| |
This will be a trip of great variety; spectacular scenery, National Parks, fascinating history, “All American” cultural events and a great selection of outdoor activities including day walks.
Some of the planned highlights are,
Culture and Sights
- Memphis – visit Elvis’s Gracelands Mansion for the ultimate Rock’n Roll Experience.
- Texas Ranch Day - horse riding and loads of ranch activities, enjoy traditional cowboy fare!
- Billy Bob’s Texas Honky Tonk - a night out at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Entertainment Texas style!
- New Orleans - groovy jazz and tasty cajun cuisine and an evening steamboat cruise.
- Amarillo – “Beef City” where everything is big, Texas Style. Even the super-sized steaks at the “Big Texan” Restaurant!
- San Diego Sea World - an amazingtheme park based on the creatures of the deep.
- Sandi Peak Aerial Tramway - at 4.4km, the longest in the World, stunning desert and canyon views.
- Turquoise Trail - the National Scenic Byway the links the historic mining towns of New Mexico.
The Great Outdoors
- Ozark Mountains - river float a lazy mountain river by tube, canoe or raft, something for everyone
- Saguaro Cacti State Park – walk amongst the enormous Giant Saguaro cacti, the symbol of the American West.
- Raftingon the Rio Grande - 3hrs of thrilling fun, rapids up to Grade 3
- Petrified Forest National Park - ancient fossils, colourful petrified wood and multi-hued badlands
- Carlsbad Caverns - the World’s second largest cavern, 8.2 acres - Wow!
- White Sands National Monument - play on New Mexico’s sparkling white gypsum dunes.
- Meteor Crater - a massive 50,000 year old crater, walk the rim.
- Oak Creek Canyon - stunning red rock landscapes and natural swimming pools, a beautiful hike
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park - a remote and dramatic wilderness park.
- Palo Duro Canyon State Park - 2 nd deepest Canyon in the USA.
- New Orlean’s Bayou - an exhilarating airboat excursion on the bayou swamplands.
History - from the Wild West to the Man on the Moon!
- Biosphere 2 – Late 80’s experimental domes built for the study and manipulation of a biosphere without harming Earths.
- Titan Missile Museum - visit the underground launching site.
- The Alamo - historic mission fort in San Antonio (of Davy Crockett fame).
- Houston Space Station – a visit that bring your knowledge of space history to life!
- The Wild Wild West - iconic western towns, Tombstone, Bisbee and others.
Special Events!
- The San Geronimo Feast - at Taos Pueblo (village), experience authentic Indian culture, heritage and craft.
- Texas State Fair (Dallas) – inaugurated in 1886, today it is the largest State Fair in the USA.
- Albuquerque Balloon Festival - World’s largest Hot Air Balloon Festival, a blaze of colour!
- Arkansas Fiddle Festival - at Mountain View in the Ozarks, “Folk Music capital of the World”- a toe-tapping weekend
Trip Style
- A circle route from San Diego, timed for late summer with its more moderate temperatures, less holiday makers and the possibiity of catching some autumn foliage.
- Stay two nights in most places, taking time to delve and absorb - this is definitely not your usual bus tour.
- Bus - large coach for comfortable travel, with American Driver.
- Accommodation - Traveller's hotels and motels: twin/double rooms the norm, although on occasions some triple/quad rooming may be necessary, especially in the special “event” towns. Campground Cabins: 1 to 3 room cabins, normally two people per room.
- Luggage: A wheelie bag will work well, but please keep baggage as light as possible (10-13kg) for ease of handling. Take a daypack for day walks and sightseeing.
- Team Rosters to share the preparation and serving of the breakfasts, lunches and some dinners. No actual cooking required, just making toast, salads, boiling water etc. Everyone does their own dishes.
Meals
- All breakfasts included. As some motels/hotels only offer a meager continental breakfast, we will supplement these with cold cereal/fruit if required. For all other breakfasts - cereals/fruit /toast/yoghurt/hot porridge and drinks will be available.
- Lunches provided most days, but not in some cities when it will be better use of your time to eat out. Our picnic-styled lunches will include breads/salad fillings/meat/fish/cheese and fruit, also hot and cold drinks.
- Dinners – 8 simple camp dinners will be provided. For the remaining 19 dinners we suggest you allow US$15+ per day for a basic meal, excluding drinks.
- Pre Dinner Social Time – chips and dips provided.
What to Take :
- For the cabin-nights take, a sleeping bag (indoor rating only), a towel and pillow case.
- Your own tea towel, plate, desert plate, cup, cutlery (in a drawstring/or strong plastic bag)
- Casual clothes, machine wash and dri-able as laundry facilities will be available most nights
Price includes:
A very full program of sightseeing/activities, airfares ex Auckland return (not taxes), all breakfasts, most lunches and 8 dinners. Accommodation in travellers motels/hotels and camping cabins. Driver's tip included. You should need very little extra money, enough to cover 19 dinners, personal spending, drinks, snacks, mementos etc.
Criteria for taking part.
The trip is designed for active fun loving adults of all ages, for those who want to do things, not just see things. Single travellers most welcome. The main criteria is that you are moderately fit and active.
IMPORTANT: Please book quickly, by 31 March 2010, at the latest. This is because we can not secure accommodation at the four Special Event locations until we have our numbers. Getting this accommodation is critical to our itinerary, we'd hate to miss out.
| Code Number: |
USC 101 |
| Departure (ex Auckland): |
10 Sept 2010 |
| Estimated Price: |
$10,000 approx, TBC |
| Minimum Number: |
22 |
| Days: |
30 |
| Trip Status: |
Prelim Registrations $100
|
|
