Rocky Mountain High
Join Fast Lane Travel, Inc. this summer for another of our Colorado Rocky Mountain High adventures. We begin in Colorado Springs, an area of Colorado that is especially captivating in the summer. Spend three nights at the historic Cliff House at Pikes Peak, located in Manitou Springs outside of Colorado Springs. Enjoy an exhilarating drive above the alpine tree line to the summit of Pikes Peak and a visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Stay three nights in western Colorado at the fabulous Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, where we will make daily excursions from this lovely base. One day includes our famous and fun Photo Rally in the gorgeous Colorado National Monument. We’ll drive to Durango on the Million Dollar Highway, part of the San Juan Skyway – the vistas are absolutely jaw-dropping. We’ll drop in on the “Antler Guy” in McCoy and thrill to one of the most scenic roads in Colorado, Hwy 134.
All accommodations, gourmet meals, cocktails and beverages, luggage van, car washes, gasoline, taxes entry fees and gratuities are all included per itinerary. You are driving your own Porsche – or any other car you might want to bring. We’ve had Mercedes, Lexus, Mustangs, Ferraris, etc.
Don’t miss out on all the fun – sign up today!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- Luxury accommodations
- Cocktails, wine & beer in the evenings
- Experienced drive guides
- Luxury motor coach
- All meals per itinerary
- Gratuities, taxes and entrance fees
- Who’s Who booklet
- Gasoline and car washes
Itinerary
DAY 1 - Arrive in Colorado Springs
Thursday, July 10th
- Arrive and check in to the Cliff House at Pikes Peak
- Afternoon on your own
- Welcome Cocktails and Dinner
Arrive in Manitou Springs and check in at the Cliff House at Pikes Peak. Your car will be securely parked overnight. The balance of your day is free and you might enjoy just relaxing on the verandah with something cool to drink. If you drive your car directly from your home, please be sure to arrive at the hotel by dinnertime.
This evening, we will meet for our Welcome to Colorado Cocktail Party followed by dinner at the Cliff House.
DAY 2 - Air Force Academy (~ 70 miles)
Friday, July 11th
- Morning visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy
- Lunch at the Academy
- Free afternoon in Manitou Springs
- Cocktails and dinner at the Cliff House
Enjoy a delightful breakfast at the Cliff House before we depart from the hotel for a short drive to the U.S. Air Force Academy. We will be met by a representative of the Academy for a special tour of the campus including the stunning Cadet Chapel designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. We will also tour one of the newest buildings on campus, Polaris Hall – a.k.a. the Air Force Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership – also designed by the same architects. We will enjoy lunch at the Academy before returning to our hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy strolling the quaint streets of Manitou Springs or relaxing at the hotel. We will meet again for cocktails and dinner tonight at the Cliff House.
DAY 3 - Pikes Peak (~ 80 miles)
Saturday, July 12th
- Breakfast – the Cliff House
- Scenic drive to Pikes Peak
- Lunch – The Winery Pikes Peak
- Dinner – Edelweiss German Restaurant
After a delightful breakfast, we will 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. Once we come down from the clouds, we’ll enjoy lunch at The Winery at the base of Pike’s Peak. Upon our return to the Cliff House, your afternoon is free to enjoy some of the activities in the area.
Dinner this evening will be reminiscent of our European TREFFEN© tours – we’ll enjoy a superb meal including German beer and wine at the Edelweiss German Restaurant. Bring your Lederhosen and Dirndl!
DAY 4 - To Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa (~ 330 miles)
Sunday, July 13th
- Breakfast – at the Cliff House
- Drive US Route 50 crossing the Continental Divide
- Lunch at Garlic Mike’s in Gunnison, Colorado
- Dinner – Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa
After enjoying another delightful breakfast at the Cliff House, we will check out and load our large luggage into our luggage van. 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 a quick 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, a gorgeous 5-star resort! We’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail party and dinner at Gateway Canyons Resort tonight.
DAY 5 - Durango and the Million Dollar Highway (~ 385 miles)
Monday, July 14th
- Breakfast – Gateway Canyons Resort
- Drive to Durango
- Lunch – Historic Strater Hotel
- Drive the Million Dollar Highway and three mountain passes
- Cowboy Dinner at the Resort
After breakfast, we will 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 in Durango 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, a part of the San Juan Skyway, known as one of the most dangerous roads in the U.S. – no guardrails on this stretch of road! From Durango, through Silverton and Ouray, to Ridgway, the highway delivers jaw-dropping vista after vista. The road climbs up three very high mountain passes: Red Mountain Pass (11,018 ft.), Molas Pass (10,970 ft.), and Coal Bank Pass (10,640 ft.).
Once we return to the resort, we are in for a very special evening starting with cocktails in the lovely Cottonwood Grove on the Resort property followed by an outdoor Cowboy Dinner.
DAY 6 - FREE Day at Gateway Canyons Resort
Tuesday, July 15th
- Breakfast at Gateway Canyons Resort
- FREE day at Resort
- Lunch on your own
- Cocktails and Dinner at Resort
Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at the beautiful Gateway Canyons Resort. Today you will have a free day with multiple optional activities to choose from. Gateway Canyons Resort offers an equestrian center, an outdoor adventure center where you can rent paddle boards and kayaks to use on the nearby Dolores River, or arrange for guided rafting and fly-fishing tours, target shooting, hikes and rock climbs. If relaxation is more your speed, there are two outdoor pools and Jacuzzis and a full-service spa that offers everything from facials to Swedish massage, manicures and pedicures. Or you might enjoy the Driven Pro-Baja Experience. With a fleet of Pro-Baja Trophy Trucks and expert instructors, you receive professional classroom instruction and then “suit up” before being harnessed behind the wheel. You’ll navigate rough terrain, jumps and bumps over the 2-mile training course. Reservations are absolutely required. Lunch will be on your own, but we will meet again in the evening for cocktails and another wonderful dinner at the scenic Gateway Canyons Resort.
DAY 7 - Photo Rally (~ 180 Miles)
Wednesday, July 16th
- Breakfast – Gateway Canyons Resort
- Fast Lane Travel’s famous Photo Rally
- Visit the Colorado National Monument
- Lunch – Spoons Restaurant & Bakery
- Photo Rally Dinner – Gateway Canyons Resort
Enjoy a wonderful breakfast at the beautiful Gateway Canyons Resort. We’ll meet briefly after breakfast to remind everyone of the “rules” of the Photo Rally! We will then drive north to Grand Junction and the Colorado National Monument for the USA-Edition of our acclaimed Photo Rally. The drive up to the Colorado National Monument is impressive with a four-mile serpentine drive along canyon walls that brings us to the top. Massive boulders on both sides of the road lead to Rim Rock Drive, twenty-three miles of breathtaking views. The road winds along the rim and lets us enjoy panoramas of rock sculptures, canyons and distant valleys.
After we descend from the Colorado National Monument, we’ll enjoy lunch in Grand Junction at Spoons Restaurant & Bakery. Be sure to turn in your score sheets before lunch! Following lunch, you might want to take a sweet detour to Enstrom’s Toffee & Confectionery in downtown Grand Junction – maker of THE best Almond Toffee!
Return to the resort after lunch on your own, perhaps after exploring downtown Grand Junction. Main Street is a pedestrian-friendly zone lined with quaint shops, trees, fountains, sculptures and lovely landscaping.
This evening, we will meet once again for our Photo Rally Cocktail Party and Dinner at the gorgeous Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, including the awarding of “valuable” prizes.
DAY 8 - To Bachelors Gulch (~ 238 miles)
Thursday, July 17th
- Breakfast – Gateway Canyons Resort
- Drive to Avon, Colorado
- Lunch – Slow Groovin’ BBQ, Marble, Colorado
- Dinner – Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch
Enjoy your last breakfast at the beautiful Gateway Canyons Resort. We’ll then check out, load the luggage van and head east. We’ll stop along the way for lunch in Marble, Colorado at Slow Groovin’ BBQ before we continue our drive to Avon and the Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy this lovely hotel. This evening, we will gather at the WYLD Terrace Bar for cocktails, followed by dinner at the Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch.
DAY 9 - McCoy (~ 160 miles)
Friday, July 18th
- Breakfast – Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch
- Visit with the Antler Guy, Alan Butts
- Drive the scenic Colorado Highway 134
- Lunch – Grand Old West Restaurant in Kremmling
- Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch Farewell Cocktail Party and Dinner
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch, we will depart the hotel for our drive to Steamboat Springs mostly on magnificent country roads. We will stop for a brief visit with Alan Butts, the “Antler Guy”, who creates jewelry, whistles and lamps from antlers. From McCoy, we take beautiful Highway 134 to Kremmling. Along the way, you’ll see ranches, barns and horses on this scenic drive.
After lunch at the Grand Old West Restaurant in Kremmling, make your own way back to the Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch or wander through the village of Beaver Creek. Beaver Creek has many clothing stores, fine art galleries, gift shops and a mercantile shop. This evening is our Farewell Cocktail Party and Dinner Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch.
DAY 10 - (tour ends)
Saturday, July 19th
- Breakfast – Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch
- Drive home or back to Denver International Airport
After another delicious breakfast at the Ritz Carlton Bachelors Gulch, the Fast Lane Travel portion of the tour is over. If you wish to stay on at this hotel or somewhere else in Colorado, please call Susan in our travel agency who will gladly make any needed reservations for you.