, however, than just the story of Buffalo Bill; it’s a “celebration of the spirit of the American West,” and is home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West. You’ll explore Greater Yellowstone natural history, western art, cultural stories and histories of the Plains Indian peoples, and other exhibits during your visit. It’s off to the rodeo tonight after dinner, where death-defying stunts will be performed by steer wrestlers, buckin’ broncos, barrel riders and rodeo clowns – a memorable show for families of all ages!
Overnight: Holiday Inn Cody at Buffalo Bill Village, Cody, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6: Spend a night at a real western ranch
Today’s drive through the Bighorn Mountains, a sister range of the Rocky Mountains, includes some pretty amazing sights – watch for cowboys at work in the high altitude grasslands, a spectacular waterfall, all kinds of wildflowers, and deep canyons that harbor deep secrets of days gone by – and help you understand how this area was at the heart of the real “Wild West.” Your destination today is The Ranch at Ucross, where you can get a real hands-on taste of cowboy life during your overnight stay. The ranch offers many activities for family fun – you can take a leisurely horseback ride*; relax by the heated swimming pool; pitch horseshoes; go on walks up the sage-covered hills or hunt for frogs by the pond. There’s a huge front porch where you can watch the colors of the sunset... and a campfire in the evening, complete with s’mores, that caps a perfect day in Wyoming’s cowboy country, the real American West.
Overnight: The Ranch at Ucross, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: See the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mt. Rushmore
You’ll see some of the world’s largest sculptures today, nestled in the Black Hills of South?Dakota. View the work-in-progress at the Crazy Horse Memorial, which when completed will include one of the world’s largest mountain carvings. The memorial pays homage to the Lakota warrior Crazy Horse with an immense carving of him on horseback out of Thunderhead Mountain, as well as two cultural learning centers – the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Cultural Center. Your final visit today is one of the most iconic sites in America, Mount Rushmore National Monument. Nothing compares to seeing the four famous presidential faces carved into rock – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt – in person. You’ll hear stories about how 400 workers spent 14 years creating the dream of sculptor Gutzon Borglum, including interesting facts you may not have known about the size of the facial features that loom above you. Your weeklong trip through the “best of the West” comes to an end this evening with a farewell dinner at your hotel – and a special surprise.
Overnight: K Bar S Lodge, Keystone, SD
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8: Journey Home
Tour ends: Rapid City. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the K Bar S Lodge to Rapid City Regional Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Don't miss our current specials: Tauck Tour Special Offer Whether you choose to explore Europe on a Tauck "Yellow Roads of Europe" land journey, sail away on our award-winning European river cruises, find yourself someplace new on a Tauck Culturious trip or share the joy of European travel with your family on a Tauck Bridges adventure, your Tauck travel experience is built around these "cornerstones": Personalized Service We take care of every detail on your Tauck European vacation so you connect with the destination and experience the genuine emotion, the camaraderie, the little things that comprise day-to-day European life.   Quality Experience Tauck's expertise and local access provide guests with the best possible travel experience in Europe, including exclusive cultural events, fine hotels in the best locations and dining featuring authentic regional cuisine. Inclusive Value One up-front price with virtually everything included – no hidden costs, no surprises, no options sold on tour.   Peace of Mind Purchasing clarity – you know the quality of Tauck's travel experiences and full cost before you leave home. TAKE OFF WITH TAUCK makes flying to Europe easy with one flat up-front air price of $1,290 per person economy or $3,290 per person business and other benefits!* Call us today for more information!
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/13/2012 - 6/21/2012	$3,090
6/21/2012 - 6/29/2012	$3,090
6/27/2012 - 7/5/2012	$3,090
7/1/2012 - 7/9/2012	$3,090
7/9/2012 - 7/17/2012	$3,090
7/19/2012 - 7/27/2012	$3,090
7/27/2012 - 8/4/2012	$3,090
8/2/2012 - 8/10/2012	$3,090
8/6/2012 - 8/14/2012	$3,090
8/14/2012 - 8/22/2012	$3,090
8/24/2012 - 9/1/2012	$3,090
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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