Compare Philadelphia for the Weekend: Cultural Highlights by Road Scholar vs National Parks Family Journey: Yellowstone and Grand Teton by G Adventures

Day 1
Registration and Orientation / Welcome Dinner
Philadelphia, PA D Club Quarters Hotel Philadelphia
Afternoon: Hotel Check-in: Available from 3:00 p.m. Program Registration: 4:00 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your name-tag, up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in at the front desk. Orientation at 4:30 PM: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions you may have. Indicated times are approximate; program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We have set aside some free time in the schedule for your personal independent exploration.

Dinner: Enjoy a welcome dinner at Davio’s, a restaurant that specializes in Northern Italian cuisine. Davio’s is immediately adjacent to the hotel and has an entrance through the hotel lobby. Enjoy a plated three-course meal of salad, choice of entree, and dessert, served with homemade breads. Please note that all dietary needs can be accommodated. If you arrive late, please identify yourself as part of the Road Scholar program and you may be served at the restaurant up to 10 p.m.

Evening: Nothing is planned this evening to give you time to settle in after a day of travel.

Day 2
Natl. Constitution Ctr., Rodin Mus., Mus. of Art, Orchestra.
Philadelphia, PA B,L,D Club Quarters Hotel Philadelphia
Activity note: Limited walking at the National Constitution Center and the Rodin Museum. Lots of walking at your own pace at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Wheelchairs are available.

Breakfast: At Davio’s, which functions as the hotel’s restaurant. Continental breakfast buffet including a variety of breads and pastries, fresh fruit, oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, granola and cereal, plus one hot item on weekdays. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Morning: Field trip to the National Constitution Center. The Center opened in 2003 and is the leading center on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Amendments. Enjoy a presentation on freedom and self-guided time in exhibit hall. Next, we head to the Rodin Museum, which houses the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris. Enjoy a short self-guided visit in the galleries.

Lunch: At the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We will provide you with a voucher for the Museum Cafeteria, and the Balcony Café. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will meet our museum educator in the West Lobby Entrance for an expert-led exploration of the museum’s highlights, followed by independent time in the galleries. Return to hotel on your own. You may take the public bus, walk (15 blocks) or taxi at your convenience ($10 for up to 4 in a cab). The Group Leader will give directions for each option.

Dinner: At Davio’s or a local restaurant frequented by Center City residents. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Evening: PERFORMANCE; Stéphane Denève begins his newly extended tenure as Principal Guest Conductor with Mahler's premiere symphony matched with a Philadelphia Orchestra premiere. Mahler's groundbreaking First Symphony “changed the genre forever” (The Guardian). From the shimmering opening to the joyful finale, this work shakes the soul. The six members of the Grammy-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird join the Orchestra for Jennifer Higdon's On a Wire in its first-ever Philadelphia Orchestra performances. Higdon is hailed as one of American's greatest living composers; Eighth Blackbird has been captivating audiences since its founding 20 years ago.

Day 3
Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Barnes on the Parkway
Philadelphia, PA B,D Club Quarters Hotel Philadelphia
Activity note: Expect two blocks of walking around Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Barnes Foundation has twenty-three small galleries to view and benches in every gallery. Wheelchairs are available.

Breakfast: At Davio’s, which functions as the hotel’s restaurant. Continental breakfast buffet including a variety of breads and pastries, fresh fruit, oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, granola and cereal, plus one hot item on weekdays. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Morning: After breakfast we leave for America's most historic mile to visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The old cracked Bell still proclaims liberty and Independence Hall echoes the words, "We the People". Explore Franklin's Philadelphia and America's continuing struggle to fulfill the Founders' declaration of "all men are created equal". Enjoy a ranger guided introduction to Independence Hall and a self-guided exploration at Liberty Bell with a park ranger available for questions. Road Scholar has already purchased your ticket for a specified entry time. However, if you arrive a day ahead or stay later and wish to go back to Independence Hall, you will need to acquire a free ticket at The Visitors Center on the day of your visit for a specified time.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own at a local eatery with many options to choose from. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Afternoon: This afternoon we head to the Barnes Foundation on the Parkway for a self-guided visit that includes audio. Between 1912 and 1951, Albert C. Barnes assembled one of the finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern paintings in the world. Acquiring works by some of the most daring artists of the time, such as Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Chaim Soutine, and Vincent van Gogh, Barnes marked himself as a collector of great ambition and audacity.

Dinner: At a popular local eatery, where you may choose your entree from a limited menu. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

Evening: Enjoy a stroll with your group leader back to the hotel

Day 4
Mus. of the Amer. Rev / Farewell Lunch / Program Concludes
Philadelphia, PA B,L
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12 p.m. Bags can be stored with the concierge.

Breakfast: At Davio’s.

Morning: Field trip: A visit to the new Museum of the American Revolution, the first of its kind to trace the steps that lead to our break with the “Mother Country” of England and we will take a virtual journey through the American Revolution, encountering the events, people, and ideals of the founding of the United States through state-of-the-art design and technology. The collection of thousands of objects includes works of art, manuscripts, and printed pieces from the period. One particularly historic item is the original tent that George Washington used as his command center.

Lunch: Enjoy a farewell lunch at Davio's. This concludes our program. Please note that hotel check-out is by 12 p.m. Lunch will be at 11:30, in order to assist those who need to leave by 12:30 p.m. to fly, drive or train back to their home. Box lunches cannot be provided. We hope you enjoy all your Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. We encourage you to join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1 Jackson

Arrive in time to meet your fellow travelers for a welcome gathering this evening. Your arrival transfer is included.

Day 2 Jackson/Grand Teton National Park

Spend the day exploring the spectacular peaks and valleys of Grand Teton National Park, beginning in the Moose historic district, where early log-cabin homesteads help tell the stories of the bold fur trappers, mountain men, and female entrepreneurs who settled the region. At the park's Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center, young travelers begin their junior ranger journey. Later, grab an oar for a rafting expedition down the Snake River. As you gently float along, spot mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and moose in the surrounding woodlands and meadows. Enjoy a delicious lunch after your river adventure.

Day 3 Grand Teton National Park

Board a boat for the ride across Jenny Lake; then set out on a hike in Cascade Canyon—carved by retreating glaciers some 15,000 years ago—and continue to Hidden Falls, plummeting almost a hundred feet into the gorge. This afternoon, opt for a hike around Jackson Lake. Young explorers will also have the opportunity to complete their junior ranger activities and claim their Grand Teton badge!

Day 4 Grand Teton National Park/Yellowstone National Park

On a morning drive, we’ll cross the Continental Divide and travel into the vast caldera of the Yellowstone supervolcano—a volcano capable of a massive eruptions, which Yellowstone has experienced three times in just over two million years. View wisps of steam rising from geothermal hotspots throughout the park—home to about half of the world’s geysers. Visit the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center to begin a new junior ranger journey, and gather to watch the famed geyser erupt on the clock. Stroll boardwalks winding between the bubbling and gurgling hot springs and geysers of the Upper Geyser Basin, and peer into the spectacular rainbow-hued Grand Prismatic Spring, where thermophilic bacteria generate incredible shades of yellow, blue, and red.

Please note, the long drive days listed on days 4-7 include multiple stops and are inclusive of all activities described in the day itinerary.

Day 5 Yellowstone National Park

Venture out in search of astonishing geological activity and amazing creatures in the Yellowstone wilderness—established as the world’s first national park in 1872. Hike in the spectacular Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and see the rushing river and falls; then in the lush Hayden Valley, marvel at the bubbling Mud Volcano and the turbulent waters of the acidic Sulphur Caldron. Further your discoveries at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center where you will encounter bear habitats, gray wolves, river otters, and have the opportunity to observe, understand and ultimately appreciate these magnificent animals.You’ll also have the chance to explore the historic town of Mammoth Hot Springs, home to Yellowstone National Park headquarters; and stop at Roosevelt Lodge, once a tent camp for trappers and explorers. Set out on safari through the sweeping Lamar Valley—known as the “Serengeti of North America” for its high concentration of wildlife, including bison, elk, and elusive wolves and grizzly bears.

There is so much to see and do in Yellowstone National Park and the wildlife is a big part. Based on animal sightings and park ranger feedback, we give our CEOs the opportunity to adjust the order of highlights explored in the park. The activities above will be delivered across day 5 and 6 of this tour.

Day 6 Yellowstone National Park

Venture out in search of astonishing geological activity and amazing creatures in the Yellowstone wilderness—established as the world’s first national park in 1872. Hike in the spectacular Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and see the rushing river and falls; then in the lush Hayden Valley, marvel at the bubbling Mud Volcano and the turbulent waters of the acidic Sulphur Caldron. Further your discoveries at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center where you will encounter bear habitats, gray wolves, river otters, and have the opportunity to observe, understand and ultimately appreciate these magnificent animals.You’ll also have the chance to explore the historic town of Mammoth Hot Springs, home to Yellowstone National Park headquarters; and stop at Roosevelt Lodge, once a tent camp for trappers and explorers. Set out on safari through the sweeping Lamar Valley—known as the “Serengeti of North America” for its high concentration of wildlife, including bison, elk, and elusive wolves and grizzly bears.

There is so much to see and do in Yellowstone National Park and the wildlife is a big part. Based on animal sightings and park ranger feedback, we give our CEOs the opportunity to adjust the order of highlights explored in the park. The activities above will be delivered across day 5 and 6 of this tour.

Day 7 Yellowstone National Park

Enjoy a final day exploring one of America’s most beloved national parks. Descend a wooden boardwalk into the vast Norris Geyser Basin, dotted with colorful pools and steaming fumaroles; then stop by the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center for lunch, where young travelers can claim a Yellowstone junior ranger badge.

Day 8 Yellowstone National Park/Jackson

Head back to Jackson early this morning where tour ends in downtown Jackson.

When arranging your flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration. Please note that your outgoing flight from Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) must depart no earlier than 14:00 (2pm) on Day 8. The group will be brought to downtown Jackson. You must make your own way to the airport from there as only permitted airport vehicles can do airport drop offs.