Rockies & Zuidwest-Amerika Highlights

About the destination: Denver is the largest city and the capital of the state of Colorado. Denver is a young and vibrant city located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. A highlight of the Denver skyline is the Colorado State Capitol Building that looks like the US Capitol Building. Its shining gold dome commemorates the Colorado gold rush. Built in 1932, the Denver City Hall is an elegant and beautiful building, specially known for its grand display of lights during the Christmas season. Denver downtown, called the mile high city because of its closeness to Rocky Mountains, is a bustling commerce and cultural metropolis. Towering skyscrapers surround you and excellent restaurants abound. Step outside the city and soak in the fascinating Garden of the Gods. Massive rocks and unusual formations are sure to mesmerize you. Located close to Denver, the Rocky Mountains are one of the great mountain ranges of this planet offering an immersive experience with nature. This combination of urban sprawl and proximity to nature is what gives Denver its unique character and sets it apart as a destination.

About the destination: "Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the US state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. MAIN ATTRACTION TOURIST • State Capitol Building, is a National Historic Landmark and the dominant structure on the Cheyenne skyline. • Wyoming State Museum. • Union Pacific Railroad Depot. Recently renovated National Historic Landmark, home to the Cheyenne Depot Museum, a visitor center, and Shadow's Pub & Grill. • Old West Museum & Store. Located in Frontier Park on the grounds of Cheyenne Frontier Days, the historic rodeo called the “Daddy of ‘em All”. Includes a large display of horse-drawn carriages and exhibits on the history of the CFD rodeo which was established in 1897. • Nelson Museum of the West Western museum with 11,000 square feet of exhibits, including Indian artifacts, cowboy trappings, 19th century weapons. • Historic Governors' Mansion. Home to Wyoming governors from 1905 to 1976. • Big Boy Steam Engine. This powerful coal-fired engine was designed to pull a 3600-ton train over steep grades between Cheyenne and Ogden, Utah. • Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. Includes diverse flora and a greenhouse conservatory. "

About the destination: Custer, city, seat (1875) of Custer county, southwestern South Dakota, U.S. It lies in the southern Black Hills on French Creek, 5,318 feet (1,621 metres) above sea level. Custer is about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Rapid City. Nearby are Custer State Park (headquartered in the city), Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, and Black Elk Peak, the state’s highest point (7,242 feet [2,207 metres]). Badlands National Park is to the east, and Buffalo Gap National Grassland is east and south.

About the destination: Sheridan is a city in the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Sheridan County. The city is located halfway between Yellowstone Park and Mount Rushmore. It is the principal city of the Sheridan, Wyoming, Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Sheridan County. The 2010 census put the city's population at 17,444 and the Sheridan, Wyoming, Micropolitan Statistical Area at 29,116, making it the 424th-most populous micropolitan area in the United States.

About the destination: Incorporated in 1901, Cody, Wyoming is located 52 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Cody was founded in 1896 by Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, who passed through the region in the 1870s. He was so impressed by the development possibilities of irrigation, rich soil, grand scenery, hunting, and proximity to Yellowstone National Park that he returned in the mid-1890s to start a town. He brought with him men whose names still adorn street signs in Cody's downtown area: Beck, Alger, Rumsey, Bleistein, and Salsbury.

About the destination: Yellowstone National Park is a United States National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the world's first national park. Yellowstone National Park contains some of the strangest and most interesting geological features found anywhere in the world. Yellowstone National Park serves as a refuge for a wide variety of native American wildlife. The last remaining herd of wild bison (buffalo) in the USA still peacefully roams the meadows of Yellowstone along with vast herds of wild elk, deer, moose, coyotes, eagles, bears and wolves.

About the destination: What Mecca is to the Muslims and Rome is to the Catholics, is what Salt Lake City is to the Mormons. Salt Lake City is the capital of the U.S. state of Utah. Four mighty walls surround the 4 hectare area in the middle of the old town, the centre of the Mormon Church that is Temple Square. It is decorated with flowers and contains the most important sacred buildings of the Mormon community, such as the Salt Lake Temple, The Tabernacle and the Conference Centre. The largest sanctuary and centre of the Mormon faith is the Salt Lake Temple. Constructed of stone, its use is restricted to the Mormon religion. It was built between 1853 and 1893 in grey granite and New Gothic style with six towers, its main one being 68 metres high. Construction of the Cathedral of the Madeleine began in 1900 and was completed in 1909, a Christian building whose exterior is of Romantic design and with a Gothic interior. Salt Lake City has become the centre of a hugely successful religious empire. The prosperous city also contains many of those of other faiths but the highly influential Mormon Church makes most of the region’s political decisions. But less than half the town's population are church members, the university and spectacular setting have attracted a wide range of residents that has filled the city with a diverse array of restaurants, nightlife, art and culture. Nonetheless, if one gets bored with the city, there is amazing natural spaces just a short drive away. The Bonneville Salt Flats are located next to Great Salt Lake, a huge area covered by salt that is one of the flattest areas in the world. Zion National Park contains several archaeological sites of great importance and offers an opportunity for exceptional hiking. Endless horizons, deep canyons and vast open spaces surround this truly blessed city.

About the destination: Moab is a city on the southern edge of Grand County in eastern Utah in the western United States. The population was 5,046 at the 2010 census, and in 2015 the population was estimated to be 5,235. It is the county seat and largest city in Grand County. Moab attracts a large number of tourists every year, mostly visitors to the nearby Arches and Canyonlands national parks. The town is a popular base for mountain bikers who ride the extensive network of trails including the Slickrock Trail, and for off-roaders who come for the annual Moab Jeep Safari.

About the destination: Bryce Canyon National Park is one of the most important parks in Utah's Canyon Country. Every year, Bryce Canyon National Park awes visitors with spectacular geological formations and brilliant colors. The towering hoodoos, narrow fins, and natural bridges seem to deny all reason or explanation, leaving hikers gazing around with jaws agape in wondrous incredulity. This surreal landscape is what brings people from around the world to visit Bryce Canyon National Park.

About the destination: Las Vegas is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nevada. Nicknamed the Entertainment Capital of the World or Sin City, it is situated in the Mojave Desert and is surrounded by dry mountains. Las Vegas is famous worldwide for its consolidated casino–hotels and associated entertainment. The city houses many mega-hotel complexes decorated with lavish care and attention to detail creating a fantasy-like environment. All hotels have a unique style, there are special sights everywhere, and every hotel has its own casino. Most of the hotel casinos are in the city's downtown area, along The Las Vegas Strip. The Strip is a world of its own. Where else can you go to visit Egypt, New York, Venice, Disneyland, Hollywood, and much more all on one street? The fact is that all the action that Las Vegas is famous for is happening on this one and only street. Bellagio could be considered unofficial centre of the Strip, one of the reasons being the free displays of musical fountains which go off at every half an hour with different choreography accompanied by different music. Bellagio is one of the more stylish venues with a superb flower garden and for those with gourmet inclinations, it offers arguably one of the best buffets in town. The Venetian is another point where one might linger longer due to its fabulous attempt of recreating Venice in the desert. The main square of Venice is filled with gondolas ply the waters channels and opera singers entertain their captive audience on board. The opposite end of the Strip is closest to the airport starting with the funny rendition of Egypt with its Luxor casino despite the fact that there are no pyramids in Luxor, but everything is possible in Las Vegas.

About the destination: Death Valley National Park is located primarily in the Southern California Desert. Death Valley is a beautiful area with unique desert wonders. Sand dunes, salt flats, mountains, and the lowest lake in North America make for some of the most spectacular scenery in the Southwest. Death Valley is a harsh landscape, with high mountain peaks and deep valleys, sand dunes like those in the Sahara, oases where date-palms grow, water below sea level, and a rich flora, especially noticeable in the spring when the wildflowers come to life.

About the destination: Yosemite National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage Site that is located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in east-central California. The majestic sights of Yosemite National Park delight and inspire visitors of all generations. Take a quick tour of some of our popular attractions, amazing natural features, and the plants and animals that make the park their home.

About the destination: San Francisco is a major, lively and cosmopolitan city in California. In San Francisco, history and modernity combine to give visitors an unforgettable experience. From Mission Dolores, the city's first stone building or the city’s legendary cable cars to the high-tech Financial District. A trip to San Francisco is bound to leave you with incredible memories. A boat trip is a great way to explore the “City by the Bay.” Explore Fisherman's Wharf, full of shops, galleries and restaurant offering delicious seafood. Stroll down the Golden Gate and admire the views over the bay and the Pacific Ocean, visit the various maritime museums, and , of course, no visit to San Francisco is complete without an excursion to Alcatraz, the island prison that once held some of the country’s most notorious criminals, such as Al Capone. If it’s a more relaxed environment you’re after, pass through the stately architecture and flowing lagoon of the Palace of Fine Arts. The Transamerica Pyramid has become the city's most famous landmark. The 260 metre high pyramid structure is situated in the heart of the Financial District. Located between three hills, San Francisco's Chinatown is the largest Chinese settlement outside Asia with pagodas, colourful bunting, decorated balconies and Chinese characters combining with the sounds and exotic aromas of this fascinating area. The Painted Ladies are charming Victorian wooden houses situated on the fringe of Alamo Square and the Haas-Lilienthal House is a well-maintained jewel of a bygone era. San Francisco thrives on variety and has a contagious energy. This city is magical and everyone should come here at least once.