Rails of the Rockies

Today is a travel day. Depart Detroit Metro Airport and fly to Denver, Colorado {Delta Airlines} where you will board the group motorcoach for a transfer to Colorado Springs. Hotel: Embassy Suites (all suite property). Dinner & drinks included at the hotel this evening. (D)

This morning, we will explore the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, a rare historical treasure. These fascinating architectural remnants are from an American Indian culture that roamed the Four Corners area of the Southwest from 1200 B.C. to 1300 A.D. Our next visit is to the Garden of The Gods. The 300 million years of geological history reveal one of the most extensive pictures of earth history found anywhere in the United States. It is a true geological wonder. Lunch is included at Garden of the Gods Trading Post followed by a visit to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. This world-class attraction showcases the entire journey of the Olympic games from its birth in ancient Olympia to the current Team USA hopefuls living and training in Colorado Springs every day. Dinner is included at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

Take a ride on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railway in the world, and enjoy an unforgettable experience. During the ascent to the 14,115-foot summit, catch a glimpse of the beautiful reservoirs nestled among the peaks of the Front Range. Enjoy lunch on your own in Old Colorado City. This afternoon, visit the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, located downtown in the beautifully restored 1903 El Paso County Courthouse. The museum preserves the history and culture of the Pikes Peak region, and features permanent exhibits on the history of the area. Group dinner included at Colorado Mountain Brewery. (B,D)

See Colorado from a different perspective and experience the beauty of the Royal Gorge on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. The Railroad's service transports you back to the time when travel was an elegant and leisurely affair, which has earned the Royal Gorge Route Railroad its reputation as the premier railroad in the country and inclusion in Trains magazine's recent list of America's Top Trains. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is a breathtaking and memorable train ride through the canyon. Enjoy gorgeous scenery, great service and delicious food sourced locally and prepared fresh right on board the train. This afternoon, sip wine as you admire the Wet Mountains from The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey. Dinner tonight is a unique experience. The Airplane Restaurant centerpiece is a fully intact Boeing KC-97 tanker. Built in 1953, this magnificent airplane refueled aircraft throughout the world. (B,L, D)

This morning, take a visit to Glen Eyrie Castle, a 67-room English Tudor-style castle built by General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. Enjoy the outside views & grounds of the castle. When visitors ask where the springs are in Colorado Springs, the answer is Manitou Springs. We will visit the springs with a guide and even taste test the mineral springs that once were thought to have healing powers. Enjoy another castle visit to Miramont Castle. Experience life as it would have been in Victorian times, from the Castle itself where you can view 33 rooms in authentic Victorian furnishings, to the Queen's Parlor Tea Room where we will enjoy high tea. Free afternoon to relax and pack up before our farewell dinner at Flying W Ranch. A western spread of smoked meats with all the “chuckwagon trimmings” is followed by a western stage show performed by the world renowned Flying W Wranglers, the second-longest running western performance band in the world. (B,L,D)

Transfer to Denver for your return flight home to Detroit. (B) {DELTA AIRLINES}