Tell your clients to head to these national parks for a vacation that will leave them in awe of the great outdoors.
“Hiking The Narrows in Zion National Park is a must-do, once-in-a-lifetime experience, wading through a water-filled walled canyon followed by a hike up Zion’s Angels Landing with sheer drop-offs on both sides where you hold on to chains for safety. It’s a thrill you’ll never forget,” says Dan Austin, owner/president of Austin Adventures, about taking a vacation to Utah.
Austin says that “exploring the ‘mighty five’ national parks in Utah—Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce, and Zion—is a good four-season bet, though it’s best in spring or fall when the weather is not too extreme—either too hot or too cold and snowy.” He adds that his favorite time for booking a trip to Utah is spring. “There’s newborn wildlife, fresh flowers and fantastic blue skies against the red rocks—great for photography.”
Austin Adventures’ 8-day Utah: Mighty Five itinerary, starting at $3,498 pp, traverses five national parks and has an array of highlights, including hiking The Narrows; exploring Capitol Reef’s colorful landscapes of buttes, jumbled rocks, and sedimentary canyons; taking in the Milky Way while in the desert; and ascending Walter’s Wiggles and Scout Lookout.
Heading north, Collette’s 13-day Alaska and the Yukon, starting at $4,999 pp, will have travelers surrounded by majestic landscapes, ancient glaciers, and wildlife. Guests will travel through Prince William Sound to view glaciers, visit the small town of Tok—the original trade center for travelers coming from and returning to Canada—and head to the “Gateway of the Klondike,” also known as Skagway. Travelers will board a scenic sternwheeler for a cruise on the Chena River, and enjoy breakfast and first-class Goldstar service aboard the Alaska Railroad as they head for an adventure at Denali National Park. Before exploring the park, guests are treated to dinner and a show at the Denali Dinner Theatre. While at the park, they’ll go on a Tundra Wilderness Tour where they’ll learn about the park’s history and see some of the wildlife. They’ll also enjoy some leisure time in the eclectic town of Talkeetna. There’s also time to learn about Dawson City’s gold rush history during a coach tour, or go on a walking tour with a local guide.
Contact Information
Austin Adventures: austinadventures.com
Collette: gocollete.com
Celebrating New Orleans’ 300th Birthday
In celebration of the city’s 300th birthday, New Orleans is hosting festivals throughout 2018.
To honor the city’s milestone celebration, Luxury Gold is hosting a 14-day The Sumptuous Soul of America itinerary, launching in May and starting at $8,313 pp, that puts the spotlight on New Orleans’ food and music, while also traveling to Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, Nashville, and Memphis.
Travelers will take a river cruise that will immerse them in the city’s architecture while in Chicago; in Louisville, they’ll visit a bourbon distillery and Churchill Downs, as well as the Kentucky Derby Museum; in Nashville, they’ll attend a live radio program at the Grand Ole Opry; and in Memphis, they’ll pay homage to the king of rock ‘n roll at Graceland followed by dinner with George Klein, a childhood friend of Elvis. Once in New Orleans, guests explore the city’s neighborhoods, historic cemeteries, and famous landmarks with a local guide, dine on Creole cuisine during a cooking demonstration, and have dinner at Arnaud’s Restaurant while listening to live jazz.
Or, you can recommend the 9-day Southern Grace, debuting this May and starting at $5,344 pp, which starts in Nashville and ends in New Orleans. luxurygoldvacations.com
