2021
Colorado Rocky Mountain High

Thursday, July 8 – Arrive at the Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. Experience this celebrated resort with over one hundred years of continuous service. The balance of your day is free to explore this celebrated resort with over one hundred years of continuous service. Lunch on your own. This evening we will meet for welcome cocktails and dinner at the Broadmoor.

Friday, July 9 – This morning we will visit the United States Air Force Academy and tour the campus. See the Cadet Chapel, the most visited man-made tourist attraction in Colorado, we will stay for a show at the planetarium. Lunch will be with the cadets in the Mess Hall.

Saturday, July 10 – This is our first day of many Rocky Mountain drives. We embark on a nineteen-mile scenic journey to the summit of Pikes Peak. From the entrance at an elevation of 7,400 feet we climb to the 14,115-foot top of Pikes Peak. Lunch will be at the base of Pikes Peak. Upon return to the Broadmoor Resort, your afternoon is free to enjoy some of the activities and amenities the resort has to offer.

Sunday, July 11 – Today we drive west along US route 50 paralleling the Arkansas River and crossing the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass. The drive up to Monarch Pass as well as the descent provides spectacular scenery. We’ll stop for lunch at Garlic Mike’s in Gunnison. Following lunch, we make our way along Route 50 to the red rock canyons of western Colorado. Adventure and wonder await us at Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa. 

Monday July 12 – We drive to Durango this morning; the city was established by the Rio Grande Railway in 1880 to serve the silver mining boom. Lunch will be at the historic Strater Hotel, take a minute or two to check out the Belle Girls in their period costumes in the Diamond Belle Saloon. This afternoon we will drive the Million Dollar Highway, no guardrails on this stretch of road!

Tuesday, July 13 – The Fast Lane Travel Photo Rally is today! Drive to Grand Junction and up to the Colorado National Monument. This is an impressive drive with four miles of serpentine road, journey beside canyon walls taking us to the top. Massive boulders on both sides of the road lead us to Rim Rock Drive, twenty-three miles of astounding views. Return to the resort after lunch on your own. Perhaps make a detour and explore downtown Grand Junction. Main Street is a pedestrian-friendly zone lined with trees, fountains, and lovely landscaping.

Wednesday, July 14 – Today our drive takes us to Delta, Colorado where we join Colorado Route 133, a scenic route that runs between Delta and Carbondale, Colorado. Pass through several western towns and see awesome views of the Maroon Bells, two peaks in the Elk Mountains separated by less than a mile. Following lunch in Marble, Colorado we continue to the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. This evening we gather at the WYLD Terrace Bar for cocktails, followed by dinner.

Thursday, July 15 – Depart the hotel for our round-trip drive on magnificent country roads. Stop for a brief visit with Alan Butts, the “Antler Guy”, he creates jewelry, whistles and lamps from antlers. From McCoy we take beautiful Hwy 134 to Kremmling where you’ll see ranches, barns and horses along this scenic drive. We make our way back to the Ritz Carlton for a free afternoon. This evening is our farewell cocktail party and dinner. 

Friday, July 16 – End of Tour – Depart for home.