The Great American Crossing
The Great American Crossing
The Great American Crossing
20 Days Starting in New York, USA and ending in San Francisco, USA
Visiting: New York, Washington, D.C., Washington D.C., Gettysburg, Detroit, Chicago, Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Cody, Yellowstone National Park, Salt Lake City, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco
Tour operator:
Tour code:
UGAC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
25 - 55
Age range:
21-59
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Kick off this extensive 20-day tour in New York and make a stop at every must-see city on the way until you reach the golden coast of the Pacific.
The Great American Crossing trip will push the limits of your imagination, taking you on an improbable journey.
Visit the cities that reflect the heart and soul of American liberty like Philadelphia and Washington D.
C.
.
Explore the natural beauties of New England from Niagara to the Great Lakes.
There is nothing like the urban flair of Chicago, and you will have enough time to explore its architectural nuggets.
From there, the landscape will change dramatically as you pass through grand mountain ranges westward.
Your time in Bryce Canyon will be as colorful as the rugged terrain, and the Mojave Desert will put you in a unique mood before you end your trip with four days on the shiny coast.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : New York
Location: New York
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Millennium Downtown (or similar)
Welcome to New York City! Meet your group and tour leader in the evening for an informal welcome at the hotel. Until then, feel free to roam the famed streets of New York like a local or rest up for our great adventure ahead!
Day 2 : New York – Philadelphia – Washington D.C.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Washington Hilton (or similar)
We depart New York for Philadelphia, where we spend the morning exploring the gorgeous historic district of the “City of Brotherly Love” and the birthplace of a nation. See landmarks such as the Liberty Bell, and stroll through Independence National Historic Park and Mall. Then continue to the nation’s iconic capital, Washington, D.C.
Day 3 : Washington D.C.
Location: Washington D.C.
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Washington Hilton (or similar)
Ready to explore the capital inside out? Tag along your expert guide to learn all about the marvellous sights such as the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, site of the JFK Memorial. Enjoy your personal leisure time in the afternoon, perhaps visit some of the many museums including the famous Smithsonian Institute or simply stroll the banks of the Potomac River.
Day 4 : Washington D.C. – Gettysburg – Niagara Falls
Location: Gettysburg
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Niagara Riverside Resort (or similar)
Continuing our journey northward, we visit the Gettysburg National Military Park. It is here that the most decisive and largest battle of the American Civil War took place, as well as Abraham Lincoln's famous address in 1863. We then travel through upstate New York to Buffalo and finally cross the international border into Canada, where the thundering noise and intense mist of Niagara Falls permeates the air.
Day 5 : Niagara Falls – The Great Lakes – Detroit
Location: Detroit
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Greenfield Inn
Start this unforgettable morning with the breath-taking scenery of the world-famous Niagara Falls. Stroll along Table Rock and view the thundering waters of Horseshoe Falls with your Tour Leader. Returning to the United States in the late afternoon, we continue to our hotel in a suburb of Detroit, also known as “Motor City USA”.
Day 6 : Detroit – Chicago
Location: Chicago
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown (or similar)
This morning we find out why Detroit is named the Motor City with visits to the The Ford River Rouge Factory and the Henry Ford Museum. After some time to explore the plentiful exhibits, we will visit the nearby Ford plant to watch how modern vehicles are produced at the ever-busy factory floor. We bid farewell to Detroit and ride inland to the south of Lake Michigan, reaching Chicago to rest up for the night.
Day 7 : Chicago
Location: Chicago
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hampton Inn Chicago Downtown (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day with a short tour of the city’s highlights including Lake Shore Drive, the Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier. Enjoy your personal leisure time for the rest of the day to explore the 'Windy City' Chicago on your own terms. Freely marvel at the fascinatingly bold architecture of downtown Chicago or the inspiring artworks in one of the famous museums in town.
Day 8 : Chicago – Mississippi River Crossing – Sioux Falls
Location: Sioux Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Comfort Suites (or similar)
Travel through the Midwest along farms abundant in corn and wheat fields and dairy farms. Crossing the mighty Mississippi River, we ride into the state of Iowa to arrive just as Lewis & Clark Expedition did two centuries ago on the banks of the Missouri River. We make our way to Sioux Falls for a refreshing rest.
Day 9 : Sioux Falls – Badlands National Park – Mt. Rushmore – Deadwood/Rapid City
Location: Rapid City
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Ramkota Hotel (or similar)
Travel westward through the vast and lush grasslands of South Dakota and onwards to Badlands National Park. This natural wonderland, once home to the buffalo and antelope, is filled with amazing colorful natural rock formations. Then we continue on to the Black Hills, sacred to the Native Indians and home to the famous Mount Rushmore. After we finish soaking in the unforgettable views, we depart for Rapid City to spend the night.
Day 10 : Deadwood/Rapid City – Bighorn Mountains – Cody
Location: Cody
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Buffalo Bill Village (or similar)
We continue our journey towards the wondrous lands of Wyoming, home to twelve mountain ranges intermixed with vast deserts and rolling grasslands. We will be resting for a big day tomorrow in Cody. In case overnight in Cody is not possible due to poor weather or adverse road conditions in Yellowstone, we will be spending the night in Billings Livingston, Montana.
Day 11 : Cody – Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kelly Inn West Yellowstone (or similar)
Drive past the mountains of Wyoming to Yellowstone, America’s first National Park! Tag along your expert guide to enjoy an in-depth tour of this immense geothermal wonderland which includes waterfalls, geysers, canyons, colourful wildlife and more! Some of the incredible highlights will be Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Canyon’s majestic falls, and the beautiful Hayden Valley.
Day 12 : Yellowstone – Grand Teton National Park – Salt Lake City
Location: Salt Lake City
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites (or similar)
Today we travel through Grand Teton National Park, as long as the weather permits, to witness magnificent mountain peaks towering over 4,000 metres and the local wildlife. Visit the Snake River Outlook and try your eye at capturing the stunning landscape made famous by Ansel Adam’s iconic shot in black and white. Arriving in Utah, known for its Mormon Community, embark on a short tour of its capital, Salt Lake City. See how the Mormon followers of Brigham Young built one of the best-planned cities in the country. We visit the State Capital building, famed Temple Square and the Tabernacle before arriving at our hotel for the evening. May we suggest an optional dinner at the Rooftop Restaurant for panoramic views of Temple Square?
Day 13 : Salt Lake City – Bryce Canyon National Park
Location: Bryce Canyon National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Bryce View Lodge (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Embark for a journey to the spectacular Bryce Canyon and follow your guide on a tour through a multi-coloured world of sandstone spires and pinnacles, also known as “hoodoos”, that dazzle the eye. This evening, weather permitting, make sure to gaze upon the enchanting night-sky with sparkling stars & breath-taking constellations.
Day 14 : Bryce Canyon – Lake Powell – Grand Canyon – Flagstaff
Location: Grand Canyon National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Days Flagstaff (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departing Bryce Canyon, we ride onwards to the stunning Lake Powell, where canyon walls of red-rock tower over crystal blue waters. Lake Powell is the second-largest man-made lake in America, part of a series of lakes formed after the damming of the Colorado River. Our next stop will be the world-famous Grand Canyon National Park, one of the seven great natural wonders and most impressive sceneries of the world! Pause at the rim of the Canyon to fully experience and appreciate this mile-deep canyon and all its plunging gorges, rising spires, extinct volcanoes, and the snaking Colorado River. Riding on the Historic Route 66, Flagstaff will be where we dream of the sights of the day.
Day 15 : Flagstaff – Seligman/Route 66 – Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Luxor Las Vegas (or similar)
Viva Las Vegas! In the morning, we hit the road for Las Vegas, the dazzling “Entertainment Capital of the World”. On the way, we will pass through the authentic town of Seligman on the famed Route 66, which looks as if it froze in time sixty years ago. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip.
Day 16 : Las Vegas – Mojave Desert – Beverly Hills – Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Los Angeles Airport (or similar)
Riding towards the western coast to Los Angeles, enjoy views of the scenic Mojave Desert with characteristic Joshua trees clustered on the mountainous backdrop. Arriving in L.A., join your guide for a tour through the “City of Angels” including famed spots as Hollywood, Sunset Strip and parts of Beverly Hills, before reaching our hotel.
Day 17 : Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Los Angeles Airport (or similar)
The day is yours is to shape to your wishes! We would recommend an optional full-day tour to Universal Studios, the world’s largest theme park and movie studio! Capture an inside look at the movie sets and reveal behind-the-scene secrets of iconic films, or enjoy some of the Studios’ thrilling feature rides.
Day 18 : Los Angeles – Santa Barbara – Central Coast
Location: Santa Barbara
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Radisson Santa Maria (or similar)
Leaving Los Angeles in the morning, we ride north through one of California’s favorite vacation spots, Santa Barbara. Soak in views of palm-lined streets bordering vast white sandy beaches. The city is known for its mission and Spanish heritage. Along the way, we will make a stop at an iconic California lifeguard tower, particularly made famous by the TV series “Baywatch”. We continue to Santa Maria along the Central Coast for a rejuvenating night's rest.
Day 19 : Central Coast – Carmel/Monterey – San Francisco
Location: San Francisco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: San Francisco Marriott Marquis (or similar)
We continue our journey further north to Carmel, boasting fairytale-like cottages and galleries, and home of the world-famous actor/director Clint Eastwood. Freely browse the shops and galleries of the acclaimed artists’ colony. Traveling further north, we make a stop at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Stroll along the Pier to Cannery Row, well-known thanks to John Steinbeck’s timeless novel. Passing lush valleys of Castroville and Santa Clara, we arrive in San Francisco, the “City by the Bay.” Knock off some of the cities' famous sights off your list at your leisure.
Day 20 : San Francisco
Location: San Francisco
Our trip will end in San Francisco after we say goodbye to our new friends and check-out of the hotel by 11:00am.
What's Included
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Accommodation - 4 and 3 star hotels & inns, superior lodges
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5 Breakfasts
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Modern A/C coach or mini-bus
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Complimentary hotel and coach Wi-Fi ( where available )
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Services of experienced tour leaders
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Organised orientation walks at some of the towns visited
What's Not Included
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Any flights not mentioned above
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Travel Insurance
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Meals not stated above
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Items of a personal nature
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Tips and gestures
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Entrance fees to the sights and museums
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Optional activities
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Other services not stated in the itinerary
Add Ons
Local Payment: £0
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No, minimum age requirement for this tour is 21+ years
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
4 and 3 star hotels & inns, superior lodges
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What is the maximum group size?
55
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
There are always single travellers on our tours. If you don't mind being roomed with another single traveller of the same gender, then you do not need to pay a single supplement, however, this excludes all of our North American tours where the sharing option for a solo traveller is not available, and the single supplement must be applied if you are travelling alone. The single supplement is for travellers who would like to stay in a private room for the duration of the tour. PLEASE NOTE: The single private option is not always available, especially for sailing tours and camping.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Our tours are suitable for any traveller above 18 years old. The majority of Travel Talkers are from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada or Europe, however we always have travellers from all over the world. What brings them together is a passion for travel, discovering authentic cultures and experiencing unique adventures with like-minded travellers.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Travel Talk, we believe that travel is a force for good and show our support through various initiatives and charity organizations, as well as keeping the principals of responsible and sustainable travel at the core of our ethos. These values are engrained in our business culture and the design of our trips just the same. Together with our guests, we strive to make a positive impact on local p
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 20 years
Reviews of this operator
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Free Date Changes
Travel Talk Tours allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 61 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Travel Talk Tours requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of travel talk tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 85% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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