Compare Philadelphia for the Weekend: Cultural Highlights by Road Scholar vs Roaming Western Trails by Tours of Distinction
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 4 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 699 | $ 3,789 |
| Price Per Day | $ 175 | $ 474 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Airfare included |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Description | Set out on a cultural tour de force through Philadelphia, learning about Colonial history, exploring world-renowned museums and gaining deeper insight into the iconic Barnes Foundation. |
Blaze an unforgettable trail experiencing the legends and lore of America’s Wild West. This trip includes a medley of manmade and natural attractions – of gargantuan proportions - from Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons, to Mount Rushmore, and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Channel your inner pioneer spirit as you meet a colorful cast of characters in Cody, and the rough and tumble town of Deadwood. Unwind in the splendor of Jackson Hole’s profoundly beautiful landscape brimming with wildlife. Watch herds of buffalo graze against majestic mountain ranges as you float on Snake River, marvel at the timely precision of Old Faithful in Yellowstone, and have a close encounter with the nation’s first National Monument, Devil’s Tower in this small group guided tour. |
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 - Arrive Salt Lake City, Utah
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it was like to be an early Frontiersman, now is your chance! Transfer to the airport for your flight to Salt Lake City. Upon arrival, we will be greeted by our local guide and our awaiting motor-coach. Enjoy a city tour of Salt Lake City, where we will see downtown, the Capitol, Temple Square and more. We will check into our hotel before our ‘welcome’ dinner.
Day 2 - Salt Lake City - Jackson, WY
This morning, we will head over to Temple Square after breakfast. Here we will have a chance to see the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s weekly broadcast performance. After, we say goodbye to Salt Lake City as we travel north along the shores of the Great Salt Lake. We will travel through Logan Canyon to beautiful Bear Lake for an included lunch. We will arrive into the fun town of Jackson, WY. Once we check into our hotel, the evening is free to explore the many shops, art galleries and restaurants on your own.
Day 3 - Jackson - Yellowstone National Park
This morning after breakfast, we are in for a wonderful experience as we are introduced to Grand Teton National Park on a half day scenic float trip on the Snake River! Enjoy amazing views of the Teton Mountains and wildlife viewing opportunities as your guide explains the geology and history of the area. After the float trip, we continue sightseeing of Grand Teton which will include: Jenny Lake, Colter Bay and Jackson Lake. Next, we enter into Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first National Park, for sightseeing including the heart of the park, Old Faithful. There will be time to witness an eruption and explore Old Faithful Village and the many thermal features in the area. Later this afternoon, we travel to West Yellowstone and check into our hotel. This evening is free to explore and have dinner on your own.
Day 4 - Yellowstone National Park - Cody, WY
After breakfast, we head back into Yellowstone National Park for another day of sightseeing. We will visit the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and pass through Hayden Valley and along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. As we exit the park, we enter into the historic town of Cody, where we will tour the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which is five museums under one roof. Tonight, we enjoy food and entertainment at the Cody Cattle Company with a chuckwagon style dinner, traditional cowboy music and some laughs. Then, there is exciting cowboy action at the Cody Nite Rodeo!
Day 5 - Cody - Rapid City, SD
We will depart Cody after breakfast and continue East crossing the Bighorn Mountain. Our first stop is at Devil’s Tower National Monument for sightseeing of the country’s first National Monument. Later this afternoon, we will arrive at the historic town of Deadwood for sightseeing. This is a rough and tumble western town famous for outlaws, gunslingers and lawmen alike. There will be time to explore the town and have dinner, on your own, before continuing on to Rapid City, SD for a two night stay.
Day 6 - Rapid City
After breakfast, we take a short drive to Badlands National Park for sightseeing. This famous park consists of nearly 243,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States. After lunch, we travel to Custer State Park and the historic State Game Lodge to get up close and personal with the residents of this park as you head out on a Wildlife Jeep Safari to view the buffalo herds and much more. Next, we make our way to the Crazy Horse Monument for sightseeing of the unfinished mountain carving and insight into the Lakota culture. Then, join the group for an included dinner followed by a wonderfully patriotic and inspiring event as we attend the Mt. Rushmore Evening Lighting Ceremony!
Day 7 - Rapid City - Cheyenne, WY
We start our day after breakfast with a beautiful drive to Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, where we will have morning views of this magnificent monument. Depart the Black Hills and take your journey south returning to the plains of Wyoming. We make a stop at Fort Laramie National Historic Site for sightseeing and a picnic lunch. This afternoon, we continue to the capitol city of Cheyenne and check into our hotel. After, we have time to freshen up, we will enjoy a ‘farewell’ dinner, at the hotel.
Day 8 - Depart Cheyenne
After breakfast, we take a Trolley Tour of Cheyenne. After, a nice introduction to the city, we arrive at the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds to experience a ‘Behind the Chutes Tour.’ The Cheyenne Frontier Days Arena is the home of the world’s largest outdoor rodeo each July. Get a first-hand look at what goes on during the rodeo from behind the scenes. This exiting tour follows the path of the bulls and broncs as the animals are rounded up and threaded through the maze of gates on their way to the chutes and out into the arena with cowboy in tow. A special experience awaits as we step into the chutes and finish the tour by walking across the arena. This afternoon, we will enjoy a western lunch before departing Cheyenne for the Denver International Airport for your departing flight.
